Destiny

by Jason A. Cheek

  Those few seconds had meant the difference between getting some altitude and maneuvering room and going into a flat dive close to the ground. Still, the extra altitude hadn’t been enough. He’d just been reaching for the eject lever, when the engines stuttered to life as the twin General Electric turbofan engines suddenly kicked in.

  Power hummed through the fighter once again as the stick came alive in his hands. Immediately Jerry felt his wings bit air as he brought the Super Hornet out of its spin. The rocky island shot by beneath him as his electric systems began booting back up, which didn’t make any sense. Military planes just didn’t lose power like that unless hit by an EMP blast.

  Snapping the Super Hornet into a wide bank around Santorini, Jerry’s eyes searched for his wingman and enemies as he fought with the fighter jet’s sluggish controls. Most of his electronic systems were still nonfunctional, but he had enough manual control for now to at least stay in the air.

  Standard operating procedure dictated that he return to the USS Abraham Lincoln, but seeing a fiery explosion near the Marine base camp, Jerry decided instead to loop back around for a second look. He couldn’t return to the carrier until he’d confirmation that AFLACK’s fighter was truly down.

  ***

  Location Earth / Harris Thompson:

  Staggering to his feet Command Sergeant Major Thompson’s pain filled eyes scanned the rocky hillside below as the ringing in his ears slowly began fading away. Instantly his eyes locked onto the Seahawk helicopter dropping out of the sky near the base camp. At first, Harris thought the pilot was going level out in time to land, but at the last second the Seahawk flip sideways, slamming into the ground in a fireball of exploding fuel. As the shock wave from the crash washed over him, Harris snatched up his shoulder-mounted handset.

  “Raider, this is Raider five over.” Hearing no response Harris looked at his handset confused, clicking the MIC on and off he tried again. “Raider, this is Raider five over.”

  Not hearing even static from the headset, Harris pulled the flap back on his radio checking the digital screen. It was completely dead. Hurrying to the nearest heavy weapon team struggling back to their feet, Harris quickly checked their radios and gear. It was the same, everything electronic was dead.

  Scanning the base camp once again, Harris, this time, took note of the silence. Except for the whipping wind and the excited voices of Marines calling out to one another, there were no sounds of motors or generators running in the distance. Everywhere he looked there were stopped Humvees and Abrams tanks when understanding dawned on him. They must have been hit by a EMP blast!

  Harris’s head jerked us as a loud blaring noise rose from the opening of the pit. The sound was coarse and nothing like the ear blasting siren that had brought them all to their knees. As the echoing call came to an end, the private manning the fifty caliber next to him looked up confused.

  “Master Sergeant, was that a hunting horn?” Before Harris could answer more horns began blowing, until it sounded like an army of hunting horns were ringing out just below them.

  “What in the hell is going on?” Looking over at the gunners guarding the entrance to the pit, Harris could see their growing anxiety as his Marines hunkered down around their heavy weapons. He couldn’t blame them for being skeeved out by the noise. The echoing calls were unnerving to say the least. Even more disturbing was that it didn’t make any sense. Harris was debating whether or not to head down into the pit and check the situation out for himself when the blaring horns suddenly stopped.

  The silence was complete. No one said a word as they all waited with weapons lock ’n loaded trained on the opening. As the minutes clicked by with nothing happening, Harris could see the growing unease of his soldiers as they whispered sharply to one another, when a new sound came to his ears. Holding his arms out, he hissed out sharply. “Everyone shut the hell up.”

  Listening intently, Harris heard a deep rumbling that was slowly growing louder by the second. Catching Sergeant First Class Truman’s eye, he pointed at his eyes with two fingers and then waved his hand at the pit. Getting a thumbs-up in reply Harris wrapped his rifle strap around his arm, before stalking warily out onto the metal walkway leading to the pit. It wasn’t until he was directly above the drill shaft that he could make out the animal-like growls and the distinctive sounds of a massive brawl, when the platform suddenly began vibrating with the thuds of many feet.

  Falling back, Harris signaled incoming to his men. Kneeling down at the front of the walkway, he held his assault rifle at the ready as the ringing sounds of boots on metal neared, when a shout brought him up short.

  “Don’t shoot! Lance Corporal Porter from third company, second platoon … don’t shoot I’m unarmed.”

  Holding up a hand, Harris called out to the soldiers behind him as soon as he saw the empty hands coming up the stairwell. “Everyone hold your fire, we have survivors.” The command echoed behind him as he gave Porter the all clear. “Come on out son, we’ve gotcha covered.”

  “Let’s go people. We’ve gotta move.” Climbing to the top of the stairs, Lance Corporal Porter stopped to help the civilians behind him up the last few steps. Looking at the terrified blood-soaked scientist scrambling for safety, Harris called out over his shoulder.

  “Sergeant First Class Tealer, have your squad get these civilians down to the field hospital. And Sergeant, let them know we need medics up here.”

  “Right away, Command Sergeant Major.”

  Harris spun around at the sudden commotion behind him. Confused at the unnerved Marines backing up in shock around him, he strode to the front of the group switching to his drill sergeant voice.

  “What in Sam Hill is going on here?”

  Instantly Harris’ jaw dropped open in shock as he took in the haggard looking Marines coming down the walkway and the severely wounded creature hanging between their shoulders. The bull-shaped head and curved horns, the hastily wrapped blood soaked bandages and gore covered breastplate, his mind just locked up at the unbelievable sight.

  “Command Sergeant Major … Command Sergeant Major!” Harris forced his eyes to focus on Marine bee-lining straight for him. The familiar face snapping him out of his trance as he caught Lance Corporal Porter by the arms, bringing the out of breath marine to a stop.

  “Calm down son. Take a deep breath and tell me what’s going on.”

  Wide-eyed and gasping for air Porter gripped Harris’ utility belt by the shoulders with both hands. “We need the entire brigade up here, and we need it now!”

  ***

  Location Earth / Curtis Davis:

  “Hoorah!”

  The entire CIC gave a cheer as the lights suddenly blinked back on as computers started booting up all around them. The elation turned into groans a second later as loud error beeps filled the room as technicians scrambled to get the systems up and running. Meeting the questioning eyes of Rear Admiral Timothy Wright, Captain Curtis Davis picked up the inter-ship DSN telephone.

  “Engineering.”

  “This is the Admiral, get me the Chief.”

  “Aye, aye Sir!”

  There was a short pause before a stressed bass answered hurriedly. “O.H. here.”

  “Help me understand what the hell is going on here, Chief.”

  “What do you mean, Sir?”

  “Don’t take this the wrong way, Chief. You and your engineers are doing a bang up job of getting the ship back online, but how the hell are we getting power after having our systems fried by an EMP blast?”

  There was a pregnant pause as the Chief chose his words carefully. “Captain, that’s because I don’t think the ship was hit by a true EMP blast.”

  “Explain.”

  “Well Sir, make take on it is this. That energy wave that took out our systems didn’t react anything at all like a typical EMP blast. Even with hardened systems, if our electronics had been knocked out by a true EMP we’d still be down. The E1 and E2 parts of the wave alone would have fried every digi
tal component on this ship that lost power, and the following E3 blast would have taken out everything else, but that’s not what happened. As soon as the ship passed through the energy wave, the generators started recharging from the turbines that were still running. It wasn’t that our systems were fried, so much as it was that every battery on the ship was drained of power.”

  “Any ideas on what might have taken us down, O.H.?”

  “Not a clue, Sir. It shouldn’t even be theoretically possible.”

  “Fair enough.” Thoughtfully Curtis processed the information as his eyes studied the blinking screens before him. “I need tactical, and communications made a priority, Chief. Along with Air Wing two.”

  Curtis could hear O.H.’s annoyance in his next words. “Captain, we have a lot of equipment to replace and only so many engineers to do it with. Many of the console units are plug and play. If I have my engineers leading work crews.”

  Curtis jumped in finishing the Chief’s train of thought. “Then we can get more units up that much more quickly. I’ll tell the CMC to send down as many work crews as he can to assist.”

  “Thank you, Sir.”

  “Don’t thank me, just get my ship operational!”

  “Aye, aye Sir.”

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Location Earth / Megan Driscoll:

  Rrrroooaaarrr

  Sergeant First Class Megan Driscoll’s head jerked up as a bloodcurdling roar blasted through the cavern. The terrifying noise sent uncontrollable shivers down her spine as all around her combat came to an abrupt stop as a jarring impact shook the solid stone beneath their feet. Immediately a cacophony of shrieking cries rose from the enemy’s throats as the ferocious monsters began backing away from the Minotaurs uncertainly.

  Again the rock beneath their feet shook from a massive blow as another terrible roar blasted through the pit. Whipping their bony heads around fearfully, the enemy’s hesitation turned into a full route as they scattered in mass. Unbelievably Megan watched the creatures flee like cockroaches towards the cavern’s curving walls.

  Scanning the darkness around them uncertainly, the legionnaires looked to one another nervously as the ground began vibrating beneath their hooves from what felt like a continuous barrage of muffled impacts as more angry roars filled the air. Pushing his way to Lar’s side, Centurion Quintillius whispered harshly.

  “What new Tuonellian evil is this?”

  Megan heard the dread in Lar’s answer as a massive fist broke through the rocky ground in front of them.

  “Demons!”

  Centurion Quintillius’ focus felt like a palpable force as his massive body turned towards Megan. His hard eyes bore into her as if he were looking into her soul. Without saying a word, he turned to Lar raising his voice.

  “Decanus Sestius Natalinus, you are in Command.”

  “Centurion-”

  The slash of Quintillius’ fist blade left no room for discourse as he overrode Lar’s words. “Get the Priestess and what’s left of the Ninth to safety.” Brotherly the massive bull gripped Lar’s shoulders with both hands. “We will join you if Akras wills or meet you in Lintukoto.”

  Standing up straight with the priestess still held against his chest, Lar met Quintillius’ eyes head-on. “Strength and honor, Centurion.” Slamming his armored fist against his breastplate, Quintillius saluted back. “Strength and honor, Decanus.”

  Incredulously Megan watched Centurion Quintillius rise to his full height as he strode towards the rear of the formation. Facing the surviving legionnaires, Quintillius’ deep voice called out in command as another massive clawed fist burst through the rocky ground.

  “First and second contubernia will follow me. We will be the shield for our brothers!”

  “Strength and honor!” The chant was instantaneous as eighteen legionnaires strode after the Centurion without hesitation. Quickly they formed into a new battle line as an armored spiked-head rose up from the rubble. Within seconds the monster Lar had called a demon broke free of its rocky tomb, rising to its clawed feet as Megan’s heart caught in her throat.

  The entire head was armored except for slits for its glowing red eyes. Thick chains crisscrossed its chest and shoulders that held a thick beaten-metal breastplate to its chest. More beaten-metal sheets covered its legs and shins. Along each arm more chains strapped over its rhinoceros thick hide to metal blades that ran the entire length of the creature’s monstrous forearms. As its humongous head swept over the shocked legionnaires, more clawed fists began smashing through the rocky ground behind its tree-trunk sized legs.

  Looking at the horrifying monster, Megan could understand why the Minotaurs called the things demons. The gigantic creature was a living nightmare come to life. It had to be at least fifteen feet tall. Bending forward, the monster roared shaking the cavern.

  “We must go now!”

  Megan let herself be propelled forward as Lar urgently drove her towards the metal stairs. Climbing quickly, she reached the second platform when she heard Quintillius’ enraged bellow ring out below. Looking over her shoulder, Megan saw Minotaurs being tossed aside like ragdolls as the giant demon waded into the defensive line unhindered. Quintillius’ cloak billowed about his shoulders as he leaped onto the demon’s armored back with his glowing blades flailing.

  Before Megan could see more the gruesome scene was blocked from her view as Lar stepped up onto the platform behind her, his voice gruff with emotion. “There is no time for this, Decanus Driscoll. We must reach the surface and warn your people before the Scourge break free.” Following Lar’s gaze Megan’s head whipped around in horror as she saw the black swarm of creatures crawling across the ceiling towards the hole in the cavern.

  “Oh my god, they’ll slaughter everyone!”

  Turning around Megan ran up the stairs, her mind racing as the clanking ring of the Minotaurs’ hooves echoed behind her. The progress of the skittering screeching black horde across the ceiling was easy to follow by their glowing red eyes. It was going to be close. By the time she reached the long drill shaft the monsters were right behind them.

  Reaching the top of the platform, Megan vaulted over the railing. As soon as her boots clanked against the metal, she was off racing for the group of Marines at the end of the walkway. It wasn’t until she was almost directly on top of them that Megan realized her soldiers were in a heated argument with the rest of second platoon. Without slowing down, Megan yelled at the idiots.

  “What a goddamn clusterfuck!” Everyone turned to face her as Megan leaped in-between the two groups. “Porter get those wounded Minotaurs down the hill. Jordan, why is everyone still standing around with their thumbs stuck up their asses? We have incoming!”

  “Belay those order!” Megan grimaced as she saw Command Sergeant Major Thompson red face. “Sergeant First Class Driscoll, you’re going to tell me what in the hell is going on-.“ The Command Sergeant Major eyes sudden grew wide as he saw Lar and the rest of the legionnaires in full battle regalia tromping up behind her.

  “Son of a motherless goat!” Drawing his forty-five the Command Sergeant Major swore aiming his weapon at the large Minotaur, before he could pull the trigger Megan slapped the barrel aside.

  BOOM

  Ignoring the horrified look on her superior’s face as the shot went ride, Megan gripped his collar laying into him. “There’s no time for this stupid shit. I can’t possibly explain everything that’s happening. Just trust me, we have incoming like you’ve never seen before, and they’re going to be here any second. If you want to bust me back down to a private you can, after this is over!”

  Megan’s spiel gave Lar’s squad enough time to get off the walkway and spread out behind her. Jerking her head towards the Minotaurs, Megan continued. “For now, we have a strategic alliance of sorts until something more detailed can be arranged.” As the sounds of combat suddenly rose from the pit, Lar interrupted the discussion as he eyed the Command Sergeant Major and his men warily.

  “Sumus
de tempore. Est superior concordat cum dispositione?” (Decanus Driscoll, we are out of time. Is your superior in agreement with our arrangement?)

  Somewhat calmed down Command Sergeant Thompson met the Minotaur’s steady gaze as Megan relayed his question. “Command Sergeant Major, Decanus Sestius Natalinus asks if you will honor the agreement we made earlier of mutual assistance?”

  Before Thompson could reply, a monstrous bellow blasted from the opening of the pit like a roar from a giant T-Rex in one of those Jurassic Park movies. As one, the Marines of second platoon began backing away fearfully at the sound of rending metal filling the air as the entire walkway began tearing away from the edge of the drill shaft. Stretching and twisting the metal groaned under pressure as if something massive were trying to rip the entire structure down into the hole.

  Ignoring the commotion behind him and the Minotaurs rushing to hold onto the end of the walkway as their brethren raced to safety, Decanus Sestius Natalinus held the Command Sergeant Major’s blue eyes as he studied the man’s black face intently. Seeing Thompson’s eyes looked her way Megan spoke up urgently.

  “My command would have been slaughtered to the last man without-.“ Thompson cut her off with a raised hand as he eyed the Minotaur’s blood splattered face and armor. “Tell him the agreement stands.”

  Megan breathed a sigh of relief. “He agrees, Lar. He agrees.” The Command Sergeant Major was old-school and a hard ass, but she’d always known him to be fair. Still, a situation like this could have gone either way.

  Warily the Command Sergeant Major eyes studied the Minotaurs struggling to brace the walkway as it whipped back and forth. “Don’t get me wrong, Lance Corporal Porter and Jordan both explained that these new allies of yours saved your bacon down there in the pit, but honestly, I don’t really see how much help they could be in a firefight. Whether or not you feel like there is enough time, I think it’s time you explained what the hell is going on, Sergeant.”