“With the power of the Grid and our vast fleet of powerful warships we will rule this arm of the galaxy within my lifetime. All aggressive species will be wiped from existence. The remaining docile unfortunates will be herded to war or to slaughter for our causes. Within a thousand years the Durians will rule this galaxy!”
The Durian’s words were fascinating. They possessed a pure hatred of everyone not Durian and a willingness to use whatever means necessary to rid the galaxy of such. No others were viewed as equals, only as those to be sacrificed in the name of Duria, their god.
I asked the commander about their home-world. He replied, “Methessila.” He then began to describe the plants, animals, cities, people and their accomplishments. The Durians were proud of what they had become. As the Durian continued he began to slur his words. Less than a minute after first having difficulty he fell silent and slipped from his chair to the floor. A green ooze dripped from his small blue scaly nose. The Durian was dead.
I banged my fist on the table and then rose to pace the room. “We were so close! He was about to tell us their location. I’m beginning to wonder if we are ever going to find any of this out.” George stopped me and put his hand on my shoulder, “There will be other chances and when they come we will know. We at least know Methessila. Some traveler somewhere knows where that is.”
George took control of the Durian’s body for an autopsy. He was dead, but it didn’t mean there was nothing else to be learned from him. Knowing the locations of vital organs and nerve bundles could be useful during hand-to-hand combat. We were not yet at war with the Durians, but we knew that one day soon that might all change. Of late, the Durians were seemingly picking sides.
After George finished his autopsy we lifted off from the swamp planet and fired the dead Durian’s body towards the planet’s sun. If there was a tracking device located on or in his body, it would not survive the immense heat and pressure of the star. The Colonel turned the Slaughter towards home. Frig was in need of his lab to do a thorough analysis of the Durian data. The Colonel and I would need to plan our next move.
Upon our return Gy gave the news that our newest personal craft was ready to deliver to Doris on the Grid. The Finch had all of our latest modifications. The exterior was painted with a subdued red and a gray stripe that ran the length of the hull. It matched the colors of the Martool Mining and Commodities logo.
The small ship featured a full strength ion cannon as well as a negative ion field generator. At times she might find it advantageous to stop and disable a ship to enable her own getaway. Free space still had its dangers.
After seeing the Finch off I took a stroll to the Colonel’s office. “Grange! Have a seat and let’s get started. I have a few ideas I would like to run past you. I think you’ll like ‘em but I want your buy in before I take them further. It’s time we took a deep run beyond the Torrian world into the Delvin sector.”
“The Delvin is where I believe we will find the real Milgari supply lines and factories. They have to be building those ships somewhere and it’s high time we figured out where. We slowed their production for a while by disrupting their Tantric supplies. I think it’s time we stopped that production at its source.”
I thought about the Colonel’s proposal, it was sound. “Do we have any data at all on the Delvin sector?” The colonel pulled out a paper chart. We have a scan from the Grid as it passed through that sector on its way to its current location. I had a friend pull it out for me from the archives. Had to grease a few palms as it is not public info, but there are always those eager to make a few extra credits.”
“It doesn’t have much detail as traveling at that speed takes its toll on the sensors. But we do have several dozen star systems that we passed that are near the Torrian world. I thought we would start with recon runs of those. Maybe we will get lucky.”
“We will be sending 46 teams of two out to scour the area. If we give them a month at it I’m sure we can find some targets of value. Heck, we might even get lucky and get the opportunity to grab a few prisoners for interrogation. George has been training several crews on the use of the truth drug. Pop a few new Torrians and maybe we get lucky with vital info on their operations in the sector.”
After discussing the Colonel’s plan I gave my approval for him to proceed. I took a short walk to Frig’s lab to see how the Durian data mining was coming along. “So, what do you have for me? Anything we can use?” Frig moved from one console to another as he worked over the information the data contained.
“Sir, the Durian data is stored in a format that does not make sense. It does not seem to be encrypted, but it is also not connected. In Human writing as well as Gambit and most other species, a series of words are connected to form a sentence that conveys a broader message. The Durian data is missing that connection. Such as this… Package offers three Mega diagonal septic.”
“Until we know what that means we have no useable information. At the moment I am at a loss Sir. We are either missing a fundamental key to the meaning of the data or it was scrambled before I could access it.” I walked the lab looking at Frig’s setup. “What’s this console over here?”
Frig eagerly explained, “I was unsure of the nature of the Durian data. They are a crafty bunch and in order to prevent that data from finding its way onto our network I isolated these three systems from it. This particular system performs a continuous monitor function on the data itself. I took the precaution in case the data contained a virus.”
“If this monitor sounds, a program on that data store is attempting to replicate or move itself elsewhere. It would not be out of the realm of possibility that this data is one big cyber weapon. With the Durians it is almost impossible to know.”
“Oh, Sir. I also took the liberty of attaching your father’s data cube to a cracking system of its own. The system will run continuous algorithms against it in an attempt to get through. The Swift was able to decode a single key of the encryption, but it appears to be 132 layers deep. As I said before, unless the cracking algorithm stumbles upon the right sequence it could be many years before we are able to break through. Having a single key though, is an excellent start.”
I moved over to another console in the lab and began to peruse through status reports from the entities that made up the Council of Governors. There was something comforting about being around Frig as he worked. It was like the background noise from your home. Familiar sounds would put you at ease.
The status reports read that the terraforming of Jarhead continued to move rapidly along. The atmospheric portion was ahead of schedule. Our planet would be able to sustain air breathing life in only a few short months. When our scientists gave the go-ahead, we would then move forward with terraforming the ground. Within two years, the greening up of Jarhead would begin.
The automated space docks continued to crank out Raiders. The Colonel and his men had been working on a destroyer design that would soon be under construction. The destroyer would house 26 Raider ships along with the supplies and repair facilities to keep them flying for extended periods of time. The conversion of the five captured Milgari cruisers was well underway.
With the Wren and the Finch now in service we had given additional thought to turning the small flyers into warships. They would be a tight fit for a crew of two on an extended mission, but moving through space had only ever been a travel of luxury for a wealthy few. Most transports were less that comfortable after a week���s time aboard.
The smaller ship design was designated as the Hawk. Gy’s designers were of the opinion that our automated docks could initially produce 100 Hawks per month if full priority was given to the program. I began to think in terms of taking on a large Milgari force. I wondered if the Hawks could rise to the challenge offered by such a force. I was soon daydreaming of 2,000 such Hawks going up against a 1,000 ship Milgari fleet. Bigger was not always better.
After spending much of the afternoon with nothing else to do I gathered several m
embers of the Council of Governors together. “I’ve been having thoughts of starting up contact with Admiral Zimmerman. I am curious as to their progress and I am interested in how they manage diplomacy with other species such as the Prassi.”
“I wanted everyone’s input before moving ahead.” Rita spoke first, “I think we need all the allies we can get. 17,000 Milgari ships is way beyond our ability to deal with. I understand that the best we can do at the moment is to pick at them around the edges and then do the occasional hard strike. But they are going to adapt and find ways to make those efforts much less productive. We need allies and we need all we can get.”
The room erupted in discussion before the Colonel stood and spoke, “We have been building up our forces, but we are reaching the limits of what we can do effectively. Pilots are becoming difficult to find and with the new Hawk ships we are talking of building we are going to need many more. We can train, but their needs to be some level of flying skills already present unless we want to send greenhorns into battle. Personally, that is not a practice I like.”
The others in the room each voiced their opinions. As the discussion continued Frig walked in with news of the Durian data. “I’ve just come from the lab, the Durian information was a trap. The detection monitors I had running sounded the alarm just before the intelligent application in the data store broke through its firewalls. Nine levels of high security were violated in under a minute. I’m afraid we have little left of value from our Durian encounter.”
I replied, “That is not true. We know they have chemical lasers that function when ion fields have gone static, we know the name of their home-world, and we know that they die just like everyone else. I would say we learned a lot from this encounter. We also learned that our strategies and tech can defeat a Durian destroyer.”
Frig sighed, “You of course are correct Sir, my response was mostly rhetorical. I am frustrated at the moment because of my failure. Although, somewhere in there could still be a silver lining. If I am able to analyze their intelligent application, I may be able to figure out a way to use it against them.”
“I believe its initial programming directed it to gather information to be transmitted to the Durians at some future point. If that is true, we may be able to fill it with false discoveries and to then provide a method for that data to be released. Those falsehoods could be tales of our woe, of our immense power and capability or perhaps of a false location of our home base. Hmmm, I will be giving this some thought.”
I could see the gears in Frig’s brain turning. He quickly asked to be excused and headed back towards his lab. Our discussion continued through the morning until we stopped to take a vote. It was unanimous. I would be flying out to make contact with Zimmerman the following afternoon. I would be bringing to his attention my concerns over Cortes and the Ranger and their meeting with the Milgari. Cortes would have to come clean.
When the meeting had adjourned I asked George about his progress with the Milgari virus. His team had successfully killed the virus in a Milgari, but it was at the expense of the Milgari’s life. The virus engrained a dependency in the hosts nervous system, if it was not present the host body would shut down.
After the day���s activities I returned to my office for some quiet time. Running an empire was tiresome. The constant push and pull of the needs of thousands gave the position of President an often unsatisfying edge. I soon found myself asleep in a lounge chair. I did not wake until morning.
Gy’s computer team made a run through of the Wren’s computer system. They removed any data that would lead a captor back to our base. I was taking a chance by speaking to Zimmerman. I hoped that he was the man of honor that he had once been. Things were changing on the Grid and old political alliances could easily turn against you if not properly managed.
After a hardy meal in the general mess hall I boarded the Wren and set out for Zimmerman’s space. It had been a long time since I had been in the distant grid. I was traveling in a straight line and had the image projector running, I slid silently along, unknown to any who crossed my path or looked for moving ships.
I slowed before approaching the moon base. I had fully expected to pick up something on my sensors as on my last visit there were picket ships that kept a watch on the surrounding area. I cruised into the system and was soon orbiting the moon that had at one time been Zimmerman’s base of operations. There was nothing. No evidence that man or any other species had ever been there.
I sat for several minutes with my hand rubbing my square chin. Had the plug on the clandestine army been pulled? Had their position been compromised leaving them no choice but to pull up stakes and move? There was no evidence of a fight. I set a course for the Grid to quiz Doris on what she might know.
Four days later I arrived and settled in to the Alpha sector landing bay. Doris met me at the dock. “Hello Rex! This is a surprise meeting. I have a few things to discuss with you when we get back to my office, big things.”
I reached out to Doris as she began to turn, “How about we meet on the Wren where we know it is private. I’ve often wondered just how far SCore’s eyes and ears extend here on the Grid. It is their station and they could easily bug every square inch of it.”
Doris replied, “That is true. It���s why I built a confidence box inside my office. I have a sound and signal insulated box that is my actual office. It sits inside a larger room that I have standard signals emanating from should anyone be listening through the walls. When you walk through the door you have no idea that it is sitting in a much larger room. But we can talk here if you like.”
I nodded my head and pointed my hand towards Doris’ office. “After you” I said with a smile. “As always, I am impressed with your ability to manage on your own.” The walk took 20 minutes and was filled with small talk about the Grid. Doris had very strong opinions.
“Michael Felix continues to consolidate power. He has moved up to several of the power committees within the Senate. I suspect he will be running for President two years from now when the next full election is held. He has quite the following and so far has not had a misstep during his speeches. He seems to be able to rile up the people and easily shame those who would plot against him.”
And I have reports of little miss Elizabeth meeting with him often. Definitely a business relationship, but I have yet to figure out what it is they discuss. And I check on Jeb’s cousin Duane at the shooting range every few weeks just to make sure he is not being singled out for anything. So far, there hasn’t been any evidence of him being watched. The range itself is doing well, but nothing that would draw much attention.”
When we entered Doris’ office she asked her secretary that we not be disturbed. When the door closed she pushed several buttons on her desk and the two cabinets to either side of the door slowly slid together. Several seconds later a chime could be heard signaling that the office was tight.
Doris spoke, “Now, we can discuss anything we like. I have sensors surrounding the outside of the box that tell me if any signal leakage develops, so we should be neat and tidy.” The office walls were stained wood. A heavy crown molding that matched the stain surrounded the ceiling. It was an office that you would expect to find at a high-end company. The large desk that Doris was seated behind commanded attention. I nodded my head in approval as I looked around.
“Doris, I am in need of any information you have on Admiral Michael Zimmerman. I believe he may be related to the current Vice President, or at least a close ally. He is one of our most highly decorated military leaders so tread lightly if you need to go out and gather info.”
Doris typed Zimmerman into her desk computer. “Let’s see what I have… he was here on the Grid a week ago Tuesday. Had a two hour meeting with… ugh, Michael Felix. He had lunch and then a hearing in the Senate chamber. He then departed for his ship, the Belvedere. His ship and several escorts then departed.”
So Zimmerman was still alive, that was good news. But I now had the t
ask of finding him. I turned back to Doris, “Do your people have any contacts of contacts listed? I’m sure someone on this station knows where he is or how to contact him. I need to speak with him regarding issues of extreme importance to us all.”
Doris browsed through her information, “He did meet for dinner with… hmmm, Ashley Elizabeth. It seems your girl is right in the thick of whatever is going on. If you choose to meet up with that one again I would be very careful. You might end up pinned to a table and injected with all sorts of drugs making you spill your guts. You know, with you goes this whole operation.”
I sat back in the chair and ran my fingers through the hair on top of my head, “Yeah, I’m well aware of that. I sometimes look around at all that is going on and all that we have done and I’m just blown away. How could the series of events that has transpired have led us to this point? We are fighting a war!”
“And we have resources at our disposal that most nations could not dream of having. It’s like a storm where everything is swirling madly around us, but we have somehow managed to stay in this little eddy current that has allowed our capabilities to explode. We are terraforming a whole planet out there! I sometimes wonder when this is all going to come to a head and collapse. I’d hate to think I brought it on all those good people who are by my side… including you.”
Doris gave a slight smile, “Well Sir, all I can say is you may have provided me with the opportunity of a lifetime here, but it is me who took it. And it is me who will continue to commit all I have to this effort because I know that it is just and it is right. All of these people that have joined on are not so much willing to lay down their lives for you Sir, but for the cause. This war affects us all.”
I leaned over the side of the chair and looked at the floor. It was a smooth polished marble. I then looked back at Doris and chuckled, “Sorry Doris, I just get a little overwhelmed sometimes given the gravity of all this. I’ve struggled with this before. And if by chance you talk to Frig, please don’t mention this discussion as he has heard my blathering about it more times than he can count on his hands. I just sometimes need that grounding reassurance that what we are doing is right.”
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