HADRON Emergent

by Stephen Arseneault

  “The and then some, drop it or I’ll send someone else.”

  Jasper scowled. “Fine, I’ll behave. I’ll just be glad to get out of this place for a while. Jenny, have someone send the parameters to my comm. I’ll be waiting at the shuttle.”

  Jasper hurried out of the room before any minds were changed.

  “How you feeling?” asked Jenny.

  Mace half smiled. “Like I got shot in the back. The pain meds here aren’t the best.”

  Jenny smiled. “I hear if you’re Targarian they’re super.”

  Mace winced. “Yeah, well, I’m about a meter too tall for that. Seriously, though, I feel fine considering.”

  “The doc said you’d be laid-up for a week. Gonna miss a lot of action.”

  Mace frowned. “And a couple weeks after that… rehabbing. I was kind of hoping the Targarians had some miracle drugs they could use on me. I’ll be laid-up longer than Mr. Collins. Will drive me just as nuts I’m sure.”

  Jenny returned a big yawn. “Sorry. Guess I am a little beat.”

  Mace nodded toward the door. “Go get some sleep. I’ll be here when you wake. And while I’d love the company, I’d rather know you were well rested the next time you go out.”

  Jenny leaned over, giving Mace a long, warm, soft kiss. “Heal up. I’ll be back in eight for another one of those.”

  Mace smiled. “I’ll be here and looking forward to it.”

  Jasper returned an hour after his scheduled time. The Royal Fortune had the remains of a partially destroyed shuttle held in its grapple. The defunct ship was released and the Fortune maneuvered back up and out the cave entrance. A second hour passed before Jasper again returned with another remnant. The shuttle was loaded with fresh teams of fighters for the return to Earth. Jasper walked into the infirmary with a grin.

  Mace shook his head. “Had to do the extra, huh?”

  Jasper nodded. “I did. And I returned Mr. Hobbs and Mr. Crawford after moving north out of town. I chanced a comm and got a response. We were out of there before the bad guys showed up. I’m wondering if they don’t have any comm detection gear with them.”

  “We can’t risk communications unless it’s critical. You were fine in this instance. Just make sure to keep them limited.”

  Jasper continued with his grin.

  Mace asked, “What else you got? I know it’s not a secret because you’re about to burst.”

  “I brought back two shuttle halves with me. And a couple plasma cannons. I’ve got my engineers working them over right now to see if we can build a simple gunboat. We get that flying and back to Earth and those Dedrus Nazis will be toast.”

  “Good move. I hope you can pull this off. From what Jenny was telling me, we’re losing on most fronts. The places we’ve landed… we’ve just been equalizers.”

  Jasper nodded. “If you haven’t heard, I’ve been directing my teams who are manufacturing ammo. We should have a hundred new machines coming online tomorrow. In a couple days we’ll be at fifty thousand rounds a day. In a week I can have that number doubled again.”

  Mace frowned. “I just hope we can last another week.”

  Twenty-four hours passed before the Royal Fortune returned.

  Jenny dragged herself into the infirmary. “That is exhausting. I may need a break.”

  Mace replied, “We have a long list of volunteers willing to take this on. Hundreds of Targarians have stepped up and offered.”

  Jenny winced. “I wouldn’t feel right asking. This is our planet. It should be Humans taking care of it.”

  “What’s the status?”

  Jenny replied, “There’s good and bad. We didn’t lose anyone this time. And we managed to take back Phoenix, Knoxville, and Bern. Bad news is we lost a dozen others.”

  “Jasper was in here yesterday. He said we should have double the ammo for our shuttles to take back starting later today.”

  Jenny nodded. “That would help for sure. I just don’t know by how much. Whoever said there were five million Dedrus down there were way off. It’s more like double that.”

  Mace furrowed his brow. “I thought the sensor computer gave us that count?”

  Jenny shrugged. “It must have misidentified them. Might have counted some as Human or something. Whatever… there are more than five million. How’s Mr. Collins’ gunboat coming? We could use it.”

  “He thinks they have a shot at getting it flying in a couple days. They’ve been working on it nonstop since he brought those pieces in. They basically cut them both in half and have welded the two halves together. One team is working on all the internals… wiring and such, the other on the gatrellium plating. He thinks the engines and reactor are in good shape. Hope he’s right. Their final effort will be mounting one or both of those plasma cannons he brought back.”

  “I guess there’s no progress been made on the wormhole device?”

  Mace shook his head. “They keep tweaking around the edges but don’t yet have anything solid. Doc says he has one number that he thinks is low. If they can get that up, he wants to try another swap.”

  Jenny looked at the bandage on Mace’s wound. “They just change this out?”

  Mace nodded. “About an hour ago. Feels a lot better today than it did yesterday. Still gives that intense twinge when I move though. Really getting sick of lying on my side all the time. Good thing I’m a side sleeper or I’d be miserable. And my Targarian doc says he might let me up in two days instead of four. All depends on what his scans say I look like internally.”

  Jenny leaned in for a long soft kiss.

  Mace grimaced as she withdrew. “Hmm. Somebody needs a shower.”

  Jenny returned a tired, half laugh. “Forgot my smell-good last time out. I’m down to one last scavenged applicator of that, too. Need to get the Targs working on a substitute. A world without deodorant is not a place I want to live in.”

  Mace smiled. “I still have half a case of my stuff if you want to borrow some.”

  Jenny laughed. “As un-ladylike as it sounds, I’m sure I’d be happy to take you up on that when the time comes.”

  Mace grinned. “Will give you some swagger.”

  Jenny slid her feet out into the hallway and was soon out of sight. Jeff Moskowitz was next in the door.

  “Miss Taub doing OK?”

  Mace nodded. “Just tired. They just got back from another twenty-four hours of nonstop fighting. While you may have less of an adrenaline rush with each time out, mentally it doesn’t get any easier.”

  Jeff frowned. “Yes, well, I at least have some good news.”

  Mace perked up. “The wormhole device?”

  Jeff shook his head. “No, we’re still beating our heads against the wall on that. I was referring to having more thunder gloves. Jasper would like us to outfit one of the shuttles with another team of fighters. He wanted to lead up a force of two dozen Targarians to be dropped off and picked up just as your team does now. He would not be joining them, just supervising the effort.”

  “Can we do that without slowing our ammo deliveries?” Mace asked.

  Jeff nodded. “We think so. The ammo shuttles spend a lot of time waiting at the moment.”

  Mace smiled. “A dozen teams would be a huge help. We could run operations around the clock then. Hey… anyone heard from Stark today?”

  Jeff frowned. “I’m afraid not. The team was hoping to have a new list of priority cities. That information was not passed to us for whatever reason. Well, you’ll have to excuse me. I need to get back to the lab. Young Zax has been waiting on my evaluation of a test I gave him. Quite brilliant that one. With some experience and confidence he will far surpass anything I’ve been able to accomplish.”

  Mace replied, “Don’t cut yourself short, Doc. You’ve been a rock solid performer. We wouldn’t have made it here without you.”

  Jeff smiled as he walked toward the door. “Let’s just hope I can keep that record going.”

  Mace browsed through the video streams avai
lable from the cave complex in an attempt to keep himself entertained. An extended period of time was spent watching the video out the cave entrance showing native birds floating on the air currents near a high, small waterfall.

  Several hours passed before Jasper Collins again came to see him. “Tomorrow my new shuttle will be ready for a test flight.”

  Mace said, “I’ve been watching your teams on the video feeds. They’re in constant motion down there. What you’ve managed to do without a repair dock is incredible. Your people have worked so hard since we’ve gotten here. This whole complex functioning like it does is their doing.”

  Jasper nodded. “They’re tireless workers. My excavation team is almost done carving out our next expansion.”

  Mace asked, “This the one where they won’t have to double up with their bunking anymore?”

  Jasper chuckled. “No, we’re a long way from that. This a new manufacturing bay. It should streamline our building of whatever we like, including ship parts. After that will come a new warehouse for storage, then a complete hydroponics area that can grow enough to feed us all should someone start scouting this planet before we have a fleet. After that will be a second manufacturing bay. Then new quarters. That’s the two year plan.”

  Mace huffed. “Two years of planning. I can only dream of that day coming. For us, that won’t happen until we have a fleet capable of defending the Earth.”

  Jasper nodded. “It’s just one foot in front of the other. That’s the best you can do. Keep going so long as you can keep going.”

  “I saw your teams stripping one of those cannons down. Everything OK?”

  Jasper scowled. “Nope. The one you saw being stripped has a cracked frame. It’s useless, so we’re taking all the parts off it to be put into spares storage.”

  “Well I appreciate you stopping by here. I’ve been going stir crazy today.”

  Jasper grinned. “Fun, ain’t it? Same issue I was having waiting for this stump to heal. By the way, I know you don’t want me participating in those shuttle runs, but I do have a prosthetic for this hand that includes one of the thunder gloves. It’s rigged to sense the nerve endings in what’s left of my forearm. I’m getting pretty good at aiming it, too.”

  Mace sighed. “Keep at it. If we make it a couple more weeks, I might go out there with you—on a shuttle run that is. I think our people are starting to burn out a little. We get your crew out there it might be a huge help just by giving them a bit more rest.”

  Jasper stood. “I’ll be happy to take you up on that offer.”

  Mace asked. “You standing mean you’re heading for the exit?”

  Jasper laughed. “Never knew you liked my company so much.”

  “I might even be entertained by having a couple Karthians visit me at this stage.”

  Jasper shook his head as he walked to the door. “Boy, you are desperate.”

  Another shuttle run with the Royal Fortune was made, with a similar result. For every city retaken, two or three were lost. Malcom Stark had been silent for two full days. The increased ammo runs had begun, and Jasper’s new shuttle saw its maiden flight. It was named the Halfbreed as one of the shuttle halves was Targarian while the other was salvaged from near the former Dellus capital of Nineka. Given that both had been manufactured by Galactic Union members, their frames and inner workings were much the same. According to Jasper’s report, the flight went well.

  Chapter 17

  *

  The Targarian doctor gave Mace a green light to leave his bed. Walking brought pain, but was tolerable when compared to spending another day of rest and healing. Mace made a straight walk down to the docking bay, where Jasper’s team was working on the Halfbreed.

  Jasper said, “You made bail? Good for you.”

  “How’s she looking?”

  Jasper crossed his arms. “Cannon is in. They’re sealing up the plating on the outside and rigging her to the main console inside. I expect to have her ready for a test firing later today.”

  Mace shook his head in disbelief. “Incredible the work your people can get done. What do you have – two hundred working this project? And they’re all highly organized. Good luck getting that kind of production out of us Humans.”

  “They’re great at taking orders and carrying them out. They don’t get distracted. We get distracted. They are all committed and focused. They care about the end-product. For us… a third are that way, a third are just there to pass the time or get a paycheck, and a third could give a flip about what they do. Other than for tasks like this, though, I’ll still take Humans. These guys are a bit too one-dimensional.”

  Mace laughed. “I think we all have some of that, too. Any word from Stark today?”

  “Not a peep. Not like him to not have his nose in your business. My guess is either his own people finally did away with him, or he’s off trying to make a deal with the Dedrus.”

  Mace rolled his eyes. “Please don’t even suggest that. We’ve had enough of his sour deals.”

  Jasper huffed. “That’s what I’ve been telling you now for like a year. Glad to see it’s finally sinking in.”

  The Royal Fortune popped into view as it came through the cave entrance, swooped around, and landed only meters away. The ramp lowered and the teams of defenders walked out.

  Jenny, Johnny and Jane came immediately to Mace’s side.

  Jenny gave him a quick hug and a kiss. “They let you out early?”

  Mace nodded. “Got tired of my begging. I’ve got strict orders for no lifting or anything else other than light activity… basically walking and talking.”

  Jane smiled. “Glad to have you back on your feet.”

  Johnny said, “Was gonna slap you on the back, but you don’t quite look stable enough for that.”

  Mace asked, “What’s our status?”

  “We had a good day,” said Johnny. “Retook six cities and lost the same. Those new ammo deliveries are really helping.”

  Liam Hobbs stood behind Johnny. “I think we may be in for a tougher time. They’re finally figuring out they need to shoot in the direction the roils are coming from… if they see one. I had several near misses today that I don’t think were coincidence. If they nail down how to capitalize on that vulnerability, our efforts will be a lot less productive.”

  Mace nodded. “Maybe we take up a shoot then move strategy.”

  Johnny asked, “How’s the gunship coming?”

  Jasper replied, “Should be ready to go by end of day today.”

  Johnny walked over, closely observing the Targarian workers as they sealed the outer hull. “This thing will be a major turning point in this effort. We could finally put the Dedrus on the defensive.”

  Mace said, “You all look worn out. Go get cleaned up and get some rest. We need you fresh for the next outing.”

  Jenny stayed as the others left. “How’s the pain?”

  “Tolerable,” Mace replied. “What cities were saved today?”

  “In the U.K. we managed to take back Leeds, but we lost Liverpool. We pulled out Athens and lost Istanbul. We liberated Anchorage. Fighting in the snow was ridiculous. Every shot saw a huge plume of snowdrift shot into the air. We had to keep moving on that one or they would have known right where we were. We freed the Osaka community center, and Manila, and Bogota in Colombia.”

  “Did we lose any cities in the U.S.?”

  Jenny nodded. “Vegas, Tuscon, and Tampa. What I’ve been surprised about is there doesn’t seem to be any overriding strategy. No coordination between field commanders in the different cities. Each one is like its own little war. With the weapons they have and the number of soldiers, I would be establishing a base and then coordinating attacks going outward. At a minimum, focus on one continent at a time. Sweep it clean and move to the next.

  “And another thing. They don’t have shuttles or warships, but they do have these small armored transports. They carry about a two dozen troops. They could be using those in these assaults to cut o
ff retreats and such. Instead they only seem to be used to ferry around the occasional officer. I’m guessing their leadership never made it to the ground and these individuals are just acting on the last set of orders.”

  Jenny soon made her way to her quarters for some sleep. Mace attempted to keep himself busy with a visit to the science lab. Another circuit had seen improvements made, but the critical signals and feedback needed for a moving wormhole were still not present.

  Several hours later, Jasper came over the comm to Mace. “Mr. Hardy, I know you aren’t supposed to be leaving or doing anything, but I thought you might want to take a ride on the Halfbreed. Her cannon is ready to be tested.”

  Minutes later Mace walked up the ramp and into the cockpit.

  “You put on the battlesuit, huh?” said Jasper.

  Mace winced. “Wasn’t easy. And yes, I have no compulsion to go out into space without it on. Too many things can happen.”

  The Halfbreed lifted off, going up and out through the cave opening before vaulting skyward.

  Jasper said, “Surprised you haven’t commented on the ship’s name.”

  Mace half smiled. “Halfbreed? Not like we have to be sensitive to those things anymore. We’re all just Humans now. Countries, races, none of that matters anymore. You know, it looked like we were on the road to globalization anyway. The aliens just sped us along our way.”

  Jasper shook his head. “People are people. If this all settles out you’ll see some of the same old groups and tendencies coming back. It’s what we do. We’re all unique and we tend to group together with like-minded people or with groups for security. Won’t be any different when we kick these vermin out of here.”

  Mace laughed. “Jasper Collins, the Human cynic.”

  Minutes later, the Halfbreed was rapidly approaching the nearer of the two Gellos moons. A small, rock outcropping was selected and targeted and the blue ball of plasma energy sped to the target, obliterating the outcropping and leaving a three-meter-deep divot where it had once stood. Another dozen test firings were conducted with similar result.

  Jasper said, “All sensors are green. She’s ready for a the real thing. Wanna go for a run with me?”