The aeternum chronicles.., p.88
The Aeternum Chronicles- The Complete Trilogy, page 88
part #1 of The Aeternum Chronicles Series
Anzien frowned. What is her aim in telling me all this?
“Once I knew the truth, I found some measure of peace. My husband’s death was penance for his own failures, not mine.” She turned the small metal figure over in her hands. “Do you know why I still carry this symbol?” she asked, holding it up.
Anzien shook her head.
“I keep it as a reminder to never let my fear, or the fear of others, keep me from doing what I have to. The council was afraid of the ruins out of superstition. They worried that someone might discover some relic of the past that would bring about another Ruining. It was their cowardice, their unwillingness to learn from the past that cost my daughter her life. I won’t make the same mistake.”
The general’s past certainly explained some of her motives, but it still didn’t justify taking dangerous risks with the future of humanity in the balance. Some things are better left in the past.
“Is that why you kept the stasis tubes from the Southern Shield facilities?” Anzien asked. “The ones you promised to destroy?”
Graves’ head snapped toward her, but she said nothing.
“You lied to me,” Anzien said accusingly.
The general looked away again off toward the gulf, seemingly unfazed. “She would have been about your age, by now. You remind me of her quite a bit. Red hair, stubborn as a mule, no respect for authority…”
Graves turned toward Anzien, her eyes cold and calculating. “Your similarities are the only reason I haven’t locked you away for leaking top-secret intel without authorization.”
“I don’t know what you’re—”
“New Arcadia is a super-weapon—one powerful enough to end all life on this planet.” Graves quoted. “Isn’t that what you told your old squadmate?”
Boil it. How did she find out about that? Her spies must be everywhere…What else does she know?
“The men and women fighting have a right to know,” Anzien argued. “This is their planet as much as ours. New Arcadia is a threat—”
“New Arcadia is a military asset. One with the potential to deter any and all future attacks on our people.”
“We don’t know anything about it, other than, you know, the fact that it has the potential to destroy the entire planet.”
“We know that there are enemies in worlds bordering our own with this very same tech. Enemies who want to destroy us. Would you rather they were the only ones to wield it?”
“Of course not! I’d rather no one had it.”
“A pretty thought, and a shining example of the naiveté of youth.”
Anzien balled her fists. “There are other ways to fight…”
“Let’s be frank, shall we?” Graves said, leveling a cold glare at her. “Humanity stands at the edge of a cliff. If we fail, it goes over, and everything we stand for, everything we’ve accomplished, all that we hope to achieve, will die. How did we get here, one might ask? We were beaten, plain and simple. We faced an enemy far stronger than we were, and were woefully unprepared. If, Maker willing, we survive the bloodbath that’s to come, I am going to make damn sure that never happens again. Once we’ve regained our strength, our armies will scour every last world, eradicating any and all threats to our survival.”
Anzien concentrated on masking the stomach-churning worry the general’s tirade had induced. Armies marching across worlds, exterminating perceived threats? The thought was terrifying enough on its own, but with the power of the weapon they were trying to stop…
Anzien abandoned all hope of convincing the general, and instead feigned submission. She looked down at the ground, watching her boots as they stepped in time.
“You’re right,” she eventually said. “There’s too much at stake; too much to lose. We need to protect our species, at any cost.”
Graves looked at her for a long moment, and Anzien was sure the general saw through her deception. After an agonizingly long pause, Graves nodded, and again faced forward.
“We have a responsibility, Commander Tsierig,” she said. “Not just to win this war, but to preserve our way of life in what follows.”
Anzien nodded. “I thought that if we could destroy our enemies, and everything they built…we would be safe. I hadn’t considered that more would come from…elsewhere.”
“You will learn to see the bigger picture in time,” said Graves. “We must always keep one step ahead of our enemies.”
They walked in silence for a time, until Graves once again spoke. “I’ll need strong leadership at my side, when the time comes. Can I count on you to stand with me, Commander Tsierig?”
Anzien met the general’s eyes.
She still needs me, Anzien thought. Otherwise she’d have had me arrested by now.
“I am yours to command,” she answered.
“Good,” Graves said curtly. “Follow your orders, and you’ll be given further opportunities to prove your loyalty.”
Graves turned abruptly and walked toward one of her battalion commanders—a stocky man with a scar across his chin. They began speaking in hushed tones.
Anzien unconsciously touched her cheek, where she wore a scar of her own. My orders, she thought. She was to remain outside New Arcadia, protecting civilians. It was an order with the clear intention of keeping her away from the ‘military asset.’
She spent the next few hours in silence, trying to work out how she could get inside without abandoning those fleeing the colony.
She was no closer to a solution when New Arcadia’s steel walls came into view. The massive segments towered high into the twilight sky. The wall stretched out in the distance, its curve barely perceptible.
No more waiting, she thought.
The army took up position in a curved formation one mile from the wall.
Anzien had also moved into position, flanked by the two battalion commanders in charge of the troops assigned to defend the fleeing civilians.
Every muscle in her body was taut like a compressed spring as the army waited in anticipation for the orders to charge.
Several minutes passed, then several more. Anzien looked around anxiously.
The only sounds were the wind, the rustling of armor, and the clink of weapons as soldiers shifted nervously.
Anzien’s head whipped around at the sound of a muffled explosion in the distance.
That came from inside...
Another muffled boom followed soon after, followed by several more. Thin columns of smoke were rising into the sky above the walls.
Is this part of the plan?
Two blasts, one long, and one short came from the lead trumpeter. It was echoed by the others across the stretch of rock and sand the army occupied.
The two battalion commanders shared a look.
What the hell is going on?
They both turned to her expectantly. She nodded, and as the last of twilight faded, the command was shouted and repeated across the two battalions.
“Stand down.”
21
Stray Cats
Ryland’s chin slipped off his hand and he startled awake. It wasn’t that they had been waiting in the small briefing room for long, he was just so exhausted from the sleepless night. It didn’t help that he’d spent the entire day fighting the urge to nap. It wasn’t his nerves that had kept him up—though he wished it had been. Each time he closed his eyes, he’d been thrust into more dreams…visions…whatever they were, where he was Gabrial Penumbra. Each was disconcertingly vivid, and deeply unsettling.
He’d seen battles, terrifying creatures, and desert assassins turning on each other. The last vision had been the most chilling. New Arcadia was in complete chaos. Fires raged, looters smashed windows and ran off with whatever they could carry. The protectorate had been completely overrun. Tens of thousands surrounded the Pillars of Ascension, shouting for the head of Gabrial Penumbra. It was all out rebellion, right there in the open for everyone to see. But Gabrial wasn’t afraid…on the contrary, he was amused. He stepped out among the people, unconcerned.
When it came down to it, none were willing to get too close. They cleared a circle around him, waiting in tense silence for the bravest among them to strike.
It hit the ones closest first. They simply dropped their makeshift weapons, eyes despondent, and turned to leave. Soon the entire crowd had done the same, milling away like mindless cattle, all fight completely gone from them.
Could a prison cell really hold someone who can do that? Ryland worried. He ran his tongue along his lip, feeling the ragged surface which he’d inadvertently chewed throughout the night.
“Ryland…”
How can we be sure he’s not influencing every last person in this facility?
Someone cleared their throat. “Ryland?”
He opened his eyes and found Hatch looking at him from the front of the briefing room, eyebrows raised over his round spectacles.
Ryland sat up, looking around with more than a little embarrassment coloring his cheeks. Tess wore a hint of a smile, but she was the only one. Seamus appeared neutral, with the muscles beneath his red beard clenched, and his eyes staring straight ahead. Lucian had removed his spectacles, and was glaring openly at Ryland.
Someone new leaned against the wall beside the exit.
The first thing Ryland noticed about him was a deep scar, curving from his left ear to the corner of his mouth. He somehow managed to appear both fully relaxed, and taut as a piano wire at the same time. The hilts of two crossed swords were visible over his shoulders. He met Ryland’s glance with an unreadable expression.
When did he get here?
“Sorry,” Ryland said, sitting up in his chair. “Long night.” He shifted uncomfortably in the light-weight body armor he’d been told to wear.
Everyone but Hatch and Lucian wore the armor too, strapped over black cargo pants, and long-sleeved pull-overs with hoods that doubled as a high collars.
The dangerous looking fellow standing beside the exit had different armor from the rest of them. Glowing blue lights ran along his forearm, and more were on the outsides of his thighs.
Hatch noticed Ryland looking, and introduced him. “This is Tao Fen. He manages security for the team.”
Ryland nodded toward Tao, who briefly glanced at him with measuring eyes, then looked away.
Friendly guy, that one.
“So!” Ryland said, clapping and rubbing his hands together. “What’s the plan, boss?”
Someone seated behind him scoffed, and Ryland turned to find Lucian rolling his eyes.
What?
Hatch rolled his wheelchair back to the front of the room.
“Some of you know bits and pieces surrounding tonight’s operation. I am here to fill in the blanks for you. This may mean you will have to endure hearing information you’re already aware of,” Hatch said, looking directly at Lucian. “I ask that you bear with me until the end.”
“According to our numbers, eighty-seven percent of citizens in the suburban sectors have been exposed to our bio-hazard propaganda. Congratulations. Because of your hard work, we have exceeded targets in this regard.”
Tess and Seamus smiled at each other, and even Lucian gave a nod.
“That, I’m afraid, is the extent of the good news.”
The room grew somber.
“Of the eighty-seven percent, two-thirds are unconcerned.”
Seamus whispered something to Tess.
“The final third believe the threat to be real, but that the Ministry will protect them—which is exactly what we want.”
“Tonight marks the launch of operation outbreak. Strike teams will be tasked with erecting decontamination tents at various places throughout—”
“What about the core?” Tess asked.
Hatch frowned.
“What was the success rate?”
“We must focus our efforts on the suburban sectors,” Hatch said.
“Might be good for us to know, given it was part of our assignment,” Seamus said, backing Tess up.
Hatch sighed, removed his glasses and rubbed his nose. “Sixty-eight percent exposure.”
Seamus nodded “Well that’s not so bad—”
“Two percent uptake.”
“Oh,” Seamus said, frowning.
“We knew loyalty would be higher in the core, and that it would be harder to get a convincing message out,” said Hatch.
“Aye. They tore our posters down before the glue dried.”
“Even still,” Hatch said, “we won’t give up on them. Ryland’s words will reach their ears same as everyone else’s.”
Ryland perked up at his name. He still had very little idea of what exactly his role in this operation would entail.
“As I was saying, strike teams in containment suits will erect decontamination tents at strategic locations. These tents will serve as bases for local operations, and make the bio-threat appear more credible. From there, the teams will escort civilians to the designated evacuation zones, where they will be transported out of the colony. Some evac zones will invariably come under attack, but the majority of Ministry forces should be absorbed with fighting the army attacking the walls.” Hatch paused for a moment, lost in thought.
“Once we give the signal, the attack will commence. This signal also marks the launch of operation songbird.”
Ryland raised his hand.
Hatch’s eyebrows lifted in mild exasperation. “Yes Ryland?”
“What’s the signal?”
“You’ll know it when you see it,” he answered.
“Right…Okay.”
“A recommissioned protectorate transport will deliver you to the nest.”
The nest? Ryland thought. Oh right, songbird, nest. Very clever.
“Our research has indicated, and intelligence confirmed, the existence of a decommissioned communication facility, built sometime around 1100 V.A., after the bloodline uprising. The facility was tuned to a network of repeaters throughout New Arcadia, discretely built into statues, light posts, official buildings…we even found them directly inside older residential homes.”
“It was built to spread propaganda,” Tess added. “To embed the idea of the Ministry’s benevolence.”
“Precisely,” said Hatch.
“So, why did they stop?” asked Ryland.
“We aren’t exactly sure, though some speculate it was because they no longer needed to continue.”
Seamus nodded. “You’d be hard pressed to find anyone on the surface willin’ to speak poorly of the Ministry.”
“Or,” Hatch pontificated, “perhaps there were unintended side-effects. We’ve found that whenever the Ministry commits overtly controlling acts—secretly abducting citizens, for example—our numbers grow with those who can no longer believe the lie. People with a false sense of freedom are far less likely to rebel than those faced with the ugly truth.”
Hatch adjusted his glasses. “This is a covert operation, therefore you should encounter minimal resistance. Ryland, Tess, Seamus, and Tao, you will deploy into the field. Lucian will remain here with me, assisting with coordination. Once you reach the nest, Tao will secure the perimeter.”
Tao nodded.
“Seamus, your job is to get the team inside, using whatever means necessary.”
“I’m your man, Delator.”
“Tess, once inside, it will be your job to get the comms equipment up and running.”
“Piece of cake.”
“Ryland,” he said, rolling closer. “Once the radio is up and running, I want you to read this.”
Hatch handed him an envelope with a red wax seal. “Do not open it until the time comes.”
Ryland took the envelope, his brow furrowing.
“Wouldn’t want it to seem rehearsed,” said Hatch, the corner of his mouth turning up in a mysterious smile.
“One last thing,” Hatch said, addressing the group. “Take these.” He handed each of them an ear piece connected to a wire with a small rectangular card at the other end. There was a small display on the card that read ‘6’, with an up and down button above and below. In the bottom left corner was an unlabeled clear button.
“If it’s not already, set your comms to channel six.”
Ryland fumbled with the ear-piece as the others expertly equipped theirs.
He tried pressing the black card into his chest armor as they had done, but it wouldn’t stay put.
“Here.” Tess walked over. “Like this.” She took the card from him, and depressed a button on the side. “It’s magnetic,” she said, as it clicked into place over his chest. “Channel switches are here,” she pointed to the up and down arrows. “And this button mutes.” She pushed the clear button and it turned red. “Got it?”
“Yeah…thanks,” he said. “Guess I’m still getting the hang of this.”
“You’ll catch on…or you won’t and we’ll all die,” she said with a cheerful smile.
Ryland’s mouth opened, but no words came out.
“That’s it,” Hatch said, addressing the group. “Any questions?”
“Seems straightforward,” said Tess.
“None from me,” Seamus answered.
Ryland turned the envelope over in his hands. No wonder Hatch had been so confident in him. All he had to do was go along for the ride and read a piece of paper. Seemed easy enough. He was relieved, but part of him regretted not being able to do more. Still, if this was a significant way he could contribute to saving lives, then he was glad to do it.
“No,” Ryland said. “No questions.”
“Good. Tao will take you to staging. Watch for the signal, and be ready…Good luck.”
Moments later, Hatch and Lucian were on their way deeper into the facility, while Tao led Ryland, Tess, and Seamus down a long stretch of hall lit with sterile fluorescent lights. After myriad twists and turns they arrived at an open service elevator, which carried them up through the subterranean layers of New Arcadia.
