...and they are us Homecoming

Home > Other > ...and they are us Homecoming > Page 10
...and they are us Homecoming Page 10

by Patrick McClafferty


  “Air is reprocessed through fabricators built into the very weave of the suit.” Athena explained. “HUD displays are sent to the inside of the helmet, and are operated by the wearer’s thoughts.”

  “Damn Skippy!” Chief López exclaimed.

  “Movement and equipment packs are the size and weight of a sleeveless vest, and can be used for twenty four hours before they need a recharge.”

  The Chief had an evil smile on his face. “Do they come in black, with a helmet that can be darkened?” Larisa was smiling now.

  “Yes, Chief López, but why?”

  “A moment, please. Are they hard to use?”

  “Not at all.” Athena almost laughed. “The on-board computer does continual self-correcting and stabilization. To use your vernacular, point-and-click. You tell the suit where you want it to go and how fast.”

  Chief López turned to the Russian woman. “Are your folks SCUBA qualified?”

  Larisa frowned. “Some. Not all.”

  “Good. I’ll take all those that are. All the SEALS are.” He grinned at Zed, who was just starting to get an idea of what the Chief was planning. “I can take out those ships, Zed, if Athena can crank out three hundred scuttling charges and a few dozen EVA suits. SCUBA and EVA tactics are very similar… not exactly of course, but close enough.”

  “Zed.” Athena’s voice was somewhat strident. “Is he insane, or is he suggesting doing what I think he’s suggesting doing?”

  “Yes.” Zed replied without cracking a smile. “Why don’t you explain it to her Chief?”

  The SEAL looked up at the ceiling of the room. “Using your new space suits, my team is going to load up with those fancy scuttling charges, slap them to the Creednax fleet as they orbit this world and blow them to hell. Then we’re going to come back and drink a few cold beers with our Russian friends.”

  Athena was silent for several long moments. “I’ve been reviewing all the information that is in LOLA’s database concerning Navy SEALS. The Dramul military never had such a… dedicated force. If anyone can pull this off they can. Manufacturing is beginning the assembly process as we speak, and completion is estimated at eighteen hours. It would be sooner, but the manufacturing area is only eight percent operational at this point.” She hesitated. “The biggest problem will be picking up completed equipment. Manufacturing is on the other side of the planet, right in the middle of the Creednax forces.”

  “I knew that it couldn’t be this easy.” Zed groaned. “If we leave for the factory from here, how long will it take us?”

  “Nine hours, with no interference from the Creednax patrols. With the Creednax in the area, your ETA is uncertain.”

  “Kat is going to kill me.” He murmured to himself… and then more loudly. “If you can, have the equipment loaded in a truck or something when we get there.”

  “There are delivery shuttles available, Zed. I’ll have one prepared and loaded. Unfortunately, I can’t use the autopilot. The Creednax will detect the signals.”

  “I figured as much.” He replied sourly as he turned to Larisa and the Chief. “I can fly the shuttle. We should go now. It’s apt to be a long day.”

  “Slept on way down.” Larisa’s reply was flat.

  “So did I.” Chief López chimed in. “A brisk walk would be nice after that lunch.”

  Zed rolled his eyes as he headed for the door. “Why did I ever have to choose SEALS?”

  “When you want the very best.” The Chief said behind him.

  “Then I should have chosen the Girl Scouts.” Zed retorted. He heard a dry chuckle from Larisa.

  Athena’s voice said quietly in his mind.

 

 

  He motioned to the others and they stepped through the archway.

  The Chief peered into the gloom. “We’re takin’ the train?” Zed heard the man’s hissing laugh. “That’s not very subtle.”

  “But it’s fast. Get in and find a seat. It’s going to be a long dark ride.” In complete silence, the train began to move before they found their seats. Zed sprawled in a seat, and closed his eyes.

  The motion of the train jerking to a halt woke him.

 

 

 

  “Creednax at the next station.” He whispered to the other two. “We’re waiting for them to leave before we continue.” He saw their nods. Larisa lay her pulse rifle on her lap and shut her eyes. After a time the train began to move again.

  He opened his eyes to the universal blackness.

  He groaned and stood. Chief López and Larisa were already moving.

 

 

 

  He shook his head. A map appeared in his HUD. The three blue dots appeared as one in the display, the corridors dim and insubstantial. Knots of red dots representing Creednax patrols moved about the corridors. The single blinking white dot of their destination appeared a long way off. He heard the Chief grunt as he studied his own display. Larisa said nothing as they set off in silence.

 

 

 

‹ Prev