| Chapter Eleven |
| So Close... |
| Outside the UN building, Earth 09:33 SET 2195 Lieutenant Commander Broadaway and the alternate Captain Ordese moved their respective ships from Earth as quickly as possible to avoid being discovered. “Do you think they can do it, Talaj?” Broadaway asked the Explorer’s Science officer as he was sitting in Mansel’s chair. The Venutian didn’t hesitate to answer. “Whether or not I think something’s going to happen will not affect the outcome of the mission, Commander,” she pointed out before returning back to her console, not really answering the question. The helmsman merely smiled and shook his head. Aboard the Stealthlon, the exact same question was being asked. “How much do you have riding on this one, Ordese?” Lieutenant Commander Grant DaNastie asked the acting commander of the ship as they drunk their soft drinks together. “I got one going with Stephen,” the alternate Captain Ordese replied, glancing at Stephen’s DaNastie’s younger brother. “If they get out of this, I have to do Stephen’s laundry and dishes for a month.” “Ouch!” exclaimed the young hotshot pilot. “Knowing my brother’s socks, you’re in for a real rough time.” *** After a day and a half of watching, the mirror Captain Blackbird decided that it was time to move. “Alright, crew,” he said as they packed their gear up, “you all know the plan. We get in, we get our explosives set, and we get out.” Not for the first time, Commander Vaughn wised he had the Stealth Squadron or some EDF troops to assist tem in their dangerous endeavor. For what seemed to be the millionth time, he checked his ammunition. “If anything goes wrong,” Blackbird continued, “fall back to that small patch of woods near the fleet of shuttles. We’ll take one of those and hopefully raise the Explorer or the Stealthlon to come and get us.” He scooped up his knapsack of explosives and slung them over his shoulder. “Understood?” Mansel, Vaughn, Cain, and Brungess all mumbled the affirmative. “Alright,” said the alternate Blackbird, “let’s move.” United Nations building, Earth 22:08 SET 2195 Under the darkness of night, the small insurgency team of four slowly made their way to the side of the UN building. They used every possible thing for cover-- bushes, threes, lampposts, vehicles. Mansel, who was watching the rear, was the last person to catch up to them. “The doors around the corner are glass,” Blackbird reminded them all. “We’re not going to be able to blow them open. Brungess, you’ll have to pick the lock.” “Affirmative,” replied the EDF General. He produced from his vest a lockpick kit and quickly dashed around the corner after taking a quick peep. Mansel, Vaughn, Blackbird, and Cain all fanned out to cover him. In under twenty seconds, Brungess had the lock undone. “Any alarms on the door?” Cain asked Vaughn who had crawled up beside him. The Commander shook his head. “The plans didn’t show any. Unless, of course, Marauder added his own.” “Of course.” “We’re wasting time wondering,” Mansel urged, crawling up last. “Go ahead and open it.” “Aye, Captain.” Cain glanced at the door dubiously for a second, then threw it open. Blackbird was in less than a second later. He caught the door and held it open for the rest. Placing the first charge right beside the front door, the whispered to Mansel, “be ready on that detonator, Mansel. As soon as I give the word, hit the big red button.” Detonator in one hand and gun in the other, the starship captain nodded. Blackbird quickly surveyed the room as the others branched out to find cover. The room originally served as a main lobby. It was expansive, with two reception desks in the middle. To either side of the desks, a pair of turbolifts were installed next to small indoor bushes, two of which Mansel and Cain were hiding. Vaughn was hiding behind one of the three sofas the room boasted, Brungess behind another. All dark, Blackbird thought it eerie. As he cautiously moved past the furniture area, Vaughn and Brungess joined Blackbird. When they all moved past the turbolifts, Cain and Mansel crept from their hiding places as well. |
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