The light from the mirrors died, and the sound along with it, leaving the pyramid’s interior in pitch-black silence. But, as that silence continued, a faint glow emanated from beneath the blackened skin of the figure seated upon the stone throne. The shimmering light grew brighter, the body twitched and, a moment later ... Alexander Konstantin opened his eyes.
TERMINOLOGY
USSB – United States Subterranean Base
GMRC – Global Meteor Response Council, aka the Council
The Committee – Secret organisation / society
Darklight – World’s largest private security contractor
Terra Force – Special Forces Subterranean Detachment (SFSD)
S.I.L.V.E.R. – Elite military unit available to the highest bidder
Deep Reach – Special survey team working within the SED
SED – Sanctuary Exploration Division
Sanctuary – Ancient underground structure
USSB Sanctuary – A man-made base built within the Anakim creation, from which the U.S. Subterranean Base took its name
Anakim – an extinct species of Hominid, Homo giganthropsis
—————
Swiss Guard – Catholic military unit based in Vatican City
Holy See – Government of the Roman Catholic Church
Vatican City – Independent city state located in Rome, Italy
The Vatican – Informal term for the Holy See, or Vatican City
Knights of the Apocalypse – Catholic fundamentalists
[For ease of reference this page is duplicated in the final Appendix]
Chapter Two Hundred Sixty-Seven
‘It’s one forty-five in the morning and moments ago we witnessed an incredible series of missile launches from across the United States and beyond. Many are saying this is the doomsday scenario alluded to in the Bible and that nuclear Armageddon is to follow. However, images are also coming in from the Pacific Fleets, where the Chinese armada seems to have joined forces with our own.’ The newsreader turned to look at the screen behind her, as if she, too, couldn’t quite believe what she was seeing. More footage of missiles heading for the heavens filled the screen, the sea of ships responsible now all pointing in the same direction. ‘It seems the target for this attack is not another nation, but the light in the sky, which many have claimed is a second asteroid. The GMRC’s press office remains strangely silent, but live images of the mass assault are undeniable.’
The footage switched again to the night sky and the approaching light and the series of barely visible rocket trails which headed towards it. Seconds later, a series of explosions lit up the edge of space in blinding light. The newsreader continued to look at the screen, her expression one of shock, as the detonations continued unabated, while more missiles homed in on their target from all directions.
‘The missiles don’t seem to be slowing it down.’ She got to her feet, the camera automatically tracking up with her. ‘It’s entering the atmosphere, it’s definitely a large asteroid. It looks just like AG5 did on final approach.’
She put a finger to her earpiece. ‘It’s confirmed, the destination is – oh, my God – New Mexico.’ She looked back at the camera, unsure what to say, before the fireball broke up and then exploded into millions of pieces. The newsreader let out an explosive breath and said, ‘The meteorite seems to have been destroyed and what could have been a world-ending impact has been foiled in what can only be described as a last minute – last second – reprieve, thanks to a unification of Chinese and U.S. forces that had previously appeared destined for conflict. Other reports indicate assistance also came from around the globe.’ She listened again to off camera information, as it was fed to her. ‘Wait ... curfew sirens are activating throughout the nation and a repeating message from the White House has been issued.’
A message appeared over the broadcast:
IMPACT WARNING!!!
STAY INDOORS!
TAKE COVER!
HIDE!
DANGER!!!
METEOR SHOWER IMMINENT!!!
STAY INDOORS!
TAKE COVER!
HIDE!
‘We’re switching to Kelly Brady, reporting live from the capital. Can you hear me, Kelly?’
The newsreader disappeared from the screen and was replaced by a woman holding a microphone, standing in a residential street lined with cars. Local people and members of the National Guard stood in clusters in the middle of the road behind her, gazing skyward, and the reporter said, ‘I can, Rachel. Residents who’d come out to watch the strange light were left in shock after what we assume were nuclear explosions lighting up the night sky, followed by the asteroid’s destruction.’
‘Are there any signs of the fallout?’
The camera panned upwards. ‘The fragments are creating a spectacular meteor shower,’ Kelly said, off camera.
An air raid siren wailed in the distance, followed by another one, which sounded much closer. The camera moved back down to the reporter as a siren in the street whined into action.
‘The sirens have activated!’ Kelly shouted into the camera. ‘People are running for cover!’
In the background, residents ran into buildings, while others remained where they were, too mesmerised by the streaks of fire in the sky.
The reporter and her cameraman edged closer to a building before a flash of light shot past overhead. A moment later thousands of meteors peppered the side of the street. Glass imploded and screams filled the air. A minivan exploded in a ball of flame, followed by two more vehicles.
Kelly Brady grabbed the camera lens, her expression terrified. ‘Get inside! RUN!’
The reporter and her cameraman fled into the safety of the nearest building as the rain of fire continued. A meteor lanced through the building, the roar of sound making the transmission crackle and fuzz. Dust and debris swept over the camera and people’s screams were cut short as the image went black.
The newsreader reappeared, her expression distraught. ‘If you haven’t already, find shelter as far below ground as possible,’ – the lights in the studio flickered and she glanced up – ‘and may God be with us.’
Chapter Two Hundred Sixty-Eight
Inside the nuclear bunker beneath the White House, John Henry waited as the professor embraced Jessica Klein and the young German. John then stepped in to shake Steiner’s hand. ‘She was a brave woman,’ John said, having noticed Steiner’s muted celebration at their astounding success. ‘The colonel’s daughter.’
The professor nodded.
‘She won’t be forgotten,’ John said. ‘No one will be, least of all you and your friends, after the service you have done this nation and, indeed, the whole world.’
Liang Junhui bowed low to Steiner. ‘We are forever in your debt, Professor.’
Steiner bowed low in return. ‘As we are in yours, Mr Premier, as we are in yours.’
‘Why did you help us?’ John said to Liang.
The man gave him a coy look and then said, ‘Our great nations have long viewed one another as adversaries, but I have long admired your tenacity and stance against the GMRC. However, it was your willingness to sacrifice your country for the sake of the greater whole which made up my mind.’
‘Anyone else would have done the same.’
Liang shook his head. ‘No, they wouldn’t have, Mr President, and for that reason your nation would now be no more.’
John found it hard to accept the truth of the premier’s words and he glanced at the command screen, which streamed scenes from across his beleaguered nation. The deadly hailstorm of meteorites had arrived moments before and those souls that remained outside ran in fear of their lives.
John’s brows furrowed as the fallout from the averted catastrophe turned into a disaster that would still claim many lives. Bic switched on the audio from a news broadcast and the jubilation that had recently swept through the nuclear bunker became sombre as the horror continued to unfold. Cars and trucks disappeared in flash
es of light, buildings burned and smoke drifted up in waves over cities, towns and fields alike. Nothing and nowhere went unscathed from the deadly storm and John felt the weight of failure return.
‘We left it too late,’ he said. ‘I should have warned people when I had the chance.’
‘We did what we could,’ Steiner said.
The Chinese premier nodded. ‘Lives will be lost, but many more have been saved.’
Fires spread across the familiar skyline of New York City. The meteor shower thinned as larger chunks of the asteroid ploughed into Manhattan’s forest of skyscrapers.
‘But at what cost?’ John said, the fires reflecting in his eyes. ‘The nation is already on its knees, it might never recover.’
‘There is an old proverb, Mr President.’ Liang Junhui placed his hand on John’s arm. ‘The strongest steel is forged in the hottest fire.’
John felt the words sink in as he continued to watch the carnage on screen. The strongest steel, he thought, his face hardening. ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘you’re right.’ He turned to look at the image of the cyberterrorist. ‘Bic, you’ve proven to be as good as your word. Now I need your help again.’
‘Name it, Mr President.’
‘I need to address the nation. Now more than ever.’ John paused.
‘What are you thinking?’ Steiner said, looking concerned.
‘Bic, you boosted the signal for the professor; can you do it again?’
‘Of course, John Henry. Where did you want to broadcast it?’
‘Everywhere.’ John turned to look back at the final meteorites falling to Earth. ‘I need it broadcast everywhere.’
♦
John stared into the camera as Bic said, ‘You’re live in five seconds, Mr President.’
‘And translation mechanisms are in place?’
‘They are, Mr President.’
John gave a nod and Steiner reluctantly moved away to join Jessica, Eric and Liang Junhui. John had assured the professor he wouldn’t expose the underground bases, but it was his duty to tell the world what had happened and he might be the only one able to do so. There would be a lot of scared people out there.
The projected hologram of the seal of the United States of America appeared in the air behind him and Bic said, ‘Two seconds, Mr President.’
The green broadcast light switched to red and John paused for a moment as the live feed went global, then he began.
‘My fellow Americans, citizens of the world,’ he said, his voice calm and composed. ‘My name is John Harrison Henry, President of the United States. I come to you now to unveil the web of lies perpetrated by the GMRC, not just against my nation, but against the entire world. Moments ago, a second asteroid was destroyed somewhere above the Pacific Ocean. The joint nuclear strike undertaken by nations around the world would have been visible throughout the western hemisphere and beyond. Due to the Response Council’s stranglehold of your state’s media, some of you may be unaware of these events, which are being streamed to you now.’ He glanced at Bic who gave him the signal the images were being sent and John saw them appear on the command screen next to his own image.
‘Many of you will be scared, especially those who’ve just experienced the devastating fallout which has just swept across the United States. Rest assured, the military is currently receiving orders to assist in any way possible. We have not abandoned you, but due to the scale of this catastrophe, it may be some time before you receive the aid you urgently require.’
‘Mr President,’ Bic said.
John paused in his address.
‘I’m receiving incoming offers of aid from around the world,’ Bic told him. ‘The EU fleets have withdrawn, as have the GMRC armies on your borders.’
John gave a slight nod of his head and looked back into the camera. ‘I’ve just been informed pledges of aid are streaming in from all corners of the globe. For some, a world war was inevitable, but humanity won out.’ John stared into the camera. ‘And I have a message for those in the GMRC. If you’re watching, and I know you are, hear this. You can no longer divide us. You are no longer in control. The power you once wielded has waned and your lies have been exposed. I’ve dealt with assassination attempts, propaganda, abduction, terrorist attacks, war and acts of God, and do you know what? I’m still here. The GMRC has had its turn; now it’s mine.’ John pointed at the lens, his expression fierce. ‘And I’m coming for you.’
Chapter Two Hundred Sixty-Nine
Deep beneath the continental United States, Malcolm Joiner sat aboard a low-lit monorail train which sped away from Washington D.C. towards USSB Haven. It hadn’t been long since he’d been forced to flee from the president’s underground complex, after the untimely arrival of a man who should have been dead. That Colonel Samson was alive was shocking; that he was working with the hacker, Steiner and the president himself, was worse, far worse.
Joiner watched John Henry’s public address with his single eye, the lights lining the tunnel flashing past at regular intervals.
‘That should be me,’ Joiner said. He stared down at the holographic screen grasped in his exoskeleton-assisted hand.
‘What should be you?’ Agent Myers said, as he entered the director’s darkened compartment.
‘He’s coming for us, he says.’ The device creaked as Joiner’s grip tightened. ‘He thinks he’s won. The idiot actually thinks he’s won.’
‘He’s achieved what no one thought was possible,’ Myers said.
‘John Henry is a mindless fool in charge of mindless fools. This is Steiner’s doing.’
‘Maybe the professor can stop the others,’ Myers said. ‘Perhaps the Council should reconsider its position.’
Joiner’s head snapped up and he fixed Myers with a look of fury. ‘The surface has gone,’ Joiner said. ‘Nothing can save it – nothing!’ His expression darkened. ‘Not even Steiner.’
Myers held up his hands and said nothing else.
‘I want you to find out who authorised those launches and have them court-martialled.’
‘That might be difficult,’ Myers said. ‘Civilian and military oversight intersects, and now the transition below ground is complete, individual bases have more autonomy, especially those not connected to the underground transport network.’
Joiner glared at him.
‘But I’m sure we can deal with them one way or another.’
Joiner turned his attention back to John Henry’s public address and knew the destruction of the asteroid changed everything and nothing. If the Committee believed its plans for culling the surface were compromised, they’d take steps, and fast. And then, of course, there was the GMRC itself. All eventualities had been considered, or so Joiner had thought. What happened now was anyone’s guess, but one thing was for sure; everyone’s future now rested in the balance, like never before.
‘Has the base been informed?’ Joiner said to Myers.
‘Everything is prepared.’
‘Good.’ Joiner turned up the sound on his device as the monorail continued its descent into the underworld. ‘Very good.’
♦
‘... and this action starts now,’ John Henry was saying. ‘Stay in your homes, help is on its way, and remember, do not touch the meteorites, some will be radioactive. Good luck and stay strong. This is your president and I am – and always will be – your servant.’
John motioned to Bic to end the transmission, but the live feed remained on screen.
‘Cut the transmission,’ Steiner said.
‘And give up the chance to speak to the world,’ Bic said, his expression incredulous. ‘I think you know me better than that, Professor Steiner.’
Bic’s hologram appeared next to John Henry and for those watching from around the world it seemed as if he was real life flesh and blood instead of a digitised projection.
‘People of the world,’ Bic said. ‘Some of you will know who I am—’
‘Bic,’ Steiner said. ‘What are you doing?!’
> ‘I have been branded as the world’s foremost terrorist,’ Bic said, ignoring him, ‘a cybercriminal and a mastermind of unspeakable crimes against humanity.’ He held up a hand. ‘And yet here I am, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the man who has just saved the entire planet from certain destruction.’ Bic placed his non-corporeal hand on John’s shoulder. ‘If I had not helped John Henry stop the asteroid you just witnessed being destroyed, another dust cloud would have encircled this world, but this time the surface would not have recovered. An impact on a land mass rather than an ocean would have cast the recovering ecosystems into an irreversible decline—’
Steiner rushed to the console, while John Henry stood next to the hacker, looking uncertain as how to maintain his credibility in light of Bic’s sudden appearance.
Steiner tapped frantically at the keys, but he was unable to stop Bic as he continued to speak.
‘I have long been waiting for the chance to tell the citizens of this world what the GMRC has really been planning in secret and that chance has finally come.’
‘Oh, my God.’ Steiner looked around in desperation.
‘What’s he doing?’ Eric said, looking equally confused.
Ancient Origins: Books 4 - 6 (Ancient Origins Boxset Book 2) Page 134