Read Online Alpha 1472 by Eddie Hastings - Free Book Online Page B

The small securing clamps that made tight contact inside the ear allowed the device to decipher the natural vibration of the skull and lower jaw and convert it into a signal that could easily be transmitted back to control or to each and every member of the ground force team. Because the device sat within the ear canal it in turn could also receive, and transmit to control and the others, any sound within the natural hearing range. J.D. inserted his earcom and continued testing. When he had relayed the test signal from the computer back to himself and he was satisfied he handed Mary’s to her. She put down the material with which she was working and inserted hers into her left ear. He then sent the computer test signal to Mary.
    She found it incredibly weird listening to the dismembered voice, it was difficult trying to decide which direction the sound was coming from, it was like having voices in your head, a strange sensation that took a little time to get used to. At point this J.D. spoke. “How does that feel?”
    Mary was a little startled as he spoke, it was strange to see him next to her yet hear him inside her head. The volume had to be adjusted to suit Mary, but everything seemed to be fine.
    By this time Mary had almost finished one of the sets of clothes and J.D. had started on the cameras.
    The first sets of clothes that Mary had completed were, to say the least, not what one would call the height of fashion. They were dour and colourless made from a rough type of fabric that would without doubt irritate the skin; they had none of the fine finishing of tailored clothes, no hem lines and no button holes. To all intent and purpose they were very roughly made drapes, constructed to the computers design. Mary cringed, J.D. sniggered. He took the clothes and tried to locate somewhere to place one of the cameras. This was not as easy as he had thought it would be. Under his breath he said,
    “Where the fuck can I put this thing”
    “I heard that” said Mary pointing to her ear, “Oops, sorry I guess I had better be more careful what I say in future”
    Jokingly Mary tutted and carried on with the other clothes.
    J.D. had located the first camera on the neckline of Mary’s tunic and although it was clearly visible they had to gamble that it would not be detected, after all, all information collected so far indicated that the people here had never seen a camera before. Fitting the second camera was easier; this was placed in the rope that secured the headwear that was part of his garb. Just as they were completing their tests Captain Daniels came into the room, and enquired if they were ready. They told him that they only had to get changed and they would be ready to go.
    They stood as if on parade in front of Daniels, he inspected them and although he had no idea of what he was looking for he had to assume that, from the computer simulation, they looked fine and indeed as far as any of them could tell, they did. With this the captain gave them the go ahead and they were on their way.
    Travis and Hatch were waiting for them in the control area of the release room and had already positioned two escape pods ready for their departure. Mary and J.D. positioned themselves in the pods and waited for the room to become flooded. These pods were different from the one used by Marius Hatch. they were not tethered by a cable, they were free roaming pods which gave the operator more freedom, they were designed as submersible transport units and were controlled by the use of foot holes which were recessed in the floor of each pod and were used in much the same way as one would use a surf board, or skis but much more complex. As they waited they looked at each other and each could sense the excitement coming from the other. The water level rose around them and control started to go through the final checks for the earcoms and cameras. On the cockpit Anne Homer could see them both on different monitors. One monitor showed the