by T S Paul
“What are those things you discussed? Checkmate and the other one.”
“Are you sure you really wish to know? It will tie you to Mars even closer.”
I told her yes I was sure. She at first swore the two of us to secrecy and then explained her hidden weapons. Maybe Mars did have a chance at victory.
“Primus, message coming in from the Earth ship. They wish to meet with someone from Mars to discuss a possible trade agreement.”
“Inform their Captain that we will meet on board defense platform forty two. I believe that it is large enough for a meeting. Have Major Payne and his group of misfits proceed us. They can secure the station and get everything ready.”
“Ma’am, do you mean Major Benson Payne from Special Forces? That Payne? Ma’am his squad are some of the worst, most nonmilitary fighters in the whole defense force.”
“I am aware of his unit. His way of fighting and the tactics he uses are the best. He has won every contest we have thrown at him. He is a bit unorthodox, but he is still effective.”
“A bit? He’s a bit too fond of knives too. He’s your choice. I will inform him to get his people moving. Say what? Twelve hours from now?”
“That sounds good. Please inform the Earth ship.” The Captain saluted and went to get things organized.
“Now my dear ones we have an adventure to plan. Come along.”
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“Sir, Mars has informed us that they will meet us in twelve hours on one of their defense stations. They say they will send us the location.” She kept her eyes on the floor. Better to not see the coming explosion.
“What! How dare they refuse my offer to come on board this ship!” He slapped the communications technician knocking her to the floor. “These sapes will pay for thinking they are better than we are!”
“Brother, not so hard on the bridge staff. We need them to complete the mission. I have a Gen Mod for you to vent your anger upon.” Alpha 366 nodded to 364, yes they did need everyone that was aboard. He looked at the now cowering communications tech. “Back to your station. Have the Gen Mod brought up. Let's see how well he serves his purpose.”
“Brother I am sending you to the meeting along with a squad of Delta’s and a couple of Gamma’s. Try not to get killed.”
“Why send Gamma’s? Why not a Beta?”
“I need the Betas on board to interpret data. All of you will be wired, the Betas can scan for truth during the meeting. The Gen Mod is on its way. Get the mad out of you and then get cleaned up. You need to make a good impression.”
Johann struggled against his captors as he was awakened and jerked off the floor. They threw him into the lift and took him up to the command deck. Instead of the bridge, this time he was thrown into a dark room with a faint metallic scent about it. “Excellent timing Gen Mod. I just heard something and I need to get my mad out! Run if you like.” As the lights came up Johann could see that the walls of the room were splattered with blood. Standing in the doorway was one of the two Alpha leaders. He stalked toward him and began to beat him.
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“Sir, all the regular defense crews have been removed and are heading back to Mars. Any idea why we were selected for this mission, Sir?”
“I think there are some Earthies that need killing and they sent the best that Mars has to offer! That is why they sent us here Private Opie or did you not just hear my briefing?” The Major was a large man with a shaved head. He was dressed in tiger stripe camo and carried a very large, very shiny combat knife on his hip.
“Corporal Woliger!”
A skinny red-headed man ran up and saluted. “Sir! You bellowed?”
“Take Private Opie here and go show him why he should love being with us on this beautiful operation! If he doesn’t make the grade, we will ship the little freckle face cartoon back to Mayberry! Make sure he understands that as he does his push ups. Now gentle sirs we need to finish this job and get it done right! These Earthies are about to enter the house of Payne!”
“Sir, the Primus and her party are inbound. ETA ten minutes.”
“OK you turds get this hangar bay cleaned up right now-and-in-a-hurry! We have company coming.”
The ten man squad hurried and moved vehicles and cleared enough space for two shuttles. It had taken several hours but Payne and his crew had secured the station and placed surveillance equipment and weapons caches throughout the station. It never hurt to be prepared.
The Martian shuttle entered the hangar bay and made a perfect three point landing.
“Benson, thank you for being here.”
“No need Primus, we enjoy being here. Our business is killing and business is good.”
“Let’s hear what they have to say first shall we? Then you can kill them.” Amalie smiled. This should be interesting to say the least.
“He is interesting, wherever did you find him?” Dar watched as the tall officer sharpened his field knife while yelling at his men to take up positions.
“Benson came to us a few years ago from New Africa. He was one of their better officers but ran into a few issues when they joined the Empire. For some reason he never meshed well with their Marine forces.” The Major was chasing one his troops threatening to make him wear a dress.
“Having been an Imperial Marine officer I can relate to that. His personality alone would have rubbed them the wrong way. He is very amusing though.”
“Don’t discount him. He is our best trouble shooter when it comes to unusual missions. For as much as they screw around they are very, very good at their jobs.” They continued to watch the Major’s antics until her pilot announced that an Earth shuttle was inbound.
“Dar, I forgot to ask. Is Wilson along with us? I know Athena said she was sending him but since we can’t see him…”
Dar chuckled. “I do know what you mean. Don’t worry she sent him.” Dar held up a tablet. “He is supposed to be in here. Most likely he’s already in the station by now. He will do the job.”
“Attention. Clear the hangar deck. Attention. Clear the hangar deck. Shuttle inbound.”
Amalie, Dar, and the rest of her party adjourned to the observation deck.
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“Beta 012 be sure to deploy the Gamma squad when we exit the shuttle. Have them record and photograph every tech object for later study. Delta 563 have members of your team on standby. These are sapes and we know that they can be tricky.” Alpha 366 studied the Martian defense platform. For sapes they did have some design skills. He would make sure that they kept a few of their engineers alive long enough to send back to Earth.
“Sir, we have received a beacon and will be landing in a moment.”
“Does everyone know their orders? Now is the time to speak up.” The ship was silent. Most of the other lines feared the Alphas. No one spoke. They did not wish to volunteer to spend time in the pain amplifier.
“Good. Remember, we are peaceful and friendly. Act like it.” The shuttle slowed to a stop and settled down on the deck. The pilot misjudged the landing zone and almost careened into the deck. Inside everyone was nearly thrown to the floor. “Delta 563! Detain that Epsilon unit when we return to the ship.”
The side hatch opened with a hiss as the cabin depressurized. One of the Deltas exited first followed by the Gamma and Beta teams. Alpha 366 was the last to exit the shuttle. He gazed around finally noticing the observation deck. He tapped his security force leader on the arm to alert him just as sapes began walking toward them.
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Everyone watching winced when the strange looking shuttle lurched to one side and nearly hit the bulkhead wall.
“I hope no one was injured inside. That would not be a good way to start this conference off.” Gaston almost giggled.
“Gaston, do not make light of our guests. The UN was a deadly organization and if they are still in power… Well, it can’t be good. Captain Bishe seal the hangar deck please and prepare for visitors.”
The sounds of hatches closing and the whispered ru
sh of air blew past them as the deck was re-pressurized. The hatch on the shuttle opened and armed men exited, followed by two groups of similarly dressed figures. Finally a man resembling the Captain of the Colossus exited and conferred with the security force.
“OK, my friends let’s hear what they have to say.” Amalie’s security force exited the deck first followed by Major Payne and Dar. Gaston brought up the rear. The security entered the deck first and spread out lining the walls of the hangar. The Major took point and approached the Earthies. Amalie stopped next to him and spoke first.
“Hello and welcome to Mars. I am Amalie Dorr. What does Earth want?” No beating around the bush for her. Amalie Dorr, Primus of Mars, was very direct.
Not used to being confronted by sapes who looked him in the eyes and were armed, Alpha 366 was at a loss for words. His security team was very tense. They too did not know what to do with armed sapes. On Earth, the last sape rebellion was over eighty years ago when they joined the Gen Mods in their attacks. No sape would dare to meet the eyes of a higher line now.
Shaking off his hesitation, the Alpha finally spoke. “Greetings, I am Alpha 366 Co-Captain of the Colossus. Earth sends its greetings to all of our lost colonies and wishes to discuss returning to peaceful relations and trade.”
Amalie just stared at the man. Out of the corner of her eye she could see one of his accompanying team members examining the lift system and suspiciously taking pictures. Interesting. “Let us step into the conference room and we can discuss this better.” She motioned to Dar who stepped to the side and opened a door on the port side of the hangar bay. Dar checked inside quickly and turned on the lights. “Feel free to have your security team check it out.”
The Earthies security team carefully approached the doorway and slowly entered as if looking for a trap. They walked the room and poked into the cabinets. Dar saw a few of the men pocket small items that they found. Giving the all clear signal, the Earthies proceeded to the conference room. They took the area closest to the door. Amalie and her party sat at the far end. Unknown to the Earthies there was a hidden door at the far end in case of a double cross. Major Payne and his men remained outside to keep an eye on the ship.
“So Alpha 366 what brings your ship to Mars?”
“It is as we have said. The United Nations of Earth wishes to reestablish relations with our lost brothers.” He choked for a moment and coughed to regain his voice. “Excuse me. We wish only peaceful relations with the colony worlds. The Secretary General himself sent us to set up trade with you.” The Alpha's eyes were a bit wild.
Speaking carefully, Amalie looked the man in the eye. “Is the UN ready to pay reparations to those it forced from their homes and forcefully shipped off world to die in the darkness of space? Because I have to tell you, Mars will never bow down to Earth. Not in any fashion.”
The Alpha grew visibly mad. His companions grew frightened and spoke softly to him trying to calm him. Amalie continued to speak. “We on Mars have spent two hundred years preparing for Earth to attempt a takeover here. We defy you! We refuse any offer of peaceful relations and accuse you of underhandedness and guile.” Her last statement pushed the Alpha over the edge.
“No one talks to me that way! Especially some dirty sape! Wash the dirt from your nails woman. All you are and all you ever will be are slaves to the true heirs of Earth! We were born to rule and nothing you or anyone with you can stop us! I told them this was a bad idea. Dealing with the lowest of the low. Dirty, filthy, disgusting trash pickers! That is all you are good for!”
The Earth security force grabbed the still yelling Alpha and dragged him toward the door with their guns drawn. As they exited, they found Major Payne and his men set up in strategic positions around the room. No one fired a shot as the Earth forces boarded their ship.
“Hangar doors opening, clear the bay.”
Everyone left the conference room and hurried back to the observation level. “Captain, contact the Colossus!”
“Yes, Primus.” They watched as the doors opened and the Earth shuttle left at full power.
“Captain Alpha or whatever you are called. I am Primus Amalie Dorr of Mars. You have one Earth hour to break orbit and leave Mars space or you will be fired upon.”
“Primus, how did you know? How did you know he would go off like that?”
Amalie smiled. “Any good politician can read people. It was his eyes. He did not like what he saw and was antagonized that someone would dare speak to him as I did.”
“Did you catch what he called us? Sapes. Could he mean Homo Sapiens?”
“I do believe that he might at that. Be sure that tape gets to intelligence immediately. Dar did you notice anything about our guests?”
“I did. They seemed very interested in any visible technology. I saw the security force pick up small items from in the conference room and place them in their pockets.”
“Ma’am, those funny dressed companions of his were doing the same thing. I saw one take pictures of the lift system and some to the hangar equipment.”
“Thank you Major. Write up what you saw and pass it off to intel. You too please, Dar. We need to know everything that we can.” She dismissed the Major and his men.
“Did our friend get on board the ship?”
“Primus, I really don’t know. He did not send a signal.” She really wasn’t worried about Wilson. He was a sneaky little shit.
“We need to return to the surface. There may be trouble in the next hour.”
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The Captain of the Colossus was fuming! What did 366 say over there? He dare not put anything on an open channel in strange space so the questions were killing him! The shuttle docked and 366 joined him on the bridge.
“What happened over there? What did you say to them? We have been ordered out of Martian space within the hour!”
“Brother…”
“No! You will call me Captain! Speak now or tell me in the pain amplifier!”
“Captain. We were friendly, I swear on the Program that created us. A group of armed sapes met us in the hangar bay. They escorted us to a conference room there in the hangar. The woman, the leader of Mars was there. She looked me in the eyes and confronted me. A sape! A dirty sape did this to me! Her words angered me and I voiced my opinion of her and her breed. I could not help it. I swear. I was so overcome with having inferiors speak to us in such a way.”
“Did you give away the plan? Did you tell them of our secrets?” 366 shook his head no.
“We may still have the advantage. According to what those foolish Gen Mods have sent us, Mars only has the patrol ships that we can see. They depend upon their defensive platforms and star fighters for defense. We are currently inside the circle of defense so we hold the high ground. Once we release the brethren, we should be victorious. I will have Zeta 666 ask the Gen Mod again to confirm Mars defenses and we will attack. When this is all over you will spend time in the pain amplifier as penance. Am I understood?”
“Yes. I understand. Thank you Captain.”
Chapter 19
It was a good thing that Wilson had been exposed to Earth computer programming systems early or he might not have gotten inside. The computer on the Earth shuttle was primitive when compared to what Mars was using. Earth was supposed to be this massive technological boogeyman. Wilson wasn’t feeling it. The shuttle hardly had any next generation tech inside it at all. The power systems were only a few steps up from what Athena found in the first Mark I Starfury in Sam’s warehouse. Something else that was interesting was the way that these people talked and acted around each other. Wilson thought of himself as a student of human nature. He had seen enough of them over the years.
Once the shuttle docked with the mothership Wilson was able to transfer out and into the first system he could find. His favorite, the security camera system. This system was also very primitive when compared to what the rest of the galaxy was using. Positronic circuits had come a long way since Wilson’s creator ha
d pioneered them. Earth did not even have an analog of that system on board this ship. They were still using crystalline matrix-ed boards with RAM boosters. No one used RAM anymore. The operating system was very similar to that used during the Cyber Wars, breaking in was so easy a baby could do it. Interesting. They do have contact with the Cabal. Ha ha ha. Those poor fools. They got what they deserved!
Stripping the memory of the ship took moments of Wilson’s time. The security system barely noticed that he was even there. But it did notice. The watchdog programs kicked in and alarms began to sound on the bridge.
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