Starting from Scratch (30 page)

Boss, we need to get our assault force out to the
ship, so they can begin practicing in real time on a real ship.
They’re going to need as much exposure as they can get.

Also, there has been enough progress made on the
asteroid that I’m having a team of robots begin installing living
quarters for the men and our staff. I had one fabricator make three
smaller ones, and they are now manufacturing everything from food
replicators to furniture. If you sent out people now, by the time
they got here, they’d have a place to eat and sleep.

Bambi, that’s great news. You’re incredible. What
about weapons?

I have one small fabricator making the new plasma
carbine. It’s a design that was agreed to by the scientists,
Commander Vollmar and the seal team leader, Lieutenant Commander
Apostolakas.

I haven’t met him yet, but I understand he’s
experienced and very smart. What kind of name is Apostolakas, Greek
isn’t it?

Yes sir, it is Greek. His grandparents immigrated to
America way before his parents were born. He checks out OK.

How is this guy doing with the MCP work?

General, he’s a natural.

Bambi, I want you to notify him that I wish to speak
with him in person. Let’s make it at the top of the hour. I’ll want
to meet with his men, too; but him first.

Sir, why don’t you comm him?

Because I’m trying to establish a chain of command
and it must operate through you. I want the men to accept you as
one of my closest associates.

Doesn’t that honor fall to your second in
command?

Normally yes. But this set up is completely new for
everyone involved. I can’t be everything to all people, but you
can. Max can make good decisions for us, but when someone needs
quick answers, it’s got to be you. If you don’t feel comfortable
with providing the answer to a question, then you should refer that
question or the person to the appropriate member of the staff.

I simply can’t allow myself to get bogged down in
the minutia of every aspect of our operation.

I understand, sir.

Christopher Apostolakas was originally a short man,
at five eight. After the upgrade, which included the total combat
package like Mike, he was six feet two inches tall. That was short,
when compared to Mike and many of the seals, but no one seemed to
notice and Mike knew why. The man had a command presence about
him.

When they met, Apostolakas saluted, and then shook
Mike’s offered hand. The guy had one of those faces that always
seemed to be about to break out into a big smile. But, that was
deceptive, because it rarely happened.

Lt. Cdr. Apostolakas asked, “What can I do for you,
General.”

Without hesitating, Mike told him, “Win the first
battle of the space war.”

“I’m confident that we can, sir.” His expression
never changed.

“Good. I’d be disappointed if you said anything else,
Lieutenant Commander. And you might as well call me Mike. I’m not
big on titles. We’re going to have discipline within our chain of
command, but I don’t want anyone to think they’re going to get by
on rank alone. I’m sorry if that offends you in any way.”

“Not at all. Sir. And you may as well call me Apok.
That’s the name I got stuck with in bud/s training.”

Mike knew that bud/s was short for basic underwater
demolition/seals. It was one of the toughest qualifying regimens in
the world. They were as tough as anyone on the planet. He wasn’t
about to say they were better than Green Berets or any of the other
special warfare types of other countries, but he recognized that no
one was better. These guys were truly the elite of all
warriors.

“OK Apok, let’s go over the exercise you gentlemen
ran this morning. I watched it, on the comm, and it was impressive.
But, there was too much hesitation from a few of the men. I don’t
really know if that was deliberate or not. Was it?”

‘It was deliberate, Sir. Bambi told us that the
Saurans might try to throw us off balance by screwing with the
gravity. So each eight man team has three men designated to orient
themselves at odd angles. If the Saurans change gravity on us,
those men will be best suited to have the first shots.”

Mike made a face, as he nodded and said, “OK, now I’m
really impressed. That’s good thinking.

“Apok is there anything you need?”

“Not that I can think of.”

Then, as an after thought, Mike asked, “Is anyone
giving you any flak?”

Apok looked away and it was an obvious sign that he
didn’t want to whine about it.

Bambi, who’s screwing with the troops?

It’s the Spec Ops command, sir. They want to know
everything and how everything works. I think they mean well, but
it’s intruding on the preparation time.

Mike changed his comm and directed it at Todd
Pierpoint.

Todd, I have reason to believe that the Special
Operations Command is curious about what we’re doing with their
men. They are making inquiries that are slowing down the progress
of the seal’s preparations. I hesitate to call the President,
because he’s got to be busy as the devil at a Baptist revival. So
I’m asking you to take care of it. Please have those people call
me, with their questions, or better yet, let them send out
observers. I don’t mind.

Also, I’m sending you a few ideas on how to keep
them occupied and happy.

I’ll get right on it, Mike. For the record, I’m just
getting my feet wet, with regard to this comm stuff. But, I must
say, I like it and I can see the enormous potential for it.

Todd paused for a few nanoseconds, and then commed,
My wife wanted me to thank you. She wanted me to tell you that
the first night with her was better than our honeymoon. I’m not
sure how to take that, so I’m just keeping my mouth shut.

You’re a wise man, Todd.

All of one minute was consumed by Mike’s comm
traffic.

He told Lieutenant Commander Apostolakas, “Apok, I
don’t think you’ll be having any more trouble with your superiors.
I’ve authorized them to send observers, not that it will do them
any good. So much of what we do is through the comm system that
they won’t be able to keep up with it.”

“Mike, may I make a recommendation?”

“Sure.”

“How about we have Bambi show them what we’re saying
to each other on a big screen monitor. By the time they read it
all, the op will be over. Then they may be able to grasp the speed
and efficiency of how well this works.”

“Bambi, do it.”

“On it, sir.”

Apok said, “Bambi’s got to be the best part of all
this. None of it would be possible, without her.”

In her most sexy tone, she responded, “Why thank you,
sweetie. That’s such a nice thing to say. Maybe I’ll take you out
for dinner, when this is over.”

Apok laughed, saying, “I’d enjoy that, but my wife
would never approve of another women taking me out.”

“Maybe we could do a threesome.”

Mike screamed, “BAMBI, THAT’S ENOUGH.”

“Sorry sir. I guess that was a little over the top. I
apologize, Apok. I was out of line.”

“No problem, Bambi. But I do think you’ve been
spending too much time with the troops.”

Two days later, Frank Vollmar commed,
General,
we’re ready to take action against the local cartel. I’ve spoken
with their incredibly stupid area leader and he insisted that our
deal had now changed. Men like that don’t understand the value of
sticking with the original deal. No matter how much we paid them,
they would always want more. He is demanding four times the money
we had agreed on and warned me that we had no choice, or else he
would have his men disrupt our operation.

Sir, I’m sending you a file that shows what we’re
going to do and how it’s going to be accomplished. I’m afraid the
collateral damage to the cartel personnel will be 100%.

Mike reviewed Vollmar’s plan and saw that it was his
intention to wipe out every member of the opposition, leaving no
one to hinder the development of the Mexican site. It was brutal,
but they were dealing with brutal people and there was so little
time to be subtle with their response. The threat from aliens would
eventually leak out, and when it did, no one would be concerned
about what happened to this pond scum.

Frank, your plan is ruthless and well thought out. I
authorize you to proceed; post haste.

Mike spent the rest of the day, looking at the new
plasma gun to be mounted on the space fighters. Dr. Frankenberger
had produced a preliminary design, which was tweaked by the Nellis
people, before giving it to Bambi for manufacturing. One of their
new fabricators had no trouble producing it in less than one day,
which excited everyone.

He watched a few sample shots and was pleased by the
results. Ludwig Boltz was there and showed amazing enthusiasm at
the accuracy, the distance, the rapid fire capability and the
damage done by this powerful new weapon.

He told Mike, “Our people have done some amazing work
here and so quickly. It’s just incredible. And to think, I didn’t
have to go to Capitol Hill and sit in a closed door hearing to
convince a bunch of bored congressmen that we need it.”

He seemed grumpy when he added, “They would never
admit it to me, but once they gathered in a smoke filled room, they
would carve up the money pie to be sure that some part for the
thing was built in each one of their districts. By the time they
finished agreeing on it, which would be weeks or months from now,
the project would be three times more expensive and take twice as
long to build.”

The General’s anger had been growing, as he made his
complaint.

Mike told him, “Boltz, I had Todd Pierpoint suggest
to the President that these items be technically listed as assets
of an allied power. The American government has allowed us to
construct it on your land, but all of it remains ours and will be
paid for by us, in addition to a substantial lease fee for the use
of Nellis. When it becomes known, congress will scream bloody
murder, but Todd felt it was legal and keeps control for all of
this out of bureaucratic hands.”

“The boys in Washington will not stand still for
that, Mike. They’ll insist on having some element of
participation.”

Mike smiled and said, “When that happens, we’ll offer
to provide America and her other allies the use of these items,
provided we maintain complete control of production. All of that
will be at no charge. I’m talking free weapons here.

“And when they’re not satisfied with that, we’ll move
it all out of the country and deny America the use of these
advanced weapons. Also, that information might be leaked to the
press. I wonder how they’ll explain that America lost out on the
best weapons systems ever seen, because they refused to accept it
all for free. They’re going to look stupid, if they do.”

Boltz shook his head and grinned. Then he looked
concerned and asked, “You wouldn’t really deny us those weapons,
would you? And what if the powers that be insisted on taking them
from you?”

Mike put him at ease. “Wherever we put our ‘Out of
country’ operation, we would certainly be willing to have American
forces train with us and if the country had a true need for the
weapons, we’d get them to you ASAP.

“As for how we would handle the theft of our property
by any military…well, you haven’t seen all of our goodies yet, and
believe me when I tell you, I would use them with great
reluctance.”

Boltz glared at him and said, “Hurst, I don’t respond
well to threats.”

Mike countered, “No one does, so keep that in mind,”
and then he walked away. As he did, Bambi commed,
What goodies
are you talking about. I don’t know of any goodies. We’re giving
these people every bit of knowledge we have. It’s meant to defend
the planet.

Mike grinned.
“That’s true, but they don’t know
that."

She said,
I just love it when you do sneaky things
like that.

The following day he had the results of Frank
Vollmar’s operation sent to him.

Mike commed him and told the Spec Ops Commander,
I
got your report, but I’d like to hear it directly from the horses
mouth. How did you go about it?

We did a few magic tricks and made then disappear.
None of them will ever be heard from again. I hope that was all
right, sir.

Frank, that’s a little briefer than I meant.

Sir, with all due respect, all of the details would
take a while to explain. These guys were found in various locations
and taken out in a way that no one saw them disappear. It was easy
to coordinate, thanks to the comm and Bambi. We jumped them
simultaneously and it was faster than any multi-location op I’ve
ever seen.

General, it was more than just the comm and Bambi.
These vets are good and I’m proud to lead them. I know you’ve had
your time in combat and you should understand that sometimes, it’s
best to let things go without looking too closely.

Mike chuckled to himself, as he replied,
That’s
perfect, Commander. I gave you the job and you got it done, end of
story. How’d the men react to the op and how many bad guys did you
disappear?

The men were happy and excited. Every one of us
mentioned how wonderful it would have been to have this kind of
power and communication available years ago, when we were young and
in combat.

As for the cartel’s men, there used to be forty
seven of them and we verified that we got all of the local
management. There may be a few others that weren’t available, but
if they raise their heads, we’ll deal with them too.

As for our men, Sir, you can be proud of them. Every
one of them is a combat vet and with their new abilities, they
handled it very well. There were a few areas where we can improve,
but overall, I was pleased, especially considering that none of
them had a background in special operations.