Tawn said, "We counted about twenty or so strays out there."
Noff scowled. "We tried to convince them to leave a couple thousand. Even that small a herd would have met our needs and allowed the herd to grow again. But they wanted every last one of them. Not sure how they missed twenty of them. We'll have to think on whether or not that will be enough to keep us here."
"Wow. That is harsh. No compensation for your troubles?"
"They were kind enough to give us a couple hundred credits each. Just enough for passage back to Domicile. The Earthers themselves were more gracious than our own leaders. They offered free passage to their colony and squatting rights for where the bogler would be taken. Also all the bogler we could eat for the rest of our lives. All but us four took them up on that offer."
Harris said, "I'm just stunned. That was billions of animals to move."
"They were well organized. Constant stream of ships coming and going. Was a huge operation."
Tawn sighed. "Sorry for your loss, Mr. Noff. We did spot five roamers out there on the plains. If you'd like we could round them up and bring them here. Or drop them up in the mountains with the others if you prefer."
Noff thought for a moment. "That's a kind offer, Miss Freely. And you say you counted twenty still in the mountains?"
"Twenty-two to be exact. Mostly in one cluster. That's twenty-seven head for just the four of you. Might be enough to keep you going."
Noff turned to his wife and in-laws. "What you say? Give it another year?"
Three nods were returned.
Harris glanced back at the door. "We'll round up the strays and drop them with the others. We’re really sorry this happened to you. You all treated us like family while we were here, and we appreciate that."
Tawn nodded. "What he said."
The remaining strays on the plains were rounded up, loaded, and moved to the mountain herd. The Hailstorm was turned toward the sky and a fireball rocketed upward from colony #13.
Harris frowned. "What a kick in the face."
"Paradise lost. For them anyway."
"You know this was of our doing, right?"
"How so?"
"We waved that herd in front of Bax's face is how. I bet she got credit for restoring a huge part of their food supply. The emperor is probably giddy and giving her even more power."
"So much for us getting our own herd from there. Might as well take us back to Gantway and we'll just pay for the few head they have for sale there."
Harris shook his head. "Nope. We're going right to the boss. She's gonna give us a thousand head from that herd. We'll keep a hundred and we'll give Noff and the others the starter herd they wanted."
"Hmm."
"What?"
"There might just be some Human in you after all."
"We owe them. Just settling our debts."
Tawn smiled. "However you want to term it."
— Chapter 12 —
* * *
The Hailstorm settled on the grass at Midelon. A bay ramp lowered and a hundred boglers trotted out into the warm sunshine.
Harris stopped before following them out. "Idiot, Boomer, see all those pies our friends left us? Clean it up and disinfect this place. I want it smelling like it did before we picked them up."
Tawn chuckled. "Now that's a job those two are certified for."
Gandy was standing at the bottom of the ramp. "That took a lot longer than expected. Have trouble rounding them up?"
"Not at all," Harris replied. "But only because there weren't any on Farmingdale. The Earthers purchased that entire herd from Domicile. We just returned close to a thousand to there. Bax agreed as a sort of settlement, since we brought her the tip of their existence to begin with. All but four of our friends on Farmingdale are gone."
"Earthers killed them?"
"Worse. Convinced them to move to the Barrier colony where they took the herd. They're rebuilding their mountain colony there."
"Aren't they worried about the Denzee?"
"They are. Half that herd will be taken to slaughter as soon as possible and then stored in giant freezers orbiting above New Earth. They'll have enough beef stored up there to feed the entire planet for a year. The whole deal strengthened the emperor by taking down a huge stress point for his subjects.
"Bax continues to gain credibility with both the emperor and his people. She's rebuilding their fleet. She gets credit for us driving off the Denzee. And now she's feeding them."
Tawn growled. "And we can't touch her because of the threat of the Denzee. We need a strong New Earth if we plan to fight them, as any help sure won't be coming from Domicile."
"Banshee number two is fully operational," said Gandy. "And Alex says he now has a design for automating the Hailstorm and the Legions. He says all four Legions can be ready for testing in a couple weeks. All he needs is the go-ahead from either of you."
Harris opened a comm. "Alex, you have the approval for upgrading the Legion ships. We'll decide on the Hailstorm later. Oh, and do I have your assurance these automated systems can easily be overridden and run manually if we choose to do so?"
"Yes they can, Harris. As you requested."
"Good. Then go ahead and get started on converting them. And what's our ETA on the next Banshee?"
"Three days for each of the next three units. Two days each for the six that follow. After that we should be able to turn a new ship each and every day, so long as our raw materials can be sourced."
"You tell us what you need and we'll get it. Just give us as much time as possible."
"Thank you, Harris. The lists and their priorities are being sent to your comms."
Tawn pulled up the data with a frown. "We better get busy."
The remainder of the day was spent jumping from colony to colony on the truce worlds. Half the materials needed for the next hundred ships were purchased and loaded on the Hailstorm. But many of the critical material needs were left unfilled.
Harris looked over at Tawn. "We can't ask the colonel to stick his neck out for the rest of this. You know what that means, right?"
"Bax?"
Harris nodded. "We have to go begging. And we don't have any leverage for making any bargains. She doesn't need us. We need her."
Tawn gestured with her head. "Well, let’s go get it over with. We'll just have to push the fact that this is for the protection of New Earth too."
The Hailstorm landed at the Fireburg mining colony.
Harris stood. "I think you should stay here with Farker and the bots."
"Why?"
"I've just been getting an uneasy feeling lately with leaving him on the ship alone."
"The bots are here."
"They are. But I'd feel better if you stayed."
Tawn chuckled. "Looking for some alone time with your sweetheart?"
Harris scowled. "No. My reasoning is exactly as I just expressed. Would you prefer to go and I'll stay here?"
"Would rather not see her at all if possible. Why don't you at least take one of the bots with you."
"Don't want her getting her dirty little hands on one. Or even knowing anything about them for that matter. She'd somehow figure out how to use them against us. So Idiot stays here."
Tawn leaned back in her chair, joining her hands behind her head. "OK. I'll be here I guess. Try not to take too long. We're due for dinner in about an hour. And all this running around today has me kinda hungry."
"I'll be back when a deal is made."
Harris walked through the gravity wall and down the ramp. A five minute walk had him standing in Baxter Rumford's office. She had a grin on her face.
"I can tell by that expression you didn't want to come here today. Which means I'm probably due for an enjoyable meeting."
"I need materials. I've exhausted most of my options on the other truce worlds. I know you have the connections and the pull to get me what I need."
"And why would I help you? What's in it for me? I already gave you a thousand hea
d of bogler."
"We need these materials to finish the building of a small fleet of ships to combat the Denzee."
Bax rubbed her forehead. "Hmm… what a dilemma you've left me with."
"How so?"
"I know you want to destroy this mine. And yet I know we probably need you should the Denzee attack again. By helping strengthen you to fight the Denzee, am I putting myself and my people here in danger?" Bax began to laugh under her breath.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
"Can't you see the irony? I'm now confronted with the very thing you've been struggling over for the last year. Will my giving help now lead to my eventual demise later? It's quite the conundrum."
"I see your point, but don't really agree with it."
"Because you feel like you're on the right side of the dilemma?"
"No, because I am on the right side of the dilemma. We're desperate here. This is a chance for you to pay off some of those debts of gratitude you owe us."
Bax laughed. "Debts of gratitude? I hope you aren't serious with that remark." Bax leaned forward, propping her elbows on her desk. "Look, we both know what has to be done here. I have to open a comm to the emperor and you have to beg for his help.
"If I take this on without consulting and it somehow backfires, it's my head. So put on your best pouty face and get ready to grovel. If the emperor agrees, you'll get your materials."
"And if he doesn't?"
"I can't promise anything, but I'll see what I can work. It definitely won't be that whole list as that's a bit more than I can quietly handle."
Harris took a deep breath. "Fair enough. Make the comm."
An image of the emperor appeared on the display wall. "Ah, Mr. Gruberg… what a pleasure to see you. I hope Miss Rumford has seen to it to thank you for the bogler information? It has been a major source of comfort and relief for my people."
"She thanked us, yes."
"Good, good. And can I assume you come before me today with a need of your own, or possibly some new information?"
"A need."
"I see. And what would your request concern?"
"Materials for ship building. You already heard about our factories in Domicile space being confiscated."
"Indeed I did. And as I understand it, that confiscation happened just before a huge burst in the construction of ships was about to take place? Very unfortunate."
"Yes, it was. Look, Emperor, I'll cut to the chase. We need these materials to complete a small fleet that we feel is imperative to fight and defend our space against the Denzee. We both know they will be attacking again. And we both know your fleet does not yet have the numbers you'll need to fight them. I understand the upgrades I supplied you have been implemented, but those alone are hardly enough to fight the forces that have been seen in your territory."
"Sightings? And what sightings would those be?"
Harris glanced at Bax. Her stoic expression gave him no clue as to what he should reveal. Had Bax lied to him about the sightings? Had they happened and she didn't pass the information up the chain of command? Harris suddenly felt as if the walls were closing in on him.
"There have been rumors, Emperor, that several Denzee fleets have been seen passing through your territory. If that's true and they attack, your current fleet will be wiped out in a day or two, leaving your entire empire exposed for annihilation. I can't even promise the ships I plan to build will be enough to stop them. But I do know you stand the best chance if you allow us to help."
The emperor began to rub his chin in thought. "Mr. Gruberg, you come before me today completely and totally unskilled in the art of groveling. You instead attempt to use reason and sound logic. You leave me both disappointed in how little respect you have for my power, and thrilled that at least one more Human has the inner fortitude to express their full opinion. You and Miss Rumford have those traits in common."
"So are you leaning toward granting my request or laughing in my face?"
The emperor smirked. "I like you, Mr. Gruberg. You seem to be a man of integrity."
"Thank you, I guess."
"I will grant your request under this set of conditions."
"Go ahead."
"You will promise that regardless of the outcome of any fights between my people and the Denzee, even if we are stunningly victorious and the threat is forever eliminated, you will henceforth refrain from any attack on our facilities on Eden. And you will have no involvement with encouraging or enabling others to do so either. And... you will take no hostile action toward any Earther fleet, facility, colony or individual ship. Do you find those terms agreeable, Mr. Gruberg?"
Harris looked up at the ceiling as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I have a term of my own to add to that."
The emperor gestured. "Please enlighten me."
"I'll agree to your conditions until and unless New Earth shows aggression or hostility toward any Domer fleet, facility, colony, or individual ship, including any of my own."
"Shows aggression, Mr. Gruberg? That term leaves itself open to interpretation. I would agree to the term ‘hostility,’ if that's acceptable."
"Agreed."
"Excellent. Miss Rumford will see to it you receive the requested materials. And, Mr. Gruberg, as always, it's been a pleasure doing business with you."
The comm closed.
Bax grinned. "I feel better. How about you?"
"Did I just make a deal with the devil?"
"You did what you had to do. And I'm proud of you for adding your own condition at the end. It won't matter of course, as the emperor will decide what he wants to do at the time, regardless of any deal. But you... you've shown yourself to be a man of honor. Your word, in your mind, has meaning. An admirable trait, until it's used against you, as is the case here."
"Are you done enjoying yourself?"
"Not really. But I can see you're bothered, so if you send me that list I'll see to it it's filled forthwith."
"Forthwith? What does that even mean? Give me a date when I can come back and pick this up."
Bax looked over the requested items. "Mmm. Four days?"
"Can you do it in three?"
Bax smirked. "Seeing as how you provided me with a reason to smile today, I'll do my best to have that pulled in by a day. Now, is there anything else I can help you with? Anything to change this smile to a grin?"
"The Denzee sightings, were they real or did you make that up?"
"I can assure you I didn't make that up."
Harris stood and then stopped. "Were they real or made up?"
Bax shrugged. "I can't be certain. I was only relaying what I was told."
Harris left the office with a scowl. As he walked back up the ramp into the Hailstorm, Tawn was standing in wait.
"Uh, oh, that doesn't look good."
"Come on, I'll explain it on the way."
As the ship sped up through the atmosphere, Harris let out a long breath. "I may have just fouled up."
"How so?"
"She connected me with the emperor. He was willing to provide those supplies, with conditions."
"And?"
"And we can't attack Eden, or any New Earth ships, fleets, or facilities."
"Why would you agree to that?"
"We needed the materials, and the emperor agreed to not commit any hostile act toward Domicile, her fleets, her facilities, or our stuff either."
"Well, that sounds like what we want anyway."
"And you expect the emperor to stick to his word? If we manage to beat back any Denzee attack, and he builds up his fleet, he won't hesitate to attack Domicile or us. His word is meaningless."
"He did pay us those huge sums as he promised. What makes you think he won't honor this agreement?"
"Bax alluded to the fact he wasn't trustworthy."
Tawn chuckled. "Bax. Sounds like she was just spinning you up to watch you squirm."
"Maybe. But there's more. The Denzee fleet sightings by the Earthers, both her
and the emperor were laughing about those, like they were enjoying the fact that we bought into it. Like it was propaganda rather than fact."
"Exactly what I said when she first told us. They used it as leverage to get a deal out of you. See, that's where I would have called her bluff on that before you sold us out."
"Sold us out? And just how would you have called her bluff? If that was propaganda, you don't think they would have made a fake video recording to show us if we asked?"
"Did you ask?"
"Well... no."
Tawn smirked. "Sounds like she worked you over but good. What, were you sitting there the whole time ogling her? She have you mesmerized?"
Harris sighed. "For the last time, I don't have a thing for the red witch."
Tawn held up a hand. "OK. Don't get yourself all worked up. Do that and you'll probably end up making another bad deal."
Harris half smiled. "You're getting good at playing this thumb-in-your-eye game."
"I've had a good teacher. Anyway, when do we pick up the goods?"
"Three days. Which was better than I thought we'd get."
Tawn nodded. "Not bad. That should mean we're only about ten weeks from having our hundred Banshee fleet. Of course then we'll have to go out and fish for more supplies."
"Mmm. Maybe, maybe not."
"We only had enough on that list for a hundred ships."
"I may have tripled those numbers as I walked to her office."
"You didn't."
"I did. And I added a few of those difficult-to-get items we struggled with from the colonies. The stuff that's left should be an easy score. We can head out tomorrow and load up so we have a good stockpile going."
Tawn smiled. "OK, well, that might make up for some of your mistakes today."
"By the way, how many Banshees can we make with what we currently have?"
"Alex says another ten."
"And the bots? How do our materials look for them?"
"I don't have a count, but I'm sure it's a lot," Tawn answered. "I’d have to ask Alex for an exact number."
ARMS Beckland's Fall: (Book 5) Page 11