"Fine with me. I'm not in any hurry to die."
"Die?"
"Haven't you ever seen any of those old mummy movies? People walk in and disturb a tomb, and, the next thing you know, mummies are popping up everywhere, trying to kill the entire cast.
"Gracie, that only happens in the movies," Christa said with a giggle.
"Really? Look what happened the last time you opened a facility like this one. Didn't you tell me you had to live in a sewer for weeks before you could escape from the facility?"
"But we were escaping from Raiders, not mummies."
"And isn't the code word to open the door 'rodent hole?' That speaks volumes."
"It may not be a literal translation. As you said, it's a code word. Code words that mislead are often assigned to operations and projects."
"And didn't you just tell me we're being watched by Raiders?"
"There's a big difference between being watched and being attacked. We just have to make sure we don't let them know we've opened the facility until after the Marine reinforcements arrive."
"What Marine reinforcements? From what I've seen on this planet, the Corps doesn't have enough people to control a wild wedding party, much less a Raider attack."
"That was the purpose of my message. I told Admiral Holt we need every Marine he can get for us."
"I hope he comes through."
* * *
"Ahil," Chairman Strauss said, "Costs for the operation on Dakistee are mounting. Our people have been sitting on their brains for months now just waiting to attack. What the devil is taking Carver so long to open that damned door?"
"I just received word that two cases were delivered by the diplomatic service, contents unknown. At the time of the delivery, it was believed she hadn't yet been able to open the facility."
"The Diplomatic Corps? What could the Diplomatic Corps possibly have that was required to open the door?"
"We don't know. Carver was observed carrying one of the cases into the tunnel yesterday morning where she remained until lunchtime, then returned to her shuttle. She and her assistant both appeared to be dejected, as if their latest attempt had failed. This is supported by the fact that she hasn't increased the Marine protection. She still has just two sentries at the entrance."
"Is there anything further we can do to assist her efforts— without her knowing who's behind the assistance?"
"She's been very closemouthed about her progress. No one on the planet knows what the status is or what her plans are."
"She appears to be just like her sister Jenetta," Councilwoman Overgaard said. "I understand Admiral Carver has always been very closemouthed until it's necessary to let other others know of her plans. But perhaps we could make it necessary."
"What do you mean?" Fazid asked.
"Suppose we were to arrange a visit by a high-ranking official from the GA Council, or better yet, from Space Command. She would have to detail her progress if they asked, wouldn't she?"
"Possibly," Strauss said thoughtfully, "depending on their position and security clearance. If we send someone, they must be high-ranking, or in a position to request secure information regarding her progress. See to it Ahil."
"But Arthur, I don't believe we have anyone in such a position," Fazid said.
"Then speak to our Intelligence Section. We have numerous sources kept in deep cover where no more than one or two members of our organization know of their existence. It's for their protection and allows us to preserve our most valuable resources for the day when we need them."
"Very well. I'll consult with the Intelligence Director today."
* * *
"Before we begin," Admiral Moore announced to his fellow officers seated around the large, horseshoe-shaped table, as well as everyone else in the large hall always used for meetings of the Admiralty Board, "no word of the next topic is to leave this room." He looked around before continuing. The gallery was empty, but the usual assortment of aides and clerks were sitting behind their admirals.
"Lt. Commander Christa Carver has succeeded in opening the second Dakinium-sheathed facility found on Dakistee."
"About time," Admiral Hubera said.
"Donald," Admiral Moore said in a tone that dripped with reproach.
"Well, she's been there for more than five months working on this one problem, Richard. All she had to do was open one little door."
"As you know, Donald, we only just acquired the last of the six cylinders needed to open the door," Admiral Hillaire said. "Considering that she managed to open the facility in relatively short order once she had the proper apparatus, I'd say she's done outstanding work. And don't forget that it was she who uncovered the role the cylinders played in this effort."
"How could I," Hubera snapped back, "with you reminding us constantly?"
"What has she discovered inside, Richard?" Admiral Platt asked of Admiral Moore. "Is it another cloning facility?"
"The report forwarded by Admiral Holt states that at the time of the report, she had managed to open the facility but hadn't yet entered it. She's requested more Marine forces for her protection detail."
"More forces! More forces! Humph! It's always the same story with the Carvers. She's as bad as her sister."
"Donald, I remind you that with Admiral Jenetta Carver you're speaking of a senior officer," Admiral Moore said. "Be careful with your rhetoric."
Admiral Hubera clamped his mouth shut and leaned back in his chair, obviously upset by the warning. Jenetta Carver had been a mere cadet when he was a senior instructor at the Academy, and rancor towards her had increased with every promotion she received as she climbed through the ranks. Now she was senior to him, with four stars to his two, and resentment ate at his insides every time he heard her name or thought about her. He had already suffered one major heart attack when his temper got the best of him because of her military successes in Regions Two and Three.
"This facility is deep underground like the other, is it not?" Admiral Bradlee asked. "With only one entrance to guard, Commander Carver shouldn't be so concerned about being overrun by a bunch of scientists that it delays her further investigation."
"We've all seen mob violence," Admiral Moore said. "If we only have a few Marines on duty, the likelihood of violence increases. I would hate to see a shooting incident occur there. A crowd is far less likely to charge a well-staffed sentry post."
"Stun rifles should be adequate for simple crowd control," Admiral Plimley said.
"Anytime you use force, you must be prepared for the most dire of consequences," Admiral Bradlee said. "If you stun someone, they're potentially down for hours. During that time they can be trampled or suffocate from the weight of other bodies who fall on top of them. They might even be used as shields by others."
"Our Marine resources are stretched extremely thin. Is Admiral Holt requesting additional troops?" Admiral Platt asked.
"No," Admiral Moore said. "He just seems to be reporting the progress of Commander Carver and repeating her request of him. He's well aware of the staffing issues and knows we've already sent him all the personnel resources we can."
"Then I suggest we let him handle the issue. It's part of his deca-sector after all," Admiral Platt said.
"Does anyone else have a dissenting opinion?" Admiral Moore asked as he glanced around the table. When no one spoke up he said, he said, "Very well, we won't interfere with his handling of the issue."
* * *
Christa waited until a barely adequate Marine presence was available at Fort Carver before she opened the facility again. Admiral Holt had done everything he could to provide as large a contingent as possible.
At 0800, Marine Lieutenant Uronson, Staff Sergeant Burton, and Sergeant Flegetti arrived with three fire teams of Marines in battle armor. Fire teams in the Space Marine Corps typically contain four members, so when combined with the fire team already providing security on site, the new fire teams gave Christa a full squad of sixteen Marines, plus two noncoms an
d a CO.
From that point forward, Christa believed there would never be fewer than four Marines patrolling the camp, in addition to the two posted at the entrance tunnel. Although a defensible perimeter in the form of a meter-and-half-deep trench had long ago been dug one hundred meters from the tunnel entrance, they would need at least a full company to properly defend against a concerted effort to penetrate the camp.
As Christa and Carmoody entered the tunnel, the remaining ten squad members, two noncoms, and Lt. Uronson accompanied them. They carried with them a dozen Chembrite panels and stands, as well as a small communications package that should allow her CT, and that of Carmoody, to operate inside the facility.
This would be the first time anyone outside a very small group would have any indication that she had succeeded in opening the door. Anyone watching the camp would know something big was up and she had no idea what to expect. She would have preferred that the Marines be armed with stun weapons, but she'd opted instead for laser rifles. She hoped the lethality of the weapons would further deter the curious from advancing too close to the tunnel entrance.
"You look extremely nervous," Christa said to Carmoody as they walked down the tunnel ramp.
"I've always had this thing about ghosts, goblins, mummies, zombies, vampires, trolls, witches, werewolves…"
"I get the picture," Christa said, smiling. "You read too many cheap novels when you were young and developed a phobia about garden-variety monsters. This isn't a haunted house, Gracie. It's just an ancient work center."
"All haunted houses were just normal houses at one time. Then they get old and decrepit, and the monsters take up residence."
"You'll probably be amazed at how clean it is, if it's anything like the other facility. And we found no ghosts, goblins, or mummies in that one. It was only filled with spotlessly clean equipment."
"We'll see."
"I'm excited by the prospect of seeing something no one else has seen in two hundred centuries. Who knows what we'll find?"
"That what frightens me." Carmoody said. "I have this unshakable feeling of dread— as if we're opening up a Pandora's box that will unleash unspeakable evil upon this world."
When they reached the door, Carmoody set up the projector while Christa prepared to place the cylinders that would allow her to unlock the door once the markings were visible.
The process went smoothly and the door was unlocked within minutes. As the verbal command caused the door to retract into its storage pocket, Lt. Uronson announced, "Something is going on topside, Commander."
Christa turned to face him and said, "What sort of something."
"I've been told there's a large group of civilians entering the compound."
"Armed?"
"They don't appear to be."
Christa turned towards the door and said the Nordakian command for 'close.' The door slid out of the pocket and resealed but didn't lock. "Let's go up," Christa said to Uronson. "When we arrive topside, I want you and your people to remain inside the tunnel and out of view unless I need you." To Carmoody, she said, "Gracie, you remain here. You know the commands for open and close, but don't enter alone."
"You needn't worry about that," Carmoody said with a nervous grin.
As she emerged from the tunnel, Christa found the entire cadre of Loudescott scientists, the head labor supervisor, and his assistant standing a dozen paces from the tunnel entrance. They were blocked from proceeding further by the four Marines left topside to patrol the camp. The two Marines posted at the entrance were prepared to repel an attack, but their weapons were still pointed skyward with their fingers on the trigger guards. As yet, the civilians were offering no resistance to the Marines. The two Marines in the center parted to allow her through when she reached their position.
"Doctor Peterson," Christa said cheerfully to the lead scientist standing prominently in the center forefront, "I don't believe we scheduled a meeting for this morning."
"Since you've obviously been successful in your efforts to open the facility, and have so far chosen to conceal that information from us," Peterson stated angrily, "we've come to request that we be allowed to enter it for viewing."
"Doctor, we've been through this before. You'll be allowed to enter when we know it's safe for you to do so and not before. That time has not yet arrived."
"Then you have been able to enter the facility?" Peterson said as both an inquiry and statement of fact.
"No, not as yet," Christa said truthfully.
"Come now, Commander, dig site personnel have seen you entering the tunnel in the company of Marines. That wouldn't be necessary if you hadn't finally managed to open the door."
"I tell you truthfully that I have not yet been able to enter the facility," Christa said, "but I believe I'm very close to accomplishing that. The Marines will be on hand from now on, ready to assist when they're needed with whatever task is placed before them, whether that task is investigation of the unknown or repelling people who would impede our investigation."
"Are you referring to us?"
"I'm referring to anyone who would attempt to intrude uninvited. As you well know, I'm a scientist. I share your curiosity of the unknown and understand how anxious you are to tour the facility. I promise to grant you access just as soon as possible. But that time has not yet arrived. Until I open the door, no one can enter. And Doctor, I don't intend to continue having this same discussion. There's nothing more to be said, so I bid you good day. You'll be notified when the facility will be available for your inspection. Good day, Doctor. Good Day, everyone."
With that, Christa turned on her left heel and walked towards the tunnel entrance. The group behind her remained silent, but she knew she was receiving looks with the sharpness of daggers. She paused at the entrance to address the lance corporal and the PFC stationed there.
"No one is to be allowed entrance into the tunnel— no one— unless I personally authorize it. You're to use whatever force is necessary to carry out that order. Do you understand?"
When both Marines acknowledged affirmatively, she said, "Carry on," and reentered the tunnel.
"And they believed you when you said you hadn't yet opened the door?" Carmoody asked after Christa related the conversation.
"I never said I hadn't opened the door. I said I hadn't yet entered the facility, which is true, and at one point I said the door is closed, which is also true. I never said it hadn't been unlocked. If I told them that we had managed to open the door, we'd be besieged daily by requests for tours. And once the word spreads, we'll have pressure from every quarter to make the facility accessible. We still have much to do before that time arrives, so it's better that they assume we haven't managed to open the door yet.
"Now, what say we open this place and see just what it contains, and perhaps get an idea of when we can allow civilians in. For myself, I'm anxious to get back to my ship, although I might have lost my post by now. I never dreamed I'd be here for half a year. I thought it was going to be a two-month trip, a week on the surface, and then another two-month trip back to Region Two."
"I envy you. I wish I was going out there as well instead of simply cruising around this deca-sector, researching anomalous readings reported by passing vessels."
"You'll probably wind up out there eventually, Gracie. That's where we need scientists. We have an entire Region of new worlds and spacial phenomena to research."
Turning to face the door, Christa said, "Dwuthathsei."
* * *
"We have a report from Dakistee," Councilman Ahil Fazid announced from his chair in the Lower Council Meeting Room. "It would appear Carver might have opened the facility at last."
"About damn time," Chairman Strauss said. "That operation has cost us plenty and the Upper Council is beginning to make noises about it. They want to see some results. Let's activate our plan."
"Have we confirmed that the door is opened?" Councilman Blosworth asked. "We don't want to move in and find the facility is still lo
cked."
"No," Fazid said. "Our eyes on the ground only report that it appears Carver might have opened it. There's been no positioning of troops other that the original fire team."
"No positioning of troops?" Strauss echoed.
"She only has a single fire team of Marines to perform round-the-clock sentry duty at the entrance to the tunnel, although they recently established a camp perimeter by digging a trench. We've planned for sufficient strength to overcome a full company, so there's no problem."
"If the door hasn't been opened," Councilwoman Overgaard said, "and we attack, our entire effort to date might be wasted. We can't afford to spend a month there in the open, trying to produce a result that Carver hasn't been able to accomplish. At most, we'll only have a month before Space Command shows up in force and the operation will be a failure."
"Damn!" Strauss shouted. "Ahil, what kind of idiots have you placed in the Loudescott camp?"
"I'm sorry Arnold. I'm doing my best to work with what was available. Carver just doesn't share information, and we have no way of determining what has actually taken place below ground. The door may or may not be open."
"As Erika has said," Councilman Blosworth reminded everyone, "if we move in too soon, it might be a total loss. I don't see that we have any choice but to hold off until we have definitive information about the status of the door."
"Our people will continue to observe and report," Fazid said. "I've told them to report everything, no matter how small or insignificant they judge the event."
* * *
Chapter Nine
~ October 22nd, 2285 ~
Christa stepped over the sharp edge of darkness at the threshold and attempted to peer through the gloom, but the black was pervasive. The Chembrite panels had been aimed upward to properly illuminate the antechamber, so their light failed to penetrate the facility more than a meter or two. Perhaps Carmoody's words were responsible, but Christa was likewise experiencing unusual trepidation.
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