Russell was just preparing to enter his ship’s landing window on Earth. ADAM came close the Russell and spoke “we were correct to assume they sent a message, while on of my men held Kla Na Suleg to sedate him, his emotions uncovered his thoughts for me Russell. The transmission was incomplete but Suleg’s confidence he will be rescued or at least avenged is great. He believes this attack was a fluke, an accident of ill fortune. He is positive his race will receive the message and come to his aid,” said ADAM.
“Can we do anything to delay them ADAM?” Russell asked.
“Perhaps we could arrange a patrol of your system frontier Russell, give ourselves and early warning system,” ADAM said. “But best of all would be to draw their attention to some other place. Their closest colony world is only twenty light years away Russell, an attack there would cause much confusion, and since Suleg’s Sphere was in exile for failing against the Fomalhauts, the Shapers would respond to his message sluggishly if at all. His own position in the Shaper leadership is shaky, he has failed in his mission to Fomalhaut six (as his father did before him) and he has called (home) to Vega for assistance several times. To the Shapers themselves this is considered less than noble behavior for a war commander,” said ADAM. “Taken along with his family’s decline in popularity and the huge losses in the Fomalhaut campaigns, nearly fifty percent of the fleet of Spheres (twenty in his father’s attacks and sixty in his own force), his confidence may be self delusion at best. If we lead the attacks away from Earth, we should be able to gain much time and some allies before the main Shaper forces arrive.”
“That’s commonsense enough for me ADAM,” Russell said. “What do we do with our Vegan prisoners in the meantime though?”
“Put them in Doctor Chambers care of course and find out what will work against them biologically,” answered ADAM.
“Agreed,” said Russell, “but, I have an idea as well, before the main attack comes we need to capture one of the Spheres intact.” This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.
“That is quite possible Russell, since we are not helpless during time displacement, we could get one of these ships from the race who built them, before the Shapers destroy their world. But we need those diversions first, going to the star in Andromeda will take time and Earth and her colonies are only lightly defended as yet.” ADAM explained.
As soon as Avenger landed on the pad next to Chamber’s compound, Russell could see that the genetics expert had been busy, the original buildings had been temporary structures, now replaced by huge metal and concrete dormitories, six more landing pads were in place as well as the two used before by Avenger and Defender. Defender rested on the pad next to Russell’s craft, a steady stream of RACE troops were boarding her as he watched. Chambers himself came down to meet them with Jeff Calan and Debra Carlin following, Russell hugged his lovely wife tightly and excused himself to return to their quarters. ADAM, Chambers and Calan went over the plans Russell and ADAM had sketched out. Chambers informed ADAM the first crèche of Deneb juveniles would be emerging that very afternoon. Chairman Hughes was at Luna Base still but would holophone later to congratulate the troops. ADAM led Chambers and Jeff to the storage bay where the Panome slept and then to the stasis vault where the other Panuit and Panor prisoners were held. He pointed out the shortcomings of the sleep gas to Doctor Chambers, who promised to rectify it now that he had genuine Vegans to test it on. As ADAM and Chambers talked Jeff went around the ship greeting the warriors and getting the names of the casualties. Every man lost was to be resurrected in the crèche as soon as possible, this first army was to be ‘retired’ to the colony world near Alpha Centauri, as soon as Earth forces could take it over. They would go into an advanced education phase now, learning everything needed to survive on the alien world and to progress rapidly into a productive, self-sustaining economy. Chairman Hughes was adamant about paying the RACE’s for services rendered and expanding humanity into the universe. The reward of a new Earth was extended to the ACE troops also, the mascots were welcome to join the immigrants and populate the new planet. Interestingly enough, one of three of the RACE’s who fought on Mars took another option, they approved a new clone of themselves to live their retired life for them (wife and children included), and enlisted for the duration of the Human-Shaper war. Chairman Hughes ordered these veteran RACE’s spread throughout the fleet of Avenge class warships. Their experience in fighting Shaper ground forces was invaluable to their units.