by Ran Vant
“I take complete responsibility for the garden mission failure,” Colonel Red began. “The first error was failure to promptly activate the blast door, allowing two gargoyles to enter the kill room instead of one. Second, the team did not confirm the kill of the black garg. Third, the assault team did not react quickly enough due to-”
“We are well aware of the reasons for your failure,” the scarred one interrupted. “It is far from necessary to spend our precious moments cataloging your many errors.”
“Sir, I intended to-” Felix tried to continue, but General Win cut him off.
“Enough. Colonel Red, a tribunal has found that you were not responsible. The actions can be directly attributed to the planning elements for which Trenton had command authority. He has been reassigned. Your operational concept was not the problem, the execution was. You have been summoned here because you have been given complete command authority for our next operation. You’ll plan it again, and this time you’ll carry it out, too.”
In his mind, Felix smiled grimly. He knew what this meant. He also knew the price that had been paid to give him one more go. He had one more chance, and with complete authority, this chance was worth more than all the others. He would not waste it.
General Win continued, “We all agreed that an exception to compartmentalization in this situation is now necessary. We trust you completely and thus you will be responsible for mission execution. You understand what we are trying to accomplish and you know the operational area. If the intel on the Event is accurate, that the date is drawing near, we do not have the luxury of time to reposition or bring in new personnel. We all know the operational mistakes that were made, and they will not happen again. We are here to move forward, not dwell on the past. Colonel Blue, go ahead.”
“The new operation must take place before the end of the operational season,” Blue began in her mildly accented voice. “Our source has indicated that plans are unfolding for the Event, and we must act soon-”
“Your source?” the scarred one interjected with derision. “Look at the resources we have wasted over the years on your source’s ill-conceived plan. For how many years has this ‘Event’ been looming and yet you have done nothing? It’s seems your so-called Big Project is a convenient myth, one that just happens to mean more resources for the Organization, and less for the people.”
Blue, the Director of Intelligence, responded, “The planning for the Event has been corroborated by many sources. There is no doubt that a plan is afoot for the gens to be rid of us forever. And our key source has always been reliable.”
“We don’t have as much confidence in this so-called key source that you seem to have. As a matter of fact, it would be fair to say we don’t trust the source at all. It seems your source may be acting at cross-purposes to our own. We see nothing but set-backs and delays. Just where exactly has the source’s advice gotten us in the last twenty years?” the scarred one asked.
“Why, to this point of course,” the one in shadow unexpectedly responded. “During these many years, has the source ever given you false information? Has not everything been just as the source said it would? Have you not had successes that would have been impossible without the source’s input? Have your failures not been a result of your own actions, not the source’s? And as for the Event, you need not take the key source’s word for it. The evidence is abundant, from multiple sources, from multiple places, using multiple technologies. All the signs point to the same thing, and at an accelerated rate. The data is consistent with a nearing Event. We are now at a critical juncture. Everything has been building to the Event, and it is close at hand. This is why you must act now. Our timeline is tight. For reasons I cannot reveal, the window of opportunity will not be open forever. We have spent much time planting and tending the field. It is now time to collect the harvest.”
General Win spoke sternly before the others had a chance to respond. General Win looked directly at the scarred one with hard eyes: “The Council had assumed that your concerns had been settled and that the Network would be assisting us. Are they in error?”
The scarred one inhaled slowly before responding slowly and deliberately. “Of course the Council is not in error. We have had discussions of our own. We have decided to supply the assistance as promised. The Network has shown extreme patience with the Organization, and we have abided by the Council’s reasoning up to this point. But do not expect us to wait forever. If it fails this time, we will proceed with our own plans – with or without the Council’s approval.”
Blue attempted to make the case for waiting. “You must be patient. You must not strike before we’ve-”
“We’ve had enough of patience, but that is beside the point. The Network will assist with this final effort, and that is what we have come here to discuss.” The scarred one continued, “The plans we have seen up to this point are doomed to fail. Fortress Magritte will simply annihilate the operational site and all will be lost. This operation cannot succeed as currently planned, and that is why we question the wisdom of your esteemed source.”
The one in the shadows spoke a second time, “Your concerns would be justified, but for the fact that you have only seen the plans in part. The Floating Fortress will not fire a single shot during the operation.”
General Chi expressed doubt, “How can you guarantee that Magritte won’t respond when we have taken out part of a genbot squad? That is quite an extraordinary claim.”
“I can guarantee it because the source has promised to see to it personally. This time, the source will help you directly. Instead of passing along the weakness the source discovered about the fortress, the source will personally use the weakness. The source is taking an extraordinary risk because the gens could track the source’s exploit methods, and it is that which backs up my extraordinary claim. The Floating Fortress will not be able to launch a barrage, nor will it be able to release machines or more genbots. But only for a period of minutes, if that. And it will only work with one of the floaters, not them all. Still, that should be enough for this operation. This exploit will only be possible once. Once these loopholes are used, as with the jamming technique used in the garden operation, the gens' agents close them. The same will happen after silencing their weapons for a brief moment. The weapon systems will soon come back online and the loophole will be gone. The opportunity will never present itself again. There is no telling if the source will ever discover another weakness in their defenses to exploit. You must make it happen this time. There can be no errors.”
“Don’t worry. We will be ready. It will happen as planned.”
“It has to. The Event is at hand.”
31.
Gray Refuge
“Have you told them about me yet?” he asked, stroking her blonde hair.
“Do you want me to keep our relationship a secret?” she asked in reply, looking up at his gray eyes and the lock of gray hair that hung over his forehead.
“No, not at all, Eve. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve talked to all my friends about you. I’ve told them how wonderful you are, how happy you make me, how there’s no one else like you in the whole world. I was just curious whether you talk about me with your friends. You don’t seem to mention them much.”
“You’re my hidden fortress. I don’t want to tell them about you. When I’m with you, I can forget the rest of the world,” Eve said. “I feel safe with you. I feel a bit like if I told them about you, somehow just in their knowing they would intrude on us and our world, and I don’t want them to. Do you know what I mean?”
“I thought that’s how you felt, but I wasn’t sure. I just wanted to make sure you didn’t think there was something wrong with me, you know?”
“No, never!” she exclaimed, lifting her head up and looking at him. “Don’t ever think that! You’ve been my refuge in this crazy world. I feel like you rescued me from the depths. But if you really wanted me to, I’d tell the whole world about you.”
“No, Eve, I don�
��t want that. I think it’s rather romantic, your secret. I’ll protect our hideaway from the rest of the world if you do. From this day hence, our world, the only world that matters, exits only between us, my love.”
“You are my escape.” Now, she stroked his prematurely gray hair and the long gray lock that hung down over his forehead. “I don't know how much longer I can stay there, living that life.”
“Do you want to leave?”
“Yes, eventually. I'm tired of being around all of the dying. One day, I want to leave it all behind. I want to be among the living.”
“Well, then, Eve: Eventually, we'll have to make that happen.”
32.
One More Chance
Jack was not his first choice for this operation. But he knew Lt. Jacques “Jack” Carlitos could be trusted, that his loyalty was absolute. And all of Colonel Red’s first choices were dead.
There was no time to train anyone else, and time was of the essence. Jack knew many of the essential elements of the plan and was smart enough to figure out most of the rest. If he lost Jack, it would further complicate the follow-on operation, the part for which Carlitos was supposed to be a part of all along, but such risks were a necessity. Just as High Command had been forced to make Red responsible for planning and execution of the next mission, Red was now forced to ask Jack to take on two missions. Compromises had to be made when faced with limited resources and limited time.
“Lt. Carlitos, do you feel well enough to handle that portion of the operation?”
“Absolutely, Colonel. There is only mild pain now, and it will in no way interfere.” He had been in an underground corridor when Magritte had bombarded the chambers beneath the Forest Quarter garden. Lt. Carlitos was lucky to survive with only a few mild energy burns to his arm. He was even luckier to have made it out of the area without being detected. He had been one of only three survivors of that doomed tactical team, thanks to Trenton's failures.
“Good.” Colonel Red continued the briefing to his lieutenants. “I am sure I need not remind you of the importance of this operation. We know from multiple sources that the gens have a plan to eliminate us once and for all as a thorn in their side, called ‘the Event.’ It is said that the gens have given up on dominating us as self-perceived superiors and instead plan to be rid of us forever. We have a source who says the Event is near, and we must be successful in our follow-up operation. Well, we plan to show them once again that natural humans have some fight left in us. The best news is that this time we will receive some direct assistance from a valuable source. This source has found several technical weaknesses in their defenses, and we will exploit those weaknesses. I cannot offer any further details for operational security reasons. All that I can say is that this is a once in a generation opportunity, so we must succeed. With perfection. I am sure you all understand what is at stake here.”
He looked at the men and women who would play a part in history. “We will not meet again as a group. You have all received your assignments. Each has a part to play, and each part is vital. I am depending on you. The Organization is depending on you. Humanity is depending on you. Good luck.”
33.
Down the Hatch
The two sat on the high rise balcony, looking out across the city. Fortress Magritte hung in the distance.
“This is the last time up here for us, perhaps for a long time, buddy,” Jack said.
“I know, kid.” Damien took a swig of his beer. “To tell you the truth, when I'm away from here, I don't miss it. I could take it or leave it, this life. Up here, I mean.”
“Really?”
“Listen, as long as we're working to bring those guys down,” Damien nodded towards Fortress Magritte, hanging in the sky, “I'm willing to stay down there in the tunnels forever.”
“You realize that almost happened to us on the last mission.” Jack stirred his beverage. Jack, for one, had no desire to be buried forever.
“Hmph. We made it out. They haven't killed me yet, and they’ve been trying quite a few more years than you’ve been around.” Damien took another drink, making good progress on his journey toward 'grizzled' status.
Jack silently thought of all of those who couldn't say the same thing.
“How's the arm?” Damien asked.
“Superficial energy burn. Hurts like crazy, but will get better with a little time. The leg?”
“Already like it never happened.” Which wasn't entirely true. But Damien wasn't one to complain. He changed the subject again. “Is our little toy ready?”
“Yes. Just waiting for the order.”
“I'm coming along,” Damien said.
“Really?”
“I wouldn't miss it.”
“I can do this part alone.” It was a one man job, and Jack was that man.
“I know. But I'm not passing on the opportunity to get back at the gargs.”
“Well, okay then. I guess it will make my girlfriend feel better that the indestructible Damien will be riding along.”
“Ah yes, the other project,” Damien snickered.
“Don't talk about it like that.”
“That's what it is, isn't it, Jack?”
“Yes, but-”
“But nothing. You're doing what has to be done. No holds barred. Do what it takes.”
“But it's not going too well. I can't figure it out, Damien. She hasn't told me anything.”
“What about the old archive?”
“The files aren't telling me anything either. There are all of these hints, but nothing that points to a reason.”
“What makes her so important?”
“I wish I knew, Damien. But I don't have a clue. Red seems to have some ideas, since he's given me such specific orders. But he won't tell me why. I've asked, but he won't tell me anything other than to keep looking. It's almost as if he isn't sure and needs me to independently confirm something about her. Still, when he doesn't give me very many hints, it's hard to figure out what's important. I don't have any idea if I'm even going in the right direction.”
“You should talk Red into giving her a scan.” Damien pounded back the rest of his beer.
“Listen, Damien. We shouldn't even be talking about that here.”
“I wasn't going to say anything specific.”
“I know. I know.” Jack threw the rest of his drink down his throat. “Well, that will do it for this R&R.”
“Down the rabbit hole we go again.”
34.
Plans
The Doctor slid the paper file across the glass table to Red. “Well, that’s the summary of the team, Red. Overall, the mental profiles are looking good. A few natural stressors, of course. How could there not be?” The Doctor snorted. “In total though, there is nothing to worry about. They are all clear. Everyone is on board. No threats identified.”
“Excellent. Thanks. Good to have it all checked out before we move forward.” Red took the folder and put it in his bag without opening it. He’d read it after the Doctor left, then destroy it. In the meantime, he didn’t want it out in the open. One never knew who might show up and when, or when one might have to leave quite suddenly. “I appreciate you looking over everyone one last time.”
The Doctor studied Red. “Well, there is one person we haven’t discussed.”
“Who’s that? Blue? She doesn’t fall into my chain of command.”
“No, not Blue. You.”
“Um, I didn’t know there was a reason for me to have yet another test. I do them all the time though, so shoot away if you need to.”
“You always pass the tests, Felix. That wasn’t was I was getting at.”
“Then what exactly are you getting at, Doc?”
“I know you, Felix. You have something planned.”
“Of course I have something planned, Doctor. That's my job.”
“You know that's not what I am talking about, Felix. I’m not talking about the Big Project or whatever it’s called these days. You have a
different plan.”
“I do?” Red asked.
“Yes, you do,” the Doctor said.
“I don't know where you get these ideas,” Felix said.
“That is not a denial,” Doctor Psycho observed.
“How can I deny something when I don't even know what you are talking about?”
“I am talking about the girl.”
Red sat there in silence before answering. “Doctor, let me be clear: she is a separate issue entirely.”
“Entirely?”
“Yes. Entirely.”
35.
Interception
Skyguard was curt and to the point: “Magritte’s density scanners have registered new shipments requiring immediate action. The density scans leave only one possible conclusion: the truds are once again gathering materials for fission weapons. Intercept the shipment and retrieve the fissionable material, intact if possible, so it can be analyzed. Details have been downloaded to your combat wings. Launch immediately. That is all.”
