Jihad to the Stars #1-Discovery

   Nancy looked at the ice at the Olympic rink in Nagano. Kristi and her
partner had taken the gold the day before. She recalled the training
sessions in the holographic simulator, the mental conditioning, the
vitamin and shiatsu treatments. They had improved her reflexes and her
strength. She had muscles like a gymnast's. But she retained her classic
elegance and feminine appeal.
   She heard her name and closed her eyes. A visualized image of her
appeared and she thought. The image glowed, the skates melding into her
feet, becoming one with her legs. 
   She skated to the rink's center and struck a pose. Then the music
started. She pushed off, moving rapidly. On the right sounds she 
launched into a quad toe loop/triple toe loop combination. It was 
perfect and the crowd roared. She followed the combination with a triple 
flip and double axel. The crowd cheered. She went into a footwork 
sequence. A camera operator cursed and switched to manual tracking. The 
automatics could not cope. 
   Nancy finished the dance steps and went into a series of butterflys.
She finished them and turned, gaining speed with her crossovers. After
completing the turn, she did a triple axel.
   This time the crowd went wild. Two judges stared at her goggle-eyed.
She finished her long program with a series of fast, graceful spins. 
Only when she stopped turning did she notice the flowers cascading down 
onto the ice.

***********************************************************************

   "You were right." said Kristi to Nancy. "Braksmouth is in a remote
area."
   "All the better to keep the press away, Yama." replied Nancy.
   "Amen!" said Kristi. "Getting privacy is like pulling eye teeth."
   Both women laughed, more to ease the tension than because of humor.
   "So tell about this place." asked Kristi.
   "It belonged to a cousin." said Nancy. "He willed it to me on 
condition I make it a skating school."
   "Yes." said Kristi. "Why a skating school?"
   "He wasn't able to sell it." answered Nancy. "It's too close to
Innsmouth and Dunwich."
   "Lovecraft is fiction." said Kristi.
   "And this is rural New England." replied Nancy. "Many people in
Innsmouth thought that Internet was a fishing supply house. There's more
truth in Lovecraft than I'd like to admit. Some B'harne creatures look
like they're from the Necronomicon."
   "That's for sure!" said Kristi. "Like Barneyknockers."
   The pair were silent. The antigrav car in which Nancy and Kristi rode
was on automatic. Several robo slave vehicles followed them. One held 
the velociraptors Hillary and Jocelyn. The others carried self-directed
construction robots. Their manufacturer was letting Nancy and Kristi use
them in exchange for an endorsement. 
   A large animal ran in front of the lead vehicle.
   "What a big dog!" said Kristi.
   "Ugly and mean as well." added Nancy.
   -Big animal- sent Hillary to Nancy and Kristi. -Looks like a dog, but
does not smell like dogs I know. Smells like old furballs. Shall we
catch?-
   -Not now.-transmitted Kristi to the velociraptor. -Keep looking.-
   -Roger.- sent Hillary.
   "Computer, display sensor record from Hillary." said Kristi. "Look 
for dogs."
   "Working." replied the computer. "One dog found."
   "Analyze." said Nancy.
   "Dog jaw morphology is more that three standard deviations from 
normal pattern." replied the computer.
   "Explain why." said Nancy.
   "Insufficient data." replied the computer.
   "Understood." replied Nancy.
   A few minutes later, they pulled into a gravel drive. Three old but
sturdy two story buildings of colonial design were there.
   "They look pretty good." said Kristi.
   "I'm glad." replied Nancy. "I hope the barns are ok."
   "Let's unpack the robots." said Nancy. "I'll handle the 'raptors."
   "I'll set up the comlink." said Kristi.
   Nancy unloaded the 'raptors and told them they could roam around the
property. Then she started unpacking the robots. 
   The first was a flying antigrav surveyor. It rose up and started
scanning. Several other robots went into the houses. Nancy followed them
in. The others went to inspect the grounds and other buildings.
   Kristi directed the robots as they set up the comlink. Once the
microwave dish was up, she called the power company. It would be a week
before power lines could be run. After that, she called New England
Datacom and arranged for data service. A permanent line would take ten
days, but a temporary link could be set up in three. Kristi told them to
get on it and walked to the trailer. Nancy was there.
   "We'll have to stay in the trailer." said Nancy. "There's no power or
water anywhere."
   "We'll have power in a week." replied Kristi. "Full data service in 
ten days, temporary service in three days."
   "Let's go to town." said Nancy. She told the 'raptors to guard the
vehicles.
   The two women changed into summer dresses and drove into the village.
Suspicious eyes followed them as they walked into the village's only
store. 
   The clerk was evasive and cold. Even Nancy's smile failed to elicit a
response. 
   "Be polite to the ladies, John." said a young man in a sheriff's
uniform. "They're good folks."
   "Maybe so, Wade." replied John. He rang up Nancy and Kristi's 
purchase. Nancy paid cash.
   "I'll escort you ladies out." said the sheriff.
   Once out of the store, Nancy spoke,
   "Thank you. I'm-".
   Wade smiled and spoke,
   "I know who you two are. The gold pair."
   "Yes." replied Kristi.
   "Folks here aren't used to outsiders." he said.
   "I noticed." said Nancy.
   "We could use some new blood." said the sheriff. "What brings you
here?"
   "I'm setting up a skating school." said Nancy.
   "I like that." replied the sheriff. "Call me if you need help."
   Nancy and Kristi smiled.
   "Good day." said the man and walked off.
   Nancy and Kristi got into their car and departed. Wade watched them
leave. What a town, he thought. Most men would have enjoyed waiting on 
two pretty young women in floral dresses. I'm transferring out.
   "Nice people." said Kristi sarcastically. "Except for Wade."
   "Those stares." replied Nancy. "Cold as ice. Wade is nice, however."
   The sun was low when they arrived. The robots reported finding a 
swamp and untended grainfields. They also reported several large dogs 
hanging around the swamps. Nancy and Kristi put the 'raptors away.
   "I'll search the net for stuff about the dogs." said Kristi.
   "Good." replied Nancy. "I'll look at the data from the 'bots."
   Several minutes later, Kristi called Nancy to her screen.
   "Look at this." she said. "From the Miskatonic University server."
   "Dog attacks dating back to 1700's." observed Nancy. "Even kids!"
   "Rather savage, according to the papers." said Kristi. "There was a
hunt in the 1920's. They tracked most of the dogs to this place."
   Nancy frowned.
   "Tomorrow, we go hunting with Hillary and Jocelyn." said Nancy. "In
battlesuits. I'll not have those monsters hurting kids."
   "Agreed." said Kristi.
   The next day Nancy went to a locker in one of the vehicles. She 
pulled out a garment. It looked like a black bodysuit, but woven into 
its fabric were force-field generators and contractile fibers. The 
force-field generators protected the wearer and the contractile fibers 
boosted the wearer's muscles. She took out a backpack and helmet. Then 
she pulled out a recoilless gaussrifle with a barrel the size of a 
twelve gage shotgun.
   Kristi ran diagnostics on the velociraptors' helmets. Her com badge
tinkled and she went to Nancy. 
   Hillary caught the scent of the dog pack and took off running. Nancy
and Kristi followed. But despite their battlesuits, the 'raptors outran
them. The pack split, so Nancy ordered Hillary to pursue one group and
Jocelyn the other. Kristi followed Jocelyn and Nancy trailed Hillary.
   Heather walked down the dirt road kicking her ball. She started,
hearing a terrible cry. A blood-curdling avian scream followed and then 
a canine yowl. 
   Heather walked faster. She'd heard of horrible dogs that roamed the
hills. She picked up a rock, recalling what her brother sometimes did. 
   A pack of the horrible canines burst from the brush bordering the 
road. Heather screamed, frozen by fear. The dogs ran toward her, baying
savagely.
   A terrifying avian scream split the air. Over the ten-foot hedge 
leapt a velociraptor. Moving with a figure skater's grace, she landed 
upon the dog nearest Heather. A toe claw struck, gutting the cur. 
   The other dogs attacked. The 'raptor attacked with teeth, hand claws
and toe claws. Calls of dying dogs mixed with the velociraptor's battle
screams. Soon the large mutts were all dead.
   Nancy's helmet beeped in alarm. She called to Kristi.
   Hillary's helmet computer recognized a child and stimulated the
dinosaur's brain.
   "You're safe now." came a maternal voice from the 'raptor's helmet.
"The dogs are dead."
   "Don't eat me!" wailed Heather.
   "I'm a nice velociraptor." replied Hillary. "I don't eat little 
girls."
   "Really?" said Heather. 
   "Yes." answered Hillary. "I'm Hillary. What's your name?"
   "Heather." replied the girl. "I didn't know 'raptors could talk."
   "I'm wearing a helmet with a computer, Heather." said Hillary. "I can
talk to you with it."
   "Can it play games?" asked Heather.
   "I wish it could." answered Hillary. "It would be fun."
   "Oh, yes." replied Heather.
   Nancy and Kristi walked into the clearing. Nancy took off her helmet
and walked up to Hillary. She looked at Heather and smiled.
   "Nancy!" exclaimed Heather. "You're so pretty!"
   "Thank you." said Nancy. "This is my 'raptor Hillary."
   Kristi then walked up and introduced herself. Heather complemented
Kristi as well.
   Then a sheriff's vehicle pulled up and Wade stepped out. He looked
around at the torn and gutted dog carcasses. His eyes widened when he 
saw Hillary. Nancy explained the situation to him.
   "You're with the Solar Ishtari." he said. "The Jihad's fine by me.
Besides, you've done a public service by killing those dogs. And there's 
a bounty."
   "Interesting." said Nancy. "Paid by whom?"
   "The state and Miskatonic University." replied Wade. "They want the
bodies. I can take your statements here. I'll need a call code."
   Nancy and Kristi gave their statements. The data from Hillary's 
helmet sensors was downloaded and sent to Miskatonic. Soon a state 
police hovercraft came up the road to collect the dogs. Nancy, Kristi 
and the 'raptors went home.
   "What a day!" said Nancy.
   "For sure." replied Kristi. "Let's hope community relations improve
after this."
   "Don't count on it." said Nancy.
   "Bedtime." said Kristi.
   Kristi awoke to the sound of soft chimes. Nancy was up.
   "Breakfast, Yama." said Nancy. "Whole wheat biscuits and 
blueberries." 
   The pair ate and then donned their battlesuits. But not to hunt or
fight. Their battlesuits had programmable antigrav units, and the ladies
ran the program to simulate ice skates.
   "Practice time!" said Nancy. "I'll do the first triple."
   "Showoff!" said Kristi.

************************************************************************

   Dr. Jonas Cardoff walked across the campus of Miskatonic University.
His personal digital assistant (PDA) beeped. He looked at the message 
and walked quickly to the biology building.
   Dr. Gallido greeted him at the lab.
   "Just arrived from Braksmouth." he said. 
   Cardoff looked at the bodies.
   "These look exactly like the old photos in the Innsmouth and Arkham
papers." he said. "The dogs from the Braksmouth Terror."
   "For sure." replied Gallido. "And there's video footage and sensor
data."
   "Can I download it?" asked Cardoff. Gallido nodded. 
   Cardoff plugged his PDA into the computer and waited. Then he walked 
to his office and searched his database for current or former residents 
of Braksmouth. He found several, most of whom were in nursing homes. He
rescheduled his appointments and started telephoning. 

************************************************************************

   Kristi, Hillary, and Jocelyn left to scout out the property. Nancy
watched them leave with tension. They'd both agree to stay in their 
armor when exploring. 
   Nancy followed a robot down an overgrown road that lead to a
weed-choked cornfield. She walked through it, savoring the sunlight. 
Then the robot led her to a overgrown wheat field. Then the wheat field 
then turned into a field of once-cultivated berries. Nancy stood there,
savoring the aroma. Then the wind shifted and she wrinkled her nose. A
swamp bordered the berry field.
   "Can we drain this swamp?" asked Nancy.
   "Yes, ma'am." replied the robot. "My supervisor has approved the 
plan. Be advised that the swamp has encroached upon a Native American 
burial site."
   "Can you move the remains?" asked Nancy.
   "Yes, ma'am." replied the robot. "I can be programmed to perform the
proper rituals and map artifacts."
   "That's great!" said Nancy.
   "Thank you, ma'am." replied the robot.
   She turned to walk back. As she turned, a movement caught her eye.
   "Did you see anything?" she asked the robot.
   "Yes ma'am." replied the robot. "I am unable to discern what is it 
is. I am programmed to defend you even at the cost of my destruction."
   "Thank you." replied Nancy, feeling strange for talking to a machine
like that. Habits were hard to break, and the machines were so polite. 
She walked back to the trailer.
   Once there, she called the New England Native American Association
(NENAA).
   "My tribe is grateful for your compassion." said the NENAA shaman. 
"Our traditions do ask for many things. But most important is having a 
pure heart. That is more important than any ritual."
   "Thank you." said Nancy. 
   "Because of your compassion, we ask only these two things. One, leave
an offering of corn, wheat and berries at the burial site. Two, please
send the remains and associated objects to Miskatonic University." 
   "I will do as you say." replied Nancy.
   "My tribe thanks you, and gives its blessing." answered the shaman.
   Nancy disconnected and instructed the robots. Kristi then entered,
carrying a sack from which puppy-like sounds came.
   "We found a big dog den and killed all the adults." said Kristi. "I
couldn't bear to shoot the pups." She opened the bag. A small ball of 
fuzz with four dog legs scampered out. The pup gave Nancy a heart-
rending look.
   "I see." she replied. "I'll send them to Miskatonic."
   The console beeped. It was Solar Warrior.
   Nancy described the situation.
   "There's a satellite coming over in a few minutes." said Solar 
Warrior. "I'll scan the area."
   Nancy and Kristi waited. 
   "It's done." said Solar. "There's a few subetheric energy anomalies,
but you're close enough to Dunwich and Innsmouth to explain them."
   "I see." said Nancy.
   "I can come." said Solar Warrior. "Things are slow around here." He
smiled warmly and added, "Besides, who wouldn't want to be with two
beauties like you and Yama?"
   "That's sweet." replied Nancy. "We'll be fine."
   After they disconnected Kristi said,
   "And he wonders we like him so much."
   "Believe me, Yama." replied Nancy. "He truly can't understand. He has
no idea."
   "Back to work." said Nancy. "I have to drain a swamp."
   "I'll check on the houses." spoke Kristi.

************************************************************************

   Late that evening, Cardoff returned from his interviews tired but
elated. The Braksmouth Incident, long deemed a mass psychosis, was on 
firm factual ground. Everyone interviewed had recognized the pictures of 
the dogs. And there were bodies. Gallido was running an DNA analysis.
   Cardoff punched the call code of Braksmouth sheriff. The lawman
confirmed the story. Then he dialed the ladies who'd turned in the 
bodies and the data.

************************************************************************

   Nancy placed the last offering on the gravesite. The NENAA shaman had
not specifically requested a person be involved in the ceremony, but she
felt it would be better to have one performing the rituals.
   When she was finished, she and the robots went back to the trailer. 
As she nearer, Kristi motioned for her to come. 
   "Call from a Miskatonic anthro prof. " she said.
   Cardoff introduced himself and described his interest.
   "You can come, but keep it quiet." said Nancy. "We don't want the 
media swarming around."
   "My sentiments exactly." replied Cardoff. "I will be discreet. Has
anything else happened that might interest me?"
   "We've got several pups." said Kristi.
   "Interesting." replied Cardoff. "May I transfer you to Dr. Gallido, 
the head of the biology department?
   Kristi nodded. She and Gallido conversed. She downloaded all the 
recent sensor data. Then Gallido uploaded his data and agreed to sent a
collection team. Then he gave the comlink back to Cardoff. 
   "You can come tomorrow." said Nancy. "But don't expect the houses to 
be ready."
   "I understand." he said. "I'll bring a tent."
   "There's nothing wrong with staying in the trailer with us." said
Nancy.
   "Your offer is most gracious." replied Cardoff. "I am somewhat
old-fashioned in that regard."
   "Very well." said Nancy.
   The next day Kristi went out to scout the property again, taking
Hillary with her. Jocelyn stayed behind with Nancy. 
   Nancy inspected the work on the houses, finding all well. Then she
walked back to the trailer, donned virtual reality gear, and called up 
an architectural design program. After a two hours in virtual space, the 
new rink complex was laid out. 
   The com link rang and Nancy answered. Two faces appeared, one a young
blond female and the other a still handsome older man. Ellie and Allen.
   "Interesting animals you have there." said Allan. "The dog jaws have
reptilian features. And some of their bones resemble larger versions of
Cretaceous mammal bones."
   "Hillary said they smelled like old furballs." said Nancy.
"Wait-Cretaceous mammals weren't that big." said Nancy.
   "True." replied Ellie. "The biggest were about the size of a house
cat."
   "What's happening?" said Nancy.
   "Hard to say." answered Allen. "It's interesting."
   "The dogs' DNA is interesting." said Ellie. "It has some nucleotide
sequences that match some Cretaceous mammals. The sequences range from 
10 to 50 triplets long."
   "That might explain the familiar smell Hillary talked about." replied
Nancy.
   "Hang on." said Ellie. "And some that match Cretaceous reptiles. And
some that match nothing in any genetic database."
   "You've got something interesting." said Allan. "Can we come up in a
week? Give you time to get settled."
   "Sure." replied Nancy.
   Kristi found two pools, each fed by a artesian spring. The water was
clear as glass, and was cold even at high noon in midsummer. She knelt
down and drank the water from the shallow pool. Hillary drank from the
deep pool. Kristi paused and looked at the shallow pool, a idea forming.
She and Jocelyn went back to the trailer.
   "Tired of skating on virtual ice?" said Kristi.
   Nancy smiled as Kristi described the artesian spring and the pools.
   "So we take a few Peltier units and we have real ice." she said.
   "Do it!" replied Nancy.
   Kristi left with a few robots and some Peltier units. Nancy, tired of
sitting, headed for the door. But a strange feeling prompted her to get 
a gaussrifle. She slung it and called for Jocelyn. 
   They walked to the swamp. Part of it was drained, and strange 
skeletons showed. Nancy looked at the bones. Allen and Ellie will really 
want to come now, she thought. Then she saw a strange and fresh three-
toed print. Jocelyn, sensing her handler's interest, sniffed the print.
   -Look like dino foot, but not smell like dino.- sent Jocelyn. 
   -How big?- returned Nancy.
   -Can kill by myself. -transmitted the 'raptor. -May not taste good.-
   -Follow slowly.- sent Nancy.
   -Will do.- returned Jocelyn.
   The tracks led into the cornfield. Their shapes changed, sometimes
growing larger and sometimes smaller. The corn along the trackway had 
been eaten, as had other vegetation. Nancy and Jocelyn followed.
   -Creature close.- sent Jocelyn. -Smell strong and moves very quiet.-
   -Point it out.- returned Nancy.
   -Will do.- sent Jocelyn. She pointed her snout in the creature's
direction.
   Nancy saw a vague bipedal shape. Jocelyn quivered, ready to attack.
Nancy held her back.
   -My nose says creature watching us.- sent Jocelyn. -No fear, just
curious.-
   Nancy's comlink beeped. Dr. Cardoff had arrived. Nancy keyed on the
trailer's external speakers.
   "I'll be there soon." she said. "I'm with a velociraptor. Don't 
worry, she won't attack."
   "Yes." replied Cardoff.
   Nancy informed Kristi of Cardoff's arrival. Then she and Jocelyn went
to the trailer.
   Cardoff stared at Jocelyn with awe. Nancy smiled. They went inside 
the trailer. Jocelyn went into the brush, eager to hunt.
   Cardoff and Nancy discussed the latest findings. She enhanced the
picture from Jocelyn's helmet. Cardoff studied the picture intently and
tapped on his PDA. A picture appeared.
   'They're the same." she said.
   "This is a photo taken at Dunwich in the 1930's." replied Cardoff. 
"May I use your datalink?" Nancy nodded.
   A few minutes later, Cardoff spoke. 
   "They correspond to similar sightings at Innsmouth and rural areas
around Arkham."
   "Interesting." replied Nancy.
   A tone sounded. Severe weather alert. Nancy called Kristi.
   "On my way." she replied. 
   The two skaters barely got Hillary and Jocelyn inside when the storm
hit. The rain poured down in sheets. Bolts of lightning came bright and
frequently.
   In the morning the three surveyed the washed-out road. Nancy called 
the highway department.
   "I'll be a few days." said Nancy.
   "I must call Miskatonic." said Cardoff. He did so.
   "We can't do much construction work." said Nancy. "Too muddy."
   "Let's skate!" said Yama.
   Cardoff, though an single academic, was no bluenose. He went with the
ladies to their impromptu ice rink.
   After draining off the rain water and running the Peltier coolers at 
a high setting, the ice was fine.
   "Let's do the can-can!" said Nancy. "Get our visitor's hormones
flowing!" Cardoff smiled and replied,
   "Please proceed. I am flattered." he said.
   Nancy and Kristi did a rousing can-can. They ran through more dances
and finished with giggles. Then Nancy put skates on Jocelyn.
   "Interesting." said Cardoff. 
   Nancy and Jocelyn danced several pieces of music. Then Kristi and
Jocelyn skated. After that, both ladies called it quits and removed 
their skates.
   Just as they leaving, Hillary sent to Nancy.
   -Something interested in us. Same as yesterday. Bigger now.-
   "Kristi, Jonas, back to the trailer." said Nancy. "Quickly and 
quietly. I'll explain later."
   They were halfway to the trailer when Jocelyn sent,
   -I smell Hillary's monster. Can see, too. Big, but Hillary and I can
fight.-
   -I smell creature wanting to fight.- sent Hillary. -Hillary and 
Jocelyn fight back.-
   -Only if it attacks.- said Nancy.
   -Will comply.- sent Hillary.
   They were close to the trailer when they heard a rustling in the 
bushes ahead. Then the monster appeared. It had the legs of a 
velociraptor, but could stand like a human. Its upper body was doglike, 
but with feathers and five-fingered hands having retractable claws. It 
moved and was gone.
   "Where's Kristi?" asked Nancy.
   The monster leapt from the bushes. Hillary and Jocelyn attacked.
Hillary landed on the creature's back, digging in her claws. The monster
rolled over, pinning her underneath. Then Jocelyn landed on the 
monster's belly, raking it deeply. The alien bellowed in pain and 
straight-armed Jocelyn off. The monster rose to its ten-foot height, the 
belly wound closing rapidly. 
   But Jocelyn's attack allowed Hillary to escape. The 'raptors 
regrouped and attacked in tandem. The creature dived under Hillary, 
grabbed her leg above the toe claw, and tossed her into Jocelyn. The 
impact stunned Hillary.
   Kristi, clad in a battlesuit, streaked past Nancy and Cardoff, 
leaving two gaussrifles behind. She carried a chainsaw.
   The monster advanced upon the dazed Hillary. Jocelyn jumped over
Hillary, standing between her and the monster, screaming in challenge. 
   Kristi struck the creature midway between the left shoulder and neck,
angling the cut diagonally. The arm and part of the creature's side
sheared away. Brown blood gushed. 
   "Retreat!" she called. The 'raptors followed. 
   The monster got up, picked up its severed part, held it on with its
right arm and continued the attack. But it stumbled and fell. It lay 
there
for awhile and then moved off.
   "Anyone hurt?" asked Kristi. Nancy and Cardoff shook their heads. 
"What was that?"
   "The Turbeyville Horror." said Cardoff. He pointed to a picture on 
his PDA. "It attacked Turbeyville between 1860 and 1870. A combined team 
of whites and native Americans killed it."
   "I'm calling for help." said Nancy. She activated the uplink. Solar
Warrior's face appeared. Nancy told him about the monster.
   "I'm on my way." she said. "I'm at Isla Nubar, so it will take six
hours." He said goodbye.
   "We don't have time." said Cardoff. "Once this creature attacks, it
will be back and soon. That's what the Turbeyville Horror did."
   "Is this the same monster?" asked Nancy.
   "It looks the same, makes the same noises, and attacks in like 
manner." replied Cardoff. "The Turbeyville Horror is well documented."
   "How do you know all this?" asked Kristi.
   "My grandfather was head of the expedition that fought the monster."
said Cardoff. "He was uneducated, but a good observer."
   Cardoff connected his PDA to the computer. Pages of text flowed, with
both occasional line drawings and realistic paintings, all executed with
great skill.
   "Wow." said Nancy. "Quite a journal. And illustrated."
   "Lime is toxic to this creature." said Cardoff.
   "Interesting." replied Kristi. "Why?"
   "Lime inhibits the monster's healing power." said Cardoff. "But it 
must be stuffed into open wounds."
   "This won't be easy." replied Kristi.
   "Lime is part of the building materials stockpile." said Nancy. "You
and Jonas will slurry-bomb the monster. I and the 'raptors will attack.
One of the flying robots will follow with the lime. Any objections?"
   "You're the best with the 'raptors." said Kristi. "Do it."
   "I see no other choice." replied Cardoff. 
   Nancy and Kristi donned battlesuits. Cardoff donned a spare from the
storage locker. Nancy sent out the survey robots.
   "Found it." she said. "Let's go."
   Nancy ran past the monster, raking it with force-packets. The 
creature bellowed and gave chase. Nancy danced and weaved, staying just 
out of reach. They came to a small clearing. 
   As the monster emerged, the 'raptors struck. As they ran away, Kristi
and Cardoff tossed slurry-bombs. The creature's wounds smoked where the
lime slurry touched.
   The monster ran after Hillary. The 'raptor fled, but tripped on a
hummock. The monster pinned the 'raptor to the ground.
   Jocelyn screamed in challenge and attacked. She landed on the 
monster's back, tearing out large gashes. Brown blood bubbled.
Nancy struck, wielding a chainsaw. She jammed the saw into the 
creatures' belly and pulled the trigger. The teeth shredded bone and 
tissue, but damaged nothing vital.
   The monster bellowed and tossed Nancy into a tree, stunning her. Then
Jocelyn raked the monster's face with her hand claws. The creature
released Hillary and threw Jocelyn off like a rag doll. It stood up and
advanced on Nancy. The chainsaw wound was almost healed.
   Kristi sent orders to the 'raptors. They ran and stood between Nancy
and the monster, screaming challenges. 
   "Get Nancy!" said Kristi to Cardoff.
   Cardoff picked up Nancy's limp form and carried her to safety. Then 
he grabbed a slurry bomb and raced to help Kristi and the 'raptors. 
   Kristi ordered the 'raptors to surround and readied her chainsaw. 
   -Attack!- sent Kristi. She and 'raptors charged.
   The monster rushed Hillary, grabbing her on the leg above the left 
toe claw. The 'raptor struck with the right leg and the creature let go. 
The monster spun nimbly around and chopped Jocelyn on the breastbone, 
sending her flying. 
   Hillary and Kristi attacked. The monster kicked Hillary aside and 
went after Kristi. Kristi thrust with the chainsaw, but the monster 
knocked the weapon from her. Kristi tried to run, but the monster 
grabbed her leg. Then it grabbed her head and started twisting.
   Kristi heard a chainsaw and the monster let go. Cardoff stood over 
the headless creature.
   "There can be only one." he said with a smile. He proceeded to cut 
the monster up into pieces while Nancy applied lime slurry. She was 
limping from a hurt ankle.
   "Where'd you get the chainsaw idea?" asked Nancy.
   "Holo-Doom." said Kristi. "The guys at the Fremont rink rent a
holoprojector every week and play on the ice. I joined them. Now Perigee
Software wants an endorsement."
   "I hope they don't play it at Tony Kent arena." said Nancy. "I've had
enough for awhile."
   A helicopter with Solar Ishtari markings landed. Solar Warrior got 
out, ready to fight. He saw Nancy and went to her. He waved his hands 
and her ankle glowed. She smiled as the pain vanished.
   Nancy explained the situation to him. He smiled.
   "Let's go to the swamp." he said. "The chopper's sensors picked
something interesting up."
   When they arrived at the swamp, Solar Warrior extended his 
telekinetic power. An object rose from the drying muck.
   "A spaceship." said Nancy.


Jihad to the Stars #2-Departure

   Nancy and Kristi parked their car in the long-term lot at Logan
International airport.
   "I hope Solar Warrior's autograph hound detector works." she said. 
   "He says it's only 80% effective." replied Kristi.
   "We'll find out." said Nancy. "Lead on, Yama."
   The women walked to the entrance. In both women's vision, a colored 
dot appeared on each person. Red for a certain autograph hound, yellow 
for a probable hound, and green for a non-hound. A map of possible 
autograph hounds appeared as well.
   The skaters walked carefully, staying in crowds and avoiding eye
contact. They shuffled along, lest their graceful gait betray their
training. Some autograph hounds had camcorders with gait recognition
software. 
   "We're almost halfway there, Kristi." Nancy subvocalized, the comlink
sending her voice to her friend.
   "Keep hoping." replied Kristi.
   Yellow dots flared into red dots, spreading like wildfire.
   "Here we go." said Nancy. 
   The crowd surged forward. A tram passed between Nancy and Kristi. The
hounds, their view of Nancy blocked, locked onto Kristi.
   "Hang on." subvocalized Nancy, finding her way to a safe spot. "I 
have an idea."
   "I hope it's good!" said Kristi.
   Nancy selected her spot carefully, choosing an escape route. She
explained her plan to Kristi.
   "Now!" she said.
   Kristi pointed in Nancy's direction and cried,
   "Nancy! I wasn't expecting you!"
   The crowd turned toward Nancy.
   Nancy hit them with her best on-ice smile and struck a sexy pose.
   "Want my autograph, fanboys?" she said.
   Several men melted into pools of multicolored liquid. Some fainted
while others exclaimed "Hello, nurse!". Most just stared.
   Kristi galloped away. Nancy ran and vaulted over a gate. She saw
another group of hounds approaching. She pointed and exclaimed,
   "OJ, what are you doing here?"
   The crowd turned, running in the direction she pointed. She rejoined
Kristi. They called security and got an escort. The guard took them by
employee corridors to a small hanger.
   "Thank you." said Kristi to the guard.
   They behold a delta-winged craft about the size of a large executive
jet. But it had no jet or rocket nozzles. It flew by coherent
gravitational or graser radiation. The secret, along with many others, 
had been extracted from the computer in the alien spacecraft Nancy and 
Kristi had discovered. 
   A small girl in a blue blouse and white tights hopped down from the
shuttle. 
   "Ready?" asked Nausicaa. 
   "Yes." replied Nancy and Kristi as they walked around the shuttle. 
   A chime sounded.
   "Our other guest has arrived." said Nausicaa. 
   A man shuffled into view. His gait was like a toddler learning to 
walk. Nancy and Kristi recognized him and gasped. It was Dr. Todd 
Holden, the Nobel laureate physicist. But he was not in his wheelchair.
   "Hello." he spoke in a clear, strong voice.
   "Dr. Holden!" said Kristi and Nancy.
   "Let's not be so formal." he said. "Todd is fine. Besides, I'm in the
presence of the ladies who discovered the spacecraft. They are most 
lovely and elegant."
   Nancy and Kristi almost blushed. 
   "It will be some time before I can walk like an adult." said Todd. 
"The doctors had to grow new legs. With a combination of nanomachines 
and cell regeneration."
   "Want to learn skating from two gold medalists?" asked Nancy. Kristi
nodded.
   "As soon as the docs ok it, yes." replied Todd.
   "Let's fly." said Nausicaa.
   Nausicaa taxied out of the hanger and called the tower for clearance.
The shuttle did a vertical takeoff.
   "We're in the air." she said. "Destination: Jihad base at L-5."
   "We are?" asked Kristi. "I didn't feel any movement."
   "A graser drive accelerates every part of the ship and its contents
pretty much equally." said Todd.
   "Then why aren't we weightless?" asked Nancy. "No difference in 
motion, no acceleration, no weight. Equivalence of acceleration and 
gravity."
   "Because I've set the difference between the shuttle acceleration and
ours to 1 g." replied Nausicaa.
   "Both Nausicaa and Nancy are right." replied Todd. "We're 
accelerating at 3 g's." He pointed to a display. "If Nausicaa were to 
set the difference to zero, we'd be in zero gravity."
   "Can we be weightless?" asked Nancy. "It would be fun."
   "Once we get into cis-lunar space, yes." said Nausicaa.
   A chime sounded. Nausicaa looked at the sensor display.
   "Craft on an intercept course." she said. "Boosting at 12 g's."
   "What?" said Kristi.
   "Let me see." said Todd, punching keys. "It's a fighter. B'harne
configuration. Chemical rockets."
   "Strap in." said Nausicaa. She sent a distress call. 
   The bogey streaked by and fired a missile. Nausicaa veered to evade,
but the missile turned with her. She steered toward the enemy and
accelerated. Then she applied full reverse thrust. 
   The missile shot past and locked onto the B'harne craft. An 
antimissile laser destroyed it.
   A voice came over the comlink.
   "This is J-rock. ETA ten seconds. Jihad!"
   J-rock's fighter, like the shuttle, had a graser drive. But it could
boost at 400 g's instead of the shuttle's maximum of five. 
   "The attacking ship is too small to carry a human." answered Todd.
   "And it's pulling too many g's." said Kristi.
   The enemy lined up for another pass and fired. Iron pellets spewed 
from a railgun autocannon. Nausicaa activated the meteor shield and 
maneuvered the shuttle for a grazing collision with the incoming 
projectiles. They hit the shield and slid off. A warning tone sounded.
   "On more hit like that and no shield." said Nausicaa.
   J-rock set his weapons to low power and fired. The force packets 
struck the spongie craft, but did not destroy it.
   "Break it off, spongie." he said.
   The enemy turned and fired a missile. J-rock easily avoided it.
   "No more Mr. Nice Guy." said J-rock, bringing his weapons to half
power. He wanted full, but dared not harm the shuttle.
   The B'harne crafted loosed a fusillade of projectiles at J-rock. He
laughed as the fighter's shields deflected them easily. 
   "Rage!" he cried, firing back.
   The force packets tore the B'harne craft apart. 
   "Groovy." he said.
   "Enemy craft destroyed." said Nausicaa. "J-rock's escorting us to 
L-5."
   The trip to L-5 was uneventful. Nancy, Kristi, Nausicaa and Holden 
met J-rock in a room outside the docking bay. They exchanged greetings.
   "I thought admirals didn't fly fighters." said Nancy.
   "Rank hath its privileges." replied J-rock.
   "Has the wreckage from the B'harne craft been collected?" asked 
Holden.
   "Yes." replied J-rock. "Why do you ask?"
   "Because the attacking craft is not big enough to hold a human or
B'harne pilot." replied Holden. "It was pulling too many g's for a 
human, so one was not aboard. It was too small for a sponge-bop. You 
will find a disembodied human brain with the peripheral nerves connected 
to the craft's systems."
   A chime sounded and J-rock took the message.
   "You're right." said J-rock. "The science people found a brain, its
life support equipment and connections. Disgusting."
   "How horrible." said Nancy.
   "Agreed." said Solar Warrior, walking into the room. "But B'harne
wasn't gunning for anyone in the shuttle. He was looking for me."
   "You're not popular with B'harne." replied Kristi.
   "Correct." said Solar Warrior. "I've killed a dozen Barneyknockers, 
the first clone of Plush-cutus and the Mighty Morphine Power Rangers-
among others."
   "I see." observed Holden.
   The group boarded the stealth destroyer (steldes) Swamp Fox. As they
flew to the fleet, J-rock explained the fleet and its ships.
   "We have 2 capital ships, 5 battleships, 12 destroyers and six 
stealth destroyers." he said. "The capital ships are the Grimace and the 
Sun Tzu. The battleships are the Tokugawa, Nimrod, Geronimo, Chixlub, 
and the Ulysses."
   "I thought this was a diplomatic mission." said Nancy.
   "It is." replied J-rock. "What if we run into nasties? The data from
the alien ship's computer tells of the Kraleks. The description is not
nice."
   "It could be propaganda." stated Nancy.
   "It could be the truth." replied Kristi.
   "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that some beings aren't 
out to get you." added Solar Warrior.
   "In any case, strength is the best course." said J-rock. "The good 
guys will respect strength. The bad guys will fear it."
   "Approaching the Grimace, sir." said an ensign to J-rock.
   "Take a look." said J-rock.
   The Grimace was a delta-winged craft two kilometers long. The
antimatter power units were at the rear, shielded by collapsium. There
were few windows.
   "Take us on a tour." said J-rock.
   "Aye, sir." came a voice over the intercom.
   They orbited the Grimace twice and the went into a docking bay. As 
they left the airlock, a woman in a white skirt suit saluted J-rock.
   "Welcome back, admiral." she said.
   J-rock returned the salute and introduced his first officer, Lara. 
Then an ensign escorted Nancy, Kristi, Holden and Solar Warrior to their
staterooms. J-rock and Lara went to the bridge.
   "Check fleet position." said J-rock.
   "Ok." replied Lara.
   "Course check." said J-rock.
   "Course plotted and laid in." replied Lara. "Warp drive ready."
   "Speed factor four." said J-rock. "Engage."
   The Grimace eased into warp drive, disappearing in a blaze of 
Cerenkov radiation. The other ships of the fleet did likewise.
   "Status report." said J-rock. 
   "All go." replied Lara. "Warp stable, power stable. All ships holding
position."
   "Steady as she goes." replied J-rock. "I'm going on an inspection 
tour. You have the conn."
   "Aye, sir." replied Lara, assuming the admiral's chair.
   The Grimace, being a capital ship, had luxuries. One of those were
seven holo-arenas. In number six were Nancy, Kristi and Holden.
   "The doctor says I can skate." said Holden. "She also says take it
easy.
   "Great." said Nancy. "Yama, the ice is yours to pick."
   "Computer, run program---Nagano Ice." 
   The blank floor vanished, replaced by an expanse of ice.
   "After you." said Nancy. 
   Holden ventured out onto the ice. He moved a few feet and fell. He 
got up, skated six feet, and fell again. Nancy skated to him and helped 
him up. Holden was surprised at how easily she lifted him.
   "Stand for awhile." she said. "Computer, run program Nancy's first."
   A little girl Nancy appeared on the ice, stumbling ungracefully.
   "Computer, end program." she said.
   The image vanished.
   "Computer, run program Kristi's first" called Kristi from across the
holographic ice.
   A little girl Kristi appeared on the ice, stumbling ungracefully.
   "Let's get going." she said. 
   Soon Holden could skate a few yards before falling. But his doctor
called to the holo-arena, telling him to stop. The three quit and 
removed their skates.
   ""Time for a physics lesson." he said. 
   "I thought nothing could go faster than light." said Nancy. "By 
special relativity."
   "First of all, the special theory says you can't travel at 
lightspeed,
not beyond." answered Holden.
   "But that's what the fleet is doing." said Kristi.
   "Not really." replied Holden. "It just looks like it."
   "Ok, I'll bite." said Nancy.    "How you measure speed?" asked 
Holden.
   "Distance divided by time." answered Kristi. "High school math."
   "Good." replied Holden. "So Nancy hits the warp drive on her ship. 
When she does, I start a stopwatch. When she drops out of warp three
light-years away, I stop the stopwatch. It reads a hour elapsed. Then I
divide distance by time to get speed."
   "And you go FTL." said Kristi. "Special relativity says no."
   "Nancy's warp drive distorted the space around her, making the 
distance shorter. Reducing the distance increases the speed."
   "I see." replied Nancy.
   "Now we go to gravity waves." said Holden.

************************************************************************
**
****

   A week later, a sensor detected a gravity wave emission. A computer
alerted its operator and the operator spoke, 
   "Ship detection, bearing 290. Group of five. Configuration Kralek."
   "Yellow alert!" said Lara. "Call the admiral."
   A chime sounded in J-rock's quarters. He went to the bridge.
   "Fill me in." said J-rock. 
   "One battleship and four destroyers." said Lara.
   "Hail them." said J-rock.
   "Go." said the comm officer.
   "Greetings." spoke J-rock. "This is Earth ship Grimace, TRES Admiral
J-rock commanding. We are pleased to contact you."
   "Surrender at once!" came a grating voice. "Or be annihilated!"
   "We are not in Kralek space." replied J-rock. "Nor do have we have
hostile intentions. We seek peace and want to learn about your race. We
look forward to communicating with you."
   "You are inferior creatures." came the voice. "The Kraleks are 
masters
of the universe."
   "Hail off." said J-rock.
   "Does this sound familiar?" asked Lara.
   "Indeed." answered J-rock. "Battle stations. Shields to full. Ready
fighters."
   "Hail on." he said. "Kralek ship, we do not wish to fight. Nor will 
we surrender."
   "We will not tolerate insolence from lower life forms." responded the
Kralek commander. "Prepare to die!"
   "Enemy missiles incoming." said the tactical officer.
   "Launch countermissiles." said J-rock. "Helm, evasive action. Launch
fighters."
   "Aye." replied the tacoff.
   "Five ships against the whole fleet." said Lara. "They're insane."
   "Yes." replied J-rock. "Target the command ship. Hit it just hard
enough to knock down the shields."
   "Sir!" said the tacoff. "Recommend full power blast."
   "Request denied." said J-rock.
   "Aye, sir." replied the tacoff. "Firing now."
   "Kralek shields down." said Lara.
   "Hail them." said J-rock.
   "Kralek ship, break off now." spoke J-rock. "We wish no further
conflict."
   "You do not frighten me, Earth creature." replied the Kralek. His 
image vanished.
   "Has he been watching Roger Corman movies?" asked Lara.
   "Interesting." said J-rock. "General orders for all ships. Target
shields and weapons on enemy vessels. Avoid destroying them if possible,
but defend yourselves. Tacoff, execute orders."
   "Aye." said the tacoff.
   "Get me Solar Warrior." said J-rock.

************************************************************************
**
****

   "We're almost there." came Nausicaa's voice over the intercom.
   "I'm ready." replied Solar Warrior.
   Nausicaa activated the fighter's cloaking device. She skimmed lower
over the Kralek flagship and hovered over the bridge. She heard a pop as
Solar Warrior teleported.
   Solar Warrior appeared on the Kralek ships' bridge. 
   "Destroy the intruder!" barked the captain. 
   Several aliens fired on Solar Warrior. He shielded and their weapons
struck an invisible wall. He waved his hand. The beams ceased.
   "My systems are frozen!" said a Kralek.
   "I cannot move." spoke another.
   "Not bad for an inferior creature." said Solar Warrior. He turned to
the captain.
   "Order your ships to cease fire and surrender!"
   "Never!" replied the alien.
   Solar Warrior stunned the captain and turned to the first officer.
   "Surrender or die!" he said.
   "Very well." he replied. "I surrender."

************************************************************************
**
****

   "The Kraleks are surrendering." said Lara.
   "Excellent." said J-rock. "Bring the officers into the diplomatic
reception bay. Send the medics. Tell Nancy and Kristi we need an
exhibition for our guests tonight. Akane, bring the bos'n's whistle."
   "Sir?" said Akane, the security officer.
   "I'll explain on the way." replied J-rock. "Carry out your orders."
   As they went to the turbo-lift, J-rock explained,
   "They've probably been told we'll torture them, eat them alive, etc. 
So if we're nice, it will really shake them."
   "Understood." said Akane.
   The lift carried then to the diplomatic reception bay. As the 
prisoners came off, J-rock and Lara saluted while Akane blew the 
whistle.
   "Welcome aboard the Grimace." said J-rock.
   "You will not harm us?" asked the Kralek captain.
   "We are a civilized race." answered J-rock. "In fact, I request you 
and your officer's attendance at an exhibition of a Earth art-form 
tonight."
   "Have my ships and warriors been provided for?" asked the alien
captain.
   "Yes." replied J-rock. "As soon as your ships are repaired, you may 
go. Please tell your government that Earth desires friendly relations. 
Please also tell them that we will defend ourselves with force if 
necessary."
   "I will." replied the captain. "This is unusual."
   "You'll find that what you've been told is not always right." said
Lara.
   "This is our first contact with an alien race." added Akane. "Imagine
how surprised we are."
   "I see." replied the captain.
   "This way, sir." said J-rock.
   J-rock and his officers showed the Kralek officers into a large
holo-room. Then they took them on a tour of human art and literary 
works. Then the humans and Kraleks went to the holo-arena, where Nancy 
and Kristi put on a dazzling skating exhibition. The Kraleks knew 
nothing of ice skating and the performance puzzled and amazed them.
   Ten days later, the remaining Kralek ships were repaired. J-rock gave
them a rousing sendoff, including holotapes of the artworks and the
skating exhibition. 
   "Let's hope we don't encounter them again." said Akane. "The history
tapes didn't paint a nice picture."
   "I agree." said J-rock. "But sentient beings are not slaves of
history." 

************************************************************************
**
***

   Holden smoothly turned around on the ice. Nancy and Kristi skated
beside him, each appraising the three-turn with trained eyes.
   "Excellent." said Nancy. "Now do a series of mohawks." Holden did so.
   The sounder beeped.
   "Enough for today." said Kristi.
   The three removed their skates.
   "Time for a physics lesson." said Holden.
   He explained time dilation to them.
   "So that's why J-rock doesn't like to run above one-tenth c." said
Nancy.
   "Imagine what might happen if ships in a fleet traveled at different
speeds."
   "Can you show us where we're going?" asked Nancy. "I missed the
briefing."
   "Me too." replied Kristi.
   Holden called up a holographic image of the galaxy. The fleet was a
yellow globe. A red cloud denoted Kralek space, a blue cloud Groaxi 
space, a green cloud the B'horn Empire. Unknown regions were uncolored. 
Silver lines crisscrossed the known regions.
   "So B'harne is a renegade B'horn." said Kristi.
   "The Solar Ishtari have long known B'harne was an ET." added Nancy.
"They just didn't know where from."
   "Nor could we get there." said Holden. "Until you two discovered a
spaceship."
   "And had a real life H.P. Lovecraft weekend!" said Kristi.
   "Complete with a nearly indestructible alien monster." spoke Nancy.
"Shades of holo-Doom 5!"
   "J-rock is approaching through their least explored sectors." said
Holden. "He wants to be discreet, as B'harne is a politically sensitive
fugitive."
   "That's why he was so nice to the Kraleks." said Nancy.
   "Partly." replied Kristi. "Mercy is an advanced virtue in B'horn
ethics, even toward enemies like the Kraleks."
   "What are the silver lines?" asked Nancy.
   "A hyperwave version of the Internet." said Holden. "We think."
   "An advanced race would have some kind of info net." added Nancy.
   "Think of it." said Kristi. "An interstellar Usenet." She paused.
   "Why do the B'horn know nothing of ice skating?" asked Kristi.
   Holden called up an image of the B'horn homeworld. 
   "It doesn't have as much axial tilt as Earth." he said. "So the 
seasons are very mild. Water never freezes. No ice, no skating."
   "Also the B'horn body." said Nancy. She called up an image of the
typical B'horn.
   The alien was shaped very much like an earthly velociraptor. But the
hands were four-fingered and had retractable claws. The head was large 
and bulged at the sides and top. A bulldog neck supported the head, and 
the slicing teeth were smaller. The eyes were large and had the 
unmistakable look of intelligence.
   "I can teach them to skate." said Nancy. "I've taught 'raptors."
   "You'd think they were tyrannosaurs with that bulldog neck." said
Kristi. "But the jaws and teeth aren't big enough. The neck is for 
holding a big brain."

************************************************************************
**

   Several days later, Lara went to J-rock.
   "We're picking up modulated hyperwave signals."
   "Are they the B'horn Empire infonet?" asked J-rock.
   "Some are." replied Lara. "Others are coded Kralek transmissions."
   "Have they been decoded?" asked J-rock.
   "The comm people are checking." she said. "Here's the report."
   "I'll read it in my ready room." he replied. "You have the conn."
   "Aye." replied Lara.
   J-rock turned to leave. Just then the comm officer spoke.
   "Picking up a distress signal from a Groaxi ship. Under attack by
Kraleks."
   "Sensors confirm." said Lara, looking the first officers' display.
   "Yellow alert." said J-rock. "Speed factor six. Send out scouts."
   "Aye." said Lara.
   The stealth destroyers (steldes) Swamp Fox and Chameleon accelerated 
to speed factor nine and activated their cloaking devices. As they came 
into sensor range they swore and sent their data back.
   "Data from the scouts." said Lara. "Four Groaxi passenger liners 
under attack, all bearing mostly children. Four Kralek ships attacking, 
a battleship and three destroyers."
   A wave of cold anger swept the bridge.
   "Battle stations." said J-rock grimly. "Helm, speed factor nine and
intercept course."
   "Aye." replied the helm.
   "Attention all hands." said J-rock into a microphone. "The Kraleks 
are attacking four Groaxi ships. The Groaxi ships are carrying children. 
Your purpose is to defend the Groaxi ships. Use whatever force is 
necessary."
   "You've declared open season on the Kraleks." said Lara.
   "Yes." replied J-rock.
   "Good." said Lara. 
   "Target the Kralek battleship." said J-rock. "Full power."
   "Weapons locked on and ready." said the tacoff. "We're at extreme
range."
   "Noted." said J-rock. "Fire!"
   The lights dimmed as the Grimace's main guns fired. Grazer packets 
flew toward the Kralek.
   "Hit on enemy." said the tacoff. "Changing course toward us."
   "Fire." said J-rock. 
   Again the lights dimmed.
   "Missed." reported the tacoff. 
   The Grimace shuddered as the enemy returned fire. 
   "Damage report." barked J-rock.
   "Shields ok, power ok, weapons ok." answered Lara. "Minor stress 
damage to lower decks. They hit us with a weirdly modulated grazer 
burst. The shields had trouble adjusting to it."
   "Set up cross beam grazer now." said J-rock.
   "Aye." replied the tacoff. He punched buttons. "Ready." 
   "Fire." said J-rock.
   Twin grazer beams, both in phase, crossed in front of the Kralek
warship. The gravity at the crossing region was so intense that light
could not escape. Several quantum black holes formed. They acted as
Hawking had predicted, exploding hellishly. The explosion destroyed the
Kralek battleship. The remaining Kraleks broke off.
   "They're leaving." said Lara. "Butchers."
   "Agreed." replied J-rock.
   "Groaxi ships approaching." said Lara. "Group of six, two 
battleships, two destroyers, two cruisers. We're being hailed"
   "On screen." replied J-rock.
   A green alien with four eyestalks appeared. 
   "To identify yourselves at once!" rasped the alien. "To challenge."
   "Earth ship Grimace, admiral J-rock commanding." replied J-rock. 
"Your liners were under attack by Kraleks. We heard their distress calls 
and drove the Kraleks off. We are currently conducting rescue 
operations."
   "To verify your story." replied the commander.
   "He's hailing the liner's skipper." said Lara.
   "Your story checks out." said the Groaxi commander. "To thank you for
helping."
   "Acknowledged." replied J-rock. "Do you wish us to assist?"
   "To be grateful for your offer." replied the Groaxi. "We can handle
it."
   "Very well." said J-rock. "Resume course. Secure from red alert."
   Several hours later, J-rock and Lara left the bridge for a dinner 
with Nancy, Kristi and Holden.
   "So you like dining with lovely young women and a Nobel laureate?"
asked Lara.
   "I'm the admiral." replied J-rock. He turned serious. "It's a
compensation for the job stress. You'll understand when you're in
command."
   "I see." replied Lara.
   The stewards seated J-rock's guests and brought food.
   "How is the skating coming?" asked J-rock.
   "Rather well." answered Holden.
   "He'll be doing spins in a week." said Nancy.
   "Jumps in two." added Kristi. 
   "That's good." said J-rock.
   The conversation shifted to skating. Nancy and Kristi each told of 
sit spins, international travel and media nightmares. Then Holden told 
of managing graduate students, the Nobel ceremony. Lara questioned him 
about the ship's drive and weapons. Holden explained them with the aid 
of a portable holoprojector.
   The dinner conversation continued for two hours. Then J-rock's comm
badge tinkled.
   "J-rock here." he said.
   "Sir, we are now in B'horn space." said Akane. "Nothing on sensors."
   "Very well." replied J-rock. "Carry on."
   "Aye." said Akane.


Jihad to the Stars #3-Finale

   "We've been traveling for three days in B'horn space." said Akane. 
"And
not a sign. I guess the B'horn haven't seen us."
   "Good point." replied J-rock.
   "How do we know?" asked Lara.
   "There's nothing on the electromagnetic, mass or other detectors." 
said Akane.
   "How about cloaked passive sensor platforms?" asked Lara. "Or stealth
destroyers? We can barely detect our own stealth destroyers and cloaked
passive sensor platforms. Plus all we have is based on century-old 
B'horn tech."
   "Lara's right." said J-rock. "The problem is, what can we do about 
it?.
   "Nothing." said Lara. "They'll show themselves when they please."
   "What if they attack first?" asked Akane.
   "With that kind of stealth, they would have attacked already." 
answered J-rock. "Besides, we rescued several civilian ships of their 
allies. They probably know about that."
   "I hate waiting." said Akane.
   "So do I." said J-rock.
   "Ships de-cloaking!" said the sensor officer. "B'horn configuration."
   "Yellow alert." said J-rock.
   "Shall I raise shields and ready weapons?" asked Akane.
   "Negative." said J-rock. "Look at the scan."
   Four B'horn ships the size of the Grimace appeared, accompanied by 24
destroyers and thirty cruisers.
   "They're hailing us." said Akane.
   "On screen." replied J-rock. The screen showed a B'horn.
   "Alien ships, identify yourselves and state your purpose." said the
alien.
   "Admiral J-rock, commanding Earth ship Grimace and fleet." replied
J-rock. "We bring news of B'harne. We also have the body and ship of a
B'horn officer who crashed on our planet. We wish to return the body for
proper burial."
   "I must check with my superiors." replied the captain. "Hold your
position until further notice. Make no hostile moves. We will send a
launch to retrieve the body."
   "Very well." said J-rock.
   Fifteen minutes later, the B'horn commander reported.
   "Your story is verified. On behalf of the B'horn Empire, we welcome 
you to B'horn space. We will escort you to the homeworld."
   "Helm, follow them." said J-rock. "Secure from yellow alert."
   "We made it!" said Akane.
   A day later, the fleet arrived at the B'horn homeworld. J-rock went 
to meetings with B'horn government officials, while Solar Warrior and 
Holden went to meetings with B'horn scientists. The diplomatic corps 
assigned an officer, T'harn, to Nancy and Kristi. The two women 
immediately requested a holo-arena.
   "Computer, run program Nagano ice." said Nancy.
   An expanse of ice appeared.
   "Ice sports?" asked T'harn. "I've seen solid water in science class."
   "This is a little different." said Kristi. "Time for a costume 
change."
   She and Nancy returned in performance costumes. Then they took to the
ice. As they performed, a small crowd gathered. Then a newstaper started
broadcasting the performance.
   The B'horn diplomat's comlink beeped.
   "There's a crowd of 10,000 outside." said a voice.
   "Please wait." replied T'harn into the comlink. He turned to Nancy 
and Kristi. "There's a big crowd outside."
   "No problem." replied Nancy. "Let's move to a bigger place."
   T'harn called his boss and received permission. Then the three went 
to a larger arena. It took the humans some time to adjust to using 
teleport disks for travel. 
   At the end of the day, Nancy and Kristi met with J-rock, Solar 
Warrior and Holden
   "What a day!" said J-rock. "Many meetings."
   "The B'horn were amazed at how we handled B'harne." said Holden. 
"We've created quite a stir."
   "Did they know about Earth before we got here?" asked Kristi. 
   "They knew there were star systems with life in the galactic rim, but
nothing specific." replied Solar Warrior. "I've been tested throughly
because of my mage powers."
   "I haven't got to used to them yet." added Kristi. 
   "We've got promoters trying to book us for a tour." said Nancy.
   "There's enough time." said Holden. "It will take a week for a B'horn
decision and another two to mobilize the escort fleet.
   "Yes." said a older B'horn as she entered the room. "But the decision
to send a fleet to Earth has been made already."
   "Thank you, C'han." said J-rock. "I take it that the week is an
admistrative delay."
   "Correct." replied the B'horn official. "And moving on solid water
while wearing blades is very interesting."
   "Thank you." said Nancy.
   "I must attend to affairs of state." said C'han. "My apologies."
   "We understand." replied J-rock. 
   After C'han left, J-rock dismissed himself. Solar Warrior went away,
having an interview on the B'horn eqiuvalent of a talk show. This left
Holden alone with the ladies.
   "I thought one planet in the B'horn empire would have seasons." said
Kristi. "They have a 20 system empire."
   "They don't." replied Holden. "I can't say why, but the B'horn 
planets all have mild climates."
   "Did they colonize them?" asked Nancy.
   "They did." answered Kristi. "T'harne told me."
   "That would explain it." said Nancy.
   "Not completely." said Holden. "That 20 planets, all within several
hundred parsecs of this one, have mild climates? Sounds improbable, but
that's what happened."
   "Amazing." replied Nancy.
   "It's a big galaxy." added Kristi.
   The next day, a B'horn promoter booked Nancy and Kristi for a 10-day
tour. Solar Warrior divided his time between consulting with B'horn
scientists and performing in his own magic show.
   Two weeks later, the Grimace and the Earth fleet left the B'horn
homeworld. A B'horn fleet escorted them. Nancy and Kristi were busy
instructing a dozen B'horn in figure skating.
   "What do you think Evy will say when my students arrive at Tony Kent
arena, Yama?" asked Nancy.
   "Welcome to Jurassic Park?" laughed Kristi. 
   The two women laughed. 
   "Just wait until Spielburg sees a B'horn!" said Kristi.
   "They do love Jurassic Park." added Nancy.
   In half the time it had taken to travel to the B'horn homeworld, the
fleet arrived at Earth. On the bridge, Akane, Lara and J-rock watched 
the Earth grow large in the viewscreen.
   "We're back." said J-rock.
   "And B'harne is toast!" said Akane.
   "Ding dong, the B'harne's dead, the B'harne's dead, the B'harne's 
dead. Ding dong the cheesy B'harne's dead!" said Lara.

                                           THE END