Frank did his best to look impassive as he said, "I don't get excited, sir. I just get prepared."
Milner stared at Frank for several more seconds, then decided it was pointless to argue. He moved on to briefly inspect Sergeant Buehl's uniform, glancing at it up and down, and then waved his hand and said, "You know what, I'm too anxious to begin for any more formalities. What do you folks say? Do you want to get started now?"
"Yes, sir!" Hill and Simone called out in unison.
The general clapped his hands and rubbed them together briskly, "All right, at ease then. I'm envious of you all, I admit it. I had some of the best moments of my career when I ran Grendel. Sitting behind a desk gets old, let me tell you. Being here, in the thick of it, planning your op, it gets the blood flowing again."
"We're honored to have your guidance, sir," Captain Hill said.
"Absolutely, sir, thank you again," Simone chimed in.
Frank felt the muscles around his eye twitching involuntarily. He wondered if anyone else could see it.
The General looked past them at the hanger doors and said, "Right on time. That's a good sign."
A gaunt, bird-chested man came through the doors carrying a computer tablet in his scarred, discolored hands. He was a slight, skinny man, with dark circles of baggy flesh under his eyes that looked like loose chicken skin. His voice was deceptively soft and slightly high-pitched, with a kind of oily quality that made Frank's skin crawl. "I apologize for not being here sooner, General," he said. "I have been adding important notes about the first target to our operational plan."
Yultorot.
The man's name and face were seared into his brain by the fires at Andoho-Sky and the hundreds of murdered women and children. The bastard actually nodded to Frank as he walked past to hand the tablet to General Milner and Frank said, "What are you looking at, child killer?"
Buehl touched Frank's arm, making sure his friend wasn't about to launch forward and whispered, "Not yet."
Frank glared at Yultorot and said, "Don't you ever look at me again or I'll carve out your eyes, you understand me?"
Yultorot scowled in disgust as if the very idea of such violence were too far beneath him to indulge. The General's face went flush, but before he could say anything, Captain Hill had his arm around Frank's shoulder and was leading him away from the rest of the group. "We've been over this, Frank," Hill said. "Yultorot is a major asset for us now and you're going to have to live with it."
Frank took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He needed to get a grip if any of this was going to work. He needed the rest of the crew to believe he was on board enough to put his plan into play. He swallowed his anger and said, "I'm sorry. It's just, you weren't there. You didn't see all those dead kids."
"I know, Frank," Hill said calmly. "I can't imagine what that was like, but right now, you have to look past it. The General has made a decision and we will stand by it. After all, that's what you agreed to in order to stay out of prison, isn't it?"
Frank closed his eyes and nodded.
"Whatever Grendel Unit used to be is gone, Frank. Cojo and Monster are gone. I know you aren't exactly happy about that, but that's life and you have to face it. Now, Grendel is just you and me, like it was in the beginning. Maybe like it should have always been, but I can't do this without you. Can I count on you, Frank?"
Frank looked at the other man for a moment, then said, "I'll do my best."
Hill patted him on the shoulder and said, "Good. Come on. He's starting the briefing without us."
They walked back to join the others, who each held a tablet as Yultorot instructed them, "I will be the one making contact with the target. This has to be done very low key, because he is probably the most skittish person I've ever dealt with. You must do exactly as I say, or else he will become suspicious and alert the others."
General Milner nodded solemnly, "That's fine. My team will do whatever it takes. What happens after you make contact?"
"I'll purchase the explosives and transmit our location. You can all swoop in and either kill him or arrest us both. Simple."
Milner scanned through his tablet and said, "Perfect. Nice job. Let's make it happen."
Frank turned to Bob and whispered, "Am I nuts, or is the asset planning the operation?"
"First time I've ever seen it," Buehl said. "Day one, Vic said to me that the golden rule of Grendel Unit is we do not educate the assets. We keep them in the dark and feed them horse crap, just like mushrooms."
"No, that's what he said we do with bosses."
Bob smiled slightly, "Actually, that's what he said we do with both. I bet he's turning over in his grave right now."
"He's not dead," Frank said. "Don't say that."
"He might as well be."
"Well if he is, you and I are going to resurrect him. Just do your part and let me handle the rest," Frank whispered.
"Then start doing a better job of going with the flow. Stop causing trouble," Buehl said.
Frank shrugged and said, "If I stopped causing trouble, they'd all get suspicious and think something was up."
An hour later they were all boarding the new ship while the General waved them on. Frank noticed he shook hands with Yultorot. He looked at all of them, including the terrorist, and said, "Listen. I'm counting on each and every one of you. Be careful."
Yultorot followed Commander Simone up the ramp, keeping his eyes on the ground as he passed Frank. Not looking at him.
"Lieutenant?" the general called out.
Frank came back down the ramp and said, "Yes, sir?"
"Listen, I know all this hasn't been easy on you. It's not your fault, of course. Cojo was a bad apple and he filled your heads up with all sorts of the wrong ideas. The biggest shame of it all was that he took Monster down with him. Just be grateful you walked away when you did. Otherwise, you'd be rotting in Gratersfield with them."
Frank nodded. He'd heard this speech before.
"Just keep your chin up and do your job and everything will be fine," Milner said. "I need you on this team, Frank. Hill and Simone are the best of the best with bright futures ahead of them, but you've got a little more field experience than they do. I want you to keep an eye on them and make sure nothing happens. I want you to treat them like they are your family, you understand? Your family." The general's eyes narrowed on Frank as he said, "It's been a long time since Iscariot-Four, all right?"
Not long enough, Frank thought, but when the general extended his hand, Frank took it and squeezed firmly. There you go, Bob, he thought. I'm playing nice.
"You need a win on this one, Frank. Your career depends on it, but I know you'll be up to the challenge. Don't let me down," Milner said.
Frank let go immediately and turned to head up into the ship. He wiped his hand on his pants leg as he walked. No, it most certainly had not been easy on him, but then again, it was better than being trapped in the lowest level of the lowest hole in the universe with thousands of blood-thirsty aliens trying to rip out his innards.
But if anyone could survive Gratersfield, it was Vic and Monster.
And that's all I need you two crazy bastards to do, Frank thought. Survive long enough for me to stuff these two amateurs into Baumgartner suits and send them hurtling toward a deserted planet, because we're coming to bust you out.
THEN
2. Shut Up, Be Happy
From The Philosophy of Unification, Chapter Four, Birth of an Ideal
Required Reading for General Civics Credit, Galactic Sectors 6-202
Unification Education Counsel
In the last days of the Verillius Cycle, the final High Evolutionist Priest, Tamar the Defiler, ended the era of organized religion with these fateful words: "Everything I have ever believed in is a lie. The holy books are wrong. We have reached our final stage of humanity and will evolve no more."
It was a crushing blow to a massive religious empire that was based on the idea that someday homo sapiens would develop new physical a
nd mental characteristics that allowed them greater advantages. The priests taught that by attending their weekly instructional sermons and daily mediation-praying, one would eventually form a symbiotic bond with various machines and cyber-instruments. Or, that by enrolling in various courses and seminars, you might break free of your biological and genetic prison and suddenly fly off into the sky, or shoot laser beams out of your hands.
They argued with the scientific establishment that the mystical forces of higher evolution could not be explained by mere study, or proven by simple observation. It required faith. It required faith and it required devotion and it required a lot of money. Particularly, the money of those who wished to evolve the fastest, or had the most desperate need.
"Humanity," Tamar went on to say, "Does not change. It has not changed since the earliest stages of ancient man, who first stood upright and fashioned tools out of stone and wood. Technology will change. The planets we inhabit will change. Our governments will change. We, as an individual human species, will not. We are, despite all of our glorious achievements, no physically different than the Romans, nor the Americans, nor the Europa Colonists, nor the Prime Inhabitants of Reparian Four. And, more importantly, those who come after us will be no different. They will spread this never-changing humanity far and wide across the universe, for it is our nature, as those we encounter will soon learn."
Eight hundred years later, humanity had, in fact, spread to multiple solar systems and mapped those that were inhabited by countless other creatures to be explored and exploited and harvested for resources. Then, just as the fateful words of Tamar the Defiler were at their most grimly apparent, an astonishing thing happened: The Council of Planetary Ministers abolished their policy of colonization in favor of a new philosophy. One of Unification.
Instead of colonization, they would include native inhabitants and cultures into their fold. An open invitation was extended across every galaxy, in hopes that the uncivilized and undeveloped might someday take a place at the great table of civilization. Strict measures were taken to ensure that no eligible species individuality was lost as they joined the greater collective, including incorporating select portions of their histories and culture into our own.
Of course, this did not sit well with some.
A few misguided cynics said that Unification was the same as those ancient religions, which spread by absorbing local inhabitants' gods and legends and customs and holidays into their own larger, more pervasive systems. These cynics claimed that unifying with foreign inhabitants was essentially the same as colonizing them, but now, rather than stationing armies on their planet to ensure their subjugation, we offered them defense contracts and food replicators and the importation of our goods.
And finally, there were the zealots.
These rebels adopted the name Sapienists, and they rose up against this policy by declaring that humans had a sovereign right over all other species, and a moral responsibility to rule and govern. And while the more metropolitan systems laughed off the extremist views and paid them little attention, there were others who were not laughing. Struggling systems with fewer opportunities and resources were targeted by the zealots, and soon became infested with the belief that Unification was ignoring their needs in order to provide better lives for the various aliens scattered all across the universe.
"Humans First," became their rallying cry, and when their attempts to be heard fell on deaf ears, they found a new way to make people listen.
The first recorded attack occurred over thirty years ago, when a public transportation craft carrying mixed species was blown up by pro-human terrorists. Since then, Unification has continued to pursue its policy of integration while attempting to root out the Sapienists and those who would use terror to halt progress.
Rest assured, your government is aware of the situation and doing everything possible to end the conflict in the most peaceful, and efficient way possible. It is imperative that all Unification citizens educate themselves to avoid the insidious and false propaganda campaigns conducted by Sapienists in every corner of our collective body. Perhaps you, or someone in your family, knows a Sapienist and have been exposed to their lies.
There are multiple pamphlets available at your local Unification Works! information stations designed to assist you in educating others about the policies that provide for you and your entire planet.
Remember to begin with the Unification Essentials Series, including:
A Universal Year - Adapting your indigenous methods of telling time to Unification Standard.
Every Day is a Holiday, But Which Ones Do I Get Paid For? - Now that we've adopted so many species holidays as our own, this guide will tell you which ones qualify you for days off, or extra pay.
Military Service: Securing Your Future, and Ours - Looking for a life of adventure and travel? Do you desire to protect your galactic sector and serve your fellow Unification citizens? Unification Military Veterans receive huge scholarships and tuition bonuses, as well as real world experience that future employers will want. Opportunities are available for recruits to become doctors, pilots, clandestine intelligence operatives, and much more!*
Contact your local Unification Military Services Recruitment Offices for an application and see if you have what it takes!
Disclaimer: Acceptance into the academy is on a limited basis. All applicants must sign a liability waiver prior to their entrance exam due to possibility of death, dismemberment, or otherwise catastrophic event.
*Specialized positions, such as those mentioned above, are extremely competitive and not guaranteed.
3. When Will They Shoot?
A large crowd of people crashed into one another in the background of the newsfeed flashing on the vid screen. Their shouting and chanting was loud enough to force the reporter to cover one of her ears and duck her head toward the small transmitter pinched between her fingers. "We are live from the scene of a mass demonstration in front of Unification's newest embassy, located on Zucariah Outpost," she shouted over the crowd. "Human settlers are protesting their forced relocation in order to make room for the arrival of yet another alien species into accepted citizen status."
The feed cut to a small, purple-skinned figure with tiny black eyes, standing behind a podium. The creature looked up at the room full of dignitaries and said, "We are pleased that Unification has finally lived up to its name and given the Zucariahians a rightful voice in the governance of our own planet."
The reporter's face re-appeared back on the screen, she was glancing nervously to her side as the angry mob closed in around her. "That was…that was Supreme Malec III, the elected leader of the Zucariahians, communicating his−" her voice changed to a high pitched yelp as a bottle sailed through the air and crashed on the ground near her. "Forget this, we're out of here!" she shouted, throwing up her hands to knock the hovering camera drone out of her way as she took off running. The camera was knocked off its gyroaxis and fell sideways, catching an upside-down image of the crowd chasing the reporter down.
In the sky above the reporter, a squadron of Unification military ships could be seen lowering to the planet's surface, carrying hundreds of armored riot police. The feed turned to static momentarily until another reporter appeared onscreen, this one sitting at a news desk in a brightly lit broadcasting station. His shimmering blue suit was sharply pressed and his thick, wavy hair was brushed back and sprinkled with glitter. "Well," he said, his face a carefully-practiced look of calm, but sincere, concern, "Things certainly look like they're getting intense down there. Earlier I had the chance to speak with one of the young leaders of the Sapienist movement on the condition of anonymity, and you will not believe what he had to say."
The blurred-out face of a hooded man appeared on screen. His voice was digitized and deep when he said, "The Sapienist movement is dead. We're moving beyond that. I don't consider myself a Sapienist, I consider myself a disciple. The human God has given us dominion over all the sludgesuckers in the unive
rse, but because of people like you, who debase yourselves by consorting with non-humans, he is going to punish you. We are his punishment. We are the cleansing fire."
Frank Kelly looked away from the vidscreen in disgust, but then he saw that the man sitting next to him on the interstellar transport was nodding along. When the Sapienist said, "We are the cleansing fire," the man mumbled, "Damn right."
Frank picked up his bag and changed his seat.
After he landed planet-side, he took the first shuttle he could find to the Unification Federal Courthouse. Back at school, all of his friends were still celebrating their graduation from college. Frank had thrown his cap into the air with the others and turned around and walked back to his dorm room to start packing.
When he arrived at the courthouse, he waited in the long line of people trying to enter, going through the invasive security scan like everyone else. He never said his last name, and never said who he was there to see.
He found a pretty young secretary sitting at the desk in the office outside of the judge's chambers, and she looked up as Frank Kelly walked in. There were various photographs and certificates decorating the walls around her, all of them also bearing the name Frank Kelly and images of a man who resembled him, just with gray hair and looser jowls. Frank smiled at the secretary and said, "Is the judge in?"
She nodded and said, "I can check. Your name please?"
Frank leaned down and said, "I'm his son, but I'd prefer if you didn't tell him. It's kind of a surprise. I just flew in this morning."
She whispered that she understood and got up from her chair to knock on Judge Kelly's door and said, "There's someone here to see you, your honor."
"Who is it?" a man responded from inside.
Frank wiggled his yellow graduation tassel in the doorway and said, "The guy you just spent a fortune on sending to school. I figured I'd show you what all your money bought."
The judge stood up and threw his arms wide, "There's my boy! I watched the whole ceremony on the vidscreen. I cheered when they called your name. What a ceremony."
Grendel Unit 2: Ignition Sequence Page 2
