“Can you even imagine fighting for two thousand years? Their society is geared up for just one thing: survival. It is a war of attrition, and the outcome is very much in doubt.”
A voice spoke up. “How do you know all this if they won’t communicate with you?”
Greg nodded, and the hint of a knowing smile crossed his face. “Good question,” he answered. “The Alliance—your Alliance—has built an excellent intelligence gathering operation. I’m quite certain of my information.”
He paused long enough to let his words sink in, then added, “Here’s the really amazing thing about the Harbok: though they are completely focused on survival, they have been protecting Earth and the An’Atee from the Oort for all these centuries.”
“How does fighting the An’Atee fit into protecting them, you’re probably asking yourselves? The answer is this: the Harbok know they might succumb to the Oort. In case they do, they’re trying to teach the An’Atee how to fight.”
Stunned expressions met those words. It wasn’t long before narrowed eyes and grim expressions focused back on him.
Tapping his chest, he said softly, “Kind of gets you right here, doesn’t it?” He nodded along with some of the recruits, then added, “The Harbok do not know about you or the Alliance. All they know is that the An’Atee are poor fighters. Because of their contempt for the An’Atee, the Harbok refuse to accept any help at all from them, which I believe is a terrible mistake. Even if they can’t fight, the An’Atee could provide lots and lots of resources to the Harbok.
“Your job and mine is this: we are going to convince the Harbok that the An’Atee, under the auspices of the Alliance, have a place in defeating the Oort. We are going to convince the Harbok to accept us as allies.”
“Are there enough of us?” someone called out.
“To win the war? No,” Greg responded. “Keep this in mind at all times: you are our warfare experts. You have to tell me what comes next, what additional resources you need. I’ll train you and feed you and equip you, but I’ll listen to you as well. You will lead the Alliance in battle.”
After just a short pause, he added, “So that you know the rest of the picture, our goal is, in time, to forge alliances between the An’Atee, the Harbok, Earth, and maybe even this Fourth Race, the Oort, all as members of the Alliance. The Alliance, supported at the moment only by the An’Atee, will then become a true source of protection for all of its members. It might someday become galactic in scope, but that is for our descendants to decide.”
“Tell us about the enemy,” someone called.
“There are children present,” Greg responded. “We’ll go into that another time. I will tell you, though, that it is possible to defeat them in battle.
“So, there you have it. You know our goals, if not the details of how to reach those goals. The details begin with the LifeVirus and the teaching machines. The sooner you get started on those, the sooner we can get on with our mission.”
Within a week everyone had received the LifeVirus, even the children. Some special cases, including Douglas, Gertie, and Emily began their treatment in the infirmary and remained there for the duration of the voyage, all of it asleep.
People were falling asleep all over the ship during the first month after accepting the LifeVirus. To fill in the periods when they were awake, Kannick set up a movie that ran continuously on the hangar deck, an eight-part miniseries that had been released on Ariall about two years after Greg’s arrival. It accurately portrayed his meeting with Arlynn in the skies over Earth and followed his activities through the attack on Ariall itself. The voice-over, necessary for the recruits from Earth to understand, detracted a little from the terrific acting, but the extensive addition of actual footage of Greg, Arlynn, and Kannick in action made up for it.
Then came the teaching machine. Many held the same reservations that Greg had tried to explain to Kannick during his time in the hospital. The movie helped a lot, but it did not alleviate all suspicion. Greg’s response was always the same—what did they have to lose?
Chapter Ten
Angie Tolland had spent some 70 of her 103 years in space. Though she had never fought a battle, she had accumulated vast knowledge of the things Grayson needed to know, including space itself, the An’Atee, every type of ship operated by the An’Atee, and she was a natural leader. She had already proven herself to her own people, having risen to command a prime ship which placed her within a very small and vital cadre of An’Atee, and she had successfully brought back sorely needed information on the Oort. Despite those qualifications, she knew from the outset that she would have to prove herself all over again to Grayson and his men.
During the selection process on Earth, she had studied Grayson’s methods as he interviewed potential recruits, but she had stayed in the background as much as possible. During the trip from Earth to Ariall, she stepped forward, becoming not only his mentor but his executive assistant. Grayson and his senior staff found themselves constantly falling asleep as the LifeVirus forced their bodies to repair themselves. Then, as soon as they were on their feet, it was time for the teaching machines. They could not put any of these things off if they hoped to achieve readiness along with their men, and it worried Grayson deeply.
She had always run a tight ship, and she brought those skills and attitudes to her new job. From the first day aboard the prime ship, she seemed to be everywhere at once, resolving hundreds of minor issues on the spot. Though not officially in command of anyone, people who sought her guidance on issues, whether they be An’Atee or Terran, quickly learned that she did not pass the buck. Grayson never even knew about many issues until after they had been resolved.
When Grayson was awake, she could usually be found by his side mentoring him. When he slept, she could be anywhere within the ship. Grayson and his senior staff led, but she did not let them become bogged down in administrative minutia. She and the two officers she had brought with her from the prime ship Orion made certain of that.
When the prime ship reached Ariall, her burden increased dramatically. Families had to be settled into quarters, Grayson and his staff had to get settled into quarters and offices, they had to learn to function with An’Atee staff members, they had to organize training schedules, and people had to be delivered to the right places at the right times. In the midst of all that, Grayson and his staff had to find time to be students. They were not the first to begin training, but they were among the first. Her efforts did not go unnoticed. Grayson invited her to join his senior staff.
With Arlynn’s help on the financial details, Angie purchased the house right next to Greg’s home for Grayson. Forests separated the three homes, but not long after Grayson’s arrival, Arlynn had a cobblestone walkway installed to connect them, and the walkway received regular use.
The An’Atee provided Grayson’s men with homes of their own, those who wanted them. Children of school age enrolled in schools along with other An’Atee children, and spouses received whatever training and education they desired. Most spouses sought ways to be functional and productive within their group from Earth, but a fair number of them elected to develop skills that would allow them to fight alongside their husbands or wives. As a result, Grayson’s ranks swelled with more crew members than expected, a definite plus.
As always, Greg found himself pulled in too many directions. Doctor Brimak released Geoffrey and Gertie Douglas from the hospital soon after they completed their first session with the teaching machines, so besides getting the Terrans settled and trained, a specialized training program had to be established for the two older people. Douglas would learn to fly and fight right beside Grayson, but in addition to that, he and Gertie would receive extensive education since theirs would primarily be a voyage of exploration.
As important to Greg and Arlynn’s personal lives, Emily would soon be woken up.
On top of all that, Greg’s scientists were demanding that he attend a weapons demonstration out in deep space. Because of the Harbok restrictio
n on exploration, the test area had to be hidden. Distance was the principal camouflage. The voyage to the demonstration area would take ten weeks each way.
He could not get away at the moment—he had a wedding to attend. The Atee took personal charge of the wedding plans, and she and Arlynn spent many happy hours making preparations.
* * * * *
Emily’s eyes fluttered open to find Arlynn sitting beside her bed. “Welcome back,” Arlynn said, standing up and welcoming her with a warm smile.
Beautiful blue eyes looked first to Arlynn, then around the room. Emily remained silent as her gaze returned to Arlynn, then her focus seemed to shift inward, inventorying. When her eyes focused back on Arlynn, she said in wonder, “I think it worked.”
Arlynn sat on the bed and leaned over to embrace the young girl. “It did work, Emily. You’re well along on your road to recovery.”
“Do I call you ‘Mom’ now?” Emily asked uncertainly.
“I don’t think so. In time you might, but you have a mother. We’ll let her know as soon as we can, but it will be a while. Communications with Earth are complicated and slow.”
Emily’s eyes widened. “I’ve been in space?”
“And then some. We made it—you’re on my home world of Ariall. Greg wants to visit, but not until you’re ready. Are you ready?”
“I’m ready for a mirror first.”
Arlynn smiled knowingly. “I just happen to have one handy.” She looked at Emily for a time, then said, “Ready?”
“Ready.”
She brought the mirror up and let Emily grasp it. The girl studied her reflection intently, looking for the slightest blemish. What she saw was healthy skin, filled-out cheeks, and a haze of golden hair.
“A real stunner, huh?” she stated matter-of-factly, looking into Arlynn’s eyes. She put the mirror down and reached out with her arms. Arlynn basked in the long, hard embrace.
* * * * *
The wedding turned into a global party. Arlynn invited several of the women from Earth to help with the planning, and the resultant ceremony and vows combined An’Atee and Earth traditions. Arlynn glowed in a shimmering white gown, perfectly suited to her body, and Greg looked stunning in his black suit. The ‘I do’s’ fit well into both cultures’ ceremonies, as did the lavish celebration following the ceremony. Kannick showed up with the get-away car—Arlynn’s ship commandeered from the museum again—and the two of them disappeared on their honeymoon.
They spent a full week at the Atee’s retreat home in the mountains. No one called, no messages arrived, and the TV stayed off. They simply for the first time got to be together without others and without distraction. They became lovers, and a love already intense became full.
Coming back to reality, hard at first, only cemented the relationship that had blossomed during the honeymoon. Time together, though limited because of their responsibilities, became more valuable as a result. They found that they could, and did, put the job aside on a regular basis, saving time just for themselves. And their job performance improved as a result. Each morning presented a fresh outlook on issues and problems, rather than having spent fitful nights seeking resolution.
* * * * *
The scientists experimenting with the StarDrive as a weapon had results, but the head researcher, Dr. Tessle, refused to let Greg get by with just watching recordings of the tests. He insisted that Greg see the real thing despite the fact that the voyage to and from the test area would take five months. The lengthy trip meant that Greg would not be a part of Emily’s adjustment to Ariall. He and Arlynn were both surprised at his jealousy, and Arlynn worried that he was jealous of her, not Emily. Not so, he assured her as the thought of the three of them together brought a smile to his face. He did not feel like he was losing a wife—Arlynn had the capacity to love both of them—but there was no question in his mind that a certain amount of bonding would take place in Emily’s new life, and he wanted to be part of it. He liked her and, as important, he respected her for the manner in which she had chosen to live her previous life. She had made a decision to never give up, and she had stuck to it. He had no intention of replacing her father, but Emily did not lack in capacity any more than did Arlynn. She could make room for two sets of parents.
“Let’s take her with us,” he announced boldly. “You can both go with me. There’s plenty of room.”
“Greg Hamilton, that child needs a home, not a spaceship.”
“I knew you’d say that, and I haven’t thought it through all the way yet. Let’s just talk about it. She’s still recuperating, she won’t be charging around for a while, and she needs time with the teaching machine if she’s going to develop friends. That will take her out of circulation for a while. She can do all those things on the prime ship. They’re like small cities.”
“She needs sun and grass, trees and flowers, not walls and decks surrounding her,” Arlynn replied uncertainly, sensing the validity of his words but not sensing rightness. “What would her parents say?” she asked him. “Traipsing around in spaceships is not what we promised them for their daughter.”
“She’s been surrounded by walls for a long time on Earth,” he replied softly, taking Arlynn into his arms. “A little more won’t hurt her. And she’s a member of the Alliance now. We can introduce her to her new life.”
“You can’t smooch your way through this,” Arlynn stated flatly, pressing lightly into his chest. “I’m not that easy.”
“Yes, you are. But listen. She needs people, the right people, in her life right now more than anything else. She’s been ripped away from her childhood and her parents. There’s a void in her life, and I’d like us to fill the void together. Becoming a part of our family is more important than blue skies and flowers at the moment, and it’s just for a few months. It’s not a warship, at least not on this voyage. Lots of parents will bring their families along. I haven’t looked at the manifest, but I’m sure there will be other children.”
“I want her to feel like she has a home.”
He leaned back from her and stared into her eyes, still thrilled to call this amazing woman his wife. “Have you grounded yourself, then?” he asked softly.
“No, I . . .” Arlynn stopped, struck dumb. Her mind whirled with impossibilities. “I cannot fulfill my duties if I don’t travel when the need arises.” She looked up at Greg with large eyes. “Is this going to work?”
“It will if we stay together. She’s part of us now, as much a part as she chooses to be. I think she needs a family more than she needs a house and flowers. The houses and flowers and blue skies and green grass will still be here when we get back.”
Emily went with them and was delighted with the opportunity. She had no recollection of her last voyage, and she felt cheated of the experience. They spent a month at home, but she was as anxious to get started as they were. They arrived at the ship two days early to give her time to get settled. Greg brought the air car to a stop a mile away from the prime ship to give Emily a sense of the scale. He then circled the prime ship lazily as she stared in awe. About two miles long, the non-reflective, light gray, egg-shaped ship hovered motionlessly at ground level, many cavernous openings accepting supplies, equipment, and people for the voyage. When Greg landed right beside the ship, the enormity of the prime ship overwhelmed even his senses.
Emily’s body was still recovering from the terrible ordeal she had gone through. As they stepped up the ramp, she held their hands, as much out of a sense of trepidation as for the physical support they offered her. The ship’s captain, Captain Brower, met them at the entryway and welcomed them aboard. He shook hands all around, then he escorted them to a sled, a flat vehicle with six individual seats. He programmed their destination and let the sled whisk them through corridors and up lifts. It stopped outside their quarters, a comfortably appointed suite. Emily was all eyes as she took everything in, though she was completely lost within the vast, complex innards of the great ship.
With her lips compr
essed in determination, she made a personal vow to become an expert at getting around on her own.
She skipped the orientation briefings for newcomers since she had not yet been to the teaching machine and could not speak the An’Atee language. Instead, Greg and Arlynn gave her a series of private tours over the next two days, leading her partly on foot and partly via sled through some of the most interesting parts of the ship. As the ship prepared for departure, they led her to the bridge which was located deep in the bowels of the ship.
The moment they entered, Emily sucked in a sharp breath. The screens, just as on fighters, made it look as if there was no ship around them. She felt as if she was standing in the sky with the sun shining brightly overhead.
Captain Brower gave her time to acclimate, then he introduced her to his crew. Most of them did not speak her language, though Captain Brower did. He led her to a pilot seat and gave control of the screens to Greg and Arlynn for two hours. Arlynn set the controls to simulation and selected Earth as their simulated starting point for Emily’s benefit. With Emily at the controls and the ship in simulator mode, Arlynn assumed her teaching role just as she had four years earlier with Greg. She guided Emily through several exercises, beginning with simulating flying the ship over her home in Washington, DC, then she helped Emily expand the scale to include a view of the solar system. Faint elliptical orbits sprang into view along with the planets and their moons.
All this had a purpose. For most, the first time viewing space from the bridge was a terrifying event. The screens showed a true representation of whatever was outside the ship, which in space consisted of infinite emptiness filled only with stars, galaxies, and hazy nebulae. Greg was one of the lucky ones who had not been overwhelmed, though in truth he had been more concerned with escaping the Harbok than with the emptiness of space. He had not had the luxury of introspection.
Emily took a brief look at the simulated view and stood up with outstretched arms. She turned completely around, clearly in awe, then she turned to Arlynn with a huge smile engulfing her face.
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