Joni gestured around us. "This place needs some fixing up. Jack dumped all the AIs from the Odenta transports and their autobots in this valley. They've been hard at it since the fields dropped. That's why these lights are shining down on us and the water system is running. Give them enough time and they could make this place into an oasis."
I took off my boots. "An oasis would be nice. Now, if you don't mind, I need to finish my undress."
Joni laughed. "Well, aren't you the modest one."
I replied, "I believe modesty is one of your Human customs as well."
Joni again laughed as she stood. "Yeah, well, you're not really Human, but if it bothers you, I'll give you your space."
I nodded. "Thank you. If you wish to help, you could see about getting us some food. It has been a while since I've eaten."
Joni walked toward the door. "I'll see what I can find."
When I emerged from the shower, imperial robes had been laid out for me. Having nothing else to wear, I put them on.
Joni was waiting just outside the changing room with food and a hearty laugh. "I love it! We finally get to see you in all of your glory. Hail Emperor Beutcher!" Joni bowed.
I scowled. "Knock it off. I will be out of this as soon as I find new clothes."
I waved over a nearby Talisan. "Go to one of the other bunkers and see if you can find a set of normal Grunta clothes for me."
The Talisan bowed as he backed up and left.
Garrett came over the comm. "Glad to see you are taking a rest. Just wanted to give you an update. It looks like the autobots will have the inhibitor field up and running in about ten minutes. We've taken that opportunity to unleash the carriers and their grunts on the Grumar and Grotus. That campaign is going on now, and let me tell you, it looks to be highly effective. We'll pull out just before that field goes back up."
I replied, "I need you to land in this valley and pick up Joni. I want her off this planet. I don't want her on the ground fighting hand-to-hand with us."
Joni stepped forward. "Hey! That should be my decision!"
I held up my hand. "I appreciate your desire to help, but we will need you alive if we ever want to return to the Triangulum. Your uncle still wants you alive."
Joni scowled. "So I'm just a bargaining chip now?"
I smiled. "No, you are a valuable bargaining chip. I need you safe, and I'm certain both Jack and Garrett could use your counsel. Your counterarguments will help them to select the best course of action should the need arise."
Joni looked around. "Should the need arise. Pffft. I guess I am kind of out of place down here."
I nodded. "I would feel better if you were back on the Garmon."
Garrett said, "I have you two in chamber fourteen. I can be out front in about three minutes for a pick-up. Knog, I think you should come as well."
I replied, "If you tell me the Grumar and Grotus are no longer an issue, I will."
Garrett looked over his status displays. "I seriously believe that by the time I land, the Grumar and Grotus’ numbers will be down to the tens of thousands. By the time the inhibitor is back online there will be far fewer. I'll pass this info and any scan results I have to Grunta Command. With the inhibitor up, they can go out and mop up any stragglers."
Joni said, "I'll go if you go."
As we walked toward the massive bunker door we were met by a Talisan carrying Grunta clothes. I took them and thanked him as I continued to walk. Garrett landed just outside with the ramp-way lowered.
As I walked up into the cabin, Garrett laughed. "What the…? You look like a royal actor out of a bad Grunta movie!"
I replied, "Gruntas don't have royals."
Garrett again laughed, "Yeah, that's probably why it was a bad movie. Anyway, that inhibitor should be coming online any minute. Grunta Command says they have a good head start on making use of these bunkers. They do wish they had more time with the autobots."
I nodded. "They will lose the bots and their power systems when that field comes up. You might send a note asking them to fortify this valley. We don't know what the future holds for down here. How goes the fight up above?"
Garrett shook his head. "Current projections have the Kergans finishing with a three- to four-thousand-ship fleet. If it's on the lower end of that, we might just be able to mount an evac."
"What of the Grunta and Talisan transports?" I said.
Garrett frowned. "There aren't enough of them left to carry everyone."
Joni asked. "What about the transports you have? I thought they carried upwards of a quarter million people each."
Garrett nodded. "They do, but we don't have enough space for all the Gruntas and Talisans. Like I said. Some will have to stay. Jack has been running the numbers on this since the inhibitor went offline. As of right now, we would be about two million slots short."
After several seconds of thought, I replied. "Take us over to the transports."
Garrett shrugged. "You’re the boss, but we'll have to leave before the inhibitor comes up."
Joni said, "What'd you have in mind?"
I shook my head at the smoldering wreckage going out for kilometers as we landed. "We have four hundred thousand or so bots back there in the bunkers. If we gave them schematics for the transports, how many do you think we could salvage by using the others as spare parts?"
Garrett pulled up the diagram of a transport. "Problem is, those transports only hold about twenty thousand troops each. We would need to repair a hundred of them. And without that inhibitor running, the Kergans could start taking their high orbit potshots again at any time."
I raised Grunta Command on the comm. "Let me talk to General Abila."
The general answered. "What is this about?"
I replied, "General, I think we should re-purpose the autobots to repair transports. If we want a shot at getting off this planet, we will have to repair about a hundred of those that have been damaged. I think we should start now while the Kergans are still occupied."
The general thought for a moment. "I should consult with the Council."
I shook my head and pounded my fist. "No! Just make the decision! We don't have time to waste waiting for the Council! Make the call and then go and inform the Council. They can discuss it all they want after that!"
The general leaned into the camera and said with a quiet voice, "You are treading on thin ice, Mr. Beutcher. You would be advised to watch your attitude. The Council is already unhappy with your interference."
I took a deep breath. "Just make the decision, General. We need those transports operational."
The general stood back, rubbing her chin. "I'll make the call, Mr. Beutcher. The ground fighting seems to be over. Working on a way out of here appears to be the prudent option."
I threw my hands in the air. "Thank you, General. You won't regret this decision."
Dania Abila half frowned. "I already do, Mr. Beutcher, but the bots will be on their way momentarily."
Seconds later the first of the autobots emerged from the bunkers. The others followed in quick succession, spilling out into the valley like a torrent of insectoid robots.
Garrett said, "The bot has the inhibitor ready. I've instructed it and the dozen others with it to begin working on the other two inhibitors. Maybe we can repair one of them between the two. Oh, and if the Kergans start to bomb this place, we can switch that repaired inhibitor on."
Joni pointed, "Take me over to the east. I parked my shuttle there. I had to leave Raptor aboard."
Garrett pushed the throttle up slightly while guiding the Jess to the shuttle. Joni winced as the back third of the ship took a hit from high above. As the ramp-way dropped, she ran down to check on her best friend.
Garrett watched on the large display. "I hope he made it. I kind of like having him aboard."
Raptor came running from the newly opened door. Soot covered much of his coat, but he had survived.
We emerged from the Jess into the docking bay and made our way to
the med lab. Go was laid out on a bed, covered only by a sheet.
He slowly smiled as we came into the room. "You are all here."
Joni walked to his side. "You don't look so good. What did the doc say?"
Go winced in pain as he attempted to make himself comfortable. "The doc says that despite the amount of radiation I took, I should live. The bio-gel in that suit absorbed a lot of it and administered meds as it was happening. The doc had to take the suit off for me to be able to heal properly. I won't be flying around for a while."
Garrett asked, "Is the suit OK?"
Go nodded. "The suit is fine. But if you're having any thoughts of wearing it, forget it. You're too big."
Go glanced over at Joni. "She could wear it, though."
Joni replied, "I'm still not even sure what this suit is you are talking about."
Go said, "It's in the room two doors down. Garrett can get you set up in it. I'll just hang out here with Raptor. I've missed his company."
Garrett gestured toward the door. "Come on, we'll see how it fits. I can start you training in it if it does."
Joni stopped in front of Garrett and pulled him close for a long kiss. Raptor stood and barked. After releasing the object of her affection, Joni continued out the door. Garrett looked at Go with a grin.
Chapter 16
* * *
I stood on the bridge of the Garmon as Jack pulled up images of the battle above. "The Kergans attack with four ships. They use a coordinated beam spread set to go above, below, right and left of the ship under assault. The target inevitably turns into one of the beams or one of the beams hits it directly. It seems like it would be a tremendous waste of firepower, but they get at least one damaging hit every time. With our ships and the Moddle, they move on to the next fully operational vessel. With the Grumar and Grotus they have to go for the kill, due to the autobots flooding their exteriors to make repairs."
I looked back at Jack. "Is that something you can enable for our ships?"
Jack nodded. "We already have. Of the damage we've taken from up above, 95 percent has already been repaired. Those things really are amazing. We used two of them to remove the suit from Go because it was so contaminated. Those same two bots cleaned the suit of all traces of radioactive material afterward. I know Garrett will think I'm crazy, but I tied one of those AIs into our repair system directly. I had the Talisans construct a firewall of sorts to keep it out of the other systems, and ordered it to not go there, which it hasn't tried to do."
I looked back at the battle raging on the display wall. "I wish I could say differently, but without those AIs and bots, we wouldn't be out here."
"Were you able to get any more scan data on the Kergan transports?" I asked. "Do we have troop counts?"
Jack shook his head. "All we have are estimates based on their ship size. They could have anywhere from eight million all the way up to thirty. I don't think we want to find out just how many if we can help it. I'd rather we put everyone back on transports and then get our asses out of here."
Garrett popped up on the comm. "The suit fits Joni. We’re filling it with fresh bio-gel now. When she's done, I'll take her down to the surface in the Jess and get her started."
I replied, "She'll do well. Just keep her focused on those tutorials. She'll try to take shortcuts if she can. That suit is too dangerous for her to just cut loose with."
Garrett laughed, "Yeah, I've already been threatening her with what I'll do if she cuts any holes into the Jess with that BHD glove. I sure hope we don't have to send her out with a minimum of training."
Joni said in the background, "I'll be fine if I... whoa, that feels creepy. And cold!"
Garrett looked back at her. "It'll warm up in a minute or so."
I turned back to Jack. "Do we have a link to the AIs down at the transports?"
Jack nodded. "We do."
"Do we have an initial assessment of the repairs of those transports?" I said.
Jack pulled up a display screen. "Forty-two require minor repairs that are underway and should be completed within the hour. Another thirty-eight are moderate fixes. After that, they have to start piecing them together. There is no estimate for that yet."
I said, "What's our total headcount?"
Jack replied, "Thirteen point one million Gruntas. You lost almost a million down there. And five point eight million Talisan. We need spots for five million. And that's a hard five as we're already over-counting."
I glanced back. "What do you mean we're over-counting?"
Jack leaned back in his chair. "It means we really only have bunks for just over seven million. We'll be rotating people in shifts as is. All of those transports will be crowded. Usually, you just double up, but we're tripled, and then some."
I let out a long sigh. "I'll let Grunta Command and my Talisan counterparts know that we may need to leave people behind. That won't be easy for either group."
Jack shrugged. "Well, technically you could just order all of your Talisans to stay. They'll do whatever you ask."
I shook my head. "That's not going to happen. Both groups will be called upon to make their selections of who stays."
Jack returned an uncomfortable expression. "You do realize that may mean members of your own family, right? If they go by a lottery system or by the injured or elderly, that includes some of your people."
I sat in a chair. "I'm aware of that fact. I can't with good conscience interfere if it means taking fairness out of the selection. If it's not my family, it will be someone else's."
Jack shook his head.
I glanced back. "What?"
Jack leaned forward. "If you ever run for political office, you've got my vote. I couldn't say I've ever met anyone else that has the moral compass you do when it comes to treating everyone fairly. That's a rare quality."
I half smiled. "Some might call it a curse."
I looked back at the status display. "Pose a question to one of the AIs. Ask it how long it would take to prep the repairs for our target of a hundred ships, with the final work to be done by the Gruntas and Talisan. If the bots can do the heavy work now, the rest could be done by our people under the protection of the inhibitor field."
Jack nodded. "Now you're thinking outside the box! Give me just a sec and we'll find out."
Jack opened a comm to one of the AIs, explaining in fine detail the estimate of time we were interested in. The AI complied, immediately taking on the task.
Three minutes later, an answer was returned. "Eight hours forty-two minutes. Major welds and placements would be complete. No estimate can be established for the Humans or Gruntas to complete tasks as there will be no possible way to leave instructions for such. All tasks that will remain could be completed by a standard Human or Grunta with hand tools or chemical welders. However, completion assumes knowledge of the requirements."
Jack frowned. "I think that option is a dud. Without schematics and detailed instructions, they wouldn't make much headway. You would need an army of shipbuilders and engineers for that. We have to remember that the ships’ systems will be shut down under that field. No schematics, no instructions, no work done."
Garrett opened a comm. "She's had her first couple flights, and I'll have to say she's doing better than Go did the first time out. I just watched her bore through a rock with that BHD glove and then—"
Garrett scowled as Joni popped into view directly in front of him and then again blinked out. "That's the fourth time she's done that!"
Jack laughed. "Didn't know you were so skittish."
Garrett frowned. "The only thing I fear about that is her mistakenly burning my face off with that BHD!"
Garrett again jumped as a nearby tree exploded at the trunk, sending shards of wood in every direction. "OK, there's that, too. Hey! If you're gonna shoot that thing, do it at a distance and make sure it's away from my location!"
Garrett looked back at his comm. "Didn't know this assignment would be so dangerous."
Jack
let out a yell. "Whoop! Yeah! Another two thousand Salton ships just came on the sensors! And they all look to be battleship class! That should even the odds a bit!"
I passed the news on to Garrett and Joni. "Two thousand new battleships just showed on the sensors. They should be joining the battle within the hour."
Garrett held up a fist. "That's the best news we've had all day! Finally, something unexpected that's positive! Joni, were you expecting those?"
Joni replied, "I wasn't given that kind of data. In fact, I'm still surprised that my uncle even allowed me to come out here."
Garrett huffed. "Experience, remember. He wants you to have some frontline time under your belt. You're supposed to inherit his empire one day."
Joni blinked in just in front of Garrett. "Every bit of experience I gain tells me I don't want to be like him."
Garrett smiled. "I knew I liked you for a reason."
Joni smiled back as she blinked out. Seconds later the video feed from her helmet showed on the corner of the wall display.
Joni commented. "These controls are so easy, very natural. I feel like I've been in this suit for days and it's only been a few hours."
I replied, "Just don't get overconfident and get yourself in a bind. One wrong move in that suit and you are either dead or you take out someone else."
Joni remarked as she flew low to the ground. "Got it. Wow, this is such a trip. I'm flying a meter off the ground, through trees, through rock. It kind of gives you a feeling of invincibility."
I nodded. "Like I said, don't let it go to your head."
Jack said. "Joni, get back aboard. We have a new set of Kergan ships heading this way. I'm powering up the inhibitor. If they move away, or if we can drive them off, we can shut it down again."
Three minutes later, Joni blinked in just in front of us. "Go must be heartsick, having to give this up. This thing is fantastic! You can do virtually whatever you want or go wherever you want."
I replied, "It does have limits. You can take ion blaster hits up to a mid-sized cannon. Anything larger will overwhelm the skin, which will effectively end your life unless you are standing firmly on the ground. Those GPR rifles on full run it to almost 50 percent. A dual hit could overwhelm it as well."
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