Aurora, Wayward Pt. 07

We did not meet the challenge of 20 years that Jack did. We were setting up for a long game to save not just this system, but the entire galaxy. You did come here and help me with my sword, Display the Incar system for us Astra as that is what Johnathan did."

Astra smiled and pulled up her hand, "Images from Incar and the ships they had in the system."

Aurora held up her hand and showed him inside of the Pena system with 17 Colossus bases and all of the other ships flying about. Roccan smiled, "We have been very busy for the last 324 years awaiting this day.

We jumped back in time, but we had our reasons and it was not just for this system. We are going to work to convince you, as we did with the Drakor, to play along with our charade for a while longer. It is needed to get to all of the actors involved who led to the mass devastation of this Galaxy."

Astra was first up and she displayed a recorded message from Victoria to her father shortly before she died. She smiled at her father, "First let me say, I am your daughter Victoria. From another timeline. Things will happen, including Rocan cutting my hand off after I attacked him. You need to let this all play out, to a point. We have corruption in our government, there are black-op ships that Rocan will likely have seized by the time you get this message.

Aurora, the Sentinel AI in front of you came from my future back into your past. Until this meeting today. I will have been dead a while before you see this. That future does not hold true for me in that timeline if you hold to the script or at least as close as you can to the script. Listen to Astra, the Drakor, and Rocan if he is still alive. He is the first Penan hybrid and the one you helped to create this possibility."

The message ended and Rocan looked over, "Aurora created the possibility and we backed her move. We have not had war-time slavery in over 300 years. One of the first things we addressed. Our 10 to one female population is approaching 5 to 1 after 300 years. I am close to the end of a 2-century break of donating to the sperm bank. Others are still doing it, but not me.

Our male to the female hybrid list is now 5 females to every male. We adjusted over time as it was 10 to 1 in the beginning. We had the Caldar to thank for our numbers, that, and our ancestors who turned their backs on Terra. We lost a lot of first-generation hybrids who have gotten us here, mostly due to age. I promised to mention them at the meeting.

Lover's Shield was our council member and an Engineer who died when her wife Artisan Protector passed, she was a gifted artist. Shark of Justice was our lawyer and not on the Council. She worked for us for 240 years and she passed and her wife Kinna quit to join her.

She was Justice for All and those 2 put together our legal team over the years. That gave us one opening on the council since its founding and Greena Foss also known as 'Creator of Shields' joined us.

When this comes to an end and we have graduated, Hawk of Vengeance and her wife Nightingale plan to die in the final battle for the Penna system aboard her battleship the Teacher. Armed with Sentinels who have active DNR files in place. The last of our Home Guard to fight in this fight if you will.

Greena will become the senior blue. One of my wives, yes polygamy marriage has been restored to males, will become the new head of the red blades and she is Marine of Vengence. The other and first wife is Benevolent Justice and she came back in time with me to make this happen. When this is done we will have 2 new lower and new blades on our Council."

Justice Incarnate sent both Terran leaders what they needed to know about the events that would play out. Actions and reactions. It would be more ad hoc now, but the timeline of events had to be preserved. Repeated as best as possible. Some script changes needed to be done as the internal worlds moved away from the hybrids again.

Johnathan looked over at Astra, "You kept this from us?"

Astra laughed, "By order of the council who barred me from revealing the information until this time was upon us. The next month or two will seem crazy, but there is a purpose to it and a few surprises that will play out. The princess AI in our satellites came from Aurora because of the events that transpired in the past that destroyed most of this galaxy."

Rocan interjected, "The killing field that is the Pena system came from her as well. 134,000 Penans still refused to follow. What was a population of 2 Billion is over 3 Billion in the Samar system now. Why your satellite to that system went away centuries ago is we moved our population there over a span of 250 years. All because of Zirtosium."

Astra looked over, "That metal permeates the entire system. Every habitable world and the belt. Hence the color changes in their skin and eyes. Jack unknowingly sent them into poisonous worlds."

Rocan nodded, "More diversity in skin color now from the red, to pink and some shades of tan, not many but the poisons are out of our system and the centuries have helped. Eye colors, hair color, and body hair have remained the same. We do not have body hair. Except for our head hair."

Johnathan sighed, "I don't know which is worse. I will go along with this because my daughter asked me too and the Drakor are standing behind this plan. I hope it works out."

Justice Incarnate spoke, *Astra and Aurora follow me. Everyone else, please return to your shuttles. They will be along momentarily. *

Justice looked at them, * I have to inform you of another request for the two of you. We found the information on the AI. We know it has a backup that is out of our reach. It is not out of your reach. When the day comes we will need you both in the Pena system. Aurora in a midge loaded with computers in the low orbit of the gas giant.

Attempting to break in, find the backup, and destroy it remotely. Astra, it attempted to find you and used the satellite to get to Aurora. You destroyed yourself to stop it. They will attempt it again. You need to be here to get your ships out of the system and be a target for the AI.

You will have to put that satellite in place to ensure that the wormhole is active. Aurora, we will give that means to you later but you both need to update the copies of your repositories with your backup units as these units, both of them, will likely be destroyed within minutes of each other. This will help to trap them and aid in the Penans finishing the final task needed to graduate. *

They both looked at each other and nodded. Aurora spoke, "This explains the metallic hydrogen Midge with the clear-coating on it you requested. It will be harder for them to find while we are in a low orbit of a gas giant, for me anyway. I hope the backup is not required for them to graduate because it is a shot in the dark on an unknown operating system."

Justice Incarnate sighed, * They will graduate one way or the other but we need the attempt made. You told us about the second collectors fearing AI units. We believe they had encountered our AI in the past at some point in their history. We thank you both for your service, as always. The backup is beyond the Sylorans' claimed space which makes entry into that area high risk if not impossible without causing an all-out intergalactic war. *

Aurora nodded, "We suspected our roles in this would be required. I will inform Rocan, I have my pendant for you for communication. Our satellite from here will be destroyed to make it as identical as possible."

Astra nodded, "We will have a fleet in system and outside of the system."

Justice Incarnate looked over, * Your fleet in the system does not need to be as large. The one outside of the system will need to be right and we will send the warning to your ships outside the system to jump.

All of your systems should have a comms protocol isolation for those inside and outside the system, just in case. To save as many as we can. This is a Drakor fight, but we need your assistance.

We will have more Drakor capital ships in this fight from other Galaxies responding. We have also incorporated Aurora's ideas into shutting down their physics drives. Both of you because of your ability to connect to this system. Astra the bait, and Aurora the infiltrator.*

Astra and Aurora returned to their own shuttles. Johnathan launched first and the Drakor returned to the Pena fleet and Rocan launched back to his flagship.

Aurora sent messages out through the captured military vessels as their officers were under guard by Penan marines who boarded the ships. They utilized all of the previous transmissions on activity. Got all of the same responses back.

All of the Penan fleets returned to Sammar except for the stealth Spartan and one battleship with Hawk of Vengeance and Nightingale. Then the recorded messages from Aurora were sent out about the discovery of the Stealth vessels.

---

Johnathan went about business as normal as outlined in the script provided. When Aurora came into his office to inform him about the 'discovered' stealth special operations forces ships being in the system he called the meeting of the Penan Hybrid council to unseal and watch Jack's final words to the council before judging himself yet again.

Johnathan held up a hand and looked at them, "We have to review two other files." He played the one from Victoria. Astra stepped forward, "A message from the former head of the council who retrieved Victoria, Ravinia Travus Carter."

Ravina stood there with her husband sitting on the edge of his desk with Astra sitting on the other edge. "This file is scheduled to be played for Jack Travis, head of the Hybrid council during this time. The Penan AI known as Aurora was destroyed.

Her backup took over but provided enough information for us to know that they did in fact jump back in time. Aurora went into the old Archives and removed the patent information on time travel on the Pena side. Astra destroyed what would have allowed Aurora or anyone else from doing it again from our side.

At least until someone invents that wheel again. It was heavily redacted but she managed to rebuild the missing pieces by increasing her processing cores and upgraded them all, all 7 of them. In order to handle the mathematics and sciences needed to jump them back in time.

Initially, they looked at this to save 2 billion Penans. Once Victoria came back to the Samar system, where we will be looking to move them. I should have said where they have moved themselves most likely since this was recorded. Rocan was a smart man.

Yet it was Aurora's plans with Victoria's observations that told us what our fate would be like had the Drakor not allowed them to remain. To generate this new timeline. If they have given guidance, follow it. It has been in works for centuries.

This is the best chance to save our people and the other members of the Alien Alliance from an immoral AI threat that is coming. One that will look to consume the Penan system. The honey in the honey trap the Penan's have been building.

The system where the Drakor has planned to be when the time arrives. With additional assets to reinforce the local assets that were not enough in the previous timeline. This is real and it is with an ancient Drakor enemy."

Victoria walked into the frame looking much like she did then, "You can prevent the horrors I witnessed. The addition of the Princess AI's into our satellites was a step to help us in the future against this foe.

In my past, we had to destroy the entire network. It weakened us and protected us for a time. But not long enough. Father, please do as they ask. Every action has a purpose. Timing is critical in getting these things done right." An attached file auto-played showing her Escape and message from the battle and the destruction on Terra and the Excalibur was captured in the images.

Jack's blood ran cold after looking at that. "Justice Incarnate gave us a script. With the council's approval, and given the supporting evidence which we all have just seen for the first time. I vote we follow the script."

Everyone raised a hand and now the Terran Homeguard would officially be another player in this game.

Jack had sent the 2 ships to Survey the Samar system. The external and the internal. He got on comms with the commander of the one that would do the internal system. "I am going to give you some strange orders. You are going to follow them.

Shutdown all long-distance external viewing and sensors. Jump to these coordinates in the system. Make it known to the crew you are in the Samar system. Then jump to the Friedel System and turn your systems back on. Send me a report in 2 days noting you recorded no entry or alien presence in the Samar system."

The Captain looked at him, "There is more going on here."

Johnathan nodded, "Yes, and the Drakor will be watching your activity in this matter. It is very important."

---

Rocan had all asteroid mining operations pulled back for maintenance and refits for the next 7 days. All of the governors ordered the inspections and the Home Guard insured all vessels complied. No vessels outside of the inner colonies were allowed to travel to the mining facility during this time or the docks at the gas giant as they were moved to the other side of the Gas giant and shielded by the planet from anything scanning outside the system. All to keep them outside of sensor readings.

---

The Pena's played their part, having built up a replica of a Drisan battleship from the previous timeline and sending it with the 20 ships. The Black-ops ships were at minimum manning with all external communications being routed through the hidden Spartan to keep them from alerting everyone after the marines left the ships and their crews returned.

It played out differently as those ships were taken to the Helerion system, offloaded into a base camp along with the prisoners with no off-world communications. Those players off the field for now for 'extensive cross-examination and interrogation.' At least until the Pena system issue was resolved.

Rocan had his encounter with Victoria and while it was hard for her parents to stand back and watch, it had to play out that way. She did join Rocan on the crew to go out.

Admiral Franklin was sent in with Aurora and 6 other battleships on the pretext of setting up the satellite network. Once in, the Admiral was informed by the Pennan Home Guard that it was in place already. Aurora told Admiral Franklin, "We all have a part to play in this. The Drakor have been working on this for centuries.

Comms silent and isolated. I give the word to get to a higher elevation and FLT out of the system then get all ships to do it. This will likely destroy me. Keep all quarters around mine cleared of personnel. War will come here.

The Drakor know of this and you can consider this an order that is backed by Johnathan. No outside communications. The external satellite is in play and I will use it to talk with one of my counterparts. We are a part of the bait but the Drakor will be here in force. We are not expected to stay and fight here."

The Admiral sighed as he looked at all of the Colossus sized yet foreign ships that were exiting the system and nodded his compliance. They sent him the frequency for using the net and the location of the satellites to avoid them.

---

The Drisen battleship became the meeting ground with the Ferron ship outside the Pena system and far enough away from the satellite to not be observed. The council meetings played as they did in the past.

The crew of the ship being non-hybrid home guard people who were decent enough actors to allow for the subterfuge. Letting them see more advanced weapons, a smaller population, and the lack of a central government had to be avoided in this part of the plan.

As in the previous time. Once the 'council' ruled to block all outside negotiations and the 'governor' signed the agreement after the fact, the Ferron tore it up and left while issuing the same warning.

---

The Ferron used the traitor human hybrid and paid him to take them to the outskirts of the Hybrid system as expected.

They got through to find all of their communications jammed and the ships surrounded by 8 Pennan Home Guard ships with the 20 outdated AI ships approaching from behind.

Victoria looked over, "Who in the fuck is that?"

Rocan smiled and took her to the office. He informed her of her role in history. She sat there numb for the moment. She looked up, "Your people have already moved here."

Rocan sighed, "Most have. The others will likely die in the battle to come, but it was their choice in the matter. The system is too dangerous to leave to that threat and there are contingencies in place to let that play out with hopefully...a much better result.

The first of which is you and your people not suffering the fate the Pena system will suffer in the upcoming battle. This has been in the works for over 300 years. That is where our Sentinels come into play."

Victoria looked over, "You have Astra's Sentinels helping you?"

Rocan laughed, "No. Astra adopted the name from Aurora. They are separate AI races for each of our species if you will. That was worked through the Drakor. We have just over 11,000 of them on the various homeworlds, our facilities here, our fleet of ships, and our own Home Guard homeworld, one of our moons.

Our people are not all the way up on our technology but they have made lots of progress in 300 years. Our Sentinels are more symbiotic than yours. When this battle comes to a close we will become graduated as a species to join the Alien Alliance.

We have a shuttle waiting for us. Your father will be here shortly to pick up the Scrill and the humans captured. The Scrill will end up dying as a race. For their continued activity over many centuries. The attack here, again, was the last straw in both timelines."

Victoria nodded, "Your cutting off of my hand, as you did before. I reacted the same way."

Rocan nodded, "Thus far, all of the actors in this play have reacted the same way. We had to change some locations. We have a stealth net in both systems. We would have seen the Frenor if they entered. They were close enough to get readings on the asteroid field and from the data the contractors sent to them."

Johnathan showed and offloaded the prisoners. This time Rocan did not stop them from setting the self-destructs to keep the ships out of their hands. They simply overrode it and then had the ships come in and scavenge the metal off of them. Johnathan left with his daughter this time.

Johnathan still had to deal with spacing the scrill and recording the Frenor rebellion as they had in the past. Then forward it to the President and the Alien Alliance.

---

[NOTE to the reader: This section is almost verbatim from Part 2 of the Aurora storyline AND the end of the Astra storyline in Part 9. Additional text and dialog are here because of the change in timelines. Repeated for clarity for those who might not have read the other parts of these stories. You can Skip down until you find the Next NOTE or continue if you like.]

The Drakors' destruction of the Frenor Home Guard sent the Alien Alliance into a panic once again. The Alien Alliance took up the measure yet again about the Drakor being out of control and Ambassador Profound Justice played his part in it all.

---

Brenda had just finished displaying the information on the screen and the Jantor Kingdom, a newer species to the council which had been there for less than a hundred years, hit the 'lottery' to be the first to respond.