Ike said, “If you say so.”
Jason agreed, “It computes with what I dimly remember. Hilde and I will have to do some more work on that period.”
Ike dryly observed, “Or Helga?”
They both smiled and I guessed that the secret of the birthmark had worked its' way out somehow.
Louise came back and said, “Thelma wants us in the previous briefing room in two hours. She says, get a power nap. What the dickens is that?”
No one knew. But then Nerre’, and the others came back.
She said, “We heard the call to assemble. The uniform creation is done. We found some special material which never wrinkles for the dress uniforms. And for the field uniforms we found a two layered cloth which responds to the temperature and opens, or closes, its’ weave accordingly. That will be especially useful. The dress uniforms will be finished in an hour.”
I said, “Timely. We’ll all wear the dress uniforms. Good. Meanwhile where is the mess hall from here. I expect it will be a long evening. And while were getting there, Nerre’, please tell us what a power nap is.”
“Oh, that’s one of Thelma’s’ favorite sayings it’s--------“
She was still expounding on year 2,000 idioms and practices an hour later when we arrived back at the library. Evidently she had read all of Thelma’s log entries for that period. Nerre’ said Thelma had spent 23 years there, in Los Angeles, California.
The uniforms were hanging in the library sitting room. Things happened speedily behind the scenes on this ship. I half expected to be presented with a company of Gnomes who were actually in charge.
I said, “Let’s get pretty, and think about what we have to add to the meeting. Louise, could you summarize what we’ve concluded?”
“As best I can.”
At the meeting we entered as a mass. People in the general audience politely applauded and Thelma who was standing at the head of the table took note.
“So you all want uniforms. Do uniforms. Elect someone to be in charge and keep me advised. Now let's get on with the issues at hand. There are a lot of them. First, the test was completed on the fighting suits. There were design flaws, expected, there will be flaws found on the second test too. Regiments are sending people with advice, and technical help. Those involved keep in mind that our hairy friends will be dying in those suits so they know best what they need. We have only one week ARK time to get them perfected. If anybody involved is present I suggest you get to it now, and get this meeting from Memory later.”
From my place at the table I could see about a half dozen people departing. When were we going to meet the crew? I expect Thelma had a schedule in mind.
She continued, “For background, we will first review, what the XO, his Lieutenants, and the Intel Section has came up with.”
Our data came on the screen and was viewed without comment.
Afterwards Thelma remarked, “Keep in mind that these observations are almost 6,000 years old. I want a plan within 24 hours about how to send a probe out to meet Nebu, and have it return with fresh data, guaranteed unobserved.”
She glanced toward bleacher seats and another half dozen people left. I noticed more arrived than left. Evidently the word had gone out that something big was afoot.
"To our immediate problem, these outposts, the Australian one has been found, beneath a mining town 2 miles inland. You’ll see the exact location, and other information on the running strip. Fifteen days from today we will attack. The attack events must be closely coordinated. The general battle plan is for 2 sections consisting of 3 ships. Each one will consist of 1 of the Regiments platoon sized troop carriers, (Wagons) with 50 soldiers, 1 low flying Frigate for escort, and 1 high flying Frigate for cover and to provide comm between groups.”
I glanced around the table and out into the audience. Those I could see in the darkened seat area had only calm attention on their faces. Perhaps they had done this before.
“The Regiments will have their own ships and pilots. Ours will break down to, Group One, Hilde and Jason, and Commander Turquill, low cover, and Ike and Helga high cover. Group 2; Rafe and Commander Lesten, low cover, and Nerre’, Stan and Eve, high cover. This is not necessarily written in stone but I have given the assignments a lot of thought and discussed with the Commanders the necessity that they be at the fore front. The gist of that discussion dealt with the ANNU KI's reactions ,and how they would be more completely observed from close up. That’s the assignments unless someone persuades me otherwise in private.”
I could only admire her manner. I had fought one war and numerous skirmishes and she had fought in many. Perhaps she had shared some of those wars with her crew, in detail. That would account for their calmness.
“As to tactics: the problem we face is such, at least, the enemy has H/FU technology. The aim is to neutralize that. If we fail we lose a lot of real Estate, and probably bring a lot of ships down on our heads. But we must risk the latter if we are to save this planet, or at least some of the population. The methods are, that Capsule Jumpers will drop from 90,000 feet. One platoon of them will bore down to 1 mile and set up the containment field around the nest with Absorbers. When the reactor fires up to provide power for surface shields the power will be absorbed and the surface force will have only hand to hand to contend with, instead of having to burn down shields around every placement, while under fire. You use up a lot of bodies that way, as some here will attest to.”
There was a ripple through the bleachers, but no one commented. Maybe these people were combat veterans.
“Once the surface has been reduced to fine dust, and the Egg Holes also, very deep Egg Holes, remember, the surface troops will withdraw to a 2 mile perimeter. Then the platoon underground will use their ejectors to go up and out, and assume positions around the perimeter. Then the absorber, and everything in the force field around the nest, will be kicked back 500 million years, and reversed. That will instantaneously melt anything inside the force field. From experience we know that, no more than a 2 mile ball will be affected. Then mission done, we come home and party. I remember there’s about a 5% chance that it will go all according to plan. We can knock equipment malfunction out of the equation. We have the best. We’ve used it and know that. We can knock faulty execution out of the equation. There may be some fighters in pop up holes, or small manned/ guided missiles hid about. We don’t know enough about the enemy, don’t know how he fights. But if you, as I do, figure he’s as ready, willing, and as able as you are, we’ll suffer fewer casualties. Please submit your comments in writing through the usual channels, audience dismissed.”
They left and Thelma took a seat to collect herself. It didn’t take long.
“What did I leave out, Rafe, Nerre’ anybody?”
I think I spoke for everyone when I said, “I couldn’t have done it better.”
There was general agreement to my comment.
“Very well then. That wraps it up for today. Get some rest. I’ll expect to see all of your smiling faces here 0800 tomorrow. Dismissed.”
With that she got up and left, followed by Derek.
Chapter 14
Rafe
I stood and gathered my few notes and said, “I'm off to bed.”
Nerre’ said, “We’ll see to the field uniforms. On mission time we always wear them. I’ll bring yours to your quarters XO.”
“Thank you; and all of you Ship Born. I’m beginning to think that we Planet Bound will contribute something valuable. Thank you again.”
I left before I got maudlin. I hadn’t gotten maudlin, had I?”
Back in my quarters I found a message from Thelma, ‘0700 breakfast, my place, please.’ on my Comm screen. Well why not. I touched the ‘ack’ area and thought, 'something to settle my nerves'. I’d gotten used to ice cubes, good invention, with my bourbon. The second drink made me hungry and I was about to go to the mess when Nerre’ stumbled her way in with a large bag hanging from either shoulder and two back packs on, plus two
pistol belts around her waist. In her hands were two ‘take away’ boxes from the mess. For a second I didn’t know what to unload from her first. I settled on the boxes which prompted her to say, “Hungry, huh?”
“Actually I was about to go to the mess.”
“Let’s eat.”
She shrugged everything off onto the floor, and hung the pistol belts up on a hook.
“Make me whatever you have, a double, so I can catch up with you. A double will do that, no?”
“Yes, thanks for dinner.”
We sat at the small dining room table. There was a formal dining room. Thelma had spared no chance to show grandeur. I gestured at the bags and looked questioningly. She said, “Uniforms. For both of us. Until the mission is over we live in each other’s pocket. Also we wear side arms. ‘T’ says, ‘mood making’.”
Chicken fingers, I love chicken fingers, artificial or not, especially in sweet/sour sauce. I absently said, “The waist lines are adjustable, aren’t they.”
“Of course, but you don’t have that worry. I won’t permit you. I'll keep you up all night.”
“Promises.”
“You’ll see.”
She gathered the debris from supper and disposed of it. Then she dumped out her bag, and started to sort.”
“I’ve done this dance before. Just follow suit, and we’ll get finished in shorter order.”
We did. Two of everything in the backpack. Four of everything in the clothes bag, fancy, zippered, why not magnetic clasps, who knew. Last month I was doing buttons. I put on the pistol belt and adjusted it to fit.
Nerre’ asked, “Do you need an explanation?”
“No, Thelma showed me one of these. Where are the extra magazines?”
“You have one in the gun and two on the belt, see?”
“Yes, I suppose we get the rest on our way out the door.”
“Actually we’ll load them, and much else in the Frigates. We’re going out in them tomorrow, exactly put, one of them. I’ll be riding right seat. We may not come back for days so take your bag along.”
“Thelma said, personal briefing 0700. Any idea?”
“No, but it will be important. She’s all business when an OP is underway. Her mind figures everything down to the last magazine. She decides, we do. It’s worked so far. Here, let me help with that field jacket roll. Were you not in an Army once?”
I swiped at her playfully and she immobilized me with two moves.
“Say please let me go.”
“Why the hell would I want to be let go of?"
We negotiated for a couple of hours in a relaxed manner, but then it became tense.
The next morning I passed through Thelma’ door exactly at 0700, in field uniform with pistol belt on.
“Thanks for being punctual Rafe. It’s going to get hectic soon. Don’t hold that against me, please.”
“I’ve been in combat count downs before. We’ll discuss it all at the after action party. Meanwhile I am your humble subordinate."
“Hardly humble, but let’s get to the data I want to share with you. Come on in my wardroom. We, the Commanders and I, have agreed that the Collection Vessel is as ready to go as it will ever be. It’s going out 1000 today. Both Commanders are going along. I’ve no doubt that the voyage will be successful. They will be back 1600. We’re going to cover a month, everyone within a two hundred mile radius of Gettysburg. Then the other shoe will drop. The Rangers will be down on top of us within a few days. The Rangers are an organization which strives to bring order into the Universe. There’s at least 1 in every solar system. Maybe two, if it’s a Federation Headquarters. They absolutely frown on anyone upsetting the natural order of things, which we will surely be doing. They, probably only one of them, will not make any threats, just proclamations. If we don’t comply, there will be a hundred ships on the second day, and ten thousand on the next day, and so on. They are impossible to fight. But I’m afraid we will have to. It’s a no win situation, but I know no way around it. So now you know. No one else does. Keep it to yourself. Now off you go and pay attention to Nerre’. She has done this sort of thing many times before. Actually we all have. I’ll keep you copied on an hourly basis. Off you go. Love you.”
We kissed like I was going away for a real long time.
Walking along the carpet over steel corridors connecting our two ships, in my new combat boots; I felt a moment of complete freedom, no care, no worry, and no connectedness to anything. I stopped to savor it, but it faded away and everything crashed down on me again. I couldn’t remember how I had just felt, only the fact that I had. I attempted to walk on, and did, but my first few steps were uncertain. I’d always thought freedom was a question of being able to operate at will within ones walls; or to put ones cares aside in a box, and be free outside of the box. But my retention of what I’d fleetingly felt left me with the impression that one was just capable of being free. And that’s all there was to the whole damn thing.
Evidently, my reflective mood must have shown on my face because when I walked into the wardroom Nerre’ asked, “And where are we?”
“Out gathering wool.”
“Wool, ah, yes, you make cloth from the poor sheep’s covering and let them freeze. I read that. Better the way we do it. Speaking of clothes, and belongings, what else do you want to take?”
I reflected, looked around me, and said, “I can’t think of anything that I didn’t pack earlier. But I should take something to remind me of where I come from. I’ll take my derringers.”
“Doubt you’ll need them, but as mementoes, they’ll do. We have cabins on the Frigate, spacious closets.”
“No, I don’t need anything else. Let’s go.”
We both put our back packs on and gathered our bags. At the door way, I asked, "What is the drop back limit of the Frigates?”
“We would have to do multiple drops to get back there. I don’t think that distance would be a one ship mission. Besides it’s outside Mission parameters. Let’s leave the idea of going to look at your space stations for later.”
“Nerre’, are you telepathic too?” I asked.
“Yes, and Thelma has been teaching me kenning.”
“Yes, she’s uncanny. Can you tell me what kenning is?”
In the time before the Walk Way location, I listened closely.
“Sure, technically speaking, it is the method of reaching conclusions based on an incomplete knowledge of the facts in a given situation. Educationally speaking: it calls for training in recognizing alikeness, similarities within groups, or non- probability comparisons, and such, instead of memorizing a bunch of facts and trying to remember the correct old fact to fit a new situation.”
We got on the Walk Way and I shifted my stance, taking care that I leaned against the motion.
“Does it work?”
“Sure it works. Of course one must know some facts, but you’d be surprised how few. Also part of kenning is listening to what is said more completely than usual; or gathering visual data. One must do running computations on all of the sensory data and take note of the slightest abnormalities.”
I interrupted and asked, “How far along are you, training wise?”
“’T’ says about thirty per cent.”
“Any secrets, I mean, could you teach me what you know?”
“Kenning’s no secret. Just more attentiveness than most people care to put to use. Sure I’ll teach you. “T’ will be proud of me when you show progress.”
“Is it important to you that Thelma be proud of you?”
“Certainly, Ship Born try to be more like ‘T’ in our achievements. We’re still ourselves, and we become more complex selves through doing, but if we can be more like ‘T’ we are happy. After all, she has made it through a lot of unmerciful years. Like her, we can survive those kind of years too. Attention, we’re about to get off the walkway.”
“I’m ready. Why do you keep this place in semi-darkness?”
“We have very light sens
itive eyes. Yours will change over time.”
“Oh. Why?”
“Diet. We have a quite knowledgeable food staff.”
“It’s all done with machines, isn’t it?”
“Yes, but somebody has to tell the machines what to do. Off in two minutes, one, off.”
I recognized the area and after a short walk the craft that would take us up and away. It was an awesome creation compared to the stubby boxes we’d used around the space stations. But then it was used for war, and not delivering spare parts. Did beauty equal war, of course not, but there was something majestic about our craft.
On Nerre’s command the elevator came down for us, we, and our kit, got on, and shortly we were inside the ship. Nerre’ walked along the corridor a couple of steps toward the rear, turned right and opened a door.
“COs stateroom; put your gear in here. We’ll stow later. I want to get up and away.”
“Me too,” I said, shucking off the back pack after I swung the bag onto the double bed. We were wearing shoulder holsters for our sidearm so they wouldn’t be in the way during flying. Nerre’ was out the door going forward. I followed her into the control room. The room became alive and a voice said, “welcome Nerre’ and XO --- who pilot?”
I said, “I am.”
All systems 100%---mental command systems engaged---Ship will respond to whoever pushes green button--- have a good flight.
Nerre’ said, “It means the buttons right in front of the seats. I’ll get us out; or rather the automatics will get us out when I tell them to do so, with your permission?”
“Carry on.”
She pushed the green button to assume operational control. Once out and hovering in the Ark’s vicinity, “I asked, “Can we go to a position where I can see the Ark in its entirety?”
“We can go high and look, but we won’t be able to see anything. The outside hull carries on the look of the land. Holographic images are created and if you aren’t within touching distance you won’t be able to see it. All of our vessels have the same capability to change as this ship does. My favorite outward look is the sailing ship, all those masts, and sails, and people working in the rigging. Sometimes, when mission demands permit, I take an inflatable boat out and stand off from the vessel to just watch it all play out.”
Greener Green I: Where Does the Circle Begin Page 10