Chapter 22
When Paul and Zimuel realized just how much traffic was going to increase on Verron with a new neighbor so nearby, they negotiated a location and security requirements with the three governors and installed a gateway in the Governors Palace and the Capital City travel center. It was primarily humans who were interested in travelling to Verron and no one on either planet wanted to deal with spaceship traffic back and forth between the two worlds. There were few people turned away from either world who wished to visit the other. There were almost as many citizens of Verron who wanted to visit Beriya-Haven as there were Beriyians that wanted to visit Verron. Being a very good entrepreneur, the Manager of the Church Supply Department in J.C. Penny’s went to Michael for a business loan and opened a Robe Shop on Beriya-Haven. Using patterns that seemed to appeal to the Chikondi, he worked with them to custom size and fit robes manufactured on Verron. Two new businesses were born. Verron now had a clothing manufacturer, who was soon making men’s suites; custom tailored to the preferences of Abioye men, Renee was already working with some of the female androids to open a custom dress shop on Beriya. It didn’t take long to adapt cyborgs and robots to be tomato pickers, fruit pickers and to do almost any manual labor part of farming; the farmers were now free to focus on new fields. Paul took the time to go see the first harvest of a 1000 acre tomato farm. Cyborgs walked the rows of tomatoes, gently picking them and placing them in an overhead hover truck. When it was full, it would leave and another would take its place. They worked like that 36/9 at the lettuce fields, potato farms and virtually anyplace that required heavy labor. The Xhondarians had an insatiable appetite for fresh fruits and vegetables and the profit margins were very lucrative.
Many of the trees cut down for timber were replaced with nut trees from Earth. Pecans and Walnuts planted around the Farmington area, but even Pistachio, Cashews and Macadamia were grown further south in the lower part of the continent. Experimental fields of pineapple and banana trees had been planet and the prospects looked good for further development. Clark and King Verron were working hard to make Verron independent enough in food production to not depend on imports from Earth. So far they were doing well in the growing of foods and had made headway in beef, pork and poultry, but there was a lot to be done in the food processing industry to make them truly independent. The John Deere Combines were working great, and between the Russians and some of the Beriyians being added to the work force, things were looking good in wheat production. Most of the Abioye from Beriya were pretty content to continue working the fields of Beriya-Haven. They loved to come to Verron to shop and visit the great outdoors, but after centuries of never being exposed to natural sunlight, outdoors working all day in Verron’s sunnier agriculture district was more than most could endure, still enough desired to be in a natural atmosphere filled with moisture, rain, and clouds and surrounded by trees and mountains, that food production was at the highest level ever. Many more chose to commute back and forth through the Gateway and work in the various Verron industries; several thousand even joined the Verron military with a great desire to fly and see other worlds.
The Dragon Guard was becoming more and more disciplined and skilled with each passing week. Vladimir was splitting his duties between training them and continuing the Russian, Polish, and German recruiting. He had added France, Italy and the Scandinavian countries to his agenda and there were now over 14 different nationalities from Earth living on Verron, in addition to 6 different alien nations represented. Paul and his staff had managed, with Yadvega’s help, to master twenty different languages. The Dragon Guard, with the help of Yadvega and Vladimir, added both Mandarin and Cantonese dialects of Chinese, Spanish, Farsi, Urdu, Swahili, Portuguese, Japanese, Hebrew and Arabic to their list. The Guard was constantly playing Yadvega’s game of conversing in multiple languages throughout the day, speaking every other sentence or statement in a different language. People around them were giving them strange looks when they would walk through the mall or Capital City carrying on conversations in 15 different languages, but every citizen on Verron was thrilled whenever a member of the Dragon Guard would converse with them in their native tongue.
Vladimir was also busy developing the clandestine skills of the Guard and his ex-KGB friends who now lived on Verron. He was now receiving the daily security reports that used to go to only Paul. Lucy would keep Paul up to date on items he had personally requested, but the day-to-day top secret dialogue of dozens of different governments and terrorist groups was more than he wanted to see every day. He did however watch Robin Meade when possible. Today was going to be one of those days where red flags were going up with both Vladimir and Paul. He had avoided being involved in Earth politics for quite some time, since he was so busy in his recruiting efforts, but some incidents on Earth were just too much for him to avoid. Nigeria had just come up on Paul’s security report from Lucy and it was definitely something he could not stay out of.
Boko Haram had been terrorizing Nigeria for years. The atrocities committed ranged from genocide, mass executions, massacres of entire villages, kidnapping, rape, bombings of schools, churches and various businesses. They especially sought out Christians and anyone else who did not adhere to their particular form of Islam. They had killed thousands in Baga in years past and continued to destroy people’s lives. As they got more and more control, things began to slow down, but now they were back, pushing for more power and once again terrorizing entire villages with no resistance from a cowardly military in both Nigeria and the bordering countries. What Paul was now reviewing with Vladimir, Hunter and General Zarman was disgusting in every way. In the town of Mongonu, Boko Haram had once again killed thousands. The young boys they found were taken to be converted to Islam and trained as soldiers, the young girls, who were never married, were kidnapped to be sold as wives or slaves. The married women had their throats slit and adult males were killed; everything that could burn was burned. Boko Haram now had over 350 young girls being held in one of their remote camps hidden deep in the dense jungles. What made it even worse was that two Navy Seal Teams had attempted a rescue. Five were killed and their mutilated bodies put on display, six were captured by Boko Haram and their pending execution had been announced. The remainder of the Seal Team barely escaped with their lives.
It was a more difficult situation than when Paul went in alone to rescue hostages or to nab terrorists by himself. There were now two locations to deal with and more people to rescue than any time before. After reviewing the security communications from the Navy, NSA and CIA, along with information from MI-6 and Russian intelligence (FSB), Paul was pretty confident he knew where everyone was located. The logistics to deal with was rescuing one group without the consequential effect on the other. Finally Paul looked at Vladimir and asked, “You’ve been training him. Is he ready to go with me on an operation?” Hunter perked-up knowing he was the only one Paul could be talking about. Vlad replied, “If I trained him, he’s ready. What have you got in mind?”
Paul turned to Hunter and told him, “This is not practice or some kind of a mock exercise. These people would like nothing more than to kill you and you will have to kill many of them. I would take Vlad, but he can’t move around undetected like one of us can.” Vlad nodded his agreement. He had, on more than one occasion, been outmaneuvered by members of the Guard. Being able to disappear then reappear a few feet or few miles away had some distinct advantages. Paul continued, “You have to do what I say, when I say do it, no questions asked. We go in, do whatever it takes to get the hostages out and leave behind as many dead terrorists as possible. That’s the part I’m afraid you will have a problem with. We could do this in other ways and not be as destructive, but you’ve just seen what they do to innocent women and children. The more we leave alive, the more power they have to continue doing these atrocities.” Hunter reassured Paul, replying, “Vlad has been teaching me well about the need for casualties and how to make certain I sustain as many as possible on the
enemy. I see those satellite images and it disgusts me that they are free to do anything they want to whomever they want to do it. I’m ready to teach Boko Haram that there are consequences for their behavior.” Vlad once again assured Paul, “All of the Guard is very good, but this one’s got his Daddies genes. He’s one of the best I’ve ever seen, to not be a Spetsnaz.” Hunter smiled and told Vlad, “Oh yeah, you guys are tough alright. Do you know that Tala and Cali refer to your training as playing Spetsnaz?” Vlad laughed his uproarious laugh and said, “I think everything they do is play to them. I’ve never seen either of them not having fun even when they were doing survival training in the swamps during the rainy season. I could put any of the Dragon Guard up against the best commandos we have and those two would find a way to make it fun.” Paul quickly added, “This will not be fun.”
“Lucy will you please give us a holograph map of the Boko Haram compound?” Paul commanded. After a short pause, a holograph image appeared in the middle of the table. Paul looked at the perfect detail and asked, “You’ve already got a drone overhead don’t you?” Lucy replied, “Is that a problem?” Vlad laughed this time, saying, “How does she know what you want before you ask? She is smart computer.” Simultaneously Paul and Hunter replied, “She’s not a computer.” Lucy continued, “I put a drone overhead when you started the meeting. I knew you would want more detail before any operation could be decided on.” Vlad just shook his head and said, “If we had Lucy we would be flying hammer and sickle over Afghanistan.” Paul walked slowly around the conference table closely studying every detail of the real-time 3D image. He could see troops walking around the compound. Count the number of guards at various buildings and identify barracks, motor pool, and weapons storage facilities. There were at least four helicopters. He doubted they all worked, but knew some of them did. He pointed to a large hanger or possibly a warehouse, saying, “By the number of guards around this building and based on the size of it, I say the female hostages are being kept in there.” He walked around one more time and pointed out, “This heavily fortified building here has got to be a prison or holding facility. Double razor wire fences, two guard towers, eight sentries, and only one way in or out; heavily watched by this heavy machine gun on top of this building.” Vlad and Hunter agreed. He then pointed to a larger fenced in area filled with close to a hundred tents, about the right size to sleep 8-10 people, saying, “If I had to bet, I’d say this is where they keep the young boys who are being indoctrinated into Islam and training to be soldiers. I don’t want to leave them behind if I don’t have to.” Vlad pointed out, “Now you have three locations to cover with only two people.”
Paul continued to study the map and asked, “Lucy, give me thermal imaging on this warehouse, please, then do the same on the prison.” It took a moment for the drone to reposition itself then as if they were standing overhead looking into a roofless building, they could make out hundreds people clumped together in the middle of the floor, surrounded by a dozen guards along the outer walls of the building. There were four more guards in the rafters or on catwalks above. The drone then moved to the heavily fortified prison area. The images were not quite as clear as they were through the thin tin roof of the warehouse, but it was evident that there were eight cells in the building and all eight were filled; evidently there were two additional people besides the Seals. There were eight more heavily armed guards inside the building. They could fire through gun holes made into the two-foot thick concrete walls. Paul smiled, thinking, “Everything is geared towards fighting an enemy coming from the outside.” He then carefully looked over the small compound that housed the young boys. He couldn’t very easily lob a thermal grenade into the compound without killing the kids. He had to come up with a way to get the Boko Haram terrorists clear of the children’s compound so they could easily escape. There had to be five hundred of these young boys, collected from villages all over Nigeria. He had no idea what he would do with them after he got them out.
Paul looked around the compound once again and turned to Hunter and Vlad. Speaking to Hunter, he demanded, “First of all, I want you in complete body armor. These people will be shooting at us and they don’t need to know about our forcefields.” Paul knew it was coming, so he only grinned when Hunter asked, “What about you, are you going to wear body armor?” Paul sighed and looked at Hunter and Vlad, then decided to reveal a secret only three people knew; himself, Zimuel and Tlase; “Your how old now; 21 almost 22, right?” Hunter nodded. “I was going to wait to tell you about this, but I may as well tell you now and let you think about your decision for a while. Since Vlad is my head of National Security, he may as well know what I am capable of. The reason I want you to wear the body armor is not for protection as much as for technology. In the suite you will have a direct link to the drones overhead controlled by Lucy. With night-vision, thermal imaging and life-form imaging, automatic targeting and telephoto visual capability, while wearing the suit, you will see everything Lucy can see and she can see everything you see. It makes coordination of what we do much smoother and you encounter no surprises.”
Paul took a deep breath and continued, “Have you ever wondered how when we are in the mountains running I always know what’s ahead, never get lost and can see things in front of us long before anyone else?” Hunter mumbled a sarcastic, “Yes.” “Well, I can do everything the suit can do without the suit.” Both Vlad and Hunter looked at Paul as if he were hallucinating, until he continued, by telling them, “When I was on Xhondar I, Zimuel and Tlase sort of made me part cyborg. I have a neurological implant just above my temple, between my temple and my ear actually. It’s only about as big as a pea. That implant is connected to my two artificial eyes. With those eyes I have all the functions of an advanced targeting system. I actually can do X-Ray, every boys dream, and up to 100x telescopic. With the enhancements I have, I can see as well at night as I do in the daytime. I share every sight, thought and sound with Lucy. She can teach me languages and antimatter reactor maintenance while I sleep or even when I run. Through my neurological implant, I am basically as smart as Lucy. I chose not to do this enhancement to any of the Dragon Guard. I was 65 years-old when I had mine done and knew exactly what I was doing. You’re the oldest Guard and still only 22. I intended to tell each of you about the enhancement when you were 24 or 25 years old. By then you would be old enough to make a life changing decision on your own. I tell you now because you are maturing very well and I want you to take your time making that decision. Whatever you decide, I’ll support you, but I must insist that no one, and that means your sister, outside this room can know about this. I’ll tell you what, on this mission I will wear a suite also. There is a certain intimidation factor with the suits and since we will do a little more face-to-face with the enemy than usual, why not leave a lasting impression.”
Hunter sat down and looked at Paul, then asked, “Did it hurt?” Paul smiled and joked, “No more than a simple brain surgery. Seriously though, it didn’t hurt at all, but it does take some getting used to, having someone else in your brain all the time. Lucy is a very trusting individual and I have absolute confidence in her, but she will know what you’re thinking and what you’re doing at all times, sort of like having Santa Clause in your head. You get used to it, but I’d never ask one of the younger Dragon Guard to do it and I definitely wouldn’t want to ask your parents for permission. Once you’re an adult, the decision can then be made by you.” Vlad was sitting across the table grinning. Paul looked over at him just as he said, “So that’s how you do it. Always one step ahead of everybody else. So your saying that you’re not all that smart, you’re just not completely human.” Paul patted Vlad on the shoulder and replied, “I guess I do share a little in common with our new cyborg and android friends. But this body is still all flesh and bones. Now let’s look this thing over, I don’t intend to waste any time. I hope you two don’t have any plans for a hot date tonight, because you’re going to be very busy. Vlad, I want the General and C
olonel Hall here with you in the command center standing by in case you’re needed. I want records of the entire thing for training the Guard and your intelligence people if you like. Keep in mind, one of your soldiers in the body armor will be capable of doing most of what we do and probably will one day.”
Paul pointed to the hanger, telling him, “Hunter, the kidnapped girls will be yours to get out. I want you to make a gateway into the hanger and take out the guards by the walls and on the catwalks with as much stealth as possible; which means knife or sword, whichever you prefer. Gather the girls and make a gateway to …” He had Lucy make him a map of Lagos and the riverfront location of the American Embassy. “… Here; I can think of no safer place for these girls than the most visible location in Africa. I will enter the hallway between the cells in this bunker, take out the guards and anyone else inside then make a gateway to the Gulf of Guinea where the Navy has an aircraft carrier preparing another rescue attempt that will no doubt get a lot of good men killed. As soon as the girls are safely through to the Embassy, use a thermal grenade and level the building and the helicopters outside of it. I want plenty of noise and distraction. I will do the same to the prison complex.” Paul then pointed to the fenced in area of the tent city that housed the young boys, adding, “I think we will play with Chase and Daniels new shoulder mounted laser Gatling guns. When you leave the destroyed hanger, I want you to cause as much havoc as possible to keep the Boko Haram guys away from the tent city. I will be doing the same on this side of the camp. Our commotion should draw just about everyone in the direction away from the boy’s confines. Once I know I have drawn the ones from around the tent city, I will make a jump into the fenced area and offer safe passage for those that want to come. I believe I’ll take them to the Embassy compound in Lagos as well; let them earn their paycheck sorting through a few hundred homeless children. Once I have them out, we both drop a plasma grenade and gateway home. With any luck, we will destroy the entire complex. They’ll still be in business elsewhere, but not at this location ever again.”
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