Extinction Page 2

  2

  Canto

  2458CE

  The three men were enjoying the hike through the Forests of Canto. It was an ‘E’ Class planet, highly populated with several huge cities, deserts and mountain ranges. The largest range was called the Quad that consisted of four mountains ranging in size and called simply, Q1 through to Q4. The forest was at the base of the smallest in the range, Q4.

  The trees were huge deciduous monsters with trunks that reached hundreds of feet into the sky forming a canopy that blotted out most of the daylight. The air was filled with the aroma of flowers that covered the ground in a sparse blanket of colour where the sunlight managed to penetrate. Birdsong could be heard from high up in the foliage and the calls of monkeys and other small animals filled the air as they trekked through the forest.

  They had travelled there on Rest and Recuperation leave from Col Sec after their recent mission with a fellow officer, Matt Hawk, to Toldax to rescue another Marine Kurt Stryder who had become an important asset for Col Sec.

  What they had witnessed on that mission they had been sworn to secrecy over. General Sinclair personally had permitted the extension of their leave from the normal two weeks to a month, something the three men had wondered about with some trepidation.

  “So do you think we’ll get canned then?” asked John Wayne, call sign ‘Cowboy’. At six feet two he was slightly smaller than the largest member of the elite group but was almost as broad. He was in good shape but that was understandable as all three were Recon Delta Marines. His dark blond hair was cut short in a buzz cut as per military regulations. Dark eyes scanned the terrain ahead as the trio walked along the forest floor. There was no one around for miles so they could talk openly about their recent experiences. It was always Cowboy who started it. The moaner of the group, he had a tendency to voice his concerns more than the others, something they had grown used to during their long acquaintance.

  “I have no idea. Why are you worried?” replied Captain Tony Storm, call sign ‘Guardian’ and the leader of their team. At six feet four and with impressively broad shoulders he was by far the largest of the team. His brown hair was also styled in the military fashion of a severe buzz cut and his steel grey eyes glanced across at his companion to gauge his concern.

  “Of course I’m worried. You two saw what Kurt could do. I didn’t, I was too busy flying the shuttle, but if what you say is true then there’s no way that Sinclair will not find out. What’s he gonna do retire? He’ll have to get away from Col Sec because he could never carry on with his duties and keep something like that a secret. And when Sinclair finds out we kept vital information pertaining to an operation from him too, what do you think will happen? I’ll tell you what’ll happen, he’ll fire our asses.”

  “Don’t mince your words Cowboy, tell us what you really feel,” joked William Ives, call sign ‘Hacker’. He was the smallest of the team at six feet one with dark hair and deep blue eyes. Although his speciality was gaining intel and the team’s tech expert, he was also somewhat of an adrenalin junkie. Although he was enjoying the hike for the fresh air and exertion he would have preferred free climbing one of the mountains in this range. Being so close to them and not being able to make even one ascent was torture to him.

  “Don’t tell me you two aren’t worried because I won’t believe you. We’ve been a team for too long for that.”

  “I think you’re reading too much into this Cowboy,” Hacker said hoping to ease his friend’s fears.

  “Oh come on now, you must feel it too. Why else would Sinclair elongate our R&R to a month if not to get things in place for our early retirement?”

  “You’re really spooked about this aren’t you buddy?” observed Hacker.

  “Damn right I’m spooked. Recon Delta is my life man, without this I’ve got nothing.”

  “Why don’t you tell him we’ve got nothing to worry about Guardian?” Hacker said turning towards the big Marine.

  “Yes, why don’t you tell me Guardian? You’ve been quiet on the whole subject. In fact you go out of your way to avoid talking about it, why is that?” Cowboy asked.

  “Look, I’m as much in the dark as you two are. I have no idea what Sinclair will do or say about any of this. All I know is we gave our word to keep Kurt’s secret and that’s what we’ll do,” Guardian said calmly, refusing to join in or add to the paranoia that Cowboy was channelling.

  “You gave your word, I didn’t,” Cowboy muttered.

  “Hey, we’re a team, remember?” Hacker said placing a hand against his friend’s chest to halt him. He stood in front of the larger man staring deep into his eyes. “We stand together or we go down together as a team, right? Haven’t we always had each other’s backs? Kurt is Recon Delta too, he’s one of us man, so we have to have his back as well,” he said.

  Cowboy had to agree with that, it was a basic tenet of ‘Soldier’s Law’ unwritten or otherwise. They looked after each other both on the battlefield and off and for him to turn his back on that after saying that Recon Delta was all he had, would be to deny everything that he was, or believed in as a soldier.

  “OK man, you’re right of course. I was just being an ass,” Cowboy said rather sheepishly.

  “No change there then,” Hacker agreed.

  “Yep, why change a habit of a lifetime right?” joked Cowboy.

  “OK then, now we have that sorted let’s move on. We’d better let Hacker go climb something or he’ll turn as grumpy as you, and if I have to contend with two grumpy bastards then I might just retire anyway,” Guardian said hiding a wry smile.

  Hacker almost cheered with boyish glee at the prospect of making an ascent and he quickened his pace forcing the others to jog just to keep up.

  3

  Col Sec HQ, Area 15

  Guardian was standing to attention in front of General Sinclair’s desk. He stared out above the general’s head as he waited for him to speak.

  They had been recalled to Earth once their R&R had finished and had arrived at the new HQ with some trepidation; finally they would learn what was in store for them.

  General Sinclair was the head of Colonial Security Intelligence Division and Recon Delta. He was still ramrod stiff from his years in Col Sec, which belied his fifty-odd years. His brown hair was receding from a high forehead into a widow’s peak under which deep brown eyes looked up from the terminal on his desktop to look at Storm. His eyes were unfathomable as was his normal stoic expression and it had been said many times that with such control he could have been a powerful poker player. Secrets were his trade and he had kept many, one of which still haunted his dreams from a quarter of a century ago.

  “At ease Captain, you look ready to burst something,” Sinclair said.

  Storm smiled briefly then altered his stance.

  “I must commend you and your team’s actions recently on Research Station Five and the subsequent mission to Toldax to help rescue Captain Kurt Stryder. If it had not been for you and your team it could have ended in disaster,” Sinclair said.

  “Thank you, sir, I’ll pass it on to them but we cannot take all the credit, Captain Stryder had a big part to play,” Storm replied.

  “Can you add anything to your report about Captain Stryder’s actions on the station?”

  “No sir, he acted above and beyond like I stated in my report.”

  “And what about his actions down on the planet Toldax, have you anything to add about those?” Sinclair asked locking his steely gaze on the young captain.

  “I can only reiterate what was in my report, sir,” Storm said beginning to feel like this was turning into an interrogation.

  “I admire your loyalty to your fellow officer Captain, but I know there is more to it than what you stated. For now though I’ll allow it to pass.”

  Storm continued to stare ahead without comment. This was what they had talked about on Canto, they had all given their word to keep Kurt’s secret, now it was time to pay the consequences.

  Sinclair said, “Now on to other matters. I trust you and your team are well rested from your recent R&R?”

  “We are sir and on behalf of my team I would just like to say we are sorry we could not help during the attack on the old HQ.”

  “Think nothing of it Captain; it was not your fault. I must say though, we could have used good men like you and those in your team on that day.”

  “Thank you sir,” Storm said.

  “Now down to business, because of your recent actions I am giving you new duties. In fact I am changing your status within Col Sec. You and your team will be designated Red Team from now on and your duties will be to act as independent agents for Col Sec.”

  “I’m honoured to continue the fine tradition, sir.”

  “The first order of business will be to find another recruit for your team. I want a team that is four strong, that way it will be better balanced. There are some excellent prospects training right now on Tarsus Prime. I suggest you and the rest of your team get over there right away. You have complete autonomy where authority resides; the only person you answer to is me, is that clear?”

  “Perfectly clear, sir,” Storm said then stood to attention once more. “If that’s all, sir.”

  “Yes Captain, good luck and keep me informed on your choice. Once your team is up to full strength I’ll forward you your new orders.”

  At that Storm turned on his heel and left the office. He had arrived prepared to face some form of investigation and came away with a promotion.

  Things were looking up.

  4

  OMEGA HQ

  RH426

  OMEGA HQ was in a secret location known only to people who had business there. It was a sprawling complex built in a warren of caves on a desolate world known only as RH
426. The ‘RH’ designated Roger Humphries, the astronomer who discovered the planet during the early years of the colonisation programme. It was a barren world, basically a rock in space that had no indigenous life but it did yield an inordinate amount of rare earth elements used in early propulsion systems on starships.

  Once it had been strip-mined of all its assets it was abandoned deemed of no further use.

  Wilde knew of the planet during his time in Col Sec, although it was no secret. However, once he was in control of OMEGA he began siphoning off funds from MaxCorp to build a base there. There was an extensive series of tunnels away from the deep cast mineshafts that had been used once strip mining had yielded everything possible from that depth, which he utilised to build his base. It was also the centre for his cloning operations.

  After the debacle that had recently happened with the attack on Col Sec HQ at Area 15 and the failed attempt on the Defence Council, he decided there was only one option left to him.

  Standing in front of him was a Rover5 clone, one of the warrior classes. Lately, he had designated names to some of his team leaders and this one would be no different. This one had but one purpose. He would lead a team to Tarsus II and complete something that he had dreamed of since he had the idea to destroy Col Sec. To this end he had picked a name that suited the mission. This time, this leader would succeed where others before him had failed.

  “You know what you have to do Nikolas?” Wilde said, his anger at the recent news of another failure still seething beneath the surface.

  “I do,” was all the answer that particular question required.

  “Then go, and success go with you,” Wilde said melodramatically.

  As he watched the clone leave his office he sat back in his chair and began to relax. Soon all would be done and he would have won. Col Sec would be destroyed once and for all.

  What his psychotic mind failed to realise was that the plan he had instigated, if successful, would cause the extinction of the human race and his life would also be forfeited.

  Before he had the chance to ponder that thought his daughter stormed into his office.

  5

  Col Sec military base, Tarsus Prime

  11.05am

  Two days after Tanya Wilde had stormed into her father’s office, Guardian, William Ives, Hacker and Cowboy were on the planet Tarsus, an ‘E’ Class planet that had been colonised almost a century before. It had over twelve million people living in the two main cities and several smaller communities dotted around on the outskirts. The climate was stable and the colonists thought it was paradise.

  They were too far from Earth and already on a mission when OMEGA’s attack on Col Sec HQ in Area 15 took place and therefore were unable to render any assistance. Their only option was to continue with their mission.

  They had been watching the Marines training for the past few days and one of them caught their interest.

  The person they had singled out was training in close quarter combat with another Marine. They had watched this particular Marine’s progress with avid interest over the last few days.

  The indoor gym was massive and was where all the exercise routines were practised. In the centre of the floor was a mat for the close quarter combat training. Marine against Marine they would test their skills against each other and today two such Marines were about to engage in this very same ritual combat.

  The two Marines in question were Private Jo Pope against Private Mike Gains. The two of them began circling each other looking for a weakness in the other’s defences. Gains made the first move by grabbing hold of Pope’s left wrist and pulling it to drag his opponent off balance to enable a throw. Pope countered by reversing the grab and twisted beneath the arm initiating a throw. Gains went with it rather than have his shoulder dislocated. He rolled forwards and came up on his haunches to look at his opponent with a smile of respect. They began to circle one another once more and Gains, ever the aggressor, went once more to grab a wrist. Pope twisted, slipping the grab, then initiated another counter-attack, knocking the hand wide before striking Gains’ chest with a series of rapid punches ending with a punch to the face which rocked him back on his heels. Pope then grabbed Gains by the shoulders and twisting at the hip tossed him over to land on his back. The impact of the fall coming so quickly after the blows to chest and face winded him so that when he looked up at Pope he knew he was in trouble. Pope still had a hand on Gains’ wrist and within a few seconds had the arm extended and pulled against the joint. Pain streaked up his arm into his shoulder paralysing him. There was nothing he could do, Pope’s legs were wrapped around his neck holding him in a grip of iron, his arm was extended and the slightest move exaggerated his pain; it was over and he had lost. Pope could end his career if he resisted so he tapped out before the worst happened.

  Standing on the balcony overlooking the mat area the three members of Red Team were impressed.

  “Let’s go, I’ve seen enough,” Storm said and he led them down onto the mat.

  The two Marines were waiting for them when they arrived, standing to attention at the edge of the mat.

  Storm went to Gains first.

  “Well done Private, you put up one hell of a fight,” he said then went over to the Marine standing next to the loser of the contest.

  “Private Josephine Pope, call sign Hellcat. I can see why they call you that, you don’t take prisoners do you?” he said.

  “Could never see any reason to sir,” she replied, her sparkling brown eyes looking straight ahead at the tall officer’s chest. She was around five feet eight tall with a lean athletic figure and light brown hair that was cropped short. Her olive skin tones were the heritage of her Mediterranean forebears. She was attractive yet went out of her way not to appear so.

  “And why would that be Private?” he asked.

  “My father once told me never to start a fight but if I ever had to, make sure I ended it. It’s a philosophy I live by, sir.”

  “A good one too. Now grab your gear, you’re coming with us,” Storm said then turned and walked off.

  6

  Tarsus II

  11.10am

  The large, well-muscled man named Nikolas sat next to the pilot of the shuttle. His opaline green eyes scanned the sensor readouts for what he wanted.

  “There,” he said, indicating an area on the moon’s surface. “Put her down there,” he ordered calmly. His lips parted with a half smile, he had found what he had been sent for. Now came the hard part; obtaining what he had been sent for would be far more dangerous than anything he had ever done before in his short life. That was not important though, what was important was that he succeeded in his mission, anything else was not an option.

  On the forward view screen an image was relayed from the sensors, an image of a huge facility that sprawled across the lunar surface of Tarsus II. Around it were placed beacons that issued a warning signal to anyone travelling close to avoid the area due to a virulent infection. Inside these beacons was a security shield, in effect a defence perimeter that protected the abandoned facility from intruders.

  Long ago it had been decided, once the report from the then Captain Sinclair had been read and discussed, that the danger was too great for anyone at that time to go anywhere near it. The risk of being infected by what was deemed the HADES code was just too great so they quarantined it until something could be done, except that nothing had been done and the danger remained.

  Nikolas watched as they approached the facility and he readied himself for what he had to do.

  * * * * *

  As the shuttle approached the facility on Tarsus II an alarm went off in the command centre of the military base on Tarsus Prime. The same alarm was sent to Col Sec HQ, directly to General Sinclair. When he received the call through his NI it was something he had both expected and dreaded for a quarter of a century. Someone was about to breach the quarantine on the facility and put everyone in danger.

  His nightmare was about to come true.

  7

  Col Sec military base, Tarsus Prime

  11.30am

  “Where to now, sir?” asked Cowboy.

  Cowboy, along with Hacker, were two of the best Marines Storm had ever served with. Now they had Pope, Storm hoped this new team would go on to great things together.