Authors: Robert Storey
To the right of the small control room stood another large reinforced steel door, the imposing structure barring their way. This one was emblazoned with various warning signs, and one in particular stood out from the rest.
U.S.S.B. SANCTUARY
ELEVATOR SHAFT ACCESS
PRIMARY SUBTERRANEAN DESCENT
ELEVATOR SYSTEM ALPHA FIVE
‘This is what we need,’ Goodwin said, slowly wringing his hands together, partly against the cold and partly in anxious anticipation. They were nearly there.
‘Do we need to get the general to open up this door?’ Hilt said, his deep voice echoing in the tunnel.
‘No, I should be able to get us in. It’s the elevator system we’ll need Ellwood to activate, otherwise we won’t have a chance of getting down into the base.’
Goodwin tried the handle on the office door and to his surprise it opened.
No need to lock it inside a secure compound, I suppose
, he thought. He entered and took a seat at a terminal similar to the one he’d just used outside. Going through the same process as before, access was again eventually granted although this time it took a little longer, as he had to disable many more security protocols in order that they could avoid detection.
The second entrance swung open as smoothly as the first and the Darklight team ghosted inside to secure the area. When the all clear came, Goodwin and Hilt followed them in. Proceeding up two flights of stairs and right along a corridor, they found themselves in a huge, dimly lit loading area. On the far side big safety barriers prevented vehicular and pedestrian access to the deep blackness of the surface-to-base elevator shaft behind. The layout appeared similar to Steadfast’s elevator configuration, only larger. He looked around the vast chamber, trying to locate an access panel.
Hilt must have noticed his difficulty. ‘Try these.’ The commander indicated the visual spectrum enhancement goggles which hung round Goodwin’s neck.
‘Good idea,’ Goodwin said, feeling slightly stupid. Using the bit of Darklight kit, he quickly found what he searched for. He strode over to one side of the barriers, unclipped four large industrial-sized clasps and, with some difficulty, prised off a heavy panel. He went to place it on the floor, but the panel’s weight caused it to slip out of his grasp and it fell onto his foot with a painful thud. He swore in shock, the word echoing into the distant corridors. Hilt stepped in, picked it up and effortlessly moved it out of his way; Goodwin could have sworn he saw a small smile on the commander’s face.
Putting his dented pride to one side, he got on with the job in hand. A bright orange rubberised communications handset was what he was after. He slid back and opened a few panels until he found it nestling inside an alcove. Extracting the handset, he switched it on, its buttons and screen glowing in the half-light. He then removed his goggles and tapped in a few commands to activate the base’s internal telephone system. Taking out his own phone, he scrolled to his contacts list and found General Ellwood’s number, thoughtfully provided by Professor Steiner. Now they were in the base and he’d accessed Sanctuary’s communications structure, any call he placed would appear to be an internal one; well, that was the plan, anyway.
Making a final prayer that the General owed the professor big time, Goodwin dialled the number and hit the call button. The line connected and began to ring. His initial nerves turned to annoyance as the tone rang and rang.
Perhaps he isn’t in his office?
he thought, but just as he was considering hanging up someone answered.
‘Ellwood,’ a man said.
Taken by surprise Goodwin hesitated.
‘Hello?’ the general said, as Goodwin calmed himself.
‘General, this is Richard Goodwin. I’m the GMRC Subterranean Base Director of U.S.S.B. Steadfast. I’ve been relocated to Sanctuary and require your assistance in entering the base.’
‘Goodwin? Yes, I have heard of you, but I wasn’t aware of your transfer.’
‘It was a last minute decision by the council, something about civilian oversight, you know how it is.’
‘Mr. Goodwin, you are aware we’re in lockdown? We can’t grant you access, I’m sorry.’
‘I have Level 9 Alpha clearance,’ Goodwin said, trying a different tack. ‘I’m able to override the lockdown in an emergency.’
‘I think you’ll find Level 10 Alpha clearance is required for that protocol,’ General Ellwood said. ‘Besides, according to my computer you’re already inside the base.’
‘I am, but I’m at the surface. Look, General, I’ve come a long way. Me and my team are happy to submit to a decontamination programme to allay any fears of contagion from the meteor strike, which, by the way, we all know is an extremely remote threat.’
Hilt touched Goodwin’s arm, shook his head furiously and mouthed
no
to him.
What is he going on about?
Goodwin wondered.
Perhaps he’s worried about the decontamination suggestion?
I suppose they’ll send a military unit to escort us and that would not be a good idea. Shit. Too late!
‘Your team? How many of you are there?’ the general was asking him as Goodwin shrugged to Hilt and mouthed an apology.
‘What? Oh yes, there’s only a few of us,’ he said, lying through his teeth, knowing full well nearly thirty thousand of them waited outside. ‘Ten in total.’
Ellwood paused for a moment as he considered the proposal. ‘No, I’m sorry, Director, I can’t go against protocol; you’ll have to return to Steadfast.’
Goodwin’s heart sank. He’d hoped not to force the man’s hand, but he’d run out of options.
‘General, I was sent by Professor Steiner and he told me you owed him a favour.’
Silence – and then the phone went dead.
‘Crap!’ he said in despair.
‘What happened?’ Hilt asked him, as calm as ever.
‘He hung up on me!’
‘Then call him back.’
‘Right – yes – good idea,’ Goodwin said, feeling confused. He redialled the number and listened to the call tone once more.
‘Ellwood,’ the General said.
‘General, don’t hang up! Please, I don’t know what is going on between you and the professor, but he told me you owe him one last favour that’s all, just one and then no more.’
‘No more?’ Ellwood said, his angry voice taut with stress.
‘Yes, one more and then nothing else –
ever
,’ Goodwin said, stressing the finality of whatever deal they had going.
The general didn’t say anything for a while as he considered his options. ‘Fine,’ he said at last. ‘But if I hear anything more of this, I won’t be held responsible for my actions, do you hear me? I don’t respond well to blackmail.’
‘Of course, you have my word and the professor’s,’ Goodwin said.
Blackmail
, he thought, appalled,
what on earth is the professor up to!?
‘Where are you?’
‘Alpha Five,’ Goodwin said, trying to ensure the relief he felt wasn’t transferred to his voice.
‘I’ll send it up. The decontamination team will be assembled during your descent and then you’ll submit to quarantine procedure.’
‘Thank you, General.’
Ellwood didn’t respond, choosing to hang up once more.
‘We’re a go,’ Goodwin told Hilt, who nodded.
‘Major, we have an affirmative on entry,’ Hilt said into his radio, ‘bring them in.’
Over three hours later they were still loading civilians onto the multi-tiered elevator. At first Goodwin had started to wonder whether Ellwood had actually sent the elevator, as it was an hour and a half after he had made his call before it reached the surface. But now, as the last people moved onto the final level, Darklight took up their positions to ensure they would be the first into the base proper. This would enable them to take the decontamination team waiting for them below by surprise.
Goodwin and Hilt, the last to board, took a quick look around to make sure no stragglers remained. Satisfied, they made their way to the control booth and Goodwin launched the engine start command. The multiple turbines positioned throughout the elevator came to life, the intense whine increasing in pitch as they reached maximum velocity. Checking all safety protocols had been adhered to, he flicked up a small transparent cover and pressed a large red button. Clamps holding the massive elevator in place sprung away in succession. Red and yellow lights flashed and then, with a jolt, they moved downwards into the deep.
♦
After an hour they were still descending into the Earth’s crust and Hilt turned to Goodwin and said, ‘Shouldn’t we have reached the bottom by now?’
‘I would have thought so. Steadfast’s drop takes about half an hour, forty minutes max, and we’re not showing any signs of stopping yet. Sanctuary must be a lot deeper down.’
After another half an hour, they slowed, and Goodwin moved aside as two Darklight units took point. They wore full battle armour, MX4s and beam weapons at the fore. They weren’t messing around; Ellwood may have sent a large force if he’d caught wind of their numbers. Hilt had also donned the same kit and hefted a large assault rifle; a curiously shaped shield and a thick black scabbard hung on his back. Goodwin recognised the design; it was a thermal sword, the type he’d caught a glimpse of back at the Darklight facility.
‘Stay back until we’re secure,’ Hilt said, as he lowered a slit-eyed visor down over his face. Pressing a button on the side of the helmet, he turned on a combat screen inside; the blue glow emanating out resembled slanted, rectangular glowing eyes. The effect, whether by design or otherwise, was an intimidating one.
After a few moments the opening to the underground base came into view. As the elevator shuddered to a halt the barriers came up and a disembarking platform sloped outwards, leading into the base proper. Hilt took the lead, mounting the large metal ramp as it swung downwards. With a loud metallic boom the platform hit the ground. Goodwin glimpsed a group of armed men in full decontamination suits waiting for them. Their weapons weren’t raised and the Darklight force quickly surrounded them. With shouts and commands emanating from both sides, Hilt soon asserted his authority and the U.S. military personnel relinquished their weapons and submitted to restraint.
Hilt approached Goodwin, raising his visor.
‘What now?’ he asked.
Goodwin wasn’t sure. He’d been concentrating so much on gaining entry that he hadn’t really considered the options once they’d achieved their aim. Taking his time before answering, he quickly assimilated their position and the most credible courses of action they might take. Going through them one more time in his head, he felt satisfied his decision was the right one to take.
‘We move into the base and secure an area, then negotiate terms with whoever’s in charge down here. The professor seemed to think they wouldn’t eject us, but I’m not so sure. In fact, as soon as Joiner gets wind of our presence here, it’s almost a certainty he will try to relocate us.’
‘That would mean we’ll be throwing ourselves on the mercy of those who won’t want us here,’ Hilt said, not pleased at the prospect.
‘Hence we build and defend a perimeter to guarantee we cannot be forcibly removed. It’s not the greatest plan, but there are few alternatives.’
‘There’s always an alternative,’ the Darklight commander said.
‘Well, as far as I can see there are three other options, all of which leave us even more vulnerable. One, we leave the civilians here and Darklight returns to the surface.’
‘There would be nothing stopping the military from just expelling you all again,’ Hilt said, instantly finding the fault in that idea.
‘Correct. The same would be true for alternative option two; Darklight personnel remain and surrender arms. Again, they could simply send us back to the surface. That leaves just alternative option three, which is to storm the base and try and take control of the Command Centre, which would be—’
‘Suicide,’ Hilt said, his face grim.
‘That leaves us with my first suggestion. Nothing else makes sense.’
‘I’m not happy with it,’ Hilt said, ‘but I have to agree it’s the only viable option if we want to maximise the chances of the civilians remaining inside the base. We thought getting here would be the hard part, but it seems staying here will be much more difficult. We’ll have to try and make the best of a bad situation.’
‘Well said, Commander.’ Goodwin contemplated patting the man on his considerable shoulder, but thought better of it. ‘I don’t think we should stay here too long,’ Goodwin said, looking round at their captives. ‘The general will get suspicious when his men don’t report back.’
‘You’re right, I was thinking the same thing,’ Hilt said, and called over two officers, his lieutenant and the major. ‘We’re moving out. Sweep pattern Delta Six. Recon only. As soon as anyone gets eyes on, I want an immediate sitrep.’
The two men saluted and got to work organising their men.
As the Darklight recon team headed off, the rest of Hilt’s forces, the captured U.S. soldiers and the civilians formed up and followed behind. But after half an hour’s march, they had a dilemma. Four tunnel entrances branched off from the one they’d been following and only one was signposted, the far left, which had the name
U.S.S.B. Sanctuary
above it.
Goodwin rubbed the side of his face, unsure what to do.
‘If we want to remain undetected or to secure a defendable position,’ Hilt said, ‘preferably with supplies, then walking straight into the base is not an option.’
‘What do you propose?’ Goodwin said, valuing the commander’s tactical nous far above his own.
‘Interrogate the prisoners and find out the lay of the land.’
Goodwin didn’t like the implications of that idea. ‘We’ll ask them what they know,’ he said, his voice firm. ‘If they’re forthcoming, then all well and good, but we will not force information out of them; they are not the enemy, Commander.’
Hilt’s expression remained as neutral as ever. ‘Yes, sir, but it will prevent us from gaining a tactical advantage over our – opposition.’