"How many Humans are on Kresh, I wonder."
"Millions," she said, "Possibly, billions. Kresh is about the size of your world. But where yours is three quarters water, Kresh is three quarters land. There is a lot of space to fill."
"Wow, it looks like Ric has a big job ahead of him."
"Very big," she said.
"I almost hate to ask, but has another Kresh taken up residence at the Doran facility?"
"Yes," she said, "His name is Gal'Vor'Hadon and he is powerful. He has a large clan and he will use them. He has fewer of the Ma'Nar, but more of the lower classes than some of them. But his clans are closer to ideal to face what we have on Earth. He'll flood the world with sheer numbers."
"If they're the lower classes, our troops have a better chance of facin em," I said, "I guess I need to spread the word about what to expect. Any guesses about when he'll come through?"
"Kil'Sin'Deres says to expect attacks to begin within the next three months. It doesn't give us much time to ready our forces."
"Better than the last time we had prior warning," I said, "Several days warning was all we got. We knew where it would be though. This time we have to wait."
"This will be the last agent through the gate for a while. Are there any special messages you wish to send?"
"Just what we've talked about," I said, "Tell them I am proud they are my clan and that I could ask for no better."
"It will be done."
As Pelin walked away, I thought of the short time we had left before the world would be under attack. So much to do and a small time to do it in. I would call Warren. We needed to speed up production of the Source Weapons.
I looked at the spot where the Gate had been, as the fires I had started died off, and started back toward the base. I had to meet with Paige and Gregor, Marco and Polo, and tell Lyrica what was happening.
Chapter 23
"Three months," Paige said, "That just sucks."
"That it does," I said.
"With no clue where the gate will open?" Gregor asked.
"None," I said, "We know it won't be Romania. We doubt it will be here but we have to be prepared in case it is here. Frankly, there's not much we can do to prepare."
"We'll warn everyone," Paige said, "We can tell them that the Kresh will be in high numbers, and that the lower forms are vulnerable to gunfire."
"It's the best we can do," Gregor said, "Keep our forces on alert and be prepared to join the battle as soon as we find out where to go."
"Now I'm headin over to see Marco and Polo," I said, "I'll let em know what's goin on."
"Good," Paige said, "We'll start making calls and put the word out. I wish we had more time."
"It wouldn't have mattered when they came," I said, "We would always wish for more time. Although, I wish we had more of the Source Weapons out there."
"Very true," Gregor said.
"Good luck with the politics," I said as I stood and left the room.
As I made my way toward Marco and Polo's offices, I heard a song. Someone was playing Lime in the Coconut loudly outside the new barracks for our support Mages.
I saw the guy laying on a lounge chair designed from a shield outside the barracks with a drink in his hand.
What caught my eye, more than anything else, was the spot the music was coming from. To the naked eye, it was coming from nowhere, but my Sight picked out the source of the music at once. The man had created speakers from a set of intricate shields.
Just the focus necessary for something like that was ridiculous. I don't think I could do it with the ability to see what I was doing, much less with the limitations of a Mage.
I cleared my throat and the Mage opened his eyes. He was on his feet, immediately.
"Yes, Sir," he said, quickly.
The music stopped.
"What's your name?" I asked.
"Jack, Sir."
"Jack, that's the damnedest focus skills I've ever seen. How did you do that with shields?"
"Um, I'm kinda good with engineering, Sir."
"It's just Colin, Jack," I said, "If you can do that kind of detail with a speaker, I have a job for ya."
"Whatever you need, Sir... Colin."
"Come with me," I said, "I want you with Jacobs. What kind of engineering are you good with?"
"Almost any kind," He said as he started regaining his composure, "I'm older than I look. I have degrees from twelve different colleges over the last sixty years."
"Holy shit, where have you been all this time?" I asked, "You shoulda been busy for the last few years."
"I've been in Japan for the last two years," he said, "I just got back to the States a month ago."
"I can guarantee you'll be busy from here on out," I said, "Jacobs will appreciate a guy like you.
"Uh... thanks."
After I left him with a thoroughly pleased Jacobs, I headed back toward the offices I was previously aimed for. I might have uses for Jack the Engineer, myself. I would definitely get him in touch with Warren and see what he could do with enough money to back him. The outcome could be quite interesting.
Marco and Polo were waiting in front of the building they held offices in.
"Colin," Marco said, "I understand we have a time frame to work with?"
"Vaguely," I said, "within three months is what Kil'Sin'Deres estimated. We know the guy is strong and has a lot of Kresh in his clans. It's gonna be ugly. He'll pour millions of his Kresh on us and try to take us with sheer numbers. One advantage we have is that most of his Kresh are of the lower classes. Bullets will work with the majority of the Kresh."
"Still limited effect with the Soldiers, though," Polo said, "And it sounds like those will be plentiful as well."
"True," I said, "There's really not goin to be an easy way to stop em, guys. It's gonna get bloody."
"If they come out here we'll destroy em," Marco said, "It’s a pretty safe bet they won't come out here."
"I don't expect em here, but I have to stay here so the lure is still here. It might be the only way we could coax em out here," I said, "I need to move to Edinburgh so I can respond quicker, but it would move the lure to a spot where we aren't ready."
"We'll get with the President and see if we can start consolidating our forces in Europe at Edinburgh. We'll get them on high alert and ready. It's probably the best we can do. This Soulgunner Corps is growing and they're being incorporated in all the units we have."
"It's a shame that only about a third of our troops have been able to use the Soulgun," Polo said, "It'll limit us but a third is better than none. We still have about twenty five thousand Soulgunners in the American forces. Nearly ten thousand of those are National Guard. I think we'll be sending at least half of those to Edinburgh, as well."
"Those numbers seem to be carrying on through the other countries as well," I said, "Except, oddly, China. They have a nearly seventy percent success rate."
"Is there anything that can explain why?" asked Polo.
"Not that we can find," I said, "It just seems to work that way. Since the attacks, their army is probably the largest in the entire world. Maybe not the best trained, but the best armed for this war."
"Warren has five plants working twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. He's signed some contracts to sub out the barrels to the Springfield Arms Company, too. They're taking over the replacement barrel operation. We receive finished barrels in a totally separate plant and our Soulguards are installin the shield lenses."
"That’s impressive, considering it's only been a few months since you began." Marco said.
"It's time sensitive and we're runnin out of time. Especially now. Warren has spent a shitload of money expanding the operation. I told him to keep it goin. I don't need the money, I just blow shit up."
"That's what I hear," Polo said, "I understand you blew a few things up on your secret mission a few months ago. Someone told me you left a rather large piece of graffiti on the walls of Hub."
"It s
eemed appropriate."
"The operating term was 'secret mission'," he said, "It implies a mission that nobody knows happened."
"They don't know anything about the mission," I said, "They just know I can reach them when I so choose and remove them from this mortal coil."
"And where'd you get that particular phrase?"
"I've been dying to use that in a sentence," I said.
"I'd say so," Marco said, "It's a pretty good phrase."
"I think so," I said, "It ranks up there with 'Woe is Me'. How often do ya get to hear that one used?"
"By the way," Polo said, "Am I to understand that you signed a contract with certain Middle Eastern governments that we are on the verge of open war with for your weapons? This comes from the White House and they are not pleased."
"They signed contracts," I said, "The Source Weapons will not be used on other Humans."
"You know they can't be trusted," He said, "They'll follow the contract only as long as it suits them."
"Don't worry," I said, "The contract will be enforced. They try to use the weapons on Humans, they'll lose the weapon."
"I just don't see how you'll be able to enforce it."
"It's enforced already, Seran," I said, "Just trust me."
"I'm trying," he said, "All I see is stronger weapons in the hands of people who have sworn to destroy this country."
"We have bigger fish to fry, now," I said, "Have a little faith in Humanity and let's just get ready for an Alien Apocalypse."
I turned and headed toward home, "Now I gotta tell my lady about the impending Apocalypse, I'll see ya later. All I can say is just trust me."
I could see the doubt in both men's auras, but they would understand soon enough. The Human race had to unite as a Race or we would die.
As I approached, I could sense a disturbed Soul awaiting me.
"Can you explain this to me?" Lyrica asked as I walked into our quarters on base.
She handed me an envelope. I opened it to find a check for a rather large amount.
"I guess I forgot to tell ya about that," I said.
"About the fact that I would receive a check for some ungodly amount of money. You knew about it?"
"Frankly, I'm surprised you hadn't picked that particular memory to watch over the last few months. I guess I should tell you when you become a third owner in a company that is selling arms around the world."
"But, why?" she asked, "I'm not doing anything for the company."
"You've been working for no pay for the Soulguard for close to fifteen years, honey," I said, "Without the things you learned in that time and taught me, that company may well have never existed.
"You work every day in the hospital in Wichita and never ask for a cent. They won't offer to pay you until you ask them to and you won't. So, now you'll be paid for the things you would never ask to be paid for. You never have to ask to be paid for anything you decide to do for the Soulguard or the Hospital.
"What this job requires of you is to be the same beautiful human being you've always been, both inside and out."
She was in my arms and I felt the wetness on my shirt as she cried.
"I love you." was the only thing I heard.
"And I love you, my Little Angel."
"I don't need that much money."
"Too bad," I said, "but that's the check you have for the last quarter. The next one will be similar."
"That's for a quarter?"
"Yep."
"Holy... Wow!"
"Enjoy it, Love. We may be overrun with Kresh in a few months. The whole idea of wealth could be lost after what's comin."
Chapter 24
"You are so much like Merlin, it is frightening," Dietrich said, "He would plan and plot, forever trying to guess what would happen next."
"I want to be ready to do the maximum damage to the ones who are brave enough to poke their heads out here," I said, "I don't expect em to come here but, if they do, they're toast."
"I don't doubt that for a second, Colin."
We stood overlooking the battlefield we had left as a molten wasteland not so long ago. Grass had grown back already and it looked deceptively peaceful. It could all change in an instant and we were as prepared as we could be for that very outcome.
"Did you happen to see where Merlin crossed over into Hub while you were there?"
"Unfortunately, no," I said, "I was told where the empty spot was but it was over twenty miles in the other direction. I wanted to go but there wasn't time. Perhaps we can go look at it after we win this."
"Do you truly expect to win this?"
"We have to," I said, "Too many people are depending on it. Not just this world, fourteen others. Two of those worlds are under the control of my forces, already."
"He never dreamed there was so much beyond the Demon onslaught," Dietrich said, "Perhaps if he'd known, he would have chosen a different path."
"Perhaps," I said, "The path he took appeals to me more than it's comfortable to think about. I could walk through that gate and end this war on Earth before it really begins. Do I have the right to do so? I don't think so."
"Was he weak to choose as he did?"
"Far from it," I said, "He thought he was dying for his world to be free. He thought he was ending the Demons' ability to come here. Given the knowledge he had at the time, I think it was one of the most selfless acts a man could make."
"I've thought of the same thing. If I didn't know of the other worlds out there of Humans, if I wasn't personally responsible for nearly sixty million beings on the other side of the gate, I would like to think I am strong enough to do the same."
"I know he was devastated by the loss of so many when Kent was slain, you may be giving more credit than he deserves. He could have done what you are doing and prepared more for the fight."
"I read the journal," I said, "He truly thought he could save this world with the sacrifice of himself alone. He tried and, if things had been as they are on several of the colonies, he would've succeeded. There were spots in the journal where, if you read between the lines, he was protecting more than just Earth. There are hints of the 'others' depending on him. His family."
"I lost much faith in our cause when he chose to walk away," Dietrich said, "But I am regaining my faith as I watch what you have done."
"I know what it's like to lose faith in someone," I said, "For years I never understood my father's actions. I blamed him for running off and dying in some grand display of revenge. I learned, later, the reason he'd done it. He did it so they'd think I was dead. He did that for me, so I could grow up and learn how to protect myself. Now it's my duty to make his sacrifice worthy. I'll see the Human race free or I'll die trying."
"That is why my faith in our cause is returning," Dietrich said, "And perhaps my faith in my friend, Merlin, is returning as well. I thank you for that."
Dietrich stood and walked away.
I hadn't really been aware how the big man felt about Merlin. I would have shared whatever insight I had gained from the journal long before.
I stood up as well, it was almost time to meet at Cristof Damaris' residence. He was making dinner for us, a Greek dish called Moussaka. He claimed it was delicious and we were about to put that to the test.
My ten Mage Captains would be there as well as Lyrica and myself. I just hoped he made plenty, I was starving.
I reached Cristof's home on base a few minutes after Adaya and Alexei. The rest hadn't made it yet. Lyrica was supposed to be here in a few moments. She'd finished at the hospital and had already been home to clean up.
"Adaya, Alexei, how goes it?"
"It would be better if I had my Vodka," Alexei said, "But Cris claims that this silly fruit drink is what is drank with his Greek food."
"You mean wine?"
"Yes, a silly fruit drink."
I laughed.
"Savage," Adaya said, "When you try to instill culture in the barbarians, this is what you have. No appreciation for a five
hundred dollar bottle of wine."
I took a sip from the glass that Cristof placed in my hand.
"I'm afraid I have to agree with Alexei on this one," I said.
"Bloody Americans," came the voice of our resident Brit, Galen Stone, "No understanding of a civilized meal."
"I am Russian and proud to stand with my American brother on this!" Alexei boomed.
"Alexei, I have a little something I picked up in Tennessee, last month," I said and I pulled quart jar from the box I had carried in with me.
"I think you might appreciate it more than these civilized pansies."
"I have heard of this," Alexei said with a smile, "They say it is very hardy."
"Moonshine is pretty stout," I said, "Give it a shot."
"That it is."
"Good God," came Prada's voice from the door, "Don't drink that, Alexei. It's just one step from gasoline. Why would you do that to him, Colin?"
"Another of the pansies," I said, "Drink up."
Alexei took a swallow from the jar. After he took a deep breath he smiled.
"This is what I am talking about," he said. He made a shooing gesture at Prada, "Go drink the fruity pansy drink."
"No beer?"
"Madre de Dios!" Reyna said as she walked in, "Beer? You never drink beer with Moussaka. It must be a red wine."
"I'd rather have tea, if you don't mind," Lyrica said from behind her.
"Time to kick back and sink some tinnies," Brighton said as he walked in with a twelve pack of beer.
"I have no idea what you just said but I think we should relax and drink some beers," Trent said as he also walked in.
Brighton sighed and reached into the box. He pulled a Bud from it and pitched it to Trent. Another went to Prada. Mattie shook her head and pointed at Lyrica.
"I'm with her," she said, "I think I'd like some tea."
"I'll make you a cup," Stone said, "Cream and sugar?"
"Cris, don't you have some in the fridge?"
"Bloody American Savages. Cold tea?"
"With ice," Mattie said.
Bloodlord (Soulguard Book 3) Page 11