by Don DeBon
Deven nodded. "And that is why the founders knew the Lytherians would come here at some point."
Minerva smiled. "Correct. Hence I was created and designed to build the Mechand army I would need. All was going according to plan until I tried to fix a problem in my base code which caused the personality shift I spoke of earlier."
"Yes we do. What do know about the Lytherians themselves?"
Minerva's eyebrows on the screen met. "Physically?"
"Yes."
"They are stronger than humans, excel in combat, very intelligent, and are true reptiles."
"Describe them."
"Bald head almost a snake like in arrow shape but with a dome instead of a point. Scales cover most of their body. Fingers and toes end in three razor sharp claws. They have a long tongue they can flick out at prey. It can paralyze depending on the species."
"Don't you have any images?"
"The body was badly damaged during the attack. I can show you a burned out husk but it might distort your perceptions."
"No I don't think that is necessary. Not to mention I doubt we will ever get close enough to see them. I doubt they will try to land this time."
On the large screen, Minerva's head shook. "No I don't think so either. They can achieve their goal of our destruction from orbit. Why land and take the risk when you don't have to?"
"Do you have anything more on how we can fight them?"
"The original plan is no longer relevant as we know. The new carriers I developed with power transfer technology could have brought down their ships. However, one I don't have any, two I don't have time or resources to build additional ships, and three even if I did, it is possible the ships could stay out of range if they figured out the carriers couldn't leave Earth's atmosphere. Of course, they also would have been too far away to attack Earth."
"Going back to, they can now destroy us from orbit without needing to get their feet wet."
"Sadly, yes."
Otis leaned against the wall. "Well if we can't beat them head on at the moment. How about hiding?"
Deven turned to face him. "What do you mean?"
"We have holographic tech, could we build a big enough field to hide the earth?"
Minerva shook her head. "Even if we could do that, the Lytherians know what is here. If the Earth looks to have disappeared, they will search for it. And even if they can't see it, they will try to land here. And once the attempt is made, they will know what is going on."
"True, but how about we show them a planet they wouldn't like. They might think the scout was wrong, or the data skewed."
"Possible, but I don't know how we can build a field big enough to do what you suggest."
Deven folded his arms. "Satellites?"
"In theory, it is possible. But practicality is another matter. If we had the time to build the required number of satellites, we could also rebuild the Mechand army."
"Okay, we can't fool them. How about their ships? They must have some kind of weakness?"
"As I mentioned, their fighters have shields less powerful than ours, but their shear numbers more than make up for it."
"You said they do one thing and do it well to a fault but do accept instructions."
"Yes. They do have a hierarchy. Although, most of the time they act as one."
"That means a large communications network. Could we disrupt that?"
"I do not know how."
"You do have all the records of original scout ship right? There has got to be information on its communications. After all, the founders knew what was sent."
"Only because it was a very brief. Most of the time the scout remained silent."
"Can't the probe find this out?"
"Possible. It does have the ability to receive on the frequency the scout used. But it has been a long time, they could have changed it."
Deven shook his head. "I doubt it. From all you have said, this is a race that finds one method of doing something and sticks with it. I can't imagine them changing unless they had to."
"Your logic is sound. I am attempting to access the probe from here. I have established a link through the Defiant's systems. Displaying images and signals received." Minerva's screen split into three sections. On the left her face remained but on the right split across the middle showed the ships on the top and displayed the signals it snooped on the bottom.
"Minerva? How can you access the Defiant in here when I can't?"
She smiled. "While the bunker is shielded, I have a communication array now extended out the top of the mountain. It is functional, except for the extreme long-range systems."
"I need to talk to the Defiant. I will be right back."
Minerva smiled. "No need to leave. Plug your data tab into the port to the right of my core. It is a communications port that connects directly to the array."
Deven pulled a cable out of the hidden compartment of his data tab and plugged one end into it and the other into the port on the wall. He powered on the data tab and tapped the encrypted connection to call the Defiant. A moment later Galina's face appeared. "Galina? Where is Leon?"
"Deven! Glad to finally hear from you. Leon and Gregory are on their way down."
"Why?"
"I don't want to discuss it on this channel. They will be landing in a minute."
"Has our security been cracked?"
"Not that I know of. And if it was, Miles would tell us."
Miles' voice came through the data tab. "I would indeed. I did detect Minerva connecting to the Defiant's systems to access the probe, but that is not the reason for this change in procedure."
"Miles! Don't do that!" Galina sighed. "Anyway this is something that I think you will want to hear directly. Also you will need Leon."
"Why?"
"He says you will." Galina's face vanished as the connection cut.
Otis' eyebrows met. "What was all that about?"
"I don't know. But I am going to find out. You two stay here. I will lead them in."
Otis nodded. "You got it Bossman."
Aleshia sighed and folded her arms. "Okay. But I am under protest."
Deven slipped her a kiss. "Thanks love. I will be back in a few minutes." He unplugged his data tab and slipped it back into the pouch on his hip.
Deven made his way out of the bunker and up the long tunnel into the bright sunlight. Pulling out his data tab, he sent out a ping and Leon's data tab responded. He linked to it and Leon's face appeared on the screen. "I hear this is a great place to visit—"
"Very funny. We found Otis' truck but where are you?"
"Base of the mountain. About two degrees east of the truck. Do you see the large boulder a little ways up the mountain and sticking out almost horizontally?"
Leon looked up then back at the screen. "Not really."
"I do. It is not far from here. We should be there in five minutes or so." Gregory's voice through came from the side of Leon.
"Okay, guess I will see you in five." The screen flashed then went dark. Deven put his data tab back in its pouch and four minutes later Gregory appeared followed by Leon panting hard.
"Yeah lovely spot you have here," Leon grumbled.
Deven checked his watch. "Four minutes? You guys are really in a hurry."
"Tell him, he was the trail blazer," Leon said still panting hard.
"Well you told me it was important."
"It is, but we didn't need to run here."
"I wasn't."
"I beg to differ." Leon pointed to the pack on his back. "And I am carrying the equipment."
"Well, you told me you wanted to carry it."
"I'm not going to let you carry my tools, many of them are delicate."
Deven held up his hands. "Tell me what is going on. Has there been a new development from the Lytherians?"
Leon straightened up finally able to catch his breath. "Worse."
"What could possibly be worse?"
"The council has ordered if you have found the Nex
us, she is to be destroyed immediately. They don't believe the Lytherian threat and think it is some sort of smoke screen fabricated by the Nexus."
Deven rubbed his forehead. "Great. So much for giving me time to prove it."
"They said you had time to prove it?"
"Yes Chairman Scott Lavine said to keep them in the loop."
Leon's eyes narrowed. "And did he say at any point about specifically giving you time to prove this one way or the other?"
Deven winced. "No, you're right, he didn't."
"I thought as much. Lavine is a decent guy by all accounts, but he is also quick to judge and faster to act."
"So it would appear. Why didn't you tell me this over the link?"
"Because while I don't think they can intercept any of our transmissions, you need me down here."
"For?"
"To move the Nexus' core."
"Why?"
"Because she will need to be mobile. Perhaps I am being too cautious but we have been hanging around here for a while now. It's possible someone has noticed."
Deven shrugged. "No one is around that can stand against the Defiant."
"Yes, or so we think. But did it occur to you Chairman Lavine might have another agenda?"
"It did, now that you told me of his actions. But I can't imagine what."
"I can. A power grab. Think about it. If you have the Nexus still active you are in a position to restore all the factories and most services almost overnight. That is something he might want for himself."
"But if that is the case, why give the order to destroy it?"
"Because then you are disobeying the council and have gone rouge."
Deven's eyes narrowed. "You think he has a Mechand carrier, don't you?"
Leon looked away then back. "Let's say, the possibility exists."
"You know there are a heck of a lot of 'ifs' here."
"I do. But can we take the chance with the Lytherians knocking on the door?"
"No we can't." Deven nodded pointing to the hidden doors. "This way."
A short while later Deven appeared in the large main room with Leon and Gregory.
Gregory whistled. "Get a load of that construction. This place was sure built for the ages."
Leon's eyes centered on something different. "That carrier is what holds my interest."
They entered the core room in the corner and Minerva smiled at them. "Welcome Leon and Gregory."
"Hello Minerva," Leon said.
Aleshia's eyes narrowed. "Okay now what's up. I know you two didn't come down here for the scenery."
Deven sighed. "No they didn't. The council has decreed if the Nexus is found, or any remnant, she is to be destroyed."
Minerva's eyes went wide. "Why? I have not done anything. I approached you, and I have been nothing but honest and truthful."
"I know. But the council doesn't feel that way."
"But what about the Lytherians?"
"They don't believe you."
Minerva blinked. "Even with the probe's data?"
"Yes they think it is an elaborate trick."
"But Lavine gave you time to look into this," Aleshia said.
Deven turned towards her. "Did he? You were there for the conversation. I told him I was checking into it and he only told me to keep him in the loop."
Aleshia stopped looking off for a moment thinking. "Dang, you're right."
Otis hopped off of the work table he was sitting on. "What's the plan Bossman?"
"We move Minerva to the carrier here and leave as soon as possible."
Aleshia blinked. "Why? Are the Lytherians ready to attack?"
Deven shook his head. "Nope."
"Then why do we need to move her? It is not like anything here on Earth can attack," Aleshia said.
"Can we be sure of that? Leon thinks the council, specifically Lavine, might have assets that could mount an attack."
"For what reason?" Otis asked.
"A power grab," Leon said setting down his pack. "If Deven doesn't obey and destroy the Nexus, the council will side with Lavine. And if he has the assets I suspect, he could locate us and attack. Being we have been in this area for a while, I am almost certain he knows this location."
Minerva smiled. "Let him try. This bunker can withstand anything he can throw at me."
"But we need you mobile when the Lytherians attack. I have no doubt if they found out this location is a large threat, they could obliterate it from orbit."
Minerva gave a very human sigh. "Yes, they could. What do you propose?"
Leon opened his pack removing several anti-grav generators, and various Mechand tools he had built. "I will power down your core, and move it to the carrier. I assume it can accommodate you as you were on one before."
Minerva nodded. "It can. But such an install is a very delicate procedure. Would you mind if I helped you do it?"
"How? You will need to be offline."
"I can transfer back to my Mechand form and help you make the modification."
Leon shook his head. "We don't have the time. We need to get you out of here as soon as possible."
"Then I will need to teach you fast."
Leon smiled. "You will find I am a quick study."
"One problem though. There is a security system on that carrier. I ran into on it," Aleshia said.
Minerva blinked. "It shouldn't be active without me."
"It wasn't per se, I accidentally activated a console and when I didn't give an access code, two Mechands stood up from the seats on the bridge and told me to surrender."
Deven's eyes went wide. "You didn't tell me this."
Aleshia smiled. "You didn't ask. Anyway, it wasn't a big deal. I just lifted them up, which confused them and they shut down."
Minerva nodded. "Yes in the current powered down state they do not have many mental abilities."
"But could that slow down installing your core?" Leon asked.
"It is possible. But I do not know how we are going to do it otherwise since I have to be offline at the time."
Leon rubbed his chin. "Could you activate the carrier, Mechands and instruct them to obey us?"
"I could. But as I said, if I activate the main Mechand command channel, every Mechand in the world will also power on."
Deven shook his head. "Not good. That will give the council all the ammunition it needs against us."
Otis walked around the table deep in thought. "Why can't you limit the Mechands being controlled?"
"The system is designed to be a global one. The idea only a few would be needed was never thought of."
Otis smiled. "But what if Leon reduces the power of the transmission?"
Minerva blinked. "That would do it, only the Mechands in this bunker would be activated in that case. The equipment you passed. It is in the third room on the right after you enter the bunker, before the main room."
Leon put his equipment back in his pack. "I'll take care of it."
"Good. And Gregory, head back up to the Defiant. If something shows up I want my best man at the cannons," Deven said.
Gregory shrugged. "Sure, although Miles is a better shot than I am."
Deven gripped Gregory's shoulder. "Perhaps, but you are still the best man I have for the job."
Gregory smiled. "Sure thing." He stopped to point at the pack in Leon's hands. "You have anti-grav units in there, right? Why didn't you use them to make the whole thing as light as a feather?"
Leon's eyes narrowed. "Because I didn't think of it," he grumbled heading off for the communications room.
Gregory smiled and followed him out. "I figured."
Ten minutes later Leon reappeared in the core room. "That should do it. Give it a try."
Minerva nodded. "Activating all Mechands in this facility."
