I assured the both of them I wouldn't miss the visit, dead or alive. We spent the afternoon in the control area of a Battle Wagon. They could have explained everything from a discrete distance away. They didn't. At dusk we parted company. I had learned a lot.
Back in our room Lin sniffed. "Til and Talle right?"
"They send their hellos. They say Merele wants us to visit when we get off this mission. We spent the afternoon going over the controls of a Battle Wagon. I'm confident that I could keep the thing in the air. Til says it's just like a truck, only you choose the hills and dales."
"That visit may be soon. Who knows when you might end up flying your route, instead of driving? Captain Rafe is back and says every facet of the plan is ready. We just need the GO order."
OPERATIONAL AREA - EARLY (ONE CONTINENT) EARTH
TILDORE SECALLO
CHAPTER TWENTY
Two days later my Task Force of two Weapons Balls pulled away from the rest of the ships. We were undermanned. Lillian with her four thousand Dragon Riders was also undermanned but not as bad as us. Margaret sat across the dinning room table from me, both of them. I hadn't made any fuss over them, introducing them to anyone that asked, as the Ranger envoy to us and our envoy to them. Admiral Prestrillo had given a last bit of advice, "Don't interfere with the shipyard. It has fought off ANNU KI attacks before. Worst case it will go back into Phase Out." I didn't have any intention of going contrary to his orders. I had decided in things Phaeton to let him dictate events. In things pertaining to Earth I would let him, advise.
I asked, "How do I address you two?"
Ranger Margaret said, "My middle name is Beth. She will take that name."
Looking at Beth, I asked, "And who am I to sleep with?"
She answered with a grin, "It's a big bed. Margaret and I agreed to keep the mileage about the same. Any problems with that?"
"Of course not."
Both of them said, "Good."
Beth continued, "Let's go there now, for scientific reasons. Paula suggested starting with filling in the cracks. You look at me and then Margaret, hold both of us in memory and I'll try to remedy Margaret's mentality. When we've made some progress, you, Tild, will attack Margaret, as ANNU KI do to see what barriers hold. That's as complicated as it gets. Come on."
We did the routine to patch the cracks repeatedly. Neither of them indicated any impatience. Lying between two women, one the same size as me and one slightly smaller, but not in spirit, wasn't hard to take. For me an unusual blending took place. I thought that helped our progress. When, after many hours passed and concentration became spotty, we slept sprawled over each other. Yes Mom, we took our boots off.
I awoke when I sensed a change in relative motion. Beth sensed it too and stirred. I made a motion that I would go investigate and she should keep Margaret company.
In the dinning room, I called Control and asked, "Status report please."
Carol said, "We've arrived. The shipyard hasn't come out of Phase Out yet. We have no one on our sensors for a hundred thousand miles and ten years back and forth of us. Any deviation from plan?"
"Drop away another fifty thousand miles. We don't want to be caught in its mine field."
"Wilco."
"Tild out."
I went back to the bedroom. Both of them were awake. I said, "We've arrived. No shipyard yet. We've backed farther off. It should appear soon."
Margaret said, "I'd like to see it unfold. We Rangers have copied the Tech, but it is not in use by us yet."
"We'll put it on the wall screens." I said, moving to do so as they followed me, setting at the table.
Beth asked, "Should I prepare food for you Margaret?"
"Would you? Thanks. Anything."
While Beth was out of the room I asked, "The thought came to me that Ranger training might have instilled in you some need to consult higher authority in serious matters?"
"It did. Do I have to change that too?"
"Yes. There's no higher authority than you. The minute you try to compose a request for guidance your barriers will weaken. Then you'll be back in Ranger basic, if enough is left of your mind to salvage."
Margaret considered, and then spoke, "The fight is actually one against everything, isn't it?"
"No. Lose that quickly. It's just one. There is no against. There is no everything. It's just you. You stand alone. No, that's not right. You just stand. Any kind of considerations to bolster beingness will be used against you."
"That's an emotionless existence."
"No, it's not. When you're there, you'll agree. Oh, look, food. Enjoy."
I looked at the readouts at the top and bottom of our picture of space. No indications of anything but flows from the sun and distant stars. I cast about with my bulb and felt Beth riding the wave lengths beside me. I withdrew and called Carol, "I want you to man the Negative Space control room. See if anything is approaching through, or is parked in Negative Space."
"Complying."
Margaret looked at me questioningly, "You don't think?"
"I don't know. I can sense the shipyard. It's changing. There's another influence in the overall matrix. May be a solar flare, maybe some trap?"
Carol came back, "Twenty seven ANNU KI ships parked in Negative Space. About the same mass as the ones we have."
"Do we have any idea of their likely entry point back into Positive Space?"
"Yes, they are using miniature observation drones to keep informed. We can assume they've seen us."
"Good. Form a bowl around that entry point with our surprise packages."
"Wilco. Out."
We'd Phased Out the excess ANNU KI ships once we'd stripped them of their fighters and everything pertaining to the fighter support. Then we'd started all 28 H/FU s and directed that power to the main gun. The one which had almost destroyed Singh. Ted Marcus had assured me that at full shielding potential no ANNU KI ship we'd met so far could withstand that weapon. We had 276 excess such ships, presently Phased Out being put in place with small pusher/puller motors.
The ship yard started coming out of Phase Out by placing its mine field. The position of the Weapons Balls was behind our surprise package and between where the shipyard would appear. I didn't have any idea of how the ANNU KI intended to get through the Mine Field. I didn't have long to be in doubt.
Carol called from the Control. "They're moving en-masse to the exit the drones have used."
I said, "Put it on my screens."
She did. I observed the ANNU KI ships winking into existence and forming a triangle formation with its apex pointed at the shipyard. From the screens behind me I could see the shipyard, or a part of it, as it filled the whole screen.
The ANNU KI ships were pushing square boxes in front of them. A zoom in saw these as missile launcher tubes. Somebody calculated, 15,008, not a complicated tactic. All of those missiles timed sequentially would be difficult for anybody's mine field to stop. They were simply going to ignore my two ships. Single minded bastards, but I would have done the same. When the last of their ships had exited Negative Space and taken its place in the formation, I said, "Now, Carol."
It was like a hot summer night in June when the fire flies come to the meadows, it seemed. I watched our slaved ANNU KI ships blink into existence. Their bowl formation made a shield between my two ships and them. It took five seconds for the bowl to be complete.
Then 276 main guns fired with 28 H/FU reactors behind each gun.
The phrase 'flash in a pan' came to my mind. The engagement ended that quickly. Their missiles and exploding reactors added to the inferno. My forward screen showed only swirling dust. The rear screen showed the shipyard continuing to form. I cast around with my bulb. There were traces of thoughts, bits of intention, but nothing organized. Evidently even ANNU KI weren't immune to having their existences snuffed out so thoroughly, lesson learned. Erlo's advice to Paula flashed through my mind, hit them decisively and quick.
Beth moved on her chair and
I became aware that there were two other people in the room. Of course there were. They had been there earlier. I had just blocked them out. I thought to apologize and thought better of it. An example of dispersion would do them both good.
Beth said, "Sorry, I didn't mean to distract you."
"No matter. It's over. We were one step ahead of them this time. This engagement is positively no reason to relax, not for a moment."
Margaret didn't say anything. I worried about that, momentarily, but in the rear screens I noticed the shipyard starting to move.
Carols voice came over the speaker. "Completing step two of the plan. We're going to lose 17 ANNU KI ships of ours. Their reactors didn't survive the overload. They won't blow until we put a missile in them. Phase Out and stabilization is complete for the rest. Maintaining our current position in relation to the shipyard. Out."
Prestrillo had programmed transponders for us, so the mass over there recognized us as a friend. Who knew what it would have done otherwise. The A I s which kept it together had risen far above their original programming. Prestrillo mentioned he felt more like a partner with them than a director.
Margaret finally said, "Just savoring the moment."
Beth and I conveyed our understanding and approval. I made a mental note to have her do regression as soon as possible. She hindered herself trying to keep a long term view with only one life to look back at, Beth also.
Thirteen days later we encountered Nebu. I had sent out two manned Courier Scout craft to do a survey at day ten. The report came back, 'Very dense, about eighteen times the size of a passenger Space Station.' Specific analysis showed 3% inert material. The rest was useable metals. The composition hadn't been here-to-for seen according to our data bases. It was as if someone had refined the whole planetoid and left it.
At day twelve the shipyard sent out its own survey craft, a Ball craft with 20 rocket exhaust ports. Primitive, but the technology couldn't be interfered with easily.
Three hours after the return of its survey craft a message came from the Shipyard. "129 years."
We watched as Nebu disappeared from view to be replaced by a ball parking lot. The mine field was out from that and enclosed a blank area of space which I took to be a storage area. That must be where Prestrillo withdrew the craft we now used. I didn't even try to consider what else could be in storage.
Two days later, we gave over control of the remaining 259 ANNU KI ships to the A-I s and left. Not hindered by the slow moving slaved ships we arrived back in a day and a half.
Beth, Margaret, and I went immediately to Prestrillo's Flag Ship and handed over the recordings of our journey to his Intelligence Section. Then we met with him in his quarters to learn of events. Present were two A-I s from the Germanic Manufacturing Complex, Jesse, and Jane. I thought someone had gotten their Missouri Kansas history slightly wrong, but held my tongue. They were assigned to us. Prestrillo said they were being useful.
He also said, "Some of your friends passed through, Tild, a Ranger Throckmorten, and Gina, and a Joshua, along with a sister and brother of Jesse and Jane. Seems they were on a mission for Thelma. Mission being, 'go to Phaeton time and ascertain whether we can prevent the Phaeton Genetic Track from being sabotaged."
We were sitting around his dining room table. Meals were being served to those who ate. I put down my juice container and said, "Don't think I heard of that yet. These bastards get ever more undesirable."
Trist answered, "Too true, grinds my guts when I think about it. The short story appears to be that harmonics are attached to the Genetic Track. When, the individuals so treated evolve and try to reach for the higher harmonics of love, or unison of thought, or esthetics, the contra harmonic is let loose. Then those effected start fighting their way back down into the slime they came from. This exactly explains Phaeton. The higher we got, the harsher were the attempts to disrupt. Jesse and Jane brought us measuring equipment and your friends went down time with it. Ted is trained already on our gifts. He's training others in their use."
I said, "I'd like a strong drink about now."
"Not to worry, I had one for you. To think, a whole race, and a planet wiped out just for gold. These unmentionables have got to go. Intel just told me you got all that were at the shipyard. You might have saved us, me, from a mutiny. The A-I’s there have begun to question their involvement because they weren't ever directly threatened."
Jane said, "We too went through that questioning. In the end I decided involvement was proper."
Jesse agreed, "That's true. But the deliberations within each were very close."
Beth asked, "Have more ANNU KI been discovered on Earth in our present time?"
Trist said, "Lillian's people discover a saucer now and then. We lose some craft, they lose more. They're getting harder to find. I'm told, by Lillian, that means they're preparing a huge attack. Jesse and Jane agree."
I said, "It will be on ARK I. Do I need to explain why?"
I looked around the table. Everyone signified agreement with no need of any further explanation.
I called, Paula, 'scan the last five minutes of this meeting.'
DONE. I AGREE. I'LL TAKE CARE OF THE SITUATION. GO ON WITH OUR INTENTION.
A pause in expressed thoughts ensued, each of them thinking of how Thelma would react to our conclusions.
Eventually faces cleared, became more confidant, the mood positive. I think I spoke for everyone when I said, "She hasn't survived 200 years to not know how to survive this one."
Everyone expressed agreement. I continued, "I have a glimmer of a plan. We need Lillian and Menalo in this room before I can continue."
Trist said, "They practically here."
By the time the dishes were cleared away they were here. I started, "We're fishing in low water now. I think the enemy is throwing us a few snake driven saucers to keep us occupied. So I think we should make one blanket sweep. We'll line up all that's flyable along some latitude and sweep around the planet, if we miss a few, so what. Then we'll drop back ten years and do it again. We'll go all the way back to the blown Terra Forming effort. Then we'll come up time to this year. If somewhere back there we get no trace of the enemy we'll peel off a battle group to continue and come back here earlier than planned. Comments?"
Lillian said, "That is agreeable. Sitting here we are doing our equipment doubling routine, but the enemy doesn't care if we have a hundred or a thousand saucer fighters. They control planets over trillions of years. We have to think broader. This campaign would be a good start."
Trist asked, "Margaret, can you speak for the Rangers?"
"Yes, I've asked. That plan is good for them. Keep in mind some pilots will always be on the passenger station absorbing what Beth and I develop. You'll have to have some new born there too. I would suggest two thirds of manpower flying and one third doing mental strengthening on a weekly change over."
Trist said, "Understood, That go along with your thinking Tild?"
"Absolutely. Lillian, if you will schedule your people the same way it would be perfect."
Lillian looked at Menalo; he nodded, "Done." We are not powerless anymore. Are we finished here?"
I said, "Yes. Start time 2400 today. Why don't you, Margaret and Beth, visit the Ranger Carriers and explain the plan, for securities sake?"
They acknowledged, "We'll see you at 2200 back aboard our Flag ship?"
I said, "Of course."
When the four of them were gone the room seemed larger.
Jesse said, "A lot of force just left. I think for the first time our side might prevail. I, also Jane, thank Paula for giving us English and Phaeton. It was a beautiful planet."
Jane observed, "I give thanks to Paula myself. Perhaps Jesse and I would be useful on the passenger station. The ship is alongside yours Trist. Some sleep aboard. Not enough food for all."
Trist responded, "Perhaps you would like a fully stocked Weapons Ball for your people. We have more saucer craft than we can use. Perhaps 500 of th
ose would provide amusement."
Jane said, "I accept."
Jesse said, "I accept also. When this is accomplished send a message."
Trist promised, "Before 2300 today."
They left. Trist shut the doors and said, "Some Admiral business. I want to get your view on this before jumping off the cliff."
"Maybe I will jump with you. Continue."
"The subject is the Captain who wrote the Log in your Carrier. By the way, I've ordered it parked near your Weapons Ball. Never know when you might want to go on a honeymoon with a, or some, of your ladies. Back to Captain Toeurquenas, we have to know firsthand what he knew. Otherwise we're operating on speculation. We've not gotten many killed so far, but we're flailing in the dark. Your plan, as necessary as it is for many reasons, is more flailing, and more darkness. So I want to send a Ranger recruitment team back to collect the good Captain T."
"Will your HQ go along with that?"
"The Rangers are with you, us, all the way."
"Then I say; do it."
He took out a phone I'd never seen before and entered a number. "T minus is a go." He put the phone away. I didn't ask, didn't want to know, too many complications already.
To me he said, "When the mission is done they'll meet us, wherever we are. Oh, in case you're wondering, he never came through to us at Ranger HQ."
"It's good that Scouting was my military career."
"Probably why Thelma chose you."
"Never considered that, water long downstream now. I think I'll be getting back. Let you to sort out details. Sorry to saddle you with the details. I'll crew the Carrier and supervise the sweep."
"Good thought. You get tired I'll send Jace out to relieve you. I parked a Carrier alongside me too."
"Damn fine ships. Later."
At 2400 I looked down from my Carrier at the equator, the instruments said so anyway. Nerre' had the helm. Marvin was by my side. Beth and Margaret were in the Captains office asking all sorts of questions of the consol. Dark night was all I could see on any screen. I had 1,250 fighters in roughly mile wide intervals going to the North Pole. The same number stretched to the South Pole. The mix was one saucer, one Ranger fighter and one Carrier based fighter with new born pilots. This mix carried through both of my sweep wings. We were going to fly at fifteen hundred miles per hour on the equator at five thousand feet altitude. The birds on the Poles would be sitting still. The idea was to maintain a straight line.
Greener Green II: The Balls Brigade Page 27