Dimension Lapse II: Return to Doomsday (Dimension Lapse Series Book 2)

by Nicholas Davis

  "This is Capt. Carver. We are traveling in a Zacharian ship," he stated. "Does anyone read me?"

  "Yes, Sir," a voice answered. "This is the Galactic Republic Battle cruiser Freedom. We read you loud and clear."

  "What has happened to the Tacora base? Carver asked.

  "The council has declared war on the Tolarion alliance," the voice said. "The fleet is en route to Garlicia."

  "Could you relay a message to Balar for me?" Carver asked.

  "Sure, go ahead."

  "Tell him that we survived the Renake explosion," Carver stated. "And that we're also en route to Garlicia. Have the forces hold off their attack until we finish our mission. I repeat, do not attack until you hear from me."

  "Hang on a second," he said. "I'll let you talk to the admiral." There was a second of silence, and then another voice came on."

  "Carver," the voice said. "Balar said you'd contact me at some point. What's this all about?"

  "We're assigned to plant explosives in the Garlician base, and stop Balta from producing another death ray."

  "Death ray?" he asked. "No one said anything about a death ray!"

  "There are also two Martian survivors and a young woman as well, I believe Rollings was one of the names."

  "Steve Rollings?"

  "Yes. We have to get in there and disarm the weapon somehow. I'm telling you," he said. "Stay away until we can finish our mission."

  "I'll give you 72 hours, but that's it," he said. "After that, we'll have to attack, and if they know we're coming, it could be less."

  "We'll try our best," Carver said. "Out."

  When Wilson turned off the communications button, Batar placed his hand on Carver's arm.

  "We'll have to land about ten miles from the base, just beyond the ridge overlooking it.

  "There is a tunnel in the mountain that leads just under the base," he informed him.

  "Now how would you know about that?" Jeff asked.

  "I have a contact there," he said.

  "Is he my contact as well?" Carver asked.

  "Yes, he is. We're supposed to meet him when we get to the end of the tunnel.

  "So, you, Carver, and I will go to plant the explosives," Jeff replied.

  "I'm going too," Lori insisted.

  "Are we going to start this again?" Carver asked, and became annoyed with the drama.

  "It's too dangerous!" Jeff told her. "We may be captured, or killed. Besides, we need you here on the ship to help us escape."

  "That's why I'm not letting you out of my sight!"

  "If she's going, then we are too!" The lingworts cried out as well.

  "For crying out loud!" Carver yelled. "I'm in command here, and I'll decide who goes or stays! You two are staying here with Wilson. I'll need you, Wilson to get us off the ground in a heartbeat, if necessary. Lori, you can come, but only to a point. You can be our lookout. Batar, I need you with me and Major Walker to plant the explosives. Is that sufficient?"

  Everyone nodded, and Jeff placed his hands on both the lingworts shoulders.

  "Sorry, Guys," he said. "Maybe next time, I'll take you along, when I know it's not so dangerous."

  "We've faced eight feet lizards, tigers, and giant insects before," Dormiton said. "What makes this time any different?"

  "Because Balta is involved, and you know how deadly he is," the human answered, scratching his dark brown hair and beard.

  "The light refraction unit will help to cloak us," Batar said. "But they may still detect radio transmissions from some of our systems. If they do, I do know a little Garlician."

  "That's helpful to know," Carver said. "Let's hope we don't have to contact them."

  "How are we going to get Rollings and Malone out of there?" Jeff asked.

  "I haven't figured that out yet." Carver said. "We have to get them out of the prison somehow without the guards seeing us. Perhaps you can help us in that area too, Batar?"

  "It's a distinct possibility," he answered. "But not if there are fifty of them."

  "We'll have to worry about that when the time comes," Jeff said. "I'm sure we'll think of something."

  "Being optimistic again, Jeff?" Carver asked.

  "No," he answered. "Just thinking of a way to survive this whole mess."

  "That's what I like about you," Carver laughed. "You never seem to admit you don't know what you're going to do next."

  "That would be admitting defeat," Jeff said. "And I don't believe in defeat. There's always an answer."

  "Something you learned from the Martian Academy days?" Carver asked.

  "No," he remarked. "I learned it living on the island."

  Carver smiled, and turned towards the Zacharian at the helm. "Take us to Garlicia, Faster Than Light factor 4," he ordered.

  "Yes, Sir," the helmsman said.

  In the days that led up to the arrival at Garlicia, the tension on the crew was so tense, they felt their heads would explode. The fear of being caught and thrown into their brutal war games was more than any of them cared to think about. It would've been easier to plant the explosives and get out of there, but now they had to worry about hostages, if they weren't killed already.

  Even so, Jeff couldn't help but feel that he had some unfinished business with Balta. He felt a feeling of revenge, something he swore he wouldn't do this time. He told himself earlier that it was strictly a mission of search and destroy; to find him, and kill him for the Republic's purpose. The fact that he held two more Martian prisoners infuriated him, even if he didn't know them that well. Somebody had to stop this craziness, and it might as well be him.

  He was also curious to see what Avery's daughter had to do with all this. He was actually looking forward to meeting her; he had a lot to talk with her about, especially her father. Maybe after this was all over, they could discuss the past. That would have to wait, however, until they were back on neutral ground at a Republic base nearby.

  The fleet kept back, just out of range from the Garlician's sector of space. They didn't colonize as far as the Tolarions had in the past, and only reached as far as Tacora and Tetra 2, which was the next star over, and closest to the center of the galaxy. The Zacharian ship was just entering the Marlon I system, and passed Alokia, the planet where the Martians were held captive two and half years earlier by the Tolarions. It was nothing but a simple, barren rock now, although lower life forms still existed there. They passed there as quick as possible; none of them needed to reminded of the place where they were imprisoned and tortured.

  Once they came within Garlician range, they switched on the light refraction system, and prayed the Garlicians wouldn't detect the enormous vessel. If they needed to attack, the ship was armed with advanced fusion torpedoes and plasma beams. Just one direct hit would wipe out an entire ship, so they weren't worried about their smaller ships. What they were worried about was Balta completing the death ray, and targeting them.

  They went on high alert when two Garlician ships passed by them.

  "Do they detect us?" Carver asked the helmsman.

  "No," he stated. "We are invisible to them."

  "Okay then," Carver said. "Adjust the controls for the right trajectory into the atmosphere. Shields on."

  "Captain Carver," Fallou said. "They have a force field around the planet that needs deactivation. Without authorization, we won't be able to land."

  "Very well," Carver said. "Varloo, get them to turn off the force field, but don't let on that we're traveling in a Zacharian ship."

  "Yes, Sir," the Andronian answered, and began to speak into the communication panel. "*Ach tuko, kar or talika vantu garok orka kora phi caka orla orka Tarnot."

  "Tarma norta oma talirs lika?" the Garlician command answered.

  "Varatu," Batar said.

  "Tali or tor valama ta ach sikor talimas."

  "Vama alaki arta glica dor talis talim."

  "Corka ta aremas orla orka tarnot ki kala nince. Vala."

  "Vala," Batar answered.

  "What
was that all about?" Jeff asked.

  "I basically told them the reason they can't see us is due to a problem with their controls," Batar answered. "We have permission to land, but be forewarned, if we don't land on the base, they may get suspicious."

  "Then we'll have to make it look like we're off course and crashing," Carver said.

  "They'll send a recovery team after us," Batar reminded him.

  "And we'll be ready for them," Fallou said. "They will not enter this ship without facing us first. You can be sure of that."

  "Very good," Carver said. "Helmsman, prepare to land."

  The Zacharian followed his command, and slowed the rocket engines to sub light, as they entered the thin, Garlician atmosphere. They coasted through the thick, reddish purple clouds for many miles until they saw the surface of the world; a dusty, barren world with deserts and mountains, and some kind of vegetation that was purple, black and gray in sparse areas. There wasn't any sign of water, unless it was underneath the surface. If they were unable to leave here for any reason, it was almost certain they would die.

  The ship came toward the Garlician base, but the helmsman steered the ship to the left as it approached. The ground defenses realized right away it wasn't one of theirs, and started firing photons at them. They did a U-turn, and headed behind the mountain to land. Fortunately, they evaded the weapons, and extended the landing gears to land. When the ship safely touched down, the door opened, and the ramp extended down. Carver, Jeff, Lori, and Batar emerged from it, fully armed. Wilson, the Zacharians, and the lingworts remained at the top of the ramp.

  *See Garlician language in appendix

  "Good luck," the lingworts yelled to their friends.

  "Thanks," Jeff said. "We're gonna need it!"

  "You have four oxygen tanks with you in case you get short-winded," Wilson informed them. "The air is a little thinner here. You also have twenty five modular fusion bombs as well. They have a five hour detonation time on them. We have to be off ground before they blow. If we aren't, the mountain will collapse in on us. With the smaller bombs, you have a shorter time to get away. perhaps two hours or so."

  "We'll be fine, Lieutenant," Carver said. "Lori, once we reach the rendezvous point, you will stay there until you either here from us, or the Garlicians are coming at you. If they are, get back in the ship and leave immediately. Is that understood?"

  "But-," she began.

  "Is that understood?" He asked her again.

  "Yes," she answered, disappointed.

  "Wilson, hold the fort," he said, as they left the ramp.

  She waved, and closed the ramp up behind them, as they walked towards the mountain through the red sand. Jeff looked up at the two red suns and purple red sky, and thought this was the most alien world he encountered yet, considering the others orbited yellow suns.

  They walked into a small cavern about three hundred feet from the ship, and Batar busted a glow stick so they could see their way. It was an endless carved tunnel, probably either once used by the Garlicians themselves or by escaped prisoners. Batar also heard of "borers", animals that dug their way through the dirt to find food. He hoped this wasn't the case, because they would have to be at least ten feet wide according to the size of the tunnel. Jeff kept his laser ready to fire while they proceeded down the long passage. They walked about five miles, when they came upon a fork in the tunnel.

  "Which way now?" Lori asked. "Left or right?"

  "I say right," Jeff said, sure of himself.

  "My senses indicate left," Batar said. "I can faintly pick up other mental readings."

  "I agree with Batar," Carver said, as Jeff felt he was outranked again.

  "Left it is," he answered, and they followed Carver into the tunnel. When they reached the end, they stepped into a large room. It wasn't part of the base, but an ancient civilization's sanctuary. Scrolled language appeared on the pillars and walls, and there was an altar of some kind as well. They found there was no other exits, other than the one they came in. "I told you. It's a dead end."

  "Not exactly," a voice said from behind.

  The four of them turned around to face a six feet reptilian creature with large red eyes which stood upright as a biped. Lori was ready to fire her laser, when Jeff stopped her.

  "Who are you?" Jeff asked.

  "I am your contact," he stated. "My name is Garlona."

  "I'm Carver," the captain said, and offered his hand, which he shook. "You do know your way around the base, don't you? And where to plant the explosives?"

  "Of course I do," he answered. "I see you brought an Andronian with you."

  "Why is that a problem?" Batar asked.

  "It could be, if Varloo knows your here. He's under Balta's direction."

  "Maybe I should stay here with Lori?" Batar asked.

  "I don't know if that's such a good idea," Jeff said. "We might need him in there."

  "He can sense my presence even quicker than yours," Batar said. "I'll stay here, I'm sure the three of you can handle it. You'll have a better chance without me."

  "You're sure?" Jeff asked.

  "Positive."

  "Take care of my girl," Jeff said, as he gave her a big kiss. "I wanna get back so we can finish our honeymoon."

  "You be careful, Mr. Walker," she said, and smiled, even though she was worried for his life.

  "Come on, we haven't got a second to lose," Garlona said. "The hostages are sentenced to be executed tomorrow morning, and then Balta is going to use the fusion ray against the Republic's forces." He moved a slab under the altar, which revealed a deeper stairway. "Down here."

  They ran down the stairway into a long hallway which was lit with green lights, and then into an engine room of some kind. Garlona stopped at the doorway, and pointed to a panel, where two Garlicians were. He turned to his accomplices.

  "That panel is the main security override system," he whispered. "Blow that, and the force field is gone. But first we have to take care of those two big fellows without drawing attention."

  Jeff looked at Carver with the 'are you out of your mind' look.

  "How?" he asked.

  "Carver, go over there around the back of that tank, and you, Walker, can go around to the right, through the other door of that room next to us. I'll walk through the middle because they know me anyway. They won't suspect a thing."

  "I hope you're right," Jeff said, and crouched into the room.

  Carver went around the back of the tank. As Garlona approached them, the two Garlicians saluted, and Jeff and Carver came up from behind. Carver took his knife, and buried it into one of the Garlician's back. When Jeff hit the other with the side of his laser, he turned, and revealed his identity. Jeff stared at the spiny, ugly red beast's face, his sharp fangs baring a wicked grin, and his green eyes twinkling at the human. He went to grab Jeff's neck, when Garlona pushed against him, and Carver finished him off with the knife. Jeff looked at Carver in relief.

  "Are they all that big?"

  "Actually," Garlona said. "They're small compared to others!" Jeff shook his head, and pulled out one of the fusion bombs, placed it under the panel, and set it to detonate.

  "Okay," Carver said. "Let's move. We got fifty bombs to plant, and only an hour and a half to do it."

  When they got to the engineering and research development departments, they thought it best to split up, due to time constraints. Carver was to sabotage the power system station and then rescue the hostages. Jeff was to plant an explosive device underneath the fusion weapon, and destroy the laboratory.

  Carver planted most of the bombs around the large power room with the two fusion reactors that Balta took from the Tolarion base, plus three more he had acquired. He surmised all together they enough power to project a beam to at least the distance of Tacora, and wondered if hadn't destroyed his own base there. He knew after he planted the explosives, it would set off a chain reaction that would incinerate this small planet, or at least the Garlician civilization. He finished thi
s part of the mission, and then started to head toward where he was supposed to save the hostages.

  When he found a way in, he was immediately seen by a Tolarion guard. He ran back into the secret tunnel that led out to where Lori and Batar were. The guard fired his laser, and Carver fired back, hitting him in the arm. The guard held it in pain, but continued to chase him about a half mile.

  He caught up to Carver when he rounded a turn in the tunnel, and Carver kicked the laser from his hand. The Tolarion pulled out a knife and swung it at him wildly, as Carver pulled his knife out as well. The Tolarion pointed the knife towards his stomach, and Carver struggled to fight him off, but found its point lunged into his abdominal cavity halfway. He pushed the Tolarion off with all his strength, and grabbed his laser from the ground quick enough to fire and kill the beast. Carver pulled out the knife and dropped it, grabbed his stomach in unbearable pain, and limped down the hallway dripping blood, unsure if he could even make it to the rendezvous point.

  Meanwhile, Jeff had his own problems. He and Garlona reached the high catwalk in the laboratory area, across from Angelica's quarters. As they surveyed the area below them, it was evident there was a flurry of activity. Many of the Tolarions were working in the two labs below and across from them, which were the chemistry and biological sections. He could also see a familiar sight near the far wall; a large gun-like device with an intricate panel below it, pointed upward, behind a contracting door that led to the heavens.

  "He's finished it," Jeff whispered, still crouching next to Garlona.

  "He's almost done with the cloning process as well. And the Triachilite."

  "How?"

  "Akros' daughter," Garlona explained. "The information was in her android's AI chip."

  "An android?" Jeff asked. "She built an android? Before or after she came through the wormhole?"

  "Before."