SHU'KAN

by Martin Durst

  ‘That’s one tough ship,’ leader Bro’na observed. ‘Of course what ships we have remaining will be at your disposal for the meantime, Mr. Secretary.’

  ‘I hope that we won’t have to call on you,’ the Secretary said with all sincerity. ‘But the offer is fully appreciated just the same.’

  ‘’Earth Fleet ground forces suffered the most casualties. We lost the entire Third Brigade of Second Division. That includes their Commander, Brigadier General David Christensen. The Strike Wing we sent to intercept the Harvest Ship witnessed the destruction of the city. I’m afraid that Sydney is a total loss.’

  General Christensen was fine officer,’ Admiral Cook observed quietly. ‘He will be missed.’

  Admiral McConnel silently thanked God that his son, Kyle, made it through alive. ‘Yes he was,’ he finally responded, ‘but we have to move forward. The next attack will finish us for sure unless we can come up with a solution to finish this. –Which is why I’ve decided, and the Secretary agrees, to double our bioweapon research efforts. We managed to secure a few more Hiver specimens which we secured in Sydney. –Hardy little bastards. One of them is a spider-type pure bred. We’ve already sent them to Iceland. In addition, we’re sparing no effort to rebuild our defense capabilities.’

  ‘That is correct gentlemen.’ All heads turned to see the Prime Minister enter the room. Everyone instinctively stood out of respect. ‘Be seated, I didn’t come here to hold the meeting up. I just wanted to informally brief you while everyone was assembled.’ He waited patiently for the murmuring to settle down, and then continued. ‘We are in serious trouble. Everyone here probably realizes that. But it’s worse than you think. I just conferred with fifteen National President’s. Every single one of their countries is experiencing civil unrest. Riots have broken out and looting is rampant in many of their larger cities. The Australian President, in particular has his hands full. Citizens are demanding protection from Hiver attacks and believe that Earth Fleet is holding out on them. –Protecting themselves, if you will.’

  ‘That’s preposterous!’ Admiral McConnel ejaculated. ‘We’ve committed every resource we have to protecting this planet!’

  Be that as it may,’ the Prime Minister said raising his hand to interrupt, ‘they clearly perceive otherwise.’

  ‘I’ll give them a new perception,’ Admiral McConnel mumbled quietly finally yielding to the Prime Minister.

  ‘What the people of Earth need is hope, gentlemen. So, I’ve decided that we need a hero to give them that hope. Admiral Cook, is the Carthaginian still flight capable?’

  Admiral Cook reacted as if caught off guard. ‘Well, Sir, She’s pretty tore up, but her Negrav is still fully operational and her flight computers are online. Her hull Integrity is questionable and of course her weapon systems are in need of serious repair. Additionally, I –

  ‘That’s good enough,’ he interrupted. ‘The Carthaginian will embark, with her crew compliment, on a twenty city tour for the next thirty days.’

  ‘Sir, I have to object,’ Admiral Cook stammered. ‘Leaving the atmosphere will be too risky at this point!’

  You’re not leaving the atmosphere. You’ll proudly fly your fine ship the old fashioned way: through the clouds! I want all of Earth to see her hero’s! And, at every stop your entire crew will disembark to participate in the celebrations that will be waiting for you!’

  Admiral Cook sat quietly dumbfounded. Before he could again object, the Prime Minister continued.

  ‘I already know what your concerns will be, Admiral. You feel that no time or effort should be spared to put the Carthaginian on tour, but you’re forgetting the shipyard will need a few weeks to modify its build requirements to fit your ship. In addition, we have a few modifications that I think you may like. We need time, however, to get it all prepared.’ He turned and gestured to Leader Bro’na. ‘The Leader and his fine scientists have not been idle. We think that we have solved the problem of being able to do short jumps while in FTL. If we’re correct, and we need the Carthaginian to test the new drive system, the Hiver’s will no longer have that advantage. We’ll be able to engage them outside our Solar System. In short, gentlemen, we’ll be able to go on the offensive!’

  No one argued the point any further. The implication of being on the offensive was reason enough.

  ‘So, in the meantime, the Carthaginian will solve our other problem by going on tour. –By being the hero’s that they already are.’ The Prime Minister turned deadly serious. And for the first time since entering the room, he looked tired and haggard. ‘Hope. We need hope more than ever, now. Humanity cannot give up. If that happens, then this war is already over.’

  Chapter Twelve

  Matheus had never been so scared in his life, and the only thing he was focused on was holding on. His fingers ached from the effort. It made him nauseous to think how many thousands of feet he was in the air. The village fire had almost fooled him. Only at the last minute did he see Tr’al being led away. He’d been so focused trying to help put out the fire, he was too late to try anything. He decided instead to follow quietly in a canoe taking only enough time to grab his weapons. Once the Negrav Pod had landed, he climbed atop it at the first opportunity. Now he’d been trying to keep from falling off for the last hour.

  Deciding to chance it, he let go with one hand to flex his fingers. The wind shear was oppressive and at first it was difficult to breathe. Then he realized that if he kept his head face down against the crafts hull, he could breathe relatively easily. He was hoping that they wouldn’t go any higher. He wasn’t thinking about remaining conscious when he first climbed on. But even at this altitude, he shivered against the cold air. He wasn’t going to last much longer. More than likely he already had mild hypothermia. He was beginning to seriously doubt the situation when he felt the craft slow noticeably. They were beginning to descend.

  The sky was suddenly bright with lights as he broke through the cloud cover. Below he could see a large city. It was Rio. No other city on the continent was this big. Lights as far as the eye could see danced with glittery hypnosis. He was so enthralled by the sight he forgot to keep both hands on the hull. Banking hard to the right, the craft changed direction. He cried in fright as he lost his hold. Desperately grabbing at anything that would give him purchase, he struggled for balance. His left hand closed on the edge of an exhaust vent saving him from certain doom. Slowly he pulled himself back to a more secure position. Giddy with relief, he held tightly not wanting to make the same mistake twice. After a few moments, he felt secure enough to sneak a look. They were flying a few hundred feet above the ground now and, as best as he could tell, they were about to land at the airport.

  The craft came to a soft and almost soundless landing. He held to the shadows and watched the passengers disembark. Tr’al walked quietly in front as her kidnappers followed closely behind. They disappeared into a hangar as he slid down the fuselage to follow. It was close to dawn as the horizon glowed with first light, but it was still dark enough to use the shadows as he darted across the tarmac. He paused only a moment to listen before entering the hangar. Inside, every description of Negrav parts littered the floor. At the center of the hangar a Negrav Pod was being serviced. Its hull was missing pieces exposing hundreds of wires and other type of circuitry. At the opposite side of the expanse, an enclosed room was dimly lit showing shadows moving back and forth through the dirt stained glass. The sound of muffled voices came softly across the space. Matheus moved quickly, but quietly across the room. He finally found a crevice well hidden behind a large covered pallet. He could now clearly hear voices.

  ‘We’re taking a private Negrav Pod to the Compound. Fisher will meet us there. The little brat will be our insurance to keep her sister cooperative and quiet. The Iceland facility is most assuredly compromised by now, so we’re … putting her skills to better use … elsewhere.’

  Bill Prevost worked diligently at securing Tr’al’s hands and feet as he listened. He’d learne
d not to interrupt. Invoking her anger could be deadly. He finished and taped Tr’al’s mouth securely as she wiggled against the bonds.

  ‘She will be using an assumed name and monitored twenty-four seven, and communication to the outside world will be restricted. Security will not be an issue. Little sissy here is added insurance.’ She grinned with satisfaction as Tr’al looked terrified. ‘If your sister behaves, you’ll have nothing to worry about.’ She tested Tr’al’s bonds and grunted with satisfaction. She then perched in a chair and leaned back against the wall. She placed her heat pistol in her lap and closed her eyes. ‘I suggest you take a cat nap. We’ll not be leaving for another two hours.’

  Bill found a service cart for a chair and tried to get comfortable. He looked forward to meeting this Fisher guy. Maybe he was someone that could help him. Kyle McConnel would pay one way or another, and if he could ruin his career even before it began, all the better.

  From behind the pallet, Matheus observed Tr’al closely. She looked tired and scared. He had to help her but didn’t dare do anything against two opponents. The female especially looked dangerous. She was professional and could probably kill him easily.

  He took inventory of his weapons. He’d been smart enough to re-holster his heat pistol before running after them. He also still had his bow slung across his back, but was sure he could not notch another arrow and accurately hit a second target before being shot. No, he’d wait. He was wondering what to do next when the dilemma was solved for him.

  ‘What are we taking to the Compound?’ Prevost asked.

  ‘We’re just waiting for our Pod to charge and be serviced. It’s a long flight to Colorado.’

  ‘Fine, I’ll russ us up something to eat. I can’t sleep anyway. Be back in a few.’ He lumbered from the room leaving Tr’al alone with Carolina.

  Matheus quietly returned to the hangar door. He needed to get aboard that Pod before they returned. He looked across the tarmac in the early morning light to be sure no one was observing, and then crossed the distance to the Pod. He tapped the entry hatch while at the same time silently whispering a prayer of thanks that it was unsecured. It hissed open with little protest. He entered and closed the hatch behind him. It was a standard design with a small flight deck forward of the craft and a cargo compartment aft. He wasted no time and headed straight for the cargo department. Inside were three box-type containers. One was open with no lid but was packed full of some type of medical equipment. The second was covered and he pried the lid loose. It was partially filled with stacks of documents. It would work. He climbed in and carefully pulled the lid back in place. He’d stay here during the flight. Stacks of paper weren’t ideal for a comfortable trip, but anything was better than clinging to the outside of the Pod again. He’d gotten lucky the first time that he hadn’t killed himself.

  As he waited patiently, he tried to sort through the mess he’d gotten himself into. He should have said no when Tr’al tapped on his window, but whether or not he wanted to admit it, he cared for her. Now he was hiding as a stowaway playing hero. –Must be out of my mind! Tr’al also now knew that her sister wasn’t dead. That made her a liability. –And what of Lieutenant Stone? He felt a pang of guilt for leaving the village abruptly, but there’d been no time to tell him where he was going. The lieutenant probably thought he was kidnapped also.

  He was awakened suddenly by the shudder of a hatch closing. Only then did he realize that he’d fallen asleep. He could hear muffled voices and then within a few moments, he felt the gentle tug of liftoff. He quietly repositioned himself. It was going to be a long flight. –Might as well get some additional shut-eye. Closing his eyes, he held a reassuring grip on his heat pistol and allowed the darkness to take him.

  A hard jolt again awoke Matheus with a start. He almost cried out in alarm but stifled himself. His neck hurt from sleeping at an odd angle. He could hear voices as all the passengers disembarked from the Pod. He only hoped that no one would try to unload the cargo with him still inside. After several quiet moments, he decided to risk looking outside the container. Pushing the lid just high enough to see, he peered across the hold. No one was in the Pod. Quietly he jumped from the crate and moved to an observation port. Outside it was a clear sunny day. Several buildings were visible as he strained to see the entire area. They were definitely in the mountains as high peeks filled the horizon; their snow covered peaks serving as quiet sentinels. No one was walking near the vessel so now was his chance. He slipped down the entryway and moved quickly to the wood line. From here, he could better assess the situation. This may not be the jungle, but nature was his element. Patiently, he memorized the layout. To his left, three building, all equal in size were fenced in together. They were wooden construction with tin roofing. The fence was at least fifteen to twenty feet high; which suggested that something was being held inside. –Something large. Outside of each building, wooden scaffolding with large metal hooks stood about twenty feet away. What these were for he could only imagine. Almost looks like gallows! He filed it away and concentrated on what else he could see. Directly in front of him, a large building built of logs and two stories high seemed to be center of everything. The pod he’d arrived in was just to the right of it. It was pure luck no one saw him running from it. He could see communication equipment fenced in a small area to the right of the structure. This must be their command facility. In fact, it was only one of two structures with a generator. To his far right, a fenced in hangar with its bay doors closed showed the only visible signs of activity. Two guards walked along the fence perimeter. The fence was not as high, but still stood taller than an average man’s height. Each of them held a guard dog on a leash and a rifle slung across their backs. He was about to study the three wooden structures more thoroughly when movement from the log building caught his attention. Four armed guards pushing a Negrav dolly loaded with what looked like several hundred pounds of raw meat exited from the loading dock. They carefully eased it down to just above ground level then began walking towards the wooden structures. It floated gently as one nudged it along. Pausing just long enough to open the gate to the fence surrounding them, they stopped just under the first scaffolding. Taking several large chunks of meat from the Negrav dolly, they hung each piece from the hooks. They moved to the other two scaffolds and repeated the process. They then moved outside the fence and closed the gate.

  Matheus was bewildered by the entire process when suddenly an alarm, much like a warning siren, sounded. Moments later, large panel doors slid open on each of the buildings. He almost turned and ran. From the buildings, at least twenty Hiver’s emerged. The very hair on his neck stiffened. Here before him were live specimens of the enemy. Most of them looked worn, haggard, and abused, but considering there was not supposed to be any left alive on Earth, the scene still made him catch his breath. What is this place, some kind of secret government facility? Matheus just stared slack-jawed as they pulverized the raw meat. Two broke into a vicious fight. He was curious to see who would be the victor, when suddenly, both seemed to lurch backwards and stiffen violently. Only then did he notice the large metal collars around their necks. –Some kind of shock device.

  The meat handlers, apparently satisfied that their task was complete, moved back to the main facility and disappeared. He watched the Hiver’s for a while longer as they scoured the ground for leftovers –much like a dog does a food bowl –then slowly, one by one, they returned to the wooden structures.

  Matheus blinked his eyes in amazement. What just happened? Did the U.N. C. know these existed? Were they part of this operation? Maybe this was an Earth Fleet research facility? Matheus shrugged it off. His concern was Tr’al. He was going to get her out there no matter what it took. Right now, he’d trap a meal. Then, after it was dark, he’d investigate the main building more thoroughly.

  It was well after dark when he finally felt comfortable about approaching. Almost a full day had passed. He’d successfully trapped a small rabbit and had gathered a few b
erries. It was enough. At least he wasn’t starving. He wanted nothing more than to charge right in, but he’d taken time to observe their routines and find weaknesses in their methods. Now, it was finally time to act.

  For what seemed like hours he crouched behind a tree at the edge of the compound. The roaming guards always moved in groups of two. They passed by him every twenty minutes; which gave him a good estimate of how much time he’d have to gain entry to the main building. Even during daylight, he was too far away to get a good look at all the entrances. It’s now or never, he thought as a pair of guards passed. He dashed across the expanse using all the skill taught to him by his tribe. His movements were as silent as a leopard. Pressing his back against the thick hewn logs of the main structure, he sank deep into the darkness listening to the hum of the ever-running generator. Quickly but silently he began to move along the perimeter looking for any entrance. He reached the first corner of the building with no success. He’d passed a few windows, but all had been secured. –Just as well. He’d rather not enter into a room without knowing what or who was in it. Carefully peering around the corner, he confirmed the way was clear then moved along the wall again. His fingers brushed a door. Feeling for the handle, he discovered it firmly secured. He was estimating at least ten minutes had passed. He was running out time and had covered two sides of the building. Rounding another corner, he clearly was to the rear of the structure. Even in the pale moonlight, he could make out some type of loading dock with two large double doors. He made his way to the dock while keeping to the shadows and tried not to think about how much time he had left before the next group of guards passed. He hopped up onto the dock holding his slung bow to keep it from banging against the doors. He whispered a silent prayer then turned the knob. A click that sounded like a boulder dropping in the silence echoed through the air. It was open. He pushed gently thanking God the door didn’t creak.