by Ken Lozito
"You could help with the repairs this time," Lieutenant Mitchell said while shutting down the Hellcat’s flight systems.
"I could, but isn't that your job? I'll send Lasky to help you. How's that sound?" Maddox asked.
"That kid doesn't lack enthusiasm, but I don't know if he'd be more of a hindrance when poking around the flight systems," Lieutenant Mitchell replied.
Corporal Lasky was their newest squad member and very eager to prove himself.
"We both know this bird needs a complete overhaul. Just do the best you can so we can finish this patrol. We’ll also need an updated ETA for the repairs as soon as possible," Maddox said.
He left the cockpit as Lieutenant Mitchell went to see about making the repairs. The rear flight stabilizer was part of a multisystem control suite that controlled the thrust coming from the Hellcat’s engines. The stabilizer was breaking but hadn’t completely broken yet. Maddox suspected that if Mitchell couldn’t repair it, he might attempt to bypass that system entirely, which would impact the Hellcat’s flight capabilities. They would still be able to fly, but their speed, maneuverability, and capacity for smooth flight would be impacted.
Maddox grabbed his AR-71 and walked down the landing ramp. The other members of the squad had already exited the aircraft and were establishing a perimeter. Maddox spotted Captain Fletcher off to the side and walked over to him, but Captain Fletcher had his hand on his ear and Maddox's internal heads-up display showed that the captain had an active comlink. Maddox came to a stop a short distance away and waited for Captain Fletcher to finish.
"Once we effect repairs, we'll be on our way,” Captain Fletcher said over comms. “You are aware that this will cut the patrol short?”
After another minute or so, the captain finished the call. He glanced at Maddox and jutted his chin up in greeting.
"Are we being recalled, Captain?" Maddox asked.
Captain Fletcher sighed and nodded. "They want us to return to Sierra at once.”
Maddox frowned. "We weren't due to return for another week. I thought this patrol had a much higher priority."
Captain Fletcher regarded him for a moment. “They said they’ll send another team to finish our patrol next week,” he said, sounding irritated.
Maddox's eyes widened. That wasn't good. "But Captain, we just found another large pack of ryklars in the area—”
"Those are our orders, Lieutenant," Captain Fletcher said.
Maddox forced his face to remain impassive, but his shoulders became rigid. "Understood, sir. But does this have to do with what happened the other day?"
Captain Fletcher drew in a patient breath. "Walk with me for a moment, Vince,” he said, and they started heading away from the others.
A few days earlier they’d rescued Connor Gates and a couple of runaways from Sanctuary, and based on Gates’s reaction to their rescue, he'd suspected there would be some type of fallout. Apparently, Gates didn't approve of their methods. Perhaps they should've let the ryklars claim the punks from Sanctuary for their foolishness.
"How are you doing?" Captain Fletcher asked.
Maddox frowned. "Permission to speak freely, Captain."
Captain Fletcher nodded.
“I’m getting tired of being jerked around like this. First, they send us a thousand kilometers away from the nearest settlement doing field reconnaissance for ryklar activity and reporting on herd creatures’ migratory patterns,” Maddox said, quoting from the mission briefing. “We’re doing the work of drones, and if they’d put just a bit more of their resources into building a few more satellites, they wouldn’t need us to do any of this. We’d be better tasked with actively deterring the ryklars from encroaching upon our territories.”
Captain Fletcher nodded. “Is that why you’ve been taking those nightly excursions?”
Maddox’s jaw tightened. He thought he’d been careful. Apparently, he’d been wrong about that.
“I know you’ve been going off hunting after your watch is done. Does killing ryklars help?” Captain Fletcher asked.
Maddox swallowed and nodded. “Yes,” he replied, his voice sounding rough and gravelly. “If those pukes back at Sierra don’t recognize the need for a more active role in convincing the ryklars that returning to this region of the continent is detrimental to their health, we may as well let the ryklars in all the encampments.”
"So you propose we kill enough ryklars that they stop coming near the settlements. Does that about sum it up?" Captain Fletcher asked.
Maddox considered his answer for a moment before responding. "Honestly, sir, yes, that would be my approach. It's a tough decision, but it's one that has to be made. It's either the ryklars or us. I choose us, sir."
Captain Fletcher seemed to consider this for a moment and then nodded. "One thing I've always liked about you is that you've been forthright with me. To a certain extent, I agree with your assessment of the ryklar situation. The longer we stay here, the more our population grows and the more we’re going to clash. There’s no easy solution to that problem. However, I'm not sure the colonial government will agree."
"Well, if enough of them start dying from ryklar attacks, they'll have no choice but to take action,” Maddox replied.
"You'd like to think so, but look how long it took them to come around to the threat posed by the Vemus. Remember Governor Parish?" Captain Fletcher asked.
Maddox’s lips curled into a snarl. “I remember him," he said with a sneer. Governor Parish was one of the reasons so many soldiers had died on Titan Station.
"Left to their own devices, they might deny it until it's too late to do anything about it," Captain Fletcher said.
Maddox's eyes widened. "Sir, what exactly are you saying?”
Captain Fletcher sighed. "Just . . . sometimes I think about ways to get the colonial government’s attention."
Maddox glanced around to be sure they weren't being overheard. The other soldiers were still watching the perimeter and Lieutenant Mitchell and Corporal Lasky were working at the rear of the Hellcat.
Captain Fletcher arched an eyebrow. "This surprises you?"
"Yes, it does, Captain. I didn't know you thought that way. I've thought about it a lot and so have Flint and Spencer, who’ve said the same," Maddox replied.
"I thought as much. Didn't the three of you serve together before?” Captain Fletcher asked.
"That's right, sir. We were stationed at Lunar Base," Maddox said and then frowned. "Sir, I'd like to ask you a question."
"I thought we were still speaking freely, Lieutenant," Captain Fletcher replied.
"Why are we really being recalled?" Maddox asked.
"The official reason is that our equipment needs to be serviced, particularly the Hellcat, and apparently we’re overdue for psych evaluations," Captain Fletcher said.
Maddox clenched his teeth for a moment and then took a firm hold of his anger. "Psych evaluations. That has to be because of our run-in with Connor Gates."
Captain Fletcher shrugged. "Perhaps, but it doesn't really matter now. We’re on their radar and we will comply with our orders."
Maddox recognized the finality of that tone. "Understood, sir."
"I knew you would, but I should caution you against any further nighttime activities outside camp. That sort of behavior wouldn't hold up in the psych evaluation," Captain Fletcher said.
Maddox blew out a harsh breath. “This is exactly what I'm talking about, sir. Why does the fact that I enjoy hunting ryklars mean I would get pulled from active duty? Or at least have further psych evaluations and all that other useless crap they try and push on us? I love being part of the squad, sir, and the fact that we get to work so far from Sierra is one of the things that draws many of us to this squad. To you, sir," Maddox said.
"I know you've had a rough time of it, especially of late. I've overlooked a lot and maybe even too much. I just figured that giving you a little bit of leeway would help with what you're going through. And it’s not just you—the
other guys as well, and even me. But I'm not sure it was the right thing to do," Captain Fletcher admitted.
Maddox felt his stomach clench. "I won't let you down, sir. Not now. Not ever. This is my squad and you’re my commanding officer. Just because some of our leaders have forgotten us doesn't mean they all have," Maddox said.
"I've always been able to count on you. That won't change, no matter what happens," Captain Fletcher said.
They didn't speak for a while as they watched the landrunners in the distance, galloping across the Great Plains. Maddox was almost jealous of their freedom.
Lieutenant Mitchell called them over and informed them that the repairs were complete, or as much as they could repair the stabilizers in the field. It would have to do until they could return to Sierra. Captain Fletcher recalled the squad and they began to board the Hellcat.
Maddox glanced longingly at the forest in the distance. He knew there were ryklars not far away and he had an itch to go hunting. He slammed his palm on the loading ramp doors and they withdrew into the ship.
The intercom system came on. "Captain Fletcher, can you please come to the cockpit?" Lieutenant Mitchell said.
Captain Fletcher glanced at Maddox and waved him toward the cockpit. Maddox hastened toward the front of the Hellcat, following closely behind Captain Fletcher.
"What is it, Lieutenant?" Captain Fletcher asked.
"It's this, sir. When I brought the ship systems online, we detected an NEIIS broadcast signal," Lieutenant Mitchell said.
Captain Fletcher frowned for a moment. "Were we scanning for those signals?"
"Actually, no, sir. I was running a systems check and it does a preliminary signal sweep. It happens so fast that it usually doesn't detect anything. It's just dumb luck that we happened to detect the signal when we did," Lieutenant Mitchell said.
"Is it still broadcasting?" Maddox asked.
Lieutenant Mitchell brought up the communications interface on the heads-up display, which was now quiet. "Not anymore, but here's a recording of it."
They couldn’t understand the NEIIS signal, and what they saw was just a graphical representation of a signal actually being detected. It didn't match any known colonial broadcast frequencies, which was how they knew it was likely from the NEIIS.
"Do we know where it originated?" Captain Fletcher asked.
Lieutenant Mitchell frowned uncertainly. "I'm sorry, sir, but I'm not sure how to trace it."
"Give me a minute and I'll have it up, sir," Maddox said and went to the copilot’s seat. First, he brought up the communications interface and the signal Lieutenant Mitchell had detected, then did a quick analysis and breakdown of the properties of the signal. The computer systems showed the signal source estimate based on the highest probability relative to their current position. "Sir, it's north of here along this heading. Best guess is that it's within five hundred kilometers—six hundred at the most.”
Captain Fletcher peered at the information on the heads-up display.
"Captain, I think we should check out the signal. With the increased ryklar activity in this and other areas, this might be what’s triggering the change in the creatures’ behavior," Maddox said.
Captain Fletcher was silent for a few moments while he considered. Lieutenant Mitchell shifted in his seat, waiting.
"Agreed, Lieutenant,” Captain Fletcher finally said. “Set a course and let's go find that signal.”
"Roger that, sir," Lieutenant Mitchell replied.
"Captain, shall I send an update back to Command Central in Sierra?" Maddox asked.
"That won't be necessary, Lieutenant. Update the log and I'll forward it later on," Captain Fletcher said and left the cockpit.
Maddox didn't say anything. He knew Captain Fletcher hadn’t quite disobeyed orders but loosely interpreted them. This was an intelligence-gathering mission and they had credible evidence to pursue this new lead; however, Maddox knew they should send an update back to Command Central sooner rather than later. Captain Fletcher must have had his reasons to delay sending a response. Tracking a possible cause of all the ryklar activity was much more important than the recall of their CDF team. That would be the official version, but he did wonder how CDF Command would react when they didn’t return to Sierra as ordered. What else had Command Central said to Captain Fletcher that had made him so vocal about the current state of the CDF and the colonial government?
Chapter Thirteen
Dash and the others raced back to the Research Institute, their conversation flying almost as fast as their bodies. Dash couldn’t wait to finish putting the proposal together. There was no way they wouldn't get approval to investigate these new sites now. This was a major find that might be even more important than the NEIIS site here at Sanctuary. Dash loved that the others were just as eager as he was about the potential of what they'd discovered. Going to the archives had been a gamble and it had paid off, but he did wonder about the strange effect of the NEIIS data module on the archive.
"I just don't understand how a data module could impact the archive systems like it did," Merissa said.
Dash had heard her say it more than once and he agreed with her. He knew she wasn't going to let it go, nor should she. None of them should.
"I don't understand it either," Dash agreed. “It’s something to add to the list.”
The Research Institute was just up ahead.
"Any idea how Dr. Bishop will react to this?" Merissa asked.
"She won't overreact, which is how—” Dash stopped himself. “Never mind. Dr. Bishop will find it just as intriguing as we all do. She certainly won't discount it as happenstance. She’s a scientist. She’ll want to study it and understand why it happened, but it shouldn't impede our ability to go investigate these new sites. The fact that they were active—appeared to be active," Dash hurried to say before Merissa could interject, "should raise the priority of this request and we should be able to go right away."
They headed inside the Research Institute and went straight back to the lab to work, immediately setting about documenting the new discovery. Dash uploaded the data he recorded from the archives while Jim took the damaged NEIIS data module and returned it to its slot on the laboratory table. They’d spent the better part of the last few hours finalizing their proposal when they received word that Dr. Bishop was on her way back to the lab for an update. This news spawned a flurry of activity, as well as a few minor arguments about how the data should be presented. Dash was hard-pressed to keep his excitement under control. He knew Dr. Bishop would appreciate the initiative they'd taken in extracting new data from the NEIIS data module and he didn't think she'd be too upset that it was rendered useless in the process. The data was what was important, not the artifact.
Dr. Bishop entered the lab with Connor and Dr. Malone. Dash glanced at Connor, trying to get a sense of the man's mood. Judging by the intensity of his gaze, Dash assumed that Connor must have a lot on his mind. He wondered if it had anything to do with the visiting colonial government representative.
“I received your update," Dr. Bishop said. "You took the data module to the archives for analysis and you have the results here as part of your proposal. Is that right?"
"Yes, that's correct. If you're up for it, we'd like to go through our proposal right now," Dash said.
Dr. Bishop glanced at all of them and smiled. "I'd very much like to hear it. You've obviously discovered something because . . . well, look at you. You're positively bursting at the seams, chomping at the bit. There's nothing I like to see more. Isn't that right, Connor? Ian?”
Dr. Malone cleared his throat. "I'll go grab us some coffee."
"Thank you, Ian," Lenora said.
Connor looked at Dash. "I’ve heard that an incident occurred at the archives today. Did that have anything to do with the NEIIS data module?"
News has traveled fast, Dash thought. "Yes, it did, and we’ll talk about that when we get to that part of our presentation—if that's alright with you."
Connor nodded.
Dash and the others had decided to each present a portion of their proposal. This had been a team effort and Dash thought it was only fair they each got to share in the limelight. Merissa and Selena were okay with this, but Jim was a little nervous about the whole thing and Dash offered to help him with his part.
Dr. Malone returned with two cups of coffee and hot tea for Dr. Bishop.
For the next half hour, they went through their entire presentation. They started at the beginning with their hypothesis and worked their way through the various research they'd compiled in support of their theories. Each section was broken down by the conclusions they'd arrived at. Dash kept watching for Dr. Bishop’s and the others’ reactions as they presented their findings. Even though Dr. Bishop supported them in this endeavor, she did ask good questions, most of which they were able to answer. Finally, they came to the final part of their presentation, which Dash would be presenting. He began with his hunch about how the archives might be the best place to extract more data from the NEIIS data module. Then he went into the events that had transpired at the archives. He glanced at Connor during that part of his presentation and took a certain amount of satisfaction in knowing that he hadn’t had to sneak in there to get what he wanted. They had done everything by the book—from logging how they took the data module from the Research Institute to leveraging the NEIIS technology at the archives with the help of the technical engineers working there. Dash showed them the updated map and a short video representation of the NEIIS sites coming online.
"As you can see, these look like active connections, or at least they did while the data module was active in the archive system. Unfortunately, there must've been some kind of latent protocol that became active once the connection was established. Brad and Travis were keen to reclaim control of the archive systems, which required a hard shutdown of the entire system. The other unfortunate event was that the NEIIS data module experienced a catastrophic failure and is no longer operable," Dash said and waited for their reactions.
