by Max Jager
"They sense something's not right," observed Justin, "Nothing against you guys personally but that's just the way they are." Zyndon and the others quietly stood outside the stalls looking at their counterparts.
"How intelligent are they?" Asked Issia,
"Depends on how well you train them," replied Meghan, "As a rule horses aren't very smart no offence."
"None taken," replied Issia,
"So you have no horses at all where you come from?" Asked Justin.
"Just us," replied Zyndon, "In case you weren't aware, we come from the planet Denedra. So you've never seen the likes of us?' "Just in pictures and ancient mythology" said Meghan, adding. "You don't have any winged horses or unicorns do you?" The centaurs laughed, "Ah, them, Matt asked us about them as well, however as far as we know no such creatures have ever existed on either Denedra or Doradus, perhaps they were part of the tribe that landed on your world and are now gone."
"Well the fact that you, along with elves and fairies actually exist," said Justin makes me think that might be true. So, do you let people ride you?" Zyndon stared at him,
"As long as they are of a reasonable weight and have a purpose. Back on Denedra, the royal cavalry ride on us but we all work as teams, rider and centaur, after proper training one soon learns what the other is thinking." Zyndon then looked at his friends, then at Justin and Meghan.
"How 'bout we leave our gear here, you two saddle your mounts or whatever you do and we'll all go for a ride, it will give us a chance to properly evaluate the measure of these creatures."
Both Meghan and Justin were somewhat apprehensive over this but went ahead and saddled up. By now, their animals had calmed down and seemed to accept the strange creatures. In no time, they were riding in a tight group Meghan and Justin surrounded by the centaurs who were observing not only the horses but the riders as well. At Zyndon's insistence, they stayed out a good hour before stopping to rest. Both Zyndon and Ladhas had the humans show them how they controlled their mounts, then Ladhas asked Justin,
"Do you humans fight on these creatures?"
"We used to but not so much anymore, horse cavalry has been obsolete for well over a hundred years."
"Well from what little I know about the other worlds I suppose we are too," sighed Zyndon.
"I'm curious about something," said Tressa, "Indulge me for a moment if you will." With that, she slowly approached Meghan who was sitting on her horse.
The animal acted nervous at first but settled down as Tressa slowly petted and caressed his head.
Turning to Zyndon, she said,
"I get nothing, I thought that perhaps there might be some inherent telepathic abilities in them but it doesn't appear so."
"I thought as much," replied Zyndon. "You…Meghan, take that saddle off your horse and let me look at it." She cautiously did as he requested,
He held it in his hands examining it along with the thick blanket, then instructed her to place it on his back. She was hesitant at first but did as he requested.
"Don't be shy with that cinch strap; pull it tight it won't bother me." Once she had done so he reached behind himself and wiggled it around a bit.
"Not bad, the blanket is a little scratchy but all things considered… All right now climb on." She swung herself into the saddle as Zyndon stood there.
"Here we go, hang on."
Once again, they raced over the savanna as Meghan tried to come to grips with no reins to guide her mount.
"Why are you nudging me like that?" He turned and asked.
"Because that's how you tell a horse where to go and what to do," she replied.
"All you have to do is simply tell me where you want to go and I'll go there; now quit shoving your knees into me."
"Well how else can I stay on," she snapped back. Upon returning to New Coryville Zyndon insisted on riding right down the middle of the street which Matt, Liam, Donald Falkner and Rick Patterson happened to be walking down. Riding up to him and the other's Zyndon announced.
"Sadly these creatures are not what we had hoped for, as far as we're concerned, you're free to do whatever you want with them other than abuse them. However, the same rules in regards to riding any one of us or asking us to carry burdens or pull wagons and carts that are in force on Denedra apply here as well. We will let you people ride us for free in an emergency, but expect to be paid for carrying anything based on weight, as well as pulling anything, are we clear on that?"
"We are Zyndon," replied Matt, "Why don't you guys stick around for a few days and we can come up with some sort of list regarding weight limits and pulling carts and such okay?"
"That would be fine with us, now, where can we stay, as well as get something to eat?"
Matt was overjoyed that this situation had been peacefully resolved; he thought a lot of Zyndon as well as Ladhas feeling they could be wonderful assets to Endor.
He saw to it a surplus army squad tent was erected for the centaurs to sleep. Unlike horses, they folded their legs to sleep, and unlike horses, they chose where they would defecate so a slit trench was dug that they could straddle surrounded by a wall of canvas. That evening, everyone gathered around the fire and listened as Zyndon and his friends told stories of life on Denedra.
Chapter 144
Titan Stand Chapter 144
Donald Falkner asked Zyndon and Ladhas if they were interested in becoming part of the militia force he was building.
"You folks would make perfect scouts, we can't be everywhere but we could certainly use someone to watch for things and report anything suspicious. This is a big planet, and we really have no idea who or what else could be here."
"We won't carry riders if that's what you're implying," said Ladhas.
"No riders," replied Falkner, "If we were with you it would be on horses. Would you have any objections to carrying your own supplies or a radio on your backs, perhaps even a rifle?"
"What are these rifles and radios you speak of?" Asked Issia.
After a thorough explanation, and showing them what rifles and radios were Zyndon and the others were intrigued, however there were concerns.
"Let's get one thing perfectly clear," said Zyndon, "We will be glad to do this for you provided there is payment, and all we do is observe and report. We will not attack anything unless it attacks us, which is why we will agree to carry these rifles of yours provided you train us in their operation. Also no riders."
Matt and Donald both readily agreed to their terms, however Matt made it clear,
"Since we're just starting out we can't pay you much but we will supply you with free food as well as anything else you require. Since we don't really have any maps maybe we can teach you rudimentary map making as well."
"Now what about ordering us around?" Asked Ladhas.
"You'll be on your own," said Falkner, there are areas we would like to know more about. Basically you just go to these locations wander around make a map, note anything unusual or interesting and report in when your finished Any problems, you call us on one of the radio's we'll give you and we'll come running but you're strictly scouts, just explore and observe."
"Sounds fine by us," replied Zyndon."
Later, Matt, Falkner, Patterson and Jenson discussed this;
"I can't believe how easily they agreed to this," said Donald.
"I can't either," replied Matt, "Just remember scouting is their sole function, nothing more, they get guns for self-protection that's all. They are being honest with us I intend on being honest with them is that clear?"
Over the next couple of weeks Falkner and his team showed the centaurs how to shoot and properly clean the AR's they had been given, along with radio operation. Meghan and Justin worked with Zyndon and Ladhas in coming up with comfortable packsaddles that would carry their supplies as well as the small comm units that Clath and Gandric put together. They spent a lot of time on the firing range learning to shoot as well as map making.
Both Zyndon and Ladhas received binocular
s, while Rick loaned Issia one of his camera's as well as showing her how it worked. Justin brought up the subject of horseshoes and whether they would require them with all the walking, they would be doing.
"Back on Denedra," explained Ladhas, we wear these steel shoes only because we carry riders, here we don't, and those packs aren't that heavy. Besides, we watch where we walk unlike those horses of yours."
Finally, everyone received camouflage shirts, jackets, and "boonie" type hats, courtesy of Rick Patterson and Mark Jensen who took their BDU's over to Mos Eisley and had eight sets copied on the 3D printer they had over there.
Zyndon let it be known to Matt that while they blustered a lot, he and his friends were proud to do what they could for Endor, which they now considered their new home.
"Just remember you guys," cautioned Matt, just explore, try and locate possible trails, and keep an eye out for any unusual activity. Don't try and engage. If you spot trouble get out of there immediately and report back to us, we'll take it from there okay?"
For starters Falkner asked then to head south for at least a hundred miles and gradually work back home in a circular pattern, but just take their time while doing so.
After they had gone, both Matt and Donald finally felt as though they had made the first step in defending Endor, it might not seem like much, but it was a major start. Meanwhile, Rick Patterson, and Mark Jensen began their own recon team only they rode two of the horses brought from earth. They chose to circle the massive lake that Mos Eisley sat in the middle of.
It was also during this same time Ichirou Haruto and Ror-Jes M'Raixx reached an agreement on growing dreeda on Endor. Once the two sites were chosen, M'Raixx sent in his crews who dug, and prepared the fields. Deep wells were sunk and water-monitoring stations set up. Most of the operation was automated; however, Ror-Jes left the actual operation up to Mr. Haruto, who along with his son and daughter-in-law handled the day-to-day operation. A couple weeks later, a group of androids arrived from Xandrus to help with all the farming tasks on Endor. Before they arrived, Matt made it clear to everyone involved in agriculture production that these were not robots and woe to anyone who tried treating them as such. To be sure, things got off to a rough start and there were many misunderstandings, but once everyone had adjusted to machines, actually thinking for themselves and making logical decisions relations quickly improved.
It wasn't long before more arrived, with Walter Topping and his construction crew snagging one they re-named "C3PO," quickly adopting him as "Just one of the guys." Two more were put to work operating and maintaining the power station, while two more joined Gandric, Clath, and Gabe, and now Mark Danner in what everybody was calling the "skunk works."
Their first project was two fully functional flying saucers based on the model Steve Haines had brought with him. Steve was dividing his time between NASA business, and helping out at the skunk works where he helped work out electrical problems.
Slowly but surely, New Coryville was taking shape as well as growing. The Oxnian advisors who showed up from time to time all seemed pleased by the progress and the industry that was taking place. They in turn passed the word along, to commercial interests who soon approached Matt and his ad hoc committee about establishing operations on Endor. While many offers were rejected as inappropriate for the planet several were, and while most were strictly automated concerns all required a certain number of living beings to manage and oversee operations. This in turn brought on a minor housing growth adding to the population of Endor.
One tradition brought from earth was "Saturday night." During the week, everyone in New Coryville worked hard but come Saturday night it was into the shuttles and off to Mos Eisley to relax and blow off steam. As Doug Stamford so succinctly put it;
"There's something very surreal when you enter the bar at Mos Eisley ready to rub elbows with a dozen different races in the galaxy and you hear the Spencer Davis Group belting out "Gimme Some Loving. Science fiction has become non-fiction." Not surprisingly, it was people like Frick and Wescott, Kathy Steel, Gary Simmons, and Trent Farmer who loved hanging out at the bar. Where else could you buy drinks for aliens and if they were in a good mood learn the secrets of the universe. One evening while Matt, Liam, Lee Martin, and Mark Danner were sitting around enjoying a pitcher of Clandian beer Clath sat down. Everyone liked Clath as he reminded them so much of Yondu from "Guardians of the Galaxy," he even dressed like him.
Pointing at Matt, he announced,
"You my friend may be making another run to earth."
"And why is that Clath?" he asked.
"Because we are out of your earth beer, and almost out of all that liquor you brought us."
"Don't tell me that even with the premium prices you and Brand charge, you've gone through all of it?"
"Sad but true," replied Clath, "before you leave tonight, go talk to Brand he's got an idea up his sleeve."
Matt hadn't planned on returning home for at least a year or more as it would take that long just to plan for the fuel and logistics. On the other hand, Brand and Rekton who he knew was also involved in this had many connections and could make things happen. Matt hadn't realized he was back as he hadn't seen either Amber or Jezang.
When he and Liam entered Brand's office the big green Golian was busy on his computer.
"Have a seat fella's, I'll be done momentarily." Brand looked tired and worn out as he finished up what he had been doing
"When did you get back?" Asked Matt,
"This morning, Amber and Jezang are still back on Golia wrapping things up, they should be back in the next centon or two."
"How did things go?" Brand shook his head and looked at Matt with weary eyed.
"As bad as things could have been, however we got out without a scratch so there's that, I'm getting too old for this kind of work. Well, that's not why I had Clath send you here. Ready to make a trip back home?"
"Uh not really," replied Matt, I've got a ton of shit to do around here, but I can tell from that look in your eye this is very important, so I guess I'm in, Liam too."
Finished with his work, Brand turned around with a grim look on his face.
"When I had you bring back all that beer and liquor I had intended it to be a novelty item, something like a rare wine." Then shaking his head, he added.
"Who could have foreseen sales would surpass all the local products we sell, and the fact that we charge premium prices doesn't seem to make any difference either go figure."
Are you sure this is going to be a steady thing," asked Liam "Maybe once the novelty wears off sales will settle back down to normal."
"Possibly, but Clath's wife who bartends tells us that even with the premium prices, it's all anyone wants to drink. Oh don't get me wrong, all the products we get from the trading company are still selling well, but we're down to two kegs and four cases of assorted liquor, however we are all out of this Tequila which has proven wildly popular, and scotch, I can't believe it."
"So I take it a trip back to earth is in the works?" said Matt.
"It would seem so," replied Brand, "But there's more. "I know you're familiar with Neb from "Neb's Nebula" well he wants in on the action as well, even offering to go half on expenses, and frankly with all that he's done for me over the yeans, I cannot refuse him."
"Let me guess," replied Matt, "Right now you two are putting together a big "beer run" to earth, that's cool nothing wrong with that, unfortunately, it couldn't come at a worse time. I've got a ton of shit going on and a million problems to deal with but I'm in the same boat you are with Neb, when do we leave and who all is going?" Brand chuckled,
"That's the spirit Matt, As much as I want to go, I've got to stay here and keep an eye on things." Matt started to protest until Brand held up his hand.
"I know, I know you've got to do the same. I'll tell you what, this place won't consume all my time so I'd be glad to look in from time to time over at New Coryville, and if there should be any raider trouble I've got frien
ds I can call on to come and help."
"Well I was going to ask Amber and Jezang to take over, but yeah I'd like that, you guys get along, and if there is any trouble I know you could handle it," said Matt.
"What about a ship?" Brand smiled,
"Neb is supplying a large transport, one of his ships really; he saves a lot of transport fees and taxes by picking up his supplies personally rather than waiting on the trading company to deliver. So right now, it looks like it Neb, Orlak, you remember him, to fly the ship. Rekton, Clath, and you."
"There's room for a couple more, anyone you want?"
"Well it's Liam's turn to make a trip home, probably Major Morford, since we are going to be dealing with NASA, and maybe one more but I'll let the major make that decision."