ARMS Beckland's Fall: (Book 5)

by Stephen Arseneault

  Harris stood silent for several seconds before giving a reply. "Yeah, well, don't forget, several of those bots took shrapnel damage."

  "I stand corrected. Touchdown will be in eight minutes, sir. Would you care to have a seat?"

  Harris glanced over at the captain's chair. "I believe I will."

  After landing, Harris walked down the ramp, looking across the field at the tanker transports now parked nearby.

  Tawn walked up to him. "Cut it kind of close back there."

  "It wasn't me. It was those bots. I think you and I like to leave an extra few seconds, whereas to them milliseconds probably seems like an eternity. Anyway, we did get the fuel, and hopefully enough parts to start making our own."

  "I was talking with Alex. He says each of those tankers should be good for about four thousand jumps. I'd say our fuel problems are over with."

  "We get a hundred Banshees flying and those tankers may not last all that long. And I was just thinking, is it wise to store all this fuel right here around us?"

  "Where you want to put it?"

  "I don't know, away from here. Maybe up there in space?"

  Tawn nodded. "I'll have the bots fly them up there and park 'em. That's after they unload the equipment."

  "Sounds good. And I hate to say it, but this place is starting to resemble a salvage yard. After we strip out what we need, what are we gonna do with all the leftover junk?"

  Gandy walked up. "We should keep it, just in case we have some future use."

  "Sounds like we have a volunteer to take it on. Organize and log it, and then store it somewhere where we don't have to look at it."

  Gandy shook his head as he turned. "Should have just stayed in the hut."

  Harris pointed. "Speaking of the hut, you hungry?"

  "You know the answer to that. You up for a run afterward?"

  "I might."

  Tawn gave the order for the bots to stow the fuel ships up in orbit.

  After having lunch and a good run, Harris stood looking at the pile of Denzee equipment they had taken. "I suppose we'll be needing another hut."

  Tawn looked over at the piles of leftover scrap from the Banshee construction. "I bet Alex can have us a building design for a fuel depot ready in four-point-two seconds."

  Harris chuckled. "Less time than that probably. I'm thinking we should put it up on that hill so it sits away from us a bit."

  Tawn nodded as she opened a comm: "Alex, we have the Denzee fuel-making equipment sitting here and we need a new building to put it in. Harris and I were thinking up on the hill might be a good spot. Can you give us a design that uses some of the scrap material we have? And assign a couple bots to work on that building for us?"

  "Consider it done."

  "I don't see the comm ship here. That mean it's back up and in service?"

  "It is. And I would like to report the Denzee status remains the same. The eighteen ships that journeyed to the Denzee fuel depot have returned to Rumanta. I show more than half the Earther fleet is stationed at Eden. Attempts to connect to their comm systems have failed."

  Tawn asked, "Whatever happened to our probe we dropped out there?"

  "It last reported before the Denzee attack at Eden. I can only surmise it was taken or destroyed."

  "Any ships reported out at Gondol?"

  "Yes, two Ratoons and a Vaaka."

  "They just won't leave that place alone. You said a Vaaka? Is that the same one that was at Rumanta?"

  "No, it appears to have come from the fleet at Jellon."

  "Are they doing anything?"

  "They are stationary. Halfway between orbit and free space."

  "Three ships. I think our little fleet might actually be able to handle that."

  Tawn said, "I might want to know what that Vaaka is capable of first. It doesn't have one of those disc weapons on front, but it did take down a Banshee with missiles. Alex, I don't suppose you have any more data on it, do you?"

  "I'm sorry, Tawn. What little comm traffic I've been able to decrypt only talks of standard systems. I will say there appears to be a large bay door on either side, but I cannot say what might be behind them. Perhaps it's the fighters the Earthers mentioned."

  "Alex," Harris said, "open a comm out to Eden and hail Baxter Rumford. Let's see what she has going on with the Earther ships being there."

  Seconds later, Bax replied, "What do you want?"

  "Just trying to get a feel for whatever you have going on."

  "Haven't you done enough damage?"

  "No. And in case you weren't informed, we just knocked out their jump fuel depot. Hopefully that will limit their movements for a while."

  Bax leaned in. "Look, idiot, we're trying to negotiate a peace with the Denzee. For the first time they're willing to bargain with us. The emperor almost had an agreement that allowed us to closely monitor their actions here. They plan on moving past this sector, but needed time to explore what's beyond our jump barrier."

  "And why would they want to just bypass us after attacking us before?"

  "I don't have all the intel on that, but I've heard rumors they are fleeing from another species."

  Tawn cut in. "What? That's ludicrous. If that was the case, why did they build that huge jump fuel depot?"

  Bax glanced toward her doorway. "Look, all I can say is from what I've seen they've been acting very strange. Something has them all disturbed—scared. Given their actions, the story about them being chased is plausible. The two Vaaka ships are queens who are supposedly very high up in their hierarchy of rulers. One has the authority to negotiate a peace, it would appear to be at all costs."

  "None of this makes sense. They could probably take us all down with the fleets they have here. Passing through is just a ruse."

  Bax said, "Hold on."

  An image of the emperor appeared on the display. "Mr. Gruberg, I must demand that you cease your attacks against the Denzee."

  "And why would we do that?"

  "As we stated earlier, we're attempting to negotiate a peaceful right of passage by the Denzee."

  "So they'll be on two sides of our space? Doesn't sound like a winning plan. That depot we killed off earlier was way too big for that handful of ships they have here. They plan on bringing more."

  "Yes, they do. But only to pass through. They've been at war with another species for a number of decades. The fight has turned against them of late and their queen has decided it is time for the species to leave that space. That facility you destroyed would have allowed their entire fleet of more than fourteen thousand ships to harmlessly jump across our space and be gone from our systems forever."

  "The fourteen thousand ships I can believe. The passing us by… what evidence do we have to support their claims?"

  "If you must know, their capital world, Fratia, has been overrun. Their queen barely escaped with her life. All they want is safe passage beyond our borders. As you know, to go around would take them lifetimes.

  "And to pass straight through, lifetimes as well. With the use of our wormhole generators they would be able to jump from one side of our space to the other without having to ravage our worlds for supplies along the way."

  Tawn muted the mic. "Not that I believe him yet, but that does sound plausible. Those fleets could have already attacked and wiped out the New Earth fleet with ease. And they haven't been overly aggressive with us either. More like defensive."

  "Then we tell him we need proof of what they're telling us. And we want to see what's inside those Vaakas. If it's fighting ships or some other superweapons, we know they're blowing smoke before a full-on invasion."

  The mic was unmuted.

  Harris said, "Emperor, we want in on this negotiation. We want to see evidence that proves their intent here, and I want to know what's on those Vaaka ships. They have those huge bay doors on either side. What are they hiding?"

  "Give me a minute, Mr. Gruberg."

  The emperor's comm disconnected.

  Bax shook her
head. "My gut tells me to go with the emperor on this one. He's not easy to convince. Which tells me they either did a phenomenal sales job or he saw something that convinced him they were telling the truth."

  The emperor rejoined the comm. "Mr. Gruberg, I'm passing you a data file. It has the evidence you seek, including the contents of those bays."

  "I have one more question. They keep sending ships to a system we call Gondol. Why?"

  "The Gondol system is covered in a sea of shallow water. The soil beneath that water is prime for growing one of their mainstay crops. The system they will be establishing as a temporary base on the other side of our worlds appears to be of low quality for food growth. They want to bring in farming equipment to use for a single crop that will assist their transition across our space. That is why the six month period was asked for."

  Tawn muted the mic. "We can't let them do that. Pick another world. We haven't checked out the Gondol Stone yet. I know it may not be anything important, but we can't let it fall into anyone else's hands before we know what's there."

  "Even if this peace offering is true, it's a mess for us. It leaves us frozen as to how to deal with the Earthers. We can't attack or shut them down for that six month period, which is all they need to once again have a huge fleet.

  "We shut them down and the Denzee might just decide they're staying right here. This whole thing is just a never-ending disaster. I almost long for the Great War days. They sure were simpler."

  Tawn enabled the mic. "Give us some time to evaluate what you sent."

  "Oh, by all means. Take all the time you like. You have one hour before I call in the Domers to co-sign this agreement."

  The comm closed.

  Harris sat back. "Alex, were you listening to all that?"

  "I was."

  "I'm passing you the data. Can you do a quick organization of it for us by what you feel is fact versus questionable, and then do your own analysis while we look it over? We'll trade our thoughts once we're done."

  "I'll start on that immediately."

  Harris passed the data and stood.

  "Where you going?" asked Tawn.

  "I feel hungry. I know it's not time yet, but something tells me this day is gonna be depressing."

  Tawn chuckled. "We don't get depressed."

  Harris nodded. "Not me. The day."

  Tawn stood. "The day will get depressed?"

  "Just shut up and let's go eat."

  — Chapter 17 —

  * * *

  An image of Alex appeared on the display wall of the supply hut. "I have the initial assessment. It would appear most of the data is quite convincing. There were a few questionable additions to some of the video files, but the rest is very likely real."

  Harris nodded. "Thanks. Go to town with a full evaluation. We'll do the same here on our end."

  Harris passed the data to the display wall as he took a bite of bogler rib. "OK, sixty-two audio comms, who cares. And a hundred twelve video. Let's start with those.

  An image appeared on the wall showing the view from a Vaaka ship. A fleet of two hundred forty Ratoons sat in formation as a giant fleet of more than two thousand ships approached. All two hundred forty ships fired their superweapons at once. Explosions could be seen coming from the attacking fleet.

  The on-screen fight lasted all of eight minutes before the Denzee fleet was overrun and annihilated. The enemy's choice of weapon: a hypervelocity rail cannon similar to what was in use on the Bangor, Hailstorm, and bot fleet, only far more powerful. Plasma rounds were also exchanged, and the attacking weapons showed twice the energy of the Denzee. Speed, and their ultra-tough armor, appeared to be the Denzees’ only advantages.

  A second video file showed a similar fight, with the same result. The Denzee ships that engaged were quickly overwhelmed and destroyed.

  Harris asked, "Alex, do all these videos show the same type of results?"

  "Proceed to the file marked Fratia-4. It's the attack on their capital city."

  The image flipped to show a view from atop a massive Denzee building. Explosions could be seen in a dark sky only moments before hundreds of ships fell upon the building. Thousands, if not millions, of meter-tall aliens in hard combat suits poured out of the ships and into the entrances of the buildings.

  Camera views from inside showed a column of Denzee warriors fighting and losing badly to the attacking horde. The attackers were merciless, taking no prisoners and pushing hard through any defenses.

  Harris set the rib he was eating on the table. "They look well organized and trained."

  Tawn nodded. "Shots are accurate too. They're small but stocky. You see that officer? He was right out front leading the way."

  Harris asked, "Alex, you done with your analysis?"

  "I am. The attackers, who call themselves the Hoya, display tactics similar to both Earthers and Domers. Assaults are highly organized and very efficient. In each encounter with the Denzee, they attacked with an overwhelming force that was highly effective."

  "Should we be concerned the Hoya will come here?"

  "That is possible. Although, I located the Denzee capital. The travel time from there to our space given the speed at which the Denzee travel, is more than nineteen years. I checked the dates on the files as referenced against current Denzee data and many of those files match that nineteen year time span."

  "So the Denzee got their cans kicked and fled here, starting nineteen years ago?"

  "It would appear so."

  "And the Hoya, given the speeds they seem to be able to travel, if they followed, when would they arrive?"

  "Twenty-one years."

  Harris’ expression turned to a scowl. "This is bad."

  Tawn asked, "If they followed, wouldn't that at least give us two years?"

  "Except for the fact that the Denzee first showed up here two years ago. Two plus nineteen?"

  "So they could be here any time."

  "I'd say."

  Alex added, "Harris, a journey as such would take some preparation. I've analyzed the Denzee fleet. Many of their ships are for food production. A number of others are material harvesters. The logistics of moving an entire species across the stars has to be an immense operation."

  "How many Denzee are they moving?"

  "Just over two billion."

  "Two billion? Not on the ships we've seen."

  "Their main fleet contains a number of colony ships. The advance fleets we have encountered contain primarily warships and construction ships. The Rumanta and Jellon colonies were taken after the emperor refused to accommodate their transition through our space. The spacing of colonists was ordered by a forward commander who is no longer in command."

  Harris rolled his eyes. "This is almost too much to take in. So let's say we grant them temporary asylum and they then move on, are we left to try to fight these Hoya they led right to us?"

  "That is a question I cannot answer, Harris."

  Tawn said, "I think this is gonna happen, this peace deal. So what steps do we take to make sure it works in our favor? First, no Gondol unless we've had a chance to check it out. Second, I say they have to give us all their technology. All of it, everything from weapons to food growth to how they keep their fur so shiny. Third, we get to inspect their ships. Any ship we want, whenever we want.

  "If they agree to those, I think we let them stay for the six month period. Oh, and they give us all their data on the Hoya. Everything."

  Harris nodded. "And I would add this negotiation is done with us in private, without the Earthers. The emperor can make his own deal."

  "What we need to make this work is a way to keep them off Gondol. They need the food. Can we grow it instead? Is there another planet they could use?"

  Harris turned toward the display. "Alex, is there a planet comparable to Gondol we could push them onto instead?"

  "Beckland."

  "The Beckland? Truce Beckland?"

  "Is there another?"

  "Wow. That mig
ht be a hard sell to the Domers. We lost a lot of people on that swampy abyss during the war. We chose that for the signing of the treaty because the Earthers had never once been able to pry it from our control. I did three tours on that bug-infested nightmare of a world."

  Tawn nodded. "They would never go for that over Gondol. I did two tours there myself. Your short description fits."

  "So how do we handle this?"

  "Maybe we concede Gondol, but we require a monitoring station that just happens to sit atop the stone, and has maybe a five kilometer perimeter around it that they can't violate. We could maybe shield the top of that stone so it looks like it's nothing more than the foundation for our station. Alex, would that be possible?"

  "It would require an analysis of the Denzee sensors. It could be hidden from the Earthers as their technology is almost identical to ours."

  Harris nodded. "I’d say we have a plan then. Any deal is contingent on the Denzee giving us their tech. We'll have to ask for a short delay before they begin planting their crops so we can build our station. And we'll have to insist that no one else is allowed into that system until we're complete."

  Tawn crossed her arms. "Sounds like we have a deal. Nothing there is unreasonable given the circumstances."

  "Let's give Bax a comm. Alex, patch us through."

  The terms were partially discussed with the emperor. Private negotiations would happen between the Denzee and the inhabitants of Midelon. The emperor was furious, but had no other avenue to secure the peace he was looking for. A meeting with the Denzee ambassador was set up and the discussion of terms began. An hour later, the Denzee agreed to all conditions. Shortly after, the data concerning their sensor capabilities was passed over the comm.

  Harris stood, looking over a design for the monitoring station. "And you're certain we can build that using the downed ships that are there now?"

  "I am certain."

  "How long are we talking?"

  "If we make use of our entire bot worker force, five days and four hours."

  Tawn said, "We have to do this. And you're certain the Earthers and the Denzee sensors won't pick anything up that looks suspicious?"