The Cross of Mithras Vol. 1: EOD Operation Welcome to Hell (24 page)

  After the elite units of Galactic Prime enter the EOD vessel they were greeted with a very strange sight. There were no signs of the crew. There were signs that the crew was there, but for some strange reason they all left. They did found two things on board that told them that this was no EOD trick. As it turned out, it was something far more than what anybody could have imagined. Not only did Mad Dawg have to immediately call Vaistll, but he had to contact Admiral Lowenthal as well. For what he had uncovered was that the ship traveled backwards through time. But not in a way that suggested that it was some new form of technology. Anybody could have done it if they knew what they were doing, and willing to risk going to jail over it. It was the other two things that they were far more concerned about. There was a dead pilot setting in the Captain’s chair, and seven people in cryo-sleep. But what really got their hearts to sink very deeply into their guts was the fact that the pilot, and the seven people in cryo-sleep, all shared one thing in common - they were Apollinarians.

  Mad Dawg and his elite team knew fear like never before. Knowing what it would take in order to capture a ship like that, plus how apparently easy it was for the Apollinarians to do it, really scared the shit out of them. They were tough, but nobody, not even the Necro-Mystics, were that tough. Even if there was somebody who could pull it off, there would have been battle scars on that ships and dead bodies, or blood, in the ship. How could the Apollinarians pull it off when nobody that Mad Dawg (or Project 21 for that matter) can think of could do it? Despite Mad Dawg lack of experience with the EOD he knew them well enough to know that they too would be deeply concerned (or scared if they could admit it). It is no wonder that Admiral Lowenthal would take over.

  After Mad Dawg finished talking to Admiral Lowenthal, she called Commodore Parker to inform him that she was taking over. She then got on one of the fastest ships that was docked at her starbase and then headed on over to Roscadia. After the ship departed, she sent an encrypted message to the CCO HQ informing them of what happened. She then spent the next few hours reviewing Task Force ZH-3C mission, and Vaistll’s record. She was looking for anything that might explain why those Apollinarians were on that ship. As much as she dreaded it, if it was true, she was also looking to see if there was a connection between the EOD and the Apollinarians.

  ‘God help us one and all... if they teamed up.’ She thought to herself as she read both reports, praying deep within her heart and soul that it was not true.

(4)

  At some point after Vaistll, Ramirez and Commander Taylor arrived on the EOD ship, Commodore Parker, possessed by his paranoia and suspicions, started to dig his grave even deeper. Yet again he did not show up for his photo-op with the mayor. Instead, he decided to take it upon himself to find out what was so important that Lowenthal should take over. Because he didn’t show up for the photo-op, the mayor (when he heard that Lowenthal was coming) sent a communiqué to Lowenthal telling her how Parker treated him. After she finished talking to the mayor she decided to reprimand Parker for his insubordination. At that moment in time Parker days is numbered. In all likelihood he is going to be dishonorably discharged from the service for his continual insubordination. Even if he knew that he wouldn’t have cared because it would mean that Roscadia would permanently be out of his life. And if he thinks he’s lonely now as a Commodore... wait. Who would want somebody like him?

  But it was his next action that ultimately sealed his fate. Pushed beyond his breaking point with a city that he so much hate and scorn, his irrational hatred led him to contact Little John’s father who is a mafia boss. He had a plan to seriously hurt Roscadia in a way that would benefit the mafia and either drive away Project 21, or cause them to be associated with organized crime. Not once did he felt scared or nervous. Not by a long shot. He was just a man on a mission.

  Commodore Parker plan involved the assassination of both the mayor and Admiral Lowenthal, and to have his death faked. Then to have the EOD blamed for it. He lied to the mafia about the reason why Lowenthal was coming to Roscadia. He told them that she was, “coming to clean up the trash in the city,” and that she was going to, “take down the mafia once and for all.”  He mentioned that he will use his knowledge and experience to assist the mafia. He mentioned that Project 21 plans would be thrown into disarray and they would send more troops to Roscadia in order to keep the peace. And therefore more people to gamble their lives away. In exchange for their help he would give them his life savings. All he wanted in return is for them to help him join the EOD.

  The mafia at first didn’t know what to make of Parker’s proposal. Even after he showed then how much money he was willing to give them. Parker knew that they were far more motivated by greed than by common sense. He knew that if he keep on talking about how much he’s worth, and show them the proof, it would convince them to reconsider his proposal. He also knew that if he keep on reassuring them about his knowledge and experience that should be enough to convince them. When they asked him why is he doing this, he responded in a truthful manner. Project 21 is too focused on the EOD to care about the city. He knows who is running the city. He learned that lesson, as he told them, quite well. And like so many people in the city, he wants out before its too late. At some point after that he finally convinced the mafia to go along with his proposal. He then gave them half of his wealth as a down payment, and the other half will be delivered to them when the EOD has taken him into their fold.

  But Parker’s plan will not turn out quite the way in which he’d planned. Yes the EOD will take him in. He is a Commodore with no money, so he would become totally dependent upon them for his own survival. But in due time he will learn that his EOD savior will condemned him to a life of mental torment, causing his view of Roscadia to become one of paradise. The part of his plan that will cause Project 21 to blame the EOD will backfire on him. Project 21 will quickly put two-and-two together and realize what he did. Parker is right about one thing. Project 21 will send a ship to Roscadia, but not to protect it from the EOD, but rather to take down the mafia. Parker’s actions will finally convince Project 21 that something needs to be done about the crime in the city. His actions will remind Project 21 that Roscadia is an EOD recruiter paradise. That nobody who lives there cares about the struggle between Project 21 and the EOD; they just care about the crime. So what will Parker get in return for teaching Project 21 that? The mafia will eventually put a bounty upon Parker’s head after they realize that he lied to them about Lowenthal, and for not delivering on the other half of his payment. Parker just sealed his fate once and for all and there is no turning back for him.

(5)

  Vaistll just arrived on the bridge of the Ultra M1 ship. Mad Dawg, Taylor and Ramirez were already there. Each of them was standing there like their whole world was spiraling out of control. They were standing in front of the Captain’s chair facing it. In the chair was a corpse of an Apollinarian. On the corpse right side, in the floor, is a small computer mainframe to a ship. The writing on the mainframe resembles the Iomiyyan language, but it is not Iomiyyan.

  Vaistll came over to them and looked down at the corpse. Her eyes then widen at the same time she put her right hand over her mouth and took a step back. When she removed her hand, she looked at them in a nervous scared way, and then she looked back at the corpse with a confused look upon her. They realized the obvious and looked at her in a confused manner.

  “What... you recognize him?” Ramirez said as a part of him was glad that it wasn’t Natas Ovast.

  “Well I um... I-I-I... um...” Vaistll then turn and left.

  “How could she have known him?” Taylor said.

  After a moment Mad Dawg spoke. “Isn’t there something that you people should be telling me?”

  Ramirez then left the room. He caught up to her and asked her how she knew him. But all she could say was, “I-I... um... I don’t want to talk about it right now Lieutenant Commander.”

  Knowing her in the way that he does, he knew that at that moment she was being more of an officer than that of a friend. It was her way of ordering him not to talk about it further.

  “Okay ma’am. Do you want to see the Apollinarians in cryo-sleep?”

  “Yes please.”

  “Right this way ma’am.”

  Ramirez started to lead the way when both Mad Dawg and Taylor caught up to them. Together the four of them went to see those Apollinarians. They all felt the same way. It was a feeling of the whole universe was turned upside down and inside out. It was a feeling of, the hallway that they were in just got much longer.

  Ramirez, Taylor and Mad Dawg went into the cryo room first. Vaistll hesitated before she went in. Mad Dawg posted two armed guards from his elite unit to guard the unarmed Apollinarians. Earlier, when they were awakened, they asked Mad Dawg, in English, if he was in charge. He said that he was. Before he could ask them, how, did they know English, one of his men told him over the intercom that he need to come to the bridge ASAP. When Mad Dawg asked what it was, he was told, “I think you need to see this.”

  While Ramirez was taking them to see the Apollinarians, Mad Dawg told them that they could speak English. Vaistll turned around and looked at him in a disturb manner. Ramirez and Taylor looked at him in a confused and deeply concerned manner.

  When Vaistll walked into the room and looked at who those Apollinarians are, her reaction said it all. Yes she did know who they are, but it only served to deepen the mystery and the confusion. Nobody say anything, neither Mad Dawg, nor Taylor, or Ramirez, they didn’t have to. They could tell from her reaction how she knew them. For when she saw them her eyes widen, she came near them trembling, speaking in Iomiyyan, and crying very deeply out of joy. Seeing her act that way had a very profound impact upon them. The names of those Apollinarians are Zyynuma, Nincylste and Unatoos her parents, Iakuoyr her sister, and Okuoyk, Ikknustll and Ryyuoxx her brothers. From the conversion she had with them, Mad Dawg, Taylor and Ramirez could tell that this was no Apollinarian trick, let alone an EOD one. They heard Vaistll ask them a question (in Iomiyyan), and from their response and her reaction, they could tell that it really was them.

  At some point during their conversion one of the males came to where Mad Dawg, Ramirez and Taylor was standing and introduced himself. “Greetings, I am Zyynuma Adnrwal, do you know where the General is by any chance?”

  “Who?” Mad Dawg asked not aware of any Generals on board.

  “General Ydxx’od’omaa (yid-icks old o-ma-a).”

  “Who’s that?” Ramirez asked in total bewilderment at the thought of who he is talking to.

  “I’m so sorry... he’s dead.” Mad Dawg said as he realize who he was talking about.

  “Oh... well how did he die?” Zyynuma asked sounding disappointed.

  “We don’t know. We found his corpse on the bridge.” Mad Dawg said.

  Mad Dawg was fixing to ask him how did they got here, when Zyynuma said, “How very tragic....” he then turn around and look at Vaistll, “... for both of them.”

  “We have a lot of questions to ask you and them.” Mad Dawg told him, trying to get things moved along so that he could learn what everybody is dying to know.

  “I’m certain that you do.” Zyynuma responded.

  “Would it be a long or short story?” Ramirez asked knowing that it took all day long for Vaistll to tell him about her past, and it would probably be the same with them.

  “Historical.” Zyynuma answered back.

  In a way Ramirez didn’t like the sound of that because he wanted to spend as much time as he could with Maria Sadowayj. But he swallowed his pride, and thought more about his friend and said. ”We have the time.”

  Mad Dawg then had to ask the question that has been eating away at him, “So.... how did you guys acquire this ship?”

  “We found it abandoned at what Ydxx’od’omaa called a cargo starbase.”

  Ramirez shocked beyond belief at what he just heard, and thinking that he might know what he was referring to ask the question, “Do you know what explosives are by any chance?”

  “Yes. Ydxx’od’omaa, with the help of my son Ikknustll, found them and disarmed them. We had to abandoned our ship since it was past it’s useful lifespan. Using the technology on our ship, they found and disarmed each one of the explosives. Ikknustll mentioned that an amateur must have done it since the ship was still attached to the starbase, and because of that, the starbase automatic defense systems kept on trying to shut down the ship’s self-destruct.”

  With that Ramirez had heard enough. He was far more shocked by the thought of what all of that meant more than anything else. He then said, “Okay thank you. The three of us need to go and discuss what you told us in private. I’m glad that you and your family are here.”

  Ramirez, Mad Dawg and Taylor left and went into a room nearby where they can talk in private.

  “As the two of you know,” Ramirez informed them, “cargo starbases do not exist.”

  “Then what type of a starbase was it that they were at?” Taylor asked.

  “Emergency UCV Starbase. UCV as in Ultra Class Vessel.”

  “With all of that military protection that the EOD gives to an Ultra Class vessel, why would they give it, its own starbase?” Mad Dawg asked.