since you have graced us with a visit.”
“We never really determined how you viewed us. We worried that you might have considered us as enemies.”
“My ancestor swore that he would never attack you and would come to your defense if needed. His promise binds us all.”
“We’ve seen former friends abandon their promises.”
“Then they were never friends in the first place.”
“Your wisdom is remarkable; I know you are right.”
“You may come to the planet and visit me on my ship.”
“Thank you, Grandfather.”
“You’re welcome, Child.”
“Cole, I want you and Andi to remain here.”
“There’s no way I’ll allow you to go in there alone.”
“Cole, I need you to make sure Andi is safe.”
Cole’s expression was stubborn but after a moment he said, “Don’t think I won’t use the Pegs if something happens to you.”
Trip sighed, “Andi, please help him see the long view.”
“I’m more concerned with the short view. Either we are a team or we need to end this right now.”
Trip saw she was serious. “Ian?”
“If none of us make it back, the message will be understood by the Union. No one is needed to deliver it.”
“Ok, we’re all in this together. From this day forward we will all look after each other’s safety. Stay with me.”
Cole shook his head, “What choice do we have? We’re locked in to your drive unit.”
“Ian, disable the lock. You now have the freedom to do what you deem necessary; just stay close.”
“Aye, aye, Sir.”
Trip rolled his eyes and thought of Andrew; he moved the Needle toward the planet
Chapter Six
T hey moved in closer to the planet and fifty of the small craft moved in and led them toward a giant vessel hanging in orbit. “Trip, that is a fully operational model of the ships we saw stripped in the outer system.”
“I recognize it from the recordings in the Vaults, Ian. It appears they have changed their behaviors.”
“Help me understand how you made that determination.”
“The only purpose of building ships that large is so that massive loads could be moved from a planet and stored. If you don’t require that to survive, smaller ships are more economical to build and offer a better defense.”
“That’s why the Union’s ships have always been small.”
“Yes; a force field is weakened with the square of the area it has to protect.”
“It’s fortunate the new reactors don’t require a large space.”
“That’s the only way we could build a ship this small and be more powerful than a ship a hundred times its size.”
The panel activated and Trip heard, “I’m sending you a shuttle to bring you to my ship. Do you have the necessary apparatus to support your atmosphere?”
“I do. Give me a moment to put it on.” Trip went to the locker at the rear of the small bridge and buckled a belt around his waist. He pressed the blue activate button and a field appeared around him and oxygen began filling it. He checked the translator attached to the belt and saw it included the Renegade’s language. He went to the portal in the hull and raised it. The shuttle had already docked and he stepped out into the small white ship.
• • •
“Andi, I never knew he had this level of bravery. I’m the one that usually had to step in and defend him.”
“I suspect he didn’t know it either, Cole.”
“He’s changing.”
“Do you still recognize him?”
“Yes, but something’s happening.”
“I suspect he’s becoming what has always been locked up inside him. I just worry which ancestor he’ll mimic.”
“I’m sorry, you’ve lost me.”
“The Dark Officer is one of his forefathers.” Cole stared at Andi on his display and felt a small fear enter his heart.
• • •
Trip was amazed by the Family member that greeted him. It looked like a giant amoeba with eyestalks. It constantly changed shape as it moved, “Grandfather is waiting for you. It’s really good to see one of your species again after
“We never really determined how you viewed us. We worried that you might have considered us as enemies.”
“My ancestor swore that he would never attack you and would come to your defense if needed. His promise binds us all.”
“We’ve seen former friends abandon their promises.”
“Then they were never friends in the first place.”
“Your wisdom is remarkable; I know you are right.”
“You may come to the planet and visit me on my ship.”
“Thank you, Grandfather.”
“You’re welcome, Child.”
“Cole, I want you and Andi to remain here.”
“There’s no way I’ll allow you to go in there alone.”
“Cole, I need you to make sure Andi is safe.”
Cole’s expression was stubborn but after a moment he said, “Don’t think I won’t use the Pegs if something happens to you.”
Trip sighed, “Andi, please help him see the long view.”
“I’m more concerned with the short view. Either we are a team or we need to end this right now.”
Trip saw she was serious. “Ian?”
“If none of us make it back, the message will be understood by the Union. No one is needed to deliver it.”
“Ok, we’re all in this together. From this day forward we will all look after each other’s safety. Stay with me.”
Cole shook his head, “What choice do we have? We’re locked in to your drive unit.”
“Ian, disable the lock. You now have the freedom to do what you deem necessary; just stay close.”
“Aye, aye, Sir.”
Trip rolled his eyes and thought of Andrew; he moved the Needle toward the planet
Chapter Six
T hey moved in closer to the planet and fifty of the small craft moved in and led them toward a giant vessel hanging in orbit. “Trip, that is a fully operational model of the ships we saw stripped in the outer system.”
“I recognize it from the recordings in the Vaults, Ian. It appears they have changed their behaviors.”
“Help me understand how you made that determination.”
“The only purpose of building ships that large is so that massive loads could be moved from a planet and stored. If you don’t require that to survive, smaller ships are more economical to build and offer a better defense.”
“That’s why the Union’s ships have always been small.”
“Yes; a force field is weakened with the square of the area it has to protect.”
“It’s fortunate the new reactors don’t require a large space.”
“That’s the only way we could build a ship this small and be more powerful than a ship a hundred times its size.”
The panel activated and Trip heard, “I’m sending you a shuttle to bring you to my ship. Do you have the necessary apparatus to support your atmosphere?”
“I do. Give me a moment to put it on.” Trip went to the locker at the rear of the small bridge and buckled a belt around his waist. He pressed the blue activate button and a field appeared around him and oxygen began filling it. He checked the translator attached to the belt and saw it included the Renegade’s language. He went to the portal in the hull and raised it. The shuttle had already docked and he stepped out into the small white ship.
• • •
“Andi, I never knew he had this level of bravery. I’m the one that usually had to step in and defend him.”
“I suspect he didn’t know it either, Cole.”
“He’s changing.”
“Do you still recognize him?”
“Yes, but something’s happening.”
“I suspect he’s becoming what has always been locked up inside him. I just worry which ancestor he’ll mimic.”
“I’m sorry, you’ve lost me.”
“The Dark Officer is one of his forefathers.” Cole stared at Andi on his display and felt a small fear enter his heart.
• • •
Trip was amazed by the Family member that greeted him. It looked like a giant amoeba with eyestalks. It constantly changed shape as it moved, “Grandfather is waiting for you. It’s really good to see one of your species again after
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