HADRON Havoc

by Stephen Arseneault

  Jeff shook his head. “Education. If we teach our people to not be hostile toward one another… the use of this as a weapon would not be needed.”

  Mace chuckled. “Education only works on the sane, Doc. And there will always be nutjobs among us. I suppose the point is moot, though. If we can figure this out here and now, someone else will eventually be able to replicate it later elsewhere. Maybe we can make good of its use and buy Humans another thousand years of existence.”

  Gnaga joined the conversation. “As you say, someone at some time will make this work. It may as well be us. I believe we have that conscience you speak of. As a weapon, it would only be used to right that which is wrong. Others may not have that goal in mind.”

  Mace nodded. “Exactly.”

  Jenny walked in with a blanket and a basket. “I thought someone might be hungry.”

  Gnaga stepped forward. “Oh, thank you so much. I’m famished.”

  Mace grabbed his arm. “Not so fast, Mr. Klept. I think that was intended for me.”

  Jeff chuckled. “Well done, Gnaga. His reaction was exactly what we have been looking for.”

  Gnaga smiled. “It’s all in the delivery, isn’t it? You have to sell the joke for it to be effective.”

  Jeff pointed. “You see, Mr. Hardy? Education. I’ve managed to teach humor to a species that was largely without it. If the same effort were applied to, say… teaching us to have respect for others, a weapon such as this wormhole device would not be abused.”

  Mace shook his head as he stood. “You’re theory has one big flaw, Doc. You started your experiment with a reasonably well-meaning person. You aren’t gonna re-educate the Hitlers or the Joey Baskums of the world. If given a chance, they’ll unleash their evil on others.”

  “Joey Baskum?” Jeff asked.

  “Yeah. He was a thug I grew up with. Got himself arrested before he could graduate from high school. Went back to prison shortly after his release. He decided to rob a group of drug dealers and ended up in a gun battle. He managed to kill off three of the five he went up against, and was convicted of murder for it. Was rotting in jail when all this went down. Doubt he’s alive today… although, he would fit into Stark’s army. Anyway, some people just seem to be born bad. I would bet that’s the same with every species.”

  Gnaga agreed. “The Kaachi encouraged that type of behavior.”

  Jenny said, “Fried chicken is getting cold.”

  Mace hurried to the door. “Gotta go, Doc. We’ll talk later.”

  A blanket was laid out on the grass. A blue October sky brought with it a cool breeze. The tall, tan stalks of ripe grass made for a private space where small talk, jokes, and longing gazes could be traded. Half a dozen stripped chicken bones lay on a plate. A carafe, previously filled with a fruity wine, sat empty. Mace lay on his back with his eyes looking up. Jenny lay beside him, her arm laid over his chest.

  “This is nice,” Jenny said.

  Mace slowly rolled his head to the side to face her. “Nice doesn’t compare. This is���”

  The shuttle dropped into the field, settling only meters away. As the ramp lowered, Johnny stood looking down at the two with a concerned look on his face.

  “This is… over,” said Mace. “What’s happened?”

  Johnny crossed his arms. “Jasper’s been captured… sort of.”

  Mace sat up. “What? How?”

  Johnny shrugged. “At the moment we don’t know. He boarded a cruiser during a raid. The cruiser managed to jump away. He’s been missing for two hours. Him and two of his Marines.”

  Mace let out a sigh. “The Targarians have any idea of where they went?”

  “Don’t know. You now know what I know.”

  Jenny said, “Go, talk it out for a few minutes. I’ll clean up here and join you in a few.”

  Mace turned and gave Jenny a tender kiss while holding her cheeks in his hands. “Someday we’re gonna finish one of these picnics.”

  Jenny replied, “I look forward to that day.”

  Mace followed Johnny onto the shuttle.

  Johnny laughed. “Must be romantic lying out there in the field in your battlesuits.”

  Mace frowned. “I’ll take what I can get. Given our current situation, we can’t afford not to be ready. Wait… oh great… my helmet is full of ants.”

  Johnny again laughed. “Classic. Jane’s coming, too. Has to finish bathing Zax and Fina. They got a bit too involved in splashing around in the creek. They built a little dam and then started rounding up crayfish. Jane put a stop to it when Fina caught a moccasin with her bare hands.”

  Mace sat. “That’s a scary thought.”

  Johnny chuckled. “We had to explain to her that some creatures bite to protect themselves, and those bites can be deadly. Jane wasn’t happy with the less than timid response. Neither of those two have any fear.”

  “They haven’t known loss or pain.”

  Johnny nodded. “And I know it’s wishful thinking, but I hope they never do. The both of them are just energetic bundles of joy to be around. Other than their curious natures, they’re both well behaved.”

  Jenny walked up the ramp to the shuttle several minutes later. “Jane should be just behind me. Do we have a plan?”

  Mace replied, “We don’t have anything until we know more.”

  Jane hustled up the ramp with her helmet in hand. “Anything new?”

  “We’ll know more in a few minutes. And a moccasin? That could have been bad news. We’re gonna need to get some anti-venom in case anyone gets bit.”

  Jenny strapped herself in. “I’ll have us out for a comm in about ten minutes.”

  The ride was quiet, mostly with Johnny cracking jokes about the canceled picnic. Jane’s scowls saw to it he didn’t get many laughs. When a suitable distance was reached, a micro-wormhole was opened to Alpha Centauri.

  Jasper accepted the comm. “What’s up?”

  Mace replied, “You tell us. We were told you were missing.”

  Jasper nodded. “We had a little mishap. The escort cruiser was called home moments after we boarded. Curiosity got the best of me, so I just rode along to see where it was going. We made a short visit to a depot���was probably two hundred ships parked there. Next was to a shipyard. Looks like they’re gearing up for war. Must have been a hundred docks with ships under construction. Had another couple hundred parked there as well.

  “The most disturbing thing I saw was a new ship. It was much different as compared to the cruisers. I’d call it a freighter. Bad part was it was gatrellium blue. I think they’ve copied our coating that allows a jump through a micro-wormhole. If so, that massive supply of gatrellium they’re sitting on just got a lot bigger.”

  “That’s not good news at all,” said Johnny.

  Jasper shrugged. “It is what it is. Anyway… unless you have something else to discuss… I’ve got work to do. Those freighters don’t pirate themselves.”

  The comm was closed. The Royal Fortune returned to the cave.

  Chapter 19

  *

  Johnny stayed on the ramp as the others walked down. “My shift wasn’t over. I guess that means I have another four hours to just sit up there and listen for news.”

  Jane replied, “Maybe you can work on your humor delivery. I hear Mr. Moskowitz teaches a good course in it.”

  Johnny returned a half smile. “Har, har. You must be a graduate of his.”

  “Nope. Gnaga’s been teaching me,” Jane said.

  Johnny stood staring down the ramp to the shuttle as it closed. The shuttle went invisible and then lifted away. Jane hurried back to the cave.

  Jenny said, “What now, boss?”

  “Now we deal with whatever this is.”

  Two men were walking toward Mace and Jenny, arms in front of them as if feeling for some invisible building. Seconds later, they came through the projected image and into the field were Mace and Jane stood.

  The two men stopped in front of them. “You Hardy?�
�

  “I am,” Mace replied.

  “The king asked that we deliver you a message.”

  “We’re listening.”

  “He wanted to pass the news to you that there was a new threat to the Karthians. Some species calling themselves the Hoorka. Anyway, the King has been given full authority to begin planning for a war with the Hoorka. The Karthians just had a brush-up with them a few days ago. The Hoorka destroyed a city on their home planet, so they’re looking for revenge.”

  Mace said, “So Stark managed to worm his way back into their confidence. Tell me, how’d he convince them to take him back?”

  “He convinced the Karthians that the Hoorka are either the Harpoonians or they are working with the Harpoonians. That’s some pirate species that has been dogging their trade fleets. Anyway, Stark told them he could solve both issues if they gave him a little leeway and a handful of ships to command. He believes if he earns their trust with the pirates, he can wrest command of their entire fleet from them.”

  Jenny shook her head. “They would be fools to place that much trust in him.”

  “Excuse me, ma’am, but the king can and will get things done.”

  Mace asked, “Was there anything else?”

  “That was all we were told to say.”

  Mace pointed. “Do us a favor. When you leave, go through that clump of trees over there. That way you don’t just appear or disappear in the middle of a field when viewed from outside.”

  “I don’t suppose you’d be willing to part with the tech you’re using for this?”

  “Not a chance. Thank Mr. Stark and have a safe journey back.”

  The two men nodded, turned and left.

  Jenny said, “They’re going after Jasper. He’s gonna have to watch out for traps. Stark would love nothing more than to parade the King of the Targarians before crowds of Karthians. That would give him the trust he’s looking for.”

  Four hours later, Johnny’s shift ended. The Royal Fortune landed in its normal spot. Mace and Jenny walked aboard.

  Johnny asked, “You taking her out?”

  Mace nodded. “Going to Alpha. We have some news for Mr. Collins. Stark has been given ships and authority to put a stop to the pirate raids. We might need to change tactics. Jenny had the thought they may try to change things up by setting a trap.”

  Johnny gestured toward the seats. “Have a sit. I’ll take us out.”

  A comm was opened as the shuttle approached the Alpha Centauri base. “Mr. Collins, we have trouble. More specifically, you have trouble.”

  “Tell me something new,” replied Jasper.

  Several minutes later, Jasper met the messengers in the docking bay as the shuttle ramp lowered. “So Stark wants a war? I’ll give him a war.”

  Mace said, “We don’t want to do that. We need to avoid his people. This will be Humans you’d be fighting against. We don’t want to kill Humans.”

  Jasper scowled. “These would be his diehard supporters. They might as well not be Human as far as I’m concerned.”

  “These are also the frontline troops we want fighting the Karthians. All I’m asking here is that we make a few adjustments. If a freighter has an escort ship, and that escort is crewed by Humans, let the freighter go and wait for the next one.”

  Jasper shook his head. “We’ll be playing right into his hands. If he shows the Karthians that ships escorted by his people don’t get attacked, he’s gonna get that trust he’s after.”

  Johnny said, “Or they start thinking he’s somehow in cahoots with the pirates. We could always plant evidence to suggest that.”

  Mace frowned. “He would just use that to point at us. Right now, the Karthians don’t even know we exist. For the time being anyway, let’s limit our raids to ships without escorts.”

  Jasper said, “When they bring those new freighters online, they won’t be needing escorts. They’ll be able to ship all their vital cargoes instantly. That in itself would put us out of business.”

  Johnny chuckled. “You’re putting a lot of faith in their ability to replace their cargo fleet in a hurry. They probably have tens of thousands of ships moving about. It will take them a good chunk of time to change them.”

  “Not necessarily,” said Mace. “If it takes a freighter six months to haul a cargo now, and they can make that same run in a day if you count loading and unloading at a spaceport, each of those new ships is worth a hundred eighty-two of the old ones. They could haul the same cargo as your ten thousand ship fleet with fifty to sixty ships.”

  Jasper said, “From what I saw, they already have a third of what they need.”

  He added, “That also means their economy is about to get a lot more efficient. And I’m sure they’re about to apply the same skin to their warships. They do that and gatrellium conservation goes out the window. They’ll start attacking where they want, when they want.”

  Johnny replied, “That settles it, then. We need to go after their ship construction. Those construction docks have to have reactors on them, right? We could potentially blow that whole shipyard at once.”

  Mace looked at Jasper. “I do like that idea more than the pirate raids. We could halt production at that entire shipyard for months, if not longer.”

  Jasper said, “I’d venture to say that’s not their only construction yard. Maybe we do some snooping around and hit all their yards at once?”

  Mace nodded. “This would also most certainly delay any planned attack on the Hoorka.”

  Jasper sighed. “I guess I could get behind that plan for a while.”

  Johnny said, “We take out those gatrellium ships and their production and we put you back in the pirate business, at least temporarily.”

  “Stop with the hard sell, ape-man. I’ve already signed up for this cruise.”

  Johnny laughed. “Well, all right, then… let’s get this boat in the water.”

  Jasper said, “Where’d you like to begin?”

  Mace thought for a moment. “We need to get our spy team together and scout that shipyard. You think you can have your fleet look for any other yards?”

  Jasper nodded. “Consider it done. And I’m assuming we follow the same procedures as we did setting up Terrex? You provide the info and we’ll rig ‘em up?”

  Mace nodded. “Sounds good.”

  Mace looked at his two friends. “Gentlemen, do you realize that within a week’s time we could bring their ship production to a halt?”

  Jasper replied, “If this works, I’m going to insist we do the same to all their warships. We could stop all of their construction and then have enough firepower to prevent them from starting it up again. Goodbye Karthians.”

  Johnny said, “Well, if we’re gonna do this we need to get it done before they turn half their ships over to Stark. We don’t want him running what’s left of their fleet.”

  Jasper scowled. “If needed, we’ll take down Stark too.”

  The Royal Fortune lifted out of the docking bay and was soon back on Earth. The team of a dozen volunteer spies was assembled and crowded onto the shuttle. A jump to the first Karthian shipyard had the reconnaissance underway.

  Mace said, “We have one hundred four construction docks. Jenny will be our pilot. You’ll each get dropped at a dock and then picked up precisely one hour later. If you can’t make it back, she’ll try to make a return exactly every hour after until we get you picked up. These docks are big, but an hour should give you ample time to scout and record all the information Jasper’s people will need.”

  “We just looking for a single reactor?” Johnny asked.

  Mace nodded. “That’s all we need. Of course, if you can get information on more… that’s even better. More will give Jasper’s team choices. And just as last time, we aren’t in a hurry. Take your time. Don’t get caught or arouse suspicion. If you get bumped into, just move away as quickly and as quietly as you can. If you find it’s too busy to move around, just wait for a pick-up. As I just said, we aren’t in a hurry.
I’d rather be safe and take extra time if needed. Everyone get that?”

  Nods were given in response.

  Jenny said, “I’m just gonna go right down the row. Set your timer as you step off the ramp. I’ll be back every hour from now until you’ve been picked up.”

  The Royal Fortune slid through the gravity wall into an open docking bay. “Looks clear. Whoever’s up, you’re on.”

  The ramp lowered and Liam Hobbs was the first in line. A short hop to the deck and the ramp was closed. After the eleventh hop, the shuttle moved into the docking bay of the twelfth construction dock.

  Jenny turned. “You’re up, boss.”

  “I wish you’d quit calling me that.”

  Jenny smiled. “OK, puddin’, it’s your go.”

  Mace shook his head and chuckled as he flipped his visor shut and activated his projector. “I concede. Boss is fine.”

  Mace hopped to the deck. With little more than a whisper, the ramp closed behind him and the Royal Fortune was gone.

  The deck had a single occupant, who was busily typing away at a console in the room’s corner. The stealth entry did nothing to alert the worker. Thirty meters of walking had Mace standing in front of a set of doors. The overhead sensor for the automatic door saw nothing and the door remained closed. Mace waved his arms in a futile attempt to spring the trigger.

  After a quick look around the bay to check for cameras, it was evident that he was stuck. His hand fell almost a meter short of the high doorway and higher up sensor. A walk to the worker’s desk had Mace looking over the Karthian’s shoulder. The worker was typing away on what looked like a report. After an inspection of the desk and console, Mace found a power switch and flipped to the “Off” position. The console shut down.

  The worker threw out several choice words, banged on the console, and then stood. Walking quickly with an angry stare, he moved to the automatic door and out into the hallway. Mace followed. Twenty minutes of searching located a power room with five reactors all showing white on their monitors. Mace moved in and around each unit so as to get a high quality video of the outer case. The innards, the portion where the explosive devices would be located, had already been logged by Jasper’s teams.