“Ms Prada?”
“Yes Mr Bane.”
“Ask Clutch to come and see me.”
“Certainly Sir.”
Bane detected a certain… uneasiness in Ms Prada’s response. Clutch could have that effect.
Chapter 18. Wallacia 2030, 16 January
Art hit the send button on his message to Dave, advising his ETA over Fulmar. The one to Raleigh HQ requesting delivery of more medical supplies was already on its way.
The weapons he secured from Holkins were now stowed in the compartment behind him. The hold was empty and that was pretty much how Art felt. Once again he was leaving a mess behind. As he powered up the craft and began to taxi out onto the apron he thought of Dave and how he was always the glass half full guy while he tended to be the glass half empty fellow. ‘Why is that so?’ he asked himself.
He focused on the task at hand and requested clearance from the Control. That was given promptly as there were no other craft operating in the vicinity. He powered up the drive and launched out into a night sky.
As the sparsely lit city below became smaller and smaller Art reflected on the answer to his own question. He knew what answer Dave would have given him but he wasn’t buying that spiritual stuff.
He checked the display and determined he was now sufficiently clear of the planet. He selected the warp destination from the list of saved ones and initiated the warp sequence. As he watched the timer countdown he considered how happy he had been with Sue prior to the sleth attack on Klaster. ‘Yes they were the happiest days of my life.’
‘That’s what really matters – love.’
And with that realisation a smile crept onto Art’s face just as the ship warped away.
Chapter 19. Hermes over Fulmar 0700, 24 January
Dave emerged from the officers’ mess with Chase and Aubrey in tow. They were walking quickly to the elevator. Chase hit the button to descend to the hangar deck.
“So when did that shuttle get in” asked Dave.
“Just after 0400” replied Aubrey. “With a bit of luck the cargo will have already been transferred.”
“Let’s hope our Mr Cannard has had a good night’s rest.”
“I doubt that. Don’t you Sir?” said Aubrey with a knowing smile on her face.
“Yes you’re probably right there.” Dave enjoyed the fun but there was serious business to conduct. He strode out of the elevator, along the main corridor and into the hangar deck. Alain was standing in the hatch of Whisky 1 waiting for them. The craft was already powered up.
Dave took his usual seat just behind the pilot and gave Parinya the thumbs up. The hangar doors opened and Parinya gunned the engines and launched. Dave took the opportunity to lean forward and peer out the cockpit window.
The early morning sun was already baking the planet below. So much of the planet was desert or barren rock. The sun’s rays were reflecting off a segment of the rocky surface at this particular angle of view with a pronounced heat shimmer.
“You better sit back Sir. We’ll be entering the atmosphere shortly.”
Dave nodded his compliance. He caught a glimpse of the band of green around the equatorial zone just before he sat back and fastened his harness. Dave reflected on how amazing it was the juxtaposition between jungle and desert and no surface oceans, just the subterranean one.
There had been a lot of debate about the decision to abandon Fulmar in 25th century. In the end it came down to money. The development of Fulmar was dependent on changing the atmosphere, to cool it down and harness the resources of the subterranean ocean. In the end there were too many easy options elsewhere.
‘So now the sleth who have few if any options are making a go of it.’ Dave leant over to Aubrey and said “I just can’t get over how fast the sleth work.”
“Yeah a human colony would still be arguing over where to site the initial settlement.”
They both felt the buffeting as the craft hit the atmosphere. The noise from the friction made it difficult to continue the conversation, so they mutually sat back and waited till the craft landed.
Dave noticed the large shuttle nestled just under the canopy near the edge of the runway. He also noticed the Streamliner next to it. He could see a suited figure next to it waving. Dave waved back but he didn’t want to linger in these suits any longer than he had to with the sun beating down on them.
Sue was there to greet them as they came out of the air lock in the terminal building. She was in her uniform and gave Dave her best salute. He could see that she looked very happy. He returned her salute and added a smile. “You’re looking very well this morning lieutenant.”
“Why thank you Sir. Art should be here directly. He’s just finishing up with the loading.”
“Yeah he gave us a wave.”
“The sleth are calling this place Soln. Apparently the name holds some significance in their history. I didn’t quite catch the full details. But anyway they seem quite pleased with their own progress.”
They followed Sue through a maze of corridors, passing sleth workers as they went. “This place just grows and grows” said Dave.
“Yes they are amazing builders, the sleth. We should have new quarters soon. Can’t wait actually. It’s getting a bit cramped. The new tech staff just arrived on the shuttle and they need to be housed and provided with offices. So it’s all go here.”
Sue led them to a meeting room and hailed Art. “We need you here darling.”
She turned to Dave “He’ll be here in a minute. So are you still planning on Art going back today?”
Dave nodded. He knew this was not the answer she wanted. So he decided to divert the conversation. “Did the defence battery arrive?”
“Yes it did. The battery commander’s a Lt Victor Guzik. He and I will be meeting with Petsa, later this morning. Petsa’s the sleth head of security. We’ll work out the best place to deploy it.”
Art walked in. Before he could give a salute, Dave rose, placed one hand on his shoulder and shook Art’s hand with the other. The two friends looked into each other’s eyes. ‘There’s real warmth and regard there’ thought Aubrey.
“I appreciate you postponing this till this morning” said Art.
“No worries Art - though if I see too many more smiles I’ll be envious. So what happened? You’re last message was a bit light on detail.”
“OK” said Art and he spent the next half an hour briefing them.
“As I see it Art” said Dave “the stabilisers and the defences you reckon they have on Xizu are good enough to justify us paying a visit on Bane Metal. We can move in with the entire reaction group and shut them down and be done with it.”
“No there’s something not quite right. How many pirates have ever deployed batteries and flechette defences? How many have a hidden facility big enough to take a number of capital ships? It’s too big, too elaborate just to be a pirate base.”
“So what do you think this is a base for?” said Aubrey.
“I don’t know. But someone had invested a lot of money and effort to build this facility and that hasn’t just come from pirate activity. That’s for sure. I need more time to find out. I need to go back and see if I can dig up some more intel at their base.”
“But you said you were always escorted by this McShane character” said Sue.
“Yes I need a diversion. That’s where you come in.”
“Go on” said Dave.
“We need to time things right. This is how I see it working…”
By the time Art finished Dave could see that Sue wasn’t impressed with Art’s scheme. He had doubts too. “What do you think Chase?”
“A lot depends on us warping in at the right time…not straight after Art warps in but before he enters the main complex. I don’t like it.”
“Me neither” added Aubrey.
“Well I sure don’t like it” said Sue.
Art was looking exasperated. He’d thought about the various options on his flight back and this
was the best of them.
All eyes turned to Dave. Dave was thinking. He could see that the focus was now on him. He hadn’t quite worked it out but decided to share the direction of his thoughts. “What if we swapped roles? What if Art you were the diversion?”
“What and we have someone else somehow slip into the complex and do the recce needed?”
“Yes. But I haven’t worked out how we get them into the complex undetected.”
“What if he had an offsider?” suggested Sue. “They stay in the craft inside one of the containers. Then when unloaded they get out and about.”
“Yeah but there’s no guarantee their container won’t be packed in tight or locked away.”
“Unless it wasn’t part of the main shipment” contributed Art. “Look there are a few independent miners still operating on Xizu. Tracy gave me a contact at one of them. What if I just announce before we head off, that I’ll be making an additional delivery? That part of the cargo will stay on board. Whoever’s inside can then break out while I supervise the unloading. I’ll create a diversion – not sure what yet – but something that will give them enough time to get out of the craft. I can also ask to see Bane about something and that can soak up some more time. But whoever it is needs to be back on board by the time I leave.”
“I could do it” said Sue.
“No you’re not coming Sue” said Art and he looked to Dave to back him up.
Before Dave could reply Chase chimed in. “With no disrespect Sue, we need someone small. Those containers aren’t big.”
“Oh so now I’m too big” said Sue. She was starting to get a little hot under the collar.
“Val” said Aubrey. They all pondered the suggestion.
Dave nodded and then hailed her “Val how would you like a bit of action.”
After filling in the picture for Val, Dave turned to the group and said “I better not repeat her first response but she’s up for it. Don’t look disappointed Sue. You’re no longer under my command. Your duties are here.”
Sue nodded her acceptance.
“I’ll send Val back down once we return Art. She’ll be under your command for this mission. I’ll leave the detailed arrangements to you. I’m going to report back and recommend that the Chicago and Rio get here pronto. Once we stir up the nest things could get nasty real quick. Chase, brush off contingency plan echo, the one that has us within two days warp of Xizu. Aubrey make sure we’re ready to warp at 1400. Any questions?”
Dave looked around the table. There were no questions. “Good thanks everyone.”
“Oh one other thing” added Art. “We have to pick up Tracy from Wallacia on the way back. I can get a message to her so she can rendezvous at a location out of town. You just need to send a warthog down to pick her up along with the stabilisers.”
“Alright, Chase and Aubrey can you sort that out and let Art know the time and place for the pickup.”
“Yes Sir” replied Aubrey.
“Art can I see you in private?”
“Sure” said Art and the rest left.
“Let’s just say you’re right about this Bane fellow developing a fully-fledged base” said Dave. “Why and for what fleet?”
“Don’t know. I’ve thought about this a lot on the way back. It can’t be for an Alliance fleet. They would have called off any such development last year. I can’t see Gelk involvement either. The sleth have a new home world here. That only leaves the rogan or some other as yet to be identified power or organisation.”
“Finding out who is the most important piece of the puzzle.”
“I agree.”
“Good luck Art. Take care.”
Chapter 20. Soln 1130, 24 January
Val stood there in the back of the Streamliner with her hands on her hips. Even with her suit on, she looked unimpressed. “You expect me to stay in there for both the trip out and back.” Art just nodded. Val grabbed the ‘spleen’ bag she was supposed to use to relieve herself while confined. “Not sure this is going to be big enough!”
Art laughed as he helped her bend backwards into the container. There was just enough room for her to sit upright. She experimented with different positions. The foetal one was ok. She could cross her legs but it was a little tight for comfort. She could hold her feet and stretch back if she got a cramp. So that was good.
Art handed her a small pillow and a container with some sandwiches and drink. Next he gave her the oxy pack just in case anything happened to the life support system built into the container. He checked the power levels on her suit.
When she gave him the thumbs up, he closed the container. They then tested the agreed means of communication while they would have McShane on board. Art would open a channel but leave it on speaker. He would then talk to McShane and it would be up to Val to listen and get the gist of what he was trying to tell her from that conversation.
“Yeah that works fine” hailed Val “but this pistol’s killing me. I’m going to have to take off this holster.” She did so.
“Are you ready Val?”
“Yep.”
Val hit the control that Art had rigged up inside the container. It opened the container and she crawled out dragging her holster. She stood up, put the holster on and walked to the panel that Art had showed her on the cargo wall. She slid the panel back revealing the small back pack containing the probes and sensors that she would deploy later. She pulled the pack on and re-slid the panel back into place.
“How long?”
“A bit under two minutes” said Art. “Let’s try that again.”
After the fourth go Val had had enough “That’ll do. I’m not likely to get any faster.” She took off her helmet and sat back against the wall taking in a few deep breaths.
“OK” said Art “You’re out of the container with your pack, you’ve slipped out the hatch. What next?”
“I head down behind the nearest building, which will probably be the control tower.” Art nodded. “Then I attach the first sensor there and activate it.” Art nodded again. “Then I make my way down into the tunnel behind the first row of buildings towards the large hangar on the left side.” Again Art nodded.
“I find a place to hold up near the hangar, place another sensor nearby and release the probe. I use the controller to guide it into the hangar. It streams the sensor feeds back to my console and to the craft and then I recover the probe and pick up the sensors as I make my way back.”
“Well done. Remember that if the sensors detect nearby motion they will ping you. Don’t jump or move quickly but you will need to terminate the probe and then deal with the disturbance as you see fit.”
“What happens to the terminated probe?”
“These babies are designed to self-destruct quietly. They do leave a residue though. But don’t worry it probably won’t come to that. Now on return to the craft you have to…?”
“Hide the pack in the wall panel, make sure I slide it closed and then get back into the container.”
“Good. What do you do if the hatch is closed?”
“Ping you twice and hold up in the dark nearby till you get back.”
“And if I’ve had to leave?”
“Kiss my sweet fanny goodbye” she said sarcastically.
“No” said Art disapprovingly.
“OK I try and make my way out and hold up outside for 24 hours till you or the Hermes can get back to me.”
“Better.”
“But you know it’s a very weak atmosphere on Xizu. Surviving the night, let alone 24 hours, is going to be a real ask.”
“You have the oxy pack.”
“Yeah terrific” said Val unimpressed.
Art just nodded. “Come on, let’s get some lunch.”
Chapter 21. Hermes over Fulmar 1315, 24 January
Art and Val had already warped out for Turga. Aubrey was going through the final checks before their own departure. So there was a fair bit of noise about in the control centre. Dave was at his station and final
ly catching up on his email. He scanned the list for anything urgent. There were none. So he opened the one from Rihan. It was dated two days ago. He loved reading her mail. He knew she deliberately kept them personal – no shop talk.
He was just enjoying her email when a FLASH message also dated two days ago arrived. It also arrived in the XO’s email and the watch officer’s email. Aubrey was in discussion with Chase who was the watch officer, so they both missed it. Dave acknowledged it before the automated system would cut in and display an alert on the central display.
It was from Admiral McCubbin advising that the Rio had been diverted to deal with a reported pirate attack in the Alnitak system.
“Stupid” called out Dave.
Everyone turned to the source of the exclamation.
“What’s up Sir?” asked Aubrey.
“They diverted the Rio to deal with some incident in the Alnitak system. The Chicago is still coming but on her Pat Malone. What are they thinking? This is not the time to split the group.”
No one said anything. An annoyed Commander Warner said “Carry on everyone.”
Part 5
Danger Close
When danger closes all around
Whether in deep space or on the ground
What matters most is what’s inside
It’s from there that you will decide
How best to react, how best to respond
Your mind and body must form a bond
To fuse thought and action into one endeavour
To prevail and live come whatever
Chapter 1. Wallacia 0430, 30 January
Art knew something was wrong as soon as he saw McShane waiting at their bay at the Wallacia spaceport. Val was already inside her container for the inspection that he knew Holkins would make, but Holkins wasn’t there.
“Where’s Holkins?” asked Art.
Redemption: Book 2 of Warner's World Page 23