"I'll take 20,000 to start."
I picked up my drink and emptied it. I should have ordered something stronger. Another one appeared at the end of an arm. Keep 'em coming.
Erlo's face hardened, "Going to make a stand of it, aren't you?"
"Yes. How many volunteers can I count on you for?"
He laughed delightedly, "We have a pool of thirty million criminals to draw from. A couple weeks of marching on Bren and they would volunteer to cut their mother's throats. Send some transport. They'll be ready before it gets there. Boy oh boy, we're going to be the richest pair in the galaxy, 50/50 good with you?"
"You're already the richest man in the galaxy, and 50/50 is fine with me."
"I'll send recognition codes. Gotta go, lunch with Walter and Bernice. I'll give them your best wishes."
He flickered and vanished. I knew in his innermost being he had an unfillable hole, but on the surface he was the best example of having lemons to make lemonade that I'd ever met. The problem of crews for the Phaeton Space Stations solved I prepared a message for Paula in my mind. I was having a sip of my drink when she walked up to my table and sat.
"Don't strain the brain. You can tell me in person. I'll have whatever that is, tripled. Good booze is hard to find back there."
I didn't choke. She'd changed, three feet taller and twice as wide at the shoulders. She saw my look.
"The competition is hell, long story. Give with the commandments."
I gave.
OPERATIONAL AREA - EARLY (ONE CONTINENT) EARTH
LILLIAN
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
When we were comfortably seated in the salon on board my ship I asked Margaret, "Can we expect any further help from your Rangers?"
"Lillian, you have to understand that Ranger HQ isn't reluctant to send bodies and ships. But, despite our successes, they sadly know that the Ranger bodies can't withstand the G-stress, fighting the ANNU KI necessitate. My home world had the military reduced to several honor guards by them. After my Neutron bombing run, which wiped out one ANNU KI, all senior NCOs and officers were put to death. The rest of the Military were discharged after mind wiping. We had a million and a half in arms, on the planet, in planetary space defenses, and in the Fleet. It's all gone."
"I'm sorry. That's just what they did to my people. A few escaped. None ever came back, that I know of. Where are your NCOs and officers now?"
"They've been put through Ranger Basic and are in a Holding Company. The time drop technology permits the Rangers to train recruits much quicker now. They've maintained the Command structure and practice drills. Almost none of them are the type HQ sends out on one person patrols, so they do what they can to be useful someday."
I rose and walked to the bar to get us new drinks. Maybe I should use a smaller room other than the main salon, but it gave me an illusion of expanses. Considering how Ted and I holed up in crammed laboratories I felt rewarded. Margaret walked to the walls to look at the paintings, which were in 3-D of course. Some played out occurrences, some just depicted changing seasons. The designers had spared no expense. We met back at the sitting area.
I raised my glass and said, "Here's a toast to your people's new mission, taking charge of four Terra Forming space stations around an evolving world, Earth. They will be supervising other additional crew men and women who will be arriving on board ARK V in two weeks. They are all tech trained, and have been through a sort of basic training. Do you understand the term 'Prisoner Boot Camp'?"
"I can gather the concept from the words. Our world didn't have much crime, so we had no such camps."
" Fortunate for you, these people have been collected from several galaxies. They know they're never going home again. Some may have people that would care to join them. You can hold that out as a possibility. All you have to do is convince your HQ to go along with this idea. Actually it was Thelma's doing."
Margaret sat her empty glass down. These Rangers sure drank a lot. Maybe it was their bodies. I'd make a pitcher on this next walk.
She withdrew inside herself for five minutes, refocused here, and then said, "They agree. Arrival time is about a week. They just need time/space reference points. Don't be so surprised. I'm on real time link-up with Ranger HQ now. You and I haven't been social pals, so I surmised something tactical was in the offing."
"Well, that's foresightful of you. Remind me to never tell you any personal secrets. Any would be on the intra fleet Rec-channel before sunup."
Margaret blushed. With her red hair and pale skin it appeared as a flame going up. Maybe I would mount her on the wall. It probably never occurred to her to think, cameras.
"I meant no intrusion. Rangers are taught to reduce elapsed time where ever possible."
"I joked. They'll be eagerly awaited. Your HQ already has full station plans. I imagine they'll all hit the decks running."
"Definitely, they'll only need access codes, which they can get from Admiral Prestrillo."
I reflected for a moment. "That should cover it, I think. Do your people have any questions of me?"
A pause occurred, "Only that they're curious why no Dragon People ever turned up at the cross-over point?"
"We have our own egress, to our own refuge."
"That's a shame. You would make good Rangers."
I laughed, "I'll ask around, if I ever see the majority of my race again, for volunteers."
A moment later Margaret said, "I've terminated the connection to my HQ, for the moment. I'll help you with the drinks. Maybe we'll make a pitcher."
OPERATIONAL AREA - EARLY (ONE CONTINENT) EARTH
JESSE AND JANE
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
Jesse said, "I thank you. Jane thanks you also, Admiral Tildore Secallo for the meeting. You have pleasant quarters. Perhaps time will allow you to come to our ship and observe."
"Thank you for the invitation. Do you care for food, or drink?"
Jane said, "Sadly, there is no time. I am to make you aware that the request for two planetary defense systems has not been granted."
Jesse continued, "Depot Control has made a complete analysis of the situation you face. It has compared this area with other areas where the ANNU KI have taken up residence."
Jane broke in, "To explain how thorough this review was would take much time. The base posits calculated was that you will drive the enemy from this system."
Jesse emphasized, "No planetary system will withstand the expected counter attack. No. That's not specific enough. The planetary systems would prevail. This solar system would not."
Jane agreed, "I and all spoken with here agree."
Jesse smiled, "Therefore; Depot has underway to you, a Solar System Defense Shield. Congratulations. This is the first one accumulated in so much time; your mind knows not the name for."
Admiral Secallo sat for the longest time without speaking. He either conferred with others, or himself. When one reflects over millions of years moments lose immediate pull. His eyes refocused.
"I search for words to say that will have meaning in your way of thinking. I fail in that search now. But you must begin to realize that a rope thrown to a drowning person is the exact way I view this result. Can you give me now, how many personnel will be needed?"
Jane answered readily, "The system is automatic. But only so many responses can be anticipated. A vast delivery crew will arrive with the system to train technicians. So there will be no delay in the effectiveness of the Shield. To answer your intended question however, slightly over three million personnel are required. Trainers will operate the system, if your numbers aren't enough.
Jesse saw the slight misgiving on the Admirals face.
"Jane and I bid you good day. Ted Marcus will give the mechanical help you need to coordinate your present efforts into the system. Arrival time is two weeks from now."
OPERATIONAL AREA - EARLY (ONE CONTINENT) EARTH
TILDORE SECALLO
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
I saw them out a
nd returned to my soft high back chair. It swallowed me until I almost felt anxiety. The anxiety was a good feeling, after the numbing news Jesse and Jane conveyed. I considered ways and means to get three million people. It wasn't possible. And when we had them? What to do then? My mind raced down avenues to smoky clouds of uncertainty. I viewed general outcomes, more clouds, boy; one could live in these clouds forever.
'Marvin, you heard?'
YES.
Paula.
YES
'Maybe you better have another discussion with Thelma?'
WHAT'S TO DISCUSS? I'LL JUST TELL HER TWENTY THOUSAND PLUS THREE MILLION. AFTER THAT IT'S HER PROBLEM.
'I guess that's about as diplomatic as one can be. Can one of you send Prestrillo my way?'
MED BAY DIRECTOR, AND YOUR SECRETARY TOO. MARVIN!
RELAX, PAULA. I'LL GET A RUNABOUT AND COLLECT HIM.
'Pick up Lillian and Margaret too, please.'
WILL DO.
When they arrived I was looking through my steepled hands at a Union Army Supply depot. It was in the exact middle of a valley through which ran a large river that was fed by five fair sized streams. It was spring and the streams were to their banks. Being Scouts, we didn't usually attack anything. But they were preparing to split and re-supply various units. I'd managed to coordinate my forces to prevail with only minor wounds. With what I had now, victory was but a few commands away. I proceeded to give them.
"Lillian, Trist, Margaret, Marvin fill you in?"
All three nodded.
"Comments?"
Lillian said, "I see us moving exactly two weeks from now, on all fronts."
I looked at her and reminded myself she probably had been more than an Admiral in her time.
"Begin the count down." I agreed. "The moment the Shield is declared operational, we go, unless Thelma says otherwise. I know how the AIs operate. They will come out of time ready to shoot. Trist, I'm going to leave the space stations to you and Margaret. Does that seem optimum to you?"
Trist responded, "We'll handle it, won't we Margaret?"
"One way or another, it's done."
I continued, "Lillian, you and Ted promised to deliver at a moments notice. Have you got your actions in sequence with the four carriers?"
"We've drilled and drilled. Every crew member knows their job, cold."
"Marvin, are we overlooking anything the Essences have noticed?"
"Yes. When the ANNU KI is released from their bodies they're far from harmless. Maybe they're more deadly released. You're going to have killers looking for any target, mental killers. In Canada, with the small population, which we can evacuate far away, we will have time to chase them down. In Australia, another story will take place. The anti ANNU KI rifles will kill them, embodied or not, if there's time, and the person holding the rifle doesn't faint. So we'll have to have Essences on the ground, or in the air, in both places. Our people there can handle the force fields, but I'm not certain the Regs, even with their new training, can handle The ANNU KI essences."
I reflected, "You're right, I think. But I didn't want to go into that. Realities are shaken apart too far already. However what is, is, so we'll have to leave that facet open for now, and hope someone comes up with something definitive. Anything else, troops?"
Some personal inward conversations ensued. When faces cleared with no spoken comment I said, "Marvin, get this to Thelma, and to the Commanders on the ground in Canada and Australia. Have the plans spread widely on a need to know basis. I'm sure we're being monitored and the new mental shields aren't perfect. Trist, can you stay for a moment. You can hold the runabout Marvin. He won't be long."
When the others were gone I said, "Trist, you know every job which has to be performed on the stations, don't you?"
"Sure. Couldn't do my job as manager, if I didn't. What are you getting at?"
"Could you get together with Paula, or one of her people, and concentrate on each job in turn so she could make a mental skein to overlay onto the incoming people?"
"I don't know if that's possible, but it would solve major problems if it worked."
SEND HIM OVER WITH SOME PEOPLE FROM LILLIAN'S ESCORT FRIGATES AS TEST SUBJECTS. WE'LL SOON KNOW IF IT'S POSSIBLE.
I said, "Have Marvin drop you off, and then go pick out a half dozen prospects to implant. Say it's a routine medical. Stay around, Trist, and quiz them afterward. Is that good with you?"
"Certainly solve many of my problems. Get back to you later."
With him gone I went back to my steepled fingers and gradually allowed myself to realize why I was loath to operate in Earth's future. It simply reminded me of what was gone forever, Thelma, and my son with her. Here, in Earth's dim past, near to Phaeton, I could pretend anything future thought, time wise, was a dreamy wish. Here I could recall the lives I'd spent on Phaeton, most of them pleasant. Some actually near the top of the heap. I was sure those feelings of separation were shared with all of the Balls Brigade personnel. To make matters worse, no one but me had any Phaeton memories to hold onto. Most of the crew's memories, before Earth, were from various other solar systems. Paula had Ensigns working on a data base incorporating those memories. I hadn't been told of any conclusions.
AREN'T ANY, YET. BUT A DEFINITE PATTERN EXISTS. WE'LL DISCUSS IT OVER A SCOTCH, WHEN YOU COME OF AGE.
My Paula, always good for a laugh. But Paula wasn't Paula, anymore either.
I'd dimly reflected on having my long dead wife and my children join me here in the past. They had a right at life. I thought the children could withstand changing their bodies and be happy. I was sure my wife couldn't adapt, or was I selling her short to remain in misery? I just didn't know. Or maybe I should start a new married life here, or a harem. Damn I wasn't that virile. The indecision over that point cheered me up.
"Control room."
"Here."
"Have the Carrier Captains cycle by my quarters tomorrow, no hurry, casual manner. Understood?"
"Perfectly sir."
OPERATIONAL AREA ARK I EARTH - BETWEEN THE ICE AGES
THELMA
I'd asked Commander Steven Turquill, the leader of the Essences, to join me for lunch at 'my' lakeside Cafe. Noon I'd said.
He appeared from around a nearby corner. I stood as he approached. He saluted casually, and waved me back into my seat.
The tall thin waitress, recently hired, brought him coffee, soup, and a sandwich without being asked. I already had my food.
We chatted casually about the pleasantness of the setting, and what shows were running in theaters on nearby streets.
When we finished eating he said, "I know you are undecided whether you want to discuss what you have on your mind, but please do."
"Well if you insist."
We both had a chuckle over that.
"The situation has come down to this. We are almost certain we can defeat the ANNU KI ships on the Australian and North American continent. We have introduced a substance, lead posing as gold, into the South Pole ship. Judging from the change in emanations, wave length changes, coming from that ship we conclude we've rendered the bodies on it incapable of function."
He said, "That agrees with our evaluation. Go on."
"Here comes the big, however. We know that the ANNU KI essences have simply withdrawn from present time, the time we introduced the changed gold, November 2012, and retreated down their time track. They are as deadly as ever."
He looked at me inquiringly, "And you want me to do something about the situation."
Begrudgingly I said, "Yes."
He paused before speaking, "We know you have the best reality on us, your Essences, than anybody in the fleet. But do you know what governs us in our involvement with your cause?"
"Making the universe a better place?"
"No. The universe is. It can't be made anything. All essences fall in one of two categories, those that encourage, and those who exploit. The ANNU KI is a good example of those who exploit. We, here among you, like to think
we encourage. But there are limits, because we don't dare become your leaders. We won't do that, because your people, in one generation, would lose their initiative."
"Then you won't involve yourselves in a confrontational manner?"
"No. But I think a platoon of your people, the nine foot tall ones, back there, right. I think a platoon will appear, just after November 2012, who can fight the ANNU KI back through time, to the point they first landed. It would probably be proper for you to have your Weapons Balls coordinate with that platoon, once you have taken care of the other two ships. The enemy can't go through time as your ships do, but they preposition many ships in many times that their essences can use to wreck havoc. Have I expressed myself clearly?"
I looked at him searchingly. I was defiantly not going to make a good essence. He looked back at me waiting for my wheels to turn. Eventually three cherries appeared and I said, "I can see this coming together."
"Good. Paula will act as participating liaison for smooth communication purposes. Carpe Diem. I must be off now; lecturing new Ensigns is an endless task."
I stood along with him, "I'm sure it is, especially in these ever more complicated times."
He smiled broadly, turned, and walked back around the corner. I almost had a feeling like I wanted to attend his lecture. No. Eternity wasn't going anywhere. I sat down and started thinking. Betty's report from Moneslak made the puzzle almost complete, or was it complete already, and I didn't want to give the order?
I gave the order. OPERATION 'CLEAN UP' IS NOW A GO. PROCEED AS PLANNED.
Then I went to my War Room, kicked everybody out, and called my ace in the hole, Rangers Marion Prinz and Talar Harkness. They were waiting in my time, around the sun from me.
"Talar acknowledging, Marion will be here as soon as she gets out of the engine room."
Greener Green II: The Balls Brigade Page 30