by Frank Carey
"Really. Grendel... Neta, is she one of yours?"
"My niece, mistress."
"And Nels helped you, you say."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Get up, girl, and come sit with me. Tell me about yourself."
Beaming, Grendel joined Lenora on the couch and recounted her life story while the others took a break waiting for the return of the attorney general.
Losira signaled for Christa and Neta to follower her as she got up and walked over to where the others were eating pizza. "Hey guys, do you feel up to doing some field work?"
The four nodded.
"What are our chances of bridging the hidden InterWeb and one of legit webs?"
"Slim to none."
"That's what I thought. OK, Christa, I need a device which will search out any information related to Adrestia when it's connected to the hidden InterWeb and copy its internal drive."
"Not a problem. Give me an hour."
"Great. Oh, and make it stylish."
"Got it."
The Queen turned back to Shenda and the three neoLogash. "What I'm about to ask you to do is strictly voluntary. I want you four to gain access to a computer connected to the Adrestia InterWeb and download every scrap of data you can access. You are to return that data here for analysis."
"Why us?" Randy asked.
"You, your brother, and your sisters are still relatively unknown to the rest of Ventos prime. People see you and they are caught up in your eyes and your crystals; they literally don't see you. Similarly, Shenda and Torren are merchants who don't interact in the same circles as the rest of the royal family. I can have Gren fix the four of you up with fake identities which should pass inspection long enough to get the data."
"Count me in," Anne said. "I was made for this kind of op."
Randy and Nels rolled their eyes.
"Yeah, count me in. Someone has to keep an eye on Mata Hari," Randy said.
"Well, if these two are going, then I just have to be with them," Nels said. "They're lost without my guidance."
More eye rolls. They stopped and looked at Shenda.
"What?" she asked.
"Are you coming with?"
"You want me to come along?"
"Of course we do, Darlin," Anne said.
Shenda smiled. "Then I'd love to."
Losira nodded.
"Grendel!" Neta said.
"Yes, mistress?"
"I need four backgrounds and make them rich and snappy! You've got one hour!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Then I need you to find a target for our intrepid agents!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Let's get this party started," Losira said.
Chapter 18 - Plans of Attack
Dr. Gloria Aymar-Taggart, PhD Biocybernetics, tapped her teeth with a stylus while watching the results from today's test of an automated mining system unfold on the labs viewer. "No, no, no, that's all wrong. Dammit, I thought we had that flaw fixed."
"Dr. Aymar, you have a priority one emergency call," the computer announced.
"Who is the originating party?"
"Ambassador Lucien Irithyl of Ventos Prime."
"Put him through..." The lab viewer switched to an image of Lucien inside some kind of military installation. "Lucien! What's going on? Where the hell are you?"
"I'm on Earth and we're running out of time. Where's John?"
"New York, at a conference, why?"
Lucien gave her the short version.
She stared at him, her eyes wide.
"Gloria, I need your help to save your husband, my wife, my kids, and this planet."
"What can I do?"
"When I talked to this Hera woman, I told her I had hundreds of centipedes and other bots running around looking for something to kill."
"How many do you have really?"
"Two. I could really use some more along with a couple of Minotaurs and maybe a dozen cats."
"What's your plan?"
"Keep the assassin guessing while we plan an assault. I'm hoping they think they can stave off an attack by using Marta as a hostage."
Gloria typed commands into the keyboard. "Where do you want them delivered?"
Lucien gave her coordinates.
"I have two hundred pedes, fifty snakes, eighteen cats, and four ride-inside minotaurs standing by in New York. They will be delivered via hypervelocity transport within one hour, mark. Anything else?"
"Do you have any scarab beetlebots on Earth?"
"Checking... Two dozen will be included in the delivery."
"Damn, woman. You are plarking amazing."
"Lucien, just save the damn planet."
"Copy that, Cuz. Lucien out."
Gloria sat down and stared at the view screen, wondering what she could do next. Slowly a smile formed. "Yeah, that'll work."
Lucien ran out to the transport before the ship’s engines had a chance to spin down. The main hatch opened to reveal a tall human male standing there with a small box.
"John! Damn, buddy, what brings you to Australia?"
"My wife insisted I bring you a delivery," he said while handing Lucien the box. "Beetlebots as you ordered." Behind him, the transport's crew unloaded the larger crates.
"Put all those crates in the tent on the left," Lucien instructed as he signed for the delivery.
"Lucien, Gloria insisted I stick around..."
"Your wife is nuts, you know that, don't you? She thinks I can't be killed and people around me can't be killed."
"Well, you have cheated death a few times."
Lucien shook his head. "If you don't mind, I can use your help. Have you been briefed?"
John nodded. "Ciara and I talked. Damnedest thing I ever heard."
"Let's get inside," Lucien said as he led John into the tent.
As he walked past the tent's flaps, John was greeted by Aerith, Torren, and Jewel, all of whom took turns giving him a hug. When they finished, Lucien introduced him to the rest of the team. Once the formalities were taken care of, everyone pulled up a crate or chair as EarthSec Chief Downing walked over to stand in front of a view screen.
"Dr. Taggart, your reputation precedes you. Welcome to Australia," the chief said. "I assume you've been briefed."
"Yes, ma'am. I'm still in shock."
"So are we. Here's the status as of a few minutes ago," Debra said while pointing to a map displayed on the screen. "This is the bore hole facility where General McMurphy is being held along with the Can Crusher system. Our intel says there are about one hundred workers plus at least nine visitors including the general. Hovering above the facility, and protecting it with its shields, is a cloaked, unregistered, heavily armed corvette. We've determined that the facility will be able to launch the package in approximately six hours."
One of the EarthSec security force troopers asked a question which was on everyone's minds. "With all due respect to Prince Lucien and his family, why not nuke the facility from orbit?"
"Excellent question. The answer is a strike may not stop the assassins. The boring device is designed to crawl down the hole, using specially modified shields and tractor beams to eject the drilling debris behind it as it advances. The assassins could easily modify the boring head to carry the package behind it, so it acts as a delivery device combined with a boring device. We need to confiscate the package and render it harmless. To that end, Prince Lucien has an idea. My Prince?"
Lucien joined Chief Downing. "Dr. Taggart brought with him a robotic menagerie which we will use to surround the facility both above and below the surface. The robocreatures will bottle-up the place until we can get inside."
The map on the screen filled with green dots.
"Now, Aerith, Jewel, and Torren did a computer search for any records pertaining to the facility. They found this on the original specs from over fifty years ago." A structure appeared running east of the structure to a point just northwest of the staging area.
"What is that?" John asked.
"Elf Marine Expeditionary Force Team One under the command of Colonel Sana Eloen, is inbound to this location," Lucien continued. "All five members are intimately familiar with operation of the ride-along Minotaurs we have in those crates standing over in the corner. They will use them to back up the EarthSec forces." An aide handed him a slip of paper. "I've just been told that EMEF Team Eight, under command of General Royce Aymar is on-planet standing-by to assist."
Lucien nodded to Torren, who handed out folders to everyone. "Inside these folders are the plans for our operation," Lucien explained. "In a nutshell, this will be a coordinated, two-prong attack against the facility. Colonel Reese will lead the external force against the facility. This force will consist of four Minotaurs, all the robocreatures, and the Colonel's troops along with two Protector-class warships--the Protector and the Sentar--standing off under cloak."
"Why two warships?" Jewel asked.
"To deal with the corvette when the time comes. The second prong of the attack consists of a much smaller team, which consists of myself, Torren, Aerith, and Jewel. We will enter the facility through the tunnel while the external force keeps the facility’s forces occupied. We go in and secure General McMurphy and the package. Once this objective is met, we signal the external force. The two warships take out the corvette, allowing the external force access to the facility. John will hang back and run the beetlebots. John?"
Dr. John Taggert, PhD Biocybernetics and one of the Leagues foremost authorities on the subject of micro robots, stepped up the view screen as an image of a beetle appeared. He held up a small object between his thumb and index finger. "This is a beetlebot, a semi-autonomous robotic probe equipped with camera, environmental sensors, and a micro laser. The ultimate in covert surveillance. I've got a hundred of them ready to go. They've been programmed to spread out through the facility, searching for Marta while mapping the facility and keeping an eye out for the package control system."
"What do we know about the package delivery system?" one of the officers asked.
"Not much, unfortunately," Debra explained. "The system that comes with the package is based on a sub-orbital, controlled-descent, reentry vehicle. We're certain the assassins won't be using it. Instead, they have a borehole almost forty kilometers deep and wide enough to drive a truck through. They could have attached the package to the drilling sled, or they might just light the fuse and drop it down the hole. That's why we need to disarm it."
"Chief, according to this briefing, we're to storm the facility if we have not heard from you fifteen minutes prior to moho penetration. Isn't that cutting things a little short?" Colonel Reese asked.
"Yes, but it’s the card we drew. Any other questions?"
There were none.
"Then let's get this party started.”
Chapter 19 – Clubbin’
Shenda, Anne, Nels, and Randy stepped out of the limo and activated their earbuds before heading into the swank, ultra-upscale nightclub in the center of the city. Shenda tugged at her dress as her aunt and uncles worked the crowd. "Shenda!" Anne hissed. "Knock it off and enjoy the moment. You are supposed to be showing some flesh. Look at me. I have no problem."
Shenda looked at her aunt and marveled at the impossible length of her gray legs. She then checked out the crowd and saw the looks they were getting.
"You're not a thirty something mother of two either. Why does this outfit need to be so short?"
"It is a sign of status," Randy explained. "The wealthier you are, the more stylish your clothing must be. This is why Nels and I are wearing colored chrome shirts and butterfly leather pants."
"I don't know about you guys, but I think I could get used to this," Nels noted.
"I don't think Gren would approve," Anne said as she pulled a 100-credit coin from her bustier with her tail and handed it to the doorman. "Rushlow, party of four," she said with a wink.
"Yes, mistress," the host said as he signaled for one of the waiting stewards. "Reginald, please take our guests to Room 36."
"Yes, sir. Right this way," the young human said as he led them through the crowd. He took the four to a secluded private room near the back of the building. Once seated, he took drink orders, then left them alone while he retrieved their beverages from the bar.
Once Reginald was gone, Anne pulled out a scanner and used it to look for eavesdroppers and networks. "Randy, light up that burner comm and let’s see what it connects to."
"Yes, sister," the neo said while activating the device. "Six networks listed, nothing out of the ordinary."
"Got them. Yep, plain, old, unsecured networks rife with scammers, spammers, and phishers. All six connect to the public InterWeb through a demarcation point at the back of the building," Anne explained. "Now, let's see how good Christa is. Shen, didn't she break into Lucien's private computer once?"
"Yeah, back when we were fifteen. He swears she was able to bypass even his security. Aerith told me she changed all her passwords after that caper."
"You know, I feel somewhat bad for Lucien, having lost the ability to work the computers like he did."
Shenda got up and listened at the door. "Don't. I have never seen Dad as happy as he is now. I think he loves being Ambassador more than he ever loved all that hacking shit."
"Do you miss it?"
"Miss what?"
"The capers you and your siblings used to pull when you were kids?" Nels asked.
"Not one iota. I love the life I have now. Being a merchant captain is something I never dreamed of doing, and now, I can't imagine not being one."
"Speaking of ships, what is your crew up to with you and your sibs being gone?"
"They're on a run out to Telescu. Bree's family's ship is in the middle of a refit, so she invited them aboard to try out a run in the Marta."
"Found it," Anne said. "There is a seventh network running, and it leaves the building through a demarc point at the front of the building, second floor."
"Can you find a terminal attached to this mysterious network?"
"I'm working on it."
There was a knock at the door. Shenda opened it and let Reginald in. He had a tray of drinks, which he handed out. "Can I get you any appetizers?" he asked. He averted his eyes when he saw the scanner.
Anne motioned him over to where she was sitting. "Reginald, I trust you will be discrete."
"Mistress, you would not believe the shit I haven't seen working here."
Anne laughed. "Damn, I knew I liked you." She handed him a hundred credit sovereign. "For your trouble."
"Thank you, Mistress."
"Do you have those little pancakes, the ones with sour cream and caviar on them?"
"Blinis, Mistress? Yes, Mistress, the best in the city!"
"Three orders of those and two bottles of your best Russian vodka."
"Yes, mistress. Right away."
After Reginald returned with the food and drink, he left to tend to his other guests, leaving the four alone.
"Damn, these are good," Anne said as she ate one of the blinis.
"You should try them with the smoked salmon," Nels said.
Shenda just rolled her eyes while sipping her water. Her musings were interrupted by a knock on the door. Anne glanced at Randy. He got up and opened the door. Standing outside was a tall, dark elf in an impeccably tailored butterfly leather coat. "My name is Randu Delta. I would like to speak to you about a matter of interest to both of us."
Randy looked at Anne. She nodded. "Come in," Randy said.
Randu came in and sat down. "Ms. Rushlow, my name is Randu. I understand you are looking for a solution to a specific problem. I specialize in fixing problems," he said as he reached into his inside breast pocket.
Th
ree pistols appeared, each aimed at Randu. "Careful, Mr. Delta, My companions are marksmen and nervous when they detect a threat."
Randu slowly extracted a card from his pocket and handed it to Anne. "My credentials."
Anne handed it to Shenda. She looked it over before inserting it into a datapad that she handed to Anne.
"Impressive. Now, my problem is very rich and well protected. Will you be doing the work yourself or giving it to subcontractors?"
"I am what is known in the business as a lone wolf. You will only deal with me."
"Excellent," Anne said. She snapped her fingers and Nels pulled a cyber coin from his shirt pocket and handed it to Mr. Delta. "Will this be sufficient?"
Randu took out his commlink and scanned the coin. His eyes grew huge while his tail formed an exclamation point. "Mistress, I..."
"Will finish the job on time and in a confidential matter. You know what I am?"
"NeoLogash..."
"Yes. Every story you ever heard about us is absolutely true. Remember that."
"Yes, mistress."
Randy poured five drinks. "A toast," Shenda said.
They raised their glasses. "Success!" Anne said.
"Success!" the other's repeated.
"I must go," Randu said as he stood up and headed to the door.
Once he was gone, Shenda pulled out her scanpad and put it on the table for everyone to see. "The tracking bots he just drank are working. He's heading upstairs."
"Ooooh, I just love covert work," Nels said.
"He's going into a room... He's stopped... Coin activated. Christa's code is now active within the hidden InterWeb..."
"I wonder if she can take care of parking tickets." Randy mused.
"He's heading out of the building. Coast is clear."
Anne stood up and looked at her brothers. "You two keep watch. Call us if anyone or anything steps on that second floor."
"Aye, aye, mon capitaine," Nels said.
Anne walked around the table and put her hands on Shenda's shoulders. "Be back in a minute," she said as her crystal glowed.
Shenda just gulped loudly as her aunt shunted them across the building.
Shenda and Anne materialized outside a room on the second floor. While Anne kept watch, Shenda used a hacker ball to defeat the security system before picking the door's lock. "Quaint, high-tech alarm and low-tech lock. These guys are smart." She opened the door and stepped inside. Once the door was closed and locked, Shenda reinstated the outer alarm system, leaving them free access to the interior. "Over here," Shenda said as she made her way to a computer system.
