Terra Dawning by Ben Winston Page A

Six
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    “We got two Aces and a Lady, keep your eye on the Lady.”
    -  Con-Artist
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    G reat Inland Sea shore
    Sector 5634 (Delta Quad)
    25 Apr. 10266 CE (AD)
    Earth, Sol system
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    F or a semi-tropical area, the breeze off the Great Inland Sea was brisk. Deirdre shivered and pulled her jacket around her closer. Of course, it could have been nerves for what she and Gail were about to do. She looked at her companion. Gail seemed to be calm and collected. Deirdre wondered how the woman could do it.
    “Aren’t you even a little nervous, Gail?” Deirdre asked. Since it was only the two of them on the beach, it really increased the alien feel of the place even though it looked mostly familiar to them.
    Gail smiled. “Of course I am; but I have the option to convert it into worry about you. If something were to happen to you, I don't think I would even bother to return to the base! Besides, I'm wearing armor; you’re not.”
    “Is that why you don't feel the chill in the air?” Deirdre asked.
    “Probably. This armor is pretty amazing. I wish we would have had it before the fall; a lot of my friends would have made it back,” Gail said sadly.
    “Yeah, but isn't it always like that? I mean what having just that shuttle would have meant if we had it in World War II?" she indicated the craft sitting on the beach behind them. "I'm sorry for your loss and for the men and women that have died, but I can't help but feel if they hadn't, then we simply wouldn't be here. Life always seems to find a way to balance the scales in almost every situation.”
    “That's very true. Even if we had this armor back then, someone would have sold the designs to someone else, so the enemy would have had it too. I remember watching an old movie before The Fall. In it, a strange 'storm' transported a 'modern' nuclear aircraft carrier back in time to December 6th nineteen-forty-one. Once they finally figured out what was going on, they launched everything they had against the Japanese fleets. Before they could engage and change the past, the storm caught up with the ship and her planes, returning them all to their own time. It was a pretty strange movie," Gail replied.
    “It sounds interesting, I'll have to look it up when we get back,” Deirdre said. “Do we have any idea when the folks we're here to meet will be in the area?””
    “Should be pretty soon. Mother said they were getting ready for departure when we left, so they should be getting to the Great Falls site anytime.”
    “Are we sure that thing will get their attention?” Deirdre asked nodding toward the stubby looking rocket. “That site is kinda far away.””
    Gail chuckled and nodded. “Oh yeah, if they have any sensors at all on that ship, this will get they're attention.”
    “Without them thinking we're shooting at them?” Deirdre asked, concerned.
    “It's totally benign. It's really just a modified signal flare. This one just happens to emit more than light. It'll pop up about a half-mile then stay there while it does its thing. Nothing to worry about,” Gail explained.
    “Okay, will it get anyone else's attention?” Deirdre asked.
    “Probably, but I highly doubt anyone else will even attempt to respond. Remember, the Duke ordered the Rangers killed. He'll probably think this is a trap for them. If he decides to respond, it'll be slow in coming. By then, we should have a pretty good idea about what's going on,” Gail replied.
    “The patrol vessel is entering the target area, General. You may launch the missile at any time,” Mother said over the comm link.
    “Thank you, Mother. Okay everyone, heads up; its show time!” Gail said and pressed the launch icon on her control unit.
    A hundred yards down the beach the stubby rocket shot straight up so fast it was a blur. However, once it reached the distance Gail had mentioned, it burst into a bright light that rivaled the sun. Deirdre blinked