Greener Green III: Let Light Reign

by Peter Sowatskey

  I sent a wave to Nerre. She responded quickly, came in, and shut the door.

  "I see from that shine you've been thinking, Admiral. What?"

  I told her what.

  She said, "My XO is ready any time, same goes for Helga and Heidi. Hold that thought; I have reports. A crew has looked over the new Carrier. It has a much better hull, four layers, and two more decks for troop’s quarters. The Rec Deck separates to become a troop landing transport vehicle. If we had some of them in our Scout TO&E we could do double duty as Raiders. The Miniature Carrier opens like a clam shell for munitions loading, so we could use right angle space to do anything we can dream up. I say, a plan is coming together."

  "Marvin back yet?"

  "No."

  I TOOK A LOOK. I'LL RUN IT BY MY LEVEL, AND THE THELMA'S AND PRESTRILLO. GIVE IT TWENTY FOUR HOURS.

  "We will. Nerre, can you ask Lillian to come over for a confab?"

  "A what? New sex position, you been holding out on me?"

  "No, nothing like that. Conferences, conference, look the word up."

  "Just trying to make things less tense. I'm on it."

  I fought the impulse to go back to my couch and pull the covers over my head. Groundhogs just get skinny. But they awoke to greener grass. That's what I needed, greener grass, after all this time aboard something.

  Nerre came back, "Lillian says two hours. The engineers have agreed on how to move the station. First everyone must be embodied, to cover that slight chance of a problem."

  "Maybe the shipbuilding section could be separated. The new beam tech might make it possible for the Carriers to move that. Throw it in the pot."

  She returned in a moment, "They say your idea makes sense because the shipyard protrudes from the main complex. They'll get back to us."

  "Actually, being selfish, I'd like to have the shipyard for our proposed Intelligence effort. Maybe I can convince the scientists that a shipyard makes them a military target, whereas a research lab doesn't. Of course we will guarantee their security. Marvin, are you getting this?"

  YES. I'LL SEE WHAT I CAN DO.

  Lillian arrived after a while. Nerre and I explained what we had been organizing, and the messages that were pending answers.

  She said, "Let me get this correct. You want to become a Scout Battalion Colonel again? I read your file; right?"

  "Expanded, but yes."

  "Brilliant idea, ambitious project to include all our participants; and you want me to step into your boots here?"

  "Yes. I don't think it would be that much a stretch, most likely no stretch at all, considering your past."

  "True. I'll make discreet inquiries. If I encounter no major personality conflicts, you're on. If I do, we'll have to rethink this. Maybe shift the command to the Rangers. After all it is their forefathers."

  I relaxed, she had finesse, "And we have minimum four days here. That should be time enough to tell any tale."

  "I'll get on it right away. I need orders from you saying I'm to review security procedures at the command level."

  "Nerre, see to that will you."

  After Lillian departed, Nerre came back in and said, "I think I'll go visit the other two Carriers. See what Heidi and Helga think. They're their own persons. They may like commanding Carriers."

  "Tell them they will have better ships, if that's all it takes. But, no, I realize they've grown. If they think they'll grow bigger here in this command structure, so be it."

  I worked on the TO&E some more, losing track of time. The DO interrupted me with a note. It read 'Betty here. Whether you're going to do the Intelligence Command; you'd be my choice, or someone else; I have the HQ planet ready, Moneslakia. You'll need to know that fact to get down to details. The Reg, Brenesi, Dragon rider, and Phaeton survivors, contingents are making ready on ARK IV. You'll also need some normal appearing humans. A ship wide lottery is taking place now. The Dragon energy ship technology has been merged with ours. Have pleasant headaches.

  Operational Area Moneslakia

  Chapter Thirteen

  Granger

  Tel and I liked the view out over the lumbering community so much we carried some chairs and a table out of the ANNU KI ship and positioned them near the cliff edge. We sat there adding up our efforts before his going up to the ANNU KI mother ship in orbit. It had arrived last night.

  "I'm still suspicious of that damn ANNU KI fellow in the swamp. How can we be sure the training that he imprinted on us will work?" Tel complained.

  "I didn't get it, so I can't examine it to see if there are gaps. Are there?"

  "No one's found any. We can all do each job, if necessary. The snake bodies have the whole overlay of any fighter pilot I know about. But what do I know? I'm not a pilot."

  "Has anybody crashed any saucers that were flown out of this ship here?"

  "No." Tel had to admit. "The flights have gone smoothly. Maybe it's harder in space?"

  "Should be easier, lots less to run into, the docking is automatic. The mother ship is stocked with enough fresh food and rations to last ten years, even if you don't use the on board synthesizer. Maybe your problem is you don't yet know what your mission is. It can't be that you have a problem with the fact that this is your first command, Captain Tel."

  Tel threw up his arms and laughed loudly, "I can command anything. My boiling stomach must be from uncertainty, or maybe it's because I haven't killed anyone today. These ANNU KI bodies have no allowance for any hesitation on anybody’s part. I have to keep my pistol on safe to make sure I have time to think before somebody dies. Maybe that's the curse of that swamp rat?"

  I reflected, "Maybe. Or maybe that trait is why they control the Universe, up to now. We're going to make them pay, Tel. Then we're going to go back to Gorstofhen, with a fleet, and make the bastards pay there."

  "I'd drink to that, if alcohol had any effect on this body, might as well drink water."

  "You'll find something which has an effect. I have faith in you. Your XO Shelia is about to drag you to the shuttle. You'd better go."

  "I'll live well. Watch the dispatches. You'll catch something I didn't, for sure."

  He boarded and the three shuttles from the Gun Dock lifted. I'd been on a tour of the Rail Gun Dock. Those people weren't much more pleasant than the ANNU KI. The damn thing could bore a hole clean through a planet.

  I had a conference in a half hour. Rangers wanted to tie up any loose ends before they left. A Ranger Admin team would remain to run the planet behind the scenes. They weren't nice people either. It all might come from living countless centuries in deep space as they did. I felt, and actually did have the role of the baby of the group. I turned my back on the ship and watched the new method of logging. Anti grav lifters carried the whole tree to the saw mill, carved out of a mountain side. There the trunk went through the saw, positioned in place, and cut, by force beams. The cut lumber went to the drier, the rest went into a vat. On the end of the vat process a line, inter-lockable blocks came out. Guaranteed to not rot, ever, going to put a lot of stone masons out of work. But the masons also had force tools, and lifters. What did it mean to me, why should I personally worry? I'd viewed their planetary plan, made me dizzy. No doubt that it would be successful. The slaves now owned whatever they had been forced to labor in. Torken laughed and laughed about his grist mill. He didn't laugh, neither of them, about the friends they had watched die. I could kill them in combat, if they opposed me, but their essences would outlive eternity. I had told them about my miserable life. We swore mutual support. Oh well, let's see what Betty would spring on us today--never boring, her.

  I rode the elevator down to the village. We'd agreed to not use jump belts. The folk weren't up to that yet. I walked into Torken's house after knocking and being beckoned in by one of them.

  Betty; sitting at the head of the table, tasked the oldest of Torken's cousins, Vala. "Go around the village with your sisters. Ask about empty houses, or if anyone wants to leave the highlands. Say we'll pay much.
Here are coins for lunch. Remember, ask everyone, take tablets to write upon. Thank you."

  When they'd left Betty addressed us, the Torkins, Lewis and his two lady assistants, and me, "Lil and Mary will be here tomorrow. It didn't go smoothly. Non-combatants got caught up. Nothing to be done; we'll let them stay here until we go back and take over their planet. It is two galaxies away and not on our planed route of advancement. Lewis, when you next communicate with your HQ, tell them that this planet will become Intelligence Command HQ. We, IC HQ, need them to form a company, fifty people, suited for intelligence work, along with their support equipment etc. If you have extra long distance comm gear lying around that would help. You've done a good job here. Where's your next target?"

  "Gangene."

  "So, you think removing the outlaws from that world will make it easier for us?"

  "If the criminal elements of the worlds we come to have nowhere to escape they might reform themselves. We're going to take over the Gangene for the time being, make a planetary base for us. Some Rangers have never set foot dirt side. We'll gradually give it back to the normal citizens, when we find enough of them."

  I didn't choke, with much effort. His idea of reform consisted of giving a criminal one chance, and gunning them down if they objected. I totally agreed. But he said it with such a straight sincere face.

  Betty smiled, "Nice thinking. Exactly what I would do, any help required?"

  "No. By the time me and my assistants get there the fighting will be over. It has been going on two whole days now. The force has orders not to destroy too much real estate."

  "Enough said about that." Betty turned to the Torkens. "Do you two want to rule this planet, or not."

  They both started talking at once. I caught, "Hell no. Not me. Not on your life. What have you been drinking?" before they grinned at each other and one let the other speak.

  "There's a secluded valley back in the mountains; hard to get to; until now. We're going to gather the ring bearers there, and with the help of Lewis's people get them sane. After that, we made a list of who we're going to kill first. But we'll clear it through the Ranger Admin."

  "I'm for that." Betty agreed. "That brings us to you Granger. Your people adapt to the ANNU KI and snake bodies well, while remaining themselves. I think you can fill three mother ships with the essences you and Tel brought back. With thirty thousand mother ships, we can think about attacking the ANNU KI base. That's where you come in. Are you up to that?"

  "As long as I have your word that we never give up any ship we man. After their base is destroyed, whoever remains has business on our home world to attend to."

  "I give you my word. Lewis, what about the Rangers? Do you have any problem with what Granger asks?"

  "Our HQ says 'tell him it is fine with them'."

  Betty asked me, "Is that good enough for you?"

  "Yes."

  "Then, when Lil and Mary have a chance to rest you three will go out. Meanwhile I'll get more ANNU KI ships sent here. I know people who have a lot of them."

  Three people walked in which I hadn't met before.

  Betty said, "Granger, let me introduce Gina, and Ranger Throckmorten, that tall fellow, and Joshua. They've all came a distance to be here. They can tell you how far later."

  As they found seats, Gina said, "We'd have been here sooner but we didn't allow time to get through the new check points. When we went down the mountain there weren't any. Hello Torkens. We'd like to spend a few moments with your people, Lewis, before you depart."

  Lewis said, "Our pleasure. We have questions about the vessel you call the Object."

  Betty interrupted, "The sooner we get done, the sooner you can talk. Joshua, this will be Intelligence HQ, here. You might want to communicate that to your people back in the Second Federation. I understand you have people who have a long experience factor with Intelligence operations. Some of them might see fit to relocate here, nice scenery. That idea appeal to you?"

  I could see that Joshua had difficulty controlling his emotions. He managed and asked, "Is there any limit on the number people who might relocate here?"

  "None. At the rate they are taking trees off of this hill Wiltorne City could relocate here."

  Throckmorten said, "Have anyone go to the Ranger Office there. Transportation will be arranged from anywhere, our pleasure."

  Betty stood and said, "Got to get up on the hill-- surveying tunnels. You two big fellows could help. Any data about the Object will be appreciated. It isn't in our data bank. Come along Torkens. Thanks to all for attending--success to our future."

  After they left I got beer for everyone from the kitchen. I'd put it there. Then I sat to one side and listened to the two groups discuss the Object. That it predated Betty's data bank said it all. Some time, somebody, somewhere, evidenced by the Object, had formed a plan. Discussion evolved to the assumption, which I shared, that another Object had placed animal and sentient life on planets. Then Gina mentioned she had been a scholar before her death. I started to feel even more infantile.

  Lewis beamed, "I see a possible plan coming together. The next planet we handle will need an educational system. Why don't you three come along and start to set that up. We'll have a chance to examine the Object further. Will it follow you?"

  Gina answered, "It conveyed a need to alter this planet, which it has done. We didn't question it as to what it did. Things have been in a rush recently."

  "That's it exactly." Lewis pressed his point. "We'll have much more time on Gangene. The Admin force for Moneslakia is being briefed as we speak. We lift within the hour; too fast for you?"

  Gina, Hortimer, and Joshua held a silent conference. Then Gina said, "No. We've decided to go. Granger, won't you tell Betty?"

  I pointed out, "She's Betty, but the gesture will be appreciated. I ask that your two groups let me, personally, know what happens. I'm curious, and I'll need the conquest procedures data later, if it doesn't go against any security rules?"

  Both groups promised to keep me informed. Everybody wanted a case of beer. Fortunately, I'd had a wagon load delivered. Premonitions can be helpful.

  After they left I got another bottle and sipped it in the empty room. So this room had witnessed the start of the chain. I fell to reflecting on rooms which had witnessed my crisis points. There were more than a few. I toasted them all. The cousins returned, sensed my mood, and just lay their results in front of me. There were many sheets. I riffled through them and put them in a pocket. Evidently valley life, when one had money, could be pleasant. Having no desire to rest I gathered two cases of beer to me and went to the elevator. Up above I sat the beer on mine and Tel's table. The night temperature dropped. I didn't care. I sat and drank, looking out over the mountainside lit by the reflected light of two moons.

  Mary's voice behind me woke me, dead of night.

  "Is this a private party of one? I hope not. Oh, look here, Lil. He brought two cases. Here, have a beer. Sit."

  Both of them sat. I said, "You two look as fresh as springtime. I didn't hear you land."

  Lil smiled. "Like you could, in your totally alert state. We came down out of time, except for the last hundred feet. Betty filled us in. Good results."

  Mary agreed, "Impressive. The seed of their failure is planted. Don't hoard Granger. What's a lady got to do to get another beer?"

  Both of them rocked with laughter at some shared memory. I felt a trickle of humanness, must watch that, also the feeling that these two, and I, made some sort of a wall against the savages.

  Lil said, "I hear we're going out again, harvesting."

  I agreed, "The supply of operators will soon be put to use. We need more. I remember where our people were sent to fight, most died."

  "Mary insisted, "We're going to do this scientifically. Lil is going to put you through regression to see exactly what is in your mind, dates, places, individuals, whereupon we will agree to the best route. Another thing, which came in handy this last trip, is a virtual reality world
. In the past we've just held people in suspension. Better, especially in this case where training has to be accomplished, would be a Training Regiment, staffed with realistic cadre. You arrive at the Post, start your initial interviews, and get on to basic training, and off to advanced training based on your test scores. I know from experience how confused one is when you don't have a functioning body to orient around. I know how to do that now, so, when we have a route and Training Regiment, we'll go out again. Now to your state of mind, Granger, Lil's bed is empty tonight. Grab his arm, Lil, he wants to play hard to get."

  I stirred on the bed and found a definite female.

  She asked, "Again?"

  "Not yet."

  "Just tell me when. Better yet surprise me."

  I thought back to last night. I had been pulled, then I hurried ahead, then we just ran, hands together, alongside each other until we reached the bedroom. The first person that commented on my lighter mood today would rue giving voice to their thoughts. I drifted off again. Sometime later, who knew whether day or night reigned, I surprised her, I think.

  That afternoon Lil and I walked around to see what changes had taken place since yesterday. No Mary yet. We met Betty who fell in step alongside me, (I gave her the real estate sheets.) She informed us, "I've been busy in the AK ships lab. Result a regression machine which files direct to a computer. Out of the computer we can not only get a route, we can find a basis for your Training Regiment world. We use something similar to train our Ensigns, very effective, very quick. Come along. I'll show you two how it's done."

  In the lab I tilted back in a comfortable chair and listened to Betty's prompts. It went so smoothly. I focused on events and overheard data I thrown out decades ago. We spent two hours at it until Betty had Lil up on the basic method.

  Then she said, "There are manuals if you get stuck, or I'll be on call. Let's leave this. Mary's finally up. I want you to meet Janus, our latest recruit, Granger, before he leaves for Earth. He's going to get religion, and we'll be better for his efforts. He and Mary will meet us in the planetarium. Come along."