Gray Panthers: Battle for Earth (13 page)

Minutes later a pair of fighters could be seen in the distance
,
approaching. After completing a circuit around the Nike in the distance, the planes did a high-speed pass by the ship, waggling their wings.  Coming back for a last pass, Butch gave the pilot the command to perform a barrel roll.  "Let's see what they think of that,” Dan laughed.

The fighters continued on, and no more challenges were directed toward the Nike.

"How is our time XO?"  Butch asked.

'We will arrive on time, as scheduled captain, barring any surprises,” Red answered.

"Well let's avoid that.  Walk with me Red," Butch said as he exited the bridge and command was assumed by the OOD.  In the captain's cabin, Butch admitted to Red they had made a mistake.  Instead of the ships bridge being run like a traditional ship it should be similar to an airliner, with a command pilot, pilot, weapons, and a couple open seats.  Integration with weapons and navigation precluded the need on the bridge.  Weapon consoles would be part of the update, so two men could direct the ship in combat.  It was time to leave tradition on earth. Red was not as sure and suggested an expert on ships design.

"Nike?” Red asked.

"Yes Mr. Erickson,” Nike replied from thin air.

"Please appear to me so we may talk,” Red requested.

"As you wish, Mr. Erickson," Nike replied.  A six foot tall brunette appeared before the men wearing a white tunic that did nothing to cover up her athletic body, or her huge wings behind each shoulder.  "How may I be of service to you?"

"Were you listening to our conversation Nike?"  Butch asked.

"Captain Bad, I monitor everything onboard ship, as well as external environmental factors.

"Nike, I asked, to save time, what is the best configuration for the bridge of a ship like ours?"  Butch asked.

"I am aware of many different ships similar to yours, in size, but with your mission being of war and peace, I would recommend a configuration similar to those used by the Republic Empire.  One like yours would have a four-crewmember bridge, a commander, a pilot, a weapons technician, and a sensor operator.  The crew for a similar ship would ordinarily be about a hundred.  Even for a warship there is much wasted manpower..."

"That is fine Nike; we will limit effort at this time to the bridge.  Please draw up the schematics and let Mr. Vasquez have them, along with your estimates for the time it would take, and cost,” Butch said, trying to not get angry.

"May I offer one more suggestion sir?"  Nike asked.

"Yes, Nike, go ahead,” Butch said.

"At present if the bridge is not able to be used, the plan is to control the ship from engineering.  I recommend a complete auxiliary bridge, deep in the ship safer from damage in the event of damage.  It should be made first; it would be operational while the main bridge is being refitted.  No other species allows such an important part of the ship to be so dangerously exposed, as it is on the Nike."

  “Thank you Nike; I like that idea. Give it to the engineering officer with all the information needed.  You are dismissed,” Butch ordered.

"Don't like our goddess Butch?"  Red asked.

"Don't like the distraction of a drop dead beauty that’s smarter than me, is the problem,” Butch admitted.

Gray Panthers, Arizona

19 December 2127

"Are we going to kill them, or what do you want to do with the scum?  I can seal them off in their own small cavern and just forget about them," volunteered Abby.

"We have to have better options than that.  Grub, have you been able to find out anything about our guests?"  Dan asked.

"Sir, they are all listed as dead from a marine helicopter crash at sea, during a training exercise five years ago, bodies unrecovered.  From viewing security archives online, they live in the Apache Junction area; all footage of them has been in attire that would be consistent with farmer or ranch hands.  There has been nothing from the government showing there is deliberate cover-up.  I have found numerous instances of those,” Grub stated.

"OK; looks like we have a mystery here,” Dan said mirthlessly.

Dan walked into the small cavern and saw it was completely open, but the prisoners refused to go near the entrance. Looking over the sullen group Dan played a hunch.  "God dammit; when a superior officer enters this area you will come to attention!" Dan roared with as much conviction as he could.  Thankful he was wearing his gray panther uniform for a change.  They all looked clandestinely over to the small man sitting at the end of the cavern by himself.  He made no effort to move or respond.  "OK, if that’s the way it is, I'll have a marine detail here from Yuma in an hour."  Dan did an about face as he prepared to leave.

"Room Atten' shun!"  The small man in the corner ordered.

Dan turned around looking at the ten men, all standing around the cavern in the position of attention. 

"Room Dismissed," Dan ordered loud enough to be heard by all, and then continued, "Fall in."  The men took only a minute to form a line in front of Dan.  “That’s pretty ugly for Marines, if I do say so."  The crew continued to stand at attention and refused to be baited.  Dan ordered "At ease," then continued to bait the group.  Pleased that he failed, Dan ordered, "Room, attention, dismissed.  SSgt Young, if I may have a moment of your time please." Dan crooked his finger for the NCO to come to him.  "It has been suggested to me I should seal this cavern and forget about your group.  I have not decided yet, but then I get slightly pissed when someone tries to kill my girlfriend.  This is the one chance I give you an opportunity to change my mind,” Dan said sternly.

"Sir, we were not going to kill your girlfriend.  We were on orders to make a grab. Mr. Scotch understood we do not do wet work.  You can ask him yourself."

"Grub, is SSgt Young telling me the truth?  You may reply so he can hear your answer,” Dan ordered.

"Sir, the SSgt is very nervous and has an accelerated heart rate, but he is telling the truth.

"Thank you, Grub.  Please continue to monitor our conversation and do not disturb it unless you detect a lie from the young man.” Dan requested.

"OK sergeant that is a good start.  Why did your detail fake their deaths?"

"Sir we were tasked with a black mission, which we could not in good conscience conduct,” Young replied. 

Dan waited a moment, when Grub said nothing, he continued.  “Since you left the marines have you or anyone in your group killed or assaulted anyone?"

"Sir, we have committed crimes, but we have not intentionally hurt anyone."

Dan waited again, and then continued.  "If I let you and your group go what would you and your group do?"

"We have been working on a ranch outside Apache Junction, except when we have been blackmailed to do the occasional job.  We would go back to that."

After a minute Dan said, "how about your group comes to work for me?  I will not order your group to do anything that violates the original constitution, but I will require an oath of loyalty.  I can promise you that you and your men will be compensated, and enjoy the work.  It will keep you together as a team also."  I will be back later to hear what you have to say."  Dan prepared to leave, and was interrupted from his departure.

"Sir, I have an injured man, can he be looked at?  I believe he has broken ribs and possibly internal bleeding,” SSgt. Young requested formally.

"Grub, please send a medic immediately,” Dan ordered, then looked at the little SSgt. before him. "That is the first thing you have done to piss me off sergeant.  How could you leave one of your men like that without asking for help earlier?"

"Sir I thought we were all dead, and that any weakness might be used against us,” the sergeant replied.

As Dan left the room he heard SSgt
.
Young order the room to attention as he left.  They did not see the smile on his face.

Dan immediately went to see Black Jack and explained the situation with the detail of marines being held in the cavern, then had Grub play back the interview for him.  “General, would you like to use these marines as an OPFOR* for your training?  Perhaps use them as instructors?  They are more up to date then most of our men for latest equipment and techniques.”

The medic walked into the cavern and held up his bag with the red cross on it. The men inside pointed to a man lying down on a cot.  They watched as the old man crossed over the middle of the room waiting for him to be zapped by the energy field that kept them from crossing over themselves.  Nothing happened as he walked up to the man, and then asked into the air, "Grub, what is your diagnosis?"

"Sergeant Polanski, he has three cracked ribs, but no other more serious injuries. He is in distress,” Grub replied. 

The medic sat on the edge of the cot making sure not to disturb the patient. He then took out a vial of liquid, with the simple label, "Injury Repair, Unmodified;" poured it into a plastic glass with some water, then produced a pair of pain killers.  "Here, take two and call me in the morning.  Has anybody asked you for your insurance card yet?  There is a rather high deductible."  Laughing at his own joke, he left muttering, "Never met a jar head yet with a sense of humor."  One of the men, seeing his departure decided to follow and got half way across the cavern when he hit the energy field and flew back with the rest of the men, his entire body was tingling.

* Opposition Force, assumes the role of enemy forces in training exercises

Honolulu, Hawaii

19 December 2127

There were crowds staring as the Nike came to rest in its special parking spot at Honolulu International Airport.  The eight legs that appeared to hold up the massive ship, were mainly for appearance.  The weight of the legs would have gone through the concrete; instead the ship was still using its engines to maintain position above.  From the bottom of the Nike, elevators lowered, as the crew filled transports, anxious to get to their luau.  Though no order had been given, the entire crew elected to wear their Gray Panther uniforms.  The Gray jumpsuit uniform consisted of the Gray Panther emblem and the Nike Emblem. Butch had authorized the men to wear all ribbons and badges earned in previous service, but no military rank, fearing he was already pressing his luck.  The baseball cap was gray with the name Nike in the center of a pair of huge wings.

Each crewmember received their room key card exiting the transport, then heading immediately to their room to dump their AWOL bags, before heading on to the luau.  Butch was amazed at how wild his crew was getting then remembered that most had not partied in over 20 years.  Most were more than making up for it, as those that had been on liberty on the island before disappeared, taking groups with them who had not been before.  Dan looked at Red and wondered how many would not make it on time for departure.  Red simply laughed and bet that all would make it before launch; knowing that Nike was monitoring each crew member. 

Local con men and others who made their livings by helping separate sailors from their money soon lost interest in the old men wearing gray jump suits when the old men either were able to win at the games of chance or finish the con man’s lines for him as he tried to scam them.  Although their initial cruise out was for less than a day, the crew felt as one, the need to either celebrate liberally, or hook up with the many pretty ladies.  Sailors competing with the old men for the limited resources soon learned they could not intimidate the old men.  Many fistfights ended up with the old men carrying the young sailors back into the bars from the back alleys.  The gray panthers, then shared their sea stories with the sailors, who quickly learned the old salts were like themselves all navy, except retired, and had earned the decorations on their chests. 

Honolulu, Hawaii

20 December 2127          

The special side entrance at the airport, setup for the Nike, started to get busy at 0900 hrs as transports returned from the hotel.  At 1000 hrs, Red started to worry as fifty men had not yet returned, then laughed as he saw cars driven by women dropping off the errant gray panthers.  A gray USN school bus parked alongside the gate as ten GPs exited the bus, formed a column and marched back, chanting ditties.  At 1030 hrs, Red ordered the special guard at the gate withdrawn and for the elevators to be returned to the up and locked position.  Unhappily, Red came to the realization that three men were going to be AWOL.  He began to make his report when he spied three GPs in the tall grass near the flight line approaching.  Ordering a side hatch opened, a net was dropped for the men as engines started to get louder.  The men made a full out run for the Nike as ship’s monitors displayed the event for all crew. Cheering and chanting broke out throughout the ship, encouraging the men to run, and then climb.  Red decided to have the COB* meet the men and left their welcome to his discretion. 

* Chief of Boat, senior ranking enlisted, assists with matters regarding the good order and discipline of the crew.

Gray Panthers, Arizona

21 December 2127

The cavern was called to attention as Dan and Black Jack walked down the cavern past each row of gray panther.  On this rare occasion, the entire base was assembled.  Dan and Black Jack finally got to the podium, about six feet higher than the GPs facing them.  Dan ordered the unit to “At Ease”, and then called Lt. Paterson to the podium.  Dan took a flask from his pocket and told the Lt. to have a big swig.  Smiling, the Lt. complied.  Then Dan faced the GPs and ordered the video to be played.  A video started showing the Lt. beating up a woman, then bending her over a chair and raping her brutally.  After finishing, he then woke the woman's young boy and girl and did the same to each of them.  As the video ended and the lights were returned to normal, it was obvious the Lt. was having extreme physical discomfort.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this type of conduct sickens me and has no room in this organization.  I took the liberty of giving Lt. Paterson his discharge drink.  When he was recruited, he was just under 104, dying of advanced cancer. As we speak, his nanites are shutting down and he will be back to his very old self in a matter of minutes.  He will then be escorted from base and left to fend for himself.  It is my sincere hope he makes it far enough from this august body, that no one need ever see him again."  Dan finished as two burly enlisted men walked up on the stage and ripped the patches and rank from the uniform.  Then frog walked him out.  Before getting to the door, the man shook noticeably, and then went limp.  A medic walked to the man and confirmed he was dead.  A pregnant pause gripped the unit until a cheer was heard; then the entire room cheered the pervert’s demise.

  Dan got the room under control as he asked, "SSgt
.
Young and detachment, please come up on the podium."  The nervous marines followed their NCO onto the podium and stood at attention.  "At ease, gentlemen.” From behind his podium he retrieved a tray of ten shot glasses filled with clear liquid.  "Please have a drink on me.” With trepidation each man took the offered drink and promptly downed them.  The audience gasped as Dan turned once again to address them.  “These men have been criminals; they have attempted to kidnap a member of our team who is very dear to me.  They are also deserters from the marines.  While investigating these men I have found they are actually men of honor who deserted rather that follow illegal black orders.  They have been forced to do things under duress, which they no longer need worry about.  They are also our new OPFOR and will be your worst enemies in the near future, which I believe will save many lives down the road.  I can't, in good conscience though, consider this man in charge to be an NCO in our GPs.  Please join me in welcoming and congratulating Lt. Young, OPFOR commander."  The marines were noticeably relieved and broke out in smiles as the GPs cheered them in welcome. 

    The Nike crew was subdued as they headed for home. Over half were still feeling their hangovers, and the remainder of the crew was quiet in consideration for them. Butch was looking at his XO and smiled. Red knew immediately what was coming next, especially since he would have done the same as captain.  "Battle stations gentlemen," he said softly as he pulled an old style stopwatch from his pocket.  Red pushed the battle stations button as the gong went off.  "General quarters, general quarters.  All hands man your battle stations.” Red commanded. A separate clock started timing the response located on the column near the button.  Four minutes later the last section reported ready.  Butch got up from his command chair, looked at his stopwatch and ordered the men to maintain battle stations for ten minutes, then return to normal as he left the bridge.