Chapter 12
Great White North meets great white north, the Commodore thought, reflecting humourlessly on his old nickname as he trudged through the thick snow.
North had insisted on leading the next expedition to the polar region. Just like when they had made first contact with Caeldon's clan, he would take full responsibility for whatever happened. Difficult decisions may have to be made, and he would not saddle anyone else with that burden.
At least the blizzard conditions had died down. There was no longer a sharp, freezing wind, and snow fell directly downward at a gentle rate. It would have been beautiful if not for their terrible purpose here.
Without cover from the blizzard, his team's shuttlepods had been forced to land a good distance from the pit, in roughly the 9 o'clock direction (the original team's landing site still being 12). North, and his accompanying full platoon of MACOs, had made their way around in a broad circle, to approach from 3 o'clock. That way, if the Draco's attention was focused on them, the others down the pit may be able to make a break for the 'pods.
North had been filling Thorpe in on the plan on the move. He had waited until now as he didn't want any words lost due to static, which there was less of at this range.
"Have your team ready to evacuate at a moment's notice, Captain," he said as they closed in on their final position. "We may only get one shot at this."
"Aye, sir," came the reply. "We'll be ready. Thorpe out."
North closed his communicator and marvelled at the majestic creature before him. The Draco lay beside the pit, equidistant from North's team and their shuttlepods, either not noticing or not caring about their presence. Even at this distance, North could make out its laboured breathing.
He felt a great pity for the noble beast.
The MACOs set up the EMP generators about 25 meters apart, to give them a wide firing arc. The EMP blasts would be focused in a conical shape, so they would not affect the team's own equipment.
"Ready when you are, sir," Major Kimura reported after checking with his fellow troops.
North sighed. "Come not between the dragon and his wrath," he said quietly to himself, recalling Shakespeare's warning.
"Begin," he said louder to Kimura.
With a signal from the Major, the generators were activated. North could not perceive the electromagnetic waves but the Draco reacted immediately, rearing up and roaring in anguish.
North winced as if it were his own body being assaulted.
But the Draco did not retreat, it merely thrashed and wailed in agony, still too close to the pit, its massive, long body pounding the snow-covered earth.
"Come on," North implored the Draco, as if it would both hear and understand him. "Move⦠Move."
And it did move, but towards North's group. It had clearly deduced the source of its pain and, with difficulty, made its way closer, making strained, angry growls at them, its grey eyes full of hate.
"Suggest we increase the intensity of the EMPs, sir," Kimura said, his rifle cautiously raised.
After a moment, North closed his eyes and nodded.
The place was coming down around them again.
When Thorpe had received North's update, he ordered all teams underground to report to the central hub to be ready to evacuate. Threv's team was still absent, however, with the exception of Supervisor Grum.
The Tellarite had come running as fast as his stubby legs would carry him. When asked, he said that he had left the others as soon as he heard the evacuation order. Thorpe grumbled but went looking for them himself.
They could hear the Draco's roaring and thrashing even down in the pit, and it must truly be aggravated this time, as huge chunks were crumbling off the caverns. Thorpe had to keep alert to dodge the falling debris.
He eventually reached the chamber with Threv's group, where he found Chalmos still running his scanner over the walls.
"What's the holdup?" he demanded of them.
Threv was standing behind Chalmos, but snapped around at the sound of Thorpe's voice, almost stumbling from the quakes. "Captain! I'm sorry, I tried to tell him-"
"I need to take as many images as possible," Chalmos said, not stopping in his scanning for a second. "This chamber could end up buried."
Thorpe marched over to the young archaeologist and pulled his arm roughly. "So could you! If you don't get out now, those images will be no good to anyone!"
Chalmos reluctantly moved towards the doorway, Threv close behind him.
Thorpe looked around the chamber, rocks crashing down around him. There was someone missing.
"Where the hell is Sylor?"
