“My bot has identified the man responsible, Henry Balfield,” said Butu.
“I’ve transmitted the information to your team,” X said to the commander.
“Good. We did a sweep of the entire building and didn’t find anything else.”
“Madam President!” said Charles as he rushed in. “Are you ok?”
“I’m fine,” said Butu. “Have Alyssa issue a statement to the press. We don’t want the public to panic.” As Butu spoke, the commander received a call over his ear piece.
“Block off the area. I’ll be there in a few minutes.” The commander looked at Butu. “We just got a call that a man wearing a green uniform just blew himself up in Sydney Park.”
“The technician?” said Mary.
“We’ll have to run a DNA profile of what’s left of him,” said the commander. “Until we confirm it was him, I want to keep the residence secured and keep people from coming in or out.”
“Fine,” said Butu.
“I’ll update you once we have more details,” said the commander as he left.
“Mary, go upstairs and start a headcount of personnel,” said Butu. Mary nodded and followed the commander out of the bunker, leaving Butu to consult with Charles. “So much for questioning the suspect as to his motives.”
“We’ll have to consult with intelligence to see if they have any information about this man,” said Charles.
“He couldn’t have acted alone,” said Butu. “Someone had to have helped him get through the background check process.”
“Any speculation as to who?”
“Plenty of speculation,” said Butu. “But we need solid answers, not presumptions.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Julie and Alex’sis ran as fast as they could to the lift to get to the command deck. The battle alarm blared through the ship with an announcement of Screen fighters inbound towards PHOENIX. Both officers were itching to get to their posts, and it seemed the lift was taking longer than usual to make its ascent.
A couple minutes later they were on the command deck. “What do we have?” asked Julie as she and Alex’sis made their way to the pit.
“Sixteen Screen fighters and one cruiser type vessel on approach,” said John in his command chair. They were the same type of vessels they had encountered in the past.
“That’s it?” said Alex’sis. “That’s not enough to defeat us. They should know that.” She checked the sensors, but they didn’t indicate anything new about the Screen vessels. They were displaying the same energy and power outputs as the other ships they battled in the past.
“Should we deploy our fighters?” asked Julie.
“No need,” said John. “Our revised targeting scanners can easily lock onto the fighters.”
“I’m getting some encrypted chatter between the Screen vessels,” said Bret. “They’re talking to each other.”
“Shields are up and weapons are on standby,” reported Alex’sis.
“Target plasma guns on the fighters, and pulse cannons on the cruiser,” ordered John.
“Here they come,” announced Julie.
The fighters broke off formation and did a pass around PHOENIX, firing as they flew by the massive human starship.
“What the hell are they doing?” said John, seeing the fighters flying essentially alone as they passed the ship. “They can’t puncture our shields individually like that.”
“Confirm, captain,” said Alex’sis. “Shields are holding steady.”
“Lock onto weapons and engines,” said John. “Let’s see if we can disable one of them.”
“Oh no you don’t,” muttered Julie, who had been keeping her eye on the cruiser. “Cruiser is charging primary weapon.”
“Fire cannon,” ordered John. PHOENIX blasted the Screen cruiser and knocked it off its flight path.
“Cruiser shields down to forty percent,” said Julie. “I’m reading a malfunction in their primary weapon.”
“Eleven fighters are destroyed, captain,” announced Alex’sis.
“Donavin to command deck.”
“Go ahead, professor.”
“I’ve remodulated guns A through D to try and disable a fighter.”
“Acknowledged,” said John. “Alex’sis, use only those guns on the fighters.
“Got it,” said Alex’sis.
A couple of more blasts from the pulse cannon struck the cruiser. “Captain, cruiser shields, weapons, and engines are gone,” reported Julie.
“Screen fighter group has been eliminated,” said Alex’sis. “Sensors show one fighter disabled with a Screen alive inside.”
“Finally,” said John. “Roberts to hangar deck. Prepare to deploy a REPO for Screen fighter retrieval. Have security standby.”
Several bleeps on the operations table went off that Alex’sis checked. “Sir, the cruiser just exploded. Looks like they initiated a self-destruct.”
“That was a waste of time,” said Kevin. “They accomplished nothing by attacking us.”
“They were doing something,” said Bret.
“You got something?” asked John.
“All the ships were transmitting data during the fight. I couldn’t pinpoint where they were sending the transmissions, but they were definitely broadcasting the battle to someone.”
“Their superiors,” guessed John. “They were testing us again.”
“REPO Two to PHOENIX. We have package in tow and en route back to mother.”
John looked at Julie with anticipation. “Maybe this is the break we’ve been waiting for.”
The captain and commander wasted no time getting to the hangar’s control and observation room that overlooked the hangar. As they did, the REPO flew in, towing the badly damaged Screen fighter. Chief Davers had his heavily armed officers posted throughout the hangar, their pulse rifles pointing at the cockpit of the green fighter craft. Near the entrance to the hangar bay, far behind security, was Doctor Myers and his team. Once given the all clear they would move in and do an initial scan of the pilot for any injuries it might have sustained.
The antigravity emitters enveloped the fighter, allowing the REPO to disengage it’s tractor beam and move away. As the emitters placed the fighter to an appropriate spot, Drix and Thresha entered the control room.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be here,” John said to Drix.
“As long as the pilot is wearing its armor, I will be fine,” reassured Drix.
“What if he takes it off?” asked Julie.
Thresha held up a tranquilizer shot. “I gave my word to Drix that I would sedate him.”
“There is a past connection between the Screen and my people,” said Drix. “I have to be here.”
“Understood,” said John. The ship geneticists had been analyzing Drix’s gene structure in an attempt to find something that could explain his aggressive reaction towards the Screen. They were still in the stage of understanding basic Cresorian genetic makeup and didn’t anticipate coming up with anything useful for months.
“We see some movement in the craft,” reported Davers over the observers’ pips. John could only imagine what the Screen must be thinking. This would the first face-to-face interaction between a human and Screen.
Nothing happened for over a minute, then the cockpit door split and slid open. Those in the control room were too far away to get a good look, so they stared at the monitor to get a close up close view of the pilot. It was wearing the same black armor as the Screen they had in autopsy, the same pipes intertwining around its helmet to its suit. It seemed to look around its surroundings and wasn’t in a hurry to exit its craft.
“The Screen is not scared,” said Thresha.
“What do you sense from it?” asked Julie.
“I am not sure,” said Thresha. “I do not sense any intense feelings from it.”
“Considering its predicament, I’m surprised,” said John. “It doesn’t know what we’ll do, so it should be scared.”
�
�It is not scared,” said Thresha. “It is…content, as if it accepts its situation.”
The Screen got out of its ship and John didn’t notice signs of fear or worry in its movements. No one could see any difference between it and the dead Screen they captured months ago.
“Captain, the changes we’ve made to the medical scanners appear to be working,” said Myers over their pips. “I’m detecting life signs within the suit.”
John said nothing. He didn’t want to reply to Myers, a person who John felt had betrayed him. Further review of Admiral Johnson’s log revealed that the doctor had known about the admiral’s dementia for years. John felt the doctor should have known Johnson was too ill to continue running the EXODUS Project. For him to say nothing was beyond irresponsible. If Myers would have acted, maybe Nicole would still be alive.
“At least our scanners can penetrate Screen armor,” said Julie, snapping John out of his thoughts about Myers.
Thresha sensed John’s anger and stepped near him. “Captain?”
“I’m ok,” assured John as the Screen took a couple of steps away from the fighter.
“If you understand what I’m saying, raise your arms in an outward motion,” ordered Davers.
The sound of static came from the Screen. It was unintelligible.
“I can’t understand what it’s saying,” said John.
“Me neither,” said Julie. “Our microns aren’t translating its language.”
“He says you creatures are punier than I imagined,” said Thresha. John, Julie, and Drix looked at her. “I can understand him.”
“Your telepathy,” said Drix.
“Davers, did you copy Thresha?” asked John.
“Yes, sir. Glad someone can understand him.”
More sounds of static came from the Screen.
“I will not cooperate with you,” said Thresha. “Let me go and I may convince my brethren not to kill all of you when we destroy this ship.”
“Arrogant son of a bitch,” muttered John.
“We’re going to have to interrogate it,” said Julie. “He’s not going to give up anything.”
“Chief, take him into custody,” ordered John.
Davers nodded and spoke to the Screen. “We’re taking you to one of our holding cells. We won’t harm you.”
Again, more static from the Screen.
“We will never submit to you,” said Thresha. “You will get nothing from me.”
John activated the speakers in the hangar. “You don’t have a choice.”
The Screen looked up at the control room. It spoke again as it looked at John.
“You will not prevail against us,” said Thresha. “You have no power over me.”
Suddenly, it collapsed to the ground. Myers and his team rushed over to the fighter to render aid. Thresha bowed her head in sorrow, which was all the indication John needed to know the Screen was dead.
“I’m picking up an acidic compound coursing through the armor,” said Myers. “It’s breaking down the body into liquid components.”
“The Screen killed itself rather than be taken prisoner,” said Drix.
“There not willing to listen to reason,” said a disappointed Julie.
“Appears that way,” said John. “Commander, have the armor taken to autopsy for examination. Drix, see if you can help our techs salvage anything from the fighter. It’d be nice to learn something about Screen technology.”
“Yes, John Captain.”
John left the observation room, disappointed that yet another opportunity to learn about the Screen had slipped through their fingers.
“Captain.” John turned to see Thresha catch up to him. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. Why?”
“You are agitated.”
“No, it’s just that…” No, now was not the time to discuss personal matters. “I’ve been dealing with a lot lately. It’s nothing serious. I’ll be ok.”
“If there is anything I can do to ease your pain, you only need to ask.”
“Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind,” said John as he left. As he got on the lift he began wondering why he still had Myers as chief medical officer. The captain couldn’t trust him, and there were plenty of doctors on board who could assume that role.
“Fuck it,” muttered John. “I’m the captain and I can do what I want.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
“The body armor had two compartments holding the powders that, when combined, produce the acid that dissolved the Screen pilot.” Myers, after spending hours in autopsy examining the armor, was in his office detailing his findings in his log.
“The pores the acid secrete from are almost microscopic, indicating a high pressure system in the armor that ejects the acid through the pores and into main cavity. So far I’ve been unable to identify the system used to distribute the acid. Samples of the acid and residual powders have been sent to the chemistry department for analysis.”
Myers looked up to see John entering medical. The captain went over to speak with Doctor Howl, who was examining some of the liquid remains of the fighter in the main surgical bay. Myers assumed John would be stopping by his office to get briefed on their findings, but fifteen minutes later Myers saw the captain leaving.
Myers ran out of his office. “Captain!” But John kept walking and never turned around. Myers was certain John heard him.
“Is everything ok?” asked Howl.
“What did the captain want?”
“An update on our findings on the Screen,” said Howl.
“I see.” This seemed uncharacteristic of the captain not to get updates from the chief medical officer.
“He also requested I send him a copy of the final report,” said Howl. “I told him you were working on it.” She saw the confused look on his face. “Joseph, you ok?”
“I’m fine. I’m just distracted. Thank you, Louise.”
Something wasn’t right, but Myers couldn’t put his finger on it. “Computer, location of the captain.”
“Captain Roberts is on lift C1, proceeding to the command deck.”
John was back in his office, passing the time contemplating the ship’s next move. PHOENIX was holding position in case anymore Screen showed up to look for their comrades. It was a long shot, but it was the best course of action until John could figure out what to do next.
“Come in,” said John as the door chime sounded. The last person he wanted to see walked in and his mood quickly soured.
“Captain, do you have a moment?” asked Myers.
“No, I have a lot of work to do.” John did nothing to disguise the disgust in his voice.
“I saw you in medical a few minutes ago,” said Myers.
“I wanted an update about the Screen. Doctor Howl was nice enough to brief me.”
“Captain, I usually brief you regarding any medical findings.”
“You have a capable staff,” said John. “I don’t see why I have to run to you for everything.”
Myers was bothered by the hostility he was hearing from the captain. “Have I done something to offend you?”
“You offend me,” replied John. “Everything about you offends me.”
Myers was speechless. What was prompting all this anger?
“I know you were treating Admiral Johnson for dementia,” revealed John.
Myers was stunned. “How?”
“In his logs,” said John. Myers had heard a batch of Johnson’s logs had been found in the computer, but no one said what they contained.
“Why did you allow a man with a severe mental condition to run the EXODUS Project?” asked John. “And why didn’t you tell me when I came on board?”
“His condition was not severe, and he was responding to treatment,” said Myers. “I didn’t tell you because I was bound by doctor-patient confidentiality.”
John slammed his hand on the desk. “To hell with you confidentiality!”
“Captain, all medical professionals are required to
maintain privacy…”
“That man killed my sister!” shouted John.
Myers was stunned and had to grab the chair to stay balanced.“What?”
“He killed my sister and I can assure you, he was quite unbalanced when he was explaining her death.”
“Captain, I..I don’t know what to say.”
“Shut it!” said John, almost yelling. “I don’t want your sympathy. You should have known he was sick. You should have said something.”
“If I had an idea…”
John exploded. “He was fuckin’ crazy! You should have known! You were his doctor! Because of you that man killed the only family I had left. I don’t have my parents, and because of you I don’t have my sister.”
“John, please! I had no idea.” John’s revelation devastated Myers. He never imagined Admiral Johnson would kill someone. That wasn’t the man Myers knew.
“I swear, if I find out he harmed anyone else, I’m going to hold you personally responsible,” said John.
Myers was sick to his stomach. Oliver and him had been friends for years. This didn’t seem real.
John fell back in his chair, the last few days of emotions were taking their toll on him. His body was drained, and he didn’t have anything more to fight with. “You were my friend. I thought I could trust you.”
“Captain, please…” The doctor could barely get the words out.
“Just get out,” said John. “I don’t care what you have to say.”
John swiveled his chair away and looked out the window. Myers didn’t try to say anything more and left the office.
That evening Myers found himself down at Smitty’s in Central. Although he wanted no company, he found himself more depressed alone in his quarters. At least here, he could people watch and distract himself.
He saw Julie enter Smitty’s and head to the bar. As she ordered her drink, she turned to look around. She waved at Myers when she spotted him, and he nodded at her. When she got her drink she approached his booth.
“Hi, doc. How you doing?”
“I’ve had better days,” replied Myers.
Julie noticed the table was empty. “You having anything?”
Phoenix In Chaos (Exodus) Page 15