by Knox, Barry
When he reached the exit door, Gideon glanced as his watch. One minute. Close enough, he thought. Reinforcements would arrive in the environmental room any moment. “Let’s get out of here!” Gideon yelled at the team. The team stood from behind the safety of the pipes and hurried to the door.
“Open the door, Sergeant,” Gideon said as he again pulled the power pack from the weapon and handed the weapon back to Carrie.
Carrie opened the door using her access chip. The team exited the building and stood along the outside wall. Carrie was right; soldiers and police were everywhere.
Gideon noted the structures around him, recalled the buildings he had seen when he arrived and quickly determined the way they needed to go.
Alarms suddenly went off again, but this time the sound was from the building across the street. The S-TIC had set the alarms off in the building and reported that the escaped envoy team was spotted there.
“This way!” Gideon said over the blare of the alarms. The team followed him as he rounded the building, going in the opposite direction of the alarms. He started toward the closest proposed breach point.
Science Division Building, Canton Mie Biosphere
1915—February 21, 2372
“Director, I received a report that a patrol is being fired upon in the basement,” Assistant Leeward reported to Buru.
“We have ‘em!” he replied with a smile then asked, “Has Doctor Kastriva been found yet?”
“No reports yet, Director, I will—” Assistant Leeward paused as another report came in on another channel. “Director, the Commerce Building’s security alarm has just gone off. There’re reports of the escaped Earthers there, and shots have been fired.”
“How did they get through our outside security net?” he asked, appalled.
“I don’t know, Director,” she answered, bowing her head in shame.
“I know how they got away.” Buru answered his own question. “They’re being assisted by the resistance! Call in more police and CTU regulars from nearby stations. I want them caught now!”
“Immediately, Director,” she said.
Buru terminated his conversation with Assistant Leeward and brought up another communication link to contact Captain Bowser. I won’t wait until tomorrow. I’ll get to the bottom of this right now and get what I want, or I’ll destroy their ship, he thought.
“Director, I hope you have come to your senses and have decided to release the envoy team,” Mary said before Buru could speak once the communications link was established.
Buru, annoyed by the statement, calmed himself before he spoke. “On the contrary, Captain. I’ve decided to keep the envoy team and also take your ship. I know you’re working with the resistance or the so-called GFF.”
“What are you talking about, Director?” Mary asked.
“Don’t play dumb with me, Captain. I’ve captured a GFF operative who helped kidnap Doctor Kastriva. He told me everything-how your government has been assisting the GFF and how you’ll pay the GFF billions for Kastriva,” Buru bluffed.
Mary said, “Director, I don’t know what you’re talking about. We’re here on a peaceful mission, trying to reestablish a meaningful relation with the CTU. Again, I demand that you release the envoy team!”
“So you’re sticking to your story,” Buru said and smiled. “Very well, Captain. You have until zero six hundred tomorrow morning to turn over your ship and crew. Refusal to do so will result in your destruction. On the other hand, if you decide to cooperate, I can assure you that your crew will be treated well and you’ll personally be granted special privileges and be given compensation. And I can help you become a fleet officer in the CTU Navy. Think it over, Captain, before it’s too late.”
Buru cut the transmission, then contacted Assistant Leeward and had her order several more fighters and a CTU space command troop assault ship to the Earth ship.
***
“Stephen, has the S-TIC reported anything about a GFF?” Mary asked.
“Yes, Captain. It is the Gliese Freedom Fighters resistance,” Stephen said, “Sir we just received an encrypted transmission from the S-TIC. It’s from Lieutenant Klaxton.”
“Read it.”
“‘Have escaped and have programmed S-TIC to report false escape route back to envoy VTOL. Proceeding to predefined breach points to rendezvous with extract team. Klaxton out,’” Stephen reported.
“Now I know why Buru contacted me. He thinks we’ve been working with this GFF group and wants me to believe I’m running out of options. He also wants to bribe me to give up my ship and crew.” Mary said.
“With respect, Captain, I’m confused. What does Director Buru really want? He seems, sir…well, sir, deranged,” Ensign Young said.
“Simple, Ensign. He wants power over others so he can do as he pleases with them. The capture of this ship and its technology would benefit a man like him. He lives in a corrupt socialistic society where he believes the elite, including himself, are some type of deity who controls the destiny of their people. He also believes that everyone has a price, including me,” Mary answered, took a breath, and smiled. “What he doesn’t realize is I still have a sense of duty, morals, and honor. He’s not a divine being, and before we leave here, he’ll know that.”
The crew in the Tripe C and those listening on the bridge nodded in agreement as her statement energized them.
“Sir, a few more CTU fighters and a troop assault ship have taken positions around the ship,” Lieutenant LaPalm reported from her station.
“Very well. Stephen, have you taken in account the addition of more fighters and the assault ship in your escape plans?” Mary asked.
“Yes, Captain. All scenarios have factored in the additional fighters and assault ship,” Stephen said.
Escaped Extract Team, Canton Mie Biosphere
1934—February 21, 2372
Due to the alarms sounding from the building across the street, the envoy team easily passed through the Science Division building security perimeter. They were never challenged and made their way to the first proposed breach point.
“They didn’t breach here,” Gideon said as he peeked around the corner of a small building and saw the wall of the biosphere intact. “Let’s head to the next breach point.”
“Can we take a short break?” Dr. Harper said, sounding out of breath.
“Three minutes,” Gideon said as he looked at his watch.
Both doctors sat on the ground.
“How long will your people wait for you?” Carrie asked Gideon after she removed her helmet and ran her fingers through her short, dark hair.
“Until we get there,” Gideon answered. “They’re US Marines, and they won’t leave any of us behind.”
“So I’ve heard,” she said. “I want you to know I didn’t join the CTU Army; I was drafted. As a matter of fact, my father was an infantry captain in the Gliese United Nations Military Force during the war. He lost both legs during the Battle of Samurna and died a few years later. He told me many times about the US Marines who helped train him before the war. Since then I’ve always wanted to meet a US Marine.”
“It’s you’re lucky day. I’m Lieutenant Gideon Klaxton, US Marine,” Gideon said with pride and a smile.
Carrie smiled back. “Glad to meet you, Lieutenant. I assume by the civilian clothes you’re on a covert mission?”
“I can’t say,” Gideon answered. “I’m sure you understand.”
“Yes, sir, I understand,” Carrie sounded disappointed.
“Although I can’t tell you why we’re here, I can guarantee you that if you continue to help us get out of here, I’ll help you fake your death so you can join the resistance. I’ll also provide you with some information that’ll definitely help the GFF,” Gideon said.
“I’ll continue to help you, and I’ll get you out of here,” she responded with a confident nod. “By the way, I assume since you’re looking for a breach, you’ll have a shuttle waiting for you outside the sph
ere; I count four of you, and you’re short three environmental suits—that is, if your commander keeps on the armor he’s wearing.”
“That’s right,” Gideon replied, “My priority is to get to the breach and get the two doctors out using the commander’s armor for Doctor Harper. And I’m assuming we’ll have at least one environmental suit when we get there for Dr. Jones. We’ll just have to figure something out when the time comes for me and the commander.”
Commander Steward looked at his watch. “Time to go.”
The team stood and followed Gideon to the next proposed breach point. To avoid contact with civilians, CTU military, or police, they walked the perimeter of the biosphere instead of taking a more direct route through the streets and alleys of Canton Mie.
As they walked, Gideon could hear alarms and sirens in the distance. The preprogrammed S-TIC was transmitting sighting reports of the phantom envoy team heading for the spaceport. Gideon hoped he and the real team would make it to the extract team before the CTU figured out the alarms he had programmed to go off had been a ruse.
Fifteen minutes later they arrive at the next breach point and discovered that this proposed point hadn’t been breached either.
“Okay,” Gideon began as he looked at his watch again. “Here’s the situation. The safest route to the next and final breach point is to walk along the sphere perimeter, but this will take about forty minutes. If we take a direct route, we’ll be walking through streets and alleys. This increases our risk of being discovered, but we’ll get there twenty minutes sooner. Also, we need to factor in the possibility that the CTU will discover the S-TIC sighting reports are false. All that being said, we’ll take the direct route.”
Gideon took Carrie’s weapon power pack out of his gray CTU jumpsuit pocket and tossed it to her. “Here. I trust you with this. I want you on point, and if we run into any trouble, I want you to be ready. I’ll follow you, and Doctor Harper and Doctor Jones will follow me. Commander Steward will bring up the rear. If we’re stopped, try and talk your way out. If that fails, we’ll have to fight. Does everyone understand?”
Everyone nodded that he or she understood.
“Let’s go,” Gideon finished as he pointed the way.
The envoy team had to walk down a busy street for several blocks before they could take less-used streets and back alleys to the breach point. CTU citizens passed them, and Gideon noticed they would make eye contact only with him and the doctors; they dare not look at the two soldiers escorting them. Before they left the busy street, a few police vehicles passed them. Gideon hoped they wouldn’t stop, and they didn’t.
As they rounded the corner from a busy street and started down a side street, Gideon saw a checkpoint ahead. CTU officials were stopping vehicles in the street and checking citizens who were walking on the sidewalks. “Keep walking,” Gideon said loud enough for Carrie to hear. “If we turn around, I’m sure they’ll be suspicious and come after us.”
“You know, if they scan me for identification, we’re in trouble,” Carrie muttered back.
“Yep, but we don’t have a choice,” Gideon said. “We’ll do what we have to do. Remember, you’re with a US Marine, and we’re trained to adapt to any situation.”
Carrie nodded agreement.
The checkpoint consisted of a CTU police vehicle, several policemen, and four CTU military regulars. The police were checking the vehicles, and the regulars were checking walking citizens.
As they walked toward the checkpoint, Gideon turned his head toward the doctors. “Keep your heads down. Don’t look up and don’t speak. Everything will be okay.”
They both gave him a quick nod of agreement.
As the envoy team approached the soldiers who were checking the walking citizens, Gideon noted they were privates. He hoped Carrie would use that fact to her advantage.
“Who’s in charge here?” Carrie demanded, using her helmet speaker before the privates said anything.
The two privates immediately saw the sergeant’s insignia on her armor and stood at attention.
“The police sergeant,” one said. He used his thumb to point over his shoulder at a police sergeant, who was talking to several vehicle operators on the street.
“Carry on,” she said as she continued walking and pushed them out of her way. “I have to speak to him about these citizens,” Carrie added as she passed them.
“Yes, Sergeant,” both soldiers said as the team passed.
Gideon was pleased to get past the soldiers and wondered what Carrie was up to. He’d rather not have her speak to the police sergeant. He hoped he had made the right decision to trust her.
They followed Carrie to the police sergeant and stood behind her, facing the ground.
“I found these citizens wondering about while on patrol. They told me they were dropped off early this morning to work on communications lines but were never picked up this evening. They want to get transportation back to the main communications building,” Carrie blurted out as the police sergeant was verifying the identification of a vehicle operator.
The police sergeant finished his review and turned toward Carrie, “I’m sorry, Sergeant,” he began with a hint of annoyance. “I don’t have the time or resources to deal with these citizens.”
“Any suggestions?” Carrie asked.
“No…it’s your problem, Sergeant!” he answered and turned away.
“Okay, let’s move out!” Carrie commanded loudly enough for the police sergeant and the envoy team to hear. The envoy team followed her as she led them down the street away from the roadblock.
***
A few minutes later the flow of vehicles through the roadblock thinned, and the police sergeant walked over to the soldiers who were still checking pedestrian IDs. He asked, “Private, what was the name of the sergeant escorting the civilians through a few minutes ago? I want to put it in my report.”
The soldiers hesitated for a second, then one spoke. “Don’t know. We didn’t check their IDs. We assumed you’d check their IDs when you spoke to ‘em.”
The police sergeant panicked, realizing he may have let Dr. Kastriva and the resistance members who kidnapped him pass. “I’ll file a report, and if you’re asked about it, you’ll say you noticed two soldiers, who were escorting civilians, approach the roadblock and then turn around. Then I sent one of you clowns after them, but you lost ‘em. That should keep us out of any trouble. Understand?”
“Yes,” both privates said together.
“And from now on, check everyone’s ID no matter what!” the police sergeant yelled.
“Yes, sir!” they both replied.
Science Division Building, Canton Mie Biosphere
2005—February 21, 2372
“Director, I just received a report from a roadblock in sector E fourteen. Two CTU soldiers were spotted escorting three civilians, who turned around to avoid the roadblock. The police sergeant on duty reported he sent a CTU Army private after them, but they got away,” Assistant Leeward reported.
“It has to be Kastriva and the GFF kidnappers. Have all adjacent sectors sealed off immediately. After they’re surrounded and can’t escape, have the police and CTU regulars move in!” Buru ordered.
“Yes, Director,” Leeward said.
“Status on the escaped Earthers?” Buru asked.
“Last report has them sighted in sector K twenty-five, and it looks like they’re trying to get to their VTOL at the spaceport. I’ve deployed both police and CTU regulars to intercept and capture them,” Leeward said.
“Very well. We’ll have Kastriva and the Earthers back soon,” Buru said with certainty, then terminated the communications with Leeward.
Buru took a deep breath and used his communications console to contact his superior. A holograph of an elderly, thin woman with a face lined with prune-like wrinkles and gray shoulder-length hair appeared.
“What is it now, Buru?” the old woman asked as if she were being interrupted.
“Lady C
ommissar, we’ll have Doctor Kastriva and his kidnappers soon. We’ll also capture the escaped Earthers in a matter of minutes,” Buru reported with confidence.
“Fortunate for you, Buru; I’ve already drawn up orders for your dismissal and punishment if you had failed. Contact me when you have them, and I’ll file these orders away for future use the next time you fail me,” she responded with no facial expressions and very little movement of her lips. She then cut the communications link.
“Ancient witch!” Buru muttered to himself. “As soon as I have my prisoners and the technology aboard the Earth ship, I’ll remove you by my own hand and declare myself regional commissar. The CTU cabinet will forgo an investigation of your death, and the premier himself will decorate me. Enjoy your last days, old hag!”
Marine Envoy Team, Canton Mie Biosphere
2030—February 21, 2372
“Almost there,” Gideon said as he turned to urge Dr. Harper and Dr. Jones on. For the last ten minutes, they’d heard vehicle sirens all around them. Gideon knew they’d probably been discovered, and now their only hope was to get to the breach before the CTU police and soldiers surrounding them closed in.
A block away from the breach, Gideon heard an electronic voice yell over the now-closer-and-louder sirens, “Commander, LT, over here!” The team stopped and saw Corporal Gault appear across the street.
“This way!” Gault yelled and motioned.
The team crossed the street.
“Sir, go one more block over and then straight to the breach. Captain Neubauer and Gunny Xia are at the breach. Sergeant Manelly is two blocks over, and we’ll cover you,” Gault said and paused as the sirens grew louder. “Better hurry, sir. I think we’ll have company soon.”
Thanks, Corporal, and tell Captain Neubauer we’re on our way,” Gideon ordered.
“Yes, sir,” Gault said and disappeared.
The team followed Gault’s directions and reached the breach in minutes. Xia and Neubauer appeared and took their helmets off as the envoy team approached.