The Cross of Mithras Vol. 1: EOD Operation Welcome to Hell (75 page)

  “I know that it must be awful hard for you to accept it, the lost of your daughter, Liquid Death, the thought of bringing your daughter back to life, but there is something that you should know about it. Accordingly to Captain Adnrwal’s sister, it can’t bring back a decaying corpse, but only those who have recently died.” Lenkov said.

  It hurt Mad Dawg to hear that. To him it felt like he lost his daughter all over again. He didn’t’ cry over it, but it still hurt him. The feeling didn’t last long since he didn’t have that long to get his hopes up. He realized that it was just wishful thinking on his part.

  “To make a long story short, Captain Parker said that Mrs. Ydxx’od’omaa used the liquid to bring that symbiote back to life. She then put Little John in a trance to bring out Double Shock’s memory, skills, etc. Parker said that she used the symbiote to switch the minds of Little John and Double Shock, but Little John’s soul was in the way. She then used Liquid Death to kill Little John and she used it to bring him back to life. When she took Little John’s life, all that he ever was, his soul, his memories, his skills, everything, was gone. But when she brought him back to life, all that Double Shock ever was, including his soul, came back instead. It was Double Shock who stole that ship. He also placed a note in Parker’s wallet. It said that the hive is no longer in control of him. Double Shock mentioned that the symbiote can be removed.” Omori said.

  “How do you know that the hive wasn’t making him say that?” Mad Dawg asked.

  “Well if that’s true, then we are all in a world of hurt. A second hive with futuristic EOD technology. What could be more nightmarish?” Omori responded.

  “It is our belief that Double Shock planned on using that liquid to bring back the Hau’rino Empire.” Lenkov added.

  “So how does the EOD High Command feel about that?” Mad Dawg asked.

  “What do you think? High Command sees value in them. But only after they had develop fully as a civilization would High Command order that they bring it into the EOD world.” Lenkov said.

  “Why? Can’t stand strong civilizations that can oppose them?” Mad Dawg asked.

  “You got it.” Omori said.

  “Look… I’m not stupid. I know that both of you want something from me. What is it?” Mad Dawg asked. Both Joseph and Sayaka smiled when they heard that.

  “You’re right, we do want something from you. We can’t do it, so don’t ask, but we want you to go to Golden Hyperion and eliminate someone for us.” Lenkov said.

  “Who is it?”

  “Captain Dawson.” Omori said.

  “Who’s that?”

  “The current CO of the EOD Defense Force of Golden Hyperion.” Lenkov said.

  “Now hold on second! You mean that both of you have committed treason against the EOD and you want me to do your dirty work!? Aw hell no! You do it, you eliminate him!” Mad Dawg said.

  “We never said that we committed treason.” Omori said.

  “Then why do both of you want him eliminated?”

  “We can’t tell you. It’s better that you don’t know.” Lenkov said.

  “Then why should I help you then?”

  “If you don’t then you and your men will be sent to a EOD prison.” Omori said.

  “Hey don’t get me wrong, I don’t’ mind taking out some EOD scumbag, no offense, but I would like to know why me and my men are risking our lives. Wouldn’t you sir?”

  “It would not be in your, and I mean you personally, best interest to know.” Lenkov said.

  “Why!?” Mad Dawg said. He was starting to get very concern for himself and his crew.

  “If we tell you then you will be sent to a EOD prison and we will let your people go free. And if you don’t cooperate with us… we will let you go free but your crew will be sent to a EOD prison.” Omori said. The shock was profound when Mad Dawg heard that.

  “Why can’t you tell me!?” Mad Dawg almost yelled.

  “We don’t trust you enough to stay quiet.” Omori said.

  “What!? I will stay quiet! You have my word!”

  “We can’t take the chance. Deal or no deal, we’re not going to change our minds.” Lenkov said.

  Mad Dawg was so thrown up inside that he broke down and cry. The thought of never seeing his wife again. The thought of his entire crew spending the rest of their lives in a EOD prison. The pain within him was more than what anyone could know. Mad Dawg couldn’t allow his crew to be sent to a EOD prison, nor could he live without ever seeing his beloved wife ever again. The conflict within him grew by each passing moment.

  “Alright. I’ll cooperate with you. But you still need to tell me why me and my people will be risking their lives.” Mad Dawg said after several moments. He was crying so deeply that his nose was running.

  “Where do you live at?” Lenkov asked.

  “Why do you want to know that?” Mad Dawg said still crying.

  “Because the prison that we’re going to send you to is a second Earth called… Andromeda. It’s our home world. When you get there both you and your wife will be treated like one of our crewmembers. Neither you nor your wife can leave the surface, but both of you will have freedom of movement. You can own property, run a business, live your life the way that you would on the Earth. It’s just like any other type of colony out there.” Lenkov said in a compassionate way.

  “What do you mean your ‘home world’? The EOD don’t let any of their people own a planet.” Mad Dawg said. When he heard Joseph said what he did, Mad Dawg stopped crying.

  “We found it and kept it a secret. I hacked the computers of astronomers in order to hide it. Only our crew knows that it exists.” Omori said with a smile.

  “Here… have a look.” Lenkov said as he gave Mad Dawg a PDA.

  Mad Dawg couldn’t believe it. Andromeda looked like a cross between Golden Hyperion and the Earth. It almost look like the Earth in it’s natural state. He always wanted to retire to a place like that. Who wouldn’t? He could see why they would keep it a secret.

  Mad Dawg, like the vast majority of Captains, live within three months of anywhere that they travel. For him, he lives only 15 weeks from Golden Hyperion. He didn’t know how to feel. But the thought about the hive being somewhere out there, and what happened to Mrs. Ydxx’od’omaa, convinced him that maybe it’s better this way. After all, Andromeda is the home world of the Hammer of Doom and the ship that bears their name. Mad Dawg’s depression, at that moment, came to an end. And now he can’t wait to see his wife again.

  “We live at Nova Ventura in the city called San Lucas.” Mad Dawg said.

  “Where?” Omori asked.

  “I know where it is. We have one person who’s stationed four days from it. The colony was settled by people from California.” Lenkov said.

  “So what’s the information that’s going to get me… and my wife… sent to Andromeda?” Mad Dawg asked both of them.

  “Remember how you asked us about Infernus?” Lenkov asked Mad Dawg.

  “Yes.”

  “The name Infernus is a intentional misnomer of a second Earth. We have reason to believe that there is a connection between Golden Hyperion and Infernus. Whatever that connection is, there appears to be a massive conspiracy against the EOD by elements within both the Council and High Command.” Omori said.

  “Like what?” Mad Dawg asked. There was a part of him that was glad that there might be a civil war fixing to erupt within the EOD.

  “Like I said before, both the Council and High Command will go to any lengths to conceal the fact that the planet exist. They had a group of scientists create non-intelligent androids in order for those androids to create, and run, a massive factory that produce nanoprobes. They also had to create another group of non-intelligent androids to man a group of transport vessels. One of our contacts was ordered to liquidate the scientists afterward.” Omori was saying.

  “Why were they killed?” Mad Dawg asked.

  “Our contact was not informed of the reason nor did he asked questions. Do you remember that news story about a ET civilization that created nanoprobes and was consumed by them?” Lenkov asked.

  “Yes. Are you saying that, the nanoprobes that those scientists created were the ones that consumed that alien civilization?” Mad Dawg said.

  “That’s actually what I am saying.” Lenkov responded.

  “Why would the Council do a thing like that?” Mad Dawg asked.

  “The nanoprobes that consumed that planet created a type of nanoprobes that can hide Infernus. And that is why 7.5 billion people lost their lives.” Omori said.

  “Just when you thought you heard everything evil about the EOD...” Mad Dawg said.

  “There are eight other places like Golden Hyperion. That is where those transports where headed to. But we have no idea what they were carrying. Regardless of who won, High Command ordered that all survivors are to be liquidated.” Lenkov said.

  “You see… if you don’t help us your people will die just like our people. No survivors.” Omori said.

  “So what do you want me to do then?” Mad Dawg asked.

  “Do you know why we were sent here? What are mission is, that is to say?” Omori asked.

  “Because the two of you have become too popular and they want to eliminate the competition?” Mad Dawg responded.

  “You see, we know about as much as you do. So we need Intel from Captain Dawson. We’ve already eliminated Colonel Blackburn, or should I say he eliminated himself through suicide. High Command approved Colonel Blackburn’s dismissal and Captain Dawson is waiting for someone to come and take command. That’s where you come in.

  At security station M16-Y09 the EOD High Command have left both uniforms and weapons. The station is located at where someone in Task Force ZH-3C found those weapons. It would be nice if you were to find any Intel that could shed some light on why High Command left those uniforms and weapons behind. I need you and your people to go there, put on those uniforms, take those weapons and head on over to Captain Dawson and eliminate him and his forces. Look for any Intel that can shed some light on Infernus, then return back to this ship. Once you return back we will send all of your people back to your ship. You however, will stay on board this ship.” Lenkov said.

(2)

  Brewster, Caparzo and Venito was traveling back to the monorail station to update Vaistll, Taylor and Ramirez on what they found. After Colonel Blackburn’s men attack them, Taylor had Green and White Team to search the city for Intel. Task Force ZH-3C was not able to take any prisoners since the EOD Defense Force had enough personnel to remove their wounded.

  Because of Hayes, White Team didn’t bothered to look for Intel. The only thing that they did was to roam around the city. Hayes apathy was affecting the team’s motivation to do their job. Hayes is the only one in White Team who still remember just how close they came to rebelling. It is a good thing they didn’t rebel because White Team would have turned on Hayes and supported the Task Force and their Captain With each bad decision that Hayes makes, his apathy grows.

  Nakada already knew where his team should go when they received their orders. He first tried to find a small retail store (and being stoic about jokes of him “being a tourist”) that sold souvenirs and a map of the city. Looking at the map he found what he was searching for: a computer R&D laboratory. After Green Team got the laboratory Nakada ordered Brewster, Caparzo and Venito to take the digital map back to the monorail station.

  “Is somebody trying to contact us?” Venito asked. She could hear static, off-and-on, coming from her helmet-com.

  “We are out of range.” Brewster responded.

  “Well we’ve got the following choices: we can go back to Nakada or continue on. If we go back there is still the chance that he’s not the one trying to contact us, and vice versa. So we have no other choice but to press on.” Caparzo said.

  “What do ya think happened to Galactic Prime?” Venito asked Brewster and Caparzo.

  “How in the hell would I know?” Brewster responded.

  “Maybe the Commando unit finished them off.” Caparzo added.

  “Geez whiz, I sure hope not. How are we going to get off of this moon if something did happened to them?” Venito said.

  “Maybe we’re not supposed to leave.” Brewster said.

  “Why do you say that?” Caparzo asked.

  “Why else would they put a Commando unit on Galactic Prime?” Brewster answered.

  “Yeah but…” Caparzo was saying.

  “Hey, did you guys here that?” Venito asked them.

  “Hear what?” Brewster asked her.

  “I don’t know. I thought that I heard something.” Venito responded.

  “What did you thought that…?” Caparzo was saying.

  “There it goes again!” Venito said.

  “What!? I didn’t hear anything.” Caparzo said.

  “No but I did.” Brewster said. He was standing with his laser chain-gun pointing in the direction of where he thought the sound was coming from. Both Venito and Caparzo pointed their guns in the same direction. Venito had a laser rifle and Caparzo had a Electro Auto-Rifle. (The Electro Auto-Rifle is a rifle that uses a electrical discharge to kill someone.)