/ Duel Universe
/ Author: The Cowboy of Oklahoma
/ Ch 3: Northface Base
/ word count: 2155
Northface Base:
We landed safely with minimal argument from air traffic control. The base commander had to order the transport onto the ground just to get it down faster. We landed as close to the necessary hanger and dropped the cargo ramp quickly. The ground crew didn't skip a beat and rushed in to release the clamps and grab the cargo with a hoverlift. The equipment disappeared into the hanger without a second word, while the base commander was heading towards the aircraft in a humvee. Stepping down from the cockpit, and then stepping off the transport, I waited for the commander to pull up.
"Lieutenant Commander Freeman, General Fornsburge." He said as we saluted each other. "Welcome to Northface."
He had a fair build for his age. Tall and lean, barely a grey hair in sight, Marine General indeed.
"The call just came through with your VIP cargo. I'm very grateful you made the trip so quickly." He said gratefully.
"Glad to be of service General. Your tech was just sitting in our hanger and we ran out of pilots last minute thanks to the evac orders and the attack. So I had to scrounge up a skeleton crew to bring it." I explained.
"Scrounge..." 627 huffed under her breath.
I turned and glared at her for a second, then brought my attention back to the General.
"Anything else we can do for you or your men while we're here sir? We could ferry some extra gear or personnel your craft may not be able to accommodate." I offered.
"Thanks, we've pretty much got everything under control here. Not much left to load beyond personnel when the final component is connected and tested. All other non-essentials were moved out days ago." He stated.
"Days sir? But the attack, or crossing, was just this morning." I noted.
"We've been monitoring it for some time now. We knew it was only a matter of time before it crossed the ice and ocean to reach this place, and 4 days ago all non-essential gear, and personnel, were systematically removed and only the required personnel for completing this task was left here, including myself." He explained.
"With all due respect sir, but you really shouldn't have stayed. You're too important for the human race to lose right now, and if the component hadn't have made it on time, we would have lost you sir."
"I was not about to leave my base or my men behind, nor leave this very important piece of hardware without a commanding officer."
"Hah, I suppose you're right about that sir, but it's still a risk you shouldn't be taking on yourself." I resigned.
"I think he's got the right ta' do whatever he pleases…" 627 began.
"Shut it 627! Your opinion was not given nor asked for!" I barked.
"627?" The general queried.
"Prisoner 627 reportin' fer duty sir!" She mocked with a salute.
"Ugh!" I facepalmed, then looked to the general. "Request fuel, food and to get underway sir. If we're not needed here. I need to get 627 back to her lovely accommodations at the Coronado prison facility." I said.
"Nonsense sailor. It shouldn't take more than 20hrs to complete the Baddeck and have her flight ready. I insist that you stay for the launch." He gestured towards the hangers. "Besides, if something goes wrong, you'll be the back up plan to getting out of here." He added.
"Aye sir. Then may I request that prisoner 627 be placed in custody until our departure? She has a habit of not following orders." I said.
"So be it. You two!" He gestured for two MPs to come forward. "Make sure that…, ugh what's her name and rank anyways?" He asked.
"She doesn't get a name, and she's a Lieutenant Commander, but the way things are going, there's no telling how long she'll keep even that." I stated.
"Take the Lieutenant Commander to her room and make sure she isn't disturbed or that she leaves, and no funny business while on my base either!" He ordered.
"Sir!" The MPs said in unison.
"Ah, and here I thought I'd get me some double.." she started.
"Move it 627!" I interrupted.
The MPs took her by the arms and lead her to accommodations elsewhere.
Following the General to his Humvee, the copilot and myself got in and then headed to the main building on base. The general started in on some small talk about why 627 was not being named and what was the name of our own flight vehicle.
"The Gotango is almost finished sir, engine and thrusters tests were scheduled for today so it should be finished before we get back." I said. "As for 627, she's been in the brig far more than she's been out and to be frank, she gets on my nerves." I added bluntly.
"I see. So I guess it was your call not to let her name slip out? Though she does seem to have an air of irresponsibility about her." He noted swirling his hand over head.
"She's...a fine pilot, among other things, but she's too undisciplined. Too willing to skirt rules and side step command whenever it suits her. She wrecked the simulator of the first prototype for our vessel, 'pushin' it to the extreme,' she said, but then in two months she wrecked 3 more vehicles on and off base and she didn't even give an excuse. Then she punched some other officers in a bar fight, and when she was confronted for her actions, gave our base commander a black eye. Then just took her time in the brig like a vaca." I finished.
"She sounds spirited, but like you said, undisciplined. She would learn a thing or two onboard my ship. I wouldn't let her get away with such behavior." He scoffed.
"Believe me sir, she's been disciplined, demoted, worked back up to her current rank, disciplined again, jailed, and even threatened to be left behind when all of humanity leave this world. Nothing seems to phase her." I said. "She obviously has talent and skills we need for this journey, but she doesn't seem to grasp that the world is ending and we need to work together to survive."
Arriving at the main building and going inside, the general invited me to join him for dinner to discuss the goo. He cracked a smile as some well-done T-bone steaks, seasoned steak fries, corn, baked beans, and cold beers were served.
"Being this should be the last dinner at this base, I figured some appropriate meal choices be served tonight. My soldiers had a choice of pizza, burgers or steaks, it was near unanimous all around. So I ordered the finest we had left in stock to be cooked up for all tonight," he said looking down, "Seems I was lucky enough to get a good pick."
"Well I thank you sir, I haven't had a piece of prime beef in months. Actually, even if I did, I normally get a thick sirloin cut and baked potato." I added.
He laughed heartily. "Hahahaha! Well son, I never would have guessed you were the type. But I'm glad to hear not everyone has a stick up their ass in this day and age. I mean it's only the end of the world." He chuckled.
Eating a couple bites while his laughter died down. Then he cut a hearty piece and tore it apart with his teeth.
"Sir, if I may say, that's not the sort of talk one would expect from a battle hardened individual of your age." I noted while forking a few fries.
He swallowed. "Ah! I've seen too much to just be an old grouch in what may be my final years." He leaned over and whispered with a snarky grin. "Especially since I already was a pain in my soldiers asses for my entire career."
I coughed a bit, trying not to choke from laughing.
We finished eating afterwards with an air of glad tidings in the room. We moved over to his couch and lounge chair, finishing the beers, then he offered me a snort of whiskey from an old jug, I respectfully declined. I don't do much more than a beer or two on any given day.
He offered a cigar as well, "Real Cuban."
"Don't smoke sir." I declined.
"Well son, how'd you get to be so high in the ranks without taking some risks?" He questioned.
I told him about what few campaigns he is privy to, the dangers of three lost me comrades, and how I'd taken a few shots to make sure I never lost any more. My leadership skills impressed and soon I was given rank and sooner than some expected, I was 5th in line to take charge of my last post. When the goo landed and Asia was being taken, our base was emptied and we were moved to the U.S. west coast. Two of our command structure were reassigned to other groups that needed their expertise, and that left me, and the bases original commander. Just as I finished my little tale, an alarm started to wind up outside.
The general's communicator sounds off and he answered it. For security purposes, it is not a typical desk holo or speaker that is loud enough for all to hear. "What's goin…," he paused. "Alright tests are over, get that component connected and fire up the engines now! I'm on my way, and have the Harbinger refueled!" He deactivated it. "The goo somehow accelerated, it will be here in 3 hours or less."
"Well, so much for relaxing." I said as I stood. "Sir, will you have the MPs release my pilot? Apparently we need to get our bird ready to fly." I stated.
"She'll be out there." He said as I left his office.
I made my way to the front of the building, grabbing a soldier and the copilot, we jumped into a Jeep and beelined for our transport. I told the driver to go and wait for my female pilot, and to bring her here asap, he nodded and drove off. I began checking gauges and instrument panels for any abnormalities. The copilot started his normal checklist, and was about halfway through when she stepped up into the cockpit.
"So, did anyone else have the steak?" She asked.
"Begin preflight and whatnot 627, we don't have time for small talk. As far as I can tell, instruments are good, I'm going to find the General and see if there's anything else we can do before we takeoff." I said. "Hey." I turned and grabbed my own duel equipment. "Get set for a fight, we may need to help fight this off if they can't get off the ground fast enough." I said.
"Yay, I get to play with my assigned piece of garbage deck." She said rolling her eyes. "Ya'know, my real deck is way more…" she started to explain.
"Just get ready 627! Get serious about something for once in your career!" I growled, then left the aircraft.
She made faces behind my retreating back I'm sure. I headed for the next building over, it was were the equipment was taken when we landed. Getting inside, I found some stairs and headed up to where the control center normally is. I found it, and inside was only three guys furiously going over lines of code and double checking systems for the Baddeck.
"Where's the Gen.." the building rocked suddenly cutting me off. "What was that!?"
"I don't know sir. All other personnel are either making last minute adjustments to the ship or are gathering the last of the supplies from the rest of the base sir. The General may be inside the Baddeck." He said.
I turned and headed back down the stairs and was almost knocked off my feet again as the building lurched sideways by an unknown force. I made my way outside first, trying to see just what was happening. It wasn't pretty, the goo had somehow accelerated again and was already just outside the base. In the distance, I heard the familiar sound of the Harbingers engines starting up. Going back inside, I made my way down the flight of stairs to get my first glimpse of the Baddeck, she was huge, nearly 1/3 bigger than the Gotango. I saw the top hatch and a side bay door open, I made my way to the bay door. Inside, a soldier was checking to make sure some crates were secured.
"Can I help you sir?" He asked.
"Where's the general? I need to make one final check with him before we depart." I stated.
"He's in his office sir. He said he needed to make a phone call before getting onboard." He said.
I thanked him and headed back out.