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  “I’ve lost the signal.”

  Kyla cocked her head sideward as a furrowed ripple etched her brow. “Wait, I’m receiving a blip on our comm screens, detected and transmitted to us via Raptor 04 before its destruction.”

  “The military base is on high alert and trying to murder us,” answered Connor. “Of course we’re hearing comm chatter.”

  “No, their facility isn’t the source. They’re the intended recipient, though the signal was too weak to reach them. It’s a localized planetary communication originating a thousand klicks to the north.”

  “They know.” Cold fear lanced through Taylor’s chest, seizing his heart in a throbbing embrace. “Break comm silence and open a channel with Alexis on our encrypted frequency. Do it now. Then cross your fingers we aren’t too late.”

  *

  Alexis leaned against a cluster of boulders wreathed in lichen and peered at the research installation below the outcropping. Only one story high with antennas and communication gear crowding the roof, it appeared to be a simplistic prefabricated structure typically manufactured in bulk and designed for use on planets without proven or reliable resources. Or undisturbed garden worlds protected from mining and exploitation by federal law.

  Tessa crouched alongside with a firearm in hand and eyed the building. “The fact that this is an uninhabited, restricted world will work in our favor. Fewer security cameras and protocols. They won’t be on alert either. I’d wager a few entryways might even be left unlocked during daylight hours.”

  “You have no clue how many staff are inside, do you?” questioned Reyes.

  “Not in the least. The facility isn’t large though, and needs to comfortably accommodate all research equipment and living quarters. Each scientist lives here during their months-long stay, rather than traveling to and from the military base. I’d guess maybe ten or twelve personnel at any one time.”

  “You’re willing to risk our lives on that belief?”

  “I’m banking my own on it, too.”

  “Guess we’re too far into this mess to withdraw now.” Reyes unslung an assault rifle from around his shoulder and screwed an extended attachment to its barrel. “Ready when you are.”

  Tessa glanced at Alexis as her AugIris implant shimmered. “Lawrence, targeting information if you please.”

  “Remember your promise,” Alexis said.

  Tessa disabled the safety on her handgun and holstered the weapon at her hip. “I haven’t forgotten.”

  “I want to hear you say it.”

  “No killing.”

  “You still need us to end the war in your home system. We expect you to honor your arrangement if you want us to honor ours.”

  Tessa offered a silent glare before sighting down the barrel of her primed assault rifle. “Much as you might not believe me, I don’t feel a compelling need to take lives. I merely don’t shirk from the deed when my mission calls for lethal force. Regardless, I understand perfectly well these are not enemy combatants we’re facing, but climate and atmospheric scientists. They don’t deserve to die today on this forgotten tundra of a planet.”

  “Don’t forget that if one becomes scared and points a gun at you.”

  “Only if you remember that sentimentality is known to cloud your judgment and put entire operations at risk. If killing gets the job done, that’s your only option.” Tessa shifted her weight and hefted the assault rifle into place. “Now confirm our targets.”

  Alexis planted one arm on stone and leaned forward, surveying the installation’s roof and its myriad equipment. “You see the antenna array on the north side with two spires and a sensor dish nestled between them? Those are the long-range transceivers that connect to the communications relay in this system and enable InCore access. Opposite them on the south side are four parabolic dishes that handle all short-range planetary transmissions. You eliminate those and this facility is under a localized blackout and can’t call for help.”

  “Can the scientists repurpose the long-range gear for a short transmission elsewhere on Kanaloa?”

  “No. An isolated outpost like this that lacks satellites and infrastructure needs long-range communication on a dedicated server. The networks are likely separate because it’s cheaper than programing each one with multiple tasks.”

  “Good enough for me.” Tessa nodded and set parameters on her weapon. “Canales, set charges for a twenty meter dispersal on a thirty second timer.”

  “Twenty meters on thirty,” Reyes responded. “Understood.”

  “The moment our shots land I want us scrambling down this hill and breaching the nearest door. We capture or incapacitate every person we encounter. Kaneshiro and Lawrence will find the network terminal they need and connect to the communications relay while Canales and I secure the structure and sweep for threats. Clear?”

  “What about vehicles?” questioned Rinko.

  “Leave them be. The military base is stationed almost a thousand klicks from here. Even if a scientist slips free and manages to take off on the horizon, we’ll have ample time to finish.”

  “Any vehicles will probably also be linked to the short-range transceiver to save costs,” added Alexis. “They won’t be able to send a distress if the network is down.”

  “More good news,” said Tessa. She braced the assault rifle stock against her shoulder and sighted with her AugIris, calculating for distance, wind speed, velocity and other measurements. “On my mark.”

  Reyes assumed a similar position, though used an aftermarket sight attached to his rifle for targeting information rather than an ocular implant. “Ready.”

  “Launch.”

  They fired their weapons with a surge of crackling blue, propelling electromagnetic dispersal grenades on an arch of compressed air to shield the discharge from nearby sensors. Alexis braced herself to sprint while Tessa and Reyes detached their grenade extensions with fluid, practiced motions. The projectiles reached the apex of their flight and plummeted toward the short-range antennas, landing among dishes and bouncing to a stop on fiber optic wiring.

  Tessa waited only long enough to confirm their aim and leapt upright with the others close behind. Alexis rounded one misshapen boulder and skidded down a slope riddled with detritus, pebbles and torn branches. They crossed uneven terrain separating the hillside and facility in seconds and came within a shadow cast by the structure. Alexis noticed blurred figures and silhouettes through reflective windows stretching along one side, each researcher so engrossed in their studies none reacted to the armed band outside their doorstep.

  A cascading eruption of forked blue lightning detonated on the rooftop, projecting wisps of pale gray smoke skyward from fried electronics. Alexis felt a concussive wallop of sizzling electricity ripple across her skin and raise the hair on her head as they approached the nearest entryway.

  Tessa stepped closer and pounded one artificial leg against the door with stunning force, obliterating the frame into shards and tearing through metallic hinges as though flimsy wind chimes. The warped door thudded at her feet as Tessa stepped through with her rifle leveled. Scientists gathered inside responded with understandably frightened reactions, considering this was a restricted, uninhabited world locked in the grip of an ice age. Offworld communications were rare enough, let alone hostile intruders wielding firearms. Alexis almost felt sorry for these academics when she entered and watched confusion seize their features.

  Researchers dropped equipment and samples to shatter underfoot, hobbled backward to become entangled within chairs, fumbled for support against tables and desks, uttered cries of panicked dismay.

  “On the floor!” hollered Tessa. “Get down!”

  Reyes swept his rifle toward a cluster of trembling, shell-shocked researchers. “Hands away from those terminals where I can see them. Keep it slow.”

  Tessa eyed Rinko from above the scope of her weapon. “Kill their systems and deactivate any signals they might be trying to transmit or any active security measures. We can�
��t take chances.”

  Rinko hurried toward a console and brought screens online, slicing into their system with deft precision. Alexis eyed the huddled scientists gathered in a tight clump, kneeling on the floor with hands clasped behind their heads.

  Tessa beckoned with one hand toward closed entryways across the main chamber. “Search the installation room by room and make sure there aren’t any researchers hiding and waiting to cause trouble for us.”

  Reyes nodded and moved between banks of equipment with his firearm raised.

  “An automated distress was broadcast when we fried the short-range transceivers,” Rinko announced from her station. “Security protocols also registered us entering the facility.”

  “Wouldn’t shutting down the short-range gear prevent the distress?” questioned Tessa. “That’s why we hit their antennas in the first place.”

  “The message was distributed on a localized network separate from the normal communication equipment. We didn’t expect them to have the auxiliary systems in place.”

  “Tell me you stopped the signal before it reached the military base.”

  “I’ve scrambled the feed all to hell and reduced the range. Hopefully that’s enough.”

  “Then you’d best get to work on your primary task.”

  Rinko disconnected from the console and departed for the primary server room while Tessa eyed her prisoners in stony silence. Most averted their gaze and focused on tiles underfoot. Several minutes later a doorway slid open and two researchers shambled through with Reyes following on their heels.

  Reyes shoved them stumbling toward the others. “Found two scientists asleep in the living quarters. Imagine their surprise when I woke and dragged them from their bunks.”

  Tessa approached the cowering group and crouched alongside one captive with the rifle resting on her knees. “Is this everyone?”

  “Y-yes.”

  “Consider your answer carefully. This can go much worse if you withhold information from me.”

  The nervous scientist steadied her trembling chin and stared upward at Tessa. “This is all of us.”

  “Happy to hear it.” Tessa sprang upright and glanced at Reyes. “If you find anyone else, don’t bother escorting them here. Shoot them where they stand.”

  “You got it.”

  Tessa grabbed Alexis by the arm and guided her several paces away beyond earshot. She unholstered a handgun and slapped the weapon into Alexis’ palm. “Canales and I need to be watching for incursions from outside, which means we can’t keep an eye on all the scientists. I need you to guard our backs in case someone is stupid enough to try playing hero.”

  “You think it’ll come to that?”

  “Who can say? People are unpredictable.” Tessa tapped one fingertip against the handgun. “The magazine is loaded with incapacitating rounds. They’ll hurt something fierce and leave a scar, but nothing worse. Don’t hesitate to squeeze the trigger. I’ve blanked the biometrics and identification key so the weapon won’t lock when you use it.”

  Alexis tightened her grip around the handle. “Is now a good time to tell you about my aversion to guns and firefights?”

  “Bad career choice, Lawrence.” She winked and withdrew toward a window overlooking the chilly terrain.

  Alexis held the firearm at her side and wandered around the room, keeping a careful watch on the scientists. None seemed inclined to violent resistance, though Alexis hardly knew the warning signs to look for. From what she could tell, they appeared to be a benign collection of timid, nonthreatening academics more at home in a laboratory. Adventure and boldness were unlikely catalysts in their lives. Most lacked the resolve to even meet her eyes.

  “Why are you doing this?” demanded one researcher. He gazed upward at Alexis with nervous eyes holding a muted flicker of courage. “We have nothing of value. This is a research station.”

  Another scientist lowered both hands from behind his head. “We don’t have access to any classified files on the Confederacy network if that’s what you’re after. All we have is climate and cryogenics data. Our findings will be published after we finish and available to everyone.”

  “We haven’t landed here to steal anything,” Alexis explained. “In fact, we’ve brought you data. All we need is your communication system.”

  “Threatening us, holding us against our will, parading around with weapons. You’re nothing but brutes and criminals.”

  “You don’t need to believe me. We’re uploading evidence to your computers right now. It won’t be long before we broadcast and prove our claims. Difficult as it may be to comprehend, we haven’t come to hurt any of you. With luck we’ll be gone soon and you’ll never see us again.”

  A soft beep echoed in her ear and Taylor’s frantic voice emerged. “Alexis? Alexis, can you hear me?”

  She turned away from the cowering scientists and threaded between work stations. “What happened to comm silence, Captain?”

  “Never mind that. Listen to me, Alexis. We’ve been trying to contact you. You’re all in danger and need to evacuate right now.”

  “We can’t. The upload isn’t complete yet.”

  “Three fireteams from the garrison were out on training exercises near your location and managed to receive a distress. Do you understand? Twelve soldiers are closing on your position. You don’t have long.”

  “Oh, shit. Can you slow them or get to us first?”

  “We’re pinned down near the military base. We’d never reach you in time.”

  “Then it’s up to us.”

  “Don’t be stupid.” Taylor’s voice verged on anxious worry, a far cry from his typically relaxed demeanor. “You need to pack up and leave with the others.”

  “Not until we’re done.”

  “Alexis—”

  “We’ll do what we can here. Good luck on your end. Alexis out.”

  She closed the channel and faced Tessa. Though the other woman had not heard the conversation, she clearly understood Alexis’ tensed body language.

  “What happened?” Tessa questioned.

  “Three fireteams are on their way here and we can’t stop them from reaching us.”

  Tessa hopped off the table she perched on and thrust a hand at Reyes. “Find a chamber and seal the scientists inside. Then get to the roof and take up a sniper position. I’ll hold this level.”

  “Copy that,” he said.

  Alexis watched Reyes herd the compliant, docile researchers toward an entry where they would be safe and out of the way. “Can we force a scientist to meet with the soldiers and send them away?”

  “We can’t take that risk,” Tessa replied. “Not with their lives or the mission. These incoming troops are still officially in training and might get spooked easy. They’ll breach the installation with the aim to neutralize us, which means they could shoot the first thing that moves. Even if they’re willing to listen, their commander might decide to cancel our broadcast and arrest us. Or just make empty promises and then execute us as enemy agents. And that’s assuming the scientists even cooperate. We can’t let that happen with so many lives depending on what we accomplish today. Our only chance is to hold the incoming fireteams off while Kaneshiro finishes the upload. After that we can try either surrendering or appealing to their humanity, but not before.”

  “I’m checking on Rinko.” Alexis hurried toward the server room and barged inside to find Rinko standing among half a dozen online terminals. “Tell me you’ve made progress, because we’ve run out of time.”

  “I’m not even close to being done.”

  “They’re studying freaking glaciers. I thought their security wasn’t supposed to be this tight.”

  “Don’t let the researchers fool you; this is a military facility on a restricted world. I’ve severed their connection to the army installation’s network, which weakened the firewalls. But I still have hurdles to overcome before our files can be uploaded and transmitted to the comm relay.” Rinko licked chapping lips and tur
ned her head to regard Alexis, a stressed scowl wrinkling her forehead. “Lex, what’s going on?”

  “Soldiers are coming. They know we’re here.” Alexis stepped closer and rubbed her shoulder. “You stay focused on this. We’ll handle the troops.”

  Tessa entered the cramped chamber and cleared her throat. “Alexis?”

  “Do you need me?”

  “Stay here and guard Rinko while she works. If anyone gets past us, you’re the last line keeping this mission alive. When the time comes, bar this door. Might give you a few extra moments.”

  “I…I won’t let you down.”

  “I know.” Tessa extended one open hand. “Finish the job.”

  Clasping the proffered palm in her own, Alexis squeezed and watched Tessa shoulder her rifle before disappearing around the nearest corner.

  “Yes, ma’am,” she whispered.

  Chapter 27

  “Once again, on behalf of the staff and management of the Hanging Gardens Villa, I offer my humblest apologies for what happened in your suite.”

  With one arm propped on a chair rest, Winston stared through the window of his limousine while the vehicle crossed traffic streams two kilometers above the surface. Glittering spires climbed toward low-lying clouds, their silver-white surfaces burnished and reflecting sunlight as though a starfield stretched across the sky.

  He faced the projection displaying a representative from the hotel, the man’s shoulders stooped and his head bowed in a meek gesture of penitence. “I’ve heard enough groveling to last the next century,” Winston declared. “My personal property was neither stolen nor vandalized. I faced nothing more detrimental than irritation, which I learned to deal with long ago in response to these misguided protestors and so-called idealists.”

  “Regardless, we deeply regret the lapse in security. As a gesture of apology, the entirety of your stay with us will be complimentary.”

  Winston brushed the comment aside with a wave. “Fine. I accept the offer if it will make you feel better. For now I have business awaiting my attention.”