Here Comes Earth: Emergence
Page 30
At any rate, we had a long trip ahead of us and I still hadn’t quite figured out how to tell Julie that there was no way on God’s green earth she was going to be on the raid that boarded the Noridian ship.
ΔΔΔ
“I’m telling you Matt, she’s a natural.”
Major Mike ‘Iron Jaw’ Reynolds seemed to think my reluctance to let Julie play commando was based on me not believing his reports on her training.
“She’s literally got the highest marksmanship of any of the civilians - #1 on the rifle and #7 on the handgun. She throws herself into every training scenario and rarely makes the same mistake twice. Her hand-to-hand still sucks but all the civvies do. We’d already planned on pairing them with our soldiers so it’d be less of an issue.”
He wouldn’t be pressing on this issue except that we’d already determined we were going to need civilian help to take the Noridian ship. It was just too big and our need to take it out quickly, before alarms could be raised, had reduced us to planning a surprise Blitzkrieg type of operation. We’d use deception to get on board and then take out the resistance (hopefully) before they could get a message to either their colleagues planetside, or back with the dynasty.
Unfortunately, for this to succeed we needed more shooters than what we had. We were going to have to use some civilians.
But I really didn’t want Julie to be one of them.
I had a number of very good reasons for this. She had become the unspoken leader of our unofficial ‘Keep Earth Free’ movement and the Noridian ship raid could very well turn into a suicide mission. If everything went perfectly the boarding team would be fine but she had become too valuable for such risks – or so I told myself.
Besides I had another mission in mind for her…
When we took out the ship someone was going to have to declare ourselves to the Earth authorities. Someone was going to have to explain why we’d just killed the nice aliens that were promising to give us great technology and protect us from the bad aliens.
I was pretty sure that that kind of message needed to come from our civilians and not just our military.
We also had no idea how many of the Noridians would be left down on the planet.
I had just finished explaining to Iron Jaw that I wanted him to lead the boarding party and about the other mission I had in mind for Julie when he asked how we were going to keep the Noridians left on the planet from sending a message back to the Noridian Dynasty.
“Mike, we’re going to have to time this carefully,” I responded. “But taking the ship will also shut down the communications node that connects them to the rest of the galaxy.
“Silva has assured me that if he times his bioware ‘cyber-attack’ on the Noridian ship correctly we’ll be covering all those bases.”
“Can we trust him?” Iron Jaw asked.
“This part of the operation is definitely in Coridia’s best interest and he struck me as competent before he revealed himself as an alien so yeah, if he says he and his team can pull it off I think we have to go with it – besides, we don’t really have a choice.
“His attack is in two stages,” I continued. “The first part is deception. He says once we’re in range he can make direct contact with the Noridian ship; making it think we’re friendly, preventing it from creating an alarm, and allowing us on board.
“The second part he can’t hide from the local Noridian personnel. His team will literally wrest away control of the ship, including communications, navigation, and weapons. When he shuts down the ships communications network the Noridians won’t be able to talk to each other let alone anyone light-years away.”
“So we need to coordinate our boarding raid with the second stage of his attack,” Mike surmised.
“That’s the way I see it,” I agreed. “And you’re going to need to take out the ship’s personnel ASAP – the faster you do it the easier it will be for Silva to secure his control of the ship.”
The boarding operation was tremendously complicated by the fact that we had no idea where on the ship the Noridians would be. Since they controlled everything with their bioware there were no control panels or switches – in fact there wasn’t even a control room or bridge. There was an engineering room of sorts but Silva said that it typically wasn’t manned. They could literally control everything while eating breakfast in one of the common areas or sitting on the can for that matter.
Mike’s team was going to have to fan out and quietly search the entire ship – fast. When they found a Noridian there wouldn’t be orders to freeze or surrender; they would be immediately and quietly shot in the head, preferably from behind, so they couldn’t mentally raise an alarm.
In addition to marksmanship we’d had to screen the civilian scientists for the mental toughness to take out the Noridians in cold blood – it was surprising how many of them were good to go but then there was a lot at stake and they’d been through a lot.
“Before that happens though Toni has agreed to pilot Julie and me down to the surface in a stealthed shuttle. I think it’s important that we’re close to the authorities when everything goes down. I’ll be taking Captain Kamiko with us for extra security as well as the scientists that you don’t think will cut it in combat, but other than that the rest of the team is yours. I don’t see any reason to leave anyone behind on the Coridian ship.”
Chapter 36
Dr. Julie Schein
‘Finally!’ Julie thought to herself as she watched Larga grow small in the view screen. We’re finally heading back to Earth.
Being into action felt good. It made her feel empowered; strong.
After the Noridian attack she’d felt helpless and more scared than she’d ever known. She hated that feeling and she hated the Noridians for making her feel that way and she hated them for the killing and…
Now she was into action; now she was in control.
She was stronger than Jaki and Julie would make her pay. It wasn’t revenge she told herself; it was justice.
When they arrived back at Earth they’d take out the Noridian ship and then… Then what? Somehow Julie couldn’t make herself really focus on what would come after; it would all work itself out. She just had to do her part.
She could see herself boarding the Noridian ship and shooting every Noridian she found. She visualized going around a corner and then pulling the trigger; once, twice, three times.
When the time came she would be ready.
ΔΔΔ
“Some of you think that this is a Sig Saur 9mm P238 handgun. It’s not,” lectured Major Mike Reynolds to the civilians gathered in front of him. “This is your best friend; your protector; your lover. You will learn to care for her and make her an extension of yourself – as familiar as your right leg or left arm.
“You will treat her like your baby and clean and oil her as if your life depended upon it – because it probably will. If I find even a speck of dirt or corrosion on any of your weapons at any time other than on this firing range during a live-fire exercise I will personally kick your butt and then let one of the Coridian healing machines put you back together so I can kick it again.
“This mission to board and commandeer the Noridian spacecraft that we’re all so familiar with is the most important military mission in the history of the human race. You will listen and learn from myself and the other trainers. You will become a fighting machine that achieves your one and only mission – to take that ship.
“The lives of your fellow scientists and military personnel are in your hands. Every individual on this mission will perform perfectly. You will not let them down.
“You will train until you could perform the mission in your sleep. You will do exactly what we tell you to do when we tell you to do it. You will become confident in your ability.
“If I think for even a moment that any of you can’t hold up your part of the mission I will pull you from the team; making it harder for everyone else; and possibly endangering Earth’s future.
Julie felt the words reverberate around her as she stared at the pistol on the bench in front of her. She’d never fired a gun of any kind before but she knew more or less how it worked and she wasn’t scared of it.
Back on Earth many of her colleagues were anti-gun and were always talking about needing stricter gun control laws. She’d never really paid much attention. She’d never before had any desire to personally own a gun but she didn’t really see how making guns illegal would help anything. After all, the criminals and mentally ill patients she had dealt with didn’t necessarily follow the laws anyway.
But now when she looked at it what she saw was her path to redemption, a tool to use in bringing the Noridians to justice. It embodied the power and might of being just and right.
She would master this weapon and throw herself into the training. Nothing would stop them from taking out that ship.
ΔΔΔ
Because of her determination Julie did well enough with the pistol but she found she had a real knack for the M4A1 rifle. The unfolded stock sat snuggly against her shoulder and when she brought it up and looked through the sites she felt perfectly poised and in balance. It couldn’t have fit her any better if it had been designed specifically for her.
The pistol was a tool but the rifle was an extension of her will. She actually enjoyed seeing the targets scored and didn’t even have to consciously think about her aim; she visualized the target and it was a hit.
Ironically, it was her love of the rifle that started her on that path to healing. Even if she wasn’t in the same league as the shooters she was good enough to earn their respect and the comradery that entailed. She avoided any conversation about what happened on Stiger but just hearing others talking and laughing about previous missions and dangerous situations helped normalize some of Julie’s turmoil.
She still couldn’t sleep the entire night through without nightmares of running for her life but she was starting to subconsciously realize that others had gone through similar situations and survived.
Dr. Mom was the first person to actually bring up the subject of Julie’s mental health.
“My, I think you might actually wear that treadmill out; you’ve set a fast pace for yourself.”
“Toni! I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in the gym before!” responded Julie.
Laughing, Toni said, “No, this is not usually one of my hangouts but I thought I might find you here. I was hoping we might talk; I was hoping to get some advice from you but I don’t want to interrupt your exercise.”
Julie had already slowed the treadmill and was allowing it to come to a stop.
“No, that’s fine. I was almost finished anyway. What did you want to talk about?”
“You know what? You need to clean up and my cabin would be more private anyway… Why don’t you meet me there in 20 minutes and I’ll have some tea ready for us?”
Julie agreed and walked into the locker room. She couldn’t help but wonder what Toni wanted advice on as she showered and changed.
The accommodations back in her cabin were fine but as far as she knew this was the only place on the entire ship were you could take a real water shower.
The Coridians, she’d been told, had no need of exercise facilities; their medical nano kept their bodies lean and to a preprogrammed bulk as well as in good cardiovascular fitness. This entire portion of the ship had been created for the Earthers and tailored after a workout facility on Earth, complete with equipment, his and her locker rooms, and running water.
Julie hadn’t realized how much she’d missed the feel of warm water running across her skin. Exercise had always provided her with a release from some of the pressure she always placed on herself and the shower was a great place to let her thoughts roam free and just think.
Unlike many women she’d known she didn’t prefer baths and she didn’t worry about getting her long hair wet; she luxuriated in submerging herself in the strong needles of water that massaged her scalp, neck, and shoulders. Many of her life’s insights and solutions had occurred to her underneath that spray and finding this locker room on the ship had been a Godsend.
She toweled herself off, changed her clothes, and more or less dried her hair before heading to Toni’s cabin. Once she arrived Toni invited her to have a seat in the living area.
“Thank you for coming Julie,” she said as she served the tea. “I know we originally became friends under false pretenses but for me the friendship part wasn’t false.”
“Toni,” Julie paused. “I haven’t really had time to sort out my feelings but I don’t hold any grudges against you. It’s hard for me not to think of you as my friend and colleague so why don’t we just value the friendship?”
“I’d like that Julie and sometimes it’s easy for me to forget just how fast things must be moving for you. There have been a lot of revelations over the last few months for all of us but for your team it’s been ten times as complicated as it has been for me. How are you holding up?”
“Fine,” she responded. “I’m tired and I’ll admit to being a little frazzled but I’m good.”
Toni didn’t respond. Instead she took a sip of her tea.
Eventually Julie spoke again, “I’m still mad as Hell but I’m dealing with it.”
“Are you?”
“Yes, definitely. I have a valid reason for being angry and I’m channeling that anger into a productive purpose.”
“You mean practicing to kill the Noridians.” It wasn’t a question.
“I mean our training to take the Noridian ship,” Julie responded with an edge.
“Yes, of course,” Toni responded. “I understand why that’s so important for you. For Earth.
“You know,” she continued. “You’ve become quite the leader to your people.”
“I’m not trying to lead anyone,” Julie said. “That’s Major Reagan’s job. I just know what needs doing and I’m going to make sure it gets done.”
Another pause while Toni sipped her tea.
“You know that in my culture we don’t use currency, we use respect as our money. I’m not always sure that all the implications of that have really sunk in for many of you. One aspect of it is that we are very in tune with how people treat each other and how much influence an individual might have.
“Whether you realize it or not Julie you are a leader among your people.”
“So Toni, is this about you trying to convince me that a Coridian Protectorship is Earth’s best hope? You think I have influence with others so you want to influence me?”
“No Julie, I just think you’re overlooking some important and obvious things and I’m challenging you to ask yourself why…”
Suddenly Julie was uncertain again. She thought that Toni could still be a friend yet now she found herself questioning her motives. Wasn’t there anyone she could trust?
“I don’t think I’m overlooking anything Toni. Earth has to remain free and I’m not going to rest until that happens.”
“Yes, I understand that you will not waiver from that but why then would you risk that goal for personal gratification?”
What? What was she talking about?
“I’m not risking anything!”
“Julie, you have become important to your entire team. You are important to Coridians because you understand the true nature of the Noridian threat and I suspect you will be important to the people of Earth for the same reason as well as for them to see your resolve – even if that resolve is different than I might wish.”
Toni continued, “The reason I’m talking to you is because I’m worried about you. I’m worried that there is something inside you that needs personal revenge against the Noridians; and I think that need for personal revenge is clouding your judgment.”
“What are you talking about Toni? That Noridian ship has to be taken out!”
“Yes Julie, but you don’t have to be one of the people that do it. You’re far too
important to risk like that – and if you were thinking clearly you’d see that.”
“Your concern is noted but in our situation everyone has to take risks – look at Mark,” she said with suddenly tearing eyes. “He’s half-way across the galaxy and I’ll probably never see him again! If the majors thought it was a bad idea they wouldn’t put me on the boarding party in the first place but the ship has to go down and I’m going to be one of the people that takes it down.”