Chom lunged to his desk, snapping on the intercom, barking orders. Something was about to happen, maybe even with Maddox and the primed O’Hara.
-14-
As Chom had his revelation and short but furious fight with Alusz, and as Maddox and Larick spoke on Victory’s bridge, Mary O’Hara twisted upon her cot in her room in the Lake Vostok Rehabilitation Center.
It was a spacious room with several tables set up with half and quarter-completed jigsaw puzzles on them. O’Hara was an older woman known for her gray hair, matronly demeanor and having a sure hand at Intelligence operations—when she had run it before. She was still fit and lean, exercising daily.
She wore gray overalls today, twisting and sweating upon her cot. She had a good idea that surveillance cameras watched her constantly. She had fought the thoughts in her mind. They had grown stronger lately. She wondered why no one had come to relieve her.
It will be easy, a voice said in her mind. The same voice had spoken to her years earlier. I’ve installed several aides here. They can prepare and help you.
“No,” Mary said, clamping her hands over her ears. She didn’t want to hear more. She’d faced Bosks and Draegars here, and they’d tampered with her mind again. She wanted her own thoughts. She didn’t want to be anyone’s tool.
I can make the voices go away.
O’Hara stopped twisting, although she still panted. “How?” she rasped. “How can you do that?”
It would take an operation. You wouldn’t mind that, would you if it gave you your own thoughts again?
“Why haven’t you operated already?”
Shhh, the voice said. Don’t talk so loudly.
“Can you hear my thoughts?”
No…not exactly, the voice said.
“But…” O’Hara said quietly.
Listen. I feel that you’re ready to listen. You need to move underground. You have to get there fast or you’re going to die.
“What? Why?”
Shhh. No more talking. It’s time to act, my dear. Will you act to save your sanity?
From upon the cot, O’Hara nodded.
You’ll be glad you listened to me, the voice said. I’m coming, and I don’t want to accidently kill you. Now, get up and do exactly as I tell you.
“Yes,” O’Hara said, climbing off the cot.
***
Galyan found O’Hara moving down a corridor with a stun rod in her left hand.
The Adok holoimage looked back. A beefy attendant in white lay unconscious on the floor. O’Hara must have beaten him unconscious with the shock rod.
Galyan floated after her, finding that she was mumbling to herself.
He was hardly visible. If he were any fainter, he would have been invisible. Then, his optic sensors wouldn’t have worked. He had been in a similar state when he’d listened to Larick give his instructions to his MPs on the shuttlecraft two days ago.
“I say, Brigadier,” Galyan said softly.
O’Hara halted, straightened and shook her head a moment later. “You said no more voices would talk in my head.”
Galyan floated in front of her. “I am right here, Brigadier.”
O’Hara squinted ahead of her, and she finally saw him. She bolted upright and screamed, swinging the stun rod a moment later. It passed harmlessly through the holoimage.
“Please, Brigadier, do not do that, as I find it unseemly.”
“Am I seeing things?” Mary shouted.
“It is me, Galyan. You remember me, yes?”
“Ga—”
“Do not say my name,” he cautioned.
She blinked, blinked some more and blinked yet again. “Did my grand—”
“Do not say his name either,” Galyan admonished.
“He’s here?”
Galyan used a ropy arm and finger to point up.
“I understand,” O’Hara said. “What is…what’s going on? Did you speak to me earlier?”
Instead of answering, Galyan asked, “What did the voice tell you to do?”
O’Hara hesitated. She finally used her left wrist to wipe sweat from her forehead. Speaking quickly, she told Galyan her latest instructions. “Does that make sense to you?” she asked afterward.
Galyan heard footfalls racing this way. The sounds indicated several attendants. “It does make sense if it came from those who spoke to you on the Pacific Island Prison. You had better hurry, Brigadier.”
“You think the voice was right?”
“Maybe,” Galyan said. “He will help you, though. First, you must remain alive.”
“An attack really is coming here?” she asked. “I’m not going mad?”
“No, Brigadier, you are not. And yes, I think one is coming. It is time, finally, to implement the plan on both their ends, I think.”
“What plan?” O’Hara asked. But Galyan was gone.
Mary O’Hara swallowed audibly. Galyan had as much told her that Maddox was here, her dear grandson, all that was left from Sandra, her long-lost daughter.
Her grip tightened around the stun baton. She’d finally realized that the people around her had been using her. She did not like that. She’d wanted help. If Galyan had acted like this, it indicated that—
“I’m bait,” O’Hara whispered.
But bait for what? She dearly wanted to know. She also wanted her mind back, with no inner voices able to intrude into her thoughts.
If anyone could help her, it would be her wonderful grandson.
O’Hara heard footfalls then, and shouts over the intercom telling her to go back to her room.
“No,” she said, breaking into a wind sprint down the hall. She had to get underground, and she had to get there now if she wanted to survive the coming attack.
-15-
Maddox sat in his command chair on the bridge of Victory. Lieutenant Commissar Larick stood nearby.
“Sir,” Valerie said from her station. “I’m getting word that your grandmother has gone berserk.”
Maddox swiveled his seat toward the lieutenant. “Explain,” he said.
Valerie did so rapidly.
“Do you have a transcript of exactly what she said?” Larick demanded.
“I do,” Galyan said, appearing on the bridge. “Sir, do the words ‘Bosk’ and ‘Draegar’ mean anything to you?”
“What is that thing talking about?” Larick demanded.
Maddox stared at the huge Neptunian. Galyan had just given him the code words. He’d expected Draegars after what Stokes had told him about Cook.
Larick pointed a thick index finger at Valerie. “I gave you an order, Lieutenant. Give me a transcript on O’Hara’s babblings.”
“Belay that order,” Maddox told Valerie. “What’s O’Hara doing now?”
Larick grunted forcefully as he laid hold of one of the command chair’s arm, swiveling Maddox to face him. “That’s enough of that. Don’t you ever countermand one of my orders again.”
A malicious grin spread across Maddox’s face as his right booted foot came up fast as he drew his right knee back. With a blast of power, he slammed the sole of his right boot against Larick’s chest, kicking the ponderous lieutenant commissar away from him.
The two elite MPs leaning against the bulkhead near the main bridge hatch straightened in shock and surprise. Both of them began drawing their sidearms.
Stunner shots sounded. A heavy blot of power struck each one in the chest. Both MPs crumbled to the deck, pistols clattering.
Sergeant Riker holstered his stunner.
“Captain Maddox,” Larick sputtered in outrage. “I’ll have you shot for this.”
Maddox hurled himself from his chair, drawing a service blaster. With a cobra-like strike, he brought the heavy handle of the weapon down across the commissar’s forehead. It made a thud like a baseball bat. Larick grunted in pain and his eyelids fluttered. Maddox brought the gun up and then down even harder.
That did it. The 350-pound lieutenant commissar collapsed onto the deck, unconscious an
d bloody.
Valerie stared at Larick in dismay and growing horror. “S-sir,” she sputtered.
Maddox holstered his blaster as he stared at Larick. The captain seemed to come to himself, whirling around. “Sergeant Riker, take a detail. Arrest the rest of the MPs. Put them in the brig.”
“If they resist arrest, sir?” asked Riker.
“None of that, Sergeant. We’re not assassins but military personnel of Star Watch. Galyan has recorded plenty of evidence for us. We have no worries on that front.”
“What are you talking about, sir?” Valerie asked.
“I’d like to chat,” Maddox said. “First, what’s that on your board?”
Valerie turned, cried out and began manipulating her board. “Sir, this is—this is preposterous.”
“Put it on the main screen, please,” Maddox said.
Valerie did just that.
On the main screen, three…fireballs appeared. They appeared between the mesosphere and stratosphere, which put them at 85 kilometers above the Earth’s surface and descending fast.
“Galyan,” Maddox said.
“Sir,” the holoimage said.
“Do you see that?” Maddox pointed at the main screen.
“I have to report—”
“Just a second, Galyan,” Maddox said. “Do you see the location?”
“Where the fireballs first appeared?” Galyan asked.
“Precisely.”
“I do, sir.”
“Fire the neutron beam into that exact area. I suspect a cloaked vessel is hidden there.”
“Yes, sir,” Galyan said. “I spoke to O’Hara, by the way.”
“And?”
Galyan gave the captain a quick rundown on what had transpired in the rehab center.
“What’s going on?” Valerie shouted, who had been listening to Galyan. “This isn’t making any sense.”
“Control yourself, Lieutenant,” Maddox said. “All will become clear shortly.”
“That is true, sir,” Galyan said. “By the way, I am firing.”
On the main screen, a purple neutron beam lanced downward. It struck the targeted area between the mesosphere and stratosphere and continued beaming.
“Miss,” Galyan said.
“Recalibrate,” Maddox said.
“What about the fireballs?” Galyan asked. “They are obviously of non-Star Watch origin and indicate the Methuselah Woman.”
“Sir,” Valerie said. “Earth Defense Antarctica is activating. They are targeting the fireballs.”
“Good,” Maddox said. “Give me the trajectory of the fireballs.”
Valerie tapped her board before looking up. “Sir, it’s the rehabilitation center near Lake Vostok.”
Maddox struck one of the armrests. He’d been fearing that.
“A second miss, sir,” Galyan said. “I am no longer certain there is any cloaked vessel in the area you suggested.”
“No?” asked Maddox. “So, where did the fireballs come from?”
“I do not know,” Galyan said.
“Lieutenant,” Maddox said. “Do you have any ideas?”
“No, sir,” Valerie said. “There are incoming calls. Antarctica Defense wants to know what you’re shooting at.”
“The origin point of the fireballs,” Maddox said.
“They hit it,” the pilot shouted. “Look, one of the fireballs exploded.”
Maddox leaned forward, studying the main screen. Antarctica-based laser beams lanced upward where the fireball had been.
“That’s strange,” Andros Crank said. He was at the science board on the bridge.
“Spit it out, Chief,” Maddox said.
“I’m detecting bio readings from the exploded fireball,” Andros said.
“Come again?” asked Maddox.
“Bio readings,” Andros said, as he manipulated his panel. “Make that humanoid if not necessarily human figures.”
“The fireball was a…a missile, a shuttle?” asked Maddox.
“Some form of transportation I should think,” Andros said.
Maddox sat back. Then he launched upright. “New technology,” he said. “They want to kidnap O’Hara just like Chom suspected. The fireballs aren’t missiles but insertion vessels.”
“That’s preposterous,” Valerie said.
“Not at all,” Galyan said. “Since Larick is unconscious, I can tell you, sir. They used Bosks and Draegars down there to program your grandmother. I believe she is an assassin, sir, meant to kill Lisa Meyers. This is a most elaborate plot, I must say.”
Maddox’s face had darkened as Galyan spoke. “You have the bridge,” he told Valerie. “Lock up the commissar and his MPs. Don’t let them speak to anyone. That’s a direct order.”
“Where are you going, sir?” Valerie asked.
Maddox skidded to a halt at the bridge exit. “Get Keith off his duff. Tell him to report to Hangar Bay Three. I’m taking a tin can downstairs. He’s flying me there.”
“But—”
“Do as ordered, Lieutenant,” Maddox said. Then he exited the bridge, racing to get to the rehabilitation center before the occupants of the fireballs beat him to it.
-16-
Maddox clicked restraints into place as Keith Maker warmed up the jumpfighter on Hangar Bay Three.
“I don’t get it,” Keith said. “Fireballs are entry vehicles?”
Maddox finished checking his New Man blaster, twisting the setting to narrow beam and holstering it.
“Are we there yet?” asked Maddox, looking up.
“Should I fold directly from the hangar bay?”
Maddox debated it, although it was against regulations.
“I’m joking, I’m joking,” Keith said. “Hang on, now. The outer door is opening.”
With expert ease, Keith caused the tin can-shaped jumpfighter to head for the opening door to space. The Earth was visible outside, with the icy continent of Antarctica in sight.
“Do you have the fold coordinates?” Maddox snapped.
“Ready and raring, mate, sir,” Keith said. “You know it’s a blizzard down there, right?”
“Do the fireballs care?”
“Are you going outside once we get there?”
“Yes.”
“Then we want to change the coordinates just a little. Valerie put me in the line-of-sight of a laser battery. Do you still think she’s pissed at me?”
“Lieutenant, my grandmother—the Iron Lady’s life might well depend on us.”
Keith glanced at Maddox, and the Scotsman nodded. Then, he focused on his task, increasing speed for the door.
Maddox brooded. He hated sitting still. He hated it even more these days. That was the problem with seething vitality. A person with it wanted to be doing, not sitting and thinking. His grandmother… It was so different having family. Sure, the crew used to be his family, but that wasn’t the same. Mary O’Hara was the same flesh and blood as him. She was the only regular human kin he had. She was precious to him, although he would not have admitted that to anyone, not even Meta.
Meta was also his family now. But Mary was blood kin. She’d looked after him all those years growing up. If she hadn’t been in his corner—
“Getting ready to fold, sir,” Keith said.
Maddox peered at a screen. Antarctica spread out below. According to the readings, the anti-space batteries had destroyed another fireball. The last one had almost reached the rehabilitation center.
How had the fireballs simply appeared 85 kilometers above the Earth’s surface? Did they belong to Lisa Meyers? Was this Jotun technology in action? Maddox didn’t think so.
“One more second,” Keith said.
“What’s wrong?” Maddox asked, detecting the problem from the ace’s voice inflection.
“There’s been an explosion at the point of our appearance, sir. The fireball hit the rehab center. I’m giving you visual.”
Maddox leaned over, looking at Keith’s split screen. He saw a fiery explosion in
the blinding white blizzard down there. He saw burning chunks of building flying everywhere.
“Andros said the fireballs contained human crews,” Maddox said.
“Do we still go down?”
“Now, now,” Maddox said. “O’Hara is still down there.”
“I have to say, sir, we’re dead if we do that. We have to wait until the explosion dissipates a little. You want to be right on the deck, right?”
“Yes,” Maddox said in a hollow voice.
What was Nostradamus’s play in all this? Did the Liss thing want to take out Meyers because it would soon run the Commonwealth? This all seemed overelaborate and staged. He shook his head. If Nostradamus thought this would help the Liss, Maddox would use the possible Lisa Meyers attack to his advantage. He would start by freeing his grandmother.
“Get us down on the deck,” Maddox said crisply. “Do it now.”
“Folding,” Keith said, “and cross your fingers.”
Maddox waited for it, and he blanked out. As he raised his head seconds later, coming out of a daze, the tin can shifted crazily, and howling sounds shrieked around them.
“Damn me,” Keith shouted. “Hang on!”
The tin can slewed right and then went sickeningly up. Scraping sounds came from below. The tin can sank again. Metal hissed overhead.
“There,” Keith shouted, watching his screen. “I see an opening for you. You sure you want me to unload you, mate?”
Maddox had already unbuckled. “Check your sensors. Do you see life signs?”
“Hang on. Give me a second.”
The tin can went up and down, and Maddox might have fallen, but he grabbed a handhold.
“Hello,” Keith said. “I’m seeing dead people. But there’s a concentrated knot of fast-moving bastards. According to this, they’re wearing armor.”
“Space Marine armor?” asked Maddox.
“Plate metal,” Keith said. “They’re carrying metal lances, too. Do they think they’re knights?”
“Do you have a line of fire on them?”
“Negative, sir. They must have found stairs. They’re going below into the basement.”
The Lost Intelligence (Lost Starship Series Book 12) Page 25
