Outside Context Problem: Book 01 - Outside Context Problem

by Christopher Nuttall

  The aliens kept shooting, picking off targets she couldn’t even see. The defenders were no longer firing, trying to keep down the casualties. The alien craft had settled in over the White House, daring the human race to keep firing and wreck their city. It was so large that she hadn’t even realised that it had escorting fighters and smaller transports until one flew right over her head, breaking line of sight with the alien craft. She found herself lying on her back, able to move again. Her ears hurt badly. The alien craft was making hardly any noise, but it was clearly producing something she could almost hear. She rubbed at her ears in hopes of making the pain go away, yet somehow it refused to fade.

  A green light flared out from the alien craft, casting the darkened area of Washington into stark relief. It looked oddly like an alien landscape under their glare. The aliens had opened a massive hatch in the underside of their vessel and hundreds of aliens were spilling out of it, falling down towards the ground faster than a HALO parachutist. She wondered absurdly if they intended to die like lemmings, but the green glow seemed to be some kind of tractor beam. They were invading the very heart of Washington.

  Slowly, she pulled herself back to her feet, and staggered over to the door. She wanted to get downstairs now, change her clothes, and then escape. Washington was no longer a suitable place for human habitation. It was alien territory now. The interior of the skyscraper had taken a terrible beating. Windows had smashed, pictures and vases had come off the walls and crashed on the ground, while the power was almost completely off. Emergency power provided a faint dim light as she made her way down the stairs, choosing to leave the elevators strictly alone. The shortage of power might leave her trapped inside, unable to escape. There was no one else around at all.

  Her apartment was a mess as well, but she was relieved to see that everything she had was still intact. She wanted a shower desperately – now she was calming down, she had realised that her clothes were filthy – but when she checked the shower she discovered that there was no water, so she used wipes before changing into a more practical outfit. She’d packed a getaway bag weeks ago – it was standard practice when she might have had to leave at any moment – and took a moment to check the pistol she’d bought after the President had nullified all gun control legislation. It had been far too long since she’d fired a gun, but the principle remained the same. Point and shoot.

  She took one final look around her apartment, picked up a necklace that had been a gift from her mother, and closed the door behind her. She never expected to see it again.

  ***

  General Wachter watched in absolute disbelief as the alien warriors duelled it out with the Marines defending the centre of Washington. It might have been an even fight without the presence of their craft high overhead, calling down fire on any Marine target that showed itself. There was little wrong with how the warriors comported themselves; they moved in unison, with one group covering the next, as they advanced towards the White House. It seemed to be the only target safe from alien fire. The aliens would have to dig the Marines out by force.

  He checked his M16 as he rallied the inner defenders. The vast majority of the staff had been sent through the tunnel system to places where – he hoped – they'd be safe, or at least would be able to get out of the city. The reports that had come in before the aliens had somehow disabled communications suggested that the aliens were landing everywhere, yet they couldn’t overrun the entire country within hours. They didn’t have the tech or the numbers to do anything like that. America had one of the highest ratios of guns to people in the world…and most of them, unlike the Iraqi insurgents and terrorists Wachter had fought, knew how to use them. The aliens might still win, but by God they'd know that they’d been in a fight.

  “Ready, sir,” the operator said. “I’ve primed the charges as you ordered.”

  Wachter nodded. “Good,” he said. The aliens had overrun most of Washington, but they hadn’t discovered the tunnel network, not yet. The charges had been placed to collapse sections of the network, making it harder for the aliens to locate an entrance once they deduced its existence. The second set of charges had been placed in the White House itself. Wachter didn’t know what the aliens wanted with the President’s official residence, but he was damn sure that they weren't going to get a chance to use it. The charges would blow the White House to rubble and kill all of the aliens inside the building. By then, there would no longer be any defenders.

  He flicked from camera to camera, but the view was always the same. The aliens were crashing into the building, fighting it out with the Marines, who’d turned the White House into a complicated network of IEDs and other unpleasant surprises. The warriors seemed to have a sixth sense for some surprises and almost nothing for others, although they were learning quickly. They also showed little in the way of restraint. They threw grenades into a room before entering and seemed unconcerned about the possibility of civilian deaths. It was a far cry from the restrictive rules of engagement the United States had used in Iraq. The aliens took no chances.

  “Set the timer now,” Wachter ordered. He hefted his M16 and headed up the steps towards the final redoubt. The aliens would take the remains of the White House over his dead body. “Good luck.”

  Chapter Fifty

  Washington DC, USA

  Day 69

  Pepper hadn’t known about the full extent of the tunnel network until she had been briefed about the emergency escape plans from Washington. At the time, the Secret Service had considered them a burst of official paranoia rather than a serious plan, even though it was primarily focused on preserving the President’s life. The plan existed only for when air or ground escape was impossible – a major nuclear or chemical strike on the heart of Washington – and consisted of a set of bunkers and tunnels that were only linked to the main tunnel complex at two locations. Pepper and her escorts had triggered charges as they’d passed and now there were no clues that the Presidential Bunker existed – unless EGGPLANT had failed and there was a reference to the bunker in files captured by the aliens. It wasn't impossible. A few years ago, the Secret Service had investigated a science-fiction author for revealing details of the bunker, a task made harder by the fact that the author possessed a security clearance and might have heard something in his military career. It had taken some very expensive investigation to prove that the author had made it all up.

  She watched as the President slowly recovered from the drug. The medics had injected him with a counter-agent, at her instructions, but she was dreading the coming discussion. No Secret Service Agent had ever drugged the President before. The most controversial act in the history of the Secret Service had been Presidents being knocked down to keep them out of the line of fire, something that was generally applauded. The President would be angry with her, maybe even sack her on the spot. She wasn't sure she’d blame him either. She would have been furious if someone had drugged her, even if it had been for the best of motives.

  The President pulled himself to his feet, rubbing the side of his head. Unlike some residents of the Oval Office, he had maintained a regular exercise routine and worked out every day, so he should be strong enough to shake off the drug quickly. It had few side effects when the dose was properly calculated, but that wasn't very reassuring. Drugging the President was regarded as an absolute last resort and not something to be entertained lightly.

  “I assume,” he said, finally, “that you have a very good explanation for this?”

  At least there’s nothing wrong with his mind, Pepper thought, although it was cold comfort. “You had to remain alive and out of enemy hands,” she said, as practically as she could. She wouldn’t have appreciated such an explanation and she doubted the President would disagree. “The country needs the legitimate President alive and free.”

  “And so you drugged me,” the President said, angrily. “Why?”

  Pepper took a breath. If she was going to be fired, she might as well go out with a bang. “The P
resident isn’t just the Head of Government, but the Head of State as well,” she said. “The person holding that title becomes a symbol of American government, the core of the country. He has more responsibilities than dying bravely beside his defenders. All of us swore to keep you alive because as long as you are the President, you’re the heart and soul of the country. We could not allow a disputed succession or a President in enemy hands. The country needs you alive and free.”

  “And in hiding,” the President said. He looked over towards one of the operators. “How long have I been out and what’s happened since I…left the White House?”

  Pepper had been surprised by the sheer size of the bunker when she’d first seen it, expecting a small installation buried deep under the outskirts of Washington. It was small, but there was room for a permanent staff, a set of sleeping quarters and a shower, as well as links into every civil and military command network. It drew power from a nearby nuclear power plant – apparently, the staff at the power plant didn’t know where the power was going – and had enough stored power to maintain operations for years, if necessary. Five men operated the bunker, four of them wearing earphones and muttering away into microphones. The fifth – a Colonel who’d been on reserve until the alien mothership had been detected - came over to brief the President personally.

  “Mr President, welcome to the Tomb,” he said. Pepper could have quite happily killed him for that joke alone. “I'm Colonel Mikkel Ellertson. We have been attempting to monitor the military situation from here, but the command and control networks have been hammered very badly and we’ve lost contact with a number of bases. The direct links to overseas installations and forces have been cut. We’re currently working on linking though landlines. All foreign satellites have been downed.”

  “Shit,” the President said. He rubbed the back of his head. “Very well. Give me a full rundown. Start with Washington.”

  “The aliens have been landing troops in Washington for the last hour, even after the White House was blown up, and have been encircling Washington. As you know, most of the civilians had fled the city before the aliens invaded and civilian casualties have been mercifully low. There has been some resistance to the aliens – mainly cops, soldiers and armed civilians – but the aliens have been strong enough to overcome all such resistance. They’re establishing a ring of steel around the city and have been turning back the remaining civilians. Any attempt to push through the cordon is met by lethal force.

  “I was able to speak, very briefly, to the base CO at Quantico, the Marine Base. He reported that several alien craft had landed on the base and there was a major firefight going on, before the line went dead. The Marines have not been heard from since. Andrews AFB reported that the base was on the verge of being overrun before contact was lost; several other installations reported alien invasion and landings before they too broke contact. Fort Hood reported that soldiers had dispersed into the training grounds to carry on insurgencies against the aliens.

  “Reports from several major cities suggest that the aliens have been landing around the cities rather than crashing into their hearts, like they did to Washington,” he added. “There’s only one massive…City Destroyer or whatever the hell it is, so they don’t seem inclined to force their way into the cities yet. The reports basically add that the aliens are turning back refugees and are responding to attacks with lethal force. Without NORAD or the foreign satellites, I am unable to give you a complete picture of the alien landings, but we did pick up a vague report from the BBC that alien craft were descending over Africa and the Middle East. There’s so much confusion on the internet that I can’t rely on anything, until the spotters get back in touch with us. They’re reporting everything from cities destroyed to hordes of alien women raping human men.”

  Pepper rolled her eyes, and then concentrated on the important issue. “Are we safe here?”

  “I honestly don’t know,” Colonel Ellertson admitted. “The Webcam images we have from Washington show the aliens swarming over the centre of the city, but we don’t know if they have access to any part of the tunnel network. The security system is badly damaged and may collapse completely at any moment. I would advise against trying to escape the city entirely until nightfall. The situation is unstable.”

  “Show me,” the President said, standing up.

  Ellertson led them over to a big screen and started to flip through images from the various cameras. “That’s where the White House was,” he said, as the screen displayed a pile of flaming debris. Alien shapes moved over the debris, rounding up human survivors and pushing them towards the nearest open space, where they were guarded by other aliens, who were searching and tying the prisoners. Many were injured, some badly, but the aliens weren't providing any medical support. Civilians and cops seemed to have been mixed up with the soldiers, all lumped together into one mass. Dead bodies – human and alien – were being gathered together in a pile. “That's the Mall, that’s the view from a skyscraper towards the north, that’s…”

  “Enough,” the President said, sharply. He sounded shaken and Pepper didn’t blame him. Scenes like that just didn’t happen in America. “If they keep the population penned up in the cities…”

  “Easier to control,” Ellertson finished. “The last reports we had included several alien landings in the countryside. They may intend to settle the country, or they may have other plans. What do we do now?”

  “What do we do?” The President repeated. Pepper heard the note of icy determination in his voice and cheered inwardly. “They’ve taken our country. We’ll fight to take it back.”

  Pepper nodded and started to plan their escape from the bunker. They couldn’t stay in Washington for much longer. It wouldn’t be long before the aliens stumbled across the tunnel system and started to search it, looking for insurgents and fugitives from their authority. Even if no one betrayed the complex – and Pepper had no way of knowing what the aliens could do to induce someone to talk – they’d eventually run out of food and supplies. Their only hope for escape was to leave before the cordon around Washington became an iron noose, strangling the life from the city.

  She looked over at two of the soldiers. Three Special Forces soldiers, five men who hadn’t seen front-line service in years and one PPA wouldn’t be able to provide much protection if the complex was attacked. An idea was already taking shape in her mind, but it would require careful planning – and intelligence.

  “Tell me something,” she said, to the senior Green Beret. “How good are you at sneaking around?”

  ***

  Abigail had barely any warning before a pair of strong hands grabbed her and yanked her into the alleyway. There was no public transport, or working cars any longer, which forced her to walk. It was a decision she bitterly regretted as the mugger – or worse – slammed her against a wall. Cold hands reached for her jeans, sending shivers running down her spine. His intent was now all too clear.

  “Let me go,” she demanded, and kicked out at him. He laughed and thrust her against the wall again. She tried to bring her foot down on his, but he slapped her back hard enough to stun her, just long enough for him to start pulling down her jeans and panties. His cold hands roamed over her bottom and between her legs, making her cry out in pain. “You don’t have to do this!”

  There was no answer, just deep excited breathing. She felt a wave of anger, and determination. No one raped her. No one! “I’ll let you fuck me,” she said, desperately. It was easy to pretend to be scared. “I’ll let you do what you like, but not like this. Turn me round and I’ll suck you off before you fuck me…”

  The breathing seemed to grow harsher. She guessed that her would-be rapist had never had a willing girl before. He finished pulling off her jeans and stroked her buttocks again, before twisting her around. She saw his face and his engorged cock for the first time and fought to keep the revulsion off her own expression. He was actually excited by her submission, pulling her towards his cock. She took
a breath and pursed her lips, before bringing her knee up as hard as she could. He screamed in pain and tried to lash out at her, but it was too late. She kicked him again and saw him topple over, before bringing her foot down hard on his throat. He wriggled and tried to escape, yet somehow she kept pushing down on him until he died. She vomited over his body as she stumbled back from him. She had been in dangerous places before, but this…this was America. Law and order had broken down over the entire city.

  Never a cop around when you need one, she thought, trying to avoid thinking about the man she’d just killed. She pulled her jeans back on, feeling dirty and ashamed even though he hadn’t done worse than grope her before she’d killed him. She wanted a shower desperately and perhaps a stiff drink or two, but there was no time. She removed her pistol from her bag and put it in her coat. Perhaps she should have carried it openly, or perhaps she would have been disarmed as easily as she had been dragged into the alley. Leaving the dead would-be rapist behind, she started to walk towards the edge of the city. Surely, out there somewhere, she could meet up with someone else from WNN and the world would be understandable again.

  She encountered crowds of other people streaming towards the outskirts of the city and gave them a wide berth, apart from a group of soldiers heading into the city. The crowds grew larger as they approached the way out and discovered that it was blocked. A group of aliens were parked right across the road, their weapons clearly ready for use, blocking the human escape route. Several of them were firing from time to time, aiming over the crowd and forcing them to turn back. They’d encircled Washington already.