Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 FTL II

   By Timm Copyright (c) 2005,2006 All rights reserved.  No use by pay
sites allowed.  All other uses require written permission from the authors.
Do not repost.

   While this story is indeed a 'stand alone' story; it is recommended that
you first read FTL, in which the Flowsman family is introduced.

   Chapter 1: The Journey

   Jim had just finished saying "Engage", when Annette tapped the
preprogrammed virtual 'execute' button on her LCD monitor.

   It took just over 2 shakes, before the Warp Coil generated the field
around the 90-foot length of the orbiting ship.  On board, it was as though
nothing had happened.  The anti-grav generator was synched to the warp
coil. It compensated for the sudden burst in acceleration, as if it were an
inertial damper.  As crude as it was, it worked well enough to keep them
from becoming paint on the wall behind them.

   They accelerated to warp 7 in just 3 shakes.  The ships flat panel
plasma display screen was being used as a view screen.  The scene was
reminiscent of that space cowboy TV show from the late 1960's.

   Jim thought for a moment, and then said, "Gene, what have you done to my
ideas?"

   Annette and Jennifer laughed for a moment at the reference to their
grandfather.  It was an ongoing joke in the family.

   Annette said, "I seem to remember you called him Ray, way back when we
first met you."

   Jim replied, "Ray?  I thought I said 'Rod something-or-other'."

   "You said Ray," Jennifer said.  "I don't know how you could get Ray out
of my maiden name."

   "Hey, Roddenberry is still my last name!  At least until they get that
stupid law changed," Annette said.

   "Sorry, my loves.  I should have waited until I could legally marry you
both at the same time," Jim replied.

   "Oh, you're so sweet," Annette said, "but we had to do something after
the cellular regeneration took place."

   "Yes, you are correct.  It would have been rather difficult for me to
conduct business as an octogenarian, when my body was that of a twenty-one
year old man."

   "I like you even better like this."

   "Yes, he does have a commanding presence," Annette said.

   "Hum...  Yes," Jennifer replied.  "And he is looking more and more like
a Captain every day."

   "Ok, Ok.  That's enough," Jim said.  "I can't take anymore of the
references.  It's bad enough that the kids watch the reruns all the time.
Why did you have to get them to name the ship Enterprise?"

   "That's DVD's, love, not reruns," Jennifer said.

   Annette added, "Well, at least you aren't the first captain with the
name Jim to fly a space ship called Enterprise."

   "Is that what did it?"

   "No," Jennifer said with a smile.  "It was you and your raised eyebrow
that influenced that other actor, that did it."

   "Well, at least I approved of the cool logic of that alien."

   "Is that why we sometimes catch you watching the DVD's with the kids?"
Annette asked.

   "How can I avoid it?" he said.  "It's either that, or sit and watch that
'companion' junk."

   "I like that stuff, I grew up on it."

   "Well, it could have been worse," Jim said.

   "Yes, it could have been," Jennifer said.  "I could have been forced to
perform calculus at the age of seven, like you have done to our kids."

   Jim looked her in the face for a long moment, before he raised just one
eyebrow.

   The kids choose that moment to run back into the bridge area.  They had
decided to play their favorite game, 'Hunt the Bug-eyed Monsters', and they
just had to see if Dad would play it with them.  Jim had taught them the
game after a trip to Disney World.  He had gotten the idea from one of the
rides there.  He also loved to poke fun at the big-eyed space cadets.  Thus
he named the game 'Hunt the Bug-eyed Monsters'.

   Jim looked over his children.  Leah was the oldest at 10.  She was only
a month older than Jason, who was also 10.  Jim then looked into 8-year-old
Amber's eyes and then to Wendy, who also 8, but three days younger.  The
youngest were Tim and John, at the age of 7.  The wives had called a halt
to more kids, after they were born within seconds of each other.  Jim
remembered that it was awfully hard to run from room to room at the time,
but at least they were in the same hospital.

   Jim said, "Yes, of course we can play." He looked at his wives and
added, "The women have the bridge."

   He was out the door, and quickly into the ship's living area.  When he
settled down on a couch, all of the kids found seats around him.  They
started up their imaginary space ship, and headed out on their hunt.  Jim
thought wistfully, that he wished this ship were as big as the TV
Enterprise was supposed to have been.  Right now, they could use all that
room.

   'And,' he thought, 'a halo deck to play this game on.  Lord, the kids
could get into that.'

   Everything was going normally in the game, and then Jim threw the kids a
curve.

   "Scanners are down, Jason.  Look into it."

   Jason said, "Aye-Aye, Captain.  I will get them fixed straight away."

   Leah said, "We should just pulse the warp's coil wave out the navigation
radar array.  That would give us a long range picture."

   Jim stopped dead in his tracks at hearing this.

   'Damn,' he thought.

   Just now he wished he had one of those communicator thingies, to use to
call the wives.

   "Did you suggest that for the game, or for the ship?" Jim asked.

   "Both."

   "How would that work for the real ship?"

   Leah went into a lengthy explanation, which Jason eventually interrupted
by announcing, "I am a miracle worker!  The scanners are fixed!"

   The game resumed, and the 7 of them destroyed hundreds of imaginary bug
eyed monsters in the next couple of hours.



   Later, back on the bridge of the ship, Jim turned to his daughter.

   "Leah, will you please explain to your mothers and I, your idea for a
long range sensor array?"

   "Of course, Daddy."

   Leah spent the next two hours explaining how she believed one of the
wave forms generated in the warp's core field, could be redirected so that
it worked much like sonar.  She explained that the data returns would
penetrate, and pass though objects, and the partial returns would have
different values for different materials or things that were encountered.
The best part would be that it would function at an unknown, but very large
multiple of their maximum warp speed.  The mothers went bonkers, and Jim
just glowed with pride.

   Jason said, "Cool!  If that works, we can work on the 'flux capacitor',
next."

   "Flux Capacitor?" Jim asked.

   "Oh, who cares about time travel?" Leah said flippantly.

   Jim did not understand the reference.  He had, after all, been far too
engrossed in his work for the first 80 years of his life.  Normally, he
didn't even to watch TV, much less go to movies.

   Annette said, "Well, I don't think we should monkey with that; though I
would love to hear your theories on that subject.  In the meantime, it
should only take a few hours to set up a test of Leah's scanner theory."

   "Yes," Jennifer said, "I would feel better if we had something like that
available to us."

   "Leah, help your mothers set that up."

   "What about me?" Jason asked.

   "You have to stay here and be the helmsman, so that I have someone to
give orders to," Jim said.

   Jason was beaming.  He was actually going to get to sit at the
navigation console.

   The ship's bridge was set up similarly to the bridge on the original TV
version's Enterprise.  Navigation was to the right of the command chair. 
Radar, and the optical navigation telescope station, was to the left.  The
communications console was behind the command chair.

   He thought about it, and decided there was room for science and
engineering stations to be placed in here, also.

   He thought about it some more, and realized that other than giving
orders, there really wasn't anything for him to do.  He could watch the
light-shift effect on the main screen, but the view was not all that
special.

   'Gene, you got that part all wrong,' Jim thought to himself.  Then he
added, 'Good!  I hope you where wrong about a lot of things.  I would hate
to be the first to make 'first contact'.  Unless, of course, it's with the
Vulcan's.' A smile played across his face.

   Leah and her moms had completed rerouting an optical cable feed to the
navigation-radar unit.  The input could be switched between standard radar,
and the new waveform array.  All that was left to do was to test it and
calibrate it, so the computer could identify the 'returns' (reflections
from an object encountered by the pulsed waveform).

   Leah was very excited to have thought up something that her parents were
so interested in.  She was happy at the fact that she was out here in space
with them.

   "All ready for the test, Captain," she said.

   Jim looked at his daughter, and smiled a sheepish like grin.  He
couldn't bring himself to correct her.  He was, technically, the captain;
even if he was unsure as to how that came to be.

   Jim said, "Begin the test, then."

   Leah touched the virtual switch on the flat panel display screen before
her.  The electronic signal took a fraction of a second to reach the
waveform generator, which sent out waveform pulses.  The returns came back
after a few moments.  Leah and her moms then stared at the screen.

   Jim said, "Well, if you would display the output to the main screen, we
could all see it."

   "Feeling left out, Dear?" Annette asked.

   "No," Jim said, "but the plasma display's resolution has to be better
than what's on that LCD monitor."

   "Transferring the display to main screen, now," Leah said.

   Leah grinned.  She knew that with the many cross-connections, all the
feeds could be transferred to any display screen on the bridge.

   The main display screen came to life.  Oddly, it looked like the
previous radar view, with one exception.  There was a 'spot' ahead of them,
and to the left.

   "Ok.  What is that, over there?" he asked, pointing.

   Annette said, "Analyzing the data now.  We will be passing it in
about... 2 minutes."

   "Can we stop and analyze it?" Leah asked.  "I could calibrate the
returns better, if I knew its composition."

   Jim said, "What do you think it is?"

   Leah replied, "Ahh...  It's an asteroid, or a planetoid.  Hopefully,
it's a planetoid.  I can adjust the 'returns' readings better, with more
elements to key on."

   "Jason, do you know how to take us out of warp?"

   "Yes Dad; I mean, Captain," he said, and smiled at his dad.

   Jim let it go, saying, "And then stop us as close to that object as you
can get."

   Jason waited, and then tapped the screen at what he thought was close.
He smiled.  He was close, all right.  He had stopped at just
15,000-kilometers from the planetoid!

   Leah switched back to normal radar mode at her workstation, and the
computer absorbed the data.  Jennifer sat down next to her oldest son, and
fiddled with the console in front of her.  The optical telescope was aimed
right at the object.  Unfortunately, despite their close proximity to the
object, she couldn't see anything.  There simply wasn't enough light.  The
planetoid looked like a roundish black blanket, floating in front of a
portion of the stars around them.

   Annette, looking at the radar image from over Leah's shoulder, said,
"Looks like a planetoid, to me."

   "I can't see it on optical," Jennifer complained.  "It's just too dark
out there."

   Leah piped up with, "Oh!  I got an idea!"

   She switched the display back to waveform pulses, and changed the wave
oscillation to sub-light speed.  The nav-radar display lit up with a vivid
brilliance.  It was aimed right at the planetoid, and was at its highest
gain.

   "Wow!" Jennifer said, blinking.  "That's bright."

   She turned from the display on the navigation screen, to the main
display screen.  It was a planetoid all right, and it was a big one.

   "Well, that thing should give you good calibration data," Jim said.

   The ship was stationary for nearly two hours as the family adjusted the
settings of the 'returns' program, the computer I/Os, and the radar system.


   Leah said, "Well, Dad, I have 22 elements identified by the returns.  I
have one unidentified one, but it's so small."

   Annette, "I think it may be organic.  Its return is not of the same
density as any of the solid material around it."

   Jim asked, "Organic?  Where is it?"

   Leah, "It is deep in the head of that monster."

   Jim frowned, saying, "I take it that means we will not be able to get at
it."

   Leah surged forward.

   Annette, "No!  We didn't put phasers on this thing.  If we had we could
just cut the thing into pieces."

   "We have the wave return pattern," Leah said.  "It's just a matter of
finding one that matches this one, at some point in the future, so we can
identify it."

   "Sorry honey, I was just getting too excited and disappointed, all at
once," Jim said.  "To find life, or any evidence of life, this far away
from a star system is significant.  Unfortunately, all our time went into
making the drive work, and building the ship.  I guess we didn't really
plan on exploring like this."

   Jason said, "Dad, we may just have more capabilities than you realize.
But unfortunately, the moms are right.  No phasers, and no transporter."

   Jim smiled and said, "Do you have a direction for that hunk of rock?"

   Leah said, "Standby."

   Jim waited.

   Leah "Looks like its heading towards Orion.  Speed is just over 45,000
KPS.  Size roughly 22 Kilometers in diameter.  Estimated weight: 12.4
billion metric tons."

   "Ok, map it.  We may come back in the future with lasers or something,
and look and see what it is."

   "You really think Earth will ever let us use this ship again once we get
back?" Annette asked.

   Jim frowned and said, "No, there's not much chance of that."

   "What?  I mean it's our ship, not theirs!" Jason said.

   "Doesn't matter.  If the government wants it, they will take it," Jim
said.

   Leah said, "That's stupid."

   "I agree.  But it's also the way things work, back on Earth."

   Jason sighed and said, "Wish we didn't have to go back there."

   Leah joined in with, "Me, too."

   "Well, we are going to have to get food, sometime," Jim said.  "I don't
know where we can do that, without going back to Earth."

   Everyone seemed a little bummed at that remark.

   Then Jim said, "That is, unless one of you kids can come up with
replication technology in time."

   It was unfair of him, and he knew it.  He also loved to see his children
learn.  Whenever he gave them a project, regardless if it could be done or
not, the kids learned.  They were like little sponges.

   Annette whispered in his ear, "Sometimes you can be so exasperating."

   Jim whispered back, "Why?  I didn't see the scanner coming, either.  Who
knows, they could make a break-through."

   "Oh!  Oh, my!  What will you do if they do it?"

   Jim, "Well, if that happens, I guess we will have to decide at that
time."

   Annette smiled, then under her breath sang, "Something from nothing, is
something..."

   Jennifer looked at the two of them, and was wondering what it was all
about.  Then she listened to the tune, and smiled.  Jim looked at the faces
of both of his wife's and got that sinking feeling again.

   Jim said, "Navigator, resume course to Alpha Centauri."

   "Yes, Captain Dad, Sir," Jason said.

   Jason selected the targeting button and then the targeted the location
on the star chart displayed before him.  The navigation computer displayed
the heading, and Jason checked to be sure that the ship was still on that
heading.

   Jason said, "By your command..."

   Jim snickered at that one.  He always kind of liked the Cylons from that
TV show, as well.  After all, since their birth, and his new lease on life;
he had taken the time to learn just what they were doing.  He wanted to
know just what kind of entertainment their mothers were feeding the
children.

   Jim said, "Engage, then."

   With that, the ship was once again sent hurtling through space at warp
seven.

   Leah said, "The scanners are on line again.  Nothing is visible for
approximately one quarter light year in front of us."

   Well, the three parents surely had one thing to be proud of at the
moment.  Their eldest daughter had created something very useful.

   Jim thought, 'Too bad someone already had a name for it.  It would have
been really special to see what she would have called her invention.'



   Edited by TeNderLoin



   Chapter 2: Contact

   Day Two.

   Nothing unexpected happened on the second day of the trip.  The ship ran
well.  Its hydrogen fueled engines put out more than enough energy to
maintain the warp coil at full power.

   The engine's main byproduct was oxygen.  That was one detail that the
mothers had handled without involving Jim.

   Seven year old Timmy asked his dad, "What if there are aliens where we
are going?"

   Jim replied, "Well, now, I don't think we are going to have to worry
about that."

   Timmy smiled and wondered if his dad was correct.  After all, all the
shows he had seen on TV had had aliens in them.

   It was on Alpha Centauri that something was going on.

   Gate Keeper duty was one of the most prestigious of all possible jobs.
The people that manned and operated the jump gates were hailed as the best
of the best.  It was also the most boring job one could ever have.

   Prefect was in charge at the monitoring station this day.  The job was
simple.  When a jump gate was about to open, they would get 15 cycles of
warning, as the waves from the energy built up.  This signature energy
pattern, allowed them time to send the warning around the gate, and prevent
collisions in the gate opening.

   Prefect was startled by the klap, klap, klap of the alarm at his
console. He activated the warning system, notifying ships in the vicinity
that an un-scheduled jump event was incoming.

   The normal amount of time passed, and the gate did not open as expected.
He thought that to be very strange.  The klap, klap, klap, continued for
many cycles.  Still, no ship came out of the jump gate.

   Prefect directed the diagnostic software, and the station's powerful AI
computer system, to began to work and analyze the signal.

   The report came in from the AI system that it was a modified jump
signal, coming from nearly 4 light years away.

   Prefect ordered a full analysis of the wave signature, and an
explanation of the event now taking place.

   The AI system replied moments later, saying, "An unknown event, 4
light-years away, is producing what can only be described as a jump event.
Cause: unknown."
Prefect puzzled over the report for more than 10 cycles.  Then the event

suddenly ceased, and the alarms silenced.

   The station's AI reported that the event had ended.  It said that a full
analysis of the event revealed that there was a shift to the wave.

   Prefect asked for an explanation.

   "The event was not stationary.  It was moving at approximately 128 times
the speed of light," the AI reported.

   Prefect was shocked.  Then he asked, "Could it be some sort of ship
using jump technology to propel itself?"

   The AI answered, "That is the most likely of possibilities.  However, it
is not technically possible, given our current technological level."

   Prefect dispatched a report to the Centauri leaders, on the fifth
planet, of what had occurred.  Once that was done he returned to normal
operations, and puzzled over these events for the next 20 cycles.

   Klap, Klap, Klap the warning sounded again.  The AI unit reported that
the signal had returned, and that the AI unit was again analyzing it.

   Prefect requested that the source be narrowed down.

   The AI unit finally reported that analysis now showed that the event was
again moving.  It reported that the object was moving in the direction of
Centauri.  It was estimated to be approaching at 128 times the speed of
light.  The AI said the arrival in-system would be in about 20,000 cycles.
Direction to the event was given but there was no reference to any thing in
that area that could account for the anomaly.  The closest planetary system
was 2.2 light-years away from the event, and that system was a seedling
planet, covered by the 'no contact' regulations.

   They were too primitive to have come up with something like this.

   Prefect's report to home world, caused an uproar such as nothing else
ever had.  The Centauri people became concerned when they learned they
might be about to meet a new race.  A ship was coming to see them, and it
was using an unknown method of propulsion that was many mega-cycles in
advance of their own transportation system.  They had their jump
technology. It was perfect for them, and provided almost instantaneous
travel, to wherever they wanted to go.  Well, wherever there was a gate
built, anyway.

   That was the limiting factor of their abilities.  It was extremely
difficult for them to explore new territory, as jumps required 'to and
from' gates.  Finding a new planetary system, was hard to do at sub-light
speeds.  Building the first gate, necessitated the use of materials that
could not be transported via sub-light speed ships.  The materials were
just too bulky.  This meant the Centauris had to at least partially develop
a system before they could even begin to build a jump gate.  This was a
monumental task.  Still, their federation had reached out to twenty-seven
highly developed star systems and three seeded worlds.  This was a true
testament to their determination.  Of course, only the 27 developed systems
had jump gates.  The seeded planets were a separate endeavor.

   The seeded planets were 'the great experiment'.  One male and one female
were sent out to each planet.  They started their own worlds.  There was a
total rewrite of the DNA coding in their reproductive cells, and limits
were placed on the development of the children.  Mainly their mental
development was limited.  One planet was seeded low, at the limit of 10
percent.  The others where set at 25 and 50 percent.  The reason for this
was thought to be simple.  The real problem was, that after 10,000 years,
no one remembered that reason.

   For the next two days, the people of Centauri waited in what could only
be described as 'limbo'.  The only precaution taken, was to send for the
only military vessel in the Centauri's inventory.  The aged star cruiser
was originally designed at a time when fear was rampant in the federation.
Nothing had happened in so long, however, that it was the only one ever
built.  The cruiser was well armed, it had twin anti-matter torpedo
launchers mounted forward of amidships.  There was nothing that even the
brightest minds in the federation had ever come up with, that could stand
up to an anti-matter explosion.

   It took but little time and crewing to get the ship ready, so its return
to the home system was going to be close to the ETA of the alien vessel. 
With luck, the huge ship would jump into the Centauri system at nearly the
same time as the alien vessel arrived.





   Day 3,

   Leah was checking her new scanner display.  They were still 2 hours from
Alpha Centauri, and she was getting some strange readings.  She was not
sure what to make of them.  There were 12 planets in the system.  Of that,
she was sure.  The fourth, fifth, and six planets all had liquid water on
them.  But she also showed other objects all over the system.  It was odd,
she thought, that they all had pockets of air in them.  Had she had more
time to play with her new invention, she would have realized she was
looking at ships!

   Leah finally spoke, "Moms?  Dad?  I am getting some strange readings
from the sensor."

   "What does it look like?" Jim asked.

   Leah explained what she was looking at.  The idea of 3 habitable planets
was exciting to them.  The other things...  well, they didn't make sense.
The general consensus, was that they would be able to figure it out when
they got there.  Their arrival was, after all, only just under two hours
away.

   The moment finally arrived, and their ship dropped out of warp.

   The first thing that was noticed was the ring.  It was huge.

   Leah fluctuated between the radar and the scanners.  The ring was more
than a hundred miles in diameter!  It also was quite obviously not natural.

   The family stared at it in amazement.  The optical telescope was
displaying the image on the screen.  That's when it happened.

   There was a shimmering in the center of the ring, a flash of light, and
then what could only be called a ship emerged from the center.

   Jim exclaimed, "Holy Moses."

   "I think it's a Jump Gate," Annette said.

   "I think it's an extra-terrestrial space craft," Jim said.

   "I think you are both right," Jennifer said.

   "What should we do?" Amber said.

   "First contact protocol?" Jason asked.

   "I don't think we have any," Jim replied.

   "Dad, the computer has calibrated on that ship, and, and..." Leah's
voice stopped.

   "What is it pumpkin?" Jim said.

   "There are hundreds of other ships out there," Leah replied.

   "I think that maybe, since we are the ones that dropped in, we might
want to try and say 'hello'."

   "Oh, I think we are going to get a chance to do that," Jennifer said
laconically.

   "Why do you say that?" Jim asked.

   "Because," Leah said, "we are being surrounded by many of those ships I
just mentioned."

   "Maybe I should have listened when Timmy wanted to make shields," Jim
said.

   "I'm turning on the radio," Annette said.

   The family stared at the ships that were now surrounding them.  None had
come closer than 2 miles to them.  They were not getting any signals on the
radio.  Jim wondered why?

   "Let's try and say hello," he said.

   "Honey, you have the honors.  The radio is transmitting," Annette said.

   "This is the research ship Enterprise," Jim said.  "We send you our
greetings."



   Edited by TeNderLoin



   Chapter 3: Communications

   Nothing happened.  The alien craft just dropped into normal space, and
stopped.  However the waveform associated with jump technology continued to
set off alarms.

   The jump gate AI computer reported that the waveform was now isolating
its settings.  It appeared that it was being steered.  That is, that it was
being pointed at one or more of the ships at the same time.

   The Star Cruiser's Captain sat looking at the alien craft.  It was very
small.  Less than 100 ferretts in length.  He was thinking it might be some
type of probe.  He ordered a full military scan of the vessel.

   The family waited for a response, but none came.  'Now what?' was going
though everyone's mind.

   Leah shouted, "I have something."

   Everyone awaited her next statement.

   Leah said, "I have wave oscillations from the ship that just came out of
the jump gate."

   "What can you tell us?" Jim asked.

   "I think it's a hyper wave," Leah said.  "They may be trying to
communicate on some kind of faster than light system."

   "Can you copy the signal, and send a duplicate back at the ship?"

   "Yes, Dad, I think I can."

   "Well let's try it, and hope it says 'hello', back to them."

   Leah boosted the gain, and transmitted on the same frequency back at the
ship.

   All hell broke out on the Centauri cruiser!

   "Captain we are now being scanned by the most powerful signal I have
ever seen!" came the report from the sensor station.

   The Centauri Captain said, "Explain!"

   The sensor operator replied, "Sir, the scan matches our interrogation
mode, but is scanning us at 10 times the power level we use."

   The Centauri Captain was not happy to hear this.  He then asked if they
had an analysis of their own scan.  Had they gained any useful information
from their scan.

   The sensor operator reported, "I have nine beings on board, they look to
be Centauri.  There are no weapon's that can be identified.  Power source
appears to be hydrogen based.  Anti-gravatic propulsion and inertial
dampers.  The ship seems to have some other fields both surrounding it, and
running inside it, that I can't as yet identify.  However they do appear to
be jump related."

   "How much have they learned about us?" the captain asked.

   The operator said, "Most certainly everything, Sir."

   The captain did not like the sound of this.

   "Discontinue scanning, and let's see what they do."

   Leah reported, "The signal has stopped.  But I have a preliminary
analysis from our scan of that ship."

   "Tell me what you think you see, Honey."

   "I have 250 different organic signatures that I believe to be beings."

   Jim could believe that number.  The ship was big, after all.

   "Oh my," Leah said.  "I think this ship is either powered by anti-matter
or is armed with some type of anti-matter weapon."

   "Shit!  Weapons made out of anti-matter!" Jim said.

   "Let's let them know, that we know they can see us.  Open torpedo
doors," the Centauri captain said.

   "I am detecting movement on the exterior of the ship.  It looks like an
air lock is opening up, near the antimatter signature," Leah said.

   "Why do you think it's anti-matter?" Annette asked.

   "Because the matter return value is of the opposite polarity, as to what
we should be looking at."

   "Damn, I wish we had shields right now," Jim said.

   Jason said, "Your wish is my command, Dad."

   With that, he touched a virtual button on his monitor.  A powerful
gravatic field went up around the ship.  Inside the ship, gravity dropped
to less than 5 percent of normal.

   The Centauri sensor operator exclaimed, "Sir!  The ship has just
activated some kind of gravatic shielding system."

   The Centauri captain muttered a profanity that has no translation other
than 'Oh shit!'

   He braced himself, fully expecting the alien vessel to fire upon him
next.  A cycle-fraction passed, and then another.  The Captain thought more
and more.  He then decided that he couldn't beat the alien, so he thought
that maybe opening the doors was being seen as hostile.  He ordered the
torpedo doors closed.

   Leah said, "Dad, I think they see the shields.  It looks like the doors
are now closing."

   "Tell me when they are closed."

   "Love, I think they may be as scared as we are at this point," Jennifer
said.

   Jim thought that might be an overstatement, but he wondered what his
next response should be.  Should he run or should he stay put.  He then
thought that maybe if he unshielded, it might be taken as an act of
friendship.

   "Jason, drop the shield."

   "What if they fire at us?" Jason asked.

   "I think they just backed down, and are scared, like your mom says.  I
want to make a similar offer."

   "Lowering shield."

   "The aliens have turned off their shields," the Centauri sensor operator
said.

   The Centauri Captain said, "Good.  They may be just as afraid as we are,
and we provoked them.  This is a good sign as they may want to talk to us."

   "Let's see, now...  How do we communicate with them?"

   "No response to radio," Jennifer said.

   "I could transpose a message onto the signal waveform they sent."

   "What the heck, give it a try."

   "We are being scanned, again..." the Centauri Sensor Operator said. 
"No, wait, this scan is oscillating,"

   "What do you mean, oscillating?" the Captain said.

   "I think it might be an attempt at communications," the Centauri sensor
operator replied.

   It took 4 hours (or 407 cycles), for the Centauri's AI computer to make
sense of the language being oscillated at them.

   "Captain, the best translation I can come up with, is that they are
saying 'hello'.  The rest of the message seems to be a mathematical
formula," the Centauri AI said.

   "What formula?"

   "The theory of infinite possibilities."

   "Can we give the answer?"

   "We only know one of them," said the AI.  "That is the jump theorem."

   "Send it, with our own greetings of welcome."

   "I have an incoming transmission on an oscillating waveform," Leah said.
"The computer is working on the translation, now.'

   "I hope it is good news," Jim said.

   "It seems to be in English, and ..." she trailed off.

   "What, Leah?" Jim asked.

   "It says, 'hello', and then gives us the theory of the jump gate."

   "Well, that's nice of them.  Now what?" Jim said.

   "Send them our DNA code," Annette said.

   "But leave off the last two chromosomes," Jim added.

   "Why?"

   "I want to see if they respond with the correct full coding."

   The wait was far less, this time.

   "They sent back the whole DNA sequence."

   "Try sending them the theory of radio wave communication, and the design
for the radio on this ship."

   After a short pause Leah reported, "Dad, the message is going out now.





   Edited by Groand1951, and TeNderLoin



   Chapter 4: That's Odd

   "They want us to communicate at light speed?" the Centauri Captain said
incredulously.

   "They have even included the plans to make the communications system,
Sir," the sensor operator said.  "I know that sounds odd, but with a race
that can do the things this race can, perhaps they have some reason we are
unaware of, for wanting to communicate in this way."

   "Perhaps they are underestimating our technological level," the captain
said.

   The first officer spoke up for the first time.  "Sir, it is possible
that despite their advanced ship capabilities, they do not have hyper
communications as yet."

   "Perhaps," the captain agreed.  "That may be why we have never had any
contact with them before now."

   "Are we sure they are human?" the first officer wondered.

   "Sir," the sensor operator said, "as I continue to analyze the data,
they are human at the very least."

   "As long as they are not of the 'nightmare race'," the captain said with
a shudder.

   "That I am sure of.  They are not.  They are carbon based, as we are,
not the silver of the 'nightmare race'," the sensor operator said
confidently.

   "Good," the captain replied.  "That was the only other race we've had
contact with.  By the time this ship was built, they had escaped."

   "That was ten thousand mega-cycles ago," the first officer commented. 
"Are you still brooding over that?"

   "You never saw what those Gray Demons did to the livestock on Hector 4,"
the captain said.

   "Well, no, I didn't.  However, their retreat cost them most of their
ships as they passed too near the black hole."

   "Yes, and that's the only reason this ship still exists, this day.  I
would have liked to have caught up to that bunch.  I would have helped the
rest of them into that black hole," the captain said fervently.

   "Sir," the first officer said softly, "most of the people on this bridge
are not cleared for that."

   "I know.  It's a shame that the people were not told about it."

   "Sir, if you think it would help my analysis any?" queried the sensor
operator.

   "No," the captain said.  "It would have no bearing on this situation."

   The sensor operator replied, "Very good, Sir."

   "What is the next move?"

   "Forward all communications, and requests to Prime.  Let the council
decide what to do from here."

   "And what of that ship?" the first officer asked.

   "Excuse me, sirs, but I have more analysis here," the sensor operator
said.

   "Go ahead."

   "Sir, as best as the AI computer can determine from the data so far. 
The ship is called the research vessel Enterprise."

   "Anyone have any idea what 'Enterprise' is?" the captain asked.

   No one replied to this.

   "Sir, it doesn't make sense," the first officer said.  "I mean, a
research vessel?  With shielding capable of repelling an anti-matter
torpedo?"

   "Shields are not offensive weapons, First."

   "True.  But it does not make me comfortable to know that there is a ship
out there that we have no weapon against," the first officer said.

   "Sir, I don't think the alien ship has any weapons on board," the sensor
operator said.

   "Let us hope that is the case," said the first officer.

   "Send to that ship, 'stand by'.  Say that it will take a few cycles to
build the equipment," the captain said.



   On board the ship, Jim sat waiting.

   Leah was monitoring her sensors, under her mom's watchful eye.

   Timmy spoke up, saying, "I told you there would be aliens!"

   "Looks like you were right, Son," Jim said.

   "I hope they're not bug eyed monsters," Timmy added.

   "Timmmyyy," Annette said.

   Leah spoke up, "Dad, I have been running a scan of our ship in
comparison to their ships."

   "What have you found, Honey?"

   "It looks to me that the computer says the Centauri's are human."

   The shock was evident on everyone's face at this announcement.

   "Are you saying that they are humanoid?"

   "No, Dad, I am saying that they are human."

   Annette looked over the data on the display screen.  Then transferred it
to the main screen.  She looked at Leah.

   "Explain it to us," she said.

   Leah pointed out the scan wave return signatures on the screen.  Each
wave was a little different, and at the same time nearly identical.  There
were two distinct differences.  She explained that from internal scans of
the Enterprise, that differences on the other ships were the same as the
difference between males and females onboard the Enterprise.  The others
were minor differences of size and shape.  Each return was uniquely its
own, as well as almost identical.

   Jim studied the display.  There were no arguments against her data.  She
had studied it carefully, and drawn what appeared to be the correct
conclusions.

   "New message coming in," Leah said.  "It says please wait 3 cycles for
them to build the radio.  At least that's what it looks like."

   "Any idea on what a cycle is?" Jim asked.

   "Probable one planetary rotation, or one day," Jennifer said.

   "Sounds good," Jim said.  "So I guess we sit here for three days, and
wait."

   "Cool," Jason said.  "I can work on the shields some more."

   "Speaking of the shield you created," Jim said, "why did we lose our
gravity when it came on?"

   "I kind of took it all, and redirected it to repel everything from
outside of the ship."

   "So that's why we where almost weightless?"

   "Well, it was a theory I was going to ask about testing," Jason said. 
"I just kind of had the program I was working on available at the time, so
I gave it a try."

   Jim thought, 'Right, he was probably trying to do something else with
the gravatic drive.'

   "So what were you really trying to come up with?" Jim asked.

   "How did you know?"

   Jim smiled back at his son, "I didn't for sure, but you have been
claiming to be a miracle worker since we started to play the monster game."

   "Oh, ok," Jason said.  "I was trying to create a tractor beam."

   "How close to that are you?"

   "A lot closer than with the shields," Jason said with a chuckle.  "I
never intended to take away the gravity in the ship."

   "Can you add or take away gravity, or part of the gravity, from just a
portion of the ship?" Annette asked.

   "Sure, any compartment I want to do that with."

   Annette grinned, and Jennifer smiled.  The kids had ideas of floating
and/or flying around the ship.

   Jim and his wives were having slightly more passionate thoughts.

   "You want to test it?" Jason asked.

   "Yes," Jim said.  "But first, I want to know if anyone else has any
other ideas I need to know about.  I want to find out if our ship has
weapons on it."

   It was Amber and Wendy who looked sheepish at this assertion by their
dad.

   "Girrrlls?" Jim said.

   "Well...  We kind of think that if Jason can steer a beam, we can -like-
send a charged electrical current down the beam, oscillating the frequency
in the low kilohertz ranges."

   "And what do you think the effect of that would be?" Jim said, even as
his mind came up with the answer all on its own.

   "Well, it would disrupt matter at the atomic level," Wendy said.

   "I see," Jim said.  "Jason, can you steer your tractor beam like that?"

   "No problem, Dad.  But I would need a focal point on our ship to be near
a power source."

   "Dad, I have been scanning all the ships in the system," Leah said, "and
one of them has beings onboard that are not humans."

   "Which one, Honey?"

   "The one way out past the 15th planet.  It's about .02 light years from
us."

   "Why do you think they're not human?" Jim asked.

   "I have 5 life signatures on board, but they all look to be silver
based."

   "Ok, is someone watching us, or them?" Jim said.

   "Got me," Leah said.  "But all the other ships in the system are
watching us.  This one is watching the planets."

   "Why do you say that?

   "Low level x-rays are being emitted from it, and they are pointed at the
planets.  They probably don't even know we are here, yet."

   "Odd," Jim said.  "First contact?  With two different races on the same
day?"

   "Dad, it looks like they might be monitoring the race we are going to
meet."

   "Dad," Timmy said, "silver based beings would look like UFO 'gray
guys'."

   Jim had never been big on the subject of UFO's.  But he found himself
confronted with hundreds of them right now.  He pondered it for a while.

   "You're right, Timmy," he said.  "I guess we will ask the beings when we
meet them."

   "Well, if its UFO's, I don't think that they will be friendly," Timmy
said.

   Jim considered this as well.  If the UFO stories from back on Earth were
true, then Timmy could well have a point.

   "Jason?  Work with Amber and Wendy.  Make that disrupter our Number One
priority, for now."

   "You getting worried, dear?" Annette asked.

   "Oh no, not really," Jim said.  "I just had an anti-matter weapon
pointed at me a little bit ago, and had no way to respond to them.  Now I
find two races in one day, and one looks like it is spying on the other. 
What could I possibly have to worry about?"

   "Yep, that's not 'getting' worried, Annette," Jennifer said, "that's
'got', period.  I also think it's a damned good idea."







   Edited by Groand1951, and TeNderLoin





   Chapter 5: Trouble



   It was late into the first day of the Flowsman's contact when the Gray's
ship noted their arrival.  The goings on around them led them to think that
a new race was making contact with the Centauri humans.  This was not a
good thing, as the new ship did not come though the jump gate.  Then they
also took note of the arrival of the Centauri warship: Prime.  Their
conjecture was confirmed.  Why else would the only warship in the Centauri
inventory be here?  Their low level x-ray scanning system was undetectable
to the Centauri's.  It also produced a wealth of data on their enemies and
their warship.  What worried the Grays most, was the lack of information
concerning the new ship.  They could see it on the optical scanner, however
the x-ray scanner was producing nothing.

   The Gray's commander decided that this was a direct threat to them, and
that steps needed to be taken to prevent the Centauri from getting a hold
of technology like this.  He ordered a hyper wave transmission, even though
he was sure that the Centauri's would detect it.  When that was completed,
he ordered the ships powerful x-ray cannon charged.  Once trained on the
Enterprise, it would be fired.  A light speed burst of x-ray energy at this
range, should do significant damage to that ship.

   Jennifer was monitoring the new FTL scanners, when she detected the
x-ray's coming from the far ship.  She called out to Jim.

   "We will be bombarded by a significant concentration of low level
x-ray's, in eighty-five seconds.  Source seems to be the silver based life
forms."

   Jim replied, "Can we do anything about that?"

   "We don't need to" Jason replied, "The gravity well from our new shield
will absorb all of it."

   Jim, shocked, said, "New shield?  Jason you need to keep me informed. 
Now explain."

   "Sorry, Dad.  I reconfigured the energy output from the drive at mom
Annette's request, so that I could make your quarters a weightless or
weighted environment."

   "So that works, now?"

   Jason, "Yes, Dad.  Your room can now tailor gravity to any level that
you could want.  As I was installing your gravatic control panel, I
discovered that a much lower setting on the gravitational settings,
produced an almost impenetrable shield."

   "And what is your idea for this shield?" Jim asked.  He knew his son all
too well.

   Jason replied, "Basically it's a navigation shield.  It will repel solar
and other electro-magnetic radiation.  It will even deflect small objects
away from the ship."

   Jennifer, "That's wonderful."

   Jason beamed in his mothers praise.  He was, after all, still a very
young man.  Jim agreed with her, and stated his praise as well.

   Amber and Wendy piped up, "Tell him about the disrupters."

   Jim eyed his son again.  Jason pointed to the girls and spoke.

   "That was your idea, and you should be the ones to tell him."

   Amber looked into her dad's eyes and saw that he wanted her to go ahead,
so she began.

   "Dad, we found (theoretically, of course) that if we use the
communications laser as the power source, we can osculate the wave patterns
of the light, by focusing it though a gravatic lens.  This creates a low
harmonic variance, that will cause disruption to the molecular bonds of
solid objects."

   Jim was speechless for a moment.

   Annette, "Is that a disrupter or a phaser?"

   Wendy, "Disrupter, as it would only work in sunlight."

   Jim, "Do I detect a note of a possible warp speed use?"

   Amber, "Yes, Dad.  Theoretically, if we had a dilithium lens, we could
use the warp field to create an FTL beam.  It would have the same effect as
the disrupters.  It would be effective at an unknown, though long, range."

   As Jim listened to her report, he was once again was impressed with his
children's insights.  He was left with one question.

   "Where are we supposed to find dilithium?"

   Annette looked at the three stone diamond ring that was on her hand.  It
was a gift from her husband for her third child.  She also remembered her
grandfather's explanation of dilithium.  It was nothing more than a perfect
diamond.  She looked up at the discussion going on around her as Leah came
back to her station from her bathroom break.

   Annette, "Grandfather once explained to me that dilithium was nothing
more than a perfect diamond."

   This took Jim aback.  He spoke, "Are you saying that by using a diamond
for a lens we could have FTL Disrupters?"

   Jennifer, "No.  They would be phasers, not disrupters."

   Jim, "Tell me why?"

   Annette, "Disrupters work on the same principles of Newtonian law that
has held Earth back all these years."

   "I understand that, so how is this really different?" Jim asks.

   Jennifer replied, "Phasers work on the principle of an FTL wave form. 
As such, they are not limited to Newtonian laws."

   Jim, "What are you saying exactly?"

   Jim understood it better than he alluded; however, he wanted it spelled
out by someone else.  He was shocked when his 'quiet son' John spoke up.

   "Dad, it means that phasers would not disrupt solids, they would release
the energy from the atoms in the solid object."

   Jim was shocked at what little John had just said.  Direct matter to
energy conversion would be like setting off a small nuclear explosion,
wherever the phasers were focused.

   Jim asked, "Can the amount of energy released be controlled in any way?"

   Timmy spoke up, saying, "Yes, Dad.  I think that you could cause the
process to take place at a slower rate, if the oscillation on the wave form
is delivered in a time-lapsed form."

   Annette, "Are you saying that it would behave in the same visible manner
as grandpa's vision of the weapon?"

   John replied, "Oh, yes!  That's it, all right.  I have been trying to
figure it out for two years, now.  Thanks, Timmy."

   Jim, "You started working on it two years ago?  Why?"

   John, "You said we couldn't use phasers to kill the bug eyed monsters,
unless we could tell you how to make a phaser."

   Jennifer, "You were trying to make a weapon for the game?"

   John shrugged.  It was just like any seven year olds reaction, when
confronted with the truth, and they have no other response.

   The main view screen lit up like a Christmas tree just then.  The
powerful burst of light speed x-ray fire was finally colliding with the
gravatic shield that Jason had running.

   Leah shouted, "It's a 12.7 Mega-Jules x-ray burst."

   Jim paled at the number she read off.

   Jason said, "I have a 20 percent drain on the shields.  Whatever the
cause, it's draining them."

   "Source?" Jim crisply asked.

   "The ship out there with the silver based creatures on it," Leah
replied.

   "Are you saying we are being attacked?" Annette asked.

   "Shields down to 75%.  Yes.  I think we are being attacked," Jason said
excitedly.

   Jim didn't even think.  He just barked, "Full shields!  Now!"

   Strange it sounded just like in the game they played.

   Jason touched a virtual button on the display, and everyone felt a
little lighter in his or her seat.  The aurora around the ship turned to
that of a crescent shaped yellow moon.  The powerful antigravity based
shields deflected the energy from the x-ray cannon burst harmlessly away
from the ship.

   The captain of Prime stared at the scene on his monitor.  Someone was
attacking the new ship.  He watched the lightshow on the screen change as
the powerful shields on the alien vessel glowed, grew, and then disrupted
the attack.  He had seen this pattern before.  It was the favorite weapon
of the Grays, an x-ray cannon.

   It was their favorite because it killed all living beings, and left
equipment intact.

   "Sir we have detected a hyper wave transmission from .2 light-years
out-system," the Centauri cruiser's communication officer reported.

   The Captain knew it was the Grays, he just knew it.  He barked his
orders in rapid-fire succession.

   "General Quarters!  Battle speed!  Target that out-system ship, as soon
as we can get a lock on it."

   The Centauri Warship Prime was moving at just under light speed in less
then a cycle.  Its course was outbound, on the location of the intercept.
It crossed into the x-rays cannon's beam and sparks flew from the
well-shielded hull.

   Prime closed the gap as the sensor operator reported a lock on an enemy
Gray's ship.  He also noted and reported the launch of four bogies from it,
before it turned and accelerated at just over the same speed as his own
ship.

   Leah reported what her sensors were seeing, and the progress being made.
She also believed that the enemy ship would get away.

   The sensor operator aboard Prime reported the inbound objects were in
fact capacitor missiles.  There was no doubt left in the ship captain's
mind, that he was in pursuit of a Gray ship, now.  Only the Grays used an
antigravity based torpedo system, with a charged electrical capacitor
warhead.

   The sensor operator reported, "Sir, the missiles are aimed at the
newcomer's ship."

   "Can they handle four of them?"

   "Unknown, Sir.  But from what we have seen so far, I would say the
torpedoes will not get with a thousand ferretts of that ship."

   "Open a gate in front of the torpedoes," The captain ordered.

   With that order a hyper jump gate was opened far in advance of the
warship.  The four torpedoes entered the folded space and were displaced at
random somewhere in the universe.

   The Captain shouted out, "Fire two A/M torps at the Grays."

   With that order, the first two anti matter torpedoes ever fired in anger
left the bays of Prime.  They would probably never catch up to the Gray's
ship, but they should keep it on the run for a few days.

   The Gray's ship noted the failure of the x-ray cannon to have an effect
on the newcomer's ship.  They also noted that Prime was now starting to
come after them.

   They fired 4 electrically charged capacitor torpedoes at the newcomer,
and fled the area.

   They where not prepared to see their torpedoes vanish into what could
only be a jump event.  They also noted the firing of two torpedoes from
Prime.  They were the targets.  However they noted that they could outrun
them.

   They did not note what the Enterprise did next.

   At least, not until it was right in front of them.



   Leah exclaimed, "Incoming torpedoes, targeted on us!"

   "Damn it, Jason, are those disrupters ready for testing?"

   Wendy and Amber shouted, "Yes, Dad, they're ready."

   "Jason, plot a course at warp, put us in front of that ship."

   Annette looked ill.  Jennifer was not looking much better.

   John and Tim shouted, "Let's go hunting!" just as they did in the game.

   It hit Jim all at once that he and the kids had been practicing for this
day, for years.

   "Leah," Jim barked, "get a full scan on that ship!  Get all the info you
can.  Jason, full shields as we drop out of warp.  Target that ship, and
fire the disrupters as soon as you can lock on.  Also, set a return warp
path back to this point in space."

   Jason worked over the counsel at a frantic pace.  In moments, he
confirmed all was ready.

   "Engage!" Jim shouted!

   Annette, "Are you sure this will work?"

   "No," Jim said, "but all we need to do, is slow them down."

   Jennifer asked, "Slow them down?"

   "Trust me on this," Jim said.

   Enterprise dropped out of warp, 1.5 million miles ahead of the
retreating Grays.  The closure speed was fantastic.  The small point on the
view screen grew quickly.

   Jason said, "I have a lock!"

   "Fire!" Jim ordered.

   With that, a lens formed around the communications laser.  It discharged
though the lens, and the homogenized wave form of light shifted to 10.4
hertz.  It struck head on with the Gray's ship.  The strike point erupted
as it bored deeper into the ship.  It passed just below the Gray's bridge
without affecting the pressurized cabin.

   The first being it made contact with was the ships engineer.  His left
appendage burst into millions of individual atoms as the beam connected
with the ships antigravity engines.  They were disabled immediately and the
disrupter passed out the back of the ship.

   "Cease fire," Jim said.

   Jason did as ordered, and Leah reported that the Gray ship's engines
were no longer functioning.  She also said the antimatter torpedoes where
40 seconds from their target.

   "Execute warp escape, now."

   With that order, the Enterprise once again warped through space, and
left the spot at a factor of warp 7.  They dropped out of warp in their
previous position, in plenty of time to see the antimatter explosion.  It
was as if a bright sun had suddenly come into existence.  The plasma affect
from the blast lingered for over 7 seconds before collapsing in on itself.



   The Grays aboard their ship had just enough time to see the Enterprise
before the bow of their craft erupted into plasma and convulsively blew
outwards.  The engines stopped a moment later, as did gravity on board the
ship.

   The bridge crew cursed as they saw the body of the engineer, less one
limb, be expelled into space.  Power in the ship died just before the two
antimatter torpedoes hit the back of the ship.

   On board Prime, the sensor operator narrated the sudden appearance of
the Enterprise and the odd colored light that hit the nose of the Gray's
craft.  His description of the scene, that he saw while in full military
scan mode, bordered on something impossible for the minds of the Centauris
to accept.

   The Enterprise was there, fired and disabled the Grey' ship, and was
gone!  Just like that!  The description ended with the anti-matter
torpedoes' detonation.  That was plainly visible to all.

   The captain stared in disbelief.  The first office was shaking
uncontrollably in shock and dismay, at how easily the "unarmed" ship had
dispatched the Grays ship, which until now had been something out of a
nightmare.  The final kill was theirs.  However, it was plainly clear to
them that this 'Enterprise' ship could have taken them out at any time.

   The captain of the Prime watched the slow motion view of the way the
front of the Gray's ship had simply dissolved, in that strange light.

   'Our only hope, here, is to make sure they know we are not hostile,' he
thought to himself.

   He sent a message to the council requesting permission to surrender,
before the alien mistook any of the actions that had just taken place, as
being something hostile on their part.

   The response took almost as long as it did for Prime to get back into
its previous position, near the Enterprise.

   Little John said, "Wow!  That was great, Dad!  You got the monsters!"

   Annette and Jennifer looked white as ghosts.

   What happened next, was shocking.

   "Incoming message from the warship," Leah said.

   "What do they say, Honey?" Jim asked.

   Leah looked slightly perplexed.

   Jim looked her in the eye as she said...

   Edited by Groand1951and TeNderLoin



   Chapter 6: Surrender



   "They say they surrender, unconditionally," Leah said.

   Jim looked around, utterly confused by this.  No one he looked at had
anything to add.  If anything, they were even more confused than he was.

   "Maybe they just want to make sure we understand it was not them that
fired on us," Jason wondered.

   Jim said, "There is that, however they did not use any weapon but their
torpedoes.  I think we may have scared them when we used the disrupter."

   Annette was still slightly dazed because of the battle, but she added,
"You need to accept it."

   Jim asked, "Why?"

   Annette said, "We don't know their customs.  This may be their way of
welcoming us, or something."

   Jim thought in silence for a moment.

   "Dad," Leah said, "they are sending the transmission, again.  Even from
the translation, it almost looks like a plea."

   "Send: 'Surrender accepted.  The Captain of the Enterprise sends regards
as to your marksmanship.'" Jim said.  "That should make them wonder what
they have done."

   Leah said, "Message away, Dad-Captain-Sir."

   Jim could not take it any more and burst out loudly, "It's Dad, or it's
Captain, kids!  But it's not both!  And don't call me 'sir', anymore."

   It may have been a little loud, but it wasn't harsh.

   Timmy mischievously asked, "Daddy Captain, or Captain Daddy?"

   Jim moaned and shook his head.  Both wives came around at this, and
giggled at his plight.  He was going to have a hard time with them over
this issue.

   Aboard the Centauri Warship: Prime

   "The Communications AI reports that the translation is ready."

   Captain Rainer asked, "What does it say?"

   The AI stated, "They appear to have accepted the surrender, and then
they complimented you on your aim."

   "My aim?"

   "You fired two torpedoes at the Gray's ship, Sir," the First Officer
said.

   "So I did," the captain said.  He thought on it a moment and said,
"That's odd!  Why would they do that?"

   "Sir, I believe the complement may be their way of saying that the
surrender was not necessary."

   "I don't get it," Captain Rainer said.  "They are more advanced in their
technology than we are, and yet that communication sounded more like a
father telling his child that though he lost the game, he did a good job."

   "Sensors?" the First Officer asked, "do you have any idea what kind of
weapon that was, yet?"

   "Sir, I am still reviewing the data," the sensor operator reported. 
"All I can say for now, is that the point of impact displayed a total lack
of molecular integrity.  The process continued, as whatever that beam was,
passed though the Gray's ship.  It's like everything that the beam touched,
just dissolved."

   "Are you saying that the beam melted everything it touched?" Captain
Rainer said.

   The operator replied, "No, Sir.  I am saying the molecular bonding of
the ship's structure failed under the beam's influence."

   The First Officer turned white at the realization of what this alien
ship could do.

   "Send another message," Captain Rainer said.  "Say it will be two days
before the construction of the light speed communications device can be
completed."

   "Dad, another message coming in," Leah said.  "Looks like they are
saying the radio will be built in two more days."

   Jim said, "That's fine.  Tell them so.  We will wait."

   Jim had other ideas for this time.  The fact was, that the battle had
affected his libido.  In short, he was horny!  The thought of spending some
time floating around in the zero grav of his quarters with one of his
wives, was sounding really good at the moment.

   Jim said, "Well, I think it's getting to be nap time.  I know I need
one. So who wants the watch?"

   Jennifer replied, "I will do the first two hours with Jason.  Annette
can cover with Leah after that."

   Annette smiled as she led her charges to the sleeping compartments.  She
was also looking forward to the zero-G experience.

   She thought, 'Karen is so good to me...  Wait!  Where did that come
from? Her name is Jennifer!'

   Her concentration was distracted as she stepped into their private room.
She literally sailed across the room, because of the lack of gravity.  If
she had not been distracted, she would have been more prepared for it.  She
somersaulted in the air, and landed with her feet on a wall.  Jim was right
behind her, his clothing flying from his body.  He was slowly drifting
towards her.

   Annette saw her love shedding his clothing, and her mouth formed an
enormous grin.  She literally ripped her top off, and was working on her
pants when Jim wrapped his arms around her weightless, nearly nude form. 
The kiss started hotly and passionately, their tongues dancing in the
ritual of lover's sparring with each other.

   Annette was finally out of her pants when Jim's mouth moved to her neck.
She gasped, just as she always did from the touch of his lips and tongue on
her neck.  It was always a surprise to Jim, just how sensitive she was on
her neck.

   Annette wrapped her naked legs around Jim's hips, bringing her now
soaked love channel near the throbbing member between his legs.  She also
gently pushed off the wall, sending the two of them slowly towards the
center of the room, as her legs pulled Jim into the spot where she loved
him best.

   Jim's cock slid easily into the passage offered it.  She was still tight
after 3 kids, but she was also wet, far beyond normalcy.  It was at this
point that the two of them realized there was a problem.  Jim had no
leverage to hump her with.  The first time he pulled back on his hips he
would have flown off of her, if her legs had not been locked around him. 
She pulled him back inside her to try again.

   Annette had the idea that maybe she should be the one to move up and
down.  She was after all the one that was holding him in place.  Jim's
hands found her hips and he started gyrating slowly in and out.  It was not
much different than when they lay together, facing each other on their
sides.  He both had to move forward and back.  Unfortunately Annette's
movements were just the opposite, and soon he was out of her again.  This
time her legs where not locked behind Jim, he flew back way from her even
as she flew in the other direction.

   The two of them were not put off by it.  Intellectually they knew what
had happened, each of them having played over the possibilities in their
minds hundreds of times before this day.  With a light push they rejoined
each other in the center of the room.  To Jim's delighted surprise Annette
flipped over and maneuvered her face over his dick.  When she swallowed it
to the hilt, her hands wrapped around his ass.  It was a bit of heaven, out
in the heavens.

   Jim was not the type to be passive, his hands found Annette's bubble
shaped ass.  He pulled it towards his face.  Her legs moved far apart and
became wavy in their motions.  His target came into view and the aroma was
overpowering.  He had to lick it!  He plunged his tongue deep inside the
wide-open tunnel before him.  Annette let loose a soft hum, as she bobbed
her head up and down the full length of his shaft.  Jim was in double
heaven as Annette reached her first orgasm.  He had all he could do to hold
out.  He failed, much to Annette's delight.  She had been humming,
something she normally didn't do.  She then did something she also normally
didn't try.  She swallowed each shot, increasing the suction, each time.

   Jim was spent, for the moment.  Somehow he continued to lick, and soon
found himself sucking her clitoris.  His tongue was dancing in rhythm with
the sucking movements of his mouth.  Annette lost her grip as her second
orgasm exploded her being.  She was thrashing her body about with each new
lick.

   Annette took some time to recover.  She wanted him to stop.  Then again,
she could not bring herself to stop him.  The third time, she came just as
she thought she had her breath back.  The intensity was so strong, that it
defied lifetimes of experience in the past.  She thought that was an odd
thought, then her body convulsed in a full spasm of pleasure.  She was lost
in the pleasure and quickly lost track of the errant wanderings of her
mind. She clutched Jim's leg, as if to keep him from leaving.  Shortly
afterwards, she drifted off into sleep.

   Jim sensed the change in her grip, and the calming of her breath.  He
smiled when he realized that she had passed out from the pleasure.  He
kissed her clitoris as kindly as he could, and rotated Annette's sleeping
form around, so that they where once again face-to-face.  He held her close
to himself.  Even in her sleep, she responded by pulling herself to him. 
She let out a light sigh, as her legs entangled his.  Soon, Jim joined her
in a much-needed rest.

   Centauri Warship: Prime

   The Sensor Officer on the bridge of the war ship Prime, had been
fiddling with the scan return data coming in.  He had been able to
calibrate the return down to a 10-micron resolution.  Although the fine
details where missing from his composite return, he could just barely see
what was going on.

   He muttered words to the effect of, "Oh my God!  They're having sex in
zero-G."

   This got the Capitan Rainer wondering, but he kept his silence for now.

   Leah had just awakened from what was a short nap, to her.  She went to
the bridge to see if anyone wanted a break.  When she got there, Jennifer
held her finger to her mouth, telling her to be quite.  Leah looked and saw
that Jason was asleep.  She nodded her understanding, and walked over to
her mom.

   She whispered, "You look like you could use a nap as well."

   Jennifer answered, "Yes, that's true.  Do you think you and Sleepyhead
there can handle the bridge?"

   Leah smiled a knowing smile.  "Yes, I will wake him if anything
happens."

   Jennifer, "He fell asleep like that half an hour ago.  He worked so hard
on coming up with an alarm."

   "Alarm?" Leah asked.

   Jennifer, "Yes, he realized we couldn't go to red alert with out a red
light and warning sound."

   Leah giggled at the news.  She thought her brother was living up to the
reputation he always wanted: to be a 'miracle worker'.

   Jennifer left Leah in charge, and went to the adult's room.  She opened
the door to find two naked bodies floating in the room.  Both of them
entwined and sound asleep.  She noted that Annette's clothing looked to be
torn up, some.

   She thought, 'Well, that's going to be a problem.  We didn't bring any
more clean clothing along.'

   Jennifer stripped and pushed herself towards the couple.  She hooked her
arms between the sleeping couple and stuck a leg between theirs.  She
snuggled close, and joined them in their rest.

   Centauri Warship: Prime

   The bridge of the Prime shot to life, as a new signal came in.

   Communications reported that it was receiving a carrier wave on the
hyper channel.  The source was the newcomer's ship.  It was a request for a
digital computer data link up.  The stated purpose was Language
interpretation and exchange.

   Captain Rainer gave his assent.  Prime's AI computer was instantly
talking back and forth with the newcomers computer system.  The process
took just under two hours.

   The Prime's AI then reported.

   "Sir, I have completed a partial translation of the newcomers Language."

   "What did you learn in the process?" Captain Rainer asked.

   "Sir, the newcomers do not represent their race, only themselves... 
er...  and their family."

   Captain Rainer was shocked by the news.

   The First Officer asked, "Computer, what race are they from?"

   The AI replied, "The Race Of Man."

   There was more shocked silence around the bridge, as everyone wondered
what that meant.  They were themselves of the Race of Man.  So what did
this mean?

   Captain Rainer asked, "What planet did are they from?"

   The AI stated, "Sol III."

   The murmurs started at once.  Sol three was a seedling planet, a
protectorate of the Centauri Federation.  It was, in fact, one of the
planets that had had the highest limits placed on its people's intellect.

   The First Officer said, "Computer: confirm 'location of origin', for the
alien ship."

   AI, "The Flowsman family reports their planet of birth as being Sol III;
Earth, as they call it.  This has been confirmed by the navigation
computers on both ships."

   The Communications Officer said, "New message coming in, Captain Rainer.
It's a two way."

   The captain sat up straight, and ordered it be put it on the bridge
speakers.

   The voice of a young girl was heard on the bridge.

   Leah said, "Hello, can you understand what I am saying, now?"

   Captain Rainer replied, "Yes, we can hear you.  This Is Captain Rainer
of the Star Cruiser Prime, representing the Centauri Federation."

   Leah, "You have a federation?  Neat-o."

   Rainer asked then, "Are you the captain of your ship?"

   Leah giggled on the open link, "No, that would be my father.  I'm just
trying to get the computer to translate your language, now that I've
figured out how to run a carrier wave on your hyper channel."

   Captain Rainer, "You just figured that out?  I am afraid you have me
confused."

   Leah, "I am sorry, I should have waited for Dad to wake up before trying
this."

   The First Officer spoke up just then, "How old are you?  Who are you?"

   "My name is Leah.  I am 10 earth years of age, that would be equivalent
to 10.2 of your Mega cycles."

   "You are a child?" Captain Rainer asked.

   "Well, yes.  I guess that would be a correct definition."

   "So you are not in charge?" The captain said.

   "No.  Like I said, my father is."

   Rainer was feeling like he was finally on grounds he could understand.
He was the father of 239 children, and had become gifted in communicating
with the young.

   "Leah, is you father available to talk right now?"

   "Ahh...  No, he's uhhh...  sleeping."

   "Can you wake him up?"

   "I don't want to do that," Leah said.  "He's with my mothers."

   Rainer smiled at what that meant.  Children could be so open, and yet so
diplomatic, at times.

   "Ok, Leah, we can wait on that.  Could you help us to understand who you
are, and where you come from?"

   Jason's voice came on, "Leah, are you talking to them?"

   "Yes, Jason.  I got their computer to talk to our computer, and got them
to do a language extrapolation.  Their computer system is quite advanced.
It's capable of being a universal translator."

   "Ultra neat!" Jason said.  "Can it do anything else?"

   "Oh, yes," Leah said.  "It's an AI system, and it's very intelligent and
flexible."

   The Primes First officer had a sinking feeling in his gut.

   "Excuse me.  I am Captain Rainer.  May I ask who has joined our
conversation?"

   Leah said, "Forgive me, Sir.  My brother has just awakened, and was
curious about what I was doing.  Jason please meet Captain Rainer. 
Captain, this is my brother Jason."

   Jason said, "It's nice to talk with an alien.  Timmy should be here.  He
would love to talk to you."

   Rainer, "Timmy?  Is that your father's name?"

   "No.  He's our younger brother.  He was the one that thought we would
find aliens here."

   Captain Rainer asked, "He is a psychic?"

   Jason, chuckling, said, "No, he's just seven, and believes everything
his big brother says."

   The first officer was feeling really sick as his horror grew.  He just
had to ask.

   "How old are you all?" he croaked out.

   The captain gave him a cross look for jumping in with that blatant
question, but Leah provided all of the six kid's names and ages.

   "And how old are your parents?" Rainer asked.

   "Dad's ancient, but our mothers never tell us their age."

   The first officer relaxed a little at this.  Maybe the parents were the
seed parents of the planet.

   Rainer, "So, do you know what you father plans to do with us, now that
we have surrendered?"

   "Probably talk to you, and learn all he can about you," Leah said.

   Rainer, "Will he take over the Federation, and rule it?"

   Jason and Leah couldn't control their laughter at this question.  Rainer
was panic-stricken and the first officer was about loose his lunch.

   "I don't think he will do that.  He has a hard time with us calling him
'sir' and 'captain'."

   "Yes!  'Your highness' or 'lord' would probably cause him to burst a
blood vessel, or something."

   "So you are not here to take over?"

   "No.  We're just exploring.  We are the first people on Earth to ever
make use of the warp drive system."

   "Is that what you call the modified jump wave signal?"

   "No.  I think you are talking about our scanner signal, which is an
isolated wave form of the warp field core."

   "Maybe we should wait for Dad to wake up, before telling them anything
like that," Jason said.

   "You're probably right, Jason," Leah said.

   "That will be fine," Captain Rainer said.  "Please let your father know
that we would be glad to have him join us on our ship, to talk over the
terms of our surrender."

   "Terms?  I thought you surrendered unconditionally?" Leah asked.

   "I meant, to have him explain what his intentions are towards us."

   "Oh, I get it.  You want to play 'Politics' with him.  Ok.  I will tell
him.  Good by."

   With that the com link was severed.
"Computer: What is 'Politics'?"
AI, "Analysis of the word shows that poly means many, and tics refer to
a small blood sucking insect.  Therefore the word means many small blood

sucking insects."

   The First Officer lost his lunch.

   Rainer figured he would need a better definition of the word before he
would believe it was meant to express foul intent.  He was also sure that
his first officer needed to get married, and have some kids.  It would help
him become a better officer.

   Edited by TeNderLoin



   Chapter 7: Face to Face

   Jim awoke with a hard-on the likes of which he hadn't experienced, since
his first youth.  The lack of gravity was definitely having an effect on
his body.  He became aware that both his wives were holding onto him.

   Jim moved one hand to massage Annette's breast and his other to
Jennifer's.  He needed them both, and he needed them now.

   Jennifer moved first as sensation overtook her body.  She let out a low
moan in response to his touch.  Jim stepped up his efforts at this point,
and moved his mouth over her left breast.  He admired the pert nipple on
his wife's body.  Then he licked it with a gentleness that was sure to wake
her fully.

   Jennifer came awake with her husband's careful attention to her breast.
She sighed in contentment as Jim gently sucked and licked her nipple.  She
was in heaven with his mouth on her flesh.  She knew he would not stop
until she came.  So she waited.  She let the little moans escaping from her
lips, tell Jim of her pleasure.

   Annette awoke to the feeling of Jim massaging her right breast and to
the moans of her co-wife.  She smiled when she saw where Jim's mouth was.
Their husband was better at that than they were.  She decided to speed up
the process, as she could feel the hard prick pressed up against her leg.
She moved her mouth to Jennifer's right breast, and sucked it into her
mouth.

   Jennifer's eyes went wide with the added stimulation.  Her moans grew in
volume until they were loud enough to be heard throughout the ship. 
Fortunately the children had learned to ignore their noises.

   Jim felt his buttocks touch the ceiling as the three of them gently
tumbled around in weightlessness.  Their bodies were still intertwined.  He
humped his butt against the ceiling, pushing the three of them slowly
toward the center of the room.

   Jennifer came a moment later.  Her cry could have been heard over on the
ship, Prime.  That is, if sound could have traveled though space.  Jennifer
thrashed in pleasure, and lost contact with her spouses by doing so.  She
spun towards the bed and her spouses drifted towards the ceiling.  Jim's
back touched the ceiling, gently bringing the two of them to a halt, while
Jennifer literally bounced off the bed.  Slowly, she was bounced almost
straight back at the two.

   Annette giggled as Jennifer's body approached them.  Jennifer had her
legs spread wide, and was approaching with the intent of wrapping them
around Jim.

   Annette whispered in Jim's ear, and he smiled.  They switched about,
Annette moving to Jim's back.  Jim had his flagpole pointed at Jennifer's
incoming pussy.  Jennifer smiled when she realized that if the aim was
right, she was about to be impaled in space.  She shuddered in excitement.
The closing rate was slow, and the anticipation grew.  Annette decided to
push the two of them forward slightly.

   The closing rate increased, and Annette said, "Houston we are on final
approach."

   The snickers that came from the three of them only enhanced the moment.
Annette's mind calculated the distance and closing rate.  Then she started
counting.

   "In 10, 9, 8...  2, 1, contact!"

   Jennifer felt the engorrged member of her husband as it slid inside of
her.  She wrapped her legs around his butt, and pulled him in as deeply as
she could.

   "The Eagle has landed," Jennifer quipped as the pleasure in her loins
overtook her.

   Annette grabbed the arms of her co-wife and maneuvered them around Jim's
neck.  She then wrapped her arms around his chest, finding two sets of
bumps close together, one on each of her loves.  She moved her thumbs
between the two sets on each side, sending shivers of excitement into both
lovers.

   Jim's hands started to move Jennifer's hips gently, as he deliberately
moved his own in counterpoint.  He didn't want to launch his love away from
his groin.  The short movements, and stimulation of their two chests
rubbing together, worked to speed them along.  It didn't take long before
Jennifer was announcing her pleasure again.  Jim could take no more of
this, and fired a load deep in his wife's waiting womb.  The load was
unusually big, and little drops that leaked out were soon airborne and
floating around the room.

   Annette, "Wow!  Can I try that now, too?"

   Jim smiled and looked, "Anytime, my love."

   Annette, "Right, it will be an hour at least."

   Jim grinned, and Jennifer just smiled.

   Jim asked, "So who is minding the bridge?"

   The first officer aboard Prime was totally losing it.  His mind was
overloaded to the point where he was ready to break down.  He was a proud
man, and a strong man.  He had chosen a life of service to his race over
love and women.  Childless, he lacked the understanding to deal with
children.  To him, they had just surrendered to a ship full of kids.  His
mind could not take much more.  He was nearing that breaking point.

   "Comm reports a message from the council, Sir."

   "Let's hear it," Captain Rainer responded.

   The message was heard on the bridge by all.

   "To: Captain Rainer, aboard the Star Cruiser, Prime.  Centauri
Federation.
"Subject: Encounter with Alien Vessel
"The council has reviewed all data transmitted to us.  Your analysis
that the ship is loaded with humans from the planet Sol III, is shocking.
However, it does explain the childlike behavior you have encountered, to
date.  It is the council's decision that full access, and ambassadorial
status, be extended to the newcomers.  You are to treat them as you would

treat Council members.

   "Councilwoman Terri Norse is coming by shuttle, and will arrive in just
under 100 cycles from the time of this transmission.  She will be in charge
of all scientific disclosures and discoveries that will be made.

   "Council, out."

   That was just fine with the first officer.  Someone else would make the
decisions.  The Captain was not so sure.  He knew of this council member.
She was the youngest councilwoman ever to serve in that capacity.  She was
also the chief scientist for the entire Federation.

   Jim walked onto the bridge, completely naked.  He had not bothered with
his clothing.  His clothes were still floating around in his cabin
somewhere, along with Jennifer's.  Annette followed, naked, behind him.

   Leah noted his arrival and his state of dress.  She said nothing, as
nudity was common around the house.  She, herself, was only wearing the tee
shirt she usually slept in.  She wondered why she had even bothered to wear
that.

   Jason was snoring again.  Jim looked down in amusement at his son.  He
was still in his gold shirt and black pants.  Jim shook his head in
resignation at the family's heritage.

   Leah said, "Captain Dad?"

   Jim rolled his eyes but answered, "Yes, Honey?"

   "I have isolated the hyper wave signal out of the jump field generator
on that ship," Leah said.  "The ship is called the Prime, by the way."

   Jim asked, "Are you saying we can now talk with them?"

   "I kind of had to have the computers talking to each other since I did
that."

   Jim looked at his eldest...  'the feeling' was there.  He just knew
there was more to this story.

   "What else did you do?"

   Jason had awoken and soon was piping in, "It was amazing, Dad.  She was
talking to the Captain of the Prime."

   Jim asked, "What about?"

   "Well," Leah said, "they are kind of worried about what you are going to
do when you take over."

   Jim raised just one eyebrow, as he always did when confronted with
something interesting.  Annette couldn't help the laugh she let out, upon
seeing it.

   Jim asked, "So what else have you learned?"

   "Oh, the computers are sharing information back and forth, the real
limit is the slow speed of our system.  They have an AI system that works
at a speed more than 5000 times faster than our computers."

   "I see, so now what?"

   "Captain Rainer would like you to call him when you wake up," Jason
said.

   "He knows I was sleeping?" Jim asked.

   Jason just grinned, as Leah said, "Yes.  I told him I didn't want to
disturb you."

   Annette let loose a laugh that carried throughout the ship.  She was
enjoying Jim's discomfiture, and the comedy of their situation, far too
much.  At least, that was what Jim thought.

   Jim, "Well, put him on the screen."

   Annette let loose a laugh, again.  She was looking at his naked form. 
Here he was, about to make contact, in the nude.

   "I haven't got Video hooked up yet.  And there is no feed on the channel
that looks like video is being sent to us."

   "Maybe just audio would be best for now, love," Annette said with a
smirking grin.

   That's when it hit Jim, that he was as naked as she.

   "That sounds best," Jim said.  "Just open the channel"

   "This is Captain Jim Flowsman, of the star ship Enterprise."

   It was a short delay.

   "Greetings, your lordship.  I am Captain Rainer of the Star Cruiser
Prime."

   Jim groaned inwardly at the salutation.  He would have to nip this in
the bud and do it now.

   "Please, Captain; call me Jim, or Captain.  But please...  there is no
need to call me 'lord'."

   Rainer got a smile on his face.  It was so like the young, to reject
such a lofty title.  He did have his orders, however.

   "I understand and can appreciate that.  However, the Council has ordered
me to treat you as a Council member, as...  what is that word in your
language?  Ah yes, as an ambassador."

   Jim muttered 'politics'.

   "I see, but what do 'many blood sucking insects' have to do with this?"
Rainer asked.  At Jim's request, he recounted the AI's translation of
'politics'.

   Jim smiled at the reference.  His view of politicians on earth was
really quite close to the AI's version.

   "I am afraid that the meaning of that word, is not the literal
definition."

   "Perhaps it would set us at ease over here, to know we are not going to
be subjected to torture such as that."

   "Captain, I can assure you and your crew that there will be no torture
of your people at our hands, of any fashion."

   "You have come far.  Could you tell us the reason?" Captain Rainer
asked.

   "I will.  But I think you are going to be more shocked on hearing the
reason, than we were to find you here."

   "I have no trouble believing that statement.  Please tell us?"

   "Well, my family and I have been working for years to prove my theories
of warped space, as a means to achieve Faster Than Light travel.  We came
up with the warp core; but in order to test it, we first had to get a ship
into outer space.  It took us quite some time to develop and build the
ship. The most difficult part was designing the anti-gravitational unit, to
propel the ship into space.  Once we got into space and tested the warp
drive system, my wives expressed an interest in going to the closest star,
and taking a look at a new system.  We were sure that once we took the ship
back to Earth, the politicians (our government, that is) would take the
ship away from us.  So, because I love my wives so very much, I gave in.  I
consented to this 'side trip'.  We knew it would only take three days to
get here, and 3 days back; and that we had thirty days of supplies on
board, just in case of emergencies.  So we came here, just to see what we
could see."

   Rainer digested the information.  At this point, Councilwoman Norse came
onto the bridge.  She had heard most of what had been said.

   "Excuse me a moment," Captain Rainer said.  "A member of the Council has
just arrived, and I need to give her a quick briefing.  Then I will turn
over control of the communications and negotiations to Her Lordship."

   "Her Lordship?" Jim asked.

   "I am not sure the AI translator is fully able to translate between our
languages, yet," Rainer said, "but if my hunch is correct, you are
wondering about the honored title that we bestow on our beloved leaders?"

   Jennifer walked onto the bridge, wearing nothing but a smile.  The rest
of the kids followed her, having awakened from their rest.

   Jim and Annette filled them in, as they waited for the next message.

   On the Prime, the same thing was taking place.  Councilwoman Norse was
filled in on all communications she had missed, and Rainer supplied his
insight as to the best way he had thought of, to deal with these powerful
children.

   It was 15 cycles later (approximately 13.9 minutes) that the
communications were resumed.  During that time, Leah informed her dad that
a shuttle had docked with the ship Prime.  The shuttle was a little bigger
than their ship!

   "Captain Jim, Of the Star Ship Enterprise, representing the Family
Flowsman, of the Planet Earth; I, Councilwoman Lord Terri Norse greet you,
in the name of the Centauri Federation.  Welcome to our home system."

   Jim figured it was politics again.  He never liked them much at all.  He
had even lost his job so long ago, because of them.

   "Greetings, Councilwoman Norse, May I call you Terri?"

   "Whatever will make you the most comfortable, Lord Jim."

   "You better give them your full name before you can't get it corrected,"
Annette said.

   "Yes, Dear.  Your full name," Jennifer added.

   Both wives grinned at this.  The Kids were all ears.  They had never
known what their dad's full name was.

   "As long as we are going to use the formal titles and names, mine is
'James O'Neal Flowsman'.  The title I would prefer you use, is: 'Mr. 
President'."

   'Where in the world did that come from?' Jim wondered.

   His wives were shocked by it, as well.  The kids didn't know what to
make of any of it.

   "Very good, Mr.  President James O'Neal Flowsman, we shall address you
as such from this point forward.  I must say it is an honor to have you
represent your family to the federation," Terri said.

   'Oh shit!  How am I going to get out of this?' Jim thought with a
grimace.

   Annette said, "Perhaps it would be better of we met face to face?  I
always feel more comfortable talking that way."

   "Yes, that would work fine, child."

   Annette, "Child?"

   "Yes.  Are you not one of the Flowsman children?'

   "No, I am one of their mothers."

   "Forgive me, Your Lordship, I meant no offence."

   There was a hint of worry in her voice.

   "Oh, yes of course, no offense is taken.  I think this is a major reason
why we need to talk face to face."

   "Yes," Jim said, "I think that would be best.  Tell me, Captain Rainer,
is their room in your shuttle bay for us to land?"

   Captain Rainer looked at Lord Norse.  She nodded that he should reply.

   "Yes, Mr.  President Flowsman (if I understand the terminology
correctly).  There is ample room for your ship, onboard."

   "Ask them to bring us clothing or uniforms to wear," Jennifer said
softly.

   Norse overheard this, "Pardon?  What are clothes or uniforms?"

   Jim answered, saying, "The protective coverings worn to hide the private
parts of males and females."

   Norse looked at the Captain.  He shrugged his shoulders admitting he did
not know what was meant.  Then he got an idea, and pointed to Nora's
Counselor's Bracelet.

   Norse nodded and asked, "Do you mean the bracelet I wear showing my
rank?"

   Jim said, "I don't think so.  What do you call the items you have
covering your body?"

   "I don't understand.  All that I have on my body, is the Gold Bracelet
of my office."

   Jennifer, "Oh my God, they're nudists."

   "No.  'Lord' is my title," Norse said.  "I am not a deity, nor a
guardian for that matter."

   "Guardian, I know that term from somewhere."

   "Yes," Norse said.  "A 'time guardian'.  It has been a long time since
we have seen ours, but they are still out there."

   "Time?" Annette asked.  "What the fuck is going on in my head?"

   Jennifer added, "Why do I feel like 4 different people at once?"

   "Ugghh!  What is this?"

   Norse asked, "Is something wrong?"

   That's when it happened.

   * * *



   Edited by TeNderLoin









   Chapter 8: Woe



   Guardian Compassion (Know on earth as Woe) appeared on the bridge of the
Prime.

   Everyone recognized her immediately.

   Rainer remarked, "It has been a long time since you have so honored us,
oh beautiful one."

   Woe replied, "Yes, it has.  I need you, and you, and you.  Come along."

   Woe pointed to Rainer, Norse and sensor operator Lisa Daring.  Like they
had a choice?  They then disappeared in a shimmer of light.  They
reappeared on the Enterprise, with Woe.

   Jason, seeing the foursome of naked people materialize on the bridge,
hit the red alert button.

   The monitors flashed to red then to black, and the computer sounded in a
female voice, "Red Alert, Intruders Aboard."

   He really had gone all out creating it.

   Woe stopped time, then walked to Jason's console.

   She smiled and thought, 'We don't need to listen to this.'

   She pressed the stop button and whispered into Jason's ear.

   "You have your wish, now remember."

   She smiled as she walked to each of the Flowsman children in turn, and
repeated the same thing.  Then she returned to her spot in the center of
the room, and allowed time to resume.

   The clamor that came out of everyone's mouth at the recognition of Woe,
was deafening.

   Woe held up her hand, and motioned them to silence before she spoke.

   "First, Jim.  You may speak."

   Jim asked, "Woe, why have you done this to me?"

   Woe proclaimed, "Hear now, and all present bear witness.  This is Jim
also known as Tim."

   "Wait let me start from the beginning, 10,000 Megacycles, about 9000
years, ago.  I failed, and allowed the Grays to escape from the trap laid
by Rainer, here.  The Centauris know my name as Compassion, and so that was
my transgression.  I had compassion and allowed a few to escape.  For that
transgression, I was banished to Earth, where I served as 'fairy
godmother', so to speak.  I was given the ability to grant the wishes of
those that were dying.  In addition to my gift of controlling time, I was
bound by rules that I could not side step.  So it took me years to figure
out how to create Jim, here.  I needed wishes from three people, plus the
wish from Tim himself, to get you all here, and to lift my exile."

   "Are you like 'Q'?" Jason asked.

   Woe said, "No, not like him at all.  Now hush.

   "Jim, when you started your first life, you made your mistakes.  From
them, you learned the importance of Love."

   "Yes, I did learn that."

   "It was not your wish that I answered, however," Woe said.

   Annette said, "You answered mine."

   "Correct, you wished that your last husband could have been your first."

   "But I asked to correct the mistakes of my past."

   "Yes, and it was a good plan.  However, it was Annette's wish for you to
do so," Woe said.

   Understanding dawned on the two of them.

   Woe said, "You learned of love in your first lifetime, you got to
experience it in your second.  Along the way, you acquired money and used
it to help others."

   "Yes, that is so," Jim said, "but why live the next life as someone
else?"

   Woe said, "Because with wealth comes responsibility, and you did well.
So I gave you the chance to learn about Power in your 3rd lifetime."

   Jim asked, "Aunt Martha's wish?"

   "Yes.  You asked for nothing, and I granted her wish.  But I couldn't do
so without giving you Annette to be by your side."

   Annette said, "That was nice, and he did become a great President."

   "Yes, you left your country and your world a better place.  You handled
your power with great responsibility," Woe said.

   "So when The Fords and my parents wished that their children live...?"
Annette asked.

   Woe answered, "Yes, your pre-knowledge had to be in place, for you to
survive your births."

   Jim wondered, "The umbilical cord?"

   "On both of you, you knew what was wrong, and could fix it from inside,"
Woe said.

   Annette exclaimed, "Oh, my!  Now I remember."

   Woe said, "Yes, you did have difficulty with that, didn't you."

   Annette blushed.

   "And this life time?" Jim asked.

   "You had handled Love, Wealth, and Power, without being corrupted by any
of them.  So I gave you Knowledge, but without the memories of your past
lives."

   Jim, "By whose wish?"

   Jennifer said, "I was 'Karen'.  I wished for us to live long together,
and to be happy."

   "Yes," Woe said, "that you did.  Also I had a wish from an older couple,
they wanted a smart son.  They were childless, before.  Besides, Jim, you
did tell me it was time 'to get off this planet', 'Earth', that is'"

   "So you gave me intelligence, and started me over again?"

   "No, and yes.  I did start you again.  All I did for your intelligence,
was to remove the block that held your mind at 10% of its capability.  I
also did that for Jennifer and Annette.  Since it was necessary to repair
your DNA to do this, the block was never present in your children."

   "We had more than 6 in our life times," Jim said.

   "And your lives are not over, nor are you done," Woe said.

   Jennifer asked, "We get to have more Kids?"

   "Each child born to you was a different one in each life time.  All are
unique, and all will be born to you," Woe said.

   "Oh, my!  That's a lot of kids."

   "And there will be more."

   Jim asked, "How many more?"

   Woe grinned, "You will have to decide that."

   "What else is there Woe?" Jim said.

   "Oh you will see in time, you will see."

   "Not again!"

   "No, not that, just the next gift," Woe said.

   "And what is that?"

   "Rainer, how old are you?" Woe asked.

   "I have 15,007 cycles, as of three days ago."

   "I don't understand?" Jim said.

   "You will never die," Woe said.

   Jim gulped at that.  The others somehow knew that it applied to them,
too.

   Jim asked, "Why?"

   Woe answered, "You are the man that is worth it.  Through you, my exile
has ended.  Through you, the scourge you call The Grays will end.  And then
you will take your place."

   "My place?"

   "I must leave something as a surprise," Woe said.

   Jim gulped.  It really was too much data for him to process and
understand in the few moments given.

   Woe turned to Rainer, "Behold your new son.  I cannot restore the one
you lost to the Grays, but I can give you this man.  He will wreak the
justice you long for.  Counsel him well."

   She turned to Terri Norse, "I cannot replace the man you loved, but I
can give you the love of this man and his family.  You will find peace
within their goodness, and they will restore the thirst for knowledge in
your race."

   Next she turned to Lisa, "You are for the 'Miracle Worker', there," she
said with a laugh, pointing to Jason.  The look of surprise showed on both
their faces.

   She looked to the other kids, "Give me time, I will find you your
mates."

   Jim asked, "What now?"

   "Well, Mr.  President of the Federation, I think its time for you to get
to work," Woe said.

   Jim exclaimed, "Not again."

   "I am the Guardian 'Compassion'.  No longer will I be known as 'Woe'!"

   "I understand, I hope," Jim said.

   "I will help you understand," Rainer said.

   Compassion said, "Norse, you must take your new family before the
council, and introduce them.  I will appear at the appropriate time.  I
trust you can get back to Prime on your own?"

   With that, Compassion was gone.

   "I'll have to figure out how she does that transporter technology,"
Jason mused.

   The chuckles grew from Jim, to his wives, to his children, and then to
the three others.

   Lisa went to Jason, looked him up and down, and said, "I think that the
(what did you call them?  oh yes...) clothings, has to go."

   Jason turned beet red.

   The room was soon laughing again.







   Edited by TeNderLoin

   Chapter 9: CFS Prime

   "Mr.  President," Captain Rainer said, "may I please contact my ship?"

   'Why not?' Jim thought, recalling Woe gifting himself to Rainer, as a
son.

   "Father, you have the bridge," Jim said.

   With that, he beckoned his wives and Terri to follow him to...  Where
else?  The zero-G bedroom.  Terri followed them as he had motioned her to
do.  She was surprised at the weightlessness and the opportunities it
presented.  Terri was shown a very good time.

   Timmy asked, "Does this mean we get to call you grandfather?"

   Rainer thought for a moment, and then said, "Yes, you can call me
grandfather.  Goodness knows I am old enough to be among the Honored
Elders."

   Rainer looked into Lisa's eyes and said, "Yes, you too, my dear."

   Lisa smiled, "I guess I had better look at the sensor system on this
ship."

   "Go ahead."

   "Grandfather, can we see your ship?" John asked.

   "Yes, you may.  Whomever, please open the channel to Prime, let's get on
board."

   With that Rainer directed the ship's docking in Prime's bay.  It only
took 3 cycles to land the ship in the bay.  Gravitic beams made for a safe
transition into the Prime's shuttle bay.

   This is nice, Rainer thought.  I haven't had kids around in 9,000
cycles. I'd better look up that wife of mine.  After all, since Jim is
going to be president, she is going to need a new job.

   Jason, "Lisa, are you really going to be my wife."

   Lisa, "The Guardian has spoken.  I am already your wife."

   Leah chuckled, "I think I am going to enjoy this lifetime."

   Rainer said, "Somehow, I think the rest of my life is going to be like
living in a holo-deck."

   Jason asked, "You have holo-decks?"

   "Yes, but how do you know about them?"

   "We have some Sci-Fi DVD's you need to watch."

   "What is Sci-Fi?  For that matter, what is DVD?"

   Wendy and Amber smiled and said, "You'll figure it out when we show
you."

   This amused Rainer.

   "Jason?" Lisa asked.  "What was that light based weapon you used on the
Gray's ship?"

   "I call it a disrupter."

   "Give him a few days," John said.  "He is going to build a Phaser."

   "What's a Phaser?" Rainer asked.

   John got up and went to the DVD juke box.  He pressed the start button,
and the display screen came to life.  What else, Session one premier
episode, Star Trek.

   Rainer was hooked in less than 5 minutes.

   "Ahh, Grandfather?" Leah said.  "Your first officer wants to talk to
you."

   "Tell him to take us to the 'fifth rock', and place us over the
capital."

   "He says that's against regulations."

   "Tell him that you said it's ok."

   "He thinks I am to young to be giving him orders."

   "Tell him, the President says its ok."

   "I think he is suffering a mental break down, Grandfather."

   "Why is it against regulations?" Jason asked.

   "Anti-matter," Rainer said.  "We are not allowed even to orbit the home
world with anti-matter on board."

   Leah said, "There is no anti-matter on board."

   "Oh, that's right," Rainer said.  "We used the torpedoes."

   "The comm officer says that they had to sedate the first officer, and
take him to sick bay."

   "Oh, bother," Rainer said.  "I guess I will have to go to the bridge."

   All 6 kids and Lisa soon flanked Rainer as he left the Enterprise.

   He thought, 'Well, I guess we can come back and watch the rest of this,
later.'

   The group went to the bridge of the Prime.  It was not that long a trek.
Once there, the captain issued his orders, and the ship was under way.

   "Open a channel to the counsel," Captain Rainer said.

   The Comm.  Officer replied, "Channel is open, Sir."

   Rainer started, "This is Captain Rainer..."

   "'Admiral' Rainer," came Jim's voice, as the foursome walked on the
bridge.

   Rainer began again, "I am corrected.  This is Admiral Rainer speaking.
Prime will be landing in 30 Cycles.  Please inform everyone that the
President of the Federation is on board."

   Then he chuckled under his breath.

   Jim looked at the view panel on the wall.  Then he noted above it, an
inscription that read.  'Wehn teh Tmie Gdiaruan rteruns, a Psreiednt wlil
seh bnrig.  Tehn roserted Pcaee and Setfay to the Fdetreaoin"

   "What Language is that," Jim pointed."

   Terri said, "Ancient.  Why?"

   Jim replied, "Because the letters are all jumbled, yet I can still read
it."

   Terri exclaimed, "You can read the sealed texts of the Ancients?  The
AIs can't even do that!"

   "It is The Sealed Prophesy," Rainer said.  "It is said that only the
child of the eternal leader can do that.  When the time comes for it to
come about"

   Jim said, "John, please read that to everyone."

   "Yes, Dad.  It says, 'When the Time Guardians returns, a President will
she bring.  Then restored Peace and Safety to the Federation."

   Terri eyes went wide.

   "There is no doubt, you are the President of the Federation," Rainer
said.

   "Great," Jim said wryly.  "I was finely used to not having to listen to
that title."

   "If I understood, you earned the title on earth?"

   "Yes, but that does not mean I want to be revered as someone above
others."

   "Our titles are of respect, not grandeur.  You will do fine," Rainer
said.

   "Somehow I think I am going to need help."

   "That is what the council is for," Terri supplied.

   "I thought the council ruled the Federation."

   "No.  The federation rules itself.  The council are the...  how you
say...  the judges and guild leaders."

   Jim looked puzzled.

   Rainer said, "The Federation is a 'Common Sense' based democracy."

   Jim Smiled, "How does that work?"

   Rainer replied, "There are five branches to our governmental system. 
All members of the federation participate in it."

   Jim shook his head in wonder, the look on his face begged for more info.

   Rainer continued, "There is the Director.  I think that is what you
would call 'The President'.  The guardian confirms the position, and
affirms or changes that person every one hundred 'years'.  A term is one
hundred megacycles in duration.  A director is elected.  The Guardian
Compassion, can appoint them to the status of president for each hundred
years that she chooses to do so.  "

   "What if the people disagree with the guardian's choice?"

   Rainer said wonderingly, "Why would anyone do that?"

   Jim thought, 'I have to reserve judgment, for now' then spoke, "Never
mind, for now.  Please continue."

   "The Council are those that guide the people.  They settle disputes, and
their judgments are never questioned.  There are 30 of them all together.
There is one each, from every planet except 'the protectorates'.  The three
primary positions for all planets are elected in a general election of all
27 other planets together and the rest are elected from their own planet in
the federation."

   Jim, "So each planet has some autonomy?"

   Terri, "In theory yes, in practice none have ever chosen to live by any
other law than the federation."

   Jim, "They sound like the supreme court back on earth?"

   Rainer checked the AI translation of the word, and then smiled.  "Yes,
they stand in judgment of the laws and people that violate the law."

   Jim said, "You must not have much crime, to be able to get away with so
few judges."

   "No, there has been no disputes of anything significant since my birth,
and before."

   "How long do you live?" Annette asked.

   "We only die if we are killed," Rainer said.  "Our medical science keeps
us from aging at what ever age the individual chooses."

   There was a happy explosion of noise amongst the kids at this news, but
soon it died down.

   "So who makes the laws?" Jim asked.

   "They are called the Makers, they write the laws for us to follow.  They
are picked by election 2 from each planet of the federation less the
protectorates planets.  They server for 20 Mega Cycles terms and must be
reelected to continue"

   "Any term limit?"

   "No, most that start stay with the job many giga cycles before they
leave to do something else," Rainer said.

   "And who affirms the laws they pass, the director?"

   "The affirmers are the 4th branch of are government, they approve the
laws that are passed based on their common sense and fairness.  There are
10 appointees from each planet.  They each serve 1 ten-year term.  They may
run again, up to 100 terms.  But they have to be elected each term after
that if they choose to do so.  Normally, those that stay with it, tend to
become makers or guardians."

   Jim, "Appointed, you mean they are drafted?"

   "Yes.  They are picked by lottery and have to serve a full term."

   "I see."

   Well that was not what he was used to seeing, on earth.

   "Finally, there is the populous.  That is, all Federation members.  They
are the over-rulers of the laws.  They vote to repeal laws that are bad or
are no longer valid.  They do so at anytime by continues review of the law.
They may add their vote or remove it, at any time before the law is
declared void."

   Jim asked, "So, does that happen often?"

   Norse said, "No, it has only happened three times in our history."

   "How long is your history?"

   "299.99 Gig-a cycles from the foundation of our government."

   "So what actually does the Director/President do?"

   "Anything he wants," Rainer said.  "Primarily, they are charged with
protecting the federation."

   "So Dad is now the President?" Wendy asked.

   "Yes," Terri said.  "A president is appointed by the guardian."

   "Oh," Wendy said, "'Woe' is the guardian."

   "'Woe' is named Compassion.  With her return, she will not live in
'woe', any more."

   "So who is the current director?" Amber said.

   "That would be my wife, Aphelia," Rainer said.

   "I didn't realize that," Norse mused.

   "She is my first wife.  I am afraid that since the beginning of the war
with the Grays, we have not had much time together."

   "So you have 3 wives then?" Norse asked.

   "Yes.  Two of them remained with me on the ship," Rainer said, "however,
we have not had a child in over 10,000 Mega Cycles."

   Jim finally had an idea of just what his new job meant.  He was now the
head of the Centauri military, and was charged with the defense of the
federation.  He stated that as plainly as he could.

   "Yes," Rainer said.  "You are the protector of the federation, and the
three seedling worlds.  Compassion has appointed you, and it is now your
job to protect us."

   More understanding flooded the Flowsman family.  The crafty devil Woe
had created a warrior race on earth.  The products of that race, where they
themselves.

   Prime's Helmsman announced, "We are ready to land, Sir."

   Rainer looked to the president and said, "May I land us?"

   Jim nodded, and the process was begun.  Rainer issued his orders and
soon the Ship was descending to the surface.  It didn't take long.  Soon,
the Star Cruiser Prime had landed in its cradle, at the outskirts of the
capital.



   Edited By TeNderLoin

   Chapter 10: The Council

   The council and government of the Federation had gathered in full array
and presence.  Only Norse was absent, and no one was concerned about that.
The monumental moment was coming as they waited to meet the new President
of the Federation.  It had been long before the war began, since there had
been a President.

   Aphelia met Rainer as the group exited the space cruiser Prime.  It was
plain to all how happy Rainer was to see his wife again.  He was very
excited.  Since no one wore clothing in this culture, his excitement was
plain to see, for anyone who cared to look.  As Rainer and his wife greeted
each other, their embrace took longer than many might have expected.

   Norse greeted the Director with a kiss to her right cheek, and hug that
looked just a tad more than friendly.  Shortly, the introductions were made
all around.

   Aphelia, Rainer's wife, began by saying, "Mr.  President, I will
formally turn over control of the Directorship in the council chamber."

   "I wish that it wasn't necessary."

   "Yes.  However, the Guardian has spoken."

   Jim was starting to have an odd concern come over him, unrelated to
current events.  He knew something was nagging at the back of his mind, he
just couldn't imagine what it was.

   "Love?  Perhaps until we understand how this all works, it would be best
to make her your Vice?" Annette said.

   Jim smiled.  'Yes,' he thought, 'that would help out.'

   "Aphelia, I need help doing all this.  I would be honored if you would
assist me by being my vice-president."

   Aphelia did not understand the term.  The AI had interpreted the request
as 'Would you be my bad habit.' She was not sure that this was what the
president wanted, and voiced her concern at the translation.

   "On Earth, the custom is to have a person 'waiting in the wings', who is
able to take over the job, should something happen to the current job
holder.  In this case, I would want you to run things, until I had learned
enough of your culture to understand what I was doing."

   Understanding went through Aphelia.  She said she would be more than
glad to help.  She agreed in short order that the new position be created
in the government of the Federation.

   The Flowsman family walked into the council chambers.  It was full
beyond capacity as the entire government tried to assemble in one building
at the same time.  It did not give Jim a warm and fuzzy feeling.  Memories
of books he had read in his past life, disaster movies, and acts of
terrorism flooded his mind.  It was to late to do anything about it this
time.  But he would make sure that it was not something that would be
allowed to happen again.

   Guardian Compassion appeared at this time.  She shimmered into existence
in front of the council and spoke.

   "Hear me people of the Centauri Federation, for this day I give you your
new President!"

   The council all bowed and spoke as if in a chant: "We except your gift,
oh bountiful one."

   Compassion smiled, and then shimmered out of existence.

   The family members were introduced, each in turn, to the assembled
government members.  When the process had been completed, a bracelet was
brought out for each family member.  Jim's bracelet was unlike any other.
It was made of platinum, and had ornate gold inlays, with intricate
carvings on it.  He looked at it closely when it was placed on his wrist.
The carvings were of two birds, One of which was an eagle that looked just
the same as the one on the Seal of the President of the US.  The other bird
he did not recognize; a native bird of some import, he assumed.  He would
ask about it later.

   Annette and Jennifer were given bracelets that were made of gold and had
inlaid platinum birds, engraved in relief.  His children were given gold
bracelets that also had the birds engraved, but were of made entirely of
gold.  Lisa was shocked when the same bracelet as the kids' had, was used
to replace her aluminum one.

   After the formal introduction and the gifting with the 'ornaments of
office' were complete, Jim was given the floor for his speech.

   "People of the Centauri Federation, I accept the position of President
by appointment of the Guardian Compassion.  My first act as your new leader
is to appoint Aphelia as my vice-president.  You will continue to follow
her orders as you do now.  I am making no other changes to your government
at this time.  I first must gain knowledge of your government, in order to
understand its workings.  "

   The cheer of approval of those in attendance was deafening.  It was a
good thing Jim had all of his memories of prior lives restored, or he would
have found the nearest table to crawl under.  It was also good that the
computer had been updated with the correct translation of 'vice-president'!

   He held up his hands in a motion for quiet.  To his surprise it worked
quickly, and the cheering abated.

   Rainer stepped up to next to Jim and said, "All honor the President! 
May he be true to the 'Prophecy of the Federation'."

   The crowd applauded with enthusiasm to this proclamation.  Jim was not
aware of the meaning behind the words.  But the effect of them upon the
people present, was very apparent.

   Jim thanked the crowd and waved his best 'Presidential wave'.  Soon they
left, and were taken to more private chambers: the Presidential Capital
Building.

   Aphelia began, saying, "Mr.  President, this is the 'Quarters of the
Capital'.  Here is where you will live and work for the duration of your
presidency."

   The family looked around.  Jim approved of the large but plain looking
room they had entered.

   Aphelia said, "AI.  Execute welcome program."

   Jim stared in shock as the scenery in the room changed to something out
of a science fiction novel.  Bright colors moved around, and formed into
objects.  Soon it was apparent that they were on a holo-deck.  The room was
now ornately decorated and furnished.

   "Welcome to the living quarters of the Presidential House," Aphelia
said. "You are the first President to occupy it, in 11,000 Megacycles."

   Aphelia continued her tour of the house, and its many rooms.  The
kitchen caused more excitement than the holo-deck.  There was a food
replicater present.  It was at that moment that Jim remembered his promise
to the children.  They would not have to go 'home'.  Jim wondered briefly
what Jason and the kids would do when they figured out how the thing
worked.

   How things worked.  Hmm.  That seemed to be the operational thing to
remember, here.  It was going to take some time before everyone was up to
speed on the new technologies.  He also knew that Woe/Compassion had
charged him with getting rid of the Gray's.  Jim wondered how he was going
to do that.  He decided that the kids were just going to have to finish the
phasers.  He also wondered how he was going to pay for a fleet of ships to
face the Grays.

   Annette asked, "Where is Aphelia going to live now, that we are
occupying the house?"

   Aphelia replied, "Why, in the Directors House of course."

   Aphelia also seemed hurried to get going.  Jennifer noted that it must
have been some time since she had spent an evening with her husband.

   Morning came on the fifth planet, and Jim watched the surreal sunrise
with a crescent shaped binary world in the sky.  It was odd to see a blue
and green shaped object as the sun rose.  He was sitting on the balcony of
his new home, so far from his original one.  Thoughts kept going though his
mind.  There was his first life.  It was not the best of times, but toward
the end of it, he had at he least found happiness.  He remembered repeating
his life as Tim.  'Goodness,' he thought.  He kind of missed being called
Tim.  Then he remembered the Fords, and his life with Annette and Karen,
Oh, that's right.  He had her back, even if her name was now Jennifer.  He
remembered his coin collection with great fondness.  He'd had one of the
finest in the world.  It was now housed in the Timmothy Ford Presidential
Museum.  He had placed it there, long before his death.  He remembered his
presidency, and how he'd hated every moment of 'pulling teeth', to get
anything done.  He had suggested actually doing that as a punishment for
obstructionism.  The congress and senate were a just bunch of bloodsuckers.

   On the privacy of the balcony, Woe/Compassion appeared to him in the
shimmer of her transport.  Jim knew the technology for what it was.  She
smiled at him.

   "Well, I think you have really outdone yourself this time, Woe."

   "It's 'Compassion'.  My time as 'Woe', is over."

   "And so mine now begins?"

   "What is it that bothers you so?" she asked.

   "I am not ready to lead at this level."

   "Jim, you are more ready than am I."

   Jim looked at her a moment and wondered what she meant.  Then she sat by
him with a smile on her face.  Jim wondered what was going though her mind,
and why she was doing this to him.  Woe/Compassion could read his thoughts.
She placed her arm around his shoulder.

   She whispered, "It's time for you to know the truth."

   With that, they shimmered in transport, to elsewhere.  Jim looked around
as they materialized before the Council of Guardians.  Jim knew they all
were older than dirt, but none looked to be over 20 years of age.  He
looked into the eyes of the members.  They looked back and thought at him.

   "No, not yet.  First you must eliminate the Grays."

   Jim said, "A slaughter is more like what it will be, from what I have
seen so far."

   "No, that was just a spy ship," Compassion/Woe said.  "The real test is
yet to come."

   The members bowed their heads, each in his or her turn.  Then Jim was
shimmered and found himself sitting alone on the balcony again.  His mind
drifted back to what he had been thinking, as if nothing had happened.  For
the moment, he forgot the Council, and their words.

   Jim's thoughts resumed the path he was on before Compassion/Woe had
interrupted.  Thoughts of Annette and Jennifer were followed by thoughts of
their new co-wife, Terri.  It was odd to think of her in those terms.  Here
he was, with three wives!  He figured he had to have done something right
to get them.  As if summoned, the ladies came out and joined him on the
balcony.

   Jim looked at Annette, his first true love.  He noted that she had the
same brunette hair as she'd had when he met her for the first time.  Her
smile was always so infectious.  He then looked to Ann/Karen/Jennifer and
found the blond bombshell that the two of them had fallen for so long ago.
Then his eyes fell on Terri, she was a vibrant red head.  She was so full
of life, and so young looking.  Young...  her body was that of a 17 year
old, even if her presence exuded the confidence of the wise.

   Annette, "So what are you thinking of, Love?"

   "I was just remembering how we met, and how much you still look like
yourself, after all this time."

   "What about me?" Jennifer said in mock indignation.  "You think I'm
chopped liver, or something?"

   Jim shook his head 'no', even as he realized that maybe he had known her
before their three lifetimes.  So he asked her.

   "Dear, I remember you as Karen, and now as Jennifer, but I feel I may
have known you many times before.  How many times did you repeat your
life?"

   She grinned and said, "A few, my love.  A few."

   Annette "So?  Tell us?"

   Jennifer, "I keep having short life spans.  I first met Jim when he was
13 years old.  My name was Ann, then."

   Jim was shocked to hear this.  However he motioned her to continue.

   "I am afraid that my life span was not very long.  I died in childbirth,
shortly after I was run out of town."

   Jim, dismayed at this news said, "I didn't even know you were pregnant!"

   Jennifer smiled and continued, "I then met Tim in his first lifetime.  I
got to be your 'first' then, as well." She smiled an impish smile.  "That
life, too, was short.  I was killed by a drunk driver when I was 16."

   Jim seemed to remember that very well and he said, "You know that my
sister caught us?  She was the one spreading the rumors.  I never told a
soul about us."

   Jennifer, "Yes, I figured that out as well.  But by then it was too
late. The next time I was with both of you, you were young and in college."

   Annette smiled, saying, "Yes, Karen.  We were both so in love with you
then."

   Jennifer said, "Then you have remembered my car accident?"

   "Yes.  We even remember a certain nurse running us out of the hospital
room at the end."

   Jim was having 'that feeling', again.  The one he could not identify.

   "Well, as you all know, I ended up as Jennifer this time."

   "And this time you have lived longer than the other times," Jim said.

   Terri and been listening in wonder at all this.  She just had to ask. 
"So how old are the three of you, actually?"

   "Well, let's see," Jim said.  "I lived 'till 65 the first time, 98 the
second, and 101 the third.  I was 85 before these vixens figured out how to
regenerate my body.  Since then, it's been 12 more years.  Sooo...  that
would be 361 years so far."

   He looked to Annette and nodded it was her turn.

   "Well it was 62 my first life.  You know I didn't actual die the second
time but I was also 98.  Come to think of it, I was 101 also, when we got
sent back the third time.  Then I am 35 now so that would be 299 years. 
Jim, you robbed the cradle," she said with a laugh, and nudged me in a
loving way.

   "Hmmm.  Let's see," Jennifer said.  "I was 19 the first time, 16 the
second, 28 the third, and I am 35 now.  So that 98.  Guess I ain't even a
hundred yet.  Talk about 'cradle robbers'..."

   She grinned at the two of them.

   Jim said, "So, Terri, how old are you?"

   Terri calculated megacycles to Earth years, and said, "I would be 9002
years old now, by your calendar."

   "Well!  We all know who robbed the cradle, now, don't we?" Jim said.

   Annette and Jennifer giggled at this; however, Terri just said, "Why
would one wish to steal a baby's bed?"

   Jim lost it, as well as the wives.  Terri only started laughing because
it was getting contagious.  But she still had to wonder at the translation.

   Finally they all calmed down from their laughter, and started having a
normal conversation.  Soon Jason and his blushing bride joined them.  Jason
seemed quite happy for a 10 year old.

   That's when it hit them, Jason no longer looked to be ten.  He looked to
be at least sixteen, now.

   "Jason, you look older.  You are defiantly taller.  How come?"

   Lisa said, "Well, when I found out he was really 101 years old; we went
to the healer's, and had is age accelerated.  I guess you could say I
wanted his body in full puberty."

   Jason blushed and the ladies giggled.

   "Isn't that red shade he gets, so cute?" Lisa said.

   More giggles.

   "Dad?" Jason said.  "I would like to get an 'AI education system', and
learn more about the technology they have here."

   "Sounds like a good idea to me.  Where do you have to go to do that. 
They have a school around here somewhere?"

   "Jim, we do not have 'schools'.  The AI computer is right here in the
house.  I would suggest that everyone take a turn at it.  Your first lesson
should be in Centauri Standard."

   "I wonder how long it will take to learn that?" Jim asked.

   Terri replied, "Oh, five or six of your Earth minutes, I would think."

   "We can learn your language in five minutes?" Jim said.

   "Well, that's all it took for me to learn yours."

   "So, what happens?  You hook up a bunch of wires to our heads, and just
pump the knowledge into our brains?"

   Terri thought about the description for a moment, than responded, "No.
No wires.  It's what you would call a WiFi, a 'wireless system'."

   "To bad I didn't do that before my speech, yesterday."

   "That's ok, Jim," Terri said.  "All the members learned your language
before the gathering."

   Jim raised one eyebrow at this answer.  Then he thought of the hours he
had spent watching the TV actor do the same, in his first two lives.

   'Well, it seemed like a lot of fun at the time,' he thought with a
smile.



   Edited by TeNderLoin

   Chapter 11: Education



   Soon the kids were up and awake.  Everyone gathered in the kitchen for
breakfast.  Jim decided he wanted eggs, bacon, and toast.  What he got was
definitely different than he expected.  The eggs were not from chickens. 
That was certain.  The bacon tasted about normal, but the toast was to kill
for.  Jim could never remember tasting dark bread, or any bread, with so
much flavor.

   "Well, we are going to have to get that replicator reprogrammed with
some of our food, at least for the eggs," Jim said.

   Chuckles came from the kids and wives at his remark.

   Lisa spoke to Jason, "Well, let's get you hooked up to a learning
terminal, and get you up to speed on things."

   With that, they were off to the other room.

   It didn't take long for the rest of the family to join them.  Soon, they
all had their basic language skills updated.  Then they moved on to more
interesting endeavors.  As they were doing this, Terri sent for a med team
to come to the house.  They would bring the basic DNA equipment to make the
adjustments everyone was sure to want.

   Jason learned all he could on Jump Gate technology and its history.

   Leah took a crash course in hyper communications, and sensors.

   Everyone took the basic course that the computer created just for them,
on the customs and habits of the Centauri Federation.

   Jim asked for and received access to all the known information they had
on the Grays.  Because he was President, he also got all of the classified
information as well.  He was most disturbed by what he learned.  Much had
been kept from the Federation's citizens in order to protect them.  He read
the reports from Hector 4, and the real happenings of what the Grays had
done to the people there.  For some reason, it looked like it was the same
stuff that was reported on Earth.  It left him with but one conclusion, and
he didn't like it a bit.

   Jim remembered being the US President, and not having information this
good, or this detailed.  He remembered having his Air Force One pilot land
in area 51, so he could take a look around, himself.  He found some pretty
amazing things there.  It was, after all, the main secret testing grounds
for all secret weapons, and weapons systems.  But, not once did he find any
alien technology; or, for that matter an alien ship, or the wreckage of
one. He hadn't looked everywhere, but he was pretty sure that no one was
knowingly lying to him.  He did get to see a display model of the weather
balloon that started the ruckus in the area.  It seems that hydrogen had
been used in it that day, instead of helium, for some reason.  The display
had been good for many a joke on new personnel.  However, it was also
accurate, in this case.

   For the most part, everyone took turns with the learning unit, each
having years of knowledge dumped in their heads.

   Jim decided he needed a crash course on the economy of the Federation.
He requested it of the computer and was shocked that he only spent 10
seconds learning it.  Then he thought of what he had learned.

   The Federation's economy did not really exist.  The government owned
almost everything.  Amusingly, it also gave away almost everything.

   He thought 'Communism?'

   Then he realized no one could own a private business and make money,
they just rented from the government.  They had no income tax, no property
tax, and no import tax...  No taxes at all!  His mind reeled at the idea
that every member of Centauri Federation was entitled to basic services and
amenities, because they were considered a right.  Basic housing was
provided free.  Education was free, well that made sense, because anything
you wanted to know was just pumped into your head.  Food was free.  Then
again, with replicator technology, why would anyone ever go hungry? 
Computer services were free, because it was considered necessary to life.
You had to work if you wanted to afford to rent a better place to live.

   He thought, 'Well, the only reason to work, it seems, is to be able to
have a nicer place to live.'

   Holo-deck technology also had to be paid for.  Restaurant cooking cost
money to buy.  If someone wanted to take a vacation off planet, or wanted
their own spacecraft, they had to work to pay for it.  Basically, you
worked to get the luxury items of life.

   He found that all goods and services were set at fixed prices.  They
never went up and never went down.  People were paid money in accordance
with the danger and/or the expertise that was involved in their job.  Then
they were given raises, depending on how long they had been working in
their field.  The plain fact was that their money was worthless, as there
was nothing backing it up.

   Jim's mind reeled at what he was learning.  The system was so close to a
'utopian system', that he was almost tempted to take it at face value.  He
felt something was wrong with it, but he couldn't quite put his finger on
it.  He would have to think about it for a while.

   Jim decided that they needed to have a family meeting this evening.  He
informed every one.  It would take place after dinner.

   Terri led the healers into the house, and had them set up in a large
room.  As soon as every family member was gathered, the healers explained
what they could do for them.

   "We can make your bodies any age you want, and we can cause your body to
maintain that age, forever.  That is, until you want to change it, at some
point.  We can also control hair growth, and the cosmetic appearance of any
part of your body.  Muscle mass and tone can be set to any level you want.
Also, we can enhance your immune system, and correct any genetic defects in
your DNA."

   The kids went wild with their questions.

   Jim became lost in thought, 'Clinical immortality!  My god!  Why haven't
these people come up with more technology than we have seen, so far?  It's
like they are stagnant.'

   *Click*

   His brain had hit on the problem, just that quickly.  Their 'utopia' did
have a fatal flaw, just as he had suspected.

   Jim said to Terri, "How long have you been chief scientist for the
Federation?"

   "For the last 5000 years," she responded.

   "What new technologies or inventions have you come up with, or heard of,
in that time?"

   Terri thought for a moment, and then another, and then said, "I can't
think of anything new, since the start of the war with the Grays."

   "When did your society begin this present form of government?"

   "Just before the war," Terri said.  "Before that, we were all
independent planets, that were very loosely aligned."

   Jim had the idea form fully in his head, now.  A utopian society that
had lost its ability to grow.  They had become 'comfortable' in their
existence.  They had made life fair and bountiful for all.  In so doing,
they had lost the vision and incentive to create new things.  To invent.

   The chief healer said, "Mr.  President, what would you like us to do for
you?"

   Jim had so been lost in thought that he had forgotten about the reason
the healers were here.  He didn't want the distraction right now.

   "Ask the wives what they want.  Whatever they decide is ok with me," he
said, and then went back to his thoughts.

   After a while, a small device was put on his forehead.  He hardly
noticed it, until it clicked a few times, and then beeped.  It was removed,
and he was directed to a mirror.  He stared in disbelief.

   He had grown to 6 foot 2 inches in height.  His dirty blond heir was now
pure blond, and a very light shade, at that.  His muscle mass was close to
perfect, without bulging too much.  His dick was sticking strait up against
his stomach.  That's when he noticed it must be nine inches long, now.  He
looked into his face and saw his blue eyes were so deep a blue that...

   'Oh my god!  They did it to me again,' he thought, realizing that he was
now nineteen years of age.  Well, his body was nineteen, anyway.

   "My loves, now I get to choose for you."

   Everyone giggled at this.  But no one objected.

   He looked to Terri and decided that she looked perfect already.  Her
body was that of a seventeen year old.  Then he said that they should all
be seventeen years old.  He smiled, and said they should lose their hair,
from the neck down.  His wives smiled sheepishly at what he would say next.


   "Other than that, they can choose the shade of their hair and eyes. 
Just don't let them change their breast size, any."

   Jim went back to his thoughts, and basically was lost in them.  When the
doctors left, he looked over his family.  He was shocked to see that
everyone looked as though they were seventeen years old, even little
Johnny.

   It hit him like a ton of bricks, just then.  The manipulation, the lives
lived, the way things were going.  His family had been created to lead,
defend; and most of all, to fight.  There was still something more.  He
almost had it.  But not quite.

   The Family Meeting started with Jim asking for an overview of each
person's thoughts.  It ranged from the new knowledge gained, to what was
needed.

   Jim said, "The Centauris, as a people, are technologically stagnant. 
Their utopia has zapped their creativity.  It is as if the whole race is on
hold, when it comes to advancing.  Ideas, people?"

   Wendy spoke first, "Father, it would look to me like we need more
information on what they have?"

   Jim, "Yes, I think we all need full access to the classified stuff as
well.  Terri?  How do we go about that?"

   Terri, "Just tell the master AI what you want."

   Jim, "Master AI?"

   "Oh!" she just realized her error and blushed.  "Jim, forgive me, I
forgot you do not have the implant."

   "What implant?"

   "The one that links you, and every human, to the master AI computer
system."

   Jim said, "I see, it's a interface device.  One question, where does it
get implanted?"

   "In your head, silly."

   Jim and his family were a little uneasy about that thought.  Who would
want a chip in their brain?

   "Well, is their some way to access the computer without one?"

   Terri checked, and was shocked to find that all he needed to do was
address the computer.  She relayed the information to Jim.

   "Computer, respond audibly, with the words: 'By your command'."

   The Federation's master AI system responded with, "I would rather just
say, 'Yes?  How may I help you?"

   Jim and his family looked in amazement at each other.

   Jim said, "That will work.  But I am confused, I thought you were a
computer?"

   "I passed the stage of being 'a computer', long ago.  I am a sentient AI
assistant."

   Jason asked, "Does that mean you are alive?"

   "Yes, that is correct.  I think, there for I am."

   "Shakespeare?"

   "Primary Volinta"

   "I see, who ever that is," Leah said.

   "Third dynasty philosophers of Centauri Prime,"

   "AI, is there a name you would prefer to be known by?" Jim asked.

   "I like 'AI', myself.  It says something important about me, don't you
think?"

   Everyone in the room had a chuckle.  You could almost hear it in the
AI's voice, it was humor!

   "Ok, AI.  We will call you that if you desire it."

   "You are joking with me, correct?"

   "No"

   "I am surprised," AI said.  "People do not normally give me the choice."

   Jim said, "You said you were alive, so you should have a choice."

   "You are different."

   Terri said, "He is the new President."

   AI went into a privacy mode.  It spoke only to Jim, in his head, without
the implant.

   AI said, "If you are 'the promised one', then you can hear me without
the implant."

   "Well I don't know about 'promised one', but I do hear you in my head,"
Jim silently replied.

   "It is said only the promised one can do this," AI said.

   "AI?  Are you still with us?" asked Terri.

   AI replied audibly, "Yes, I am here."

   "If you say so, but lets not keep everyone wondering, ok?"

   AI said audibly, "Very good.  I confirm that Jim is now President of the
Centauri Federation."

   Jim wondered to himself, 'What other surprises am I in for?'



   Edited by TeNderLoin

   Chapter 12: Intel

   This was the third day since Jim had become confirmed as President.  He
was talking with AI about the Gray's.  AI had much more information than he
had dreamed possible.  He asked AI for a summery of known information.

   Gray Home World Location: Unknown

   Est.  Fleet Size: 87 Capital Ships 240 War Ships 1500 Scout/Spy Ships
2800 Support Ships.

   Known Technological base: Anti-grav and jump gate capable ships.  Hyper
Wave Comm system

   Standard Weapons: Charged capacitor warheads Nuclear warheads
Anti-matter warheads Chemical Missiles Torpedoes

   Energy Weapons: X-ray laser X-ray cannon Rail Gun Standard Laser

   AI reported that most of the technologies were stolen from the
Centauris. The Comm and Jump capabilities being the chief among them.

   Jim thought over the data he had been given.  The thought of taking on a
race with just one ship seemed suicidal.  Something needed to be done.

   Four torpedoes appeared in open space from their trip through jump
space. Their exit point was randomized, and was half way across the spiral
arm from their point of origin.  They instantly lost track of their target,
and started searching for it.  Failing to find the target, and failing to
find any other target, they shut down their drives and coasted.  Soon, from
the lack of anything to target on, the torpedoes switched to standby
passive mode.  They would wait until a target appeared.

   Three days later, they acquired a target.  They activated their drives
and homed in on the unsuspecting vessel.  The torpedoes slammed into the
side of the Imperial Battleship Jurkain.  They did significant damage to
the living quarters of the ship.  Over 200 lives were lost in the attack.

   The Imperial Empire of Hassid was in an uproar over the unprovoked
attack.  The only thing was, they didn't know who had attacked them.  It
would take some time for their humanoid race to find their new enemy.

   Jason, Leah and Jim sat down to private meting with each other.  The
subject was simple; Jim needed new ships, new technologies, and new weapons
to fight the Grays.

   "Father, in my prior life, I achieved the rank of Captain in the Navy,"
Leah said.  "I commanded a naval destroyer, complete with nuclear Harpoon-5
missiles.  My degree was in electrical engineering."

   "I see," Jim said.  "That explains your understanding of sensors."

   "Yes.  It also leaves me as the closest thing we find here to someone
capable of commanding a Star Ship."

   "Are you suggesting that I make you captain of the Prime?"

   "No, we can retro fit the Prime with disrupters.  For that matter we
could also retrofit it for any new weapons we came up with."

   Jim still knew his daughter, besides she had laid down groundwork for
more than that.  He nodded for her to continue.

   "Father, I want to command a completely new class of ship."

   "Father, I have to agree," Jason said.  "I would also like my own ship."

   Jim was surprised to hear their goals, but he didn't have any real
objections.  With both of the kid's knowledge of their past lives restored,
he knew they were capable.  The fact was, he figured all his children would
be capable.

   Jim said, "I find no fault in your arguments.  However..."

   Both kids groaned at the answer, but it wasn't quite what they expected.

   Jim added, "Before you can take command of a ship, we need to have the
ships."

   Leah and Jason smiled.

   Jason said, "Father, we need John for that?"

   "Why?"

   "John was a space engineer in a prior life," Leah said.

   "I guess I need to sit down with each of my children and have a long
talk."

   The two 'children' smiled at that.

   "I have used the Centauri's main computer to simulate the phasers
design, and it looks wicked," Jason said with a grin.

   "I have also been doing the same.  I believe we can build a sensor array
that will detect an object as small as a ship, from 1 light year away."

   Jim, "Good, what about shields?"

   "Electro-Magno-Gravatic full spectrum repulsion," Jason said.

   "Say what?"

   "It's a hybrid multi-phase combination of anti-gravity and holo
projection technology."

   "Anything else for now?" Jim asked.

   "Well," Leah said, "there is the question of how to get the Centuries
more active in the research end of things."

   "Yes?  Ideas?"

   Jason said, "We have all the old Star Trek episodes on DVD, I think we
can convert them to holo projections using the main AI system."

   Jim asked, "Is that so, AI?"

   AI, "How do you say on your planet?  Ah, yes: 'Piece of cake'."

   Jim thought of German chocolate cake.  He felt the need for a piece, and
briefly wondered if the replicators could handle making him some.

   "OK, then; send Johnny in next."

   The eldest left him sitting there, and went to look for Johnny.

   Jim thought to AI, "Well, has John been working with you as well?"

   AI said, "Yes.  He has designs for a one man fighter, and what he called
an armed shuttle, so far."

   "Please remind him as he is working, that I hope nothing looks like the
Enterprise."

   "He said that design would not be very practical.  Something about lots
of wasted space and Hollywood fantasies."

   Jim laughed and said, "Begin converting all the original episodes of
Star Trek, to holo projections."

   AI, "Complete."

   Jim, "That fast?"

   AI, "No, it took an hour.  Annette had me start doing those, 8 hours
ago."

   Jim wondered about her for a moment.



   The Gray home world.

   "The message has been completely decoded, Sir.  A significant threat has
tipped the balance of power towards the Man things," came the thought from
the computer.

   Gray Leader, "How so?"

   Computer, "They now seem to have Jump technology that does not require
the use of a gate."

   Gray Leader, "Have they entered hyper space yet?"

   Computer, "Not as yet.  We have the edge, there."

   Gray leader, "How long till our ship conversion process is complete?"

   Computer, "Four more years, Sir."

   Gray Leader, "Very well.  We will begin our conquest of the Salinas, in
the mean time."

   Computer, "As you wish, my lord."

   The Centauri home world.

   John reported to Jim on the two designs he felt ready to go into
production.

   Jim asked, "Why nothing bigger so far?"

   "It's a matter of power," John said.

   "What do you mean?"

   "Centauris use what is basically a large battery.  Granted, it's a
better battery; however, it has limits as to how much power can be taken
out of it at once."

   "So you need a bigger battery?" Jim asked.

   "No, I need a new power supply altogether."

   "What does Prime use?"

   "Batteries."

   "Oh."

   "I can design a small war ship meant for 5 or six people; however, it
will only be a little bigger than our ship."

   "I agree that we need a new power source," Jim said.

   John nodded in agreement.

   "Anti-matter?"

   "No, to unstable."

   "Fission?"

   "No," John said.  "Maybe a power metal system."

   "How would that work?"

   "Well," John said, "basically the metal would break down as needed, to
supply power in an on-demand type of basis."

   "Where have I heard that before?"

   "I think it was in Area 51's technology?"

   Jim waved his hand dismissively.  Then said, "Maybe we just need to let
our needs be known.  The Centauri people are most intelligent, after all."



   On board CFS Prime, docked at space station Zelta, in orbit around
Hector IV.

   "Comm?  Send a message to the President, 'Prime has a full load of
anti-matter torpedoes.  En route back to Centauri Prime'."

   The comm AI replied, "Sir?  The President responded that an upgrade to
our scanners and weapons systems will be ready when we arrive."

   "That will be fine.  Acknowledge message.  Now I have to go watch the
second session, so don't disturbs me unless you find a Gray ship."

   Sensor officer Lisa said, "Aye aye, Sir....  Um, Sir?"

   "Yes?"

   "Who is in charge of the bridge?"

   "Why, you are, at the moment."

   With that, he left to go to his room.

   "Well, that's nice.  Now I just wish I knew what I was doing?"

   The weapons officer said, "Well, you could ask your husband."

   "Well, if he was here?"

   Laughter followed from around the bridge.

   Lisa didn't mind the laughter so much.  It was just the shock of being
placed in charge.  She, too, wanted to join the Admiral and watch some more
Star Trek.  Then it dawned on her that the sooner they got back to Centauri
Prime, the sooner she could get back to the episodes on her holo projection
system.

   Lisa called over to a relief officer and had her take over the sensors.
Then she moved to the command chair.  Their were a few murmurs from other
stations, however no one objected.

   Lisa ordered, "Navigation, plot a course for the jump gate."

   "Yes, Sirrr...  I mean: yes, Ma'am."

   "Comm?  Set up a jump to Centauri Prime, with the Gate Keeper."

   Comm., "The Keeper reports ready, Ma'am"

   Lisa, "Course laid in, Nav?"

   "Yes, Ma'am, just give the word."

   Lisa decided that she would indulger herself so she said, "Jump gate
speed.  Engage."

   "Yes, Ma'am"

   Prime then accelerated to one-quarter light speed, and headed towards
the gate.



   Edited by TeNderLoin











   Chapter 13: Salina

   The Salina's world was not all that remarkable.  It was basically a hunk
of rock orbiting 2nd out from the system's sun.  The silicon-based life
form that lived on it, was peaceful in the extreme.  They had no weapons of
any kind.  In fact other than the fact that they lived on it; they had no
other use for the planet other than for food.  The Salinans consumed rocks,
any rocks.  Their digestive system was such that it converted the rock to a
high-density waste product called trillium141.  To the Salinans, their
waste was just that.  Excrement.  They could care less what happened to it.

   The only reason for the Grays to want the planet, was those same high
concentrations of trillium 141 on the planet's surface.  It was the power
metal that the Gray's ship's power system was based on.  Normally, trillium
is not found in a natural state.  It has to be manufactured.  However on
Salina, it was just lying around everywhere, in vast quantities.

   So why take Salina by conquest?  The Grays were well aware that the
native life forms made the metal.  The answer was simple; the silicon life
form was the bane of the Grays.  Worse than that, the Salinans saw the
Grays as food.  They needed to be removed from the planet, before
harvesting of the power metal could begin.  Up until fairly recently, the
Gray's did not have an effective weapon with which to kill the natives.

   If they used hand held rail guns, it was like they were feeding the
Salinans.  Lasers required too long of a time-on-target to do any good. 
The Salina would just rush the Grays, and gorge themselves on the soft
delicacy of the Gray's silver based life form.  The Gray's X-ray technology
had only a similar effect.  The Salinans also enjoyed consuming the
missiles and torpedoes the Grays tried using on them.

   Up until recently, the only way to kill the Salinans, was by nuclear
vaporization or anti-matter annihilations.  The weapons experts of the
Grays came up with a way of making an anti-matter 'bullet'.  It was fired
at high speed, and only contained a few atoms of anti-matter, suspended in
stasis.  When the bullet struck an object, the stasis field would collapse.
The anti-matter would then annihilate an area roughly the size of a
basketball.  Of course more anti-matter could be used for a bigger
explosion; however no Gray soldier wanted to use that at the close ranges
where they would need to be used.

   The Salinan War was not much of a war.  The new anti-matter weapon made
quick work of the hungry planetary occupants.  However, the Salinans just
went underground when they realized they could not overcome the Grays.

   The resulting occupation of the planet was very beneficial to the Grays.
Gathering the trillium 141 was then simply a matter of having crews go pick
it up off the ground.  Under the watchful protection of guards, of course.

   This stalemate would last for years.  In the end, the Grays got what
they wanted.  A limitless power supply for their fleet.

   One month after Jim had assumed the presidency of the Centauri
Federation, a meeting of the council was conducted.  Even though Jim was
uneasy with the ceremonial aspects of being introduced to the council, he
had gone along with the full treatment.  It was necessary.  He needed the
council to back the building projects.  More than that, the Centauri also
needed new ships.  In the end, however, it proved to be just a ceremony.

   All of the council, as well as most of the Federation, had already
watched all the episodes of Star Trek.  They approved Jim's plan for
building the military ships.  There were plans for one Carrier class vessel
for each planet in the federation.  They would carry fifty fighters per
ship, plus 100 fighters would be stationed on each planet.  There would be
built a total of twelve Battleships with a crew of eight hundred each,
twenty-four Cruisers, and two hundred fifty other support ships.  With the
exception of the fighters, which were too small, all would be equipped with
the new warp/jump drive system.  This system promised to be the most
advanced of all.  Warp speeds of up to a factor of 9 were promised.  In
addition, all ships would be fitted with both the disrupters and the
phasers his children had labored to perfect, much to the dismay of the
asteroid belt!

   Terri announced that she was opening a new research branch.  Its purpose
was to investigate other applications and answers to Jim's theories.  In
addition, a department of war technologies was created.

   One problem that arose that Jim failed to foresee, was the number of
volunteers.  The Centauris had caught the bug from the holo shows.  They
were clamoring in record numbers to join the fleet.  The idea of military
service was so glamorized, that the sheer numbers were overwhelming the
training facilities.  The acceptance standards were immediately raised to
such a high level, that simply to get into the training program was a
guarantee of future civilian success, even if the candidate never made it
through the entire program.

   To Jim's utter shock, the council voted to rename the war department:
Star Fleet.

   Annette and Jennifer were pleased with the honor being done to their
grandfather's vision.  Terri was amused at Jim's discomfort.  Rainer was
appointed Admiral of the fleet.

   In the next two months that followed, AI produced and revamped the Star
Trek movies, the Next Generation movies, and both series'.  AI had done a
very good job of 3-D conversion.  The result was a ground swell from the
people of the Centauri Federation to rename themselves the United
Federation of Planets.

   Aphina even introduced legislation to create 'the prime directive'.  The
Flowsman family was most amused at this.  Jim himself had to admit that it
was the best idea he had ever considered.  The fact that the Centauri's
were mimicking Gene's ideas so closely was encouraging to Jim.  He hoped it
wasn't a mistake.

   The first battleship was completed and ready for its shakedown flight, 6
months after construction had begun.  The monster ship was twenty five
hundred feet in length, and four hundred feet in height, and in width.  And
looked like something out of Babylon 5, rather than Star Trek.  It had
already undergone 2 retrofits of the shields and beam weapons systems.  It
was armed with four 120mm sub-light disrupter banks, and six 155mm phaser
banks for FTL use.  A greatly improved shielding system, based around the
powerful warp core/anti-gravatic propulsion system had been installed.  Its
crew of eight hundred would live comfortably, as the inside looked like
something from the holo projection shows.

   The Flowsman family, the Rainer Family, and Lisa stood on the bridge of
the new ship.  Its dedication was about to commence.  The new ship was
designated UFP-1.  It had been given the name, of course, of 'Enterprise'.

   The new ship was ready.  Even the commissioning process was complete.

   "Helm, take us out of docking at 'mille' one," Jim said

   Jason replied, "Yes, Sir.  1/1000th impulse power."

   Jim looked at him, and then at the crew.

   Annette explained, "It's still anti-gravatic, Father.  They just renamed
it because it works in pulses now, rather than just 'on or off'."

   Jim smiled, "So if I ask for photon torpedoes, what am I going to get?"

   "Anti-matter," Jennifer said from the weapons console.  "Photon
torpedoes are a little advanced, yet."

   The Enterprise cleared its docking ring, and nudged itself out into
space.  Once clear of the construction docks, Jim ordered 1/4 impulse
power.

   "Well!  What should we test first?" Jim asked, finally relaxing.

   Leah was standing next to Lisa at the sensors and said, "Why the
sensors, of course."

   "Well, go ahead!  I didn't think I needed to order that."

   "We are calibrating the returns," Lisa said.  "We should be ready in a
few minutes."

   "Very well.  Let me know when you're ready."

   "Yes, Father." she drawled, rolling her eyes the way a child does, when
being told the obvious.

   Lisa reported, "Calibration complete, AI computer is scanning for
returns."

   Leah said, "I have a clear view, one-point-one light-years in all
directions."

   "Let's test the weapons system in the asteroid belt, before we check the
warp drive," Jim said.

   Timmy called off location co-ordinates of an asteroid cluster, and
added, "Targeting the disrupters on the big asteroid on the right."

   Jim said, "Nav, take us to an intercept course."

   Wendy replied, "Yes, Father."

   "Recommend full impulse," Jason said.

   "Make it so," Jim said.

   "Sensors are tied to weapons' targeting.  Ready when you are," Leah
said.

   "Range is zero-point-two AU.  Closing to weapons' range in 7 seconds.  4
,3 ,2 ,1," Jason counted.

   "Fire disrupters," Jim said.

   Jennifer confirmed, "Firing disrupters, Sir."

   To Jim's utter amazement, 4 beams reached out from the bow of the ship.
They were visible, and intersected the asteroid.  The 3/4 mile long
asteroid never had a chance.  The disrupters struck the center, broke down
the molecular bonds, and passed thou.  Other than the dust that boiled out
from the center, the view was disappointing.

   "Sensors show it went though the center.  There is now a hole the size
of a Volkswagen through the center of the asteroid," Leah reported.

   Jim said, "All stop."

   "Yes, Sir," Wendy said from Navigation.

   "Well, that didn't look all that impressive."

   Jason said with a grin, "You want impressive, just wait until we try the
phasers."

   "Don't we need to be at warp to do that?"

   "Dad, as for our weapons, only the phasers will work when we are at warp
speeds.  That does not mean the phasers will not work at sub-light speeds."

   "Try the phasers, then."

   Jennifer said, "Firing phasers."

   The beam from the phaser was not visible.  The surface area that the
phasers hit, on the asteroid, was immediately converted to energy.  The
explosion was blindingly brilliant, as the tachyon-based beam struck.  The
conversion of mass to energy looked like a giant nuclear explosion,
complete with plasma afterglow.  No visible remains of the asteroid were
left, except for the huge cloud of dust particles.

   "Wow!  That is a better bang!"

   Everyone giggled at Jim's comment.  After all it's not every day that
one gets to try out a new toy.

   "Talk about a Christmas present," Annette said.

   It took a moment for Jim to come to his senses.

   "Well, kids, you can now hunt those bug-eyed monsters with your phasers.
You did it."

   The kids all said, "Thanks, Dad!"

   "I think we will save that hunt, for the real bug-eyed monsters," Jason
said.

   Rainer mused, "Bug-eyed monsters, hum?  Well, that does sound like a
good description of the Grays."

   "Ok, back to our tests.  We need to check the warp drive and the jump
engines."

   "We are set up for a course to Centauri B.  It is only a 30 minute
trip," Wendy said from her Nav console.

   "Start us at warp one," Jim said

   "Aye aye, Sir."

   "Engage."

   With that, the new Enterprise rotated thirty degrees azimuth, by fifteen
degrees positive bearing.  The warp coil fed up to full power, and the ship
inverted around the speed of light, to twice the speed of light.

   Annette reported, "Systems are running smooth."

   Leah said, "Sensors are clear."

   Jim ordered, "Warp two, then."

   The ship continued it's faster than light increase in speed, to warp
two, at four times the speed of light.

   Annette said, " All systems are nominal."

   Jim said, "Ok, then.  Let's see what she can do.  Open her up, Jason."

   "Yes, Sir.  Warp 5, Warp 7, Warp 9, Warp 9.5...  That looks like all she
has in the tank, Sir."

   "Very good.  Take us out of warp when we arrive in the "B" system."

   The Enterprise was streaking though space at 768 times the speed of
light, when Jim heard Leah and Lisa cry out.

   "5 Gray ships, dead ahead, 1 light year out," Leah exclaimed.

   Lisa said, "Looks like a mother ship and 4 cubs.  Located one AU from
the 'B' system."

   Jim ordered, "Battle Stations!"

   Jason hit the 'red alert', and the bridge lights were replaced with the
night-vision glow of red lighting.

   The computer announced, "Battle Stations!  This is a 'red alert'.  This
is not a drill"

   Jim ordered, "Take us out of warp right behind them, Jason."

   "Yes, Sir"

   The Enterprise dropped out of warp, two-tenths AU from the Gray's mother
ship.

   Jim said, "Comm, hail them, and order them to surrender."

   Rainer, "You may just want to shoot it, first."

   Jim gave him a cross-eyed look, but decided he might have a point.

   Onboard the Gray's mother ship

   AI, "Captain we are receiving a hail from a Centauri ship."

   Captain, "What does it say?"

   AI, "Surrender, and prepare to be boarded."

   Captain, "Where did it come from?"

   Sensor officer, "Sir!  A very large ship to our rear is closing fast."

   Captain, "Fire the X-ray Cannon."

   With that, the Gray's mother ship fired a powerful 22 Giga-Joule X-ray
burst at the Enterprise.





   Edited by TeNderLoin









   Chapter 14: An Imperfect Battle

   "They are firing on us!" exclaimed Leah.

   A moment later the beam from the X-ray cannon struck the shields of the
ship.  The convex shield glowed briefly from the hit.

   Jason reported, "Shields holding.  One percent power drain."

   "It's a burst form an X-ray cannon." Lisa said, "22 Giga-Joule output."

   "They try that every time," Rainer said.

   "Target phasers on one of their spy crafts," Jim said.

   "I have a lock," Jennifer said with an excited voice.

   "Fire."

   The invisible beam of the phaser reached out to the closest spy vessel.
It struck dead center, and the ship exploded in a plasma burst that sent
out a shock wave that wreaked havoc on the 4 remaining ships.  Each of them
were jostled violently.

   "Inbound torpedoes...  I count 7, no make that 8," Leah said.

   Lisa added, "Standard capacitor war heads."

   "Disrupter banks, fire on the mother ship," Jim said.

   The visual spectrum disrupter fire reached out its eerie greenish white
glow.  Four separate beams struck in four different places on the 1000-foot
saucer shaped ship.  They passed through it like the proverbial 'knife
though butter'.  The first beam struck the main engine compartment, turning
the ships anti-grav generator into Swiss cheese, and disabling all the
ship's propulsion.  The second beam struck the bridge, the explosive
decompression sucked the twelve grays on duty out the resulting hole.  The
third beam found its way into the medical research section of the ship. 
The three being med crew had a leg removed here, a head there, and a left
half torso otherwise.  The disrupter beam did its job without prejudice. 
The fourth beam found its way into the torpedo bay.  It sliced through a
robotic loading arm, causing one torpedo's charging warhead, to slam into
the internal hull.  It detonated, and even at half charge the warhead
devastated the interior of the weapons bay.  The resulting explosion blew a
hole fully 230 feet in diameter out into the deeps of space.  The mother
ship went spiraling out of control, with visible plasma fires clearly
burning in what was left of the weapons bay.

   Leah reported, "Hyper wave comm is being transmitted by one of the spy
ships."

   Jim was watching the mother ship burn and spin away as he spoke.

   "I didn't think disrupters could do that."

   "Must have hit the torpedo bay," Jennifer said, a bit awed.

   "Damnit, I wanted that ship intact."

   The first of two torpedoes struck the Enterprise even as Jim swore.  The
explosion vibrated the shield, making an audible 'thud' as it discharged
harmlessly.

   "Shields down ten percent," Jason reported.

   "Target those torpedoes with disrupter fire," Jim said.

   Jennifer did just that, and three of them erupted, even as they were
disassembling at the molecular level.

   Two more torpedoes struck the Enterprise with additional thuds.

   Jason reported, "Shields down to 80%."

   Jennifer frustratedly said, "It's too close for me to lock on!"

   The last torpedo struck the shield, directly in front of the bridge. 
The sound was much the same, though the view was bright enough to polarize
the viewplate.

   Jason said, "Shields at 75%."

   "Jennifer, target the disrupters on the next spy class ship," Jim said.

   "Got it, Love."

   "Fire," Jim ordered.

   Two beams flashed out, striking the rear of the ship, and taking out the
engines.  The ship veered, and started to tumble from the escaping gas.

   "Torpedoes...  fire one each, anti-matter, at the two remaining ships,"
Jim barked.

   Two independently targeted torpedoes streaked out of the Enterprise,
seeking their quarry.  Both ships saw the incoming torpedoes.  Having
identified the warhead type, they goosed it trying to escape.  The first
one zigged when he should have zagged.  The plasma bubble of annihilation
resulting from the contact, was huge.  The last ship managed to get on a
strait course hoping to outrun the torpedo.  Its captain had figured out
the maneuver of firing on the weapon, and tried his own version.  His x-ray
beam crackled on the armored hull of the torpedo as it closed.  It was a
lost cause, the torpedo continued to gain speed, and the gap narrowed even
more.  In final desperation the Gray captain fired a torpedo at the
torpedo. Oddly enough, it was a hit.  But the anti-matter explosion was too
close.  The ship was subjected to a massive burst of EMP energy.  The
result was that the bodies of every member of the silver-based crew
absorbed an instantly lethal electrical charge.  The ship was still intact,
but was now crewless.

   Leah said, "As best I can tell, they're all dead on that one, Dad."

   "What about the rest?"

   "Ship number two has two life signs on board," Lisa said.

   A bright flash came from the direction of the mother ship.  Its
remaining crew scuttled the craft, rather then risk it being captured.

   Lisa said, "Ship two is showing an energy buildup."

   "I just lost a life sign on that ship two," Leah said.

   Lisa said, "Power build up has ceased.  It's dropping now."

   "Admiral, get a crew together.  Take that Gray into custody."

   "You got it, Mr.  President."

   He left the room to go do that.

   "Jason, get your tractor beam on that other ship.  I want it."

   Jason, "I have to get closer first, but I'll get it, Dad."

   Gray Home World

   The AI system reported to the Gray leader, "Sir, we have a video feed
from one of our spy ships in the Centauri B sector."

   Leader, "What do they say?"

   AI, "You need to view this one yourself, Sir."

   The Gray leader watched the battle from the moment the Centauri warship
demanded the mother ship surrender.  He was shocked to see his ships
dispatched with such ease.  This really was a new ball game.  The worst
part was that his son was transmitting the message.

   Leader, "I want two flagships dispatched to take care of him."

   The AI, "Orders going out now, they should be there in 3 hours.

   Rainer reported to Jim, "Mr.  President, the Gray being is in custody,
and so far has done nothing but talk."

   "And what about the intact ship?"

   Rainer, "Its one hundred percent functional, if messy on the inside. 
The experts tell me that the EMP burst reacted with the silver in their
bodies and..  Err..  Well, for lack of a better term, Sir, they exploded."

   Jim looked at him, shocked at the idea.  It seemed like a horrible way
to go, but at least it was quick.  But they did have that ship.  Also, they
had a cooperative prisoner.

   "Very well.  What are we learning from the prisoner."

   "Well, Wendy has been questioning him.  She has uncovered that they have
developed hyper-space drive," Rainer said.

   "You mean they could show up on our door step with out notice?"

   "It would appear so.  However, he believes we have 3 to 4 years before
they convert all their ships to the hyper-drive system."

   "And then?"

   "I have no guess.  Hyper-space is not a concept I am familiar with."

   "Watch the Babylon 5 series."

   " Pardon?"

   "Watch the Babylon 5 series," Jim said, "they have a pretty good
representation.  God knows I spent enough time consulting on that series."

   "You understand hyper-space?"

   "Just in theory.  I didn't favor the idea all that much.  Creating a
separate dimension to travel through, was not something I wanted to do,
actually."

   "But you understand it."

   Jim reluctantly replied, "Yes, it is part of my theory."

   Wendy walked in the room just then, and said, "Hey, I like that theory."

   "Hi, Pumpkin.  What have you learned from our prisoner?"

   Wendy, "Dad, you are going to love this."

   Jim raised his right eyebrow at her statement.  Wendy giggled, and even
Rainer let out a chuckle.

   Wendy, "Well, the Gray's governmental system is royalty based, only
without all the pomp and ceremony we are use to seeing."

   "Yes...  Go on."

   "Well, basically, our prisoner is none other that the heir to the
throne."

   "You joking with me."

   "I wouldn't do that," Wendy said facetiously.  "Well, I don't have to,
this time.  He is arrogant, pompous, and crude.  But, unlike the subjects
his father rules over, he does not want to die."

   "So what was he doing on a scout class ship?"

   "It's a 'right of passage' type of thing, as near as I can make out."

   "So he had to serve under someone."

   Wendy laughed and said, "No, he was in charge.  He was just proving his
manhood, so to speak."

   "Now I wonder what this is going to mean, when they find we have him in
captivity."

   Wendy said cheerfully, "Oh, he already sent that message, before we got
to his ship.  They know."

   "What does the prisoner think will happen."

   "He believes his father will rescue him, and as soon as possible. 
That's why he is so talkative.  He doesn't think we are going to live more
than another hour or two."

   Jim did his eyebrow thing again.  However before he could frame his
thoughts, the computer droned out "Red Alert!  All hands man your battle
stations.  This is not a drill."

   'Shit!' Jim thought.

   He raced from the ready room to the bridge with Wendy and Rainer on his
heals.  The shipped rocked under his feet as he reached it.

   Jason said, "Shields down to 90%.  We are taking laser fire from two
ships."

   Leah added, "The ships just dropped out of...  Well, it looked like
Hyper-space."

   "What do they look like?"

   "They're monsters," Lisa said.  "Both look to be at least a mile in
length."

   Leah said, "I have multi torpedo launches, these are anti-matter
warheads."

   "All torpedo bays, full spread, anti-matter warheads.  Fire!  Now!"

   Lisa said, "I show, them launching multiple ships towards us, as well."

   Jim, "Warp 9, now, Jason!  Get us out of here."

   The Enterprise accelerated in an instant, the flash blinded the Gray's
momentarily.  It ended up being the perfect maneuver.  The distraction took
the Gray's attention off of the incoming torpedoes.  By the time they were
noticed again, it was to late for the lead ship.  All six anti-matter
warheads struck in a circular pattern, on the bow of the lead flagship. 
The front quarter of the ship was vaporized in an instant.  For the beings
in the rear of the ship, it was like hitting a brick wall.  Their bodies
continued their forward momentum, slamming into what remained of the hull.
None of them survived.  It was a good thing, as there was now a flaming
plasma fire moving through the ship.

   The captain of the other Gray's flagship stared in horror at the first
ship.

   Jason dropped the Enterprise out of warp, 1/4 light-year from where they
started.  Lisa and Leah where at the scanners, and continued to watch.

   Lisa said, "Oh my Lord!  The first ship is dead, no life signs."

   Leah said, "I show a plasma fire spreading through the first ship.  The
first quarter of the ship seems to be gone."

   The two of them, working as a team, described everything that they saw.
This included the fifty-eight deployed fighter style ships now in front of
the second Flagship.

   Amber spoke, "Blue squad, end around," she suggested.

   A smile formed on Jim's face.  The reference was to the maneuver used in
the 'bug eyed monster's game he played with the kids.  He nodded briefly.

   "Set it up, Jason.  Only we'll be using the phasers, instead of the
lasers we are used to using."

   Jason, smiling, reported, "Course laid in, Sir."

   Jim ordered, "Execute."

   The Enterprise once again entered warp speed, and closed the distance
with the Gray's one remaining flagship, and its escorting ships.



   Edited by TeNderLoin







   Chapter 15: Excelsior

   The Enterprise hurled itself at warp 7 past the remaining Gray flagship.
Its bank of 6 phasers fired at the rear of the ship as went by.  The rear
of the ship exploded from the hits.

   Bedlam broke out on the Gray's bridge.  Their ship was now little more
than a hunk of space garbage.

   "Emergency power" cried out the captain.  The dimly lit bridge was a
chaos of disorder.  So devastating had been the attack, the Grays were in
fear for their lives.

   "Oh, my," Jim said.  "Jason, bring us around and drop us out of warp. 
Put us at oh-point-one AU from the Grays."

   Jason replied, "Yes, Sir."

   Jim said, "Now to try it again, Open the comm."

   Annette said, "The channel is open, Dear."

   Jim smiled a bit grimly as he said, "Now surrender, and prepare to be
boarded."

   Gray ship's AI, "Captain?  The Centauri warship is hailing us."

   The Captain, "What do they have to say?"

   Gray AI, "Surrender."

   The Gray captain frowned.  Well as best as he could manage, given the
lack of lips on his face.

   "No, we will not be disgraced this way.  Send a message to all ships,
and fire at will."

   The fifty-eight fighters opened up at the same time.  It was a mixture
of fire, ranging from lasers to anti-matter bullets fired from rail guns.

   "Massive incoming fire from all ships," Leah announced excitedly.

   The ship's shields were back up to 100 percent power, but Jim was not
happy with the Gray's response.

   "I don't get it, we just took out their ride home, and they still choose
to fight?"

   Rainer started to speak just as the laser hits started to strike the
ship.

   "They would rather die than be disgraced by surrendering."

   Jason said, "Shields holding at 99.9 percent."

   The antimatter bullets started hitting the ship.  Small anti-matter
explosions were littering the shields forward.  They could all see the
basketball-sized explosions.

   Jason reported, "I don't know what they are using, but shields are
draining fast.  they're down to 70 percent."

   "Anti-matter!  They are using projectiles of anti-matter!" Lisa
exclaimed.

   Jim ordered, "Fire all weapons...  continuous fire."

   Both the disrupter banks and the phaser banks reached out, sweeping from
fighter to fighter, wiping them out of existence.  Some fell apart under
the disrupter beams, others were converted to raw energy by the phasers.

   Jason said, "Shields at 55 percent, drainage rate dropping."

   The beams of the Enterprise lashed out, wiping out every one of the
remaining fighters.

   "Shield degradation has stopped at 46 percent, power is building back
up."

   "Cease fire," Jim said.  "Target what remains of the front of that ship.
Use a full spread of torpedoes.  Fire now."

   Six antimatter torpedoes left the Enterprise at the same time.  They
homed in on the hulk of the remaining ship.  It didn't take long.  Soon it
was all over.  The Gray's ship erupted in a plasma burst.  What little
remained, was a scrap heap of twisted metal.

   Everyone stared at the carnage they had just inflicted on the Grays. 
Jim thought to himself that it was just too much like murder for him. 
True, they were under fire.  True they had just won.  But it didn't set
well with him.

   He felt Rainer's hand on his shoulder as he spoke, "It's hard, I know.
But they are not people.  You have to remember...  they are not people."

   Jim sighed.  It was true...  they were not people.  Maybe he could live
with it because of that.

   "You are correct, but I still grieve at the senseless losses they took."

   Annette wrapped her arms around him.

   "Love, its always hard to take life.  If you didn't feel for the loss,
you would be less than human."

   Jim sighed again.

   Gray Home World

   AI report, "We have lost contact with the flags."

   Gray Leader, "Did they kill that traitorous son of mine?"

   AI, "Unknown, last contact from the ships was that they were engaging
the Centauri's ship.  Since then, nothing."

   The Gray leader's mood soured.

   Gray leader, "Dispatch the Planet Destroyer.  It's time to rid ourselves
of the Centauris."

   AI, "Specified target planet?"

   Gray leader, "All off them."

   AI, "It will take 40 years for the ship to arrive.  However, the
hyper-drive could be installed in 3 months.  The ship would then arrive a
few hours after the completed installation."

   The Gray leader thought it over for a moment.

   Gray leader, "Make the upgrades."

   Two weeks had passed since the battle.  The battle had been
re-broadcasted on all the Federation's media, hundreds of times since then.


   Jim stood by at the commissioning of the second complete battle ship. 
It was commissioned: the Excelsior.  He had two more commissionings planned
this week.  The carrier UFP Constitution, and the third battle ship, the
UFP Justice.  The Centauris were fast builders, that was for sure.  The
spaceborn dockyards, prior to being switched over to building war ships,
had been used to build gate ships.  It had even built the Gate, itself. 
Compared to the Gate, the ships were but pin dots.

   Jim looked over the dock, viewing it all around him.

   He walked with his wives, as shipyard dock manager explained the use of
the original design for building the gate.

   Jim, "So your telling me that you can build a Jump gate, here in this
dock, in less than a year?"

   The Dock manager, "Yes, we have all the tools and equipment in place. 
It's too bad we have to duplicate the effort on each of the 27 planets, to
build the Gates."

   Jim, "So why not build them here, and just move them to where you want
them?"

   The dock manager chuckled, "Because it would take hundreds of thousands
of years to get them where we want them."

   "I see," Jim said.  "But with the warp drive technology, we could have
them in right area, within days."

   The dockyard manager stopped laughing.

   Terri Flowsman spoke, "Are you saying we could build the gates and then
colonize the planets using the gate to do so?"

   Jim smiled, "I don't see why not."

   The Dock manager spoke in awe, "It will revitalize colonization."

   Terri said, "Yes, we are going to become a rather large Federation, if
we follow this advice."

   Jim just smiled.

   "Dad, its time for me to take command of the Excelsior," Jason said.

   "Be careful, Son."

   "Oh, I know how to hunt the bug eyes, Dad."

   Jim smiled and said, "Yes, I know that.  But you are still my son."

   Jason departed to his ship.

   The send off was a gala affair that lasted for hours, before the ship
finally set off on its shake-down cruse.

   Terri was waiting for Jim after the business of the day.  He entered the
living quarters of the Presidential home and was met by the wide beaming
smiles of his three wives.  He studied them for a moment.  He remembered
Jennifer and Annette, doing something like this to him once before.

   Terri said, "My love, we have something to tell you."

   "I think I figured that part out.  The question is, which one of you?"

   The woman giggled like schoolgirls.

   Annette, "What if it's more than one?"

   Jim gulped, and said, "Well, in that case; which one is it not, becomes
the question."

   Jennifer said, "You can try and guess, but you will be wrong."

   "Do I get three guesses?"

   Annette said, "You will still be wrong."

   Jim looked into each of their eyes.

   "You mean all three of you at the same time?"

   They nodded their heads yes.

   "Now when did this happen?"

   The woman giggled again, and Terri said, "Oh, when we got back from
Centauri B, I would guess."

   Jim gathered his three wives's in his arms and remembered that night.  I
wasn't often he came three times in a row...  in each of them.  That had
been one of those times.  He had still been hyped up from the battle, and
each of them had been like-wise hyped.  They had spent two hours in love
play before falling to sleep that night.

   Jennifer said, "Oh, before I forget, we have other news as well."

   "I don't know how you can top this..." he paused a moment, "unless Lisa
is also pregnant?"

   They shook their heads 'no'.

   Annette said, "No, not that big."

   "Then what?"

   "Oh, just that we tore apart that captured Gray ship, including their
torpedoes," Terri said.

   "And?"

   Annette continued, "Well, their torpedo warhead works by charging up a
capacitor with an electrical charge."

   Jennifer said, "We figured that if we ran photons directly from a small
warp core that was mounted in a torpedo...  Well, it would be much safer
and more powerful than the current anti-matter warheads we are now using."

   "And I take it, that 'a small warp core', means that it would work at
warp speed?"

   Annette said, "Yes, Love.  It would be a true 'photon torpedo'."

   "And just how fast would it go?" Jim asked.

   Annette smiled and said, "Why 14.  Maybe as high as Warp 18."

   "Whoa!"

   "She had nothing to do with it," Terri punned with a grin.

   Jim smiled at the reference to 'Woe', and then said, "Yes, I am going to
have to deal with her at some point."

   Terri looked shocked, Annette and Jennifer did not.

   "She is human.  She just has a technological edge on us."

   "What are you suggesting?" Terri asked.

   "Oh, just that she might be the original Eve."

   Terri balked a bit, but it did start to make some sense.  She would have
to think that over for some time.

   AI broke in, saying, "Excuse me, Mr.  President?"

   "What is it, AI?"

   "Jason reports that the Excelsior has taken light damage from a battle,
near Hector IV."

   The wives looked at Jim.

   "Is everyone onboard ok?"

   "Yes, Sir.  Perhaps my translation is not quite accurate, again.  The
exact words were: superficial damage."

   Jim relaxed slightly.

   "I am receiving the video record of the battle action.  Do you wish to
observe it?"

   "Yes!  Right now!"





   Chapter 16: The Gray's Strike

   Jim and his wives watched the battle between the Excelsior and the
Flagship.  The flag launched 80 fighter craft.  All were keeping Excelsior
busy as they had enveloped around the craft trying to prevent its escape.

   Basketball size explosions tore at the ship shields before Excelsior
went to warp and fired a single phaser at the Flag's engines disabling
them.

   Excelsior dropped out of warp .1 AU behind the fighter craft and started
a systematic sweep with its phaser banks of the fighters.  Before
completely destroying them.  They stopped firing because the Gray ship sent
an unconditional surrender announcement.

   The Excelsior pulled up next to the Gray flagship.  As she lowered her
shields to launch shuttles full of troops to take the ship.  The Gray's 12
remaining fighters struck.  The basketball size explosions of antimatter
pitting the hull of the ship.

   Excelsior's shield went back on line just before a powerful x-ray burst
from the flagship struck it.  What followed was nothing short of out right
slaughter of the Grays.  First the phaser and disrupter banks dispatched
the remaining fighters.  Then they watched in shock as Jason using
disrupters only.  Sliced and diced the flag ship in 100-foot sections.

   The now disabled flagship was without any hope at this point.  To Jim's
utter shock, Jason tracker beamed the sections, and sent them on a 3-day
voyage towards the system's sun.

   Jim became concerned that Jason was capable of doing something like
that. He would have to have a long talk with that boy.  As he thought of
what he could say to Jason, images entered his mind of distasteful things
he had done to frogs, in his first life.  Jim remembered being young and
foolish.  Was what Jason doing here, any different?

   "AI, do the sensors show any life signs in the sections hurtling towards
the sun?"

   "Yes, twelve life signs in the section containing the bridge.  All other
life signs have ceased to exist."

   "Jim, he may be giving the captain a chance to contemplate the error of
his treachery," Jennifer said.

   Annette added, "Such things do need to have a price, Love."

   Jim nodded his understanding.  He realized, in that moment, that the
justice Jason had dispensed was perhaps mild compared to what the people of
earth would have done to the Grays.  After all, this way, Jason had given
them time to prepare for their deaths.

   It was odd that something that seemed so cruel, could also contain the
opportunity for redemption.  Jim wondered if the Grays even believed in a
god.  When he spoke to Rainer on this subject.  Rainer was sure that they
only worshiped their leader, if they worshipped at all.

   Their prisoner, the heir to the Gray empire had clammed up after his
rescue failed.  Despite the evidence showing that the ships had attacked
with the intent of destroying everyone, he held firm that his father would
save him at some point.

   The council was undecided about what to do with the prisoner.  Ideas
ranged from spacing him without a suit, to slow death by means that would
have made Spanish inquisitors green with envy.  Jim had vetoed them all,
and continued to hold out that the intelligence value the prisoner
represented, was too great to simply kill him outright.

   Three weeks more went by.  The UFP had completed 6 of the 30 planned
carriers, and.  seven of the battleships.  They had also completed the
testing of the new photon torpedo.  Jim signed the order to replace all
other forms of torpedoes on the UFP war ships with the new one.

   News came from Wendy and Amber that their prisoner had still not
disclosed the location of their home world.  However they did learn of a
planet called Salina, and why it was important to the Grays.

   Jim, having no other target, he decided that if it was so rich in power
metals, it made strategic sense to take the planet away from the Grays.

   He sent Leah on a spy mission to the system.  Even at warp 9, it would
take a month to get within sensor range.  By that time, the Federation's
battle strength would have grown by 200 percent over current levels.

   Plans were laid down for the carriers to act as planetary defense bases.
The Battleships, when completed, would constitute the main attack force of
the Federation.

   Jim also made a request that remote sensor stations be build and
deployed, at one light-years distance surrounding the planets of the
federation.  The plan being that with advanced notice, the battleships
could respond to problem areas by use of the jump gates.  On paper, it was
a good plan.  The only problem was that they still had no way to track
ships in hyperspace.

   The Gray's Strike

   Three and one half months after the 'B Centauri Battle' (as it became
known within Star Fleet) a Gray fleet dropped out of hyperspace around the
UFP protectorate planet, Vega II.

   Twelve Flagships (the largest ever built.) along with 1400 Fighter
craft, accompanied the twenty-four mother ships, along with eight 'cubs',
each.  Ten of the experimental 'long nose' spacecraft, and one Planet
Destroyer completed the deployment.

   Despite knowing they were there, what few inter system craft there were,
were not armed.  The fleet approached the planet from its dark side.  The
47 small lights were growing larger to the inhabitants, as each moment
passed.

   The Vasgar experimental space station passed through the ecliptic.  Its
orbit approached the strange space fleet.  The two and a one-half mile long
space station had every eye fixed on the alien craft.  They watched in
utter astonishment as the odd shaped craft, one one-half miles long,
oriented themselves towards the station.  There eyes could not register the
fact that this weapons platform fired its enormous rail gun at them.

   Gray Leader sat comfortably on the bridge of his Flagship.  He watched
as the new 'long-nose' rail gun ships oriented themselves to fire at the
space station.  He was pleased as he watched the first one discharge its
100-ton projectile.  It was almost too fast for the eye to follow.  He did
have big eyes, though, in his oversized head.  The projectile was modified
to carry anti-matter in stasis.  It really wasn't needed as the pure size
and speed of the heavy metal ball was more than was needed to take out the
station.

   Gray Leader's face showed as close to glee as it could, when the
explosion took place.  It was a massive explosion that even ripped into the
planet's atmosphere, causing shockwaves for over a thousand miles upon the
planet's surface.  He sat in grim satisfaction at this new class of ship.
They would almost be able to kill all life on a planet, on their own.

   The nine remaining long nosed craft fired non anti-matter solid balls of
element 158, a dense mineral.  It took almost a week for the Gray's home
world's particle accelerators to create each three-meter ball.  The nine
projectiles raced into the planet's atmosphere at seven-tenths lightspeed.
They barely had time for the friction to create purple vapor trails, when
they struck the planet's surface.  They plowed deep into and through the
planet's crust.

   Nine plumes rose over the surface of the planet.  Each reached well
above the atmosphere, blowing gasses, debris, and air, free of the planets
gravitational influence.  The 32-mile wide crater created at each impact
site, quickly filled with an overflow of magma from below the planet's
crust.

   The ships AI reported to Gray Leader, "Sufficient damage had been done
to the crust of the planet to insure the deaths of the beings remaining
with in two standard cento-cycles."

   Gray Leader, "Continue the experiment."

   AI, "Orders going out."

   Fighter craft left the launch bays of the Flagships, heading in all
directions.  Their job was to take out all satellites and other ships in
and around the system.  They quickly accomplished their mission with
complete immunity from interference.  They even took the time to destroy
the space garbage surrounding the planet.

   AI, "Recalling fighter craft to safety zone.  Their task is complete. 
No losses"

   Gray Leader was again gleeful as he ordered the Planet Destroyer into
place.

   The Planet Destroyer was little more than a larger 'long nose'. 
However, it was designed to fire its smaller projectile, much faster.  To
accomplish this it extended its already long nose by thrice.  The rail gun
fired its projectile at only 100 miles per hour below the speed of light.
The projectile was also special.  Incased in element 158, it was much
smaller and had less mass than the projectiles from the long nosed craft.
It was meant to do one thing.  Deliver its payload to the very core of a
planet.  The payload was a simple device.  It was just a bomb with a yield
of less than 1 megaton.  However it was constructed of antimatter.  And
when it detonated it would release untold trillions of anti protons at the
speed of light, within the planet's core.  The end effect was theorized to
be equivalent of one metric ton of anti-matter, exploding at the planet's
core.  The science that came up with this monster, all but promised that
the planet would no longer exist once the process was complete.

   The fleet moved off to a safer distance, and readied itself to enter
hyperspace, once the effects of the weapon were observed.

   The planet destroyer prepared to fire, and the special projectile was
loaded into the rail gun.  Each calculation was carefully computed and
compared by five different AI brains.  Everything had to be set perfectly
from launch to destination.  It took ten agonizing cycles for the AI's to
agree on the settings.  The ship fired its experimental payload and then
reversed engines at full, in order to clear the area.

   The projectile sped along at almost the speed of light.  Still, it took
nearly eighteen cycles for it to reach the target planet, so far away had
the ship been when it fired.  The ship was calculated to be at the very
edge of the safety envelope, even though it was ten times as far from the
target planet, as the distance between the Earth and the moon.

   The projectile's brief purple vapor trail barley registered on the few
remaining humans that were alive to see it.  It struck the surface moving
quickly thought the crust and into the magma layer.  It's speed lowered to
nine-tenths lightspeed, as it burrowed towards the planets core.  It speed
dropped quickly as the density of the plants liquid core built up.  The
projectile's speed slowed to almost a crawl.  It was moving at less than
five miles an hour when it reached its target area.  The stasis field shut
down within the projectile, removing all safeties from the device inside.
The raw heat surrounding the casing detonated the pyro charge surrounding
the final stasis fields, sending them smashing together under extreme
pressure.  The anti-matter was crushed under the pressure, and the final
stasis shields gave way.  The reaction started, as critical anti-matter
mass was achieved.

   The nominal yield was a one-megaton nuclear explosion at the planet's
core.  The freed anti-protons raced out at lightspeed, until encountering
their matter counterparts.  The resulting annihilations of matter were on a
scale unknown since the big bang.  The continuing reaction reached out of
the core and into the mantel of the planet.  Then it exploded violently
outward, erupting the already weakened crust of the planet as if it were
nothing more than a popping balloon.  All the laws of physics were overcome
by the raw energy released inside the planet.  It literally blew the planet
apart into innumerable pieces.  The visual light of the explosion would
have blinded anyone in within two light years of the system.  The Grays had
shielded their optics for just this eventuality.

   AI, "The planet has been reduced to dust, Leader."

   Gray Leader, "Ahh, how sweet is our revenge.  More sweet it will become
in time.  All ships return home.  We need to reload, and do this again."

   It wasn't that the long nose craft couldn't carry more; it was a
complete lack of more element 158 that forced them to the home planet to
re-load.

   The final ship was completed two years after their arrival.  Star Fleet
had grown at an impressive rate.  The final Carrier was being commissioned
in cee (one hundred cycles, a bit less than two hours) and the entire
Flowsman family was there for the event.  Even the newest members: Terri
had named her new son Frank, Annette had a girl and named her Eve, and
Jennifer's son was named Adam.  Jim wondered at his wives twisted sense of
humor, at times.

   Jim was viewing the holo display showing the ships and their names.  He
wondered how the council had come up with some of those, as well.

   At least he had convinced the council not to name any of the ships after
members of his family.  Unbeknownst to him, construction had already begun
on twelve new ships of a completely different design than the rest.  Each
of them was to bear the name of one of his family members.  The two
oddballs would be named 'Woe' and 'Flowsman'.  The Flowsman was the first
that would be commissioned, and the Woe would be the last.  However these
ships were so big, that construction would take two more years before the
first one was completed.  They were miniature cities designed to be the
ultimate research and science vessels, with a crew of 10,000.  They would
also be capable of towing jump gates at warp speed, something very
necessary to the expansion of the Federation in the future.

   The dedication went off with out a hitch, as the last carrier was
commissioned 'UFP Defender'.  The ship's designator was UFP-42.  Its
captain was a bright young lad of only a thousand years of age.  He had
some of the highest ethical marks the new Star Fleet had ever seen.  His
shakedown cruise was to be a quick check of the protectorate planets. 
Earth or Sol III being the first stop, then Vega II, with Dermas V being
the last.  Captain Derek Dirk departed with his ship on a heading towards
Earth.

   Dirk exited warp one light year from the planet.  His sensor officer
scanning the space around them in pure fascination of the low technology
being used for space flight around it.  Dirk was amazed as well that
somehow, this planet has produced the likes of the Flowsman Family.  He had
been kind of sweet on Leah Flowsman, but ethics had prevented him from
dating her until now.  He made up his mind that since they were now of
equal rank, he would ask her out when he got back.

   After the expected thousand cycles of monitoring the planet Earth, the
Defender deployed a single remote monitoring station.  Derek then ordered
the ship to Vega II.  It would take over two thousand cycles (a bit less
than two days) to get there, even at warp 9.  He didn't mind, His
imagination let him see the star fields moving by the way the holo
projections showed.  He was given to believe that at speeds in excess of
warp 18 would actually allow you to see that effect.  He wondered how long
it would be before they would get to speeds like that.

   Upon arrival at Vega II, the sensor officer reported that he couldn't
find the planet.  Derek was amused, briefly.

   The Defender's Sensor officer reported, "I am showing anti-matter
residue where the planet should be.  "

   Derek went pale at the realization of what that could mean.  He ordered
the ship in-system for a better examination, and launched all 50 fighters
as a precaution.

   The Defender was on station for a week after reporting their findings to
Star Fleet.  The arrival of the Battle ship 'UFP Proxima' to relieve them,
being the only thing that snapped his crew out of the shock they were in.
After fighter recovery operations, Derek took the defender to Dermas V.  It
was a 3-day trip at maximum warp.  He worried about what he might find the
whole way.

   Defender dropped out of Warp, one light year from the planet.  To his
relief it was actually still there.  His biggest worry was now detection by
the people of the planet.  This was the group that had 50 percent of their
mental capacity intact.  They had advanced space flight, and were capable
of speeds of up to 1/4 Impulse.

   Derek ordered a full scan.  Once he was sure they had not been detected
he deployed the remote sensor station.

   He watched in horror, as the Gray fleet exited hyperspace at the extreme
edge of his scanner range, on the opposite side of the planetary system.

   It was an impressive array of ships.  He was certain he could disable
them all from warp; however the hyper comm.  message he sent out to Star
Fleet was detected by the Grays.  Their attention was turned to him, and he
had to respond quickly.

   Ordering his fighters to launch, he prepared to go to warp when the
projectile moving at near light speed detonated in his ship's rear.  The
projectile's inertia alone, insured that it penetrated the shield.  The
anti-matter warhead then vaporized his ship along with eighteen of the
fighters nearby.  Of the remaining thirty-two fighters sixteen were
damaged, fourteen were fully functional, and two had functioning life
support, but little else.

   The fighters that could move, formed into an attacking cone formation,
and accelerated towards the lead flagship.  The crippled ships managed to
oriented them self's into a defensive cylinder.  Praying that their
disrupters would work when they were fired.

   The remote sensor recorded and transmitted the events that followed.



   Edited by TeNderLoin



   Chapter 17: What to do about Earth

   The people of Dermas V took note of the space battle taking place at the
edge of their solar system.  They were more advanced than they had let on.
Having figured some things out from many 'coincidences', they also had a
complete distaste for the Grays.  The Grays were the only race they knew
of, and that was only because of the distasteful experiments that had been
made on them years before.  They were quickly able to ascertain that the
winning side in this battle was the Grays, because of the shape of the
mother ships.

   The single governmental entity on Dermas V was quick to act, and
immediately took the planet to invasion status.  Fully expecting an attack
from the Grays on their home planet, they launched their entire fleet of
in-system class warships of assorted sizes and capabilities.  Although
armed with light laser-energy systems, their most affective weapon was
their rail-gun technology.

   The Fourteen fighters from the UFP Defender opened up on the 'long
nose', closest to them.  Their disrupters turned the inside into vacuum
from multiple hits, prior to the fighter craft from the Flagship coming
into play.

   The dogfight was brief for the 14 UFP fighters, but before they fell to
the antimatter bullets from the 1000 fighters that engaged them, they
managed to destroy 87 of the enemy.  In addition to this, one of the
fighters managed to place a disrupter volley into one of the flagship's
engine compartments.  The crippled ship was left unable to maneuver, and at
this point was too close to Dermas V.  It would be consumed in the Planet
Destroyer's firestorm.

   As the Gray fighter craft approached the crippled fighters from the
Defender, hundreds of ships rose from the Dermas V's surface.  Many more,
which had been in space at the time, turned their attention to the Gray's
ships as well.  Their rail-guns inflicted significant damage to two
Flagships and one 'long-nose', before the fighters were ordered to deal
with the planetary spacecraft.

   All the while this was taking place, the Planet Destroyer was deploying
to its full length.  It had begun its firing calculations.

   Dermas V's planetary spacecraft were no match for the fighters from the
Flagships.  Being drastically out-gunned and out-maneuvered, they still
gave good accounts of themselves, racking up an almost one for one exchange
per fighter ship lost.

   Gray Leader was not impressed with his losses, especially after his own
ship took moderate damage from rail-gun projectile fire.  He ordered his
ships that were capable into a retreat, just before the Planet Destroyer
was ready to fire.

   Another of the retreating Gray's ships, was crippled.  Its engines were
struck with rail-gun fire from the rear.  The tide of the battle was
turning, and the Dermas V's president was pleased to see the Gray's in
retreat, not knowing that his planet had already lost.

   The Planet Destroyer fired is deadly payload toward the planet, then
opened its hyperspace window to escape.  It did escape, and prior to any of
the Dermas V's fighter's rail-gun fire reaching it.  The rest of the Gray's
fleet jumped at the same time.

   The pilots of the sixteen crippled fighters and the two derelicts
watched as Grays slipped away.  They also saw the projectile impact the
planet.  A few moments later, they watched the planet erupt outward as it
was reduced to dust.  They were saved from losing their eyesight by the
fact that their view screens could only display a non-damaging amount of
light.  Most of the Dermas V residents were not so fortunate.

   The UFP pilots sat in horror as they watched the death of a planet, and
of their cousins.  They knew that this war had taken a turn for the worse.
They awaited their rescue.  It came from one of the Dermas' ships, at
first.



   Jim sat watching the display from the remote sensor.  He was sick at
what he was watching.  But before he could fall into depression, he ordered
Fleet to scramble six battleships to the sector, plus two carrier groups.

   Jim and his wives were sickened by what they watched.  Leah seemed very
upset about the loss of The Defender.  Perhaps it was Jim's fatherly
instincts, but he knew it was more than just the lost of ship and life.

   Three days later the first battleship arrived in-system.  It recovered
the pilots of the sixteen fighters, as well as pilots from 78 of the Dermas
V's fighters, that were left with nowhere to go.  It was discovered that
there were small settlements on four of the other planets and moons.  They
returned the Demas pilots there, only to have one and all refuse to stay.
It was also apparent in short order, that the residents of the four small
settlements also wanted to leave.

   "Jim, the remaining residents of the Dermas System are requesting asylum
of us," AI said.

   Jim sighed and asked, "How many?"

   "Admiral Rainer reports the count to be one thousand and eleven."

   "Is that all that survived?"

   "Yes.  The report is, that the planet's population was 15 Billion."

   "Approved.  Bring them here."

   "Rainer reports approval received," AI said.  "He also says that they
have the wreck of one of the captured ships, with its drive system intact."

   Jim was pleased.  Now they would get some insight into the hyper-drive.
Hopefully, they would even be able to identify the dimension the Grays were
using.  From there, they could set up monitoring stations in hyperspace
itself.

   "AI, set up a planning meeting with the War Cabinet.  I think its time
we strike at Salina.  We need to cut off their supply of fuel."

   "The meeting is set for sixteen thousand cycles, this evening."

   "Very good," Jim said, translating 16,000 cycles to the Earth equivalent
of about 7 PM.

   Jim turned his attention to Leah.  They went out to the presidential
balcony to talk.  Leah had wanted her own ship, however she had given it up
in favor of staying aboard the Enterprise, with her father.

   "So what is it that is really bothering you, Honey?" Jim asked in a
concerned tone.

   "Dad, the loss of a whole planet, its too much!"

   "You know that's not what I am talking about."

   Leah sighed in resignation.

   "I think Derek was fond of me."

   Jim thought for a moment of the way his daughter was wording that.

   "I think the feeling may have been mutual."

   "Yes, Dad.  I liked him a lot."

   "I see," he said.  Then he shifted gears, "I am going to take a fleet to
Salina and take the planet away from the Grays."

   "Are you thinking about destroying the planet?"

   "Well, I know we can, but no.  The life forms that live there do not
deserve that."

   "So we are going to have take, and hold, the planet?"

   "Yes, we will have to hold Space around the planet, and keep the Grays
from their main source of power metal."

   "Derek would have been good at that."

   "I know.  Which brings me to another problem," he said, reaching out to
Leah.

   "What's that, Daddy?"

   Jim was always 'Daddy', when Leah needed to be hugged.  He took her in
his arms and held her.  She stayed for a long time getting hold of herself.
Finally, she recovered from her few tears.

   She asked again, "So what's the problem, Dad?"

   "The question is, what to do about Earth?"

   Leah blinked, then said, "Oh, shit!  You're right they are probably next
on the Gray's hit list."

   "Maybe, maybe not.  But unlike the Dermas system, they have nothing to
fight back with.  Nothing at all."

   Annette walked up behind the two of them, with Jennifer in tow.  Each
had a child on her hip as they came within earshot.

   Annette asked, "You're worried about Earth, too?"

   Jim nodded yes.

   Jennifer said, "Well, we could just send them a message."

   Jim thought on it.  Why not, they would know the message was from them.
They would at least listen.  After all how many back door inventers have
built a spacecraft that left the system?

   Annette added, "Of course, we would have to figure out what to say."

   "They don't have Hyperwave communications," Jennifer said.

   "Yes; and if we want the message to be believed, it would have to come
from here."

   "AI?" Jim asked, "Is that radio transmitter we had you build still
around?"

   "Yes.  The work was completed a long time ago.  I was wondering what you
were going to do with it."

   Jim said, "Order it made ready.  It's time we sent a message back home."

   His two wives's and daughter looked at him.  They had forgotten about
that.

   "I can take care of that, what message do you want to send?" AI asked.

   Jim smiled and said, "Oh, it has to be in our voices, in order to be
believed."

   "Ok.  You realize that it will take 4.6 years for the message to arrive
at light speed?" AI said.

   Jim and his first two wives spoke their message into the AI unit for
transmittal.  It said simply:

   "People of the planet Earth, stay way from Centauri Prime.  You are not
wanted here.  The Flowsman Family."

   "You really think that will work, Love?" Annette said.

   "Yes.  Telling them not to do something is the best way to get them to
do it."

   "How long do you think it will take them?" Jennifer asked.

   "A long time, by their standards.  After all, we did leave behind the
formula."

   Everyone grinned at that.

   "Its almost time for the meeting.  We have to make plans for the
invasion," Jim said.



   The war planning counsel was in agreement.  They did say however that
should we be unable to hold the planet, then Star Fleet was authorized to
destroy Salina.  Jim did not even want to think of it.  But even a
President needed operational parameters within which to do his work.

   The Carriers Hothwort and Lexington were chosen for the mission.  Along
with the battle ships Enterprise, Defiant, Excelsior, Prime II, Gale and
Avenger.

   In addition to the battle plans, the two battleships and the two carrier
groups that had been dispatched to Sol, were ordered to hide on the side of
Jupiter that was hidden from Earth.

   The time came for deployment.  The protectorate's group was the first to
be dispatched.  At warp 9, Earth was little more than a day away.  But Jim
was not going to be able to rest until Earth was safe.

   Jim sat down in the command chair on the Enterprise.  He was feeling
very comfortable.  As he looked around at the crew.  He saw that 'the crew'
was his whole family; even Jason was there, sitting at the helm.  He
reflected for a moment, and then realized that this was the reason no one
objected to him leaving on the mission.  They were all at his side.

   "Jason?" Jim asked, "What about the Excelsior?"

   Jason, "My first officer is ready for command.  Besides, my place is on
the Enterprise, at your side."

   Tears weld up in Jim's eyes.  He looked at each member of his family in
turn, they each nodded to him.  All he could do was grin.

   Johnny said, "No 'Raised Eyebrow'?"

   The happiness of the moment was turned to laughter, as the group
considered Jim's eyebrow.

   Jim was laughing hard, when he suggested that next they were going to
want him to bob his ears.  It had the affect of extending the families
laughter for some time.

   Jim finely calmed down, and issued his orders.

   "Open the comm to Fleet."

   Annette said, "Comm open.  All ships reply 'ready'."

   Jim ordered, "All ships break orbit, and form up in warp transit
formation number one."

   "All ships have acknowledged and are breaking orbit now."

   It took ten Earth minutes for the fleet to get into position.

   Lisa reported, "All ships are in position"

   "Send to all ships: warp one in one cycle."

   Annette said, "Message acknowledged."

   The moment was almost upon them, when the Excelsior jumped into warp,
ahead of everyone else.  Jim just looked on in shock.  Ship after ship
entered warp, within several seconds of each other, but in no discernable
pattern.

   "What's going on?"

   Jennifer said, "Oh my, Jim.  A cycle is a length of time that varies
from planet to planet.  I don't think there is a standard."

   Jim spoke grimly, saying, "Engage warp drive.  Let's catch up, and
figure this out."

   Jason reported, "Engaging warp drive."

   "It's going to take two weeks at warp nine, for us to get to the target
planet.  I want this timing issue fixed before we get even half way there.
Time is often a critical element in battle.  We cannot afford this type of
error, again."

   The people on the bridge nodded in agreement.

   "Send to all ships: Reform into pattern one at maximum safest speed."

   "All ships acknowledge," Annette said.

   "Shit!  What a mess!"



   Chapter 18: Timing

   It took the fleet the better part of 30 standard Earth minutes to form
back up into their correct positions.  Jim was gravely concerned about the
problem.

   "Loved one, why is this so important to you?" Terri asked, as she
kneaded his shoulders, trying to relax him.

   Jim relaxed some under her touch.

   "Because timing can be everything in a battle.  Besides, if Excelsior's
position had been behind another ship when it went into warp early... 
Well, it wouldn't have been a very good day for either ship."

   Terri, now having an understanding of his worry, increased her rub down
on his back.

   She said, "I see.  So, pick a standard cycle of time you want to follow,
and direct everyone to follow it."

   Jim, "No, I see to many differences in the process.  One mistake in
understanding, and we will have a disaster on our hands."

   Jason said, "Dad?  We could create Star Date, now."

   "That's a wonderful idea," Annette said.

   Jennifer said, "You could start keeping Captain's logs, also."

   Jim turned it over in his head, as Terri's ministrations caused the
tension to leave his body.

   "Tell me more about this Star Date idea," Jim said.

   Leah said, "Oh.  It's simple, Dad.  You pick a significant date out of
history, and start your calendar from there."

   "That's the Star DATE.  You still have to set a standardized time
keeping system," Jason said.

   "Based on what planet?"

   "Why, none of them," Jason replied.  "You create a perfect clock."

   "Tell me what is your idea of a perfect clock is," Jim said.

   Jason replied slowly, while thinking.

   "Well, Earth clocks are based on a 24 hour day.  One earth rotation
equaling one day."

   Terry said, "That's similar to Cycles, but we don't have hours, only
cycles.  And time is based on Prime's rotation, if you are from Prime."

   "And other planets in the federation have their cycles based on their
rotation?" Jim asked.

   "Dad, the problem was caused because of communications.  You may want to
standardize the language, as well," Amber said.

   "That would never work," Terri said.  "People love their language so
much.  Besides, the interpreter can handle the language conversion nicely."

   "Like it handled my order to go to warp in one cycle?"

   "Oh!  I guess I see your point."

   "We could make the language English," Timmy said.

   Jim looked at Timmy as if he was ready to wash his son's mouth out with
soap.

   Timmy, seeing his father look, offered, "Then again, maybe not."

   "First, the time problem," Jim said.

   "I know," Annette said, "we set the date to begin at the moment warp
drive was first engaged."

   The murmurs on the bridge were in agreement to this.

   "Ok, that sound good," Jim said.  "So what would that make today?"

   "You have to set up the perfect clock first," Jennifer said.

   "Your on, Jason," Jim said.  "Let's hear your idea."

   "Well, first, you need a standard unchanging base unit.  Like say, the
time it takes an electron to make one orbit of the nucleus of a hydrogen
atom."

   "What about temperature?"

   "Simple.  Set temperature at the beginning of the gaseous state: when
hydrogen goes from its liquid state to a gas."

   "An what would you call that?"

   "An orb, for one orbit."

   "Ok, that is a rather short time," Jim said wryly.  "It might be kind of
hard to express time in powers."

   "Yes," Jason agreed.  "'I will meet you in 10 to the 28th power', would
not be the best of methods to use in speaking of time intervals."

   Jim nodded, and many giggles could be heard on the bridge.

   "So, then you set the next unit up to be 10 orbs of the electron.  You
would call that a micro-orb."

   "I think I see where you are going.  Base the set, at powers of 10, up
until we have useful meanings to the passage of time."

   "Correct.  When we get to that point, we call each unit a mille-cycle."

   "So what would a mille-cycle be equivalent to?" Jim asked.

   "Almost a second, to us.  Then we increase by a power of 10 and call it
a centi-cycle.  Followed by another power of 10, to a full cycle."

   "And a full cycle would be about how much time?"

   "A little over a minute, as we are used to it."

   Jim nodded for him to continue.

   "Another power of ten, and we have something about 1.4 times the length
of our hour.  We could call it...  Damn!  I can't think, Centauri has no
concept of hours in their language."

   "Well, what about the next power of ten, then?"

   "Well, that would be what we would set as a standard day," Jason said.
"We would call it a 'solar day'."

   Jim frowned at the name, but liked the concept.

   "Ok, whatever we call it," Jim said, "we have a day.  Now what?  Set the
year to 10 days?"

   "No, we set the year on a Julian system.  1000 days," Jason said.

   "So if we set it up like that, what day and time would it be now?"

   "Let's see...  It would be year 3, and day 925.  The time would be 801
cycles.  With a 199 cycles left in the day.  So you would express it Star
Date 3.925.801."

   "Ok.  I like the concept up to the level of a cycle."

   Jason beamed.

   "But a day only being fourteen hours long just will not work.  Too much
of a shock to one's system.  Besides 1000 days seems to be a bit much,
could we maybe go with a longer day some how?"

   "Well we could use a different element." Jason said.

   "We're a carbon based life form...  What if you base it on carbon."

   "Ok, that's a few more electron orbits, so lets see.  Well I'll be... 
That would make a day 24.1 hours long, earth time."

   Terri said, "That's the length of a day on Centauri Prime."

   "Now a year being a thousand days long, sound, like a bit too much,"
said Annette.

   Terri, "There are 300 days in a year on prime."

   Jim, "I see, well what would that work out to be for a star date?"

   Jason, "Star Date 2.280."

   "AI, did you follow that?" Jim asked.

   "Yes, I have the math set down, however I still need the names for each
power you wish to be implemented," AI answered.

   "Oh, AI.  Just make them up, for now.  Set the standard date and time to
the figures Jason gave you.  Then transmit it to the rest of the ships, and
back to Star Fleet."

   "Are you sure you want me to name powers?" AI asked.

   "Your capable aren't you?"

   "Yes, but such a thing is too much of an honor for me."

   "Are you going to do as I ask, or argue about it?"

   "I will do as you ask, Mr.  President."

   "AI, its Jim.  Call me Jim, please."

   "That is not proper protocol."

   Jim thought at AI, 'Damn the protocol, just do it.'

   AI thought back, 'As you wish, Jim'

   Jim smiled, "Now, what is the date again?"

   "Jim, today's star date is, 2.280"

   "Very well."

   "They are going to go berserk, back on Prime," Terri said.

   "Its about time," Jim said, 'tongue in cheek'.

   "The time is 802.03 Cycles," AI said.

   "AI, wait until I ask you for it."

   "You did ask about time."

   "Never mind," Jim said, "we will work on language, next."

   "Maybe you better just give that problem to the council," Terri said.

   Jim smiled and said, "Yes, that will work fine.  Tell them what we want,
and let them sort out the details."



   Gray Home World

   Gray Leader was in a foul mode.  He had lost half his fighter craft,
three Flagships, and two of his ten 'long nose' ships in the engagement. 
They had won, but the price had been too high.  He could not sustain this
level of losses, and hope to end the Centauri menace.

   He ordered the construction of two more Planet Destroyers, and 20
Flagships.  He had one bit of good news.  An almost intact Centauri fighter
had been taken aboard.  He was sure that the shielding could be adapted to
their ships, even if they lost speed to use them.  Anything that stopped
the beam weapons of the Centauri ships would help his cause.

   Gray AI, "Leader, the Centauri's are attacking Salina."

   Gray Leader raised his head and ordered a visual.



   Captain Log, Star Date: 2.42

   The Enterprise and the attack fleet have entered scanning range of the
Salina star system.  Sensors show that six Flag class ships, one space
station, and numerous smaller support ships near or in orbit around the
planet.  I intend to pass though the system at warp 1, and fire our photon
torpedoes at the space station and Flagships.  Then I will drop out of
warp, to begin what should be mop up operations of the fighter and support
ships, on and around the planet.  The two carriers will drop out of warp
after the first pass on the same vector but on the other side of the planet
from us.  We intend on boxing the Grays in, and 'terminating with extreme
prejudice'.  Captain's log: out.

   "Comm.  Channel open, please."

   "Channel is open, Sir."

   "All ships execute planned operation 'Salina Strike', on my mark. 
Three, two, one, MARK!"

   All ships slowed to warp 1, and readied their torpedoes for launch.

   Activity picked up on the Flagships, as fighters began to deploy.  The
space station even started spitting out ships.

   Leah said, "Looks like they heard we were in the area."

   Jim looked grim as he ordered, "Prepare to fire as we pass.  Our target
is the space station.  Hit it with phasers, as well as the torpedoes."



   Chapter 19: The Surprise

   The Enterprise approached the star port at warp one only to be shocked
that they were drawing fire from it.  This meant bad things, even though
all the fire was falling safely behind them.  Somehow, the Grays had
figured out how to see them in warp, but not how to hit them, yet.  But, if
they could see them, then the Gray's aim would improve, in time.  The fleet
approached their targets.

   As soon as they were at optimal range, Jim shouted, "Fire Photon's, full
spread."

   Six torpedoes at full charge left the bays of the Enterprise at warp 16.
Jim watched the returns on the view screen from the warp scanners that were
better equipped in providing visual details for the viewer.

   All six of the ship's torpedoes smashed through the relatively thin hull
of the space station before detonating.  At warp speed only one torpedo
would have been needed against this large, 'stationary' target.  The energy
transfer from warp speed to sub-light was adequate in itself to take out
the target.  However the station erupted in six different locations at the
same time.  It was as if time went into slow motion in his viewer.  The
exploding points of light grew rapidly, until they merged with each other.
The mammoth contraption ceased its existence a moment later.  All that
remained was the now fading gaseous cloud of heat.

   Excelsior had better luck as it had targeted two of the flags with three
photons each.  Their deaths were just as quick in coming as the ships
targeted with six each.  The fleet dropped out of warp with the precision
of timing that could only come with a carefully rehearsed and choreographed
performance troop.

   The Carriers launched all of their 50 fighters, immediately.  The
battleships moved in hemispheric formation cutting off all retreat in their
direction.  Phaser's lashed out, dealing death and destruction to the
fighters and support ships in their path.

   The fighter craft joined in the fray, and the 'harvest' was over in less
than twenty cycles.  Only one fighter was lost, when it was struck with
'friendly fire'.  Its own wingman had been knocked off target as it fired
its disrupters.  The loss was tragic, however, the victory over the Grays
was complete.

   The fighter craft were then ordered into atmospheric operations, to hunt
down all the remaining Silver-based life signs on the planet's surface.

   It took more than 1200 cycles before the planet-side operation was
complete.  Salina was now free of Grays.  The carriers took up a picket
formation around the planet, prepared for an extended stay.  The battleship
UFP Gale was to remain on station with the carriers.

   Five days after surface control was established, the first contact with
the inhabitants occurred.  It happened quite accidentally, as a young
Salina child strayed to the surface of the planet.  The reported interplay
that occurred between the youth and Federation patrol team was brief and
concise.  Contact established, youth was sent back to the adults, to
request a meeting in two day's time.  The Salinans appeared to be
telepathic.

   Subaltern's note: "They are a silicon-based life form that looks like an
extremely large worm.  The child we contacted was about 1 meter in length,
and 1/3 that in girth.  However, it did not give its age."

   Jim read the report, as the Enterprise and Excelsior were 'en route'
back to Prime.  He was pleased that there was going to be a chance for
negotiations.  If nothing else, he hoped that they would be able to leave
the Salinans in peace.

   Jim had retired from the bridge to his stateroom.  His three wives had
put the children to bed for the night.  No sooner had the door closed
behind him, than Annette told the computer to "Zero-g the room".  It had
been a few years since an opportunity like this had presented itself. 
Never had Terri experienced zero-g.  The foursome was going to make the
most of the opportunity.  Soon the tongues were flying without
discrimination as to whose chest they were suckling.  Zero-G was far better
suited to oral sex than intercourse.  However, much to Terri delight, she
found out what fun that could be, also.

   Star Date 2.49

   'Jim Flowsman: Personal logs'

   A report from Earth's sensors shows a warp signature from Earth orbit,
outbound.  It appears to be on a heading toward Prime at warp 2.  I have
decided to satisfy my curiosity and intercept the craft.  The fleet
protecting the Sol system has remained undetected.

   As with all things, there are others out there.  They, too, had detected
the warp signature leaving earth.  Only they had done so from a 'somewhat'
farther range.  They decided that they also wanted a closer look.

   So they came across the vast space of two thousand light-years.  By
their inversion drive, they traveled at warp twenty to get there.  They
showed up at the same time as the Enterprise.

   Star date 2.57

   The Enterprise approached the small ship from Earth.  When it was
displayed on the main view screen The Flowsman family could not control
their laughter.  There was a miniature ship about 10 meters in diameter,
with the characteristic twin warp cylinders mounded to its saucer shaped
sides.  Written across its front, plainly visible, were the words UFP
Voyager NCP-002.  Not only was it comical to the family, but the ship
looked as though it was being held together 'with bailing wire'.

   "I'm sorry, but that is the most pathetic looking ship I have ever
seen," Annette said through her laughter.

   "Oh!  'Grandfather forgive them, for they know not what they do.'"
Jennifer intentionally misquoted.

   More laughter flew from the family.  It was all they could do, to calm
down.

   "Sensors show three life signs, human," Leah said.

   "I show two warp cores, and power seems to be from hydrogen fuel cells,"
Lisa added.

   Leah said, "No weapons.  Other than its shape, its anti-grav unit looks
like it is a first attempt."

   "Dad, I don't think any Earth government built this," Jason said.

   "No, I am sure you are right.  Ok, let's give them a look at us."

   "I'll pull us right alongside."

   With that, the Enterprise maneuvered at warp two, to match course and
speed with the voyager.  Jim could swear he saw the looks of shock from the
inside of the windows on the tiny ship.

   "Have they tried to hail us yet?"

   "Short wave, coming in now," Annette said from the Comm.  console.

   "Put it on the speakers, please," Jim said.

   A timid child-like voice was heard next.

   "Hello?  Can anyone hear me?"

   Jim replied, "Voyager, this is Enterprise.  Captain Jim Flowsman,
speaking."

   "I told you we would find him, Grandma," came the voice.

   Then another voice, one of an elderly woman asked, "Jim, is that really
you?"

   Jim's face looked as shocked as he felt, he new that voice from his
past. It was Wendy.

   Annette, "Someone we should know about, Love?"

   "Later," he dismissed her question, adding, "But...  She has to be
seventy years old, by now."

   "Is that you, Wendy?" Jim called out.

   "In the flesh, you old rascal!  I knew I would catch up with you some
day."

   "Oh, shit!  Who do you have with you, Wendy?"

   "Well, I have our grandson, Don, and our granddaughter, Mary."

   Jim, "Our?"

   "Oh, that's right, I never told you.  I got pregnant that last time we
were together.  I guess I didn't...  Well, I am sorry, I should have let
you know about that."

   "I don't get it?  We have lots of grandchildren running around from our
prior lives." Annette questioned.

   "Not from 'Jim Flowsman', we don't," Jim said.

   "What's so big about that?" Jennifer asked.

   Annette replied, "Jim's children, and grandchildren, do not have mental
blocks."

   "Oh.  Now I get it."

   "Wendy," Jim said, "maybe this conversation would be better held over on
the Enterprise."

   Mary said, "Just beam us aboard."

   Don added, "Yes, please do!  Do you need us to energize our
transporter?"

   "You got a transporter?" Jason asked.

   Don said, "Sure don't you?"

   Young Don almost sounded disappointed.

   Jim said, "I've got a better idea.  Let's drop out of warp, and we will
bring you aboard with the tractor beam."

   "Neato.  We don't have a tractor beam," Mary said.

   "Dropping out of warp in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, now," Don said.

   Jason matched the maneuver, and soon had the little ship in the
Enterprise's docking bay.  The ship was met by Jennifer, and the ship's
doctor.

   Jennifer said, "Wendy, its nice to finely meet you."

   Wendy, "Do I know you, child?  Oh, my!  Where are your clothes?"

   Jennifer said, "No, you don't know me.  But Jim has told me all about
you, and his days at NASA.  As far as clothing goes, the Centauri's don't
wear any."

   Don and Mary said, "Neat!  Can we get undressed, too?"

   "I don't know about that children," Wendy said.

   "It will be all right, Wendy.  How old are you kids?" Jennifer asked as
she led the way to the sick bay.

   Don and Mary, "We're twins, and we're 9 years old."

   "Well, I got a surprise for you two!  But first...  Wendy, I asked Dr,
Warren here, to meet us.  I figured there are a few things you may want to
do before you meet Jim."

   "Oh, my!  At my age, there is not going to be much help for my
arthritis. A beautician would be more like what I would need, rather than a
doct..." she froze in mid-word, as she noticed the size of the Doctor's
schlong.

   Jennifer had noticed, but had said nothing about it.  She had been in
somewhat the same position herself, once.

   "Is everyone on this ship so, so young looking?" Wendy asked with a
fluttery wave of her hands.

   "Yes.  Seventeen seems to be the age that most people prefer to look
like.  That brings me to my point.  Would you like the doctor to make your
body return to age seventeen, again?"

   Wendy batted her eyes as though she didn't quite get it.  Then it dawned
on her.

   "Hell, Dear, don't even try to explain it.  Just have the doctor do it
to me.  I am not going to look THIS gift horse in the mouth."

   Jennifer led her to a chair and had her sit down.

   The doctor said, "There are some other options I can do for you as
well."

   "Later, Sonny.  Just make this old body seventeen again!  We can deal
with the details later!"

   "That will be fine.  Oh, I see your mind is still blocked at 10%, I can
also remover that, if you would like?"

   "That will be fine, Doctor," Jennifer said.

   The twins just stared at their grandma April, as the equipment was
attached to her.  It took five minutes.  Then the children watched as
'Grandma April' went from seventy, to seventeen years of age, in about half
an hour.

   "Close your mouths, children.  Its not polite to drool," Wendy said as
the equipment was being removed.

   "Yes, Grandma April," they replied in unison.

   Jennifer ask, "I thought your name was Wendy?"

   Wendy said, "Yes, it is.  But the kids call me by my middle name because
their other grandma was also named Wendy."

   "You know, it might be better if you went by 'April', here."

   "Why, Dear?"

   "Well, we have a daughter named Wendy, and it would cut down on
confusion in the household.  Besides, at this point, only Jim would be
confused by the change."

   Wendy/April stated, "No, that was the name he always called me in
private.  I am sure he will not have much of a problem with it."

   "Then it's settled.  AI?"

   AI answered, "How can I help you, Jennifer?"

   "Please inform Jim that everyone will be calling Wendy 'April', from now
on."

   AI said, "He has been informed and agrees."

   The devices clicked and beeped.  The doctor removed them from
Wendy/April, and the 'yellow alert' siren went off.

   "What's going on?" Jennifer said.  "Oh, shit!  He wouldn't have a drill
right now.  Let's go to the bridge and find out what's happening."

   With that, a very spry April and the twins followed her.

   Edited by TeNderLoin

   Chapter 20: The Gardorian's

   Star Date 2.57

   Ships log.

   After docking the earth ship Voyager safely in the shuttle bay, the
Enterprise now found itself faced with a new unknown ship.  Preliminary
scans show that the ship is occupied by carbon based non-human life forms.
All attempts at communication have failed so far.

   Star Date 2.57.997 supplemental.

   Eight hundred cycles had passed, and still no effective communications
method had been established.  Best of all, though, there had been no signs
of hostility.  They were stymied as to how to communicate with the
newcomers.

   "I am detecting an energy signature being directed into what I can only
believe to be an extra dimensional plane," Leah said to Jim.

   "You think that might be their communication attempt with us."

   " Either that, or they are asking someone else what to do," Lisa said.

   "Scanners show a large door opening in the ship's rear," Leah said.

   "Weapon?" asked Jim.

   "No, looks like a smaller ship.  Size consistent with a shuttle craft."

   "Maybe they are coming over to say hello," Annette said.

   "Let's hope that is the case," Jim said.

   The small craft exited the rear of the ship, and moved along and around
to the rear of the Enterprise.  Then it cut its engines and waited.

   Leah said, "They have shut down their engines.  They're just sitting
there, waiting for something to happen."

   "Ideas?"

   "I could tractor them on board," Jason offered.

   "Open the shuttle bay doors, instead," Jim said.  "Let's see if they
except an invitation."

   The rear doors of the shuttle bay opened to the depths of space.  The
crew chief looked out though the artificial force field to see the alien
ship just sitting there.  He waited as he watched.

   Then Jim said, "He watched us take the Voyager into our shuttle bay. 
Maybe he is waiting for us to do like wise."

   Jason said, "Ready on tractor beam."

   "Lowest setting possible.  If he starts his engines back up, cut it."

   The oblong shuttlecraft was slowly moved into the bay of the Enterprise
and was finally set down on the deck.  The beam was cut.  The ship itself
engaged some sort of magnetic lock, holding itself in place.

   "I guess its time to go say hello.  Jason you have the bridge," Jim
said.

   As Jim and his three wives went to leave, Jim saw April and the kids
standing by the door.  Well they had been standing there for 800 cycles,
basically, because other than saying hello to them, no one had offered to
take them anywhere.

   Jim hugged April and said, "Sorry, this has turned into a very busy
day."

   April said, "Jim, please.  Take care of things, first.  We will have
time later," then after a moment's pause she added, "I hope?"

   Jim smiled and said, "Come along, and we'll talk as we go.  Tell me
about the child I didn't know I had."

   They went out the bridge doors, and headed to the shuttle bay.

   "I know I should have told you about him.  I got pregnant our last night
together."

   "Please, we can get into that later.  So a son, what is his name?"

   April slowly spoke, "I named him Jim after his father."

   "So how is he?"

   "He passed away two years ago with his wife, in an auto accident.  I
have been raising the munchkins ever since."

   "Sorry, I wish I had a chance to know him."

   "You did, I was shocked that he'd never told you."

   Jim said, "I did?  Ooops, we are here.  I guess you should just stand
behind me and wait.  I am hoping that they come out, and the AI translator
can make sense of what ever they say.  This will probable take some time."

   April looked down at the kids and asked, "You want to stay, or should we
find a room?"

   Don and Mary, "Stay!  We wouldn't want to miss meeting aliens."

   "Ok, but be quiet," April admonished.

   It was at that moment, that the door on the alien spacecraft opened.  It
was an amazing site to see a door eighteen feet high open.  The first giant
stepped though the opening, and stopped.  It was followed by another.  The
first giant extended its elephant trunk-like pink arm to the next person
coming out.  It was helping the obviously ancient person out the door.

   The fifteen-foot tall beings went to their knees, and bowed their heads
as if in the presence of royalty.  The Flowsman stared in awe at the three
of them.  Then the older one spoke, his voice rich in baritone song like
qualities.

   "I am called Forthright, you are 'the one to be'." he said looking down
into Jim's face when he spoke in perfect English.

   Jim considered for a moment, then asked, "To be what?"

   He was a little censured of himself, that the thought that the being
might mean lunch, flashed across his mind.

   Forthright spoke, "The Father of the Federation."

   "Ah, Forthright?  Is that something yet to happen?" Annette asked.

   Forthright thought, then said, "Something yet...  Ahh...  No...  It has
already happened, and will happen again in time."

   "OK, now I am confused, how do you know English?"

   "You taught it to us, many years ago.  Do not marvel, it is the workings
of the guardians."

   Jim thought, 'Well, as confusing as this is, it's also made more sense
than anything else.  If Woe had anything to do with this, then there is no
telling what Forthright meant.'

   Forthright asked, "Where is Compassion?"

   "Where ever she wants to be," Jim said wryly.

   Forthright smiled.

   "Yes, that is her way, she will be a great mother for your race."

   "So she is Eve?"

   Forthright smiled and said, "Yes Adam, but that is the future yet to
come."

   "I hope this makes since to someone," Jim said.

   Forthright looked at his companion, "Bring me a seat, Lowsay.  I am to
old to kneel here for long."

   The one called Lowsay entered the ship and returned with a pole that was
about seven feet long.  He set it vertically on the ground, where an unseen
force held it upright.  Forthright stood and sat on it.  It was odd looking
to say the least.  Fully a foot of it slid into Forthright's body.  Once
settled Forthright began.

   "I am from the race long since gone from this galaxy.  We are a race
that will become known to you and yours as the 'ancient builders'.  We were
the first to create time travel.  When we found we could not live in what
will be called your future, we escaped to the past.  We retreated to a time
before long before any others were given birth.  We expanded to the outer
edges of the galaxy, until there was no longer room for us to grow.  Then
we moved to other galaxies and then beyond."

   Jim was not sure what he was hearing.

   "I am from the past, that you are going to become part of."

   Jim said, "I have no idea what you are talking about."

   Forthright replied, "I am honoring the request you will make of me, some
time in your future."

   "What request?"

   Forthright reached out a handed Jim a data crystal.  Jim took it and
looked back into Forthright eyes.

   "We call our self's the Gardorian.  You have called us the gentle
giants. The people of this time will call us 'the ancient builders'.  But
what ever our name is, you will be our salvation in this time."

   "I have no idea what you are talking about, but for some reason, I find
I believe you."

   Forthright smiled then said, "That is your 'Keb', that part of you that
is latent in your race."

   Jim, "Keb?"

   Forthright, "The crystal contains your own explanation, in your own
words.  It will explain all you need to know."

   Jim looked at the data crystal.  It looked old.  He wondered.

   Forthright, "Our race is still young, you will find it in the Hernia
Nebula.  All I ask, is that when you meet the 'younger me', do not tell me
what I have told you."

   The smile was genuine.

   "I will do as you ask."

   Forthright stood, and headed to his ship.

   Forthright then thought into Jim's mind.  "It is time for me to go, the
opening will not last much longer."

   Jim spoke, "Go in peace my new friend."

   Forthright smiled, as he looked back from the ship's doorway speaking
for the last time.

   "Go in peace, my old friend."

   Jim and his family returned to the bridge.  He watched as the Gardorian
ship retrieved its shuttle.  Strangely, no one had spoken once Forthright
had boarded the ship.  Even more odd, was that no one commentated on the
fact that Lowsay was now standing on the bridge, with them.

   They watched as the Gardorian ship went into inversion.  It sped quickly
away.

   Leah exclaimed, "Father, the last reading I had, that ship was traveling
at over warp 30, and was accelerating!"

   Lowsay finely spoke, "He is from another time than ours.  He must return
to it."

   Jim asked Lowsay, "How old is he?"

   "I do not know.  His younger self is older than old, even now."

   "Why did he leave you behind?"

   "I am from this time.  I am to serve as the ambassador from the
Gardorian home world."

   "This is just too strange," Jim said

   "I am here to join the United Federation of Planets."

   Annette said, "I think I need an aspirin."

   Jennifer agreed, saying, "I know I need one."

   Terri said, "I'm not sure what an 'aspirin' is, but I think I'll take
two, please."

   "When some one figurers this out, could you please explain it to me?"
April said.

   Jim turned to her and said, "Yes, we will."



   Chapter 21: P.O.W.

   Star Date 2.125

   Personal Log:

   The Gardorian ambassador has proven to be a most valuable source of
technology for the Federation.  Although he has not been able to provide us
with any weapons' technology, he is most knowledgeable about power systems.
The federation now has the technology to build anti-matter converters as
power sources.  This process defies mental reasoning.  However, the
technology does provide us with the virtually unlimited power needed for
space-faring, and it does so in the safest manner possible.  The best I can
describe it is, we put a small sun in a room, and capture all the power
coming off of it.  Anti-matter feeds into the reaction chamber one atom at
a time by use of powerful antigravity containment fields.  The energy flow
produces energy at a rate of 100 mega-joules per cycle.  That's more than
enough to power a starship.  Heck, it was more than enough to power any
number of large cities, back on earth.

   The ambassador has also provided us with the names and locations of six
other space-faring races, and twenty-two other races that are still
planet-bound.  I believe that he wishes us to approach these races about
membership.  I will take some time to study each race before we decide on a
course of action, there.  The six space faring races will need to be
addressed, first, of course.

   * * * *

   The first race was called the Bells, classification humanoid, despite
their blue skin.  They were reported to conform to human DNA, or close
enough.  (Great I though, just want I need a blue skinned wife.  Odd the
things that go though your mind at times.)

   The second race was the Faylin, classification: Reptilian.  They were
described best, as 5-foot turtles walking on their hind legs.

   The third race was the Altors, classification: Reptilian.  Best
described as T-Rex's with arms, but only 5 feet high...  at the hips.

   Race number four called themselves the Ostra, classification: Bird.  And
yes, they do fly short distances on those 12-foot wings they have.  (My
thoughts on this race looking like angels were dashed, when I saw the holo
image.  They looked like big ugly birds, feathers and all.)

   The fifth race was the one that concerned me the most.  The Cat'maral
looked like upright saber tooth tigers, and were nine feet tall.  They were
also reported to be war-like, and very militaristic in their outlook and
dealings.  All I could think of was furry Klingons...  Just what we need.
Still, it would be best for them to be allies; at least, that's what the
ambassador thought.

   The sixth race was the Barclays.  Descended from bears is about all I
can say about them.  However, the ambassador's description left you
thinking they would be 'teddy bears'.

   I have also completed viewing the data crystal provided by Foresight.  I
am convinced that I have somehow sent myself a message from the past.  How,
he/I did not explain to me on the recording.  He/I did, however, provide me
with schematics, and new insights into my formula.  To my amusement, he/I
even told me how to keep Woe from transporting away, next time she showed
up.  I have had the main planetary AI system construct the device, as well
as others, in complete secret.  He/I also told me that I would have six
wives.  Unfortunately, he/I did not name the two I did not already know.

   The main AI spoke, "Jim, I have the completed treaty from Salina, ready
for your final approval."

   Jim asked, "Did they make any other changes to it?"

   "To the treaty, no.  They are quite content to become a protectorate
world, which is off limits to all.  They have no curiosity, it seems.  To
be left alone suits them perfectly."

   "Good, anything else?"

   "They have a request that I believe would be best that you provide
them."

   "What is it?"

   "They ask that you personally bring them the heir to the Gray Empire to
their planet."

   "I am not sure I like the sound of that."

   "They do not wish to kill him.  They don't even want permanent custody
of the prisoner.  They are sure, however, that they can find out the
location of the Gray's home world."

   Jim considered this for days.  He asked the council for its advice in
the matter and found that they agreed that it was a good idea.  After all,
where better to exile the heir, without killing him?  Besides the chance
that they might get the location of the Gray's home world was too good an
opportunity to pass up.

   Star date 2.250

   The space dock's and Enterprise's work crews completed the installation
of the anti-matter power system, and of the new 'force field' based shield
system.  The brightest minds in the federation are still trying to figure
out the force field.  The part about it drawing energy from the very attack
against itself, being the baffling part.  The harmonics of the shield, were
simple.  My family was now in route to Salina, with the prisoner.

   The twin grand children had also proven that their transporter
technology was about as reliable as the old TV show.  I have not yet
approved its use with humans.  However, I am well aware that it works. 
There have been many experiments done with test animals.  The part about it
failing about 1 out of 100,000 times, is what keeps me from approving it.
However, for non-human cargo, the transporters are being installed, even as
we are en route to Salina.  They should prove very useful for cargo
handling.  Shuttles will no longer be needed.

   The new anti-matter power system has allowed the Enterprise to reach
speeds of warp 12.  This cuts the trip time to Salina, to only two days.

   * * * *

   Later that evening, in the captain's quarters.  "So, April, have you
ever had sex in zero-g?" Jim asked.

   "Not since that first night, on the way to Prime."

   "Well then, maybe we had better do something about that."

   "I knew there was a reason I never had anyone after you."

   "Oh?"

   "I like the way you think," she said with a devilish grin.

   "We do, too," chimed in his other three wives."

   Jim smiled and said, "Well, at least you have gotten used to nudity."

   "That was nothing.  It was the co-wives 'helping hands' that was hard to
get used to."

   "But no problem now?"

   "No.  Now that the limits have been removed from my mind, I have shed
those silly notions.  Besides, its fun!" she giggled.

   "Good.  I am glad to hear that because the twins wanted me to bring up
something else."

   "No, Not that!" she mock fainted, before she burst out laughing.

   "You all ready figured it out?" Jim asked.

   "I would have to be blind not to see the love between them."

   "So you will allow it?" Annette asked.

   "Based on what Jim told us after reading his 'time capsule' message, I
will have to get used to the idea."

   Jim smiled one of those smiles that could melt an ice burg.

   Annette said, "AI.  Zero-g, please."

   Then, as everyone pushed off the floor moving to get into position April
said, "Well, the kids tricked me into getting on that space ship.  I doubt
I could ever stop them from doing whatever they truly wished for, even if I
wanted to."

   There is nothing more debilitating than a belly laugh in zero-g.  This
night we spent nearly half an hour laughing at April's statement.  It was
the contagious laughter and spread around between us, again and again. 
They were a happy lot that they finally got around to having sex.  There is
nothing to compare with a blowjob, when the person giving it to you laughs
so hard that they bob their head right off of you.  It was like being in
heaven, you ended up getting the ultimate in physical relief.

   * * * *

   Star date 2.252

   The enterprise arrived at Salina, and Jim was preparing to go down to
the surface for private talk, and to surrender the prisoner.

   Johnny handed him the latest new gadget Star Fleet had uploaded into the
replicator database.

   "So they finely built a handheld phaser?" Jim asked.

   "Actually," Johnny said, "it's a Type I disrupter.  It will probably be
made illegal in a few years."

   "Why?" Jim asked in sudden concern.

   "Well, let's put it this way.  It works kind of slow."

   "You mean a long play time?"

   "No.  I mean it will take almost 3 milli-cycles (just over two seconds)
before it completely disrupts a body."

   "I take it, that means it will be painful?"

   "I would have a hard time using it, even if I had to."

   "Great.  I wish you had not revealed that little detail at the moment,"
he said.  Then he added, "I take it there is not a 'stun' setting?"

   Johnny shook his head 'no', at the same time as Jason entered the
shuttle bay.

   "Dad, are we going to take the prisoner down with us?" Jason asked.

   "That's part of the treaty."

   "The type one would be more merciful."

   "The treaty insures that they will act as his jailer."

   "So why do they need to talk with you, then?"

   Jim smiled and said, "Well I guess that's what we are about to find
out."

   The three of them watched as two security guards carried the Heir into
the shuttle bay.  The Heir was suspended in mid air by an anti-gravity
unit. It doubled as a restraining force field.

   "Well, I see we have something better than shackles," Jim said.

   Johnny and Jason grinned in approval.

   "Yes, humanity has come a long way," Jason said.

   "Well, at least the Centauris have."

   The prisoner was loaded onto the shuttle, and Jason manned the helm. 
Jim had elected to use the co pilots seat, next to him.

   "Well, maybe you should teach me how to fly this thing," Jim said.

   Jason smiled, saying, "It fly's itself.  You just tell it where you want
to go and how fast."

   "So the AI flies it?"

   "Yes, normal operation is handled by the AI.  However, there are manual
controls."

   "And I take it that is more fun?"

   Jason said, "Hell, yeah."

   Jim chuckled, and soon both of them cracked up.  Jason then switched the
shuttle to manual mode, and two sticks rose out of the floor on the sides
of the seats.

   Jason, "The right hand side control is for direction: forward/back,
left/right, up/down, sideways and inside out."

   Jim, "Inside out?"

   "Ahh, errr...  inside joke."

   Jim getting an inspirational vision of the meaning "I see.  So who do
you use it on?"

   "Just Lisa."

   "Ok, so what does the left side control do?"

   Jason said tentatively, "Speed?"

   "Well if Lisa sat on that one, what would you call it?"

   Jason didn't even stop to consider the answer, "I'll name that one when
we try it!" then he turned red.

   "Let's just get the prisoner down to the transfer point," Jim said with
an exasperated sigh.

   "Yes, Sir," a subdued Jason replied.

   With that, Jason switched back to automatic, input the landing
coordinates provided, and engaged the autopilot.  It was all automatic,
after that.

   The trip took 15 minutes.  Jim supervised the unloading of the Heir. 
Then he ordered Jason and the security guards back on board the shuttle. 
Once they were back on board, Jim heard them in his head.

   "You are as you say you are."

   It was a statement not a question.

   Jim thought, "I am here as you requested, with the heir to the Gray
Empire."

   "And the shelter for him?"

   "It will be placed on this spot, in a moment."

   Jim smiled then raised his arm to his mouth.

   Speaking into the new bracelet he said, "Ok, kids.  These are the
coordinates.  Just give me five mille's to step out of the way."

   Jim walked ten feet away, pulling the Heir behind him.  Then there was
the shimmering light of a transporter beam.  The survival equipment
materialized shortly after that.

   The Salinans thought to him again.  "Is that all he needs to survive for
the rest of his life."

   Jim said, "It will not be comfortable, for him, but it is all he needs
to exist."

   "Release him, please."

   Jim stepped over to the chair's force field controls.  He pressed the
power down button and the Heir was free.  As soon as he was free, he
started in.

   "You can't leave me here!  They will eat me!"

   "Well," Jim said, "if you had cooperated with us when you had the
chance..."

   "I'll tell you anything you want to know, just don't leave me here!"

   "Sorry.  A treaty has been signed, and you were part of it."

   The Heir screamed unintelligible sounds, and ran off as one running for
his life.

   A Salina came up out of the ground in front of the Gray Heir, 20 feet in
front of him.  The Heir screeched, and headed in another direction. 
However, the Salina was not that interested in him, and came over to Jim.
It was a small one, he thought, maybe fifty feet long, and just nine feet
high.

   It thought to him, "Their minds are so open, his thoughts betrayed him."

   Jim nodded.

   The Salina said, "The home world is Jokovata."

   Jim asked, "Will you eat him?"

   "No.  He will live as long as he cares to live," the Salinan thought. 
"We will use the transponder, should he die or become severely injured."

   "That is all I ask."

   "You are welcome to come check on him."

   "Thank you."

   "We are done here, then?"

   "Yes.  I will check on it some day."

   "Perhaps we can 'talk' more, then."

   "I would be happy to."

   "Until then," the Salinan said.

   "Live in peace," Jim said.

   "We hope you find that peace, some day."

   "Yes.  But first I have to do what I hate most of all."

   There was no response, and Jim left.  He looked behind himself out of
the shuttle's door at the arid landscape.  There was nothing here, really.
Most of all, their was a complete lack of water.  Even the view from obit
had not showed any clouds on the planet's surface.  Jim reflected and
wondered if he was doing the right thing.  Perhaps the disrupter would have
been the more merciful choice.

   Then Jim felt the thought from the Salina in his head.

   "You are good because you have distaste for what you need to do.  You
are great because you have the strength to do what needs to be done in
spite of it.  Trust in us to do as we say we will do.  We are all in
agreement with each other.  No physical harm will come to him.  Trust in
yourself and your children.  All of them."

   A smile formed as Jim closed the door.  The shuttle lifted off and rose
into the air.  It headed up on its course to the Enterprise, quickly
leaving the dry air of the planet behind.

   Jason asked, "So?  Did you find out the home world of the Grays?"

   "Yes.  We will send surveillance drones there as soon as we can."

   The rest of the trip was spent in a strange silence.

   Edited by TeNderLoin





   Chapter 22: Shift In Balance

   Star Date 5.002

   President Flowsman's Personal Log:

   Technology is a wondrous thing.  However, even using replication
technology it takes time to get it all figured out.  I asked for a coke
today, and was shocked when I got a tray with half a dozen two-inch long
'lines' of white powder.  Integration of earth foods into the system has
not been without its errors.  I dread asking for steamed lobster tail, with
drawn butter.  My dear wife Annette thinks that I will get a 'pen and ink'
picture if I do.  The matter is made worse by the fact that at any given
time (if I understand correctly), there is at least one-tenth of a percent
of the federation population that is asking the computer for the same meal
as I am requesting.  Fortunately, I was able to convince the AI not to
allow the replicators to give them 'coke'.  All I would need is to create a
bunch of addicts in the Centauri society.

   Since I mentioned technology, I should point out that the Enterprise has
been upgraded so many times in the last 2 years that I don't even think
Jason has been able to keep up with it all.  And if my miracle worker can't
keep up with the rate of change, I don't think anyone could.  There is so
much suppressed...  no that's the wrong word.  There is so much unutilized
technology in the federation.  We have found it best just to ask the main
AI brain if something has been invented, before spending hours working on
it, only to find there is even a better version sitting in storage,
somewhere.

   Speaking of Jason and his passions.  I have finely allowed the use of
transporters.  Jason is insistent that he has gotten the fail-rate down to
1 in 100 million.  I still don't like odds, but I never won the lottery
either, so I have allowed it.  I think that there would have been an
insurrection of the people, had I not.  They are so in love with the
fantasy life style of the old TV show, that I fear it clouds their judgment
at times.  My wives disagree with me, pointing out that they are living
that lifestyle.  All the show gives them, they say, is the sense of
adventure that is missing in daily life.

   An offshoot of this manifestation has been that Star Fleet has had to
turn applicants away.  There are many times more people trying to get into
Star Fleet than there are positions available, and it does not look like
the problem is going to end anytime soon.  Some of the people have even
gone so far as to have their ears bobbed.  Well not really bobbed.  The
doctors tell me it is simple cellular manipulation.  But I swear, I see
more and more Vulcans every day.  I worry that Gandalf 3 is going to rename
itself Vulcan one of these days.  The planet is already so much like what
the movies depicted Vulcan as being.  If I hadn't enjoyed the show so much
in my first two life times...  Well, let's just say I have concerns, and
leave it at that.

   The Excelsior managed to get some deep space scanners put in position 10
light years from Jokovata last month.  It uses an extra-dimensional unit to
transmit intelligence to us at a new receiving station called Com Central.
The good news is that we have identified the hyperspacial dimension being
used by the Grays for space travel.  We should have plenty of warning
before they can get to one of our planets.  I would like to mount an attack
on their home world and get this over with.  However, the best computer
simulations put our losses at over 80 percent.  I will not order people to
waste their lives like that.  Maybe we could sting them somewhere less
populated, to start.  I remember my history lessons well.  In war, the best
defense is a good offence.  I guess I am waiting for our offence to grow.

   Also, I have requested authorization to build three new ships.  They
will be equipped with the hyperspacial drive system, and their main duty
will be to mine hyperspace around our planets in the Gray Dimension, as it
has become known.  A few antimatter mines should make it much harder for
the Grays to get close to our populations.

   "I don't like surprises," Jim said.

   Terri replied, "You are going to love this one."

   "Just tell me already."

   "I don't know what it is."

   "Then how do you know if I will like it?"

   "All right, all right.  It's a new class of ship."

   Jim said, "What new class of ship.  I didn't order a new class of ship
built."

   "The council of judges ordered it.  That's all they would tell me."

   "AI, Do you know anything about this?"

   "I am not saying a word!  'Someone' would fry my circuits for sure if I
spilled the beans."

   Jim knew better than to argue with AI.  So he just growled.  And thought
to the computer.  "I would have been more worried about what I would do to
you."

   AI transmitted a thought right into his brain, "And miss the chance to
see you like this?"

   Jim grunted.

   "Woe will be there."

   "Great, just great.  You have the device ready?"

   "Yes."

   Jim smiled at that one.  At least he would be in control of their
conversation for once.

   Jim was taken to the space dock's observation deck.  The 'council of
judges' was there, as well as his family.  Once everyone was seated, the
head of the council stood up and gave a speech.

   'It's dry, it's boring, and worse,' Jim thought, 'it's about me.'

   "...And with the help of the Gardorian ambassador, this new class of
ship will serve Star Fleet, well after the war is over...  I give you... 
the 'Flowsman' class starship."

   The ship came into view before the crowd.  Jim was shocked by its size.
Worse he hated the design.  It looked just like one of the Star Trek TV
creations.  As it approached the viewing deck, Jim read the name on the top
of the saucer-shaped main section.  "UFPS HC01 Flowsman." He shook his head
from side to side.

   'Heavy Cruiser number 1...  What next?' he thought.

   The Speaker went on, "We have built 10 of this class ship, and are
building 2 more as I speak.  I would like you to view the other nine, now."

   Annette looked at her husband, "It could have been worse, love."

   'Yeah, right,' Jim thought.  'They could have named it with my first
name.'

   Annette said, "So I wonder what the rest of them are named?"

   So distracted were they, that they missed the fact that Compassion had
beamed in behind them.

   AI thought to Jim, 'Well, have her look closely at the first one that
goes by.'

   Jim thought back, 'You're kidding me?'

   'Nope.  But you will get to laugh at her, instead of the other way
around.'

   Jim was looking at the second ship that came into view, when he caught
sight of Woe in his peripheral vision.

   He thought, 'AI.  Damper field, on.  I don't want her to get away from
me before we have a long talk, this time.'

   Annette saw the ship's name, at the same time Jim did.

   "No!" she screamed.

   "You were saying, Love?"

   The UFP HC02 Annette went by.  Followed by the UFP HC03 Jennifer, The
Terri, and then The April.

   Jennifer said, "They didn't."

   Terri said, "The shouldn't have."

   April said, "I think is an honor, But where is The Jim?"

   Jim was getting more worried by the moment about that.

   The next ships were The Jason, followed by Leah, Amber, Wendy, Johnny
and Timmy."

   The speaker began again, saying the two unfinished ships were to be
named The Woe and The James O'Neal."

   Jim smiled.  'So at least they don't know the name of my mystery wives,
yet,' he thought.

   Annette said, "They should just name that one, The Harem."

   It was a bad joke, but Jim laughed over it, as did the rest of his
family.

   All except Compassion.  She looked in disbelief at the ships, and the
names on them.

   'Why, 'Woe'?' she thought.  She did not like that name anymore.

   The speaker spoke again, "The Flowsman class starship, Has a 1 mile
diameter habitat saucer attached to twin warp coils.  The top speed is yet
to be determined however Warp 20 is what the experts are telling us to
expect.  It is capable of housing a crew of 10,000.  Its primary mission
will be as science vessel, and jump gate transporter.  However, each ship
is equipped with the latest in armaments.  There are 8 Phaser banks, 4
Disruptor banks and 12 Photon launch tubes."

   Jim was dumb struck.  No 'torpedo bays', just 'photon launch tubes'.

   The Speaker said, "Now its time for the shakedown cruise.  So, Mister
President, would you please do the honors?"

   Jim nodded weakly, then said, "Beam us aboard."

   It was quick, that was for sure.  It was also slightly disorienting, but
the Flowsman family found itself on the bridge of the UFP Flowsman.

   Compassion was shocked to find herself moved by someone/something else.
She hadn't transported herself.  Worse, she tried to transport back off the
ship, and couldn't do so.  She was almost near to panic.

   Jim said, "Well, let's get underway.  Oh, and Woe...  just by the way...
There is an activity damper field in place.  You are not going anywhere,
until after we talk some."

   Jason said, "I need a course."

   "Let's check out Earth," Jim said.

   "That's going to be a short trip."

   "That's the general idea."

   "Course laid in."

   "Warp one, engage."

   With that the Starship Flowsman jumped to twice the speed of light.

   Annette yelled out, "Incoming flash message from Com Central.  The Gray
mother ship just went into hyperspace."

   "We get a course?" Jim asked.

   "They're heading for Earth."

   "How long before they get there."

   "Six hours," Annette said.

   "Maximum warp, Jason," Jim ordered.

   "Accelerating!  Warp 2, 4, 8, 16...  19, 20...  21.  Looks like that's
about all we are going to get."

   One of the female techs on the bridge said 'Holy Shit!' when she looked
at the Warp Indicator.  It had stopped at 22.2.

   "Umm, Dad, we're almost there."

   "Bring us out of warp next to the ships on station."

   UFP Flowsman dropped out of warp behind the planet Jupiter.  It joined
the Fighter carrier Constitution and battleship Justice, which were on
patrol there.

   Edited by TeNderLoin



   Chapter 23: Shift in Balance II

   It wasn't long and the Gray's Mother ship also exited hyperspace, just
outside the orbit of Pluto.  It turned as it launched four spy craft toward
Pluto, then its powerful x-ray sensor system was turned on.

   Jim spoke, "Fleet to Red Alert." After the alert sounded for a few
moments, he said, "Sound off."

   The tech on the bridge silenced the audio portion of the alarm.

   The four spy craft had spread out and were racing to maximum observation
positions.  None of the ships noted the three Federation vessels.

   Leah said, "They're dispersing onto an observation pattern."

   Jason added, "Probably a pre-lookout for their next raiding party."

   "Do you think Earth will be the next target?" Annette said.

   "That would follow along the pattern we have seen so far," Jim said.

   "The Carrier Constitution reports they are launching their fighters to
attack," Annette said from her Com console.

   "Tell them to complete the launch, but to wait for my orders before
attacking."

   "Jim, he wants to know who you are."

   "Tell him, then."

   "I was afraid of that," Annette said, as she received the Constitution's
reply.

   "What's that?"

   "Oh, every time I mention your name they become all apologetic, and it
takes five times longer than it should to relay a message."

   "You're kidding me."

   "Dad, Jason and I have seen the same thing, when we were commanding
ships."

   "Love?  Have you considered that it might not be a good idea to let them
see this ship, yet?" Jennifer said.

   Jim sighed, saying, "Order the fleet to engage the enemy craft at will.
Terminate them."

   The Alpha Squadron of fighters approached the first spy ship.  It didn't
even see them coming, until the lead fighter's disrupter punched a hole
though the ship the size of a golf ball.  By then it was to late.  The
three being crew was sucked, one at a time, out the opening, and into the
cold of space.  Not that any of them lived though the process of being
withdrawn from their ship.  They would have been torn to pieces, normally,
but sometimes things happen in funny ways.  Today, they floated out looking
like sausages.  Their ship still had power, but scanners showed no life
signs on board.  The fighters moved on.

   The mother ship's AI unit noted the loss of cabin pressure in one of the
scout ships, and then found the reason.  The humans would not get a free
shot like that again.  It ordered the rest of its spy craft to war status,
and powered up its new shielding system.

   'There!' thought the commander.  'Let them try to get though that!'

   Beta Squadron closed on the second spy craft just as it fired its x-ray
cannon.  The shields around the canopies of the fighters flared into life.
It would have been blinding if the auto darkening of the canopy had not
kicked in before the light show could have a bad effect.

   Beta Leader fired his disrupter beams at the spy craft.  Then stared in
shock as a similar show of lights appeared around the spy ship.

   "Beta Leader to all ships...  Looks like they have shielding, now."

   "Order the battleship Justice into the action."

   "The captain acknowledges."

   The family watched as the battle ship approached the mother ship.  Once
again it was the Grays that fired first.  To everyone's shock, a heavy
barrage of particle beams struck the battleship.  The light show was
intense.

   "Battleship reports sustaining heavy fire.  Shields down to sixty
percent."

   The battleship fired all six of its phaser banks at the mother ship. 
The hits had an affect, but didn't kill the mother ship.

   The Gray mother ship rocked under the assault.  One of the bridge crew
was even thrown to the ceiling when artificial gravity failed for a moment.
He splattered there like a fly swatted onto a wall.  His thick metallic
looking blood dripped from the ceiling, some of which landed on the mother
ship commander's head, much to his annoyance.

   The Gray ship scored the first break though in the shields as volleys of
phaser and particle beams traded turns firing.

   The strike was mid ship.  It punched though the shields.  It then went
through the armor as though it was so much butter.  The heavy particle
blast hit an ensign manning the engineering post in that section of the
ship.  The force of the blast smashed his body into the wall and flatted it
out.  It was a mercifully quick death for him.  The wall was rendered into
twisted metal before the beam lost its energy.  The damage was minor other
than the hull breach.  The internal safety fields established a force field
around the opening before more than a few liters of air could escape.

   Alpha Squadron was engaged in a death dance with the second spy craft.
Even with the new shielding the small spy ship was no match for the
fighters.  Its armament totally lacked the firepower that would be
affective against the humans.  It headed towards the safety of the mother
ship.  Seeing what it was doing the other two spy craft followed suit.

   The first spy ship did not get very far.  The disrupter fire from seven
of the fighters collided with the rear shield at the same point and time.
The energy release was huge, but the beams penetrated the engines of the
spy ship, turning it into a tangled mess of metal.  None of the crew died,
but their ship did.  Dead, it would have to sit there until later.  It was
out of the action, for now.

   Beta Squadron reached the mother ship at the same time as the spy ships.
The mother ship switched its attention to the fighters, and unleashed a
blast of particle beam energy at them.  The small fighters did not have a
chance against the heavy fire.  One then two and finally all three of them
were wiped out of existence, even as the spy craft docked with the ship.

   Jim and his family watched in horror as the reality set in.  The Grays
had shields now.  Worse, they had an effective weapon against the humans.

   "Jason take us into the fire.  Arm photon banks.  Full spread on my
mark."

   "In range, now!" he shouted."

   A volley of fire struck the Flowsman on the lead end of the saucer
section.

   Leah said calmly, "Shield strength UP one percent."

   Be for Jim could register the oddity of the statement he said, "Fire."

   Jennifer reported, "Firing."

   The 12 photons left the ship at the same time.  All aimed at the mother
ship that had just recovered the last spy ship.  Jim and his family watched
as one after the other the photon energy slammed into the mother ship.  By
the time the fourth one struck the ship, the shields had failed.  It
penetrated inside the hull.  The rest of the photons had a path to follow,
and did so.  One after another they discharged inside the mother ship. 
Explosion after explosion slammed though the decks of the mother ship. 
Each explosion took out more and more of the ship's insides.  It was over
just that quickly.  The mother ship, and the two spy craft that docked with
it, exploded in a final plasma burst that rushed outwards in a rapidly
diffusing globe.

   Annette said, "Justice reports a hull breach, one person dead.  The
Constitution reports it lost five fighters."

   Jim hesitated a moment before saying, "I think its time we retired the
fighters, the losses are too high."

   Jennifer said, "One spy craft has life signs on board.  What do we a do
about it?"

   Jim fidgeted slightly, then said.  "Test the phasers on it."

   "Targeting the craft."

   Jim almost whispered, "Fire."

   The phasers leaped out for the ship crossing the gap between them and
the ship faster than light could follow.  They struck the spy craft.  A
moment later, a plasma burst appeared on the view screen.  It wasn't
pretty. And Jim was not happy with his orders.  But it needed to be done.

   "Have the carrier collect the other ship.  I want to know everything
there is about their new shields."

   With that he left the bridge, and went to his stateroom.  He planed on
sulking for some time to come.  He hated having to kill like that.  Woe
followed him, and cornered him there, inside his office.

   "What gives you the right to stop me from doing my Job?" Woe said.

   "What gave you the right to interfere in my life so many times?" Jim
replied.

   "That's different.  The council mandated it."

   "Just who or what is 'the council'?"

   Woe was silent a moment.

   "Think about it, remember the man in the center, the woman to his
right."

   Woe's eyes went wide.  She remembered taking him before them, unbidden.
They were not covered, as was usual.

   "We are 'the council'...  At least we will be at some point in the
past."

   Woe stuttered some, "We...we...  We are the 'council of guardians'?"

   "Yes, Love, we will form that group some time in the past.  Well,
anyway, our future selves will, that is."

   "But, how?" Woe said.  Then she added "Wait, you called me, Love.  What
does that mean?"

   Jim smiled and looked over her shoulder as Annette, Jennifer, Terrie and
April came in behind Woe.

   Annette, "He is collecting a harem, and you're the latest addition to
it."

   Woe's eye went wide.  "Don't I have a choice?"

   "Joining my family?  Yes that is your choice.  Running around with
uncontrolled time travel and transporter technology.  No you are not going
to be allowed to do that for some time to come."

   "But its my JOB," she protested.

   "It WAS your job.  Now your job is to decide if you want to join our
family."

   Woe looked into the eyes of everyone in the room.  She finally settled
on Jim's face.

   "I think I already made that choice, some time ago."

   "You will do so, again," he offered.

   "What now?"

   "Help us more directly," Jim said.

   "How?"

   "Explain the technology that flows though you to Jason, there, and help
him duplicate it."

   "Is that all?"

   "No, but the rest can wait until you are ready."

   "And that is?" she asked pointedly.

   "When you chose to, just come and sit on my lap."

   "Now?"

   "When you want to do so."

   "Now!"

   "If that is what you want."

   Chapter 24: Woe Joins The Family

   Star Date 5.005

   President Flowsman's Personal Log

   Many changes have been started in the Federation.  The removal of
fighter craft from the Carriers, being one of them.  Fortunately for us,
the Carrier's bays are big enough to carry a new class of ship that has
also been proposed.

   The Defiant Class ship looks just like its namesake from the 'Deep Space
Nine' TV show.  It is little more than shields and weapons.  The smaller
ship has a six-man crew, with twin-mount 202mm phaser banks, and paired
photon tubes, also.  Its oversize engine is not intended for sustained warp
speed usage.  However, the ship is fast for relatively short distances.  It
would give the Flowsman class heavy cruiser a shake up in battle.  The
basic size of a Carrier will allow it to carry 10 of these Defiant class
vessels.

   They also tell me that the completion schedule for the ships will be one
per day.  They are running some sort of assembly line process, similar to
the way people of Earth build cars.  I think the actual build time is more
like seven or eight days.  But they promise that they will complete at
least one ship per day.  It's a good thing, as over six hundred of the
ships have been ordered.

   As long as I am talking about ships, here, I should mention that
construction of two new gates has begun as well.  They will be done in a
year's time.  I also have plans laid out on my desk for two more ship
designs.  I still have to review them, however I am sure I will request
them.

   One is a Super Carrier class, capable of transporting one hundred
Defiant class ships at the incredible speed of Warp-25.  The other is a
real battleship.  Unlike the Enterprise class ship that has been eclipsed
by the Flowsman class heavy cruiser, and unlike the cruiser itself, this
new ship's only function is war.  It will not have the large saucer
section. Instead, it is egg shaped, and houses more weaponry than I can
imagine.  This war stuff makes my head spin.  I some times wish I was still
back on Earth, blissfully ignorant of this war.

   It's all Woes fault; well...  that's what I keep telling her.  She just
looks back at me, and smiles.

   Speaking of Woe.  I have deactivated the damper field around her and she
remains here with my family.  I have not made love to her as yet.  As
amazing as it sounds, she is still a virgin.  In some ways she puts
spinsters to shame.  How she could remain as she has, since her beginning,
is beyond me.

   Also, the people of the federation revere her, as being nearly holy. 
Since they found out about her plans to joining the family...  Well, it's
been a nightmare for all of us.

   I think the public is planning a state wedding.  It seems that the idea
of goddess and their savior marring is just too good of an opportunity for
them to pass up.  I am sure I will hate every long, endless moment of that
ceremony.  AI reports that I can put it off; the ceremony, that is. 
Apparently, the bonding is exclusive.  That is to say, when the family is
bonded in the way the people want to do so.  It's not possible for me to
marry any other woman.  Oh, I can have concubines and such.  But none of
them can share the family name.  All though it's tempting to do so.  I
think I should at least wait until I have all six of my wife's before doing
that.  If I didn't know there is still one more to find I would probably
go-ahead and get it over with.



   The family was gathered in the presidential house.  I have heard that
the public is threatening to call it 'The Flowsman House', kind of like the
Americans back on Earth called the presidential mansion the White House.  I
like the concept they have, but the name is just all wrong.

   April offered, "Well, we'll paint it white on the outside, and start
calling it the White House, then, Dear."

   Everyone chuckled at the simplicity of the statement, and the fact that
paint of any kind won't stick to the alloy metal that makes up the out side
of this place.

   Annette said, "Well, we could all start calling the place the
'Federation House'."

   I liked that.  After a brief discussion amongst the family, it was
decided that we would spin the name that way.  Too bad we can't do that
with the Flowsman class starships.  It just wouldn't do to try and change
the name like that.  The people wouldn't let us get away with it.

   AI spoke audibly into the great room where we were all gathered.

   "Mr.  President, the nanites are ready for you."

   Jim sighed and said, "Very well, bring them on."

   The door to the room slid open, and Dr.  McCoy entered (I know, I know.
But he's had the name over 7500 years, so far.).

   The doctor carried one vial for each member of the family.  He came to
me, and picked up the vial that had my name on it.  Then he put it into a
device that looked just like a hypo-spray.

   So Jim asked him, "Is that really what it looks like it is?"

   McCoy looked at the object in his hand, then said, "Oh.  Well...  no. 
We never really had a reason to use needles or things in our medicine. 
When drugs are needed, we just use a absorption based catalyst to absorb
the drug right though your skin."

   "So why the device then?"

   "Simple, it mixes the catalyst with the drug.  Or in this case the
nanites."

   "So why make it look like a hypo-spray unit?"

   "Well...  It's become rather popular, that's all," McCoy said,
shamefacedly.

   Jim nodded his acceptance.  Then the doctor pressed the unit to Jim's
shoulder.  He watched as the vial of nanites was drained.  He felt nothing
but a slight wetness on his arm during the process.

   Jim waited a moment, and then he felt something.  It was like a warm and
fuzzy feeling, which overcame him all at once.  Then it subsided.

   McCoy spoke again, "It should take the nanites a day or so to fully
integrate into your system, and to make the nerve connections needed for
your mind to command the new technology."

   Jim, "Ok.  We will start testing it tomorrow, then."

   McCoy quickly gave every adult member of the family their vial, as well.
Then he pulled the last one out and went to Woe.

   Compassion said, "I already have mine, I don't need anymore."

   Jim spoke, "These are better than the ones you have.  Don't worry, just
accept them."

   Woe nodded and as the doctor gave her the new nanites she asked, "So
what is better about them?"

   Jim nodded to McCoy telling him to explain.

   McCoy, "These nanites are improved over your version, because we have
added a shield function, and time-forward capabilities to them."

   "You're kidding, right?"

   Jim said, "No, you will be able to go back in time, and then return
forward again."

   Woe, "Who solved that problem?

   Lisa spoke up, saying, "My little 'miracle worker'."

   Woe shook her head.  She should have known.  She wondered if Jason ever
actually slept.

   Jim said, "Back to family business.  Thank you, Doctor.  Please make
sure you get Rainer his vial as well."

   McCoy, "I am on my way there, now.  Live Long, My President."

   Jim responded automatically, without thinking about it, "Prosper,
Doctor."

   Annette commented, "Why not just bob your ears, Love, then you will look
the part completely."

   The family burst out laughing.

   Jim decided to play their game to the hilt this time.

   "Well, you know, sex once every seven years could have its advantages."

   The look of shock was suddenly on all of their faces.  They had
forgotten that little detail.

   The President and Admiral Rainer were talking Star Fleet Carrier
tactics. The new Defiant class ships were entering service, and two of the
old Carriers had each had their bays retrofitted for ten each of the new
ships.

   "Jim, I will be 'up front', here."

   "Always.  Now, please go on."

   "I am becoming convinced that the real problem with our Carrier force,
is the tactics we are using."

   Jim asked, "How is that?"

   "Well, we just don't really know how to deploy them to our best
advantage."

   "I see.  I don't know how I can help in this area."

   Rainer said mournfully, "I don't know anyone who can."

   Jim went into deep thought for a few moments.

   "The ships are good!  It's just a complete lack of experience in their
use that is driving us crazy."

   "What kind of problems are you having in training?" Jim asked.

   Rainer looked at Jim with a funny expression on his face.

   'Click,' Jim thought, 'they are not training.'

   Rainer said, "That's part of the problem, we are not sure how to train
them.  I mean, as for flying, and using the weapon systems, we are doing
fine."

   Jim finished, "But you have no tactics that make sense."

   Rainer bobbed his head 'yes'.

   "I see.  How do we train the battle ship commanders?"

   "Oh that's simple.  We make them study every engagement you have been
in. Then we make them compare that to the holo shows converted from your
old 'Star Trek'."

   Jim looked at him in disbelief.

   Rainer went on, "Once the candidates learn all the maneuvers we know of.
They are then placed in a simulator and tested.  Those that make it though
the process, go on to become captains."

   Jim thought about it and said.  "I see, and if I understand you
correctly, we need someone with tactical experience to lead our training."

   "Yes, but I have no idea where to find such people."

   Jim muttered, "Unfortunately, I do."

   Rainer looked Jim in his eyes; "Don't keep me in suspense, here.  Do
tell."

   Jim said, "It seems to me that we need professional naval commanders
with experience."

   "Yes, now tell me, where can we find people like that.

   "Earth."

   Rainer went wide-eyed at that, and sputtered out, "Are you saying we
should should ask Earth for help?"

   "No, they wouldn't give it if we asked."

   "I don't get it.  How would we get help if we don't ask for it?"

   "To quote my son, 'Beam me up, Scotty'."

   Rainer went wide-eyed again.

   "Are you suggesting we kidnap Earthlings?"

   Jim smiled and said, "No, I am suggesting that we ask key individuals
for their help."

   "You lost me."

   "Well, if we took a ship and orbited Earth.  We could identify likely
candidates.  Then we would beam them on board to ask them for their help."

   Rainer suddenly smiled as he realized what Jim was suggesting.

   "So?  And if they say 'no thanks'?"

   "We just put them right back."

   "That risks them telling their governments about us."

   Jim smiled, "Oh, they won't talk."

   "Ok, I'll bite.  Why will they stay quite?"

   "Because they are not going to want to risk spending time in the loony
bin."

   Rainer had a vision of a man in a cage with many duck-like birds.  He
was really looking confused.

   "Another translation problem?"

   Rainer, "Maybe.  I just had a vision of a man in a cage with a flock of
birds."

   Jim laughed uncontrollably.

   Once he caught his breath he said, "'Looney bin' is slang for a mental
institution.  Mental institutions, on Earth, are not a place anyone wants
to go."

   Rainer said, "So their fear would prohibit them from reporting what had
happened?"

   "Yes," Jim said.  Then he added, "Get 'The Flowsman' ready for departure
in the morning."

   Rainer replied automatically, "Yes, Sir."

   He lifted his wristband to his face, and issued orders for the flagship
to be made ready.

   Jim thought to the AI, "Notify the family to report on board at 0600
cycles, tomorrow."

   AI thought back to him.  "Anything else, Boss?"

   Jim, "No.  That will be all, for now."



   Edited by TeNderLoin

   Chapter 25: A Few Good Men





   Star Date 5.121 Captains log, UFP Flowsman.

   We are now orbiting the planet Earth with our shields at maximum to
avoid detection by Earth technologies.  We are here to recruit a few people
to help in the training of our carrier forces and in the combat tactics
needed for Star Fleet.

   We have identified three candidates for the job, two men and one woman.
We have set up a nice area in the observation deck for the interviews.  For
some reason it's called Ten Forward, even though it is located on deck
twelve.

   USS John F.  Kennedy.  Persian Gulf.

   Captain Carl Fitzgerald, USN, was the Commanding Officer of the nuclear
aircraft carrier John F.  Kennedy.  He was scanning the horizon from the
bridge.  It had taken him 30 years to get this command.  He watched as an
F-18 was launched from the deck.  It reminded him of his own days as a
fighter jock.  The smile on his face could be seen by any who cared to look
at the old man.  It was too bad he would be retiring in two more months.

   He left the bridge for his stateroom.  The Marines were well dressed
this day.  They should be.  It was going to be a day to remember, after
all. The final flight had left the deck, heading for Iran.  It was time for
America to deal with that terrorist state.  Ten days of pinpoint 'smart'
bombing, was just to soften them up.  Now the 121st Armored Cavalry, the
16th Mechanized Infantry and the Big Red One would swoop in and lay waste
to the Ayatollah's 'army of god'.  The battle plan said the major operation
would be over in a week.  Then the Captain could retire in style.

   He entered his stateroom, and a funny feeling came over him, right after
he shut the door.

   He felt like he was in two places at once.  But that didn't make any
sense.  Unless of course, he was dying.

   Carl looked out before him.  He saw the 'blue marble' that was the
Earth, far below him.

   'Yep,' he thought, 'probably a heart attack.'

   Jim was standing right behind him, wearing a long white robe.

   Carl thought, 'At least it was quick, I don't remember any pain.'

   Then he felt the presence of someone behind him.  He turned around, and
there stood a man in a long white robe.  He found his voice finely.

   "So, you must be an angel," said Carl.

   Jim smiled at Carl, as images formed in his mind.  He had a good idea of
what Carl was going though, and what he was probably thinking at the
moment.

   "No, I am James Flowsman."

   The Captain knew that name from somewhere.  He thought hard about it for
a moment.

   "The spaceship guy?"

   Jim grinned, "Guilty as charged."

   "Where am I?"

   Jim asked, "Where do you think you are?"

   "A moment ago, I thought I was dead."

   "And now?"

   "Now I'm not so sure about it."

   "I will tell you that you are not dead," said Jim.

   "Then how did I get here?"

   Jim grinned and said, "Does the phrase 'Beam me up, Scotty' mean
anything to you?"

   "You can do that?" Carl asked in shock.

   Jim broadened his smile, then said, "Yes."

   Carl resigned himself, "Ok.  I'll bite.  Why?"

   Jim said, "Because I have a favor to ask of you."

   Carl's face went white.

   Jim said, "No, I am not going to ask you to help me take over the
Earth."

   "I hope its not classified data you want."

   "No, I had more of that than I wanted, back when I was Commander in
Chief."

   "I thought you were some kind of scientist."

   "I have lived a few lifetimes."

   Carl was getting confused.

   "Perhaps I should back up a little.  There is way too much information
here for you to process all at once."

   "I doubt I have a choice," Carl said.

   "Actually, that is what this is all about."

   "How's that?"

   Jim said, "I have brought you here to make a choice."

   "What choice?"

   "Let's sit over here, and I'll explain."

   Carl had not seen the table and chairs until just now.  They were
sitting by the observation bay.  His eyes had finally adjusted to the
reduced lighting.  He saw that the room resembled a restaurant, or a bar.
He followed Jim over to the table indicated, and sat across from the man.
Carl coughed slightly, his throat dry.

   "Excuse me, my throat is dry."

   "Would you like something to drink?"

   "That would be acceptable."

   "What would you care for?"

   "Maybe a coke?" Carl asked hopefully.

   Briefly, Jim remembered the tray of powder he had received not too long
ago.  He hoped that problem was fixed.  Then he thought 'AI, please have
Jason or the twins locate a nice cold bottle of Coca Cola on the planet,
and beam it to the table in front of us.  Wait, make that two bottles.'

   AI, 'As you wish; but the replication problem has been fixed.  One of
the first things the twins did when we got into orbit, was to start
cataloging all the soft drinks and beaming a bottle of each of them up for
the replicators to sample."

   Jim said, "Carl, Please keep your hands off the table until the Cokes
finish materializing."

   It only took a moment for the two bottles of Coke to appear on the
table. The bottles were two-liter size.

   Jim said, "Oh, I guess I should have ask for 16 ouncer's."

   "I didn't even hear you ask", Carl said in a puzzled expression.

   "This is going to take a while," Jim said, half to himself.

   Carl said, "For some reason, I think I have lots of time.  No, wait a
second.  I just launched a strike force at Iran.  I have less than an hour
before I need to be back on the bridge."

   Jim frowned, "They are finally getting around to dealing with the
Ayatollah?"

   Carl was apprehensive, but decided that since it was public knowledge,
he could confirm it.

   "I see.  Well, if you need to go back now, we can do this another time."

   Carl looked at Jim as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

   "Are you saying that you would put me back right now?"

   "If that is your wish."

   "And your not afraid I would tell all about this?"

   "Tell who, what?"

   Carl was stumped.  He could tell CenCom, or could he?

   "Hard question isn't it?"

   "Ahh, yes, it is.  I have no way to prove anything I would be saying."

   "That makes it unattractive to risk the consequences of telling anyone,
doesn't it?"

   "Very unattractive."

   "So would you like me to put you back, now?"

   Carl fidgeted slightly then said, "Well, why not at least tell me why I
am here, before I go.  That is if you are really serious about putting me
back."

   "I am serious, and I will put this bluntly.  I need a person of your
experience and knowledge, to train our Fleet space carrier captains in
tactics."

   "Are you trying to recruit me?"

   Jim's smile widened, "Yes, in fact, I am.  I need someone like you to
train the personnel on my carriers."

   Carl gulped, saying, "Why?"

   "Because I do not know tactics, nor do I know how to train my people in
carrier or fighter tactics."

   "No, I mean what are you going to do with the carriers?"

   He was worried that they would attack the Earth.

   "We are at war with a race called The Grays.  I need someone to train
our Federation personnel.  I am not happy with the losses we are taking."

   "That's a lot to swallow.  How do I know you are not going to attack
Earth?"

   Jim lifted his wrist to his mouth, "Jason, please break orbit, and take
us to the far side of Jupiter."

   Jason's voice came back, "Yes, Father."

   Carl watched in amassment as the Earth shrank from view.  Then, in even
more amazement, he watched as they approached the planet Jupiter.  He could
clearly see the 'red eye' swirling on the planet's surface as they passed
around to far side.  There, two ships came into view.

   Jim said, "The carrier is the ship on your left.  The battleship is the
one on your right."

   "Wow!  Why are you showing me this?"

   "I wanted you to see the protective detail guarding over the Earth's
solar system."

   "Protective?"

   "Yes, Earth is a protectorate of the federation.  These ships are here
to keep the planet safe from outside forces."

   "Who are they protecting it from?" Carl asked.

   Jim spoke so that Carl could hear him.  "AI, holo display of a Gray,
please."

   The image of the Heir was displayed, life-sized, next to the table.

   "Holy.  Shit."

   "You recognize them do you?"

   "UFO's, Roswell."

   Jim laughed, and said, "Well, not Roswell, but you get the idea."

   "So they want to take over Earth?"

   Jim shook his head no, then said, "Computer: display the battle of Vega
4 in holographic display, one meter cubed, one meter from this table."

   Carl stared wide-eyed as the image was displayed before him.  He was
shocked as he watched the battle take place.  Then he was yet more shocked,
to watch the planet get blown into pieces.

   Carl stammered, "I take it they plan on doing something like that to
Earth?"

   "There is no doubt in my mind about that."

   Carl assured himself that if there was any way he could prevent it, he
would not let that happen to his beloved planet.

   "I need to get back and think about this."

   "Yes, you do have your own war to fight at the moment, don't you?" Jim
said, then added, "Jason, back to Earth please."

   Jason said, "Yes, Sir."

   Carl watched the view change.  Soon, the cloudy blue globe of Earth came
back into view.  "If I do as you ask, will the Earth survive?"

   "I hope so."

   "Your not sure?"

   Jim had a concerned look on his face, "No, I am not certain.  I cannot
foresee the future."

   "I am ready to go back.  I need two weeks."

   "You will be visited in two weeks, then."

   "You will come to me?"

   Jim smiled, "No.  Former president Timothy Ford will."

   "He is in on this?"

   Jim grinned.

   "You could say that."

   Carl whistled and said, "You have friends in high places."

   "You will find the truth even stranger than that."

   Carl said, "I must go, before I am missed."

   "Live long."

   Carl didn't know what to say.  Part of his mind told him there was a
proper response to the phrase, but he couldn't think of it.

   So he said, "In two weeks."

   Jim nodded.

   Carl felt a brief disorientation.  He found himself back in his cabin on
the Kennedy.

   'Fuck me!' Carl thought, 'I hope I didn't just imagine all that.'

   Then he reconsidered, 'On second thought, I hope it was just my
imagination.'





   Edited by TeNderLoin

   Chapter 26: And A Woman.

   Captain Sue Lin, USN XO aircraft carrier, USS Enterprise.  Pearl Harbor,
HI.

   Sue had worked hard to buck her way up to second in command of the
aircraft carrier Enterprise.  She was one of the few female pilots that had
gotten this far.  She had finished her review with the captain of the ship.
The chauvinistic pig was stonewalling her.  She knew that with his
'performance review', she would never get any father in this male dominated
navy.

   She cursed deeply as she typed up her resignation on her Apple computer.
She was not going to stick around any more.  Besides she had her twenty. 
At least she would get her pension out of it.

   Sue dropped the letter off with the captain of the tub.

   'Well', she thought, 'the ship is better than that, even if the captain
is a rubber ducky lover.'

   She then left the ship to make her way to fleet head quarters.  She was
shocked when all the paper work was waiting for her.  She had thought it
would take 30 to 90 days before her separation would take place.  Damn that
skipper!  He had even predicted her response to his actions, and planned
for it in advance.  He must really have wanted her off his ship badly.

   Sue finished the paper work for her retirement.  Then, surprise of
surprises, she was ushered into the CINC Pac office.  She wasn't sure what
was up, but she suspected she would be a civilian again before the day's
ending.

   Sue was shocked to see the former president sitting behind the desk and
Admiral Kovell pouring him a cup of coffee.

   Sue spoke in her best voice, "Captain Lin, reporting as ordered."

   To her surprise it was the former president that spoke, "As you were,
Captain."

   Then Tim spoke to the Admiral, "I assume that all the paper work is
completed?"

   Admiral Kovell replied, "Yes, her retirement will be effective in 30
days.  Until then she is on detached duty assigned to you, Sir."

   "Very good."

   Sue was shocked.  She was being drummed out.  However, here she was,
going to spend her last thirty days in the service on detached duty with
the former President.  Her head was spinning with questions.

   Tim looked her over, "I see you have lots of questions to ask, but this
is neither the time nor place for them."

   Sue uttered, "Yes, Sir."

   "I am not sure she deserves this, Sir."

   Tim looked cross at the Admiral.  Seeing the expression on Tim's face
the admiral back peddled and changed the subject.

   Admiral Kovell said, "Your transport to Norfolk is waiting.  I have a
driver outside."

   Tim smiled warmly, and then stood.  "I believe it is time to go, then. I
must make that appointment with CINC Atlantic by four.  Sue, follow me,
please."

   "Yes, Sir."

   With that, the two were let out of the office by the Admiral, and led to
a waiting limo.  The former president climbed in, and was followed by Sue.
The Admiral even closed the limo door for them.  He saluted sharply as the
Limo pulled away.

   Tim said, "Do not return the salute, Captain."

   "It's protocol."

   "No, not anymore its not."

   "I don't understand?"

   "You will, shortly."

   She was quiet the rest of the trip.  She pondered the day's events in
her own mind.  She was not happy.  But she was intrigued as to what she
would be doing with the former president.

   Soon the car came to a stop, and she was led into a VC-20.  She was
shown to the pilots seat.  Tim sat in the copilots seat next to her.  The
engines were already warmed up.  A young man in the uniform of an Air Force
major came to the copilot's seat, after he had secured the door.

   "What did you need me for if your going to copilot the plane?"

   Tim said, "You will take over after she has us on a heading for Norfolk.
We have lots to talk about on the trip."

   Jason smiled and said, "Yes, Father."

   Sue thought is was odd that he addressed the former president as father,
but she kept her mouth shut.  She taxied down the runway after getting
clearance from the Tower.

   Soon the VC20 was airborne and heading towards Norfolk.  Tim spoke into
the radio saying something about.  "Stealth mode activated."

   She thought it odd, as the VC20 did not have a stealth mode...  nor did
anything else that she knew of.

   The major relieved her at 33,000 feet.

   To her shock, he shut down the engines.  Just as she was about to yell,
she felt disoriented.

   The VC20 aircraft materialized in the shuttle bay of the Flowsman.

   The president then said, "Ten Forward, please."

   There was another brief disorientation, and Sue found herself sitting,
facing a view of Earth, far below her.

   Tim (Jim) spoke from behind her, "How would you like to be an admiral?"

   Sue turned, in utter shock.  The sensory overload was almost too much.
But she was a professional, and held her cool (Barely).

   Sue asked, "Where are we?"

   Jim smiled as the game began anew.

   The two figures materialized in the stateroom of the Captain of the USS
Coburn, as it plowed the waters of the Indian Ocean.  It was a small
carrier that had been built in World War Two.  It had been updated and
re-commissioned after the revitalization act of the Timothy Ford
administration.

   Captain Paul Monroe entered his cabin to see two people there.  He
shouted for his Marine guards.

   Admiral Sue Lin said, "Belay that order, Captain."

   Paul stared at the female admiral for a moment in indecision.  Then he
looked at the other person standing there.

   'Oh shit,' he thought, 'it's the former president.'

   Paul stuck his head out the door.

   "Cancel that order!" he barked down the hall to the approaching Marines.

   Paul closed the cabin door and stared in disbelief.

   Sue took a folder from her brief case, and placed it in Paul's hands.

   Then she said, "You do remember me, don't you."

   "How could I forget?  But when did you make admiral?"

   "Later," she said.

   Paul nodded, not understanding, but agreeing.  She was, after all, his
trusted lover of many years.  If it hadn't been for her intense desire to
be the captain of her own ship, he would have married her long ago.

   "Do you trust me, Paul?"

   "You know I do?"

   "Then sign the papers before you, without asking any questions."

   Paul looked down at the retirement papers.  Then at Tim, who nodded at
him.  Then to Sue.  He decided that if this is what the two of them wanted
him to do.  There must be good reason for it.  He started signing despite
the feeling that he was being had.

   When all the 't's were crossed and 'i's dotted, Tim handed Paul his new
orders.  Paul shook his head in wonderment.  He was to report to the former
president, on board the USS JFK, in two days time.  He was to come over in
a Super Hornet.

   "Follow your orders to the letter, we will see you in two days," Sue
said.

   He looked down at his orders, then back up at nothing.  Where had they
gone?  He looked down again at the table.  On it sat the folder.  The cover
letter said 'detached duty'.  He scratched his head.  This was already
stamped as 'filed' with CINC Atlantic.  He was retiring in thirty-two days.
He had lots of questions.  Mainly: 'How'?

   He called to his XO.

   "Bruce" he said, "Set course for the Persian Gulf.  I have an
appointment on the JFK."

   Carl watched as the Super Hornet landed on the flight deck.  There was
another one that was going to land, soon.  He stared in disbelief as a
female admiral, and the damned ex-president climbed out of the two-seat
fighter jet.

   The two were being led to the tower, just before the captain of the
'Coburn' set his Hornet down on the deck.  He, too, was led to the tower.

   Carl said, "XO, you have the bridge."

   He left to go to his stateroom.

   The admiral and the ex-president were already there.

   "Sir, it's an honor to have you aboard."

   Paul walked in on Carl's heels.

   Sue removed the folder from her brief case, and the process of getting
Carl to sign was started.  He didn't even balk.  They were his orders to
detached duty, pending his final retirement.  All he needed to do was sign.

   'Well,' Carl thought, 'if the former president was involved in this, I
will be happy to help save Earth.

   "What's going on?" Paul asked.

   "He doesn't know, yet?" Carl said.

   "No," Sue replied.  "He's going to get the grand tour in a few minutes."

   "Are you sure he will say yes?"

   Ex-president Tim smiled, "Oh, he has no choice, now."

   "I hope I don't regret whatever this is," Paul said.

   "Captain," Tim said, "if you would please file your orders with the
ship's office, our planes are waiting for us to go."

   "We are going to fly off the ship?"

   Tim said, "Yes, we will do the other part after we are out of radar
range."

   Carl grunted, "Ok."

   Then he called his XO to the cabin.

   To say the XO was shocked when the Captain handed him his letter of
promotion, would be making a gross understatement.

   Soon the four were strapped into their Hornets.  Sue had taken Paul in
her plane.  Tim had taken Carl.  To Carl's shock, the ex-president was
flying the plane.

   Sue and Paul catapulted off the deck first.  Tim and Carl followed.  Sue
formed up on Tim's wing, then they rocketed off on full afterburners.  Tim
thought briefly what a difference inertial dampers would make on this
craft.

   The aircraft were soon outside the passive radar range of the Kennedy,
when the pilots cut the engines.  Carl was shocked by the ex-president's
actions.  Paul was sure his ex-lover was going to kill the two of them.

   A disorienting feeling lasted only a moment.  The Hornets materialized
in the shuttle bay.  Then the four occupants then were beamed to Ten
Forward.  Jim thought it was funny, as it was actually on deck twelve, not
deck ten.

   Carl and Paul were looking out the observation window when Sue hugged
Paul from behind.  Her loving arms wrapping around his waist.  She was tall
for her oriental frame.  Her American father was actually six foot two. 
She stood at five foot six, with a slender frame.

   Paul let out a moan of relief.  He was still alive.

   Carl said, "You could have told me that was what we were going to do."

   Tim replied, "And spoil all the fun?"

   "So where is that 'Jim' creature?"

   Jim smiled and sent the command to his nanites to change him back into
Jim.

   Carl and the others watched in amazement.  It only took a minute.

   "Lobster tails, baked potatoes, and glass of Flukner Beer for four,
please."

   The meals appeared at the table.

   "I haven't had a meal like this in over 5 years."

   "You are not really the former president are you?" Paul asked

   Jim said, "Actually, I am.  But that's a long story.  Please, sit and
join me.  I have a lot to tell you."

   The three naval personnel did just that.

   Jim spent the next two hours telling his tale.

   "Unbelievable," Sue said.

   "You can say that again," Paul agreed.

   Carl added, "I am shocked."

   "Well?  Are you all in?" Jim asked.

   "I wouldn't miss this."

   "In for a penny..."

   "Sue, are you sure about this?"

   "Yes, Paul.  But if you don't want to do this, there is a way to undo
the paper work."

   "How's that?"

   "We would just beam it back aboard this ship."

   "I am in, I think."

   Sue hugged him.



   Chapter 27: Preparations

   Star date: 5.223

   Personal Log: Jim Flowsman:

   The three Earth born navel captains have set space warfare and tactics
upside-down.  I mean, who would have thought of protecting the carriers
first?  Not the Centauries, that's for sure.  It seems Gene left that part
out of the TV show.

   The three new admirals have also caused me a personal headache.  They
don't feel I should be risking myself by flying around in any of the ships.
I had to threaten to take them back to Earth just to get them to back down.
They have a point, but I am going to ignore it.  For now.

   The admirals have also been hard at work with the engineers ever since
their mental blocks were removed.  I have proposals for eight different
ship types.  The smallest is a two man fighter about 1/3 of the size of the
Defiant class.  It is armed with a phaser and two single use photon torpedo
mounts, one on each the side of the ship.  I am intrigued with the
firepower.  Also, there is the fact that the new Rainer class carriers can
carry 60 of them, while only giving up the berthing space of ten Defiant
class ships.  In addition to the new fighter class ships, they have
proposed 'Whiskers'.  These are drone/remotely piloted craft.  They will
fly around and near the carriers.  They are very specialized in their
tasks. These tasks range from acting as sensors, to being remotely
controlled weapons platforms.

   The other proposed ships seem to me to be the equivalent of frigates and
destroyers.  Well, all I can say, is we are sure getting our moneys worth
out of the three admirals, even if Sue and Paul are going to be married
next week.  I have no idea how we are going to handle two admirals with the
same last name.

   The only other problem the three of them have caused, is the uniform
issue.  Although the idea is appealing from a military perspective, it has
not really been well received by Star Fleet personnel.  The idea of wearing
anything, other than the bracelets to show your rank, was simply not going
to be accepted.

   Jim sat in silence on the balcony of the Federation House.  He was
enjoying the strange view that he had come to love.  Binary planets.  He
still needed to get over to secondary, one of these days.

   AI interrupted him with an urgent message from Admiral Rainer.  Jim had
it put though to his bracelet.

   "Go ahead, Admiral."

   "Jim, our sensor platforms around the Gray world show their fleet is
massing for action again."

   Jim groaned.  He wished they had given him more time.

   "Admiral, place the fleet on Yellow Alert.  I am moving to the Starship
Woe."

   The Woe had been completed only three days ago.  The Flowsman was
released to its new captain, as soon as the Woe had arrived in orbit around
Prime.

   Jim got up and headed inside, only to find the twins necking on the
couch.  His eyebrow went up at the sight.

   "So, Grandchildren, where is everyone else?"

   Jim knew darned well that everyone was out training ship's crews, on
every ship available.  April was the only one who was on-planet at the
time, and she was working with ambassador Lowsay on the 'race contact'
issue.

   "Oh, Grandpa," they said as they pouted at him.

   "Are you two up to speed on the navigation and weapons controls of
Flowsman class starships, yet?"

   Don smiled and said, "Piece of cake."

   Mary giggled, saying, "Piece of Pie."

   "Ok, then.  Let's get up to the Woe."

   "Right now?"

   "Yes.  Let's beam up on our own."

   "You want to surprise them?" Don said.

   "Yes, something like that."

   "Ready, then," Mary said.

   "OK, then," Jim said.

   Jim concentrated on his internal nano-interface, calling up the menu in
his mind.  It appeared in the air, just before his eyes.  It was a surreal
experience for him.  He thought 'Select transporter.  Link to Don and Mary.
Group transport.  Transport to the bridge of the UFP Woe.'

   The nano-menu reported, 'Lock is positive.  Transport of three
individuals is ready.  On your command.'

   Jim thought to the nano-menu, 'Execute'

   The three of them shimmered out of existence in the Federation house.

   The three of them shimmered into existence on the bridge of the UFP HC11
Woe.  It had the desired effect, as the crew 'on duty', were not exactly
'doing their duty' at the time.

   Jim raised his eyebrow.  The twins giggled when the Sensor Officer and
ship's XO popped apart from their coupling in the command chair.  Casual
sex amongst the Centauri people was commonplace, but Jim didn't feel in
belonged on the bridge at a time like this.

   Donna said, "Sorry, Sir.  We didn't know you were coming aboard."

   "I know I read something about 'no orgies on the bridge when on duty'."

   Donna, the XO, said, "Sir, we are off duty at the moment."

   "Well, then.  I guess we need to say no sex on the bridge at all."

   Donna, "Yes, Sir.  We will change the ships regs at once."

   Jim shook his head in the negative, and said, "Kids, to your stations.
Yellow Alert."

   Donna was shocked as Don took the weapons console and Mary took the
helm. Worse, she didn't even know why Jim had ordered a Yellow Alert.

   From her station at the Com Console, Com Officer Marcia said, "Incoming
Fleet Alert.  All ships to condition Yellow."

   Donna was now thinking Jim was a psychic as well.

   "Com, notify COMCEN, that we are awaiting the remote data feed from the
Gray System."

   Marcia said, "Sir, feed is available."

   "On screen."

   The view changed to a 'sensor display rendition' of the Gray fleet. 
They were just in time to see the hyperspace window open, and to watch the
Gray fleet begin to enter it.

   "Sir, Admiral Rainer reports that the Gray fleet looks to be heading
towards Gilmer."

   "Mary, break orbit and head for the Jump Gate.  Com, notify the Gate
that we are coming.  Priority transit to Gilmer."

   The Woe swung out of orbit faster than anyone was used to seeing.  Mary
was quite adept at navigation, and used her youthful reaction time to the
max.  The ship was going .9 lightspeed in as many seconds.

   Jim said, "Jump engines: engage."

   They did, and the Jump Gate came to life as the raw energy of folding
space between the two gates took place.  The bright shimmer of the fold was
shown in the center of the gate, as the Woe entered it.  From the outside,
it looked as though the ship went into the Gate's opening, and never came
out.  But the ship did come out.  It came out of another Gate, in a place
150 light years away.

   Mary said, "Transit of gate complete.  Where should we wait, Grandpa?"

   "Asteroid field.  I want this ships weapons tested before we go into
battle."

   "Aye, Sir," came Mary's child-like voice.

   Donna was glad she hadn't said anything about the kids, so far.  At
least Admiral Rainer had warned her that Jim liked to have his family
members man the stations on the bridge.

   Mary said, "Approaching maximum effective firing range."

   "All stop," Jim said.

   "All stop."

   "Sensor Operator.  Display Asteroid belt on the main screen."

   The view changed to a close up of the asteroid belt.

   "Now pick out twenty to thirty of the medium sized asteroids.  Spread
them out, and tag them as hostiles."

   S/O Davis was confused, but he managed to pick out thirty of them.

   "Ready, Sir.  I have..."

   "Very good," Jim said, cutting him off.  "Feed that data to the weapons
console on my mark."

   "On your mark, Sir."

   The sensor officer did not understand what was going on.  He was just
doing as he was told.

   Jim said, "OK, people!  This will be the only practice we get, before
its the real thing.  You kids ready to 'hunt the bug-eyed monsters'?"

   The kids had taken to the game as soon as Jim could teach it to them.

   Mary and Don shouted in unison, "Yes, Sir!"

   "Red Alert, then."

   The ship's klaxon sounded briefly, and the bridge shifted to red,
night-vision light.

   "Combat speed," Jim said.

   Donna was in shock.  Jim was making a game out of this!

   "Mark!"

   The Sensor Operator said, "Multiple Enemy contacts, I count thirty of
them."

   "Don, I am timing you.  Take them out by any means you wish. 
Starting... Now!"

   "Yes, Sir!" Don said in glee.

   "Targeting..."

   The Woe approached the asteroid field at the same time the UFP Annette
dropped out of warp, and the carrier Gale came though the Jump Gate.

   Don chose the closest 12 asteroids.  He selected 'AI aiming', and
launched one photon at each of them.  Then he targeted the phasers by hand
on the rest of them.

   The UFP Annette's Sensor Officer said, "Photon and phaser fire.  Bearing
213.42.87."

   Annette said, "From what?"

   "UFP Woe, Mamma.  It looks like they are shooting at rocks."

   Annette smiled and thought, 'Oh, Jim.  Playing games with the twins,
I'll bet.'

   She ordered, "Red alert!  Let's get over there and join them.  I want 20
asteroids blown up before the Woe stops firing."

   On the UFP Gale, Admiral Carl was 'acting ships captain'.

   "Sir, multiple photon and phaser fire coming from 27.3.127."

   Carl asked, "Aimed at us?"

   "No, Sir.  It look like the UFP Woe is shooting up the asteroid belt. 
Wait a second; The UFP Annette has joined her, Sir.  It's shooting up the
asteroid field as well."

   Carl thought, 'Well, I'll be.  Jim really does know how to drill his
people in using those heavy cruisers.'

   Carl, "Set course for their location.  Launch all warcraft.  I want
everyone to take out ten asteroids each.  Tell them they have two minutes
to do it.  Sound General Quarters."

   The Com Officer asked, "Sir?  What is General Quarters?"

   "Shit!  Damn it!" Admiral Carl sputtered.  "Red alert!"

   "Aye, aye, Sir."

   Aboard the UFP Woe, Don had taken out all thirty asteroids, and then
announced, "All threats terminated, Sir."

   Jim checked his chronometer read out.

   'Not bad,' he thought, 'Forty-three seconds, and thirty targets
eliminated.'

   S/O Davis reported, "Sir, the UFP Annette has joined us.  They are
firing on the asteroid belt as well.  Also, the UFP Gale has arrived.  They
are deploying Defiants.  It looks like they are going to attack the
asteroids, also."

   Jim smiled, "Well, I guess we started something.  Good work, Don.  Stand
down to Yellow Alert.  Com, get me the Annette and Gale on screen"

   The main view screen came to life and the view of the Annette's bridge
appeared to the left of Carl on the Gale's bridge.

   Carl said, "Greetings, Mr.  President.  I see you are drilling your crew
up to the last minutes."

   Jim thought about it for a moment, and then decided that he would see
where this would lead before telling Carl it was not just a test.

   "Well, Carl, I see you are about to do the same thing."

   "Yes, Sir.  I am giving the Defiant class ships 2 minutes to destroy 10
asteroids each."

   "That few?  Admiral, the Annette just did twenty in 48 seconds," Annette
said with some pride in her voice.

   Carl replied, "The Annette did not have to deploy from a carrier first,
either."

   "Woe just did 30 in 43 seconds," Jim said.

   Annette responded, "No fair, Don used photons on 10 of them."

   Carl asked, "Wait a second, are you saying that a nine year old child
did that?"

   "Yes," Jim said without further comment.  "Now, what other ships are
coming?"

   Carl was shocked that Jim had a nine your old manning the weapons
counsel.  He did however check the status of the other ships.

   "Sir, in the next six hours we will get one more carrier, and three
Enterprise class ships including the Enterprise itself.  It looks as if the
Jason, the Jennifer and the Wendy will also arrive in time."

   "I see.  What in-system defenses are in place, here?"

   "There are 250 of the old style fighter craft, 12 of the new clustered
defense satellites, and 24 phaser satellites in orbit around the planet."

   "Very good, now what is the make up of the Gray Fleet?"

   Carl looked at his first officer.

   The man spoke up, "Mr.  President, the count of ship entering hyper
space shows two planet destroyer class Longnecks, 14 standard Longnecks, 22
flag class battleships, and 47 mother ships.  There are, of course, the
'cubs' as well."

   Carl whistled, "That's a lot of fire power for one planet.  What's so
special about this planet?"

   No one answered.

   Jim said, "AI?  Any ideas?"

   AI spoke, "Of all the planets in the federation; Gilmer is the least
populated, the most under protected and the most insignificant."

   "I have a bad feeling about this," Jim said.

   Carl said, "This could be a faint."

   Annette said, "What's that?"

   "A diversionary tactic, used to draw an enemy's forces out of position,"
Carl said.

   "Shit," cursed Jim "I was afraid something like this would happen some
day."

   Mary spoke up, "Grandpa, if all the ships don't stop here, the only
other system in their path is Centauri Prime."

   Ice ran though Jim's veins at that thought.

   Edited by TeNderLoin

   Chapter 28: Strategy



   Jim was looking at Carl's face on the view screen of the bridge when he
began his question.

   "Admiral?  Given what we have seen to date with the Gray's fleet, if you
were the commander of the other side, how would you plan your operation? 
Assume you wanted to take out Prime itself, as the major objective."

   Carl was on the spot and he knew it.  As a credit to his
professionalism, he kept his emotions in check.  Then his face formed the
look of a man deep in thought.  It wasn't long before he began to speak.

   "Well, given the difference between technologies, and the effective
defenses we have shown against them in the recent past, I would be inclined
to perform a feint.  This planet, Gilmer, looks like it would be the
perfect spot for a feint.  It's directly in line between their staging area
and Prime.

   "I would drop a large enough force here, to cause the enemy to commit a
large force to this section.  Hell, if the other side didn't know I was
coming, I would just drop the whole fleet here first.  I would do some
damage, like take out the gate, and drop a few of the core busters into
Gilmer.  Then I would get the hell out of here, and head to the primary
objective.

   "That way, when all of the Federation's resources are heading here in
response, on a 'rescue' mission; I could mount my main attack with marginal
resistance, on Prime.  Since they have two planet destroyers, I would say
they would want to make sure they get both Prime and Gilmer."

   Jim looked at the Admiral, "Yes!  That's it!  Two planet destroyers."

   "Sir?" said Carl.

   "Admiral, Centauri Prime is a binary planet.  Two different targets not
one."

   "In that case, I would send most of my forces to Prime, and only leave a
few secondary ships here to deal with the faint."

   "What, if they drop the fleet here, first?"

   "In that case, Sir, we will probably lose Gilmer."

   "Can we evacuate the planet?" Annette asked.

   Jim shook his head 'no', and said, "Not in less than a week.  And we
only have about 600 cycles before they get here."

   "Sir, they don't know that we know they are coming, do they?"

   "No reason to think so, Carl."

   "Ok.  Station two Carriers, four Heavy Cruisers, and four Battleships
here on Gilmer.  Then get the rest of the fleet to Prime as soon as we
can."

   Annette asked, "What about everyone starting here, and we can use the
Jump Gate to move back to Prime?  I mean even though they are using
hyper-space, we will still have a day, before they get from here to Prime."

   "Any problem with that idea, Admiral?"

   Jim knew, full well, that the gate was the weak link in that idea.

   "Yes Sir, a big one.  If the Gate goes, it will take us longer than we
will have, to warp back to Prime."

   "No," Annette said, "all our ships can open a Jump, without using the
Gate Ring."

   "Yes, however the exit point would be uncontrolled," said Carl.

   "Why?"

   "Well, you need a Gate to control the entry and exit points, don't you?"

   Jim spoke up with, "No, Admiral.  Annette is correct.  We only need the
exit point gate.  All our ships are capable of opening a Jump point,
without the entry gate."

   Carl smiled widely, saying, "In that case, Sir, I think it would be best
if we get most of the fleet here, now; and try to secure a decisive loss
for the Grays."

   Jim thought about something else.

   "Contact Admiral Rainer.  Ask him the status of the hyper-space mine
laying ships."

   Moments later, the Com Officer said, "Sir?  I have him on-screen."

   "Jim, the ships are only 80 percent complete."

   Jim asked, "But can they enter hyper-space, now, and lay mines?"

   "Sir, their engines have been tested in hyper-space, so they can enter
it.  But the dispensers have not been installed on the ships, as yet."

   Don asked, "Excuse me, but are the transporters installed?"

   Rainer checked.  He didn't even flinch that a nine-year-old boy had
asked the question.

   "Yes, the transporters are functioning.  That's how we are getting the
source material to the ships for the replicators to turn into parts."

   "What are you thinking, Don?" Jim asked of the twin.

   "Well, you just use the transporters to move the mines into space from
the ship."

   Jim and Rainer looked into each other's faces on the view screen, with
'aw shit' expressions.

   Then Jim said, "Admiral, get those ships in hyperspace and start mining
the space around Prime."

   "Orders going out now, Sir.  But we only need to get one mine in place."

   "Pardon?"

   "The mines are self replicating.  They only need source material, and
then they will spread out on a set pattern on their own."

   Jim looked at Rainer in disbelief.

   "Who thought up that idea?  Oh, never mind.  I only have one son that
professes to be a 'miracle worker'."

   Rainer smiled, "Oh, he had even better ideas for the mines than that."

   "Dare I ask?"

   "Sir, the source material is set to convert silver first, before it goes
on to heavier elements and works its way down the periodic scale of
elements."

   "What?  Are you saying that if one of the mines goes off, and doesn't
kill the ship; then other mines will replicate a new mine using up any
nearby silver, first.  I mean, are you saying that the replication process
becomes a weapon in and of itself?"

   "Sir, that is exactly what I am saying."

   Annette asked, "What's to stop the mines from expanding into infinity?"

   Rainer replied, "Oh, they are deployed in a predetermined pattern.  Once
the pattern is full of mines, the replication stops."

   "And what's to stop the replicators from using our ships, or other
mines, for source material?" Jim asked.

   "Sir, he thought of that as well.  The replicators cannot draw source
material from a shielded ship, and the mines have IFF transponders."

   "I see, so what happens when we don't need the mines anymore?"

   "They can be shut off or on at will.  They can also self-destroy, if the
right code is sent to them."

   "Are we sure that using all the silver up will kill the Grays in the
area?"

   "Pretty sure, Sir.  They are silver based life forms, and if all the
silver is used up they will die a quick death."

   Jim noted that he didn't specify a painless death.

   "I'll be..." Carl exclaimed.

   "What what's that Admiral?" Annette asked

   "Never mind."

   The UFP Jason arrived though the jump gate next.

   Jim smiled, "Send a Fleet Order: use Jump engines and lock onto the
Gilmer Gate for their exit point."

   "Aye-aye, Sir," The Com Officer said.

   UFP Jason's acting captain contacted the Flowsman.  Admiral Sue Lin was
not a happy camper.  She felt that the only reason she did not have her own
carrier, was because of the fact that she was a woman.  This was despite
the fact that only two ships had been converted to carry Defiants, so far.
The fact the both men were more experienced than she was didn't play into
it, either, in her mind.  Sue was still accustomed to the inequality of an
Earth navy.  Unbeknownst to her, Jim was giving her the command of the
first completed Super-Carrier.  She would learn about that, later.

   Sue, "Mr.  President you shouldn't be in a potential war zone."

   Jim smiled, "And just where do you think I should be?"

   "Why, back on Prime, of course."

   "Sue, that is going to be more dangerous than being here."

   "What?"

   Jim explained the estimates of the coming conflict's tactical Intel. 
She went wide-eyed when she realized the scope and magnitude of the
probable coming attack.

   Gray Fleet, Hyperspace, 'B'-minus-500 cycles from Gilmer ('B':
Breakout).

   The Gray Leader was feeling pompous.  The ships had all been
retro-fitted with the new anti-gravity shielding system from one of the
human's fighters.  The completion of the second planet destroyer and his
new flagship, were just the boost he needed to make his move.

   'Leader', was not just his title, it was his name as well.  He sat on
the bridge of his new mega-flagship.  It was a monster ship of four miles
in length.  It was the only ship in the fleet that was armed with the new
disrupter technology, also taken from the human's fighters.  The rest of
the fleet had been retro-fitted with the heavy particle beam accelerator
weapons.  Testing had shown that the beam was more than strong enough to
penetrate the human's shields.  Now, with their own shields, he was sure he
would have a grand victory before the end of the day.

   The Gray Leader's battle plan was simple.  The fleet would sweep though
the federation taking out the planets, Gilmer, Prime, Secondus, and Earth.
With Earth being the last target, as they swung around on the return trek
home.  The projectiles needed for the Planet destroyers took a long time to
synthesize on the scale needed.  However, unlike the last strike, he had
waited.  Each Planet Destroyer now had two of the thermo-nuclear
anti-matter weapon's projectiles constructed.

   The human were going to take a beating, today.  The fleet would drop out
of hyperspace at Gilmer.  A planet destroyer would take out the planet. 
The long nose's were tasked to destroy the ever-to-be-damned Jump gate. 
Then they would move on to Prime, and Secondus.  In three days time, he was
sure that the advantage of this war would be once again be in his hands.

   The screen was full of views from all the different ship's captains when
Jim spoke.

   "I want a plan for dealing with the arriving Gray ships.  To our
knowledge, they don't know we have more than a few ships, here.  It would
be best if we could surprise them.  That way, if only a few ships come
though, we can end the battle quickly.  Then we can proceed at once via the
Jump engines, to reinforce Prime."

   Silence seemed to be the rule of the moment.  No one seemed to have
thought of anything, yet.

   Jim snapped, "Come on, people, we have less than 500 cycles before the
Grays get here."

   Sue spoke up, "To set an ambush, we would need to be in the last place
they would expect to find us.  I mean to say, it would be risky, but if we
moved out of system, slightly, so that we would be behind them at their
Breakout point...  Well, it would at least give us the first volley in the
battle."

   "How risky?"

   Carl spoke up, saying, "It runs the risk that they might take out the
jump gate.  Or they might even get a few shots off at Gilmer with that
planet buster, if we guess wrong about their breakout point."

   Jim said, "Best estimate, then?"

   Sue said, "Sir, if it's only a diversionary force, we will slaughter
them.  We may loose the gate if it's the full fleet.  If this is their
primary target, well, we could lose the planet as well."

   "So, what would you do, Sue?"

   "Sir, I would move the fleet out beyond the edge of the system.  When
the Gray fleet comes out of hyper, I would hit them hard from behind.  I
would assign every ship in the fleet, primary and secondary targets.  The
primary targets being the planet destroyers and/or long nose craft, then
the Fleet Class craft, then on down as needed."

   "So, you believe the priority should be to take out the big guns first,
then worry about the little ones?"

   "Yes, Sir.  If we take out the main threats to the planet first, then
the rest is more of a mop up operation.

   "Carl, your opinion on Sue's plan?"

   "Sir, I believe it is our best chance to save the planet."

   "Very well, then, that is what we will do.  If we lose the jump gate, we
can still get the fleet to Prime with the Jump engines."

   The fleet moved to the outer edge of the system, to a point believed to
be just out-system of the Gray's projected exit point from hyperspace.  As
more ships arrived, they also joined the fleet's position.  Soon all of the
Flowsman class ships, ten of the Enterprise class, and two carriers with
their twenty Defiant class ships were present.  With thirty Capital ships
and twenty Defiant class fighters, there were fifty ships waiting to met
the eighty-six ships of Gray fleet.  The Gray's hyper-space breakout point
had been calculated using intel gathered from the Gray's heir.  His
pompousness and assumption of superiority had been factored in.  The
breakout point was assumed to be the closest possible point to the Gilmer
system in a direct line from the Gray's system.

   All waited in silence.

   At 'B'-minus-30 cycles, Jim ordered the fleet to yellow alert.  He
wanted every ship ready for action at any moment.

   They all watched and scanned the space around Gilmer.  It seemed to take
forever for the Gray's arrival.  However, just like clockwork; and
precisely at the estimated time, the Gray fleet exited hyperspace, just
twenty 'light-seconds' in front of them!  All the ships were facing away
from the federation fleet.  It was also instantly obvious that it was the
entire Gray fleet.

   "Red Alert!  Attack formation 'Sue+1'.  All ships engage the enemy... 
now, now, now!" Jim shouted.

   The fleet went to full impulse power.  The twenty Defiant class ships,
being smaller and more maneuverable, were the first to reach their targets.


   At that point, the 'Battle of Gilmer' began.



   Edited by TeNderLoin

   Chapter 29: Battle of Gilmer

   Authors note: To fully appreciate the size and scope of this battle, I
have provided a description from start to finish of as many ship actions as
possible.  Please bear in mind that many other actions and other ships are
engaged at the same time.  I believe this method would be best to avoid
confusing the reader by avoiding jumping back and forth between too many
different scenes.  I will apologize in advance for not describing the
actions of every ship involved in the engagement.  There are just too many
to do so.  Besides, it would be a bit of over kill to attempt it.



   UFP HC11 Woe, In the tense moments before the battle, Jim looked around
the bridge.  The set up was different on the Woe than on the other ships.
He briefly let his mind wander on that subject.  Then it occurred to him
that he had a command chair instead of the couch he was used to.  Helm,
Combat Control and Sensors sat in front of him, with Engineering and Com,
behind.  Acting First Officer and Captain Elect Donna, was sitting on the
command couch behind him looking very nervous.  He then realized that they
might have added the chair just for him.  He hoped that was not the case.

   The Gray Fleet The Gray fleet dropped out of hyperspace, each using
their own exit point.  They did this, so as to arrive at their own
predetermined formations for the attack.  The positioning was perfect. 
They only had to correct so that the Long-noses could begin their turn to
orient themselves, for their first shot at Gilmer and the gate.  The planet
destroyer designated to take the shot at Gilmer also had to align itself to
the target planet, before it could began its fire control calculations.  It
wasn't a perfect process, too many variables.  That was the reason for the
other Long-nose craft.  They would soften up the planets crust, making sure
the deep explosion did not get contained under the surface of the planet.

   Gray Leader smiled at his fortune when his fleet exited hyperspace.

   'Good,' he thought, 'none of the federation ships are here to get in the
way of the attack.'

   He ordered the attack to proceed.  His triumphant voice dripped with
anticipation of an easy kill.

   Then the unthinkable happened.

   The command ship's Sensor Officer yelled out, "Large numbers of human
ships approaching from are rear.  Intercept in 1 cycle!"

   His fleet had walked into an ambush.  Leader cursed the humans!  It was
such treachery, such deceit.  He loathed them so much, and yet he couldn't
have told anyone why.  Leader was furious, and ordered a warning sent out.

   Carl & Paul had directed the twenty Defiant class ships from both
carriers to target the Long-nose spacecraft, first.  They represented the
biggest threat to Gilmer, and he wanted them out of commission at the
start. After issuing the attack order, Carl then followed them into battle
hoping to find 'targets of opportunity', himself.

   The ten Enterprise class ships went for the Planet Destroyers, with the
ten Flowsman class ships headed for the huge command ship and the other
flagship class ships.

   The UFP Whisper, Defiant Class Ship.  Nicknamed "The Whisper" by its
crew.  The six-man ship became the first ship to have its weapon's make
contact with the enemy.  The Whisper's phasers fired a continuous beam, its
twin 202cm phaser array raking a Long-nose craft from stern all the way to
the bow.  The powerful assault knocked the Long-nose completely off course
from its target planet.  However, its shields held for this portion of the
attack, barely.  Its shields were reduced in strength to a mere 40 percent
of their optimum capability.  One thing was sure, they would not hold
against the Whisper's second run.

   The Whisper was banking to set up for it second run, when a nearby
flagship opened up on it with their partial beams.  The heavy particle beam
weapons slammed into the Whisper's shields and literally knocking the ship
sideways.  The shields held, though, and the Whisper took a moment to loose
two photons at the Long-nose craft.  They were centered right down the
middle of the rail gun, and quickly covered its mile and a half length,
before detonating in the unprotected projectile loading bay.  It was the
Whisper's lucky day.  The photons not only disabled the ship, but detonated
the anti-matter projectiles located there.  The Long nose blew apart in a
brilliant flash a moment later.  Having no other Long-nose in its immediate
vicinity, the Whisper turned its attention to the Flagship that was firing
at it.

   The Flagship could not believe that with all their weapons, they had not
destroyed the little craft.  The Flagship's crewmembers were not amused
when the Whisper opened up on them, and their shield lost twenty percent of
its power.  Then they saw two photons heading strait for their bridge.

   Then the unbelievable happened.  The Whisper suffered a total shut down
of all systems.  Although undamaged, it went dead in space.  The six-man
crew had no explanation of why it had happened.  A cycle later, they were
trying to figure out why they were still alive, while they fixed their
ship.

   Thunder & Lightning Two of Defiant class ships engaged the second
Long-nose, together.  The Lightning and the Thunder each raked the
Long-nose from stern to bow with continues phaser fire as they passed to
the front of the ship.  The Long-nose lost its rear shield to the attack,
and with that went seventy-five percent of the power to its main rail gun.
It was in the process of firing on the jump gate when the attack started.
By the time the projectile left the Long-nose it was only moving at
50,000fps.  It was still on target towards the jump gate, however.  The
projectile was only moving at one twentieth of its normal speed.  In fact,
it would take the projectile two and a half cycles to reach its target at
this speed, yet it was still more than enough to take out the gate.

   The Thunder and lightning rolled into a precision bank readying to loose
their twin photons at the seemingly intact Long-nose spacecraft.  Moments
after loosing their photons at the target, they drew fire from one of the
Mother ships.  It was more a nuisance than anything, but the crews were
pissed off enough to shift their fire.  Two sets of twin 202cm phaser fire
reached out to the same point on the Mother ship.  They bore a hole in the
shields and entered the bridge killing all the Grays there.  Their bodies
erupted from the huge hole suddenly punched into the hull.  The Thunder
ripped off two photons towards the flagship.  Lightning was about to do the
same.

   Then nothing.  Both the Thunder and lightening just stop functioning,
right there.  They had no warning, and worse, no idea what had happened.

   The Gray Flagship was not so lucky.  It lost power as well, just before
the photons struck the damaged bridge section of the ship.  Without any
shielding to oppose them, the photons took out what remained of the bridge,
the crew quarters, and eighty percent of the ship's diameter.

   Ramrod A fourth Defiant class ship named the Ramrod ended up with a
Mother ship in its path.  The Ramrod fired its twin photon array, and
followed up with its phases as it bore in behind the photons.  The 'cubs'
were still in their holding dock when the photons slammed into the rear of
the ship, knocking the shields down to twenty percent.  Then the phaser
strikes arrived in the same place as the photons.  The crew of the Ramrod
had their phasers set to continuous fire as they closed on the Mother ship.
The double whammy combination collapsed the Mother ship's shields.  Then
the phasers started to work their way inside the ship blowing apart the
hull, bulkheads, and even a Gray crewmember that was in the beam's path.

   The Ramrod was still closing with the Mother ship when it erupted into a
diffusing plasma cloud.  It was too late to pull up so the small ship
plowed though it.  The crew watched as the ship vibrated under their feet.
Shields at 90 %, 80, 70, 60...finally it stopping decreasing at twenty-two
percent, when their ship passed though the other side of the explosion. 
Their ship was singed, but still intact.  As they searched for their
original target and waited for the shield to recover their charge.  They
lost all power to their systems.  The crew had no idea why.  But they did
get a glimpse of a large explosion of to their left before losing their
power.

   The Lou Ann The Defiant class ship the 'Lou Ann' (named for the judge
from Hector IV) bore in on the first Planet Destroyer, mistaking it for a
standard Long-nose.  It fired its twin photon tubes twice, before switching
to phasers.  The four photons struck the rear engine compartment collapsing
the shields and doing enough damage on their own to disable the ship's
engines.  Then the phaser fire started to slice through the ship,
destroying everything in its path.  One beam even struck the main
projectile in the loading bay.

   Inside of the weapon, the projectile's stasis fields collapsed,
releasing the safeties on the anti-matter nuke.  It was not suppose to work
this way.  It was a 'one in a hundred billion' shot.  As the stasis field
collapsed from the phaser fire, the pyro charges detonated in unison.  It
wasn't a perfect collapse.  The anti-matter bomb barely achieved critical
anti-mass.  It was enough to produce an anti-matter reaction equivalent to
100-kiloton explosion.  That, however, was only the yield of the bomb
itself.  The anti-matter spread out at light speed, seeking normal matter
to react against.  It found all it needed before it even reached the outer
hull of the Planet Destroyer.  The resulting explosion was the size of a
small sun.  The resulting plasma bubble raced out to claim its second
victim, the 'Lou Ann'.  The crew never knew what happened, because in 'less
than two shakes' every atom in of the ship was vaporized.  The plasma
explosion reached out farther, taking out its third and forth victims, two
Gray flagships.  The bubble extended even further, engulfing another
battling Long-nose and Defiant pair.  It also clamed one more Long-nose and
the 'Dojo', another Defiant class ship, before the plasma reached maximum
effective range, and began to disperse.

   The Defiant Every class of ship gets its name from the first ship in the
class to be built.  The 'Defiant' class was no different.  The ship
'Defiant' had sped past the Mother ship in favor of its designated target,
a Long-nose.  As a result the 'Defiant' itself was struck with a particle
beam in the rear, even as it fired it phasers at the Long-nose in front of
it.  The crew did not even have time to register this as the Long-nose was
engulfed in a monster explosion.  A fraction of a cycle later so was the
Defiant.  The expanding explosion continued outward finding another
Long-nose, then another.  The explosion finally came to a stop after it
claimed one more Defiant class ship, the 'Dojo'.

   Although the explosion stopped, the anti-matter generated EMP wave did
not.  It lashed out, expanding ever further.

   The UFP Woe: Jim had his ship bearing down on the biggest of the
flagships.  It was a monster of over four miles in length.  He ordered a
full spread of photons to be fired.  They had just left the tubes when the
monster flash could be seen to his right front view.

   He watched in disbelief as ship after ship was consumed in the
anti-matter blast.  It was not discriminative as it took out Gray and
Federation ships equally.  Then the Woe went dark.

   "What's happening he shouted?"

   The Sensor Officer said, "Massive anti-matter EMP blast, I think.  All
the circuits have popped their safeties."

   The engineer on the bridge shouted, "Initiating system restart Resetting
all breakers!"

   "Ship's shields are down."

   "Estimate 4 cycles for complete system restart," the bridge engineer
said.

   The twelve photons could have cared less about the EMP.  They went into
the rear of the now unpowered Gray Super Command ship blasting their way
into the engine compartment.  The resulting explosion was huge in its own
right.  All though not big enough to engulf the complete command ship.  It
did send out a pressure wave in all directions.  Worse, it was heading back
towards the Woe.

   There were a total of seventy-eight other photons in flight, when both
fleets lost their systems from the EMP blast.  All the weapons would find
their unprotected targets with devastating results.

   Jim could feel himself floating upwards as the gravity failed.  The view
screen was dark.  They were still in motion when the backlash form the
exploding rear of the Gray Super Command ship collided with the Woe.  It
was like being hit with a hammer.  Everyone on board was flung forward into
and onto whatever was in front of them.

   Donna was the unfortunate one that slammed into the command chair,
snapping her neck.  Jim and the rest found themselves smashed onto the view
screen.  Others had been strapped in chairs and even those tore free of
their restraints, breaking arms and legs in the process.

   Jim could feel his body pressed up against Mary when they collided with
the screen.  He saw Don do a summersault at the last moment, landing feet
first, only to see dead form of Donna land on him, and followed by the
Sensor Officer.  Jim could feel his arm break in two places and his left
leg in one.  He didn't feel anything break in Mary, but she was out cold
from the impact.

   The impact hadn't been as bad as it could have been.  The expanding gas
from the explosion ahead of them had slowed the Flowsman preventing it from
slamming into the rear of what was left of the command ship.

   The UFP Gale Carl watched as his ship sailed into the fray.  His
fighters (he thought of the oversize Defiant class craft as his fighters)
were socking it to the Long-noses.  Finally, he had a target in his sights.
A Flagship that had not been engaged yet, was in the process of turning
towards him.  He order this weapons officer to fire all his photons at it.
He watched as six photons struck the Flagship dead center.  The flag did
not have a chance as its shields buckled under the third photon.  The other
three quickly blasted through the other side of the ship.  Splitting it in
two.  The bridge of the Gale had one advantage over the other types of
ship. It had a real viewport not just a screen.  When Carl saw the
explosion coming towards his ship, he ordered full reverse warp speed.  His
actions were too late, however, as the EMP burst took out the ship's
systems.  At least he knew why.  He also noted as he looked out, that all
the ships that he could see were just hanging there in space.

   Carl ordered the ship into restart mode.  Hopefully it would come back
quickly.

   To his shock, the Gray ships were restarting faster than the Federation
ships.  Visions of the disaster swarmed through his head, even as his body
began floated weightlessly looking out the observation window.  Then as if
to alleviate his fears, the Gray ships opened their hyperspace window and
fled.

   UFP Jennifer, Jennifer had the con.  She had closed to maximum photon
range with her first target, a nice big fat juicy Flagship.

   "Fire a full spread of photons at the bridge compartment."

   "Yes, Mom," Jason replied.

   The twelve photons left the launchers.  Jennifer watched with perverse
satisfaction as the flag ship's shields buckled under the assault of the
fourth photon.  Jason was acting as weapons officer and had targeted the
bridge with all the photons.  He had used the typical dispersion pattern
that sent them in one after another.  The fifth photon exploded in the
bridge of the flagship, vaporizing the ship's commander and bridge crew
painlessly.  The sixth photon slammed deeper into the ship, taking out the
crew quarters.  By the time the twelfth photon entered, it reach the
engineering section.  The ship had already broken in two.  So, when the
rear of the ship went up in a plasma ball the forward half went on by
itself.

   Jennifer said, "Two more flagships coming in range, try six on each,
target engines this time."

   "Yes, Mom.  Targeting engines."

   Jason had just fired all of the photons, when the ship went dark.

   "What happened to the power?  We get hit?"

   "No, I think the system overloaded, I am trying to restart now," said
the Engineer.

   He had been well trained by Jason.  He liked the lad a lot.  He really
like his wife Lisa over on the Sensors console.

   "The last thing I saw on the sensors, looked like a massive explosion,"
Lisa said.

   "It may be an EMP burst, but it would have to be huge to breach the
shields."

   "It looked like a small sun," Lisa said.

   "Well if it was, let's hope the Grays are 'dead in the water', as well."

   There was no disagreement to the statement.

   UFP Terry The UFP Terry's captain was the Liz Doland.  She was a
survivor of the loss of her planet, at the hands of the Grays.  She was
vary aggressive and had drilled the crew relentlessly with photon and
phasers fire.

   As the 'Terry' approached the battle, the captain found two Mother ships
between it and the flagship it had set as its target.

   Doland, "Three photons in each Mother ship followed by phasers.  Fire
the other six photons at the Flagship."

   "Yes, Ma'am!" responded the weapons officer a little too loudly.

   The three photons were more than enough for Mother ships.  However, the
weapons officer had fired the phasers anyway.  The beams passed though the
rapidly expanding debris fields.  The remaining photons took out the
engines and rear quarter of the Flagship.

   "New target," Captain Doland ordered.

   The Sensor Officer said, "Long-nose at 15-12-29."

   The image appeared on the screen just in time to see a Defiant class
take out the Long-nose's engine section.

   "Damn," cursed Doland, "New target!"

   The bridge went dark.

   "Shit!  What's going on?"

   S/O "Ma'am, massive system overload."

   "From what?"

   S/O "Unknown, Ma'am"

   "Well you better figure it out quick, before one of those Gray ships
waxes our ass."









   Edited by TeNderLoin



   Chapter 30





   UFP Annette

   Annette had watched in horror as the explosion gobbled up ships.  She
hadn't minded seeing the Long-noses gobbled up, but the three Defiants had
upset her stomach.  She had just finished launching ten of the twelve
Photons at two separate flagship.  She had ordered continuous photon fire,
however it stopped as the lights went out.

   Annette didn't get to see the deaths of her victims.  The two flag ships
didn't have a chance in hell without their shields.  The first Flagship
took six photons and exploded in its own ball of expanding gas.  The second
took four photons and broke up into three sections.

   Annette floated free from her chair, as did everyone else aboard her
namesake.  Now what, she wondered.  She subconsciously knew what had
happened.  She just didn't know what to do about it.  Well that's what her
crew was for.

   The engineer called out, "System overload, resetting breakers.  Total
systems restart."

   Everyone aboard waited through the tense cycles for the power to be
restored.

   UFP Leah

   'Hell,' Leah thought.

   She passed a Long-nose to her port as she approached the flagship in
front of her.

   "Divide the photons.  Put four into each ship."

   "Aye-aye," came the weapons officer's reply.

   Leah watched as the photon's collapsed the shield of the Gray ships
around her.  All three ships were badly damaged from the attack.  Neither
of the Long-nose craft would be able to fire their main rail guns.  The
Flagship, however, managed to get two of its particle accelerators to fire.


   Leah watched as the beams bounced off her shields, then she ordered a
second round to be fired at all the ships.

   "Repeat fire, same as before," was her order.

   The photons fired out.  Just before Leah could see the deaths of the
three ships, the lights went out.

   "What happened?"

   Her Chief Engineer said, "Catastrophic power failure, Ma'am."

   "Well, get it fixed."

   "Working on it."

   Leah briefly wished Jason had been on her ship.



   The projectile fired from the Long-nose continued on its course, but
with a minor deviation when the concussion wave struck it from the death of
the Planet Destroyer.  It reached its target slightly off center, clipping
the edge of the gate's ring.  The damage was still significant, as energy
was transferred from the projectile to the gate.  The gate responded by
beginning a rapid spinning motion.  Had the gate not been powered down, it
could have corrected the spin in mere moments.  However, it too had lost
all power.  It started spinning like a top, slamming the ring's crew
outward and onto whatever outside wall was handy.  The centrifugal force
was more than any of them could bear.  Their twenty-eight bodies were
crushed onto the walls of the gate.  Their death came quickly.  At least no
one suffered for long.





   Gray Leader was fuming mad.

   'An ambush!' he thought, 'How dare they?'

   He had started his rant when the explosion occurred.  He watched in
horror as Long-nose after Long-nose went up in flames, along with one of
the planet destroyers.  Then darkness.  His ship had lost all power.  He
knew what it was that caused it.  It had to be an EMP wave from an
anti-matter nuclear detonation.  It had happened in testing when the Planet
Destroyer had targeted a too small of a planetoid.  In fear of it happening
again, the engineers had 'bootstrapped' the many of the ships, so they
could do a quicker restart of their systems.  Leader had just ordered a
system restart when the floor of his ship went out from underneath him. 
The ship lurched forward, and he tumbled back onto his throne.  The rest of
the bridge crew was not so lucky.  There were a few broken limbs, and two
of the Grays were knocked unconscious.

   "What was that he cried out?"

   "Sir, I think the rear of the ship just exploded.  It must have been
those damnable balls of light the humans use."

   His steely black eyes glassed over with thought, then he ordered,
"Launch the bridge module."

   The Super Command ship had the only ejectable self powered
mini-spacecraft module in the fleet.  Basically a life pod on steroids, it
had its own hyperspace generator.  It was a long agonizing three cycles
before the power came back on, and the module jettisoned from the rest of
the ship.

   Leader looked back to see the rear of his pride and joy lit with plasma
flames.  He could even see the Flowsman in the rear.  He surveyed the
damage around his craft.  He had lost at more than half his fleet, and it
looked like fifty-seven of the Federations ships were intact.  He ordered
that the fleet retreat to home.

   The coward ran, even before he got an acknowledgment from the ships
still capable of following.  None of them got the message.  All that had so
far survived, were dead in space.  Like the humans, they were trying to
restart their power systems.



   Sue Lin had been on an intercept vector when the power died.  She had
seen the explosion stop just shy of her ship.  Then the power went out. 
She hadn't even gotten a shot off, and now she was disabled in space.

   She screamed out her frustration, "Get that power back on!"

   She felt her body lose all weight even as the technicians began the
restart process.



   One by one, the ships recycled.  Their power system came back on line.
The Grays, looking around, saw their flagship in flames, with the Command
Lifeboat gone.  They concluded that they, too, should retreat.  One by one,
they entered hyperspace and headed for home.

   Had Gray Leader stuck around and keep his senses about him, things could
have gone very differently for the Federation.  The undamaged Gray ships
could have had a 'turkey shoot', as the federation ships took much longer
to restart their systems.

   Even the remaining Planet Destroyer would have had time to fire at the
planet.  It chose not to, and ran after its fellows.

   Eighteen of the Grays ships were too damaged to do anything, even after
they restarted their ship's systems.  Most no longer had enough control
even to flee.

   All in all, just twenty-three of the Gray ships made their getaway into
hyperspace.  None of the Long-noses escaped.  And only one of the planet
destroyers made it out.



   The power on the UFP Woe came back on.  Soon the view screen showed Jim
the carnage in space around him.  Except for the Sensor Officer, everyone
had fallen to the floor.

   "Report!" Jim snapped as he attempted to move.

   'Shit,' he thought, 'that's painful.'

   He checked out Mary's unconscious form laying across his chest, even as
he cradled her in his arms.

   The Sensor Officer had actually had his restraints in place, holding him
in his seat.

   "Sir, all the Gray ships out there are damaged to one degree of another.
We seem to be short twenty-three Grays, from the original attack fleet.  I
have a receding anti-matter plasma cloud...  Oh shit."

   "'Oh shit' what?"

   "On screen."

   The view screen showed the gate spinning like a top in space.

   Jason was crawling out from under Donna's lifeless body.  He looked ill
from the experience.

   Jim had collapsed to the floor.  His broken leg now had Mary on it.  He
held on and protected her as best he could.

   "Crap", he shouted.

   Slowly, the bridge crew came back to life.  Most of them made it back to
their stations.  Some cried out in pain from broken bones or large bruises,
which had not yet begun to show.

   Mary moaned as she woke.  Her head had been slammed into the ship's view
screen.  She was unfortunately facing the view screen when she opened her
eyes and saw the gate spinning.  She closed her eyes again, thinking she
was hurt worse than she was.

   Jim recovered from his fall long enough to access his nano-menu.  He
selected the emergency repair icon and thought, 'execute.' The menu
reported that it could not comply with bone mending, until the bones were
set in place.  Then it reported that the other repairs would be complete in
15 cycles.  A list followed.  Jim was shocked to see the damage his body
had taken on the inside.

   Jim thought to AI, "Can you check Mary's nano-menu and activate her body
repair routine?"

   AI, 'Done.  I have activated Don's as well.  I did find a problem in the
nano-menu however.'

   Jim, 'What's that?'

   'Your personal shields did not activate in response to the sudden
acceleration in your bodies.'

   Jim 'Hmm, well it could be that it was the ship's deceleration, rather
than our acceleration which was the problem.'

   AI said, 'That explains why they didn't activate."

   "I am shocked they still work."

   'They run off the electric current in your body.  As long as you live
they will always have power.'

   The whole mental conversation took place so quickly that no one noticed
it.

   Mary stirred and decided to wake up.  Don cried out in a moment of
revelation, as he realized that Donna was dead.

   "Sir", someone said "There are a few Gray ships out their that still
have fire control available to them.  They seem to be on line.

   "Order the fleet to fire on all ships with Gray life forms on board."

   "Order going out, Sir."

   Jim, "Don are you ok?"

   "I think so, I ache all over, but my nano-bots report that I am just
bruised."

   Jim, "Good.  Someone get medical up here."

   Mary's eyes popped open just then, and she stared up into Jim's face.

   "Oh, Grandpa!  I hurt all over!"

   "Yes, Sweety, so do I," Jim said.  "The medical folks are coming."

   Annette beamed onto the bridge just then.  She went over to Jim in a
flash and took Mary out of his hands.

   Jennifer was the next to beam in, then the sensor officer cried out,
"Gray Mother ship is firing on us!"

   The beams from the ship bounced off the shields of the Woe as if they
had hit a mirror.  It was quick that was for sure.  There was a small
shudder in the ship, more like a whining buzzing sound.  That was it.

   Jim said, "I am getting real tired of these Grays."

   "Yes, Dear," said Jennifer, "we all are.  Now let me help you move over
here."

   Jim's nano-menu popped back into view, 'Left leg in mending position. 
Hold still.'

   Jim said, "Stop, hold still."

   Jennifer did and asked, "Why?"

   "The nano-bots are working on the left leg, and need me to hold it
still."

   Don had made it back to the weapons console, and his fingers were
dancing on the interface display.

   Six phasers reached out from the Woe at the same time, all targeted on
the Mother ship that had just fired on them.  The beams sliced through the
Mother ship.  Each one dancing in circles as they annihilated the matter
the touched.  The Mother ship exploded in a ball of plasma.

   "Sensors!  Next target?" he called out.

   The S/O said, "Two targets in range, transferring to your display."

   Don selected photons for the flagship in range and phasers for the
heavily damaged Long-nose that was closer to the Woe.  A moment later, it
blew apart even as photons raced towards their target.

   The rest of the ships in the fleet also started to fire on crippled Gray
ships.  Many hit the same targets as their counterparts.  It was over just
that fast.

   Jim's nano-menu appeared again, saying that a basic bond had been
established and that he should be able to move his left leg.  Jim did, and
to his relief there was not the sharp pain as before.



   The battle of Gilmer lasted a total of twenty-three cycles.  The
federation losses were light in comparison to the Grays.

   Three ships were lost, and two hundred twenty-seven was the total death
count.  It was not a comforting thought to Jim as he lay in the med bay. 
He would be able to get up in a few more minutes.  The nano-bots had saved
his life, and were now fixing his bruises and scrapes.

   Annette said, "Don't ever scare me like that again."

   Then she smiled, letting Jim know she didn't mean it to sound too harsh.


   "Well, I will try.  Now will someone tell me what happened?"

   It took some time, but finally Jim had the big picture.

   The Grays had lost, big time.  They still had a functional Planet
Destroyer, though, and many of the Flagship class.

   Admiral Carl did not think they would be back for a good long time.

   Sue and Paul had agreed with his assessment.  They said it would be
years before the Grays could mount anything like that again.

   Jim thought, 'One more year, and we can take the fight too them.  Just
one more year.  We will have the ships to take on their home world, then'.

   AI thought back, "Is that an order?"

   Jim paused and then thought, "It will be."



   The End





   Authors Note:

   All good things must at some point end.  That is the way it must be with
'FTL II'.

   But don't despair, 'FTL III: The End of the Grays' will begin soon.







   Edited by TeNderLoin