Gray Panthers: Earths Revenge

by David Guenther

  The little ensign spoke into his microphone and the next moment the Battle Ship Fury had all its firepower directed at the Arizona Space Ship Beater.

  “Battle Ship Fury you have an impressive array of weapons. At this time we have enough enemies. We do need trading partners though. If it is your intention to open fire then do it. I do not have the time to waste with you at this time. What are your actions going to be?” Young baited the battle ship Captain.

  The ensign looked at Young and said they would be allowed to proceed to planet Dirt on the heading that was now being transmitted to the bridge. They were not to deviate from that heading or they would be fired upon. The ensign then left the ship with his two sailors. The commander immediately ordered the ship on the new heading and requested Capt. Young to report to the bridge.

  “Captain Young, you will never communicate on behalf of this ship ever again without the express approval of myself. Do you understand this order as I have given it?” Commander Johnson asked in a very low voice that still came across clearly.

  “I understand your order, sir. If in the capacity as mission commander of this operation I require to communicate for the ship, I will try to consult you first. That ship was manned by the Rote Species. They respect courage and are naturally confrontational. If we had conceded to their demands to scan every human they next would have inspected every inch of the ship to see what it would take to start a confrontation. I beat them to the punch and have established us with their military as ones not to mess with. After the mission is over if you feel they need to recommend disciplinary action that is your prerogative, sir.”

  “You are dismissed Captain, good job,” Johnson praised. “We are two hours from the planet you may wish to get ready.”

  Short Blade sat in the back of the shuttle looking over his modified beamer. He felt the trip would be a simple one, but his heart was pounding in the expectation of combat. His father had taught him the art of war. The humans had taught him the science of war. When his time with the humans was up he was not sure what he wanted to do. He believed he could get a shuttle from the Gray Panthers and be his own businessman. The thought of staying with the humans also stayed in his mind as he liked and respected them. Captain Young walked up to the shuttle wearing his civilian clothing and sat across from Short Blade deep in thought. Short Blade understood and did not disturb him. Young looked up at him, seeing him for the first time.

  “Are you ready to assume command of the mission after I’m killed Short Blade?” Young looked intently into his eyes as he waited for the reply. The full seriousness of the question transferred to Short Blade.

  “I will not fail you, the team, or the mission my Captain. I would like to be able to make a communication to my home world when the mission is completed. I want my mother to know I am alive and well working with the humans. I also want to report that my father and his command were captured and are in no danger.”

  “Keep tight for the mission and we’ll see about the communication.”

  “Captain, the planet has sent navigational directions for the ship to follow. I have already mapped the flight to the central space port per their instructions,” the shuttles AI informed Young. As the remainder of the team showed up at that moment.

  “OK, are we all set? Major Rogers are we going to have faerie support to make sure we have no surprises?”

  “Capt. Young, we have several hundred faeries ready for the mission. We also have an additional two hundred if anyone tries to board the shuttle without permission to repel boarders. The Captain has just notified me that we can launch at any time at your discretion.”

  “OK, acknowledge the Captain and let him know we are launching in five minutes. Everyone strap in. Major Rogers, you will fly us down and scan for as much intel as you can also. Let's close her up and be on our way.”

  The back of the shuttle was quiet until the AI Major Rogers turned on the display so the team could see what the city looked like. An overlay appeared showing the different ways to get to and from the bank. The only bottleneck was that there was one entrance to the space port with a long high wall around the port.

  The landing was normal and five beings were waiting for the shuttle to open. The hatch opened letting in the first smells of the planet Dirt. The strongest smell was that of un-burnt fuel, followed by a smell that seemed to be a mixture of body odor and urine. Two Rotes were the first to come to the open hatch representing customs. Young was mentally ready for them. “Yes I see you are the customs for the planet I think it very nice of you to offer your services to us. I do not think we will need your help, unless the central bank sent you.” Taken off-guard by these new aliens the Rotes immediately started to argue between themselves as Young waved the other aliens to the shuttle. The first one to the shuttle was a representative of the space port. The creature was eight foot tall and resembled a Kodiak Brown Bear wearing coveralls.

  “Welcome to Dirt I will be responsible for ensuring the security of your ship and any maintenance you may need. You will need to pay me for the first day. That is 1200 credits please,” the representative said slowly as if he had read it from a script. He then stood there with an expression that could either be humor or confusion as he waited for payment.

  Young commed the AI, “What’s the going rate for gold?" I need to pay the rent.”

  “The rates do not appear to have fluctuated for a couple years. That means they most likely are artificially keeping the price low to prop up the credits in use. Our ounce just happens to convert to a “B” in their measurement system. Gold is 100,000 credits per B.”

  “OK my friend may I open an account with you since I do not have credits? I will pay you an initial one B of gold. When we leave you can give me the change in credits. Does that sound fair to you?”

  The huge alien nodded his head exaggeratedly up and down as he reached out with a huge paw four times the size of Young’s hand. Young dropped the coin in the creatures paw and tried not to laugh at how excited the Baar was. “I’m going to get a receipt for that right?” Young asked amused.

  The Baar immediately had an obvious hurt look on its face as it replied, “I am of the Baar, we are honest, I no cheat you.” He pulled out a small scanner ready to scan payment.

  The other alien who had been waiting for the transaction to be complete stepped forward stopping the Baar from recording the transaction. The new alien was a light pink color and resembled an eight foot grasshopper.

  “Excuse me; I am Second Teller Copper from the Central Bank. I would like to purchase that interesting coin. I will offer you 110,000 credits for it.”

  “You would have to ask our huge friend here. The money has left my hands so the transaction is complete. Being from the bank I would hope you can respect that,” Young replied. The grasshopper quickly turned to the space port employee. “I will give you 110,000 credits for the coin, that means that 100,000 will go to the port and you have 10,000 credits.”

  The Baar only looked confused at the bank representative’s offer feeling he was being somehow cheated but not how. Young walked up behind him and whispered in his ear. The Baar perked up and told the grasshopper, “I will take 140, 000 credits nothing less.” He then picked up the scanner ready to scan the coin.

  “I will pay the 140,000 credits do not scan the coin!” the grasshopper shouted.

  The Baar grinned as he handed the coin over to the grasshopper. There was no way to tell any facial features on the grasshopper as he paid the credits.

  “Now Second Teller Copper from the Central Bank, I am a busy man and do not have time to watch you do black market money changing,” Young said arrogantly.

  “My apologies to you, sir. I will do my best to make it up to you. Do you have anything you wish to take to the bank? I brought a worker with me just in case,” Copper asked.

  “I have just one box. My assistants can get that. Perhaps we can get moving to the bank now,” Young said as he motioned for the team to come along with the box.
Short Blade led the group as each man kept an eye out for any dangers or possible ambush. The vehicle they entered resembled a short school bus with eight doors. The seats were bench style and very uncomfortable for the short ride. When they entered the Bank there was a beam that scanned them from the ceiling that was similar to what the ensign from the Fury had used. The group was only able to take a few more steps when a gigantic bright red grasshopper greeted them.

  “Greetings, I am First Officer Plat of the Republic Central Bank. Welcome on behalf of the Republic. I would—”

  "I must say Plat I have been insulted on many levels since arriving in the Republic. First, the ship Fury tried to intimidate me by aiming all their weapons at me after I had established I was a diplomat from Earth with one of their own officers at my side. When I arrived here on Dirt, I was forced to pay extortion to park my shuttle. Then you send an obvious low cast employee who then commits a crime in front of me. He bought the gold I used to pay the parking extortion. Then the vehicle used to convey us to your facility was atrociously uncomfortable for our species. I understand gold is acceptable for transactions in the Republic," Young said as he nodded to Short Blade who then opened the case for the banks first officer to see the gold. “I have 1600 gold coins for this first transaction to see how well we can work with each other. Can we work together well, First Officer Plat?”

  Plat tried to overcome his initial shock and intimidation from his first meeting with this new species human. The box of gold coins helped him decide what he was going to do.

  “Captain Young, you have my deepest apologies. I will make things right by firing the underling then I—”

  “No, I want him promoted and responsible for Earth accounts. He did not know what to expect when he met us, but he was sharp enough to make a profit where there was no profit to be made. For now let's go over what we will be needing. We would like the bank to coordinate setting up an embassy and acting on our behalf to get the Republic to accept our credentials so we can have diplomatic relations. Our first immediate business need is to coordinate a purchase and would like the help of the bank.”

  “Sir, let me get you setup with an account and we can go from there,” Plat suggested.

  “That will be fine. Shall we call the initial deposit 224,000,000 credits based on what Copper has set the exchange rate at?” Young asked.

  “The official exchange rate is 100,000, but for our first transaction we will do that as a good will gesture to make up for your initial troubles. Welcome to being a Republic Central Bank customer.”

  “Thank you again, First Officer Plat. I have an endeavor I need to head to now. I will be back in another month or another representative will be. I need to go to Zia to transact some business as soon as possible. Can you please coordinate the red tape for us?” Young asked.

  “What does red tape have to do with the planet Zia?” Plat asked confused.

  “On our planet when government makes rules or does dumb things that interfere with commerce, we call it red tape."

  “I will have a letter of authorization for you transmitted to the scientists on the planet so they will not interfere with you, or assist you if you request it. This will also go to border patrols tentatively granting your ship diplomatic status so it will not be interfered with. We have the position of your home world, perhaps we will send a diplomatic party to continue the process of establishing relations with your planet.”

  “That would be acceptable. We would just need adequate notification so the ship would not be mistaken for any of our attackers,” Young replied glad the game was over and he would soon be on his way to Zia.

  “I do have just one more question, if you don’t mind?” Plat asked.

  Real annoyance showing Young replied, “OK, one more question.”

  “What are you going to do with the um, material you purchase on Zia?”

  “First Officer Plat, my father always said, never ask a question if you do not expect an honest answer.”

  “I think I would like your father, I will have to write that quote down for future reference. I will now need to present you with a bill for services rendered and for requested services. I expect the service charge to be 4,000,000 credits.”

  “That is acceptable, but I do need to be going now. I know the documentation you are amassing for me will have it on there, but what is our interest rate?”

  “As a diplomatic account it will naturally be free of taxes and accrue a rate of 17 percent. A most generous rate as I’m sure you will be bringing gold on your next trip as well.

  “That’s correct, now if you could do me a personal favor of seeing that I can get to the spaceport and on my way as soon as possible I would appreciate it.”

  Five minutes later the team was heading back to the shuttle in a huge comfortable vehicle with a clearance from spaceport to depart at will.

  “Major Rogers, let's get out of here as soon as I arrive back at the shuttle. In the meantime, patch through to the local communications array. Short Blade wants to call his mom,” Young instructed pleased with the mission going as easily as it had.

  As the transport neared the spaceport traffic immediately came to a standstill. Young started to feel his skin crawl as he ordered everyone to look alive until they were off the planet. Out of no where it seemed that two dozen rotes appeared and they were definitely not employed. One of the lizards threw something under the transport causing the engine to die. The others joined forces rocking the transport, nearly tipping it over as Young prepared to give the order to open fire.

  Unseen from their vantage point, a pack of Baar leaving the Space Port saw what was going on as one broke from the pack hollering, “Friend” as he smashed into the crowd tearing away the lizards as other baars joined him.

  The lizards outmatched by the Baars, turned and disappeared into the numerous alley ways and side streets. Young got out of the transport with his crew at high alert. A baar walked up to him and hugged him before he could do anything. “You friend to Mush make me money today. I walk with you back to your ship. Make you safe.”

  Young just nodded seeing how quickly this peaceful planet had turned on him. He commed Major Rogers, “Why did we get attacked today?”

  “It appears that someone heard about your transaction at the space port and rumors have been building that you were carrying a lot of gold. That and those attacking you were unemployed Rotes that wanted to beat some alien ass. I’ve monitored the Bank and First Officer Plat is raising hell with every agency on the planet to keep you safe and happy. The Arizona Space Ship Beater has received a special code to transmit if they find themselves in trouble as well as a new transponder code to identify the ship as a diplomatic vessel under the protection of the Republic.”

  “We can’t be that important to the Republic. Try to access all records possible to see why they froze the price of gold and what else is affecting the Republic that make us so important.”

  “Nothing can be found, but I have a hypothesis. The hypothesis is restricted to your access only. I will comm it to you. Sir, the Republic is financially stagnant. It appears a main part of that is lack of artificial intelligence units for their new ships and other applications. They are having to use more personnel and few are willing to buy something new that is not as good as the old unit. The Republic knows the material on Zia is used with creating artificial intelligence units, that’s why they are protecting the Zians. We just became the best game in town for them. I would not be surprised if they did not have a diplomatic mission en route to Earth by a week from now. If Earth was unified they would probably even offer entry into the Republic. We are receiving authorization to land from the Arizona Space Ship Beater. Commander Johnson wants you to report to him ASAP after landing.”

  Twenty minutes later, Captain Young found himself debriefing the commander in the mess.

  “Sir, I think we may have a viable option to fighting the Libra Alliance. I believe we might be able to get the Republic to put Earth under it
protectorate the same way they did for the Zians. It’s in their interest since they need access to Flem AIs. They have gone to some big lengths to support our mission so far. I really will not have a final opinion though until after we see what the Zians think of being protected. The mission went easier than planned up to this point. I think if Roger's hypothesis is correct, we will have a trading partner. I just wonder why they did not save the Flem. I know the Flem traded with the Republic, but it seems the very minimalistic amounts possible. We should consider that a warning in itself.”

  “That report was all over the map, Captain, but it did cover everything. We are three days away from Zia. We will cruise for the next 12 hours so everyone can rest, then we will use the FTL for twenty five minutes to cut the time to get there. I’m not going to worry about the borders since we are now a diplomatic vessel. I can’t wait until we get home and you get to explain how you have initiated diplomatic relations without any government on behalf of Earth. Imagine if they make you the ambassador at large for Earth ha ha ha. It would probably serve you right. I think you did everything right from our limited knowledge of the players so I will stand next to you for the firing squad.” The conversation was interrupted as Short Blade knocked at the hatchway to the mess.

  Commander Johnson just looked at Young in surprise for a moment. “Enter,” he ordered.

  “Sir Chief Petty Officer Short Blade reports.”

  “Is this important Short Blade?” Johnson asked.

  “I believe so sir.”

  “Come on in sit down and let me know what you have.”

  Short Blade hopped up into a human size seat then began. “Commander, I was in contact with my mother and she had news for me. The Republic has started to sell weapons that are almost on par with their own instead of only obsolete ones. They are also selling anything else they can get revenue from. They are accepting only precious metals or premium base materials for construction. They have also hired numerous mercenaries from the different clans on our planet. The Libra Alliance doesn’t appear to be worried and have used the opportunity to buy what weapons they can. The only things not for sale are ships. Obsolete ships or any other type of ship, even for scrap. It is rumored the Republic is getting ready for civil war.”