“So. Who else knows?” asked Barbara with a face redder than before.
“Six or seven.”
“Six or seven!!! And I’m the last one?” Barbara planted her legs wide and turned her hands into fists at her side.
“For now, yes,” said Van, getting a little perturbed at the emotion she was showing. “You have to appreciate, however, the secrecy of all of this.” And just as he was going to admit his cowardly behavior, Barbara cut him off.
“What I understand,” she yelled while pointing a finger in his face, “is that, as a prime member of the Carson Group team and a presumed confidante of yours, I am the last person you chose to tell about this. It’s totally unacceptable. And you are not the person you pretended to be.”
“I am the same person I always was,” Van said defensively, taking a step back.
Still pointing a shaking finger, she continued, “And that’s a major part of the problem. You let me believe you were smarter than I ever imagined—that you were rich with an enormous future that I could be a part of. But you’re neither of those. I’m done with you and your lies. Get me a ride to the nearest airport. I don’t want to spend any more time with you than I have to.”
“But let me explain,” Van said in an attempt to save himself while taking a step closer to her.
“No!” Barbara stomped a foot for emphasis. “Your actions have been very clear. You’re an imposter. Now get me some transportation!” And she turned and walked briskly away.
Not knowing what else to do, Van made a quick call to a local friend who agreed to take Barbara to the airport. She was gone twenty minutes later.
“Commander,” said the mechanical voice of Harry.
“Yes, Harry. What is it?”
“You realize, Commander, that because Ms. Fuller has declined to be a part of our group, her memory needs to be erased.”
“I’m well aware of that, Harry. I dare you to get hold of her and make that happen. I certainly can’t.”
Whatever his building attraction to Barbara was, it was now completely broken. Snapped like a twig. This time for good. He should have felt some heart strains, but he didn’t. No, he actually felt relief in some way. The problem now would be continuing to work with her and her volatile emotions. Then it struck him. Part of the reason he’d accepted the Host agreement and the potential of immortality had been for Barbara. Now she was gone and he was alone again.
CHAPTER 23
Anikin was sitting in his command chair and thinking that he not only spent too much time here lately but that his other duties were suffering. But it can’t be helped. These are exceptional times, he rationalized. “Mikhael, how many trips has the Pitchka made to the crater now?” he asked.
“The Pitchka is now on its fourth trip dropping habitats and supplies, sir. The next trip will be taking technicians and scientists to set up the base.”
“That is good. What news of the new ship India provided…. for a fee?”
“Good news, sir. The ship was complete, as expected. We are only making some communications changes as well as adding radar and rocket pods as you requested.”
“How long before she will be ready to launch for the Moon?”
“Two weeks, General. That will include taxi tests and a limited orbital flight.”
“Very good, Mikhael. Very good,” said the apparently happy general, nodding his graying head.
Several days after Barbara’s noisy departure, and between the Moon-base training evolutions, Harry managed to return to Site R and pick up Van for a return flight to the Moon base. Once at the base, they moved to the Ops Center.
“How’s everything going, Harry? Everyone coming up to speed?” asked Van as he looked around the center.
“It goes quite well, Commander. Each person has had several turns in the learning chair to prepare them for their new roles. Also, when not in the chairs, they spend most of their waking time in the Aurora. The pilots, of course, spend time on both the shuttles and the Aurora. They keep asking when they can fly. Do you have a preference, Commander?”
“Not really, Harry. If the pilots want to take out the shuttles they can—provided you believe they are ready.” Van scrolled through one of the report screens as he spoke.
“They are ready, Commander. May I suggest they limit their flight to the dark area of the Moon, in stealth mode of course.”
Turning to face Harry, Van said, “That’ll be fine. They can even fly in a formation of two if they like. Just nothing too dramatic.”
“Yes, Commander. They will be happy to hear it.”
“I’m sure they will. Are they also getting astrogation training?”
“Yes, Commander. I believe that we will soon be ready for an extended training flight to test all their skills.”
“How far is extended?” he asked, bringing up a view of the solar system on the main screen.
“Perhaps to Mars and back, Commander. It should take only a few days, and we can continue to monitor the situations on the Moon and Earth. It is in line with our long-range goal of preparing for the Arkon. Everyone has to know how to operate these craft in real conditions. Simulations aren’t enough.”
Harry’s right, Van thought. I don’t think things will get completely out of hand in just a few days. And we need to get familiar with the Aurora and other craft or they won’t be of much use to us in sticky situations. And it may be a chance to look for signs of the Host. He surprised himself with this thought. Finding the Host might be a great advantage in helping prepare for the Arkon, to be sure. But if I did, could I also get them to let me out of the agreement? Time for that later.
Turning back to Harry, Van said, “That will do for a start. How about the engineers and the doctor?”
“I can barely get the engineers out of the Aurora to take their chair time. They are completely engaged. Likewise, Dr. Ramos spends every minute she can in sick bay. I believe she also looks forward to the extended trip.”
“I’ll bet she does. On this trip, I think I need some astrogation and engineering time in the chair for myself. I learned a lot earlier, but I’m sure there is more I can take in.”
“Possibly, Commander. Your learning sessions were more intense than these new team members, primarily because of your advanced brain. You also received learning on Host tactics, military history, and strategy. You are most welcome to spend time in the chair for some fine points. But your level of knowledge exceeds everyone’s, with the possible exception of Dr. Ramos. You only need to know the basics of medical treatment.”
“If you say so, Harry. What can you tell me about the Chinese and Russians?”
Calling up a view of the lunar surface on which he had overlaid symbols for the Chinese and Russian bases, Harry answered, “The Chinese have stepped up their work. They now have twelve scientists and technicians on-site, which they have named Fan Lau. All the deposited material has been taken into the lava tubes and the habitats set up. I expect deliveries of electronics soon so they can begin their surveillance work.
“The Russians have begun the same process at Tycho Crater. Lately they have been referring to the site as just Tycho. So far there have been no antagonistic moves from either party. By the way, the Russians just obtained a Passaro III–class spacecraft from the Indians, for a heavy fee. They will soon have two operational spacecraft.”
“And both armed like the Chinese?” asked a concerned Van.
“Yes, Commander.”
“I don’t like the potential of that, but it may all still work to our benefit. Keep an eye out, as you usually do. Now let’s go to the Aurora and see what’s happening firsthand.”
As Van and Harry entered the Aurora’s bridge, they were nearly run down by four pilots.
“Whoa! What’s going on?” asked Van.
“We just got word from Harry that we can go fly. On our way to the shuttles now. Is that OK?” asked Stan.
“Yes, Harry and I just talked about that. Just stay Moon local and don’t break anyt
hing,” said Van with a grin.
“Yahoo!” shouted somebody as they all raced out.
Pilots, thought Van. They’re the same everywhere. I was like that once. “Well, nobody here to talk to. So let’s move aft to medical and then engineering.”
“Yes, Commander.”
Entering sick bay, Van was again reminded of how beautiful Rose Ramos was. Beautiful and incredibly smart, he thought. But this is business. No place for personal considerations.
“Doctor, how are you doing?” he asked, recovering his presence of mind.
“Oh, you scared me! I didn’t hear you come in. I have been reading and examining data files, and I’m sure I will never learn all that’s here.”
“You will. What you don’t learn on your own you can get from the chair. Are you taking full advantage of that learning device, by the way?”
“Well, I have to admit that I usually prefer to learn on my own. But I probably can’t do that without help. I’ll spend more time in the chair. I promise.”
“Good. We’ll all be depending on you when we’re on mission. How about the robotic assistants? Are they of help?”
“Yes! It took me awhile to get used to them, but now I can’t imagine how any staff can do without them. They’re incredible!”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying this. I just wanted to stop in and say hello before heading to engineering.”
“How long will you be here?”
“I don’t know yet. At least a day or maybe two. Why?”
“I’m getting tired of all the same faces at dinner and was wondering if we might share a table before you go.”
Van thought about this for a moment. He hadn’t spent as much time with her as he had with other members of the crew. Might as well. “Sounds good to me. How about tonight?”
“Good! I’ll program one of the assistants to remind me to be there on time,” Rose said with a broad grin.
When Van stepped into main engineering, he was shocked and half-panicked to see pieces of engines, fuel systems, and electrical conduits all over the decks.
“What the hell is going on here?” he said, frozen in place. Have they gone nuts?
“Oh hi, Van. Elaine and I were tracing some of the fuel and power lines to the engines. They are really amazing,” said a smiling and dirty-faced Bob Cooper.
“I know they are, but why are you taking them apart?” Van still could not move.
“Oh, that. Well the chair taught us a lot, but there’s no substitute for getting down and dirty.”
“You can put all of this back together, right?”
“Oh, sure. No problem with what we now know.”
“That’s a relief,” said Van as his posture eased and his clenched fists became fingers again.
“How are you enjoying the work, or should I ask?”
“You could have talked to us all day about what we have here, but until you actually see it and touch it, the magnitude can’t be appreciated. I’m not sure you’ll ever get us out of here,” said an equally exuberant Elaine Parker.
“OK. But you do have to eat and sleep, remember?”
“Yeah, we know,” they said together, a little disappointedly.
With that, Van and Harry turned and made their way back to the base Ops Center.
“Changing the subject, Harry, has Big Brother made any progress on finding the silent partner of José Silva?”
“Yes, Commander. He appears to be a man named Frederico Rendon. All evidence points to Mr. Peter Meier having a longtime separate identity established in Venezuela, where he continues to own controlling interest in EOS Chemicals. He also still owns General Maritime Freight out of Le Havre and seems to have replaced Europa Medical with Pacific Medical near Mexico City. Most of his recent activity, however, seems to be in Venezuela, where he owns a ranch, and in Brazil, where he supported Brazaero’s development of the Passaro and Passaro II.”
“You say ‘supported Brazaero,’ in the past tense. Does that mean he’s no longer involved with that company?”
“It would seem not, Commander. After the disappearance of the Passaro II, Mr. Silva found himself out of funds until BrazilAir made him a buyout offer to continue production under their corporate organization. Production of the Passaro III and other airframes is proceeding at a significant pace, mostly destined for India and France. However, there is evidence that Mr. Meier, or Rendon, was responsible for the missing Passaro II. There were three Chinese nationals working on the craft before its final flight, and two were aboard at the time it disappeared. Logic suggests that the two technicians were actually pilots who seized the spacecraft and safely landed in China.”
“So Meier—I prefer to call him that—had a successful spacecraft built and tested and then turned it over or sold it to the Chinese. It that what you’re saying, Harry?”
“Yes, Commander. In addition, if the two technicians were pilots, they had to have been trained, and Mr. Meier was the only person, other than Mr. Silva, with access to simulator designs and specifications who could have provided the training.”
“What about the accidents in Germany and the Philippines?” Van asked with suspicion.
“The chances are nearly one hundred percent that Mr. Meier caused those events to give Brazaero the time to make the first flights. My primary reason for that assessment is that a man matching the description of Mr. Dieter Hellman was seen at both locations just before the accidents. Mr. Hellman is the chief security officer for EOS Chemicals.”
“That son of a bitch!” shouted Van almost without knowing it. “He’s selling ships and fuel to the Chinese!”
“Yes, Commander. But there is more.”
“Why am I not surprised? What else is he doing?”
“Mr. Hellman has also been seen by Big Brother passing information to Russian intelligence operatives. Evidence is that he has also provided the Passaro II designs to the Russians along with the fuel they are using. Those agreements most likely also include training.”
“Is he crazy? Don’t answer that, of course he is. And he’s leading both countries down the path of confrontation. And the US is in no position to stop them because Meier has essentially denied fuel for any spacecraft they might come up with. And meanwhile he makes millions or probably billions. It’s a brilliant plan for him.”
“Yes, Commander.”
“So have you found Meier so we can go after him again?”
“No, Commander. He is staying hidden. Early in these events he had several meetings at his ranch, but those seem to have stopped.”
“And we have no clue what he’ll do next, I suppose?” asked a frustrated and angry Van.
“We do not know what he will do next, Commander. My greatest concern is that he likely still has the powerful computer from the Chad site. It was never recovered from Avantek, as you recall.”
“I remember, Harry. I was there when we tried to find it. Don’t tell me anything more. I’m already depressed. It’s time for dinner, and I promised Dr. Ramos I would meet her.” He turned and left the Ops Center.
As he made his way to meet Rose, Van fought down the frustration rising in him. Meier had been a major distraction in Van’s early efforts to introduce Host technology and prepare for the Arkon. More importantly, Meier and the Host had contributed to his minimal social life, which he was now starting to regret. I like Rose, Van thought. But she is a member of the crew. And my luck with women hasn’t been at all good. He was conflicted. His introverted nature made it hard for him to open up to people in general and women in particular. On top of that, he was still gun-shy from his latest failed experience with Barbara. But being so alone was getting to be difficult with all that was going on. Perhaps I need to make an effort to know her better. And his frown turned into a smile as he walked.
CHAPTER 24
Dinner was a pleasant change of pace. Frustrated with the discovery of Meier’s activities, Van looked forward to sitting with Rose and temporarily putting Meier out of his mind.
&
nbsp; “Well, this isn’t a five-star restaurant, but the food is pretty good coming from a reprogrammed alien replicator,” he quipped as he sat next to Rose with his tray.
“Surprisingly, the food is quite good. I think Harry programmed all our favorites into the system,” she said with a smile that nearly knocked Van off his seat.
“Yeah, Harry is invaluable. Sometimes I wonder who is actually running things around here, me or him.”
“I think it’s a partnership. Each of you brings something to the table that the other doesn’t have. And it seems to work quite well.”
“I guess it does,” said Van.
“I’m glad you stopped by the sick bay today. We haven’t seen much of you lately.”
“I know,” he commented between bites of pot roast. “Putting this crew together and planning our next steps has taken most of my time. Then I ran headlong into an issue with our potential intelligence officer.”
“What kind of issue?” Rose asked curiously, putting her fork down.
“It’s a long story better not dwelled upon. The short of it is that she and I once had a thing going, and it may have been starting again, but she went off the rails when I told her about all of this. She was convinced I had been lying to her for over a year. And I think she was disappointed I was not the actual inventor and brain behind all of this technology. I think her visions of our, or her, future just collapsed.” He didn’t add that he hadn’t made the strongest effort to make things work in the end.
“Why? She doesn’t find all of this fascinating in its own right?”
“Not really. But let’s not talk about it now. I’m more interested in finding out how you’re adjusting and what you think of what we’re doing,” said Van with a happier attitude.
“I do find it fascinating. I only wish I could share it with the world right now. But I understand what the impact might be, so I’m tempering my enthusiasm. I’ve learned more about medicine in the short time I’ve been here than through all my medical training and practice. Then throw in spaceships, space travel, and aliens, and what more could a girl want?” she said, again with that great smile.
Immortal Guardian: Hoast Saga Book 2 (Host Saga) Page 17