Renee’s face appeared, perfect for TV and glamor, as was expected.
“The UEF is quickly becoming the world’s beacon for hope, change
and a guiding light for our future. But it is operated and run by people.
And people, for better or worse, are flawed. It’s what we do in times of error that define us. This special is devoted to the ugly side of the UEF, and how
its problems are handled.”
The video touched on a few areas of minor embarrassment. The harass-
ing employee who was finally exonerated. Alex openly discussing why he
withheld the video segment after the initial attack to manipulate public
support. There was even a segment of him having what he thought was a
private conversation with the President on the bridge of the Destiny. The President had just accused him of lying to the public.
“What happens next can be disturbing. Please, if you have young chil-
dren, consider finishing the video at a later time.”
Renee allowed a few moments to pass, and the screen faded to Brandon
impaled by the Zorn’s leg. Alex’s remark when he laid eyes on him came
across clearly through the audio. Then the video cut to his team flailing
on the ground while he alone pumped rounds of ammunition into the
approaching Zorn.
The screen faded again and switched to the simulation training area
where Alex was laying into the new Captains for a foolish command deci-
sion that led to the deaths of all the ships. Then another video where all
the Captains died in a simulation, and another, and another…and another.
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The screen ticked off another failed scenario every second. Repeated failure after failure.
Then it switched to another situation, where Alex thought he was alone
with Mason.
“Truth is, if they come too soon, we won’t be ready for them.” Alex and
Mason sat at a small coffee table. The camera was in a high corner of the
room and zoomed into their conversation.
“I’ll tell you what, though. I’ll fight in that ship until I can no longer…
To protect our planet.”
“If only we knew a bit sooner and could have thrown our support to you
then, we would be in a far better position.” Mason remained motionless.
“I still got a trick up my sleeve that might even the odds. There’s plenty
of hope left.”
The video transitioned again. Now it was on the Bridge of the Destiny.
Alex was giving Brandy an order to find and eliminate the Zorn drones that
were reportedly killing people in Peru. There was video of Jiya protesting
the order.
Then another transition. It showed a dead Zorn clearly cut in half. Part
of the road had also been damaged by the laser beam.
Then a residential neighborhood where several houses were in smolder-
ing ruin. A few elderly people had been killed.
An unknown person was interviewing one of the residents, and a trans-
lator spoke over the speaker.
“I was outside when suddenly a bright red flash came from the sky. All
these houses caught on fire at the same time. I ran inside to get my little
sister. Thankfully, we are all okay.”
Video transitioned to inside the bridge when the Zorn was about to kill
the Peruvian family. It played in slow motion, so people could get a feel for
what was about to happen. Brandy’s command boomed in the screen.
“Fire!”
The Zorn was cut in half. Panic lit the bridge as the officers called that
they were fired upon. Ground video of the fighter jets launching missiles
at the Destiny was obtained by locals. Then a ship’s exterior video showed the incoming missile destroyed by a two-second laser beam. The screen
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zoomed past the incoming missile and attempted to focus on the ground far beneath the missile, where the houses caught on fire.
“Oh, my God!” Alex breathed. Brandy burst into open sobbing.
The video transitioned to Brandy and Jiya arguing over the decision to
fire and its unintended consequences. The screen faded to black again. For
a moment Alex thought the segment might be over.
Then it faded into a shot of his office, where the recent argument with
Renee occurred over transparency and perception.
Alex dropped his face into his hands as the video played out as he
remembered it.
The video transitioned once last time. It was the family the Destiny
saved in its moment of quick action. The little girl was even still wearing
the same clothes. The unknown interviewer was asking, “How do you feel
about the UEF saving your life?”
The little girl cried, while the mother responded in a translated voice.
“We can never thank them enough for what they did. We know our appli-
cation to join the UEF months ago is well justified.”
Alex perked up.
“Why do you think your government tried to destroy the ship that
saved you?”
“It makes no sense to me. Why do they want us to die?”
The screen faded to the destroyed houses that had caught on fire and
then back towards Renee’s face.
“There has yet to be a response from the government of Peru. Who’s to
blame for this tragedy? Is it the Zorn, who initiated the attack? The UEF,
who violated sovereign airspace and attacked without permission? Is it the
fighter pilots, who tried to shoot down the saviors of that small family, and
who defended themselves in return? Who can say? What we do know is
that the UEF, still committed to transparency, continues to grow and learn
from their actions as they prepare themselves to fight for our lives. In transparency, we can trust.”
The video ended.
Alex glanced at Brandy sitting across from him. Her flushed face was
flush with tears and smudged eyeliner. Alex’s mouth hung open, unsure of
what to say. He felt terrible. Brandy’s face looked exactly how he felt.
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“I…” He looked around for a tissue or a towel, then he hit the inter-com button in the center of the table. “Laura, bring us a tissue box, please.”
Moments later, she walked into the room with one. Brandy took a few
moments to clean up her face and gather herself together.
“Your tactical officer needs to see this video if he hasn’t already. But don’t punish him over it. If he’s got any heart in him, he will be wrecked enough.”
Brandy didn’t say anything in response and continued to play with the
tissues, twisting them around her fingers.
“I think the video said everything I wanted to get across about that
subject. Regarding Jiya’s reassignment, it’s not a reflection on you. You’ll
get Cindy’s XO. I have a feeling that’s a better fit for you, anyway.
You’re dismissed.”
She didn’t move, other than grabbing at the growing pile of tissues.
Alex wanted to say more but realized nothing he could say would make
her feel better. Better to let duty tend to her wounds.
In the end, he couldn’t help saying something. “Through difficulty
comes growth. Learn, and go save the rest of them.” Alex stood up, hoping
to transmit solidarity and confidence with his movement.
Brandy stood as well and offered a precision salute. Alex responded in
kind. Then, with her chin up and face still a disaster, she
strode out of his
office. Alex tried to think of something else he could have said, but every-
thing was inadequate.
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Chapter 8
Day Zero
HER HANDS LOWERED as she dropped the contents into the con-
tainer, closing the lid with practiced repetition. She inhaled slightly as she imagined the reaction that would soon take place and glanced at the red
toggle switch. Alex let out a hearty laugh in the other room so she looked in
his direction, and he momentarily returned her gaze. There was no hint of
concern on his face. Then, without thinking, she toggled the red switch on.
Inside the device, a liquid began to pour through the contents of the
container. It wouldn’t be long now. She considered waiting for it; it might
not be so bad, standing there while it ran its course. She had better things
to do than waiting for the inevitable, however. It wouldn’t be conspicuous
to leave his office right now, she left it all the time. She wasn’t sure if Alex was even aware when she left his office. She peeked in his direction as she
closed the door. He was far too busy entertaining his friends.
* * *
Alex glanced over just in time to watch his office door shut, before return-
ing his attention to his friends.
“…which means from now on, every seven days that go by, another
decoupler turret is fabricated and installed on our ships.” Zeek leaned back
in his chair, a young goatee growing on his chin.
“If we can get thirty-five more days, we can install one additional turret on each ship,” said Timmy.
“What about putting one or two on the ISS?” Cindy looked at Mason
with a focused determination, as though she could make him say that
would work.
“They don’t generate enough power,” Mason said, shaking his head.
“Actually, they collect a good amount of power. They just can’t use a
decoupler while also using everything else. But if they shut down all their
systems, except for a select few, then use what’s stored, they might be able
to use one turret in short stints. Maybe take out a pod or two.” Jorge sat on
the edge of his seat.
Alex inhaled deeply and looked up at the ceiling, as though the answers
were somehow there.
* * *
Meanwhile, In the hallway, the assistant looked at her watch. It won’t be long
now, any minute, she thought to herself. She let a coworker chat her up as if it had been previously planned, and then they would go to the bathroom together.
* * *
“Perhaps, we can revisit that if it turns out we end up with a surplus of tur-
rets. Let’s talk about the Raziya.”
Mason wet his lips and looked at the office door. “I’ve convinced India’s
government to add more weaponry to the ship. To be honest, it didn’t take
much convincing.”
A few moments of silence passed; everyone was looking at him.
“Well, let’s hear it. What are they adding?” Alex asked impatiently.
“In addition to the four modified cruise missiles, a bomb in a box and
two pods of unguided rockets, they are going to add two external-mounted
miniguns, two more pods of unguided rockets, two rear-facing custom
cruise missiles and, at my request, a remotely-operated space drone.” Mason
leaned back with a pleased expression on his face.
“Actually, I like the miniguns.” Alex leaned forward. “I really like it.
I mean, why can’t guns work in space? Hell, the C-130 Specter is a flying
death-dealing platform. We can duplicate that!”
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Timmy coughed. “I think the firing of such cannons would cause our ships to move in unpredictable ways. Think about it; since the turret is near
the nose, if you pointed the barrel up and fired, you would send the ship
into a flip. If you pointed it towards the rear or front, the ship would rotate.
It’s not a very good idea.”
“Couldn’t you program the ship to autocorrect?”
“Sure, with enough… time.” Timmy raised an eyebrow, as though
punctuating his point.
“Isn’t the Raziya going to experience those issues as well?”
“The miniguns will be fixed in a forward direction, and you’re right,
they may not work very well.”
Alex leaned looking both mildly irritated and frustrated at the lack of
workable ideas.
* * *
In the bathroom, the assistant casually looked down at her watch. It is
time, she thought to herself. She walked back to the office, wishing she had
more time, but duty called. She entered the room almost unnoticed. She
walked to the device and distributed the fuel to smaller containers.
* * *
Mason eyed her and felt a tinge of anxiety. Something was wrong, what was
she doing? She disappeared behind the corner. He looked at his cell phone.
It was one thirty in the morning.
“Are you okay?”
Mason returned his attention to the table and noticed Alex staring at
him with obvious concern on his face.
“It’s nothing.”
“We can make room for more space-capable drones,” Timmy offered
up, glancing around at them.
“I like the idea of a space drones. Could come in handy. Good think-
ing!” Alex looked over his shoulder to see where Mason was looking, but
there was nothing there.
Alex watched as Laura walked towards the room, weighed down by the
weight of her contents. The sight gave him a brief pause.
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“Coffee is ready!” Laura called, entering with a loaded coffee tray.
“Oh, thank god!” Mason sighed in relief, reaching out for the first cup.
Everyone else took a cup when she placed the tray down. Laura sat
down behind Alex’s right shoulder, holding her own small cup; the fuel
would allow them to continue into the night.
Alex looked at Cindy, “So, how’s Jiya working out for you?”
“Oh, she’s a challenge, I’m still trying to smooth out her edges.” Cindy
blew at the steam on the surface of her cup. “But I hear some complaints
from my ex XO.”
“Oh? I haven’t heard anything.” Alex leaned forward, surprised.
“Griping mostly,” says Brandy. “I’m too relaxed for his style of command.
“You know, we are going to have to run more simulations,” Zeek said
absent-mindedly.
Nearly everyone in the room moaned, grumbled or complained under
their breaths. Alex tilted his head to the side and looked at Zeek lazily.
“We run with the simulations with two pulse cannons, the rail cannon
and one decoupler on the Destiny, plus the cruise missiles. If things work out, we could be adding a lot more firepower to the fight.”
Everyone in the room exchanged glances.
“He’s got a point,” Alex said. “In fact, let’s start conducting drills the
day after tomorrow.”
“Why not tomorrow?” Mason asked.
“The Abraham is getting outfitted with another system, a gift from
the Chinese.”
Realization dawned on Zeek’s face, and he hid it in the cup of coffee in
his hands. “Sure, that’s not gonna blow up in our faces.”
“I’d wager heavily that you’ll be glad for it by the time it’s all said
and done.
”
“Which reminds me, how did the hazardous material trip go yester-
day?” Alex looked to Cindy
“It went well. We have a much longer tow cable now.”
Behind Alex, Laura’s fingers danced on her data pad. She wasn’t
aware of the Abraham’ s outfitting, and Alex’s schedule needed to be
shifted accordingly.
Several times in the last couple minutes, Alex saw Zeek and Timmy
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steal glances at Laura, but at some point, Zeek failed to look away; he had become entranced. Alex scouted around the table; at the moment no one
else was aware of Zeek’s fixation. He stared hard at Zeek, hoping he would
get the point.
It worked. When Zeek glanced at Alex, his face turned red, and he
looked into his lap. A few moments later, he pulled out his gaming system.
Alex peered over his shoulder at Laura, who was engrossed in her data
pad, completely unaware.
* * *
Day 8
Alex and Laura flew in low, just over the groves and fields. Anyone standing
in the field saw nothing amiss, just more farmland. The shuttle set down
on a one hundred by one hundred, five-foot-thick block of concrete, com-
pletely lacking markings of any kind.
Alex and Laura disembarked to the southern edge of the square and
proceeded down an unnaturally thin hallway. Alex still doubted if certain
people would fit down the hallway if the need ever arose.
“Why was this designed so horribly?” Laura asked as she had to rear-
range her briefcase and walk with it directly behind her.
“This is one of four emergency entrances. It’s designed this way to pre-
vent Zorn from entering.”
After sixty or so steps, Alex reached the arrival area. Several holes and
pipes lined the walls. In case of rain, the water would drain out, or they
could pump it out. The floor was comfortably wide and led to a large door
with a sophisticated keypad off to the side. The area wasn’t furnished at all, not even a light fitting, just bare bulbs hanging from the roof.
“I know this door works for me, I’ve been here once before. I want you
to open it. Put your chin on that part right there.” Alex pointed to a small,
projected chin rest.
Laura put her chin on the rest and looked directly into the lens in front
of her. She waited for several moments. “Is it supposed to do something?”
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