Read Online Consortium of Planets: Alien Test by Jack Wells - Free Book Online
Authors: Jack Wells
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the chancellor in his cross-hairs. Whoa, girl, if he’s having that effect on you, I think that it’s time to leave . She smiled tightly. “Gentlemen, if you will excuse me, I think I’ll run my ideas by Doctor Friedmark. We’ll firm up a plan of action.” As she walked away, the tightness in her chest relaxed. It felt good to breathe again.
The Chancellor was bad news. She would find a way to stay away from him.
****
The Sun finally dropped below the horizon. Dean nodded to Beth that it was time, and they moved out like hungry cats stalking their prey. Beth hung back and studied her colonel’s quick and deliberate style. She began to pace him, feel his rhythm, and soon she had synchronized her movements. She felt the adrenaline pumping through her veins. It was good to feel that rush again. Overhead, the electric rainbow still flowed from the crater into the twinkling black canopy.
When they arrived at the crater’s rim, the surface looked opaque again. It had changed back to the way it looked the first time they had seen it in the dark. This time, Dean wasn’t thinking about fishing. That surface looks artificial. I wondered if the aliens are camouflaging the crater’s interior. Even without lights, they could still make out the marks from their earlier efforts in the deep lunar dust. They stepped onto the same spot and began fastening their climbing gear for the descent. Neither had said a word since leaving the Star Chaser . Years of experience and training had taken over their actions. Verbal communication was unnecessary. Beth was excited that her bond with Dean was growing.
Dean didn’t care for the typical style of rappelling that had one bouncing off the wall numerous times, facing back the way one came with their ass exposed to the objective. Slow and exposed weren’t smart ways to stay alive. Dean liked to rappel assault style, by running face first down the wall. This allowed him to keep his eyes on the target and quickly overpower it with surprise – not a rappelling style for the faint of heart and not a style discussed ahead of time with the lieutenant.
Beth attached her rope to the top of the crater and watched the colonel do the same. She didn’t relish going into the ‘hole’ blind and wished they could afford to shine a light. The colonel grabbed his rope, held it to his abdomen, walked up to the edge, and faced down into the abyss. He’s going down assault style! Beth had never been trained that way and had to tell him. She tried not to sound desperate. “Sir, you’re going down face-first. I haven’t been checked out to do that.”
“What?!” Dean snapped and then said to no one in particular, “We’re going to have to up-grade our candidate screening procedures.”
He stopped himself with a deep breath. Resignation slipped into his voice. “Well, it’s not something I can show you right now. Don’t try to be a hero, just get down the best way you can. I’ll be waiting at the bottom.”
Beth suddenly felt inadequate and knew that the short-lived bond between them was gone.
It was uncertainty, not physical stress, which caused the beads of sweat at Dean’s temples. Walking face-first down the rocky side of the cliff into the murky shadows was too slow. Running was so much better. Things happened quicker that way and it allowed Dean to function on reflex without thinking about the danger. His first inclination was to follow his instinct and run down the crater wall, but that would leave his partner behind and the thought had been made out of anger. They had originally agreed not to split up. If he pushed her too hard, she could make a mistake.
He slowed to match her pace and stayed close. If he got the chance, he would teach her the proper way to rappel. Then he noticed that she was looking up while he was looking down. While I’m on point, the lieutenant has my back. He had to admit that it was a good way to protect their rear, especially in the eerie
The Chancellor was bad news. She would find a way to stay away from him.
****
The Sun finally dropped below the horizon. Dean nodded to Beth that it was time, and they moved out like hungry cats stalking their prey. Beth hung back and studied her colonel’s quick and deliberate style. She began to pace him, feel his rhythm, and soon she had synchronized her movements. She felt the adrenaline pumping through her veins. It was good to feel that rush again. Overhead, the electric rainbow still flowed from the crater into the twinkling black canopy.
When they arrived at the crater’s rim, the surface looked opaque again. It had changed back to the way it looked the first time they had seen it in the dark. This time, Dean wasn’t thinking about fishing. That surface looks artificial. I wondered if the aliens are camouflaging the crater’s interior. Even without lights, they could still make out the marks from their earlier efforts in the deep lunar dust. They stepped onto the same spot and began fastening their climbing gear for the descent. Neither had said a word since leaving the Star Chaser . Years of experience and training had taken over their actions. Verbal communication was unnecessary. Beth was excited that her bond with Dean was growing.
Dean didn’t care for the typical style of rappelling that had one bouncing off the wall numerous times, facing back the way one came with their ass exposed to the objective. Slow and exposed weren’t smart ways to stay alive. Dean liked to rappel assault style, by running face first down the wall. This allowed him to keep his eyes on the target and quickly overpower it with surprise – not a rappelling style for the faint of heart and not a style discussed ahead of time with the lieutenant.
Beth attached her rope to the top of the crater and watched the colonel do the same. She didn’t relish going into the ‘hole’ blind and wished they could afford to shine a light. The colonel grabbed his rope, held it to his abdomen, walked up to the edge, and faced down into the abyss. He’s going down assault style! Beth had never been trained that way and had to tell him. She tried not to sound desperate. “Sir, you’re going down face-first. I haven’t been checked out to do that.”
“What?!” Dean snapped and then said to no one in particular, “We’re going to have to up-grade our candidate screening procedures.”
He stopped himself with a deep breath. Resignation slipped into his voice. “Well, it’s not something I can show you right now. Don’t try to be a hero, just get down the best way you can. I’ll be waiting at the bottom.”
Beth suddenly felt inadequate and knew that the short-lived bond between them was gone.
It was uncertainty, not physical stress, which caused the beads of sweat at Dean’s temples. Walking face-first down the rocky side of the cliff into the murky shadows was too slow. Running was so much better. Things happened quicker that way and it allowed Dean to function on reflex without thinking about the danger. His first inclination was to follow his instinct and run down the crater wall, but that would leave his partner behind and the thought had been made out of anger. They had originally agreed not to split up. If he pushed her too hard, she could make a mistake.
He slowed to match her pace and stayed close. If he got the chance, he would teach her the proper way to rappel. Then he noticed that she was looking up while he was looking down. While I’m on point, the lieutenant has my back. He had to admit that it was a good way to protect their rear, especially in the eerie
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