An Untitled Novel

Basil stood silently while looking over the table filled with captured Elthrice weapons. He felt he should be doing something, but was mindlessly observing them yet again.

The Elthrice’s guns, if that term was proper, were weird and oddly ineffective. Most were made from a variety of metals, only a few made of the standard dark gray-green metal that Elthrice used a lot. Some of them on the table had large protrusions on their sides that resembled rattlesnake egg-sized ship propulsion systems, although they appeared to either be inert or cosmetic. More were very simplistic, having the vague shape of a rifle, but barely composed of more than a long tube with a grip and some components near the grip. A few even had an oddly earth like design, although all three had the same mechanisms.

Their internals were all the same regardless of their appearance. A small cylinder of compressed gas would propel an inert projectile with approximately the same force as a handgun, though the larger ones that were almost unwieldy - even by Elthrice standards - seemed to pack more of a punch. Basil, ACE, and Grey had all guessed that the few using the gray green metal and sporting considerable wear were once utilizing the same means of propelling projectiles as the Elthrice’s ships; but were modified to use a pneumatic system instead after most systems like that were disabled. The other ones, they presumed, were manufactured specifically with the pneumatic system in mind, slowly changing their design to fit their new internals.

“ACE said their weapons were surprisingly shit?” Spiro asked while entering the room; Grey, Redcap officials, and Lizard King trailing behind him as if following his lead. “Depends on where you set the bar, they’re still better than most of the guns within these walls” Basil replied, only realizing it sounded somewhat insulting after hearing himself say it; though nobody flinched or offered up glares. “But we have a manufacturing base and the numbers. They sent like a hundred people thinking it would be an unapproachable show of force and got slaughtered; I think we’re in the clear for now.”

Grey spoke quietly, as if afraid that vocalizing something would cause it to be more true. “They have about a million in their military, if not an actual military, something they would at least consider to be one.” Basil was taken aback. “What? How would you know that?” Grey motioned with her hands. “The, um, the old Elthrice followed a very specific set of rules when they did certain actions.” She paused momentarily before adding “What would you call a group of soldiers?” Cicero replied “Perhaps a unit?” inquisitively, and Grey nodded. “They would use specific units as a representation of their strength when they performed apprehentions or were to begin negotiations with another party.”

When the group remained silent Grey continued. “The one in the center with his voice, the best word for him would be commander.” Basil realized his hands had started shaking, but he tried to steady them as Grey continued to speak. “Those around him were unarmed; they appeared to have arrived to make demands or to apprehend somebody. As that failed, they will likely return with more strength in the future.” When the room fell silent again Spiro interjected.

“Basil, Grey told me you were working on a gunship. Do you think that would hold them off?” Basil nodded hesitantly. “The propulsion system failed to start; ACE thinks there’s a separate computer system, or at least its equivalent, within those parts. He’s taking apart the captured craft as we speak; if all goes according to plan, we should have the captured craft back online in a few weeks and the gunship development back on track.” Basil paused, however, as if hesitant to finish his statement. “But we’re still looking at months before we get the gunship to a point where it can lift off the ground, and even if we get the propulsion system working, that’s still not taking into account getting it aerodynamic, the hull sealed, and the weapons working.”

“So, what do you advise us to do in the meantime?” The Redcap Queen asked in a somber but resolute tone, speaking to Basil for the first time since he had pulled her out of the crashed craft nearly a year ago. Basil remained silent, unsure how to answer, but Spiro spoke instead. “Basil, many if not most of them didn’t have the, um, the thing you have right?” Basil nodded. “You mean an (object)?” Spiro returned a nod. “The Amigosian Ministry has been moving some crates of weapons off the island, and while I am a little unnerved by what may be going on, I should be able to route a number of them to the Redcap docks.”

Spiro paused and let out a quiet sigh as if he felt conflicted, or at least intended to portray internal conflict. “I will get their locations to your agent who goes by Argyris Zacharias, and instruct him how to get the ship names off Amigoso without alerting the surveillance on him. Seize the weapons in the dock and distribute them among yourselves.” Spiro gestured to the Redcap Queen and Lizard King. “They will hopefully be an edge against the Elthrice. Basil, I assume you will also be working to better arm everyone to the best of your abilities as well.”

Basil looked around the room, seeing a fleeting expression of either annoyance or embarrassment on General Edward’s face when Spiro mentioned Argyris. Moments later, however, he remembered he was asked a question, first nodding and then adding “Yeah, of course.” Spiro returned the nod and the room felt noticeably calmer. “Good” Spiro replied, adding “And to be clear, what I said does not leave this room. Basil, I told you once that with the Elthrice invasion I ceased serving Amigoso and began serving all of Domum. I intend to keep that promise, but if what I said leaves this room I’m of no use to any of you dead.”