The Phoenix Conspiracy Read online

  “Mitchell and Adams reporting, sir,” the older-looking one said. “Adams” was stitched to his lapel.

  “I didn’t ask for additional security,” she said, raising a curious eyebrow.

  “We’re reporting here as their relief,” he motioned toward the other two Special Forces soldiers who’d been with her since she’d retaken the bridge—not very long ago. Being inferior in rank to Adams, they saluted when he addressed and dismissed them.

  Summers’ curiosity faded as she realized what was happening was perfectly routine. Probably the others were being reassigned to some other task their skills were better suited to. She turned back to face the front of the bridge.

  “Where would you like us to set up, sir?” Adams asked from behind.

  “Wherever you think is best,” Summers replied.

  At that moment her direct line to the Major beeped and she answered it. “Bridge.”

  “Commander,” the Major’s voice could be heard. “I’ve lost contact with the soldier standing guard outside Calvin’s quarters. What is your status up there?”

  “Everything is fine up here, Major,” she said. “Thank you for sending fresh soldiers to relieve my guard.”

  “I didn’t send any relief soldiers.”

  At that moment she felt a cold hand on her neck and something hard press against the side of her head. She screamed, startled, and heard Cassidy gasp.

  “Push that button again and tell the Major everything is fine,” Adams said from behind her. Summers felt a surge of fear swirling inside her but, as she focused on the situation at hand, she suppressed it and instead felt only cold, merciless anger.

  She pushed the button. “And one more thing Major.”

  “Yes, Commander.”

  “Seal off engineering!” Her finger came off the button as she was thrown forward, crashing to the ground on hands and knees. She jumped up resiliently and spun around to see both Mitchell and Adams holding stunners. Mitchell was forcing Patrick to seal off the bridge while Adams instructed them all to remain calm and not resist.

  Summers saw her chance and sprinted for the operations console.

  Chapter 25

  By the time Calvin and Pellew arrived outside engineering, Pellew could tell it had been sealed off. His soldiers reported back to him, saying their individual missions had all been successful, but Calvin was surprised to learn that exactly none of them had been given the task of breaching engineering. A veritable fortress that—now that the Major was surely onto them—would be daunting to tackle because they’d lost the element of surprise. But it, unlike the bridge, was at least possible to storm. All they needed now was superior numbers—and soon.

  “My men report they’ve freed Miles, Sarah, and now Shen. We couldn’t get to Andre because he’s still locked up in HQ,” said Pellew.

  Calvin was both surprised and pleased by their success. “So where are they now?”

  “On their way here. Would you like to give them any special instructions?”

  Calvin thought about it for a minute. “Keeping two of your men on the bridge leaves us with four soldiers—including you—and four crew members—including me. I don’t think that’s a strong enough force to take engineering, do you?”

  Pellew frowned. “It depends how they’re set up, but if they were warned to prepare for an attack then the odds aren’t great.”

  “So we need more assistance,” Calvin said. “It’s time we gather up more sympathizers.”

  “We’ll have to be careful since we’re in small groups and there’s an overwhelming hostile force bound to be patrolling the ship.”

  “Agreed,” said Calvin. “But it’s our only chance.” He then used the radio to relay specific instructions to Miles, Sarah, and Shen. Giving them orders to scour the crew quarters decks and appeal to whoever they thought would be sympathetic to their cause. Then they’d all meet up on the observation deck where weapons would be distributed. “Most of all,” Calvin said into the radio. “As you sneak around the ship, take no unnecessary risks, refrain from engaging the enemy, and follow the commands of your Special Forces escort.”

  ***

  It had been a process, and there were small firefights in the corridors—one involving Miles and his escort, who had to practically drag Miles away from the combat zone, and a second involving Sarah’s team, though she heeded her escort’s instructions and they escaped more easily. In total, they managed to recruit an additional ten sympathizers. Giving them a standing force of eighteen people able to attack engineering. More than the seventeen soldiers the Major had at his disposal but his superiorly armed and trained force more than made up for that.

  Pellew worried that the Major, who must have known they would be forced to attack engineering, had placed most of his force there. Without a numbers advantage, Pellew and Calvin knew it would be impossible for their rag-tag force to overcome Special Force’s fighting skill and defense advantages. Which was why Pellew suggested what he did.

  “We’re going to assault engineering and you don’t even want to be there to help?” Miles asked with genuine surprise.

  “I am going to help,” said Pellew. “But I don’t have to be there to do it. Look, I know the Major. He will defend HQ more than anything else, if he perceives there is a threat to it. The threat won’t even have to make sense, he’ll follow his instincts. It’s his training. He will protect HQ and that means, if we make enough noise down there, he will divert forces from engineering to HQ. Enough, probably, to let us take engineering.”

  “That’s an interesting idea,” said Calvin. “But if you don’t make enough noise, or you’re taken down too quickly, it will be a complete waste. And your command expertise and fighting skills might be more valuable breaching engineering.”

  “I’m flattered,” said Pellew with a mock grin. “But if I don’t create this diversion, we probably won’t be able to take engineering—with or without me.”

  “I could do it,” one of the other soldiers spoke up. “Osbourne” was stitched to his fatigues.

  Pellew didn’t say anything. Osbourne continued. “I will create the diversion. Give me several flashbangs and smoke canisters, and that’ll free you up to help take engineering.” He looked from Pellew to Calvin.

  “I’m good with that,” said Calvin.

  Pellew nodded, looking almost disappointed. “That works too.”

  ***

  Osbourne’s diversion must’ve worked beautifully since they found engineering abandoned, except for a few crewmembers who were manning the equipment.

  “No one’s here?” Miles shouted and then he laughed. “The Major doesn’t know anything!”

  “He must have wanted to keep his force together,” Pellew said. “So we don’t pick more of his soldiers off in small groups. But you can bet his force will return shortly, maybe with some of the other soldiers we knocked out and cable-tied earlier. That means we don’t have a moment to spare.”

  Pellew and Calvin shouted orders to their subordinates and began a process of fortifying engineering and evicting two of the engineers who wouldn’t sympathize with them. They’d just about finished erecting a barricade—since the engineering defense wall had already been destroyed—when they got a message from the bridge.

  “Problem, flight controls locked out, XO protocols in place, need a command override, over.”

  “Roger that,” Pellew replied, clicking off the radio. He looked at Calvin and they both knew what that meant. Calvin would have to get to the bridge to undo Summers’ lockout—meaning he’d have to sneak his way to the top of the ship.

  Pellew offered him an escort but Calvin chose to go alone, opting for a stealth approach. He knew every hand was needed here to defend engineering and, should the Major retake it, they’d never get it back, and certainly couldn’t rely on the diversion tactic again.

  Calvin knew the Major probably had soldiers scouring the ship to recover any soldiers Pellew’s men had previously incapacitated, and he probably had
men on their way to control the corridors around engineering—but Calvin had little choice. He hoped, with a little luck, he could slip through unnoticed. But, just in case, he brought a stunner.

  ***

  As Calvin moved through the silent empty halls, he skirted the corners carefully.

  He scrambled up a deck, using the ladders, but had to cut his ascent short and hide because he heard voices. He moved down a main corridor but the voices continued to follow him.

  He wondered if they knew he was around or if this was just a bad coincidence. He hushed his breathing and moved on. Knowing if he couldn’t get around them, he’d have to outthink them.

  The voices didn’t go away. Making him more and more certain they knew where he was. Yet they didn’t run, just kept pace. As Calvin turned another corner, making yet another attempt to get around, he realized they were corralling him. They didn’t know where he was exactly, but they were closing the window. And there must be other Special Forces soldiers coming from the other side, or perhaps waiting in ambush.

  He wasn’t certain what to do for a moment.

  If he stayed, he’d be caught. But if he kept moving, he’d spring their trap. He had to invent a third option… If only he could get the incoming men to move past him. Then he could go back the way he’d come and access the ladders without a problem.

  He looked around. He was in a small corridor with crew quarters on both sides. His first thought was to hide in one of them. But they were certainly locked. Maybe someone would sympathize with him, and hide him?

  He sprinted to the nearest crew quarters and rang the chime. Then he stood out of view of the small camera that would have identified him to the occupant. Hopefully the crewman was someone sympathetic to his cause and would take him in. If not…

  He tightened his grip on his stunner and waited.

  The approaching solders were almost to the corner now, they were loud enough Calvin could understand their conversation. It was about “tightening the gap” and the need to “search some of the rooms.”

  The door opened, revealing the surprised face of Third Lieutenant Rafael Te Santos, one of the analysts from the lab.

  “Can I help you, sir?”

  Calvin practically tackled Rafael as he darted inside and closed the door. Rafael looked both confused and a little angry. But Calvin didn’t have time for apologies.

  “Do you trust me?” he asked, tightening his grip on his stunner.

  Rafael’s eyes were difficult to read but he nodded. “Yes. Can I help you somehow?”

  “Let me hide here for a few minutes.”

  Rafael agreed, waving for him to go into the closet but instead Calvin chose behind the bed where he’d still be out of sight but could fight more easily—if it came to that.

  Unfortunately, from this view, he couldn’t see Rafael. And wasn’t sure whether the analyst planned to actually help him—at great personal risk—or give him up as soon as the soldiers were near.

  The seconds passed. It was too quiet. A trickle of sweat beaded slowly down his forehead. He didn’t wipe it away until it stung his eye. All the while he tried to resist the voice inside telling him Stun him! He’s going to give you up!

  Calvin didn’t stun Rafael. He didn’t even move to where he could see him. Instead he waited, trusted, and hoped. He’d made a real effort to get to know his crew personally—including Rafael—and he’d proven himself to them again and again. Now Rafael had a chance to prove himself to Calvin.

  Seconds turned into a minute and then two and still nothing happened. But he didn’t let himself relax, he continued to wait. Feeling the burn in his knees as he crouched, the pain forcing him to shift positions.

  Timing was critical, and judging when to leave was hard to decide. It had been awhile, but if the soldiers were searching rooms—like they’d discussed—they could easily still be in this hall. But if they weren’t searching rooms, they were long gone.

  He decided he’d make Rafael be the one to step out into the corridor to see if it was clear. Just as he cleared his throat to speak, the chime rang. Calvin cut himself off and adjusted his grip on the stunner. Not too tight, not too loose, finger over the trigger. Ready to pop up with the element of surprise. Maybe, just maybe, he’d get lucky.

  He heard Rafael’s footsteps approach the door. Then the soft whoosh of it sliding open.

  A soldier spoke. “Is Lieutenant Commander Cross in this room? The Major has ordered his arrest.”

  Moment of truth. Calvin held his breath and steadied himself. His whole body tense.

  “No, he isn’t,” Rafael said smoothly.

  Calvin restrained a sigh of relief.

  “It’s very important we find him,” the soldier said. “We think someone may be hiding him, and anyone who is hiding him will stand before a tribunal unless they come clean now. So, have you seen him?”

  “Well, yes, come to think of it,” Rafael said.

  Calvin clenched his teeth. No! You’re going to sell me out after all?

  “I heard someone earlier. Not three minutes before you rang my chime. Sounded like running. I thought it was nothing but it might have been him for all I know.”

  “You heard running on the other side of this door?” The soldier asked skeptically.

  “It was partially open at the time.”

  “Then did you see who it was?” The soldier demanded.

  “No. It was only partially open. I was trying to get a little bit of airflow since these vents aren’t as good as advertised.”

  “And you didn’t look when you heard the running? That didn’t stand out to you as something you should investigate?”

  “I thought it was my imagination. But, if it wasn’t, the man ran that way.”

  Calvin didn’t see which way Rafael pointed, and for a moment he feared Rafael had pointed at the bed, where Calvin was hiding. But there was no reason for him to do that. He’d protected Calvin thus far, so Calvin suppressed his paranoia and tried to focus completely on what he had to do next.

  “Thank you, sir,” the soldier said and he left. The door slid closed and Calvin popped up, stunner still in hand, and saw Rafael looking back at him darkly.

  “I hate lying to soldiers, you know,” Rafael said.

  “And I hate running from them,” said Calvin. “But thank you for your help. And I promise you, I really am on the right side of all of this.”

  Rafael just looked at him. “I believe you.”

  Calvin nodded. “Thanks. If everything goes the way it should, things will be back under control soon. Now, which way did you send those soldiers?”

  “That way,” Rafael pointed. It was the direction Calvin had hoped, leaving the path to the ladders clear.

  Okay, bridge, here I come.

  Chapter 26

  An explosive bang cracked as the barricade blew apart and a gust of smoke filled the air. "LOOK AWAY!" Pellew shouted.

  Shen raised his arm to shield his eyes but too slowly. A bright white flash burned his retinas and a shrill whine filled his ears, blocking out all sound. He stumbled backwards and crashed to the ground. He rubbed at his eyes and slowly his vision returned. He saw blurry images of soldiers exchanging fire, and smoke filtering through the room. People were coughing and hiding behind cover, many plugged their ears. Shen still couldn't hear anything.

  He felt a hand grip his shoulder and looked up to see Pellew shouting at him. Shen couldn't make out a word and pointed to his ear, which was still ringing. Pellew seemed to understand and he pointed to a terminal nearby. He wanted Shen to move to better cover. Before he could, several bursts of energy flashed their way. Pellew knelt down and returned fire while Shen, unable to find his stunner, rolled to a prone position and made himself as small as possible.

  Everything was clearer now; most of the smoke had been blown away by the vents. Several people were on the ground but it wasn't clear to Shen how many or who. With a pop his hearing returned.

  The Major’s soldiers advanced further
into engineering.

  ***

  The Major took the news without expression. But deep inside he felt a wave of shame. He’d failed to defend the ship and now the rightful commander was a prisoner on the bridge and the ship was in illegitimate hands. And there was nothing he could do about it.

  He had attacked engineering, of course. But it proved better defended than he’d anticipated. He’d thought he’d sent an overwhelming force, smaller numbers but superior training and equipment. His soldiers even reported initial success—they’d breached engineering. But at the most inconvenient moment his force was caught unaware from behind, by a force Pellew—the traitor—had hidden in the corridors. The pincer movement was so successful that the Major’s soldiers had been forced to withdraw. Now, with many of the men unconscious or unarmed—since Pellew had stolen or destroyed most of the weapons stockpile—the Major lacked the resources to try another attack.

  The ship was lost.

  He tried to think of another way. He even sent forces to the bridge to begin cutting the defense walls with a laser drill. But it would take hours, maybe even days, before they could break through.

  So now he waited. Quiet as usual. Wondering. Would the Andromeda’s flotilla find them? Surely Calvin couldn’t keep his hold on the ship forever…

  And yet there was something else bothering him. Seeing the unquestioning loyalty several of the crew and some of the soldiers gave Calvin, despite clear orders to the contrary, it made the Major wonder—could Calvin be onto something? He still doubted it. He still believed the crew had been deceived and that Calvin had no right to command anymore. But he wasn’t as certain as he’d once been. And decided that, as bad as the situation was, there was still one benefit. Once they arrived at Abia, as they surely would, they could all see what—if anything—was there. And then, and only then, would they know if they’d made the right decision.