Colony B Box Set

by Michael Campling

  “Oh my God,” Connor whispered.

  “I’m sorry,” Jim began, “I didn’t want to get so close, but when we came around the rocks, there it was, right in front of me. There was nothing I could do.”

  Connor gave him a stern look. “You must’ve seen the range on the monitor.”

  “I should’ve, but…” Jim shifted his position in his seat. “I was concentrating on lining us up to get through those rocks. I guess they weren’t so careful in truck one. Maybe they were chasing after us and went too fast.”

  “You’re certain that’s truck one?”

  Jim nodded and raised his arm to point. “See the antenna array? Truck one’s the hub for all our comms.” He stopped talking and plucked at his lower lip with his fingertips while looking nervously from side to side. “I don’t like it.”

  “What?”

  “Well, the fleet shouldn’t have left it behind like this. Without truck one, the other crews will have trouble keeping in touch. It makes me wonder if it’s really on its own.”

  “Alec seems to think the fleet would’ve gone ahead,” Connor said. “Have you seen any sign of life over there?”

  “None. Do you want me to set the truck down here?”

  “Yes. I don’t want to get any closer.” Connor looked outside, scanning the sides of the ravine. “If we have to get out of here in a hurry, can you throw this thing into reverse?”

  Jim grimaced. “I can, but it won’t be fast and I can’t guarantee we’ll come through without a few scrapes. This truck was built for one job only, and that never included fancy maneuvers. Mind you, it looks like we’ll have to back out anyway—there’s not enough room to turn around and I sure as hell wouldn’t like to try hopping over truck one, not with it ramped up like that.”

  “If you had to, could you make it over the top?”

  “The short answer is yes, but if we clipped one of our hover panels on the way over, I wouldn’t fancy our chances of making it through the ravine.”

  “All right. Stay here and be ready. If we need to get away, back out the ravine slowly and keep the truck very low so we can climb aboard, got it?”

  “Understood,” Jim said.

  Connor opened the cockpit door. “And by the way, Jim, I’m leaving Siobhan on the truck, so if anything happens, take her to safety. That’s your number one priority.”

  Jim looked up, searching Connor’s expression. “Sure. But listen, don’t take any stupid risks. I know it all looks legit out there, but there’s a guy on that truck called Kyrksen, and you don’t know what he’s like. He’s a sneaky bastard, and if he had to crash a truck to catch you guys, he’d do it.”

  “We’ll take it easy. Just stay alert, Jim and everything will be fine.” Connor let himself out and headed back to the others. Every eye was on him, every brow furrowed in expectation. “Truck one is directly in front of us,” he called out. “It looks like it’s down, but it’s in a ravine and if they wanted to set up an ambush, they couldn’t have picked a better spot. So check your weapons and your suits, then let’s go.”

  The truck’s engines let out a throaty roar, and the compartment shook as the truck touched down.

  “We’ll form up behind the truck,” Parry said. “Once we’re all on the ground, I’ll lead the way. We’ll stick together and head for their door.”

  “And no shooting unless you see a real threat,” Connor added. He turned to his daughter and handed her the sonic pistol from his pocket. “Siobhan, I need you to stay in the cockpit. If Jim looks like he might cut and run, you’ll need to remind him who’s in charge.”

  Siobhan opened her mouth to complain, but Connor didn’t give her the chance. “This is important, Siobhan, and there’s no one else I can trust to take care of this. We might need you to pull us out of here, and I’ll feel a damned sight better if I know you’re watching out for us.”

  Reluctantly, Siobhan took the weapon, her eyes clouded with disappointment. “All right,” she sighed. “I’ll take care of it. Just be careful, okay?”

  Connor patted her arm. “You bet.” Then, to everyone else: “Let’s go. Final checks then outside. How many can we fit into the decontamination area, Alec?”

  “Going out, six at a time,” Alec replied. “Coming in, two is safer, but it can handle four. Any more than that and there’s a risk of bringing symbiont inside.”

  “You heard him,” Connor said. “Parry, you take Ben, Alec, and Cate with you. I’ll bring Sue, Thaddeus, and Milo as soon as the airlock will let us through.” He laid his hand on Milo’s shoulder. “Listen, I don’t want to take you, but we might need the firepower.”

  “You could let me have a weapon,” Alec suggested.

  “No, I really couldn’t,” Connor said. “And I doubt Sue and Thaddeus would take a rifle if I asked them to.”

  “You’re damned right,” Sue put in. “This is a rescue mission, and I want no part of anything else.”

  “The weapons are just a precaution,” Connor said. “Let’s just hope we don’t have to use them.” He gave Parry a nod. “Let’s do this. Let’s go and see what we can see.”

  CHAPTER 8

  The Hill

  Mac! He’s coming back. The words buzzed through Calum’s brain, but for some reason, they couldn’t make it to his lips. He stared out through the grimy window, watching in horror as Mac grew closer and closer, the man swaggering as he walked, taking long strides and moving fast. Calum had only looked away from the window for one second, distracted by Alan’s gasp of surprise. He’d stepped back from the window to check his friend was okay, but now the gravity of his mistake came crashing down on him. How could he have been so stupid?

  Calum dashed over to the open trapdoor and kneeled down, leaning as far forward as he dared, peering into the darkness. “He’s here! Mac! He’s coming back. Get out of there!”

  Alan appeared at the bottom of the ladder, his face eerily pale in the flashlight’s blue glow, his eyes round with fear. He grabbed hold of the ladder and started to climb, but from outside, Mac’s voice was suddenly loud, his gruff shout unmistakable, and Alan froze, listening.

  “Hey there,” Mac called out. “How’s it going? Anything to report?”

  The boys stared at each other. It sounded as though Mac was right outside the door.

  “Quick!” Calum mouthed, but Alan’s face was set in grim determination.

  “Go,” Alan said. “There’s no time.”

  “What?” Calum shook his head, but Alan was already climbing back down the ladder.

  Alan paused and looked up. “Shut the trapdoor. Don’t forget the rug.” Then he hurried downward, disappearing into the darkness.

  Calum swallowed hard. This was messed up. This was insane. But at that moment, he heard a rattle from the front door. Mac was turning the handle, and in a split second, he’d be inside. Alan was right; he wouldn’t have been able to climb out in time. And now Calum must do his best to make sure his friend wasn’t discovered. Moving faster than he thought possible, Calum went into a crouch and grabbed the trapdoor, laying it down as quietly as he could. He grabbed the rug, pulling it into place, but before he’d finished, the door swung slowly open, its hinges creaking.

  Calum crept toward the back door. There was no way he could make it out in time, but he had to try.

  “Wait up, Mac!” Outside, a woman’s voice rang out, and the front door opened no further.

  “What now?” Mac moaned, and his footsteps grated on the path as if he was turning around.

  Go! Calum surged forward, his legs moving fast but his footsteps silent. In a heartbeat, he was at the back door, and in one motion, he let himself out and pulled the door closed without making a sound.

  Calum crouched outside, leaning back against the wall and breathing fast, his thoughts tumbling over each other like windblown leaves. What the hell had he just done? How could he have run out on Alan? And how was he going to get his friend free?

  Stay calm, he told himself. Alan would be okay for a
little while, so long as Mac didn’t go down into his cellar. A sudden chill raced across Calum’s scalp and prickled the back of his neck. Had he put the rug back properly? Had he left anything behind?

  He blinked, concentrating. It was okay. He’d been careful. There was no reason for Mac to suspect that anyone had been inside. I’d better keep it that way, Calum thought. If Mac sees me running away, he’ll know something’s wrong.

  Calum waited, picking his moment. The terrain behind Mac’s garden rose steeply and offered no cover, so it would make a poor escape route. He was going to have to head back the way he’d come, along the side of Mac’s house, but if he moved too soon, Mac might still be outside, talking to the woman who’d called his name. If Calum made his move when there was someone out front, he’d be spotted for sure, but if he left it too late, Mac might look out the back window and see him making his escape.

  Calum’s leg muscles tensed, ready for action, but he forced himself to wait. There. The sound he’d been hoping for: the dull thud of Mac’s front door slamming shut. And then, even better, the rhythmic thump of Mac’s heavy tread on the metal floor inside.

  Calum launched himself forward. Running in a half crouch, he made for the side of the house. There was no one in sight, so he ran, keeping close to the wall until he reached the corner. He halted, keeping low, and peered around, holding his breath. Two people, a man and a woman, were walking away from the house, heading into the settlement. Mac’s unruly berry vines would provide a little cover, so all Calum had to do was keep his head down, and he should be able to run alongside the garden and make it back to the low wall.

  He glanced across the front of Mac’s house. There was no sign of movement and no sounds from within. He wasn’t going to get a better chance. Calum scurried forward, almost bent double, and in seconds he reached the garden wall. He threw himself down then risked a look back at the house. There was no one at the window and the front door remained closed, but Calum couldn’t congratulate himself. Alan was still trapped inside, and Mac could open his cellar door at any moment.

  I can’t just wait, Calum told himself. I’ve got to get Alan out of there. But what could he do?

  Calum massaged his forehead with his fingertips. He needed time to think, time to come up with a plan. If he knocked on Mac’s door with a spurious message, hoping to lure him away, Mac would smell a rat immediately, and there was no way of knowing how he’d react. On the other hand, if Calum went for help it would take time. First, he’d have to find someone in the council, and then he’d have to convince them that Mac was up to no good. Even if they believed him, he’d have to wait while they made a decision and got themselves organized. By the time something was done, it could be too late. I need someone on my side, he realized. Someone I can trust. And when he looked back toward the settlement, a squat house caught his eye. Yes. He knew exactly who to call on.

  Calum crept to the end of the garden wall, then he took off, sprinting along the rough track, his arms pumping, his fists clenched. He had a plan.

  CHAPTER 9

  The Lowlands

  Connor held his rifle ready and followed Parry toward the stricken truck. They moved slowly, scanning the rocky sides of the ravine as they walked. Behind them, Ben and Cate flanked Alec, while Sue and Thaddeus brought up the rear, both of them lugging first aid kits.

  Parry’s voice was suddenly loud on Connor’s intercom. “Connor, I checked the comms on the suits from the truck, and they can’t pick us up, so anything we say is just for you and me, plus Ben and Cate. Everyone hearing me okay?”

  “Loud and clear,” Cate answered.

  “Me too,” Ben chipped in.

  “Okay everyone,” Connor began, “we’ll stick to the plan. I want the four of us to go inside. I’ve already told Milo what to do, and he’ll stand guard on the door and keep Alec and the others outside.”

  “We’ll move fast and take control the second we step inside,” Parry said. “Any questions?”

  “I don’t think so,” Ben replied, but Connor didn’t miss the uncertainty in the younger man’s voice, and he glanced back over his shoulder.

  “What’s up, Ben?”

  “Nothing. I was just thinking that whatever’s happened, they won’t give up their truck without a fight.”

  “You may be right,” Connor said, “but this is too good an opportunity to pass up. If they’re in trouble, their defenses will be down. And if not, the prize is worth the risk.”

  “Is it though?” Ben asked. “We’ve found Siobhan and Milo, and we already have one truck. We could turn around and go home.”

  “For God’s sake,” Parry complained. “We agreed on this from the outset. We have to follow through.”

  Connor ignored his friend’s impatience. “Ben, you need to think about this logically,” he said calmly. “In one move we’ll disrupt their mission and gain a valuable asset. Jim says that this truck is central to their mission, so we’ll make sure we deprive them of it. And with two trucks at our disposal, we’ll be able to explore the planet properly for the first time. You’d like that opportunity wouldn’t you?”

  “You know it,” Ben replied. “I’m behind you, Connor. I guess I’m a little jittery.”

  “You’ll be fine,” Connor said. “Keep your head and stick to the plan. In a few minutes, we’ll have a truck.”

  “We have to go in strong,” Parry added. “The one thing we can’t afford to do is hesitate.”

  “Right,” Connor agreed. “We’ll avoid casualties if we overwhelm the crew fast. Even if they’re planning to spring a surprise, remember that they don’t know about the rover or our crew. They’re only expecting Siobhan and Milo, and possibly Jim.”

  Parry gave a grim chuckle. “They won’t know what’s hit them. And if Alec told us the truth, there are only five people in that rig. We can deal with them.”

  “What about Alec?” Cate asked, keeping her voice low. “He’s not going to stand by while we take another truck. I’m not sure Milo can hold him.”

  “Milo knows what to do,” Parry said. “He only needs to keep Alec out the way for a minute. It’ll all be over before you know it.”

  “This Doctor Teare is the key,” Connor added. “We’ve got to identify her as fast as we can. Once we have her under control, she’ll tell her crew to stand down.”

  “Are you sure about that?” Cate asked.

  “No,” Connor admitted, “but her capture will have an effect on the crew. They won’t want to risk losing their leader.”

  They were only thirty yards from the truck now, and Parry stopped walking, raising his hand to call a halt. He turned to face the others. “Milo,” he called out, raising his voice, “you know what to do.”

  Milo gave him a thumbs up and started talking into his intercom, relaying his instructions to the truck’s crew.

  Alec glared at Connor, clearly not happy with what he was hearing, but Connor held up his hand to ward off any argument. “Alec, you’ll stay back with Sue and Thaddeus until we know it’s safe,” he shouted. “It’ll only take a minute, then you can come in, all right?”

  Alec cast him a sour look, and Connor took that as an acknowledgment.

  “Let’s go,” Parry said. “Cate, have your gear ready. Everybody, switch weapons to live. We’ll cover the last yards fast. Go!” He broke into a brisk jog, heading straight for the back of the truck. Connor kept pace and from the corner of his eye, he saw Ben and Cate following. In the confines of his helmet, his breathing was unnaturally loud, but the sound of his boots pounding the ground seemed a million miles away, as though his legs belonged to someone else.

  The truck loomed large above him, its awkward angle accentuating its height, but as they neared the door, Connor allowed himself a grim smile. The door was hanging slightly ajar as if it had been damaged in the crash, and there was no way the crew would’ve left it open on purpose; they would have been too afraid of contamination. The condition of the truck had to be genuine.

  Parry se
emed to feel the same surge of confidence because he wrenched the door fully open and dashed inside. “Come on! Get inside so we can open the inner door.”

  Connor clambered through the outer door and was followed by Cate and Ben. Ben heaved the door closed and the cramped chamber began to thrum as the decontamination cycle kicked in.

  “Cate, you’re up!” Connor called out.

  Cate pushed past them, a flat metal blade in one hand and a powered screwdriver in the other. She cast a quick glance at the small digital display on the wall beside the door, then reached up and jammed the edge of the blade beneath a small disk of domed metal. She twisted the blade, sending the metal disk flying across the chamber and revealing the head of a stainless steel bolt. “Same as the other truck. Give me a minute.”

  “You’ve got twenty seconds,” Connor said. “Go for it.”

  Cate handed the blade to Parry. “Take care of the other caps for me. Leave the ones on the left edge but take off the other three.”

  Parry set to work, and Cate pressed her driver against each of the exposed bolts in turn. Her driver whined as one by one the bolts fell free and rattled onto the floor. Cate took hold of the panel’s edge and tugged, yanking it from its housing. The panel came free, but it wasn’t enough. “Give me a hand.”

  Connor curled his fingers around the panel’s edge and pulled hard, wrenching the smooth metal sheet away from the wall. The panel gave way with a juddering groan, and Cate thrust her hands into the space behind it.

  “Got it!” she cried, and immediately the chamber was thrown into complete darkness.

  Connor held his breath, the enclosed space pressing in on him, but the whir of the decontamination process died away, and almost immediately, a green light flashed above the inner door.