Chapter 4 Beirut
David
July 22nd, 2017
2:35 PM
Beirut, Lebanon
Lebanon Airspace
My team was flying on Lynch's helicopter to Beirut. We would be landing in the Raoucheh shores and take a truck to travel to the Al Zarif district where the Dhaled's resistance base was located. The base was underground. So, we would also need to take a subway to travel there as well.
I was still concerned about Kristine and her possible conniving actions against Chrysalis. What if my gut had failed me? What if Kris was actually setting us up for something deeper than her relationship with the Herd of Whales? I'm praying for a chance at redemption and also keeping all eyes on her should she decide otherwise. I feel as if the more I learn about the Prescotts, the more skepticism I have for them.
"I can't believe Kristine would do this to us," said Flint. "Why would she?"
"It's complicated, Private," I said. "Let's not ask about that while she's with us."
"She shouldn't be, Commander," said Cayce. "You should've let her get locked up in the brig when Penske ordered to. How can you defend her after your experience with the Prescotts?"
"I said, let's not talk about that while she's with us."
"Like hell, David."
"Was my second in command not clear, Corporal?" Cage asked. "That's what I thought."
"The longer you dwell on this," said Kristine. "The less you fathom my complexity."
"Clayton, everyone," I said. "I think I have another confession to make for everybody. Everyone knows who Max Caulfield is, right?"
"The girl with the time powers from Arcadia Bay?" Heard thought. "What about her?"
"Her parents back on the Oregon informed me she's gotten herself involved in this war somehow. I don't know, but that's what Mr. and Mrs. Caulfield said to me earlier."
Everyone looked puzzled. Knowing who the famed time-powered girl was, never did they think she'd get involved in the war against ConDef.
"You did not just say that, David," denied Cage. "Max Caulfield of all people, in this war? Ha, that adorable soul barely made it out alive on Triple 4. She shot dozens of our troops thanks to Krissy's daddy. And now you're telling me she's trying to be a heroine in the middle of this war?"
"You don't need to believe me," I said. "But it's true. Should this somehow ever be brought up again, you all have the right to know."
"What's the situation with the rebels, Captain?" Mason asked. "And what do we do should Lieutenant Prescott cut and run?"
"With Kristine on our team under Penske's authority," said Cage "Our Chrysalis protection protocols are no longer secure. Any contact with the HOW could inadvertently compromise allied operations even further. As of now, we keep a good eye on her before she shoots us in the back."
"So, you're saying we're purposefully throwing ourselves to wolves with a herd member we're giving a loaded gun to?" Newblood asked.
"I don't like it either, Sergeant, but orders are orders. As for the resistance, we know ConDef's looking for surviving members of Project Tesseract. Elias Alkaline is off the grid and his whereabouts are unknown. Dr. Hendricks, however, is alive and well in Beirut. Our allies in the Lebanese army are holding her at Al Zarif Station. One of the few territories not to fall under the CDF. Colonel Dhaled will be waiting for us there. Mason, you and I will be accompanying Heard, Newblood, and Logos as soon as we land. Madsen, you take the usual gang with you. And be sure to keep a mag empty for the medic too. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," I replied.
"Noted, Captain," replied Mason.
I stare at Kristine who stares at me firmly. Feeling disgusted for letting our secret slip. She's either pissed at me or herself as for that.
"Kristine, you okay?" I rhetorically asked.
"Do I look okay, David?" She blunted. "Is that really all you have to ask for someone who's about to be court-martialed and convicted?"
"Your commanding officer is asking the questions, LT," said Cayce. "You have no one to be pissed at but yourself for someone who's the antagonist of this story."
"The only antagonists of this story you should be concentrated on are my aunt, Alkaline, and the so-called Ares my commanding officer speaks of…Corporal."
"Break it up, both of you," I ordered. "We can butt heads about this when we land."
"David," said Kristine.
"What?"
Kristine sighed.
"For what it's worth," she said. "Thanks for defending me back there."
"Don't thank me yet, Kris," I said. "Actions are more trustworthy than words."
"Not that I think it'll make everyone feel better, but I made sure to cover my mark with makeup so no one else knows about it but us."
Lead Me Home – Jamie N. Commons
As soon as Lynch drops us off at the LZ, the team splits once again and we hop inside the trucks we're riding on. Cayce, Kristine, Flint, and I ride with Lebanese resistance fighters in the trunk the truck is carrying us on. The truck departs the LZ. Taking us to Al Zarif Station were the team will be meeting each other and meet Colonel Dhaled who's waiting for our arrival.
The entire city of Beirut looks as if ConDef to a number on it by the dozens. Civilians stranded, buildings dilapidated, streets patrolled by tanks, the war destructed city had it all. Takes me back to my tours in Iraq and Afghanistan before meeting Joyce and Chloe. The time where I had lost Phillip Becker in that war. Beirut was giving me harsh memories already.
I took a smoke for the road to Al Zarif. My lighter at the tip of the cigar and my intoxicated breath blowing off steam. I should be careful not to passive smoke around a crowded truck too.
Our truck stops at the front bulkhead door of Al Zarif Station and we're granted entry. The four of us get on a train to take to the main hub of the base where Dhaled was waiting. When we make our stop, I could see the guards posted near the transit. Watching the train come to a halt. There're even body bags lying around where the guards are. If my PTSD doesn't conquer and I conquer "it", my bad memories won't sidetrack me from the meeting. Cayce snapped his finger near my face to get my attention.
"Hey," he said. "You still with us?"
"Yeah," I replied. "I just…zoned out for a second there."
"Not a bad idea. I think we just traded one bad situation for another."
"Glad I'm not the only one feeling déjà vu."
While stepping out of the train, Kristine sees a memorial on the wall of lost civvies and troops in Beirut's role in the war. Posters and pictures of the dead and candles lit on the floor in their memory. As Kristine, herself once said, "Not a list of people you want to join." And yet here they are. Peace to the fallen.
"We are fighting a losing battle," said Kristine. "The information Alkaline released helped ConDef target strategic weak-points in the Lebanese military defenses. They are gaining territory fast. Civilian casualties are high. Beirut's on the brink of total collapse."
The memorial extended onward from the train station up between a flight of stairs we walk upon to get to the hub. By the casualties being high, this meant high alright.
"Let's hope Dr. Hendricks talks fast and gives us something useful," I said.
"She will," said Cayce. "You don't hide out in Beirut unless you're really trying to run away from something."
"I feel horrible for all these people the wall," said Flint. "Makes me think it was like this for everyone back in Seattle and San Francisco."
"It was," I said. "I can't even measure what's worse."
We see a man in resistance military gear walking down the steps to meet us. Must be Fehr Dhaled who had to have been on his way to meet us at the station. Good timing he brings.
"Colonel Dhaled?" Kristine asked.
"We were told you were coming," said Dhaled. "We have your doctor."
"We appreciate your help. Especially as we're not exactly on the books until President Trump declared otherwise."
"Good to see you, Dhaled," I said. "Commander Madsen at your servitude."
"We'd hoped you'd bring reinforcements," said Dhaled. "Soldiers, equipment, munitions…anything. Where's the rest of your team?"
"Captain Cage and the others will be meeting separately. Penske is sending as many more of our troops in the city as we speak."
We follow Dhaled to where Hendricks is in custody. Up the stairs and into the main hub. Where refugees and soldiers are posted. The place looked to be a sick bay of some sort. There were doctors seen treating wounded for medical care and triages for the wounded to rest that made it obvious. Nothing like the refugee area we have on the Oregon.
"Our doctor may have vital information on the circumstances responsible for ConDef's latest attacks," I said. "Project Tesseract being said circumstances. If we secure the project, we'll be able to ensure more support for your army."
"That's a polite way of saying shit's fucked up for everyone," said Cayce.
"You want help? Get in line."
"We were lucky to secure Dr. Hendricks before the ConDef advance," said Dhaled. "I warn you, we may not be able to ensure her safety much longer."
"Don't worry. We won't need her long."
"Our men are ill-equipped to deal with ConDef's strategies."
"What's your operational strength?" Kristine asked.
"We have less than a thousand men," replied Dhaled. "A dozen more armored vehicles and a squadron of VTOLs. Essential supplies are low."
"How are you still holding on?" I asked.
"You can thank Derrick Crosby."
"What?!" Cayce snorted. "Derrick Crosby was a hypocritical egomaniac who thought he could make a better world by fucking everything up!"
"After the Triple 4 strikes of 2014, all Chrysalis nations had to abide by the Quantum Terrorism Defense Act. Directed Energy Air Defense Systems must protect all major military, civilian, and industrial targets in allied nations. The DEADS are the only reason we are still here."
"Maybe so, but I wouldn't thank Crosby. He was a prick who got what he deserved."
The five of us exit the med bay and enter the security rooms nearing the interrogation room where Hendricks was waiting. Hard to imagine a man like Derrick Crosby was responsible for the base's integrity. Maybe only indirectly. Consider Dhaled's army lucky for that.
"We're preparing a temporary CC for your use," said Dhaled. "Links to Chrysalis Command are down, but you can still connect to our local systems. The doctor is being held in our interrogation space."
"Thank you for your cooperation, Colonel," said Kristine. "Appreciate it."
Dhaled left us alone and for the four of us to speak with Hendricks in interrogation. The four of us step inside the interrogation room and see the doctor sitting patiently by a table. She recognizes us and is surprised to see each at her presence.
"Commander Madsen?" Hendricks wondered. "Corporal Foley? This is unexpected."
"Pleasure to see you too, Doc," said Cayce. "You look like you've been through hell."
Hendricks scoffed.
"Tell me about it," she said. "After being held without cause and no legal representative to speak to, a sight for sore eyes is all I really need."
"Have a seat, Dr. Hendricks," I said. "We need to talk. Kristine, Flint, step outside while we handle this. Flint, you keep a good eye on your lieutenant."
"You're letting a private be your eyes and ears, Commander?" Kristine questioned.
"Orders are orders, Lieutenant. Wait outside with Wheeler and Dhaled and be sure Cage and the rest of Valor get here too."
The lieutenant and private did as instructed and Cayce and I took a seat at the table to question Hendricks about her project. Acting as her legal representatives.
"It would seem you two have had an uptight day yourselves," said Hendricks.
"You're involved in a secret black ops project for Chrysalis called Project Tesseract," I said. "What is it? And what ConDef want with it?"
"After Triple 4, we were to dispose of any evidence Project Elysium was responsible for the Neo-Chrysalis invasion in Portland. The same tech we used for that project we recycled for Project Tesseract. The project was designed to link a rift to a parallel realm similar to Elysium. Only this time, Tesseract links to a realm known as the Underworld."
"The Underworld?" Cayce thought. "Are we supposed to know what that is?"
"It's a Greek mythological universe similar to how Elysium is except it's a place where souls are condemned to hell as opposed to accepted into heaven. Some of our researchers have actually been inside the underworld when the project was complete and managed to open a rift, but never made it back alive. There was only one who made it back and spoke of a name. Someone called Hades."
"And is Hades a name we should know about too?" I questioned.
"Greek mythology tells he's the god and ruler of the underworld who watches over the dead banished to his world. What ConDef wants with the project is the tech needed that opens the rift. That in itself is called the Tesseract. Some call it the Elysium Forge. Known to open rifts to Elysium but also the Underworld too."
"Why exactly did you build this contraption yourselves? What interest did you have in going to this Underworld?"
Before Hendricks could answer, a tremor had shaken the room. The textbook sign of an imminent attack on the way. The alarm was heard as well with a red light strobing the room too.
"What the fuck," said Cayce.
"Stay here," I said to Hendricks. "We'll be back after we've dealt with whatever's happening."
Cayce and I marched out of the interrogation chamber leaving Hendricks behind. We saw Kristine and Flint by the monitor screens but without Dhaled in sight.
"Kristine, what are we dealing with here?" I asked.
"ConDef forces are converging across the city," answered Kristine.
"They're converging on key checkpoints around the station. It's an all-out assault."
"Let's take it to 'em," said Cayce.
Note: It must go without saying, but the David chapters will leave Arcadia Bay alone this time. Meaning no more Arcadians involved or left to culminate for the rest of this story as planned. David and Valor Team are on their own this time. Just a friendly reminder that I may have one week off next week for spring break, but college may still do a number on me given that mid-terms will be due before and after the break and how long certain chapter will be and how it may take to write them.
Until next time, stay tuned and golden!