Chapter 13
In The Hands Of The Devil
Disclaimer: Yeah, Landmark owns it all. This is the same disclaimer you read all over the internet and web. Let's be truthful, though – this could have been a great show that Landmark and Mattel let slide into oblivion. Shame on them for being before their time in the entertainment business.
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The repairs to the jumpship had been completed, at least as much as was possible without the luxury of a bay with equipment. The crews had returned to Sanctuary for the final meeting before taking up their positions on the ship.
Tobias was in her chair in the briefing room, with Power seated next to her. A new problem had arisen, one that had been pushed to the bottom of the list of concerns initially. Now, it loomed in first position, demanding attention.
Scout pointed at a schematic of a hyperspace network. "The jumpgates are going to be a problem."
It was the last thing any of them wanted to hear, but Jon knew the implications better than most what it meant. If the jumpgate system was compromised, the mission might fail before it ever got airborne.
Jon tried to be optimistic. "We knew that was a possibility."
"Well, not quite this bad, Captain," Scout said with regret. "We've already had reports from spotters that Dread forces are being stationed at key points leading in to Volcania. They're watching every exit on the system. We won't be able to make a direct run at it without some interference from overunits or Soaron."
Tobias rubbed at her neck wearily and sighed. "That bird always seems to complicate the simplest of plans."
Blalock spoke. "What about a diversion? Something to confuse them into thinking we're coming from one direction when we use another?"
Scout shook his head. "We have one jumpship, the only one capable of navigating the system. Guidance computers are calibrated to keep the ship on track. There's no room for error. One tilt the wrong way inside the tube and you're history."
Jon considered this fact. "So we get them to chase us," he dared.
Tobias gave a half a laugh, disbelieving. "That's quite a testosterone-laden suggestion, Captain."
"If we can get them to chase and send off a few volleys to the rear," Power argued, "one hit could be enough to get them to go off course enough to get rid of them."
"That's all well and good, Captain," Scout said, "but it doesn't handle what's waiting for us when we exit. You can bet they'll have every path leading to Volcania fortified."
Power was undaunted. "If we could change course inside the system, we could outnavigate them and confuse the defense forces. Once we started through one gate, they'd expect us to continue down the tube until we reached the destination. If we could turn, they wouldn't be able to anticipate, much less keep up with where we'd come out."
Sergeant Kasich was seated next to Scout. "I may have a better idea."
She pulled over a terminal and began typing commands. The display in the room changed to the internal design of the security blanket. In the center of the schematic were five egg-shaped pods, linked by connectors. She zeroed in on the elements.
"These are the linked thermal cores to the security blanket," she explained. "Put together, they make a big bang, each pod feeding off the energy of those around it to level hundreds of kilometers."
She isolated one pod. "Just one, however, will clear about one unobstructed kilometer. It would be enough to get whatever was waiting for us out of the way."
Tobias was skeptical. "And how do you plan to deploy it, Sergeant?"
Hawk supplied the answer. "We shoot it out ahead of us from inside the jumpgate system."
"Yes, sir," Kasich responded, appearing relieved that someone could visualize her plan. "Once we launched it from the ship, it would be going that much faster than we were traveling. If we slowed our speed once we launched, we'd put that much more distance between us and the explosion."
Scout showed his discontent. "There's a chance the backwash from the blast could collapse the exit. If that happens, it'll be like flying into a brick wall."
"Not if we let gravity do the work for us," Kasich responded. "Once the pod leaves the gate, it will descend. The blast should be directed away from the gate, leaving us free and clear to exit."
Scout, though worried, contemplated the action. "We'd have to write a guidance program for the delivery pod to make sure it dropped down fast enough, but that shouldn't be a problem."
Power ran through the scenario in his mind. It was not the best of plans, but it was agreeable. "That takes care of the ground forces. What about Soaron?"
"I've handled him before," Hawk supplied with confidence. "Without any backup from the ground, it's a one-on-one with the jumpship and me. Same dance, different floor."
"All right," Power agreed. "We'll try the gates and see what's waiting. Scout, I want navigation set up so that we can immediately reenter the gate if we're detected. That should bait them enough to follow. We'll fire to the rear in flight and see if we can trap them in the conduit."
"Yes, sir," Scout acknowledged.
"Once inside Volcania, we'll divide into teams. Tank, you'll take point until we're near the core. Once we reach the core, Scout, you and Sergeant Kasich will get in there and shut down Dread's program with the charges. We'll need information on troop movements before the charges are set on the core."
Kasich nodded. "Data links have already been prepared. We just plug in and get the data."
"Good," Power said, pleased with the sergeant's efficiency. "Hawk, you and Lieutenant Blalock will lead our ground forces to get the attention of any responding forces to the floor. Lead them away from the core as best as you can until we're ready to blow it."
Hawk gave a quiet, discontented sigh. Blalock showed no enthusiasm, either, at the thought of working with a personal enemy. Power was not about to let it affect the mission.
"Is there a problem with my order, gentlemen?" he said sternly.
Hawk's eyes did not leave Blalock's. "No, no problem, Captain," he said flatly.
Power accepted the answer and moved forward with the briefing. "In the meantime, Doctor Tobias will be doing her best to open doors for us. We need to keep communication back to this base at a minimum so Dread doesn't have a chance to lock on to the signal."
"That won't be necessary, Captain," Tobias interjected. "Since I will be linked directly to the secondary system, I will be able to communicate directly to you through Volcania's own network. All you have to do is yodel and I'll hear you."
Tank smiled proudly and fondly. "I am quite good at yodeling," his accent thick and bold.
Whether or not Tank had intended to make a joke, it was a moment of levity that was sorely needed in a very stressful moment. Even Tobias smiled, which Jon noticed was a few and far between event. At that moment, she looked at Jon, ignoring the murmur of conversation in the room, and the brief, genuine smile faded. She nodded at him as if to say they were as ready as they were going to be, that they were approaching the point of no return. Though their combined team would never be as efficient as was truly needed for a mission of that magnitude, it was all that stood in the way of annihilation. Dread had finally pushed them to the point of no return. There would be no outside help, no assistance from civilians willing to join up in the fight. It was up to twelve individuals and one self-proclaimed cyborg with a shady past to save the world once and for all.
"Then I guess that's it," Power said, bringing the room to order once more.
"That's it," Tobias responded. "I'll take my leave of you now to set up the interface with Mentor. I'll see you on the other side."
"Good luck, doctor," Power said.
"The same to all of you," she said to the team. "Let's give 'em hell."
The briefing adjourned, and Tobias was quick to leave the room. Power watched as she gave a fleeting glance to the fighters and finally one more directly at Power. Without even so much as an acknowledgement, she turned and left.