Greener Green III: Let Light Reign

by Peter Sowatskey

  "Acknowledged, I believe you."

  Twenty one hours later I called ahead on the A-I Shield frequency, "Phaeton Carrier and Green Ship, requesting passage through shield to Rim World Alliance location."

  "You have been identified and are cleared to pass. I will notify relevant HQ."

  We took up stationary orbits and I went down in my skiff. The Green Ship sent a skiff down too. We landed about a half mile apart and the Male counterpart of Lenh ran to meet me as I walked to a driven runabout.

  He said, I'm Huta, we positively didn’t know."

  "Alright, alright, drop it. Do you know why we're here?"

  "To collect Battle Suits. We can carry a lot, right angle space, I think you call it."

  "Good to know. Do you have any idea about their design?"

  "Not personally, but I can call on the group memory, which I have done, wow, lots of them there. Let's see what they have."

  We approached the runabout, the driver said, "I'm to take you to meet Ambassador Jill and First Reg Torme, long may they live."

  "Quite so, and you also decorated veteran. I should be ten percent as skilled as you in combat."

  "Observant of you to notice, Captain. A bit of luck came about also."

  "Then I will sit here beside you and maybe some will rub off. Here is Huta. I don't think they have ranks, but he is a nimble ships pilot."

  "Welcome to him also. Ships pilots, good ones, add to ones years."

  I asked, "Tell me places you have been, while we drive. We are in no hurry."

  I listened as we drove away from the enormous space port. If I had known I would have just landed the Carrier. I expected it to be sitting on the ground when I finished my business. The Alliance complex, lit by the morning sun, left me in awe, rendering me incapable of describing it with accuracy. The transparent dome in the foreground covered the main assembly hall; I remembered from the travelogue that I'd received on the radio during descent. The restaurants, shops and smaller meeting halls took up the first terrace that had been cut out of the high mountains behind it. Individual embassies were on the next four terraces, then quarters for residents went up to the low laying clouds, which would burn off by mid morning, they said.

  When I saw the grandness of the complex I said, "You have here no equal in the Universe I've traveled."

  "We asked far and wide to make that a truth." The driver said, with pride in his voice.

  Thelma told me once of how many Regs had died to bring money back to their home. I said, "Tell me further of where you went."

  He spoke until we parked, and then said, "It's been a privilege Ma'am and Sir. The veterans have a stall in the main lobby where we sell our book. We, who came back, tell in it, of those who didn't. I will wait here in case you care to go further."

  "Thank you. I have no idea, but thank you. He will call and say where we will go."

  Inside the door less doors (force fields) we were met by a female Reg page. "I'm to bring you to your meeting room, if you'll follow me please."

  "First I need to buy a book, ah, I see it."

  We walked to the Veterans booth, a plain square with no decorations, just books placed on the counter top. I said to the veteran in the booth, "We need two now."

  He indicated I should take my pick. I handed one to Huta and stuck one under my arm, paying with two small gold bars which the volunteers used for money. The veteran said, "I have no change for these."

  "We need none. Also you are to deliver twenty more to the skiffs at the space port."

  I counted out twenty more bars, saluted, and said to the page, "We're ready." Why were her eyes misty? She didn't, couldn't, know I had an ulterior motive.

  The Reg page led us to a gymnasium, odd place for a meeting, but as I looked around I understood. I walked to them standing in the middle of the floor and hugged Jill after saluting Torme. I introduced Huta to them. Torme motioned to an A-I couple standing nearby. They approached and he introduced them as Kris and Kristen.

  Kris said, "I understand you are planning a party on the Universe ARK and we're not invited."

  Unobtrusively, I hope, I pushed my jaw shut and stammered, "We thought your shield offer sufficient contribution, we didn't know."

  Kristen held out her hands and grasped mine, "Don't be upset. It is my fault that you did not know the depth of my capabilities."

  I grasped her hands tightly, "You can not know how appreciative we are of your contributions. You are invited. Perhaps you and Kris can be with me until the end."

  Kristen released my hands and moved to stand beside me on my right side, "This is where I will be, all through out."

  Kris moved and stood to my left, "And this is where I will be."

  Torme smiled, "Good. It's agreed. Observe, Huta, how the Reg Battle Suit functions."

  Two 'Suits' that had been standing at opposite ends of the court ran toward each other. They leapt into the air as they approached each other and met in mid-air ten feet off the ground, swinging at each other with no restraint. They collided and fell to the floor each landing on their feet. For the next half hour they battled mightily. I saw chances they overlooked to prevail, but they didn't have lifetimes of unarmed combat behind them.

  At a signal from Torme, they quit and came to stand before us. I could see where the suits had been scuffed but I didn't see any dents. I bowed; they bowed, and they leapt toward a distant door behind them turning around in mid-air. I had to clap my hands.

  "They are very well trained," I said to Torme.

  "But not as well as you. Come here."

  He walked toward a corner where cloth covered something. Pulling the cloth off, I saw two Battle Suits a bit larger than usual.

  Torme explained, "These are built for me, because I ate too much and grew to be as big as you Volunteers, and you, Huta. Step in, Tina, It will close around you. You too, Huta, then you can feel what you saw. The suits here I set at one quarter strength so you will not be quite able to do what the instructors did."

  I shed my combat vest; my attached weapons belt came away too. I zipped my way out of my boots and stepped into the suit. Once my fingers were in the hands it closed behind me. I did my usual motion test. The suit responded with no restraint. To show off I crouched deep and did a backward flip, just made the revolution, more power and it would have been no problem.

  Torme said in my ear, "You should spar with Huta. Do you have any training, Huta?"

  "Not me, but someone should have. I found one. I hope this suit is well built. We should go to the center of the court."

  I crouched and leapt at a slant and got there first. He did three forward flips to get to the center. This should prove interesting. It did. For an hour we swept back and forth. Vaguely I became aware that an audience had gathered. At the end he lost sight of me in a spin because I crouched below his sight line. So I came up below him and lifted him over my head and spun around ever quicker. Then, not leaving go of him I slammed him to the floor head first. Some thing gave in the suit because when he rolled and regained his feet he'd lost the use of the right arm.

  Torme radioed, "Stand down you two, before you break something else and I have to banish my weapons techs to the frozen North."

  Huta and I bowed to each other and I reached for the underarm touch pads to have the suit open, no need to blast away a perfectly good suit.

  We approached Torme and he said, in his politician's voice to reach the crowd around the walls, "You both did well. You can fight by my side any day. Jill, you and the suit are melded together, so I give yours to you, may it protect you well."

  Cheers went up from the crowd. He continued, "Let's get someone to transport it to her ship, and its support equipment."

  A rush to help ensued, in the middle of which we slipped out a side door to a VIP observation booth. I didn't even have time to put my vest back on. I draped it over a chair and sat down. Tiredness didn't affect me as much as a release from attention over ride. Huta didn't appear effected. When I became a
n essence I wouldn't be affected either. He grinned, smart ass, he grinned wider, I would have smacked him but for the fact he sat across a wide table, probably on purpose.

  Kris commented, "I have learned much from what I have seen today."

  "I also," Kristen agreed. "The stress points will be thought about by me."

  Torme asked, "How many do you want?"

  Huta answered before I got up the nerve, "The suit needs to be altered for where it will be used. We will send back the data to you of what we do. But, to answer the question, 400,000 of the regular, and 100,000 for the Volunteers. I can't speak for our A-I friends here."

  Kris said, "I have different technology. To say it in your words, a layer of sponge all about. You have to see it to believe it works. But no, I do not need suits, but we can make them easily. Technicians will talk with Reg technicians. For sure before one month."

  Jill beamed, "So, It's all agreed. Let's order food. I'm starved."

  Torme laughed, "That's not unusual, for either of us, or our A-I friends. Do you eat, Huta?"

  "Naturally, a body needs fuel."

  I said, "Don't be insulted if I go talk to the Veteran in the booth. He looked lonely."

  Torme agreed, "You would do him the honor. Most came back and left their friends who were dead. They don't know why they were spared, and most feel they shouldn't have been."

  "I'll be back in a few hours, enjoy."

  I walked the hallways to the entrance way booth, stopping to talk to those who had seen me perform. The Regs had always seemed timeless to me. I guess that's because they never hurried toward death.

  I stood by the booth and listened to the Sergeant, when he had no customers. I still hadn't made up my mind whether they as a rule would have survived what Lillian put me through to condition my mind and strengthen me as an essence. After two hours I concluded a gap existed between the Reg's strong essence and their minds. I could see no way to bridge that chasm.

  My disappointment must have shown on my face when I walked back into the VIP lounge.

  Huta asked, "Is there a problem?"

  "No, of course not, I just carry the Veterans sadness. Have the Universe problems been solved in my absence?"

  Jill said, "Torme insists 20,000 of his best will go with you. I tried to explain about Workers and how they are built for deep space work to begin with."

  I looked at Torme and said, "I think I understand. You refuse to stand behind anyone or anything. I gratefully accept, but only on one condition, 10,000 are to be women. They will almost certainly not come back, as I expect not to, so do not damn them to the plight of the Veteran in the booth."

  Torme sadly said, "The Council will never allow that, though I see your reasoning."

  His phone rang so he left the table to answer it. I asked Jill how the Brenesi were adapting.

  "Splendid. They like to pretend their children aren't learning anything new from their human school teachers, but they know better."

  Torme's return interrupted us. "The council says we will no longer be a society of half strengths. They say if women can carry beer steins they should be capable of carrying a combat pack. I will call my two daughters back from Earth to lead the women. Where should we report to?"

  "Hendes I. We will make ready for your arrival, one week to do so."

  "That will be. I must go now. It has been an eventful afternoon, which will take decades to be thought about. Good day."

  He strode away, a person with a mission.

  I said, "We must go also, Jill. When it's all over I'd like to trek with the Brenesi, ask them won't you?"

  "I will. I'll walk you to the runabout area."

  As we went through the lobby I detoured to the booth to say goodbye to the Sergeant. He appeared the same but he didn't. I looked into his mind and the chasm had closed, Huta, no doubt.

  He said, "Just a moment." And reached beneath the counter and sat a sign on the counter. It read, 'honor system, gone to war.' Catching up a duffle he said, "I'm ready, lead on."

  I kept it shut and just motioned him to fall in behind us. We needed two runabouts for the crowd. They stopped an extra distance away from the skiffs, what gives now?

  Both of the drivers got duffels from the rear compartment and one said, "We're going with him."

  They indicated the booth Sergeant. Oh, Huta we were going to have a talk. I looked around. He'd already entered his ship, leaving a hint of amusement behind him. I'd get him in a suit again and I wouldn't be so gentle.

  We all boarded the skiff and uneventfully docked on the Carrier. The moment the clam shell doors closed over us I ordered, "Full speed, Hendes I, Signals Ensign Claudia Holpeern, report to my office."

  To my new Reg recruits I said, "Report over there to Med Bay for your intake exam. Then they will direct you to uniforms and weapons. Once finished there, familiarize yourself with the ship. Question yourself, can boarders get on unnoticed in any place. Once you've done that you'll be on duty in eight hour shifts inside my office. Is that clear?"

  They just saluted and left, apparently they could listen and comphrende.

  I floated down to the Bridge and went into my office to find Claudia waiting.

  "You've read the Reg history book, of course?"

  "Of course."

  "Contact Hank or Jim with Thelma and find out what battlefield locations she has already recruited from. Isolate the rest and plot a pickup route. Then call Huta and explain the situation. He's to arrange pickup of every fallen Reg, no matter how badly they've lapsed mentally, and put them in a Virtual Reality, or whatever they use, to have them on hand for the first Void Infantry. Tell him to involve more Green Ships. Any questions?"

  "No, seems straight forward to me. But you've overlooked the women who waited in vain for these soldiers to come home."

  "I have, haven't I? What do you suggest?"

  "Ask for female volunteers among the Reg world essences."

  "Thelma would know how to do this right."

  "I know how."

  "Then please do it, and pardon me for not having more confidence in you."

  Claudia laughed, "I didn't give you my resume. It will be on your desk tomorrow, all nine hundred pages, or maybe an indexed memory crystal would save trees."

  "Have to save trees, crystal will be best. Did you get the word that Torme's daughters will be coming out here to take command of the women?"

  "Yes, ARK IV is already on the way to Hendes I. Apparently no other ships were on hand."

  "Bullshit, Rafe just didn't want to stay home. I wouldn't have either. It's going to be a hell of a party. Did the other Carriers get the word about the Green Drive?"

  "Done long ago."

  "I should put you in for a promotion."

  "You just keep your appreciation between us, please, or grow a tail."

  "Dismissed Ensign."

  She saluted and left. It had been on her mind to make an indecent gesture, I knew it.

  I had to steal a rest, old habits are hard to break, probably would be on stims the rest of the way.

  I got in six hours. I suspect Claudia helped. A Reg stood inside my office. It took me a split second to get my mind in gear. Of course, I'd told him to stand there, probably to be really effective he should have a transparent shield. Why this paranoia, I didn't know, or maybe we'd just been lax.

  Claudia came in, "All tasks are handled. Green ships will converge on Hendes I; stay there until Company sized Infantry are formed, and then transport them to their forward staging areas."

  "Have the Assault ships arrived at Hendes I yet?"

  "One of them, rest expected soon, major revelation, seemingly, is that there is a great dissipation of intention near the Void. Reportedly one goes into a time slow down, essences too, somewhat."

  "What does Huta say?"

  "They have five ships nearing the point the Teams ship were at, results later."

  "What about the Assault Ship itself?" I asked

  "No effect, except for massive p
ower usage, but well within available design limits."

  Certain of myself I said, "Somebody foresaw this eventuality."

  Claudia reflected, "That goes with the facts."

  "Who?"

  "All roads lead back to Paula Lesten in Earth space."

  "At a platoon for a ship rate that means we need 2,000 ships for the Volunteers; and 2,000 for the Regs/Void Infantry soldiers, if we get that many together, and another 4,000 for the ex-military from the other worlds."

  "We'll get that many, so 8,000 ships is the number."

  "Tell her we need them in a month, at Hendes I."

  "I'll pass the request along."

  I said, "I didn't request anything. I said, get the ships there. Don't go wishy-washy on me."

  Claudia looked at me with exasperation on her face, which faded to certainty. "I'll not request, thank you for reminding me of the stakes."

  The skiff settled down onto the ground on Hendes I, across the river from the Trading Post fifteen hours later. During those hours I had several conversations with Paula personally. Nothing about anything in particular, but who knows what my subconscious mind said, I sure didn't.

  Two runabouts came over to collect my entourage. I felt like royalty, three Personal Arms men in waiting, scientific advisors, wise sage, Ensign who wouldn't leave my side, who else? Seems like there should have been someone else? No they were waiting for me, the tank manufacturer and his helpers. What in the hell had I wrought?

  Lenh met us in the Parking area, took it all in with one glance, and said, "I'm recommending you for a promotion. Your tank fellow will be right here. Kris, Kristen, let me show you to your rooms. Sergeants, we've brought a Battle Wagon down for you. It's parked on the far side of the Post. Good to see you Huta, you never were any good at unarmed combat. May I try out your suit Tina?"

  "Of course have it brought out. Don't forget to read the instructions first."

  "Don't be a smart ass. I probably invented it in my dreams."

  Good to see some things don't change, I thought as I walked into the saloon, Reg six feet behind me. The bartender dropped the glass he'd been polishing, he had more. I found a table in sunlight, better get my fill now. My Sergeant sat at the next table after getting a pitcher of beer at the bar. I'm sure he'd consider it a small step above water.