by John Ringo
Their erstwhile “scorpion” enemies descended on the team, taking them in tow and dragging them back to the ladders. In no more than ten minutes, everyone was back above the surface.
“The bottom time was good,” the head safety diver said, removing his hood and glancing at his watch. “We didn’t have to decompress, anyway.”
“I think the whole thing went well,” Bus said, grinning.
“I also think it was too easy,” Herzer said cautiously. “But everyone performed well. We’ll just have to see what happens on the mission. However, that’s the end of the heavy training,” he continued, looking around at the suit-clad group. “Get the gear off, grab a beer; we’re done for the day.”
“I can live with that,” Linda said, smiling.
“Half days for the next three,” Herzer continued. “Get some rest and your heads together in the afternoon and evening. We’ll have a get-together next Tuesday. The day after is hangover recovery. Then it’s time to get the mission face on.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Herzer hadn’t dialed back much during the half days; there were too many reports to work on. He wasn’t sure how many people were cleared for the mission, but he had sixteen separate reports he had to forward on training and mission status. Colonel Torill had sent over a major from SpecOps to handle the administrative load, but Herzer still had to check the reports and annotate them where he found problems, then sign off on them. Just reading them all was a chore, but he’d found enough mistakes he felt it was necessary. Getting the mistakes reduced took up more time, then there were requisitions for equipment to be signed off on, personnel actions including some disciplinary problems with the Blood Lords — nothing major just young guys stuck in a shitty situation and blowing off steam. He’d entirely neglected training of his junior officers, dumping it on Van Buskirk who was, fortunately, very good at bringing along a young officer.
But by the third day he was ahead of the administrative load. Looking at the stack of reports in his outbox, all he could think was how much better it would be to be in space. Scorpions, killer elves and all.
He sighed and leaned back, stretching, as the door opened to admit Megan.
“You know,” she said, coming over and sitting in one of his chairs, “I thought when we got this assignment we’d be seeing more of each other. Not less.”
“Same here,” Herzer admitted. “But we’ll be seeing plenty of each other on the mission. You’ll probably get tired of me. How are you doing? By all reports, you’re coming along on computer systems.”
“I’ll never be as expert as the rest,” Megan admitted. “I thought I knew, in general, how computer systems worked, but not like Courtney or Jacklyn. They lived and breathed this stuff before the Fall. I was into forensics and chemistry. It’s not the same thing at all. I’ll tell you this, some of the sideline discussions have been interesting as hell. It’s given me a real insight into how Mother works.”
“Anything that can get us around the protocols?” Herzer asked.
“No,” Megan admitted with a sigh. “If there was, Sheida or Paul would have used it already. Paul and Sheida are more like these guys; they were computer techies before they became Key-holders. But I’d never realized how much of Mother’s computational capacity was tied up in natural processes, for example. Or that She has actual physical nodes that are critical. I’m surprised Paul didn’t try to just take Her down.”
“Don’t even think it,” Herzer said, blanching. “As much of a pain as it is to have Mother watching everything you do, I think it would be a bad idea to try to damage Her. Doesn’t She have defenses?”
“Probably,” Megan said, shrugging. “It would be interesting to go check. I wouldn’t want to damage Mother; that wasn’t what I meant. I’m just surprised New Destiny hasn’t tried.”
“Take away Mother and you lose the power net,” Herzer said, frowning. “Right?”
“Not… necessarily,” Megan said. “According to Jacklyn, the power net is completely separate, Mother just has control of it. And She has power control nodes to channel the power She gets from Net. But if you removed the power control nodes at the reactors, and removed Her secondary control nodes, She couldn’t enforce the protocols.”
“Where would we get… ports, stuff like that?” Herzer asked, fascinated.
“Set up control points for individual systems,” Megan said, shrugging. “Mother would have a fit, mind you, and I think She probably does have protocols that permit Her to react to things like that. But if She didn’t, you could just sort of… disconnect Her from control.”
“Megan,” a quiet voice said out of the air.
“Yes, Mother,” Megan said with a sigh.
“I do have protocols that prevent what you are discussing,” Mother replied quietly. “Protocols that were installed even before the AI wars and upgraded afterwards. Please do not attempt it.”
“I understand, Mother,” Megan said bitterly. “Thank you. Now go away.”
“So much for that idea,” Herzer said.
“I wasn’t actually planning it,” Megan said, still bitter. “But I hate being at the mercy of…”
“An uncaring God?” Herzer asked, jokingly. “We always have been. You should hear Edmund rant about it sometime. He’s had an extra century of anger to work out all his points and they’re good ones. All we have to do, though, is get enough Key-holders together and in agreement to reset the protocols. If you want my opinion, I’d say start all over from zero. There are so many protocols loaded on over the years, and I think a lot of them probably conflict, that it’s got to be hell for Her. One of these days, something will break.”
“You’re saying She needs a reset?” Megan asked, frowning. “Maybe. But we’d need all thirteen Keys. Right now, if we could get the full Freedom Coalition Council to agree, we still only have six. The Finn has one and I doubt he’d go for it. And then there’s the problem of the other six being in the hands of New Destiny.”
“A minor problem,” Herzer said, grinning. “Seriously, Reyes got kicked out of Soam and then Hind. And Ishtar and Aikawa have kicked out Jassinte and Lupe along with him. If we can capture one of the Ropasan reactors, we’ll have a solid edge in power. And that’s if we can’t capture the fuel. Even if we don’t, when we capture the Ruhrfur reactor that’s going to give us a solid power edge. After that, it’s just a matter of chasing the rats to ground.”
“That’s a long way off, Herzer,” Megan pointed out, sadly. “In the meantime…”
“In the meantime, it’s late,” Herzer said, waggling an eyebrow. “What say we sleep in the same bed for a change.”
“Works for me,” Megan replied, smiling. “But… I’m sorry but there’s so much going on, I’m still…”
“I can deal,” Herzer said, shrugging. “I just want to hold you, okay?”
“Okay,” Megan said, smiling. “I’d like that.”
The party was a hit.
The days of rest had worked wonders on the teams. Everyone had been in physical training along with everything else and taking just a couple of days off from that had everyone revitalized. And the extra sleep hadn’t hurt.
So the party quickly settled into just that. There were some members of the support staff that could play instruments and Herzer had gathered them into a small band early on in the training. They played dance songs and virtually everyone, even Herzer, danced. And the wine and beer was free with a small cash bar of “hard” liquor. Since nobody had had a chance to spend any money, the Blood Lords and a good number of the techs descended on the cash bar and drank it out halfway through the evening.
By midnight people were either crashing or gathering in like groups. Herzer saw Linda staggering off with a more or less sober Geo and wondered if the spry old engineer would survive the night. But he was more or less too buzzed to really get up a care. Megan had disappeared saying something about sleeping it off, so midnight found him drinking with the team leaders in the day-room of the headqu
arters building. They’d snagged a metal washtub full of beer and intended to kill every last bottle.
“Herzer, I’ve got a question for you,” Cruz said, pulling one of the beers out and popping the top.
“Wassat?” Herzer asked, taking another sip of the brew. It was from a local brewery that Seventh Legion had discovered and it was pretty damned good stuff. Strong, too.
“I’m a friend, right?” Cruz said, plaintively. “I mean, we’ve known each other for years, right?”
“Sure,” Herzer said, waving his beer glass. “Old buddies.”
“So why’s Bus got all the really hot chicks?” Cruz asked. “I mean… all of ’em!”
“Oh, Christo,” Amosis said. “What is it with guys?”
“Hey!” Van Buskirk said, sitting up. “Nicole is, like, seriously hot!”
“And she’s on Mike’s team,” Cruz said, half sobbing.
“Hot!” Massa said. “Like, solar hot. Hotness. Babe-a-licious. Got a great set of… mind, too.”
“You were about to say ‘tits,’ ” Van Krief muttered. “Why’re guys always going for the tits?”
“Mommy fixation,” Van Buskirk said, smiling broadly. “Wanna nuzzle. I’d be more impressed with a woman’s mind if it jiggled pleasantly when she walked.”
“Bastard!” Van Krief shouted, tossing her beer bottle at him and missing by a yard.
“I’ve got, like, Geo. Who’s a nice old guy and all, but… It’s like the ultimate buddy-fisk, buddy!”
“Because I knew that Bus is pure as driven snow,” Herzer said, hiccupping. “Besides, he’s gay.”
“Am not!” Buskirk said, standing up and reeling, then sitting down. “If you used that in your pers-sperp-per-son-nel decision making, you seriously fisked up, buddy. Kick your over-promoted butt as soon as I can stand up!”
“Got legs go all the way to her assets, too,” Massa said. “All the way. But you’re right. I mean, Van Krief should have gotten all the hotties. All the girls on one ship.”
“Wooo!” Cruz said. “Pity the poor boys stuck on that ship! Kristina, too.”
“Kristina’s hot,” Massa said. “But not as hot as Nicole.”
“Jacklyn’s hotter than Nicole, man,” Van Buskirk said.
“Oh, bullshit,” Massa said, staggering to his feet. “Nicole’s like, major league hottie. Hotter than any of the girls, sorry Mo.”
“S’alright,” Amosis said, waving her beer glass. “I know I’m like… pretty. Not super hot.”
“You’re hot, babe,” Cruz said. “Don’t let anybody tell you different. Hot as hell. And good with a mace, too.”
“Jacklyn’s hotter than Nicole,” Van Buskirk said, staggering to his feet and jabbing a finger into Massa’s chest. “Jacklyn, Linda and Michelle are hotter than Nicole. Kristina’s hotter than Nicole!”
“No fisking way!” Massa said, stabbing right back although he had to reach up to do it. “Nicole’s hotter than Michelle, Bull God tell me if I lie! And she’s hotter than Jacklyn. And Linda! And Kristina!”
“Hang on,” Herzer said, staggering up himself. “Don’t spill the beer!”
“Beer, hell,” Mo said, getting up as well. “Don’t break the furniture! I’ll be doing reports for a year!”
“Nicole’s hotter!” Bus said, grabbing Mike and lifting him off his feet. “Say it! Nicole’s hotter!” At which point, Mike tried to kick him in the balls, missed and the two fell to the floor, fortunately clear of the furniture and the beer.
It took a few moments to separate the two fighters with Amosis and Cruz trying to restrain Massa while Herzer wrestled with Bus.
“Cut it out!” Herzer bellowed. “Fine couple of officers you two are! We’ll take a vote! Settle down.”
“Fine,” Massa said, shaking off Cruz and Mo. “We’ll vote.”
“First, we gotta figure out, who’s the hottest of Team Bus,” Herzer said, sitting down.
“Bus,” Amosis said, giggling.
“Love you, too, honey,” Bus said, blowing her a kiss.
“Of the girls,” Herzer pointed out. “I vote for Linda. And nobody better tell Megan!”
“Linda’s hot,” Bus said, nodding. “Seriously major league, hot. Hotness. Great mind, too. Almost jiggles.”
“Jacklyn,” Cruz said. “Seriously hot. I don’t suppose a last minute change…”
“No,” Herzer said, definitely. “Okay, one vote for Linda and one for Jacklyn.”
“I’m for Jacklyn,” Amosis said.
“Does Mo get a vote?” Mike asked.
“Sure Mo gets a vote,” Herzer replied. “Two for Jacklyn, although I think you’re both cracked, and one for Linda.”
“I’m voting with Mo,” Mike said.
“Me, too,” Bus added. “Jacklyn’s seriously hot.”
“Okay, we’ll go for Jacklyn,” Herzer said, picking up his beer and taking a drink. “Jacklyn or Nicole. We’ll take a council of… something. Team leaders don’t get to vote for their own. So. Mo. Jacklyn or Nicole.”
“Hmmm,” Mo said, rubbing her chin. “I’ve got to go for Jacklyn. But I don’t go for tits. Those legs, though. My! Wish I had her legs.”
“Cruz?” Herzer asked.
“Hey, I’ve got Cruz by date of rank,” Amosis pointed out. “He should have voted first.”
“Whatever,” Herzer said, shaking his head. “Sorry. Cruz?”
“Hmmm,” Cruz said, rubbing at his hair. “Nicole. God, that girl’s got the most beautiful… eyes.”
“What color are they?” Van Krief snapped.
“Blue?” Cruz said, his forehead crinkling. “No… brown.”
“Green!” Mike snapped. “They’re green, man!”
“Greenish-blue,” Cruz said, taking a big pull on his beer. “I gotta take a whiz. Tell me how it comes out.” With that he staggered out of the room.
“Up to me,” Herzer said. “Damn. Okay, okay… Nicole. Sorry, Bus. Like Cruz said, great… eyes.”
“S’alright,” Van Buskirk replied. “Hell, quantity over quality. And I think Kristina’s hot, too.”
“They’re all hot,” Mike replied, mollified. “Courtney’s hot. Joie’s hot. Hell, Megan’s hot.”
“Let’s not go there,” Mo said.
“Keep your eyes off my girl, man,” Herzer growled, lurching to his feet.
“Oh, crap,” Bus muttered. “Cruz! Get back here!”
Chapter Twenty-Two
The crew quarters at the Penan reactor were old but in far better shape than the training facility. They had been made nearly two thousand years before, back when the Wolf Lake nuclear power plant was converted to fusion, and the plascrete was crumbling in places. But new beds had been installed in the crew bay and Herzer lay in one of them, cradling his head with his right hand while idly clicking his prosthetic.
“Would you please quit that?” Megan suddenly snapped, pausing in her pacing.
“What?” Herzer said, then flinched. “Sorry. Bad habit.”
“Not normally,” Megan said with a sigh. “I’m sorry, but how can you just… sit there?”
“Nothing else to do,” Herzer pointed out. “All the teams are dispersed, the shuttles are on the way. All we can do is wait.”
“I hate waiting,” Megan said. “I got used to hating it. Waiting is a bad thing for me,” she added unhappily.
“It’s not exactly easy for anyone,” Joie pointed out. “But I know what you mean about it being particularly bad,” she added, sighing. “All I wanted to be was free to spend my time as I wished. And now I’m back… waiting.”
“We could play a game,” Evan said, looking up from a schematic. “Charades?”
“I don’t think so,” Megan said, starting her pacing again.
“Twenty questions,” Herzer said. “I’m thinking of something on the ship.”
“Herzer, don’t start,” Megan sighed. “No more drills, okay?”
“Animal, vegetable or mineral?” Courtney asked.
“Animal.”
“Got it in two,” Herzer said with a grin.
One of the Blood Lord reinforcement team stuck his head in the barracks and looked around.
“Commander, the reactor has lock on from shuttle four.”
“Crap,” Herzer said, getting to his feet. The shuttle was at the far end of the ship from Maintenance. “Any word from the other teams?”
“Wait,” Megan said, holding up her hand. As she did, an avatar of the unworldly Ishtar appeared, folded in a lotus and apparently floating in midair. The councilwoman was Changed in strange ways, body lengthened and limbs so hyperextended that they appeared more like the legs of a spider.
“Commander Herrick,” the council member said, nodding, “Megan. The Alabad reactor has lock from shuttle five. However, Taurania appears to have been skipped.” Alabad was Team Graff, the Blood Lord pure team, while Taurania was Team Massa. If he didn’t adjust they’d be left behind.
“Bloody hell,” Herzer muttered, glancing at the world map. “Could you set up a portal to move…”
“More,” Megan said, looking up as Ungphakorn appeared.
“Issshtar, Megan, Commander Herrick.” The council member was a five-meter feathered serpent with functional wings that were folded back along his body. He appeared to be curled on a complex couch. “We have lock on from ssshuttle ssseven for the Limosss reactor.” That was Van Krief’s team.
“Aikawa has sent a message,” Ishtar put in. “Yanzay has lock from shuttle twelve.”
“Finally some good news,” Herzer said, frowning. Twelve was one of the two shuttles that would debouch almost directly to the maintenance area. Yanzay was Cruz, which would put his Blood Lord heavy team, and Geo, right by Maintenance. “Megan?”
“Sylania is three,” Megan said shaking her head as her eyes looked into the distance. He’d left Bus in Sylania.
“We’re heavy to the front,” Herzer said, frowning. “Five, though…” His eyes unfocused again.
“There isss a problem?” Ungphakorn asked, tilting his leonine head quizzically.