The Past

by Kenneth Thomas

  The 4D hologram changes and shifts to this waterworks’ facility, approximately 100 meters away, where Captain Zheng points at the green line, naming it Phase 1, showing a path along the pipes to the farm’s access point. The waterworks houses several large storage tanks, shaped like inverted cones.

  Captain Zheng explains, ‘Squad. Every few hours the eels rest, the next rest period starts at sixteen hundred and finishes at eighteen hundred. This leaves an unguarded entrance into the base through the tank. Once we reach the tank, phase 2 commences! Copy that’?

  Captain VanWest and Dell reply, ‘Affirmative’.

  ‘In phase 2, we must swim through the eel tank to the exit here. Close to the black furnace. When we reach it, phase 3 commences. Copy that’?

  ‘Affirmative, Captain’, Captain VanWest and Dell reply again.

  ‘I’m not a roachtard, got it… Captain’, Alpha confirms too, acting slightly offhand, displeased that he is not leading this part of the briefing.

  ‘Captain, you will be a roachtard if you rattle those eels, swim slowly’! Zheng stresses, sensing Alpha’s impulsive nature.

  Captain Dell takes over the next part of the infiltration into the bunker. ‘Ok squad, during phase 2 and 3 a Trojan virus will bring down the camera system and allow us to reach the black furnace undetected. Listen up, in phase 2 the danger is electric shock, 3 being incinerated like the cockroach fodder’!

  The holomap zooms back to the black furnace in order to show its entrance levers, as Captain Dell continues, ‘See this first lever to open the shutter, this only gives access to the furnace’.

  He pauses, ‘Once through, watch closely here, there is another lever by this red panel but it’s not easy to get to. Flames shoot through the furnace every 20 seconds. Captain Zheng and I will hurry to pull down this second lever. Enter the bunker complex fast to commence phase 4. You MUST follow in the next window. Move as quickly as possible to not get fried. Copy that’?

  VanWest acknowledges once more, ‘Yes, Captain’.

  Alpha replies with an arrogant smile, ‘As clear as night and day’!

  Zheng responds sarcastically, ‘Thank you for your patience Captain Alpha’!

  Dell continues, working in sync with Zheng, the interface moving to the third level down. ‘Perfect planning is key… Once regrouped, phase 4, we proceed from this level to basement level three. We then wait for phase 5, for our inside agent to open this locked door here. T-I-T-O, we storm in’!

  ‘Blast them to cockroach goo’, Alpha adds enthusiastically.

  ‘Note, hostile count estimated at between twenty and twenty-five’.

  Dr King, watching intently, interjects in a firm voice, ‘Lest I must say again, kill all but Mad Newton. The Universal Council will make an example of him’.

  ‘Yes, my liege’! The squad answers.

  Captain Dell finishes, ‘The estimated time of their leap is between seventeen and eighteen hundred’. That’s 5 in the afternoon, not too far away from now.

  The Colonel summarises, ‘The Trojan virus’ loop is only temporary. That’s 5 minutes to complete phase 2 and 3. Phase 4 we wait for the agent. Phase 5 code word T-I-T-O we storm. Affirmative’?

  ‘Yes, Colonel. Affirmative’! All reply.

  Dr King ends the interface on a sobering note, ‘Lest you do not know, this operation must be a success. Failure is not an option. Serve the Universal Council well, do not let thee down. You represent the Enforcers; you are their very best. Succeed and you will be rewarded’.

  The briefing ends and the squad, along with the Colonel, reply together, ‘Yes, my liege’.

  It’s now 2 noon, fourteen hundred hours. Pointing at the elevator, the Colonel barks, ‘ATTENTION! LET’S GO! DECK A, ARMOURY!

  As they hurry to the elevator, Dr King pulls VanWest aside, handing him a new Quantum Communicator, ‘My boy, once you capture Mad Newton and kill his evil daughter, you will finally become an Elite. If anyone should leap, remember to follow’!

  VanWest bows to Dr King, mechanically replying, ‘My liege. I am your servant, I work for the progression of man and the Universal Council, be assured that I will serve you well’.

  VanWest, Dr King giving him permission to proceed, re-joins Alpha’s squad waiting for him to go to Deck A, the Armoury. Captain Alpha looks away, pretending that he wasn’t listening in on their conversation.

  A jolly whistling greets them as they arrive at a long and narrow room, mostly empty except for a burly man with a black apron. He sits repairing a weapon, trying to solder two parts of a broken plasma rifle together. As they approach, he jumps out to attention, giving each an awkward salute as if he hasn’t seen humans in a while. VanWest is a little taken aback by the man’s crossed eyes, each one looking in the opposite direction. He can’t but wonder how this man can do such delicate work with such vision.

  The cross-eyed man is a little too quirky to be an Enforcer or, for that matter a member of the Universal Council, likely well adept at weaponry. ‘Hey, folks! I’m Gunner, and my job is to get you boys kitted out for some bunker-busting entertainment. Excited’?

  They salute him back as Gunner knocks on the wall twice, prompting the room to shift, the shelves jut out to reveal hundreds of weapons - an amazing armoury. There is a plethora of specialist equipment, from combat gear to long-range missiles and grenades.

  VanWest is super impressed. These are some of the Universal Council’s most advanced weapons. Many so secret that they are not even used in minor incursions or propaganda events, including the Universal Red and Blue Games, for fear that the NEA rebels could study them and learn how to counter their power.

  The shelves are labelled:

  Shelf 1. Electroskeleton. Device that fits over the hand to protect against and deflect plasma and laser shots.

  Shelf 2 Demron Uniforms. Camouflage SWAT uniform: suit that blends into the immediate environment and cloaks one’s body heat. Aquasuit: wetsuit equipped with O2Breather pockets.

  Shelf 3. Blasters. Corner Shot: Three-direction gun made for bunker battles. Plasma blaster: used to disintegrate large objects with its forceful plasma blast, penetrates forcefields, breaking down reinforced metal plated armour.

  Shelf 4. Range of Grenades. Heat-seeking Electromagnetic Pulse grenades: deactivates shields and electrical gear. Flash grenades: stuns all nearby.

  Shelf 5. Computer Virus Uploads. Trojan Virus: a computer virus that masks security systems including cameras, by repeating last known images. Resident Virus: Takes over implants and zombifies its host.

  Shelf 6. Camouflage Helmets. Various protective headgear that adapt to different environments be it night-time raids, aqua dives, ice terrain, rocky terrain.

  Shelf 7. Upgrades and Trackers. Weapon Augmenters. Taser amplifier: a stunner to add to heavy weapons. Surveillance tracker: a ball that maps the terrain ahead and scans for lifeforms. Special ops telescope: a thermal Moggle Spotter to discover hard to see enemies hiding far away.

  Shelf 8. Vibroweapons, Shields and Electrostaffs. Laser sword, electro-scythe, lightning boomerang and reflector shield.

  Shelf 9. Missiles and Long-range Weapons. Proton energy rifle: delivers a sharp pinpoint shot, range of up to two hundred miles. MajorLaser missile: A small but powerful projectile that can fix on to and hit targets thousands of miles away.

  Shelf 10. Ancillary Support. Proton Net, Electrolock, Medical Kit, Food Capsules.

  Gunner gets up and inspects the shelves, mumbling to himself, ‘Bunker infiltration and travelling through water pipes, hmm, where are you’?

  Dithering for a few moments, he grabs four aquasuits for the Enforcer squad from shelf 2, ‘Ok boys! Gear up, take these O2Breather pills and get these outfits on. I’ll grab you some bunker-busting weapons next’!

  Gunner then moves over to the other shelves, picking out the Corner Shot rifles and a selection of bunker-busting grenades from shelves 3 and 4, which he puts into a crate. VanWest follows Gunner’s instructions, most interested in the variety of wea
pons on Shelf 8. Especially that tagged Electroskeleton. He holds his right-hand close, the device, able to sense his presence, latches around his hand, stinging slightly as it attaches itself to his fingers’ bones and wrist. Albeit a little sore, his whole hand feels strangely lighter as well as stronger.

  Having taken the Corner Shot rifles and added some Surveillance trackers, Zheng and Dell are happy with Gunner’s selection. They carry the crate to the transport elevator to get ready for the operation, changing into the aquasuits and taking the O2Breather pills. Alpha takes the Corner Shot and fixes on it a Taser amplifier, as well as an Electrolock, for he wants to be the one to capture Mad Newton and reap the rewards.

  The Universal Council designated him the squad leader once again. Curiously, they always seem to put him in charge, always keen to champion him. Even though Alpha is a top athlete, everyone knows he’s a hothead. His behaviour also not that of the Spartan way, that of an Enforcer, always putting himself ahead of others.

  The whole team is ready to leave at sixteen hundred hours. Alongside their personally selected items they are transported into the loading bay, where a small arrowhead-shaped ship awaits them with the Colonel. The BoeingHawk special ops stealth glider is built for missions in highly populated zones. This craft gives a whole new meaning to superfast and stealthy, able to remain cloaked without making a sound as it travels at light speed. Its controls are second to none and with a skilled pilot, highly manoeuvrable even at top speed.

  The craft transports the crate and squad inside the passenger hold, where the Colonel instructs the glider to commence take-off. The bay doors of the SCC-400 open, as soon as all have taken their seats the glider thrusts forward, flying through the streets towards the waterworks facility. Their operation to stop this ‘New Beginning’ and final leap begins.

  Chapter 13 Back to the Cockroach Farm

  It’s a few minutes past four in the afternoon and being Autumn in Antarctica, the sun is already setting. The traffic is heavy from the citizens hurrying to make it home before dark and the treacherous night. This poses no issue for the BoeingHawk glider, which weaves through with ease, invisible to those it passes. There’s now less than an hour to go until the estimated time of the leap.

  The BoeingHawk reaches its destination within seconds, arriving at the operation’s staging area at the top of the waterworks facility. It hovers over the four inverted cone-shaped water tanks, careful not to make a sound or cause any turbulence.

  Phase 1 start - in the middle, a ladder leads to an entry point into the flood canal pipes and their path to the eel tank’s access point - Phase 2 infiltration of the surface level of the Utopian base - where the Trojan Virus should mask the security cameras.

  The waterworks facility is eerily quiet, running at minimum capacity. Supporting Enforcer units have already taken up positions rounding up the waterworks’ staff to minimise the risk of being spotted and the alarm being raised. Several cloaked units keep a short distance from the cockroach farm, ready to neutralise any Utopians that may try to get in or out.

  Before disembarking the glider, the Colonel briefly recaps the tactical plan for the squad, the phases to begin once they reach the access point of the eel tank. It uploads to their Moggle Xs:

  Phase 1: Descend from the waterworks facility, down the ladder and through the pipes to reach the electric eel tank’s access point.

  Phase 2: Wait for signal that the upload of the virus is complete, at, which point the timer will begin a countdown from 00:05:00. Captain Alpha and Captain VanWest to swim through to exit first and secure the passage to the furnace followed by Captains Dell and Zheng.

  Phase 3: Captain Dell and Captain Zheng to infiltrate the bunker first through the black furnace, flames blast every 20 seconds. Alpha and VanWest to join once infiltration complete.

  Phase 4: Proceed to level minus 3. Wait for the signal from our agent, codename T-I-T-O, before entering.

  Phase 5: Dispatch all the Utopian targets, the other Enforcers will secure the top-level. Remember it is vital to bring back Mad Newton alive. Capture Alive!

  The Colonel’s role is akin to that of the Universal Red and Blue Games: he will stay in the glider to coordinate this complex operation. They ready themselves and set their Moggle X timers to five minutes. This will commence Phase 2 entering the base on the Colonel’s cue and once the agent has completed her upload of the Trojan Virus; causing the security system to show the previous images in a continuous loop for five minutes - the time required to get through the black furnace.

  As they disembark, each removes their Corner Shot and grenades from the crate, slinging it across their backs. Captain Alpha and VanWest descend first, rappelling down. Upon landing, they place their plasma rifles forward and take point by the ladder. Captain Zheng and Dell rappel next and rush towards the water tank's ladder, sliding down it two rugs at the time to reach the access point to the pipes, the path to the cockroach farm and secret bunker base.

  Alpha and VanWest join and keep guard as Zheng prises open the access panel enclosing the pipe’s valve. Using a multi-tool, a silver square-shaped programming device, Zheng redirects the water’s flow towards the farm and creates a pathway to the eel tank by opening up any other access valves along the way.

  They wait until the Colonel sends the one-word signal, ‘Enter’.

  Eager to take the lead, Alpha muscles to the front and enters into the pipe first. Being in charge of this mission, Alpha wants to impress and show himself to be Elite material, believing it best to look in command at all times. Despite knowing each other for quite a long-time, the relationship between VanWest and Alpha has never been warm, and since the Games even downright hostile. He seethes with jealousy at the prospect of VanWest becoming his superior.

  Alpha hopes that this high-profile operation will earn him the same recognition. He’s hungering to kill as many Utopians as possible and to be the one that captures Mad Newton. Winning thus his own ticket to Elite status. However, Alpha’s eagerness immediately lands him into trouble. Stupidly he is caught off guard by the strong current and swept, nearly out of control, down the pipe in the direction of the cockroach farm. VanWest follows, more cautious about maintaining his balance, paddling to catch up, as do the others.

  The current takes them straight to the first junction where a warning light signals that there are two routes ahead, on the left is the farm and eel tank. Alpha has managed to slow himself just enough to make the turn. The pipe is becoming much narrower, barely allowing them to fit through with their weapons. Fortunately, the current is weaker in this pipe, almost stagnant. And whilst the water level is much lower, the smell is more rancid, the water full of faeces.

  As they wade through and reach the access point to the tank, a message from the Colonel rolls across their Moggle X lenses, flashing T-Minus 00:05:00. Phase 2 infiltrating the bunker base is about to commence once the Trojan virus has uploaded.

  A metallic mesh barrier covers the access point into the eel filled water tank. Keen to press on, Alpha slams the butt of his Corner Shot against it, breaking it open. At least wise enough not to discharge his weapon, as any heat signature could rile the eels and alert those inside. Several smaller eels are released through the opening and smack into Alpha’s face, each emitting a mild electric shock, which is, luckily for him, absorbed by his aquasuit. Vexed, he reacts by violently smashing his rifle’s butt against one who wriggles in the low and murky water until its long body is pounded into mush.

  Opening the access point, the timer automatically blinks and vibrates, signalling them to enter the eel tank. They have 00:05:00 to get through the tank and the black furnace before the camera system returns to normal. Hopefully, the Utopians do not notice the loop made by the Trojan Virus. VanWest’s mind wholly focused on the task of fulfilling Dr King’s demands and following the Universal commandments; determined to capture Mad Newton and kill Iris.

  Once again, Alpha enters first, with the rest following close behind. The tank’s
claw is motionless, the electric eels on their rest break, as planned, staying docile at the tank’s bottom. They carefully swim across, so as to not get electrocuted or alert the Utopians. Any powerful jolt from the eel swarm would be fatal.

  On the other side there is a ladder, their way out, close to the black furnace. Their cautious swim has slowed them down though, and upon Alpha reaching the ladder, the timer hits 00:03:30. He jumps out without any consideration for his squad, splashing as he exits the water. Fortunately, for them, the eels are not skittish and remain placid.

  Alpha jumps down into a pen filled with goo, cockroach excrement and fodder, and takes point to secure the path forward. VanWest follows next and does the same. Their aquasuits dry them instantly, Dell and Zheng take over as Phase 3 commences. This is where their specialist skills will be most crucial to their success, infiltrating the black furnace and entering into the bunker.

  The water in the eel tank has irritated VanWest eyes, he can’t help but take a moment to rub them. Closing his eyes, he sees images. Flashes of Alpha knocking down Mad Newton before turning his rifle on Iris, who runs away. He re-opens his eyes to see an impatient Alpha signalling him to take up a position closer to the furnace. The timer is at 00:02:50.

  Up close, the black furnace is quite large and imposing. Several conveyor belts carry the cockroaches’ gooey paste towards it, having scooped it up from the pens. The furnace’s crankshafts gyrate up and down to mash it up further, emptying it inside the burner, whose flames sweep through every twenty seconds. Its heat boils the water in the tanks above to produce steam and charge the generator. One thing is for sure, there’s no shortage of faeces here, along with the energy from the eel tank there’s clearly enough to power a large base.

  Standing back-to-back, VanWest and Alpha watch as their Moggle X timers pass 00:02:00. Zheng and Dell are busy double-checking the furnace and its pattern of incineration, taking care to not get fried like the cockroach goo. They will also need to pass through with their specially adapted grenades and Corner Shots; to be used in Phase 5 to eliminate any Utopian target who will likely take cover behind walls and blockades as they enter the site of their leap.