Chapter 15: Dark is the absence of light.
That same time.
"Preparations are ready sir. We have all the remaining clusters of the human race targeted into the computer. When do you wish to commence?"
"Ah, good. It's nice to know that we can count on someone around here to get their job done." Black Ghost looked over to the freshly repaired 002.
"What does that mean? The nanobots aren't save alls you know. It wasn't like they could do anything else. They can only repair so fast. A leg takes time!" 002 looked horrified. Black Ghost did not look upon failure with a forgiving eye. She had many weapons on her, but the nanobots hadn't been activated in her pod when she was sent on her way.
"You weakling. 001's nanobots are hundreds of more times powerful than yours. Because they were left to themselves for fifty years, they became self-sentient. They are as much a part of him as he is a part of them. You wouldn't think that I would invade his mind without taking some readings on what he was, now would you? Besides, he will defeat you the next time. That I am sure. It is only because you caught him off guard that you weakened him so, and he won't be that way again. As for your nanobots, they aren't self-sentient. You control them much like a dictator would. And I applaud you for that. But because they aren't self thinking, they will not think to improve themselves. 001 has the incredible machines that he has because he didn't rule over them. Their first priority was to themselves. But this is where you have a small advantage. Your advanced weaponry allows you the single chance to take him out one on one. I will give you one more chance. We will destroy the last of the human race as we do so. The plans go into play in three days to concur with the full moon, which thanks to us will be the blood moon!"
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June 26th 1230 MST
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"General, their shields are perfect. There is no way that we can get around them." The young captain, whom Jedi had found to be named Areana Michaels.
"That is, if they aren't up when I go up there." Jedi said with a smug grin on his face. "What little information we have on their ships as they are now in orbit is that they don't have their shields up, it seemed that they were working on something, which means we can't delay. This must be put on the fast track. I will oversee everything myself if necessary..."
"General quarters, General quarters. Col. Rilet please report to the launch bay. General quarters..."
What was wrong? He wasn't supposed to launch for another 5 hours. Jedi was trying to fix the last few problems with the new weapons that he had asked BETH to get ready for him. That and he was filling himself full of food, which for him was broken down to energy for the nanobots, not that it was important, but it was an old habit, and he couldn't refuse it.
"What's wrong now?" Jedi walked into the cavrounous launch bay. It was empty except for the single ship that would take him out. He still couldn't get used to what ship they had taken and retrofitted for this mission. Somehow they had managed to get the Space Shuttle Enterprise out of the Smithsonian before the Dortde took over D.C. As much as he loved the name Enterprise, he had asked the General to rename it to Phoenix, for this ship was going to be the last hope of man, and hopefully from the fires of destruction they would survive.
"Jedi, we have some bad news. Your friend, Android 002 is back, and this time she isn't alone. As if that wasn't enough, we just finished our analysis of the odd readings we received on the Dortde ships. Evidently they are moving a ship into position over every spot where there is a human encampment of over 500. That must mean that they intend to cripple us. They are still a couple of hours away from that goal, and they have yet to put a ship over this base, which means that if we are going to launch, we have to do so quickly." Redding moved over to a large display screen that showed the southwest United States, and large red dots were shown spread out over the area, with only a few green dots in the region. "This map shows the positions of the ships over the settlements. Red dots are the ones that have the enemy breathing down their necks, while the green are safe zones."
"Sir, 002 and its accompanying army are 12 miles out, they are beginning to bombard the launch strip. Do you wish to raise the bases shields?" One of the technicians called out.
"You'd better, I am sorry to say." Redding looked depressed as the shielding around the base was raised. It would protect them from any ground forces, but it couldn't hold forever against the inevitable orbital bombardment. "Jedi, if we let those shields down long enough for us to get the Phoenix to the launch pad, there wouldn't be anything left to launch."
"Hmm. Hey! General, does the ship still have the heat shielding from the old days?" Jedi snapped his fingers as the beginnings of an idea flickered into his mind.
"Yes, I believe it does, but of what use would it be to..." As his words drifted off, he found himself getting the same idea. "Do you think that it would be possible to get the ship out there that fast?"
"I suppose it could, only one problem, I can't lift any more than 195 tons, if that ship is over that, then it's impossible."
"Then we have a problem. The ship and its bomb cargo weighs 196 tons."
"You don't need a bomb. And besides, I only think that the Phoenix will be needed for my return trip that is why I would like Captain Michaels to pilot the ship. While she is on board, I will accelerate, and push to full speed. It should be enough to escape into the lower atmosphere. When there...."
And Jedi began to explain his plan.
