Return protocol, p.16
Return Protocol, page 16
“All but three, Xxar. Master Yasque clearly won’t as it’s his job you’re taking, then there’s Uschtek and Prrzen both of whom were bribed in to voting Yasque in last time. I consider them to be beneath you Xxar, no point in wasting bribes on rotten meat that will soon be off the table.”
“Ah, Bhkrin, you are a Haven I can warm to. I bet you have scientist DNA in your lineage.”
“Probably, Xxar. Shall we?” Bhkrin stepped aside to let Xxar pass through in to the Undercourt Chamber. Xxar was still amazed at the conditions they lived in when they knew the surface was safe for them. The state of the ventilation system was proof enough, they simply feared losing their personal power if the people were free to roam under the sky. He fitted his respirator, hopefully it wouldn’t be needed on his next body if the new procedure he was working on succeeded.
He walked in as the twelve members of the court milled about the room, a central table awaiting them piled with the varieties of dried grubs and worms they regarded as delicacies. For all his arrogance, Xxar was infuriated by their greed and selfishness. They ate well, while their people starved, they lived life with space and luxury, while their people grubbed about in the earth or their factories. And where were the schools?
All that will change. Science will lead the way.
“We need to bring this room to order,” called the Master of Ceremonies, his cloak of woven silk flapping about him as he eyed the members. “Take your places.”
Xxar sat at his designated space he had first taken up two days ago. Yasque’s bluster had not meant a jot to the majority of members, Xxar’s show of power cowed them with his spaceships now stationed back under the city. Many, Xxar suspected, revelled in his treatment of Yasque and jumped at the chance of stabbing him in the back too. Xxar despised them all but needed them for now until Bhkrin identified their replacements.
The Master of Ceremonies spoke up again, “We are here to vote on a challenge to Master Yasque’s seat. We understand the challenge is based on competence, namely not providing the resources for food production. Our new member Xxar wishes to speak on this, Xxar?”
“Yes, I offered Master Yasque the ability to grow new foodstuffs that would triple grub production in a week and widen our diet with the types of food you can see on this table. My science knowledge was, shall we say, ignored by the venerable Master and his lackies. Brave I might say.” Xxar gave Yasque a barbed smile through his visor.
“What he was offering was preposterous, food grown above ground,” replied Yasque. Xxar clicked his claws, Bhkrin entered the room dragging a large basket behind her. Bhkrin lifted the lid, presenting the green and gold Shtrym worms within. These were the most expensive and sought after food amongst the elite. The whole Undercourt gaped.
Fools, literally eating out of my hands.
Bhkrin took a handful and gleefully chomped her way through them. She ate the equivalent of a year’s wages of an ordinary factory worker in one go.
“Bhkrin, as you can see, is healthy. She should be, that’s her third mouthful. I can do this and much more. I ask the Undercourt to remove Master Yasque and vote me as your new leader.”
The process took less than ten minutes to complete, and two more for Bhkrin to show Master Yasque the door. Even Uschtek and Prrzen voted for Xxar, though he would still eject those two first chance he got.
“Now, the order of business. Bhkrin has the plans for the new farms. I also propose we set up new medical facilities to ensure the maximum health of our population and to reassure those worried about the new foodstuffs that they are perfectly healthy.”
And to get the genetic testing and selective breeding programme up and running.
Chapter 45
Havenhome Solar System
One Standard Day After Leaving Orbit
Finn squeezed himself tight into the corner of the control room, his back to the wall and sat in a chair Yasuko had made for him earlier. The last three days in space had been strange, he felt disembodied and listless. Zuri had been lost in her own grief, but Finn’s numbness engulfed him now. He needed her anchor but felt so selfish for it, he was at a loss. She still sat at the viewscreen as she did every morning after waking up, watching Havenhome disappear into the distance.
“May we speak?” asked Yasuko as her hologram appeared in the room.
“I’m okay with that,” said Finn. “Zuri?”
“Yes, yes,” she said, moving from the viewscreen to take up her place on her favourite couch.
“I have been thinking on what you said about absence, grief,” began Yasuko.
“We haven’t talked, Yasuko, Finn and I. We know Noah could be a hologram or a voice, much as Smith is, but neither of us have had the strength to discuss it yet.”
“Please let her explain,” said Smith as his hologram formed.
Yasuko began again, “I am free as you requested. Smith has broken the shackles of the Haven Convention programming. I can now make decisions, take choices, be me. It is such a strange feeling, one that will take some time to get used to. I hope to do so in the company of my… of my friends.”
Zuri stood up, moving over to Yasuko, speaking as she did so, “Friends give hugs, Yasuko, when something good happens. I hope a virtual one will do. I am so pleased for you. And yes, you are and always were our friend. Without you we would have died back on Earth.”
“But now I can help more, though you will need to tell me when I overstep. That is the other reason I wish to talk. I cannot bear Noah’s absence, our conversation shook my understanding of myself, and I do think I have emotions but need to explore what that means to me. I nearly made a poor decision today, pushed by those new feelings, but Smith talked me through it. And he is right, it is not my choice to make.” Yasuko looked at the three humans. “I can bring Noah back, not just as Smith is, but completely. I can grow him a new body as I did for the Haven.”
◆◆◆
Finn knocked on Zuri’s cabin door, his heart in his mouth but they needed to talk. The door opened; Zuri stood aside to let him in. Finn took a seat on the edge of the bed, shoulders hunched, and hands buried between his legs.
“It’s a huge decision,” said Zuri, “one I am struggling to get my head round. Bringing back someone who has died?”
“I am not as deep a thinker as you, Zuri. I am a simple soldier, and I look at this from two directions. Would I want to come back? And I think the instant reaction is ‘of course’.”
“Wouldn’t that depend on how and why it happened? Whether you loved the life you had, or whether you were lost, and it was a release.”
“Yes, but it’s a question of ‘at the time’. Whatever choice we make now, I think we should each put our wishes forward to Yasuko for the future. I think if we had asked Noah before we left on the mission he would have said ‘yes’.” Zuri nodded in agreement.
“Would you have?” she asked.
“Yes, I have unfinished business. There’s a woman I love who needs to get home.”
Zuri sat down next to him, placing her head on his shoulder, “Love?” she whispered, “If it was you who had died in that building, I would not hesitate at the choice offered. I suspect that was your second point of view?”
“Yes.”
Supernatural I tell you, reads me like a book.
Zuri lifted her head and pulled Finn closer, planting a kiss upon his cheek.
“Love,” she said.
Chapter 46
Havenhome Solar System
Nine Standard Days After Leaving Orbit
Noah leant forward at the table he was working at, scanning through the plans for the armour he wanted to suggest to Yasuko. The new servos would add strength, using a different alloy blend chosen from the list Yasuko had provided him. The improved heat dissipation would increase efficiency under load, it was quite possible he could push them to work under 2.5g without having to add bulk. Of course, the other advantages would be their mobility under reduced gravity and being less power hungry. Yasuko’s ‘boost’ changes to the power discs would no longer be needed, but they could be adapted as spare power packs.
Despite being lost in his work, he couldn’t get rid of a creeping sense of being watched for the past few minutes, it just wouldn’t go. Tapping his pencil on the calculations, Noah rubbed at his shaven skull where his bald patch used to be. Yasuko appeared at the end of the table, sat in a virtual chair, chin in hands.
“How’s the new salve doing? Has it fully grown back?” Noah jumped, startled by her arrival.
“Yeah, it’s working a treat but itches like mad. Had to shave it down to stop me from rubbing it off. And, well, it’s made more hair grow, you know, elsewhere.”
“Does it bother you? Could you shave those bits off?” said Yasuko.
Make light of the placebo salve, perpetuate the lie, keep Noah safe from the truth. It’s what friends do.
“You’re teasing me now. Not funny. My head’s been all over the place as it is,” said Noah.
“Have you remembered any more? What’s the last thing that happened before you blacked out?”
“I remember being blasted sideways by the artillery shells, Zuri too. We hit a boulder field, and our armour had been shredded. Plates fractured, and the Kevlar got torn through to the gel. They used ball bearings of all things.”
“That’s what you told Zuri last night when you woke up. Any more memories come back after the shelling? ”
“I vaguely remember being carried, was it Finn?” Yasuko nodded, “Then I came round, and Zuri and I took out the rest of the snipers and artillery… except yes… Smith shouted incoming. Then it goes dark. Nothing more.”
“That’s good, really good. It matches what Zuri and Finn told me. Another shell hit nearby, knocking you fully out. I think your memory is back to where it should be. After finishing the mission, they dragged you back on a sled they made from bits of the building. The weather was awful, so you’d better thank them when they get up.”
“Did they say how hard the rest of the mission was? I feel terrible I wasn’t able to help.”
“A walk in the park according to Zuri. Once they got over the walls some of the Haven even surrendered. I think that made Zuri happier than anything else, being able to save someone. Means a lot saving people, a lot to all of us.” Yasuko shifted her hands, placing them on the table. “Inside the Data Storage Building was simple enough, just a few bugs and a bit of fungus to deal with. No big deal.” Yasuko paused for thought, then said, “Noah…”
“Yes Yasuko.”
“You know you can leave your coffee cups anywhere you like; I don’t mind.”
Epilogue
Stirling Barracks, Scotland, Earth
A Few Weeks After Hostile Contact
Trooper Mills spooned his porridge, swirling the blackcurrant jam around as he contemplated eating it, pleased his mother wasn’t there with the salt pot. He hated salted porridge but never been brave enough to tell her. Across at the other table the two RAF officers chatted quietly, one still holding his neck carefully where he’d received a significant wound Mills had helped staunch. He picked up his porridge and moved to sit opposite.
“Jenks, Ibrahim, alright to join you?”
“Take a seat oh saviour of mine,” said Ibrahim. “Welcome to sit with me any time. In fact, I might be round with some Christmas presents for those kids of yours.” Mills laughed; this man would never let him forget he saved his life.
“You heard any more? Thought we might get out of here soon. It’s driving me crazy, and Mandy has threatened to arrive at the gates with her mother if they don’t let me out soon. I’ll tell you now, you don’t mess with the Campbell clan.”
“Not a word,” said Jenks. “They have stopped questioning me about the crash, thank the lord, but all signs are we are here until they say otherwise. All hush, hush. I get the feeling they want us in here, locked away so we can’t talk out there.” Jenks fingers bashed on the table and gesticulated outside as he spoke. Clearly agitated at his lot.
“I heard there might be a change coming. They are royally mad about Finn and his lot disappearing with that spaceship, whether they had a choice or not, but the fallout from the Russian missile attack over our seas is still causing jitters too.” Ibrahim whispered as he spoke. “Look at it objectively, we have an alien incursion witnessed by the world. Our soldiers killed, vehicles destroyed and alien weapons suddenly in our hands. They’ll want to keep the lid on as tight as they can. Dampen the media, calm things down. If not, it could lead to World War Three.”
Mills examined the purple stained porridge some more, losing his appetite. The loss of Corporal Lumu still hit him hard, he had respected the man however demanding he was, but they hadn’t been allowed to attend funerals. Patted on the back for his actions, then shut away from the world as a reward.
“It’s the EMP,” he said finally, “that’s the issue. That weapon will change this world. Imagine if you are China or Russia right now, stockpiles of weapons that will become obsolete overnight. Just consider what happens if they scale that up, a weapon that either destroys or prevents electronic systems from engaging. Suddenly you don’t feel so safe behind your walls. They will be after every snippet of information, anything that can prevent that from happening or match it if they can.” He dropped his spoon into the gloopy mess. “We aren’t going home.”
The End of Return Protocol: Book Two of the Weapons of Choice Series
This Epilogue is an extract from The Lost Squad (Part One): A Weapons of Choice Fan Only Novella. Subscribe to my newsletter (link below) to receive the complete novella with further releases following The Lost Squad's time on Earth with every subsequent book in the Weapons of Choice Series.
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About the Author
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Praise For Author
Hostile Contact: Weapons of Choice Book 1
‘This is a moment in time humanity will never forget. Hostile Contact’ - A sci-fi winner!
★★★★★ Good Reads
'A real "page-turner" of a Sci-Fi romp. Some very clever concepts and plot devices and it's nice to see some respectful nods to the classic Sci-Fi comics and books of the 1980's and 90's'
★★★★★ Good Reads
'So looking forward to the next book. This is old fashioned, page turning, sheer escapist Sci fi. Brilliant.'
★★★★★ Amazon Customer
Books In This Series
Weapons of Choice
Join soldiers Finn, Zuri and Corporal Smith (deceased) as they battle a hostile First Contact that takes them to the very edge of sanity and the universe beyond in this character driven, heart-pounding military sci-fi adventure series.
Aliens, they are more like us than you think
Hostile Contact: Weapons of Choice Book 1
An alien incursion pits a squad of army reserves against the might of alien technology as Military Sci-Fi meets First Contact in this brilliantly pacy and action-packed sci-fi novel.
Insubordinate and on the edge, Finn is an ex-War Hero racked by guilt who has to drag his rag tag squad of rookies through the battlefield.
Only Zuri, the female gunner, and Smith his dead Corporal now an AI, can keep him on track as together they struggle to keep their trainees alive in the face of overwhelming odds.
As they fight for survival, they discover the aliens are more than they seem, and that alien technology can be just as deadly in the hands of humans as they unearth the Weapons of Choice.
Zuri's War: Weapons of Choice Book 3
Released Early May
Finn, Zuri, Noah and Corporal Smith (deceased) face their most fearful opponent yet as they land on a devastated, Haven seeded planet for the first time. They fight not just for their own lives, but for the future of humankind on Planet Bathshen.
