by Greig Beck
Davidson said, “Isn’t there a treaty—”
“We’re violating it. This isn’t hippie-dippie stuff about measuring climate change or protecting whatever the hell endangered animals live at the ass-end of the world. This may be the most important event in the history of the human race, and we won’t let a piece of paper keep us from taking full advantage of it … before anyone else can.”
“So, the scientists touch the tablets in Antarctica, then tell us what they experience?” Elden asked. “It’s almost July—that’s the dead of winter down there—I assume this operation will commence in the South Pole’s spring? Maybe in November, or even October, since this is a time-sensitive mission?”
“We leave tomorrow.”
Elden and Davidson both started in their seats. “Go down there in winter, sir? I thought that was impossible.” Elden looked like he was feeling a chill at just the idea.
Ash almost smiled again and said, “We’re going to push the boundaries of ‘impossible,’ Major. Every second of this expedition once we get to the destination will be extremely dangerous, including landing the airplanes on the Wilson Airstrip. Then we’ll be exposed to the elements traveling the twenty-five miles to the Wilkes Land anomaly site. And then we will be exposed further as our crew builds Criminy Station by snapping together its prefabricated pieces. That sounds simple, but it’s a little more challenging when you’re facing a wind chill of minus 138 degrees Fahrenheit in complete darkness.”
“Of course. But, sir … Criminy Station?” Davidson repeated the name with amusement.
Ash shrugged. “Our building and support crew, the ‘icenecks’? They engaged in a bit of gallows humor naming it that—apparently they think this mission might include some … frustration, and they’re tough as hell, always up for a challenge. Use the name as a reminder to soberly regard the inherent difficulty of every element of this particular expedition.
“Also, note that these metal tablets have become extremely brittle after 200 million years buried in the ice, and so they must stay within their cases at all times, even as we have each egghead make contact with it and collect intel to be reported to myself only.”
Elden saw that comment as giving himself and Davidson information about where the tablets might have been found, but any explanation regarding how they were found was not forthcoming. And ultimately, as Elden knew from previous Top Secret missions, because it wasn’t shared, it was probably deemed irrelevant to whatever this mission actually was. Scientific? Military? Just an attempt to beat everyone else to the discovery? The reasons really were irrelevant to someone at Elden’s pay grade; besides, someone working in military intelligence would only be borrowing trouble to seek out the how and why of missions that had already been concluded.
“We leave tomorrow, just as soon as the scientists have been collected and brought onboard the aircraft. Any questions?”
Elden had a million questions, but none of them needed to be answered before commencing the mission. That didn’t keep his curiosity under control, however, and he sincerely hoped he would know all the answers by the time they returned to the States.
Ash smiled wryly at the lack of queries. “That’s it, gentlemen. Congratulations on surviving Room 1138. You will be texted as to what you may or may not bring. You’ll also receive notice of the coordinates where we shall meet and board the plane.”
Elden and Davidson rose and snapped salutes at the colonel, who returned them.
We might have survived Room 1138, Elden thought as he and Captain Davidson made their way out of the room and onto the extended gangplank, but surviving this mission won’t be so easy.
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