The Cross of Mithras Vol. 1: EOD Operation Welcome to Hell (115 page)

  “Lenkov injuries are classified under the pretext that it would reveal the type of cyborg that he is.”

  “Understood, but Captain… we are at an impasse because my orders require me to speak directly to Fleet Captain Lenkov only.”

  “Captain Iverson…” It was Lenkov. He was having trouble speaking since he never tried to speak in the way in which he was. It made him sound as if though he was in a trance. “…forgive me… but I… and Sayaka… had to download…. ourselves into The Hammer of Doom’s computers. I will now… send you all the Intel… that you require.”

  “Understood sir. Um… What are your orders?”

  “Please… cooperate with… Captain Maxwell.”

  “Understood sir. Captain Iverson out.” Captain Iverson was a bit choked up given his respect for Fleet Captain Lenkov, but nevertheless, he had his duties to perform.

  For the ground forces it was the ultimate let down. For their beloved commander in chief was taken out of action by a cruel twist of fate. Many of them was succumbing to their fate and made the decision that death was the honorable way out. Everything relied upon three captains – Maxwell, Vaistll, and of course Iverson. But winning over the third will not be easy.

(23)

  Captain Maxwell finally arrived upon Iverson’s ship, not because he wanted to, but because Iverson was what everyone calls a “down-shifter” or one who lives a slow life. Maxwell was the type who lived a life like most other people – technology was more efficient than that of the slow life. (Sayaka must have never gotten that message. To her, technology comes with gremlins.) To make matters worse both of them was never good at diplomacy. And at this moment in time both of them needed each other for, not only their own survival, but also of that of their crew. However, both of them were technocrats and they demanded excellence in the skills of those to whom they do business with. But in this case they were no longer friends, they were put into the context of “the enemy of my enemy.”

  Captain Maxwell wanted to go to his quarters but, Iverson wanted to meet him immediately. Maxwell wanted to go to his quarters because he wanted to think first before he spoke with Iverson. Iverson was the type who was no nonsense and thus he wanted to speak with Maxwell immediately. Maxwell knew that he had no other choice but to speak with Iverson. But he had no idea what to say. What could he? He felt totally unprepared.

  “Thank you for having me.” Maxwell started out the conversion. Both Lenkov and Omori would have never had said that. Their reason: never trade professionalism with politeness. Which is why Iverson did not say anything. Maxwell then made a mistake by waiting too long. He did that because he was thinking about to say next.

  “Do you have any Intel as to why my fleet was attack?” Iverson asked.

  “We believe that a civil war may be starting within the EOD between the Founder versus his wife.” Although this is true, and Iverson would believe that it was true, Maxwell did not continue with what he was saying. Neither Lenkov nor Omori would have done that. They knew what that meant and they knew that it would open up a can of worms.

  “I suspected as much, but what is the situation within this system?”

  “It isn’t good. Our ship was attack by the forces rebelling against the EOD.” Maxwell stated. This was a huge mistake on Maxwell’s part. What’s more, Maxwell didn’t continue.

  “I see. And the status of your ship?”

  “It was hit with a massive EMP weapon. That weapon is mention within my report. We are currently under repairs.” This was yet again another mistake upon Maxwell’s part. Although it may be true, it is better to fain stupidity.

  “And which side attacked your ship?” Iverson mentioned that because he was becoming suspicious of Maxwell. It’s no wonder why Lenkov and Omori always did the talking.

  “We believe that the answer lies at this massive EOD starbase located near Omicron Ultra. We tried to contact them, but they are not responding. When we got near enough to do a more detail analysis it became clear that some massive radiation is surrounding the base. That radiation is powerful enough to kill us despite our shields.”

  “Don’t you have any robots that could get near enough?”

  “No. We only have ground control military robots. Not anything sophisticated enough to enter the base.” This time Maxwell is telling the truth. Although they were ordered to try and contact the base, it was not considered mission critical.

  “Are there any indications that the radiation kill the crew?”

  “No. The starbase is designed to protect them from that amount of radiation.”

  “Do you have any ideas as to what is causing the radiation?”

  “Yes. The base is ring shape and at the center is an anomaly that is causing the radiation. All attempts at scanning the anomaly fails due to some strange radiation that is coming from it.” Yet again Maxwell was telling the truth. Maxwell’s problem lies with not understanding Lenkov and Omori when they say “Speak the truth when it can be confirmed  All lies must be believable.”

  “Just how important is it, in contacting the crew?”

  “Our orders were mixed. We had to make all efforts at contacting them… but our prime orders were to protect this world at all cost.”

  “So how can we assist you?” Iverson asked. Luckily, Maxwell knew what to say.

  “We need help in repairing our ship. We will also help you making any repairs to your fleet as deem necessary.” Maxwell had no confidence in what he’d just said. He only remembered what both Lenkov and Omori once told him.

  “Alright. You’ll have our complete cooperation.”

  Captain Maxwell didn’t say anything because he didn’t want to jinx it. He realized that both sides will get what they wanted if he is indeed careful about what he says next (or don’t say). Of course,  Captain Maxwell’s luck couldn’t be more on his side  at that moment for Iverson despite his reservations, made the decision to cooperate with them. It was this cooperation that would ultimately bring Iverson to the other side. But it was a slow process. Maybe a little too slow.

(24)

  Ensign First Class Entwistle was upset with the security detachment that was assigned to guard the lab equipment and samples within the lab complex. This particular detachment had a bad habit of all talk and no work. It’s the number one reason why they got the job in guarding the lab equipment in the first place. Entwistle made the decision to turn things around with them. (He was recently assigned to them after he got a promotion.) They, however, dealt with officers like that before. For Entwistle he served on The Hammer of Doom for half of his life. He loves that ship and would prefer to die on that ship and not on the ground. And what of his wife? How does she feels about that? In five more years she too would have served on that ship for half of her life. What made Entwistle upset was that all six of them were in the lounge area instead of patrolling their assigned area.

  “I’ve should have known. Clayton, are you trying to get demoted again? What, Petty Officer – Third Class isn’t good enough for you? So I guess that you would feel a lot happier being Senior Crewman instead. Is that it?” Entwistle asked.

  “No sir.” Clayton responded.

  “And Brock, what did you do to get yourself busted all the way down to Crewman?” Entwistle asked him. Brock didn’t respond and Entwistle did not care.

  “Sir, why do we have to guard something when the war is over?” Petty Officer – Third Class Lazaro asked. He already knew the answer, he just wanted to ask anyway.

  “Yeah sir, it’s not like anybody gonna come in here and steal something.” Senior Crewman Steele mentioned. He too knew the answer.

  “Do both of you like to ask stupid questions or do you do that just to amuse yourselves?” Entwistle snapped back. He knew that they already knew the answer to their questions. Neither one of them said anything. They just couldn’t wait for him to leave.

  “Sir, just what is the likelihood that someone would get this deep into this lab complex? Now don’t get me wrong sir, I understand where you are coming from. But aren’t there multiple layers of teams guarding this facility? We know what our orders are sir. We do periodically go check up on things.” Senior Chief Warrant Officer Torbett mentioned.

  Entwistle knew that he was caught and needed to say something if he is to earn their respect. But he just couldn’t think up something. He knew that Torbett was right, but he couldn’t allow him to have the final word. It was the one thing that Entwistle’s wife, Dominique, knew. But she was always better at it than he was. Like she tells him, “think before you act.” It should also come to no surprise that she outranks him (Senior Ensign).

  “Now… where were we?” Senior Crewman Kouimelis asked everyone after Entwistle left.

(25)

  “Xavier. This is… Lenkov. I… and Sayaka… desperately… need your help.”

  “Yes Fleet Captain. How may I be of assistance?” Captain Iverson responded.

  “Our computer RAM… memory… needs to be... replaced. It’s hard… to think.”

  “We will do all that we can sir.”

  “Good. Over and… out.”

  It took seven hours and forty-eight minutes but The Hammer of Doom’s computers was finally fixed. When it was, both Lenkov and Omori suffered another information overload. But tragically another set back occurred at the lab complex while those computers were being replaced. To make matters worse, Captain Maxwell made the fateful decision to stay put and try to win over Iverson. That only aroused Iverson’s suspicions – the ship and crew always comes first.

(26)

  “Hey idiot, shut the fuck up.” Torbett snap at Brock through his teeth.

  “What?” Brock responded.

  “I thought that I heard something.”

  “What are you talking about? There’s nothing there sir.”

  “You know… I thought that I heard something too.” Kouimelis responded.

  It didn’t take long for them to find out what was making that noise. But they would ultimately wished for a better outcome for neither one of them survived long enough to mentioned what they ran across. Perhaps they should have listen to and try their best to understand what Entwistle was trying to convey within them. Always be on your toes, for you never know what may lie ahead. But then again if it was Mrs. Entwistle instead, things may have turned out differently. No, no it wouldn’t, for the enemy was just too clever for such tactics (that Dominique could have thought up) to have worked. Entwistle ran across this new enemy at the last moment and both, seriously wounded each other. Both will survive their wounds and only one will live to fight another day. As for Entwistle, his career is over for his wounds will require months of rehabilitations.

(27)

  “Ma’am. We have a problem here.” Ramirez informed Vaistll.

  “Go ahead.”

  “A infiltrator got into the lab complex and kill the guards assigned to protect the lab equipment and samples. All samples and equipment are destroyed. The team is down. One survivor. I need immediate evac for lone survivor.”

  “Understood.”

  “And ma’am… whoever did this is a pro. I got a trail on the suspect. Currently tracking.”

  “Hold up Lieutenant Commander!  Cease and desist immediately!”

  “Negative! I’m not losing this lead!”

  “I gave you an order Lieutenant Commander!” Vaistll ordered him. She was afraid of losing him. After what felt like an eternity she yelled “Lieutenant Commander!“ But there was no response. All she got was a message that read “KIA? – Error code: 875R_66.” And that had two meanings: one) he died; and two) there was an injury that cause his computer systems to malfunction. And if it was the second option, that would have meant something massive must have occurred. Most likely it was death within the hour. Unfortunately, she had no idea as to where he was.

(28)

  “Captain?” Maxwell said to Iverson. Iverson decided to meet, and talk, with Maxwell in his assigned quarters. Iverson was confused as to why Maxwell didn’t returned to his ship.

  “Are you aware that the ground forces assigned to you are under a desperate situation?”

  “Yes.”

  “And are you aware that we are fixing to leave this system to check out that starbase that you told us about?”

  “Yes.”

  “You know… I’m still having trouble trying to digest the Intel as to why it is in the EOD best interest to have our enemy assist us.”

  “It’s hard for me to have accepted it as well. But given Captain Dawson’s actions I don’t see much of a choice for either of us.”

  “And the starbase in question? How would learning more about it turn the tide in our favor given the fact that we are facing a civil war?”

  “It would help to shed light upon why this star system is so important to either side. And therefore, how we fit in.” Maxwell hoped that would be the last question.

  “So why didn’t you stay behind? Why come with us?”

  “I had to find out whether or not it is a weapon. Look, I’m the captain of a ship that is a killer of fleets and this one single weapon knocked it out of action. No matter what, we are going to have to return to home port as soon as we can for repairs.” Maxwell strongly felt that the question nearly back him into a corner. Lenkov and Omori never would have stayed. They knew that in order to build trust there are times in which you have to let someone go.