Thirteen nurses from my old class had responded and were now in the Habitat. They weren’t doing much nursing so I wrote out a note to each of them by name asking if they would like some advance training and if so gather their belongings and go to the Rest.
I then found two stagecoaches in my ‘files’ and copied the real things to an area behind the slaughterhouse. Any takers from the nurses could take the coach to Poseidon and then the train to Central City. The oohs and aahs would subside and the new Nursing School would become their focus. I’d staff it with Ship Born instructors and task Doctor Larry to be the guest lecturer. I came out of my concentration fog, 1700 already.
Computer///location of Commanders Turquill and Lesten?\
///Underway from Ark II.\
///have them report to my quarters 1800---tell them dinner in my formal dining room 1900---dress uniform\
I checked the record as to how many hours of regression recording Rafe had done. There were thirty seven non-repetitive hours. Many more than enough to last through dinner. I spent twenty minutes scanning through it to come out with three hours of audio/visual. I don’t know if the Commanders had paid any attention to it, but for sure it would be new to Horty. Damn we had spent a lot of hours making love in zero gravity, also in a .02 hot tub and in---where hadn’t we made love? I would tell him after dinner that I was married and pregnant. Glancing down, I swore it didn’t show yet.
The Commanders arrived at 1800 exactly. Their uniforms always looked so good. Probably made five minutes ago. Saves on cleaning time I thought. I’m getting giddy. Pull it up. Too much good news. We sat in my study.
I said, “Short and sweet.”
Commander Turquill answered, “Two point five to three billion.”
I started to say—something--, and just shut my mouth and turned my thinking on first. “That many are going to solve our crew problems. I’m almost sorry to be successful like this.”
Jane said, “We can duplicate your emotional flows. Ike and Jason are overseeing events in Arks II and III. Ark IV will be ready in ten days. Pilots will be trained and inserted as the fighter force is finished. But there is another reason we are here?”
“Just so. A Ranger has arrived. He’s no stranger to me. We fought together a hundred years ago. He died. He says I couldn’t have saved him, dead ship into the sun. I’ll never be sure myself. The crux of the matter, actually two points, is one, the Rangers are all, according to him reborn dead. And two, he says the Rangers en masse want to get rid of the ANNU KI also. I need your, the both of you, input, your evaluation of how we can factor this new situation into the overall problem.”
Commander Turquill answered while Jane assumed a fixed stare. “She’s researching. We know broadly of the Rangers. Their planet sits on a trade route out of this galaxy. Essences migrate along these old trade routes because in an unknowing state, with no guidance they know no better. It’s, sort of like water flowing downhill. The Rangers guide and console as best they know. Some chose to come back into the Galaxy to make order. All together, they have been a positive influence. This desire to purposefully alter any races existence is however a departure from norm.”
Jane relaxed and continued the conversation. “I’ve asked far and wide. There is developing, in Ranger normal procedure, a new way of thinking. A more proactive stance, in which this Ranger here is personally involved. He has the support of Ranger HQ. It is a test case. Earth being so far out on the rim, and so small, it has been concluded there won’t be so many ripples no matter how the situation plays out.”
“That’s why I wanted you two here. Do you drink, can I offer you anything?”
Jane answered, “We do anything that any normal body does when are embodied.”
“That’s good to know. What’s your preference?”
They said and Derek made it and a weak bourbon and branch for me. We chatted about details of their day's activities, especially the travail on Earth at the end. Something was nibbling on me in that regard, which I didn’t have time to focus on.
At 1845 Horty was announced with a tall slender blond at his side. I got the twinges under control before they started.
He said, “Allow me to introduce my escort, and thankfully guide. This place is simply too huge. She is Gina Tourne, recently graduated from the University of Bersto. That’s on Irkilon.”
She was a new arrival and I simply hadn’t had time to interview her. I said, “Welcome, and welcome to the Ark. It has been so time consuming lately. Thank you for taking time out of your plans to escort Ranger Frackmorten.”
“You’re welcome. I’ve met the Commanders. I was in the audience at the briefing.”
“Good of you. What do you care to drink?”
They said, Derek poured, and announced dinner at 1900 exactly. I played the Space Station footage during dinner without comment. All four walls of the dining room were screens so everybody had a good view. I’d not seen much of it, and no audio, so I was as interested as anyone. I could see from the lack of recognition on anyone’s face that no one had any such scenes in their memory banks. Over coffee and brandy I dropped the bomb shell.
“These scenes depict Earth during its Terra Forming period.”
Faces tightened, disbelief passed, I never did practical jokes, interest heightened
And Horty spoke first, “Now I know what he meant.” Almost to himself.
I asked, “Care to share?”
“We have a person in the records section at HQ who always says ‘they’ll be along whenever the job is done’.”
I stupidly said, “That’s a lot of years.”
The Commanders and Horty spoke in unison, “Years?”
“Ignore me. Please. It’s the brandy. Is he still there, this---?”
“Captain Prestrillo. Yes, was when I departed. Who knows if he’ll still be there, when I get back with that ship of mine?”
“Oh.” I said, “Perhaps Gina forgot to mention, probably you two were too busy, I had my people do some routine maintenance. Can’t have you launching from my ship and falling out the door. I’ve checked. They said they need more time, and that they would not disturb your Sick Bay area. We have guest quarters. Gina will show you to them, use my penthouse in Central City if it pleases you. This Captain of yours, does he have any leave time accumulated?”
There were so many emotions chasing themselves over Horty’s face that I almost saw the Commanders lips twitch. Finally he quit figuring out how he felt and just said, “I’m sure he does.”
“Maybe he’d like to spend a few units of time with us out here?”
“I expect he’d consider the idea.”
“Well why don’t you ask him? Derek telephone please.”
Horty took the phone and looked blank and said, “There are no buttons."
Derek calmly said, “No need to dial. You’re on line to your HQ switchboard.”
“What? Who am I speaking with? Of course it’s Ranger Frackmorten Ensign. Connect me Prestrillo. Prestrillo, you’re invited to spend some time in your old neighborhood. Yes, that one. Hold on.”
He looked at me and said, “He wants to know the pick up time?”
“Within twenty four hours, if that’s all right with him.”
Oh, good Horty wanted to strangle me, Oh, Oh.
Horty resigned himself and spoke into the phone again, “You heard, that’s fine. Well, I’ll see you in forty-eight, won’t I? Write down this number if you have to call back. Got it? Out here.”
He started to hand the phone back to Derek but I said, “Let me use it first.”
“Ready Bay, Execute Plan Delta-Delta, Authentication, IR- 7-7, Acknowledge. Thank you. Out.
I handed the phone to Derek and continued; “In 10 minutes we will launch a Battleship, four Cruisers, and twelve Frigates. Any one care for more Brandy? No, fine.
The Space Station feed was still running. It had come to the dead moon sequence.
I said, “There are three stations there, somewher
e. Who knows 'what out of phase' meant to the people who were capable of such events? When the good Captain gets here we’ll ask him.”
I stood, and they all did too, “I’m saying this long eventful day is over for me. You’re welcome to stay and play billiards. Derek will see to you. Good Night.”
Chapter 17
Thelma
I had a restless night and woke early with an urgency beyond my customary impatience. Time to get the wagons rolling. From being hung out in the wind on a frayed clothes line so many times over my years I developed a tendency to over involve subordinates in command decisions. I think this a good fault when I reflect back on the many times that I, out in the field, did know best. Consequently I was about to give a lecture.
DEREK---CALL BUSTER AND JANE AND ASK THEM TO GO TO MY PENTHOUSE IN CENTRAL CITY. CONTACT GINA AND TELL HER TO GET HER PANTIES OFF MY COUCH AND MAKE SURE THE RANGER IS THERE ON THE COUCH, WITH HIS CLOTHES ON AT 1200 TODAY, COMMAND LECTURE, SHE’S TO STAY, DISTRIBUTE, LECTURE, AND QUESTIONS WIDEST. WE’LL LEAVE AT 1100.
Derek had set up breakfast in the formal dining room. The space station footage of Rafe’s was still running. Maybe my steward was trying to tell me something, or maybe he had been watching it. I tuned to War Room feed while I ate----arks II and III attaining full crew strength—5% lacking on both---flight simulation training proceeding as desired---full staffing for one rail carrier to be attained in one week---all instructors reports affirmative on trainees---no reports of arbitrarily rejecting suggestions---regiment personnel training in new battle suit commencing today---\
I cut it off because a conversation came to my mind from long ago from a mission I’d had. I’d been loaned to Reptile based Infantry as a Tech advisor for some new equipment, to them, Plasma Rifles, 40-W/QB. It had been a new company and I’d about blown my wad and was becoming desperate. The result had been that the Reptiles used the rifles for target practice, on themselves. They said 40-W, four barrels or not, tickled. End point, I’d had the company send out 4000-W power packs and the rifle had killed and cooked a 500 pound crocodile I’d shot. They thought that ever so peachy. Kill their enemies and cook them at the same time, yummy. We’d sold a lot of rifles. Some corporate subsidiary sold the same rifle under another name to the other side. They took their blood money and ran me along with them. I’d had a misgiving which disappeared with the first drink.
DEREK---PREPARE A HARD COPY FOR MY SIGNATURE---MAKE BATTLE SUITS FORCE FIELDS CAPABLE OF WITHSTANDING 25,000-W PLASMA CANNON---THANK YOU
Derek had laid out my battle dress uniform. I put them on, trousers and smock. They hid the bulge nicely. Later, naturally, we had one piece versions. Those problems cleared out of my mind, I signed the directive and told Derek to hand carry it to R and D.
“We’ll leave for the Habitat when you get back. I have some stops. No hurry.”
Eleven forty five saw Derek and me exiting the lift shaft into my penthouse. Buster and Jane were seated at the table with snacks and drinks. They came here often. They knew where everything was. Horty and Gina were out on the balcony enjoying the breeze which ruffled the curtains behind the open door. I walked out to them.
Horty said, “Greetings.” Gina bowed slightly. “It is possible to forget the cruelties of the Universe for a moment here.” He waved his arm to encompass the lake and the parks around the shore spotted with sitting areas.”
I answered, “Yes it pushes the clouds away for a moment.”
Gina said, “I had no idea a place could be so refreshing and peaceful, no idea.”
“Yes, it’s that also. I’m sorry about your parent's grief Gina. I sincerely wish there were a way to spare them.”
“I believe you, but I know there is no way. They’ll understand later.”
Horty asked, “What parents, what grief, she’s fine.”
` I said, “You haven’t told him about your recent accident, have you?”
“It never came up.”
“Maybe now would be a good time, excuse me.”
I went inside. Derek had opened more windows. The warm sweet breeze wafted through the whole apartment.
I said, “Let me get something to eat, and we’ll get on with it.”
Jane said, between bites, “No hurry, I’ve freed up the remainder of the day.’
“That’s a delicious idea. Perhaps I’ll do so too, maybe take a hammock down to the shore. Ripping good plan, as they would say in Nosterilike.”
Reminded of their home planet they both made the go-in-peace sign and Buster remarked, “The wind is never so warm there, never half so warm. I must be getting old, I don’t regret that.”
Jane just nudged him with her hip. The furniture withstood.
Lunch cleared away, we arranged ourselves on couches around the low coffee table. Derek indicated that the voice sensitive camera was ready and I tapped on my glass and began.
"You know the attack is in seven days. You know where we are going to attack. You assume that’s all there is to the question. But that’s not so. When I now tell you we are going to attack in the year 1580 you’ll think me daft. Consider some important points. If we attack in the year 1880 reinforcements are only 150 years away, more or less. We don’t know the ANNU KI capabilities as far as interstellar distances are involved. We assume they have some kind of Negative Universe capability. If we attack in 1580 they’re further away. I see from the doubt that I’ve cleared from your faces that you think that’s a good idea and a successful attack in 1580 will solve the problem. It won’t. You say ‘why the hell not’ erased is erased. Not so because it still exists in 1880, our sensors say it does. The popular belief among the thinkers is that you change the present with past actions. That’s not true. I’ve done many experiments. Not true. According to the data base ARK I came with, not true. Yes. Oh damn is an appropriate response.”
I paused to let what I’d said sink in.
“I‘ll make this as short and to the point as I can because a lot of thinking needs to be adjusted and the sooner that adjustment takes place the better. I’ll give you an example: let’s say I go into a forest and cut down a vast oak tree and cart it away for firewood. Two things of interest. If you, as an observer outside of time, had been watching the time track of that particular tree you would notice that it was still there after I cut it down, and it wasn’t there. The time lines would diverge, one track equals tree, One track equals no tree, but then a bit later along the ‘no tree’ track you would notice many small oak trees where once grandpa oak stood. You should gather from this example that the governing factor is intention, my intention to cut, and the saplings intention to grow, intention."
"When we relate that example to our slinky friends and their overseers it means when, not if, when we erase them in 1580 they will be back, next year, year after, we don’t know that yet, but they will be back because they are there in 1880. Are you with me?”
Buster observed, “That’s not so much different when you fight a normal war. The enemy always has the possibility of regrouping, sometime.”
“Yes, that’s true. But when you operate outside time you have to realize that no matter what you do, you don’t change events. These Essences, which were gathered from Earth in its final throes yesterday, were in fact gathered. There’s no going back to 1580 and changing that fact. Our yesterday activities happened. From 1580 onward, some divergence will occur, which will be observable and their intention quotient will have them regrouping sooner or later. As will our intention quotient to destroy them again, and repeatedly until we reduce their intention quotient to ineffectiveness, not able to make an effect on our time and space. But! All of that will not negate what we did yesterday. So the thinking of fight, wait, recover, fight etc. must give way to thinking of campaigns in multi time/space dimensions. It’s not that hard. You will adjust. Any questions?”
I watched them think; softly helping them connect the dots. Buster had already gone on to personnel and equipment considerations. Jane was waiting to be asked
to help in some manner. Horty was trying to reconcile what I’d said with the new Ranger policy. Only Gina was still worrying the information around in her mind. Finally she commented.
“In summation you’re saying that there is a road whereupon all is written. And we can observe that road, and deviate from that road, but not alter it.”
“Yes.” I said encouragingly.”
“But, in theory there must be a beginning to this road, and an end.”
“And?”
“If we were to get ahead far enough, to where the road is being built, or perhaps further yet ahead to where it is only in the planning stage, we might be able to put in the plan our preferences.”
I said, “That computes logically. Let me know when you find that point. No, I’m not making fun of you. You are hereby assigned to finding that point. I’ll issue the directives, any budget so long as it doesn’t interfere with ongoing battle plans. As to the start point we have a good man to ask in Captain Prestrillo. I want you there when we meet, and you of course Hor---- Ranger Frackmorten. Now, if there’s nothing else, that can’t wait until dinner, all invited, I’m going to take a hammock and go find some trees. Derek, please bring me an umbrella in a while, won’t you.”
It had been a long, long time, since the early days, when all I possessed was rolled up in a hammock. Actually a hammock tied to some bolts in a bulkhead beat sleeping on a cold steel deck. My, you have come a long way.
Chapter 18
Thelma
The next evening we, The Commanders, Horty and Gina and me were having after dinner coffee when Derek announced, “They’re back. Captain Prestrillo sends that he has rested and would like to meet soon.”
“Send back that we patiently await and Express passage is authorized.” Might be that a copy of the good Captain would be a handy thing to have around.
Greener Green I: Where Does the Circle Begin Page 12