Kruger smiled. “Let’s not start off on the wrong foot. We were expecting a better welcome than this.” He looked around at the assembled colonists, who were becoming decidedly twitchy.
“I think perhaps a little demonstration might be in order.” With that he lifted a small handheld weapon and fired at one of the colonists high up in the gantry. A burst of incandescent brilliance strobed the cavern as the colonist was encased in a mesh of flashing light. He shook violently and then fell from his position down onto a plastic crate with a thump. This resulted in the colonists directing a hail of fire at the six COM crewmembers, who were also returning fire. All around Nills and Anika colonists were engulfed in flashing balls of plasma. The cavern reverberated with the sounds of shrieking and whoomp, whoomp from the weapons of the COM crew.
Nills shouted, “Stop, stop, cease fire.”
The six COM crew stood exactly where they were, as if nothing had happened, the colonists’ railguns having had absolutely no effect against the amour of their EVA suits. They stood and faced off against each other as the realization slowly sank in to the colonists that they were completely defenseless.
“Like I said, let’s not start off on the wrong foot. There is nothing you have that can threaten us. So why don’t you all just drop your weapons and behave. You’ll find your fallen comrades to be just temporarily paralyzed, they’ll come to—eventually.”
Nills knew there was no point in fighting. They were totally outclassed. So he turned around to the colonists still standing. “Put down the weapons. Nothing will be gained by any more fighting.” And he threw his own weapon on the ground in front of the commander. One by one the colonists followed suit. The battle was over. They had lost.
The COM mercenaries began to split them up into groups and then started herding them back in to the main cavern in Colony Two, carrying their fallen comrades as they went. It was clear to Nills that COM had detailed knowledge of its layout. They knew where to go, how to get there and what to do to keep complete control of the situation. He was about to fall into line with the others when the commander came over and tapped his shoulder. Nills spun around.
“Mr. Langthorp. If you would be so kind as to follow me.”
“Where to?”
“This way, into the rover. We’re going on a little journey. There is someone who very much wants to meet you.”
10
VanHoff
Nills sat in the back of the rover as it bounced over the surface. Outside, the Martian world was obscured by a thick cloud of dust. The driver navigated through this impenetrable fog by virtue of a heads-up display overlaid across the entire front windscreen. The oncoming topography rendered itself in grainy detail like seeing the world through a old fashioned video game. To Nills, the machine had a distinct military design about it: sparse, utilitarian, and crammed with technical wizardry. Facing him, on the opposite side of the rover, Commander Kruger sat clutching a short but bulky weapon across his lap.
“Pulsed Energy Projectile, if I’m not mistaken.” Nills nodded at the weapon. Kruger gave a sideways grin and gripped the weapon closer.
“Very good, right on the money. How did you know that?”
“I read about them. Interesting technology. Although, the ones I looked at needed a truck to carry them around.”
Kruger held up the weapon and examined it like it was a treasured possession. “Things have moved on a bit since then.”
The problem with ballistic weapons in any space environment is similar to that in an aircraft with a pressurized cabin. There is a strong likelihood of puncturing the delicate fabric of the hull and suffering a catastrophic loss of internal pressure. The problem of course, is far greater in space because, at least with the aircraft you could technically still be alive while you plummeted to your death from 10,000 ft. In space however, you died almost instantly just from the decompression, not to mention lack of oxygen and sub-zero temperatures.
So when it became apparent to the powers that be that a different type of weapon would be required by any future spacefaring law enforcement agency, the task fell to DARPA to come up with a solution. Some argued that there should be no need for this sort of thing at all. Others said just keep it simple, and go back to using bows and arrows. But this didn’t fit very well with the high-tech space exploration image.
As luck would have it, DARPA happened to have something that might fit the bill, something they had been working on for quite some time. It came about from the desire of terrestrial agencies for a non-lethal weapon. Something they could use in riots and general public disorder situations where killing the actual protagonists would be… well, overkill.
It was called a Pulsed Energy Projectile Weapon, or simple PEP. It utilized a high-energy laser pulse that created a small plasma explosion on impact. This explosion created an electromagnetic shock wave that stunned the target. Because it relied on electrical energy rather than a projectile to get the job done, it could be used with relative safety in the enclosed confines of a space station, with little risk of puncturing a hole in the outer skin. Although, it would do a good job of frying any electronics that happened to be in the way.
So far so good. The only downside was it weighed in at a hefty 250kg, about the weight of three men, and needed a truck to carry it around. Nevertheless, their early developments were dusted off and over time it became lighter and deadlier. The variants that the COM mercenaries used were still a good deal heavier than even a fully tooled up Browning M2, but in one-third G, that really didn’t matter. They also could be lethal, although they did come with a very handy knob allowing you to adjust the level of deadliness, dialing it down from lethal to paralyze to stun.
It was a revolutionary weapon, particularly for crowd control. No longer did security personnel need to be hesitant, they could take out large numbers of aggressors with impunity. It made it viable for a small number of well armed individuals to safely deal with a much larger number of subjects. In Commander Kruger’s mind, it was the weapon that made this mission possible.
“So where are we going?” Nills already knew the answer to this. Let’s face it, there were not many places on Mars you could go. But he had Kruger talking, so decided to keep probing.
“Back to the ship. Somebody wants to meet you.”
“Somebody too important to risk entering the colony facility.”
“Yeah, something like that.” It was a hesitant reply.
“So you haven’t entered Colony One then?”
Kruger stayed silent for a minute, sizing Nills up. “I’m sure he’ll fill you in when you meet.”
The driver cocked his head around. “Commander, ETA in one minute.”
Nills looked at the heads up display. A new shape was beginning to format itself in the gloom, it was big. And since it was still one minute away, it must be very big indeed.
By the time they arrived Nills realized that big was too small a word for it. The only thing he saw outside through the windshield was a gigantic landing strut as they passed on the right hand side of it. Ahead of them a gantry had been lowered, presumably from the underside of the ship. Yellow lights flashed and illuminated the clouds of dust that had been whipped up in the storm. The rover drove straight onto the gantry platform, came to a halt, and then started to slowly ascend—into the belly of the whale.
A few moments later, Nills stepped out of the rover and into a compact utilitarian loading bay. It was crammed full of equipment and machines, they were anticipating a long stay. As he looked around the ship he considered just how far things had progressed since the early days of the first colonist landings. They had all been packed like sardines into tiny craft. How long ago was that now, he wondered. Over a decade?
“This way.” Kruger ushered him across the loading bay to a ladder leading up into the interior of the craft.
“Follow me.” He started climbing up. Nills followed. They passed up through a number of levels until finally they stepped off into an operations area.
Several crewmembers occupied various workstations around the perimeter of the space. They all stopped what they were doing and turned around to look at Nills. In the middle of the room, sitting at a circular holo-table was a gaunt looking old man.
“Nills Langthorp, a pleasure to meet you. Please have a seat.” The old man signaled to an empty chair on the opposite side of the holo-table. Nills obliged.
He leaned in and studied Nills for a moment. “Incredible. To know of your existence is one thing, but to see you in the flesh is another thing entirely.”
“Let me guess,” said Nills. “Peter VanHoff, head honcho of the Colony One Mars consortium.”
VanHoff gave a thin smile. “Very good, you are correct. How did you guess?”
“To know of your existence is one thing, but to see you in the flesh, well…”
VanHoff stopped smiling.
“So what do you want with me?” Nills continued.
VanHoff waved a dismissive hand. “Later. In the meantime I just want you where I can see you, out of harm’s way.”
“Why, is there going to be some harm?”
VanHoff shifted in his seat. “It seems our Oriental friends are being somewhat obstinate. Things could get a little… fractious, shall we say. They have battened down the hatches in Colony One and are refusing to cede authority.”
“So they’ve given you the middle finger, then.”
“Mere petulance on their part. I assure you we will regain control of what is rightfully ours.”
“And what about the colonists?”
“That’s what we would like to know. Whose side are they on?”
“They’re on nobody’s side. They just want to live in peace.”
“Don’t we all, Mr. Langthorp.”
Nills stood up. “Well, it was nice talking to you, Peter. Let’s do it again sometime. Now, if you don’t mind I could do with a lift back.”
VanHoff laughed. “Fascinating. You are a character, I’ll give you that.” His face stiffened. “Now sit down, you’re not going anywhere.”
Nills surveyed the room, several of the crew were gathered around, ready for action. Nills sighed, and sat down again. “Maybe I could stay a bit longer, then.”
“Very good. Now, to answer your question. You are here for two reasons. Firstly, if the Chinese don’t cooperate, and accept the ruling of the courts, then we will simply take over Colony One through force of arms. What I need you to do is settle the clones down, and make sure they don’t do anything foolish.”
“You mean the colonists.”
“You know what I mean. Let’s not make this any more difficult that it needs to be.”
“What about Dr. Malbec? How are you planning to get her on your side?”
VanHoff’s lips tightened. “Leave Malbec to me. She is the primary cause of all this mayhem—and she needs to pay for it.”
Nills jumped up, leaned across the holo-table and gripped VanHoff by the lapels. “Over my dead body, you twisted little shit.”
The crew scrambled to drag Nills off. He let go of VanHoff, just as a few thousand volts from a cattle prod shot through his body. He collapsed back down on the seat, his arm was twisted back and held tight by one of the crew. VanHoff dusted himself off and regained his composure. “I see you are a little upset. I appreciate that change can be disconcerting for all concerned. But you’ll get used to it, eventually.”
The pain that had engulfed Nills’ body was subsiding and he too had regained some composure. “So what’s the second one? You said there were two reasons I was here?”
VanHoff smiled. “Ah… yes. Indeed I did. You see, Nills. You are rather special. You are the reason we are all here fighting on this godforsaken rock. You are the key—and you always were.”
“And what if I were to tell you to go shove it up your ass?”
VanHoff scowled and turned to Kruger. “Take him below and keep him secure.”
They took Nills and locked him in a small accommodation compartment on one of the lower levels of the craft. The room was compact, with a bed and not much else. He reckoned that it must have been regarded as first class digs on this ship, so he should feel privileged. The first half hour of his incarceration Nills spent examining every possible nook and cranny, looking for anything that he could find and use to his advantage. He didn’t find anything. Eventually he sat down on the bed and considered what his next course of action should be. That was assuming that he even had a choice in the matter.
So VanHoff had made the trip himself, that much was evident. But why would he do that? Nills wondered. Maybe it was simply a case of, if you want to do something right, then you just gotta do it yourself. Every effort VanHoff had made so far to acquire the Janus bacteria had been thwarted by Dr. Jann Malbec. So she was number one on his hit list, he even said so himself. On top of that he expressed a clear disdain for the clones in Colony One. Whether they lived or died seemed to be of little interest to VanHoff. As for Xaing Zu? They really had no idea how outclassed they were by the resources that COM had brought to the planet. VanHoff just didn’t care a damn for the lives in Colony One. Nills had to find a way to warn them. This was his number one task. Find a way to get a message to them—somehow.
Gathered around the holo-table in the operations room of the COM craft sat VanHoff, Commander Willem Kruger and several others of the crew. Kruger cleared his throat and spoke. “Phase one of the operation is now complete. Colony Two is in our control and the clone specimen Langthorp has been acquired. Time now to move on to phase two. Are we ready?”
“Please proceed.” VanHoff waved a hand.
“Raising a channel now, sir.” One of the operatives tapped several icons on the holo-table. A 3D rendering of the COM logo materialized and rotated. Channel open… waiting for connection… connection established. The rotating logo was replaced with a video feed from inside the operations room in Colony One. Several Chinese sat around a similar holo-table.
Kruger cleared his throat again and spoke. “This is Commander Willem Kruger, of the Colony One Mars consortium mission. Please be advised that we have entered and secured the mining outpost, known as Colony Two, located at the northern edge of the Jezero Crater. In doing so we have now fulfilled the obligations required by the International Court of Arbitration for full ownership of the Colony One facilities to revert to COM ownership. Therefore, you are now trespassing on our property and we would be obliged if you would vacate the facility immediately. If you fail to do so within the next twelve hours then we will remove you by force. Do you understand this message?”
The figures around the corresponding holo-table in Colony One sat unmoved. There was a moment of tense silence before they replied. “This is Commander Jing Tzu, of Xaing Zu Industries Mars mission. We understand your claim is issued by a terrestrial court which we do not recognize. Therefore we see your request as invalid and furthermore your threats to use force are taken as an act of aggression against a peaceful enterprise. We have claimed this facility under salvage and, as such, are legally entitled to remain. Any attempt by your people to gain access will be seen as trespassing on Xaing Zu property and will be repelled, with force if necessary. Do you understand this message?”
Commander Kruger clasped his hands together and slowly leaned in across the holo-table. “You have twelve hours to leave.” The video feed went dead and they all took a moment before VanHoff finally spoke.
“What’s your assessment, Commander—are they bluffing?”
“We have to assume that they are not bluffing and have convinced themselves that they can hold it. Which means we need to reassess their capability and recalibrate our strategy to take control of Colony One.”
“We need to keep damage to the facility to a minimum. Rebuilding it is not something we have the resources for.”
“What about the clones?” said Kruger.
VanHoff waved a dismissive hand, “They’re expendable. We already have what we need.”
“Very well, then.”
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“Just one request, Commander Kruger. I would like, if at all possible, that Dr. Jann Malbec be taken alive. I have a bone to pick with her, and it would bring me no end of pleasure to do it face-to-face.”
“Understood, sir.”
11
Subterranean
The colonists trapped in the biodome made several futile attempts to get the door open, ignoring the broadcasts by the Chinese that persistence in their attempts would be met with violence. After a time though, it became increasingly evident to them that it was just not going to happen. They were trapped, held captive inside their own biodome, with no way to access the larger facility save through the door to the connecting tunnel. So one by one they wandered away.
Jann contented herself by retiring to her old wicker chair on the central dais. Some of the other colonists had also gathered around, but their mood was somber and resigned.
“I am really getting sick of this shit,” said Rachel, one of the few remaining original colonists. And who could blame her? Since landing on the planet, over a decade ago now, she had seen nothing but hardship and the constant attempts by others to manipulate and interfere with the very serious business of surviving in a hostile environment.
“You know, I had this naive idea once that things might get better,” she continued.
“Yeah, I know how you feel. It would be real nice if they all just left us alone,” said Steven, another long-suffering colonist.
“Isn’t gonna happen. We’re just too valuable to them,” Rachel replied with a resigned sigh. “We’re just a group of lab monkeys as far as they’re concerned. They want us for what’s inside us.”
They went silent for a while before Steven spoke again. “So, what now? What have they got planned? What’s going to happen to us?”
Jann couldn’t take this conversation anymore. It seemed to her that the colonists had resigned themselves to their fates and nothing she could say was going to change that. She rose from the wicker chair and went for a walk around the outer rim of the biodome. Gizmo followed beside her. After a short period of aimless meandering, Jann arrived at the place in the biodome wall where it opened out into a long tunnel. This was the fish farm. Next to it was another, similar tunnel, but this one was derelict, the roof structure had collapsed in on itself many years ago. There was still a door into it but it had been sealed up for a long time. This tunnel had originally been used for soil processing and had an airlock entrance out onto the planet’s surface. But this process had long been relocated to the cave system that Nills had discovered beneath the colony itself. Jann stopped and stared at the sealed door for some time.
Colony Three Mars (Colony Mars Book 3) Page 6
