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Chapter 49

 "How much longer until you are ready to activate the transmitter?" Taavi asked.  Manuel didn't seem to notice that Taavi was addressing him.  "Manuel!"  Taavi said raising his voice enough for it to be overheard though out the room.

Manuel didn't look up from the computer, but did respond to Taavi.  "It will be ready to transmit in under five minutes."

Taavi redirected his attention back to his DNAC.  "Make it two minutes, we have a Goliath approaching transmitter number seven."

Manuel once again showed no indication that he heard Taavi.  However several others in the room shifted in their seats with the news of the incoming creature.  Apparently while Logan was absent someone had decided to start calling the large creatures Goliaths.

Logan remembered that Goliath was a giant mentioned in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.  Later the name changed to also include the description of something very large.  For the most part describing something as goliath usually referred to something manmade.  Ocean going vessels were among the first things described this way.  Now the most common thing described as goliath were large space ships used to transport cargo between different stations.

"Manuel, the Goliath will be on the transmitter in less than a minute," Taavi said with a little irritation.

Manuel stopped typing on the computer and turned to address Taavi.  "I will be ready in about two minutes."  He paused to take a breath for emphasis, "longer if you keep interrupting me."

They were far from the transmitter, but there was still an air of danger present in the room.  Manuel and Taavi's abrasive conversation was doing nothing to calm the mood.  A few people shifted in their seats once again.

Taavi entered a command into his DNAC and a view of transmitter seven came on screen to a large monitor on the wall of the room.  The image was a bird's eye view and must have been from the drone.  The transmitter was clearly marked, highlighted in orange.  Roughly a hundred meters away there was a large object highlighted in red moving towards the orange transmitter, this was the Goliath.  The Goliath wasn't headed directly for the transmitter.  It's path would take it close, but fifteen meters off to the side.

Taavi was becoming visibly agitated.  He began to pace back and forth in the room entering commands into his DNAC.  Manuel continued working on his computer, adjusting the program he was writing.

On the monitor the Goliath began to slow it's speed and then began to zigzag slightly as it continued to close the distance to the transmitter.  The frequent changing of direction gave Logan the impression that the Goliath was looking for something.  That something was most likely the electrical signal given off by the transmitter.

Twenty meters from the transmitter the Goliath stopped.  It paused for a moment, and then moved slowly in circumference about thirty degrees around the transmitter, where it stopped once again.

"Manuel," Taavi was now mad, "we are running out of time."

The Goliath took a step forward, paused, and then moved toward the transmitter.

 Taavi turned to say something to Manuel, but never had the chance.

"Got it," Manuel casually said.

The Goliath came to a dead stop one meter from the transmitter.  It only hesitated for a moment before it began to swing it's arms franticly in search of it's irritation.  The longer the electrical signal was transmitter the more erratic the movements of the Goliath became.  It was obviously very disoriented, and even from this angle, in obvious pain.

Out of the corner of Logan's eye, he vaguely registered that Manuel was once again working on the computer.  With most of his attention on the monitor, Logan didn't give any thought as to what Manuel would be doing.  Taavi on the other hand closed the distance to Manuel and pulled him away from the computer.

"No," Taavi ordered Manuel.  "I need to see how this plays out."

"But... but the Goliath," Manuel stammered.  "The Goliath is in pain, I need to stop the transmission."

"This Goliath," Taavi said gesturing at the monitor "is a danger to this team.  In order to keep you safe, I need to know how to deal with them.  I will not slaughter the Goliaths, but the sacrifice of just one will..."

"Sir," Gantulga interrupted.

Taavi turned ready to unleash furry for having been interrupted.  However, before he managed to say anything he noticed the large monitor on the wall.  The Goliath was laying on it's side, convulsing.  The orange highlight of the transmitter was no longer there.  The Goliath had found the transmitter and in it's rage destroyed it.  Once destroyed, the bombardment of the electrical signal stopped.

Taavi turned back to Manuel.  "How will this signal affect us?"

Manuel didn't respond, he simply stared at the twitching form on the monitor.

"Manuel!"  Taavi yelled pulling Manuel back into reality.  "How will this affect us?  Will it harm us?"

"I, um..." Manuel said trying to pull himself together.  "Uh, nausea, vertigo, and potentially any number of any other side effects."

"Doctor," Taavi said, this time much quieter with a little venom in his voice.  "Will it harm us?"

It took Manuel a full thirty seconds before he understood what Taavi was asking.  "If transmitted near a human, the results would be unpleasant, but there should be no lasting affects."

"Good," Taavi said.  "I want every mech suit equipped with the ability to transmit."

"But Sir," Manuel protested, "the Goliath.  I can't... I don't."  Manuel stopped talking.  Words were failing him so he simply pleaded with his eyes.

"It's just a precaution, Manuel.  I don't want to kill any more of the Goliaths.  But I do want a way to defend ourselves against them if needs be.  Josh and Suke will help you on this project."

Taavi paused to allow his command to sink in.  Manuel showed no sign that he was listening.  "Manuel," he began again, "as a matter of team safety, I order you to retrofit the mechs to transmit your signal."

The adam's apple bobbed dramatically on Manuel's throat as he swallowed hard.  He managed a simple nod, and then turned to head out of the common room.  He now had no choice, disobeying a direct order would mean a trial.  A trial he had no way of winning.  All he could do now was retrofit the mech's.  That, and attempt to hold back the screaming rage and panic that was attempting to claw it's way out of his mind.