AMP Siege (16 page)

Frig grunted and huffed. "No, I already gave that a try out of desperation. Everything seems to be in order, but we get very little signal out of the final antennae."

I spoke. "Have you checked the signal coming in?"

Frig looked up with a sarcastic expression. "What do you think, Sir? Yes, the techs have repeatedly verified the input."

In his agitated state, I knew I could easily get a rise out of Frig, so I took the opportunity. "No, have
you
verified the input signal?"

Frig stopped and returned an inquisitive look. It was not the response I was expecting.

Frig spoke. "Are you suggesting that I verify the signal myself?"

I replied, "Uh, sure. If that's what it takes."

Frig called over one of the techs and sent him off for a piece of test equipment. The tech returned with a small meter and two probes.

Frig powered up the system and proceeded to inspect the input signal. "Don, could you press that glowing green button on the display for me?"

I complied, and the system metrics on the screen all turned positive, all except for the output power. Frig set the meter and began to probe different points. Several seconds later, he looked up in disgust.

Frig spoke. "I have been over this entire system multiple times, and yet you walk in and point me right to the problem. I have to wonder now if you had this planned all along."

I replied, "What are you saying? That I found the issue?"

Frig turned to the tech. "When I asked you the reading of the input signal, what was it that you told me?"

The tech replied, "I said the meter read ten, to which you always responded with a humph. It still says ten right there. What is the issue?"

Frig restrained himself from striking the tech. "I said ten kilojoules. What does this meter read?"

The tech looked again at the meter. "Ten... joules. Wow, Sir. I am sorry. I must have misheard that initially. Every time since the first, you have just said ten, and then grunted and turned away when I said ten."

Frig sighed as his anger waned. "It is OK, Peter. It was a miscommunication between us both. At least we have found what should be our issue. Mr. Becket! Please bring us a new glass diode for the demodulator! It appears to be damaged!"

The tech named Becket headed off to the parts storeroom to find a replacement diode.

Frig looked up at me with a disgusted expression. "I am certain that you wish to rub this in my face, Sir. Please begin so that we can get on with our repairs."

I smirked and shook my head. "As much as I love rubbing your flat little nose into things, I'm afraid I will have to pass on this one. Just get that thing working so we can find out if the Grid is still there."

As Frig turned back to his work, I made my way down to the mess hall for a cup of java. I sat at a table and sipped away at the goodness that the elixir that we called coffee was. I looked around the mess hall at the others that were gathered there. I thought to myself about how these were all great examples of the Human spirit. Each and every one had originally volunteered to join our ranks. I knew that the people on this ship would do everything in their power to bring us back to the Grid. I just hoped there was still a Grid to be brought to.

I sat in a chair in Frig's lab as the first attempt was made to verify the Grid's continued existence. I was nervous. I had a level of anxiety going that I had not had in a long time. The familiar hum of the driver circuits kicking in only heightened my level of fear.

Frig spoke. "Portal is opening. Performing scan."

Several seconds passed.

Frig continued, "Scan complete. Portal closing. Now, let's see what we have."

The others in the room stood in silence as Frig looked over the results.

Frig turned in my direction. "Sir, I am sorry. The Grid has been moved. I will perform another scan for residuals. If it's more than a few weeks or a month ago, we may not be able to follow a trail."

I stood as I replied, "I guess it doesn't matter. I know where the Duke took it. It is sitting back at his home base with the other destroyed Verna. It is now more imperative than ever that we ally with the Gonta. I will go and inform Meecha of our needs. Inform Captain Malta that we will be changing our direction. Have him turn us towards the location of the Verna."

For the first time in my life, and for the first time in our recorded history, the Grid was under the complete control of other than Humans. During the last incursion, the Dakar and the Prassi had taken most of the great station from us, but we had overcome the invasion and regained control. This time was different. We had no foothold from which to begin our fight.

I joined the Gonta in a room that we had set aside for their entertainment. It was plush for a Human, but lacking for a Gonta on an extended vacation. I sat down in a beanbag-type chair with a depressed look on my face.

Meecha spoke. "It would seem that much troubles you, Don Grange. I take it that you have received some bad news?"

I nodded. "Yeah, we just found out that it looks like the Duke has taken possession of the rest of our population, our Grid, and everyone else we know. This fleet is all we have now, which is why I came to talk to you."

Meecha continued, "Your home world? It has been captured by the Duke?"

Again I nodded. "Well, yes and no. We don't have a home world, Meecha. We have a station where we all live. We call it the Grid. Remember me talking about the Durians and how they are coming this way?"

Meecha replied, "Yes. You described them in much detail."

I spoke. "Well, they weren't just headed our way, they were pursuing us. Much like a species before them, the Milgari, had been chasing us for a thousand years. You see, Meecha, our species, Humans, was dropped on this station a thousand years ago. We have no knowledge of where we came from or how we came to be on this station. It was there, we were there, and we made the best use of it we could in order to survive."

Meecha reached out his hand and took hold of my forearm. "You are telling the story of my people, Don Grange. Our home world, Tresha, has four stations in orbit around her. We do not know of our origins, only that we came to be in this place at that time. Describe your Grid to me, Don Grange: the shape, the weapons, and its drive system."

We talked for hours comparing our Grid to their Carions. The stations were nearly identical in design, build, function, and feature. They, however, had never fully engaged the gravity drive, as their needs for movement had been minimal.

The Gonta too had been attacked shortly after their arrival on the Carions, but the species that assaulted the Gontas was weak and easily repelled. Since that time, the Gonta had been able to make peace with other local star systems, and the Gonta Federation was soon born. The Federation had continued on a slow and steady path of growth for more than two thousand years until their first encounter with the Colossuns. Their friendly culture of commerce had turned quickly into one of defense. For the first time since their initial encounters with hostiles, the Gontas feared for their existence.

Meecha spoke. "These Verna that you speak of—they were destroyed?"

I replied, "Yes, at least according to the Duke, they were. He described what had happened, and he sounded a little frustrated over it. The discussion we were having seemed true enough. If you are worried about your Carions, then I would say you should be. His ships may not be able to defeat one, but if he knows how to get on board, he knows how to set off the self-destructs. That is what he claims happened to the Verna."

Meecha thought for a moment. "Has your method of communication been restored? Can we try again to contact our Central Command? I am certain that this new information would change things."

I rose from the comfort of my bean chair and asked the captain to join me. When we arrived in Frig's lab, he was busy with continued scans and searches of the area nearby where the Grid had last been.

I spoke. "Frig, the captain here has a set of coordinates that I would like you to open a comm channel to. It's the Gonta Central Command, and it's time we made and cemented a new ally."

Meecha gave the coordinates, and a comm was soon open deep into Gonta space.

Meecha stepped forward, but I stopped his progress. "I'll handle this one."

I touched the comm button on my arm pad. "This is Don Grange, speaking on behalf of the Human race. May I speak with the officer in charge?"

A reply came over the comm. "Who is this, and how did you come by this channel? You are trespassing on a restricted communications network of the Gonta Federation. I repeat, who is this?"

I shook my head. "Look, pal, go get your boss. We have important things to discuss, such as the defense of the Federation. I need to speak with the officer in charge!"

Several minutes passed as I worked my way up the Gonta chain of command.

A new voice then answered. "This is Vice Admiral Hoota. What is this about?"

I replied, "Look, Admiral, my name is Don Grange. I represent the Human species. I will cut right to the meat of why I am here on your comms. I come from a great station called the Grid, which is almost identical in every way to your four Carion stations. Your people's beginning in this galaxy matches that of my people. We too are enemies of the Colossuns. It would do both of our peoples good to form an alliance against them. So, go meet with whatever council or chamber or body of military hierarchy that you need to, and let's get some discussions going. I am sorry if I sound terse, Admiral, but time is of the essence."

The Admiral spoke. "This will take some time, Don Grange. What you ask is much. You will first have to reveal your whereabouts, as your ship is not showing on our scans."

I again replied, "We are not on your scans because we are light-years from your location, Admiral. I am speaking to you through the means of a wormhole comm portal. It is something we acquired recently and may be something that we could share with an ally in a fight with the Colossuns."

Frig grabbed my arm. "I do not think it advisable to give away the secret of our portal, Sir. Even for the possibility of an alliance."

I replied, "I haven't given away anything yet, but if the Gontas are willing to join us, it is something that I would strongly consider."

The Admiral again spoke. "Allow me fifteen minutes to stage an initial discussion, Mr. Grange. If the parties that join in that discussion see merit, we will then move to the next stage."

I raised my eyebrows at Meecha as I spoke. "That is as much as I can expect of you, Admiral; thank you for taking the time to hear me out."

The discussion went through the night and into the next day. A decision had been made. Meecha, his crewmen, and I would transfer through the portal onto one of the Gonta Carions. Exact coordinates had been given to and verified by Frig. This time, coming from the wormhole beginning, we would be passed through on a rail, not having to risk our lives with a circus dive. I was eager to see another Grid from the inside.

Frig spoke. "Sir, please be careful. We do not yet know the Gonta and their intentions. They may have their own Grids, Sir, but I would not put it past any species that we have met to want to acquire more."

I replied, "Risk nothing, gain nothing. Hmm. That is something my father used to say. I don't think I have repeated that phrase during my entire life. Anyway, you get the gist of it. There is nobody out there willing to fight for us, but there may be a few who are willing to fight alongside us. If we don't stick our necks out every once in a while, we aren't going to find any others who will risk it with us."

Frig spoke. "Just get on the rail, Sir. I do not need a lesson on risk. I fully understand that which is at stake. And Sir, try to keep your legs tucked in this time. If one of those power cells gets chopped by the portal edge, you would not be making a return trip."

I smiled as I lay down on the rail in preparation for being shoved through the portal. "Hey, thanks for the tip. Now, if you could, please, let's get this party started!"

The wormhole portal was established and the Gonta captain shoved through. At the distance we remained, the portal duration lasted only five seconds. With the rail system in place, we were each shoved through safely. As the final wormhole was opened, I turned to Frig and winked. A hard shove by two techs sent me through the hole and onto the deck of the Carion on the other side.

I rolled over and pushed myself up to my feet. As I looked around the roomful of Gontas, I took note that I towered over them. The first Gonta to step forward was Vice Admiral Hoota.

The Gonta greeting was to take a firm grip of the other party's wrist. I gave a firm shake to the Admiral and then turned back to Captain Meecha.

As I held out my hand, Meecha reached out and took hold. "Thank you, Don Grange, for bringing us home. Our paths may never cross again; just know that I always wish you well."

I replied, "And thank you, Meecha, for fighting by our sides against the Targ. Your actions will not be forgotten. May you also do well in your travels."

I then turned to greet a long line of Gonta military officials. The final wrist that was grasped was that of Supreme Commander Grita. He was old for a Gonta at 247 years, but his handshake was firm.

Grita spoke. "Mr. Grange, welcome to the Carion we call
Orienta
. The
Orienta
is our military headquarters and is manned and run by members of the military sect only. You will find that this vessel is run in an orderly and regimented fashion. As a guest, you will be extended the courtesies of such by each and every Gonta. Please do not hesitate to ask if you are in need of assistance of any kind."

I replied, "Thank you, ah, Commander Grita. I am sure the accommodations your people will provide will be above my expectations and needs."

The Commander pursed his lips.

I spoke. "Please, Commander, if I say anything that sounds untoward or offensive in any way, be assured that it is not intended as such."

Grita smiled. "Hmm. Very well, Mr. Grange. It's just that for a moment, you sounded more like a politician than a military man."

I replied, "Sometimes, Commander, Human culture requires you to have a little bit of each in you. If it helps, I come from a long line of military men and women, so I have the utmost respect for that as a profession."

The Commander took a half step back in surprise. "Women! You have women that would serve in the military, Mr. Grange?"

I chuckled. "Captain Meecha mentioned that the Gonta women were held as above such duties in your culture. In ours, they freely join and serve out their entire careers as Marines. Some of them are our best fighters."

Commander Grita grabbed the gray whiskers that hung from the bottom of his chin. "Woman Marines! What any Gonta commander would not give for such! Why, I would have the Colossuns on the run with only a handful of them."

The room was silent for a moment before the other Gonta broke into a squealing laugh. The Commander gestured for me to follow his lead, and I soon found myself sitting in the center of a large table with Gonta sitting around the edges. I was completely encircled.

Grita spoke. "Welcome to Central Command, Mr. Grange. How can we help you help us to fight the Colossuns?"

I replied, "Well, Commander, let me begin with this. Our Carion—we call it Grid-4—has fallen to the Colossuns."

The Commander stood and looked around the room. "Why was I not told of this? How are we to fight the Colossuns with a species who has already lost their ship!"

I stood to reply. "Commander, please hear me out. There is much more to this story, and if you would allow me, I believe I can convince you of our merits."

The Commander returned to his seat with a scowl. "Proceed, Mr. Grange. My hostilities were not directed at you, only at my staff. Please continue."

I began to tell the story of the history of the Humans. The Gontas listened intently as our fortunes grew after each run only to be swept away again when the Milgari had once again found us. The news of the coming Durian fleet was not well received. When discussion of the Durians had settled, I told of our ventures into Colossun space and of the capture of the Duke.

I sat down as I concluded our encounter with Captain Meecha and the Targ. "And that brought us to where we are today, Commander, asking for your help against an enemy that is equally dangerous to you."

Quiet discussions went on for several minutes until Commander Grita stood. "Your history and your willingness to share it with us have given us much to discuss, Mr. Grange. For the time being, you will be escorted to quarters that I hope you find acceptable. I expect that we may be discussing this subject for some time. Do not expect an immediate decision, Mr. Grange. We Gonta tend to be thorough in our deliberations."

I was escorted down a long hall that was adorned with images of valiant commanders from the Gontas’ past. I stopped in front of one that looked familiar.

I spoke to my escort. "Tobian Meecha? Would that be a relative of Captain Meecha?"

The escort explained, "The Meecha family has a storied history, Mr. Grange. Tobian was commander during our first encounter with another species. He was credited with a great victory after a number of years of fierce battles. He charged the enemy command fleet with this very Carion and soundly defeated the Fleg Emperor by destroying his escorts and demanding his surrender. The captain has a proud history in Tobian."