Read Online Sanctuary (Jezebel's Ladder Book 3) by Scott Rhine - Free Book Online
Authors: Scott Rhine
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breast
cancer in another ten years. Not anymore.”
“Wow. Her mother and sisters may
want to get screened for those symptoms,” Auckland told Oleander. “Use the
words lobular carcinoma in your report.”
“Saving lives is our number-one priority,”
agreed the Swedish Out-of-body expert.
“Too bad we can’t ship a few of
these toadstools home,” said Toby.
Sonrisa, the structural engineer,
shook her head. “That would be like sending a faucet. When it got back home,
they’d wonder why water doesn’t come out anymore.”
Frustrated, Toby asked, “What does
the Great and Powerful Oz say?”
“Sensei suggests we ask our own
people what happened,” Red replied, feeling like an oracle.
At the two-hour mark, Zeiss’ Swiss
watch beeped, causing Herk to pull out a large Gauss gun—a vacuum-friendly device
that used magnetism to accelerate bits of metal to lethal speeds. A knob on the
side that adjusted the size of the bullet looked like it was set to the size of
a quarter.
Red had to calm the guard. “It’s
just the signal to send Ole out again. Toby, anything more to report on the
alien tech?”
The nanobiologist laughed. “In one
hour? I could do a dissertation on what we don’t know. Things we figured
out, I’ve told Ole already.”
“Ditto,” said Sonrisa.
Taking a deep breath, Oleander
closed her eyes and focused on her brother, Johann.
She appeared on the bridge of the
tiny Seraph moments later, and her brother smiled in relief. Out of the
corner of her eye, she noticed that the pilot’s breath came out as a fog. Why
so cold? she thought to her brother.
“We’re conserving our power for a
long stay and hiding our energy signature,” Johann replied. “Tell us what’s new
in the alien craft.”
Oleander gave them an update about
the decontamination procedure and a few minor gadgets they had discovered. But
this is like describing the movie posters outside the theater. We won’t even
remember them once the main feature starts.
“Let’s just hope we can afford the
ticket price.”
Her brother was the master of
understatement. What happened?
“Casualties at L1 and moon base
were 10 percent higher than expected.”
Not good, but not enough to make
all of you look this serious. What else?
“We were told not to communicate
the news.”
It hit Zeiss like a riot club to
the head. We need to hear it.
“Brazil mission control was bombed.
Technically it was the Algerians, but all the technology came from the Chinese.
China owns the country’s debts and rail lines. We’re sure they pulled the
strings but can’t prove a direct link.”
Oleander flickered for a second,
unable to speak. Oh God. Who died?
“It was a nuke—everyone in a two-kilometer
radius. Zeiss’ sister, anyone the astronauts invited, all but three board
members, and all but one of the Smiths. It was the highest concentration of
Fortune personnel and Active talents to gather in the last decade.”
Why didn’t the US military warn them? They could’ve evacuated.
“China owns a lot of US debt, too. The president was informed that advance warning of the target would pull the US into the war. No one wants to be part of this. As soon as the sun comes up at the Hague, criminal charges are being brought against Zeiss and Horvath.”
Any good news?
Johann sighed. “In about forty
minutes, the first waves of survivors from L1 will be landing at the UN moon
base. With our allies pulling out, moon base is already debating whether to
send Cherub back out for the other half of the construction-platform survivors.
At T plus 10 hours, mach 20 missiles from L1 hit moon base. With only one
launcher to defend themselves, they won’t stand a chance. They need shuttles.”
For how long? We’ll be safe for
a few hours.
“You’ll get the same treatment here
soon after. Part of every wave will be aimed your way just to divide our defenses.
Mach 20 capability was supposed to be allied tech. Some of the leaders sold out
or
cancer in another ten years. Not anymore.”
“Wow. Her mother and sisters may
want to get screened for those symptoms,” Auckland told Oleander. “Use the
words lobular carcinoma in your report.”
“Saving lives is our number-one priority,”
agreed the Swedish Out-of-body expert.
“Too bad we can’t ship a few of
these toadstools home,” said Toby.
Sonrisa, the structural engineer,
shook her head. “That would be like sending a faucet. When it got back home,
they’d wonder why water doesn’t come out anymore.”
Frustrated, Toby asked, “What does
the Great and Powerful Oz say?”
“Sensei suggests we ask our own
people what happened,” Red replied, feeling like an oracle.
At the two-hour mark, Zeiss’ Swiss
watch beeped, causing Herk to pull out a large Gauss gun—a vacuum-friendly device
that used magnetism to accelerate bits of metal to lethal speeds. A knob on the
side that adjusted the size of the bullet looked like it was set to the size of
a quarter.
Red had to calm the guard. “It’s
just the signal to send Ole out again. Toby, anything more to report on the
alien tech?”
The nanobiologist laughed. “In one
hour? I could do a dissertation on what we don’t know. Things we figured
out, I’ve told Ole already.”
“Ditto,” said Sonrisa.
Taking a deep breath, Oleander
closed her eyes and focused on her brother, Johann.
She appeared on the bridge of the
tiny Seraph moments later, and her brother smiled in relief. Out of the
corner of her eye, she noticed that the pilot’s breath came out as a fog. Why
so cold? she thought to her brother.
“We’re conserving our power for a
long stay and hiding our energy signature,” Johann replied. “Tell us what’s new
in the alien craft.”
Oleander gave them an update about
the decontamination procedure and a few minor gadgets they had discovered. But
this is like describing the movie posters outside the theater. We won’t even
remember them once the main feature starts.
“Let’s just hope we can afford the
ticket price.”
Her brother was the master of
understatement. What happened?
“Casualties at L1 and moon base
were 10 percent higher than expected.”
Not good, but not enough to make
all of you look this serious. What else?
“We were told not to communicate
the news.”
It hit Zeiss like a riot club to
the head. We need to hear it.
“Brazil mission control was bombed.
Technically it was the Algerians, but all the technology came from the Chinese.
China owns the country’s debts and rail lines. We’re sure they pulled the
strings but can’t prove a direct link.”
Oleander flickered for a second,
unable to speak. Oh God. Who died?
“It was a nuke—everyone in a two-kilometer
radius. Zeiss’ sister, anyone the astronauts invited, all but three board
members, and all but one of the Smiths. It was the highest concentration of
Fortune personnel and Active talents to gather in the last decade.”
Why didn’t the US military warn them? They could’ve evacuated.
“China owns a lot of US debt, too. The president was informed that advance warning of the target would pull the US into the war. No one wants to be part of this. As soon as the sun comes up at the Hague, criminal charges are being brought against Zeiss and Horvath.”
Any good news?
Johann sighed. “In about forty
minutes, the first waves of survivors from L1 will be landing at the UN moon
base. With our allies pulling out, moon base is already debating whether to
send Cherub back out for the other half of the construction-platform survivors.
At T plus 10 hours, mach 20 missiles from L1 hit moon base. With only one
launcher to defend themselves, they won’t stand a chance. They need shuttles.”
For how long? We’ll be safe for
a few hours.
“You’ll get the same treatment here
soon after. Part of every wave will be aimed your way just to divide our defenses.
Mach 20 capability was supposed to be allied tech. Some of the leaders sold out
or
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