Lens of Time: Book 05 - Star Rover-The Worst of Time Read Online Free PDF

appeared. “Captain Anders, I’ve left you your orders and I expect you to carry them out. Are there any questions?”
    Jon said, “Yes Sir. When should I expect your return?”
    “I hope it won’t take longer than two months; however, if I’m not back in three months and I’ve not contacted you, you will take command of the Wing and inform Fleet that I’ve been lost.”
    “Yes Sir.”
    The ten Rovers saw Dat disappear from their panels and his ship disappeared a moment later. Ben said, “This is a surprise.”
    Jon smiled, “The universe is full of them Lieutenant. I’m assigning you all the microprobes in the first sector. Have your computer start analyzing what they record. The rest of us will have other sectors to monitor. Feed anything you deem important to my board. I am activating the combat links to your ships. Make sure your scanning computers keep a watch for any movement in green space toward our location.”
    “Loran, I want you to jump out and extend your Connor Fields and collect light from that galaxy. According to Dat’s first collection site, the war was going on at that point in time. Collect as much as you can in five minutes and then skip away. Keep watch on green space for anything approaching your position. Make sure you drop a microprobe to follow you in the event you have to skip away. I’d like to see if they can detect those fields.”
    “Yes Sir.”
    • • •
    Jack linked with the combat circuit and said, “The Link is active, Jill.”
    Bucket said, “You never anticipated this, did you?”
    Jill shook her head, “No, I didn’t.” She thought back to the time when Dat was smitten with her and thought about just how arrogant she was back then. Her mother was President and she was promoted quickly after graduation from the academy. She remembered Dat’s expression when she told him he wasn’t worthy of her attention. Now she saw that same expression on his face just before he skipped away. She could still see the hurt in his eyes. He never knew the nights she couldn’t sleep seeing his face in her dreams. Now it appeared it wouldn’t matter if he did know. She sighed and said, “Jack, start looking at the data from our assigned probes.”
    Neither of the two computers corrected her. Bucket would handle the data. Both of them were strangely silent and Jill didn’t notice.
    • • •
    “Good day.”
    “And to you Madam President; how may we assist you?”
    “We have encountered an Apex Galaxy.”
    The Horde Ruler looked at her and said, “What is an Apex Galaxy?”
    “It is a galaxy with a highly advanced civilization that represents a threat to us.” The two leaders looked at each other and Leigh said, “We’ve determined that one species has conquered a galaxy as large as M87 and is planning to expand to other galaxies. We’ve also determined that our ships are vulnerable to their weapons.”
    The Hive Master said, “I find that very difficult to believe.”
    “Believe it; I have a Wing of Rovers there scouting but we may be drawn into conflict with that galaxy and if that happens, do you know what will happen in the Alliance?”
    The Hive Master nodded, “War.”
    “That’s how we see it. I have been advised by our military that the civilizations will choose sides and the war will spread if we aren’t around to prevent it.”
    “Will you have to use all your ships in that galaxy?”
    “Horde Leader, they outnumber us more than five to one. If we are forced into conflict, it will take every ship we have and even then the outcome is not a certainty.”
    “Why are you telling us this?”
    “We have refused to share our Dark Matter technology with any other civilization. If it got out, then war would sweep over the Alliance and our civilization would also be in harm’s way. I’m of the opinion that we have only been able to delay it up to now. If it can’t be avoided, then we feel compelled to defend those that we trust. We may not be able to defend