Harris nodded. "Alternate site… good thinking. You and Garvis are now assigned the responsibility of finding that place and of setting it up to support us for the long term. Sharvie, what do you have cooking?"
"I've been trying to break into the Grindle through the comms. I'm getting close. Wish I had my team from Domicile to connect and consult with. Idiot has been a big help, but I need abstract thinking to make real progress."
"We can't connect to there, but we could bring them out here. You think they'd be interested in that?"
"I know I would. Take me back with you on the next trip and I can ask. You don't care about them being out here now?"
"We aren't much of a secret anymore. And the Burrell can be here in hours if they decide to come this way. So no, I'm not concerned with others knowing what's out here. And if your team can crack into the Grindle, that might be the tool we need to turn this whole thing around."
Alex asked, "Is there a new assignment for me?"
Harris half smiled. "Yeah, keep doing what you're doing. Make us stronger, faster, and more powerful. If you have ideas for new weapons or enhancements, then dig in and flesh them out. Make use of Idiot in any way you can."
Tawn crossed her arms. "And what do we do?"
"We manage... and we taxi. For now we head to Domicile to collect Sharvie's team. After that we go to Gondol. Bax has to be told the boson won't work on the Burrell."
— Chapter 12 —
* * *
Six nerdy twenty-somethings stepped from the Bangor's hatch. Sharvie quickly whisked them away to begin work from a personal lab she had set up in the main room of the bunker. Soon after, the Bangor raced upward as a fireball.
Tawn struck up a conversation as they neared free space. "That was a chatty bunch. I don't think she got in three words during the entire ride out."
"They're just nervous and excited, that's all. You remember your first few journeys into combat? The slugs riding in with me couldn't stop talking. At the time I wanted to find it annoying, but it was actually good for keeping my mind occupied. She's not going into an unknown fight like we were, but I'm sure it helps her to not get overwhelmed with the task at hand."
"Hmm. I remember those days. Only I wasn't in the talker group. I do agree though, there were always three or four who wouldn't shut up—cracking jokes all the way until they started pulling the trigger. I guess it did beat the heck out of silence though."
The Bangor hopped through a wormhole and sped toward the planet Gondol.
"Not here," Harris said.
A second hop was made to the Retreat.
Tawn looked over the nav display. "I don't see the Fargo. New Earth?"
"New Earth it is."
A run into New Earth space showed no sign of Baxter Rumford. Ships loaded with salvage were lifting off on their way to the Retreat, but again the Fargo was nowhere to be found."
Tawn scowled. "Well, this has been a bust. Where's she at?"
"Next up would be Viochan or Eden."
"Try Eden. We know she had some mines running there."
A short run, followed by a wormhole jump, had the Bangor moving toward the fiery hot Eden.
Tawn pointed. "There. Got her."
Harris pulled the Bangor to a stop and opened a comm.
An image of Baxter Rumford filled the display. "Morons… why you bothering me? Come to surrender?"
"Hardly," Harris replied. "We're here to warn you."
"Warn me? If you're referring to the Burrell, I already know they're coming."
"We figured as much. What we came to warn you about was your use of boson bombs. They're useless against the Burrell drives."
"And you know this how?"
Tawn said, "We know this because we have their tech. At least that drive tech. The short wormhole hops they do... the boson has no effect on them."
"Your word is not convincing me."
"We've just been to Domicile and back several times. The negation field is still up and running. Only took us a half hour to get there."
"Interesting."
Tawn asked, "Where's Croft? We haven't seen him in any of our convos with you."
"He's running things from the Retreat. Doesn't like being on spaceships."
Harris chuckled. "Really? And he wants to run an empire?"
Bax sighed. "We're doing just fine, thank you. It was a bit of a shocker, and annoying, but we'll work our way through it. So you're certain the boson doesn't work on the Burrell?"
"We're certain."
Bax tilted her head to one side. "Why would you be bringing me this information?"
"Because we have no desire to be ruled by another species. The Burrell talk peace, but it’s viewed as peace under their rules."
"You've talked to the Burrell? How?"
"We have our ways. Regardless, we'd rather contend with your sorry ass than some furry alien horde that cares nothing about Humans."
"I see. So this means you’re joining my team?"
"Let's just say that your enemy is our enemy."
Tawn said, "You have our Biomarines sequestered on Helm. What would you say to at least arming them?"
"Why would I do that?"
"So if you get your butt kicked they aren't left defenseless. Give them weapons. You still have them captive there without ships. And if they cause trouble, your Banshees there could shred that place. Hand weapons don't make them a threat to you."
"I'll consider it. What else you have?"
"Just realized that we're in trouble here as well. That coming Burrell fleet can come all the way to Midelon. They built the facility, which probably allows direct access. If not, they still have their current method of faster-than-light travel that again doesn't use the normal boson field."
"You people are all sunshine today, aren't you?"
"We're just the messengers."
Harris added, "And as I said, if forced to choose, we'd still take you over them."
Bax patted her chest. "That just makes me all aflutter inside."
Tawn scowled as she shook her head. "We aren't doing this for your benefit. Make no mistake that I'll snap your neck next time I get close enough to do so."
Bax let out a huff. "You people are either too hot or too cold. You could use a good therapist."
Harris chuckled. "No therapist would have us. Biomarines don't make good patients."
Tawn stared at him for several seconds. "Can we stick to the reality before us here?"
"Sure. Proceed."
"We've noticed you aren't adding to your number of bots."
"I don't suppose you're here to tell me the secret to that processor station?"
"Not happening. But since we're both kind of on the same side now, how about helping us to build more. We need supplies and you're hogging them all up here at New Earth. You help us build bots, and even though we won't have time to make them before the Burrell arrive, we would have them available the next time. If we survive this time."
"I'm sorry. I don't have the bandwidth to share resources right now. They're all at full use. The bots are a fantastic workforce. I wish I had a million more, but I'm limited, so I have to focus on my own goals."
"Just keep in mind, if they come take Midelon, they can shut down the boson field, trapping you and your fleet wherever they are while they're still able to move about freely."
"It sounds as though you need to turn over that drive tech to me, then. Put us on a level playing field with the Burrell when it comes to speed."
Harris chuckled. "Not happening. First thing you'd do would be to overrun Midelon."
"Probably."
"Which is why we won't be giving this to you."
Bax smiled. "You do realize I still have a fleet of Burrell ships parked at Gondol. I have that drive tech there to pick over."
"Then please explain why you haven't done so."
"I need those archives at Midelon. They make all the difference with these bots. The AI I took with me who was running that place
is now as dumb as the other bots. That archive gave it its intellect. Now it's just another worker."
"Sounds like poor planning on your part."
"It was. There, that make you happy?"
"It does."
Bax sighed. "You want me to win this thing or not?"
"Actually, mutual annihilation would be best. They might think it not worth the cost of weakening themselves when the Frizoid are still out there. And you, of course, we would be rid of. Sounds like a win-win."
"Unless the Frizoid come or the Burrell send another fleet."
"Always a risk. Hey, instead of us fighting each other, why not negotiate an agreement?"
"What do you have in mind?"
"You get out of our space and the truce worlds and leave Domers alone. You can keep the New Earth colonies and govern them as you see fit."
"That scenario doesn't work for me without Eden. You tossing that planet in?"
"Not for me to decide. I was just floating the possibility of a deal."
"I need Eden. Without it I can't build a fleet, and without a fleet I can't protect those colonies from the Frizoid or the Burrell should either decide to invade."
Tawn said, "No way we're letting you build up a fleet just so you can attack us."
"What if I gave my word?"
Harris chuckled. "Your word has no value. Nothing but lies, deceit, and scheming comes from that mouth."
"I can't deny that."
Bax scowled for several seconds as she stared at the comm camera. "Go tell your people I'm willing to talk. Maybe there's a middle ground we can both inhabit. And hurry. You probably only have four days left to make a deal."
The Bangor turned and ran from free space. A jump toward Domicile was followed by a half hour ride using the short-hop method of travel. Permission was given to land at the presidential estate. Tawn and Harris were hustled into a conference room for a meeting with the President.
"Sir," Harris said, "I don't think we can trust her. The moment she believes she has the upper hand, any agreement she made would be null and void. She's wired just like the former emperor, only she's smarter."
"I understand, Mr. Gruberg. But we may only have this opportunity one time. Should she defeat the Burrell, we would again be a free people."
"Except for any Earthers still out there."
"The Earthers are not our primary concern. There are only seventeen million remaining. While we wish them no ill will, we aren't responsible for their lives."
Harris pulled back. "Wasn't expecting to hear that from you. Croft maybe, but not you. We're all Humans here. And unless you want to start a new generation down the path of hating us, I suggest we protect them as well."
"I'll take your advice under consideration, Mr. Gruberg. Now, I must meet with my advisors to discuss the ramifications of this."
The President left the room.
Tawn asked, "What now?"
"Now we wait."
"Wait nothing. Let's go see Mr. Morgan. He has to have some sway in this."
A short run had the duo landing just outside the Hosh-Morgan headquarters building. Tawn plopped down in a chair as Harris paced the room in front of Bannis.
"You have to have some sway with these people. I brought up this offer with the hopes of us stopping the Burrell and keeping Bax in a box. If she gets Eden, we all lose."
"We kept Eden out of the picture before. If she gets out of control we can take it out again."
"So you're saying we should be just as dishonest in our deal-making as the last clown was? I don't think this deal serves us in any meaningful way. It only delays her attack on Domicile. She'll have the wormhole hop tech before long. It's not overly technical, and she already has Burrell ships that have it. With that she'll be able to come all the way here.
"You said it yourself. If she doesn't defeat the Burrell, we may be finished anyway. Our conversion to the new tech you provided us with still has months before completion. A half dozen of those Burrell ships could take out our entire fleet. Making a deal and giving her the support she needs right now enhances our chance of winning. I would have to agree with the President. We take this deal and be happy with it. If things change down the road, we'll have to deal with it then."
Harris shook his head. "Sorry we wasted your time, Mr. Morgan. I thought you'd see things my way."
"One problem at a time, Gruberg. It's the best we can manage right now."
A trip back to the presidential estate saw four diplomats board the Bangor. A short while later, the ship slowed as the Fargo pulled alongside and docked.
Baxter Rumford stood in the docking tube with her hands on her hips and a grin on her face. "You morons work fast. And, Freely, looks like you'll have to wait on that neck snapping you sounded so fond of. We're now on the same team again."
"I can still reach you from here if you want to keep running your mouth."
Bax scowled. "Bitter doesn't do you good. Save it for the real enemy."
The four diplomats walked across the docking tube to the Fargo. Bax closed the airlock door as she gave Tawn a final provocative stare. Most of an hour passed before the airlock again opened. The diplomats came through.
Harris asked, "Well?"
"It's done. We'll provide what support we have available with ships that have been converted to the latest tech. When the fighting is done, she will leave our space and the truce worlds, excluding Eden."
Tawn groaned.
"Her request for access is required for her to build a fleet to protect her colonies. She has signed an agreement that all hostilities and aggression toward, and conquest of Domicile, her colonies, and the remaining truce worlds, will not happen so long as she is empress of Maxter."
Harris shook his head. "So she re-titles herself and attacks. Sounds like she got exactly what she wanted. When does she remove herself from the Retreat?"
"Immediately following the fight with the Burrell. And we got an agreement from her to provide the Biomarines with arms. If they need to defend themselves, they will at least be able to do so on the ground."
"She providing transportation to take them back?"
"That will come from Domicile. The Biomarines, other than receiving weapons, will have no further contact with Baxter Rumford or the Maxter forces."
The diplomats were dropped at Domicile and the Bangor continued on to Midelon. Tawn was the first off the ship and into the lab where the others, excluding Sharvie and her team, were waiting.
Tawn growled. "They gave her what she wanted. In six months we'll be at war with her, if she wins this week. And our defense of being isolated here on Midelon is coming to an end. It's only a matter of time before she has the means to travel here."
Harris nodded. "They gave her Eden. Not to own, but to mine, which is all it's good for anyway."
Alex said, "When her fight with the Burrell is complete, should we consider shutting down this facility?"
"For what purpose?"
"If she has yet to implement the hop-drive technology, we catch her at a moment where she'll no longer be able to do so, effectively isolating her there at Gondol. The rest of us will be able to move about this section of the galaxy freely using the hop-drive. A journey using that drive going from one end of our space to the other would take a maximum of eleven days. We will even be able to explore the great beyond."
"While that all sounds wonderful, I think she'll have that tech ironed out in the next few days. She's got the Burrell ships sitting there."
Harris turned for the display wall as he opened a comm. "Idiot, show us the Burrell ships at Gondol."
An image appeared. "Two ships are missing, sir."
"Exactly. I bet we find one at the Retreat and one at New Earth."
"One moment... a scan shows one Burrell repair ship at the Retreat... and one at New Earth. Excellent call, sir."
"I'd bet good money she's stripping the hop-drives from those ships to put on hers. She gets that on a single ship and it doesn't matter if the b
oson field is maintained or not. She'll be able to go wherever she wants."
— Chapter 13 —
* * *
Eight Domicile destroyers joined the Maxter Empire fleet as Harris and Tawn sat watching in the Bangor.
Harris opened a comm to the Ellager. "Captain, how many of the turrets were able to be added?"
"A hundred ninety-six."
"Each ship received the same?"
"Yes."
"What instructions have you been given?"
"To take out their weapons first."
Harris shook his head. "I'd go for the drives first. They can't move and the Maxter ships become much more effective against them."
"I'll take that up with my staff."
"I would recommend you do that quickly. The Burrell will be here within the hour."
The comm closed.
Tawn chuckled. "You aren't making friends."
"Not here to make friends."
"He's a captain and I would bet he's been in a fight before. That, and he has orders from his superiors. You want to suggest tactics, you should be doing that with some admiral who's the order giver."
"If this was just Bax fighting I wouldn't have issue, as her entire crew is bots that have been compromised. These are Humans... and our Humans."
The time for arrival came and went.
Harris opened a comm to Midelon. "Idiot, I need you to start scanning colonies for the Burrell fleet. They didn't show here."
"I've just finished monitoring scans at Viochan and Blewitz."
"Hit the big relevant colonies first."
"Domicile is clear. Midelon is clear. The Retreat is clear. Sir, the Burrell fleet is at New Earth. And I have a new ship arriving. It's the Fargo, sir."
Harris took in a deep breath. "Tell me she's not breaking her deal already."
Tawn pointed at the nav controls. "Well, don't just sit here, you idiot. Take us there. Enable our interference field. I'll set our skin to pitch-black."
Harris said, "Idiot, notify the others of our move. We're jumping to New Earth."
"Sir, Sharvie has news. Her team was able to crack the comm of the Grindle. I can forward that application to you if you'd like."
ARMS Helm's End: (Book 7) Page 11