by Ken Lozito
“I’m almost done,” Noah said.
He ducked behind the workstation and fiddled with the control panel, then came around and powered it on. This time there was no interference registering on the screen.
“Oh good, you’ve had the drones patrolling,” Noah said.
“Yeah, and we stumbled onto a new type of predator. The drones have some footage to upload that I want sent back to the compound,” Connor said.
Noah nodded. “They’ll be able to upload their stored data now.”
“That’s good because we were only able to get live feeds from them and nothing prerecorded,” Connor said.
“That’s because you didn’t connect the monitoring station to the storage array,” Noah said.
Diaz started laughing again and spread his arms wide when Connor looked over at him.
“You’ve got to admit, it’s pretty funny,” Diaz said.
Connor chuckled. “I get it. Oh, and Noah, did you bring the other thing with you?”
Noah feigned ignorance. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“I told Diaz what you showed me—the data burst from the space buoy network,” Connor said.
Noah glanced at Diaz and then back at Connor. “I did. You should know that after our little chat, Damon Mills paid me a visit asking about why our chat session was encrypted.”
“What did you tell him?”
“I told him you wanted to test the secure communications features of the monitoring station,” Noah said.
“Did he believe you?” Connor asked.
Noah shrugged. “I think so. He stopped asking me about it, but he started hanging around wherever I was working. It was enough for me to notice.”
“Maybe Mills knows about the data burst somehow,” Connor said.
Diaz nodded. “Probably. He and Franklin Mallory were among the first to be awakened on the Ark. They’d definitely be in the know.”
“So do you have a full dump of the data burst?” Connor asked.
Noah shook his head. “Just the partial. With Mills hanging around, I didn’t want to take a chance and go poking around at the Field Operations Headquarters. So I was thinking . . .”
“You want to work on this here,” Connor said.
“It’s remote and isolated,” Noah replied.
“Show me what you have and then I’ll decide,” Connor said.
Noah reached into his pack and pulled out his tablet computer. He navigated through the interface and then flicked his hand toward the large holoscreen above the monitoring station.
“Here’s the header that has the totally uplifting and non-scary reference to EOD-Extinction Critical Alpha,” Noah said.
“EOD,” Diaz repeated. “What the hell does that mean?”
Connor stared at the information on the screen. His brows pushed forward in concentration and he glanced at the others. “End of Days,” he said.
Noah’s face paled. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
“Are you sure the translation is right?” Diaz asked.
“Yes, this first part of the message was in the clear before the main data burst, which is why we’re able to read it,” Noah said.
“We shouldn’t jump to conclusions,” Connor said.
“Are you serious? A data burst from Earth that has the words ‘extinction’ and ‘end of days,’ and you don’t want to jump to conclusions?” Noah asked.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. Something like this could spread like wildfire across the colony. We need to fully understand what’s in that data before we decide what to do next,” Connor said.
“So if it’s bad, can I freak out then?” Noah asked only half-jokingly.
“We’ll see. Where’s the rest of it?”
“The main data burst has to be decoded. I thought of writing up my own decoder to do the job, but that could take a really long time. So I think I can access it from the Ark’s computer system,” Noah said.
“They’ll detect it,” Connor said.
“How do you know?” Noah asked.
“How do you not know? You think there won’t be a digital trail if you try to access secure information?”
Noah thought about it for a moment. “Okay, I bet if I can just see the framework of the algorithm used to decode communications from the space buoy network, we should be able to see what the rest of the message says.”
“Okay, but this is a part-time effort for you. You’ve missed a week’s worth of training and you need to get caught up,” Connor said.
Noah looked at both Connor and Diaz in alarm. “I thought I was just consulting with Search and Rescue,” he said.
Connor smiled. “Keep telling yourself that. Welcome to the team. Now go put on a uniform like the rest of the recruits.”
Noah’s laugh became silent as he realized Connor was serious.
“Don’t worry, we’ll take good care of you,” Diaz said.
Noah left the tent.
“This is some next-level stuff,” Diaz said.
“Too soon to really know what it means,” Connor said. The references did worry him, but it wasn’t enough for him to drop everything he was doing and confront Tobias about it. “Whatever it means, it won’t change what we’re doing here. So let’s get back to work.”
Chapter Nineteen
Over the next six weeks, Connor and Diaz trained the first class of Search and Rescue. Franklin Mallory, the Director of Field Operations and Security, visited the camp twice. Both visits had left the director impressed and eager to put them in the field. After Mallory’s first visit, the recruits had become preoccupied with giving their camp an official name rather than some alpha-numeric designation. The name Camp Gates had been tossed around, but Connor put a stop to that quickly. The next name suggestion came from Blake, who called it Camp Mutt. Blake confessed that she was a dog lover, and as a field biologist as well as a medic, she championed to the idea that genetic diversity led to a superior species. Randle offered his services for providing genetic diversity when it came time to procreate for the sake of the colony. As far as Connor knew, no one had taken him up on his offer.
Connor checked the time and brought up the schedule for the day. He was in the command center working at his terminal. They had an active connection back to the compound, which he authorized the recruits to use at the end of the week so they could contact friends and family. After being completely isolated for six weeks, most recruits welcomed the opportunity. They’d earned it. Their initial training would be completed soon, and Connor already had his eye on at least two of them to lead squads of their own someday.
Noah walked into the tent. He had his travel bag all packed up and ready to go.
“I’m really sorry, sir,” Noah said.
Connor glanced at him. “You’ll be back.”
“I’ll just be gone for a few weeks. Dr. Bishop made a huge discovery at the forward operating research base and needs a technical consultant,” Noah said.
“She found alien tech,” Connor said.
“That’s what the report said. She found more ruins built by the civilization that used to be here,” Noah said.
“They died out. There are living people here who need us right now. Berwolf ambush attempts have been steadily escalating.”
“I know. I see the same reports. They’re at the compound and at some of the research bases,” Noah said.
“Yeah, so why haven’t you requested to take your weapon with you?” Connor asked.
Noah blinked for a while. “I didn’t think it was allowed.”
“You’re field-weapons qualified now, and as long as you’re officially a member of my team, you’re part of Field Operations. You’re authorized to carry your weapon with you. As far as I’m concerned, this is an extended field assignment,” Connor said.
Noah smiled. “I didn’t . . . Uh, thank you, sir.”
Connor feigned sternness. “You’ll have to complete survival week with the next class that comes through here.”<
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The smile on Noah’s face faltered. “You’re joking, right?”
“Do I look like I’m joking?”
Noah swallowed hard and then recovered. “Looking forward to it, sir.”
“It won’t be as bad as you think it’s going to be. By now, going out into the forest isn’t the mystery it once was,” Connor said.
“That first time you came through the gate while I was on patrol scared the crap out of me. I thought that new predator you found, the ryklars, had learned to open gates,” Noah said.
“Haven’t seen them in a while. According to the field biologist at the compound, they’re predators that follow the herds, so it’s likely they just migrate from place to place with the herds,” Connor said.
“I’ve meant to ask why you’ve been going into the forest at night,” Noah said. “I mean, beyond the training you make us do.”
“One of the most useful things we can do to adjust to living here is to get to know the planet,” Connor said.
Noah snorted. “As long as you’re armed with an assault rifle and night vision, along with an additional reconnaissance drone, you’re good to go.”
“Those things certainly do help.”
“So, this survival week you’ve got planned . . . What equipment are you allowing us to bring?” Noah asked.
Connor raised a brow. “You didn’t really think I was going to give anything away. That’s a need-to-know, which you don’t.”
Outside the tent, they heard the approach of a transport ship. The sound from the engines came closer, and Connor frowned.
“Sounds like they’re coming in too fast,” Connor said.
Noah’s eyes widened.
“Lenora!” they both said at the same time.
Connor and Noah raced outside. The camp was larger than it had been when they’d first gotten there to accommodate their Hellcat troop carrier ship, and they’d had to extend the perimeter fence to allow for other drop ships to visit the camp. It was a tight fit for experienced pilots, which Dr. Lenora Bishop, Head of Archaeological Studies, definitely was not.
Connor opened a comlink to the approaching ship.
“Hello, Connor,” Lenora said.
“Don’t destroy my camp with a bad landing. If you’re not comfortable landing here, put the ship down outside the fence and we’ll escort you in,” Connor said.
“Where’s the fun in that?” Lenora said.
The transport ship circled the camp and then approached the landing zone.
Connor glanced at Noah. “Why doesn’t she use a pilot?”
“They kept telling her they couldn’t fly the ship where she wanted it to go, so she fired them,” Noah said.
The transport ship started its descent over the painted white circle and started to drift toward the fence. Connor brought his hands up to his head and winced. That ship could tear a hole in the perimeter fence. At the last second, Lenora course corrected and set it down. Half the landing gear was outside the designated landing area.
Connor ran his palm over his face and blew out a breath. “Are you sure you want to go with her? It might be safer out in the forest. You could take your chances with the local predators.”
Noah’s face was already pale from watching Lenora’s nearly catastrophic landing attempt. “I’ll be right back,” he said and hastened away.
Lenora stepped out the side door of the ship and her auburn hair surrounded her head like a mane of pure femininity. She saw him and waved. Connor walked over and nearly forgot how she almost just destroyed his camp. Her cupid’s-bow lips lifted into a playful smirk as he got closer.
“You stuck the landing,” Connor said.
“You should have seen the last one I did,” Lenora said.
She glanced around the camp and saw that the recruits were doing various exercises. One group was rappelling down an elevated platform while the others were using the repulsor vests. Connor noted that Neal Compton was the victim being lowered in a harness from the fifty-foot-tall platform. Owens, Jackson, and Cooper were slowly lowering Compton’s three-hundred-pound body.
“Things have really come along here,” Lenora said.
“Yes they have, but this is the first time you’ve ever been here,” Connor said.
“You caught me. I met with Ashley on one of the supply runs at the compound two weeks ago,” Lenora said.
Connor arched an eyebrow. “You were looking for Noah,” he said.
“You bet I was. I swear the little squirrel can hide with the best of them.”
“I see,” Connor said.
Lenora gave him a challenging look. “It’s easy to say no on a vid, but get him in person . . .”
“And he melts. I get it,” Connor said.
“You got it. This is really quite a setup you got here. You still haven’t taken me up on that offer to come out and see the ruins we found,” Lenora said.
She looked at him with those beautiful eyes of hers, and Connor almost found himself agreeing to go.
“I’d like to, but we’ve got something big planned for them this week,” Connor said.
“I bet they wouldn’t mind if you gave them the week off,” Lenora said. Cupping her hands around her mouth, she shouted, “Do you guys want a week’s vacation?”
Connor’s mouth hung open as he heard Ramirez shout to the others about getting time off.
Lenora laughed.
“You’re unbelievable! I can’t believe you just did that,” Connor said and snorted.
Lenora patted him on the arm. “Live a little, will you?”
Connor chuckled. “I will. When things calm down here, I’ll come out to your base and see what all the fuss is about.”
Lenora held him in her gaze. “I’ll hold you to that.”
Connor had little doubt that she would. “Since you’re here, have there been any increased sightings of the local predators? We’ve seen reports of heightened berwolf activity around the compound and some of the research bases.”
“I saw that, but there’s been no berwolf activity out by us. We’ve seen the new species that you spotted—the ryklars, four arms and two legs. Looks mean as hell. Leopard spots on its back,” Lenora said.
“Have they attacked anyone?”
Lenora shook her head. “No, they just make their presence known. I’ve only seen them at a distance. Rogers has seen them much closer, like across-this-camp kind of close. He kept saying that the creature seemed more intelligent than he thought it should be.”
Connor nodded. “I know what he means. Be careful. I know they’re smaller than the berwolfs, but I think they’re more dangerous.”
Lenora smiled and leaned in as if she wanted to whisper something, so Connor met her halfway and she gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“That’s for being sweet,” Lenora said.
Connor felt his cheeks redden. He couldn’t get a bead on this woman. One moment she acted like one of the guys and the next . . . He didn’t know what to think.
“It’s about time. I haven’t got all day,” Lenora said, looking past Connor.
“I had to get my stuff,” Noah replied. “I can’t do an analysis of the alien tech you found without my equipment.”
“Great, and now you’re armed too,” Lenora said.
Noah carried his AR-71 rifle along with his utility bag in his other hand.
“I see all this physical training suits you. Got some muscles now,” Lenora said.
Noah smiled, made a show of flexing his biceps, and climbed into the ship.
Lenora turned back to Connor. “It seems like the moment I get to talk to you I have to leave a few minutes later. I’ll take care of Noah for you. He’s one of the good ones, and I like to make sure he’s doing okay.”
“He’s lucky to have you looking out for him,” Connor said.
Noah was alone in the colony—one of the colonists from the Ark program who didn’t come with any family or significant others. Noah had explained that his family sacrificed a lot to g
et him qualified to even come on the Ark. Connor was positive that Noah’s aptitude and high intelligence had determined his candidacy for the Ark program rather than the lottery randomly awarding him a spot.
“I’ll see you around, and don’t forget about that invitation,” Lenora said.
She headed back to the ship and waved over at Diaz, who was on his way over to Connor.
Connor glanced at Diaz. “We should probably back up. I don’t know if her takeoffs are any better than her landings.”
They backed up, and the transport ship’s engines burst to life. The ship rose steadily into the air and Connor could see Lenora and Noah sitting in the cockpit. He waved, and the ship sped away.
Diaz snapped his fingers in front of Connor’s face. “Snap out of it. We’ve got work to do. I mean, I know she’s a rare beauty, that one, but come on. Focus, sir.”
“Stop,” Connor said. “It’s really not like that.”
Diaz gave him a pointed look. “You mean to tell me you couldn’t tell she was flirting with you?”
Connor frowned. “Give me a break. She’s just being friendly.”
“Well, she can be friendly like that with me anytime then, or with half the guys here or anywhere else,” Diaz said.
Connor glanced at Diaz with a disapproving frown.
“Yes, sir, I’m Connor Gates. I can’t afford any personal attachments,” Diaz said.
Connor shook his head. “Let’s get back to work.”
“We got a minute. Let’s explore this a bit,” Diaz pressed.
“There’s nothing to explore, and there’s nothing going on with Lenora,” Connor insisted.
Diaz nodded. “Lenora, you say. You mean Dr. Bishop? The world-class archaeologist? What’s the problem? I’m not telling you to get married, but you know . . .” he said and shrugged.
“It’s not appropriate,” Connor said.
“What’s not appropriate? You’re a man. She’s a woman. You’re nature’s designated mating pair.”
“It’s not that simple. I’ve left—”
“People behind. We all did, and you told me you hadn’t spoken to your wife in over five years. You said there was always another mission,” Diaz said.