ARMS For Eternity: (Book 8)

by Stephen Arseneault

Harris chuckled. "You’re kidding, right? The moment we joined up, you'd enslave us just like the others. I'll admit to sometimes being stupid, but never that stupid."

  Tawn shook her head.

  "Mr. Gruberg, I've been given the authority to make you an offer. We have no quarrel with Humans. In fact, I find your people to be responsible, hard working, adaptive, and amusing."

  "Oh, well that changes everything. So glad we can keep you entertained while you enslave us. I can only imagine your offer will be equally as flattering."

  "Our offer, should you accept, would mean freedom for your people."

  "Freedom as in how?"

  "If you agree to our terms, we will fully withdraw our ships from your space. And we will sign a trade partnership agreement with your people. I can assure you the trade would be both fair and lucrative. Oh, and I would ask the safe return of our people you just took captive."

  "So we'd be free to govern ourselves?"

  "Govern yourselves, arm yourselves, defend yourselves, whatever you want. Any Frizoid citizen or associate in your territory would only be here if invited as your guest. And there would be no military presence unless also invited."

  "All this just because we join the supposedly easy fight?"

  The commander paused for several seconds. "We believe the assault goals to be achievable. With the assistance of your Biomarines, we believe those goals to be almost guaranteed. The victory at the outpost is critical to us completing our mission. We have no desire to war with or to permanently enslave Humans. You help us here and you become friends of the Frizoid."

  "And enemies of the Burrell. When is the fleet departing?"

  "If I'm not mistaken, Humans are already the enemy of the Burrell. As are we. The fleet will depart after receiving your answer."

  "Can you give us two standard days to discuss?"

  "Two days would be acceptable. We will remain here awaiting your response. Please be assured that even if your response is negative, you will be free to leave. Although we will still be asking for the return of our people."

  "Stand down your laser. We'll be back in two standard days with your answer. If we don't return, you can take that as a no."

  "Enjoy your flight back to Midelon."

  The comm closed.

  Tawn frowned. "He seems to know a lot more than I'd like for him to know."

  Harris backed the Bangor out of the bay before moving away at full speed. At distance, a wormhole to Midelon opened and the two representatives of the free Humans passed safely through.

  "I don't like it one bit," Tawn said. "This could easily be an attempt by them to finish us off."

  "That's a big piece of bait they're hanging out there though. I doubt the colonel will be willing to bite, but we need to discuss this anyway."

  Eight minutes later, the captured Frizoid freighter was passed as the Bangor entered Midelon’s atmosphere. After settling on the ground, Tawn and Harris hurried to meet with the colonel and his advisory team.

  Harris was first into the room. "You aren't gonna believe this. The Frizoid want to make a deal."

  "What sort of deal?"

  "If we—that's us and the other Biomarines—join in with the Human fleet on this first assault of a Burrell outpost, the Frizoid promise to leave our space and to become nothing more than friendly trading partners. When asked why they would make such a deal, their response was that our inclusion would ensure a victory, and that victory is key to whatever strategy they're planning in their fight with the Burrell."

  The discussion went on for several hours, with the video logs of the commander's offer being replayed repeatedly.

  The colonel paced back and forth in thought, before placing his hands on the back of a chair and facing the others. "I'm leaning toward accepting this deal—with safeguards of course. I propose we move forward with the assumption we're going to accept. How do we secure the operation so it isn't a trap?"

  Tawn said, "First, they need to move their fleet and their people out of our space."

  Harris nodded. "And we don't join the fleet until it's staged for the attack."

  "Agreed," the colonel replied. "We'll want the complete assault plan as well. If we do this, it will be under our command and under our terms. And we return the Frizoid captives only after that fleet has departed our space and this operation is complete. That will at least give us some assurance their word will be honored."

  Tawn scowled. "Unless they don't care about their people."

  Harris crossed his arms. "You have any other ideas of how we do this without getting ourselves killed?"

  "Wish I did, but nothing comes to mind."

  The colonel took a seat. "We have another day and a half to formalize this. Let's break for food and then come back. And bring in the rest of the team for this discussion. Input from those who won't actually be going is welcome."

  — Chapter 10 —

  * * *

  Gandy sat quietly in thought as Trish shook her head. "This just sounds bad. Why would they give us our freedom when they already have full control? There has to be motive behind this. What is it they really want? Are there other species they have as trading partners? Do they have friendly relations with others?"

  The colonel replied, "All valid questions, and all will be answered before anything is agreed upon. One thing this agreement buys us is time. Without their presence, it will allow us to build our own defenses. We can restart our efforts on Domicile, speeding up our ability to field a respectably sized fleet."

  Trish shrugged. "I still vote no. I don't trust they'll keep their word... and that's all they're offering."

  Harris opened a comm to Idiot. "Have you analyzed our decision making? What's the logical opinion?"

  "I have. With the limited information I possess, it appears to be an even split. The benefits and risks balance each other out."

  Harris chuckled. "Really? Your analysis is that you don't want to give a real opinion?"

  "I can only offer an evaluation of the data I have."

  "What's your gut tell you?"

  "I don't have a gut, sir."

  Tawn interrupted. "OK, let's get back on track here. Colonel, looks like we go back to the Frizoid with a list of questions. We'll connect to you with a comm. When the questions have all been answered, we'll take another short break for a decision."

  "I believe that to be our best course of action, Miss Freely. We'll be waiting here for your comm."

  After a short ride, the Bangor pulled to a stop a safe distance from the Frizoid warship. "This is Gruberg. We have a few questions we'd like answered..."

  The discussion went on for nearly an hour. The comm to the Frizoid commander was closed as effort turned toward a decision.

  The colonel paced back and forth. "I'm inclined to say yes. We commit. We go."

  Tawn nodded. "I have to agree. This may be our only opportunity to get our freedom from these people... or bugs or whatever they are. And a ground assault was what we're trained for. I have to say yes."

  "It leaves us reliant on believing the ships they gave our people are powerful enough to take the space surrounding that planet," Harris said. "If we get there and that doesn't happen, there's no ground war. I have to believe the two million Humans they trained, along with us Biomarines, are the bulk of what Humans can muster as far as top-notch fighters go. Groups following will be less capable."

  "So what are you saying exactly?" Tawn asked.

  "We need this win. And we need to commit our best to ensure we accomplish our goals. Anything short of that and the bugs still own us."

  "So are you in or out?"

  "In. How much time do we want to prepare?"

  "There won't be a ‘we,’" said the colonel. "At least not in the sense of you two needing to prepare. We need you safe and still running this facility. The fight will be handled by us."

  Harris raised a hand. "Now wait a minute, Colonel. We all have a stake in this."

  "Precisely. Which is why you'll re
main here as a safeguard. The Frizoid don't fully know of our capabilities on Midelon. And unless we build a powerful fleet, a fleet big enough to defend ourselves, we won't be getting or keeping our freedom."

  A comm was opened to the Frizoid commander. "We've come to a decision, Commander. We will commit to this agreement. We'll be wanting a transport with two dozen attack shuttles. They should hold at least a hundred fifty men each. And we'll need a day to prepare ourselves. Including full access to Domicile."

  "I will signal the fleet to withdraw from your space. I do have one more request should you accept."

  "What is it?"

  "This warship and my crew will remain here in Domicile space until your fleet is ready to depart. This will only be in an advisory capacity while you prepare, should you have any remaining questions. We will leave when you give us the signal that you are ready to proceed... if that is acceptable."

  "I believe that to be acceptable, Commander. We would ask that you don't interfere unless specifically asked for assistance."

  "Agreed. I will send the withdrawal order at once. And just to keep you informed, the ground troops are being transitioned to the transports as we speak. All ships will be crewed and ready within the next few hours. The fleet will be awaiting your arrival, ready for departure."

  The comm closed. The Bangor returned to Midelon, where the colonel and the other Bios were preparing the Frizoid transport for departure.

  Tawn stood with her fists on her hips. "Wish I was going with you, Colonel."

  "You are needed most here, Miss Freely. Build us a fleet. When we return, we can focus on securing each of our colonies."

  "Yeah, so long as the Frizoid aren't lying to us. They moved their ships and people out, but they can just as easily move them back. I have to wonder if their intention here is just to capture the Bios."

  "I thought long and hard on that very item. They have a bigger strategy here—defeat of the Burrell. Whether or not that's good or bad we won't know until it happens. The Burrell chased us from Earth, and then fed us food that lowered our intelligence. Why? Were they planning to control us? To use us as the Frizoid are now?"

  Tawn sighed. "I guess we won't know until we have a chance to interrogate someone who does know."

  The colonel gestured toward the Burrell being held in stasis. "I bet they know. Might have to get nasty with the interrogation for them to tell us. And I doubt we'll like what they have to say. We're living in a world where others have their own plans and intentions, Miss Freely, a world where we're viewed as either a tool or an obstacle. I'd rather we define and decide who we are, which is why I'm willing to take the chance at gaining our freedom with this fight."

  "Let's hope this works out for all our sake, Colonel."

  The transport, filled with Biomarines, lifted off from Midelon and was soon joining the rest of the fleet at Domicile. A short while later, the thousand ship fleet departed. The journey to the Burrell outpost would take sixty-six days.

  The Bangor landed at Hosh-Morgan headquarters, where Bannis Morgon stepped out onto the tarmac to join the remaining members of his senior staff. All efforts would be put toward once again producing ships and missiles. Half the hundred thousand bot workers were ferried in just behind the boss.

  Back on Midelon, Trish and Gandy were given the task of directing a small fleet to New Earth. Salvage to be used for bots, Banshees, missiles, and stasis pods would be gathered and stockpiled at the home base. Production would continue on all fronts.

  The Bangor made a stop on the now-empty Chicago Port Station.

  Tawn walked beside Harris as they strolled down the vacated promenade. "Looks different without life. Darker than before."

  Harris chuckled. "At least we don't have to worry about Clovis jumping out and blasting us."

  "Wonder how he took the news of being forced back to the surface?"

  "I'm sure he had a contingency plan for that. Probably had as many nefarious connections down there as he had up here."

  Tawn stopped in front of the Emporium. "Man, I could go for a buffet about now."

  "Plenty below if you want to make the hop back down."

  She stood for several seconds in thought before scratching the back of her head. "Naa. We should probably be getting back to Midelon."

  "Trish, Gandy, and Alex have things under control there."

  Tawn crossed her arms. "I can't stop thinking about what the colonel said about interrogating the Burrell. Should we pursue that?"

  "For what purpose? We know they fed us tainted food on purpose. We know they're responsible for Humans being out here. We already quizzed them on the Frizoid."

  "And you think they were truthful with every response?"

  Harris smirked. "The people back there are two thousand years old. They don't have knowledge of what's transpired during that time. Current events and standing is what we need to know, not what their intentions were two thousand years ago."

  "I prefer having more information and not less. That's all."

  "If you believe it to be in our best interest, then by all means, pull one or all of them out and ask whatever you want."

  Tawn rolled her eyes. "I was looking for support on this, but I guess it's not coming."

  The Bangor landed at Midelon. Harris followed Tawn into Alex's lab. Alex was typing away at a console terminal.

  "What's the latest?" Harris asked.

  Alex replied, "Trish, Gandy, and Garvis are at New Earth with the Frizoid freighter and ten thousand bots. They said thanks for sending the ship back so they could begin work on their salvage duties. Nice work on repatriating those captives and retaining the ship."

  "They send back any status?"

  "Only that they had arrived and everything seemed to be in order. They took a thousand Banshees with them and stated there were no current threats."

  "Perfect."

  Alex turned from his console. "So what are the two of you doing for the next sixty-six days?"

  Tawn replied, "Actually, we don't expect to hear anything for double that, plus the day or two they expect to be fighting. Once any Burrell captives have been turned over, the Bios and the rest of the Human fleet are supposedly free to return. So about four and a half months."

  "And what are your plans?"

  Harris said, "That's why we're here. Mr. Morgan has begun reworking his operations back home. Trish, Gandy, and Garvis have their marching orders. We're here to assist you with whatever we can."

  "You've come at a good time, then. I have two prototype stasis pods over in our manufacturing building. They need testing."

  Tawn tilted her head and returned a concerned look. "You want to put us in them?"

  Alex smiled. "Sorry, no, just put them through their paces a few dozen times. No one needs to be in them yet. That will come once reliability is no longer in question. Probably later this evening."

  Tawn frowned. "And can I guess that testing will also be needing us? This time on the inside and not out?"

  "That would be correct. But I wouldn't worry just yet. This will only be a fit test. The worry will come in the morning if everything checks out." Alex's smile turned into a slight grin.

  "You're enjoying this too much, Doc."

  "Just having some fun with you. From what I've studied and tested with simulations, it appears to be a very robust and reliable system. You lay back and are administered a sedative along with a sort of antifreeze. A liquid is pumped into the chamber. A field is applied that will instantly freeze both you and the liquid. Hmm. I suppose freeze isn't the proper term, it's more of a temporarily solid state, not temperature related. Anyway, from that point on you will be in stasis until a new application of the field is applied."

  "What happens if we lose power?"

  "During the process? I'm not certain. There would be a fraction of a second where you were vulnerable, but an internal capacitor of sorts stores enough energy to complete the process. So once begun, you are not reliant on external power. And should powe
r fail when you are already in the stasis state, well, you would remain in that state until such time as the natural decay of the stasis liquid falls below some minimum threshold."

  "And how long would that take?"

  Alex gestured toward the Grindle. "Our Burrell friends were under for two thousand years. So I would surmise at least that long."

  Harris nodded. "Sounds reasonable. Are the pods ready for testing?"

  "In the manufacturing building."

  Harris waved his hand toward the door. "After you, Miss Freely."

  Tawn and Harris began the short walk to the pods. "Can't say I'm eager to be the first live test of these."

  "It's us or some other Human."

  "Maybe we can get Bax to come back. She would be a good test subject for this."

  Harris shook his head. "Nope. Would be too much of a temptation to just leave her in there."

  "That would be hard to resist."

  Two pods, looking identical to the Burrell versions, only slightly larger, were waiting for the Bios.

  An image of Alexander Gaerten showed on the near wall. "Turn them on. Turn them off. Repeat."

  Tawn looked over the pod in front of her. "Why didn't you just have the bots doing this?"

  "I did. But I had two visitors come in who were looking for something to do. Besides, before you go in there live, I thought it might be more comforting if you were familiar with how they operate."

  "Comforting? I doubt that."

  "When you enable the stasis cycle, you will receive a warning saying there is no candidate in the pod. Ignore that for now. Also, when complete you'll receive another warning saying the candidate was not revived."

  Harris chuckled. "Yeah, I'm certain that one will make us feel more comfortable."

  "The process takes several minutes to finish. Let the full cycle run for both starting and stopping. I'm also monitoring the progress from this end. I'll let you know when this phase is complete."

  Two buttons were pressed and the stasis processes began. Pods closed and locked. An IV port for delivery of the antifreeze and a sedative extended, but had nothing to connect to. The pod filled with liquid. In a flash the liquid turned solid, placing the content in stasis.