The Cross of Mithras Vol. 1: EOD Operation Welcome to Hell (5 page)

  “Mad Dawg here.”

  “This is Commodore Parker. What’s all this I’ve been hearing about your Marines not cooperating with Task Force ZH-3C in their efforts to acquire the supplies that they need for their mission?”

  “Sorry sir, it won’t happen again. I’ll get on to all those who are responsible for it.”

  “One more thing Captain. I decided to put you under the command of Captain Adnrwal.”

  “Why?”

  “Her mission appears to be a suicidal one if she doesn’t have what she needs. And she might need you and your men, in case if she needs a tactical deterrent, or if she needs you to assault some strong hold in order to lighten her load. So I really hate to do this to you, but... You can consider it an order.”

  “It won’t be necessary for you to order me sir.”

  “Well I think that it is Captain.” Parker said raising his voice just a little.

  “Sir... what I meant was... that I don’t mind helping out ol’ she-ape if she needed it. If she ask I would have said, ‘Sure, why not.’ Besides, both me and my men could use some payback. So it wasn’t necessary for you to order me. I would have done it anyway.”

  “Oh... okay then.”

  “Anything else sir?”

  “No. Um... goodbye.”

  “Goodbye sir.”

  Parker was disappointed by Mad Dawg’s reaction. He was certain that Mad Dawg might not be up for the challenge of confronting the EOD yet again. Look at what the EOD did to him a long time ago.

  ‘He’s not mad, he IS insane.’ Commodore Parker thought to himself. ‘Surely he knows that if he helps Vaistll out, far more of his men won’t be coming home this time around. If it is considered a suicidal mission for a Project 21 Task Force, then it would be a slaughter for those Marines. Doesn’t Mad Dawg realize that in all likelihood none of his men will survive? That he himself could get killed? He’s fucking insane.’

  Commodore Parker knew that in all likelihood he was wrong, but he didn’t care. If Mad Dawg helped out Vaistll, then it might not turn out to be a suicidal mission. Project 21 knows what they are doing. That is why they have the Central Command Officers, all four of them. It is Parker that doesn’t know what he is doing. It is they the CCOs, not Parker, who command each branch of the military. Parker’s COs knows that the rank of Commodore is a test of leadership of both spaceships and ground (land, sea and air) forces. Parker is better at commanding ships. Not ground forces. And that is why he can’t achieve the rank of Rear Admiral (Lower).

  Commodore Parker underestimates Mad Dawg and his Marines. They are far tougher than what Parker is giving them credit for. Even if Mad Dawg’s Marines doesn’t show it, Mad Dawg himself is quite responsible. Nowadays when he sees an enemy ship and he say something like, ‘I own him,’ he doesn’t do that because that is a part of his personality. It used to be, but not anymore. He does it for his men. It’s his way of instilling confidence in them. He learned his lesson on that day when both him, and his men, confronted the EOD. He doesn’t want to see what happened to him, happen to someone else. It be humbled him. He’s not insane, nor is he crazy.

(10)

  They sat at the table in the club, waiting to hear the news that they have been waiting for since they came out of cryo-sleep. It was the news that told them that their rooms at the Roosevelt Hotel were available. They were indeed an interesting group, so much so that the rest of the members of Task Force ZH-3C called them “The Hollywood Seven.” They are; Petty Officer Second Class Wexler, the only member of Task Force ZH-3C who comes from Mars, Crewman First Class Caparzo, Senior Crewman Behlmer (British), Crewman First Class Mendoza (Brazilian), Warrant Officer (Type Engineering) Brewster (Canadian), Chief Warrant Officer Third Class (Type Intel) Martinez who is the only sniper in Task Force ZH-3C, and finally everybody’s favorite, Senior Chief Warrant Officer (Type Logistics) Ellis.

  Ellis, a black man who comes from Dallas, Texas, is the life of the party. Martinez is the cool headed, soft spoken one. He is tall and handsome with a sexy smile that women just love. Humble to a fault, he never let his looks define who he is. If it wasn’t for Caparzo being an asshole, women would never notice the charm and charisma of Martinez. Both Mendoza and Brewster are the ones that have a way with women. They always end up with their drinks in their face. Wexler is fond of saying, ‘On Mars, you are coop up indoors for such a long time with nothing to do, that you feel like getting butt naked and running around outside just to feel free.’ Whether that is true or not, he does have a bad habit of doing just that when he gets drunk. Unfortunately for Behlmer, it is consider his job to stop Wexler from doing just that.

  “God, I wish that they would hurry it up.” Wexler said, and just like the others, he just couldn’t wait to get off that damn space station.

  They were given the time when their rooms would be ready. Then they were told that the guests haven’t checked out yet. And when they finally did checked out, the members of Task Force ZH-3C who was supposed to get the rooms, where told that it will take two to three hours to get them ready. That was 3 ½ hours ago.

  “Why, so you can run around butt naked?” Caparzo asked in his usual manner.

  “No, because I can’t wait to get off this fuckin’ space station. That’s why.” Wexler said a bit annoyed.

  “Well he’s right you know. You do have a habit of doing that when you are drunk” Behlmer said, knowing full well who is going to stuck with whom. And who outranks whom.

  “Shut up. Nobody asked you.” Wexler snap back.

  Martinez looked like he was about to say something. Then Mendoza spoke, “I really don’t care. I just can’t wait to get down there and hook up with the ladies.”

  “Aw yeah boy, you know it.” Brewster said all smiles.

  Martinez leaned forward with a smile and said, “There’s a woman over there at the bar. Why wait?” He then smiled a little bigger and then he looked at her. She turned and noticed that Martinez was looking at her with that killer smile of his. Her eyes widen as she looked away with a smile on her face, as she thought that he liked her.

  “You know, I think I will.” Mendoza said.

  “Five bucks says she slaps him.” Ellis said causing them to laugh a little.

  “You’re on.” Caparzo said.

  “Go get ‘em tiger.” Wexler said with a smile.

  Mendoza started to get up when Bryce came over to them.

  “Hey guys, what’s up?” Bryce said.

  “We were about to watch Mendoza get slap in the face.” Martinez said.

  “Aw, come on now, I think she likes him.” Caparzo said looking back at her.

  “Did you hear about Commodore Parker?” Bryce asked them. “He got in trouble with the mafia at some whore house, while doin’ a naughty with some tart.”

  It caused all of them to laugh out loud. Martinez was the first to speak, “Is he all right?”

  “Yeah, he just lost all of his money. Nothing too serious. Hey look, I just wanted to tell you that your rooms are ready.” Bryce responded.

  “Well it’s about time.” Caparzo said, as everybody got up to leave.

  “Yeah, I just can’t WAIT to go down there and get drunk.” Wexler said, annoying Behlmer and causing him to shake his head.

  “Hey do any of you know what’s wrong with Captain Adnrwal? She doesn’t seem like herself.” Bryce asked, but no one responded they all just wanted to get off that damn space station as soon as possible and get to their rooms.

(11)

  They finally arrived at the Roosevelt; it was a fabulous hotel near the water front. From the front of the hotel you could see the lighthouse, it serve no purpose other than that of a photo-op for tourists. The Roosevelt has its own pier for luxury liners whose destination is one of several small get away islands for a few of the guests. The Roosevelt has its own opera house, theater, park and stores to shop at, but only if you are a big spender. The Roosevelt after all, was design for the rich.

  The owners of the Roosevelt allowed Task Force ZH-3C to stay there because they know who runs the city, and who protects it. They’re afraid of the day when Project 21 leaves. They’re afraid because of the crime, and not because of the EOD. So they try their best to get Project 21 to stay, or at least to clean up the crime in the city. Say what you will about Roscadia, but it is the owners of the Roosevelt who sincerely cares for both the moon and the city.

  Each of the members of Task Force ZH-3C arrived at the Roosevelt at different times in the day. Five of them, Vaistll, Commander Taylor (British), Ramirez, Lieutenant Hayes (Canadian) and Lieutenant Sanchez got their rooms before they arrived at Vegas. Each of the 35 members of Task Force ZH-3C got their own rooms. It just goes to show the generosity of the owners of the Roosevelt to those who protects both the moon and the city.

  When each of the members of Task Force ZH-3C arrived at the Roosevelt, they all had different reactions. All would agree that it was a very beautiful hotel. The lobby was just fabulous with its black marble columns, white marble statues and the beautiful paintings. Some of the members wanted to do some exploring. Most of them just wanted to go to their rooms so that they could enjoy their few days that they had at Roscadia. Only three of them, Vaistll, Ramirez and Bryce didn’t go to their rooms straight away. All three share one thing in common; they cross the t dot both the I, and lower case j. Bryce wanted to make sure that they had all of the supplies for their mission. If not, then Roscadia would be the first and only place where they could pick any up. Ramirez didn’t go to his room because he wanted to make peace with himself first. Vaistll didn’t go because there was nothing in the city for her to do. Her original plan was to hang out with some of the men of Task Force ZH-3C. But those plans changed when her feelings concerning her species came back to haunt her. So now her plan is to stay in her room until it’s time to leave, she’s not the only one with that plan.

  Crewman Choy was the only other member of Task Force ZH-3C who would stay in his room until it’s time to leave for his mission. He was a Chinese soldier who encountered the EOD once and it shattered his world. The horrors that he saw, the friends that he lost, it will all haunt him for the rest of his life. It leaves no doubt in his mind who the EOD really is. He finds it hard to take orders from former EOD agents because of his hatred for the EOD. He will take them, but that doesn’t change the way that he feels.

  This will be Choy’s first mission with Project 21. It gives him, his chance to strike back at an evil secret society that has destroyed so many lives for so long. His desire to seek revenge consumes him, just like Commodore Parker was consumed with the desire to escape Roscadia even if it meant going AWOL. But at least Choy knew why there were no former EOD agents in Roscadia. Before Task Force ZH-3C left to go to Roscadia, Taylor asked about it, and Ramirez told everybody why it was; because Roscadia has recruitment potential for the EOD.

  Choy’s desire to seek revenge consumes him so much that it could cost him his life. Even if he knew that, he wouldn’t even care. He just wanted revenge. Commodore Parker desire to leave Roscadia not only could it cost him his career, but also could cause him to betray Project 21 and join the EOD. And if he knew that, he too wouldn’t even care. He just wanted to get away from Roscadia.

(12)

  Commodore Parker got back at his office in the late evening. He didn’t want to go home. He found out that he had a message from Fleet Admiral Hamilton and he couldn’t wait to read it. Angry, upset and very disappointed at how his day went, he wanted something to pick his spirits up. His stress and frustration, combined with the boredom, was causing him to deeply resent Roscadia. Coupled with his experience of living there, he was nearing his breaking point. He was at that point where all it could take was something to push him over the edge. And he was about to receive it.

  Desperate to leave the Vegas star system he put in a request for a promotion. But the problem was that he went over the head of four of his COs. When Fleet Admiral Hamilton (who is one rank from becoming a CCO) received Parker’s request, he was quite annoyed by it. Hamilton rejected Parker’s request after reviewing his Officer Simulated Training. He did it because of Parker’s poor performance during the training. Hamilton mentioned that Parker “needs more experience with using ground forces efficiently.” Being stuck in the Vegas star system made that difficult. Even the compliment of, “your skills as Fleet Captain made you the best suitable candidate to guard the Vegas star system,” felt like an insult to Parker. But it was the part that said, “until your skills in combat, rather actual or simulated, improve significantly, you are stuck in the Vegas star system until further noted,” boiled Parker’s blood. To him, that was the greatest insult of them all. When Parker went over the head of his COs, Hamilton felt that it was necessary to reprimand him. Parker knows that will go on his permanent record making it that much harder for him to be promoted. It shows, and proved, his insubordination, which, because of where he is, is true.

  Commodore Parker finally has had enough of the Vegas star system. He does not want to spend another day there, let alone a month, or a year. So he will end up spending the next day thinking about what it would mean for him if he joins the EOD. He’s lonely, and he wants somebody special in his life. Someone to call his own, especially a wife. He knows that if he betrays Project 21 the EOD will give him someone special. At least, that’s what he thinks. In truth they will give him someone all right, but not in the way in which he thinks. The person that the EOD would give him is one who would get him to open up in order to see what value he really has to them.