Hades- the Revolution, page 4
part #2 of Hadesjan Cycle Series
“Would you like to say something? What possibility had escaped our notice I wonder?” the President asked in a sweet voice.
“I mean, I thought, well,” Dillins began confusedly, “there’s one eventuality. But it doesn’t make sense really….” Nobody seemed to understand him. A few people smirked.
“The problem is not in the unloading itself, but in what to do with these people. We don’t have enough room for everybody,” he collected himself. “Residential kits together with their logistical facilities are in the third convoy. In the first one, we have workers and load-bearing components for the new shipyard. It’s fifteen thousand people who need to be accommodated somewhere, and the orbital station is already overpopulated.”
“Oh shit,” somebody groaned. It was only now that everybody realized the full scale of the problem.
“Please control your emotions,” Collins calmed the atmosphere down. “Problems need to be dealt with as they surface. And how is the taking over of assets of the withdrawing companies going?” she asked the law office spokesman, who hadn’t taken part in the discussion so far.
“Property commissions are still working. Problems arise during the commissioning. The personnel who abandon the premises often leave a lot of destruction behind, which requires us to employ verifiers. It’s important to assess the losses precisely, as without it our claims will be rejected ex officio.”
“I’m not interested in that. I need these buildings now. Captain?”
“Yes, Madam?”
“Please assist the property commissions with your troops.”
“Of course, Madam,” the officer accepted the order.
“The remaining five stations, whose administrators are in disagreement with us, are to be taken with force in accordance with the proxies granted by the government. Before the first group of workers is unloaded, the situation on Hades is to be under our full control. Make our opponents pursue their luck in a different sandpit.”
“As you ordered, Madam,” Steward nodded. This was not the first time that Collins had to make decisions quickly. She had a reputation for it.
“Good. Now, Mr Dillins, would you be so kind as to satisfy my curiosity and explain how we can open those cosmic tins flying our way?”
“There’s only one way,” the controller looked around at the managers and directors surrounding him. He couldn’t understand why they were unable to see the solution themselves.
“Please!” The President of Uroboros rolled her eyes.
“We need to push the battleships which are being built to the outside roadstead. The arriving units have to be placed in the largest docks, and sluice reducers have to be attached to shipyard frames.”
There was an outcry in return. Both shipyard managers protested most loudly. Collins raised her hand as a sign of warning. In a second there was silence again.
“Is it workable or just an assumption?” she asked the controller.
“I saw such an action in one of my former workplaces.”
“Was it successful?”
“Yes,” he answered hesitatingly, after which he added, “They had to dismantle a quarter of the framework of the shipyard.” The managers froze with their mouths open. Such an undertaking was possible only in a few places in the galaxy under the vigilant eye of the best experts.
The controller expected this kind of reaction because he hastened to explain things further.
“The other shipyard was much smaller. The Atlases and Titans should easily enter ours.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“I’m a model-making enthusiast. I study the technical documentation of all space vehicles. It’s a hobby.”
“I see. To sum things up, I’m supposed to take a decision to stop the construction work on the battleships, which will result in gigantic compensations, and turn the whole shipyard upside down, because of your toy-gluing hobby. Is that correct?”
Dillins was quite distressed and didn’t know what to say to defend his arguments.
“Yes!” was the only thing he could come up with.
The President of Uroboros took a square piece of raw silk. She stamped it in the top left hand corner. Her assistant fix sprayed the surface. Linda Collins pressed her thumb in the lower left hand corner. The sheet was moved towards the controller so that he could lay his right hand on it. When he took it back, his fingerprints left a visible trace on the material.
“This is your pass,” she explained. “You’ve just been appointed our logistics manager.”
The assistant tucked the silk piece into his pocket. Above it he pinned an ID badge, on which he wrote ‘Logistics’ with a red marker.
“You’ll stay in this post until we find somebody more competent,” the boss of Uroboros explained. “You’ll find various tables in the former orchestra box. Take one. During the next half hour draw a prospectus of what to do next. The communications people will connect you with anyone in the system. I gather you’ll have to consult on certain issues. The shipyard manager will help you with that. In case of any problems, contact me straightaway. Welcome aboard!” she held out her hand to him. He shook it stunned.
Captain Steward and Major Ramirez looked after the leaving controller. Everything had been settled. They could deal with their own tasks now.
“Do you know why she didn’t shake hands with me?” the troll asked Steward.
“I know. She hates spies!”
Chapter III
It was a really short briefing. I felt fury and disappointment getting hold of me. It’s hard to say whether it showed on my face or not.
“I received order confirmation,” my worst fears were confirmed by Lieutenant Stone’s formal statement. “We’re leaving in twelve hours.”
His words were not followed by either shouts of joy or sighs of relief. The gathered marines avoided my searching eyes. Lady sergeant and the corporal were an exception – it was hard to find anything that could move these two toughies.
“And what about us?” Mark Sun asked.
“Formally, you’re not members of the squad. You can’t officially get on board with the evacuation unit.”
“How come?” he didn’t seem to understand.
“I gather that the marine motto of never leaving their own people behind doesn’t apply to us?” I asked. “You’ve pulled us into that fucking project and now you’re just washing your hands of us?”
“Mr Tsenre!” sergeant Louis growled my way.
If she thought she would calm me down this way, she was very much mistaken. The mere thought of standing face to face with the butchers from InCorp made my stomach turn. I’d been struggling with diarrhea for the last few hours. In vain.
“All right,” the officer cooled her down. “I understand your bitterness. We have to follow the orders. I tried to reach the supervisors and convince them to modify their plans. The only thing I managed to achieve was permission to take one civilian technician with us, for the sake of the wounded private Olga. You decide who it’s going to be.”
I started assessing my chances. I’d never won any lottery, so maybe this time…. My thoughts were broken by Theodore Schmitt.
“And what choice do we have? Guzenko has disappeared and nobody knows where he is. Lorenz is in a coma with little chance of surviving. Razun’s gone mad and he needs a straitjacket. And poor Sara Novak is still in shock after the rape. As far as I’m concerned the choice is obvious – take Sara. Pavel, do you agree?”
I wanted to protest. I wanted them to take me with them. I knew it was cynical and egoistical, but I almost shouted and cried to get this ticket. At the time nothing could have made me happier than the sight of Hades getting further and further behind my back.
“Yes,” I agreed with him, at the same time thinking whether I could make it on time to sit down on the potty without leaving a runny brown smudge behind me. “Take Sara.”
I got up and headed towards the nearest toilet. I had my rifle in one hand and a bag with my meager possessions in the other. A red light was flashing in my head, reminding me to keep my buttocks tight. Obviously, I wasn’t made for great things.
Theodore jumped up to join me. Thank God nobody tried to stop us, as every step was precious. The nearest restroom was just around the corner. Right before entering my mate dropped his bag. Judging by its big size, the guy was lucky. The container he used to live in wasn’t destroyed. We stormed like torpedoes into neighboring stalls. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one to experience bowel problems.
Corporal Kowalsky and Private Gina waited outside.
“Hey you! You want to take off without saying goodbye?” she snapped at me.
“Don’t you have anything else to do?” I moaned. “I’m sure the sergeant is already looking for you.”
“Don’t be rude, Pavel,” Theodore nudged me. He spread out his arms to embrace Gina. “I myself am always ready for long goodbyes.”
She dodged him easily and jumped up to me.
“Leave the caresses for the corporal,” she growled. Kowalsky frowned. Theodore decided to step aside.
“As you wish.”
“How are you holding up?” she asked. “And you, why are you still here? Didn’t your parents ever tell you it’s impolite to eavesdrop?”
Kowalsky and Schmitt walked a few yards away, but they kept looking our way curious.
“Well?” she asked.
“Like shit,” I admitted. “I’m so scared my stomach keeps churning.”
“Take this,” she handed me a box with pills.
“What is it?”
“A present.”
“I can see that but what’s inside?”
“It’s medicine for your problems. You can’t always find a shithouse during battle.”
“Thanks,” I said cheerfully. “It’s too bad you can’t take us with you.”
“Maybe it’s better this way,” she said and added quietly, “our squad is to take part in heavy fighting. The losses are rumored to reach fifty percent. Even if you went with us, you’d serve as support for the front-line troops. And it’s even worse there. I don’t know myself what would be better.”
She surprised me there.
“Gina?”
“What?”
“Thanks for saving my life. If it hadn’t been for you and Olga, I wouldn’t stand a chance. Take care of her, will you?”
“Sure.”
“One more thing.”
“Yes?’
This time I lowered my voice.
“Can I get a good luck kiss?”
“You want Flibbertigibbet to rip my guts out?” she roared at full volume. That’s the way it goes with the marine girls. When they let you stroke their hair, it’s ok, but one wrong move and they’re ready to bite through your throat.
She suddenly grabbed my T-shirt. I didn’t manage to jump away. I was sure she was going to head butt me and that I was going to have a broken nose. I closed my eyes instinctively. It was an impetuous moment. I felt the sweetness of her lips! Her tongue hit my upper front teeth. Before I managed to react, it was all over. My tongue didn’t even have time to flinch. Damn!
“And what are you staring at?” She picked up my bag from the floor and threw it at the two bystanders.
“No!” I shouted. The corporal ducked. The bag hit the wall and slid down to the floor.
I ran up to it and undid the strings.
“Do you have anything valuable inside?” the corporal asked.
“Yes,” I said digging through my underwear. Where are the damn socks?”
Three heads leaned over me with interest. Finally, I found what I was looking for. I fished out a thick cotton sock.
“Are you nuts?” Gina seemed concerned.
I didn’t answer but took out an electronic gadget with visible microprocessors instead. I checked whether the connection between the batteries and the core was undamaged. I sighed with relief. Everything seemed fine. The green diode was on all the time.
“What is it?” the marine pursued the issue.
I didn’t really feel like explaining. I’d rather just stick the gadget back into my bag and change the subject. But no, a woman’s curiosity has no limits.
“Are you going to tell us?” she inquired.
“This is my lodger’s AI.”
“A what?” she didn’t seem to get it at the beginning. After a while the real meaning of what I’d said dawned on her. “You mean you’re dragging a pleasure doll with you?”
“And what was I supposed to do?” I was trying to save the last shreds of my dignity. “The explosion destroyed everything. Only her processor remained. Was I supposed to turn my back on her and just leave? I don’t leave behind those who laid their trust in me!” I guess I went over the top with the last sentence. Gina’s face turned red.
Fortunately, the looming disaster was prevented by Theodore. He took out the scratched cover from my grip and scrutinized its every side.
“I can see it’s a compact version,” he pronounced after careful observation. “But there’s one thing I can’t find.”
“What exactly?” I ask kindly, pretending not to see Gina’s rage.
“Where is the hole for a penis?”
The corporal started giggling first. His joy spread quickly and soon we were all laughing out loud. The atmosphere improved significantly. Finally, the corporal gave us some advice.
“The new Uroboros is not a copy of InCorporation. Sooner or later they’ll be at loggerheads. Our research project has been shut, but please remember that you have your training and skills at your disposal. I’m sure you all have hard times ahead of you. I don’t know what Bio&Sonic are going to do. Maybe they’ll take you and send away from this system? If this doesn’t work, your only hope is to stick with the ordinary miners. They are vengeful and headstrong. They may help you a lot or prove very harmful to you. Your fate is in your own hands.
“Are we going to meet again?” I asked.
“Who knows? If you manage to get away from here, look for the 5th Marine Division. Nobody here finds it easy to leave you behind. Even the lieutenant found it especially difficult. But the order is clear and we have no choice. We’ll take Sara with us. That’s all.
We shook hands.
“One more thing,” Kowalsky took two packets of ammunition from his pocket. “This is in case of another pirate attack. I wanted to take more but somebody was there before me.”
“Thanks,” Theodore took one and gave the other to me.
The marines headed towards the departure lounge. For a moment we looked at their backs. They turned around a corner. Schmitt threw his bag onto his back with one hand and held his gun in the other. He looked around as if he were seeing the place for the first time in his life.
“And it could have been so beautiful,” he sighed.
“Are you coming?” I asked.
“Since the military canteen is closed, we have to find a new cook,” he took the first step towards the civilian section of the station.
I followed him. It’s always most difficult to take the first step.
The storage section was unusually busy. I had never seen such activity here before. Every moment somebody passed us by on a scooter with their baskets fully loaded. The miners we met greeted us kindly, saying hello from a distance. Those who were unfamiliar with the layout of containers asked for help and then offered us hand-rolled cigarettes in return. I didn’t smoke so I refused, but Theodore gathered a huge collection in his pockets.
“Watch out!” a vehicle in full speed appeared out of nowhere at the junction.
We barely managed to jump aside. The rider took the turn with too much speed. If the scooter was loaded, it would probably have managed to fit the corner. But this time it didn’t. The left bumper hit the wall and scratched its thin plastic layering, grinding against the inside netting of the wall. Something sparked inside and we could smell burning. The lighting in the container was dimmed a bit.
“Fucking hell!” the obese rider swore. “After the switch of the poles something must have fucked up gravity on this planet!”
“And wouldn’t it be easier to lose some weight?” I suggested considerately.
The unlucky rider stopped to assess the damage.
“Nobody is going to tell me what to do!” Then he finally recognized me. “Oh, it’s you, boy. How is it going? I heard the bandits shot your filly. And we lost two other boys besides.”
“I’m fine,” I said. I was talking to Bill O’Connor, the technical manager for Bio&Sonic, the man who showed me the ropes of working for the company. There was no point explaining the complicated deal I had with Mery. Everybody took it for granted that our contacts were intimate.
“Don’t you feel bad about the scooter?” Theodore asked, straightening the dented bumper. As a mechanic, he must have been hurt by such a carefree attitude.
“I don’t give a shit. It will soon fall into the wrong hands anyway,” Bill seemed truly distressed by the fact.
“Do we know when?”
“And what am I? A fortuneteller?” he evaded the answer. “Is it possible to ride it any further?” he asked Schmitt, who was struggling with the stiff material.
“It is. Just make sure you don’t take any sharp corners, or you’ll cut the tire,” the mechanic warned Bill.
“I’ll be careful,” the technician promised. “Give me your bags and I’ll take you to the center.”
“Why such traffic?” I asked him putting my bag under his legs. Theodore placed his next to mine.
“It’s going to be tight,” Bill noticed adjusting the luggage. Instead of standing while riding, he moved the mechanic’s bag under his butt and sat down on it. We could only sit on the cargo shelf. “It’s always more pleasant to ride than leg it.”
He didn’t answer my question. He either forgot or just didn’t want to answer it. I didn’t press him. Sooner or later we’ll find out. In certain situations nosiness may be gravely misunderstood.
The scooter was moving much slower with the overload, although I had to admit it was still doing a good job. Fat Bill knew the way like the back of his hand. Wherever I would have to think twice, he managed to find the right track faultlessly. Not even once did we have to take a detour around a blocked gate, which, considering the recent relocation of containers after the quake, was a feat in itself.
