The Marine half frowned. "Barrier?"
The engineer replied as he herded us behind a thick acrylic glass wall. "Yes, this is an untested weapon. We believe it to be safe, but there is always the possibility of a design or assembly flaw."
The Marine slapped a magazine into the receiver, took aim, and squeezed the trigger. A concrete block sitting atop a small stand flew backwards, shattering against a hardened backstop.
The Marine turned and smiled. "I like!"
Chapter 5
* * *
Six weeks to the day after I’d returned to Odenta, Jack, Go, and Garrett arrived. I flew out to the docks in a shuttle to greet them.
Garrett was the first aboard. "I've got some good news and some bad news. Which one do you want first?"
"Give me the good news."
Garrett nodded. "OK. The good news is we made it back here alive, and I don't think our little recon mission was discovered."
"And the bad news?"
Garrett pointed at the seats on the shuttle. "You'll want to sit for this part. The Grotus are not fourteen million citizens. They are more like one hundred forty million. And the Grumar system has two habitable planets. Modus, that's Grumar. And Mayanis, that's fully Grotus. I would place the Grumar population at near two billion. It's a big and busy world.
"And the Grotus, from what we could see, appear to be on a birthing binge like your people were. Give it a couple generations and I have no doubt their numbers will top a billion too. If we're going to hit them, I would say the sooner the better."
I sighed as I sat. "And what of their fleet?"
Jack sat across from me. "They have thousands of those battlecruisers, probably close to four thousand. And they have what appears to be a newer, even bigger class of ship."
Jack pulled up a holo-display over his arm pad. "Six times the size of those battlecruisers. Their term for it is the Warlord class. We counted three hundred eight Warlords and they are building more every day. They also have fighter carriers that have twelve hundred fighters each. We counted twenty-seven of them. With all the activity, it does look like they are gearing up for a major invasion. I think we need to convince your Council that they should get out of there. Even if they manage to get the inhibitors back online for a ground fight, that's an overwhelming force."
I replied, "We don't have to worry about my Gruntas at the moment. They sent the transports back through and moved everyone. We caught the Moddle fleet there. Their scouts said the transports disappeared from their sensors, which tells me they went back through to the Triangulum."
Go added, "We think they will be making a move in the next few weeks. Their ships are conducting flight training at an almost non-stop pace. We recorded a number of the maneuvers they were practicing, hoping we might be able to come up with counter moves. As Jack said, it really is an overwhelming force. They are using the autobots the same as we are. Maybe as many as a hundred million at work right now."
Garrett sat forward in his seat as the shuttle lifted off. "We'll need a lot more than those gravity guns if we plan on taking them on. We go in now and we'll get slaughtered. And given the fact that they have seen our use of the inhibitors, I would place a high likelihood on them coming up with some shielding or some other weapons that reduce or take away that advantage. If we want to hit Modus and Mayanis we may have to return to the nuke strategy."
I said, "I have a rotation of ships going out to where the portal opened last. We've been receiving statuses every day. It's twenty days old by the time it reaches here. If anyone comes back through the portal, we'll head out there immediately. Even if our only reason is to pass this data on to the Council, they should know what they might be facing."
Garrett looked at the case sitting on the seat next to me. "What's in the box?"
I smiled. "The engineers managed to build a GPR. This little rifle packs a good punch, and it operates within the inhibitor field."
Go stepped over to open the case. "How'd they manage that?"
As Go picked up the weapon I raised my hand. "Careful. It has a fully charged magazine. The engineers wired everything to use a specific frequency and then heavily shielded for that one frequency."
Garrett winced. "If I was the Grumar or Grotus, that's exactly what I would employ as well. I would bet they are smart enough to come up with that same idea. We should expect something new from them if we go in on the ground."
When we arrived back at the capitol city we briefed the chancellor and his aides on our findings. The following day, word came in from Doomlight. A single ship had come through the portal gate and the Moddle had received it as a diplomatic vessel. We resupplied the Garmon and immediately set out for Doomlight.
Twenty days later, we approached our pair of Odenta observers, raising them on the comm. "This is Beutcher. What can you tell me about the ship that came through the portal?"
The captain of the Tallmus replied, "Sir, it has been parked beside a half dozen battleships for three weeks now. There hasn't been any observable activity and the comm signals have just been normal ship-to-ship traffic."
I looked at Jack and Garrett. "Where's Go? We need to figure out a way to get him on those ships."
Garrett nodded toward the engineering bay. "He's still fooling with one of those AIs. Said something about trying to enhance a GPR. I hope he's not trying to build an army of armed autobots."
I opened a comm channel. "Go, could you come up to the bridge?"
Go replied, "On my way."
Eight seconds later, Go blinked in. "You need something?"
I referenced the Salton ship on the screen. "I want to get you on there so we can listen in on their plans. Any ideas?"
Garrett said, "If he just uses that glove it'll take him eight to ten days. This is the same portal gate scenario we faced before."
Go shrugged. "They are parked near the planet. If someone can get me in close, I can power myself the rest of the way there."
Jack pulled up a holo-display over his chair and began to swipe screens and type.
I asked, "What are you working?"
Jack replied, "If we can get a valid Moddle transponder code, Garrett might be able to run him in close and dump him off. With the boosted drive, he should be able to move away before they get a shot at him. If we come at them from the other side of the planet it will give him maximum separation."
Garrett nodded. "And if the ship leaves after the drop, his worst-case scenario is an eight-day drift before we could safely pick him up. I could move around to this side and sit just within comm range. If he can find where they are meeting, we can watch and listen in real time. I have three of those stealth tags left."
I stood. "I think we have our plan. You take him in as close as you can on that other side. Drop him off while maintaining four SOL. He will drift around Doomlight and slow until he can board those ships. Garrett, you can then follow up from just within comm range."
Garrett looked over a nav display that hovered over his arm pad. "There is always the possibility that the Moddle have better sensors than we do. If that's the case, I'll be made before I can send you back any data. I think we should have a backup meeting place for Go as well. What happens if after he is dropped the ships move away?"
Go replied, "Then I just power back out here."
Garrett shook his head. "If you do that, what will you do if we aren't here anymore? We need a backup location for a pickup."
Go turned to face the wall display. "OK, if the ships leave, I just go down to the planet's surface. I can find enough food and water there to sustain me until you can make a pickup."
I pointed toward Go's suit. "Let's swap out the bio-gel before you go. And what's your filter looking like?"
Go pulled down his visor. "Says I'm down to 18 percent. It needs flushing as well."
Garrett turned toward the engineering lab. "Let's go get those taken care of. The sooner we get you on those ships the sooner we know what we're facing."
An hou
r later, Garrett and Go exited the docking bay in the Jess. Twelve hours after, Go was released for his drift toward the Salton fleet. Garrett turned and fled as four Moddle ships came in hot pursuit. The following day, Garrett returned and set a passive probe just inside comm range. A second probe was then placed farther out with the final link to the Garmon coming through the Jess.
Go enabled his comm as he approached the ships. "Garrett, I think we all owe you a special thanks for giving us a comm channel that has yet to be detected."
Garrett replied, "I actually picked that up from a former smuggler who was conducting part of my initial training. His engineer came up with the method for making it happen. That was just before they got busted and his engineer was killed. He liked me and said it was something he hoped I could make good use of someday. I think he was wanting to atone for prior sins, but he didn't want to give it to the Organization.
"It just looks like any other star noise until the proper filters are applied. His engineer figured out the key to making it work where others have failed. Funny thing is, your Human AMP suit seems to use something similar. The probe relays we are using have the filters loaded on them, as does the Garmon and the Jess. When we comm to anyone else we are using standard channels. So you, the probes, the Jess, and the Garmon are the only comms that can detect and relay the signal. I don't see how we could have made it this far without it."
Several minutes later, Go drifted onto the Salton ship. "I'm in. Setting the activation level so I can walk around and... we have touchdown. I'm in a long hallway that I think… leads to the bridge."
Garrett laughed as he replied, "You know we can see exactly what you are looking at, right?"
Go sighed. "Are you going to start with that again? Just let me do my thing."
Garrett nodded as he held up his hands. "Sorry. Just trying to lighten the mood."
Go walked down the hallway and emerged on the bridge. "Doesn't look too busy. I'll check their comm console to see if there's an open connection to one of the Moddle ships."
I said, "The bridge crew is all Human. And wait... Go, when you get a chance, move around in front of the captain."
Go looked over the comm console. "There are two feeds open to a ship called the Comatren. Garrett, can you tap into these comms? I can give you the channel numbers."
Garrett replied as he began to punch keys on his console and swipe away at displays. "Without those channel numbers that would be a big no."
Go thought for a moment. "And with them?"
Garrett laughed. "And with them, yes. I thought that was implied. I'll have those tapped in a few seconds."
Go moved over to face the captain.
I stood. "That's Dale Rogers! He trained Joni and me when we were with the Organization. He was an excellent pilot. I can't say that he was the type to be happy flying around a diplomat's ship."
Garrett said, "OK, I have the first channel up. It's just a video feed of an empty room. I'll move on to channel two."
An image flickered on the holo-display in front of us. Two Humans were sitting in a room across from four Moddles.
The Human in charge said, "Captain Haint, we have been over this a half dozen times. All alliances with the Grumar and Grotus are long over. We were deceived, we admit it. We cannot however, turn back the clock. All we can do is move forward. As you can see, I am here to negotiate a treaty with you. A treaty which has favorable terms. We will release all claim to Doomlight and to the other two planets we have here in exchange for your cooperation against the Grumar."
Garrett half laughed. "Looks like they had the same idea we did."
I sat back in my chair. "If the Moddle knew what was coming their way, they would beg to go through the wormhole as Salton conscripts."
Jack shook his head. "In all fairness, we don't know the size of the Salton fleet right now. They have really been turning out the ships. They might come whizzing through that portal with five thousand ships. That would be one horrendous battle if the Grumar and Grotus ships all showed up at the same time."
Captain Haint stood. "Mr. Barton, I will take this offer to my command once again. You will have our final answer within the hour."
Garrett sat back in his chair. "I'm guessing we want this alliance to happen, right?"
I replied, "Given the circumstances, I would have to believe it would be the best for both groups."
Garrett pulled up a static image of the fleets at Modus. "What if Mr. Barton were to relay this image to the Moddle? Would you think this image would have any sway?"
I nodded. "It would. How do you propose we transmit it?"
Garrett replied, "Do you think Captain Rogers would remember you?"
I again nodded. "He would. I was the only Grunta going through flight training back then. I would be hard to forget."
Garrett smiled. "Well, let's get you in front of a camera and you can pass this image on to him. If he asks you any questions, just smile and say 'goodbye'. Tell him you think it should be in the hands of the ambassador, and for him to say it came in from Salton intelligence. I'll open a comm to him going through Go."
Several seconds later my image popped up on a hail to Dale Rogers. Rogers accepted.
"Hello, Captain," I said.
The captain stared for several seconds. "Mr. Beutcher? How are you—"
I interrupted. "I don't have much time, Captain. I'm transferring an image of the Grumar home world and the fleet they are assembling there. We believe they will be heading this way in the coming weeks. Transfer this image to the ambassador. He should be able to use it to sway the Moddle into an alliance. Tell him it came in from the intel people for now. I have to go now, Captain. Good luck."
With that, Garrett closed the comm.
As Go watched, the captain turned to his comm officer. "The comm I just answered, where did it originate from?"
The officer replied, "Data shows it came from this room, sir."
The captain growled. "Get a sweep team in here right now. I want that link found!"
The captain turned back to face the holo-display of the Moddle ships showing on the wall in front of him.
After lifting his arm pad and signaling the ambassador, Dale Rogers said, "Sir, we just came across what I believe is a critical piece of information from intel. The Grumar and Grotus are assembling a massive fleet and are expected to be heading this way. I'm forwarding an image for you to use in your negotiations. If the Moddle don't accept, they are... we'll just say they are mistaken."
Ambassador Gottlieb replied, "Careful choice of words, Captain? We might just make a diplomat out of you yet. The image is coming through... this... this changes everything, Captain. Where did we get this and why haven't I seen this before?"
The captain hesitated before answering. "It came from intel, sir. I don't have any more information on it than that."
The ambassador looked around the room at the two Moddle guards standing at the door. "This puts us in a difficult bind, Captain. If we accept the Moddle decline and leave, they get slaughtered. If we show this and they accept... I have doubts that we could win against such a force. Regardless of any agreement signed here today, our command may decide to not come through the portal if that force is here."
Captain Rogers said, "Is there any way to get more time?"
The ambassador sighed. "I'm afraid not. I was given direction to get this agreement signed no matter what. When that portal opens again tomorrow, our fleet is coming through as either allies or enemies, but they are coming through."
The captain took a deep breath. "It sounds like you already have your orders, Ambassador. I would think we would want the Moddle beside us if we are going to take on that Grumar fleet. We couldn't possibly fight and win against both. Our newest ships and crews are good, but they aren't that good."
The Moddle Captain Haint re-entered the room.
Ambassador Gottlieb closed his comm and raised his hand. "Captain, before you give me an answer, I've just been given a new piece of
information that I believe is critical to these negotiations."
The ambassador pulled up the image of the Grumar fleet above his arm pad. "I only received this moments ago. It seems the Grumar and Grotus are assembling a massive fleet. I believe we now have no choice but to ally with one another. Please pass this image on to your command for immediate evaluation."
The captain nodded. "I shall return, Ambassador."
An image of the Grumar and Grotus ships came up on a display screen that hung on the wall of the Moddle ship. "Captain, remain where you are. Give the agreement to the ambassador to sign. Mr. Gottlieb, our council has decided to accept your offer of an alliance. I expect your fleet is on its way now: when it arrives, we will exchange fleet data and set up a joint command to evaluate this new information. Thank you for your efforts, Mr. Gottlieb. And may our combined force be enough to counter the coming threat."
The display turned off.
Chapter 6
* * *
Go said to Garrett, "I could put one of the stealth tags you gave me on the bridge here. Do you think it would be worth using?"
Garrett nodded. "It might be useful to put one on the Moddle command ship as well."
Go asked, "Should I fly over to the Moddle ship and tag it?"
I replied, "Power over, but don't waste a tag. Just see if you can pick up on any conversations. I want to know what their true intent is. I suspect if they manage to somehow defeat the Grumar and Grotus, the stronger remaining force would then be unleashed on the other. This alliance will only be one of convenience, and only last as long as there is a common threat."
Go nodded. "Heading over there now."
Jack leaned forward. "What are we going to do with our fleet? Do we bring the Talisans back in case there is a ground battle? Do we bring out the cruisers to help with a space battle?"
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