I lean against the bulk head of the Helios looking out of the portcullis of my office, just starring at Mars surface. I'm beginning to wonder if we'll be able to get away from here and start our true mission. Things are not going as I would like them to go, but that is life; we don't always get what we want. I turn away from the window and Mandy and Mr. Ahmadi are seated waiting for me. Also standing by the door is a young Marine, Private Bates in his dress greens, with a plas pistol as a side arm. Gunny Wilcox doesn't want to take any chances, so Mr. Ahmadi has a constant armed escort.
"So Mr. Ahmadi, what can be done about your brother?" It seems that Bijan has run a coup d'état and Basha is banished. "You won't like the solutions that come to my mind, so we have to put our heads together here and come up with an answer." I say
Mandy sits back tugging on the bottom of her ear lobe, like she does when she's deep in thought, which always makes me smile. However, in this situation I have to suppress my reaction, for Bashas benefit. "Is he not open to any form of negotiations what so ever?" Mandy asks.
"No." Answers Basha. "As far as I could tell my brother is radicalized far beyond normal means of negotiating."
"So if you were in my shoe Mr. Ahmadi what would you do?" He looks at me and I could see in his face the answer, which is the same solution that I have already deduced to be the only one at our disposal, if we're going to save all those lives that remain in that bunker. Half have gone back to the main complex. "Mr. Ahmadi you've not told me the reason for the rebellion yet. Why?" I need to know since it will give me a better view of what happened.
He takes in a deep breath letting it out slowly. "Well, my main job here on Mars is radio operator." He looks at me and then at Mandy. "We can receive on all frequencies, including military ones. Though we only supposed to listen when an emergency alert is sent." He scratches his ear nervously. "I was thrilled at the thought of listening to the new ship leaving the solar system, so I broke the protocol and began to tune in when I should not have."
"Wait a minute! You heard the Hyperion's distress call!" The realization smacks me! This mission is not to put down a rebellion, but to keep a damn secret! I shoot a glare in Mandy's direction. She signals me the I don't know sign; good Lord we are being used as the clean up crew, and General Artemis is here for only one reason. I look at my watch; we've been here discussing the situation for almost thirty minutes. "Mr. Ahmadi, if you can please excuse us for now and I will let you know when we will finish this meeting soon." Basha inclines his head rising from the chair and leaves with his Marine escort behind him.
As soon as the door closes I look at Mandy square in the eyes. "What the hell is going on here Mandy!" I know that I'm speaking a little loud, so I control my breath. "Please tell me you really don't know anything."
She sits there and I can see the hurt in her eyes, at my question. "I have no knowledge of this thing that Basha just mentioned." I can hear the reproach in her voice and I cringe a little. She sits staring at me making me feel like a heel, for doubting her. "Don't you trust me Ant?" Her voice is emotional and the hurt is clear. Damn I wonder if this is not intentional, to create division between us; to keep me from being able to rely on Mandy.
"I'm sorry. I apologize for questioning you about this." I look at her and I can still see the resentment on her face. "To many lies have been fed to me, so please forgive my distrust." Mandy looks down at her hands as I watch her shoulders sag a bit.
She looks back at me and our eyes lock; for a moment I see the very young lieutenant, who came to Africa thinking she would find the way to end the war in twenty four hours. For almost three years I'd been there with no solution in sight. "You're right," She says. "I did withhold a lot of things from you, when I should have been upfront and candid." She continues. "You have to understand; there those who did not want you involved, due to the fact that they felt you were maybe - unstable."
"Unstable?" I feel offended. "I'm not sick or insane you know; yeah I was affected by the loss of those friends on the Hyperion, but I came back to full duty and was cleared medically." I knew there were those who were against my becoming the XO on the Helios, so I'm sure they were not happy when I wound up becoming its Captain.
She studies me in that critical way that always annoys me, but I stay quiet. "Why didn't you ever tell me what happened when you got shot down?" Mandy, Mandy. After all this time you still hold that against me.
"Mandy, I... It's hard to talk about killing people." My answer doesn't seem to please her.
I sigh I know what I have to do. "I got shot down behind enemy lines, as you know. I had my side arm and a small sub machine pistol, for my personal defense." I fold my hands, just thinking about that makes me uneasy; getting shot down is nerve wracking to say the least. "I hit the ground and I was already being pursued, by guys who wanted my head on a platter, literally. So, I fell back on my training. Checking my survival gear, water and taking note of my ammo; I move out quickly because I know that everyone and their granddad saw me go down." I remember my survival instructor telling us about traveling in the desert and the time we spent out in the training area, in the Mojave. I remember thinking that was hard then, but this was different with less water and food. "After almost five days I was at the end of my rope. So when ran into an isolated farm, the fist thing I did was go to the well and drink my fill. God, that was good Mandy, the best drink of water in two days."
I think back on that night; it seems so long ago. "You know, I didn't go in there looking for a fight; I just wanted some food cause I was hungry, but I went in and ran into that man and his wife." Mandy's expression is full of sympathy for me, though that's not what I need. "The rest you kind of know." I lean back in my chair looking at Mandy wondering how far this will go. "Mandy, what I need to know is that you are one hundred percent behind me. That's what I want."
Mandy smiles at me leaning forward, with a glint in her eye. "I am with you Ant; all the way." I feel better now that I heard her say it. "Now, how do we end this?" Good question.
"I think, this is where Mr Basha Ahmadi will come into play."
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We are back in shuttle two on our way to the surface of Mars. This time we chose the location, with no negotiation about it, but all will truly rely on Basha being able to convince his brother into surrendering. As it turns out half of the people in the bunker returned to the main complex, leaving approximately one hundred fifty souls in there. Worse yet. The good General is getting impatient, with our results thus far and has moved up the time table, which sucks for those in the bunker.
[two mikes to touchdown.] Reports the shuttle pilot. We've brought along thirty Marines this time around; no more games. They either surrender or they're gonna have a regiment of Army regulars and a platoon of pissed off Marines up the wazoo! As well as the Helios peeling open the bunker doors. Shuttle one and three hit the deck first, and the Marines dismount and quickly secure the perimeter. We circle once and I'm standing right behind the pilot of shuttle two, and I see the land transport vehicle that's sitting where we agreed to meet. I look back and Basha is sitting passively waiting for us to land. This time I asked Mandy to stay on the Helios, that is one less worry for me and Gunny Wilcox.
The pilot makes a sharp turn to port, which means we are about to land; I check that the plas rifle I have is hot and locked. Satisfied that it's good I turn to the Gunny and he looks at me; I nod and he returns the nod. The plan is simple; this ends now and here, so Basha will talk to his brother, while General Artemis will move in on the bunker. With Bijan's here the radical leader, those in the bunker will fold like a waffle. Simple; I hope.
The shuttle touch's down and ten Marines deploy followed by the Gunny, then Basha followed by myself. The ten Marines form a perimeter around the vehicle; the three of us approach the transport, and wait for Bijan to come out. The rear hatch opens and three men walk out in EVA suits; Basha step forward and the guy in the middle from the transport steps up, with no hesitation. Basha and the individual that came forward begin to talk; unknown to Basha is that I have his helmet com dialed directly to the Helios, with my best interpreter listening in and reporting to me.
"This is Hotel six actual, to Hotel one one do you read me?" I ask the Com officer.
[This is Hotel one one we read you Hotel six actual.] Responds the Com officer.
"Hotel one one, I want a moment by moment translation. Hold not thing back do you copy." This is what I need to understand what is happening here.
[Copy that Hotel six actual.] there's a pause, as the translator takes up his position.
[Basha! You have betrayed us! You betrayed our brothers memory! How could... join the murderer of our brother! Ah Basha! Explain this to me!] there's another pause. [My bother that was merely the fortunes of war not murder, and I am thinking about your family and about you...] [You lie! You have been poisoned by their sly tongue and are now a servant of Satan! I waist my time with you and I should not have come!]
This isn't going well at all. I grip my plas rifle tighter watching this Bijan get more and more agitated by the minute. [Bijan...] [I will not listen to you! But I will take care of the honor of our brother by my own hand!] Bijan reaches behind him immediately Gunny Wilcox and I raise our rifles, but Basha grabs his brothers arm and struggle starts. One of the other guys that came out with Bijan pulls out something from behind and the Gunny and I fire simultaneously, with four plasm blasts hitting that guy square in the chest. He falls face first to the ground, while the other guy raises his hands in the air surrendering. Three Marine rush in and zip tie him securing that man. Basha and Bijan are still going at it, and I see the pistol and suddenly it gets between them and a shot goes off.
Basha hand goes to his side, with the gun in it. I watch him keeping my rifle somewhat trained on him; he looks down at the pistol, for a second he hesitates, but then he lets it drop to the ground. He looks at his brother, who collapses into His arms and they both go down to their knees. I shake my head sadly at the scene and I lower my plas rifle and I elbow the Gunny, to give the brothers their time, what's left of it. We step back and I shut down my helmet Com connection to the Helios. "Gunny, get your men to sweep the area and make sure it's clear."
[Yes Sir.] He begins to send his Marines out. A beep in my helmet com gets my attention.
[Captain Valdez?] Good grief... it's General Artemis.
"Yes Sir, I read you."
[My men have secured the bunker, with minimal loss of life. How goes with you?] He asks me. I look over to where Basha is cradling his brothers lifeless body.
"It's... under control sir."