Escape 3: Defeat the Aliens (4 page)

The nimbus about the greeter grew slightly larger. “Eleven people were lost before we received your message. After that, our ground lasers killed every pod that descended. Perhaps that is why the Collector craft departed six hours ago. As reported by the neutrino sensors on our orbital station.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Jane said softly. “Be assured, we will search for them as we travel the stars.”

The yellow glow about their greeter grew smaller. “As we know from your contact with us, it is a spacious universe. But you have brought home one of us. Perhaps more will return.”

Bill walked alongside Chester as the two of them followed behind Jane, Swift Lightning and Time Marker. Earlier, on their way in, he’d seen the purple dot of the enemy ship leave orbit well before the
Blue Sky
arrived. That had been six hours ago. The mention of the neutrino detection of the enemy ship’s fusion reactors was a tribute to the swift engineering done by the Slinkeroo scientists on the station. Once they heard from Time Marker how a Collector ship could be detected, the snake people had built neutrino detectors. They had fired several laser strikes at the orbital track of the enemy ship, causing it to move out toward the world’s moon. The ground-based lasers were carbon dioxide gas lasers like those on his ship and the four other ships in their fleet. Their range was close to 10,000 miles, the same as his ship lasers. While one of their moon-bound ships had turned back and tried to find the EMF-invisible Collector ship, it had lacked detectors. Even if the Slinkeroo ship had possessed a neutrino detector, the three ships recently launched by the walking snake people lacked any laser weapons. No doubt that would change in view of the arrival of a Collector ship. These people were no tech laggards. While they had not visited the other worlds of their system, Bill’s ship sensors had documented a world with moderate tech and a high level of communications and broadcast energy integration. He felt they would be a fine addition to the NATO of the Stars that was Chester’s presidential assignment.

Their greeter turned right down a wide hallway, then stopped before a tall triangular door that filled the end of the hallway. A narrow lightning bolt shot out and hit a red dot. With barely a whisper the metal entry door slid to one side. Before them stretched a giant room. It looked as large as the UN General Assembly chamber in New York. Like that place, this one held several hundred bench seats, all of them empty. To one side lay a half circle of bench seats. Seven Slinkeroo occupied seven seats. Intense yellow-white light shone down on them, causing the rest of the chamber to look dim. A Slinkeroo at one end of the arc left his bench and moved towards them.

Jane stepped forward, her pace quickening as the two Slinkeroo beside her moved faster. “Hello. I am Jane Yamaguchi, of the human people, from planet Earth. It is an honor to meet this world’s leaders.”

As the hissing of his wife’s translated words ended, he and the others stopped. Before them stood a Slinkeroo whose black skin showed streaks of gray. Some of the other walking snakes who rested atop bench seats also showed gray, though two of them looked nearly as black as Time Marker. The one standing before them spoke.

“My clan knows me as Hungry Learner,” hissed low the standing Slinkeroo. “This council elected me to serve as Prime Elder. Elder Jane Yamaguchi, we thank you for your warning about the captive-taking starship that hovered above our world.” Deep blue eyes blinked slowly. “We tried to destroy the craft but it moved beyond the range of our anti-comet lasers. Perhaps you can share with us information on how to build spacecraft that will protect our world in the future?”

“We will do just that,” Jane said. She gestured to the side, to where Chester had joined her. “This is Chester Richardson, a combat leader on our world and the person appointed by my nation’s leader to negotiate agreements with you and with other star people. We are ready to discuss your needs and share our information on the slave-taking behavior of the Buyer society.” She paused, then gestured behind her to where Bill stood, his nerves tense as he tried to see in every direction. “Behind me stands my husband, my life partner. Bill MacCarthy is also well trained in combat. He has used the weapons of my ship to fight other Collector ships. And he has helped free Captives held on a nearby Market world.”

The yellow glow that framed the Prime Elder grew larger. “We welcome you, your negotiator and your life partner. But especially we welcome the return of Time Marker! Come close to me, young one.”

With a scurrying of his clawed feet, their Engines Chief hurried forward to lay his head alongside the head of the Prime Elder. The yellow electrical glow of each joined together, just as had happened earlier with their greeter. They shared a common glow for long moments. Then the older Slinkeroo stepped to one side with a low sigh.

“Young one, your glow carries the sign you recently made a Death Strike,” he hissed. “How did it happen?”

Time Marker, whose long back was perhaps two feet above the metal floor, hunched down a bit, then straightened his stubby legs. “Yes, I killed recently. It happened when I joined other Humans and a Zipziptoe friend in our effort to enter a compound where these Buyers of thinking people resided. As I preceded my Human friend Bill along an entry hole cut into the building by our transport’s laser, I entered a room the beam had cut into. I saw a single lifeform hanging from the room’s ceiling. It was small and enclosed in a web.” The yellow glow about Time Marker expanded outward to three feet. “I carried a laser weapon, but I called to Bill, thinking the lifeform might be a child. He entered the room. The lifeform shot him with a laser, killing Bill. I instantly sent my Death Strike against the enemy lifeform. It . . . it was necessary.”

Hungry Learner blinked slowly, then looked up at the three of them. Deep blue eyes shone bright with extra moisture. “It seems we Slinkeroo must relearn the deadly violence we once used when clan fought clan, continent struck at another continent, and many died over minor arguments.” The Prime Elder stretched out a neck tentacle to entwine with a tentacle from Time Marker. “We rejoice at the return of one of our own. What must we do to defeat future visits by these terrible Collector ships? And how is it that your Bill is alive before us?”

♦   ♦   ♦

Jane blinked at the last part of the Slinkeroo’s question. It filled her mind with the image of the red laser wounds on Bill as he had been carried to the Med Hall of the
Blue Sky
and put into a clamshell healer unit. She had sent his combat mates away and taken a seat beside the unit, determined to be there when the healer finished its job. And the lid lifted up. She had prayed to the Goddess that his mind would not be damaged. The healer unit could repair and rebuild most any body part. But it could not replace memories. Or awareness. The hours she had waited, with only the humming voice of Star Traveler as company, had been the worst time of her life. Worse than the divorce from her ex. Worse than the loss of her parents, even. She had enjoyed making love with Bill after their takeover of the
Blue Sky
from that blasted giant cockroach. She had grown to love him deeply as they returned Captives to their home worlds. Later, after the arrival above Earth, she had joyed at the deep loyalty he’d shown her as she argued with the Joint Chiefs of Staff over her decision to remain in command of Earth’s only starship. Later, when he’d gone down to the enemy ship where Stefano’s team was being attacked, she’d worried his daring nature would bring him a final death. That had not happened. She and he had celebrated their success in capturing the six enemy ships that had attacked Earth. Now, they faced a new attack on Sol. Now, they badly needed allies. Like these walking snakes with their yellow electrical glows. She met the gaze of their leader.

“Hungry Learner, my lifemate Bill was repaired by a clamshell healer unit on my starship
Blue Sky
. He lives now. For which I am most grateful,” she said, hearing her shoulder tab as it translated her words into the hiss-speech of the Slinkeroo. “As for what your people must do to defeat future visits by these terrible Collector ships, that is the reason we came down here, to meet with you. My friend Chester has been appointed to negotiate with you and other star peoples. Our leader on Earth hopes to create an alliance of star peoples who oppose this slave-taking of thinking people. May I leave him here to discuss these matters while I and Bill join Time Marker in meeting with his clan leader and his parents?”

The Prime Elder let go his tentacle grasp with her Engines Chief. He looked up at her. “Yes, the young one must greatly miss the glow of his clan members. And his progenitors. But before you leave, tell me, how can we fight these creatures who buy living beings for forced labor? And for medical experiments, I recall you saying. What hope is there when their ships are invisible to our sensors?”

She realized this was an issue she must address, rather than leaving it to Chester. “Star Traveler,” she called over her throat disk. “Do you hear me?”

“I hear you,” came his humming speech over her ear buds even as her shoulder tab hissed the words in Slinkeroo speech. “All that you have spoken, and all you have seen, has been relayed to me by your transport and by the items you wear. What is your wish?”

Jane noticed how the yellow glow about the Prime Elder had grown. As had the glows about the six other members of the Council of Seven. Clearly a sign of concern. Or worry. Or something. “Hungry Learner, you hear the words of the artificial mind who lives aboard our starship. His name is Star Traveler. He is an ancient mind. He helped me and Bill during our takeover of the
Blue Sky
. And he has convinced many other ship minds on Collector ships to stop cooperating in the capture of intelligent beings.”

“Ahhh,” hissed low the elderly Slinkeroo. “We do not have self-aware devices such as this Star Traveler. Our researchers have long discussed the creation of such entities, but we lack the knowledge to do so. Your . . . artificial friend is welcome here.”

Relief flooded through her body, leaving her heart beating faster. She had not realized how tense she’d become upon their entry into the Hall of Silver Scales. Being on stage like this was something she did not enjoy. Even when she and Bill were being given Navy Crosses by the president, she had hated being in the public eye. This time was similar, but different. These walking snakes seemed like good people. Time to make a command decision.

“Star Traveler, transmit down to this hall all the technical specifications for our ship technology. Send them the specs for our Magfield engine, our Alcubierre stardrive, our gravity plates, our antimatter projector, our plasma batteries, the composition of your hull, send it all down.”

Humming came over her ear buds and from her shoulder tab. “Shall I transmit on the frequency used by the Prime Elder when he spoke with you during our final approach?”

Chester shifted his position, moving forward to stand at her left side. “Yes, use that frequency.” She reached out and grasped Chester’s right shoulder. “Hungry Learner, your first steps in defeating future Collector ship visits are now taken. I have shared our technology with you. I hope you will join our star alliance. Whether you join, or not, you will now be able to build ships like our ships, weapons as deadly as our weapons, and be able to stop any future Collector ship from capturing your people.”

The yellow glows about Prime Elder and the other six senior Slinkeroo shrank to barely a foot out from their black skins. Their leader nodded his head up and down, clearly having learned the body gesture from their holo chats on the way into the system. “Much you share,” he hissed loudly. “We thank you. We will learn from you and create devices to protect our world and our people. Now, let our council discuss with your Chester the meaning and requirements of this star alliance you propose. Already I feel eager to join it.”

She smiled, then stopped, realizing snake-like people did not smile the human way. Well, perhaps Chester would learn how a Slinkeroo smiles. Or shows happiness. She pressed him forward. “Chester, take over. Time for me and Bill to join Time Marker in meeting his parents.”

The stocky man looked her way, gave a nod and a wink, then stepped toward the elderly walking snake. “Prime Elder, let me tell you about the NATO of the Stars!”

CHAPTER THREE

Bill pushed away the plate of spaghetti and meatballs he was eating. Jane had just entered their ship’s Food Chamber, followed by four of his saloon buddies and Chester. Behind them came Time Marker. The walking snake had introduced them to his parents down on Notter, then brought their clan leader into the happy return chatter. The chamber in the spire where they met was much like a college food hall, filled with hundreds of other Slinkeroo. He and Jane had tasted the booze the snakes liked. To him it resembled Japanese rice wine, or
sake
, that he had tasted while training at Coronado. Two of his fellow trainees were Japanese-Americans like Jane and they had convinced him to try the stuff. The
sake
gave a good buzz. As did the Slinkeroo booze, which they called
mejian
. Their Engines Chief was joining them for the critical meeting on where to go next, now that Chester had gotten the Council of Seven and its Prime Elder to join the NATO of the Stars. Plus, they’d gained six Slinkeroo volunteers as a result of the meeting with his family and clan leader. Jane gave him a nod, her expression command serious.

“Executive Officer, good to see you ate after that booze we had downplanet.” She looked up at the ceiling. “Star Traveler, send a hover bot over with a pitcher of Heineken beer and cold mugs. For everyone including Time Marker.”

“As you order,” hummed the AI. Who was part of the gathering due to its electronic eyes and ears being everywhere on the
Blue Sky
.

Bill gave thanks the table where he sat was big enough to seat seven humans and a walking snake. He gestured at the round table. “Have a seat everyone. The alliance is started. Let’s celebrate!”

Jane lifted an eyebrow at his perkiness, then sat opposite him on a round pedestal extruded by the floor’s flexmetal. To his right sat his buddies who were ship captains. Next to him was Alicia Hoffman of the brown ponytail and Ranger daring. Beyond her were Coast Guardsman Joe Batigula of the big belly, barrel-chested Frank Wurtzman of the Marines and finally, his fellow SEAL Stefano Cordova, who sat at Jane’s left. To his captain’s right was Chester of the broad shoulders, followed by Time Marker’s six foot long slithery shape. The Slinkeroo stretched out over a long bench that lay between Bill and Chester, his black-skinned head twisted to face them all. Jane grabbed the beer pitcher from a plate carried by a hover bot as it floated beside her. Stefano grabbed mugs off the plate and handed them around. His wife’s dark brown eyes scanned them all, including him. There was no sign of her passionate love nature in them. Today she was all business. As befit a meeting of the fleet commander and her fellow ship captains.

Alicia lifted her foaming mug. “All hail to the captain in charge!” she yelled, her soprano voice filling the large room where everyone on the ship ate meals, played video games, watched movies, read something from the ship’s incredible Library, or tried their hand at cooking in the Food Alcove that ran along one side wall.

Jane looked surprised by their tough lesbian’s mood change to cheeriness. “This isn’t a party. Though I am pleased at the six Slinkeroo volunteers we gained, thanks to the influence and support of Time Marker,” she said, nodding to their Engines Chief.

The yellow glow around their crewmate was low, just a foot thick. Which told Bill the critter had to be feeling happy, or relaxed or anything other than tense and anxious. It was hard to tell about the body language of Aliens. While he’d spent ten months in the company of Time Marker and the other Alien volunteers on the Command Bridge, he was still learning what certain behaviors meant for each of the species now aboard the
Blue Sky
. The walking snake, while a reptile by biological heritage, loved to play chess, enjoyed swimming in the ship’s Water Pool Chamber, liked sunning himself in the Greenery Chamber, and often spent long hours in the bowels of the Engine Chamber studying the operations of their Magfield engines. Its behavior was a close analogue to a dedicated geek, leastwise so far as he had ever known any. And the snake was far more sociable than some of the computer programmers he’d met at Coronado and elsewhere. In that sense, Bill liked him. He also liked how the critter had not hesitated to kill the spider Alien who’d lasered him. Their crewmate turned his triangular head, looking at Jane.

“Captain of the ship, my clan volunteers look forward to learning crew functions on the ship run by . . . by Captain Joe,” hissed Time Marker.

That was a development Bill liked. The ship
Manila Bay
had been captured during the assault on the Market world at HD 128311. Up to now, the only live crew on it had been Joe. The ship’s AI had managed to run the functions usually handled by a five man crew. Now, with six Slinkeroo on board, Joe was likely feeling some relief. And perhaps a few electrical shocks whenever he stepped into the nimbus glow of any of his new crew.

Jane took a sip from her mug, wiped the foam off her lips, then set it down with a thud. “Good to hear that. Maybe we can spread some of them out to our other ships. Once they get some training.” She folded her hands in front of her, leaned forward and looked command intense. Bill licked his lips. Clearly this was going to be a major meeting. Maybe the most important meeting since they’d left Earth on their way to zap the Market world closest to Sol. That had been their first assignment from the president. The second had been to visit the five star systems of the Alien crew aboard
Blue Sky
and get their people to join this NATO of the Stars. They’d begun that task by arriving here at the Slinkeroo system. Now, after hearing the boasting of the praying mantis captain of the enemy ship, and the deadly news from its AI, it was clear they faced a decision point.

“So who do we kill next?” rumbled Frank, ever the Marine ready to storm something, somewhere. Bill had long respected the former veteran of the Marine Special Operations crew. The man had left the service as a Gunnery Sergeant. Now, with all of them reactivated and called back into their respective services, thanks to the order of General Harriet Poindexter of the JCS, Frank seemed ready to put his wide shoulders against any obstacle in their path.

His wife lifted a thin black eyebrow. “That is what this meeting is about. We have two options. Either return to Earth and alert the JCS to the report of this new fleet gathering at Kepler 62, or, head directly to Kepler 62 ourselves and see what damage five ships can do against this fleet. Before it attacks Earth. What say each of you?”

“Captain,” interrupted Star Traveler with a hum. “There is additional new data I gained from the ship mind Diamond, when we shared minds earlier. I have updated information on the nature of the Buyer society. Do you wish to hear it?”

Jane grimaced. Bill could tell she felt bothered by the AI’s smart-ass manner. Still, it had been their first ally after their capture. Both of them had learned to respect it, even as its personality had become more arrogant and, at times, obscure. “Yes. Of course I wish to learn any data relevant to our mission of destroying the Buyer culture. Speak!”

“As you wish,” hummed low the AI. “Within Orion Arm the number of space-going species has increased to 3,012. For the Buyer society, it now consists of 840,992 Buyers located on 413 worlds, of which 59 are Market worlds. Captives are being gathered by 85 Collector ships. Which is two more than the 83 your Weapons Chief created thanks to the destruction or capture of 12 ships,” the ship mind hummed long and low. “Two new Collector ships have been built at a location other than the orbital factory that was destroyed during your battle at Kepler 443.”

Jane looked thoughtful. “Any word on how large this fleet is that they are gathering at Kepler 62? Any news on where the new Collector factory is located?”

“No and yes,” Star Traveler hummed. “The new Collector ship factory is reported to be operating at system Kepler 66, which lies 3,611 light years from Earth. The size of the fleet being collected at Kepler 62 was unknown to Diamond. However, it has only been a week since our attack on the Market world at system HD 128311. While the news of our attack has spread widely, by ship to ship relay, it is likely few ships have arrived at Kepler 62. Star to star travel still takes considerable time even when one uses the Alcubierre space-time modulus for such transit.”

Bill winced. Now the ship mind was sounding like a tenured college professor with not a care for whether her students understood what she said. Jane shrugged, her Air Force blue jumpsuit loose on her.

“Well, the new Collector ship factory is far too distant for us to visit. We are back to our two options. What does—”

“Captain,” Star Traveler hummed quickly. “There is a third option. This ship and allied ships could continue visiting the home star systems of the non-Human crew members of this ship.”

“Piss off!” Jane yelled, clearly irritated. Then she sat back and assumed her ship commander posture. As if aware it was not good for the fleet leader to lose her temper. “There is no
third
option. Either we attack Kepler 62 or we return to Earth to alert the JCS and other nations to this impending attack. People, what are your views?”

Stefano let go his mug and raised his hand to draw attention. “Captain of the fleet, I suggest we send Joe’s ship back to Earth and the rest of us go and attack Kepler 62 before the assembled ships get too many for us to defeat.”

Alicia shook her head. “That is four ships against how many enemy ships? We now know something no one on Earth knows. A new attack is coming. Sometime in the future. Our duty is to return and warn Earth. Then maybe we attack Kepler 62.”

Frank frowned. “Much as I want to kill all these slave-grabbing bastards, I agree with Alicia. We gotta warn Earth first before we attack anywhere. Our fleet is good. But this info could die with us if we get unlucky. Our battlemates have to know this.”

Joe fixed blue eyes on Jane. “Captain, I’m willing to go with Stefano’s plan. My ship is the least effective due to all the newbies in my crew. I’m glad to have them. But none of them know a thing about lasers, antimatter or star navigatin’.”

His wife looked to her right. “Chester? What are your views?”

The man who had joined their crew to serve as liaison with two nuke subs that had helped in the fight against the invading six Collector ships sat back and crossed arms over his NWU battledress. “Much as I would like to gain more allies, Joe is right. And so is Frank. Earth has to be warned. But do all our ships return? Or just Joe’s ship?”

Jane nodded, then looked straight at him. “Bill?”

He sat up straight, determined to look as milspec proper as he could, considering how he’d never liked dressing up. At least his NWUs were still fresh. No sauce on them. Jane raised an eyebrow. He felt a chill run down his back as he realized they now faced a new life or death decision point. “Captain, I like Stefano’s idea. He and I are used to fighting long odds. Being outnumbered has never bothered us. Nor any of the other spec ops folks here.” Stefano’s brown eyes fixed on Bill, reading his body language the way he’d always been able to do. The man smiled. “But . . . the facts are the facts. Kepler 62 is 1,200 light years away. The trip there would take at least 48 days. Earth is 56 light years away. A little over two days to get home. So we should—”

“Correction,” interrupted Star Traveler. “The distance to Kepler 62 from this star system is 1,238 point four five five light years. Travel time there would be 49 point five Earth days.”

Bill bit his lip. Jane’s expression became deadly blank. He had no doubt she would love to find the AI’s pain center in its microelectronic innards. Time to wrap this up. “Whatever, we should head back to Earth. All of us. Right now there are only three Collector ships and one sub capable of flight outside of Earth’s atmosphere. When we return, there will be
eight
Collector ships present in the system.” His wife turned thoughtful. “Our first priority is to warn Earth about the impending new attack. Yes, it will likely not happen for a few months, based on how far some Collector ships will travel to get to Kepler 62. But going back shows we give first priority to our duty to defend the Constitution. And to our vows of Duty, Honor and Country. Whatever the JCS folks decide, well, we can argue there. In Sol system. Me, I favor sneaking into Kepler 62, pretending to be new troops and gaining intel Earth will need to decide what humanity should do. I love America. But we are the vanguard for seven billion humans. Let us do our duty first, then later fight these bastards!”

Jane nodded slowly, then looked at the last person at the table who had yet to speak. “Time Marker, what are your views on our two choices? Your people are now part of our alliance. You deserve a say on this issue.”

Their snake crewmate gave a low hiss. “My people have no armed spaceships with which to help defend Earth. Our engineers are very accomplished, though it will take time to build a copy of this ship
Blue Sky
. But our volunteers will fight anywhere, fight to the death to defend our allies!” The walking snake’s pink tongue flicked out a foot. It was not an odor-sensing instrument like the tongues of Earth snakes. But it was a sign of his willingness to fight. So Bill had learned over the last ten months.

The critter’s yellow electrical nimbus now expanded out to two feet, nearly touching Chester’s right arm. The former Chief of Naval Operations did not move. Nor did Bill, even though he felt the hairs on his left arm prickling from the static electricity that leaked out from their buddy’s glow. Jane gave their ally a brief smile, then her expression went sober serious.