America's Galactic Foreign Legion - Book 1: Feeling Lucky (22 page)

“
There are many sentient
exoskeleton species across the galaxy,” explained Prince Tak. “We
are all cousins, united against the abomination you call the human
pestilence.”

“
And you propose an alliance
with us against humanity? You propose that we help you in a war of
extermination against Earth?” asked #64.

“
Exactly,” said Prince Tak.
“We plan a general attack soon. With help from the Arthropodan
Empire, the humans will be crushed between our pincers.”

“
I am afraid you have landed
on the wrong planet,” said #64. “I am but a local governor of a
small colony. And at the moment, my Emperor is a bit irritated at
me. What can I do?”

“
We know who you are. We
have the right planet,” said Prince Tak. “Let me explain. We have
been watching your rise to power with great interest. We know your
Dragon Party is the only opposition to the Emperor, and is active
on all six inhabited planets. We know you want to seize power from
the Emperor. I can help you.”

“
What is it to you who rules
Arthropoda?” asked #64. “It’s our business, not yours.”

“
Your Emperor is cozy with
the humans. That grates on you, doesn’t it? The Emperor and the
humans are forming an alliance against the Formicidaen Empire and
our allies. Picture it. Arthropoda helping humans to kill your
exoskeleton cousins from across the galaxy. It is immoral and makes
no sense.”

“
You said you could help me
seize power. I am interested. How?” asked #64.

“
We have a fleet near your
home world. A well-timed nuclear attack would kill the Emperor and
his entire governmental infrastructure. You would be the natural
choice to succeed the Emperor because you are already organized to
grab the throne. It’s what you have always wanted.”

“
I’m not so sure my fellow
Arthropodans would appreciate me nuking our own Capital City,” said
#64.

“
I am sure you are right. At
first there would be confusion about what happened,” explained
Prince Tak. “You could easily blame the nuclear attack on the
Greens. Everyone knows they have threatened to use nukes. Before
anyone can prove otherwise, you will have seized power. Our
starships will assist with logistics and the deployment of your
dragon troops. By the time the peasants have figured out what
happened, it will be too late for anyone to challenge your power.
Then, the humans will be next.”

“
You seem very well versed
in the intrigues of Arthropodan politics,” commented #64. “How is
that possible?”

“
Our superior stealth
technology allows us to come and go as we please,” bragged Prince
Tak. “We have been in your space for quite some time. We have even
been in contact with separatist groups on all of your six inhabited
planets. But of all the leaders we have contacted, you are the only
leader with a vision of a strong Arthropodan Empire. We need a
strong ally in the Arthropodan Empire to help us exterminate the
human pestilence.”

“
You could have helped us
earlier when we were actually at war,” added #64. “Were sitting on
the fence for a reason?”

“
We were not ready then,”
explained the prince.

“
Your plan has potential. I
will consider it and discuss the matter with my aides,” said #64.
“In the meantime, I will arrange for you a tour of our lovely
planet and our military facilities.”

“
Yes, of course,” said
Prince Tak. “Do not delay too long. When war comes, you will either
be with us or against us.”

After Prince Tak left, #64 gave orders to
have the mansion swept for listening devices. Several were found,
including one under the very chair where Prince Tak had been
sitting. A Green technician handed the listening device to #64
personally.

“
Why are you still here?”
asked #64. “Most Greens were smart enough to take the hint and get
out while the getting is good.”

“
Where would I go? The army
is my home. Besides, I am a loyal subject of the Emperor,” said the
Green technician. “You won’t drive me out. You better hope we don’t
all leave.”

“
What is that supposed to
mean?” asked #64, now getting angry. “Was that a
threat?”

“
No. We Greens are the
Empire’s best at business. We are your best scientists. You will
need our smarts to figure out how that starship got around our
planetary defenses. After the elimination of the caste system, we
Greens joined the military and proved in battle we are your best
soldiers. Can you really afford to lose us? Are you so strong that
you can throw away your best assets? Especially now that a swarm of
ants has entered our space without permission. I saw the ants. They
are evil They can’t be trusted.”

“
Get out! Everyone out!”
ordered #64. “Except #85 and the Council of Sergeants.” #64 turned
to #85. “Well? What do you think?”

“
About what?” asked
#85.

“
About Prince Tak’s plan to
help me seize control of the Empire. About his plan to exterminate
the human pestilence once and for all,” said #64.
“Well?”

“
You want the truth?” asked
#85. “I am kind of glad there is a human pestilence buffer between
us and the Formicidaen Empire.”

“
You don’t trust the
prince?” asked #64.

“
The prince is an ant,” said
#85. “I don’t like ants. Ants eat all that is in their path. And
their path is headed our way.”

“
But we have more in common
with the Formicidaen race than with the soft, warm-blooded humans,”
protested #64. “He called us their exoskeleton cousins.”

“
It is not enough,” said
#85. “Our culture more closely matches the humans. Hell, these days
we even watch the same TV shows.”

“
Only because I have not yet
figured out how to smash their communications satellites and make
it look like an accident,” groused #64. “Perhaps I can blame the
ants.”

“
The prince was playing
you,” said #85. “He thinks you suffer from megalomania. Tak assumes
he can use that weakness to manipulate you. He praised you but he
does not know you. Then, before he left, he made threats. You
noticed that, I hope?”

“
Yes. He made a mistake
threatening me. That ant is very arrogant. He is very wrapped up in
himself, and it’s a small bundle. That did not sit well with me,
either,” commented #64. He gave the matter some more thought.
“Place that oversized ant under arrest and have him interrogated.
Seize his ship and tear out its secrets. Advise the Emperor of the
full details of the plot against his life and send him a recording
of this meeting. Advise the Admiralty that a Formicidaen space
fleet has invaded our space, intent on attacking our capital. It
must be located. Free all Greens held on political charges. By
Executive Order, I reverse all discrimination against their ilk and
order compensation for any losses my government may have caused.
Also, get Major Czerinski on the phone. We need to
talk.”

* * * * *

I sat at the conference table flanked by
Lopez, Green, Kool, Williams, Ceausescu, Nesbit, Yamashita, Amanda,
Washington, and the Mayor of Waterstone. #64 and #85 arrived at the
DMZ Village late for our meeting. They were flanked by the Council
of Sergeants.

“
Where is General
Kalipetsis?” asked #64.

The General had a nervous breakdown and is
being confined,” I replied, glancing at Amanda. “I have been
brevetted to Brigadier and have full authority to negotiate.”

“
First of all,” said #64,
slamming his claw on the table and setting the tone for tough
negotiations, “I demand better quality Satellite TV. The selection
and reception sucks, and I think it is a deliberate
provocation.”

“
I will look into that,” I
promised. “Consider it done.”

“
You had better,” threatened
#64. “Or we will switch to cable and ZNN.”

“
You wouldn’t dare,” said
Lieutenant Lopez, rising to his feet.

“
Enough!” I said, motioning
Lieutenant Lopez to sit down. “Tell me more about the
ants.”

“
We interrogated Prince Tak.
He revealed the location of the Formicidaen fleet. They are hiding
in the asteroid belt off our home world. Our fleets will flush them
out. I expect that the ants will flee directly for the border. We
want your Sixth and Seventh Fleets to ambush the Formicidaens as
they approach your space. Together we will crush them,” said
#64.

“
It’s a sound plan. Agreed,”
I said. “Also, I want my scientists granted access to the
Formicidaen starship. I insist all captured technology be
shared.”

“
Fine,” grumbled #64.
“Anything else?”

“
Yes. We want to interrogate
Prince Tak ourselves,” I insisted.

“
Sorry,” said #64,
shrugging. “The Prince was shot and killed while trying to
escape.”

“
I want to see his body,” I
said.

“
He was eaten by monitor
dragons,” said #64. “What? You don’t believe me?”

“
Not really,” I said. “But
for now we will move on to domestic issues. Secretary of Tourism
Yamashita wants to build a string of jointly operated hotel casinos
inside the DMZ. His economic incentive zone proposal will only be
feasible, however, if casino gaming remains illegal on both sides
of the border. Can we agree to that?”

“
Yes,” answered #64. “But
what about the casino at Waterstone? That would be unfair
competition inside human territory.”

“
Waterstone is beyond my
control,” I stated. “They have been granted dominion status and
have applied for statehood. Waterstone may also opt for kingdom
status. The matter will be decided by a referendum vote in the next
election. Also, Waterstone’s boundaries need to be re-negotiated
because of increased Green immigration. I propose their boundaries
extend beyond both sides of the DMZ.”

“
Impossible! You will not
infringe on Arthropodan territory,” insisted #64.

“
You caused the increased
immigration with your persecution of us Greens,” said the Mayor of
Waterstone. “Now we need to secure water rights. Waterstone will
expand whether you approve or not.”

“
It’s all worthless desert
out there anyway,” I pointed out. “It’s not like they’ve discovered
oil or gold out there in those alkaline flats. We can sell them
whatever land they want at a good price.”

“
I will have my geologists
check it out anyway,” said #64. “Do not threaten me, I warn you. I
will sell that strategic border land only if it suits me.” He eyed
the mayor. “Do you really think you can survive out there in the
desert?”

“
I do not know what the
future holds,” said the Mayor of Waterstone. “But we will make our
own future happen no matter what you do.”

“
Moving on,” I said,
checking my list. “Amanda and Nesbit will coordinate the hotel
casino operations. They have the most experience in those
matters.”

Amanda moved her claw across the table and
touched #64’s claw. He recoiled. “Keep your claw to yourself!”
snapped #64. “I don’t like pushy females.”

“
I will be submissive if you
prefer, Your Majesty,” said Amanda. “You are such a strong and
assertive male. I like that in my males.”

“
See that you stay
submissive, or else,” said #64, still flustered. He motioned to
#85. “Work with her on the economic zone projects.”

“
Thanks a lot,” complained
#85. “Just throw me under the bus.”

“
I think this meeting has
been very productive,” I said. “We can now leave the details to our
subordinates.”

“
One more thing,” said #64.
“I know how you operate. I have sensors pointed at your space
cannon, so don’t even think about dropping a rock on my head. I
will be Emperor some day. I will remember any and all slights
against me and Arthropoda. Be warned.”

Lieutenant Lopez immediately sent an E-mail
to Sergeant Mendoza, cancelling orders regarding the space cannon.
There would be no surprises from space this week.

“
I wouldn’t have it any
other way,” I said. “You just make sure those oversized lizards
stay on your side of the DMZ.”

CHAPTER 25

“
How much do you think we
could sell this ship for?” asked Lieutenant Lopez.

We had been working for days on the
Formicidaen ship, trying to tear out its secrets, and Lopez was
getting impatient.

“
Its new technologies are
worth billions,” I answered. “But who would buy it? Only the United
States government could afford the price, and we already own half
of it.”

“
How about if we cut it up
and sell it piecemeal?” suggested Lieutenant Lopez. “Or, maybe the
ants would buy it back.”

“
The ants probably would buy
it back,” I said. “But that would be treason. We wouldn’t live to
spend the money. Or else we would be exiled fugitives on some bug
world forever.”

“
It just seems like a waste
to have something this valuable in your grasp and not be able to
cash in on it,” complained Lieutenant Lopez.

“
We have enough money,” I
said. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t we both billionaires?
And the casinos we are setting up along the DMZ will make us even
richer. All we have to do is kick back and watch the money roll
in.”