Threads of the Conglomerate Read online

  In his spacious room was another box like the one Alfred had come in. The rest of the room was featureless with a sleeping platform. Other objects around the room seemed normal if a little oddly shaped and sized. The sink, a toilet, a small kitchenette completed the room and while everything appeared functional, it could also have been a prison. The two Mumbai bowed and left with no further words as Luke looked around.

  “They will check on you in an hour to insure there are no problems sir,” Alfred said as Luke stared at the box which was analyze identical to the one Alfred had arrived in. Another android? What was the Topa trying to do?

  Touching the ‘Open’ section the boxed folded in upon itself, revealing a featureless gray droid, almost identical to Alfred.

  The new android opened its eyes and looked at Luke.

  “Captain Kishi confirmed,” the droid said in the same voice as Alfred. “Please state the name I am to use.”

  Luke stared at it for a second and then glanced at Alfred.

  “Al Gray,” Luke said.

  “I am identified as Al Gray, thank you,” the droid said. “What are to be my primary tasks?”

  “Commander of Marines and warbots,” Luke said.

  “I will command your Marines and warbots, thank you,” the droid said. “Should I take a specific appearance?”

  “What are my options?” Luke asked.

  “I can change coloration, basic shapes and size, up or down thirty percent. I can adjust my facial features and general characteristics.”

  “A big green Marine,” Luke said.

  “Acknowledged,” the android said. “I will adjust size upward and take on a green coloration. Is there anyone I should report to?” the android said.

  “Me,” Luke said.

  “I will report to you. May I now access the network and begin learning?” the android asked.

  “Sure,” Luke said and Al Gray stepped back against the wall and closed its eyes and it looked like the skin was changing color.

  Luke looked around the room.

  “Excuse me,” Al Gray said. “I have accessed the ship’s network and libraries. Is the name Al Gray of any significance?”

  Luke scowled as he turned back to the android, realizing the Mumbai ship wouldn’t have a clue.

  “Yes,” Luke said. “He was a human, the Commandant of the United States Marine Corp. He is the one who changed US Marine doctrine to Maneuver Warfare. Late 1980’s and early 1990’s. You are to be a rifleman first, a leader of Marines and warbots second. Rifleman now, General later.”

  Luke wondered if that was possible. How capable were these androids? Would it be possible to build an army of them?

  “Do you have any information on the original Al Gray sir?” Al Gray asked.

  “Yea,” Luke said and queued up some of his books on the general and then sending it to a link the Android sent him through the InnerBuddy.

  “Thank you sir,” Al Gray said. “I will process this.”

  Luke nodded and sat down and pulled up his information on the Brekala Corporation and the various entities involved. There was a lot of information that Topa Suresh had sent, almost filling up Luke’s buffers and Luke was sure he wouldn’t have time to analyze it all in the two weeks it would take to get there.

  “We have arrived in Suknas,” Shook said through an InnerBuddy link.

  Luke sent back an acknowledgment and thank you. As near as he could tell the two Mumbai were the only ones aboard ship and he had avoided them since he had come aboard.

  Luke had barely scratched the surface of the information the Topa had given him, but a plan was forming. It was dangerous and probably doomed to failure, but it might solve the issue once and for all. Even if it was successful, he might not survive. If he failed, he would certainly die.

  “What is to be our destination?” Shook asked.

  “The Corporate headquarters of the Brekala Corporation on Borost,” Luke said.

  “You will not talk with the Caleet first?” Alfred asked.

  Luke shook his head.

  “No, I think I understand their situation pretty well,” Luke said. “They aren’t the problem.”

  “Are we going to assault their headquarters?” Al Gray asked. “I do not think we have the firepower to do so. Maybe assassinate their executive board?”

  “Not exactly,” Luke said.

  “What are your plans?” Gray asked.

  “Straight for the Brekala’s center of gravity,” Luke said.

  “I don’t understand,” Alfred said.

  “What do you think that is?” Gray asked and Luke smiled. Gray had been reading up on Maneuver Warfare.

  “Let me worry about that,” Luke said as he looked at the droids, wondering how easily they could be hacked or information could be extracted from them. Would they even be worth anything in a fight?

  Luke knew he couldn’t count on it and his thoughts turned to the last person he could have relied upon in a fight, but she was dead.

  “Did you want me to contact the Caleet and let them know you are here?” Alfred asked.

  “No,” Luke said. “The problem appears to be the Brekala corporation. The Caleet are traders, they will work toward a fair deal, it is the Brekala corporation trying to enslave and exploit them.”

  “I think you misunderstand sir,” Alfred said. “The Brekala do not want the Caleet to be slaves, they want to control the Caleet licenses and properties. They are taking control by taking control of the resources that supply and transport the Caleet.”

  “And turn the Caleet into wage slaves, paid the minimum the Brekala can dictate,” Luke said.

  “That is business,” Alfred said.

  “True, but the Brekala Corporation has no respect for the Caleet, their culture or people. Historically the Brekala Corporation has acquired a license or technology and then fired all the members of the original company, putting them out of work in favor of Bishari. The Caleet have nowhere to go and would have no livelihood. The Caleet realize that and will probably resort to violence if the Brekala continues to pressure them to sell off the company and assets. The Caleet do not want to sell but they are running out of options. If the Brekala continues to strangle the Caleet cartel’s resources the Caleet won’t have a choice, and that is what the Brekala corporation want. It will give the Brekala the justification to send in troops and evict the Caleet.”

  “Is your solution a military one?” Gray asked.

  “Not exactly,” Luke said.

  “Then what is to be my role in this?” Gray asked.

  “Rifleman and warbot commander,” Luke said. “Keep me alive if the shooting starts.”

  “Aye, aye sir,” Gray said, giving Luke pause. The last time someone had said that to him had been decades ago in the US Marines. Gray was learning fast.

  “The Sweeping Blade can provide limited orbital support,” Alfred said. “There are five Brekala Corporation anti-Piracy warships in orbit. Each one outguns the Sweeping Blade. If this ship starts hostilities, it will be destroyed quickly.”

  “That is fine,” Luke said. “As long as they don’t shoot us first.”

  “Conglomerate law says a Shoku may start hostilities but there are no restrictions for a people, corporation or individual to defend themselves from such aggression,” Alfred said. “A Shoku is limited in the amount of force they can apply and the collateral damage that may be inflicted.”

  “No blowing up cities,” Luke said. “Got it.”

  Al Gray and Alfred both stared at Luke, as he went back to the data.

  The automated Mumbai shuttle looked old, but it was more advanced than anything Luke had ever seen. It used gravity repulsers for motion and the power plant to supply the required output. Luke didn’t ask many questions but Alfred had informed him the Sweeping Blade was around two hundred Earth years old and the shuttle was only about eighty. It was a sobering thought for Luke and a reminder of how backwards humans were. Alfred mentioned the design itself was maybe a thousand y
ears old.

  Beside him Alfred and Gray wore New Alamo battle dress and were well armed with rifles and side arms.

  “You okay with that?” Luke asked Gray, pointing to the rifle on the android’s back. Now the android was completely green and looked like a weight lifter, almost towering over Luke.

  “Yes sir,” Gray said. “I feel confident I will demonstrate a small amount of skill with it, although I am unlikely to be as proficient as you.”

  Luke nodded. Hopefully, it wouldn’t matter.

  “Hopefully we will not find out,” Luke said as the ramp of the shuttle lowered. This was the Brekala Corporate Headquarters personal landing field. Four Bishari were present to meet Luke. They were very tall with egg like heads and soft blue skin that might have been scaled. Each member of the welcoming party had a small thin pistol strapped to their leg and two of them carried heavier looking rifles. In the distance Luke could see several other Bishari with rifles trying to look unconcerned but they were all near cover and could trap Luke in a crossfire. He didn’t see any air defenses but Luke was sure they were around. Pop-up turrets maybe?

  Smiling Luke kept his hands where the Bishari could see them.

  “Greetings Shoku,” one of the ones without a rifle said, stepping forward. The creatures voice was song like and might have been pleasant in other conditions. The large glistening eyes fastened on Luke, then slid to his to androids and the eight warbots behind them. Luke’s InnerBuddy informed him it was safe and Luke took off his helmet so he could look the Bishari over.

  “Greetings delegate Vron,” Luke said, glad his InnerBuddy could link with local systems and identify the Bishari he was talking with.

  “You are on private property,” Vron said. “I trust you know the rules. Brekala corporation will accept any hostilities, or even the hint of hostilities and respond in kind. I trust this is a peaceful visit to gather information?”

  “And to negotiate the Caleet Cartel situation,” Luke said.

  The Bishari bobbed its head in acknowledgment.

  “I’m sorry,” Vron said. “But the Brekala requirements have been made clear. There will be no negotiations. You may clarify some of the requirements but there will be no changes.”

  Luke nodded and remained silent.

  “Chief executive Nashfar is honored the Topa would involve themselves in such a minor affair, but this situation is really beneath them,” Vron said.

  Luke remained silent as he stared at the Bishari, almost towering over him at two and a half meters in height.

  The Bishari’s eyes glanced about and then it bobbed its head.

  “If you will follow me,” Vron said. “You and your assistants may come but we must draw the line at your robotic fighters. I cannot bring you to the great Nashfar with such instruments of violence in your possession. Your weapons as well are not needed.”

  “You carry a sidearm,” Luke said. “We carry our sidearms and rifles. I will send my warbots back to my shuttle, but if you are armed, I and my team will remain armed.”

  Vron was silent for several seconds, conferring through InnerBuddy with others or thinking about it.

  “Very well,” Vron said. “But your robotic fighters will remain here.”

  Luke nodded and glanced at Gray who looked back at him. Luke nodded to Gray who nodded back but nothing else happened.

  After a moment Luke said to Gray, “Send the warbots back to the shuttle.”

  “Aye, aye sir,” Gray said and sent a silent command. The warbots marched back to the shuttle and Luke realized the androids might not pick up on such natural hints yet. Luke was glad they considered the androids as people and not equipment but he would have to keep that in mind.

  “If you will follow me,” Vron said and started across the tarmac toward a large towering building, glistening with lights and flowing colors. The gravity didn’t seem as high as it was on Earth and Luke felt the bounce in his step. The sky was bright blue and Luke felt this could almost be Earth if it wasn’t for the odd and distracting smells.

  “Making you walk this far is a calculated insult,” Alfred sent to Luke through their InnerBuddy’s. The message appeared in Luke’s view, only visible to him. A tag also showed that it had been sent to Al Gray as well.

  It took a few seconds for Luke to plan his response. He still wasn’t used to InnerBuddy internal communications.

  “You sure?” Luke asked.

  “Yes,” Alfred said. “They could have had you land closer, or provided transport. Perhaps they think you are not used to gravity and this will tire you out and give them a psychological advantage when you meet Nashfar.”

  “Okay,” Luke sent back, not yet capable of sending more while he was walking across the tarmac. It would take more practice to mentally formulate and send a reply. He didn’t care. It looked like a nice day and this was an alien world. An internal display showed the pollution was nowhere near the level required for him to be concerned and the air was well within parameters for his modifications. There was too much carbon dioxide for an unmodified human but it didn’t bother Luke.

  There was a lot to take in as Luke walked toward the building that looked like a digital flower unfolding in different colors that flowed out from the base. There were plain brown plants clustered around the building, but no flowers and it took a minute for Luke to realize the plants were not dead but seemed healthy. The air was warm, like a summer day in Kentucky, and the sun was both larger and brighter with a blue tint. Not so alien as to be bizarre, but it was different enough from what Luke was used to as to make him nervous and give everything a surreal, dream like tone.

  The lobby was just as colorful but the plants were more vibrant and seemed to shiver in a cool breeze. Luke wasn’t sure if they were alive or just that fragile, but the almost hidden doors likely concealed combat teams. He didn’t see any obvious cameras or weapons turrets, but he was sure they were there somewhere as he was led to a large spacious elevator with over tall seats around the side. Looking at his guide it was obvious the seats were built for the Bishari. Above the seats was a view of some alien world as if he was standing in a tower looking out from a mountain. He didn’t feel the elevator move but Luke spied the level indicator moving. They were going to the top floor and when the doors slid open they revealed a lavish, glossy, throne room.

  At the end of the hall, perched on one of the tall chairs was a tall Bishari, maybe three meters in height. The eyes gave him away, like a predator sizing up prey. The eyes fell upon Luke. To either side sat other Bishari. From the pictures Luke recognized Nashfar, to his left sat Brufan, the second in command of the company. Along the wall were several armed guards, their weapons slung on their back and although they did not impress Luke with their alertness or the way they stood at attention, Luke had to allow for the fact they were alien and could be augmented in any manner of ways.

  Approaching Nashfar, Luke stopped three paces away and looked over the chief executive of the Brekala Corporation.

  “Are you here to enforce negotiations?” Nashfar said. Luke read the text above Nashfar’s head and listened when the translation came through. It was impossible to read the body language of an alien, although maybe with time it would be possible. Nashfar gave Luke the impression he was full of confidence and arrogance.

  “I’m here to ask you to negotiate more fairly with the Caleet,” Luke said.

  Nashfar made a sound like a screech and the text above Nashfar’s head indicated ‘extreme amusement’.

  “The Topa asked me to come find a solution. You are not negotiating with the Caleet. You are dictating terms to them. Aren’t you aware that if you push them hard enough they may resort to violence?” Luke asked.

  “That is another acceptable outcome,” Nashfar said. “I have contracted with a Tonkan mercenary clan if it becomes necessary.”

  “You will not negotiate? Even to save your life? They are likely to target you,” Luke said.

  Nashfar waved his hands and looked away. Luke was
n’t sure what that meant, but Nashfar’s words made it clear.

  “I am unconcerned,” Nashfar. “I am well protected. This headquarters is also well defended. To attack us would be suicide, for you and for the Caleet. Unless you have a fleet hidden nearby. Do you little human?”

  “I have no fleet,” Luke said wondering how he could get through to the arrogant prick.

  “Then I can guarantee, if you attack me, you will die. I have learned of you humans. Poor refugees to the Conglomerate, weary of fighting and recently your technology has made you immortal. What fool would wish to risk their immortal life fighting against strangers in a situation you have no hope of understanding or winning? My advice to you human is to go back to that rock you call home and do not trouble me or my corporation again.”

  “Is that all you have to say?” Luke asked.

  “That is all I need to say fool,” Nashfar said. “Do not be stupid enough to try to kill me. The Caleet are not worth your death. You have never met one in your life, they are nasty, cowardly, small creatures. We will soon own their factories and their licenses in this system, then we will deport them to some garbage pile they can call home where they will not bother us.”

  A mental command sent drugs coursing through his system, increasing Luke’s perceptions and reactions. Before Nashfar could bob his head, Luke drew his sidearm and shot the Bishari between the eyes. Organic matter sprayed out the back, splatting against the wall behind Nashfar and rendering his head and face unrecognizable.

  Luke turned the weapon to Nashfar’s second in command, now the acting leader of the corporation.

  “I’m here to ask you to negotiate more fairly with the Caleet,” Luke said, his pistol unwavering from where it was pointed at the spot between the Bishari’s eyes. “Nashfar was not willing to negotiate. Are you willing to negotiate Brufan?”

  Brufan was motionless staring at the weapon in Luke’s hands. A reflection in a mirror behind the seated Bishari showed that Alfred and Gray had pulled their sidearms and were aiming at the guards who would never have a chance to unsling their rifles if they tried. They seemed to be just as shocked as the rest of the executive board.