Betrayal

by E. Wayne Stucki

  “You were selected because you’re among the best at infiltrating,” he continued. “You were trained by the best. If we keep to our training and work smart we’ll be able to get around any obstacle or difficulty.”

  The Lieutenant glanced at his watch then looked up through the break in the surrounding jungle to gauge the light. “We still have a couple of hours before the onset of night. We’ll begin our infiltration two hours after that. After we begin I doubt we’ll get much chance to relax or rest so we’d better take advantage of this opportunity. Spread out, find a suitable hiding place and get what sleep you can.”

  G’Bel fought his way through the dense underbrush that lined the banks of the river which led to a small cove. He’d been up and slogging through the jungle since dawn, swatting at bugs that wanted his blood and looking for something that probably wasn’t there. Keeping his weapon ready he ducked under a branch and stepped over a rock. His tail swung from side to side in his anger and frustration, sweeping through grass and bushes. It struck a rotting log knocking it apart. Small hard-shelled creatures skittered through the grass and undergrowth looking for a new haven. A few ducked under G’Bel’s feet causing him to prance and curse.

  A few years…or was it thousands of years ago he’d been a promising farmer on Fairen with innovative ideas of how to increase the harvest. Then he and his nest mates were abducted in the middle of the night while they were asleep and placed directly into suspension.

  Upon waking he found he was on a Colony ship in another planetary system heading for a new world. Rather than having him prepare to produce food those in charge placed him in the infantry. And now he was out here in the jungle getting eaten alive by alien bugs. Reaching up he keyed his communicator. “Remind me M’Ton,” he said, “why we’re out here?”

  The answer came from his partner who was twenty yards behind. “Our brilliant, skillful scan techs in the Center saw something.”

  “So if they saw something why don’t they know what we’re looking for and where it went? We started at the base and’ve been going through this jungle for days!” He glanced up at the trees. “If we don’t leave soon it’ll get dark and I don’t want to spend another night out here if I can avoid it.”

  M’Ton snorted. “They didn’t ‘see’ anything,” he replied. “My sources in scanning told me there were two momentary blinks on a scanner. The operator took that eye blink of data and plotted a course for the island. Our illustrious leaders then ordered out search packs as a precaution.”

  The lead Kthpok stopped, his feet sinking into a pool of stagnant water. A sulfurous smell of rotting plants caused G’Bel to snort and wrinkle his nostrils. He craned his neck back around to see M’Ton appear out of a clump of bushes. “You’re telling me we’re out here in this stinking jungle, getting eaten alive, because of a sensor ghost?”

  M’Ton shrugged. “I’m not a tech so I don’t understand,” he explained. “All I know is that our orders came down from the top to search for Iidx or vehicles of some kind.”

  “Vehicles!” snorted G’Bel. “I’ll bet the scanners picked up this worlds version of a bird. If the equipment isn’t calibrated right those hard shells will register.”

  “You’re probably right,” replied M’Ton, “but we’ve got our orders. We’d better get moving or the sergeant’ll have our tails.”

  “Orders,” repeated G’Bel and turned around. He pulled his feet out of the mud and resumed his search. “Those at the top order and wait in their comfortable nest,” he muttered. “But they don’t have to put up with the mud, the bugs, and the smell.”

  M’Ton followed his pack mate, smiling at the continual stream of complaints and curses. He actually agreed with G’Bel but he wasn’t stupid enough to air his thoughts over an open communicator. That was always an invitation for worse assignments.

  Two hours later M’Ton and G’Bel pushed through a dense clump of bushes and found an open space on a hill which overlooked a portion of the river and its shoreline. From there they looked towards the ocean beyond. Heat waves rising from the jungle caused the view to blur and sharpen.

  G’Bel’s tail drooped. “Look at that,” he said, gesturing at the dense trees and bushes between where they were and the ocean. “It’s not getting any easier. Why do I always get the dirt assignments?”

  Because you’re dumb, stupid and ugly, thought M’Ton. But once again he kept his thoughts to himself. M’Ton pointed instead. “Look,” he said.

  “Look at what?” G’Bel asked. “All I see is water, jungle and bugs.”

  “Yes, it’s jungle,” M’Ton replied. “But up until now the shoreline along the river’s been fairly uniform, smooth, not jagged.”

  “So?”

  “So, why is there a jog over there?” asked M’Ton and pointed again. “It shouldn’t be there. There’s something not quite right with it,” he added after taking a longer look. Without a work of warning he moved across the clearing to drop into the shallow water edging the river. “I’m going to look,” M’Ton called back.

  With a snort of disgust G’Bel followed. “At least the water’ll cool me down a little,” he said under his breath.

  The trek to the strange prominence took almost an hour and a half. The ankle deep water was easier to move through than the jungle but there were roots and rocks to contend with. Not to mention the occasional bug in the water that wanted to sample Kthpok. Careful not to slip on the mossy bottom both Kthpok edged around a boulder.

  AS his companion continued ahead M’Ton paused for a moment to rest and stared. That’s it!” he called and ran past G’Bel heedless of the danger.

  G’Bel stared at the running, splashing Kthpok for a moment then moved to follow. A moment later he saw M’Ton reach an outcropping of plants. Now that he was closer he was as intrigued as M’Ton. That thing must jut out into the river by a good two or three yards. No wonder that caught M’Ton’s eye.

  “What is that?” G’Bel asked when he arrived at the prominence.

  M’Ton didn’t answer but moved his head to one side for a better look. From the new angle it seemed like a rock covered with vegetation that jutted out into the water. He glanced up. Both moons were in the sky and high tide was on. Earlier when the tide was out where he was standing would’ve been… Acting on impulse he extended his head up and over the object so he could look down.

  With a hiss that surprised G’Bel, M’Ton pulled his head back. Ignoring his pack mates questions M’Ton reached out, grabbed a handful of fronds and pulled. When he drew back his hand some of the plants were dislodged from the rock and fell into the water with a light splash.

  A closer look at what he’d grabbed revealed that the bushes had been cut and placed where he’d found them. And the branches had been cut long enough ago to begin wilting. M’Ton looked back at the object to see most of the plants in front of him were wilting as well. In this heat that meant it’d only been days since whatever this was had been hidden. That’d be about the time of the sensor ghost.

  Slinging his rifle over his back, he reached out with both hands and pulled. More bushes came out, splashing into the water. Taking a light from his harness he directed its beam into the gap he’d created and saw metal. “Oh, shells!” M’Ton muttered then began ripping the rest of the foliage away.

  After he caught a glimpse of what lay under the greenery G’Bel moved to help. A moment later they had exposed one side of the craft. It was made of some material unknown to M’Ton and was a deep black; perfect for a night approach. Standing a little ways back he estimated its length to be about fifteen feet and had positions for a crew of two lying prone.

  Gesturing at the craft M’Ton looked at G’Bel. “Get the rest of these bushes off,” he ordered. “I’ll call this in. I think this is what we’re looking for.”

  After the call went out to the Control Center the rest of the search pack converged on their location. The new arrivals examined the craft for a moment and listened to what had aroused M’Ton’s suspic
ions. M’Ton held up some of the wilting plants to show the other Kthpok what to look for. Then Sergeant R’Ker sent the rest of the pack along the shore to see if there were any more vehicles.

  Keying on looking for wilting plants amidst the regular jungle the pack found two more vessels hidden along the shore within a few minutes. That made a total of three. After an hour of searching with no further results Sergeant R’Ker activated his communications link. “We have confirmation,” he announced to Control. “There are intruders on three vehicles. Maximum count is estimated at six we’ve encountered no sentries.”

  “Acknowledged,” was the reply. “Maximum is six with no one present.”

  The controller continued. “Your instructions are to post guards at the vehicles and apprehend any Iidx. If they resist use deadly force. They are not to evade or escape. Do not attempt to board or examine the craft. Technicians are being sent to your location to defuse any self-destruct devices. We have your location confirmed. Acknowledge.”

  “Guards are to be posted and apprehend or terminate any Iidx. Vehicles are to be left alone, experts coming. Go!”

  “Confirmed. Out!”

  The Sergeant closed down his link and turned to his pack who was gathered around. “Okay, people,” he called. “We’ve completed our assignment. As a reward, we’ve been given another one.”

  Lieutenant Masiden looked around to make sure his people were ready. Special pigments to help his people blend in with the night had been applied to their outer shells. Night vision goggles were in place and secure. Everyone wore weapon harnesses that held demolition packs and carried rifles. Only those who were going to access the Kthpok computers had packs. Everything else was left behind to be collected on their way out.

  Looking ahead he could see there were no lights illuminating the grassy area that lay between the jungle and protective fence. But the moons and stars provided ample light for it to seem like daylight with their equipment. A careful scrutiny revealed no sign of Kthpok sentries walking patrol.

  Satisfied that everything was ready he rose, motioned for the others to follow, and left the dark cover of the jungle. As he moved forward Masiden stayed low, careful to keep below the level of the tall tropical grass. His movement and that of his Iidx was like a shadow of night moving with the wind. Nearing the fence he noted the grass had been allowed to grow even there. Only a swath, a yard wide, with the fence in the middle had been kept short. That was sloppy of the Kthpok but it would help his people. Turning, he looked at the Iidx who were behind him and nodded.

  Sergeant Monartin came forward but was careful not to touch the fence. In their briefing before leaving the ship they’d been warned that this fence might be electrified. The reflected light of the two moons showed a line of dead animals following the fence into the distance on both sides. The Sergeant took that as proof the wires were charged and a clear testament of its lethal effect. At least on the lesser animals. He reached into a pouch and drew out an insulated probe. It was placed on a wire of the fence and instruments checked.

  Masiden moved up next to Monartin and watched as the Sergeant worked his equipment. “Well?” the Lieutenant whispered after a few minutes.

  The Sergeant waved his antennae in amusement. “We’re in,” he replied in a low voice. “The current the Kthpok have running through the fence is enough to fry small animals. But it isn’t enough to hurt us. We’ll feel a tickle in our internals but that’s it.”

  “What about moving the wires?” Masiden asked. “Will the Kthpok know if they’re being moved?”

  Monartin waved his antennae no but the Lieutenant wasn’t watching. He was looking around, searching for any sign of Kthpok. “That type of sensor works by sending an additional carrier frequency down the line,” whispered the Sergeant. “All I can detect is the current itself.”

  “Then let’s get in there before we’re seen. Just make sure we don’t run into a patrol.”

  Putting his equipment back in its pouch the Sergeant moved up to the fence. He hissed a command and Bonner took up position along the fence a couple of yards away. Then, after Gorunmet verified there were no Kthpok in the area, the two Iidx held the lower strands of the fence far enough apart to allow an Iidx to slip through. One by one, the infiltrators moved into the Kthpok base. When it was their turn Bonner and Monartin slipped in while the wires were held by two others of the pod.

  Intelligence had narrowed the location for the Kthpok computer center down to two locations. One was placed in the middle of the base and the other on the far side. In order to cover both possibilities quickly the Infiltration Pod had been split into two groups of three Iidx each. Masiden took his group, designated as Team One, away from the fence and into the shadows. His assignment was to reach and evaluate the furthest target. Bonner, with Team Two, went off in another direction to make their own way to the nearest objective.

  As Team One scuttled down a line of buildings, keeping to the shadows, a vehicle was heard moving nearby. Masiden gestured and his team ducked behind some nearby crates stacked outside a warehouse where the shadows were darkest. A moment later lights swept across their hiding place causing shadows to shift. A rumbling grew then diminished. The darkness returned.

  Masiden inched an antennae around the crate he was hiding behind to test the air. Satisfied there weren’t any Kthpok around, that they hadn’t been discovered, he motioned to his pod. The three Iidx scuttled from their hiding place and hurried for their target building.

  Fleet Admiral P’Mar swept into the Center Room of the ground base. “What’ve we got?” he asked cutting through the call announcing his arrival.

  The officer-on-duty, Lieutenant T’Ron, left his post and hurried over to greet the Admiral. He gave a quick salute then reported. “As you know, Admiral, we’ve located the vehicles the infiltrators used to get onto our island. The vehicles gave us the information that we’re looking for six Iidx. Now, six have crossed the perimeter fence and split into two groups. We project their targets to be the false centers that’ve been prepared.”

  P’Mar bobbed his head. With their betrayal the humans reiterated for the Kthpok the need for subterfuge and misdirection. Hence, the fake installations. “This is an opportunity we can’t miss,” he announced as he glanced around the Center Room at the Kthpok posted there. “Those facilities were constructed to be a useless target when hostilities begin. But some modifications have been added for infiltrators. Get the tech’s up. They’ve got work to do.”

  “Yes, Fleet Admiral.” He nodded to the Kthpok in communications.

  The call was going out as the Admiral continued. “Did the infiltrators cut the wires to get in?”

  “No sir,” replied the OOD. “Our equipment recorded a sudden ongoing voltage drop in the line. It was like additional insulators had been added for a period of time. I ordered cameras activated and observed six Iidx enter. Two held the wires as the rest crawled through.”

  “What was the level of the current?” the Fleet Admiral asked.

  “We had the current at the specified level,” was the reply.

  “How many Iidx were killed?”

  “None.”

  “Were they wearing insulated gloves or used insulated poles to separate the wires?” he asked.

  Once again the Lieutenant responded in the negative.

  P’Mar’s tail jerked in surprise. “Confirm that,” he ordered. “It seems those outer shells of theirs may be excellent insulators. And that may extend to radiation or chemicals.

  “Route our people away from the Iidx. I want the bugs to reach those buildings. When the infiltrators enter their targets have our ground forces take post at all entrances. If an Iidx tries to leave I want it captured or destroyed. Not one of them is to escape!”

  As the OOD went to carry out his orders P’Mar moved over to the security officer. “Are we tracking the Iidx?” he asked.

  The Lieutenant replied without looking up from his equipment. “Yes, Fleet Admiral.”

  �
��Good!” said P’Mar. “I want cameras following them every step of the way. Put each target group on a separate screen.”

  A short time after giving the order the Admiral watched one group of Iidx moving in the direction of the building in the center of the base. Another monitor showed Iidx nearing the other facility that’d been prepared for infiltrators.

  Lieutenant T’Ron walked over. “Your orders have been carried out, Fleet Admiral,” he reported. “The route’s been cleared and the techs for both buildings are here. Everything’s ready, as ordered.”

  P’Mar nodded then pointed at the monitor showing three Iidx approaching the building in the center of the base, “Designate this group as Target Alpha. The other will be Beta. Let’s get ready to do a little testing.” He watched as Alpha entered the building and paused at an intersection. After a moment’s indecision they moved through the halls. “I want to know what it takes to kill one of those bugs.”

  In the monitor tracking Alpha they watched the lead Iidx enter an intersection. A special indicator on the monitor marked the area as a booby trapped location. P’Mar snarled and barked a command. The tech for that building stabbed a talon down on a button and a moment later the Iidx skittered forward, the sound pickup revealed cursing. The tech glanced down at his equipment. “That’s very interesting,” he said. “If I hadn’t seen it I wouldn’t have believed it.”

  “What?” asked the Admiral. P’Mar ignored the monitor as it showed the Iidx working out how to get around the electrified floor. They simply ran across.

  The tech looked at his superior. “I ran twice the current necessary to kill a Kthpok or human through that floor, Admiral. As you saw all it did was make it dance.”

  P’Mar gestured to the other screen. “We’ll try five times the current next time. Target Beta won’t expect a current.”

  A moment later they watched as an Iidx of Beta entered another area which had been wired. Without waiting for P’Mar’s order the tech for the second building sent current into the floor. This time instead of skittering and cursing, the creature jerked and jumped around then collapsed. An instant after it collapsed an explosion went off.