The Cross of Mithras Vol. 1: EOD Operation Welcome to Hell

by Douglas Howell

  “Yes sir.” Coté responded and did as she was told.

  They finally received their lucky break and it was all because of Coté wondering off and discovering something that easily could have been missed. It was only after Ramirez study the map that he finally realized what they may be dealing with. And he didn’t like it one bit. It scared him. And what he had to say stopped everyone dead in their tracks.

  “Listen up everyone. I think I may have an answer as to what we may be dealing with. But it’s a long shot at understanding.” Ramirez was saying.

  “Go ahead. I’m listening.” Vaistll responded.

  “Some of the locations within this facility suggest that it is an assembly plant for…” Ramirez said. He didn’t continued because he did not even believe it himself.

  “Assembly plant for what?” Taylor asked.

  “Spaceships sir. Spaceships.”

  “What!?” Taylor mentioned unable to believe a single word, let alone a letter, of what Ramirez just said. Talk about something that didn’t make any sense. This would take the cake, the bakery, and then some. Starships are built in outer space for a reason.

  “I’m having trouble believing it myself sir. But I can only go by the available data and that’s what it is suggesting.” Ramirez responded. Everyone could hear him talking to himself as he was just in total disbelief as to what he was seeing. It was obvious to everyone as to what he was saying to himself that he was struggling over to rather or not that what he was seeing was disinformation. But he had to keep on giving credit to Coté in her ability to spot a map based upon disinformation and this particular map consistently appeared to be genuine. But he was having a hard time in accepting that it was a genuine map. Why would the EOD create a map to that facility in which it suggested that it served two entirely different purposes?

  “Is there anything else that you are having trouble in accepting?” Taylor asked him.

  “Plenty sir. It seems like everything about this place doesn’t make any sense. First of all, there are parts of it, like the part of the facility under the airbase, that suggests that we are dealing with a starship assembly platform. Then there are the cloning facilities in which not much emphasis was put upon. It was as if though, if starships was the reason why this facility exist then they didn’t care about the crew. So that would suggest that they had something else in mind. But so little emphasis was put upon the crew that I think that they were planning on making the insane move allowing a spaceship to be run by nothing more than robots.” Ramirez was saying.

  “What!? They don’t think that people never tried that before!? Sorry sir.” Coté mentioned.

  “That’s alright. It was thinking the same thing. She’s right, it doesn’t make any sense in that regard either. They are obviously manufacturing something on a massive scale and it has nothing to do with cloning. I don’t like it because I think I seen this before. But I don’t want to talk about it right now. If I am correct then what we are looking at is something so massive that if we could defeat it than we could deal a massive blow to the EOD the likes of which they may never fully recover from. Nevertheless we would need to make our decisions effectively as yesterday.” Ramirez informed everyone.

  “Why do you say yesterday?” Taylor asked him.

  “Remember when I said that this place is basically a assembly platform for starships? And what does all starships have in common? A tactical computer network. And just precisely, what does all tactical computers can do when it comes to machines? And why does these machines seems too smart? As if Sayaka herself created their so-called brains. Now we know that not to be true given the fact that they can’t outsmart any one of her artificial intelligent programs. But given the fact of how well they are able to stand up to her AI programs suggests that either we are dealing with very advanced AI or we are dealing with the computers of a starship.” Ramirez was saying.

  “And why do you say ‘computers of a starship’?” Taylor asked him.

  “Because I don’t think that Sayaka ever anticipated that there ever would be a starship down here, or something very similar. Besides, who could anticipate that?” Ramirez responded.

  “Any ideas as to where we should go next?” Taylor asked him.

  “We need to get to the main communicational hub and then try to contact Captain Maxwell. Maybe he might be able to shed some light upon this, or give us a better idea as what to do next.” Ramirez responded. He was at a lost about what is occurring at that facility. He knew that they didn’t have near enough people to get a large scale job done, Maxwell is the only source for good Intel, and he seen this before. It’s just back then he was the enemy and the good guys never made it out thanks in large part to Ramirez. He has a lot to be concerned about.

  Everything was eerily quiet (minus the facilities machines) until they got near the pathway that would lead them to the main communicational hub. The combat machines came out in force. Especially both Goliaths and spider-bots. (Because the dragons didn’t come out it told the team that both Jaguar 42R and Viper 33X was still alive. It also told the team why they didn’t come back. They’re trying to keep the dragons at bay.) Fifteen minutes later with some of the team coming within a ace of being killed, both Jaguar 42R and Viper 33X came swooping in and taking out the Goliaths. Although the spider-bots tried to retreat, all was destroyed.

  “Ma’am… your team needs to following us. This way!” Jaguar 42R mentioned.

  “What? Why?” Vaistll asked, but it was too late because both him and Viper 33X flew off into the distance. Although it was annoying that neither one was talking that much to them, they started to understand why they were behaving the way that they were. The combat machines were trying to adapt to the team’s tactics, but because they couldn’t think, it caused them to make stupid mistakes that no human would ever make.

  “Ma’am look over there.” Jaguar 42R mentioned.

  “We need to…” Vaistll was saying before Jaguar 42R interrupted her.

  “Not now! Look or die at their hands!” Jaguar 42R told her. Vaistll then looked and noticed that the machines were lying in ambush had the team kept on going in their original direction. The distance between where they are to where those machines are, were approximately half-mile away. The team wouldn’t have stood a chance.

  “Okay. So they are…” Vaistll was saying. But both Jaguar 42R and Viper 33X flew off. Neither one said anything as Vaistll was ordering them respond.

  “Jesus effing Christ. They’re acting like dogs or something similar.” Wexler mentioned.

  “You know I think I know why they are behaving the way in which they are.” Coté mentioned.

  “And what way is that?” Ellis asked her.

  “If we are dealing with a tactical computer that is the equivalent of that type that is in a starship then we must view their tactics differently.” Coté responded.

  “I think we all figured that out by now Elizabeth.” Vaistll mentioned.

  “Ma’am, I was trying to get at the thought that a starship’s tactical computer could easily explain the behavior of these machines down here.” Coté responded.

  “Ma’am, I think I know where she’s going with this and it does make sense.” Ramirez informed her.

  “How could it sir?” Ellis asked.

  “Because a starship’s tactical computer is far more robust in it’s ability to handle ground tactics if it is needed for it to do so.” Ramirez responded.

  “I never heard of that.” Taylor mentioned.

  “Are you sure about that sir?” Ellis asked Ramirez.

  “You guys forget that you are dealing with the EOD version of these type of computers. Besides, it’s also classified.” Ramirez responded.

  “No offensive sir, but it reminds me of what my pappy used to tell me about the EOD. ‘Pour out a little liquor ‘cause the EOD don’t take shit from anyone. Taking on these son-of-bitches is like taking on the bottle.’” Coté mentioned. Everyone could hear Ramirez trying to suppress a lau
gh showing a certain fondness for that old life.

  When the team finished their assault upon those combat machines it became obvious that the team finally got the upper-hand. Those machines, or rather the tactical computer that was controlling them, became too confused. It started to become apparent that it was guessing at what to do next. Even going so far as to fall back upon old outdated video game tactics. Coté yet again proved that the wisdom of her father held deep value. And still, she never liked to talk about him.

  “I do believe that we are done here. And both of us is so sorry for running… err… flying off like that. But ma’am, please understand that time was of the essence. We just couldn’t wait nor inform you. We had to act decisively or these machines would start to use superior tactics. And if that occurred then the two of us in all likelihood would be dead by now.” Jaguar 42R informed Vaistll.

  “Oh… well I guess that it is okay then.” Vaistll responded sounding a bit unconvinced.

  “We also noticed that the pathway towards the main communicational hub is now left unguarded. I don’t think that we would have much more trouble from these retarded machines until after we get to the main communicational hub. After we get there, I have no idea as to what may happen next. Our fate at that point, like everything up to this point, is left into the hands of God.” Jaguar 42R informed Vaistll. They all then left not knowing what may come next.

  (20)

  “Xavier, this is Captain Maxwell. And I may have some news for you.”

  “Go ahead.”

  “I think that the contagion may have been eradicated. There is no Intel so far to suggest otherwise. Please understand that I still can’t contact Task Force ZH-3C.”

  “Understood. What do you think we should do then?”

  “So long as the contagion is no longer upon this world, and there are no more threats, I think we can finally leave this world.”

  “Agreed. Oh, and by the way, for some reason the rest of my former fleet is coming back.” Iverson mentioned. He was truly baffled by why they were returning back to the system.

  “Any idea as to why?” Maxwell asked him. He was concerned that there may be more death and at that point in time he just wanted to get away from all that death and destruction.

  “Your guess is as good as mine. I guess we will find out as soon as they get here. Nevertheless, my crew and I will be on high alert.”

  “Understood. Anything else?” Maxwell asked. He was truly anxious of getting off that world and, of course, Iverson was no different.

  “Yeah, just how long will it take for your people to be ready for departure?”

  “Well it will take at least a few hours to confirm any new possible threats. And as for this laboratory? I really don’t think that bitch Medusa Pandora will find any use for it when it is rendered useless. So I’m looking at maybe, just hopefully, several hours.”

  “Outstanding captain! Hey look, I know that you are trying to quit drinking but… when you get to my ship, how about a little celebration?” Iverson asked.

  “Sure why not.” Maxwell responded sounding a little bit enthusiastic more for the celebration than for the booze. He also wanted his people to celebrate before they leave as a way to boost their morale. And that meant far more partying, drinking, and bad decisions. Iverson was no different.

  “Okay see you then. Over and out.” Iverson responded.

  Neither one of them was so stupid as to be willing to leave Golden Hyperion without some strong compelling evidence as to what the enemy next course of action is. Within a few short hours of their conversation, that got their first clue that Task Force ZH-3C was achieving all of their objectives when a huge explosion occurred at the factory. The factory was in effect no more, it was useless. It had lost the ability to communicate with anything or anyone. The mission at that time, by both Iverson and by Maxwell reckoning, was believed to be over. Everyone upon that world thought the same. But by the time that they learned the truth it was too little too late to do anything about it. Maxwell and his forces had left that world and Iverson learned why his former fleet was returning.

  (21)

  Medusa Pandora finally arrived at one of her many safe houses. She knows that she can’t stay there far too long because of all those looking for her. Each time one of her safe houses is discovered by them they simply destroy it rather she is there or not. Her pursuit is driving her slowly over the edge into complete and total madness. She’s basically more evil than Captain Dawson was at the height of his own madness. In her case it has everything to do with her pride, arrogance, intelligence, narcissism, and contempt for the people. Her hatred towards the people keeps growing with each passing day. And right behind that hatred is her paranoia. Maybe just maybe, the Founder, her husband, is finally serious about getting a “divorce.” (To that thought she just scuff at the idea. Neither one of them ever would.) She just can’t wait to get this lover’s tit-for-tat over.

  She wanted to come to this particular safe house because it allow her complete access to the planetary communications. This world that was her prison (Nearby was core tunnel that acted like a TIA starbase for it was the Founder’s way of showing how well he could control her.) and now, as so many times before, the so-call civil war was unfolding. Most of her insanity and evil rest upon him. Her love and support of him was periodically match by his abuse of her. If by abuse you mean civil war. She was indeed on the verge of a so-call “divorce” were only one of them would survive to control what was left of the EOD. She was tired of him and it was finally showing.

  When she access the computer terminals and took a look at what was going on within her prison world, she was shocked. All the different type of beast armies of the Founder was destroyed. Her own precious contagion was destroyed. And the greatest salt in the wound, a small team, a impossibly small team at that, was fixing to destroy the vengeance weapon known as the Flip Jumpers. And then there was the Intel and what it was suggesting. Because of the level of sophistication involved within the Intel either it had to be a very elaborate form of disinformation or the real deal. Because the former was not likely it could only be the latter that was true. That for whatever reason the Founder decided to get rid of her and that thought finally pushed her over the edge.

  Everything started to make sense to her in a insane sort of way. Her pride will no longer allow her to take the abuse. Her paranoia will latch on to the propaganda. Her darkness will seek revenge upon her husband. Her intellect reminds her that there really is no escape. For even if she were to get off of that world, she would not leave that system alive. Her evil will cause her to do the unthinkable. To trick Task Force ZH-3C to release the Flip Jumpers.

  (22)

  “Hey ma’am, begging your pardon but… what the hell is that?” The Dark Minion asked Sayaka. Many decades have passed as they were trying their best to build a facility upon what would become their new home.

  “My beloved Joseph once had a dream a long time ago. And in that dream he heard a term. That term becomes what you are looking at – Flip Jumpers.” Sayaka responded.

  “What are Flip Jumpers?”

  “Dang. You had to ask.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Because dang is an acronym for what they are. Doppelganger Apparition Nanomorph Golem.”

  “I’m afraid to ask… but what does that mean.”

  “You are indeed wise to be afraid. The Doppelganger denotes that they have the capability to create a different version of themselves. As the term implies, there will be a slight difference. The Apparition term denotes what you are looking at in a matter of speaking. A group of nanites that appears in a so-call ‘gaseous’ state. A gray ghost if you will. Nanomorph is a term that denotes they must, re-illiterate must, be control by an external intelligence. And Golem denotes that they can use their environments as part of their bodies.”

  “Meaning what?”

  “Meaning that they can use reinforced concrete as a form of shielding. Human bodies
can be used to shield them from EMP bursts. They can be as tall or as short as they wish. Their environment becomes their weapon of choice. And so on.”

  “A’ies’sul Nonya’ks, Ha, A’Kris’kol! (Jesus fucking H Christ)” The Dark Minion said out of shock and almost disbelief.

  “Well, I worked out all the flaws within them. According to my calculations it is far more tactically efficient to allow someone like you to control them. And that can be achieved through that of the fact that you are an nanomorph and they are a mindless machine. What’s more… I also diluted the Golem attribute within it because I realized that it was a control issue.” Sayaka responded.

  “In what way is it a control issue?”

  “In the sense that there is no conceivable way to stop them should they get out of control.”

  And Task Force ZH-3C is fixing to encounter those DANG Flip Jumpers. But it’s not their fault that they got released. Medusa Pandora would rather have one of those beast army to have “won the day” then to see their defeat. After all, she did wanted the opportunity to test her contagion upon the victor. Hell far, even the beast that Captain Dawson became would have been nice. But these low life good for nothing rats, these retched vagabonds, had the nerve to, not only to beat each and every single one of, not only her husband’s beast army, but her contagion. The nerve! She will not let them get away with that. How could she? Her pride must be avenged!

  If Task Force ZH-3C wasn’t inside the factory, or if they were killed off, she probably would have just given up and try to find a way off of that world. But in her madness and in her evil pride, she will have those damn Flip Jumpers to destroy that world. Besides, they will serve a perfect opportunity for her to get off of that world. And if she is to die there in that star system, then that world will pay the ultimate price. The more people who die the better.

  “Is there any possibility that they could get out of control?” The Dark Minion asked Sayaka.

  “Unfortunately they will because of Medusa Pandora. But their real power, the only other part of their Golem attribute, which could allow them to download software and use it as a weapon, has been most likely neutralized.”