by Charles Lamb
----*----
“How dare he!” Patti ranted in the privacy of the guest quarters provided to Jake.
“I don’t blame him,” Jake replied as he watched her pace back and forth in front of his chair.
“How can you say that? He questioned your ability to lead!” she responded as she stopped in front of him.
“Sit,” he directed, and waited for her to take the chair next to his.
“Look, imagine someone waltzed into the US, said he could fix all our problems and all I needed to do was turn over control to them. Do you see me agreeing?” Jake asked.
“No,” Patti replied in a small voice.
“Exactly. Frankly, if he had agreed to join us blindly, I would be questioning his ability to lead. What I am going to do is fill any reasonable request, offer an exchange program so everyone gets to know each other and ask Colonel Banks to consult.”
“You don’t think he will see it as pandering to him?” Patti asked.
“Probably, but he will do it anyway,” Jake replied with a smile.
“Why?” she asked in return.
“Because it gives him access to all the information on what’s really going on out there,” Jake answered.
“And you think he will change his mind?” Patti asked after thinking about it.
“I have never known an SAS man to walk away from a good fight,” Jake said with a smile.
----*----
Sandy had been listening in on the London briefing and was very disappointed in the outcome. She had asked Jake to allow her to accompany Patti, to help convince them to join up, but he had insisted she stay behind and handle things there. She knew Jake was relying on them to help supply crew for the space fleet among other things.
She was convinced he was still upset with their unauthorized trip to the new space ship. She knew Becky was just trying to get more attention from Jake, but it was a great adventure, until they locked themselves in that storage locker.
Now that the British had declined to join their armed forces, Sandy was scrambling trying to come up with ideas to help Jake. Her Australian efforts were slow in developing, and they didn’t expect a sizeable recruitment anytime soon. She wondered if maybe China might be a good place to try next.
----*----
Jake and Patti returned to the Nevada ALICE a few days after the briefing. Jake was satisfied with the arrangements he had made with Colonel Banks regarding exchange programs. He wasn’t at all surprised that the lion’s share of the programs benefited the Brits, he only hoped the Colonel was prepared to deal with the results.
They had offered to allow one SAS troop to attend flight school in Alaska, while a second would go to Texas for mobility training in the ground vehicles there. In return, Jake had offered Abby’s A troop of the 10th cavalry plus additional hovercycles to come to England. There would also be a squad of Marines, power armor, drop gear, and ship included, to train with the SAS.
Beyond the military exchange, Nigel, Colonel Banks, and a few others accompanied Jake into space aboard one of the transport ships. After a tour of the ALICE-3 battleship, they were shuttled past the new carrier and shown the destroyers and cruisers parked in orbit. While Banks was a master at controlling his emotions, Nigel gushed over the entire trip.
At the end, Nigel offered to extend invitations to his civilian staff, should any wish to spend time with the Americans. Later, Nigel insisted that the more than five hundred volunteers were a relief to their resources and would permit them to explore expanded selective recruitment of their own.
While the chosen staff rotated between the US and England, Jake’s people fixed several of the downed systems, replacing what could not be repaired. They had also configured satellite dishes in both London and Oxford to join to the ALICE network in full.
With a full day of activities winding down, Jake had settled into his room for the night, Sara and Patti enjoying a private dinner with him.
“So, I am surprised to learn you didn’t acquire an English girl while in London?” Sara quipped as the three ate. Jake noted there was no wine with the dinner, Sara drinking water.
“Oh, I saw a few eyeing him,” Patti teased, “but, surprisingly, he kept his distance!”
“I admit I am a sucker for an English accent. However, the last thing I need is another woman in my life!” Jake replied with a laugh.
“I would have thought an arranged marriage might be just the thing to bind the two countries again,” Sara replied with a smile, “after all, you are the closest thing we have to royalty here!”
“Very funny, look, on a serious note, these people are a wealth of knowledge and experience. If we can convince them to come work with us, we can fix a lot of problems,” he finished.
“Well the first five hundred are spread from Maine to Hawaii already, with several in training to assume positions aboard the space fleet, should they choose to,” Patti replied.
After a thoughtful pause, Jake asked, “I assume all the ALICEs are evaluating them.”
Patti smiled, understanding the implications of the question, “Yes, everyone went through an initial screening interview as well as a coordinated background check. The Brits keep exceptional documentation on all their personnel and were more than happy to share the data we asked for. There are no security concerns, thus far. By the way, we do reciprocate with them concerning any of our people who choose to spend time with the Brits,” she finished.
“As I would expect,” Jake replied simply.
“I should add all the new additions began sleep lessons the very first night. It’s been a huge hit!” Sara supplied.
Satisfied with the progress so far, Jake directed the conversation to more casual topics. It was late by the time they finished eating and Patti excused herself while Jake and Sara enjoyed the time together.
----*----
Ivan stood on the pier overlooking Avacha Bay, as the sun was setting. It was warm and the breeze felt good on his face. He had lived his entire life in and around this bay, the towering Avachinsky volcano always in the background.
It was said his people had lived here for hundreds of years. His clan was one of the original Cossack settlers to the area, and while there were tales of cruelty to the natives, those differences were long past. Hundreds of years of intermarrying had erased much, but their traditions were strong and the clan prospered.
After the great disaster, many of his people had moved in from the countryside, taking up the responsibility of protecting the western borders from those left dead after the bombing. They took the responsibility seriously, maintaining and training on what was left of the Russian Pacific Fleet stationed here.
Several of his ancestors were Spetsgrupps “A,” known to outsiders as Spetznaz Alpha’s. There were even several Vympel mixed in the family heritages. As such, they brought a level of intensity and excellence in an already motivated culture. Each generation accepted the challenge of upholding the standards of the last.
The submarines here were left to rust, several partially submerged before him with hull breaches due to years of neglect. The destroyers, however, as well as many smaller vessels, were still maintained and operational.
Ivan had been told it took many years for his people to learn how to work the dry docks and other support equipment here, but eventually they mastered it all. In fact, he thought with pride, they probably now knew it better than their original operators ever did.
With the warmer weather, it would be time for one of the few annual training cruises. With the millions of liters of diesel stored in underground bunkers, all they had to do was set up a small refinery to re-refine it from time to time when they needed more.
While Ivan helped with the ships, he preferred the times they trained with the vehicles and equipment left behind. Frequently they would go up into the mountains, near the abandon gold mines and shoot up the hillside. With all the stored ammunition the Russians had there, they wouldn’t run out in his lifetime.
A
s the sun finally set, he gave a sigh and turned, heading in for the evening meal. He smiled, thinking of the bear he had brought back from the last hunting expedition. He had been told they were once considered endangered, but now they were as common as snow in December.
Chapter 9
Sandy was sitting off to one side in the command center of the Nevada ALICE. Trying to look inconspicuous, she was searching the geographic data for another place to try to initiate recruitment. While everyone applauded her contact with the Australian people, to date, none had actually been brought in for training.
Even though everyone loved going there for his or her R&R time, no one was taking the initiative to see what communities could be sponsored. Now with the Londoners arriving in huge numbers, her Australian efforts were even less attractive.
Taking the cue from Jake’s latest effort, Sandy was looking for an existing group that they might recruit in mass. She had heard Patti talking to some of her people about a group in China that might have reestablished themselves. Supposedly, they had motorized vehicles and a sizeable centralized population.
While she knew there were isolated instances of ships and other vehicles operated globally, none was ever seen more than sporadically and not associated with any large groups of people. Most areas still operated by animals as the primary mode of transportation. If true, the Chinese could be a bigger add than London.
With Patti absent at the moment, she was skimming her team’s research, hoping for a lead.
----*----
HeBak was doing some research of his own. While the mining units were providing a reasonable return, he was getting impatient sitting on the bottom of the ocean while waiting for them to scrape together his retirement. He had noticed that the landmass just southwest of his current position boasted a substantial gold deposit. While it was on dry land, the area was lightly populated.
He debated recalling the mobile units and relocating, but decided to let things run for just a bit longer.
----*----
Jake woke with a burning desire to get away for a while. Linda had stopped in for dinner last night and spent the night, an occurrence that was growing more infrequent. Kathy had taken their daughter Tracy to spend the night with Timothy, his son with Kathy.
With a quick kiss in the morning, she was off to take on her daily challenges. Jake longed for the days when it was just the core team struggling along. Now he was heading a multinational effort, or at least attempting to.
Forgoing breakfast for the moment, he slid into the chair at his desk and started flipping through status reports. Linda’s idea of pillow talk had been filling Jake in on her day, so he skipped to the others in the queue. Sara was in London, working with the Brits and generally working on the relationship. She had volunteered to act as the US representative there.
Jessie, in Alaska, had a full house of exchange SAS troops and others in flight training. Fighter production was down while she waited for Robert to resupply her with raw materials. Robert was taxed scrounging for both Jessie and Jacob’s production needs.
Still in Texas, Robert and Bonnie were also hosting the SAS Mobile squadron, whom were overjoyed at the toys at their disposal there. With all the fighting vehicles there, they were running through the entire inventory.
Jacob, still in Hawaii, had completed the initial transport and patrol craft orders and was beginning a second round, the majority of which was destined for the hangars of the new carrier currently in orbit. While he was still grossly understaffed, the Brits had taken advantage of the hospitality offered and were descending on Lanai in mass for general training and holiday leave.
Sharron, in Washington, James, in South Dakota, and Barb, who had taken over in Maine, had nothing special to report except a thanks for the British exchange staff. Jake was relieved to see everyone spread around equally.
The one exception had been Georgia and ALICE-9. As she was still maturing, Jake had insisted she only retain selected staff and no exchange personnel. He was still unsure about what to do with some of the weapons she held in storage there. While it scared the crap out of him, disposing of it was not an option for the moment. Short of shooting it into the sun, he didn’t trust any other location on earth.
With a smile, Jake found that both the island resorts off California and in Australia were populated with his own people. Memories of both locations filled his head, and he was glad others were making memories of their own.
Satisfied all the earth bound responsibilities were well in hand, he turned his attention to space. Jake was pleased to see that between Brian and ALICE-3 they had whipped everything into shape. The thought of ALICE-3 did spur Jake back into an unresolved dilemma.
“Alice?” Jake asked aloud.
“Yes, Jake,” ALICE replied as if expecting the contact.
“We are approaching the point where we need to decide. Upgrades to the carrier are on schedule and we will soon be able to go to space if we choose. That ship really needs an ALICE system on board,” Jake stated.
“In that we all agree. However, that is where we split as well. As with the battleship, a mature ALICE will permit immediate stability and shorten the learning curve around the new weapons systems. A new ALICE will require a period of adjustment and learning before going to space is a reality.”
“And the danger of losing an existing Alice as part of the transfer is very real,” Jake replied, not all that keen on risking the lives of one of the existing artificial life forms currently residing in each of the earth based locations. Jake was getting frustrated, as this debate had been ongoing with no real resolution in sight. He was considering the virtual version of a coin toss.
----*----
Jacob was surprised to see Sandy arrive on his doorstep. Not that she was unwelcome; it was more that Grandpa Jake tended to accompany any of his special advisors on visits, as Jacob liked to call them. The one time Becky had shown up unannounced, she had planned to ambush Jake.
Jacob had been down in the assembly areas, surveying the latest batch of ships being constructed in the Lanai dry docks. Originally intended for ocean going vessels, the dry docks had been converted to build spaceships.
While these ships were incapable of Faster than Light travel, Jacob was very proud of their durability. During the Battle of Klinan, his patrol craft, launched from the ALICE-3 battleship hangar, had sustained a number of direct hits from the NeHaw without loss of a single vessel. These were intended for the new aircraft carrier currently in refit, while orbiting high above them.
Sandy was just the latest in a series of visitors Jacob had received in the last few days. A large group of British exchange personnel had arrived weeks earlier and more than doubled the number of on-site staff. Jacob had taken more than a passing interest in one of the female engineers that accompanied the group.
Unlike his namesake, he currently was unattached and made it a point to try to downplay any genetic references to his grandfather’s reputation with the ladies. That is not to say he didn’t occasionally date, but given his current situation, he felt any permanent attachments was unrealistic. Between the demands of his position as facilities commander and his devotion to the design and construction of the spacecraft in construction before him, he was booked solid.
This engineer, though was different from anyone else he had spent time with here. She was fascinated with the ships and their construction. Like Jacob and his sister Patti, she had been part of a family tradition, pursuing academic efforts as part of the Oxford University legacy. The two had spent hours going over various systems and design options. Besides, Jacob just liked to hear her talk.
Sandy’s visit, though, was a curiosity, so when Lanai, the name ALICE-6 had chosen for herself, alerted Jacob to her pending arrival, he had redirected himself to the hangar. Once the transport landed, he watched as the ramp was dropped and Sandy, still in civilian clothes, descended with a few other transfers.
“Welcome!” Jacob declared aloud as he stepped forward t
o greet her. Dressed in one of her signature flowery dresses, she greeted him with a smile, brightening her face.
“Jacob, you didn’t have to meet me here,” she replied before hugging him tightly. While Sandy was several years his junior, her relationship with Jake gave her a grandma status.
“I was in the hangar when word came you were on the transport, so I thought I’d say hi,” he replied, trying to downplay the greeting.
“To what do we owe the honor of a visit,” Jacob asked, “important negotiations in progress or just want to work on your tan?” he finished with a smile. He noticed a brief look of panic on Sandy’s face before she smiled in a more relaxed fashion.
“Oh, just doing some research and thought this might be a good place to avoid interruptions,” she replied.
Jacob didn’t think she was being entirely truthful with him, but didn’t press.
“Sounds great,” he replied casually, “Well, you know where your room is. Let me know if you need anything,” he finished before turning and heading back to his intended destination. After a few steps, he turned to see Sandy heading into the facility. He paused, wondering what she was really up to.
----*----
Ju Huang was reviewing a map of the area around Guangxi, evaluating his options. With the recent passing of his father, he had assumed the position of commanding general of the Peoples Armed Forces in China. His grandfather had been a high-ranking officer before the great disaster. Fortune had smiled upon him and his family as they had been in their retreat home, far from any population center. Afterward, he had returned to gather what remained of his forces to defend China from a pending attack.
As the years passed, Ju’s father had replaced his grandfather, building on what he had started and now it was Ju’s turn. His grandfather had trained and educated each generation of Huang men, preparing them to assume the role Ju was now occupying.
Each generation had built on the accomplishments of the previous, adding men and equipment, readying for the day when China would need them. With the recent discovery of a huge cache of arms and equipment, located in the mountainous Guangxi, Ju was now the head of a formidable army.