"The Witiko don’t need a lot of troops because they have a neat trick for recruiting."
Jon Brewer took the proverbial ball and ran with it: "When I think about it, Trevor, it reminds me of the Redcoat battle for Wilkes-Barre way back when. The Witiko can get animals to fight for them. Except, well, they’re a little more direct about it."
As Jon spoke, Gordon slid a photograph across the table to Trevor. It showed a metal glove long enough to extend to the elbow of the wearer. A compartment-much like a miniature computer-had been built into the forearm while a silver sphere about the size of a golf ball rested on the back. Two small metal prongs projected outward from that sphere.
"We don’t know how," Gordon said, "but my sources are working on it. Once the fighting starts, I think we need to make it a priority to get a hold of one of these things because…"
Gordon’s voice faded from Trevor’s ears as a bout of lightheadedness hit. His mind left the room…and went to a place of tall glass and steel towers in cities adorned with fantastic art and magnificent landscaping all on the rim of wastelands littered with churning volcanoes spewing clouds of thick ash. A world with small oceans so dense with salt and minerals that life only lived in the farthest depths while vast lakes high in mountain plateaus poured fresh water to the lands below in gigantic waterfalls.
He saw herds of big but docile beasts of short fur and long necks stalked by armor-plated lions and roaches as big as dogs spitting acid to battle large, carnivorous jellyfish floating in the air.
He saw the picture of the Witiko device in his hand…and understood.
He must have faded out for more than a split second because Lori Brewer, Jon, and Dante hovered over him pleading to know if he were, ‘okay’ ‘all right’ and ‘get a doctor down here!’
"Um…guess I blanked out there, huh?"
"Yeah, man, you could say that," the fear faded from Dante’s eyes but suspicion remained. "What was that all about? You on something?"
Trevor shot Dante an angry look. Dante defused the situation with a ‘just kidding’ smile. After a moment, Trevor smiled back…then focused on the picture of the Witiko device.
"It’s a slaver. They calibrate it to specific animals, shoot the prongs into the target, then they can control those animals, to a degree." "Wow," Jon gasped. "Want to tell us how you know that?" Trevor smiled and told him, "I just picked it up." "Not that shit again."
Trevor ignored Dante. "The Witiko map brain waves of certain animals, so they just can’t shoot these things into anything. They have to plan it out."
Gordon said, "Our intelligence indicates that the Witiko use some big insects the same way we use guard dogs." Knox thought about that and rephrased, "I mean, the way we used to use guard dogs before, well, before those guard dogs became Grenadiers."
Trevor explained, "It causes a considerable amount of pain to the subject animal. So much so that most of the time the Witiko put down the animal before releasing the slaver device. Animals released early tend to go nuts, sometimes turn on the Witiko handlers. So it’s a way for them to increase their fighting power but it has limits and dangers."
Lori Brewer asked a disturbing question, "Can it be used on humans?"
"I don’t think so. Humans and other sentient life have far too complex brain patters and personalities. It’s not like this thing thinks for the animal, more like it implants an urge. From what I can tell, the subjects don’t like being under this thing’s thumb. But it is effective." Gordon turned to Omar and asked, "We could use a means of blocking the signal." "Oh! What a wonderful idea you are having Mister Knox! I will go build something right now! Let me get my erector set!" Trevor kept things under control, "Good idea but that will take some time. Jon, how do those Stingrays match up?"
"They’re dangerous. First, they have both missiles and a short-range energy weapon. It can do some damage, but the beam itself dissipates after a half mile. Very much a close range weapon that they use more against stationery targets. Also, the Stingrays generate a stealth field. It’s not like an F117; it’s not a passive stealth but an active one. The Witiko have a good handle on electronics and jamming. We’ll see how they work in practice, but our information from the California war says no one ever saw them coming. Could be a problem."
Knox presented more bad news with photographs to match. "The Stingrays have built-in stealth field generators, but the Witiko have designed stealth fields in north and south California, one at Beale Air Force Base outside of Sacramento, another just went on-line at the old Marine Corps logistic base outside of Barstow."
Brett Stanton asked, "What do you mean, stealth field generators?"
Gordon answered, "The Stingray ships generate their own stealth capability but the Witiko have put together a system that, in theory, will allow all their ships in certain areas to become stealthy, as long as they have been upgraded with the right components."
Trevor examined Knox's photos. One showed what could have been a massive, three-sided stereo speaker with sloped walls stretching dozens of feet into the air.
"What kind of strange alien device is this?"
Knox corrected, "It’s not alien at all. It’s one of the PAVE PAWS phased array radar facilities. The US Air Force Space Command used to use them to detect missiles. The Witiko worked some of their high-tech alien magic on them. Now they emit what we’re calling a ‘stealth field’. Their human-built jet fighters and helicopters will have the same stealth capability as their Stingrays, as long as they’re within the radius of these generators, pretty much most of northern California and a nice chunk of the south."
"Wait a sec," Dante leaned forward. "We won’t be able to see their planes coming on radar? Are you kidding me?"
Jon said, "Our fighters won’t be able to get radar locks on enemy targets. We don’t think they can mask heat signatures, but we will be at a disadvantage in dog fights. The Cooperative’s human-built fighters will have a much greater stand-off distance. Could be a problem."
"Then we work the problem," Trevor grew agitated. He had heard bits and pieces for months now, but it seemed to be adding up to a bigger battle than he had hoped.
Gordon assured, "It’s all very theoretical, of course. These stealth fields might not work at all. We just have to buck-up and see what happens."
Dante shot, "Easy for you to say. You won’t be flying in a jet."
Trevor cut the confrontation off, "We have people inside; people who want out. The Cooperative isn't the utopia this Brad Gannon paints it to be."
Lori reminded, "He’s spent the last three days touring The Empire trying to drum up resistance to an invasion. He even met with the religious tribunal. Why did you let him in?"
Dante answered for Trevor, "Hey, the guy is a human being. Last I heard, we were taking in anyone who wanted to come over."
"Enough," Trevor brought the meeting to a close. As he spoke he made eye contact with everyone around the table. "Jon, you’ve been working on plans for this for months. Coordinate with the stuff Gordon has lined up and let’s get ready. I’m going to put together an ultimatum, we’ll give them a few days, then we take care of this. Now let’s get moving. There’s a lot to do."
Everyone gathered their papers and faded off toward the steps leading from the basement.
As he headed for the stairs, Trevor saw Anita Nehru and Omar standing in a corner talking. Or, at least, Omar talking and Anita not listening.
Trevor drifted over and asked, "What’s going on?"
Over the years, Trevor heard all manner of sarcasm from Omar as well as excitement, puzzlement, and terror. Yet he had never seen an expression of such desperation on the man’s face. Worse, Omar spoke without a hint of his usual accent, suggesting a great deal of worry.
"It is Anita. She has not been home to see the family in three weeks. She has been working non-stop at Red Rock. She does not call. She does not tell us anything."