The Tarantula Nebula

by David Kantrowitz

  “So throw this selector switch,” Richter was saying, “and you’ll put the weapon into suppressed mode. The muzzle velocity will decrease by two-thirds, but the decibel rating will decrease by fifty.”

  John nodded in appreciation. “That might come in handy.”

  “Okay, I think that’s the best we’re going to do,” said Talvan.

  The room fell quiet. John nodded at Talvan.

  “Go ahead with your presentation, please,” he said.

  “Dana and I were able to pull some old satellite pictures of the power station off of the net,” said Talvan, putting the images up on the wall monitor. “As far as I know there have been no major changes to the structure. Let me explain what we’re seeing here. The power station is located in a canyon. It’s built on three ancient pyramids, seen here, here, and here, in a triangle formation.”

  “I guess Umberians don’t care about history,” said Richter.

  “Actually, the power station is exclusive of the pyramids. They’re acting as support pylons, yes, but they’re topped with magnetic levitation platforms. The entire power station is floating a few inches above the pyramid tops. There’s no chance of damaging the pyramids.”

  “Why go to all that trouble?” asked Christie.

  “The power station uses cold fusion reactors and mercury-tritium transfer coils. Seismic tremors can disrupt those processes, decreasing the efficiency of the generation. The magnetic levitation cushions the station from occasional low grade tremors and anything else that might create seismic activity. The placement of the station below the rim of the canyon helps decrease the effect of weather and wind.”

  “Impressive engineering,” said John.

  “We are talking about Umberians,” Fernwyn said, nodding.

  “This is the one and only side picture we have,” began Talvan. “As you can see, the pyramids are one hundred meters tall and the station is seventy-five. It consists of five levels except for the reactor rooms which are three stories each. The upper level is the command section. There are three separate parts to the top floor, each over a pyramid in orientation. The three parts are connected by glass-covered walkways. In the center is a landing platform, which is where the Zendreen are most likely to land for their inspection. The northern section of the top floor is the main control room.”

  “What about the interior layout?” asked John.

  “We were unable to find any information about the interior. The only thing I can tell you about it is that there are at least a hundred Umberians working there. There’s something about that, too...”

  “Go on.”

  “There was a nasty rumor going around through the underground. The station can be run at ninety-nine percent efficiency, if you ignore certain safety protocols. Workers who have to be near the transfer coils under these conditions would experience severe health problems including disfigurement. Rumor has it that the Zendreen are doing just that.”

  “So we should stay away from the transfer coils?”

  “Short term exposure shouldn’t be harmful, but I can only speak for Umberians, not humans. Just keep in mind that you might run into some people that are... you know.”

  “Messed up.”

  “Yeah. And that’s about all we know.”

  John nodded. “Okay, thank you Talvan. Richter, would you like to go into more detail about our plan?”

  “Sure,” began Richter. “Like we were discussing last night, we’ll have two teams on the ground and one team operating the ship. Bailey, Tolliver, and Rylie will mount the feint attack on one of the pylons. Scherer, Aldebaran and I will go after the commander and his staff. Dana and Talvan will remain aboard the Faith to provide transportation and cover. Here’s the order of battle. First, we wait above the power station, hidden from sight, until the commander’s ship arrives. After it docks, my team will be dropped nearby. Bailey’s team will land near the pylon and wait for the signal to begin their assault. When I give the signal, we’ll neutralize any resistance from the ship and capture the commander, using the assault below to divert any additional Zendreen security. My team will announce our intention to hold the commander hostage until our demands our met, or we’ll kill him and destroy the power station.”

  “Why would the resistance want to destroy the power station?” asked Dana.

  “Such an act would limit the Zendreen fleet’s ability to refuel in that part of the world,” said Talvan, “so it’s not an implausible resistance target.”

  “Indeed,” said Richter. “So, we’ll open a negotiation with the commander. The trick is that we have no intention of waiting until our so-called demands are met. Once the virus has been deployed, we’ll make it look like we’re giving up in the face of impossible odds, and withdraw.”

  “Won’t that look too transparent?” asked Ray.

  “Not if we pretend that grabbing the commander was a secondary objective. That way, giving up on holding him hostage won’t seem strange. We can add to this ploy if Bailey’s team radios us and tells us they can’t destroy the pylon. If they think we’ve simply run out of time, then they’ll believe it when we let them go.”

  “But we’re not actually destroying the pylon,” said Christie.

  “Right, you’re just going to assault the position. If you actually kill all resisting Zendreen, great, but we’re going to let the Zendreen think that part of the mission failed as well.”

  “If we all get killed, I bet they’ll believe it,” said Fernwyn.

  “Technically speaking, all of us can get killed and still accomplish the mission. If the virus is deployed successfully, that is.”

  “Great for the Umberians,” said John. “What else?”

  “That’s about it for now. Any questions?”

  Everyone looked at each other in silence for a moment. Christie shrugged.

  “I have plenty of questions,” she said, “but nothing we can answer right now.”

  “We’ll just have to play it by ear,” said John.

  Richter nodded. “We should all be used to gathering essential intel in the field by now. Remember, confidence is key. If you have doubts, focus on our recent successes. We’ve accomplished more than we could have imagined, considering the challenges we’ve faced. This mission could be the most perilous so far, but we have to believe that we have the ability to accomplish it.”

  “Indeed,” said John. “I have faith in each of you. Reckless or not, this mission could spell the end of the occupation. We can’t give up now.”

  “Want me to cue up some inspiring music?” asked Ray. “Something emotional from Saving Private Ryan, perhaps?”

  “Also, never underestimate the power of the smart-ass. Everybody clear? Get your shit together, we’re arriving in three hours.”

  29.

  Cab Saribalos looked up at the night sky. He took a deep breath, and sighed. He’d missed sunset, but Umber’s single, lifeless moon was rising in the east. That was almost as nice. East was the expansive tract of the canyon, and if he ignored the usual sounds emanating from the massive power station behind him, he could almost imagine himself alone. He wasn’t, of course, and he would only have to turn his head a few degrees in either direction to catch a glance of one of the Zendreen guards. They tolerated his nightly pause at half-shift because Cab never caused trouble. Not like the ones up on the power conduits.

  Cab was lucky. Lucky, because he was an elevator mechanic before the war, and lucky, because he all but volunteered for the job at the station shortly thereafter. When seen as willing servants, the Zendreen treated an Umberian almost like, well, an Umberian.

  There were eleven elevators in the power station, if you counted the anti-grav cargo lift, so there was always something to do. Even a twelve hour shift went by quickly when pyramid three’s elevator needed a track stabilized, pylon two’s shorted out a display console, and the control room elevator’s cables were out of sync. Rarely was there any real down time except for meal breaks and the ten minute half-shift bre
ak Cab was currently enjoying.

  “Hey Cabrios, you want a smoke?”

  Hephili, Cab’s one and only assistant, emerged from inside the pyramid. The two guards glanced at him dutifully, and returned to their conversation.

  Cab smiled and shook his head. “No, thanks. I think I caught too much of a whiff of that electrical fire.”

  “Sometimes I wonder if you appreciate the lengths I have to go to get these things.”

  Hephili lit a home-made cigarillo and puffed on it. Cab shrugged. There was always some sort of deal going down in the barracks. Cab and Hephili shared a relatively private eight-man room in one corner of what used to be the museum. There was easy access to the larger sleeping areas, however. The Zendreen hadn’t found it necessary to lock down the barracks for quite some time.

  Despite the active trade in tobacco products, the barracks were off limits to smokers. The Zendreen didn’t care one way or the other, but the barracks converted from museum sections still contained priceless antiques, artifacts, and hieroglyphics. The younger workers objected at first, but the older Umberians had insisted on a smoking ban. If the planet was ever liberated, the museum would be reopened.

  “The Commander will be here soon,” Hephili said.

  Cab grunted. “Right on time. So what?”

  “Today they’re supposed to test the devices. The Commander is set to oversee.”

  “Shit. Poor bastards.”

  “Look at it this way. If they work, they might be moved out of the conduits.”

  “And into the labyrinths. Better the devices kill them.”

  “That’s pretty cold, even for you, Cab. I...”

  There were two dull pops. Cab and Hephili looked around, mildly surprised. They realized with much greater anxiety that the two Zendreen guards had collapsed.

  “What the hell?” whispered Cab reflexively.

  Three figures loomed out of the darkness. Cab and Hephili drew back in shock. A lithe, wiry female was in the lead, followed by a tall male. The last one was a shorter female, with more curves. All three were well armed. They looked like Umberians, but that couldn’t be confirmed due to the hats they were wearing.

  “Quoe num bulwa ist mir enturi?” said the first woman.

  “Wh... what?” stammered Hephili.

  “Stapha. Um, what, er, how many guards interior?”

  “You’re speaking Residerian?” asked Cab, astonished. “Who are you?”

  The man gestured to the first woman. She nodded, and handed Cab a translator device. Cab installed the earpiece.

  “How’s that?” asked the woman.

  “Better. Your Umberian is a little rusty.”

  “We shouldn’t waste time out here,” said the man.

  “My name is Fernwyn Rylie,” said the first woman. “This is Ray Bailey and Christie Tolliver. We’re with the Umberian underground.”

  “Since when does the underground employ Residerians?” asked Cab.

  “Since the SUF decided it’s not an indifferent entity any more,” said Christie.

  Ray moved past Cab and Hephili and into the doorway. He confirmed that they were still alone and turned back to the locals. “How many Zendreen guards inside?”

  “Usually about a hundred,” said Cab.

  Ray’s expression fell. “Holy shit.”

  “How many between here and the anti-grav platform?” asked Fernwyn.

  “Fifteen to twenty.”

  “We might actually be able to handle that many,” said Ray, “if we can keep the element of surprise.”

  “What do you mean, handle that many?” asked Cab. “What are you trying to accomplish here?”

  Fernwyn grinned. “Just looking to cause some trouble. The Zendreen need to realize the underground isn’t just a nuisance anymore.”

  “Will you help us?” asked Christie.

  Cab shrugged. “If I can. Hephili?”

  The others turned around. Hephili was almost out of sight, running as fast as he could down the canyon floor.

  “Should we go after him?” asked Ray.

  “Don’t worry about him. How can I help?”

  “Guide us to the best defensible position once the shooting starts,” began Fernwyn, “and keep your head down. We need to occupy the Zendreen for some time. Killing all of them is only a bonus goal.”

  “Okay. I think I know a good spot.”

  A voice came through on the three strangers’ radio, loud enough for Cab to hear.

  “Rylie, this is Scherer. The commander’s craft has just landed. What’s your status, over.”

  “We’re about to begin our main assault, over.” replied Fernwyn.

  “Copy that. There’s no room left on the landing platform, so we’re being dropped off on the roof about a hundred yards away. If we can get inside, we’ll proceed to the control room that way. Keep us updated, over.”

  “Roger, out.”

  “So you’re trying to assassinate the commander,” said Cab. “Good luck, but someone else will just take his place.”

  “Let us worry about that,” said Ray. “For now, we’ve got our own problems.”

  Fernwyn deactivated the suppressing function on her Phalanx. “Let’s go.”

  Cab led the others inside. After a short corridor, the interior of the pyramid opened up into a large atrium. Stone walls made up most of the architecture, but more modern materials were in abundance. Archways about three meters tall led into other areas. In the center of the atrium about seventy yards away was an elevator shaft leading up. Several Zendreen were standing near it, socializing. A few Umberians worked here and there. Cab began warning them off visually.

  “Where are the rest of the Zendreen?” asked Ray.

  “Their barracks are on the other side of that elevator,” replied Cab. “We should take cover in the gift shop!”

  Cab’s statement ended on a high note as the Zendreen had just taken notice of the visitors. Fernwyn and Ray raised their weapons and fired. The guards scattered and began returning fire. Brilliant blue energy shots streaked across the atrium as the four interlopers ran for the long-since disused gift shop and the hard cover it offered. Christie covered Cab as he stumbled and she scored a hit on one of the guards.

  “This isn’t a dead-end in here, is it?” she cried.

  “No, there’s a back door.”

  “Good, we don’t want to get boxed in.”

  The team ducked inside the shop. There was a large stone counter and several rows of stone shelves. The large entrance to the shop offered a good view of the atrium, and Fernwyn and Ray chose firing positions they liked. Cab hit the deck as Christie crouched behind the stone counter and joined her friends in the fusillade.

  “Keep ‘em busy, but watch your ammo!” shouted Ray.

  “No problem!”

  “We’re in position.”

  Dana’s voice filled the cargo bay over the intercom. John, Aldebaran, and Richter readied themselves as Talvan looked on.

  “Roger that,” said John. “Talvan, bring the lights down.”

  Talvan nodded, and used the console to completely darken the bay. John hit the button to open the ramp. As the ramp descended, fresh, warm air from Umber blew inside. The ramp made contact with the surface of the station with a slight bump.

  From their vantage point, the team could see the roof of the entire station, with the three sections forming a triangle and the landing platform in the center. The Zendreen transport ship was on the platform, and as the team descended onto the roof they could see several of the insectoid aliens walking from it to a doorway. Ambient light from several sources including the landing platform’s guide beacons illuminated the area, but the section the team was on was relatively dark. They crouched on the roof until the figures had entered the doorway. Two Zendreen guards appeared from the ship and took up positions near the airlock.

  John, who was on point, looked around. He could see a hatch of some sort nearby. He signaled to the others and motioned toward it. Aldebaran and
Richter nodded. John gave a thumbs-up to the unseen Talvan, and the sound of the ramp closing was heard. Moments later, the invisible Faith moved away with a rush of air.

  Staying low, John led the team to the hatch. There was writing on it, and although John and Richter couldn’t read it, Aldebaran nodded in approval when he did. John located the handle and pulled. After a hearty effort, the hatch swung up and open. A ladder descended to a long shaft below, and one by one the men entered the station. Richter closed the hatch carefully.

  “This is an elevator shaft,” said Aldebaran quietly.

  “It certainly looks like one,” John said, looking around.

  “Which floor do you want to take?” asked Richter.

  “I don’t know. Aldebaran?”

  “Any one other than the fifth floor,” replied Aldebaran. “If we encounter resistance immediately it would be better to start further down.”

  “How do you figure?” asked John.

  “It gives us more choices for falling back,” said Richter.

  Aldebaran nodded. “Right.”

  John held onto the ladder with one arm and withdrew a flashlight from his vest. He aimed the light down the shaft.

  “Looks like the car is on the first level,” he said. “Let’s get going.”

  The three men descended the ladder. There were no exits to the fourth or third levels, so they stopped at level two. The elevator car remained motionless a few feet below them. John fumbled around until he found the override switch, and the outer doors opened. Peeking around the corner, John confirmed that there was no one there. The team climbed into the corridor. John closed the doors as they took stock of their location. There were two exits from the corridor, one to the southwest and one to the northeast. Aldebaran read aloud the writing on the latter.

  “Transfer Coils Section One.”

  “Okay,” said John. “We can use that to get to the control...”

  John was interrupted by an alarm. The klaxon rang loudly for a few seconds, then muted itself. Red lights set into the wall at head level began to flash.