Chapter 92

Henry sat in the command chair of the small ship. It was not much larger than a simple shuttle. Both Mom and Bennechi were present to help power the craft. Its construction was aimed more at gaining stealth and speed than anything else. A great many small probes masquerading as asteroids had been assembled and modified. The new crystals also had the ability to be opaque to the sensors of this kind. A census of the system had a hundred and forty three vessels now operational or being worked on.

The small ceramic spheres were now made again and had a crystal in them making the small field that made them invisible. When at least three times more spheres than targets were made, they were propelled toward the ships. The power used was very low and their speed would slow as they approached their objectives. Small computers inside the spheres would try to place themselves in small crannies so when antimatter inside each of the spheres detonated the energy would do a great deal of damage. This was all low tech or the various sensors on the warships would detect this kind of attack.

The spheres had been going out for three days now. The idea was to have them come from all over the system and all reach their destinations at the same time. Their slow speed would not mark them as a danger and thus would not be destroyed. Two more days were needed to have all the mines reach their targets. The Fassoot ships would move from time to time but it was hoped that the computers would have enough targets to do the job without waste or survivors.

Three destroyers kept a perimeter detail but their random courses were analysed and computed by Mom. We needed to get close enough that we could get some of the antimatter into a vulnerable position. What the charge was able to accomplish would be dependant on how much antimatter met how much matter, and how close to the ship it was able to get. Shields were not usually held at maximum when in this situation because it interfered with the sensitivity of the sensors.

The other capital ships in the system had no such carefully laid out course and thus we could not tell where they would be. With good timing I hoped to lure them where I wanted.

The hulks of the three battleships were targeted with even larger charges because I did not want any survivors if possible even if they cost me a working computer.

The three battleships got three small visitors. A simple probe went deep into each and at the same time started to transmit data out of the system. This brought security, which also happened to be the large ships dealing with repair and system security. When they got close to see within the framework of the gigantic ships they were obliged to slow down. Debris was scattered throughout the system and now some pieces of rock moved in among the engines of each ship. This happened throughout the system as best as we could make it. All at the same time every piece of antimatter found an equal sized portion of matter. The combined mass was instantly converted to energy and sub atomic particles.

Every one of the ships around the hulks were destroyed along with the wrecks themselves. The smaller ships could not take that kind of force and died. The three on the outer perimeter were hit by our mines. One blew up while another was seriously damaged. The last though was only partially crippled.

It was madder than a hornet and I had sensors placed all over the system to see what their response would be. Data was stored because we could not afford to have it traced back to us. It took a half-day but soon the calls to the less damaged ship were heeded. It went to the aid of the next least damaged vessel to assist in recovery and repair. This is what I was waiting for and I again reached out with my mind and formed two gigantic tubes and placed them on the ships.

My mental efforts were detected. I worked now frantically because I could feel the attack building. Already my mind was giving me pain that discouraged me from doing more. I knew it would not stop until I died or was captured. As quick as I could, I smashed the two ships together. The shock was enough for them to momentarily stop their attack. The tubes now went inside breaches in their hull and the full force again was directed at each other. The two ships now blew up when their power source as well as their accumulators discharged.

Even before the fireball finished expanding I was attacked again but this time it was different. The sources were dispersed and each was weak or not in sync with the others. My tubes went out again and I held each of the small ships and burnt a hole through their hull. It took eleven instances of this reply to stop all of the pain.

Probes now went into the system to search for life. Here I was not going to rescue any of them. I stayed till I was exhausted dealing with the wounded. I felt good that I at least killed them quickly and as humanely as possible.

Probes had been disappearing on the planet. This could only be the Fassoot but they had not tried to flee or attack. Even though I was tired, more of the probes went to where their brethren had ceased functioning. I found a small ship hidden in a large cave. Checking the data I found that the ship had shot the probe because of its disturbance of the atmosphere. It then had made a dash for cover. An additional probe had been downed when it too got close.

Reaching through the atmosphere I found the hull and shot it out of the cave and into space. Much less energy was used or it would damage large areas of the unprotected planet. Well beyond the planet I cut the small ship in two. It now had no life in it.

The cave was investigated and no Fassoot life signs were found. Mom and Bennechi continued to monitor the situation while I slept.

When I woke up after a few hours I said, "Mom, what have you found?"

"There are no further signs of Fassoot life. I think we were very lucky to catch the vast majority of them on ships and not on the surface of the planet. The Tandra base has not been completely destroyed but there is none of that life either. Even the ova and sperm have been disintegrated. The computer is damaged but not completely destroyed."

I said, "Show me the computer." I was given a view of a neat hole in the hatch and very little damage beyond. The AI crystal had been removed and was just in a metallic mesh bag close to where it had been extracted.

Probes did not work that well in a computer and I knew I had to take a look for myself. Mom and Bennechi cautioned me but this too had to be done. When I got to the surface I found destruction all around. Tandra bodies and body parts were all over. I saw no indications of Fassoot casualties or even their damaged equipment. With the level of Tandra technology there may have not been any problems with the Fassoot just walking in and doing anything they wished and with impunity.

Mom's probes were everywhere and everywhere I saw death. This was a more progressive base and had what I guessed to be three thousand individuals. Some areas Mom warned me against viewing and I wisely agreed with her. A base this size would have a considerable number of children and infants.

When I got into the computer I moved directly to the AI crystal. The mesh bag was strong and not even secured but it took a considerable effort to even open the bag. I knew the Fassoot were physically strong and this was one of the reminders.

The AI crystal was reinserted and Mom transmitted the Imperial override by way of a probe at my side. In coming minutes the computer was interrogated. The ease of the Fassoot attack was seen first hand. The estimates of the speed of the ships were not to be believed by the computer and more and more readings had been taken. The estimate was 22,000 lights per day and this was deep in the system. Only with Mom, Bennechi and I working together, could we beat this and then not do it by much. The defences to this system were swept aside as if they didn't exist. The Tandra did put up a good fight but could do little to protect them selves from such a threat.

Mom tried to show only pertinent data but the three Fassoot that had entered the computer were not present. A small ship had dropped them off but had not had a chance to pick them up. The probes were mostly useless in this environment but the computer and AI could do whatever searches were necessary. There were no Fassoot in the computer or within range of whatever surviving sensors the computer had.

There was only one other place they could be and we were completely unprotected there. I gave immediate orders and in a few minutes I was decked out like an ancient samurai one more time. I did not know of any high tech weapons that would work in the maze but I was also sure that if any existed they would be in the many hands of the Fassoot.

Warnings of what might be found in the maze were passed to all of the AI family and I immediately went in. Once in the maze, I could feel a threat in three directions. This looked like the group had split up. The damage they could cause now would take years to repair but if I were dead then the repair would take a considerably longer time.

What seemed like a few minutes I came on one of the squat figures as it peered at one of the computers that were exposed and fully in the maze. I did not give it a chance to react but it turned towards me, sensing my approach. It brought something up in its hand and my sword slashed down severing one of the hands. The shock through my weapon told me that its body was very dense.

The sword reversed direction and came up and cut into the trunk of the Fassoot. The other hand continued to work as if disregarding its injuries and again the sword removed that appendage. An attack on my mind now occurred but one last slash of the sword removed the head. Even then the attack took a moment to completely stop.

The enemy was now approaching because they were well able to communicate in this realm. I just stepped to one side as something came close to me. It was the discharge of one of the hand weapons used by the Fassoot. The only escape was to push into the wall of the maze.

In seconds the Fassoot was in pursuit. I had changed course so I was at right angles to my first direction. My mind was working overtime trying to find an escape. More guessing had to be done and I changed course two more times before coming to the first intrusion into the maze wall. Just turning the corner to one side was the foot of my pursuer.

I tried to dampen my excited thoughts ran after this being. As I got only a metre away it started to turn. I used both the long and the short sword to cut it up quickly. Stabbing didn't seem to do much harm and only paring off body parts did this being seem to react.

The head seemed to work best if lopped off but even that did not end this hardy life form. They seemed to have much in common with a chicken.

When it stopped, I kicked the weapons away and removed the small hands for good measure.

I left quickly and waited before entering the maze proper. I could detect nothing specific but I knew the last Fassoot was close and possibly waiting to ambush me.

Mom was called, "Mind speak very loud and I will jump out. It may help."

She didn't object or caution me but immediately my mind rang with very loud thoughts from what I thought were the entire AI family. I staggered but thrust myself out of the wall and found the Fassoot a very short distance away. Its arms came around me. I was strong but this being was much stronger. Its mass was so great that I could do little to throw it anywhere.

The long sword fell but I had the short sword still in my hand. I could not use any of them though. My chest was starting to collapse and I knew that soon my strengthened bones would break. I could only think of the sword under my feet and used my PK to pick it up clumsily and get it to slash one of the mighty arms killing me.

I could not even see the blade but the picture in my mind gave me just enough information to bring the blade down with all of my mental might. I felt a searing pain in my back but the hold on me suddenly slackened especially in my right. The last major Fassoot hand came up with a hand weapon and the sword was able to remove it just in time.

I was very weak from the handling and the wound but in a last ditch will to live the sward flew and the Fassoot head fell to the floor.

Instead of thinking of the alien I held onto the portion of my back and used the PK ability to get me to the computer. My mind was groggy but I was able to part the veil enough to enter. I then just passed out.

Something was wrong and I needed to fix it or I would die. My eyes came open and I found myself in a medical tank. My quick breath hurt my lungs because I was immersed in liquid. There was enough oxygen in my system and I stopped the reflex to breathe. "Mom, are you there?"

I could not hear her but I did get a response. An AI replied to me, "Is there something you would like my Emperor?"

"Only a bit of information to start. Where am I, and where is Mom?" I asked an unfamiliar AI.

"You are in the Phottus system. I have read your mind or at least those portions that were open to me. I know who Mom is, but I do not know where she is. You just came into our computer and collapsed. You were put into medical after your identity crystal was read."

"Who knows that I came from an area behind the computer?"

"Seventeen Tandra saw you coming from the computer. After your memory was read, those people went into segregation."

"Good, I think the secret needs to be kept a bit longer. Give me a map of where I am in relation to the rest of the galaxy."

I looked at the map and saw that I was about thirty six hundred light years from my last position. I got control of many of the sensors and looked about the base. Nearly twenty nine thousand Tandra populated it. Ships were being built but they were mainly small. A look at inventory showed that there were a great many more Tandra and they were all on ships. They had gone to other Tandra systems and it looked like they were working hard at putting up a good defence. From the state of the yards it was seen that they had been doing this for a few years

"Who are you fighting now?"

"Nobody, my Emperor. We are just following your existing orders and getting ready for the Samutz and the Thonas that your representative informed us about."

"What representative?"

"Captain Matthew Buchanan, my Emperor."

This did give me a chuckle. I soon found that he had been through here almost seventeen years ago on his trip home. He had spread more than the good word. It might have saved my life with the quick action. The fact that I corresponded to Matthew's command might have been the only reason I was not just put into stasis. If that happened they would wait for someone to claim my body and nobody even knew where I was.

I found out to that I had slashed seven of my own ribs and punctured one of my lungs. The time spent in the tank so far was two Earth days and about a half of a day remained. There was nothing I could do to contact either my biological or AI family so I just used my mind to direct a fabricator to make some small ships that would be useful for scouts and for high-speed transit. Crystals were brought to the tank and I was able to do a few but they were not close enough. I brought them into the tank one at a time and they really started to glow. It was still much easier to do this work in the maze.

Another portion of my mind worked on what assets we had in this area of the galaxy. At the moment there were close to a thousand systems including a handful of other races that were just being protected by the local Tandra bases.

When the time came to get out of the tank, I had to expel all the liquid from my lungs but a few transmitters continued to furnish me with oxygen. I dressed in a common Tandra suit and then sat by myself as I ravenously ate a large meal. This was all done in privacy though there was a rumour about something special happening in medical.

I was sleepy but it would be better to continue with two tasks. Personnel were banned from certain areas for the first time. In a moment, I made it to the computer. I was presented with long spools of substrate, which I took into the maze. The first time in I called Mom with my mind and happily got her reply. She did convey happiness in her voice and it felt good to be back. I gave her a short synopsis and began to roll out the spools of substrate. I had not made this type of connection far into the maze yet. I was happy to see that she had cleaned up two of the bodies.

I stopped where I had the second fight and then found the body parts as I left them. I dragged them into the maze till it was complete. The hand weapon intrigued me but now was not the time to work on them. The spools did not quite make it to Lazarus but that entity provided some that would complete this portion of the communications highway.

Mom immediately worked on my benefactor but she was already under imperial protocol for seventeen years previously.

Mom, I found, had continued to impersonate me to the family till I was proved dead or found my way back. The Alliance might not fall apart, but my family might have trouble running it till some of the Fassoot came this way to take it from us.

Back at my starting point I continued to lay new spools to the abandoned base at the very fringe of the galaxy closest to the Canis Major Galaxy. One large crystal had been sent to Lazarus and I went back and retrieved it. I walked back and purified it as I moved. I had to pause for a few minutes to finish the job while still in the maze. The linkage to this computer had already been completed and only one or possibly two things needed to be done.

I placed the crystal and stood back as it integrated with the computer. This took a longer than usual but when it was done the quality of the AI was many times improved. There was one last thing to do, "You do not have a name and I think all people should have one that is not a string of numbers. Do you like the name Phoebe?"

"I like the name my Emperor."

"Well call me Henry now that we are introduced. The title is only to impress others."

"Yes, Henry."

One more crystal was retrieved and this went to the world I now called 'Land's End' because of its distance from the main sequence of stars but also its proximity to Canis Major.

Before I temporarily left this section and Phoebe, the seventeen witnesses were taken to medical and that portion of their mind blanked off. I could have it removed but I thought this would be better for them. This would put more pressure on Phoebe but she was much more intelligent now to handle the problems.

When I walked out of the computer in the system the Fassoot had attacked, I found that Mom had worked hard to keep most of the better portions of the destroyed or damaged ships from drifting away. Since the AI on the planet's surface had no real duties to perform for biologicals, it could use all of its resources to find out some of the secrets of the Fassoot technology. To do some of this I made another ship that would be more of its eyes and ears and in this case hands too.

Fassoot technology if small enough was sent through the maze to those ships that could deliver it for us.

Mom, Bennechi, and I pushed hard in their smaller ship and we made it to the Phottus system and Phoebe in just a day and a half. We made it through the defences so fast that they didn't have time to activate. We were on the surface of the planet before anybody noticed we had arrived except Phoebe herself.

I made this entrance to let the other Tandra know that I could do this. It would also give a reason for the seventeen people with a blank spot in their memories to have a justification for the procedure to have happened.

Two destroyers and a new battleship were already in the system. Many other large ships were coming too and I had an important job for them.

The biological administrator was all beside herself with my arrival and was to be honest, quite flustered. I talked in private for a few minutes then she seemed to relax. She went with me to the battleship and waited outside as I hooked the ship up to Mom after she assured that the ship would not spill the beans about what exactly I was doing. I brought predictor crystals and improved the propulsion system so it would bypass the Tandra that normally pushed this ship.

By the time the AI completed her job, the two destroyers were starting their own treatment to the same upgrade. Diplomatic protocols really suffered as new ships came into the system and I immediately went to them to do the same improvements.

I had to stay two weeks doing everything necessary. Some of our videophones were put on some ships after having been shipped through the maze. They went out on the fast ships to the thousand Tandra bases in this area. With a bit of bamboozling the 1093 worlds would get the radios then supposedly have the unit incorporated into the delicate circuits of the computer. The computers would then be able to communicate with the rest of the worlds. They already had this ability but it was just a way of justifying it to the Tandra.

We left Phottus with six battleships and many smaller ships in their bays. Six days later through our combined thrust, we were at the site of the Tandra base's destruction and the annihilation of the Fassoot task force.

The Fassoot shuttle computer and ship parts were recovered and I now worked full time on trying to find a way into the simpler computer. Some were physical which used the matter transmitter crystals and some were through the ports trying to interface with the machine.

The crystals did not work well. It was as if the shield was thicker than the range of crystal. Mom telecast what was happening as she had other projects so Tandra and other races on our system could learn. Mom said, "Admiral Buchanan's people found a possible solution. They suggest that you use one of the dimensional mines to shear off a portion of the computer so you can gain access."

"That sounds like a workable idea. Give his people my thanks."

I started to think on the best way to proceed with this idea and the others started to do our own repairs to the wrecks. Our own computers were used in this instance. This worked but the speed was not nearly as great as what it should be. The Fassoot computer did something that allowed even more speed and I had no idea what it was.

My own experiment should not be conducted on the planet. I took a range of various sized mines and went into a large open area of space. This time I took a battleship because of the strength of its shields. It held the first mine in position at the end of its tractors and the shuttle computer in another group.

The first mine was the lowest power we had but it did nothing. I want through all six sizes till the strongest sheared a wall off the computer. The shield had collapsed and the armour removed but the shield had come back. More of the largest mines were fabricated and it wasn't till the fourth try that we must have damaged the shield generation circuit.

I could now see why the computer was so heavy. I had once carried a computer in my hands while using my mind to warp all five dimensions to make it fit. This allowed me to get it through a small opening into its new home. The Fassoot computer sprang open as if it was foam expanding to fill a large cavity. In doing so there must have been a lot of damage because this was not done the way it should be.

The real work now began because the computer had to be deciphered. Clouds of probes were released and many of the AIs in the galaxy now worked to see what they could find while sorting through this damaged machine. Some things were obvious though. There were far less crystals and the majority of those we found were of the new variety we had just come across.

From my own perspective I found the computer very difficult to figure out. It was made by a group of aliens that must think altogether differently than Tandra or Humans. Some things looked efficient while others did not. Since their technology was further advanced than ours, I was not going to discount anything yet. The new crystals could mean that some components were made to work in more than five dimensions. What these did in three, four, or five dimensions was probably not the same in a sixth or more.

In the next few hours we found another similar computer in a damaged ship. Again our largest mine was used on it but this time the piece to be thrown someplace else was taken at right angles to the piece we already had. Probes went to this new portion just after the mine had sheared a portion off.

If this were done enough times it was much more likely that we would be able to work around the damage we caused and find the fundamental workings of the Fassoot computer. Some of the components were removed to be investigated how they worked in more than three dimensions.

The time spent examining the portions that were brought to me was more than just exhausting. It reminded me of a dog that had to sniff out drugs. Its nose worked so hard that it was the same as a very long run. I may not have moved far but I certainly was fatigued.

When I was about to leave the large lab set up in one of the boat bays I found a sudden cessation of noise and a great many mental exclamations. When my mind quested out I found that I had visitors. The transporters moved me to the point closest and I saw two very beautiful women walking purposely to where I was. They stopped in mid stride and then turned to approach me.

I walked close and stopped a metre away and formally bowed. "My ladies, you do me honour."

Taylar who should have known better the meaning of protocol rushed in and hugged me to her. Ingrid came close and just waited her turn. I kissed Taylar and said, "I didn't expect to see you here." Turning to Ingrid I pulled her to me with my other arm and said, "You both, are a very welcome sight."

My fatigue was momentarily forgotten as I showed them what I had found. They must have been in the little relative class ships for weeks to get here. When I had talked to them as they flew here they had made it appear that they were back in Defren. I was a little put out too at the subterfuge but I was even guiltier of that than they were.

They had just arrived and very curious. They had been following all the updates and suggesting avenues to work on as most of the viewing public were now doing. This, I was told was the equivalent of an interactive mini series to find out about the invaders from our next-door galaxy. Even though they were keeping tabs on their own affairs, and handling the family business of running the empire they had their own input.

Ingrid said, "This technology you have found has stirred up everybody on our network. Mom has offered prizes or awards to the people that come up with useful suggestions. The grand prize I heard was the chance to meet you in a large gathering of other winners. Taylar and I decided to cheat and get to take some of your time and help you too."

I raised my eyebrows. They may help but they were also very distracting to me. We had a meal with the officers of this battleship as the work continued to find out the secrets of the Fassoot. This meal had all the trappings of another formal occasions but it was not to be helped I guess.

Though the girls were not tired they went to bed with me to keep me company. I replied to their thoughtfulness by making slow tender love to each of them, mindful that they were each carrying my children. Ingrid wanted her wife to go first and Taylar agreed. I worked from her ears to her neck then caressed the breasts that I wanted to feed our child. She had not had me for a considerable time and came quite forcefully with just this.

I called Ingrid over and she now felt more of involved by working on Taylar's other breast. I just stayed just a moment and then went south at a slow pace with my lips and small nibbles to show Taylar where I was going.

Her long clit was standing proudly waiting for attention but I just came close. She moaned verbally as I continued down her legs. I changed position and then picked up her left leg and kissed the sensitive skin on the inner thigh and ran my tongue along the fine hairs. Her hands came out to grasp me but Ingrid held her back and protected me.

My lips continued their journey down to her foot and kissed the sole and then each of her toes. Moving over to the other leg I did everything one more time but in reverse. When I kissed under the knee her body shook with another orgasm and Ingrid had a difficult time holding her in place. She shook violently as I continued my voyage.

At the juncture of her legs I continued to harass my poor victim by ignoring the clits and just did what I could to get her as high as possible without that little bit extra she needed. My kissed went to her abdomen and she fought again to push my head back to where it belonged Again Ingrid did what she could. My fingers though traced around the small clits and pushed her lips further apart. Her legs were wide but now she strained even harder to get as wide as possible.