THE FOREVER GENE (THE SCIONS OF EARTH Book 1) (31 page)

Qara's doubts vanished.  She would know that voice anywhere.  She almost burst into tears again.  "Where are you calling from?" was all she could think of to say.

"I am aboard Emissary," replied the translator.  We are in geosynchronous orbit above Mongolia, about one hundred kilometres from the surface.  From here, our shuttles can reach the ground quickly and easily.  We have come to help treat casualties of war, and to evacuate those who wish to leave Earth."

Although she didn't say it, Qara knew that her friend was extending a personal invitation; an invitation to leave the planet, perhaps forever.  "I must stay here," she heard herself say.  "There are people I cannot leave."

Even as she said it she realised that, aside from her father, it wasn't really true.  Tol was probably her closest friend and he was gone; captured or dead, she couldn't be sure.  Oyugun was with his family and she knew that Batu wouldn't hesitate to go with her if she left.

"I understand," said Vi.  "You must do what is right for you.  I must attend to my duties now, but please contact me whenever you wish.  I sincerely hope we shall speak again."

"I hope so too," said Qara, but the translator had already gone.

She turned back to the president.  "The message is true, sir.  I can confirm it.  The Faerie Folk are back.  They are here to help us and to evacuate anyone who wishes to leave Earth."

He nodded, accepting her assurance.  "I see.  That is a surprise, I must say.  I thought they had written us off long ago.  But I am not sure that they can really help us.  Unless they plan to subdue the planet by force, I can't see the situation changing much."

She shook her head.  "They won't use force, sir.  They have said so many times.  I suppose they could have been lying about that, but I don't think so.  My impression has always been that it is not in their nature.   I think that they will try to save us by other means and, if they fail, they will give up on us for good."

The 'copter banked again, and she saw that they were flying over the lower slopes of Tsetseegun Uul.  The pilot headed for a 'copter pad outside the facility and set the machine down.  The soldiers leapt out first, fanning out to secure the area.  There was no indication that enemy forces were in the vicinity, but chances couldn't be taken with the president's safety.

Once the all clear had been signalled, the president and his agents climbed out of the 'copter and hurried into the facility.  Qara and Batu followed them inside.  It was a relief to get away from the noise of the 'copter for a while.  She hadn't been to the facility since the Faerie Folk had left and she ambled quizzically through the deserted rooms and corridors.  The bustle and hum she remembered was gone and the place was eerily silent and empty.  It seemed somehow more alien than when the Faerie Folk had been there.

She checked her 'link and saw that there was still a Personet connection available.  She decided to take advantage of the lull in activity.  Her father answered her call almost immediately.  "Hi, Dad, it's me."

"Hello, Little Wolf, are you alright?  They say that fighting has started in the city.  Are you still there?"

"No, Dad, I am on my way to Altai with the president."  She decided that she wouldn't worry him with details of the detour they had taken.  "Where are you now?  Are you being well cared for?"

"Yes, they have taken us to a temporary settlement away from the city.  There is plenty of food and water and the army is here to protect us.  You mustn't worry about me."

"Have you been told how long you are going to be there?"

"For a few days, at least.  The army is still bringing people in.  Eventually we will be divided into smaller groups and moved on to towns or nomadic communities.  They say that we will be able to choose where we go."

"Good.  Tell them you want to go to Altai.  I will meet you there.  If anyone gives you a problem let me know and I will ask the president to sort it out."

He chuckled.  "Don't worry about me; I can take care of myself.  I lived on the steppes once and I can do so again.  I'm sure the president has more important things to do than worry about an old man like me."

"He will help if I ask him to," she replied.  "But just make sure they send you to Altai, ok?  I have to go now, Dad.  Let me know as soon as anything happens."

"I will, Little Wolf.  Stay safe."

She ended the call and walked into the massive central room, glancing up at the domed roof.  She would miss this place.  She walked over to where the president and his agents were conferring with some of the scientists.  They had completed their packing and were ready to go.

"Russian 'tanks have entered the city, sir," she heard Tegus say.  "It won't be long before the battle begins."

"Get your equipment into the 'copter now," Ganzorig instructed the scientists.  "We leave in ten minutes."

They hurried away and he took a last look around.  Qara did the same.

"Sir!" said Tegus urgently, a finger pressed to his 'mote.  We have incoming 'copters."  He listened for a moment. "Two of them, approaching from the south.  They are not ours.  They must have evaded our air defences."

"Is there time for us to get away?" snapped the president.

"Negative," replied Tegus.  "It is too late, they are within attack range."

"Get everyone into the building, now," ordered Ganzorig.

Tegus rapidly relayed the order and then sprinted off to make sure that everyone complied.  Qara stood stock still, staring at the president in shock.  A few seconds later, she heard the unmistakable whine of approaching hover-copters.  Then there was a massive explosion, which shook the entire building.

She and Batu dropped to the ground instinctively as two security agents bowled the president over and crouched over him protectively.

"What's the status of our personnel?" gasped Ganzorig.

"Report," one of the agents growled into his 'mote.  He listened briefly.  "Our 'copter has been hit by a missile, sir.  But all personnel were clear.  Major Huran is pulling everyone back into the building."

The president jumped to his feet.  "Not everyone," he ordered.  "I want half a dozen scouts in the forest.  We need eyes and ears out there. Those 'copters will be carrying ground troops and they will be here soon."  He looked around.  "We will make our stand here."

Qara's shock was wearing off and she thought quickly.  "Can't we hide in the forest, sir?  It is the facility that the invaders want, not us.  If we give it to them, perhaps they will leave us alone.  Surely there is no need for us to defend it?"

Tegus came back into the room while she was speaking.  "I don't think that will work, sir," he said.  "They have seen our 'copter and know that we are here.  They think that valuable technology was left behind by the Faerie Folk and will realise that we came to retrieve it.  If they find that we are gone and the facility is empty, they will come looking for us."

"Surely we can lose them in the forest?" Batu ventured.

Ganzorig considered.  "Maybe; but the problem is that those 'copters carry sixty or seventy men each.  We have a force of about thirty soldiers, two 'copter pilots and five security agents.  Even if we count our civilians, we are significantly outnumbered.  If they catch us out there, we won't stand a chance.  Some of us may be killed and the rest captured.  If we stay in here, we can try to hold out until help comes."

There was no further discussion.  Huran ordered his soldiers to secure all entrances.  The pilots joined them.  Luckily, for their own security reasons, the Faerie Folk had built the facility without windows, which would make the task of the defenders easier.  The scientists were bundled into the safest room within the complex and ordered to stay there.  When Batu disclosed his military training, he was quickly armed and ordered to join the soldiers.

The president strode through the building, encouraging his men and making sure that they knew what to expect.  Qara trailed along in his wake, anxious to keep abreast of what was happening.

When he got back to the dome, Tegus hurried up to him.  "We have a problem, sir," he said in a low voice.  Qara pretended she couldn't hear what was being said.

"We have no forces near the city.  The army was detailed to co-ordinate the evacuation.  It is now well clear.  And once the operation was complete, our 'tank and 'copter squadrons were moved out too."

The president nodded slowly.  "Yes, there was no reason to try to hold an empty city.  We would have suffered casualties needlessly."

"The trouble is, sir, our nearest 'copter squadron is over two hundred kilometres away.  It has been scrambled so that it will get to us as soon as possible, but it will take at least twenty minutes to get here.  And that is only if it is not intercepted along the way.  Chinese and Russian 'copters are now engaging each other over the city, so our 'copters are going to have to fly around it to avoid contact with them."

"I see," said Ganzorig.  He activated his 'link.  "All personnel; our copters are on the way.  We have to hold out for a few minutes, but we can do it.  We are in a very secure defensive position.  The enemy will not attack us with missiles or rockets because they do not want to destroy the building.  They will try to take it using laser fire and grenades.  Keep them back from the walls as best you can.  And don't take risks if you can help it.  We cannot afford casualties."

As if to hammer home his point, a burst of laser fire from the forest studded the front door.  Then they heard a voice hailing them in Mandarin.  Major Huran hurried into the room.  "It is the Chinese, sir.  They say that they have the building surrounded and that we must surrender immediately."

"Stall them as long as you can, Major," said Ganzorig, who understood Mandarin perfectly well.  "Play for as much time as you can.  Every minute counts.  Tell them that we have no intention of keeping the building from them, but they have destroyed our 'copter and left us with no means of leaving safely.  If they supply us with a 'copter and guarantee our safe passage, we will go."

"And don't tell them that the president of Mongolia is in here," added Tegus.

The major dashed back to the front entrance to open negotiations.

"Don't think I haven't noticed you skulking around, young lady," said Ganzorig to Qara.  "Get yourself to a secure position.  I don't want you hurt when the shooting starts."

Despite the danger, she couldn't help grinning at him.  "Yes, sir," she said, and hurried away.  Luckily, he hadn't specified what he considered to be a secure position.  She ran through the corridors until she found Batu crouched in a doorway.  He was with half a dozen soldiers covering one of the smaller entrances at the back of the facility.  The whole squad was armed with large calibre laser repeaters.

He looked back at her as she crouched down behind him.  "Take this," he said, pulling a handgun from his belt and handing it to her.  "If you have to shoot, don't hesitate."

She nodded, and then he showed her how to connect her 'link to the secure channel the soldiers were using to communicate with each other.

"…approaching the north west entrance," she heard someone say.  One of the scouts in the forest was reporting the movement of Chinese soldiers.

"Give the signal when they begin crossing the clearing between the forest and the walls," barked the voice of Huran.  "Lieutenant Jebe, at the signal, throw open your door and give them a warning burst.  No longer then ten seconds.  Don't hit anyone; just chase them back into the forest."

Seconds later, the scout gave the signal and Qara heard a short burst of laser fire from elsewhere in the building.

The Chinese didn't react well to the show of force.  "They have about fifty soldiers at the north east entrance," whispered another scout, "They are preparing an attack."

The negotiations had failed, it seemed.

"Which is the north east entrance?" she whispered to Batu.

"This one," was all he said.

"Why don't the scouts do something to stop them?" Qara whispered back.

"They have been ordered not to reveal themselves," he replied.  "The tactical advantage their intelligence gives us is too valuable."

As he was speaking, Major Huran arrived with ten more soldiers.  If this was the entrance the Chinese had chosen as their way in, a strong contingent of defenders would be there to meet them.

Laser fire hit the building from a number of different directions simultaneously.

"Are you sure this is not a feint?" snapped Huran over the com.

"Yes, sir," whispered the scout.  "They are trying to draw defenders away from the north east entrance because that is where they are poised to attack."

"Can we chase them back if we open the door?"

"Negative, sir.  They are going to launch grenades from the forest and then cross the clearing.  Take cover until after the initial barrage and then engage them when they breach the entrance."

Huran barked an order.  Everyone pulled back from the entrance and took cover.

Then they waited.

The fear Qara felt in those few seconds was more profound than anything she had ever experienced in her life.  Her heart was beating so fast she thought it had stopped, and her stomach felt like it was full of burning coals.