by Jan Domagala
“Intriguing; a post mortem interrogation,” Randolph said finally looking up and smiling. Turning his gaze to the blown-apart head of Temic he said, “Well, my boy, you don’t seem to have left me much to work with.”
“It was a split second decision, I had to save a woman’s life,” Hawk explained earning a different sort of look from the ME; this one had a little more respect in it.
“I’ll see what I can do,” he said and set to work closely examining the blasted head of the soldier.
“We need the NI to see what we can learn from it. It may have valuable data stored which we can extract hopefully leading us to the whereabouts of Captain Stryder,” Hawk said. He went on to say, “So we need to know what you can do as soon as possible. Do me a favour Doc, report your findings directly to me, no one else, okay?”
Randolph looked up at him not sure what he meant by his request, but decided it was none of his business and said, “Sure, I’ll get right on it.”
“Top priority, Doc. I’ll take full responsibility so you need not worry about any flak that might come your way, I’ve got your back on this one.”
Randolph looked up again and when he saw the expression on the big man’s face he knew this was important.
“Okay, as soon as I get anything I’ll contact you,” he said with a new sense of urgency.
“Be quick Doc, but no mistakes, this is far too important. I’ll be close by, just got to report in.” Hawk left the room.
As he strode away he contacted Gemmell through a secure comm channel.
“Sir, the body is in the morgue,” he said once the connection had been made.
“Okay Matt, well done. It’s a pity that it worked out the way it did, we could really have used a break on this one,” Gemmell replied.
“It’s not over yet, sir,” Hawk said cryptically.
“What do you mean, Captain?”
“Sir, I have a plan that needs your approval for it to go ahead. There may be a chance that we can pull something out of this,” Hawk said.
“Then you’d better come to my office right away,” Gemmell replied, intrigued by what Hawk had to say.
“Am on my way sir, be there in five.” Hawk closed the connection. He was taking a gamble of that much he was sure. Having shot the Alliance soldier in the head, the only possible target presented to him at the time, he knew he was screwed. As soon as the body hit the floor his mind had begun to formulate a plan. It was tricky and dangerous and it all hinged on the fact that the one detail enabling the rest of the dangerous plan to go forward was locked inside the head of a dead soldier.
Gemmell was waiting for his arrival in his office and the moment Hawk entered he looked up and said, “So what’s this plan then?”
“I’ve asked the ME to extract the NI and pass it over to me. With a little luck I’m hoping to access the memory of the device and see if there’s anything pertaining to the whereabouts of Captain Stryder. There may be something in there that we can use, call log records, data about the mission. Once we have that we could plan a covert mission.”
“Whoa, hold on there, how do you plan on doing that?” Gemmell asked.
“Once we have the whereabouts we put together a small team of Recon Delta people who are aware of Captain Stryder and his situation. We go in using a craft that the Alliance wouldn’t suspect, something that can travel between the two zones of space with impunity, such as a freighter. We go in under cover and get him out.”
“It sounds easy but there are quite a few details missing from your plan, Captain.”
“I know, sir, but we can flesh them out en route to the destination once we have its location.”
“So you intend to lead this mission?”
“I volunteer for it, sir. I would like to see this thing through to the end,” Hawk said with conviction.
“What about the team? Have you any ideas who you’d pick?” Gemmell asked.
“I looked into the report from Research Station Five, sir, and there was a Recon Delta team heavily involved in the proceedings which was led by Captain Storm. I think his team would be the best as they already know Stryder and are familiar with the situation on Research Station Five. By all accounts Storm and Stryder became friends so the motivation is all there. I’m not sure of their location but I’m sure we can get them ready to go in time, sir.”
“Okay, it seems like you have thought this through. I suggest you pitch it to General Sinclair. He’s on Celeron, from where Stryder was snatched. If I’m not mistaken Captain Storm is there too. I suggest you make it a secure channel though,” Gemmell said.
“Thank you, sir, I will straight away,” Hawk said as he turned to leave the office.
“Captain, keep me informed of your progress,” Gemmell said halting Hawk in his tracks.
Turning to face his commanding officer he said, “Of course, sir, it goes without saying.”
“Well, I’m just saying, okay? I don’t want anyone doing an end run around me so they can grab some extra glory for themselves,” Gemmell said.
“This isn’t about glory, sir; it’s about getting two Recon Delta Marines home safe and sound,” Hawk replied.
“Good man, let’s just keep the focus on that then. There is a bigger picture here we have to be aware of and that’s the interest the Alliance has in Captain Stryder. It makes him a very valuable commodity and one we must not allow to fall into their hands. Although they have him now I will do everything in my power to recapture him and I expect the same commitment from everyone under my command.”
“You have it, sir.”
“Good, dismissed,” Gemmell said ending the interview.
Hawk left and went straight back to his own office where he could make the secure call to General Sinclair about his proposal. Once he had done that he would return to the morgue to see what progress the ME had made on retrieving the NI from the dead soldier. But first things first, he had a call to make.
STRYDER CAME TO A DOOR and opening it went in dragging Hardy with him.
“What the hell are you doing?” she asked angrily, as his fingers bit into the flesh at her collar.
She looked around the small room; it had shelves across the rear wall and down one side filled to capacity with cleaning products.
“This is a janitor’s closet, what the hell are we doing in here when we’re supposed to be finding our way out?” she asked, standing in front of him her fear and anger making her confrontational.
Smiling at her he said, “Quieten down for a sec.”
She didn’t know what to say for a moment then he went on with, “This place is still crawling with guards and unless you want to stand up against odds that we just can’t fight, then we need another way out of here.”
“Okay that makes sense,” she admitted.
“I’ve learned that I can communicate with the central computer,” he revealed. She looked at him askance, not sure what to make of that comment.
“Don’t ask me how, but I know what the computer is doing and can actually communicate with it,” he said.
“Don’t worry, I wasn’t going to,” she said, then asked, “Do you mean you can talk to it?”
“Yes, I know everything that’s happening inside this base but so far I’ve had to keep myself hidden or the security protocols will initiate and I’ll be locked out. Actually, I’m not sure if it could lock me out but I’m not gonna take that chance, don’t know what it would do to me.”
“Can you give it commands?” she asked.
“I think so, would have to be subtle so as not to instigate any anti-threat measures against me. I have been thinking which would be the best diversion to use that would cause maximum confusion to help us get out of here,” he said thinking out loud.
“Fire,” she said simply as if it was the most obvious thing.
“You’re right, that would open up all the fire exits and an evacuation would have to take place which we could use to our advantage,” he said. He turned away from her and conc
entrated on placing a command into the central core computer that would fool it into thinking a fire had broken out in a vital location, one that had to be protected at all costs. Then the rest of the building would have to be evacuated for the safety of the inhabitants.
After a moment’s thought he had the ideal location.
THE FIRE ALARM RIPPED through the building as an automated warning was sounded, urging everyone to stop what they were doing immediately and vacate through the nearest exit.
GENERAL SOLON WAS JUST approaching his office when he heard the alarm. Swiftly he called security to see where the fire had broken out.
When he was informed where it was he screamed at the top of his lungs and ran from his office.
Within seconds he was outside the main lab. He could see through the Plexiglas walls that everyone was still trapped inside and that all the doors were locked to seal in the occupants and research materials from the impending blaze, except there was no fire.
Grabbing an assault rifle from the nearest guard he opened fire on the first lock. With the rifle on full power and at point blank range, all the energy from the pulsed plasma bolts struck the lock blasting it to pieces. The door slid open and he stood in the doorway.
“They’ll be looking to leave the building along with the normal personnel through one of the fire exits. Get someone on the security monitors checking everyone. I want them found!” he shouted at the Marines inside the lab. The five test subjects led by Captain Anders had already left but there were still a few Marines guarding the lab.
Solon turned to the lab tech in charge and said, “Continue working, we’ll soon get this situation under control. I want that serum ready to ship out to other Alliance bases as soon as possible. No excuses, is that clear?”
All the lab tech could do was nod his head in abject fear.
Solon turned on his heel and marched back towards his office. Changing his mind, he headed instead towards the security centre where the situation could be monitored more fully.
STRYDER AND HARDY WERE still in the janitor’s closet when the alarm went off.
“We’ll give it a few moments to let the chaos build before we join in and get the hell out,” Stryder said, a look of concern on his face.
“What?” Hardy asked, reading from his expression anxiety about something other than the present situation.
“I’m getting something from the computer. I’m reading some reports that have been logged in from the lab area. They’ve manufactured a serum and administered it to five soldiers and are in the process of manufacturing it in large quantities,” he said as the look of concern grew into one of deep resignation. He knew what he had to do and his escape plan had just been put on hold.
Hardy saw his expression change and knew what was coming.
“We’re not going are we?” she said.
“I can’t allow them to make more serum. I have to destroy it,” he said with finality in his voice. His expression told her that he meant business. He had his game face on and was as determined as she’d ever seen him.
“What do you intend doing?” she asked.
“We have to get back to that lab and destroy all the samples of the serum, and to do that we need another diversion to draw all the guards away from that area,” he replied. He went silent as his mind raced, analysing the problem he’d just outlined.
“Whatever you choose we’d better do it quickly, because considering what’s already happened, their security will be on high alert. If we don’t do something fast, we won’t be leaving this place at all,” she replied.
He looked her straight in the eye and said, “So be it. That serum is not leaving this place while I’m alive.” She knew from his expression that he was determined, that if necessary would commit his life to the task ahead and he expected the same commitment from her.
Thoughts ran through her mind then, thoughts of her future, her career, raising a family, seeing more of the galaxy, becoming someone people could look up to and leaving her mark on the history of the Confederation. In that instant she knew that it could all end right here, right now. None of her dreams could come to pass except perhaps the very last. She would indeed leave her mark on the history of the Confederation but it would be an invisible one. These missions are invariably unreported in the annals of history but rather left to the vaults of secrecy.
First and foremost she was a Marine and upon taking the oath she realised that at any moment, in any mission, her life could be forfeit. It seemed to her that time could be now.
With the final resignation that comes with the knowledge that this is it, this has to be done, no matter the cost, she responded with a nod of her head.
“Okay, let’s do this,” she said and he knew he could count on her.
NORSKY HAD NO IDEA where Stryder and Hardy would be, especially as the alarm had been raised. The base was in lockdown and they couldn’t make it to any of the exits. One thing was certain, when he found Stryder he was in for a fight. It still worried him, the power of the man and how he’d taken care of him so quickly and easily.
As he was searching for him another idea was circulating inside his brain, one that could give him the edge or at least a fighting chance when he came into contact with Stryder. When he heard the fire alarm raised and learned of the location, the idea turned into a last minute solution, a desperate one but a solution nonetheless.
Stopping in his tracks he turned and headed for the main lab.
STRYDER AND HARDY WERE about to leave the janitor’s closet when he glanced up towards the ceiling.
“What?” asked Hardy when she saw where his gaze was focused? Right above their heads was a vent in the ceiling giving access to the shafts connected to the life support system.
“If we can fit inside there we can travel through this complex without them knowing where we are, straight to the main lab,” Stryder said.
“Okay, let’s do it, it’s gotta be better than running around out there getting shot at by every guard in this damn place,” Hardy replied, as she gauged the size of the opening hoping that the ducts behind the vent were large enough for them to crawl through.
Finding something to stand on he reached up and pulled the vent out of its recess with considerable ease then passed it down to Hardy. Within a few seconds he had pulled himself up and into the hole. Looking down and smiling he said, “Grab my hands and I’ll pull you up,” as he reached down towards her with both arms outstretched.
She joined him inside the vent amazed at how easily he had pulled her up. “Which direction?” she asked, a little disoriented in their new surroundings.
“That way,” he indicated with a nod of his head.
“How can you be so sure?”
“I don’t really know but it’s like I’ve got a GPS fix and I know exactly to the inch where everything is inside this whole complex. Don’t ask me how and I’m not even gonna try and think about it, just going to go with the flow and be thankful it works,” he replied.
She smiled and said, “Okay, after you then.”
NORSKY REACHED THE main lab just as General Solon was leaving. Watching him turn the opposite corner he waited until he was out of sight then entered the lab.
The three Marines who had been ordered to remain behind and protect the lab looked up as Norsky entered. Even though they recognised him they were too slow to react as he brought up his Magerov P9 and shot them all in the head, each one sent flying backwards his head destroyed in a spurt of blood.
“Give me a dose of the serum, now!” he said turning to the lab tech nearest to him who was cowering in abject terror. This was not what he had signed up for. The research was what he loved but just lately things had got way out of control and here he was in fear of his very life, threatened from every quarter, or so it seemed.
“Okay, just don’t kill me,” the lab tech said his voice high pitched and shaky from terror. He reached for an injector gun and administered the serum to Norsky.
“How long b
efore it starts to take effect?” Norsky wanted to know.
“Quite quickly,” replied the lab tech, realising it was not what Norsky wanted to hear from the scowl he received. “It depends on the subject. Look, this part isn’t an exact science. We’ve not had time to run the proper control tests so we’re guessing most of the time,” he admitted hoping his words would stave off any retribution.
“Give me some idea then?”
“The first batch produced results after as little as a few minutes, but I can’t be certain.”
“That’ll have to do,” Norsky said, then as he prepared to leave turned to the lab tech and said, “What has the General ordered you to do?”
“Get another batch ready for mass production,” the lab tech blurted out.
“Get on with it then,” Norsky said before leaving the lab.
UNERRINGLY STRYDER guided them to the main lab area taking less time than they had first imagined. The ducts were quite spacious and had afforded them enough room to crawl through unrestricted. When they arrived, Norsky had killed the Marines and they watched as the lab tech administered the serum. Hearing every word, they remained hidden behind a vent in the roof until the renegade captain had left in search of them.
“Well, that was interesting, to say the least,” Hardy whispered when the coast was clear.
“Yea, in helping to solve our immediate problem he’s given us something else to worry about,” replied Stryder in the same tone of voice. “C’mon, let’s get this done before anyone else comes in to complicate matters.” He turned around and kicked the vent free so he could jump down into the room.
“Oh shit!” the lab tech exclaimed when he saw who it was.
Covering the inhabitants of the room with the assault rifle in one hand, Stryder reached up to help Hardy down with the other.
“If you want to get out of this with your skins intact I suggest you leave right now,” Stryder said to the frightened lab techs who were only too pleased to be given the opportunity to escape.