by Bob Blanton
Kal followed behind, walking backward as Blake started toward the first corner. Catie walked along the right wall, and Liz the left. There weren’t any rooms off of the hallway in their direction.
Blake held up three feet from the corner. He was inspecting the sides of the walls for signs of a surveillance puck sticking out. He nodded to Catie to tell her that it was time for her to put a puck into the next hallway.
Catie pulled a pair of pucks out of her bag. They were each stuck to opposite sides of a toy block that acted like an axle that kept the fifteen-millimeter-thick pucks from tipping over. She set them on the floor and pushed them. They rolled along the floor into the hallway.
“Clear,” Catie whispered into her comm. The volume in the other comms was much higher than her whisper. It was a feature that they had found useful. They didn’t want the other team to hear them, and whispers were problematic. Since the earwig was designed to pick up even the faintest whisper, they set the transmission to a constant voice level.
They moved quickly to set up control of the next hallway. Catie placed a puck on the back wall so they would get the best view of the hallway. She also put one on the wall of the opposing hallway to give them a better view of the hallway they were exiting.
“Two rooms on the left, one room on the right,” Kal said. “Let’s clear the left-hand rooms first.”
Blake nodded and moved to the door on the left. Staying to the side he waited for Catie and Liz to take up positions, Catie knelt down beside him against the wall since the door handle was on the right side. Once Liz was in position, Blake tested the handle to see if the door was locked. The handle turned, but the door wouldn’t budge.
“Jammed.”
“Hall is still clear.”
Blake lay down on his back close to the door with his knees bent. He waited until Catie gave him a high-sign on his HUD, then he reared back and kicked the door in. He quickly rolled to the side while everyone took cover. Catie tossed a puck into the room.
“Room looks clear.”
“Make sure,” Kal instructed. “Two of you go in, Blake and I’ll cover the hall.”
Catie and Liz entered the room. While Liz covered her, Catie balanced a puck on the end of her rifle and used that to stick it to the ceiling. With a bird’s eye view, it was easy to verify that no one was hiding behind any of the furniture. Catie used her specs to get the surveillance puck to release itself from the ceiling, it dropped into her hand. She and Liz made their way to the closet. It was unlocked; Liz covered high, while Catie opened the door and tossed the puck in.
“Room’s clear.”
They followed the same procedure for the room next door and cleared it. As Catie was coming out of the room, her HUD pinged, showing movement at the end of the hallway.
“Incoming.”
Blake and Kal ducked into the other room, while Catie and Liz ducked back into their room. “What’s up?”
“Someone just eased a puck along the edge of the wall at the corner; about one-point-five meters up. It’s just peeking out into the hallway.”
“So, they know where we are.”
“I’d say so,” Catie replied.
“I can take the puck out,” Kal said. “Everybody be ready in case they try to rush us.”
“Got you covered,” Catie said as she lay down and took aim down the hallway.
Kal could see the puck location on his HUD. One of the paintball guns Kal carried was more like a sniper rifle than the machinegun-like rifles favored by most paintballers. He used the angle he got from being across the hall from where the puck was to take aim without exposing himself too much. He squeezed off a shot.
“Nailed it,” Catie said.
“Okay, do you think you can roll one all that way?”
“Sure,” Catie said as she pulled out her double puck. She lined it up with the hallway and gave it a solid push. It rolled until it hit the wall at the end of the hall. They immediately got a quick view of the opposing team in the other hallway. They appeared to be discussing what to do about their disabled puck. They also didn’t seem to notice the puck that had rolled down the hall.
“I don’t see another puck,” Catie said. “And they’re holding the one you shot off the wall.”
“Sloppy,” Kal said. “They’re back about three feet; I say we ease down there and take them high-low.” Kal took out one of his door jammers and jammed the door to the room they hadn’t cleared. “Okay, let’s go.”
Catie jumped up on Blake’s back, and they eased down the hall. Kal exchanged his sniper rifle for an automatic one. They carefully made their way down the hall along the right side. When they got to the corner, Blake stopped just shy of it. Liz crouched down and waited. Catie took her paint gun and set it to automatic. She used the surveillance puck to aim it, poked it around the corner and let go. As soon as the opposition spotter was distracted by Catie’s fire, Liz launched herself into the hall on the floor, firing even before she landed.
“Out!”
“Out!”
“Out!”
“Out!”
They had taken all four opponents out in the quick exchange. Catie’s rifle had paint on it, but she was clean. She hopped off of Blake’s shoulders and collected her rolling puck. She wanted to grab it before the other team saw it.
“Okay you Yahoos,” Kal said. “What were you doing?”
“We were strategizing,” the lead guy said. “We had a lookout.”
“That’s what your comms are for. You can strategize and discuss things while you’re all keeping watch.”
“Then, you might have heard us.”
“You can level the volume,” Catie said. “Just use your HUD to set the comm unit to transmit everything at the same level. Then you can whisper.”
“Ohh.”
“Yes, oh!” Kal said. “You’ve had the gear for over a week, didn’t you familiarize yourself with it?”
“Yes, but we missed that.”
“How did you see our puck?”
Kal nodded to Catie. “You can set your HUD so that the comm unit alerts you anytime there’s movement detected by the puck. I saw it peek around the corner.”
“We want a rematch.”
“But you’re all dead,” Kal said.
“A zombie rematch then,” another one said, making them all laugh.
“First, why don’t you do some scrimmaging among yourselves, that way you can figure out how to best use the gear. The arena’s been open a week, now I suggest you use it.”
“Yes sir!”
Chapter 13
Board Meeting – Dec 17th
“Meeting will come to order,” Marc said as everyone got seated around the Mea Huli’s sundeck. “Samantha, you’re the key to our actually getting started with anything.”
Samantha smiled. “I like to be the linchpin. I’ve got the contract about ready. There are some minor wording issues to work out. Then we’ll need the final signoff by the parliament before everyone is ready to sign. We should be ready to break ground on Manuae the first of the year.”
“Great! Blake, are we going to be ready to break ground?” Marc asked.
“We have tentative approval to put in a two hundred forty square meter building. Two-thirds of it will be dedicated to polysteel production. The rest divided between batteries and fuel cells,” Blake said. “We’ve got the building sitting offshore on a ship. We just need the concrete foundation, plumbing, and a concrete slab poured. There’s another ship offshore with the concrete. They’ll pump it directly into the forms when we’re ready.”
“Crew for the excavation and plumbing?”
“They arrived in Rarotonga on Monday. They’re checked into the hotel, and from what I can tell, they’re hoping we’re delayed a few weeks,” Blake laughed. “They’re having a good time.”
“They can have a good time on their time off,” Marc said.
“They’re going to be working twelve-hour days, six days a week,” Blake said. “They’ll b
e too tired to have much fun once we start.”
“I don’t remember being tired ever stopping us from partying on our day off. I’m sure they’ll work it out,” Marc said. “Kal, how’s security shaping up?”
“We’ve started training, as everyone should know,” Kal said. “The new guys have been properly humbled, and are dedicated to working twice as hard, so they’re not embarrassed again. I’m still keeping my eye out for new talent, but we need to get these guys in shape before we get any bigger.”
“Okay, any issues on the labor front?”
“Nothing as of now; we’re still early in the hiring cycle.”
“Thanks. Liz, how’s the battery process coming along?” Marc asked, moving the updates along.
“We just started production here on Rarotonga. We’re doing a lot of training now, so things are slow,” Liz said. “I’ve asked Blake to set up a permanent facility for packaging the cells into actual batteries. Since there’s nothing proprietary there, I assume we’ll leave it on Rarotonga.”
“I agree,” Marc said. “I’m sure that makes the local guys happy.”
“Yes, they were a bit frustrated when they realized that much of what we’re doing is going to move to Manuae,” Samantha said. “This will show them how everything we do will still have a positive local impact on Rarotonga.”
“And our polysteel?” Marc asked, shifting the focus back to Liz.
“Bit more complex there,” Liz said. “The Zelbars have been running experiments, and they say they’re making progress, but I can’t tell. They’re really going through the power right now, and those CO2 scrubbers are working overtime.”
“I assume we’re saving the scrubber cartridges,” Marc said.
“Yes, Dr. Nikola assures me we can run them back through the system once they have it actually depositing the carbon,” Liz said.
“Well, it is a big step, and will take time,” Marc said. “Catie, how’s the treatment plant going?”
“Tomi has really taken over doing all the work. I help when he needs ADI to get some design done for him,” Catie replied. “He’s installing the prototype here on Rarotonga. It will handle the sludge delivered from the various septic tanks around the island, as well as anything they plumb to it. That will demonstrate the feasibility under pretty harsh conditions.”
“That’s good, how’s the toilet design going?” Marc asked.
“He’s ready to build a prototype,” Catie said. “He sure spent a lot of time on the material selection. He said it’s because he wants as many of the parts to be made in the local communities as possible instead of having to import them. I’ll let you know when he needs someone to test it out.”
“Oh, you can skip me on that,” Samantha said. “The Mea Huli is about as primitive as I want to get.”
“That bathroom and toilet are better than the ones at the compound,” Liz said.
“Exactly,” Samantha said.
◆ ◆ ◆
“How is the progress on our polysteel coming?” Marc asked ADI. He was working in his new office at the compound.
“Doctors Zelbar are achieving a small amount of bonding. They are close to the right mixture, but the arc strength they are using is too low,” ADI said.
“Won’t they just keep raising it?”
“It appears they are fixated on this setting,” ADI said. “They have gotten some positive results and are experimenting with various process changes. They want to see if they can achieve the bonding you showed them.”
“Sounds like it might be some time before they get where we want them to be.”
“I calculate a sixty percent probability that it will take six months and a ten percent probability that it will only take three months. There is a twenty-five percent probability it will take longer than one year.”
“That’s too long. Can we just turn the power up for them?”
“They recalibrate the equipment and check the settings before each experiment.”
“That’s nice,” Marc said with a frown.
“Change the calibration tool,” Catie said.
Marc was a bit startled; he hadn’t heard Catie come in. “What are you doing here?” he asked.
“Just listening,” Catie said. “If they recalibrate each time, change what they’re calibrating to. Like adjusting the scale, so it looks like you weigh less.”
“ADI?”
“I could modify the meter they’re using so that it reads incorrectly.”
“Can you do it in such a way that it will look like a malfunction instead of deliberate manipulation?” Marc asked.
“Of course. I can burn out one resistor enough that it changes the scale,” ADI said.
“Then, do it.”
“Now, young lady, what are you doing here?” Marc asked.
“I want to talk about Kal,” Catie said.
“Okay.”
“When are you going to fix his legs?” Catie pleaded.
Marc grimaced, “Soon.”
“How soon? Why are you waiting?”
Marc sighed, “I want to have the deal on the island completed at least. Fixing Kal’s legs means we have to let the cat out of the bag.”
“Tell them about the Sakira,” Catie clarified.
“Yes. I really want to be in a more secure position when we do that. Also, once his legs are fixed, it’s kind of like broadcasting that we have some really out-there technology. People will notice.”
“Not if he wears pants,” Catie said.
“True,” Marc said. “But why do you think he wants his legs back?”
“So he can surf and swim,” Catie said.
“Right.”
“But if he promises to wait until we’ve got the island deal done, and he only surfs and swims off of Manuae or Delphi City, won’t that keep the secret?” Catie pleaded some more.
Marc sighed again and rubbed his hands over his face.
“Come on, Daddy!”
“Okay, team meeting tomorrow,” Marc said.
“Yes!” Catie squealed and jumped up and gave her father a hug and a kiss.
“Thanks, Daddy!”
“Everything we do keeps pushing up the schedule,” Marc muttered to himself.
Chapter 14
Disclosure
“Alright, let’s get this meeting started,” Marc said. They were aboard the Mea Huli on the main deck with Fred upstairs at the helm. “All of you know Dr. Metra.”
Liz and Kal nodded, both looking curious at the inclusion of the doctor in the meeting of the inner circle and on the Mea Huli. Meeting on the yacht without Samantha usually signified highly sensitive discussions.
Marc noticed their consternation. “I’ve included Dr. Metra because ... I guess you could say she started all this.”
Kal and Liz both sucked in their breaths with surprise. “How’s that?” Kal asked.
“First, this is the last chance to bail out,” Marc said. “If you’re uncomfortable with where we’ve been headed, now is the time to go join Fred up on the bridge. You’re both rich, so you don’t need to do this.”
“Why would we pull out now?” Liz asked.
“Because it’s going to start becoming more dangerous and definitely more controversial,” Marc said.
“More dangerous, how?” Kal asked.
“Up until now, we’ve had to worry about pirates and a little industrial espionage.”
“The pirates were pretty dangerous,” Kal said.
“Yes, but soon we’re going to be getting the attention of some national governments.”
“Which ones?”
“Well, we already know that the US government is keeping tabs on us. I expect us to attract the attention of the Chinese and the Russians,” Marc said. “We’re dealing with New Zealand already, so that means the British will be alerted. The French and Germans won’t be far behind,” Marc added.
“Oh, this actually sounds like fun,” Kal said. “I always wanted to be James Bond as a kid.”
Liz looked at Kal askance; then she turned back to Marc, “And the upside?”
“More money, a chance to influence the way the world develops,” Marc said.
“Better toys,” Catie jumped in.
“Better toys?” Liz asked.
“Like the Lynx,” Catie gushed.
“I’m still committed,” Kal said, giving Liz a look.
“Me too,” Liz said.
Marc took a deep breath and exhaled. “Okay. ADI, are we secure?”
“Yes, Captain,” ADI said.
Liz and Kal gave Marc a puzzled look.
“ADI is not our tech genius, well not exactly,” Marc said. “She is an Autonomous Digital Intelligence. She is the ship computer for the spaceship that Blake and I found.”
“I knew it!” Kal said.
Everyone looked at Kal expectantly.
“I knew it, but I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “The tech is just too good. And polysteel, come on. No way that was a lab accident; I bet that’s the same stuff as the Lynx’s shell.”
“Not exactly, but close,” Marc said.
“Why not exactly?” Liz asked.
“Because you can only make the material that the Lynx is made of in zero gravity,” Catie said.
“Oh,” Liz said as her eyes bugged out a bit. After a moment, she added, “Makes sense; spaceship, factory in space, they kind of go together.”
“Alright, when do we get to do a spaceflight?” Kal asked.
“Yeah!” Catie and Blake added together.
“Later children,” Marc said. “Let’s get back to the main purpose of this meeting.”
“Oh, right,” Catie said.
“Catie, do you want to take over?” Marc asked. “You’re the one who insisted we take this step now.”
Catie’s eyes got wide as her lips formed an OH.
“Big ideas, big britches, time to step up and pay the piper,” Blake said.
“Alright,” Catie said slowly. “You already know about ADI.” Everyone nodded. “Well, Dr. Metra is a Paraxean. They’re the ones who made the spaceship.”
