Eight

White House Oval Office

United States, Earth

12 August 2017

General Hammond, fresh from his return to Earth aboard the Eternia, had barely set foot on base in Area 51 when he was directed to board a waiting aircraft that was to convey him to Langley. From there, the general had been ushered into a waiting staff car for the trip to Washington, D.C.

Hammond had no idea what the meeting could be about. He was certain that he wasn't going to be relieved of command for leaving the planet. While his presence with his people had not been necessary at the time, it had proven fruitful to be on scene when the brief Val-kyrie civil war broke out. Other than personally congratulating Hammond for the good work his people had done on the penal planet and helping the Queen Mother, he was at a loss to explain the sudden meeting.

The general was conducted swiftly through the White House to the reception area outside the oval office. His wait was not long before the secretary's phone buzzed. She rose, walked around the desk and opened the door for the general.

"Go right in, general," the secretary said sweetly.

The door closed softy behind him. Hammond surveyed the room. It was just like he had seen in all the television shows and movies. The only mementos in the room of each sitting president decorated the table at the window behind the desk.

President Alexander stood at those windows gazing outside. Standing just shy of six feet, the president cut an imposing figure. Despite the stresses of the job, he did not look like a man in his late fifties. He still retained the lean pilot physique he had during his military service as an Apache helicopter pilot. Alexander turned from the window and smiled.

"Eugene. Welcome home." He gestured to the couches. "Sorry about the rush to get you here. Colonel Simmons will have to hold the fort a while longer."

"No problem, sir," Hammond responded, shaking the president's hand.

When they were settled on the couches, Alexander got right to the point. "You certainly had some adventures." He had been up all night reading the reports on the operation to free He-man and his allies from the Horde penal planet. The operation to rescue Cobretti and the Sorceress when they were under siege by a powerful Horde force on an unclaimed planet in an undeclared neutral zone between the Horde Empire and Val-kyrie space. And then there was the adventure on the home world of the warrior women.

"About normal for my people, I'm afraid," Hammond replied.

"A good job, nonetheless. Looks like we have a very powerful ally in these Val-kyrie."

"The Queen Mother has her hands full rebuilding after the rebellion among her senior officers and senators. They wouldn't be able to defend their territory and Earth, if that's what you are thinking."

The president nodded. "I was, but realize they have their own problems. I believe your report mentioned a computer scenario where both the Val-kyrie and Horde fleets engaged in an all-out battle."

Hammond nodded. "Yes. The result was both being crippled for a decade or two. Stalemate."

"If you are wondering if your job is in jeopardy, let me assure you that it isn't," the president said, answering Hammond's obvious question.

"I was looking forward to retiring when the Horde dropped in for a visit two years ago. Thanks to my people, I have been dropping weight, getting more fit, and the trip off world has reawakened my interest in other cultures."

"Well, for the moment, we need to concentrate on ours. World President Roshenko is convening the equivalent of our Armed Services Committee to review the status of the Guardian battlesuits and the best way to employ them in the defense of our world," President Alexander said, grimly. He did not hide his detest for the world president.

It was no secret that Roshenko wanted the weapons for himself. Russia had long advocated for Sonya Boradni to be returned with Hawk to defend the Motherland. Great Britain and Germany stood firm with the United States in allowing Jeromy Ironwood and Brad Johnson to remain in Guardian Command with their respective suits. No one truly understood that the battlesuits belonged to themselves because of the sentient AIs in each of them. While they had only limited mobility without the guidance of an operator, the AIs still had to be treated like individuals. Now, President Roshenko was making another overt bid to control the use of these potent weapons of war.

President Alexander continued, "A firm date for the conference has not been set, as yet; however, once it is, someone will have to go before the committee and answer on behalf of your command."

Hammond frowned. He didn't like having to take time away from their operations to play these political games. "And you want me to go before the committee?" It made sense, since he was the commanding officer.

The president shook his head. "According to your report, the guardians elected one of their own to be their commander. I want Adrian Cobretti to answer on behalf of the Guardians."

Hammond couldn't completely disguise his shock. "Sir, you realize that because of his exposure to the Horde mind sifter, Adrian is more eccentric than usual. While he will be an able commander for the group, he might not be the best choice to face the committee."

"I disagree, Gene. Politics gives him the same kind of bowel movements that they give you. If anyone can convince the committee to leave the battlesuits where they are, it's him. Bring whomever you like, but Adrian must be the one to represent the Guardians' interests."

Sensing that he was not going to win this argument, Hammond sighed. "As you wish, Mister President."

Area 51

2200 hours

Everything was in readiness to receive the Ladyhawke in the massive underground hangar under the north end of the runway. The hangar doors were open and a large plate painted to resemble the overrun section had been lifted into place.

All activity among the structures on the west side of the base, the only such evidence above ground, had been suspended for the night. Eternia and a Val-kyrie scout ship were already parked on similar platforms underground. Emergency crews were standing by just in case they were needed.

The appointed time had come and gone, and there was still no signal. Colonel Simmons was growing impatient. It was a Saturday night. He could have been down in Las Vegas enjoying the weekend away from the base, but no, he was standing in the command center awaiting the arrival of a very advanced starship under the command of a rather eccentric crew.

"Anything?" Simmons demanded from the duty sergeant for the ninth time in the past few minutes.

"Still nothing, sir."

"Markson warned me Cobretti had a flare for the dramatic," Simmons groused.

"If he was going to be dramatic, he would have arrived in the middle of the day, and come in from the south directly over the city," a voice pointed out from behind him.

Simmons turned to regard the R&D division chief with barely contained disdain. Doctor Nicholas 'Nick' Jackson had snuck up on the colonel once again. "I don't know why he has to park that ship down here when the moon base is better equipped to accommodate it."

"Have you already forgotten the Queen Mother's conditions for use of the new starship? Only Adrian and the Sorceress are allowed even to board the ship. There are plenty of scientists up on the moon who would love to examine it up close," Nick pointed out. "Access to it cannot be strictly controlled up there. So, it has to be kept down here." He turned and left the command center without another word.

Nick took an electric cart and made his way to the hangar area in short order. He joined Gabriel Burns, Captain Majourny, Colonel Markson and a small group of other spectators awaiting the arrival of the Ladyhawke. Some people in the crew had already seen the starship before it left Val-kyre. Everyone was hoping to get an up-close look at the new acquisition despite the restrictions.

Colonel Markson checked his watch. "They're fifteen minutes late."

"Relax, colonel," Anyssa said. "Re-entering the atmosphere under sensor cloak is easy. It's not so easy when the other system is engaged."

While the full capabilities of the starship had not been disclosed, suspicions ran high as to what technologies had been incorporated into it. Sensor cloaks were standard equipment for all Val-kyrie starships from battlestars down to scout ships. Scout ships were the only ones with the addition of an invisibility cloaking device. Since Adrian chose to return at night, an invisibility cloak was ruled out.

The duty sergeant called over the intercom," We're getting a signal. Text only. It reads 'standby.'" Another few minutes passed before the next announcement. "New message. 'Ready for a letdown.' I guess they are in position."

Smiling, Gabe ordered the deck officer to lower the platform.

Several metal thunks echoed throughout the hangar. Everyone watched as the massive pistons slowly retracted into the floor. Lighting in the bay was minimal so that it did not give away the presence of anything more than the surface structures. However, that meant leaving the overhead doors open until the platform touched down on the floor because – there was nothing sitting on the reinforced metal plate.

The overhead doors rolled shut as the platform was moved by other hydraulic pistons out of the way. There was a central east/west thoroughfare to transfer platforms around for various reasons. A line of open bays ran the length of this aisle to the north and south. Currently, only the Eternia and Anyssa's scout ship were parked in the immediate bays on the south side, facing in the same direction so that once they were lifted into place the starships would be lined up to roll down the runway.

The recently lowered platform was being pushed back into the immediate bay north of the runway's end. There was no way to rotate the platforms underground. The mechanics of such a system often employed in railway hubs to turn engines around was unfeasible when scaled up to starships the size of the Eternia and the Ladyhawke. So, all ships had to be prepositioned prior to being lowered into the underground hangar.

Once the platform was locked down, metal grates slid out of hidden recesses and popped up into position to cover the tracks so that it safe to personnel to move around. The group cautiously approached the apparently empty platform.

"The weight sensors register an extremely heavy mass sitting on the platform," Gabe said, after a brief consultation with the deck officer. "So, something has landed."

"They're just being dramatic, as usual," Colonel Markson said.

As if he had been overheard -which was likely- the air over the vacant platform began shimmering. The arrow-like hull of the Ladyhawke gradually took shape. Those who hadn't seen the starship before gasped in awe at the sight of such a sleek and powerful-looking craft.

The white section along the centerline forward of the front landing struts snapped inward and split apart along the long axis. The loading platform began its descent to the floor. Two armored figures, male and female, stood upon it. The male operated the platform controls. As it neared the floor, a ramp automatically unfolded. Adrian and the Sorceress opened their helmets, pieces falling away to be stored somewhere under the collar sections of the suits, and walked off the platform.

"That's a mighty fine piece of technology you're brought us," Nick said, beaming at the sight of the starship.

"And that's as close as you or anyone else is going to get per the Queen Mother," Adrian replied. "Okay, Miriam, close her up."

"As you wish," the AI responded.

The platform retracted into the forward cargo hold and white hatch covers closed sealing the ship.

Gabe frowned. "You can't even give us a teaser?"

"No," the Sorceress answered. "However, I do have a consolation prize for you. Once I speak to General Hammond, of course."

"Speaking of whom," Adrian added, "where is our fearless leader?"

"Washington, D.C. meeting with President Alexander," Captain Majourny supplied. "He should be back early tomorrow morning. He will probably call for a debrief Monday morning."

"Oh, good. Time to relax and sleep in," Adrian smiled.

Jo-jo had designs on planning the dinner date Adrian and the Sorceress had agreed upon before leaving on the mission to the penal planet. It had been their way of having something to come back alive to. Jo-jo secretly planned to make it memorable, if she had anything to do with it.

Nick pulled up in a heavy duty electric cart designed to take the weight of two battlesuits in combat mode. The pair climbed in back while Gabe slid into the front next to Nick. After a stern reminder that the Ladyhawke was off limits, the group set out for the main underground facilities at the west end of the base.

There were two tunnels accessible from the hangar. A large tunnel on the left allowed for moving bulk supplies and heavy equipment between the maintenance and storage bays under the mountain range at the west end of the base and the vast underground hangar area. Nick aimed for the smaller tunnel on the right that was for foot traffic and motorized carts. Both were well-lighted as compared to the dank dungeon-like feel of the hangar despite the powerful lights strewn throughout it.

Adrian's mind flashed back to the final episode of an old tv series titled Kolchak: The Night Stalker. The series' main character, Carl Kolchak, is seen several times driving an electric cart down a corridor much like the one they were currently traveling in. The irony was not lost on Adrian. In the past six months, he had seen and experienced things the likes of which Carl couldn't even imagine in his wildest dreams.

Nick drove through a hub of intersecting tunnels and continued heading west. Another shorter tunnel deposited them in the main maintenance bay. Although it was a fraction of the size of the hangar bays, it was still impressive. At the south end of the chamber stood four armor battlesuits, each standing between twelve and fifteen feet in height. Gatling Arm. Hawk. Blitzkrieg. Claw. The cart stopped a short distance away and everyone climbed out.

As they approached, Adrian and the Sorceress converted their suits from the power armor combat form into the full-sized battle form. The pair walked over to the west end of the line where there were two open spots next to recharge stations. Technicians waited until the suits were backed into place and the legs locked before unrolling thick cables to connect to specific ports in the back. One was an outside power source to supplement the regenerating capacitors the battlesuits were equipped with; the others hooked up monitoring and diagnostic test computers to keep track of the wear and tear of each suit's systems. Wheeled ladders were pushed up to the front as the chest and abdomen of Falcon and War Wing opened. Their operators climbed out and stepped down to the ground, the suits sealing themselves up again and promptly powering down.

Gabe and Nick stood at the hexagonal shaped computer station set up off to the side. Each side had an array of computers dedicated to a specific suit. Gabe and Nick watched as the banks set up for Falcon and War Wing came online and showed as functioning normally. While the stations the suits were plugged into were generic rather than dedicated, the server hub for the computer stations contained programs that evaluated the incoming data and routed it to the correct station which was dedicated to a specific suit. The arrangement would make life easier on the technicians and operators so that they did not have to memorize a specific station to plug in to every time.

"Kinda dead around here for a Saturday night," Adrian commented.

"The only downtime we get around here is when you people are away," Nick said, absently.

"Shit, that's cold."

"It's all right, Adrian," Sorceress replied. "At least we get out more than they do. We have more fun."

"Now that was cold," Gabe said. After making sure all connections were secure, the four of them walked away in the direction of the office spaces and living quarters situated in the northern sector. "So, I understand that the suits can now speak to us.

Sorceress arched an eyebrow. "They always could speak to us. Well, their operators, anyway."

Nick explained: "Anyssa brought back the specs on the comm gear we will need for them to speak to us."

Gabe slapped his hands together, rubbing them expectantly. "I can't wait to start communicating with them in a more efficient manner."

"Be careful that you wish for, Gabe," Adrian cautioned.

The portly black man frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"If their operators are eccentric-" Sorceress supplied, glancing in Adrian's direction, "some more than others- how eccentric do you think the artificial intelligences are likely to be?"

"Oh, lord," Gabe sighed.

Nick merely snickered. He remembered all the troubles they had initially trying to examine the battlesuits in the beginning. He knew the AIs would remember all too well.

Paybacks, as they say, are indeed a bitch.

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