Annihilation: The Power of a Queen Read online

  Danielle looked into the woman’s face then back at Sung Lea; she could feel the truth of what they were saying. She also knew with her talent for seeing the truth that Sung Lea would never lie about something so important. “So what must I do?”

  Alesia gave a heavy sigh and said, “We have an Empire Class Battleship waiting in orbit to take you to him. You will need to move quickly because he will be jumping out of system within eighteen hours. We will try to delay him until you arrive, but he may not cooperate because of his fear for your safety. If we have to we will have your ship follow him.”

  “Atlas,” Danielle thought, “can you get me there in time?”

  “Plan to leave your living quarters within the hour.”

  “Thank you for your offer of transportation, but I’ll arrange my own,” Danielle told the group.

  They all started speaking at once and she said over them, “I’ll get there in time. If I’m not there in six hours, then you can provide a battleship.”

  That silenced them. They all looked at her then looked at each other. Then Alesia said, “It will be done as you say. However, nothing can get there in six hours; star drives do not work this close to the sun and nothing can go faster than the speed of light in normal space. Are you certain of arriving in time? This is a critical event.”

  Danielle could tell they all had numerous questions about how she could possibly get there so quickly, but Sung Lea said, “This is not something we need to inquire about. Let her go her way in peace. Danielle, you are now co-leader of the SFTwith your husband. The only authority over you is yourself. We will notify the Director and Tag of this change in six hours and 20 minutes.”

  “Thank you but now I must go home and pack.”

  “We have an emergency shuttle on the roof waiting to take you. You’ll arrive at your quarters in less than ten minutes. We will inform Inspector Connor about the change.”

  “How did you know I would go?”

  Sung Lea smiled, “This is the future all the others branch off. This meeting is the critical event. I’ve already seen the other futures begin to disappear when you entered the room; it’s not in you to refuse to help when you’re needed. Contact us upon your arrival with the fleet.”

  Danielle turned and ran from the room.

  “Admiral, do we have any idea how many ships the Cainth Empire has remaining in their fleet,” Tag asked as he replayed the battle counting the Cainth ships that had been destroyed. “I think we’ve destroyed eight hundred in both battles.”

  Kosiev looked at his screen and said, “That’s accurate but we have no idea of their total numbers. I would think that they would have as many as we do but we’re been overbuilding because of their threat. I don’t really think they have been threatened for hundreds of years and it’s an economic drain to maintain a huge fleet. I would guess between 1,800 and 3,000,” Kosiev answered.

  Tag reached over and poured himself a stimulant drink and leaned back in his chair. “Let’s try and figure this out. Would they use half their ships to ensure our destruction?”

  Kosiev thought a minute and looked back at the screen and rewound it to the frame of the Alliance fleet as they emerged into our solar system. We know they sent two hundred of their ships to Ross. The remaining Alliance ships from all participants totaled about 1,200 that came back from the destruction of the Grendap. I think it would be safe to assume that they would use 20% in their initial plans.”

  “Why not more ships?” Tag asked.

  “Remember, they had no idea of our number of ships. They wouldn’t feel threatened enough to use more plus their colonial empire would require some of the fleets presence. They thought we were limited to two space ports and their estimate would be low if they used that to figure our numbers. I think 20% is about right initially. Once they lost the two hundred ships at Ross, then their threat estimate went up and they sent an additional four hundred ships. If four hundred represents 20% then they should have 1,200 plus those that escaped. So a good guess would be between thirteen hundred and eighteen hundred remaining.”

  “Admiral, do we need more ships than the two hundred survivors? I really don’t want the Alliance to think we have more than the three hundred and fifty we used in the last battle. If we show up with more than two hundred then there will be questions about our total that I would prefer to delay. Is the mix of ships the right ratio?”

  “Our ratio is actually stronger than the original mix because the majority of the ships we lost were cruisers and destroyers. We had fifty Empire Class Battleships at the start of the battle and lost nine. The Alliance ships that jumped to safety at the end of the battle saw the ten battleships we used to destroy the sentries in the outer system as they moved in to assist in the mop up so we can include them in our totals.” Kosiev rubbed his chin and said, “Our seven squadrons will now have thirty ships instead of fifty but one third of them will be battleships now instead of one of five. I actually think that this is a better number to manage than fifty. The ratio of battleships to the others will make it easier to discharge the screens of the support ships. Now every battleship will have only two ships to support instead of four. The majority of our losses were due to ships that would have been used to discharge other’s screens weren’t available after they had been destroyed.”

  “Did we learn anything else from our tactics,” Tag asked?

  “Yes we did. In both of the battles so far we have had our ships preselect targets and rush in and attack them. As a result, our ships lost contact with the battleships that would decharge their screens, which led to their destruction. We are now going to do it another way. We have found that Alliance tactics are to try and gang up on our Battleships. It’s no longer necessary to chase them, they will come to us. In our next battle, we will hold our line together and go thru the middle of their formations. The two smaller ships will place themselves above and below to make maximum use of the larger ship’s screen. They will maintain that position thru out the conflict.”

  “Then you’ve reorganized the makeup of the squadrons and practiced the new maneuvers.”

  “Yes and our rearming should be completed in two hours. The provisions will be completed an hour later.”

  “Then we should be ready to leave shortly,” Tag said. “I’ll inform the Director. I’m also going to have an additional hundred ships ready to jump to support us in the event we have misjudged their number of ships.”

  “That’s a good idea but why only a hundred? Why don’t you make it two hundred ships?” Kosiev suggested

  Tag looked at the display and said, “Good idea. Why take a risk when we would have to reveal we have more ships anyway if we called them in. Let’s make it three hundred and they can be learning the new attack tactics while they’re waiting. You might also get Fleet operations and start training the other 6,000 ships on those tactics.” Tag lifted his com and said, “Open a channel to Central Command; I would like to talk with them about the additional ships.” He sat and tapped his foot to the rhythm of warships exploding on his screen. Then he remembered and thought, “I wonder what they wanted with Danielle?”

  Danielle arrived home and rushed in to pack her bags. She looked in her closets and they were empty. “Atlas, have you been busy?”

  “Yes, Danielle. I’ve already transported your belongings and you can choose on the way to the fleet what you want to take; I’ll return the rest.”

  “Where are you?”

  “Just a moment, I think the SFT are curious about your method of departure. The shuttle that brought you here has a camera on your quarters and is remaining stationary above your dwelling. Go in your bathroom and close the door. I’ll extend a corridor you can walk thru to leave.”

  Danielle did as he asked and when she closed the door she saw a round hole in the wall extending toward the balcony. She entered it and walked into Atlas’ port. “They couldn’t see me could they, Atlas?”

  “No, and they are going to wonder after some time has gone by w
hy you haven’t come out.”

  “Oh, well. You can’t know everything,” Danielle said as she started going thru her belongings selecting what she was going to take. “How are you going to get me to Tag without being seen?”

  “Pretty much the same way; I’ll run a corridor into Tags cabin on the Washington and you just walk in with your bags. It will be up to you to explain how you got there. You might want to finish packing your bags now so you can take them with you. We should be there in less than ten minutes”

  “Holy groad, Atlas; you can get to Jupiter that quick.”

  “I’m going to jump there this time. So hurry up and get ready to leave.”

  “Tag was right; you really don’t have a jump limit. I’m glad that everyone else has to be outside Jupiter’s orbit to use a star drive otherwise we would have no warning of uninvited guests.”

  “True and no one else is even close to the technology necessary to do it. Alright here we go.”

  One moment Danielle was looking at the building housing her living quarters and then she was alongside the Washington beyond Jupiter’s orbit. “Atlas, you big showoff; you mean you can jump right out of a planet’s atmosphere. Whatever method you use, it’s obviously not affected by gravity; you are truly amazing.”

  “Thanks, you’re making my hull swell; the corridor is ready. I’ll be listening in, this should be very interesting. Call me if you need my help,” and Danielle could have sworn that in her mind she heard the ship laugh at her.

  Danielle walked thru the corridor and emerged into Tags cabin. She knew it was his because of her picture on the writing table. “Tag,” she thought.

  “Yes, Darling,” He replied.

  “Is there anywhere where you can communicate privately?”

  “Yes, in my quarters, I’ll go there now.”

  “That would be good, dear.”

  Tag walked about 50 yards and took the lift two levels down and entered his room to find Danielle lying on the bed smiling at him. His mouth fell open and all he could do was stare at her. “You told me to interrupt you,” Danielle said.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I’m going with you.” Danielle said.

  “No you’re not. This is entirely too dangerous for you to be here. Atlas, is this your doing?”

  “Thomas Anglo Gardner, sit down and listen. Focus on what I’m saying and try to understand it is important you see why I’m here. The SFT have sent me to be with you because Sung Lea says if I don’t then humanity will be annihilated with six months. Our best possible future is with me at your side during the upcoming battles.”

  “I don’t care what she says; we’re not going to do it. I’ll override them.”

  “Atlas,” Danielle said, “Open a channel to the SFT.”

  “No you don’t..,” Tag started but then the seven members were on the com screen.

  ‘You were right,” Danielle said. “He’s not being cooperative. Would you kindly explain to him what’s happening and the new chain of command?”

  The entire group of psychics looked at Danielle stunned speechless that she was already there in less than an hour from their meeting. Sung Lea visibly composed herself, then stood up and began explaining her visions. He asked questions and Danielle could see after a few minutes that the resistance was going out of him. Finally, he asked, “What is she going to do that’s so important to our survival?”

  “We wondered the same thing when we made you our leader but according to Admiral Kosiev you have had a huge impact on our successes so far. We don’t know what she will add, but we all agree it’s going to be critical that she does. So, she has been made co-leader of the SFT with you.”

  “What!”

  “Tag, the two of you should communicate and agree on what ever course of action you plan to take. Do you think her advice is worthless?” Sung Lea asked.

  “No, I always go to her on the hard decisions because of her insight.” Tag sat in his chair and stared across the room at the woman he loved with all his being and knew that he had to follow Sung Lea’s direction even though he feared for his wife’s safety. Finally he smiled and said, “Well, there are benefits to having her here and somehow we will make this work. Have you announced the change in leadership?”

  “No we were waiting for Danielle to arrive; we planned to do it in six hours however, we see that we can move that timetable up. We hoped you would see reason and we’ll make the announcement now.” Then Sung Lea looked at Danielle with an expression that showed immense curiosity, “Danielle, you arrived there in less than an hour. I do not know of any possible way that could have happened. It feels eerily similar to what Tag did in the battle for Rossville; maybe you’ll tell us how you managed to do that?” Sung Lea said with raised eyebrows.

  Danielle smiled and said, “I can walk very, very fast.”

  “Good day,” Sung Lea smiled and the screen went blank.

  “Why didn’t you tell me before you came out here?”

  “You told me to interrupt you,” she said with a sly smile. “So I’m going to interrupt you. And she walked over and put her arms around his neck.”

  Just before he kissed her he thought, “Atlas, how could you allow her to be placed in this kind of danger?”

  “What danger?” Atlas said. “She has the same shield you possess. There’s not a weapon in the Alliance arsenal that could harm either of you. She has to be here. I believe Sung Lea knows what she’s talking about and if you look deep inside yourself, you’ll see it too.”

  Tag forced himself to relax; he knew she was going to be ok, and then he gave her all of his attention, “Beauty and brains, what a combo!”

  Chapter 2

  “Admiral, how is the evacuation proceeding,” Terl asked as he boxed important documents to be shipped to the colonies? Some of these documents were important treaties agreed to by the Cainth Empire and other Alliance races. They would be important for the future, “If there is a future,” he thought.

  “We’ve moved most of the Clan Leaders and their families aboard ships and they are just now leaving for the jump limit to go to our colonies. They should arrive there is eight hours. Some of the ships have arrived from our closer colonies and our ship count is now 967 warships. We are getting some disturbing reports that some of our enemies in the Alliance are moving fleets to occupy our colonies in the event the Humans are successful against us so we can’t pull all our ships. Even if we pulled them all, it still wouldn’t be enough against the Humans if they come in force.” Admiral Dorg looked at the types of ships he had for defense of the planet and knew it was not enough. “We can delay the Humans but not for long. There is no hope of moving the general population and our troops have had to stay on the planet to maintain order; most of them will have to remain on the ground controlling the riots. The news got out that we were heavily defeated and that our home world is at risk of destruction. I believe, Clan Leader that the Alliance leadership leaked that news hoping for chaos and possible overthrow of our government.”

  “You’re probably right, Admiral. Who would have thought we would be facing extinction. Let’s hope they give us enough time to save as many as we can and don’t go after the colonies.” Terl glanced at his display and saw thousands of Cainth civilians crowding the space port trying to get off the planet. The streets had numerous fires going and thousands of vehicles were constantly lifting and flying to the side of the planet away from open space which was the probable direction the Humans would approach the planet. The sky was choked with millions of ships trying to hold position as the planet revolved under them. Numerous crashes were happening as citizens forced their way into the mass of vehicles hovering above.

  Thirty dregs later Terl was issuing orders to the military on how to handle the riots when Admiral Dorg came on his display, “It looks like our time has run out. Sensors have picked up approximately two hundred plus star drives breaking into normal space in the outer system. Clan Leader, I’m sending a shuttle to pick
you up.”

  Terl decided that history didn’t matter if you had no future so he left the boxes of treaties and crowd control behind and ran to the lift to take him to the top of the building. He was fighting to control his fear and he wondered if this is what the Humans felt when his fleet had arrived to destroy their home planet 290 cycles ago. He boarded a military shuttle and accelerated at maximum speed out of the atmosphere to join the fleet waiting for the Humans to arrive.

  Tag and Danielle entered the bridge of the Washington. Kosiev looked up and then back and forth between them, “I’m sorry Mrs. Gardner but I didn’t see your name on the ships manifest. Perhaps my purser is not as efficient as I thought.”

  “Call me Danielle, Admiral. I hitched a ride in about an hour ago. Have you received any announcements?”

  “Yes I have, Mrs. Gardner, and this is a warship and we must follow the courtesy of titles especially to one in your new position.” Kosiev looked at Tag with raised eyebrows.