to get me ready.”
“Done.”
“Contact me when you’re able to walk.”
Andi and Cole groaned.
• • •
The Sovereign of the Green Civilization looked at the Queen of the Union on his display and wondered what trickery she was up to. “It’s good to hear from you, Your Majesty.”
“You can dispense with the niceties and honorifics. Your lie is obvious and I didn’t contact you to be nice.”
The Sovereign kept his expression neutral and said, “Go on.”
“Good; at least you aren’t being openly deceptive. I think that was one of the things that made my ancestors accept your civilization as a friend.” The Sovereign tried not to flinch but allowed a small one to show. “The truth hurts; doesn’t it?”
“Did you call me to insult me or is there a point to this?”
“You ancestor swore to always be a friend of the Union and come to our defense if he was ever needed. I know you’re building up your forces to attack the Union.”
The Sovereign forced his expression to reveal nothing. He knew this witch would see any clue given to her. “Where did you come up with this fantasy?”
“You don’t need to deny it. I just want to make sure you’re aware that we know. I would also suggest you go back and take a look at your history to see what happened to those that tried to threaten us.”
“As you just said, that’s ancient history.”
“And those that don’t know their history will repeat it. You should know that our military is on full alert and our ship production has been started at full capacity.”
The Sovereign stared at the Queen and said, “Let’s just assume, for the moment, that what you say is true, even though it isn’t; why would you tell me this? It would only make someone intending aggression attack much sooner.”
Angela smiled at the Sovereign and the Sovereign thought her smile was the most wicked expression he had ever seen. “I think you are going to be much too busy to worry about attacking us. We’re not building new ships to deal with your pitiful fleets.”
“Oh!”
“I’m not saying one of our ships violated your borders recently; I’m just saying that if one did, it would have probably witnessed something coming from thousands of years in your past.”
“What are you talking about!?!”
“History, Sovereign; something you casually sweep away as being meaningless. I’m sure your ships wondered what all of those objects moving faster than light they destroyed were doing.” The Sovereign did flinch at that remark. “My ancestors managed to disable one of them more than two thousand years ago and we just recently determined what they were designed to do. We’re building ships to take on the winner of your coming war with the Family’s that were sent a distress message along with the location of the ones that killed them. As I recall, we carried the load of that particular war and suffered the highest losses to defend your miserable galaxy. Your treacherous behavior now, after what we did for you, is blasphemous and you deserve what’s coming. Your ancestors would feel deep shame at your actions. I do hope you survive without us.” The Sovereign’s eyes were wide and his fear was overwhelming. “I’ve sent you a copy of the probe’s transmissions. They should make for a good night time story…if you’re in to nightmares.”
The Sovereign’s display went dark and the translation of the probe’s message began playing. He pulled up the coordinates the probe sent and saw they were in the middle of his civilization. He knew that even two thousand years ago, the Family knew his civilization was the most powerful. He began pressing buttons on his panel and faces began appearing on his bank of displays. They wondered what had frightened the Sovereign so much. Soon the message went out and the word spread through M87 like wildfire; the Families were coming.
• • •
Angela looked at Moe, “Well?”
“I just received a message that the
“Done.”
“Contact me when you’re able to walk.”
Andi and Cole groaned.
• • •
The Sovereign of the Green Civilization looked at the Queen of the Union on his display and wondered what trickery she was up to. “It’s good to hear from you, Your Majesty.”
“You can dispense with the niceties and honorifics. Your lie is obvious and I didn’t contact you to be nice.”
The Sovereign kept his expression neutral and said, “Go on.”
“Good; at least you aren’t being openly deceptive. I think that was one of the things that made my ancestors accept your civilization as a friend.” The Sovereign tried not to flinch but allowed a small one to show. “The truth hurts; doesn’t it?”
“Did you call me to insult me or is there a point to this?”
“You ancestor swore to always be a friend of the Union and come to our defense if he was ever needed. I know you’re building up your forces to attack the Union.”
The Sovereign forced his expression to reveal nothing. He knew this witch would see any clue given to her. “Where did you come up with this fantasy?”
“You don’t need to deny it. I just want to make sure you’re aware that we know. I would also suggest you go back and take a look at your history to see what happened to those that tried to threaten us.”
“As you just said, that’s ancient history.”
“And those that don’t know their history will repeat it. You should know that our military is on full alert and our ship production has been started at full capacity.”
The Sovereign stared at the Queen and said, “Let’s just assume, for the moment, that what you say is true, even though it isn’t; why would you tell me this? It would only make someone intending aggression attack much sooner.”
Angela smiled at the Sovereign and the Sovereign thought her smile was the most wicked expression he had ever seen. “I think you are going to be much too busy to worry about attacking us. We’re not building new ships to deal with your pitiful fleets.”
“Oh!”
“I’m not saying one of our ships violated your borders recently; I’m just saying that if one did, it would have probably witnessed something coming from thousands of years in your past.”
“What are you talking about!?!”
“History, Sovereign; something you casually sweep away as being meaningless. I’m sure your ships wondered what all of those objects moving faster than light they destroyed were doing.” The Sovereign did flinch at that remark. “My ancestors managed to disable one of them more than two thousand years ago and we just recently determined what they were designed to do. We’re building ships to take on the winner of your coming war with the Family’s that were sent a distress message along with the location of the ones that killed them. As I recall, we carried the load of that particular war and suffered the highest losses to defend your miserable galaxy. Your treacherous behavior now, after what we did for you, is blasphemous and you deserve what’s coming. Your ancestors would feel deep shame at your actions. I do hope you survive without us.” The Sovereign’s eyes were wide and his fear was overwhelming. “I’ve sent you a copy of the probe’s transmissions. They should make for a good night time story…if you’re in to nightmares.”
The Sovereign’s display went dark and the translation of the probe’s message began playing. He pulled up the coordinates the probe sent and saw they were in the middle of his civilization. He knew that even two thousand years ago, the Family knew his civilization was the most powerful. He began pressing buttons on his panel and faces began appearing on his bank of displays. They wondered what had frightened the Sovereign so much. Soon the message went out and the word spread through M87 like wildfire; the Families were coming.
• • •
Angela looked at Moe, “Well?”
“I just received a message that the
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