Jolo stood up. “It’s some kind of spinning rod right under us,” he said.
They all got on their hands and knees and felt the smooth, cold floor. Finally, Katy felt a small indention on the far corner on the other side from the computer. She pressed her fingers into it and suddenly the floor separated in the middle. It opened up and the sound came into the room. They stared down onto what looked like a giant, spinning top, larger than the Argossy, and they could only guess at how deep it went.
“They’re drilling to the core,” said Merthon. “Jamis and I often wondered how the BG destroyed Vellos. Everyone thought it came from a secret weapon aboard a ship in orbit. A weapon that could heat up the planet’s core and literally explode the planet from within. But now I see we were wrong. It was far simpler and cunning.”
“They drilled holes into the core of Vellos, but that doesn’t explain why the planet blew up?” said Katy.
“I bet they used Galaxite,” said Jolo. It will store energy, but will explode if it gets too hot. That’s how they destroyed Vellos. And now the BG are gonna blow up Duval the same way.”
43 Days
Duval
Everyone gathered in the library to discuss what Jolo, Katy and Merthon had discovered under the fake listening station. Merthon was absent, but this was normal, as he was always working on The Problem. Jolo and Katy were still covered in a thin layer of red clay, both tired and hungry from their trip to the listening station, but this couldn’t wait.
Jolo put his hand on Katy’s shoulder because she wouldn’t stop fidgeting. He could hear her breathing, her body tense and agitated. George and the crew had come to rescue them in the Argossy and Katy hadn’t said a word on the way home.
Jolo started to speak, but Katy couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Why destroy Duval?” she yelled.
“This planet may be a forgotten Fed property on the fringe, but during the war with the BG the military used it as a refuel point,” said Marco. “Without Duval, the Fed ships can’t get out far enough to attack Bakanhe space. But most importantly, Duval has alacyte production capacity. The Fed could start mining again and create ships. No other Fed planet has as much as Duval. Not even Barc’s undersea mining operations. If the Fed lose Duval it would hurt their ability to wage war. It’s a smart move for the BG.”
“And our smart move is to get the frack out of here,” said Jolo. “What can we do against the full weight of the BG? They got killer bots, mech warriors, a fleet of ships that could crush the Fed fleet tomorrow, not to mention a thousand or so crazy, blond-haired synth assassins with little red energy blades.”
“But what about Duval?” said Katy.
“What about it?,” said Jolo. “I know we all have a soft spot for this dirty rock. But technically, it’s just another Fed planet on the fringe. Why do we care? The Fed doesn’t care about us, remember? You get soft you’ll end up dead.”
“What about Bertha and the kids?”
“They can leave. Just like us.”
“And don’t forget,” said Koba, “the Fed has started decommissioning the older ships from the war. Their military force is weak. They actually think the BG will help defend them.”
“This may not be easy to hear, but the Fed is standing tall with their pants down and the black bastards are gonna mop the floor the those fools,” said Greeley. “Best to do what Jolo said: get out now.”
“We’ve got time, right? They aren’t finished installing the drills,” said Katy.
At this point Merthon came in wearing his normal lab robe made from Vellosian cloth Jolo had “found” on a cargo hauler a few months back. It was stained in places on the front and Jolo thought he looked decidedly better not carrying a sawed-off shotgun. “I’ve done some quick calculations, and based on what I know now, and what happened on Vellos, I believe this planet will be gone sooner than we all think.”
“How soon?” said Marco.
“Forty-three days,” said Merthon.
The room went silent. Katy started to cry. “It is time to leave,” said Jolo. Greeley, Koba and Hurley nodded together. There was nothing else to be done.
“I ain’t leaving,” said Marco. “Y’all go. I don’t blame any of you. I’m too old to start again. I think it’s best if you all go. Head to Barc, I hear Greeley’s gonna buy a spread there.”
“That’s crazy,” said Jolo. “You’ve been through this before when the BG came to Pleny, and you suffered for it.”
“That’s true,” said Marco. “But I was young then and I fought because I was stupid enough to believe I could win. Now I’ll fight because there’s nothing else for an old man set in his ways to do.”
“I ain’t leaving either,” said Katy.
“Katy!” yelled Jolo. “You can’t stay. It’s a death sentence.”
“I’m staying,” said Merthon.
“Me too,” said George.
“Why are y’all siding with them?” Jolo yelled.
