“Something of an academic question, but why are the Molochs trying to wipe out our friends?”
“Pure meanness.”
“See that a lot nowadays.” His dark eyes gave me a questioning look. “I assume you have a plan.”
“I’m working on one.”
As Rab relaxed in his room, a tall drink in his hand, I returned to my office and stared at the screen. It was becoming a habit with me. The Aristolans did have their backs to the ocean, but that could also be a plus. Betsy had only minimal information about Vega and the cannibalistic Molochs, but she informed me they did not have a Navy, or at least not enough of a Navy to launch an invasion. Which meant we would not be completely surrounded.
I wondered if low-yield atomic devices might be the solution to our problem. Explode five of such devices far enough in Moloch territory and no army could penetrate it without a 98 percent casualty rate. Although we’d have to be very precise in exploding the devices. We had bombs that would leave a 50-mile stretch of radiation. I was guessing the borders of the Aristolan territory stretched for about 300 miles. So we would need six bombs. There were other methods. Even our “clean” atomic devices were somewhat messy. If our enemies were close to the Aristolan border, or inside the border, atomic bombing would have to be ruled out. The Aristolan “Belgium” was too small. The bombs would devastate the Moloch armies as well as Aristolan civilians.
Landmines might be a solution. Sow thousands, rather tens of thousands, of landmines along the border. Sow miles and miles of them. Any invading soldiers would be blown apart. Gen. Sherman considered mines as terrorist weapons, not legitimate in war. But actually they’re defensive weapons and superb for a small nation facing a large, aggressive army. Trouble was, I didn’t have tens of thousands of mines and, even with Belen’s vast resources, I didn’t think she had the amount of explosives needed. We could buy them. The military black market has always been lucrative, but it would take time and Belen’s timetable didn’t give us that much time.
Laser walls? No, too many technical problems and I didn’t have the laser weapons needed. It occurred to me I needed to ask Belen just how much military firepower was in storage. She had ample resources, but most of them were civilian in nature. She didn’t have a standing army, nor were her companies churning out military weapons.
“The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike at him as hard as you can and as often as you can, and keep moving on.” A famous quote from Gen. U.S. Grant. Most of the time it’s true. But our private war on Vega was one of the exceptions. We knew where the enemy was but we didn’t have the power to strike at him hard or often. We would be in a defensive position. We didn’t care about annihilating our enemy. We just wanted them to leave us alone. A slightly analogous position to Grant’s enemy during the Civil War. A war he won rather handily by grinding down and defeating his opponents. Not an optimistic note to begin the Vega campaign on.
When the knock came, I absentmindedly strolled over and opened.
The small boot hammered my jaw. I felt the tough Derekian leather smack my skin, knocking me back on the carpet. I rolled just enough as the next boot smashed the floor two inches from my nose. I whipped my arm around and caught Carmen Hidalgo, clad in army fatigues, behind her knees, sweeping her legs from under her. She jumped to her feet as quickly as I did, arms up in combat stance. I blocked a punch, then knocked her flat with a right to her jaw. She didn’t jump back up this time. She raised herself up on her elbows and spat out a dollop of blood.
“Still upset about Garralphap, Carmen? If you think I did anything wrong why don’t you be like our friends Eric and Amelia and try forgiveness?”
“Like hell.” she said, flipping to her feet.
We circled around each other. I didn’t want an extended combat engagement with Carmen. I wondered how long she wanted to carry this one. As we maneuvered around the room, I slightly dropped my guard. In a split second her punch squeezed my lip against my teeth, and blood spurted from my mouth. I sighed and wiped it away.
“One last punch… sir.” she said. She stood at attention and saluted.
“I assume you wish to volunteer.”
“For a hundred thousand dollars I sure do.”
I wiped a smear of blood from my chin.
“You’re hired.”
She smiled. “Thank you, sir.”
I pointed toward the first floor. “Downstairs take the left corridor. Three doors in you will see a woman in a room. Tell her you have signed on for the Vega mission. She will make your initial payment to any bank you want.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“The second-in-command on this mission is Rab.”
“I don’t like him.”
“That’s only fair. He doesn’t like you. As opposed to me, who thinks you’re a doll.”
The giggles shook her body. Then she gave me a serious stare. “No hard feelings, sir?”
“No hard feelings.” I paused for a moment. “It’s good to have you on the mission, Carmen.”
I was going to talk to Belen, but she came out of her office accompanied by a priest and Jaclyn. They appeared to be in intense discussion. Jaclyn smiled. She was always smiling. It filled you with warmth. It made you want to help old ladies and gently pet puppies. Belen pointed to me as I walked toward the group.
“Father Diego, this is Logan Ryvenbark. He will be leading the military unit that will accompany us to Vega.”
The priest was middle-age, solid black hair, dark eyes. He had an intensity about him like low-grade electricity. I was surprised I wasn’t jolted when we shook hands.
“You’re coming too?” I asked.
“Yes, the trip to Vega is very important to me, and to the church.”
Belen put her hand on his shoulders. “Father, why don’t you go downstairs with Jaclyn? I need to talk to Logan about military matters.”
“And one or two other things.” I said.
“So good to see you again.” Jaclyn said.
She meant it. Sincerity oozed from the lady like waters from a dam. She reached for me and gently touched my lips.
“What happened?” she said. “You’re bleeding.”
I took a handkerchief and mopped up the last drop of blood. “Nothing serious. An occupational hazard.”
I watched the two as they walked down the stairs, and then joined Belen in her office. She told me she had just e-mailed me a list of military weapons available. I sat uneasily in the chair before her desk.
“I will look them over. You’re taking a priest with us?”
“Of course. The church is intensely interested in this mission.”
I paused for a moment. “I guess it would be. An unfallen race. A possible unfallen race. Belen, you wear a small gold cross now. Have you returned to the faith?”
She nodded. “Yes, I have. This is a great opportunity for believers. It’s a fallen universe and every race is full of the traits the church refers to as the seven deadly sins. Jaclyn seems to be the exception to that, but what will happen when creation sees a race like her? A race that has remained sinless through the ages. A peaceful, enlightened race with only virtue in its veins, no sin, no selfishness, no greed, no lust for power.
“I’ve seen Jaclyn and I’m incredibly impressed. But a whole race? Consider me skeptical.” I said.
“Why? Just because Adam screwed up Earth doesn’t mean there wasn’t another creation on another planet. The first man there might have stayed sinless. The woman stayed sinless. Their children share the traits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness…”
There must have been a blank look on my face.
“That’s from Galatians.” she said. “The fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and self-control. You do have knowledge of the scriptures, correct?”
My irritation lowered the tone of my voice. “Yes, I am aware of them and I have read the Bible along with many other great books of ou
r culture, and I could have taken an approximate guess about which chapter that scripture came from.”
“Then you will understand why this could be a great boon to the church. It would essentially prove that our faith is the truth.”
“That would certainly give Fr. Diego an advantage over other belief systems. Does that account for your enthusiasm in getting to Vega?”
“Part of it, yes. But what I told you about the ancient race is true. The weapons should be in their cities buried miles below the surface.” Belen said.
“Good, glad to hear it.”
“Now you understand why Fr. Diego is here. If Jaclyn isn’t proof of a sinless race, then at least she’s a reason to find out about the race on Vega.” She stared at me with the brilliant Belen eyes. “Look at Jaclyn. Isn’t she different than any other human you’ve ever met?”
I thought about the question for at least a minute before slowly nodding. “There is something… indescribable about her. Maybe Eve had it before the Fall. Maybe. Perhaps the word I’m searching for in thinking about her is righteous. Haven’t seen much of that among humans. Feels almost alien when you sense it. If true, no wonder I felt like kneeling in her presence.”
Belen nodded.
“But not every human would feel like that.” I said. “If this is true, then I’m guessing every sinful, fallen race in the galaxy – with maybe one or two exceptions - will try to exterminate the Aristolans. Evil also seeks to extinguish the good and the innocent.”
She took a large sip of her drink. “I thought about that too. But we have protection for them, don’t we?”
“I’m not sure what a dozen men could do against the galaxy.”
“It’s not that hopeless, is it? The Deltans would be on our side. They’d be one of the races welcoming the Aristolans.”
“Yes, they would. One out of many races. And they’re fighting for their existence, too. Says something about creation, doesn’t it? All races, with one possible exception, seem to have fallen.”
I looked around. “What time is it?”
Belen must have had a clock on her desk. “Still don’t drink until five, Logan. It’s two minutes before five. Want me to mix you a drink and give it to you in 121 seconds?”
“I’d appreciate that.” I said, smiling.
After gulping half the glass, I asked, “How do you plan to get the Aristolans off the planet?”
“I’m working on that. If all goes well, by the time we leave I’ll have four monster transport ships. Each can carry about fifty thousand.”
“So the church will have a perfect race to point to when anyone questions its teaching.”
“And the Aristolans will be saved from the extermination.” Her tone carried a rebuke in it. “Sometimes people do odd and even bizarre things when you discuss faith with them. That’s why I wanted you to lead the mission to Vega. I trust you.” she said. “Anyone else might have backed out, given the odds and the mission.”
I chewed on my cigar. “I won’t back out. I have three born-again Christians in my squadron. Men of courage and integrity. I don’t share their faith, but I respect it. Besides, one of them saved my life two years ago.”
She smiled, raised her glass and took a sip. “So when will all of your men be here?”
“By the end of the week.”
“With the Christians?”
“Yes. I’m guessing they will be extremely curious about our mission too. This is so intriguing they might have gone for free.”
“No, I’ll be glad to pay them.” She swirled the liquor around in her glass. “So, have you figured out a plan to keep the Aristolans alive until we can get them in the transports?”
“I have a few ideas but I need to look at your list of military hardware.”
She paused for a moment. “Your opposition is two million blood-thirsty, blood-lusting savages who are just above the level of animals. Or maybe just below. They are massing for one final attack. An attack that will annihilate the Aristolans once and for all.”
“Then we are going to need a very good plan. I’ve fought in a lot of battles, both on land and in the air, but I’ve never faced odds like these.”
“I have confidence in you, Logan.” She raised her glass.
I walked over and clicked mine on hers.
“To victory.” she said.
Chapter 3
Eric Norton and John Devins came in two hours later. They were two of the born-again Christians I knew, and Eric was the man who saved my life. I shook their hands and told them I was glad they were on the team. Eric was a lanky guy, about six-two, but his slender frame made him seem taller. Slender, but incredibly strong. He had a cocky grin and his rambling, shuffling way of walking would never convince anyone he was in the military. But he was a fine marksman and incredibly skillful with any weapon you put in his hands.
Devins was a red-faced hunk of a man, with close-cropped blond hair. He had a booming voice and could speak six different languages. He was something of a scholar. I often thought an academic career would have fit him. He also seemed suited to time in a monastery. In contemplation, he found moments of joy. In the military we don’t get much contemplation, but he seemed perfectly happy in less-than-meditative times too.
When Clint Lamour saddled in, I greeted him by shaking his firm hand. Lamour had a heavy Texas accent which could disguise the fact that he had a background in engineering and weapons technology. Dark brown skin and tough as leather, he was a jovial guy who was always pleasant to be around.
As Lamour left, he high-fived Stephanie Aug as she entered my office. At only five-four, Stephanie could light up a room just by walking into it. Round, luminous dark eyes and a smile that beamed at you. She was solitary and jovial, and deadly in the trenches. The little gal was a master with a knife. With other weapons too, including laser rifles - which I had a hunch we’d be using on this mission. In Stephanie’s culture, the handshake was an elbow clench. Two people grab each other arm’s to the elbow. Then kiss on both cheeks. Which we did.
“Steph, so good to see you.” I said.
“I understand you have a little excitement planned.” she said, flashing a smile.
“I hope we get as little excitement as possible. I’m hoping for a very dull, routine mission.”
“That will be unusual. I prefer adventure and excitement.”
I pointed toward the screen. “You have skills in tactics and strategies; let me show you something.”
I showed her our outer space Belgium on Vega. I had given the Aristolan territory a blue outline. Long stretches of brown were inside part of the blue lines.
“The browns are the mountain ranges. Three long ranges that now make up most of the borders. The two valleys are here and here.” I pointed out.
“With the little opening near the sea.” she said.
I nodded. There was a space between one of the ranges and the ocean.
“Ten miles of open land.” I said.
“There are two other holes between the ranges. How long are they?” she asked.
“Both run about thirty miles between the mountains. Open spaces that an army could march through very easily.”
“And the mountains? Could an army march over those?”
“Yes, but it would take a while, at least with two of them. We’ll call them A, B and C.”
“Darn, you are always so clever and creative, Logan.” she said.
Deadly Voyage (Logan Ryvenbark's Saga Book 1) Page 3
