“My Latin is a little rusty. Let’s see
… Freedom or Die
?”
“Freedom or Death,” she corrected.
“Whatever. What the hell is this all about, Admiral?
“It’s about doing the right thing. It’s about the beginnings of a new nation. And it’s about taking advantage of opportunities.”
“Where are the men and women who were manning this base?” Jason asked, fighting to stay calm. “There must be hundreds of them—what the hell have you done?”
“I did what had to be done to ensure the longevity of this great country.”
“What does that even mean? I want those people released.”
“We’ll get right on that, Captain,” she said sarcastically.
“So all along you were lying to me. A ploy to make a power play?” Jason asked, more of a statement than a question.
The admiral shrugged, then looked to her fellow officers with a smirk. “Are you really so naive, Captain?”
Jason didn’t answer.
“You were a convenience. Please, don’t get me wrong; you’ve proven yourself to be immensely resourceful. Undoubtedly, the American people—the world—owe you their eternal gratitude. You helped save our planet from a horrible fate. But don’t mistake my gratitude for stupidity.” Jason was about to respond when a display on the wall at the end of the table flickered to life. On view was CNN Breaking News, an aerial view of Washington D.C. Two Craing Battle Cruisers hovered in the air—one directly above the Pentagon, and the other above the Capitol building. The feed changed and a third warship was shown parked in front of the White House.
“As you can see,” the admiral said, enjoying the theatrics, “we’ve adopted some of your unconventional tactics, Captain.”
Dark smoke rose from several locations—the most notable being the Jefferson Memorial. It had been obliterated.
“Close proximity military bases, including Fort Myer and Fort McNair, were also destroyed.” She stood and walked to the display. “Everything is coming together. You may not see it—you may not understand it—but we’re patriots, Captain. Understand, we’re not out to destroy America. We’re out to make this country great again. Now, with our fleet of Craing warships, real change can take place. I hope you can see that.”
“I know crazy when I see it, and you’re certifiable,” Jason replied, finding it hard to take his eyes from the screen.
“You’ll come around.”
“Not likely.”
Admiral Cramer waved him off with her hand and said, “I’ll be leaving this evening to speak with the president and Joint Chiefs. Talk about ideas for real change. But who knows? They may not be the right people for the job.”
“I think you’re fucking crazy,” Admiral Reynolds piped in.
Admiral Cramer ignored the remark. Another display came alive. “I think you recognize the emissary for the Craing Empire?” Admiral Cramer smirked.
Jason looked up to see his brother. His father looked disappointed.
“Hello, Jason … Dad,” Brian said. “I’m sorry. This is not the way I wanted things to go down.”
“Your deceit and treachery seem to have no bounds.”
“On the contrary, Dad, I’m ensuring Earth’s long-term survival. Why can’t you get that through your head? At least now, with the help of Admiral Cramer and others, the Craing Empire will no longer be a threat to Earth.”
“Then you’re a bigger fool than I thought you were, Brian. All you’ve done is hand the Craing our planet on a silver platter. For fifteen years, I’ve experienced their lying, their deceit,” Admiral Reynolds spat. There was a renewed fire in his eyes, one that Jason hadn’t seen for weeks.
“Enough!” Admiral Cramer was seated again at the head of the table. “Here’s what’s going to happen. We will graciously accept the Craing Empire’s offer. We will return to them their damn robot, Emperor Reechet. Second, they have agreed to share their advanced technology—and we’ll provide limited access to
The Lilly
. Together, our two civilizations will build a long-term mutually beneficial relationship. In the process, we will become strong again here on Earth and as we venture into deep space.”
There was something missing here. Jason didn’t get it. Considering both Ricket and
The
Lilly
were far out of reach from Admiral Cramer’s grasp, what made her think she could pull any of this off? She must have been reading his thoughts. Leaning back in her chair with an all-knowing smile, another display went active. The last person Jason expected to see on the screen was his eight-year-old daughter, Mollie. Eyes wide and obviously scared, she stared blankly into the camera. The screen changed perspectives and a wider shot of both Mollie and her mother, his ex-wife Nan, came into view. Although Mollie looked fine, Nan was not. Several purple bruises and a scrape across her forehead made it clear she had been mistreated. All eyes turned to Admiral Cramer. Even Brian looked shocked. She returned Jason’s glare, then looked away.
“Mark my words. Before this is over, I’ll have both my hands wrapped around your neck.” Jason’s words hung in the air.
“You will comply with everything we ask. This is a revolution. People have already died; we have already killed for our cause. Do not doubt our resolve here, Captain. If you want your wife and child to live, do as we ask—it’s really that simple,” Admiral Cramer said, regaining her composure.
Jason looked back to the screen. Knowing Mollie couldn’t see him, he still wished he could reassure her. Then she did something unusual. Mollie casually touched her ear—strange—she touched her ear with two fingers.
“You have one hour, Captain.” The admiral signaled to one of the guards. Both Jason and his father were pulled out of their chairs. Before they were ushered out of the room, Admiral Cramer spoke again. “I want
The Lilly
and that robot delivered to the outpost today. Make no mistake about my resolve here, Captain. Do as I say, or witness the deaths of your daughter and ex-wife.” The guards manhandled them out of the room and into the hall.
Chapter 5
Back in their cell and still at gunpoint, Admiral Reynolds wanted to talk. After three weeks of brooding silence, he’d picked this time to come alive. What Jason needed was quiet. Multiple conversations were going on in his head via what he’d recently determined was referred to as
NanoTexting
. Earlier, Jason had tried to communicate to his father this way, but apparently he hadn’t activated that NanoCom option. Jason couldn’t fault him; until several minutes ago, he too had no idea the option even existed.
Jason turned to his father and held up a hand. “Dad, please! Just give me a few minutes to think. I’m doing some … internal processing here, do you understand?” The admiral sat back in a huff; his frustration seemed to be rising by the minute. Jason closed his eyes and returned to his in-process NanoText conversation with Ricket.
Capt. Jason Reynolds:
… No, Ricket, I saw her. It was like a signal. She held two fingers up to her ear, just as we do when communicating in public via NanoCom. What I’m asking you is this: was she nanotized like the rest of us—-perhaps back when she was injured? I need to know if, like the crew, she has the same NanoCom tech in her head.
Science Officer Ricket:
Yes, she was nanotized, but restrictions were placed on her devices. She cannot initiate conversations—only respond to those of others—and only from those at officer level.
Capt. Jason Reynolds:
So she would know that she has those capabilities. She was telling me to contact her.
Science Officer Ricket:
That seems like a logical assumption, Captain.
Capt. Jason Reynolds:
Can you do that now? Go ahead and remotely configure her NanoCom? And configure NanoText for her as well?
Science Officer Ricket:
Yes, done.
Capt. Jason Reynolds:
And what about Admiral Reynolds? Can you configure his as well?
Science Officer Ricket:
Yes, done.
Capt. Jason Reynolds:
Also, is there a way for you to access the Pacesetter remotely?
Science Officer Ricket:
Yes, Captain.
Capt. Jason Reynolds:
Is she located at the same coordinates here at the outpost where I left her?
Science Officer Ricket:
Yes, sir. Although several unsuccessful attempts have been made to enter her cockpit.
Capt. Jason Reynolds:
Thank you. I’ll be back to you shortly.
Disconnect NanoText Command: Science Officer Ricket
Establish outbound NanoText hail: Crew Member Mollie Reynolds:
Crew Mollie Reynolds:
OMG, Dad, what took you so long?
Capt. Jason Reynolds:
For one thing, I can’t text as quickly as an 8-yr-old can. How are you? How is your mother?
Crew Mollie Reynolds:
I’m fine. Mom’s OK too. She punched a man in the face and he pushed her to the ground really hard. They did that twice.
Capt. Jason Reynolds:
Are you alone? Is someone there watching you now?
Crew Mollie Reynolds:
No, we are alone.
Capt. Jason Reynolds:
I want you to tell your mother I’m coming for you. Tell her to hang on. Also, do you know where you are? Where you’re being held?
Crew Mollie Reynolds:
Yes. We are on The
Gordita
in the cages. It’s really gross and it smells bad. Mom and I are in the same cage together. All the crew people from
The Lilly
are in cages too. Mom says they gassed us last night while we slept and then moved us here.
Capt. Jason Reynolds:
How about Billy and the rest of the SEALs? Where are they?
Crew Mollie Reynolds:
Here too. They are mad. Billy keeps yelling bad words I can’t repeat.
Capt. Jason Reynolds:
One last question: Do you know where The
Gordita
is? Still in Washington? In space?
Crew Mollie Reynolds:
I don’t know. I’m scared, Dad! Please hurry!
Capt. Jason Reynolds:
Hang on just a little longer, kiddo. I’m proud of you and I’m on my way!
Disconnect NanoText Command: Crew Member Mollie Reynolds
The whole texting process left Jason mentally exhausted.
How the hell do kids do it all day long?
And since Ricket had also reconfigured each of the crew’s NanoText settings, he was far from finished.
Within the hour, the cell door clanged opened and they were marched back to the conference room. The feed from Mollie and Nan’s cage was back on the screen.
“Well?” said Admiral Cramer. “I have an unscheduled appointment at the White House. You’re going to do as I’ve asked. Right now … or you will witness first the death of your former wife, and then that of your daughter.” Two soldiers had entered Mollie and Nan’s cell, rifle barrels held mere inches from their heads.
“So, what’s it going to be, Captain?” Admiral Cramer asked.
She’d always borne an irritating air of superiority, but now her smug tone carried it to a whole new level.
Jason and his father looked at the screen, seemingly weighing their alternatives. Mollie was trying to hold it together, but was starting to lose her composure. Scowling, Jason shook his head toward the display. It started with a smile. Then Mollie was holding back a giggle. Then Nan was holding back a smile and then a giggle as well.
“What the hell’s wrong with those two?” Admiral Cramer barked, looking back and forth from the display to Jason and his father. “I don’t think you understand the seriousness of—” She abruptly went silent with the appearance of two different soldiers who’d moved into camera view and taken seats next to Mollie and Nan. Billy Hernandez smiled and waved up to the camera.
Jason slowly stood and walked to the front of the room and sat down next to Admiral Cramer. “Let me tell you where your plan fell apart, Admiral …”
There was new activity from the display with the CNN news feed. High above, perhaps from a news helicopter, the scene was of Washington D.C. Both Craing Battle Cruisers hung in the air, big and ominous-looking, and were firing their energy weapons from multiple guns. Difficult to see at first, the dark-red Pacesetter fighter came into view maneuvering at incredible speeds. Astonishingly, it was avoiding plasma bursts from the Craing warships. The Pacesetter then took a direct hit to her aft shields. Seemingly undamaged, the small fighter returned fire. Jason wasn’t sure who on
The Lilly
was remotely piloting the fighter, but his or her skill level was impressive. Obviously the fighter was using the latest highly-effective type of munitions. First one and then the second Craing warship ceased firing. Drifting, they’d taken damage to their drives. Slowly at first, then picking up speed, the mammoth vessels fell from the sky.
A mile apart from each other, the two warships billowed dark smoke into the air—miraculously avoiding the populace below, each crashed onto opposite banks of the Potomac River.
Admiral Cramer sat back in her chair, realization of the situation coming to bear.
The news feed changed again, this time to the third Craing cruiser, still sitting on the White House lawn. Seeing the spaceship, Admiral Cramer’s confidence returned.
“One Craing Battle Cruiser is more than enough to bring Washington to its knees, Captain,” she said with contempt.
“Don’t get your hopes up, ma’am,” Jason said, pointing to the display. “See those markings—there towards the stern? I memorized those marks—saw them when that ship landed in San Bernardino and took my ex-wife captive. Ironically, my daughter had named that very same vessel. She called it The
Gordita
.” Jason pointed to the other display and the now empty cage. “You forget, Admiral, just like the Pacesetter, The
Gordita
has been configured for remote access. All her onboard systems can be controlled by
The Lilly
—weapons systems, navigation systems, even the ability to open prisoner cage doors. Billy Hernandez and his SEAL team took back control of The
Gordita
several minutes ago.” The admiral watched as her one last hope lifted off from the White House lawn and quickly flew out of the camera’s view. “The
Gordita
is currently on her way back to the outpost,” Jason said.