The Phoenix Conspiracy

by Richard Sanders

  ***

  Summers was surprised to see two additional Special Forces soldiers step onto the bridge. She was going to greet them, but they spoke first. There was something … familiar about them.

  “Mitchell and Adams reporting, sir,” the older-looking one said—Adams per the name stitched to his lapel.

  “I didn’t ask for additional security,” she said, raising a curious eyebrow.

  “We’re reporting here as their relief.” He motioned toward the other two Special Forces soldiers who’d been with her since she’d retaken the bridge—not very long ago. Being inferior in rank to Adams, they saluted when he addressed and dismissed them.

  Summers’s curiosity faded as she realized what was happening was perfectly routine. Probably the others were being reassigned to some other task which their skills were better suited to. She turned back to face the front of the bridge.

  “Where would you like us to set up, sir?” Adams asked from behind her.

  “Wherever you think is best,” Summers replied.

  At that moment her direct line to the major beeped, and she answered it. “Bridge.”

  “Commander.” The major’s voice could be heard by all on shift. “I’ve lost contact with the soldier standing guard outside Calvin’s quarters. What is your status up there?”

  “Everything is fine up here, Major,” she said. “Thank you for sending fresh soldiers to relieve my guard.”

  “I didn’t send any relief soldiers.”

  Next she felt a cold hand on her neck and something hard press against the side of her head. She screamed, startled, and heard Cassidy gasp.

  “Push that button again, and tell the major everything is fine,” Adams said from behind her. “Tell him that you were mistaken. There are no relief soldiers here.”

  Summers felt a surge of fear swirling inside her, but, as she focused on the situation at hand, she suppressed it and instead felt only cold, merciless anger.

  She pushed the button. “And one more thing, Major.”

  “Yes, Commander.”

  “Seal off engineering!” Her finger came off the button as she was thrown forward, crashing to the ground on her hands and knees. She jumped up resiliently and spun around to see both Mitchell and Adams holding stunners. Mitchell was forcing Patrick to seal off the bridge while Adams instructed them all to remain calm and not resist.

  Summers saw her chance and sprinted for the operations console.