the god project deep space adventure 4

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The G.O.D. Project: Deep Space Adventure

Book 4

Author: John Darts

Final Edit 5/25/2008

The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the

impossible.- Arthur C. Clarke

Copyright © 2008 by: John Darts

This may not be used, copied or distributed with out the direct permission of John Darts

by any means. This is the sole property of the writer and any rights may only be

transferred by written agreement signed by him.

[email protected]

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Chapter 1

The Starship Deep Space

Life had been interesting for Jack. He had gained by adoption a new eight-year-old

daughter on the planet Freedom and become a member of the Alpha board. He wascommander of the Starships Deep Space and Phoenix its sister ship. He had been given a

twenty-year mission to check each star in his path and every planet they had. Any planet

that could be made to support human life later was to be modified. But regardless allstars, planets and other bodies were to be mapped. The data for minerals, gasses and other

may be valuable materials would be logged and sent back to Alpha.

This mission had brought some unusual finds so far. But Jack was no one to look back.All that mattered to him was the next star or planet to be looked at. But his most prized

time was with his new daughter. He had never been married. But as a doctor and genetics

scientist he was well prepared to fill the role of father. He took great pleasure in Anne’s

every accomplishment. She was his outlet for emotions he had bottled up for years. Thiswas where he could show love, patience, understanding and the emotions he would never

show the crew or staff.

Jack’s biggest fear had always been someone using a relationship for their own

advantage. It had stopped friendships and love affairs for him. There were people he liked

or was fond of. But the mission and its needs always came first. He had built a wall between himself and others that only Anne had cracked. She wanted nothing but his love

and his approval in anything she did. For her the two of them spending time together,

without others being around was very nice. She did not need them to enjoy her daddy.

The staff had seen a different man after the adoption. Jack had mellowed and was less

abrasive. He still demanded top quality work and solid information on any issue. But hewas willing to listen before asking questions. The one thousand scientists were very

happy with the changes Anne brought to Jack. They respected him before and now most

even liked him.

Hope the computer for the Alpha planets had sent a nanny and teacher to Jack for Anne.

This freed him during the day to handle his job. It also gave structure to Anne’s day. With

having both male and female input it helped Anne to see life in a better way. Kate wouldeat with them and act as the mother image for Anne. She over saw the house and made

sure things Jack liked were done. The position she filled was one that many of Alpha’s

ladies had applied for. But Hope in her wisdom knew exactly what Jack needed to makethe adoption work. The nice thing was Anne loved Kate and often talked with her for

hours about girl things.

In the early days of the search for planets to modify, it had been hard for Deep Space.

They had come very close to disaster. But with Phoenix added and a lot more tools it had

become a joy.



The ability of the two ships was beyond what Jack ever imagined possible. The two

could fight a complete war with no added help. There were five thousand security force

troops on the two ships and over two hundred fighter craft. Their defenses they felt couldnot be breached. That of course would need to be proven against a good opponent. The

one they had faced so far was not much.

Today was one to enjoy the new star and planets they were working. Not much had been

found of value, but there was always much learning happening about how things formed.

Much of the ideas of Earth had been disproved and new knowledge was being written.

“Boss we have flights out to the interesting planets and samples are being taken. The two

gas giants have been sampled and nothing here looks good for modification. But at our

next star there are two possible planets that might work. There is an odd thing aboutthese. They share the same orbit around there sun. No one has ever had any idea this

could happen. But they are one hundred and eighty degrees apart in the same orbit.” This

came from Daniel, Jack’s number two. He was a robot of the class one type with a DNA

brain.

That was unique for him also. “Have you got probes out looking at this?”

“Yes sir we sent them as soon as Trish had the idea. She said it looks like the planets may

have formed from one after colliding with a large body.”

“We need a day to finish up here and input the data. So lets send Phoenix ahead and let

Trish look from there. Having two planets in the exact same orbit worries me. They could

one day catch up with each other. Or if they both were on the same side of the sun break free of the pull effect on them. So before I am sold on any action someone must convince

me of the safety factor.”

“I have heard the same comments from the scientists. Jane has crunch the numbers and

she has concerns.” Jane was the ships DNA computer.

“Well ask for Alpha help on the issue and let me know what feed back we get.”

Daniel already had things moving for Jack. “Everyone has been notified and I will advise

of the input.”

Jack sat back into his commander’s chair and watched the screen. He was following the

transports and their sampling. The crews worked very well together. It was a mix of security troops and scientists. Most of the security troops could have taken the scientists

jobs over and done them as well. That group was made up of PhD’s from Alpha in many

different skills. They were young and lacked experience, but they did not lack knowledge. They were doing their time in government service as security force troops

and would marry and decide what they wanted to do in life when they got home. But the

group was very smart and well educated as all on Alpha were.



Jack saw Phoenix moving off and heading to the new star. It would take a couple of days

before they got good close pictures of these planets. So he advised the pilot he was

leaving the bridge.

Jack walked in and it smelled wonderful. The food being cooked was tempting just to

smell. He walked into the kitchen and saw Anne on a stool and Kate working at the stove.“Who is making these great smells?”

Anne laughed at this. “We both are daddy. Kate and I were talking about how food is prepared. I wanted to see how it is done and she agreed to show me. But after seeing this

and how it smells so nice we need to cook here often. Kate said she would teach me to be

a very good cook if I wanted. So we will cook for you often now as I learn.”

This pleased Jack and he smiled at the two girls. Kate was just a ten year older version of

Anne. But he had seen how attached she had become to Kate and liked that. Kate had

shown love and great patience with Anne. “Well I am going to take a shower and then can

we eat?”

Anne laughed at this. “Kate said we are fifteen minutes from dinner. She made fresh rollsand a cake today for us.”

He just shook his head and headed to his room. The shower relaxed him and he felt really

good. This was working like a real family and he had never had that before. His parentshad died when he was young and grandparents had brought him up. Due to their age he

had been farmed out to boarding schools for much of his life. Understanding a family and

the dynamic was just hard for him.

Anne called him so he finished dressing and went to the table. The food look great and he

was hungry like he had never been. “Ladies you have just got a customer to your gourmetrestaurant. This looks and smells out standing.” Both of the girls were beaming.

Jack had not enjoyed a meal so much. This was really living and the cake Kate and Annehad made was so light it melted on your tongue. “Ladies you did an outstanding job. I

have never enjoyed a meal like I have this one.”

That made all the work ad effort worthwhile. “Jack if you want to read to Anne and gether into the tub I will clean up here.”

He saw she was being sure he had his own time alone with Anne. “Thank you Kate Iwill.”

They headed to Anne’s room and the big chair Jack had installed here. Anne picked a book and jumped into Jack’s lap. “I want you to read this one daddy.”

He looked at the book and was surprised at it. It was a story of a man and woman who

found each other because of a child. “Why this book Anne?”



Anne was not sure how to say what she wanted to. But she knew the best way was right

up front. “I love you very much daddy and we have been happy. But when Kate came shegave me another mother. I had hoped when you read the book you would see what a good

family the three of us would make.”

Jack did not expect that. He sat for a time and thought about this comment. “Anne I have

no idea why a beautiful young lady like Kate would be interested in me. She is much

younger and will find a young man someday and marry.”

“I have watched her look at you and watch you. She cares very much about you. Today

when I asked her why she did not tell you, she said because she did not want to be sent

away. She loves me and loves you and does not want to loose that.”

This really hit Jack. Kate was the first woman he had felt totally comfortable with. They

had many discussions and she always was supportive of him. “Anne I am not sure this

would be good for me or you?”

“I think it would be great for both of us. After I came to you I found out you and Trishhas been lovers. She was nice but I would never want her for a mother. A lot of the young

women on the ship would jump at the chance to date you. But they all would expect to

gain from that. Kate wants nothing from you but what I do. That is for you to be happy

and to share our love. She has given me the person to discuss girl things with. A lot of that you would never understand being a man.”

This was incredible coming from an eight year old. “May I ask you how you see thesethings?”

“My birth mother did bad things for a living. I learned a lot just watching her and the menshe would bring home. She never loved anyone and could not do that. She was cold and

did not have time for me. When she told me I was sick and she did not have the money

for treatments, I heard no more about it. I did not know how sick I was, until you told meafter you cured me. So I may be eight, but I see things very different from most my age.”

Jack now was really shocked, as Anne had never been so honest about her past life.

“Anne you the smartest eight year old I have ever seen. I am surprised that the life youhad did not color how you saw things.”

“It did daddy as I wanted what others had and I did not. I wanted to be loved and yougave me that. I wanted to be safe and protected and you gave me that. But I also know for

a man to be complete he needs a woman. That also means for a family to be complete

there needs to be both a mother and father. Many of the children I knew I was jealous of because they had two parents. They were loved by both of their parents. So please think

about this and don’t just say no.”



Jack held Anne very close to him. “Princess I lost my parents when I was about your age.

My grandparents took me in and did not know what to do with me. I was sent to boarding

schools where I lived there and went to school. So may be you will understand I don’tknow what a family should be like. You’re the first person I have ever loved without

reservation. I hide nothing from you and discuss everything. That has never been true in

my life before.” Jack looked Anne in the face and saw tears rolling down her face.

“That is so sad daddy. I think we were both broken and now we are mending? But for you

I think Kate is a good way to mend also. The two of you fit so well together and share somuch of the same interests.”

That Jack could not argue with. Having Kate here had made life fun for him also. “She

would have to know how damaged I am Anne before we went any further. That is onlyfair.”

“Daddy before she came, she read your complete life history. Of course she did not tell

me about the sad parts. She has told me where to ease up when I pushed to hard. But withher direction and help, I think I have become a better daughter to you. Her way of seeing

you is a very great man who will do much for many people. A man who credits others for his successes. Her comment that will always stick with me is, he is a man of great

compassion.”

It had never been noticed that Anne had stopped pushing in many areas. But she had andit improved their life. Kate was far more knowledgeable of him than he was of her.

“Princess I will not say no and will consider your input. But this may take some time for

me to workout.”

Anne hugged him and she was pleased with his answer. “Thank you daddy.”

He read another book and then ran water for her bath. Kate came in and took over the

bathing chore. Jack could hear the two of them laughing and giggling. It was nice to hear

that. But he wondered why a young girl like Kate, would have any interest in him? Thathe just could not get his arms around.

In his office he was doing his days reports when Anne came in. “Come and tuck me in

please.”

He went to do this nightly task and ended up staying with her for some time. Just

watching her fall asleep and seeing her angelic face at rest was soothing for him. Heheaded back to finish his work. When he finished Kate brought him tea and another piece

of cake. “You look tired tonight Jack. So I thought may be some energy food might help.”

He now remembered how she had always taken care of him. There were no games just

seeing what he needed and making it happen. He did this for his people and had not seen

this coming from her, at least until now.



She grinned at this comment. “I am willing to fight to be allowed to stand beside you

Jack.”

He had never seen this in any woman before. “How do we start building Kate, as I know

nothing about families or how they work?”

“Lets start by getting a nice shower together, then going to bed and letting nature take its

course. But understand Jack I have no experience at all. So you will need to educate me.”

That really put him in a spin. “Kate I have never been to bed with someone who had no

experience. So I will teach you about that side of life and you teach me how to build a

family.”

They both stood and Kate took Jack’s hand and they headed to the shower.



Chapter 2

The Twin Planets

People had noticed that another change had come to Jack. He was happy with everything

and looked like the cat that swallowed the canary. This caused much speculation amongthe staff. It caused much discussion in the labs and security spaces. Questions like this

needed answers for them. But you could be sure no one would ask.

The ship had come into the orbit of the twin planets. Trish had checked them out and they

already had some life forms on them. It was no more than plants and small animals. Here

the scientists could not decide where this would be safe to seed for humans.

Jack was tired of the debate and decided to talk with John. “I have a problem here and am

tired of the infighting. You know about the twin planets and the problems that are

possible right?”

“Yes, I have been following that issue and also am tired of the division.”

“I have decided to end it. We will take the smaller planet out a ways and let it freeze. The

second planet we will seed. Then if we ever need a place for people here to go we will

bring the other planet back and seed it. Move the people from one to another and then

move the dying world out to freeze.”

This would work. “I have told Zima he can settle this one, as a second planet for his

people. That will make his people a good second home. They do have less land than theyreally need. So put a control room in place, seed the planet and let them watch over it

until it is time to settle it. This planet is close enough for their starship to protect it also.”

That was fine with Jack. “I will pass the word to all here. The genetics lab will be happy

for the work.”

“Now I have a request of you. Would you, Kate and Anne be willing to come to my ranch

this weekend?”

“Of course we would. I have never seen your ranch other than your lab and would enjoythat. But what do you have in mind?”

“That for now I would prefer not to discuss. But if you would like to call me from your home I would be happy to talk.”

That was strange coming from John. “I’ll be home in an hour is that to late?”

“Not at all. It is just three PM here.”



Jack wondered about this strange request. But he got his orders out and made sure they

would be followed. Then he headed home.

He got home and kissed Kate and then Anne. She was beaming, as she knew her plan was

taking hold. “It will be an hour before we can have dinner daddy.”

“That is fine I need to talk with John. But so you two know, we are going to his ranch for

the weekend.”

That pleased Kate and had Anne jumping up and down. “Can I ride a horse?”

Kate looked at her and saw great pleasure. “I am sure John with all his horses can find

two we can handle.”

“Ladies I can tell you that I am a fair rider also. That was one of my anger outlets in

boarding school.”

“What does that mean daddy?”

“When I was angry I could go ride for hours and that anger just melted away. I loved the

horses and spent a lot of time in the stable. They were good friends to me.”

Kate knew how John used his horse. “May be we should have three horses here to ride.We have a stable for four out back.”

This Jack did not know, as he had never been out back. “Call Daniel and ask him to getus three good ones. I would assume there are also riding trails?”

“Oh yes Anne and I have walked them many times learning about the plants in a forest.”

He had not seen much of this at all. “Well teacher you need to educate me also.”

“Just know we have eight square miles of forest and meadow out back.

It can get easy to be lost for a time, if you get off the trails.”

Jack now wanted to see this and enjoy it. “I will talk with John and then be back todiscuss our forest.”

“Yes John now what was it you did not wish to talk about where others could hear?”

John smiled at Jack’s picking up on that. “I just wanted to say your current living

condition has my total approval. Some day you will know what Faith had meant and beenfor me. But please understand that Kate like Faith is no common woman. She will be

your most loyal ally and strongest defender. When your down she will lift you up. Faith

has done those things for me many times Jack. Without her I am sure I would have failed.



If you can handle that kind of support, then all you have to do is be honest always with

her.”

This was a strong endorsement of Kate. “How did you know we had connected?”

“I could see the strength in you today, that has not been there for some time now. Therewas a gleam in your eye I had never seen before.”

Well that had been true. “Yes I am learning what a family is for the first time in my life.You can be sure I have no idea how one works. I have always wanted one, but also feared

screwing it up. So I have built many walls around me John. Anne was the first to break

some down and Kate is doing the rest.”

“Well we need to talk and you will need some answers. Kate needs time to talk with Faith

and get some direction. I am sure they will include Anne in their talks. She is a very

intelligent girl. But Anne needs Kate and you need Kate. So listen and learn Jack.”

That sounded like good advice. “Thank you for your willingness to discuss this with me.

I never understood about Faith, until Kate told me last night how she and Faith’s desireswere much the same. They both wanted men they could respect now.”

John smiled at this. “Well she did much for me to allow that respect to come. I will not

lie, there were times when I was ready to toss the towel in and she ate my tail up. Can’tsay I did not have it coming either. Kate will give you that kind of support and keep your

compass going the right way.”

Jack was impressed with John’s honesty here. “I am not so sure I could have been that

honest John.”

“In time you will understand it Jack. There is nothing I cannot openly admit today to

those I care about. I see so much of me in you and know you need the support Kate will

give you. Without it your going to crash and it will not be pretty. If it were me there thesame thing would happen without Faith. So it is not your character in question here, it is

your support net. I had no one close to me either and could not afford close friendships.

Faith was my great leveler.”

This sounded like John knew him well. “It almost sounds like you have walked in my

shoes.”

“Jack I have and that is why you have the job you do. You and I can be friends and that

works. Abel has over time become a friend as Edgar has. But most of the original board

are close acquaintances and coworkers. So expect to enjoy Abel and Edgar and knowthey will never lead you wrong. They will support and protect you as I would. We have

discussed you many times. They kid me about sending my would be son into space. But

both respect you and will do anything you ask of them.”



This was a total surprise to Jack. “I guess you guys are my Alpha family John. One I did

not know I had.”

“There are few people in life you can trust completely Jack. But you can count on Abel,

Edgar and I on Alpha and Anne and Kate with you. None of these will ever let you

down.”

Jack felt a pleasure he had never felt before. “I feel truly bless John. It just never hit me

how much real support I had. Of course I met Edgar and Abel when I got my citizenship.I have always been impressed with the job Abel did on building Alpha. Edgar’s mind for

money is second to none. You I have always been in total awe of. I never really

understood what you saw in me.”

“I saw me in you Jack. It is just that simple. You can be assured that you have met my

every expectation. The effort on Freedom to save the nonstarters was even above my

expectations. That you saved one hundred and sixty thousand people who would have

died is incredible. So know I stand in awe of you also my friend.”

This pleased Jack more than John would ever know. “I had a lot of help John.”

“But you made it happen Jack. Others with Zima’s expectation would just have accepted

the loss. That is not in our make up. What is acceptable to others is failure to us.”

This made his and John’s relationship much more understandable to him. “I guess we are

some what different from many that way. Death is something to be beaten to me. Not

fighting for every life is not acceptable.”

“I have been there with Earth Jack, fighting every government for their own peoples

lives. Forcing them to put better medical care, education and food out to their people.Making sure government served the people and not the powerful.”

Jack knew how hard it had been. He had followed much of this while on Earth. “Welltoday they have no terrorist, no wars, no really poor and have made great strides in most

areas. Earth two and three are close to Alpha levels of living. I have a long way to go to

come close to that record.”

“That is where your wrong Jack. Your record is being made a different way. It is in the

new planets you can start for man and the people you bring to the Federation to build the

human system of planets. That is the new future for us. The knowledge of the planets andstars coming from your star map is a great building tool for the future. You will take my

start and carry it to new heights my friend.”

The conversation made Jack feel better than ever before. “I thank you John for your vote

of confidence. Now I have a little girl telling me dinner is ready. So I have to go. But we

will be there Friday afternoon. What do we need to bring?”



“Be sure to bring boots and jeans so we can ride.”

“Anne and Kate want horses here, so I told her to have Daniel get three for us.”

“Don’t bother with that they will be there tomorrow. Including a small quarter horse for

Anne.” Then the screen went blank.

“Kate have you called Daniel about horses yet?”

“No I have not had time to.”

”Good don’t do it. John will have three here tomorrow including a small one for Anne.

But I also need to tell you both, I feel blessed for having the two of you. So thank you for wanting to share my life such as it is.”

They both came to Jack and hugged him. Tears were running down Kate’s face and Anne

was jumping up and down. “I think may be you talked about a lot of things.”

“Oh yes and what Faith has meant to John. For some reason he seems to see a lot of himin me. Matter of fact it seems Abel and Edgar call me his surrogate son. That just blows

me away, as I never saw myself as anything close to his equal. I think John and I are

going to be very close friends. He wants the two of you to spend time with Faith. That is

why our weekend there.”

This was very pleasing to Kate. “Does this mean I get to stay with you?”

“As long as you can put up with me Kate.”

This brought yeas from Anne. “I knew this was the right thing.”

The two stooped down and all three were holding one another. “Yes Anne it was the right

thing.” Jack affirmed to her.

Dinner that nigh was a very happy affair. There was much talk and kidding about the

horses. Jack was looking forward to riding once more.

“Jack will you teach me to ride and understand horses?” Kate’s saying this was

something he did not expect.

“Why do you ask? I would always be willing to help you with anything.”

She looked shy now. “I have never ridden and know nothing about horses. Anne haswanted them since she saw the stable. But I guess I am afraid of how big they are.”

This was something Anne was watching as she had fears also.



“Look a horse has an intelligence of around a ten to twelve year old child. So if they get

scared they react. They would never try to hurt you, so you need to just be aware. I will

show you both a lot of things you will need to know.”

This was acceptable to both. “Daddy it is time to read to me.”

Off Jack went for his nightly story time. He read for an hour before Kate came in and

started a tub for Anne. Jack left the two girls to handle the bathing. There was much to

think about and decide how he could adjust to this new world.

For a man who had been happy in his closed world, he was not sure how he could change

now? The walls were high and tearing the ones still there down would be hard. The fact

that he had never learned to trust one person in a relationship completely, he knew wasthe key. He had seen too often that the other person was not the equal partner. It was not a

two way street. They always had more needs to be filled than they were willing to give

back. Most ladies he had dated or had affairs with had their own walls.

This had been a hard time of processing thoughts. “Jack your needed in your conference

room please.” Daniel did not sound happy.

Jack walked to his office and entered the conference room. “”What’s the problem?”

There were six managers of different areas of the science labs and Trish. “You can’t movethe second planet out to an area where it will freeze up.”

“Why is that?”

“There are life forms there that would not survive.”

“Are they human?”

“No, but that does not matter.”

“Yes, it does matter. The science group has been give time to come together and present a

plan for these two planets. You could not agree on one plan. I discussed this with John

and we agree this is how we are going to handle this. Now if you don’t like our decision Iam sorry. You had the time to make your own and failed. I listened to the fighting on

Earth between the governments and the environmentalist. That was where the life of say a

trash fish, was more important that human needs. Those types of fights will never happenhere. Now unless you have very good scientific reasons for not doing it we will move

forward.”

Trish stood and glared at Jack. “Your pig headed Jack. We should be making this decision

not you.”



Jack sat back and looked her in the eyes. “You had your chance to do that. You failed that

job. Now the decision has been made for you. So if you cannot live with it, I will accept

any resignations right now. There is not one of us who cannot be replaced.”

“I will take this to John and the Alpha board.”

Then the screen came to life. “The Alpha board has ruled on this issue. Jack is following

those instructions. Your resignation is hereby accepted Trish. Please have yourself ready

to go to Earth two in thirty minutes.” The screen then went blank.

Trish was trapped now. She had planned to hurt Jack and stop this silly thing of him

having a child without a marriage. He was just playing with a child’s feelings she was

sure. “I am not going anywhere.”

“Daniel call security and have them escort Trish off the ship. Now for the rest of you does

anyone have a scientific reason for not following the plan that was decided?”

They all shook their heads in the negative.

“I am sorry this meeting had to come. It was my fault to a great degree. Letting Trish get

to close to me was really a bad idea. I will ask that you be allowed to teach and stay into

your field. But if you take a stand in direct opposition to government policy or decisions

your on your own. You can be sure you will never see a classroom after that. The decisionJohn made revoked your Alpha citizenship. This childish move would never have been

taken by any Alpha citizen. So I wish you well in your future, but suggest you get some

help personally.“ Jack stood and walked from the room.

The buzz around the table was loud as Trish was escorted from the room. One older man

stood. “People I think we were hoodwinked. This turned out to be a personal thing between Trish and Jack. She wanted to hurt him and win with her way of seeing things.

Now I liked Trish and that was why I was here. Not because I understood her point of

view. To me Jack’s decision seem a good safe balance between safety and need. Soconsider that we all learned here. We will never again on blind faith back anyone without

solid scientific proof.” The entire group was in agreement on this point.

Kate was surprised Jack was not in his office. She tucked Anne into bed and stayed withher as she fell asleep.

Kate found Jack sitting in his office chair and not looking happy. “What is bothering youdear?”

“I was just invited to a hanging with Trish leading the party. She did not like the decisionthat was sent out on the twin planets. She decided to confront me and push until I gave in

to her wants.”



Kate had moved behind Jack and was working on his neck. “OK that was to be

expected.”

“I don’t see how you can say that?”

“Trish lost your love to an eight year old girl. She saw you were happy and did not needher or her love to gain that. So what she did was out of spite to hurt you. I am sure she

brought others with her to see her victory.”

“Yes she did.”

“You can bet she is now asking herself what went wrong? She I am sure picked an issue

there was much division on. That would keep you from having backing of others.”

‘Yes it was the decision John and I made, on moving one planet out further to have a

completely safe planet for Zima’s people to live on.”

“But she did not know that John was involved. Had she known that, she would have

picked a different issue.”

“Well John ended it by recalling her to Earth two. Now I need to find a new leader for her

department.”

Kate had seen this coming. “Had she know about us she would have cut deeper. But she

has left you some very good young people to replace her. May be you need to make that

area run by committee. If a few people must agree to a solution, they will have to work closely and not fight between themselves.”

That was a valid point. “I will consider that option. Kate how is it you know so muchabout humans and their actions, but so little about other things?”

“Well my PhD was in psychology. I love watching people and seeing how they do things.With Trish her personality said she was going to explode. She had lost you to an eight

year old child. That damaged her ego so badly she wanted revenge. Humans seem to

always strike back when they have felt slighted or hurt. Your very different in that way

Jack. You just draw in tighter and look other directions. Part of that is because you don’tlike conflict. That is one place you and John are very much alike.”

Kate’s talking and showing him a new way of seeing things was much help. “Dear I feel better already. I really don’t like conflict and do what is possible to avoid it. But I have

never admitted that to anyone before.”

“Just remember once you know and understand yourself the better off you are. That does

not require change, but it allows you to work within your limits. We all have places we

just cannot go past. Trying to change that just causes us to self destruct.”



This insight was blinding to him. “I now know what John meant about your value to me.

Do you know this is the first time I have ever discussed a problem with someone? Before

they were just mine to deal with.”

“They are still yours to deal with. But, may be you have a little better picture to work

with. For me I have nothing to gain or loose. My interest is seeing you are prepared tohandle any issue. Sometimes I may have insights and other times I may just listen and let

you find your own path. None of us has all the answers.”

Kate was so young and so smart. “My lady I appreciate your intelligence.”

They hugged and headed off to bed. There would be much to do tomorrow.



Chapter 3

The Ranch

Friday had been busy for Jack. He had many issues to clear up and orders to be sure were

recorded. Daniel would have the responsibility for the science teams and Jackson for the protection and defense. That allowed each to focus on just one job. Once he had

completed his assignments he went to the labs and checked to see where they were on

assignments.

The busy lab was the genetics lab, producing the many life forms for the planet. These

had been picked and spelled out by the biologist, zoologist, ichthyologist and the many

sciences involved. The one rule they had to live with was no life form dangerous tohumans. This caused many problems as to what dangerous was. The questions had been

many. Was a wolf, bear, lion or plant that produced chemicals toxic to man dangerous?

Each required research and a decision. The ways to balance the natural world was

needed. So each issue was closely looked at by many and voted on by the entire group. If no vote showed a clear feeling, it was referred to Jack. He often would suggest some

small genetic change that worked for everyone.

This way of involving the science group had worked well. The debates had been open

and sometimes heated. But people did get a fair chance to push their own beliefs. With

the way Jack had set this up everyone felt included. Of course no one knew that Kate hadsuggested it.

Jack got home and saw both girls were riding. He had a robot teaching them in theafternoons. The three of them rode every morning now and it was a nice way for all to

have fun. Anne had taken to the saddle like she had been born in it. She just had a natural

feel for the horse and motion. Kate for all her fears had found this to be great fun. So he just headed in to get a shower and to relax before their leaving. He knew this was going

to be a long night.

Kate got Anne into the shower and washed her hair. After both were clean she dried Anne

off and then herself. She wrapped a towel around her and did Anne’s hair and lay her

clothes out to dress before heading to hers and Jack’s room. She found Jack lying across

the bed sound asleep. So she started to massage his neck and shoulders.

“I can handle this my dear.”

“Well get used to it as I like doing this for you. Do you know where we are going to stay

while we are there?”

“Of course at our home.”

“What home?”



Jack laughed at this question. “I am a citizen of Alpha Kate. So we have a nice home on

the coast with a fishing boat operating for income. When I was elected to the board we

also received two square miles of land. One square mile we can farm and the other is justwoods. But I have done nothing with that at all.”

This was all new to her. “I had no idea of that.”

“Well my dear you and Anne are well taken care of if anything happens to me.”

“That is not going to happen Jack. No land or business is worth your life to either of us.

We both would rather be poor and have you.”

There for sure was no greed in this woman. “We need to get ready to go. Did you pack for us including riding clothes?”

“Yes that is all done. It will not take me twenty minutes to be ready to go.”

“Well you will have no trouble out of Anne. John’s daughter Leigh-Anne is close to

Anne’s age. So I am sure they will spend much time together.”

“That will be good for her to have someone her own age around.”

They dressed and got their bags and went to the house on the coast. Anne and Kate spenttime looking all over this house. Anne’s room was in the front of the second floor and had

a large balcony for her to sit on and watch the water. On the third floor the entire room

was Kate and Jack’s bedroom. It also had a balcony for them to sit on. The girls wereimpressed with their new home.

They took the transport plate to the ranch. The place was loaded with people. All boardmembers were there tonight as it was a cookout for the entire board. There was a whole

side of beef cooking over an open pit and much food on the tables to choose from. This

was a once a year event for the board.

“Welcome to the ranch. I hope all was ready for you at home?”

“Yes, I was pleased with the work done. I saw in my mind what I wanted, but questionedif that was possible? The workmen did a great job bringing my thoughts and vision into

being.”

“I had Alpha, Vortec’s right hand over seeing the work. He is a far better builder than

Vortec is. Matter of fact he over saw much of the design and building of Johnstown.”

“Well be sure to thank him if I don’t find him first.”

“Vortec will be here tonight so pass it on to him. He will be sure Alpha knows of your

pleasure.”



Abel and Edgar walked up and started laughing. “OK what are the two of you into now?”

“We came to see you and you second son talking. It is almost like your talking to

yourself.”

Both men greeted Jack and hugged him. Edgar was first to speak. “Pay no attention to us

Jack. We do our best to keep John’s spirits up. But so you know if you ever need anything

we are here to help always. Your adventures are something that keeps John enjoying his job. Abel and I also enjoy seeing you at work. It reminds us of the old days on Earth.

Your way of doing things is much like John’s was then. It is more like why knock when

you can just walk in.”

The men now were all laughing. “What so funny?” This came from Faith and Kate.

“Jack and I have just been being toasted by Edgar and Abel.”

Faith smiled at this. “Well Jack welcome to your family. Here your always safe, but

sometimes will be teased. That comes from brothers often in a family. Do consider Edgar and Abel like your brothers. As for John the two of you are more alike than different.

You’re kind of like twin brothers. This I am sure will take sometime to adjust to, but you

will find no better support when needed than your own family. Now Kate and I will leave

you boys to your fun.”

Edgar looked at Jack and smiled. “That is one beautiful lady Jack. Let me tell you

something about Hope’s ladies. They are the best, most loyal and trust worthy in theuniverse. That is no boast it is fact.”

Abel was nodding his head at this. “I can assure you Edgar did not stretch the truth thereat all. Without his Jenna and my Sue we could never have done what we did. They were

the people behind us that made this all work.”

“That I can understand now. Kate has helped me in so many ways already. She never

takes sides, but just asks questions. That leads me to my own finding of truth.”

Abel wanted Jack to know a little about Sue. “Jack I had cancer when John came to meand asked I join his group. He was able to cure me and Sue was a doctor and she watched

over me. The woman gave up her life’s work to stand by my side. For all the people she

could have helped, she helped more through me.”

That was not something Jack had expected. “Why do these girls do this?”

Edgar could answer that for him. “Jack I was a failed priest from the SJ. I have seen

many people on Earth who married for money, position, social status and all the trivial

things of life. These ladies all want to leave a better world for everyone as their legacy.

Once committed to a man they will never leave, try to step out front or cause you any



harm. They see their legacy as helping you build for all mankind. If you’re a success then

they are a success and if you fail they fail. So know they will not allow you to fail. In

Alpha’s structure what we are or were is the legacy we leave behind. You have a verygood start to that legacy for your children and children’s children.”

This idea of a legacy was all new to Jack. “I guess seeing it that way it makes somesense. But I am still having a hard time with why me?”

John knew this feeling well. “Let me ask you a question. Does every human have amagnetic field around them?”

“Of course they do, we run by electric energy.”

“What happens when two field attract?”

“They are magnetically pulled together.”

“I would bet that your field and Kate’s are very much attracted to each others. I am sure

you have met people you disliked at once. Those fields repelled each other.”

Here was a medical answer he could buy. “Now it makes good sense to me.”

“Just accept that you have the right person in your life.” John was very strong on this point.

After the dinner Kate took Anne back home for bed. Jack stayed with John, James, Edgar and Abel. They went to John’s study and opened a bottle of wine. Sitting around a table a

map was placed on it.

James started here. “This is a map of the systems beyond where you’re now working, by

around one thousand light years. We have had probes running for years now to try to pick

up any space travel. Their only job is to look and report back. As of now we have lostthree probes in this area. Two of the three had reported movements in space by something

at very quick speeds. We have no idea if our probes were shot and killed or if they just

went off the air. But our best guess is they were captured.”

Jack considered this for a time. “Then they know someone else is out here?”

“The probes were set to run a ribbon pattern so they did not head straight into space.There is no way to track the path they came from. The computer wiped the track memory

each time it turned in the pattern. If it were picked up the computer would self-destruct.

So we are reasonably assured that no one knows our location yet. But my people feel thisis a temporary situation.”

Now Jack was worried. “That makes me wonder how long before my starships meet

them?”



John saw he was getting the point. “I was worried about the same thing. In discussions

with Zima I found that there was a small group of planets in this area that had traded withhis. They had reasonable sized spaceships and at that time were fair in their dealings. He

said they were close to human, but had some animal characteristics. I pushed him here

and he said he could not say for sure but he had heard they raised humans for food. Headmitted he was afraid of them.”

Jack could feel the bile raise in him. “This cannot be accepted. If that is true we must dosomething about it.”

Everyone smiled at this comment. “That is why you’re here right now in this meeting.”

John was firm about this. “Everyone at this table feels the same way. I have acommitment of fifty starships from Gorm. We have another one hundred for this project

of Alpha’s. There is a military force of five hundred thousand troops. Gorm’s ships carry

fifty fighter craft and ours one hundred. That seems like a reasonable sized force for this

type mission.”

Jack considered this force. It would not be easy to coordinate. “This is not going to beeasy my friends. We will have some losses from this. I would like to know how much of

the troops are robots?”

John looked at James. And he shook his head. “For now there are none.”

“I would want few human troops and mostly robots.”

James was surprised at this. “Why not humans?”

“If you kill a robot you have nothing to eat. That is not true with a human.”

John smiled at this way of seeing the issue. “Good point there. I see no problem in giving

you as many as a million robots.”

“If these people are some what human, we will have to over ride their program on killing.

But I would feel better if I was not concerned that every loss was dinner for my enemy.

Now we will look at the biological side. I need to know what type of animal they tend to be like. What are the characteristics of this and as much about them as possible.”

James was not sure what Jack was after. “How will that help you?”

“There are many diseases that kill animals that do not hurt humans. If enough animal

DNA is in them then we may be able to use that against them. It is far easier to fightwhen you know your enemy. So someway we must capture at least one of them.”

This would be no easy task. James was not sure it could be done. “How will you do

that?”



John was pleased with Jack quick mind and ideas. “Lets all think about this and sit down

tomorrow. It is late now and we all need time to look for holes.” They all got up and

started to leave.

“Jack I knew you would have ideas for us. It never hit any of us to use robots in place of

people. That ploy is one that even if we lost we could may be win.”

“John I don’t ever plan on loosing at all. This one I will win. I don’t know how or with

what. There are just to many unanswered question now. But I will find it and do it.”

Some way John was sure Jack would do just that. “Get some sleep and come over for

lunch.”

He headed to his home and Kate was waiting for him. “Well dear did you get fully

briefed?”

This surprised Jack. “How do you know about this?”

She laughed at this question. “I have spies every where. No really Faith told me becauseit involved you. She really likes you and respects you. But understand she told me I was

to support you in anyway I could. My first job was to protect Anne for you and see to her

well being, so you did not have to worry.”

He walked over to her and kissed her. “Thank you for just being you. Now would you

marry me before I start this adventure?”

She beamed at this. “You bet I will.”

They headed to bed and there were two happy people here tonight.

Saturday’s lunch was very nice. Faith had gone all out for this.

“John I have asked Kate to marry me. Will you perform the service in your office?”

Faith had known this was coming and approved of Jack’s way of asking. “Jack I would

like to hold it here if that is OK with you. I know the board would like to be here and wehave the room for it. It would be outside and then a dinner for all. That way the people of

Alpha could also see this service. Your very much a hero here to them.” Faith was sure he

would agree.

“Faith it is all in your hands. You and Kate agree on the details and I will just follow your

program.”

That pleased both ladies and Anne was hugging Jack. “Daddy does that mean that Kate is

going to be my real mother?”



“Yes love it does at that.”

She kissed Jack and hung on for dear life. “Thank you daddy that is the second best gift Ihave ever had.”

“What was the first?” John asked this.

“Why getting my daddy of course.”

Both women laughed at John’s lack of understanding what Anne had meant. “Dear, Jack

will always be her first gift and Kate her second. That is the two things she has always

wanted most. It builds her family for her.”

“Well she has what she wanted most and that is what counts. Now I have a small gift for

you also. I went to the vault today and removed a stone I purchased a long time ago. The

jeweler set it for me to give to you for Kate.” He handed Jack a box for him to give Kate.

The box was passed on to her and she opened it. It was a blood red ruby of about five

carats in size. It was beautiful. “John thank you so much. I have never seen a stone likethis one before. It is called a blood ruby, as that is its color. They are the rarest of all

stones of value. Jenny found it on the floor of Earth’s ocean many years ago. I bought it

then and have just kept it, not knowing what I would do with it. But this seemed the right

time and thing to do.”

She slid the ring on her finger and felt so proud. Then Faith brought her hand up and put

it beside Kate’s. They both had them and about the same size. “We are now truly sistersKate. This stone came from the same wreck and place.” The two women hugged and

Kate felt so good. The idea of being part of this family was just never considered by her.

John took Jack and they went riding on the mountainside. “You know Jack the more I

have considered your ideas the better I like them. I am worried about your being on the

lead ship.”

“Someone has to lead this and they must be flexible and quick thinking. Here a robot just

can’t do the job. We must do the illogical much of the time. Dealing with animal instincts

will be much different than human ones. Someone must be looking for the holes in thisculture all the time. My background in genetics will serve us well here.”

“I talked with Zima and told him of your plan to send Phoenix and Deep Space to protecthis people. He was very pleased. He is sending me several old pictures taken years ago of

these people. One died there and they froze it and that will be sent to Deep Spaces lab for

DNA work. He said it was shortly after these people started trading with them that the bandit culture started. He wondered if there was a possible connection?”



“Have a security team sent to draw blood on their planet. Run DNA checks on it and

check it against the blood work from the body. That will tell us if there were any

connections or not. I want a full scan of the body for structure.”

John pulled his mobile connection to Hope and gave her directions. “That will be done

now.” Here John was seeing how Jack worked. He did make jumps of insight that manycould not.

“Well what does a well dressed doctor wear for his wedding John?”

“In your case the Admiral’s uniform sitting at your house. You are now the Admiral of the

Federation fleet. No one has ever held that title before. So you go down in the history

books as our first fleet Admiral.”

“Then I had better do very well. I would hate for my grand kids to say man I have no idea

who that jerk was.”

John laughed at this. “That I am sure will never happen Jack.”

When they got back to the house there were robots every place setting up the wedding for

the next day. They headed to John’s office and the men were waiting. The pictures had

come and they were looking at them.

James was first to speak. “These look more like big cats from Earth than humans. They

do stand on two legs, but that is all that seems normal.”

Jack looked at these and saw some ideas forming. He walked over to John’s desk and

called Deep Spaces genetics lab. “Danny I want you to check this DNA against Earth big

cats. Then I want to know every health problem that has affected just them. Then check if it also was damaging to humans. Look for any possible defect that can be exploited

with them.”

“OK boss do I get to know why?”

“These creatures use humans for food. It seems they may have many planets where they

do this. In my book that cannot be allowed.”

“Hey you have my attention boss. I will give you everything I can possible dig up. Then

tell you any ideas I may come up with. This changes my whole outlook on this job. I sawthe teeth on that body they sent us and it was a meat eater.”

Jack shutdown the connection. “Well you heard that. Now lets just let my people get methe information needed. No more decisions can be made without that. So gentlemen we

are at a stand still for the time being.”

John looked around at the men. “Did anyone have any holes they saw?”



It was quickly determined that Jack was on top of the issue more than they were.

“I have made Jack Admiral of the Federation fleet. He will be the only human at risk. All

crew, troops and command personnel will be robots. He has chosen Daniel as his front

man. I have appointed Vortec to command all troops under Jack. Jack has the right toissue any order he needs to and it will be followed completely. If he says nuke a planet it

will be done without question. Have I made myself clear to everyone?”

There were no questions. “Hope please play this statement for all planets to hear. I want

no one not knowing what I have done here.”

“Yes John, I will see that all know. Now just for a small suggestion. I think I need to beconnected to Jack’s ship. My knowledge base may be very helpful.”

“Jack what do you think?”

“I would love to have Hope’s input. She has proven time and again her value to all of

Alpha.”

This really pleased Hope. “Thank you Jack.”

John looked around at glum faces. “Well people tomorrow Jack gets married. So we arehaving the ceremony here and a nice dinner. Be sure you and your wives are ready for

some enjoyment. Jack will rain on anyone who is not happy at his wedding.”

That brought laughter. All shook his hand and wished him good fortune in both

adventures. Then they left.

Jack sat and studied the photos and looked for anything that could be used. There were

questions forming in the back of his mind, but it would take time to come forward.

John was back with a bottle of wine. “Have some and let’s talk about your honeymoon.”

“I don’t have time for one John.”

“That you do Jack. The fleet will be two weeks forming. Your ships are heading back to

their defensive stations. Anne asked to stay here for a few days while you and Kate have

some time together. She and Leigh-Anne will be fine. Kate told her that on the fourth dayshe could come and spend the rest of the time with you two. So I have booked the cottage

at the resort for you two. It is where Faith and I spent our first vacation together. No one

will bother you at all. Food is delivered by transport plate and cleaning is done when youcall and ask for it. We normally called and went to the beach or rode the horses in the

surf.”

That sounded nice to him. “Thank you once more.”



“Look Jack these planets owe you a great debt. It is little enough that we can do for you.

You need no money and have no interest in possessions. Honors are nice, but for you andme they are just responsibilities. I feel like I am tossing you into the frying pan on this

one. There is so much we don’t know and must guess at, until you find answers. There is

no one here who can be of any help to you. That is a really bad feeling for me.”

“All you can do is give me the tools needed to get the job done. That job is one I must

solve for all of us. I will have the lab on Deep Space as help. They may do more to solvethis than I do. Using the robots to fight these creatures is a good thing and you made it

happen. I am sure Gorm is having fits about this.”

That was somewhat less than what did happen. Gorm was going to with draw his ships.“Well let’s say he was not happy, at least until I told him your plan and why you wanted

robots. Then he saw the light. He had planned to go along also and decided may be that

was not a good idea.” John was now laughing.

“Thank you John, he and I would have fought every day. Gorm is to hot headed for

command in a war. That would have been a disaster.”

“No thanks to me, he would never go on a ship full of robots.” This caused a major

laughing fit. The robots of his planet had enslaved Gorm’s people at one time.

“Well I am heading home and I need some down time. What time tomorrow do I need to

be here? Kate and Anne will be here early to get ready.”

“The wedding is at three in the afternoon. So be here around two and we will sit in here

and relax until time to go.”



Chapter 4

The Wedding

When Jack woke up the house was quiet and he knew he was alone. So he paddled to the

shower and put on a robe and went to get coffee. Kate had left a pot ready and rolls for him sitting out. So he went out on the patio, sat, drank his coffee and ate his breakfast.

Life was good from the way he saw things.

He had closed down all thoughts of what was to come. He had decided this was his time

and the next few days were to be enjoyed. This was something he had never expected to

do and knew he would never do again. So he needed to burn it into his mind for all time.

The water coming in and hitting the shore was soothing to him. So he walked the beach

and tossed stones into the water. But without Kate and Anne it was not much fun. This he

now saw was something he badly needed. He had been a ship without a rudder. Kate and

Anne was that rudder for him. He never had plans for the future in his life. He just moved point to point. His life had been being blown from one thing to another. He had taken his

job on Deep Space to serious and really had almost blown it. Others had to carry their part of any load. He could not do that for them.

Looking at the changes that had come since Anne and Kate he could see he was different.

When he was done with his work he went home to them. Before he would have stayedand been in his peoples way. Now he gave people responsibility and stepped back. Before

he stayed into it all. The two girls had bought change without any pain for him. It had just

seemed natural.

He went up and shower once more and then shaved. His uniform was on his bed now. His

robot servant must have set it out. It did look grand. There was lots of gold braid and fivestars on his shoulder boards. The uniform fit well and really looked good when he saw it

in the mirror. It had been years since he had a uniform on. That was on Earth as a Major

and doctor in the Army. Life had moved a long way since then.

John was waiting for him as he stepped of the plate. “You look really good in a uniform

Jack.”

“It is not the first one I have worn.”

John laughed at this, “well mine was not so grand. I was a corpsman in the navy.”

“The navy produced some of the best field doc’s I ever saw. Why didn’t you stay in

medicine?”

“To many years to go that way. I did four and got my degree and was happy.”

“In this world I feel under educated.”



“ That is a laugh. The new medical book tells of your whole set up for the nonstarters

coming from the tubes. Suspended animation was something unknown before that. The book used at universities has much of your lab work from Deep Space in it. The planet

map you designed and are building is used in every school. So your leading the education

today.”

They sat and talked until fifteen minutes before the ceremony. Then walked out to the

podium that had been set up. Jack had asked Daniel to stand in as best man. His uniformlike Jack’s had lots of gold and four stars. He also had the ring made by Jack’s orders.

Kate looked so very beautiful as she walked forward. With Anne in front of her spreading

rose petals on the ground. Behind her came Faith, Jenna and Sue. That was Edgar’s wifeand Abel’s. Jack looked over and saw Edgar standing there next to Daniel and Abel with

the biggest smile on that black face. His brothers were there for him was the statement.

John handled the ceremony very quickly and people stood, as they walked down the isletogether and clapped. The bells from Johnstown could be heard ringing here at the ranch.

What Jack had always feared, was now something he cherished. He had a real familynow. Anne was quickly picked up by Jack and held as they moved around the people. She

helped cut the cake and was having a great time.

During dinner she sat between Kate and Jack and was beaming. “Young lady this is allyour fault. You stared this whole thing you know.”

She laughed at Jack and hugged him. “Thank you daddy for making me so happy.”

“No princess it is you who deserve the thanks, you started this whole thing. I would never

have done what I just did without your little push.”

This statement would be one she always remembered. “Daddy you gave me my life, a

daddy and now a mommy. You gave one hundred and sixty thousand people lives. You’rethe most giving human I have ever known. I hope one day to be a little bit as good at

giving.”

“Well princess you have started well with Kate to me.”

She hugged and kissed him and then Kate. “I am soooo happy.”

After dinner and much talk with all of the board members Jack took Kate’s hand and they

headed to the cottage. When they got there both were shocked at how beautiful it was.

There was a bottle of Champaign sitting in a bucket on the patio table. The card was fromJenna and Edgar and they both enjoyed the message.

They sat there with wine and watched the moons come up over the water. “I will always

remember this Jack. I have never felt the many good feelings I have today.”



“My dear you deserve every one and more. I looked back today at home and saw that I

had been a ship without a rudder. But you and Anne are now my rudder and the ship has acourse. Never before have I been able to direct where I am going. Now I can do that.”

This was very nice and she appreciated his opening up like this. “Jack you’re the anchor in my life and Anne’s. That is something we did not have before. So we all gained today.

I saw the happiest child I have ever seen today. She was so proud of both of us. A

comment she made to Faith was, she had decided she would never have a family and thenshe found you. You gave her life and then a mother. How could any girl not love you

more than anyone in all the worlds?”

“She deserves to be happy with all the misery she had in her life.”

“That is not the point. Her fairy tale was to have a mother and father and be part of a

family. That has come true for her. How many children have their dreams come true?”

Jack thought back to his childhood. “You know until today mine had never filled in. But

with Anne and you today mine came true also. I have not remembered what my dreamsas a child had been until now. My answers just came later than Anne’s.”

Kate sat on his lap and kissed him and smiled at this man of hers. “You know I like

knowing your mine Jack. But you see my dreams have come true also. Yes we are afamily of dreamers and that is a good thing. We have lots of time to have new dreams and

make them come true also. One thing I need to ask you is do you mind if I get pregnant? I

really would love to have a baby of ours. Anne said she would enjoy a brother or sister.”

“Why would you even ask?”

“I must before Hope will turn on my productive system.”

“Tell her to turn it on then.”

She was now very happy. “Well may be we had better go get started at trying to make a

child.”

The next three days were great. The rode, walked the beaches and went swimming in the

ocean. The surf at night sent them to sleep relaxed. The morning of the forth day Anne

was there. She was all over the cottage. She and Kate got into the hot tub and had a lot of fun there. The next four days were also nice. Anne was really in seventh heaven, as she

had both a mother and daddy. Jack enjoyed sharing the responsibilities for Anne with

Kate. He always had two ladies waiting on him. They both took good care of Jack.

On their last day they sent their things to Deep Space. Then went to John’s office.



John was sitting at his desk when they got there and he got up shook Jack’s hand and

hugged the girls. “OK Ladies we are going down to my favorite café and have some

lunch. Now you must excuse Jack and I for a little bit, as we have some business to talk about.”

They all head to the café and Faith met them. “Girls while they talk business lets go shopfor a bit.”

John and Jack took a table that would seat all of them. “Now the fleet will be off Zima’s planet in six days time. That will be all one hundred and fifty ships. Vortec has six

hundred thousand robot troops on those ships. They have been programmed to follow

your orders to the letter. That means that they will kill anyone on your orders. My fear is

that some humans may be wild and may be infected by these beasts. They may have to bekilled. Your ship commanders are programmed to respond to your commands whatever

they are. So you have full authority over every part and robot on those ships. The

command room is the Admiral’s deck. It is closed in without any doors at all. You’re the

only one with access to that area except for Daniel and Vortec. Your food stores andcooking area is enclosed there also. That will be robot manned. Daniel will be able to

come and go, as he needs to. Hope will control access to your area. In that area she will be your computer. We have built big screens into the command area that will allow you to

see every part of the fleet. If all six segments are in action you can see all of them at

once.”

“Sounds good so far. Now will I have access to Deep Space and its labs?”

“Yes by Hope you can do that. I have loaded two hundred nuclear devices on the shipsthat are ours. If you need them you have them.”

“I will need a group of probes that can spray biological materials into the air on a planet.On this I have no idea of how many I would need.”

“An extra one thousand probes will be loaded. Have the ships modify them as you needto. That is ten per ship of our ships.”

“Deep Space will have to do the manufacture of any thing we use that way. They will

need a pharmaceutical plant built, some place safe on the ship. We will need people to runit also.”

“I have that crew on Earth making drugs now. We will borrow them for your needs.”

“That is all right now I can think of. But I am sure as we get into this things will come

up.”

“Just tell Hope and we will do it.”



The girls came back and lunch went nicely. They walked though the park and watched

different games being played. Several people came over and asked Jack for his autograph

and he signed what ever they had.

This was great fun for Anne. “That is like being a music star daddy. They would sign

pictures of themselves for people.”

“Anne your daddy is very much loved by the people of Alpha. So many look him up to

here. He is a star to them and he is in many textbooks used for study here.”

She looked at Jack and you could see she was very proud. “You were very nice to them

also.”

“The right thing is to be nice to everyone princess.”

This she could not understand. “But what if you did not like them?”

“The right thing is always to be nice. That is if you do or don’t like them.”

This she seemed to get.

Finally they got back to Deep Space. There was a big reception for them and everyone

wanted to see Kate. So they went and did their being nice. The wedding had been shownon the ship, but this was more personal for them. Jack was their leader and Kate was now

his wife. They needed to know her.

Back in their house they went to bed fast. They were tired and need the sleep. This had

been a thirty-three hour day.

The next morning they took their normal ride and had breakfast together. This was

building their family identity for them. Now he felt that he could spend the time planning

and getting ready for the fleet. He did not have to worry about Anne’s care or her mentalhealth when he was gone. Kate took care of this for him nicely. The dynamic of family

was becoming clear to him. So much was shared responsibility and for that you needed a

partner.

He walked into the lab and Danny was sitting and looking into the microscope shaking

his head. “It seems your seeing things that you have not seen before.”

That brought him back to the world. “Boss these creatures are very odd. Look at this slide

and you will see some human DNA and some from the cat family. If I had to bet on it, I

would say they breed with humans for offspring. The pairs of genes are half animal andhalf human. So I am not sure your going to find normal humans on any planet they are

on.”



Jack looked at the slide and he had never seen anything like this either. “What about the

blood the blood samples from the bandit people?”

“That also was very different. They have a common organism in their blood stream that

ties them to this group. The organism acts like a cancer cell, in that it will take over cells

that are normal for humans. This mostly happens in the brain. I see it like a rabies virus atwork, but not killing its host. So some way these people were infected when they made

contact to trade. That it did not happen to the whole population says to me they were

targeted.”

This had passed through Jack’s mind when he asked for the blood work. “I kind of

expected this Danny. Is there anyway to kill this in a human without killing them?”

“We are working on that now. But to get a better idea of these creatures I cloned twenty

of them and have a study lab running now. They are very aggressive, will kill and eat

their own and do not have long attention spans.”

Jack considered this news. “Then they most likely do not build their own spacecraft. So

may be they are using humans to do that?”

“With the paws they have for hands I would say that could be true. They can articulate

their nails like fingers. But that would not do to hold a tool. Once more just guessing I

would say they some how found a culture that had and built spacecraft. That could have been by someone stopping on their planet and they took over or any of a dozen possible

stories. But as aggressive as they are and violent, they would be a formidable fighting

force.”

“What have you learned about their diet?”

“They are pure meat eaters. You can be sure that vegetables and grains are not in their

diets.”

This was also as Jack expected. “How about life spans?”

“My best guess is around sixty years max. Without a good balance of minerals and other

needed vitamins, they would age quickly and at around fifty no longer be fighters.”

This was different than his expectations. “Has the human DNA improved their life

spans?”

“I would think so. An old cat on Earth at most would be thirty to thirty-five. Many live

much less than this time.”

“Get all the animal scientists together and give them the information you have now. Let

them watch the clones to get some insight. Then I want them to build a profile of these



creatures and suggest how they will fight. I mean I want every suggestion they can come

up with and backed with data.”

“What kind of things are you looking for?”

“The possibility of alpha pairs, will this be a matriarchal social structure or will I be maledominated? How do they think this group communicates and would they have a

language? Some of this we could never learn from the clones without an adult in the

mix.”

Danny could now see what Jack wanted. “I get that going today. Now I have twenty

people researching viruses that attack big cats. Nothing that humans can also contract is

being studied. There is a couple of promising ones we have found so far. They will betested on the clones to see if and how they work. Here I am sure time is an issue.”

“I agree we need to be ready for anything. Some things I may never use, but I would

rather have them. John has a crew waiting to assemble a pharmicutal plant on the ship.There is an experienced crew ready to run it. So anything you find can be mass-produced

quickly. The fleet has one thousand probes that can be fitted out to spray what youdevelop into the air. So being able to spray the agent is critical. That means it cannot die

on contact with an atmosphere. If it cannot be used as a dry spore agent into the air and

then inhaled, it most likely will not work.”

This was good data for Danny to plan with. “I will be sure we test some of the things we

dropped. Going dry makes good sense. This would be like the use of anthrax on Earth.”

Now Jack had other fish to fry. “Let Daniel know of any progress you make. He will be

my front man in this. The fleet is all robots but me. So we can handle almost anything

with no danger to humans. I want a concoction of virus and germs that are deadly to cats.This needs to be airborne and hold for some time in the air. This will be used to trap some

of this enemy on a ship. This will give you more samples to work with. We have no idea

of how much change has happened in twenty thousand years since this one died.”

That would be of great help to Danny. “I will look forward to comparing the two DNA

wise. But I would guess that there would be some more added human traits and abilities.

The breeding with humans would over time be more pronounced. So that could changethis whole ball game.”

Jack left and headed to Zima’s office. The man stood and shook hands with Jack. “I suredon’t envy your task. Those creatures scared me before when they came. But they never

did us harm.”

“Yes Zima they did do you harm. The bandit group of your people, all have been changed

by them. We are looking to see if we can counteract that problem. The original group was

infected with an organism that is common to these cat creatures. So the changes did not

just happen to them, it was planted there. Now I would like for Kate and Anne to use the



mountain house while I am gone. Jackson will assign protective troops to assure me they

are safe. With your permission I will have a force field dome placed there as a shield.”

“Do whatever you want Jack. We have also granted Kate citizenship here. So she and

Anne are citizens of the planet.”

“Thank you Zima I just don’t want to be worrying about them during this fight. It also

gives me a place to come visit when possible.”

“Would you like to bring all the science staff off the ship?”

“That would be nice, but a few have to stay and run the labs I need. The rest I am sure

would enjoy being down here.”

“We had a city close to your home that was never used. It has buildings and homes

already built. I will send people to get them ready for your staff. You will I am afraid

need to furnish them and supply the food needed. Our food production will not be closeto our needs for another year.”

“That is no problem. A robot crew will set up and produce furniture for the staff. We will

send down all the other needed items for a home. We will set up our own food stores,

clothing stores, restaurants, pubs and the likes. They will develop that city for you and

leave it intact for your people. Not having them in harms way if the ships must fight heremeets my goal. This will allow Jackson to be more aggressive.”

This also solved one of his problems. “Will they teach while they are here, that is if theywould like to? We are still very short of teachers at this level of technology. So teaching

our teachers would help us.”

“I will recommend that to them.” The men stood and shook hands and Jack left.

He was now on a roll. He waked to a café, sat for a meal and to watch these people. Hewas seeing the changes that had come. People were very directed and seem to know

exactly where they were headed. Streets were clean and those he saw were well dressed

for the weather. Much had changed in a short time.

Vortec showed up at his table and sat down. “We are four days out from you now. What is

our first step?”

Jack considered this. “I asked for an old Cirrus ship, did they send one?”

“I have one in the bay of your command craft.”

“Get with Danny as he has been making a bug bomb. It will have viruses and germs that

cats cannot handle. I want the inside of that ship to be full of these. It is to go where it can

be captured quickly. Use just a small crew and no troops. Don’t fight just let them do as



they will. Here we want dead bodies to study. I must know how far they have come in the

last twenty thousand years.”

This was a good way to get that data. “I’ll get it underway now. I wondered if that issue

had been taken into account.”

“Vortec this group uses humans to breed with. The DNA is both cat and human. Now I

need to know just how human they are today.”

“If you would like I’ll go along, stand on a transport plate and grab one to bring back.

With my force field they could not harm me. But having a live one would be a good idea.

We could hook hope into it and get every bit of knowledge it has.”

“I like the idea, but question sending you to do it.”

“I am best suited to do this task. We are sure I will be able to communicate with these

creatures. Hope has taken every recording from before and broken it down. She canhandle the language and so can I if it has not changed a lot. We have a few little tricks

planned for any group coming on the ship. Here is our first chance to start playing thefear card. Once they have left the ship they will tell their entire race what they saw. Then

if they die it will add to that fear.”

Jack mulled this over and saw possibilities here. “I still don’t like sending you. But this isyour plan, so go for it. Tell Hope she is to cover your back.”

Vortec stood and left. He liked working with Jack. After the old robot ship had been sentto monitor the large planet, his people had found droppings on the ship. This seemed to

Vortec that these cat people had been on that ship at some time. They had not bothered

the robot crew and he was sure they knew a robot was not food. With the stale air andfreezing temperatures inside the ship, he concluded they did not stay long. But had

checked for food before leaving.

Danny was glad to see Vortec. They had met when Vortec oversaw the drive repairs on

Deep Space. He respected this robot and saw him as more human than robot. “What can I

do for you friend?”

“Jack said you had a bug bomb for me. I am sending an old freighter into the lion’s den.

We hope to get you some new samples to work with.”

“I got it here for you.” He walked over and picked up a cylinder about twelve inches in

diameter. “It is compressed and once released has a life of about twenty-four hours. Keep

it cold until time to use it. It will warm in the ships air and become active. Take all filtersout of the air system for the best results.”

That was complete and very concise. “I will be sure that is done. Now how cold does it

need to be?”



Chapter 5

First Contact

The planning had been done and Hope and Vortec were on their way. The old ship was

not very fast, but it was not meant to be. This type vessel just hauled needed goods fromspot to spot. Of course it had things that did not show. It also had a new drive that was

running at ten percent.

On the bridge Vortec sat in the commanders chair and watched the screens for any space

vehicle. He knew he needed another day or two, before he was likely to see what he

sought to find. But this passed time for him and let him think. With the data he had now

on these creatures he was revolted. This was true for all the robot crew here. He had briefed his troops before leaving and told them what was known to this point. This had

brought outrage from them.

The reactions he got were a good sign of the troops motivation later. The cat peoplewould not survive a fight with his troops. Every robot had a personal force field for

protection. They had been armed with the most up to date weapons of the killing type.Some of the troops were using the old Earth weapons, as they would be deadly against

these creatures. In a strange twist John had sent millions of bombs that were given to

Alpha to destroy by Earth countries. Each had been check, repaired if needed, improved

and many fighters had racks under them for these.

Dr Phillips had made a guidance package that allowed a spot to be marked once and

guided the bomb there exactly every time. Once it knew where that spot was it landedright there. It was always odd to people that you could take old ideas and upgrade them

for devastating results. But this worked well with defenses being made for high

technology weapons. The older ones were sometimes better.

They had cruised now for three days waiting for random contact. Then Vortec saw what

he had been looking for. “Slowdown a little more captain, we need to let that ship catchus. They are even slower than us.”

It started to gain and it was may be three times the size of a fighter craft. But it was so

slow for that use. Finally the ship came along side and launched a smaller shuttlecraft. Sodid this mean they did not have transport plates?

The crew met the creatures at the docking port. They were escorted to Vortec. “Good daywhat can we do for you?” Vortec asked them calmly?

“You are in our area of space and we are here to check your cargo and tax it.”

“But right now I have no cargo. I am looking for some to pick up.”



That had been true with any robot ship the officer knew. “OK I will go as well as one of

my guards.”

Vortec walked into the command office and stepped in front of the safe and spelled out

the agreement. The computer questioned the officer to be sure this was right. Then the

safe opened and it was loaded with diamonds.

“You said you had no cargo. This much in diamonds is a cargo.”

“No it is the proceeds from our last cargo. This must be returned to our leader.” Vortec

took out ten diamonds, placed them in a bag and handed them to the officer. He pushed

the bag down as he handed it over and the officer fell to the floor. A small needle had

injected a powerful drug that rendered him unconscious.

The guard rush in and saw his officer down. “What happened?”

“I have no idea, as he just dropped to the floor when I gave him the diamonds.” HereVortec got down and listened to the heart beat. His heart is not beating now.”

The man jerked up the bag of diamonds and placed it in his belt. The needle stuck him

and he dropped. Now he had two live ones. So he sent them to his isolation cell and

turned on the gas from the bomb.

A man ran in and saw Vortec sitting on the floor. “Where is the officer?”

“He hit me and stole my diamonds. Then he said he was going to check the ship again.”

“He must be found quickly as we have five men ill and I think two are dying. “I would

suggest that you leave the ship fast. We hauled a group of very sick humans to a new planet. They may have left some human kind of disease on the ship.”

The man panicked and went to get his fellow creatures. They could not clear the ship fastenough. They left the two dead men as well. “Bag these two and ship them to the

containment lab on Deep Space.”

Hope came into view. “That worked rather well Vortec. The guard is being watched andthe officer is now being downloaded to my databanks. We have two dead and two live

bodies. The two live ones have no virus, so we have a long time to study them.”

“Get this ship ready to be fired on. Once they know they cannot hurt us, hit full speed and

get out of here.”

Jack had watched this whole game and could not believe how Vortec had played it. The

outcome was very good for him. He had two live bodies to learn from. For now they were

not together, but later he wanted to hear them talk. By just listening he would learn much

he was sure.



The lab was dissecting the new dead bodies. The scans had shown not much changed in

body structure. But they did have a larger brain. The DNA was in process, so moretomorrow there.

Vortec came into Jack’s office and was smiling. “I was sure the robots and these peoplehad worked together before. What they call a battleship was one from the old world. The

shots that little ship took at us, did not even shake the ship. It had no shield and we could

have blown it out of space. But I wanted the story out about the fleet coming. They arethinking fifty. So we should not disappoint them.”

Jack considered this for a time. “Send fifty to the backside of what you think their area of

space is. Put out a fighter screen to find and destroy any guard ships they may have out.On our side send twenty-five starships into their space and put seventy-five around them

well back. When contact is made let our ships pull back. I am betting they will follow

into the trap. Once surrounded they can be cut to pieces. That should end most of our

space engagements. But that means we will have to take the fight to each planet theyhave.”

Vortec agreed and was please to see they both saw the same advantages. “The fighting on

the ground will be brutal for them. But I see no way to get them into space for that fight.”

Neither did Jack and that meant a long protracted fight.

“The screen came on and John was there. “I think your both right here. Fighting on the

ground planet by planet is not going to be nice. But using robot troops we will have nolosses. I saw the report from Danny on the infected people from Zima’s world. It is

critical he find a way to treat them. My guess is your going to have the same problem

here.”

“John in my talks with the officer he said they hauled humans as cargo. That came from

when he said we took cargos to use for labor. That could mean most are on worlds theyuse to raise food. So it is just possible we may find some worlds of nothing but humans.”

Jack agreed with this idea. “Look I have a lot to consider right now. We have two live

prisoners and two dead specimens. The bug bomb that Danny made worked better than he predicted. I will be leaving in two days to take the fleet over. Until then I am going to

make sure that Kate and Anne are set up in the mountain home here. I want no worries

about them.”

John smiled at Jack’s protective nature. “Good idea Jack. Now be sure they have

communications with you.”

“I have a command center in my office area, with a transport plate for me to get back to

them when possible. For sure I am going to have some burn out weeks. I see that coming

from the tragedy we will find.”



This was something John was glad he did not have to face. “I don’t envy you Jack. But

with a little luck you may double the size of the human race here.”

That was what keeping him going now. “I’ll keep you posted as we move forward.”

Vortec was looking at Jack now. “I never considered that.”

“Every world they live on is a possible human world. They have had twenty thousandyears of adding to those worlds since last contact with Zima. Now how much have Earth,

Cirrus and Alpha grown in just the last ten years?”

Looking at it that way it was possible that hundreds of planets could have humans. “Your seeing a very long war then?”

“It could take a hundred years or more Vortec. But that is of little consequence right now.

We must destroy their ability to move through space. If we take that away then it is just amatter of time before we win.”

Jack headed to the house in the mountains. The two girls were happy to see him, but

noticed his depressed mood. So they started to work on that and quickly brought him

around.

“Thank you two for helping me get back to me. Today has not been a good one for me.

But you have me for two days and I will try to be good.”

“Daddy your always good, just sometimes not happy.”

Around these two it was hard not to be happy. “We will ride the mountain tomorrowmorning. I had the horses move down for us.”

“How often are you going to be able to come home?” Anne was concerned about this.

“I have fixed it up so we can be together at least every two weeks. If things get really

hard on me I might be home for a week to get back on track. But know how I feel has

nothing to do with the two of you. I fear I am going to see things no man should see.”

Kate knew Jack was right and she warned Anne off with a look. Later that night she took

time to explain these creatures and a few of their bad ways. But just the fact that they atehumans was enough for Anne. She knew that would really upset her daddy.



Chapter 6

The First Battle

Jack had enjoyed the time with Kate and Anne. It had relaxed him and he felt fresh now.

The way the living area had been set up for him on the command ship had been Vortec’s

gift. He had everything a man could want to entertain him and complete control of his

fleet. He had a massage room, steam room, hot tub, swimming pool, a video library andone for music. There were books of all kinds and a nice reading room. He had ten robot

servants and had to get nothing for himself. There were walking trails and a pond to fish.

In both the house and the control room he had monitors showing everything the fleet saw.

If he spoke it was sent to all starships. But in his bedroom there was one monitor for Kateand Anne to talk with him. This had been kept very private for them. They could look and

see him sleeping when they needed reassurance he was OK. He could also look at them

when he needed to.

The ship he was on had been named by the crew, Salvation One. They all knew the

mission they were on was to save humans. This ship was the symbol of that effort. Moststarships had a letter number designation. But after the name change for this ship the fleet

was called the Salvation fleet. John had approved the name change for the ship at once.

This made the mission personal for all of Alpha, Earth and Cirrus. For Cirrus they were

returning John’s gift to them of freedom. For Earth they were spreading the beliefs of themany. For Alpha freedom was the most beautiful gift to give anyone. Zima’s people also

followed this mission, as they loved Jack and knew he would find ways to free people.

So over the many planets, at any one time, better than one hundred and twenty-five

million were watching. For Jack this added no more pressure at all. He was focused on

the goals and taking it one step at a time. Of course Anne and Kate were often glued tothe screen. Jack’s image was always in the lower right corner of the screen. It did allow

them to at least watch him.

Hope would often drop in and talk with Kate and Anne during the day. She was trying to

hold down their worries. During the week Sue, Jenna and Faith would stop in and talk.

The girls of the so called brothers were also close. They were an extended family.

The days to start were very boring as nothing could happen until the fifty ships got

around to the backside of the system. This was Vortec’s best guess as to it being the

backside. Because it was a guess they had fighters protecting the front and back of thefleet. They were in a formation of five leading, ten behind them, fifteen behind them and

finally twenty at the back. This pyramid shape would allow them to support the front

ships. Because each layer was a little higher than the one in front all could shoot at thesame target. This was a powerful space formation.

Of these ships twenty-five were Gorm’s fleet and twenty-five from Alpha. This was the

backdoor fleet. They would keep any ships that ran from getting away.



Jack had his twenty-five ships moving slowly forward when the backdoor was called

closed. There were seventy-five ships well back and in a horseshoe shape. The fleet thatretreated would fill in the bottom of the horseshoe. They to start with were a random

configuration, so as not to look war like.

The hope was that this lack of order would draw the enemy into the fight. Probes sent to

listen to radio signals had picked up much about the plague on one planet. The ship that

had caught Vortec set down on a planet and started a major outbreak. This caused many planets to close their ports to any ship. So the result was far better than expected.

“Danny have you read the radio reports?”

“I sure have boss. That was very pleasing to me. But I have an even better one for you to

try. This can be released in an atmosphere and will not die for a good seven days time. So

it would spread a long way in that time. If two particles get into the lungs it will keep

spreading. Now no full human will react to it at all.”

“What do you mean full human?”

“Zima’s people on the locked world would have no reaction to it. So the light contact

virus they have would not react to this. Yes it is a virus they have. We now have an

injection were are trying on several we picked up, to watch and see how it works.”

“Keep me posted on that and make me a few bug bombs to try. May be just three of

them.”

“I will have them done in two days. The lab boys from Earth have the vaccine going at

full tilt on this virus. Everyone on Zima’s planet will be injected to be sure they are protected. That much we know we can do.”

“You know it can protect, but just don’t know if it can cure?”

“That is the whole of it boss. If this does not work that way we will try something else.

But be sure we will beat this one.”

Jack liked his confidence. “Keep it going Danny and let me know. I would say may be

tomorrow we will have our first contact with their fleet. If it goes the way I hope, we will

be in a ground war after that.”

That was good and bad Danny knew. “Well I don’t like fighting a ground war. They take

forever and you end up with small bands that have to be hunted down. In some placesthat could become a gorilla war and those really suck.”

“Where we are looking at a long protracted fight, I will use your bug bombs. We will

exterminate them completely. I have no compassion for these creatures at all.”



Better Jack than him. He might get weak and he knew Jack would not. “I am glad your

there boss. I like backing you up and finding you ways to hurt them. But I am not combatman and never could be.”

“Danny I was a doctor in the Army. So I am no combat man either. But there is a moralissue here. I cannot in my mind allow humans to be used as food. The fact that these cats

breed with humans turns my stomach. That is something I just cannot condone at all.”

Looking at it from that direction Danny could fight. “I read you loud and clear boss. For

sure I can’t buy into that either and would fight also.”

Jack left the control area and went to his reading room. He had been reading about bigcats on earth and learning their social structure. As he entered he was pounced on by a big

yellow dog. The screen showed John laughing at this sight. “His name is Max and you

need a friend while your there. Max will be very attached to you quickly as that is the

nature of the Golden Retrievers. He is also very smart and well trained. But he will wantto swim with you and in the woods hit the pond, they love water.”

That had been nice Jack saw. “I have not had a dog since I was about six or seven. When

my parents died I was not allowed to keep him. So I am sure Max and I will be a good

friend for each other.”

The dog just could not get close enough to Jack. He stood beside him and his body

pushed tight to the leg. “A good friend of mine raises them. He had a male returned to

him at one year old and did not know what to do with it. Consider Max as smart as anyanimal and know he will learn quickly. You did not see them during the wedding, but I

have two of them here. One follows Faith everywhere and the other Leigh-Anne. So

when you do get home Anne, will have a new friend.”

“Thanks John I needed an outlet here for contact. When I go home to visit, then Max will

get to know the girls. I am sure your up to date on issues here. But I am now edgy notknowing exactly when we will join the battle.”

“Been there done that Jack. I know exactly how your feeling and I did not like it either.

But just relax and let nature take its course. Until their fleet comes charging after theretreating one, nothing can happen. So even if you see them it still has not started.”

That was true also. “That does not take the edge off. But I think may be Max and I willwalk for a time. Vortec build some nice walking trails here and I have enjoyed them. A

good five-mile walk would do me some good. It also will burn some of Max’s energy

off.”

“Enjoy it and just know we are here for you. Both Abel and Edgar send their best.”



Jack walked out with Max by his side. They walked the trail and Jack had time to get his

feelings under control. Max was everyplace and was enjoying the woods. He saw the

pond and was in the water in no time. Jack picked up a stick, then would toss it into the pond and Max would retrieve it. That entertained them for some time.

Finally they moved on and Max dried off as he ran. They got back in time for dinner andJohn had sent instructions on what to fix Max. The cook fixed his and Jack’s food fresh.

The two ate together and then as Jack sat to read Max wiggled under his feet. So now

Max was his footstool.

When they headed to bed Jack called Kate. He introduced Max to Anne and Kate and the

dog sat and watched them.

“You know Jack that is one smart animal. He was watching us all the time and judging

what was being said. Anne is thrilled with what John did for you. But she said he sleeps

with her when here.”

That made him laugh. “I am sure she did. But if that happens he may not want to come

back.”

“I don’t ever see that happening Jack. Where you go he will also. That dog adopted you

and he will not let go.”

Max came over and lay at Jack’s feet. His head was resting on top of his feet. Jack

reached down and scratched his head. “May be your right Kate. He just wants to be close

to me all the time.”

“Well it makes me happy knowing Max is there for you. It is not good for any human to

be alone like you are.”

“It was feeling pretty lonely here I will admit. I miss the two of you so much. That was

something I have never had before Kate. Before I could walk away from anyplace andnever miss a beat. Now I feel like only part of me is here.”

“That my husband is what having a family does for and to you. You see our lives are not

the same when your not here. We are complete when we are all together. Now Max is partof that family of ours.”

That was some understanding he never had. “That is the painful part of having family.”

“Yep that is true dear, but when your with us life is great for all of us. Can’t complain

about the few rough times, when the great ones far over shadow those. We lived more of life at the cottage than I had every before. That time is one I will always feel good about.

It is building those memories that make a life. Anne has never stopped talking about it.

She plans to get you to go there for a vacation now.”



“I am not so sure she will find that hard to do. It was a very good time. John said he and

Faith go there a couple times each year still.”

“Sometime we need to go together. Faith and I are very close, Anne and Leigh-Anne are

also. But you and John are the twins. So we all would have fun together there.”

He liked the idea. “Plan for after this war is over, for all of us to spend time there. That

would be something nice to look forward to.”

“Done deal my love. I will work it out with Faith. Now get some sleep and rub Max’s

head for me.”

Jack was ready for a shower and some sleep. Talking with Kate lifted his spirits. What awoman she had turned out to be.

Kate and Anne were sleeping together so they could be close. They both missed Jack and

felt lost without him. So they hung onto each other. “Well you get your time at the cottageagain.”

“Yes, but I have to wait until the war is over. I heard the man on the news say that could

take one hundred years.”

“Anne I really don’t think Jack will let it run that long. This whole thing is a thorn in hisside. So once the space fight is over, the war will be very fast and final.”

“What do you mean by final?”

“I can’t see him leaving one of those creatures alive.”

This Anne had to think about before she saw her answer. “That is the right thing to do

mommy. If they eat humans they cannot be allowed to live where we are.”

That was anyplace in the universe she knew. “Well daddy will take care of it dear.”

The next morning Jack was up and showered. Max had waited for him to head to the

shower and he went out side. By the time Jack came out Max was back and waiting for him. They went down to breakfast and both ate a good meal. This for Jack was a steak,

eggs, hash browns and biscuits morning.

When they got to the control room he could see the ships heading at his smaller force.

There were at least sixty he saw. “How many ships are coming in total.”

“Eighty-five Jack and we see no other major movements from the probes. There are some

transports moving but nothing of this size.”

“Give me a run down on the ships coming at us.”



blood samples and send them to the lab on Deep Space. If they check out arm the

people.”

This was much different than Vortec had expected. “As you order Jack.”

Jack sat and watched the clean up and the first of the planet searches. “Now the rest of the fleet break into two ship formations and spread out. Check every planet for life. If we

find these creature use the same orders given to Vortec.”

As each ship recovered their transports and fighters, they broke into two ship formations.

Now was time for the search. Just how many planets would they find here?

John came on Jack main screen. “Nice work Jack, They never saw it coming.”

“Now comes the hard part John. We know nothing of this area of space. So how many

possible planets can support life? I will not even guess at that number.”

“Hope’s guess is that it is possible that you could find two hundred. Now that is plus or

minus ten percent.”

“What did she base that on?”

“The numbers of planets you found when you started mapping each star. This area of space is a little older and may be better formed for the right type of planet. But I would

bet her minimum number is right.”

“Well with seventy-five ship pairs we might check the stars here in ten years. So we need

intelligence data and fast.”

“She has been tracking the cargo vessels and has some ideas of major planets. Take one

or two of them and you might get what you want.”

“We recovered the computer from four ships and it is being sent to the lab. They are using

the chemical computers. I was hoping we get data from them.”

“If it can be done Hope can do it. But understand this problem has existed for better thantwenty thousand years now. Your not going to solve it in a few days.”

“I know that, but I don’t have to like it.”

“Smack your mouth that is my line.”

They both laughed at this. “Well now it is time to take Max for a walk. He has been very

good while I was working.”



Jack stood and started to the trails. Max followed very slowly until he saw where they

were headed. Then he bounded off down the trail. This was his time.

That night Kate had seen the fight in space and knew Jack would be down about the

people. He could not get to them fast enough. So she let him rant on about the slow

progress. “I think you may be tired of this.”

“Not at all husband it is just part of my job. Everyone needs someone who is their outlet

for frustration and I am yours.”

This made him see she was not kidding. “Well I miss the two of you big time.”

“Now that the space fight is over why don’t we come and stay with you?”

“If I was sure of that I would say yes. But for now we just don’t know if that is fact or

not.”

“Well a girl has to try Jack.”

He was pleased she wanted to be here. “Look if the information on the computers we

recovered say we got the fleet then OK. If they still have more ships we have to destroy

then no. Does that work for you?”

“No, but it is better than just plain no. Look Jack, Anne and I need to be with you. We are

both unhappy here. The fact is if we all died together, that would be better than our being

saved and loosing you. We are bound together and I cannot face the long life in front of me without you.”

This hit Jack hard. “I guess I am weaker than I thought dear. Come with Anne and wewill manage some way.”

Kate smiled and he heard Anne yelling in the background. “I think you just got a votefrom Anne. But I meant what I said Jack. I belong by your side no matter what. I will

walk though fire with you.”

That Jack was sure of also. “Well have the robots pack for you two and send it after you.It is close to dinner now and I would love a family meal.”

In fifteen minutes they were hugging and kissing. “You two need to know I wasmiserable also. Just having you here makes life enjoyable.”

Hope appeared and was also smiling. “You did the right thing Jack. Faith told John shewould have kicked his butt if he had suggested that set up.”



That brought a smile from Kate and Jack. “She told me I was crazy not being where my

man was. She saw how unhappy Anne and I were and was really pissed. So Jack know

you will now be back in her good graces.”

“I guess that I still have a lot to learn about Hope’s creations.”

Hope like this comment. “You do at that Jack. Now I have every planet were there are

these creatures located. There are twenty more battleships of an even older model yet to

kill. They have humans building them and they do not do a good job at all. The programhad information coded in it that tells us just what happened. You and John both have hard

copies to sit and read. I know which planets have just humans and are raided for food.

Then there are planets for breeding. But the big ones are the command planets where

humans built the fortified cities and these creatures have taken over them. Since that timenot one advance has been made in technology. Not because they could not do it, but

because they would not do it. The humans are fighting back the only way they can.”

“Before we move in any direction I need to read this information. There are things I nowmust consider. It changes the tactical side of this whole war.”

“Hope tell all ships to stop where they are and await new orders.”

“Done Jack and Vortec is reading that document now.”

“Kate you go order dinner for us and I am going to start reading. I will break for dinner,

but I must get back to reading after that.”

“I will handle my part. Anne take Max for a walk and don’t be gone to long.”

Jack started reading and was shocked at how easy this whole system had been enslaved.A small group of these cat people had developed on one world. They were a novelty item

and were exported to many worlds. The trick had been concealing their true nature. They

at first had been seen as docile and a good child’s pet. Over a few years they were onmany planets. Slowly one planet after the other was taken over. They took the big ones

where technology was manufactured. The fleets of these worlds were assumed by holding

humans hostage. Then as they built the ships to fit their abilities, they took over more

worlds without spacecraft. The humans were forced to build for them or see their familiesused for breeding. It had not taken long of seeing young girls being used for breeding, to

make the population do as they were told.

Jack put down the text and had to slow his breathing. This was revolting to him. Then

Kate called him for dinner. He slowly got up and made himself get his act together.

Max was sitting beside Anne and looking at her. “I see you now have a good friend in

Max.”

She was pleased with how Max listened. “OK you can go to daddy Max.”



The dog jumped up and ran to Jack. “I told him to sit and he did even when he wanted to

go to you.”

“Well he is very well trained and he listens to commands. But you must not do things that

hurt him. When you did not make him sit there and released him to come to me that was

the right thing to do.”

This she needed some time to work on. “It is kind a like how you treat me I guess?”

“I ask you to do things and never demand that you do them. Your not forced to do things

you don’t like.”

“Well I have to clean my room and I don’t like doing that.”

“But you don’t have to do it.”

“I do if I want to get my allowance.”

“But it is a choice you make and not something you have to do for no reward. I don’t likethe job I have to do now. But it is my job and I am paid to do it. So no one always likes

things that must be done. But my failing to do my job could cost people their lives.”

This she also needed to think out. “I really would not like your job daddy. I could not dealwith bad people. But because you do it, even if you don’t like it people love you.”

This was no time to correct her. “Lets eat a nice meal and enjoy being a family again.”

After dinner Jack took her up to her room and read her a book. Then Kate came in and

took care of bath time and putting her to bed. “Daddy has to read that report Hope gavehim before he can go to sleep. So I will tuck you in tonight.”

“OK mommy I know he was reading his report. But he did take time to read me a storyand that was nice. I missed that.”

Kate kissed her and went to sit with Jack. He read for two more hours and sat back in

total disgust. “These people invited their own disaster. When they had the chance to fightthey did not do so. The way the food planets are set up, it will not take one hundred

robots to kill off the entire group of creatures there. The breeding planets are a different

story. That will be a much harder nut to crack. The major industrial planets have themliving among the humans. The main leadership groups live in the fortress cities and use

humans as shields for them.”

The screen came to life and a very tired John was there. “I assume you also have read

this?” He held the report up.



“Yes I read it and was just discussing it with Kate. How could anyone let this happen and

not fight back at all?”

“How could Gorm’s people be enslaved by robots they had built? Jack people get

complacent and they make mistakes. Here on Alpha I push finding the lessons of the

human race. That is why your there now. I have talked to Gorm and Hammed and theyalso read this. They both could see how it could happen. Gorm said how could he fault

them, when his grandfather knew what was coming and did nothing. Hammed reminded

me of all the countries that had been taken over on Earth, with no shots fired.”

He could see their point of view also, but it did not fit his. “Well I see a two pronged plan

right now. I go for the food planets with one ship each. I hit the manufacturing planets

with two ships each. All of these must be under control before we go for the breeding planets. Some humans were used for breeding on the manufacturing planets, but that was

mostly punishment for resistance. But trying to find every hole a breeder can crawl into is

going to be hard on the breeding planets. From the picture I get these people are wild now

and very animal like.”

“I see much the same thing here. On the food planets do you think people are now willingto fight?”

“I really don’t know John. But in my mind, if we can show them how easy it is to stop

their children from being shipped away for food? Then many be we can make headway.The first couple of planets will answer that question. But you need to expect to leave a

force on each planet to keep order. A government will have to be built and people

educated enough to run it.”

“That is where the robot force fits so nice for us. We can leave them as long as needed.

Our other big problem is supplying computers for these planets. Hope can only startabout fifty each year. So it will be some time before every planet has a computer.”

“We have one hundred and fifty ships computers who can each clone one. So I don’t seethe problem?”

This John had not considered either. “That does put a different light on that issue. I am

surprised Hope did not suggest it.”

“I did not even think of that John. But yes each ships computer can clone one a year.

They just cannot clone multiple computers like I can.”

Jack was smiling now. “Hope I never thought I would find something you had not already

thought of.”

“Very funny Jack. I at least with you don’t have to do all the work.”



That broke John up. “OK children that is enough. But good thinking Jack. We will need

to build a complete government for each planet. I will get Abel working on it now. Until

we feel they can control their area of the universe we will maintain patrols there. As a planet gets its act together, we will offer it membership in the Federation. Be sure several

transport plates are on each planet in key locations. For now we will limit the access to

our people or someone with an escort.”

“I am thinking of leaving around five hundred robot troops on each planet. With people

who don’t fight that should be enough.”

“Sounds right to me. But with the transport plates we can add troops at any time. So go

for your plan and let me know what you need.”

Kate came over and sat in Jack’s lap and hugged him. “I have missed doing this and need

some of your time now.”

Jack picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. “Max go guard Anne for me.” Thedog trotted off to Anne’s room.

Kate watched in total shock. “He did what you asked him.”

“I told you he was smart. But his nose is very sensitive and the odors we are giving off I

am sure cued him.”



Chapter 7

The Second Contact

Vortec sat with Daniel and Jack going over the plan. “Jack here is my best proposal. We

will need thirty ships to go after the fifteen major planets with manufacturing. I wouldfeel better if we used forty-five, as I am not sure yet what to expect. The added ship

would mean a protective force for the two landing troops. We know they still have a little

bite left. Then I would rather see two ship formations until we know for sure what thereactions on the food planets will be. There is no way now to gage if the people will fight

or even help us.”

This was true enough. “I will agree to the changes. But once we have answers we need tomove more quickly. We also need to know how wide spread the virus is among humans.

So blood samples will be needed off each planet. A lab has been set up on Deep Space to

run up to ten thousand samples each day. The ships computer will build a database, for us

to make decisions on the next steps needed. I am worried that this cat virus may infectmany on these planets. The results have shown that we can prevent new infections of

those who do not have it. But we are right now just sixty-one percent successful in curingit. So Danny is back on the drawing board looking for a better way to do this. My guess is

will need billions of doses once we find the right answer. The pharmaceutical plant is

now making the current drug. Once we know what the full problems are, we can set up

clinics and treat people with human doctors.”

Vortec was glad Jack was sitting on the medical side of this. But Daniel till now had said

nothing yet. “Now for my two bits. I want to be in on the attack of the central commandcity. This has the major building shop for spacecraft and the key leadership. We should be

able to find the original history of these planets and their governments. This needs to go

to Abel. Taking a planet over is one thing, but controlling it after that is another. The most powerful force can be dragged into a black hole, if they do not get the people behind

them. We have no idea of what the people’s reaction will be. Looking at mans past, if

these governments have lasted for the twenty thousand years projected, people might seethis as normal. They have never lived any other way. So here we may end up with

humans fighting us also.”

This was Jack knew very true. “I agree we must be at the front of this rescue attempt.There is no sure way to know the mind set that exists. The whole thing revolted me. But

if I had never known anything different, how would I react to any attack from outside?

We know the engineers who built their spacecraft left us a history on the computer. Buthow long ago was that assembled and is it just part of the accepted program today? The

planets may end up being a hornet’s nest for us. Daniel has brought a new dimension to

consider here. So I want no attack of any planet until we take the main planet and itsgovernment. Have all ships on station and ready to move after we have some facts. The

worst case is we could end up fighting a war with humans we came to save.”



Vortec was really not sure here. “I can not argue against this or for it. The fact that

humans may be happy with their current government never crossed my mind. It just is not

logical to me at all. But humans do adjust to many different forms of government andsome are very harsh ones. We do need more information on where the humans will

stand.”

John had followed this very closely. “Gentlemen I agree with Daniel. This is under my

skin as bad as it is Jack’s. But fighting humans and having to kill them in battle concerns

me. Our problem is we don’t know, what we don’t know. So until we do know we mustgo slowly. I am sure Jack will need to talk with whatever leadership can be found among

the humans. Your going to need to coordinate your forces with humans, to have any

chance of not starting a very big war on these planets. I am sure they have been ruled by

fear now for millenniums. Consider the fact it may take fear to rule now. You may wantto show the ships that are unloading troops. It might be a good idea to have them

shielding those troops. Putting out all the fighter craft could also add to the fear factor.

These tools can fight as well in an atmosphere as in space. I would suggest on the key

planets you used ten or twelve ships in sight of people and have a protective force closingthe door to any attack from space. That is power and will I am sure be seen that way by

the humans.”

Once more this adjusted the plan. “That will take the whole fleet to take the

manufacturing planets, where the rulers are. Then we will not get them all on the first

day.”

“Jack these planets did not fall in one day and cannot be recovered in one. The final

choice is yours, this was just my suggestion.”

The fact of ten or twelve ships landing troops and well over one thousand fighters had

merit. It displayed power that could not be stopped. Weapons on the planet could fire atwill and do no damage to his fleet. “OK I agree we need the big planets where the leaders

of these creatures are. The size of this job makes choices easy to come by and be wrong.

If we take these showing the kind of power John has suggested, it might help in the longrun. At the least the humans will fear the power shown and may be cooperate? But they

will know that they cannot defeat us. So Vortec pull together the fleet in groups that will

allow ten on the planet and five defending the space around it. We can take ten planets

and see where we are. This ship will be the lead ship for the main planet. The languageon the computers was very close to German on Earth and Hope and Jane think they can

handle it for the robots. We need to document everything we can find early. If they have

libraries we need to get this data scanned and into the databanks. Any paper in an officeneeds to be stored for future information. That means no matter how mundane it is collect

it. Here information will also be power later.”

John was happy with the change made. “Now Abel has law books ready to print as soon

as you confirm the language. Printing plants are standing by to get them out fast to you.

We can print one hundred million a day. Once the planet is safe and leaders have been

found Gorm, Hammed and I will send one human to work with them. They are now in a



training class for how to handle this. Your job is recovery of the planets and mine is the

rebuilding of them. That should help you keep focused on just one task for now.”

Jack was happy to not have to rebuild these worlds. “That is all yours John. My platter is

full right now and overflowing. We will install a planet computer, the transport plates you

asked for and leave five hundred troops when we go. Will you have other needs?”

“Not now that I know of. Abel, Edgar, James and I have been working on reconstruction

plans. The information we get from your people on the ground will be very helpful. So just keep the information flowing.”

The fleet reformed around ten planets. The first ten starships went into the atmosphere

and hovered over the main city. Slowly troops were coming down to transport plates onthe ground. A large force field had been set up for protection until they were fully

assembled.

It took no time for the ships to draw fire. There were many bright flashes of light bouncing off the shields of the ships. This it seemed provoked the launching of the

fighters. Now the sky was black with these machines.

The firing stopped and people could be seen running away for the weapons. It was easy

to see these had been humans doing the firing. The troops started to move towards the

city. The main gate was closed, but that was no barrier to them. The gate was blasted off its hinges. As they went into the city, flashes of light from weapons being discharged

could be seen. Defensive weapons were destroyed. The force broke into squads of ten and

each took a different route. No homes were entered at this time. But they headed to thecities center. A good size guard force was holding the gate to stop any from leaving.

The fighters were covering the walls of the city to stop this also. A few had fired atgroups trying to leave the city, moving them back into it. They had not tried to hurt

anyone, just let them know leaving was not a good idea.

At each intersection of streets a post of five troops was set up. This would allow

observation and provide contact points if the people wanted to know what was

happening. A few of the creatures had tied to kill troops and been shot down. They were

left there for the humans to see who was being killed.

Slowly troops started to enter the center of the city. Here the fighting was heavy. It was

not humans doing the fighting it was all the cat people. These creatures were going nutsand heading directly at the troops with no weapon. The force fields stopped many from

claws cutting into them. The more they tried to get to the robots and failed, the harder

they tried. There was no logic or understanding of this by the robots. But bodies piled upquickly.

A group went into the palace and slowly took it over. Many were cuffed and brought out

to wait. There were some humans in the palace who were in bedrooms of the creatures.



These were moved to a large dinning hall and secured there. Blood was taken from each

and sent to the lab. A number was placed on each human and it was also on the vial of

blood.

The areas of living had yielded over three hundred of the creatures and one hundred and

twenty humans. Every bit of paper had been scanned in the palace and now a group wasscanning a library. Many other buildings were searched for information and as it was

found scanned into the database. Before the day was done twenty million books and

documents were on file.

“Jack what do we do with these creatures for the night,” One commander asked?

“Either set up a force field to hold them or if they have a prison put them there for now. Iwant each questioned and would like to see what they talk about when placed together.”

A very large room with humans in it had been found. It had a solid door and stonewalls.

So it was set up to hold these creatures. A microphone and video recorder were place outof the way in the room. After questioning the humans they were being held for food

usage. So the room was a good one for holding these monsters.

The humans were questioned and tested for any virus. Nothing was found and Jack had

them moved to the ship so he could talk with them. A large meeting room had been set up

and these young people sat without a word being said and waited. From what Jack andKate could tell they were between twelve and twenty. Both male and females were very

stoic in there emotions.

Jack and Kate walked into the room and took the head table. He wanted her to observe

and feed him her observations. She was very good at reading people.

“People I am Jack and the leader of the Federation forces that have taken this planet. We

now have twenty of your cities under our control. The rest will fall tomorrow. In seeing

you I am confused, as to why I see no joy in being saved from being eaten by thecreatures that have ruled your planets.”

One young girl stood. “We were promised eternal life when it was our time. So now you

have taken that away from us.” She just glared at Jack.

This was not what Jack had expected. “I do not know who made that promise to you, but

they could never keep it. Have any of you heard from someone, who was given this socalled eternal life?”

No one spoke at all, but you could see interest. “What was done here is not uncommon.People are promised something they have no way to be sure will happen. This way they

cannot say it is not real. But we come from many stars away from here and travel space

to learn about life. In our travels we have found no world where life is eternal. I assure



“Here you will have choices to make and the majority of the peoples views will make

them. I am not here to force you to do anything.”

“But your forcing our way of life to change.”

Here Kate stepped in. “No we are not doing that. This was not your way of life before thecat people took over your worlds. You now have the right to return to your old ways. It

was these creatures that destroyed your society to start with. A little more than twenty

thousand years ago, your people were the most advanced at that time. Since the take over you have gone backwards. The builders of your spacecraft quit advancing the designs.

This was their way of fighting the creatures. It was due to their bravery that we wiped out

the fleet in less than one hour. The current ships were just no match for ours.” Kate sat

down and waited.

This caused much discussion once more. “I think we need time to talk here. But how do

we know what you say is true?”

“Hope please show yourself.” Her image came into the room. “Now this is Hope one of

our DNA computers. This of course is just an image for you to see and talk with. But shecan show you the books and records from the past. We have been copying every book and

document found on the ten worlds we have taken. The entire known history of your

worlds is in her databanks. Ask of her what you wish to see and read for yourselves and

she will show it to you. Today you have choices to make and it must be you who makethem.” Jack stood and he and Kate left the room.

They sat on the patio and Jack was interested in her perceptions. “How do you see thisgoing?’

“They are confused and have been lied to by the creatures. This mantra of getting eternallife has been fed to them now for millennia. It is a believed part of their culture now. So

how would the people of Earth act if told their religion was totally wrong? They had been

worshiping the wrong thing. Their beliefs were not on a sound foundation, as they had been lied to.”

Jack had already seen this and knew how it worked. “We are in for problems I think. The

people of Earth did not take well, to their religion being given to them by the old world.The word God came from the Galactic Outreach Departments letters. Even when they

were given the original written texts, there were many who did not believe them. Today

there are still many churches on all three Earth planets. Now don’t misunderstand me. I believe there is a supreme power out here somewhere. That DNA’s building blocks were

formed by that power. But for now I cannot tell you who, what or where that power is?”

This fit nicely with Kate’s thoughts. “You just have to change the religion to something

they had before. They need that to have roots. In Hope’s research so far, they had a very

dynamic religion that was the single force that held the planets together. A way must be

found to rebuild that and be sure people know it was theirs. Most of their rules and laws



then fit our laws now. So finding if an underground of the church survived is the key to

peace.”

John had followed Kate and Jack’s talks. “I think Kate has a point Jack. You know what a

mess I created on Earth with the real facts. The one thing I have held to is perception is

more important than fact. What people believe is what is real. It may not be true. But tothem that does not matter. I have Hope working with the other planets computers, to build

a complete view of the religion. All religious texts are being assembled. We have made

small changes where it was a good idea. These texts are now being shown to your young people. Many have already bought into them. The creatures were smart in that they just

modified what was there. They did not try to toss the baby out with the bath. But by

showing them how it was changed, in writing by the creatures we are making headway.

Be assured we will not get them all to change their views. But we just need the majority.”

This was not the victory Jack had seen. “I am starting to feel like I was invited to a party

and wore the wrong dress. This is way over my head. In my work we fix the body and the

answer is very close to the same each time. That for sure is not the case here.”

“You keep taking planets and we will deal with the issue of ruling them. Now I haveanother group coming to see you. It is just twenty men and women, who are the scientist

from the factory that built the spacecraft. Where would you like to meet with them?”

Kate decided now was the time. “Lets do it here Jack on the patio. You have your centralcommand center close by and they can see how we live.”

This he turned over for a time. “OK John send them here. I will trust Kate’s instinctshere.”

The group came onto the patio and looked shocked. They were led to chairs by robotsand seated. Coffee and tea was served.

Jack stood and walked to the group and shook hands with each of them. Kate was besidehim. It had been a long time since this form of greeting had been seen on their planet. But

this was a welcome change.

“I am Jack commander of the Federation fleet of starships. We have as of now taken tenof your main planets where manufacturing happens. There is a force of fifteen ships,

fifteen hundred fighter craft and sixty thousand troops. Of course we are using robot

troops, so the infections from the creatures don’t hurt our people. Now I am sure youhave questions to ask.”

That was to say the least. “How many ships are in your fleet?”

“One hundred and fifty right now.”

“What do you mean by right now?”



“If needed we could double the size of this fleet. That would really stretch us, but it could

be done.”

“Your Federation must be very large.”

“Not really as you in the past had more planets than we do. We are a young Federation

and building now. Any human world is free to join us. No world is told how to rule itself

as that is not our job. We have a combined military to protect all in the Federation fromattack or to provide defense if needed. Recently we found a planet that had been frozen.

Its people had gone into suspended animation for the past twenty thousand years. We

moved their planet back into a good orbit and then worked with them to revive their

people. We did not change their government or tamper with the way they live. But theyhave chosen to join the Federation. That opens up trade with our planets and technology

transfer. They were the planet who developed the fusion generator.”

One man looked very closely at Jack. “Is it possible the Zima was there leader?”

“Yes, he is still their leader. One of the gifts we give to humans is a much longer lifespan. We live to around eight to nine hundred trips of your planet around your sun. We

call these years.”

“In our worlds they are cycles. But we used the fusion generator for power supplies onthe spacecraft. Due to their metals requirements we could not build them ourselves. But

Zima was the source for buying these in our records. When the cat people went looking

for it the planet was gone. So was our source for more power supplies. Then the shipsfrom Cirrus stopped coming and our source of chemical computers dried up. That limited

us to only building a ship, when we could get a power plant and computer from another

one. The fleet here was just one hundred ships and most were very old ones.”

“Yes, we took four of the chemical computers off the fleet ships we destroyed and found

the history of the original builders. They knew how to build the power plants andcomputers, but refused to do so for your captors. They also refused to move technology

forward for any craft they built. It was their way of protest.”

The man smiled at this. “Your very good at getting the data from a chemical computer.”

“Well just so you know Cirrus is one of the Federation planets. But our ships run with

DNA computers. The chemical computer is slow and does not handle the data a DNAcomputer can.”

That was impressive. “How big are your DNA computers.”

“Jane please show yourself to these people.” She appeared at once.



“This is just an image for you to see and talk with. But my space on this ship is around

six hundred feet square and five hundred feet high. At present I fill about twenty percent

of that area. But as I gain knowledge and grow my abilities to their full potential, I willneed that space. A DNA computer is a life form of its own. I have had placed on your

planet a clone computer of me. She will in time control much of your needs here.

Humans no longer drive vehicles, fly in the air or need spacecraft if they have been thereone time. We have transport planets the computer controls and she can move you

anyplace. Like you were brought here.”

This was a bomb to these people. “Why would a computer of this power be given to us?”

Kate felt she should answer the woman. “We are not your enemies in any way. We are

fellow humans and wish you and your planets nothing but good. Do we have questionsabout your way of living? Yes we do and will wait to see what happens when you take

control once more. The Federation has one guiding principal it follows. If the government

is good for the people it is acceptable. Now the one we are dismantling was for sure not

good for the people. Humans were a food source, breeding stock for them and nothingmore. They used your own technology against you. The once strong religion that existed

here was changed to suit their needs. To convince parents to give their children to thesecreatures to eat. Some were taken to a few planets to serve as breeders, to keep the human

DNA strong in their lines. These children were used by these people and treated as

disposable. I know you have either seen or heard of children being tied over a metal form

for breeding. This was done for entertainment and a lesson to humans as to who ruled.Children were brought out abused, tied to a roasting wheel and after the flame killed them

served to the leaders to eat. So each of you must take some responsibility for these acts. I

say this in that you did nothing to stop these creatures.”

The patio was very silent for a time. Finally an old man spoke up. “She is right and we

did nothing. Put the way she has just said, we have much to be ashamed of. The oldchurch is still alive in many areas. It is just underground. It had condemned these

creatures and many follow the teachings. There are on some worlds resistance groups

fighting still, to rid our worlds of this plague. I cannot say how big they are, but they arethere. That brings me to my point. What can we do now to help you?”

“My job is to invade your worlds and wipe out these creatures. I don’t have the answers

for that question. But Jane will put you in touch with John. He is the chairman of theFederation. He speaks for all human planets in this matter.”

John walked up to them and introduced himself. “Now I heard just one voice on thismatter. So do you all feel this way?” There was affirmation from all. “OK I would like for

you to come with me to Alpha and sit down with the Federation staff. If you wish you

will each be scanned and given a shot to extend you life spans. This does reverse theaging process to a great degree. I am now eighty-five cycles, as you can see I don’t look

that old. We don’t want to rule here or even have to over see your culture. In time you

may be offered a place in the Federation and that will be your choice. Please follow me.”



They went to the plate and John sent four at a time. “Thanks you two this I am sure will

help.”

“It would be nice Kate if I had his confidence.”

“He is by no means confident at all. John has most of the same worries you have. But hehas learned to handle them differently. Now he will find the holes and where support can

be found. He has people who can tell him things he can count on. You can bet he will find

the underground church. The resistance fighters will be supported. Your fighting the faceto face war. He is fighting the shadow war.”



Chapter 8

The Shadow War

John broke these people into four groups. Each was placed at a table and one person from

Alpha was there. James who headed security for Alpha was handling the debriefing. Oneof his people was at each table asking the question. Hope was gathering the data and

collating it into usable information.

Abel, Edgar and John roamed the room listening to people talk. The first step was to ask

a person to give a biography of the planet. The next step was a view of the people’s

feelings. How did the people see resistance fighters? What if any impact did they feel

religion might play in rebuilding the planets?

The questioning had gone on for some hours now. John decided it was enough for now.

“These people need a break and some sleep. Take them to the resort and give them each a

room and fresh clothing. Tomorrow we will meet after breakfast and finish this.”

The scientists were pleased with the break. The old man walked to John. “Our familieshave no idea where we are and I am sure will be worried. How can we get word to them

we are fine?”

“I will have Hope our DNA computer contact each of you. Just show her where your home is on the map and she will see your family knows your all right.”

“There is one more thing sir. Could you bring my oldest son here and talk with him?”

“Why?”

“He is a leader in the church you are now looking for. I am sure he can save you much

time in getting them to come out from cover.”

That might help here a lot. “Hope get the information on his son and have him picked up.

Just tell him he is going to meet his father. Bring him here and place him in his fathers

room for the night.”

The son walked into the room worried he was dead. Seeing his father sitting on the

balcony looking over the water shocked him. “Sit son it is a new world now.”

The man of about forty was used to being called son. “Why do you look so good

tonight?”

“I have cast my lot with these people son. They are humans and parts of their Federation

are old friends to our planets. Now are you and the church ready to come out into the

open?”



This was not his father. “You know we will be killed at once.”

“Not now son. You have one hundred and fifty starships, almost fifteen thousand fighter craft and six hundred thousand troops to back you.”

This was a complete surprise to him. “Your saying these people would back thereligion?”

“I am saying these people will back the people and support the religion. Your nogovernment and could not run the planets if given the chance. But as a religion you can

be sure it is run the right way. We are taught that people come first and their welfare is the

key to harmony. These people live that way with no religion at all. So you will have some

big choices to make tomorrow. If you believe what our old religion taught us, then youcan be a major force in restoring our planets. But it will be for the people and that is the

right thing.”

The younger man considered this now. There were choices to be made here. His father ordered coffee and tea for them and brought it to the table. They both poured a cup and

sat looking at the two moons over the water.

“Dad I think your right about the church not running the government. But there will be a

group who want that.”

“If you read the writings of the church it is not allowed. The old laws of our worlds do

not allow that either. I assure you these people will not allow that to happen. If the

religion were over all of life, it would suck the life out of people. They would have no sayin government and that would be the end of it. We have at home several books on the old

government and its laws. The thing that cost us our planets was the religion saying we

should not fight back when the cat people took power. We were told that our God woulddeliver us. So the religion must take a major part of the responsibility, for our peoples

suffering. Now it is not our God who is delivering us, but these people. They are just

humans like we are. But they will fight to keep their way of life. The nice thing is theywill fight to give us our lives back.”

This truly hit the younger man. “I see your point father. Now how can I help them?”

“First be honest with them and tell the exact truth. If they find your not telling the full

truth you will be out. That means you cannot help the people at all. They hold their word

to be a contract and it is never given lightly. But once given they will meet what theyhave committed to.”

This also fit their religious beliefs to the letter. “I am afraid we have lost that moralfoundation at this time dad. It is time we were reminded what was important in life.”

“Come with me son and let me show you how things should be.”



They walked into the lobby of the resort and within a very short time someone came to

them and asked if they needed anything. “No I just wanted to show my son your beautiful

resort.”

“Feel free to go where you wish and see anything. Would you like a map of the areas?”

“No I have one in my pocket, but thank you.”

“Your most welcome sir.”

They walked out and down to the shore and along the beach. “Did you see how we were

treated? We are not even citizens of these worlds and yet you would not know that. This

planets people saved Cirrus after being held in slavery for five hundred years. Theyrestored the planet and people of Zima who was many years ago a major trading partner.

For these acts of kindness they demanded nothing, but a peaceful world be built. The wife

of the commander of their fleet shamed me today. Not by her being unkind, but by telling

the truth of what I already knew. Here I had been too weak to take a stand. Yet today theyhave also given me a very long life to live. Their medical technology will allow me to

live for eight too nine hundred cycles.”

That was not possible. “How can that be father?”

“As I said they are very advanced. Our battleships could move at light speed. Theirsmove at one hundred and fifty times light speed. In one of their starships you could place

five of our battleships just in the storage bay. Where we at one time lead the human

planets in technology, we are now way behind. I guess son what I am trying to say, is thisis very close to a perfect world right here.”

“That was the promise of their religion. How could any people be that close to perfect?”

“I asked one of the young men interviewing me the same question. At our break he took

us down into their park, in the government city. I watched the young people playinggames and the young children using the different rides and the likes. There was no anger,

but smiling faces and if someone fell they were helped up. I was allowed to talk with

people and ask questions as I wished. The answer was always that John made sure the

people were cared for. He is the leader of the five Alpha planets and the chairman of theFederation. He showed me more gold, sliver and gemstones that I had ever seen. I ask

him how much he owned of this and he said none. It belonged to his people. He was just

the manager of their wealth to assure they had what they needed. He also said that whatwas important was good health, family to love and be loved by and time to enjoy life.

That wealth did more to cause problems than solve them.”

This fit their religious writing as well. “I am having a very hard time accepting this. It

seems like a dream world.”



The father pulled out a small book and handed it to his son. “This is the complete law

book for the Federations planets. It was written for Alpha’s but all have adopted it.”

The two moons provided enough light to allow him to read it. The time for that was just a

few minutes. “There is no law that does not fit our religion. We teach these very same

things. But this is a very simple law book and our old ones were many volumes in size.”

“Here if you file a law suite you must be the one to press it. The courts will hear your

complaint, the police will report the facts they found and the one being charged is allowto defend themselves. No one else is allowed to speak unless called by the judge. They

use no defenders or people to bring these charges. It must be done person to person. The

police have no side in this they just report what they found. Every trial is shown to every

person on the five planets to assure it was fair. Nothing is hidden from the people.”

This was a law system to build on. “I see we both will have to do a lot to see this work.

But father if your willing to lead your people, I will find a way to get mine to follow.”

The two men went to bed and had a good nights sleep.

In the morning the sun was coming in the window and it woke them both. They took a

shower and cleaned up. New clothing was waiting for them. After dressing they went to

breakfast and then to the meeting room.

John was waiting for them. “Well my friend how was your night?”

“I think very productive for our planet. May we sit and talk for a time?”

“Of course follow me and we will go to my office.”

They sat in the leather chairs by the windows. “Now what do you need?”

“This is my son I asked you to bring here. He is the key leader of our religious groupunderground. I represent the scientist and technology guilds. My sons group numbers

around one hundred and seventy million on all planets. My group numbers two hundred

million people. Each of us can speak for that number of people.”

This was very interesting to John. “OK what can we do for your people?”

“We could never remove all the creatures that have control of our planets. But you can.My group was the old leadership of government before the take over. So I have people on

every planet of worth. Those are the manufacturing planets and the planets you call food

planets. We have no people on the ones you call breeding planets. Those did not exist before the take over.”

That was also interesting. “Fine keep going.”



“When Jack’s ships reach a planet, we are willing to go down bring our people to you and

start to organize government and religion once more. We each have a group that numbers

around one hundred eighty people who will be leaders on many planets. They will, butmay be unwillingly follow our orders. There will be much complaining about how things

are to be done. But they do it our way or they are out. You will find we have one hundred

eighty planets that are manufacturing or food production. In food production I mean for humans. The rest are your breeder planets. This will require that every temple of the cat

people be destroyed completely. If that does not happen a small group will try to go back

to that religion. We need no distractions while making these changes. Your troops musthandle the creatures, as I will not be able to get enough people to fight to do this.”

“May I ask why your people would not fight to be free?”

The son decided to handle this. “Dad and his people would, it is my religious side that

would stop that. Our religion says no taking of life. That was what got our planets in this

mess.”

“I think you left out a word there. No taking of human life is the right way. But if your

attacked and fail to defend your homes, families and friends even if it is against humansis also wrong. Your peoples first commitment must be to protect your planet and its

people.”

“But in that case we would have to fight you.”

“Not at all son. We are not there killing humans or trying to take your planet. Matter of

fact we are trying to give it back to you.”

This brought a sheepish grin to him. “Yes I think may be we have gone to far with

peaceful. But until we can teach the people different we will need your troops and help.”

“Now what about the people who are fighting the creatures now?”

The father smiled at this. “They are some of the children of my people. Our way was

taking to long for them and we support them as we can.”

“I assume they will fight?”

“Oh yes they will gladly. They need arms and training. But on the planets they are on, no

one knows the land better.”

The son looked angrily at the father. “Those fools have caused many young girls to be

breed for their actions.”

John saw this disagreement between the two. “Let me tell you how I see it. They are

brave and you’re a coward. They are willing to try to fight to save the human race on



your planets, while you sit on your tail and bemoan their action. Had you and your people

stepped up at the start. no girls would have that problem.”

The father saw the fire in John’s eyes and knew he was right. “I am afraid you just lost

that one badly son. Now remember there is only one right way here. It for sure is not the

way religion sees it today. I have told you that religion must change for us to succeed. Soget rid of all that crap you have feed the public for years now and join the real world.”

The son was shocked at this. “That is sacrilegious.”

“No that is truth son. You and the other leaders of the religion have supported the

desecration of our worlds. It is time you paid your dues to our people. Because of your

teachings girls are raped every day by less than human forms. They carry the litters of these monsters. Boys are force to breed with female cats to produce offspring. The

children are killed and eaten every day on every planet. This is what the old religion

brought to its people. Now you have one chance to correct that. Just one chance and you

will be turned out and people will find a new religion. You either take a stand for what isright for humans or you will pay the price.”

This shocked him, as his father had never talked this way before. “Who would denounce

the religion that people would listen to?”

“I would son, as this time you get it right or I will see the church takes all the blame. Youmay no know this, but I have the decree signed by the religious leader, saying to fight

was a sin. If you do not play this right I will make sure everyone sees it and reads it.”

The son knew he had no choice and no power. “I will do as I am told by my father.”

John saw the sad eyes the old man had. “Son let me tell you something you need to know.Your religion is a life style. We live that way here at all times. But we will fight for our

planet, family and friends. Killing anyone hurts my people deeply. But having someone

kill their family or friends is even less acceptable. Life has choices and we are allowed tomake good ones and bad ones. The good ones reward us and the bad ones cost us. Now in

that context how do you rate not fighting twenty thousand years ago?”

He knew it had been a bad decision that cost many dearly. “I guess I have never looked atdecisions that way. But our religious book says when we do good, good will come from

it. When we do bad, bad will come from that. Nothing but bad has come from not

fighting at the start. So I would say the religious leaders made a bad decision.”

The father saw how John had moved his son to accept this. “Well it is time to do good

now for our people son. They have paid to much for the bad decision.”

During the day John and the two men worked out the plan for recovery of the planets.

The big question was what to do on the breeding planets. This was never resolved



between them. Neither man wanted to make the decision. But he now knew there were

ten of these.

“Jack I have a plan for you to consider. This should end the war quickly and bring some

peace to these planets.”

The whole story was put before Jack. Kate listened and never said a word. Jack had many

questions and mostly received answers. This he thought about for some time before

making a decision.

“John I am going to release the bug bombs Danny has built for me. He has created thirty

of them now and that is how we will attack the breeder planets. Once the creatures are

killed off then we can see what to do with any humans that are there. I will send probes to put the spray into the air and just have them return to their ships. We will map each planet

as we spray and if needed send more probes back to finish the job. I really don’t want to

see one of these, but I must do that. I have to be sure none survived and know the

condition of the humans there. But I am not sure what we can do for them?”

Neither was John and no one on the planets wanted anything to do with these people.That fact they were their own children made no difference. He was sure the families had

all written off their children now.

“Plan on leaving a robot force for them. They may over time be able to educate them andteach then how to live. Some how I feel a responsibility for those ten planets.”

“I do also John. Kate and I will work on a plan for them. In this I need her gentle side.”

The first ten planets were easy to handle and clear out the creatures. There had been may

be thirty thousand on any planet and the troops just took them out and disposed of the bodies. All the robot force now knew what these creatures did to humans and there was

no mercy in them. The many children who had been stopped from becoming food were

slowly made to understand they had been saved. The promises made to them were notreal. That created some very angry children. Once taken back to their home planet they

joined in exterminating the creatures. These children became the basis of the army on

each planet.

The technical guilds did supply the people to run the governments and the Alpha laws

were adopted as the laws here. Religious leaders saw the wisdom in going along with the

guilds, as they did not want the blame they deserved for the bad decision they forced. Acopy of the decree had been given to every religious leader, so they could see it

themselves. It did keep them in line for now.

Slowly the other five manufacturing planets were taken and ships stared to go to the food

planets. Here there were just less then five thousand of the creatures per planet. The

troops wiped then out quickly. There was no fight where claws were equal to weapons.



With fighters spotting for body heat in wooded areas they were easy targets. If a fighter

flying at night spotted one they just shot it and logged the location.

It took a good three months to clean up the planets claimed by these worlds. Jack decided

to go back and ask Bruce the senior to reconsider the ten breeding planets now. The man

he was sure would not take them.

“Look they are your planets and we don’t need them. We have more planets in formation

now that we will use in ten thousand years.”

“Jack those planets are the shame of our NOVA system. We have NOVA 1 to 180 and

they are not nearly full of people now. These planets are like diseased, as far as we are

concerned. We owe Alpha much. You have given us the planet computers, transport plates, fusion power plants and so much more. But asking my people to see and repair

these planets would destroy many of them. It is their own children there.”

“Bruce people must face there dark past to be able to assure a new future. If you cannotrecognize what was done and how it happened it is bound to happen again. That was a

lesson learned on Earth. One country built what was called concentration camps andkilled millions of one group of people. This group was blamed for all the bad that had

happened to the people. That way the people could feel good, that is was someone else’s

fault not theirs. Those camps are today kept for people to visit and see what was done in

their name. That will never happen again.”

Here Bruce hung his head and his body shook. “I have a daughter on one of those worlds.

She was the joy of my life before she was taken. To find she is alive and living like ananimal would kill me.”

“I am sorry for that happening. But for a father to not do everything in his power for hisown child is a crime. That child did not ask to be sent there. I would guess it was

punishment for you. She is the flesh of your flesh and you owe her.”

The man cried like a baby. He was so upset he just could not continue to defend his

position. “Would you do that Jack?”

“If it was Anne there in a heart beat. You may never be able to bring her back here. Butshe deserves a life of some kind. She needs to know she is still loved and to be cared for.

John has told me to leave troops on each of these planets to teach, protect and defend

these unfortunate children. But we cannot forgive them and they need that from their ownloved ones. I have troops checking every one of these planets and we are finding no

creatures now. A virus killed them. But many children are now in camps and being

questioned. Most have been badly scared by young cats claws. They have a great shamethat does not belong to them.”

Tears were still flowing. “I will come and talk with them. The order will be passed to any

who have living children on these planets, that they must go and comfort them. I want



this documented, so we can show everyone just what happened here. Other fathers and

mothers I am sure feel as I did. Once more Alpha’s moral code has shamed me. Jack your

really a very good people.”

“Both Kate and Anne are now working with these children. They move camp to camp

and do what they can. My daughter cries herself to sleep at night. You see I adopted her on Zima’s planet. Her own mother did not want her. Now she sees the rejection these

children are getting and it hurts her.”

“Why is she reacting this way?”

“She knows I cannot take all of these children, as I took her. They have no one who they

know loves them. That is what hurts her. She wants them to be loved so bad it is painful.”

“Only from a child can this message be really felt. Would she be willing to address my

people?”

“Anne is only eight years old. How would your people feel about that?”

“That is the right age for them to hear of this. I will ask a crew from the news to come

with us. They will film the whole thing. We will take responsibility for the planets and

hope you will still leave the troops to help. This is going to take time to bring people to

their senses. We all knew what those planets were for and what would happen. It is oncemore time to change a bad decision and not run from it.”

Jack was pleased with the way Bruce had slowly changed his mind. “Kate, Anne and Iwill meet you in the morning at ten. The transport plate will bring you to us. I know your

news people are new to your world. So I will have my own there also. The people of

Alpha, Cirrus and Earth need to see this also. After it is shown you will see an outpouringof offers for help. I would expect people to take time and come and build what is needed.

Teachers will offer to come for a few years to teach. You will have doctors and all types

of needed skills being offered. It will be your choice if they are allowed to come.”

This was beyond belief to him. “Why would they do that?”

“These are human children in need. Could they do any less?”

“Jack your people are way to good and I respect them for that. Once that gets out our own

people will get motivated and solve this issue. It would be a good time for both groups toget to know one another. I of course will keep the offers from the Federations people in

the news, to help this along.”

Jack got back to the ship and both his girls were waiting. “Daddy what do he say?”



“He has a daughter on one of those worlds. Bruce has agreed to take responsibility for

them. But he wants you to tell his people why they should come to help. That must be

your choice Anne.”

Here she looked a little fearful. “Would they listen to me?”

“I think they would, but you would also have to tell them your story. They need to know

what having a family means to a young person. This will most likely at first shame them.

But from that will grow determination.”

Anne smiled at Jack. “I know you would not ask me if it was not important for the

children. We could not adopt them, so we must force their parents to take responsibility.

Is that the right word?”

Kate hugged her and was pleased. “Yes darling that is exactly the right word. But I have

been waiting for the right time to tell you both something. We are going to have a little

sister for you.”

That was just beyond Jack’s ability to grasp. “Are you sure?”

“Oh yes husband I am very sure. How do you think I know it is a girl?” Then she laughed

at him.

Anne was holding her tight. “I like the idea of having a younger sister. Do I get to help

her and watch her when your busy?”

“Anne she is family and you always watch out for family. But you can help teach her and

show her how things work.”

Jack came over to Kate and kissed her. “Thank you my love. I have never been the father

of a baby before, so this will be new to me.”

“It will be new to all of us Jack. Anne has never had a sister, I have never delivered a

child, and your going to have to learn how dippers work.”

That caused Anne to burst out laughing. “Better him than me Kate.”

“There is no free pass on that job. We are family and all will do their part.”



Chapter 9

The Breeding Planets

The morning came and Anne. Kate and Jack were in a large camp. There were may be

twenty thousand children from age eleven to nineteen. Both boys and girls were in thecamp. They stood and watched as each child was questioned about names, age, families

and planets they came from. All of this was being stored in the planet computer

databanks. Each was given new clothing and checked for any virus or other serious problem. Each was given the normal shots children get.

Bruce the senior walked to them. “I had to force myself to come here today. It seems I am

not as brave as you are Jack.”

“This is not being brave at all. I would rather not be here either. But I cannot turn my

back on these children. It just is not in me.”

Slowly a small girl slid through the crowd and stood watching the adults. Bruce looked at

her and ran to the child. He picked her up and hugged her. Samantha your alive.”

“Yes father I am and I was not sure you would want anyone to know who I am.”

“You’re my daughter and damned anyone who has a problem with it.”

“I know I cannot go home now. But the fact that you came makes me happy. This has

been a really bad place for most of us. I would have died if these people had not foundme and cared for me.”

“Jack I owe you once more. Thank you for saving my child.”

“I met Anne and she has been very kind to me and helped me get what I needed. She has

worked with the many children in the hospital who are very badly injured. I was allowedto go with her and help also. Some there will die and that is really sad now we are free.”

That hit Bruce like a hammer. “Jack is there nothing you can do for those children?”

“Yes, we could give them the longer life. That would mean they would have to live with

their disfigurement but there would be no pain. Samantha was really lucky in that she

only delivered a litter once. We were able to repair the damage to her female organs, soshe can later have children. But for some the only way to repair the damage is by the

longer life injection. That is your call Bruce.”

“Do it and damn what others think.”

Jack gave the order to the robot standing beside him and the men ran off. “Those in the

hospital will get the shot now, the rest will get it after them. We do have some very good



doctors, who may be able to clean up some of the bad scars. But if a girl was having

trouble birthing they cut her open and let her die.”

Bruce shuddered at this. “What have we allowed Jack?”

“Every religious leader need to spend time in one of these camps. You may wish toconsider passing a requirement for that?”

“It is a responsibility of a religious leader to care for the sick and needy. This will be their penitence. The supreme council will order that.”

The day was spent showing Bruce what all had been done so far. They had lunch with the

children and his daughter was always by his side. She did not want to let go of his hand.This was the first good feeling she had in many months.

Finally they got to the addresses to the people. Bruce decided to go first. “People of

NOVA’s planets I am Bruce your leader. Today I have come here and found my daughter who I love greatly. Yes much has changed and she has been hurt. But she is my flesh and

blood. So I owe her my love. Many of you are going to be asked to come to one of thesecamps. Some will have the courage and some will be weak. You can be sure I will be here

each week, to make sure my daughter knows I love her and care. These camps contain

several million of our children. That is a shame on our planets. We all allowed this to

happen. I have ordered the council to require that every religious leader, be in one of these camps to work one day each week. There will be no exceptions on this. Here is

where the needy are in our worlds. They will I assure you learn compassion. Thank you.”

Jack walked to the microphone. “People of Alpha, Cirrus and Earth these children need

your help. The leader of NOVA has told me he expects his people to be slow facing this

issue. I have so many here who need love and help. I ask doctors who can to come and do plastic surgery to repair scaring. We need teachers, builders, and people to teach trades to

these youngsters. These ten planets have no housing, farms or domestic animals. The

children need to be taught how to survive here and prosper. I know I can count on you.Thank you.”

Then little Anne went up. “I know I am just a child. But you need to see this from my

eyes. My own mother rejected me, on my home planet. She told me to ask Jack to takeme. She did not tell me I was very sick and going to die. I was told I was ill and she did

not have the money for treatment. Well Jack adopted me and cured me of my illness. That

saved my life. He has been the very best daddy a girl could want. The fact that I neededto have a family is always in a child’s mind. I needed love and someone to count on. As a

child I could only give my love and do everything to assure he was proud of me. Without

his love and kindness I would have been lost. Children are willing to do anything for their parents. Those I have met here did that. So I just ask that you come and tell your child

you love them and care what happens to them. Give them a chance to know they are

loved and that they did nothing wrong. That is the only fair thing to do.”

Anne returned to Jack and he picked her up and hugged her.



The whole of what the man had done and his outrage to the children’s treatment had

moved many here. When Bruce had asked what he would like to have, he told him to givewhat ever it was to the children.

The day was tomorrow when the fleet would return to their normal duties and Jack toDeep Space. The whole family was looking forward to that. But tonight was a dinner for

him. Anne and Kate were enjoying this, it was just Jack that was not comfortable.

Everyone was dressed to the gills. Kate had a black silk dress and she wore a diamond

necklace that the women of NOVA had presented her with. Anne was in a lacy white

dress with a diamond pendant given to her by the women. Jack was in his Admirals

uniform with the gold braid. Both Daniel and Vortec had also been invited.

The dinner was in a room that seated ten thousand people. Every table was full and the

seating area for the guests and dignitaries was raised for all to see.

“Kate I feel like I am being looked at by everyone here.”

“You are dear. Many have only seen you on their news outlet. But in that uniform you

look distinguished.”

“I feel like a bell boy at the resort.”

This brought laughter from Anne. “That is silly daddy. They don’t wear ones that nice.”

Finally the dinner part was over and Bruce stood to address the people. “My fellow

citizens of NOVA. We are assembled here to thank our guest of honor Jack from Alpha.”

There was much applause. “Now Jack is a modest man, so I will say he is alsoremarkable. He has directed the life savings efforts for Zima an old friend of ours. Many

tens of thousands were saved due to his planning and direction. He has directed the hunt

for a cure for the people our creatures infected. This group had been citizens of Zima’sworld before. That planet is now known as Freedom 2. He has found a unique planet will

its own life forms and made it a laboratory for science. No one is allowed to change it in

any way. He has over seen the creation of new planets for future human use. He has

adopted a young lady who needed a family and given her what she needed. Then he wasthe key in our being given back our worlds.” This brought the house down. It took a good

ten minutes to calm people down.

“In giving us our worlds back, he has forced the government to accept our rightful

responsibility, for the planet our children are on. This was a moral issue to Jack. One he

just could not accept our turning our backs on. He brought me to tears in my own officethat day.” People stood and applauded this.

“Now I asked Jack what we could give him and he said what every I thought, give to the

children on those planets. Well I have looked hard and talked to many about this. Finally



someone suggest a very good idea. Those ten planets from now on will be called Jack’s

Stars 1 to 10.” This brought the people up once more with applause that shook the room.

“Now I will let Jack have some time.”

Jack walked to the microphone. “Thank you Bruce that gesture was the nicest I couldthink of. I will not talk long tonight. But I wish to say a few things.” He walked over and

lifted Anne into his arms. “People this is my reason for living. Kate and I have another on

the way. Here is our reason for being. Without these lovely creatures we call children wehave no reason for life. They are our future and we must protect them. I beg you to never

again let your children be put at risk. Loosing one is not acceptable either. That child you

lost might have been your next great engineer, music composer or mathematician. Each

one of these precious little pieces of joy is of great value to all of us. Thank you.”

There were tears rolling down many faces this night. Jack had hit them hard where it

really hurt. But no one faulted him for making this appeal. Many who refused to go to the

children’s planets would now go. They were now Jack’s Stars. One of the groups fromAlpha had put a beautiful bronze statue of Jack in each camp, for the children to see him

always. His hand held Anne’s and she was full size also. Jack, Kate and Anne wouldalways be family to these young people.

He had over come his own issues to do the right thing once more.



Chapter 10

Back to Deep Space

With the science crew back and installed in their homes, a large party was set for the next

day. Jack, Kate and Anne were the guests of honor. Everything that happened was shownon the Freedom channels and people had seen the results. So once more Jack was where

he was not comfortable.

Kate and Anne were not bothered by this fuss. They enjoyed that Jack was so respected.

The two spent the day helping the people set up for the celebration. Both took great joy in

this task.

Anne was back to her just being a child. The nightmares were now in the past, as she had

seen the response to the needs of her friends. She did communicate with many who she

grew close to. The reports of improvements and contact made her know things had

changed. Of course they never spoke of the past, just the present and future.

Via who ran the schools of Alpha and was a PhD in psychology had sent many welltrained to help. They ran counseling clinics and helped the children work through the

issues. This had become a major effort for her. Many students in their last year spent

months working on the ten planets. For them it was a valuable training ground. But once

there and involved, it was a mission that drove them.

The scanning, life extension provided helped, but required much counseling. This was a

new world for these children. The shots for this had allowed much rebuilding of their bodies. Many old wounds just repaired themselves. In later life many of these children

would be able to have normal families due to this help. But there also was a darker side to

this. Some would be forever confined to nursing care, due to mental breakdowns. AtJack’s direction a large parcel of land was set-aside for these lost souls. Big homes were

built with many bedrooms and one robot house parent. Each damaged human would have

their own room and use the grounds of this home. But they were not able to leave thisarea. Some were violent, others were consumed by lust and some were almost totally

gone in their minds. They would be cared for and assured food, clothing and shelter for

life. Alpha had no cure for the mind that was broken.

The over all condition of these ten planets was now good. There would be many families

created here and the group was building a social structure. Land was open to all for

starting farms. Alpha had supplied many robot farm machines to allow this. Each home built had its own power and ability to communicate with all NOVA planets. Many older

young people were forming relationships that would lead to marriage. Then they would

get a farm to live on and make productive.

Much wildlife had been reseeded on the planets, to rebuild what had been destroyed. The

oceans were full of fish and much of the early protein came from this source. The money

donated by the Federations people was held in a trust for planet needs and uses. The ten



my abilities. I can never stress enough just how critical that is. But no one part is less

critical than the whole it helps to create. I am their input and yours. So what people see as

the real Jack is just the shell you all work within.”

That brought the place down. Kate, Anne and Jack headed home. As they walked in Jack

was called to his office.

“Very nicely put Jack. That is how I feel about my job. Most who lead fail to see all the

tools that allow for that to happen.”

“That is true and I want people to know how critical they are in the greater scheme of

things. Here I am the sum of all parts.”

This was a great way to sum it up. “That Jack is leadership at its best. But far to often the

ones who think they lead don’t understand. It is like suns rays. One will never start a fire,

but focus many and they will. That is what you and I do for the people. We bring their

energy to a focus.”

“It is very hard to get people to understand it and accept it.”

“True and we will just have to keep working on that. Now plan to come this weekend for

a couple of days. I have a new idea to discuss.”

“Fine I am sure Kate and Anne would love that. They really love the house on Alpha.”



“But you don’t have a contract.”

“My people do and I am tied to that. There is no way I would willingly leave them.”

Kate knew this was true for him. “There will be a day Jack when your needs must also be

met. That is not something others can see to for you. When that day comes you will haveto say family now must come first. It is not selfish in any way. But a decision that is for

others best as well as yours.”

This he knew and would have to struggle with at some point. “Kate I am not tuning you

out, but now is not the time for that decision to be made.”

That she knew, but he needed to have it in mind for later.

Dinner was very nice and relaxing for them. No hurrying or anything to do afterwards.

Here they had no demands on their time and could enjoy a very casual dress style. Jack

wore shorts most of the time and sandals. Kate was into shorts and tank tops, but thenAnne was into her bathing suit always. This new item of clothing for her was not

something she would easily give up.

On Saturday they went to the ranch. Anne and Leigh-Anne were off on their own. Kate

and Faith got into a new project. John took Jack to the barn and they saddled their horses

and rode out to the mountain. Nothing was said until they were looking over the land.

“Jack I have transferred much of your crew to other ships that needed leaders. Danny has

been placed in charge of his own ship. We now have fifteen starships doing what youstarted to do. Your people lead the way and built the model to follow. The path you have

built will be followed by others now.”

This left Jack wondering where he now fit. “I seem to have lost my job.”

“Not at all Jack. I have one for you to handle that is critical to Alpha. We have five planets now ready to seed and bring to life for Alpha’s people. This will set us up for the

next two hundred plus years. It fills our future and gives us the ability to expand. I have

ordered Deep Space to the first of those planets. We have many new young people on the

staff now to work on this project. Vortec did a good job with these five we have now. ButI know now a better job could have been done. You will have all the steps and comments

on the original five Alpha planets. I want you to review every step and make the

decisions needed. It will be your worlds to build and you will set the standard for allfuture worlds.”

This was not what Jack had expected. “For that to happen I would need to run my owngenetics labs.”

“I told you Danny has his own ship. Also every manager you had was sent to an even

better job on a new ship. So the entire science area is all yours to run. You will still



command the ship and Daniel will serve as your commander for that. But you have had a

very exciting few years now. It is time for science to take the front burner.”

He liked that he could get back into the science side. But would he be happy without the

excitement of his old job? That had been addictive to him. “I am not sure I am the right

man John?”

This was expected by him “Well you’re my choice and that should be the first thing to

understand. Second I see you doing things Vortec or others would never do. If you look atthe five Alpha planets now do you see much difference between them?”

That he had to think about. “No I guess I don’t. But I have not seen a lot of the five.”

“You will as you and the family will spend time traveling and looking. My belief is most

of the planets right now will become boring to many in time. You see the same things on

every planet and the weather stays pretty much the same. I saw you took land and built a

house very far south. Why was that?”

“I wanted four seasons and that was where I could find it.”

“Exactly and if we had been a little further back from the sun, that would exist in a wide

area of the planet. These are the little things I have found fault with. But they do make for

a more interesting life. Not everyone wants a year around warm climate. Having twogrowing seasons can be nice, but do we really need that? There is little winter recreation

on these five planets and that is a shame. Here we do not have the right conditions for

sugar maples and I love their product. Alpha can do much better for its people.”

He considered what John had said. “It sounds interesting to look at it that way.”

“I see it as far more than interesting. It is critical to the health of the Alpha people. We

must supply many forms of recreation for them to spend the money they have. Build

mountain ski areas where they can rent a cabin or rooms for a year. Build large parks thatallow for people to really see them. Have back woods areas for them to ride in and camp

out. The five planets have become plain vanilla and we need to spice this up.”

This now had his interest. “OK, but I need to really see the five Alpha planets. I am surehaving Kate and Anne’s eyes will allow me to see much more. But the population now on

the five planets is still very low.”

“I know that in fifty years we will have reached the point where there is no room for

families to stay close by. That is unless we start new ones elsewhere. So the new

additions to our people would go to the new planets, as they are completed. It wouldallow the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to stay closely grouped. If we

keep filling in the land with new settlers that cannot happen.”

John was taking a very long-term view as normal. “Do you have a time table for this?”



“Of course I do. There is one planet that has been partially seeded. The fish and wild life

were placed there ten years ago. But much is required to be done to complete it. The orbitis not right currently. There are many missing pieces in the environment. But it should be

done first.”

“Once completed what would you do next?”

“We would start sending new settlers there. Keeping land on the existing five planets for family expansion.”

“How do you see the time frame playing out?”

“It will take at least ten years to finish the planets. That does not mean that they will be

settled in that time. But Alpha 6-10 will be settled over the next fifty years with a base of

people. So growing them is going to be a task.”

“What does that mean?”

John smiled at Jack. ”They are your planets to manage and run. You will have my job

there and the headaches and great feelings from that. Your home will be moved to the

first planet completed and you will be responsible for everything. There is no way I could

manage ten planets. Not that Faith would let me take the extra load. She said if I tried shewould kick my butt.”

“But I am no manager like you are.”

“Your more like me that you can see. This was voted on by the board and approved. It

then was given to the people and approved. So like it or not you are elected Jack.”

“How does this work for me. The board works for you.”

“Not now they don’t they work for us. If the issue is your planets they will serve you and

if on mine for me. For joint issues they will serve us both. If we don’t agree they will

vote and that decision will carry.”

That was very clear cut and simple. “I have no idea what to say.”

“I think yes would be a good start. Once you have the plan for the first planet and startseeding a government city will be built. It will be for those five planets only. This way we

can use this to challenge our people to compete a little. That will be good for both of us.

So welcome to leadership and push the limits where you can.”

They headed back to the house and Jack’s head was spinning. He had not seen this

coming. After unsaddling their horses the grooms came for them. As they walked to the

house the entire board was there. The members stood and applauded the two men.



Kate had been told by Faith what was happening and she was pleased. She hugged him

and kissed him. “I am happy about this Jack.”

“I think I am also dear.”

This caused her to hide a laugh. “Well from my view you deserve it.”

Abel and Edgar came to Jack and both hugged him.

“Well boss we will need to build you a new economic system. We have learned here what

not to do, so yours will be much better.” Edgar was in a mood.

Abel looked closely at Jack. “Your still in shock Jack. Just relax and know your well

supported.”

The many others came and shook his hand. Most of this was lost on him. But it was notlost on Anne. “Daddy your now going to teach me how to build worlds, right?”

“I guess so my dear. You will be involved in it all.”

Now that her place was confirmed safe, she and Leigh-Anne took off.

That night a large party was held for Jack. He talked with all the board and set up

communications between them. They would over the next six months fill him in on their

roles in the new planets. But the interesting thing was the outsiders here. Gorm, Hammed,Bruce and Zima had all come tonight. They had made sure Jack knew he could count on

them for anything he needed.

The final act of the night was John’s. “Board members, people of Alpha and honored

guests thank you for your support. This announcement is the last for now. As of now Jack

has a seat on the Federation council. He has been instrumental in many of your worldsand in ours. Therefore it is only right that he should take this seat now. That brings the

council to five members at present. This represents 213 human planets in the universe.

Jack has been responsible for the majority of these coming into our member roles. I thank

you all.”

This embarrassed Jack and that could be seen. But people expected this type reaction

from this man. He just saw what he did as his job. That gave him no special claim onanything in his mind. But the people wanted him to know he was special to them.

John walked to Jack. “Look for the next few days you will have a ton of people comingto talk with you. They will brief you on the first five planets and will answer any question

you may have. Deep Space will be in orbit in ten days time. So until then you can do

nothing except learn and plan.”



Jack knew this was right but his head was still spinning. “I am not down to earth yet

John. It is going to take a few days for this all to sink in.”

Zima and Bruce came next. “Jack we will be watching how you do this. We both have

planets not in use to develop. So how you attack this and the results will be important to

our people later.”

Gorm came next. “I never believed I would meet a second John. But your two peas from

the same pod. It will be nice working with you Jack.”

Hammed was the next in line. “Jack come look at the three Earth planets when you can.

Our new worlds are much different than Alpha or the original Earth.”

Slowly the group thinned out. Kate saw that look on Jack’s face and knew he was lost

right now. “Husband I think we need to get Anne home for bed. It is late and she needs to

slow down.”

There was no argument in Jack. “Sounds good to me as I need to slow down also.”

It took over an hour to get Anne settled and then Kate turned her attention to Jack. “You

look shell shocked right now.”

“I am that is why this open bottle of wine. I have had so much data stuffed into me today,I am still sorting it all out.”

“Well my only advice for you is forget it all. This time your not working someone else’s plan it is yours. Start with a clean slate and draw the picture you want to see. People

mean well, but you cannot fit everyone’s opinion into your vision.”

That was sound advice he had come to expect from her. “Your right once more love. Here

I have no boss, but the people will judge me later. If that is to be they will get a

masterpiece. So will you work with me to create that?”

“I have no knowledge of your science or the idea of how to build a planet. It is easy to

say what I do or don’t like and that I will do. I learned to live on the mountain on

Freedom 1 and that was nice. We had snow and it was much colder than here. But the lifearound the house was very little and that was depressing. Not much grew there. People

need to have living things around them to know they are alive. Even in the mountains

there should be trees and meadows with wild life. That planet needed some work to be asgood as it could. So study your planets now and decide what changes would be good.

Then can you make them without loosing your vision? Your going to find that there are

trade offs. But you can have one item one place and the other in another. Faith said wewould get five square miles of land with this new job. I would like to have one of them

someplace in the mountains. This needs to be isolated and a place for us to go and be

alone. A place with trees, a stream and wild things around us. There we can sit on the

porch and look at nature with respect.”



This was a new side of Kate for him. She had never spoken of these things before. “My

dear you paint a nice mental picture for me to consider. You will get your hide away, but Ithink many would enjoy that ability also. In doing this for them we would have to space

these well apart. You don’t want to see anyone else while your there.”

The two went off to bed and Jack was ready to relax.

The first visitor came the next day at around 10 in the morning. He was a professor of zoology and was ready to brief Jack on planet needs for wild life. This was stopped.

“Look your opinion and a credit will buy you a cup of coffee. Now here is what I want.

Give me a list of natural animals in each type of land formation. That is plain, mountain,

delta and the likes. I will decide what I want in each area. That will be different for each planet I assure you. I want a list from you, one from students and one from people who

live in that type area as to what they would like to see.”

The man looked shocked at this demand. “The students and people are not experts.”

“Sir it is my way or the door way is that clear? You will never live on one of them, soyour sensibilities will not be hurt.”

“I understand and will get you want you have asked for.”

“Now one more point. If you fail me I will see you never teach again on any Alpha

planet. That I assure you I can do.”

This hit the man right in the face. “I am not so sure you can do that.”

“In that case good bye and thanks for coming. I will get my own experts who will listen.”

“Hope get me John pleases.”

John was on shortly. “Yes Jack what do you need?”

“Don’t send me any more experts. The one sitting here decided to tell me how I was to

shape the animal life for the new planets. That is a choice I will hold to me. So if they arenot going to serve I don’t need them.”

John laughed at this. “No more will come and this one has hurt his standing at theuniversity. How do you want to get the knowledge you need?”

“Send me students who will follow my instructions. This is my canvas and I will paintthe picture I see. Their job is to collect information I need and get it back to me. That

gives me colors to work with.”



“I see no reason why you can’t. It will be two years before the first one is ready. But

finish school and you can work on Deep Space until it is being settled. If things work out

well here you would end up being my advisors on changes needed. I want to know what people here think now. What would they have liked to see? If they could add or remove

something what would that be? This will help me see a lot.”

“Your saying there are things with the existing planets that could have been better.”

“No John said that to me. His only advice was to let my vision carry the project. Not to build five worlds just alike.”

“We have noticed that as we have traveled the planets. You really can’t tell which one

your on at times.”

“That was Vortec’s vision and it was logical to him. This time it is my vision and it will

not fit Vortec’s mold.”

The young people laughed at this. “I like the idea of building something new and

different. But how will that happen?”

“We will sit down with all the data collected and sort through it. Then we will start

making a plan. Many things you may suggest will not be used there. But on another

planet it may be. I need a thinking group who see no limits. Because it has never beendone does not mean it cannot be done.”

“We all have friends who would fit that way of thinking. It seems you need more than thethree of us.”

“Yes, but I told Via to just give me the best three she had. You will all get to recruit therest of this team. Here is my list of knowledge areas I need to cover.” He pushed sheets to

each of them.

After study they saw how this could work. The girl once more took the lead. “I see how

you want to look at knowledge. But why not professors?”

“I had one here who started to tell me what my picture was to look like. That did notwork for me.” They all were smiling.

“I see who is going to make the calls and I am happy with that. My worry was some professor would be looking over my shoulder.” The young man was very direct.

“Look guys this is my classroom and my rules. In this there are no rules. But I will makethe calls each time. As long as you can handle that your free to always have an opinion

even if you don’t agree.”



“We will learn more here doing this than in school. Each of us have one year left, do you

think Via would give us credit for this time?”

“Hope get Via for me.”

“Yes Jack what can I do for you?”

“I am going to take twenty of your students. They will have a year to go and I want them

to get credit for this work study program. Is that a problem?”

“Not at all the experience they get with you will exceed what they would get here. If you

will assign each a grade while working for you they get their PhD with honors.”

“Done deal Via and they will bring the others to you. Each will work with me on Deep

Space for the entire time of the seeding.”

This pleased Via and she showed it. “You people listen to Jack and learn. He is uniqueand you will be the best prepared to teach after this assignment.”

“Via plan your school for the sixth Alpha planet with a university. If they teach it will be

there.”

This was good news to her. “You have it Jack. This time I would like to build it in thegovernment city. It will allow for more recreation for students and a different life style.”

“You see where I want to go. Just plan it and we will make it happen.”

The students were now very excited. Kate brought in a bottle of wine and glasses. “Well

your family now so here is the way we relax.”

They enjoyed a glass of wine and talked about the project for a long time. Jack to them

had hero written all over him. He did nothing the way others would and that fit them fine.If he wanted different here he would get the data he needed to make that happen.

The next morning they all sat down to breakfast. Anne introduced herself to the new team

members and finished quickly. “Daddy can I go out on the boat today. The captain said Icould drive it some.”

“Be sure you wear the life vest and if you will do that yes.”

She hopped up and kissed Jack and was gone.

”Man she has energy.” The girl was smiling at this.

“She also has daddy wrapped around her finger.” Kate shot back.



“Hey Kate all girls are close to their daddy’s. Mine still talks with me every week and we

get together for lunch when we can.”

Jack was now curious. “What does you father do?”

“He is a mining engineer and runs an off planet mine.”

“How good is he?”

“I am some what the wrong person to ask that. But I have been told he is very good. He

went to Freedom 1 and showed them how to improve the mine output. I know he holds

patents on several new mining tools.”

“Ask him if he would like to do something challenging for a couple of years.”

“What do you have in mind?”

“The mountains on Alpha 6 are very sheer on the large ones. I am considering a plan to

reshape them so trees and soil will hold on the sides of the mountains. A geologist willnot give me the answers I want. But a mining engineer can. I will see he has the robot

help for his business. He will have time to over see that also. But I need a brain I can pick

and who can do the impossible.”

The girl just smiled at this. “I will call him and I am sure you have a mining engineer.

What you want to do has never been done before and that will excite him.”

The students all head back to the university to pack and recruit the balance of the team.

They took only the very best and people who would get along together. Via set up for

each to be on a work study assignment with Jack as professor. With his MD and PhD noone could argue.

Slowly the students assembled the lists Jack wanted and they held many interviews withtown groups as well. Good data was developed about what caused people to find the

places off the beaten path. There were things people liked and returned often to see.

These lists were becoming a good picture of the current Alpha planets. Jack shared this

data with John. He was surprised at how complete this was.

“Jack I need some input right now.”

“I do it if I can John.”

“I see things we could change very easy that would improve life here and now. But Idon’t want to steal from your world’s ideas. So do you have a problem if I make some

changes here?”



brilliant and Jack enjoyed him. They had become close friends. His wife had been lost in

an accident on a site where he had been working. So it was just him and his daughter. The

idea of marrying again just had not been accepted. But Jack was sure in time it would be.



working. So understand there is no job less important than another. Does anyone have a

question at this point?”

No one opened their mouths here. “The brain trust will meet in my conference room in

one hour. Have your manual and notes ready to do a full run of the plan. We are now

moving the planet in a little closer to the sun and will be ready for step one tomorrow. Now people let’s get to building this the right way.” The applause was loud and people

were into this.

When the so called brain trust met in Jack’s conference room all were ready. “OK people

now for the real reason for this meeting. I want you to expect everything to go wrong.”

That brought shocked looks for all.

Jack smiled at the looks he saw. “I expect to have many failures here and for nothing to

work on time. People will be early and late on many things. Where you have said it will

take a given amount of time, often it will take longer. Things will happen that was not

expected. Things expected will not be there. A plan is a starting point only. Then itrequires mans ability to be flexible and adjust. So now you need plans B, C, D and so on.

Each step must have several back ups for failure. The errors will not all be our peoplesfault. Most will be errors where we did not see things the right way. If you want to go

looking for who caused the problem just look in a mirror. The critical thing here is how

do we recover from it.”

Jim was enjoying this little lecture. “Jack I am sure all of these young people are

questioning your comments. Let me say they are exactly true. I have planned mining

operations on hundreds of planets or asteroids. None have ever worked to the plan. Soexpecting things to go wrong is part of the job you have. Now how well we recover from

these little disasters, will depend on your abilities. That is why in leadership the fault

belongs to the leader and the praise to the people. It is them who smooth out the ripplesand keep things moving forward.”

Jack appreciated Jim’s input here. The kids respected Jim and took him seriously. “Jim’scomments are exactly true here. Your jobs now are to be the fire brigade and put out the

small fires that keep jumping up. It will be a very busy job and both painful and

rewarding. There is really nothing we can do that will screw this up. Any error can be

fixed. If a bad decision is made it can be changed later to make things work. This is the part your never taught in school. When you feel beat up come see me or go to Jim. We

will patch you up and send you right back into the fire.” This brought many laughs.

“Now lets go eat a lunch Kate has set up for this group. You are part of my extended

family people. I will not let you get badly hurt, but your going to take some real mental

lumps. This will test just how much you have grown and learned. But remember we arealways here for you.” This brought a response that surprised Jack. The kids stood and

applauded him.



needs to know what their job is and what is expected of them. Without that understanding

people loose focus and fail to do their part.”

This was far more complex than she had seen. “At least now, what you said before makes

some sense.”

Jim knew she was finally getting it. “Do you remember the poster I keep on my office

wall?”

“Not really dad.”

“It says Murphy’s laws. I believe in those laws dear. The very first is whatever can go

wrong will at the worst possible moment. That is what Jack is trying his best to get youready for.”

Now she remembered that poster. “I never understood what those laws meant before. But

there must have been fifty on that poster. I can remember thinking it was silly, that itcould never happen that way.”

Jim smiled at this. “I have had everyone come true on projects. My feelings today are that

Murphy was an optimist. Things can always get worse.”

This she was not ready to concede. “They can also get better.” Off she went to her closegroup of friends.

Jack watched them head for the conference room and wondered if they could handle thistask. “In short order Jim we will know if we have won or lost this round.”

So much responsibility sat on the shoulders of these young people. They had no ideawhat part they really played here. But in time it would finally dawn on some of them.

Jack was sure if things went as he hoped they would feel proud. No younger group had

ever had this chance to build new worlds. The one thing that would shock them was, Jack was not the type to step in and take over if they were in trouble. They would find their

own way out of the mess.

Meg had become the leader by default here. It was her dad most went to on questions andshe had a good relationship with Jack. No one ever stood up and said she was the leader,

but it just happened.

“People I have been given a new type plan to work from.” This brought their attention

forward fast. “It is a one pager and has all the goals we need to reach. I was told for us to

toss the manual out and work to this. Now the rest of the people need their manuals, asthey just play parts that sometimes seem obscure.”

Here one of the boys looked confused. “Why don’t we need the manual?”



Chapter 13

Goals and Problems

Meg kept control of the group, but just barely so. Many heated fights happened and

tempers were often not under control. It was time for a real jerk on the string Jack knew.

There had been a rather bitter discussion happening and now was Jack’s time. “People I

cannot even get work done here for your loud mouths. Now let me tell you a couple of things. There are two people here I am ready to send back to Via. They can finish school,

but will never teach. There are two more I am close to doing the same thing with, as they

cannot work in a group. Each of you I am sure know who they are.” Here he waited to

see this sink in.

“It seems that these people would rather fight than learn. If you don’t know the answer

then listen to others as they may give you knowledge. I have heard people defending

positions that were impossible to defend. So you had better learn what hills your willingto die on. I never pick one issue until I know I have a good solid base to fight from. If

that base is not solid then I will not die fighting on that hill. Now you say what is hetalking about dying for? Well you will die on that hill as everything happening here will

be in the history books. Your future as a teacher, leader and authority is at stake. Lose that

hill and you lose that status. I would suggest the better route is to come in here and say

look people I have hit a wall. Tell them what has been tried and why you think it did notwork. Then depend on the team here to help you get over that issue. When all of you fight

together your unbeatable. Now that is all I have to say. Those who are on the edge of

being sent back can come to me and ask for that or change how they work fast.” Jack walked out of the room.

Now you could have heard a pin drop. People were looking at the table and worried.They knew this fighting did not make anything better.

Meg waited for them to look up. “Well people what will it be?”

One young man got up and started to the door. “Look I’ll get out of your hair and go run

a farm.”

Meg was pissed at this. “You’re a damn fool Tommy. You have been given a chance to

clean your act up and find success. In stead your tucking your tail and running for

mommy.”

That hit him hard as he had done that all his life. “What else can I do?”

“Start being a man for one thing. You have taken bad positions in this group and lost.

Now would be a good time to say I don’t have all the answers and ask for help.”



That Jack had not even considered. “That is another new business for us. It never crossed

my mind, but on Earth it was very popular.”

“You have six rivers so far that give runs of fifty miles of white water. Before I am done

there will be more rivers like that and I have made many mountain lakes. These take in

the water and then drop it off into waterfalls that are a sight to see. At the highest one thedrop is one mile.”

That Jack looked forward to seeing. “Did you find the land for Kate’s mountain home?”

“Yep, built that myself for her. There is a lake and trees all around where you will build.

It is at the top of the one-mile drop of the waterfall. I set boulders to stop anyone from

going over in a boat. But you will have snow in the winter and a cool place to enjoy insummer.”

That sounded good. “When you go back there take her with you and show her. She will I

am sure be very pleased. That was the only thing she asked me for.”

“I will be happy to show the new mommy to be her hideaway.”

“I will have that build before we even build our home on the planet Jim. Kate has given

me so much and I want to do what little I can for her. In the time we have been together

this is the only request she has made.”

That reminded Jim of his wife. “You got one Jack as good as I had. That is what has

stopped me from remarrying. Anyone less than Meg’s mother just would never do.”

“How long has it been now?”

“She died ten years ago now. I raised Meg and she has given me a lot of joy in my life.

With her now becoming her own woman I miss a lot of the old days. The fun of going

new places and doing things is now past. This job has given me one more chance to reallyspend time with her. Soon she is going to find some guy and be hooked on him forever.

That for me is going to be very hard to let go. But I know it has to happen.”

This hit Jack, as he had never let people get close before Kate. He was sure Jim had also built walls to protect himself. “Look Jim I have some interviews that need to be done at

Life Station One. I hate interviews and would appreciate your doing at least the first

round for me. If you can cut the group down to say four or five, I will then interview todecide who we take. I know it is a pain in the butt for you, but I would appreciate it.”

Jim liked meeting new people and really did not mind interviews at all. “I would behappy to cut down the list for you. What are you looking for?”

“I need someone to train with you so the next four planets can be worked like this one.

Your for sure not going to spend ten years of your life on this project. So I need a well



trained back up for when you say you have had enough. By your doing the first round I

will know they at least can work with you.”

Jim had never trained anyone in the way he did things. “That would be new for me. It

might be fun to train someone who looks at the world differently like I do. So in that case

no one I feel might not get it will be there for a second interview. But why now?”

“I see Meg has found a young man that she likes. It is not serious yet, but that could come

soon. You will at that time be done with this world and may be started on the next. But I just don’t see you keeping going if things move forward with Meg.”

This he was sure was true. “Your most likely right Jack. A big part of my decision was

that Meg was here and we would have time together. So having a back up is a good idea.If I stay then they can work on other planets later, if not your not in a hole.”

“The appointments are tomorrow at two in the afternoon. Hope has it all set up and she

will fill you in.”

Jim just smiled and shook Jack’s hand. “I will enjoy the time there.” Then he walked outof the office.

Jack smiled at his plan. “Hope did you hear the conversation?”

“Yes Jack and will be ready. Now what are you looking for?”

“My dear you need to fill a hole in a lonely heart. Jim has so much to give our worlds andI don’t want that wasted. He needs a real partner and you’re the person who can do that.”

“Thank you Jack for the kind words. I have been watching Jim now for some time. I of course produced his wife and know what he found in her. So in the group will be just one

who fits. That will be his last interview and expect him to fight to get her hired.”

“Not a problem. Tell him I told you it was his decision to make. I considered it and he is

the one who has to train that person.”

Hope smiled at this and knew this had been Jack’s plan. “Well your every bit as deviousas John. But what your doing is the right thing for Jim.” Then she was gone.

That night Jack told Kate what he had set up for Jim. She was really pleased as Jim waslike a big brother for her. “That was a good thing you have done Jack. I see you have

changed from before.”

He had to admit that was true. “Kate I just can’t understand how I made it without you.

Life after you came into it has been a joy and only good has come from our union. It was

not hard to ask myself what would I be like if I lost you?”



“I do not do the dangerous things he and his wife did. So the odds of your having that

problem is slim my husband.”

“I know you went to the clinic today. What did the doctor say?”

“He said he would make sure the floor was padded, so when you passed out it did nothurt you.”

This brought a laugh. “I am not likely to have that happen.”

“Don’t be so sure dear. He showed me three different doctors who passed out at their

child’s birth. You guys are a push over when it is yours.”

That did sober Jack’s mood. “Really he has had three pass out?”

“Yes and he was not joking about a padded floor. They have one C section room like that.

So in ten weeks we go and see just how you handle it.”

That was a real surprise to Jack. “Time has flown since you first told me. So have youfound a name you like?”

She was not going to play this game. “I told you to name this one as it is a girl. I will

name our son when he comes.”

Jack had not been sure she had meant that. “Well I do have a little time yet.”

“Not as much as you think husband. So make a decision quickly and lets be ready. This

child thinks my insides are a playground and she is active.”

That night was a peaceful one for both.



Chapter 14

The Interview

Jim was ready and looking forward to finding someone he could train. His area was

unique in that he did things no book had been written on. For him it was just see the issueand take steps that should get results. Sometime this did not work out as he expected. But

that was all right, as he learned new things from his failures. Sometimes the mistakes

were a better result than the plan.

The only issue he had was that no one would be hurt or killed in doing this. His wife had

not bought into this and took risks he would never take. She had been below a cut being

made and when the side of the mountain gave way there was no place to go. The manysmall caves did not have solid walls to be able to hold that rock in place. Water over time

had cut and thinned them and they were like a honeycomb. They held the downward

force well. But lateral forces just ripped these walls like paper.

Hope’s image met Jim at the entry of the park. “Welcome Jim and you need to enjoy your

time here.”

“Hope it is like coming home to me. I have good memories of playing ball in this park.

Our return from Cirrus was also a good memory for me. I really did not enjoy the fighting

there. It was important, but I am just not built for war.”

That had become a fact Hope picked up later. “Well I have set up a room for you to

interview in. It has a desk for you and good seating for both you and the one beinginterviewed. There was no reason for it not to be comfortable.”

“Please see that coffee, tea and soft drinks are there for us also. This needs to be veryrelaxed and not formal. I am here just to sort out these people into can do’s and cannot

do. Then Jack will do the final interview.”

“That has also changed Jim. Jack said he would prefer for you made the decision, as they

will work for and with you. That way you will get the exact right person.”

That was also fine with Jim. “Fine I don’t mind making that call. But I do want talent thatis not rigid in their way of seeing things. They must understand rock and its many

different ways of telling us what is below. So where do we go from here?”

Hope led him to a very nice office area. The tray of drinks had been placed there. “I have

ten candidates for you to talk with. There are tapes of work you have done on the planet.

That way you can let them see what your doing and ask questions. I have told themnothing except what education is required.”

This would not color peoples views then. “Good I prefer they did not know until we

talk.”



Now he had someone he could talk with. “Your the first person to see that nature does

make errors. Not everything works out as it should. Jack is trying to create five new

planets that are very different from the first five Alpha built. Kate his wife noticed thatnot much soil or trees were high in the mountains. She wanted places for humans to enjoy

them up high. That has required changing the angles of many slopes and being sure soil

will hold.”

“I like that idea as well. Living high up and seeing vast areas out before you would be

beautiful. Nature is often a poor painter of pictures. What I see here is this is your canvasto paint as you wish it to be.”

This woman got it and he was shocked after all the others. “Would you have an interest in

learning how to do this?”

She blushed and smiled. “I hope you will consider me. My hobby is painting, as it gives

me freedom to make what I see look better than it does.”

That was a new way to see this. “Do you have a problem living and working on a starship

for ten years?”

“I have no desire to settle down and live a quiet life. For me I may never marry? The

boys here are not mature and they bore me. I prefer to paint than go out on a date.”

That was from sure not the normal young woman he knew. “It can get pretty boring on

the ship. But as my assistant we will spend a lot of time with Jack and Kate.”

“They both are people I respect and was sure I would never know. So spending time with

them would be nice. I would love to have the chance to paint them both.”

“I tell you what if you will allow me to pay you to do that and do a good job you will

have the chance. But I wish to keep the fact quiet and present them with the paintings

later.”

“That is no problem as long as I get a lot of time to study them. With people I paint just

what I see. So you get nothing that is changed.”

That was fine with Jim. “These will be the first paintings of the first couple of Alpha 6-

10. So they are important paintings. Now what is your name?”

“My very few friends call me Jody. But I am not used to a name yet.”

“Well Jody you have a job if you would like one.”

She stood and walked to Jim and shook his hand. The hand was so soft and yet warm

“Thank you I would love to come and learn. When do I need to report?”



Hope appeared and Jim was not surprised at all. “Jody your things are already on the

ship. You have a very nice house in the village and it has a garden for you to sit and paint

in. There is a sunroom at the back that is glass enclosed for you also to use as aworkshop. Your supplies were somewhat low so they have been refilled. Now if you do

the portraits of Jack and Kate I would like to have good images for distribution. But I also

need one of Anne for the children on Jack’s Stars.”

This impressed Jody and she was very pleased. “Is it possible for Anne to sit for me?”

“I am sure she would love to do that. You will find Anne to be unique for her age. She has

turned nine and in many ways thinks at your adult level.”

This would be fun for her. “I will have her portrait done first.”

“I also have many images of Jack and Kate for you to study. They seem to change

depending on what they are doing.”

“That would be helpful. So I can just go to Deep Space from here?”

“Yes, there is nothing left in your rooms.”

Jim liked how this had been handled. “Then let me buy you lunch and tell you more.”

On Deep Space they went to the café in the village. Lunch was nice and Jody loved the

look of this quaint town. It looked like something from a storybook. Looking out over a

large park was something she had not expected.

“Jim why do we have so much land and open spaces?’

“It has to do with the size of this ship. This deck is fourteen square miles of land. They

have had outdoor cookouts for ten thousand people here. At present only about a third of

the homes are used. We do not have the security force we once had. But there are serviceshere for anything you might want. At night you will find the pub full of the young

scientists.”

That was not of interest to her. “I really don’t hang out with others. My free time is for enjoying the things I do and reading to learn. So if you want to get me on track quickly

send information home with me. I hope I can bug you about questions at night?”

“Jody unless I have dinner with my daughter I am always at home. My house is two

doors down from you.”

“Your daughter is here?”

Jim smiled at this. “Yes and that really is why I took this job. When my wife died I was

both father and mother for Meg. She has not yet married, so this was a chance for me to



enjoy a little more time with her. I know she is going to find someone and this will be

over.”

Jody felt sad for Jim. “Life can be a bear Jim. But for now what your doing will give

many great pleasure for thousands of years. That is a real legacy for anyone.”

Here was someone who understood what he really was doing. “I hope to be able to do

that. But it is lonely work and often my best success is in my own errors.”

There was a hole in Jim she was just now seeing. “Believing in yourself is no vice Jim.

So many fail to find that ability. They live well, have families and go places. But it was

always someone else that provided that for them. They find someplace where peace exists

for them. Here your vision will be the creator of that place for many.”

This was well put and he liked the way she said it. “Thank you Jody, that was well said.”

He showed her to the new home and headed for his. Meg was waiting for him. “Wherehave you been dad?”

“I did interviews today for an apprentice. Jack was sure I would not stick this project out

ten years. So he asked if I would train someone who if I dropped out could take over.”

This jolted her. “Why would you leave?”

“Baby I am here because you are. It is that plain and simple. Your at a point of one day

finding a man you want to spend the rest of your life with. Two is company and three area crowd.”

This had never crossed her mind. “But there will always be room in my life for you.”

“That may be true dear, but it is a sure way to have an unhappy marriage. Making a

husband compete with your father for your time is not a good idea.”

She knew he was right, but did not like it. “I am no place close to marrying anyone.”

“I am no place close to leaving either. But I now have a back up plan. Besides I found areal winner I think.”

“What are they like?”

“Her name is Jody and she is besides being a mining engineer and artist. She actually saw

the art in what I have done. It to her was a good way to fix what nature did wrong.”

This she saw was a good idea now. Her dad was going to have another female around

him. This just might breakdown some of the walls he had built. “I would like to meet

her.”



“She is living two doors down. Hope made sure she had a studio for painting and a nice

garden for that also. With the high wood fences around them she will have quiet to work in.”

Meg was going to stop by and meet her. “Fine, but tonight we have dinner at Jack’s.”

“I will have to let Jody know. “She is going to paint portraits of Jack and Kate for me.

That will be done on the sly for later. But they both need to meet her as she will be therewhen I am.”

“No problem. I will stop by and let her know for you.”

Jack saw nothing unusual in this at all. “Fine as I need to study some new photos for the

next step.”

Meg left and walked to Jody’s. She knocked on the door and was pleased to see a beautiful young woman. “Jody, I am Meg. Dad asked me to let you know dinner tonight

was at Jack and Kate’s.”

“Please come in Meg. I was just unpacking some of my paintings.”

The two walked to the studio and Meg saw paintings that blew her mind. “Man I wished Ihad your eye for color and form. I have never seen anything like these except in

museums. Your paintings come to life for me.”

Meg walked over and lifted one she liked off the floor. “Here put it where you can enjoy

it in your home. I never sell paintings to anyone. From time to time I give one away to

people who enjoy them. But beauty to me cannot be bought it is a gift. Your dad does thatwith his work and that is why I am so interested. His canvas will last thousands of years

and just get more beautiful each year. He is an artist and I am just a painter.”

Meg was shocked at this girl’s honesty. “You and dad will get along well Jody. He is a

very special man in my book. If you tell him it is not possible he will do it to spite you.

There is nothing he sees as not possible. It is his gift to me and I believe in it.”

Jody saw a girl who deeply loved her father. “Well Meg I hope we can be friends. Please

know I have few of them as most are far to shallow for me. But I see much of your father

in you and I really like that.”

“I also have few friends Jody. That often is not a comforting thing. But to be surrounded

with people who have no vision is just no fun. We have twenty of us who are very youngdoing the management of this project. They are all smart, but often lack social skills.

Because we work together all day and fight many battles we do not socialize at night.”



“Well your always welcome to stop in and hide out here. I paint and read at night. So

there is nothing critical you would interrupt.”

That had been a kind offer. “You may see me more often than you wish to. But if I am a

pain just tell me you need some time alone. It will not hurt my feelings.”

The two girls enjoyed a good hour together and formed a friendship. When Meg left she

knew they would spend a lot of time together.

Jack was setting up the grill to fix dinner when everyone came. He was delighted to meet

Jody and went out of his way to see she was comfortable.

Hope had asked that he set up posing sessions with her for Anne. He got Anne andintroduced her to Jody and the two hit it off well. That night Anne was close to her all the

time. The two talked and she asked questions about being painted. Jody kept telling her it

was hard to sit still for a good painting, but she was game.

The evening went well and Jody was just accepted as part of the extended family. That

for her was not what she had expected. Kate spent time with her and showed her some of the sewing she did. It also was pure art. She could paint with needle and thread on cloth

like Jody did on canvas.

This newfound talent Kate had was for Jody fun. She sucked up as much about it as shecould dig out. She was had never considered making a picture this way.

Meg watched her and enjoyed her fascination with others skills. Jody may have been her age, but she was very mature. She listened to people and they knew she was absorbing

the information. Often questions came later to make sure she understood. But no one was

interrupted.

Jack also watched this and was pleased. He saw how Jim followed her actions and Jack

knew he also was impressed. The interplay of the group was good.

The next day Jody and Jim were sitting and looking at the pictures he had reviewed the

day before. “What do you see here?”

She looked at them carefully and noted a few things. “I see an imbalance in the way that

slope is shaped. It is far too steep to hold soil and yet it is also not solid. There are many

caves under it. The other item is the shear drop of the area next to it. That could not bechanged without ruining the visual picture.”

That was a reasonable perception. “Your right about the rock not being sound. But in our case that is a good thing. It will allow terraces to be built up the slope and hold the soil

against possible heavy rains. But we will have to cut channels down the area for run off

water. That must be kept underground so as not to take away from what you see.”



“How do you keep the soil in place and still drain it?”

“I use a lot of crushed stone and sand to build the base. This can be drained with ease.Then with a few feet of soil above that it will drain naturally. Over time the soil will work

down into the sand and stone and build up. But each year new soil will be started over the

top of the old. Leaves and other plant decay will slowly build it up. Using trees roots toanchor it also helps.”

“Will that create wet weather springs?”

“No it takes weeks to months for the water to work its way to the drainage area. So it is

drawn off slowly and most springs will run year around. At the bottom area we will join

many drains to build one spring.”

From her view of this it made sense. “OK what is my job?”

“You will take the plan and over see the robot machines working the rock. Anytime youfind a cavern filled in close below the surface open the top up. That will act like a column

for the ground above. The rock, sand and soil will form a base for what is above it. Buton slopes use the inserts I show you to hold back slipping.”

She had wondered about these. “Won’t they over time rust and weaken?”

“Nope, Vortec cast these on the same planet he get parts for space drives. The metal does

not rust and will be good a million years from now.”

That was interesting to her. “I did not know there was any metal that did not oxidize.”

“I had no idea either until I asked him. At that time I was looking at a nickel chrome typematerial.”

The day went quickly for Jody and she was enjoying this. The robot machines workedquickly and she was always being given new data. Rock cut was sent to the crusher and

processed, then returned to be put in place. Drainage channels were cast in concrete and

covered with stone. Very large ones over the top and then smaller ones above that. So

time passed quickly and she had been lost in the work.

“Are you still here?”

She jerked up and Jim was standing there. “I have no idea what time it is.”

“Well you ten minutes late for your appointment with Anne. She called and asked whereyou were.”

“I had no idea I was running that late.”



“Don’t be shocked at this. It has happened to me so many times I could not count them.”

“I felt like I do when I am painting. You just are there but your not. Now I had better goand make my apology to Anne.” Then she was off to home.

Anne was sitting on her front porch and waiting. “I though you had forgotten me.”

“Well I guess I did Anne. It was my first day at work and I was so deep into it I lost track

of time.”

“That’s OK daddy looses track of time a lot. He said only really committed people have

that happen to them.”

“Well it is a bad adult habit.”

“Not really I had it happen to me working with the children with mom and dad. There can

be a lot of joy when your that lost.”

The two had walked into the house. In the studio Anne was in heaven. “Jody your reallygood at painting. Looking at these I expect people to just walk off them.”

“Thank you Anne that was nice of you to say so.”

“No I was not being nice Jody. I was telling the truth. That little girl in the painting there

is so real and I expect to see her move.”

Jody looked at the one she pointed to and liked her comment. “That was a real place and

a real girl. She was kind enough to allow me to use her as a model. I spend two months

on your planets and worked with many children. They are very special to me. So whenHope asked me to paint your picture for them it was a joy to say yes.”

Then it hit Anne. “I know her and that bear she is holding I gave it to her. That isSamantha.”

This hit Jody and she had a lump in her throat. “I spent a lot of time with her and she told

me of her friend. But I never knew it was you. You can take the painting and put it inyour bedroom. That way she would always be close to you.”

Anne ran to her and hugged her. “Thank you so much Jody. I send her e-mail every dayand talk with her often. But I don’t think you know she is Bruce’s daughter. He is the

leader of the NOVA system. Samantha is a couple of years older than I am, but for us that

does not matter. Besides I call her Sam.” Anne was now laughing.

That was something Samantha had never said. “I did not know she knew you or about her

father.”



“She does not use our friendship and she loves her daddy enough to not let people know.

He spends a day every week with her and really loves her. But none of those children

would be accepted on the main NOVA planets. It would be a constant reminder of their failures.”

This was not expected from a nine year old. “For your age you’re a very smart younglady.”

“Not really I just love them so much and want to see them all do well. Daddy andmommy spend a lot of time there and I get to go. So I see a lot others will never see. I

worked in the hospital and sat in with the psychologist during sessions. They did not want

me there, but the children did. So daddy told them how it would be.”

Anne had seen much of the bad side of life. “That had to be hard for you.”

“Not really Jody, my mother did not want me. She sent me to ask daddy to take me. But

neither of us knew I was dying then. Daddy saved me and I have seen him save manychildren now. So there is nothing I would not do for him.”

This open statement touched her. “Well sit on the stool and let me sketch you. That is the

first step in this process. We will discuss the background later. Right now I just need to

get your face right.”

They went at it for two hours and Anne was very good about holding still. Many different

lights were shined on her from different angles. The attempt was to get an unshadowed

outline. Finally she called Anne over. “What do you think?”

“It looks like me, but I don’t know what it will look like when finished. I am really not

that beautiful except to daddy and mommy.”

Jody looked at this child and knew she had to tell her. “Anne what is beauty?”

“Mommy is beautiful to me and daddy is very handsome. Meg is beautiful in my eyes.”

“At nine your very beautiful also. Much of what you see now is just like this sketch here.

It is not a finished product. But I can age this picture in my eyes and see what your goingto be. Never think that you will not be beautiful. Now the other thing is, it is not just what

you see in a mirror that is beauty. What we do and how we act adds or detracts from our

beauty. A human is so much more than just what we see.”

This was very deep for Anne and it took a little time to sink in. “I see what you mean

now. So many people for what he has done love daddy. There is a beauty in his actions.”

“That is exactly right. So not everyone has to be pretty on the outside if they are beautiful

on the inside. Just don’t judge people by there outward appearance. What’s inside is so

much more valuable.”



“I could not be more pleased. That woman has great talent and it shows in that painting.

She could make a fortune as a painter.”

“That will never happen Bruce. She never sells a painting and only gives them to a few.

This for her is a hobby and to relax. So don’t expect to see many by her. They will mostly be in her home.”

“That is to bad for us all. Her talent is beyond any I have seen. The details in that paintingwere exactly what is there as I have been there often with Samantha. But thank you for

sending it. I am having a large print made to put on a wall at home.”

“I am sure Anne will not mind that. But please don’t allow it to be distributed withouteither Anne or Jody’s approval. Our laws give copyrights to both.”

“It will be in my bedroom so no one but me and the maid will see it.” Then he dropped

off line.

Jim was pleased when he came in Jody was already at work. “Well your at it early today.”

“I have another sitting with Anne today. So I wanted to get finished early.”

“Look I am no slave driver here. The work gets done when it is done. I have no time tablefor you to finish in.”

She smiled at Jim and he saw a beauty he had missed before. “I always have a time table.It is personal and I never feel driven by others. Right now I am painting your vision and I

will do it to my eyes clock. So don’t worry about me in that area.”

This he did not expect either. So he sat down next to her. “Your way in front of where I

expected you to be. How in the world did you get here this fast?”

“I never have to look at plans after I have seen them once. I can see in my mind what is

expected and just work from there.”

“One question what are those columns I see?”

“They are safety supports for the steepest areas. I simply bored down and cut stone in a

column. Then put holes in the center of the of the terrace and they will hold rock frommoving. The column is fifteen feet down in the rock so it is not going any place. I was

worried about a shift if an earthquake hit.”

It was sound engineering, so he had no problem with it. “I like it and wished I had

thought of it. Would you mind if I used it on some other places?”

“Hey I work for you. My concern was you would be angry.”



“Not in the least Jody. It is a great way to stabilize the terrace areas. Those columns are

three feet in diameter and will hold back a lot of weight.”

“It just seemed reasonable to be safe now rather than sorry later.”

He squeezed her shoulder and left the room. That day went quickly also. She hurried

home and sat at an easel and started a sketch. When Anne got there she finished up the

sketch of her. The next appointment was for three days form now as Jody had some work to do. She finally stopped and fixed something to eat.

It had been a long day and she hit the tub and soaked for a time. In looking at her

decision to take this job she knew it had been a good one. Jim was great to work for andnot the normal pushy male. She had done something on her own and he had not freaked

out. Besides she enjoyed talking with him and respected his knowledge.

This time had been good for her to get some bearings. She finally got out and headed to bed. Over the next three days she pushed herself and finished the painting she had started

before Anne had come. That day she got in at five in the morning and hung it in Jim’soffice. Then went to her own.

He came in to her office holding the painting. “How in the world did you get this done?”

“Don’t touch the paint yet as it still needs to dry. But in one hundred years that is what

this will look like. I just felt you needed to see it at that point in time.”

“Jody I will treasure it. You make what little I do look far better than it is.”

“Jim I can’t do that. What you see is what this will be one hundred years from now. Itwill look exactly like that if no one screws it up. If they don’t cut trees down or try to

build trails there, as that would screw it up. I just felt a visual reference would be a nice

thing for you.”

Jim sat the painting down and hugged Jody. “I thank you dear. No one has every given

me something like this. It deserves to hang in a gallery and be seen by millions.”

She blushed at this. “It is for your pleasure and that is why I did it. I don’t sell paintings

and from time to time I give one away.”

“May I come by and look at your work?”

“Sure any time you wish. I gave Meg one and I have given one to Anne. This one I didfor you. That is more paintings than I have ever given away before. It is a hobby for me

not a profession.”



Jim was so pleased he went back to his office and hung it again. Then he sat back and

looked at what she had done. There was life in the painting and he could see deer back in

the wooded area. There was a lot of detail that took time to find.

Jack walked in with a stack of papers in his hand. “What has you looking so engrossed?”

Jim simply pointed at the painting. Jack was also looking now. “I can see who panted it

without looking for her name. She is remarkable. But what is this place?”

“It will be on Alpha 6. She was working to one of my plans. For some reason she decided

to show me what it will look like, one hundred years from now. That was the result.”

Jack looked closer and saw how much detail there was. “She puts life into a landscape.The picture she gave Anne was beautiful and featured one of her friends. But a few like

this one would bring people running to this planet.”

That was a fact Jim was sure. “I don’t know how you could convince her to do them? Sheseems very shy about her artwork. She said she never sells them and from time to time

gives a few away.”

Jack was hoping he could convince her to attempt it. “May I speak with her?”

“Hey she works for you also.”

Jack headed for her office and saw how involved she was. So he just waited for her to

take notice of him. Finally she looked up. “I am sorry I was just really into this. Can I dosomething for you?”

He took a seat and relaxed. “Jody I want to ask you to do something for me and the people of Alpha 6. Yes, I know we don’t really have people yet except for those on Deep

Space. But many will be coming here over the next few years.”

This picked her interest up. “What do you have in mind?”

“I saw the painting you did for Jim. It was outstanding and is something many should see

one day. As your working and see special things, I would love to have paintings doneshowing this world. They would serve as a way for those who come here, to get the

image of where home will be. It is hard for humans to see a mental picture of what this

planet will become. So my request is for you to document that for me. I would like tohang the paintings in the government building once the city is done.”

This was something she was not sure of. “I don’t sell paintings Jack. Mostly what I do isfor my own enjoyment.”

“I am not asking you to sell them. What I am asking is you share your vision with

millions of people over time. In my mind they deserve to see the beauty that you and Jim



are creating for them. It will be some years before much of what you paint will come

true. But they need to see the end results. I am trying to build a different set of worlds

here and challenge people to push beyond their limits. So any way I can energize that is agood step to take now.”

No one had ever approached her this way before. “I am not sure my skills are up to that?”

“From what I have seen, you see it all very different from most. You ability to show

details that right now don’t exist, but will later is a marvel to me. I am good at motivating people. But I need tools to do that. So I am asking you to help me by giving me the tools

I need. Now you can have as much time to think about it as you wish. But please consider

it.” Jack stood and left the offices.

Jim had heard the whole talk and walked in to see a shocked Jody. “He is a good man

Jody and a fair one also.”

“I have never considered myself a real artist Jim. It is a hobby for me.”

Jim looked into her eyes and like the view. “You’re an artist my dear. If you did not havethe vision and eye you do, you would not be here now. Your one of the most impressive

ladies I have had the pleasure to know. So your question boils down to if you wish to help

him or not.”

“I need some time to think about this. My fear is letting him down. Do you mind if I

leave and walk for a time?”

“Not at all. Your way ahead of where we expected to be. So take a break and let it all sink

in.”

She walked from the office and headed to the park. As she walked she saw Meg sitting by

a tree reading. “Can I bother you?”

“Sit down and enjoy my favorite place to think. You look like some heavy thinking is

happening for you.”

“Meg, Jack has asked me to paint some pictures of how this planet will one day look. Hedid not offer me money to do it. But said they one day would hang in the government

building for all to see. I don’t see me as being a professional artist and I guess I am scared

people will not like what I do. Your dad seems to think I am good enough. But I am stillworried that I might fail here.”

This was a common theme of her group as well. “Well if you take no risks there are nolosses. But for those who are willing to take risks there can be great gains. Now let me

tell you something that will scare you even more. Dad is falling in love with you and I am

all for it.”



“I love to cook when I am troubled and looking for answers. It will be at least thirty

minutes before it is ready. Now what can I do for you?”

“Meg suggested I stop by and look at some of your work.” He was nervous and it

showed.

“Follow me and I will let you look at most of what I have done.” She showed him into

her studio and left him there to look.

As she cooked the meal she knew this was what she wanted from life. Finally she put the

garlic bread in to toast and Jim walked in.

“Your incredible Jody.”

“Then there is some small value in what I do for fun?”

“There was no painting that would not be of value to a museum. You see far more thanany artist I have ever looked at. In my mind you have no equal in our worlds or even on

Earth today.”

This pleased her, but she was still worried. “That is nice of you to say that. But what if

people don’t like it?”

“To hell with them. The critics would love it. I have two great masters paintings at home

and I would trade them for yours anytime.”

“Will you stay and eat with me?”

“As good as this place smells how could I say no.”

They had a quiet dinner and drank wine with the meal. Afterwards they took the bottle

and sat on a couch.

“Jody you need to understand people are always jealous of things they cannot do. If

someone is better at something they will try to pull them down. That is just a human fact.

I have been laughed at and called nuts. The labels of fool, idiot and egotist have all beenused to describe me. But I have always reached my goal and they were proved wrong.

Life is a time of believing in yourself. Those who can’t are never happy. We who do

believe look for new challenges. It is not ego at work here. The day will come when wefail, but that is all right. We will pick ourselves up and move forward to the next

challenge. What the rest think is not important to us.”

That to her was being brave. “I am not sure I have that in me?”

“Do you care if people see your work or not?”



“Not really it is for me.”

“So you say they opinion is really not important to you right?”

“I guess so.”

“No guessing here it is not important or you would want their approval. That says what

they think means nothing to you. So who cares if they see your work? It is just a hobby

for you and if they don’t like it, they can move on to the next painting they do.”

That was a simple way to put it. “I just don’t have the experience to judge this. Would I

like to try this? Yes that could be fun. But I have no one to count on and support me when

things get hard.”

He reached over and took her hand. “Jody I will be right here when you need me.”

She turned to him and bent forward and kissed him. Here Jim’s arms went around her andheld her tight. She was on autopilot and just let things happen. All this was new and

powerful to her. She knew she wanted to keep this man and nothing was going to stopthat.

Jim was not in control here either. He was deeply moved by her innocence and lack of

hard edges. She responded to his every action and he was carried away. He picked her upand carried her to the bedroom and a night to always remember started.

The next morning Jim woke not knowing where he was. Then he saw Jody beside himand it all came back. She had been the first woman since the accident and had been worth

waiting for. She slowly came to life. “Good morning boss.” This was said smiling.

“God what have I done?”

“Nothing I did not enjoy and want more of.” She leaned over and kissed him. Her lips feltlike angels wings to him.

“Look I should get out of here and let us think this over.”

“No way Jim is that going to happen. That decision was made last night and it cannot be

changed now.”

He laid back and looked at this beautiful woman. “Well I see two options and one is to

run like hell. The other is to make an honest woman of you.”

“When it is time I will take the second one, if it is my choice.”

This warmed him, as there were no regrets in Jody. “Are you sure this is what you want?”



Jody looked at Meg and knew she wanted some help. “Would you get some pictures for

me to look at? I would like to see the anatomy of these animals.”

“You will have all you need sis. Now I have to get going.”

Jim had picked up on the sister thing. “What is this sis thing?”

“We for sure could never me mother and daughter. But we could easily be sisters. I think

that was a very nice way to say welcome to the family.”

That sounded right to Jim. “Meg is a great daughter and I do love her so much. She has

developed into a leader here and it has been fun watching.”

“She had a good teacher dear. I am sure she would follow you to hell if you went that

way.”

“You know I have felt she just put up with me.”

“No way Jim she is measuring every young man she meets by your image. Most willnever measure up and fall by the wayside.”

“That may not be a good thing.”

“It is for her and that is what counts. When she does find that one, she will have a really

good man. So it is worth the wait for her. I could never be satisfied with someone who

was not your equal. For me that is likely never to be seen again. So I will just hang ontightly to you.”

“That I will enjoy dear. I am still asking why me?”

“If you need to know I’ll tell you. Kate took Jack and Faith took John. Both were older

and yet they wanted them. Some of us like a man who is beyond the playing point in life.Your serious about what you do and have no time for silly things. Love means something

to you and I like that.”

He was in a hard spot to argue with her. “Whatever it is with you I like it a lot. You willfind I am past arguing or looking for things to do I don’t enjoy. There is far to much I do

like doing.”

“Like what?”

“I enjoy fishing on a quiet lake, sitting by a stream watching water flow or just takingtime to observe nature. There is walking trails and sailing on the water.”

“All peaceful things to do where other people are not present.”



“Yes I guess that is true. But I have never needed a lot of people around to enjoy life.”

“Neither do I Jim. So while you watch water I will sketch and do things I like. Fish allyou want and I draw what I see. But when you go walking or sailing I’ll be there with

you in the middle of it.”

That seemed to fit them together well. “That should work Jody. You need your own time

to enjoy your painting. It is important to me you keep doing that. Talent should never be

wasted.”

Then it hit her. “You need to tell Jack I will try and see how it all comes out.”

Jack and Kate walked in to the office. “Now I like this as it looks like the bridge of theship.”

Both people jerked their heads around. “Jack, Jody was just saying I needed to call you.

She is going to try to paint what you want.”

Kate went to Jody and hugged her. “My dear we girls need to talk.” They left the room.

“I see something coming and I am not sure I will like this.”

“Oh I think you will enjoy it. Meg told us what had happened and we are both very pleased. But you two need sometime together without this job. I have a neat house for the

two of you to try out. I expect you to be gone for a week and just relax and refresh

yourselves. This is a long project and you need to pace your time.”

Jim was not sure what to say. “How do I thank you?”

“Come back refreshed and ready and that is enough. I have a mountain home on Freedom

1 and that is where your going. Kate hated it and so I spent some money and changed

things. I want you two to look at it and tell me what more I can do.”

“I have never been there before.”

“In your new job you will go lots of places. Zima will show you the places his peoplelove. The next break you will go to the NOVA system and Bruce will show you places

there. With one hundred and eighty planets that will be a longer trip. But to keep creating

you must have input. Take the best of what you see and use it.”

This was now a dream job. “How much can we travel?”

“As much as you wish Jim. You are way ahead of schedule now. With Jody’s help you

will do far more than we can handle quickly. So see the planets, go to the Earth planets

and Cirrus to learn. We need to have a very wide appeal for our tourist industry to grow



Jim looked at her and knew she did not know the story. “Yes and Jack set up emergency

medical help and saved one hundred and eighty thousand who would have died. They

were what was called nonstarters. When the electrical charge was to start the heart it didnot work. Jack’s people stepped in and saved them.”

Now the comment made sense. “He said it was a good memory because of you and now Iunderstand.”

“That will always be a place of reverence for the people. He has agreed to have onethousand lithographs made and numbered. They will be sold off to raise money for the

university art school. He asked me if you would sign the certifying documents for him.”

This shocked her and yet pleased her. “I will of course, but how much does he expect toraise?”

“The equal of ten million credits here. He showed the people what you had done and

presented to the planet. So many calls came in for a copy, he decided it could fund the artschool for some time to come.”

This was just beyond her comprehension. “Why would anyone pay that kind of money

for the original let alone a copy?”

“Because your really good Jody. You have the ability to see things others do not. Whenyou painted that picture of Samantha, there was not one scar showing. You saw what was

coming out of her. Anne says goodnight to her friend every night before going to bed.

Bruce who has a copy in his bedroom also talks to Samantha at night. It is a magic youhave the ability to put into your work that others just cannot find. Don’t go looking for it,

as it will not be found. Just paint as your heart sees it and it will be there. You have been

blessed with a talent and need to just accept it is real to others as well.”

She did not know what to say or how to react. “I am just numb.”

Jim held her and she looked into his eyes and found herself. “Just don’t let it bother you.

What you do is kind and I like that. You never will have to sell any painting at all. Give

away what you wish and that is fine.”

“I can handle that Jim. Each painting is a little part of me. I would never sell a part of me,

so I can’t sell them.”

Jack could understand this. “Just never stop painting Jody. Your gift to others will bring

joy and light to them.”

“Jack I am not sure you understand how this works for me. But when I paint I am right

there in the picture. It is like being behind the lens of a camera. I am there and seeing it

all. I hear no one around me and see nothing but where I am. It is almost like I leave my

body and for a short time the world does not exist.”



Chapter 15

Events

The wedding went off smoothly and the two were sent to the cottage at the resort for a

honeymoon.

Jack was up to his tail in issues. The trip to Earth had started many new battles between

his managers. He had finally had enough.

He came into the room and sat at the head of the table. “Now I see once more we are not

working together. But this time we have some new dissenters. Let me clear this up for

you. Either you get your acts together or some will go home. You need to know this I hate big cats. There will be none on any planet I run. Does anyone not understand that?”

One young man stood up. “I don’t understand why not?”

“How many of you wonder that?”

Two more hands went up. “OK Meg take them to the hospital on the main planet. Be sure

they get the full picture and then come back and talk with me.”

“Fine Jack I will be ready in thirty minutes time. The people going should meet me herein this room then.” She and Jack left the room. Others around the table knew the story

and were not interested in big cats.

The group landed at the main hospital and Samantha was there to meet them. She showed

them to their rooms and went down to wait in the recreation room. They came back down

and she led them to the hospital. As they walked through she pointed out the people andwounds they were recovering from. After this she showed them the photo room of the

thousands of victims and of wounds suffered.

“Now tomorrow you will sit in on counseling sessions for some of the children. Please do

not ask questions and just listen. I will be happy later to answer your questions.”

Samantha took them back to their building and she and Meg left to meet with others they both knew. Meg spent her time with the many friends she had developed and let the

others get a taste of this place.

After the counseling sessions she saw a few green behind the gills people. “I think you

may be starting to get the picture. Now Samantha will answer any questions I can’t. I

have been coming here and working for two years now. The people you are seeing werethe worst off of the seven million children. Many will never leave here and that is a

shame.”

One young man looked sad. “Why do you come here?”



“I am a human being and so are these kids. Many parents have turned their backs on

them. They need people they can learn to trust and who do not turn away when they cometo them. Here I have many good friends and I love them as they are. Now Samantha here

is the daughter of Bruce the NOVA systems governor general. Her father comes every

week and spends the day with her.”

“But the cats here were genetically changed.”

Samantha took this. “True they were, but it was a human that made the change. It was

done in a lab and sold as harmless pets. Jack said he would never place that temptation on

any planet again. I am sure he told you no poisonous snakes, big cats, bears or aggressive

animals. That was because of what happened here.”

This was understood for cats. “But why the others?”

“We had snakes that killed many children and bears who caught them and ate them aswell. They would never take on the cats, but a human was food.”

The true horror was sinking in now. “How many died here?”

“Over two million at last count.”

They did not expect that. “So many died here?”

“Yes, twenty five percent by snakes and bears and the rest by the cat people. If a birthwas going badly they would cut the human open to get the liter and let them die.”

“How could they cut someone open?”

“See the scars on my face and legs. Those claws cut like razor blades.”

This made the room go silent. They could never imagine being here during those times.

But no one would want to see this again. ‘I assure you we are convince we had a bad

idea.”

“Good Jack said if you changed your minds then a few days of work here would be good

for you. Samantha will assign you each to a group for the next two days. Your job is to

help them and teach classes for them. If you do this well you can go back to the group onDeep Space. If not it is back to Via.”

They knew they had really angered Jack and felt this was fair. “OK we will be ready inthe morning.”

Everyone headed for bed, as it was an early day tomorrow.



The lesson that had been taught was well learned. The arguments stopped and people

were more open to suggestions. It was once more a milestone for the group.

Work on the final animal life was now complete and planning was now happening for

Alpha 7. This would be a far easier project with how much had been learned on 6. Once

more they were building a manual. Much of it was the same as for 6. But there weremajor differences.

Alpha 7 had a very different landmass. The continents were smaller than the last world, but there were many more of them. It was a lot like having huge islands to work with.

Each continent would have life forms different from the rest. What you saw one place

would not be duplicated in the next. There were several active volcanoes and these would

present some risks to humans. But they also added beauty to this world.

Jack’s brain trust of young people worked out several ways to keep people safe. One

being not to put them to close to the risk areas. Hundreds of millions of acres were made

public parklands to provide protective zones. But even at thirty miles away there arerisks. So emergency force fields were placed to act based on specific events. They were

the last resort for protection.

But the mud holes, thermal vents and unusual life in streams would draw many to this

area. The people were to be made aware that once in the park, they had to respond at once

to orders to leave. Failure to do so could cost them their lives. Once the force fields wentup no one would be leaving. To this end many transport plates would be placed in odd

locations. No one would be more than five minutes from an exit point. That was more

than enough time, as the monitors should pick up the signals of a major eruption quickly.

Jack was pleased with the early plans. His young people had done well and seemed to be

using new ideas. So he was now into the building of the government city on Alpha 6.



Chapter 16

A City of Beauty

Johnstown had been laid out like one large city. But that was not Jack’s vision here. Hewanted something very different. So he set up different quarters of the city. There was the

government quarter, the education quarter, the entertainment quarter and the family

quarter. Over the years many areas called quarters he was sure would pop up. The wordquarter was not the number of divisions in the city, but to identify a distinct area. The

education quarter was where the school would be and student housing and living areas. It

would be the same for the government quarter. It would house the government offices,

housing for young people working there and be compact enough to allow foot travel between offices.

During the day and early evenings each area would have restaurants and food shops open.

But the main area for fun would be at night in the entertainment quarter. This area he wassure would grow over time. He saw this as having restaurants, dance clubs, stage shows,

art galleries, travel agencies, a small amusement park and many other venues for fun. Alarge indoor sports complex was being build for basketball, baseball and soccer. Each had

their own playing field. No game would ever be rained out here or be too cold to play.

The sports complex had been a real driving interest as he saw the need for a higher levelof play. This would push many to become professional athletes for some years of their

life. But they would earn their living like everyone else. It allowed them to leave a legacy

of excellence in a sport for others to aspire to. He had decided to have an area of sportsgreats for people to wonder through and see busts of the players. Their records,

equipment and uniforms would be on display. It would be a hall of fame for Alpha’s

planets. This Earth idea had been a good one.

He had also ordered that smaller complexes be built in several places on the planet. This

would hold true for each planet. These were for students to play in and hopefully becometomorrows stars. Schools would use these at both the high school and college levels.

Teaching, instruction and lower level leagues would play here also. Because the men and

women were equal in strength and ability there would be just one league. That fit the

Alpha way.

The day had been fun for Jack. He spent everyday now toiling over the city plan. Vortec

had been working here now for the last week.

“Jack I am getting some what lost in this quarters thing. The confusion is what belongs in

what quarter?”

This was interesting as Vortec was seldom confused. “Well what exactly is the problem?”



“I don’t see the difference between a restaurant in many quarters and the ones in the

entertainment quarter.”

Here was the real issue for Jack. “They must be very different in looks, their food and

offer entertainment. The others are just nice places to eat breakfast, lunch or a quick

dinner. The clubs in Johnstown belong in the entertainment quarter. The normalrestaurants do not. There will be sports clubs that have screens showing different games

happening. That is entertainment as well. Not everyone will be able to get tickets to a

game.”

This he could understand and follow. “OK now it makes some sense. What your really

doing is keeping the major night life in one area.”

“It is easier to police and adds to the enjoyment. People going out for fun, want to see

others who are enjoying themselves. It adds to their pleasure as well.”

“Why the police we never have a problem in our clubs.”

“Here beer and wine are allowed in the entertainment quarter. So laws must be followedand that requires police. I have allowed that on Deep Space and it worked well. At least

two pubs brew their own beer.”

Here Vortec was not sure this was a good idea. “Are you sure you want the headachesthat come with this?”

“John drinks wine at home all the time. Most of the board does as well. So not to sell it inclubs in a controlled way is wrong in my eyes. No one will be allowed to drink above a

limit we set. These clubs are not for children at all. None are allowed in to them. They

have clubs of their own with no drinking and no adults allowed. There will be police toassure proper behavior for all.”

This was very different from his home. “I will accept you have it under control and willget done with my task. I am sure many from our planets will come here to enjoy yours.”

That was a hope Jack had also. It would make his business owners very happy. His next

task was to get Abel to sit down and discuss these changes.

“Abel I need your help friend.”

“Whatever you need we will get done.”

“I am not so sure your going to like this one.”

“I will be right there.”

Abel came into the room and was still smiling. “Now what is it I am not going to like?”



“I need a agreement drawn up for adult clubs to serve beer and wine. They are required to

limit the intake of customers and assure no one is at risk. On Deep Space we had a limitof three beers or glasses of wine. That worked pretty well. But here we need to be even

more careful. Jane suggested a blood scan for each person ordering. This will monitor

their blood alcohol levels each time. The server would have a picture of each ordering tocheck before serving them. Anyone passing their order to another refused customer

would be subject to arrest.”

This would take some thinking. “I have no problem with the allowing beer and wine to be

served. How to control this is another matter. Where is your cut off point?”

“We have come to a 0.7 level in the blood. Anyone above this is impaired and would not be served. The scanner shows each person what their level is so there are no shocks.”

Jack pulled out a round device with six holes in it and handed it to Abel.

The device was turned over and looked at from every angle. Abel put his finger in and gota 0.0 and green light above the hole. “Nice way to check. Everyone at a table will know

the others are OK, with the person knowing exactly where they are. But how do youknow whose finger it is?”

Jane appeared and was ready as usual. “The finger print was yours Abel and here is the

file picture of you. Servers do not need more knowledge than that. But police there wouldhave it all. The extent we are going to will not be disclosed. But if someone were running

from police, went in and ordered a drink we would know that right away.”

“I see no reason not to try this. We of course have allowed it on our resorts. But have not

tried to control it. But a person testing at .07 in a short time could be .06 and legal. So this

will be interesting to see how it works. You will have a contract for bar owners to sign inthree days. But how do you wish to handle the people problem?”

“Earth used what they called public intoxication. That was not a major crime, but here itwould stop people from going to clubs or where alcohol was served for one year. No

more fun until they learn to stay within the laws.”

“That is very harsh Jack.”

“Look as a doctor I know the good and bad side of alcohol. So each person going into an

area where alcohol is served will be finger scanned. If your on the no entry list you will be picked up and held for the night. Do it twice and it will cost you some time in jail.

There are a few who just cannot tolerate alcohol and become addicted to it. We will find

these fast and help them with treatment.”

Here Abel wonder what could be done. “OK you have my interest. What can you do?”



“I have an implant that if they even smell alcohol they will become sick. They will stay

as far away from clubs and sporting events as possible. After a time it can come out and

they still will not go near those areas.”

“Now I have no problems at all. You will get what you want from me. I also will be a

customer of your clubs. Sue loves to dance and we both enjoy a drink. This idea soundslike it fits our needs.”

That pleased Jack and he felt good. “Abel I could never figure out why John did itdifferently. But that could be well to our advantage for a time at the start. In the

entertainment quarter you should see people from all planets coming here to have fun.

That area will be a free area and no passport required for entry.”

This could be an interesting experiment. “I like the free area idea also. It does opens up

the planet to people coming back for vacations later.”

“We have travel offices there to book vacations run by robots.”

Abel as he headed back to his office was enjoying the ideas Jack had opened up. His planets would be a cross between Earth and Alpha. He was talking the good of each and

adding them together. It for sure would be interesting to see how John responded this to.

He was sure at some point there would be a response of some kind. The original decision

not to all drinking had started at the control room. He had opened it up a little at theresorts and so far it had worked. Now this took the next step in that process.

The biggest issue was the government office building. Here Jack had wanted all offices inone building. But the height that would require was beyond current Alpha technology. So

he went to Zima and ordered the metal skeleton from his plants. The materials they made

supported their two hundred story tower in the main city. This would not be as tall. Butyou would see it from anyplace in the city or surrounding countryside. The design called

for one hundred and ten stories and each floor would be a service area. The courts would

have six floors and Jack’s office would be at the top floor.

The design required a finger print scan to access the desired floor. Many floors were off

limits to people who did not work there. You could say access the main floor of the

security department, but not the many working floors for offices. The vaults here were all below ground and few had access to them. But the money system would be run from this

building for the planets. That required a good ten floor area for operations.

The decision had been to use Jane as the primary planet computer. A home for her had

also been built below ground. This area was only accessible by Jack. He was comfortable

with dealing with his ships computer and this made it easier to accept input.

On top of the building was an array of different communications receivers and sending

devices. The studio for news, planet events and the many feeds all ran through the station

complex on the ground floor. It was a glassed in area with studios people could see into.



This also was very different from the Alpha 1-5 planets. There almost no one knew where

the studios were.

Here he wanted people to see it all. The news, programming and feeds being sent out

would be shown on screens. It was critical he felt for building confidence in the public.

Much reporting was done on site, but what was not would be open to the public eyes.

By using the design chosen there would be a park surrounding the building. Food vendors

and restaurants were allowed on the edge of the park. The buildings were kept low onestory type and spaced to allow open areas between them. Many would have outdoor

eating areas that could be used even in cold weather.

The weather here would be four seasons type. There would be long springs and summerswith shorter falls and winters. But snow in the city would be common in winter. This had

required the development of snow removal machines to keep walks and paths cleared.

They would collect the snow and turn it back to water. The walks would be heated to melt

ice left and then the water sucked up. Each machine would when full deposit its water into connections that lead to streams. But the snow would have no dirty snow piled on

top of it. The material on each side of the path or walk would look like it had just fallen.

Chapter 17



The Find

As Jody and Jim worked sculpting another mountain group, they found a spot where

there was a deep hole. The scans showed this ran may be three miles deep. It was hard to

explain how this had happened. So they kept their machines digging until they reachedmetal.

Jim called Jack to come and look at this. It was just not explainable to him.

“What are you seeing?”

“We have no real idea, but it is very big. From where the machines are now in goes downthree miles. The expectations we had was for a cave complex of great size. What we have

hit is solid steel.”

Jack now looked very close at this. “We need to get a visual image, so lets go look.”

They left the office and headed for the site. This was a very hard rock area and the holewhere metal was reached was down may be fifteen feet. Jack took the ladder down and

bent to place his hand on the surface.

“Jim this is no accident of nature. The metal is smooth and shows no deformities. Sowhat we have is something from the past. I would guess that it would take most of the

mountain out to uncover it.”

“That it sure would. But there is no way we can leave it here. That would be a sin. So it

just will have to be done and we will work with what’s left over. For sure I want to be

here when we get the chance to enter it.”

Jack shook his head. “No way Jim. This has to be out of the atmosphere to be entered. I

have no idea what might be inside or what dangers to the plant or humans might exist.There could have been some disease we know nothing about involved here. But I would

never enter it and expose this world to danger.”

That made him think. “I am sure your right. But I still have that interest wherever it isenter it. This is such a find for all of the human race.”

“Lets get out of here and let the machines go to work. Just clear enough room for this to be picked up and carried into space. We will place it in orbit close to Deep Space. First

entry will be by robots and air checks made. We will sample any areas for possible

contamination before a human enters.”

As they got back to Jim’s office Jack sat at his station. “Vortec did you see that feed from

below?”



“Yes and it is very interesting. From how long that has to have been there it I am sure is

nothing from Cirrus. I show no craft of that size being built on the NOVA planets either.

So I can make no suggestions as to who’s craft it might be. But it is a spacecraft Jack.”

“Can you lift it once uncovered into space?”

“I see no problem as long as the metal is not attached to the rock below the craft. If it had

areas protruding below the shell we could have a time lifting it. We also could damage

the ship. I am wondering if the drive was below the shell?”

“I suggest you get the information you need and make a decision. Jim will need some

time to uncover it and clear away the rock. You will need to be sure it is supported as the

rock is cut away. But you make the call on when it is possible to lift it into space.”

“That works for me Jack. You will have my undivided attention on this.”

Jack pushed back and looked up. “You heard that conversation, so follow Vortec’s lead. I just have a feeling we are all going to be shocked when we enter this craft. Vortec started

these planets well over two thousand years ago. They were a test grounds for planetformation. Just incase man needed them one day. That craft had to have hit here when the

rock was still molten to be where it is. It is also possible it hit before that?”

“That would suggest that the insides were an oven.”

“Not really Jim, our craft could do it without an increase in the temperatures inside. But

the space drive would be worth nothing in that rock. It can move through water, air or space, but not through liquid rock. With the magnetics of the planet at that time I am not

sure anyone could deal with a crash like that?”

“I see no areas now that look crumpled.”

“They hit liquid rock and that would not be hard enough to damage a shell. Our shieldswould hold and the rock would never touch the shell.”

“Well let Jody and I start to uncover this. If we see anything unusual we will let you

know.”

The days dragged on slowly as the work moved forward. Jack followed events from his

office and did not bother Jim, Jody or Vortec. But he and John discussed this daily andnether had a good idea of where it came from. Records were searched from every human

system and nothing was found.

The news feed on this was the highest watched of all in every world. Excitement was

building with humans on every planet. Different groups had made many requests for

study of this ship. Most had been rejected until such time, as it was deemed safe for

humans. Jack’s statement of possible hazards was not enough to slow down the requests.



The day finally came when Vortec was sure the craft could be lifted off the planet. He had

used blasting around the base to be sure it was free. The shock waves were enough to break the steel free.

A large starship was positioned over the wreck and a field of great force was generated tolift this craft. Very slowly it rose from the ground and closer to the starship. Then the two

slowly move up towards space. In space it was easier to control the weight and to provide

speed for an orbit.

The drive has extended down from the bottom of the shell at the back. It was still full of

rock that had leached into it after being caught in the liquid medium. This would slowly

be cleaned away, so the drive could be studied. That was easier in space than on the planet. The hatch found for entry was one never seen before. That required a new docking

arrangement be made to enter the ship.

A transport was modified and fifty robots were trained to check for every possible human problem they could find. Samples would be sent to the labs for checks constantly. A

group of twenty scientists were working twelve-hour shifts to get answers. Vortec due tohis DNA brain stayed away from the ship also. The risk factor was high for any DNA to

be contaminated. The class two robots would have no problem with anything that would

harm or kill humans.

As the first of the robots entered the ship Jack could see what it did. There was a vast

empty room and no one could be seen at any spot. There was no light except for what the

robots had. They spread out and walked along the walls showing what there was to see.That was not a lot. One finally came to a button and stopped. It looked like it might be a

switch of some kind. After studying the symbols it went ahead and pushed the likely

button. Lights came on in the room.

Now the room’s size could be seen. It had to be one hundred feet square. The use for this

room could not be guessed at. But considering the docking port it had to be some kind of entry area. When the lights came on a door opened at the far end of the room. The lights

and the door opening proved there was still power on the craft. First air samples were

normal, but very stale air. So far there was nothing to worry about.

The entry to the main part of the ship was by a diamond shaped door. This lead to a ring

running around the ship. The robots divided up and twenty-five went each way. It took a

good hour to meet up at the halfway point. They had checked many rooms off this ringand found living quarters and eating areas. Samples had been taken everyplace and

nothing was yet a problem.

Now they looked for a way to move to the next spaces and found one more button on a

wall. Once pushed a door slid open and they moved through a tunnel to the next ring of

hallways. Half turned into these and the other kept going toward the center. It looked so



Jack had two security force troopers place the man on a litter and carry him to the

transport plate. Then he showed the man to a bedroom and left him. There was much to

consider here.

“John did you see the conversation with the captain?”

“Yes and I am still confused about it. Hope and Jane are connected into the ships

computer and are now downloading the data. My guess is here is where we will find

answers. Where did you place the captain?”

“He is in a bedroom in the ships hospital. They will feed him and hopefully Jane can

communicate with him.”

“This ship crashed a good eight hundred years before Earth was settled. Even before the

Alpha planets were started. Yet their technology is well above ours. The counsel members

have all watched your discussions and no one has a clue to where they came from.”

Here Jack knew time was needed to work this out. “Lets just wait until we can talk more.

He was not very forthcoming in what he told us. But I would not be either in his case. Hisnot being willing to contact a Cirrus ship was telling to me.”

“What are you doing about the drives?”

“Nothing right now. I have our people mapping the ship and still checking for any

problems. The lab is trying to unlock the materials they have used, so far without luck.

They are and were very advanced.”

“Some how this does not smell right to me. I cannot see anyone this advanced in our

universe keeping their hands off human development.”

Jack questioned that as well. “I will ask the next time we talk.”

John knew Jack was doing his best. “Look just let it flow and see where he leads us.”

Chapter 18



Space and Time

The next morning Jack was called to the hospital. The man was having a seizure. He had

him scanned and found several damaged arteries. He was given a shot and slowly began

to clam down. The nano bots would repair the damage that time had caused.

He sat beside the man for a few hours and slowly he noticed the man looking at him. “I

hope your feeling better now. You had extensive damage to you circulatory system. I hadwondered if that length of time in the capsule would cause problems. So I placed you

here in our hospital for safety.”

Jane had done the translation for the man. “Thank you for that. You’re a very differenthuman than I have seen in this world. You are far more like us than others I have seen

here.”

“I am a doctor here first and foremost. It just happens that I am building five new worldsfor our Alpha system. After that is done I will serve as the peoples servant. It will be my

job to see their worlds runs as it should.”

This caused the man to look very closely at Jack. “Your not their ruler?”

“Not at all, if they don’t like the job I do, they can elect another to do it. Our governmentsdo not tell people what to do or how to do it. We simply try to make things run smoothly.

Alpha has laws and people must live by them. But the security force and courts see to

that.”

The man considered this. “Are your laws fair?”

“Every planet in the entire Federation has adopted our law system. The entire law book is

ten pages long. The rules are simple and good for everyone. On Alpha there is little need

for courts, but other groups have more problems. So each must handle their own people.”

This was far too easy he was sure. “Could I see one of them?”

Jack reached into his pocket and handed a copy to the man. “Jane please show yourself and translate for the captain.”

Jane appeared and the man was not sure what he saw. “What is this?”

“I am a DNA computer and this is just an image I use with humans. But I did learn from

your ships computer to translate your language.”

“But I don’t know where my ships computer is.”



“It is just below your bridge. It also is a DNA computer and we communicate well. I will

say this the time you were buried it was very bored.”

The man looked at the image. “Could my computer do what you do?”

“It can now as Hope and I showed it.”

“Who is Hope?”

“The main DNA computer for the Alpha system. She is just a little younger than your

computer. But she has told us that most likely many people will have your damage upon

coming out of suspended animation. So we will have scanning tables there to handle

them.”

He absorbed this information. “Now the laws what does this say.”

Jane read each one to him and when done he smiled. “They are very close to our laws.”

“Well as you see respect for all life is a common theme. Therefore we did for you whatwe would do for any human. Now do you feel up to eating?”

“Yes I am starved and that would feel good once more.”

“What do you eat as food? We are both meat and vegetable eaters here.”

“We are also. But I would think lighter food for now would be better.”

A hospital attendant came in with coffee, pudding, ice cream and a sweet roll. That was

placed on the table beside the bed. He helped the man sit and moved the table to him. Theobject here was to get sugar into his blood stream. He ate every bit and slowly drank the

coffee.

“I am not sure what this drink is, but I like it.”

“It is called coffee and is a stimulant. This come from a bean called a coffee bean and it is

roasted and ground. When hot water pours over that the flavor and color is released. Thatis the most popular beverage here.”

“I noticed everything was sweet.”

“Yes you need sugar in your blood stream to help with repairs. The body can breakdown

starches and make sugar from them. But it was just easier to give you things with naturalsugar in them.”

He considered this next step. “I am Joel and your name?”



Jack smiled at this change. “My name is Jack. Now would you be willing to tell me

where you came from? It for sure was not our universe.”

The man nodded his head at this. “No there are millions of universes. Each is different

from the next. Some are here in your worlds and others are not. I believe you called them

dimensions in your language? You will find some are the exact opposite of yours andothers totally different from any. All humans have counter parts in some of them.”

This sounded like the string theory and quantum mechanics. “Physics and math are notmy strong suits. But I have heard this discussion in classrooms and between men of great

learning. To us this is still all theory as we have never found how to change dimensions.”

“We have and my ship is from one of those. The problem is we were chasing someonewho had broken our laws. They also came from another dimension and our job was to

destroy them. This group was evil and destroyed what they found that was good.”

“So you’re a police force chasing these people?”

“Yes to some degree we are that, but more in many ways. Our job was to find and helpany human planet we could and watch for these people. Their ship was detected and

headed toward this planet. We followed it down and both ships were caught. They are

someplace down there also.”

“Now you say they are evil. What does that mean in your law system?”

“They created many creatures that used humans as food. The creatures were part cat and part human.”

Now some light came into Jack’s head. “Are you sure they went down?”

“Oh yes I am sure. But why do you ask that?”

“I just fought a war in the NOVA system against a cat people. They used humans to breed

so as to keep the DNA balance. They took over the entire one hundred and ninety

planets.”

This shocked the man and it could be seen. “What happened to them?”

“They were wiped out to the last one. Every inch of each planet has been searched andevery creature killed. We also used biological agents that kill cats and do nothing to

humans. On those planets there is not even a house cat left.”

The man smiled at this. “Well you did our job Jack. Some way they had to have gotten

off a smaller ship before crashing. They were moving much faster than we were. So I

would think that craft is very deep in the rock. But if it is ever uncovered you will be in

for trouble.”



“That I assure you will never happen. We will find that ship and fill it with biologicals

toxic to them. Then seal it back up. That location will be marked and monitored.”

The man could see just how badly Jack hated these creatures. “I feel you will do as you

say. Now I need more rest and time to regain my strength. Can we talk more later?”

“Of course and just ask for me when your ready.” Jack left and headed to his office.

John was waiting for him. “Well what do you think of his story?”

“I am not sure yet. But his DNA checked out as fully human.”

Here John was not ready to buy or reject this. “We need to know where the other craft is.

I will get Vortec on that now. Joel said he was chasing it so it should be in front of where

he was found and lower in the rock. But to make me feel good please check out the other

capsules on that floor.”

“Will do and I am now curious about this.”

Jack headed for the other ship and took a group of twenty troops with him. A scan table

had been set up in the room as he had requested. The next two were a very young girl and

a woman. So he started the young girls recovery. He felt she might be more open aboutwhat was happening. It once more took two hours for the process to complete. Then he

moved the girl to the scan table and proceeded with it. Slowly the girl came around and

she was shocked at seeing Jack. She quickly covered herself.

Jack waked over and found her locker and handed her clothing. She dressed and slowly

looked at him. “Jane explain to her who and what I am please.”

The girl now was not so shocked. “I am Nina and the daughter of the captain.”

He smiled at this. “Well I am Jack and a doctor. It seems the time in that machine has

caused you some damage. So I am just repairing that. Now what can you tell me about

your ship?”

“Are the cat people still here?”

“I am in the process of turning off any machines that contain them. We have had one war in this universe between them and humans. That is enough for anyone.”

She smiled at this. “We also fought them in ours. They won that war and hired my father to move them to another dimension. If he did not do that they were going to breed me and

my mother.”

“Are there other children on this ship?”



“Oh yes thousands of them. The cat people were only a group of about five hundred. But

when the ship was spotted dad took it down to the planet and lost control. He said therewas another ship from the universe looking for us.”

“So the war was still going on?”

“In some parts of it they were still fighting. But our group of ten planets had been taken.

Did you send out a scout ship as you were going down?”

“Small ship of twenty cat people and fifty children were on it. They were all breeding

males and the children females.”

Jack’s gut turned over. “Well little one your safe now.”

John walked into the room and was looking angry. “Vortec found the other craft and it

was behind this one. Where it hit there was enough hard rock to destroy it. What is left is junk.”

“Have you heard Nina’s story?”

“Yes and I am ready to pull the plugs on any machines that contain these creatures.”

Jack gave an order and the troops started to check every machine and disconnect those

they knew for sure were not humans. “Now Nina are any of the children carrying liters of

the cat peoples children?”

She considered this for some time. “I don’t know for sure. But I would expect that is

possible.”

Jack ordered every child to be scanned at once when the machine opened. He then set up

a surgery for abortions of any found carrying a liter.

“Now why would your father lie to me about this?”

She looked sad. “He was a wanted man in our universe because he agreed to this mission.He would have been killed for doing this.”

John looked at Jack and both nodded. “Young lady would you like some food?”

“Oh yes I really would.”

John picked her up and carried her to the transport plate and to his home. He put her into

the hands of Leigh-Anne and Faith. They would take good care of her. He also instructed

both to remember what they were told by Nina.



Back on the ship many machines were just unplugged. That stopped all life support for

anyone in them. The children were slowly brought to the scanner and checked and some

did have liters to be killed off. Jack left after twenty hours of work exhausted. There werenow twenty doctors handling this issue. The children were all sent to the hospitals on

Jack’s Stars and got the help they needed. With the original hospital population down,

now there was plenty of room. But Jane had to stay there to interpret for them.

This was a shock to many planets now. The entire story was being told. NOVA demanded

that the captain be tried in their courts. This would be debated in the Federation meetingto be held. All also would see that meeting.

Anne attacked Jack once he woke up and started to move. “Daddy you did it again.”

“What is that princess?”

“You saved another group of children.”

He smiled at his daughter’s pleasure. “Well they are in the hospitals we all helped set up.

They will get good care and food. But we must teach them our language. So this will takesome time to all work out.”

“What are you going to do about the universe where they are?”

“That must be decided by all the planets. It is everyone’s problem now. But Vortec is

learning how to make a drive change universes. So if the planets agree on fighting we

will be ready.”

“Do you think we can win?”

“Yes, we never used all the weapons we had last time. But this time I think many humans

would die.”

“Many more would live also?”

“Yes.”

“Then that is the right thing. Being a slave to anyone human or not is no way to live.”

Life to Anne was so straightforward. “Well I hope the Federation agrees with you.”

“Well if they don’t I will talk with the people and push them.”

“I am sure princess you will do that. But now I need some food and to get back and

help.”



She sat and watched him eat the breakfast she had ordered for him. “Can I came and

help?”

“Not this time sugar. This is not something you want to see. But if Meg is up to it, she

could take you to the hospital and you could help there. We are using Samantha’s hospital

for the worst cases.”

Anne found Meg in her dad’s office. “Meg dad said I could go help if you would take me

to Sam?”

The older girl was looking sad. “I would be happy to do that. This is such a tragic

problem. We all had hoped this was over for good.”

“Daddy said the Federation would vote on what action to take. If they don’t go to help I

will talk to the people until they push them to do it.”

All three adults looked at Anne. Then Jody said it for them. “Jack will not let that happenAnne if it is at all possible. But to fight we must be able to get there. Right now that is not

possible for us. So we must take one step at a time.”

This brought Anne back to her senses. “Your right Jody, this just made me so mad.

Knowing these creatures exist in other places scares me.”

Jim knew it scared him also. “Your not the only one with fears Anne. But John and your

dad caught them fast this time. Joel has admitted his guilt and has offered to take a fleet

back to fight.”

“Can we trust him?”

“His wife and daughter are here. They are both at John’s ranch. If he wishes to see them

again, he will be very honest with us. The children will stay on the planets where they are

right now. So they will be safe and protected. NOVA has a fleet of twenty craft in their area patrolling. Each planet has an army of one thousand robots on it.”

That was a nice thought for her. “Well Meg will you take me now, Daddy said I could not

help on the ship. It was no place for a girl of my age.”

That Meg agreed with. “OK shrimp let go see Samantha and do what she needs.”

The hospital was packed and robots were running everyplace trying to fill requests.

Samantha was in total motion as she saw her friends. “Boy can I use your help. Can you

see to feeding these hungry girls?”

“No problem as Anne and I will get to it.”



Kate knew Meg was right. “OK I will ask Jody to come and I’ll go home. But with no

one there I’ll go nuts.”

Anne ever the diplomat made a decision. “If Jody comes and you just direct, I don’t see

why you cannot stay.”

Kate smiled at this. “OK daughter your on.”

Not only did Jody come, but so did Jim. “You have your kitchen crew now Kate. Jim saidhe would over see the cart loading and I will watch the cooks. What type of schedule do

we have?”

“We need to feed four meals a day for today and tomorrow. Then down to three, rightnow I am doing breakfast, lunch, dinner and a smaller supper. We are heavy on sugars

and starches. Jack said everyone’s blood sugar is way low.”

They worked as a team and got the meals done. Everyone hit the bed and got up the nextday to do it again. About mid afternoon Kate was having pains. So Jody took her to the

clinic and saw she was comfortable until Jack got there. Then she headed back to her kitchen duties.



Chapter 19

The Federation Meeting

The members were all there and sitting at the big table. All knew they were asking Alpha

for much support here. There was no planet not worried about this new finding. Manyships had been called back to protect their home planets.

John was his normal calm self. “OK I have the request here for starships for Freedom and NOVA systems. I need to know just how many your requesting?”

Zima spoke first. “I would like two more to work with our one. It is now trying to cover

three worlds.”

Bruce knew he was not going to get what he wanted, but had to ask. “For us to be safe we

need seventy-five ships, with two hundred thousand robot troops.”

John looked to Gorm and he smiled. “We can turn loose twenty-five ships. But need the

rest for our own planets.”

Here John smiled and slowly looked around the table. “I see you would rather protect

your planets than attack the enemy. Because Alpha is ready to send seventy-five ships to

fight these creatures where they are. We have five hundred thousand robot troops and sixhundred humans from Jack’s Stars who have offered to fight. They know how these

creatures think and where to look. Now does Alpha go on this mission or stay and protect

your planets from what may not exist?”

“But how will you get there?” Bruce asked here.

“Vortec has found the trick to breaking through the dimensions and it was simple really.

We were already fast enough, but did not know the trick. But I need to know where you

each stand on this?”

Gorm was first. “I would rather fight them there than here.”

Hammed was also in agreement on this.

Zima saw some wisdom in this. “If your going after them I will make do with our one

ship.”

Now Bruce was on the hook. “I agree going after them makes better sense. But can we

win in that universe?”

John was patient here. “Well the better question is do we let them get a good foot hold

there and come in force later?”



Here Bruce felt he was on better ground. “They already have a foot hold there and that

was twenty eight thousand years ago.”

“True, but they only had ten planets and the weak ones at that. So it is possible the rest

may also have defeated them. If that is the case why spend trillions in defense here? The

only reasonable action I can see is to find out what has happened.”

Bruce was not giving up yet. “If you go after them it may force them to come looking for

us.”

Jack had heard enough. “Look Bruce your own daughter has asked to go as a nurse.

There are two hundred thousand young people ready to help. They are heroes in my way

of thinking. What is wrong with your people? You seem to love hiding behind others.”

This hit him hard and it showed. “I guess we don’t want to face the issue yet. In many

respects we are old women in how we see this.”

“If no one takes in a cat and raises it there is no problem. The last I heard you had zero on

any planet. Now if you cannot bring yourselves to kill any you see you deserve the fatethat comes from it. The Federation is for all humans and not just for NOVA. Your budget

has covered many things, but nothing for your own defense or to help any other planet.

Don’t you see it as odd that the largest group in this Federation has no starships?”

You could see the man deflate. “Your right once more Jack. I have asked for ten a year

and was told one would do. But the money for that never seems to come.”

“Well we are the next to smallest group here and we have more ships than anyone. So if

you wish protection lease ships with crews and do it that way. We can’t protect 216

planets from our budgets. Don’t you think that you should carry a good part of thisresponsibility?”

“I am ashamed of what we have done and expect from you. My people will have toaccept their role in the Federation. We will start building ships as soon as I return home.”

John had stayed out of this as Jack had the right here to get angry. “Now I ask for a vote

on our ships attacking in the other universe.”

It was unanimous and that was that.

Gorm decided John was right. “I will send fifty with you. But you need to add the robot

troops as we just don’t have them.”

Here Jack wanted something different. “We will take one hundred thousand human troops

on those ships. With personal force fields and our weapons they will not be at risk. Our

fighters will be human manned and will fight with the robot troops.”



Zima looked at Jack and was surprised. “Are you commanding this?”

“No but as the fleet Admiral for Alpha I will be setting it up. I am sending Daniel andJackson will command the fleet. He was involved with the planning and fighting on

NOVA’s planets. I will provide his instructions before leaving here.”

That was a sure way to say butt out. So it was left there. The next item on the agenda was

the issue of Joel. Here no one wanted to start this. So Jack stepped in. “We need a

navigator for the mission. Joel has volunteered and we need him. His daughter and wifeare now staying with John. Is there objections to this?”

No one wanted to cress Jack right now. “Then he will fill that job. Now for the interesting

part of this. He has agreed if he returns to do a fifty-year prison term. I have agreed to hiswife and daughter being given a business on Alpha 6. So when he is back he must do his

time and then will join his family. Does anyone see a better way?”

Once more there was silence around the table.

John looked to be sure nothing was coming. “That is settled then. Now Jack where doesthe two hundred thousand human troops come from?”

“I have more than that in current volunteers now. But if any from Cirrus, Earth, NOVA or

Freedom wish to be part of this I am willing to make the force a Federation force.”

The discussion went on forever and Jack was getting tired of this. But he said nothing and

let it ride for now. Finally the planets offered a force of fifty thousand. He knew he wasgoing to have to equip and train them.

“Now you have offered fifty thousand troops. How will they be protected and equipped?”

This caused another round of discussion. An hour later they offered to pay for Alpha to

provide protection gear and weapons. That was better than what Jack had expected.

“The bill per trooper will be eight thousand credits. That will buy the personal force field,

uniforms, training and two types of weapons. Our cost for our part is 1.2 billion credits.

Your part is 400 million credits. We will need your people in a training camp within fivedays from now. They will have just one week on the ground here before leaving. The rest

of the training will happen on ship.”

The real cost of war was sinking in as Jack wanted it to. Alpha had spent well over a

trillion credits to free the NOVA planets. But Jack could see Gorm smile at his

understanding of the current moves.

“The last time between Alpha and Cirrus the bill for starships was well over 20 billion

credits. War my friends is not cheap. It requires everyone to do their part with ships,



personnel and money. Here both the Freedom planets and NOVA planets came out with

much more than their lives. You have your planets back and working.”

This hit home and no more had to be said. The vote was an easy victory and now at least

some funding that was not Alpha or Cirrus funds were available. Jack knew just how hard

the last adventure had cost each systems treasury.

“Now for one more step that will need to be taken. The Federation has no ability to

demand funding from anyone. But Alpha will place 2% of its gross domestic product in aFederation account for future needs for defense. We ask each system to match that and

then the questions just brought up will never happen again. There will be money for

ships, troops and weapons on hand at all times. The Federation ships and troops are for its

use and will be directed by this counsel. The funds spent must be approved here. No one planet or system will have control over that group. Is there any discussion wanted here?”

John waited for the axe to drop. But once more no one said a word.

Then for today the meeting is closed. Here the men stood and walked to a small dinningarea for lunch. The conversation was light and the money issue was basically agreed to as

fair. The amount was not a major part of any systems budget. Zima noted that this wasvery much like life insurance for the systems. It seemed expensive until it was needed.

Bruce stopped Jack and needed to talk. “Jack I am sorry for today. It is not my intent to

drag my feet, but I do now have people who are questioning every bit of money spent.With this meeting I have no choice but to spend that money. The entire population has

heard this meeting. Your assessment of NOVA was accurate and I know hit home. My

next address will be to explain why we have failed to contribute, as we should. This Ihope will have people looking at the few who are holding us back.”

“I know what was going on and took that into account. You now have been left no option but to participate. I also have an address being given to my planets, which will point a

finger at certain people who are holding funding promised to them. When I am done there

will be no rock they can hide under. The reason they are holding you back, is they wouldloose money that now lines their business pockets. I have the numbers and proof they are

making money from doing this.”

This was not something Bruce knew of. “How is that happening?”

“Each owns a bank in your worlds. As long as the money sits there they can use it. If the

money goes where it should they loose income. Over 50% of their income comes fromthe systems money. Now I have purchased a bank for my planets to do their business. I

am the managing director and the people own the stock, as I have placed it in trust for

them. It has its own computer and will track every loan, deposit, or money owed to those planets. I requested a name change to the Bank of Trust. This was agreed to as the board

felt it would fail in short order. The money from Alpha, Cirrus and Earth is now on

deposit there. As there is no paid management it is very secure. Matter of fact Samantha



is on the loan committee. Now if NOVA transfer the funds being held to that bank it

would be able to help you fight the others.”

“Could you handle our revenue collections?”

“Of course we could as I am using a DNA computer to run all functions of the bank. It ishooked into all planet computers we placed on NOVA.”

This was a way to cut out these banks. “If I ordered that any further funds paid to our government be collected by the Bank of Trust could that be stopped?”

“No as the banks do not control the planet computers. They use them but can not

reprogram them.”

“Who does control the program?”

“For the planet computers you do. All you have to do is give them a directive and it must be followed. For my banks I do.”

“Does that mean if I direct the computers to move all system funds from the banks and

into yours they will do that?”

“Yes, but you must be careful here or you could cause some banks to fail. There are acouple who have out more loans than they have funds without your money.”

Bruce gave this a lot of consideration. “If they fail the government will take them over and guarantee the deposits and loans. There is much satisfaction in putting the shoe on

the other foot here. Then a good part of our funds collected will be in our bank.”

“I have no problem with your having all planet funds in your bank. My bank is to protect

my children from the crimes now being committed. It is not to make money in any way.

Any profit will be returned to the depositors at each years end.”

“The best way to handle this is to just make the deposit switch and wait for someone to

yell. Funds will go to your bank until the government has its own. Then we will pay you

a fee to collect revenue and deposit it in our bank. That fee will be for loans for those ten planets. It should build up over time and not be returned to depositors. That will keep the

loan fund growing.”

“Now you do know that the ten planets will be paying the two percent into the Federation

each year. At first it will not be a lot of money. But projected out fifty years from now it

will be a considerable amount. The banks computer will handle all planet transactionsand revenue collected. It will make the payments for any commitments made. A

committee of five from each planet will set budgets for five years. If an item draws a tie

vote I will be the one to break that tie. Those five people from each planet are responsible

for the growth, health and happiness of their home planet. Every year one seat will come



up for election. They may keep the person now doing the job or they may put a new one

in office. It will keep the board focused on doing the job they have.”

This seemed like a good way to build leaders. “Not a bad idea. I wonder how a legislative

body would work for NOVA?”

“Just be careful of the powers given to them. I would suggest they be an advisory board

for budgets. They make recommendations to you and you form the final budget. It will

give you a good idea of what people want. But you will not be forced to accept it all. If the item does not serve the majority don’t accept it. Any suggestions for new revenue

should be voted on by all citizens. You will in the future need more income and the

people must agree to that way of doing it.”

This was all sound advice. “Now I have much to do and think about. Thank you for the

help and information. No one will know where I got the information.”

The rest of the conversations were also pleasant and finally it was just John and Jack.“Well you kind of blindsided Bruce.”

Jack knew what John did not. “Not really I helped him a great deal. He even thanked me

for the help.”

“OK how did you help him?”

“He now knows why the banks are fighting him over every bit of money spent. It was not

him that was reluctant to step up, it was the banks dogging him. The advice he wasgetting was good for the banks and poor for NOVA.”

This John was sure was true. “I did not have any objection to your way of confrontation.It did allow me to be the good guy. You also paved they way for the 2% assessment. I

expected both Bruce and Gorm to yell.”

“Gorm could not yell as it is lower cost than what he is now doing. If the Federation has

it own ships then Gorm has the use of his. He will save a lot of money by not having to

send his ships every time we fight and so will we. I am upset with Hammed as he is still

running the old eight ships from the UN.”

John was not happy about this either. “I did speak with him and now he feels the

Federation ships will meet Earth’s needs for protection.”

“I think it is time to cut out the Earth scientists from our science missions.”

“That has been brought up also. He said when that happened he would have to look at it.”



“It just did on Deep Space. I will return his people home and tell them why this is being

done. That will start a fire under his take no stand attitude. He has tuned into exactly what

the UN used to be.”

This just brought a smile. “Well I have a couple of things to change that also. This will

not be comfortable for Hammed.”

Jack headed back to Deep Space. The new baby was now the star of the family. Jack had

named her Kathy and she was a daddy’s girl already. With Anne on one leg and Kathy inhis other arm they would sit, talk and rock for long periods. Anne loved being a big sister

and took to the job with joy. She often asked they sit and rock together because she knew

Kathy liked it. Kate took real pride in Jack’s ability to deal with three women now.

“Jack you need to let me put the little one to bed now. If you will see to Anne getting her

bath and then reading to her I will come in later.”

The bath went quickly and Anne was dressed and in bed. Jack lay beside her and read thelatest story. They now had gone to longer books, so each night was a chapter or two. She

loved this time, as it was all hers. Sharing Jack was not a problem as long as she got alittle of her own time. He made sure that always happened for her.

When Kate got there Jack was just leaving the room. They headed to their own room.

“Well that went quick tonight.”

“Anne was tired and falling asleep before I finished the first chapter. But tomorrow night

she will be good for two. That is just how it works sometimes.”

They talked for another hour and then hit the bed. After the surgery Kate was still very

sore where the stitches were. Jack dressed her wound area and was pleased with howthings were going.



Chapter 20

The Fleet

Admiral Jackson was sitting in Jack’s new office, Daniel was there, as was the seventy-

five group commanders. Each group was two starships.

“Now for the record I will provide complete instructions. I expect these to be followed to

the letter. Jane transmit this to every ships computer. One I want no ship to fail to fight if challenged and that means any opposing force. I don’t care if it is human or not. Is that

fully understood?”

Each man knew this was for his own protection. So no one had a problem.

“Now on any planet where you find the creatures you will send in drones and spray the

atmosphere with the supplied biological materials. We know that is does not effect

humans. So there is no chance of death due to this. Take no chances with human troops before you have killed off the creatures. Your first target will be the ten planets Joel came

from.”

This was expected and caused no comments here.

“I have no idea if transport plates can be used between the universes? Hope’s guess isthey cannot be used. So once there your on your own. I have had Vortec prepare a cube

for you to give any world’s leader explaining our mission, why we are undertaking it and

that we will be leaving as soon as it is complete. It contains an offer of peaceful relationsonce this problem is over if they wish. That decision they must make. Now the rules for

fighting the creatures are the same as on NOVA. They are to be wiped out completely.”

This was also expected and raised no eyebrows.

“I have on the cube shown pictures from NOVA of what these creatures have done. Howthey used humans as a food source and children for breeding. As long as the people you

talk with are human they will fight with you. If not and they pose no threat ignore them.

You have one goal and one goal only. That is the destruction of these creatures. Now any

questions or comments?”

Jackson stood and looked around the table. “I accept these orders and will follow them

faithfully. We have renamed the ship Joel had and it is now called Destruction. I havemoved my command quarters to that ship. It will lead the fleet in the crossing of the

universes. The ships computer has taught the rest how to make that jump. The shields

have been improved and weapons as well. So it will fight just like any ship we have. Wewill stay together as a fleet until we are close to the ten planets. Then break into fifteen

ship squadrons. Each will be assigned a planet. At long range send in the drones and if

the creatures are seen spray the planet. Track the effects and then move to secure it.”



Here Daniel knew something was needed. “I would suggest that each squadron be ready

to assume government for that planet. So a group must be readied for this task. Once

order exists then you can look at allowing the people there to take control. This may takesome training time as well. But expect to be there for some time before moving on.”

Jack knew Daniel was on the money here. “He is right on this. These people will not haveruled themselves for thousands of years. It will take time to teach them. But here you will

have to allow many different people to have a say in government. Those who were most

oppressed by the creatures should have the loudest voice. The ones not oppressed, mostlikely accommodated them.”

Daniel looked to Jack first. “Then we can put the children in control here if needed?”

“Yes, I don’t object to that and if needed leave a security force of robots for them. That

way they can enforce the rules. But if you do this you must provide a personal force field

for protection as well.”

All in all the plan was not much different than before. So Jackson asked the real question

left. “At what point do we return?”

“At the point you are sure no more planets exist with these creatures. No one here wishes

to fight this battle again. I am sure this will not be a short mission. So as you begin to see

it is reasonable send a few ships back. Make sure the human troops are first to return. Iam sure the young people who act as scouts, will not want to come back before your done

and that is fine. But I would guess the last ship to return would be a couple hundred years

from now. Joel can serve his time between points where you need him. That way when hedoes return he is free.”

This put the mission in perspective for many. It was to be a long fight. They all got upand returned to their ships. All crew and troops had seen the entire meeting. So everyone

knew what to expect. There were no regrets from anyone. This was important for the

safety of all planets here.

Joel knew he was heading into trouble. The people of his planets had long memories and

he was sure they would attempt to take him. In his room he had a personal force field unit

and weapons for defense. Noting that would kill, but you would not want to be hit twice.His rooms were in the outer ring and always locked unless he was called to the bridge. It

was an easy way to serve his time for now. His wife and daughter had seen him off. That

satisfied him to their being all right.

This trip had many possible concerns and he had shared them with Jackson. It was

possible that fleets from the outer planets could try to stop this fleet. Many were veryhostile to the ten he came from. The fleet of those ten planets could also be a problem.

But he was not sure they could win a fight with this one? He also questioned how much

more advanced the fleet would be at home? He was not sure people would do what

NOVA had done. Even those who hated the planets came to buy ships. No one built better



hulls and drives. But as fast as the drive was on this ship the rest of the fleet could out run

it. He had watched Vortec modify the fleet to be able to punch through the barrier to the

next universe. It worked almost like the transport plate did. You were in one universe andthen another.

No one yet knew just how many of these universes there were. The report of at leasttwenty was one Joel had heard often. But the fact of the matter only one man was said to

travel all twenty. That was because he was being chased for stealing the ship he was in.

So there was no real way to tell for sure.

Joel spent his time learning the language of Alpha and studying the history. The more he

learned the more impressed he was. At the time before he crashed they were nomads on

many planets with dying suns. Once moved to Earth they were very slow to develop anyreal technology. But at the point an Earth human assumed the technology left there by

Cirrus they exploded. The major jumps in new technology were amazing to him. He saw

the old Earth as somewhat better off and the three new Earth planets as much better off.

But they had never improved on what they had.

Cirrus to him was a real question mark. Gorm had made many changes and most for the better. But he still held the decision making power in his worlds. He could not be

removed and that was very different from the Alpha planets leaders. John he now

understood would like nothing better than to retire to his ranch. But that was not likely to

happen for a long time to come. For a man who could have been king, to become aservant of his people was rare.

He also had many questions about Jack. This man had seen through his lie. He hadrecognized the creatures in the machines and destroyed them. But even with that he had

treated Joel’s family well and him fairly. Why would he do that? He had always been on

the edge of unlawful acts. It was the only way a man could become rich in his worlds. Yethe saw no poor on Alpha and people all lived well. There was no upper class of very

wealthy people there. This he knew he would have to adjust to, if he wished to live there.

The early part of the mission was just a few weeks before they would hit the point of

breaching the invisible wall. This was the sweet spot for moving from one universe to

another. With the right equipment and knowing what to look for it was easy. Each spot

where you could move between one universe and the next was marked with a weak fieldthat could be picked up. This had been found thousands of years ago, by ships trying to

hide from military formations. Finally a way of detecting these weak areas was

developed. Of course it was a smuggler who did this. When his ship was finally capturedthe designers took the equipment. Here it was improved for military use.

In looking over the current formation he was sure this would shock people in hisuniverse. This was larger by ten times any fleet they would assemble. Even if they were

going to war, no fleet this size could be assembled. Five or ten ships of this size was

enough to handle any military. But these also had one hundred fighters per ship. That



allowed for fifteen thousand fighter craft in any battle. This he was sure no system or

group of systems could handle.

Jackson was now looking at the screen and seeing the slight fuzzy spot they were headed

at. The weak spot seemed not to be wide enough for the current formation. He ordered a

column of six across and twenty-five deep for the crossing. Once on the other side theywould form into an arrow point formation. This triangular formation was best for both

offensive and defensive actions. Ships in formation would arrange themselves to heights

or depths that allowed safe firing. With ships both above and below the lead craft allcould fire. It also provided room for fighters to be launched. This created a swarm effect.

The fighters then would cover the sides and rear of the formation. These machines had a

very nasty sting and could kill a ship as easy as their parent ship.

Jackson went to his quarters and got some rest. He knew tomorrow was the day for

crossing over. That would require he be on top of things until all were safely through the

passage. Daniel for now could handle keeping the ships in formation.

Here Jack was following the start of this mission. He did not like that he would be shortly

out of contact with Jackson. But there was not much choice. He had planets to finish andthat required his time and efforts. He had kept Deep Space and it was still his work

platform. The Alpha fleet was now down to just twenty ships and most were on scientific

missions. The universe was now pretty much unprotected.

Vortec was converting many older ships to more modern drives and configurations. These

were mostly as fighter platforms. There were not heavily armed like a starship, but in a

pinch could be of great help. A group of ten fighters were as deadly as any starship. Butonce more only Alpha had invested in building these. With the fleet leaving the universe

now other planets were interested in buying them. So shipyards were being constructed to

handle this demand.

The commitment was as soon as the 2% of gross domestic product was paid that the

converted vessels now being done would change hands to the Federation. It was a wayfor Alpha to recoup the funds spent. NOVA and Freedom had placed orders for Starships

for their own fleets. At five starships a year it would be a slow process filling these

orders. But it would also make Alpha very well off.

A hanger had been built in space that was fifty miles in diameter. This is where the large

starships were built. It allowed for two having their shells built, two being fitted out and

two in final checkouts. No weapons were installed until after this step. So they came back into the complex and then were fitted for weapons. The entire operation was robot run.

Not one human worked here for any length of time. Some would come to wire a ship, or

lay carpets, install furniture or the likes. But they came with their robots, did their jobsand did not stay. Over all command here was the computer for this complex. Her job was

coordinating the thousands of robots and robot machines here. Every single action was

reviewed and double checked before the next step. There was to be no errors in any ship

made.



“Well show me where they are and just hold them in that area.”

The man walked to the star map and showed just where they were. “Now we will behappy to reform the populations after your fight.”

Jackson smiled at the man. “Each planet will be returned to its original people to run. Iam empowered to draft and sign treaties with each planet or system for my Federation.

We will guarantee their safety from any invasion. So any planet or system that tries to

assume power will have to fight us. We dislike killing any human, but will do so if forced.”

The man considered this big mans words. He was sure he meant every word. “I assure

you this is not going to be received well by the other systems.”

“I really don’t care how it is received. There is no threat here just the promise to act if

you do. My orders are directly from the Federation counsel. If we are threatened we are

to defend with deadly force. No planet or system is to be enslaved by another by our actions or lack thereof.”

That was very clear to the captain. “I will pass your message along. There is no way for

me to know what if any action will be ordered.”

“Fine I can see that. Now your ship was in the way and we picked it up into our bay. Sothe trooper will take you to it and we will release it.”

The captain was not sure this was possible. How could any ship just take his inside it?But the trooper used transport plates to get them to his ship.

“What are those plates that allow such free movement?”

“They are transport plates and that is how most of our people move place to place.”

This was something he had never seen before. It was truly amazing to him. But now he

could see his craft parked with a large number of smaller craft. “What are these?”

“They are fighter craft. Any ten of them is equal to this ships fighting power. Each shipcarries one hundred of these. So one ship is equal to eleven in fighting ability.”

Now he knew they did not want to pick a fight with these people. “How many troops doyou have to retake the planets?”

”Just over seven hundred thousand.”

“You will get cut to pieces on any of those planets.” This was said with a smug smile.



“Would you please draw your weapon and fire at me?”

“I am not crazy enough to do that.”

“Please humor me in this nothing will happen to me.”

The man looked at the trooper and did as asked. When he fired his laser gun the beam

bounced off like it was nothing. “How in the world can you do that?”

“Do you know what a force field is?”

“Yes we have very primitive ones now.”

“Well that is what protects me and every trooper in our military. You could not stab me

with a knife or cut me with claws. I control how large or small the field is. We did not

lose one person while fighting the creatures. So have no worry about us being cut to

shreds. We will take the first ten planets and leave ten thousand troops to restore order and move to the next ten. When we are done we will have governments being rebuilt and

order on that planet.”

“You really don’t intend to stay”

“No we have enough planets and want no more. But we are honest in that we will formrelationships and meet our commitments. If any system, group of systems or single planet

tries to profit from our success we will fight. But that will be your leaders choice. So

advise them well on just how we feel.”

This had been very straight forward and matter of fact. “I know I will be questioned and

may be not listened to.”

“I suggest you fire at our ship from yours when you leave. Jackson will be advised I

suggested this. Be sure you have that visual image to send to your leaders.” He held outhis hand and another trooper placed a cube in it. “Here are the images of your

demonstration with your gun. They should help you back up your story.”

“How do I use this?”

“Just sit it down, push the button and it will play the entire conversation with pictures.”

The captain walked to his ship and was worried some fool would order an attack. That

was something he was not willing to do. These people seemed honest and open about

their concerns and worries. They had no interest in the rest of the universe and no needfor planets. But with twenty governments that all would like to rule the entire universe

anything was possible.



Once free of the larger ship he set up and fired a massive burst of energy at the larger

ship. This just bounced off and almost hit him. Had he been dead on it would have

destroyed his ship. Now he sat down and contacted his commander.

“Well captain what did you accomplish?”

“Sir we don’t want to pick a fight with this fleet. They have one hundred and fifty of what

they call starships. They are better than ten times the size of our largest ship. Each of

them has one hundred fighter craft about the size of a picket ship. They are armed andhave defensive shields. Please watch the following visuals.”

Here the shot at the larger ship was shown and then the cube. The commander was

concerned now. “Your shot did nothing to their ship?”

“It never reached their ship. They use force fields to protect their troops and the ships. We

have no weapon that could get through one or even damage one.”

This was not known here and it worried the commander. “How sure are you they don’t

want added planets?”

“We just must accept their word on that sir. If they wanted them we could never stop

them.”

Now the commander was really worried. “Why do you think we could not stop them?”

“My ship was so slow they towed it into the bay of their ship. This area alone could holdsixty ships of my size. I would say that may be it is the equal of one hundred twenty-two

of our ships in size. But its fire power is far greater than that many ships.”

“I must take this all to the leader for his decision.” There the connection was cut.

The captain sat back and worried what the leader would say. He was not known for hiscaution and wisdom. He had never seen a battle he did not want to fight.

“Well Daniel I hope your show and tell worked.”

“On the captain it did work. Now on their leader who knows? I am almost sure if ordered

to attack the captain will change sides and fast.”

The fleet was just half way past the smaller ship and still growing larger. The captain kept

the pictures running so they could be sent to headquarters. He had never seen this many

ships let alone the size of them. Who would be fool enough to attack this fleet?

The eleven ships that was the picket group had all seen the images. There was not one

captain willing to toss his and the crews life away fighting this group. So much



discussion went on between ships on their channel. This signal did not reach back to base.

But the bets were they would be ordered to try to fight.

Here the younger captain had the lead position. “If ordered to fight I will go to that fleet

and ask for protection. I am not going to kill the crew or myself. We have a general

running our system and he is at no risk. The man has lost more battles than he has won.So if ordered to fight I will do as I said.”

The consensus was unanimous among all captains and crews. None would have backeddown from a fair fight. But one where you had no chance of winning? That was not going

to happen. Each crew had been instructed to disable the charges that could be set off by

headquarters. This was so it was said, to stop the creatures from getting more craft. But

everyone knew that if anyone did not follow instructions their ship would be destroyed.So better safe than sorry.

Finally the commander came back. “All ships in your sector are to attack that fleet.”

That was just as he expected. “What fool ordered that?”

“It was no fool it was the leader himself.”

“In that case tell him to get his fat tail out here and do it himself. There is no way any

ship here is going to be another loss for that old man.”

“You will follow instructions or die.”

“Your charges have already been disabled. I am going to that fleet and advise them of

your order. When they are done with the creatures, I would suggest they came see you

and the fat old man. You have just lost half of your fleet as we decided while you werediscussing us to change sides. That would happen only if you proved to be the fools we

expected.”

He could see the man punching a button time after time. “I will order your arrest

captain.”

“Feel free to do that. But you need to come get me if you have the guts. It is now tenships against ten ships. So that is a fair fight. No that is not quite right is it? We now are

the last ten ships. You just blew the others up.”

The commander looked shocked. He was not sure he had not done that.

“Picket post we also disarmed our charges and are headed your way. We will all ask for protection of the larger fleet. That fool of a commander and leader has no spacecraft left.

If the fleet will support us we will end the misery on our planets.”

“You can’t do that.”



“Yes we can, just like you did that for the old fool. Expect us back and ready to end you

lives. You have cost the people far to much grief. Most of your military will never support you. So start looking for a deep hole to crawl into commander.”

There all ships broke the link to headquarters. The captain called Revenge and asked for Jackson. “Yes what do you want?”

“We have left the service of our leader. He ordered my ten ships to attack you. The other ten in our fleet heard and decided when he tried to destroy us to join. So now I have the

full twenty ship fleet of my system. We will support you in any way you wish. But ask in

the end you support our removal of the fool running our system. It is a military

government and the people hate it.”

Jackson considered this for a time. “Your not nearly as fast as we are. So I will drop off

one starship to lead you. In a day we break into fifteen ship groups to attack ten planets.

Your ships will be brought to my group. Then you can watch how we do this. If your stillof a mind to help then we will improve your defenses some and provide troops for you to

tackle a planet. Of course you will have transport plates and drones from us. Then if you prove yourselves we will help you.”

That seem very fair to him. “Call me Simon please. I agree to everything you have said.

The general who is now the leader has lost more battles than he has won. But he haskilled millions of our people. In his mind we are all expendable.”

Jackson had read about this type human. “In our minds no human is expendable. We doour very best not to kill a human. But if pushed my people get my best effort. So your

decision not to fight us was the best for your people.”

Some way Simon knew this large black man was telling the truth. He had never seen a

man of that skin color before. But those burning blue eyes just went right through you.

Here was someone to respect.

He got on his communications link and advised them of the offer. All accepted and they

formed up on Simon’s ship. One large ship dropped out of formation, slowed down and

led them forward.

It took three days for the smaller ships to find the fleet. Then just eight ships were visible.

The rest were in the atmosphere of the planet. That was something his ships could not doat all. If they got to close to the atmosphere they would burn up. The friction would heat

the metal and it would just melt.

Watching these people clean out the last of the creatures was a joy to all of these crews.

They had seen tens of thousands of their troops killed fighting them.



Finally a group of thirty ships came into view. The eight ships protecting those below let

their fighters go. It was no fair match at all. No ship lasted beyond their second shot. The

fighters swarmed over the fleet and wiped it out fast. No Federation ship was damagedand no fighter lost.

Had Simon had to fight them he would have lost at least half of his fleet before running.But trying to shoot into a force field was not possible. When the fields were at full power

you could not see the ship, as no light passed through. It was like a black hole. The hits

on the shields were blinding flashes and they did nothing but create light. This wasnothing his ships could have had any better luck with.

Jackson sent a probe to each ship with one transport plate. The captains were taken to the

bridge. Everyone was impressed. “Now we will retire to the conference room and talk.”

The room was functional and the screen showed just what was happening at any time.

Simon sat next to Jackson. “Sir I don’t mean to be rude, but are there many in your

worlds with black skin?”

This pleased the man and did not bother him at all. “I would say may be 1 in 8 have mycolor skin on Alpha where I come from. That is not true on the other planets in our

universe. But in the Alpha system we have people with yellow, red, olive, many shades of

white tints to their skin. This is also true in the Earth system. The rest of the planets are

mainly white tints.”

This was interesting to Simon. “I just have never seen a person your color before.”

“Please lets get to business. I sent a probe at your system and picked up communications

from there. Each of you has been charged with treason and a death sentence passed. So

what Simon told me checks out. We will start pulling in your ships two at a time for work in our fighter bay. There will be extra transport plates installed and shields to protect you

against weapons fired at you. Each ship will be loaded with three probes to drop plates on

the planet surface to place troops there. You will allow the probes to spray the planet witha biological mixture that will cause deaths of the creatures. That will start in two days

after the spraying. You then need to wait two more days before troops go to the planet.

Any questions so far?”

Simon was not sure about this spray. “Will the troops have any problem with the spray?”

“No, nor will the humans on the planet. But all the creatures will die shortly after thespraying. So the troops are more to bring order than anything else. The dead bodies will

have to be burned to keep the health of the people safe. So there will be many tasks our

troops will have to handle.”

“How is it that your spray kills just the creatures?”



“If any type cat is on the planet it will die. That will include house cats. But the agent

only works on that species.”

Here the men knew they had never seen a war this way. “Would you do that if fighting

humans?”

“First of all we don’t fight humans except when we are attacked. Second our Federation

outlaws the use of any biological weapon on any human at all. But you men are all in

trouble with your own system. They have passed death sentences on each of you and your crews. I sent a probe to listen to communications. It was the message being passed planet

to planet that convinced me to trust you.”

Simon was not surprised at this in the least. “Well I told them we would come back andtoss them out. But the majority of the military will never back them.”

“That is of little difference right now. Your safe and no one will do anything to harm you

or your crews. We have a lot of planets to clear here. So if you do your share we will helpyou allow your people to chose how they wish to be governed. Understand you will not

be assuming power in your system.”

To Simon that was fine, as he did not want the job. So he looked at the other captains

around the table. None showed any problem with this. “I believe we are in agreement on

this. I for one want nothing to do with government. The job I have is what I enjoy doing.Our system had a very effective government, until some high-ranking military leaders did

not like their decisions. They refused to agree to a war with another system. That war we

came close to loosing our own system because of stupid mistakes. But there are a number of very good leaders now under arrest. To be honest my father is one of them.”

This pleased Jackson that Simon had been this honest. “If the people wish him to come back that is fine with me. But it will be their choice and not ours or yours.”

The captains agreed on a rotation of vessels to be upgraded. Simon was the first of twofor this task. They had elected him as fleet commander. Each captain and crew pledged to

follow his lead and orders. That for these men was unusual in that they trusted few these

days. But Simon had stood up to the military leadership and that was the key. His father’s

reputation was of value here also.

The first two ships were brought in on the fighter deck. The crews now had their first

chance to see the inside of this ship. They were taken off and moved to a dinning roomfor everyone to eat. The food was very good compared to what they normally had. At this

point in a mission they were down to canned and dried foods. Nothing fresh was left in

their food storage areas. These were completely stocked as part of the work by thestarship crews.

The shields took the most time, as they had to be connected to power supplies. The best

way to do this was install a fusion power source. That needed to be where they could not



be tampered with. This caused holes to be cut into the haul and the fusion power sources

installed there. Safety devices were added to stop this being opened again. Anyone trying

to enter here would cause the device to self-destruct. The units would stay operational for a one hundred year period. Then require replacement by Alpha trained crews.

Slight modifications to the ships drive was made to allow better speed. They would nowrun at double the speed they had before. It was still not fast in Alpha terms, but better

than most ships in this universe. A chemical ships computer was added for fire control.

That allowed a few new weapons to be installed. They could fire at a planets surface with pinpoint accuracy. This would allow them to support troops if needed.

After the crews had eaten, been given a tour of the ship and got some sleep they returned

to their ship. The crews and captain were briefed on the improvements. They also were pleased to find they had fresh food once more. The real shock came when they were told

if they needed supplies to just request them and they would be delivered.

“How in the world can you do that?” Simon was beyond his understanding once more.

“We grow our own food sources on each Starship. So we always have fresh meat,vegetables and grains for bread and the likes. There is nothing a ship like this needs we

do not produce here. Each starship has a storage area for excess food for possible needs

of a planet. This ship could feed a couple million people for four to six months. This

allows us to aid those in need.”

These ships were a miracle in Simon’s mind. “Well I thank you for resupplying us. We

were very low on food. But never expected you to do this for us.”

Daniel was pleased with this admission. “You’re a part of our fleet now. We do take care

of our own as well. Now the troops you will be deploying are robots. They will requirenone of your food supply.”

This made no sense to him. “I only know what we call robots and they could never fight.”

It was time for an explanation here. “I have asked your other captain to join us as this

needs to be understood.” The second man walked up. “I have told Simon you will be

deploying robot troops. Now I am a robot myself. In our universe there are humans androbots that would work together. The human is always the leader of any joint venture. My

programming requires that human life be protected at any cost including my life. Now a

class two robot has a chemical computer and is somewhat limited in what they can do. Aclass one robot has a DNA brain and is a life form of a kind. I am a class one robot and

am hooked to the ships DNA computer for needed knowledge.”

This still confused Simon. “But you look and act very human.”

Daniel pulled down his top and opened the chest plate for them to see. “As you see I am

very different inside than you are as a human. My model was made to look and act very



Chapter 22

Planet War

Simon brought his ships in after the probes had sprayed the atmosphere. They slowly

circled the planet watching the events unfold below. Within the two days many creatureswere dying and you could see children wondering around. By the fourth day there were

not many creatures left at all.

Troops were now set down in different spots on the planet. Each scout had two hundred

troops behind them. It took little time to clear out the sick creatures and start burning

corpses of the creatures. Hospitals were quickly set up to care for the children and make

what repairs could be done. Normal Earth type drugs were used to heal them. It had beendecided not to allow the life extending technology for now to this universe.

Very slowly these hospitals loaded up and more were constructed. The first count of

humans was just over one million here. Schools were set up at each hospital to start theeducation process. It was soon learned that anyone beyond the age of twenty, had been

killed and used for food here.

The ships from above destroyed the main fort for the creatures. There was nothing but a

pile of stone there now. The training went on for two months and now people were

starting to function as humans. They were being taught to clear land and farm. Many foodanimals were sent to them to start herds of beef, sheep and goats. Much of the planets

animal life was also reestablished and people taught to fish for food as well.

Finally Jackson ordered that five thousand robots be left to protect, train and educate the

people and the rest to come back to their ships. Those left would guide the development

of this planet for thousands of years. One store had been built for replacement partsneeded. That would keep the robot force in good condition.

This had never been a known planet before, so there was little chance of it beingdiscovered soon.

The troops were reinforced and their food supplies replenished. Their next assignment

was a much larger planet with more humans. Here is where the trainer would be worth hisstaying.

Two ships attacked the fleet of twenty and were quickly shot to pieces. Not one of Simon’s ships had been damaged. This technology was way beyond any his worlds had

seen before.

The probes had sprayed the planet four days before and the creatures were quickly dying.

They placed the troops down and watched them organize the people. Many dead bodies

were brought to the fires started and burned. Slowly this process cleared out the cities.



Groups were set up to administer the city until elections could be held. Jails were emptied

and people started to come out of their homes. Food seemed to be in good supply here so

markets opened to sell to the public.

The countryside was little bothered by the creatures as they fed the cities. Many of the

released young people went back to their parent’s farms. It was only then they learned of the fate that had awaited their children. It was a real shock to them. They had been told

they were needed for workers. The city people had done the collecting for the creatures.

So there was now distrust between the two sides. Slowly this was worked out and certaincity people brought to trial. They would have to pay for their own deeds.

Once more five thousand troops were left to keep order and start the education of the

people. Over the twenty-six planets freed, one hundred and thirty thousand robot troopshad been left. Slowly they would bring these people back to a space culture. It would take

a few hundred years, but that was really not that long in the long term.

Now once more Simon and his fleet were called back to the lead ship. He was sure thiswas about his system and hoped they had done their part here.

The conference room was now filled with the twenty captains and with thirty senior

officers of the fleet.

Jackson walked to his spot at the head of the group. “I promised Simon that if his peoplefought well, we would help free his people from a military dictatorship. That type of

government exists in his system. They arrested the elected leaders and installed

themselves as the government. This mission has gone more quickly than anyone expectedand Simon’s help allow that to happen. So I would like a vote from my people as to who

would like to do this?”

Hands went up for every commander. “OK it is agreed we will head to his system. Now

how many planets do we need to handle?”

Simon was happy with the decision. “There is one command planet. But we have fifteen

in our full system. Each has a space dock for ships and a command post below. We use a

shuttlecraft to move from the dock to the planet surface. Crew changes are made at the

dock.”

“That will change for your system if I am pleased with your elected leaders. If they do

not please me you may be no longer a space faring system. Let me tell you what I expect.Your leaders should take the position of defending all planets and systems from any

aggression. That they become the defender of human life in your universe. If they have

views of becoming the only power then they will lose space. A Federation of humansmust be developed for the good of all.”

“In that I don’t believe you will be disappointed at all. The fifteen planets joined our

system by a vote of their people. The system before the military leaders were all



independent planets. Each had its own government and made its own laws. But they

stood together for the protection of all.”

Now the take over made more sense. “We will not attack your people. Every planet will

have ten of our starships descend over a major city and just sit there. We expect ground

fire and it will harm nothing here. But the twenty captains here will arrest the militaryleaders and place them in jail. You will release the political prisoners.”

This concerned him. “They would shoot everyone of us on sight.”

“I am sure they would. But you will have personal force fields and stun guns. Once they

see their weapons cannot stop you, I expect them to run for cover. It is your system and

planet not ours. Once you have arrested the military leaders, bring the freed civilianleadership here to me. Then I will discuss the plan with them.”

Still with some worry all twenty agreed.



Chapter 23

A New World

The twenty were landed on a transport plate in front of the leaders palace. It took no time

for them to be recognized and fired at. But nothing hit them and they moved forward.Men started to run and tossed down their weapons. These were not human men any

longer. No one could have survived that fire and lived.

As a group they moved to the building and into the main chamber. All officers were

meeting to decide what could be done about these ships above them.

Simon smiled at the fat man at the head of the table. “Well remember I suggested youfind a hole to crawl into. Now I am here to arrest you and all of this men with you.”

Two guards fired at the captains and saw nothing happen. One captain shot each guard

with his stun gun and they fell.

Simon looked at the men and saw fear now. “Your all under arrest and if you resist will be handle just like those two. They are not dead, but when they wake they may wish they

were. It will be some time before they can walk or talk.”

The captains spread out and started to cuff the officers. Finally the fat man stood. “Youcan do this.”

“Yes I can and if you object pull your weapon and try to stop me.”

The fat man reached for his weapon and pulled it. Simon waited until it was up and fired.

The fat old man fell back into his chair. “Now leave two uncuffed and let them carry thefat pig to his cell.”

They moved the group to the basement cells. The doors were opened and people let out.As each cell was emptied two officers were place in it. When the last came out one was

Simon’s father. “Well son I never expected this to come into being. How did it happen?”

“Father you and the rest need to come with me and then you will know it all.” The twomen hugged and walked off together.

At the transport plate Simon explained about this machine and how it worked. Peoplewere taken up in groups of ten. Once assembled Jackson led them to a large dinning

room. There was a lot of food and things to drink set out for all.

“Please first have something to eat. I am sure your food was not very good where you

were.”



That shocked every man there. Simon looked at Jackson a long time. “Is that really true?”

“Yes, it is fact let me introduce you to Joel as he used to be the captain of this ship.”

Joel stood and looked at these men. “Back in the time Jackson speaks of ships of this sizewere normal. But when the creatures took over the skills and ability dried up. I was

forced to take a group of these creatures into Jackson’s universe. Due to their plans we

were seen and I had to run for it. We had suspended animation equipment on this ship andwhen we crashed we used it. We stayed in those pods for twenty-eight thousand years

until found by the people of Alpha. Their technology is light years in front of even where

we were at that time. But so are their ways of seeing right and wrong. A part of my

sentence was to come back and help the people of my universe. Now you people need todecide the fate of all people here.” Joel sat down.

Simon’s father had listened well. “Each planet governor and board member of our group

must be voted on by our people once more. During that vote they need to decide if we become a federation of human planets or not. I cannot speak for them without their

consent.”

That was as it should be Jackson felt. “If your people decide to go that way we are

willing to provide help to you. I trust the twenty captains around this table. They will

serve the people and not do anything that harms them. But our ships have DNAcomputers that will not allow for humans to be killed, unless we are attacked first.

Having a ship built that way assures that what happened cannot happen again.”

“We will need to address our people and see how they feel about your suggestions.”

Jackson smiled at this. “You have been addressing your people on every planet. We set upscreens on every planet and city on your worlds. The words were transmitted to radio

frequencies for each planet to hear. So the people have been listening to everything. That

is how things are done in our worlds. Anything that cannot be said openly should not besaid at all.”

“How do we get a vote quickly done?”

“Tomorrow a ballot will be ready for every planet. People will go to their schools and

vote. All ballots will come to this ship to be counted. We will announce the results when

the work is done. But from the results we are seeing I don’t expect anyone to loose their seats. It has been a long time since the people were allowed to make a decision. But these

twenty captains have given them back that right.”

“If this happens that we are elected we will support your changes.”



“I today have installed on each spaceship you now have a computer that will not allow

war on humans. If a planet says no I don’t want to be part of your federation, they have

that right. But at that point your not required to defend them.”

“If they were attacked I could not see us not defending them a part of our federation or

not. Failing to do that would just open the door for us to be next.”

“Your right of course. But those decisions you must make.”

The men were all shown to sleeping quarters and provided with new clothing. They got

the best nights sleep they had in many years. The next morning breakfast was brought to

their rooms and they were shown how to used the computer screen. It allowed them to

watch the schools and see the events of the voting. The ability to see so much that washappening was beyond their technology.

Simon sat with his father and talked during the day. The big question was what did he

want to do with his life now? “I love being a captain and traveling the universe. The jobwe did to free the people made me feel really good. There is no way I want a political job

or even to be appointed to some job. My life and enjoyment is out here.”

“But don’t you want a family and children?”

“Yes, but I can have that here. My ship has an eight-room suite for me. Right now I livein three rooms of it.”

His father saw there was no changing his sons mind. “Well I would like you to becomefleet commander son. You would see that things went, as the counsel required them.

Would you be willing to do that for me?”

“Yes father as long as I can stay in space. I don’t want a desk job on a planet.”

“Now how do we handle the military issue?”

“On the planets in the other universe they have on each planet security forces and not

armies. Those forces are just for that planets needs. But if they need to fight each planet

contributes security force personnel and they fight together. For us it would be like fifteenarmies and no one would be strong enough to control all of them. But Jackson is willing

if things go as he thinks they will, to leave twenty thousand robot troops. You cannot tell

the difference between a human and a robot. They are smarter than a human and havemore skills. But their prime directive is to protect humans at all costs.”

“Have I seen one of these robots?”

“Yes do you remember meeting Daniel? Or did you talk with the one who brought your

food today?”



“They are humans and not robots.”

“No sir they are robots and built to look like humans. But they are a life form in that theyrun with a DNA computer for a brain. This ship is run by a DNA computer as well.”

“What is a DNA computer?”

An Image appeared and it was a nice looking woman. “I am a DNA computer sir. My job

is to run all ships services, protection systems and weapons. I handle the transport platesfor movement on the ship, provide information needed to our fighter craft and also over

see the raising of our food supply. I perform around two million tasks an hour here. But

my younger sister Hope does that many in less than a minutes time.”

This was not possible. “How can you be a computer and I see you?”

“This is just an image so it is easy for humans to talk with me.”

“I have no idea how this is possible but your abilities are amazing to me.”

“Thank you sir. I have placed a clone of me on your planet now. It will serve your

government and the people. Our shops are now producing screens like the one there for

every office, business, school, home and government office. This will connect every

human on your planet to others on your planet and on other planets. The computer willhandle the accounting, banking, education, engineering problem solving and so much

more for your people.”

“How does this effect government and the people?”

“Any meeting will be shown for all to see and hear. If you wish a vote just tell them andthey can vote right then. The computer will give you the vote count in short order. But the

people will use it to plan planting of crops, what to buy for stores and handle the

accounting for them. Your tax collections will be done by the computer and placed in the proper accounts. It also will operate your transport plates for moving people and goods.

In our worlds the government collects a fee for moving those goods. But you also can

move goods planet to planet without a spaceship.”

This was beyond his ability to comprehend yet. “So much change I am not sure how

people will adjust to this?”

“They will do just fine. As they will each be taught how to make this work for them. We

would never make life harder for a human. Our goal is to make life better.”

Well he was sure this new world would be different from his old one. ‘You say I can talk

with other planets?”



Simon was pleased but also worried. “Jackson I know nothing of this ship. How will I

learn?”

“You have an able robot captain and Daniel has agreed to stay with you. He knows how

to get to our universe and if trouble hits and you cannot handle it, come and ask for help.

Our Federation will always respond for humans.”

Here Simon stood and walked to Daniel and hugged him. “Thank you my friend I really

need you.”

“I was the second in command on Deep Space when we went to battle on the NOVA

planets. My boss Jack was one of the best men I have ever worked for. But Simon your

headed that way also. It will be my pleasure to serve you and your people.”

There was much applause from around the table. The men stood and walked to Simon

and Daniel. “Well Simon your now the fleet Admiral. Take good care of all human

planets for us here. Daniel teach him well for us.”

Each man shook hands with Simon and Daniel. Then they left for their home planets.

Jackson was pleased with how this went. “Well Daniel you need to show the Admiral to

his quarters. I had his belongings moved for him. I am headed to Phoenix and back to

home also. So if you ever need me Simon just come see me on Alpha 6.” He shook handswith him and left.

“Well Daniel now I get to see just how big this ship is.”

“It will be somewhat of a shock to you at first. But we have a very good engineering crew

and are well staffed for operations. Your captains can all come here for meetings and planning sessions. They have their own transport plates and ships computers. We will as

before supply them what they need, as we produce more food than will be needed. But

you have the ability to build ships here and construct a space shipyard at some point. Theability to build robot machines to work in space is here as well. So just think about a long

term plan and we will slowly move that way.”

They went to the largest area Simon had seen. It was park like and there sat a house. ‘“Where is this?”

“This is your deck of this ship. You have land and trees here to enjoy. The house is anormal home with the addition of an office and conference room. From here you can

command operations on the ship and communicate with all ships in the fleet.”

The home was very nice and the furniture comfortable. Many books had been left for him

and he looked at them. “I can’t read these.”



“They are in languages like English, German, French and the likes. But the computer can

translate them into you language. It is something you will want to read to know humans

better.”

This was interesting to him. “Can the computer teach me to read these languages?”

“Of course but the main one is English. That is really what Jackson speaks and much of

our worlds. Even where other languages are spoken English is taught as well. It is what

we call the common language of the Federation.”

Here was an idea for his father to consider. “We speak many languages here. But have no

common language.”

“Yes we saw that and have started teaching English to any who wish it. It is an easy

language and one no one here uses. So all can learn and it gives no advantage to one

group or planet.”

“Then first I will learn English. But how did I talk with Jackson?”

“The computer translated for you and him. Now you have a decision to make for all

Federation captains and crews. We have here a clinic and the ability to extend human

lives to between eight and nine hundred years. That is a two edged sword as you must

adjust to that lifetime. It means that you will out live many governments. As well populated as your planets are, providing that to them would cause many problems. But as

you can see there is room here for a family for you. They also could have that life span.

But you need to make that decision for your people.”

This he considered and was not ready to make any commitment. “I will consider it for a

time. No one will be forced to do that, but it may be offered for those who wish it.”

This was good judgment Daniel felt. “You needed to know it is here and available to

you.”

“Well right now I need to get the feel of this ship. So show me how we get to the bridge

and lets see where we are headed.”

On the bridge Simon took the captains chair and felt dwarfed by the ship. How could a

human be in control of all this power? He asked for the star map for where they were and

it came up at once. “Please show me where my others ships are.”

They were now scattered over the entire Federation. “Please give me the bridge of each

ship.”

The screen came up and each captain came on his screen. “Gentlemen we need to plan

how we operate. That will happen here at lunchtime tomorrow. We will eat and discuss

how we will protect our Federation and other human planets. Bring any ideas you have



and let us all hear them. I intend to break us into five ship groups. So four of you will be

commanders of a group. You will have some say in my decision here, as will your crews.

Everyone is risking their lives on the commander’s orders. I must know the respect isthere to follow them.”

One captain spoke up. “I’ll follow yours to hell if you asked me Simon.”

“I appreciate that George, but I cannot give all the orders. We know there are smugglers

out here as well as some hostile planets. There are still ships that will attack ours. Until planets know we mean no harm to them, they may fire first and ask questions later. Our

military has caused us to have many enemies. That problem we must solve as well. So be

ready for talk and offer ideas freely.”

This for his captains was very different from the past. Now they were to participate in

planning to solve problems. To choosing who would lead and they would be expected to

make good decisions. The fleet’s ships had never worked in groups before. A five-ship

group with shields and weapons was a formidable enemy. Knowing that Peace 1 couldget to them in a few hours or days was a nice feeling as well. This was the first time they

could remember operating like a fleet should. They had been taught in school how shipswere better fighting together than on their own. But that had not been allowed before.

At lunch the next day things were pretty informal. It was a nice time for general

discussion. But once the meeting started everyone knew just who was in charge. “Nowmen please advise me of problems you see?”

The list was not new to Simon. As each came up Daniel wrote it on the board. This listedabout fourteen problems.

“Now for answers as you see them?”

Daniel wrote the answers suggested out beside the problem.

“Now the hard question is, if we solve those problems using the answers you gave, what

will happen?”

This stumped them.

“What I am asking is what result will likely happen for each answer to a problem? If I

have too many turkeys and kill one, then don’t gut it or clean the feathers off and just letin lay there the bird will start to rot.”

Now the idea dawned on them. “In looking at it that way we have some very badanswers. They will cause many other problems for us.”

“George you get an A for that one. We need to look further down the line than before.

You see a ship you think is a smuggler, but before we just shot it. That was our orders.



Now we must know it is a smuggler stop it and arrest the crew on board. But if you get

on the ship and they are doing legal business they must be freed with apologies. Give

them some fresh food to say sorry. Build a better reputation among the ships out here.Explain the change and the start of the Federation. Ask them to report any problems to

you and if you can you will help them.”

This was so different for them some wondered if they could do this? “I am not sure about

trusting them enough to try it that way.”

“Look you have no choice now. They are humans and we do not kill human’s period. I

am sending to each ship five robot troopers. They will board any ships stopped. They can

enlarge their force fields to protect the shuttle carrying them. You can be assured they will

not be nice to anyone who tries to kill them.”

“I like the idea of using troopers rather than humans.”

“Lets clear that up also. These robots are living organisms just like you are. They are alife form. They have a DNA brain that is smarter than you are. But they also have more

skills than you do. I could use nothing but robots to command ships and they wouldfollow the orders I give. Now if you wish to keep your command then you had better get

to know and listen to the troopers. They will help you stay safe.”

This was a real order and they knew it. “OK boss we will follow that order.”

“George your getting very smart. The issue here is the captain was always right even

when he was wrong. That no longer holds true. If each one of you will take one of thosesmall books in the center of the table that is your command responsibility. I will live by

that as well as you. Each of your ships computers has been programmed for those orders.

If you order any act prohibited by those orders the computer will refuse to obey andreport it to me at once. If I step out of line it will be reported to the counsel for me to be

recalled.”

Now the change really sunk in. “What I see here is we are responsible for rebuilding the

reputation of our Federation. We play by rules that are the same for all of us.”

“That is how I see our part to play. We must be the image of our people for others to see.If I have questions I will ask the counsel for advice. This book was read and approved by

them for all of us. There is not one person sitting here that will ever be in a position to do

what the military did to my father. Our job is not fighting wars, but preventing them. Wemust help any human group that needs us or asks for help. It matters not if I like them or

not. That is the way Jackson would do it and we will also.”

Here the men knew this was final. “Well boss new times new ways.”

“Now I have something I need your advice on. This ship has the medical technology to

extend your lives to around eight to nine hundred years. I am considering whether to offer



this to you and your crews. That is a very long time to live. It cannot be offered on our

planets or it would cause food shortages and land shortages. After talking with the

counsel they said they had no objections to our using this technology. Your ships are largeenough for crews to have families on board. So you need to go back and discuss this with

your crews and see what they think?”

“Is that really possible?”

Daniel took this one. “It is real I have seen it on our planets as everyone lives that long.Your year is three hundred and eighty five days and a day is twenty-five hours. So it will

work out to those years for you.”

It was truly a difficult decision for them. “I intend to use this technology. When I marry Iwill put my family through the machine. It takes just a couple of minute’s time. It is my

desire to have a family and live with them out here in space. But the counsel has decided

they should not use this technology. Our appointments are for life as long as we follow

the rules approved. No counsel can change that, as it is now a computer instruction onevery planet and ship. It would provide for a long-term solution for our fleet. Our orders

will stay constant without changes by each new counsel. That book you now have spellsout the exact orders we are to live by. As we bring new planets to the Federation they will

also have seats on the counsel.”

This was a very deep discussion. Most had not seen this big change coming. “Just for discussion, say someone can’t live with these new rules. They would rather just go back

to their home planet. What happens to them?”

“They must decide now if that is the case. The spaceport platforms have been made

available to me for a prison or living quarters for any who have extended their lives. All

shuttlecraft have been scrapped. So if you don’t want to be living on one of those platforms for many years make the decision now.”

Here a couple of captains stood. “We would like to return to our home planets. This is notthe life for us.”

Two security force members came in and escorted them out of the room.

“Any others here feel that way?”

There was a good amount of discussion around the table. “Nope boss we like it just fine.”

“Are there two very good first officers who could fill those spots?”

Three men raised their hands. “Gentlemen I will place a robot captain in charge for now.

Send them your best young officers who can accept our mission. Let them work with

them and train them. The best will get the job. But they must be willing to accept the

longer life span. I want long term crews out here and we need to out live the politicians.”



George liked the idea. “Boss we have picked four of us to command your five ship

groups. Here is our list of recommended commanders.”

Simon looked at the list and George was one. “OK I accept this suggestion. Now George

you get the two ships with the robot captains for training. They will follow your orders tothe letter. I will have observers coming around to run inspections and just watch ship

operations. Your people need to know this. Stay sharp and ship shape, then there will be

no problems. We all need to be aware of the image we pass on to our crews.”

The meeting broke up with many staying to talk with friends. Daniel stood beside Simon

and talked about the way this had played out. He had been surprised that two had decided

to leave.

“It was no shock to me at all Daniel. The two that left I was pushing to make a decision.

They both were appointed by the military. Neither man was an able captain. But I had to

let them make the decision.”

“Well they did that. Our security troops saw them unload their gear and stopped themfrom removing ships materials. Weapons were taken and they were sent to the counsel for

a decision. We did forward a document they each had with orders from the leader. So

each is now in jail with their fellow officers.”

That did not surprise Simon at all. “They were the spies for the commander. But once he

tried to blow their ship up they ran. Had he not done that they would have tried to kill

me.”

“Today that is no longer possible. On this ship your safe from anyone.”

“How is that my friend?”

“The computer has every space and room but your home it watches. In this meeting if anyone had tried to kill you they would never have made it work. The computer can stun

anyone in an observed space. Then the security people come and get them. The ships that

Alpha builds are not like that. But this was made here and it is.”

“Well I am not worried about the rest of the captains at all. We all were in school together

and in the space school as well. We have known each other for years.”

“You now have a space school here. Your people will be taught command as they grow to

an age for that. But someone must have some children in the space corps.”

“It will be hard for us to meet girls and marry for a time yet. Many planets we will not be

welcome on for a few years. Our military pulled some very dirty tricks. The fifteen

planets of the Federation we will not see often. So without some long distance

relationships it would be very hard to find the right girl.”



“Yes Simon I will do that. Now we need to talk a little. Most computers on ships or a

planet have a name and are called by that. I also am able to present an image for you totalk with. Most humans find that more comfortable.”

“Could I see that image?”

The image of a beautiful lady was now in front of him. “This is how I see myself. Now

what would you like to name me?”

“You remind me of an aunt I had called Angel. How will that work?”

“I like the name and it will work fine. Now when we talk I can sit here and discussanything with you.”

“That would be pleasant. But what do you think or know about the three young ladies?”

“I checked them out and all three are from good families. The twelve year old is so smart

she is bored. The fourteen year old is not ready for going on in school. She has found no boy she likes either. The fifteen year old is very popular, but she has no one she cares

about. Boys in general bore her. All three will likely marry older men. They at their age

are far more mature than the rest of their group.”

“How did you get all that data?”

“I am connected to the planet computers. What they know I know. My job here is to protect you and make sure your happy. So I would never allow you to fall for someone

who would treat you badly. I reply to much e-mail for you. But some you needed to see.

All mail from boys I handle and many from girls. But if they are bright and attractivethen you can respond.”

“How did you come up with the three before I even read them?”

“A good guess on that. Actually I picked five and checked them all.”

“What two did I miss?”

“They were both sixteen and very smart. Look at your screen and I’ll show you.”

Both pictures came up. “The first is someone I knew as a six year old. Their father is a

member of the counsel. That would never be a good match for me. The second just did

not seem honest in her writing.”

“Well the six year old and her father now do not get along. She hates politics and would

like him out of it. At the young age of eleven she took over the house and ran it for her

brothers and sisters. Their mother died at that time and of course her father was in prison.



She and her brother ran the family business until her father’s release. Now he wants her

to continue to run it and the house. She is ready to run away. The second girl is very

unsure about herself. That came out in her mail. She also had to give up being a child tohelp run her family. Her mother was killed by the military and her father arrested. He is

now back home and she just wants out.”

“Well we will see if they respond to my return e-mail. I did not get into a very open offer

for a long term relationship with any of them. If they really have an interest in

communicating we will see.”



Chapter 24

Coming Home

Jackson was ready for this day. He had enough of being gone and was ready to settle

down. The fact that the government city on Alpha 6 was open and running pleased him.He met John and Jack in Jack’s office.

“Welcome home Jackson I am please you handled this as quickly as you did.” John wasshaking his hand.

Jack was sitting and waiting for the shoe to drop.

“Well I am also glad to be back. Now I just want to build my farm and relax. I have had

enough of adventure for any man.” Jackson was very straightforward here.

John looked at Jackson and was sure the man was done. “I am sorry to hear that Jackson.It had been my hope you would serve as an ambassador to the new universe for us.”

“They need no ambassador from us. The many planets will be years forming the type

Federation we have here. I improved their smaller ships and left the one we took from

Joel for them. It has an outstanding young admiral and he will make the difference for

them. Simon is as good as any man here. He is watching over the twenty-six worlds wereclaimed. They will get the help they need as they are ready for it.”

Jack knew Jackson had left these worlds better off than before. “I accept your decision.But I also have a request for you. Would you be willing to build that farm on Alpha 7 and

also manage the planet for me?”

This was an interesting offer. “Yes, I think I would enjoy that Jack. It should be less work

than managing a fleet. But how much room would I have on the planet?”

“You will over see the settling of it and how it is structured. Plan ways for it to provide

the recreation for its people and attract them from other planets.”

John saw he was loosing his battle. “Look Jack you have my people doing their best touse your resorts now. Your entertainment area is killing my clubs now. How much more

of our business do you want?”

Jackson was laughing now. “All of it John. Jack said when he started this project he was

going to make these the best place to live and play. He has done a very good job from

what I have seen. Now if you want the people back make changes to get them.”

John knew he was out numbered now. “You two are going to be hard to beat at this

game.”



“But we are willing to share with you. I have given you plans to every resort we have

built.” Jack was ready to defend his work now.

“You have at that Jack and I was very pleased. But you need the time and income right

now. I have some plans for a few years from now that will bring some of that business

back. But right now the people from NOVA are covering the losses. We are also sellingthe Starships to the Federation and making good money for them. The money is being put

into the ten planets accounts. So when 8-10 open they will already have assets.”

This was good news for Jack and Jackson. “Well I don’t want hurt feelings here. But we

have eight new winter resorts opening this winter,”

“Good I will take a cottage for the entire winter for my family at the best one.”

“John you have one there anyway. I built a large lodge for all board members and it has

two large apartments one for you and one for me. Some board meetings can happen there

and allow the families to have some fun. That seemed like the right thing to do. But wewill have to use snow cats to get to the ski lifts.”

“Sounds good to me Jack. Now I’ll let the two of you workout your plans. Thank you

Jackson for the great job you did.”

“Well boss I left Daniel at his request to help Simon with the fleet. He said if they neededour help he knew the way home and would come get us. I also left about a quarter of our

robot troops to help the different planets to mature. Each of the twenty-six has five

thousand and the fifteen in the Federation has that many each. I left Simon five thousandfor his use.”

“All as it should have been done. That will protect those planets for many years. I assumeyou left the children well off?”

“Yes they have hospitals and schools. The robots are teaching them to farm and growlivestock. Simon has promised to keep a close watch on them and step in if they need

help. But it was his ships that freed them. He will one day offer them the longer life

spans. But I left it to him as to when. For most planets there they are close to being over

populated. So he is also looking for new worlds to move people to.”

Here Jack knew that the longer life spans were just not possible. “I am OK with that

Jackson. When most of the land is taken, longer lives will cause wars and biter fighting.But if Simon is as good as you think he will find new planets for humans. If not Daniel

will show him how to make them.”

Now Jack headed home to spend time with the family. He never went a day without

Meeting Anne at school and walking with her to the transport plate. They got home and

spent time together each day. Nights belonged to Kate and they were greatly enjoyed.



For the new universe life would be very different and controlled far from before. It was

now held to its own planet for each civilization. No possibility of a war between planets

or people on them. Simon was building a far different universe from the one Alpha wasliving in.

the god project deep space adventure 4

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