The Phoenix Fallacy_Book II_Norm

by Jon Sourbeer,

  Being an officer does have its perks.

  Janus ran to the medical ward, where he was given an injection and a clean bill of health.

  “You are being docked two months pay for the booster injections. Your Immutium reserves will be reduced accordingly. The rest of the team has already passed through and their charges were added to yours,” Maj. Yalla said.

  Janus winced, but there was little he could do to at this point. He was slightly irritable from the unnecessary expense until a tiny voice that sounded exactly like Celes sounded in his head:

  Well, you certainly deserved it, didn’t you? Besides, this might help you get back in everyone’s good graces.

  Janus chuckled and the old medic stared at him oddly, “You alright, son?”

  He ignored the medic’s doubtful look as he left the ward, she always finds the best in the situation, doesn’t she?

  Janus jogged back to the lifts and soon arrived in the briefing room. It was the same small, domed room where Colonel Hawkes had conducted his first “lesson”. Bigger than the war chamber at the top of the city, but much smaller and more comfortable than the huge mess, it was the perfect spot to plan out the mission. The rest of the team was already assembled. He arrived just as the Praetor walked into the room.

  “Good timing, Janus,” Lyn commented.

  Janus nodded to her and took a seat next to Wouris.

  Colonel Keats stood up as the Multidimensional Projector emerged from the floor. The MuDi’s series of layered plates lit up with drops of swirling light as it rose. “As you all know, we have located the Cerberus facility in an area South of a mountain range known as Lightemann’s Ridge. Our surface intel reports that the facility is heavily guarded.”

  “Much more so than it should be,” Hawkes grunted.

  Keats glanced at him briefly, “Correct,” before her gaze returned to the squads, “We suspect that the presence of the SPARTAN Adept Legion, and the upcoming arrival of this Cerberus VIP has put the base on edge, and caused them to throw stealth out the window. The cat is out of the bag. There is something very valuable inside that facility. Something Cerberus and Overlord Middleton is unwilling to share with just any passerby.”

  “But we are going to do a little more than just pass by,” Hawkes interjected again with a chuckle.

  Keats gave him a withering look, and continued, “We are going to insert your two teams into this marsh west of the facility,” the MuDi lit up and highlighted a large marsh on the map, “at the base of the mountains. This is as close as we can get you without risking being spotted by the numerous patrols in the area. From there, you will have to hike through some rough terrain to reach the facility. The structure is almost entirely subterranean, running beneath the range, presumably through a series of tunnels and rooms. We’ve only been able to locate one entrance into the facility, wedged between the mountain and the surrounding marsh.”

  The MuDi swooped around to highlight the landing area. “The entrance is well camouflaged and would not seem to be large enough to support a facility of any real size.”

  A series of images appeared, taken from different angles of the landing pad, and were compiled by the projector into a three dimensional map. Troopers and Inferni appeared, patrolling the perimeter in likely patterns. Dense trees and foliage concealed a muddy brown landing pad – nothing more than a patch of dirt. A Cerberus Styx transport appeared at the edge of the MuDi’s map, swooping in to land. In a subtle shift, the dense brush and trees moved ever so slightly, granting just enough room for a skilled pilot to carefully lodge the craft between the trees. In moments, the Styx had disappeared underground, and the trees had done their subtle dance back into place, leaving the same patch of dirt, and numerous guards.

  “We suspect there are a few other landing zones, all well concealed and hidden, but this is the only one we’ve managed to find. However, we did manage to stumble onto these.” the MuDi pushed through the foliage a short distance away, where four small ventilation shafts were barely visible through the brush. “They are probably your ticket inside. Ramirez, I suggest you bring something to grease yourself up with, as it is definitely going to be tight. With luck, you will be able to use the ventilation shafts to slip inside.” The MuDi zoomed in and disappeared into the blackness of one of the shafts and went dark.

  “Be careful, we have no idea where each leads, or even what is going on inside. You’ll be going in blind. And if the shafts are inaccessible, it will be up to you to find another way inside the facility. From that point on, you are on your own. You have a ninety-six hour period within which to complete your mission and proceed to the evac point. Should the primary evac point be compromised in any way, just signal through an open channel with a single ping, and we will automatically respond by proceeding to the second evac point. Any questions?” Keats asked.

  “What if we run into SPARTAN forces?” Celes asked.

  Hawkes worked his jaw as if ready to speak, but he remained silent. Keats cleared her throat, glancing not at Hawkes, but at the Praetor. “We don’t know their purpose there – perhaps another Corporation has hired them to investigate. Perhaps it is chance. Whatever it is – do not engage. Simply go on your way, and they should go on theirs. They have not been contracted to engage us, as far as we know, and it would not be profitable for them to do so,” Keats concluded.

  “But don’t trust them any farther than you can throw them,” Hawkes grunted.

  Surprisingly, Keats nodded in agreement, “Any other questions?”

  The room fell silent.

  “Then I shall ask the question everyone has on their minds,” the Praetor stepped forward. “What if the mission has already been compromised?”

  Tension filled the room.

  The Praetor continued, “Odin help us if it has, but no matter what, we are Adepts and we do not shy away from our mission or our principles because of danger, and certainly not for the shadow of doubt. Get the mission done and we’ll be one step closer to understanding what happened back at the Titan colony. Dismissed.”

  Janus felt the breeze play across his face as the Voyages bay door opened. The breeze was cool, but the air was warm – the summer months were approaching.

  There was a slight acceleration as the massive engines keeping the citadel afloat powered up to push Valhalla over a group of rising hills. It was unusual for the floating citadel to pass over land; the open ocean had no obstacles and left no trail of destruction from the hot, hurricane force winds emanating from engines. However, with the Cerberus facility so far inland, the Praetor had decided to make a push with Valhalla. Valhalla would still be in place to support them during extraction, or if necessary, to launch a full scale assault, even if it couldn’t support them inside the Cerberus base.

  Janus motioned for his team to load up into the second of two longboats already powering up their engines. Next to him, Wouris gave him thumbs up before hopping into hers. Janus leapt aboard and sat down beside Ramirez. Marcus and Celes waited calmly in the jump seats across from him. Lyn sat on Ramirez’s other side. Janus gave thumbs up to the pilot and felt the lurch of acceleration as the longboat lifted off and flew from the launch bay, the rolling hills sliding by underneath. Each of them sat in an uncomfortable silence, rechecking their weapons over and over, the disaster of the last mission weighing heavily upon them. Janus knew he should say some words of encouragement, but he wasn’t sure what words to use. From the grim faces they gave each other, everyone was waiting for someone else to say something, anything, to improve the mood.

  Marcus remained tight-lipped. Ramirez hardly ever said anything anyway. Celes looked several times as if she was going to speak, but would take a quick glance at Janus and close her mouth. Finally, Lyn broke the silence.

  “What did the Cerberus S.T. say ta the Infernus when the Adepts attacked?”

  Everyone looked at her in surprise.

  “AAAA!” She yelled. Everyone jumped.

  There was silence, and everyone stared at
Lyn. She shrank back, “Sorry…”

  “Is everyone all right back there?” The pilot yelled at them through the speaker. “I heard someone screaming.”

  Janus punched the intercom to reply, “We’re fine. Don’t worry.”

  He had just finished speaking when he heard a deep, powerful laugh. Ramirez was laughing. It was odd, but it was infectious. And soon, they were all short of breath from it.

  And when the laughter subsided, they rechecked their weapons.

  Chapter 11: Alastor

  The longboat hovered over a dry patch of marsh – or at least as dry as could be found. Janus hopped out of the craft and promptly sank into the mud. The fibers of his armor immediately locked together, a chain reaction starting within his boots triggering the armor to close it pores and become waterproof. He squashed swiftly into the deeper waters of the marsh, sinking low to conceal himself in the murk, and held his weapon just inches from the surface. Tall reeds obstructed his view as much as they hid him. The cold water fought to suck the warmth from his insulated suit.

  He saw Wouris’ team drop silently into reeds several hundred meters away. “Check, check.” Janus said. His mouth barely moved as the vibraphone picked up the minute whispers of his voice box.

  “Loud and clear, Janus,” Wouris responded into his ear.

  “All clear,” Marcus sounded.

  “Check,” said Celes, Ramirez, and Lyn.

  “Full count, Janus?” Wouris asked.

  “Yes.”

  He watched her turn and motion the pilots, who rapidly pulled their longboats around and away, disappearing over water-logged trees and stumps.

  “Nine-Six Hours, starting now. Let’s move out.” Wouris said.

  The going was slow as they swam and trudged their way through the marsh. Several times they were forced to lay low as airborne patrols passed overhead, but the patrols clearly did not expect to find anything so deep in the marsh and did not look particularly hard.

  The team found its rhythm and was soon advancing easily, stopping when necessary, and continually cycling the lead scout to allow each team member a chance to ‘rest’. Wouris and her team disappeared into the high cattails and dark waters, invisible to Janus’ team.

  Approximately six hours into the mission Wouris whispered into Janus’ ear, “Contact.”

  Janus and his team froze. Janus quickly flashed signs to his team. Spread. Everyone silently fanned out, taking up better positions in the marsh.

  Janus searched the marsh for the any signs of patrols or resistance. Nothing moved. Wouris was nowhere to be seen.

  “Coming your way, moving fast – bearing West South West.”

  Janus sank lower into the muck, covering himself in marsh weeds.

  Suddenly, the sound of jump-jets echoed dully around the marsh and he watched a group of seven Inferni leap over his head. They deftly landed on a dry patch of land slightly behind him. In moments, they were bounding off again. When the sounds faded, Janus whispered back into the com set. “Clear.”

  “Did anyone else notice something odd about those Inferni?” Marcus spoke.

  “Yes, they were good,” Celes said.

  “Yes, to make enough adjustments in mid-air to land on a patch of earth that small – they were very good,” Wouris’ voice was troubled.

  “It’s a good thing that this marsh is relatively warm and teeming with life; we weren’t picked up on their thermal sensors,” one of Wouris’ team, a man named Riggans, spoke up.

  “Well, at the very least, we have another confirmation that something valuable is inside the facility,” Celes added.

  “Guess it won’t be a wasted trip,” Lyn chimed in.

  Two more hours of hard trudging and the landing pad was within a stone’s throw. The ground was still soggy, but Janus no longer had to worry about sloshing around when he walked. Melding with the shadows and brush, Janus took his team left to skirt the pad. He was unpleasantly surprised to see a number of Inferni and S.T.s patrolling around the pad. Something had changed; the ODIN scouts had not met anything approaching this level of resistance.

  “More trouble,” Marcus whispered.

  Janus signaled for silence when Lyn interjected, “Looks that way: Incoming, 500 meters North North East.”

  A small transport craft and two escorting Dryad class fighters were descending towards the landing area. A large, fearsome Cerberus sigil was emblazoned on the side of the extremely sleek transport.

  The two teams held their breath expectantly. While the craft slowed for landing, a gigantic, piggish woman suddenly appeared on the pad to meet the incoming transport.

  Janus felt his face flush, “Middleton!” he whispered.

  Overlord Middleton waited calmly, surrounded by an elite cadre of four Inferni. Her hair was now a soft autumn blond-brown, no longer so strongly silver. But her massive girth was unchanged – the fat forcing her face into piggish features and giving her hands the appearance of sausages. As the craft came to a halt on the pad, the two escorts darted away, and Middleton flattened the gaudy dress that had been buffeted by the rushing wind.

  Janus shifted for a better view. As the transport door cracked open, Middleton’s face twitched involuntarily in irritation. Several Inferni walked slowly down the ramp, followed by a thin man with brown and grey-tinged hair and a beakish nose. He wore a poorly concealed smile.

  “Ah, Middleton, so good to see you again,” the man said.

  Middleton scowled, “Alastor…the grey looks good on you.”

  Alastor sneered slightly at her, “Yes, even without the dye, I must say I am envious of your perpetual youth. It must be because I never seem to eat quite as well as you do.” Middleton’s eyes flashed. Alastor glanced around the landing pad, “Your operation is well hidden.”

  “Indeed, not even the SPARTAN dogs you sent could find it,” Middleton studied his face.

  Alastor smirked, “Your ability to hide the truth is most admirable, although I’m afraid this base isn’t much of a secret, now that the Executors have forced you to reveal its location. My only disappointment is that you had time to arrive early.”

  “Forced?” Middleton exclaimed. “Why would I need to be forced? I serve Cerberus loyally and gladly reveal my secrets to the Executors. But they hardly wish to hear about every mundane operation I run. I certainly wouldn’t want to trouble them while they direct the future of our great corporation.”

  “Well, for your sake, I hope everything is as ‘mundane’ as you claim,” Alastor said knowingly.

  “You dare threaten a fellow overlord?” Middleton bristled.

  “Threaten…? Of course not, I am merely stating a fact, my dear Middleton.”

  Middleton scoffed, “Well, I think you will find everything is in order. Although you did come at a bad time. With the recent SPARTAN patrols, my S.T.s have been on edge. It would have been truly tragic had we accidentally mistaken your craft for one of those dogs’ scouts.”

  Deep within the marsh came the sound of a rushing engine, and Janus caught a glimpse of a Pegasus, a smaller Cerberus transport, lifting out of the swamp. It was just starting to push forward through the air when a missile streaked into it. The craft exploded into a fireball and careened towards the ground, causing a boom that echoed around the swamp. The Inferni around the edge rushed to protect Middleton, but the ones guarding Alastor didn’t move. In a roar, the two dryads streaked over the landing zone.

  Middleton’s face displayed only a hint of annoyance, waving her guards off, “That was Cerberus property, you know.”

  Alastor looked surprised, and then smiled, “Terrible, terrible shame. My Dryads must have thought it was a merc scout. You should really let us know if you’re planning on moving anything from this base.” Alastor continued to smile, “Oh, well, we know how these unfortunate ‘accidents’ can happen. I’m sure the Executors will understand. But I have complete trust in you Middleton. Why do you think I came myself?”

  Middleton turned her back to him and sc
owled, “You have nothing to fear, of course, Alastor.”

  “Good. The Executors are waiting for their report.”

  Janus blinked – The Cerberus Executors have sent another Overlord to investigate Middleton?

  Middleton waved to one of the Inferni to secure the pad and led Alastor down the lift. The transport and landing platform descended slowly into the earth. The armored and camouflaged doors laboriously strained to close over the pad as the Inferni dispersed, fanning out for their patrols and leaping away. Two stood on the edge as the pad descended, standing watch over the closing doors.

  Janus made a snap decision, hastily flashing a pointed hand. The team looked surprised, but obeyed instantly as Janus broke cover from the marsh, throwing his rifle on his back. The first Infernus guard was surprised by the sudden appearance of an Adept. The guard was well-trained, however, as he brought his flamethrowers to bear, crying out to alert his companion. Janus rushed straight ahead, hoping he had made the right decision. His faith was rewarded as the first guard’s visor exploded from a well-placed shot from over his shoulder. The second Infernus immediately averted his visor and raised his flamethrowers. Janus took a flying leap towards the second Infernus and unsheathed Roger’s Ghostblade. Landing between the Infernus’s outstretched arms, Janus could feel the heat of the flamethrowers behind him, and the Infernus turned his head just in time to see the blade as it sliced him diagonally across his body. He toppled off the dirt pad and into the marsh.

  “Janus, what are you doing?” Wouris yelled into his ear.