Mission Origin View (Final Days Trilogy) (5 page)

“
What planets are they on?” Xia asked.

“
Kastriva is on Gliese, Bailey is on Corot, and Qasim is on Leonis,” Dr. Jones said.

Xia let out a long
whistle and said, “Wow, you gotta be kidding!”

“
At ease, Gunny,” Neubauer said. He paused and then added, “I think you all understand those planets won’t let their scientist go with us voluntarily.”

“
I don’t know about Doctors Harper and Jones, but I completely agree,” Mary answered. “We’ve been at war with those worlds on and off for the past century.”

“
Do we even know if the scientists would like to go with us?” Gideon asked.

“
Of course.” Dr. Harper began to answer with a trace of annoyance in his voice. “Any scientist would jump at the opportunity to go with us, no matter what their or their government’s political views are. We’re talking about being a part of the greatest scientific discovery ever made!”

“
Okay then,” Captain
Neubauer
said as he cracked a smile and added, “All we need is to get as close to each planet as possible and have a good idea of where the scientist might be. My marines will get ‘em out.”

After the meeting,
Mary asked
Neubauer and Gideon to stay behind for a few minutes. Neubauer wanted Xia to stay, but Mary denied his request.

“
I wanted to let you know that we’ll try to ‘rescue’ the scientists, but I don’t want to lose anyone doing so,” Mary said after the doctors and Xia left. “Captain Neubauer, begin planning your rescue missions as best you can with the limited information that you’ll be supplied. Don’t sacrifice your men or put my ship in danger. If you can’t get the scientists out, that’s fine. I’ll take the responsibility and support all your decisions.” Mary took a breath and added, “Off the record, Captain Neubauer. What do you think about this mission?”

“
Ma’am, off the record-”

“
Sir, I prefer to be addressed as ‘sir,’” Mary said.

Captain
Neubauer nodded and said, “Yes, sir. Off the record, I think this mission is wasting my men’s time and stalling my career. I should be commanding a company of marines on one of our battle fronts, not babysitting a bunch of scientists who’re trying to figure out where we came from.”

“
Sounds like we’re on the same page, Captain,” Mary said. “I was waiting for orders to command one of the new strike carriers that’ll be commissioned by the end of the year. I want to get this mission over with as quick as possible and be back before then. That being said, let’s follow orders and not let our personal feelings about this mission interfere with our decisions. Is that clear?”

“
Yes, sir,” Captain
Neubauer said.

Mary
addressed Gideon. “Is it clear to you, Lieutenant Klaxton?”

“
I think so, sir. You want us to do our job and not bellyache about it in front of the men, no matter how much we think this mission is a waste of time.”

Mary
and Captain Neubauer both laughed.

“
Lieutenant, you’re a genius. You’ll go far in the marines!” Mary said and then dismissed them.

Gideon smiled at her comment. The Marine
Corps had been telling him he was a genius since he joined.

Destroyer
USS
Kathryn Sullivan
, Mars Orbit

1800
—February 14, 2372

The crew and
marines of Mission Origin View crowded into the
Kathryn Sullivan
aft hangar bay inner air lock, waiting for the next orbital shuttle to take them to Station Viking. A few of the
Kathryn Sullivan’s
crew, on duty in the aft hangar, were ordered to avoid contact with the people wearing white jumpsuits and to forget they ever saw them.

A few minutes later
, a standard orbital shuttle entered the outer hangar bay and rested on the hangar floor. The outer air lock hangar door closed, and as soon as gravity was restored and air pressure was normal in the hangar bay, the inner air lock door opened, and they boarded the shuttle.

Gideon was the last to board
and looked for a place to sit. He found just enough space for him by Sergeant Manelly at the rear shuttle bulkhead.

“
Got enough room, sir?” Manelly asked as he moved to try to make more room.

“
Yes, thanks, Sergeant,” Gideon said as he looked around the cargo bay and saw his fellow crewmates; they were seated against the walls of the cargo bay, facing each other. A few minutes later the shuttle exited the hangar and set course to enter Mars’s atmosphere.

As
the shuttle started its gradual entry into the atmosphere, Gideon noticed some people, sitting next to each other, were conversing, while others were either sleeping or just trying to relax.

“
Sir?” Manelly leaned over.

“
Yes, Sergeant,” Gideon said.

“
Can I speak to you as a friend, sir?”

“
Sure, Burt,” Gideon said as noise from the entry into the Martian atmosphere increased in volume.

“
Sir, it’s about Gunny Xia. There’s something I think you should know.”

“
Okay, what about?”

“
Well, sir, I served with Gunny Xia once. I was a private then and served in the same company, but we were in separate platoons. He was court-martialed for mistreating prisoners and killing three captured enemy soldiers and a suspected terrorist.”

Surprised,
Gideon asked, “Was he convicted?”

“
No, sir, he was acquitted because everyone in his platoon testified that he was in the barracks when the murders occurred.”

“
So what’s the problem?”

“
Sir, I know he did it because I witnessed it.” Manelly paused and continued. “I talked to NCIS and told them I was there and volunteered to tell them what I saw. I was never called as a witness.”

“
Why not?” Gideon asked.

“
I don’t know, sir,” Manelly said while shaking his head. “Anyway, sir, I’m telling you this because you should watch out for him. He’s a dangerous man.”

Gideon tried to digest what Manelly had told him as the
shuttle, after entering the Martian atmosphere, changed course for Station Viking. Gideon decided to review Gunnery Sergeant Michael Xia’s personal files as soon as possible.

Station Viking, Mars

2100
—February 14, 2372

The Mission Origin View crew arrived at Station Viking and was assigned quarters. Captain Neubauer briefed his
marines as they ate in a small dayroom in the enlisted men’s quarters. During his briefing, he informed the men that they were to depart for Phobos in the next few hours and for them to stay in their quarters and try to grab a nap.

After chow Gideon returned to his quarters
, a one-room billet about the size of a large closet. He didn’t even unpack his duffel bag. Instead, he just took out what he needed and then walked to a shared latrine down the hall to take a quick shower and shave. When he returned, he packed his toiletries away, took out his ATCCS, and turned it on.

Gideon was hanging up his white jumpsuit
before trying to get a little sleep when a voice said, “Welcome to Mars, Lieutenant.” Gideon jumped and then realized the voice had come from his ear implant which had a wireless connection to his ATCCS.

“Thank you,” he said without really thinking, and smiled at himself for answering.

“
You’re welcome, sir. Is there any information you require?” his ATCCS asked.

Not knowing the capability of such advanced technology, Gideon hesitated before he
said. “Can you access a marine service record for me?”

“
Yes, I have access to Station Viking’s data network. Please give me the name of the marine you desire information about,” the voice said.

Gideon noted t
he ATCCS voice was different from the voice used to test his implant. The test voice was a standard computer electronic voice used in most intelligent military equipment, such as fighters, tanks, and so forth. This voice was feminine.

“
Gunnery Sergeant Michael Xia,” Gideon said.

“
One moment, Lieutenant…I’m sorry, sir, but it will take some time to access the information. I have to set up a new account for myself at Mount Mitchell. While we wait, I’d be happy to tell you about the differences between myself and the traditional ATCCS that you’ve used. Should I proceed?”

Gideon, fascinated by the intelligence of the ATCCS, sat down on his bunk
, picked up the ATCCS, and looked at its display. It was displaying the words he was hearing through the wireless connected ear implant.

“
Sure, go ahead,” Gideon said.

“
As you probably already know, I’m the AI chip located in your ATCCS wrist band. You can activate voice communication with me, through your implant, by simply saying ‘Anna.’ That’s short for Artificial Neural Network Associate. And most people refer to their ATCCS as Anna.”

Gideon was surprised
the system was referring to itself as “I” and “myself.”

“
You can also say, ‘Quiet, Anna,’ and I won’t speak to you through the implant, but I’ll continue to print information on the wrist band display. I can also locate individuals of our crew for you, and interface with their Anna to pass information. All you have to do is ask me aloud or type in a request on the display. I’ll also have access to the
Stephen Hawking
master computer when we arrive and can provide you with unlimited processing power. Anything you want to know, I can probably get for you. Do you have any questions, sir?” Anna asked.

“
Not right now,” Gideon said.

“
I’ll let you know when I have Gunnery Sergeant Michael Xia’s file,” Anna added.

“
Thank you, Anna.”

“
No problem, sir.”

“
Anna?” Gideon asked

“
Yes, Lieutenant.”

“
Please address me as Gideon.”

“
With pleasure, Gideon.”

Gideon stretched out on his bunk
, waiting for the file, and eventually fell asleep.

***

“Gideon…Gideon?”

Gideon woke to a voice and realized it was Anna. He looked at his watch
: 0130.

“
Yes, what is it?” he asked.

“
I received the personal file on Gunnery Sergeant Michael Xia. Would you like it now?”

“
Yes, Anna.”

“
Also in the future, I can hold information for you until a specific time or upon your request.” Anna paused and then continued. “I assume you were asleep?”

“
I was asleep, and that’s good to know. Thanks, Anna.”

“
You’re welcome, Gideon. Shall I read you the information, or do you want to read it from the wrist band display?”

“
I’ll read it.”

Gideon rolled over and picked
up Anna and began reading Xia’s personal file.

Gunny Michael Xia was a career marine with forty years of service under his belt. He had participated in just about every war or military operation on Earth, on other planets, and in space since he’d enlisted.

Xia had been in trouble several times. His file reported that he had been court-martialed five times. Added to the murder charges Manelly had told him about, Xia had also been charged on separate occasions with robbery, insubordination, drunkenness, disorderly conduct, and conduct unbecoming a noncommissioned officer. Xia had been demoted several times but had always managed to get his rank back as a result of his actions in combat. He’d been awarded several metals including the Silver Star.

Gideon finished reading the file at 0215 and concluded that he
’d have to keep a close eye on Xia and talk with Captain Neubauer. He put Anna away and went back to sleep.

Station Viking, Mars

0345
—February 15, 2372

A knock on the door
awoke Gideon.

“
Who is it?” Gideon asked as he got up and walked to the door.

“
It’s Gunny Xia, sir.”

Gideon opened the door
, and Xia stood there dressed in his white jumpsuit. Gideon thought Xia had somehow found out he’d reviewed his service record and was there to confront him.

“
Sir, Captain
Neubauer was just notified that we’ll be departing for Phobos at zero four thirty. He wanted me to let you know personally that we’re forming up in
the enlisted men’s quarters and for you to be there ASAP
.”