Koban

by Stephen W Bennett

  “For us all. Tet was on his last legs when we finally learned the ship was spared. He’d been out in the heat all day, up and down the ramp multiple times, and then the trip into the dome followed by the race back to the ship. He took three sets of those booster pills. He’s put out a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on his door.”

  “Three doses? I’ll have to talk to that man. We warned everyone to limit themselves to two doses unless there was an emergency… Well we did have some emergencies, but they were mostly early on, in the first hour or so. No wonder he’s having such a crash. Someone had better check on him later. Perhaps Noreen has the authority to order our friend to monitor him?”

  “I’ll ask her when you and I are done, Maggi. However, I wanted to find out if we have a secure space over there to set up our labs, or if we need to find somewhere on the ship to do that? The cargo hold will be busy, and the common areas and conference rooms are too open for outside access and monitoring. Assuming the Krall will post anyone on board.”

  “Thad says there are quite a few secure rooms like his on various levels, but power would be a problem. There are power distribution points in every room or compartment, but they are incompatible with our systems, and the rooms are probably subject to even better monitoring over here. I don’t know if the Krall peeked in on their own kind or not, but I’ll bet they can on us.”

  “That was sort of along my own thinking, though I think the power issue there could be solved. We would have a lot of room here in the storage areas if most of the Midwife supplies were moved to the dome, except for the lab equipment. We could solve the power needs and security at one stroke,” he suggested.

  “Tet will have to approve that,” Maggi replied, “but I doubt he’d see it as a problem. What I do see as a problem is with pilferage of any of our supplies stored over here. These folks have had few comforts or nice food, for years in many cases. A lot of things here are considered communal property.”

  “Food is an area we can trade with them for cooperation I think, and we can perhaps get Jimbo to start work on setting up a hydroponic garden. Providing fresh safe food would make us more welcome. And if we can get Thad to tell us more about rhinolo hunting, we might try to boost their fresh protein,” he proposed.

  “Have you lost your mind Dillon? We barely held our own against the wolfbats. And we would have to hike twenty five miles to just reach the fence and then hope a herd was close.”

  “No hiking in mind Maggi. The Krall have wheeled and tracked trucks the captives can use if they want, but I wasn’t even considering driving. The major risk is going outside the walls scouting for a herd, and watching for rippers from ground level. It’s safer from the air.”

  “Well sure, but you don’t think the Krall are going to just give us one of their shuttles, which have orbital capability? Hunts were deadly even with the Krall along.”

  “Nope, no Krall help involved with my idea. Captain Mirikami would have to find out what sort of restrictions we have on our own equipment, but you do recall that the Flight of Fancy has two small shuttles of her own, right?” he asked.

  “Oh, I’d forgotten we had those, I never saw them. But aren’t they capable of orbital flight?”

  “Yes, but the planet is ringed with orbiting Krall ships, and besides, without Jump capability the only place to land is on Koban. That’s why I was proposing that Tet ask about our using them for hunting.”

  “Only a handful of successful hunters ever returned alive with a kill, who would want to go?”

  “I’ll go, if we can do it without taking any Krall with us. Moreover, I’ll bet that Thad would go under that circumstance. I think Krall ego is what makes it so dangerous. They insist on making their kills from the ground. Forcing us to hunt their way gets us killed,” he pointed out.

  “Why not play it smart and shoot rhinolo from safety, like from the air? I read in a library manual that the shuttles can hoist cargo on pallets slung under them to help off-load equipment on Rim worlds. If we can lift a carcass back over the wall, we can safely carve up the dead animal for fresh meat.”

  “Dillon, for a city boy your idea might work. I’ll bet fresh meat would boost our acceptance here really fast. The main thing I’ve heard them repeat is how our arrival will cut into their food supply, and how soon they can put our names in the lottery,” she told him.

  “What lottery?” he didn’t know what she was talking about.

  “Didn’t you wonder how the Testing Day candidates were chosen? Thad said at first that the Krall simply grabbed the closest people at hand to make up a combat team. One of the early leaders here, even before Thad’s ship was captured, had established a lottery system. Now, when a translator tells them how many people are needed, they draw random names from a list. New arrivals go on that list after a month to six weeks of acclimatization,” she told him.

  “Oh. I guess that works for simply meeting the numbers the Krall demand, but it doesn’t allow much opportunity for putting together a prepared team. I’ll bet volunteers can replace someone selected. After all, Thad went out with three others of his security detachment, so that couldn’t have been random selection.”

  “That’s right, I didn’t think of that. I’ll ask Thad about it tomorrow. When we’ve asked several people here how many captives there are, they act as if they weren’t sure. How could you make a fair lottery selection if you don’t know exactly who is here? I smell some sneakiness about who’s on that list.”

  “How often does a Testing Day happen?” he wanted to know.

  “It varies from eight days to thirty two, but the longer waits only mean that more people go out. It’s been grim, and they are naturally terrified of being selected. Depression is rampant and suicides are frequent. A team of eight went out three days before we arrived. The Krall brought back their guns and armor for reuse and repair the next day.”

  “It brings home the sort of sheltered captivity we’ve experienced so far, which is about to end. I’ll be up late tonight, I think. I’ll be talking with Noreen and the other officers to get the machine shop and pharmacy going full time, and decide how we can protect our most vital people from the lottery.”

  “Dillon there can’t be any manipulation on our side, like I suspect they have already had here, and our immunity committee will have to select some of the original captives that have skills we need. There will be a revolt of armed and frightened people if we aren’t careful.”

  “Then we had better be ready to fight our first fight in a month, perhaps sooner. Tet has said he will not allow himself to be excluded. I told him I’d have his back, and I will.”

  “Then I’ll get some of our people digging into where the fighting takes place,” she proposed. “We need to know what they know about the compound. It’s roughly a fifty-two mile diameter circle, and has a varied terrain. I’m certain our friend made some detailed recordings as we set down.”

  “Yes Mam, I have those Images,” volunteered Jake.

  “Damn. I forgot you are always listening. I guess you know you are the ‘friend’ we keep referring to I guess?”

  “Yes Mam. I asked Commander Renaldo to confirm that for me.”

  “Then you can provide images of what the compound looked like as we landed?” Dillon asked.

  “Yes Sir, or live images if you wish.”

  “Really? How far can your cameras see on the ground?”

  “Koban has an average radius of approximately 4120 miles at the equator, but less so at the poles. A simple equation predicts the distance of the horizon at the surface. My highest three hundred sixty degree scan camera is on the nose of the ship, at four hundred fifty four feet above the ground plus the landing pad. That translates into twenty-six or twenty-seven miles to the horizon. You can see most of the area inside the compound’s wall, except where hills, forest, or the dome blocks the view. A higher camera would improve that range. The equation is D squared…”

  “Stop!” They didn’t need to calculate it themselves.
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  “Maggi, we need to find out if we are allowed to radio information between people in the field when they are being hunted. Koban is hundreds of light years from human space, so a damned field radio isn’t going to give this planet’s location away. See if Thad knows about that. If not, we can tell the Krall that humans normally communicate in battle, and to simulate real war conditions we should be able to do that here.”

  “Ok. We aren’t going to answer all these questions tonight and I need some rest, even if you don’t. I’ll bet you need some too and won’t admit it. When you speak to Noreen, don’t get in the saddle or you’ll never get any sleep.”

  “Hell Maggi, you think I’m just some government controlled gonad driven buck, like just after the Collapse. I have my priorities.” He sounded offended.

  “I’m sorry. I just know how you used to behave. But life will be completely different for us from now on. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  “Goodnight Maggi.” Good. Now he could go talk to Noreen, catch a quick shower, and discuss whatever came up as he helped her dry off.

  29. Koban Dawn

  An hour after Dawn, early but nevertheless refreshed, Noreen and Dillon had ridden over to the dome with a load of supplies on Ricco’s hauler pallet. Noreen had a freshly charged Jazzer, and Dillon carried a Sonic.

  Once in the maintenance area, they handed their weapons to Mister Rigson and Ray McPherson so they could help cover the unloading crew. There were several armed Primes there, as the Flight of Fancy people had started calling the long-term captives in Koban Prime.

  The Prime’s weapons were longer range and more deadly than the Sonic or Jazzer, but also were risky to use if a skeeter or wolfbat got in among a group of people. In addition, the smaller weapons never had a ricochet.

  Thad met them to lead them up to the indoor target range.

  “Good morning Colonel Greeves. May I have the honor to present the Gracious Lady Noreen Renaldo, the First Officer of the Flight of Fancy. Noreen, it is my pleasure to introduce you to Colonel Thaddeus Greeves, of Poldark.”

  The Colonel kissed the back of her offered hand. “I have not had an inclination to follow the social graces since arriving here, but you surely have altered my position. I’d be delighted to demonstrate my Koban trained stamina to the Lady.” He openly leered at the tall beauty in her form fitting uniform.

  She replied smoothly to his perfunctory solicitation, “Colonel, in other circumstances I’d be tempted to honor your offer, but I have an interest in another Gentle Man at the moment. Perhaps another time?” This was less overt than she might have encountered from a male on a Hub world, but Poldark was a bit backwards.

  “Certainly my Lady, I rather expect that the Gentle Man you mentioned is here to learn how to be less gentle isn’t that so Doctor?” He smiled at Dillon.

  Without the slightest rancor at the near proposition of his companion, Dillon returned the smile. “That I am Colonel. And I know you spoke with Maggi at length yesterday, and I welcome your help in convincing the Krall that humans can fight.”

  “I definitely have an interest in any plans that might assure me another good chance to kill some of those bastards. As with your two chief conspirators, please call me Thad.”

  “Dillon,” he reciprocated with a handshake.

  “Noreen,” and she extended her hand again for him as well.

  As the day before, he was armed to the teeth, carrying a heavy looking satchel this morning. “I have some weapons here that I’d like to have you try out on our range. These are well balanced and modified to fire singly or on automatic. They were used before, and I’d like them to be used again to kill Krall. There are other weapons in the armory, but these have a sentimental value to me.” He patted the satchel.

  “These four belonged to two of the people in my detachment, and Sargent Medford was the man that modified them for full auto and balanced comfortable human hand grips. The ammo clips are larger than standard, and the holsters are like mine, low slung with leg ties for a faster draw. The belt has holders for extra clips. You aren’t going to outdraw a Krall, but this isn’t the old west. Shooting them in the back is more than fair.”

  “Thad, I hope we can honor their memory. Thank you for considering giving them to us. I’m eager to learn.”

  “It’s that attitude Dillon, which I’ve sensed from many in your group that has me hopeful that you will make a difference. You have ideas and a willingness to try them. Follow me.” He walked them to an elevator.

  The lift did its speed run to the sixteenth level, and the door whisked up and out of the way. Noreen had been forewarned, but still was startled at how fast it all happened.

  Thad led them through several staggered heavy doors that he explained were designed to prevent wild shots from passing into the outer corridor by accident. Before he opened a third door, they could hear firing on the other side. There was a heavy transparent window with a few nicks. It was a bit high for a human of less than six feet, but the three of them could see in easily.

  There were six Fancy crewmembers and passengers there, with backs to the door. They were firing on a range that mimicked an outdoor Koban scene. Observing them were three Primes, giving them tips and helping them with loading and handling the weapons.

  The range could easily have held fifty people without crowding. At the opposite end, about a thousand feet away, and at various distances midway were large boulders, tree stumps, logs, and what looked like dead bushes. There were grey-red square rectangles that were apparently targets positioned close to or partly behind the simulated cover.

  Dillon spotted the tattoos on two men acting as instructors that showed a single red dot. The other was a woman with a single blue dot in hers.

  “Thad…,” Dillon was about to ask him a question, but it was anticipated.

  “Yes, two of them are the other survivors from the Testing Day where my men and I earned immunity for them. The woman is Elvira, or El, and she survived a successful hunt with a rhinolo taken by her.

  “El was already a decent shot before her hunt, and made it a point to get better after that. She has survived the lottery for two years, and is one of the few people I will occasionally talk to. We talk about weapons and guerilla warfare, but she isn’t a fan of mine since the duels. She helps new arrivals on the range.”

  “How do you get on with the other two?” Dillon asked.

  “Except for calling them cowards for not helping us on our Testing Day, I’ve had almost no words with them since. Had they helped shove Doushan out that door, either they or I would be dead,” he stated flatly.

  “After the machete and knife fight losses of the other two, they made it a point to become good shots in case I ever called them out. In fairness, they have become good shots, and one is a fast draw to boot for a human.”

  “Will you call them out?” Noreen asked. Dillon had told Jake to play back their first conversation with Thad before she met him, so she knew the history.

  “No. Why would I? They didn’t help me and my men out there, but neither would most of those here. Their fear that I might call them out has made them better shots in case I did. They now teach new arrivals to shoot. It isn’t complete restitution in my mind, but I was never going to challenge them without greater cause anyway.”

  He reached into a side pouch of the satchel and handed them two sets of earplugs, then pushed through the last sound-deadening door, unleashing a brief loud sound of firing.

  Inserting the ear plugs Dillon and Noreen pushed open the doors, entered the cacophony of gunfire, and shouted instructions. Surprisingly, the loudest noise wasn’t from the guns firing, it was from the impacts down range. The swoosh sounds from the guns weren’t as loud as expected, but every hit down range produced a gray puff with a loud report. The shooters were all aiming at the closer targets so the noise was loud. A miss sent one round down range where it puffed with a lower report.

  The Fancy’s people paused a moment to acknowledge them, Motorfe
m Macy Gundarfem, and Motorman John Yin-Lee made token half salutes that Noreen returned in kind with a warm smile. She and Dillon went farther down towards the far left side of the range, where Thad had set the satchel on a small table, like those placed behind the other shooters.

  As they approached him, the firing behind them resumed with the instructors calling out instructions and naming specific targets to hit. Thad had pulled out two pistols, with handgrips that looked too small for the rest of the weapon’s size. There were two ammo clips on the table, and they were longer than what the other shooters were using.

  Then he placed two black boxes beside the clips. He lifted the top of one box and pulled out a grey three-inch long, finger thick cylinder. It was flat on both ends and looked about the diameter of the gun bore. There was no tapering at either end of the slug.

  “These are the Krall pistol and rifle rounds. The black end,” he showed them one end was grey the other end black, “is the pointy end, the part that you aim down range. If you load it backwards in a clip, it won’t fire, and it’s kicked out for the next round. However, the loss of a single shot might be fatal against a fast closing target.

  “These modified double clips will hold thirty two rounds compared to the sixteen of the standard clip, but they stick out about a foot below the gun butt and can get snagged in tight quarters if you aren’t careful. On semiautomatic, the gun will fire as fast as you can pull the trigger.

  “Full auto fire will empty you in about three seconds with these big clips, for close to 600 rounds per minute when eighteen or twenty prepared fast clip changes are ready. I can’t imagine many circumstances where a Krall or rhinolo will give you even fifteen seconds. There is almost no recoil to speak of because this is caseless ammunition.” He held up a cylinder round again.

  “These are basically little rockets that are spin stabilized coming out of the bore. They keep accelerating for a short time out of the muzzle of a pistol or rifle. This gives them high velocity and a flatter trajectory than some projectile weapons you may have used. They don’t have a terribly hard kick leaving, but arriving they are a sledge hammer.”