Gray Panthers: Dixie (33 page)

New Richmond, planet Dixie

24 November 2128

President Davis sat with Admiral Pierre Gustave Toutant-Beauregard in the planet’s main command post. Neither man was happy.

“The pink bastards managed to kidnap almost thirty thousand of our citizens. We pledged to protect those people. What can we do, Admiral?” Davis took a sip of his whiskey as he waited for an answer.

“Sir, I propose that after we get our people back we destroy the Libra home world. We take our fleet to their space, find a huge asteroid, slap engines on it, and drive it into their world. It’ll send a message to any other potential enemies at the same time, that to mess with us is deadly.

“Do we have the technology to do that, Admiral?”

“Now that Ambassador Scholl has given us our missing materials, not only have we been able to bring our AI back online, but we’ve also salvaged a dozen AIs from the Earth shuttles. We were able to use our AI to reprogram the Earth AIs so they’ll now work for us. The only problem with those AIs is that we weren’t able to extract any information, so we had to reset them with only our information.

“Admiral, how does that help us with eliminating the Libra threat?”

“Mr. President, if we install an AI on one of our ships, it can evaluate where and how to attach thrusters to an asteroid. We can then use the AI to navigate the asteroid into the Libra home world.”

“Have you started on this project yet?” Davis looked the admiral in the eyes while waiting for an answer.

“Sir, even without the asteroid project, it was still important to see if we could incorporate an AI into a ship. It’s going to be a success. If we get more AIs, we can have smaller crews on our ships, which means we could have a larger fleet.”

“What will we do with a larger fleet? Rule the galaxy? Find more aliens to go to war with? We will let our cousins from Earth and the League of Planets know that we are strong, but we just want to be left alone. Maybe in time we will open ourselves to commerce and trade.”

“As you wish, Mr. President. If we do put AIs on our ships, we can also draft fewer citizens into the navy.”

“Very well. You have the builder create the new AIs, and I’ll talk with the ambassador about getting the material for the AIs from Earth.”

Arizona Space Ship Beater, in Libra space

25 November 2128

Captain Johnson watched the display screen as the shuttles from both destroyers headed for the Beater. He felt good being able to help the allies but was nervous about being a sitting duck if they were discovered. He finally decided that if they were discovered, and if the attackers had superior ships or numbers, he would jump. For the time being, he’d keep that information to himself.

“Ensign Short Blade, I want you to greet both shuttles and ensure that the part they bring on board is copied and returned to them as soon as possible.” Short Blade acknowledged his orders and left the flight deck for the bay.

The bay was filled with the Dart crews, who were watching as the shuttles flew through the force field and landed noisily on the deck. Crew jumped out of each shuttle and looked around as Short Blade approached them.

“Gentlemen, if one of you will follow me with the part, we will get it copied and returned as soon as possible. Our ship is small, so I would appreciate it if the remainder of your party waited here in the bay.” There were seven of the Dixians, and they just stood and looked at Short Blade, many with open contempt.

“You could also get back into your shuttles and go tell your captains that you failed. You there, with the part—move your ass, either back onto your shuttle or with me!” Short Blade turned toward the exit and started walking, not looking back. Finally he heard the pat-pat-pat of the man running to catch up with him.

“Is that heavy?” Short Blade eventually asked the chief who was carrying the part.

“No, sir. I’m fine.”

When they reached the fabricator, Short Blade instructed the chief to set the part on the table and step back. The part began to glow as different beams measured and evaluated it. Two minutes later, the scanning was done, and the part was no longer illuminated.

“Beater, is it okay to return this part to the Georgia?”

“The sample is no longer required. The new part will be ready within one to three hours, Ensign Short Blade.”

Short Blade removed the part and noted that it must weigh at least a hundred pounds as he set it down on a grav cart.

“Chief, let’s go back to the bay. Your part is no longer needed here. I’m sure you would prefer for it to be back on your own ship. We’ll use the grav cart to take it back. I’d hate for you to get a sprain or hurt yourself.”

The walk back was quiet, with only an occasional swishing sound coming from the cart behind the pair.

In the bay the shuttle pilots were talking with the Dart pilots as they inspected the Darts. The rest of the party was scattered throughout the bay looking at tools and workstations.

“Gentlemen, here is your original part back. I recommend you head back with it, in case you need to beat feet in a hurry.”

“We wouldn’t leave the Virginia behind.” The little chief who’d spoken looked at Short Blade to see how he would reply.

“Will your ship sit still as it absorbs missiles and lasers heroically? I think it will jump around and take the fight back to the enemy, kicking some ass. Chief, your captain needs that part back now.”

With a sheepish look on his face, the little chief returned to his shuttle with the rest of his party. The last chief stopped and shook Short Blade’s paw.

“Thank you for all your help, sir.” He then saluted and turned to the shuttle.

Well, one down, one left, and no one has tried to kill me yet
, Short Blade thought happily.

Commander Poland looked at the captain. They had been monitoring the bay and had seen how Short Blade handled the visiting crew.

“Sir, I believe Short Blade has both the temperament and the skills to be considered ready to assume the duties and responsibilities of an ensign—not just as frocked, but as a permanent rank.”

“I agree, Commander Poland. I will enter it into the ship’s records, as well as his service records, that on this date he officially was promoted to the rank of ensign. After the Virginia gets her part and we’re on our way, we’ll inform him of our decision.”

Chief Dawson walked across the bay to Short Blade and held out his hand. Short Blade took the chief’s hand in his paw and shook it.

“Ensign Short Blade, I, for one, appreciate your professionalism and would like you to know that it has been my honor to work with you.”

Short Blade swallowed before replying. “Thank you, Chief Dawson. It’s all part of duty before self. Aren’t you afraid of alienating your comrades by talking with me?”

“Sir, I’m trying to show them not to be discriminatory based on genus.” 

“Come with me, Chief. We’ll watch the fabricator build the part. Otherwise, I’d be tempted to ask all of the people standing around to sweep the bay.”

“Spoken like a true chief, sir.” The remark pleased Short Blade as he led the chief to the fabrication room.

“Captain Johnson, we’re picking up a transmission on one of the primary channels the Dixians use. Let me put it on speaker.”

“Criminals of Dixie, you will release your Libra hostages, as well as all Jacka contractors, before we will further communicate with you. You will also turn over the criminal responsible for the genocide committed against the peace-loving peoples of the Gas Giant Rewards. This concludes our reply to your demands upon us. The Libra Alliance Grand Council.”

Poland watched Johnson a moment before speaking. “Well, Captain, that tells me the captives the Libra have taken are already dead. We’ll need to report this. Who knows what the Dixians will do when they hear this.”

“The Dixians will have their answer in five days, when these destroyers return home with it. Our leadership will want to know what’s going on, so we’ll head for the Hades Wormhole and deliver the information to them,” Johnson responded.

In the fabrication room, Short Blade was impressed at how quickly the new part had been created. “Well, Chief, it looks like the part is complete. It’s so exact you can see a small scratch on it just like the original had. I’ll put it on a grav cart and we can take it to the shuttle.”

“I sure didn’t like the prospect of taking five days to get to planet Glory in normal space,” Dawson told Short Blade on the walk back. “I just wonder what this means for our mission?”

“I’d guess they’ll return home, to play it safe, and then evaluate your ship for any other damage as well as areas to reinforce the structural integrity.” Short Blade waited for the chief to climb into his shuttle and then handed him the part. “Good luck, Chief Dawson.”

Short Blade stepped back as the hatch closed and then headed for the flight deck, wondering what would happen next.

As Johnson sat waiting in the flight deck, he began to feel overly stressed. Finally, the Virginia sent the news.

“Repairs have all been completed. Will conduct a test hop of three hours to check the results.”

“Congratulations, Virginia. With that good news, the Beater will be leaving the area. Bonne chance! Beater out,” Johnson replied.

“Lieutenant Horton, set course for the Hades Nebula. Commander Poland, you may engage the FTL when you have the coordinates,” he instructed. “I’m going to stretch my legs.”

Johnson stood and started to leave, but then turned back around.  “Virginia, Georgia. Let’s change that test by setting the hop to Dixie. If you only have one hop in you, let’s make it count.”

Gray Panthers headquarters, Arizona

25 November 2128

“Damn, I hate waiting to hear what’s going on,” Dan muttered, his impatience getting the better of him. “It’s such a pain to send out scouts for information to the League or Libra space and have to wait a minimum of twenty days. For all we know, the Libra have destroyed the Jacka home world or have managed to turn them against us. Abby, how’s the minefield and Abby Artillery looking?”

“I’m confident we’re as safe as we’ll ever be,” Abby replied. “Why don’t you call it a day? Take Juanita out for a turkey dinner and try to relax. See? You didn’t even know it’s Thanksgiving.”

Dan looked at Abby and nodded his head as he rose. “That’s not a bad idea. You’re in charge. Be sure to let me know if anything happens.”

Arizona Space Ship Beater, in Libra space

26 November 2128

Commander Poland was in the captain’s chair when he gave the order to drop to normal space. The drop was perfect and, as expected, there were no other ships near the Hades Nebula. There was a comfortable hour to cruise, as compared to the alternative if they had dropped closer.

“Lieutenant Horton, that was an outstanding piece of navigation. I’d have been hard-pressed to have done better. Ensign Short Blade, if you can bring us to the wormhole while avoiding any of the hazards we have here, that would be spectacular.”

Short Blade transferred his monitor view to the main monitor. The primary display showed various gravity fields and anomalies. The current external forces that were pulling or pushing the ship were visible on one of the side displays. Short Blade ensured that he stayed within the green or yellow areas, which represented the safest course, until the wormhole opened before him.

“Good job, Ensign. Go ahead and take us in,” Commander Poland told Short Blade before addressing the rest of the crew. “Attention on the ship. We have entered the Hades Wormhole and should be back in our own space in less than a day if all goes well. Commander Poland out.”

New Richmond, planet Dixie

26 November 2128

President Davis looked around the room at all of the scientists and specialists and wished he were out fishing instead. He waited for Dr. Roberto to get started.

“Mr. President, esteemed colleagues, we are here today to discuss the best way to use an asteroid to destroy our enemy, the Libra. Until recently, such a suggestion would have resulted in my immediate resignation.

“There is an asteroid, ZA213678, that comes close the Libra home world every twenty-five years. By our calendar, from December 5 through December 7 we should have our best chance to change the trajectory of the asteroid. That is when it’s closest to the planet. The asteroid is similar to that which was given credit for destroying the dinosaurs on Earth.

“Using explosives such as nuclear warheads would have a good chance of changing the trajectory as needed. Doing that would also advertise to the Libra what we are doing, and they would most likely use all of their assets to change the asteroid’s course away from them. I believe if we used the Libra battleship and one of the large cargo ships we captured, they could take a parallel course similar to that of the asteroid until the asteroid’s gravity pulled them in. Then they could set a new course that would push the asteroid towards the Libra home world. At that point, the crews could be evacuated from both ships.

“The third option, setting thruster rockets on the asteroid, was deemed too difficult. There was no way we could figure out how to create attachment points on the asteroid for the rockets.”

“Are you sure both of those ships are capable of what you’re planning?” Davis asked, his skepticism obvious. “I thought the battleship had sustained serious damage.”

“Mr. President, the battleship has been repaired to the point necessary for the mission, including the addition of extra armor in the area that will come into contact with the asteroid. The cargo ship has been outfitted with similar armor reinforcement.” Dr. Roberto proceeded to show a series of diagrams that Davis didn’t grasp.

“Dr. Roberto, you have a go with the plan. Please coordinate everything with Admiral Pierre Gustave Toutant-Beauregard. The fleet will man the ships and provide security for the mission. They will also provide a screening force if needed to stop the Libra.” Davis left the conference wondering if, after everything was over, he would ever feel clean again.