Reason For Vengeance (Dark Vengeance Book 1)

by Adrian D. Roberts

  She headed down the ladder, setting herself a clear constant rhythm and building speed. Down and down she went, until finally she saw a faint light below her. It wasn’t far away, it just wasn’t very bright. After only a few more rungs on the ladder, she could see a small screen with a read out showing ambient temperature and oxygen levels. The floor of the shaft was a metre and a half below it, the shaft ending in a small room, with a single door opening inward. The door used a digital lock, needing a keycard to enter the room. A mechanical handle could be used to override it from the inside.

  Valerie stepped off the ladder, unslung her pack and got out a change of clothes. Dark, flat, knee length boots, rugged dark trousers and a white shirt. With the exception of her coat, Valerie’s other clothes would have shown her to be out of place among the people she would shortly be in the midst of. Unlike the coat, they were made of more standard materials. She got changed quickly and re-slung her pack onto her back. With her old blood stained clothes tied in a tight bundle in her hand, she was ready to leave.

  Valerie scouted the area thoroughly when she set up this escape route, checking it periodically as well as updating her supplies. She knew where the door led and the chances of anyone seeing her were very remote. She opened the door and stepped through quickly. It led to a walkway running next to the train tracks, with enough distance between them so it wasn’t dangerous.

  They were not actually tracks, it was just the name given to them, originating from the time long ago in history when they actually used metal tracks. On many worlds, far out in the Wilds, and even in the Edge, where they did not have access to an advanced enough education, industry and technical economic sectors, they still used old fashioned trains on metal tracks. The anti-grav trains used in the Pantheon had a single metallic white painted strip down the tunnel, a guide for the automated drivers.

  Outside the door there were no cameras, nor were there any along the tunnel. Only just outside the nearest station, about a kilometre away, did they have cameras in a position to see her as she exited the tunnel. They were there to catch any stray passengers who decided to take a wander into the tunnels so they pointed towards the station rather than into the tunnel.

  That station serviced Gooseberry Green. It was used almost exclusively by the Manuals, to get in and out of their places of work in the town. None of the Privileged would dream of using the Underground, but they still needed people to clean their homes, wash their vehicles, serve them in cafes, restaurants and shops, so every town had an Underground Station connecting it to the vast network carrying Manual workers across the continent.

  The bundle of clothes landed just next to the track, where it would be swept up by the next train to go past. Valerie set off at a light run to Gooseberry Green station. Within a couple of hundred metres she felt the air coming from behind her, a light breeze that gained quickly in strength denoting an approaching train. Valerie switched off her light, ducking down before it whizzed past her in a blaze of light and sound.

  It would have been highly unlikely anyone on the train could have seen her. It just wouldn’t be worth taking the chance. You could also never discount the attention of a very bored commuter, staring out of a window on a journey they did every day. They were the most likely to see a discrepancy, making them think someone was walking in the tunnels and start asking questions.

  With her light back on, she set off at a faster pace. Valerie covered the ground quickly in a long loping stride, the only sound being the light tread of her boots. In just three minutes she could see light in the tunnel ahead of her from the station. She slowed down to a walk and switched her light off. It was difficult to see, but there was just enough illumination for her to make out the walkway. Moving carefully, she looked out for the camera. Valerie knew where it was from her scouting, ten metres from the mouth of the tunnel. Finding it in the dark was another matter, though it wasn’t designed to be hidden and she found it by the green ready light.

  The camera was monitored by a fairly rudimentary program, designed to notify the station’s personnel if a heat source or movement associated with a human or animal, crossed it’s field of vision. As a final measure in creating her escape route, Valerie hacked the system and input her own back door to override the camera’s criteria. Hacking was not one of Valerie’s skills but she had access, through the Legion, to all the programs she would need in the field. All she needed to do was input them.

  The camera was wireless. It was a simple matter of sending a signal to activate her little program. The important bit was waiting for the platform to fill up so she could walk out unnoticed.

  The platform was for the trains outbound from Zeus and still early on a Saturday morning. The trains were busy with people heading to work. Valerie had to time it right, to walk out and join in with the crowds as the train emptied. There was risk involved, it was unlikely anyone would notice though, most people would have their heads down and be in the universal grumpy, ‘I’ve got to work on a Saturday morning’ mode. The trains ran every ten minutes at this time and five minutes later she felt the wind on the back of her neck. Valerie waited until it came hurtling past her and fully stopped at the platform, before activating her program.

  Walking forward confidently, Valerie joined the back of the crowd leaving the train. They all headed towards the lifts and escalators heading up to the surface, while Valerie peeled off to the opposite platform. She found an unobtrusive spot and leant casually against the wall. Just another of the dozen or so people scattered down the platform, waiting for the train to Zeus.

  ***

  An hour later she came out of the station opposite Mountnessing, the Legion’s massive tri-service base on the outskirts of Zeus. Valerie knew the Manuals had a hard lot compared to the Privileged. She’d seen too much of their world, and their counterparts outside the Pantheon, in her career not to have her eyes opened. Probably the one single thing they did have though, that was worthwhile, was a top class transport system in the Underground. The Zeus government and other Pantheon worlds made sure the Manuals had cheap, clean, efficient trains that ran on time. Even if it was only so the Manuals got to work on time. How else could they carry out all of the dirty and cheap work the Privileged required of them?

  This wasn’t the time to think about social equality. It was time to find out if the Olympian Police Force had told the Legion, Lieutenant Doherty perished in a fiery inferno an hour ago. The street was four lanes wide and busy with cars. The footpath was separated from the street by two metre high Plexiglass walls to stop pedestrians trying to cross the hectic thoroughfare.

  A bridge further down the street, led directly to Mountnessing’s pedestrian entrance and Valerie headed for that. A queue of day workers ran all the way back from the gate, across the bridge, and ended a good twenty metres along the footpath. They were all lined up on the right hand side, leaving a lane on the left for priority traffic. The Legion rankers would often use the public transport network when on leave. They would not be able to afford their own vehicle or parking space, until they reached the rank of sergeant or its equivalent.

  There was little traffic today in the priority lane and all of them were in uniform. Valerie got some odd looks from those lined up to work on the base due to her Manual clothing. They must have thought she was mad to walk down that lane.

  A couple of Legion Army Privates were ahead of her and noticed the people staring behind them. They turned and saw her walking confidently towards them. One nudged the other and said something that she was too far way to hear. She could guess what was being said. It wasn’t unusual for an ‘uppity’ to be put in her place, there probably wouldn’t be any broken bones, though there would certainly be blood spilled.

  The Privates looked towards the gate guards who had also seen at her. She guessed they decided they would leave it to the guards to chastise her. Valerie kept on walking. The Privates stepped to either side of her with shit eating grins, fully expecting a show. The guards rifles were read
y and grim expressions set on their faces.

  A massive Corporal stepped forward and opened his mouth.

  “Major Valerie Carter.” Valerie said firmly and held out her ID. The Corporal’s mouth slammed shut and he froze for a moment not knowing whether to accept her ID or salute. It was fortunate his rifle had a sling over his shoulder, as he tried to do both simultaneously. His right hand snapped into a salute, his body went rigid, his left hand accepted her ID and his rifle swung down to end up hanging from the bend of his right arm.

  “Secure that weapon Corporal! I thought this was a secure Legion base and not a playground.” Valerie snapped at him. She really was in no mood for anything at this point.

  “Yes. Er. Yes, Ma’am it is a Legion Base. Mountnessing Base.” The Corporal babbled as he tried to disentangle his rifle and set it in its proper place.

  Valerie looked around her with cold eyes. The other gate guards and the two Privates were all staring at her. Officers of a Major’s seniority did not just wander through a ranker’s entrance.

  “Is it not still customary to salute an Officer?” She demanded, her voice with as much warmth as the wind off a glacier.

  A chorus of “Yes, Ma’am’s” and salutes followed quickly as the soldiers responded. She looked back at the Corporal. He had sorted his rifle out and was standing ram rod straight in front of her. Perfectly at attention and saluting her, his left arm was rigid at his side with her ID still clasped in his hand.

  Valerie waited five full seconds before raising her own arm in salute. The soldiers moved into flawless parade ground at ease and the Corporal stepped aside out of her way.

  “Please go through, Major,” he offered.

  “My ID, Corporal.” His eyes widened and he thrust it out to her. Valerie didn’t take it, she looked at it for a few moments. “I suggest you check it.”

  The Corporal looked like he could almost melt into the ground. He grabbed the Datapad from his belt and inserted the ID. He swallowed and held it out to her.

  “Your thumb please, Major.” Valerie placed her thumb on the Datapad so it could read her biometrics without saying anything. It beeped green and the Corporal handed her ID back to her.

  “Thank you, Corporal.” Valerie said and he saluted her again.

  “You’re welcome, Ma’am.” She could tell he wanted to say something to apologise but thought better of it. Valerie returned his salute, turned and entered the base. In all likelihood she could have gotten away, in those circumstances, without needing to have him check her ID and not run the risk of the alarm already having been raised. The soldiers may well remember more someone they hadn’t checked, rather than having an officer insisting on correct application of the rules, as would normally happen.

  There was also the base main security computer to consider. It tracked everyone who entered the base, where they went and when they left. It would have raised a flag if someone entered without being scanned in. Security Central would have contacted the gate, who would have told the story of a Major coming in from an unusual route. Given her rank, an officer more senior to her would have been sent. She would have to been interviewed by a Colonel or higher.

  An officer like that would have been annoyed at having to waste her time on such a trivial errand. She would, in all possibility, have tried to make Valerie’s life as difficult as she could get away with in pay back. That wasn’t going to happen now. What she needed to do, was to get changed into her uniform so she wouldn’t look so out of place.

  Mountnessing was the Legion’s premier ground base in the Pantheon and as such, was truly massive. Two entire Legion Army Divisions were permanently based there, along with two groups of Atmospheric Close Space fighters, totalling 288 planes plus various support craft. The Navy maintained a vast array of transports to move personnel to the various stations in orbit. The Legion Commandos had their own Battalions attached to the Army Divisions. To move all these people about efficiently, the base had a transport network made up of hoverbuses running established routes for the junior officers and rankers. A Major was entitled to use one of the personal hovercar taxis scattered around the base. Valerie sent a request to Traffic for a car.

  One must have been only round the corner and arrived in minutes. Painted bright yellow to make them stand out on the base, they were driven by Army Privates or Navy ratings fresh out of basic training. It allowed them to familiarise themselves with the base and gave them experience in dealing with senior officers. Valerie showed her ID to the driver and climbed into the back. The Taxi had a seat for the driver and a passenger, which was very rarely used, in the front with six in the back, where most people sat, three facing front and three facing back. Valerie selected one facing forward and settled herself in.

  “Where to, Ma’am?” The very young, female driver asked. She probably joined the Army on or just after her eighteenth birthday and could not have been long out of Basic. Despite this, her question was asked in a strong, confident manner. On any other day, it would have pleased Valerie to see such men and women entering the service.

  As it was, Valerie cared little for the driver and only wished to get off the planet as quickly as possible.

  “Officer’s Mess, Commando Bravo,” she ordered.

  “Of course, Ma’am, please input your ID for verification.” The driver said, pulling away. The Commando Battalion sections of the base were restricted and to ease entry for senior officers, they could have their access levels checked in the Taxi. Valerie slide her ID into the reader and it blinked green.

  The Taxi whisked along the priority lane, speeding past the hoverbuses as they trundled along from stop to stop. Towering up in the middle of the base was the heavily fortified Space Port. With anti-grav, every vehicle could take off vertically, this changed the way such places were built. The large, land intensive airports, with their multiple four kilometre long runways used on the Home World, were long gone. People still preferred being able to see the sky, that part of human nature hadn’t changed since they had left the trees, so many buildings were only a few stories tall.

  Around the Space Port were the administrative buildings for the various branches of the Legion, these were only the local offices. The main HQ’s for the Army, Commando and Navy were in the centre of Zeus itself, each having a three kilometre tall shining tower. These massive structures contained the command and support staff controlling a military organisation that protected the twenty-five systems making up the Pantheon, along with various peace keeping and ‘showing of the flag’ missions, throughout the Boundary and Origin systems.

  The taxi passed the various buildings until it came to the gated entrance of Commando Bravo, Mountnessing. The current barracks of 14th Battalion, 193rd Marine Regiment. Armed sentries from the Battalion stepped forward, glancing at Valerie to check her face against the notification from Central. The slackness from the Pedestrian gate was not in evidence here. These soldiers knew their business and were fully prepared to carry it out. Once the soldier was satisfied, she stepped back, saluted Valerie and waved the taxi through. From there it was only a short trip to the Officer’s Mess.

  The Taxi turned down a wide oak tree lined road, with large sprawling greens on either side, leading up to the Mess itself. It was designed to mimic the ancient manor houses of the European aristocracy, before the Industrial Revolution on Earth. The building was constructed of grey stone blocks, large wooden windows, with Roman columns out front and simulated battlements on the roof.

  Pulling up at the main entrance, the driver jumped out smartly and opened Valerie’s door. Nodding curtly to the driver, Valerie shouldered her bag and headed inside, where she was met by a Steward in her spotless white jacket with silver trimming. Like the gate guards, the Mess were also aware of Valerie’s arrival. The Steward made no comment on Valerie’s dress and simply greeted her as she would any other officer.

  “Welcome to the Mess, Major, what can we do for you today?”

  “I need a room to change my clothes be
fore I head up to Furioso.”

  “Of course, Ma’am.” The Steward said with a smile and indicated to the wide central staircase further in. “Please follow me and I will show you to a room. Would you like me to carry your bag?”

  “No.” Valerie replied, shaking her head and only adding a thank you a few moments later. The Steward led Valerie up the stairs to the first floor. There were other officers moving about and Valerie’s clothes attracted a few odd looks which she ignored. She was taken to an ornate door of dark wood that matched all the others. A discreet card reader was built in so that just the slit was visible. The Steward entered a card, the door unlocked and she opened it for Valerie before stepping back out of the way.

  Nodding to the Steward, Valerie stepped through the doorway and the Steward closed the door behind her. The room included all the amenities of a hotel, comfortable bed, desk, large VI Screen on the wall, windows looking out the front of the building and an ensuite shower room. The Mess had large, multi-room suites for officers staying for days or weeks. This room was designed for an over-night stay if an officer was passing through, or spent too long at the bar downstairs and did not want to bother with the trip home.

  Dumping her bag on the bed Valerie sat down heavily next it and buried her head in her hands with her elbows propped on her knees. For the first time since she left the tunnels she was alone and it took all of her self-control not to be overwhelmed. She wanted to fall to the floor, curl up in a ball and forget all the world in her pain. Her shoulders shook and she screwed her eyes tightly shut, trying so hard to hold it together.

  Suddenly, it was too much for her, she surged to her feet, her hands curled into fists and she darted towards the old fashioned wooden wardrobe set against the wall opposite her. Fully intending to put her fist straight through its door. At the last moment she pulled her punch, her fist only gently touched the wood and took a deep breath. If she smashed the room up, questions would be asked and she would be delayed. She stepped forward, resting her forehead against the wood with her fists at her side.