The Commander by CJ Williams

or decreased their rate of expansion. Perhaps they shifted direction and advanced toward the galactic center, away from our location. The problem is that all of this is based on information that is extremely out of date.”
    Luke shook his head. “I’m not up on interstellar distances, George. How far away is the threat?”
    “Approximately seventeen thousand parsecs, or about three hundred twenty-three quadrillion miles.”
    “George,” Luke said drily. “That seems quite a far piece away. Why are we even talking about this?”
    “It could be closer,” George reminded him.
    “Fair enough. Worst case then, how close could they be?”
    “That is difficult to say. I hazard to say that worst case, they’ll be here tomorrow. But realistically, my calculations make it possible for them to be as close as thirty quadrillion miles.”
    “Again, George. That seems so far away, it doesn’t seem much of a threat.”
    “That is your call to make, Commander. If you so choose, we can forget this topic. What are your instructions?”
    Luke and Roth exchanged frustrated expressions.
    “I don’t think that’s what he means, George,” Roth said. “We’re just trying to understand the situation.”
    “Point accepted,” George replied. “As I mentioned, without more data it is impossible to give you an accurate timeframe. My calculations are based on the alien force’s behavior long ago. This was early in our monitoring. Subsequently their progress slowed for a period of time before a renewed expansion. My information has not been updated for more than a decade. It’s possible their expansion has declined, or perhaps the pace has increased. I simply don’t know.”
    “Okay, George,” Luke said. “I think we have the gist of the problem. Roth, why don’t you have Samantha come up with a drone-based reconnaissance program. Let’s start with nearby systems to check out the feasibility and then expand it outward progressively until we reach the boundaries of hostile territory.”
    “I’m on it.”
    Once Roth left the office, Luke looked at the ceiling. George, he thought. Do you have something to tell me?
    “Yes, Commander, George replied audibly. “I see you noticed my hesitation, earlier.”
    “You normally think pretty fast, George. It was fairly obvious.”
    “I felt it was more discreet, than simply admitting that I do have secrets.”
    “What is it, then? What secrets are you keeping?”
    “Two that I know of, and not directly related to the previous conversation. The first deals with bio-technology. I am aware that there are medical advances that are not included in my archives. Some features of your earpiece are an example. Though I know it exists, I am unable to share that expertise with you because I don’t have the knowledge.”
    “So you won’t help us?”
    “Not at all. If you are able to independently reproduce this capability, I will be delighted. I just can’t give it to you beforehand.”
    “Why the secrecy, then?” Luke wanted to know.
    “I suspect it is one of the advantages of the Nobility.”
    “If they keep medical knowledge to themselves, they sound like a bunch of losers.”
    “Do not delude yourself, Commander. If one of the Nobility were to visit your world, they would own the planet and everything on it in very short order.”
    “How do you figure that?” Luke asked.
    “Think for a moment,” George suggested. “Consider Sam, whom moments ago you called a prankster. After being with him for less than a minute, you introduced a medical device into your own body without understanding its capabilities and set in motion a chain of events which will alter your planet forever. He accomplished this without force or violence. And yet, Sam is an extremely minor functionary of the Nobility’s bureaucracy. How much more could the leader of such a galactic empire accomplish? I caution you to not discount their ability.”
    Luke knew what George said was true, but didn’t want to