2041 Sanctuary (Dark Descent) (34 page)

Nathan downed the remainder of his drink. ‘Unless Joiner intercepted the information flow even higher up the chain.’

Steiner made a face. ‘That’s something I’d rather not consider, and the likelihood is extremely remote.’

‘I have to say,’ Nathan said, placing his empty glass down on a leather coaster, ‘I wasn’t too happy you kept secret the fact that you’d be going to the surface as part of the team. You couldn’t trust me enough to tell me beforehand?’

Steiner noted his friend’s hurt demeanour. ‘I didn’t say anything because I knew you wouldn’t relent until you’d talked me out of it.’ Steiner gave Nathan a fond look. ‘You can be quite persuasive when you want to be.’

Nathan seemed a little mollified by the comment and picked up his glass again, twizzling it round in his fingers in contemplation. ‘I don’t think Steadfast’s new command group was convinced by your explanations for leaving them without you or Samson at the base.’ Nathan looked up from his tumbler.

‘That’s because they don’t know all the facts. Our predicament is more dire than they know.’

Nathan shifted in his seat. ‘Perhaps we should tell them, then? Don’t they deserve to know; doesn’t everyone down here deserve to know?’

‘What they deserve is of no consequence,’ Steiner said, ‘as much as I hate saying so. If we revealed to them we have a finite time frame to get out of this facility, what do you think would be the result? The fact is, informing them of their impending doom would only cause mass hysteria. Colonel Weybridge said it himself, only with Samson’s iron hand did they keep their personnel in line during the initial uproar when everyone found out we were trapped down here. I consider our course of action sound and the only one available to us at present. Believe me when I say I have deliberated every other option to the nth degree – as well you know, I’ve talked most of them through with you. We have to maintain calm until no other option is left to us.’ Steiner opened a drawer in his desk and withdrew a folder, which he placed in front of Nathan.

‘What’s this?’ Nathan picked it up.

‘Final contingency protocols.’

‘For?’ Nathan flicked through the thick wodge of paper inside.

‘To help the leader of Steadfast and his team make final arrangements, if my mission fails.’

Nathan looked wary. ‘What sort of arrangements?’

‘Necessary ones. If I’m unable to secure freedom for all Steadfast’s residents, then there will only be one alternative for your escape.’

‘Fight our way out,’ Nathan said, his expression grim.

‘Yes, and undoubtedly such an assault against the forces on the surface will result in significant losses, perhaps as much as ninety per cent.’ Steiner rubbed his beard in distraction, the coarse bristles feeling comforting against his palm. ‘Joiner may have even put in place orders to detonate large devices within our lift shafts to prevent any such action.’

Nathan folded his arms across his chest. ‘That’s an awful thought.’

Steiner considered his friend, whose kind face and compassionate soul masked an intelligent mind full of untapped strength. ‘I just wish I didn’t have to leave you all down here,’ he said, ending the pause in conversation. ‘I feel like a captain abandoning his ship as it sinks, but I know if I don’t go it increases the likelihood that everyone left in Steadfast will perish.’

‘It’s a difficult decision,’ Nathan said. ‘Not one I agreed with at first, I admit, but now that I’ve had time to think about it, it does appear to be the best and perhaps only option we have to save all these people.’

‘I’m glad you feel that way.’ Steiner braced himself for the complaints to come when his next words were spoken. ‘With that in mind and in respect to the contingencies which you now hold—’ He paused, looking at his friend, gauging his mood;
there’s no right time for this,
best get it over with,
he decided as Nathan looked at him, blissfully unaware of the responsibility he was about to inherit. ‘I will be leaving you in command of Steadfast.’

Nathan’s expression portrayed a myriad of emotions all at once, fear, shock and horror the most prevalent that Steiner could see.

‘What? Are you out of your mind?!’ Nathan got up and stared down at Steiner as if he had indeed lost his senses. ‘I’m no leader, especially not one who could command half a million people!’

‘Four hundred and seventy thousand,’ Steiner said, the pedantic comment not even registering with his friend, who failed to deliver his customary look of reproach as he paced around the room like a caged animal seeking escape.

Nathan came back to stand in front of the desk as he rallied. ‘This is wrong. There are lots of people who can run Steadfast and they are all better choices than me.’

Steiner raised an eyebrow.

‘Colonel Weybridge, for one.’ Nathan answered the unspoken challenge. ‘A well-spoken and highly regarded officer, a born leader. He has the respect of both military and civilian personnel, which is something I can never hope to have.’

‘Weybridge will have his hands full, filling the void left by Samson,’ Steiner said. ‘Besides, he knows nothing of running the civilian led systems which operate this base; his tenure would quickly lead to disaster. Also, while you may not realise it, you already have the respect of many of the people who currently run Steadfast.’

Nathan, ignoring Steiner’s last comment, ploughed ahead. ‘The Chief of Police, what’s her name?’

Steiner tried to keep a smile from his face as he watched his friend begin to flounder. ‘Helen Warren?’

‘Yes! Helen,’ Nathan said, struggling to keep his composure. ‘She’s worked closely with the U.S. Army in the past and she has civilian authority.’

‘And knows nothing about Steadfast’s multitude of systems when compared to you,’ Steiner added, blowing that argument out of the water with ease.

‘James Fullerton,’ Nathan continued, ‘Senior Data Analyst and Director of Human Resources. He also has experience in various critical systems throughout the base and has been here for over a decade.’

‘The military will not accept a backroom administrator without operational knowledge and oversight,’ Steiner told him. ‘Nathan, I have considered all the options you are presenting and many more besides, and the only one that comes out on top is the man I’m looking at now. A man who has been involved in the GMRC since its inception, a man who has also operated within the inner circles of the GMRC Directorate and is privy to some of the most sensitive information on the planet. You have worked in multiple divisions for the GMRC and within multiple USSBs. You have excellent communication and leadership skills—’

Nathan snorted at the mention of the word leadership.

‘You are also the only person who will be left in this base who knows about the asteroid. Plus, and perhaps most importantly, you are the only man I trust to lead these people to safety in my absence.’

Nathan looked distraught. ‘But—’

‘No buts.’ Steiner grew stern and a little angry that his friend couldn’t recognise the leadership qualities he so clearly possessed. ‘Nathan, listen to me, you need to trust in your own abilities. Whatever doubts you have about your capacity to lead, whatever shortcomings you have convinced yourself of over the years, are most likely born of redundant situations from your youth and it is time to let them go. I have worked with you for nearly thirty years and in that time I have seen you develop into a powerful individual capable of dealing with the sort of highly charged, complex situations most people would find overwhelming. You have excelled in the jobs you have been assigned to, but you have never sought out responsibility; it has always been accepted reluctantly. This time, however, I am putting you in a position where thousands of people will rely on you for their very lives, and I would not do so if I didn’t think you were up to the task. I need you to put away your fears and be ready to lead these people with confidence; can you do that for me? Can you lead these people to safety when they need you most?’ Steiner looked at his friend as he struggled with his own internal demons. Steiner knew Nathan had to accept the position willingly to ensure the best possible outcome for Steadfast and its people. ‘Well?’ he prompted, as Nathan sat looking at the floor in silent contemplation.

‘Very well.’ Nathan looked up and squared his shoulders as though physically accepting the burden placed upon him. ‘I will take charge of Steadfast. If you think I can do it then I must be able to,’ he added with a self-deprecating smile.

Steiner, able to relax somewhat, nodded and smiled at his friend in gratitude. ‘Thank you. It’s a big weight off my mind knowing that I leave you in charge. You will, of course, have Sophie, my primary aide, to help you in your daily duties, along with other members of the team I’ve had working with me here. I will also transition your command by addressing the whole of Steadfast before I leave, outlining – where I can – what we are proposing to accomplish with the mission to the surface. You will find in the contingencies a code which, along with your biometrics, will unlock a film I have recorded for you to air to the base when the deadline has passed for my return or contact. The code will also be able to verify I am who I say I am, when – if – I get back in touch with you.’

‘A film; what does it say?’

‘It discloses the arrival of the next wave of asteroids, and the imminent arrival of AG5-C and its impact proximity to this base. The contingencies allow for a staggered revelation of the truth over a couple of weeks to nullify panic as much as possible. I have also formulated a full scale assault plan, with the help of the colonels, of course, against the surface emplacements; these plans will need to be enacted as directed, although once it begins it may be that events take a direction all of their own.’

Nathan looked surprised. ‘Didn’t the colonels wonder why you wanted such a plan?’

‘I claimed belt and braces. They may not know about the asteroids, but they know we have to get out of here eventually and force may be the only route. What they’re unaware of is how soon we may have to put such a plan into action and how far we may have to take it.’

‘Can we use the missiles we have stored down here?’ Nathan said.

‘It’s debatable. Joiner also disabled all our external weapons systems before he departed. If we can rig something up it will be dangerous and to be used only as a last resort. Using such high-powered weaponry could collapse whole sections of the base, killing more than it might save.’

‘Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, then,’ Nathan said with feeling.

Steiner raised his glass. ‘I’ll drink to that.’

Chapter Nineteen

The next day found Steiner once more in the Command Centre at Steadfast, his office a welcome refuge from the crash course he’d had to endure in climbing equipment and its use. Over the last few days a commando from Terra Force had put Steiner through his paces with no regard for his age or position. Steiner was pleased the man had pushed him so hard as he didn’t fancy falling to his death; although, on reflection, he decided that might just be delaying the inevitable as, on the surface, he might get shot or be blown up.

Thankfully Steiner knew most of the hard work on the ascent through the conduit shaft would be shouldered by those around him. He would be getting not a free ride, as such, but as near to it as was possible from what he’d been told by those within Samson’s team.

While Steiner perused his itinerary for that day, prepared by his irreplaceable aide, Sophie, he was disturbed by a commotion outside his office. Raised voices could be heard coming through the thick wooden double doors that separated his room from reception.

The intercom buzzed and one of his security guards began to speak, but the sound cut off before he could form a word.

‘Hello?’ Steiner said into the microphone. ‘Is everything okay out there?’

No answer. Standing up, Steiner walked round his desk and reached out to one of the brass door handles, but just as he did so it jerked away from his grasp. The tall, imposing figure of Colonel Samson filled his vision, as ever garbed in his combat armour.

‘Colonel?’ Steiner stared into Samson’s deadpan eyes. ‘I have a busy schedule today, can I ask you to—’ Steiner’s voice tailed off as he peered around Samson to see the prone bodies of his two Darklight security guards. Sophie lay sprawled across her desk, unmoving. ‘What’s going on here?!’

Samson shoved him back into his office without a word.

Staggering back, Steiner turned and ran to his desk to call for assistance. As his fingers reached his phone, a metal-clad hand slammed down onto his own, crushing it in place. Samson lifted Steiner’s arm away from the desk and then pushed him down into a chair.

‘You don’t want to call for help,’ Samson told him in his gravelly voice. ‘You don’t know what I might tell them.’

‘What’s the meaning of this, Colonel?!’ Steiner cradled his throbbing hand. ‘And what have you done to my staff?’

Samson gripped the edge of Steiner’s desk and heaved it away from him, sending papers flying and everything else tumbling to the floor.

Samson glared at him. ‘Your people are sleeping off a sedative.’

‘You do realise you’ve just crossed the line, Colonel, assaulting my bodyguards and an unarmed woman. There’s no going back from this.’

Samson laughed, the disturbing sound making Steiner question whether Samson was experiencing some kind of mental break. If that was the case there was no knowing what he might do next.

‘
I’ve
crossed the line?’ Samson kicked out at a wooden chair, sending it crashing into the wall and splintering into pieces. ‘If I’ve crossed the line then you’ve taken the line and fucking obliterated it!’

Steiner stared at the irate Terra Force commander, whose chest heaved up and down as his face seethed with a fury that made Steiner fear for his life. He glanced over to his desk; he couldn’t reach anything to call for help.
If only I’d kept my earpiece on
, he thought, ruing the fact that he declined to wear it because it made his skin sore.

‘Nothing to say, Professor?’