Solstice 31: The Solstice 31 Saga, Books 1,2,3

by Martin Wilsey

  The vision of the mushroom cloud, turning the M-city space catapult to dust, still danced on the screens of the room.

  His smile was wide.

  The images of that shuttle transport unit speeding away were just as Turkot foretold. Even the replaced Ident codes were as he said they would be.

  He turned his eyes to the other screen.

  It was a satellite view of the Roosevelt Island space port in New York. That small catapult was for passenger traffic only. He smiled as he zoomed in on a spectacular building just off the lower point of the island, just across the river on Manhattan.

  He waited for the next prediction to become true as his canned statements went out regarding this heinous terror attack in M-City.

  ***

  They touched down in the salvage yard without a peep from the AI called Hunter. Everyone was standing at the base of the ramp. Even the avatar of AI~Echo.

  Kreiger took immediate control. He was wearing a standard flight suit now. Everyone was surprised he addressed AI~Echo first.

  “Echo, report.” He barked.

  “Sir, our mission to Baytirus failed in some ways and succeeded in others. Two Scarecrows were killed in nuclear blasts; one on the planet and one on the moon. The Scarecrow called Wex appears to have escaped in a ship called the Sedna, currently flying under Ident The Grace. We seem to have the seed ship under our control including all the vessels it contains.” Echo stepped closer. “Roland Barcus has control of the seed ship. All indicators point to the fact that he died on Baytirus but was resuscitated by the emergency application of L-Matter.”

  “And what about Atish and Chancellor Dalton’s Genome project?”

  “We have three examples here.” She gestured to Po, Cine, and Jude. “With full scans and genome markers. Purpose built to follow.”

  “We follow no one. We are free,” Jude said defiantly in her light accent.

  Echo continued to talk about them as if they were not there. “They will obey without question any order or request. But only if given by the one they have imprinted upon.”

  Realization dawned on their faces, and three looked at Barcus, standing in the cargo bay behind Kreiger as he spoke.

  “Any order.” Echo continued, “I have Dr. Bowens data that she was returning to Dalton. Tests indicated that they would do horrible things of commanded. Murder, rape, even suicide, or allow themselves to be killed by torture.”

  “There’s more.” Dr. Shaw spoke, “They are also brilliant. Their IQs are high, and they have talent for institutive skills like flying ships, playing music, or adapting to zero-G. They are also very tough; they can survive injury or long time deprivation and recover.”

  “Why is any of this important?” Worthington asked.

  Echo answered, “Because eighty-two of these people were brought to Earth earlier this year and began pilot training.”

  “Look fancy general man.” Kuss began.

  “That’s, Admiral.” Zimmerman interrupted.

  “So fucking what.” Kuss ranted. “What all this mean? What difference make us.”

  “The same man that destroyed the Ventura and as many as sixty other ships to minimize political opposition is going to have these eighty people, that will do anything he tells them, fly ships into every colony at relativistic speed. All on the same day.” He was almost yelling now, “and I think today is that day.”

  Kuss was quiet.

  “We also believe that the bastard has hidden nukes in all the major cities on Earth, Freedom Station, Luna, and Mars. I need to get to the United Council of Colonies in New York tonight.” Kreiger was calmer now, “Right now, be there by dawn. To warn them.”

  “Sir, may I interrupt,” Stu said and without waiting for acknowledgement opened a giant screen in a HUD broadcast over the desert. “PNN Special Report: Terrorists Destroy M-City,” The broadcast had a talking head news woman trying to hide a smile as she talked about the mass destruction and loss of life. “This vessel is being sought in connection with the attack.” An image of the black STU fleeing just ahead of the destruction was then shown from various angles and distances.

  “He is going to want all the Ventura crew dead. All witnesses dead.” Kreiger said. “And your STU. It’s AI knows too much.”

  “Everyone goes on the STU. Hudson, Zimmerman and I will take the stealth drop ship to Roosevelt Island space port and get to the UCoCs.”

  “Take me to the Council,” Ben said into all the HUDs. “I am already backed up on the STU. Their analysts will verify everything from Bowens data.”

  There was a pause, no one spoke.

  Spontaneously, people began to move.

  Wes said to Kreiger as they passed each other, “We will hold onto these three Warmarks. Just in case.”

  Po was watching Barcus this whole time. His stare was far away, and the stress was etched in his face. She went to him, “It’s true. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”

  He squeezed his eyes closed as if to control a physical pain, and said nothing.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE:

  Sri Lanka

  “Everyone remembers where they were on that day. I was on Freedom Station and never knew how close I came to death as well that day.”

  --Solstice 31 Incident Investigation Testimony Transcript: General Patricia Chase, senior member of the Earth Defense Coalition.

  <<<>>>

  “We sure picked a good time of year to visit Sri Lanka.” Karen Beary said as she pulled another bottle of beer from the large bucket of ice. Beary, Cook, and Muir were all sitting on beach chairs they had discovered in the hangar office. They had a crate for a table with empty beer bottles and Delio’s pizza boxes. “The last time I was here it was the rainy season. Hot and wet.”

  “Sounds good to me,” Cook said.

  “Shut up, Cook,” Beary said, and they all laughed.

  Just then the kid that was there when they arrived pulled up in a small utility cart.

  “Hey, guy. Want a beer and some pizza? It is lunch time.” Cook said as he kicked over the top of the pizza box revealing half an extra-large all meat Delio’s pizza.

  The kid looked around and then deciding, sat on a crate and grabbed a beer.

  “What’s your name kid? You look like shit.” Karen asked, “I thought you were going home right after we got in last night.”

  “My names Mike. I guess you didn’t hear what happened.” Mike paused to take a slice of pizza, folded it expertly and took a huge bite. “There was a massive explosion in M-City last night. There is an official government blackout on it. Thousands are dead. Maybe tens of thousands. Most of the traffic to the M-City space port has been rerouted here. I been up all night.”

  The three of them all sat up and looked at each other. Mike continued noshing the pizza.

  “They are screaming on the nets about lack of inspections at the catapults, more weapons regulations, arms trade, banning dangerous research.” Took another bite. “The Chancellor isn’t helping either. He keeps implying it’s political terrorism. Christ, I hate people. I should just move to Freedom Station.” He stuffed the last of the slice in his mouth and sat back.

  “So now what have they got you doing?” Karen asked.

  “Paying me double-time to eat pizza and drink beer.” He raised his beer in salute.

  “No really?” Karen was serious now.

  “We have to rescan every damn ship. All on a day when the traffic is doubled already.”

  “What can we do to help?” Cook asked he seemed sincere.

  “The pizza was the biggest help all day. Thanks.” He stood and drained his beer. “Just another quick scan and I’m outta here.”

  None of them stood up as they watched him walk back to his utility cart and open a case. The single drone that flew out was bigger and newer than the last time.

  It few into the Memphis and out of sight.

  ***

  “Get off me. I am all right.” Rand was treating her own leg wound. It had passed
all the way through. It missed the bone on the outer thigh as well as her arteries.

  Hume had taken a rough to the center of her chest but the new armor help. She was awake now.

  Freedoms drone scanners arrived a few minutes later. The only cargo was a block of lead that was one point five meters on a side. There was also comm gear and internal sensors.

  “Jimbo, I think this is it.” Station said so they could all hear.

  “Ok, so how do we defuse it,” Jimbo asked looking at the simple locks on the container doors.

  “Fuck that,” Hume said struggling to her feet. “Just jettison it.”

  “We don’t dare activate the foils,” Pete said.

  Worthington asked, “Freedom, we need this out of here ASAP. Do you have any options?”

  “We could get it outside the station. But a tug would have to move it away.” Station said as a crane began to move their way.

  “I have an idea…” Pete said.

  ***

  “Mike, have another beer while you’re waiting,” Cook said as he raised another ice cold beer. He came back over and took it smiling.

  “This might take a little longer this time,” Mike said opening the beer. “Never saw a work order like this before.”

  “How so?” Cook asked as Muir looked at Beary with concern creeping into his expression.

  “It has something to do with cataloging auto-docs on certain kinds of ships. Does the auto-doc work on this thing?” He looked up at the ship. “You had to have balls to fly this out of a salvage yard.”

  “Well, I don’t know. We just got the thing and have not started the refit.” Cook said standing. Mikes back was to the opening of the hangar. He could not see the two weaponized tactical drones floating their guns faced their way.

  Mike held his pad up when it chimed and took another big swig of beer. “Hmmm… looks like the auto-doc was salvaged from a different ship. Happens all the time. This one was reported missing a couple years ago on a ship called the Memphis.”

  ***

  The Chancellor was surrounded by a massive console on his raised dais. He preferred a real screen. No HUD implants for him. Too invasive, too easy to track or hack. He should know. He had teams that did it all the time.

  A notification blinked to life and expanded automatically in the center console. AI~Norman spoke.

  “Sir, I believe the Memphis has landed under false Ident codes at the space port in Sri Lanka. I have eyes on it.”

  A display opened showing the high resolution view from the two drones. It was a Pinnace class ship but barely looked space worthy. Scans revealed that it was flying under the Ident of The Winton.

  “What makes you think this is the Memphis, Norman?” Dalton asked.

  “This ship has an auto-doc designed specifically for Pinnace class ships because of limited space constraints. The serial number of this Auto-doc for installation in The Memphis, the Pinnace aboard the Ventura.

  The drones zoomed in and focused on the faces of the people standing within the hangar. Face recognition activated and identified all three.

  Lt. Karen Beary, Navigator, assigned to the Ventura.

  Lt. Peter Muir, Communications officer assigned to the Ventura.

  Lt. Richard Cook, Pilot, assigned to the Ventura.

  “All three of these people were on the third shift command staff of the Ventura and would have been assigned to the Memphis.”

  The Chancellor smiled wide as he reached for the button.

  ***

  Kreiger and Zimmerman were in the pilot seats on the Sariska, the drop ship from the Memphis. Echo sat with Hudson in the first row of seats. Echo, being a military AI could broadcast the Admirals person flag allowing the clearance to land on the south end of Roosevelt Islands space port. Zimmerman and Kreiger had changed to Black Badger officer uniforms.

  “Hudson, you will stay here with Echo and the Warmarks.” Kreiger said knowing her hip was not well healed, “Jack and I are going to take Ben to the UCoC on foot. It’s only across the bride and two blocks away.”

  All of the Warmarks came alive at the same time. Their clamps retracted, and weapons began to power up to a low hum.

  “We will be standing by, sir,” Hudson said.

  “We can get from here to the UCC in two hops. Thirty seconds. Can we keep an open channel?” Echo asked.

  “Affirmative.” Kreiger barked.

  “How’s the ribs, sir,” Jack asked casually as they each lifted one side of Ben’s AI enclosure.

  “Feels like I have been kicked by a pissed off mule.” He replied as the ramp lowered.

  ***

  “The ship has no beacon, no Ident, and it looks like an emergency life boat. One consistent with the ones on the Memphis. It was stealth on the space port scanners.” Norman detailed as the drones POV descended to the back of the ship. The ramp was lowering. Two men waited. They were holding an active AI module between them.

  “Sir, those are Black Badger uniforms,” AI~Norman stated flatly.

  “For fucks sake. That’s Krieger. I thought he was dead in M-City.”

  As they stepped off the apron of the ramp and began walking away, there was a momentary clear view into the ship revealing a dozen Warmarks running systems checks.

  Dalton went white.

  “Sir, that second man is Officer Jack Zimmerman. He is on the list. He is supposed to be off world.”

  “Sir, I believe it’s time. The UCC, Kreiger, Zimmerman and a crew standing by in Warmarks? The Memphis is in Sri Lanka. The risk is too high.” AI~Norman said. “And where is this STU with the man Barcus. Turkot said he would come to see you, so sure of himself he will be unarmed.”

  “I believe it’s time.”

  ***

  “Sir, Why would the Chancellor do these things?” Ben asked as they left the bridge.

  “He thinks he knows what’s best for humanity. He thinks he is smarter than everyone else, and people need to be controlled, so they don’t make the wrong decisions.”

  “Why does he care what the colonies do?” Ben asked.

  “People are leaving Earth by the millions annually. They no longer need to put up with its bigotry; it’s control or any bullshit. Political or otherwise.”

  “He’d rather see all the people outside of his control dead.”

  At that point, Kreiger ceased to exist. They were less than two hundred meters from the bomb that made a crater that consumed all of Manhattan, the Roosevelt Island space port was laid waste for ten kilometers in every direction.

  ***

  “Barcus…” Po trailed off. She saw the flash below beneath the clouds. “Barcus, I think…” She turned to him, and his face was in his hands.

  He looked up, and Po saw his face. And she was afraid.

  “Stu, high orbit above the Calf of Man.” He said as he stood. He avoided her eyes.

  “What are you doing?” she reached for him but missed because she was strapped in. She began fumbling with the harness; she was afraid, panicked.

  He didn’t reply.

  Barcus stopped face to face with Hagan. “If I don’t come back, get Rand, Hume, Worthington and his family and run.”

  “What about Cook, Muir, and Beary?” Hagan asked.

  A wave of fury rolled off Barcus that was so visceral; Hagan was taken aback.

  Po’s fear grew as she freed herself to go after him.

  Hagan stopped her at the top of the ladder.

  “What happened to Cook, Muir, and Beary?” Hagan growled.

  ***

  “What does this mean?” Mike said confused. “I am supposed to detain you for collection and questioning.”

  “Well, that will be easy.” Beary gestures with her bottle as a third armed drone appeared at the mouth of the hangar as she sat.

  “Well, I for one, am not going anywhere as long as there is still cold beer,” Cook said.

  “We got busted because of the stupid auto-doc?”

  “I bet it was your ugly face, Cook. Tho
se kind of drones have broad spec scanners and face recog.” She said opening a fresh bottle.

  They were all laughing again now. Mike was too. He had no idea why but he opened another beer.

  “You are such a flirt, Beary. Why don’t you just admit you want me.”

  “Cook, now that you mention it…”

  She never finished the sentence as she flashed out of existence.

  CHAPTER FORTY:

  DS-12 Lands

  “It was him. Roland Barcus. It was his Warmark. DNA and surveillance footage confirmed it. We were not wrong. And we were totally wrong. All at once.

  --Solstice 31 Incident Investigation Testimony Transcript: General Patricia Chase, senior member of the Earth Defense Coalition.

  <<<>>>

  “Barcus, wait, please.” Po pleaded as she slid down the ladder.

  “Everyone up onto the bridge. I am going to open the hatch at a high orbit.” Barcus yelled. The fury on his face left know room for argument.Cine, Jude, Shaw and Kuss all moved quickly to comply.

  “What are you doing?” Po yelled.

  “I’m going to end this.” He was moving toward the Warmark that had a skull painted on the front.

  “Wait.” She was trying to make him listen; it was like she was trying to slow a locomotive.

  “STOP.” He yelled at her. She didn’t. “I asked you to stop.” He said in a low voice that was even worse than yelling. “Stu, after I am away you are to do whatever you have to do to keep these people safe. Remove Po from all pilot and admin control functions.”

  “WHAT?” Po screamed.

  “STOP. You must live through this. Even if you don’t like it.”

  “You Bastard!” she pounded on his chest. He caught her wrists.

  “I thought you said you’d do anything I told you to do.” Her face flashed uncertainty. She started to struggle. “Stop. Please.”