Gray Panthers: Battle for Earth (11 page)

Gray Panthers HQ, Arizona

11 December 2127

Dan was deep in thought trying to figure some way to keep the men from going crazy.  Those who had completed the basic course were advancing quicker than they had expected in advanced weapons and tactics.  Next would be suits and zero G training
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then they would be ready for active duty.  Advanced deceleration training would be added to the coursework.  Dan remembered when Grub and Abby described the device as all freefall and three feet of dropping.  Explaining that once the soldier is dropped out of a shuttle he would free fall until he is a yard from the ground, and then he would literally be stopped for a second, then continue to the ground. Only after watching it work on cargo containers and a couple droids, would he allow a human test subject; himself.  Falling from ten thousand feet, Dan enjoyed the view and the sudden reminder; he hated this shit when he did it for a living!  As the ground quickly came up to him, he realized there was a failure and he was going to go splat. All at the same time he stopped for a second then found himself face down on the target.  A surge of adrenaline pumped through him as he resisted the urge to do it again.

Dan was watching the troops as they practiced with the beamer drones.  The soldiers lazed targets then watched the beam come in and take out the target from out of site above them.  His cell rang and he saw it was Sigmund.  "What have you got for me Siggy?" Dan asked.

"A world of hurt I'm afraid.  You got picked up by someone's radar and you have a dozen government agencies coming to tear you a new asshole.  People fear success and want to stop it from happening unless it's the right people.  They are going to hit you in five days.  They are going to label you as an exploiter of the earth, and man.  EPA, IRS, and DHS.  They want to nail you good, take over everything you have done and manage it for the good of the people,” Siggy declared.

"Are they aware of what's going on with the lady E yet?"  Dan asked back.

"Nobody knows anything about that yet.  They just think it is going to be scrapped,” Siggy answered.

"OK, not a problem then. Thanks Siggy, keep me informed."

"Grub were you monitoring that?"  Dan asked.

"Monitoring what sir?" was Grub’s innocent reply.

"Bullshit! Alert everyone to close down everything and put Operation Green Hippy in effect as of now.  All training is suspended until we get these monkeys off our back,” Dan growled.

External sensors were set to ensure no one was snooping.  The training caverns were closed off as were all areas that had advance technology.  Those caverns creating building supplies for external shipment were some of the few caverns left open.  The cavern used for manufacturing shuttles also stayed open.  Dan called his PR team and told them he wanted to make a public statement the next day.  That night was long as he worried he might lose it as he still did not like the media, and the game he was going to play left a bad taste in his mouth.  After a restless night, he was ready.

Gray Panthers HQ, Arizona

11 December 2127

There were a dozen different news organizations waiting for him as he stepped out onto the podium.  "Ladies and gentlemen of the fourth estate, Thank you.  I appreciate you giving me this opportunity to share what I have to share.  My fellow Americans, this little town in the middle of the desert is more than it seems.  A while back I was fortunate enough to discover a little gold.  I wanted to use that gold for good.  I used that to develop green building technology to help stop the rape of our mother earth.  No longer are our precious forests to be cut down needlessly for man’s greed.  Imagine no longer having to toil, polluting the air making steel and contributing to global warming.  No longer will there be dangerous chemicals to pollute our waters or air.  I will take you to see how this technology works in a bit.  We use a super-heated laser to heat up the sand until it is formed in the shape needed.  The power for all this is provided from the sun.  There are no dirty chemicals, no pollution.  The entire process is also done underground to ensure there is no accidental contribution to global warming, a scourge to our mother earth.  With the profits from this endeavor, I kept a promise.  The entire town you see around us is home to over a thousand veterans.  Those that want to work have jobs provided, and others volunteer to their community and their fellow citizen as they can.  There is no rent and utilities are free, as is any medical assistance they need.  We live in a dangerous world unfortunately, I am sure you all saw the wall surrounding the town.  There are those who would rob and kill our poor defenseless seniors for what little they have.  Ironically, ladies and gentlemen, those same old soldiers are once again defending their loved ones.  Our police force is made up entirely of senior citizens.  I will let Ms Jorge conduct the tour of the town and manufacturing plant as well as answer any questions you may have.  Thank you."  Dan escaped from the podium before anyone could try to ask him any questions.

Juanita had the media eating out of her hands as she took them on a walking tour of the town.  They were amazed when they went to all the facilities available to the seniors that were free.  They were equally amazed when they saw the large number of old men that were in the gyms exercising.  There were those in the tour who expressed displeasure that only old people lived in such a wonderful town.  Juanita pointed out all the old people were near death and had selflessly devoted their lives to their country. The government was not paying a dime of it as part of their reward.  The tour of the manufacturing plant went fast. There was a temporary problem with the air-conditioning and no one really cared to watch the sand burned by laser into sand steel.  The media returned to the assembly hall to see a feast ready for them.  Dozens of old ladies and men smiled on as tables upon tables of home cooked food was laid out for them.  The old folks helped the media get their food and then sat with them and told them stories of how bad their life had been. Now they once again had a community they were proud of and accepted, not scorned as being in the way.  Many of the media found themselves crying along as they heard the stories.  Dan waited until everyone had their fill and had decided they were done reporting.  Dan casually walked in their midst and said he had forgotten one other item the town was going to be building.  In front of the hall was a shuttle used for transporting the building materials to their building sites.  He explained that the engine worked on hydrogen and left no carbon foot print on mother earth and did not even need roads, roads that disfigured earth.  He then offered a ride to anyone who wanted one.  Seeing the shuttle floating above the ground and the feeling of full stomachs ensured only a few elected to take a ride as Dan drove it around the town.  The rest were happy to film the oddity as background material for their stories.  Siggy made a few calls to the owners of the corporations that owned the different television stations to ensure the stories presented showed Dan and his little town in the best light. 

Gray Panthers Housing, Arizona

12 December 2127

Juanita lay on top of Dan. The two were worn out from their night of celebrating when Dan received the call from Siggy. The media dog and pony show had worked.  Dan was an official green hero of mother earth, and none of the agencies that had planned their visits felt the moral imperative to mess with Dan or the old people, in the light of the media.

Dan unwillingly made his pilgrimage to William Scotche’s office for his personal report on how the different industries were doing.  Dan was not disappointed. The gold had finally run out and though the industries were border line in the black. The cost of retrofitting the Big E was almost triple for everything they had anticipated.  William’s recommendation was to increase production of the sand steel and commercial shuttles.  Dan considered the recommendations, and then directed Grub to increase production of sand steel and shuttles.  He then commed Abby to have lunch with him.

Both men were in good spirits as they had averted the hangman's noose, and everything was once again on schedule.  Abby saw no problems with increasing production, and was surprised Dan had not already made the call to increase production before asking him.

The rest of the day was clear. Dan was amazed to see that and decided to go into town and just watch an old style movie away from everything.  He called Juanita and had her clear her afternoon to be with him.

Dan could not help but bring up business as he let Juanita drive them to the theater.  He explained everything Scotch had told him and was happy they had a simple fix to get back on track.  Juanita listened as she drove.  She was surprised at the announcement, but said nothing since she saw Dan was relaxed as he changed the subject and listened to the radio.  Juanita laughed to herself that Dan would want to go to the movies when he had a better system available to himself, especially since theatres had been a dying business since before she could remember.  The movie was a science fiction, about earth being invaded. Dan quietly crunched his popcorn as Juanita could not help but think about Dan's earlier statement about having to increase production.

    Juanita climbed out of bed as Dan continued to sleep soundly.  Accessing the accounting and production records along with the mining receipts, she was amazed at the way the numbers were not coming out right for her.  Reviewing the records, she saw that all inputs had been entered in a way that automatic reviews and corrections by the software were avoided.  Additionally only silver and gold receipts were reported, all other precious metals were omitted.  Further checking confirmed that the accountants' last name happened to be Scotch.  Checking the last external audit showed it done by White, Moss, and Dun, a company that Scotch’s wife was a partner.  Contacting Grub she explained what she found. She asked that a review of all financial and production reports be conducted in secret, not to report it to anyone but her, including what had happened to all precious metals other than the gold and silver.  Getting back in bed she looked at Dan in the dim light, surprised when his eyes opened and he pulled her to him, kissing her softly
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He whispered so softly that she had to strain to hear his words, "I love you my life,” followed by a loud snore before she could reply.  The words repeated, over, and over in her head, as she forgot about the report she had Grub doing. She forced Dan’s arm around her neck as she rested her head on his chest and fell asleep. 

Scottsdale, Arizona

13 December 2127

Scotch was rudely awakened by the phone. "Mr. Scotch this is Carlos, from IT. You have a standing order to be notified if specific files have been accessed."

"Yes Carlos, what files have been accessed and by whom?" Scotch asked, the taste of bile building in his throat.

"Sir it looks like all of the accounting files you have flagged were opened at 3:00 A.M. by Juanita Jorge. She is authorized for read only access to the files."

"Thank you Carlos, you did a good job. I'll take it from here."  Relief swept over William. Dan's whore would not know what she was looking at, probably was seeing if there was a way to rip off that fool Daniels herself.  His relief ended when Carlos called back saying an internal source he could not identify was going through all the files. It was definitely internal but he could not trace where it was coming from.  Williams again thanked Carlos and quickly figured it had to be Grub. He never had any interaction with the alien, and was told there was not a need to.  Picking up the phone, he dialed a number from memory.  "This is Abraham Lincoln; I need to have a problem disappear immediately. I have posted the information for you.  Request a confirmation call when task is complete."  William debated calling back and adding Dan, but figured if Dan knew anything he would be dead already.

Juanita did not think anything of the request to pick up confidential papers for Dan from the Phoenix Petroleum Bank.  She had just turned onto Vulture Mine Road when she noticed the two vans that had been sitting alongside the intersection immediately pull onto the road following.  She knew immediately that the Brazilians had finally found her.  A quick call to Dan was all she could think to do, not trusting the police.  Dan immediately ordered the shuttles being used for advanced training be diverted, with the second shuttle to pick him up.  Dan climbed in and ordered the pilot to punch it, not waiting for him to even get to the flight deck.  There was no sensation of movement as Dan hurried up to the flight deck.  The first shuttle was already over the road and the pilot had contacted Grub to give him coordinates to Juanita's vehicle.  Dan looked at his pilot, not recognizing the retro pilot.  "What have we got onboard to fight the bad guys?"  Dan asked strangely relaxed. 

"Sir, we have beamers, but they are modified for training use only. Worst we can do is blind them if we beam them in the eyes,” the pilot replied back.  Dan reached behind the pilot's seat and pulled out the survival kit. Tearing it open he found what he was looking for.  The signal pistol looked like a standard 10mm automatic, but fired gyro ammunition that was combination armor piercing and tracer. Its range five times that of a regular 10mm round.  The pilot yelled at Dan, that the other pilot had found them, and was engaging.  The yellow vans were slowly closing on the red mustang when the shuttle dropped down from above. The sun blinded any view of the shuttle until it filled the windshield of the van.  The driver swerved and overcorrected as he tumbled down the road as parts and men flew from the wreckage.  The second van immediately stopped to pick up survivors as Dan’s shuttle hovered over the van.  Dan had the shuttle door open as he easily took aim at the second van.  He watched as the first round went into the engine of the van.  His second shot went into the gas tank but failed to ignite.  Dan hollered at the pilot to tell the crew of the van to get out and lie down on the pavement or be killed.  He then told shuttle one to hover ten feet above the van as shuttle two came alongside.  Before the assassins could reply or take action, another pair of shuttles landed directly in front of the disabled van. Two ten man teams of gray panthers exited each shuttle firing assault rifles on full automatic in the dirt and alongside the van.  The men from the van quickly exited and laid face down on the pavement.  Dan quickly ran up to the men and grabbed the one closest to him.  "Who's the boss here?" he shouted as two gray panthers held the quivering man in front of him.  The response was not fast enough as he hit the assassin alongside the head with the 10mm, dropping him to the ground.  Pointing to the next man, he was held up in front of Dan, "I don't have time Ace, so here's how this works. I ask a question, you answer, you live.  You don't, you die. I am not the law.  Who is the boss?"  The man looked toward his now cowed companions, unintentionally pointing with his eyes to a little man, now all torn up, and bloody.  Dropping the man Dan pointed for the boss to be picked up.  The man's face held no fear as he was held by the two gray panthers so he was not even touching the ground.  Before Dan could ask his first question the little man tried to spit in Dan’s face, but missed.  "Dan took the 10mm and smashed the man's face.  "Shoot the rest of these vermin but bring this shit with us.  Fire up both vans, police the bodies for intel.”

  "Wait!" the little man shouted through his bloody mouth. "Let my men live and I'll tell you anything you want!" 

Dan looked at the little man and nodded his head. The assassins were herded into the shuttle as his men lit up the vans.  Looking at his watch, Dan realized it was less than 20 minutes since Juanita first called him.  The entire action was less than ten minutes on the ground.  The last thing Dan did was have his men inform the few cars that were stopped, that they were DHS, and they had seen nothing, or else. 

Dan called Juanita telling her to return to the town as the second armed shuttle, with a Gray Panther security squad, flew above her on the return trip.

Scotch was surprised to hear through the grape vine that Juanita had been attacked and that the survivors of the hit team were about to be interrogated by Abdul.  Scotch was sure he was as good as dead; Abdul’s reputation of interrogating Iranians during the war was legendary.  Juanita was sure they were there to kill her because of her father, not even beginning to connect this with her discovery of the finances.  Scotch told his secretary there was a family emergency and would not be back for a day or two and that he had his cell with him, if needed.

Grub decided to volunteer information for a change, instead of waiting to be asked.  He contacted Dan and briefed him about Juanita's discovery, and then monitoring Scotch’s call to the contractors.  He continued to report that $50 billion had been stolen. Grub was recovering the money. When Dan asked where Scotch was now, Grub reported that he was on a private plane headed for China.  Dan quickly called Butch and asked him to turn around the plane.  Butch had two shuttles launched immediately. The pilot of the private plane refused to recognize any authority of the shuttles, as they were intercepted over the Pacific, until the beamer was shot across the front of the plane, with the promise the next shot would shoot them down.  The shuttles disrupted all communications, from and to, the airplane. They gave the plane navigation instructions including another warning shot once they were over land, and the pilot thought he could break contact.  The shuttles forced the plane to land on a deserted stretch of road.  Then let the crew of the plane walk away, telling them the plane would be left for them.

Dan waited for Scotch in Scotch’s own office. He was not sure how he wanted to proceed. He decided he would have let him go for stealing the money, but trying to kill Juanita has sealed his fate.  Juanita saw him only as a threat to Dan and wanted him gone, permanently.  Scotch had to be carried into his office as he stayed in a curled up ball bawling about how everything was unfair and he was innocent of any wrong doing.  Dan listened and coaxed him into his chair, giving him a large glass of bourbon.  Once relaxed
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Scotch turned on the offensive saying he had enough information to close everything down and send everyone to prison.  Dan laughed harshly and the man once again started to shrivel up.  Abdul used this moment to give the thief a way out.  Simply match the amount embezzled in the form of a fine to the company and he would be allowed to walk.  Scotch looked up in hope, until they showed they not only knew what had been embezzled, but had already recovered it.  Knowing he could not get the money he inched open the desk drawer and was amazed to see no one had taken his antique .357 revolver. Surprising himself, he had it in his hand covering the other three in his office before he knew it.  Dan was the first to see what Scotch had accomplished. "I thought I ordered his office searched!"  Dan roared, not like looking down the barrel of the revolver.  Abdul just shrugged his shoulders, "Sorry boss, guess he got the drop on us."  The look on Abdul’s face was priceless, and Dan could not help but laugh.  Looking at Scotch one more time, his smile vanished and a hardness entered his eyes. "OK Scotch, I'll let you take the coward’s way out.  I left the gun there for you. There is one live round; the rest is just used brass." Dan continued as he and Abdul closed in on the shaken CEO. "You can open the chamber and check, but we will be all over you if you do.  You can shoot one of us, maybe even kill one of us, but I promise you on my word as a senior NCO, whichever one of us is left alive will strip you slowly of your skin and keep you alive for years until you go insane.  You’ve been paid well for years for your decision-making abilities. You have five seconds, and we will be on you like stink on shit!  One, two,.."

"You mother fucking sons of bitches!"  Scotch cried as he raised the revolver to his head and pulled the trigger.  The blast of the pistol was deafening as the smell of gunpowder mixed with the coppery smell of blood.  The luckless CEO fell into his chair as his body gave one large convulsion. The body lost control of his bodily fluids adding the strong smell of excrement to the mix of smells.

Juanita collapsed to the floor as both Abdul and Dan nearly fell over from the shock.  "Dan, why did you take the chance giving that crazy fucker a round to play god with?" Abdul muttered, as he started to shake.  "I didn't give him shit. He had six shots. He just couldn't negotiate to save his own life." Dan said as he started to cover his face with a hankie, before giving it to Juanita, and helping her out of the room.

"Grub, did you record everything?" Dan inquired.

"Yes sir. When I saw what was happening I put one of the monitors in the corner so it would look like the camera was on the shelf.  I already sent it to your computer and took the liberty to save a copy I thought you would want as evidence on a media block.  Sir, you have jurisdiction, but I recommend you have the Maricopa Sheriff be allowed to investigate the shooting.  I further recommend I be allowed to edit Mr. Scotch's personal files and emails.  I can go in and do a two-week history to show he has just been left by an illegal alien who has stolen from him and left the country.  I have extensive examples to model from since downloading the entire contents of the internet."  Dan gave a face and began to say you could not download the internet before remembering who he was talking to.  "The entire internet Grub?"  Dan asked.

"Yes sir, including any computers connected at the time I was researching."

"OK, just get it done.  And from now on if you have any information you think is of any importance tell Juanita immediately. For an artificial intelligence, I expect a hell of a lot more. Juanita could have been killed. That bastard almost got away, and you let him embezzle a shit load of money!"

"Sir, my proper place is to provide what you ask for, whether material or information. I can't bother you with every petty matter,” Grub replied.

"You damn well will start now.  Juanita, Grub just became your responsibility. You will anticipate anything you think I want to know and ensure Grub has an answer, like how long before we all die!"

"Sir I anticipate that will be approximately five weeks from now.  Asteroid, 1999 RQ36, will hit Earth at that time.  National governments have been meeting in secret. They are not positive if it will happen or not, but it will happen.  The US government is trying to take an X337b shuttle and make it mission ready with nukes but is having problems with a launch platform that will safely get it into orbit in time.  The Enterprise, with its beamer, along with 20 shuttles tractoring the debris away can safely do the job."

"Grub have you been working on a sense of humor?"  Dan asked as he sat down, looking on the shocked faces of those around him.

"No sir. While I understand humor to a degree, I'm afraid it still eludes me.  Do you want me to tell you a joke?"  Grub answered.

“No I don’t want you to tell me a joke. I want you to be proactive and let us know things that you think we might like to know, like possibly dying, crime, status of equipment, and production.  Do I need to spell it out further, or do you get the idea?” Dan willed himself not to shout.

“Yes sir, I understand the new parameters, and appreciate the responsibilities.  I have found 50 new locations that have numerous deposits of precious metals if you wish to pursue them.  The areas, they are located at would also be good locations to produce sand-steel. At the same time, spreading out the manufacturing and cutting down on shipment distance, while, as you wished, creating more jobs.  I have sent the information to Ms. Jorge for her review.  I have expedited the final updates for the AI Nike on the Enterprise. I have included the same directives you have given me.  Nike will be much more human than me in her interaction with the crew.  Although the Enterprise is not intended strictly as a war ship, I studied your mythology and the Goddess of Victory seemed appropriate, especially since she represents victory in war and peace.”

"Grub, you are now on the ball, good job."  Dan replied beaming. "Abby call the sheriff’s department so we can get this mess cleaned up.  Grub, inform Butch of the new updates regarding the Enterprise. I also want to change the name of the ship from Enterprise to Nike.  Inform the commander also about the end of the world.  God I want a drink bad."