“How long will this operation take?”
“Yeah, I’m not sure of that. The last data dump from the Forest Monitor looked bad; there is a chance we may be too late right now. So, there will be at least one round trip for you that will take about eleven days. If we are not too late, we will be making as many round trips as possible. I’m sending a scout ship to Sandalwood and New Braxton in hopes of getting more ships. The pilot has been instructed to inform your company offices at both locations of your diversion.”
Weathers was calmer, but his jaw was still tight, “Thank you, Admiral, that helps. I hope you’re right about the glory of this thing; Paradise Found will probably take a medieval view of a Captain that goes wandering off with one of their ships.”
“They will see the benefits of your cooperation if I have to twist arms to do it.”
Weathers looked almost convinced, nodded, and cut the connection.
Wills turned the chair and stood up, “Lieutenant Hayes, you know the plan; get going ASAP.”
“Yes, sir.” Hayes saluted and left.
“Captain Trillmann.”
“Sir!”
“I am placing your detachment under the command of Erica Clacton to assist local authorities in handling the influx of our guests. Benais Salmond is building housing for the Foresters out at the T8 project location. I’m not sure how things will go so it might be a good idea to keep the Foresters out there and separate from the human population. Use your judgment about things and keep the peace.”
Wills watched Erica and the two Marines leave and felt that eerie sensation of needing to do something when there was nothing left to do. How can a life or death situation involving a half a million aliens come down to thumb twiddling?
He turned back to Falmann, who had reclaimed his chair, “Jerry, all I can say to you is keep doing your job, and keep things running smoothly.”
Falmann rocked back in his chair and looked up at Wills, “Don’t worry, we’ll do our jobs here; it’s you that has the tough job. I don’t know if I should envy you or be damned glad I’m not you. Have you ever considered the possibility that they may not believe you about the flares and may refuse to go?”
Wills thought about it and nodded, “That possibility exists; but their odd technology mix does include astronomical ability, and we have interpreted fragments of conversations that seem to indicate knowledge of the problem.”
Wills shrugged, “Bottom line is we have hope that it will work out reasonably well. It’s all we can do.”
Falmann just gave him a weak smile, “Rottsa ruck GI.”
Wills nodded, returned the smile, and headed for the door.
#
It was warmer now, but the floater-bike was parked in the shade of a tree, so he sat on it and made another call.
Nanci had a harried look when she answered, “Admiral, it’s getting nuts here; everyone is calling in a panic to see what they should do.”
“Put up a screening message and tell everyone that if they are needed they will be notified directly. Until then there should be minimal changes to everyday business. In fact, I have already done everything that seems possible to do at this time. What I want you to do now is send someone out to my home and pick up a travel kit for me; I’ll call Jessica and have her pack it.”
Nanci looked happier, “Will do, Admiral; anything else?”
“Yes, as of now, you are the Archer Entertainment Officer; there will be a bunch of stranded passengers and crew members from the ships in orbit. I want you to get together with Erica Clacton, and see that they have things to do and enjoy themselves here as much as possible. I was thinking that you might begin with that winery dedication on Marks Island; if you get them all well fried that could be a couple of days they won’t remember.”
“Do I get a pay raise?”
“No, Nanci, just a fancy title and longer hours.”
“Just what a girl wants in life. I’ll get someone out to your place right away.”
#
The next call was one he wasn’t looking forward to.
Jessica appeared on the screen; she did not look happy, “You’re going to Forest, aren’t you, Wills?”
He shrugged, “I’m in charge of this mess. I’m sending someone to pick up a travel kit. Pack a few work uniform changes and other things for a few weeks. I’m going to co-pilot the Weasel, and that thing will be a three week round trip even if things go well.”
Her eyebrows went up, “The Weasel?”
He shrugged again, “The major work is done, and Helt says it’s ready to go. I need everything I can get, and that’s the biggest thing available.”
An uneasy silence stretched out, “Love you, Jess.”
“Love you, Wills.”
He cut the connection and pointed the floater-bike toward the Weasel.
#
It took fifteen minutes to work his way out to the back road that ran out to the point. Even zipping along the paved strip that headed straight for the Weasel seemed to take an unusually long time; sort of like heading toward a mountain range that never looked like it was getting any closer.
When he finally passed into the shadow of the huge ship, he slowed a bit and took notice of how the vegetation went from the normal healthy gray-green of the local stony soil adapted species to a stunted, unhealthy looking version and then to nothing. The Weasel had been sitting there so long that it had killed off the local plant growth by blocking the sunlight. He passed between
