Teardrops In The Night Sky (Steven Gordon series)

by Murison, J W

  The man backed away quickly but they never surrendered or ran. The springing of levers from grenades could clearly be heard. Tapper stepped up beside Lewis and talked only loud enough so they could hear, ‘they're going to toss up a couple of grenades then charge, let’s all roll about on the floor like we’ve been hurt. When they reach the shield we’ll bag the lot.’

  No sooner had he stopped talking than half a dozen grenades appeared from around the corner. They exploded with a brilliant flash of light. The five crewmates fell to the floor faking death or agony. The corridor was suddenly full of wild screaming men firing from the hip.

  Sparks of light flashed of the shield and Lewis thought they were lucky none ricochet back into the running men.

  The first two running men slammed into the shield and bounced off. It was the signal for all five to regain their feet and start firing.

  Unfortunately all five were finding it hard not to laugh but failed as more men bounced harmlessly off the shield. Laughing they struggled to their feet and began firing, but their aim was a little off and some made it back to the junctions safely.

  Stevens voice reached them, ‘ok ceasefire well take it from here.’

  The door at the far end burst open and more grenades filled the corridor. The doors closed again and the grenades went off. Colonel Howe and Beaver were first through firing down the first junction they came to and throwing grenades.

  As they went off they moved down to the next. As Steven passed the second junction more men spilled around the far bend. He fired instinctively and they fell twitching to the ground.

  ‘Speed it up Colonel there's more coming.’

  Goldsmith began to pitch the flash bang grenades into the junctions that hadn’t yet been cleared; his accuracy from such an angle was impressive. Tapper and his men broke clear of the shield and fought their way towards them. They met near the middle and Howe gave one order, ‘run.’

  Bullets began to zip up the corridors as reinforcements arrived and masonry fell around them as high explosive shells bounced off the shields and hit the building.

  Lewis stopped down and scooped Brian up onto his shoulder, ‘excuse me suh,’ and burst through the shield with the rest of them hard on his heels.

  Steven slowed to a walk, ‘ok we’re clear, prepare to take off. Komoru what happening out there have they any aircraft up?’

  ‘Yes Steven it looks like there are at least two squadrons heading our way.’

  ‘Then get out of there, we’ll only be a few seconds behind.’

  Steven ran up the ramp and headed straight for the bridge. He jumped into his chair, ‘ok Hailey get us out of here. Take us into a high Earth orbit. Colonel have we sustained any casualties?’

  ‘None sir, all present and correct no wounded.’

  ‘Excellent job, well done everyone.’

  Colonel Howe retrieved his post from one of the scientists, ‘sir those aircraft are coming fast, and they are firing missiles.’

  ‘Will they reach us in orbit.’

  ‘I doubt it sir.’

  ‘Dey wont suh, they ain’t got the range.’

  Steven smiled, ‘thanks Lewis, let them come Colonel.’

  ‘Yes sir.’

  Brian in the mean time was still slung over Lewis’s shoulder. He cleared his throat, ‘excuse me, can you let me down.’

  ‘Oh sorry suh I forgot you were there.’

  Lewis put him down and Brian stared up at the giant in wonder, ‘I’m fourteen stone man, and you forgot I was there.’

  ‘Yes suh, you ain’t that heavy.’

  ‘Really, could you please tell my wife that for me when we see her?’

  Everyone burst out laughing as they reached Earth’s orbit and missiles exploded in an expensive fireworks display far beneath them.

  Chapter 44

  They had just moved into a geocentric orbit with the other ship when another asteroid busting missile was fired at them.

  Steven sighed in disgust, ‘get us out of here and back to the Moon. We’ll return in a couple of hours when things cool down.’ He turned to his father, ‘you don’t mind do you dad?’

  ‘What, on a wee trip to the Moon? Nah your ok son I’ll survive.’

  Steven laughed, ‘Haley take us home.’

  Brian smiled, ‘so you’ve moved to the Moon. I had an idea of an apartment a little nearer home for you son, but I’m sure you know your own mind.’

  Now everyone was laughing at their banter, ‘the real estate’s cheap and there’s plenty of room for a garden. Mind you, you do have to tow in your own asteroid for building materials, but all things considered … it isn’t a bad deal dad. You really out to consider moving mum up.’

  Brian smiled, ‘well if I can get a good deal on rocket fuel and the natives don’t get any friendlier we just might.’

  Steven stood, ‘fancy a coffee Dad? you’ve got a lot of catching up to do.’

  Brian stood squinting, ‘if I can see the cup I’d love one.’

  Steven led him down to his quarters. Once back on the Moon he quickly brought his father up to speed on recent developments. They were also able to contact Mary back on Earth. He left them to it as tears sprang into his mother’s eyes.

  Buzz made to stand up and get out of his chair but Steven waved him down and sat beside him.

  Buzz raised an eyebrow, ‘what's happening?’

  Steven sighed, ‘Mum and dad are talking.’ He ran a finger down the side of his nose.

  Buzz nodded his understanding, ‘so what now?’

  Steven shrugged, ‘good question. Well have to take dad back to Earth, but he wants to go walkabout first and grab a few samples of Moon rock to take with him. That’s a job for Tapper I suppose.’

  Colonel Howe overheard and came over, ‘do you mind if I accompany your father sir?’

  ‘Not at all Colonel as long as you take the Major with you.’

  Howe grinned, ‘he is our resident expert on rocks.’

  ‘Are you going to be doing a debrief on the operation Colonel?’

  ‘Yes sir, tonight after dinner, I have a feeling we’re going to have a busy day ahead of us.’

  ‘Anything you want to bring up with me first?’

  ‘Actually I have an idea for a new type of stun grenade. We’ve used up almost our whole stock and it will be hard getting replacements at the best of times.’

  Steven nodded, ‘that’s a good idea. I would check with Babe first. The builders were big into none lethal ways of dealing with enemies. You'll probably find everything you need there although you may have to redesign everything to suit our needs.’

  Howe nodded, ‘that’s where I was going to start.’

  ‘Ok but I want to see any weapons you develop first before you put them into mass production.’

  ‘Of course sir.’

  Howe left them looking pleased with himself.

  Steven got back to matters at hand, ‘Babe tells me we need another asteroid or two for our new home.’

  Buzz frowned, ‘you’re kidding aren’t you. That asteroid you brought back last night was almost half a mile across.’

  Steven shrugged, ‘she wants she gets. It seems that one didn’t have a lot of minerals in it. We have to get a few heavy in iron and other stuff. I’ve got a shopping list.’

  ‘When are we going?’

  ‘Right after breakfast, I’m starved.’

  ‘Then you had better give Komoru a shout, she’s hungry as well and she has some news.’

  ‘Talking about news, any word of our deeds yet?’

  ‘No nothing yet.’

  ‘I’m sure it will hit the fan soon enough, let’s go.’

  Ico docked and Komoru came aboard. She met them in the dining hall. Steven stood as she approached, ‘thanks for all your help today.’

  She smiled in return, ‘it was a pleasure.’

  They sat down and Cookie brought her over a plate of food. She smiled, ‘thank you but I could have come and got it myself.’
/>   Cookie grinned, ‘it’s my pleasure ma’am.’

  Steven smiled and shook his head as he walked away, ‘I think he likes you, we all have to get our own. How are you and Ico getting along?’

  ‘I feel as though we have been friends all our life.’

  ‘Are you feeling a little lonely over there by yourself?’

  She shook her head, ‘no, I haven’t had the time to feel lonely; there's been so much to do.’

  ‘I know what you mean. I think I could have done with a couple of days on board by myself just to explore and find out where everything is and what it does. I think in the near future I’m going to have set aside a day to do just that.’

  ‘Yes that would be wise. I won’t be on my own for much longer though. I have had a message from my Prime Minister; he will have everything ready for me in three hours time.’

  ‘That’s good, fancy doing a little shopping first?’

  She frowned, ‘out here.’

  Steven grinned, ‘you'll see.’

  Half an hour later they were at the asteroid belt doing a little shopping. Ico took on a cargo of precious metal and gemstones to pay for their supplies. Brian wanted to collect a sample from one of the surrounding asteroids, but Steven denied him the pleasure and swore him to secrecy.

  Both ships then towed separate asteroids out of the belt until they had all they needed. Then both ships joined together and using their collective power towed all of them back to the Moon. The asteroid they had towed the previous evening was almost completely devoured and in its place stood part of what was going to be a huge complex.

  Brian looked at the new development with a little scepticism, ‘do you think it’s big enough Steven?’

  Steven frowned, ‘I think so. Babe says its dimensions are correct but I didn’t think it would be this big. Still she knows what she’s doing a lot more than I do.’

  ‘You could start your own colony.’

  ‘Yeah I think that’s the idea. The thing is if we can’t reconcile with the governments on Earth then we may have to transfer the families of the crew up to here. So we need shops schools hospital, somewhere to grow food, an operations centre and homes to live in.’

  Brian nodded, ‘I’m getting the idea. Is it going to be full of this bright metal?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Thank God for that. Hey have you got a spot sorted for you old mum and dad?’

  ‘Yeah, do you see that mountain on the horizon over there?’

  Brian laughed and gave him a play full punch on the shoulder, ‘you’re still a cheeky little sod.’

  Steven laughed and pointed to the complex, ‘do you see where it begins curve over there.’

  ‘Yeah I see it.’

  ‘On the far side of that the roof will level off, you and mum will have an apartment along that side there.’

  Brian was astonished, ‘really, you’re not joking.’

  ‘Nope, and once Mum has built her own wee space ship you can move in if you want.’

  Brian grunted, ‘I hope it’s got a big wardrobe for all your mother’s dresses.’

  Steven laughed, ‘aye and a library for your books Dad.’

  Brian laughed, ‘still it will be good to get home to Scotland for a while. They really pulled out all the stops for us. I only hope it doesn't prove an expensive enterprise for the old homeland. The American President isn’t going to take it lying down.’

  Steven nodded, ‘that’s got me worried too. He’s really thrown everything but the kitchen sink at us so far and wait until he finds out Komoru’s in command of the second ship.’

  ‘What are you going to do if he launches some kind of strike against Scotland and Japan?’

  Steven turned with a cold look in his eye, ‘I’ll drop him and his precious Whitehouse clean into the planets core.’

  Brian shook his head, ‘you can’t do that son. You would become a new world dictator. The moment you popped off somewhere the rest of the planet would wipe us off the face of the Earth.’

  Steven sighed with frustration and turned away, ‘God I know, but what the hell am I supposed to do? We can’t stay here for the rest of our lives defending both countries. If we give them weapons to defend themselves with while we’re away, it would unbalance the whole power structure of the Earth and that would precipitate an attack as quick.

  Even if it didn’t they would probably slap so many sanctions on you the whole country would collapse economically within a year and then they would just waltz in and steal everything anyway.’

  ‘I'm glad to see you have at least thought it through. What about the American contingent of the crew, do they have anything to say on the matter?’

  ‘Yeah well the Colonel and his boys want to beam him up and toss him out into space. The scientists were a little less kind.’

  ‘Not much help then.’

  ‘No, no matter what I do he’s got us boxed in.’

  ‘Could you grow your own food up here?’

  ‘I can see where you’re going with this dad but that won’t do any good either. I can guarantee you within six months of leaving here they would find a way of putting people back on the Moon. We would either come back to find a detachment of marines on site or the place stripped bare.’

  ‘You could leave people here with weapons to defend it.’

  ‘Yeah I could but the first time they repelled an attack that idiot would start launching nukes at them.’

  ‘Check, you could surrender the ships.’

  ‘Wouldn’t work they would just take off and never return. Everyone on board could be dead within six months.’

  ‘Checkmate. Is there no hope?’

  ‘One slim one. Political satire, there's a lot of people in the States on our side. We have a few very powerful friends on the inside, and if he continues to do stupid thing like trying to nuke us, then they may be able to have him impeached. However with Mum setting up in Scotland, the financial reward to their constituents is somewhat vastly reduced, and to be quite frank dad it may not be worth their while.’

  ‘There is a chance he might just live with it.’

  ‘You think?’

  Brian shook his head, ‘no I suppose not. So what are you going to do?’

  ‘Make an appeal to all the nations of Earth on live TV and then watch where the dice fall from there.’

  Brian slapped his son on the shoulder, ‘well good luck son. Now I believe I’m due a little Moon walk.’

  Steven grinned, ‘I think I’d like to stretch my legs as well, let’s go.’

  Chapter 45

  Komoru was nervous as Ico landed on the large Japanese air base. People swarmed everywhere. There were a lot of armed soldiers, but there were also a lot of men who were unarmed. She sensed excitement from the crowd, not malice or tension.

  A large black vehicle detached itself from one of the main buildings and sped towards the ship, two more came in hot pursuit. She noticed a camera crew run from the hanger beside which she had landed and felt a great sense of relief. She doubted anyone would try and hijack the ship with the press around.

  Steven had offered to come with her but she had finally decided against it. If she couldn’t trust her own government then she would be truly lost anyway.

  Komoru rose from her chair and smiled at her companions. Lewis and Cookie smiled back.

  ‘Don you worry none Captain. Cookie and me, we’ll look after you.’

  ‘Your presence gentlemen is greatly appreciated. Let’s go welcome our visitors.’

  Lewis led the way and was first out of the ship. A couple of soldiers had begun to run up the ramp as it deployed, but they took one look at Lewis and ran back down again. He strolled boldly down the ramp with a menacing scowl on his face, and Komoru almost burst out laughing at the look of awe on the faces of her fellow countrymen.

  Cookie walked behind her and then the three stood abreast of one another at the bottom of the ramp. Both men were armed and had asked to come along. They kept their weapon
s pointed towards the ground, but there wasn’t a soldier there that couldn’t see that both men were ready to fight if need be.

  The news crew tried to rush forward but were pushed back by their minders. A rapid sentence in Japanese stilled their shouts. The first car came to a halt and the front seat passenger jumped out and opened the door.

  Komoru caught her breath as the Prime Minister got out, and then smiled as his wife and two children got out after him. He came forward and bowed low, his family mirroring his actions.

  ‘Miss Kaizu, you do us a great honour. May I present to you, my wife and children.’

  Komoru was almost overwhelmed by the gesture and bowed in return to all. The Prime Minister’s son was staring quite openly at Lewis. The giant winked and the young lad smiled in return.

  It was then Komoru’s family alighted from the second car. Forgetting her manners she ran to them and almost leapt into her father’s arms. There were smiles and tears all round. The Prime Minister waited until the tears had settled a bit then offered them all refreshments.

  They had been set up in the hanger next to the ship. Komoru was suddenly worried about the ship and sent a silent order to Ico who passed it on to the two men. She saw them nod in understanding and let herself be led away.

  Inside the hanger there were over a dozen men standing with weapons shouldered and kit bags at their feet. The Prime Minister brought her over.

  ‘These are the men we have selected to go with you. Each have university training in a wide variety of fields, although none are true scientists like yourself.’

  She smiled, ‘scientists there are no shortage of sir.’

  He returned her smile, ‘of course. I have also picked out two pilots for you. I remember Mr. Gordon saying he had neglected to get one for himself.’

  He introduced her to the two men standing at the end of the line. She did a double take and he smiled, ‘as you can see they are identical twins and probably the best pilots we have. Do you think Mr. Gordon would accept one of our men.’

  ‘Wait a second sir and I will ask him.’ She closed her eyes and concentrated hard. ‘Steven my Prime Minister has picked two pilots for us. They are identical twins, would you accept one on your crew, I can easily keep both if you don’t.’