Tawn humbly replied, “Just happened to be good at it for some reason. Was in the sixth division. How about you?”
“Fourteenth. We had a level four with us as well, a regular.”
Harris said, “I know you’ve been briefed on the mission here. Spout it back to me just for grins and giggles. What have you been told to do?”
“Disrupt production in any way we can while not putting ourselves at undue risk. Machine operators and lookouts are the primary targets. The colonel thought one target every other day for the first week would give us a good idea if this will work.”
Harris nodded. “Sounds like a good strategy. Have you been briefed on the APCs?”
“Not fully.”
“Then we have a surprise for you. They now have a railgun on top. Will be good for defense against other vehicles or small aircraft. They’ve been outfitted with a couple bunks, a potty, a sonic shower, and sixty days of MREs. You’ll also get the benefit of insulation and a cooling system that will give you your own little paradise when you’re inside.”
Jenkins grinned. “Sounds like a dream compared to some of our prior deployments.”
Trish said, “We have a freighter coming through. Looks like this is it.”
The trip to the surface of Eden took two hours. There was no indication the Earthers had discovered the interlopers. Four thousand kilometers were flown across the desert landscape to a site just over the horizon from Earther detection. Harris assisted with the deployment of the APCs as Tawn sat at the ready behind the Bangor’s controls.
Trish said, “Gah. How much longer do we have to have that hatch open? That is boiling out there.”
“Until he’s back inside,” Tawn replied.
Harris hopped out of the second APC as the freighter began to lift from the ground. “Park this second one at five kilometers from your base camp as a backup. Make sure to leave the active skin turned on so it blends in with wherever you park it. Other than that, good luck out there. I know you ladies will do us proud.”
Jenkins nodded. “Take care, Mr. Gruberg. See you in a week.”
The hatch closed behind the stump as the ship lifted into the intensely hot Eden air. The two APCs and their drivers would have an eighteen hundred kilometer, seven-day trek to reach the Fireburg mine. A pathway had been mapped out using the scan data the Bangor crew had originally collected. A dozen comm relays would be stretched along that path, enabling silent communications to the point of origin. The Bangor would be back in seven standard days to evaluate the mission.
As the ship made it to free space, Tawn said, “I’m heading to Jebwa. Might as well grab our supplies while we’re out.”
Harris replied, “I wouldn’t mind taking a little time for a walk-around. Would like to know they have everything they need.”
Tawn chuckled. “Sounds like you actually like those people.”
Harris shrugged. “Other than being buttheads about the Earthers, I guess they’re OK. Not my choice for living, but at least they leave everyone else alone.”
After landing, Trish, Gandy, and Sharvie let out on their own to explore. Tawn talked Harris into jogging from the spaceport into town. The first stop was the meeting hall of the government offices. The normal several dozen pacies were lying about on the beanbag chairs in their usual robes and sandals. No one was speaking.
Harris asked the first person they encountered: “No pressing matters going on today?”
“Hasn’t been for a week now,” the man replied. “Everyone is busy… and busy is happy. Even have fifty new residents that just came in from Domicile. They were welcomed with a small celebration and are already out in the fields working.”
Tawn said, “Seems like everyone is content.”
“Why wouldn’t we be? The sun is shining, the weather is beautiful, and the air is fresh.”
The pacie drew in a deep breath.
Harris asked, “Have you had any contact with any Earthers?”
The pacie shook his head. “None. They have no interest in this planet, so they’re leaving us alone. I sure would like to thank whoever came up with this alternative.”
Harris smiled. “Well, that would be me. You can thank me.”
Tawn rolled her eyes.
A pacie raced into the hall. “A herd of feral cats just attacked and killed a horse before running back into the woods!”
The pacies in the room rose and hurried toward the door. Harris and Tawn followed behind as they walked a kilometer to the edge of town.
Tawn looked around as they walked. “You know, something’s been missing since we got here and I just now nailed it. Birds. What happened to all the birds?
Harris glanced around, eyeing several roaming cats. “I think we know what happened to the birds. And if cats are attacking horses… they must be getting hungry.”
Harris tapped the closest pacie on the shoulder. “How many cats you have around here?”
The woman replied, “We don’t know. There has just been this cat explosion since just after we came here. Some of them have been getting aggressive in the last few weeks. This is the second animal attack in that time. First one was a goat that had been ripped to shreds and then stripped to the bone. When we found it, there were a hundred cats feeding on it and circling around what was left.”
They don’t have any predators to fear. If they’re out of food, namely birds, I could see some of them falling back to their more primal instincts.”
Harris whispered, “I bet within a month you’ll have your first Human attacked. Probably one of these younger pacies that have been running around here.”
Tawn shook her head with a chuckle. “Cats. Could be the downfall of them all. If they don’t take the steps needed to control this, they’ll be overrun.”
The group stopped as it encountered a larger group of onlookers. Thirty meters away, in a fenced in field, more than a thousand cats were circling the dead horse as several dozen tore at its flesh.
Harris laughed. “That’s messed up. Would never have pictured that coming from domestic pets.”
He pushed his way to the front of the crowd. “Anyone gonna stop this?”
The pacies surrounding him remained silent as the small carnivores devoured their prey.
Harris hopped over the fence, walking toward the feral mass as Tawn and the others watched. “OK, furballs, time to give up the horse and move on.”
A fourteen pound Abyssinian hopped down from the back of the horse, moving directly toward the Biomarine, hissing. Several dozen of the surrounding cats followed its lead, bringing Harris to a stop.
“Whoa.”
Tawn said, “You might want to come back from there.”
Harris pulled his compressed helmet up from a hook on his back.
“What are you doing?” asked Tawn. “Are you nuts?”
Harris turned with a slight grin. “Oh, come on, they can’t hurt me through this biosuit.”
Tawn gestured toward the carcass. “I bet that horse thought the same thing.”
Harris turned back to face his herd of adversaries. “Always wanted to be a cat wrestler. Looks like I finally get my chance.”
His lunge forward was met with a defiant attack by the Abyssinian. Within seconds the genetically engineered Biomarine was engulfed and covered with claws and fur. The sound of a thousand hisses filled the air. The pacie onlookers took several steps backward.
Harris yelled through his comm as he attempted to sling off the wild animals. “A lot heavier than I thought!”
Cats flew, landing on their feet several meters away before leaping back into the fray. Less than a minute into the spectacle, the Human beast was taken off balance and brought down.
“This is crazy! They are way stronger than I thought!”
Tawn shook her head. “I think you should move away from that horse. They’re defending their kill. Try to come back to us.”
Harris began to slowly crawl toward the fence with a pile of fur mounted upon his back, cla
wing and biting at anything they could.
At five meters from the fence, Harris looked up. “Ow. Crap. One of them just got a claw through one of the seams. Ow! There’s another!”
Tawn said, “Looks like they’re prying up one of the panels on your back. That’s mostly cloth and insulation if they get under there.”
Harris yelled. “Gah! One of them just dug into my back!”
The hundred and fifteen kilogram Human began to fling his arms before going into a roll. As attached cats lost their grips, Harris was able to stand and take another step. Tawn flipped on her helmet and cinched it shut.
“Get your ass over here and I’ll start knocking them off!”
Harris flipped around, violently kicking and flailing at the screaming herd, as a dozen animals continued with their attempt to bring him down. Two hard fought steps brought him close to the fence, where Tawn got to work stripping cats from his torso, tossing them back into the agitated herd.
A heavily breathing Biomarine pulled himself over the fence as the last of the felines was snatched from the bloodied opening on the back of his suit. The herd of cats moved toward the fence in force, hissing and screeching in anger. The pacies turned and fled as Harris taunted the aggressors with his fist.
Tawn pulled him backward. “Come on, we need to get you sewn up and disinfected. Your back is a mess.”
Harris growled at his nemesis as the Abyssinian stood its ground. As it turned away, several dozen ferals stood guard as their leader returned to the feast.
Tawn shook her head. “You are a dumbass. Why’d you feel the need to do that?”
Harris grimaced as he tried to reach his stinging back. “Looked like fun. And it was until they broke through. That’s just crazy they were able to do that. Didn’t think they had the strength or smarts.”
Tawn pulled a med-pack from a thigh pocket. “Was only one dumb animal out there today. Two, I guess, if you count the poor horse, but I’m betting it wasn’t looking for trouble.”
“So what are we gonna do about this?”
Tawn laughed. “We aren’t doing anything. This is a problem for the pacies. They’ll have to decide what they want to do.”
Harris glanced over his shoulder. “That herd is only gonna grow. And these people won’t be willing to take it on.”
“Sounds like a perfect opportunity to sell them some coyotes.”
“I thought those were almost extinct? Only in zoos?”
Tawn shrugged. “Might be time for a breeding program and for them to be reintroduced. That would be a natural remedy, which is what these people are all about.”
“And then how do you control the booming coyote population?”
“Easy enough. Before you release any, you make them sterile. Problem solves itself naturally.”
“Doesn’t sound all that natural to me.”
“We could take this on in exchange for the food we’re purchasing. Would save us a few credits. Not that we need them, but just the same.”
Trish and the others were contacted and told to return to the ship. Thirty days of packed meals were waiting to be loaded.
Harris turned toward the crates only to be told to get aboard and sit. Fifteen minutes later the Bangor was on her way back to Midelon.
“What happened to your back?” asked Trish.
“Herd of cats attacked him when he tried to take their food,” Tawn said.
Trish laughed. “We just ate not long ago. You got hungry for cat food?”
“The cats attacked a horse, killed it, and were eating it. It was a herd that was probably a thousand strong of feral cats. Mr. brilliant here thought it might be fun to mess around with them. They attacked and ripped open his suit. Chewed up a spot on his back pretty good.”
Trish shook her head. “You two are a riot sometimes. What really happened?”
Chapter 7
_______________________
Harris spent most of a week sitting forward in his chair as the AI of Dr. Alexander Gaerten continued with its relentless stream of questions.
“A man is confronted with a thousand feral cats eating a dead horse. Should he A) Run. B) Negotiate with the cat’s leader. Or C) Antagonize the herd into an assault.”
“Har, har. Aren’t you the funny set of computer chips. Please just ask me something that will move me to the next level from this endless quiz.”
“I have a surprise for you, Harris. Congratulations, you have moved up to level four with the others.”
“Huh. Finally. Can you at least tell me what level four is about before I get up? My lower back is killing me from having to sit forward.”
An image of Alex came up on the display. “Very well. I believe you will enjoy the next level. It is educational and more of a listen and ask questions type of scenario rather than being forced to answer questions. The topic is about Earth. And you may discuss it with the other members of your group, but not with anyone else. That goes for all that you have experienced thus far. Members at your level only and no others.”
“Earth. Got it. Forgive me if I go take a break and lie down on my belly for a bit. This wound with all that cat-scratch bacteria is not healing well.”
“When you come back you may proceed through the door at the end of the hall.”
Harris walked into the supply hut, where Tawn and Trish were sitting. “Out of the way. I need that bench.”
Tawn stood over him as he laid down. “Let me have look at that. Should be getting better by now.”
She pulled the bandage back, revealing a pus-filled infected wound.
“Eww. That looks nasty. The antibiotics we have here aren’t working.”
Harris chuckled in pain. “So that’s it, then. Faced down a thousand Earthers… taken out by a thousand cats. I want that as the epitaph on my grave marker by the way.”
“Yeah, I think we’re gonna have to take you to the Retreat. The doctors there can clear this up. Will give us a chance to poke around and look at the dome setup. We need to order you a new biosuit anyway.”
“The Retreat? Really?”
Tawn smirked. “Scared your little cat incident will get out to the others? Well, don’t worry about it. I commed the colonel yesterday while you were in the bunker. He already knows. And I asked him to spread the story around as it would probably be good for morale purposes. You know how we like to laugh at each other.”
Harris glanced up. “Gee. Thanks.”
“I help where I can.”
“Oh, by the way, I made it to level four. What have you been told about Earth that’s interesting?”
“We know where it is. We just don’t have a way to get there.”
Trish added, “We found out they have a complete ancestral database that goes back to the migration out here. My ancestors were from a place called England. That’s where the city of Post London got its name. London was a city back on Earth. Tawn? Were you able to trace yours?”
Tawn returned a half-hearted frown. “Not really. We’re made up of DNA from about a hundred fifty people, I’m told. The name Freely was given to me because there was supposedly a Freely among my donors. There were eighteen Freelys on the boat coming out here. I could be from any one of those. As to their origins, it seems we were spread around, although there were a couple from a place called Ireland, which was beside England.”
Harris looked up. “So I’ll probably find the same or similar with Gruberg?”
Tawn replied, “Well, I took the liberty of looking it up. There were no Grubergs listed on our ship. Had they been, they would likely have come from a country called Germany. I did find a few others, but you won’t like the sound of it.”
“Hit me with what you got.”
“There were six Grubergs on the Earther ship. In the early years of the two colonies, before the Great War, there was some movement of families between the two systems. Not much, but some.”
Harris pushed himself up while showing a scowl. “Wait. You trying to tell me I’m an Earther?”
Tawn shrugged. “Kind of looks that way.”
Harris sat up fully. “That’s… just not right. My people are Domers through and through.”
Tawn again shrugged. “Sorry, I’m just going by what’s in the records. No Grubergs on our ship.”
Gandy came into the room. “What we talking about?”
Trish nodded toward Harris. “Mr. Gruberg’s an Earther.”
“What?”
“Tawn looked up the Grubergs in our Earth ship manifest. There were none, but there were six on the New Earth ship. Seems our leader is an Earther. You know, I always thought his eyes looked a little shifty.”
Gandy sighed. “Don’t listen to them, Mr. Gruberg. They’re lying. I was just looking at the registry. A husband and wife Gruberg were on the Enterprise.”
“Enterprise?”
“That was the name of the Earth ship that came to Domicile. Didn’t they teach you that in history class?”
“Tawn? If he’s telling the truth, you’re in for a good beat-down when I’m back on my feet. Making me think I’m an Earther, that’s just low.”
Tawn chuckled. “Please, you would have done the same had you gotten there first and thought of it. And, Trish, thanks for piling on. That made it all the more believable.”
Trish smirked at Harris. “I do what I can.”
Harris growled. “That’s it, then. You’re fired as my first mate.”
Trish laughed. “I think that title went away quite a while back. We’re a team now. A team of equals.”
Harris nodded. “Good. That means I don’t have to pay you anymore.”
Trish smiled. “Fine. But don’t expect to get back the three and a half million credits of yours that I’m holding. There’s no way I’m giving those back to an Earther.”
The group erupted in chuckles and laughter as Sharvie walked through the door.
“What’d I miss.”
Harris rolled his eyes. “They’re making fun of the wounded.”
“I’ll fill you in later,” said Trish. “Just having some fun at his expense.”
Tawn stood. “Now that we’re all here, what say we take a jump to the Retreat? His back is all infected. Looks pretty bad.”
ARMS Jebwa Atrocity Page 6