TEMPUS TWO CHAPTER NINE
Both the man of science and the man of action live always at the edge of mystery, surrounded by it.
J. Robert Oppenheimer
The Séadhna arrived at the Reticulan Home World. There were thirty ships in orbit.
“General Eelt I understand you have a Science Academy on the surface.”
“Yes First Leader.”
“I want them loaded onto a ship and brought out to me. No warriors on board.”
“Why.”
“Are you questioning me? I want them here in ten minutes. Don’t make me angry?”
“Understood First Leader.”
“General, Assemble All ships and Warriors on the surface, I want to inspect them in person. Now.” He yelled at his Lizard second.
“Cristian, the ships are breaking orbit.”
“Thanks, Watcher.”
“A single ship has appeared off the port bow.”
“Tuseer any warriors on board?”
“No, just Academy members.”
“Sargent Major.”
“On my way, Cristian.”
“An Otter has boarded the Reticulan ship.”
“Let’s take another Otter to the surface Watcher.”
“Tiny, Alfred, Callahan, Lucy, Ethel and an old school E series on treads boarded the Otter. They landed in the centre of the circle of ships and troops.”
“General.”
“First Leader.”
“Show me the troops.”
Cristian Walked in front of the General. He was followed by Tiny, who had his mean look on. Then the muscle-bound twins, followed by Lucy and Ethel. At the rear was the former Gracie. Ready to spin her minis and play music.
He motioned his entourage to wait by the ship. This amazed the Lizard contingent.
The General asked about Tuseer.
“She is polishing my boots on the ship, General” Cristian said louder than normal.
“This brought some laughter. Except from one Lizard standing near the First Leader. Cristian drew his sword in one fast movement. He left the Lizard with a deep surgical cut across his cheek.
“If I didn’t need you to die fighting my enemies, your head would be resting on your boots. Do you understand me, warrior?”
“Yes First Leader.”
“Your blood is on my sword, you will join my guard. Go to them by my ship.” almost yelling the words angry.
“Yes First Leader.”
The General talked quietly to him. “Nicely done First Leader, these warriors will fight for you.”
The rest of the contingent looked at him in wonder.
“You will all die honourably fighting my enemies, do you understand?”
The response was a resounding “Yes First Leader.”
“General, you will join me aboard my ship.”
“The warrior’s First Leader?”
“They will wait here until we return, in formation.”
The Otter lifted off the surface, as did the thirty Ships. The new guard member and the General were placed in restraints, their weapons taken from them.
“General, this was a precaution. When your anger has subsided, we will talk.”
“What is your name, warrior?”
“My name is Speck.”
“You did not laugh about Tuseer.”
“She was my intended.”
“I thought as much. Will she be happy to see you?”
“Yes, and I her.”
“General, I did not come here to enslave your people. I came to release them.”
“What are you saying?”
“I came here to offer your people independence.”
“By taking our ships.”
“Those are my ships. I took them in battle, then I returned ownership to the Gray who gave them to me. They were never your ships.”
“This much is true.”
“If I release your restraints what will you do, General?”
“I will keep my oath I swore to be your right hand.”
“And you Speck, should I have killed you on the surface?”
“No, First Leader, what you have done is Honourable.”
“Release them.”
“What will you do with the ship’s First Leader.”
“Look out the viewport?”
“What is that?”
“That is the ship you left for me.”
“The Gray have updated and rebuilt it.”
“The same will be done with the other ships. They are already on their way.”
“What about our Science Academy?”
“What have you done with them?”
“Tuseer is over there right now talking to them.”
“They will be given the opportunity to join the Alliance. Tuseer has already joined, she is the science officer on the new ship. I apologize for the ruse Speck and for the cut on your face, it was necessary.”
“I understand First Leader. Most would have killed me where I stood.”
“It was suggested that I do that. by your intended.” With that, they boarded a new white ship.
“General, I would suggest that you make no quick movements. Even the women here are highly trained as warriors.”
“Take us in.”
“Speck, what are you doing here?” asked the science officer now back on board.
“Tu seer The first Leader spared me when I looked at him the wrong way.”
“Cristian, how did you know?”
“I made a comment about you polishing my boots, he didn’t laugh. I left him with a good scar though.”
“I like the scar First Leader,” Tuseer said smiling while looking it over.
“Tuseer report.”
“The entire Science Academy has joined the Alliance. Eighty five members. Did you want to address them they are waiting to meet you.”
“Yes. General, Speck, and Tuseer please join me.”
“Watcher, I need to speak Reticulan.”
“Thanks.”
To others walking by while Cristian spoke. It sounded like a bunch of clicks and whirring noises. To the Reticulans it sounded like this:
“Welcome new members of the Alliance. You have been given the opportunity to join in a fight against a race of beings that destroy and enslave everything in their path. The ships that you saw leave here are on their way to be refitted. This ship was once one of them. We will have need of many people to man those ships. We need science officers, Pilots, engineers and much more. We will provide you with the training you need to fulfill those jobs. You will be treated as equals, as part of the crew.”
The new members were happy about this bit of news, but knew nothing of clapping.
“As you already know, Tuseer is the Science officer aboard this ship and the first Reticulan to join the Alliance. She can better answer the questions you may have.”
“General Eelt come with me, we have a few things to discuss.”
“Your warriors have the opportunity to join the Alliance.”
“If they do not, First Leader. Will you kill them?”
“I would rather not General your race has the opportunity to grow past the thirst and become part of the fight. Or they can stay on the surface and kill each other.”
“They are not ready for this First Leader.”
“I am not so sure. I have met some that can see past the thirst. Perhaps they will become the new Reticulans. What about you General, can you see past the thirst?”
“Yes.”
“What about those on the surface? Are there any others?”
“First Leader, the members of the Science Academy were the ones who have beaten the thirst you have them.”
“What will you do, return or join the Alliance?”
“I have no other choice, I must return to my warriors.”
“You must grant us one final thing First Leader.”
“What is that General?”
“You must give us a quick, clean death.”
“What are you saying? You can’t mean.”
“Yes, you must not leave anything an enemy can use against you. You must release us. The people you have will carry on our race.”
Cristian knew deep inside the General was right. He did not want to do this.
“Lucy, Ethel, Callahan, take our guest back down to the surface, land a long way from the crowds.”
“Understood.”
“Speck and Tuseer. I need a moment in private.”
“The General has asked me to end all the lives on your planet. He said that the people here need to carry on your race.”
“Cristian he is right, we need to give them a quick death,” said Speck.
“First Leader, do you need me to do this?”
“No Tuseer I will do this.”
“Captain, I need you to stand down, I will be taking command. I need the bridge cleared, no questions.”
“Right away Cristian.”
“Tuseer and Speck to the Bridge.”
“Gracie, I need you on the bridge.”
The four were on the bridge alone.
“Broadcast this event to the Science Academy members as well. Gracie.”
“The General of the Reticulan people has requested that they be given a quick clean death for all on their homeworld. He has asked that the remainder of the Reticulan people carry on the race and start again. It is with the deepest regret that I will grant this request.”
“Tuseer I will take the weapons station.”
Cristian remembered a short video he had watched in another time-line. Where the man responsible for atomic weapons said the following words. Cristian said the words out loud
“Now I have become death, the destroyer of worlds.”
Cristian launched a scorcher at the planet. In a few moments, the entire atmosphere turned into a huge blue flame, then the entire planet was black.
“First Leader, there are no survivors.”
“Thank you Tuseer. Stand down.”
“I am going to my Cabin.”
“Captain, the bridge is yours.”
“So much death Watcher,” said Cristian.
Lorelei joined him in the cabin with his daughter.
“Cristian, that could not have been easy for you.”
“It really wasn’t Lorelei.”
“You did what needed to be done as always, there is no one that believes any different.”
“I just eliminated an entire race.”
“No, you didn’t, the best part of that race survives. They admire what you did for their people.”
“You have saved many and will save many more Husband.”