by Unknown
The Colonel turned to Ramey. “That’s a brave young man. He’d make a good troop,” he said.
“I agree,” Hadaie said back. “Mike Wilkes received the highest honors from his university and has repeatedly demonstrated high intelligence and perseverance in his activities, according to all I have seen,” Hadaie said.
The Colonel looked at him and raised his eyebrows. “You sound like a fitness report,” he said. They turned back towards Chief Mogar and his men. Then the Colonel asked, “By the way, these natives have been very enthusiastic today. What did you tell them last night,” he asked.
Hadaie gave him a matter-of-fact look. “I took advantage of their spirituality,” he said. “I told them their gods were ashamed of their cowardice, and they had not passed the test of the guardian of the underworld. So they could not be called true men until they proved themselves today to defeat General Brana and his soldiers,” he said.
Colonel Leftin began to laugh. “Not bad. Not bad at all,” he said as they met with the Chief. It was time for them to get into their position.
All he had to do was walk down a road. Simple task, but just thinking about what would happen was unnerving. The only bad part was that he had tried to contact the Lexington and had received no answer. That would mean she was still with the Antheran ship. Oh well, they would just have to do without them. The pack was full and the straps were cutting into his shoulders slightly. Well, he wouldn’t have to endure that for long, he thought. Already he could hear the rumbling of the convoy. Within a minute or two they would be there.
Inside the cab of the first truck, the young officer stared out the windshield and saw a lone walker on the road. In the months he had been assigned the task of riding these convoys, they had seen no one on these roads; indeed, his orders were to shoot anyone he saw. But his curiosity was getting the better of him and he wanted to know what this person thought he was doing. He ordered the driver to stop.
Even as the wheels ground to a halt, the officer had taken out his pistol and was stepping onto the gravel road, pointing his weapon at the young man. He studied the blond haired man with glasses that was standing there with his hands up.
“What are you doing on this road!” he demanded.
Mike looked directly at him. “I have been ordered by General Brana to report to him with this pack of materials,” Mike said firmly.
“Then why was I not informed of your coming?”
Mike looked at the young man. Obviously this man had an ego to go along with his rank. “That is not my concern, it is his. And since you do not know about me, then obviously you are not cleared to know. I suggest you take me to him,” Mike said firmly.
The officer was confused. No one countered an officer in Brana’s army. He didn’t know this man, yet the man knew the General, and more, he wanted to go to him. Too many questions and not enough answers. He looked at the pack Mike was wearing.
“What’s in there?” he demanded.
Mike held his ground. He could hear all then trucks stopping in line behind the first and he wanted to delay as long as possible. He slung the pack off his shoulders. “I will show you, but only the General will understand what these things are,” he said.
The young officer lowered his pistol and looked inside the pack. It was filled with books and small pieces of equipment. The man was right. None of it was anything he had ever seen before. He pointed to one piece and asked, “What is that?”
Mike gave him a stern look. “You are not cleared. This is an intelligence matter for the General. You and I both know he does not like to be kept waiting, and this is extremely important to him,” Mike said.
The officer stood back a few seconds to think about the situation. He could shoot this man now and he would be following orders. But if the General really was waiting for this, he would be in the General’s favor. If not, he would still have the man under arrest and the General might still be pleased. In either case, his gun would be on him. He finally smiled.
“Get your pack and get in the front with me,” he said.
Mike nodded and slung the pack into the front seat, and then got in between the driver and the officer. The officer ordered the truck to move and the driver quickly shifted the truck through its gears continuing down the road. Mike sat back wondering if there had been enough time.
The minute the last truck had slid to a halt, the natives ran forward with their blowguns. The driver and another officer had barely had time to wonder what they were stopped for when small darts entered their necks and upper arms. The officer had tried to reach for his pistol, but Colonel Leftin was already leaning in the window slapping his hand away before the powerful drugs left the driver and officer unconscious. They were lucky. The uniforms they wore matched the ones worn by Brana’s people. None to gracefully, Leftin and Ramey grabbed the two unconscious men, dragged them from the truck and unceremoniously dropped them into the ditch. While Jim Ramey and the natives climbed into the back of the truck and pulled down the back flap, the Colonel climbed into the driver’s seat and Hadaie on the other side. Within just a minute, they heard the trucks ahead start to pull away. Hadaie and the Colonel put on the goggles the former occupants had been wearing and waited for their turn.
The dust was choking and the Colonel pulled up a cloth on the seat to cover his mouth and nose. Fortunately, after only 30 minutes or so, the trucks slowed again at the main gate and stopped. One of the guards came by and walked to count the trucks in the cloud of dust. He didn’t even try and examine them. As they pulled through the men felt the bump as they left the gravel and rolled onto an asphalt road. Once past the guardhouse, they made their way between some buildings. Hadaie then jumped out to keep an eye on Mike while Colonel Leftin made a hard right between two buildings and started making his way toward the main tower that held the shield antenna. He just hoped the others would not notice his departure until it was too late.
Major Desti had just finished tying the string of explosive around the trunk of the giant tree. He had made sure the thicker end was toward the fence, just as instructed. On the backside of the tree, he attached the detonator. This equipment was new to him, but the principal was the same. He made his way back to the thirty odd natives watching from inside the tree line. That made two of the giant trees that he had set up with the explosives. Now he told his people to make their way back into the jungle and wait until something happened, then be ready to come back and kills soldiers. They liked that idea.
The Colonel need not have worried. Each of the trucks in line had begun peeling off to go to their delivery points. Only the first truck kept on the road. In a minute it stopped in front of the main headquarters building. The young officer and Mike got out with his pack and went inside.
Colonel Kenta received them in his office first. He praised the young officer and then dismissed him. Mike remained standing in front of his desk. The Colonel sat back down and stared at him. After a few moments he spoke.
“Yes, I remember you from the last time we met six years ago,” he said. It had been only a brief meeting, but it had led to so much that he couldn’t help but remember. “We were not expecting you for another week or so.”
Mike nodded. “Yes sir, but from our last meeting, I knew not to keep the General waiting,” he said.
Kenta nodded. “Very wise,” he said. “I take it the pack contains all of what the General asked for?”
“Yes sir,” Mike replied.
Very good. He even knew respect, the Colonel thought. “Then let’s not keep the General waiting,” he said getting up from his chair and escorting Mike out of his office. They went up to the second floor of the building and entered through some guarded double doors after knocking and receiving a reply to enter. The General was seated at a large wooden desk neatly stacked with papers and personal items. Mike noticed a photograph of Levid on the wall. He placed the pack on the floor and stood straight in front of the general’s desk.
The general smiled and evil smile. �
�Well, well. It is so nice to see you once again, Mister Wilkes. I trust you have had a pleasant journey?” he asked not expecting an answer. “At least you are prompt,” he said.
“General, it seemed as if I hadn’t much choice, and I want my son back. I figured the quicker I got here and gave you what you wanted, the quicker I would see him again,” he said. “And I am well aware that it is not a wise thing to be in your displeasure.”
The General laughed a hearty laugh, something Kenta had not seen in some time. “Yes, you are right, it would definitely be an unpleasant thing,” the General said. “And I am a man of my word.” He motioned to a guard. “Bring the boy here,” he ordered. The guard saluted and left the room.
“Now since you have followed my orders so far I assume you have what I asked for in that pack?”
Mike nodded. “Yes sir. Would you like to see it now?” he asked.
“Most definitely,” the General said. “But first,” he said motioning for the guard to leave. As the man left, Colonel Kenta drew his revolver and held it at his side.
Mike made his way to a table on the wall and set the pack upon it. He began removing items and books from the pack and laying them out on the table. When the pack was empty, he set it aside. Then he addressed the men. “General, you asked for weapons and equipment that would help you in your efforts. I have pulled some of our fleet’s best materials for you to use in your campaign.” Mike pulled up a black box like piece of equipment and flipped the top open. It was an old scanner long out of date with the Alliance.
“This is what we call a scanner,” he said as he turned the unit on. He set the machine in a search mode and held it for the General to see. On the display, it clearly showed where each individual was within the confines of the building and in the general area outside. “As you can see, it can tell you where your enemies are without having to send in troops to root them out,” he said.
Brana nodded in approval. “Very useful,” he said.
Mike then changed modes. “It can also help your medical personnel in the diagnosing of wounds or ailments,” he said holding the machine towards Kenta. It clearly showed his heart rate, blood pressure, and other body functions. Mike moved it around and focused on one area.
“I see you have an old wound, Colonel,” he said pointing to his leg.
The General chuckled. “From our last encounter,” the General said to Mike. “It is useful, but not that vital to me. What more can it do,” he asked.
Mike took the men through each phase of the scanner’s use and then set it aside. Next he brought up a medical instrument. “This will heal wounds,” Mike said to him. “If there is a cut, it will cause the skin to heal back, without a scar, right before your eyes,” he said.
“Interesting,” the general said. Then he called in the guard. “Do you have a knife?” he asked. The guard drew his knife and was horrified when at one slashing blow, he cut the man deeply into his upper arm. Then turning to Mike he said, “Show me.”
Mike quickly jumped to the man’s side, horrified that the General would inflict such pain just to test the equipment. He pulled the man’s hand away and told him to hold still. Then he tore the cloth away from the wound, aimed the instrument at the gash and turned it on. The skin seemed to miraculously pull itself together and seal. Within a few seconds, all traces were gone. The soldier blinked in amazement. Even the pain was gone.
“Excellent!” the General exclaimed. “With something like this my men can remain on the battlefield indefinitely,” he said. Then he dismissed the guard and turned for more. It took over forty minutes before Mike came to the last piece. He held the small device in the palm of his hand.
“This is what we call a particle beam emitter,” Mike said holding it up. “It is our primary hand held weapon. We no longer use the rifle like devices,” he said, handing it to Brana.
The General turned the emitter over in his hand. “How does it work?” he asked.
“We will need something to shoot at,” Mike said walking to the window. “There is a small vehicle out here. Would you like to see what this would do to it?”
The General nodded and walked to the window. The small truck was across the road parked by itself. Mike showed the general how to activate the emitter and then turned the energy gage up full. “Press this to fire,” he said.
The General extended his hand and pointed the emitter at the small car. When he pressed the trigger, a beam of intense blue light came out of the front and struck the vehicle. It immediately erupted into a ball of flame as the emitter disintegrated the front of the vehicle and ignited the fuel. When the smoke had cleared, they saw there was nothing left of the forward half of the steel vehicle. Only the rear was burning.
“It will vaporize a man at 100 meters, or can be set to stun all living creatures to unconsciousness within a 30 meter radius,” Mike said.
General Brana and Kenta looked at each other in amazement. So much power from so little a thing. “How many shots?” Kenta stammered out.
“They have been known to fire for two hours at half that setting, and can be charged fully within 15 minutes,” Mike said. Then he pointed toward the last two books. “Those are the plans for constructing more of these emitters and their charging stations,” he said.
The General nodded his approval. “Excellent!” he said finally. “You have done well, my young friend. And now I shall keep my end of the bargain.” He then called the guard and Corporal Tanea escorted Timothy into the room.
When he saw his father Timothy ran forward and jumped into Mike’s arms. Mike held his son tight.
“Daddy, I’m so glad you’re here,” Timothy said into his ear.
“Don’t worry, Dad’s here now,” Mike said back feeling his boy’s strong grip around his neck.
“Reunions are so touching,” Brana said. “Mister Wilkes, perhaps you need time to visit with your son,” he said. Then he looked at the Corporal. “Take them to the boy’s room while I decide what I shall do with them,” he ordered.
Mike looked at him. “You said we would be let go,” he said with mock concern. He knew full well that Brana had no intention of doing so.
“Oh but you are far too valuable to me to just let go. If these things are a sample, there is much more I might need,” he said with an evil look in his eye. “Take them,” he ordered again. The corporal shoved his rifle at Mike and they all three left the room.
Once outside, they were marched past the burning vehicle to the next building. As they walked along the road Timothy was telling Mike about all the things he and the corporal had been doing. Mike looked at the man and smiled. “Thank you for taking care of my boy,” he said sincerely.
Corporal Tanea looked around to make sure no one could hear. “He is a good boy, sir. Some day maybe I will have a son like yours,” he said. Then he added. “Please be careful with the General. Do not make him angry,” he said.
Mike looked at the man’s eyes and saw the fear and concern. He smiled at him. “We will be careful,” he said. “And thanks again.”
They entered the building and were locked into Timothy’s room. There Timothy began telling his father all of the things he had been doing while sitting on Mike’s lap. Mike listened and just held his little boy. It was only when Timothy mentioned the tool he took that Mike’s eyes sharpened.
“What did you take the tool for?” Mike asked.
“To fit the bolts on the window,” Timothy said jumping down and running over to the bed. He reached deep under the mattress and pulled out the wrench. Then he pulled back the curtain and showed him where the bolts for the bars came through the wall. Then he placed the wrench on the bolt. “See. It fits!” the boy exclaimed.
Mike couldn’t believe it. His son had figured it out all by himself and had a way out.
“I can’t make it turn though,” Timothy said.
Mike walked up to the boy and took the wrench. “That’s what Dad’s are for,” he said. They quickly removed the four nuts holding th
e bolts in place. The last one was coming off when the alarms began sounding all over the base.
Chapter 15
Taking Care of Business
Hadaie had watched as Mike and Timothy were escorted to their room. He then made his way to a position where he could see the building, the headquarters building, and the main shield tower. Twice he had been passed and saluted in his uniform. He came to a building with a stairway leading to a second floor door. He climbed the stairs and stood outside the door on the small landing. From there he could also see almost to the river. He reached into the pouch around his waist and pulled out a small transmitter. He selected the frequency and pressed the first button.
Major Desti had been about to doze off when the charges ignited. It was the strangest set of explosions he had ever seen. It looked almost like the charges had begun at the rear of the trees and cut their way through. A bright light quickly circled the trunk on both sides. Upon reaching the thicker portion of the explosives on the end facing the fence, the bright light became intense and there was a dull thud as the thicker charge went off. At first, Desti had thought it hadn’t worked. But the thud kicked the severed portion of the tree back toward the forest on both trees. The result was both tree trunks sliding back and the trees slowly dropping toward the electric fence. They were between 30 and 50 meters tall and their thick canopies seemed to fall in slow motion down onto the fence. The sturdy wide trunks slammed the fence down, breaking down the supporting posts for 30 meters in either direction. When the wires touched, the electrical sparks flew out in all directions, causing some of the dry grass to burn and some leaves on the trees to catch fire. After a few seconds, the arcing stopped.
Far on the road surrounding the perimeter, the guards in their vehicle saw the trees fall. To their surprise, several of the local natives ran across the trunk and entered the base. The driver slammed his foot against the accelerator while another man radioed in to alert the rest of the base. The natives saw them coming and sped back across the tree trunks and into the woods. The vehicle skidded to a halt beside the crowns of the trees and both men jumped out to fire on the natives. That had been a mistake. Several had hidden themselves in the leaves of the tree and blew their darts with unerring accuracy. The natives claimed their weapons and waited for another vehicle of men to arrive. True to form, another vehicle came from the other direction. Again several of the natives showed themselves, and when the soldiers gave chase, they met the same fate as their compatriots. Afterwards, the natives scampered back into the brush and waited. More soldiers would be coming.