"If we could build those instead of the Legions, you think they could be done sooner?"
Harris shrugged. "That's a question for Mr. Morgan. But not until you have a finished design. His time is too valuable to get directly involved with something like that. And weren't you working on a redesign of a Banshee?"
"I was. Couldn't seem to get around that one-piece hull."
Harris smiled. "Have you evaluated using the Denzee armor?"
Gandy thought for a moment before tilting his head to one side. "Not a bad idea. I'll kick that around some."
— Chapter 12 —
* * *
The Bangor lifted into the Midelon sky. Twenty minutes later she was settling on the tarmac at Fireburg. Bax was standing at the ready as the hatch opened. The New Earth collaborator hopped up into the cabin.
"Let's make this fast, Goober. I have work to get done. What is it you need? Oh, and the emperor sends his regards with your attempt at assistance at Barrier. He wants me to discuss purchasing boglers with you. Have you given that venture any further thought?"
"First things first. Would like to know the emperor's plans on fighting the Denzee. We want to help, but we need to know how and where and with what."
Bax scoffed. "He's not going to give you those details. If you want to help, how about offering your services on an on-call basis? We need your help, I give you a comm."
Harris chuckled. "Not how this works. Anyway, instead of me discussing this with the middle-man, how about getting me a comm connection to the emperor?"
Bax sighed. "Knew this was coming. Let's go to my office where we can open a secure comm. I'd tell you no, but the emperor likes you two for some reason. So come on."
Five minutes of walking had the pair seated in an undecorated office. A desk and three chairs sat beside a wall sized display. After several comm relays were connected, an image of the emperor filled the wall.
"Harris, Tawn, would like to again thank you for your efforts at Barrier. And I'd like to discuss your full time employment with the empire until this issue with the Denzee is resolved. I believe I owe you a few credits for your work at Barrier."
"What? We weren't doing that for the credits. That was for mankind."
The emperor gestured to Bax. "Miss Rumford. Please make the transfer to Mr. Gruberg. Your accounts should have adequate funding."
Bax raised an eyebrow. "That was sixteen warships?"
Tawn replied as she held up her store, "Seventeen."
"One-point-seven billion credits. Unimaginable."
"Miss Rumford," The emperor said, "stop trying my patience and make the transfer."
The flow of credits from one store to another lasted for several seconds.
"Done."
Harris said, "Now we can get down to business. I'd like to know what your plans are. We need to know what you're thinking if we want to offer the best help we can."
"Mr. Gruberg, what I really need is a hundred of those ships you are flying. You've managed to add shielding that seems impervious to plasma weapons. You have a ship that cannot only match the speed of the Denzee ships, but beat it. Also your dampening field seems to be much stronger.
"And the resurrection of a rail cannon. I sit in awe of its raw power. How do I convince you to sell us this technology. With it I have no doubt the Denzee would be defeated in swift order."
Harris nodded. "That's one of the things I'd like to discuss. But first, what are your defensive plans?"
The emperor sighed. "We believe their next target to be Kenkov. We've begun the evacuation of all twelve million citizens."
"Why Kenkov? That's primarily mining isn't it?"
"It is. And not crucial to us. My analysts believe it may be crucial to them. The materials available from there are used in ship construction. They aren't in short supply elsewhere, but they are less expensive to mine on Kenkov. If the Denzee take that planet we believe they intend to begin ship construction here in our space."
Harris frowned. "Can't imagine that to be a good thing. Have you seen the giant hive building they threw up on Rumanta?"
"Yes."
"That's where they build the ships. Construction takes place within the hive. When complete, the ship leaves, destroying much of the hive as it lifts up. They get to work patching things up immediately after. When done, they start building a new ship."
"How'd you come by this information, Mr. Gruberg?"
"Watching and digging. One thing I can offer you here today is a full translation of their language. I know you've attempted discussions. Maybe this will help."
The emperor bowed. "We are again in your debt, Mr. Gruberg. You seem to be a man of many resources and much knowledge. Now, back to your ships... how do I get a hundred of them to fight alongside me?"
Harris was silent for several seconds. "I believe that's a matter of trust between us. I'm convinced your efforts here at Fireburg were for the purpose of building a fleet to attack Domicile. You Earthers have wanted to govern us all since we first came from Earth. Can you convince me otherwise?"
"I will have to admit to some portions of that theory being correct. However, with the arrival of the Denzee and the threat they posed, I believed a unified empire, under my direction of course, would have the best chance of defending all humanity. Unfortunately, the Denzee attacked Rumanta before I could put my unification plan in motion."
"Hmm." Harris rubbed the back of his neck. "You knew of the Denzee, and yet you didn't think to ask our help with regards to defense of all humanity against them. Something is missing here."
The emperor sighed. "Yes. It's your government. The pacifists. My analysts believed that with cooperation with the Domers, we would only be wasting time on endless discussions about how to negotiate with them. I can tell you firsthand, they have no intention of negotiating. They're in a position of strength."
Harris scowled. "I would have to agree with your assessment on that. They're averse to fighting for any reason, even defense, and they have the people's will behind them due to propaganda."
"You've been here, Mr. Gruberg. You see how my people live. I'm not a madman or a greedy and heartless leader. Earthers, as you call us, live well."
"If you're still trying to convince me to join, forget it. I prefer my freedom."
"And as a member of the royal family you would have that freedom, freedom to come and go as you please, freedom to live wherever you desire. And freedom to surround yourself with whomever you like. I would be the only living being with any authority over you. And I would promise to not use that authority."
Harris nodded. "While that all sounds good. I prefer our current arrangement. Can we instead talk about how we might work together as partners?"
"Certainly."
"Your fleet, how many ships do you currently have available?"
The emperor drew a long breath, letting it out slowly. "I suppose your DDI already has this information. Very well. I command approximately two hundred cruisers and four hundred fifty destroyers. And since I can guess your next question, yes, we are adding four new destroyers per day. With battle such as we saw at Barrier, those numbers are hardly adequate."
"The technologies you listed off before, the ones we currently enjoy, what assurance, no, what guarantee do we have that you would cease all hostilities toward and ambitions of controlling Domicile? Would you be willing to give that up?"
The emperor rubbed his chin in thought. "I offer no guarantee that I won't change my mind. What if my people are suddenly starving and Domicile refuses to help? Or any number of other similar scenarios. What if Domicile violates the truce? I cannot offer that guarantee, Mr. Gruberg. It would be akin to giving up my sovereignty."
Harris shrugged. "I guess that settles it then. Only I would offer this, while we will come to your aid in the event of another Denzee attack, I can't promise more than a couple ships. It's all I have available."
The emperor nodded. "Noted. And highly appreciated. And as I've just demonstrated, th
e bounty on taking out those main guns remains in force."
Harris returned a half smile. "I'm guessing you also know those funds will be used to build more of our ships. So you're coming out on the winning side of this deal anyway. You spend credits, we risk our lives."
The comm was closed.
Bax shook her head. "I guess that makes you mercenaries."
"Just concerned citizens who have the means and the desire to make a difference. And as you just saw, we know what the emperor's true intentions are with regards to Domicile. He just said as much that he wants to rule us all. He also must know that we will do everything in our power to stop him."
Bax sighed. "It's a hostile world out there, Goober. We all have to choose our own path. And for what it's worth, I think you're doing the right thing here. Not how I would do it, but you seem to be getting it done."
Harris smirked. "You're still a conundrum, Rumford. One day I want to thank you and the next wring your neck."
"Emotions... the spice of life."
Tawn and Harris returned to the Bangor. Minutes later they were leaving the atmosphere of Eden, a fireball of burning air fading from the front of their ship.
Tawn said, "Four ships a day they're making. More than we thought."
"And I would guess probably under counted. Still not enough to take on the Denzee. Two or three more fights like the one at Barrier and their entire fleet is dead."
"I think he was foolish to not take the deal you offered. That was generous on your part. All he had to do was agree to not attack us."
"He'll come crawling back to the table after his next engagement. What was it? Kenkov? They lose that fight and he'll be coming with his hands out."
The ship landed in the grass outside the bunker. The two Biomarines walked into the supply hut. All five androids were racing around a set of four chairs while music blared. When the music stopped the mechanical assistants scrambled for the empty chairs. Idiot was left standing without one.
Harris scowled. "What are you doing?"
Trish snickered. "Musical chairs. We were taking a break and got bored. Looks like your Idiot lost."
Harris shook his head. "This is embarrassing. You're supposed to be adults. And you, Idiot, why do you disrespect me like that?"
"I must apologize, Mr. Gruberg. It was merely an effort to lift the spirits of our Human counterparts. Was only meant as entertainment."
Harris stared at his bot. "Well if you're gonna stoop to this level, at least don't let yourself get beat by these four losers. You're supposed to be a Gruberg, and Gruberg's play to win."
"Yes, sir. I will add that to my memories."
Gandy said, "What happened? What'd the emperor say?"
"He said no deal. He wouldn't guarantee to not attack Domicile in the future. Was very telling."
Tawn added, "He did pay us for our work at Barrier."
Tawn held up her credit store.
Gandy gawked. "No way!"
"We disabled seventeen of those main guns."
Trish asked, "We gonna spend that on more ships?"
Harris nodded. "That we are. Farker, open us a comm to Mr. Morgan."
An image of Bannis appeared to hover above the dog. "I have good news, Mr. Gruberg. My four week estimate is now three weeks and three days. We have a plan already in motion to disassemble the freighters. And a bit of pre-assembly on the new ships should speed their production."
Tawn held up her credit store. "What would it take to build another one of those factories?"
"New? Maybe a hundred fifty million credits. But I may be able to pick up a surplus line from Domicile. One of my competitors is closing his doors with a fire-sale. Everything must go. He was over-leveraged when the budget ax fell. He's now scrambling to preserve the little bit of his fortune he has left.
"I suspect I can purchase that line for a third of its value, and retrofit it to bring it in line with our current one. I'm thinking fifty to sixty million credits. Am I guessing correctly that you came into more funds?"
"Hold up your store," Tawn said.
One and a half billion credits flowed across. "What? How is this possible?"
Harris replied, "The emperor paid us for the Denzee ships we disabled at Barrier. We weren't expecting it. He decided it was worth paying to keep us coming to his aid. If we manage more stops on those ships in the future there will be more."
Bannis nodded. "This is fantastic news. And timely given the demise of my competitor. My own funds are stretched too thin to have taken this on myself. And to answer your next question. Assuming you would like this moved from Domicile out to the Retreat, we're looking at three weeks for the move and refit, followed by a similar schedule for Legion manufacturing."
"So every two weeks after we could be seeing two dozen new Legions?"
"No, Mr. Gruberg. The line in question is twice the size of our current factory. Three dozen ships per two week schedule once all is up and running."
"Excellent, Mr. Morgan. Will we have enough workers to man it?"
Bannis nodded. "With all the budget cuts in the defense industry, there are no shortage of skilled workers on Domicile who would be eager to sign on. I'll have Mr. Romero take on the effort of staffing this new factory. And I'll have to add also that our suppliers will be ecstatic. They've all been facing cuts of their own. Some may now have to hire."
Tawn said, "Ideally we'd be able to stretch this manufacturing out over a much longer timeframe. That couple billion credits would last several years. We'll be burning through it in six months."
Harris chuckled. "That's if we're all still alive in six months."
Bannis returned a pursed smile. "I'll get to work on this immediately. Expect good news when we again talk."
The comm closed.
Gandy said, "Another factory, this is getting crazy."
"It's been crazy," replied Harris. "It's just getting crazier. And I suppose we should comm the colonel with the news."
Farker did the work.
An image of Robert Thomas floated in the air. "Were you able to make a deal?"
"No deal," Tawn said. "Harris put up a good effort. The emperor showed his colors. He has and has had every intention of taking over our space. There's no mystery left in that story-line."
Harris added, "He did pay us for taking out those Denzee weapons. We've sent a large portion of that to Mr. Morgan. He's purchasing another manufacturing line and moving it out there beside you. It's twice the size as our current one, so you can expect twice the visitors from the workforce. If you hold up your store I have a hundred fifty million credits for you to use for whatever needs you have."
The colonel shook his head. "Don't need them. We have no debt and the regulars out here are spending like crazy in our hotels, bars, restaurants, entertainment complex and our newly opened military training facility. The credits are rolling in here faster than we can expand and spend them."
Harris nodded. "Excellent. We'll hold these in reserve. You know where to find them if needed."
"So the emperor said no deal. Why am I not surprised?"
"He told us their fleet is about six hundred fifty strong and they are turning out four ships per day."
"Hmm. DDI would say that's an exaggeration on the fleet numbers. And I would suspect that four per day is lower by a ship or two."
"Same thoughts I had. I promised what aid we could deliver. And he offered to keep the bounty on the Denzee ships."
"Any thought on where the Denzee might go next? You manage to get any defense plans out of him?"
"He thinks Kenkov. Twelve million civilians there right now. They've already started moving non-essentials out. It's primarily a mining colony that provides the resources they use for both industry and shipbuilding. If the Denzee take it they are likely to start building ships right here in our sector."
"That is the next closest world. Have there been any sightings at Rumanta?"
"Last we were there they had bypassed it. Next time out we'll give
it a check."
The colonel leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "What's it gonna be like when all this excitement is over?"
Harris chuckled. "For me? I'll either be dead or soaking in a tub on Chicago Port while stuffing my face with ribs. The rest of the world will be dead to me in either scenario. What about you?"
"I suppose I may consider building another home. Not so much that I miss it, but I miss the effort and the feeling of satisfaction that's had as you finish each part. Miss Freely? Where will we find you?"
"I have no idea. At one point the Retreat was looking like the place. Kind of looking like the big city now. I'll have to reevaluate once that time comes."
Harris said, "I know you're a busy man, Colonel. Will let you get back to the grind."
"Thanks for the distraction, Mr. Gruberg. These conversations always hold my interest."
The comm closed.
Trish asked, "What's our next move?"
Harris shook his head. "We don't have one. We wait for the Denzee to attack again."
— Chapter 13 —
* * *
Harris raised Alex on the comm. "You have anything new for us? Did you happen to do a scan of Rumanta recently?"
"Yes and yes."
Harris rolled his eyes. "Explain please."
I've taken the initiative to analyze what we know about the Denzee superweapon. At this time there is no way to shield our ships from its destructive power. As to Rumanta, the latest data shows that the Denzee have returned. The hive building is again under construction."
"How old is that data and how far along are the Denzee?"
"Two hours. And the work appears to be nearing the one quarter done stage, as compared to the previous build. I also took the liberty of scanning the Barrier colony. As feared, the colonists have been dumped in high orbit. In addition, there are more than a thousand of the Dulon ships on the ground and a steady stream heading to and from Rumanta and the edge of boson space. I would estimate twenty million workers already on the ground at Barrier."
Harris turned to Tawn. "They move fast. We may not have the five weeks we need to build our own starter fleet of Legions."
ARMS Eden Lost: (Book 4) Page 11