And Break It Not, page 29
part #13 of Guild Wars Series
“He’s in guarded condition, with considerable internal injuries. He took many high-G maneuvers getting here. He sent all of the crew to gee-couches, fluid-filled chambers, and biobeds. He alone remained at the controls, with no protection from the inertial forces. He stayed on the controls until the Jeff came to its final rest. A true hero.”
“He must receive our best care.”
“He is, Todd,” Roeder interrupted. “Irwin and Walt are treating him, and they’re using the Avander treatment as well. He has a very good chance of full recovery, but it will take time.”
“For which the Custode Sviss thank you, Doctor, gentlebeings. In the meantime, one of our Arritim shuttles is equipped to function completely water-filled. It should serve to place a unit of Wrogul with stealth and flexibility. If you have the squad, I have the ship and the pilot for you—Corashee is the best I have. She not only passed our Executive Protection Evasive Piloting course, she redesigned it three times to make it more comprehensive.”
“Excellent. Verne, start choosing your crew.” Verne flashed acknowledgement to Jackson, as one of the screens lit up with another Wrogul, this one clearly on land and surrounded by machinery. “Jack Sparrow. Excellent timing. We were just about to discuss ground forces.”
“Aye, mate. ‘At’s a good ‘un, but ol’ Jack’s got just the thing for ye.” It was hard to tell which was more shocking to those who hadn’t met Azure’s tech genius—the Caribbean-style Earth accent, or the use of contractions. “Ay’ve always wanted a railway gun, a’ it’s a dam’ shame th’ Pearl did nae bring one from yon evil squid’s cave.”
“Jack, talk normal.”
“Righty-o, mate. Railway guns. Great big cannons mounted on a rail car so they could be transported anywhere there were rails. My Ratte is really too heavy for roads, and there is no way to equip it for ground-effect. But I can mount cannon on maglev cars and position them anywhere from Landing to Ualapue…or at least, most of the way to Ua. It’s a shame Tony and Ray didn’t bring Big Bertha from Mengele’s cavern, but given a choice between Ratte and Bertha, I’m glad they brought the Rat.
“On the other arm, I’ve found plans on the AetherNet from an Earth inventor named Rex Mason. I can scale down Ratte’s railgun and make several rail-mounted cannons. They can be moved or hidden; they can evade or get up close to a target. I’ll have four of them ready for an assault inside of a month.”
“Four? Why four?” asked Tony.
“Landing, Styx, starport, and one for backup. We were just about to connect the inclined spur from Dillingham to the Loihi maglev station, anyway, so we’ll keep them hidden, but they can be deployed in under an hour, and on-site in two. It’s up to the rest of you to provide the troops.”
“Which brings us back to me,” said Jackson. “We have CASPers for a short platoon and infantry armor for a company. The retirees can mostly fill out a TOE, but we need more bodies.”
“Those of the Custode who are capable will help.”
“As will the Copperheads.”
“Very well, then, welcome to Cobalt Company. Let’s get your people up to Schofield, and we’ll get organized.”
The rest of the meeting continued with details of merc organization, armament, command, and communications. They would still be outnumbered by the sheer number of Ragamuffins who’d arrived over the last few months, but they had the means to fight back.
As long as they had time.
* * * * *
Chapter 12
Paul sat in the idled boat at Raft Complex #44. His trip in the diving bell to the outer perimeter of the colony had been fruitful. Davy Jones had slipped away from the recovery and repairs to assure him several Wrogul would meet him at the mariculture platform. Paul was shocked by the damage left by the rock fall and tsunami. He’d left messages for Davy saying he was waiting at the platform, but so far there was no response. His Human driver, Ojo, slouched with his legs propped over the side of the boat, his skin glistening with lotion to protect his already-tanned skin.
The meteor that had hit the Lepo Sea demolished many of the platforms Paul passed on his way to Raft 44. The islands and shoreline of Uturoa showed much damage. The sand was littered with the effects of the tsunami: tree trunks, kelp mounds, and beached sea life decayed in the sun. He waited anxiously in his protective suit, hoping someone from the colony would arrive soon. Paul loaded the boat with travel tanks to transport any Wrogul who wanted to return to the continent.
“How much longer?” Ojo asked.
“I do not know,” Paul replied. “How are we on power?”
“The regenerative electric motor is doing okay, but I’d like to get started soon. We’ve got to get across the Lepo Sea, preferably before dusk.”
Another fifteen minutes had passed since Paul’s last message, transmitted to Davy via pinplants, and he was getting nervous. He began drumming four arms on the gunwale. Ojo raised his shaded eye protection and looked at the Wrogul. “I do that, too, when I’m tired of waiting.” The driver drummed the four fingers of one hand several times on the steering wheel. “Either that or play air guitar.” The Human began thrashing his arms and threw back his head, bellowing “Wah—Waaa-aah. Wzzzzzt!”
Paul flashed a glyph of humor and drummed the gunwale with four arms, keeping a complicated beat, while the driver wailed his song and played his “guitar.” The two were on the third repeat of the chorus when Davy pulled himself out of the water into the boat.
“Bruh!” yelled Ojo.
Paul reached over to help Davy into a nearby travel tank, and the two communicated with photophores. Paul turned to Ojo, who was on his way back to the transom, and Paul’s translator sputtered with instructions.
“We need room for eight to ten Wrogul, Davy says. Help me get the shades up over these tanks and get the lids off!”
Davy flashed more instructions as Paul replied via his translator, “Yes, I have your pack. It is heavy, Davy; what have you got in here?” He reacted in surprise and glanced at the pack. “Armor and weapons? Oh, sharks and predators. Yes, that makes sense.”
Paul looked over the side of the boat and reached down with four arms. Zenna pulled herself over the edge and collapsed. Ojo ran over to pick up the Wrogul and put it in the same tank with Davy. Davy flashed another message, and Paul reacted again.
“Jacques…really? Oh, no, how badly? Okay, I think I see them coming. Gambit and Mystique, you say? Yes, they are in sight. They have Jacques between them. Ojo, let us give Jacques his own tank; he is badly hurt.”
Paul helped the trio approaching the boat, stabilizing Jacques at the side before lifting him upward. Davy launched himself out of the tank to the gunwale and dropped into the sea. He swam under the colony leader and supported him from below as Gambit, Mystique, Paul, and Ojo struggled to gently lift the injured elder into the boat. Paul and Ojo carried the nearly unresponsive Wrogul to an unoccupied tank and gently slipped him into the Styx Valley water. Jacques spread out on the tank bottom and closed his eyes. Gambit, Mystique, and Davy climbed over the transom and into the tanks.
“Six more, Paul. Four adult and two of the younger,” Davy flashed.
The four adult and two older buds were brought into the boat, the adults dragging bags of tech and armor.
“Is this it?” Paul flashed. Davy replied in the affirmative, and Paul instructed Ojo to make haste for the Delta. He parked himself in front of Davy’s tank and flashed a barrage of questions.
Zenna laid an arm over Davy’s head. “I have forgotten how good Styx Valley water is,” Zenna flashed. Davy closed his eyes. She turned to Paul.
“Thank you, Paul, for coming for us. We are the first group returning to Styx, but others will be coming as well. Olivier is overseeing the colony safety and evaluating the damages. Magellan is helping him but plans to come to Styx as soon as he can. Some of the older Sixes and Sevens are watching over the buds and injured who cannot travel. We left Davy’s two with the colony; they are too young to travel far.”
Paul flashed a glyph of sadness. “I am very sorry about your buds and Ballard, Zenna, but we can use your help and encouragement. Every Wrogul in Styx Valley and Landing is united for the battle ahead of us.”
Jacques stirred in his tank, opened his eyes, and flashed, “Can you brief us, Paul? Or should we wait for Todd?”
Paul flashed a glyph of concern. “Todd is anxious to see you, Jacques. He said to get you all to safe harbor, then he will meet with you. But what to tell you? Simply, we are under attack by Human trespassers who want to take Azure away from the Human colonists. Verne is here, and he and Jack Sparrow are leading the Wrogul fight for the planet.
“The Human pirates are evil; they executed Governor Becke, and they are looking for Todd. We have a very intelligent Human leader named Tony Gamboa, who has had his own encounters with violence on Earth. He recognized these pirates for what they were. He has been very insightful during this time. We have a War Room. We have defenses, and we have a merc company, albeit mostly retirees or recovering mercenaries, to help us. The Arritim have aligned with us as well.”
“But how did this begin? And why was our colony attacked?’
“Oh, where can I start?” Paul responded desperately.
“Start at the beginning.”
* * *
Todd was nervous. He moved around anxiously within his mobile tank in Jackson’s conference room. Paul and the Hau’ula colonists would be arriving soon. Those who were returning to Styx and joining the fight for Azure were few in number at the moment, but more importantly, Jacques was returning with them. Paul sent Todd a coded message on what to expect when they arrived. When Paul mentioned Jacques had been injured but was returning to Styx, Todd quickly sent a message to Verne. Verne replied he would be in to see Jacques only after Todd and Jacques cleared the air. He was also working with Jackson to make sure Jacques would get the best in Wrogul medical treatment.
Jackson ducked his head into the conference room. “They’re here. Paul is bringing Jacques to us. The others are meeting with Verne and Jack Sparrow.”
Paul and an aide moved the mobile tank containing a feeble Jacques to face Todd’s tank. Paul motored to the back of the room and remained near Jackson.
“So, what’s happening?” Jackson whispered to Paul.
Paul minimized the volume of his translator to a whisper. “I am translating the conversation and messaging Amy and Brent via pinplant. Oh! You mean what are Todd and Jacques conversing about? Right now, just polite small talk. Todd is gratified that Jacques has returned for medical help.
“Jacques says it is more than medical need. If he had kept in contact with the continent, the sea colony would have known of the threat to the planet. He stubbornly prevented any contact, but realizes now the younger Wrogul thought they were missing out on experiences their progenitors had. He says if he had allowed some limited contact, the rock and tsunami would not have surprised the colony. He has told Todd that he thought a life in the open sea was a more natural lifestyle for Wrogul. He realizes now that his stubbornness and closed mind are partly to blame for the death, destruction, and injuries to the colony.”
“That’s good, isn’t it?” whispered Greg.
“We think this change of attitude may help the relationship between land and sea. Amy and Brent are guardedly optimistic.”
“So what else? That’s a lot of flashing.”
“Todd says he mourns the deaths, that all Wrogul are his buds. He wishes he had been more tolerant of Jacques’ plans for the sea colonies, that if he had not taken it as an offense to his leadership, they could have worked on plans to coordinate the move to the sea for those who wanted to leave.”
“Jacques says he realizes he, too, was most stubborn and forceful about his own plans. He says he is sorry the price is now so high for both of them. He says the fight for Azure is also the Hau’ula Colony’s fight, and perhaps when this is over, they can agree on plans that will benefit all Wrogul. Jacques agrees that when this war is over, they can make plans, but for now, they must concentrate on the battles ahead.”
Paul turned to Jackson, then blinked, and Greg recognized that faraway look Humans and Wrogul got when reacting to pinplants.
“Amy suggests we leave Todd and Jacques to their private conversation, and Verne says he wants us to meet with Davy Jones and the Hau’ula Wrogul.”
“Let’s go, then.”
* * * * *
Chapter 13
Toozie informed the Core Planners that it would take at least five days to bring her family’s ships up to full power once she arrived in Phinglas System. Normally it would take many weeks to bring the Arritim and Human replacement crews up to the needed skill level with the unfamiliar ships, but she had simulator programs that could be run via pinplant-supported Virtual Reality during the 170-hour hyperspace transit. The plan was for the crews to train in VR during transit and in person during the warm-up sequence. Once all six ships were at full power, they would spend three more days ensuring all crew were ready before gate transit. The 170-hour return trip would be used for further drill, as well as preparation for hostile reception upon emergence.
Phinglas was a dwarf star with no habitable planets, only a long-abandoned Science Guild station that had been stripped of all equipment and decommissioned. The ships were parked in a semi-stable orbit at the L-3 Lagrange point relative to the rocky world where the station had been located, with the stargate and emergence zone at the L-4 and L-5 points, respectively. Straight-line transit from emergence to the gate was ten hours. Rendezvous with the six remaining ships of the To’omys family fleet would take twenty hours due to the distance and the need to match orbital velocity. Fortunately, once the ships were crewed, powered, and ready to go, they would be able to accelerate most of the way to the gate, making the transit in fifteen hours.
Round trip from Azure to Phinglas and back would take nearly twenty-four days. Furthermore, the Phinglas gate had only a skeleton crew since the system was mostly used as a waypoint to worlds further out in the Tolo arm. When the fleet powered up and started to move, they’d be visible to the gate crew. Toozie’s single-use gate token was preprogrammed to get her to Phinglas. There was no knowledge of Azure nor need to transit to that system five-hundred generations back when the fleet was mothballed. Thus, the fleet didn’t have the coordinates for the ships to jump to Azure without updating their systems. They would have to use the gate, and they would have to pay or otherwise convince the gate master to cooperate. On the other hand, Tossers were good at obtaining material that was embarrassing to others. Once Toozie’s ship arrived at Phinglas, a courier would be dispatched to gate control with several records that the current gate master really would not want the Cartography Guild to view. A few red diamonds, a generous gift to the Guild Retirement Fund, and a time-delayed data release that could only be canceled by successful transit would ensure the gate master stayed bought.
Meanwhile, Azure needed to hold out for three and a half seven-days.
* * *
Clocks at Red Bank were set to a 24-day countdown once Toozie’s ship left the system. At T minus 4 days, Verne loaded his team, consisting of himself, Peter, James, Mystique, and Gambit, onto the shuttle piloted by the Arritim Corashee of the Custode Sviss. They would boost for Cerulean, supposedly with medical supplies for the clinic. One other supply mission had been allowed to go through in the past week, provided the shuttle submitted to boarding and inspection. Verne’s shuttle had no intention of being boarded, though; on approach, they would perform a ten G boost instead of turnover, then go dark for a long, parabolic trajectory to the stargate by diving toward the sun and looping back the long way to the gate. It would take them most of those three days to get there, and they timed the assault to take place when the Sphen-Eudy fleet was due.
The five Wrogul-adapted mechs were locked into place, and the time for launch was approaching. There was room for one more, and Verne was shocked when Todd’s second-in-command, Wells, showed up in a VASPer just before the shuttle was due to depart.
“Uncle, what are you doing here?”
“You may need medical help. These two renegades—” Wells gestured toward Peter and James, “—have more ambition than sense. These two—” Wells gestured toward Mystique and Gambit, but with photoglyphs that indicated a kindly concern, “—have not grown up with your adventures. You are in command, but I am along just in case you need some elder counsel.”
Verne reflected on the fact that Uncle Wells encouraged those adventures when he was a young Wrogul. A few rather dangerous flirtations with coal-fired forges and electrical circuits had left a mark—both physically and mentally—but the budmate of his progenitor Jacques was always available to heal, console, and even assist in those early experiments. “Uncle, I would be honored to have you along. You can handle that VASPer okay?”
“Whippersnapper—who do you think tested and fixed the damn things when you were recuperating from each accident?”
All the Wrogul shared glyphs of amusement as Wells backed his VASPer into the clamps, and the shuttle ramp closed.
* * *
Todd elected to stay at the secure facility underneath Trippler instead of returning to Tony’s or Roeder’s hideaways. It was clear that he could not return to Styx Town, and he did not wish to endanger the security of the Red Bank complex. The clinics were his creation, so it only made sense for him to take refuge at the most secure clinic location…at least the most secure on the surface.
It also allowed him to maintain communication with Jacques and Paul as they managed the rescue and evacuation of the Hau’ula colony site. Details of the deaths and damage were appalling, but even more shocking was the reconciliation with Jacques, and the colony’s intent to join the fight against the Ragamuffins.
The future of the site was still uncertain, but Todd was going over the scientific data Paul—and Jacques—transmitted. The adaptation to the higher salinity and lower sulfur content of the open ocean was encouraging. Moreover, Davey and several of the fifth generation Wrogul were experimenting with various technologies for living and exploring the deeps. It was surprising how easily Mystique and Gambit adapted to operating VASPers, but Paul explained they were using diving assist suits with control interfaces similar to Verne’s mech interfaces.
