‘I told you I heard something,’ said the man, glancing round.
Priest took another step back, and another, as the sound grew louder.
‘What is that?’ said the soldier’s friend.
Racing along the floor and closing fast, a dark shadow ate up their light.
Priest’s eyes widened in realisation. ‘RUN!’
A massive wall of water tore towards them and the first man disappeared in a sea of black.
Priest dodged round a corner and down a narrow passage. A man’s scream vanished in a roar of noise, followed by another soon after. On his own, Priest cast aside his weapon and increased his speed. Bursting out into a great hall, he ran for his life as the raging rapids smashed into the bend behind and erupted out.
An orange glow guided Priest onwards and a few paces later he slid to a stop before a sheer drop. A trickle of dust sifted down into a sea of black tar and steaming lava, and he glanced back to see the liquid torrent rearing up into a giant wave.
He turned back to the shimmering magma, the ruddy light reflecting in his eyes. A myriad of images flashed through Priest’s mind, some of them good, many of them bad. ‘Forgive me, Lord,’ he said, ‘for I have sinned.’
Washed over the edge, the last member of the USSB decontamination team fell to his death, his terrified heart full of traumatic regret and self deluding lies.
Epilogue
The ousted director of USSB Steadfast slowed his pace, his legs aching and mind faltering.
Captain Winter halted his unit’s advance and came back to Goodwin’s side. ‘You okay, sir?’
Goodwin came to a stop, sucked in some air and shook his head. ‘Go on without me,’ – he bent down and took another breath – ‘I’m done.’
‘Where you go, we go, Director.’
‘Why? Why bother? What’s so special about me that you’ll risk your lives for mine? All I’ve brought you people is an endless nightmare of suffering. You’d be better off leaving me out here to die.’
Winter knelt down on one knee in front of him. ‘That’s quitting talk, sir. I don’t listen to quitting talk. And in answer to your question, we risk our lives for yours because that’s our job; it’s what we’re paid to do.’
Goodwin looked at him. ‘I thought mercenaries had the luxury of choosing their fights?’
‘Yeah, pretty much.’
‘Then you haven’t answered my question.’
Winter wiped his nose and sniffed. ‘You’re right, of course. I act out orders because that’s what I do; it’s my way of life. I follow a chain of command, always have done and probably always will. But unlike me, there are many others that have a greater purpose, a bigger moral compass, if you will. There’s still thousands of people down here who need your help; are you going to let them down when they need you the most?’
‘How can they trust me when I can’t trust myself?’ Goodwin said. ‘I’ve been compromised. My decision-making is shot. Kara was right to have me replaced. I would have done the same in her position.’
‘And there’s part of your answer. That you recognise your mistakes is why you’re such a great leader. Your resolve may have led you down the wrong path this time, but that just makes you wiser, stronger. Can you not see? It’s not about you; it’s about everyone, the collective. You hold us together, the glue in the mix. Without your reasoning, many, if not all of us, would already be six feet under. My unit, my sister, they put their lives on the line because they believed in you. Commander Hilt believed in you. I still believe in you. You just need to believe in yourself. There’s always a brighter tomorrow, Director, we don’t even need to find it, we just have to try.’
‘Beautiful hope,’ Goodwin murmured as he considered Winter’s words.
A Darklight soldier approached.
‘What is it? Winter said, standing.
‘I’m picking up a new transmission.’
‘The major?’
‘I’m not sure, sir. It keeps breaking up.’
‘Let me listen.’
The man adjusted his radio and handed Winter the handset.
A rush of static hissed through the com system before a garbled voice stuttered to silence. The message repeated and then another voice answered. ‘Target sighted, in pursuit—’
The radio crackled and the communication cut out.
‘This is Captain Winter, what is your location? Over.’
They waited for a reply, swapping looks as the seconds ticked by.
‘I say again. This is Captain Winter, what is your location? Over.’
‘—coordinates, need immediate assistance … our location.’ The signal faded before returning. ‘—the light’s closing on our position, not sure when we can—’
A roar of gunfire echoed through the handset, to be replaced with a steady hiss of white noise.
Everyone waited with bated breath for the voice to speak again.
‘Signal’s gone,’ the soldier said. ‘Coordinates appear to originate from the city’s centre, in the opposite direction to the major’s rendezvous point.’
‘And no one else is responding?’
‘No, sir.’
‘What do you want to do, Director?’ Winter turned back to Goodwin. ‘Stay here and wallow in self-pity or step back up to the plate? Fight for what’s yours, take back control; lead us as only you know how, or accept defeat and ignore this call for help? The choice is yours.’
Put on the spot, Goodwin glanced around at the men and women who waited for his order.
A light has been seen in the city, Goodwin thought. The coms system is down, so no one else is likely to have heard the call for help. Whoever is out there, they’re on their own. The problem is, it goes against the major’s orders. Goodwin held the Captain’s gaze. The man is testing me, trying to pull me back to the land of the living, to make me care. And does it? he asked himself. He didn’t know. It was a clever move by Winter, a bold move, forcing Goodwin into making a decision. A fifty-fifty call that could cost the lives of everyone involved.
‘Sir?’ Winter said.
The clock was ticking and Goodwin didn’t know what to do. Meet up with Offiah and leave the people who’d sent the message to fend for themselves, or put those around him back into mortal danger, or stay where they were in blissful solitude, cut off from the horrors unfolding beyond. Only the latter option appealed; it would ensure no one else died on his watch, keeping his conscience clear.
Goodwin stood up. ‘Whatever I decide, you’ll back my play?’
Winter nodded. ‘To the letter.’
‘No questions asked? No complaints?’
‘Yes, sir, no questions, no complaints.’
‘Very well, Captain,’ Goodwin said, ‘this is what I want you to do …’
To be continued in …
2041 Sanctuary
Part 3: Genesis
(Book Two, Part Three of Ancient Origins)
OUT NOW!
—————
Author Note
Thank you choosing Ancient Origins, I hope you enjoyed the read. If you have the time to leave a review on Amazon that would be really appreciated. Also, please read on for a comprehensive set of appendices with some author notes.
Sincerely yours
Robert Storey
—————
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APPENDIX A
GMRC CIVILIAN PERSONNEL
Professor George Steiner
Director General of GMRC Subterranean Programme
Nationality: American
GMRC Clearance – Level 10 Alpha
Designation – Civilian
Deployment: GMRC Directorate (Oversight) / Transient
GMRC Division: Subterranean Programme
Skill set:
Subterranean structural engineering
Management and leadership
Planning, design and development
Ma
thematical modelling and forecasting
Computer programming and software development
Malcolm Joiner
Director of U.S. and GMRC Intelligence
Nationality: American
GMRC Clearance – Level 10 Alpha
Designation – Civilian
Deployment: GMRC Directorate / Transient
GMRC Division: Intelligence Division
Skill set:
Espionage and covert intervention
Intelligence gathering, restriction and dissemination
Information pathways / Management and leadership
Psychological warfare
Richard Goodwin
GMRC Subterranean Base Director
Nationality: American
GMRC Clearance – Level 9 Alpha
Designation – Civilian
Deployment: U.S.S.B. Steadfast [U.S.S.B. Sanctuary – unofficial]
GMRC Division: Subterranean Programme
Skill set:
Management and leadership / Planning, design and development
Dr. Kara Vandervoort
Ecosystem Director
Nationality: South African
GMRC Clearance – Level 8 Alpha
Designation – Civilian
Deployment: U.S.S.B. Steadfast
GMRC Division: Subterranean Programme
Skill set:
Biomechanical engineering / Management / Data analysis
Special Agent Myers
CIA Agent and GMRC Intelligence Operative
CIA Special Operations Group (SOG)
Nationality: American
GMRC Clearance – Level 9 Delta
Designation – Civilian
Deployment: Transient
GMRC Division: Intelligence Division
Skill set:
Covert military intervention / Leadership / Strategic planning
Close quarters and unarmed combat
Dagmar Sørensen
Director of GMRC Research & Development
Nationality: Norwegian
GMRC Clearance – Level 10 Alpha
Designation – Civilian
Deployment: GMRC Directorate / Transient
GMRC Division: Research and Development
Skill set:
Scientific exploration and advance
Black project development and integration
(Special access programmes: acknowledged and unacknowledged)
Information pathways / Management and leadership
Grant Debden
Primary Aide to Malcolm Joiner
Nationality: American
GMRC Clearance – Level 8 Delta
Designation – Civilian
Deployment: Transient
GMRC Division: Intelligence Division
Ms. Sylvia Lindegaard
GMRC Delegate
Nationality: Danish
GMRC Clearance – Level 10 Alpha
Designation – Civilian
Deployment: U.S.S.S. Archimedes
GMRC Division: Space Programme / Oversight
Skill set:
GMRC integration specialist
Management and leadership / Planning and development
Information pathways
Nathan Bryant
GMRC Subterranean Facility Coordinator
Nationality: American
Global Acquisitions and Intelligence Liaison
GMRC Clearance – Level 10 Beta
Designation – Civilian
Deployment: GMRC Oversight / U.S.S.B. Steadfast
GMRC Division: Subterranean Programme
Skill set:
Logistics / Management / Negotiation, arbitration and presentation
Linguistics, communication and translation
Skill set:
Organisation and presentation / Information pathways
Linguistics, communication and translation
Intelligence gathering, restriction and dissemination
APPENDIX B
S.E.D. PERSONNEL
Deployment: U.S.S.B. Sanctuary
Designation: GMRC Civilian
Dresden Locke
S.E.D. Facility Commander
Nationality: American
Profession: Explorer
Riley Orton
Deep Reach Team Leader
Team: Alpha Six
Nationality: American
Profession: Explorer
Jefferson Church
Deep Reach Team Member
Team: Alpha Six
Nationality: American
Profession: Explorer & Lead Archaeologist
Cora Islanovich (Deceased)
Deep Reach Deputy Team Leader
Team: Alpha Six
Nationality: American
Profession: Explorer
APPENDIX C
U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL
Colonel Samson
United States Army SFSD Brigade Commander
Special Forces Subterranean Detachment
(Codename: Terra Force)
Nationality: American
GMRC Clearance – Level 8 Alpha
Designation: Military – Special Forces
Deployment: U.S.S.B. Steadfast
Skill set:
Overt military action / Sniper tactics and marksmanship
Covert military intervention and counter-insurgency
Close quarters & unarmed combat / Leadership & strategic planning
Subterranean warfare / Subterranean transit
General Stevens
United States Army Commanding General
Special Operations Command Sanctuary
Nationality: American
GMRC Clearance – Level 10 Beta (Special Access Personnel)
Designation: Military
Deployment: U.S.S.B. Sanctuary
Skill set:
Overt military action and unarmed combat
Leadership, logistics and strategic planning
Subterranean warfare
Corporal Adam Walker
United States Army Decontamination Team
Nationality: American
GMRC Clearance – Level 5 Beta
Designation: Military
Deployment: U.S.S.B. Sanctuary
Skill set:
Overt military action / Unarmed combat
Leon ‘Priest’ Cameron
United States Army Decontamination Team
(Private First Class)
Nationality: American
GMRC Clearance – Level 4 Alpha
Designation – Military
Deployment: U.S.S.B. Sanctuary
Skill set:
Overt military action / Unarmed combat
Sergeant Alvarez (Deceased)
United States Army Decontamination Team
(Staff Sergeant)
Nationality: American
GMRC Clearance – Level 5 Alpha
Designation – Military
Deployment: U.S.S.B. Sanctuary
Skill set:
Overt military action / Unarmed combat
Brigadier General Ellwood
United States Army Commanding General
(Division Commander)
Nationality: American
GMRC Clearance – Level 10 Delta
Designation – Military
Deployment: U.S.S.B. Sanctuary
Skill set:
Overt military action / Subterranean warfare
Covert military action and unarmed combat
Leadership, logistics and strategic planning
APPENDIX D
ARCHAEOLOGISTS
Sarah Elizabeth Morgan
Nationality: English
Profession: Archaeologist, Anthropologist
Current location: USSB Sanctuary
Trish Brook
Nationality: English
Profession: Archaeologist
Current location: USSB Sanctuary
Jason Reece
Nati
onality: Welsh
Profession: Archaeologist
Current location: USSB Sanctuary
APPENDIX E
ALBUQUERQUE RESIDENTS
Rebecca
Nationality: American
Profession: Mental health worker
Current location: Sanctuary Proper
Joseph
Nationality: American
Mentally handicapped man
Current location: Sanctuary Proper
Susan
Nationality: American
Mentally handicapped woman
Current location: Sanctuary Proper
Julie
Nationality: American
Profession: Mental health worker
Current location: Sanctuary Proper
Arianna
Nationality: American
Profession: Mental health worker
Current location: Sanctuary Proper
APPENDIX F
ASTRONAUTS
Tyler Magnusson
Pilot Commander (acting Captain of Archimedes)
Nationality: American
Rank: Commander
NASA Clearance Level: AMBER 1 (Segregated Personnel)
Deployment: U.S.S.S. Archimedes
Astrid-Hélène Pichon
Flight Engineer
Nationality: French
Rank: Mission Specialist
ESA Clearance Level: JADE 1 (Segregated Personnel)
Deployment: International Space Station (I.S.S.)
Alexei Denisov
Pilot Cosmonaut
Nationality: Russian
Rank: Second Officer
RFSA Clearance Level: JADE 1 (Segregated Personnel)
Deployment: International Space Station (I.S.S.)
Bo Heidfield (1990 – 2041)
Space Station Commander