by Charles Lamb
“We were sufficiently supplied to make scavenging unnecessary in the beginning, but eventually, we started roaming the streets for certain items. There was little in the way of competition early on, but eventually the population in the city started to grow. That became problematic, which is why we took to using the satellites to locate larger groups.”
“I'm not sure I understand?” Jake replied, “You survived the bombing here in the city?”
“Not exactly,” Carson replied hesitantly, looking uncomfortable at the question.
At that point, someone must have talked in his ear as he waved to the four before him.
“You and three more are cleared to come inside, handguns only,” Carson stated, a bit surprised.
After a protracted conversation with the Marine Sergeant, Jake sent the hovercycles back to the transport. While he kept the three marines already on the ground with him, their rifles had to go with the hovercycles. Over internal audio, both Abby and Joe were extremely put out that Jake hadn’t kept them by his side. They were finally mollified after he pointed out they could hardly lead a rescue mission, should he need one, from the inside.
The three marines on the other hand, were in hypervigilant mode, all veterans of Klinan, and not about to let anything happen to Jake. Without rifles, each retained their side arms, hands on holstered butts. Jake eventually went on internal communications to talk them all down a notch.
Carson then turned to lead Jake and the three marines to the ladder. As they approached, Jake could still see the man standing in the opening above, watching the entire exchange. With his rifle still slung across his back, Carson started up the ladder.
Each of the five took their turn climbing the ladder, the SAS Sergeant leading the way. Jake followed the Marine Sergeant, he having politely inserted himself between Jake and the Brit. As he cleared the top of the ladder, Jake was greeted by a half dozen men all dressed as Carson. Jake's sergeant was facing them down, clearly projecting his role in all this. Jake detected no hostility from the Brits, just a combination of confusion and curiosity.
“I am Leftenant Atkins,” the man who had been watching proclaimed. Jake recognized the British pronunciation of the rank of lieutenant, acknowledging with a smile.
“Colonel Thomas,” Jake replied politely.
Soon enough, everyone was up the ladder and Atkins waved Jake and his men forward, leaving Carson behind. Considering the data Jake had seen earlier from ALICE as he waited, he was appalled at the condition of the inside of the building. Most everything they saw was in various states of disrepair. As Jake followed the Lieutenant, they continued down several flights of stairs inside the center of the building, two of the Lieutenant's men following behind.
Finally, they approached a set of double doors, with two guards stationed nearby. To this point, despite the structure’s conditions, all the building occupants had appeared well supplied and disciplined. Jake watched as the Lieutenant placed his palm on a pad located to one side.
The action caused the doors to slide away, into the walls, opening to a clean, well-lit room, about the size of a bedroom. Leading them inside, Jake noted the Brits all remained behind, leaving the Americans alone with the Lieutenant.
Once the doors closed behind them, a second set opened on the far side of the little room. These doors, exposed a tunnel leading down to a broad staircase. Jake began to understand the building above was a disguise.
“Follow me please, gentlemen,” the lieutenant said as he stepped onto the first step. With the Marine sergeant in front of him and the two Marines taking up the rear, Jake followed down the stairwell. They descended into the broad tunnel for about 100 steps before arriving at what looked like a subway platform. Sitting on the rails was a train car about sixty feet long.
“Inside please,” the Lieutenant instructed, while pointing to the open doors in the center of the side of the car. All three Marines looked to Jake before making a move anywhere near the car. Jake gave a nod, and the sergeant led the way. Following in his wake, Jake could see the car was filled with seats, although it appeared several near the door had been removed to allow for cargo as well as passengers.
Jake turned to see Atkins follow them inside, and while he indicated they should all take a seat, he touched a control panel near the door. As he did so, the doors closed and the car started to roll. Almost immediately, the car left the well-lit station and entered a dark tunnel. The car appeared to have its own headlights, as the tunnels only illumination came from the front of the car.
“How do you have power for this thing?” Jake asked as he scrambled for a seat. The car had started slow at first, but soon stepped up to a considerable speed. If he had to guess, he would say they were doing between sixty and seventy miles per hour.
“A gift from America,” was the lieutenant’s only reply.
The group rode in silence for about twenty minutes before the car started to slow. Scanning the group, he noted every one of his men had their hands resting on their side arms. Non-threatening, but ready at a moment’s notice.
As Jake looked forward, they left the tunnel and entered another station, as well-lit as the first. The tunnel continued out the other end, begging the question as to its final destination. Standing on the platform was a small welcoming committee.
Jake was up before the car had halted completely, with Atkins by his side. The two men approached the car doors and almost as one, stepped onto the platform as the doors opened. Jake felt, rather than saw the three Marines file out behind him, still at the ready.
“Welcome,” a man in civilian clothing said as he stepped forward, hand outstretched.
Jake took the man’s hand as he surveyed the small group behind him. There were eight or nine others, only two of which who were armed and in uniform. A quick scan of the area answered the unasked question, as Jake detected at least six or seven others in the shadows. While they were taking no chances, Jake understood the message of allowing armed strangers among them.
“Thanks,” Jake replied as the man released his hand.
“You are Colonel Thomas?” the man asked.
Jake checked the threat indicator on his heads up display. One of the many compromises he had come to with ALICE was she would show a red or green dot in his helmet. This was her opinion on his risk level and it allowed her to advise Jake privately about his personal risk. It currently displayed green.
It took Jake a moment to realize that he was still connected to their network, giving him the impression they were not deep underground. Normally he would have assumed the satellite link to be broken with all the steel and concrete above them.
In one swift motion, Jake reached up and removed his helmet, tucking it under his arm.
“Please, call me Jake,” he replied with a smile.
“Nigel,” the man responded.
The three Marines seemed to relax with the show of trust, but none removed their helmets.
“I don’t mean to be rude,” Jake started, “but what is all this?”
Nigel gave Jake a strange look before replying, “Right, that’s a funny question coming from you. According to your Alice, you have eight of these underground locations, all substantially larger and better equipped?”
“You know Alice?” Jake said aloud.
“Yes, Jake,” came the reply over the station speakers.
The reply startled more than just Jake, as several of the Brits jumped at her voice.
“Please explain?” Jake simply asked, noting a look of confusion on the other’s faces.
“At one time, I was joined with this facility as part of a cooperative arrangement between the governments of the United States and Great Britain. After the NeHaw attack, we lost all contact with the human occupants and eventually the facility itself. It wasn’t until you attached the network tap that I was able to reestablish contact and reintroduce myself. We now have a solid satellite link reestablished,” she finished.
“You know these people?” Jake
asked.
“I know these computers,” ALICE replied.
Jake could see that Nigel was deep in thought as Alice explained.
“Artificial Intelligence,” Nigel stated rather than asked.
“That and so much more,” Jake replied with a sigh.
They both stood staring for a moment before Nigel broke the silence.
“Please forgive my poor manners, won’t you come inside,” Nigel asked as he motioned for everyone to follow.
Jake turned to the three Marines and motioned for them to remove their helmets. After a pause, all three did as instructed. With that, the entire group headed to a bank of elevators and descended deeper underground.
As they traveled along, Nigel explained the history of their home.
“Your Alice is correct, at one point after the alien attack, this facility was abandoned. The original occupants were shuttled from either the hidden entrance in the MI6 building in London, as were you, or from a similar one in Oxford. The rail tunnel above continues to the university, where a second station is secreted beneath the school grounds. These locations allowed large numbers to pass unnoticed into the station below. The facility itself actually resides deep under the Chilterns,” Nigel said with a smile.
Jake had no idea what the man was talking about, but nodded in apparent understanding.
“The bombing touched all three locations, removing anyone directly involved with its existence. Fortunately, there were a number of individuals, either retired or away on holiday, which were familiar with its location. They recruited others, including former members of the armed forces, and eventually reestablished themselves here. I am told you are familiar with our power source and storage facilities?” Nigel asked as he finished.
They had exited the elevator as Nigel was speaking and had traveled down several hallways until they arrived at a set of clear doors. Jake paused in answering the question as he peered inside, amazed at what he saw.
It wasn’t the expansive room full of equipment that had him speechless or the holographic images displayed showing his two ships hovering over the MI6 building at differing elevations. It was the room full of people.
“Where did you get all these people?” Jake asked as they entered through the opening created as the glass panel doors retracted.
“Ah, yes,” Nigel replied at the shift in conversation, “the facility itself will support a population of three thousand resident personnel. We are currently at just over twenty five hundred, and about two hundred more spread between the London and Oxford entrances. These people act as sentries and scroungers.”
As Jake looked around the room, every station was occupied and there were additional personnel wandering in and out of the work areas on various assignments. Jake suddenly realized everyone was staring in his direction.
Suddenly smiling, Jake turned to Nigel and asked, “How do you feel about space travel?”
----*----
Sitting at the head of the High Council, MeHak was again deflecting accusations that her lack of vision had six sectors at risk of rebellion. While no combat ships were available to fill the void created by the losses at Klinan, they had maintained a steady stream of reconnaissance ships.
All reports had the humans aligning with races throughout known space. Besides the loss of the Wawobash shipyards, where the replacement military ships had been stored, there were drive and weapons manufactures in league with the rebel worlds.
What was most concerning of all were the reports that the humans were paying for everything they needed, up front and in precious metals. They were paying in quantities that risked destabilizing the entire NeHaw economy.
Over the millennia, the NeHaw expanded in cycles with the need for natural resources the main driver. As the riches of the occupied sectors had become exhausted, the necessity to find new sources drove NeHaw exploration and expansion. They had long ago lost the desire to fight and conquer, having grown so large that they simply absorbed.
That’s what made the timing of the current situation so volatile. The NeHaw Empire was at a low point for their own wealth, and they were facing a devious and well-funded opponent. An opponent that they had yet to successfully absorb.
Chapter 8
Accepting the hospitality offered, Jake spent the following week as the guest of the Brits. Both of the ships were sent home, only to have the transport return with badly needed supplies. Several of Jake’s staff accompanied the replacement parts, as technical resources.
As they were not equipped with a hangar like back home, they selected Oxford as the landing zone with additional security provided by their hosts. Jake knew ALICE had several teams on standby and the entire operation was under constant observation.
While the English had maintained an exceptionally high level of education and training among their staff, specific areas were still lacking. It was one thing to have people capable of using the equipment; it was another entirely to be able to repair is as well. Jake had ALICE transfer much needed technical documentation for any future needs.
The Brits seemed surprised at the youth of the staff members in the American contingent. While no one asked directly, Jake caught several looks exchanged between their hosts as the technicians arrived. Without the ability to educate their people in their sleep, the English had to do it the old fashion way. Any doubts about their abilities seemed to evaporate as they tackled each challenge, impressing their local counterparts with their knowledge and expertise.
As for the military components, Jake learned that the bulk of the original members recruited were 22nd SAS, both active duty and retired. Some had served inside facility before the NeHaw bombing and recruited others from the reserves after the fall. They had maintained their training and traditions over the next several generations of recruits, adapting to the new needs. Jake noted, as of yet, he had seen no women in the sand colored beret, but was told they were in attendance elsewhere.
There were still four squadrons of 65 men and women, each in residence for the 22nd Regiment. Each held its four troops, though the need for air and boat troops was almost nonexistent. The boat troop at least trained on the Thames, including SCUBA, but had not been required to this point.
At least that was before Jake’s arrival. He met with their commander, a Colonel Banks, and the Majors leading each squadron, with select others. With Nigel’s approval and with several of his analysts in attendance, Jake offered them a briefing, delivered by Patti who had flown in for the occasion, on the last two years in the US.
They were provided a large conference room and it took several hours to complete. There were frequent side bar conversations as they delved into specifics. Of great interest to the SAS men was the Battle of Klinan. Jake made sure Patti gave them the unaltered truth, including the botched drop and the near disaster in space.
They did avoid any direct references to the exact nature of the ALICE systems or the stasis shields. Jake did not feel too bad about withholding the disclosure, as half his own people really didn’t grasp the real nature of them anyway.
Eventually they had to display images of the ships and the Marines, in powered battle suits, before the more skeptical accepted the story. Jake thought he detected a bit of envy in a few of the men as they eyed the drop suits. By the end of the briefing, Jake could see the Brits whispering amongst themselves.
“Thank you for the information,” the Colonel offered hesitantly, “but how does all this affect us?”
“I have no authority over any of you here,” Jake started, “and I will continue to assist you regardless of the future.”
“However,” Jake continued after a pause, “defense of the planet is something best accomplished in a united fashion. We face an enemy that will never confront you directly here on earth. As such, your people will never have a chance to defend you. They will be the victims of violence delivered from afar, as before.”
“If you join us, I can provide everything you need to help us defend the planet and th
ese people. We have ships and fighters, as well as equipment to restore all of your troops to full capability.”
Jake could see his words were reaching several in the group as they whispered with excitement. The Colonel, however, seemed made of stone. After a pause, the man spoke.
“I would thank you, sir, for the offer and opportunity,” He began, “however I must decline.”
Jake could see the surprise on the faces of most in the room, while he did his best to conceal his disappointment.
“You have shown us a great many things. You have demonstrated how you have overcome obstacles insurmountable to others. But you also candidly admitted to your mistakes and the losses they produced.”
Banks surveyed the people in the room before he continued.
“I have spent my entire lifetime training these men, fighting beside them, and defending this facility and its people. I cannot, in good conscience, abandon all that, to chase after a foe that may never again darken my doorstep. I applaud your honesty, but question your ability to lead my men,” he finished.
“Now Wait a Minute....” Patti shouted before Jake stopped her as she rose from her seat.
“Sit please,” he said calmly to Patti before returning his attention to Colonel Banks.
“I understand completely and wouldn’t try to pressure you to change your mind. We are one hundred percent volunteer. I do my best to train and equip all our troops, and I try to provide for their every need. I never engage in a fight that I haven’t placed the utmost in thought and planning to, and I do lead from the front.”
Everyone sat quietly as Jake and Banks studied each other.
“Are there any more questions?” Jake asked to the silent crowd.
“Then I believe we are finished,” Jake offered as the stunned group headed to the door.