The Broken Cage (Solstice 31 Saga Book 2)

by Martin Wilsey

  “Survivors found directly west. Descending now. Please hold on.”

  The STU moved in fast, but smoothly. The inertial dampeners were excellent, even flying on foils.

  They landed directly in front of the Bee Keeper's house. It was a low structure with thick, fieldstone walls. Half of the roof was missing, but the walls still stood.

  Grady stood in front of the door, axe in hand, as if guarding the door.

  Barcus was down on the ground, before the ramp opened all the way.

  Grady offered no words as the door opened behind him.

  A man named Smith stormed out. It was the right name for the man. Despite his age, he was built like a blacksmith. His face and arms were heavily scarred, more from the lash than the forge. One of his eyes was clouded over, ruined. His clothes were filthy and torn. His face was black, with dirt and with blood.

  He struck Barcus in the face with a closed fist, rocking him back. He yelled, “I warned you. You knew they were in danger!”

  Po launched herself at Smith. He barely noticed as she threw her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. She hugged him, in relief, as much as to hold him back from Barcus.

  Barcus recovered, quickly. “I know, you're right. This is all on me.”

  Grady put a hand on his shoulder. “Forget that, for now. We have some injured. Quickly.”

  He led them into the ruined house, and said, “There are seventeen alive. The ten that worked outside the walls are not bad. We only found seven alive in the rubble. They need your med bay.”

  Dr. Shaw and her team leaped into action, taking control, with the help of the team from the Memphis. Smith refused any treatment, until the others were seen.

  Po asked Grady, when things began to settle, “Where is Ulric?”

  “He was with Olias, this morning. I don't know where any of them are now,” he replied.

  Rand and Hume ran to the crater, to scan for additional survivors.

  They reported back to Worthington, who had taken efficient control of the situation. Barcus sat on a low wall, after everyone was helped.

  Grady walked up to Barcus. “They came, not long after first light. I was hunting to the north when I heard the shuttle flying overhead. I saw the cargo door was open as it flew. Something rolled out, and a white sail opened above a large cylinder. It came down on Whitehall Abbey, slowly. That's when I heard the guns, the one’s Par has. That spider, it pounded it. Chunks flew off it, as it descended.”

  Grady played with his ears. “It exploded, before it reached the ground. I don't know how close it was to the ground, but it knocked me off my feet. And, I was a mile north.”

  “It came around, again. The second one made it to the ground. I saw debris flying. A cloud of dust rose. There were no guns as the third one fell, unopposed.”

  Rand's voice came over the personal HUD. “We have life signs. I think there are survivors, inside the Emergency Module. Barcus, get over here with the heavy maintenance suit. We need to dig!”

  Barcus leaped to his feet and ran up the ramp. He climbed inside the suit with an ease that came from years of practice. He ran to Rand’s signal. Ash was gone. It was just a suit now.

  Rand was on top of a pile of fractured foamcrete, waving, as Barcus bounded up. He saw two legs from the EM in the broken debris.

  Barcus spoke through the suit's PA system, “You need to move away, Rand. I need to work, fast.”

  He didn't wait to begin throwing off boulder-sized chunks.

  He followed the legs to the body of the EM, as he shifted debris. He looked up and there was another suit digging on the other side. With no AI behind the control systems, Barcus had to find the suit-to-suit comms controls manually, like he had a lifetime ago.

  “Comms check. Jimbo, is that you?” Barcus knew that Worthington was rated to drive the suit.

  “Yeah, it's me, bro. Here, help me with this slab.”

  Together, they lifted off a giant section of the wall, revealing a large part of the module. It was upside down, unmoving, with no signs of any systems online.

  Rand spoke over comms, “Barcus, Hume says that she is picking up two personal HUDs in there, as well as life signs.”

  “Jim, just cut that leg joint at the middle elbow. Then, we can slowly turn it over, endwise, and get access to the rear ramp with the manual system,” Barcus said.

  “Got it,” Jim said, and as the joint snapped, the EM slid back a meter, causing a small avalanche of small debris.

  Slowly, gently, they rolled the Emergency Module over. When it came to rest on its belly, Barcus rotated out a special tool on the suit’s left forearm that he socketed into a depression to the left of the closed, rear ramp hatch. It spun and the hatch lowered.

  Barcus saw that Rand, Cook, Hume, and Ibenez were right there, with two stretchers from the med bay in the STU. Barcus powered on the floodlights to illuminate the dark interior.

  He was the first to see the unconscious bodies of Olias and Ulric. There was a puddle of blood on the ceiling above Ulric. He bled from his nose.

  “They were both strapped in. We may be lucky,” Jim said, over the comms.

  “You think any of this is lucky!?” Barcus yelled. “This is anything but lucky, for Christ's sake!”

  “Barcus, put a lid on that, right now,” Worthington ordered, over a private channel. “We need to collect the wounded and evacuate this site. Fast.”

  The launched Hammerheads circled the site, rising as they did. “If I were the guy who did this, I would return for a final mop up, either another air strike or ground troops. We will have to leave this EM. We don't have room for it and the people.”

  “Barcus, what about the other ships?” Po asked, over an open channel via personal HUDs.

  “What other ships?” Jim said.

  “Stu, as soon as the wounded are loaded, take them to the quarry and transfer them to the Sedna. Make sure you take Cook and Elkin with you. They will need to heat up the reactors. I will send them access controls. Po, I want you on the PT-137. See if anyone else here can fly one of those, to go with you as a copilot.”

  AI~Stu broke in, “We are off.”

  “Close this up, Barcus. As soon as the STU is back, we can drag this in and move out. Do you have any other assets you haven't mentioned?” Worthington asked, in jest.

  “Oh, shit!” Barcus cursed.

  “Now what?” Worthington asked.

  “The other redoubt. Stu, can you contact the other redoubt?” Barcus asked.

  “No, sir, not as long as EmNet is down, there are no comms with them.”

  “Barcus, this is Hume. Po and Kuss just climbed in a modified, classic PT-137. They will be in the air, in two minutes. Where is this redoubt? Rand and I will go in the Hammerheads.”

  “Negative, Hume. They don't know you. Dammit,” Barcus cursed.

  Po spoke, “Barcus, you and I can go in the PT.”

  “No, I have to fly the Sedna out of here. After that last trip, we can't risk anyone else flying it.”

  “I'll go. I have Kuss with me. She already has the Salterkirk coordinates. We will meet you there, after,” Po said.

  “Returning. Dusting off, now,” Stu said.

  “Go,” Barcus said to Po. “If you scratch my PT, there will be hell to pay.”

  “I will go with them,” Hume said. “We can keep comms via the moon relay. In case…” She trailed off.

  Thirty seconds later, the PT-137 sped right above Barcus, at high speed.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  Because They were Free

  “They reminded us of the value of freedom. The meaning of liberty. It was newly won for them, and we realized that we were frogs, slowly being boiled by the politics of Earth.”

  --Solstice 31 Incident Investigation Testimony Transcript: Captain James Worthington, senior surviving member of the Ventura's command crew.

  <<<>>>

  As the STU settled directly behind the EM, Jimbo spoke to Barcus, on a private channel.
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  “Let me get this straight. You have three ships, one of which is capable of FTL and has an EMP cannon. You have two bases, both of which were manned and supplied. And, you have started a war with the locals?” Jimbo asked. “You are such a slacker.”

  “That’s four bases, counting this one. I'm just getting started,” Barcus said, as they dragged the EM up the ramp.

  “You just hold it right there, man. What the hell do you think you're trying to do?” Jim let anger slip into his voice. “We are getting off this rock. We are not doing anything else.” He dropped the leg of the EM as the ramp closed. “Do I have to remind you about the Ventura? Did you know it was no accident? Someone is sending ships here, knowing they will be destroyed.”

  Both of their suits opened at the same time. They climbed out of them as the shuttle took off.

  “The pricks on this pitiful planet are not the ones we want. But, first we have to get out of here. How far is this quarry?” Jim asked.

  “We will land in forty seconds,” AI~Stu chimed in.

  “Dammit, Barcus. You've had a replicator for months, and the log shows you've only produced some tool handles and hinges? Jesus, man. You could have almost created a second replicator by now for spit's sake.” Jim was mad now. “Enough with the screwing around with the locals.”

  “You were presumed dead. I was, as well. I just wanted to be left alone,” Barcus said. “I never expected...”

  Barcus faded off, as the ramp opened, again. Ronan and Grady were waiting there.

  The wounded were there, on the ground, resting on blankets in the shade of Ulric's ship, the Sedna. Dr. Shaw was still going person-to-person.

  “Status,” Worthington said, on an open channel.

  “Skies clear,” Hume replied, “Proceeding at speed.”

  “ETA to the redoubt, twelve minutes,” Kuss reported. “Girl is a crazy pilot.”

  They heard the smile in her voice.

  “Reactors at thirty percent,” Elkin reported, from the Sedna.

  “This boat is sweet. We can takeoff in six minutes,” Cook said.

  “All the patients are stable and are ready to board. We need to carry these four,” Dr. Shaw said.

  “I need a drink,” Ulric said.

  “Skies are clear here, as well. I wish this were a gunship,” Rand said, from the Hammerhead.

  “Elkin, when you get a minute, see what it will take to spin up the EMP cannon,” Barcus growled, not use to the new chain of command. Jimbo didn’t seem to mind.

  “I want to be clear of this site in seven minutes,” Jim said. “I'm in the STU. Muir, Perry, and Weston are with me. Everyone is on an open channel. Keep the chatter down.”

  Barcus climbed to the bridge of the Sedna, to find Cook in the navigator's chair, not the command seat. He sat behind the command controls and buckled in.

  “The status board is all green, but it's not true,” Barcus started.

  “I know. It's on a log loop bypass. Old-school hack. I'll watch the reactors and real systems. There is a status screen for the actual status, here.” He flicked a piece of paper taped to the top of the console.

  “We are up. Will hold, until you are aloft, Barcus,” Jim said, from the STU.

  Five minutes later, the convoy headed south and west, over unpopulated areas. Hume’s Hammerhead sped ahead, at just under the speed of sound, as it patrolled.

  Ronan walked onto the bridge of the Sedna, and said to Barcus, “Barcus, what will you do with these people?”

  Just then, Po came on the comms. “Barcus, we’re at the redoubt. Everything is fine. Landing now.”

  “They will be safe in East Isles. They could go back with me,” Ronan said.

  Barcus had forgotten about Ronan, “Thanks,” Barcus said.

  Grady and Ulric were there next. “Barcus, we need to talk,” Ulric said.

  “Can everyone just wait until we get there, for god's sake?” he barked.

  They left him alone the rest of the flight to Salterkirk.

  ***

  The Hammerhead and the STU were already parked inside the vast hangar when Barcus slowly drifted into the space. He set down, blowing the last of the dust out the mouth of the hangar.

  Ronan had apparently called ahead to Tan’Vi. They were there with baskets of bread, fruit, and cheese, along with skins filled with wine and water.

  Elkin was the last one out of the Sedna. She looked like he wanted to talk to Captain Worthington, but everyone was silent as they ate.

  By now it was afternoon, and they had gone without sleep for far too long. Everyone was exhausted.

  Barcus saw Smith eating. It was the first time, since Smith had delivered the punch. As if he sensed Barcus looking at him, Smith looked up. He had cleaned up, some. After a moment, he walked over to Barcus. He didn't speak.

  “I know. It's my fault. All their blood is on me,” Barcus said, flatly.

  Without warning, Barcus was slapped in the face. And then, Smith was slapped, as well. It was Rose, one of the survivors. She was the oldest woman among them. She was furious.

  “Don't you dare!” she spat.

  “You will not take that from them. You didn't own them, own us. They knew the danger. Every single one of them. They knew that they slept every night with their heads on an anvil and you will NOT take that from them. Because they were FREE!”

  She stared at them both.

  “Or, were you lying about that? Were they not free to go at any time? Their lives were their own. Do you think they stayed for the gold? Their blood was their own. Every one of them. They would rather have died free than spend another day as a slave. You will not take that from them, or me.”

  “Or us,” said the thin, dark haired woman, Lea, from the small crowd now behind them.

  Barcus saw that a boy, named Ansel, was also one of them. Their eyes met. Even the boy acknowledged the point.

  Smith looked from Rose to Lea and then to his feet, before looking up at Barcus, “I'm sorry, son.”

  “Smith, you punch like a child.” Barcus smiled, then added, “Po says there are sixty-one people still safe at the redoubt.”

  Smith relaxed, a bit.

  “Kuss says she will stay there a while and check the place out. Hume will fly back with Po and leave the Hammerhead for Kuss,” Worthington added.

  “They be back in couple hours,” Kuss added, over comms. “You did good job, restoring this PT-137. We will need that kind of work on Renalo-class ship. Elkin kind of excited about it.”

  “Tell her to get over it. There's not enough fuel to get anywhere,” Barcus said, as people drifted away, to find somewhere to rest.

  “They are going over it, now,” Jim added.

  ***

  Barcus decided to wait for Po. He needed some time, alone. He sat at the edge of the hangar and looked out over the water. It faced north and never got any sun. The cliffs were about eighty meters above him. His cloak warmed him as he waited.

  Barcus didn't hear Grady walk up. He sat next to Barcus, without a word.

  “Before this went sideways, Ronan gave me some news about my wife,” Grady said, as he watched the water.

  “I remember. Her name is Wex. He said she was in the Citadel,” Barcus said.

  “I think she is like you, like Ulric. She knows things, sees things coming. Says some words that people don’t say. Well, people that are not like you. She can do things.” Grady blushed. “And, she never seems to age.”

  Another survivor?

  “I'm going to get her. She's worse than dead, if she stays there. Ronan's going to help me,” Grady said, to the lake.

  “How can I help?” Barcus asked, already deciding.

  “I don’t know. Watch Ulric for me, until I get back. Saay and Kia didn't survive, and he is upset, more than he lets on. Ronan is arranging with Worthington for transportation back to the East Isles. I plan to go with them.” Grady finally looked at him. “There is one other specific thing you can do. Give me one of those.” He pointed to
Barcus's handgun.

  ***

  Po flew in, directly over Barcus, and landed on manual. Barcus waited on the hangar apron near the lake. She walked up, slowly, and climbed into his arms. He walked back the 150 meters to the Sedna, carrying her.

  She spoke at his throat, “I'll miss the gatehouse. My life began there, in an overstuffed chair.”

  “I hear you're a pretty good pilot.” He was serious.

  Barcus liked it when Po allowed him to carry her. She was still so light, even though she was so much healthier than when they had first met, a lifetime ago.

  The lights were on, in the Sedna and in the STU. The floods were even on, beneath the Sedna, as people inspected the severity of the hull damage. Perry held a data pad as Weston and Elkin called out items for him to note.

  Dr. Shaw walked down the ramp from inside the STU. AI~Stu had kept Barcus informed of the activities over the last several hours. Dr. Shaw had not left the med bay, in all that time. She raised an eyebrow at his expression.

  “How's Olias?” Barcus asked, as she approached.

  She looked at Po with concern because Barcus carried her.

  “He'll be okay, thanks to the five-point harnesses inside the EM they called Par. Both he and Ulric would be dead, otherwise.” She looked at Po. “I'd like to scan Po, if I may. And, the man called Smith has refused any assistance, thus far. I understand you have influence with these people.”

  Po lifted her head at this statement. “I'm alright. I will go and get Smith though.”

  She saw Smith, talking with Worthington and Tyrrell; so, Barcus let her down. She walked to get him.

  “Why do you want to scan Po? She was with us, remember?” Barcus asked.

  They watched her walk up to Smith, and without a word, take his arm and drag him back.

  “These people are...” Shaw hesitated a long moment. “They have...”

  She was interrupted by Po, returning with Smith. “He is ready for his scan now, Doctor. Come along, Smith.”

  “Don't fight it, Smith. It's of no use,” Barcus said, as Po marched him to the ramp. “See if you can fix the eye, Doc. We need him.”

  Dr. Shaw stopped him. “Barcus, these people have genome modifications. That's what I’m trying to tell you.” She paused, for emphasis. “Some of them have standard, control group markers inserted. I can't do a full analysis in a triage bay, but these people are definitely experiment subjects, modern experiments, not 200-year-old colony bullshit. But today, the state of the art stuff I have only read about.”