Proving True: A Sonia MacTaggert Novel by Culp Robert

Author:Culp, Robert [Culp, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2017-02-03T16:00:00+00:00

The staffers planning the recovery mission schedule the operations order briefing. I don’t know the man issuing the order, but all of the troopers defer to him so he must be someone of importance. “Take your seats, please. Then shut the hell up. Our time frame is that we depart for Dubus III in three weeks. The Captain has stated his desire to take Gallagher with us. That means we have to get it into space and ideally Transit capable. For that part we have budgeted one week. That means we have two weeks to get it out of the ice and flying.

“We also have fallen comrades to reclaim. We’ve reviewed the video footage that Sergeant Major Call’s expeditionary platoon took. I warn you, it’s a little disturbing.” He takes a seat and a holoCom viewer replays the helmet cam footage from Jerry’s viewpoint.

We hear Jerry reporting his entry into the med lab to the rest of his squad. We also hear his instructions to Parker and some others to do a nearby recon as there are no threats in the lab. Famous last words I can’t help thinking. To his left front we see what I can only describe as a field expedient marine containment tank. It looks to be a regular box about three meters high, five wide and maybe ten meters long, but I can’t see what it’s holding. Whatever it is, it’s big. We see a swirl in the water then Jerry mumbles something unintelligible before he turns around to face his squad. Without a word, he begins firing at them. Jerry’s cam isn’t jumping, aside from the recoil of his weapon. He appears to be quite calm as he mows down his teammates. It makes no sense, but Jerry has changed from squad leader to executioner. Many of them yell, “What the hells are you doing?” and phrases expressing the same, but he doesn’t answer. He drops the empty shotgun and begins firing with his pistol until the slide locks to the rear on the empty magazine. As that happens, he redirects his vision to his weapon. It’s like he doesn’t know how to operate it anymore. He pushes the magazine release and we see the empty magazine fall to the deck plating. Before he can fumble a fresh magazine into the weapon, four slugs tear into his chest. The view of the camera pans to the ceiling. A few more shots are recorded, but there is no other video to be seen.

The briefer has begun to speak again. “It shouldn’t surprise anyone that we will not be taking that creature, whatever it is, into orbit. So our first goal will be to kill it, that being the easiest solution. Then we will get the ship space worthy and flying. We need great ideas in a short period of time. SarMajor Call, I appreciate your sentiments, but I don’t think sending a horde of shooters aboard is the right answer. Oh, and by the way, the ship is anchored in an ice collar between two and three meters thick.

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