Mace turned. “You want something different? Come on, let’s take a trip to D.C.”
Johnny smiled as he followed. “An adventure. Excellent. What are we gonna do in D.C.?”
“Observe.”
Johnny sighed. “At least it will be different scenery. Their community center is right where the Pentagon used to be. We can sit up in Arlington Cemetery and watch from there.”
Mace frowned. “The building covers about a third of what was there. They just dozed over everything in that area.”
Johnny nodded. “I noticed that last time I was there. Speaking of that, I have a great, great, uncle buried in the Confederate section. I think there were less than five hundred buried there in all. Most much later. They survived the war and managed to get interned there after further military service. I heard a funny story once… all the Confederate tombstones there are pointed on top because they didn’t want the Union troops sitting on them.”
Mace laughed. “You should tell that one to Tres.”
Johnny shook his head. “He probably already knows that. If you ever have any Civil War questions, he’s definitely your guy.”
A shuttle was powered up and a scan for signals ensued. With only minimal issues found, the holo-projectors on her hull were turned on and the shuttle vanished. Fifteen minutes later, it settled on a hilltop overlooking the main D.C. community center.
Johnny stood out on the ground, invisible to the world. “Still can’t believe how overgrown the Washington Mall is already getting after only a couple years.”
Mace replied, “Someone will be digging that place up in a couple thousand years and marveling at all they find.”
Johnny winced. “Probably. But you’ll have to wonder if they’ll be Human or not. Hey, I see a group marching down there by the river.”
Mace nodded. “There’s another group over here where the Army Navy Club used to be. And you were curious about weapons… this group has them. They also have uniforms. This might be their front line troops. They’re much better organized.”
Johnny laughed. “Did you just nod? You know I can’t see that, right?”
“I was just thinking that. We need to establish some rules before we go anywhere. Such as, if we become separated, we come back here and stand in this space until we find each other. Otherwise, we don’t move anywhere without holding onto the other person. If we’re away from others we can talk quietly. If we’re close to anyone, we have to be silent. There’s a group of officers down there. Let’s go see what they have to say. You see that shrub to the right of them?”
Johnny said, “Yes.”
“I’ll meet you there. Arm���s length from the shrub.”
Johnny chuckled. “I thought you just said we don’t go anywhere without holding each other?”
Mace shook his head. “That only applies if we haven’t mapped something out ahead of time. If we set a target, we don’t need to hold hands.”
Johnny again laughed. “Did you just shake your head?”
Mace sighed. “Yes. Now shut up. I’ll meet you at the bush.”
“Wait. I thought you said shrub… not bush.”
Mace said over his shoulder as he walked, “Maybe you just stay here.”
Johnny followed. “OK. I’ll shut up now. You sure have developed a thin skin lately.”
A short walk had the two standing just behind the three Karthian officers. “The Humans are progressing better than expected. General Chonk believes we may have our first fighting unit ready in as little as three months.”
A second officer replied, “They are impressive. Big… powerful. And motivated for victory. I would expect a good match-up with the Consortium droids.”
The third officer added, “Droids… I loathe those mechanical monstrosities. They are relentless and countless at the same time.”
The first officer laughed. “Yes. And they are controlled by a simple-minded program that is easily defeated. The sheer number of them however, is indeed a problem.”
The second officer scowled. “Our scientists and engineers simply need to crack the encryption streams. Imagine a victory where the droids were commanded to turn on their own.”
The third officer laughed. “Aren’t you the dreamer? We can’t even jam their transmissions. But if we did somehow manage that, the Consortium would once again have to commit their own troops. I’d like to go head to head with one of those freaks using my blade.”
The first officer frowned. You won’t meet a true Consortium citizen. Those warriors are all conscripts.”
The second officer leaned in. “I heard they are putting together a mission for the Humans that involves using the wormhole devices. They may plan to strike Molingrad itself.”
The third officer laughed. “Molingrad? We can’t get near that place. We could jump a thousand ships into that system and not get close to that planet. A dozen large stations and a fleet of nearly ten thousand ships patrol the Molingrad system. We would do better attacking some of the outer colonies.”
The first officer huffed. “This is why you are still a junior commander, Kassif. You always play the safe game. The Consortium loves opponents such as you who are timid and predictable.”
The second officer asked, “What would you suggest, Musha?”
“I would use the Humans as the tip of the spear. Thrusting them right into the Consortium’s heart at Molingrad. A wide portal would be opened and a strong fleet of cruisers sent through. Immediately following would be transports loaded with Humans. We would make every effort to place them on the ground where they could do maximum damage.”
Kassif said, “And why wouldn’t the Consortium ships just blast them from above? Even Humans are no match for an armed ship.”
Musha smiled. “The Humans would be loosed in the cities. The Consortium ships would not attack their cities with ships when Humans are in their buildings with their citizens. They would have to bring in soldiers. And those soldiers are not equal to the Humans we would have here. My logic is sound and my reasoning superior, Kassif.”
Kassif laughed. “Then perhaps a wager is in order. Should your scenario play out in the next year, I will give you fifty credits. Should any other scenario happen, you pay me ten.”
“Hmm. Five to one odds. I will take your bet, Kassif. And I will be richer by fifty credits. Dunli, would you like to join in this wager?”
The second officer waved a hand. “No thank you. The two of you should enjoy this on your own.”
Mace grabbed Johnny by the arm and pulled him back, placing Johnny’s hand on his forearm as he walked.
Once at a sufficient distance, Mace stopped. “Interesting conversation, but what we need to do is find where this General Chonk is. That’s where we get the intel we need. He would have the plans for Earth as well as the plans for any Humans they will be taking from here.”
“So how do we find this General Chonk?”
“We have to go aboard their ships.”
“You do realize that may be a one-way ticket, right? You get on a ship and it leaves, you might not have a way back.”
“Well, I could always pull a Johnny and bring a whole ship down.”
“Hmm. Finally I have something called ‘pulling a Johnny’ that’s worthwhile. That usually has a negative stigma attached to it. So how do we get on their ships?”
“Same way you did. Just walk on. In fact, I think I have a plan in mind. You stay here with the shuttle and I’ll join those officers when they head back to their ship. From there I’ll do what I can to track down what ship the general is on, and then work on a plan to transfer to it.”
Johnny laughed. “That’s your plan? So what, I get to sit here for two months while you sneak around trying to either get back here or get to the general?”
“That’s exactly the plan.”
“Overridden.”
Mace chuckled. “Overridden?”
“Yeah. You don’t make all the rules, remember? How about this: we move the shuttle up to ten meters and
let it hover. Then, you and I, we go wait for the officers��� shuttle. We sneak aboard and then start our search for the general.”
Mace nodded. “OK, I guess that’s as good a plan as any. We wait with the officers for their shuttle. We follow them aboard and then make plans from there. And remember, if you get separated, just make your way back to our shuttle and wait. I’ll do the same. We have enough food on there for a couple weeks. If you make it there and are running out of food while waiting, just go home. From that point it’s up to the other to make their way back on their own.”
Johnny said, “Did you just nod again?”
“Stop it. Please.”
Johnny chuckled. “A reasonable plan. Shall we start?”
Mace turned in the direction of the remains of a shed with Johnny still clinging to his forearm. “Where we going?”
Mace replied, “I gotta wiz. We get on a shuttle and a ship and we will eventually need to do this.”
Johnny chuckled. “I’m glad you’re a planner. I’ve been wanting to go for the last hour.”
Mace stopped near a small tree. A stream of urine, followed by another, dropped to the ground from mid-air.
Mace said, “I’ve been there before, that’s all. Not a good thing when you’re clearing a building and your bladder is busting. Donnie Snipes took a slug to the side of the head when he squatted in a house we hadn’t full cleared. Messed himself pretty good while rolling around on the floor with the guy. Was lucky that was all that happened. You have food bars?”
“One.”
Mace sighed. “Whose army are you in, anyway? When we get behind that shed over there I’ll give you two of mine. Don’t eat them unless you have to. You don’t know how long you might be trapped somewhere. Wait… you didn’t bring your pack, did you?”
Johnny let out a deep sigh. “Nope. It’s on the shuttle. Wasn’t expecting us to be going anywhere.”
Mace shook and closed up his battlesuit. “We return to get your pack and then we hang out with the Karthians.”
Johnny replied, “Sounds like a plan.”
With the immediate task taken care of, the two invisible Humans returned to the vicinity of the Karthians to wait. A shuttle dropped from the sky, landing only meters away from a scampering Mace and Johnny, before its ramp lowered.
Mace, now separated from his friend, followed the officers up the ramp. For a moment he stood frozen as someone bumped into his back.
Johnny whispered. “Sorry.”
The Karthian named Musha stopped and turned, staring at the ramp for several seconds before walking into the cabin. Mace felt Johnny’s hand on his shoulder as he slowly walked forward, taking a position out of the main aisle. The ramp closed as the shuttle lifted toward its mothership.
Kassif said, “What are you thinking about?”
Musha smiled. “I’m thinking about where I’m going to spend your fifty credits.”
Dunli shook his head. “Fifty credits won’t even buy you a wompa meal anymore.”
Musha scoffed. “Who eats that dredge? Fermented bakaba leafs. And it smells. I wouldn’t let my dronga eat it.”
Kassif laughed. “How is that beast? Last I saw he had destroyed his pen. Who in their right mind would have one as a pet?”
Musha replied, “Don’t laugh. It has prevented two break-ins already. They are fiercely territorial. And they have a good sense of the behavior associated with an intruder.”
Kassif frowned. “Two break-ins? I had no idea the Denaji area had gotten so rough. You should move the family up to Sraza. You must be the only officer left down there.”
Dunli added, “I moved the family three cycles ago. Could not be happier. Sraza is nice. The local security teams treat you with respect. And there hasn’t been a single break-in near where I live.”
Musha scowled. “True, but I don’t have to put up with the constant inspections of my property to make certain I am in compliance. Besides, I have two daughters in Denaji. Their husbands are indigents. I can’t afford to move them all to Sraza.”
Kassif said, “They have the officer assistance program for that.”
Musha shook his head. “No Prunik has ever taken assistance. I will not be the first to shame my family.”
Dunli laughed. “It is only shameful in Denaji. A third of the Sraza residents used assistance to bring their families with them. I’m beginning to think you like it in Denaji.”
Musha replied, “I do prefer the people. I have a low tolerance for the stuffed shirts in Sraza. You can keep your elitist attitudes. And the both of you are soft. That’s why you have both been passed over for a promotion. I received mine because my soldiers respect me and command sees that.”
Kassif huffed. “My soldiers respect me.”
Musha looked him in the face. “Your soldiers like you… because you are easy. My soldiers hate my guts, but they respect my command. Lead your troops into a fight with a brigade of drones and see how much they respect your command.”
Kassif said, “Sraza envy.”
Dunli nodded. “Definitely.”
Chapter 5
*
The shuttle docked and the Karthians went their separate ways. Mace led Johnny carefully through the halls to the ship’s bridge. An hour of waiting and watching led to the announcement of an admiral’s visit. Shortly after, a shuttle docked and a portly admiral made his way to the bridge.”
Johnny whispered. “Looks like Geerok when he first joined us.”
“Shh.”
A crewman sitting nearby turned his head in their direction. After several seconds of staring, he returned to his duties.
The admiral bellowed as the ship’s officers assembled, almost pushing over to where the Humans stood. “What is the status of the soldiers?”
The commanding officer stepped forward. “I have nothing but good reports from my officers. They tell me the Humans are moving through the training as expected.”
The admiral frowned. “As expected? Who are these officers?”
Musha, Kassif, and Dunli stepped forward.
Musha saluted, his hand rolled up in a fist just touching the front of his wide nose. Mace could feel Johnny shake as he held in a laugh, the salute being very close in resemblance to the Human gesture for a brown-noser.
Musha said, “Admiral, the Humans have the capacity to learn. They resisted at first, slowing the progress of the training. We’ve worked to resolve those issues. They will be ready to be led when the time comes.”
The admiral looked Musha up and down. “Initiative and decisiveness. Commander, make note of this response. The rest of you, we will be moving troops forward in a month. I expect nothing but excellence from each of you. I’ve just come from a meeting with General Chonk. A new campaign is being initiated. I won’t tell you what that is, but it will begin in sixty days.
“And for you who are training the Human troops, you will also be leading them into battle, so you best bring them all in line as soon as possible. When you are drilling your men tomorrow, expect a comm coming in from their king. It will be an important message for them all to hear. There have been high-level negotiations with the Human king, and he has agreed to the terms of those negotiations. Consider these men as your own. Treat them well and they will fight hard for you. Be abusive and expect resentment and resistance, and to have your neck snapped when you go into battle beside them.”
The admiral took a step back and looked over the crew with a scowl. “That is all.”
As the Karthians moved back to their stations and the officers dispersed, Johnny whispered. “Do we follow the admiral?”
Mace replied, “Shh.”
The admiral spent several minutes with the ship’s commander before returning to his shuttle. The two Humans followed, standing in a corner as a ramp lifted and the shuttle departed. A view of the sky could be seen through the front viewscreens, turning from bright blue to black as the shuttle left the atmosphere. The trip up to the admiral’s ship took twenty-eight minutes,
seventeen of which were spent with scowls of disgust as the rotund admiral picked away at his large nose.
When the shuttle had again docked, the admiral and crew departed for other duties.
Johnny whispered, “I thought I was gonna lose it when Musha made that brown-noser salute.”
Mace nodded. “I know you like to crack jokes, but you really need to lay off saying anything that isn’t absolutely necessary. We are at war with these people. You give away this tech and you give away our most prized secret right now.”
“OK, I’ll reel in the joking comments. I guess I’ve been at this for so long now that I’ve lost my fear of what might happen if things go wrong.”
“Fear is your friend. If you find you’ve lost it, you’re gonna wanna get it back. It’s what keeps us alert and alive.”
Johnny dropped to his knees as he looked down the shuttle ramp into the docking bay. “What’s your take on that Stark agreement?”
“Interesting, but not unexpected. He’s gonna try to position himself so he has the best opportunity of taking control back. He’ll do right for his men in the meantime, as he wants them for when the time comes to rise up. I’m guessing the word being given is to cooperate fully with the Karthian requests.
“They’ll make every effort to get themselves into positions of trust. From the sounds of it, though, this isn’t likely to be the cakewalk they had when first dealing with the Karthian conscripts. This may be hardcore fighting.”
Johnny said, “Let’s hope it’s against some puny alien conscripts again, and not those automated drones they were talking about.”
Mace replied, “Our mission here just got a lot more important. We need to gather all the intel we can, not only about the Karthians but about their enemies as well. You up for this?”
Johnny nodded. “Yep. We have a nose-picking admiral to shadow, so let’s get to it.”
“Did you just nod your head?”
Johnny chuckled. “I did.”
“Hard not to, isn’t it?”
“Yep.”
Mace led as the duo made their way onto the admiral’s command ship. Ten minutes later they found themselves in a conference room with the admiral and two of his aides. A holo-display filled a wall.
HADRON Havoc Page 4