“Me, too.”
“Same here.”
The designated time arrived. For a few seconds, the trio looked around expecting something to happen. Nothing did at first.
Gabriel shrugged. “That’s a little disap...”
The floor under them dropped, cutting Gabriel’s comment short. They fell to their knees from the jolt, but, as combat veterans, they kept their cool. Lights on the shaft walls zipped past as they dropped further and further. As suddenly as it began, the floor stopped.
Rising to their feet, they looked up to see the hole above had sealed itself.
I don’t like this. Not one bloody bit, Jones thought.
A lock released with a loud metallic clank. The sound pulled their attention to the gray metal door, which slid open to reveal Roger Frost.
He was smiling from ear to ear. “Hello. I’m so glad you could join me.” The trio exchanged looks. “Please follow me. We have much to talk about.”
Gathering themselves, they followed him out the door and down a long white hallway lined with doors. None of them said a word as they studied their surroundings. The facility had a quiet, eerie feeling to it. Their steps echoed down the hall.
Frost halted and opened one of the doors without touching it. He gestured for them to enter.
Inside the visitors were surprised to find beautifully wood-paneled walls, carpeted floors, a large desk and a conference table. At the head of the conference table stood an American flag, fifty-two stars and thirteen stripes.
Frost walked to the head of the table. Gripping the back of the chair, he said, “Please, have a seat. Can I get any of you something to drink? Major Jones, I have your favorite, Black Label, on hand. Sergeant Gabriel, we have that microbrew beer, High Times, that you are so fond of. Captain Thomas, you have not been forgotten. I do believe you are a fan of fine wines. We happen to have a lovely merlot which I’m sure will fit your tastes.”
“You seem to know a lot about us, Mr. Frost,” Thomas said as she took her seat. “But we don’t even know your real name.”
He grinned. “Indeed. I am sorry if my knowledge of you is unsettling. We make it a point to know as much about a person before we engage in any dealings. Can I get anyone anything?”
“No, thank you,” Jones answered for the group. “Can we get to the point?”
“You are very direct, Major. I like that about you. It’s a trait rarely found in the intelligence community. A result of all the back doors and back channels we’re used to using, I guess.”
Gabriel put his elbows on the table. “You’re with military intelligence. Fleet or Legion?”
Frost strolled to a cart topped with crystal decanters and poured himself a drink. The amber liquid splashed in the short glass. “Oh, no,” he scoffed. “I don’t work for the UES.”
Thomas cleared her throat. “Um...who do you work for, then?”
“An organization few of this time have heard of, but I’m sure people of your pedigree will remember. After all, the Central Intelligence Agency had quite the reputation once.”
Thomas’ head kicked back. “You’re with the CIA? I thought it was disbanded along with the U.S. military.” She cocked her head. “Also, the orders you gave us were UES, how did you do that?”
“Well, that was the official story.” He sat down and relaxed, taking a sip. “But when did the CIA ever do what the official story said?” They nodded, finding his logic irrefutable. “Most of the other old major powers kept some of their international intelligence infrastructure in place, just in case someone tried to take advantage of a disarmed world. As for your orders … we have our ways.
“Our mission for over a hundred years has simply been to monitor Earth and the colonies for any internal threat that may upset the delicate balance. Maintaining the peace between the nations here on Earth and the colonies is our mandate.”
“What kind of threats?” Gabriel asked.
“Honestly, there haven’t been many in the last century.” He sighed. “Nothing like the looming threat of an alien invasion to suppress nationalistic ambitions.”
“You seem disappointed,” Jones said.
“It’s hard to do something for years and think that you don’t matter. However, I believe that has begun to change.” He straightened. “As the war has gone increasingly our way, certain forces appear to have been at play to prepare for a post-Second Contact War universe. Some countries and colonies may have fantasies of creating a galactic empire. One faction in particular seems extra-aggressive, and I’ve been experiencing difficulty in determining who is behind it.”
He melted back into his chair. “We expect the developing alliance with the Bearcats and a shift of the war’s focus toward the Kitright will accelerate the process.”
“What?” Thomas blurted out, unaware of recent developments. “What the heck are you talking about?”
“Yes, that’s right,” Frost said. “You didn’t join your friends here in their little adventure with the dearly departed Kitright ambassador.”
“We’ll fill you in later, Captain,” Jones said to a slack-jawed Thomas. Jones stared hard at Frost, studying him. “You certainly have an impressive network within the UES.”
“We’ve had a long time to integrate ourselves well.”
Her gaze narrowed. “What is America’s vision for a post-war role? Why are we here? And what do you want with us?”
“America prefers the status quo,” he said without hesitation. “We and our allies, including Great Britain, have melded into the UES framework. For all intents and purposes, we are the UES.
“If the current governing structure fragments, it will lead to a galaxy full of petty empires.” Frost walked back to the wet bar and poured another drink in a new glass. “This will eventually lead to an unending series of civil wars that will ultimately leave us weak. And a weak human race will soon find itself extinct.”
“Ok,” Jones said. “What do you want with us?”
He walked to Jones. “Why, I need your help, Major.” He set the drink in front of her. “I need your help to save the UES and with it, the human race.”
***
Sparks rained down against the backdrop of flickering lights. Cracked-open work stations and exposed wiring blinked in and out of view. None of these things truly worried Trent. He’d seen worse damage on a bridge and lived to talk about it. What did concern him, however, was the silence. No alarms had sounded.
It was deafening.
His own hot breath warmed his cheeks inside the helmet. The soft sound of stirred air was all that he heard.
That can’t be good.
He opened his eyes. “Hido, get your breather on. I’m not sure the life support still works.”
Yanking the modified breather hard, Hido managed to get it on. The rubber straps stretched tight, but it would keep him alive for now.
Amanda released her harness and pushed off. Weightless, she floated to the engineering panel to fruitlessly tap away on the dead screen with a gloved hand.
“This thing is dead,” she announced. “I don’t think any part of this ship has power. Emergency isn’t even fully on.
Trent cruised toward a live wire, hoping to use its juice for something useful. “Doesn’t surprise me. We’re lucky to have any emergency power. This thing was stitched together with duct tape and gum. We weren’t expecting to be using her for long. Certainly didn’t think we’d have to run through a firefight.”
She frowned. “I hope Chen can hold on.”
“I bet he has a few tricks up his sleeve,” Trent looked at Hido. “I hope some of the Bearcat ships can retreat. It would be a shame for them to be wiped out. We will need them.”
“As do I, General,” the Bearcat replied.
Amanda opened the maintenance port for the engineering station. Fireworks released as Trent jammed the wire into the auxiliary power slot. He massaged the connection with insulated fingers until new life appeared in the instruments.
She examine
d the grim details and shook her head. “As you might’ve guessed, the reactor is offline.”
“Okay. You two hang tight,” Trent said. “I’m going to make my way back to the engine room to see if there is anything I can do. We need some power for communications and sensors.”
“Life support would be nice, too.”
“No doubt. I’ll hurry as best I can. In the meantime, have your helmet transmit Hido’s message. It’s only short range, but it will have to do for now.”
***
Floating effortlessly through dark corridors, Trent avoided twisted metal shards sticking out from the wall and other debris as he slowly made his way to the engine room. The door took every ounce of enhanced nano strength to pry open.
The bridge of a ship houses command and control, but the engine room contains the true heart of a vessel, its anti-matter reactor.
In person, this marvel of science appeared remarkably anti-climactic. In fact, on the outside, little of interest could be seen. Inside meters of shielding stood the core, where massive amounts of gamma radiation wanted to escape from the collision of matter and anti-matter. The result of this union was a near-perfect conversion of matter into energy. Even a nuclear reactor can only achieve a pathetic three percent conversion rate.
Using the edges of a control panel to steady himself, he assessed the reactor’s condition.
“Amanda, you read me?”
“Yeah.”
“I have good news, bad news, and good news. What do you want first?”
“Ummm, let’s go good, bad, good. I like to start and end on a high note.”
“Well, to start, the reactor is working just fine. We have more than enough power.”
“Then why don’t we have power?”
“Because whoever put this shit-bucket together did so in a hurry. Instead of running multiple primary power lines along the length of the ship to create a redundant system, they ran one. And, that got cut by a secondary explosion right after we jumped.”
“Okay. What’s the good news?”
“I think we can patch the line up enough to get power for the sensors and com.”
“Engines?” Her voice perked up.
“That’s the bad news,” Trent dashed her hopes. “Their problem isn’t power. They’re simply not there anymore.”
“So, if the Bearcats don’t show up, we’re screwed?”
“If it comes down to it, I think the maneuvering thrusters will work again, and we might be able to find a way to get enough power to the beam to send a message to someone. But let’s not worry about that now. We have a mission.”
***
Hido flipped himself around and used the ceiling to walk along the corridor. “Where do you need me to push, Colonel?”
“Right here.” Trent pointed to a section of metal paneling with one side leaning down. “I need this back in. I think I’ve jerry-rigged this thing well enough that once it’s in, we’ll get power to the bridge. Damn thing’s stuck and I’m too short to get any leverage in zero-G.”
Bringing his mighty frame to bear under the protruding half, Hido readied himself. Razor sharp teeth disappeared as he pressed his lips together, hard, from the strain.
The ceiling gave way, shrieking loudly in protest. Finally it slammed into place.
Trent slapped a beaming Hido on the back. The counter force of the mild blow sent Trent floating into the wall. “Thanks, big guy. Give it a try now, Amanda.”
***
Flickering lights suddenly burned steadily around Amanda. The sensor panel burst into life, washing her faceplate with a green-tinted glow.
“It worked,” she proclaimed. The joy in her voice didn’t last. Doom set in as she read the sensor readings. “Ummm...sir?”
“Yeah?”
“We have company.”
***
“What do you have, Sergeant?” Trent asked as he shot into the bridge like a missile. Hido floated in close behind.
“I have one enem...I mean one Bearcat destroyer. He’s five thousand k off the port side and closing fast. Looks like he was orbiting some moon around a gas giant when we came through.”
“Do you think he’s been getting the message?”
“Can’t tell for sure, but he’s only been in range for a short time.”
“Is communication working?”
“Yes.”
“Kill your helmet transmission and open a ship-to-ship channel.” Trent turned to Hido. “It’s all in your hands, now.”
Hido nodded.
“The channel’s open.”
“Mighty and honorable destroyer of the Galactic Armada, this is High Commander Hido Kenti of the 14th Order. I am in command of this vessel.”
Static flowed from the speakers.
Amanda’s thoughts popped into Trent’s mind. “Do you think they’ll buy it? It’s taking them awhile.”
“No reason for them not to. They’re just thinking it over.”
Mercifully, a response came.
“This is Ship Leader Hytoo. You must forgive me, High Commander, but our files show you died along with the entire 14th Order some time ago on the planet Litoo.”
“Your reports are nearly correct. Please board this ship and I can explain. Hurry, as I need immediate transport to the Warrior’s Forum so I may present my gift of two human prisoners.”
“Right away, High Commander!”
“The channel is closed,” Amanda said.
“I’m guessing there haven’t been too many prisoners taken. That seemed to get his attention,” Trent said.
***
The gravity generators had kicked in by the time the destroyer’s docking tube finished cutting open a path for its boarding party. A squad of black-armored Bearcat warriors poured onto the derelict craft with their fearsome rifles raised. Each one of the weapons fired fifty-caliber rounds in rapid succession. Any hit by one of these rounds to the head or body resulted in instant death.
The eager troops found Hido, and he greeted his people with the broadest smile his face could accommodate. “Welcome, my friends. For a time, I almost lost hope that I would see another of my warrior brothers again. Follow me. Time is our greatest enemy.”
***
Trent and Amanda sat motionless on the bridge, awaiting their fate.
“What do you think will happen to us?” Amanda asked.
“I honestly don’t know, but the die is cast. Though I trust Hido to get us through this alive.”
“Do you think they will take us right to their leadership?”
“Certainly. Look what we did with Hido. We took him right to the top as soon as we could.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Me too.
Trent reached across the gap between their chairs and took her hand into his. “It will be okay, I promise.”
“That’s sweet. But you’re a terrible liar.”
Heavy footfalls foretold the arrival of the armed squad, Hido leading the march. As he walked deeper into the bridge. Trent couldn’t help but notice he looked stronger and more confident than he’d ever seen him.
“Secure the prisoners,” barked one of them.
Two soldiers hurried forward, each grabbed hold of the war prizes with great force. Amanda winced in pain.
Hido shouted out, “These prisoners are not to be harmed!” Bringing his face to within centimeters of one of the aggressive soldiers, he said, “These prisoners are of extremely high value to the Warrior’s Forum. If any harm comes to them I promise you those responsible will be executed.”
Free of the massive claws, Amanda and Trent rubbed their offended arms.
“General, Sergeant,” Hido said. “Follow me to your holding cell.”
The inside of the Bearcat destroyer reminded Trent of the space station he had assaulted before jumping home. Smooth, clean silvery walls with a gentle curve formed the craft’s round shape.
“Atmosphere breathable,” the dumbed-down version of Trent’s Combat Assist Link said
in his helmet.
Despite assurances about the air, he felt it best to keep the helmet on.
Every Bearcat their small column passed stared in amazement at the sight of actual Legion prisoners. Once a common occurrence in war, prisoners had become almost nonexistent. Leaders on both sides had decided the stakes in this fight were too high to allow the possibility of a prisoner betraying vital information. Adopting the old adage ‘dead men tell no tales,’ both implanted tech in their warriors to ensure none could. Additionally, with surrender no longer an option, every unit fought like hell to the last man.
None of the soldiers on either side complained about the arrangement. It was one thing to be taken prisoner by a member of your own species. At least you both had a lot in common. The thought of capture by an alien power caused most everyone to prefer death.
Hido finished leading the two legionnaires to their individual cells. With a gesture he directed them to enter.
They obeyed without delay.
A guard pressed a button, lowering a sheet of tightly knit metal strands. It fell with a gentle clank against the floor as the locks engaged.
Hido and Trent stood silent for a moment, looking at each other.
Finally they both laughed.
“An amazing change in circumstances, wouldn’t you say?” Trent asked.
“As I said before, the universe has a plan for our fates. And I believe ours are intertwined, my friend.”
Chapter Eight
Lessons
Thomas was still in a minor state of shock following the revelations in Roger Frost’s underground office. Not only did he completely reshape her understanding of history and the universe at large, he’d informed them why he specifically needed their help.
Evidence he’d compiled pointed to a rogue element within UES’ ultra-clandestine Internal Security force that held an agenda of its own, one bent on dominating the nations of Earth and the colonies by turning the UES into a more traditional empire. This planned empire would seek to control the internal matters of individual entities, through brute force if necessary. Roger Frost and the CIA didn’t feel such a move was in the long-term best interest of the human race.
The difficulty Frost encountered in dealing with the suspected coup was that he strongly believed moles within the CIA shared the same shortsighted vision and conspired with the rogue Internal Security agents. He didn’t feel comfortable entrusting anyone else in the CIA to help him in his effort to stop the coup.
The Last Revenge (The Last Hero Trilogy Book 2) Page 6