Eximus

by Marcus Wearmouth

  “Incoming Commander,” Lucas shouted.

  “What is it?”

  “Looks like drones.”

  “On screen.”

  The screen changed to a green radar view, the approaching dots were forming an arc around the bunker. Avery watched as they slowly converged on their position.

  “Lock on targets, go weapons free,” Avery said.

  “Ready.”

  “Fire canons.”

  Chapter 30

  Logan gripped the shuttles door handle as Matos flew low to the ground, above the treeline by only inches. Branches slapped against the hull and rainwater splattered against the windshield.

  Up and down like a fairground ride until bile rose in his throat. Matos kept his attention fixed on the horizon, occasionally grunting to indicate an obstacle.

  “Can you fly a little higher?” Logan asked.

  “If we’re targeted by drones then kiss goodbye to your plan.”

  A typical Matos response. Logan would rather have anyone in the world than Matos as a companion to god knows what. It wasn’t even his plan. If anything he was a reluctant passenger. They were heading towards Long Island, a position marked on his map by Sean. Logan used the scale to roughly measure the distance at two hundred miles. He settled back in the seat, preparing for a long flight.

  “I can’t talk to you with that hood up.”

  Logan pulled down the hood and slipped off the balaclava.

  “What’s your real story?” Matos asked.

  “You’ve heard it.”

  “You’re leading soldiers. You have a Ghost cloak and now you’re on a mission to destroy Haarp.”

  Logan thought for a moment, he wouldn’t tell Matos of Cate, the mine and their struggle for survival. It had nothing to do with him. He weighed the outcomes of telling Matos anything. It was like handling a wild animal. Don’t look into its eyes or make any sudden movement.

  “I was a nuclear engineer. I’m not religious or spiritual. I don’t have any interest in politics.”

  “So why you?”

  “The guy who created our survival bunker was a friend. He didn’t make it. The Ghost cloak was in his cabin.”

  “Tell me about this Ghost friend of yours?”

  Logan glanced across at Matos. His eyes were fixed ahead but there was no denying the change in pitch to that question. “I’m beginning to think I knew nothing about him. Maybe not even his real name.”

  “So it’s all an accident and now you speak to Haarp?”

  “In the mine I created a memory stronghold, a place to escape in my head. Sounds stupid but it wasn’t only me. I built an island and surrounded it with ocean. I think my nanos took these signals as instructions and built a protection around my mind.”

  Matos snorted. “Come on.”

  “When Haarp’s signal hit me, the nanos rejected it to protect me. That’s the only difference between me and others. I have fourth gen nanos but spent a year and a half underground.”

  “Maybe you’re imagining it?”

  “Then why are we flying towards it?”

  Matos grunted a reply.

  Logan stared out of the window, head resting against the glass. There was still a few hours of daylight left but the dark sky and rain made it feel like midnight.

  “If you really are speaking to Haarp then what does it want?”

  “That’s the million dollar question. I have a feeling it wants me.”

  “Again. Why you?”

  Logan breathed out, shaking his head. Hoping Matos would just fly the plane and stay quiet until they arrived. He leant back against the window, closing his eyes and rocking to the shuttle’s vibration.

  A name called in the darkness. Louder and louder until he recognised it as his own. A force pulled at him, tugging then forcefully ripping him. Bright lights burned away the darkness and he was streaking through colours of orange, purple, blue and red.

  He reached out to touch a strand of light and it vibrated with the movement. Its echo humming down the line of light and away from him.

  Sparks of light moved on a spider web of transparent tubes around him, their pattern suggesting logical movement. He dipped and swirled around strands in the inky blackness. He could fly forever without reaching the end of this space.

  “What are you?”

  Logan slowed at a globe of pure light. In the distance, he could see other balls of light. All pulsing as light flowed in and out, on tube like roots. Everything was connected by light.

  Chapter 31

  “All drones destroyed,” Sean said.

  Avery blew out a breath. “That was a feint. They’re trying to assess our fire power.”

  “Commander, we have the sonic weapon online,” Lucas said.

  “There’s a problem,” Daniels shouted, marching into the command room.

  “Report.”

  “The nanos must be reactivating. Two men turned on a squad and started firing.”

  “Get to the nano lab and blow it up.”

  Daniels spun and raced back out of the command centre.

  They were in an impossible situation. Threats both inside and out, eventually they would run out of luck. They couldn’t evacuate the bunker now without becoming trapped in open ground. Their only option was to buy Logan and Matos time by distracting Eximus.

  “Incoming,” Sean shouted.

  “What is it?” Avery asked.

  “Looks like gunships, they’re firing.”

  Avery watched the shapes appear on the radar screen, followed by a release of missiles. “Fire counter measures.”

  Four of the incoming missiles winked out on the screen, leaving four others to impact against the bunker.

  “They’re targeting the plasma canon pods,” Sean said. “The SAM system has achieved lock on to the gunships, shall I fire?”

  “Switch the SAM to Weapons Free and auto engage. Let the systems do the work.”

  Lucas entered an auto engage command and confirmed the order. Avery sat back watching the monitors. In milliseconds, the large box like SAM missile container sprang up out of its subsurface housing on its monoleg plinth. Aligning to commands from the computer system that converted radar data into target acquisitions. Missiles launched in quick succession at the incoming gunships.

  “Commander, they’re firing again.”

  “Lower cannon pods.” Avery said, watching the SAM engagement monitors and holding her breath.

  The incoming missiles crossed with the outgoing SAMs. The gunships released flare counter measures and two SAMs detonated before they hit their targets. Two of the gunships exploded. The remaining aircraft turned to sweep around for an attack run from another direction. The SAM pod rose to track them, automatically recalibrating and firing a salvo of laser guided missiles. The hypersonic weapons smashed home, eliminating the remaining air threat.

  Avery watched the gunships dots disappear on the radar screen. Behind her, there were muted cheers at the destruction. Avery leant back puffing her cheeks. Her momentary relief was broken by gunfire in the corridor.

  “Sean, stay here. The rest of you, lock and load and follow me.”

  Avery jogged to the door, peering around towards Daniels. He was in the prone position, firing into the stairwell.

  “Commander, we’ve got a squad of them coming down the stairs,” he shouted.

  “Bring the staircase down if you have to.” Avery shouted.

  “Commander, incoming,” Sean screamed, from the command room.

  Chapter 32

  “What happened?” Matos asked.

  Logan stretched and yawned. He wiped his nose and a finger came away bloody. Coughing and sniffing, he swallowed hard to remove the taste of blood and mucus. His eyes were still unfocussed, there seemed to be no light in the cabin.

  “You don’t look so good.”

  “I don’t feel so good.”

  “Haarp?” asked Matos.

  Logan half shrugged and half nodded, offering him a jumble of bobb
ing head and shoulders.

  “How does this connection work?”

  “It’s on a subconscious level. I can’t control it.”

  “You did with the drones.” Matos said, throwing him a bar of chocolate.

  Logan pulled off the wrapper. The bar was warm and chocolate stuck to the wrapper as he sucked out the contents. He slugged a mouthful of water to help swallow the lump.

  “Why don’t you make another call, we still have hours to go.”

  Shaking his head, Logan flopped back against the chair and stared out into the darkness. His relationship with Haarp was evolving. At first there was a threat and then curiosity. That was the best word he could think of to describe their connection. A sense of awareness. He coughed again, blood spraying his palm as he covered his mouth. Matos appeared not to notice, so Logan wiped it on the side of his seat.

  He yawned and felt his pulse. Their connection was killing him. He had to destroy Haarp, not just to stop mind control but to save his own life.

  “How long do you think?” Logan asked.

  “Another hour. Take it easy, there’s no rush.”

  Logan ignored the comment. Matos playing it cool didn’t help their situation. If anything his manner made it worse. He was thankful they didn’t have a character like that in the mine. Dark and mysterious. If Avery hadn’t vouched for him, Logan would have rather walked than get in this shuttle.

  He pushed away the mental images and concentrated on Haarp. If he could make it to the control panel of the machine, there would be a direct physical connection between them. Then he would need to find a way to shut the system down permanently. Machines exist in a delicate balance. Overheating, lack of power, virus or even a simple switch could undo a device. If that failed then it seemed likely Matos would have an idea involving explosives.

  “What’s the plan when we get close?” Logan asked.

  “I’m going to land and storm in. Shock and awe.”

  Logan snorted. “What if there’s a hundred soldiers waiting for us?”

  “Cross that bridge when we get to it.”

  “You don’t seem scared,” Logan said.

  “You’re only afraid if you don’t know the facts. Leave it to me.”

  That was no conciliation and Logan’s stomach flipped over and over as they continued. He drifted into a trance with his head resting against the side window. He had only to follow and stay hidden when they arrived. Let Matos work out the details. The thought made his stomach flip again.

  “Why don’t we turn back? Work out a better plan and bring along some back-up?”

  The engine noise changed pitch and they began to slow.

  “Trust me, we’ll be fine. Up ahead, that’s Haarp,” Matos said.

  Logan craned his neck to see but there was only darkness.

  “It’s a large green square with a blue roof. Difficult to see even in daylight.”

  “You’ve been there?”

  “You’d be surprised where I’ve been.”

  Logan doubted that, but made no comment. He could see lights now, outlining a quadrangle of buildings. An airfield spilled out along one side. Its grey concrete runway lit by red lights.

  “We have a one percent chance of actually pulling this off. When we attack, do as I say. No questions.”

  “Agreed.”

  Matos brought the shuttle down in the centre of the airfield. They landed with a bump and Logan waited for security to rush out and aim weapons at them. They were met with a buffeting wind and pouring rain but no armed troops.

  “This is it. Follow my lead.”

  Matos hauled over his backpack. Pulling out pistols and grenades and placing them in his pockets.

  “Just pretend you’re supposed to be here, nice and casual,” Matos said.

  Logan pulled over the balaclava and Ghost cloak hood. He pushed open his door and jumped down to the tarmac, landing with a damp slap.

  Matos ran ahead towards a concrete boundary wall. In the darkness, Logan only realized he had stopped when it was too late and he bundled into Matos’ back.

  “Careful.”

  The concrete wall rose nearly ten feet high and was topped with rolls of razor wire. Ahead of them, moonlight reflected from a glazed control tower. The shadowy reflection of a Ghost stared back.

  He plodded forward trying to make no sudden movements until Matos held out his hand. Logan froze against the wall and watched Matos walk forward towards a gate. He peered around the corner of the wall to get a better view.

  To the right of the gate, a soldier stood in a thick green raincoat, hunched against the wind. He waited for Matos to get closer before looking up. Another guard walked out of the building towards Matos, glancing at the shuttle as he approached.

  “We need to get to Haarp. Open the gate,” Matos said.

  Logan grimaced as he hugged the wall for camouflage. Matos truly was insane.

  “What the hell is that?” the guard replied.

  It was easy to read the guards expression. Somewhere between ‘who the fuck are you’ and ‘is this a joke’.

  “Hands on your head,” the guard said.

  “Come on guys, check the log,” Matos said.

  “Curtis, check the log. I’ll call it in,” the guard said.

  Curtis, the man on guard, walked into the guardpost with a nod. The other guard turned back to Matos, a serious look on his face.

  “You see,” Matos said, pointing to the guardpost.

  The guard turned towards the gatehouse for a fraction of a second. Matos leapt the distance between them and twisted the guards head. He fell dead with a broken neck. Matos vaulted the barrier and ran into the guardroom. Returning moments later and giving a thumbs up sign.

  Logan ran over to the gate and slid below it. Scrambling up and running towards the low level buildings. He glanced backwards. There was no activity at the gatepost, only a soldier lying on the ground.

  “Do you know where we are?”

  “Stay behind me and keep quiet,” Matos hissed. He was testing the doors of the quadrangle building. He slipped open a blue door and slid inside. Logan followed, relieved to be out of the open.

  He flailed in the darkness until his eyes adjusted to the gloom. They were in a corridor of painted block walls and grey concrete floor. Water dripped onto the ground from their clothes and their boots squeaked with every step. Matos crept along, holding a pistol out before him.

  He turned and pointed towards a door on the left wall. Logan reached forward to open the door and then stopped when Matos’ placed a hand on his shoulder.

  “Other side,” he mouthed.

  Repositioning himself, Logan stood on the other side and reached forward. He turned the handle and pushed the door inwards and green light burst out. Matos swung in and Logan waited a moment before hesitantly walking in.

  The room was a rest area with tables and chairs along one side and a small kitchen on the other. Matos opened the fridge and threw out a bottle of water towards Logan. Now didn’t seem to be the time for drinking, so he pocketed the bottle.

  A squad of soldiers ran past the kitchen window. Short stubbly heads at differing heights but all faced forward. Logan’s guts clenched and he found his face difficult to control. He almost bolted but Matos place a hand on his shoulder.

  If an alarm went off now, they were dead. Even Matos couldn’t fight through this many people. As if agreeing with Logan’s idea, an alarm wailed through the building.

  Matos ran back out onto the corridor. Logan looked left and right, ahead and behind, expecting pointy weapons to appear.

  “Do you know where you’re going?” Logan whispered.

  “Follow me.”

  Matos raced up a staircase and ran down a corridor until he reached a double red swing door. He pushed it open and gestured for Logan to follow.

  They’ll be setting up a cordon to section off the camp. Can you ask for divine intervention?”

  Logan was about to reply when he realized Matos was m
ocking him.

  They entered a square bedroom. A steel framed bed by the window and a collection of medical looking equipment on either side.

  “Wait here until they give the all clear,” Matos said.

  Logan pulled out the water bottle and drained the contents. He looked out of the window and saw it was protected with steel bars. He turned to tell Matos, but froze when the door opened.

  Cain walked into the room holding a thin black baton. “You said there would be no alarm.”

  Chapter 33

  The missile impact boomed through the command centre and a large cloud of dusty wind burst open the doors.

  “What’s the damage?”

  “We’ve lost almost all of our canons and the SAM. They’ve taken out the drone so we only have weapons sited cameras. Testing Heavy Gun pod now,” Sean replied.

  “Lucas, help him,” Avery said.

  The screen now showed multiple camera angles around the bunker site. Drones and gunships were heading towards them.

  “Wait until they land, then bring up the Heavy.”

  The drones came first, firing towards the bunker. Avery could hear the impacts now echoing in the staircase. They continued firing, maintaining position while two gunships flew closer. Soldiers descended zip lines from shuttles, in preparation for a ground assault.

  “Raise Heavy Gun and fire.”

  The weapon surprised the gunships and they attempted to lift away. Heavy machine gun fire smashed into their bodies and shredded the ground troops.

  Explosions thumped above them and dust wafted from the corridor into the command room.

  “Heavy offline,” Sean said.

  Apart from small arms inside, they were now defenseless. Sean and Lucas looked expectantly at her. “Let’s hope Logan and Matos get the job done.”

  Ortiz limped through the doorway, an arm shielding his mouth. His hair and face white with dust. “They’re breaking in above.”