Guardian Stone 1: Stone Genesis (17 page)

Station 1 in Earth Orbit –

November 11 – C Day 73

Hank and Sam were visiting with Fador in his library when Barana spoke, <
I have preliminary results from the first group of upgrade program candidates. About half wish to return to their homes on Earth but I expect that about 25% of those will reconsider in the next 30 days. About 22.5% wish to remain on the stations and the remaining 27.5% wish to go to a colony.
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Those wishing to return to Earth have done so. As expected a few met instant hostility. The governments promoting or aiding and abetting hostility have each been warned that this is to stop immediately or they will be excluded from participation in the issues to be discussed tomorrow. In addition they have been warned that they will be isolated from the rest of the world. Now we have to wait to see what comes of the impact the upgraded persons have on their societies
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Most of the prospective colonists have elected to go into stasis immediately and have even chosen planets and locations on those planets as well as educational paths. We have less than 1% of that group unable to meet screening tests. The distribution of selected planets is pretty even so we will have viable populations on each of the four initial planets. We have set reserves around a few locations that will be natural city, seaport or spaceport locations. All of the selected locations have been mapped and the claim of the applicant registered. That should go smoothly. I have passed the information on to Tau Ceti so they can place the necessary structures in place as they are ready. I believe that the selected locations will be ready ahead of the schedule stated.
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We have just about completed the screening of those requesting a billet on a station. Preliminarily, it looks like less than a 10% rate of non-acceptance. About half of that are eligible for colonies and have been told so. They are all currently looking at the options there. The rest are getting established in their quarters where additional training will start in their chosen fields. About 11 million of these have had military training and are interested in military billets. Our first objective will be to fill the gunnery billets on the stations. That's roughly 2.4 million gunnery stations not including officers. Next will be the crewing of the combatant positions on the warships and that is on the order of 26 million persons. It would appear that we will have all of our enlisted needs met by the beginning of January. If we can recruit the rest of our needs for officers we should be fully operational by July or August. This means we should be able to commence an operation against the Glarin by next summer. This is far sooner than we anticipated we would be ready
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"That is really good news. Considering that is just from the first batch, we should be ready sooner. I am just hopeful that we can fill out the rest of our senior officer billets to bring this all into a cohesive force. I keep getting an itchy feeling that they may be needed sooner that we realize."

Sam said, "I have to keep reminding myself that we have a technology available to us that can accomplish things we might only dream about. Let me try one on for size. We now have a number of highly recognized senior officers serving with us but we need many more. We also have lists of every officer that has served in all the services in the world who is still living. We have a pretty good idea of whom we do not want because they are tin-pots, incompetent or unscrupulous. Take them off the list. For those that remain, lets personalize the approach in the form of a personal invitation. Most of the ones we want to talk to know who you are by now so you should be the face on the message. Most of them also know someone on station. So those faces should be included. Meet with your generals and see whom they know on the list. Better yet, let Joe and Josh do it. It will be something they can get their teeth into. Who is ethical and who is not. That should pretty much weed out more of the undesirables. Then we send a direct message to those left and invite them to an upgrade program with their spouses and tell them of our need and how they might fit in. That should maximize the exposure and I think will get results."

"Sam, you have done it again. That is a really good idea. It should do the trick without taking undue time for the lot of us away from the station.  I like it. Fador what do you think? "

"I believe this will work. It should certainly be sufficient to complete your command structure."

Hank went on, "Yes, it should and that leaves us with one final hole in the whole thing, shock troops. Not so sure that we would want to use them against the Glarin but I think, as I mentioned earlier, we are going to need them. I think it is time to consider President Johnson's thought about existing units, particularly since we have similar suggestions from China, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Great Britain, Canada, Brazil and some others. Barana can you set up a meeting in about an hour with my Generals and we will see what we can get together."

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Have done so and all are available. This is starting to get interesting
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Fador said, "Would you mind if I and a few advisors worked with your Generals on this little project. We might be able to contribute useful information particularly as respects components of the technology available to them. I admit that I too sometimes overlook capabilities that we have until we have something occur that prods the memory."

Hank slapped his forehead and replied, "Of course, forgive me for not asking. That is an excellent thought. In fact let's carry this one step further, Barana, any meetings that we have should appear on Fador's schedule so he has the opportunity to attend if it is of interest and he is available or wishes to provide send an alternate. On those where he is not available, you can run a recording of same, if he wants it. Fador, I'm sorry I did not think of this myself."

An hour later at the meetings with the generals, Sam outlined the basics of her plan with Hank providing supplements where appropriate. Fador explained the capabilities of the technology available to them. Hank related the results of the upgrade project and outlined the needs. All were invigorated by the success of the recruitment. Hank said, "As you have heard a number of countries have offered to provide honorable discharges for troops and in fact whole units wishing to sign on with us. If we accept this, these units will form the core of our shock troops when we need them. We have told the various countries that we are considering acceptance of this offer. The conditions are that all must be voluntary, receive honorary discharges and be willing to swear allegiance to the Antoran Fleet. There must be no spies embedded in the volunteers and that their families be permitted to accompany them. A number of the services are already transferring out those not willing to participate and bringing in people who are. Several of the transferrable troops are ready to transfer now. They have been advised that these forces will be integrated and be run through a four-month training regimen that will use Marine Corps type methods to develop esprit de corps. All have been clearly advised that these forces will not be used against any geopolitical entity on Earth. A country may request assistance in providing humanitarian services following a natural catastrophe but that is about the extent of their use down there. Each of these countries has also agreed to allow liberty on their soil, so we will have to figure out what we will use as a payment base. That is a few months away so no immediate rush on that."

Later as they met with the Generals, Hank briefed them and advisors on the first round of persons through the upgrade program. He then described the offers from various countries to provide what he was calling his shock troops. He was asked if they would be really needed and responded by saying that he had that funny little itch in his head that he had learned to respect so he intended to move ahead. He indicated that he expected that they would not be used against the Glarin but wanted them in reserve nevertheless. He noted that he wanted to be sure all troops were working together and were well integrated. He noted that in addition to the 800,000,000 that had participated in the first round, the second round of 670,000,000 were now considering their options and that the third round of 1,200,000,000 were starting their upgrades today. That brought a low whistle of surprise from one of the generals and grins from several others. He then had Sam describe her idea and that met with a very positive reaction. Hank indicated that he would ask Generals Carson and Adams to put it together with whatever advice Fador's group and the other senior staff could offer. He indicated that he would like to have this go out sometime in the next week.

Hank pointed out that the fleet need for gunners was their initial manpower prerogative. "Let's put this in perspective. The Type 1A station has 49,670 external energy projectors to man, the Type 1B has 39,114 and the Type 2's have 19,763. That's a total of 2,522,456 enlisted to man the projectors and that includes NCO's per shift to help manage the troops for projector combatant billets on just the stations. In addition we will need about 29,892 officers to go with that. For two shifts, that means 5,104,716 persons just for the Stations armaments. We will need 26,000,000 combatants and another 22,000,000 to man the warships with about 210,240 Officers for the chain of command. Ground crews amount to 14,000,000 enlisted and 2,000,000 Officers times 2 shifts comes to 32,000,000 persons. The enlisted support for the chain of command has not been factored into these numbers. All in all that is about 85,000,000 military members of the fleet and that is not counting the training command, the supply command and a few other things. The final number will probably be closer to 100 million. Staggering isn't it. But it is all coming together."

After meeting with the Generals, Hank and Sam returned to Fador's Library. Fador said, "Remember that Russian general you could not convince to join us but who seems to be ideal for our purposes."

"Yes I do, His wife died about 18 months ago and he is missing her terribly."

Fador went on, "I have been looking over the recordings and in spite of what he said, I think this is a case of self image getting in the way. Or should I say present self-image. I noticed that the general still has an eye for the ladies. Take a look at this recording and notice his reaction when Sam arrived and later when the young lady on the street walked by."

Sam said after viewing the recording, "General Grigori Baranof, you look almost wistful."

"Exactly. Lasa-Dor noticed it and suggested an experiment she would like to try. I think it merits a try. What do you think."

Both Hank and Sam had big grins and said, "How soon can we speak to Lasa-Dor?"

Fador said smiling, "This is a difficult job but we have to have some fun do we not. Lasa-Dor will be here in about a minute and then we can all go try out our Russian."

Lasa-Dor arrived and asked, "Do you like my idea."

Hank said, "I love the idea that we have so many attractive geniuses about. Your idea is great. Ready to try it out."

Lasa-Dor exclaimed, "Yes, definitely. He is a good man and should not be barred by his false self perception and if this works it will be a kindness that I will be happy to have been a part of."

"Barana tells me that he is usually reading at his dacha about this time of day. Let's do it." They transported to the general's home a little ways outside of Moscow. The four of them went to his door and Hank knocked on the door.

When the door opened, the general looked surprised but cordial. He said, "Ah my American friend, you do not take no for an answer, but forgive my manners, Come in, come in, you are just in time to join me in my one remaining vice, a daily shot of vodka. Very stereotypical wouldn't you say? Besides it is not good to drink such alone. I see you have brought your lovely wife and some friends. Come in and introduce them to me."

Hank said, Thank you tovarich, it is a pleasure to see you again and I make no secret that I wish it were more often. I would like to introduce to you Fador, leader of the Antoran people and his daughter Lasa-Dor."

Baranof shook hands with Fador and took the hand of Lasa-Dor, kissed her hand and with a puzzled look said, "surely my friend misspoke, you both look to be a young married couple." She merely smiled.

After they were all comfortably seated, Hank said, "My friend, I wanted you to meet Fador but he was in meetings when last we visited. In a sense, I wanted to correct that oversight and we all had the time now, so we are, as you have heard Americans say, 'taking a break' before returning to the salt mines."

Baranof laughed and said, "Henry, the first part of that was clearly American but the 'salt mines' are most definitely Russian."

"There is certainly no slowing down that sense of humor of yours. I remember it from your visit to Washington when you shared stories following my MOH reception. But you said something when I introduced Fador and Lasa-Dor about how they looked like a young married couple that leads to a question. I know that you do not hide the fact that you are 78 years old. My question for you is, how old do you think is Fador?"

Baranof looked thoughtful, then said, "Based on his appearance and the knowledge that he is the Antoran leader I would have to guess 50 and I feel like that is too high based primarily on appearance."

Fador replied, "I was 104 of your years when I assumed command of my people in your year 1512. I am now 605 of your years."

Before Baranof could recover, Hank went on, "and how old do you think is Lasa-Dor?