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  War Dogs

  A Wildfire Team Novella

  War Dogs

  A Wildfire Team thriller

  By

  Jan Domagala.

  War Dogs

  This is a work of fiction, any similarity to anyone living or dead or companies or institutes is purely coincidental.

  Copyright Jan Domagala 2016.

  Copyright 2016.

  Also by Jan Domagala

  Col Sec

  Retribution

  Extinction

  Resurrection

  War Dogs

  Discovery

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Also By Jan Domagala

  Acknowledgements

  Other books by

  Part One | War Dogs

  Part Two | Sector for the Independent Worlds

  Acknowledgements

  I would like to thank everyone who has helped me along the way: my family obviously, without their support I wouldn’t be able to do this. I would also like to thank Vivian Head for her invaluable guidance with proofreading and editing. Cover artwork was provided by Cover Design by James, GoOnWrite.com.

  Other books by

  Jan Domagala

  in

  The Col Sec Series

  Ronin

  OMEGA

  Discovery

  Retribution

  Extinction

  Resurrection

  The BlackStar Gambit

  Prologue

  I

  Research Station Nine, Genotia.

  Doctor Robert Garrison was running down the corridor as if the Hounds from Hell were on his heels. His deep blue eyes darted this way and that as he scanned the area around him for danger.

  He had never been so scared in his life. His only thought was to get to the Command and Control centre of the station.

  He had run full tilt from the lab, not stopping for anything. The station was run with only a skeleton crew on board which meant he had not seen anyone since leaving the lab. Only a small small security detachment were present, all Genotian Home Guard elite, but he doubted they would be sufficient.

  His arms and legs ached from the exertion of running. His lungs burned and each intake of breath seemed to drag a lump of fiery agony across his thin chest. Spent, he finally slumped against a wall to prevent himself from falling to the ground.

  What had they done?

  He never expected this to happen. He had wanted to change things for the better, to rectify a mistake he’d made that had been haunting his dreams. He should never have agreed to this, but what choice had they given him?

  He had to inform General Matthias before it was too late.

  He heard the sound of running feet behind him, pounding the deck plating as they approached at speed.

  He turned to look over his shoulder and his blood ran cold when he saw that it was too late. He would never reach the C and C in time and it also meant the security detachment had failed and they were all dead.

  Rooted to the spot by fear he heard a menacing animalistic growl that chilled his blood further.

  He looked up at the root of his fear and his bowels vented. His fear overwhelmed his shame and he closed his eyes not wanting to see what would happen next.

  His last thought was that he was responsible for this and he was sorry for what mankind would now have to face. Just before his head went rolling across the floor, his eyes wide open from the shock, staring but not seeing the cause of his death bellow its rage at the universe.

  Part One

  War Dogs

  1

  I

  Col Sec HQ, Nellis Base, Earth.

  General Sinclair was just about to consider lunch when the call came through on his Neural Interface, the implant that linked his brain to a variety of devices and systems.

  “Jonas, what can I do for you?” he said when he recognised the caller’s ID.

  Doctor Jonas Baxter was the brain behind the serum that had been used to help create the Wildfire Initiative.

  “General it seems that there may be a problem up on Research Station Nine,” Baxter said haltingly.

  Sensing the hesitation in the caller, Sinclair probed for answers. “What sort of problem?” he asked his brow furrowing in concern.

  Baxter was not the kind to flap easily, he sensed that this could be severe and that the good doctor did not want to raise too many flags so soon.

  “I’m not quite sure, sir, it might be just a glitch with their comms but...”

  Sinclair waited for him to finish his thought. He said, “Go secure,” an instruction that encoded the conversation for both parties. Now they could talk freely and not be worried about eavesdroppers.

  “What do you think has happened Jonas?” Sinclair asked getting straight to the point.

  “I’m not sure, sir. Doctor Garrison was running something up there and I’ve tried to get hold of him but the comms are down. I know this is not our jurisdiction, General, but...” Again he paused.

  “But what man, spit it out,” Sinclair barked at him.

  “Well, you know Genotia went through that conflict a while back with the Separatists and was heading for a full blown civil war, Robert got in touch with me.”

  Sensing trouble Sinclair said, “What did you do Jonas?”

  “Robert and I go way back, we went to college together, studied under the same tutors. We were doing the same work for Col Sec for a time until he returned home to Genotia...”

  “What did you do Jonas, I won’t ask again?” Sinclair cut across him.

  “Robert called me and told me what was happening on his planet. Genotia was, and still is, an Independent World so technically there was nothing I could do. He had this idea of enhancing the Marines in the Home Guard so they could be better soldiers; he knew we were working on something similar so I said I’d see what I could do. I gave him a sample of the serum we were working on, a batch that had failed, I thought he might have more success than we had. I told him why we had failed with that particular batch but he didn’t seem bothered. He actually said it might be exactly what he was looking for. He must’ve had some success after all because within a month the conflict was over. The War Dogs had routed the Separatists and things began to settle down again.”

  “Which batch did you give him and why had it failed? We’ll go over the severe breach of professional protocol once this is sorted out,” Sinclair said.

  “Batch Seven A. We failed it because it enhanced aggression to an uncontrollable level. The subjects became too aggressive and attacked any given or even perceived threat. At the time we couldn’t find a way to control that aspect of it so we shelved it and took a different path, the one that led us to what Kurt is today.”

  “And you think Doctor Garrison had success with the serum?”

  “He must have, how else do you explain the ending of the conflict so quickly?”

  “I agree. The part I don’t understand is, how did they rein them in once the battle was over?”

  “All Robert told me once it was over was that he was grateful for my help, that the results were more than he could’ve hoped for but there was a downside. When I asked him what he meant he just said that it was taken care of and not to worry.”

  “And when was this?”

  “Shortly after the conflict ended.”

  “When was the last time you two spoke?”

  “A couple weeks ago. He told me he was working on something, I tried to contact him on the station to see how he was progressing yesterday but got no reply. I tried again just now and the comms are still down; it’s been almost twelve hours, sir.”

  “And you think this lack of communication is linked somehow to you giving him that failed b
atch of serum?”

  “I don’t know, sir, but if he was trying to eradicate this downside he mentioned and something went wrong I would never forgive myself for not trying to help. Sir, I am worried about Robert.”

  “Research Station Nine, strictly speaking, is still our property on loan to Genotia, but if I proceed through the proper channels I could be stalled until it’s too late to help. If I don’t act now we could be facing a Wildfire Event. I’ll see what I can do. I’ll send Jake and the Wildfire Team to check it out.”

  “Isn’t that a bit like overkill?”

  “Not if your worst fears are true.

  Baxter was silent for a while then said, “I hope not.”

  “I will keep you informed of their findings,” Sinclair said then severed the connection.

  He sat at his desk and thought about what he had just been told. It had potential disaster written all over it.

  He accessed a secure comm channel via his NI and made the call.

  II

  Garvey Residence

  Jake Riley was sitting on the ground looking out over the lake near the Garvey residence. It was somewhere he liked to go when he was on shore leave to clear his mind and relax.

  As the leader of the Wildfire Team he had responsibilities far heavier than a normal Captain in the military. His was the burden of command of the most elite group of soldiers in the galaxy, the spear point of Col Sec’s new initiative against terror in all its forms, so when the opportunity arose to relax he liked to come here to visit Natasha Garvey when she was at home. Recently, due to her involvement in an incursion onto the planet Tartaran, her status in the Diplomatic Corp had been suspended so she was spending a lot of time at home.

  “I thought you’d be here,” a voice said from behind him.

  Jake looked over his shoulder as Natasha came to sit by his side on the grassy bank. He had heard her approach from quite a way off thanks to his enhanced hearing.

  “Old habits and all that,” he said.

  “You’ve always liked this spot, why is that?” she asked.

  When he looked at her his green eyes showed surprise. “You really don’t remember do you?”

  And then it dawned on her. Her eyes went wide with the remembrance of that event and a slight colour came to her cheeks in embarrassment.

  “This is where you proposed to me,” she said unable to meet those striking green eyes of his.

  “It seems that our relationship still is more important to me than you. I would never forget something like that,” he admonished as he looked away. As much as she couldn’t look him in the eye neither could he look at her.

  “What can I say Jake?”

  “Nothing, forget it.”

  He got to his feet and a familiar tingle took root in his brain informing him of a call being routed through from his NI.

  “Captain Riley, I’m afraid I must cut your shore leave a little short, we have something of an incident I need you and the team to look into. Please assemble the team asap and report to the Pulsar where the mission data will have been uploaded to your ship’s AI,” Sinclair said, his voice coming through as clear as if he was standing next to him.

  “Copy that, sir,” he replied, then as Natasha got to her feet he said, “I’m sorry this will have to wait. I have to go.”

  He walked off leaving the woman he loved staring at his back. If he had looked back he would have seen a solitary tear roll down her cheek as she watched him leave.

  2

  I

  Earth

  Lieutenant Mack Cooper lay on the beach relaxing in the midday sun.

  When he was on leave he liked nothing more than finding a secluded beach and just lying there soaking up the sun. Right now this was sheer bliss.

  He had found a stretch of white sandy beach at Kauna’oa Bay on Hawaii. The coastline curved around with palm trees acting as a border making it as secluded as anywhere on this popular island.

  Being a member of the Wildfire Team precluded him from ever switching off from the network. His NI was always connected in case a situation arose where he was called back to work. At the moment though he was enjoying what time he had off.

  Shore leave was sparse in the Wildfire Team so they all grabbed it when they could. He knew Jake would be at Natasha’s place that she shared with her father, Admiral Garvey. He was glad her and Jake were finally beginning to work things through. He also knew where Joe would be, on Canto climbing some mountain or doing some other outdoor pursuit. Joe liked to test himself against nature and since they had received the serum that had enhanced all their abilities Joe’s pursuits had taken on a slightly more extreme edge.

  He wasn’t worried though he knew Joe could look after himself.

  Deciding to get a drink, he got to his feet and strolled along the beach to the bar at the far end. It was your typical beach bar with a wicker roof held up by bamboo poles under which were placed several tables around the circular bar in the centre.

  Bob, the barman, was behind the dark wood counter making cocktails for the few customers present.

  “Hi Mack, your usual?” Bob asked when he saw Mack enter the bar.

  “Thanks man,” Mack replied and took a stool at the bar while Bob reached for a cold beer from the fridge.

  Mack took the bottle and took a swig savouring the cold amber fluid as it slipped down his throat.

  “Man, did I need that,” Mack said as he placed the bottle on the counter.

  “What’s new my man?” Bob asked, but before Mack could reply a disturbance at the far end of the room made them both stop and look.

  A pretty young woman was sitting alone enjoying a cocktail when a group of three burly beach types walked over and started to crowd her.

  Mack saw the group circle her and he could sense her fear even from across the room.

  “C’mon little lady, let me buy you a drink,” one of the three guys said.

  “No thanks, I’m good,” she replied calmly.

  “Oh don’t be like that. Have a drink with us and let’s have some fun.”

  “Look, I don’t want a drink with you, now go away and leave me alone,” the young woman said with more force this time.

  “Why don’t you guys do as the young lady says and leave her alone?” Mack said from his bar stool.

  The three men turned to look at him, “Why don’t you keep your nose out of something that doesn’t concern you?” the spokesman said.

  Mack looked at them assessing their build and their abilities. The guy who spoke had a tribal tattoo covering his right shoulder and snaking down his arm, he called him ‘Tattoo’. He stood in between his two friends. The one who faced Mack was looking at him from beneath a prominent brow that had thick, dark eyebrows that almost met in the middle and looked like a caterpillar perched above his eyes, this one Mack called ‘Unibrow’. The last one had his back to Mack and looked at him over his left shoulder. He had a very distinctive hair style, he was bald except for one thin strip of black spiked up hair that ran from the middle of his forehead over the top of his head to the back of his neck. Mack called this one ‘Mohican’.

  “Look guys the lady obviously doesn’t appreciate your interest so why not move on to someone who does?” Mack said not intimidated by any of them, he knew he could handle them if it came down to it. He wanted to end this without it turning violent though; he liked this bar and would like to come back some day.

  “I’m gonna say this just the once so you better take notice, fuck off,” Tattoo said his lip curling menacingly.

  “Do you kiss your Mom with that mouth?” Mack said.

  “Are you for real? Listen, just fuck the hell off and leave us to get to know this little titbit a bit more,” Tattoo snarled.

  “Sorry guys, can’t do that,” Mack said calmly.

  Bob said, “Are you sure you want to mess with these guys?”

  Mack looked at the bar man and said, “Do you want me to stand by and watch them treat that young lady like they are? I
f it was your sister or girlfriend would you let this go or would you stand up?”

  Bob looked away, he couldn’t keep Mack’s gaze knowing the answer and feeling ashamed.

  Mack let it go and turned to face the three toughs again. “This needn’t go any further than this, guys. Just leave the lady alone and leave and nothing more will be said or done,” Mack told them.

  Tattoo stood up straight, pushing his shoulders back to show off his impressive physique and his full height of six feet four.

  “If anyone leaves here I think it’ll be you,” he said.

  Mack sighed; he could see this wasn’t going to go away as he wanted. These guys were going to need some further persuasion.

  He got to his feet allowing them to see him fully. He was six feet three with a broad chest and thickly muscled arms and legs. What they didn’t know was that he had enhanced abilities including strength, speed and agility; he was more than a match for them.

  “I didn’t want it to come to this guys but I must insist you leave now. This can go two ways, the easy way, where you go and leave this lady alone and nothing else needs to happen...” Mack said pausing.

  Tattoo stared at him before asking, “What’s the hard way?”

  “I make you leave,” Mack told him.

  Tattoo looked at his two friends and a broad smile crossed his features. They all began to laugh at the audacity of this man.

  “Okay, I’m gonna have to choose the hard way,” Tattoo said standing with his hands on his hips.

  “Bad choice,” Mack said.

  The three men stood and faced the challenge. They squared their shoulders and looked straight at Mack thinking they would intimidate him by their sheer size or number. When they saw the confident look in their opponent’s eyes they thought he was mad.

  “What you gonna do tough guy?” Tattoo goaded as he beckoned Mack on to them.

  Mack calmly walked towards the trio keeping his attention on them. When he almost reached striking distance he looked at the young woman. Her eyes were wide with fear and she was squirming in her seat.