CHAPTER 57 – RECALIBRATION
DATE POINT: JUNE 9th, 7 A.U. (AFTER UNIFICATION)
LOCATION: SOL SYSTEM, OUTER ASTEROID BELT,
ABOARD UTRN FIST OF THE ARGONAUTS
LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER LANCE BLACKFORD
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“So that’s about the long and short of it.” Lance said as he wrapped up his report.
“This wasn’t entirely unexpected. It’s a minor setback to be sure, but in some ways this might wind up being better for us. Paul argued fairly convincingly that we needed a fallback plan just in case. It seems that he was right about at least that part after all. Where is he now, anyway?” Henry’s voice came through the speaker.
“Right now? He’s getting his team ready, or he's still talking Gardner down, if he’s not done already.” Olivia replied.
“You let him loose to talk to her alone? Summon him to the CIC, now. I have a sinking feeling I know exactly what he’s told her.” Henry sighed.
“Paul seemed confident he could talk her down, it was my call to let him do so. We wanted to safeguard the nuke personally just in case things went sideways, like if Anubis went on a rampage for example. Just in case Paul failed, I felt we needed to be flexible with our options, and we needed to inform you right away.” Olivia said.
“Never mind that now, your instincts were in the right place. There are additional factors at play that you couldn’t have known about. Call him.” Henry replied.
“Paul just messaged me back. Apparently Gardner accepted his explanation and agreed not to tell Anubis. He should be here momentarily to answer our questions.” Olivia said.
“Good, we’re going to need to know exactly what he told her. Anyone else got a bad feeling about what he’s going to say?” Lance replied with a halfhearted chuckle.
“Whatever he told her, most likely it lines up with the… alternate vision of the mission he argued for. He can be sneaky that way.” Henry replied.
“He’s just messaged me again after leaving the quick lift. Let’s not jump to conclusions now; he’ll be able to answer for himself soon enough.” Olivia said while she raised an eyebrow at Lance.
Why is she defending him? Lance pondered.
"There he is. Make some room, now.” Commander Cutter said as he gestured towards Paul as he ducked under the bulkhead.
“Here I am, reporting as ordered.” Paul said with an infuriating smirk plastered on his face.
“Thank you for arriving so quickly. I’m glad you managed to keep a lid on this sensitive matter and more importantly keep Anubis once again temporarily in the dark. What we need is to know precisely what you told Gardner.” Henry began.
“Hey there Captain, happy to help. I managed to broach the topic while we were still in the hallway. I told her the nuke was a contingency for when Lance buggers the mission. She gave me shit until I called her out on it and reminded her whose side she was on. She calmed down pretty quick after that and agreed to keep the nuke secret and to focus on our side of the mission. That Ur-Uatchti isn't going to take itself.” Paul stated in his classic cocky tone.
When I bugger the mission!?! We completed the last one in half the time his team did!
Lance tightened his fist for a moment before he took a deep breath then released it. Paul looked at him with a short predatory smile that was gone nearly as fast as it had manifested.
“Dammit Karst, you know that the orders are to detonate the nuke. Surely you realize you've just put us in a dangerous position with Anubis! They were originally supposed to remain ignorant so we could frame the story when Lance returns with his team whole and intact and the nuke had already been detonated! Gardner expects us to NOT use the nuke now, so she's going to have questions for you now. Any argument from her will make it clear to Anubis that she knew ahead of time. Have you considered the damage to her control over Anubis and their mutual trust? You may have just compromised her ability to be an effective ambassador, and to act as a restraining force against his more murderous instincts!” Henry shouted over the comms.
“Oh, don’t give me that crap, sir. All I did was give her the same excuse that we were going to give them anyway before she discovered the nuke ahead of time. I successfully sold the lie to Gardner; now she’ll be an asset when it comes time to convince Anubis, rather than a wild card. What you are really angry about is that the central glaring issue with your plan has been laid bare for all to see. I told you this was a bad idea; that we risk the very deal that YOU made with the devil.” Paul fired back.
“Don’t give me that bullshit, Karst. We need allies, and Egypt is a better base of operations we could have hoped for. We also needed to seize their spaceborne industrial capacity, and Osiris handed everything we need over to us in the deal. You know it was very clearly the right decision. Now are you just going to sit there making complaints and excuses or do you have a real solution in mind this time?” Henry replied in a smug tone.
“Actually, I’ve put some thought into that very problem since our last conversation. I propose we wire the bomb into Rah’s temporal coffin and program it to detonate if the system gets activated. That will allow us the time to data mine the facility for intel, and to repurpose any useful technology. Just like Gardner is able to outrank Set and seize control the Ur-Uatchti we’re going to board, we can have her seize control of this facility too.” Paul replied confidently.
Silence reigned for a long moment as Paul’s words sank in. It was Olivia who broke the quiet.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I agree with Paul. It clears up the contradictions in the plan, reduces the risk to our alliance structure, and still protects us from Rah’s accidental release.” Olivia began speaking slowly at first.
“Are you serious? You’re taking his side on this right now!?” Lance blurted out before he immediately regretted his outburst.
There goes your shot at influencing the situation, real smooth, Lance. He chided himself.
“Well, it sounds like Lance is against the change in plans. Olivia and Alvarez seem to agree with Paul’s thinking. What’s your take Coulson?”
The Captain took a long moment to think before he finally replied.
“I don’t like your tactics in manipulating the situation here, Karst, but I can’t find a flaw in your reasoning. The one thing I have to add is that we shouldn’t scrap the original plan outright. I think it goes without saying that we should be open to destroying the facility if you get discovered and they begin to revive Rah.” Commander Cutter added.
“If we have to detonate the bomb that way, then my team is going to die.” Lance said.
“If you don’t detonate the bomb in that situation, then the rest of us will die. We can’t fight Rah and Nii’Baruu; even the Alderei were afraid of them.” Paul replied with a stone faced stare.
“Then we had better make sure we avoid discovery. Don’t worry, Captain, we will perform our duty if the situation demands it.” Lance replied stoically.
“Then let us hope the mission goes according to plan. Your team has our full faith and confidence. I have every reason to believe that you will succeed and return back to us ready to fight another day.” Henry replied in a tone full of confidence.
A flicker of doubt remained stubbornly within Lance, but he stowed it and raised his head high. A flash of something seemed to break Paul’s mask of composure for a split second before he reasserted control of his facial expression.
What was that about? No matter, its not like the slimy bastard would ever tell me anyway.
“Thank you, sir. We won’t let you down.” Lance replied.
“I know you won’t. You’re the best of the best and we're lucky to have you. Now, we have a tight operational window and I’ve kept you from your preparations long enough. You and Paul are dismissed, Coulson, I still want to speak with you after. Godspeed to you all.” Henry said.
Lance nodded and departed to gather his team without even sparing a glance back.
I suppose the risk is the same now as it was before, if you really think about it. Lance thought with a sigh. We can do this; the Captain is right. This is no different than any other stealth boarding op. Assuming the intel is right, and they’ve been keeping their crews in stasis, this should be easier, even than boarding with a full crew. They should still have absolutely no idea that we’re coming.
In spite of everything he thought to settle his nerves, he still couldn’t shake his lingering doubts.
We maintain the element of surprise. That will have to be enough. Lance thought before he forces his mind to switch to the list of remaining tasks to be done.
”Lance! You were supposed to wait for me, did you forget?” Olivia appeared behind him after her short jog to catch up.
“You’re right, I was, my apologies. I got lost in the pre-mission checklist. We’ve lost enough time as it is.” Lance replied.
“You’re right, lets get that nuke locked down in your Shadowhawk and get your side of the mission started. Your team are professionals, they know what to do in your absence.” Olivia replied confidently.
“That they do.” Lance replied as he ducked through the armored CIC door frame.
“You seem pensive, what’s on your mind? Anything I can do to help?” Olivia replied after a quick study of his face.
Lance considered opening up to her for a long moment, in spite of himself. I can trust in her discretion, I think. Why the hell not?
As he opened his mouth to speak, Lance saw Paul climb through the doorway behind them.
Well, there goes that idea, at least for now. Definitely not within earshot of that asshole, at least.
“Hey Lance, Olivia. Gotta get back to my team.” He said as he power-walked past them before he turned back for a moment. “Listen, I apologize over my snide comments back there. I know you’re not going to fuck the mission up. I’m trying to work on that, some people have made it clear to me that I need to do better. Build people up more, break them down less. No hard feelings, right?” Paul said with a heavy clap on Lance’s shoulder as he winked at Olivia.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Be the better man, Lance. Even if this sounds performative as fuck…. Lance thought as he took a deep breath and he formed his words.
“I know you were kidding, how couldn't you be? We both know I have a hell of a team behind me. After all, we got through the last mission in half the time that yours did. I know you all did your best though, figuring out that security door was pretty tricky, or so I hear.” Lance said with a smirk.
Damnit. Why do I let that bastard get under my skin so easily?
Paul took the comment in thoughtfully for a moment before Olivia shot him a glare. Paul simply smiled back before speaking again.
Oh. So this is all for her benefit, is it? Maybe, just maybe, she can be the one to civilize that asshole.
“You’re right about that, they did a heck of a job hiding that weld line. I hear Vic figured it out for you pretty much right away. Brains and brawn, all in one package. Who knew, right? Sounds like he should be leading his own squad to me. Hate to see someone with such talent fail to reach their full potential. I can put in a word with the Captain for you if you like.” Paul replied.
Lance narrowed his eyes and kept his forced smile with supreme force of will. If she is the one motivating him to improve, she's still got her work cut out for her. Lance thought.
Olivia eyed them both with suspicion and a glare that was a clear warning. Lance wasn't in the mood to play ball, however.
“Yeah, real tricky. What did it take you all? Like thirty minutes? Kudos to you for being the one to discover it though. Look, I appreciate your concern and all, but Victor, Lucas, and I are a team. We’ve talked about this very topic more than a few times. If he wanted a command, he could have had one. He's made that clear to me, and to the brass, recently, even.” Lance replied with a subtle warning embedded in his tone.
“My mistake, I know you all go way back. You guys are practically legends, after all. Everyone knows about your exploits aboard the Michigan-II in the early days of the war for the belt. Such positively ancient bonds are hard to break. If anything tragic were to befall you I’d be sure to put his name forward to lead in your stead. Anyway, gotta jet if I want to have my team ready in time.” Paul replied with mock sincerity before he darted off down the hall.
Positively ancient?! It was FIVE GODDAMN YEARS AGO! Lance stewed as he clenched his teeth.
“What the hell am I going to do with you two?” Olivia asked with her arms folded tightly under her breasts.
“He’s got a unique talent in getting under my skin.” Lance admitted.
“You baited him back as much or harder than he did to you right there, after he opened with an apology. I expected better from you.” Olivia replied, twisting the knife.
“You’re right. I will endeavor to do better, even if he’s pushing my buttons. Guys like him act this way for sport, so while showing weakness is rarely a good move, neither is escalating the verbal conflict.”
“Good, I am well aware of the difficult line you have to walk there. Just know that I am counting on you to be an example at all times. I will have a talk with him again, alone, you can count on it. In the meantime, let’s go lock down that nuke.” Olivia replied, seemingly satisfied.
“You have accomplished some small miracles already in getting him to behave better. I don’t doubt you can continue to make incremental progress.” Lance replied honestly as he reached for a loop on the quick lift.
We’ve got a lot of work left to do; best get to it. Lance thought as he hefted the bomb and made his way to the quick lift.
MEANWHILE…
DATE POINT: UNSPECIFIED
LOCATION: EARTH, THE TABERNACLE, THE HOLY OF HOLIES
ENOCH-METATRON
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METATRON, COME TO ME, MY CHILD.
The voice of the LORD filled Enoch’s consciousness with great fear and awe at his immense power which he was compelled to obey. With a thought, he de-materialized and rode the seas of primordial chaos to the surface of the planet below. He re-materialized his astral form with his head bowed before the seat of the almighty.
I am yours to command, and I serve at your pleasure, my lord.
The swirls of incense mixed with smoke from the nostrils of the LORD, obscuring the brightness of his glory. Even now, ascended as he was, he still could not bear to look upon the face of the LORD.
GABRIEL HAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION ILL TIDINGS OF STRANGE NEWCOMERS THREATENING A POSSIBLE SPLIT IN THE TIMELINE. THESE INTERLOPERS MUST BE STOPPED BEFORE THEY UPEND THE DELICATE STALEMATE IN THE HEAVENS ABOVE. THEY MUST NOT ACQUIRE THE KEYS TO TARTARUS; THE PATHWAY OF SOULS MUST REMAIN OPEN AT ALL COSTS. THE WAR ON THE EARTH APPROACHES A CRITICAL JUNCTURE FOR US, AND VICTORY IS WITHIN OUR GRASP. NOTHING MUST BE ALLOWED TO INTERFERE WITH OUR SEVEN THOUSAND YEAR PLAN IN THIS, OR ANY TIMELINE.
I understand, LORD. I am your vessel, and the instrument of your will.
MICHAEL AND GABRIEL SHALL JOIN YOU IN YOUR MISSION. YOU SHALL FOLLOW THE ORDERS OF MY MOST BELOVED SON WITHOUT QUESTION, FOR HE IS THE HOLIEST OF ALL SPIRITS. NOW RISE AND POSSESS THE GLORIFIED BODY WE HAVE PREPARED FOR YOU. STAND TALL, YOUNG ONE, AND BE NOT AFRAID. THE BLESSINGS OF THE LORD SHALL BE WITH YOU, ALWAYS.
Thy will be done.
Before him, the ark of the Covenant began to hum and lift off the ground. Enoch marveled as a bright flash formed between the mighty wings of the Cherubim atop its gilded box. The bright orb shot forward and expanded in size greatly in the open space on the ground before the LORD. The tent walls rippled as two mighty, armor-clad war bodies emerged from the portal, one of which carried a third body over their shoulder. The energy in the air dissipated as the portal closed behind them.
Generals, I am at your service. Enoch said telepathically towards the pair.
"We shall have need of it, assuredly. Hurry now, and take possession of your war body." Gabriel spoke in a curt tone.
With the effort of a thought, he dissipated his spectral projection and merged his consciousness into the empty body which Gabriel set upon on its feet. It was strange for him, being back in a body again after so much time. Enoch took a moment to reassert his sense of balance as he got a feel for his new body.
LOADING NEURAL INTERFACE... INTEGRATING SYSTEM CONTROLS...
Status update. Enoch commanded his neural computer.
ALL SYSTEMS NOMINAL MEDICAL SYSTEMS ON STANDBY, RESERVES FULL
DIRECT BLOOD OXYGENATOR ON STANDBY, RESERVE TANK FULL
30/30 MINUTE CAPACITY
TELEKINETIC GENERATOR COOLING SYSTEMS ON STANDBY
TELEKINESIS TUTORIAL AVAILABLE FOR MEMORY GRAFT – ACCEPT?
Yes I accept, continue.
A short, blinding headache split his temple for a moment, until an easy understanding of his new powers eased itself into his consciousness in an accelerated series of visions.
PRECOGNITIVE PROBABILISTIC AND MEMORY SUPPORT UNIT RUNNING OPTIMALLY TEMPORAL-SPACIAL SENSE AMPLIFICATION UNIT RUNNING OPTIMALLY END OF RECORD
So, a true prophet at last... Thank you LORD, for granting me these blessings. I shall not waste your gifts.
He basked in the sensations and smells that had eluded him for so long. Enoch found his sudden return to the flesh a worthy trade even if he could experience such things again for a short time. Eternal service with constant bliss supplied by his superior beings was by his experience preferable to the hunger, malady, and tragedies inflicted upon those tied to their flesh. Yet eternity and service, even as joyful and fulfilling as it was, was eternity, nonetheless. Something about being back in a living body made him painfully aware of just how long eternity could actually be.
“Are you ready to fly? We must make haste to the chariot if we are to intercept them in time!” Michael’s booming voice snapped him from his reverie.
Enoch stretched his new body, rolled his neck with a pop, and stared the general of the Angelic legions in the face then nodded.
“I remain at the ready and at your service, General.” Enoch replied firmly.
“Good. I have heard good things about you since even before your Ascension, young one. It seems for now that you do not disappoint. Let’s see how long you can keep that up. Hurry along now.” He replied with the barest hint of a smile as if in a challenge.
Enoch followed behind as they pushed their way through the tent flaps of the Tabernacle, startling all in their way as they emerged outside.
A dark cloud filled with an inner fire streaked across an otherwise clear sky toward them and came to a dead stop above their heads. Michael and Gabriel stretched their wings and flapped themselves into the air. Enoch thanked the LORD for the wisdom in gifting him telekinesis, then activated a field overhead and felt his stomach reverse as he shot upwards towards the cloaked spacecraft. After the memory graft, the use of his new powers seemed like an old instinct, which buoyed his confidence for the battle to come. They rushed through the outer illusion and through an open hatch into the interior of the LORD's personal chariot. Enoch cut the TK field down in intensity to precisely match the pull of the planet below so as to hover in place. As soon as the hatch sealed below him, he released the TK field so as to land gently on the deck.
That went well. He thought with relief.
He hadn’t even realized he had been holding his breath the whole time.
“I suggest you find yourself a seat, young one. I will need to accelerate this craft, hard.” Gabriel said as he assumed the controls.
Enoch strapped himself into a seat, and braced himself as he was sucked back into it while they shot through the atmosphere and away from the planet.
"Who are these newcomers? What do they want?" Michael asked once the gee forces relented somewhat.
"Unfortunately, we do not know. Let us hope they will identify themselves early. Spacetime travel technology is safely out of the reach of all civilizations in all timelines bundled within the seven thousand year plan, Brother Uriel has assured me so." Gabriel replied.
"No civilization or technology can withstand the solar plasma and geomagnetic fury which is to cleanse the world on the Day of the LORD. All survivors shall fall to their knees and beg the LORD to take mercy upon them. It shall be for their sake alone that those days be shortened, lest all flesh perish in the flames. All believers who pass the test shall Ascend and be glorified like Metatron, and only the glorified shall be granted new bodies on the new Earth. These interlopers cannot originate from the new world the LORD shall create from the ashes of the old, such things are simply not possible in a world without high technology." Michael replied with a confident tone.
"Unless they originate from a rogue timeline, or even one of the dead timelines." Gabriel replied.
"We have mapped and destroyed all such aberrations. All timelines lead all peoples to the Day of the Lord." Michael replied
"Then we shall have to wait and see." Gabriel said in a grim tone.
Dead timelines? Rogue timelines?! I have read every timeline branch within the book of possibilities! There is nothing in the record about such things... Is it possible that there is a timeline where Yah’Weh's body dies and the war for the Earth fails?
Such a possibility sent a shiver down Enoch’s spine, setting off a fount of memories of his past life where he had felt such sensations before. Fear, danger, arousal, those rare moments direct connection to God; a lifetime of such moments flooded his consciousness in a rapid flood of memory.
What a thing it is to be alive! He thought as he closed his eyes and took in a deep breath.
He forced himself to open his eyes, as his attention snapped back to the interior of the ship. His one moment of excited wonder passed quickly as the bleak possibility he had never once dared to consider before sunk in.
Yah’Weh is a God, one of many, yes, but he is my God, and to me he has been good. I have read the Book of Life and the Book of Possibilities, I was allowed to eat of the fruit of Life and Knowledge and to drink of the fount of immortality! He has shown me his secrets! Yah’Weh has full dominion over all timelines for these seven thousand years, and in the new world beyond them, does he not?
Enoch pondered the issue for a long time as he sought to rationalize the mystery evidence within the bounds of his existing knowledge.
Each of these other pretender gods stoke the embers of wars from the past ages of the world. None yet know that their days are numbered by the LORD. He will have his new world as the next age dawns, and over it he will have sole dominion! He will vanquish them all in time, I have seen it with my own eyes through the pages of the living book. Some details differ between timelines, but they all flow in the same path key anchor points through all of history to the same ending. All the possible timelines recorded say so!
How could such a thing as these rogue Adamu exist!? There must be another explanation, something I cannot yet see, but what could it be!?
That puzzle kept him fully alert the entire ride.