“Tell me,” Alex said lowering the rifle. “What did your father do while you were growing up?”
“He drank enough to teach me how not too. As hard as he tried to teach me as his father taught him, and his father before him.”
“He ever tell you why he drank?” Tadpole asked as he approached the two guards with his AR drawn. “My father always told me it was because of how batshit my mother drove him.”
“The only thing he ever mentioned is that this world was not as easy as we wanted, and that he couldn’t do anything about the world.” The guard stated said looking at the floor. “He told me that we would always be divided because of the water, I didn’t buy it.”
“I can assure you in stopping the errors of your father, you are able to set the world right. And that will start today if you stand aside and live.” Alex stated slowly moving the AR to his backside.
“If this decision is as heavy as you are stating,” the guard dropped to his knees and placed his hands behind his head, “ Then take my life if it means peace and us coming back to a balanced world.”
Alex moved towards the door and opened it behind them as Tadpole kept a rifle on the guards. As it slowly creaked open behind the guards the other standing at attention realized the gravity of the situation and slowly moved to his knees, joining the other. There came a noise, echoing within the walls while the door slowly opened, Elijah peaked his head out of the doorway,
“Well I’m glad you didn’t let me wait in here too long Al.” Eli said with a sarcastic tone.
Bringing the weapon back around to his front and handing it to his newly freed companion, Alex joked back. “You know I can put you back in the pantry if you want me to.”
“I’d rather get your boat back.” Elijah said with a smile. “So what are the names of these two?”
Eli moved in front of the two guards. The one still at their knees, spoke first. “My name is Jeremy Lambert, and that is Carl-”.
“Lambert? Al you don’t think that…” Eli said over his shoulder.
Alex walked up to Jeremy and extended his hand, assisting the young man to his feet. He looked into his eyes for a moment and could see the answer to Eli’s question. “Yes, I do. You don’t get much in a much safer place than this leviathan.” He stated as he continued to look into the eyes of the young man no older than himself. “Jeremy, your father drank because he didn’t want to have you learn of the terrors of life he did. And if you and Carl trust me to be your commander, the two of you will walk to the mess hall and begin eating. When the alarm sounds, lock the door and remain inside, tell the men inside to remain calm and it is a drill for the rest of the boat, no one inside the hall will be punished for not being at their post for the drill, tell them it was an Executive Order, one of us will come down and release the doors from the outside when it is over.”
Without question Jeremy turned and began walking towards the mess hall. Carl paused for a moment and jogged to catch up with Jeremy, never turning to look over his shoulder.
Grabbing the pack of gear Tadpole had brought along Alex reached inside for a small side arm and another object placing both into his pockets before divulging his plan.
“Well, first things first,” Alex looked towards the rookie of the group. “Tadpole, you ready to take the training wheels off?”
“Yes sir I am. What do you need me to do?”
Throwing his arm around Tadpole, Eli smiled and nudged the kid’s shoulder with his own. “I knew he was going to be a good fit for us Al. I tell ya you darn kids are always ready to rock and roll.”
Alex Spoke through the smile that was consuming him. “Primary Directive for this unit is to preserve as much human and civilian life as possible. If you can wound a man, its what I prefer. However if it is your life or his, then you go to the Secondary Directive, we all make it home. Those are the two things we abide by you understand?”
“Then If I can ask, why did you choose to fight for this side, ya know with you being from the other and all?” Tadpoles question had never been asked, and thus never thought about by Alex.
“The quick answer,” Eli said. “Is the Primary Directive was compromised. We didn’t necessarily join a side. Due to our Oath, the side picked us, and as long as one side fights for a blatant disregard for human life, we’ll fight against it.” The response would due for now, Alex thought, or at least until he could have a moment where he could take in the world and think instead of reacting to it.
“Now, Al how about we go get your boat back?”
“Right,” Alex said shaking the fog from his mind. “Now here’s the plan.”
1945 Zulu Time
Teller was looking over the shoulder of a sailor busy at his station when he felt an object hit him in the lower right leg. Looking down he saw the cylindrical object bounce off of him and begin to roll to the center of the room. Following it like a dog to a bone, Teller missed the ropes fall violently against the glass dome of the bridge. While he bending over to grab the object, the bulkhead door shrieked shut which brought the XO snapping into a tall, ridged position as the flash bag went off knocking him and many other individuals on the bridge to the ground.
Before anyone was able to shake lose the mental fog that had forced it way upon them, the dome fell to the floor raining hot glass and dust as Elijah and the Tadpole repelled in from the communications tower above. Alex entered through the bulkhead door he had closed with his sidearm drawn and ready for action, the three men quickly secured the pair of armed guards on the bridge, taking away their pistols and encircled the XO still attempting to get from his ass to his knees.
The alarm ringing violently in the ears coupled with the solid red mood lighting continued to take a toll on the sense of those feeling the effects of the flash.
“Rookie!” Alex attempted to yell over the siren’s song, “Go shut off the alarm.”
As ordered, Tadpole ran to one of consoles and cut the sound off, but left the red light on to linger over the men now getting to their feet. Turning back towards the middle of the bridge Tadpole had his AR at the ready, watching his two new teachers, bodies incased in stone, focusing only on the man of the hour in front of them. He moved to enclose the circle quickly ignoring the sounds created by the souls of his boots being cut by the crunching of broken glass, becoming louder with each hurried step.
Grabbing his head with one hand steadying pushing himself up with the other, Teller began to open his eyes squinting to see who was in front of him as his incoherent rumblings brought a smile to Eli’s face.
“What the hell are you idiots doing?” Teller shouted from his knee.
“We’re taking control of this ship regardless of who is at the helm, Commander.”
Eli and Alex looked to where the voice came from; Tadpole had found his voice quickly on the team. Exchanging a look between one another, the three ghosts continued to creep closer.
“The course you have us on will sacrifice everything that we have accomplished if we do not head for the straight. The MLM left the island and they are heading south to Nicaea. The cargo barge carrying them wont fit under the pillar, and its my belief they will try to blow the bridge, they already hold Anderhill and Aurorea. It’s their mission to separate us, and that will be the stake they hope to drive through our will. What hope for democracy is there when they can separate us from the idea that it works? That area has been a DMZ for centuries for a reason. The radicals have already been denounced by their own representatives, what do they have left to do but invade the island and lay the bodies of those who condemned them at their feet and kill them one at a time to send a message to the people?”
Standing, Teller, still one hand to his head, spoke slowly. “And what do you purpose we do?”
Alex holstered his weapon and moved closely to the older man. “Use this armada to make sure they don’t drive that stake deep enough tonight where tomorrow, the world descends deeper into darkness and chaos.”
“And you think you’re th
e one to stop them kid?”
“No, I think we are.” Eli said lowering his weapon, “Against a squad or platoon, the three of us can handle them. But a battalion of fanatics? No one man can fight those odds. The more people around you, the less you fear ghosts in the night.”
The sounds lingered a moment before Teller answered. “And what will happen when the pillar’s crumble and the cupola falls? When to hopes and dreams, and the soul of democracy itself screams out as it falls into that darkness?”
“Grab a candle and jump into the pit after it.”
There was a long pause as Alex’s words poured out of the bridge into the night sky. “We’ll need a heading Sir.” Teller said slowly extending his hand.
“Make sure the weapons are ready Commander, and be ready to open fire.”
The pillar was a glowing ember on the horizon as the MLM had begun their attack on the Bridge of Uriel. It was a muse of fire and Alex heard its call. Rushing to radio the fleet Alex could start to slowly see the fires more clearly.
“All ships arm your batteries and be prepared to fire. When we are within range, dismantle the enemy, we must do everything we can to preserve the cities and the Pillar.” The sure tone in the voice of the fleets commander, disguised his uncertainty as the fire in the distance marched slowly towards them. He couldn’t yet tell if the blaze was the pillar itself or one of the cities ushering any squatters to move from their holdings in the crumbling glory of days past, to the surrounding country, into the cold and barren world of shadow and ill repute.
“Alex, how close are we going to get? We know nothing about their transports. We have no idea if they have weapon capabilities or not.” Eli’s words were quiet scarcely falling on Alex’s ears.
It was something of importance to note, the transports caring such a large amount of men would have to either have some sort of defense, or smaller crafts to quickly strike in support of a larger vessel. It was a question that provided a reason for Alex to alter his approach to their enemy.
Alex reached for the com once again. “All ships, divide into three groups. We’ll need to attack both shorelines. Commander Teller will coordinate from the center. Smaller craft towards the front and be ready for suppressing fire.”
Standing from his chair he turned towards the Commander and motioned for Eli to follow him.
“Do not sink that transport Commander. The least amount of unnecessary death as possible is our objective. Let’s finish this war tonight.” Passing the Commander, Alex signaled for Tadpole to fall in behind and follow as well.
“And where do you go?” Teller said with a hint of laughter in his voice.
“We’re going to make those men howl at the shadows and ghosts. Radio command as soon as you can get them on the line. Advise them to protect the south pillar and have Nicaea evacuated as quickly as they can, that’s their true target, the pillar is just in the way.”
“You’re certain of this?” The Commander finally showing a hint of uncertainty in his demeanor followed with his gaze the men as walked towards the bulkhead.
“The Senate provides the MLM with a fractured front for the country, the barbarism of their leader would not want talks of peace. He’s an absolutist, a fanatic; there is no middle ground for him. His Ideals come pure, regardless of the cost.”
“So is that oath you hold so dear to your heart. It’s just the chaos and blood that’s been spilled has you two at polar opposites young Alexander. Do not think of yourself more a righteous of a man because your cause looks to preserve what to another man is deemed expendable and of no consequence.”
Teller’s words made Alex stop before he reached the threshold. The words lingered in his thoughts as the found their way down his spine and into his core. Were those words true? Was the ‘moral compass’ the only thing that truly separated the two men from one another?
The answer didn’t come quickly. He felt Eli’s hand on his back pushing him through the door way and back into the core of the ship. Alex would have to put it out of his mind until the time called for reflection; combat was imminent, solace was not. Distractions would cause a lack of focus as he and his men made their way into battle, and against an unknown and unpredictable enemy, focus was all that mattered.
“Don’t worry Al,” the familiar voice of reason pierced the veil of his thoughts. “There’s a path I’ll keep ya from going down. That man has nothing vested in the struggle unlike those attempting to take the front line here. He’ll be in the background as support. We’ll do what we’ve been doing since day one,”
“But is he right?” the words found their way out from his mouth.
“No he isn-“
“Who gives a shit?” another voice joined the conversation. “In the months after we win this thing, that’s when they can question what it took to win, not while we are still bleeding.” Looking behind them, the two friends saw the newest member of their cause taking off the jacket he was issued as a member of the NVA, intending to provide his own message to Teller. “But as usual, I see you two may need a driver to whatever hell you’re looking to provoke.”
“You sure you wanna’ be doing that kid?” Eli nodded towards the removal of his jacket. “This is gonna be a little bit more intense than last time. They’ll actually be shooting back this time around.”
The youth snickered “Someone has to drive your ass. I know for a fact you’d run one of those skiffs directly to the bottom of that channel.”
“Keep the boat moving, and we’ll take care of the rest Jon. And if the time comes, shoot at whatever isn’t Eli or myself. Now get the boat prepped and get ready for a wild ride.”
With a smile Tadpole nodded at Alex and took of for the bilge, Eli reached for Alex’s arm to hold him back while the two waited to create some distance between them. “Are you sure about this Al? Ya know, letting the kid get involved with us on this mission?”
“Eli, He’s as old as I am.” Alex said concerned with the question posed to him.
“I just mean he’s too anxious with the whole thing. You at least had a few years of training to prep you. What happens if he freaks out and cant do the job on the boat when we are out there under fire.”
Though his concern was a valid question, Alex could see that the question only scratched the surface of what Eli was trying to communicate.
“Are you concerned for our well being or his? It’s not like you to be concerned all of a sudden. He reminds you of someone doesn’t he?”
The response was only a flicker in his eyes and Alex knew better than before battle to guide the wandering thoughts to a place where they could take a firm hold. After bringing a stranger into the circle himself, Eli saw a reflection of someone he knew in the embodiment of Jon; an embodiment of a ghost maybe, and had shared some sort of connection with. Jon’s eagerness was the attribute, once regarded to be his trait of assimilation was now the thing that may prompt his exile.
“When the time is right, we can address that. For now He’ll let us keep both eyes on the enemy. Trust him to do his part as you have trusted me from the hour you found me upon foreign shores.”
The vessel slowed down and the outside door to the bilge opened letting the three men slip quietly through the night towards the glowing pillar in the distance. Its glow flickered from a rustic to auburn color as the blackness of smoke hung over the two cities on either side of the bridge, pulling a shroud over the heavens, blocking out the full moon. Alex pointed out a large shadow that the orange hue cast on something along the banks of Mispelliem, it was a large oil tanker that he could not remember seeing across the waters the day he saved his brother.
“Take us slowly along the side of that tanker. Eli, watch the rail line a long approach.” He reached for the radio. “Teller, have the gunners scan for heat signatures along the shore and bridge. We’ll disable the transport, with a small explosion, if you see any group mobilizing, open fire. Radio the other boats to set up a blockade at the mouth of the strait. Do not peruse into the channe
l. Deploy all landing craft to take the cities when you see the signal.”
“Copy sir. Personally I don’t like the idea, but it’s your call, and we’re ready to cover.” Teller’s voice was different this time around, more concerned than before. It didn’t go unnoticed by Eli who nudged Alex in an attempt to draw his attention to the tone.
He spoke in his normal mocking tone. “Not so sure I’m ok with him warming up to us like he is Al. Might be better to keep some distance from him still.”
Alex turned with a smile. “You’d be skeptical of a priest giving us communion right now. Which is why you’re my closest advisor Eli. For now, he’s concerned for us because he’s never had to command in battle. He’s a fishermen, not a solider.”
“Bud, I’m not sure if any of us out here are really soldiers.” Eli said quietly.
“We’ll all fighting, we just have to understand what it is for. We’re getting close; I’ll prep the device, get ready for hell to finally fight back.”
“And it all its fury, they’ll just be howling at shadows and ghosts, Al.” looking towards the bridge, Eli’s tone changed. “I know that scream, and where that takes you, even Angels fear to tread.”
Looking at his friend, Alex could see his mind was focused upwards towards Anderhill, where the Tower of the Winds met the bridge. It was apparent to Alex that Elijah, was lost in time. Bringing him back to the present was something that Alex was unsure was a wise thing to attempt, wherever Eli had allowed himself to go, it was best to let him find his way back. One thought however was trudging through his mind as he turned his attention towards the bomb he was arming, a thought of words he read long ago which those lost eyes Elijah had embodied: “Towards thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering whale.”
Pillars of Glass Page 19