Crystal Venom

by Steve Wheeler

  Three hours later, with the crew back into their routines and the journey out to the nearest LP under way, the major gathered them in the mess room.

  ‘Right. Interesting mission for us. No Games Board involvement, only Administration and the Haulers’ Collective on this deal, so we’re effectively off the public audiovisual grid for as long as it takes, something I’m very happy about. I have flashed the files to each of you, but the basic story is that this is a recovery or destroy mission. Briefly, a little over thirty-nine standard years ago a heavy Hauler was tasked with transporting a cargo of nasties after the war known as “Infant”. If you don’t know about it, look it up. Not one of the battles in that war covered any of its participants in glory. In fact, that war led to the Games Board having considerably more power and influence than they had previously enjoyed.’

  He looked around the faces of the crew, before continuing. ‘So, this Hauler was tasked with dumping a cargo of biological weapons onto Hades, but it never made it. Big search at the time; nothing found. The Hauler has now turned up. Located by a Ranger Scout who had been tasked to look for octopoids. We have to return to Cygnus 5, uplift a specialist crew of ten, plus the Ranger, and go have a hard look at the Hauler. I have also been advised that the Haulers’ Collective want us to recover the ship’s core if it is still intact.’

  *

  During the week’s transit, Harry, Topaz and Marko made a new replacement arm for Marko. They built in a few extra facilities, but there was not a lot of improvement to be made on the previous one anyway, so Marko programmed up the auto-mills and then had Topaz grow the rest of it.

  Harry had managed to procure a few extra sheets of titanium, which they earmarked to replace the shielding on the Hog mechanised walker which they had taken as a prize from 27’s planet. So now that they had everything they needed, and the time, they decided to rebuild it completely. The original chassis was stripped down to bare metal and still further into its individual components. Harry programmed a couple of the engineering robots to grind the original welds and then re-weld the entire main structure. He smiled to himself, immersed in the physical making, thinking that sometimes it was much nicer to actually build something rather than have it grown.

  Veg was having fun redesigning the machine, so they gave up on the old version and basically junked most of it. They retained parts of the cockpit, the primary chassis, the legs and the feet. Following Veg’s lead, they laid out a new engine bay, upgraded hydraulics throughout and also decided to put a rail gun on one side and a heavy rotary cannon on the other. With the major’s permission, Harry pulled one of the spare gas turbines from storage to mount behind the cockpit, together with a gearbox driving the primary hydraulic pumps. Once they had all the framework and main supports in place, they surface-coloured everything in dark green carborundum which Topaz had modified bacteria grow onto the metal structure. Over the next couple of days they fitted the new cockpit and the hydraulics, the cracker unit, weapons and magazines, and had Fritz run the electrics. They still had all the covers and shielding to make and fit when Basalt arrived back at Cygnus 5, but at least the Hog could stamp around and look menacing if required.

  *

  Gliese 667C

  A few days later they arrived back at the control Orbital Epsilon with Harry announcing that a Ranger would be the first to join them.

  Marko considered that the Ranger Squadrons were made up of interesting, but peculiar, people. Deeply calm, utterly fixated on the task at hand and superbly happy in their own company, they were in some respects the elite of the elite. Every Ranger he had met seemed to be able to put people immediately at their ease and then gently, but remorselessly, pump them dry of the information they required. And every one of them he had met was heavily muscled and tall. It took more than twenty-five standard years to train one to full certification, so they had to be something special to start with. They were also rumoured to carry substantial armour under their skin — he supposed that was another reason for the bulk. The exception was the one who presented herself at the crew airlock as a full colonel, which everyone knew was a rare rank to still be an operative without a crew.

  ‘Hello, ma’am. I am Sergeant Major Marko Spitz. Welcome aboard Basalt. Major Longbow will join us shortly; he is currently in conference with Epsilon Admin.’

  She looked down at him, smiled, extended her hand and grasped his in a slightly firm way, denoting respect. She towered over him and he felt the same way he did when around Stephine. I must be a midget, he thought.

  ‘So you are Marko. I am very pleased to make your acquaintance. Once I am settled in, I need to discuss a project with you. And I am informed that you have a remarkable crew and something called “real coffee”, which is talked of everywhere. Lead on, Sergeant Major.’

  He escorted her around the ship introducing her to everyone, and then to the galley where Veg made her a coffee. Veg had told Marko that after making a few thousand more shots he would be an adequate barista, but baking was considerably more interesting being much more like engineering. To go with the colonel’s coffee, he brought out his latest biscotti. He figured that everyone had a right to be proud of their work and it was always a good move for any non-commissioned officer to impress a colonel. He was very careful to advise the colonel in the art of dunking, before she broke any of her perfect teeth.

  The terrible trio, who had been stalking something or other, came hurtling in and surrounded the colonel. Nail, as the intelligence-gathering ACE of the crew, sat on the table in front of her, staring hard and passing on the information he was gathering via the crew’s comm link; Flint scrabbled up onto the table and introduced each of them to her in his very quiet, almost inaudible, way; Glint slid onto his specifically grown stool, which was movable but still attached to the living table by a vine so it could gain sustenance, reached for a biscotti and started taking bites out of it, generating small fragments which whistled through the air. He pointed the remains at her as he spoke. ‘So you are Colonel Andrea White. You are a legend, I’m told. What makes you a legend? And how did they grow that ceramic fibre armour into you? It covers all your organs, even those parts that males would find interesting. Marko, I think I need some of that. Nail would like some too, but he is not big enough. No, I think that I would like a penis first.’

  Marko cringed and Veg burst out laughing.

  The colonel just started giggling, then she reached out and started to stroke Nail, who, amazingly, allowed her to do so. Glint reached for another biscotti, hesitated, and took another two. ‘Yup, she’s OK. Really different from any other human I have seen but should be fine. Good biscuits, Marko. Make some more. Right, come on you lot, work to do. Let’s go.’

  Glint led them out at the same speed they’d come in at … flat out. They watched them go and the colonel said: ‘Veg, this coffee is completely different in taste, texture and effect from anything I have ever had before. Can I have another, please?’

  The huge man shook his head. ‘Nope. One per day, that’s the limit. Sorry, Colonel. Stephine will join us shortly and, if you like, she makes excellent tea. Tea you can drink as much as you like. Your ship is approaching. Shall I give it docking instructions? I have moved your personal manoeuvring unit to the main hangar deck.’

  She gave a quick shake of her head. ‘Thanks, and no that won’t be necessary. I should imagine that Crystal has already received instructions from Patrick.’

  They watched as a beaming Michael Longbow strode into the mess. ‘Hello, Andy.’

  ‘Hi, Michael. It has been too long, beautiful.’

  She stood up, lifted him off the floor in a hug and kissed him full on the mouth. Everyone started to look for things to do and left the two of them to it. Marko shuddered to think what Glint would have said had he been present. He briefly saw the major much later in the galley, with a big grin on his face, making a large bowl of fresh fruit salad. He disappeared with it back to his cabin, carrying two spoons. Harry smiled and saluted his r
eceding back with his large mug of tea.

  ‘So that is the famous Andy White,’ mused Harry. ‘The boss always described her as slightly shorter than him. They were a number a long time ago. Must be still sweet on each other. Going to be an interesting trip, guys. We have half the specialist crew arriving at 0800 tomorrow, plus all their equipment, and then the remaining half of the detachment late tomorrow afternoon. The boss wants everything squared away for a 2200 departure. Grab whatever you need from Epsilon. Stephine has sorted the procurements and allowed you each a twenty per cent additional procurement financial buffer should you need it. She says that this could be a difficult mission, so get whatever you deem necessary. Would suggest we do that tonight before the specialists arrive.’

  Consequently, they all worked late into the night. Jan pulled additional medical stores to cover the extra personnel and also obtained two small combat medical drones. Fritz secured additional communication systems, prepped them and placed them in combat storage. He then went through all the craft on board, plus the Ranger’s ship, and tied the communications together. Harry and Veg requisitioned spare weapons for everyone, plus two additional Troop Lifters: these were basically a framework, including a hardened cockpit, storage units, four gimballed manoeuvring engines, a good sized AG unit, twin propulsion systems and a series of attachment stations which housed individual drop sleds, and slung down each side of the machine were twin heavy calibre rail guns. They were wild machines with a heavy punch as they could drop and then support a section minus of eight, plus the pilot; military personnel everywhere liked them as they could also work in just about any environment with or without atmosphere or gravity.

  Stephine methodically checked everything off, laid in additional preserved rations, and then ramped up the gardens output as well. Marko spent his time checking off the fuel systems on each of their craft, topping up every tank and then looking long and hard at the Intel reports from the colonel as to where they could pick up water fuel on the mission. There were two good-sized ice moons in the target system and also some nice icy comets not far from Lagrange points at four of their jump locations.

  They even managed to grab a half decent sleep before the first of the specialists arrived on board at 0800 hours. Jan’s assessment to Marko was that they were an interesting bunch. The Warrant Officer First Class in charge knew Harry well, so that made life a lot easier.

  Patrick had set aside one of the engineering hangars for them, so they were initially shown where to stow their suit containers and then assigned cabins. Fritz and Harry then gave the newcomers a quick tour of the ship as Jan and Marko went through the specialist detachment’s gear, laying it out, and then storing it all for prioritised optimum access.

  The major and the colonel had left the ship early for a command meeting, taking Stephine as First Mate with them. When they returned at midday they were all business with the major sending the message: ‘Crew, once the second part of the specialist salvage team arrives we will get under way. Briefing will take place after the first jump is complete. External comms will be locked down in one hour.’

  *

  Harry gave a briefing to part of the crew. ‘Not sure if this is going to be an easy mission, Marko. Hard security for one thing. Just got the word. Epsilon is sending over two additional long-term ten-man survival pods as well. The hangar deck is going to get a little too crowded. Um, when the pods arrive, site one in the second cargo airlock underneath the barracks deck, and the other in the second airlock above the first engineering deck. Jan, Veg, can you sort those with Marko, please? Check ‘em and then liven them up. OK, they are also deploying three Busters for us … shit, one of those will take out a Cruiser no problem, so what are they expecting?’

  He touched his comms link, saying, ‘Captain Stephine, ma’am, I need authorisation to unlock the primary heavy weapons store as these guys have a deal of explosives with them. Could you also lock the Busters against the hull, please?’

  In another part of the ship Stephine smiled. ‘The heavy weapons store will unlock for you when you approach the arms cote, Harry, just as it always has. I have assumed control of it, but not locked you out. Please continue to call me Stephine when on our secure network, and yes, I shall lock on the Busters.’

  Marko watched the Busters sliding up beside them, noting that they were almost as long as Basalt and tens of metres in diameter: they were designed to be smashers of heavy ships or Orbital stations. He knew that, once deployed, they could operate independently for months on end, physically lock onto anything they were targeted at and if necessary push the target down into a gravity well before destroying it with a focused blast of gamma rays. Very good pieces of equipment for cleaning up messes, he thought. ‘Thanks. Fritz, suit up, you’re with me. Bring your trolley of goodies. We may have some excellent toys to wire up.’

  Marko made contact with the drones bringing the survival pods to them and gave them their orders, after ensuring that Patrick was in the loop. As each arrived, he opened the external doors of the large access airlocks and then closed them again after the pods had been placed inside. They opened the pods, checked the systems and then wired them into Basalt so that Patrick had total control of them.

  Veg approved of these. Basically a squat cylinder with heavy shielding, each had one door and, when a crew member pressed against it, the person was rotated and sealed into an individual survival system which would immediately start the hibernation process, if deemed necessary, and allow the next person in. Marko had once seen one accommodate and secure ten crew, then eject itself away from a disintegrating frigate in under fifteen seconds, saving the soldiers. He thought it was nice to know that the powers-that-be were taking the mission seriously. They then checked and wired the second pod in position just as the remaining half of the specialist recovery and salvage section arrived on board.

  A few minutes later the major gave his orders. ‘All crew, report to your stations. Specialists, please secure your equipment, as instructed per your HUDs, and then proceed to the main galley for briefing and assignments. We depart in twenty minutes.’

  Basalt’s crew moved quickly to their stations with Veg and Harry as pilots and the major, for the first time, actually sitting in the commander’s chair. Marko checked his board and with all systems at optimum shunted control across to Veg. Epsilon’s tugs pushed them away from the Orbital and at one kilometre out they were assigned a flight number and sent on their way.

  ‘Marko, Fritz, Jan,’ Harry said. ‘We have control of your boards. Could you go help this latest lot of salvage guys sort their stuff? We have seven hours’ transit to the LP and everything is to be locked down before then.’

  *

  Part Two

  Crystal Infant

  *

  One

  The salvage section were indeed an interesting bunch as far as Marko was concerned. All individual specialists, all shapes and sizes, and all with a hell of a lot of equipment. They had come prepared for just about anything, he thought, and were certainly heavy hitters, with six sergeants, two WO1s, a lieutenant who looked like he should have been in a trench somewhere, and an immaculately dressed major.

  Marko, as the ranking SNCO, introduced himself then Jan and Fritz before saying: ‘Major van Beere, sir. Major Longbow sends his compliments and requests you join him on the bridge.’

  Van Beere inclined his head to Marko and replied in a highly cultured voice. ‘My thanks to you, sarge’ major. This is Lieutenant Blair. I shall leave you to your tasks.’ His tone and demeanour marked him as a member of one of the senior Administration families.

  He walked off as Marko turned to the lieutenant. ‘Sir. Mr Blair, how can we assist?’

  The grinning lieutenant looked around, then back at the Basalt crew members. ‘Pleasure to meet with you, guys. Nice ship this. Love the exposed living wood and the flowering orchids. Your AI obviously takes pride in maintenance and a great-smelling atmosphere. This will be an interesting trip. So how did you get
this mission? And no GB! Bet that is a relief. You can be yourselves for once. We have our billets, ta. Just need access to the arms cote for our weapons and also the explosives. They are all on their own drone carriers, so it is probably easy to leave them that way and stow the whole lot in one go. Will wait until after orders before we familiarise you guys with all our toys. Do you want to go through everyone’s suits and headpieces, Sergeant van Vinken? Sergeant Itou, this is Sergeant van Vinken. She is our comms and computer tech. I’m sure that you will enjoy each other’s company. She is a fan of yours, Sergeant van Vinken.’

  Marko thought she was a classy looker as he watched them immediately start talking heavy tech, although he noted that by the third sentence Fritz had asked her about her tastes in music. Must have been acceptable — he turned and gave Marko a thumbs up as they walked away.

  ‘Lieutenant Blair, I shall take you down to the arms cote. Staff Wester will sort out the rest of your people for their personal kit. She’ll also need your medical requirements and individual records. Could you have your people squirt their medical files across, please? This way, sir.’

  As they walked across to the centre spiral stairway leading down to the arms cote deck, the four sizable, heavily laden drones powered up and followed them on their AG. As per the protocols, the lieutenant then gave Marko lists of what they were carrying so he could log it with Harry, as the officer in charge of weapons. It was an impressive list.

  Once back in the hangar, they helped sort through the equipment and with aid of their own drones went about securing it all, then gave the new guys a tour of the ship, watching them experience their first coffee and exotic fruits. Veg said that Jan made an excellent brew as his apprentice barista, which was something Marko could not argue with. After a meal together, they made preparations for the initial jump, which went as smoothly as ever. In fact, it was a little smoother than before, as the refit of Basalt had given the ship the latest improvements and Patrick now knew how to make them work well.