Table of Contents
Chapter 1 - Games To Play
Chapter 2 - Through The Storm
Chapter 3 - The Private Party
Chapter 4 - Bring Hell With Me
Chapter 6 - Hard Sell
Chapter 7 - Back To The Elders
Chapter 8 - Hunter’s Trip
Chapter 9 - Kali Arrival
Chapter 10 - Kali-Luci
Chapter 11 - Tarissa
Chapter 12 - Wedding
Chapter 13 - Pregnant
Chapter 14 - First Descent
Chapter 15 - Skirmish
Chapter 16 - Magadana
Chapter 17 - Dank Prison
Chapter 19 - Damaged
Chapter 19 - Retrieval
Chapter 20 - Rescue of Borrelia
Chapter 21 - The Return of the King
Chapter 22 - Turnaround
Chapter 23 - Island Rest
Chapter 24 - Mulling A Return
Chapter 25 - Glory
Chapter 26 - Where are you from
Chapter 27 - Val D’or
Chapter 28 - Overnight at Natuna Palace
Chapter 29 - Vengeance
Chapter 30 - Oxbow Battle
Chapter 31 - After Action
Chapter 32 - Hospital Visit
Chapter 33 - TV Interview
Chapter 34 - Pleiades Agreement Ceremony
Epilogue
T-47 II
BOOK 6 OF THE SAXON SAGA
FREDERICK GERTY
Copyright © Frederick Gerty 2016
Other Books in the Saxon Saga
Saga 1--
Situation at Saxon Site
Earth Lady
Twin Worlds–Kali and Luci
Saga 2--
Amanda Saxon
47 Tucana
Original cover art by Keri Sheheen
For
Adam, Amy, Catherine, Christina, Christopher, Elizabeth, Mariah, and Michael
Glossary of Abbreviations/Slang/Terms
AG–anti-gravity
ATC–air traffic controller (on planet)
BDW–Blue Danube Waltz
bugs–illi-illi
CC–communication center; also ComCenter
CIC–Commander-in-Chief
ComC–Command Center (Bridge of Starship)
EI–Enhanced Intelligence
ETA–estimated time of arrival
FN–Fabrique Nationale, European firearms maker, common nomenclature for one of their arms
GPS–Geographic Position System
Hagazzii–generic Pokoniry term for anti-gravity vehicle, equivalent to USA–air car
HQ–Headquarters
HUD–Head Up Display (instrument readings on the inside of the windshield)
HV–Holo-vision TV
IM–Instant Message
IR–Infrared
K–kilometer, or thousands of dollars
HiE Lazer–High energy light-emitting weapon, usually employed in space, but increasingly for on-planet use. A greatly amplified version of the common laser, widely in use in weapons.
LZ–Landing Zone
MC–Master of Ceremonies
MG–machine gun
OIC–Officer in Charge
P-suit–Pressure suit, form-fitting space suit, for use in vacuum, e.g. outside starships, or potential vacuum, should a pressurized area inside a vessel fail.
PC–Personnel Carrier
pc–personal computer
Poko–Pokoniry
R&R–Rest and Relaxation
RPG–rocket propelled grenade
SAM–Surface to Air Missile
SE–Saxon Enterprises
TC–Traffic Controller (on a space station)
TOA–Time of arrival
TOD–Time of departure
TTI–Time to Impact
TW–Twin Worlds
VFR–Visual flight rules
VR–virtual reality
Chapter 1 - Games To Play
“Good Morning, Amanda, you are looking well.” The gentleman on the view screen smiled at her, he in his mid-50s tanned and strong, with a round, friendly face, salt and pepper hair, a few wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. He sat in a warm looking, dark-paneled office, with a window, or maybe just a projection, showing the US Capitol behind him. He wore a blue shirt and tie, no jacket.
“Thank you, John, you are too.” Amanda Saxon Morgan wondered about that, her 79 year old face, lined and thin, her hair gone to solid white now, not even gray any more. But she felt good, and that confidence must show.
“Yes, well, good to see you again.”
“And you.” Amanda wondered about the call, but thought she knew why.
“I’d like to see you, if it’s convenient, sometime soon, to talk about a few matters of mutual interest.”
“Not now, today, on the line?”
“No,” he said, passive, adding nothing more.
“OK. I’d like that, John, I’m home most days, why don’t you give me a call, and drop by next time you’re up here in New York. I’ll even bake some of those cookies you like.”
A tiny pursing of his lips told Amanda that was not what he wanted to hear. “You coming down this way any time soon?” he asked.
“No, I really don’t travel much any more...not the safest, you know, and my husband is not that well.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” He looked to the side, his face firm. When his eyes returned toward her, he said, “I can be up that way on Friday. That convenient for you?”
“It is. Morning is best. OK?”
“Good, say, 10 a.m. How’s that?”
“That’s good. Give me time to get the cookies done. And coffee. You still a coffee drinker?”
John held up a cup, lifted from his desk. “Always. Still. Good, thanks Amanda, see you then.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
They signed off, with John giving no indication of what he wanted to talk about. Amanda Morgan called her granddaughter, Lorelei.
Smiling broadly, they chatted for a moment, Amanda pleased to see her back in good health. “You look wonderful,” she said.
“That why you called me, to tell me that?”
“Of course. And there’s another matter. Can you get up here to Gray Rock on Friday morning, and bring Eagle One?”
Lori became serious at once. “Trouble?”
“Maybe. Not sure. Probably not. But John P. Kendall, Secretary of the Space Department, is coming up to see me. Says he wants to talk to me. I think I know about what.”
“Eagle One.”
“What else?”
“OK, you need me, or just the air car?”
“I’d like you both to be here. I think it’s about time he met the two of you.”
Lori nodded. “I can arrange my schedule, no sweat. I’ll be there by nine, OK?”
They chatted a bit more, Lori gave her an update on the progress of her work organizing another trip to the star cluster 47 Tucana, and how the aliens, Tarue and her kits were doing. Amanda said Lori’s grandfather was feeling well, not there right now, even out in the garden, doing some fall cleanup. On the screen, Lori looked up, people arriving to see her at work. Her grandmother said she’d let her go.
Lori said, “See you Friday.”
“Good, see you then, Darling. All my love.”
“And mine to you.”
At exactly 9 a.m., Lori flew the air car Eagle One into the docking bay in the old, contemporary house on the hill overlooking Shekomeko, in Dutchess County. The doors closed behind her. Lori sat a moment as the canopy opened, enjoying the feel of the old family home, and taking in the aroma of baking oatmeal cookies. She found her grandmother in the kitchen, pulling
a tray out of the oven. She reached for a cookie, and pulled her hand away, saying, “Ow, hot.”
“What’d you expect, they’re right out of the oven.”
The two women embraced, Lori holding her grandmother tight in her arms. Amanda looked into her eyes, searching for pain, or fever, or anything there. She saw the glint of love, and good health.
“Hunter? How’s he?”
“Fine. Horny. Man.”
“You know the offer is still open here.”
“Yeah, we manage OK.”
“Wedding plans moving along?”
“Yep, seems OK. Mom’s doing most of it. Where’s Poppy?”
“Still in bed.”
“He OK?”
“Yes, well as can be expected for an octogenarian. Late night last night, so he’s sleeping in.”
“Can I peek at him?”
“Sure. Remind him we got company at 10.”
Lori found her grandfather awake, looking at a weather report on the wallscreen. He held an arm wide for her, and she lay against him on the bed, as he kissed her, and hugged her.
“Mmm, you’re nice and warm, Poppy. I think I’ll stay here with you.”
“OK, but I don’t want to miss my breakfast. Smells like it’s cooking.”
“Nah, that’s for the company--coming in at ten, you know.”
“Yeah, government man. Can’t be good that, when the government comes calling, it’s trouble, for sure.” He slowly sat up, and Lori helped him to his feet. Naked, he eased to the bathroom, sat on the toilet as Lori made the bed.
“Maybe not,” she said. “But I wonder why Grandma wants Eagle One here.”
“So she can show it off. That and her beautiful granddaughter.” He stood, and began to wipe shave creme on his face. Lori sat on the bed, looking at him.
“You think it’ll be trouble again?”
“Always seems to be, when the air car gets in a fight somewhere.”
“Yeah, well, it was more me than it, this time.”
Ricky looked at her, while he rubbed the creme on his face. “Just watch what you say, OK?”
“I plan to let Grandma do the talking. I’m just another guest. I hope. Where’s your clothes?”
“In the closet. Get my plaid shirt, and jeans. Doesn’t hurt to look like a country farmer when the government man arrives.”
Lori helped him dress, and they walked back to the kitchen. She prepared a plate of cereal and toast for him, and he swiped a cookie. Lori did, too, when she brought them both coffee.
“Hey!” Amanda said, “Save those for the guest.”
“Mandy, I just want to make sure they’re up to your usual high standards,” Ricky said, with a laugh.
They talked as Amanda baked another batch of cookies, and sipped coffee. She could shed no light on what would be the topic of the meeting, but they all agreed it was the air car, Eagle One.
At a few minutes after 10 a.m., Eagle One announced on the house intercom, “Air cars incoming. Government models. Three in all. Two armed. Radar is seeking. We are being scanned. Deploy countermeasures?”
“Negative,” Amanda called. “They are expected. Allow to scan, and land.”
The air car did not reply, and Lori watched as the three government air cars landed on the lawn. Two disgorged a half a dozen men, well, they looked like men, but after a moment, Lori thought several women were in the group, too, all dressed casual, but carrying cases, and wearing battle caps. She saw the microphone pickups at the side of their faces, and how they scanned the area. Finally, one went to the other air car, and a distinguished looking gentleman, well dressed in a dark business suit stepped out, along with a female aide, and another, much younger man.
Amanda joined Lori, and they met the visitors at the door.
Secretary Kendall greeted Amanda warmly. She turned, and motioned to Lori. “I’d like to introduce my granddaughter, Lorelei Saxon Sloane. She’s a planetary explorer. Lori, Secretary of Space John Kendall.”
Lori extended her hand. Kendall took it, his grasp firm, looking at her closely. As he shook her hand, he said, “I’m delighted to meet you, Ms. Sloane. I’ve followed your exploits closely. Very well done.”
“Thank you,” she said, and stepped back as the group entered.
Kendall introduced his staff: Courtney Duncan, his administrative aide, and Sherman McKain, his secretary. Amanda guided them to the dining table, and they all sat. She pointed toward the kitchen, where Ricky sat on a stool at the counter, and he and Kendall waved to each other.
“Now, do you mind if we record this meeting? For posterity?” Kendall said.
Amanda shook her head, and said, “Not if you don’t mind if we do the same,” and she gestured to a cambot that drifted down from the ceiling.
Seeing a hard look on his face, Lori thought he did, indeed. But he nodded, said, “Fine,” and McKain opened and raised an omni-recorder.
Lori brought the cookies to the table, and poured coffee. Kendall took some cookies, but his staff accepted coffee only. She sat to the left of Amanda, Kendall across from her, his aides to his right, toward the end of the table. The two principals chatted for a few minutes, everyone else silent. Lori looked past Kendall, across the length of the living room, at the domed shape of Eagle One, sitting in the docking port at the far end of the house.
Finally, Amanda said, “Well, John, what brings you all the way up here to Shekomeko to visit an old lady?”
The surprised look on the faces of his staff when Amanda called him “John,” pleased Lori. She sat and listened.
He put his coffee cup down, pursed his lips a moment, and said, “Well, Amanda, the president always has the interest of his citizens in mind. Especially now.”
“Ah, I see. A non-answer, vague and indirect. That means you came all the way up here so we can play some games. Fine. What’s the first one?”
If her tone annoyed Kendall, he did not show it.
Raising his hands, and nodding, he said, “The, ah, president, and a number of other cabinet level officials, have some concerns with some of the recent, shall I say, incidents, with alien air cars. And thought you might know a little something about it?”
“Like what?”
“Like your role in the destruction of the Earth Only low orbiter station.”
“What makes you think I had a role?”
“We are playing a game here, aren’t we? Well, we know an air car came and went from Earth. And none of the security cameras showed you in the casinos at Atlantic City that night until well after the action in orbit. And as you professed to the media the next morning.”
“All that proves is that they didn’t see me, it doesn’t mean I was not there.”
“Yet you did not buy any chips, either...”
Amanda stood up, went to a sideboard behind her, opened a drawer, pulled out a plastic bag, plopped it on the table, and said, “If I bring my own chips, why would I need to buy any there?”
“So you’re telling me you were there all night?”
“I was there.”
“Not on the recorders?
“Private clubs don’t release the recordings of their guests.”
“Yes, but they keep the records.” Kendall said no more, just sipped the coffee. “The other matter is the presence of armed, really military, space vehicles in orbit around the planet Earth, operated by aliens, presumably. In violation of the Pleiades Agreement, incidentally.”
“This surprised you?”
“It bothers us.”
“First, it’s not in violation of the Pleiades Agreement my mother helped draft. That one allows for protection of individuals in all cases, against unprovoked attack.”
“Exactly.”
“It is rather silent on provoked attacks, however.”
Kendall sagged a little, a barely perceptible lowering of his shoulders. He quickly retorted with, “And armed military vehicles, in action, in low Earth orbit. Think of the casualties that might have happened on the surfa
ce.”
Amanda, her face cold, fury barely suppressed, Lori was surprised at her calm, said after a brief pause, “None did, that I hear of. I am aware of civilian casualties on the surface a few days previous.” Her hand moved, and rested lightly on Lori’s arm.
Kendall’s eyes flicked to Lori’s face. She sat unmoving.
“Well, we can’t have aliens taking matters into their own hands. Quite impossible. Very difficult.”
“What might be more difficult, if aliens felt they were in danger in flying to Earth, and stopped visiting, stopped trade, stopped travel? Or kept on, and sent armed escorts to the surface. What then, Mr. Secretary?”
“It would not be allowed to happen. How do you think they would react to humans shooting up their people at their own planets?”
Amanda snorted, her head jerking backward. Then she leaned toward Kendall, and said, “That has happened already. On Ixixil, back in ‘24, remember....”
“Twenty-five,” Lori interrupted.
Amanda continued, “Right, twenty-five, and the legitimate governments, the official hives, had no problem with humans defending themselves. In fact, they appreciated help with a wayward band of outlaws. Same back on Florez, early, on my mother’s first trip there. But perhaps you don’t recall this? Too long ago? Lost in the history books?” She smiled. “I think I got that point.” Amanda leaned back, lifting a coffee cup. Turning to Lori, she said, “Would you be a dear, and refill the cups?”
Lori smiled, and hurried to do so. While she moved around the table, Kendall said. “Yes, it was history, long time ago. This is not history, the present climate is vastly different. The Earth Only following is growing. Such incidents, aliens running amok, does not help the matter any.”
Amanda took in a deep breath, and said “If you say so, John. That’s not what we hear, but you, obviously, have better intelligence than we do. World wide, too, I suppose.”
Kendall said nothing, just mixed his fresh coffee. “Repercussions are likely...” he said, looking up.
“What has happened so far? Other than the alien trade continuing, as it has, I mean?”
He looked at her, face impassive. “They may come, any time now.”
“Such as?”
T-47 Book II (Saxon Saga 6) Page 1