AMP Colossus by Stephen Arseneault Page A

do we do with the Grell?"
    I replied, "You were in intelligence, dear; how about I go down there and bring one of those Grell back for questioning?"
    Ashley grabbed me by the arm. "I would like that very much, Don!"
    I called to the Colonel, and two dozen rappelling ropes and gear were brought to the shaft. The ropes were each a hundred meters in length, with a transition connection on each end, allowing them to be strung together. A pulley system was assembled and moved into place, and I was soon strapping on the gear that would bind me to the rope.
    I spoke. "Drop me down to their position, and I will attempt a grab of one of them. If I can get them up here in one piece, then send me down for another."
    As I readied for my descent, two Colossun soldiers stepped back into the shaft. They stood unmoving for nearly a minute before they turned and exited, unable to establish a comm link with the other androids only a few meters away.
    I gave the signal, and the Marines assigned to my squad started me down the shaft. The rappelling assembly the rope was attached to had a fan brake that prevented the gear from freewheeling on the way down. I dropped quickly, but the journey still took several minutes.
    When I came to a stop, four Grell workers were staring at me.
    I spoke. "I need a volunteer to come up to the surface. I am with the resistance. Today is the first day that we work for your freedom from the Colossus Empire!"
    The four workers remained stunned and silent. Fear shone in their eyes. A fifth worker, on a scaffolding just below, slowly raised his hand.
    The worker spoke. "I will go. This job is certain death."
    The Grell pointed to a pile of bodies on the not-too-distant elevator shaft floor.
    Before I could respond, two more Colossuns walked into the shaft. Again they stood motionless for nearly a minute before exiting.
    The Grell volunteer climbed up to my location. I was two meters out from their platform.
    I spoke. "Grab this short rope and pull me over. We will get you hooked up and then get you out of here."
    The Grell pulled, and I was soon cinching up his harness. I called back up to the others to pull us up. We quickly lifted off for the three-minute ride back to the top of the shaft.
    I spoke to the Grell. "How many Colossuns are down there? Give me your best guess."
    The Grell replied, "The garrison holds three thousand, but many of those are deployed to the mines. Before being assigned to repair the shaft, I saw several train cars arrive from one of the mines. I think they are bringing in every soldier they can spare."
    I continued, "Do you know what the cause of the damage was?"
    The Grell again replied, "We were not told, but I heard several explosions before the Colossuns came looking for me. It does not look like natural damage. Something was detonated there."
    I replied, "My name is Grange, by the way, Don Grange. What is yours?"
    The Grell spoke. "You are the one they call Grange? I have heard that one day you will deliver us to freedom!"
    I replied, "Well, I did say that. And we are here, but we will need the help of your people to do it."
    The Grell replied, "My name is Derpa Falla. I will help in any way I can."
    As we continued to ascend, a Colossun stepped into the shaft below. Again it stood silent for almost a minute. Then, the inevitable happened: the Colossuns figured out a way around our signal jammer.
    A cord was tossed out to the Colossun. The android picked up the cord and plugged it into a socket on its chest. Several seconds passed before the Colossun raised and lowered its right arm. The same feat was then conducted with its left. In a single move, the Colossun looked up and fired a single pulser shot in our direction. It missed.
    I called up to the Marines in the squad working the pulley. "Hey! Get us up and out of here; they have figured out a way around our jammer!"
    The pulses then came in rapid succession. Derpa began to cry out in fear. I reached back into my satchel and pulled a