by Mark Wandrey
"You been at it all night?"
"Yep."
"You're crazy," he said and put his stack of tablets on a counter. "What do you have?"
"Well, I’ve been hip deep in what you found, and I've mostly been organizing and sorting."
"Anything good?"
She shrugged and tipped her head back and forth. "Good and of varying usefulness. Even the stuff that isn't really usable is still informative." She pushed some buttons on her tablet and data began to appear on the wall. There were files and directories they'd organized the night before. Minu added notes to some, and created categories to sort them into.
"What is war college?" Pip asked, pointing to one group that held the most files.
"A dream, or a crazy idea at the very least." The data continued to scroll for a couple minutes as they watched in silence. He went over to get some coffee for himself from the dispenser when he noticed something else different in the lab.
"We got all the components?" he asked, looking at the exploded beamcaster. None of the parts were red anymore, each sporting a name and description.
"Yeah, I found that data file pretty early. An original production design eons old. It was the reason I came back to the lab. Once I got going, it was hard to stop."
Pip just shrugged. "Happens to us all sometimes." He stood a few minutes and went over the parts one at a time, committing the new information to memory. "This gives us a full working knowledge?" he asked when he was done. In anticipation of that question Minu was moving all the data off the wall and replacing it with the schematic. She isolated several components and linked them to files. Inside tiny windows images and moving videos showed how parts were assembled or how they did what they did. All the beings shown in the videos were, of course, aliens. They worked with claws, tentacles and robotic manipulators, but their actions unmistakable. "Like watching a children's how-to demonstration." She nodded her head in agreement. Pip took the new data from her computer over a closed network and started playing with it. "Looks like Gregg's theory is correct."
"Yep, this technology isn't really suitable for an infantry weapon. The original designers used it for ship based batteries, then scaled it down for crew served weapons."
"The snakes were doing the same thing we were," Pip said, "adapting to their own uses."
"Not a big deal for a three hundred kilo creature to lug around one of those," she said, gesturing with her coffee cup at the exploded beamcaster, "different story for us."
"So what do we do?"
"Well, first things first. We start to figure out how the species of the Concordia fight, and how we can best deal with those tactics."
"Okay, that makes sense. Then what?"
"Then we try to come up with a weapon system more suited to our uses."
Pip looked at the list of files still scrolling along one side of the huge wall display. "And how many lifetimes do we have?"
Chapter 7
April 29th, 518 AE
Science Branch, Chosen Headquarters, Steven’s Pass
Minu woke with a start as her communicator buzzed. She looked around in confusion before realizing it was her office. It seemed tiny when she'd first been assigned there two and a half years ago; now it was crowded and tiny. She'd been stunned a week earlier when visiting Bjorn just how much her office resembled his. Piles of components on her desk, one of the two visitor’s chairs piled high with tablets and chips, one corner holding a case overflowing with broken or discharged EPC of all varieties. There was just enough room on her desk to hold a plate of food (now cold) and her head. She'd lost track of how many time she'd slept in her office. It was early morning, too early for anyone to call her on business.
"Chosen Alma," she answered the call with a barely stifled yawn.
"Minu, how you doing?"
"Cherise? Good, how about you."
"Over worked, as always."
Minu looked forlornly at her office and sighed. "Don't I know it? Why'd you call? You do know what time it is?"
"Can't a friend call up another friend?"
"You drunk dialing? It’s five in the morning."
"Good point. We just finished a project in Minsk and have a couple days off. Think we could get together?"
"When can you be back?"
"Day after tomorrow on the regular Chosen transport. It would be another day by maglev, or four by dirigible."
"They still have dirigible service?"
"Only from some areas. I think I read that it will be further limited to the most remote areas soon. Progress, you know."
"Right," Minu said and consulted her schedule. "I've got meetings all tomorrow with a couple of Bjorn's materials teams, budget planning sessions the day after, and training the rest of the week. Aside from class work I have today free."
"Too bad, there's no way I could make it. Maybe next month?"
"Hmm, don't give up that quick. Where there's a will, there's a way. Where in Minsk are you? Give me a few hours and I'll see what I can do."
After a shower and clean clothes Minu felt much better. She guessed she'd only gotten about five hours sleep, but that was still more than any other night that week. Dressing in a pair of shorts to match the mild April weather and a loose fitting blouse, she pulled on new shoes (added after her date), threw a few things into a bag and headed out the door.
The freshly refueled aerocar climbed crisply to twenty-five thousand meters and set course for Minsk. "Cherise will be surprised," she smiled as the autopilot took over and the airfoils slid out. She settled back in the comfortable seat and took out some data chips. It might be a night off but there was still work to do.
Two hours later the car was descending toward Minsk. Her coursework was done and the on board computer screen was divided into schematics, notes, and images of Concordia designed weapons. She slid the computer screen into the dash as the car signaled its readiness to land. The exact coordinates Cherise provided where for the transportation hub parking lot. As she took the control and set the car down dozens of bulky grain transports were lined up on the approach roads.
Minu steered her car away from the industrial traffic and toward a personnel entrance. Cherise stood there, dressed in civilian clothes and a bag over her shoulder. She’d sent a message when to expect her just after leaving Steven’s Pass. Minu pulled up next to her and thumbed the passenger door open. Cherise looked inside and her jaw fell open. "Nice ride, girl!"
"Thanks, hop in!" Minu steered the car out into the street and then into the air. The powerful impellers pressed them back into the cushioned chairs as the car accelerated into the now bright morning sky. "So what's the plan?"
"Well, I thought we'd fly back to Steven’s Pass in this hotrod of yours, Pick up Gregg and Christian, and have a day of fun."
"And how do you know about Christian?"
"We share friends."
"If you want to call them that," Minu grumbled.
"Don't be that way, we all love you. It's great you have a boyfriend."
"We've gone out once, I'd hardly call us boyfriend and girlfriend." Cherise shrugged and gave a little grin. "How about you and Gregg?"
"We definitely are boyfriend and girlfriend."
"Yeah?" Minu asked, biting her bottom lip and glancing at her friend, "what do you guys do when you get together."
"Well, we play cards and study training manuals." They were approaching cruising altitude and Minu gave her a sideways glance. It was hard to tell if her dark skinned friend was blushing, but the smile certainly betrayed her feelings.
"I don't even know if Christian is free today."
"He's waiting for us at Steven’s Pass, along with my man."
"Your man?" She just grinned and shrugged. "Right." Minu slid out the display where her work was displayed. Cherise looked at the complicated drawings and technical writings.
"Don't you ever take a break?"
"Seldom."
"That might be why you're sexually frustrated."
"
I'm not frustrated," she complained, "more like anxious." Minu almost told Cherise then and there what had happened to her during the Trials. Almost, but not quite. I just can't share that failure, she told herself, maybe someday.
They spent the two-hour flight talking and catching up on each other's lives. With Minu working in the science department and Cherise in logistics, they almost never saw each other. What was once a twice a week workout was now maybe twice a month. The last time was three weeks ago. A short time before the autopilot would tell her they were arriving Minu thought of something. "What were you doing there in Minsk?"
"Paying for all the stuff you're doing." Cherise gestured at the technical drawings on the car's display.
"My stuff?"
"You know what I mean. That hub is exporting ten thousand tons of food a day through the old Rusk Portal."
"So they did activate it after all?"
"You don't keep up on news too much, do you?"
"I'm too busy working on my stuff."
"Touché. Yeah, we activated that portal, and the one in Gulf as well."
"And we're shipping out all our food? Isn't that dangerous?"
"Hardly. We've been implementing Concordia production and growth techniques for years now, and output has tripled. For a hundred years we've been trying to make some real money from the Concordian one way or another. That pittance we get from the Tog is nothing more than a stipend. We exported some minerals, but this planet is so depleted on heavy and ferrous metals, there isn't much to offer. Once food production really took off, we got all kinds of lucrative offers."
"Why would other species be so eager to buy our food?" Cherise shrugged. "I mean, it's their production techniques, why aren't they using them?"
"Maybe it's cheaper to let a primitive people like us grow it than doing it themselves."
"You'd think the way they use robots..."
"I haven't seen too much of that sort of thing in their agriculture business."
"I have. Check this out." Minu's fingers danced on the computer and the car's display was showing an army of robots arrayed in what was clearly (to her at least) a military formation.
"What are they all standing there like that for?"
"Parade formation." Minu saw her confusion and held up a hand. "Just a second, watch." After a moment a massive crab-like walker came into view. Perched inside a clear bubble was an alien resembling a cross between a dolphin and a octopus. It was using its arms to operate the walker and issue orders to the robots. As the ranks of robots began to march, slither and fly away, the being followed behind with a squadron of huge dragonfly-bots acting as an escort.
"Wow," Cherise said as the scene ended, "is that standard combat for the higher order species?"
"From what I can tell, yes. Just let the bots slug it out, they don't believe in getting their hands bloody.”
"Or tentacles." Minu laughed along with her. "Where did you find that?"
"Oh, this?" she asked, suddenly worried she'd shown too much, "just some stuff I dug up." Cherise was about to push her for more info when the autopilot announced they were arriving at Steven’s Pass, and saved her bacon.
The car touched down and Minu steered toward the compound door by the garage. Christian and Gregg were standing in the doorway chatting. When Cherise caught sight of the tall, muscular Christian she smiled wide. “Pretty boy,” she said. Minu's cheeks burned. As they approached the boys spotted them, Christian waved and Gregg just stared in amazement. As the passenger door rotated up, Cherise slid between the front seats and into the, followed quickly by an ogling Gregg.
"When did you get the car?" he asked as he fit his long frame into the somewhat less roomy rear.
"More than a year ago," Minu admitted, "nothing much else to do with my money. Hi, Christian!"
"Hi, yourself," he said as he folded into the passenger seat. He leaned over and kissed her lightly on the lips. Minu felt a little shudder run up her spine. He was a handsome man, that was for sure, and the way his eyes twinkled when he look at her made Minu feel real good, deep down in places that never felt that good. She could hear smooching sounds from the back seat as she locked the passenger door in place. "Okay, okay, get a room."
"I would, but I can't afford a car or a room."
"Hmm, who needs a room?" Cherise purred as Gregg shamelessly let his hand travel up her naked thigh. Cherise had long legs, and it looked like a fun trip.
"What's the plan," Gregg asked as Cherise finally smacked his hand just as he was approaching her panties.
"Fun, and lots of it," Cherise cheered.
"Sounds good to me," Christian agreed. He cast an eye at the screen still showing alien robots marching around. Minu keyed the screen to retreat into the dash and he just shrugged.
"Can't have too much fun in Chelan," Minu said, "it's about six hours to Tranquility..."
"Too far!" all her passengers said at the same time.
"How about Leavenworth?" Cherise asked.
"That's not a very safe place," Minu said without thinking. The others all made raspberry sounds and booed her. "Come on, there are more armed assaults and robberies in that place than anywhere else on Bellatrix."
"Sounds like my kinda place," Cherise chuckled. Christian just held up his hands and said he wasn't the driver.
"Don't you worry," Gregg said and bared a bicep, flexing his arm the bicep muscle stood out like bulging steel, "you got a scout along with you."
"Oooh, baby," Cherise cooed and dug her fingers into the arm.
“Make that two scouts,” Christian reminded them and winked at Minu.
Minu thought she'd better decide before Cherise got impatient and started squeezing other bulges. All during her childhood she'd heard her mother admonitions against Leavenworth, home of thieves, scum, and pornographers. Since becoming Chosen she'd also known it was a favorite hangout of Chosen scouts and older Chosen. It was also only a hundred-fifty kilometers away, or about forty minutes in her nimble little aerocar.
"Leavenworth it is," she said and launched the car into the sky. "I just hope I don't regret it."
Forty minutes later she was guiding her aerocar into a landing. "Don't let the automatic take you in," Cherise warned her, "they'll dump you in a public lot outside the strip and we'll have to walk a kilometer."
"And someone will try to steal your car there," Christian agreed. It looked more and more like she was the only one who'd never been to the infamous town. Following her friends directions, she let the beacon lead her in then cut in manual control, steering them down to a landing on a properly yellow stripped road approved for taking off and landing. Not many cities on Bellatrix were equipped such. Using the cars small wheels she drove toward the center of town.
Leavenworth was built in a valley up river from the gorge where Steven’s Pass perched. A naturally lush area it would normally have been perfect for agriculture. Unfortunately it was on the main north-south kloth migration route. Twice a year thousands of the rampaging carnivores tore through the valley trampling every plant in sight and eating anything that moved. More than a hundred years ago settlers tried corralling the beasts with huge lines of poles, encouraging them through the valley. It only worked sporadically. The valley became a favorite hunting ground for the kloth hunters and eventually a boomtown grew up. The generally sleepy village bustled with activity as the migration approached. It was only natural that it held a high density of bars, brothels, and everything else necessary to the upkeep and happiness of the rough and ready kloth hunters.
As Minu steered her car onto the main strip of the infamous town, she could see it was basically in island. She wondered aloud about it and Gregg provided the narrative. "The kloth were too tough for anything they could come up with centuries ago, so they eventually settled on diverting the river and putting a small dam down a ways. So now the town sits on an artificial island. As we all know from experience, kloth aren't much for swimming." Cherise and Minu both nodded gravely. Minu thought she'd have
to share the story with Christian some time.
Because of the way the island was created, there was extremely limited space. As a result the little city had almost as many tall buildings as Tranquility, in half the area. Only a three kilometers long, and one wide, Leavenworth was a very busy place. She looked with wide eyes at all the bright neon signs proclaiming gambling, sex for sale, alcohol, alien intoxicants, and more. One casino offered 'the best in alien entertainment'. "What about there?" she asked them.
"I don't much like what most aliens consider entertainment," said Gregg. The others agreed.
"Am I the only one who's never been here?" The others kept quiet and she knew that was the case. "Well, I guess it's high time."
"There, that place," Gregg said, and pointed at a hotel near the end of the strip. "The Dunes," he said with a smile. It didn't look like much, in fact it looked like one of the older places along the avenue. "It was opened by a guy from the Desert Tribe."
"That explains the name," Cherise said. Minu steered her car into the circular drive. All kinds of plants and flowers bloomed in abundance along the stone paved driveway. As she turned into the drive she saw a sign near the entrance. "Chosen are our favorite customers!"
"This close to Steven’s Pass you'd think they were all this nice to us," she said.
"You'd think so," Christian said.
"I think some people will never like or trust us," Gregg added.
As she pulled to a stop, a man dressed in a curious uniform hopped out and offered his hand to her. Startled, she yanked it away and he stepped back to make room for her.
"Welcome to The Dunes," he said with a flourish. The man scanned the group of young people and stopped when he saw Gregg climbing out. "Chosen are particularly welcome, as always."
"Thanks Lester," Gregg said and handed the man five credits in cash. Minu tried to keep from goggling at his wanton flashing of money.
"So this is why you can't afford a car?" Minu asked him. Gregg smiled big and gestured with a flourish toward the ornately carved wooden doors. Leading the way like a master of ceremony, they followed him inside.