Escape to Earth-Living Legends by Saxon Andrew Read Free Book Online Page B

you stay after everyone left?”
    Talel smiled, “If you had to guess, tell me what you would say?”
    Michael smiled, “It’s good to have someone that’s not intimidated by me.”
    “Your father saved me and my mother. I look at that as being almost related. I will show you the respect your position deserves but I will speak openly and honest with you.”
    “You were planning something.”
    Talel shook his head, “How did you arrive at that decision?”
    “I suspect I would have done the same thing. You were going to do something to that Legend.”
    Talel smiled, “That’s why I couldn’t be angry at what the Sentinel did. The heavy sent with my fleet didn’t get a clear shot so it still had its DM Round. I intended to fire it on the Legends’ Residence after everyone had left. The Sentinel beat me to the punch.”
    “Do you think the round would have penetrated the Residence’s force field?”
    “I honestly don’t know. That’s why I wanted to do it.”
    “That would be good information to have.” Talel nodded. “What do you think about what I said in the meeting?”
    “Do you mean about the selected Legend?” Michael nodded. “I believe you’re pretty accurate in your view of what could possibly happen.”
    “What about finding where they’re building their new ships?”
    “That’s troubling.”
    “How so?”
    Talel smiled, “You know why.”
    “Yes, but I’d like to hear you say it.”
    “If they’re going to build those ships, they’re going to need the materials to do it. Where will they get them?”
    Michael nodded, “If they have to take them from the galaxies we know, we just have to have enough scouts out to follow the materials to where they’re delivered.”
    “I’m surprised no one pointed that out.”
    “I suspect Laney will arrive at that realization and contact me after the meeting. She probably realized I didn’t want that piece of information brought out.”
    “I could see it in your expression.”
    “That’s surprising. However, my concern is what if materials are not being sent from the galaxies in that cluster?”
    “Then the Legends are more extensive than we’ve thought.”
    “And if this chosen one goes to another Legends’ location…”
    “He won’t have the freedom to do as he chooses. He’ll have to build them the way he was ordered.”
    “And?”
    “The distant Legends will have the diagrams to continue building those ships after he completes his mission.”
    “That is what I believe is actually happening.”
    Talel shrugged, “The Legends know themselves well enough to never allow one of them to acquire that much power. Why did you propose another view?”
    “Because we are going to have to build the ships to confront those ships. This view makes the danger more immediate.”
    “Good luck.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Have you really taken a good look at the heavies?”
    “I’ve looked at their building diagrams. What problem do you see?”
    “You should go out with one of them in your fleet. There’s a reason they’re loaded in open space. A really hard shove might ignite that round taking out everything around it.”
    “I thought that once the round was loaded in the containment barrel it was safe from exploding?”
    “Have you looked at the simulator program on how to pilot a heavy?”
    “No, I haven’t.”
    “You should. The pilots are trained to line up their target and move directly toward it without major course changes.”
    Michael stared at him and after a moment, he frowned, “The developers haven’t been completely honest with us.”
    “I don’t know if you can accuse them of that. They have given very specific instructions on how they are to be flown. I’m sure if their pilots follow those instructions, they are safe.”
    “But I’m looking at using them in a space battle.”
    “I’d be very reluctant to try that with a heavy.”
    “We’ve got to have another weapon.”
    “That’s how I see it.”