Impulse, page 16
part #12 of First Colony Series
“He might be right, or he’s just speaking for the Konus. I bet there were Ovarrow who lived that far away. Even Earth had indigenous people who lived in the colder climates.”
Connor glanced at Sepal and then looked at Lenora. “They seem to make a lot of assumptions. Or at least Shuno does.”
“The Mekaal are more open-minded, but I’ve seen similar attitudes among them as well. And there’s plenty of that in our own history.”
“Let’s hope they continue to learn,” Connor said.
They packed up their camp and were soon on their way to the northern waypoint. Connor walked over to the CDF squad traveling with them.
“Do you have everything you need?” Connor asked.
Sergeant Tui gave him a firm nod. “We’re well equipped, General. It’s been a quiet trip so far.”
“Hopefully, it’ll stay that way.”
It would take them over five hours to reach their destination. Meanwhile, Connor downloaded the survey data that colonial satellites had gathered over the years. Most of the topographical mapping occurred on the main continent. The northern regions were broken up by massive lakes, some of which were frozen over, making them indistinguishable from the snow-covered land. There were also glaciers, but they were farther north than the area they were traveling to.
Noah looked at the satellite image with a thoughtful frown. “Not as mountainous as I would have thought.”
“That’s a good thing,” Diaz said.
“Agreed. It’ll make finding a place to land easier,” Connor said.
“I wonder how thick the ice is there,” Noah said.
“I’m sure it’s thick enough for most of us, but we’ll do a quick survey. We have a few targets in the area already,” Connor said.
Diaz arched an eyebrow toward him. “What do you mean ‘most of us’?”
“Did I say that?”
Diaz nodded. “You did. Is this another comment about my weight?”
A grin bubbled up from Connor’s chest, and he shook his head. “No, come on. That’s not what I meant.”
Noah’s eyes widened. “That’s not what you told me earlier.”
Connor blinked and frowned. Then he smiled. “Having fun now?”
Diaz glanced at both of them, not sure who to believe.
“If you’re that sensitive about your weight, maybe it’s time to do something about it,” Connor said.
“My weight doesn’t bother me. I’m well fed, and I love it.”
“Really,” Noah said. “Because it sounded like—”
“Listen here,” Diaz said. “You raise five kids and run an enterprise like mine. You wouldn’t be scrawny anymore either.”
“I’m not scrawny,” Noah replied.
Connor rubbed his forehead and shook his head. “I think we can move on. Juan, I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings.”
“Thank you, Connor. I appreciate it. I knew you cared.”
Connor nodded gravely. “More than words, my friend.”
Lenora laughed. “You guys are so cute,” she said and looked at Kara. “I love you, bro.”
Kara giggled. “I love you too, bro.”
Connor’s eyebrows raised. “If you’re feeling left out, you could join us over here. We could have a group hug.”
“And come between the adorable little bromance you guys have going on? No, thank you. We’re just fine over here,” Lenora said.
Diaz gave both Connor and Noah an appraising look. “Victoria would have enjoyed that.”
“Maybe next time we’ll bring her along instead of you,” Connor said, and then quickly held up his hands. “I’m kidding.”
Diaz smiled, but then his expression became somber. “I wonder how he’s doing.”
Noah frowned. “How who’s doing?”
“Isaac. He’s been doing a work-study program at the colonial embassy in Shetrian,” Diaz replied.
“We’ll be going there soon, but you could send him a comlink if you want,” Connor said.
Diaz shook his head. “No. Comlink isn’t good enough. I need to see him,” he said and then looked at Noah. “You think figuring out FTL is hard? Wait until you raise a couple of kids. Each one of them is different, and it’s your job to figure out what makes them tick.”
Noah shrugged. “Doesn’t sound so bad,” he said, but when Diaz’s gaze hardened, he quickly added, “I’m kidding.”
Diaz’s lips lifted a little, and he sighed. “I remember when he wasn’t so sarcastic.”
“They all have to grow up sooner or later,” Connor replied.
“Give me a break,” Noah said.
Diaz shrugged and gave Connor a knowing look. “Lauren is eleven so she’s almost at that age, but just you wait until Ethan gets there.”
“I’ll enjoy them at any age,” Connor replied.
Noah frowned and asked, “Why is it different if it’s a boy or a girl?”
“Because we treat them differently, and because they are different.”
“That doesn’t tell me anything,” Noah replied.
“Boys follow the father. Girls follow the mother. Cecilia and Tanya will always be my little girls. They’re my daughters. Victoria has more of a firm hand when it comes to raising them. But Dominick, Isaac, and Sal are my sons. They’re Victoria’s little boys, but for me, I’m raising sons to be men. The relationship is different and sometimes it’s a real challenge. They deserve the best from us.”
Noah considered this for a few moments and said, “I understand what you’re saying. You’re probably right that I won’t really know until we start our own family.”
“You’ll be a good father, Noah,” Diaz said.
Noah smiled a little. “Thanks.”
“Maybe you guys can explain something to me,” Diaz said.
“Just one thing?” Connor asked.
“For starters. The search parameters and analysis of the data. How did it find this waypoint? It’s not like the Bhatdin would forget about it once they left their base.”
“Oh, we think they sent out multiple teams over the years,” Connor said. “They could have had families of their own and wanted to point them to their home base. We knew what we were looking for, so it was easier for us to find it, but it could be different for someone coming after.”
“Do you think the Ovarrow couldn’t find it?”
“Only if they knew what they were looking for. They would need to understand the hidden details in the logo.”
“Makes sense,” Diaz said.
“At least we can be sure there aren’t any ryklars there,” Noah said.
Several of the Konus looked in their direction. Connor had supplied them with personal translators so they could understand what was being said.
“They’re not cold-weather creatures. At least not this far north,” Connor said.
Diaz nodded. “I’m sure there’ll be something scarier waiting for us.”
“Why do you think I gave you your birthday present early?”
“Because you felt guilty for bringing me on this expedition with not only the Mekaal but also the Konus,” Diaz replied.
Connor smiled. “You know me well enough to know that I don’t feel guilty about that kind of stuff. I just didn’t want you moping around for the entire trip, so I gave you a new toy.”
Diaz chuckled. “I do like it. Maybe I’ll bring it to the next war games. There are a few officers I’d like to try it out on. Just practice rounds. I wouldn’t want anyone to get seriously hurt.”
Connor grinned. “You’re on.”
Connor sent an update to Field Ops and the CDF. They were deviating from their original set of destinations, and per the protocol, they had to file updates in the event that they became overdue. He received the system’s acknowledgment and closed the comlink.
None of the topographical data indicated that there was any kind of structure in that region, but they would be able to scan much more closely than the satellites overhead.
“Nothing but a whole lot of white and some foothills,” Diaz said.
They flew over the region of the waypoint, using specialized scanning equipment to map the area. The onboard computer would analyze the data and highlight any anomalies it found, which included structures not found in nature.
“These are the coordinates,” Lenora said.
Connor peered at the holoscreen. “What about those foothills?”
Lenora just looked at him.
“What if they’re not foothills? I’m going to have the pilot take us there for a closer look,” Connor said.
The Hercules flew toward the foothills, and they began getting scan results that indicated a structure was covered with ice and snow. The parts that they could see had resembled foothills from a distance.
“Why is it located so far off course?” Diaz asked.
“It has to be the ice age. It could’ve moved the entire structure,” Connor replied.
“It would have to predate the ice age. We’ll be able to date it once we get inside,” Lenora said.
The pilot made one more pass and their scan data updated. The AI provided a high-level view of the buried structure. These were just the parts that were exposed and looked to be more than a few simple HAB units. There were several corridors that extended away from the main rectangular structure, making it appear more like a bunker than anything else.
They landed a few hundred meters away from the structure where the scan results indicated the area was more stable. They could only see the top of the building, and they didn’t want the weight of the Hercules to damage what could be a three-hundred-year-old bunker. They then sectioned off the interior of the Hercules so that the four Konus and flight crew remaining behind wouldn’t freeze.
After donning their cold-weather equipment and climbing into the rovers, they crossed the distance to the structure at a steady pace in six-wheel-drive mode. On-board scanners helped them avoid fissures and gaps. They had plenty of daylight to work with because it was the time of year where it wouldn’t be nighttime for a few more months. But that also meant it was the warmest time of year, which would impact the stability of the area. There was land somewhere beneath the snow and ice, but they weren’t able to tell how much or whether they were driving over a lake.
“The temperature shouldn’t vary at all, really,” Noah said.
“Negative thirty degrees is cold, but it could be a lot worse,” Connor replied.
Diaz looked at him and rolled his eyes. At these temperatures, every inch of their skin had to be covered. Their cold-weather gear included parkas that could handle the weather and could also fit the Ovarrow. Even though they had different proportions than the colonists, they were within the capabilities of the clothing because the smart fabric adjusted to the size of the wearer.
The closer they got to the bunker, the more it looked like an actual arctic base that had been there so long that it resembled a part of the landscape. They circled around the area using ground-penetrating radar and were able to find an entrance buried under the icy snow. They had equipment that would make short work of melting the snow enough for them to reach the doors.
Urret and the other Mekaal soldiers who had worked with the CDF for years were more comfortable with lending a hand. Shuno and the other Konus soldiers watched for a few moments, shifting their feet. Ovarrow in general weren’t a people who’d stand idly by while there was work to be done, so Connor invited them to pitch in and help with the snow removal.
With everyone pitching in, they soon cleared a path to a door. The bunker entrance was attached to a small tunnel that led to the main structure, which Connor found similar to some of the bunkers he’d explored on the main continent. Perhaps the Bhatdin had shared the design with the Ovarrow. The main doors had been reinforced, undoubtedly for the purpose of not only withstanding the extreme temperatures but also an attack from outside. He doubted the complex could withstand an attack from Krake attack drones, but the material looked as if it had been built to last. And the Krake would have been hard-pressed to find this place if they were relying wholly on orbital surveys.
Specialist Weps checked the door. “I’m detecting a power source here. There should be a panel nearby.”
After a few moments of searching, they found a circular panel to the left of the door, but it was frozen shut. A CDF soldier used a handheld plasma torch to warm the area and the panel opened. The interface reminded Connor of a Krake door-control system, but the language looked different.
Connor tilted his head to the side and pressed his lips together.
“Are you going to be able to translate that?” Diaz asked.
“Let’s find out.”
He enabled his Krake translator that had been given to him by a rebellious faction of the Krake. The program had stored multiple versions of the Ovarrow languages from hundreds of universes. Colonial scientists had studied it and had even been able to augment its capabilities. The translator included a security access module that went through an analysis of the screen prompts.
“Careful,” Noah said. “There could be security protocols if we get it wrong.”
Connor gestured for Sepal to join him at the door.
Sepal came over and looked at the interface. “I don’t know the required sequence that will gain us entry.”
“That’s fine. I think I can get it,” Connor said and ran a decryption protocol that would bypass the security.
The door unlocked and opened with a puff of air. Connor walked inside and interior lighting began to come on.
“I’m amazed the power is still working,” Diaz said.
“We’ll need to move quickly. There’s no telling how long it will last,” Noah said.
Amber-colored lighting illuminated the corridor that led to the bunker’s main entrance.
“Looks familiar,” Connor said.
Lenora nodded. “Standard Ovarrow bunker design we’ve seen, but we still don’t know who built it.”
Connor could always appreciate how Lenora refused to jump to conclusions. She often took an evidence-based approach to her research, which was one of the main reasons she was a leading authority in her academic field of study.
The floor tilted a little to the side, but the walls were still in good shape with no sign of structural failure. They walked to the main door and used the door control systems, hearing several clangs as the locking mechanism retracted. Connor pushed the door, which squeaked as it opened, and Diaz helped him open it the rest of the way. More lighting came on. They were in a reception area that was able to fit all of them.
Lenora checked her wrist computer. “Interior temperatures are rising, and it doesn’t appear as if there’s been freezing in here.”
The interior walls were made from a dark metallic alloy. Located away from the main entrance was a console atop a pedestal that rose from the ground.
Connor approached and saw that there was no fabric screen like the Ovarrow consoles, but the design was similar. He waved his hand over the console and a green holoscreen flickered to life, but the screen was slightly out of focus and they were only able to see hazy images.
“That looks more like a Krake console interface,” Lenora said.
“Yeah, but I don’t think it is,” Connor replied.
Noah walked around to the other side of the console. “Could be just an earlier version of it.”
Lenora leaned toward the holoscreen and cleaned the projector leads. The holoscreen became clearer and they could see the symbols. “Not Krake. Definitely Ovarrow.”
Sepal came closer and peered at the screen, and Lenora gestured for him to use the console. The Mekaal historian selected a few of the symbols and a map of the bunker appeared.
“There must have been hundreds of them living here,” Noah said.
“Yes, but why here?” Connor asked.
Sepal selected a few other options, but the console appeared to have a limited interface. He looked at Lenora.
“It’s fine. I think it must be just an information console and the interface is limited,” she said.
Connor nodded. “We’ll need to explore inside. Let’s get a couple of recon drones ready and split up into teams.”
Urret glanced at Shuno and then at Connor. “How many teams?”
“Three teams,” Connor replied. He’d been expecting the question. “Sergeant Tui, pick three people to go with Shuno and his team to explore the dormitories and the other living spaces here,” he said, gesturing toward part of the map. “Urret, your team can explore this region over here. Looks like it’s some kind of maintenance area that also holds some other kind of equipment. The rest will come with me. There appears to be an engineering and control center. Here.”
“General Gates,” Shuno said, and Connor looked at him. “We don’t need escorts for a simple scouting mission.”
Connor regarded the Konus scout for a few seconds. “But you do need experts in using computing systems like this one.”
Shuno looked at the CDF soldiers.
“I’ll assign Specialist Weps with Schmiddy and Cooper as her backup,” Sergeant Tui said.
Shuno was aware of Specialist Weps’s technical capabilities. He looked at Connor. “Very well, I understand.”
Connor wasn’t about to let the Konus explore anything without someone there to prevent them from taking advantage of the situation. “We all have comlinks. Report in if you find anything interesting. We’ll meet back here later on. When in doubt, don’t touch anything. We’re not under any time constraints.”
They split up and each team took a different corridor to the areas they were going to explore.
“I thought Shuno was going to give you trouble about having escorts assigned to his group,” Noah said.
“He’s not really in a position to refuse. Plus, this place isn’t like the other places they’ve scouted,” Connor replied.
The interior of the bunker was in excellent condition considering its age and the harsh climate. As in the previous areas, there was about a seven-degree decline and the floor sloped downward, but the walls remained intact. The facility had shifted over the years.
Before they reached their destination, they walked past a number of empty rooms that held a few storage containers but little else. However, when they walked through the doors of the control center, they found several consoles stationed throughout the room.
