by Chris Hechtl
“How can we do that?” Gunny Z'v'll asked.
“We've got A.I. and a butt load of computers in our suits and here,” Jethro said, indicating the computers in the room. “Plus the two replicators, though one is on loan and we've got to give it back when Ox and Riley leave,” he said.
“Which will be soon. We're already getting calls,” Riley said with a shake of his head. “People are wondering what I'm doing on this vacation,” he said with a sniff. “Some vacation. I've worked my tail off.”
“And you've loved every minute of it,” Ox accused.
Riley looked at him, then ducked away and muttered something about smartass Taurens.
“I read the notes. Admiral Irons wanted us to explore the upgraded tech Lemnos had in its database,” Jethro said.
“Compromised,” Bast said. “I don't trust it,” she said from his speakers.
“I don't either,” Fenrir growled.
“But you've fumigated it of Xeno influence, right?” Roarack asked.
“Yes.”
“So the basics are there …”
“But the plans are not complete. Lemnos was never designated as a Cadre R&D facility; most of the ideas came from the research scientists and engineers who were working on the Trinity program. Some are not viable. Some were used by the Cadre, but the creators didn't know that. Some of the ideas have just the basic concept and no blueprints. And those that do have the risk of having been corrupted and are therefore dangerous,” Satet stated. “Which is why we are concerned. A single millimeter change, a couple variable changes in the code could lead to disaster.”
“So, we look at what they had in mind, and then try the small ones to debug them. I said we can't build much if anything, but we can test virtually. We also have Mercury, so he can run tests too,” Jethro said.
“True. And whatever holes we find we can plug,” Gunny Z'v'll stated. “Right, partner?” he asked.
“Right,” Ll'n'll replied. “It will take time and resources. Fortunately, computer resources for the first steps and we can halt it at any time.”
“Right. You two will be wrapping up in another what, day?” Jethro asked, eying Ox and Riley. Riley nodded. He ran a hand over the stubble on his head then grimaced. “We've been dragging our feet to make sure everything is running smoothly. To be honest Z'v'll can handle it from here,” he said, indicating the Veraxin.
“Thank you for that show of faith,” the gunny replied.
“Okay. Finish up today, I'll have orders cut for you to return to your old duties after some time off.”
“A week at a resort sounds nice,” Riley said with a grin.
“You'd go nuts with nothing to do,” Ox grumbled, eying him as his hands continued to work on the hand he was assembling. “Admit it.”
“I admit nothing other than wanting a bar and to see half-naked women. Or better yet, almost naked women around me. Okay, okay, horny, half-naked women who love Marines,” Riley said, smacking his hands together as the group laughed.
“I'll see what I can do. No promises though,” Jethro drawled.
Chapter 32
Admiral Sienkov grimaced as they arrived in Agnosta. It wasn't that he didn't want to be there; it was that he didn't want to jump through the hoops on the ground. He fully intended to hand off the bands and circus crap that the powers that be had lined up to Moira so he could concentrate on the military side.
He was actually looking forward to the tours of the Marines and Army, though he would have to hustle he knew. They had run a little late due to a problem with their transport's alpha nodes being out of tune. They had the better part of two days before they had to report on board their next ship as it took them to Triang.
He had known he was going to be a cabinet minister. He'd hoped Admiral Irons would let him be CNO but had settled for Intelligence when he'd noted the admiral was obstinate about occupying that particular seat.
He had started to get caught up with ONI and the briefing material on the sector and galaxy in Pyrax in-between his surgeries and he'd brought plenty of material along with him for the ride to read up on.
He'd caught up on a lot and was proud of it, though he knew he would get more when they were in orbit. Ship's communications had already reported that fresh information was being downloaded. He'd sent off Elvis to pick up a copy while he fretted over the contents.
He hadn't intended to dilly dally in Pyrax for so long, but a lot of people had been bothered by the implant procedures, himself included. He did appreciate the antigeriatric treatments however. He felt as if the decades had rolled off his old body.
Moira oversaw the civilian delegates, though she tended to butt heads with Raimi Torq, the head civilian delegate from Nuevo. Mister Torq seemed like a nice but blunt fellow—one who was set on becoming his planet's first Senator. He had two other delegates with his party. Doctor Houser hadn't been happy about being uprooted from Pyrax's medical colleges and had been one of the other reasons they'd been delayed.
They should have sent him to ET he thought and then thought better of it when he remembered the problems there.
He had three Bekian Naval officers under him other than Lieutenant Elvis Yeager, his Neochimp flag lieutenant. Captain SG Ch'ch'tt was a Veraxin female line officer; he knew she was going to make a splash when she got to Antigua and took on a command. She was not an administrator though she could handle the job if required. She was a natural ship captain though. From some of the comments she'd let slip in the mess and around the ship, he was fairly certain she was looking forward to an early promotion to Commodore or higher.
Lieutenant Swish Clack, another female bug but a T'clock, was also destined for Antigua. She was an engineer and was looking forward to a stint in BuShips and the yards there after her brief time in the Pyrax yards.
First Lieutenant Siobhan Blackyip was a Neomutt engineer who was also destined for BuShips and the yard.
He was personally curious to see how Major Bear had slotted into the Marines. Most likely quite well given the polar bear's reputation as a hard charger. They'd need his grit if the reports of planetary invasions were accurate.
That was something they'd never really considered in Bek. In Bek, it had been all about defense, hence the small Marine command and the nonexistent Army command. Obviously, things were going to have to change, but he wasn't certain his people were mentally prepared to do so. Not yet at any rate.
“Sir, the boarding has been moved up,” Lieutenant Yeager warned.
He looked up in confusion. “It has?”
“Yes, sir. Our layover has been shortened by a day. We're down to twenty-four hours on the planet.”
“Did they say why?” the admiral asked carefully.
“They finished offloading fast and therefore loading was completed ahead of schedule,” the Neochimp explained. “The convoy is taking on fuel and their remaining stores while their crews wrap up their leaves short. That's the only reason why we're being given a day at all.”
“Well, I don't want to be the one holding up the works. Okay. We're going to have to cut the tour a bit short. We're landing directly at the spaceport, right? The Marine one I mean?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Let Miss Sema know about the changes. She's going to have to stay sharp if she wants to keep up with us. I still want to meet General Forth before we leave.”
“What about Colonel 1010111, sir?”
“Him we've met,” the admiral said dryly. The lieutenant nodded in acknowledgment of that reminder. “I'd like to see the Army side, but I don't think it's going to happen. No dog and pony shows, no passing in review. Just down, meet the general and players involved, check out a few things on the way down. Can we get an airborne run? An aerial tour I mean?”
“That … is possible, sir,” the lieutenant said thoughtfully. “I can put the call in.”
“Good do it. Leave meeting the civilian side to Miss Sema. She's better suited for it anyway. Send our regrets and why, that sort of thin
g.”
“Aye aye, sir. The ball?”
“The …?” the admiral frowned. “Is it the same night as we land?” the Neochimp nodded. “I …,” he frowned. “See if you can get the aerial tour in. I'm not sure how my stomach is going to be afterward to be honest.”
“Our implants do a good job with nausea now, sir. You'll be surprised.”
“Yeah, but I'm not thrilled about getting bored to death with dinner conversation, nor my feet trod on. Let us hit dirt first then discuss it with the general.”
“Aye aye, sir,” the Neochimp said, clearly disappointed.
“Cheer up, Elvis; we'll have plenty of that sort of hoopla to endure in Antigua I'm sure. Now go make your calls and keep me posted.” He waved the tablet he had. “I've got more reading to do.”
“Aye aye, sir.”
<)>^<)>/
“Sir, Admiral Sienkov's compliments. He's been informed that his layover has been shortened by the convoy's faster turnaround. He'll only be here a day. He'll be down approximately eighteen hours, sir. Landing will be at 0430,” the yeoman stated.
General Forth grimaced. “That's a bit dark and early for a parade and review,” he said.
“The admiral requested no parades, no ball. He requested an aerial review and to meet the players. That's Lieutenant Yeager's words, sir,” the yeoman said.
“Short, brief, and to the point. I like it. The troops will too, but they'll hate that they went through all the colonoscopy prep work for nothing. Oh well, plans change. Okay. Set up the review with a Karakter class shuttle.”
“Um, yes, sir,” the yeoman said with a nod.
“Good. Git,” the general said with a wave of his hand.
<)>^<)>/
Admiral Sienkov smiled as he recognized Major Bear among the retinue waiting patiently in neat orderly rows along the path to the general. He nodded slightly in passing to the major then nodded to a few other familiar faces like Colonel 1010111 and Lieutenant Lincoln. Soon to be Captain JG Lincoln he noted in approval. He'd read her promotion recommendation in the mass of files he'd been given. It wasn't officially approved by BuPers yet, but it was a given that it would be, however.
General Forth saluted him. He returned the salute crisply, and then struck the salute.
“As you can see, I've got most of the major players here. The rest are on deployment or on liberty, Admiral,” General Forth said with a wave of his hand to the officers. He made introductions, then waved to a line of vehicles nearby. “I know it is a bit early to go look at the base before the sun is up, Admiral.”
“It is indeed,” the admiral snorted, looking about the facility and taxiway. “We've got what, an hour before the sun comes up?”
“Yes, sir. So, if you wouldn't mind a breakfast with the officers, we can get to know each other a little better, then digest for a half hour or so before we take that tour,” the general said.
The admiral frowned thoughtfully then nodded when he noted Elvis's small nod. “I take it that's in the schedule?” he asked. The Neochimp nodded again. “Okay. Let's go slay some pancakes,” he said.
“Yes, sir,” the general said with a polite nod.
<)>^<)>/
Major Bear remained tactfully behind when they took the aerial tour. To the admiral's surprise, the general personally led the tour. He had the pilots do a loop around the base as he pointed out various features over the intercom. It was better than seeing it in virtual reality Yorgi thought, more immediate, more there. More real he thought.
He loved the view of the shuttles and gunships. The armor and hardware looked good too. “Tell me, how is the Army doing?” he asked.
“Lieutenant?” the general said, stepping aside enough to let Lieutenant Lincoln step up. She took over and pointed out to what they had before and what they were planning to do. “We've expanded the base, almost tripled it in size. We're still using the Marine boot facilities, but the classes use a modified syllabus more in tune with the needs of the Army,” the lieutenant explained as she pointed out the distant boot camp.
“Obviously, we share the MAWTS-1 facility, spaceport, power generators, air strips, exercise fields, and at this time the firing ranges. We're adding additional ranges now,” she said, pointing to areas around the Army base where they could see construction going on.
“How is it working out?” Lieutenant Yeager asked. The lieutenant turned to him. “I mean now that you are here. Is it all you thought it would be? All it is cracked up to be?”
“It wasn't, but it will be when the colonel is finished,” the lieutenant said with a nod.
“I see,” the lieutenant said with a return nod to her.
“What's that facility? The one on the shore. It's not on the map and virtual tour,” the admiral said, pointing to a nondescript building with heavy security fencing around it. As they passed over it, a robot looked up at them. He felt some sort of data hit his implants. Before he could say anything, his IFF went off. He realized he'd just been pinged.
“That is a secure facility, sir. You'll get a briefing on it when you get to Antigua I'm afraid. It was on the agenda, but it was kicked off by the brass,” the general stated flatly.
“Oh,” the admiral replied, glancing at his aide and then the lieutenant. Elvis shrugged, indicating he didn't have a clue. “Oh,” he said in a different tone of voice.
They orbited each of the islands in the chain, noting the troops on the ground going about their business. In a few cases, they were in an exercise. He was amused when some of the troops scattered for cover.
“RECON,” the general said when the admiral looked at him. “Training is they drop and cover when they hear or see an aircraft near. They aren't supposed to move that late or that fast, it draws attention to them. I'll have to have a chat with their instructor,” he said.
“Okay,” the admiral drawled.
<)>^<)>/
General Forth didn't really relax until the admiral and his party were back on board their shuttle and headed for orbit. Only then did he admit things had gone smoothly. He also admitted he was cautiously pleased by the advances in the Army side of the military. Colonel 1010111, and what a mouthful of a name that was, had really turned things around. Of course Sergeant, no now Warrant Officer Nohar Rajestan had something to do with that effort. The combination of the two Nuevo officers and the sleeper tiger had been like an electric bolt to the pikers in the Army group. A few of the coasters had been discharged. He knew a couple who'd gone out with a less than honorable discharge after their conduct had been investigated by the colonel and Lieutenant Lincoln, but the rest had fallen in line.
The Army had also exploded in size, going from the brigade it had been a few short months ago into a full-sized division. They'd taken on one of his up and coming captain's and lured him over to their branch with a promotion to major. Wade Hayes would certainly be missed he thought, but the Army's First Brigade had a damn good leader he thought grudgingly.
They'd also gotten funding and had even returned some of his borrowed equipment and hardware. The vehicles he appreciated, the furniture not so much.
For the time being, the Army used the same equipment the Marines did to simplify logistics. Eventually though they'd get hardware that was more suited to their needs … when the military complex had time to refine and come up with it that was.
All in all, the Army was looking up. That was a good sign that they'd turned a corner. He'd signed off on Pasha's; he refused to try to parse out the man's last name; promotion to full bird colonel, as well as the colonel's frocked promotions.
It was interesting to note that Captains Yee and Church had been passed over in that effort to reforge the Army. Yee wanted to remain where he was in artillery. Most likely he'd get a promotion to major anyway. Captain Church didn't seem happy about being passed over according to the grapevine. He'd been warned he was on thin ice with the colonel so kept his grumbling to low levels he theoretically could get away with. He'd definitely quit the passive-aggr
essive bullshit he'd pulled with Yee.
Yesterday they'd sent their first squad to Marine RECON and six noncoms to MAWTS-1. It would be a while before they saw anything from them, if they passed the courses, but it was good to see that they were finally sowing those seeds as well. The Army had more need of an air unit in some ways than the Marines did given that they were on the ground and their units were usually spread out. They needed the occasional close-in air support too.
The Army units that had stood up for advanced training had a bit to go before they could hold their own against their Marine counterparts, but they were shaping up nicely. Major Hayes had drawn the short straw to take his First Brigade to Protodon with the General Elliot convoy. He knew Captain Church was agitating for a deployment. He wasn't certain they were up for it, but if they could hand off Hidoshi's World or Protodon, or hell, both, he was all for it.
As long as they were ready for it. That still remained to be seen. They had a lot to prove.
<)>^<)>/
Nohar nodded as the exercise moved on to the second phase. There were no more gimmie exercises Captain Church had favored with his god of war perspective. Now he too had to be mortal and deal with the fog of war. He hadn't cherished the experience though a certain tiger had liked seeing the captain poked down to size.
“Coming along,” a familiar Doberman said quietly.
Nohar looked over to Gunny Schultz who was there wearing the armband of an umpire, then crossed his arms and went back to watching the company perform. “Better,” he said in slight agreement. “Still a lot of rough edges.”
“True,” Schultz said as he made a note on his tablet. “They are past the baby steps though. I'm even throwing them the occasional curveball. They've hit a few.”
“Good,” Nohar rumbled.
“Artillery is spot on. You've got to give Captain Yee his due; he's a master with it.”
“True,” Nohar said.
“Damn, with that air about you no wonder you've pulled off miracles,” the gunny said with a mocking tone of voice.
Nohar swiveled a baleful golden eye his way, then snorted. “What's that old saying? Mommy and daddy are all strict … um …”