The Cockroach Crusade, page 23
EARTH DATE: 10 October 2401
SECURITY STATUS: Classified top secret
I’m way ahead of you. I’ve commissioned a study on the current/future habitability of the twenty-four Earth colonies that were wiped out by Angel of Death, to see whether we can safely recolonize them. I am expecting a report very soon and will send you a copy for comment.
—— «» ——
Doomsday minus 323 Earth days.
“We’re ready to give a demo, and you’re going to love what we can do now,” Gouryas declared jubilantly over the comm.
A couple of hours later, the viewscreens on AdComm were showing the exterior of Daisy Hub, and Gouryas and Singh were standing at the main console on C Deck, waiting for the assembled crew members to settle down.
Townsend turned and saw Pirrit standing near the tube car door. The alien’s expression was difficult to read. He was either critically assessing the final test of his students’ understanding or proudly watching them demonstrate their skills. Or perhaps both.
“First, we want to say thank you to Gorse Pirrit. Before he came to the station, we’d been struggling for an inordinately long time to figure out the workings of the Nandrian field generator,” Gouryas began.
“An insanely long time,” Singh agreed emphatically.
Shooting him a sharp look, Gouryas continued a little more loudly, “Over the last couple of intervals, he has taught us a great deal. We can now not only maintain and operate the field generator, but also make full use of its features and capabilities. Most importantly, we can do it without setting off any alarms.”
Laughing, people sent appreciative waves and glances in the direction of the Eggenali. He appeared pleased to receive them.
“The field generator does a lot more than we originally thought,” Singh broke in. “That’s what’s so exciting about it.”
“Can you control the invisibility field?” Hagman piped up.
“Completely,” Gouryas assured him. “Just watch.”
For the next sixteen minutes, a dozen Humans observed in rapt silence as he made the station disappear, then brought back the north and south ends of it separately, and finally projected the field onto the nearest comm relay satellite, making it seem to fade away and then back.
The room erupted with excited voices.
“Can you make Zulu go away?”
“How are you doing that?”
“Can anyone operate the device?”
“How far can you expand the field?”
“What about the sensor field?”
“What about the molecular paintbrush?”
“What about—?”
Now wearing broad matching smiles, Gouryas and Singh exchanged proud glances.
“We’ll answer all your questions, one at a time,” said Singh. “But would you like to see what else the generator can do?”
“It plays with light,” Gouryas explained. “So, it can make the station look larger or smaller than it actually is.”
Before all their eyes, the Hub tripled in size, then shrank to a fraction of its original self.
Townsend sat with his gaze riveted to the screen, strategic possibilities running rampant through his mind, while the engineers proceeded to change the shape and color of the station as well.
“Now for the greatest trick of all,” Singh announced.
On the screen, the middle section of the Hub appeared to explode in a fireball.
Townsend gasped and leaned forward in his chair. “We can fake the destruction of the station?” he demanded.
“We can create a whole range of special visual effects. It’s all a matter of programming,” Gouryas told him.
Jason Smith got to his feet to ask, “What about the generator on Zulu? Can it be programmed the same way?”
A pause, then, “Theoretically, yes, but the two units are not identical, so it’s not something I feel confident about attempting at this time,” said Singh.
“Then, can our invisibility shield be expanded to include Zulu?” Smith persisted. He clearly had a strategy in mind. Townsend made a mental note to confer with him later.
“Not at our current distance from each other,” Gouryas explained. “Light normally travels in straight lines. However, if Zulu and the Hub were close enough together in our shared orbit and we were able to generate sufficient power to maintain such a large shield, it might be doable.”
Earlier, Drew had asked these engineers for “some damned impressive defenses”. Today, thanks to Gorse Pirrit, they’d delivered, giving everyone on the Hub reason to hope, including himself. They could do this. They could save Humanity. Maybe they could even save themselves.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
FROM: Hong Su Ling, Survey Team Coordinator
TO: Ignacio Campos, Head of Research, DCD
EARTH DATE: 30 October 2401
SECURITY STATUS: Classified Top Secret
We’ve now conducted analyses of the air, soil, and water on all 24 quarantined worlds. A detailed report is appended, but here is the bottom line: As long as there are other alternatives, we would not recommend sending Humans back to any of these planets. Two of them are still so toxic that any imported fauna would be dead within hours. Four of them are devoid of all plant life, and the viral strain that caused the devastation appears to have gone dormant. We can’t predict whether it would stay that way if flora were to be reintroduced, and a colony that cannot safely begin producing its own food will almost certainly starve within six months.
Of the remaining eighteen planets, twelve have environments that I would describe as challenging. The Angel of Death virus is still present, but precautions can be taken against it, giving Humans on these worlds a 75-85% chance of surviving their first year there.
The last six worlds I would characterize as hostile. Settling permanently there would be out of the question. Even with appropriate safeguards in place, Humans would have no more than a fifty percent chance of surviving for any length of time.
The captain and crew of the Vasco da Gama have been extremely helpful on this project. I just wish the results could be more encouraging. We’re on our way back to Earth now, at best speed. Wish Andrew good luck for us when he presents our findings to the High Council.
~
FROM: Andrew Linderhuis, Executive Director, DCD
TO: Patricia Chen, Chair, Earth High Council
EARTH DATE: 6 November 2401
SECURITY STATUS: Classified Top Secret
The final report from the survey teams deployed to assess the 24 quarantined planets is appended. The ultimate decision is yours, of course. However, to the team coordinator’s remarks I would like to add my own recommendation that the plan you outlined to me back in May be considered as a last resort only. It would be like escaping from a fire by jumping out a tenth story window.
~
FROM: Rhys Amis, Supreme Adjudicator for Greater Europe
TO: Patricia Chen, Chair of the Governing Committee, Relocation Authority
EARTH DATE: 15 November 2401
SECURITY STATUS: Classified Highly Sensitive
In accordance with your request, I just finished reading the report from the survey teams deployed by the DCD. I know that you share my desire to keep to a minimum the number of Humans we send to alien-controlled worlds. Accordingly, I have the following comments to make:
While the maximum initial population for reestablishing a colony has been pegged by the experts at 50,000, I believe that figure to be overly conservative. Colonies that remained untouched by Angel of Death are now reportedly thriving and have grown to between 200,000 and 300,000 residents. If we can evacuate 250,000 refugees to each of the dozen worlds identified by the DCD teams as having a 75 to 85% probability of success, we’ll have saved a total of three million souls.
As for the remaining half-dozen planets with a fifty percent chance of viability: This may sound harsh, but we live in desperate times, and a fifty percent chance of survival is better than none. We have so far excluded from the evacuation program those Humans currently incarcerated in the detention centers. I suggest that we put them and their families (if they have any) aboard Fleet ships and relocate them to those half-dozen worlds. At the very least, it will permit us to convert their cells into living space for identified evacuee families traveling from the Industrial Zones to the urban districts for processing.
~
FROM: Patricia Chen, Chair of the Governing Committee, Relocation Authority
TO: Rhys Amis, Supreme Adjudicator for Greater Europe
EARTH DATE: 16 November 2401
SECURITY STATUS: Highly sensitive
May sound harsh? The fact that you would even think I’d be receptive to such a suggestion shows how low you believe I’ve sunk in this job. If we both survive the next eleven months, I’ll be calling for your resignation.
~
FROM: Patricia Chen, Chair of the Governing Committee, Relocation Authority
TO: Eugene Weldon, Head of Corrections, Planetary Security
EARTH DATE: 19 November 2401
SECURITY STATUS: Highly sensitive
Be advised that I have instructed the Relocation Authority to add to its list of potential colonists the names of all detainees currently confined to correctional facilities worldwide. These individuals are to be held in custody until such time as a notification of relocation has been generated. They are then to be transported to the nearest processing center, where they will be reunited with their families for the voyage to form a new colony in alien-controlled space.
~
FROM: Admiral Bryce McPherson, Commander in Chief, Fleet Command
TO: Admiral Harlan Tang, Commander, Fleet Control
EARTH DATE: 19 November 2401
SECURITY STATUS: Highly sensitive
With the recent addition of one hundred alien vessels to Earth’s evacuation effort, I am ordering the withdrawal of an equal number of Fleet ships to form the core of an elite military defense wing. Selection and training of pilots will begin immediately, as outlined in the appended schedule, with an emphasis on evasive and space combat maneuvers.
That being said, the latest reports from SIS indicate that our standard weapons and tactics, good though they are, will be insufficient by themselves to withstand a Corvou attack on Earth. I have therefore recommended to Earth’s High Council that we reach out to one of the alien military commands for advice and support as we expand our pilots’ fighting skills. Should the Council turn down that suggestion, a more forceful (or less direct) course of action may become necessary. If recent intel is to be believed, there could be as many as five alien fleets defending Earth space at Daisy Hub. It would be shameful if our own Fleet were absent from the battle, but even more tragic if we arrived unprepared and became a liability to our allies. In any case, I’ll keep you apprised.
~
FROM: Patricia Chen, Chair, Earth High Council
TO: General George Bascomb, Commander in Chief, Planetary Security
EARTH DATE: 19 November 2401
SECURITY STATUS: Highly sensitive
Your assumption is correct. Under the current circumstances, I am empowered to reclassify as a military asset any scientific experiment that could enhance our defensive capabilities.
I agree with your assessment that Daisy Hub’s value as an experiment in segregated deep space living is overshadowed by its strategic location in the war with the Corvou. The appropriate agency to control this asset is Space Installation Security, not Planetary Security. However, if you can persuade the SIS High Command to go along with your plan and put you in charge of it, then I am prepared to overlook the irregularity.
PART IV:
THE MARSHALING OF THE FORCES
November 19, 2401 to April 24, 2402 C.E.
Ross Posey (b. 2362 – d. unknown) was the son of Eleanore Posey, a District Councilor in Lakeshore Ontario, Americas. Fleet-trained, he chose to pursue a career in Space Installation Security and won recognition for his bravery during the Battle of Daisy Hub in 2402 C.E. He is known to have participated in the Terran strike force that turned the tide of the Stragori Civil War, after which he renounced his Terran citizenship, stating that he preferred to live in alien space. There is no record of where, when, or how he died, but a monument was erected in his memory on the southern continent of Stragon, where it stands to this day.
— Sic Transit Terra, An Unauthorized Planetary History
(2673 C.E.)
CHAPTER TWENTY
Doomsday minus 302 Earth days.
Gael Dedrick arrived at Ares Dry Dock to take possession of the Arrow-class hauler Liberty at 1100 hours local time on November 19, 2401.
“She’s ready for you, Commander,” said Ethan Press, handing him a compupad. “Reznick has already signed off on the upgrades and moved the funds. You just need to read that and add your thumbprint, and you’ll be good to go.”
Dedrick scanned the text on the screen. “This is an expropriation notice.”
“Earth High Council is grabbing up every available ship and crew for the evacuation effort.” The other man gave him a helpless shrug. “According to that document, you’ve got two weeks to report to an airfield onplanet and begin shuttling refugees to one of the transfer points.”
“And if it takes me longer than that to assemble my crew?”
“I’m only required to get your thumbprint before letting you take the hauler. What you do after that is your business. But it might interest you to know that Mr. Reznick ordered an extra fuel reservoir installed.”
“Did he now? And is it filled?”
“They both are, to capacity, sir. You can go pretty much anywhere you want in that vessel.”
“Thank you, Mr. Press.” I believe I will, he added silently.
Two weeks later, the Liberty was on approach to the docking ring at Riviera Hub.
“This is the captain of the Arrow-class hauler Liberty, requesting clearance and docking instructions.”
“You’re not on our arrivals schedule, Liberty,” said a young-sounding female voice.
Hearing Christmas music in the background of her transmission, Gael realized that it must be December on Earth.
“I know. I won’t be staying. I’m just here to deliver a gift to a friend.”
“That sounds very mysterious, Captain,” she remarked. “Can you be more specific?”
“A little. Please tell Ranger Captain Ross Posey that Gael Dedrick has come to keep the promise he made earlier.”
“Curiouser and curiouser. All right. He’s off duty right now. You wait out there while I try to raise him.”
Five minutes later, she was back on the air. “You are cleared to dock and board, Captain Dedrick. Captain Posey will meet you at portal nine to receive his holiday present.”
“Well, that’s one way to get a promotion,” Posey commented as Gael stepped through the debarkation bay door and onto the station proper. “Although you do seem to be out of uniform, Captain.”
Dedrick grinned and replied, “I’m an independent ship owner now. I’ll dress any way I damn well please.”
“And go where you please?”
“Not quite. You remember our discussion last year, about where things were headed back on Earth?” Posey nodded. “You wanted to be on the front lines when everything hit the fan, and I promised to get you there. They’re being drawn as we speak, Ross, out in Sector Five. A massive alien invasion of Earth space, at Daisy Hub.”
“When?”
“Twenty-six intervals from now, give or take.”
“So, less than ten months. That explains the Relocation Authority’s sudden decision to increase our staff by thirty percent,” Posey remarked sourly. “They’re evacuating as many Eligibles as possible off-world.” His eyes widened with hopeful speculation. “Wait a minute. Are you here to take me to Daisy Hub?”
“If you still want to go.”
“Damn straight, I want to go! I’ve got plenty of leave time coming, so that won’t be a problem. Just give me a few days to make it official. The higher-ups tend to frown on officers who desert their posts in time of need. Oh, and how do you feel about carrying a couple of paying passengers along with us?”
Dedrick hadn’t even considered this possibility. “I’m licensed for it,” he replied slowly, “and I have to say I like the idea of making a few credits from the voyage. But I can’t guarantee anyone’s safety in what will soon become a war zone.”
“They’re not tourists, Gael. I think they’re well aware of the danger they could be in. In fact, I suspect that’s why they’re so anxious to go there. These two were in the first wave of refugees from Earth, and they’ve been trying to bribe their way to Daisy Hub from the day they arrived here.”
“But if their postings are recorded in the database—”
“We’re overcrowded, and they don’t have permanent working assignments. They’re already as good as disappeared. Trust me, in the current situation, no one is going to miss them.”
Dedrick considered for a moment. “All right,” he finally said, “but I won’t take any credits from them. Not until I know why they’re so desperate to go to Daisy Hub.”
—— «» ——
Doomsday minus 284 Earth days.
“Those two are having altogether too much fun,” Ruby muttered.
Townsend leaned over her shoulder and watched her screen for a moment. Gouryas and Singh had been testing the features of the field generator. Today, they were programming images into the molecular paintbrush and projecting them onto the interior of an expanded invisibility field. In rapid succession, he saw a moon, a small ship … and a large rubber duck.
“I thought you liked the color yellow,” Drew teased her. “It’s cheerful.”
