The Striking Falcon, the grey fox, VG. No matter what you called him, friend or enemy there was little doubt that you addressed him with respect.
Failing to respect VonGrippen was probably the last mistake a person could make. His clever strategies, dispassionate and logical approach to war, and his intuitive knowledge of people made him a terrifying opponent.
Phobos Base - Phobos Moon - Mars
He felt uneasy escorting a collection of youths with guns. But at thirty, VonGrippen wasn't much older than they were, and the grand sum of his experience with weapons was an afternoon weapons course and a single firefight.
He kept point, advancing slowly back through the genetics labs, beside him Markus walked seeming at ease with the rifle in his hands, keeping the Admiral covered as they leap frogged up the hall.
"Where are all the guards?" Markus asked pausing as VonGrippen swept around a corner, Markus covering him as they moved onwards.
"Above," VonGrippen replied, "there is a British unit fighting to take the French frigate up there."
Markus nodded, his sharp green eyes weighing VonGrippen a moment, "thank you."
"There will be time for that later," VonGrippen replied, closing on the stairwell, leaning inside and pulling back, "how far to Pad Seven?"
Rikard gestured up, "five floors straight up, then we have to get through the storage rooms to reach departure."
"We're at the foot of the stairs Dom," VonGrippen called into his TAC-link.
"We've penetrated the frigate and are deck clearing, can you make it to us or do I need to send someone to collect you?"
VonGrippen surveyed the stairs again, "we can make it." He clicked the radio off and changed the channel, "Lieutenant Ryder?"
"Admiral," Came the strained voice, "order's sir?"
"What's your situation?" VonGrippen asked nodding to Markus to begin his ascent up the stairs covering them.
"I sealed the hatches and detached from the base, but I am still on the pad." She replied tiredly, "I'm fully fuelled though, Frogs were kind enough for that at least."
"Can you take off and get clear?" VonGrippen asked, lifting his rifle and talking into the headset as he jogged up the stairs to secure the next landing.
"There are SAM batteries up here, but I am beneath their screen, I can probably take them out...."
"Do it, we're securing the frigate and will join you in the air. VonGrippen out."
* * *
Michaud's command platoon was pinned down. The damn Kaynin were spraying anything that moved with their damn pulse rifles, holding the French at bay and refusing to respond to orders. Michaud knew he hated the damn creatures, he didn't realize how much he had grown to dislike them until that point.
"They're onboard the Aconit." The Provost Marshall reported, leaning up to fire his shotgun, "We're outnumbered and cut off."
"I can see that," Michaud snapped, "can we make it back to Command and Control?"
"I doubt it," The Provost Marshall replied, "we can pull back let them take the Aconit and then shoot it down with our SAM emplacements."
"Pull back," Michaud ordered, gesturing to his men.
* * *
VonGrippen entered the deserted command centre, staring about him at the rows of communications equipment, chambering another grenade round as he motioned for the children to keep going. Markus caught his eye and realized what he was planning motioned for them to hurry.
Katherine paused a moment to touch VonGrippen's shoulder as she passed, and he turned instinctually, feeling the warmth from the touch as he looked about him at the control centre, backing out of the room slowly and dropping his last grenade right into the middle of the consoles.
VonGrippen entered the far hall, and stopped as the collection of children dropped to their knees sighting their rifles down the hall, aiming at the collection of French soldiers doing the same at the entrance to one of the main cargo bays.
General Michaud in their midst staring in disbelief back at them.
"Put down your weapons!" Michaud yelled down the hall.
VonGrippen lifted his rifle again to his shoulder, sighting through the scope and lining it up squarely with the centre of Michaud's forehead, "you are cut off General," he yelled back. "You have a small army behind you, and us in front of you. I think you are the ones who should be surrendering."
Michaud brought his rifle to his shoulder, "Admiral VonGrippen?" he yelled back.
"Who I am isn't important, all you need to know is that I am arresting you for treason and instigating war with the United States."
"War was inevitable," Michaud spat back, "I did nothing but carry out the will of the people...."
VonGrippen shot him.
There was a palpable silence from everyone, the French staring in shock as their General collapsed from the neat hole drilled in the centre of his chest, each of them turning back as they went for their weapons.
"Stop!" VonGrippen commanded, swinging his rifle about to train on the Provost Marshall.
The Marshall held up his hand to stay his men, un-slinging his shotgun and tossing it down to the deck as he put his hands behind his head. Around him, hesitantly, his men did the same, realizing how badly they were outnumbered, and leaderless.
VonGrippen lowered his rifle, "it's over Dom." He called into the radio.
* * *
The frigate was small, more an armed and armoured transport. It was unconventional in its configuration, designed for high-speed operations and evading the much stronger American ships.
It cruised, its flat spearhead shape cutting through the darkness as it made for the relative safety of space. Giving its new crew and passengers a chance to pause and reflect. On their situation.
The French had been left on Phobos, devoid of communications equipment it would be for the next supply ship to rescue them. VonGrippen had taken the frigate, loading it with the British and Kaynin soldiers, as well as bunking the GN-2s and Doctor Rikard.
VonGrippen sat on the small bridge of the frigate in the leather Captain's chair beside the helm control, watching one of the Kaynin pilots navigate them as far from Mars and Phobos as they could get while VonGrippen strove to think of their next move.
"Admiral?" Markus inquired stepping into the bridge, he'd changed out of the simple coveralls he'd worn on Phobos and put on some French combat fatigues found in the ships stores.
"Call me Alex," VonGrippen said turning.
"How about I call you VG?" Markus replied setting a mug of coffee down on the edge of the helm for him, "Seems to be what's popular amongst your men below decks."
"Markus, right?" VonGrippen asked accepting the coffee as he shifted to get comfortable, blowing on the surface before taking a draught and sighing in relief at the excellent flavour.
"You said I could thank you later for freeing us," Markus said easily, "I wanted to do that now." He walked towards the high bridge windows that looked out across the upper deck of the frigate, the bow missile launcher and point defence weapon mounts, "I get the impression it was not your original objective."
"That would be correct," VonGrippen sipped his coffee, "I wasn't planning on going to Phobos at all, Lieutenant Roki however had other ideas."
"Can I speak candidly to you?" Markus asked turning, sparing a glance towards the Kaynin pilot.
VonGrippen nodded as he got up and walked back to what had once been the Captain's quarters, shutting the door behind them as they stood in the cramped one bunk, one desk room.
VonGrippen sat at the desk, while Markus sat on the edge of the bunk.
"I don't wish to insult you," Markus said, "but you're not what I expect from a pirate."
VonGrippen shrugged, "I would ask what makes you say that, but from what I read of GN-1's in the intelligence files, GN-2's would be as equally observant, if not more so."
"I have had some exposure to Fleeters," Markus explained, "mainly French ones, but they seem to possess a number of similar characteristics that you seem to.... lack. Not to mention your age isn't sufficient for the rank you hold. But it is a subtle observation most people would miss."
"You want to know what my intentions are." VonGrippen surmised.
"Preferably what your intentions are to my brothers and sisters." Markus shifted on the bed.
"I'm from Geldan VII," VonGrippen explained, "High House VonGrippen and I am going to go home...." he turned rubbing his face realizing the sudden emptiness of exacting revenge. He had driven all of his energy towards avenging his father with a singular cold ruthlessness that when faced with what came after he realized that it was merely the beginning.
He would have to link up with the HMS Shisak, try to hitch a ride on the nearest Tradeliner by sitting in its jump bubble.... But that didn't help the immediate concerns faced by the Kaynin onboard, and the GN-2s.
Then of course, even if he did return home, he would have to pry Geldan out from his mothers grasp. He didn't have time to play babysitter to a group of children....
He reassessed his plan, "at the first opportunity I think I am going to rendezvous with an Orion Tradeliner, sell this ship and book passage home. I'll use the funds to cover you and your family, send them wherever they want to go."
"I think that would be for the best," Markus said with a nod, "the question is where would we go from there? And what about the British troops you have on ship, and the Kaynin?"
"The British can finish the journey to Mars, the STOAT's flying escort to us right now. As for the Kaynin, that I will have to take up with them." VonGrippen shrugged again, "this wasn't quite what I bargained for when I agreed to put on this uniform to get off of Earth."
"Well," Markus shrugged, "for now you are our Commanding officer, the choice is yours." He stood and walked to the door, "and I mean the thank you, you've earned a friend here today."
* * *
Rikard sat in the small sickbay next to the bed where she slept. Occasionally he would shuffle through the diagnostic reports that the limited machinery was feeding him about her condition, noting how it had stabilized. Yet the changes made to her physiology had been extensive.
He pulled the black Peligian crystal from the pocked of his lab coat, examining it, and the data before him. The Bloodroot had hyper-stimulated the genetic enhancements made to her, and her enhanced immune system had kept her alive while fighting the poison in her system. It meant that if he administered the same amount to any of the GN-2s they would also experience a change. Achieving the next logical step in human evolution and making them more than man.
He tapped the crystal against his lips thoughtfully; his own immune system wasn't that dissimilar from the GN-2s, which meant he could undergo the transformation as well.
He stood uneasily; setting the laptop down he had taken from Phobos base he switched the power cables from one in the sickbay, pulling it in as he sat behind the small desk in the examination room. He played with the crystal while he stared over the data he had collected on the GN-2 project, thinking carefully about the future and what they would have to do to survive. Realizing inwardly that it shouldn't be a matter of survival.
Humanity was obsolete, now that the GN-2's were free. They had been designed as weapons of war, should they not in turn be used? The war would prove a fertile ground for them to thrive and grow, evolving and eventually taking the places that he had designed them to take in society, the leaders of tomorrow. The future who would guide humanity from its destructive path of war and lead them into peace and order.
He had the tools to make it a reality; he had the opportunity now to fulfil the dream of a rightful and utopian future. But was it right? He looked towards the sleeping form of the young woman. The ravages of the bloodroot had aged her, as her body had changed she had as well, she would stabilize, a woman now well into her forties, she would cease to age around sixty.
It had been the manner in which Doctor Radcliffe had administered the overdose that had done it; he could spare the next person the same effects as long as he kept the dosage small enough. It would be a gradual awakening, as understanding came the GN-2's would evolve into their powers instead of being plunged into them like Sephradon had been.
He licked his lips and adjusted the device, setting it against his own forehead as he applied the first does to himself. If the experiment was to work then he had to be certain.
* * *
Lance was perched on the edge of a table in the officer's mess, his fatigues discarded save for a tee-shirt and trousers, sitting watching the darkness outside the window as it swept past.
Most of the soldiers were tucked away into bunks, sharing quarters with the strange Kaynin who slept in a strange pile of bodies, curled up with one another yipping or chattering sleepily to one another. Lance had found them fascinating, striking up a couple of conversations with them and surprised to find how bright and cheerfully intelligent they were. They seemed so eager and excited to actually be out of the lab and doing something useful.
The GN-2s were a different story. They were almost reclusive, keeping together and seeming so shy. Young men and women of varying ages from the youngest about ten through to the oldest Markus at twenty five, they all had innocent faces and timid smiles.
He looked up startled as the hatch swung open and the eldest girl, Katherine entered the Officer's mess, blinking at Lance sitting under the window, and smiling at him disarmingly, "I'm sorry I didn't mean to disturb you."
"You're not," Lance replied shaking his head.
"I was hoping to get the others a place to sleep," Katherine explained motioning to the cluster of young faces in the doorway, "the cabins are a little crowded and I don't want them down with the soldiers.... no offence."
"I'm not a soldier," Lance smiled warmly, "that's kinda why I hid in here, so the more the merrier?"
Katherine ushered her brothers and sisters into the room, each of them picking chairs or spots on the floor, sitting down as a group, about half of them looking curiously towards Lance.
"Hi, I'm Lance," he said with a broad grin, looking at each of the children. He always liked children, that usual way that growing up he'd been set on a course to become a teacher despite his fathers insistence that he take over the family business.
"C-could you watch them a moment?" Katherine asked gesturing through to the galley, "I should find them something to eat."
"No problem," Lance said hopping down from the table and loping over to sit cross-legged in front of the children, "so," he bobbed his head looking at each of them in turn, "Who do we have here?"
"I'm Sarah!" a young girl chimed up, beaming a broad smile at him and batting her eyelids.
"I wouldn't bother Sarah," another boy of about twelve broke in, "Lance is obviously a homosexual."
Lance choked, his eyes broad and wide.
"No he isn't Jonah," Sarah protested, "You're just jealous...."
"Well," another girl piped up, "he does display the genetic characteristics of gender confusion...."
"Actually," Lance held up a hand, "I'm not confused...."
"And the lisp," Jonah pointed out.
"I don't...." Lance protested realizing quickly that he was going to be eaten alive by the children.
"What's it like, homosexual intercourse?" one of the sixteen-year-old boys asked, a handsome blond with a sparkling smile.
"Gay sex," Lance corrected, "okay for a start you kids have to stop talking like you're reading from a medical textbook.... wow.... and for your information it's fun."
"Prostate stimulation," Jonah piped up, "Especially amongst males can be very pleasurable."
"How the hell would you know?" Lance asked in shock.
"I read it in one of those medical textbooks you are telling me not to sound like," Jonah retorted.
"Pleasurable how?" The tall blond pressed curiously.
"Oh this is so not what I signed up for," Lance grumbled as he was assailed with questions from curious minds hungry for the kind of information they never had cloistered in their lab.
* * *
Lieutenant Roki rubbed his hands as he stood beside the door to the communications room, slipping inside the moment he was certain it was all clear, sitting down and reconfiguring the system to issue a report to headquarters and to receive his instructions.
He hesitated before the small console in the cramped radio room, earphones on sitting staring at the transmitter, technically no one knew he was gone, he had plenty of leave left and his Captain had been all too happy to send him ashore. But he hadn't bargained to be stuck aboard a captured French frigate that was bound for god alone knew where.
He had searched his intelligence files the first opportunity he had, trying to find anything on Admiral VonGrippen, however without access to the main intelligence archives he was stuck with the limited files he had, frustratingly there was nothing of use in them.
It left him bitterly with little choice he wanted information on how to deal with VonGrippen then he would have to contact headquarters, however once he did that there would be awkward questions surrounding what he was doing aboard a captured French frigate instead of on shore leave somewhere warm and sunny.
Of course if he were to bounce the signal around the EU net and make it look as though he were still in a hotel somewhere.... The problem was his security clearance wouldn't permit him that kind of remote access to the defence network, especially not during wartime.
He was back to making direct contact again, with all the problems that course of action presented to him. Of course if he talked quickly maybe he could convince them that he was following a lead on possible saboteur, or maybe that he was attempting to stop the.... his excuses would only land him in further trouble. Especially if Admiral VonGrippen was acting under British orders.
Roki set his chin in his hand as he pushed a pen around on the console before him, could he claim he'd been kidnapped for his security clearance? That would fall through as well, his best chance for survival lay in waiting for the first opportunity to escape the frigate and slip unnoticed back to Earth. No mean feat considering the blockade.
It was going to take all of his cunning to figure it out how to survive this one and come out ahead.
* * *
Ben sagged a little at the back of the mess hall, drawing his legs up and under him as he tried to keep his coughing quiet. The others had discovered the small television and the movie library kept for entertainment on long patrols. Much to Lance's dismay, they had naturally chosen the documentaries, soaking in the information like sponges.
Ben looked up at Lance, who was watching him in return, and offered a weak smile, "sorry," he mouthed.
Lance shook his head, moving to sit next to him, studying his eyes as he placed a hand on Ben's olive skinned forehead, "are you okay?" he asked quietly.
Ben nodded, "I'll be okay," he smiled almost shyly, "your going to miss the film...."
"The innermost secrets of the Japanese economy isn't exactly my type of film," Lance admitted truthfully, smiling in return at the sick young man, "is there anything I can get you?"
"Cough syrup?" Ben asked.
Lance nodded getting up, "I'll be back in a minute...."
"I...." Ben stood shakily, "I should go with you."
Lance nodded, looping a hand around Ben's waist as he helped him towards the doors, and Ben pressed close, allowing Lance to help him down towards the infirmary.
Katherine nodded from the doors as she stood aside to let them past. Touching Ben's shoulder fondly as she returned to watching the others.
Ben struggled, wheezing heavily as he coughed again, and Lance stopped,supporting him, listening to the laboured breathing, "you're asthmatic."
Ben shook his head, "I'm a mess...."
Lance adjusted the blue dressing gown, and rubbed Ben's back lightly, "it's not your fault you're sick...."
Ben stared for a long time into Lance's eyes, his breathing easing as he did so, "Geldan VII is going to go to war.... but the people support the dark knight...."
Lance gave Ben a confused look, "huh?"
Ben sighed, "I see things," he explained, "there is going to be a civil war.... it's all connected and...."
Lance rested a steadying hand on Ben's shoulder, "if there's going to be a war, then Alex will fight it. And he'll win it. But right now, you need to rest...."
Ben threw his arms around Lance and pressed his face into the nape of Lance's neck, "keep me safe?" he asked, sounding so small.
Lance nodded, "y-yes.... I.... err."
* * *
Dominic paused outside the radio room, observing Roki sitting at the radio, headset on, looking vacant as he doodled on a pad. Temptation before him. Dominic backed up a few steps and contemplated simply shooting the treacherous snake, but there was no proof he was doing anything wrong, and he was technically a senior officer. Plus VG would frown disapprovingly in that manner of his. As much as Dominic disliked the situation they were all in, VG had earned his respect keeping a calm head and pulling a smooth operation on Phobos.
Dominic found a junction box, flipped it open and pulled the fuses for the radio system. Ensuring that temptation wasn't a factor for Roki. He slipped the fuse into his pocket and wandered off to find VG on the bridge.
He was standing in just a simple black waistcoat, the greatcoat draped around the command chair's shoulders. He leaned over a chart table at the back of the bridge examining tools and comparing them to a logbook that was open on the table beside him.
"Everyone's berthed. The Kaynin have claimed one of the cargo bays and they broke out a supply of sleeping bags and pillows." Dominic walked around the small chart table, "my men are billeted in the main berths while Lance and that girl Katherine have camped out with the GN-2's in the officer's mess. Your friend seems very good with children."
VonGrippen nodded, "Lance plans to be a teacher, he relates well to children." He paused in his examination of the logbook and looked up at Dominic, "I'm trying to find a way to intercept the Tradeliner that's due outbound for Earth, but I am having trouble with these" he held up a couple of instruments used for astro-navigation.
Dominic unbuttoned his fatigue shirt and leaned across the table, studying the data and picking up the instruments VG needed and proceeded to demonstrate how they were used, surprised at how quickly VonGrippen picked up on his instruction.
"I wanted to," Dominic glanced past to where the Kaynin navigator was piloting the craft standing at the control pedestal, and he dropped his voice, "I wanted to talk to you about that. Are we just going to set these kids free on the universe?"
VonGrippen raised an eyebrow, "Sephradon?" he asked, he'd been sharing the same worry ever since the full details of what she could do had come to light in the fight to take the frigate.
"Yeah," Dominic nodded, "I know she's the only one with the super-powers, but what if the other kids have them? They're only children we can't let them loose on Earth during war time, they'd only end up back in the exact same position they were in on Mars."
There was a quiet pause from VonGrippen as he shook his head, "so far the powers are limited to Sephradon, at least that is what the good Doctor has informed me. And, well, as long as they stay away from Earth I see them getting a chance to develop normally. Geldan's a damp hell nine months out of the year, but it's still a relatively safe place and about as far from the war as these children are going to get."
"Yes, but if they do develop these powers?" Dominic warned, "wouldn't they become a danger to your colony, and to the people helping and sheltering them?"
VonGrippen looked thoughtful, setting a pair of dividers down on the chart table, "we can't punish children for being what they are, precautions may have to be taken, however until I get some kind of tangible sign that they are indeed a danger I see no reason not to take them in."
"And Sephradon?" Dominic pressed, "with due respects, sir, you didn't watch her tear through a platoon of fully armed men."
"Sooner or later we must all become accountable for our sins," VonGrippen replied, "the best person to care for her needs is Doctor Rikard, for the time being our obligation is simply to get them to the Tradeliner, and to secure them passage. From there you and the STOAT can carry on to Mars while I go home."
Dominic nodded, "very well, sir."
"You can stop with the sirs now," VonGrippen reassured, "I doubt they're needed."
"Excuse me, Admiral?" The young GN-2 woman carrying a small tray ducked through the hatch and entered the bridge, "I'm sorry to disturb you, but I was making food and I realized you probably hadn't eaten."
Dominic bowed his head, "I'll be below, sir," stressing the honorific he felt VG had earned, turning as he marched out of the far door leaving VonGrippen alone with her.
"Thank you," VonGrippen replied pulling a couple of charts out of the way and gesturing for her to leave the tray on the chart table.
She set it down pulling back the cover and setting to pour him a cup of coffee from a carafe, "I wasn't sure what you ate so I made some sandwiches."
"They're perfect, thank you," VonGrippen replied drawing up to his full height, resting his hand on the butt of his pistol, force of habit he was growing far too accustomed to, absently he unbuckled the weapon and put it aside.
"Markus told me you intend to book us passage on a Tradeliner," she said as she poured herself a cup, sweetening it with sugar and cupping it in her hands, "that is very generous of you Admiral."
"Please, call me Alexander," VonGrippen insisted mildly uncomfortable around her, it was as if all he wanted to do was stop and get lost staring at her. A rare beauty that came from her most casual of smiles, her eyes drawing him in and.... he shook his head to bring himself back to reality.
"Katherine," she shook his hand, soft and delicate, yet with a firm grip, she pushed her hair back as she looked across the charts, "you seem to be having some difficulty."
"Yes," VonGrippen admitted truthfully, "astronavigation was never my strong suit." He gestured with a pencil towards the logbook, "I am trying to plot an intercept course with an Orion Tradeliner that should be arriving in the system in a couple of days. Of course with all the intra-system activity, it's proving difficult to maintain a low profile."
"Perhaps I can help you," she offered gracefully taking the pencil from him as she looked over the charts and made a few corrections to his calculations, "you sound very cultured," she looked up at him from her calculations, "a colonial accent?"
"Yes, I was studying for my Masters at Cambridge," VonGrippen sipped his coffee and sat down on one of the stools at the chart table, "Arts, not mathematics I am afraid."
"It's rare for someone your age, with an artistic background to wear a uniform," she completed the course corrections and handed him the figures, "but then you don't feel like any military officer I have ever met, and the young man in the mess hall certainly isn't a soldier."
"We each learn to adapt," VonGrippen replied walking the course corrections over the Kaynin pilot who accepted them with a polite smile and began to input them into the system without question, "you certainly seem well adjusted for a lab experiment."
Her face fell, "I...."
VonGrippen realized what he'd said and sighed, "my apologies, I didn't mean that as an insult, merely an observation."
"Clinical observations can, at times, be harsh," she walked to the front bridge windows and overlooked Mars slipping by to port, "you're fortunate I can understand the intent behind your words. You were merely being concise."
"I apologize once again," he replied joining her at the window, "I sometimes have difficulty in communicating, I am told I can be very cold."
She reached out a slender, pale skinned hand and touched the centre of his chest; "you're not cold in there."
He looked down at her hand and up into her eyes, "perhaps not."
"Your friend Lance speaks very highly of you," She suddenly changed the subject, withdrawing her hand and biting her bottom lip as she looked again back at the panorama of space through the viewport.
"We have known each other a very long time," VonGrippen replied turning as well, squaring his shoulders and locking his hands behind his back, "he is also a good man, loyal and caring. He will do anything for a friend, even when they perhaps don't realize they need his help. I could tell you a rather amusing anecdote concerning him, my seventh birthday and a pony. But I firmly believe the clown still has emotional scars."
She giggled, touching the back of her hand to her mouth, "you will have to tell me that one, yes he's a wonderful person. He's amazing with the children, I've never seen anyone handle.... our kind in a equal manner. To many of the people on Phobos base were afraid of us, he seems quite at ease, if a little lost with all the questions."
"He will make a wonderful father one day," VonGrippen agreed, "and husband."
"Yes, Benjamin is quite taken with him," Katherine smiled, "but then Ben is far too shy for his own good."
"I get the impression there wasn't much chance for a social life on Phobos," VonGrippen replied, "and with your brother and sisters the only company...."
"Well we're more like an orphanage than a family," Katherine admitted, "relationships occur, it is only natural especially given our cloistered life. Only Markus and I are actual siblings, the others are from different parents and genetic combinations."
"Well you can tell Ben not to worry, Lance is a little oblivious but usually gets the hint in the end," VonGrippen turned back from the window and walked back around to his sandwich, "what do you think your plans are once you reach the Tradeliner?"
"I don't know," Katherine admitted truthfully, "I guess that will be up to Uncle Ricky."
"I suppose it would," VonGrippen replied a little sadly, focusing on his sandwich and chewing in quiet contemplation.