Theogony 3: Terra Stands Alone (6 page)

The president
frowned. “Could you please be a little more specific on what ‘not good’ means?” she asked.

“
The AI onboard the
Vella Gulf
ran several thousand simulations on what the Drakuls would most likely do, based on historical information and the data passed on to us by the Mrowry,” Admiral Wright explained. “The AI thinks that they will be back in force, as early as five months from now, with enough ships to break into the system and subdue it.”

President Nehru noticed the Mrowry officers nodding their head, which she had been told was a practice that both races had in common. “I see you nodding your head, Captain Yerrow,” she said. “Do you have something to add?”

“I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings,” replied Captain Yerrow, “but we ran the same simulations onboard our ship. The results were the same, with one small difference. Our AI only gives you four months before their return.” There was a general intake of breath from around the table and plenty of scared looks, especially from the civilians.

“Well, that outcome is not acceptable to me,” stated the president in a matter-of-fact tone of voice. “I will not be both the first and last president of this republic. There are always choices and options. What did the AIs say we could do to ensure our survival? Do we need more mines? More ships? What do we need to do or build?” The matter-of-fact voice gave way slightly at the end, Calvin saw. He couldn’t blame her; he felt the same way.

“Barring help from an outside source,” said Captain Yerrow, “it is nearly certain that you will be overrun. Like Admiral Wright, we ran our simulation several thousand times, and the outcome was always the same. For the record, even if you receive outside aid, it is still unlikely that you will defeat them.”

“
Unacceptable,” said the president, the steel back in her backbone. “If it is friends we must have, then it is friends that we will get. What aid can we expect from the Mrowry?”

Captain Yerrow and Commander Andowwn looked at each other, talking via implant. After a couple of seconds, Captain Yerrow turned to face the president. “I do not know what aid my father will be able to send,” he said. “It is unlikely to be much, if anything.
”

“Well, what about if you stayed here
?” asked Masood Khalil, the Pakistani secretary of state. “Would your ship help turn the tide against the Drakuls?”

Captain Yerrow gave the Mrowry version of a smile. It involved a lot of teeth and was very intimidating up close. “One cruiser, no matter how good it is, will not stop a Drakul battlecruiser, much less a battleship. Our lives would be better spent trying to make it back to ask my father for aid. In all honesty, should we actually be successful and make it back, there is not much of a chance that he will have aid to spare. When we left, we were being hard-pressed on all sides.”

“Then we will have to go to the other race that is currently fighting the Drakuls,” said the president. “What do we know about them?”

“They are the Archons,” said Captain Yerrow. “I do not know if you will have any more success with them than you will with my father, but aid is more likely to be found there than at
our capital of Grrrnow.”

“Then
we will go there, as well,” said the president. She looked at the secretary of state. “Put together a mission that goes first to the home world of the Mrowry and then to the home world of the Archons. Make sure that your best person is on it.”

“Just like the
Vella Gulf’s
last mission,” said Khalil, “our best ambassador remains Juliette Ricketts-Smith. She did good work on their last mission and has the benefit of already having been to the stars once.”

“Great,” said the president. She looked around the table at the Terrans and the delegation for Domus.
“So we are agreed that the
Vella Gulf
will go to meet with the Archons?” She saw heads nodding around the table. She looked at Admiral Wright. “Until they get back, that leaves us with a battleship, a battlecruiser and the Mrowry cruiser until we can get the new replicator making ships?”

“That is correct,” said Admiral Wright.

Before he could add anything else, Captain Yerrow cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, but we will not be staying here. When the
Vella Gulf
leaves for Grrrnow, we will be taking the
Emperor’s Paw
back to our home world, too.”

“I see,” the president said. “I guess Terra stands alone, then.”

“Not alone,” said the prince. “I will be leaving as many of my warriors as I can spare to help train the crew of the
Terra,
and the rest of us will be with you in spirit. I will also leave some pilots to help train your pilots in space fighter combat, but it is imperative that I leave. I know for sure that my father will not aid you if I am not there, as your civilization is unknown to him. If there is any aid to be had, it will only be given if I am there to vouch for you.”

The president had previously served as the chairman
of the upper house of India’s parliament and was used to making decisions. “Go with my blessings, then,” she said, “and help convince your father to send whatever aid he can. If you can also do something to help with the Archons, I would appreciate that, as well.” She looked at the rest of the group in attendance. “What other things can we do to help improve our readiness? What aren’t we doing that we should be?”

“
If I may,” said the only person seated with Fleet Command wearing civilian clothes. Calvin recognized Andrew Brown, the person who ran the Fleet’s Material Management Network. Also known as ‘Replicator Command,’ its sole purpose was to ensure the Republic of Terra’s two replicators ran as efficiently as possible. The replicators were alien devices with the ability to rapidly assemble anything they had the blueprints for. They functioned somewhat like transporters in that they broke things down to their most basic level and then reassembled them. You couldn’t get something for nothing, though; whatever material you wanted the finished product to be made of had to be loaded into the replicator first. Before coming to work for Replicator Command, Andrew Brown had been the plant manager for Boeing’s Airplane Programs Manufacturing Site in Renton, Washington. Although no human had experience running replicators, he had a wealth of experience managing massive aircraft production facilities.

The Republic of Terra had a Class 2 replicator
that the
Vella Gulf
brought back from its first mission and a Class 6 that it brought back from its second. Although the Class 2 was only able to build things up to the size of a space fighter or shuttle, the Class 6 was enormous. Just over a mile long and about 1,500 feet in diameter, it could build anything up to the size of a battleship, if you had about two and a half months to do it. The Terrans didn’t have that kind of time. Both the
Terra
and the
Vella Gulf
also had smaller replicators onboard that could be used for making things for their ship’s company, like the crew’s combat suits, weapons, and implants. The
Vella Gulf
had one of the smaller replicators; the
Terra
had three.

“Yes?” asked the president. “You are...?”

“I’m Andrew Brown, ma’am,” he said. “I run the replicators for Fleet Command. I’m not sure if it’s my place to say it or not, but the best thing that you could do to help us would be to get China to come onboard with us. They have a wealth of materials we need to build more ships. If we’re going to stand alone, we’re going to need to stand together as a planet,
with
the Chinese.”

“We have tried repeatedly to do that,” said the president,
“but they don’t want to be a part of this. They won’t even talk to us. They have withdrawn to their country and won’t receive our diplomats. Do you have some insight into how we can get them to join us?”

“No ma’am, I don’t,” said Brown. “I’m no politician. I just make airplanes...well, now it’s space planes. You asked what we needed; we need access to their resources.”

The Terran government staff all looked at each other in frustration. They had
tried
to get China to join the government. Repeatedly. But whether it was because of their recent loss in the war with America, or because it was later found that they had been led astray by one of the Psiclopes and they were embarrassed by the loss of face, they hadn’t wanted to participate in the world government.

An awkward silence followed as they spoke among themselves via implant. Finally Calvin couldn’t take it any longer
. He stood up. “I think I have an idea that might work,” he said in a loud voice, “but it involves using Steropes to help convince them.” Several heads immediately began shaking, including all of the Mrowry. The Psiclopes had broken the trust of the Mrowry and had thrown the universe into the state of war it was in; the Mrowry wanted nothing to do with the oath breakers.

“Well, here’s the deal,” said Calvin before anyone could say anything that couldn’t be taken back. “I think he can convince them to join the government
. We need the resources that the Chinese have, whether that is the rare Earth elements they have stockpiled, which we need,” Brown began nodding his head, “or whether it is their manpower. Right now, nearly 20% of Earth’s manpower is sitting idly by, when it could be working to build the things the Earth needs to defend itself.
We need the Chinese!
For those of you that don’t know me, I’m Lieutenant Commander Hobbs. I was heavily involved in the war against the Chinese when they invaded Seattle. They shot down my airplane and killed many of my friends. If I can say that we need them, we need them.”

Calvin looked at the end of the table where the Fleet Command leaders and the commanding officer of the
Vella Gulf
sat. “If I can make this happen,” he said, “Steropes is going to want to come with us on the trip to meet with the Archons. I want him to come; I think his experience will be extremely valuable.”

Now the Terran heads were shaking, too. Everyone in the
room had bad experiences with the Psiclopes. He tried again. “I’ve been in combat with him,” said Calvin, “and I know him better than anyone. He says that he wants to help us, and I believe him. He’s even willing to tell us about all of the shady deals Arges is currently putting together. I want to bring him, and I will personally vouch for him.”

Admiral Wright had come to rely on Calvin’s judgment. It had served him well during the war
, and he knew that Calvin was an excellent judge of people. While the admiral didn’t believe the rumor going around that Calvin was the reborn spirit of the Greek god Zeus, he knew that Calvin was often in the center of things when they went to shit, and had always come through them smelling of roses. If Calvin thought that the little bastard was salvageable, Steropes could go with him. At least that meant there was one fewer Psiclopes in the Solar System, which made his own life easier. “OK,” said Admiral Wright. “If he can convince the Chinese to join the world government, and you want to vouch for him, he can go.”

“Thank you sir,” said Calvin. “I’ll get right on it.” He turned to leave.

“Calvin?” asked Admiral Wright.

“Yes sir?” asked Calvin, turning around.

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” said Admiral Wright.

“Yes sir
,” said Calvin. “Me too.” He turned and left. If nothing else, Calvin thought, at least it gets me out of this meeting.

“Th
anks for joining me,” said Calvin as Steropes beamed in. He had been waiting for the Psiclops to join him in the
Vella Gulf’s
transporter room. The room was a circular space about 25 feet in diameter. It had a raised platform with 12 circular metal plates covering about 2/3 of it and a control console on the right as you entered the room.

“No problem,” replied Steropes
, stepping off the platform. “It’s good to be back on the
Vella Gulf
again.”

“As it turns out,” said Calvin, “
the meeting went down pretty much as you thought it would. They are going to send the
Vella Gulf
to the home world of the Archons.”

“Archonis,” said Steropes.

“What?” asked Calvin.

“Archonis is the home world of the Archons,” said Steropes. “That is where their capital is.”

“Oh,” said Calvin. “I guess that’s where we’re going then.”

“
Will I be allowed to come?” asked Steropes.

“That is still to be determined,” replied Calvin. “I’ll be honest with you; there are a
lot
of people that don’t want you around.”

“That is understandable,” acknowledged Steropes, “although I wasn
’t the one responsible for most of the things of which the Psiclopes have been accused. It is all guilt by association.”

“Be that as it may,”
replied Calvin, “the sentiment remains. I did, however, get them to give you a chance. If you can help me with one thing, you’ll be allowed to accompany us.”

“What is the one thing?” asked Steropes. “
Slay a dragon? Storm a castle? I’ve done those things, but not in a couple thousand years, so I’m probably a little rusty.”

“No,” answered Calvin
. “Nothing like that.” Maybe the Psiclops
did
understand sarcasm, after all. “I’m hoping that combat won’t be necessary...although there is a chance that it might if we screw this up. The Terran government wants China to join up.”

“Really?” asked Steropes
. “Let me guess. You are short of some element and want China to join because they have it?”

“Well,
resources are certainly part of the reason why,” admitted Calvin. “It would also be nice to have their billion inhabitants working with us. If we’re going to be overrun shortly, we need everyone we can get. We especially need the Chinese. Can you help with this or not?”

“Of course I
can help,” replied Steropes. “The Psiclopes caused this problem; it is only right that we fix it. It may actually be easier than you think to fix. May I use the transporter a moment or two? There is something I need to get.”

“Umm, sure, I guess,” said Calvin. “Why are you asking me?”

“Because I am currently banned from using the transporter, by order of the
Vella Gulf’s
commanding officer,” replied Steropes. “I need someone to authorize me to use it again.”

“That is true,” said Solomon, the
Vella Gulf’s
AI. “He is currently prohibited from using the transporter without authorization. I only transported Steropes up because you said it was all right.”

“Solomon, I have authorization from Admiral Wright to accomplish this task,” said Calvin. “Steropes is authorized to use the transporter.”

“Thank you,” Steropes said. He went back over to the transport platform and stood on one of the grids. After a couple of seconds, he appeared to stretch toward the ceiling and then vanished.

Calvin waited a couple of minutes, but nothing happened.

He waited another couple of minutes, wondering if he had made a mistake by granting Steropes complete access to the transporter. If he had gone somewhere unauthorized and was into mischief...

“Hey,
umm, Solomon...where’d he go?” Calvin finally asked.

“Steropes is currently in Nepal,” replied Solomon. “I believe there is a cave
high up in the Himalayas that the Psiclopes use to store their items. He is returning.”

On the transporter platform, one of the grids appeared active. A smear appeared that initially went from floor to ceiling, but coalesced into Steropes, holding a bundle wrapped in plastic.
He took off the plastic to reveal a very normal-looking briefcase.

“What is that?” Calvin asked
.

“It’s a
briefcase,” Steropes replied. “It’s also the answer to your problem. If you would please join me here on the platform?”

“Wait,” said Calvin. “We’re not beaming somewhere, are we? I can’t beam
, can I? I haven’t been surveyed or scanned or whatever it is. Fleet Command said that no one was to beam until we got scanned, so that we didn’t lose anyone unnecessarily.” When the Terrans had first taken control of the
Vella Gulf
, the Psiclopes had told them that a person needed to be surveyed by some sort of molecular scanner prior to using the transporter. That ensured the person being transported would be reassembled correctly at the other end of the trip and would end up where he was supposed to be. Too high and you would fall to the floor; too low and your body would become mixed with the ground. If you ended up beaming into a space that held an object, it would become part of your body. All of these were painful; most of them were also fatal.

“Well, yes, it would be better if we had done that first,” said Steropes, “but the chances of something bad happening are less than 1%.
The Psiclopes have made this trip on a number of occasions, so it is pretty safe. Unless you’re really, really unlucky, everything will be fine. Do you want to get this done, or not?”

“I’ve got a bad feeling,” said Calvin
. He stepped onto the platform and walked over to the pad indicated by Steropes. “Are you sure about this?”

“I’m almost positive,” said Steropes with a smile.

“Almost?” Calvin asked as he stepped onto the grid.

“Initiate,” said Steropes. Calvin felt stretched...