by Chris Hechtl
“Not good.” He ducked instinctively as the supply truck materialized, bounced then rolled out. “Not good, not good, not good,” he huffed watching the vortex scoot back another five or six meters. He felt so helpless. There wasn't a damn thing he could do and he knew it.
“We're running out of time,” Perry said watching the vortex creeping slowly away.
Ryans scowled, face bleak. “You mean we're running out of land. Yeah, we need electromagnets in front or behind to get this thing stable. That storm is drawing it out to sea away from these rocks.”
“Ask me for anything but time,” Perry muttered.
Max waved then touched his radio. “Doc Roshenko thinks this plateau has an iron ferrite core. He's found quite a few rusty red rocks. It's screwing up our electrical systems and messing up the radio. Want me to set up the weather array?”
Ryans shook his head. “No, get the vehicles and as much gear as you can salvage clear of the path of the vortex and to high ground. Work with Waters. Police the ground for any debris but stay out of the path of the landing zone,” he replied absently looking at the red rocks nearby. “Get Patterson to break out the long range transmitter and try to punch a signal through to base to warn them about the vortex.”
“What about it?” Max asked then looked at the streak of burnt grass then to the cliff beyond. He looked at their concerned voices and nodded. “Ah, Okay, gotcha boss.” He turned to view Patterson, but she waved him off. “Looks like she's already on it boss,” he said turning back. He winced as another supply truck came rumbling through. Its trailer bucked and pitched up and down but wonder of wonders stayed upright. He was surprised, that one was a water tank.
“Two more of those, the living quarters, science vehicle, flatbed, the backup hummer, the command hummer, and the pusher vehicle to go. Think they'll make it?” Waters asked coming up beside them. Perry was busy pulling off the bottom half of his lead suit.
“Hell if I know. I hope so,” he grumbled. Ryans grimaced as he pulled his own suit off then folded it and set it aside.
“Perimeter's set. I've got a couple of eggheads who are breathing down my neck to get started though,” Waters reported. He was man enough not to roll his eyes at such stupidity.
“Tell them they can wait a damn minute,” Ryans said as another truck appeared and rumbled past. He pulled out his ball cap and put it on. “Shit,” he whispered as the vortex wiggled back and forth then seemed to jump back even further than before.
“Son of a...” Waters said eying the vortex. “Well, you don't see that every day. And if they don't get the lead out we're in trouble. If that thing leaves are we going to lose our ticket home?” he asked suddenly flint eyed.
“Ah, no idea Master Sergeant, I'll put the eggheads on it first chance we get,” Ryans answered.
“Yeah, you do that little thing,” Waters answered sarcastically, bobbing a head as the last ma deuce truck rumbled past. “Least we've got our supplies,” he smiled grimly waving. “And a bit more organized.” He waved to the team.
The military people were out on perimeter. Max had Sergio Velenkov and Ben Jarvic chaining the truck to the rear of a disabled Stryker to tow it clear. It looked like they had the routine down now. People were starting to recover from the transit, starting to think and react properly.
“Not bad,” Perry nodded watching them.
“We need mass, or a positive force behind the vortex, between the storm and it to be precise,” Sydney the video tech and physicist said over the vox.
“Ah... Not going to happen. No time,” Ryans said shaking his head as the research vehicle rumbled through the vortex. “Four more to go. Come on...” He turned to see Patterson.
The slender brunette Corporal was bent over her equipment, intent on punching a signal through. He sighed as she slapped at the box, clearly frustrated. That's not a good sign he realized.
“When all else fails hit it. That's not a good sign,” Perry muttered.
“Yeah,” Ryans agreed with a nod. “I think we better get the rappelling gear out. And someone ready in case of emergency, Paramedic too.” He warned, looking at Perry. Perry cocked his head looking away. He yelled something and then rushed off to a knot of people arguing over getting into the research vehicle.
“Great,” Ryans sighed. He touched his throat mike. “Patterson?” She looked up.
“Sorry sir, no joy. I'm getting a signal out, but the interference is too incredible to get a return so I can't tell if we're getting through or not, most likely not. Batteries are weak too, the discharge must have...” She threw herself to the ground as a bolt of energy slammed out from the vortex and struck the antenna pointed at it. Her radio exploded in a shower of sparks and debris. “Damn it!” she yelped slapping at the fire on her leg.
“Medic!” Perry called turning to the explosion. The fight over the research vehicle paused, and then people seemed a bit sheepish as they turned to watch or help.
“Better move Patterson. NOW!” Ryans called as the habitat RV emerged and bounced along. Patterson's eyes widened comically.
“Oh shit!” she yelped, rolling to the side. The RV bounced a few more times, then pitched to one side and rolled off to the left.
“Looks like the driver's out of it,” Max called sounding disgusted. The RV was rolling down the field, obviously a dead stick. She careened off of every rock, bush, and pot hole. “I've got a Stryker going after it,” he reported and waved. A Stryker moved off in the wake of the RV.
“Good,” Perry nodded just as static burst over his radio. He winced, and then froze as he caught the distorted voice of the lieutenant Colonel. From the sounds of it the Colonel wasn't happy about not getting a sitrep.
He touched his hand to the mike. “Sir come in. This is Perry ah, alpha five come in six. You’re breaking up.” He looked around then to the vortex. The flat bed passed but no one was really paying attention to it.
His heart flew to his throat as he saw the vortex creep over the edge. “Come in, urgent six. Do NOT I repeat. DO NOT cross over. Danger! Portal is in the air!” he called. “ABORT! ABORT!”
“Shit he can't hear me.” He looked around suddenly frantic. “What the hell can we do?”
“Stop dithering and start planning for one,” Ryans said standing next to him. “Gunnery Sergeant, you've got rappelling duty. Assemble a team and get a hummer with a winch to the cliff edge next to the vortex ASAP! That means yesterday!” he yelled, touching his mike and forgetting it would carry his voice to the others.
He turned on the knot of scientists who were either looking around or at him in concern. “You lot prep for wounded. Study later. Survive now!” he yelled waving. They exploded in different directions. “Doc... ah, Doc Carter, set up for...”
“Possible wounded. I gathered that already the first two times you said it,” Carter's voice replied dryly coming over the radio. “We're getting it done.”
“No...” Perry breathed. Ryans turned to him. “Shit,” Perry muttered. Ryans turned from looking at the now cussing lieutenant to the vortex. The vortex was about two meters away from the cliff, sinking slowly. “No freaking way,” Perry said running to the cliff edge. The next hummer passed him, clipping the edge of the cliff and throwing itself up into the air before rebounding and bouncing down the burnt landing strip. Its front end was a bit chewed up.
Perry felt a force slam him to the ground. He bit his tongue and scraped his chin. He opened his eyes to see the air above him purple and glowing. He rolled enough to look back to see Ryans holding his legs. The air crackled and sizzled around them.
“You can thank or yell at me later,” Ryans said getting up warily watching the vortex. Perry looked up as well.
The command hummer took that moment to appear through the portal. He had one brief, agonizing look at the shrouded figures inside as they flew through the air... only to sink and slam into the edge of the cliff and then down... down... down...
Someone was screaming, he wasn't sure who. Together
the two men scrambled on their hands and knees to the edge of the cliff. He looked down to see the hummer broken on the rocks below. He stared, numb once again.
“Don't think anyone survived that,” Max said looking over their shoulder.
“We're going to try anyway. Gunny you’re up!” Ryans called looking over to the rappel team. The gunnery Sergeant had his gloves on; he hooked into the winch then tossed his line over the cliff behind him. He looked at Ryans and gave thumbs up.
“What the hell, let's go!” he said dropping backwards over the cliff. The winch began to play out. The line jerked as the Gunny bounded off the cliff face, going down it as fast as he could.
“What the hell are we going to do?” Perry asked, stunned and thrown off balance.
“Everything we can,” Ryans answered. The vortex was now over ten meters from the cliff and had sunk by forty meters towards the crashing waves below. Its descent was speeding up. There was less lightning, but what there was of it tore up the face of the cliff, raining dirt and debris down on the rocks and the broken hummer below.
“That truck's going to get smashed to ribbons,” Max grunted.
“No, I got through,” Patterson said quietly. Ryans turned to see Patterson near the edge holding the backup radio transmitter. “Just as they transited, there was a clear spell. They got the message but it was too late for the Colonel. Damn.” She shook her head, looking drawn.
“Not your fault, Patterson. Sometimes shit happens and people get caught up in the works,” Waters sighed waving to the others. “All right people, what is this a Sunday supper? Get your acts together. Crisis mode people!” he yelled. People shook out of their horrified shock and slowly moved off.
“I'm at the site, no survivors.” The Gunny panted over the radio net. Ryans looked to Perry, but the young man was wide eyed and frozen. “Roger that Gunny,” Ryans said softly touching his throat mike as the second man rappelled down the cliff face. “Take five then try to find a path to get what you can out.” He looked over to Waters.
“Waters, we're going to need a path down there to salvage what we can. I'm not even going to try hauling stuff up that cliff in this storm,” he said. He shook his head at the spray pounding the men below.
“Which reminds me, it may be closing the barn door after the horses are out, but get someone to set up a lightning rod or three to protect us before that damn storm hits. And I think we best set up base camp here,” he said and then he waved. “If that's okay with you LT?” he asked turning to Perry.
Perry grunted then blinked. “Huh? Oh, yeah,” he mumbled and then nodded. He was still a little shaken at the loss. “Perimeter guard, high ground, salvage what we can, bury the dead,” he said, pulling that from rote memory. He nodded. “Carry on.” He moved off.
Ryans watched Waters studying the lieutenant then turning an appraising look on him. Their eyes met and Ryans brow rose in silent query. Whatever the Sergeant saw he seemed to approve of after a moment. He nodded slowly. “Aye sir,” he said. He nodded and then moved off at a brisk pace.
Chapter 2
“Who the hell packed all the soap? What's that damn box?” Gunny asked tossing a box of dish detergent down to the ground. “Seriously, soap people?” he asked disgusted. Apparently he wasn't a morning person. He looked around at the group. Morning had dawned cloudy and overcast. It had rained so the plateau was slick and muddy.
“I told you and I told you, grab the important shit. Food, pongee bait, water, parts, medical supplies. Fuel, coffee, beer. What the hell are we going to do with that?” He kicked the offending box.
“Well, we're going to put it in one of the dishwashers I hope,” Sue said picking up the offending box. “That is if a certain moron doesn't spill it all over the damn place. This stuff ain't exactly growing on trees around here you know,” she said sarcastically giving the Gunny a dirty look.
“Seriously Doc? Who brought a dishwasher?” Corporal Lewis said from the bumper of a truck she was sitting on. She spooned at her MRE. “And it ain't like we can't just chuck this when we're done with it,” she said, putting actions to words, and then licking her spoon clean.
“Police that garbage marine,” the Gunny said absently.
“Good point, but FYI, we do have a dishwasher, two of them actually,” Sue pointed to the science vehicle and the hab trailer. “I for one have better things to do than KP duty all day long. We're not going to be able to eat MREs all the time. We're going to need to find something local to live on if possible. The TV dinners aren't going to hold out forever you know,” she said. She gave them both a look.
“And that crate?” the Gunny asked tossing a thumb back to the crates in the back of the truck.
“It says here it's a CNC Gunny,” Lewis said picking her trash up. “Oh I heard of that...” She wrinkled her nose.
“It's a fabricator. We've got three different types plus the parts for them and plans for others,” Ryans said coming around a truck. “Good job Lewis, we're recycling everything. Plastic goes in the blue bin after you rinse it off. Once we make sure it's clean we can melt it down and re-use it in the fabricators,” Ryans explained, giving the red haired corporal a polite nod.
She looked down at her trash in surprise. “Oh, ah... okay.” She looked a little confused then shrugged. “Whatever you say,” she muttered. She moved off before he or Gunny thought of something for her to be doing.
“We grabbed everything we could Gunny, everything handy and then some. Doc here grabbed what came to her mind, medical supplies, blankets, shampoos and stuff like that right Doc?” he asked, smiling to Doctor Sue Carter. Sue nodded. She, like most of the others was trim and fit, a hard woman used to living off the land. She'd had enough experience in Africa after all.
“I had them send all the soap up too, also toothpaste, videos, pillows, decks of cards, paper; just about anything I could think of. They can live without it for a day or two. From the looks of things we're going to have a long wait for a resupply. That's also why I packed seeds and farm equipment. The farm animals were on that ship that got delayed though,” Ryans said and then scowled.
“Ah,” the Gunny nodded thoughtfully, mentally digesting that. Okay so the kid knew some tricks. “It's better to have it and not need it than not I guess.” He nodded again as the thought sank in. “Bitch to move in a hurry though sir,” he said gruffly.
Ryans smiled. “That's a project I was going to speak to you or Master Sergeant Waters about. Since Waters is out on scouting patrol, it falls on you for now. If you've got any people... oh say, not busy...” he rubbed at the side of his nose and smiled a half smile. “You could have them oh, say begin organizing this loose stuff into various piles. Let’s say, critical, good to have, and non-critical. That way we can get to the most important stuff in a hurry while the chaff can damn well wait.”
The Gunny's face flickered in what some would call a smile of approval. “I've got just the layabouts in mind sir. I'm on it,” he said. He left whistling.
<==={}------------>
Herod turned at the war cry behind him. Lightfoot was about done in, she gasped, breath ragged. He patted her flank, listening for the farrup but not hearing it. He nodded turning in place. His eyes caught sight of Richard's severed head on a pike and he scowled.
Terror gave the refugees renewed strength to scream and run, dropping what little they had left. Herod motioned to his son to go with his mother and sisters as the blacksmith turned to face his foe. There, he saw, the one with long blond braids in his hair and beard. That one was the leader he realized. The man pointed to the refugees and gloated.
They weren't in bow range yet but soon would be. He had to do something he thought, turning. He grabbed a spear from a desperate Cooper. Cooper didn't even struggle, just letting him take the spear as he ran on away from the terror behind them.
“Father!” Hector cried out. Herod turned in place. “Take care of your mother and sisters,” Herod ordered gruffly, voice thick with emotion. He pulled his h
ammer out and set the spear like a lance. He had a plan, one that might work. Already arrows from the enemy were in flight. He kicked the tired Lightfoot into a charge. “Hiya!” he yelled, setting the spear, couching it like a lance.
Thorvald saw the one brave fool coming at them on an exhausted branack and laughed. “This one is mine,” he snarled motioning the others away. Bowmen avoided targeting the lone warrior in favor of cutting into the refugees with a rain of arrows.
Herod smiled grimly as the leader rushed out to attack. It wasn't Herod's plan to fight him though, just delay, he thought as he swiftly moved the spear up from under his arm to over his shoulder for a throw. The other man ducked instinctively but Herod's aim was true. Instead of hitting the human he'd targeted the beast. The raider's branack screamed as the spear cut into its throat. It toppled over onto its rider's leg pinning him there as it pawed and kicked. Its life blood sprayed the ground around it.
Herod had no time to grin in triumph as he spurred Lightfoot on. He pulled his belt knife and flicked out, severing a set of reins while dodging a surprised blow. The knife cut another set before he stabbed it into a branack's throat. Then he pulled his hammer.
He felt stabbing pain in his right thigh and howled as a man twisted a sword tip. Herod turned, raised the hammer. The man's eyes went wide in fright. He disengaged but he was not the target. The hammer came down on the raider's mount, crushing its skull. Herod turned, Lightfoot danced as the other branack fell. He felt the brave, noble branack huff and then cough. He turned once more in place. “Come on then!” he bellowed in rage. “Have at thee!” he said raising the hammer defiantly.
Herod managed to fell four more of the beasts before Lightfoot gasped and fell herself, done in by exhaustion. As he tried to kick free he saw a shadow and turned just in time for the war axe's shine to catch the light of the morning and then cut into his throat. Then there was no more.