Neptune's Massif (11 page)

"I would hope that once the fighting is over, they would simply come forward to tell us they are there. If not, I suppose we can simply start searching for them. Scanners are good for stuff like that," Ian said playfully.

"Do you have an over-all timeline for the operation, Admiral?" Chloe asked.

"I'll send you the planning file Chloe, but the operations time-line is four days, give or take a day. I tried to remain flexible until we get a handle on those infantry folks," Ian replied. "We all know how unpredictable Marines can be!"

"You got that right, Sir!" Major Reise said, laughing.

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J
u'nio Ha'ena Beach

Hawaii

Mid-Pacific Ocean

Planet Earth

Sol System, Sol Sector

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C
oming in low from the east, over the ocean, Alan led the small fleet of three shuttles with his Raptor. They were very low because of their proximity to Hilo International Airport, they tried to stay out of the airspace a commercial flight might be using. They came in quietly, very early in the tropical morning, before the sun had risen, in order to land and get the ships under cover as quickly as possible without being seen.

Alan knew that the drones had built a large, underground hanger as part of the construction, but really hadn't paid attention to how big it really was. As the small ships crossed over the small abandoned resort, Alan saw lights on the ground form two circles indicating where the craft were to land.

Andreya, who was acting as the flight controller, ordered the Raptor and one of the shuttles to hover while the remaining two shuttles landed in the circles. Alan watched in amazement as the shuttles were lowered into the hanger, then moved to the side, and the elevator returned to the surface; far quicker than he thought they would be able to.

After all four craft were inside the hanger, and the 'doors' were once again closed and hidden, Alan and his team got out of the shuttle to meet Doctor Juno and his band of researchers. Alan was surprised, as there seemed to be a lot of them.

Andreya found something to stand on so she could speak to the crowd. "Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome to Hawaii. The base computer system is not an AI, but it is smart enough to be able to assist you with most questions. Mathias is also available via comms for the time being. All of you have been assigned quarters here and can be guided to them by the computer. For the time being, however, I would recommend you assist the drones in unloading your ships so they can take the equipment to the appropriate place. Current local time is zero-two-forty, so for now, please limit your surface activity. Your team leaders should have been briefed on the rest of this on the flight down, so let's get busy folks," she finished and stepped down. She joined Alan who was standing with a shocked looking Doctor Juno. The older, shorter scientist was looking around him in awe.

"This is amazing, Commander! I had no idea the drones could work so fast! Now I am curious to see what was done with the buildings on the surface!" Juno replied.

"I am told that they even built an aqua dome out in the ocean for use by other researchers. That is in addition to your own special facilities, Doctor," Andreya said. "The designers tried to follow what they felt was your desire and made sure this place was able to handle as broad a spectrum of oceanic research as would be possible after our team departs. There is plenty of room for further expansion as well. I would be happy to give you a tour."

"This is truly amazing, Officer Andreya," Juno replied. "Over-whelming actually."

"If you will excuse me, Doctor, I need to get my new team into their quarters and ready for morning training," Alan grinned. "Sensei does not appreciate students that are late for his classes."

Beside him Michi smiled. "Considering the timing of our arrival, Alan, Today's class can be delayed I think. We will need to adjust to the time zone we now find ourselves in. I believe a short evaluation class would be in order. Perhaps around noon. If possible, I would like to accompany Doctor Juno and Andreya on that tour."

Alan bowed to his teacher. "As you wish Sensei." He turned to the six new people. "Let’s help get the gear unloaded, then we'll find our quarters."

As Alan excused himself to begin helping the other scientists and researchers, Andreya took Michi and Doctor Juno on the promised tour of the facility.

After getting the gear unloaded, there had been time for a shower and a short nap before meeting Sensei outside for their first lesson. When he arrived, he was pleased to see that, while he was still ten minutes early, he was also the last to arrive. Michi had been using the time to chat with the new team members and get to know them a little better. Alan also noticed that little Mulan was there as well, dressed in a black shozoku. Even though she was not carrying any obvious weapons, she very much looked like a small ninja or 'shinobi' as it was called in Japanese. Since she was dressed in this outfit, Alan noted that she did not speak at all; she simply sat at the edge of the training area and waited.

He bowed as he stepped passed her, and she returned the bow silently. Shinobi did not speak when their face was covered. He nodded a greeting to his team, and bowed to Michi in greeting.

Michi returned the bow and finished his conversation with one of the team members. He walked to the front of the seated group and bowed to them. "Good morning, as you all know I am Michi Nokisuno. I will be your instructor for advanced hand to hand combat disciplines. Before we begin, I must mention that what we will be teaching you has not been proven against non-humans, but instead prove to be effective against most of these opponents.

"As with all things, you will need to be evaluated so I may better understand what knowledge you already have. This will give me a better idea where to begin. I feel I must stress that this knowledge can be lethal if misused. However, as warriors, lethality is what you are here to learn.

"I do have certain rules that must be followed. Whenever we meet, you will bow to me. In my culture, this is a show of respect for the ancient knowledge I carry and as an acknowledgment of me as your instructor or sensei. Before you enter the training area, you will bow to show respect to your opponent and to show respect to the art I am to teach you. While we are in the training environment, you must always show respect for each other, the art, and finally me as your instructor," Michi finished.

"As I have said, before we can really begin, I must evaluate each of you. I will evaluate Alan first. He will fight my assistant. While the information will mean little to you, she has reached a ranking of Master Shinobi. As we progress you will come to understand what that is. While they duel, Alan will be evaluated first on his offensive abilities against her. Then they will switch rolls and Alan will attempt to defend himself against her. Each of you will be evaluated in this manner." He turned to Alan and nodded. "Alan, if you will please begin." He gestured to the area behind him, and the small seated girl.

Alan stood, bowed to Michi and walked into the training area. Before crossing the boundary, he bowed toward Mulan. She stood and returned his bow.

Alan quickly learned how good Mulan really was. Although Sensei had said she had reached a Master ranking, he found no matter what he tried, he could do nothing to the little black clad figure. At a signal from Sensei, Alan suddenly found himself on the ground looking up at the ceiling and wondering just how he had gotten there.

The rest of his evaluation was much the same, nor did it deviate for the rest of the team. None of them could do anything against the small ninja. When Sensei finally called a halt, and the last victim limped out of the training area, Sensei bowed to Mulan who returned the bow and resumed her original position.

He turned back to the assembled team. "Thank you. I now have a much better understanding of where to begin with all of you. We will begin tomorrow morning at oh-six hundred right here. I would suggest not eating breakfast before you arrive." He bowed to the team in dismissal. Alan returned the bow, and the rest of the team followed his lead.

As Michi stepped aside, Alan stood and spoke to the team. "As I'm sure all of you are aware of, this is not the only training we will be doing down here. You may return to your quarters to freshen up, but be in briefing room four-alpha in thirty minutes for the overall mission briefing. Our first class on our special equipment will be immediately after in the same briefing room. Dismissed."

The team quickly fell into a routine of training and learning. However, they soon learned that they were not safe from that little ninja no matter where or when they were. Michi had asked her to stalk the team and 'kill' them every day. By the end of the first week, the team was haggard and look harried. Alan was tempted to speak to Sensei about it, but chose not to since he could see what Sensei was trying to do.

The team was beginning to group together and rely on each other for protection against the little ninja. At least Alan was happy to see that each of them understood it was only part of the training and was not taking it personally. In fact, whenever Mulan was 'out in public', she was treated with cordial respect.

All in all the mission was on track, the group was becoming a team, Sensei was teaching them and they had begun to learn, and the Sharks were getting the bugs worked out of them during their open water testing phase.

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O
nalau Unified Spaceport

Planet Proferus Three

Orgatan System, Gar Sector

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C
aleb-et Shalo was thoroughly disgusted with his new assignment. Not that it was a bad planet, it wasn't. But for the situation he now found himself in. Who would have thought that purchasing the services of two females would result in this much defecate? He had only been celebrating his graduation from the Academy and now he found himself not only in command of an entire theater of operations, but also promoted far above his station.

He was now a high ranking noble, tasked with prosecuting a war he didn't agree with. He shook himself mentally. It wasn't his place to question why the war was being fought, only to fight it. The Imperial forces had discovered something that could very well destroy the entire Empire. What was the Emperor's answer to this ominous threat? Shalo. The Emperor had sent Shalo.

Granted that wasn't all he'd sent; Shalo had led an entire new fleet of warships as well as supply freighters and troop transports to this planet. Shalo certainly had the tools for the mission, he just hoped he had the ability.

While there were other members of his race on the ships he led - some of them were even female, however, for the most part, he was surrounded by the race the Empire used as their military. The Tel-Glare were beings larger than Shalo. They could be very violent and were incredibly strong since the race had originated on a heavy gravity world. As a whole, the race of warriors was controlled by an imperial-supplied drug. This drug kept the race subservient and very loyal to the empire. But that wasn't the only method of ensuring their loyalty. Shalo shuddered at the thought. The Tal-Glare were a Matriarchal society; that is they were led by the females of the species. If Shalo were to breed one of them, a chemical bonding formed, ensuring that the Matriarch's entire clan became loyal to him. In his orders, he was required to breed one of them once he arrived at his destination. A half breed Tal-glare named Glamia was the Matriarch in over-all command of the forces assaulting the Main Galaxy in the name of the Emperor.

He had of course, bred Tal-Glare females before. As a commander in the house military, he had to have control of his troops. Such acts were not considered as 'breeding' socially since it was a necessity of command. However, the physical act was the same and it had always revolted Shalo to have to perform it. The fact that this Tal-Glare Matriarch was a half breed bothered him even more. Knowing that sometimes the Tal-glare Matriarch would become pregnant resulting in a half breed made him want to puke. The bastard off-spring of such a union should be destroyed as abominations at birth and not allowed to contaminate the race. The Tal-glare would not stand for it, so the children were raised by their clans. Now he would be forced to breed one of them because of his duty to the Emperor and the Empire.

As he arrived at the command complex in the city of Onalau he saw what had to be the object of his thoughts standing at attention as his vehicle pulled up. Arrayed behind her was a truly impressive array of Tal-Glare senior officers; Admirals, Generals and Senior Captains all kneeling as protocol demanded. At least she wasn't as repulsive looking as the rest of the Tal-Glare race.

She bowed deeply as he got out of the ground vehicle. "Highness, welcome to Proferus Three. I am Glamia, the Matriarch of these clans."

"Get up. That will be the last time you bow to me. I am not your King, nor am I the Emperor. I don't care how the previous overseers did things; I have been sent here with a job to do and that is what will be done. You may address me as 'My Lord' or 'Lord Admiral'. While I understand a ceremony such as this might have been what the previous overseer expected, I do not. I feel such to be a waste of time and effort. Please have your clans rise and return to their duties. We will meet each other as needed or when our duties have us interacting. Once you have dismissed them, come to my office so we can get the rest of this duty taken care of." He pointed to an aide that was standing off to one side. "Show me to my office."

The aide bobbed his head and led the diminutive being into the building. Glamia sighed and slowly shook her head. Briefly, she wondered if this new commander was going to be better or worse than the last had been.

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H
yperion Commons

Ascension, Planet Atlas

Centauri System, Sol Sector

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J
im Beacher had always been a simple man, who had done his best to lead a simple life. He had been raised in a small town and taught the trade of carpentry by his father. He also learned from his father to have a strong sense of loyalty to his family, his friends, his community, and his country. So at the age of eighteen, Jim had joined the Army. A training accident ended his time in the military and left him with a crushed pelvis and no way to father children.