The view from these hills was spectacular, and even in the midst of this, he didn´t miss out. He could see the city in the distance and the farmlands and a few closed-off military areas in between. He didn´t know what the military areas contained. He had seen armored vehicles exiting one of the compounds a few weeks back, but that was all. As far as he knew, there was no activity. He figured they were just storage facilities or something.
He tried running, but the darkness was so thick that he risked stumbling and falling. So he walked instead, keeping a brisk pace.
Suddenly, a flash of light grabbed his attention. It came from one of the military areas, and was followed by several smaller flashes coming from the same place. He immediately realized it must have something to do with Novak´s message.
Something like this would only be the beginning, but how far would it go? It wasn´t as if Buchanan and the Covenant hadn´t come to blows before, but it had never come to all-out war. Skirmishes, raids, and border violations had all fizzled out eventually. Perhaps this was such an instance, but it was deep within Buchanan. It wasn’t some excursion across the Rift, but an intervention almost all the way into the city of Buchanan. He had to get back to the Frost Observatory. Somebody there would know what to do. He picked up his pace.
They are coming, he thought. My God, they are really coming.
Evan
Evan was listening to the reports as they came in. So far, everything was going smoothly, but it was a complicated plan. All of it was to rid the Moon people of the fear and collective anxiety that had hampered their development for so long. The Moon people would rule benevolently once that fear was eliminated, and they could then build the utopian society they dreamed of.
"Sir, the Luna Brigade has incapacitated all strategic assets. At 03.30 hours, Buchanan missile control was attacked, and the facility was under our control within thirty minutes. All enemy personnel were disposed of and all systems are down," Strategos Jenssen reported. He was, as usual, with his staff instead of at Strategos Command, so he reported via video-link.
"How much time do we have?" Evan asked.
"We are currently holding the facility although we have already begun withdrawing our teams in order to have them ready for secondary targets. The facility will be blown up about twenty minutes from now."
"So the facility will be completely destroyed, and their key personnel are already dead?"
"Yes, sir. They will circumvent all of this eventually, but they will still lack personnel resources with the necessary competence. Even if we don´t account for personnel, it will take them days to gain control of even a single missile."
"Good. What´s the status of our cyber operations?"
"Sir, there are cyber attacks happening as we speak. A lot of it has been going on for weeks and months in preparation for this. Our attacks are striking all over their systems: power supply, communications, air traffic control. We haven´t managed to take out everything, but I´d say 60 percent of their power supply and 80 percent of comms systems are down. We took out all air traffic control thirty minutes ago, but they have some pretty good hackers and managed to wrangle it back. They know we are in their systems, so I wouldn´t expect much more than what we’ve already achieved, sir."
"I see," Evan said. Eighty percent of comms down would definitely hamper their abilities, and for a small, highly specialized military like Buchanan´s, it would matter much more than if it were the other way around.
"Anything else, Strategos?" he asked.
"We have several special teams in place deep within enemy territory. None have been discovered yet. The four teams in the city are lying low and waiting for the order. Everything is scouted and planned. All they need is the order." Evan nodded thoughtfully. If the attack on Buchanan missile control and the cyber attack weren´t enough, this strike would definitely make it clear to anyone in doubt that they were indeed at war.
"It’s time. Go for it, Strategos Jenssen. You have the order to take out Buchanan military high command."
Dave
It was approaching 05.00 hours when Dave finally entered his office. The first thing he noticed as he slumped into his chair was that the computer had been switched off. It seemed the power was down, as the hallways had been lit by emergency lighting only, but that didn´t worry him. The computers ran on a different grid altogether in order to protect their data from outages, lightning strikes, or other things that could cause major emergencies. He flipped the ON switch and waited. It normally took a couple of seconds before the computer booted up.
Nothing. The computer was as good as dead. He tried several times to get it back to life, but nothing happened. He pressed the comms button on his desk and was about to tell the AI to put him through to tech support, but the comms were down as well. No reaction at all.
A sudden panic overtook him, and he picked up his small backpack, rummaging through it until he found what he wanted. He picked up the black box and put his finger to its side. It immediately gave off a faint blue light, and Dave exhaled. At least the box was unharmed, even if it contained no messages from Mark Novak.
He had to speak to someone to figure out what was happening and to tell someone what he had seen. But how? There had to be someone around. He remembered then that Dr. Sims had once told him that she had a reserve system in place designed to remain online even if everything else failed.
Dave decided to go straight to her office. He´d figure something out, whether she was there or not.
Tina
Tina searched the starry sky without seeing anything, of course. Ramon was up there right now, probably docked with the ark. Shefania was furious, he had said, but Tina had learned there were certain triggers that could be pulled with those from Sanctuary. Shefania would refuse to interfere with the coming war, even if she could, due to what Tina so often—and not without contempt—referred to as Sanctuary´s pacifism.
But Tina knew Shefania would have a hard time refusing to help in other ways. The only thing that could present an obstacle was the fact that the ark was so precious and couldn’t be put at risk.
But Shefania was no stranger to risk.
Tina grinned. She had known Shefania for quite a few years now, and she sometimes suspected some of the Aurorans´ adventurism had rubbed off on her. Or maybe it was innate. After all, Shefania was the one who, on her own initiative, had come down to the planet to contact the small human settlement all those years ago. She cared deeply for the Aurorans, and perhaps some of that could be transferred to the Earthlings.
She kicked the dirt. Waiting made her nervous, but it was out of her hands. All she could do was trust that Ramon had inherited some of his mother´s persuasiveness and creativity and his father´s bravery, although there had never really been any doubt about that. She checked her tablet again, impatient to hear from Ramon. Still nothing.
Chapter 13
Dave
Dave sat in Dr. Sims’s office in Dr. Sims’s chair. The senior scientist and head of department hadn´t showed up yet. It’s still early, Dave thought. Sims didn´t have a watch that wasn´t connected to the main grid, but Dave guessed it had to be around six or six-thirty by now. He fiddled with the different controls and buttons embedded in the top of Sims’s desk. A tiny, green light flickered on, followed by a screeching sound and then static. Dave sat back and thought for a moment. The reserve system was clearly on. How did it work? He flipped around, trying new switches and levers. The static disappeared and reappeared. Dave tried repeating his last moves. Again, the static disappeared.
"Hello," he said. Nothing. He repeated the process, making tiny adjustments every time. Why hadn´t anyone thought to teach him this?
The door opened and Dr. Sims entered with one of the security guards right behind her.
"Wagner, what are you doing here?" she asked. The guard looked at him suspiciously. This wasn´t one of the guards Dave had chatted with.
"I´m trying to access the reserve comms system," he said. Dr. Sims
nodded.
"I saw the power was gone. The comms must be down as well."
"We´re being attacked. It´s really happening," Dave said, but Dr. Sims shook her head and smiled.
"No, no. The Covenant sometimes tries to mess with our systems to test our weaknesses or maybe just to rattle us. But an attack, a real attack?" She chortled. The Frost Observatory was part of military intelligence, but their tasks were mostly related to peaceful endeavors, and Dave had noticed that most of the scientists didn´t seem to think in military terms. They were so focused on their tasks that they failed to see what was happening outside of their little cocoon.
Dave got up, and walked over to a chair off to the side of the room.
"You don´t understand. Something big is happening. It´s this, the power and the comms, but there´s also things going on outside. I saw something," he trailed off.
"Hmm," Sims murmured as she began flicking switches. She didn´t appear convinced, but she found the channel she was looking for.
"9, this is Frost 1, 9 this is Frost 1," she began. When there was no reply, she wrinkled her forehead and made a few small adjustments. Dave tried to pay attention, but lost track of her movements. The security guard came over and offered to help, but Sims waved him off.
"9, this is Frost 1, 9 this is Frost 1."
"Frost 1, this is EMCOM 1. Come in, over." EMCOM, Emergency Command, Dave thought. Something big is definitely happening.
"EMCOM 1, this is Frost 1. We have lost power and comms. Advise, over."
"Frost 1, this is EMCOM 1. We are receiving numerous reports of cyber-attacks. Missile command is compromised. War is imminent. You are to seek shelter immediately and activate War Order Five, over."
Dave had no idea what War Order Five was, but this was serious.
"EMCOM 1, this is Frost 1. In order to activate War Order Five, you need to authenticate, over," Simms said sharply.
"Frost 1, this is EMCOM 1. Authentication follows. One Alpha Romeo Zulu Seven Nine X-ray Two. Over."
"EMCOM 1, this is Frost 1. Authentication is complete and verified. Initiating War Order Five. Out."
Dr. Simms pushed herself back from the desk, breathing heavily.
"Wagner, I want you to stay here with me. Alan," she addressed the guard, "round up everybody in the main auditorium. Make sure we have armed guards at every entrance." The security guard nodded affirmatively and ran off.
"Okay, Wagner, there is something you need to know," she said. Dave didn´t move. There was too much happening too quickly to follow.
"There are certain secrets contained within this facility that must not fall into the hands of the Covenant. In particular, we believe we may have found a way to reach distant parts of the universe in years instead of millennia. We are absolutely positive this is unknown to the Moon people, but if they were to capture this facility, they would become a starfaring people within a few decades. This must not happen." Do they know about Tina and Ramon? Dave thought. He didn´t think so.
"War Order Five states that this facility must be destroyed in the event of imminent capture. There is a nuclear device buried within the facility, which will take care of that," Simms said drily. She looked straight at Dave, and he wondered why she was telling him this. She didn´t have to.
"This means we have to evacuate everyone. My first priority is to make sure this facility doesn´t fall into the hands of the Moon people, but my second priority is to save lives. Do you understand?"
Dave nodded, at a loss for words.
"Good. As soon as Alan has rounded up everyone—I guess there aren´t many in at this hour anyway—we´ll inform them of the situation. Then I want you to go with them into the mountains. Alan will come with you. The rest of the security detail will stay here with me." She looked away, and Dave realized the implications of what she had just said.
"Doctor, you don´t have to…"
"I do, David. I don´t want to blow up this place unless I really have to. The security detail should be able to hold off a minor attack, but if they break through, I have to be here to make that assessment." She looked back at him and forced a smile.
"Don´t worry too much. It could still be a major skirmish. Maybe they´ll back down once they´ve taken out some of our assets. They know the risk should we strike back in force. They´re crazy, but hopefully, they´re not that crazy."
Dave nodded, but he recognized it as wishful thinking. The Moon people wanted everything, and soon they would have it.
Sue
"There´s no one here," Sue said. She looked around and saw no one. They had left just before curfew ended, and most businesses didn´t open for another half hour. The door to the doctor´s office was locked, and she wondered if Renee had meant for them to meet the doctor on his way in. That would be awkward.
"Good," Renee said. "That means no one will see me do this." She produced some kind of gadget that she fastened to the lock. Magnetic, Sue thought. Renee pulled a switch, and the tool whirred softly. She unfastened the gadget and opened the door.
"How did you…"
"Quiet. Let´s get inside before anyone sees us."
They stepped inside and shut the door behind them. Luckily, there were no alarms. Renee made sure the door was properly locked before they moved on.
"Lead the way," Renee said. Sue walked straight through the hallway past the reception area and the waiting room to her doctor´s personal office.
"Alright, let´s see," Renee began as she checked the door. Unlocked.
"Ha!"
They entered, and Sue sat down where she normally sat on her visits.
"Any idea where he keeps the drugs?" Renee asked. Sue shook her head.
"Probably locked down. Why?"
Renee didn´t answer.
"We won´t find it by looking," she said. "Here, hide in this closet. I´ll go find somewhere else to be. Just be quiet until I tell you to come out, okay?"
Sue nodded in reply.
She walked into the closet, and Renee shut the door after her. It was pitch dark, but Sue had seen that this was a storage closet for office equipment before the door closed. She sat down with her back against the wall and waited.
Not long after, she heard the door open, and footsteps padded along the floor. She heard a man’s voice, slightly muffled.
"Randi, who´s my first patient today?" It was her doctor.
"Olivia Hershey at seven-thirty and Susan Atlas at eight. One emergency call between the two, if you have time." This was a woman´s voice.
"I´ll have time. That Hershey woman only comes for a new prescription," the doctor mumbled. A door shut, and Sue heard the creaking of his old leatherbound chair as the doctor sat down at his desk.
A commotion made her cringe, and then she heard Renee´s quiet voice.
"Be quiet and listen," Sue heard Renee say just before the door to the closet opened.
"Come on out, Sue," Renee commanded. Sue wondered if this was a good idea, but she came out anyway. Renee stood pointing a handgun at the doctor.
"Susan Atlas," the doctor exclaimed before he caught himself. He whispered the next words.
"What on Earth are you doing here?"
"The medication. We need it," she said. The doctor looked at her, then at Renee, and back at Sue again.
"What is this? I was going to administer the drugs to you anyway."
"I don´t want that crap inside me. I want the box. Right now," she said sternly. The doctor got up from his chair, realization dawning on his face.
"You figured it out, did you? You will pay for this. Your family will pay for this. I will personally see to it. In there," he said, pointing at a reinforced cabinet behind him.
"The code is 9086417. Top drawer."
Sue walked over and quickly typed in the digits. The lock opened, and she looked inside. An unopened box sat on the top drawer, simply marked "Authorized Personnel Only."
"This one?" she said, showing the box to the doctor.
"Yes," he answered. Sue t
ore the seal and took out the contents: four minor packages marked Bliss2b. She showed it to Renee.
"Looks right to me," she said.
Renee inspected the packages and then put them in her pocket.
"Yes, this is it."
"Let´s get out of here," Sue said. She looked out the window. A few people had appeared in the streets. She checked her watch. Seven fifteen.
"Randi´s your secretary, right?" Renee asked. The doctor nodded.
"Okay, tell Randi to call Olivia and reschedule the appointment. You are not to be disturbed until Miss Atlas arrives. Got it?"
The doctor nodded. He pushed a button on his desk and spoke.
"Randi, I just remembered I have something important to do. Could you reschedule Miss Hershey, please? Let me know when Miss Atlas arrives."
"Alright, sir," Randi´s voice said.
"Thank you."
As soon as the doctor let go of the button, Renee pushed him away from the desk and placed a sticker across his mouth. She then fastened his arms behind his back with strips.
"Can we go now?" Sue asked impatiently. Renee mused for a moment before producing an injector. She put it to the doctor´s neck and pushed. The doctor´s head lolled, and he fell limp.
"Just to make sure," Renee said, grinning. She stepped over to the window, and Sue followed. She could see Renee take something from her pocket and press a button before she put it back.
"Right. Now we´re done here." Renee peeked outside.
"Not many out there yet. Hurry," Renee said, opening the window. They climbed out when no one was around, walking off just quickly enough to avoid attention.
"We have what we came for," Renee said. "Let´s get the hell out of here. We´re on a tight schedule."
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