Special Police DekaOps

29

Pierce sat behind his desk rubbing the side of his temples. Since taking this position he has talked to his superior, Commander Scorp and others in SPD Command more times than he could count. But not once had one of those conversations caused him to feel a headache like he is now. “I don’t like this,” he said to the image of Scorp in front of him. “Treating them like that, it doesn’t feel right.”

He replied with a series of clicks, a few moments later his translator responded, “I know this will be difficult but it is necessary. I am certain they will understand.”

You’re not the one who’s going to have to face them afterwards he thought. “I hope they will but I know Dan doesn’t like surprises. You remember how he reacted when we brought him into that first meeting don’t you?”

“He was a little more… resistant… than I was expecting,” Scorp admitted. “But he did conform to the situation.”

“Conform wouldn’t be the word I’d use but I know what you mean.”

Scorp nodded, “While it isn’t necessary I feel I should remind you that you are not to tell any of them this.”

“I know sir,” Pierce said. “OpsBase Earth out.” After the image faded away he opened a drawer and pulled out a bottle of aspirin. Popping a couple of them into his mouth he leaned back and waited for them to kick in. Never mind Dan, none of them were going to like this.”

***

The alarm rang though out the base, Dan and Ace ran to the Command Room from the hanger. Ace had asked him to come down there a few minutes before. Dan didn’t know why the Major was wondering if the Shepard could make it to low orbit either. One of them would have to remember to ask him about it after they got back. When they got there Dan noticed he wasn’t looking at them like he usually did. He almost looked distracted by something. When he finally looked at Dan he found something else to look at real quick. Something was wrong all right.

Michelle pulled up a picture of the planet Earth on the big screen. It was covered by various lines indicating all the satellites and stations orbiting the planet. One in particular was highlighted red. “We got a bit of a surprise an hour ago,” she said. “Sensors picked up a new object in low Earth orbit.” Ace and Dan exchanged looks. “And when I mean surprise I mean it was literally not there one second and there the next. I can’t find anybody who can figure out how it got there.”

“It doesn’t matter how it got there,” The Major said a little too sharply. All of them looked at him. A little more subdues he continued, “All that matters is that it’s there now. Command wants us to check it out and find out how it got there.”

“That seems a little out of our jurisdiction,” Dan commented.

“Yeah,” Boomer agreed, “isn’t this something the SpaceBase should be checking out?”

“Normally yes,” Pierce told them. “But with the sudden appearance of the object it was felt that we should check things out first. Ace I’m going to give you a little extra time to work on a flight plan. But since we don’t know their intent you might want to hurry it up. Dismissed.”

The other left the Command Room while Dan walked over to the Major. With some concern he asked, “What’s going on?”

“If this is how I talked to Michelle I apologize,” he said without looking at him.

“I’ve known you for a few years now Major,” Dan said. “And you always act like this when something isn’t right. Now what is it? Is everything between you and Helen…”

“I do believe there is an assignment you have to prepare for,” he told him. His tone said that was all he was hearing on the matter.

Dan studied him for a moment before saying, “You and me are going to talk when we get back.” With that he finally left the room.

Pierce sighed and leaned heavily on his cane, “I’m sure you’ll have more than a few words when you do.”

“Major…,” Michelle cautiously started.

“I am very sorry about how I spoke with you Michelle,” he told her.  Walking away he continued, “I have a shuttle pod being prepped in the hanger. I’ll be leaving after they do.”

Michelle looked startled, “Wait, you’re leaving? You never leave while they’re on a mission.”

“A special meeting between Earth Commanders,” he quickly said. “I can’t miss it.”

“Those meetings have happen before,” she reminded him. “You always told them you’d be there after you found out how the mission went.”

“I really wish I could explain Michelle, I really do, but I can’t,” he said not turning around. “I’m going to have to ask you to keep quiet about this. I don’t want them to know I’ve gone.” Michelle started to say something but he cut her off. “I’ll make that an order if I have to Michelle.”

“Yes sir,” Michelle said and returned to her station. Pierce turned his head to look at her, feeling nothing but regret. Hopefully they will all understand once this was over.

***

It took longer than usual to prepare the Machine Shepard for launch. Ace ran her crew triple time to make sure the hull didn’t ice up, especially the engines. As a precaution she made sure everybody had an oxygen tank for the trip. She‘d gone over this jet more time than she could count and knew her like the back of her own hand, she knew the internal pressure would hold. Ace would have bet money on it, but it never hurt to hedge your bets every so often. After that was done she went to Michelle for help with the flight plan. Normally this wouldn’t be a problem but she never plotted a course for anything that high up before.

The cockpit was unusually quiet as they launched, all of them were thinking about how the Major was acting. The only sound was the occasional vibration from the ship followed by Ace patting a console by her left leg and mumbling, “It’s ok baby, it’s just a little turbulence.” After a few more minutes of silence she looked over to Dan, “Cap, did Michelle look a little off to you before we left?”

“I noticed,” he answered.

“Do you think she knows what’s going on with the Major?”

“No she was as surprised as the rest of us at how he was acting.” Sitting there for a moment he added, “But she knows something and the Major doesn’t want her to say.”

“She told you that?”

“Not exactly,” he admitted. “She really didn’t confirm or deny it when I brought it up. I’m only thinking that’s the reason is because she looked unsure of herself. And in the short time I’ve known her she’s never been unsure about anything.”

“I’ve never known her to be unsure of anything either. What’s going on?”

“I don’t know,” Dan told her, “But I intend to find out.”

“We’re approach the target,” Target announced behind them.

“Status?”, Dan asked immediately changing mental gears to get into the moment.

“I am not reading any life signs from this distance,” Rev announced

“Nothing over the airwaves,” Boomer said.

“I’m not reading any type of scan or target lock in our direction,” Target added.

“Ace get us closer and do a flyby,” Dan said.

“I already plotted a course,” she told him. They got closer and saw it in more detail. It looked like a space station built into an asteroid. And it was just hanging there above the planet’s surface. More than one of them wondered how that snuck past the sensor grid. “I’m seeing what looks like two hangers,” Ace announced. “One of them looks open.”

“Let’s do that flyby and work from there,” Dan said. Ace circled it a few times. Dan called out for a status report again and got the same answers as before. It was there and nobody was home from the look of things. “I’m not seeing another option here, take us in Ace.”

“Rodger.” She swung the Shepard around and headed for the hanger. Target told them there was an energy field surrounding the opening, but it was only strong enough to keep the atmosphere in. So Ace wasn’t surprised when a static looking effect started to outline the ship as they passed through it. Once inside Ace activated the landing thrusters before cutting the main engines. Landing with a slight bump Dan turned toward Rev and Target.

“We still weren’t scanned,” she said.

“The air is breathable,” Rev said after checking his sensors. “There are some strange elements in it but nothing harmful.”

“Right.” Dan got up and headed for the ramp, “Target, you and me are going out first. Ace keep the engines warmed up in case we have to get out of here in a hurry.”

“Rodger,” they both replied. When Target joined him in the cargo bay Dan hit the ramp control. As it open both of them were hit with the alien air. Like Rev said it was breathable but there was a taint to it. Making their way down the ramp they were surprised when the hanger door started to close.

“It’s closing too fast for us to get out in time,” Ace said going over the sensor readings. “I can turn us around and fire the main laser but the Shepard isn’t maneuverable enough to make a hole big enough for us to get out.”

“Rev said there weren’t any life signs,” Target said as the door sealed shut. “An automated response?”

“Let’s find out.” Dan looked around the hanger. He didn’t see anything that looked like a control room, just a door at the far end of the hanger. “Lock up the ship and stay together. I don’t want us splitting up unless we have to. This place is one big hole and I don’t like it. Boomer can you get through to OpsBase and let them know the situation?”

“We lost signal as soon as those door closed,” he called back.

“Blind and deaf,” Dan mumbled. “Everybody keep your eyes open. Rev you tell me the moment you hear anything off.”

“Understood Captain,” he replied. With Weapons drawn they headed for the door.

***

Ghost ship entered their minds more than once the more they explored the interior. If it wasn’t for the lighting in the upper part of the walls they couldn’t have known there was any power at this point. The Station even felt empty, although Target and Boomer couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched. A bit of searching found a wall terminal that Boomer quickly went to work on. In no time he found a map to the floor that he quickly downloaded into his OpsLicense. Running a quick check he announced, “There’s no extra programs or traps in the map, it’s clean. I still can’t believe the language was in galactic basic.”

“Be grateful for small favors,” Ace told him. “What do you think Cap, a room by room search?”

“Perhaps we should discover how big of a search area we have to deal with,” Rev offered.

“That’s probably a good idea,” Dan said after thinking it over. “Does anything on that map look like an elevator?”

“Give me a second,” Boomer said. “I’m not seeing an elevator but I’m seeing what looks like a ladder bay around the corner a ways.”

“Better than nothing,” Dan said. “Boomer take the lead.”

“Right,” he said as he walked off. Every so often Dan and Ace would check a door they passed. Most appeared to be locked but every so often they found an open one and an empty room. Dan kept looking back at the locked doors behind them before going on. Finally they arrived at the ladder as Boomer looked up it. “I’m only seeing one other opening and that’s a long ways up.”

“Let me see,” Dan got a good look. “Looks like we only have two floors unless there’s some more ladder somewhere else.” Checking his map Boomer said there were. Testing the ladder a bit he said, “Boomer, follow me up.” After what turned out to be a three story trip Dan cautiously peeked over the opening before climbing the rest of the way. He checked one direction as Boomer stepped onto the floor and checked the other. “Clear,” he said knowing Rev would hear it. “I see another terminal.”

“I’m on it,” Boomer said. While he accessed the terminal Ace and the other booked it up the ladder. “I got it,” he said after a few moments. “I think I found that elevator too. It’s at the end of a really long hallway for some reason. Wait a sec,” he studied the map a little closer as the other joined them. “I found the command center.”

“Is it anywhere near the elevator?”, Target asked.

“They’re on opposite ends of the complex.”

“Why am I not surprised,” Ace said out loud.

“Alright, the first order of business is to secure that command center,” Dan told them. “We get that under control we can find out why this station is here and unlock the hanger the Shepard is in.”

A noise caught their attention as they turned toward the ladder. A panel slid over the opening on the floor sealing it shut. “Shit,” Ace rushed over. Finding a wall panel she hit it several times with no result, “It doesn’t work. Boomer…”

“I’m locked out,” he said before she could finish.

“It’s Mexico all over again,” Dan muttered.

“What happened in Mexico?”, Target asked.

“I believe the correct term is we were duped,” Rev explained.

“We can catch her up later,” Dan said. “I want that center under our control now.” Luckily Boomer was able to download this floor map before he was locked out. So he took the lead again and headed for the station CC. Before long Rev stopped and looked behind them. “What is it?”, Dan asked.

“I thought I heard something unlock.”

Ace grabbed Target’s attention and they went back down the hall. When they returned she reported, “All the doors still look locked and the ladder still sealed tight. I don’t know what Rev heard.”

“Let’s not hang around and find out,” Dan said as they kept going. Ten minutes later they found the door leading to the CC and another dead panel. Dan looked at it for a moment before saying, “Boomer, do you think you can redo that door trick that you did in Hawaii?”

“I’ll give it a go.” Slipping off his backpack he quickly removed a plate underneath the panel. While he connected his comm. gear to the wires inside Dan and the other waited impatiently while they kept guard. Everything about this mission was feeling wrong. After what felt like an eternity Boomer said, “I got it.”

The door slid open revealing an Igadroid on the other side. Ace and Target reacted first shooting it in the chest. More came behind it. The walls on either end of the corridor opened revealing more Igadroids as well as some Batsuroids and Anaroids. “Find some room!” Dan ordered as they ran back the way they came. They got around the corner and found another army of bots coming at them. Dan looked both ways, “Damn it. Change standby. Emergency! DekaOps!”

Each one was surrounded by a digital field. Dekametal formed around them creating a black bodysuit. A colored strip traveled down their body forming a number on the left side of their chest. A backpack appeared on their back as the D-Shots flashed into existence. “Face on!”, they shouted and the Dekametal formed a helmet around their heads.

“Special Police!” The lights on their helmets started to flash, “DekaOps!”

“We got to get to that elevator,” Dan said as he unlatched his D-Shot. “Make a hole and keep going.” Before the others could comply something started to feel wrong. Dan suddenly started to feel weightless as did the others, “What the fuck?”

“I did not think we were so far out that we would stop start feeling of Earth gravity,” Rev said.

“It’s got to be a trick,” Boomer said as he reached into his pack and pulled out a small disc. Pressing the center he tossed it like a Frisbee at the group behind them. The moment it came into contact with a Anaroid it was assaulted by a massive electoral jolt that fried it’s system. Arcs went out and affect the bots around it the same way. “I was hoping that would take out more.”

“We’ll worry about it later,” Ace said as she tried to run but the lack of gravity messed her up.

Boomer caught her. “Ace like this,” he pushed off the floor once and went over the oncoming bots who tried to grab at him. Dropping more of the disc he called out, “You just have to get started and not worry about the rest.”

“You heard him,” Dan said as he planted his foot against the wall and fired at the Bots till coming at them from behind as they got in range. Ace and Target went after Boomer with Rev trailing behind. He was having a hard time controlling his movements.

Target stopped herself long enough to grab him, “I got you Rev.”

“You have my appreciation Angela,” he told her. She helped him get going. Dan waited as long as he could before kicking off the wall and following. As he sailed above them it looked like the bots where still attached to the floor. Whatever was going on they caught a small break. “Looks like somebody didn’t think of everything.”

“Just move enough to keep your momentum going,” Boomer called out to them. Listening to his instructions Ace and Target, who was still holding on to Rev, quickly caught up with him when he found a clear area to rest up and regroup for a moment. Boomer dropped all the discs he had and took out most of them Dan came around the corner, kicked off another wall to turn and grabbed a door to stop. “Smooth moves Cap,” Boomer told him.

“Compliment me later,” Dan said. “Where’s that elevator? And how do you know this stuff?”

“Lisa had a cousin in the space program before he had to leave because of a medical problem and I read a lot of science fiction growing up. And it should be down that corridor over there.” Before he finished speaking the walls opened up again revealing more boys. “You have got to be kidding me.”

“Move!”, Dan ordered. He hated calling a retreat but they were so out of their element it wasn’t funny. They had to find whatever was controlling the gravity and get it back on. Again Rev had a hard time getting going. Dan had to grab him and literally threw him toward the others. Spinning around and pushing off the wall Dan fired his D-Shot. An Anaroid took a direct hit to the chest and fell backwards into the one behind it.

“I see the elevator!”, Boomer said as he reached the corridor. Ace grabbed Rev and helped him there as Target put her back to the wall and fired her D-Shooter at another group of bots coming out of another wall a few yards behind Boomer.

“Get to the elevator!”, Dan yelled before he even got there. Ace continued to hold on to Rev as they followed his order. By the time he got there they were already over halfway to the elevator. He looked at both approaching groups then back at his team. Turning into the corridor he went a few yards before stopping himself and waited. He didn’t wait long as several Igadroids and Batsuroids started to fill up the opening. Pushing off the floor with all he had he fired his D-Shot, it gave him a little more momentum but not much.

“Cap come on!”, Ace shouted. They were already at the elevator.

Looking back he saw how much more he had to go, something told him he wasn’t going to make it. Stopping himself he told Ace, “Get them home.” He had to hold them off for as long as possible so they could get to the next floor. Letting go of the D-Shot he grabbed his D-Rod and D-Knife he watched as they got closer

“Simulation ended,” a computer voice said out of nowhere.

“What the…?”, Ace said as the gravity came back on and they roughly landed on they’re feet. Dan fell to a knee as the bots faded away. Ace and the other ran up to him as a door appeared directly in front of them and opened. The Major and Commander Scorp walked out as the inside started to change around them. The corridor became shorter as more doors took it’s place along with a SPD symbol on the wall.

Dan ripped off his helmet as he stormed toward them, “What in the hell is going on?”

Scorp’s mouth and claws clicked a bit before the translator on his uniform kicked in, “A test. We had to see how you and your unit would react in this situation.”

“All of this for a test?”, Ace asked in disbelief.

“You could have told me this was going to happen,” Dan told the Major.

“I was under orders not to,” he explained. “I didn’t want to treat you like this Dan but Commander Scorp thought this was the best way to get an honest result.”

“And what interesting results they were,” Scorp said. “Sgt. Parker responded the best to the situation with Captain Steven close behind. Surprisingly Sgt. Ranzack preformed the worst.”

“If these test are over then we’re going home,” Dan said sharply.

“Not so fast Dan,” Pierce said, “There was a reason for all of this. We got word the Iczians are coming back.”

“Again with the bringing ‘civilization’ B.S.,” Boomer groaned.

“Unfortunately yes,” Pierce said. “But this time they’re bringing a ship that can freeze a planet from orbit. The plan is to send in a boarding party to disable it. The only drawback is the Iczians favorite defensive maneuver is to cut the gravity in the sector the invading party is in.”

“So all of this was to get ready for that?”, Dan demanded. Looking around at the new interior he added, “And what in the hell is this place?”

“This is an orbital OpsBase that the other Ops units use,” Scorp explained.

“We were going to get one of these before SPD made that deal with the Government,” the Major added. “It was modified a bit for the test to see if you’re ready for this.” Pierce reached into his command jacket and pulled out a data pad he handed to Dan.

Reading a bit he noticed a particular spelling and uttered, “EXternal Operations?”

“It is a special program for the Ops units,” Scorp answered. “Because of the nature of the situation your unit was picked to undergo the training first. That elevator will take you to the second hanger holding a craft, the Machine Tiger, will take you to the facility.”

“Machine Tiger?”, Dan asked arching an eyebrow

“It was christened after one of your fallen comrades after he helped design the vessel,” Scorp told him.

“Dan we have a week at best,” Pierce said. “You need to complete the training and get back here as soon as possible.”

“Yes sir,” Dan said.

“We’ll talk when you get back.”

“You better believe it.” Without another word he got the others in the elevator.

“He’s pissed alright,” the Major said to nobody in particular.

“I understand that he’s upset at being fooled,” Scorp began to say.

“That’s not why he’s pissed,” the Major told him. “I’ve always believed a good commander knows how each person in his unit is going to react in any situation. I knew he was going to be mad. Do you remember when I told why I wanted him leading this unit?”

“Yes, you said Captain Stevens has two main priorities, to get the mission done and to get his team home safely.”

“Well in his mind the latter was made almost impossible and we put him through all of that for nothing. He’ll calm down but it’s going to take awhile. Now if you’ll excuse me I have to coordinate a defensive plan with the other Commanders in case they don’t get back in time.”

***

When the elevator doors reopened they walked out into the second hanger. They were greeted by a futuristic looking black jet with white markings that resembled tiger stripes. Dan studied it for a few moments before putting a hand on the hull, “Tony.”

Ace was eyeing it like a kid in a candy store. Pointing at the engines she said, “Those are Mark V star drives.”

“Ace, you’re starting to drool,” Boomer said.

“Get on board,” Dan told them. “We don’t have time to waste.” Ace nodded and they boarded the ship. Each of them took a seat in the cockpit, which was similar to the layout of the Shepard. Ace naturally took the pilot’s chair. Once the hatch closed the Tiger lifted into the air as the hanger doors opened. Within moments they were in space and headed toward the nearest stargate.

“That’s one hell of an auto pilot,” Ace commented. “I don’t like it.”

“I’m sure it’s just for the initial trip,” Dan assured her. “Let’s see if we can figure out what our destination is.”

“Right,” Ace said. Her finger worked on the computer between them. Without any trouble she found the coordinates and a star map of the system they were headed for. Dan stared at the map, something about it bugged him.

“I think I know where we’re going.”

***

On another ship entirely humanoid looking ice creatures known as Crystalines where standing guards. At the center station an Iczian, who looked a little like an abdominal snowman, stared at an image of the planet Earth. He stared at it for a long time, it was the one that got away. Behind him a female Iczian walked up and leaned on the back of his chair. “It still stings, does it not dear?”, she asked.

“Yes it does darling,” he said. “To think these savages believe they had the upper hand, it gives me a case of indigestion.”

“Relax dear, we’ll finally give this poor planet the gift of cold it has been longing for will to cure that. Captain, how soon do we arrive to this planet in sore need of civilization?”

“A few cycles ma’am,” he answered. “We have to make a few jumps before we can get in range of the system. Otherwise we’ll burn out the engines.”

“And we don’t want that,” the male said. “Imagine just stopping out here while others think we are helpless. The planet waited this long,” he took his wife’s hand and kissed it, “it can wait a little longer.”