“Not many, they hold Iron Man runs up the peak every now and then. The air’s pretty thin at the top, if you’re thinking of trying to hoof it. It takes a day or so for your body to acclimate, so that’s out,” Silas replied. “Let’s just go on to the top and see what our options are.”
They drove the eleven miles from Colorado Springs to the access road going to the top of the mountain. On the way up Silas advised them to consciously breath deeper.
“On my first trip here, I had rented a car at the airport and I had time to check out the sites. I drove up the mountain and parked in the lot. I got out of the car and didn’t even know I blacked out. Next thing I knew I was crouched down by the rear bumper of the car not knowing what the hell happened. Once I got enough oxygen to my brain, I realized what went on. I was young enough that the only thing I was concerned with was whether or not someone had seen me nearly pass out,” he said laughing.
Aidan chuckled, “I can see that.”
When they reached the top of the mountain, Silas pulled into a parking space on the edge of the lot as they carefully got out of the car, everyone breathing deeply. Silas strolled to the edge of the graded surface and looked over the edge at the slope below. There were numerous large boulders where they could conceal their bags. Aidan climbed down while Silas and Valerie hustled the bags out of the car, looking around to make sure no one was paying them any attention.
Aidan found a crevasse deep enough for the bags to fit and catching each bag as Silas tossed it down to him, he packed several larger rocks in front of the fabric to hide them. Then he carefully scrambled back up to where the others waited. Once they brushed the sand and dust off Aidan, they made their way to the tourist center. Along the way, Valerie pointed out the bike trail sign. Inside, they spread out looking for somewhere they could hide out after closing hours. They met back at the café to get something to eat and plan out their next step.
“We could take a hike down the bike path to see if there’s someplace we can hide. They probably send a ranger down the path to make sure there’s no one stranded. So we have to be well concealed,” Valerie said.
“Otherwise, we have to climb down where I hid the bags,” added Aidan.
“I only have another hour until I have to leave. I’ll help you as much as I can,” cautioned Silas.
After looking all around the perimeter of the mountaintop tourist center, they found a pile of rubble where they could not be seen from above or the road down the mountain. After saying their goodbyes to Silas, they settled in, pulling a thermal blanket from the backpack, wrapped up and snuggling together.
On the way home, Silas called ahead and let Constance know Aidan and Valerie were on the mountain. She logged on to the laser system and sent the message, receiving an immediate acknowledgment as she wished the pair Godspeed in her thoughts.
* * *
“Excuse me. I have received notification that Ms. Wyatt and Mr. Marshall are safely concealed at the top of Pikes Peak,” the A.I. informed the crew.
“Thank you, G2,” Ellison replied.
“So now we wait. Anyone have any last-minute thoughts?” Stirling asked.
“Nothing I didn’t mention already about not having spacesuits to fit them,” replied Lucius. “Other than that, we’ve covered everything we could come up with.”
The rest just shook their heads.
“Maybe you could be ready to cook up something for them, Lucius. They’ll be cooling their heels on that mountain for the next six hours,” said Lamont. “As for the suits, the other jumpers will be taking up rear guard even before we leave the atmosphere. And you two can wait just outside the hanger door and be ready to flood the hanger with oxygen if needed, just in case something does happen.”
“Good enough. I’m going to get some rest; I advise the rest of you do so as well. It’s going to be a long night,” Stirling said.
With ninety minutes to go until pickup, the three shuttle crews suited up and did their final inspection of their ships. When it was an hour short of pickup, the crews sealed themselves in their jumpers and awaited Lucius’ opening the hanger door from the Ops deck. Once they were out in space, all three shuttles rocketed toward Earth.
* * *
President Wilcox was in the residence reading, when a secret service agent knocked and entered.
“Madam President, it appears that three of the colonists’ spacecraft are inbound. You are requested to adjourn to the P.E.O.C. so that you can observe the tactical situation.”
“Oh, very good! That was so well put, you guys are going to have to be commended at how carefully I’ve just been ordered into the bunker!” she said sliding her feet into her slippers and getting up to follow the agent. Once downstairs, she saw that the spacecraft were just minutes away from the surface of the planet.
“Colonel, can you determine their destination?”
“Not yet, Ma’am. Currently they’re over the Atlantic, coming in toward the east coast. They’re descending rapidly, I’m switching to topographical display,” he said.
The screen changed to the world map with the icons for the ships angling toward Washington, as Wilcox watched the DEFCON indicator changed from five to three.
“Colonel, need I remind you that we are to take no aggressive posture toward those ships. We are to observe, shadow them, but do not engage,” Wilcox said.
“Of course, Madam President. Your standing orders will be obeyed.”
“Let me make on additional order that I want passed along immediately. If any of our birds fire on those ships, I want that aircraft immediately shot down. Is that understood?”
“Yes, Ma’am,” he replied, then relayed the order to Strategic Command and General Boise, having to repeat himself twice before the order was “understood.”
The ships slowed to Mach 1, as they passed over Washington, then headed west over the center of the country, flying in tight formation, being shadowed by air force fighters on either side, five miles away. Many of the military analysts who trickled into the bunker wondered if the pilots were trying to provoke a reaction from the fighters.
As the spacecraft flew over the Mississippi River, they descended to fifteen thousand feet, continuing westward. Everyone in the bunker watched as they flew over Missouri without incident. It wasn’t long until they entered Kansas airspace, picking up a new, fully fueled tactical fighter escort shadowing their flight. When the flight began to fly over Colorado, the formation slowed as they approached Cheyenne Mountain, putting the entire military on high alert. General Boise brought the Armed Forces to DEFCON 2 and ordered additional fighters into the air, cautioning everyone to remain “weapons cold” in the sky until ordered otherwise.
As the display zoomed in on Colorado, they could see the spacecraft bypass Cheyenne Mountain and continue toward Colorado Springs. As they approached Pikes Peak, the spacecraft broke formation with two ships beginning to circulate twenty miles out from the famous mountain in the middle. One spacecraft remained several hundred feet above the top of the mountain for a few moments, then dropped where the tactical overlay showed the main parking lot for the tourist attraction, then the ship disappeared.
“Madam President, they must have landed because Shelter 14 cannot see their gravitational drive,” the Colonel announced.
Seconds later the drive came back on, then the ship lifted into the air. The other two ships quickly flew to flank the ship rising into the upper atmosphere, then they all accelerated straight up into space. The DEFCON indicator dropped from 2 to 4, reducing the nation’s military posture, allowing the airborne fighters to stand down.
President Wilcox listened as the Colonel dispatched a dozen helicopters with infrared search capability and a squad of airmen to Pikes Peak to search for anyone hanging about. He also called local law enforcement to seal off all the entrances, bike, and walking trails around the park.
“Well that was exciting. I guess now we know why the station was beaming a
signal to the middle of the country. What we don’t know was whether that ship picked up someone they had stationed on the ground or if they picked up some new recruits for the cause,” Wilcox said sarcastically.
“It will be interesting to see if communication from the station resumes or not,” said the Colonel.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I’m going back to bed. I doubt there will be any more excitement tonight. Let me know if you find someone of interest in the Colorado Springs area, otherwise it’ll keep ‘til morning. Good night,” she said heading for the elevator, Secret Service agent in tow.
* * *
“Four minutes until we’re in atmo,” Stirling announced.
“We’re coming in north of D.C.,” Brock said.
“Got it,” said Stirling, turning south as the other two jumpers followed.
“We must have everyone awake down there,” Lamont said as they overflew Washington.
“G2 says they’re scrambling fighters. Everyone on their toes,” Stirling said, reading from his console. “Slowing to Mach 1, let’s tighten up formation.
“I’ve got Colorado Springs dead ahead, skipper,” radioed Jonathan from the other guard jumper.
“Okay, everyone relax. We have over half of the country to cross. What are those fighters doing?” Stirling inquired.
“Still sticking five miles away, flying parallel. No aggressive posture present. They look like they just want to keep an eye on us,” said Brock, glued to the radar display.
“We being hit with any targeting radar?” asked Stirling.
“Just some brushes with commercial airport radar, some very weak splashes from other aircraft, but no military or targeting signals. They must be tracking us with that underground gravity detector because the air is clear. Coming up on the Mississippi River in thirty-nine minutes,” Brock reported.
“Thanks, Brock.”
They flew on in silence, keeping their speed down to prevent shattering windows and waking everyone. On they flew, overflying Missouri, then Kansas. As they approached the Kansas, Colorado border, everyone tightened up, hyper-alert for every reading on their various consoles.
“Coming up on Pikes Peak. I’m easing our course slightly away from NORAD, no sense in making anyone nervous. Here we are. Ellison and I are going on guard. Godspeed picking up our folks.”
Brock piloted the jumper over the top of the mountain where they could see the tourist facility.
“Hey, look!” Lamont said. “Someone laid out what looks like one of those space blankets in the parking lot. Set her down next to it,” he said, unbuckling from his seat and going to the airlock door.
“Five seconds,” Brock announced.
When he felt the bump of the skids hitting the ground, Lamont triggered the airlock override to allow both doors to open at once. He leaned out, scanning the empty parking lot. Off toward the dimly lit tourist center two people were hurrying toward the jumper carrying several bags and a hiker’s backpack.
“Over here,” he shouted, waving his hand. One was a man, the other a woman, the man stopping briefly to pick up the shiny material on the ground being held down by rocks. When they arrived at the airlock, he asked, “Names please?”
The man replied, “Gracie and Allen.”
“Climb aboard,” said Lamont, grabbing the bags and tossing them inside, then triggering the airlock to close as soon as they were all in. He then led them to the seats behind his and Brock’s and buckled them in.
“Go,” he said once he was strapped into his own seat.
“Passengers are inside and secured, let’s get the hell out of here,” Brock radioed to the other jumpers.
The jumper climbed straight into the sky, surprising the two passengers when there was no sensation of movement.
Lamont caught the surprise in their faces, “Yep, no inertia. Next week we’re starting work on bigger on the inside. I’m Lamont and that’s Brock. We’ll be at the station in just a few minutes. If you can hold your questions until we’re inside, they’ll all be answered when we’re secured.”
“Sure,” Aidan replied.
The jumpers quickly traveled to the station and circled around to the far side. Everyone watched as the hanger door opened, then all three jumpers entered and parked. The door started closing, and once it sealed, the air was pumped back in. Brock and Lamont unstrapped from their seats and helped Aidan and Valerie unbelt and rise from their seats, then led them to the airlock.
“Leave the bags, I’ll get them,” said Lamont as Brock triggered the airlock override, opening both doors.
Aidan exited first, then handed Valerie down to the deck to meet an older man and a younger looking woman. No one spoke for a few moments, letting Aidan and Valerie catch a breath and get their bearings. Then Aidan and Valerie approached. The man shook Aidan’s hand, “Mr. Marshall, my name is Lucius Walker and this is my esteemed colleague, Sydney Atkins. We’re the official recruiters for our community, and based upon your background check and credit score, we would like to invite you and a plus one to join our colony out by the asteroid belt. Would tomorrow be too soon for you to depart?”
Constance and Silas remained logged into the laser’s computer until they received notification that Aidan and Valerie arrived safely. Receiving word of their safe arrival was bittersweet, even though they wished the young couple Godspeed in their life ahead.
As for Aidan and Valerie, their excited questioning didn’t wear off for hours. When Lucius directed the station’s artificial intelligence to notify the colony that their population had just increase by two new community members, his conversation with G2 set off a fresh spate of questions about the nature of the A.I.
Finally, Lucius suggested the couple try to get some sleep as they would be leaving for the colony the next day, which did absolutely nothing to abate the excitement Aidan and Valerie felt.
The colony’s council, and those who knew about the new recruits, were excited about their being safely spirited off Earth. It gave them hope that it was quite possible to acquire new blood for their community, although the exact method would wait for further refinement; no one expected the task of getting several hundred new recruits into space to be at all easy.
There were so many people looking forward to gathering Earth’s unique resource, more African Americans, to fill out the colony’s community.
Just this once, Christopher allowed himself a feeling of hope about the future that he so often denied himself.
The saga continues in:
Enmity: Volume 2 of the Archangel-X Trilogy
Enjoy this sneak preview of what’s to come.
In The Year 2525
“A DeFacto state of war exists between the United States of America and the solar system’s only space-based civilization, a mere handful of American blacks.
“Those African Americans had initially immigrated to the moon, in secret, several years before Neil Armstrong made his erroneous pronouncement stepping off NASA’s primitive lunar lander. A community of blacks had already made their home under the surface of the backside of the moon, ferrying everything needed to tunnel under the lunar surface and equip a self-contained, full-time habitat on Earth’s nearest neighbor.
“No one on Earth was the wiser while equipment and close to two thousand of the Earth’s best and brightest blacks were spirited to the moon. Then, things turned ugly.
“The United States Military sent an armed mission to the moon to beg, borrow or steal one of the colony’s spacecraft at gunpoint, leading to the colonists uprooting their underground community from under the lunar surface and sending it into deep space.
“In the chronicles of the colony, the transgressions Earth perpetuated on them merely because the population was exclusively black and possessing technologies unknown to Earth were legion. The colony fought back to devastating, but carefully targeted effect, merely trying to get Earth to leave them be, but the most recent interaction was the last straw.
“What do you think?” Lola asked Lucius and Sydney, the colony’s former recruiters, when she finished reading her introduction.
Lucius pursed his lips going over the introduction again, while Sydney made a couple quick notes on her datapad. “I like it,” he said. “It’s a great intro to the chapter on this expansion phase of our community.”
“What about you, Syd?” she asked.
“I agree with Lucius. Since you’re writing these in yearly almanacs, a brief intro of what immediately went before is entirely appropriate, necessary even,” Sydney replied.
“I would like to run something past the two of you,” said Lola.
“What’s that, dear?” Sydney inquired.
“Well . . ..”
“Go on. We’re both interested in anything you think is noteworthy,” said Lucius.
Lola paused a moment, “What do you think about publishing an abridged version on Earth, perhaps a version with no names so we don’t give away who specifically here is doing what?”
Lucius laughed uproariously, tears in his eyes with Sydney and Lola waiting to find out what was so funny. When he could catch his breath, he said, “You really want to rub it in, don’t you!”
“What? I don’t get it,” Lola said looking at Sydney to see if the older woman understood what Lucius meant, getting a shrug in wordless reply.
Lucius grinned, “You think they envy us now? What do you think would happen if they knew the actual history of our community?” He paused. “They hate and envy us now, have been since they discovered us on the moon. Christopher coming to liberate Julius and me from FBI custody didn’t help, sitting over the White House ignoring everything shot at him just made them covet our ships even more. And the destruction of the Pentagon had to have shocked the living daylights out of them, further enraging them to no end.”
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