by Ben Hammott
“You don't believe they will use force to procure alien technology for themselves?”
General Colt shrugged noncommittally. “This is such an unprecedented discovery, Mr. President, it's hard to predict what the Russians will do. Will they risk starting a war by using force to get aboard the spaceship? I don't believe so. With the British backing us up it will be one nation against two; they wouldn't stand a chance. However, saying that, it's certain they'll have read Richard Whorley's descriptions of the light-beam weapon used by that Haax alien to kill some of the monsters and might think, like us, that there could be other advanced weaponry aboard the spaceship. Given its size it must have at least one armory or weapon store of some nature, and it will be these weapons more than any other technology aboard the spaceship that will be the principle driving factor behind any decisions the Russians might make.”
“I agree,” said the President. “I've managed to placate the Chinese for a while with promises of sharing the alien technology, but I believe they were only so amenable because they knew by the time they arrived all the best stuff would be gone and the spaceship might be at the bottom of the ocean. The Russians though, it seems, are counting on salvaging something for themselves.”
“I would be failing in my duty,” said Colt, “if I didn't state firmly enough how important it is that we get our hands on any alien weaponry before less responsible nations. Weapons that might be aboard the spaceship could make our nuclear arsenal look like spud guns. If they fall into the wrong hands it's possible the rest of the world could be held to ransom.”
“You will get no arguments from me on that score,” stated the President.
“I already have a plan in place to do what is necessary to secure and salvage any alien weapons and prevent them from falling into the… wrong hands. I just need your go ahead, Mr. President.”
President Conner glanced at the General. “You have it, but it mustn't interfere with the current salvage operation.”
“It won't, Mr. President,” reassured Colt. “I have a specialized team standing by. They won't fail.”
“Nor do I want it to cause an international incident. Though our relationship with the Russians is at best precarious, we've come a long way since the end of the Cold War and I've no intention of revisiting those days on my watch. Is that clear, General?”
The General nodded firmly. “As crystal, Mr. President.
President Conner watched the General leave before turning back to the spaceship scan and frowned as he wondered how all this happening on his watch would affect his political career.
*****
Admiral Thomson entered the room assigned to the NASA technicians and scientists and gazed around at the men and women sat staring at computer monitors and typing on keyboards. He had been asked to find out as much as he could about the internal layout of the ship for a special ops mission to seek out alien armaments. Normally he would have assigned the task to a subordinate, but he wanted to see for himself the satellite scan that had the NASA technicians so excited.
A man he recognized as David Boyd, another NASA lackey, raised a hand at the far side of the room. “Over here, Admiral.”
Thomson crossed the room and stared at the large image on the table that was identical to the one the President had been viewing thousands of miles away.
“As you can see, Admiral, we have now pieced together detailed scans of the spaceship.”
There wasn't much that surprised the fifty-five year old commander, but what he looked at now qualified. “It's far bigger than I imagined.”
“A little over a mile long and half that at its widest point,” stated Boyd, his eyes scanning the spacecraft image with obvious excitement. “We have no idea of its depth, but I wouldn't be surprised if some levels are a quarter of a mile from the top.”
Thomson walked around the table as he studied the colossal vessel. “It's going to be damn nigh impossible, given the time we have, to find anything aboard that thing. There must be hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of rooms spread out on its various levels.”
“I agree,” said Boyd. “I'm just glad the shuttlecrafts are right by the entrance. If we get nothing else I'll be happy.”
Thomson glared at the NASA technician. “Making you happy is not part of my mission. I've already been informed by President Conner how important this salvage mission is. You worry about what you're good at, and I'll do my part. You want a shuttlecraft or two, you'll get them.” The Admiral pointed at the parts of the spacecraft image shaded red. “What are those?”
Apparently unfazed by the man's abruptness, Boyd explained, “The red indicates the parts of the ship the scientists explored. Of course it's not exact given the limited amount of information gathered from the scientists debriefing, and doesn't account for the many lower levels. However, it gives us an idea how much of the ship the scientists didn't explore―more than seventy percent.”
The Admiral sighed. “It's all very interesting, but unless you can supply me with a plan of the spaceship's internal layout and the purpose of each room, it's not very helpful. I'd rather not send men in blind with no idea of what direction to head in.”
“That is something we have been tasked to assist you with.”
The Admiral turned and looked at the man who had joined them. “And who might you be?”
“Wallace, sir. CIA.” He handed the Admiral a folder. “If you need someone to help your men find their way around the ship, then this person can be of assistance and will be arriving shortly.”
Thomson opened the folder, stared at the photograph and smiled. “Yes, I can see why that might be the case.”
Demons
WHEN LUCY CLIMBED to her feet, the bat creature released its grip on the rock, rolled in midair and landed feet first on the floor in a crouched position with its body tucked beneath its wings. As it rose slowly to its full six-foot height, it spread its wings and stood poised like a malevolent demon angel. For a moment it did nothing except stare at her, as if it wondered what she was.
Lucy stared back at the creature that looked as if a bat, a bird and a demon had been morphed into a single terrifying entity, complete with devilish horns on its head. Without turning away she slowly moved a foot up onto the next step.
The creature lunged at her.
Lucy swung the club with a speed that surprised her; her reactions to life-threatening situations had definitely improved.
The Demon Bat's long head that ended in a wicked, pointed beak shot to the side with a crack of bone when the club struck. As it crashed to the ground Lucy dodged out of its path.
When more green eyes appeared in the darkness shrouding the cave roof, Lucy turned and fled up the root-covered steps that did their best to trip her. The flapping of wings from behind indicated the outcome if she stumbled a second time.
The curving steps prevented Lucy from seeing how high they reached or what they led to but she noticed the roots changing the higher she climbed. At the bottom they were relatively sparse, but now they had increased in number and were thicker. A turn around a curve in the staircase revealed they were no longer confined to growing across the steps. Roots now snaked over the walls and were covered in jagged protrusions that poked into the tunnel like the teeth of some strange creature. As she progressed even higher, the spiky tooth-like formations became longer, in more abundance and invaded the space she needed to move through. She shot a glance back when the flapping of wings faded. The abundance of spiky-roots grew too close together for the winged demons to fly through, but they weren't thwarted yet. They landed on the steps and crawled and climbed between, over and under the spiky growths. Lucy worried that if the roots continued to increase in size and number, they would block her progress and the creatures would be upon her. The mass of green eyes coming ever closer was an eerie sight. Except for their claws scraping on the steps, roots and walls, the Demon Bats made no sound. Sensing danger close by, she turned to face it. A smaller Demon Bat's pointed jaw stabbed at h
er. Lucy recoiled in fright and swung the club at its head, which exploded when the force smashed it into one of the spiky roots. She continued her climb.
The roots soon invaded the space directly above the steps, causing Lucy to maneuver carefully between their sharp barbs. She couldn’t shake the feeling she was moving through a mouth filled with teeth that would snap shut at any moment and impale her. It was a relief when she reached the top without that very thing happening. A glance back down the steps and through the gaps between the jagged protrusions revealed the Demon Bats hadn't given up the chase. Lucy crossed a flat area and passed through a misshapen metal gate hanging askew from one hinge and rushed over to the mass of thick vines blocking the exit. After pulling aside a handful of the sinewy growths, she glanced around the new landscape.
It was hard to believe she was still on the spaceship and hadn't been transported to a far off alien planet. Lucy glimpsed movement and focused upon the creature crouched on what seemed to be a building under a jagged outcrop of rock. Blue lights pulsed along the ribs along the building's sides and the long, thin leg-like appendages that stretched out from the strange construction. Through its transparent walls, small green and red lights could be seen flashing and a spray of sparks erupted intermittently from one section.
The scrape of claw on rock spun her head around. Five Demon Bats crawled towards her. More were close behind. Lucy glanced back at the strange building and noticed the creature never took its eyes off her when it climbed down the side of the building headfirst and raced towards her.
Lucy only had one direction she could go―up. She squeezed through the vines and glanced above. Strange trees leaned out over the rock that formed the tunnel. She grabbed one of the thick vines and climbed. The gnarled, knobby vines were easy to ascend and when Lucy reached the top she cautiously glanced over the edge. The area seemed free of anything that might attack her. Movement rippled through the vines from below. She glanced down. Demon Bats pushed through the vines and leaped into the air. Stretched wings flapped and bore them aloft.
Lucy climbed onto the ledge and ran for the metal wall one hundred feet away, or more specifically, the door set in its base that she prayed would open. A glance back revealed two Demon Bats swooping towards her. She twisted to fight the first off with the club, but stumbled. The Demon Bat soared past above her. The one behind altered its flight and reached out its claws when it prepared to land on its prey. Lucy rolled to the side and swung the club, striking the creature's shoulder. Bones crunched when it struck the ground and tumbled until coming to a rest. It tried to stand, but its injuries were too severe; it would fly no more. Lucy jumped to her feet as two more approached, and ran for the door, bypassing the wounded creature that stabbed its pointed jaw at her in a lackluster attempt its instincts forced it to carry out.
The door was Lucy's only chance to get away. The first Demon Bat that had swooped past her had other plans. It landed in front of the door, cutting off Lucy's escape. She dodged another she sensed coming up behind her by swerving around one of the trees covered in red leaves that grew near the metal wall. She paused amongst the tree trunks when two more Demon Bats landed by the door. She turned as more swooped down to the ground behind her. Wary of the club that had so easily wounded one of its kind, they had chosen another tactic; they would attack in a group from all sides.
Lucy glanced up the trunk of one of the trees. They weren't very high and looked easy to climb, but even if she did seek refuge in its leaf-burdened branches, she doubted it would stop the creatures for very long. There was no other option. To live she had to get through the door before the other demons moved into position. She stared at the three creatures stopping her. The will to live pushed her fear aside and prompted her rush at the three Demon Bats.
Surprised by the sudden attack, for a moment the creatures failed to retaliate and one suffered a broken arm from the club its attacker swung at it. Lucy followed through with a hard kick to the Demon Bat's stomach. It stumbled into the creature beside it and knocked it off balance. The third dodged out of the way and leaped at her. The club caught it a blow around the head. Its neck snapped and hung at an unnatural angle as it staggered about wildly. Lucy searched the handle-absent door for some way of opening it; a concealed panel or something, but there was nothing on the rusty metal wall. She stamped on the Demon Bat's head that had fallen to the ground when it lunged for her ankle. Its eyes bulged when its skull was crushed by the force. The third creature lashed out a claw at Lucy's face. She barely managed to pull her head back in time and felt a whoosh of claw-disturbed air caress her face as her head slammed into the wall. Dazed, she slipped to the ground. Through spinning vision she watched the Demon Bat tower over her and its open, teeth-lined beak snapping together menacingly as it grew nearer. Lucy tried to lift the club, but found it was no longer in her hand, not that it would do her any good, her arms were as heavy as lead. The Demon Bat's warm carnivorous breath washed over her face. All she could see were sharp teeth and a pink throat her flesh would soon be sliding down. Though she willed her body to move and defend itself, it refused; it had had enough. Suddenly, the teeth disappeared, yanked from her view. In a blurred flurry of movement and excited squeals, the Demon Bat landed beside her minus its head.
Lucy stared at the pink, scary face framed with blond hair that filled her vision. Its serial-killer smile revealed blunt teeth stained with fresh blood. Lucy had forgotten about the other creature. As the face edged closer, Lucy drifted into unconsciousness.
Bug Hunt
YOU CAN’T BE SERIOUS, Lieutenant.” Cooper stared at the uninviting rathole the stepladder reached to near the ceiling. “That's suicide going in there.”
“It’s our only option. We have to clear the cargo bay of insects so the containers can be salvaged.” Lieutenant Miller checked the five canisters of poisonous gas, the three gasmasks and the other requested items in the backpack and fastened the straps.
“Why not just put the gas in the airlock and close the hangar door?” Patterson asked. “Then, when the cargo bay door opens, the gas will flood the room and kill them.”
The Lieutenant looked at Patterson. “Am I to understand that you, Patterson, have just volunteered to wear a gas mask, enter the airlock, open the far door, set off the gas and hope it kills the insects before they reach you?”
“Well, no, Lieutenant. That’s definitely not something I’m volunteering for.”
“That’s why I’ve chosen this route. The scientists reported the Space Rats were in the same room as the insects, so logically, that opening should lead to that area. The gas should dispose of both species at the same time, leaving the way clear to salvage everything in the cargo bay. However, I can’t do it alone. I will need two volunteers. I’ll take point, but I need one of you to haul the stuff, another to watch our backs and both to keep guard while I set off the gas.”
“Sounds like it might be fun,” said Sawyer, with a grin. “Count me in.”
Fitch stared at the man. “That confirms my suspicions, Sawyer. You are crazy.”
Sawyer shrugged, still grinning. “No one lives forever.”
Miller's gaze swept across the remaining men. “I'd rather someone volunteered, but I will choose one of you if no one comes forward.”
Fitch sighed. “I’ll do it.”
Miller looked at the man with surprise. “No, Fitch, we need you to operate the drone when this task is done. Patterson, you’re volunteering.”
Patterson groaned and nodded.
Miller picked up the rucksack containing the gas and other items they would need, and handed it to Patterson. “Follow me in. Sawyer, you’re at the rear.”
“Okay, Sarge.” Sawyer slapped Patterson playfully on the back. “Don’t look so glum. I’ll make sure nothing eats you.”
Patterson forced a smile. “It's not that I'm worried about so much as crawling through that tight passage with my well-formed arse shoved enticingly in your face.”
Sawyer laughed. �
�I promise to be gentle as it's your first time.”
The remaining team members watched the three men enter the rathole. None envied them their task. As soon as Sawyer entered, Cobb climbed the ladder and placed a folded lump of yellow plastic in the opening. A tube fixed to it led to a pressurized air canister on the floor. Cobb nodded to Selby who waited with his hand on the airflow lever and air hissed along the tube. The tough inflatable air bag expanded to fill the contours of the hole. When Cobb was satisfied the hole was sealed and no backwash of gas could escape, the air was turned off.
*****
“Bravo Team leader to Control, we are in the rathole," reported Miller. “The opening led to some kind of access duct.”
Admiral Thomson gazed at the image on the monitor lit by Miller's headlamp. The long hexagon passage that stretched into the distance looked spooky as hell, especially knowing the Space Rats or insects might be in there waiting for them. “Take it easy, Lieutenant. I’m counting on you to complete your mission.”
Miller fished earplugs from his pocket and inserted them.
Sawyer and Patterson did likewise. If they had to use their weapons in such a confined space the sound would deafen them. Forced into a crouched position by the duct's confines, the Lieutenant led them forward.
A few minutes later Miller brought the small team to a halt. He pointed two fingers at his eyes and then at the intersection ahead before slowly moving forward. When he cautiously glanced down the left-hand turning, a Space Rat surged from the darkness and leaped at him. A spray of bullets dropped it to the ground. Movement to his right alerted Miller to a new attack. Rats with bared teeth spread wide to bite, rushed him from the other direction. Gunfire and squeals of pain echoed through the duct until all fell silent again. The almost empty magazine clattered to the floor when Miller exchanged it for a fresh one.
