Pierpoint had been in a meeting and had him wait for twenty minutes. When he finally came on he apologized. “Sorry Mike, I couldn’t leave this security meeting. It was a gathering of NATO security chiefs and it would have looked suspicious if I ran out to chat with you. So, what’s up?”

  “We’re moving the Mother Ship to the Asteroid Belt. Bambi tells me Earth telescopes might notice it and some of those will not be the friendliest of countries. We need a reason for this. Do you have any astronomers who might be able to come up with something plausible?”

  “I’ll check with Marge Chalmers and let you know. If anyone can find the right person for this, it would be her. Why are you moving?”

  Mike explained the idea of using an asteroid as a base and the closer proximity to Earth as the reason.

  Todd told him, “I’ll tell the President and the rest of the insiders. By the way, when is this going to happen?”

  “We’ll start moving shortly and I’m told it will take about six days.”

  “Mike, I don’t think we can concoct a reason for such an event so quickly.”

  He grinned and said, “Then deny it. Tell them it was just an anomaly and you’re as puzzled as anyone. The asteroid is a big one, more than forty five miles long. So, once we’re in position, all of the activity will be on the far side of the asteroid, where no one will be able to see us. For a while, the asteroid and the area around it will look normal. But that will change as we begin to have frequent flights back and forth.

  “At some point you’re going to have to brief the other world leaders about this and I suggest they keep it quiet, although I doubt they’ll be able to control the leaks.”

  Todd gave him a concerned laugh and suggested, “You would have made a wonderful politician, Mike. Deny, deny, deny.”

  “There’s one more thing, Mr. Pierpoint. We’ll be coming to Earth much sooner than we expected and we’re bringing as much stuff as we can. I hope that you guys have Nellis ready for us, because we’re going to be setting down there in a few weeks. We really need to get the ball rolling.”

  There was an awkward pause, and then Todd asked, “Have you decided how you’re going to deal with this damaged ship headed your way.”

  “We have some ideas and it’s looking better and we’ll continue to work on it. Also, I want to include your people on the planning for taking that ship. But, I’m sure you must be aware of the old adage, ‘All plans go to hell, once the first shot is fired.”

  “That’s not very comforting, Mike.”

  “My thoughts exactly. Gotta go.”

  He spent several hours looking into every aspect of what they were taking to Earth. He constantly badgered Bambi about items they weren’t taking and whether or not they should find a way to bring them along.

  Finally, she commed him privately. Sir, with all due respect, you’re asking me for info about everything. Use your MCP and find the answers for yourself. I don’t want you to think that you’re alone with this problem. I’ve had to mention this to several others. You guys keep looking to me for answers that are easily available to you, if you learn how to use your mind. You’ll save everyone a lot of time and become more confident when the shit hits the fan, and we know it will eventually.

  OK, Bambi. As usual, you’re right. I guess I’ve been freaking out and looking for solutions to problems without making the effort to resolve them by myself. I’m sorry for jamming you up with so many questions.

  Mike, that’s not a problem for me. I can handle all of them. But you won’t be gaining any proficiency with the MCP if you keep falling back on me to give you what you can find for yourself.

  There was an awkward pause, and then she told him, Mike, I’m always looking over your shoulder, just in case you need me. If I think you’re about to screw up, I’ll tell you. Otherwise, use your head.

  Got it Bambi.

  A machine had just shamed him, albeit a very intelligent sentient one. It occurred to him that she had progressed beyond her teen years. She showed remarkable observational skills and jumped in at just the right moment to help him remain calm and in charge. Once again, he felt that he should not be the man to run this organization. They needed a true leader, but who would that be?

  Max commed, Mike, I was reviewing your conversation with Todd Pierpoint and I agree; we need the combined thinking of their military planning experts. We need it in a long term strategic way and in the very specific way in which we’ll have to deal with the immediate problem of that damaged ship.

  Mike was still concerned about the wrong kind of approach, by the Americans. Having been a long time Army enlisted man, he remembered how much he disliked being told to work with allies. Every one of them had a different way of looking at things and he felt they were more of a hindrance than a help.

  Max, I’m not convinced I’ve made a wise choice here. These people could really screw this up.

  Mike, think of it this way. If we don’t let them join in the planning now, when it’s relatively easy, at what point will it get better to allow for their input? We need the combined experience of preparing and doing an op like this; and so do the rest of our allies. We don’t have to agree and we don’t have to like it. But we can’t defeat the Saurans alone and you know it. So, it’s better to have these people in with us from the start. Eventually we’ll build trust and a working method to get the job done.

  Mike was a little surprised by Max’s insight. He told him, Max, I didn’t think you would be so quick to want to bring them in.

  I wouldn’t be, except I’ve given it a lot of thought and I realize we must face the facts. We’re short on time and we need them. But they have to see that they need us, and not just for the alien tech we offer. We can force the bureaucracy to function for them, as well as us, instead of for their friends and cronies. I believe once we get rolling, you’ll find that we have a lot of people who appreciate the way we can go around the bureaucratic blockades and get things done.

  I hope you right, Max. Of course, I’m going to make one hell of a lot of enemies.

  Fuck ‘em all, Mike.

  Ah, there’s the General I used to know.

  Mary pinged him. Sir, we’re just about loaded up. When do we fly?

  Bambi commed everyone. We are already flying. The Mother ship has been moving for the last four minutes. We should be at our primary asteroid in six days and twelve minutes. We’ll put the mining robots off there and leaving the Mother Ship. Then we can head straight for Earth, at top speed.

  Mike jumped in. No, not that quickly. I want the men and women going through the upgrade to have a chance to finish the process and begin to use their minds through the comm units. Then we’ll decide exactly whom we’ll bring with us. Some will stay here, although we’ll be in contact with them. I want two of our three Naval officers to remain here and get used to the Mother Ship. Commander Vollmar is a seal, with rapid boarding and capturing experience and I want him to coordinate with the men who volunteer to join the operation. So he needs to be on the ground with us on Earth. Mary, you and Wayne are staying, too.

  She was not happy and neither was his son.

  Mary commed, Now listen, Mike, you need us down there with you.

  Not right away. I need two people up here who can provide leadership to the men who have just finished being upgraded. Start them on the training program for using their new comm unit minds. We’ll have instant comm with each other anyway and I need to know that somebody up here has my back. So, that’s it, for both of you. You guys and Bambi have the responsibility of seeing to it that the Mother Ship is safe and able to perform, when the time comes.

  Wayne, this will be your opportunity to familiarize yourself with those Sauran fighters. We’re going to need them and we need someone to evaluate and develop a training program for the first generation of fighter pilots that we put into them.

  Cdr. Doolin is coming with us, but I want you to send him your flight experience and appraisal of the Sauran fighters. Both of you will be our pilots for those things, when the time comes.

  Mary, while Wayne is training on the fighter, you’ll be the senior officer on board. Use your best judgment on the things that come up and don’t let the scientists get carried away on flights of fancy. Keep them focused on solving the problem of blocking that alert signal. You’ve got Bambi as a back up, but use your MCP to guide you first. We all need the practice.

  So, you two lovebirds have your orders. Now, get to it.

  In unison, they replied, Yes sir.

  Max sounded irritated, as he made a complaint; universally comming everyone. We absolutely must come up with a name for the Mother Ship. Frankly, it sounds stupid to keep calling it that. It’s un-American.

  Mike agreed. I suggest we call it the Intrepid. It means fearless.

  No, Mary commed. I’ve been thinking about this and I suggest we call it Independence, because that’s what we’re fighting for, the independence of everyone on the Earth and throughout the galaxy.

  Mike responded, All right, let’s have a vote. Does everyone agree with Mary?

  With only seven people able to comm, including Jo, it was unanimous.

  OK folks, we are on the good space ship TSN Independence.

  Mary suggested, I think we should refer to our ship as TSN Independence 62. I looked it up and that was the number of the last aircraft carrier to have the name.

  Jo made a rare comment. I believe Mary has a good idea, but not for the reason of pandering to a former retired US Naval vessel. By numbering it 62, the Saurans would logically conclude that it is the sixty second ship of this type and infer that there are many others to be concerned about. Mike had been talking about upsetting their standard way of viewing things. This could be one little thing to disrupt their mindset.

  Mike told him, Good thinking, Jo. I want everyone to set up a file for ideas like this that we can exchange and expand upon.

  Now let’s not forget all of our people going through the upgrade, they’re going to need our support and encouragement. We’ll have forty men and one scientist on the large shuttle. The rest of the volunteers and family members, who opted to join, us are going be completing their transition on the Independence.

  Bambi commed him privately. Sir, Bet is in her med unit and she’s getting quite nervous. I think you should pay her a visit.

  Thank you, Bambi. Tell her I’m on the way.

  He excused himself and quickly walked to the large shuttle, which held Bet’s med unit.

  As he entered the shuttle, Bambi commed, General, Todd Pierpoint called Mike Hardesty and brought him up to date.

  Good, Hardesty needs to know we’re coming soon.

  But Sir, Hardesty made a few calls on a line he thinks is secure from me. I don’t know what he’s planning, but it isn’t to help us. I think he means to capture or kill you and probably Jo as well. He talked with someone in special operations and told them it was a go for Operation Take Down at Nellis, once you land in the basin.

  Mike chuckled angrily. “Well, well. So he just can’t help himself? He’s got to knock me off, and then he thinks his people will have control of all alien technology. Why the hell can’t that arrogant ass see that he’s jeopardizing the entire human race?”

  Boss, I can arrange for a heart attack. The man has been under a lot of pressure.

  No! Absolutely not. I don’t like the guy, but he is very smart and maybe after he fails at this, he’ll come around.

  Mike, what if he doesn’t fail?

  We’re going to be sure that he does fail. Before we land, I want you to put micro-drones all over Nellis Air Force Base. I want to know about changes and additions of manpower and mobile artillery. Be prepared to neutralize it, with as little harm to people as possible. Bring Max in on this and make him aware of everything you find. Then the three of us will chat about how we’re going to handle it, before we land.

  Bet was just beginning to feel the grind of low intensity pain in her skin. As soon as Mike looked at her through the window of her med unit, he saw the horror on her face. He wanted to rip off the top and hug her and make the pain go away for her. But, it was too late.

  Bambi had explained that once the upgrade process starts, it’s very dangerous to stop in the middle of the procedure, because it could do permanent harm and make it impossible for that person to ever be upgraded. The genes and nanites were making changes that could never be reversed.

  He lifted the top slowly, angling it off to one side and took one of her hands in his.

  “Rough time of it?”

  She nodded. “Yeah, this really sucks. It’s easy to accept that you’re going to suffer, before it begins, but once it starts and never let’s up, it’s terrifying.”

  He patted the back of her hand and assured her, “It is a true horror for anyone, Bet. I really do wish there was some other way, but there’s not.”

  She looked at him and then around her unit, making sure there was no one close by, before whispering, “I really enjoyed last night, Mike. You were wonderful. I really needed that and, in spite of my acting like a twenty dollar whore, you were a true gentleman.”

  He gave her an evil grin and whispered back at her, “Bet, you ain’t no twenty dollar whore. I’d have given a months pay to be with you. You are an amazing lover.”

  She grimaced, as she replied, “That’s no compliment. You don’t get paid.”

  He patted her hand again and told her, “Everything seems to happen so damn fast out here. I ah…Well, Bet, I really like you…a lot. I hope that wasn’t just a one night stand.”

  “I hope so too, Mike. I know what you mean about the speed of things. They do seem to happen quickly, don’t they?”

  He nodded.

  She yelped and squeezed his hand, before saying, “I know you must be very busy, but can you stay with me for a while. It hurts so bad and I’m so scared.”

  “Of course I will.”

  Mary looked in on them and commed him, Just stay with her, Mike. If we need you, we’ll call. And congratulations…she’s a keeper, if you play your cards right.

  I agree, sweetheart. Thanks.

  As Bet went into the next stage of her upgrade, Mike stayed by her side, only leaving her to briefly visit with other people being upgraded. He looked in on Cdr. Vollmar, the Naval officer and a few of the scientists. Then it was back to Bet. He was sure she had it better than he had, but it was still bad for her and he hated to see her in agony. It was also a reminder of those horrible days, as Sherry slipped away from him, due to the cancer, as he comforted his beloved wife. It was a very painful memory.

  It was Bet’s screaming that tore him apart. He felt so helpless. He asked Bambi if there was any way she could lessen Bet’s agony, but there was not. Tears streamed down his face, as he recalled his own aguish and prayed that Bet’s wasn’t as bad as his had been.

  When he took a break to refresh and eat, Mary told him of a few side events.

  “Little Charu Nara, you remember her. Well she quietly asked if Bambi could make her taller. Bambi assured me that it would easy, but she would be a day or so longer in the med unit and, while it could be a little painful, it wouldn’t be as bad as the upgrade process. So, she said to go ahead and do it. I think she has a thing for Dr. Frankenberger, who is nearly six ten. They’re a cute and brilliant couple.”

  She asked, “Another topic, on which we’ve only touched the surface, how are we going to recruit women. You said yourself that we wouldn’t bring prostitutes out here.”

  Bambi, any ideas on this?

  Yes sir. I’ve been doing a lot of research on the history of human behavior, over the last five thousand years, and I’ve come to the conclusion that women are an important ingredient for any army. We may be able to offer the Americans and other governments a solution, which would be helpful to them and us.

  Mary asked, “What’s that, Bambi?”

  “We will take prostitutes who have been arrested and on drugs. It will free up prison space on Earth and, once I’ve cleaned up their drug habits and upgraded them, I can download any number of abilities into their minds that would make them very useful for us. I’ll also provide them with psychological help, during the upgrade process, to help them deal with their low self-esteem.

  “When they have completed the procedure and they begin to realize that they have something of value to offer our organization, they’ll feel better about themselves and they’ll fit in. If a man wants to date her, then fine. But I’ll not allow any form of prostitution to take place on any ship of the TSN. The girls will know it and so will the men.

  “I’ve taken the liberty of planting, in the minds of the men we are currently upgrading, subtle messages about treating women with equal respect. I believe this will work. We may have to do some tweaking, but on the whole, it should be OK.”

  Mike looked at Mary for her reaction to the idea. She said, “At first look, bringing a bunch of hookers up here isn’t a good idea. On the other hand, after upgrading, they would no longer be hookers. I like the idea and I’d be very surprised if it wasn’t accepted by the powers that be on Earth. Of course, we would explain it to the girls beforehand, and they would have to accept the fact that they would be working for us in outer space.”

  Mike grinned and said, “I agree. But, you know what? I bet this is going to piss off a lot of astronauts.”

  “So, we make them the same offer. Most of those men and women are scientists in their own right.”

  “Good point, Mary. I’ll make the offer, but I don’t think it’s going to be very popular with NASA. They are very quickly going to become irrelevant.”

  “Mike, has it occurred to you that what we have available is going to make a lot of people irrelevant?”

  “Only vaguely. I’ve been more concerned about saving the planet than saving jobs. I do have an idea though.”

  “Bambi, can we give people the initial med unit treatment and place knowledge in their minds at the same time, or is that strictly a process of the upgrade.”

 

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