Each bomb was made of three blocks of cylinders. Each bomb was as big as two trucks. The place was also full of tools, wires, and console panels.
Akira reached the biggest console panel that was not far away from the bomb that was the closest to the entrance (the second was behind). He started to work on the console. Rossberg approached the weapon right in front of him and observed it.
Carter didn't move, impressed by the size. She said, "Well, I think that's it. Akira, anything you can tell us about these weapons?"
"They are altromium bombs." the scientist replied, looking at the screens and manipulating the keyboard. The man couldn't decipher every word he was seeing, nevertheless, he had experienced a great number of alien blueprints and computers for years and was now able to understand the logics
"Oh boy..." Carter sighed, aghast.
She came to Rossberg, who was still peering at the cylinders in a strange way. The man looked shocked, also relieved, and seemed to not know what to think or say.
The lady got worried. "Philip, are you okay?"
The man seemed to wake up from a dream. "Uh... Yes. It's just... I'm standing in front of the thing that destroyed our planet and billions of lives. It makes me feel strange."
As Rossberg's eyes went back on the bomb, Carter turned to Sakai. "Is that enough to blow up Earth?"
"I'd say a surface as wide as Canada and the USA for each bomb." Akira answered, eyes still on the screens. "The bombs are to be inside drills. The construction's ongoing in different places that are on other planets and this one. The components are to be brought and assembled here.". Sakai paused, then, frowned. "Oh..." he expressed, surprised, with no further detail.
Akira's "Oh" stressed Carter, who demanded, "Oh what, doc?"
The scientist lifted up his head and perceived the officer's nervousness. "It seems a third bomb should be started anytime soon." he intoned.
Rossberg looked around and frowned. "I may ask a stupid question, but how could these cylinders get through the entrance?", he queried, pointing out the weapons and the entrance with his left index.
Akira and Maryanne looked towards the entrance. Indeed, its width was to way too small for the bombs.
The Japanese checked the screens again and found the answer. "The wall behind me is actually a door for that purpose."
Philip and Maryanne noticed indeed the big rectangular chink in that wall.
The female officer changed the subject. "Anything else about this outpost that might be interesting, Akira?"
"There's a stargate on the last floor." Sakai mentioned, using the keyboard to navigate again in the complex blueprint. "Kalahan was right. This base is officially used as a storage facility. Nothing about the Praelistians or other people, though."
Carter was having second thoughts while Sakai started to take pictures of the screens with his tablet to save information. "How is it possible there's no mention of the Praelistians or other groups? The Vendalers, for instance..." she queried, looking around and confused. She added, "Did Kalahan's spy mention anything about the people here?"
Sakai provided the response between two pictures, "This detail didn't bug him, but he couldn't investigate further as he probably couldn't spend much time here."
Rossberg suggested, "Maybe they don't know about the existence of this base?"
Carter looked at Rossberg. The man wasn't really convinced by his own suggestion either.
He thought about something else. "Or like Rousseau said earlier, maybe these guys outside are disguised as smugglers?"
Carter and Rossberg looked at each other again. Like minutes ago, the man from the future didn't really buy into it. Neither did Carter.
Sakai reminded of what the governor told them. "Kalahan had doubts about the coalition being on the same page. Would it be possible that some groups are hiding their bombing project from the others?"
"But the Praelistians, to focus on them, were there when Earth was destroyed. How couldn't they know about the bombs?" old Philip said, on an angry tone. He lifted up his left hand, as an apology. He proposed another reasonable option, "Or perhaps they're covering their tracks and sent these guys to deceive their enemies?"
Carter turned to Rossberg and bit her lips, uncertain about what to think. She finally ended the debate, "Okay, whatever, let's recon other parts of the dome and blow it up."
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It's been a while, so here's a new chapter, followed by another. Thanks for reading. And enjoy your vacation for those who are on vacation.