Chapter Five

THE RACE TO SAVE EARTH

"Commander," said Taggs.
"Yes?"
"We are approaching our third black hole interchange."
"Okay," replied Commander Savreth. "Pumps, prepare connection 3 ready to engage the Anti-Electron Magnetic Attraction laser beam, to black hole location number AXI 2.5 Cosmic Section Background ZEBA." The spaceship's engineer tapped the location details into his computer, checking their correct position.
"Location beam locked on, Commander," said Pumkinn.
"Mudsey, prepare auto disengagement of A.E.M.A. laser beam one. Taggs, is the computer micro-pulse ready for re-engagement?"
"Affirmative," replied Taggs.
"Okay," continued Commander Savreth, "Activate auto synchronise override." With this Mudsey tapped in information for the ship's computer to take control.
"Deceleration in progress," said Pumkinn. There was a slight deceleration, before he added, "Beam engaged!" The Echameleon slowed down, listed starboard, and then accelerated again as the beam connected to the gravity pull being emitted from the next black hole.

"Incoming call, Commander," said Mel from her station at the rear of the flight deck, "It's Master Dante."
"Put him through on the external intercom,"
"Yes, sir."
"Mission Commander?" asked the voice over the intercom.
"Yes, Master Dante. This is Commander Savreth."
"All right," began Master Dante, "I want you and your team to listen carefully. We have new information regarding Dilus and his intended plan. We now know he has one thousand sphere cutting cargo carriers plus a fleet of twelve destroyers. These new carriers are a much larger version of the old Diluspheres, and I'm sure you all remember what planetary destruction they could cause! We believe Dilus is going to raid the planet Earth for its wood resources very soon.
"So I'm afraid, team, that this is now a 'seek and destroy' mission. Priority is to eliminate all the Diluspheres, but with minimum destruction to Earth. Watch out for his destroyers; do not confront them below the ionosphere of the Earth's surface. The magnitude of direct energy released from the Echameleon's Laser Cannon, if it misses its target, will be catastrophic for a planet as fragile as Earth. Cosmic Luck, Commander Savreth. May the energy of the vyne-tree be with you and your bearonauts!"
"Thank you, Master Dante," said Savreth, "Over and out."
Savreth sat quietly in deep thought for a moment, and then addressed his crew.
"Well, you all heard that. We are now on a 'seek and destroy' mission. Taggs, what is our exact position?" Taggs tapped away on his computer keyboard.
"Commander, in two hours we approach the next interchange - in the Draco dwarf galaxy."
"How long before we reach the Earth's Milky Way Galaxy?" Taggs tapped in more calculations on his computer.
"Sir, the Draco dwarf galaxy has a large black hole, pure pulsar rated; one of the most powerful energy sources known, which means we can project from there to a much smaller source called the Cygnus X-1, in the Earth's Galaxy. I calculate from there it is approximately 3,586 vynen years away, which means to us, sir....," Taggs paused as he again tapped in further details, "We could reach the Earth's solar system in 3.25 vyne-dels or six earth-hours."
"Mudsey," said Savreth.
"Yes, sir?"
"Find out and calculate all matter energy sources with a magnetic pulsonic gravity range of 52 quadrums or more, in the Earth's exterior nebula systems. We'll utilise this energy to keep the anti-matter power batteries up to a maximum."
"Yes, sir. But what about anti-matter density factors?" asked Mudsey.
"Mm.." pondered Savreth, then shouted, "Ten to the power of 3zeons plus! Buckle up, crew, and let's go!"
Faz turned and looked at Mel.
"There they go again," he said with a wry smile and a knowing wink of an eye.
"Yes," laughed Mel, "I think I'll stick with my planet biochemistry regeneration - it's arguably less hassle." Faz laughed too, as he turned back round.
"Ay. Give me a broken paw to fix any day. I'll stick with the medical matters."

On planet Vynen Master Dante had been summoned by Supreme Lord Hyred. He knocked on the door and then entered his office. As usual Hyred was sat behind a huge mound of paperwork that covered half his desk.
"Take a seat, Dante."
"I'd prefer to stand, if you don't mind, Lord Hyred."
"Of course," said Hyred looking up from behind his paperwork. He stared at Dante for a moment, looking him in the eye.
"Have you spoken to Commander Savreth?"
"Yes, Lord Hyred," replied Dante, "I've informed the Commander and his crew that tthey are now to seek and destroy all Diluspheres."
"And what of your brother - Dilus?" There was a moment's pause, and then with hardness in his voice, Dante replied:
"Also expendable. This time he has gone to far."
"I'm so sorry," said Hyred sympathetically, then continued, "This secret has been kept for a long time, but now the truth will have to be revealed. The fact that he is your brother doesn't help make this an easy decision.


"Try as we have in the past, he will not follow the way of the 'Vyne', choosing to take darker paths instead. He leaves us no choice but to seek and destroy him and his evil little 'empire'."
"Yes, Lord Hyred. It has taken me a long time, and much thought to come to this decision. I have given Commander Savreth permission to use the 'Laser Cannon'."
............................................................

Kracov's destroyer waited at the foot of the cave for Dilus. When he had boarded the aircraft they headed off towards the Earth's moon, where Dilus would take his position in the lead Dilusphere. He took his seat behind Kracov; drifting away into his own thoughts. This was the moment he had been working towards. Times had been hard, he thought to himself. He had never gone along with his brother's idea of teaching others, so they in turn could help others. Many times he had seen the worst in other species; this had made him an unforgiving bear. Self preservation was now his priority. His motto was - 'reap for yourself what others have sown'. Soon his plan would be in action. From their position behind the moon the Diluspheres would invade the Earth, like eagles swooping down from the sky to their designated locations - resembling ginormous mechanical street cleaners with their front brushes spinning round, sweeping up all in their path.
"Sir," said Kracov, bringing Dilus out of his reverie. "The Senators await their next command." Dilus opened up the communication channels.
"Senators of the Diluspheres - lock in!" One by one each Senator locked in their coordinates to planet Earth's moon.
"The Diluspheres Anti-Photon Re Image Transporter engines have synchronised," confirmed Commander-in-chief, Kracov.
"Re-image coordinates to location - D.S.zeroT.M." said Dilus. "From here with the element of surprise, we begin operation 'Rapacious'."
...............................................................

"Commander," called Mudsey.
"Yes," replied Savreth.
"I'm picking up gravitational waves from the star Centauri close to the planet Earth."
"There's nothing unusual about that, Mudsey."
"I know, sir, but the source is coming from the P.R.I. Transporter engines. It can only be the Diluspheres."
"Well done, Mudsey! Taggs."
"Yes, sir?"
"We need to intercept the Diluspheres before they reach Earth. How far away are we from Earth? And how long will it take Dilus to get to Earth?" Taggs began working out coordinates, then after a few seconds replied:
"Sir, we are travelling using energy from the Cygnus X-1 black hole. It will take us about one hour." There was a moment's silence while Taggs tapped away on his computer. "Commander, I estimate that the Diluspheres can reach the Earth from their position in forty five minutes."
"Damn," said Savreth, looking obviously troubled. "That means Dilus has a fifteen minute advantage - plenty of time to raid Earth and then escape. Pumps, you're the ship's engineer, can you make the Echameleon go any faster?" Pumkinn calculated his options.
"We can only go as fast as the rate of energy drawn from the source we are travelling towards. We can't go any faster."
"There must be something!" said Savreth with a sense of urgency in his voice.
"Pumps," Taggs began, "If I can get you the coordinates for another power source, could we utilize any of its energy?"
"No," said Pumkinn, as he frantically tapped away on his computer. "But hey, maybe we could try," he suddenly had a hint of optimism in his voice.
"Try what?" demanded Savreth. Pumkinn beavered away on his keyboard.
"We can't distract the A.E.M.A. from its sole source, but we could deflect some of it - a small amount to another energy source."
"But that would deflect us off course, surely?" said Mudsey.
"Yes," said Pumkinn, "But if we aim it at the energy from the Earth's star, the Sun, its energy will attract the Echameleon towards the Earth. It is only a small amount of A.E.M.A. beam we can deflect towards the Sun, meaning it will be vulnerable. Anything that blocks the beam could severe the connection and send us hurtling in the opposite direction.
"Will it gain us any more time?" asked Savreth. Pumkinn pressed more buttons.
"Yes, sir. It will give us another ten minutes. Though still not enough."
"Well then, let's do it! We have no choice."

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