Wanda

by carl smothers

  The entire MCC staff jumped from their seats and danced around their positions, cheering and applauding deliriously.

  “Captain, we’re delighted to see you. Thank goodness, you knew to stay put. We’re anxious to hear a status report and your return plan.”

  “What in the world happened?” Starling asked.

  “The system was hit with a very clever virus. We finally neutralized it.”

  “Well, it has been exciting. Good to know things are back under control. We should be ready to return within twelve hours.”

  “Why so long?” Marc asked.

  “When the system malfunctioned, we found ourselves in an uncharted, alien solar system. While we were trying to figure out where we were, on a whim, Dr. Stevenson decided to do a survey of the fifth planet and made an amazing discovery.”

  “What is it?” Marc blurted.

  “A Selenium crystal deposit in a mountain range five hundred meters tall and over thirty kilometers long.”

  “That’s unbelievable. Do you have a ground party validating the find?”

  “We do. Dr. Stevenson and Dr. Forrester are on the surface, and they’ve validated the site. They’ve also taken samples and bringing them back. Unfortunately, the planet’s overrun with vicious predatory animals. I’m sad to report we lost three of our special ops soldiers.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that, Captain,” Marc said quietly. “I hope everyone else is all right. When will the ground party get back?”

  “It’s just now breaking daylight, so they should be back at the shuttle within six hours. It’s too dangerous to travel in the jungle at night. From what I understand, the nocturnal group is just as ferocious as the day shift.”

  “I’m terribly sorry about your soldiers, Captain. Please send us the details. Keep us informed, and let us know the minute everyone’s back aboard.”

  “Roger that, Mission Control.”

  “By the way, I’m curious to know how you figured out where you were.”

  The captain smiled. “Scott Kimberly used the cosmic WNS system.”

  “What?”

  “He located six pulsars whose positions are known relative to Earth, then triangulated their position to pinpoint ours.”

  “Clever,” Marc said. “What’s your status?”

  “All ship systems are AOK. We’ll be leaving orbit as soon as the ground party returns.”

  “Very well, we’ll be standing by to assist in any way.”

  “Thank you. We’ll switch in views of the planet, and send back data, if you like?” the captain offered.

  “Love to see it,” Marc replied.

  Pepper walked over to Marc’s position to view the planetary and solar system pictures they were receiving through the wormhole. Marc switched to an auxiliary screen so everyone could share the data.

  “It seems strange observing a world with two moons,” Pepper said. “Look at the volcanic eruptions and electrical storms. I hope our people are safe.”

  “Me too, Pepper. I just hope we don’t lose anyone else. I feel relieved to know where they are.”

  Marc rose from his chair. “I’m going to my office to call Bill Hart. One senator has already asked for a congressional investigation of our security measures. Pepper, do you have anything to discuss with Bill?”

  “Tell him I’ll send the virus report shortly and we’re purging one more virus from the system. Please let him know we’re trying to uncover the saboteur’s identity.”

  “Keep me informed.”

  “I will,” she said as she stared at the main screen. Look at those terrible storms.

  I’m so happy to know Harry’s still alive. I just hope all of them make it back to the ship. Better let Wanda know.

  She typed in a code W234 and Wanda appeared.

  “What’s up, Pepper?

  “I have good news. The wormholes up and we’ve been in communication with the Orion. You can get all the details from the communications files. Anyway, Harry’s all right.”

  “I’m so happy I could scream,” Wanda replied. “When are they coming back?”

  “The captain said it would be in about twelve hours. Harry and some others are on the surface of a planet validating a phenomenal mineral find. It is one scary place. You can view it on the aux screen. By the way, Kimberly used pulsars, just as you said he might.”

  “I thought Scott would figure it out. Please keep me in the communication loop. I’ll call Mom and let her know the good news. She’s been an emotional mess since I told her about this. Think I’ll tap into the picture stream. It should be interesting.”

  “Tell Carle that if she wants she can call me at my quarters this evening. I’d like to talk to her. Do you have any news on that second virus?”

  “Yes, but my analysis is still in process. We may still have a bunch of issues to resolve. We’re not out of the woods yet. I’ll keep you informed,” she said. She then switched the link off.

  Chapter 48

  MP-1

  The jungle

  Major Tobey tried to reach the Orion. The static from the huge electrical storm interfered. Damn, I hope I can reach the Pegasus, he thought. “Knuckles, this is Tobey. Come in, over.”

  “Hey, Major, I’m relieved to hear from you. I assume you are on the way back. Over.”

  “We’ve been held up by an electrical storm. We’ve lost three men. We took shelter in a cave and some scorpion thing killed Rodriquez. We tried to kill it, but I think it got away. Over.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. Is everyone else all right? Over.”

  “For now. Over.”

  “What’s your ETA? Over.”

  “I suspect we’re about six hours out. This jungle is slow moving, and we expect trouble from the locals along the way. The animal and plant life are unbelievably hostile and hungry. We’ll keep you informed. Tobey out.”

  The major signaled the men together. “It looks like the storm is about over so we need to move out and get to the shuttle before nightfall. I’m sure we’re going to be attacked, probably more than once. Be alert and stay silent. Sergeant Major, make sure the team has impulse grenades loaded. Bullets don’t faze those Manta things.”

  “You heard the man. Off your ass and on your feet. Move out and stay frisky.”

  Leaving the cave was scary to Harry. Of course, that was preferable to a close encounter with another spider thing. The cave was obviously not a place that either the mantises or sub-humans would dare enter. The bones that littered the floor gave testimony the cave was the spider creature’s domain. He was definitely the dominant predator inside.

  The point guards, Gunn and Donovan, exited first and the rest of the team followed. The screams and growls of predators hunting for food reverberated through the hot, humid morning air. The death cries of creatures, lower in the food chain, caused a cold shiver to run up and down Harry’s spine. It reinforced his perception of just how hostile and foreboding this planet was, and how he hoped they could get off this crazy world and go home.

  As they fought their way through the undergrowth and thorns, the weather turned even more humid, and the temperature strained to stay below 34 Celsius. Volcanic eruptions fouled the air assaulting Harry’s nose and lungs. His clothes were soaked with perspiration and he could feel the sweat dribbling down his sides. The thorns had opened new wounds and they stung with sweat and dirt.

  After an hour, Harry noticed the compass began to show considerable variation. The soldiers also detected it.

  “Major, we’re in deep kimshi,” the Sergeant Major said. “The magnetic variation is starting to cause navigation problems. We’re not sure of our location relative to our rendezvous point. I thought we had a couple of days of steady magnetics.”

  “So did I. Dr. Stevenson, do you have any suggestions?”

  Everything Harry could think of required instruments. “Any ideas, Ronnie? If we get lost out here, it’s all over.”

  “Let’s call the Oriskany and see if Knuckles is aware of the
variations. Maybe he can help.”

  “It’s worth a try,” Harry replied.

  Major Tobey activated his headset. “Oriskany, this is Tobey please come in. Over.”

  “This is Oriskany. What’s up?”

  “Knuckles, we’re experiencing considerable magnetic deviation. The compass is almost useless. Can you help us?”

  “I’ve been monitoring the magnetic flux variation. Yes, I can help. Captain Starling had me plant a miniature direction-finding beacon in Harry’s pack. I’ve been tracking you all the time you’ve been on the ground. I know exactly where you are and where you’ve been.”

  Everyone sighed in relief. Thank God, the captain had the foresight to do that, Harry thought. That man amazes me.

  “That’s great, Knuckles,” Tobey said. “It’s nice to have devious friends. So, what do you want us to do?”

  “I’ve had the computer run an analysis and plot the deviation. Take the total variation around the heading course of two hundred degrees and cut it by plus twenty and minus thirty degrees and stay in the middle of that heading. If I see you deviating too far, I’ll contact you with corrections. Whatever you do, keep the channel open and do not lose Harry’s backpack.”

  “Roger that. We’re moving out again. By the way, do you know if we’re going to get hit by another electrical storm before we get to the shuttle?”

  “I’ve contacted Orion and they informed me the storms are moving off to the East, so you should be okay.”

  “Great, see you soon. Tobey out.”

  The Sergeant Major nervously studded the surroundings. They had traveled a long distance and not heard nor seen any of the predators. This reminded him of an expedition to another planet, Alba 323, where they suffered repeated predator attacks in dense jungle areas. It was always quiet before the storm, and his instinct warned him not all was well.

  He whispered in his headset mike. “Gunn, you and Donovan stay feisty. It’s too quiet … something’s up.”

  “What, Sergeant Major?” Donovan asked, as she clicked the safety off her weapon.

  “I don’t know, damn it. Just stay alert!”

  The first sub-human jumped Private Gunn from a small tree. The creature landed on Gunn’s back, ripping his neck with its fangs. Gunn shot and screamed. The creature was not about to let go short of death.

  By the time Donovan arrived where she had heard the noise, three of the creatures fed on the bloody carcass that was once Shawn Gunn.

  You sons of bitches. Donovan raised her weapon and fired. Two of the creatures screamed and fell dead. The other ran off through the jungle, yelping. There was no helping Gunn. Donovan quietly eased back to the main group to report. As she approached, she saw a sub-human in a tree, ready to jump on Major Tobey. She shot the animal as it jumped. It fell dead at the major’s feet.

  When the creature hit the ground, the major jumped back. “Thanks, Donovan. That was just too close. What’s up?” he asked, trying hard to maintain a calm demeanor as he gazed at the beast.

  “Major, they killed Shawn Gunn and were eating him. I shot two, but the third bastard got away. You have to watch the trees. They like to use them to ambush your ass. These fuckers are smart, Major. They’re not acting on instinct alone. Do you want me to go back on point?”

  “No, stay with the group.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Sergeant Major, make sure everyone stays close and alert. These mother humpers are getting too bold.”

  Harry heard the noise of sub-humans stalking them. Just out of sight, growling, screaming and howling like a pack of coyotes circling for the kill. The team kept moving; strategically shooting to keep them at bay. The ammo was running low.

  “You know, Ronnie, there must be thirty or forty of those things out there,” Harry said as they hacked their way through the hot steamy jungle. Sweat poured off his forehead; the sting blurring his vision and burning his eyes. New cuts riddled his forearms, and trickles of blood slowly seeped from the wounds. He wiped the blood on his shirt and winched from the sting.

  “Yeah, and I’ll bet they’re planning a big feast, with us as the main course,” Ronnie remarked. “Watch out for that limb, Harry!”

  Harry ducked as a thorn-laden limb snapped forcefully over his head. “Thanks, man. That thing would have cut my friggin’ head open.”

  A huge volcano exploded, sending great quantities of ash and lava high into the atmosphere. The seismic shock wave shook the Earth with so much force it knocked everyone to the ground. The violent quake moved everything. Trees swung wildly and the ground rolled like sea waves.

  Holy shit, Harry thought. I’ve never seen Kirchhoff waves before … it’s fascinating. The seismic waves bounced his body up and down as they rolled past. He felt like a bug stranded on a choppy pond, hanging on a leaf.

  Ten meters away trees crashed and the ground split wide open. Plants and a few unlucky animals, that failed to move quickly, fell into the chasm. The shaking worsened and the animals in the jungle growled and screamed, terrified by the huge quake.

  I sure hope the ground doesn’t open up beneath me. Harry tried, but it was impossible to get up, so he just lay there, hoping it would stop, trying to keep his anxiety in check. Finally, after five agonizing minutes, the main quake subsided. No one moved, fearfully waiting for an aftershock. When it hit, it threw the team around like rag dolls, knocked trees down and split the ground open all around them.

  Living in California, as a kid, Harry had experienced Earthquakes. But never like this one. He waited, fearing another shock, but the ground stayed still.

  Thank God, that’s over. Damn, that was terrifying. “Ronnie, you okay?”

  “I guess so. I thought I was going to buy the farm. I don’t know about you, but that scared the shit out of me. Did you catch those Kirchhoff waves?”

  Harry chuckled at Ronnie’s reply. The lingering fears slowly receding. Only a scientist would comment on a phenomena rather than his fear of it. “Yep, pretty cool stuff,” Harry replied. And it scared the shit out of me, too.

  “Man, there aren’t many people who have ever seen a Kirchhoff,” Ronnie said excitedly. “Just too cool.”

  “I don’t care to see ‘em again.”

  Harry got to his feet and looked around. The quake had decimated the landscape. Trees and plants were uprooted, and animals lay dead everywhere. The ash from the volcanic eruption made it difficult to breathe and increased the heat and humidity. His clothes were wringing wet, and perspiration ran down his forehead like tiny creek streams. Tired of burning eyes, he wrapped a cloth around his head to block the sweat. His whole body hurt and the cuts and scratches the plants had inflicted on him burned like hell. He felt like complaining but kept his mouth shut.

  “Sergeant Major, check on the team,” Tobey said.

  “Roger, sir.”

  “Are you injured?” Tobey asked.

  “We’re fine Major, just a bit shook up,” Harry replied.

  “Major, it looks like everyone got through it. No casualties,” Sergeant Major reported.

  “Excellent. Get everyone together and let’s prepare to move out.”

  “You heard the man. Check your weapons and let’s go. Everyone stay close.”

  They headed off through the jungle, exhausted, hungry and anxious to get to the shuttle. After a half-hour of hacking their way through the dense undergrowth, it grew deathly quiet again.

  This must be the way it is in the jungle when a predator is on the hunt and closing on its kill, Harry thought. I just hope it’s not us.

  The team moved — cautiously alert for any sign of a predator. They stopped in a small clearing to take a reading on the compass and check their ammo reserves.

  “If the attacks continue, it’s gonna come down to hand-to-hand combat. Everyone’s about out of ammo,” Harry said.

  “I sure as hell hope not. I don’t think I could handle one of those things,” Ronnie replied.

  “Team, check your knives. We may need them,�
�� the Sergeant Major yelled.

  Just as they left the clearing, the sub-humans attacked. They had been waiting in ambush and rushed from two sides. One knocked Donovan to the ground before she could get her rifle in position. She fought it with her knife. The sub-human growled and snarled, saliva running out of its mouth, red eyes filled with blood lust. It ripped at her with its claws, and tried to sink its teeth into her.

  Donovan screamed and cussed as they fought. She used her forearm to keep the creature’s fangs from ripping her face, and tried to stab it.

  The creature ripped Donovan’s forearm open. She screamed with pain as blood poured from the six-inch tear. The Sergeant Major ran over and jumped onto the animal’s back, screaming profanities as he stabbed it repeatedly. He sank his combat knife into the creature’s neck. It growled, let out a scream and dropped dead.

  “That’ll teach your sorry ass to screw with us.” The Sergeant Major wiped his brow then helped Donovan up.

  “Thanks, Sergeant Major. Where’s my weapon?” Donovan ignored the large gash and blood running down her arm. She grabbed her assault rifle and started shooting again. She was not about to let a little pain or blood shut her down. Besides, in spec ops, they say that if you’re in pain, you know you’re still alive.

  “Come and get me, you bastards. Momma bears going to kick your ass,” she yelled, going full auto.

  At least ten of the predators lay on the ground bleeding. The rest regrouped for a final two-pronged assault. The ammo was all but gone. Harry knew they wouldn’t survive another full-scale attack. He was also certain neither he nor Ronnie would be able survive a one-on-one fight with the creatures.

  “Hey, Harry, break out the steak sauce, I think they’re coming again,” Ronnie yelled.

  The sub-humans screamed and growled loudly. Huge red eyes blazed with blood-lust, and their mouths hung open displaying long, sharp teeth as they charged for the final kill.

  Looks like we’ve had the meat, Harry thought. We’re gonna die.