Ep.#9 - "Resistance" (32 page)

“They can be here in minutes. I just need to tell them where.”

“Of course.” The president signaled the technician, who immediately produced a data pad. “Any ideas?”

“Usually a valley or canyon is best. It prevents the enemy from having direct line of sight on the jump flash.”

“Jump flash?” the president wondered.

“Really bright light,” Jessica explained. “It only lasts a second, but it’s a dead giveaway.” Jessica looked at the map on the data pad. “There are plenty of mountains north of us. Surely there are some good spots up there.”

“Yes, but it will take some time to get there,” President Scott said.

“Can’t we use your Jung shuttle?”

“We do not store it nearby for security reasons. It would take nearly an hour just to reach it.”

“It’s too risky,” the president’s chief of security added. “Around this area, we can get away with it. There are always ships flying around, and there are a few Jung black-ops birds in operation, so we can fly around the flat lands without anyone taking notice. But if we took it up into the mountains… that they would notice.”

“Then it’s got to be someplace we can get to by car or truck,” Jessica said.

“And it needs to be close by,” the president added. “Our source in Geneva has confirmed that the admiral was tortured, so it is reasonable to assume the Jung know of the Celestia’s location.”

“You don’t think the
admiral
can keep a secret?” Jessica asked, a bit surprised they would automatically assume he could not.

“The Jung have some… interesting techniques for information extraction,” the security chief said. “It’s safer to assume he told them everything he knew.”

“We have already started evacuating the facilities we are sure the admiral knew about,” the president added. “So you see, the faster we can get you back to the Aurora, the better.”

“Then why not just transmit the message?” Jessica suggested. “The new encryption the Takarans came up with is supposed to be unbreakable.”

“Nothing is unbreakable, Nash,” the security chief said. “You know that.”

“You don’t know the Takarans,” she insisted.

“They’re humans, aren’t they?” the security chief said. “Humans make mistakes…”

“If we have to transmit the information, we will,” the president interrupted. “However, if possible, I prefer not to take the risk. For now, let’s concentrate on getting you back to your ship.” The president looked at the data pad. “We need something nearby, a clearing or something. How big is this jump shuttle?”

“About the size of a large shipping container,” Jessica said.

“Maybe in the woods, outside the city,” the security chief said.

Jessica smiled. “I know just the place. Do you have satellite overheads on your data pad?”

* * *

Jessica sat in the front passenger seat of the crew van as it bounced along the dark, dirt roads that weaved through the woods. Synda and Tony sat behind her, and in the back of the van were two members of the resistance.

“You’ll see to it that they get north to the mountains, right?”

“As soon as we get you on your way, we have orders to take them to the train yard a couple hours north of here,” the driver explained. “They can hop a northbound freight train there.”

“How long will that carry them?”

“A couple days, maybe three. The northbound trains are usually pretty empty. The Jung are mining resources up there and hauling it south for processing. Nobody checks the northbound trains, so they should be all right.”

“You’re sure about that?” Jessica asked.

“Look, you heard the chief; it’s the best we can do right now. We’re already packing up to move to another facility. We can’t afford to tie up another vehicle running them even farther north. That’s why they assigned us to run them north.”

Jessica wasn’t happy, and her expression showed it.

“They’ll be fine,” the driver assured her, noticing the look on Jessica’s face.

“Don’t worry, Jessica,” Synda said. “We’ll be fine. We’ve got everything we need, thanks to you.”

“They’re actually lucky,” the driver told Jessica. “If we weren’t already bugging out, there’s no way the chief would have let them go.”

The van pulled to a stop at the edge of the clearing. The driver stared out the front window. The van’s headlights reached less than halfway across the small meadow in front of them, leaving most of the tree line around the clearing in darkness.

“This is it,” Jessica said.

“How did you find this place?” the driver asked.

“A rather dirty, old man tried to collect payment for a ride from me here,” Jessica told him.

The driver smiled. “I have a feeling that didn’t work out too well for him.”

“You’re right,” Jessica said as she opened her door. “It didn’t.”

The driver shut off the lights and turned the vehicle off as the rest of the occupants climbed out.

Synda started to climb out as well.

“Maybe we should stay in here,” Tony said, grabbing her arm.

“No way,” Synda answered. “I want to see this.” She climbed out of the van to join the others. Tony sighed, rolling his eyes as he climbed out of the van as well.

“Do you have the beacon?” Jessica asked the driver.

The driver pulled out a small device the size of his palm from his pants pocket and handed it to her.

Jessica walked into the middle of the small meadow. She paused a moment, looking at the tree line in all directions in order to determine the center of the clearing. Satisfied with her position, she turned the device on. As the tiny strobe light on the device began flashing, she placed it on the ground and walked back toward the van. She looked at her watch as she walked. She still had several minutes until the jump shuttle was due to arrive.

“What’s that?” Synda asked Jessica as she returned.

“It marks the LZ for the shuttle pilot,” Jessica explained.

Synda took several steps out, trying to get a better view of the device. “But it’s so faint. How can the pilot even see it?”

“He can’t, but the low-light optical systems in the shuttle can.”

“And nobody else can see it?” Synda wondered.

“Not unless they’re using low-light gear.” Jessica looked at her watch again. “One minute. I’d suggest everyone take cover.”

Jessica moved behind the van with everyone else. She looked up at the night sky. With no moon out, the forest was pitch black, making the hologram easier to spot than usual. Something caught her eye, and she looked quickly to the northern portion of the sky. “Did you see that?”

“See what?” the driver asked.

“I thought I saw…”

Jessica was interrupted by a brilliant flash of bright blue-white light from the middle of the meadow just above the surrounding tree line. The flash was followed immediately by a thunderous clap and a shock wave of air that blew dust and debris outward in all directions. The trees around the edge of the meadow thrashed about wildly from the wave of air displaced by the sudden arrival of the super-jump shuttle. The thunder rapidly subsided to the scream of the shuttle’s four turbines as it descended quickly and touched down directly on top of the holographic beacon, blocking out its emitter.

As the shuttle touched down, bright floodlights located along its sides snapped on, illuminating the entire meadow as well as the surrounding tree line. As the turbines began to wind down to idle, the rear cargo door began to swing outward and lower to the ground.

“Jesus!” the driver exclaimed.

“That’s amazing!” Synda declared.

Tony and the other two members of the resistance just stood there in awe, their mouths agape.

“Not bad, huh?” Jessica said with a broad smile.

Corinari troops jumped out of the back of the shuttle, landing on either side of the ramp as it finished lowering. Eight men spread out in all directions, taking up positions to secure the perimeter. One by one, they dropped to one knee, their weapons held ready as they visually scanned the tree line.

One more man jumped down from the cargo ramp and began walking calmly toward them. His stride was composed and confident, and even in silhouette, Jessica recognized him.

“Lieutenant Commander,” Major Waddell greeted as he approached.

Jessica smiled. “Major Waddell.”

“Are you ready to go?”

“You bet…”

The air was suddenly filled with the screech of Jung energy weapons as bolts of red streaked inward from deep inside the surrounding tree line. The Corinari troops immediately returned fire, sending their own bolts of energy toward every flash they spotted in the woods.

Major Waddell instantly crouched, bending at the knees to get low to the ground. He pulled his own weapon off his shoulder and prepared to return fire. “I think we need to leave!” he shouted.

The members of the resistance did not hesitate and quickly opened up with their automatic, close-quarters, projectile weapons.

“Get to the front of the van!” he ordered Tony and Synda, both of whom were unarmed.

Neither of them moved at first. A bolt of energy from a Jung rifle struck the van beside them, burning a hole in the side. Synda screamed as Tony pushed her forward.

The two members of the resistance near the rear of the van found themselves without adequate cover and were quickly taken down with well-placed shots of Jung energy weapons coming from just beyond the tree line.

“We’re fucking surrounded!” Jessica declared.

“No kidding!” Major Waddell retorted. As he continued firing with his rifle, he pulled his sidearm and tossed it to Jessica. “We need to move!”

“What about them?!” Jessica cried out.

“They’re not my concern!” Major Waddell responded as he continued firing into the tree line. He looked to his right as one of his men fell to Jung fire.

“They’ll be interrogated if they’re captured!” Jessica declared.

Major Waddell looked back at Tony and Synda as they huddled together at the front of the van.

“Don’t even think about it, Waddell!” Jessica barked.

Another energy blast streaked past Jessica, striking the driver in the chest and sending him flying backward against the van. He bounced off the front of the vehicle, ending up a smoldering pile of human remains in the dirt.

Major Waddell touched his comm-set, listening to traffic. “We’ve got fast movers inbound!” he announced. “Two out!” The major keyed his comm-set. “Fall back to the shuttle!” he ordered his men. “Grab the wounded! No one gets left behind!” He turned back to Jessica. “Get in that shuttle!”

Jessica glanced at Tony and Synda huddled together and squatting on the ground as blasts from Jung energy weapons struck the dirt nearby. The energy bolts sent chunks of earth and grass spraying over them. “What about them?” Jessica demanded again as she fired at the gun flashes in the woods.

“Captain ordered me to get you out alive, Nash! Now get your ass in that shuttle!”

Another Corinari trooper took a blast in the thigh and fell over, screaming in pain as his pants melted in with his skin.

Jessica reached over and grabbed Synda by the jacket and pulled on her. “Get your butts in that shuttle! NOW!”

“Nash!” the major began to object.

“Shut up and move, Major!” Jessica ordered.

More bolts of energy struck the ground around them as they moved quickly toward the shuttle. They fired their weapons continuously as they shuffled sideways. Jessica spun around, firing in all directions as she tried desperately to keep the Jung at bay. They were completely surrounded, and there had to be at least twenty Jung soldiers firing from behind cover within the woods.

Major Waddell ran behind the shuttle, grabbing one of his wounded men and helping him up the ramp.

Jessica continued spinning around as she ran and fired. As soon as she got next to the shuttle, she kept her back to the ship and fired out in front of her. She heard a scream, causing her to look to her right. Synda was on the ground, and Tony was falling over her. He landed unceremoniously, face first in the grass. He rolled over, pulling his feet and legs off of his friend, who lay unmoving on the grass behind him. “Oh, my God! Synda!” Tony crawled over to her, shaking her briefly as he tried to determine if she was still alive.

Jessica dropped to her knees next to Synda. “Take this,” she ordered, handing her weapon to Tony. “Shoot that way!”

Tony pointed the weapon at the tree line and began firing, red bolts of energy flying out of his barrel and smashing into the trees. With each flash from the Jung weapons, the woods around them were briefly illuminated. He quickly started firing at the brief glimpses of Jung soldiers in the darkness as Jessica picked up Synda and started carrying her toward the back of the shuttle.

After several steps, Major Waddell met her halfway and took Synda’s limp body from her. “I’ve got her! Let’s go!”

Tony fired at another briefly illuminated pair of Jung soldiers in the woods. The very next flash of light revealed only one soldier where two had once been. Tony’s face lit up. “Fuck! I got one!”

“Good shootin’!” Jessica exclaimed as she grabbed his jacket and pulled him toward the back of the shuttle. “Let’s move!”

Major Waddell handed Synda’s body off to the shuttle’s crew chief just inside the cargo hatch, then turned and took a position at the top of the ramp. He brought his weapon up and opened fire once more, expertly spreading his shots evenly across the tree line in an effort to keep the Jung soldiers from coming up from behind their cover. As Jessica and Tony ran up the ramp, he hollered at the last two of his men to fall back to the shuttle. As he continued firing to cover their retreat, one more of his men went down to enemy fire. As the shuttle’s engines began spinning up to full thrust, the major went to the end of the ramp and helped his last man pull his wounded comrade onto the ramp as it began to swing upward off the grassy meadow.

The shuttle began to rise slowly off the ground as Jung energy weapons slammed into its sides. Fortunately, the dissipative coating on the shuttle’s hull was designed to defend against Takaran energy weapons, which were far more powerful than those carried by Jung ground troops.

The ramp continued to swing upward, sending Major Waddell and his two men tumbling toward the back of the shuttle. As the hatch continued to close, the crew chief and one of the Corinari troops fired a few more shots downward toward the Jung soldiers on the ground, pulling their weapons in just before the ramp slammed shut and sealed off the back of the shuttle.

“We’re closed up back here!” the crew chief announced over his comm-set.

Major Waddell quickly counted his men. Four were unharmed, two were dead, and two were injured, but he had all eight bodies on board. He also had Lieutenant Commander Nash and two Terran civilians.

The Jung troops ran out into the clearing, firing madly at the underside of the shuttle as it continued to rise.

The Jung interceptor pilot looked ahead at the shuttle as it began to accelerate away from the clearing in the woods below. He could see the red energy bolts coming from the Jung troops below as they harmlessly struck the bottom of the fleeing shuttle. It quickly accelerated beyond the reach of the ground troops’ weapons and began climbing more rapidly as it tried to make its escape. As he skimmed the top of the forest below, the Jung pilot locked his missiles on the shuttle and gently pulled his nose up to stay with the climbing target. He waited for a lock signal, then pressed the release button on his flight control stick. As his missile left its launch rails, the target disappeared in a brilliant flash of blue-white light.