Attempt to block it? Since when, didn't Mary NOT have ther power to block anything?
"Can you tell where it is emanating from?" Derrick asked almost afraid of the answer.
"The signal seems to be coming from the direction of the Delcron galaxy." Mary replied.
Derrick nodded he'd been afraid that was where it was from. "Allow it, though, you are having trouble keeping the signal out?"
"Sire, this is no ordinary signal. It contains brain waves, plus it is backed by a substantial amount of broadcast power." Mary informed Derrick.
Shit Derrick thought, these bugs were starting to seriously piss him off. "Keep working on blocking it, no need just letting them in without permission."
"Open sire," Mary replied.
"Ssssoo the great human ruler hassss power after all. Though you are the firsssst to block ussss, you won't lassst long. Your antiquated machine will sssssoon be nothing. We will crussssh it, we... what isssss happening?" The Cregon voice asked.
"You should do far more research before you insult a living machine." Snapped Mary's voice.
"This is not over! We will..." The Cregon started then the sounds of explosions then nothing.
Derrick had a smirk on his face as Mary appeared. "So, mind letting me in on the secret?" Derrick asked when he saw the look of satisfaction on Mary's face.
"Nothing much sire, it was a simple thing to over load their systems. I'm sure they lost a lot of equipment judging by the size of the explosions I am detecting on their planet." Mary replied nonchalantly.
A wide grin broke out on Derrick's face, so he guessed the old adage was true. Never piss a woman off, by insulting what she is most proud of. Good thing she was on his side Derrick thought.
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Hartwell tried his best not to grimace each time he looked in on Lucie. He had enough to do without worrying about her.
The commander, had sent him all that had been gathered about the Cregons. The commander seemed to be at his wits end coming up with a plan that didn't include complete genocide of the Cregons.
The only problem he was having was this bonding that Bee had mentioned. Then of course was the fact that not once but twice his sister had passed out. Though, the second time was entirely his fault, well, he felt it was his fault.
He had been at it a few hours when he got an urgent call from the commander. "Please tell me you have something." Derrick's irritated voice stated.
Releasing a sigh Hartwell looked up at Derrick's holo-gram. "I'm afraid not sir, with all that's been going on I have only had 'bout two hour to look over the data. As of yet, the only thing I have noticed, is that when they they seem to always use a type of swarming attack. Reminds me of bees and ants, they prevail with numbers more than strength."
Derrick was nodding his head, "I had noticed the same type of thing. It is difficult to defend against, especially when they seem to have an endless, replacement army for those that are destroyed."
"That's the thing sir," Hartwell said. "At the onset of our last battle the numbers didn't matter as long as they were swarmed together. Remember? We were picking them apart before they could separate. Might I suggest that we keep with that strategy 'til something better might be found." Bee said something a moment later as she was staring at the screen. "Hang on a second sir. What was that Bee?"
"I...I did not wish to interfere with you, talking to the beas... the emperor. I just noticed something while you were watching the battle." Bee almost whispered her head and eyes down.
This of course, peaked the curiosity of both Derrick and Hartwell. "Please speak up," Derrick's holo-gram said.
"Well lord sirs, it seems to me that you were lucky. Had the enemy had only a little more shield power the battle would not have been as it was. Had you attack them here," she pointed to the middle of the column. "Also this point," here she pointed to the far end of the column. "It would have caused far more confusion among them."
Derrick and Hartwell were nodding, though they both were a little skeptical. "You know this for a fact?" Derrick asked.
Bee dropped her head and voice lower, "my people used it quite a lot. We would uncover at all three points, catching them by surprise. The confusion usually caused them to destroy far more of themselves than we actually did."
A very large smile came to Derrick's lips, yes he thought. Quite a few that were destroyed had crashed into those behind. Hmmm, if they were going both directions it would work very well.
"This idea has serious merit," Derrick said making Bee's mouth drop open in surprise. "Though we do not have the cloak that your people have."
"Lord sir," Bee said, "I have seen how fast your ships can move, going through the evil blinking eye. It seems that you could be there, long before they can react, disappearing before they could fire on you."
Both men looked at each other then at a still head bowed Bee. "See?" Derrick said, "I told you they were accustomed to battle. Always battle ready, told you she could be of help. Now, aren't you glad I suggested it?" A smirking Derrick said.
Hartwell tensed up about to retort loudly to Derrick when he saw Bee start to inch away. Taking a deep breath, he shook his head calming.
To say that Derrick was surprised was an understatement. "By god! you have to marry this female. I have never seen you exercise the control that you just did. Personally, I find it refreshing, I..."
Through clenched teeth Hartwell whispered in harsh tones, "look sir, don't push it!" Looking over to Bee he saw that she was inching away faster.
Derrick followed Hartwell's gaze, shocked when he saw Bee trying to hide herself. Taking a deep cleansing breath, Hartwell felt almost all the anger leave his body.
"I am sorry Bee, I sometimes forget just how afraid you are. I did not mean to add to it." Hartwell said as he extended his hand to Bee. Tentively she grasp it staring into Hartwell's eyes. With a little nod she crept out of hiding, a small smile starting to dominate her lips.
"I am sorry lord sir, I was hardly ever allowed in the command area. It was expressly forbidden for females to be there. The penalty is almost always death, since this is an unwanted condition we avoid it at all costs." A slightly trembling Bee stated.
It took all of Hartwell's willpower to not lose his temper. The last thing he needed right now, was Bee to be hiding the whole time they were out here.
To say Derrick was still in shock about Hartwell's control, plus his restraint was an understatement. He didn't know if there was something airborne about the female or it was just Hartwell. All he knew was, this new Hartwell was a breath of fresh air.
"I leave it to you Admiral. I still have this dinner with our possible new allies to plan. The security alone is a nightmare as is Mary keeping the Cregons out. Though after what she did, we might not have to worry about it for a bit." Derrick said as he recalled all that Mary had done and reported.
"That does sound good, though knowing our luck, those damn bugs have several back-ups. Never seems to be as easy as it appears, does it commander?" Hartwell said.
"No Admiral, it never is or does, at least not in our case. How is your sister? I haven't had a chance to check on her." Derrick said changing subjects.
"All you have to do is remember the terror of the bio-beds to guess. Though, she has stopped most of her complaints since I talked to her about them." Hartwell said.
Both men shuddered a bit remembering their own time in them.
_______________________________________________
Duke Risen was laughing as his ship started to lift-off from the planet where the small colony of stranded Cregons were.
Finally, everything ready he reached for the controls when the ship shuddered. What the hell he thought. Bringing up a view of outside he saw that the soldiers that were left were firing on him!
Damnit! Though they didn't really have much that could hurt the ship, there was still a chance. Pressing several switches, a whirring noise announced that his weapons were opening.
Even when the soldiers saw them, they continued to fire. Now completely pissed off, the Duke opened fire almost continually for a few minutes. When the dust and smoke cleared, the Duke laughed. There was hardly anything left except body parts all over the place. Patting the weapons panel the Duke nodded his head, first class energy weapons.
