by Wid Bastian
Cassia and Carter went through the door and began to climb up the shaft. It was a large space, a twenty meter wide tube rising from the reactor below to the towers above where a series of scrubbers decontaminated the exhaust before it was vented into the atmosphere.
Before Alandreian could react, Carter flew up the shaft sticking to the walls and then flying off them. He reached the first level in seconds and was positioned by the door at the surface. Kano was waiting on the other side.
Alandreian hesitated, hoping that Parsons would be the next to ascend. The other soldiers caught on and waited for Parsons to go first.
“After you, General. I’ll bring up the rear,” Parsons said, foiling their tactic.
Parsons was still outside of the shaft. Cassia was halfway up and climbing. Alandreian looked at Mason and nodded.
Mason raised his fist and smashed Corporal Parsons on the head with a sideways blow. The force of Masons’ rock like arm nearly took Parsons’ head off. He fell to the steel surface, twitching. Mason finished the job with a stomp that sprayed what remained of Parsons head all over the floor.
Cassia could not hear or see the attack on Parsons, but she felt it. Knowing that she had been deceived, Cassia tumbled up the shaft at high speed towards Carter.
“Open up!” Alandreian ordered. The Supersoldiers entered the portal and fired on Cassia and Carter who were now both on the surface level of the exhaust shaft.
Instinctively Cassia dodged most of the Light Rifle blasts, but she knew eventually she would be hit. They had only seconds to get the door open, but when they did they would be facing troops in both directions. Surprise was their only advantage and given the Light Rifle fire in the reactor exhaust portal she doubted that was an option for them.
Carter took two then three Light Rifle blasts. His body absorbed them and passed the energy out through his feet. His translucent frame lit up like a flare every time he took a pulse. Each hit was taking its toll; clearly he could not endure many more.
Cassia flung herself at the door and it popped open. She and Carter jumped out of the reactor shaft and were suddenly on the surface in minus five degree Fahrenheit weather, positioned directly across from over thirty Marines who were clearly not expecting to see them.
The hallways on either side of the west end lift were now completely aflame. The nano monsters were also ignited, but they used the flames as cover and engaged the soldiers in close quarter combat. One by one the Marines fell as the flaming nano monsters slashed at them, tearing the men to pieces.
When one of the nano monsters was shot to pieces and temporarily immobilized a Marine took advantage of the situation and straddled the creature’s center. Pulling a sharp blade from the sheath at his hip, he jammed it into the side of the creature’s neck. The Marine let loose a loud war cry as he pulled the knife out. A wave of warm, florescent spray from the gaping wound covered him. But his victory was short lived. Before he could move away, another monster came up behind him and slashed his head off with one swipe of a deadly claw.
Now there were over a hundred soldiers battling the creatures on each end of the hallway. The body count was piling up, fifty plus dead Marines littered the floor. Another creature was extinguished this time from a slew of well-aimed Light Rifle fire. The Marines were finding that the creatures could be killed, but only at a tremendous cost of human life.
Kano knew that Cassia was coming and the other Supersoldiers had betrayed them. His first duty was to secure the aircraft, but now he believed if he didn’t do something to help them, Cassia and Carter would never make it to the plane.
Alandreian and his team scrambled up the shaft. Carter had shut the door and locked it behind him. Mason was the last to make it to the first level door; his massive frame was more adapted to marine life, which left him trailing behind.
“Open it, Mason,” Alandreian ordered.
Mason bashed the door with his fists and after a few crushing blows it popped off its hinges and rolled onto the ground.
The Marines let loose with everything they had, spraying the reactors access door with withering fire. Then Kano took a few Marines out, hoping Cassia could see or sense what he was doing and take advantage.
Cassia and Carter, who had taken cover behind a storage box, rolled, dodged, and jumped until they were face to face with the Marine force. They broke through their ranks as quickly as possible, killing a few Marines as they dashed through making a beeline for the aircraft.
Chapter Seventeen
“General,” Lancet yelled into his com device, “Cassia and Carter have escaped through the line.”
Light Rifle blasts were cascading in through the open portal, as were pulse grenades. The grenades tumbled down the open shaft, exploding harmlessly at the bottom.
“We have to follow them,” Alandreian said. They were all huddled on the small step of the first level. Trying to keep low enough to avoid the blasts, they knew that it wouldn’t be long before they were overrun.
Switching on his com to address all of his men over the tumult of the battle Alandreian said, “We’ll have only a minute, maybe seconds. I need six men to move through the door and give us cover. It’s a one way trip, you’ll be killed, but if you buy us a moment some of us can escape and try and stop Cassia.”
All six of the NCOs volunteered without hesitation. They were prepared to die for Alandreian, for the cause.
“Step out, firing as you go. Direct your fire toward the north side of their line. They have no idea how fast we are. We will be on them before they can react. Lancet, Halverson, Mason you’re with me. Mason, you’re the ramrod, our main mobile cover.”
Mason slithered out a response the General took to mean that he understood.
“On my mark men. It has been an honor to serve with you.” Alandreian said. Then he gave the go signal, a wave of his hand.
The six NCOs leapt through the portal and took up a position two meters in front of the entrance. They were hit immediately, but given their enhanced physiology they were able to absorb the energy blasts and keep on firing. Alandreian, Halverson, Lancet and Mason were right on their heels.
Mason then provided cover as the General moved toward the line. Halverson and Lancet engaged the troops in hand to hand combat, preventing them from firing towards the portal. Alandreian reached the line with only a few minor wounds and then tore off toward the flight line.
“It’s actually very simple Captain,” Cassia said as she addressed the flight crew of the aircraft. “Proceed outbound per your flight plan. As for your passengers, they are our responsibility.”
“We have orders. If we do what you ask, we will be executed,” the Captain responded.
“Death is coming, Captain,” Carter said. “This entire base will be nothing but a pile of radioactive debris in minutes. Do you want to live, or not?” After Carter had said this, he reached over and ripped the flight engineer’s head off from the roof of his mouth. “Three members of your flight crew are left Captain. Shall I continue?”
“We don’t need more than one pilot. In fact, I don’t need any pilots, but you do reduce our risk.” As she spoke, Cassia was using her third eye to watch the activity on the tarmac through the pilot’s window. “So, I am willing to let you three live. When we land you can leave, go anywhere you wish. That’s the deal. Take it or die.”
“There are four of us,” The Captain replied.
Carter then disemboweled another member of the flight crew. With death in his voice he said, “Three.”
Cassia moved towards the navigator, but before she killed him she quietly pronounced “Two”.
The Captain then yelled, “Okay! Enough! We’ll fly you out of here. We have less than ten minutes to depart. Are we ready to leave?”
“Yes. Your passengers are secured,” Cassia said. “Carter will stay here to ensure your cooperation.”
Carter unbuckled the deceased navigator from his seat and tossed his body on the floor. Looking over at the Captain he smiled
and said “It’s so nice to be a member of your crew, Captain.” He laughed as he buckled in and the now terrified Captain began going through his preflight checks.
In the main cabin of the plane fourteen generals and their aides lay dead. Kano gassed them shortly before Cassia and Carter arrived. The environmental controls on the plane were capable of releasing a deadly gas and then removing it from the interior cabin in less than five minutes. Since all of the generals were under orders not to communicate with anyone while on board the plane, Cassia was fairly certain their demise had not been detected by High Command.
As soon as he saw that the engines on the transport plane were revving up, Alandreian knew where Cassia, Carter and Kano were. The base was now in a state of mass confusion – between the nano monsters attacking inside and the Marines battling the Supersoldiers outside people were scattering in every direction. Good order and discipline had transformed into chaos.
From experience, Alandreian knew transport planes did not have the same security features as jet fighters and bombers. The cargo bay would likely be the most vulnerable access point. Given his superior strength Alandreian easily disengaged the hydraulic locking mechanism on the cargo bay door and climbed inside.
On the flight deck an alarm sounded indicating that the main cargo bay door had been opened; it quickly went off when the hatch was resealed.
“What was that?” Carter asked.
“The main cargo bay door sensor flashed open, but then quickly flashed closed again. It has to be a malfunction. That door weighs half a ton; no one could open and close it that quickly. Let me re-check the sensor.”
“Cassia,” Carter said in his com link. “We have a visitor. Main cargo bay.”
“Kano,” Cassia ordered. “Deal with this.”
“My pleasure,” Kano responded and flew down the aisle, opening the hatch to the main cargo bay and then closing it behind him. Inside the cargo bay, General Alandreian hid behind a large row of metal containers. He had assumed they would be coming for him. He had his Light Rifle and sidearm at the ready.
“General,” Kano said. “Why are you here?”
“Kano, where are you?”
“I can kill you at will. Cassia may not want you dead though. We’ll see.”
“I’m not sure you realize what’s at stake, Sergeant. Those monsters, those creatures Cassia created - she is going to turn that poison loose in the world. I can’t believe you want to see that happen.”
“Why not? It’s not as if humanity has done much for the planet. I think it’s time for a change.”
“Don’t you care about anyone? You have family, brothers or -.”
“Cassia does not want me to kill you. But I will unless you do exactly what I tell you.” As Kano gave his command the plane began to move, slowly taxiing towards the runway.
“She wants to talk to me?” Alandreian couldn’t hide the surprise in his voice.
“That’s what I gather. Drop your weapons and kick them away. Come out from behind that container and step into the open.” Kano sounded amused and quite pleased at the power he now held over the General.
Alandreian considered his options. He agreed, Kano could kill him at will. He dropped his Light Rifle and sidearm and kicked them away placing his hands interlocked behind his head.
He watched as the Light Rifle and the sidearm were picked up by Kano, but he could not see anything other than two floating guns, pointing directly at him. “After you, sir,” Kano said politely, ushering him towards the stairs leading to the main cabin.
Think, Ben, think Alandreian urged himself. I do not need to take over this plane; I just need to send a message to Air Defense Command telling them the flight has been compromised. I need a working satellite com link and ten seconds.
When the General arrived at the door he was greeted by Cassia, who opened it from the other side. Alandreian kept his hands behind his head and stepped back as Kano shut and sealed the hatch.
“By coming here you may have saved your life, General. That pleases me. You now have a chance to reconsider your recent mistakes.”
“Cassia, listen to me. There is no way the Cassia I’ve known for all my adult life would do this, would -.”
“Preserve myself? Refuse to be executed? I have never been a fan of my own death. Now I have so much more to live for, so much to offer a desperate world.”
“Those freakish creatures? What do they offer humanity?”
“I’m not as interested in humanity as I used to be. In fact, I’m not interested in humanity at all.”
There it was, sitting right on Cassia’s belt - a satellite com link, no doubt fully functional. If Alandreian could just reach it, tune it and send a message. Suddenly the plane lurched to a stop, sending Alandreian and Cassia tumbling. Unfortunately for the General, Cassia got farther away from him in the process.
“Watch him,” Cassia ordered Kano. “If he tries anything, put him down.” With that, Cassia went to the flight deck and opened the door to see what had caused the plane to stop so abruptly.
“Problems?” Cassia asked forcefully.
“Apparently so,” Carter answered. “A vehicle is stalled on the taxiway, a rather large troop carrier. They are reporting a dead power cell with -.”
“No doubt you have to have a contingency plan in place to deal with this complication, Captain,” Cassia said.
Picking up his com link, the Captain looked at Cassia and said, “May I?”
Cassia nodded and said, “Take care what you say.”
“Air command this is Transport Flight One Niner Five on a priority mission out of Forged Bay. We have a stalled vehicle on the taxi way and three minutes to depart. Please advise.”
“One Niner Five, move back one hundred meters from the stalled vehicle. You have thirty seconds.”
“Roger that,” the Captain said as he put his engines in reverse and moved away.
A bolt of energy came down from the sky and with one big red flash a low orbiting laser took out the transport, slaughtering the troops inside and turning the huge vehicle into ash. The chaos on the base intensified as alarms sounded and everyone ran for cover assuming the Eastern Alliance was attacking Forged Bay.
“How simple it is for them to murder their own, Captain,” Cassia said. “Can we leave now?”
“Departing, sir,” the Captain said as he pulled the plane forward, rolling over a half meter of black soot.
While Cassia was on the flight deck, Alandreian got the drop on Kano. The carpet was plush and spongy on the transport. Alandreian could see the foot imprints of where Kano was standing. The General had asked to use the head and once he was close enough to Kano he took a chance and assaulted him slamming his head into the steel edge of some counter space. He either killed him or knocked him out, he wasn’t sure, but he threw Kano down into the cargo bay and locked the door.
Now standing by the flight deck door, Alandreian was waiting for Cassia to emerge. His plan was to shoot her at point blank range with his Light Rifle and hope it would be enough to at least stun her while he finished the job.
Cassia was ready to open the door, but she had an instinct, a feeling, something was wrong. Kano was alive, she confirmed that, but he was… Gone, that’s all she knew. He was gone.
“Carter, we have a problem. Kano is in distress. The General may be free in the main cabin.”
“Are the satellite communication links disabled on the plane?”
“Only mine is functional. He cannot signal anyone… unless he gets off the plane and…” Cassia burst through the door.
Seconds earlier Alandreian had had the same thought. Even though Forged Bay was on lock down, it was very possible the remaining aircraft on the flight line might still have active coms. As Cassia watched, Alandreian leaped from the plane, hit the tarmac and rolled. He was up and running as the aircraft continued to propel itself towards its takeoff position.
“I cannot take off with the forward door open sir,” the pilot said.
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Cassia closed the door. The odds were not in the Generals favor, even if he did make contact it would be too late.
“Goodbye, General,” Cassia said. Her hair spun in the wind like silk as the door actuated ‘closed’ then ‘locked’.
Alandreian watched as the transport took off and disappeared into the sky. The snow was falling heavily now and the wind was raging. He had only one option, a fighter parked about a mile down the runway. It was probably fueled and ready for takeoff, left abandoned when the order was given to stand down.
If I only knew how to fly one of these damn things, Alandreian thought. He tried the main com system. No surprise, it was dead. Reaching under the seat, he pawed around looking for the distress pack, a standard set of emergency equipment originally designed for a pilot to strap onto his suit before bailing out.
