The Vampires of Antyllus Page 4

  Dr. Magobie was from Nigeria, but spoke with a very pronounced English accent. When Dave entered his rather spacious office, the doctor was seated behind his desk. He was dressed in highly decorated, brightly-colored robes with a sort of pillbox hat on his head. He was typing furiously into his computer and did not even look up as he greeted Dave. "Please, sit down, Sergeant. I'll be but a moment."

  ○O○

  Dave took a seat in an overstuffed, wingback chair. The furniture and décor of the office was what a decorator would call "Empire," but the details were decidedly African. There were tribal masks, spears, hand-carved effigies of animals and gods. The rug at his feet looked to be a zebra hide, and in fact, it was. Just how the good doctor came into possession of the hide of an animal on the endangered species list was, Dave thought, a very good question.

  At last, Dr. Magobie looked up. He paused a moment, as if taking the measure of the man before him, and then pushed back from his desk. He clasped his hands together with his two index fingers extended and touched them to his lips.

  "Master Sergeant David Mitchel," he spoke slowly in his Oxford English, "you're one of the oldest SUBs here at JILL. You survived the quake and indeed assisted in rescuing several others. You participated in the defense of the base as well, and suffered debilitating wounds that required your return to the JPL for a total replacement of your cybernetic body. Afterwards, you were assigned duties of a classified nature at an undisclosed location before being returned here. Throughout your career, your superiors have had nothing but the highest praise for you." He stopped and just sat there.

  Dave did not know how to respond, or if a response was indeed required, so he just sat still.

  "Sergeant," the doctor continued, "you're just the sort of…man we're looking for."

  "Looking for, sir? For what?"

  "The IIEA has work for you, Sergeant, work that you are uniquely suited for. You are a trained and experienced soldier. You are a supervisor and skilled in the maintenance of all manner of equipment from delicate computer components to massive engines. Plus, you are a SUB with all the strength, speed, and longevity that accompanies such a state of existence. And as a SUB, you are capable of surviving in environments hostile to…unadorned humans."

  "What's the job, sir?"

  "First, I must tell you, Sergeant, this is not an offer. You're not being asked to volunteer, you are being ordered."

  "With all due respect sir, I work for the Department of Defense, not the IIEA. Only the DoD can order me."

  Dr. Magobie leaned forward and, with a wave of his hand, got his computer's attention. He moved his hand slightly through the air then punched a virtual button. The holographic monitor on the desk became translucent and a document maximized from the tool bar. Then the doctor reversed the image so that Dave could read it.

  The document was from the office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, placing Dave under the operational control of the IIEA.

  "The order number is 7781, and the authentication is Charlie X-ray four six," Dr. Magobie explained. "Sergeant, the nature of the information you must be made aware of is highly classified. You cannot be made privy to this information then allowed to refuse the posting. Once you are briefed, you must go. And as we need you there, you must be briefed."

  Dave scanned the document, then slowly looked over at Magobie. "Doctor,” he paused and pointed at the monitor. “I notice this document is time stamped twelve minutes ago."

  "Yes, the general runs a very efficient office."

  "Okay…sir, you have me. What's the job?"

  "Sergeant, back in the mid-twenty-first century, the satellite known as 'TESS', Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, discovered a new stellar system, a set of planets in orbit around a binary system consisting of two red dwarf stars in relative proximity to us, Elpis 229 A and B. One of those planets orbits its star right in the heart of the habitable zone. A probe was dispatched using the early experimental RF resonant cavity thrusters. A decade later, the first scans and photos reached Earth.

  "The planet is a little smaller than Earth. Its atmosphere consists of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, xenon, methane, and hydrogen sulfide. It's somewhat denser than our atmosphere due to the quantity of Xenon gas, which is a heavy, colorless, odorless, gas.

  "But, it is the high concentrations of carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide that render the atmosphere poisonous to humans. One inhalation can disable a human and result in the loss of the ability to breathe at all. Thus, a human will asphyxiate without protective gear. So, you understand why you SUBs are perfect for this mission."

  "You're saying you need us because we're not human."

  The doctor ignored the comment and continued. "The real discovery was the presence of sophisticated life forms, plants and animals the equal of anything we've on Earth, though obviously quite different.

  "The IIEA launched a project of historic magnitude, a project the likes of which has never been attempted by man. We have established a human colony outside our solar system. For several decades now we have been building the colony on the planet we call Antyllus."

  "Like the islands in the Caribbean?" Dave asked.

  "Not the Antilles. The planet is named after Antyllus, one of the most important physicians in Greek antiquity.

  "The colony lives in a structure similar to the BSC here at JILL. They filter the poison from the air and the water and have even discovered much of the flora and fauna is edible. What is necessary is to manufacturer everything needed from the raw materials on the planet so as to become independent from Earth. I'm sure you can appreciate that the logistical supply chain is far too long and expensive. Ergo, a massive factory is gearing up on Antyllus now.

  "They already have all of the systems you are familiar with on JILL and a few new systems you are not. So, you see, your expertise is required on our new world.

  "The goal is to establish a completely autonomous colony on Antyllus, the first step to spreading humanity across the galaxy. Thus, the survival of the species will be ensured well beyond the life span of the Earth. A truly noble goal, don't you think?"

  "Sounds like it. On face value."

  "You have your doubts, I see. That is the very reason the project is such a closely guarded secret. There are those who would see the program ended, and worse, there are those who would claim we are leaving Earth for Antyllus because we are aware that the end of the Earth is at hand, and global panic would ensue.

  "Regardless, those are the basics of project Lamia. There is of course a world of information more for you to absorb, but you'll have the time. Speaking of time, as of this second, you are quarantined. You are to have no contact with anyone but members of my staff and the members of team Columbus."

  "Team Columbus?"

  "Yes, they include the crew and the passengers of the three spacecrafts that will take you to Antyllus.

  "From here, you will be escorted to section one of the BSC where you will undergo preparation for your trip."

  "Ah, Dr. Magobie, this is…even for my biotronic brain, this is a lot to wrap my head around."

  "I realize this comes as a bit of a shock. However, consider this: you are destined to live out a rather long life. I'm sure it has occurred to you that over the span of ninety plus years that life could become a tad tedious, day in and day out here on the Moon—restricted to the confines of JILL. But now you are about to embark on a great adventure. You will do and see things not dreamt of by the vast seething throngs of Earth."

  "Yeah," was Dave's response. "What will you tell my friends and colleagues?"

  "Sergeant, you have no friends, and as for your colleagues they will be informed that you have been reassigned. We will start the rumor that you're back at that undisclosed location in Nevada."

  "Uh-huh” Dave, glanced down, and just perceptibly shook his head. “Okay, I get it."

  The doctor pressed a button and a hidden door in the bookcase behind him opened. "Through there, Sergeant. At the
other end, you'll find some of my people who will take you to section one."

  "Yes, sir." Dave rose and moved slowly toward the door. Over Ismay, he tried to research Antyllus, and the name Lamia, but nothing came up. As he reached the entrance to the secret passage, Dr. Magobie stopped him. "Sergeant, tell me, what exactly were you doing outside JILL in that LPC?"

  "Normal post-maintenance operations check, sir. It's standard operating procedure."

  "Yes…well, good luck, Sergeant."

  Chapter 3

  Bon Voyage

  Once in his new billet, Dave was contacted by the AVA computer that was dedicated to the classified IIEA sectors of the BSC. She was referred to as Lilith.

  She connected him to her network and disconnected him from Ava's, which had been blocked since he entered Dr. Magobie's office. Once connected to Lilith, he was authorized additional mission-related information. He wanted to know more about this planet Magobie told him about, so he called up the classified database and began his download.

  Under an artist's concept of the planet, he read,

  "Antyllus orbits its primary star, Elpis 229A, once every two hundred and ninety-five Antiyllian days. The mean annual temperature on Antyllus is 24.38c—compared to Earth at 14.60c. The coldest monthly mean minimum temperature is 19.00c which occurs in January, February, and March in the northern hemisphere—compared to earth at minus 89.00c.—while 30.00c is the warmest monthly average high temperature which occurs in the month of September—compare to Earth's high at 56.70c.

  "Wet weather on Antyllus accumulates to give a mean total of 556.00mm of precipitation per year. This is equivalent to an average monthly precipitation of 46.33mm. Antyllus's climate enjoys 3,172 hours of sunshine annually which is an average of 8.69 daily hours."

  "All in all, not too bad," Dave said to himself. "I kind of miss weather."

  In additional reports, he read that the planet was, for the most part, covered in temperate rainforest, and in a belt around the equator, dense, tropical rainforest. The planet boasted several chains of jagged mountains at an average of four to five thousand meters above sea level. There were three oceans on the planet referred to as the great sea, the lesser sea, and the great lake.

  The planet's polar caps were not covered in ice. They were what was called periglacial in the modern sense of the word, and exhibited the most bizarre geomorphic processes.

  He went on to read some information about the planet's flora and fauna but was interrupted with instructions to meet in a classroom on the ground floor.

  ○O○

  As Kathy's shuttle landed at the lunar harbor, she thought, What a ponderous beast this thing is, compared to a Lunar Eagle. She was one of several passengers making the trip to the Moon. Among them, she noted ten identifiers, the virtual data display visible only to SUBs, computers, and the little maintenance bots.

  As she exited the lunar harbor's terminal tunnel, she was surprised to see both the Group Commander, Colonel Amar, and Lieutenant Colonel Bruckner, the Group XO, waiting to greet her. She had not expected a reception.

  "Welcome back, Major," the colonel greeted her, extending his hand.

  "Yes, indeed," the XO agreed, "it's good to have you back, Kathy. The time away seems to have agreed with you. You look…different, refreshed I guess. How do you feel?"

  "Thank you, sir, I feel fine, ready to return to—I was going to say return to my Squadron. I assume you have seen my orders?"

  "Yes," the colonel replied, "we'll discuss them in my office, just as soon as you're settled in and feeling up to it."

  "Sir, my luggage is being taken to my quarters, so I am ready now, if you are."

  "Well, okay then," the colonel smiled, "I thought after such a long trip you might be tired." It was only after he completed his sentence that he recalled her new state of being. "Oh—I'm sorry, I—"

  "That's all right, sir, I take that as a compliment."

  The colonel's office was in dome fourteen, the home of Eagle Squadron Five who were responsible for the first zone, or wedge, of the Moon's far side off the eastern limb. The three officers took a Lunar Civil Defense Detachment vehicle to the dome and were all seated around an oval conference table in the colonel's office within the hour.

  "Major Selina," Colonel Amar began, "my copy of your orders states that you are being reassigned to the operational control of the IIEA for duties of a classified nature."

  "Yes, sir."

  "I presume you will be working in what we're calling the dark side of the BSC?"

  "Sir, I really can't discuss it."

  "Well, at least we'll get to see you now and then, eh?"

  Kathy sat mute.

  "I see," the colonel continued. "Major Selina, I believe I am right when I say your loyalties are unaltered and that should there be any threat to the United States, you'd let us know."

  Kathy sat stunned a moment. "Sir, you are most certainly correct. My oath of loyalty to the US Constitution remains intact, as is my loyalty to the Nation. Do you have some reason to believe that my service to the IIEA will put me in conflict with my loyalties?"

  Colonel Amar shot Lieutenant Colonel Bruckner a quick glance. Then he leaned forward and continued in a very serious tone, "Major, the short answer to that question is no. However—there does seem to be something going on that is both highly classified, and to some senior military officers in the service of several allied nations, believed to be rather nefarious."

  "Nefarious? Sir, that's a word you don't hear much anymore."

  "The word means reprehensible, despicable, and utterly evil."

  "Yes, sir, I know the meaning of the word. I don't know why you are applying it to the International Interplanetary Exploration Agency."

  "We have no proof, but the IIEA has some hold over the world's major governments. We have seen it in action. When OPPC, the Organization of Power Producing Countries, wanted to strangle certain other governments a couple years back—it was the IIEA that put a stop to it with just a word. When money was needed to rebuild JILL after the quake and the attack, every one of the industrialized nations gave funds and resources far in excess to what was needed simply because the IIEA said they wanted it. Hell, they could have moved New York City to the Moon with the money they received. And a lot more money and resources have vanished into the IIEA in the last thirty years, and not one of the military intelligence agencies that have worked clandestinely to discover where it has gone have uncovered a single significant lead."

  "What about Oceania sir? If they are so powerful, why have they not stopped the fighting there?"

  "Because we are not fighting an industrial nation. Hell, the enemy isn’t a nation at all. I guess the real question is why the IIEA has not been able to dry up their funding and source of supply."

  "Some think," LTC Bruckner joined in, "that the IIEA desires the war to continue to keep attention off them."

  The colonel lifted a hand. "I don't want to become more of a conspiracy theorist than I already sound. Point is, Major, there are serious people with serious concerns. I only ask you to be aware. If you should discover something, I hope you'll contact me."

  "Sir, I'm sorry, but where I'm going it'll take years to get a message back to you."

  The colonel glanced at his XO, then back to Kathy. "Years you say?" The colonel shot his XO a knowing look. "Well, Kathy, just maintain your situational awareness, and remember, you might not be among friends in the place you're going. I suggest you identify people you can trust and keep them close. Good luck."

  ○O○

  That evening, Kathy was in her new billet in sector one, on the dark side of the BSC. Her connectivity with Ava had been disconnected, and she was now connected with Lilith.

  It was 18:47 lunar when the net call came through over Ismay, requiring all new members of team Columbus to report to the classroom.

  The classroom reminded Kathy of her old high school auditorium, just newer and more modern. Her old school was built back in 2019 befor
e the collapse of the world economy, so her school had been rather lavish. Once that decades-long catastrophe petered out and societies reformed, and money was again in vogue, they rebuilt it. A number of less well-constructed edifices had to be torn down after those dark days. All public buildings became default shelters for the millions of homeless. Those who took refuge there ruined the structures, so those buildings, too, had to be abandoned.

  It was a terrible time. Kathy was fortunate to have been born after those hard decades.

  She looked about to see if she recognized any faces among the throngs of Bios and SUBs who filed into the classroom. She did see one. Master Sergeant Chuck Alistair. He was speaking to two SUBs she did not immediately recognize. As she advanced, she read their identifiers.

  "Sergeant Alister! Did you get nabbed for this, too?" she greeted him as she approached.

  "Yes, ma'am, and I'm thrilled. This is what I thought I would be doing when I earned my astronaut's wings. Ma'am, let me introduce—"

  "No need, Chuck, I know of our first Moon married couple, Staff Sergeant Mitch O'Connell and Sergeant First Class Cassie O'Connell. Heroes of the battle for JILL."

  "Ma'am, that hero stuff is a little embarrassing," Mitch whispered, "the real heroes are Matt and Susan Strum."

  "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you. You are aware that all of us who were here after the quake, and managed to get out, hold you in the highest regard?"

  "Well, thank you ma'am," Cassie replied, "we never became accustomed to all the attention. We're hoping that on Antyllus we can just blend in."

  "Speaking of Matt and Susan Strum, were they approached?"

  "I don't think they were."

  "Well, again, I'm sorry," Kathy explained, "Chuck's is the only face I recognize, and as I approached I saw your identifiers."

  "Did you know they can be turned off?" Cassie asked. "But only for tactical reasons. The IIEA insists we leave them on."

  "I didn't see that in the tutorial," Kathy replied.