about the probes that the Family launched in M87 and wanted to make sure they could defend themselves if anything happened.”
“Was he certain they would never come after the Union bent on revenge?”
“He must have been and second guessing him centuries later won’t do us any good. We have to make the effort and I want you to understand that the order of the day is run first, everything else second. Did you go and have your ships modified from training to live weapon loads?”
Andi nodded, “They even installed the new Pegs.”
“I do not want them used under any circumstances. That development must remain secret.”
“I would expect the String Blasters would demand more secrecy.”
“No, Cole. The Pegs are much more dangerous.”
“If you say so.”
“Have you seen a Peg demonstration?”
“Uhh…no.”
“I have. Trust me on this one; we don’t want that particular technology revealed unless the survival of the Union is at stake.”
“You’re the boss.”
“I’m sending you the coordinates Moe gave me and we’re going to leave our force fields off and move in at a sedate speed.” Trip looked up, “Ian, are Jack and Geli locked in to your jump system?”
“They are now.”
“Don’t hesitate to get us out of there.”
“Would you mind if I broadcast who we are on a frequency that Moe says they once used.”
“By all means, Ian; I just hope they’re willing to listen. You might simply say we wish to speak to the Senior Grandfather about an urgent matter.”
“I’ll add, ‘Please don’t hurt us.’”
Trip smiled, “I’d rather you leave that out.”
“You big sissy.”
“Shut up, Jack. You want to do this alone?”
“No, that’s alright.”
“I thought so.”
Trip shook his head and was amazed that Jack and Ian spoke to each other in the same manner he and Cole used. Well, maybe not too surprised; after all, they were a product of their minds. “We’ll be jumping in ten seconds; do you have any questions?” Trip’s question was greeted with silence, so Trip reached forward and pressed the jump button.
• • •
The three small ships appeared in open space and saw huge derelicts of star ships floating in empty space. They looked like they had been stripped of their hulls and most of the materials inside. Even large sections of their support beams were missing. Trip stared at them and said, “Ian, what caused this?”
“My scanners indicate that these giant ships were deliberately stripped of their material.”
Andi said, “That means they used it to build something else.”
Trip put his hand back on the jump button and eased the thrusters forward. The three ships began moving toward a distant planet. They moved through the derelicts for hours and Ian told him that there were millions of dead ships floating in the system.
They cleared the massive debris field and moved into clear space and the planet glowed in the distance. “I’m starting the broadcast.”
Andi said, “They already know we’re here.”
Trip looked at his scanner display and saw six small vessels moving at high speed away from the planet directly toward them. Their speed was incredible and Trip knew the Needles might not be fast enough to out run them. “Ian, have you got a reading on their force fields?”
“Yes, they’re stronger than any in my data banks.”
“How do they compare to ours?”
“I can’t tell without taking a shot at them and you told me to behave.”
“Has there been any response to your broadcast?”
“Not yet.”
“I’m getting us out of here if they come closer than a hundred miles.”
“Two hundred sounds better to me.”
Trip heard, “You big sissy,” and laughed. The six small ships leaped forward at an even faster velocity and Trip began to put pressure on the jump button. “Break off your attack, these ships are our friends.”
The six small ships veered away and Trip blew out a sigh of relief and heard, “It’s been a long time
“Was he certain they would never come after the Union bent on revenge?”
“He must have been and second guessing him centuries later won’t do us any good. We have to make the effort and I want you to understand that the order of the day is run first, everything else second. Did you go and have your ships modified from training to live weapon loads?”
Andi nodded, “They even installed the new Pegs.”
“I do not want them used under any circumstances. That development must remain secret.”
“I would expect the String Blasters would demand more secrecy.”
“No, Cole. The Pegs are much more dangerous.”
“If you say so.”
“Have you seen a Peg demonstration?”
“Uhh…no.”
“I have. Trust me on this one; we don’t want that particular technology revealed unless the survival of the Union is at stake.”
“You’re the boss.”
“I’m sending you the coordinates Moe gave me and we’re going to leave our force fields off and move in at a sedate speed.” Trip looked up, “Ian, are Jack and Geli locked in to your jump system?”
“They are now.”
“Don’t hesitate to get us out of there.”
“Would you mind if I broadcast who we are on a frequency that Moe says they once used.”
“By all means, Ian; I just hope they’re willing to listen. You might simply say we wish to speak to the Senior Grandfather about an urgent matter.”
“I’ll add, ‘Please don’t hurt us.’”
Trip smiled, “I’d rather you leave that out.”
“You big sissy.”
“Shut up, Jack. You want to do this alone?”
“No, that’s alright.”
“I thought so.”
Trip shook his head and was amazed that Jack and Ian spoke to each other in the same manner he and Cole used. Well, maybe not too surprised; after all, they were a product of their minds. “We’ll be jumping in ten seconds; do you have any questions?” Trip’s question was greeted with silence, so Trip reached forward and pressed the jump button.
• • •
The three small ships appeared in open space and saw huge derelicts of star ships floating in empty space. They looked like they had been stripped of their hulls and most of the materials inside. Even large sections of their support beams were missing. Trip stared at them and said, “Ian, what caused this?”
“My scanners indicate that these giant ships were deliberately stripped of their material.”
Andi said, “That means they used it to build something else.”
Trip put his hand back on the jump button and eased the thrusters forward. The three ships began moving toward a distant planet. They moved through the derelicts for hours and Ian told him that there were millions of dead ships floating in the system.
They cleared the massive debris field and moved into clear space and the planet glowed in the distance. “I’m starting the broadcast.”
Andi said, “They already know we’re here.”
Trip looked at his scanner display and saw six small vessels moving at high speed away from the planet directly toward them. Their speed was incredible and Trip knew the Needles might not be fast enough to out run them. “Ian, have you got a reading on their force fields?”
“Yes, they’re stronger than any in my data banks.”
“How do they compare to ours?”
“I can’t tell without taking a shot at them and you told me to behave.”
“Has there been any response to your broadcast?”
“Not yet.”
“I’m getting us out of here if they come closer than a hundred miles.”
“Two hundred sounds better to me.”
Trip heard, “You big sissy,” and laughed. The six small ships leaped forward at an even faster velocity and Trip began to put pressure on the jump button. “Break off your attack, these ships are our friends.”
The six small ships veered away and Trip blew out a sigh of relief and heard, “It’s been a long time
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