Gray Panthers: Battle for Earth (16 page)

Lunar Base

31 December 2127

Butch was soon regretting the great adventure of setting up a station on the moon as the scientists continued to demand more access to resources as the building of the H3 refinery finished.  The engineer team was making great progress in building a cavern system alongside Peary Crater.  Life support was established in the caverns, with an initial living quarter’s setup.  Every hundred feet a large hatch was in place in the event of a breach
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while the cavern was still under development.  The botanical scientists would soon transfer the crops from the Nike to the cavern.  Ice from the Peary Crater was being used to create oxygen and water.  The H3 generator easily provided the power needed for supplying energy to all the occupants of the cavern.  The cavern was under the direction of the AI Selene who coordinated all the resources for the cavern. 

Butch finally decided to announce the cavern was operational and sent all the scientists from the Nike along with a security detachment.  The cavern would be under the command of Chung Hong-Won, a retired marine colonel who had a PhD in international relations.  Chung would be responsible for the operations of the cavern as well as a detachment of ten shuttles, used for transporting the H3 to Earth. 

Gray Panthers, Arizona

2 January 2128

Dan sat back at his desk and could not believe the last few years, becoming the richest man in the world.  The transition of the United States once again to a Republic from socialism.  Finding an alien space ship, and saving the world, preparing to defend Earth from enemy aliens. Being young again, and being in a relationship once again.

Dan looked at the clock. It seemed like a good time to head into town, have a beer and just be normal for a while, then get back to business.  Dan began to call Juanita to see if she wanted to come along. He then remembered she had no real fond memories for Brent’s Tavern, plus she was going over the numbers with Wolfgang.  Dan walked out to his battered pickup and thought again that he should get something newer and more comfortable since he wasn't playing desert rat anymore.  The truck started on the first turn of the key as Dan started his trip to town.  The night air was cool as he had the windows rolled down. The view outside of his headlights nothing but blackness, not even a distant house in view.  The radio began to blast an ancient rock n roll song as Dan tapped the wheel along with the beat, enjoying the tune in the solitude of his drive.  The sound of a heavy engine was barely audible before the passenger side of the truck buckled from the impact of the semi barreling into the trucks side.  Dan opened his eyes. His every being hurt. The mix of blood and sand filled his mouth.  Not far from him, he could see the lights from three vehicles and half dozen flashlights.  He had been ejected from the truck as it rolled down the embankment.  Trying to orient himself, he kept quiet as he noticed the searchers were armed.  "Come on you guys; times wasting. We gotta find Daniels before someone misses him,” the distant voice implored the searchers.  Dan rolled onto his stomach feeling his ribs grind. The pain almost made him pass out.  The pain only increased as he low crawled on his elbows and knees.  Dan felt relief as the lights slowly receded behind him, and he finally felt he could breath.  "Excuse me Mr. Daniels; my associates would like a moment of your time." Looking up Dan saw the outline of a giant as the giant rested his knee in the middle of Dan’s back and roughly patted him down, relieving him of his 9mm from the middle of his back. He then got up and rolled him over repeating the action less forcefully but professionally down his front.  He reached down and pulled Dan to his feet, with Dan nearly blacking out again from the pain in his ribs.  "Let's rejoin the search party Mr. Daniels,” the giant, who was now more of a normal height, insisted with a slight shove.  Dan finally started to think instead of reacting, quietly vocalizing, "Call Grub" he waited a minute before Grub said he was aware of his predicament and a rescue team was already en route. Dan ordered that the team approach but not interfere, simply surround the hostiles and wait for his orders.  Dan then asked if his fairies were still getting everything.  After Grub said "Yes," Dan was surprised to see he was already in the middle of the group hunting him.  The leader of the group was dressed in an expensive suit as all those around him were in black BDUs.  Looking at the man Dan smiled, "Looks like someone over dressed for the occasion; usually a kidnapping is a more casual affair."  The men around him could not help but laugh at the remark.

"Mr. Daniels, I would not be so flippant. I know you had a part in destroying my America and I am going to make you pay for it."

Silently Dan asked, "Grub can you identify anyone here?"

"Sir, you have ex-DHS assistant regional supervisor Matt Klein, and eight recently fired DHS field agents, their names are…"

"Thanks Grub, that’s good for now, let me know when the team is in place."

"I'm sorry Mr. Klein. I’m still a little dizzy. How goes the job hunting?  Is that why you stopped me, so you could interview for a job?  I actually do have a position you would be ideal for." 

Dan saw the anger flush on Klein’s face as he pulled back and let one go towards Dan’s face.  Still held in place all Dan could do was tuck in his chin as Klein's fist hit the top of his skull, Dan felt as well as heard the crack of bone from Klein's wrist.

"Ow, that’s gotta hurt," Dan said through his own pain as he watched Klein hold his wrist with his other hand.  "Guess you don't get to do much of your own dirty work, do you?  Now if you are not here for a job what can I do for you?  I wanted to go to town and have a beer and chill, now you have ruined that."

"Mr. Daniels, you are going to make us rich men, as compensation for destroying our careers,”  Klein said as he held his wrist.

Unknown to his captors Dan began to receive a message. "Units are in place sir. Two teams are about fifty feet from you, and two teams are about a hundred feet out, all hostiles are covered.  We have two hostile teams of two in custody that were watching the road a half mile from the group that’s with you."

"Well Mr. Klein that seems like some career change, from law enforcement to criminal, and I suppose I will live through this since I know your name and every member of your team here.  Now ask yourself how I know all this, and ask yourself, while we have been talking who has your perimeter security?  I have four teams that are all in range of us here.  Did you really think you could ever really get to me?  I will let you live if you let me know how you knew where to find me."

Klein nervously told his men to get back to keeping an eye out for anyone.  One of the men stepped forward and Dan heard him whisper to Klein that both road details are not replying.

"Enough of this shit Klein. My ribs are hurting and my night is ruined.  I am going to count to three; then I will be the only man alive here."

The ex-agent to Dan’s left started to raise his short rifle toward Dan as his head silently, disintegrated only a smacking sound as his brains and skull splattered in all directions.  The rest of the team except for Klein hit the ground facing all directions, not sure, where the kill shot came from.  Klein’s face was drained of all blood, nearly pure white, as Dan smiled at him.  "I'm sorry for the interruption there Klein. Now as I said, I will count to three, then the remainder of your team will be dead.  Anyone who stands up and puts their hands on their heads will see the sun again." 

Before Klein could reply the original ex-agent who had found Dan was on his feet, rifle at his feet, hands on his head as the rest of the team followed suit.  Klein, still white in the face turned green and fell to his knees losing the contents of his stomach as Dan vocalized for the teams to come in and take control of the situation.  Abdul was the first one to break cover.  Dan looked at him in anger, "Abby you're not in the field anymore. What would I have done if something had happened to you?"  Anger turned to shock as Dan saw Abby raise the old 12-gauge shotgun and fire into the knee of an ex-agent. Blood and gore quickly started to pump out as the pants started to soak up blood, as the ex-agent was face down on the ground.  "Medic!  Get over here and help this man!"  Abby hollered as he walked up to the next man.  "How did your team know where and when to find Mr. Daniels?"  Abby ratched another shell into the shotguns chamber for effect.  The ex-agent simply dropped to his knees as he lost control of his bladder.  Disgustedly Abby turned to the next man, his shotgun pointed at his knee.  "I don't know mister. I’m a little Indian here, he's the chief there, he knows everything."  Abby smiled at the man before he butt stroked him in the stomach, as the man dropped, losing his lunch.  Abby turned to Klein as Klein cried out that the guard at the gate was a friend of one of the men and called him.  The guard was not in the loop of what was going on.  "God damn it Abby!  Get your ass back to base. I will handle things here,” Dan growled at his oldest living friend."  Abby walked over to the wounded man as Dan continued to watch.  Abby grabbed the man by his throat lifting him to his one leg, making sure his face was clearly visible to Dan.  "OK Abby, I see. Let’s get this mess cleaned up.  Are we still under our jurisdiction or the county's?  OK call the sheriff's department and make sure they understand we have things under control but need an ambulance and accommodations for the rest.  We will contain the crime scene until they get here.  OK now Abby I want to..."  Dan suddenly found himself looking at everyone from the sitting position as he first checked to make sure he was not in any gore, and then felt his chest pain increase as all the shock had finally worn off.  He watched the medic stop working on the injured ex-agent and begin to run towards him in slow motion as everything went black.

Gray Panthers, Arizona

3 January 2128

Dan woke up and felt before he saw Juanita, her head resting at his side as she slept in the chair next to his hospital bed.  His right arm had an IV drip and a monitor attached to his finger.  He felt a slight twinge of pain as he moved his left arm over Juanita's head in a soft caress.  The rooms' smell of anti-septic could not overcome the soft fragrance of her hair.  Dan sub-vocalized to Grub for a report and found the sheriff's department accepted everything on face value as Abby reported it to them, but would need a report from him, Grub said he had it in Dans email ready for him to mail, once he looked over it.  The nanites were almost done repairing his injuries, he had three broken ribs and four severely bruised ribs, besides numerous scrapes and contusions all over his body.  Dan thanked Grub as he felt himself falling back asleep. 

Nike, Near Earth Space

3 January 2128

“Commander, please wake up. I have important information for you.”

Butch turned on the light to his cabin to find Nike, in only a short toga that left nothing to his imagination, waiting to report to him.  “Damn it Nike, put something on!” Butch muttered as he tried to wake up.  Nike glowed for a second then reappeared wearing a naval officer’s uniform, still too short and tight. 

“Aaagh, go ahead, report Nike.”

“Sir, my long range sensors have discovered a pair of ships that appear to be on a heading for Earth.  They are still too far to make a perfect identification, but they have all the characteristics of those used by the Libras.  Estimate we will be visible to their sensors in 28 hours.”

“How come the sensor operator or duty officer is not reporting this to me now Nike?”

“Sir, I know what to look for and can distinguish items better than the crew.”

“OK, thank you Nike. Please setup remedial training for all sensor operators. You will provide the needed training to each operator at your discretion.  Will they pick up our sensors if we keep following them?”

“No sir, our system, used by the Flem, is to my knowledge, untraceable.”

“Let’s play it safe and proceed to run silent. Inform the officer of the deck my orders, and bring him up to date. I will be up there shortly.”

“Yes sir, I have sent the instructions to the bridge; anything else?”

“Yes, leave my cabin so I can get dressed!”

"By your leave, sir?"

"Get out!"

Gray Panthers, Arizona

3 January 2128

Dan woke refreshed. He looked across the room to see both Abby and Juanita cuddled together as they slept on the small couch.  Dan coughed loudly waking only Abby.

“Should I be jealous that you’re sleeping with my girlfriend?  It does get habit forming.”

“Old bastard, I should have left you in the field.  How are you doing?”

“I’m okay. Did you get any satisfaction finding the guy that put you in the hospital for all those years and making him a cripple?”

“I’m not going to sleep with you anymore if this is how I wake up,” Juanita drawled as she pulled herself up from the small couch. She walked over to Dan and crawled under the covers with him, and draped herself over him.

“It is one of my small pleasures in life,” Abby answered after a moment.

“Sorry to interrupt sir, we have a major problem,” Grub commed in.

“Go ahead Grub, what is it now?” Dan asked.

“It looks like we have a pair of Libra ships approaching Earth; they should be here in three days.”

“What happened to all the time you said we had Grub?”

“Sir, that was for the Jacka. These are the Libra; in my estimation, much more dangerous.”

“OK, let’s get all the players together for a meeting in two hours. Patch me through to Siggy.”