by R. K. Sidler
“So how is work treating you Mr. Wallace?”
“We’re not very busy, but I could think of worse things to do, sir.”
“Well, not being busy in your line of work is a good thing,” Frank Bishop said with a friendly smile.
Wallace returned the smile wondering exactly what he was doing here, and how much small talk they would go through before he found out. It turned out to be very little.
“Did you enjoy your time in Special Forces? Have you ever participated in hostile action?”
“Yes sir, both.”
“What would you say if I needed you to do something like that again?”
“Sir?” Wallace asked in confusion.
“You know we have a small detachment from your department operating in the staging area right?”
“Yes sir.”
“They have encountered life on the outside. We knew there would be those who survived the event, but not how many, and in what condition they would be in,” Frank Bishop said capturing his full attention. “Last night, sixteen men, out of a twenty man team, returned from a mission in an attempt to reach out to one such group. Four are presumed dead, and three more are incapacitated for the time being.”
“Jesus,” Wallace said in surprise.
“We tried to extend a hand in peace, but were met with violence. It is our determination now to, a. exact retribution, b. gain a presence into the area they hold, and c. to ensure their belligerence is quelled. We need someone of your training and talents to accomplish this. Would you be willing to do it?”
“Yeah, I mean, yes sir. I would need to know everything about them, including the type of terrain they control.”
“They are to the south of here almost a full day’s ride in the ATV’s using spare batteries. There are an estimated eight hundred and fifty people living in a valley several hundred feet below ground level,” Director Bishop cited from memory. “It is estimated that about four hundred or so are able to put up any kind of organized resistance. They are armed with primitive weapons such as swords, spears, and bows. But, they also know the area well and used fire effectively on our team yesterday.”
He stood and motioned for Wallace to follow him to a nearby table. “Here is a rough drawing of the area. There are only three places where the valley can be penetrated, or so I was told. Here, here, and here,” he said as he pointed on the map.
“The Eastern, and most limited entrance, was tried already. I don’t think it would be wise to use that approach again, and it is only manned by a small force. The entrance on the West would extend the capacity of our re-breathing systems beyond effectiveness. That leaves us with the North entrance. I’m told the village below it is called Mezzo.” He continued, “If we take that territory, we can set up a secondary staging area, go to the East and remove their outpost. We could gain control of half of the valley within one day.”
“What about dealing with exposure once we are there? Won’t we have to come right back,” Wallace asked.
“No. The valley is what we call a ‘safe zone.’ When the event happened, the planet shifted its axis. One of the side effects was in creating areas like this, which are protected by an electromagnetic field. When you get there, it will look like you stepped back in time. You will be able to remove your protective suits and breathe freely in the valley”
“I don’t get it. Why would they attack us for no reason? Can’t they see that we are the same as them?”
“I don’t know. All I know is what happened. Do you think you can do it?”
“I can do it. I’d want to select my own men, sir.”
“You’ve got it.”
“And, I’ll need the right equipment,” Wallace said while thinking, “Forty men, two mortars, some light machine guns, grenade launchers, body armor, two full rations of ammunition and other supplies for each man, and restraining devices for the prisoners.”
“Done,” Director Bishop said immediately. “If there is anything else you can think of let me know. Select your men and get them ready. We need to get this underway as soon as possible. I want to give them the least amount of time to prepare for our response as possible. As soon as you have your operation drawn up, let me know and we’ll coordinate it with Jim Forrest. He will be your point of control once you and your team leave the complex.”
“Yes sir,” Wallace said accepting his orders.
―
“Do you think they will be successful,” Dr. Maddow asked his friend.
“Yes. We took for granted that we knew all we needed to know last time. Now, it doesn’t matter. We will take it by force and there will be nothing they can do about it.”
“And then what? What do we do with them?
“We will pacify them. We’ll treat them, provide for them, and use them for as long as we feel necessary. It won’t take long to divide them then take advantage of that division.”
“He said there were several water sources in the valley. I would like to include one of my people on the trip to bring back things that I’ll need to examine.”
“That won’t be a problem,” the director said. “Speaking of examining, what have you found out about the boy?”
“He died this morning,” Maddow said evenly. “He was highly emotional after the two of them were separated, and he never calmed down even when given mild sedation. I believe his panic attacks led to a cardiac event. They are doing an autopsy on him now.”
“Who all know about him?”
“Two of my assistants. When we are done, I will need someone to take care of the body though.”
“I’ll handle it.”
“I did get a look at some of his organs before I came here. To tell the truth, I don’t know how he survived this long.”
Frank Bishop said nothing.
“You do know we won’t be able to allow them to interact, physically, with any of our people.”
“Don’t worry about that. When they no longer serve a purpose, they will be taken care of.”
“What about your son? Do you think he is with them?”
Although he had been thinking about it, the question did catch him off guard. “I think the chances are slim. He went out of the West side of the mountain. He would have to change course purposely, and just happen to stumble upon a patch of land quite small in relation to the surrounding area. We might not have even found it if our scout team hadn’t stumbled across those two.”
“Maybe,” Maddow said as he got up to leave. “Let me know when your team is ready to go, and I’ll have my man come by.”
****
Bishop lodged with Weston, and a few other men from Gateway, in a room provided for them in Mezzo. Work was being done to protect what they called their home. This threat was different than any other they had faced before. This would be a calculated, well equipped, incursion. Bishop gave them as much information as possible explaining what they could expect. They sat in the village center, where they took their meals, and discussed their options.
“You’ll need to remove everything from your homes and these buildings. At least, anything you want to keep,” he told them.
They looked at him for an explanation.
“Okay. If it was me leading this operation, and one of the men I trained will no doubt be in charge, this is what I would do,” he said capturing everyone’s attention. “If I was turned back at Bardin,” he said indicating the East passage, “Then I would ignore it as it is too much of a choke point, and nobody lives there anyway. I don’t think they would want to travel to Gateway and have one of their flanks exposed to Mezzo. Plus, it’s too far out of the way. That leaves Mezzo. I’d level the village with either rockets or mortars, fire smoke into the valley, then assault with my men. You wouldn’t even have a chance to mount any kind of resistance. Once I captured Mezzo, I’d cut the valley in half, and secure each half, one at a time.”
“So you are saying there is nothing we can do but fight and die,” one of the men asked.
“Well
you could, if that’s what you want to do. But I have an alternative,” Bishop said with a faint smile. “Is there anyone here who is good with computers? I mean, hackers, someone who can get into a system and take it over?”
“Moore. Johnny Moore. He was a crewman on the Texas. He’s always talking about what he used to do with them. I guess you would call him a computer geek,” Weston replied.
“I’d like to speak with him,” Bishop said.
“No problem.”
“If he can do what I need him to, then I think I have your plan.”
He had everybody’s attention now.
“Clear out the buildings, make sure there are no animals or people nearby, watch your village get destroyed, allow them to come in without resistance, and then defeat them without firing a shot or anybody getting hurt,” Bishop said with a large grin on his face while the others looked at him as if he was out of his mind. When he was sure he still had their attention, he explained his plan in full detail, “Here’s what you’re going to do…”
―
Bishop and Weston were talking amongst themselves while the others were busy making preparations.
“Are you sure there is not some type of compromise we could reach with your father?”
“No, none at all. What he has in mind is his perfect new world. A heavy price has been paid to get them where they are now, and he won’t jeopardize that for the sake of a few survivors.”
When he finished his statement, Johnny Moore walked up to them.
“Johnny, Bishop has some questions for you,” Weston said.
“Shoot,” Moore said.
“I hear you know a lot about computers. Do you think you could hack into a system?”
“What kind of system,” Moore said as he took a seat across from him.
“A closed net; you would have access to a monitor linked into that net.”
“I haven’t played with computers in years.”
“Since nothing new has come along,” Bishop said with a little sarcasm, “the technology is the same as when you last used one.”
“Okay,” Moore said not catching on to the barb, “What exactly do you want me to do?”
“The whole net functions together. They have a closed circuit radio and video broadcast system. I need you to access them, take control of them for a short period of time, and keep anyone from shutting you down.”
Moore thought about it for a moment. “I don’t think that would be much of a problem. I wouldn’t have time to set up a firewall, but I should be able to buy you a few minutes at the least,” he said confidently.
Bishop smiled, “A few minutes is all I need….Next question, can you make it out on the rim?”
Moore looked a little uncomfortable with that question. “I can make it okay.”
Bishop noted the hesitation in his voice, “What is it? I don’t need any surprises when we’re out there.”
Moore looked sheepish, “I get sick is all. I throw up. Once I do, I’m okay, but I hate throwing up.”
“Is it something chronic?”
“No. It usually just happens once about ten minutes or so after being out there. The doc never explained why it happens, but he is sure I’m like some of the others here who make it alright.”
“Will you go,” Bishop asked.
“To operate again? Yeah, I’ll go,” Moore said with excitement. “Can I bring one back?”
“You can bring anything you can carry. I don’t know how much good it would do you here though,” he said although he knew Moore was not looking at things the same as he was. If he wanted a computer to play with for a few hours, why not. “Meet me here before sunrise, and we’ll be on our way.”
“You got it,” Moore said as he stood up to leave.
―
“He still seems like a kid,” Bishop said to Weston after Moore had gone.
“He is. I mean, he still acts the same way now, as he did before all of this happened. I’m glad of that. It’s nice to have a reminder of the innocence lost.” Weston said, his thoughts reflecting on former times. Then he looked Bishop in the eyes, “Look after him. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to him.”
“Don’t worry.”
“You keep telling me that, but it doesn’t really help you know.”
Bishop’s smile was so wide that it became infectious. Weston was at ease for the moment, but that was once again replaced by the concern he had for the people who had become his family, and the responsibility he placed on himself for their well-being. He had a quiet childhood, a loving family, and a successful career. That was all gone. Although these people had become his family now, there was a difference. They looked to him for stability and direction whenever something presented itself they could not handle on their own. He, on the other hand, had no one he could turn to. Through no fault of his own, he carried the weight of responsibility for each and every member of their community. It was a matter of life and death.
****
Forty-one men suited up in the staging area. They loaded down both four and six wheeled battery operated vehicles with everything they could carry in addition to the soldiers. They would leave as soon as visibility allowed. The stories had circulated that a group of MuTerra killed several of their people while on patrol. They were going out to bring order to that part of their region. Wallace had no trouble soliciting the help he needed. There was the excitement, common before an operation, felt once again by those who had been dormant for so long. The previous night was filled with hours of preparation. Not that it was an intricate operation, but safety concerns and the limitations of their protective gear had to be considered.
To ensure communications could be maintained, they would drop off one man, at a halfway point, who was responsible for relaying transmissions from the team, to the mountain. Jim Forrest would be their operations officer. The few other staff working in the facility offered what help they could. They were scientists, but the excitement of the activity infected them as well.
Each man knew not only his role, but also the role of every other member. They had one chance to accomplish what they needed in the time necessary, and they were not going to fail. They lost friends, and they were not about to let the savages get away with it. Only Wallace knew that they would remain to occupy the valley once they reached their objective. He decided it would be counterproductive to have any additional fears play on the minds of his men. He had enough trouble maintaining control of his own. He thought it best to present that part of the mission as a fait accompli.
“Alright,” Wallace said to get everyone’s attention, “Let’s suit up. We leave in five minutes.” He walked over to Jim Forrest. “We’ll establish contact with you when we drop off our relay, then again right before we engage.”
“I’ll be waiting. Good luck,” Forrest said offering his hand.
“Thanks,” Wallace said before putting on his headgear.
They opened the outer doors while the remaining staff went behind the closed doors of their protected working areas. They filed out in a single line until the last man secured the doors. It was an overcast and cloudy day but not one indicative of rain. Aside from the few who were on the first raid, this was the first time they had seen the outside since before they were locked inside the mountain. They each experienced their own feelings about that as they went. They had time for reflection now, but soon they would have to focus on the mission.
ELEVEN
They left early the next day after a full breakfast. Moore was hesitant about eating until Bishop reasoned with him that he would need whatever nutrition he could get, and that it was better to have something to ’bring up,’ rather than nothing. True to his word, they were no more than two miles outside of the valley when Moore expelled most of what he had eaten that morning. They swung out to the east as they went. Bishop did not want a chance meeting between them, and any military force already on its way to Mezzo. By mid-day, they covered a considerable distance. Once Moore recovered from his
sickness, he had no trouble keeping pace with Bishop. To their left, the mountain peaks could be seen reaching as far as the dark gloom, which cast its shadow everywhere outside of the valley. To their right, the open country was only disturbed by an occasional mesa standing as if in defiance of the land surrounding it.
They maintained their distance from the mountain range as they moved through the tall grass of the plains, and at times, followed the trail hidden inside of dry streambeds. They talked little, and that was fine with Bishop as he had a lot on his mind. The settlers were taking a chance on his course of action back in the valley, but he saw no other way to ensure their survival. He only hoped rationality would rule the day. His success in his own operation would have an impact as well.
As the evening approached, and the meager light, which penetrated the cloud layer abated, they searched for a place to make camp for the night. Even though there were no indications of rain, making camp in a ravine was a bad idea. They decided to take to the higher ground offered by a collection of moderately sized wild grass mounds. When they reached the middle of them Bishop stopped in his tracks, and Moore uttered his first words of the past several hours.
“Holy shit! It’s a rock wolf,” he said as he stood still, too frightened to move.
“Just take it easy Moore,” Bishop said trying to calm his companion.
The wolf looked at Bishop and he returned its gaze. There was no hostility evident, and Bishop instinctively knew this was the same wolf. “Whaddya say boy? It’s been a while.”
The wolf turned his head slightly as Bishop spoke. He looked briefly at the other man and could smell the fear. He did not warrant any attention. Fear to a wolf was weakness. Weakness had no use. He sat on his haunches still looking at Bishop.
“Well boy, we’re gonna stay here tonight. If you want to, you can as well.”
“Are you nuts?” Moore asked in shocked surprise. “I give him a minute until he decides he’s hungry and we’re his dinner.”
