Read Online SECTOR 64: Ambush by Dean M. Cole - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Dean M. Cole
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sir, if there are thousands …" he paused, searching for words. "They'd be hard to miss. Surely we would've seen them long before this."
The general's smile expanded. "We did. May I continue?"
Shocked, hands raised in surrender, Jake sat back. "Sorry, sir, please do."
Tannehill smiled sympathetically. "It's okay, Captain. I've been in that seat myself." Leaning forward, he activated a computer embedded in the table.
The room darkened and a storm of lights swirled overhead. Looking up, Jake froze in open-mouthed amazement. After a few seconds, the pinpoints of light coalesced into a vibrant hologram that filled the space between the long table and the ceiling. "It's beautiful," he whispered.
Nearly filling the room, a stunning twenty-foot-wide three-dimensional rendering of the spiral-armed Milky Way galaxy rotated majestically over their heads.
General Tannehill continued as if a hovering hologram were an everyday occurrence. "The predominant species is an ancient race called the Argonians. Steeped in tradition and spread throughout hundreds of star systems, they founded a transgalactic government thousands of years ago."
"While it was started by the Argonians, it is an inclusive, representative government, providing peace and stability equally to all, regardless of species or stature."
He toggled the computer's touchscreen. A truly alien bust filled the display. Chirping melodiously, a feathery, bird-like creature's obvious sentient eyes peered through a colorful plume.
"Argonian?"
Tannehill shook his head.
Fading, the avian was replaced by a furry squeaking mouse-like being. Beaming with intelligence, its eyes twitched nervously back and forth under a gold flight helmet. Then an alien with a grouper's fish face spoke in a deep tone, the meaning of its gurgling words a mystery. An accelerating myriad of visages paraded through the hologram, morphing through various species: reptilian, amphibian, and several more avian and mammalian analogues. Jake was unable to class some—including one that looked like a talking rock with a matching gravelly voice.
The last one faded, and the hologram vaporized.
Jake's gaze dropped to the general. "Their eyes." He paused, searching for the right words. "Regardless of color or shape, they all burned with … intelligence."
"Astute observation, Captain," General Tannehill said with an appreciative nod.
"So, which one was Argonian?" Jake asked.
"None." Apparently disinclined to expound, the general continued his presentation. His fingers danced over the embedded keyboard, and a new hologram coalesced overhead. He pointed at the rotating icon. "The Seal of the United Galactic Federation, the Argonian founded institution that has successfully governed the galaxy for thousands of years."
Several unidentifiable symbols adorned its surface. However, Jake was surprised to see familiar images of interlinked rings, birds, and green leaves prominently displayed on the revolving hallmark.
The hologram changed back to the rotating galactic plane and the general continued. "It's a big galaxy—unimaginably big. Even with all of their assets and technology, the Argonians still haven't charted every sector. So, a couple of thousand years ago, they deployed a self-propagating network of sensors."
Jake watched a grid of luminous green points spread across the twenty-foot-wide galaxy. Numbering in the tens of thousands, the rendered devices gave the entire galaxy a green hue.
"They're designed to look for a myriad of signals associated with burgeoning technological societies."
Jake nodded, enthralled.
"In nineteen forty-five, we got their attention," the general said, with a meaningful look.
After a moment, Jake put it together. "We detonated our first nuclear weapon."
"Yep," Richard chimed in. "Apparently, unnatural fission reactions rate pretty high on their list."
The general nodded. "When the Argonians detected the electro-magnetic pulse, they deployed two scout ships to our
The general's smile expanded. "We did. May I continue?"
Shocked, hands raised in surrender, Jake sat back. "Sorry, sir, please do."
Tannehill smiled sympathetically. "It's okay, Captain. I've been in that seat myself." Leaning forward, he activated a computer embedded in the table.
The room darkened and a storm of lights swirled overhead. Looking up, Jake froze in open-mouthed amazement. After a few seconds, the pinpoints of light coalesced into a vibrant hologram that filled the space between the long table and the ceiling. "It's beautiful," he whispered.
Nearly filling the room, a stunning twenty-foot-wide three-dimensional rendering of the spiral-armed Milky Way galaxy rotated majestically over their heads.
General Tannehill continued as if a hovering hologram were an everyday occurrence. "The predominant species is an ancient race called the Argonians. Steeped in tradition and spread throughout hundreds of star systems, they founded a transgalactic government thousands of years ago."
"While it was started by the Argonians, it is an inclusive, representative government, providing peace and stability equally to all, regardless of species or stature."
He toggled the computer's touchscreen. A truly alien bust filled the display. Chirping melodiously, a feathery, bird-like creature's obvious sentient eyes peered through a colorful plume.
"Argonian?"
Tannehill shook his head.
Fading, the avian was replaced by a furry squeaking mouse-like being. Beaming with intelligence, its eyes twitched nervously back and forth under a gold flight helmet. Then an alien with a grouper's fish face spoke in a deep tone, the meaning of its gurgling words a mystery. An accelerating myriad of visages paraded through the hologram, morphing through various species: reptilian, amphibian, and several more avian and mammalian analogues. Jake was unable to class some—including one that looked like a talking rock with a matching gravelly voice.
The last one faded, and the hologram vaporized.
Jake's gaze dropped to the general. "Their eyes." He paused, searching for the right words. "Regardless of color or shape, they all burned with … intelligence."
"Astute observation, Captain," General Tannehill said with an appreciative nod.
"So, which one was Argonian?" Jake asked.
"None." Apparently disinclined to expound, the general continued his presentation. His fingers danced over the embedded keyboard, and a new hologram coalesced overhead. He pointed at the rotating icon. "The Seal of the United Galactic Federation, the Argonian founded institution that has successfully governed the galaxy for thousands of years."
Several unidentifiable symbols adorned its surface. However, Jake was surprised to see familiar images of interlinked rings, birds, and green leaves prominently displayed on the revolving hallmark.
The hologram changed back to the rotating galactic plane and the general continued. "It's a big galaxy—unimaginably big. Even with all of their assets and technology, the Argonians still haven't charted every sector. So, a couple of thousand years ago, they deployed a self-propagating network of sensors."
Jake watched a grid of luminous green points spread across the twenty-foot-wide galaxy. Numbering in the tens of thousands, the rendered devices gave the entire galaxy a green hue.
"They're designed to look for a myriad of signals associated with burgeoning technological societies."
Jake nodded, enthralled.
"In nineteen forty-five, we got their attention," the general said, with a meaningful look.
After a moment, Jake put it together. "We detonated our first nuclear weapon."
"Yep," Richard chimed in. "Apparently, unnatural fission reactions rate pretty high on their list."
The general nodded. "When the Argonians detected the electro-magnetic pulse, they deployed two scout ships to our
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