The Failed Project

Many years ago….

His face muscles didn't twitch as his dark eyes peered at the monitor in front of him. Inside, his body shook with anger and frustration. His knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists tightly on the cold metal table. How in the hell could have this happened? Bishop wouldn't even give the outcome of his experiment another look. He scoured the data and had the computer redo the analysis repeatedly. Letting out a scream of rage, he shoved the laptop off the table and heard it shatter against the wall nearby. The two nearby Federation guards that were stationed at the lab's door made a noise of alarm but none said a word.

After a few more moments of complete silence, Bishop moved his fingers over to the controls and sent a command for a vid chat with General Blanque. It was time to terminate their partnership. The brash, arrogant man appeared on the screen minutes later. "Something I can do for you, Agent Bishop?" His pose was relaxed and guarded at the same time. After all, their partnership was built upon opportunity for both sides. Blanque had supplied the leader of the EPF the technology and the facility to conduct his experiments and Bishop supplied him with data regarding other alien life to help expand the Federation empire. Of course, John was careful and filtered the information before sending it. "Did you create your super soldier?" The red-haired man's eyes sparkle with interest.

Adjusting his glasses, Bishop scrunched his face. "The experiment was a failure. The Triceraton DNA you supplied me corrupted what I had." He paused and then stood up straighter, squaring back his shoulders. "I'm scrubbing the project."

"Can't you try again?" The General nonchalantly asked.

Bishop moved over to shattered laptop and dug through the pieces. Luckily, the hard drive was still intact. He salvaged that and began to pack up the rest of his things. He noticed that Blanque's eyes were squarely on. "I'll need more samples and will need to do more research." His eyes evaded away from the test subject. Such a grotesque site to him! An insult to his knowledge! Just being in the same room as it taunted him. He needed to get back to Earth and go to plan B.

Blanque recoiled slowly back into his chair and relaxed his arms on his desk with his hands clasped together. "The Federation appreciates Earth's aid in our fight against the Triceratons. We thank you- "

"Terminate it." Bishop hissed through his teeth, cutting the general off.

"Beg your pardon?"

"Send that," He pointedly said as he motioned to the subject. "To termination. Deal with it. I'm heading to the shuttle."

Blanque rubbed his chin. "I'll send a transport to recover it, Agent Bishop. I would like to study it first."

"Fine." Bishop severed the connection and moved towards the shuttle. He spent far too long away from Earth for many months. He put all his time and attention to the project. He didn't know what he would expect when he got back.

"Sir! We are out of hyper space and approaching the target Federation base now." The Triceraton pilot called back to Commander Mozar.

Mozar acknowledged with a snarl as he stood up from his seat. He turned to address the small group of soldiers that accompanied him on this mission. Their sensors had detected increased Federation activity in the sector and their drones uncovered a possible Federation base. It seemed like an easy target and it was far off from the Federation that attacking it would be simple. "Listen up. The Federation scum is trying to hide this base. Let's take it out from under them!" The others stood up and cheered as they loaded their rifles.

Once the transport slowed down to connect the docking tube, one soldier moved ahead to cut an entrance inside. Few minutes later, they gained access. Mozar led the charge with his rifle in hand. "To victory!"

In a two by two formation, the Triceratons raided the facility but the fight was not quite what they expected. Only a handful of Federation troops resisted and were not their match. Several Triceratons moved ahead of Mozar to cover all the rooms to make sure there was not going to be any ambushes. With a hand wave, Mozar got the signal it was all clear and moved past the dead bodies that littered the halls. He eyed each corpse carefully as he walked. If this was a base, why was the Federation so light in security? It was no fight at all and almost an insult to him.

One of his fellow soldiers stood guard at the room at the end and saluted as he approached. "Sir, we found something."

"What is it, Lieutenant?" Mozar followed him in the room that was setup as if it was a lab.

"I-I don't know how to describe it, sir. The Federation was trying to create something."

Mozar tried his best to look with his helmet on. In the room was a large test tube that housed what appeared some sort of infant reptile. The longer he looked on, he almost thought for sure that the creature exhibited some Triceraton but clearly not one of them. "By the gods…" He reached out and touched the tube with his gloved hand.

"Should we destroy it, sir?" The Lieutenant asked.

Mozar remained quiet and looked back to see all his troops were now gathered at the entrance to the room. Their eyes locked on the discovery. "Any data to take with us?"

"No, sir."

Mozar snorted in frustration and then looked back at the infant in front of him. "There's a reason why the Federation was here. Whatever this is, it could prove useful to us. I want this transported back to the homeworld. The Primeleader should see it."