“Yes sir, no one is to see the men without a marine escort. I will inform my superior.”
“That is all.” He stalked out without even so much as looking at the head of the medical unit again.
The Admiral was in his car before he let out a long breath. Not a bad bit of acting, he thought to himself.
To the driver, he said, “I think I will call it an early day. Take me home.” The others would be waiting.
* * * *
“Helping yourself to drinks, gentlemen?” said the Admiral as he marched into his study.
Lieutenant Commanders Fitzpatrick and Appleton rose to their feet, followed by Commander Blackstone. “Sorry sir,” began Blackstone. “Mrs. La Force insisted on preparing a snack and fixing drinks.”
“Think nothing of it; I’m glad she is so hospitable. I’ve just returned from the hospital. I believe our cover story will hold water, at least for now.” La Force stopped to pour himself a drink.
He turned, “Please gentlemen.” He motioned to the table in the room. The group quickly reconvened around the table in the Admiral’s study.
“Has Commander Fitzpatrick brought everyone up to speed on the plan?”
“Yes sir,” said Appleton. “We’ve been briefed.”
“Then what are your thoughts?” asked La Force.
Blackstone spoke up first. “It seems a workable plan. I don’t think the idea of legionnaires planting explosives on the hulls of their ships has ever entered into the enemy’s planning. The only weakness I can see is the dependence on Cee finding a nuke. I’m willing to bet he will have his own problems with his people.
“We really have no way of knowing what he is going to run into. For all we know, he is operating with the blessings of their Supreme Council. Either that or he has gone completely rogue.”
“Commander Appleton?”
“Sir, I’ve put together eight spacesuits plus several bits and pieces that might be needed for modifications. I will pick up the charges first thing in the morning. If the Grey can get back, we will be prepared by 1700 hours tomorrow.”
La Force thought for a moment. “The weak points in this plan are whether or not Cee even comes back and can he get a nuke. Either of which could put a stop to this plan.”
He took a sip of his drink, sat it down, and then scratched his chin. He needed a shave. No matter.
“Let me see,” he mused.
“We need the nuke to blow up the Reptilian base.” La Force rubbed his eyes. “Why couldn’t we cause enough damage to shut down their operation with conventional explosives?”
The men at the table exchanged glances. Fitz spoke up. “We probably could. We could destroy their launch tunnel, making it impossible to launch a counteroffensive. That might be adequate for getting the Legion off the planet.”
“And then?” asked La Force.
“We could bring them back to New Earth, and make someone explain their actions,” interjected Blackstone.
“A bit too bold,” said La Force. “I don’t think it would make much difference to the people who put them there in the first place. In fact, it might make them a better target for the navy itself to destroy.”
“You don’t think they would do that?” asked Fitz.
“Commander, these people killed the Prime Minister and fed the Legion, a legion of their fellow human beings, to a bunch of lizards. I put nothing past them!” There was gravel in La Force’s voice.
“Is there any way we can gain access to another jump ship?” asked Appleton.
“Another jump ship, how?” asked Fitz.
“There has got to be a way, just in case Cee does not make it back,” said Appleton.
“What way would that be?” asked Fitz.
“Make a way,” said La Force.
“Sir?” asked Fitz.
“We must make a way,” said La Force.
The room was silent for long moments. Everyone knew the weakness in the plan lay in depending on the Greys. Something had to be done, but what?
“Perhaps our friends in Parliament could be of help,” offered Fitz.
“They might know something, or could find out, but I don’t want to put them at greater risk.” La Force did not elaborate. He made a mental note to speak to Fitz about mentioning their “friends” in front of the others. There was no need to add to their risk. No, something else would have to do.
* * * *
Fitz became aware of the clock in the room. It made only the slightest of noise. He had never noticed it before. How the devil did we come to this!
He continued thinking to himself. First, they send me to recruit these people, then they arrange to murder the thing they had me build. To Fitz, that was worse than killing the Prime Minister. Then they get rid of the Legion problem, with the blessings of the rest of our society, a collective of monkeys who think themselves better than the rest of the monkeys!
For the first time in a long time, Fitz was getting really angry. He rose and walked to the window. The others watched him as he paced back and forth like a caged animal.
* * * *
Blackstone had been thinking too. He had given up everything he had ever wanted because he believed in the Legion. Any student of Earth’s history, the history after his people had quit the rest of the human race, would know that you cannot win from the air, and you cannot win just in space. You have to take and hold ground. That is why he volunteered to command a Legion battalion; then he met Appleton.
* * * *
Appleton had been an up and coming officer, when the call went out for officers to command the Legion. It seemed to him, that, as he was not from a connected family, he would have much better chance for advancement in the Legion, than in the navy. After meeting Blackstone, he decided to make the jump. Now, even back in naval uniforms, he was treated as though he had developed some sort of contagious disease, and that pissed him off.
* * * *
La Force took a sip of his drink, savoring its flavor. He was wondering if unauthorized and downright treasonous contact with the down-earthers might be the best way to save all humanity including his own people.
Fitz spun about, his eyes ablaze. “If we had to, we could land the Legion back on Earth.”
“That would solve one problem and possibly create another,” said Appleton.
“How do you mean?” asked Blackstone. “I know of no place other than old Earth or New Earth where they can live. That would really shake up the establishment here. I don’t know if having them running loose on the Earth is a good idea, might really unsettle things.”
“We don’t want to make things worse,” answered Appleton.
“How can things get any worse?” laughed Blackstone.
Finally, La Force spoke up. “Maybe that’s what we should do, shake things up a bit. What did you mean by creating another problem?”
“What would Earth do with the knowledge and experience these men bring back? They might become a danger to us,” responded Appleton.
For the first time, La Force doubted if Appleton could be trusted.
“We are in danger, and I do appreciate your caution. But would it be worse than the situation we find ourselves in now? Someone from our own society killed the Prime Minister. Quite possibly, it was our current Prime Minister. We have been investigating the crime. If caught, they will provide a convenient way for us to die,” said La Force. “If any one of us turned the rest in, the turncoat would probably be killed as well, just to make sure he doesn’t have a change of heart.”
It suddenly seemed to La Force that it might be an excellent idea to ensure the loyalty of the core group, just in case someone got cold feet.
“Let me assure you, gentlemen, that I have other resources working on these twin problems, that is, who killed the Prime Minister, and how to deal with what has been done to the Legion.
There is more to this operation than meets the eye. There are others involved, others whose loyalty is beyond question.”
He was looking at Appleton.
“Sir, I hope my loyalty is beyond question as well,” began Appleton. “I have no love or loyalty toward whoever’s behind these deeds. I agree we must do something, but it must be the right something.”
“And if we come to a conclusion and form a plan, not to any individual’s liking, what then?” asked La Force. He looked around.
Blackstone spoke first, “It is a little late to have second thoughts, and I don’t pretend to have the best solution. However, whatever plan is approved, I will implement with all the fight I have in me.”
“Commander Fitzpatrick?”
“Sir, I’ve been with you for some time now, and I’ve seen the worth of these people from the Earth. I’ve seen them throw their lives into the fight, our fight, just to be fed to monsters. I’ll do whatever you want. Right now sir, your only problem is holding me back.”
“As will I,” added Appleton. “Admiral, please do not confuse my caution with a lack of devotion to what we are doing. Whoever is behind the assassination must be stopped …” He leaned toward La Force and added slowly, “… at all cost.”
“Then I can count on you?”
“Absolutely,” answered Appleton.
“Good and I want to hear from all of you. The situation is clear. The PM is dead, and the Legion has been fed to lizards. Only we know that the Legion lives. We need to get them out of there and find a place to put them. What I want are ideas.”
“Returning them to New Earth will mean destruction for them and suicide for us,” said Blackstone. “I find returning them to Earth disturbing, but it might have advantages.”
“Advantages?” asked La Force.
“It could throw the new PM and his people off guard, cause them make a mistake,” answered Blackstone.
“Yes it could,” thought La Force aloud. “They had everything planned out so far. What they need is something to make them scramble to keep their treachery secret. Then they might make a mistake.”
“But what about the effect they will have on Earth and Earth’s population?” asked Appleton.
“So far we have been assuming we will just drop them off in a city and that somebody will believe them,” said Fitz.
“They could bivouac in some forgotten corner of some desert,” said Appleton. Then he thought for a moment. “Or we could set them down in some tropical paradise for some much-needed rest and relaxation.”
“What would be important is to keep the Legion together,” added Blackstone. He laughed, “I don’t know if a tropical paradise would be the best idea. They might not want to come back.”
“Come back to what?” asked Fitz. “We’ve tried to kill them. Right now, the biggest problem is where to get a jump ship. If Cee doesn’t make it back, I don’t see how we can do this.”
“Assuming for a moment, he doesn’t make it back, then we will have to hijack one,” said La Force, almost absently.
“Sir?” asked Fitz.
“What is the best opportunity to steal an alien jump ship?” answered La Force.
“The only ones we ever get near are the ships to New Earth,” said Appleton.
Then it hit them all at once; hijack the regular jump ship to New Earth. “That’s incredible,” said Appleton. “Can it be done?”
He turned to Fitz. “You know the Greys better than the rest of us. Can it be done?”
“Well, I don’t know,” answered Fitz.
“Is there another choice?” asked La Force.
Blackstone shook his head. “None that I can think of.”
La Force turned to Fitz. “Okay Commander, how can we hijack the Grey jump ship used to travel between the Moon and New Earth?”
“I don’t know if hijack is the correct approach,” Fitz answered.
“What do you mean?” asked La Force.
“You know how completely they guard the secret of the jump drive. If we storm in there with weapons making demands, my guess is that it would trigger some procedure they have in place to deal with just that eventuality.”
“You have an idea for another approach?” asked Appleton.
“Not yet, but I don’t think force is the way to do it.”
“Appeal to their better nature?” asked Blackstone.
“Do they have one?” added Appleton.
“Oh yes, they do,” answered Fitz. He turned to the Admiral.
“I discovered that working with Cee. In fact, at one point the whole crew, Cee, his Betrothed, and the two pilots were laughing at something we said.”
“Laughing?” asked La Force.
“Oh yes. I couldn’t get over it. They were actually laughing.”
Then in a more reserved manner, he added, “In fact, we were wondering if Cee’s people might be worried about human culture and customs polluting their culture. That could be the reason for us keeping us apart.”
“Okay, the direct force approach probably won’t work. What then?” asked Appleton.
“Maybe the only approach that will work is to explain the situation to them,” said La Force.
“You mean if an Admiral asks to see the Command Council and then explains the situation, they might go off schedule?” asked Fitzpatrick.
“Might work,” answered La Force.
“We could use forged documents. If we brought them to the command Council after we were on our way, they wouldn’t be able to discover our subterfuge,” added Appleton.
“If that failed, we could show them the explosives we have for the Legion and threaten to blow up the ship,” said Blackstone.
“I’m not sure if they would be able to understand what we are trying to accomplish by that,” said Fitz. “However, if we can find a way to disable the ship, that would get their attention.”
“That seems even more dangerous,” said La Force.
“I don’t know if it’s more dangerous than blowing ourselves up,” added Fitz.
“True, but either way, we will be out in the open,” said La Force. “No more opportunity for skulking about.”
There was a long silence, then Fitz spoke up. “Pity, I was beginning to enjoy skulking about.”
“Commander, come with me for a moment,” La Force said to Fitzpatrick.
Once alone, La Force said, “I want you to go to Rill City as quickly as possible. I need a Parliamentary Carte Blanche. I need our contacts to get you one, and get back here as fast as you can.”
“How am I going to do that?” asked Fitz.
“I really don’t know Commander, just do it by any means necessary.”
“Aye, aye sir.”
* * * *
“By any means necessary,” said Fitz aloud to himself as he sat and waited for Mei Ling and Juliette. It was not long before he saw them coming. Fitz got up and met them at the door.
“I thought I would open it for you,” Fitz said.
“Well hi,” said Juliette who looked up first and saw Fitz.
Mei Ling stopped for a moment, and their eyes met. She smiled, but it was a nervous smile. If Fitz was here, unannounced, there must be something wrong. She advanced up the walkway and stopped just inside the door for a kiss.
After the pleasantries, they sat down with glasses of a fair imitation of a “Qualitätswein” made from German grapes grown on the Moon. They made themselves comfortable then got down to business.
Fitz and Mei Ling sat together on a scarcely adequate love seat across from Juliette.
“I always feel like an extra appendage, but I am glad to see you,” said Juliette. “I assume you’ve already swept the place for microphones.”
“I have, and I have good news for you. The Legion survives, and Farouk is alive and well.”
Juliette prided herself at being a tough lady, but she could not hide the glistening in her eyes.
“Here,” said Fitz, “hold out your pad; I’ve a message for you.”
She did, and after the message was transferred, she got up and left the room. Fitz and Mei Ling sat quietly for a bit before she spoke.
“Tell me about the Legion, and how you know?” she asked.
“Now that’s a story.”
While he was in the middle of the tale, Juliette returned, eyes red but with no other visible injuries. She picked up her wineglass and listened in.
After Fitz wound down, Juliette said, “Score one for the good guys.”
“Yes, one for us,” said Fitz.
“I assume you came for more than just bringing us up to speed,” she added.
“The Admiral has a task for the two of you.”
“How is the old boy holding up?” asked Juliette.
“He is holding up rather well, under quite a bit of duress, but he’s holding his own.”
“What does he want us to do?” asked Mei Ling.
“He wants you to get him a Parliamentary Carte Blanche,” responded Fitz.
Juliette gave a short chocked off chuckle. “Right, that’s a good one; what does he really want?”
Fitz looked drolly at her.
“You’re not smiling Fitz. That’s starting to scare me,” said Juliette. “Does he have any idea how we are supposed to go about laying our hands on one without setting security off on us?”
“His orders were, ‘by any means necessary’.”
“I see,” said Mei Ling.
“Short of killing a Parliamentarian or going to bed with one, I don’t see how to get into their offices,” said Juliette.
“There are certainly plenty of opportunities for the latter,” added Mei Ling.
“Yes,” said Juliette.
Fitz shot a questioning glance at Mei Ling. “Don’t worry dear; my Parliamentarian is a woman.”
“That’s a load off my mind,” he said.
Mei Ling poked him in the ribs. Then she added, “I’ve discovered quite a bit about our government I didn’t want to know.”
“You might say, we’ve reinvented ancient Rome during its decline,” intoned Juliette.
Hell Fighters From Earth Book 2 Page 30
