Re-Creator of Universes - Book 4 of Re-Forge

Preparation for war (Andromeda)

Dhia said: "I'm feeling maternal, dearest Far, I need to spawn. Ever since I took you as my Consort-Partner, I've wanted to commence egg production in preparation for my first spawning. We have no heir, and I'm almost six hundred cycles now. I know I'm still young, but I feel my biological clock is ticking."

Ct Far said: "If that is what you wish and you are happy that I'm right for you, then begin. I could not be happier. You must know that I am honoured that my progeny will be rulers in this arm of the galaxy."

Dhia said: "My biochemists have decreed our DNA to be the best possible pairing. They celebrate our compatibility and say that our offspring will genetic excellence."

Ct Far said: "I'm worried about you becoming a mother in a time of war. What if I lose my life at the battle of the binary? Dhia, I've seen the new gravity power of the reptile hoard with my own eyes."

"Ct Far, we saw the reptiles capture those 'all-powerful' beings using their standard tactics with just a few adaptations. It proves the age-old saying. 'She who wields the most power, with overwhelming force, wins.' I am not worried overly much as the reptiles overpowered their prey with a total force of... how many? Thirty thousand?"

Far answered: "It was thirty thousand motherships in the final attack fleet. The rest were there as backup and containment."

"The Family overpowered the target's defences in a few cycles after initial contact. If I'm especially particular, I noticed that the battles were short and deadly but in the final phase of the invasion, overpowering the shields on the target mothership took just a short time. Then they claimed her."

Ct Far said: "I'm still confused about some things. For instance, why did those first four ships assaulted during the first contact, self-destruct? Then at the first battle, hundreds more did the same. Even so, at the end of the first battle, the target species unleashed a black hole, only to be overpowered in the end. The battle didn't make sense then and doesn't make sense now. It's all wrong."

Dhia asked: "What part, you only saw the way from an outsider's perspective. You do not know what happened at the ship-to-ship level?"

Far said: "True, and battle is fluid. A single decision can change the outcome."

Dhia asked: "So what is gnawing at you?"

Ct Far replied: "How is it possible to win against a species that can control a black hole? A black hole is not something that can be controlled, we all know it, and you can't just turn one on and off when it suits you. I just don't understand how they could deploy the black hole into the centre of the attacking fleet, clutch victory from defeat in such spectacular fashion... and then lose the war."

Dhia said: "Exactly how it happened has little or no bearing on the now. The facts are still there to see. We identified an enemy, and we waited too long to strike allowing them to become powerful beyond our understanding. We destroyed an entire system, trying to kill them. We failed, and the reptiles survived to promise revenge."

"What's done is done, Far. They're coming for us again and they have increased their power to match their savagery. However. This time, they invade, the reptiles will face an entire galaxy. I have already shown the historical records to our neighbouring ambassadors. I also intend to approach our enemies with offers of an alliance. I'm certain they will support us with Warships and supplies as their necks are on the line."

Dhia said: "The genetic memories inherited from my ancestors allowed me to relive one occasion from that time. There were many queens from different bloodlines back then."

"The queens worked together for the first time. Doing so, lifted our species from the primordial pond. Together, they freed our planet of Morfineaters. Only then were the Morfin able to advance beyond the swamp. countless years later, there is just one Empress for a million worlds.