The Quantum Leap - Part 24

“Does Captain Winter still have his transponder?” Daniel asked the Shadow behind him.

The Shadow checked his monitor, “Affirmative! It’s still functioning!”

“How are his vitals looking?”

“He’s alive, but his heart rate’s inconsistent,”

Aaen slowly lifted his head. He felt tired and a little disoriented and tried squinting to try to see more clearly.

The Shadow behind Daniel handed him over his right shoulder a dimly-glowing fiber optic print. He scanned the document with a steely straight face. New Horizon was getting ready to rain fire all over the area surrounding the base to neutralize hostile inbound air support; the ‘go-ahead’, however, had to come from him; group two was in position and standing by to phase to Captain Winter on his command to mount the rescue.

Textbook, he thought, complimenting group two’s efficiency. If he had to give that order, he would . . . but he hoped it wouldn’t have to come to that. And there was some new Intelligence about Captain Winter’s captors; their names had also been translated: Alka-Noon-Haifen, a Heiksakien and the one in command of this installation which is operating under the Heiksakien Empire’s flag.

Dang. He quickly and methodically set the print down on the top of the first officer’s computer and faced forward.

Alka looked at the taller dark figure and drew a six-inch blade from a holster on its left arm. A sharp, throbbing pain shot from where the object touched his face (though Aaen didn't feel his skin break); he couldn’t help but pull his head back to relieve the pain (this reduced the pain significantly.)

“Your  health will fail if your people try anything,”

Daniel took a breath as he watched the thermal and infrared images on the viewscreen intently, watching for signs of the situation’s continuing to escalate.

“You look like you have a high rank in The Union military,” Alka said darkly. “Your people will undoubtedly learn of your being captured. They will want to get you back. I still have something I am going to do with the Olyphium. They will want to ensure your safety. You’re coming with us.” With that, Aaen heard metallic clicking sounds and the pressures on his arms and legs released. “Prepare to evacuate the base. Get our troops in position at every access point between this room and my ship. We’ll do this without Quake if we have to,”

“Sir,” The other dark figure acknowledged and began walking out. 

Aaen looked up at the dark figure to try to see its face . . .

The Shadow behind Daniel handed him another print. The Olyphium hadn’t been moved, and the latest scans indicated it was weaponizable. New Horizon reported the weather was deteriorating; a severe storm was on its way into the area from the North, and there was a high chance of rain and lightning . . . SHOOT! Daniel silently exclaimed. If that material was struck by lightning, given how much there was . . . that stuff would leave a crater four times the size of the meteor crater in Arizona.

They were getting ready to take Captain Winter somewhere. Not today, Daniel decided. “Group two! MOVE-IN! New Horizon: attack pattern ‘Bravo’! Fire-at-will!”

*****

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