Strike force

The trio entered through a concealed entrance on the side of an imposing mountain. They proceeded several metres through a winding passage before coming into a well lit spacious cavern. There were several elders sitted on high backed chairs arranged in a wide circle.

The trio came to stand in the middle of a circle.

"We have brought him", announced Servius addressing the gathering of elders, "We found him exactly where you said he would be".

"Welcome", an elder with flowing white beard greeted affably.

"I am admiral Gwangwa of Space Command", he introduced himself.

"It is true then", said an elderly woman sitting the circle of elders. "You are the reason for the coming of outworlders into our realm in ages".

"A starship from your world entered our dimension. We knew there had to be a reason why outworlders would suddenly show up. We turned to our spy within the ranks of the Shaduha shadow and came to know of your bondage".

"I thank you noble elders for orchestrating my escape but I am curious though", said admiral Gwangwa.

"You may speak freely here. We shall do our best to answer your questions",said Sanse affably.

"You mention Shaduha shadow...", said admiral Gwangwa.

"You have heard them mentioned before by Servius and Esparati. You are curious to find out more about them?", said Sanse anticipating the question before admiral Gwangwa could finish saying it.

"Yes", said admiral Gwangwa.

"It is only natural that you are curious"But I can not tell you about the Shaduha shadow without telling you about our shared history", said Sanse with a gentle smile playing on his facial features.

Sanse paused briefly to and studied admiral Gwangwa's facial expression for a reaction. Smiling softly to himself Sanse carried proceeded, "yes there is a relationship between Shaduha shadow, us Shaduha ka and your people".

"How is that possible!?", exclaimed admiral Gwangwa in surprise.

"Our worlds have met before", said Sanse. "A very very long time ago, we Shaduha ka and Shadow shadow used facilitate movement of troops and equipment from your world on their way to fight wars on other planets and dimensions".

Admiral Gwangwa listened attentively as Sanse narrated.

'"As you have probably realised by now, we Shaduha ka, are psychics, every one of us. Together with Shaduha shadow our powers psychic abilities are greatly enhanced. You see Shaduha shadow naturally generate energy which greatly boosts our pyschic abilities".

More so that together we could open portals to other worlds".

"You see admiral, our dimension, Shaduha sits at the confluence of several other dimensions and worlds. That made us vulnerable to attack by other beings. Our only defence was to facilitate the movement of troops from Earth to fight wars on other worlds, against those who would attack Shaduha and through Shaduha Earth itself".

"As you know admiral Gwangwa, the shortest distance between two places ....?"

"A straight line", admiral Gwangwa said thoughtfully.

"It is not by travelling in a straight but by folding space. This what Shaduha offered the warriors from Earth by opening portals through which they could enter their enemies worlds directly".

"They could not have made it travelling by starship in a straight line to arrive at their destination would have resulted in their vessels gaining infinite mass", reasoned admiral Gwangwa.

"The arrangement meant that Earth was kept safe from aliens attacks from outer space as they would be intercepted before any could be launched. It also meant that Shaduha had Earth's protection. It was a good arrangement that served both Shaduha and Earth well".

"That was until, Shaduha shadow started stealing alien technologies from several different worlds and experimenting with them. The technologies used the energy from Shaduha shadow themselves. We realised that the civilisations from which Shaduha shadow had stolen the technologies had in fact secretly allowed Shaduha to take them".

"You are saying they deliberately allowed Shaduha shadow to think they had successfully stolen the technologies?," asked admiral Gwangwa.

"We realised this was a trick and confronted Shaduha shadow about this. We tried to explain to Shaduha shadow that the alien technologies were a deliberate ploy to divert their energy away so it would not be used to boost our psychic abilities", Sanse explained.

"Without their natural energy to boost your abilities, you would not be able to open portals between worlds", reasoned admiral Gwangwa.

"Earth would be exposed to alien unwanted visitations from outer space", said Sanse.

"What happened when you explained this to the Shaduha shadow?", asked admiral Gwangwa.

"They thought us weak and attacked us from another dimension with starships. We went underground using our limited abilities to confuse them. We created myths in their minds so they should never dare approach our habitats and it worked..."

"Brother, Tulac's voice suddenly exploded into Sanse's mind. Sanse immediately went into a trance like stupor.

"What's happening with him", admiral Gwangwa asked, surprised.

The others including Servius and Esparati help out their hands for admiral Gwangwa to be silent.

Only Sanse could hear Tulac speaking urgently through his thoughts as he was urgently warning, "My starship, the Shadara is approaching your position, others are following close behind. I have no way of stopping or delaying them without giving away the fact that I am working with you. Evacuate immediately! a massive attack is coming".

"But they have never come this far before, why..."

"They followed an alien signal...", Tulac promptly cutting off Sanse and speaking urgently.

"What have you done!?", charged Sanse emotionally.

"What are you talking about...?", started admiral Gwangwa.

"I 'm talking about the signal you sent!", Sanse accused angrilly cutting admiral Gwangwa off in mid statement before he could finish.

"I sent a homing signal to my people", innocently replied admiral Gwangwa.

"You have killed us all", said Sanse with a sense of resignation. "Apparently your people were not the only ones who picked up the signal. Shaduha shadow ships are massing for a massive onnthis mountain.

"I will contact my people at once", said admiral Gwangwa.

"To what end?" asked Sanse.

"We can protect you", declared admiral Gwangwa.

"Did you not hear what I said out worlder, an entire Shaduha shadow fleet is on its way here. I recall your people sent one starship only. What can one ship do against an entire fleet?", asked Sanse.

"I have a plan", said admiral Gwangwa, "but I will need your help".