Trampship Wars 2

by L. D. Roberts

  Tom stood next to the stern ramp of an APCC and smiled. “See I have wings!” He practically shouted getting Marks attention away from the other end of the hold. Showing off the set of wings on his chest. “And there damn emergency procedures where a lot harder than the ships and yet I passed. I cannot believe it. I passed!” He shouted as he did a little dance. Hell the way they teach things , a moron could do it.

  Surprised at Tom being there, let alone as the pilot of the APCC he had ignored as he walked out of the hatch. “Ok, already then. Let's go. You can chauffeur me home around then. Well, to the bus stop. ” They were at the bow of the big boat and thinking about how to open one of the side hatches and if the APCC would fit to get out of the hold since Mark had blocked the big stern hatch when he backed into the building’s dock. Then they heard several bangs from the bow and the whine of big motors started. Looking around, a crack appeared in the tapering bow as a hatch half as big as the stern hatch started to open.

  “Wow! Now that is convenient. Follow me Mark. Time to leave buddy.”

  Mark followed him up the ramp and into the back of the APCC. As Tom slapped a switch next to the hatch the ramp started rising up with Mark still half way up. The speed of the hatch closing propelled him past Tom in a flying arc that threatened to land him on his face but by tucking in his head and shoulders with his legs against his chest he was able to summersault to land on to his shoulders and roll up onto his feet , coming up in to a run. “I think I will fly this thing since you’re so slow.” He yelled over his shoulder as Tom took up the chase. As Mark jumped through the first hatch he came to a screeching halt expecting the Cockpit but found himself in the weapons compartment. A turret base sat to both sides of him. One just behind the pilot and the other on the passenger's side but pushed to the rear of the 8 foot long compartment leaving a space behind the passenger bulkhead for storage. A head was tucked in the side to the rear of behind the pilot side turret with a small kitchen between them .

  Tom pushed Mark to one side and raced through to the cockpit hatch and into the pilot’s seat. Looking at the two round turret tubes Mark quickly made out the workings inside thanks to Mickey superimposing the inside over the outside of the turrets. The one behind the pilot carried small arms rapid fire high powered laser weapons with a light blaster machinegun . W w hile the one to the rear and right of the compartment carried heavy blasters and a mortar tube that could fire a wide range of 60mm shells from amore piercing and anti-personnel to anti-aircraft missiles and recon drones. In all a very useful set of weapons staggered in the compartment not only to limit damage from a single penetrating round but to allow for both turrets to fire broadside to both sides.

  Taking the copilots seat, Mark looked around until he found the helmet matching Tom’s under the seat and started to put it on as Tom started pulling out of the transport big boat. "You don't need to wear that Mark , I can do a better job than that crude thing especially if you plug one of my remotes into the diagnostic port off to the right side and under the center instrument panel. It is not normally used and should not be disturbed."

  Mark reached for his pack and realized that it was still in the crashed Airtruck. At least he hopped it was. Looking over at Tom ’s grim faced concentration as he headed toward the narrow bow hatch. Mark , he started to say something but thought better of it. Best wait until they were out of the boat. With the helmet still in his hand he went ahead and put it on, pumping up the inside pads to tighten it firmly onto his head. And was amazed at how detailed the sight picture was. Turning his head he watched the sides of the hold slide by and then out the front hatch as the ramp dropped away with the sides of the two nearby transports forming a trench as the APCC started to climb.

  The APCC rose above the transports and the whole base seamed to open up around him. The targeting view was tremendous. Able to switch back and forth between turrets and zoom into and out in multiple wave lengths. From the usual infrared that can detect heat waves radiating up from a hidden heat source, a visual representation of sound waves giving him the ability to see where shots are coming from , to radio waves to track the source of transmitters no matter how weak or how brief. Turning is head, the helmet loosened up letting the helmet move on his head making the video fuzz for a second before the sensors where able to track his eyes again. Taking it off Mark he examined the little air pump on the side and found that it had a leaking fitting and remembered his tool belt again. “Tom where is old number 9? My tool pack is still in it.” Mark put the helmet back on.

  “I have been flying around the crash site all morning. I think they are going to make it into a shrine. Quiet a tourist attraction. No one can believe we survived that one. It is only about 10 miles from here. Be there in a few minutes boss.”

  Looking back at the large transport boat with it's stern butted up against the warehouse docks he suddenly wondered. "Tom , how did you get aboard the transport boat with it docked to the warehouse?"

  "Oh that was easy I flew in the back hatch while you were taking your time approaching the warehouse." Looking over at Mark smiling from ear to ear. "Just something they teach you when learning to fly their APCC. I am told it comes in handy when assaulting a planet so the transport does not have to land."

  Mark turned away ignoring Tom's Got ya, you did not get to do it smile. He had to admit it would be something good to learn even if the thought of trying to land on the star Queen while she was flying scarred the shit out of him. “You know Mickey, it is a shame we cannot talk to the military's AI Controller while we are here. I was hoping he would have some idea how to pull the Admiral out of his coma. As well as get to the bottom of this crap in the Outback.”

  They dropped down next to the wreck of old number 9 still sitting pan caked on top of the aircars. Climbing into the front, he had to marvel at their luck that the blades had missed them both while shredding most of destroying the entire cab. Suddenly afraid that the bag had fallen out during all the fun but to his relief he found the bag stuck under the copilot’s seat. Grabbing it he took a minute to stand back and examine all the damage and the fact they had survived. Walking through the cargo box he could not believe all the holes in the bottom and sides between the large gashes from the destroyed fans. He did not think they had been over the car lot that long. Jumping out the back he started to climb into the APCC and stopped.

  Mickey spoke up as Mark concentrated on listening to what he did not understand. “Mark I am detecting a faint signal from an inspector AI. Like me. It seems to be coming from the basement of the big office building behind you.”

  “Is that the faint call for help I hear in my head? Not you but something or someone else inside the building.”

  “Yes Mark. I am getting a rout map leading deep under the basement of the building with all the security codes.”

  Turning around to look at the building he smiled. “Sounds like an invite to me Mickey. Tom!” Mark yelled up into the truck. “Shut down the APCC and get your butt back here. We are going on a Quest.” Rummaging through the pack , Ma rk he grabbed out his tool belt and put it on. Checking the pockets he took a few items out and replaced them. Then replaced what he replaced and stood back and looked at the pack for a few seconds and then picked it up and tossed it at Tom as he walked up. “Here Mechanic; you get to pack this.”

  “That is Pilot Mechanic to you Lieutenant Commander Butt Hole.”

  Tom and Mark walked into the lobby of the office building. The first of four security guards looked at them and started to ask them who they wanted to see but Mark walked right by him and smiled. The other guards came around the desk to follow them as Mark walked up to the security door. “Sir. You cannot go into a secured area without authorization. May I see your security badge Sir. ” The guards were in no hurry since they knew the door would not open unless clearance was provided. “ We will unlock the doors when you finish your authorization and security checks. ” And then the door opened for Mark and the guard s ’ opened his mouth s dropp
ed open .

  “Sgt. You do not have the clearance to see my badge. Go back to your desk and forget you saw me or my crewman. Do you understand Sgt.” The Sgt. Just stood there with his mouth still hanging open without saying anything protesting as another guard walked up. “Sgt. Do you understand me or do I call the Admiral and have you arrested for not answering a superior officer breaking security protocols !”

  “Sgt. Josh.” A a nother guard said from the desk. “We just got a security warning not to bother Commander Collins and to expedite his passage.”

  Mark turned and walked through the open gla ss door to the elevator followed by Tom. The guards behind them trying to figure out what just happened. The elevator opened as they walked up without touching the security pad or call buttons which got the guards talking again. In the elevator they turned around in the middle without touching anything and as the door closed , Tom raised his middle finger and smiled.

  "Now that was smooth Mickey. I did not know you could do that."

  "Sorry Mark , but I did not do that."

  "Ok…. That is not good."

  The elevator dropped and though Mark could feel nothing, the read out on his glasses told him they were approaching a hundred miles an hour straight down. A few minutes later the elevator came to a smooth stop and they stepped out leaving prints in the thick dust. A mono-rail car sat in front of them with only one way for it to go on the single mono track maglev rail. Walking across the platform Mark suddenly heard a voice in his head. “It is a trap. Leave while you can. I am trapped and cannot be helped. Leave me while you can. It is a trap leave me to die but I can’t, he won’t let me die. I can’t leave but you must before you get trapped as well. It is a trap leave while you can.”

  “Mickey do you hear that?”

  “I can detect the emanations from several AI’s from down the tunnel and a signal being sent to you through me but I cannot read or understand the human brain wave it seems to resemble.”

  “It is telling me that this is a trap. To leave her to die while I can.”

  “That makes sense. I can detect many confusing signals that have a desperate tone to them. We should leave and tell English Vice Admiral Edwards what you have found.”

  "Come on now Mickey. It can't be that bad. They must already know about it. It is their base. Besides what could happen down a long dark tunnel. A long tunnel that has a half inch of dust over everything except a rail car that shines and strange voices…Well. But.. Maybe you are right."

  Mark took his torch out of it’s holster and twisted the cam to make sure it was a weapon and took a shot down the tunnel where the six beams streaked down to create an eye hurting spot 50 feet down the tunnel for a second before shutting off from the timer Mark had added. Pulling the trigger again another bright point of light appeared. Satisfied at first as he looked at the torch. Shaking his head. He suddenly realized that while the torch was fine for emergencies, he did not want to rely on something that he had not had time to test properly for saving his life when he knew he was headed for some kind of trouble. Not to mention that it had a very short range in a tunnel that seemed to go on forever.

  "Tom; you wait here while I run topside since you already left your calling card. I will only be a couple of minutes." Mark stepped back into the elevator and was back at ground level in minutes. Going up to two of the Guards Mark held out his hand. “Give me your side arms and belts now!” They just stood there with their mouths open. “I ordered you to do something and you better damn well do it or you are going to spend the rest of your life in the dungeon I just walked out of.” After getting the weapons, surprised they followed his orders. Mark turned back to the elevator and then paused. “In a short while, shit may start hitting the fan and when it does you tell Captain Summers that Commander Collins told her to get her butt down the elevator too the underground five miles down at the bottom of that shaft and follow the rail track fast cause I am damn well going to need the reinforcements. At least she can arrest me before I kill another AI.” Mark joked knowing that would get her attention as he disappeared down the elevator. Mark had been joking but a sudden sinking feeling in his gut told him t hat it may be a joke on him. During t he long drop with the elevator , Mark started telling himself that it was stupid to go down that tunnel to whatever waited down it. But the thought of going back up to face the damn guards after his mouth and Tom ’s Finger gave him little choice. Besides the tunnel was probably deserted anyway and if not , whoever was down the tunnel would probably just send them packing back up the tunnel with their tails between their legs. Just like he had done a hundred times when he was a child and wondered into a section of the ship he was not supposed to be in. Mark suddenly wondering where that old saying about a tail between his legs had come from and what exactly it meant .

  Stepping out of the elevator , Mark tossed one of the gun belts to Tom and stepped into the rail car as he put the other one on. The car left the station before Tom could even sit down dumping him in the seat next to Mark. “Well boss, what the hell are we doing that requires side arms?” asked Tom.

  “Hopefully nothing but I have been shot at too much lately not to take precautions. The main thing is we may have to exit rather fast so be prepared to run. OK?”

  "Oh come on Mark. Nothing can be that bad."

  "Hopefully you are right but follow orders anyway just in case. And if I tell you to run or do anything else, you damn well better do whatever the fuck I order." The last thing Mark wanted was a repeat of the episode with Dian refusing to fire the fighter’s missil e s even tho ugh they would die if she didn’t.

  The car j oined another rail line then ran through several way stations without slowing down. One had a large hatch that was half open that revealed a huge cavern with what seemed like buildings in it. Mark’s glasses flashed with loud beeps several times before they disappeared on down the tunnel. Mickey showing Mark the quick scans of the interior of the miles wide cavern and the city covering the walls.

  “Mark, that was a huge abandoned City thousands of years old. There are signs the hatch just opened up a few minutes ago. Probably some kind of short when power was reintroduced down this tunnel at that time. I am also getting power spikes from some kind of turrets in the overhead around the stations and intersections we are passing through.”

  “Intersections? I haven’t seen any intersections after entering this tunnel .”

  The tunnel suddenly lit up for Mark as they blinked through an intersection. “OK. That intersection. Where do those tunnels go to?”

  “I can only surmise to other City’s Mark or resource centers such as mines and farm caverns .”

  The car finely pulled into a station with 2 other rail tunnels leaving in other directions. And a row of cars of varying sizes along the sid ings e . His glasses told him they had gone a hundred miles and a quick look at a map asked for with only a thought, told him they were 50 miles under a mountain range far from anything that could be called a target for an enemy to bomb with the other platform and city they had passed , under another huge other mountain s . The tunnels from the other and intersections they had passed pointing with tunnels running off toward other isolated mountain ranges in odd directions . The 2 other tunnels from the cavern they were in, looked like they had not been used in hundreds of years decades either. "Mickey can you tell were they go?"

  "If you walk into them a ways I should be able to get a distance or length reading on them. If you had my case , I could manufacture fly's to send down them to track exactly."

  "Ok, that sounds interesting. Why haven't you produced some already for around the ship?" Mark walked a little ways down one of the tunnels. "OK what do I do know?"

  "The fly's are fragile, short lived, get lost easily and are hard to recover. I also have limited resources at this time. Stand on the rail and shoot your pistol into the rail and then don't move or talk until I tell you to."

  "Well remind me to have you make a few just for kicks." Mark climbed up onto the
monorail, took out his pistol, flicked off the safety as he turned to Tom watching him from the platform. "Stay put Tom and keep quiet." Mark turned back around and fired into the rail in front of him. The beam created a big bang where it hit gouging out a small crater in the plasticrete rail.

  Then Mark stood there and waited.

  And waited.

  Mark suddenly had a hundred questions to ask Mickey but had found out in the engine room that when she said to wait quietly she meant just that. He suddenly wondered what mattered if the damn tunnel went clear to the center of the planet. He felt stupid just standing there but he continued to wait as the voice started up in his head again. Mark was about to say the hell with it.

  "Mark, the tunnel goes for about 500 miles through a dozen stations to a very wide tunnel with a length of for several miles that resemble a switching yard for trains with a dozen tunnels branching off. The tunnel this rail is attached to goes on for another hundred miles to a very big cavern roughly 20 miles across and even deeper down into the planet with other tunnels branching off from that but the rail is not attached to any of them." A map appeared in front of him going north.

  "Shit. You can tell all of that from one little shot echoing down the damn tunnel?"

  "Yes the distances correspond to the middle of a huge mountain on the map called Olympus mons. It appears that someone has built a hug complex of underground cities across that section of the planet that is so rough with the tops of most of the mountains reach ing into the stratosphere , that it and has few surface cities. If you will do the same in the other tunnel it should prove interesting. I believe it should go to the main Mega City on the west coast or more likely to the huge mountain range to the north of the city if the pattern is fallowed ."

  "Not right now Mickey. Let’s check out that voice I keep hearing in my head." Walking threw the only hatch , from the rail transport cavern , Tom and Mark they entered a long passageway that dumped them into a circular room as big as a gymnasium hundreds of feet tall. In the center sat a glass or crystal column 20 foot wide that reached to the ceiling hundreds of feet up. Lights flowed through it in a thousand colors flickering up and down and around it like a huge Christmas tree. Five smaller roughly 5 foot round and from 30 to 50 foot tall towers (though they all were different), were spaced stood around the central tower. Four of th e towers were em dark while the fifth and smallest, glowed dimly with only an occasional white light flickering through it. Around the perimeter of the room sat 30 plus, 7 foot long tubs of varying designs made of varying materials with strange looking equipment or pedestals next to most of them. Lines at one end of each tub ran up into the air and over to the only lit up 50 foot tall tower at one side away from the others end .