Alliance, page 16
“This is not over yet people. Put those troops on alert that we might not have caught them all inside, patrols wandering the hills and such. Also, at some point, they are going to be missed and others may come looking,” Jake explained, but it did little to dampen their spirits.
Chapter 17
“Jake, this is bad, it’s really, really bad,” Linda said as she burst into his office.
After locking down the Alien craft in Nevada, Jake had been working on a plan to deal with the ship found in Germany. So far no one had appeared to investigate the loss of contact the stasis bubble would have created, but he knew that couldn’t last forever.
In Germany, they had left the same type of equipment as used in Nevada to monitor the ship but pulled the SAS teams back to prevent a repeat of the incident that had led to Padma’s capture.
“What happened?” he asked as he got Linda to sit down.
“One of the new saucers has been captured. The Aliens intercepted it in FTL and were able to take control. They captured both the saucer and the team aboard.”
“They got the stasis field generators?” he said in a horrified tone.
“No, they hadn’t been installed yet. This is worse.”
“What could be worse,” Jake asked, relieved.
“Jake, it was fully configured for an ALICE. The team was just waiting to get here for your go ahead,” Linda answered.
At that, Jake dropped back in his own seat. Linda was right, this was really, really bad. Of all the things they could not afford to get out, the secret of ALICE creation was the top. He had been so preoccupied with the local threat he had completely ignored the one in interstellar space.
“How?” he asked, unsure of what else to say.
“We got a data burst right before the aliens took the saucer. It looks like they dropped out of FTL to check something, the data shows a possible failed sensor. Anyway, they were investigating when three of those ships appeared out of nowhere and slapped some kind of tractor beam on it, preventing them from running,” Linda explained.
“And no idea where they are now?” Jake asked in return.
“None. We know the general area where they got taken, as we traced the source of the data.”
Jake knew that once the saucer dropped out of FTL, the first thing it would have done was connected to the NeHaw communications network if possible.
“And the rest?” Jake asked, referring to the other saucers.
“Arrived just before we got the data burst.”
“Well, we can only hope someone had the time and good sense to sabotage things,” Jake said with a shake of his head.
----*----
“The test failed?” KaLob asked the analyst responsible for reviewing the recordings recovered from the derelict cruiser.
“It’s a matter of perspective Sir. The test was a complete success. We were able to successfully collect uncorrupted data confirming that the Phase Inhibitor was not able to disrupt their phase shifting capability and expose the enemy vessel. On a positive note, we were able to target their ship using gravimetric scanning and the shielding data shows a 500% improvement in resistance. It is unfortunate that none aboard survived the encounter, first hand observations are always a welcome addition.”
KaLob contained his irritation as he considered the information provided. At this point they could target a ship they could not damage and they were able to sustain limited return fire before succumbing entirely. He had seen the video recording of the second encounter and noted the event was nothing at all like the first test. There had to be something missing the second time around.
“What can we derive from the two encounters?” KaLob asked the man after putting a voice to his thoughts.
“I will need to cross correlate the data, but I can deduce with some certainty that the disruption of the alien phase shifting in the first test was achieved by a combination of NeHaw and Human technology.”
----*----
“Well Major, what now?” the Sergeant asked of the Officer as the two sat quietly in their hide.
Once the operation in America was launched, everyone worldwide had been put on alert in case things got interesting. By that, they meant additional alien activity in both places known and unknown. For that reason, both Daniel and his Sergeant had stayed behind to keep eyes on target for their local infestation.
“That makes three groups of three,” he acknowledged to the Sergeant.
Within an hour of the successful operation in America, the three-unit teams began appearing from whatever patrols they were assigned. Standing off to one side of the glade, presumably because their ship occupied the vast central opening nearby, they just mingled, as if awaiting new orders.
“It’s weird, they see the sensors at the trailhead, we hardly tried to conceal them, and yet they ignore their presence,” the Sergeant observed.
“It's like they just don’t care that they are there,” he added.
“One could imply that their feeling of invincibility infers a lack of knowledge regarding the status of their comrades,” Daniel speculated.
“It does make me wonder though; they seem to work in threes. The Americans found a ship, we found one,” the Sergeant trailed off.
“That thought had crossed my mind,” Daniel agreed.
----*----
“We have confirmed that the aliens are active on three planets. So far, no direct hostilities beyond reacting to the local’s objections to their activities. In all three locations, they have appeared suddenly, taken individuals, animals, or other living creatures, and then disappeared,” the Commander informed General KaLob.
“Scouting locations for settlement,” KaLob stated more than questioned.
“Our gravimetric tracking is improving for detecting their ships beyond the DMZ sensor's abilities, but there has been no success with the Phase Inhibitors we have deployed. Activation alone does not seem to incite a response from the phased vessels, unlike the first experience.”
KaLob knew the man was referring to the fact that unless there was some sort of overt action against the alien ships, in concert with the Phase Inhibitor, it nether provoked them nor exposed their vessels. It was painstakingly clear that the success of the first test had something to do with the human presence, and the fact that the aliens had initiated the attack against both parties meant that their security had been successfully breached by the combination.
“At this time, it appears the NeHaw homeworld is not of interest to them and does not fit the profile of worlds they are exploring,” the Commander added, referring to their home planet.
“What do they find desirable?” the General asked after a moment’s consideration.
“They would be more interested in the human’s homeworld than our own,” was the reply.
“A small victory,” the General commented dryly.
----*----
“Hey Linda, I just wanted to reach out and let you know the Hong Kong saucer is inbound to Earth and the other is here, ready and waiting,” Hector informed the smiling face on the other end of the video connection.
Neither participant wanted to acknowledge the missing third saucer and the significance of its capture. The original plan had all the saucer sections reporting to Earth for shield installation and ALICE awakening. Once complete one of the three would return to Wawobash where it would be expanded to assume its role as guardian of the shipyards.
With the loss of one of the three sent to Earth, a fourth, intended as an expansion module, was rushed to completion, where it was placed on station just outside the Wawobash system. A new team was dispatched to bring her to life there, reducing the risk of a repeat of the fate of its predecessor. Several ships were en route with all the necessary equipment to finish the job, including railguns. As it was, all the components for her stasis shields were aboard Kola so that work had already begun.
Once completed, the station was expected to act as a sentinel for one of the most prized facilities in all of human defended space. Without the shipyards, they would be at the mercy of overwhelming odds and battle inflicted attrition.
“I’ll let Jake know the status. Hey, just a heads up. Be prepared as you are going to be on the hook for activating your ALICE,” Linda passed along in reply.
The ALICE on Space Station Alpha was supposed to have already been activated per some project plan that Hector was never a party too. Delays and a certain amount of procrastination on his part had Hector hoping that Jake would appear to perform the task in his place.
With the outcome in London, he was now even more concerned that he might screw up the process and awaken a mythical Space Valkyrie or some other such personality. What a space station needed at its core was stability and an even hand, not a flamboyant character.
“No pressure there,” Hector replied with a sigh.
“Yeah. Morgana was a surprise, but, so far so good,” Linda acknowledged with a weak smile.
Privately held opinions suggested the emergence of the Morgana persona had surprised and concerned not only the humans but some of the ALICE’s as well. Scuttlebutt amongst those closest to the ALICE systems was that the Artificial Lifeform’s had fiddled with the process and somehow skewed the personality emergence unexpectedly. While no one was suggesting she was openly dangerous, as her core programing was still intact, it was inferred that all human interactions were closely monitored by the other ALICEs for now.
“I’m told there will be no more messing with the process,” Linda added for support.
“I’ll be counting the minutes,” Hector replied with a smile.
Somehow, activating a system that had the ability to evacuate the atmosphere in the station and kill everyone on board had taken the luster out of the event.
----*----
Patti was digging through all the data she could find about areas outside of their normal activity zones, to try and locate a possible third ship. Daniel had passed along his observations and she agreed that the likely hood of a third location was pretty high. The problem was that while they liked to imagine they were having a significant effect on improving the overall state of the planet, the reality was less impressive. Most of the planet was not yet benefiting from the Renaissance Jake’s awakening had delivered to a very select few, percentage wise.
There were still vast areas of the Earth that were no better off now than they were fifty years ago. It was those areas where the mystery third ship was likely hidden away. It was also obvious that she was not going to make a lot of progress with her search all alone.
“Morgana, can you spare a moment?” Patti asked cautiously.
“For you, always,” the newest Artificial Lifeform replied lightly.
“I was wondering if you could practice some of your wizardries and help me locate likely hot spots for alien activity.”
“Sorcery, actually. As an Enchantress I practice sorcery, wizardry is for wizards.”
“I stand corrected. Perhaps you have some sorcery to aid in my search,” Patti replied, finding the banter helping with reducing her stress levels.
“Let us see, shall we. Hum, I see what you mean, there is quite a bit of the world we have yet to conquer, isn’t there,” Morgana commented absently as she presumably scanned mountains of data.
“Perhaps we should examine what we know,” Morgana suggested.
“Lets.”
“It is interesting that the two known locations are both in the northern hemisphere and roughly one hundred and twenty degrees apart, or one third of the global separation. With seventy percent of the landmass in the northern hemisphere and assuming the villains are looking for an even sampling of our global fare, I would estimate the last location to be along the one hundred and thirty fifth longitude east in the southern hemisphere.”
Patti brought up a world map as she listened to Morgana’s monologue and traced out the location. Once Morgana had worked it out it became quite obvious that the aliens had likely split the world into thirds and played the percentages versus the exposed landmass.
“Australia,” Patti proclaimed as the southern landmass was literally sliced in two by that vertical.
“Not the most efficient distribution of resources in my opinion, but they likely assumed the frozen wasteland of Antarctica in their allocation of responsibility. Must have been quite disappointing for them,” Morgana finished with what Patti swore was a giggle.
“That’s wonderful Morgana, thanks for helping me zero in on a place to search. Now I need to start digging there,” Patti
“Oh, no need. I found the buggers. See here,” Morgana proclaimed as she displayed video in the monitor Patti had been using.
Situated in the most desolate of areas of the outback, the black and silver ship was uncloaked and sitting proudly against the reddish earth that surrounded it. In the image, Patti could see the largest collection of individuals seen to date. They all appeared busy at one task or another and in some form of military preparation.
“I’ll need to get a hold of Jake and let him know where to look,” Patti said as she started writing on a pad.
“Tell him not to bother, luv. It appears they are getting ready to come to us,” Morgana replied.
Checking her display once more, she could see Morgana magnifying the image to show a vast collection of weaponry being readied for use.
----*----
Rather than docking the new saucer to Space Station Alpha, Hector had insisted they position themselves just off the inward module to the solar system and away from any incoming space traffic. It allowed them the ability to shield it from incoming attacks while providing mobility should it need to break and run. The decision did make the shuttling of personnel and equipment back and forth a cumbersome requirement, slowing the process.
“Status?” he asked the Officer overseeing the activities, gesturing with his coffee cup at the image in the display before them.
“Weapon’s upgrade, shields install and ALICE work all in progress. I would say we have people climbing over each other out there, but there are mostly just a lot of bots,” she replied as she zoomed the image, showing the activity on the outside of the saucer hull.
It seemed that every part of the surface was moving with railgun and shield generator components transported and installed by the little automated bots controlled by one of the many ALICEs on Earth. Hector felt a slight pang as he noted, soon enough, their own ALICE would be heading such activities. He had been given the go ahead to schedule the activation, for a time and day of his choosing.
“Completion date?” he asked, bringing himself back to the here and now.
“For which part? I can give you a rough timeline, but with limited resources and overlapping needs, it’s a shuffle to just keep everything moving.”
“Does any of this put our own activation schedule at risk?” Hector asked.
“No, the activation team can break away at any time from assisting the installation team over there. They are only there now to help speed things along while waiting on the green light here.”
“Ok, makes sense. Notify them to be ready to pull out of there in the next few days,” Hector instructed, not wanting to commit just yet.
“Yes Sir,” the woman confirmed as she watched him leave the room.
Chapter 18
Colonel Edwin Banks probably should have retired as head of the military forces tied to the London facility by now, but healthy living and a determined SAS attitude had served him well. It was for that reason that he sat in the trees of a German forest, in full combat kit, weapon in hand.
“Everyone’s in position Major?” he asked Daniel as the two men scanned the handheld tactical display.
Strapped to his forearm and not actually in hand, Daniel held his arm so both could see the indicators representing the friendly forces making a large C around the glade where the alien ship sat, still invisible to the naked eye. The rangefinder data was fed to the device as well, confirming its presence.
The men were part of a group of Officers and Senior NCOs that were preparing their men and women for the expected assault.
“The ship down under disappeared about three hours ago and while we haven’t been able to track it, the occupants in the glade began marshaling forces about the same time,” Daniel explained while indicating the red dots on his display.
“If we can’t track the buggers, how are you getting that feed?” the Colonel asked.
“One of the ALICEs has drones overhead with the rangefinder projectors. It doesn’t help us disable the phase shifters, but we can at least keep an eye on their activities.”
“It would appear they are forming up to confront us,” Edwin observed as the red dots began to form into a line of their own.
“Spread the word and remind everyone to maintain fire discipline. We don’t want to be shooting our own as they phase out and we shoot right through them,” Daniel passed to the Officers and NCO’s around him.
Almost as one, they dispersed to return to their areas of responsibility along the front. Daniel and Edwin remained where they stood, effectively in the center of the C. Watching the display and tracking the movement of the opposing force, Edwin inferred a sense of arrogance in the way they approached.
He had little doubt that the enemy could detect the location of their human protagonists in defense of their homeland, as they closed in on the center of the line. It was a smaller group than the one that surrounded them, but Edwin was well aware of the technology that protected them. He had read all the reports in detail before involving himself in the fight to come.
Scanning the forest in front of him, he patiently awaited the telltale signs of the approaching enemy. The late afternoon light passing through the trees played tricks on the eyes as the shadows grew and the filtered light dimmed.
“Here they come,” the Sergeant finally announced as the shadows seemed to take shape.
In their phase shifting mode, the alien troops were just shadows at best, but the fire that belched from the end of their weapons was tangible enough as it exploded all around them. Edwin was surprised that the ghosts before them had initiated the engagement, it was his understanding that all previous encounters had been less aggressive.
