by Chris Hechtl
“She's always on duty,” Toby said from behind him. Jethro turned to see the Dane wiping his hands with a rag. “The problem is everyone's wary of a Mountie. They see one coming and pass on the news to everyone in the area.”
“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” Jethro asked.
“For the bad ones, they get an advanced warning to lay low,” Toby said as Shanti's ears twitched. She sniffed and then turned back and came back to them. “They know she's here to help but …,” the Dane shrugged helplessly.
“Damn it Scotty, we're not going to be here that long!” he sighed in exasperation as the schnauzer unbuckled his electric scooter from the back of the mechanic's truck. “I've got shit to do!”
“Were you talking about me just now?” a familiar voice surprised Jethro. He turned to her. “I said you were on duty. Toby told me they don't trust you. I'm not sure why,” he said. That wasn't true; when he'd been in the gang on Anvil, he hadn't trusted the law either. But it might get her to open up a bit, unthaw her spine a bit.
She flicked he ears then turned them about, listening to the soft conversations around them. “It's been a stone bitch getting people to trust me. They know I'm there to check in on things, help them if they need it, serve a warrant ….”
“It's like that with the kids too. They know we're here for immunization shots, and they hate it. I wish we could go around more often, do health and welfare checks, get to know them.” the nurse complained from nearby as she checked a girl out.
“I know. But we're on a set route. Too many stops, not enough warm bodies,” the Mountie replied with a shake of her head.
That made sense. It also told Jethro that the bad guys probably knew that route by heart too. “How did you get in?” he asked her. “To their good graces I mean.”
Shanti studied him for a moment then turned to look at the small book mobile. It had a line already, most of them kids. “They know about the guerrilla movement of course. And the boarding. That helped slightly. But it was when I helped them recover a body on my off time. And I helped search for a child. Going the extra kilometer makes a difference. They see you're not just a mook in uniform. No offense,” she said, sizing Jethro up. “If you are willing to help you'll get their attention.”
“For some. Others will still turn their nose up to you. And if you ask for anything …,” the nurse shook her head. She paused. “Okay, something I've got to ask. Why can't I smell you?” the Neochimp asked.
Ask why he has no scent. “We can smell your clothes and stuff but not you. What gives?”
Jethro shrugged it off. He saw Shanti's interested look and then shook his head. “Classified.”
“Oh, one of those?” Shanti asked, body language and tone of voice changing to one of indignation. She was closing on him and that sucked, but he had no choice.
“What does he mean?” the kid with the nurse asked, sucking on a lollipop.
“Yeah, sorry. I can't talk about it,” Jethro replied with a diffident shrug. “I'm under orders,” he said. “Can we change the subject.”
“Sure,” Shanti said in disgust. “Who wants to play eye spy?” she asked sarcastically before she stalked off.
“Way to make an impression,” the nurse said, shaking her head.
“This is going to be a looong three weeks,” Jethro murmured.
<(>~^~<(>
Shanti stalked off, annoyed with the damn cat. Like she couldn't be trusted! She was a ranger! She'd probably been in combat … no, she wouldn't go there she thought angrily. Though it was probably true, he was probably a barracks soldier. A fake. She snarled, pacing.
“Shanti's on the warpath. Best warn Loco and Ellin to beat feet!” a stage whisper said on the wind. Her ears instantly swiveled to pick up where the sounds came from. She turned on their source, eyes slitted. She used a hand to shield her eyes. So, Loco and Ellin were in the area, huh? Well, she could see if she could track them down.
<(>~^~<(>
Jethro fielded some questions from the curious kids, teens, and then their parents. Many of the parents were wary of their children taking too much of an interest in him or the corps. But he found that they were all interested in doing something to prevent the pirates from returning. He launched into his recruiting pitch, telling them about the corps and how it had been resurrected by Admiral Irons.
“Have you ever been in combat?” a kid asked, tugging on his leg. He looked down at the little boy, and apparently the kid was scared from his look so much that he rushed back into the crowd practically dripping pee. “The answer is yes,” Jethro called out. “Many times,” he stated in a lower voice.
“Like when?”
“Agnosta, Antigua, B101a1 …”
“Oh you've been to Antigua? Where are you from?” the questions started fast and furious after that. He realized they were more interested in the stories and news than in recruiting, but he decided to fall back on the good will portion of his orders.
<(>~^~<(>
The panther was tired and parched in the truck later, parched from all the talking he'd had to endure. Scotty silently handed him a canteen of water before dinner. He drank it and thanked him. The schnauzer just shrugged the thanks off and went back to work.
Shanti was pretty sour. She hadn't caught either of her prey, though she'd gotten a hit on where they were. She used the radio to alert nearby towns. Loco was a good hunter, valued by the community, but he was nuts when he got buzzed. And Ellin might be great in the fields, but when she had a hair across her ass watch out. Not only did she like to swing a club, but she also had a mean streak and a thing for fire. No community needed an arsonist torching the buildings they had built. Not that it helped trying to tell them that!
They left after dinner, trundling along until the sun set. Then they drove by the light of the gas giant and their headlights for a while, changing drivers once before they stopped for the night.
<(>~^~<(>
Cali wasn't thrilled about the assignment, but she was glad it was over. The Rangers who were “weekend warriors” went off to shower and return to their civilian lives. She on the other hand had a report to file.
She wasn't a geologist; she didn't know the signs that Moira had sent her to check on. All she did know was that they'd done the best they could, widening the channels, clearing debris, and alerting the residents in the area to watch out for trouble. It was still dropping below freezing at night so she was pretty sure the snows would linger for a few more weeks, possibly a month or two. So they had time.
“Cali, boss lady wants to see you.”
“Tell the captain I'll be there in a moment,” she said, turning to Jamey.
“It wasn't her; it was Moreta. She's got holes in the schedule due to all the people jumping ship to join up with the Marines,” Jamey replied with a grimace. “It's giving the manning tables a hell of a work out.”
“Great,” Cali muttered. “Just great. Tell her I'll be there as soon as I take a shower.”
“She said ASAP,” Jamey hinted.
“Fine,” Cali growled, rising wearily to her feet. Moira's concern for the hill forgotten in the heat of the moment. “Lead the way.”
<(>~^~<(>
Sabu looked at Rah and then to the future. He had joined the guerrilla movement and later the Ranger and Mountie organizations to protect his world. To fight back. To be one step ahead of his impulsive sisters, and yes, get a little payback for what the bastard humans had done to his mother and others like her. And to ladies like Moreta he thought darkly. Moreta and Callie had the Rangers in hand.
But the recent battle had shown him something. Something important. Something vital. They were at the bottom of a gravity well on their moon. The enemy was up there, out there, he thought, looking at the night sky. He couldn't fight them on the ground if they dropped rocks from orbit. What was he going to do, hide in a cave? He shook his head, ears back. Fight tooth and claw to survive? Yes, they'd done that, but in the end it had been White Wolf and her technology
that had made all the difference. That had allowed them to seize the skies and the ship in them.
It was the military that kept the hated pirates out now. And they needed help. It was that simple he thought, exhaling slowly. He checked on Rah. She was chasing moths near the light. He snorted and then put in a call.
“Yes, Sabu?” a familiar voice said.
“I want in,” he said simply.
“I'm not following. Since I'm an old lady, I'm allowed that. Explain,” Moira stated.
“Where do I sign up, ma’am? To become a Marine,” he said without a trace of hesitation.
There was a long silence, long enough to inhale and exhale slowly several times. “Does Shanti and Rah know about this?”
“It's my decision, ma'am. Shanti won't like it, but I am an adult. I want to … I want to fight. To protect our people. Not just here, but everywhere,” he said, realizing that was true. “And we're not going to win if we sit on the ground. The Navy needs people like us, ma'am. Let me in.”
“Fine. But not tonight, I've got a headache,” the wolf stated. “And I'm tired, so let an old lady rest for a bit. Report to Lieutenant Chaing tomorrow morning at dawn. Find someone to cover for your shift. I want you to consider the reserve option carefully Sabu, and listen to everything the lieutenant says and doesn't say. Read everything he gives you carefully and don't be impulsive.”
“Yes, ma'am,” he replied. “Good night.”
“Good night. Semper Fi.”
“Yes, ma'am.” He heard a click as the line disconnected on the other end. Slowly he put the phone down.
<(>~^~<(>
Two days into their journey severe rains forced them to pull over. They listened to the rain and talked. Jethro used the time to check with the Marines through the radio link.
When the storm stopped, they had a heck of a time getting out of the bog. Scotty was practically coated in mud helping Shanti's truck pull out from a muddy hole. He'd dripped there, swearing and flinging mud after her while she got clear.
After they'd gotten him cleaned up, they went to a nearby town and found out it had been flooded by a collapsed earth dam up in the hills. The group immediately swung into action. Those that could, worked to help those in need. The medics performed triage on the injured. Jethro was not afraid of treading water or even swimming when he had to. He used his implants and super strength to help rescue those they could, including pets. “This is the other reason we're here,” Shanti told him as they worked.
<(>~^~<(>
“How goes the sign up?” Captain White Wolf asked, eying Lieutenant Chaing when he came into the council room.
“Better than expected, ma'am,” he stated. “But that's because we're here and the recent battle has kicked off a fervor of sign-up fever. It'll pass eventually.”
“Possibly,” she replied with an ear flick. “You're fast tracking the rangers?” she asked as the lieutenant eyed the carafe of steaming coffee and the other of tea. They had only replicated coffee, which served as a substitute for the real thing, but it was a poor one. It had some of the taste and of course the jolt of caffeine, but that was about it.
They were getting replicated coffee because the damned squids were hoarding the good stuff the lieutenant thought with a pang. Greedy bastards, he thought as the captain indicated he should pour himself a cup.
He nodded as he poured himself a cup. “I admit, ma'am, I wasn't on board completely with your order, but I followed it. You were right; they are good. There are some rough edges, but we're working on them. They are lagging behind in medical and classroom education though,” he stated.
“Those they can catch up on of course,” the wolf replied with a nod as Lieutenant Queen came into the room. “Good morning, Lieutenant.”
“Ma'am. Sir,” Lieutenant Queen said, nodding to each.
“We have half of the gear allotted for deployment here out. I'm reserving 20 percent for future need or losses. That number will most likely be shaved to 15 percent over the years,” Moira said indicating they should take a seat. “The Navy is doing their best with the repairs. I'm still catching some flak from Lieutenant C'lax, he's not keen about putting, in his terms, ‘smurfs’ in his warships. The concern is they don't have the training, experience, and run the very real risk of accidentally causing a catastrophe as they try to learn. I fully admit that is a concern,” she said.
“Ma'am? I thought they were going to the colliers instead?” Lieutenant Queen asked.
“Ah, so you heard about that,” the wolf said with a nod. “Indeed. We arrived at a compromise. He's poaching people to fill in his chain of command from the colliers, and I'm sending them ‘smurf's’ to train on their ships. Of course most of the ‘smurfs’ will be from Clydesdale CF-1071,” she stated with an ear flick. That got their attention. Lieutenant Chaing set his cup of coffee down and sat up straight. “Jake sent only his best and brightest. Captain Shelton realized that right away. Captain Otto took some time before he figured it out, but he's now on board and has reduced the hazing and given them more meaningful jobs.”
Lieutenant Queen winced. The lack of a formal education was a sore point with some people in the Navy. She didn't like how some looked down on the natives for that. It wasn't too long ago when the Federation hadn't had much at all either. They were all learning.
“So you've been playing musical chairs, ma'am?” Lieutenant Chaing asked with a small smile.
“Pretty much.” Moira paused to take a sip of tea before she continued. “Hypatia has been working to overhaul our educational system since she's our educational secretary. She's got a good mind, but it is an uphill battle. And getting the education to those in the outlying communities is a challenge. The book mobile was a brilliant idea; it got them interested in reading, in something different. As was your additions of radios and electronics.”
“I've met her, ma'am,” Lieutenant Queen stated with a nod. “She's good. She's already put a lot of the stuff we've delivered to her into the hands of your teachers and admin people.”
“Good,” the wolf replied with an ear flick of acknowledgment. “Very good. We're also working on educational programming. In fact I have a meeting on that later this afternoon. We're starting with radio like in the old days on Earth, but we're going to expand it to television, holographic, and net streaming when we can.”
“Ah. I see.”
“Yeah, it's all a headache. Unfortunately, we only have so much, and the Admiral could only spare so much. Not that I'm complaining,” the wolf said, holding a hand paw up to restrain their protests. “We are hardy folk here. Here and on Protodon.” She looked away to the window for a moment.
Which was too true. Both worlds had been terraformed, and in Kathy's World's place, not completed. The moon was slowly slipping back into an iceball unless they did something about it. Burning the trees for heating fuel didn't help either. Oh sure, the CO2 and other greenhouse gases helped a little, but not a lot.
Protodon had the same problem, but was a planet closer to its sun. It was in the early stages of an ice age, but the glaciers hadn't crept more than a hundred kilometers downward so far. But they would start to pick up speed over the next century unless something was done to halt it.
The problem with planets that had been terraformed was that they had no fossil fuels to fall back on when modern technology failed. Back in the old days before the Xeno war, that wasn't a big problem for a start-up colony. All they needed to do was set up a couple of electric power plants to provide power to break water down into hydrogen and oxygen, then use the hydrogen for fuel. That was how Protodon was doing it—that and burning wood as well. It sucked that they didn't have that in Kathy's World … yet.
Protodon had held onto a lot of their industrial gear, anything they could when the Xeno war broke. But they hadn't had much to begin with anyway, enough to support their hydrogen production and that was it. Well, that and the equipment needed to handle, store, and burn the hydrogen. Did they have fuel cells? She wasn't s
ure.
She was curious to find out if they were turning up old hardware like they were trying to do on Kathy's World … legacy equipment. She shivered internally. And some things, like the Xeno nanite laced pods Irons had run into on Epsilon Triangula, those should be avoided.
“Ma'am?”
The wolf flicked her ears again. “Sorry, I was thinking of that planet. Admiral Irons is right to try to free them, but he's going to be disappointed by the resources they can draw on locally.”
“Ma'am?”
“I was around when the ships came in and scoured that star system clean. During the Xeno war,” Moira said simply, picking up her tea and taking another sip. The lieutenants frowned at her in confusion. “Protodon was terraformed like this moon and many other places. But the colonists paid for it by selling off their space resources to a mining consortium. They stripped the star system bare during the war. Everything useable was chewed up by their massive factory ships and shipped out.”
“Oh.”
“Yes. So he'll have a population to draw on, fuel from the gas giant, but no resources in orbit. Getting them up out of the gravity well is possible, but they have to secure the planet first. And that is where we will come in.”
“Ma'am?”
“We're going to step up the training,” the wolf said simply, eyes glittering slightly. “I want you to integrate the militia volunteers into the corps. Use the Rangers as the core personnel. I believe we're going to be tapped to help secure Protodon and other neighboring star systems. Places like Destria for instance.”
“Ma'am?” Lieutenant Queen protested. “We're supposed to send them to Agnosta to fulfill their training. And officers are supposed to go through boot before they go on to Pyrax to the academy,” she stated formally.
“I know that. But I also know such plans don't always work out when real life smacks you in the face. You have to adapt. Trust me.”