Chapter 10

Daniella says: Slowly but surely, the story moves on.

Spectra

As soon as Anderson realised what Cronus was saying, he shook his head violently, put a hand on Cronus's palms to stop him, and started signalling awkwardly too, brow creased in concentration.

"It doesn't natter. Dalf Earth bestroyed. Set them kill me."

It took Cronus a second or two to get the gist of Anderson's clumsy code. Then he pulled his hands away and started signalling again.

"Don't be stupid. We need to save the other half and all other federation planets. We need you. So what about that escape?"

Before Anderson could signal a reply, the door flew open. A goon appeared, gun pointing directly at them.

"Colonel Cronus."

It was not a question. Cronus jumped off the bed, flipping the goon a little salute.

"At your service."

Realising what was happening, Anderson quickly put himself between the goon and Cronus.

"What do you want with him? He doesn't know anything!"

Cronus managed to look offended.

""What do you mean, I don't know anything?"

"Shut up. You" — Anderson jabbed a finger at the goon — "go back and tell Zoltar that Colonel Cronus does not know the coordinates for Centre Neptune. When he comes there, his ship is tethered to our system and pulled in. He doesn't input the coordinates himself."

"Too much info, Jack," whispered Cronus.

Zoltar materialised behind the goon, having entered from a hidden side door.

"My dear Chief Anderson, Colonel Cronus is going to become, unfortunately, just another pawn in this game. I told you I have no interest in torturing you. But knowing it's your friend who will pay the price… well, maybe this will move you more than the millions of people who lost their homes due to your stubborn position."

"Jack, you know you're not to tell them anything, right?" asked Cronus pleasantly.

Anderson, whiter than ever, just nodded.

"Good," said Cronus.

"And, in any case," continued Zoltar, "Colonel Cronus certainly knows the coordinates of Riga's High Command, no?"

As the door closed, the last thing Anderson saw was Cronus being led away between Zoltar and the goon. Then, he kicked at the wall, so hard that even in his rubber-soled, heavy-duty work boots, he twisted a toe.

Earth

The ISO HQ boasted an underground entrance, that could be accessed directly from Centre Neptune — a fact for which Miroslav was immensely grateful. With G-Force out again against a possible new battery of Spectran missiles, he was alone in facing the representatives of the Federated planets. Technically, President Kane would be at his side. At his side, but would he also be on his side as well?

Making his way across the corridors, escorted by a bevy of bodyguards, Miroslav could just make out the faint echo of the crowds shouting outside the building, clamouring for the Federation's surrender.

"Lose our assets, not our planets!" was the slogan that came loudest to his ears.

"Fools!" he thought. As if Spectra would leave the planets alone after stripping them of their assets.

Signalling to his bodyguard that he wanted to stop for a second, he approached an ISO NCO standing guard outside the Federation Council. The NCO snapped to attention as soon as he realised who the long-haired, haggard-looking man approaching him was.

"At ease, Sergeant," said Miroslav.

He nodded towards the heavy doors.

"Is it true that they can't be locked from the inside?"

The guard gave a small, sad smile.

"I'm afraid so, sir. But I could try to delay them opening the doors from the outside, if you think it would help."

"Thank you, Sergeant. But I hope it won't come to this."

He placed his hand on the keypad, and entered the Federation Council chamber.

Spectra

The door to Anderson's cell opened and Cronus was thrown in again, for the second time in one day. He landed in a corner and, dazed, stayed there, trying to get his bearings. Anderson, placing his weight on one foot, limped to him.

"Are you okay?"

He leaned over his friend, looking for obvious signs of injury, finding none. Cronus, his eyes closed, nodded.

"I'll be fine. Just give me a second."

"What did they do to you?"

Cronus shook his head.

"Let's not discuss it now," he whispered. "And why are you limping?" he added, glancing at the way Anderson was gingerly moving one foot.

Anderson nodded towards the wall, where a very slight dent could be seen.

"Boot connected with the wall, and the wall won," he said, keeping his voice light, although his friend's dishevelled look was making him feel more guilty by the second.

"Is it not enough that I have all these destroyed cities on my conscience? Should I have you, too?" he whispered, helping Cronus make himself more comfortable.

Cronus grabbed Anderson's arms.

"Stop it, Jack. You're playing Zoltar's game if you continue to feel sorry for yourself. This is war. You didn't destroy those cities, Spectra did. So stop thinking only of your own feelings, ok?"

Miserably, Anderson nodded. Cronus pushed himself up to a sitting position, and started tapping out a code again.

"So, let's look at some escape plans."

Half an hour later, and after a lot of effort in deciphering Anderson's hastily-tapped code, Cronus was certain of two things: Anderson's plans, ingenious as they were, would not work, and the ISO had better organised remedial classes in coding and other tradecraft methods for its desk-bound officers. Just in case they ever needed any of these skills.

"Sorry, it won't work, Jack. It's a good idea, all of them are good ideas, but they won't work."

Anderson was visibly disappointed, but just shrugged.

"Oh well, we tried."

He settled back against the wall. Then, the door opened again and a goon appeared once more.

"Chief Anderson? Zoltar would like a word."

Anderson almost groaned — he knew what this next meeting would be all about. Zoltan would announce another wave of attacks, and demand the coordinates of Centre Neptune again. Cronus sat up a bit straighter, and gave his friend a small smile.

"Chin up, Jack," he whispered.

Anderson nodded, then followed the courteous goon outside.

Zoltar was seated at the table in his meeting room again, the wall behind him one giant video screen projecting images from Earth. He was tapping his fingers impatiently on the tabletop. Mala, sitting next to him with Xirol, looked unperturbed. She was studying a report.

Zoltar stood up as Anderson was escorted in.

"Ah! My dear Chief Anderson! Let's see if we will make more progress this time."

Anderson had no idea how much time had passed since his last meeting with Zoltar. There was only one thing he remembered clearly: the video wall, the red target dots, the explosions that followed.

"I protest in the strongest possible terms the violation of the Intergalactic Treaty on the treatment of prisoners of war and the mistreatement of Colonel Cronus. This will be added to the list of crimes you have committed, Zoltar."

"Protest noted. Now, let's try again. The coordinates for Centre Neptune — or you lose another batch of your cities."

Anderson said nothing. Zoltar sighed.

"Fine. General Xizor, give battle command their targeting coordinates."

Xirol looked up.

"Sire, I think we should go after other planets too. Earth is only one of the Federation's planets, after all. Let's hit Riga at least, give Cronus something to think about."

"You have a point, General," acknowledged Zoltar, to Anderson's surprise: he had expected that the Spectran leader would not tolerate any talking back.

"But Centre Neptune is on Earth," continued Zoltar. "So, Earth will be the planet to suffer the brunt of our attacks — until Chief Anderson here gives us an alternative, military target."

Standing rigidly to attention, Anderson once again kept his eyes on the screen.

"No," he whispered. "The Federation will fight back," he added defiantly.

But the words of Cronus's message came unbidden to his mind.

"Federation ready to surrender."

Earth

As the doors to the Federation Council chamber opened and Miroslav walked in, a cacophony of voices — loud and agitated — reached his ears. Ignoring them, he walked to the lectern. President Kane, sitting at the front row, nodded at him to start. Miroslav gave a succint overview of what had happened — the number of missiles that had struck Earth, the damage inflicted, the victims, the refugees. He then played the recording they had received from Zoltar. When the recording was over, a deathly silence fell — which was broken by the Rigan representative.

"Chief, any news of Colonel Cronus's mission?"

Miroslav hesitated, not sure how much he should tell the delegates.

"We have to assume that Colonel Cronus is now a prisoner on Spectra as well. If he's still alive."

Andrea nodded. But before she could speak, the Leukadian representative had taken the floor.

"Chief, are we putting together a negotiating team to work on the terms of our surrender? Zoltar's message leaves no room for optimism. Other planets will be attacked after Earth. How long before my planet, or Lieutenant MacGregor's planet, is attacked?"

Andrea was on her feet before the Council Speaker could acknowledge her.

"Be that as it may, I have no mandate to agree to authorise the Federation to negotiate a surrender!"

"By the time you get it, not much of Riga will be left!" shot back the Leukadian representative.

"Plus, we can't let Chief Anderson be executed! Nor Colonel Cronus," continued Andrea, as if there had been no interruption.

The debate in the Federation Council was deteriorating into a barrage of accusations and counter-accusations flung left and right, between the delegates in favour of holding out until the ISO would find a way to deal with the latest threat from Spectra, and those arguing in favour of a hasty surrender. Proponents of the view that a negotiating team should, at least, be established, carried the vote. Miroslav was trying to think what would Anderson do in his shoes — apart from locking the doors.

"G-Force is doing whatever's possible to deflect and destroy as many missiles as it can. The evacuation procedures are working. The refugees are safe. I ask you to have some faith in the ISO! We will find a way to deal with this threat. We have done so in the past. We cannot let Spectra overrun our planets!"

"Better overrun and alive than foolishly holding out and losing our lives and our planets too!"

Miroslav grabbed the lectern tightly.

"My friends, please give us some time. The ISO will come through!"

Just then, his laptop beeped.

To be continued.

Reviews make my day!