by J W Murison
We know they have a large amount of serum, we believe that they will use most of that serum for their top people and the rest for the population of the city ship. Of course they might not; however if you take into account the length of time it will take the city ship to arrive at the planet and the casualties they might sustain during that time period it makes far more tactical sense to split into two groups.
The faster would forge ahead and retrieve the humans they have stored to make serum with. Once there they would be able to produce the serum they need to inoculate the remaining members of their forces.
Of course we don’t know how they are going to do it. It would be impractical for them to do it aboard their own ships. I imagine they will have some kind of medical ship and that it will attach itself to the main building and they will then shuttle the inoculations to the battle fleet, but I am only guessing. All we know for sure is that someone will have to retrieve the bodies that are supposed to be at the base. As we all know there are no bodies there to be collected. It would hardly be fitting not to compound the surprise they are going to get with a few nukes.’ There was spontaneous outburst of laughter.
Steven smiled, ‘I thought you would like that. It would seem our enemy has no concept of the booby-trap, so we are going to introduce them to it in a rather large way.’ That brought forth more laughter and Steven took another drink of water. When it died down he carried on, ‘the races from across the barrier fight their battles in space. They are normally set piece. They fight until one side surrenders, withdraws or is utterly defeated.
Before they went into space they never even had armed forces. Rarely do they fight any kind of protracted ground war. If another race defeats your forces in space then you hand over the world you are fighting over and walk away. Either that or you are bombarded or annihilated from space.
Their infantry weapons are not designed to breach walls. Grenades are more of the stun type. There are rules and treaties that you will be happy to hear do not count on our side of the barrier.’ That brought more laughter.
‘The term ambush is not unknown but is rarely used in any military text. You will more likely find the term surprised the enemy or came across them unexpectedly. Often two sides will retreat to a safe distance, gather their forces and then attack.’ Steven paused, ‘ladies and gentlemen we are going to introduce them to a level of violence and a type of warfare they have never experienced before.’ There were a few shouts of support and Steven smiled.
‘There are a number of plans for different scenarios and you will play them out again and again and again until you and the men and women under your command can do them backwards. Until our people not only begin to understand the technology at their fingertips but can begin to improve on it. We have one chance of getting this right ladies and gentlemen. If the Albany reach Earth they will show no mercy whatsoever. We will cease to exist as a species and every living thing on Earth with us. Now before I hand you back to Admiral Baxter is there any questions?’
‘Why not hit them as they cross the Barrier, wont our allies provide us with that probable location?’
‘Good question, we actually have a very good idea where they will cross. It is at an area called the great rift. The barrier as you know somehow stops the neutrons from our star. In some places on the barrier those neutrons are very dense and if a ship goes through it at speed they can kill the crew. The rift is a region of space where the barrier is very thin and very few particles are recorded. It is close to the Albany’s region of space. It is the obvious place to cross the barrier however it stretches for thousands of kilometres in every direction. The chances are that when they reach the rift they will split into smaller groups and cross at these places. They could be spread out all over the place. We want them concentrated in one so we can deliver one massive blow.’
Admiral Baxter stood up and Steven stepped back out of his way. ‘Ladies and gentlemen Captain Gordon is very busy, I would just like to thank him for taking the time to talk to us here today.’
Steven walked out while they were still clapping and cheering him.
Chapter 40
Steven had never learned to drive so he howled with laughter when his mother and father revealed the bright red sports car. For two days he had done little but sleep. They were at the small cottage in the highlands his parents had bought for their retirement many years ago. He had literally worked until he dropped. Things had begun to fall into place. The correct people were now in the right jobs doing the right thing. It began to ease Stevens’s workload and that was when Babes declared it was time for them all to take a holiday. Steven had gathered everyone together and discovered they were all exhausted and declared a two-week holiday for everyone. Babes insisted that they return to Earth. Realising he had nowhere to stay he had found himself at his parents cottage. There was a spare room and waking up each day to home cooked food very quickly lifted Stevens spirits.
It only took him a day to learn to drive the car and another to pass his test; so for the rest of the week he explored his native highlands and fell in love. There was one feature of the car that Steven loved over any other and that was the antigravity drive. On consultation with members of government they restricted him to a couple of hundred feet above ground level and he had to have a special device installed. His mother would pack him a lunch and he spent the day flying around some of the most inaccessible places, setting down and having lunch.
He felt his energy levels begin to rise, but it wasn’t the only levels that were rising. It was Cookie that had taken up the matter with him a week before. It was rare for Cookie to request a private audience so Steven had granted the request as soon as it had been made. Cookie had joined him in his private quarters and Steven had sat him down immediately, worried by the look on the small man’s face.
‘What is it Cookie?’
‘I have a problem sir, in fact I think we all have a problem.’
Steven shook his head, ‘we have hundreds of problems Cookie, you'll have to be a wee bit more specific,’ Steven tried to smile.
‘I mean the whole crew sir, I've been going round the lads asking the same question I'm going to ask you now.’
Steven sat back, ‘go ahead.’
‘When was the last time you felt horny?’
It caught Steven flatfooted and he flushed brightly, ‘I ah, I ah don’t know.’
Cookie leaned forward, ‘exactly, the last time I felt that was when we were on leave before we began our first big mission.’
‘Uh, did you talk to the doctor about it?’
‘Don’t be daft man, this isn’t a medical problem, ask Buzz, I did. He said he can’t remember the last time either and he is married. In fact since we became members of this crew and the longer we are on board the inclination becomes less and less. I work with Mya, I think she is stunning, beautiful, sexy and yet I don’t even have the inclination to kiss her. That ain't right, that ain't normal, not for me and not for the rest of the people in this crew. You are in love with Komoru, yet when have you ever felt the desire to consummate the relationship, or her for that matter.’
Steven was blushing bright red and cleared his throat, ‘ah, well, we respect one another.’
‘Bullshit, we tried to have a word with Babes about it and she refuses to answer our questions. I have no desire to spend the rest of my life neutered so get it sorted sir.’ An angry Cookie got up and left.
He had been right though, Babes was evasive in her answers and it had taken Steven to get angry before she admitted they had been suppressing the crew’s hormone levels. They were used to an ordered race that only really mated once a year. By comparison their new hosts breeding habits were chaotic by comparison and in a bid to control it they had suppressed everyone’s hormone levels. As the months had gone by and no one seemed to complain about it they had conveniently forgotten to un-supress them. Now Steven was beginning to experience feelings he hadn’t felt since he was fifteen and for some reason it made him
smile.
On Saturday morning he drove to Tappers estate in his bright red Ferrari. It was a beautiful day and Steven was looking forward to it. That night Tapper was holding a ball for all the members of the crew. Both ships were already there and the crews were helping decorate the ballroom for the night’s ceilidh. Steven was disappointed to see the only ones missing were the scientists. In fact between the two crews there was only a dozen of them present.
The two ships sat side by side on Tappers massive lawns joined together and glowing in an eerie almost ghostly way. Steven followed the signs that had been erected into a courtyard. He parked his car beside some others, switched off the engine and got out. A wolf whistle attracted his attention and he turned to find Buzz standing at the top of a set of stairs beside an ancient studded door.
‘That’s a beauty Stevie, have you been stealing the ships funds?’
Steven laughed, ‘hey bud, it’s a birthday present from mum and dad.’
Buzz came down and slapped him on the shoulder, ‘man it’s a beauty. Better than the old banger my parents got me for my first car.’
Steven laughed, ‘yeah I remember that, you had it a week and swapped it for that old bike.’
Buzz was smiling at the memory, ‘still doesn’t beat a Ferrari though.’
‘It has a few special features.’
‘Oh yeah, what?’
‘Anti-gravity drive.’
‘You have to be shitting me, how high can it fly.’
‘About six hundred feet above ground level but I am restricted to two hundred.’
‘Neat, tapper has a room for you, let’s dump your gear.’
Buzz’s wife appeared from somewhere, ‘hi Stevie.’
‘Hi Jan.’
She gave him a brief hug, ‘nice ride where’s mine?’
The men laughed, ‘mum got it for me, it’s a new prototype, I think they are going to go for a half mill each.’
Her face fell, ‘oh wow.’
‘You don’t need one on the moon any way hun.’
Jan scowled at him, ‘I don’t spend all my time on the moon while you are away gallivanting all over the galaxy Buzz Anderson.’
He flushed, ‘yeah sorry.’
She shook her head, ‘don’t you dare be sorry. I'm the talk of the town, wife of the famous Buzz Anderson. Still we need a new car,’ she sighed.
Steven looked from one to the other, ‘you have your cards don’t you?’
Buzz shrugged, ‘yeah so.’
‘There isn’t a limit on them Buzz, you want a car go buy one. Hell if you want a dozen go buy them. We are worth something in the region of a two hundred and thirty billion Buzz go spend some cash for god’s sake.’
‘That’s your money Stevie,’ Buzz protested, ‘I've been taking a wage the same as I had at the institute.’
‘Thought you sold the business?’
‘Yeah to my cousin, actually I didn’t so much sell it as hand over the family business.’
Steven shook his head, ‘I keep telling you Buzz it’s our money man.’
‘I know bud but it don’t feel right.’
Steven took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a few seconds. ‘That’s it done,’ he blinked.
‘What's done?’
‘Your annual bonus.’
‘Oh hell I get a bonus now.’ His face fell, ‘what did you do Stevie?’
‘I put a billion dollars into your account.’
Jen squealed, ‘you're kidding!’
Buzz was still rocking, ‘Jezz,’ was all that he could manage.
‘Nope no kidding, have fun, now where’s my room?’
Buzz was in a daze while Jan laughed all the way up to Steven’s room.
Buzz hesitated on the way out. What about the rest of the guy’s Stevie? I know most are living on their army wages still and only using their cards if they are desperate.’
‘I have taken care of them as well. I will tell them later. Now where is this room?’
Chapter 41
Buzz almost fell over laughing, ‘nice Skirt Steven.’
Steven flushed, ‘it’s a Kilt you moron.’ That had just made Buzz laugh all the harder. The ballroom was awash with colour and Steven wasn’t the only man wearing a kilt. He was wearing the dress Gordon Tartan with the black Jacobite shirt. Pre-dinner drinks were being served and Steven refused the alcohol this early in the evening. Komoru arrived dressed in a traditional pink kimono. Steven felt his face heat up and his pulse begin to race as she approached.
‘Wow,’ was about as much as he could manage.
She laughed and her eyes twinkled, ‘you look extremely handsome tonight Steven.’
The compliment didn’t help his complexion any, ‘you look absolutely stunning Komoru.’
She bowed slightly, ‘thank you.’
‘Are your parents here?’
Her eyes seemed to twinkle, ‘yes are yours?’
He shook his head, ‘no, sorry, they had some off world trip planned for this weekend.’
‘They will be sorry to miss them but a little envious I think.’
Steven laughed, ‘yeah I suppose it’s not everyone’s parents that can jump into their own space craft and go gallivanting round the solar system for the weekend.’
She laughed, ‘I think my parents would be more comfortable with somewhere closer to home. Have you enjoyed your holiday?’
His smile lit up her world, ‘very much. I spent a lot of it sleeping though, the rest of the time I spent getting to know my own country.’
‘Of course you grew up in America, you don’t really know Scotland do you?’
‘No not really, trips home were few and far between.’
‘So what do you think of it?’ She asked.
‘I love it, the best bit is how most people just ignore me as though I was a normal person.’
She frowned, ‘I don’t understand.’
‘If we go anywhere else in the world we are hounded by press or crowds of people. Here people just smile, nod, or take a discrete photo. Now and then I have to pose for a selfie from the bolder, but on the whole people seem to respect my privacy and leave me alone.’
She sighed, ‘that must be refreshing.’
‘It is.’
Cookie appeared and bashed a big gong, it brought lots of laughs from his crew mates. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, dinner is served.’
Neither Steven nor Komoru had eaten a seven course dinner before. Cookies was split between the kitchen and the dinner table. He was of course invited to the dinner but it made it awkward for him as he had never actually attended one of his own dinners before. Steven managed to corner him and asked him what he was doing. Why was he working during his holiday? Cookie had just laughed, what he did on board the ships he considered as working, these special dinners were his passion. He loved the planning and the preparation and of course coming up with something special for his guests. He had planned this one with the Japanese guests in mind. Komoru was very impressed. The meal took hours to get through. When it was over Cookie left the rest to the estate staff and joined everyone in the ball room.
A ceilidh band struck up and the heavier drink was produced. Tappers piper introduced the dances but very few knew the steps. The night turned to hilarity as the few that knew tried to teach the many that didn’t. Komoru wasn’t dressed for the more energetic dances but Steven took her up for every waltz. Lady Jane however stole the show. She and Tapper were well matched as they out did everyone on the dance floor. Steven had thought her dress at dinner was out of place, but here on the ballroom floor she seemed to float, obviously a woman in her element. Komoru felt a pang of jealousy as she caught Steven staring at her.
‘She is very beautiful, isn’t she?’
Steven frowned, ‘sorry who?’
‘Lady Jane.’
‘Oh right, I suppose she is.’
Komoru had caught the deep look of concern in his eyes as he had looked at her and relaxed, ‘are you worried about her.’
/>
He nodded, ‘I still don’t know if I did the right thing taking her on-board.’
‘I could still take her.’
Steven sighed, ‘the simple fact is Komoru I just don’t like her.’
‘You know what they say about love and hate Steven.’
He looked shocked, ‘I don’t hate her, I just don’t like her or her manner.’
‘Is she not working hard?’
‘Very, we now have cards on protocols for meeting different races and she seems to have taken to her role very well,’ he shrugged, ‘I just don’t like her. She is just so stuck up.’
‘She seems to be enjoying herself tonight.’
Steven laughed, ‘well Tapper is a Lord after all and she certainly seems to be in her own element.’
‘What about Sergeant Kelly, how is he coping?’
‘He seems to have found his purpose. Lady Jane certainly has the edge on him when it comes to using the new technology, but I heard she hired a tutor. Kelly is in great demand, his Second World War mentality goes down well with the troops and has adapted his house to house fighting techniques to suit the modern era. Our plant in America for the new rifles is now in full production and it easily cuts through bulkheads, so everything is going well from that perspective.’
She squeezed his hand and he realised she didn’t want to talk about the upcoming war any more so changed the subject.
Later in the evening he felt the drink begin to take effect and got to his feet, ‘I need some fresh air.’
She laughed, ‘I think I will join you; I am not used to the alcohol either.’
Together they walked over the pristine lawn in front of Tappers castle like home. The two ships floated gently side by side, still glowing eerily and unearthly in the moonlight. They stood transfixed, somehow they were holding hands.