AMP Siege (17 page)

I turned to the escort. "I thank you for that Gonta history lesson... Corporal Gila. Captain Meecha may one day equal his ancestor’s greatness in a defeat of the Colossuns. That would be something, wouldn't it?"

Gila replied, "It would indeed, Sir. If you have no further questions, your suite is just around the next corner. It is a suite reserved for only the most honored of guests."

I gestured for Gila to continue and was soon entering a room through two heavy, solid crystal doors.

Gila spoke. "Through here to the left you will find quarters for sleeping. Here we have a complete mud bath where you may wallow to your heart's content, and through here we have a chamber for mating. Since you have no mate with you, I believe this room to not be of much use. This main room is for entertaining guests. There is a beverage counter to your right with a trough for feeding on the other side. If you have no further questions, I will leave you to your suite, Mr. Grange. Press this button on this hand controller, and I will be here to satisfy your requests."

I thanked Corporal Gila and settled into a self-guided tour of the Gonta suite. The sleeping quarters consisted of two five-meter-long beds, packed with a soft brown earth. I shook my head at the thought of getting a good night’s sleep on such. I next ventured into the mud bath room.

A pit, five meters by seven meters, was filled with warm mud. Large bubbles rose to the top and burst, spattering mud on the nearby walls. The warm mud looked inviting, but I though better of taking a dip after noticing the lack of a shower for cleaning up with after. I also had to wonder if the mud would somehow affect my prosthetics.

As I stepped back into the main room, my eye went directly to the bar. "OK, Mr. Grange. Let's see what these Gonta have in the way of refreshments."

I stepped behind the bar and looked in delight at the numerous bottles that contained untold concoctions. I picked up the nearest bottle and removed the cap. It was sweet-smelling liquor with a blue tint. The label on the front read "Meritessa."

I spoke. "Would you like a cocktail, Mr. Grange? Well, thank you, I believe I will."

I wet the tip of my finger and then touched it to my tongue. It was sweet, and the alcohol content was of a reasonable, but not overpowering, level. There were no glasses to be found, so I turned the bottle up. Twenty minutes later I was signaling Gila on the controller.

As Gila entered, I waved the empty bottle at him and spoke. "What do you call this stuff? It has an excellent taste to it, and it will kick your butt in a hurry!"

Gila winced. "Oh, Mr. Grange! I am so sorry! I thought you knew, or would at least understand!"

I lowered the empty bottle. "Uh, what are you talking about, Gila? Go on. Spit it out!"

The corporal came and took the bottle from my hand. "I apologize profusely, Mr. Grange. The Commander will have my head when he finds out that I let you drink a whole bottle of Meritessa perfume."

I perked up. "Perfume? Well, you can tell that Commander that you have one kick-ass perfume! I have had plenty of good stuff before, Corporal, but this Meritessa, POW! It sneaks up on you all smooth and everything and then, POW!"

My problem with the Meritessa soon became evident. I was stinking drunk and soon passed out right in front of Corporal Gila. I awoke a dozen hours later with my head pounding. I rolled over to cover my eyes from the light above, only to find my face buried in the soft earth of the Gonta beds. I picked up my head and spat out half a mouthful of the dirt. It was shaping up to be a day that I would soon want to forget.

I stood and stumbled out into the main room and signaled Corporal Gila for assistance.

The corporal entered the room with a small bottle of elixir. "My apologies again, Mr. Grange. I hope you found the bed to your liking. Drink this; it will nullify the effects of the alcohol in that perfume you consumed."

I turned up the elixir and almost gagged at the foul taste that took over my dry mouth. "Ugh, that stuff is awful! Bring me some more of that hair of the dawg!"

The corporal replied, "That what, Sir?"

I shook my head as the headache quickly vanished. "Whoa, what is that stuff? I could make a killing off of it on the Grid."

The corporal returned a confused look.

I spoke. "A shower, at least tell me you have a shower. Somewhere that I can wash up? Get clean?"

The corporal’s eyes lit up. "Ah, a shower, yes, it is across the hall. We make use of it for decontamination, but I believe it will provide what you are seeking."

I thanked the corporal, lowered my head, and walked across the hall in shame. At that moment I remembered what Captain Meecha had said about Gontas and alcohol. It was strictly forbidden for internal consumption. After a long, hot shower, I felt as though I had never touched the Meritessa or the earth beds. My day had somehow gotten brighter.

After two days of intense discussions, the Gonta were prepared to negotiate an alliance agreement. I walked into the Central Command conference room with high hopes. I took my place in the center of the large, rounded table. The negotiations began.

Commander Grita was the first to speak. "Mr. Grange, we are prepared to sign an alliance with the Humans. We will provide ships, men; we will share in our strategies and tactics. All of the Gonta Federation will stand with the Humans against the Duke and the Colossuns."

I replied, "That is fantastic news, Commander. Should I question the stern expressions on your fellow officers’ faces? They would appear to be waiting for more than a simple yes."

Grita stood and leaned forward, placing his knuckled hands on the table. "An alliance with the Gonta calls for a full alliance, Mr. Grange. We must have access to the wormhole technology. Without that access, there can be no agreement."

I nodded. "There, see. I knew there was a catch. I cannot agree to such here at this moment."

The room filled with grunts and whispers.

I stood and continued, "However, allow me to discuss this with my staff. If they are willing to agree after giving the merits of this alliance a full consideration, we will move forward as quickly as possible."

The Commander spoke. "And if they do not agree, what then, Mr. Grange?"

I replied, "If my staff does not see the potential benefit to this alliance, then I will remain on my ship and the Humans and Gontas will part ways as friends. I am hoping for both our sakes that an outcome of such does not come to pass, Commander. We need each other. I believe that together we have a far greater chance of defeating the Duke than we do apart. I will return to my ship and have an answer for you within the day."

I left the meeting in silence. I was sure the room would erupt shortly after I was gone, as the detractors of such an alliance would be coming out in full force. I knew also the difficulty I might have in convincing my team that giving up the wormhole would somehow be in our interest.

I stood in a conference room on the
Suppressor
. The entire senior staff sat around the table or stood against the walls of the room. It was a packed crowd, but I was in need of all opinions. After several minutes of discussions, I stood and the room quieted down.

I spoke. "Gentlemen, ladies, the Gonta have offered a full alliance. The alliance, however, comes with a catch. We must fully share the wormhole technology with them. Not only would they have access to it, they would be allowed to replicate it for their own ships or planets. It would be a full sharing of resources, which would include the wormhole generator."

The room erupted in discussion. I could see anger in the faces of many who were opposed to the idea.

I raised my hand and the room again quieted. "Before we make up our minds, let me lay out the reasons for and against an alliance. In the simplest of terms, we need help. Look around you; you are surrounded by capable, hardworking, patriotic Human citizens who have put their lives on the line repeatedly in efforts to protect the Grid. Well, here is a news flash for you. The Grid is no longer in our control. We need to get her back, and in order to do so, we need the help of a strong partner such as the Gonta. They have ships, they have fighters, they have resources, and they have the will to fight."

I sat back down in my chair. "And of course we have the negatives. That wormhole generator out there—it is the one piece of technology that we have that no others do. At least, no other species that we know of. Keep in mind that we came across that technology through the discovery of that derelict ship. The wormhole tech is already out there. And it is out there in a form that far surpasses what we can currently do with it. Maybe the Gonta can provide us with a means to pass an entire ship through it; who knows what possibilities exist. What I do know, though, is that if we don't rescue our people by getting back control of the Grid, we are dead as a species. We desperately need the resources and manpower of the Gonta. Take time to discuss this amongst yourselves."

I leaned back in my chair as the room again erupted in discussion. Frig, George, Gy, and Rita were seated next to me.

George spoke. "They will come around, Don; just give them time to let it all sink in. They know we are in a desperate situation. Even if we find the Grid on our own, what then? We don't have the manpower needed for an incursion. We can't simply get on board her and run away. The Duke would have all of her systems locked down."

Frig added to the conversation. "I will admit to thinking an exchange of this technology was a bad idea, but as you say, we cannot accomplish what is needed on our own. If you have faith that the Gonta will be true to their word, I will vote to support an alliance."

I replied, "I don't know that any species can be fully trusted with that technology. Imagine the damage a few rogue Humans could do with it. I just don't see that we have any other option at this point. We need help, and we have found a species who is willing to offer that help. It may come at a price, but the alternative is a loss of all our people and our home."

I stood and again raised my hand. "The Gonta have a great fleet at their disposal. I believe that with a blending of our technologies, we can produce ships that can defeat the Colossuns. And keep in mind, if we can win against the Colossuns, and assimilate some of their technology also, we stand a much better chance against the Durians when they arrive. Let's not forget that the Durians will likely be there within a year."

I sat, and the room returned to deep, heated discussion. Several hours of arguments passed, and one by one the attendees sat down in silence or leaned back against the wall with their arms folded. When the final argument ceased, we were ready for a vote.

George stood with a display in his hand. "I will tally the vote. As I speak each name, raise your hand to be counted as a yes or remain still for no."

George worked his way around the table and then along the walls to those who were standing. It was far from a unanimous decision. When the final tally was in, the numbers were thirty-six for and twenty-two against.

I stood. "Listen up. The vote has been tallied, and there are enough votes to sign an alliance."

The room again erupted. I reached over and banged my fist repeatedly on the table in an attempt to regain the floor. The yelling was followed soon after by several shoving matches. I raised my fist again and slammed it down on the table, punching a large hole through it while attracting the attention that I desired.

I pointed around the room to the angry faces. "We have given the reasons for and against this alliance, and we have taken the time to discuss them. As I stated before, there are enough votes to join this alliance. But, I don't want us to join this alliance with reservations. I want us to join this alliance while united as one. We need every Human to believe in what we are doing and to give it their all without second-guessing our every move. Keep this in mind also: I am not the best at giving speeches or at thinking on my feet. I don't know that we are doing the right thing here, but my gut tells me that we are. And so far, that gut feeling has not failed me!"

I continued, "Now, I am asking for your trust on this. If we return to the Gontas with a highly split vote, they are going to wonder about our commitment. I am going to ask George to take one more tally. You each have two minutes to discuss this, and please, no shoving; we are supposed to be adults here."

I returned to my seat and waited out the new count. When the two minutes had passed, George stood and once again called roll. As he worked his way around the table, each staff member raised their hand, some with disappointed looks on their faces, but unity on the vote was worth achieving. When George reached the last man, John Rollins held his arms in a crossed pattern and had an angry scowl on his face.

I stood. "Rollins? What gives? You voted yes last time."

Several seconds passed before Rollins began to laugh as he threw his arm in the air. "I'm sorry, Chief, I was just going for the dramatic ending!"

The man next to Rollins turned and shook his head. "You’re an ass, Rollins!"

Several others voiced their opinions about Rollins's attempt at humor. I banged my fist on the table once again and then pointed to George.

George spoke. "It is unanimous. We move forward with an alliance with the Gonta. You may all return to your duties, as we have much to prepare for."

I spoke as the others turned for the door. "Hold up. I want each of you to assemble a three-man team for your realm of responsibilities. These teams will share information from here while at the same time gathering information from the Gonta. And remember, this is a full alliance: what we have is theirs, and what's theirs is ours. If you run into any issues with your Gonta counterparts, do not use that as an excuse to hold back. Just raise the issue, and we will deal with it at a higher level."

When the last of the staff members had left the room, I turned to George. "Well, that went better than I expected. We have a lot of hardheads on this staff; I'm just glad that they were able to come around."

Frig shook his head. "It was certainly not because of your sloppy speech, Sir. Perhaps next time, you should consider having an assistant write the speech and perform it for you as well."

Gy spoke. "I don't know, I thought the part where he broke the table was inspiring."

Rita added to the conversation. "It was inspiring enough for Rollins to pull his little prank at the end."

I raised my hand. "OK, well, obviously it was good enough."

I looked at Rita and Gy. "And don't be joining forces with this guy; that only encourages him."

As we left the room, George was shaking his head. "You people have obviously spent too much time together. I'll be in my office should anyone need me."

Gy and Rita turned at the next hallway to go back to their labs. I walked with Frig back to prepare for another transfer through the wormhole.

I spoke. "What are the chances that you can start scanning the Colossun space for the Grid? I know the coordinates we have for the location of the Verna are phony, but they might be a place to start."

Frig replied, "There are one hundred fifty thousand star systems in what we believe to be the known Colossus Empire. I have narrowed that number to only look at those with the possibility of habitable planets. That number, however, remains substantial. Once you have been transported to the
Orienta
, I will begin a pattern search for the Grid as soon as possible."

I stopped as we entered Frig's lab. "I think our first priority, and the one the Gonta will be expecting, will be to transfer the wormhole tech to them. I will see if I can convince them to put its initial uses towards locating the Grid. That will be a tough sell, as I know they will want to use that time to figure out how they can best exploit it."

Frig sat at his console and replied, "The Gonta will struggle with keeping this technology for military purposes only. Remember the outcry for its use on the Grid? If we had allowed it, the technology would now be in the hands of the Duke."

I walked over to the rail to prepare for my departure. "Yeah, I wonder if we are opening Pandora's box with this agreement. Imagine how long we would last against these hostiles if they had this tech. Unfortunately, right now we don't have much of a choice."

I lay down on the roller-covered rail, and two techs took hold of my ankles. The familiar hum of the demodulator circuit signaled my transfer. Seconds later, I was rolling out onto the deck of the
Orienta
.

I stood before the Gonta Supreme Commander and held out my hand. "We have an agreement. The Humans and the Gonta are united as one."

The Commander grabbed my hand at the wrist and gave it a firm shake. "This is a momentous day for both our peoples, Mr. Grange. I will see to it that you have our full cooperation. When can we begin the technology transfers?"

I replied, "I knew you would be eager to get started, Commander. We have teams in place who are working on that now. As they become ready, we will send them over. I brought our designs for the wormhole with me. If your science and tech teams are ready, we can begin the process of looking them over."

The Commander let out a sigh.

I spoke. "What is wrong, Commander? I thought you would be excited about this."

Commander Grita replied, "Oh, I am very excited, Mr. Grange. I was only taking a moment, as I had the realization that we once again have hope against the Colossuns. I have waited in dread of an all-out attack on our systems, an attack that I feared we would not be able to repel. Each encounter with them has gone decidedly their way. Perhaps with this new technology, we can push them back to the point where they are no longer a threat."

As I walked along with the Commander, I spoke. "How is your counterespionage, Commander? We have found our ranks to sometimes be full of spies. We can't risk having this technology fall into the Duke's hands, as that would be disastrous for both of us."

Grita replied, "We are quite vigilant in that respect, Mr. Grange. I have faith in the military men and their commitment on the
Orienta
. I believe our security procedures to be as tight as they can possibly be. We have only had two near breaches of our security in the past one hundred years. Both were from half-breeds of both the military and political clans. A purge following each incident cleared us of any further potential danger. I have no doubt the other Carions have been heavily infiltrated with spies. We, however, cannot afford that occurrence."

I nodded in approval. "Well, it sounds like you have taken the necessary steps to protect your ranks. Just keep in mind that the stakes just got tremendously higher."

The Commander replied, "I will have to say that I enjoy the way you speak of risk when relating it to odds and stakes. For a culture that is heavily involved in gambling, it is a refreshing take on an otherwise extremely serious subject."

I laughed. "Well, if we ever end up with time for entertainment, Commander, I will seek out your advice on the ins and outs of Gonta gambling. I have never had much luck at it myself, but I bet for you it is a subject that is well studied."