FEARSOME 2

Part 1

Chapter 1

Incoming

Activity was brisling from every corner of the newly constructed Solar Defense Force base, Home Plate. Over sixty million metric tons of lunar soil and rock had been bored from deep within the Moon providing the site that would house the command center of the multi-nation effort to save Earth from the incoming Atrochen starship. On the upper most level was the ten completed Tiger Two fighting ships along with the prototype Tiger, which had only recently returned from deep space. The new ships gleamed brightly in the high intensity discharge lighting of the hanger bay, contrasting distinctly beside the veteran TRRA-1 which hadn't even had the scorches of battle washed from it's skin. The large over head pressure doors that looked out into space were due to be closed for the last time and sealed permanently in just a few more hours as the last of the long term supplies were off-loaded from the orbiting shuttles. All burden of future transportation to or from Home Plate would be placed upon the growing fleet of Tigers silently awaiting their crews.

Major Leo Fearsome and Colonel Rex Hawkens stood behind a thick control booth window that overlooked the hanger floor, watching the pressure suited figures hard at work below them, moving the various containers to ingress airlocks.

"So how long has the base been open for business Colonel?" Leo asked the battle hardened man that had stood looking out motionless for the past half-hour.

"The first company of deployed personnel arrived last month. You and Captain Sands arrived in perfect timing. I bet the boys down at Freedom Two had a litter of kittens when you appeared on their scopes."

"Yah. The first thing approach control said when I checked in on their frequency was, ‘Where the hell did you come from?’ It was kind of embarrassing though."

"How's that?"

"Driving the single most expensive piece of equipment in orbit and have to be towed into dock."

"Oh that's right. When are they going to install the deep-vacuum thrusters?"

A female's voice answered his question. "We'll start work on it tomorrow. If that's alright with Major Fearsome."

Leo spun around at the distantly familiar voice and hugged her until she gasped. "God, it's good to see you Linda. You don't know how much I missed you and Margret." He held her back at arm’s length and looked her over from top to bottom then hugged her again. "Have you seen Keven yet?"

Major Linda Willams P.H.D. hadn’t changed a bit. "No, I just arrived. I saw you up here and thought I'd surprise you."

"It worked. Come on, I know where he is. Colonel, if you'll excuse me."

"You bet, see you later Major. Major." He tipped a shallow bow of the head to Linda.

“Colonel.” Linda returned the gesture. They turned to walk away and she said to Leo. “I still haven’t gotten used to the title B.S.”

“Same old Linda.” As they walked out of the control booth Leo said. "Damn you look good in uniform." She mockingly brushed at the gold cluster on her shoulder with over emphasized pride.

Colonel Hawkens watched his colleagues depart and a memory triggered in his tormented mind.

The troop ship rolled heavily from side to side as the storm driven waves crashed down on the superstructure. He stood braced between the Helmsmen’s seat and the Captain's command chair.

It was unusual for a husband and wife to be on the same ship together. But his wife was the Captain. She had pull at the top in Hawaii and had been able to swing it for this cruse.

He held onto her arm tight as another incredibly huge wave slammed into the ship, shaking it to its keel. The First Officer smiled at him with confidence. "First time in rough seas Captain?" He asked.

His wife snapped her head in her officers direction then realized the subject of his inquires and looked at her husband. His knuckles were white as he fought to keep his balance. He nodded his response as another wave challenged him to stay on his feet. "I'm used to flying at about fifty thousand feet over this shit."

"This is the third typhoon in a month for us." The First Officer complained. "We've been on this damn blockade for too long."

"I heard that." The helmsman agreed.

"You fly boys have it easy." The second in command continued.

"I'm not a pilot. I'm Special Op's. My team's never had it easy." Hawkens defended.

"Skipper! Combat on the horn!" The junior officer called from his station. It was his first cruse as well.

"Put it on the speaker Ensign." She ordered.

"Combat here, our picket destroyer S-4 reports positive sonar contact relative barring: two, seven, six degrees. Range: five nautical miles. At standard attack depth."

"Sound general quarters." She pressed a button on the armrest of her chair. "All hands. Man your battle stations. This is not a drill." By the time she finished talking into her microphone several other crewmembers rushed onto the bridge, the last man closed the watertight door behind him.

"Combat here, tracking multiple incoming surface to surface missiles. We are the target!" The young man's voice cracked under the pressure.

"Remain calm. Helm, take evasive action."

"New heading: two, six, five degrees." The helmsman reported.

"Combat here, tracking second salvo. ETA of first wave nine seconds."

Hawkens had forgot all about the raging ocean storm and focused his eyes on the tactical display above the windscreen showing the missiles in an unnecessarily high-resolution animation as they streaked inbound.

"Activate Agiss Two system and bring all point defense guns to bear." He admired his wife's control and clear mind as she barked the orders to her crew.

"Combat here, picket S-4 has launched anti missile missiles. Four intercepted in first wave." The side of the ship facing the threat seemed to blaze with flame as the gattling guns spewed tens of thousands of rounds of hyper-velocity sub-caliber armor piercing projectiles at the supersonic anti-ship missiles.

Two large flashes erupted just a few hundred feet from the ship. So close, he could not see it directly because the side of the ship blocked his view. Then the concussion rattled the thick bulletproof glass.

"Jesus Christ, that was close!" The helmsman cried as he picked himself up off the deck. "Coming to new heading: one eight nine degrees." He spun the wheel hard to the left.

"Combat here, S-4 has launched an anti-sub missile."

Again the guns threw a ton of depleted uranium at the warheads. Through the sheets of water and heavy rain Captain Hawkens saw three distinct explosions flashing one after another several hundred yards from the starboard bow of the ship as they crashed through the angry, storm driven waves.

"Captain! Agiss Two tracking malfunction!" The ensign cried.

The woman that Hawkens had loved all of his adult life slammed her fist down on the intercom button again. "Damage control teams stand-by! Prepare for impact!"

Hawkens watched in slow-motion as the wave skimming missile seamed to be surfing towards the forward upper deck of the superstructure, as the bow plunged deep into the oncoming wave. He could remember very clearly how surprised he had been at its long length and how long after it penetrated the armor-plated bulkhead until the explosion sent the upper decks rocketing into the sky.

It wasn't until after several weeks aboard a hospital ship that he regained consciousness and was informed of the loss of his wife and that he had been the only survivor out of eight hundred crewmen and fifteen thousand combat marines, including his ten Special Operations Strike Force personnel.

That had been during the Japanese conflict and had almost started open war between the two countries. But documents recovered from the sunken sub reveled that the Japanese Captain had violated direct orders to not engage the American ships. But Hawkens had never forgiven them for taking so many lives then and also those resulting from their support of the Ragheads.

The two young officers laughed and expressed their joy at being together as they disappeared around the corner. Hawkens remembered Keven and Linda's relationship. It broke his heart to think that anyone else might have to exist in a life like his. Deep inside he felt that men and women shouldn't be allowed to fight together or even be allowed to work in the same unit if they were intimately involved. He knew he was right, especially after the way Linda responded when Keven become MIA after the Hanger Eighty-Two incident.

Keven was confined to the infirmary. After his arrival a routine physical turned up some unusual results. The doctor said it was only a precautionary measure, however it had been three and a half weeks and he hadn't given any clues as to when Keven could return to duty. He hadn't felt bad or shown any symptoms at all but still he was forced to remain in quarantine.

The isolation ward was so white Keven said to Leo that he could see even in the dark. The closest he had come to touching another person was when the nurse, encased in vinyl, came to check his vital signs once a day. The only saving grace was the state of the art multi-media entertainment center that gave Keven a chance to catch up on the moviegrams that had been released over the last four years. The news grabbed his attention and he became an expert on current affairs after the first week.

One story, that he had taken special notice of and made every edition of the hourly news programs, dealt with a rash of governmental overthrows and assignations of high-ranking political leaders.

Africa was in a state of total anarchy and disarray. The New Soviet had sponsored a peacekeeping effort but it had been too little too late. They lost five hundred troops within the first few months. That combined with the death of their president sent a wave of protest and the majority of people out into the streets of Moscow to bring the troops home, so Africa was left to die in it's never ending droughts and decease.

Europe had, as always, done nothing to try to stop the growing epidemic of global violence for within their boarders chaos was building to the point of overflowing into Central Asia. The true power in Europe, Germany, had been working itself out of a decade long recession and was about to see the light at the end of the tunnel when things started falling apart again and was now disintegrating head first into a full blown depression.

Japan was the only country that had been able to avoid the destruction that was plaguing the rest of the world. It seemed that nothing that happened on the planet affected their economy or their politics. Nationalism was growing at an alarming rate and the code of bu-she-do had reawakened in the schools and social circles. A militant group known as the Rising Sons was making a push for power and gaining a considerable amount of support among the wealthy industry leaders.

In the Reformed United States things remained fairly stable in spite of the increased level of tension. The inter-cities, where the citizens were forced to live through another round of gang terror sponsored by the same old instigators, the Drug Lords and the Zooers.

The military was on top of things this time and had agents planted in most of the more dangerous groups. They were kept busy searching for the Atrochen spies also, who as it turned out were the same people orchestrating the violent gang activity.

Captain Keven Sands was overjoyed to see Linda again. When she and Leo turned the corner from the hallway he nearly broke through the isolation barrier trying to steal a hug and kiss.

Linda pressed her body against the transparent barrier and could feel Keven's conducted heat touch her fingers. She was afraid to speak for fear of awakening from the long awaited dream she found herself in. They gazed into each-other's eyes and could all most read one another's minds as the long buried passion fought to be liberated.

"I'll see you at the General's briefing Linda." Leo said as he slipped out the door. Neither Keven nor Linda heard him or cared as they continued their silent reunion.

It was a long time before they started a conversation and before they had got into it very far Linda snapped her fingers in an expression of recollection.

"Hold that thought." She said, holding out her hand, indicating for him to stop. She walked briskly over to the visa-phone and typed in a code. When a face appeared, she ordered. "This is Major Willams, have container LW-45 sent to the infirmary at once."

"Right a way Major." Replied the voice on the other end.

"What's that all about?" Keven asked.

"You'll see."

They rehashed old times and talked about how much they had missed each other over the past four years and took turns telling about their lives while they had been separated. When the small container arrived.

Linda pushed the cigar box, shaped metal case through the decontamination airlock slot in the corner of the chamber.

"What's this?" Keven asked, baffled. He hefted its weight.

"Just open it. A friend sent it to me about four years ago and I've hung-on to it for you."

Keven released the hidden latches on the front of the case and the top opened revealing a satin lining that was molded around a handgun that Keven knew better than he had known any person. He gently set the case down on his bed and removed the cold steel, feeling the weight in his hand. The Colt semi-automatic pistol that was his grandfathers brought with it a cold reminder of campaigns of days gone by, when it had never left his side and had saved his life on more than a few occasions. "I knew that old Posy could fix it. He always was the best. If you could have only an idea of what this means to me Linda. Thank you." As he looked up at her through the plastic wall, he realized that she meant more to him than anything else in the galaxy. "Linda. Will you marry me?" The words had a life of their own as they reached Linda's ears and tears streamed down her face.

The nurse regretted her daily duty of collecting vital signs from the, far from model, patent that had been locked up for weeks in her ward and she had to psych herself up every time she entered the room. As the door slid out of her way she took a deep breath preparing for the lack of cooperation ahead of her. She stepped into the small outer room and saw the female officer standing near, looking through at the patent. "Visiting hours are over now. You'll have to come back tomorrow."

Linda looked over her shoulder to see the intruder. Her eye make-up had run down her face in long dark streaks. She had never been able to bring herself to having the pigment impregnated into her skin as most women did.

"Excuse me I'll come back later."

"That's alright. You've got your job to do and I've got mine. I'll come back in the morning." She said as she sniffled through the tears. As she walked passed, the nurse handed her a sanitary towel. “She blew a kiss to Keven as the doors swished closed.

Major General Sherman Whitfield had been on the visa-phone all day with the different House and Senate members trying to raise support for the emergency funds he needed to continue the Solar Defense Force buildup. He was sitting expectantly waiting for the President to return his call. There was plenty of opposition to his branch of the military and he had to fight for everything he got. Sherman could only see the vital priority of his mission. Nothing else on the torn plant meant anything to him except the defeat of the Atrochen threat.

The screen suddenly changed from the intense colored pattern that was displayed, when the terminal was not in use, to the old and very wrinkled face of the President of the Reformed United States. "Hello, General. How are things proceeding on the Moon."

"We're on schedule and the base’s outer doors are to be sealed in just a few more hours."

"Tell me General... How long until the alien ship arrives?"

"We think we have two more months. But until operation Home Coming is complete and the Atlantians are here, we won't know for sure. We are doing everything possible but without more flexibility from the Pentagon and more money we're in for big trouble.

"What kind of problems are you having in Washington?"

"Without saying names Sir, I'm not receiving the recruits that have singed-up and the Organization won't release alien prisoners for interrogation. Their holding fifty of them at Langley for medical testing which includes test that have been against International Law for decades. And besides we need the information that they have."

"Ok, I'll take care of that today. What is the current level of active personnel?"

"As of seventeen hundred tonight we have twenty two thousand production related personnel and two hundred thousand combat personnel. All but seventy are in zero gravity training. The others have been qualified for quite some time."

"When will Doctor Beil file her final report on the Atlantians?"

"I'm expecting her call any time now. Her window opened about five minutes ago. We've been trying to keep traffic to a minimum for security reasons and it sure has kept the code writers busy. Another problem I've had in a big way is the United Nations. I'm afraid they’re going to leak all of this to the press. That would blow this whole planet sky high." He bit into his soggy cigar with visible force.

"We've been working on that through the State Department. I want you to deal only with the British until we get this under control."

"Yes Sir."

"In fact, I want you to get a hold of their boys and start training with some of their units as soon as possible."

"I've got a spot already set up for them but until Tiger One is out of the mod' bay we won't be able to ingress anything."

"When will that be?"

"Major Willams has indicated next Wednesday." The microwave communication direct link with the Whispering Wind in orbit around Io cut in on the conversation leaving a perturbed look on the President's face as he was phased out, one pixel at a time, and replaced by the elegant looking Doctor Margret Beil. When the entire video data stream was decoded by the computer the audio channel was completed and he could hear the sounds of an interplanetary spaceship crew hard at work in the background. Because of the vast distance between Jupiter and Earth the lag time between asking a question and receiving a reply was long and tedious.

"Sorry about the slow integration Doctor." A voice said from out of view.

"Is the channel open?" She asked the unseen person.

"I've got a complete hook up Doctor." The General said. Margret was unsettled and squinted at her screen.

"General there seams to be some interference blocking your transmission again so please bare with me."

"Have you finished your study Doctor?"

"Yes, I have the report ready for visa-faxing."

"Ok, I'm ready to receive so send it on through. Do you have any comments to add on or off the record?"

"No Sir. Everything is complete and self-explanatory. Can you give me any idea when we'll be leaving for Earth?"

"The Captain has his orders so don't sweat it Doctor. I'll contact you if the need arises." He could see her spirit sink and he didn't want to get her all excited in case there were delays in the Tiger mod' program. "Just take a break and relax. We'll be getting things together here soon." He said, trying to reassure her. He failed but she was gracious enough not to let it show. Her face slowly dissolved and was replaced with the multi-colored pattern.

He called up the type written report Margret sent and began reading it.

Subject: Project Homecoming

Doctor Beil reporting; below is the list of candidates along with their personality profiles, who are most likely to be of benefit to the services and most able to adapt to the culture shock exhibited by most humans when removed from, and placed in a totally unfamiliar environment. It is my judgment and recommendations that all of the subjects be confided to a restricted enclosed structure as all have demonstrated strong tendencies towards agoraphobia.

I have developed a scale to rate the abilities and deficiencies demonstrated by each of the subjects. The scale is relevant only as a means to get an idea of where they fall relating to our perception of certain areas of personality. Let me make it quite clear that this is only a comparison profile and in no way explores the true potential of the subjects. The scale ranges from one to one hundred with one being the lowest encountered and one hundred being the highest rating of all the subjects. As an example a rating of fifty in any category would place the subject in question as average among all the other candidates. Health was not included in the rating as all subjects are in excellent physical condition. Age is listed as apparent as no one knows the actual birth age, which is surely several hundred years in most cases.

Name: Janious Age: 32 Gender: Male

Intelligence: 100 Social compatibility: 78

Combat tactics: 100 Extrasensory perception: 52

Name: Bateira Age: 20 Gender: Female

Intelligence: 91 Social compatibility: 23

Combat tactics: 54 Extrasensory perception: 100

Name: Zora Age: 15 Gender: Female

Intelligence: 43 Social compatibility: 100

Combat tactics: 01 Extrasensory perception: 81

Name: Gardo Age: 90 Gender: Male

Intelligence: 85 Social compatibility: 56

Combat tactics: 32 Extrasensory perception: 95

Name: Donnice Age: 46 Gender: Male

Intelligence: 01 Social compatibility: 01

Combat tactics: 10 Extrasensory perception: 54

Name: Bern Age: 39 Gender: Male

Intelligence: 62 Social compatibility: 76

Combat tactics: 15 Extrasensory perception: 01

Name: Pernicus Age: 27 Gender: Male

Intelligence: 47 Social compatibility: 98

Combat tactics: 73 Extrasensory perception: 33

Name: Fonna Age: 26 Gender: Female

Intelligence: 05 Social compatibility: 21

Combat tactics: 92 Extrasensory perception: 75

Name: Bradly Age: 67 Gender: Male

Intelligence: 20 Social compatibility: 48

Combat tactics: 16 Extrasensory perception: 88

Name: Judustan Age: 52 Gender: Male

Intelligence: 41 Social compatibility: 77

Combat tactics: 25 Extrasensory perception: 100

Please keep in mind that these ratings are for comparison only and do not indicate the overall levels of capability of their race. A low number in any category is not a bad figure, it only relates to the rest of the group.

End of report.

After reading the report, General Whitfield gathered his hard copies for his presentation that he had scheduled.

The briefing room was packed from wall to wall and he was glad to see Leo and Keven present; even though Keven was only present via visa-view.

He had sent Berry down to Earth as soon as medical released him from quarantine to over see the programming of the computers for the new Tiger ships, it was the only aspect of construction that had to be done off base.

When the General looked through his papers one last time and was certain he hadn't forgotten anything, he cleared his throat of all the built-up cigar smoke. No one could remember a single meeting that had been started any other way. If he had thought about it he wouldn't have ether.

"Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. Major Willams, will you please begin with the status of the Tiger production line and then continue with the mod' update on the prototype?" The General asked without looking up at the officers before him.

Linda took the General's place at the podium. "We are, as of last night up to rate in all bays and the eleventh Tiger will roll off the line in one more month then one will follow every two weeks. With what we've learned from Major Fearsome's extended field test we have been able to avoid and or correct all operational glitches on the first ten ships and every ship to follow. The problems surrounding the main computer’s unexpected personality traits have been circumvented on the follow-on models with a programming modification designed by Captain Berry Johnstone. Major Fearsome has elected to leave the main computer on TRR-1 intact with only minor programming updates. In closing as soon as Project Home coming is complete we will begin testing and simulations on the TRR-2 through 11's higher functions. We will be ready to begin regular operations with TRR-2 in twenty-four hours or less. The TRR-1 is in final check out and all combat mod's have been completed. We've been working around the clock to have it ready for operations today and the team should be finished by the time we're done here. Thank you, General." Linda returned to her seat.

General Whitfield introduced a Colonel in the medical corps, a doctor named Hap Ferguson. He had been a Golden Gloves boxer in his younger days and liked to stay fit. His gray, short trimmed beard and bushy eyebrows gave him a grandfather look that shined through.

He tested the microphone and began his explanation of the problems with Captain Sands' health. "...What delayed our investigation's diagnosis of Captain Sands' was the failure of the holographic magnetic resonant imager to detect the four micron size cancer cells in the Captain's temporal lobe. That of course is a part of the brain. The cancerous cells have been localized in the vicinity of point three millimeters above the second temporal sulcus and two point two five three centimeters from the fissure of sylvius. My staff and I plan to do a fiberoptic laser, neural tissue, vaporization as soon as the equipment can be transported up from Earth. I've already started him on a wide-spectrum chemotherapy. We don't expect any complications that will further inhibit his duties and he should be released after a short recovery."

"Very well Doctor. Major Fearsome, will you report for your first permission briefing at fourteen hundred hours and proceed with transportation activities until further notice. Dismissed." With that the General lit one of his cigars and stepped down from the podium.

Leo reported to the small briefing room adjacent to the hanger where he met with the officer that was compiling a list of flights that were to be completed within the next few days.

The officer was a young Captain with bright red hair that was on the edge of regulation breach it was so long. He greeted Leo with a friendly smile and a sharp salute. "Captain O'Tule reporting as ordered, Major."

"As you were, Captain." Leo said as he returned the salute. "What have you got for me?"

"Well sir, I thought you would prefer to do your own prioritizing so I have just compiled a list of destinations along with the payloads. I am prepared to give any level of assistance that you may require."

"Fine." Leo turned the visa-view screen so that he could see it more clearly and realized that there were more than two hundred separate sorties listed. "Holy moley! Where do we start?"

"That's what I said. If you'll look at item number 00163AX I think that's as good a place as any."

Leo was glad the Captain had had the time to study the tasking list and recognized the equipment for Keven's surgery. "Defiantly. That's where we start. Good job. Go ahead and set-up a sortie profile for the next week and down-load it to TRR-1 and if there's any problems I'll get back with you as they arise."

"Yes sir. Oh Major, I have arranged for orientation with the new Advanced Environmental Combat Suit. I’ll have Lieutenant Jas meet you in the Prep Area." The officer saluted as Leo exited for the modification bay AND Leo hurriedly returned it.

Linda was finishing her inspection of the Tiger ship as Leo entered the mod' bay. "All seems in order. Good work Tim." She said to the British engineer.

"Thanks lass, me crew busted their kazoos to have it ready for your deadline. Well, well, if it isn't the flyboy himself. Good to see you son." He shook Leo's hand long and hard. "You boys did one hell of a fine job on those dogs of the stars."

"We did our best Tim."

"And that's all anybody could ask of ya son. I'd love to chat with ya but I must be getn' on it you know."

"Want the nickel tour Major?" Linda asked proudly.

"You bet."

They stepped through the oval hatch that doubled as the airlock and Leo could see some of the changes to his beloved ship. "I like the multi-purpose fixture rails. That should expand mission envelope."

"They'll allow the fitting of seats too heavy equipment tie down. Check this out." She pushed one of the many new buttons located on a large panel and the entire aft bulkhead dropped away forming a ramp the full width of the compartment.

"Nice. I wondered why that wasn't included in the original design."

"Good old General Donnols rejected it out right at the time."

"Figures."

They went through to the cockpit and passed multiple weapons racks that would hold at least a full squad's selection with replacements. "Hay, what happened to my killer window?" The area forward of the pilot’s seat was a dull gray that replaced the rap-around windscreen.

"It’s still there but you won't need it." She answered as she activated the virtual reality holographic projection unit and the walls disappeared.

"You've out done yourself Linda. This is almost as good as on the Atrochen ship."

"One of the benefits of the information that your computer returned with. Look at this. Computer activate weapons systems, command override, Willams."

“At once Major Willams. Good morning Major Fearsome.”

“Good morning to you as well Tiger. All systems secure?”

“All systems are in perfect working order. I am looking forward to proceeding with the mission profile Captain O’Tule downloaded at O’five hundred this morning.”

The view outside was enhanced with a composite overlay of radar, thermal, inferred and laser scans highlighting and targets were marked with bright icons that indicated what weapon system would engage it. Leo took notice that there were other systems available besides the ten-megawatt laser and the forty-millimeter vertical launch missiles. A twenty-five millimeter gattling cannon for point defense and fire suppression was coaxially mounted on the laser turret but had independent azimuth and slew control. A multi threat, defense hardware deployment pack with ten remote piloted recognizant vehicles and twenty drone decoys was fitted to the top just aft of the vertical launch missile tubes. The phased array synthetic aperture multi-band radar had been replaced with an upgraded version with a wider bandwidth and kilowatt jamming capability. There were also two state-of-the-art electromagnetic warfare computers installed.

“This new seat looks real uncomfortable.”

“You’ll never notice it’s been redesigned for the new flight suits.” She pointed at the receptacles and ports along the back of the seat. “This is where your suit integrates with the ship’s functions.”

“Cool.” Leo turned to Linda and asked. "When can I have her?"

"Just as soon as I sign it off."

"Great. I want to start preflight in one hour."

"No problem. I'll have it moved to pad one on the double."

Leo proceeded to the equipment prep area that housed all the tactical gear where he found Lieutenant Jas. With him was a Specialist grade Instructor.

“Major Fearsome.” The two men saluted Leo and he returned the gesture. “This is Specialist Sokoeve, he will check you out on the AECS Model 2090. If you will excuse me now I have other duties.”

The Instructor had a certain all business look to his disposition.

“Of course, Lieutenant you’re dismissed.” Leo saluted him and turned his attention to the instructor.

The soldier typed a code into a visa-view on the wall and an automated robotic handling system brought a rack of suits from deep within the storage facility. The suits glided silently on the rail system and lowered to arms reach hanging just off the floor.

The Specialist began his presentation. “This is the Advanced Environmental Combat Suit Model 2090. It is fully self-contained and integrated. It is intended that the individual will wear the suit continuously until the long duration mission is terminated and at no time should it be necessary to remove the suit or break any of the seals for a period not to exceed thirty-five days, however with supplemental cartridges mission duration can be extended indefinitely. The only difference between this model and the one you will be issued, the AECS Model 2090C is the suit interface ports that link your suit to the systems and stores aboard the Tiger ships.” He turned the two different suits around so Leo could see the backsides and compare the differences.

After Leo examined them to his satisfaction the Specialist continued. “Beginning from the ground up. The integral self-adjusting foot protectors, which contain a passive sensor array are capable of detecting anti-personnel mines and other booby traps such as tripwires and the like at a range of ten meters max and has a ballistic protection level three rating.” He raised one of the boots up slightly and pointed out the rigged lines that marked the telescoping adjustment features in the soles. The top of the boot ended at mid calf. “Located along the outboard side of both calves are fixed bladed knives, the left is a survival/field utility type design with a modified bowie point constructed of a ceramic nonconductive material impregnated with a micro-diamond cutting edge and extends ten inches in length it can also double as a bayonet and mounts on any weapon that can accept one. The right side blade is a combat design featuring a modified tanto point and is double edged with the spine serrated from the mid point to the guard. The base material is a single crystal titanium alloy coated with a friction reduction polymer. It is equipped with a hypersonic oscillator enabling it to cut through most body armor and bone with little effort. Both weapons are held in place by a passive restraint system and is effected in this manner.” He demonstrated the technique to Leo and handed the fighting knife to him.

Leo checked the balance of the blade and flipped it around in his hand quickly changing from a hammer grip to a reverse grip and then to a saber grip getting a feel for the well thought out design. “Perfect balance for throwing.”

The Specialist recovered the blade seemingly unimpressed and replaced it in its protective sheath.

“The suit material fits like a glove and provides full nuclear-biological and chemical protection and can perform as a pressure suit in a reduced pressure environment rated to one hundred thousand feet MSL. It is impregnated with refracting crystals that when activated provide superior camouflage that adapts to surrounding surface’s colors. The base ballistic protection is level five and is impervious to typical small arms. The gloves are integral as well and self adjusting like the boots.”

Leo looked closely at the soft material that resembled wet suit neoprene. He opened his mouth to ask a question but never got the chance.

“A compound sandwiched between multiple layers of the material acts like a liquid until a high energy impact then it instantly becomes solid until the force is dissipated then it reverts to a liquid again.” He thumped the leg of the suit with the butt of his sidearm illustrating the effect.

“Humph.” Leo found the concept intriguing.

The instructor continued. “Located on the thigh and reversible to either side is a sidearm holster, which can be configured for any inventory handgun with mounted accessories and the empty location on the opposite side can be fitted with a Universal Equipment Rack or pouches.

“The backpack is integral and houses the following modules: First is the Power Unit. It is an ion discharge reconverter with a storage discharge cycle of thirty days with all systems activated with no supplemental recharging. It is nonreplicable but is continuously recharged by the photovoltaic cells incorporated in your helmet and on the pack outer surfaces and also by the Waist and Water Recovery Unit, located here.” He pointed to the bulge on the side of the pack and the locations on the helmet and along the top of the pack.

“The Waist and Water Recovery Unit collects all moisture and excrements produced by your body and stores them for use as power or to replenish your fluids.”

“You mean it recycles my own waist products and feeds them back to me?” Leo was used to the concept, it had been in use from the beginning of the space program, but the thought always turned his stomach.

“That is correct.”

He removed a cartridge from a receptacle along the very bottom of the pack but was within easy reach of the user. “This is the ultimate meal on the go. It is the Field Nourishment Unit containing meal pellets that are dispensed to the helmet and each pellet supplies all a growing boy needs for an entire day. The unit has a thirty-day ration that can be extended to forty days in a crisis.

“Along the right side of the pack is the Atmosphere Generator. It produces oxygen chemically and scrubs carbon dioxide providing forty days of breathable air with normal exertion. It also can supplement that supply by filtering outside air to two-micron particle size and filters all bio-chemical agents as well, it does this fully automatically with no user intervention needed. The filter can be replaced when it becomes clogged while in a contaminated environment.

“At the top of the pack is the Multi-comm. It is a multi-band, multi-mode communications and navigation transceiver that provides networked links to every combat unit in your section as well as uplink to any available communication and navigation satellites, beacons or repeaters. Attached to the sides are Mission Configurable Mounts that can accept anything from heavy weapons to extra miscellaneous equipment or electronics packages. This port on the left side is a data and power link for belt mounted heavy weapons and when in use, ammo canisters mounted on the underside of the pack at these hard points are automatically made available.” He pointed out each of the features as he described their function. “On the forearms are located tactile data input interfaces that give the user access to all of the different functions of the computer and com gear as well as the suits controls, most of these functions can be accessed with the helmet by the Verbal/lingual Interface. The arms have a ballistic level three, protection rating.

“The helmet is the real jewel.” He handed one to Leo. “As you can see the functions can all be controlled by using your tongue with the lingual scanning joystick to steer the curser on the projected screens at the top and bottom of the face shield, where all situational awareness info is displayed along with system status and other important data. Data is limited until you ask for it to decrease sensory overload. I’ll go into more detail later. “There is a 3D surround sound field generated from the acoustic sensors located around the helmet and these sensors are integrated with a passive acoustic target tracking system and an active ultrasonic vision system. Light intensification and magnification to power twenty, LIDAR and thermal vision enhancement compliments the target acquisition and tracking systems as well giving you the ability to see in total darkness or in a fog environment that would other wise blind or reduce your visual range. All of your target information is passed to the network automatically so everything you detect is available to everyone else in your sector. You can imagine any number of scenarios that would benefit from this capability.”

The Command Channel Structure is controlled automatically when the suit samples your DNA enabling clearances allowed to you. It also has intuitive function so communications is only directed to units that are intended too decrease com. traffic on unintended channels. All communication is encrypted and secure being transmitted by laser, line of sight, when possible and Extreme Long Wave when a satellite or repeater is not available.”

“Wow, so any unit in the sector can act as a repeater?”

“As long as they are linked in the network, yes. The network is updated with hyper-burst data transfer only when needed to decrease traffic that might expose the unit’s positions. If the unit doesn’t need the information it is not sent to them unless they are required as a repeater. That pretty much covers it. Do you have any more questions? If not I’ll demonstrate how to apply the suit.”

“No, continue.”

The Instructor undressed to his birthday suit and worked his way into the small opening behind the helmet attachment ring and in front of the pack. After working his feet and legs in place he carefully fitted the suit’s waist collection devices around his genitals and along his butt crack inserting it into his anis. It looked very uncomfortable but as he pulled the suit over the rest of his body it all conformed neatly giving him total freedom of movement. He observed as Leo applied his version of the suit and made suggestions and advice as Leo wrestled his way in.

By the time Leo had locked the helmet in place he was out of breath and sweating. He could feel the suit absorbing every drop as it exited the pores and it felt like ants crawling all over his body.

The specialist could see his distress. “Don’t worry, the sensation will pass and you’ll get more proficient at applying the suit with practice. After awhile you’ll forget you’re even wearing it.”

“Yeah right.” Leo had his doubts but the irritation was already subsiding.

When the helmet was locked in place the systems came on-line automatically and the network was activated. “Major, you have been detected on my network. Welcome.” The Tiger computer sounded glad to be able to communicate with him from a distance.

“Hello, Tiger. It’ll take me some time to get used to this thing.”

“Yes, I would think it would. You will need to exchange your AECS 2090C helmet with the AECS 2090C-B to have access to the mind-link computer.”

“Ok stand by.” He removed the helmet and typed the requested item into the visa-view and one was delivered in a few seconds. He locked the new helmet in place. “Is that better, Tiger?”

“Major, you now have total ship’s systems access.”

“Copy that Tiger, I’m on my way to you now. Specialist Sokoeve, you’re dismissed.” The technician saluted and departed out the door.

“Yes, I have your telemetry and am tracking you.”

Leo moved to the ship, when he sat in the seat the suit interconnected with the ships food and water supplies and all of the tactical systems. He was surprised that the seat was as comfortable as it was and he quickly settled in and began the preflight checklist.

The medical equipment Colonel Hap Ferguson had ordered was the first shipment delivered by what was to become known as the "Flashing Delivery Service". The GW-HS-RDS (Gravity Wave-Harmonic Skip-Resonance Drive System) functioned perfectly. And proved to be very reliable.

As Keven was being prepped for surgery, Hap was trying to explain the procedure to Keven in as simple of terms as possible. "Captain, the operation should require no more than two hours in the Holographic Magnetic Resonance Imager. You will be conscious through out the entire procedure, however we will administer a nerve blocker that will prevent you from moving. Just like the one you received the first time in the imager.”

“I hate that shit.” Keven detested drugs in general and anything that incapacitated him even more.

Hap ignored him. "After the nerve block is in place we will insert a catheter into the internal carotid artery, that will act as a guide for the glass fiber. It will be used as a course directional guide until it is well into the cerebral portion of the artery. The fiber has been coated with a magnetic shroud, which will allow it to be steered with a weak magnetic field. After winding around in the various parts of the carotid artery it will end up in the parieto-temporal where we will then close in on the cancerous cells and vaporize them. It's really not that bad, with the equipment we have here its pretty much a matter of following the map and taking the shortest route to the problem. So don't worry and we'll get started in a minute or so.”

"That's easy for you to say Doc." Keven's favorite nurse entered the room. It was the first time he had seen her up close without her protective vinyl suit.

She brought with her a syringe with a dramatically long needle. She wore a devious grin and took great pleasure in perforating his backside.

"You didn't have to enjoy it that much." He said.

She just smiled and slapped him on the ass and she left the room. The prep injection took effect quickly and Keven felt extremely relaxed.

He was loaded onto a gurney and taken into the operating room and placed in the foreboding magnetic device. As the power level was increased, a strange warmth flowed over his upper-body and head. The nurse and two doctors pushed the fiber laser device into position and administered the nerve blocking agent into the base of his skull. Keven immediately lost all control of his bodily functions.

He thought to himself. I sure am glad I followed the doctor's orders and didn't eat or drink anything. He couldn’t have talked even if he wanted to.

They positioned a visa-view in front of his face so that he could watch the procedure as it was happening.

Hap was in a separate room with a large window that looked out into where Keven was lying. Hap loaded the computer with the program that outlined the operation’s procedure and turned on the imager. When the equipment came on-line Hap slipped his virtual reality visor over his eyes and put the controlling cloves on. A three-square foot, visa-view screen lit-up displaying a high-resolution picture of Keven's head. Ferguson typed commands into the keyboard and the top layer of skin was peeled away revealing the tissue below. He zoomed the image and then peeled another layer off revealing the bone structure then another layer was removed which only left the carotid artery and the pathway he intended to take to the cancerous tissue that flashed on the screen. He then instructed the other doctors to insert the catheter. Out of the corner of Keven's eye he could see Hap contorting strangely as the fiber entered his neck. Every time Hap would move the robotic fiber guide would react.

Keven watched however unwillingly as the wire like fiber worked its way up his neck and after leaving its large sheath behind, into his brain. Every now and then it would stop at an intersection and he would feel a slight increase in power as the fiber would be pulled one way or the other and then continue on its way towards the unwanted cells. It surprised him how long it took for the fiber to work its way into position. He was also surprised by the fact the whole thing was virtually painless. The only thing he really felt was the penetration of his skin by the needles.

When it looked like the fiber was about to touch the cells that were highlighted in red, Hap zoomed the image again so that the screen was filled with only the cells and the tip of the fiber. The view rotated and showed the exact impact point of the laser beam as a small cross hair. Hap activated the laser and the small portions under the cross hair began to disappear. Hap then split the screen so that he could see the progress from three different angles simultaneously. It was critical that there be none of the DNA of the rogue cells remaining or the cancer could regenerate and spread to other parts of his body like wildfire.

As the cells were disintegrated Keven could feel an emotional stress vaporize as well. Soon all trace of the cancer was gone and the fiber was drawn back into its protective shroud and removed from his neck. He was given a sedative and returned to his room where he slept for several hours.

Keven briefly opened his glazed eyes to find Linda's head resting across his chest. He rapped his free arm around her and fell asleep again to dream about his future with the woman he loved more every day.

Leo hadn't spent as much time in alpha state sense the testing program four years ago as he was now. The Tiger was either being loaded or unloaded almost continuously. After several days of full loads to and from the Earth, the list had worked down to receiving the supercomputers for the in-process Tigers yet to be completed.

Leo's ship materialized and the cold fusion reactor was still powering down when Leo heard a familiar voice approach the cockpit from behind. "Leo, my man. Next stop Home Plate."

"Hay Berry, I didn't know you were riding up on this trip."

"Got my orders about ten minutes ago."

“Captain Johnstone, I have missed your regular scans of my data banks.” Tiger’s digitized voice contained a vague hint of sarcasm.

Berry sensed the attempt at humor and played along. “You want me to run a quick diagnostic Tiger?”

“Not unless you care to allow me to probe your brain as well.”

“That’s okay, I’ll leave that joy to Fearsome.”

That sparked a good laugh from the two men and the display that monitored the Tiger computer’s logic functions flipped and swirled.

Berry marveled at the advancing human like interaction of the computer. When the traits first appeared they annoyed him, then as they grew they frightened him, now they just amazed him.

The tiger grew from a collection of opto-tronic components to a true friend and colleague. The rivalry that had developed on the Atrochen ship evolved into a mutual respect, but Leo was the only person that truly related to Tiger.

Leo’s Comm unit’s persistent beeping interrupted him. "Tiger one here, go ahead Home Plate." Leo said.

"Home Plate to Tiger one. Stand-by for updated orders." A voice cracked over the speaker.

"Tiger one to Home Plate. I copy, standing-by and ready to receive." Leo typed a series of commands into the computer and waited.

The Tiger computer spoke next. "Major, the new orders have been received and filed. The conformation codes check-out and match the verifier."

"Okay Tiger..." He opened the channel. "Tiger one to Home Plate. Message received and verified."

"Roger that, Home Plate out."

"Tiger one, out." He set the Comm unit to the stand-by mode. "Tiger, display new orders on main screen please." The large visa-view screen mounted in the middle of the control panel flashed the short message across its black background. It was only an up-date telling him of Berry's orders.

"I would have thought they’d have sent the orders to you first Fearsome."

"Typical military operation." Leo said.

"Isn't it the truth." Berry agreed.

They returned to the base and Leo was exhausted. He began his post-flight checklist.

"I'll go and check in with base security then I'll come back and get you and we can go see Keven together. How does that sound?" Berry said as he left.

"Sounds like a plan to me." Leo agreed.

He continued to clear system after system following the routine of the checklist. He was finding it increasingly difficult to keep his eyes open and found himself blinking his eyes repeatedly. Leo felt strangely compelled to close his eyes, to relax and he drifted off into a deep uncontrolled sleep. He failed to finish turning off all the ship’s systems including the mind link and the GW-HS-RDS. As he slept a familiar voice that he had not heard in many years crept into his subconscious world. At first his mind twisted and played games with the soft youthful beckoning until his higher level perceptions became aware of the outside stimuli and slowly brought him out of his sleep and into a restful meditative So Shin Do concentration. He precisely tuned his brain into the thoughts that were penetrating the thick layer of lunar rock and soil and bringing him the sweet visions that were focusing in his mind's eye. It had been so long sense he had seen Margret in person that he was over whelmed by the reality of her image and as he sat motionless in his pilot's seat a single tear slowly trickled down his cheek.

It was the only clue to Berry, who had just returned, that Leo wasn't just asleep. Berry sat down in the padded seat to Leo's right and noticed the mind-link computer had locked-on to a new location never before entered into it's memory. He began a log of the brainwave patterns that were being generated and entered new code into his monitoring program.

The image of Margret faded and was replaced by Zora in the ancient temple where they had first made contact. "You sure get around Leo." She said with a smile of a long sense seen friend.

Leo noticed that this time she was wearing a white gown that covered her much better than her long flowing hair had done the last time they had contact. "I see Margret has taught you a few things about our culture."

"Yes, she has been very patient with all of us and has taught us many things about your way of life. You have been moving around so much lately that as soon as I would find your life stream you would vanish just as quickly as you had the time before. I was growing tired of chasing you all across the galaxy."

"I tried to contact you several times after our last encounter but I didn't know how. Do you know what happened?"

"Janious, our leader, was afraid that the Atrochens would some how trace my mind walking and find us before your people did, so he blocked you from finding me until now."

"I understand, it was a wise decision."

"When will you come for us? Margret is very anxious to be with you again and we want to fulfill our promise to help your people."

"I can't answer your question. It's not my responsibility to make those decisions but if it were up to me, I would now."

"Come soon and show me your home." She said as he found himself spinning around and around in his head as he opened his eyes to see the reflection of Berry in the large monitor in front of him.

"Hay, where you been Leo?"

"What do you mean?" Leo asked, still not feeling quite himself.

"Check out the Mind-link readout." Berry printed out a hard copy and tore it from the slot as it appeared.

"This system never ceases to amaze me. Do you think it really did lock-on to a real location?"

"You tell me. I wasn't there."

"Neither was I. At least I didn't think I was. It seamed real enough; but how could the Mind-link fix a position to lock-on to?" Leo was more than a little confused about the whole thing.

"This is too much. Linda has got to hear about this." Berry said with excitement overflowing.

General Whitfield called a meeting with all of his senior staff and was exploring this new phenomenon with cautious ardor.

"Frankly General, I'm dumbfounded. Astral projection has been a part of metaphysics for centuries. But it has never been confirmed. I can't say that's what has happened here with any certainty but that's as good an explanation as I can come up with." Linda ran her fingers through her hair and pulled it back behind her ears as she spoke. "I couldn't find any malfunctions or anomalies in the equipment and Berry, uh Captain Johnstone, assures me that no glitch resides in the programming."

"So what your telling me is that: Major Fearsome is able to mentally travel to places he has never been to and the computer was able to pick up on his thoughts and trace the location as an actual location."

"That just about sums it up, General."

"What are the dangers involved in using this ability and him actually going there?"

She through her hands up. "I have no idea. Doctor Biel is the one to ask. She has more experience in this field than anyone else. This is totally unbroken ice. I can't even speculate on the out come. Leo was never in orbit over Earth before either but that was where the Mind-link directed the GW-HS-RDS when they returned from deep space. It would seam that he has remote perception abilities that enable him to experience a reality separated from his body as though he was really there."

"It would be foolhardy to act on this as though it were perfectly natural and proceed with manned experiments, especially with the Major being our only way out of this tome. Is there any chance of developing an unmanned transport vehicle in our life time."

"We began our research six years ago. Working with that goal in mind and the computer technology couldn't support the artificial intelligence required to bring the program to even partial phase test. It wasn't until Major Fearsome appeared on the scene that we moved out of science fiction and into reality. We've been devoting all our resources towards the production of new ships and haven't addressed the possibilities with new data technologies. With the new parallel processing optical superconducting supercomputers it may be feasible. But you're talking about developing a totally new science with all the cost and time involved with high-tech research. It could run into the billions of dollars. Berry what do you think?"

“I believe it is possible in the long term but it would take a major breakthrough. The Tiger computer might be able to interface with the mind-link at some point, but I’m not even sure that the conditions that awoke his intelligence can be replicated. He’s an anomaly that has never been explained.”

"What else is new?" The General said with frustration. "Ok Major Willams, I want you to do a preliminary study on the subject. The Tiger concept was fine as a research program but I find it dangerous, if not down right stupid to rely solely on Major Fearsome for all our contact with the outside world. I never should have gone along with the Secretary of Defense on this one. There are to be no experiments relating to this subject until further notice."

"Yes Sir." They all chorused.

"Dismissed." Whitfield would not even entertain theoretical discussion of the matter after the meeting.

Leo was disappointed with the General's decision because he had a feeling deep inside that gave him full confidence in the out come of a test transit. The thought of a failure had crossed his mind and the consequences to the future were grave, but still he felt confident that he would go directly to where ever the strange place in his mind was. He would never believe that it existed only as a hallucination. He sensed a presence of a higher power that was leading him, opening his mind one lock at a time. Expanding his realm of influence beyond what others thought of as tangible.

As the weeks passed he spent all his spare time, not working as a cargo hauler, gathering data to support his hypotheses so as to try to persuade General Whitfield to allow him to try the dimension jump but when he began his presentation, Whitfield cut him off short. Leo's attempt at a scientific approach was dismissed out of hand and dropped where it was on the visa-view screen.

With the arrival of the alien ship expected any day Leo was driven by the horror he knew faced his people. He stopped Whitfield in the hall outside his office and begged for permission for him to attempt his well-prepared plan.

"Please Sir, if we don't get the Atlantis pilots here soon it may be too late. We can't fight them with just one ship. We need them now, not when it seems safe to try. I realize the risk and the fact that all of you," He swung his arms in a big ark. "Will be trapped here if I fail. But you've got to understand that you'll only be the first casualties among our entire population of Earth. A race that may stand a chance if we can get the Atlantians here in time." With all the words out in the air Leo studied his face for any weakness.

After several seconds Sherman gave his final order. "Leo... I haven't had the time to get to know you as well as I would have liked. You see son. I would not have put up with as much bull shit from anyone, bar none. Except, I have seen a quality within you that few possess. You have shone a selflessness that is truly heroic."

Leo knew that the General was wrong about his motives. Someone close to him had always been as much a force behind his actions as the Atrochens were but he hoped he didn't betray himself now.

"I'll try to show the courage worthy of your attempt and allow you, your chance to save our world. What becomes of us is in your hands now. God be with you son." He put his hand on Leo's sho