“Seems like we’re coming to a close on this, nearing the New Order’s endgame strategy,” she said.

  Jake looked at her, he could tell from her red-rimmed eyes she had been crying again. Vance and Cooper were her two big brothers from another mother; they were closer to her than her real family.

  “You gonna be okay?” he asked, concern softening his voice.

  “If we get the bastard who killed Joe and Mack then yes, but until then, I doubt it very much.”

  “Gina, I need you focused on this, we can’t afford any slip-ups, if you’re not one hundred per cent, then I’ll ground you, is that clear?

  “One hundred per cent clear,” she replied staring him in the eye with what he thought looked like pure hatred. He knew her well enough to know her hatred wasn’t aimed at him, but the killer of their friends.

  “I have something that might be what you’re looking for, sir,” the AI said after a short pause.

  Torres looked at Jake, “That was fast, even for Artie,” she observed.

  “Too fast. Okay Artie show me on the viewscreen,” Jake replied.

  The two of them turned to look at the large viewscreen where a map of the Earth quickly zoomed into focus on a small area on the ground.

  “No that can’t be true,” Torres said.

  “I believe it is, sir, I have homed in on the signal you wanted and it is in this location,” Artie confirmed what they were looking at.

  Jake turned away and contacted Gemmell directly. “Sir, we have the location of the Quantum bomb but you’re not going to believe where it is,” he said.

  38

  Geneva

  “There it is, Confederation HQ,” Kurt said as the shuttle brought them in over the Headquarters of the Confederation.

  “Are Jake and Torres meeting us here?” Zara asked.

  “Yes, they should be here soon, they said they’d have Artie continue the scans just in case they decided to move the bomb,” Kurt told her.

  “We will definitely need back-up if this goes south,” Zara said as she looked at the area surrounding the HQ where they were about to land.

  “Colonel de Boer, are you and your men in place?” Kurt asked through the comm. link they all shared.

  “We’re in place waiting for the go/no go signal from you, Captain,” the Colonel replied.

  “We couldn’t have any better than those guys, so let’s do this,” Zara said.

  MAREK STRODE INTO THE Situation Room followed by three of his men carrying a large container between them.

  As he had entered the HQ he had been able to walk through unmolested simply because when the call had gone out to Franklin to make his move, the security personnel loyal to the New Order had taken over, rapidly overpowering and disposing of the bodies of the rest.

  “Marek, what are you doing here, and what’s that?” Franklin asked more than a little surprised to see him. He knew of him as an enforcer who only appeared to clean up situations the New Order wanted disappearing. For him to show up here immediately put him on edge.

  Marek indicated where they should place the item they had delivered and as his men hefted the large container onto the table in the middle of the room he turned to face Franklin.

  “Change of plans,” he said.

  “Who is he and what’s that? Where are all the security people?” the Speaker asked angrily. He was still furious at being ordered to do something against his better judgement and now this; this was just the last straw.

  Marek looked over Franklin’s shoulder, drew a pistol from a holster on his hip and shot the older man who had interrupted.

  The room erupted into chaos as the horror of the situation was suddenly made all too real for them. Everyone moved away from the shooter and Franklin cowered down on his haunches as the Speaker fell to the floor. Cries of fear bounced off the thick walls as the men and women present screamed in terror.

  Marek fired into the air once more to gain everyone’s attention then shouted, “QUIET!”

  The noise quickly died down as Marek stared around the room at those cowering in a corner. The three other men he had arrived with just got on with what they were doing and backed off towards the entrance.

  “All of you find a seat and sit down, this won’t take long,” Marek ordered.

  “Marek, what’s going on, I had everything under control?” Franklin asked as he stood up straighter.

  “Sit!” Marek glared at him and the intensity of his stare forced him into one of the chairs around the table.

  All eyes were on the container placed in the centre and everyone involuntarily leaned away from it, subconsciously afraid, even though they had no idea what was inside.

  Marek stood looking down at them and he holstered his pistol then crossed his arms across his massive chest.

  With a nod of his head he indicated for the three men to leave.

  “I’ll leave this with you and if I were you I wouldn’t mess with what’s inside. Actually I couldn’t care less what you do, after I leave this door will be sealed so it doesn’t matter one way or the other,” Marek said, turning to leave.

  “You haven’t answered my question. Why are you doing this?” Franklin shouted after him.

  “You’re right, I haven’t,” Marek replied then left closing and sealing the door after him.

  39

  The shuttle deposited Kurt and Zara on the landing strip near the Headquarters then taxied to the parking area to await their return.

  They were dressed in combat fatigues and wore a Sig P999 in a holster on their hip, carried a Remm M25, while extra battery clips were deposited in pouches on their weapons belt along with a few grenades. They were dressed for battle, which was exactly what they expected.

  A contingent of Recon Delta marines from ‘C’ Battalion led by Colonel De Boer met them as they approached the entrance.

  Colonial Headquarters was in an underground bunker outside the city where it had been deemed to be safe. The location was a closely guarded secret that only those who attended meetings there and their immediate security staff knew of. Of course with the New Order infiltrating most organisations the secret was no longer that.

  The entrance was concealed in the side of a mountain that had sensors scanning the area approaching it. When Kurt and Zara arrived they activated the locking mechanism and the massive doors opened revealing a large ramp that descended into the bowels of the mountain.

  “Are all the other emergency exits and tunnels covered, Colonel?” Kurt asked as De Boer matched pace with him followed by the team of Recon Delta marines he had with him.

  “Every single one, we’re ready to help with the evacuation of the delegates down there along with all the staff as soon as this threat has been neutralised,” the Colonel replied with confidence.

  “That might prove a bit of a problem,” Zara suggested.

  Kurt glanced at her, “What am I missing here?”

  “They’ve been ahead of us this whole time. We may have destroyed their ability to detonate all the bombs scattered throughout the galaxy but they soon adapted to that by stealing one. That shows real adaptability to any change in their plans. The ability to think on their feet and change as situations demand shows true genius, so what makes you think they haven’t thought this situation through as well?” she replied.

  “Are you saying this could be a trap?” De Boer asked not liking what she was implying.

  “What I’m saying is this could be more than what we first thought. We should keep our eyes open and be ready for anything,” Zara confirmed.

  MAREK REACHED THE EXIT he had entered the Headquarters through. He still had the three men with him who had carried the Quantum bomb into the Situation Room and also the rest of the New Order men who had assisted in the taking over of the building.

  “Are we ready?” he asked. He knew Col Sec would have sent men to stop him and they were probably on the other side of that door that very moment, but he didn’t allow it to deter him from what he had to do.

  He didn’t plan on dying here today so there was no way he would let them stop him from leaving and he didn’t care how many of his men had to die in order for his to escape unharmed.

  “Just waiting for you to give the command,” replied one of the eight man strong team he had assembled.

  Marek gave a brief nod to indicate for them to proceed and the door was opened.

  KURT NEARED THE ENTRANCE and saw De Boer stop suddenly.

  “What is it?” he asked, concern making his brow furrow.

  Quickly De Boer patched him into the conversation he was listening to.

  Kurt and Zara both heard one of the marines guarding the rear exit inform them that the door was opening.

  They all heard the sound of battle as gunshots rang out carried to them via the comm. channel.

  “C’mon, we have to get there,” Kurt said.

  “We have to get inside and rescue those people,” De Boer countered. He stood barring Kurt’s path, determined to carry out his mission.

  Kurt looked him square in the eye. He had little time for debate or to argue and he said so, “Colonel I am in command here, you continue through this entrance, Zara and I will try and cut off the escape of those at the rear exit.”

  De Boer was having none of it though, “You forget Captain, that Intelligence Division can only advise in matters of military operations. I am in command of this mission and it would be best if you remembered that.”

  Before anything more could be said between the two of them a call came through.

  “Kurt, Zara and Colonel De Boer we have confirmation that the Quantum bomb is situated inside the Headquarters. We have reason to believe it might be inside the Situation Room where the council is meeting at this very moment,” Gemmell informed them.

  “That settles it, Colonel, you need to get inside that room right now while Zara and I find out if those who are trying to escape know how to diffuse that damn bomb,” Kurt said and turned to leave. Zara followed him without any further consideration for what the Colonel might think or say.

  The mission came first.

  De Boer turned to his men, “Get that damn door open now,” he ordered.

  40

  Marek saw the plasma bolts strike the first of his men down who ventured through the exit.

  “Get out there and clear a path or we all die,” he snarled at the rest of his team.

  Bringing up their rifles ready to fire, the team steadied themselves then burst through the opening firing at anything that moved.

  The marines held their positions and returned fire, but the overwhelming numbers soon cut them down.

  Marek marched out of the exit when he heard the opposing fire stop. He quickly counted the bodies, there were three dead marines and he had lost four of his team but the way was now clear.

  KURT AND ZARA ARRIVED just as the firing had stopped.

  “There he is, it’s him,” Zara said as they both recognised the man mountain from the attack on the safe house they had barely escaped from.

  “He’s not getting away this time,” Kurt determined. His eyes bore into the man who saw them both. The shock of seeing them stopped him in his tracks for a second; clearly he was not expecting to see them alive.

  Kurt saw him regain his composure and give the signal for his men to attack.

  Bringing up his Remm M25 Kurt shot two of the men with the giant and he smiled a cruel smile as he saw Zara do the same with the remaining two, leaving just the giant.

  “I don’t know who you are and I don’t care because you’re not going anywhere,” Kurt said.

  The giant looked at the two of them and Kurt noticed something rather troubling. He didn’t appear to be the slightest bit worried. Facing the two of them and seeing them take out his team in a heartbeat should have put him on edge at the very least but he looked like he actually enjoyed it.

  “I don’t like this, he’s too confident,” Zara said picking up on what he was feeling.

  “I agree, just remember the last time we faced off against him he was strong and fast and plasma bolts didn’t seem to faze him much,” Kurt said.

  “Perhaps he’s wearing some new kind of body armour then?” Zara pondered.

  “I doubt it, that wouldn’t account for his strength or his speed.”

  “Do you think he’s like us then, somehow enhanced, or augmented?”

  “Augmented is a possibility, which can work in our favour because augments can be overloaded or broken whereas we can’t.”

  Zara looked at him, her lips pressed together in determination. “Do you think he was the one who killed Mack and Joe?” she said.

  “Let’s go ask him,” Kurt said walking towards the giant of a man.

  COLONEL DE BOER STOOD watching as his team tried to breach the door to the Situation Room.

  It was securely locked and three feet thick plasteel.

  “What’s your progress, Captain?” he asked the commander of the team working on the door.

  The young marine turned to his Commanding Officer, his eyes haunted by what he was about to say. “Whoever did this, sir, made sure we wouldn’t be getting inside anytime soon. We need heavy cutting gear to get through that door and we just don’t have the time to fetch any,” he said.

  De Boer looked at the door and at his men. Frustration was building at not being able to get inside that room. His options were limited but he had to do something, trouble was he didn’t know what.

  Finally he said, “Keep trying, we have to get inside that room.”

  KURT AND ZARA WALKED towards the massive man. Kurt saw the smirk on his face which made him all the more apprehensive. Something was going on here they weren’t aware of and they didn’t have the time for games.

  “Don’t worry, this won’t take long,” Marek said tossing his pistol away.

  “I know,” Zara said bringing up her M25 and firing. She was pleased to see a flicker of surprise cross the giant’s face.

  The plasma bolt missed Marek by a fraction; he had started to move the instant he saw her bring her weapon up to fire.

  “What’s the rush?” Kurt asked as he braced himself for Marek to rush him.

  The giant had dived to the ground rolling forward on his shoulder to come up on his haunches, a fierce snarl distorting his face.

  “This whole place will be vaporised in a few minutes from now and I don’t intend on being here when that happens,” he spat at the two of them.

  Kurt knew that would play to their advantage. In his haste to escape he would take chances and make mistakes which they could capitalise on.

  Kurt stood in the giant’s path looking up at him. A smirk twisted his lips as he looked forward to the encounter. Kurt just hoped Marek was underestimating him as many before him had done.

  “You want to do this the old school way?” Kurt asked him, adding, “Come get some.”

  41

  Kurt saw the punch coming but it was incredibly fast. He twisted his head to the side just in time to see it sail past.

  Slipping under the arm as he brought it back Kurt buried two savage punches in the giant’s stomach. Even with his enhanced bone structure and improved strength it still felt like he was hitting a plascrete wall.

  Not fazed by the blows the giant grabbed Kurt by the throat, hoisted him off his feet and slammed him against the wall.

  Bringing his hands together Kurt slapped both cupped palms against Marek’s ears. The concussive blow sent a pressure down the ear canals powerful enough to cause pain even to the big man. Marek screwed his face up from the pain and released his grip on Kurt to massage his ears.

  Kurt kicked Marek between the legs hoping to capitalise on his brief advantage, but the blow had little effect other than to anger him further.

  A huge fist slammed against Kurt’s jaw in a backhanded swing, which rattled the teeth inside his head. The blow knocked Kurt off his feet for a second and he saw stars dancing before his eyes.

  As he looked up from the floor he saw Zara swing into action. As he scrambled to his feet still woozy from the punch he saw her throw a swift combination of punches and kicks at Marek. The giant easily blocked the punches on his forearms or biceps and brought his massive legs up to take the kicks on them rather than his ribs.

  Zara’s final punch was blocked outwardly, spinning her around, and he managed to throw an arm around her neck in a stranglehold. Kurt saw him place his other arm across the back of her head in preparation. He was going to snap her neck.

  Could they regenerate from that?

  He wasn’t waiting around to find out.

  Reaching for his pistol he aimed and fired in one fluid motion. The plasma bolt struck Marek on his shoulder but only because he saw Kurt aim at him giving him time to move slightly.

  The giant winced from the sudden shock of getting tagged, which further demonstrated to Kurt that the giant could feel pain. Zara struggled free as Marek backtracked after getting wounded and pushed her towards Kurt. Catching her Kurt was prevented from firing again.

  He just had time to see Marek rush him and push Zara clear before getting struck in the face again.

  The giant was on him once more swatting his Sig from his grip sending the gun scuttling across the floor.

  He brought his arm up just in time to ward off a huge blow to his face. Feeling his back strike the wall Kurt pushed himself off tackling the brute with a shoulder in the mid-section. It was like ramming a tree but Kurt brought up his right fist in an uppercut landing the punch under Marek’s chin knocking his head back. A right cross landed on the point of his jaw sending a spray of bloody spittle across the wall. Grabbing the back of the giant’s head he brought it down to meet his right knee that was coming up, the two collided with a jarring impact Kurt felt all through his leg.

  Marek came up and punched Kurt full in the face knocking him back on his heels, blood and broken teeth flying from his mouth.

  Zara ran at Marek, grabbed his head then ran up the wall spinning around then rammed his head into the ground.

 

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