fanfic_name = Ant Thunder Rolls

chapter = 12

author = Adam Scott

Rating = O18

Type = Alternative Universe

fanfic = Chapter 12 – Enigma

Max, in concert with Edwards, manage to slip the humans past the monster and through the tunnel. The temperatures outside are cold enough to cause incredible harm if your not protected so Vince moves the SOC as far into the tunnel system as he can. Edwards, carrying the two children, with Max giving cover fire, charges towards the safety of the SOC. The remaining Cyclones bring in the two adults right behind him. The Alpha’s are losing ground fast. The Monster is only slightly affected by our fire but not enough to cause any real damage. One Alpha is destroyed while another is severely damaged and forced to pull out. Then a third runs out of ammunition and is vaporized by a blast from the monsters shoulder mounted cannons. One by one they drop and soon Max is the only one left in the fight. He is forced into hand to hand combat with the creature in order to survive. Edwards and the cyclones get the humans aboard the SOC and Vince pulls out of the tunnel. Miriya and the Red Griffin Beta’s, charge in behind it to save Max and the remaining members of Skull. A few seconds later a tattered and torn Skull 2 and the survivors of Skull Squadron are carried out of the tunnel entrance. Once everyone is clear Miriya whips around and blasts the entrance with missiles to collapse the roof and contain the monster inside.

Her efforts are rewarded with the monster blasting away the rubble and exiting the tunnel at an incredible rate. It ignores the ravaged group of humans and heads in a southerly direction, towards another concentration of lights.

The Remaining Alphas of Skull, the Betas of Griffin and the Cyclones link up with the SOC and begin their return to the SDF-3. Blasting off as one unit until they clear the atmosphere then separating for ease of maneuverability.

Their return is accented by an explosion near the South Pole of Triol. Space is illuminated with a greenish neon glow and for a moment, I could swear I saw something in orbit near there. But then it was gone just as quick as it came.

The landing party finally docks, aboard the SDF-3. The wounded are immediately carried off to sick bay and the dead to the morgue. I arrive on the hanger deck just in time to see Max being helped out of the cockpit of Skull-2. Miriya is waiting anxiously at the base of the ladder, to see if her husband is alright. The maintenance crews gingerly set him on the ladder and he slowly takes each step as if he’s afraid he may break them. Before he reaches the deck, Miriya grabs him off the ladder and carries him to sick bay, herself. I see tears streaming down her face as she runs by me. If they were tears of joy or tears of sadness, I don’t know.

The Flight Deck Crew Chief glances over at me and shakes his head. Three aircraft destroyed and four others severely damaged, including Skull-2. His repair crews will be pulling some long shifts for a while. Then Dr. Lang wanders into the hanger bay to inspect the planes. He is interested to see what was left behind by their encounter with the alien. He finds a greenish glowing smudge on the nose cone of Skull-4 and begins collecting samples gleefully.

I start my own inspection of the remaining Mecha when, the sound of Col. Edwards voice behind me causes an ice cold chill to run the length of my spin. “Admiral Hunter”. . . “Admiral Hunter!” he calls again. I turn around slowly and see a sneer on his lips and a gleam from his one good eye. He had obviously been drinking on the return trip from Triol. “I want to interrogate the prisoners immediately”. He came within two inches of my face as he said this. I could smell the alcohol on his breath. His statement enraged me. These people weren’t prisoners. We just rescued them from a living hell! He stood there, smug and arrogant, expecting me to agree. “Well!” he said, growing impatient. I couldn’t control my anger any longer. I could feel the utter hate I felt for this man well up from inside, needing to burst forth. So I let it go, “YOU POMPOUS, ARROGANT, THICK HEADED, ASS KISSING, IDIOT! THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT PRISONERS, WE WILL QUESTION THEM OF COURSE, BUT NOT INTERROGATE! CONSIDER YOURSELF REMOVED OF ALL RESPONSIBILITIES CONCERNING OUR GUESTS. NOW GET THE HELL OUT OF MY FACE BEFORE I DECIDE TO THROUGH YOU IN THE BRIG FOR INSUBORDINATION AND DRINKING WHILE ON DUTY!”

His shoulders sunk as he tucked his tail between his legs and sulked away. I would probably hear about this from Reinhardt but he has as little tolerance for drinking on duty as I do. I decide to continue my walk around inspection. About two hours later I receive a page from the bridge on my wrist com. “Rick”, calls Tami, “Rick there’s been an accident in Westport and I’m afraid it’s bad. We need you to go to the security center immediately.” Her voice sounded weak and frail. She had been crying for sure. “What happened?” I ask. She didn’t respond. I only receive static. “Tami, come in, what happened!” still nothing. I try a different channel. “Bridge, CO, Please come in.” Lieutenant Parker answers. “You better get down there sir.” “What happened?” I implore. “Not really sure sir but I know that your presence has been requested by Breetai himself”.

What on earth is going on?! I flag down a six wheeler jeep and have the driver take me into town. It usually takes twelve minutes to reach Westport Security from landing bay four. We did it in six. I hurriedly get out of the jeep and run for the door while returning a quick salute to the officer waiting for me. The watch officer stands up immediately and escorts me to a holding cell where a very disheveled and bloody Col. Edwards lay unconscious on the floor. He had vomited several times and reeked of the cheap whiskey he liked to drink. The Watch officer explained. “The Colonel, after picking a fight with Kazianna at her bachlorette party went for a drive. He would have been fine if he had gone home, but he went back to the bar and hit Amber Porter and Kazianna with his car as they were walking out. Commander Breetai saw it all happen and pulled Edwards from his vehicle and proceeded to try to pummel him to death. The only reason he is alive is the fact that my officers were able to pull Breetai off of him. Kazianna is fine but Ms. Porter is not. She has major head trauma and is in a drug induced coma for the time being. Breetai wants the Colonel executed” I just nod my head trying to soak it all in. Then he continues. “I persuaded him to consult with you first since we don’t have a situation where capital punishment is warranted and I thought you might want to apply the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice).”

I stood there a long time, looking at the collapsed heap on the floor. This man was such an enigma, heroic and daring in one instance and a complete buffoon and imbecile the next. “What to do with you Colonel?” I mutter quietly. I look up at the Watch officer who seems to be waiting for an answer to that very question. “Keep him locked up for now. I need to consult with General Reinhardt before we do anything. And I want a twenty-four hour guard posted next to his cell. I’m afraid that the Colonel has messed with the wrong person this time and he could wind up dead” I say mater-of-factly.

We exit the holding cells and I make a statement as to what happened in landing bay four, then head for the infirmary. I call Lisa to meet me there, along with Jo and Roy. After the day I’ve had. I need to see my family.

State = Continuará/To Be Continue

feedback = Sí/Yes

email = jscott_73ATyahoo.com