by Knox, Barry
“Okay, just give me the coordinates of a rebel location,” Gideon said, and added, “And what about the women and children? They don’t even have environmental suits to get out of the building.”
“I will get them aboard your ship safely,” Michael said as he walked away and entered the building.
Tidwell started Bernice’s engines and transmitted, “Let’s go, Lieutenant. The czar reinforcements will be here in seven minutes.”
“It’ll be a few minutes before everyone is on board,” Gideon answered.
“Everyone, sir?” Tidwell asked surprised.
“Yes, we’re taking the prisoners, women, and children with us for now,” Gideon answered.
A few seconds later Michael came out of the building with the women and children. They were bunched together, wrapped in each other’s arms, as Michael wrapped his arms around them as far as he could reach. A light-blue glow surrounded them as he guided them up the ramp. Gideon followed and told Xia to close the cargo ramp. Once the ramp was closed, the environment in the cargo bay returned to normal, and Michael let go of the women and children.
“Manelly, get the women and children into one of the main cabins,” Gideon said.
Manelly led the women and children out of the cargo bay, and the door into the main part of Bernice closed behind them.
“Deploy the cargo ramp, Gunny,” Gideon ordered and Xia deployed the ramp.
Joseph walked over to Michael and said, “Here’s a copy of my favorite book. You can have it if you want it.”
Michael turned to face Joseph, smiled, and said, “I already know everything that is in the book. I do not need a copy, but make sure you offer a book to everyone at the rebel base.”
“I will,” Joseph replied, returning the smile.
Michael put his hands on Joseph’s broad shoulders, and Joseph felt a surge of energy penetrate his armor and tingle his body. The tingle subsided a moment later, and it left Joseph’s whole body relaxed, and his mind was relieved of the horrors he had seen. He also no longer worried about his task to save people; somehow he knew he was doing exactly what he was supposed to do.
Turning to Gideon, Michael said, “You had better leave now. I am sending you the coordinates for the nearest and safest rebel base. Contact them on the attached channel frequency. They will challenge with ‘defeated.’ Counter with ‘dragon.’”
“I have the information,” Anna informed Gideon as Michael turned and walked down the cargo bay ramp onto the hot surface of the planet.
“Close the cargo bay ramp, Gunny. Tidwell, let’s get out of here before the czar aircraft arrive. Anna is sending you the coordinates to a rebel base,” Gideon transmitted over the platoon channel.
“Gunny?” Gideon transmitted over a private channel.
“Sir,” Xia replied.
“As soon as we’re airborne, have your Anna copy all combat videos recorded by our armors’ AI and put them on a data card. I want to make sure we have a backup copy of all our combat perspectives of Michael using his weapon.”
“Understood, Lieutenant,” Xia said.
VTOL Bernice, Planet Leonis
0735—February 28, 2372
Bernice flew at a low level, hugging the ground as it headed to the rebel base coordinates Michael had provided. Gideon had made his way to the copilot’s seat and was watching the ground below them streak by. It had been only a few minutes since they left the hill, and they were only about thirty miles away. Gideon hoped they could slip out undetected. He recalled that Michael said he would destroy the enemy, but even after seeing the effectiveness of Michael’s technology, Gideon doubted the technology could protect him and destroy that many enemy aircraft and soldiers. The approaching czar attack force would first destroy everything from a distance, probably with a nuke, and then come in and destroy anything that might be left.
“Sir, the czar attack force is holding in a circular formation one hundred miles from the camp,” Tidwell said as he monitored his flight controls. “Looks like they’ll be nuking the place before they move in.”
“That’s what I thought they’d do,” Gideon responded and then switched to Bernice’s intercom system. “Everyone, strap yourselves in. I expect we’ll have some turbulence soon.”
A few seconds later, warning alerts and alarms flooded the flight-control deck, reporting a nuclear device had detonated nearby. As Bernice’s AI implemented electromagnetic pulse (EMP) protection procedures, the marines prepared for the shock wave. The prisoners, widows, and orphans probably didn’t know what to expect. They would soon learn.
The shock wave hit, and Bernice violently pitched from side to side. The ship’s automated fight control AI detected the shock wave forcing Bernice down and immediately took control from Tidwell, fighting to gain altitude. Using full power, Bernice climbed to a safe altitude, and a few seconds later the shock wave had passed. Tidwell manipulated some controls on his console, and a rearview hologram appeared. The mushroom cloud of a detonated nuclear device could be clearly seen.
“I don’t think Michael was able to stop them,” Gideon commented as he watched the deadly cloud boil upward into the atmosphere. He added, “And even if he did, he won’t be alive long. The czar soldiers will go through there with a fine-tooth comb.”
“ETA to the rebel base?” Gideon asked a few seconds later.
“Forty…seven…minutes…sir,” Tidwell answered slowly, hypnotized by something new on the rearview hologram display. He added, “What’s that, Lieutenant?”
Gideon looked back at the rearview display and saw a transparent white bubble quickly engulfing and blurring the view of the nuclear mushroom cloud.
“I don’t believe it!” Gideon said as he watched the bubble grow. “Michael might be alive. That looks like the same type of energy bubble he used on the hill?”
A few seconds later the white haze completely blurred the mushroom cloud, and then the white bubble exploded with a blinding light. Bernice’s AI quickly adjusted to the increase in light by darkening the holographic display, but no other warning or alarms sounded from the flight console. After the light dimmed on the display, Gideon could see another shock wave expanding slowly from the explosion, and the mushroom cloud was now gone.
“Why aren’t we seeing warning lights and hearing alarms?” Gideon asked.
Tidwell manipulated some controls and answered, “All sensors are working fine, sir. The sensors aren’t detecting anything, and the radiation from the nuke explosion is no longer being detected.”
A moment later an alarm from the AI tactical system reported the location, heading, and elevation of the czar aircraft still flying in a circular formation.
“What’s happening, sir?” Tidwell asked.
“I’m not sure, Sergeant, but I think Michael used his weapon again,” Gideon answered, then used his flight console to try to determine how fast the new shock wave was moving and how soon it would hit the enemy aircraft.
After querying the sensors, Gideon was unable to get any information; it was as if no energy had been used to create the last explosion, and that was why the ship’s sensors didn’t detect the explosion. Gideon then used the controls to move the rearview camera toward the enemy aircraft formation and then zoomed in. After a few adjustments, and with the help of the ship’s AI to enhance the image, he and Tidwell could see the czar aircraft and the new shock wave slowly approaching them. Gideon then verified that the images they were seeing were being recorded.
Gideon continued to watch until the shock wave reached the enemy aircraft. As the wave moved through the formation, the enemy aircraft vanished one by one. After the last aircraft vanished, the alarm from the AI tactical system that had reported the enemy formation suddenly stopped. Seconds later the shock wave dissipated.
VTOL Bernice, Planet Leonis
0844—February 28, 2372
“Sir, we’re here, but I can’t see anything, and the sensors aren’t picking up anything,” Tidwell said as Bernice began circling ab
ove the coordinates Michael had given them. They were close to the planet’s equator, and below them vegetation was as thick as a tropical jungle on Earth. The genetically altered plants somehow tolerated and thrived in the intense heat and carbon monoxide as they released oxygen into the atmosphere.
“Disable stealth mode and set the com channel to the channel frequency Michael gave us,” Gideon said.
“Yes, sir,” Tidwell said and disabled Bernice’s stealth mode and set the communications channel frequency.
“Defeated,” Gideon suddenly heard on the communication channel.
“Dragon,” Gideon replied.
“Landing coordinates have been transmitted to you. Land and remain in your ship until contacted,” a voice said.
“Coordinates received, landing now,” Tidwell said.
Tidwell guided Bernice into a narrow crevasse hidden by camouflage netting that retracted. Bernice entered, and the netting closed as soon as the ship cleared the rim of the crevasse. Gideon watched as Tidwell landed on a marked landing pad and shut down Bernice’s systems.
Gideon noted the walls of the crevasse were solid black stone, and the ground was covered with black pebbles and sand. A few buildings stood at one end of the crevasse, and several VTOLs sat on landing pads at the other end. The VTOLs were old US Marine models, probably left behind from the last war with the Council of Czars. Several individuals came out of one of the buildings; most of them were armed and wore old marine combat armor, while the rest wore environmental suits. The armed and armored individuals ran toward Bernice and surrounded her. Gideon noted that at least one of the armed individuals had a deadly Stryker magnetic rail “shotgun” aimed at Bernice. It was an old weapon, but it was powerful and could put 150 holes through the hull of Bernice in a microsecond.
“Have the commander of your group exit the port-access hatch,” a voice said, paused, and added, “Your ship will be destroyed instantly if you try anything suspicious.”
“Tidwell, you know what to do if they try and take us prisoner?” Gideon said.
“Yes, sir,” Tidwell answered, “I’ll set Bernice to self-destruct.
Gideon put his armor helmet on, took off his harness, walked out of the flight deck, and entered the port-access air lock. After the air lock door closed behind him, he opened the external hatch door, and a ladder automatically deployed to the ground. He climbed down the ladder, and as soon as he reached the ground, he held his arms up. One of the armed men approached him, took Gideon’s weapon, and escorted him to the group of people wearing environmental suits.
“Who are you?” one of the men asked.
“I’m Lieutenant Gideon Klaxton, United States Marines,” Gideon said.
“What’re you doing here?” another man asked.
“I’ve completed a mission and have wounded escaped political prisoners aboard requiring medical attention. Also, our ship is damaged, and we need to perform some repairs before we can leave,” Gideon answered.
“What was your mission?” the man asked.
Gideon thought for a second and decided to answer truthfully since he and his team weren’t going anywhere until Bernice was repaired. He and his marines would either die fighting or have time to repair Bernice and leave before the Stephen Hawking left to continue its mission. He’d have to gamble; he didn’t want to stay on Leonis and wouldn’t be taken prisoner. “We rescued Doctor Qasim,” he answered.
“Zeeb,” a man said.
“Wolf,” Gideon replied. He paused and asked, “Vaniah, is that you?”
“Yes, and I’m glad to see you’re still alive, Lieutenant Klaxton. I had to make sure it was you and not an attempt by the czar to attack us,” Vaniah answered. “Men, stand down. They’re friends. Help with the wounded.”
The men surrounding Bernice lowered their weapons and approached the ship’s cargo bay doors.
“Tidwell, open the cargo bay ramp and have Manelly and Kindle help you with repairing the landing gear. Gunny, help get the prisoners with environmental suits off the ship and report to me when you’re done,” Gideon ordered over the platoon channel.
The men chimed acknowledgments.
“Vaniah, there’re some old women and orphan children aboard without environmental suits. We’ll need some suits for them so they can leave the ship. They’re all ill and look as though they’re starving,” Gideon said.
“We have a doctor, and I’ll have her examine them on board your ship before we move them,” Vaniah said. Then he transmitted on a private channel for his doctor to report to him.
“Lieutenant, will you have one of your men escort the doctor aboard when she arrives?” Vaniah requested
“Sipes, you and Doctor Qasim report to me on the double,” Gideon transmitted.
“Yes, sir,” Joseph answered.
The rebel doctor arrived with a medical kit, and Gideon ordered Joseph to escort her to the women and children aboard the ship.
“Lieutenant, would you, Doctor Qasim, and your gunnery sergeant like to come with me and get some food?” Vaniah asked. He paused and added, “I’m curious how you accomplished your mission, Lieutenant.”
“I am a little hungry,” Dr. Qasim said as she rubbed her stomach.
“That sounds good. Thank you,” Gideon answered and then transmitted over the platoon channel. “Tidwell, give me an hourly update on repairs.”
Tidwell chimed an acknowledgment.
They followed Vaniah into a nearby building. The building had a standard air lock entrance, which Gideon now assumed all buildings on the planet had. As soon as they were inside the main building, they took off their helmets. The air was cool and clean, and they could smell food. Tables and chairs took up most of the room’s space.
“This is our cooking and dining facility. Please have a seat, and I’ll have some food and coffee brought out,” Vaniah said as he motioned for them to have a seat. Then he disappeared into the kitchen and reappeared a few minutes later with drinks and food.
Gideon and Xia drank several cups of coffee as they watched Dr. Qasim eat as though she hadn’t eaten in days. Vaniah spoke with Gideon and Xia as Qasim ate and asked questions about what was happening on Earth and the other colony planets; he hadn’t had any real information since the last war with the United States several years ago.
Gideon told him several countries on Earth, including the United States, were at war and many colony planets were warring for one reason or another. They then talked about Mission Origin View and what the marines had been assigned to do as part of the mission. The conversation eventually led Gideon and Xia to state they both thought their time would be better spent on one of the many United States battlefronts.
Eventually, Gideon asked Vaniah about himself, and Vaniah told him his story. Vaniah had once been a model czar citizen, but the United States had recruited him to be an intelligence agent during the last days of the last war with the United States. Czar soldiers had caught and killed his wife, kids, mother, and father as they were trying to get out of the city where they lived. The American military forces commander transmitted a warning message that all civilians should leave before an attack. The Council of Czars stopped the exodus by killing their own people as a warning to other citizens to stay where they were. They hoped to use them as human shields so the American commander wouldn’t attack and kill civilians. Since then, Vaniah had done all he could to overthrow the Council of Czars.
Finally Vaniah asked, “By the way, how were you able to rescue Doctor Qasim and survive?”
“To tell you the truth, Vaniah, we’d be dead if it wasn’t for Michael’s help,” Gideon answered. Then he finished his fourth cup of coffee.
“What’re you talking about?” Vaniah asked with a puzzled look. “Michael and his unit were killed on their way to rendezvous with you.”
“No, you’re wrong. Michael met us; he used the challenge countersign, so he must’ve survived the ambush. He did mention he didn’t have any men to help us and said we didn’t need them,” G
ideon answered. He paused and then said, “Personally, I think the man is insane!”
“I’m sure Michael was killed,” Vaniah said. “Describe Michael for me.”
“He’s a big man, probably six foot four, weighs over two hundred pounds, has dark hair and a beard. He used a weapon shaped like a sword,” Gideon answered, paused, and then asked, “By the way, what type of weapon is the sword? I’d sure like to get a few of those or at least the specs.”
Vaniah still looked confused and answered, “Lieutenant, I assure you Michael didn’t meet you, or at least not the Michael I know. My operative was a woman: blonde hair, five foot four inches. Her code name, Michael, was intentionally used as a way to secure her identity. I have no idea who assisted you.”
Confused, Gideon said, “Okay, so there must’ve been some type of mix-up on our contact. I’d still like to know more about the advanced weapons your rebels are using.”
“You saw the most advanced weapons we have when we surrounded your ship earlier. I was hoping you’d have a few extra weapons you could give us before you leave,” Vaniah said.
Gideon thought for a second and said, “Gunny, pull up the combat video we recorded on the hill outside the political prisoner camp and play it for Vaniah.”
Xia used his Anna interface to call up the video and requested that a view of the combat be shown from the various perspectives of the marines. Xia placed his helmet in the center of the table they were sitting at and requested the videos be projected by his helmet’s external hologram display. A few seconds later the combat video began playing.
Vaniah, Gideon, Xia, and Dr. Qasim watched as the recording showed Michael pull his environmental suit helmet off and toss it away, showing what he looked like. He then reached his right hand behind his head and pulled his weapon out, holding it over his head. It began emitting a bright white light, and thousands of needle-diameter-size light beams erupted from the sword.