frequency assigned to the attacking ships. They would watch the communication feed from the ships being sent to destroy the main planet of the civilization in the spiral galaxy.
Chapter Four
D at watched the presentation Belwen was making and tried to remain still. The Senior Officers had a lot of catching up to do but he didn’t know how much longer his backside was going to be able to handle it. Admiral Hull called for the midday lunch break and he looked at his wrist communicator. Ummm, why would Angel be trying to contact him directly? She should have gone through channels. She couldn’t appear to be receiving preferential treatment. He started not to answer but decided that it had to be something important. She knew the situation and wouldn’t go outside channels unless something was important. He pressed his wrist unit and Angel appeared on it, “I’m sorry for contacting you directly, Dad but Arve, Grest, and I have discussed it and decided we needed to talk to you.”
Dat stared at his daughter and was once again amazed at how much she looked like her mother. “What have the three of you done now?”
Dat saw Angel was nervous. He hoped it wasn’t serious. “Uhhh, we’ve kinda violated Fleet Protocols concerning the weapons on our ship.”
“YOU’VE WHAT!?!”
“We made some major modifications on the weapon systems. I was of the opinion that we should just keep the changes to ourselves but you know how tightly wound Grest is. He insists we should tell you.”
“Please tell me they aren’t major changes.” Dat stared at Angel and he could see by her expression that it was serious.
Katherine saw Dat and said, “Is something wrong, Admiral?”
Dat blew out a breath and shook his head, “My children appear to have violated Major Fleet Protocols.”
“How?”
“They’ve made major modifications to the weapon systems on their new Jukeboxes.”
“I thought Belwen said those ships are at the peak of their development?”
“He did.” Dat looked at Angel and said, “Hold on a minute.” Dat looked across the table at Admiral Gibbs and said, “Will you send an order to your command directing my three children to bring their ships here to be examined.”
Gibbs had been listening to Dat and he felt sorry for what was going to happen; he lifted his communicator and began speaking. Ten minutes later, the three new Jukeboxes appeared above Earth. Dat looked at Katherine, “Gibbs and I need to go and investigate what they’ve done to their ships.”
“Gibbs can go. You need to stay here. I don’t want there to be any hint of impropriety in this.”
Dat sighed and looked at Gibbs. He stood and said, “I’ll be back shortly, Sir.”
Kat nodded, “I’ll extend the lunch break if necessary.” Gibbs nodded and left the room.
• • •
Angel looked at Arve and Grest on her display, “Admiral Gibbs is coming to my ship to start an investigation.”
Arve looked at Grest, “You and that cursed conscience of yours. That neighbor never would have worked out who fired the potato if you had just kept your mouth shut. Now look what you’ve done.”
Angel sighed, “Back off, Arve. Doing this in secret was wrong and I haven’t felt good about it either.”
Arve tried to maintain his anger but felt it fade. After a moment he sighed, “Let’s hope we keep our commands.” Grest and Angel nodded.
• • •
Gibbs arrived on the Wellington and was led to the bridge. Angel saw the Senior Fleet Admiral enter the bridge and she said, “Bridge Crew, Attennnnshun.” The crew came to attention and Angel saluted. Gibbs returned her salute and said, “As you were.” He stared at Angel and swore he was looking at a younger Gresha. If this child of theirs possessed just a tiny fraction of their abilities…he was not going to lose her due to technicalities. “Captain, I understand you have modified the weapon systems on the Union’s most modern Battleship?”
• • •
Suddenly, the alarm
Chapter Four
D at watched the presentation Belwen was making and tried to remain still. The Senior Officers had a lot of catching up to do but he didn’t know how much longer his backside was going to be able to handle it. Admiral Hull called for the midday lunch break and he looked at his wrist communicator. Ummm, why would Angel be trying to contact him directly? She should have gone through channels. She couldn’t appear to be receiving preferential treatment. He started not to answer but decided that it had to be something important. She knew the situation and wouldn’t go outside channels unless something was important. He pressed his wrist unit and Angel appeared on it, “I’m sorry for contacting you directly, Dad but Arve, Grest, and I have discussed it and decided we needed to talk to you.”
Dat stared at his daughter and was once again amazed at how much she looked like her mother. “What have the three of you done now?”
Dat saw Angel was nervous. He hoped it wasn’t serious. “Uhhh, we’ve kinda violated Fleet Protocols concerning the weapons on our ship.”
“YOU’VE WHAT!?!”
“We made some major modifications on the weapon systems. I was of the opinion that we should just keep the changes to ourselves but you know how tightly wound Grest is. He insists we should tell you.”
“Please tell me they aren’t major changes.” Dat stared at Angel and he could see by her expression that it was serious.
Katherine saw Dat and said, “Is something wrong, Admiral?”
Dat blew out a breath and shook his head, “My children appear to have violated Major Fleet Protocols.”
“How?”
“They’ve made major modifications to the weapon systems on their new Jukeboxes.”
“I thought Belwen said those ships are at the peak of their development?”
“He did.” Dat looked at Angel and said, “Hold on a minute.” Dat looked across the table at Admiral Gibbs and said, “Will you send an order to your command directing my three children to bring their ships here to be examined.”
Gibbs had been listening to Dat and he felt sorry for what was going to happen; he lifted his communicator and began speaking. Ten minutes later, the three new Jukeboxes appeared above Earth. Dat looked at Katherine, “Gibbs and I need to go and investigate what they’ve done to their ships.”
“Gibbs can go. You need to stay here. I don’t want there to be any hint of impropriety in this.”
Dat sighed and looked at Gibbs. He stood and said, “I’ll be back shortly, Sir.”
Kat nodded, “I’ll extend the lunch break if necessary.” Gibbs nodded and left the room.
• • •
Angel looked at Arve and Grest on her display, “Admiral Gibbs is coming to my ship to start an investigation.”
Arve looked at Grest, “You and that cursed conscience of yours. That neighbor never would have worked out who fired the potato if you had just kept your mouth shut. Now look what you’ve done.”
Angel sighed, “Back off, Arve. Doing this in secret was wrong and I haven’t felt good about it either.”
Arve tried to maintain his anger but felt it fade. After a moment he sighed, “Let’s hope we keep our commands.” Grest and Angel nodded.
• • •
Gibbs arrived on the Wellington and was led to the bridge. Angel saw the Senior Fleet Admiral enter the bridge and she said, “Bridge Crew, Attennnnshun.” The crew came to attention and Angel saluted. Gibbs returned her salute and said, “As you were.” He stared at Angel and swore he was looking at a younger Gresha. If this child of theirs possessed just a tiny fraction of their abilities…he was not going to lose her due to technicalities. “Captain, I understand you have modified the weapon systems on the Union’s most modern Battleship?”
• • •
Suddenly, the alarm
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