Chapter Ten
First Attempt
Omicron Nebula
09:21 SET
2195


The Storm-A, however, had not idea how close it was to the two rogue ships.  In fact, as the conversation between the alternate Lamb and Major Mansel, the Sovereign class ship was slowly gliding by the Omicron Nebula.  Had the Science officer, Lieutenant Stogall, been as attentive to his console as he was to the conversation, he would’ve seen the two blips on his screen representing the Stealthlon and the Explorer as they passed through the Storm’s sensor range.  Fortunately for the renegade duo, Lieutenant Talaj had spotted the ship minutes ago, and now both the Stealthlon and the Explorer were both deep in the nebula with all systems shut down, including life support.

“This tactic didn’t work last time, Captain,” Mansel commented on the bridge of the Stealthlon.  “Will there be any difference this time?”

“Quite,” the flag officer replied.  “For one, the Storm doesn’t have a masking device.  Second, we spotted them before they spotted us.”

“How can you be so sure about that?” Commander Vaughn asked, standing to the right of his Captain.

“Hey they come after us yet?”  the alternate Blackbird responded with a bemused look on his face.  “It’s obvious they’ve figured out that we’ve stolen the Stealthlon.  Now they’re looking for us.  You have one advantage though,” he continued, rising out of the center chair and walking around.  “They’ll only be looking for this ship.”

“If they’re tracing this ship by sublight engines, then they’re bound to find the Explorer’s emissions as well,” Mansel pointed out.  “They don’t have to recognize it; all they have to notice is that the two emissions run parallel to each other, making them think we’re in together on this.  And, of course, they’ll be right.”

“Which means we need to speed up our time clock.  Is our gear ready?”

“Hold off for a few moments and I’ll contact my Chief of Security,” Mansel responded.  “Everything should be set up and ready to go.”

Indeed it was.  The small team’s suits, weaponry, and gadgetry had been quickly assembled by Lieutenant Commander Serena.  All they needed was Blackbird’s go code.

The flag officer was the last to appear in the Explorer’s shuttle bay. They’d be taking a defensive shuttle, so they’d at least have some protection in the event that things in space got nasty.

“Everyone settled and ready?” Blackbird asked, checking his gear one last time.
Mansel nodded.  “The rest are waiting in the shuttle.  Let’s get this over with.”  He turned to Jason Broadaway, the Explorer’s helmsman who had been standing beside Mansel.  “Jason,” Mansel said, “you’ve got command of the ship until we get back.”

“Aye Captain.”

“I don’t want a scratch on my ship, either” the starship captain continued, climbing into the shuttle before Blackbird.  “If so, it’s your rank.”

“Understood, sir.  Good luck.”

The alternate Blackbird thanked him and climbed into the shuttle at last.

“Alright Cain,” said Blackbird, climbing in the front passenger seat beside the pilot.  “Get this baby moving.”

“It’s  a good thing technology is almost the mirror,” the alternate Captain mumbled, moving his fingers over the console.  “Or else, we’d be left in the hands of Brungess.”

“I heard that!” the General called from the back of the shuttle.  “And you’re probably right.”

“Cain chuckled and sent the shuttle out of the Explorer’s hangar bay, headed towards what some in the shuttle thought of as home and others a hellish nightmare.

“With the Stealthlon’s long range jamming capabilities,” General Brungess said to Mansel, “we should get to the surface pretty easily.”

Mansel nodded.  “Good,” he said.  “What we do on the surface, that’s what I’m worried about.”  He checked his carbine for the fourth time.  “This isn’t Gara IV, Jim.  In some ways these people are may more deadly than the Imperials.

Mansel’s best friend and comrade nodded.  “Agreed, friend,” he said.  He leaned back against the shuttle’s wall, closed his eyes, and tried to enjoy the ride.

The compact shuttle, containing the alternate Blackbird, the alternate Cain, Mansel, Brungess, and Vaughn, quickly came upon Earth, landing as quietly as possible on the night side, which at the moment was the Eastern half.

Cain set the shuttle quietly down in Berlin, Germany.  Without a word, t he shuttle was powered down and the small group donned their gear and began the hike to Maradine’s headquarters.

The UN building, two days later
20:18 SET
2195

After three nonstop days of walking and hiding in the back of cargo runners, the five came upon Maradine’s base of operations, the old United Nations building.  They had their night gear on, guns drawn and ready with the safeties off.

“Now what’s the gameplan?” Vaughn asked as he peered through a pair of binos, assessing the building.

“Finding a way in would be good,” Mansel whispered back to his comrade, but the mirror Blackbird shook his head. 

“No,” he said.  “As of right now, we stay put.  Let’s kick back and scope out the guard’s routine and shift change for a while.  That’d be the best thing to do.”

The five pulled out their rations and sat down on the hard earth, preparing for the wait.