Gabriel's Journey by Steve Umstead

Author:Steve Umstead
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: scifi, science fiction, trilogy, scifi adventure, scifi action adventure
Publisher: Steve Umstead

Chapter 27

“We’ve lost contact with Powers and Sweeney, sir.”

The words hung in space like the haze filling the room. Chaud waited patiently for the explosion, adjusting his collar once again to allow his body heat to escape.

The afternoon had gotten downright steamy. Chaud had been sitting in the operations tent, overseeing the plans he had help put into action. He was seated in the same chair he was in previously when the techs had picked up the initial signs of the team. The same two techs were there, VR goggles on, but now the small tent was even more cramped, and humid, with the addition of Zeno and Harvin…and Prophet.

Chaud watched as Prophet stared at the tech who had spoken. The tech was unaware of the stare; the goggles covered his vision completely, and Chaud almost felt sorry for him. What was the old saying, don’t kill the messenger?

The stare continued until the tech spoke again. “Did everyone get that?”

Zeno cleared his throat. “Yes, we got it. Is there any sign of them from the sensors in that area?”

The other tech answered, pushing his goggles up on his head. “No, they went out of range of the hide to check the autosentry status. I said that before…” His voice died as he saw Prophet’s stare.

The room was dead silent. Chaud heard the creak of the tent’s roof poles in a gust of wind, the laughter of a distant treemonkey. The haze in the room seemed to grow even more dense. Nearly a minute passed before Prophet spoke.

“I’m losing patience.”

Chaud felt the tension in the tent ratchet higher. The second tech wiped his nose nervously and looked over at Chaud for support. Seeing none, he pushed his goggles back down over his eyes, mumbling about rechecking data.

“Captain Chaud.”

Chaud stiffened at the mention of his name. Prophet hadn’t turned in his direction, but both Zeno and Harvin had. He coughed into his hand. “Sir,” he replied.

“Captain, this operation you have put together…does not seem to be progressing quite as expected, wouldn’t you say?”

Chaud didn’t miss the not-so-subtle emphasis on you when Prophet referred to the operation. He knew the success or failure of the encampment’s defense rested squarely on his shoulders. He didn’t fear the blame; he did, however, fear the consequences of failure. Not just with Prophet, but with the approaching force.

“No, sir, it is not. However, what we can do…”

Prophet raised his hand and Chaud closed his mouth. Another long minute passed, and Prophet lowered his hand back into his lap. “We aren’t going to do anything, Captain. I am. Zeno,” he said.

Zeno’s eyes shot to the leader. “Sir?”

“Have the prisoners been positioned?”

“Ah, yes sir, as per Captain Chaud’s orders.”

Chaud winced inwardly at the attribution. He knew where Prophet was going with this, and it wasn’t going to reflect well on him.

Prophet shifted his stare from the tech to Chaud. “We’re changing it.”

“Sir?” Zeno asked.

“Gabriel will change his route. Now that a poorly hidden trap was avoided, and two bumbling idiots were killed, he knows we have his route figured out,” Prophet said in a near-monotone.

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