Red to Fade

by Red to Fade (epub)

  Joel has created a roadblock on the Hawthorn Bridge with the eight jeeps. He got other agents to park a first group of four jeeps in a vertical line going across the bridge, and he also got more agents to park a second group of four jeeps behind the first group, in a vertical line going across the Hawthorn Bridge. Some of the agents get out of their jeeps and some remain inside, creating an attack formation.

  All agents are armed and ready to destroy anything that crosses their path.

  *

  Connor reverses quickly, turns the RBM around and accelerates fast, driving back down the Hawthorn Bridge away from the helicopter and the dead end of the bridge. The Apache helicopter chases after Connor, firing rockets and gun shells at the same time. Connor is swerving left and right to avoid them.

  BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Explosions from rockets and small booms of waste made by the bullets are chasing the RBM. Connor sees the roadblock and thinks to himself, This is it; it’s all over. The agents forming the roadblock open fire on Connor with 15-shooter handguns and machine gun/grenade launchers. Connor drives to the left in a diagonal position and breaks through the side barrier of the bridge with the RBM.

  As Connor breaks through the barrier, broken pieces of concrete go flying everywhere. The RBM and concrete pieces fall into the ocean. The RBM and the concrete pieces create huge splashes, as they hit the water. The agents run over to the side barrier of the bridge where Connor made his escape.

  They open fire down at the water. Their weapon rounds create little water explosions on the ocean’s surface. The RBM sinks underwater and finally reaches a solid surface. The Apache helicopter flies overhead, near to the place where Connor splashed into the water and opens fire on the water as well, shooting rockets and gun shells into the water. The rockets fired from the helicopter create giant water explosions as they go through the water, while the small metallic missiles fired create small ones.

  The rockets explode around the RBM underwater. Some of the bullets fired from the helicopter fly past. After a few minutes the helicopter stops firing and all of the agents stop as well. Connor is stuck inside the RBM, underwater. He’s thinking to himself, Maybe I’d be better off if I let them kill me. No water is getting inside the RBM. On the windscreen a hologram message appears saying Activate aqua mode. Connor looks at the message and thinks, Aqua mode? What the hell is that? I’ve never heard of that before.

  Connor says, “Computer, activate aqua mode.”

  The computer says, “Aqua mode activated.”

  In the base of the RBM are propellers. The propellers are now operational and make the RBM rise upwards. At the back of the RBM a cover opens and slides into the vehicle. Underneath the cover are more propellers that make the RBM move forward. Also, the wheels of the RBM turn sideways.

  The wheels have operational propellers that give the RBM extra power to rise up. Now that the wheels of the RBM have turned sideways it looks like the flying DeLorean from the Back to the Future movies. Inside the RBM a cover slides open beside the steering wheel. Underneath the cover are two levers. One of the levers is for acceleration and the other is for moving the RBM up and down underwater.

  Underneath the acceleration lever is a label that says accelerate, and above and underneath the other lever are labels that say up and down. Connor is able to drive the RBM underwater. He drives away from the Hawthorn Bridge. Connor can make the RBM move left and right with the steering wheel. On the dashboard there is a small LCD display that says OXYGEN 100%.

  There are oxygen tanks built into the RBM to give the driver and passenger’s air while they are driving underwater.

  Connor is relieved and says to himself, “Man, this is great. I didn’t know you could drive this thing underwater.”

  Dylan says, “Connor, are you there? Can you hear me?”

  Connor is surprised to hear Dylan’s voice. He says, “Yeah, I’m here. How the hell are you able to talk to me while I’m underwater?”

  Dylan replies, “What can I say? Clandarian technology – it’s the greatest technology in the universe. Are you injured?”

  Connor says, “No, I’m good.”

  Dylan says, “What are you going to do now?”

  Connor replies, “I’m going to try to get to the First Dome. I doubt I’m going to make it. That small war between me and the agents will be on every news station, every radio station and all over the internet.”

  Dylan says, “I might be able to plant a communication virus to prevent everyone from reporting the news.”

  Connor says, “How?”

  Dylan says, “CommDrone1; a Balaxian communication virus. Rumour has it that if the Clandarians and human beings ever went to war, the Balaxians would use this virus to disrupt or hack into our communication systems to hear what we are saying. The CommDrone1 is only meant to last for twenty-four hours. They have CommDrone2 as well, which disables communication systems for good, but I’m unable to get my hands on that virus; it’s top–secret.

  “The CommDrone1 virus will disrupt all communication systems like the internet, radio and TV, preventing broadcast journalists from reporting the news all over America. I’ll upload this virus and it’ll buy you some time. You might have between ten and sixteen hours before they destroy the virus; it all depends on how smart the IT guys are. If they find and destroy the CommDrone1 virus, I’ll see if I can upload another but to be quite honest I don’t think that will work the second time round because I reckon after they have found and destroyed the first virus, they’ll install a firewall protecting all communication equipment from the CommDrone1 virus.”

  Connor says, “Could you also get Gabrielle Hoffman’s phone number? She works in one of the Red 1 law enforcement precincts.”

  Dylan says, “Sure, no problem, why do you want Gabrielle’s number?”

  Connor answers, “The more recruits we have the better, and also she might be able to get me into the CSB-R1 base so that I can tell everyone there what’s happening.”

  Dylan says, “In order for us to keep in contact when you’re on Mars you’re going to need to buy a planet communicator. Our earpiece mics won’t work while you’re on the Red Planet.”

  A planet communicator is used to allow beings to talk to each other from planet to planet. It’s like a phone with a really highly advanced signal frequency. They have planet communication networks on Mars and on Earth. The planet communicator can also be used to make domestic and international calls.

  “I’ll give you the number of my planet communicator.”

  Connor says, “Hold on a second, I just need to get a notepad.”

  Connor takes out a small notepad from his inside pocket and says, “Computer accelerate.”

  The computer says, “Computer accelerate activated.”

  The RBM is now driving automatically.

  Connor says, “OK, give me your planet communicator number.”

  Dylan says, “The code and number is E.USA.LA.5678-9870-1432-4890.”

  Connor takes down the code and number and says, “I’ve got the number, thanks, man.”

  Dylan says, “I’m going to upload this virus now.”

  Dylan gets to work on his computer.

  Connor says, “Computer, activate city map.”

  A hologram of a map of LA appears in front of the windscreen.

  Connor says, “Computer, highlight all harbours.”

  On the map all of the harbours of LA are highlighted, with titles showing their names. Arlin Harbour is the harbour that is the furthest away from the Hawthorn Bridge.

  “Computer, go to Arlin Harbour.”

  The computer says, “Destination Arlin Harbour.”

  *

  Meanwhile, back on Hawthorn Bridge, Joel speaks to agent Dennis Crozier and says, “I want divers in there right away.” Joel points to where Connor landed. “I also want an APB put on this guy.”

  Dennis asks, “Do you really think he’s still alive?”

  Joel answers, “It’s possible. Those RBMs are real t
ough motherfuckers and they can drive underwater. I want a roadblock on every road that exits LA. I want some men in the LAX airport and in the LAPTS.”

  LAPTS is the Los Angeles planet transport station.

  “I want you to get as many men as you can to go to every train station and private airport in LA. Make sure you have a roadblock set up near the Mexican border. Also have some men in the PTS-R1 planet transport station.” Joel has some agents in the Big Rock already. “I need someone to watch the road that leads to the CSB-R1 base in the Glass Tomb; there’s a possibility he might go there. If he’s seen going to the CSB-R1 base, I want him killed on sight. Also I want you to track his cell phone and bank records. Have you got that?”

  Dennis says, “Yes, sir.”

  Joel isn’t wearing his Clandarian ear mic anymore and he’s carrying a cell phone and a planet communicator in his pockets. He pulls out his planet communicator from his trouser pocket and dials the number for Michael Gruber. Michael Gruber is an IT guy that works for Joel, and one of the smartest IT guys in the FBI. Joel puts the planet communicator close to his right ear. Michael is in the main server room of the FBI building when he hears his cell phone ring.

  Michael answers, “Hello?”

  Joel says, “Michael, it’s Joel here. Are you able to load the file tracker program to locate the R-1 file?”

  The file tracker program is a program that is used to locate downloaded files. If you had the file tracker program running and you typed the name of a file somebody downloaded into the file tracker, the program would show a Google-style map with a red dot. The red dot is the downloaded file. When the red dot is moving that means that the downloaded file is being moved physically, such as when a downloaded file is stored on a hard drive and somebody is moving around with the drive.

  Michael says, “No, not yet. Your men really did a number on the main server room. All the computers are fucked; it’s going to take a while to get them repaired and get the file tracker program running. I can only load the program from the main server room. Once the file tracker server program is up and running in the main server room you can connect to it in a wireless mode using a laptop with a file tracker application.”

  To connect to and use the file tracker in wireless mode with a laptop, the main file tracker server program needs to be running. The file tracker server program is installed into one of the servers in the main server room which have been damaged. File tracker won’t run on a wireless laptop if the server is down. File tracker is only used by the FBI; it’s a top secret program built by them.

  File tracker applications can only be installed on laptops if the laptops are connected to the server that’s running the file tracker server program. You can download file tracker applications onto laptops from the server. No backup copies have been made for the file tracker server program and it isn’t stored on any USB drives or DVDs. The only place where the file tracker server program is stored is in the server that’s damaged. The FBI LA branch is the only branch that has the file tracker server program.

  Joel says, “How long will it take you to get the file tracker up and running?”

  Michael says, “I don’t know, maybe eight or nine hours.”

  Joel says, “You call me when it’s up and running.”

  Michael says, “I will.”

  Joel hangs up the planet communicator and goes into an FBI jeep. Charles is in there, waiting for Joel; they’re going to go to LAPTS to head for the First Dome. The FBI have a personal transport ship in a hangar in LAPTS. Charles starts the jeep and sets off.

  Charles says to Joel, “If Connor is still alive do you really think he’ll go to Mars?”

  Joel says, “Connor is either going to try to show that file to somebody here or to somebody on the Red Planet. We need to have men in both places looking for him.”

  Joel’s planet communicator starts to ring. Joel answers, “Hello?”

  Vice President Eric Donald is riding along in a limousine with two other passengers and one driver in Washington DC. The two other passengers are National Security Advisor Richard Crosby and Military Chief of Staff Harold Turner. Eric and Richard are Caucasian and Harold is African-American. Harold is wearing a military uniform. Eric and Richard are wearing suits, shirts and ties. Eric Donald’s goal in life is to have the most power and the most money.

  Vice President Eric Donald is on the phone with Joel. He says in a panic, “I’ve just heard about a shooting in your building. What the fuck is going on?”

  Joel answers, “An agent called Connor Harper has downloaded the R-1 file.”

  Eric says, “Shit. Find that son of a bitch and kill him. After you kill him, we’ll wait for a while to let things quieten down and we’ll find out what the slugs know about us. After about six months, when things might have quietened down and the Clandarians don’t have a clue what we’re going to do, then we’ll go to the Big Rock to carry out our mission.”

  Joel says, “Sir, we need to go to the Glass Tomb tonight. If Connor shows the file to morphians in the CSB-R1 base they will find out about Space Drill.”

  Space Drill is a top-secret missile weapons facility somewhere in the Nevada Desert. Only a certain number of government workers know about Space Drill. Space Drill missiles are designed to launch and attack the Balaxian ships in space. The facility was originally designed for protection in case the inhabitants of Balaxia ever attacked Earth with rockets from their battle spaceships.

  Eric says, “How do you know that Harper will go to the CSB-R1 base with the file?”

  Joel says, “It’s possible that Connor might have been working with Carlton Jones, Ryan Clarke and Tom Rogan. We know that those 3 dead assholes know about the R-1 file and the CSB-R1 base. Harper might know what they know. If I were Connor I would go to the base with the file. The Clandarians could find out where Space Drill is and they could launch an attack on it before we attack them. If they attack Space Drill we haven’t a hope in hell of defeating them. We need to attack them as soon as possible. Send the RBMs to the First Dome right now and I’ll get you your DC file.”

  Eric says, “It’s too risky; if we kill Connor before that file gets out in the open then I’ll send the RBMs to the Red Planet. If that file gets into the media we’ll have to abort this mission completely.”

  Joel says, “Don’t worry about the file going public; there is no mention of anybody’s name on it. All it contains are maps and diagrams of the CSB-R1 base and Balaxian equipment. There is an auto-erase rule on the file; if somebody opens the R-1 file from any other computer except the computer in the main server room of the FBI LA branch, the file will automatically delete itself in five minutes and if somebody’s made copies they will delete at the exact same time as the original file.

  “I have also created a print rule for the file. Whoever opens the file will be unable to print it. If Connor tells morphians at the CSB-R1 base about our mission and we’re questioned about our mission by Clandarian authorities we can just deny everything. It’s one man’s word against ours. We don’t want the Balaxians to see the R-1 file and find out what we’re going to do because we don’t want them to be prepared for us when we attack them.

  “My main concern is the Space Drill station being destroyed by the slugs. If the Balaxians find out about Space Drill, the chances are they won’t attack us; they might try to contact the president for a discussion about Space Drill, or they could try to find Space Drill and blow it away as soon as possible. I don’t think that we should leave things to chance. I think that the slugs will only attack us if we attack them first, but if they know where Space Drill is and Space Drill launches a missile attack against them they’ll know where the missile attack is coming from and they’ll be prepared to defend themselves.

  “Like I’ve said before, if they find and destroy Space Drill, it’s game over. If Space Drill is destroyed, the glacitone and RB-7 equipment will be destroyed along with the missiles used to destroy the Balaxian ships. Send us the RBMs.”

&
nbsp; Joel is using Connor as an excuse to attack the base because he wants to download the DC file, give the file to Eric and get paid handsomely as soon as possible.

  There is silence for a minute. Eric takes a few moments to stop and think about what decision he should make.

  After a minute he says, “Right, OK, I’ll arrange for a USGTS ship to drop off the RBMs on Mars.”

  USGTS is a United States Government Transport Ship. USGTS ships are used to transport weapons and IT technology from the Clandarian spaceships and the glacitone domes to America. They are also used to transport equipment from America to the ships and domes. Inhabitants of Balaxia helped to build the USGTS ships, so USGTS ships have some Balaxian technology. The American government has its own private planet transport station in Washington DC so that USGTS ships can land and take off to export and import equipment.

  The USGTS ships are slow compared to the planet transport passenger ships. A passenger ship can get you to Mars in five hours, while a USGTS ship takes thirty-seven hours. The USGTS ship has to travel at a slow speed because of the cargo. One time they did try to make the USGTS ships move as fast as a planet transport passenger ship while laden with large cargos; it was a disaster as the g-force made the cargo smash through the transport equipment doors and everybody was sucked out of the ship.

  The ship ended up flying into outer space with nobody onboard. Because of that disaster the USGTS ships always travel at a slow speed. When RBMs are being transported to Earth the USGTS ship lands inside a Clandarian ship and the RBMs are moved from there onto the USGTS ship. Clandarian law states that the USGTS ships are never allowed to collect RBMs from any of the glacitone domes. The reason for this law is for safety, so that no RBM can be used by a group of individuals inside any of the glacitone domes. The law also states that the officers who are working for the Clandarian military are the only soldiers authorised to drive the RBMs in any of the glacitone domes.