“Hurry, Gizmo.” They squeezed in behind the container camouflage they had just assembled. Jann grabbed the locking wheel on the door and put all her weight behind it. It was stiff from the dirt that had penetrated the mechanism it had been entombed in for so long. But it moved. And after much grunting from Jann they finally entered the hidden space that she had repurposed for her experiments beneath the medlab.
“Quick, Gizmo, get the door shut. I’ll see what’s going on.” She sat down at the monitors and flipped a number of switches to bring them online. Screens flickered to life as Jann tapped icons to display camera feeds from inside the colony. It was the same setup that Nills had used to monitor the whereabouts of the unfortunate ISA Commander Decker.
“Jann, my sensors have picked up activity in the soil processing area.”
“What? They must have heard us, dammit.” She tapped an icon to bring up a video feed. It was dark and grainy, but some illumination had entered the space from the direction of the stairs to the operations area.
“Look.” Jann pointed to movement on the monitor. “It’s the robot, Yutu. They must have sent it down to investigate.”
The quadruped moved silently into the camera’s field of view, then stopped, and its head slowly rotated.
“I do not like that robot,” said Gizmo.
“What’s it doing?”
“It is scanning the area for anomalies.”
“Define anomaly—wait, it’s stopped.” The robot’s head was pointing directly at the storage containers that Jann and Gizmo had just moved. It rose up on its four legs and started to move again. This time straight for the containers.
“Shit, it’s coming over.”
The robot moved slowly and purposefully, like a big cat stalking prey. It arrived at the location of the containers and started to move around the stack.
“Godamit.” Jann jumped up. “Quick find something we can jam into the door handle, anything.”
Gizmo picked up a long steel rod. “This might do.”
Jann grabbed it and raced for the door. But before she could reach it the ground shook with the force of an explosion somewhere up above and the cave was plunged into total darkness.
“What the hell?”
13
Battle
Emergency lighting flickered on inside the cave as Jann’s brain tried to make sense of what had just happened. It took her a moment to reorient herself.
“The main power source has shut down. The facility is now operating on backup power.” Gizmo was at the console, seemingly trying to reconnect with the broader colony systems. Jann stood motionless, her senses on high alert. She realized she was still holding the steel bar. “The robot, Yutu, is it still there?” she said as she moved to wedge it into the door’s locking mechanism.
“I have no feed, minimal systems operational.”
“Life support? Do we still have life support?”
“Affirmative… backup systems coming online now.”
The monitors started to flicker back to life as Jann returned to the desk. “What the hell is going on?”
“The facility still has full structural integrity. No loss of pressure.”
“That explosion came from outside.”
Jann’s fingers danced across the screens, tapping icons, bringing up video feeds. “Biodome looks intact.” She could make out groups of startled colonists looking around, clutching each other, they were frightened. She scanned the faces and spotted Xenon. At least he got out before the tunnel roof collapsed, she thought.
Another feed flickered to life, showing the operations room above; several of the Xaing Zu crew worked the systems at a frenetic pace. They too were trying to figure out what was going on. “Look.” Jann pointed at the screen. “It’s Yutu. The robot must have been ordered back.”
“I do not like that robot,” said Gizmo again.
“Gizmo, snap out of it… talk to me… comms, anything on comms?”
“Nothing. But my calculations put the explosion at fifty meters due south of the facility. Near the location of the main reactor. They probably targeted the main power line.”
Jann sat back and watched the monitors for a few minutes, trying to divine some meaning from the images. She located two of the Chinese in the operations room, along with Yutu. Two more were outside the biodome door, and armed. That left… how many? She wasn’t sure if all of them were in the facility or if some had been sequestered back on their ship.
“I am picking up a transmit,” said Gizmo, as radio static hissed out from the comm speaker. Jann could see that the Chinese in the operations room were also getting it, their body language changed suddenly.
“This is Commander Kruger, of the Colony One Mars Consortium. You have failed to comply with our request to vacate our facility.” The metallic voice broke through the hiss of static, the sandstorm raging outside causing the signal to break up. “…last chance… leave now…” Then it went dead.
“Xaing Zu are up to something. Look.” Jann pointed at the monitor of the operations room. The Chinese were putting on their EVA suits. “Are they planning to go outside, in this storm?”
“It could also be that COM are coming in.”
“But why EVA suits, then?”
“Because they fear a loss of pressure.”
Jann looked over at Gizmo. “You mean, if they don’t leave then COM are going to open a hole in the facility—oh shit.”
“Indeed,” said Gizmo. “For what it is worth you are relatively safe here, as this section is sealed and isolated from the main structure.”
“But what about the biodome, the colonists? This will be a disaster—the end of Colony One—we have to do something.” Jann jumped up from her seat and started pacing. “This is nuts, they’ll destroy everything that’s taken over a decade to establish—and for what? So they can simply repossess it?”
“Activity on the surface around the perimeter.” Gizmo jolted Jann back to the immediate situation by projecting a holographic image of the Colony One facility onto a small holo-table. It stuttered and fizzed as it rendered.
“The storm is interfering with the sensors.”
Nonetheless, they could clearly see two dots approaching the colony from the northern side.
“There, look, what’s that?” Jann pointed at the dots.
“COM rovers approaching, judging by the speed.”
“Do we have any cameras working on the outside?”
The monitors flickered through a series of blurry images of dust and sand. They failed to penetrate the swirling maelstrom, serving only to show a few meters of visibility and rendering a vague outline of the exterior of the colony. But it was enough to make out a new addition to the infrastructure. On the roof of one of the airlocks, a bulky pulsed energy weapon had been mounted. It was squat, not unlike a standard artillery piece. As Jann studied the structure she could see a suited figure operating it, moving the weapon, aiming it at something.
“Are they’re preparing to fire that weapon?”
But before Gizmo could reply another explosion rocked the cave, dust rained down on Jann, the power flickered off, and all went dark again.
“Shit. What was that?” Jann tried to orient herself in the pitch black of the cave before Gizmo flicked on its lights. The little robot moved back to the operations desk and started to investigate, interrogating and probing what colony systems still remained operational. A few seconds later auxiliary power came back online.
“The airlock in sector two has been compromised… loss of atmosphere in sector one… extensive damage.”
“Shit, COM must have taken out that weapon before Xaing Zu could fire it.”
“Still losing atmosphere in that sector… rate slowing…”
“The biodome?”
“Integrity at one hundred percent, still one atmosphere.”
The monitors flicked back on again and the holograph of the facility ballooned back to life. They could see the advancing dots had reached with
in a few meters of the facility. From the exterior cameras that still worked, several COM mercenaries disgorged themselves from the vehicles—all heavily armed.
“Good god, it’s a full scale invasion.” Jann pointed at the armed figures entering via a damaged airlock. They now had access to a section of the facility with no atmosphere. Jann wondered how this was going to help them take over but then she realized they were sealing it up behind them. Once finished they would be able to enter the rest of the colony, without any loss of integrity. She struggled with her desire to do something—anything. Maybe she could get the colonists out of the biodome, hide them all down here. But that was pointless, the access route had caved in and even if she did manage to get them all in here, then what?
Another blast rocked the cave. This time it was an internal door being blown open. From the monitors Jann could see a firefight starting. COM had entered, the Chinese were firing weapons to try and repel the invasion. She could see two already down, injured or dead. The air was thick with dust from the blast and it bloomed with incandescent flashes from the pulse weapons. All she could do was stand and watch as the fate of Colony One was decided, once again, by violence.
14
Control
Peter VanHoff watched the battle for Colony One unfold from the relative comfort of the COM Mars lander. In the end it had gone exactly to plan, although it would have been better had Xaing Zu just vacated the facility. But, they had decided to make a stand. He admired them for that, even if it was a futile exercise. He assumed it had more to do with saving face than any real consideration of military superiority.
It had taken less than twenty minutes from the moment Commander Kruger had given the command until the facility was secured, and his people in control. Kruger had sent him the all clear so now it was time for VanHoff to finally set foot in the very facility where the Janus bacteria had been created. His hope, his wish, his deepest desire, was that it still existed either in the facility or within the biology of the clone subject Langthorp. Time to find out. He rose from operations and signaled to the two remaining COM crew. “The facility is secure and a rover is on its way to pick us up. Bring the clone to the airlock, I will meet you down there. And make sure he’s sedated for the trip.”
They encased Nills in an ill-fitting EVA suit so that he could be transported over to the medlab in Colony One. VanHoff and his genetics team needed him alive, at least for the moment. Nills was now strapped into a seat in the rover, his head bobbing and rocking as the rover bounced along the planet’s surface. Outside, dust and sand whipped up all around, visibility was poor and the driver operated by means of a heads-up display rendered on the rover windshield. The journey was mercifully short and soon VanHoff could make out the lights atop of the Colony One biodome penetrating the dust. The rover came to a halt outside the main airlock, time to EVA. This was not a procedure that VanHoff relished. Far from it. Being cocooned inside bulky life support brought on a rising panic inside him. He fought to control it. It was only a few meters to the colony entrance, surely he could make that. Yet, what this situation did highlight in his mind was just how much Malbec had corrupted his ambition. He could be back home, in the warm and comforting environment of Earth, free from the debilitating curse of accelerated aging, enjoying life. But no, here he was, having to travel 200 million kilometers to this hellhole of a planet. He steeled himself and stepped out of the rover onto the surface of Mars.
From just inside the airlock Commander Kruger beckoned to him with a free arm, gesturing encouragement to move. VanHoff focused on the figure of the commander, and excluded all other exterior stimuli. It worked, he inched his way forward and into the airlock. A few moments later he removed his helmet and tried to calm his breathing.
“Are you okay?” The commander gave him a concerned look.
“I’m fine… fine.” He composed himself for a moment before removing the bulky EVA suit.
By the time he arrived at the operations room in Colony One, the commander had brought him up to speed on the current status. He found it hard to focus on what Kruger was saying, as he kept looking around. It was hard to believe he was actually here, in the very place that had occupied his every waking moment for years. He sat down at the central table and surveyed the subdued figure of Jing Tzu, Xaing Zu Industries commander. His hands were bound behind his back, his head bowed in defeat.
“You should have left when you had the chance.”
Jing Tzu lifted his head up slowly and glared at VanHoff.
“It seems two of your crew are dead. A high price to pay for naught.”
VanHoff then turned to the commander. “What is your plan for them?”
“Fortunately, our Asian friends had the bright idea of incarcerating the current colonist population in the biodome. So I think we’ll just throw them inside and see how they get on.”
“Excellent. I trust you’ll keep their hands tied before you cast them to the lions, it should make for good entertainment.”
Jing Tzu was lifted out of his seat by two COM mercenaries, and dragged off to face an uncertain fate inside the biodome.
VanHoff now surveyed the monitors arrayed around the operations room. He was particularly interested in the video feed from the biodome, and could see clusters of colonists gathered together in various sectors. But there was one member of the colony population he was most interested in.
“Commander Kruger.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Before you deal with the Chinese, I want you to take a team, enter the biodome and find me Dr. Jann Malbec. Bring her to me—alive, if possible. I’ll be in the medlab getting things set up.”
“Yes sir.”
By the time VanHoff reached the medlab he was beginning to feel an increasing sense of confidence in the mission. They had successfully taken back control of both facilities, and the situation was now completely under COM control. What’s more, they had not sustained a single casualty. Now he was finally ready to get started on the main phase of the operation—to find the source of the Janus bacteria.
Already his team had moved the clone subject, Langthorp, onto the operating table in the medlab, where he lay sedated until they were ready. His genetics team were also in the process of moving in the new equipment that they had brought with them. VanHoff cast an eye around the medlab space. It was well set up, much better that he had anticipated. He did a cursory audit of its equipment as he moved from area to area. Finally he came to a sealed door. It was currently locked, access was via a keypad on the side. He peered in through the small window at its interior. It had been fashioned from one of the original landers, its circular interior was lined with units not unlike rows of safety deposit boxes in a bank vault. He looked back at the keypad and made a mental note to have his team get this door open.
It was some time later when his work in the medlab was disrupted by Kruger entering. He bore a concerned look, not something VanHoff wanted to see. The commander signaled to him to follow him outside. VanHoff obliged.
When they were out of earshot of the other crewmembers Kruger spoke. “We have not located Dr. Malbec yet. She’s not in the biodome and the colonists either don’t know where she is or are not saying.”
VanHoff stood silent for a moment. “This is a finite space. There are few places for someone to hide, she has to be here somewhere. And I want that woman found—now.”
“Yes sir, she will be found.”
“Wait a minute.” VanHoff stroked his chin again. “I have a better idea. Come, follow me. We’re going to talk to these colonists again. They know where she is, so let’s not waste any more time pussyfooting around.”
VanHoff and the commander were flanked by four well-armed COM mercenaries as the inner door to the biodome swung open. Inside, a knot of colonists were backing away as they advanced.
“You,” shouted VanHoff at a frightened looking colonist. “Over here.”
One of the mercenaries marched over, and grabbed her by the arm. “You he
ard the man.” He dragged her over to where VanHoff and the others were standing, and kicked her in the back of the knees. She dropped down on the floor, frightened and shaking.
VanHoff turned to Kruger and pointed to a stubby pulsed weapon he had tucked inside a holster around his shoulder.
“Mind if I borrow that for a moment?”
Kruger unclipped the weapon and handed it to him. VanHoff then moved to the kneeling colonist and placed a gentle hand on her head. “What’s your name?”
“M… Ma… Maria.”
“Well, Maria. Here’s how you can help us. I want to know where Dr. Jann Malbec is.” He stepped back and pointed the gun directly at her forehead.
“You’ve got ten seconds. Nine… eight… seven…”
15
Rock
Jann watched the events in the biodome unfold with a deep sense of dread, mixed with an equal measure of helplessness. The very fabric of the colony was being eviscerated before her eyes, and what was she doing? Hiding. She was doing what she always did—run and hide. Like when she was a child. At the first sign of trouble she would take off across the fields and disappear into her secret place, where the world couldn’t touch her, where her dreams were still tinged with hope. And here she was again, but this time there was no way out. Like a dystopian deja vu. The same, but worse.
The video feed showed Nills, unconscious on the medlab operating table. His chest rose and fell with each breath. Her hand reached out to touch the monitor, as if the action would make the reality… less painful. She had failed him. As she had failed the other colonists. They had placed their trust in her and now she had deserted them—run away. Now they knew the true Dr. Jann Malbec.
Colony Three Mars (Colony Mars Book 3) Page 8