“No hurry on that Essence route, though they’re nice people.”
“Betty is ever so sorry. You won’t yell at her, will you?”
“I have no feelings about it now. I’ll have feelings later, won’t I?”
“Yes, you’ll be the same as you were, only better.”
“We’ll see.”
“I must go now Rafe. Betty or Paula will be with you all the time. I’ll be here tomorrow.”
She kissed me on the lips and left. I was sure I felt the kiss, or was it my memory. Either way it was good.
The next 48 hours were an unending circus of tests to make sure I was coming together as a body mind Essence combination. Thelma sat with me for ten minutes when she could. She said much preparation for big conference. Just waiting for me to get out of bed. I didn’t believe that, but it was nice of her to say. At the end of the period I was used to my new body. It had a lot more spring in it, ease of movement, and more strength. I didn’t find anything special, maybe later.
I was declared ready. Told to come back every morning until further notice for check-ups. Paula and Betty came to collect me for a discussion of what had been extracted from my mind while I was dead. In a sense I was afraid to know. Maybe that was why the information hadn’t integrated yet. Betty said that it would eventually. Like my telepathy would develop when I was ready for it. I’d died for the information. It had better be important.
We went to a launch deck where a different sort of ship was being built. I stopped in mid-stride; it was the shuttle craft Techs used between stations. It was an old technology compared to what was now in use. I looked at Betty and then Paula.
Paula said, “No tricks. It’s just that Thelma thought that if we were to make contact, with personnel, or some automated defense, we’d get closer in this ship.”
“Broadcasting the right recognition frequencies, however out of date, might help too.”
Betty said, “We’ve set up some chairs in the cargo compartment and we’ll talk there. Who knows, some detail might roll out that we don’t already have.”
We went in through the ‘big loads’ door and didn’t shut it behind us, no power yet. Seemed like more compartments in the walls than I recalled, oh well.
Betty’s words brought my attention back to her, “--- Captain Prestrillo had you attending the meeting as a higher up in an unnamed High Secret Security Force. Seems the organizers expected trouble among the workers and weren’t going to play nice. Most Techs had double duty, removing trouble makers. Out the lock, burnt in a smelter, sort of removal.”
What she was saying started a process of data realignment in my mind. I let the file sorting go on and listened.
“The work assignment office did double duty also, regular jobs, and special jobs.”
I said, “That never made any sense to me. Techs being shuffled from station to station. We should have been able to see the whole problem through.”
Betty said, “You might think that would be to keep the Techs from making friends, but actually all of the killing was done under hypnotic splintering. The dispatchers switched you on and off and you never knew.”
“My mental realigning is almost complete. So, dear Mrlyene set me up to kill, or fix problems. We used to sleep together when our schedules permitted, which was probably another control mechanism.”
“Of course it was.” Paula concurred. “The details of our conversations when you were in-between are lengthy and you can go over them anytime. Of special interest is the length the people in charge went to, to ensure anyone’s removal if they were against the plan. They engineered in a separate series of access tunnels, known only to assassins. Those access ways were built five times normal strength. Consequently, they would be the last to implode. We have the schematics and that’s where you and the Captain will be going in. That’s after the conference tomorrow.”
“Paula and I will be there if your recall goes vague on any questions you’re asked. Once again Rafe, l apologize that your current life time body termination took place under my care.”
“Would have happened sooner or later. The best plans go to water sometimes.”
Paula said, “I have to go meet with Thelma. I’ll see you both tomorrow 0900. It should be interesting.”
She left and Betty and I sat back down.
“I suppose you have to go also?”
“No, it’s my duty time with you, until tomorrow. You may not have noticed but one of us has been by your side since---.”
“Never thought of it, but I’m glad you did. All this time together. I have a lot of questions for you.”
“My, oh my, two weeks with Paula and you still have questions? I’ll answer them, but first Paula asked me to tell you about a General in the Fighters Wing, a Sir Edgar Alstons. He evidently died during the last weeks of World War II, airplane engine failure. He tested very high on organizational ability, exceedingly high. So Thelma gave him the organizational command. Of course his staff will be Ship Born from Irkilon IV.”
“What is it with Thelma and Irkilon IV?”
“She spent about twenty years there running a clinic by their only Spaceport. People who didn’t survive her clinic make up the crew. Some also came aboard alive. All feel they owe their lives to her. So she’s confident they won’t allow anyone to go against the Mission.”
“Seems sensible. What does Paula want me to do about Alstons?”
“Your military back ground, can help you form a better opinion than most others. If you’ll run him through your ‘Tildore’ memory base you’ll find you have extensive training to weed out potential ‘non-fits’, as she puts it.”
“Do my best. Now let’s get out of this relic and go to the EXO's ship. I haven’t had time to look it over. Maybe, for historical research reasons, you can help me.”
“See what I can do.”
Chapter 22
Rafe
At 0845, Betty and I strolled into the same old briefing auditorium. Bigger table this time but still triangular. Betty went to sit with the Commanders. We now knew each other much better, and my ship, barely better. The front three rows filled with men and woman, about equal of each, with brown dress uniforms and very determined expressions on their faces. Thelma hadn’t appeared yet. The man in the brown uniform at the table was probably Sir Edgar Alstons. He was looking straight ahead deep in thought, or something, maybe the last chapter of his memoirs. I got the feeling we’d never be close, but at first impression he seemed capable. I saluted Captain Prestrillo across the table and he returned the salute perfunctorily. Hortimer sat beside him looking uncomfortable. I’d heard that Thelma directed her Maintenance people to update his ship. It had been so out of date to them that they’d built a new ship around it, leaving it intact. There had been some major teeth grinding over that one. I nodded but he was mentally absent. Gina wasn’t, she nodded back. Buster and Jane had their seats, backs to the screen, on either side of Thelma’s empty seat. The forth and fifth rows had been adapted with bigger chairs and were occupied by the Regs. Oh well, might be profitable to push Sir Edgar’s space a bit, so I sat beside him. He took a picture of me and kept on chasing whatever. I didn’t get the feeling he repulsed me.
Thelma entered in her dress uniform and I was the first to rise and salute so everyone followed my example. She returned the salutes and waved us to be seated. Another brown uniformed man entered the room and seated himself on the other side of Alstons. Evidently Thelma had expected him as she recognized him in a friendly manner.
“Thank all of you for being prompt. I’ve called you here to tell you about the decisions which have been reached after many hours of discussions in which each of you had a chance to express your opinions based on your expertise. Ark IV is done. We will have to move further out to acquire the raw material for V and this is being done. Recon has came back from NEBU and reports that the ANNU KI are moving their ships around, conclusion, testing drives etc, but they haven’t left NEBU's vicinity. Conclusion, they�
�re waiting for their gold pickup, and then they’ll scatter. Strategy now is to let them get their gold. We don’t know how that pickup will take place. The knowledge of the pickup routine is our number one Intelligence quest. When they have their gold, and NEBU is past the inner system and any debris won’t be drawn into the inner system, we will attack. It’s simply that if we attack sooner and NEBU breaks up we will have a meteor storm from which no planet will escape. We will continue to build fighters and carriers and Rail Gun Carrier Docks. We hope we will have a preponderance of force, but maybe not. We will attack in any event. If someone knows something which would help our cause, speak.”
I noticed the Rangers, sitting at Thelma’s left, were having a conversation of their own. Finally Thelma did too. She said, “Share, gentlemen, or take it somewhere else.”
Captain Prestrillo said, “I, being senior, share the following on my own authority. As you may or may not know Rangers work under no supervision but in close coordination with each other. They only send back the briefest of reports when a situation is resolved. Before I left HQ we got in a report about a situation, the Brenesi situation, which was in a standoff. We only got this because a Ranger drew data from his ships library and succeeded in charging, maintaining and controlling a negative space bubble of so much power that no measurement system of yours can begin to describe it. Shortly put, a small sun has been contained. The report added in a footnote that the stand off was over a plane, which was going to be poisoned.”
That’s interesting.” Thelma said, “Can Rangers accept help from outside their ranks?”
“Yes.”
“Then perhaps you should contact this Ranger and offer ours.”
“If I may be excused I will.”
Thelma waved and he left.
Then she said, “Allow me to introduce General Ted Niken. He participated in various conflicts on Earth from WWII onward in the Air Force attaining four star status. He went on to become a lecturer at the Air Force Academy. He and I have just completed a routine in which we added the top most minds in inter planetary, and extra planetary warfare to our own minds. There were thirty seven such people which the data base found useful. So when he and I say ‘the battle of the 4th sun in the 29th galaxy’ we’re speaking with the same knowledge. Unfortunately we do not have any minds that have been in charge of campaigns fought over major spans of time at once. We will have to learn that as we go along. General Niken will be in tactical charge of air operations and cooperate with Buster, whom I’m raising to general rank. He will be in charge of Ground Operations overall”
Everyone in attendance stood and applauded.
While we were settling, Captain Prestrillo returned and Thelma indicated a podium between her and the screen that he could use. She turned around in her chair to observe. Some wide awake Tech projected the Galaxy above him with Earth’s location and the location of the Brenesi world. There was a long distance between them. A trailer across the top of the screen said how long, and showed planetary details.
He spoke, “I’ve sent our offer of help. In return I got back a burst detailing the situation. I’ve assimilated that and conclude the only practical resolution would be to remove the population. Naturally some one else may come up with another conclusion.”
Commander Turquill interrupted, “I, and my people, have duplicated the data. His solution is the only one that conclusively solves the problem.”
Thelma said, “Thank you Commander for your collective effort. Very well then, we will evacuate them. From what I gather in the data strip they won’t want to go so we won't ask them. The question is now, where to?”
Buster rose and went to the Podium and indicated his planetary system with a pointer whereupon it began to flash. I thought ‘I must have a word with this Tech; maybe steal him/her away for my crew.
Buster stood beside Captain Prestrillo and said, “Our home world (a revolving picture of it appeared) has a continent which is unpopulated, primarily because it has no mountains and is not good for agriculture. Its placement is approximately 55 North Latitude to 55South Latitude with 40degrees at the Equator. We have a tilt variance of 19 degrees, and they have 21, very close. The Brenesi are evidently a nomadic folk who wander according to the seasons. Their world has 1.35 Earth normal gravity so they shouldn’t be bothered with our 1.5 gravity. The population estimate is 1.2 million. Someone can do the math (1 person per 29.7 acres), and I see someone has.”
I’d better get to this Tech quick, I thought, other peoples lights were coming on.
“To continue, it would only take an agreement by our Planetary Council to make this real estate available.”
Thelma said decisively, “This is what we’re going to do. You, Buster, are going home with Ark III, good shake down cruise. You, General Niken, will depart with two Rail Gun Docks to the Brenesi home world. When there, you will set up a planetary quarantine, no ships within whatever distance you set. Broadcast that a humanitarian rescue effort is underway. You Captain Prestrillo will contact your representative, the local Ranger, and have him tell the Federation, or whichever HQ, nicely, not to interfere or we will turn their planet into molten lava and not even hiccup while we’re doing it. You, XO Berger, will have two days to do your investigation of our moon and then you will depart with ARK IV to carry out the relocation. Take along Paula, Betty, Gina, and Hortimer. He’ll have a chance to show how good he can get around with his new ship.”
No one I saw had anything but a serious expression on their face. Don’t ever say military life doesn’t engender self control.
“I think that should start the operation. As usual, copy my office on your further decisions. Now then Gina has a request. You may take the podium, Gina.”
Buster and the Captain went to their seats as Gina took the podium and spoke, “As you know, or may not know, I’ve been tasked to do research on composition of universes. I won’t bore you with details but I see vaguely a way out of our tail chase. To help me, I need people who can think in harmoniums. If you don’t know the word you’re not my person. If you do please contact me. You’ll not be ridiculed and branded a dreamer, you won’t. Thank You.”
Thelma rose and said, “Fine, good meeting, dismissed." She turned and left the room. Everyone rushed to the most convenient exit other than the one Thelma left through. Not me, I started for the audio/visual booth. There I met a short rounded female, energetically touching screens so fast I barely could see her fingers move. She noticed me and said, “XO.” Came briefly to attention and turned back to her screens. I waited. Fifteen minutes later the requests for information slowed and she cast me an inquisitive glance.
I said, “I’m here to rescue you from your life in hidden closets, to take you out to roam the Galaxy.”
She looked at me with wide eyes, turned away to touch a screen and spoke softly for a moment, turned back, and said, “My second will be here in a few minutes, then we can go.”
“Thank you. You are going to make my life so much simpler. Do you know where my ship is?”
“Yes.”
“Report there. Pick out any Ensign’s cabin. Get up to speed on the space station situation. I’ll be along later with Prestrillo to map out an ingress route. Questions?”
“No.”
“I thought there wouldn’t be any, by the way, issue your self Ensign's rank bars, until later.”
I left the booth feeling ever so much relieved. Someone who could think on their feet without prompting was scarce and precious.
Chapter 23
Sergeant Jill Clelland
Lordship’s Marines—Second Galactic Federation presently on the planet of Bren
I swore to never again question a given order. If I would have obeyed the order to drop everything and run, I would have been on the troop transport I just heard lift off instead of being cornered by two Brenesi against a cliff face.
Evidently Senior was going to watch Junior tear me apart, or rape me and then tear me apart, one never knew with savag
es. I computed Senior by his necklaces, of which he had many, as opposed to Junior who had none. I didn’t have much of a chance against Junior even though I was from a 2.5 Terra world as opposed to this 1.35 world. The Brenesi were a meter taller than my one meter seventy and easily twice as heavy. Their heavily muscled legs ended in split hooves. It being summer, their body hair was short, ha, short haired rapist, the way to go.
My opponent advanced and I stepped carefully over the debris scattered around what had been a platoon encampment moments ago. The obedient troopers had mounted their slipsticks and sped off. An odd part of a lecture by my unarmed combat instructor flashed through my mind. He’d said, “The Brenesi can’t be attacked front on, because of their thick arms and solid muscled torso, only from above because they can’t see good up past their horns.”
So I turned my back to the two of them and ran dead on at the cliff face a short distance in front of me. I used a boulder for a step up and when against the cliff face I did a somersault with all the strength of my sturdy legs which carried me over Junior and down onto Senior. I caught his head and neck tightly between my thighs, grabbed his horns, and spun on my axis. Naturally his head went along, until his neck broke with a loud crunch. He and I fell together. I rolled and sprang into a ready position knowing I wasn’t safe yet by a long shot. Junior looked at me and his expression, as far as Brenesi had expressions on their square faces, was one of shock.
He then screamed, squatted, and sprung up going Hades bent away from me to follow his friends who’d tried to catch the troopers.
I was about as shocked as him, but it passed. I grabbed senior’s necklaces for souvenirs, my pack, rifle, and belt, and bolted toward the newly repaired skimmer. If only I could get to the yaught anchored off shore before they came back I would be safe. Brenesi didn’t go into water. No one knew why, but they didn’t.
Inside the skimmer I slammed and bolted the door, dropped my gear, plopped into the driver's seat, and hit the power button. It came on line immediately--our techs were good--and lifted off the ground. The Nav screen showed the location of the yacht to the SW, as opposed to the troop transport, which had landed SE of the encampment. I pushed the power lever up to full forward and the skimmer tilted back a bit, but then righted itself and sped toward the SW and safety.
Greener Green I: Where Does the Circle Begin Page 15