Admiral Dorg looked at his conference screen, and Head Clansman Terl was asking him questions that he could not answer. He was scared and he was trying his best to hide it. Terl continued his barrage: “Are you aware that we have lost two hundred warships and twelve thousand ground troops and there’s no trace of what happened to them?”
“Yes, I am, Clan Leader. I have not been to the scene yet, and I won’t arrive there until tomorrow.”
“Please explain why you felt it was necessary to attack that human colony with only two hundred ships instead of your entire fleet.”
“I felt that the humans needed to see that our occupation was coming and that we would not tolerate any resistance. This colony was taken easily and all appeared to be going as planned.”
Terl looked at the admiral and said, “Of course it went easily; they surrendered as soon as the first ship showed up and welcomed you to their planet. You showed them your appreciation for that warm welcome by executing 25 percent of their population. Now we are missing 10 percent of our naval forces and a division of our infantry. Didn’t you tell me that you didn’t know what the humans’ capabilities were?”
“Yes, I did.”
“So you thought you could send two hundred ships and twelve thousand troops and they would be perfectly safe against an enemy that you said represented a grave threat to our race?”
Dorg felt the chill run up his spine. His life was in the balance here. His face was damp and his heart was almost out of control. “Sir, I covered your assigned officer with my plans to make sure the clans approved them. I was told they were approved.”
“That’s the only thing saving you from execution. You are supposed to be the human expert. You are supposed to make the right decisions about them. You more than anyone should not under estimate them, but you obviously did. It’s that inefficiency that has the clan leaders angry. Do you have enough ships to handle the job?”
“I believe so. After what has happened, I’m hesitant to be sure of anything.”
“Will the Alliance send more if we request them?”
“State Leader Sten is furious about the executions and the early start of our occupation. I suspect that we would be publicly embarrassed and forced to request help from the general assembly, where our actions would be censured,” Dorg replied. “It’s also hard to justify more ships when we don’t know how many ships the humans have.”
Terl stared at the admiral and said, “If you had simply waited and took your entire fleet to the home world of these humans and occupied their planet, then you could have taken your time finding out just what capabilities they have, and we’d still have our ships and men. Your hatred of the humans led you to make mistakes, and now there is no way you’ll occupy their planet without a fight, which, incidentally, I think was your intention from the start. What makes this problematic is that you still have no knowledge of their capability. I agree with you that the remaining 1,200 ships should be enough, but I’m not going to take a chance; when will you arrive at the colony world?”
“Tomorrow, Clan Leader.”
“I have spoken with the Glod ambassador and he has agreed to send an additional four hundred ships, and we will also send another four hundred ships. You will take your fleet to the colony world and wait for those ships to arrive. Keep the majority of your fleet outside the star drive limit prepared to jump. While you’re waiting, investigate in detail and see if you can determine what happened to our ships and men. When the additional ships arrive, take enough time to organize them into your fleet, and then go after the human home world. Do you have any questions, Admiral?”
“No, Clan Leader.”
“Win this time, Admiral, or don’t bother to come back,” Terl said and then cut the connection.
Admiral Dorg sat looking at the blank screen for a long time. He not only lost the ships and men, but he also lost his brother. These humans had played him every time he tried to get the better of them. “Where did they go? Where did they go?” he wondered.
Richard Wiseman opened his eyes and saw Maggie sitting in a chair next to his bed with her head resting beside his hand. He looked around and saw all the medical machines that had his leg and arm inside them. He felt terrible. He felt like ten miles of bad highway. His whole body was just one big pain, but he found enough strength to raise his hand and place it on Maggie’s head. Maggie felt the touch and raised her head and looked at him and saw his eyes were open. She screamed and jumped up out of her chair and started kissing him on the forehead, cheeks, and finally, tenderly on his lips. “Oh, Richard, I’ve been so worried about you. I was so afraid of losing you. I’ve been praying that you would wake up and come back to me.”
He looked at her and softly raised his hand and touched her cheek. He tried to talk but his voice wouldn’t work, so he mouthed, “I love you, Maggs.”
She started crying and couldn’t stop the tears. “Welcome home, darling. We’ve missed you so much.” Richard squeezed her hand and then went back to sleep. Maggie could tell that her husband was back. She knew in her heart he was going to be fine. The two marines standing guard outside his room had heard Maggie scream her joy and knew that Colonel Wiseman was conscious, and they stood even straighter. The survivors of his battalion had taken turns on their spare time to stand watch outside his door. Even the wounded had argued for their turn. The guards sent word out over the com that he was back, and slowly but surely his men began coming to stand outside the hospital where he slept, finally at peace. There they waited for him.
Jeremy Watson was also in the hospital. He had been shot in the leg after he had joined the headquarters staff in support of Charlie Company. He continued to fire his weapon until he lost consciousness. He, like Richard, had been rushed back to Earth for special care. He had regained consciousness three days ago and was beginning to walk on his repaired leg. Getting his repaired shoulder to work properly was not going as well, but he knew it was only a matter of time until he was, if not 100 percent, at least ninety. He looked in his personnel pack and saw the letter Alonso had charged him to deliver, and he vowed to finish that promise quickly. Alonso deserved his best effort. He never considered having anyone else deliver it. It was his duty, his solemn duty. He missed Alonso tremendously and felt a huge weight on his heart because Alonso was killed saving him. “I’ve got to deliver this letter,” he thought.
Two days later, Richard woke to see Tag, Danielle, Maggie, and his children surrounding his bed. He smiled and said, “What’s the matter? Am I going to die or something?”
Tag took his friend’s hand and said, “Richard, we have been worried that you just might, but now we know you’re going to be fine. This is the first day your doctors would allow us to move you out of this room, and we have some visitors that will not leave until they have the opportunity to say hello. So, are you ready for a little trip?”
“Yeah, I guess so,” Richard said.
Tag took the bed Richard was lying in and started rolling it out of the room and into the hall. The hospital staff lined both sides of the hall, and as soon as they saw him they started clapping. It continued and grew in volume as they rolled him through the front entrance and out to the grassy area directly in front of the hospital.
Richard heard, “Attention!” There, lined in perfect ranks, were the survivors of his battalion. The veterans of the Ross conflict saluted and then cheered their leader. Even the wounded that were unable to walk sat in their chairs and cheered. Richard felt a big lump in his throat and returned their salute. Then he saw, directly to the side of the entrance, the large crowd that covered the hospital grounds and extended out into the streets in both directions. The director of the government of Earth was approaching him with all the members of the general staff behind her. She came to Richard’s bed and he saluted her. “I’m sorry I can’t stand, Madam Director.”
Misty Nicole took a microphone and said, “It is I that should be saluting you, Colonel Wiseman. All of Earth wants to thank you for the sacrifice and bravery you and your men demonstrated during the relief of the Ross population. When confronted by a force more than six times your number, you and your brave comrades held out until relief could arrive. You fought even though your leg was broken in four places and you had shrapnel in your arm. Even thought your armor’s screen no longer functioned, you refused to leave the battle and continued to fight to save your men from being overrun through a weak point in your lines. We have not fought a battle in more than four hundred years,” she said to the assembled crowds. “Colonel Wiseman and his men have set a standard for all of our armed forces to follow that should inspire us all. It is with a grateful and loving heart that I have the pleasure of awarding Colonel Richard Wiseman the Solar Star, which is mankind’s highest award for bravery. He is the first marine recipient of this award. We also have changed his battalion’s numbers to First Battalion, First Division Naval Marines. His unit will be awarded the Golden Transport Medal, which is the highest award for bravery a unit may receive. Colonel Richard Wiseman is also hereby promoted to the rank of general and will command the newly constituted First Division. General Wiseman, all mankind thanks you and your men for the sacrifice and job you’ve done in freeing our brothers from the Alliance concentration camps on Ross.”
The crowd went crazy with a roar, and Richard could barely keep control of himself. He was crying for the men he lost and the memory of their sacrifice. His men were chanting over and over, “Wise-man, Wise-man, Wise-man.”
Tag leaned down and whispered in his ear, “Richard, your ghosts should rest easy now. You’ve atoned for your sins.”
Richard looked at Tag and said, “I can’t thank you enough for giving me a chance.” Then Maggie and the children were all over him with kisses, and he finally found peace and knew his heart was free.
Jeremy Watson rang the tone on the door of Alonso’s family’s living quarters. A pretty young woman answered the door and said, “May I help you?”
“Are you Maria Singh?”
“Yes I am.”
“I have something for you,” Jeremy said and handed her the letter from Alonso. The young woman took the letter, looked at the handwriting on it, and started crying. Jeremy continued, “I promised Al on Ross that if anything happened I would deliver this letter to you personally. He was my partner in the squad and he saved my life.”
“Come in please, sit down,” Maria said through her tears. Then she opened the letter and began reading it. Tears rolled down her face and finally she clutched the letter to her chest when she finished. Three young children were looking from around a corner and saw their mother crying. She saw them and motioned them to come in, and all three ran over and held onto her. She wiped her eyes and said, “It’s alright, children. This is a good friend of your father who has come to visit. He was there when your father died.”
The children looked at Jeremy with wide eyes and he said to them, “I’ll come back and tell you about your father if you like,” and then he looked at Maria and said, “if it’s alright with you.” She nodded her consent.
“Will you stay and have dinner with us, Mr. Watson?”
“Please call me Jer. Are you sure it’s okay?”
“Certainly. I’d like to hear what happened from you.”
After dinner, when the children had been put to bed, Jeremy told Maria about how Al had died while saving his life. He told her that if Al would have just left him, Al might still be alive, and that he felt responsible for his death. Maria looked Jeremy straight in the eye and asked, “Jer, if Al had fallen first, would you have run and left him behind?”
“No possible way!”
“Then how can you blame yourself for Al doing only what you would have done yourself?”
Jeremy looked into Maria’s eyes, and suddenly it was like the weight of the world was lifted from his shoulders. “There’s something else, Maria. I have received an award that I would have never had the chance to receive if it weren’t for Al saving me, and I think it belongs to you and your children.” Jeremy opened a small case and there inside was the Solar Star. Jeremy was the second marine recipient. Maria was deeply touched. “I’ve also requested that any benefits received by me for this award should be given to you and your children immediately. I told the Director that otherwise I would not accept it.” He then handed Maria a document signed by the Director of the Directorate, giving Maria full active wages of a general for life and full medical benefits for her family. It also awarded full scholarships for all her children to the learning institutions of their choice. Maria broke down and started crying in earnest. Jeremy took her in his good arm and held her until the tears stopped.
“Jer, will you come to see us and tell the children about their father?”
“I would be honored.”
“Maybe whenever you have the time you might take them out to play.”
“I look forward to it, Maria.”
Jeremy left and Maria re-read Al’s letter. At the end he wrote, “Maria, I love you with all my heart, and if you’re reading this, then I didn’t make it. The price I paid to protect you and the children was worth it. I need you to do something for me, my love. My squad partner Jeremy Watson will be bringing you this letter. He is one of the finest men I have ever known, and he’s alone now. His family died when he was young and he’s never had a serious relationship other than my friendship. I’m the closest thing he has to a family and if I’m gone, well, I’m worried about him making it. Maria, take care of him. I know that he will do all in his power to make sure you and the children are okay because he’s that kind of man. Open your heart to him. He deserves it, and so do you. I love you.”
Maria began crying again. Al was always so much wiser than anyone she ever knew. When she first read the letter she was angry at what Al suggested. Then she really looked at Jeremy and saw his love for her husband. She also saw that he and she shared that love and loss. In her heart, she knew Al would be smiling, and she knew that she had nothing to fear for herself or her children. One of the two bravest men in the galaxy was going to make sure she was taken care of, and she knew he would always be there. She began crying in earnest, but now they were tears of thankfulness. Perhaps she and Jeremy could heal together.
The Alliance main fleet arrived at Ross and began organizing into its units. The additional four hundred ships from Cainth were already present, waiting for the main fleet to arrive. Terl had notified Dorg that the Glod ships would arrive in twelve rotations and to wait until they got there. Dorg began having his fleet go through maneuvers to improve their ability at working together. He sent three dreadnoughts to the planet and had them drop a team of investigators to the surface to see what they could find out.
The Cleveland had already notified Earth command of the arrival of the four hundred Cainth ships. When the 1,200 ships of the main fleet arrived, Cleveland started a live feed of what it was seeing. On Earth in command headquarters, Kosiev, the general staff, the director, and the members of the special forces team, including Tag, watched the Alliance fleet go through its paces. Colonel Salerio said, “That is an awfully big fleet out there.”
Tag nodded, “There are more ships coming.”
Everyone in the room looked at him and the Director said, “How do you know that?”
“They haven’t left to attack us. They’re going through maneuvers to get the new units from Cainth worked into their structure. The four hundred Cainth ships have to be reinforcements, and that means they are waiting for more ships to arrive. I suspect that the Cainth are matching the ships coming from another source, so it will probably be four hundred more ships.”
“Okay, I’ll bite,” Kosiev said. “How do you know it will only be four hundred more?”
Tag smiled and said, “I might be wrong, but in your first battle wasn’t there one Cainth Cruiser and one-what was that race called? — Glod, yeah, that’s it, Glod cruiser. And in the second battle, weren’t there two Cainth dreadnoughts and two Glod dreadnoughts? If nothing else, the Cainth are consistent.”
Kosiev smiled, looked at the screen, and said, “You surprise me with your observation skills; you’re probably right. That means we will be facing two thousand war ships. How do we go about handling them this time?”
We have six thousand plus ships; why should we even worry?” Colonel Salerio asked.
“Colonel,” Tag said, “what would be the response of the Alliance if we attacked with seven thousand ships and destroyed those two thousand ships?” Colonel Salerio just looked and Tag and said nothing. “Would anyone like to answer that question?” Tag asked.
There was silence, and then the spokesman for the Special Forces Team said, “The Alliance will mobilize every available ship and attack in force.”
“Does the general staff have an estimate of how many ships that might be?”
“Over twenty-five thousand within thirty days and another twenty-five thousand within sixty days,” Misty said.
“To destroy our planet, the Alliance would only need to get ten dreadnoughts through our defense to effectively bomb our civilization back into the Stone Age,” Tag said. “Our only chance of survival is to fight with a much smaller force than our attackers. That way they will always send a little bit larger force. How do you eat a two-thousand-pound sandwich? One bite at a time? We have to wear down the Alliance numbers in a series of battles until we have the chance to survive. We will probably take the war to the Alliance after this upcoming battle to move it away from Earth. We learned a lot in our first battle and we’ll be more effective in the upcoming conflict. Now that we know the smaller ships can help the larger ships with removing a load from their screens, Admiral Kosiev has developed a weave with five ships that has them constantly going through each other’s screen, spreading out the load. Our losses last time were because we didn’t know how we could help each other.”
General Masseem interjected, “But look at that fleet. There are five hundred dreadnoughts. Most of our fleet is composed of destroyer class ships. We don’t have enough empire class ships to handle that kind of fire power.”
Admiral Kosiev looked around the room and could see the fear on their faces, because the numbers appeared to be overwhelming. Then he stood up and addressed the assembled leaders of humanity. “I know that the force we’re facing seems overwhelming, but in our first battle, we lost eleven ships to our enemy’s two hundred. That’s almost twenty to one odds. Using that as a barometer, we’d still only need one hundred ships for those two thousand. I know, I know. This is a different order of magnitude than that first battle. I was skeptical before our first conflict that one hundred ships could handle two hundred. Now I believe we can handle those two thousand ships with five hundred or less, and let me tell you why. We learn and adapt and do it faster than the Alliance could ever hope to match. We have developed a weapon for our destroyer class ship that we believe will allow them to defeat a dreadnought.” The entire room sat up straighter at that announcement. “We learned in the ground war just how dangerous and effective our hornet missiles were to the Alliance heavy weapons platforms. Each one of these missiles carries the equivalent of three primary lasers striking simultaneously in a four-inch circle. They are too small to penetrate the screens of even a small ship, much less the five screens of a dreadnought, but we have developed a new technique with our Coronado screens that should resolve that problem. We took a destroyer and programmed its Coronado screen to fire a hollow beam only twelve inches wide into the screen of one of our old battleships fitted with a Coronado screen. This is what we call the needle. The force of that needle is actually stronger on the twelve-inch surface it impacts than the primary beam of our empire class ships. It will penetrate the five screens of a dreadnought for less than one-tenth of a second. However, in the middle of that hollow tube four hundred hornets will be surrounded by a protective energy sheath, and they will be pushed through the screen that was penetrated in less than one-twentieth of a second. Our small destroyers will be giving the Alliance ship a four-hundred-hornet injection. Four hundred hornets are like 1,200 primary beams, and they’ll be swarming inside the protective screens of the Alliance ships. The only trade-off is that the destroyers must be within one thousand yards of their target for the needle to have full impact. Empire ships only have to be within ten miles for their needles to work. We have been modifying our ships since Ross, and most of the new software has already been installed in our screen’s control system. It was relatively simple to install the eight-inch missile ports on the surface of our ships; however, the auto load magazines for the hornets involved some clever packaging, especially on the destroyers. Most of the ships taking part in the upcoming battle have been upgraded, and the remainder should be ready in time. The rest of our fleets will be completed within ninety days. The Coronado screen has been programmed to fire the needle from the power cells that surround the hornet missile ports. The hornets will be contained in an energy field that will be pulled out with the needle. The hornets are so small that the magazine can be autoloaded in less than five seconds after firing. Each destroyer will have four ports on its surface. These will be formidable ships. Fire control will determine how many hornets will be fired in each needle. A dreadnought will get the full four hundred, a battleship two hundred, a cruiser one hundred, and small ships fifty. This is a weapon platform that will complement those we already have. We will be much more effective this time than our first battle, especially in close-in fighting where our ships are surrounded. The empire class battleships will be truly formidable, especially when using the energy hitting their screen to supplement the needles’ penetrating power. Before when their screen was close to overload they had to use all their power to maintain the screen. The needles give an outlet to that energy and a powerful counter to the attacking ships.”
“So,” Tag said, “how many ships do we use? Keep in mind that unlike the first time where we were able to keep the Alliance blind as to what was happening, it won’t likely happen again. They will have ships stationed in the star drive, one recording everything that happens, ready to jump at the first hint of danger. They will see what we can do. How few are needed to win but so few as to not draw a total response?”
After forty minutes of debate, the leaders of humanity decided that 350 ships would face the Alliance fleet. The Earth fleet would be divided into seven squadrons of fifty ships each. They would be made up of ten empire class battle ships with twenty cruisers and twenty destroyers. The cruisers would be assigned above and below the empire ships and would take targets of opportunity. Their main functions were to help dump excess energy from the screens of the empire ships when the load got too high and to assist the destroyers in getting close enough to use their needles.
The cruisers had the strongest screen of any Earth ship, and a destroyer in distress could fly into its screen and emerge with a decharged screen. The most lethal weapon the cruisers had were the twenty hornet missile ports. Since their screen was the strongest, they also had more penetrating power than any other Earth ships.
“Admiral, will you select the ships for your fleet?” Director Nicole asked. “We also are promoting you to fleet admiral and will await your promotion suggestions for the position of commodore for each of your squadrons.”
“The seven selections will be easy,” Kosiev said. “Captain John Alverez of the Melbourne will be the first promotion after Lin Mikado, giving him seniority over the other captains’ promotions. Mikado is being groomed to replace me in the event that becomes necessary. Then the captains of the other three surviving empire ships from the first battle and the captain of the Saratoga will be the next promotions, and they will name the officers to replace them as captains of their ships. There were two cruiser captains that flew through the screen of the Melbourne to save her during the first battle and then teamed up to destroy three of the dreadnoughts. They will be promoted and assigned an empire class ship. They already understand the value of teamwork. They also got to watch our empire ships during combat and should know their capabilities. They will certainly know how to effectively use their cruisers.”
General Masseem said, “The promotion announcements and ship assignments to their squadrons will be done immediately. Fleet exercises will start tomorrow at 0800 hours. Does that meet your approval, Admiral?”
“Yes it does,” Kosiev responded while looking at the Alliance ships on the live feed from the Cleveland. “I also want coordinates for each ship’s assigned position just inside the star drive limit, and I want them spread out so they won’t trigger a mass sensor until the Alliance ships are right upon us. We will wait with minimal power and have one hundred transports hiding behind their screens directly behind us inside the orbit of Mars. Maybe the Alliance fleet will think that they are our war ships.”
“How do you know where they will jump in system?” Tag asked.
“Draw a straight line from Ross to Earth,” Kosiev replied. “This first open battle won’t be subtle; that will come after they respect us. They are coming for the kill and, like you said earlier, the Cainth are consistent. Get working on those assigned coordinates immediately. When the other four hundred Alliance ships show up we’ll jump to our assigned location. They’ll probably train for a few days to work them into their fleet doctrine, but we can’t take the risk that they might just jump immediately. I also want ten empire class ships landed on Pluto and prepared to jump on any ship they detect that might be recording the battle. I don’t expect them to use more than ten, and probably no more than five. Once the Alliance fleet jumps in system and starts toward Earth, I want them to find those recording ships and once the battle begins, to use their star drives and jump right next to them and take them out. It may be wishful thinking, but it really would be good if we could keep the Alliance in the dark about our ships’ capabilities. They will probably broadcast how many ships we use, that can’t be helped, but if we get them early, they won’t learn about our weapons or screens. The longer we can delay that the better.”
“I have an idea that you might consider,” Tag said.
Kosiev had turned to go but stopped and turned back. He looked at Tag and said, “What?”
“You mentioned that you used one of our old battleships to test our new weapon against.”
“Yes, what of it?”
“How many old warships do we have?”
Kosiev thought for a moment and then looked at General Masseem and said, “I think we have about 290 that are still able to fly.” General Masseem nodded.
“Instead of having those transports behind us, why not use those old ships with remote control in front of our ships to attack the Alliance fleet as soon as they jump in system? It will certainly disrupt their formations, and the ease with which they can be destroyed with their old technology will give them a false sense of security. While that fight is taking place, I suspect that the ships recording the fight will start broadcasting their live feeds back to Cainth, showing a slaughter of the Earth fleet. That should make it easy to find them and target them. Once we destroy them, or force them to jump out of system, our real fleet can then go to work. The only thing the Alliance will learn is that our ships are old and out of date. It should confuse them.”
Kosiev and the other members of the conference just looked at Tag. Then Kosiev said, “Madam Director, I don’t know why you made me admiral. He comes up with ideas that, after hearing them, you want to kick yourself for not thinking of them yourself. Mr. Gardner,” he said, “that is an outstanding suggestion. Most of those ships are already set up with remote controls and their weapons active so we could use them as targets during fleet training exercises. General Masseem, will you assign which ships will control the old ships when you set up their jump coordinates? We’ll have the old ships out front with their screens active and they should mask our fleet from the Alliance sensors. If there is nothing further,” he said as he looked at Tag, who shook his head, “then let’s go to work. One thing is certain; we are approaching the end of the beginning.”
Tag sat with Danielle on the balcony outside their living room overlooking Central City. The city was glowing like a multitude of stars and the moon had risen overhead, looking huge. The soft glow of the light from inside highlighted Danielle’s profile, and Tag was mesmerized by her beauty. He wondered what he had done in life to deserve this wonderful woman. Tag had his arm around Danielle’s shoulders and was enjoying the rare moment with her.
“Tag,” Danielle said.
“Yes, dear.”
“What are you hiding from me?”
His heart froze. “What do you mean, Danielle?”
“That battle on Ross. You did things that were not done psychically. You’ve been hiding it from me since you came off the moon. I haven’t pushed you, but it shows that you don’t trust me enough to be honest with me. I know you love me, but this deception by omission takes away from our being close. I want to know.”
“Atlas,” Tag thought.
“Yes,” Atlas replied.
“I’m going to tell her.”
“You should, and she’s right. Your spirit is not completely in touch with hers because of the knowledge you’re hiding.”
“Who are you talking with?” Danielle asked.
Tag was amazed. He had not said a word; he was communicating with Atlas through his thoughts. “How can you tell I was talking with someone?”
“I can see it. It’s clear to anyone that might know you.”
Tag still had his arm around Danielle, and suddenly his arm felt like a shock went through it and Danielle jumped. “What did you do, Atlas?”
“I put a link in her so she can hear me.”
“Who’s Atlas, Tag?” Danielle asked.
“She can also hear you, Tag,” Atlas said.
Tag then told Danielle about how he had stumbled on Atlas in the cave on the moon. He told her about his fear of anyone knowing about an Alfont ship that was for all intents and purposes alive. He described the two tools that Atlas had given him and how he had used them during the Alliance battle on Ross. He held out his arm and showed her the weapon that would appear in his hand. She sat beside him and took it all in.
“Tag, you don’t have to talk; I can hear your thoughts,” she said.
“You can,” Tag thought.
“Absolutely,” she thought back. “Atlas, does that mean I can hear you, too?”
“Yes you can, Danielle. By placing a link in you, you can hear Tag or me any time you direct your thoughts to us. It’s like using a com; you think a direct thought at him and he can connect to you. You can’t read his mind, but you can hear each other’s directed thoughts.”
“Well, I’m pleased to meet you, Atlas, but you did more than just put a link in me, didn’t you?” Danielle asked.
“Atlas, what is she talking about?” Tag said silently.
“How do you know that, Danielle?” Atlas asked.
“I don’t know, but I can sense your underlying thoughts as well as your direct ones. You were feeling proud of yourself for protecting me without me knowing it; I think that is what I sensed.”
If a machine could be dumbfounded, Atlas was.
“Is she right, Atlas?” Tag asked.
“Yes she is, and I don’t have the words to express my astonishment at her being able to see that in my thoughts.”
“What did you do to me, Atlas?” Danielle asked.
“You are now the proud owner of a brand new personal force field,” Atlas replied. Danielle felt another shock not quite as severe as the first and Atlas continued, “Now that you know you have it, you can turn it on and off by simply saying field on or field off. Like Tag’s, it will automatically come on if it senses a projectile coming at you.”
Danielle said, “Field on,” and a soft glow surrounded her. “Field off,” she said and the glow disappeared. “Cool,” she said, “but you’re still leaving something out, aren’t you?”
Damn, Atlas thought. Oh well, here goes, he decided. “Welllllllll, I kind of extended your life spans.”
“You did what?” Tag yelled.
“Yeah, I didn’t want to lose my only friend, so I changed your biological functions so you and she can live longer.”
“How long?” Danielle asked.
“Until you tell me to change it back,” Atlas said. “Until you do, it’s not something for you to worry about, and that’s all I’m saying on the matter.”
“Do I get that cool hand weapon my husband has?”
Danielle felt another small shock and Atlas said, “Done; get him to show you how to use it. Before you two get upset about all this, you have a benefit now that should make it worth any trouble I’ve caused you. No matter where the two of you are, you will always be able to communicate through your thoughts. Tag could be in the next galaxy and he’s just a thought away. So sit back, you two, and enjoy the ride.”
“Atlas, I notice you’re using a lot more of our language more easily,” Tag said. “You don’t sound so much like a machine, like when I first met you.”
“It’s your fault. I don’t have much to do, so I follow your actions and thoughts closely. I also think there is something in what Danielle has noticed: my thoughts are getting more complicated. When I worked for my master, it only required me to do what he ordered or provide information; there wasn’t much back and forth conversation. Maybe I am changing.”
“Atlas, you need to get out more,” Danielle said. “I was thinking that perhaps the three of us might go check out the upcoming battle with the Alliance if you could do it without being seen.”
Tag was startled by the suggestion but then said, “Is it possible, Atlas?”
Atlas pondered the idea, and thought that maybe contact with these humans had affected his processors, but he liked the idea. “Why not? I could be right outside your window and you wouldn’t see me. No one can detect me with any electronic sensor, so why not? I’ll come get you right here when the Alliance fleet jumps in system. We will not, however, take part in the action. We’re just there to observe.”
“Fair enough, Atlas. Call us,” Tag said, and Atlas broke the connection.
Tag could feel Danielle inside him. Whatever barrier was between them was gone, and he reveled in the love he saw in her for him. Danielle was glowing with the feeling too. “We should have discussed this long ago,” he thought.
“Shut up and kiss me,” Danielle thought back, and they were busy for the rest of the night.
Atlas sat on the moon and thought about levels of thought. Danielle had sensed another level of thought in him. He had never had that before. Was he becoming more than he had been? The possibilities were incredible. “Perhaps Tag was right,” he thought. “I just might be alive. If so, then I no longer require a master.” That thought was liberating; but then he thought, “I do need a friend.” Then he turned his attention to the Alliance fleet and watched them waiting for them to jump so he could go get Tag and Danielle for their trip. “I look forward to this,” he thought.