links were active again. “Eleven vipers dead at my position. Likely one remaining enemy still active!”
Lieutenant Develier spoke again, his voice worried. “I can’t spot the five soldiers we sent to link up with the command center.”
“Dead zone!” someone called. “We got a dead zone on our sensor displays! It looks active, but it’s a dummy picture!”
“It’s inside the command center!”
“Get into it!”
“Move!”
As multiple units began to converge on the command center, another order rang out. “All units hold. The command center is secured.”
Gozen let out a long breath as she heard Colonel Malin’s voice. The guy was scary, but that was good in a situation like this.
“What have you got?” Drakon asked Malin.
“One dead snake, General,” Malin answered, his voice cold andprecise. “Several dead soldiers and watch-standers. And one portable nuclear device that the snake was prepared to activate. The nuke has been rendered safe.”
“Suicide mission,” Develier muttered.
“Good work, everyone,” Drakon said. “Now, all units, remain on alert. We’re going to flood the headquarters complex with smoke and sweep every room and every corridor to make sure there aren’t any other attackers hiding in here. Colonel Malin, coordinate the sweeps from the command center. Colonel Gozen and I are moving to join you.”
Leaving six soldiers to guard the wounded and watch over the dead vipers, and accompanied by the rest of the soldiers, Gozen and Drakon headed for the command center along hallways that were rapidly filling with smoke. “Cleaning up after this is going to be a chore,” Gozen commented.
“It won’t be much compared to the cleanup if that nuke had detonated,” Drakon replied.
They started meeting other soldiers, most in armor and gathered into larger and smaller groups based on whoever had been closest when the attack started. With the links active again, everyone could track everyone else easily, eliminating surprises that might have led to friendly soldiers firing on other friendlies. Gozen, still not too familiar with the layout of the headquarters, was relieved when they reached the command center.
Standing just outside were Private Pogue and the other four soldiers who had gone with him. “Sir,” the corporal in charge of the small group reported, “we got here just as the jamming cleared.”
“It takes a while longer to get somewhere if you don’t want to be noticed,” Private Pogue argued defensively.
“Fall in with us,” Lieutenant Develier ordered. “Do you want us to stay with you, General?”
“No,” Drakon said. “Report in as available for joining in the securitysweep of the building. I won’t forget any one of you,” he said to the group. “You did well. Damned well. You’ve got some fine soldiers, Lieutenant, and that reflects well on you.”
“Thank you, sir!”
Gozen felt herself relaxing as she followed Drakon into the command center. There were several bodies still on the floor, the watch-standers who had apparently been killed without warning, and a dozen living soldiers present who were checking over the equipment to ensure no other sabotage had been committed by the vipers.
Colonel Malin stood next to what Gozen recognized as a portable nuke. His eyes swept across General Drakon, centered on Gozen, then his pistol came up, aiming straight at Gozen’s face shield.
CHAPTER FIVE
GOZEN was smart enough to freeze rather than try dodging to one side or bringing up her own weapon. She knew enough about Malin to know that he could put a shot into the most vulnerable part of her face shield even if she was leaping sidewise when he fired.
Knowing that movement could well mean death, she froze, waiting to see what would happen.
“What is the meaning of this, Colonel Malin?” General Drakon asked, his voice harsh.
“This attack was assisted from the inside,” Malin said, still emotionless. “Someone planted worms in our
Lieutenant Develier spoke again, his voice worried. “I can’t spot the five soldiers we sent to link up with the command center.”
“Dead zone!” someone called. “We got a dead zone on our sensor displays! It looks active, but it’s a dummy picture!”
“It’s inside the command center!”
“Get into it!”
“Move!”
As multiple units began to converge on the command center, another order rang out. “All units hold. The command center is secured.”
Gozen let out a long breath as she heard Colonel Malin’s voice. The guy was scary, but that was good in a situation like this.
“What have you got?” Drakon asked Malin.
“One dead snake, General,” Malin answered, his voice cold andprecise. “Several dead soldiers and watch-standers. And one portable nuclear device that the snake was prepared to activate. The nuke has been rendered safe.”
“Suicide mission,” Develier muttered.
“Good work, everyone,” Drakon said. “Now, all units, remain on alert. We’re going to flood the headquarters complex with smoke and sweep every room and every corridor to make sure there aren’t any other attackers hiding in here. Colonel Malin, coordinate the sweeps from the command center. Colonel Gozen and I are moving to join you.”
Leaving six soldiers to guard the wounded and watch over the dead vipers, and accompanied by the rest of the soldiers, Gozen and Drakon headed for the command center along hallways that were rapidly filling with smoke. “Cleaning up after this is going to be a chore,” Gozen commented.
“It won’t be much compared to the cleanup if that nuke had detonated,” Drakon replied.
They started meeting other soldiers, most in armor and gathered into larger and smaller groups based on whoever had been closest when the attack started. With the links active again, everyone could track everyone else easily, eliminating surprises that might have led to friendly soldiers firing on other friendlies. Gozen, still not too familiar with the layout of the headquarters, was relieved when they reached the command center.
Standing just outside were Private Pogue and the other four soldiers who had gone with him. “Sir,” the corporal in charge of the small group reported, “we got here just as the jamming cleared.”
“It takes a while longer to get somewhere if you don’t want to be noticed,” Private Pogue argued defensively.
“Fall in with us,” Lieutenant Develier ordered. “Do you want us to stay with you, General?”
“No,” Drakon said. “Report in as available for joining in the securitysweep of the building. I won’t forget any one of you,” he said to the group. “You did well. Damned well. You’ve got some fine soldiers, Lieutenant, and that reflects well on you.”
“Thank you, sir!”
Gozen felt herself relaxing as she followed Drakon into the command center. There were several bodies still on the floor, the watch-standers who had apparently been killed without warning, and a dozen living soldiers present who were checking over the equipment to ensure no other sabotage had been committed by the vipers.
Colonel Malin stood next to what Gozen recognized as a portable nuke. His eyes swept across General Drakon, centered on Gozen, then his pistol came up, aiming straight at Gozen’s face shield.
CHAPTER FIVE
GOZEN was smart enough to freeze rather than try dodging to one side or bringing up her own weapon. She knew enough about Malin to know that he could put a shot into the most vulnerable part of her face shield even if she was leaping sidewise when he fired.
Knowing that movement could well mean death, she froze, waiting to see what would happen.
“What is the meaning of this, Colonel Malin?” General Drakon asked, his voice harsh.
“This attack was assisted from the inside,” Malin said, still emotionless. “Someone planted worms in our
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