The radio signal static returned its hiss, but was quickly interrupted, “This is Captain Ross in Hauler 2-8-9r. Copy, Mathilde-2?”
Parson’s glanced over to Tucker and back to his screen before pressing the receive button, “Roger, 2-8-9r, we read you, go ahead.”
“Do you mind if I join your fleet?”
Tucker answered before Dillan had any chance, “By all means, Captain. Good to hear your voice.”
“10-4, Commander. Only happy to help out where I can. Might I make a suggestion, Sir?”
“Go right ahead, Captain.”
“I stopped at 253 Mathilde and gathered up all the dropped rocks. I’m fully loaded with twelve transport containers.”
“I fail to understand, Captain,” Tucker asked.
“It’s simple, Sir. My cargo doesn’t have breaks after I separate…”
“Ahhh, I’m beginning to see your reasoning, Captain, go on.”
“Yes, Sir. Send me and my cargo through the ring first. Once I exit, I’ll aim my ship at the target alien ship, release my load and send about a thousand projectiles at them.”
“Well now, that certainly gives an entirely new meaning to throwing rocks, now, doesn’t it, Captain?”
“Yes, is sure does, Sir.”
Tucker turned to Buster, “Whattya think, whiz-kid?”
“His plan seems pretty solid, Commander. I’m running a short simulation and it does show that those flying rocks will cause significant damage to its target. It’ll certainly give the aliens something to deal with while our seven ships exit the ring.”
“Nine ships now, Captain, or have you forgotten how to count?”
“No, I did forget we’re launching the Salvage-5 before we jump.”
“Well, that’s okay, whiz-kid, you do have a lot on your plate,” Cassie smiled at the young officer.
Tucker glanced between Cassie and Buster, “Okay, Captain Ross. Form up in the lead position. The rest of the fleet will follow me through the ring after CSMO 2-8-9r.”
“Thank you, Commander,” Captain Ross acknowledged. I’m coming into position now and have synced my NAV computers to Buster’s console.”
“Excellent, Captain Ross,” Tucker praised.
“Well, whattya know,” Gus mused, “He can give praise. Didn’t think that was possible.”
“Very funny, Gus,” Tucker shot back, “I happen to praise my team more often than you know.”
“Yeah, must be more than we know, ‘cause I can’t remember many,” Cassie said under her breath.
Parsons’ voice rang out over the Mathilde-2’s comm, “Commander, I can confirm my ship’s NAV computers are synced with yours and I’m standing by as second position to you.”
“Roger that, Captain Parsons,” Dillan acknowledged, “As soon as the Salvage-5 is launched, we’ll power up our engines and head to the mag-ring.”
“I’m transferring my station to the Salvage-5,” Buster reported, “Sam’s got our ship ready for takeoff, Commander,” he finished as he completed pressing his commands on the touch screen.
Unbuckling, the crew of Salvage-5 exited the CSMO’s bridge and headed with their magnetic walking boot to their ship.
“Good luck, Commander,” Dillan said, flicking his hand to his brow, giving Tucker a salute.
Tucker paused and turned, his boots clicking as he side-stepped in the zero gravity. Raising his right arm returning the salute, “Good luck to you too, Dillan.”
Tucker turned and resumed heading out of the bridge and caught up with Cassie, Gus and Buster.
Entering the landing bay, Tucker paused. Placing his hands on his hips, he gazed at this pride and joy, “She’s a beauty, ain’t she?”
Gus stopped with Tucker and folded his arms in front of him, “She sure is, Tuck.”
“Wish I had a cigar.”
Cassie outstretched her arm before Tucker and presented a very fat cigar. She winked at him as his eyebrows rose, “Why, Sassie, you’re full of surprises today, aren’t ya’?”
“Hey, I know you think better with one of these poking out the side of your teeth and I figured we could use all the help we can today, so, just take it before I come to my senses and change my mind.”
As Tucker reached for his prize, Cassie pulled it away once before letting him have it, “Thanks, Cass. Really, you have no idea what this means to me.”
“I have a pretty good idea, Tuck.”
Samantha’s voice now rang in the crew’s earpieces, “Are you going to stand there, admiring your ship all day, or can we get this show on the road, over up in here?”
Buster smiled through his headset, “Relax, Sammie, she is a beauty, we’ll be there shortly.”
Tucker smiled over at Buster, seeing his cheek twitch, “Nice one, whiz-kid… by the way, when you gonna fix that tic?”
“Tic, Sir?”
“Yeah, Buster the clone, that twitch you seem to have on your face?”
“Oh, that twitch… heh-heh, yeah, well, I don’t know if that’s fixable or not yet. But X-99 and I have about thirty-six hours to figure it out because thats how long it’s going to take to reach Earth… in fact thirty-six hours, seventeen minutes and twelve seconds.”
Tucker dropped his hands from his hips and began heading to the ship’s load ramp, “Well then, I guess we better get this show on the road, then, m’kay?”
“Hey, Commander,” Sam protested, “I just said that!”
“I know, Sam, and you’re absolutely correct. We should really get this show on the road… see? I’m praising again…”
“Is that what that was?” Cassie snickered.
“Yes, smarty pants, that’s what that was.”
Tucker lifted his amped finger and shot a spark to ignite the end of his cigar. Taking two puffs, Tucker blew his famous plum in the landing bay before he quickly stepped up the ramp to the ship.
Cassie and Gus rolled their eyes as they followed Tucker after Buster entered the ship.
“Seal us up, Major.”
“Closing the cargo bay door,” Sam reported before tapping her headset, “Salvage-5, CSMO Mathilde-2, all systems are online. Close and seal the landing bay. Let’s get these bay doors open.”
“The landing bay is depressurized… doors are rolling open now, Sam,” Tracinski reported, “You’re cleared for takeoff.”
“Roger that, cleared for takeoff,” Sam acknowledged, grabbing the controls and pulling back. “Z plus 50 meters at 25 KPH… and in 3… 2… 1… skids up! We’re off, Commander, holding 50 meters above CSMO Mathilde-2.”
“Mathilde-2, Salvage-5, closing bay doors. We’re all set, Commander,” Dillan reported.
Tucker pressed his transmit button from his front seat console, “X-99, are you all set back there?”
The voice over the radio answered, “Affirmative, Commander. I thank you again for allowing me to come with you.”
“I’m just glad you stayed hidden. I’m not sure how the others would receive you.”
“They will in time.”
“Attention all fleet ships: Full power to engines and increase speed to 20,000 KPH. Follow through the ring, one ship at a time, after me. I’ll follow 2-8-9r through. Captain, Ross, make your run.”
“This is Captain Ross from CSMO 2-8-9r. Increasing speed to 20,000 KPH. Distance to ring is 500 kilometers. ETA to ring: 90 seconds. See you on the other side. Captain Ross out.”
Buster looked up momentarily from his console, “Mag-ring is fully charged and set. I just reconfirmed the ping from Earth’s ring. We’re green and go, Commander.”
“Thank you, whiz-kid. Sam, increase speed to 20,000 KPH and head to the ring.”
Sam pushed her throttle control forward, sending the Salvage-5 to the mag-ring.
“Captain Ross’ ship just crossed through, Tuck,” Cassie reported.
“Prepare for spatial distortion,” Sam announced, “Crossing ring in 3… 2… 1.”
The Salvage-5 elongated as it snapped through the ring and on course to Ea
rth.
“Course is confirmed, Tucker,” Cassie reported, “Buster’s calculations were correct.”
“Well, I would expect nothing less form the whiz-kid,” Tucker said, giving his cigar a large puff.
“Receiving telemetry from the rest of the fleet. We’ve all successfully crossed the ring,” Buster reported.
“Excellent,” Tucker smiled as he blew more smoke into one of his air scrubbers, “I love it when a plan comes together.”
“C’mon, Tuck,” Cassie said with an eye roll, “Enough of the clichés already, m’kay?”
“Sure, sure, sure, Sass, anything you say.”
Sam set her controls and sat back with folded arms before glancing back to Buster’s station, “It’s gonna be a long thirty-six hours, kid.”
“And seventeen minutes…”
“Don’t forget about the twelve seconds, whiz-kid,” Sam winked.
“Oh, come on now,” Tucker protested, “It’s not gonna be that bad!”
“Bad enough,” Buster whispered under his breath.
“What was that, whiz-kid? I didn’t hear you,” Tucker smiled as he continued enjoying his cigar.
“Nothing, Commander, nothing at all, Sir.”
“That’s what I thought...”
Chapter 19
Port Angels Field – Government Armory
January 18, 2068 10:30
Trudy stood with her hands on her hips, looking at the transport. It took three hours for, Griffin, Preston and Titus to loading the ship.
“You think we have enough explosives?” Titus asked.
Griffin raised his eyebrows and glanced between Titus and the transport, “Like Hargrove says, it’s enough to blow the entire Puget Sound Basin, enough.”
“I’m likin’ how Major Hargrove thinks,” Titus nodded.
“Yep, he brings a lot to the table,” Preston agreed, “and not just C4, either.”
“You sure you guys are going to be okay here,” Titus asked with concern.
Trudy smiled at Snaggletooth, “Relax, we’ve checked the entire armory complex. There are no signs of any alien infestations here. Just the normal ruins like we’ve seen everywhere else.”
“Still…” Tutus began, folding his arms in front of his chest.
“I said relax, the four of us will be fine until you come back for us.”
“Don’t worry about ol’ Snag,” Griffin smiled, “He’s just doin’ his job.”
“I know, I know, but really, we’ll be fine, okay, big guy? It’s you all we should be worried about. I mean, you are going back into a war zone.”
“Right you are, Trudy,” Griffin nodded, “Let’s just hope that they have a clear path for us. The sooner we get going, the sooner we can blow the seawall and take out those aliens once and for all.”
Trudy wrapped her arms around Titus and gave him an affectionate hug before making the burly man blush.
Separating from Titus, she extended her hand to Griffin and Major Preston. After shaking each, she smiled at the three, “Good luck, now. Jenny might have a child the next time we see each other.”
“I hope everything goes well for her,” Griffin nodded, “Take care of Bev for me.”
“You all worry too much,” Trudy smiled as she returned her hands to her hips, “Now, get a move on, already!”
Griffin turned and stepped into the transport ship, “We’ll be arriving in downtown in a few minutes. Preston, take your seat. Titus, close us up and strap in!”
Trudy waved her goodbyes as Preston followed Griffin inside the ship. Titus winked at Trudy before turning and stepping inside the transport. Pressing a command sequence, the servos whined causing the ship’s door to roll close. He stepped out of the air lock and closed and sealed the inner door before strapping down in his seat behind the Major.
Preston cinched his straps extra tight and began firing up the ship’s systems, “Main power buss on…” he flipped two switches and pressed a center button on his side panel, “Engine start sequence engaged…” he pushed the center throttle control from its resting neutral position, causing the ship’s engines to purr to life.
Griffin looked over to Preston with a nod, “Nav computers are online… course set and ready. Take us up, Major!”
Preston touched three commands on his center touchscreen, resulting in the ship’s takeoff thrusters igniting before lifting the nose of the ship off the ground.
“Z plus 25 KPH to 10 meters… Ion engines coolant levels are all normal…”
The ship rose to the thirty-foot elevation before Preston pushed his throttle control more forward. Grabbing the flight stick, he dipped the nose forward before flying away from the armory. Pulling the controls to the right, Preston hard banked the ship before leveling off. Rocking the ships quickly left and then right twice signaled their goodbye to Trudy and the others.
Trudy stood on the flight deck watching the ship bank hard right before she saw them waving with the ship.
She turned and headed back indoors before she suddenly stopped to look up at the clouds.
“Oh-My-God!” Trudy screamed before breaking in a full-out run toward the barracks.
Sun breams broke through the thick black clouds, sending beams of fire from the sky. Molten rocks of unknown origin began falling from the clouds. Fire trailed from each rock as it impacted the ground. The smaller fragments broke apart and flung into the air, before raining smaller smoldering rocks all around Trudy as she ran.
The larger, fiery rocks hit hard and shook the ground as they imbedded into the ground before Trudy’s path.
She darted in and around before making it to the cover of the barracks entry. Holding the door open, she shouted for the others as she stared at the rain of fire rocks that continued to pelt the ground. Making tinkling sounds as the shower of rocks hit the building.
“We’ve got us a new problem, guys!”
Beverly and Bennie came running from where Jenny comfortably rested.
Bennie looked out the open door and gasped, “What the hell is that?”
“I don’t know, Bennie,” Trudy nervously answered.
Beverly held her hand over her mouth, “Oh god, what are we going to do? Are we safe in here?”
Trudy glanced back to Beverly before returning her stare at the falling objects, “So far, we are.”
“It doesn’t look very safe out there,” Bennie added, “Looks like the rocks are slowing…”
Trudy nodded her answer, “Yes, I think it’s stopping.”
A sun beam shot from another opening in the black clouds and cut a line down the pavement in the opposite direction of the armory.
“Will you look!” Beverly exclaimed. “That’s the same thing, J was telling us about. This isn’t good. No good at all!”
“I hope the clouds cover that back up,” Bennie exclaimed.
The beam of light ripped up the tarmac of the flight deck just fifty meters from the armory entrance before it turned sharp and headed right at the building.
“Look out!” Trudy shouted as they dove away from the door.
The beam hit the building. Sizzling and popping sounds were heard from the roof. Bennie got off the ground with Trudy and Beverly and then gazed up to the roof. They saw a red streak form across the metal, smoke issued from the red-hot streak, before the beam returned to the sky. The clouds moved to cover the open holes once again.
“Man!” Trudy exclaimed, “That was close!”
“Yeah, you’re telling me?” Bennie agreed.
Beverly pointed at the roof, “It did hold, though. There’s no penetration.”
“At least not yet,” Trudy said, pointing at the fading heat-streak.
Beverly returned to the door and propped it open once more. Peering outside, she looked up to the black sky and then back to the ground, “Wow! There’s deep lines cut out here everywhere.”
“Not to mention the rocks we were hit with,” Trudy added, looking over Beverly’s shoulder.
“We better go ch
eck on Jenny.”
“Right behind you, Son. Trudy, keep an eye out for another burst.”
“You got that right, Bev. Go. I got your six, already. Make sure Jenny’s alright.”
Beverly and Ben took off for Jenny’s room and came to her side on the floor. She was sitting upright and alert with her back against the wall.
“Jenny, are you alright?”
Beverly looked up at the ceiling and pointed, “We do have a small breach up there!”
“Okay,” Bennie nodded, “We have to move you to another room. Someplace a little safer than this tin roofed section.”
“Griffin told me that inside the armory where the guns and explosives are,” Beverly explained, “It’s all shielded back there.”
“Well, that’s better than being fried by our own sun,” Bennie nodded, “C’mon, Jen. Let’s get you to your feet.”
Jenny quietly nodded as he wrapped his arm around her waist. She slowly returned to her feet and propped her back against the wall, steadying herself.
Beverly came to her other side and the three made their way from the storage room.
Bennie looked over at Trudy, “We’ve got a breach in the ceiling. We’re moving to the shielded part of the building. Don’t stay out here too long, okay, Trudy? Those beams can melt through this tin roof.”
“I’m watching. I’ll join you if there’s any sign of another event.”
“Okay, Trudy. I’ll come check on you in a little while,” Bennie said, as they continued helping Jenny to the shielded section deep within the armory.
Trudy continued peering out of the armory door to the dark and foreboding skies before she told herself, “Oh this doesn’t look good! Bennie!” she shouted as the sky broke open once more.
More flaming rocks began raining down onto the tarmac and metal roof of the building. Three beams of burning light projected through the clouds, cutting their pathway randomly across the ground.
One parked car against the armory burst into flames as fire rocks impacted before a beam of light cut through the gas tank. The explosion rocked the building and burned hot against the metal, causing Trudy to back away from the doorway.
Burning rocks continued raining down on the metal roof, their echo rang out loudly inside the building.
AMP- Aftermath Page 15