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Authors: Saxon Andrew
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us to go quite a long distance from your Union. We think they won’t be able to find us.”
“You believe your current technology won’t stand up to them?” The Grandfather shrugged again. Trip thought for a moment and shook his head, “And they’re two thousand more years advanced than they were?”
“That’s what worries us. They are an aggressive species and nothing causes technological advances like continuous war.”
“And we’ve been at peace the entire time.” The Grandfather shrugged a third time. “Do you have any clue as to whether or not they can translate your broadcasts?”
“Did you?” Trip nodded. “Then I suspect they can as well. And that’s what really shocked me when the former Senior launched his probes. I always knew he was an arrogant, selfish being but this took it to an entirely new level. He was deliberately baiting another Family knowing the Threshers would hear the message. He was so selfish, he didn’t care.”
“Under the conditions you just described, another Family will probably not come.”
“That’s just it; we are all sworn to go to another Family’s aid when called. I believe a Family will come. And I believe the Threshers will send a ship to wait for their arrival. The ensuing fight will be unimaginable for the civilizations where they arrive.”
“I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying.”
“The Threshers will not just limit their attacks to the Family. Their ferocity will spill over and millions of planets will be left burning.”
“Why would they attack others?”
“To prevent the Family from gathering enough food to continue the fight. They want to force the Family to flee and they will follow their ships and kill them all. The Families have agreed that if any of them encounter a Thresher Fleet they will not lead that Fleet to other Families; they will fight and die where they’re found.”
“They could just flee to open space.”
“And they would all be followed and consumed. Our ships cannot escape their detection devices. It would be a complete waste of effort to try.”
“How will the Families decide who will come?”
“There will be a death drawing. Whichever family pulls an orange ball from a container will be charged to go. They know what will be awaiting them.”
“And they’ll still come?”
“The Families have no choice but to send a Family to answer the distress call. The Senior knew all this and still launched his probes, when he knew his Family was dead. I hope his soul burns forever.”
“I really think he wanted those that killed his family to be punished for it.”
“That’s a shallow reason.”
Trip nodded and blew out a breath, “I suppose you’re right.”
“Would you do it?”
Trip looked at the Grandfather and could only remain silent.
• • •
The Renegade Shuttle took Trip back to his ship and Cole and Andi breathed a sigh of relief. Trip appeared on their displays and Cole immediately saw something was wrong, “What did you find out?”
Trip shook his head, “I’ll share the conversation I had with the Family’s Senior Grandfather and you tell me what you think. I don’t want to color your thoughts with my own.” Trip took the language translator off his belt and plugged it into his panel. “Moe!”
“Yes Trip.”
“Please download a copy of this conversation and I’m also plugging in a data cube the Grandfather gave me with all the information he has on what he expects to happen.” Trip plugged the data cube into his panel beside the language pack and leaned back. The three ships jumped out of the Renegade’s system and no one spoke until they arrived back at Euclid.
• • •
The three Needles landed at the Mansion and the three weary pilots exited their ships and went to Trip’s quarters. Cole was the first to speak, “This kinda puts all we’ve done into perspective.” Trip looked at him and Cole said, “Barbara’s temper really doesn’t measure up to what
“You believe your current technology won’t stand up to them?” The Grandfather shrugged again. Trip thought for a moment and shook his head, “And they’re two thousand more years advanced than they were?”
“That’s what worries us. They are an aggressive species and nothing causes technological advances like continuous war.”
“And we’ve been at peace the entire time.” The Grandfather shrugged a third time. “Do you have any clue as to whether or not they can translate your broadcasts?”
“Did you?” Trip nodded. “Then I suspect they can as well. And that’s what really shocked me when the former Senior launched his probes. I always knew he was an arrogant, selfish being but this took it to an entirely new level. He was deliberately baiting another Family knowing the Threshers would hear the message. He was so selfish, he didn’t care.”
“Under the conditions you just described, another Family will probably not come.”
“That’s just it; we are all sworn to go to another Family’s aid when called. I believe a Family will come. And I believe the Threshers will send a ship to wait for their arrival. The ensuing fight will be unimaginable for the civilizations where they arrive.”
“I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying.”
“The Threshers will not just limit their attacks to the Family. Their ferocity will spill over and millions of planets will be left burning.”
“Why would they attack others?”
“To prevent the Family from gathering enough food to continue the fight. They want to force the Family to flee and they will follow their ships and kill them all. The Families have agreed that if any of them encounter a Thresher Fleet they will not lead that Fleet to other Families; they will fight and die where they’re found.”
“They could just flee to open space.”
“And they would all be followed and consumed. Our ships cannot escape their detection devices. It would be a complete waste of effort to try.”
“How will the Families decide who will come?”
“There will be a death drawing. Whichever family pulls an orange ball from a container will be charged to go. They know what will be awaiting them.”
“And they’ll still come?”
“The Families have no choice but to send a Family to answer the distress call. The Senior knew all this and still launched his probes, when he knew his Family was dead. I hope his soul burns forever.”
“I really think he wanted those that killed his family to be punished for it.”
“That’s a shallow reason.”
Trip nodded and blew out a breath, “I suppose you’re right.”
“Would you do it?”
Trip looked at the Grandfather and could only remain silent.
• • •
The Renegade Shuttle took Trip back to his ship and Cole and Andi breathed a sigh of relief. Trip appeared on their displays and Cole immediately saw something was wrong, “What did you find out?”
Trip shook his head, “I’ll share the conversation I had with the Family’s Senior Grandfather and you tell me what you think. I don’t want to color your thoughts with my own.” Trip took the language translator off his belt and plugged it into his panel. “Moe!”
“Yes Trip.”
“Please download a copy of this conversation and I’m also plugging in a data cube the Grandfather gave me with all the information he has on what he expects to happen.” Trip plugged the data cube into his panel beside the language pack and leaned back. The three ships jumped out of the Renegade’s system and no one spoke until they arrived back at Euclid.
• • •
The three Needles landed at the Mansion and the three weary pilots exited their ships and went to Trip’s quarters. Cole was the first to speak, “This kinda puts all we’ve done into perspective.” Trip looked at him and Cole said, “Barbara’s temper really doesn’t measure up to what
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