Three mammoth stellar class destroyers
crept through the darkness of space toward the waiting troll
fleet. Behind the three destroyers were dozens of smaller
cruisers, two large power generating ships, and four carriers.
As the troll fleet came into sight, swarms of fighters left the
four carriers, shifting through the fleet to attack the trolls.
A hundred small explosions blossomed from the troll ships as they
released torpedoes. When the fighters drew closer energy beams
lanced out from the huge ships, cutting a swath through the tiny,
lightly armored fighters. The small but deadly energy beams from
the fighters took out most of the torpedoes, then began raking
the sides of the huge black ships as they passed. Small common
laser cannons from the black ships strafed the fighter fleet,
cutting the numbers in half within fifteen minutes. An objective
observer could see that the battle was one-sided, because
although the black ships destroyed the enemy fighters, the troll
fleet had no fighters. This made all the difference.
Massive energy beams from the Earth
destroyers found openings through their milling fighters,
blasting huge gaping holes in the troll ships. At the same time
land-based cannons tore holes in the underside of several black
ships. One went spinning down to the planet. Two turned to run,
but one exploded before it could leave it's own fleet. The
troll fleet fought valiantly. Fourteen of it's second wave of
torpedoes found their mark, disabling one destroyer and several
cruisers. But the battle was already lost. The cruisers finally
shot through the formation of destroyers and engaged the troll
fleet, mixing with the trolls to make themselves a harder target.
Huge troll energy beams found several Earth cruisers and
evaporated them, but the smaller high-powered beams from the
cruisers were selectively butchering the troll fleet.
A destroyer engaged an enemy destroyer,
trading shots with the black ship. The destroyer's energy
weapons suddenly found a weakness in the troll ship and
concentrated it's fire on that weak point until the troll ship
was sliced in two. Troll bodies floated away from the two
separating halves.
Like a trapped animal the troll fleet
fought to it's last breath. Only seven black ships turned and
limped away. One spewed liquid out into space, leaving giant
globules of reflected light in it's wake. One ship barely moved,
using one of it's ten huge engines. A third ship ran completely
dark, and a forth was in tow behind the one unharmed ship.
The Earth fleet let them go, knowing that
most would never make it back to their home world. Those that
did return would serve as a warning for future troll generations.
It would take them at least a decade to rebuild their decimated
fleet.
After assessing their damages, and taking
the wounded Earth ships in tow, the Earth fleet turned and
started back to Earth. Four cruisers broke formation and landed
on the surface to drop off three companies of soldiers, and
evacuate the current army.
Lieutenant Maltin helped the Rangers man
an APC-mounted cannon. They selected a target and waited for the
Earth fleet to engage.
"Ok, boys, this is where we get our
payback," Maltin growled as he watched the nearest troll ship
pass overhead on his scanner. "That's a destroyer, there are
probably half a million trolls on that ship."
"That's a lot of trolls," Mili said
uncomfortably. "Shouldn't we give them a change to surrender
first?"
Maltin gave her a look of disdain.
"Hey, Lieutenant asshole, that's Junior's
people up there. At least you could listen to me."
"Ok, Mili, I'm listening," Maltin said as
he lowered his face to his hands, rubbing his temples.
"Junior is growing up to be a typical
kid. Ugly, maybe, but typical on the inside. If he can change,
so can they," she pointed at the sky.
"Ok, maybe they will, eventually. But
right now they are trying to kill us. Until they stop, there can
be no dialogue."
"Fine. Then send them a message. Tell
them that if they return in peace, we won't kill them any more.
By that time Junior will be old enough to talk to them for
us."
"By that time Junior will have a Harvard
education and speak better English than you do. He won't be able
to speak to them any more than we can."
"We'll work that out when the time comes.
But have Amanda send that message, please," Mili said
beseechingly.
Maltin looked at the scanner screen, then
glanced at the cannon, aimed and waiting. He growled and shook
his head, then turned and ran for the city.
"Don't you shoot anything until I get
back," he shouted, pointing at Lieutenant Keily.
"In your dreams," Keily mumbled.
"If you do, after what he's just done,
I'll kick your butt myself," Mili said with a smile.
"You think you're up to it, in your
condition?"
"That depends. Would you hit a pregnant
woman?"
"No."
"Then I'm up to it," she said with a
bright smile.
"You two make quite a team," Keily said
in admiration.
"Yeah, we do, don't we."
"They waited to shoot until Maltin
returned. He personally manned the rollerball that aimed the
cannon, but Keily gave the command to fire. They were
responsible for bringing down one huge destroyer. It crashed
thirty miles away, filling the sky with clouds of black smoke.
Amanda had the celebration dinner ready for them when they
returned to the city. She was joined by exactly 99 of her
people, newly restored and marveling at the changes that had
occurred while they slept. They soon found that the humans and
Junior took a lot of getting used too.
Maltin made good on his promise to marry
Amanda. Mili stayed on at the city as Maltin's assistant and
raised her daughter, Lacey, in the Ethoraxapuaphor culture.
Walter and Amanda Maltin soon had two daughters of their own,
Angel and Sechrolarsity, who kept Lacey company as they grew
up.
Junior Maltin grew up as their very big,
very strong, overly protective brother. He received his Harvard
education through a direct transfer teaching station set up in
the Maltin's apartment. He graduated with honors. He majored in
Anthropology, but military history was his favorite minor. He
also made history as the first alien of the Troll species to
attend Harvard.
Over the next ten years the population of
the two Ethoraxapuaphor cities blossomed until both cities were
full again. Plans were made for a great western mixed-culture
city and an adjoining spaceport. The site was laid out and
foundations laid when the first black troll ship returned after
thirteen years. Junior stepped out of his apartment, adjusted
his sport coat and tie, then joined Colonel Maltin as they walked
out together to meet it.