by Chris Hechtl
"Um …"
"See, once you open a gate, it's locked. You can't change it to another gate." She nodded. "It's a two-way portal between points—a short cut."
She nodded.
His eyes looked away. He took on a distant expression as he recalled the events. "I wasn't involved in it directly. They built the gate here in Rho so the explorers could get home faster and so we could send more. We didn't need to; hell, we hadn't finished exploring our own galaxy!" He shook his head. "We thought we could handle it. We were naive."
"And it was the Xenos who woke everyone up."
He nodded. "Yes, but not for a while. They learned how we made gates. Remember what I said about how once you know something is possible it opens up your mind and blows away your own preconceived notions?" she nodded. "They took the idea and ran with it," he said darkly.
She nodded again.
He inhaled and then exhaled slowly. "But it's done. It is in the past. We can't change it."
"So, minor diversion, are you for Professor Gwildor's research or against? It sounds like Pandora's box all over again."
"I'm for the nova research. That we can use. His handheld device?" he shook his head. "Some things can't be done. You can't hold onto a wormhole. You can't project one on a planet. You can't stand next to one, let alone pass through one without getting shredded. The radiation alone!" he shook his head vehemently. "No. He's not going to get anywhere with that. Eternia University will limit him to theoretical research only, not practical." He snorted suddenly.
She arched an eyebrow at him. "What?"
"It's just … I'm remembering your knee-jerk reaction and the reaction people have to nanotech. That's been extended to gates. I highly doubt he'll get private funding. And I'm pretty sure even if he does get private or corporate funding it'll go nowhere. I'm certainly not going to let him blow up a planet!"
She shuddered. "Here, here," she murmured.
The admiral smiled slightly. "I do have to admit though, that episode you were talking about?" she cocked her head at him. " …The whole golfing thing? It was pretty funny. Especially when they got caught and that guy screamed in the middle of my backswing??!?"
Moira suddenly remembered the name of the guy he was referring to and his last name made her smile wanly instead of pointing it out. She didn't want that name to suddenly remind him of other things.
Or other people she thought.
"Are you going to one of the sketch comedies? I heard there is a revival of some of the old classics," she said.
He shook his head. "Security would be a nightmare. That's not fair to the people who want to go to see it nor the people putting the play on. I'll watch it through the net."
She frowned and then nodded in understanding.
"Where did your staffer find that Stargate episode anyway? I may look it up," the admiral said thoughtfully. He could use a good laugh. He didn't care for the whole time travel loop plot, but it had quite a few good laugh-out-loud moments in it.
"Geoffery? It's not on the web. Apparently, one of the other colonies dredged it up and sold the replay rights. I don't think it's legal, but since it's so old, I doubt the original owners are around to care. There has been a lot of that going around. It's turning into something of a business, dredging up old files and such and then selling them to other star systems. I mean, I heard they did that in the past but now it's a big thing."
"Ah," he said with a nod as he wrote himself a memo on his HUD to look the episode up sometime. As he started it, Protector silently filled it in for him. "Thanks," he said.
"Huh?"
"For telling me about this. It's been a while. I think you are right; I could use a good laugh," he said with a shrug. "But, for the time being, we need to focus on the mission at hand, which means back into the budget and long-term plans …"
"Oh joy. Okay, well, if you insist …" she sighed theatrically.
"I'm just remembering what is blocked in our mutual schedules," he reminded her but his eyes twinkled. He pointed his right index finger at the main screen. She followed the finger with her eyes to the screen as Protector projected the budget.
"Okay, you've got some good things going. You are obviously spending a lot of funds here in this sector and less on Tau, Sigma, and Pi though. I know you want to make inroads here to tie everyone together, but I also noted there have been complaints …."
"I know, for lack of resources and support. It’s a pain in the ass getting them anything," she said with a grimace. "I bet T'rel'n in Treasury must be having fun trying to figure out how to move funds between sectors too," she said with a grimace.
"Yeah, it can be. Right now as I understand it, those sectors are in the red. We've projected for that for the next decade though. And, no changing the subject," he warned, waggling a finger at her.
She put her hands up and put on a brief innocent expression. He snorted as she lowered her hands.
"Right," he drawled. "Now, you can draw some resources from the navy. You've sent ride-along teams on all three missions, which saved you a lot there. But I see you are putting in for couriers in each sector?"
She nodded. "I think it’s wasted that we send them back and forth between sectors. Keeping them in sector and using the ansibles as much as possible makes more sense."
"Agreed except for the part where the fast couriers move people faster than the convoys."
"People like Admiral Logan?"
"Among others," the admiral stated with a shrug. "And when was he ever Admiral Logan to you?"
"Since we're being formal …," she saw his expression and then shrugged. "Okay, Horatio. I take it someone tattled?"
"Old news," he snorted. "I try not to gossip. So, Horatio, yes, is a good example. Vesti is another. Myself as well."
"You'll be getting Federation One back soon," she mused. "Can I borrow it?"
"I might be tempted to lend it to you if you come up with a good enough itinerary to justify her use. And if we give the crew a few weeks off. And," he paused as she opened her mouth. She closed it immediately. "If you budget the expenses for it."
She caught herself and grimaced. "I forgot you'd pull a stunt like that."
"Stunt?"
"Okay, I mean call me out on it. I admit, I should pay for upkeep if I'm using her."
"Agreed."
She leaned forward and picked up her coffee and took a sip, sitting back and crossing her legs for a moment in an air of relaxation.
He sat back and echoed her slightly.
"Okay," she said as she daintily put the cup down on the saucer. "I agree to all of your terms."
"Good. Glad that's settled."
"Not quite. I need couriers as I said."
"And?"
"And, I don't want to have to go through the civilian yards to get them. I don't think I should since they should have government grade equipment on board, military grade at least. Some of my emissaries, I mean our emissaries, are going to go where angels fear to tread as the saying goes. I want them to have the best tools at their disposal to get in and out of trouble."
"I'd prefer they stay out of trouble myself, but I agree with the idea of having tools to get them out or avoid trouble," the admiral said dryly. She bobbed a nod in agreement.
She was careful not to ask what sort of timetable to expect delivery. She knew the small yards were busy churning out his special project ships. The first group had already sorted itself out and was supposed to ship out for the front soon.
The admiral cocked his head as if he was thinking about it or accessing his implants. Finally he grunted. "I'll look into it. That's all I'll promise you for the moment. You'll still have to find it in your budget to pay for their construction and upkeep and the personnel to man them," he warned bringing her back to the here and now. She grimaced. "But I think once the small yards are free, I can squeeze a few in on an ad-hoc basis. Of course, we'll have to run everything past Admiral Creator of Things to keep it all neat and tidy."
"
Of course," she murmured in amusement.
"Glad we've had a meeting of minds there. Now …"
Chapter 8
Agnosta
Once a week the three generals, General Jersey Forth, General Henrick Anheuser, and General Pasha 1010111, talked about the various planetary invasion plans. Their focus was on the war front and shifting resources to get the job done.
"Well, the good news is, it might take less than a full division to take Dead Drop. Resistance has reportedly crumbled there. We might be able to go with Baker and send a detachment to SNHH to pacify it. Quite possibly even send some of our troops on to Garth ahead of schedule."
"Ah. But we can't do all three. Not at once," General Anheuser stated. He was still trying to manage his side of the army from Nuevo though he was leaning heavily towards moving to Agnosta to join Pasha.
"No. Archie and the others are done warming up in the bullpen and are en route to Dead Drop. Harley and the others here are saddling up to ship out now. Valenko is on Protodon; he's agitating to get going. I'm not sure if it is a game to him or not."
"Game?" General Anheuser asked.
"Deep thinking. Strategy. He's Russian, so he is playing the long game. That bear's mind is a bog; he thinks so many steps ahead it's not funny. He's worse than Colonel Bear, trust me. He's a character, I guess you could say. He's a graduate of Gunny Schultz's legendary F platoon. He's a terror in tactics and strategy." Jersey made a face. "And since he's a bear, he's no slouch in hand-to-hand either."
"I'll definitely take your word on the last," Henrick said with a chuckle emoji.
"Right. I watched a few of their matches from a safe distance," Pasha stated.
Henrick snorted. He'd seen a few bears in combat in his time. Bears and big cats were no joke to tangle with—not that the worms cared.
"I'm planning on sending all of them," Jersey stated.
"What, all?" Pasha asked, sending an emoji with its eyes wide.
"All including Colonel Drummond of Ninth Division. Or, I should say Lieutenant Colonel Drummond since her promotion hasn't been approved as of yet. My people are learning the phrase 'march to the sound of the guns.'"
"Ah. Agreed. Mine too."
"So, my question to you is, can you send troops too?"
"You mean to sweep up after you?" Pasha sent a smiley to take the sting out of that statement. "Yes, but not right away. I'm still stuck in moving forces to New Texas to set the bases there up as you well know."
"Ah."
"I also need to talk to the Admiralty about sending army air cav and ground cav resources to Nuevo."
"Trouble?"
General Anheuser responded. "No. I want to free up additional warm bodies. If my people have the tech, they won't need as much infantry. And, as you pointed out, we can use the bodies here more."
"Once they are suitably outfitted and retrained," Jersey stated. Both he and Pasha were on the same planet and not that far away so they had an audio link. They only needed the ansible to communicate with General Anheuser on Nuevo.
Pasha nodded. "I assure you; my people aren't as hidebound as the Bekians. They can learn. We just started a bit further back on the tech curve. We're doing what we can to make up for it, but the whole interest in the pocket is Bek. So, Nuevo gets whatever is left over."
"For now. And I agree, Bek gets more than its fair share. We, or I should say the Navy, is the culprit there, they have to secure the orbitals after all," Jersey stated. Pasha nodded. "But eventually we'll have our day."
"Agreed."
"I second Pasha's motion about Nuevans. We're willing to learn, even this old dog," General Anheuser stated, sending them an emoji of a growling dog. "Remember Patton though, one of his methods of winning was to keep constant pressure on the enemy to keep them from digging in or resupplying. Keep them off balance and reacting instead of planning an offense. An offense isn't a problem for the grounders of course but keeping them from digging in too deep or making hostages of the population is. And it takes time to move people to where they need to be."
Jersey sighed. "Don't I just know it."
-~~~///^\~~~-
A few hours after the generals finished their conference, the three heads of the Special Forces Command on Agnosta held a brief conference on training and possible upcoming missions. They were supposed to use the ansible, but when the other officers elsewhere reported they were unavailable at the time, the discussion remained local.
A conference on Special Forces Command was a hot topic up for discussion. Many of the officers were irritated that it would most likely be held in the capital. All three of the officers vented a bit of spleen over the subject.
"It's bullshit politics. They don't have much there yet; we've got Force, Recon, Raiders, SEALs, and Delta here. What do they have on Antigua, the cadre?" Captain Senior Grade Jake “Studly” Dudly growled. Jake was the only over-achiever in the group having qualified for Marine Recon, Force Recon, and Raiders. The chimera native had considered going for his Drop Commando badge, but when he'd heard that they had personal A.I., he'd declined.
"Yes, and they have Marine Recon. The entire command structure for SFC is in Antigua though,"
Lieutenant Commander Hakeem Moreset reminded them. Hakeem was a Neomutt and the only Neo in their little triumvirate.
"Yeah, but that expression about Mohammad and a mountain …," Jake growled.
"I think you've got it backwards. Besides, if the brass calls, we answer with bells on. That's how the chain of command works," Captain Senior Grade Nick Alexander reminded Jake. Nick was from Gaston and was the newest to their lofty rank. He was known as a hard charger in the community.
Jake made a face. "Yeah, I know. Still sucks though."
"Look at it this way, at least it's not in Nuevo."
"Nuevo? Are you serious? They don't have a Delta school there! They don't even need them against worms!" Nick growled. He had put up with a lot of nonsense from General 1010111 and General Anhueser to set up a Delta school there recently. They had asked for a team of trainers to oversee the school but so far, they didn't have a budget so he'd been able to fend them off. He needed his people where he could keep an eye on them.
"True. But army command is based there, not in the capital," Jake reminded them. "If the general there got involved, it could get fun," he said maliciously.
"There is always Bek too. Though I understand their SF is more geared to ONI and dirty pool with their own civilian population. It's getting cleaned up but still. Most of their spooks are all over the place," Nick said with a look to Hakeem.
Hakeem shivered theatrically. "Yeah, well, let's not go there, shall we? Don't give them any ideas."
Nick placed his hands up. "My lips are sealed."
"That'll be the day," Hakeem snorted.
"Cute," Jake said sourly. He was the senior officer of their little group. Scuttlebutt said he was on the short list for another promotion. Scuttlebutt also said that the Bekians were getting involved and throwing red tape into the process though. "So, we've got squads deployed towards the front. We've got them at the staging sites and in a few places looking for pirate holdouts on planets like Protodon, plus training groups on Kathy's World and elsewhere. Don't we have teams deployed to Pi and Tau?"
"We each have one squad deployed to Tau. I think only the SEALs and Marine Recon have a team each in Pi," Hakeem said slowly. "No one has anything in Sigma at this time."
"Yet."
"Right, yet."
"I think the brass wants to focus on the front. Once that's handled, we'll be the pointy tip of the spear before each planetary invasion. And don't get me started about that damn ninja planet!"
"Ninja planet?"
"That's what some REMF yahoo dredged up to call that Konohaga whatever planet. Nasty place, I'm telling you!"
"Joy. Maybe we should be looking at these planets coming up and sorting out priorities, mission statements, and level of difficulty?" Nick asked. "Put them up for bid?"
"Going to shoot for the low-hanging fruit?" Jake asked maliciously.
"Frack you. You know army aims high," Nick growled.
"Is that why you keep missing?" Hakeem asked with a laugh.
"Frack you both," Nick chuckled. "We're adjusting for gravity if you must know."
"Right, sure, keep telling yourself that sort of thing. Maybe someday you'll even make it true," Jake said with a malicious grin.
"Ah, frack," Nick sighed. "Anyway …"
"Oh, here he goes, he's losing so he has to retreat and change the subject," Hakeem stated.
"I'm not retreating; I'm just advancing in a different direction," Nick said stiffly. "Now, we can apply some pressure to the brass to get them to come here or make this conference virtual."
Jake nodded. "Virtual would make a lot more sense. Taking us away from our commands for months at a time while we're in transit is stupid."
"Months he says! Try a year or more if we take conventional shipping!" Hakeem growled. "They might as well just replace us!"
"No, I'd think we'd hop a ride on a courier if we had to get there in a hurry," Jake replied. "You squids have some fast buggers now; I'll give you that."
"That would be up to the navy and how nice they wanted to play and make their toys available," Nick said with mock sweetness. "What say you, Hakeem? Think your friends will be willing to share?"
"Given how much they like to show off said toys, I doubt that'd be a problem. Besides, if you said please with sugar on top, they'd fall all over themselves to do so," Hakeem said, flicking his ears.
"Point. We'll see," Jake said with a shake of his head.
"Well, Colonel Lyon is a former sleeper and also Marine Recon. He knows it's important we stay put. It's the Bekians I'm more concerned about."
"Point. Did they really send a SEAL admiral to Antigua?" Jake asked, looking to Hakeem.
Hakeem flicked his ears again and then shrugged. "Supposedly. I think he's still in transit though. We didn't even see him. He was on one of those couriers that passed through here."
"He didn't even stop here? Shows how important we are! Oh, that's going to be fun for the brass when he arrives. Pissing contest anyone?" Nick asked.