by Knox, Barry
The hologram then switched to another series of video segments. They showed Michael again holding his sword over his head. A bolt of lightning from the storm struck the sword, and the light of the sword intensified into a bubble of power that slowly began to grow until it exploded outwardly.
Vaniah looked stunned by what he had seen.
“Here’s another recording I believe came from the same weapon,” Gideon said. He told his Anna, “Anna, send the video recording of the destruction of the fifteen czar aircraft to Gunny’s Anna and play it.” A second later the display showed a recording from Bernice’s rear cameras. A transparent white bubble quickly engulfed and blurred the view of a nuclear mushroom cloud. Then it exploded with a blinding light that generated another shock wave. The onlookers watched as the shock wave expanded from the explosion and the mushroom cloud disappeared. Anna then showed the shock wave as it approached and destroyed the czar aircraft.
“Vaniah, there’s no reason to hide the fact you have some advanced weapons. We’ve seen them in action. I’m confident that if you were to contact the United States government and agree to share your weapons technology, they’d send a naval fleet here to assist you in taking Leonis from czar control,” Gideon said.
“Lieutenant, I assure you the rebel forces on Leonis don’t have the weapons technology you just showed me and the individual who helped you wasn’t a rebel,” Vaniah said with a firm yet honest expression on his face, and added, “I’d also like to know who helped you and also obtain the weapon technology.”
“Doctor Qasim, do you have any idea of the weapon system and who might be using it?” Vaniah asked.
“I know the Council of Czars invests a lot into weapons development like the clouds of intelligent machines that were used against us, but I’ve never heard of anything like the sword,” Qasim answered. She finished her fifth cup of juice and added, “It could be a weapons development scientist that helped develop the weapon and went rogue.”
“If that’s the case, I hope he’ll contact the rebel forces,” Vaniah said.
“If I were you, I wouldn’t wait. I’d try and contact him as soon as you can,” Gideon suggested.
“Any ideas on how to contact him?” Vaniah asked.
“He seems to have compromised your security communications system as demonstrated by the way he knew when and where and what to say when he met us; I’d just transmit an encrypted request for him to meet with you,” Gideon said.
“Not a bad idea, Lieutenant. I think I’ll try that,” Vaniah said.
Rebel Base, Equator, Planet Leonis
1132—February 28, 2372
Vaniah gave Gideon and Xia a tour of the rebel base while Dr. Qasim slept on a couch in the dining facility. Vaniah asked Gideon and Xia to please make any suggestions on what the rebels could to do to strengthen their defenses of the base.
As they were touring the communications center, Anna spoke to Gideon. “Gideon, Sergeant Tidwell wishes to speak to you.”
“Put him on,” Gideon said.
“Sir, I’ve got some good news and some bad news,” Tidwell said.
“Let’s have it,” Gideon said.
“The good news is we found the problem. There’s a crack in the hydraulic cylinder that deploys and retracts the front landing gear. The bad news is we can’t fix it. The backup cylinder is also cracked, and both have to be replaced. Also, the manual retraction and deployment system was removed on this newer model because it was deemed that it was no longer needed,” Tidwell said. He paused and added, “I wish I had the senior engineer here that decided the manual system wasn’t needed. I’d use him for target practice.”
“Do we have the equipment to replace the hydraulic cylinder if we had one?” Gideon asked.
“I’m sure we can improvise and use the tools we have on board,” Tidwell responded.
“Stand by, Tidwell,” Gideon said.
Gideon turned toward Vaniah and asked, “Vaniah, are your VTOLs operational?”
“One is operation, and the others are being cannibalized for parts,” Vaniah answered.
“We need a front landing gear hydraulic cylinder to repair our ship. Can we get one from you?” Gideon asked.
“Sure, Lieutenant, if we haven’t already used them all,” Vaniah said.
“Anna,” Gideon asked, “could we repair Bernice with a cylinder from one of the old VTOLs the rebels have?”
“Sorry, Gideon. The part isn’t compatible,” Anna answered and then added, “Petty Officer Sipes would like to speak to you.”
“Tell him I’m busy, Anna.” Gideon said with a hint of annoyance.
“Gideon, I really think you should talk to him. He might have the solution to Bernice’s landing gear problem and get us back to the Stephen Hawking,” Anna said in a calm voice.
“Put him on and transmit it over the platoon channel,” Gideon told Anna.
“Sir, Sergeant Kindle told me about the landing gear problem. I think I know how we can close the landing gear doors,” Joseph said.
“And how do we do that, Sipes, with the landing gear locked in the deployed mode?” Gideon said.
“Well, sir, why don’t we just remove the landing gear and close the bay doors?” Joseph asked.
Gideon thought for a second, and the simple idea made sense. They could use a maintenance jack from the rebels to support Bernice, remove the gear, close the doors, and take off. They wouldn’t really need the gear to land on the Stephen Hawking.
“Tidwell, can we do that?” Gideon transmitted.
“Yes, sir! I should’ve thought of it myself,” he responded.
“Get on it!” Gideon ordered.
Rebel Base, Equator, Planet Leonis
1632—February 28, 2372
“Sir?” Tidwell transmitted.
“Go ahead, Sergeant,” Gideon said from the rebel base’s small armory.
“We removed the landing gear, and closed the bay doors. The ship’s AI reports no problems and confirms the landing gear bay is sealed. We can leave anytime, sir,” Tidwell said.
“Good job, Tidwell,” Gideon said, and turned to Vaniah. “Vaniah, we’ve completed repairs, and we’re ready to leave.”
“We could use anything you can spare before you leave,” Vaniah said with an expression of hope.
“Gunny, give the rebels all the spare weapons, armor, explosives, grenades, and medical supplies we have on Bernice. They need ‘em more than we do,” Gideon ordered.
“Yes, sir,” Xia answered reluctantly and headed to Bernice to retrieve the supplies.
“Thank you, Lieutenant,” Vaniah said. “I’ll have some of my men help your marines unload those supplies.” Vaniah then transmitted over a private channel the order to have some men assist Xia.
“The only thing I ask in return is that you share any information about the weapon used by the individual who helped us rescue the doctor,” Gideon said.
“I will, Lieutenant. If we obtain the weapon or plans on how to make it, I assure you we’ll contact representatives in your government,” Vanish answered. He paused and continued. “We should have time to tour our medical facility while they’re unloading the supplies.”
***
Vaniah led Gideon to the medical facility, which was small and ill equipped. Gideon saw the doctor who had examined the widows and orphans aboard Bernice, giving care to a few rebel soldiers.
“Lieutenant, I didn’t have a chance to properly introduce you to our doctor earlier. This is Dr. Girand,” Vaniah said. The doctor had short black hair and an olive complexion. She looked to be around forty and wore a jungle-camouflaged armor jumpsuit.
The doctor finished administering an injection on a patient and turned toward Gideon. “Glad to meet you, Lieutenant,” she said with no emotion at all.
“You’ll be happy to know the lieutenant will be giving us all the medical equipment he has aboard his ship before he leaves,” Vaniah said.
The doctor’s attitude toward Gideon seemed to change. She sm
iled and said, “Thank you, Lieutenant. We can use whatever you can spare.”
“Glad to help, Doctor,” Gideon said and asked, “How are the women and children we rescued from the camp? Are they here?”
The doctor’s smile went away as she answered, “They’re all stable at the moment, but a few need better medical care than I can provide. If they don’t receive that care within a day or so, they’ll probably die. We’re taking them off your ship right now,” Dr. Girand said. She looked at Vaniah as if asking for permission to add more, but Vaniah began speaking for her.
“Lieutenant, we can take them, but I wish you would consider taking them with you,” Vaniah said with a sigh.
“I can’t take them with us, Vaniah,” Gideon said.
“I understand, Lieutenant, but I had to ask in hopes you would,” Vaniah said. “You see, Lieutenant, we can’t take care of the women and children and also fight the czars. We simply don’t have the time, food, and facilities to take care of them. And when we release them back into czar society, they’ll be rounded up again sooner or later and sent to another prison camp to die.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, but I can’t take them with me,” Gideon insisted.
A second later an alarm sounded on the rebel base, and a voice spoke over a loud speaker and over all communications channels. “Czar troop transports headed toward the base. I repeat, czar troop transports headed toward the base. Report to your combat assignment areas. Report to your combat areas!”
“Gunny! Have you off-loaded those supplies yet?” Gideon transmitted over the platoon channel so his other marines and Sipes could listen in.
“Yes, sir. Manelly, Kindle, and I are in the rebel armory, helping the rebels stow the explosives,” Xia answered.
“Report to Bernice. We’re leaving ASAP,” Gideon ordered and then transmitted, “Tidwell, get Bernice ready. We’re leaving as soon as we have everyone on board.”
Tidwell chimed an acknowledgment.
“Sipes, where are you?” Gideon asked.
“I’m helping the women and children off the ship, sir!” Joseph answered with a tone of excitement.
“As soon as they’re off the ship, stay there. Understand?” Gideon asked.
“Yes, sir,” Joseph said.
“I’ll go get Doctor Qasim, and we’ll be onboard in a few minutes.” Gideon finished his transmissions to his marines and turned to Vaniah. “We’re leaving as soon as possible. We might be able to assist you as we leave. Contact me aboard our ship, and we’ll coordinate our departure and assist you if we can.”
Vaniah offered his hand and said, “Thank you, Lieutenant, for the supplies and help. I wish you the best on your mission.”
Gideon shook his hand and said, “Good luck! I hope you find Michael and his weapon. There is no doubt that you can overthrow the czars with his help,” Gideon said. He released his hand, turned, and ran toward the dining shelter to find Dr. Qasim.
***
Gideon entered the dining facility and saw Dr. Qasim. She looked worried not knowing what to do or where to go. As soon as she saw Gideon, she sighed with relief.
“Let’s go, Doctor. We’re leaving as soon as we can.” Gideon said, grabbed her by the hand, and they ran toward Bernice as the alarms continued to wail.
“Sir?” Tidwell transmitted.
“Go ahead,” Gideon said as he and Dr. Qasim continued to run.
“I closed the cargo bay. Enter through the port-access hatch,” Tidwell said.
“Right,” Gideon responded. Seconds later he and Dr. Qasim reached the ladder to the access hatch, and Gideon followed Qasim up the ladder and into the hatch. As soon as they were inside, Gideon used the hatch control panel and closed it behind him. He took Dr. Qasim to one of Bernice’s internal passenger cabins and had her strap herself in. Then he proceeded to the flight deck and sat in the copilot’s seat.
“Are we ready?” Gideon asked Tidwell.
“Yes, sir. Everyone’s aboard. We’re sealed and ready to lift off,” Tidwell answered. They put on their flight helmets.
“I told Vaniah we’d coordinate our departure. We might be able to take a few czar transports down on our way out,” Gideon said.
“Sounds good to me, sir,” Tidwell said with a nod.
“Marine VTOL, this is Vaniah. It looks as if the czar transports are flying in a search pattern, probably looking for our base.” Tidwell and Gideon heard from the rebel base communications center, “Our protocol to prevent them from discovering us is to go dark. We’ll be shutting down everything and ceasing transmissions until they stop searching and leave. I request you do the same.”
Tidwell looked at Gideon, waiting for his response.
Gideon thought for a second and transmitted, “We’ll comply.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant,” Vaniah said.
“Shut her down, Tidwell,” Gideon ordered and then transmitted over the platoon channel, “It looks like the czar aircraft are just looking for this base. We’re going to shut down and stay put until they leave the area. No transmissions of any kind until I tell you. Got it?”
Everyone aboard chimed acknowledgments.
Gideon and Tidwell took off their helmets. “Sir, we have to leave by twenty hundred hours to get back to the Hawking before it departs,” Tidwell said.
“I know, Sergeant,” Gideon said as he looked at his watch and noted it was now 1745. He added, “We’ll leave by nineteen thirty no matter what. I don’t want to give away the rebels’ base location, but I’ll do what I have to do to complete the mission.”
“Yes, sir,” Tidwell said, relieved.
Rebel Base, Equator, Planet Leonis
1832—February 28, 2372
Bernice shook as the czar transports began to randomly bombard the jungle area while flying their search grid. Gideon assumed the czar transports were hoping the rebels would get nervous and do something to give away their location. Seconds turned into minutes as the bombardment got closer and closer until several air-to-ground missiles from the czar transports penetrated the retractable camouflage cover over the rebel base and exploded within the base. One missile destroyed a rebel building as another missile exploded between Bernice and the old marine VTOLs sitting on the other side of the ravine.
“Sir!” Tidwell yelled as he pointed at a figure running toward them.
Gideon looked and saw Dr. Girand making her way to Bernice. Several more missiles hit the base, and the explosions knocked her to the ground.
“What’s she doing?” Gideon asked aloud and sighed. “Tidwell, use emergency battery power and open the port-access hatch.” Gideon grabbed his combat armor helmet and began putting it on his head as he made his way to the port-access hatch. When he arrived, the hatch was open, and the ladder was extended. Czar missiles continued to rain down and were luckily landing in open areas and not on buildings. As Gideon made his way down the ladder, Dr. Girand saw him and started half-crawling and half-walking toward him. She arrived as Gideon reached the base of the ladder and stepped off. She wasn’t trying to contact him from any communications channels, and he didn’t dare transmit a message to her so he motioned with his hand for her to climb the ladder. She obeyed, and he followed her into Bernice.
“Doctor, are you crazy?” Gideon shouted at her after they had both reached the air lock and removed their helmets.
“The old women and children,” she said, trying to catch her breath. “Please take them with you. If they stay on Leonis, they’ll be killed!”
Gideon stood there, shocked. “You mean, you ran here during a missile raid to tell me that?” he gasped and then added, “I’m not taking them with us, and why do you care what happens to them?”
“I didn’t care what happened to them when they arrived,” she started to explain as tears filled her eyes. “I’ve been a rebel since the United States left after the last war, and I see the dying and dead every day. I thought I was used to it, and I didn’t want any more emotional attachments to anyone.” She pause
d as she wiped tears that were now streaming down her face and continued. “While I was examining the women and children, I began talking to Petty Officer Sipes. He was truly concerned about their health and safety and told me he would do anything he could to save them. It was while I was treating the women and children and talking with him that I realized how callous I’d become toward people. Since the czar transports arrived, I’ve been in the medical faculty, reading parts of the book he gave me. Something happened to me while I was reading, and I had to ask you once more to take them with you.”
Gideon didn’t know how to respond and didn’t really think he had to. The whole matter wasn’t his responsibility, and he thought it was a waste of his time to help the women and children. He had a mission to complete, and he needed to keep the rest of his men alive. One marine had already been loss, and he didn’t want to lose another.
“Sir!” Tidwell yelled as he opened the inner door to the air lock. “Czar troops are rappelling into the crevasse.”
“Let’s get out of here!” Gideon ordered.
“On my way, sir,” Tidwell said and scrambled back to the flight deck
“Doctor, you have about thirty seconds to leave before we take off,” Gideon said. She looked at Gideon as she continued to cry and placed her helmet on. Gideon turned, walked out of the air lock, and closed the inner door behind him. He then opened the outer door and watched as Dr. Girand exited. As soon as she stepped onto the ground, he retracted the ladder and closed the outer door. He watched as she scrambled under a nearby vehicle for cover. He then transmitted over the platoon channel, “There are czar troops on the base. We’re taking off ASAP.”
Everyone chimed an acknowledgment.
Gideon raced back to the flight deck, felt the engines of Bernice start, and sat in the copilot seat. He looked out of the canopy and saw several czar soldiers running toward Bernice with weapons’ firing. Laser pulses and mag rail rounds from their standard issue weapons hit the hull of Bernice, doing little damage. As soon as Bernice was completely powered up, Tidwell switched on shields. The shields’ energy field was now either absorbing or deflecting enemy laser fire and mag rounds. Gideon looked at another part of the base and saw rebel and czar soldiers in a firefight.