“Ah, no wonder you are the boss’s favorite Earthling. Please follow me.” Scrit led Allistor across the store, which seemed a good bit busier than the last time he’d visited. Once again the imp sat him in a waiting area before going to alert Harmon of his presence.
“Allistor! Good morning.” Harmon emerged from his office, a big smile exposing all of his sharp lower tusks. “What brings you to my humble establishment?” Behind him, Scrit stuck out his tongue and crossed his eyes, then turned and headed back to his post.
“I thought I’d come and taste some goblin stew, or whatever your chefs use the meat for.” Allistor kept his best poker face as he stood to shake the orcanin’s hand.
“Ha! Were you actually willing to partake, your reputation with my troops would increase greatly! But I suspect you are… what is that human term? Pulling my finger?”
Allistor couldn’t help but laugh. “Pulling your leg. And yes, I am. I actually wanted to talk to you about satellites. For Earth, I mean. Thank you for installing the defense net over Orion, by the way.”
“You are most welcome. I think I got the better end of that deal, of course. The orbital trade station is now up and running, and already making me money. There is a great deal of interest in Orion, and at least a hundred factions have sent representatives in hopes of buying land at auction. Apparently there was a leak of the planetary survey results.” The merchant grinned. “Those representatives are filling my available visitor’s suites, and spending money while they await the auction.”
“Awesome! And speaking of spending money, I need to know two things. First is what it would cost to install a similar network around earth.” He held up a hand as Harmon opened his mouth. “I know, I’m not allowed to do that. Yet. But I have plans.” He winked as Harmon closed his mouth and rolled his eyes. “More immediately, I would like to put a satellite in orbit that can scan the planet for me. One I can use to find settlements across Earth. I plan to start visiting them, taking trainers and supplies with me, and do what I can to unite the remaining humans.”
Harmon looked concerned. “Allistor, I can provide the tech you want, even have it in place later today. It’s not expensive, really. But I… can I offer advice without you taking offense?”
“Of course, my friend.” Allistor braced himself.
“Your thirst for vengeance has motivated you to achieve what you have so far. And that is probably a good thing. But your constant references to humans versus aliens and the need to make humans stronger while excluding the other settlers on Earth… it is beginning to cost you. And it will likely cost you more if you continue as you have been.”
“What do you mean?” Allistor had a suspicion, but wanted Harmon to spell it out.
“Well, I’m sure you’re aware that your anti-alien statements have created some friction between your human and beastkin citizens. This will likely carry over to the dwarves as well. Beyond that, the non-humans who have settled here already, or plan to settle here, are concerned that the only Planetary Prince of Earth may target them for being non-human. While I know you well enough to know that your vengeance is focused specifically on the ancient ones who acquired earth on behalf of the Collective, others are not aware of the distinction. It sounds to them as if you despise all non-humans.” Harmon took a deep breath. “And, as I’ve warned you before, you are many, many years from being powerful enough to enact your revenge. If you ever will be.”
Allistor had indeed been thinking about Gralen’s previous comments regarding fear among the beastkin immigrants. But he hadn’t realized his own attitude was having such far-reaching and misguided consequences.
“I’m… I’m sorry, Harmon. I’ll try to do better. I’m… damn.” He shook his head. “Doesn’t the fact that I’ve recruited so many non-humans already alleviate that concern?”
Harmon shook his head. “There are many thousands of species in the Collective, my friend. Elves, Dwarves, Humans, my own people, we’re all variations on the same original species. What you would call humanoids. The much wider variety of species that look less like you and I, who have come to Earth and not been included in your faction so far, are growing concerned.”
“I understand.” Allistor was getting tired of every word or deed having some larger impact on himself and his people because of the whole reputation system. “Thanks for saying something. I’ll try to do better.” He sat back down, biting his bottom lip as he thought.
Harmon extended an olive branch. “I might be able to assist you with a few introductions. To some of the more… alien races, for lack of a better term. You might establish friendly relations, or even trade agreements. And of course, some of them are looking to gain your favor in order to procure prime locations on Orion.”
Allistor nodded. “Let’s do that. Maybe in the next couple days? And uh… try to warn me about anything I shouldn’t say, or do? Like, don’t introduce me to somebody who will declare a blood feud if I offer to shake a hand. If they even have hands. Shit.”
Chuckling, Harmon replied, “We’ll start you off with the very friendliest of species. Let you get your feet wet, so to speak.”
“In the meantime, you can get that satellite up?”
Harmon nodded, using his wrist device to pull up some information, then a hologram. “We have a few options, all of which you can easily afford…”
*****
When he was through speaking with Harmon, Allistor headed back to the Tower. There were arrangements to be made for the Skill School. As he walked, Allistor looked up at the sky. He still spotted the occasional ship entering the atmosphere as more colonists arrived, and wondered how many were going to be friendly, and how many would need to be eliminated. Despite Harmon’s comments, which Allistor really did appreciate, he wasn’t going to apologize for putting humans first.
The satellite Harmon sold him had capabilities he hadn’t dreamed of. It could transmit everything from simple images of the planet’s surface, to heat-sensing, motion detection down to a target the size of a housecat, and three dimensional holograms complete with topography. It could even scan below the oceans’ surface and give him an accurate picture of the landscape down there. It was solar powered, and had its own collector for hydrogen molecules to use as thruster fuel when necessary, to hold its orbit or shift to a new position. And, of course, Nigel was able to assume its operation and communications functions. It had the added benefit of being able to bounce signals to areas around the globe that Redd’s short wave radios weren’t reaching.
Back at the tower, he requested that three raid groups of five low level citizens meet him at the Citadel in Cheyenne. He was also bringing along Amanda, Prime, and William. As they passed through the teleport and began to walk toward the waiting group, the squire practically stomped along behind him, disappointed because he couldn’t join Chloe and the others in learning to be bards. He apparently couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket. Allistor brought him along to distract him.
Before heading out the gate, Allistor called for a half dozen battle droids to join them, two to escort each of the small raid groups. They were going to be clearing several buildings, where the mobs, if they found any, would likely be low level. But he wanted the droids available to step in as tanks in case his people got in trouble. He, Amanda, William, and Fuzzy would clear buildings as a fourth group.
His discussion with Helen and Longbeard hadn’t offered him up the perfect location for his first Skill School compound. He’d wanted one with everything his people could need nearby, including forest, water for fishing, a mine for training, and space for farming outside the compound itself. Not finding exactly what he wanted, he was tempted to wait until the new satellite’s scans could be reviewed in depth, and use that information. But time was not on his side, and he needed to get the accommodations ready for at least the first hundred and fifty right away.
So they’d chosen a safe location that offered most of what he wanted.
Right between the Citadel in Cheyenne a
nd the Silo on the Air Force base sat the Cheyenne Frontier Days complex. It was huge, with several buildings including a rodeo/auction arena, an old west museum, an exhibition hall, and several large parking lots that accommodated hundreds of trucks with horse trailers. He intended to use the existing buildings as part of the school, and place the new compound on the parking areas.
In addition, to the east of the complex, between it and the Citadel, right next to the airport, was Lions Park. It featured several useful structures as well, like a botanical garden for the folks looking to practice herbology and alchemy, and an aquatic center, which Helen said was a building with a bunch of indoor pools and water recreation stuff. And the park surrounded Sloan Lake, which could be used for fishing as well as boating.
Also, to the north and west the complex bordered on Abscarra Lake and recreation area, as well as Kiwanis lake, next to the Cheyenne Country Club and two different golf courses. There were small wooded areas and overgrown fields where hunters and rangers could train, or farmers could use to skill up. And Helen said there was an old silver mine in Cheyenne, though she didn’t know where. Allistor would have to rely on the miners, or maybe the dwarves, to locate it.
Since it was so close to the Citadel, the groups simply strolled out the front gate and down the switchbacks. He handed out bits of dragon jerky to everyone so that they’d have the buffs. There was regular vehicle traffic between the Silo and Citadel at this point, with foraging crews traversing the area regularly. Allistor didn’t expect to be attacked as they walked, and suspected all the buildings in the Frontier Days complex would have been cleared already, but one never really knew.
When they reached the airport, they turned straight southwest and took a short cut across the airport’s runways and open grassland. Crossing a four-lane road, they stopped just inside Lion’s Park. Gathering his raiders around him, Allistor said, “Okay, let’s make a loop around the lake to the south. Each group take a building as we reach them.” Amanda sent raid invites to everyone as he spoke. “Keep an eye out for ambush predators in the trees and bushes. And don’t get too close to the lake.” He pictured the massive lake sturgeon he’d found in another lake early on.
“Call out in raid chat if you need help. The battle droids will simply observe, or move heavy obstacles, unless you get in trouble. In which case they’ll step in and tank while you recover, or retreat. I want nobody getting hurt here today, understood? There’s just no reason for it. If things get dicey, retreat and call for help.”
His people all nodded. Most of them were between level fifteen and twenty. He took a moment to create a quest for them, in case they didn’t run across any mobs that would grant experience.
Quest: Conquer the Frontier!
Clear and secure the Frontier Days complex and Lions Park so that Prince Allistor can claim them and construct the Skill School.
Reward: 100,000 klax; 200,000xp; First in Line status when the Skill School opens.
He hit the button and watched as everyone unfocused to read and accept the quest. Amanda snorted. “Skill school. Worst stuff-naming-skills ever.” Fuzzy nodded his head in agreement. So did William.
The groups split up, walking in a wide line through the park, one group after another taking the buildings as they came. The parties ran across nothing more dangerous than a level fifteen canid that had been wandering about in the botanical garden. There were some lower level vermin that must have spawned near the end of Stabilization. In a little over two hours, the park was clear.
Crossing the next road, they moved into the complex grounds. This went much slower, as there were dozens of abandoned horse trailers to check in addition to the scores of buildings. There were more fights here, but nothing the individual parties couldn’t handle. There was one incident where a matted and hungry-looking golden retriever was startled by one of the groups. It shot out from behind some rotting hay bales and surprised them, the groups tank screaming like a little girl. Allistor and his group came running, but by the time they arrived, his people and the dog had calmed down. The tank was on his butt, legs out in front of him, trying to tempt the dog with some jerky.
Amanda had to grab William as the boy tried to run forward to play with the dog, potentially scaring it away. Max had been a beloved member of the Warren family since almost the first day, and everyone in the group was hoping this dog would be friendly as well.
Eventually the dog’s hunger won out, and it took some food from the man’s hand. After that came some ear scratching, more treats, then some face licking and cheers. The dog consented to some mass petting as the group members closed in two or three at a time. Allistor kept Fuzzy at a distance.
The dog followed his new buddy the tank, getting the occasional treat as they continued to clear buildings. By the time the day was through and the complex was clear, the pair were bonded just like Allistor and Fuzzy.
Opening his interface, Allistor claimed the complex, and spent nearly half an hour placing, then moving, all the various structures he wanted. When he finally had it right, he pushed the button, and the place was transformed. Another wall went up, surrounding both the complex and the park. He’d decided to leave the golf courses and the other two lakes open. The rodeo arena and other buildings remained, and most of the rest of the space was taken up by individual homes, sized from a single bedroom to four bedrooms. He’d added a fountain near the center, next to the kitchen and dining area, just for ambience. Around it, in a rough circle, were a row of shops that could serve as either trainer offices or crafter stations where goods could be traded or sold.
Allistor held off placing a teleport pad within the walls. There were already pads at the Citadel and Silo, and he didn’t really want to put a third one so close by. It was a short walk from either facility, and he could have droids escort anyone who needed it back and forth. His next Skill School compound would have a teleport, as he planned to put it somewhere in Europe or one of the other continents. Once he had more time to research locations and find other survivors.
About half of the raiders leveled up from the quest experience, and were congratulated by the others. And everyone appreciated the extra spending money. One hundred thousand klax was nothing to Allistor, but for the average citizen, especially ones who were not normally raiders, it would buy some sweet gear, or allow them to build themselves an outpost or something.
*****
Back at the tower, Allistor checked his list again. He was making decent progress on getting things done. The next item he saw was to discuss with the analysts the details of auctioning parts of Orion. He knew that Longbeard was off with Helen at Yellowstone, and the others were probably occupied with recruiting trainers. Not wanting to interrupt that effort, he opted to go and visit Daigath. With William and Fuzzy in tow, he teleported to the Wilderness Stronghold.
There were only a few people moving around. Less than a hundred citizens had opted to live at Wilderness full time. Most of them were hunters and crafters. Others dropped by for a few days of fresh air and fishing, or to visit the place where Helen and Allistor had fought the murder chickens. It was becoming sort of a tourist attraction.
“Nigel, is Daigath inside the walls?”
“No, sire. He left before the first sunrise and has not returned.”
Allistor equipped a shotgun, sliding it into its sheath on his back, then did the same with his sword. Looking down at William, he said, “We might run into hostile creatures out there, so have your staff ready.” The boy was small, but he was already higher level than most creatures Allistor had encountered in the wild. His squire nodded his head, producing his staff and gripping it tightly in both hands.
The trio exited the gate, Fuzzy taking the lead and using his sensitive nose to track Daigath. Not that they really needed it, as Allistor knew the old elf was planning to set up his home in or near the clearing on the other side of the lake. They followed Fuzzy down the slope and into the forest, the bear often meandering, sniffing at trees and munching
on tasty mushrooms or berries. William snagged more than a few berries for himself, and soon had sticky juice smeared around his mouth. When Fuzzy tried to clean it off for him, the kid was quick enough to evade the tongue and the bear breath behind it.
Allistor let them take their time, as he was in no particular hurry. And it was nice to spend some quiet time with his bear and his squire. The birds sang at them from the ancient trees above, and every once in a while Fuzzy startled a squirrel or rabbit, sending them dashing away into the brush. When they reached the creek that fed the lake, Allistor was able to find a spot where several large boulders offered a way to cross. William made a big deal of hopping from stone to stone, waving his arms about as if he were off balance. Fuzzy simply plowed through the shallow water, splashing both humans with cold mountain water as he passed. Allistor stopped at the other side, producing a cantine and filling it in the creek, which was fed from snowmelt high in the mountains. Taking a sip, he broke into a smile. “Ahhhh. Nothing like fresh clean water.”
William bent and scooped a handful for himself. Taking a sip, he copied his prince. “Ahhh.”
Fuzzy, observing his two humans with his head tilted to one side, bent down and lapped up some of the water as well. Not tasting anything particularly interesting, he looked at the both of them for a moment, then tried again. William giggled, and said, “I think it’s a people thing, Fuzzy.” The bear gave something close to a shrug, and continued on toward the clearing.
It took them another half hour to reach the clearing. The first thing Allistor noticed was a series of indentations in the ground. It looked almost as if bombs had been dropped around the clearing, and it took Allistor a moment to recognize that these were spots where trees had been cut and stumps removed. Probably by Harmon’s demolition droids. There was also a large patch of dead grass over to one side where the cut logs had lain, until recently. Allistor scanned the area, looking for a sign of the ancient elf as Fuzzy sniffed at the nearest of the holes. Reaching out with one sizeable paw, he scratched at the dirt, revealing a mass of wriggling insect larvae. As he quickly licked up the squirming treat, William made gagging noises.
Shadow Sun Progression: Shadow Sun Book Four Page 22
