Gray Panthers: Dixie (20 page)

“Of course, Dan.”

“Get to our shuttle as quickly as possible. In the refrigeration unit is a cardboard box. Please rush to get it here.” Blade nodded and left immediately, to Dan’s relief.

The crowd started to move in on Dan as a council member congratulated him on his victory. When he asked to see the pocketknife, Dan handed it to him, but he was unable to open it with his thick paws. Dan made a point of deliberately showing the entire outside of the knife before opening it, letting the other blade and screwdriver open as well before he handed it back to the council member. Dan explained the functions of the knife, feeling like a salesman—especially with this audience.

The council member was almost through with a long-winded story when Dan spied Blade re-entering the room, completely out of breath.

“That was an amazing story of heroism and bravery. I am very impressed!” Dan looked at the speaker’s waist to show his sincerity.

“I have a drink from my planet,” Dan said. “It is a special drink for only warriors. As you have all seen a minor example of my warrior skills, I wish to share the moment with all of you with this special drink. I warn you now, it is most potent.”

“Allow me the privilege of pouring, Dan Daniels. I have had the honor of trying this drink. He is right—it is most potent!” Blade pulled out four one-gallon plastic jugs of milk and began to pour.

“I recommend using a small glass,” Blade warned, and the guests lined up politely with small glasses in their paws, as instructed. Those who had already sampled the milk started to relax and comment on it as more waited eagerly to try the drink. By the time they’d all had a first round, everyone came back with bigger glasses. Only one jug had been emptied. Blade instructed a server to take the jugs and set up trays with filled glasses around the room to avoid any lines, recommending that he hurry.

“Dan Daniels, you are the devil. In the morning these fools will all wish to be dead and will wish a particularly painful death on you,” Blade predicted.

“That is why we’ll be gone first thing in the morning, as planned.”

“This feast will be remembered for years to come, Dan.” Blade smiled as a group of friends started to chant an old battle cry. In another part of the room, a female had jumped onto a table and was screaming at the small orchestra to play something fast. She started to dance to the music, and other females joined her. Many males watched them lustfully.

Dan laughed as he jumped up on a table with a tall spear that had been a decoration on the wall. Looking about the room, he started to slam the spear down on the table loudly and rhythmically, in cadence with his boot. Everyone stopped to look at him.

“You have all honored me! Thank you, fellow warriors! Warrior! Warrior! Warrior!” The room picked up the chant as Dan threw the spear against the far wall, embedding the entire tip. The crowd chanted louder and applauded.

“D2 has left the building!” Dan shouted to Blade, who looked puzzled until he remembered that some of Dan’s closest friends called him that. He rushed to follow, resisting the urge to drink any milk.

Arizona Space Ship Beater, in League of Planets space

14 November 2128

“Looks like the light at the end of the tunnel. Set ship to condition red,” Johnson instructed. “We don’t know who will be waiting for us. Polarize the hull and increase shields to max.”

The sight of stars and the black of space were mixed with a swirl of colors from the nebula. The Beater entered into normal space and the ship’s instruments registered gravitational disturbances as the pilot increased power and made course adjustments.

“Captain Johnson, request we either go to max impulse or use the FTL drive and hop out of here,” Poland asked without taking his eyes from the screens in front of him. They revealed anomalies that were best avoided, as a new gravity field began to pull the ship.

“Lieutenant Horton, plot a course for planet Dirt,” Short Blade said, watching how quickly Horton opened up the screen and put in their current estimated position, then entered the coordinates for planet Dirt in Republic space.

“Commander Poland, you may engage the FTL drive once you have the coordinates,” Johnson said, gazing at the swirling colors of the Hades Nebula, transfixed as he began to feel the little white pill take effect. “We’re not going to bother the League of Planets or the Republic by announcing our arrival this time.” He immediately felt depressed when the ship engaged the FTL drive and the light show went away.

“What’s our ETA?” he asked, starting to feel tired. Then he noticed there was no pain or nausea from the FTL drive.

“Sir, it should be nine hours,” Short Blade responded as he took over the navigator’s position.

“Very good, pass the word that our FTL drive was modified while we were on liberty. No more FTL sickness.”

Jacka home world

15 November 2128

“Spaceport Control, this Dan Daniels requesting permission to depart.” Dan anxiously willed the controller to hurry up and approve takeoff.

“Permission granted. You are my only traffic this morning. Be advised, there are a group of Libra ships practicing unscheduled maneuvers outside of our internal space.”

“Thank you for the update. We are launching now.”

“Grub, are you aware of the Libra ships in the vicinity?” 

“Ships have stayed outside of local space. Once you are aboard, I will engage the FTL drive for our next destination. The Libra should not be a problem. Our ETA will be eight hours.”

GP forward command post, planet Dixie

15 November 2128

As Scotty sat by the fire feeling sorry for himself, he felt someone’s eyes on him. Glancing up, he saw the general watching him from a short distance away.

“It’s always amazed me, the healing powers of sitting by a good fire,” Black said softly.

“Please, pull up a seat there, General. Little late for you, isn’t it?”

“Thanks, Scotty. I never could sleep before an assault. What’s keeping you up tonight?” Black sat down on a log and rubbed his hands over the fire.

“I just can’t sleep, General,” Scotty answered, turning back to gaze into the fire.

“It’s not often you get a chance to get something off your chest. I’m in a listening mood if you want to talk,” the general offered. Scotty looked over at him and saw, for the first time, that the general was just a man, like himself.

“I joined up with nine friends,” Scotty began. “I couldn’t bear the thought of them going off and being left alone. Not long after that, one of those friends who was a little slow. He was like a kid, but he could fly and fight, and he was intelligent in his own way. I call him a kid, but he was in his thirties. He was the first to die. We were going after a pair of Libra patrol ships when he got it. Not long after that, they dropped me off here to play ambassador. Every night, I miss my friends and wonder how many, if any, are left alive.”

“That’s the hardest thing, Scotty, not knowing. It’s the same for me every time I have to send kids out.” Black rose and nodded to Scotty.

“How do you handle it, General Black?”

“I don’t. I still see the faces of the kids from the Iran war. Your nights are never going to be yours again.”

“General Black?” a messenger asked.

“Yes, son?”

“Sir, they asked me to let you know there have been reports of assorted firefights out in no-man’s land. We have no troops out there, sir.”

Scotty got a sick feeling as the general corrected the messenger.

“We do have troops out there. The survivors of the shot-down shuttles are out there fighting for their lives tonight. God, I hope they make it till morning.”

Arizona Space Ship Beater, in Republic space

15 November 2128

Captain Young was anxious about his mission. This would be his second visit to the Central Bank. The task to find the spy from the bank and interrogate him didn’t seem likely, but he would follow his orders. His team would consist of Ensign Short Blade, because of his knowledge of the locals, and Sergeant Juan Ramirez, a small-arms expert. The pair accompanying him would make it possible for him to concentrate on his mission.

“Are we ready to go? Any questions?” Young was checking to see if his weapon was visible under his suit jacket. Short Blade was wearing his uniform, with both sidearm and ceremonial sword displayed. Ramirez wore a suit but carried a briefcase containing a small arsenal.

“Good. Let’s get going.” Young then commed to the flight deck, “We are launching now. Will keep you advised.”

“Good luck, Captain Young. We will be here waiting for you.” Captain Johnson watched the shuttle depart on his display in the landing bay of the Beater.

“Captain Andrews, Dart Flight is on alert until our team returns to the ship,” Johnson commed.

“Acknowledged, sir. We are in the landing bay now doing a last look over of our ships.” Andrews was connecting the leads from his flight suit to the Dart. Glancing over, he saw that the rest of the flight was ready to go.

Young let the AI, Major Rogers, navigate into the spaceport as he concentrated on how the mission would go. He was surprised when he was informed that they had just landed.

“Spaceport authorities have given us permission to disembark,” Major Rogers noted, adding, “there are four representatives of the customs department waiting for the hatch to open.”

“Let’s not disappoint them. Open the hatch.” The smell of unburnt fuels and dirty bodies wafted into the shuttle as four uniformed lizards blocked the team from exiting the shuttle.

Three of the lizards stood seven feet tall and wore light gray uniforms. They each carried a long, cylinder-shaped bar that appeared to be a weapon of some sort. Their leader, a smaller lizard, was bedecked in a dark gray uniform with a belt and holstered sidearm.

“Captain Young, the customs agents have been ordered to seize the shuttle for entering Republic space without clearing customs,” Major Rogers warned as he intercepted the message.

“Ah, finally, someone from customs,” Young said to the smallest lizard. “Why were we not met at the border, as requested? You do realize that I am the ambassador from the planet Earth? Why have they sent only a junior officer to apologize? I do not have all day. Please get it over with so we can go see your government’s representatives. I will be making an official complaint about the failures of your agency. What is your title and name?” Young asked the officer while looking him straight in the eye.

The officer seemed confused. “I am Sub-Lieutenant Braaack,” he replied, trying to sound confident and official. “I have been ordered to confiscate the shuttle and the ship in orbit that you came from,”

“So, Sub-Lieutenant Braaack, you are going to be the one who creates an intergalactic incident, and possibly an intergalactic war. Did you notice the transponder code of our mother ship? Do you know what a diplomatic transponder code is?”

Young stood defiantly as Braaack asked for confirmation of his orders. As the captain expected, Braaack’s superiors had been monitoring the interaction via the officer’s open radio. Braaack’s commanding officer refused to acknowledge the officer’s request for confirmation of his orders, or even confirm receipt of the message.

“I am going to see representatives of your government now. I assume you have transportation, Sub-Lieutenant Braaack? Leave one of your people to guard the ship. You and the rest of your detail may escort us to the Republic Central Bank. That way, you can say you are following your orders while not interfering with my diplomatic mission. That will work out fine, especially since during my last visit here we were attacked by unemployed street people.”

“Your Excellency, thank you for providing me with a way to follow orders and not interfere with government business. Perhaps a senior government official will relieve me of the task as well.”

“I will make it even easier for you, Sub-Lieutenant. Contact First Officer Plat at the Central Bank to verify our credentials.” Young realized that if Plat were the informer, there was a good chance they could all be taken out at that moment.

“Prepare for the Alamo. Major Rogers, prepare to repel boarders,” Young sub-vocalized. He crossed his arms, bringing his hand closer to his shoulder holster under his suit jacket.

“Faeries are ready,” Major Rogers replied. “If they are not needed, I will have half follow you and keep half here to protect the ship.”

“Ambassador, please come with me,” Braaack requested. “First Officer Plat is sending appropriate transportation. There will be an official apology. Customs will pay your docking and servicing fees.” He bowed and gestured for the group to follow him. Young noticed that the sub-lieutenant snapped his holster closed.

As they waited for the transport, Young watched the different species going about their business and imagined them going home at the end of the day and cracking open a beer.

“Your Excellency. It is good to see you again. It is my privilege to escort you to the bank.”

“Copper! Congratulations on your promotion to first teller. What type of reward do I get for having you promoted?” Young asked in jest as they boarded the executive transport.

“Sir, I could never have enough credits for you to even notice.”

“Okay, any good stock tips where I could turn a quick profit?” Young continued, smiling broadly.

“Oh, Your Excellency, I could never do anything like that. The bank is entrusted with that information.” Copper pointed first to his ear, then to the ceiling of the transport.

“That’s commendable of you, Copper, to show such loyalty to your boss and the organization. You should go far.”
Nice of the grasshopper to let us know we’re being spied on. That was not very loyal of him to tell us. What other chinks are in his armor?
Young wondered.

“Ambassador Young, welcome back to Dirt and the Republic. Let me show you up to my office, and we can get down to business,” First Officer Plat said. He promptly began ordering minor bank officials to open doors and get refreshments. “What can I do for the representatives of Earth today?”

“We want to get rid of our four thousand Libra prisoners. Ideally, we would like to trade them for humans captured by the Libra. If not, then perhaps with the Libra being trained ship crews, the Republic would like to buy them as press gangs. It was an old tradition on ancient Earth to take the men they needed to crew warships. We have here the modern version.” Young stopped to take a drink.

“That is an interesting offer. The Republic relies on a draft. I think they might be interested. I will also see about a trade for humans the Libra have captured. They see the humans as cannon fodder, so I’m sure they would rather have trained ship crews. Is there any other business we may assist you with? Another deposit, perhaps?”

“We may be selling the ships we captured, since we anticipate the war being over very soon. We have a very robust ship-building program that we would prefer to keep going by selling to the Republic rather than ending it when the war is over. What would the Republic be able to offer?”

“That is amazing, that you see the war being over so soon. Can I ask how that will happen?” Plat didn’t realize he was staring as he waited for a reply.

“Well, let’s just say we tested a new weapon on the enemy, and we made a mistake. The weapon was ten thousand times more powerful than we thought, and it destroyed a gas giant. The Libra think it was an accident! I can’t say any more than that, and I trust you will not say anything, as our representative.”

“You have my word as a banker, Ambassador. Can I be of any additional service?”

“We would appreciate it if you could find suitable buildings for both offices and residences. Oh, and a huge warehouse away from everything, with good security. We would consider building it, if one is not available. And while we’re here, you can update our account with the deposit that was made from Earth.

“I also need some assistance with your border security and customs. With us at war with your neighbor, it’s a little hard to stop at the border to cross it and not get blown out of space by the Libra, at least for the next few months.” Young motioned to his team that it was time to go.

“I will have our different departments do what we can do for you, Ambassador. I look forward to your war being over. There will be much profit then.”

“Thank you again for your services, First Officer Plat. If I wanted to tell your boss I was pleased with your services, who would that be?”

“I am the senior officer of the Central Bank. I report to the congress of our government. The Central Bank is our government’s only autonomous agency where politics cannot interfere with operations. It would take a majority of the four parties to have me removed. Thank you for the thought. I will have Copper take you wherever you want to go.”

Once outside, Young looked at his two companions as he tried to figure out what was out of place. “Opinions, gentlemen?” He watched as an approaching transport slowed. Its side collapsed and two Rotes popped up. Both red lizards began firing automatic projectile weapons.

Young dove for the pavement, knocking Short Blade and Ramirez behind parked transports. He felt a solid collision with Ramirez and a small glancing blow as Short Blade was knocked to the side. The transport sped up to get away.

Short Blade had seen the gunmen and had been reaching for his modified short beamer when he was knocked to the ground. Dozens of holes appeared in the wall where he had been just a moment before. Anger, blinding anger, took over. Those cowards had fired on his captain and teammate.

“ROOOWL!” escaped from his throat like a clap of thunder as he returned fire. His chest was burning. The streets and sky were red. Everything was out of focus except for the transport escaping down the street. He took aim and fired once, and then continued to fire as he ran after the transport. The transport slowed as one of the assassins aimed at Short Blade and was cut down for his effort.

Short Blade once again stopped to aim at the transport as the zing of projectiles passed over his head. Turning, he saw a huge, seven-foot-tall green lizard firing at him without success. Slamming his beamer back into his holster, he pulled his small sword and charged at the giant lizard. The assailant turned and began to flee when he was knocked down by Ramirez.

“You okay, Short Blade?” Ramirez asked as he checked the alien for weapons. Short Blade turned and ran to the body of the assassin from the transport. A small crowd had started to form around the dead Rote but dispersed when they saw the little alien running toward them with his sword above his head.

Keeping an eye on the crowd, Short Blade searched the body for anything with intelligence value. The Rote’s pockets were empty except for eighty thousand credits and two large magazines for a Libra automatic projectile weapon.

Young was mortified at having almost knocked himself out in his attempt to cover his men. He saw Ramirez forcing a Rote to run with him toward the bank, but there was no sign of Short Blade. “We’re heading back to the shuttle,” he called to Ramirez. “Disengage and meet at the bank, now.”

“Short Blade’s behind me, Captain. He’s checking the body of another lizard.”

Short Blade came running up the street, and as he drew nearer, the Rote with Ramirez began to shake violently. “Keep him away from me and I will tell you everything I know,” the Rote squealed. “Keep him back!”

Young was astonished at how hard the alien was trembling. “Who wanted us dead?” he asked, pointing out that Short Blade was almost there.

“My friends told me they had a job for me. They just wanted me to cover them, if necessary. They even gave me the weapon as a bonus. That’s all I know. Keep that savage barbarian away from me!” The lizard cringed and tried to back away as Short Blade came toward it.

“Captain, I couldn’t find anything on the assailant other than some credits and magazines for a Libra automatic projectile weapon.”

Guards came from the bank and took custody of the assassin. When the internal security units arrived, the guards vouched for Young and his team, and then handed over the prisoner.

A short lizard approached the trio and asked them what had happened. The newcomer wore a badge with a silver fist on it.

Young reverted to the ugly diplomat role. “I am the ambassador from Earth. I believe these are assassins hired by the Libra. What are you going to do about this?”

“We have our ways. We will get the other two. Every street is covered with recording devices for state security.”

“Fine. Send a report to Earth when you catch the killers. We’re getting off this planet before they try again,” Young said with an exaggerated sneer. Copper jumped out of a transport at that moment.

“Where may I take you, Ambassador?” Copper asked nervously, seeing the internal security badges.

“Get us back to our shuttle as soon as possible. They may try again,” Young ordered. Turning to the lizard agent, he said, “Can we get a security escort to our shuttle?” He could feel his adrenalin draining away.