“I’ll handle it,” I said. I stepped out onto the white sands and tilted my head back. I stood in the deep shade cast by the Alamo’s black, ovoid hull. I cupped my hands and shouted up at Sokolov.
“Don’t eat too much!” I shouted. “You might be flying for a very long time!”
That’s all the advice I had time to give him. His hands made grasping motions in the air and then he vanished into the Alamo’s maw like a mouse sucked up by a vacuum. Maybe he’d gotten the message, maybe not. I shrugged. At least I’d tried.
Call it my good deed for the day.
-4-
I walked back inside. Warm, humid air blew in the smashed-out window behind me. The air from outside met the cool, dry air-conditioned air inside and fought a battle around me. It felt like the tropical warmth was winning.
I eyed the generals, and they eyed me back. There was a new light in their expressions. I thought it was fear.
“Gentlemen,” I said loudly. “Things are going to be different around here. Very different. We have no fleet. That was the last ship to leave Earth, except for one other I saw come back with me. Any word on who that might be?”
They exchanged glances, then went back to staring at me as if I were a zoo exhibit that had gotten loose somehow. One of the men, the taller one, was named Robinson. He had his hand on the butt of his pistol. He didn’t bother to draw it, and he wasn’t gripping it exactly, just resting his hand there. The other guy’s name was Barrera. He was shorter, broader, and meaner-looking. He had both hands on that pool-table computer of his, leaning over it tensely.
Barrera spoke first, “How are things going to be different?” he asked.
“First off, I’m a colonel. Since a colonel can’t properly order generals around, I’m busting you two down to the rank of major. We’ll all have to earn our promotions after that.”
They stared, dumbfounded. Robinson was goaded into speaking. “Riggs, have you gone mad? Did you just assassinate General Sokolov?”
“Assassinate? That’s a very strong term. I watched an unfortunate casualty occur right before my eyes. It’s part of war.”
“We’re at peace now. I thought you negotiated that,” said Barrera.
His eyes were wary, but not exactly outraged. Of the two, I thought he would be the easier to work with. His mind was more flexible.
“Our new political realities require constant, realistic appraisals of events,” I said. “The Nano ships are no longer under my control. They are no longer part of Star Force. In fact, they should be considered neutral and possibly hostile.”
They stared at me. I think my words were finally beginning to sink into their minds. Without a fleet, we weren’t a real force at all.
“Now, the question is where this leaves us.”
“I think we are up the proverbial creek, sans paddle,” said Robinson.
I nodded. “You are finally catching on, Major. Let’s see what we have left in the way of assets—”
“Our good will with the world will be worth zilch,” said Barrera, talking almost to himself. “They will recall their troops. Our marines and funding will dry up. Why should they put up with us if the war is on hold and we have no fleet?”
“They never really accepted us anyway,” continued Robinson. “I’d say they are talking about how they will dismantle us up in Washington right now.”
I nodded to Robinson and crossed my arms. “Yes, they will try to pull the plug. But they still need us, and they will be cautious at first, unsure as to our strength. They’ll worry that the fleet will come back somehow.”
“What do you think we should do?” asked Barrera.
I was liking him more by the second. I could tell right off, he was going to make Lieutenant Colonel before Robinson. “We have to have a fleet. Without it, the established governments will fall on us like vultures.”
Robinson shrugged. “What fleet? You said there is one other ship. What are we going to do, parade it around and pretend the rest are on a deep-space mission?”
“We build new ships,” I said, “real fast. Major Barrera, would you be so good as to hold down the fort here? Shut down all extraneous communications. Order an alert, pulling men back into base and arm them all. Collect all cell phones and tablets. Let’s keep our men ready and keep others from giving them ideas. You talk to the Pentagon and our own staffers. Do your best to hint we are in fine shape, and have many surprises in store.”
Barrera nodded. “I’ll do what I can.”
“Robinson, I want you to come with me.”
“Where?” he asked.
Robinson was talking to my back. I’d already marched off, moving toward the door. I crashed it open and looked at the two marines who snapped their eyes toward me. I had a new purpose gripping my mind now, and I was through screwing around.
“You men, were either of you down in Argentina with me when we destroyed the Macro domes?”
One man nodded.
“Were you in my unit?”
“No sir, I was with the second battalion.”
I squinted up at the sun. “There’s liable to be some fireworks here soon. Can I count on you two to back me?”
They shifted their grips on their beamers. “Um, what kind of trouble are you expecting, Colonel?”
“The kind that Riggs’ Pigs are famous for.”
That statement didn’t make either of them any happier. Behind me, Robinson had finally decided to follow me as I’d ordered. Maybe he’d grown curious.
“Colonel?” he said, “what’s this all about?”
“I told you a minute ago.”
“About a new fleet? Are you serious?”
The two guards stared at us. I returned their stares. “Well, what about it, marines?” I asked them.
The man who’d been in Argentina nodded first. Then the second one did too. “We’ve got your back, Colonel.”
They didn’t ask for any more details. They both knew what I was really asking. Would they back me up if things went bad. If there was a coup, or an invasion by the NATO people, I felt I could count on these two at least.
“That’s what I need to hear. Spread the word,” I told them.
Next, I headed over to the motor pool and grabbed a Hummer without filling out any forms. The duty Sergeant glared at me, but his frown vanished when he saw who I was and what kind of mood I was in. No one else even considered starting up an argument with me. Sometimes having a rep works in a man’s favor.
“Where the hell are we going?” asked Robinson as I pulled up to him and climbed out.
I hopped over the vehicle in a single smooth leap. That always freaked out normal people. Robinson had seen such tricks before, but he still had his mouth open when I climbed into the passenger seat. “You’re driving,” I told him.
Robinson huffed, but he got into the Hummer, started it up and drove. I directed him into the jungle interior. I’d never been on this fresh-cut road before. As the nanotized pilot of the Alamo, I’d always either flown, or jogged through the trees.
“We’re going out to the base, aren’t we? The one with your secret factories. They aren’t so secret, you know,” said Robinson.
“Right now, I’m just hoping they are still there when we arrive.”
He shot me an alarmed look. “Look Riggs,” Robinson said, “I don’t mean to be an asshole, but this isn’t going as planned. In fact, nothing that involves you ever seems to go according to plan.”
“Major—” I began, but he cut me off.