Mark kept climbing one step at a time until he came to the 4th deck and looked up yet another ladder as another piece went crashing down the trunk bouncing off a marine below. “Captain, can’t I at least get out of this piece of junk. It is getting a little hard to walk in it. Not to mention that it keeps shedding pieces.” Mark tri ed to put a dangling thruster back into place on his shoulder as the little ball suddenly decided it was time to inspec t what he had in his hand.
The Captain looked down along the ladder at Mark from the next deck up. “This one last ladder Commander, (there were no more decks up). There is a Captain Summers that is in a hurry to talk to you. Seams she is in a hurry to start for the 3rd moon and another AI that has another bad little AI Controller.” Getting a disgusted look on his face. “The last thing we need to do today is to head off to another battle. We need time to lick our wounds repair equipment and figure out what we did wrong and train. I lost men today that should not have been lost as I told you . Deaths that training could have prevented.” Looking at Mark steely eyed. “I told you even I lose men but thanks to you, not as many as I should and could have today.”
Mark shook his head. “Well Sir. At least we had decent modern equipment. The English reserve troop’s obsolete equipment got them slaughtered by the hundreds in the core shaft. Someone should be shot for that. I do not understand why the English home guard reserves don’t have at least half way modern armor and weapons?”
The Captain smiled at that. “You are always going to have Governments that refuse to spend money on equipment for their troops. In their case I think they figured their troops controlling the bots would not need modern armor or weapons. In our case we simply have not had the money for decades for modern equipment. I am not sure how you wound up getting us all this , but it is going to be a fucking sin if we have to give it back. It would make the Outback that much costlier in lives without it.” The Captain pushed open the hatch into the main passageway as Mark took the last step onto the deck and the smell of hot food hit him making his stomach flip in antisipatoin.
Mickey spoke into Mark’s ear. “The English reserve General has spent the money he was supposed to use for equipment from the planets military warehouse, on junkets to distant planets for fact finding missions to beaches and resorts and women. He even has vacation homes that he should not be able to afford on one of these planets. He had plenty of money for everything you have gotten, to get for his troops including training. He just used it on himself and Government officials responsible for keeping him in power.”
Mark looked down the passageway toward where the smell of hot food was coming from and frowned as he followed the Captain into a large meeting room on the top deck with a big heavy table in the center with screens around the bulkheads. Captain Summers sat at the far end of the table with Captain Cook next to her. Star Queen Officers down one side of the table and English Officers lined the other side s of the table. Captain Tonoka who , Mark was following , pulled out the chair at the head of the table at that end and motioned Mark to sit, then took a seat next to him along the Star Queen’s side of the table.
Mark sat (having to spend some effort making his leg and waist, bend that far), looking down the length of the table at Captain Summers as she and most of the officers stared at him. Rubbing his right shoulder thruster that had been worn down almost flat after sliding along the deck in the tube at a hundred miles an hour, trying to make it fit look better as Alice flitted around the compartment checking everyone and thing. Then he looked around the rest of his suit trying to clean and fix what little he could as he waited for someone to say something. He could not believe that he was sitting at the end of the table always reserved for ships captains and other high officers. Anyone but lowly him, but he should at least look the part if it was possible.
Captain Summers finely cleared her throat and then said. “I am glad you managed to get out of the building Commander Collins. Though I have a few questions as to why you left the AI’s controller behind when you sent the AI core out preventing us from pressing charges but that can wait a full investigation. What we are doing here know is making sure that we have everything we are going to need to take care of the Military AI on the 3rd moon , when we leave in an hour. If we do not have it along, we can’t use it.” Looking around the table. “Since Mr. Collin ’ s plan to take care of this AI worked so well and he is the one that will take care of neutralizing the AI when we rescue the Admiral. We will start with listening to how he plans on getting in and neutralizing the AI.” Smiling as she looked at him down the length of the table before glanced at the darting little ball as it streaked across the table in front of her and briefly frowning. “The deck is all yours Mr. Collins.”
Mark looked back at Captain Summers uncomfortably and then at Captain Cook and around the table at everyone staring at him. Making him wonder why he suddenly didn’t care what anyone thought of him. Fact was he was starving to death again since he had missed lunch again and trying to make everyone happy was the last thing on his mind. Food was the first. Well almost the first.
Finely Mark stood up slowly with his suit protesting with clanks and creaks as he tried to keep the suit together. His leg started jerking again hitting the edge of the table with a clank that shook the long solid looking table as he tried to stand on his leg. Leaning on the table to keep from falling over as he let his leg settle where it wanted. Mark smiled uncertainly as his knee hit the table with quite a loud thump again . and t T he little ball Alice knocked something off a counter that had refreshments and drinks on the side bulkhead a half a moment later. Glancing in Alice's direction Mark said. “Damn it Alice! Open your eyes and look where you are going.” Looking away from Alice and the mess she had made on the deck.
Taking a deep breath Mark looked at the English Captain. “As far as the Professor goes. I believe he had in-place bombs set to detonate and other resources not to mention a hundred s of bots he could have taken over again if he made it out of the building. If not for the fire his torpedo had started and he could have put out before it spread to being out of control, he would be safe and alive know with plenty of time for us to defuse the bombs in that building along with any others around the city as well as other problems and then remove him from the building.”
Starring at Captain Summers, his snarl softened as Alice slowly grew a pair of spots that resembled simple cartoon eyes as she studied the mess she had made. “Now I do not know what you Captain Summers , know about the defenses at the 3rd moon? But I do know a little of what the AI core I just liberated knows , though as I have only had time to look at a small fraction of the data yet even with all the time I spent trapped in the tunnel.” Mark looked around the table. “And thanks for getting me out by the way.”
Then taking a deep breath as his leg hit the table again sending Alice racing across the compartment and under the table to check the noise out. “The Military AI has 10,000 bots under his direct control guarding the moon with a hundred thousand in storage ready as reinforcements and enough heavy weapons around the moon to take down an enemy fleet let alone anything we can throw at it. The AI is also located deep inside a maze of thousands of miles of old maybe ancient mine tunnels with a new prison complex being built originally designed to hold only one person. Me evidentially."
Mark looked around the room thinking. "Finding the AI is not going to be easy since even the professor’s AI is not sure where he is at from what I have found so far. Though since the Admiral went there, the English must know but have not felt the need to share it yet. One advantage of the construction is that it will allow us to get past the half a hundred big Orbital defense guns protecting the moon using these transports. Then with all our marines and buddy bots in stealth suits we can just walk in past the Military AI’s bots and take out the AI controller. Simple. Hopefully. If we can find it. Which I am afraid could take some time. Several days if you English don’t know where it is located.” Taking a breath. “That is once we have had time t
o reequip and train on the new equipment. Not to mention time for our casual ties to rejoin this overgrown Company . ”
Looking around the table taking a deep breath, Mark smiled. “Well now. Since I am at the head of the table I will take it for granted that I have some authority here.” Looking at the Captain Summers. “Here is how things are going to work if I have any say in the matter.” He continued staring down the length of the table at Captain Summers as the little ball started darting around the compartment again after inspecting Mark’s knee and checking under the table.
“We are going back to the Star Queen to get our wounded the treatment they need, the equipment repaired, review the days actions and the troops not only properly trained in the equipment but lessons learned as well. Not to mention for dinner. I am starving and heard Steak and lobster tails is on the menu tonight. At least it better be after the last two days I have had.” Mark looked over at Captain Cook getting a smile from her.
Starring back at Captain Summers ’ red turning face for objections for several seconds as the little ball stopped near the Captain with a pair of spots for eyes to star as well. “You will sign over the shuttles, these transport boats since the military AI is not going buy us just renting these for a single transport job out to the moon. You will also sign over all the equipment we have in our possession as well as the materials for enough Stealth suits for all our marines and bots. You will also deliver any additional life rafts we need in addition to the ones I have already taken, to clear the Queen for launch as payment for services already rendered and the lives lost. Then when we are in orbit after a couple of days for additional training, we will take these four transport boats to the 3rd moon and rescue your Admiral; properly trained, prepared and ready for anything. And take care of your hostage taking battleship destroying A.I. without losing any troops. Hopefully.” Mark practically fell back into the chair behind him as his leg spasm e d jerked again hitting and hit the table with a loud thump that shook the table as he tried to stand straight up into attention to look more intimidating.
Captain Cook smiled from ear to ear. “Great going Mr. Collins. Perfect plan Captain Summers. Once we are in orbit we will have plenty of time to fine tune the plan once you come up with the AI’s location and prepare for rescuing your admiral. Oh and you will cover any station costs while we are there.”
Captain Summers looked around the room and finely starred at Mark for a good minute as Mark stared back at her over his fingers tented in front of him. The little ball only a few feet away from her still staring at her as well. Frowning as she finely glanced irritated around at the little ball that kept getting closer and closer as she said. “Very well Captain Cook. But I will get you a waiver for launch without the lifeboats. You will get them and clearance for the outback if you meet all the board’s requirements after you take care of the AI on the 3rd moon.” She glanced at Captain Cook then back at Mark. “Those new stealth suits have only been in the fleet for a few months and cost 10 times the price of the standard suits and are issued only to special units with the training to use them. You are not getting more material pods for them. You can take the squad you already have in by yourself. Find the Military AI’s cavern and rescue the Admiral. You do not need a fricking army of stealth suited Marines. After all, you have already proved that you can find and take care of one little AI with only one squad.” She swatted at Alice who easily dodged her hand and continued to stare at her.
“Alice get back here!” A smile crossed Mark’s face. “The magic word Captain is find. You don’t have any better idea where the AI’s Cavern is than I do evidentially. I am going to need my entire reinforced Company to search the tunnels to find the AI’s Cavern in a short enough time to keep the Admiral alive and the AI from mounting a defense. I figure we will only have a few hours to find the AI and the Admiral before shit hits the fan. I can not ’t do that with only a squad of men with thousands of miles of tunnels to search.”
Alice came back to sit just over his shoulder with her eyes shifting staring from Mark him to the Captain. “No. Captain Summers. You are going to have the stealth material supply modules for a hundred Stealth suits, no, five two hundred suits delivered to the Star Queen by the time this transport arrives at the Star Queen or your Admiral rots in the 3rd moon until the AI controller gets bored with him. And because you did not provide us with everything “I THINK” we needed as per our contract, we get the lifeboats as well as anything else needed to get us into orbit and out of your fucking system.”
Taking a deep breath as his leg hit the table again as he started to sit again but thought better of it as his leg hit the table. “Now not providing proper equipment may work with your own troops which you don’t seem too give a damn about getting slaughtered wearing old worthless equipment because a corrupt commanding General embezzled their equipment funds. I am not going to let you put my crewmen in that same situation just because you feel like being fucking ass hole cheap. We have already lost 3 good marines for you as it is from lack of training on this new equipment and my stupidity. No more.” Mark suddenly realized that half the marines were not even official marines except for the simulator training most of the crew got growing up. Fact was he was shocked they had not had a hell of a lot more casualties but was sure most of the casualties had not been the trained, certified marines. Now kicking himself for ordering every want to be marine recruit to come along just so he could fatten the number of suits and equipment they could grab. Though because of all the extra bodies, he had managed to get enough material and equipment to make suits for everybody on the ship sent over to the Queen before the battle. He had not needed or meant to send over half the crewmen he had into this damn meat grinder. But then his original plan called for just him going anywhere near anything dangerous. He had brought the rest along more for the intimidation value than anything else. To keep the AI’s attention off of him. He just had to figure out how to keep higher authority from interfering if there was a next time.
Turning the chair around so he could get out , Mark snarled at the English Captain. “Since it looks like you don’t value contracts, I am going to get this suit repaired before you take the materials away then take a shower, go over more of what our hopefully dead A.I. knows and see what I can dig up on the moons and asteroids around this planet for something that may help us because something stinks about the reported history and lack of facts about the 3rd moon and the asteroid ring. As well as finding out the capabilities and faults of all the new equipment we bought paid in full using the bounty reward for saving your planet's ass yet again Captain Summers. By your Command.” Mark bowed slightly and left the compartment limping. His suit squeaking and clanking and popping. The little ball darting after him after making sure no one tried to hurt him as he left with his back turned to them .
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Mark used his gloves to slide down the ladder’s side rails between each of the 4 decks, knowing his suit’s legs just were not up to bending to take each step. On the main deck, Mark stepped out into the cargo hold half way back from the bow and headed for one of the suit compartments that were placed on each side just forward of the stern hip turrets. Mark noticed as he headed aft that half a hundred marines with their bots helping, worked at securing the vehicles and equipment now packed into the transport boat leaving little room to move. Even with the upper most grating deck hanging down from the overhead (some 20 feet above), packed with equipment and pallets of supplies. Most of the troops sitting in the tween side hull compartments or on the roomy flag deck Mark had just left.
Mark started weaving his way around the vehicles stepping over the tie down chains as he made his way aft. Only his suit did not feel like cooperating as he tripped over a set of doubled up chains when his bad leg finally refused to bend. Sending him falling face first to the deck.
Picking himself up he proceeded to trip over the very next set of chains when his good leg decided to malfunction after hitting the deck knee first when he tri
pped the last time.
The A Sargent from his stealth squad landed next to Mark shaking his head. “You having a problem there Commander?”
Shaking his head in disgust at himself. “No Sargent. Just taking my time sightseeing on my way to the suit locker to get this piece of junk repaired. Thought I needed to check the underside of this little tank for scratches.” Since the bottom of the tank was completely hidden as it sat chained to the deck with no space between the deck and bottom hull plate lying flat on the deck, Mark smiled up at the Sargent then rolled over and started to use the side of the little tank to pull himself up with no help from his bad leg when it refused to bend very far. The leg suddenly sliding out from under him across the deck again.
Suddenly Mark was flying through the air as the Sargent and his bot picked him up under his arms and headed across the top of the vehicles toward the aft hatch that was still showing a thick cloud on the other side of the air curtain. Several vehicles were still outside waiting for others to finish being tied down. Two of the other Transport Boats could be seen as rough blobs not very far away with their outer hatches open showing beacons of light across the cloud darkened terrain.
Mark hadn’t gone 50 feet before one of the marines looked up and suddenly threw his arms into the air and shouted, “Commander Collins!” as his foot thumped the deck coming to attention making a boom. His bot coming to attention and thumping the deck as well at the same time.
Several more marines heard and turned and then shouted, “Commander Collins!” as they threw their arms into the air to salute and came to attention with their bots following suit. More marines turned followed by more shouts of, “Collins!” and thumps to the deck as they came to attention and within seconds the whole deck was chanting, “Collins! Collins! Collins!” as they started punching the air and thumping the deck with each shout.
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