Chapter Sixteen: Incursion

They sat there. Just watching the screen. They spoke not one word. They waiting for Williams’ team to reach the Nexus convoy.

‘One of them has stopped’ Celeste said. One of the rovers had indeed stopped.

‘It’s his plan. The long range weapon he never used to get us out of Nexus territory. He’s going the make them scatter, trap them in smaller groups and pick them off’ Jason said. They didn’t need the screen to see what happened next. They could see it from where they were. Something had been launched from the stationary rover. The projectile shot towards the Nexus convoy before exploding in mid-air. The resulting pieces crashed into the ground below tossing up dirt and black clouds. For a moment they couldn’t see anything. Then a beeping sound came from a computer.

‘What is it?’ Jason asked. Celeste didn’t answer immediately. Instead she tapped buttons, watching the monitor intently.

‘Oh no’ She finally said.

‘What? What is it?’ Jason asked again.

‘A second Nexus convoy. They’re heading straight for the Southern Gate!’ Celeste replied.

‘Can we defend against it?’

‘You better hope that we can’ Celeste told him. Jason thought for a moment.

‘Rally the civilians. Anyone who wishes to stay behind and fight can as long as they are able bodied. Send everyone else to Greylands Hospital. It’s less than a kilometre north of here, but it should be safe. Also, tell Claire to meet me here in ten minutes’ Jason said as he left the pavilion.

As Jason approached the nearest wall, another soldier came down to meet him.

‘Sir’ the soldier said.

‘You would be?’ Jason asked.

‘Sergeant Carlisle’ Carlisle replied.

‘Ok. We just picked up on another Nexus convoy headed for the Southern Gate. I want you take your forces there and turn on your radios. Channel one’ Jason told him.

‘Sir? I thought we weren’t using radios because they attract the Tallentiri’ Carlisle said.

‘I know. It’s what I’m counting on. Move your men, now’ Jason replied.

‘Yes sir’ Carlisle said. Jason turned and walked back across to the pavilion. Jason entered the pavilion and saw Celeste there, already waiting for him.

‘You didn’t take long’ Jason said.

‘A large group of them had congregated by the Northern Gate. I told them the message, and they’ll tell the rest. Sarah and a guy called Eli are going to oversee the evacuation, they’ll leave with the last of the civilians’ Celeste said.

‘How long until the Nexus are on us?’ Claire asked as she walked in.

‘At current speed, eleven minutes’ Celeste replied.

‘Tell Sarah she’s got ten minutes to get everyone who isn’t staying behind out of here’ Jason said. Celeste nodded before leaving.

‘What do you want me to do?’ Claire asked.

‘Direct all anti-air defences. Concentrate your fire on any aircraft in range. Also activate the Bastion shield in now nine minutes’ Jason said.

‘We have a Bastion?’ Claire asked, surprised.

‘Yeah. We received it with the last lot of civilians’ Jason asked.

‘So what’s the plan Commander?’ Claire asked. ‘An epic fight to the death?’

‘Something like that, but I guarantee you’re not going to like it’ Jason replied.

‘That goes with out saying. When it comes to you I am notoriously hard to please. Three minutes to go’ Claire said. There was a loud explosion from outside and the ground shook.

‘They’re firing, activate the Bastion’ Jason ordered.

‘Sarah and about a hundred civilians aren’t out yet!’ Celeste said running back in.

‘We don’t have a choice. Activate it!’ Jason yelled at Claire and Claire begrudgingly activated the Bastion shield.

‘Jason-’

‘She’ll be fine’ Jason said as he took out his radio.

‘What are you doing?’ Claire asked, shocked. ‘That’ll attract Tallentiri’

‘I know,’ Jason said. ‘Sergeant Carlisle, come in’

‘This is Carlisle’

‘Have your soldiers communicate by radio. We need those signals going’ Jason said.

‘Yes sir. Right away’

‘Jason, think this through. Those signals will draw an army of Tallentiri here, and instead of being outnumbered five to one, it’ll be fifty to one’ Celeste said.

‘I have thought it through. The Tallentiri can’t pass through the shield. Only the Nexus can do that. Hopefully the Tallentiri reach them, before they reach the shield and deal with them for us’ Jason answered back.

‘And then we’re left with an army of Tallentiri outside the shield!’ Claire exclaimed.

‘It doesn’t matter. Once they realise they can’t pass through, they’ll leave. Just like they did at the Barracks.

‘Sir, come in’

‘Go ahead’ Jason said into his radio.

‘A Nexus Commanding officer has entered the shield alone and unarmed. He says he wants to talk to you’

‘I’m on my way’ Jason said.

‘You can’t be serious’ Claire said.

‘Bring me my weapon in five minutes’ Jason said as he left the pavilion.

‘Jason. Blake. What…an…honour’ The man said. He was indeed alone and clearly unarmed.

‘What do you want?’ Jason called.

‘I am Colonel Aaron Swift-‘

‘I don’t care who you are. What do you want?’

‘To talk. The High Commander has decided to waste as little life as possible here. After all, a high percentage of civilians live here and they are not a threat to us. The military on the other hand, are a threat to us. I’m simply here to discuss things with you’

‘These things would be?’ Jason enquired.

‘The terms of your surrender for one’ Swift replied. Jason laughed.

‘What makes you think I’m going to surrender just because you asked nicely?’ Jason retorted.

‘Mr Blake, your father also laughed at me, had it not been for the actions of one, now lieutenant Williams, he would’ve been dead long before the Tallentiri invasion. I give you one warning: I will take the showgrounds by force if I have to’ Swift replied.

‘And I give you one warning Colonel: I do not respond well to threats’ Jason snarled. Swift laughed for a second.

‘You think you can threaten me?’ Swift said. Jason saw Swift’s arm swing for the side of his head. Jason reacted off instinct and, no one saw how he did it, Jason had both of Swift’s arms locked in front of his chest and Jason was up in Swift’s face.

‘That wasn’t a smart move’ Jason told him.

‘I don’t care. You should fear me’ Swift said.

‘I’m not afraid of you’ Jason replied.

‘You’re just like your father. He was always the bravest, but he could never make the hard decisions. The life and death decisions’ Swift said. Jason head butted him, twice, before  throwing him to the ground.

‘My father was never a Nexus soldier’ Jason said.

‘I wasn’t a Nexus soldier, Mr Blake. I left the military after I saw the atrocities committed in Saudi Arabia. The murder thousands of innocent people’

‘They would’ve murdered all of us had it been the other way round, you know it and I know it, and I am not going to argue the past with you’ Jason said, angrily.

‘Surrender the showgrounds and I may let you live’ Swift said.

‘Or I kill you and maintain the showgrounds’ Jason replied.

‘If you had that in you, you’d have done it already’ Swift told him.

‘The point is I have the ability to end this conversation right now’ Jason retorted.

‘Sir? We have Tallentiri drop ships on approach’ Said a voice over Swift’s radio.

‘Order your forces to surrender themselves and I will grant them asylum’ Jason told Swift.

‘If I order the surrender, you will not hesitate to execute them the moment they step through the shield. Either way we are dead’ Swift replied.

‘Then we are done talking. Kill him’ Jason said. One of the soldiers up on the walls fired three shots and Swift lay dead on the ground. Suddenly, the Nexus soldiers ran through the shield and an all out skirmish erupted inside the walls as Celeste emerged leading the civilian fighters. Although the Nexus solders were shooting to maim rather than kill they eventually broke through and splintered all over the showgrounds. Jason ran over to Celeste who handed him the Aug.

‘Take the civilians and defend the pavilion, if they take it we’re screwed. You’re not engage them though unless fired upon first’ Jason told her.

‘But what about-‘

‘The soldiers and I deal with the rest, just go’ Jason said. Celeste reluctantly obeyed. There was ominous sound and they looked up to see shield absorbing a huge yellow beam.

‘The Tallentiri are firing on the shield!’ A soldier yelled.

‘Jason! The Bastion’s strength just dropped fifteen percent’ Said Claire’s voice.

‘Copy that’ Jason replied as he began running after the Nexus soldiers.

‘Where are you going?’ Carlisle called after him. There was another ominous sound and a wave of super sonic wind tore across the showgrounds as the Tallentiri entered. The Bastion shield had collapsed allowing the Tallentiri. The super sonic wind effortlessly tossed Jason and most of the other soldiers twenty metres across before slamming them against an outer wall. When Jason looked down the wall, he saw Sarah lying on the ground. From where Jason was, she didn’t appear to be doing much.

‘Sarah’ Jason croaked as he got up and slowly made his way across. Jason cried out as he was thrown against the wall again. This time it was the result of a Tallentiri soldier firing on him. The weapon was a very long and wide barrel, pointed directly at him. The meaning was clear: don’t move. Jason defied them, intent on reaching Sarah and was immediately hit with the weapon again before shot again and thrown back again. He flipped over and landed on his front, sliding to a stop. There was nothing he could do except watch as the Tallentiri carefully picked up Sarah and took her away. After that, all Jason could hear was the sound of planes approaching before everything went black.

Ok, I have a few things to say. Firstly, for my American readers or anyone else who doesn't know the Metric System, twenty metres is the equivalent of 65.6166 feet. Secondly, this will be the last post for about two to three weeks. I'm taking some time off over Christmas and New Year's, so this could be considered the Mid-season finale. If you don't want to consider it that because it's a text not a TV show that's fine. Chapter Seventeen will be posted around early to mid January next year.

Chapter Fifteen: The Detour

‘So everyone’s clear that Celeste is in Command until we get back. You are to follow her orders as you would mine or Jason’s’ Williams said.

‘Yes sir’ the soldiers shouted back.

‘They’re all yours’ Williams said, turning to Celeste, who nodded. Williams left the pavilion and Jason followed.

‘You don’t have a problem with me putting a civilian in charge, do you?’ Jason asked.

‘I have no problems with it. In fact I think it’s a great idea. In these uncertain times we need everyone to step up. We need to see what everyone’s made of. See who is leadership material and who is not, see-‘

‘Yeah, I get it, I get it’ Jason said, raising a hand.

‘I’m sure the people here will be fine’ Williams said.

‘I think we’re taking too many soldiers. We’re sending nearly three quarters of our force’ Jason said to Williams.

‘I know, but smaller numbers move faster. If there is an attack, I’d rather them be on it fast with a little less firepower than the other way round’ Williams replied.

‘Ok. You’re commander, it’s your decision’ Jason said.

‘Damn right it’s my decision. I don’t have a problem with you’re decisions. Like I said, I think it’s a great idea putting Celeste in charge, I don’t see why you feel the need to question mine’ Williams said, a little angrily.

‘I think there’s a Nexus spy’ Jason said without thinking.

‘A Nexus spy? Do you have any proof?’ Williams asked.

‘Well, not exactly, but if there is a spy and they know we’re undermanned, they’ll see that as opportunity to catch us at a disadvantage and take the Showgrounds’ Jason said.

‘I’m not pulling forces from our attack, on a theory Jason’ Williams said.

‘The Nexus knew exactly when we would pass through, on the way here’

‘It was Nexus territory. We knew there was a possibility that they would be patrolling the area,’ Williams replied, sighing. ‘Jason, I understand your concern. I have serious doubts myself. An attack is not what we need right now. Now if you can find proof to back up your theory then I will investigate it. Until then, we’re done here’ Williams said.

‘Sir!’ a soldier shouted, running out of the pavilion.

‘What is it, Corporeal?’ Williams asked.

‘Sensors picked up something and we checked it on satellite. You need to see this’ the soldier said. Williams and Jason followed him back into the pavilion.

‘Ok, so what is it?’ Williams said.

‘Bring it up’ Celeste said, and the soldier at a computer complied. A projector flicked on and a live video appeared on the wall across from them.

‘It’s the Nexus. They’re en route. A convoy of at least five trucks, carrying at least a hundred soldiers each’ Celeste told them.

‘Except they’re not coming here’ Williams said.

‘Then, where are they going?’ Jason asked.

‘The Tallentiri structure,’ Williams said, watching it closely.

‘Sir?’

‘Change of plans. I will take a small group of about three or four rovers out to meet them. The Structure can wait. Jason you stay here. If this doesn’t work and they come here, we need a strong leader and a good defence’ Williams said.

‘Understood’ Jason said.

‘Sir, we’ll be massacred out there’ another soldier said.

‘We don’t kill all of them, just enough to force them to retreat’ Williams replied.

‘Which is still around three hundred’

‘I have an idea, but we need to move fast. We leave now’ Williams said, taking at least twenty soldiers with him and leaving.

‘Out. Get up on the walls. Celeste and I will monitor from here’ Jason said.

‘Yes sir’ the Corporeal said and the remainder of the soldiers left.

‘Something’s not right’ Celeste said.

‘You feel it too?’ Jason asked.

‘Yeah. I don’t know what it is, but something just doesn’t feel right’ Celeste said.

‘I know’ Jason said. They watched Williams’ intercept convoy leave the Showgrounds.

‘We need to talk about… us’ Celeste said. Jason turned to her.

‘You’ve had two months to talk to me about it, why do you-‘

‘I’m pregnant’ Celeste cut across. Jason remained silent for a few moments.

‘You’re pregnant? Are you sure?’ He asked. Celeste nodded.

‘I got the test results back yesterday’

‘When did you see the medics?’ Jason said.

‘About a week ago. It’s yours, ours’ Celeste replied. Jason sighed.

‘A baby, in this place’ Jason thought out loud.

‘I’m keeping it’ Celeste said, sounding a little hurt.

‘No, I uh… I didn’t say you shouldn’t’ Jason said, almost apologetically.

‘Then what are you saying?’ Celeste asked.

‘We’re going to make this work, ok? We’re going to figure this out, and it’s going to be fine’ Jason said.

‘Jason, I understand if you’d rather have nothing to do with this, I wouldn’t blame you either. You’ve got to deal with being second-in-command-‘

‘Celeste, no. I aspire to be like my father on many things, but he missed the first six years of my life and then spent the next eleven years trying to make it upto me. I will not make the same mistake’ Jason replied.

‘What happened? Is it why Claire hates you?’ Celeste asked.

‘Not exactly’ Jason said, dismissively.

‘Then tell me, Jason. You’re going to be with me for the next eighteen years, you might as well tell me now’ Celeste said.

‘When he found out that my mum was pregnant, he ran. He walked out and that’s when he met Claire’s aunt. He didn’t learn from the first time. She fell pregnant too. But this time he had nowhere to run. Claire didn’t know, and neither my dad nor her aunt wanted the baby, so Claire’s mother opted to take it as if it were her own, as far as Claire was concerned, the baby was her sister’ Jason said.

‘What was the baby’s name?’ Celeste asked.

‘Jessica’ Jason replied.

‘So that’s why Claire hates you? Because your dad got her Aunt pregnant? That wasn’t your fault’ Celeste told him.

‘There’s more, when we all fourteen, I met Jessica. I didn’t know who she was at the time and, long story short, we formed a bit more then a just a friendly relationship’ Jason said.

‘You mean-‘

‘Yeah, that’s what I mean. Like I said, I didn’t know who she was at the time. We both agreed to end the relationship after we found out, but Claire never forgave. She felt betrayed by my family once and now she had second mistake to make us pay for, and for the next three years she did just that. She made my life hell. I lay down and took it because I didn’t need that story coming out’

‘What did she do?’

‘Let’s just say it went beyond a bad joke. She never stopped, not until the invasion. What Claire failed to realise was that Jessica onto me, not the other way round’

‘So that’s why Claire hates you?’ Celeste asked.

‘No. That happened eight years ago. It was an accident. Claire’s mum went to the Barracks to talk to my dad about Jessica. I was there, and being a nine year old kid curiosity got the better of me. Dad had left one of the rifles unattended and I grabbed it. I meant to fire a few shots down the range. Dad would sometimes let me, under his supervision. I didn’t the rifle was automatic and I lost control. Claire’s was hit in chest and killed,’ Jason said, looking down at the floor. ‘I killed Claire’s mother’

‘Jason, you were nine. Claire can’t blame you for that’

‘Believe me, she blames me. What you’ve been seeing of her treatment of me the last few days. That’s not Claire. She’s still being nasty, but agreeable because she hasn’t got a choice. Whether she likes it or night, I’m helping keep her alive’ Jason told her.

‘Ok. One last thing and I need you to promise me this, ok?’

‘Yeah, sure’ Jason said.

‘You’ll protect Sarah. Make sure nothing happens to her. She’s the only family I have left. Will you keep her safe?’ Celeste asked.

‘I will. I promise’ Jason said. Celeste kissed him on the cheek.

‘Thank you’ She said, as they both returned to watching the screen

Chapter Fourteen: The Plan

The days at the Showgrounds morphed into weeks. New arrivals had made their way there, defence teams manned the walls, motion sensor air defence turrets were erected on the walls at intersections. The gates remained closed and no one could enter or leave without the permission of Lieutenant Williams or Jason. No airstrike had occurred yet, and they were sleeping under any shelter they could find; for Jason, Claire, Celeste and Sarah, that was a small, brick and tile, building near the main gate . Access to the military network had allowed Claire to continue her work, in turn allowing them to know many things; the Nexus were indeed more powerful than the Military, winning stunning victories on small numbers. But Jason wasn’t concerned with the Nexus. What concerned Jason now was the extent of information that had been stolen from the network by another source. Someone had been stealing information from the military for at least eight months before the Tallentiri invasion.

‘Jason, we have no idea why that information isn’t there. For all we know the military might have deleted it’ Claire said.

‘For eight months, Claire? Really? It has to be a spy. Maybe some of those are deletions, but certainly not eight months worth’ Jason said.

‘What’s going on know?’ Celeste asked.

‘Jason is convinced there’s a Nexus spy’ Claire answered.

‘Ok. Ignore the eight months. The Nexus knew exactly where the envelope was. They might of already known about it being my dad’s quarters, but they failed then because Celeste I got there first. By the second time, they knew exactly where it was, and who had it’ Jason replied.

‘Alright, let’s take some time out. First of all Jason, what you have is not proof. It’s a theory. So let’s not jump the gun. You asked Claire to look into the envelope and she did that’ Celeste said.

‘Yes but-‘

‘Bababababa, I’m not done. Claire, just because you don’t believe it, doesn’t mean that a spy doesn’t exist’ Celeste said.

‘Where do you sit then? Do you think there’s a spy?’ Claire asked.

‘I think we need to be open to the possibility of a spy. If it was just the eight months, then I might think that there wasn’t. But it’s not only what Jason said. The Nexus knew when we’d be running searches for survivors, and they were waiting for us when we left the Barracks. Someone had to of tipped them off. It’s too suspicious’ Celeste said.

‘So you think he’s right. What a surprise. You know, you’re not the first girl he’s slept with’ Claire said.

‘Hey! That’s a little uncalled for’ Jason said. ‘And she already knew that’ Jason added, sighing. All three were silent for a moment.

‘Celeste, can you leave Jason and I alone for a minute?’ Claire asked. Celeste looked at Jason.

‘It’s ok. Go’ he said. Celeste unwillingly left.

‘Right. You and I need to have a talk’ Jason said sternly.

‘Yeah, we do’ Claire replied.

‘Ok, first off. My sex life, not up for discussion,’ Jason said. ‘And even if it was, you did not need to bring it up then’ Jason said.

‘Does she know what number she is?’ Claire asked.

‘I thought I said this wasn’t up for discussion’ Jason said.

‘So that’s a no then’

‘I told her she wasn’t the first and that’s all she needs to know’ Jason retorted.

‘Wow. Is that that how you treated Jess’ Claire asked.

‘Your sister Jessica came on to me and you know it. Besides, you and I both know why you hate me and we are not doing this now’ Jason asked.

‘Either you tell her the truth, or I will’ Claire asked.

‘You will not breathe a word about that to Celeste’ Jason told her, before walking out of the room. As he walked out onto the main road, Celeste caught up to him.

‘Do you really there could be a spy?’ she asked.

‘Yes, I do. If we’re right we have to find them, fast’ Jason replied.

‘Can I help?’

‘Make friends with the civilians and have them come to me if they see or hear anything suspicious. There are a lot of people here. Some of them have to have heard something’ Jason told her.

‘Where are you going?’

‘Williams has called a meeting to discuss battle strategies and what we’re going to do next’ Jason said, and without another word he headed towards the main pavilion in the centre of the showgrounds.

‘Right on time Jason’ Williams said as Jason entered.

‘I’m getting good at that’ Jason replied with a weak smile, walking over to him. There was a map of everything within a ten kilometre radius on the table.

‘Ok. So the stores and houses near by have been picked clean. If we ration the food ad water properly we have about a month worth of food and water. But we have bigger problems. Scouts have reported what appears to be a Tallentiri construction site, and the latest satellite images show that the centre of Perth has been demolished. The colony head to the Perth Arena never made it. They were destroyed by Tallentiri forces guarding the city. The construction site is located here,’ he circled an area on the map. ‘about four clicks from here. We can’t do anything about Perth just yet, but we can stop this. We’ll coordinate an assault on the site from two directions. Jason, you’ll lead a strike force through the site. The rest of us will circle the area, stopping anything from getting out. Any questions’ Williams said.

‘Yeah how are the Tallentiri inside the site?’ Jason asked.

‘Thermals tell us that the site is lightly defended. They probably don’t know that we know about it’ Williams said. ‘Any other questions?’. Nobody else said anything.

‘Good. We strike in two days. Prepare yourselves however you can. Dismissed’ Williams said. Slowly the soldiers filed out, one by one.

‘Who’s in command while we’re gone?’ Jason asked, watching them.

‘That is upto you’ Williams said, laughing as he slapped Jason on the back walking away. Jason knew who he was going to put in command.

Chapter Thirteen: The Journey

‘Come on! Get those weapons and ammunition to the Rovers. We leave in twenty minutes’ Lieutenant Williams said.

‘Jason, all four of us should go with you’ Celeste said, as she helped him carry a variety of weapons to the South Gate where two heavily armoured rovers and military truck were waiting.

‘I already said no. you’re coming with me. Claire and Sarah will go with Lieutenant Williams. We need them there, to push him if we don’t get an answer’ Jason said, looking around to make sure there were no eavesdroppers.

‘Fine. We also need to talk about-‘

‘I know, but not now ok?’ Jason interrupted.

‘Yes ok’ Celeste said, as they threw the bag full if weapons in the back of a Rover. Slowly the other civilians piled into the truck with a small squad of soldiers. Jason got behind the wheel of the second Rover and Celeste got in next to him. Four civilians and two soldiers took the remaining seats in the back. Jason watched Williams get into his Rover and they left the Barracks. Celeste nodded at Jason as she held the radio in front of his mouth.

‘Williams, I was thinking. Wouldn’t it be easier to order an airstrike on the Nexus headquarters? That would finish them, leaving the Tallentiri to fight us’ Jason said.

‘We could except the Nexus control the airfields. Even if we did have control of the airfields, we have no idea where the Nexus headquarters is’ Williams replied. Jason and Celeste looked at each other.

‘Ok. It was just an idea, Jason out’ Jason said. They drove a little longer through devastated, suburban streets. Eventually they stopped and Williams signalled for Jason to pull up along side them.

‘Can you sense them?’ he asked.

‘Yeah. This place is crawling with them’ Jason replied.

‘Crawling with what?’ Celeste asked.

‘Nexus forces. They’re expecting us’ one of the soldiers behind Celeste said.

‘Someone must’ve tipped them off’ another soldier said.

‘Regardless of how they know about our presence we have to deal with them now. Someone has to lead to a scout, find a safe passage for the other group to pass through’ Williams said.

‘I’ll do it’ Jason said. Williams chuckled a little.

‘I appreciate the enthusiasm, but you’re not trained for this. Plus I have more soldiers-‘

‘Which is exactly why it should be us and not you; less soldiers to draw attention. Plus, should we fail to protect you, you stand a better chance of defending yourselves’ Jason told him.

‘Fine. Stay on radio. Engage them only when necessary’ Williams told him.

‘Got it. Wait for my call. We’ll cover you from buildings’ Jason said.

‘We have a long range weapon. Once we’re out of the area, we’ll set it up on that hill about a kilometre from here. It won’t kill many of them, but it should distract them long enough to allow you to get out and join us’ Williams said.

‘Alright. Everyone out’ Jason said. They all piled out and Williams drove his rover to the other side of the street and waited.

‘Alright,’ Jason said, opening the bag full of weapons. ‘Take one rifle and one pistol each. Fire only when you have to, once that ammo’s gone, it is gone’ Jason said.

‘Got it Jason, just go. The faster we get them out of here, the faster we get out of here’ Celeste said,

‘Alright. You and you,’ Jason said, pointing at two soldiers. ‘You’re with me. The rest of you stay here, guard the Rover’ he added. Jason and the two soldiers crept around the corner and moved up the street. The houses in this area looked relatively in tact. Jason concluded that the Tallentiri mustn’t have bombed this far out.

‘We’re never going to see anything from ground level, sir’ One of the soldiers said.

‘I’m a civilian. You don’t have to call me sir’ Jason said.

‘Actually, sir we do. You are effectively our commanding officer’ The other one said.

‘Ok, here’s what I’m going to do. I order both of you, to not refer to me as “sir”. Understand?’ Jason said.

‘Yes sir, I mean no sir, I mean… yes’ they both stammered.

‘Good. Now as soon as we find a decent vantage point we’ll do what we need to do to get out of here’

‘Jason, we need guidance here’ Williams said.

‘We’re in the process of…’ Jason stopped talking. There was a huge ship approaching them from the north. It was like a large, ovular, brown house.

‘In, get in’ Jason said, kicking in the door to a house.

‘Say again Jason, you were cut off’ Williams said.

‘Williams, the situation has changed. We’ve got Tallentiri out here.

‘Understood. Williams out’

‘Barricade the door!’ Jason yelled. The soldiers began moving furniture in front of the doors.

‘How do you know they’re Tallentiri?’ one of the soldiers asked.

‘It’s an educated guess. The ship obviously wasn’t Human’ Jason replied. A Tallentiri swiped at the door, cutting a huge chunk out of it.

‘Open fire’ Jason ordered. The sound of bullets filled the confined space of the house. Three more tried to enter, destroying the door and breaking the barricade. They were killed before they even made it halfway across the room.

‘Jason I’m coming to get you, just hold on’ Williams said.

‘Copy that’ Jason replied. ‘Alright, let’s move. Stay under cover’ Jason said to the soldiers. The house exploded behind them as soon as they reached the veranda of the house, pushing them out, onto the road. The Tallentiri ship had fired on the house. Jason rolled onto his back and saw the ship floating there.

‘Don’t move,’ he said. ‘It’s watching us. If we remain still enough, it might think we’re dead and move on’ he added. Seconds seemed to meld into minutes, then stretch into what felt like hours.

‘How did it know we were in there?’ one of the soldiers asked.

‘They must be tracing the radio signals. If it saw us go in, it would’ve fired as soon as we entered’ Jason answered. The ship eventually turned and left and Williams arrived seconds later.

‘Get in’ he said, stopping the Rover in the middle of the street. They all got up and climbed into the Rover.

‘Where’s everyone else?’ Jason asked.

‘As soon as the Tallentiri arrived, the Nexus bolted. I led everyone out of the area, and told them to go to the Showgrounds while came back to get you. They should be there by now’ Williams replied. They took off the street. They reached the showgrounds, undisturbed, an hour later.

Chapter Twelve: Revelations

Jason awoke to the sight of Claire’s and Sarah’s faces looking down at him, shocked. Jason gave an enquiring look and Claire’s eyes told him where to look: down. When he looked he saw Celeste’s head resting on his bare chest. Jason looked back and Claire and Sarah.

‘It’s not what it looks like’ he said.

‘Sure it isn’t’ Claire said, barely concealing her smirk. Jason noticed something in Sarah’s hand.

‘What’s that?’ Jason asked, changing the subject

‘A letter from General Carson’ Sarah replied.

‘There’s also a map with it’ Claire asked. Jason stopped for a second.

‘Map’ he whispered, then he thought about it.

‘Jason?’

‘Sarah, pass me the envelope’ Jason said. Sarah passed him the envelope.

‘Jason, you can’t decrypt those papers without a computer’ Claire said.

‘Well, I don’t think they were encrypted to begin with’ Jason said, pulling the papers out of it.

‘What do you mean?’ Claire asked.

‘They’re map coordinates’ Jason said.

‘Leading where?’ Sarah asked.

‘That’s what I want Claire to figure out’ Jason said.

‘Oh yes, sure, no problem commander’ Claire snapped.

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ Jason retorted.

‘It means you are not in charge of us, for now’ Claire replied.

‘What is she talking about?’ Jason asked Sarah.

‘You should read the letter’ Sarah said. Jason carefully rolled Celeste off him, sat up, and took the letter out of Sarah’s hand. When he opened it, he saw half a page of writing.

‘This is closer to a note, but thank you’ Jason said.

‘Just read it’ Claire said. Jason read it.

‘Apart from Williams being promoted to Lieutenant, and us leaving the Barracks, what does that have to do with me?’ Jason asked.

‘We’re all on Lieutenant Williams’ party and General Carson gave Williams you as his second-in-command’ Sarah told him.

‘We’ll leave you to get dressed’ Claire said nastily.

‘At least the old Claire’s back. I wondered where she’d gone’ Jason said. Claire gave him the finger before walking off with Sarah. Jason got out of bed and quickly got dressed. Jason walked out the door.

‘Didn’t take you long, did it?’ Claire asked.

‘I didn’t plan for that to happen. And, just for your information, she started it’ Jason asked.

‘Like father like son’ Claire snarled, stepping forward.

‘I’m not apologising for last night, or for what happened eight years ago. So get over it’ Jason replied, just as angrily.

‘Take this’ Claire said, sighing, holding out a radio. Jason took it and walked off. He heard Claire yell something but ignored her and kept walking. Jason switched on the radio.

‘Lieutenant Williams’ he said.

‘Jason is that you?’ Williams said.

‘Yeah, it’s me. Where are you?’ Jason asked.

‘Mess. Where are you?’ Williams replied.

‘I’m on my way’ Jason said as he headed towards the Mess Hall.

When Jason stepped inside, General Carson was talking.

‘Nice of you to join us, Mr Blake’ Carson said.

‘Sorry I’m late,’ Jason said. ‘I just found out’ Williams signalled for Jason to sit next to him, and Jason awkwardly made his over.

‘As I was saying, before Mr Blake decided to show up, all of your locations are secure, as of last Wednesday’s recon. You all leave in two hours for your prospective destinations. Any questions?’ Carson asked. One of the soldiers raised their hands.

‘These locations are past Nexus controlled territory. In order to get there, we’ll have to go through that territory’

‘Lieutenant, I understand what you’re saying, but the Nexus will not be expecting us to move. The paths through will lightly guarded, if guarded at all. Add to that they suffered heavier casualties compared to us, they’re not going to want to fight’ Carson replied.

‘Then why move at all?’ someone else called out.

‘The safety of the Barracks has been compromised. A small force will remain here to defend the barracks from any stray attacks, but our main objective is save as many lives as possible’ Carson answered.

‘If you wanted to save lives, you’d have two military in command. Civilians don’t know anything about defensive strategies’ a soldier called out.

‘Colonel, we’ve been through this before. The civilian leaders are they’re to run the civil side of the new colonies. The military officer will have full control of all defensive operations, when necessary’ Carson told him. Then Williams spoke.

‘What about the civilians like Jason, sir? Those who have some military training, but aren’t officers?’

‘If required, they run both the civil and military sides. All civilian leaders, will have the order power. When they are put in command, all military personnel are to follow their orders, like they would if their commanding officer had given the order. Is that clear?’ Carson said.

‘Yes sir’ the soldiers replied.

‘Dismissed’ Carson said. They made their way out of the Mess Hall and once outside, Jason spoke to Williams.

‘Congratulations on the promotion’ Jason said.

‘I only got it because Spire was killed in the Nexus incursion’ Williams said. ‘But thank you’ he added.

‘So why did Carson civilians as second-in-command?’ Jason asked.

‘He doesn’t want it to look a military dictatorship. We leave for the Claremont Showgrounds in two hours, go and get your things ready then ring them to one of the rovers waiting by the South gate’ Williams said.

‘The showgrounds are east of here’ Jason said.

‘I know, just go’ Williams said. Jason nodded and left.

‘Pack your stuff. Take it to the South Gate’ Jason said.

‘Jason you need to see this’ Sarah said.

‘You were right. They’re map coordinates. One of the locations is the Claremont Showgrounds’ Claire said.

‘Yeah that’s where we’re going’ Jason said.

‘But they’re not colonial destinations’ Celeste said.

‘Then what are they?’ Jason asked.

‘Airstrike coordinates’ Sarah said.

‘We also found three others; The Convention centre, Perth Arena and Subiaco Oval. All airstrike targets’ Claire said.

‘There has to be a mistake. Check again then re-check’ Jason said.

‘Already did. They’re air strike targets Jason’ Sarah said.

‘What do you want to do?’ Celeste said. Jason thought about it, pacing around the room.

‘Pack your things. We’re still going. I’ll see if I can get anything out of Williams on the way there. Just keep quiet about it for now, ok’ Jason said.

‘Alright’ they all replied in unison.

Chapter Eleven: The First Play

They ran to the North Gate. Somehow, Nexus forces were moving through the Bastion shield. The soldiers at the Barracks, were cutting them down, leaving piles of dead soldiers on the ground, but more coming through than could be killed. Jason ran for it. He had a feeling that he knew who was after the envelope now. He banged on the door to his quarters.

‘It’s me, Jason open up!’ he yelled. Celeste opened the door.

‘What’s going on?’ she asked.

‘We’re moving. Now. Grab the envelope and follow me’ Jason said as he waited for them.

‘Where are we going?’ Celeste asked.

‘Third floor of the research lab’ Jason answered.

‘Why?’ Claire asked.

‘Because I know who’s after the envelope. It’s the Nexus. They’re private military attacking the Barracks right now’ Jason replied, rounding a corner. Jason fired as a Nexus soldier appeared at the other end of the corridor. The soldier fell back before he even saw Jason.

‘Celeste, take his weapon’ Jason said. Celeste obeyed, picking up the soldier’s RX-15 Assault Rifle.

‘The military doesn’t even have those yet’ Jason told them. They continued to move along the corridor, and managed to reach the research lab, relatively easily. Once they entered, Claire locked the door behind them. Together they then entered the lift and went up to the third floor. Everyone had left, prior to the attack, so they were alone. They looked out the window. The courtyard that had been empty a minutes ago, was now an all-out battlefield. Nexus and Campbell forces, were engaged in a fierce battle, and people lay dead in almost every un-occupied space.

‘Start firing’ Jason said. As soon as the Nexus forces heard Jason and Celeste’s shots, they moved to the cover of roves, but the Campbell forces now had them pinned.

‘What they even doing here?’ Celeste yelled over the sound of gunfire.

‘It’s a play for the envelope. It’s a failed attempt, they’ll find that out soon enough’ Jason said. Then they heard an explosion from below.

‘They’re inside’ Sarah said. Jason said.

‘Celeste, take Sarah and Claire and hide. They can not get that envelope, understand?’ Jason said.

‘Yes, but what about-‘

‘You let me worry about them’ Jason said. He watched them takes the stairs down and then he crouched down behind a desk, close to the window. As soon as the lift doors opened, six Nexus soldiers stepped out and opened fire. Jason peered around the corner of the desk and spotted a pressurised gas tank near the elevator. Jason moved his head back behind the desk, inhaling deeply. He then aimed carefully and fired one shot at the tank, leaning around the corner of the desk. The explosion forced the soldiers to forget about him as they moved out of the way. In that time, Jason had leapt out of the window and ran across the roof. As he dropped himself off the roof to the ground below, he noticed Nexus forces retreating, towards the North Gate, but some of them were still firing. Jason noticed three soldiers advancing on Celeste, who was out of ammo. They didn’t seem to want to shoot her though. They wanted her to hand over the envelope. Jason fired on them while moving forward. Two of them ran, but one stayed, holding a pistol to Celeste’s head.

‘Stop’ he said, confidently. ‘Stop, or I’ll put a bullet so deep in her head, they’ll never find it’ Jason obeyed.

‘Ok’ Jason said.

‘Drop your weapon, hold your hands above your head’ the soldier said. Jason dropped the weapon and held his hand in the air.

‘Give me the envelope’ the soldier told Celeste.

‘Do it Celeste’ Jason told her, sighing slightly. Begrudgingly, Celeste handed over the envelope. The soldier smiled as he took the envelope, and walked away. As he passed Jason, in one swift movement, broke the bridge of the soldier’s nose and then pushed it up, into the soldier’s brain, killing him instantly. Jason sighed, closing his eyes.

‘If I can avoid killing people I will, but that was necessary’ he said.

‘Thank you’ Celeste said.

‘For what?’ Jason asked.

‘Well that’s the second time you’ve saved my life’

‘I’m sorry, are we not here too?’ Sarah said.

‘Ok. You saved their lives too’ Celeste said. Jason smiled.

‘The Nexus have left. I want you,’ Jason picked up the envelope, which had somehow avoided the blood, and handed it back to them ‘To take the envelope back to our quarters. Celeste and I will meet you there’ Jason added. Claire nodded and headed off with Sarah. Jason turned and Celeste followed. They went to the courtyard, where the other soldiers had gathered.

‘Military personnel only. No exceptions I’m afraid’ Sergeant Williams said walking over to them.

‘Can you tell me how many we lost?’ Jason asked.

‘Twenty-eight people were people, ten of those were civilians. We also have fifty-four people injured’ Williams said.

‘So what are with the bodies?’ Celeste asked.

‘We’re discussing that now, but we can’t tell you. You should return to your quarters. Everyone will be informed shortly’ Lieutenant Spire interjected, walking over. Jason hesitated, but then nodded.

‘Alright’ he said, and they gradually made their way back.

It was near midnight. Claire and Sarah had fallen asleep, but Jason and Celeste were still awake. Celeste was drinking water, Jason was examining the contents of the envelope again and neither of them could sleep. The military had decided to bury the dead Campbell Soldiers and Civilians on the beach. The Nexus soldiers would be taken out ten kilometers from the shore and dumped in the ocean. They both thought it was unceremonious, but by the same token, those people had tried to kill them, as far as Jason and Celeste were concerned, dumping them in ocean was much nicer than leaving them on the land.

‘Kiss me’ Celeste said. Jason said nothing for a moment.

‘What?’

‘Today, I could’ve have died, and I haven’t even been kissed yet. I want to experience it before I die. So kiss me,’ Celeste said. ‘Please’ she added. Jason hesitated but eventually moved himself over to her and two of them embraced each other. Almost involuntarily, the tongues danced around each other, before they pulled away. The two of them smiled at each other, before they kissed again.

Chapter Ten: A Small Victory

They crossed the wall, but just barely. The nose of the helicopter was pointed at the ground now.

‘Pull up!’ Jason said.

‘I’m trying!’ the pilot replied. Jason held on to the rail above him and braced for impact. The pilot managed to correct the angle just enough in time. The helicopter slid across the helipad on its nose. The glass shattered and Jason was thrown out of the cockpit, where he cut himself on broken glass, and rolled across the ground. A group of medical personnel moved across to him. Jason was seeing double. He could see the helicopter was smoking, he tried to push the medics away but a soldier held his arms. The doctors assessed him there. They tested his eyesight which had already begun to sort itself out, one of the doctors even fixed up a nasty gash he had across his forehead.

‘Apart from the cuts and the gash on his forehead, there’s nothing physically wrong with him,’ one of the medics said. ‘How do you feel?’ they asked.

‘Fine’ Jason answered.

‘He could be concussed, but we don’t have time to test for that. As long he can walk straight, I’m happy to let him go’ they pulled Jason up. He was unstable and wobbled for a bit, but eventually managed to walk straight.

‘Jason, listen to me. Get your weapon and meet Sergeant Williams and the East wall. Intel says that’s where the Tallentiri are coming from, so we need people on that wall. Understand?’ Lieutenant Spire said.

Jason nodded.

‘Yes sir’ Jason replied.

‘Then go’ Spire told him. Jason left and made his back to his quarters. Everyone was there including Celeste.

‘Shouldn’t you be in the science lab?’ he asked.

‘Shouldn’t you be out there?’ Celeste replied.

‘The Barracks could be under attack. They needed everyone inside’ Jason said, grabbing the Aug he’d propped against the wall that morning.

‘Do they want us?’ Sarah asked.

‘I don’t know. Claire, have you found anything?’ Jason asked.

‘Not yet’ Claire answered.

‘Ok, well keep searching,’ Jason told her, stepping outside. ‘Lock the door’

‘Why?’ Celeste asked.

‘There’s no time to explain, just do it!’ Jason yelled as he closed the door. He heard it lock and then left for the east wall.

‘Jason, there you are. Get up here!’ Williams shouted from the top of the wall. Jason climbed the ladder and walked over to him.

‘I can’t believe you survived that crash. Anyway, we’re about to deploy the Bastion shield. But we can’t guarantee that it’ll hold under heavy fire from the Nexus, and other rescue parties are saying that the Tallentiri have weapons more deadly than their talons’ Williams said.

‘If the shield fails what happens then?’ Jason asked.

‘If that happens, we buy as much as time as we can to evacuate as many people as possible. But we shouldn’t need to. The perimeter is mined plus all automatic defences are fully operational’ Williams said. A bright, blue beam shot straight up from the centre of the Barracks. Then they saw a blinding flash of white as the beam became something like a sphere, enveloping the Barracks in an opaque blue barrier. An army of Tallentiri appeared over the dunes. Hundreds of insectiod people, the sunlight reflecting off their black exoskeleton. Williams picked up his radio.

‘Activate the Hell storm platform’ he said. A large, rectangular platform emerged out of the dune. On it there were three, clearly, heavily armoured cannons.

‘They’re not the only ones with deadly weapons. The sonic cannons will bring them into the firing line and the plasma cannon will finish the job’ Jason was confused.

‘Won’t the Bastion stop our fire as well?’ he asked.

‘No. it’s been modified to let our fire pass through’ Williams said. Out of nowhere a thick yellowy-orangey beam, passed through the shield from outside and destroyed all three cannons.

‘What the fuck was that?’ Jason asked.

‘I don’t know, but definitely not human technology’ Williams replied. The Tallentiri reached the shield and could advance no further. The Bastion stopped them from physically passing through. They stayed there. Scratching their talons against the shield but moved, nowhere. The Tallentiri had no choice. Their assault had been cut off. With no other option, they turned their backs and left. One side of the battle had been won, but the Nexus were putting up a fight. They were determined not to be beaten. At the northern gate, the Nexus were almost through.

Chapter Nine: The Search

Claire and Sarah had been released from the Hospital wing that morning and had stumbled into their quarters with Jason and Celeste, who were sitting at the table contemplating their new duties.

‘Hey’ they both said as they entered. Jason and Celeste looked up.

‘Hey’ Jason said and Celeste replied together. Sarah’s leg had been put in a cast and she was given crutches. Claire’s leg was heavily bandaged and she too was on crutches. Jason got up and approached Claire.

‘Claire’ he said.

‘Yes’ she replied.

‘I know you used to be good with computers, are you still good with computers?’ Jason asked.

‘Yes, of course I’m still good with computers’ Claire said, a little annoyed.

‘Good. Take a seat. I need you to do something’ Jason said. Claire hobbled over and sat down at the table while Jason walked over with the envelope.

‘What’s this?’ Claire asked.

‘That’s what I was hoping you could tell me’ Jason said.

‘Why do you need me to find out?’ Claire asked him.

‘After my meeting with the General, Celeste and I went to my dad’s old quarters and found this,’ Jason said opening the envelope and showing her the contents. ‘Letters, numbers, forms that make no sense to me. All I know is that they’re important and that someone else is after them. If I know what they are, then maybe I can figure out why someone’s after it’ Jason told her.

‘So you’re asking me to-‘

‘To look into it, yes’ Jason said.

‘You’re sure?’ Claire asked.

‘Yes. Just do it quietly’ Jason said.

‘We’d better go’ Celeste announced. Jason looked up.

‘Yes, we should’ Jason replied.

‘Go? Go where?’ Sarah asked.

‘Well, Celeste has been put in the Research Lab, and they’ve got me in a search team to look for survivors’ Jason said and he left with Celeste. When the door was closed behind them, Celeste spoke.

‘Wanna fill me in?’ she asked.

‘Claire and I went to the same school. She was one of the best hackers there’ Jason answered.

‘And why do you need a hacker?’ Celeste asked.

‘Well, the only thing I’ve been able to come up with is that the details of those papers are not something that I’m supposed to have access to. Dad will have encrypted them to protect himself, but the unencrypted version will still be in the military network’ Jason said.

‘Are you insane?’ Celeste whispered. ‘If Claire gets caught, she will go to jail for the rest of her life’

‘Right now, I doubt being free is safer than being in jail. If anything it’s more dangerous. Besides, she won’t be caught’ Jason told Celeste.

‘Ok then, if that’s what you think. Anyway, I’d better go’ Celeste said as she turned on her heel and left.

‘The General doesn’t want you handling a gun, other than your own, outside of the firing range. You’re going to be up in the air, so your Aug A3 is useless or not as efficient. Instead you’re going to be our eyes. Not only will you be looking for survivors, but you’ll be guiding ground forces around Tallentiri patrols. They know we’re active now, so they will be looking for us’ Sergeant Williams told him. ‘And don’t worry, you’re not the pilot, you’re just a spotter’ he added. Jason had arrived at the Helipad and was given the job of watching over the ground forces. Jason clambered in and the 5300X powered up and took off. The landscape surrounding the Barracks opened up around him. The helicopter flew off, ahead of the ground teams.

‘Falcon Three, come in’ said a voice over the radio.

‘Command this is Falcon Three, over’ the pilot said.

‘We’ve received confirmation that there is a Tallentiri strike force en route to the Barracks. We need you to turn your ground forces and yourself around and head back to the Barracks’

‘Hang on a sec’ Jason said.

‘Command, Stand by,’ the pilot said before turning to Jason. ‘What is it?’

‘I think I see survivors. Two clicks, dead ahead’ Jason answered.

‘I don’t think so. Too many of them. Way too many of them’ The pilot said.

‘Then what are they?’ Jason asked. They watched the group and the pilot gasped.

‘Command, we have Nexus forces en route, approximately two kilometres, directly in front of us. Request permission to engage’ the pilot said.

‘Negative Falcon Three. You and your ground forces must return to the Barracks. We’ll deal with Nexus later’

‘Copy that. Falcon Three out,’ The pilot said, before turning and nodding at Jason. ‘Pass the message on, leave the Nexus forces out of it’

‘Sergeant Williams, do you read?’ Jason said into his radio.

‘We read you Jason’ Williams replied.

‘Command wants everyone to return to the Barracks. They’ve received confirmation that a Tallentiri strike force is en route’ Jason said.

‘Copy that. Returning now, ETA three minutes’ Williams replied.

‘So what’s the Nexus?’ Jason asked. The pilot sighed.

‘They were originally a Peacekeeping force. Formed in secret by the Federal Government shortly after the National Riots of twenty fifty-eight. Two years later, they were sacked by the same Government. It was suggested that some of their agents were passing information to the Saudi Arabians. Now they’re a private military. Killers for hire’

‘Who hired them?’ Jason asked.

‘We don’t know. All we know is they have very deep pockets. They’ve got billion dollar weaponry. Better weapons than what we have. We’ve had skirmishes with them before, very few of our people have survived them’ they were almost at the Barracks now. Then they heard the sound of metal hitting metal.

‘They’re firing at us. It’s ok, we’re going to make it’ the pilot said. Suddenly there was an explosion and alarms.

‘I thought you said we were ok’ Jason said.

‘We are. We’ve just lost tail rotors, but I can still land’ the Pilot said.

‘Why do I sense there’s a “but”?’ Jason asked.

‘This is the first time I’ve tried it’ The pilot said.

Chapter Eight: Collection

When Jason walked into the Hospital wing, Celeste was sitting in a chair in what appeared to the waiting room. The white walls surrounded them and the tall ceiling tried to project an air of sanitation, Jason felt dirty; and not just because he hadn’t had a shower since surviving the bombardment. He already had a distrust of military at the Barracks.
‘Hey’ Jason said as he sat down to next to Celeste.
‘Hey’ Celeste replied tonelessly.
‘What’s going on? I thought they’d just put Sarah’s leg in a cast’ Jason asked.
‘Yeah, so did I. Apparently they needed to break her Fibula as it was cracked and they couldn’t fit together correctly. Sarah wouldn’t let them near her leg, so they put her under anaesthetic’ Celeste replied with a hint of anger in her voice.
‘And Claire?’ Jason asked.
‘I don’t know. I haven’t heard anything since we got here’ Celeste told him.
‘Ok. Well, as you can probably tell, I’m in desperate need of a shower. There is one thing I want to do first though. You wanna come with?’ Jason asked, standing back up. Celeste nodded.
‘Sure. It beats sitting around here’. Celeste followed Jason as they made their way across the courtyard to the West Wing. There were two guards outside. When Jason tried to enter one of them pushed him back.
‘Authorised personnel only’ they said.
‘But I am authorised’ Jason told them.
‘Identification? ’ the other responded.
‘General Carson gave me the key to Colonel Blake’s room. It’s on the second floor, room two thirty-two’ Jason told them, taking out the key.
‘So you are…’
‘His son. Are you going to let me in or not?’ Jason asked. The guard stepped aside.
‘Thank you’ Jason uttered as he led Celeste through.
‘What was that about?’ Celeste asked.
‘No idea. They’re probably just uptight because of the invasion’ Jason replied.  Together they entered the lift at the end of hall and stood in silence as the metal doors closed.
‘So what do you think he left here?’ Celeste asked him and the elevator shook.
‘I don’t know, it could be anything’ Jason replied.
‘Did you know him well?’
‘Not really, no. He was the kind of man who liked to keep secrets’ Jason replied as the doors opened revealing a long hallway with a white ceiling, black carpet, brown walls and light brown doors. The doors had a small piece of silver on them with the number stencilled in. The door closest to them read two hundred and sixty-one. They walked down the corridor and found two hundred and thirty-two and Jason unlocked the door. The walls of the late Colonel’s old room were an off-white colour and the bright afternoon sunlight spilled in through the arch windows at the end of the room which was long and very large. The timber floor shone with the iridescence that the light provided. Strangely the objects in the room were a large desk which was neatly cleaned; all his books stacked, no dust on the polished wood. It looked brand new. The chair also looked new, like it had never been used before. Closer to them was a three seater couch, a Jarrah wood table; on which sat a glass chess set, and a singular reclining chair, made of leather. There was a TV attached to the wall on the opposite side from the couch. There was a doorway which led to a bedroom, as Jason knew perfectly well but he felt compelled to open it anyway.
‘Hey, Jason?’ Celeste called out. Jason turned. Celeste had walked over to the desk and was looking at a picture. ‘What’s this?’ she asked. Jason walked over and had a proper look. It was obviously a younger Jason in the picture. There was also a woman, with wavy dark blonde hair and hazel eyes. She, as well her husband, was smiling with their son, clearly happy.
‘That was taken on my eighth birthday. Probably the last day we actually spent together as a family. After that dad was either here or on assignment’ Jason told her, smiling slightly himself.
‘You look so happy’ Celeste said.
‘Yeah I was,’ Jason replied, sitting down in the chair. He sighed. ‘You know, I remember being in here when I was, I don’t know, twelve or thirteen. He’d come back from training a group of soldiers and we’d just sit and play chess. I never beat him, because I couldn’t. He was an excellent chess player. He actually won a few tournaments, but that was before he joined the military’ Jason said as his bottom lip trembled. He opened the top drawer and found nothing except for a few pens and loose sheets of paper. Jason closed it and opened the second drawer and found a large yellow envelope. Jason opened the envelope and pulled out several sheets of paper.  Some showed letters and numbers which made no sense to him. Others were formal papers with directions to certain places. Jason was about to put back the envelope when he felt something else inside. It was a note.
‘What does it say?’ Celeste asked seeing Jason reading it.
‘To Jason, I can’t tell you exactly what this envelope means, but in time you’ll know. All I can say is it’s very important. I’m sure you can figure it out. Love, your father’ Jason read.
‘What the hell does that mean?’
‘He knew he was going to die’ Jason said closing the envelope and placing it on the desk. He then opened the third and last drawer, revealing his father’s service revolver, which Jason immediately pocketed. That was when they noticed the rattling of the door handle. Jason quickly got up and pushed the chair in before walking fast towards the bedroom, taking the envelope with him, signalling for Celeste to follow him.
‘Little fast isn’t it?’ Celeste whispered.
‘Not funny. No one’s supposed to be here except for us,’ Jason whispered back, crouching against the wall. ‘Now stay quiet’ he added. Just as Celeste crouched next to him the door opened and someone walked in and started opening the drawers at the desk. Jason took a quick look around the corner. All he could see was that the person was a tall male.
‘Damn it!’ The man exclaimed as Jason moved his head back behind the wall, closing the drawers.
‘It’s not here’ the man said.
‘You’re sure?’ said a voice over a radio.
‘Yes. They must’ve moved it. What should I do?’
‘Get out of there. Make sure no one sees you. Return to your position and await further instructions’ said the voice. The man left without a word.
‘Come on. Let’s go’ Jason said peering around the corner. The door was closed again. Jason opened it and looked outside. The man had disappeared. Together Jason and Celeste walked back to the elevator. When it reached the bottom they went to their quarters and that was when they spoke, after Jason closed the door.
‘Well that was interesting’ he said.
‘What?’ Celeste asked.
‘Someone else is after the envelope’ Jason replied.
‘Yeah’ Celeste replied, distractedly.
‘I’m going to take that shower. You do whatever you want’ Jason said as he turned and headed towards the bathroom and turned on the water. When he left, twenty minutes later and walked back out, Celeste had fallen asleep on the three seater couch. Jason smiled before pulling the blanket off one of the beds and placing it over Celeste’s body. He then, even though he had no idea why, kissed her forehead. Jason then walked over to and collapsed on his bed, pondering the reason as to why anybody would the envelope.

Chapter Seven: The Campbell Barracks

‘How far away are they?’ Celeste said, carrying Sarah over to them.

‘A couple of minutes’ Jason replied.
‘We’ve got company!’ Sarah yelled. And indeed they did. Tallentiri were appearing again in all directions. Jason quickly delved into his bag and pulled out two pistols.
‘You two know how to use these?’ both Celeste and Sarah shook their heads. Jason cocked both pistols.
‘They’re already loaded. All you need to do is point and shoot. They both took one and Jason opened fire. Tallentiri were slightly apprehensive, but angry and soon they were swamped. Jason took a quick look at where they Helicopter was. It couldn’t be more than thirty seconds away.
‘I’m out!’ Celeste screamed at him.
‘We just have to hold out for thirty seconds!’ Jason yelled back, reloading. Finally, after what felt like an eternity of shooting at these things the strong wind of the Helicopter’s Main Rotor Blades spinning embraced them as it landed in the basketball court behind them.
‘Go!’ Jason said. ‘Move now’ bullets whirred past him as he pulled Claire’s unconscious body towards the Helicopter. The soldiers helped them in and when they were up in the air, safe, Jason leaned back and sighed.
‘You’re Colonel Blake’s boy, aren’t you?’ one the soldiers said to him. Jason nodded
‘He was a good man. Strong fighter’
‘You knew him?’ Jason asked.
‘I served with him. Saved his life in fact; Saudi Arabia twenty fifty-four’ the soldier responded.
‘Sergeant Williams right?’ Jason asked.
‘The one and only’ Williams replied. Jason noticed Celeste looking out the side. It was early afternoon. The high sun lit up everything they could see. Destruction everywhere; buildings destroyed. People who were outside when the bombardment began lay dead in the streets.
‘Where are you taking us?’ Celeste asked.
‘Campbell Barracks in Swanbourne,’ Williams answered. ‘We were supposed to find more survivors, but she needs urgent medical attention,’ he said, pointing to Claire. ‘It’s safe there’ they flew a little further and heard the pilot talking through his radio.
‘Falcon One to Command, come in’
‘We read you loud and clear Falcon One’
‘We’ve done a recon as requested and found four survivors. Request permission to land’
‘Negative, Falcon One. Turn around and find more survivors’ Sergeant Williams turned and grabbed the radio.
‘Command, this is Sergeant Williams. One of the rescued survivors requires urgent medical attention. We also have the son of the late Colonel Blake’ Williams said. There was silence for a moment and then.
‘Copy that. Permission to land granted. Proceed to Campbell Barracks’
The Barracks unfolded itself in front of them. A large rectangular structure built into the dune just a few hundred meters from the ocean. There were several roads leading to a helipad in the centre of the courtyard.
‘Once we’ve landed, you two,’ Williams said gesturing at Jason and Celeste. ‘Will be given a quick tour of the Barracks, and be given a list of duties. The other two will be taken straight to the medics. That leg of yours needs fixing’ he added looking at Sarah. Once they landed, they were hurriedly ushered off, Claire was stretchered off and Sarah was helped by the medics to the Hospital wing.
‘Jason,’ Williams said. ‘This is Lieutenant Spire. He’ll take you on the tour’
‘Thank you, Sergeant. You’re dismissed,’ Spire said in a gruff voice; Jason could immediately tell that he either hated his job, or hated Sergeant Williams. ‘I’ll just show you the main sections that you’ll need to know; your quarters, mess, etcetera. Hospital wing is straight through those glass doors behind me. Follow me and please do not wander off’
Spire lead them to the mess hall first, a large room with a high ceiling, several tables with benches and something resembling a buffet at the end. He then showed them to their quarters which were almost exactly like a small house, except there was no Laundry. Spire explained that the military deals with that.
‘Ok,’ he said. ‘That’s basically it. If you can’t find anything, ask a guard. The General did ask to see you Mr Blake. He has some personal affects that your father left here’ Jason gestured for Celeste to follow him but Spire stopped her.
‘Mr Blake only’ he said.
‘I’ll go and see Sarah then. And she left. Spire then lead Jason into the lower floor of a tower and escorted him to the top floor where he was pushed into a room, alone.
‘You know, your father was a good man. Certainly didn’t deserve what happened to him,’ came a voice. Jason stepped forward and a man in his late fifties stepped out of the shadows in military camouflage. ‘But he, like all soldiers, knew the risk with war. Victory cannot be obtained without loss of life. Death is necessary to be victorious. Do you understand that, Jason?’
‘Yes General Carson’ Jason replied.
‘Good. The things your father left here have been kept in his quarters on the second floor in the west wing, room two hundred and thirty-two. Here is the key. While you are here, feel free to wander around the Barracks, use the firing range as you please. There is one thing I must tell you though. Do not enter the top floor of the science lab’ General Carson told him.
‘Why General?’ Jason asked.
‘They’re researching a potential way to fight the Tallentiri on a biological level, unfortunately the stuff they’re working with is potentially lethal to humans at the present time. Therefore, only those working on the project, are permitted to enter. Do you understand?’ Carson replied. Jason nodded.
‘Good, then I shall leave to do whatever you please’
Jason turned and left and headed straight for the Hospital Wing, knowing that something was going on, on the top floor of the science lab.