I came here today to brief you on what will be happening in our preparations to defend this world. As I have done that, and it appears you have no further questions on that subject, I will step down now and let someone up here that can answer your questions. I bid you all a good day," Ian finished, bowed to them and stepped away from the podium.
As soon as he did, Cindy joined him as he was leaving the room. It was obvious to everyone in the room that something was wrong.
CHAPTER THREE
TDF Raptor Damocles
Various Locations
Planet Earth,
Sol System, Sol Sector
Major Cindy Swift-Williams, Commanding
Cindy watched Ian telling the politicians what was going on in space as she scanned the room for threats. At least the governments of Earth seemed to have all agreed that this place would remain safe, and they wouldn't try to attack when 'the Terrans' visited.
Everything was nice and quiet security-wise, but she was beginning to wonder if Ian was going to punch the American Ambassador in the face.
" Damocles , this is Control. Security Alert! Ensure the safety of the delegates and get them back to the ship as quickly as possible!" a voice called over her comm unit.
"Control, this is Williams. What's going on?" Cindy asked putting her hand to her ear.
Ty Anders answered her. "Cindy, someone just grabbed Beth, Jenny and the kids. Three Marines are dead and another is in critical condition. We don't know how they did it, or who they are, but we do know they are using advanced weapons. We're not tracking Beth and Jenny's comm units either."
"What?" Cindy hissed. "How the fuck did these Neanderthals get our tech? Hang on, Ian just finished his speech, I'll get him in the comm."
Ian was already walking toward her with a concerned look on his face. "What's wrong?"
"Someone using advanced tech just grabbed Beth, Jenny and the kids. We've been ordered to get you guys back up to the ship," Cindy replied.
Ian nodded. "Get Luke and the others, I'll call Ty."
Cindy nodded and moved toward Luke, who was at the podium speaking. She once again opened her comm. "Lissa, get Damocles ready for launch. Full security alert people! Everyone else, we are escorting the VIPs back to the shuttle. Full shields; we're facing advanced tech."
She moved next to Luke who excused himself for a moment so she could whisper the situation to him as well as her orders.
When Luke turned back to the assembled delegates to make their excuses, Cindy waited for him to finish so she could escort him to where her team was gathering their charges.
She couldn't help but wonder who would grab her family? Who would have access to the advanced tech to be able to do it? Their Marine guards had been in light assault armor; more than enough protection from Earth-based weapons, but not much against a pulse rifle or laser weapon. At least her family had been wearing personal shields.
She walked close to Luke until he joined the group of dignitaries. Sam, one of Cindy's team members, had already handed out personal shields and made sure they were on. Seeing everyone was ready, Cindy motioned to Ben to lead the way. Ian dropped back to walk next to Cindy.
"Ty told me that the initial examination of the bodies of the Marines indicates Mark seven pulse weapons," he told her.
"Type sevens? Ian, we've never used Mark seven weapons. When Serena showed up we upgraded from type twos to type nines," Cindy replied.
"I know. But the Talosian rebels were issued type sevens because that was all they could get their hands on," Ian said. "My question is; how did they get here?"
"Why would Talosian rebels want to kidnap our family?" Cindy asked. "There's no motive here."
Ian shook his head. "There's something we're not seeing here. That's why I'm going with you."
"No fuckin' way," Cindy said flatly. "You're a god-damned Admiral, Ian. You’re not a combat officer."
He stopped and looked at her. When he focused his eyes on her, she felt shivers run down her
As soon as he did, Cindy joined him as he was leaving the room. It was obvious to everyone in the room that something was wrong.
CHAPTER THREE
TDF Raptor Damocles
Various Locations
Planet Earth,
Sol System, Sol Sector
Major Cindy Swift-Williams, Commanding
Cindy watched Ian telling the politicians what was going on in space as she scanned the room for threats. At least the governments of Earth seemed to have all agreed that this place would remain safe, and they wouldn't try to attack when 'the Terrans' visited.
Everything was nice and quiet security-wise, but she was beginning to wonder if Ian was going to punch the American Ambassador in the face.
" Damocles , this is Control. Security Alert! Ensure the safety of the delegates and get them back to the ship as quickly as possible!" a voice called over her comm unit.
"Control, this is Williams. What's going on?" Cindy asked putting her hand to her ear.
Ty Anders answered her. "Cindy, someone just grabbed Beth, Jenny and the kids. Three Marines are dead and another is in critical condition. We don't know how they did it, or who they are, but we do know they are using advanced weapons. We're not tracking Beth and Jenny's comm units either."
"What?" Cindy hissed. "How the fuck did these Neanderthals get our tech? Hang on, Ian just finished his speech, I'll get him in the comm."
Ian was already walking toward her with a concerned look on his face. "What's wrong?"
"Someone using advanced tech just grabbed Beth, Jenny and the kids. We've been ordered to get you guys back up to the ship," Cindy replied.
Ian nodded. "Get Luke and the others, I'll call Ty."
Cindy nodded and moved toward Luke, who was at the podium speaking. She once again opened her comm. "Lissa, get Damocles ready for launch. Full security alert people! Everyone else, we are escorting the VIPs back to the shuttle. Full shields; we're facing advanced tech."
She moved next to Luke who excused himself for a moment so she could whisper the situation to him as well as her orders.
When Luke turned back to the assembled delegates to make their excuses, Cindy waited for him to finish so she could escort him to where her team was gathering their charges.
She couldn't help but wonder who would grab her family? Who would have access to the advanced tech to be able to do it? Their Marine guards had been in light assault armor; more than enough protection from Earth-based weapons, but not much against a pulse rifle or laser weapon. At least her family had been wearing personal shields.
She walked close to Luke until he joined the group of dignitaries. Sam, one of Cindy's team members, had already handed out personal shields and made sure they were on. Seeing everyone was ready, Cindy motioned to Ben to lead the way. Ian dropped back to walk next to Cindy.
"Ty told me that the initial examination of the bodies of the Marines indicates Mark seven pulse weapons," he told her.
"Type sevens? Ian, we've never used Mark seven weapons. When Serena showed up we upgraded from type twos to type nines," Cindy replied.
"I know. But the Talosian rebels were issued type sevens because that was all they could get their hands on," Ian said. "My question is; how did they get here?"
"Why would Talosian rebels want to kidnap our family?" Cindy asked. "There's no motive here."
Ian shook his head. "There's something we're not seeing here. That's why I'm going with you."
"No fuckin' way," Cindy said flatly. "You're a god-damned Admiral, Ian. You’re not a combat officer."
He stopped and looked at her. When he focused his eyes on her, she felt shivers run down her
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