Mission Origin View (Final Days Trilogy) (29 page)

T
he other man raised his weapon and shot the old woman and her husband in the head.

Mucha watched in horror
as the men simply turned around and began walking back toward the elevator. One man pulled out his small handheld communications device as they walked. “This is security detail Gamma-Fourteen. We’ve retired two citizens, and they’re ready for pickup at this location.” Without another word the men entered the elevator, and the door closed.

Mucha, still shaken by what he
’d seen, reported, “LT, we’re clear. The armed men are back on the elevator.”

“
Was that weapons’ fire? What’s going on?” Gideon asked as Xia opened the apartment door and led the way back to the stairway.

“
The men murdered an old couple just a few doors down from you,” Mucha said.

Mucha watched as
the team walked towards him. Behind the team, the old couple lay on the floor by the open door to their apartment. Blood flowed from their head wounds and was pooling together in the hallway. Mucha heaved uncontrollable at the sight, but quickly refocused on the approaching team and opened the door to the stairway for the team to enter.

Marine Extract Team, En Route to LZ Omega, Planet Corot

0316
-February 26, 2372

Miner led the extract team out of Trade Town without incident
toward LZ Omega. Everyone was quiet as they walked. No one had said a word since they left the outskirts of town. Miner definitely knew the area and its activities.

“
Miner, I need to stop the team for a few minutes when and where you think it’s safe,” Gideon transmitted.

“
There’s a small crevasse up ahead. We can stop in there,” he responded.

Miner stopped the team
, and everyone lay in a defensive circle on the ground, facing outward.

“
Sipes, over here,” Gideon said as he walked to the middle of the defensive circle. Joseph followed.

“
Lay the doctor on the ground, and use your heads-up display to open your armor rucksack,” Gideon said.

Joseph gently laid the doctor on the ground
. The instant the rucksack was no longer soundproof, the team heard a baby’s cry. Confused by the sound, the marines turned to look.

“
Watch your fire lanes!” Xia barked. The team quickly turned their heads to watch for anything that might be approaching them.

“
Sir, what’s that?” Xia asked.

“
It’s a baby, Gunny,” Gideon replied. “Anna told me the apartment wasn’t soundproof, and we had to do something about the noise, or those armed men may have found us.”

H
earing the crying baby, Miner walked over. “Doctor Bailey’s son, I presume?” he asked.

“
Yes,” Gideon replied as he removed the baby and began rewrapping the blanket.

“
I’m glad you decided to take the baby. He would’ve been killed because the New Kalgoorlie government doesn’t take care of babies that young. Only orphans old enough to work in the mines are allowed to live,” Miner said.

S
hocked by what Miner had said, Gideon continued to wrap the baby and quiet it as best he could. He thought of how close he’d come to leaving the baby there and killing Joseph. He put the thoughts out of his mind for now since he still had to get his team safely back to the ship.

“
That baby is hungry and probably has to be changed. I’d take care of that as soon as you can,” Miner said as Gideon placed the baby back into the rucksack on Joseph’s back.

***

The team continued their way to LZ Omega and arrived at 0547 as the eastern sky was just beginning to lighten. Sergeant Tidwell disabled
Bernice’s
stealth mode, and
she
appeared. In the early dawn light, Joseph noted that the ship looked like a large black beast waiting to pounce on some unsuspecting prey.

As the team waited to board, Miner walked up to Joseph,
and spoke without a com link. “I know this might sound strange, but I had a dream a few weeks ago that I’d meet you and this team. I don’t recall the specifics about the dream, but I do remember that you gave me something really important. Do you have something for me?”

Joseph though
t for a moment and remembered Carrie, on planet Gliese, had asked for something to read before they left. “I’ve got a book if you’d like to have it. I read it every day, and it has a lot of stories and things that keeps my mind off bad things and makes me feel good. I don’t know if I’ll ever understand it all, but the more I read, the more I learn. Will that be okay?” Joseph asked.

“
A book?” Miner said surprised, and then responded with a smile. “Yes, a book would be nice since there’s not a lot to read here.”

Joseph reached in
to a pouch on his utility belt with his left hand and pulled out a data card. He handed it to Miner. “Hope you enjoy it.”

“
Thank you,” Miner said and then walked over to Gideon.

***

“Safe journey, Lieutenant. I hope you have what you need,” Miner said.

“
I have what I came for and a baby to boot. Thank you for guiding us,” Gideon responded, paused for a second, and asked, “What were you and my big guy talking about?”

Miner smiled and answered
. “Well, like I was telling him, I had a dream a few weeks ago about you and your team. He gave me something important in my dream, but I couldn’t remember what it was. I know it sounds silly, but I had to ask him.”

“
What’d he give you?” Gideon asked.

“
A book,” Miner answered.

“
Oh, the book. That’s the book he takes everywhere,” Gideon said and then offered a hand to Miner. As the men shook hands, Gideon added, “Thanks again, and I wouldn’t get too excited about that book. I doubt it’s that interesting or important.”

***

“Do you have another copy of that book?” Mucha asked Joseph in a whisper while everyone was preparing to board
Bernice
. “I overheard what you told Miner about it making you feel good. I’d like to read it to take my mind off some things.”

Joseph smiled and handed Mucha a copy.

Sick Bay,
SRS
Stephen Hawking

0750
—
February 26, 2372

“
Where’s my baby? I want my baby!” Dr. Bailey screamed from her bed when she awoke.

“
Your baby’s fine, and here he is,” Dr.
Pettway said as she placed the baby boy into Dr. Bailey’s arms. Dr. Bailey quickly examined the baby to make sure he was okay, wrapped both arms around him, and squeezed him gently.

“
Who are you? And where am I?” Dr. Bailey demanded

“
That’s Doctor Pettway, and I’m Captain Bowser. You’re aboard the United States SRS
Stephen Hawking
,” Mary said as she walked to the edge of her bed. “I’m sorry about taking you and your son the way we did, but under the circumstances, which I’m sure you won’t agree with, we had no choice.”

“
I insist my son and I be returned home!” Dr. Bailey yelled.

“
Sorry, but that’s not going to happen, Doctor.” Mary paused for a second and added, “Maybe after the mission, we’ll be allowed to take you and your son home.”

“
That’s unacceptable, Captain!” Dr. Bailey said.

“
Doctor, if I were you, I’d take some time and think about your situation. I was just briefed by the mission commander who took you. His firsthand assessment of how the New Kalgoorlie government takes care of its citizens sounds atrocious. I bet there’re thousands of citizens in New Kalgoorlie who’d give everything they own to be where you and your son are now!” Mary said in a stern voice.

D
r. Bailey said nothing and continued to hug her son.

“
There’ll be a mission briefing for you at ten hundred hours,” Mary said, using a lighter tone. “Doctor Pettway will escort you to the mission control center.”

D
r. Bailey looked at Captain Bowser and snapped, “What if I don’t want to go to the briefing or participate in the mission? What’ll you do with me and my son? Eject us into space?”

“
It’s your choice if you participate in the mission or not, Doctor,” Mary said. “If you choose not to participate, you have my word that you and your son will be treated well and taken care of. Unlike New Kalgoorlie, the United States doesn’t force anyone to retire if they don’t want to or can’t participate.”

Mission Control Center
,
SRS
Stephen Hawking

1000
—
February 26, 2372

Dr.
Harper, Dr. Jones, and Dr. Kastriva were seated at the mission control center’s small conference table when Dr. Bailey and Dr. Pettway arrived.

“
I’ll take your son back with me to sick bay. I’d like to do a complete physical on him, if that’s okay,” Dr. Pettway said.

“No, Doctor,” Dr. Bailey snapped as she held he
r son closer, “I won’t be separated from my son again.”

“
Very well, Doctor Bailey. Let me know if you change your mind,” Dr. Pettway said and walked out.

As soon as the door closed behind Dr. Pettway,
Dr. Kastriva blurted, “Doctor Bailey, I want you to know I was completely against your being taken against your will! I refused to help with your abduction.”

“
Thanks for telling me that, Doctor,” Dr. Bailey said as she sat at the table with her son. “Now, tell me why I’m here.”

D
r. Harper briefed her about the mission for an hour, and then he and the other doctors answered her questions for another hour. Dr. Bailey was amazed by what she had heard and learned. Though she was still upset about being abducted, she realized this was the most important expedition she’d ever be a part of. Their findings would be known as the most significant discovery in history, and she’d be remembered as one of the scientists who participated. As she was thinking of glory and fame, the mission control center door opened, and Mary and Gideon entered.

“
Doctor Bailey, I hope you’ve chosen to be a participant,” Mary said as she sat in a chair beside Dr. Bailey. Gideon remained standing since all the conference table chairs were taken.

“
I’ll participate, and I hope you’ll ask your government to take me back to New Kalgoorlie after the mission is completed,” Dr. Bailey said.

“
Certainly, Doctor. I’ll ask that you be returned home after the mission, if that’s what you want for you and your son,” Mary responded.

“
I’m not sure why you’d want to go back there,” Gideon said with sarcasm. 

Dr.
Bailey looked at his green marine jumpsuit and
immediately
knew he was the marine in charge of her abduction. “I have a life and job there, Lieutenant, with responsibilities and duties just like you,” she answered curtly, paused, and then added, “And since I was taken against my will, my government will welcome be back, and I’m sure I’ll be promoted to a scientific directorate post and maybe be awarded the National Hero Medal.”

“That sounds fine, Doctor. I hope this mission is successful and you’re welcomed back home as a hero and awarded a new job,” Gideon said, gave her a smile and added, “Try not to be late for work on that new job. I’ve seen what happens to workers and their families who don’t show up for work on time.”

Lieutenant Klaxton’s Quarters
,
SRS
Stephen Hawking

2035
—
February 26, 2372

Gideon sat at his desk
, working on details for the upcoming mission to acquire Dr. Qasim from Planet Leonis. He knew this would be the toughest of all the missions to obtain the three scientists. Though the
Council of Czars
had sent a message allowing the
Stephen Hawking
into the
Leonis system
to pick up a replacement scientist, Gideon decided the entire mission would be handled as a black operation mission. He didn’t want to risk the scientist, marines, sailors, or the
Stephen Hawking
as they had on Gliese.

So f
ar his plan was rather simple: The
Stephen Hawking
would arrive just outside the
Leonis
solar system and approach the outermost planet in stealth mode. Then the extract team would use
Bernice
to slip past space defenses and land on Leonis at a predefined LZ, where they’d make contact with the agent. After talking with the agent, they’d locate Dr. Qasim, acquire her, and leave. He’d take all his able-bodied marines again and possibly Sipes. As he continued to work on the details, there was a knock on his door.