Everyone scattered to their various work locations and stations.
CHAPTER 31
At the edge of the Sol System, a long-range scout ship was silently coasting through space with all passive sensors functioning at peak performance.
“Captain, I have an anomaly in this new portion of Sector 20,” said the sensor operator.
“What kind of anomaly?” said the annoyed captain of the Arkon scout ship Moor.
“A speed shift, Captain—a substantial one.”
“Out here in the middle of nowhere?”
“Yes, Captain. An object apparently traveling at .01 light just accelerated to .02 light.”
“No natural object would do that. It has to be a ship of some sort,” said the captain. “Astrogation, are there any inhabited planets on file in this region of space?”
“No, Captain.”
“I see,” said the captain, scratching the red crest of his head. “Plot a course for the last known position of the anomaly. Let us see what dares to fly in Arkon space.”
Back at Site R, Dieter Hellman helped a shaking Peter Meier from the B1 shuttle and into Van’s old quarters on Level 2.
“Thank you, Dieter. All that excitement has made me tired. I think I’ll rest for a while. Meanwhile, gather what information you can on what the Russians and Chinese are doing. Our work has just started.”
Leaving Meier to rest, Dieter took the short walk to the operations center where Meier had left the view screens linked to several of the major news services. They were all saying the same thing, but one was more interesting than the others. Dieter turned the sound down on all but the one with the pretty blond.
“This is Allison Cooper, and we are following the conflict that has apparently just broken out on the Moon. The Chinese government has just released pictures of a destroyed communications array they claim was a life link with the science expedition on the Moon. The fact that the Chinese had multiple people on the Moon came as a surprise to nearly everyone.
“The Chinese news release claims that the Russian spacecraft Pitchka made an unprovoked attack on the peaceful science station, destroying an important communications link and killing several scientists. The Russians, though, deny any involvement in such an attack but claim that it was the Chinese who attacked a Russian communications facility near Tycho Crater.
“Confusion still reigns. One thing is clear, however: the two nuclear powers are now on an enhanced alert status. With us is retired US Air Force Gen. Herb Owens. General, what can you tell us about this dangerous issue and what the alert status means?”
“Thanks, Allison. As you suggested, all the facts are not yet clear. That something has happened on the Moon is apparent. Telescopes from Earth have picked up massive dust clouds from the areas claimed by each country. What that means isn’t yet determined, but what is clear is the alert status of each country. We refer to our alert status as our ‘Defense Readiness Conditions.’”
The general went on to describe the different levels of the DEFCON to Cooper’s audience, concluding with, “During the Cuban Missile Crisis, for example, the US went to DEFCON 2.”
“Does that mean we might see war between the two communist countries soon?”
“Not necessarily, Allison. These days the equivalent of DEFCON conditions are as much a political warning as an actual threat. This may well be just a warning. But a serious one.”
“Thank you, General Owen.” Turning back to face the camera, Allison continued. “We’ll keep you posted on this developing story as we receive more news. Now, here is Fred with the weather you can expect in your area and after that a chat from the Tech Teacher to tell us the latest tech toys available to make life easier.”
As the Aurora approached Moon base, the news broadcasts from Earth told a disturbing tale. The Chinese and Russians both claimed to have been attacked by the other on the Moon. Communications equipment claimed to be important to the survival of each set of scientists at the two locations was destroyed. In both cases, there was also loss of life. The rhetoric between the two countries was getting hotter, not more reasonable, and the UN Security Council was encouraging both to meet peacefully to address their issues within the secure spaces of the UN building itself. To date, the offers had not been accepted.
“Dick, are you up and awake?” asked Van on his implanted communications.
“I’m up, Van. I’ve been watching the news 24/7 and pulsing my contacts in Washington and elsewhere. As you can imagine, things are not looking good.”
“I was hoping to hear that some rationality might have surfaced, but it appears not,” said Van, disappointed. “On top of all of this, we believe that while we were gone, Meier gained access to Site R and one or both B1 and B2 shuttles, among other things.
“Harry had sensors surrounding both the Chinese and the Russian sites. The important shots are grainy, but we can see the tail of the B1 briefly at the Chinese Fan Lau site and the Chang’e 5 at the Russian Tycho site. Our conclusion is that Meier somehow got hold of the B1, learned to fly it, and then shot up Fan Lau and made the Chinese believe it was the Russians. He seems hell-bent to get the two countries to go to war. If there was any doubt about his going mad, this seems to utterly destroy it.”
“Holy shit. Meier has to be stopped, like right now!” said Dick with emphasis on the “now.”
“We just arrived at the Moon base, and Harry and I, along with Brice and his team, are transferring to the Enterprise to fly to Site R. We should be there in just a few hours. Stay up on communications and we can keep you updated,” suggested Van.
“I’m on my way to our Ops Center. We can speak there. I guess this is not a good time to talk about Barbara and you, but after she calmed down, she promised me that she will keep your and Harry’s secret, and I had her sign something just in case. So she will be listening in if you don’t mind.”
“That’s a help, Dick. I’m trusting you that she will keep her word. Harry wanted to sneak into her apartment and wipe her memory. This solution may be better. Thanks for helping to solve a sticky issue…. again.”
“Not a problem. We’ll be standing by, listening and watching. Call on us if you need us.” Dick ended the call.
Van then turned to Brice. “I think we should use the new Mk-1 combat suits again to approach Site R. If Meier is in there as we suspect, he could have access to some serious weapons. He will probably have one or more people with him as well. This is not the sort of thing Meier normally does alone. In addition to whatever weapons you plan to take, I suggest considering the stun weapons in the off chance we can take him alive for intelligence purposes.”
“That was my plan exactly.”
“Good. Let’s load up in the Enterprise in twenty minutes.” Van turned to get his own gear.
Forty minutes later the Enterprise shot out from the Moon base carrying Van and Harry as pilots and a combat team comprising all the Carson operators available: Brice, Ross, Jimmy, Bobby, and Johnny.
Under stealth, the flight was simple and direct. The Enterprise hovered just outside the Level 1 hangar doors with lights on and keyed in the signal to open. But nothing happened. The shuttle landed and opened the cargo door into the night air. Van climbed down from the flight deck and exited, walking over to the silver bar glowing from the lights of the shuttle and protruding from the rock wall. As he had done the first time he had been here, he grabbed the handle in his right hand. Closing his eyes, he willed the doors to open—and they did.
Leaving two men to guard the shuttle, the remainder of Brice’s team plus Harry and Van entered the dark cavern and found the security panel where it had always been, to the right of the inner doors. Using light from his suit and the shuttle, Van placed his palm on the panel with the expectation that it would turn green and open the inner doors. Instead, it flashed red and said Access Denied.
“Harry, see what you can do?” asked Van. “It’s not working for me.”
“Yes, Commander,” said Harry, bringin
g forward a small electrical box with several external wires with clips.
Using some spongy glue to stick the box to the wall next to the access panel, he attached the clips in several strategic places on the panel. When he was satisfied the setup was correct, he started making entries on the keyboard of his electrical box. Lights of all colors flashed for several seconds, and the last color was…. red. It didn’t work.
“Interesting, Commander. This should have worked. My conclusion is that something is being used to override the normal security system, perhaps the Chad computer. We cannot gain access here. We need to try the cabin just in case, but it will likely not work either.”
Van gritted his teeth. “OK, everybody,” he called, “back in the shuttle for the trip down the hill. Believe me, you don’t want to walk down there at night.”
Once inside the cabin, Van located the secret panel and again placed his palm on it. Red, Access Denied.
“OK, Harry, give your device a try.”
Harry did. But again, it didn’t work.
“We need to think of new possibilities. Harry, haul out the plans for the site and let’s see if there is a way in clandestinely.”
“Yes, Commander. I will have them in two minutes.”
Watching the security screens from a control chair inside the Site R Ops Center on Level 2, Meier could see the results of Van’s attempts to regain the site.
“They are here, Dieter!” he said with a wry smile.
“Who is here?”
“Van Childs and likely his small band of security forces. They tried to get in from Level 1 but could not. They also failed to get in from the cabin. We have blocked all their access points. We own this place now and can do what we want.”
He paused for a moment of thought. “You were telling me about the new media reports you were watching in which the Chinese and Russians are clashing. Are they on the brink of war?” he asked, shaking but smiling and rolling his hands together over and over.
“Not exactly on the brink, Peter. The estimate is that they are at the equivalent of DEFCON 2, and that it might just be some political saber rattling,” said Dieter, who was becoming more familiar with the global issues after his time watching all the news channels.
“Then we need to push them a little more.”
“But why?”
Meier looked blank for a moment, as if he were thinking about this for the first time. And then it came to him as clear as day. “Don’t you understand? With these new capabilities, we have a new destiny and a much bigger goal. Profits are one thing, but with these systems we can control the world and all its treasure, especially with the major powers out of the way. Even Childs can’t stop us. You see, don’t you?”
“I guess so, if you say so,” Dieter said without being sure why and wondering what was happening to Meier.
“Good, Dieter. I am not up to flying yet, but I believe you can conduct a flight on your own in the B1. As you said, it is easy and even fun to fly,” said Meier.
“I can fly it and it is fun, especially when you can fire the cannons. What would you like me to do?”
“As soon as you can, launch from here and proceed to the Moon again. This time, shoot up anything the Chinese have at Fan Lau outside their lava tube hiding place. If there is nothing outside, fire into the lava tubes in the hopes of ruining some or all of their interior systems and habitats. When you are done, flee toward the south and overfly the Pitchka again, or the Oryol if it is there. Leave a radar trail just good enough to make the Chinese believe the Russians did it again. Just like last time. Then come home and we will see what they do next. Whatever it is, we will be safe in this facility. Now go!” said Meier as he pointed toward the door.
“Commander!” said Harry, working on Site R access through the Arizona cabin and in an urgent state of concern for him.
“What now?”
“The B1 just launched, Commander, while we were in here looking for access.”
“They don’t waste any time, do they? Can I guess it’s headed for the Moon?”
“Yes, Commander. Current track suggests the northern area near Vallis Alpes and Fan Lau.”
“Harry, you, Jimmy Fletcher, and Bobby Calhoun stay here and work on getting back into the site. Brice, Ross, and Johnny, come with me. Ross, you’re supposed to be a weapons officer. You trained for that now?” asked Van.
“Yes, sir, trained in all craft including the Aurora. I’m good to go and twice as handsome,” said Ross, smiling.
“I’ll bet you are. So let’s get to the Enterprise and strap in. We have miles to go before we sleep.”
Van was already pushing open the cabin door.
Just as Meier had instructed, Dieter flew in stealth mode to Vallis Alpes and Fan Lau. When he arrived, however, he found nothing outside the lava tubes. Circling once, he came into a low hover opposite the large lava tube opening and fired two short bursts of the 30mm cannons into the entrance. He could see sparks from his bullets bouncing off the walls of the tube and at least one bright flash. Satisfied that he had done his job, he turned east and climbed out over the ridge of Vallis Alpes.
As he expected, the Chang’e 5 or 6—he couldn’t tell one from the other—was nearby and rushed to the Fan Lau site. Again, Dieter left an intermittent radar trail south toward the Oryol, which was now close to the Tycho site as if guarding it. As planned, he fired on the Tycho center again and departed. Duty done, he set a course for Earth and his patriarch, Peter Meier.
Monitoring Moon sensors, Harry stopped his work on Site R access in the cabin to make a call to Van.
“Commander, there is new activity on the Moon.”
“What sort of activity?” Van replied from the Enterprise.
“From my sensors at the Fan Lau site, I saw the B1 fire into the lava tube entrance and then head south toward the Oryol and Tycho Crater, Commander. The Chang’e 6 is pursuing, likely thinking the B1 is the Oryol.”
“Great. Just when I thought we could prevent another catastrophe, Meier beat us again. Where is the B1 now?”
“Leaving Tycho Crater on a course back to Earth, Commander. The Chang’e 6 is not pursuing.”
“Ross, I’m plotting an intercept course. Power up the plasma cannon. Time to see how well Harry’s latest addition works.”
“Yes, Commander,” said Ross, eager to fire the new weapon.
CHAPTER 32
Dieter was sitting back in the pilot’s chair, flying the B1 in the manual mode, enjoying the new feeling of utter control. The view is spectacular, he thought to himself. I wish I had known how much fun this could be. I might have taken a different career path way back when. But his reverie was broken by an unexpected voice in his helmet.
“B1, this is the Enterprise. We are at your six o’clock position with a weapons lock on you. Turn on your autopilot and do as I say,” said the commanding voice.
“Who is this?”
“It’s your worst nightmare if you don’t do as directed,” the voice said again.
“Nonsense. There are no other craft on Earth or in space at present capable of doing as you say.”
“Then I suggest that you look out your right cockpit window,” said the voice.
With more curiosity than belief, Dieter looked right, expecting to see nothing. But there, coming into full view, was another spacecraft that looked vaguely like his own but less conventional.
“Hello there,” said the voice.
Dieter could see the helmeted head of a pilot, who waved at him. “If you’re satisfied with what you see, then do as you were told and you might live,” said the voice.
More out of fear than logical thought, Dieter turned the B1 as hard to the left as possible while pushing up the throttles. From his time in the learning chair, he knew the other pilot could not take control of the B1 in manual mode.
“Bad choice, whoever you are,” the voice said again. “I don’t want to destroy you and the B1, but I will if I have to. I gave you a warning, which is more th
an you did for the Chinese and the Russians. I’ll go one step further and warn you again. Shift to autopilot and we’ll take control.”
But Dieter made no adjustments and continued to maneuver.
Finally, the voice said something Dieter didn’t understand: “Then say hello to my little friend.”
Dieter’s cockpit suddenly glowed with a strange light. And then there was nothing.
“That was too easy,” commented Ross as he, Brice, and Johnny looked at the now dissipating fireball that had been the B1.
“Yes it was. Almost makes me feel bad. Almost,” said Van in a sober tone. “Unfortunately, I know what Meier sounds like, and that wasn’t him.”
“So where is he?” Brice asked.
“I’m betting he’s still at Site R, where we’re going now to see what Harry has been able to do.” Van changed course for the Earth. What is Meier up to if he isn’t up here? We must get inside Site R!
The captain of the Moor was pacing back and forth on his bridge. His race’s appearance was similar to humans, though also different. They were humanoid in some respects: bipedal, bilateral symmetry, stereoscopic forward-facing eyes. They even had five fingers like humans and humanoid lips; but that was where the similarities faded. They were hairless, with heavily scaled backs and sides and lighter scales on front, more like integrated armor. The major differentiator was the short crests on their heads.
Immortal Guardian: Hoast Saga Book 2 (Host Saga) Page 22