terrified,” she said.
Medial Bay
19.30 Martian Standard
“It moved,” Bobby said. He was lying on a diagnostic bed, now out of his atmo suit. Tyrell’s face changed to one of fascination.
“In what way?” he asked. Barrington put his hand up and motioned for the doctor to hold questions.
“Bobby, just start from the beginning. Take a breath and slowly recount everything that happened.”
The Englishman began slowly recounting the events to the captive audience. At the end Barrington looked at Tyrell.
“Thoughts?” he asked. Tyrell stood and watched the patient.
“It would seem the beast has awoken. Commander, with your permission, I would like to return to my lab to run some tests.”
Barrington thought for a moment. “Tyrell, if that stuff shows any sign of movement, I want it incinerated. You are not authorised to remove it from its containment chamber. I want someone there with you at all times and right now I want options for transportation of The Black off base.”
Tyrell looked annoyed. “John, I don’t think it poses any immediate threat. It would appear that it was reacting to defend itself from what it perceived to be a direct attack. I really don’t think —”
Barrington interrupted. “Those are your instructions, Doctor. We have incoming from the Phobos base and several inbound craft with survivors aboard. The risk to life on this base is too great to start fucking around with an aggressive life form that has cost lives.” Carrie looked surprised at the force in her father’s voice. Barrington knew that he had momentarily lost his cool in front of everyone and drew a breath.
“Please, Tyrone. Just do as I ask.” Tyrell nodded and promptlyleft. The commander tapped his comm link. “Barrington to Meridian.”
“Chase here, go ahead, John.”
“Chase, can you meet Doctor Tyrell at his lab, please? He requires your assistance.” He glanced back and watched the frustrated Tyrell leave. He was muttering something under his breath. He reached the exit and turned back.
“If you don’t mind, Commander, I could also use Carrie’s assistance in the lab at her earliest convenience.”
“Of course, I will send her over in twenty minutes.” He turned back to Bobby who was watching the exchange.
“Get some rest and, when you’re ready to get back on your feet, we will talk some more.”
“Thank you, sir,” he said nodding.
“What do we do about Lorenzo Fraine?” Carrie asked her father. The commander didn’t answer.
“Barrington to Aquaria.” His comms blipped
“Llewellyn here.”
“Put out a colony -wide alert that The Black cave is under quarantine. No personnel are permitted to go near it. Change all the access codes to the entrance. Get a munitions team together. I want the entrance to the cave blasted and sealed off.”
“Yes, sir,” came a prompt response.
“You sure about that?” asked Carrie.
Her father nodded.
5
Phobos
Time since evacuation -Three days
07:13 Martian Standard
D aniel Tosh climbed into his chair, which he had set at ground level for ease of access. He glanced out of the porthole and looked out at the white rocky surface of the potato -shaped moon below. The comforts of the Jycorp Orbital platform greatly outdid the base on the surface and he was glad to have some distance between himself and the Monolith. The morning had started early with evacuation briefings due to take up the majority of his day. He poured himself a cup of black Columbian coffee. One of the few natural supplies of the stuff he had left which he had brought from home.
He absorbed the rich aroma and allowed himself the simple moment of pleasure before embarking out into the chaotic scenes in the main corridors of the space station. He made his way through the hustle and bustle of the crew preparing equipment for transport down the Martian surface. One of the passers -by knocked into his chair and excused himself apologetically. He was a young man in his early
Medial Bay
19.30 Martian Standard
“It moved,” Bobby said. He was lying on a diagnostic bed, now out of his atmo suit. Tyrell’s face changed to one of fascination.
“In what way?” he asked. Barrington put his hand up and motioned for the doctor to hold questions.
“Bobby, just start from the beginning. Take a breath and slowly recount everything that happened.”
The Englishman began slowly recounting the events to the captive audience. At the end Barrington looked at Tyrell.
“Thoughts?” he asked. Tyrell stood and watched the patient.
“It would seem the beast has awoken. Commander, with your permission, I would like to return to my lab to run some tests.”
Barrington thought for a moment. “Tyrell, if that stuff shows any sign of movement, I want it incinerated. You are not authorised to remove it from its containment chamber. I want someone there with you at all times and right now I want options for transportation of The Black off base.”
Tyrell looked annoyed. “John, I don’t think it poses any immediate threat. It would appear that it was reacting to defend itself from what it perceived to be a direct attack. I really don’t think —”
Barrington interrupted. “Those are your instructions, Doctor. We have incoming from the Phobos base and several inbound craft with survivors aboard. The risk to life on this base is too great to start fucking around with an aggressive life form that has cost lives.” Carrie looked surprised at the force in her father’s voice. Barrington knew that he had momentarily lost his cool in front of everyone and drew a breath.
“Please, Tyrone. Just do as I ask.” Tyrell nodded and promptlyleft. The commander tapped his comm link. “Barrington to Meridian.”
“Chase here, go ahead, John.”
“Chase, can you meet Doctor Tyrell at his lab, please? He requires your assistance.” He glanced back and watched the frustrated Tyrell leave. He was muttering something under his breath. He reached the exit and turned back.
“If you don’t mind, Commander, I could also use Carrie’s assistance in the lab at her earliest convenience.”
“Of course, I will send her over in twenty minutes.” He turned back to Bobby who was watching the exchange.
“Get some rest and, when you’re ready to get back on your feet, we will talk some more.”
“Thank you, sir,” he said nodding.
“What do we do about Lorenzo Fraine?” Carrie asked her father. The commander didn’t answer.
“Barrington to Aquaria.” His comms blipped
“Llewellyn here.”
“Put out a colony -wide alert that The Black cave is under quarantine. No personnel are permitted to go near it. Change all the access codes to the entrance. Get a munitions team together. I want the entrance to the cave blasted and sealed off.”
“Yes, sir,” came a prompt response.
“You sure about that?” asked Carrie.
Her father nodded.
5
Phobos
Time since evacuation -Three days
07:13 Martian Standard
D aniel Tosh climbed into his chair, which he had set at ground level for ease of access. He glanced out of the porthole and looked out at the white rocky surface of the potato -shaped moon below. The comforts of the Jycorp Orbital platform greatly outdid the base on the surface and he was glad to have some distance between himself and the Monolith. The morning had started early with evacuation briefings due to take up the majority of his day. He poured himself a cup of black Columbian coffee. One of the few natural supplies of the stuff he had left which he had brought from home.
He absorbed the rich aroma and allowed himself the simple moment of pleasure before embarking out into the chaotic scenes in the main corridors of the space station. He made his way through the hustle and bustle of the crew preparing equipment for transport down the Martian surface. One of the passers -by knocked into his chair and excused himself apologetically. He was a young man in his early
Similar Books
