Harry smiled as the fabricators kicked in. Wheelsons and Beetle Guns started rolling out. The third were the long range self loading missile launchers. He had added legs to their bases so they could be carried along. The triple threat began to dump firepower on the outside of the town, taking some of the strain off the replicating bees.

The bees formed a shell of air cover to airstrike anything that looked like it was coming too close on the ground.

A minute later, another set of three rolled off the assembly line. The first set moved to the edge of the covering range. The xenos paused as six lines of fire opened up on them, as well as the harrying bees.

Then a minute later, a third set opened fire.

“What is this?,” asked Nick.

“I have created an assembly line to join our two homing beacons,” said Harry. “It’s the start of a fire base in case we have other contractors show up.”

“I don’t think I have ever seen anything like this,” said Nick. “We should start

worrying about air raids now.”

“I have something for those too,” said Harry.

A giant bee took to the air. It blasted along to start an orbit around the outpost. Ten minutes later, another one joined it.

“Now we have air support,” said Harry.

“You have created a self replicating army that might turn on you at any moment,” said Nick.

“They love me,” said Harry. “You, on the other hand, they might turn on in a second.”

“That’s really not reassuring,” said Nick.

“Right now, the boys are what we need,” said Harry. “I’m essentially doing what the xenos are doing. I’m throwing numbers into the fight. I do need to set up another fabricator for more aircraft. We’re going to need to build our forces if we want to control the air.”

“This might be futile,” said Nick. “We should be more mobile.”

“We’re taking to the air in a few minutes,” said Harry. “All of this is a distraction for what I really plan to do.”

“And what’s that?,” asked Nick.

“I plan to sneak up to that gate opening and make sure none of the xenos make it across to threaten the world,” said Harry. “That’s what you pay me for.”

“All right,” said Nick. “Let’s see what we can do.”

Harry placed another giant bee fabricator on the ground. He tried to give it partial cover from attacks from above. The bees would have to watch things from the ground so xenos couldn’t break the fabricator as it worked.

Ten minutes later, another giant weapons platform took to the air and started orbiting the battle area.

“As long as I can keep those bees in the air, everything should go a lot more smoothly for the boys,” said Harry.

“Can they reach orbit?,” asked Nick.

“Yep,” said Harry. “Since I didn’t need to put in space for a pilot, I loaded them down with missiles, energy guns, and armor. And they are fast enough to orbit around us every five to ten minutes.”

“So you may have created a safe haven that is constantly under attack,” said Nick.

“The xenos will have to circle around to get out of the firing line of the triple artillery guns,” said Harry. “I’m hoping the bee fighters can keep them back until the line closes, and starts doubling back this way.”

“You might want to create a line facing the other way,” said Nick. “The enemy can still go out of their way to attack from behind where the line is not facing. Air support is only good when it is there, savvy?”

“You’re totally right,” said Harry. “Why didn’t I see that?”

“And a circle is better than a single line in any case,” said Nick.

“The problem is we’re going to be at one side of the circle instead of at the center,” said Harry. “Don’t worry about that. I got it.”

Harry put down three more line fabricators pointing the opposite way from the

original line. He had them programmed to go down to the other outpost like the other line. They started shooting as soon as they cleared any obstruction in front of them.

“I guess you were right and we are surrounded,” said Harry. He checked for targets out on the sand. Whatever was out there took hits from the triple line of fire and shrugged them off. Maybe another giant snake was buried out there under the ground.

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“If it’s one of those giant snakes, it could crush the outpost,” said Harry.

“We should wait until we have a clear shot,” said Nick. “Right now, it is staying away from us.”

“Might be waiting on reinforcements,” said Harry. “They might have been told our guys have got good at killing the giants.”

“Do we engage?,” asked Nick. “If we wait until it attacks, that might be too late.”

Harry flipped through the catalogues in his mind. He knew there was something he could do about the problem. And defense was not his thing.

He would rather offend the enemy before they could get their act together.

“All right,” said Harry. “I have some ship based weaponry that might help us. I just need some time.”

“The drones are engaging,” said Nick. “I don’t think they are having an effect.”

“Tell them to give me enough time to build a doorbuster,” said Harry. He summoned his biggest fabricator yet. He put it down between the growing lines of artillery he had set up.

He stood back and watched the cannon grow to dwarf the town. The locals couldn’t have put something like this up when there were people around, but he was alone against the planet.

The final piece fell into place high above where he stood. He retreated from the cannon as it readied to power up. A gate opened over the target. A stream of solar fire washed over the desert for five seconds. The gate closed.

“What have you done?,” asked Nick.

“I’m dipping into the exotic weapons catalogue,” said Harry. “I think the target is down.”

“Every xeno within miles are going to try to kill you now,” said Nick. “That’s a whole lot of attention you just attracted.”

“They were already trying to kill me,” said Harry. “I just upped the ante. If we can kill the xenos in orbit, space contractors can clear the rest of the system out and kill all the xenos on the ground.”

“What is to stop them from bombarding us from orbit?,” asked Nick. “You know they can do that right? They don’t have to wait for your gun to shoot at them.”

“That’s why I’m going to make more to keep them from the outpost,” said Harry. “If any of our people get here, this will be the safest spot on the planet for them.”

“Bubba just passed me a note that you are not allowed back on Earth,” said Nick.

“Who needs it?,” said Harry. “I have a clear red sky, a ton of sand everywhere, and all the Emm Arr Eees I can want. Killing xenos is just icing on the cake.”

“So we’re going ahead with this?,” said Nick. “And then what?”

“Once we put down enough guns to do overwatch,” said Harry. “We have to clear the gate for Earth. Then we’ll have to figure out where the next one is. If we can cause a drain in the xeno personnel, that will be a win for us.”

“I am not sure about this army moving around, but as long we keep them here, I don’t see a problem if they go bad,” said Nick.

“Don’t tell them that,” said Harry. “They might stop helping us.”

“All right,” said Nick. “What are we going to do about all of this?”

“I have to get back to my boat and get in the air,” said Harry. “Then we have to plant some guns to keep the xenos out of the zone.”

“Do you really think this is a good idea?,” said Nick.

“I just want to cause the biggest distraction that I can,” said Harry. “Some cannons blasting things is the best way to do that as far as I am concerned.”

“And if the enemy bombards your safe zone?,” said Nick.

“Then I will build more,” said Harry. “They made a mistake giving me a way to

get to them. When I’m done with this planet, I can leave my guys to secure it while I start working on the next one in line. They aren’t the only people who know how to climb a ladder and take out the boss.”

“I don’t remember this on your psych eval from the recruiting office,” said Nick.

“No one ever sees the real me,” said Harry. “That way I can’t be accused of being aggressive.”

“I made a note and passed it along to screen for other personalities like yours and pass them to a different program,” said Nick.

“John and Guy could make good contractors,” said Harry.

“They would have refused for different reasons,” said Nick. “And to be honest, Cat would have been the best contractor out of your cadre, but she would have refused too.”

“So I’m the only one who loves the power that the quartermaster gives me?,” said Harry. He gave a fake villainous laugh. “Those fools.”

“Let’s go back to the defense of your outpost,” said Nick. “How are you going

to stop an orbital strike?”

“I don’t really think I can,” said Harry. “I just hope I can slow it down so my war

machine will continue without too many problems.”

“All right,” said Nick. “What is your next big idea?”

“We need more big guns to support the one we have,” said Harry. “Let’s get that done before we lose everything we built.”

“Go ahead,” said Nick. “I can’t wait to see what you do next.”

Harry walked over to his aircraft. He loaded up and walked to the bay in the back of the boat. He patted the beetle gun in its cradle, waiting to be used. He looked at the other open space. This was where his fabricator was going to go.

He placed the fabricator inside the cradle. He nodded as he tested the hold. He didn’t want to open the bay doors and have the whole thing hit the dirt. He only wanted what he was making to fall down and start arming themselves.

“Take us up,” said Harry. “Open the bay doors. Take us back toward the other

beacon.”

He pressed the on switch for the fabricator. Small balls dropped down in the desert in puffs of sand. He went back to his chair as the long guns woke up and started shooting at things out in the sand. He hoped the xenos liked his support team.

He looked at the screens. His guns dropped solar flame on top of everything they spotted. That cleared the way for his smaller guns to roll into place and start shooting at any targets they could see. Some of the big guns lifted their barrels and shot at something at the edge of the horizon.

“What do you think they are shooting at over there?,” asked Harry.

“It looks like a blockade of capital ships,” said Nick.

“You don’t think they can actually knock one down, do you?,” asked Harry. He

marked positions as the guns kept shooting behind him. “That would be great in my opinion.”

“They are trying,” said Nick. “I would not be surprised if xenos on the ground try to knock them down. Your ground forces are moving in, but they aren’t an effective shield in my opinion.”

“I can make an effective shield,” said Harry. “All I need is a few minutes of time.”

“What are you going to do?,” asked Nick. “Build a wall?”

“I don’t see why I can’t,” said Harry. “It should be a snap.”

“I don’t see the enemy letting that happen,” said Nick.

“I don’t think they can stop me,” said Harry.

“Let’s see your solution to this problem,” said Nick.

“All right,” said Harry. “Drop down to spot in front of the expanding line.”

The bee floated down to a landing. He jogged down to where the line was forming up in front of the big guns. He summoned a ramp and wall and commanded it to expand along the line. It unfolded like a metal carpet in both directions.

The ramp gave the artillery height to shoot over the wall and the wall gave them cover from problems at ground level.

“It’s going to take a while but I should have the area closed up except from above,” said Harry.