deal?”
Loreto stood up. “Fifteen minutes and not a second more. Now how will I know
when their weapons are out of commission?”
“We’ll have to
split up.” Mike jerked his thumb at Frank. “You can stay with the aircraft and
fly back here when you see us give the signal. Plus, if we do encounter
trouble, you can help us.”
“Sounds good. What shall I do about the Alliance ?”
“What’s the Alliance ?” Loreto
asked. “Some kind of rebel group?”
“No.” Mike shook
his head. “Rebels act against the leader. We act for him.”
Kenneth frowned. “But isn’t your leader the one who invaded Earth?”
Mike fiddled with
his watch. “It was done in the best interest of everyone—”
“Everyone?” Loreto interrupted. “What
the hell are you talking about? We don’t need your help. We never have and we
never will. You obviously don’t think much of our species, but I don’t think
we’ve done too bad for ourselves.”
Mike chuckled. “Two
world wars, as well as countless others, isn’t what we
would call good.” His jaw went taut. “But that’s nothing to what will happen if
we don’t return to our planet with what we came here for.”
Frank scratched
his neck. “If we don’t return before time runs out, all hell will break loose, and
I’m not just talking about this country. I’m not even talking about this
planet.”
“What the hell
are you talking about then?” Loreto asked.
“Earth, our
planet, as well as countless others, will be thrust into a war that will
stretch from one side of the galaxy to the other.” Frank stared at the general.
“I know you might not believe me, but it’s the truth. You’ll die, as will the
rest of you.” Mike stared into the faces of everyone. “Once we start this
mission, there’s no turning back. We only get one chance, so make it count.”
Mike put up his
hand. “Time is running out, so let’s drop this discussion.” He gazed at the
map. “We’ll have to clear the airspace.” Tapping the board, he craned his neck.
“Frank, talk to our contact and see if you can arrange something.”
Frank puffed out
his cheeks and quickly left the room. Mike locked eyes with everyone who was
left. “This will only work if we are all in agreement.”
“I’m willing to
trust your judgment in this matter, but if it fails—” Loreto said.
“If it fails, you
don’t have to worry because you’ll be dead. As will the rest
of you.” Mike stared into the faces of everyone. “Once we start this
mission, there’s no turning back. We only get one chance. So make it count.”
Chapter 13
The sun was
rising above the horizon as the group got ready to depart. It had been decided
that only the fittest would climb up the mountain, and so Kenneth, Logan , Mike, and
Jet had been chosen to make the trek.
Once they’d
gathered their gear and weapons and put them into several backpacks, they
walked over to the nearby military truck and dragged out three ATVs. The others
waved goodbye as the five climbed onto the ATVs and drove away.
Frank looked at
the driver of the truck. “I’ll circle with the Striker when the job is done,
okay?”
“I’ll tell the
general.” The soldier climbed into the truck and drove down the road.
Frank surveyed the
quiet campground to make sure they were the only ones there. Satisfied that
they were, he joined the others at a picnic table. Through the binoculars he
had placed on the table earlier, he glanced toward Mount Shasta .
“Can you see any
sign of them yet?” Lucy asked.
“Of course not. It’ll be another
fifteen or so minutes before they emerge from the trees.” Frank looked in the
direction of Redding .
Even though he
knew where to look, the city was too far away to make out any specific details.
“I better scout the area. Better to be safe than sorry.”
As Frank faded
away, the teens asked Lucy a barrage of questions about Logan to pass the
time.
Frank took his
time and had just returned
Loreto stood up. “Fifteen minutes and not a second more. Now how will I know
when their weapons are out of commission?”
“We’ll have to
split up.” Mike jerked his thumb at Frank. “You can stay with the aircraft and
fly back here when you see us give the signal. Plus, if we do encounter
trouble, you can help us.”
“Sounds good. What shall I do about the Alliance ?”
“What’s the Alliance ?” Loreto
asked. “Some kind of rebel group?”
“No.” Mike shook
his head. “Rebels act against the leader. We act for him.”
Kenneth frowned. “But isn’t your leader the one who invaded Earth?”
Mike fiddled with
his watch. “It was done in the best interest of everyone—”
“Everyone?” Loreto interrupted. “What
the hell are you talking about? We don’t need your help. We never have and we
never will. You obviously don’t think much of our species, but I don’t think
we’ve done too bad for ourselves.”
Mike chuckled. “Two
world wars, as well as countless others, isn’t what we
would call good.” His jaw went taut. “But that’s nothing to what will happen if
we don’t return to our planet with what we came here for.”
Frank scratched
his neck. “If we don’t return before time runs out, all hell will break loose, and
I’m not just talking about this country. I’m not even talking about this
planet.”
“What the hell
are you talking about then?” Loreto asked.
“Earth, our
planet, as well as countless others, will be thrust into a war that will
stretch from one side of the galaxy to the other.” Frank stared at the general.
“I know you might not believe me, but it’s the truth. You’ll die, as will the
rest of you.” Mike stared into the faces of everyone. “Once we start this
mission, there’s no turning back. We only get one chance, so make it count.”
Mike put up his
hand. “Time is running out, so let’s drop this discussion.” He gazed at the
map. “We’ll have to clear the airspace.” Tapping the board, he craned his neck.
“Frank, talk to our contact and see if you can arrange something.”
Frank puffed out
his cheeks and quickly left the room. Mike locked eyes with everyone who was
left. “This will only work if we are all in agreement.”
“I’m willing to
trust your judgment in this matter, but if it fails—” Loreto said.
“If it fails, you
don’t have to worry because you’ll be dead. As will the rest
of you.” Mike stared into the faces of everyone. “Once we start this
mission, there’s no turning back. We only get one chance. So make it count.”
Chapter 13
The sun was
rising above the horizon as the group got ready to depart. It had been decided
that only the fittest would climb up the mountain, and so Kenneth, Logan , Mike, and
Jet had been chosen to make the trek.
Once they’d
gathered their gear and weapons and put them into several backpacks, they
walked over to the nearby military truck and dragged out three ATVs. The others
waved goodbye as the five climbed onto the ATVs and drove away.
Frank looked at
the driver of the truck. “I’ll circle with the Striker when the job is done,
okay?”
“I’ll tell the
general.” The soldier climbed into the truck and drove down the road.
Frank surveyed the
quiet campground to make sure they were the only ones there. Satisfied that
they were, he joined the others at a picnic table. Through the binoculars he
had placed on the table earlier, he glanced toward Mount Shasta .
“Can you see any
sign of them yet?” Lucy asked.
“Of course not. It’ll be another
fifteen or so minutes before they emerge from the trees.” Frank looked in the
direction of Redding .
Even though he
knew where to look, the city was too far away to make out any specific details.
“I better scout the area. Better to be safe than sorry.”
As Frank faded
away, the teens asked Lucy a barrage of questions about Logan to pass the
time.
Frank took his
time and had just returned
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