"We're going to bend Marvin's ear. You go along."
They all left, and I sat before the consol. The keyboard had Phaeton symbols on it and some I recognized from an old dead language that I learned during a forced stay on a deserted planet. Better not to play with them in the middle of a battle, maybe later.
I looked up Workers, nothing. We'd just have to judge them on their actions. I researched ANNU KI tactics. Observational data concluded that they did not have a central command they reported to. Once task forces or individual missions were sent forth, they did what they were assigned to do. Perhaps in time of distress they could ask for help from a neighboring mission. No help came from HQ. Except for the gold shipments nobody went home, going to be hard to sneak up on them, maybe Invis in the Negative Universe. Would that work? Still have to go slow, and not approach directly. Carefully doable, pop out and Nuke the bastards.
Nerre came back, "I left Erlo in the Mess. Our people are curious about large automatics like he has. Credit chips were wafting toward him. He's a hell of a businessman. You find anything?"
"Nothing astonishing. I'll come back sometime when you're not busy and use the whole keyboard. There's data here from a very old race. Maybe the Elders themselves?"
"When this planet is cleared perhaps my ship can be excused and I'll show you Intelligence HQ."
"That's where our AK Mother Ships were docked?"
"Yes. Evidently the AK ships here on Frizdier thought they were getting reinforcements because their shields weren't at full strength. Our Mother Ships melted them like butter. We didn't get that mental attack like we usually do so I think the main crew went back time, to escape."
"They won't. We have people to root them out. You met them didn't you?"
Nerre regretfully said, "Not personally. They were described to me. Hard, certain looking bunch, no nonsense."
I reflected, "I wouldn't be surprised to see them show up here."
"Me either. We've certainly came a long way since Irkilon."
"Yes we have. Derek says he has a plan to liberate it. Supposed to get it to me before I left."
"He probably did. Thanks for coming out to join us." Nerre said with her face half away.
"Wouldn't want it any other way, just had to take care of Earth first." I reminded.
"What's going to happen there?"
"In some realities it will be fine. In others we're rescuing people every day. Some adjust to life by ARK I. Some want to hunt dinosaurs. We set up a Survival School back there ran by a fellow who lasted six months with no help from us. Probably would still be fine. But we made him a good offer, and he accepted, unlimited harem girls. They'll probably kill him in the end."
"I'm told the Worker Tech team is here." Nerre said, after an orderly came and handed her a message.
"Haven't met them in person yet."
Nerre wondered, "They're a walking description of indestructibility. We lost three in this whole mess so far. They keep going day and night. Nobody makes any sense of their mental makeup. They evade answering questions about that."
A knock on the door jamb signaled the Workers arrival. We stood and were taller than them, but a machine built for deep space, to me, had an aura of eternalness. They sat at the table after being invited, and placed on it a bipod equipped projectile rifle with a scope mounted above the barrel. Above the scope another tube sat, wider in diameter than the first. The rifle had no side outlets so the large drum held case less ammo, I deduced. I reached out to pick up the rifle when the PA system in the office erupted.
"Captain, The prisoners bodies have started to degrade."
I asked loudly, "Is there oscillation present?"
"Yes, subtle, but increasing."
Both Nerre and I said in unison, "Cold Fusion Bombs."
Both Workers stood and asked, "Orders?"
Nerre didn't take but a moment to decide, she held up her hand to signal 'wait' to the Workers, and said, to the PA system, "In an unhurried calm manner, take the suspension field projector, with the prisoners out of the sick bay and put them in the empty freight container. It must appear as if you are merely making room for something else. Tell me when that's done."
I said, "I'll pilot, you, Nerre, operate the grappling beam. You Workers, come along. Who knows what will happen?"
We waited tensely by the office door. The PA system, after an eternity announced, "Task completed."
We bolted for the lift tube. As I ran I said, "Hank, Jim, you on this?"
YES, GOOD LUCK.
Out of the tube on the upper deck we raced for the skiff. Inside, we shut the ramp and Nerre took up the rear grappler's position while I raced for the pilot's seat. The Workers took up right seat and weapons, hesitated for a moment, and seemed to have mastered the controls.
From the rear Nerre announced, "I'm locked on. Lift when the doors open."
"Lifting easy. Are you holding?"
"All green. Increase speed."
I did. Right seat, warned everyone to get around the planet. Armament had everything hot, my dials said. I kept increasing speed, heading for the sun.
The right seat Worker said, "We conferred. Probability we have three minutes."
"You keep count," I said. "At two minutes give Nerre the order to disconnect."
I kept increasing speed as smoothly as I could. The seconds ticked off.
I heard, "Disconnect now.” From the right seat, so I immediately did 45 up and 45 right, and then another 45 up to get us going back along our trajectory. The Worker on weapons asked, "Maximum range of missiles?"
"Five hundred miles."
"Firing rear tubes now. Flip 180."
I flipped.
"Firing forward tubes now. Resume direction."
I did another 180, and put up maximum shields.
The small flashes in the rear screens were followed by the appearance of second sun. The shock waves hit us. We weathered them. The second sun winked out.
Right seat reported, "Radiation levels within safe limits, dissipating rapidly."
Nerre came into the pilot’s room and took the Nav seat, "You might slow down before you're in the next galaxy."
"Must I do that teacher?"
"Yes, student."
"Oh well, tell me where I should point this thing."
She did. I did. Then I put the ship on auto pilot. We were quite a distance away. It almost seemed like playing hooky from school, didn't have any desire to get back quickly.
I said, "We were discussing weapons when we were so rudely interrupted. Since we can't drink, I guess there's nothing to do but go back to discussing weapons.
By the time we got back to Nerre's ship we had arrived at a half dozen configurations. The Workers said they'd make them so no one could trace their origin. I thought that a good idea, Nerre too. We interacted well with our mechanical friends. Something tried to crawl into my mind about them. It didn't quite get there. We walked down the skiffs ramp side by side. They bowed, we bowed, and they went forward to 'lock out' to their ship tied up outside. I still couldn't completely grasp the idea that they weren't limited anywhere. They gifted me with the rifle, and five drums of ammo. Dinosaurs here I come.
Operational Area Somewhere Sometime
Special Events Platoon Island
Chapter Eighteen
Hector Tiberius
Jeff Cross Irene Scerne
Jeff rang the bell hanging from the corner post on their square bar.
Irene called, "News everybody, come and listen."
Eventually three sides of the bar were populated and Jeff began, "New mission. Also we have neighbors, aside from Marie's shanty up the coast. Three more platoons have taken up residence here, spaced around our equator."
After the comments about high time we got some help, interspaced with we don't need any help, died down Irene continued, "You got the memo on Frizdier, Cold Fusion Bombs walking around looking like people. It's a new ball game. We'll go in grounded on our Earth experience, prepared
to have it different."
Jeff took up the tale, "We'll have help, and several side missions. A new ANNU KI; on our side, created bodies, ran by somebody not from the Frizdier galaxy. To expand they need ANNU KI ships. More than that they need the ANNU KI rejuvenation chambers, which also, we're told, can be used to clone bodies. The ANNU KI body and a snake mixture they're using for pilots. We'll put a few assemblies aside, because any body put in the main chamber is reproduced. These new people saved our cousins asses, and the Rangers asses."
Irene went on, "We'll also be there with the Workers. You got that memo also. Since the Mother Ships are located at the poles their ability to operate in any extreme will expedite the job. We'll depart with the other platoon ships attached to our Mother Ship in an hour. Are there any questions? No. Fine, there's one other decision, do we have a quarter of beef, or half a hog for supper tonight? Show of hands, hog it is. Can I get drinks for anybody?"
The Platoons and their latched on tactical craft arrived in orbit around Moneslakia aboard their Mother Ship and were invited to park near the other ANNU KI ships and go to Invis. Jeff, Irene, and Hector went down in a dispatched troop carrier taxi, The Reg pilot landed by Intelligence HQ. They had been warned that Tel and Selma were there so they didn't shoot them. They just shook hands, four feet taller isn't that much a big deal, they thought.
Admiral Secallo they knew. The gray bodies, Workers, they approached cautiously.
Hector observed to himself, including Jeff and Irene, no emanations, no idea where they came from, or who's mind thought them up, but if they can conquer a fortified planet, and lose only three soldiers, we want them on our side, they concluded.
"Come see our Planetarium," the Admiral requested.
The new arrivals were dually appreciative. Ensign Maria announced, "I'm going miniaturize the galaxies display, and put in Frizdier in detail."
A slowly rotating planet filled most of the available space. Ships around it were either in stationary orbit, or in motion to an indicated destination. Deep pits showed where the ANNU KI ships had been.
Hector spoke for the triad when he said, "The fact that no enemy essences were detected worries me."
A worried Essence alerted everyone.
He continued, "We can assume the enemy went back down track, and we'll find him there. To conclude that no lessons were learned by them as a result of operations on Earth isn't warranted. They communicate, and they're not dumb. Immediately two possibilities occur to us, they went but a short distance into past time, and then sideways to some bolt hole. Or they went far back, assuming we'd operate as before, which means we'll run into a big trap. Have we scanned the area of operations thoroughly, Admiral?"
"Yes, but we've only pushed back one hundred years, and forward fifty. There's a large volume of space involved. Forward we only scanned for large ship assemblies, and found none. Backward there were only minor variations from present time enemy placements."
Jeff spoke, "We'll have to examine those variations in detail."
Irene continued, "Barring something startling from those examinations, we've concluded that our purpose, ships and rejuv' chambers, would be best served by going back the embedded ship's time line; to their individual initial placement and stabilize efforts. Then, once stabilized, work forward to present time on all four sites at once. Tel, how many of the orbiting ships can you have operational, fully crewed?"
Tel, trying to get his mind around her plan hesitated, and then said, "Four, within two weeks. Admiral, we need more ships, now, to get more ships crewed. Could you send out inquiries?"
"I might have the source. Maria, send to Paula for Prestrillo. Have him inquire whether his parking lot attendants junked the ANNU KI ships we gave them, or what? We've discussed this before and he hasn't answered, remind him."
Hector observed, "We can use the time to get past time star charts together and programmed into our Nav systems. I didn't ask, Tel, but your ships must have been fitted with Time Slip capabilities by now. We didn't have any bother fitting our Mother Ship."
Selma asserted, "I oversaw the work myself, but that doesn't mean it's up to your standards."
A Worker said, "Perhaps we can learn from both of you. Tomorrow, after planning, could you allow us to tour your ships, both ships? We need to learn how many of our small two person ships we can carry along."
Irene hid her smile. Diplomacy from a creation, didn't track. So they were more than creations, or at least an unusual kind.
Selma replied, "We should have done this prep' before. Sorry, we've been so occupied with expanding our numbers. Irene, you and me, tomorrow, by night fall we'll have it resolved, deal?"
"Of course." Addressing the Admiral, Irene continued, "Do you have an unoccupied valley where we might put shore legs down and practice maneuvers?"
"Sure. Somebody get the Torkens. They'll find you a place. Let's let this go until tomorrow. Maria, I'll be in my office."
"Fine sir. Oh wait, response coming back from Admiral Prestrillo. He says, 'Two hundred and thirty four ships have been renovated by his attendants. No idea what has been done. They wrote manuals. They'd like to get the ships out of their space. Where do you want them, and when?"
"I want them fitted for Time Slip, and here now."
"Already fitted, five days."
"Send our eternal gratitude."
Silence reigned. Then a Worker asked, "Might we have one for our use?"
Everybody in the place burst out laughing. The Admiral went to the Worker and placed an arm over its shoulder and asked, "Can you use a hundred?"
The Worker looked up at the Admiral; everyone swore it expressed surprise. "Yes, we can."
"Done deal. See you tomorrow folks." He patted the other Worker on the shoulder and left."
Hector announced, "We have four Task Forces to organize. Let's find a table and get to it, over there."
The Torkens, who'd been standing by the doors, asked, "Can we join you? We have much to learn, also several valleys to give to you."
Hector shook their hands, looked at their rings, and said, "Certainly, it's our privilege."
When they were seated around the large circular table Hector began, "For simplicities sake I suggest we deal with two hundred out of the available ships, and leave the rest here to be crewed and provide protection. Each Task Force will consist of twenty five ships of yours, Tel, and twenty five Worker ships. I understand you're training in a Virtual Reality World, so you will have to split your V R to leave one here, and take one along; a problem?"
Selma assured him, "We can do that with Maria's help."
Maria, approaching the table heard, "We'll do that tomorrow. Meantime I've received data on the refurbished ships. Major changes, the ship yard operates with a Dissolution Bay, they take ships apart down to electronic frequencies and reassemble according to their own specs."
A Worker asked, "May we contact them directly? We also use that principal."
"I'll pass on your request, if you'll give me contact frequencies. They and we are connected to the Ranger Comm Network."
"Thank you. We'll do that." The Worker said.
Hector said, "To go on, I'll list the changes so you can discuss tactics. The complete data will appear in print in Phaeton and the Gorstofhen/Home language, along with data crystals for direct downloads. They've made the main beam capable of being aimed, instead of just up and down. Keep in mind the ships arriving, towed, in Phase Out, are the same as the one outside on the landing field, same three miles in diameter. Only they are not fitted for one person control. The reason we don't simply replicate the one here, is because doing so sets off a definite signature. That would clue in the ANNU KI into this whole section of the galaxy."
"A Worker asked, "May we have our builders inspect the ship here?"
Hector said, I can't speak for the Admiral, but I think he'd say 'of course, have them come down anytime.' To go on, there's now a counter revolving secondary inner force field, to make it completely safe
for bodies. Instead of the usual twenty fighter discs, they've used right angle space to accommodate two hundred. Field modulation allows the fighters to be ejected and recovered with shields up."
Selma commented, "Looks like we're going to be a bit crowded."
Maria paused, "That's right, and not right. You have no experience with Right Angle Space. You'll see. However, they've added two hundred rejuvenation chambers where the pilots can spend their time studying, or whatever you program. For the extra power draw they've doubled the reactors from forty eight to ninety six. Keep in mind drives only need twenty four reactors at maximum speed."
One of the Torkens asked, "May we have one of these ships to someday train our people on?"
"The Admiral says yes. Troops; they've added room for one thousand, and higher level one person High Level to Ground insertion capsules. Also they've put in full Phaeton electronics. And the missiles are extra light, extra time. That's enough detail for now. I have data from Betty about recommended tactics you need to know, but we'll go into that later."
Hector watched the faces, and the mind flows, of the people seated. That's except for the Workers. They just radiated peace, cooperation, and strength. Satisfied that the new data had been received and assimilated he continued.
Seven hours later, with remnants of two meals on the table, he thought they had a meeting of minds.
He said, "It's 0100. We'll meet to tour the ship here at 0800 and back here 1300. Is that agreeable?"
Nobody objected, so they gathered the food containers and left everything else.
Walking out, a Torken commented to Jeff, "Pleasant view from the table by the cliff."
So Jeff, Irene and Hector took the advice. They sat and Irene took out her canteen. "We're having marinated brisket for dinner back home."
Jeff took a swig from his canteen and said, "Don't remind me."
Hector laughed, "Enjoy it. I'm glad about tonight's discussions. I think we're going to add up to a formidable force, especially with the missile supply fed by a two second recovery factor."
Greener Green III: Let Light Reign Page 16