by Knox, Barry
“Ready to leave, sir,” Tidwell said.
“Can you give those rebels some help?” Gideon asked as he pointed.
Tidwell pulled up a weapons console and selected the ship’s belly particle-beam turret. The turret activated, and Tidwell began firing at the czar soldiers. Particle beams slashed through the soldiers and halted their advance. Gideon looked around for other targets for Tidwell and saw several burning buildings. A moment later, he saw several people running out of one of the buildings. As they exited, czar soldiers opened up laser fire and burned holes through their environmental suits. Before he could point out the czar soldiers, Tidwell had already started firing and cut them down.
Gideon then saw more people coming out of the building. They were in environmental suits and were carrying environmental carry bags or holding the hands of children in children-sized environmental suits. They were confused, not knowing where to go and what to do, so they just sat down on the ground and huddled together. It was the old widows and children. Gideon assumed the environmental carry bags held the babies.
“Gunny, the old women and children are about fifty yards off the port side of the ship. I want you, Manelly, Kindle, and Sipes to go get ‘em and bring ‘em aboard. We’ll provide covering fire,” Gideon ordered over the platoon channel.
Xia chimed an acknowledgment.
Gideon brought up a control panel, began lowering the cargo bay door, and disabled shields. Seconds later he saw his marines and Sipes race toward the women and children. Gideon then left the flight deck and went to the cargo bay so he could cover them as they returned. Czar soldiers who were still firing at Bernice now directed their fire toward the marines and Joseph. Tidwell continued to fire the turret as covering fire.
The marines and Joseph reached the huddled group of women and children, and began herding them to Bernice. Joseph took some of the babies and smaller children in his large arms and carried them. Xia led the way back as Manelly and Kindle covered their rear. Czar laser fire was mostly going over their heads, but a few hit the marines’ armor. Luckily the czar lasers weren’t powerful and burned only about an eighth of an inch into their armor. Seeing the laser fire was not effective against the marines, the czar soldiers started targeting the women and children with laser and the marines with mag rails.
Tidwell was doing an effective job of keeping the czar soldiers fire to a minimum, but several laser beams hit two of the older women, and they fell. Manelly holstered his weapon, put one woman over his shoulder, and began dragging the other. Now, only a few yards from the rear cargo bay door, Gideon began covering them with mag rail rounds. Joseph and Manelly got the women and children on board as Xia, Kindle, and Gideon continued to provide covering fire.
A czar mag rail projectile struck Xia on his upper right shoulder. The impact knocked him twenty yards through the air, and he stopped when he hit a stack of rebel crates containing various land vehicle spare parts. Xia lay on the ground, unconscious from the violent impact. His armor had cracked, and oxygen was escaping as the temperature inside was increasing. Another czar mag rail projectile hit the crates above him, and while several crates were knocked away by the impact, a single crate fell forward and landed on Xia’s left leg.
“Gunny is down! Manelly, Sipes, go and get him on the double!” Gideon yelled.
***
Within seconds Sipes and Manelly were down the cargo bay ramp and ran to Xia. Manelly began lifting the crate off Xia’s leg as Joseph placed a plastanium patch on Xia’s shoulder where the armor had cracked. Joseph grimaced as he noted Xia’s right arm was twisted and hung from his shoulder in a way that indicated there was serious damage. The patch sealed Xia’s armor in seconds, and Manelly struggled to lift the crate off Xia’s leg.
Another mag rail projectile impacted another stack of nearby crates, and the shock of the impact knocked Manelly forward. His helmeted head struck the crate he was trying to lift and knocked him out. Manelly fell to the ground alongside Xia.
As the firefight continued, Joseph, knowing he had to save both Xia and Manelly, tried to lift the heavy crate himself. The crate wouldn’t budge, and Joseph yelled inside his helmet as he tried again, “Michael, you promised me everyone would get back to the ship safe!” After he yelled those words, he easily lifted the crate and pushed it away. Joseph then picked up Xia, placed him over his shoulder, grasped Manelly’s left arm, and began dragging him while carrying Xia.
***
Tidwell, Gideon, and Kindle continued to suppress the enemy fire until Joseph was aboard with the injured marines. Gideon stopped firing, rushed to the cargo bay control panel, and closed the cargo doors.
“Hit it, Tidwell!” Gideon yelled over the platoon channel.
Bernice lifted off and began to climb out of the crevasse. Tidwell turned the ship’s shields back on and set the weapons system to automatic, allowing the ship’s AI to target and fire at any enemy positions that fired on Bernice. Tidwell then engaged stealth mode, and within seconds Bernice was out of the crevasse. Tidwell hugged the ground as he increased speed to leave the area.
“We’re clear, sir,” Tidwell reported over the platoon channel.
“How many czar transports are attacking the rebel base?” Gideon asked.
Tidwell looked at the enemy threat display and said, “Six, sir. Four air-to-ground aircraft and two troop transports.”
“Can you fly an attack vector just before we blast out of the atmosphere?” Gideon asked.
“Yes, sir!” Tidwell answered. Tidwell requested the tactical AI to calculate weapons’ trajectory to the targets and allowed fully automated firing control as he turned Bernice into an escape velocity vector that would take her over the enemy aircraft. The AI performed the attack calculations based on the escape velocity vector, and as Bernice picked up speed to escape velocity, the AI initiated the attack. The weapons bay opened, and the magnetic rail gun pod dropped, rotated, and locked into firing position and fired. Microseconds later the mag rail projectiles streaked to the targets and destroyed the six enemy ships simultaneously.
“Enemy aircraft destroyed, sir,” Tidwell reported with relief.
As soon as Bernice reached space, Tidwell said, “Sir, you have a transmission coming in.”
“Pipe it to my private channel,” Gideon said.
***
“Thanks or your assistance, Lieutenant,” Vaniah said.
“You’re welcome. I look forward to meeting you again under better circumstances,” Gideon said.
“Hopefully, that’ll be soon if we can find the Michael who assisted you. Good luck on your mission. Vaniah out.”
Gideon took his helmet off and checked on his injured marines. Kindle had already removed Xia’s helmet and armor, and applied a nano bandage over his shoulder and upper arm wound and around his left leg. He was now using his hand scanner to see if there were any other injuries. Manelly had regained consciousness and removed his helmet; then he gave himself an injection of stimulants to clear his head. Joseph was busily performing basic medical care and placing nano bandages on the women and children whom a laser had shot.
“How is Gunny?” Gideon asked Kindle.
“He’s torn up pretty bad, but it’s not life threatening. I’ve applied nano patches and knocked him out so he won’t come around until he’s aboard the Hawking,” Kindle said. He paused and added, “He’s lucky, sir, that mag rail round hit him at a glancing blow. If it had hit him straight on, it would have torn his shoulder off.”
Gideon walked over and kneeled down to take a look at Manelly. “You all right, Marine?”
“Yes, sir. Dizzy but coming around,” Manelly said, then shook his head from side to side, hoping that would help his head clear sooner. Then he added, “What happened, sir? I don’t remember much after I left Bernice to help gunny.”
“I’ll tell you later, but you can thank Sipes for dragging you aboard!” Gideon said with a smile, certain if he told him everything that had happened, Manelly wouldn’t remember
what was said tomorrow.
Gideon made his way to Joseph and watched as he was tending to one of the old women. “How are they, Sipes?”
“I’ve done as much as I can, sir, but they need…really need help like Doctor Garand told you.” Joseph said and turned toward Gideon. “I bet doc Pettway can fix them up.”
Gideon slapped Joseph on the shoulder and said, “Don’t worry, Sipes. We’re heading to the Stephen Hawking. It looks like the women and children will be coming with us.”
Joseph gave Gideon a big grin.
“Lieutenant,” Tidwell transmitted over the ship’s intercom. Gideon walked to a nearby communication console and answered. “What is it, Tidwell?”
“Sir, in case you haven’t already realized it…we won’t make it back to the Stephen Hawking before it’s scheduled to leave,” Tidwell said.
“Enable the BHP drive as soon as possible and make the best possible speed,” Gideon said. “Hopefully, Captain Bowser will give us a few extra minutes.”
Combat Control Center, SRS Stephen Hawking
2223—February 28, 2372
Mary sat in the Triple C with Corporal Gault. The extract team should have already arrived and were twenty-three minutes late. She hadn’t left to continue the mission as planned, hoping Bernice would be back by 2230. Mary had already decided to give them the extra time by calculating how long she could stay and still get away, assuming the worst-case scenario that the extract team was caught and the Council of Czars space defense fleet was heading toward her ship. Corporal Gault sat in front of a sensor console, looking for Bernice to appear at any time.
Minutes ticked by, and the ship’s clock eventually reported 2230. “Time to leave,” Mary said as she pulled up a command console.
“Sir, I request we remain here for another half hour,” Gault said before Mary had time to speak to the bridge.
“I’m sorry, Corporal, but I’ve already given them half an hour. I have to assume they’ve been captured or dead. I can’t ignore the possibility that they’ve been tortured and told them our location,” Mary explained.
“Sir, with all due respect, I think I know how Marine Special Ops teams operate better than you,” Gault said. He took a deep breath and continued. “I can assure you they wouldn’t allow themselves to be captured.”
Mary hesitated contacting the bridge and looked at Gault. “You’re telling me they’d die before being taken prisoner?”
“Yes, sir,” Gault answered without hesitation.
“How about Sipes? He’s not a marine, and I’m sure if he were captured, he’d talk,” Mary said.
“Yes, sir. He probably would, but the marines wouldn’t allow him to be taken alive,” Gault responded coldly.
Mary opened the communications screen to the bridge and said, “Commander Steward, prepare to depart the system. We’ll leave at twenty-three hundred.”
Marine Assault VTOL Bernice, Leonis System
2256—February 28, 2372
Bernice exited the time-speed dimension, and Tidwell immediately set a course toward where the Stephen Hawking should be.
“Think they waited for us, sir?” Tidwell asked.
“We’ll find out in a few seconds,” Gideon said, trying not to sound overly concerned.
A minute later the Stephen Hawking appeared on Bernice’s tactical sensor. “Laser a message, request permission to dock, and have an emergency medical team standing by,” Gideon said as soon as he saw the Hawking appear on the display.
“Yes, sir!” Tidwell said as he brought up a communications console.
***
Bernice entered the Stephen Hawking’s hangar, and Tidwell rested the nose of Bernice on a landing gear repair jack that had been set up for him to land on. As soon as Bernice was secured, the hangar bay doors closed, and the gravity plates were enabled. Dr. Pettway entered first with her medical team, followed by Mary and Gault. Tidwell opened the rear cargo bay ramp, and Mary and Gault watched the medical team rush on board. A minute later the medical team carried off Xia followed by the covered body of Sergeant Mucha. Gideon exited next with Dr. Qasim and walked toward Mary. Mary watched as the rest of the marines and Joseph exited, carrying some children or helping the injured old women down the ramp.
“Sir, mission successful. We have acquired Doctor Qasim,” Gideon reported as he saluted.
“Glad to have you back, Lieutenant, and I’m sorry for the loss of your team member,” Mary said as she returned his salute, “Debriefing in my quarters in an hour.”
“Yes, sir,” Gideon said.
“Anna, tell Commander Steward to depart the system as soon as possible,” Mary ordered her Anna.
Part Five: Destination Observation Point
QMAC, Mission Control Center, SRS Stephen Hawking
0900—February 29, 2372
“Captain Bowser, thank you for your briefing of the marine rescue missions and current ship status,” Admiral Frank said. He paused a few seconds as he reviewed another holographic report that appeared on his conference table console and added, “Lieutenant Klaxton?”
“Yes, sir,” Gideon said as he stood alongside Mary at attention.
“I was just officially notified that my request that you be permanently promoted to first lieutenant has been approved. I’m also pleased to tell you that the medal recommendations submitted by Captain Bowser have been approved. Petty Officer Sipes, Lieutenant Klaxton, and Captain Neubauer have been awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal. The recommendations for Purple Hearts have also been approved for everyone that has been wounded or killed in action. Also, inform your marines they have all been permanently promoted one grade,” Admiral Frank said.
“Thank you, sir,” Gideon said.
Admiral Frank’s serious facial expression relaxed and he smiled, “You all deserve it. Everyone did an outstanding job of acquiring the three doctors who will ensure the success of Mission Origin View. And a personal thanks for the valuable intelligence information you gathered on the weapon systems being used on Leonis.”
“Yes, sir,” Gideon said.
“That is all I have,” Admiral Frank said and asked, “Anything else, Captain, Lieutenant?”
“No, sir,” Mary and Gideon answered together and then sat down.
The QMAC communications device then focused on Dr. Layton, who was seated at the table with Admiral Frank. Layton smiled and said, “I want to welcome Doctor Kastriva, Doctor Bailey, and Doctor Qasim to our team. My apologies for the way we had to recruit you. The United States used the proper diplomatic channels to request your assistance with this project, and the responses we received from your governments led us to believe you were all being held against your wills. It was decided that, as part of this mission, we would rescue you and allow you to decide if you wanted to be part of this historic mission. I’m glad you have all decided to help.”
“Speaking for myself, and I think I can speak for the other doctors as well”—Dr. Kastriva looked at Dr. Bailey and Dr. Qasim, who were seated to his left. Both doctors nodded their agreement as Kastriva looked back at the QMAC display of Dr. Layton and continued—“we’re happy to be a part of this mission and want to do everything we can to make it a success. This is a scientific project that will go down in history, and we’ll be known as the men and women who confirmed how life on Earth originated.”
“I’m glad to hear that, Doctor Kastriva,” Dr. Layton responded and directed a question to Dr. Harper. “Doctor Harper, have you given our new team members a complete briefing of the mission and familiarized them with the technology they’ll be using?”
“Yes, Doctor, I have. I’ve already tasked Stephen to create several Earth simulations so the doctors can use the sensor arrays and applications that will be used when we reach the observation points,” Dr. Harper said.
“Very well, it sounds like everything is going as planned,” Dr. Layton said with a big smile and turned his attention to Mary. “Captain Bowser, when do you expect to reach the first ob
servation point?”
Mary pulled up a holographic display, studied it for a few seconds, and answered, “I’m going to perform a complete ship’s systems inspection and perform thorough testing for the next two days. After I’m comfortable that all systems check out, we’ll enable the HPS drive on March the third at zero six hundred hours. At one hundred percent power, we’ll arrive at the first observation point on April the first at sixteen forty-five.”
“Excellent, Captain. That concludes our meeting today. Our next contact will be immediately after the Stephen Hawking arrives at the first observation point,” Dr. Layton said and paused. “Does anyone have any questions or comments before we drop our communication channel?” After waiting several seconds for someone to speak, Dr. Layton said, “Good luck. We will meet again on April the first.”
A second later the QMAC connection closed.
Marine Armory, SRS Stephen Hawking
1643—February 29, 2372
Gideon sat at the ship’s marine detachment commander’s desk, putting the final touches on a duty roster. Though he had only four marines who could technically be assigned duty, his detachment was still responsible for maintaining the ship’s security and guarding the nuclear weapons in the marine armory. The schedule had his marines working sixteen-hour shifts with eight hours off for the duration of the mission. Because of his injury, Corporal Gault was assigned permanent duty to the armory since it was a limited area to guard. The other marines would rotate duty stations on the bridge, engineering, and walking security. Gideon had also assigned himself to daily eight-hour guard duty each night, adding to his administrative duties, to make sure his marines would get a good night’s sleep at least once a week.
“Anna, please send the duty roster to the platoon,” Gideon said.