"Shaduha shadow strike force", approachs", Tulac addressed Sanse directly with his thoughts in the collective conscience of the elders with admiral Gwangwa.
"Thank you brother", Sanse replied calmly". But now you must leave. It has become too dangerous to remain here".
"I can not leave you brother to face danger alone', responded Tulac.
"Then we shall die together", Sanse calmly returned.
"Shaduha shadow fleet is on final approach to strike your mountain with deadly munitions", Tulac warned. "It was an honour knowing you brother".
The elders projecting their psychic energy through admiral Gwangwa, reached out to the captains of the Deep space fleet. They passed co-ordinates of the exact positions of each alien ship in the strike force approaching the mountain stronghold. Communicating through captain Maguire's thoughts they spoke to each starship captain giving specific co-ordinates to aim their weapons.
Speaking as if in a trance, each starship captain gave specific orders the their weapons officer, to target specific alien ships. At the same time the starships of the aliens strike force positioned themselves over the mountain in readiness to deliver a deadly blow. The combined power of them all striking the mountain at the same time with a hail of lasers and missiles would reduce the mountain to a pile of rubble.
"Goodbye brother", said Tulac projecting his mind addressing Sanse in the collective conscience.
Projecting all their combined psychic energy along with Servius and Esparati, the elders focussed on widening the portal.
"Now!", said admiral Gwangwa to captain Maguire communicating through the collective conscience of the elders.
"Fire!", captain Maguire ordered the Deep space fleet. The starships massed outside the portal opened fire with a combined firepower of lasers and missiles. The fierce barrage tore fiercely into the alien ships ripping them apart in a massive explosion.
The brilliance flared brightly for a few remarkable moments bathing the starships of the Deep space fleet . Even as the burning hulks of the Shaduha shadow ships fell from the skies of Shaduha aglow in flames, they could be seen across several worlds. A massive brilliant flash of light in the heavens.
It was seen by more than several sets of eyes invoking a mix of fear, superstition and awe. It was the prophetic lake of fire foretold on one alien world. It was a sign of a change of seasons in the lives of the inhabitants of another.
While on another it was a sign from above necessitating the beginning of a quest to find the meaning.
Even as Servius and Esparati jumped for joy celebrating the sweet taste of victory, Sanse was feeling a deep sense of sorrow deep inside him. He was thinking of his ally, commander Tulac of the Shaduha shadow. He was not going to moan, Tulac had known the risk he was taking but had selflessly given himself for the greater good.
Though Sanse understood that Tulac's reason for making the sacrifice had an element of selfishness to it. He was fighting for the dignity of Shaduha shadow, he wanted to show prosperity that despite the betrayal by the command element of Shaduha shadow, there were those among them who remained committed to restoring the old order. Who understood that without the traditional alliance between Shaduha ka and Shaduha shadow Earth realm was vulnerable to attack from other worlds.
He wanted prosperity to be grateful to Shaduha shadow as well as to Shaduha ka for re-establishing that vital alliance.
While other elders embraced each other with joy, and Servius and Esparati jumped up and down, Sanse remained sitted quietly, wrapped in his own thoughts. Considering what the future would hold for them all.
A great victory had been scored, Shaduha shadow had suffered their greatest defeat ever. An entire fleet wiped out in the blink of an eye representing a massive loss not only in equipment and manpower but also a terrible blow to Shaduha shadow morale. It was a terrible incident that would reverberate with them in their collective consciousness for a very long time to come.
Seated alone in his chamber, high lord Clatra of the admiralty, slumped on his chair zombie at a a complete loss. He was struggling in his mind to come to terms with what had just happened. 'He had watched the Shaduha shadow fleet...', his mind would let the thought complete.
It was too... 'unacceptable' was the right word he wanted.
He was still facing the screen on which he had watched it happen long after the event though he was not seeing the view screen. Slowly he was evaluating, slowly trying to piece together the evidence of his eyes. He was trying to understand how things had gone so wrong.
The strike force had been in position. The mountain stronghold with Shaduha ka inside would have been reduced to rubble. It would have brought the curtain down on the ongoing struggle between Shaduha shadow and Shaduha ka for dominance with finality.
He was determined that they would never return to the old alliance by with Shaduha ka where they played the background role of supporting Shaduha ka. While they themselves did not determine their own destiny.They 'd had enough of the lie that it was for the greater good, that without the alliance with Shaduha ka the dimension would be in danger of alien invasion.
It was a lie, ever since they taken over they had not once received a single threat from another dimension or from any other world. Nothing it had all been a fabrication of the Shaduha ka. The crushing defeat by Shaduha ka only served to enrage and strengthen Shaduha shadow resolve to remain out of the alliance with Shaduha ka.
Admiral Gwangwa noticed Sanse sitting alone in the midst of the celebratory mood prevailing in the cavern. He approached and sitting beside him asked quietly so the others would not hear.
"You are thinking about Tulac?"
Sanse turned to face admiral Gwangwa, "He knew the risk he was taking ad I don't just mean today. It was the entire time that he was collaborating with us".
"I understand it is great loss", said admiral Gwangwa empathetically.
"However the fight continues, we have to go on until Shaduha shadow finally see reason or are defeated", said Sanse quietly.
Sanse paused before proceeding.
Shaduha shadow will have been enraged by the loss of their fleet and will come at us with more determination. This day's crushing defeat is almost a guarantee that there will be more attacks to come".
"Come backwith us to Earth", said admiral Gwangwa. We can bring more starships and evacuate your entire population..."
"We will not leave our home", calmly responded Sanse cutting admiral Gwangwa off in mid statement.
"It will not be forever, you can come back when it's safe to return", said admiral Gwangwa.
"If we leave Shaduha shadow will take over our home. We won't be able to dislodge them again ", replied Sanse. "Do you understand, do you know what what home means admiral?"
"Home", said captain Maguire with a smile spreading on his face. "I must confess the thought has never appealed more to me than it does at this moment".
"You're not the only one". said captain Lucinda sitting him on the bridge of the Sandawana. "The crew will be glad for some time to rest and unwind after what has been a truly hectic tour which began with the opening of the anomaly".
"Captain", lieutenant Tanaka announced, "The shuttle carrying admiral Gwangwa has returned safely".
"Finally we can go home and put this dimension and it's nighmare creatures behind us", remarked captain Lucinda.
The elders sitting in the cavern, linked their hands together and projecting their psychic energies as one re-opened the portal to Earth.
"Captain the portal to Earth has opened", announced lieutenant Tanaka.
"Pilot set course for the portal", ordered captain Maguire.
Sanse silently bade admiral Gwangwa, "goodbye", as the starship shot towards the open portal and disappeared through it in a blur of light.