April 2: Down to Earth (55 page)

Today was a quick run to ISSII, with UPS and some transfer freight. They ran no passengers and unpressurized, because Jeff had a half dozen stealth satellites to place in orbits. They did a lot of these placements for the militia, as the fab shops cranked out regular monthly orders, dumb rods and better weapons with a charge, that would loiter and wait for a signal. They did it cheap in self interest.

These seemed to be a new model, about the size of a twenty liter plastic pickle bucket. They had a bigger heat shield than usual, but that was no concern of theirs. They just eased it out the lock, when they had the orbital parameters right.

There was a lot of stealthed stuff at certain levels. Everybody tried to keep it out of the approaches with a lot of traffic. Eventually somebody would run into one of them, but you could hardly put a beacon on it, or they'd get cataloged if not actually swept up.

Epilogue

Colonel Feldman discarded his light weight uniform and was in black tactical underneath. It was not any uniform, it was civilian supply and had no rank markings or unit badges. It only had the plus sign of the Patriot Party embroidered in low contrast, where collar tabs would go.

He had two lieutenants of his command with him, dressed identically. The guards at the tunnel from the executive building, had passed them through the tunnel to the White House without a word. When the elevator came down their inside man from the kitchen was identically dressed, his work clothes in a small pile in the corner. The big gym bag he had was already open and he'd laid out armor on the floor for them in each corner,, so they had room to put it on as the elevator rose.

After they strapped on the vest they put on ballistic goggles. Helmets were just too bulky to smuggle in. Last on the bottom of the pile was a machine pistol and a web belt with a generous supply of extra magazines. They were even thoughtfully adjusted to their waist size, to avoid wasting time making them fit.

Someone had the foresight to not allow the convenience of an elevator going from the lower level bunkers, up past the Executive Office tunnel and connecting the Capital tunnel all the way to the Private Residence. That was OK, they had another conspirator waiting in the first floor of the White House, to call the other elevator down, just as they arrived from below and they'd hustle the four meters down the hall and switch elevators.

"You
know
this isn't a capture mission," Feldman reminded them. "I don't care if the bitch has her hands in the air, offering no resistance. We shoot Wiggen and scoot. The same for any witnesses. I want to be back in the executive tunnel in six minutes and in Maryland before midnight. We will all be at our duty stations and this crap," he said hefting his weapon, "will be on the bottom the Chesapeake when we wake up in the morning, to news of a coup. Remember to be surprised." He stopped lecturing and said a silent prayer.

The elevator came to a stop and they bent their knees ready to rush out the door. The door didn't open. There was no button to open it. There were no controls inside the car at all. Thad in the back corner had a fireman's door opener and he passed it forward to Feldman without a word. When the stainless door was wrenched back, it was a blank concrete wall facing them.

"Third floor, appliances, housewares, linens and domestic necessities," a voice from the ceiling couldn't resist mocking them. "Or were you gentleman looking for something else?"

When they said nothing he continued. "Colonel Feldman, you will find the gap to the wall is sufficient to allow you to discard your weapons into the elevator shaft. Once we have seen you follow those instructions, we'll drop you back to the tunnel level and you will be taken into custody. I should explain you can expect no rescue. You are four, of about eight hundred Party members already arrested tonight. Or not, as some have insisted on resisting. You have been allowed to play out your conspiracy fully, so there is no question of intent or entrapment."

Feldman jerked like he'd been slapped when he heard his name.

"Shit," Lieutenant Moore said. He pressed his machine pistol against the concrete and took his hand away. It was over four seconds before they heard the clatter of it echo up the shaft.

Feldman stared at him unbelieving for a moment, then fired a burst across his hips without a word. The action clattering, the impacts of the bullets and brass bouncing off the walls were louder than the muzzle. Moore was thrown back into the corner, a shocked look on his face.

"OK Einstein, add one more murder, to the laundry list of charges waiting for you. Fact is you don't get to surrender until you do the same as he did." The speaker said.

Feldman looked around the ceiling and there were two dark plastic hemispheres in opposite corners. He raised his weapon and destroyed both cameras.

"Well you can't fix stupid can you? I can't see, to know if you've dropped your weapons now. Given your attitude it would endanger my people to try to take you alive. I can drop your weapons down the shaft, but unfortunately you are going with them."

There was a metallic clack as the car came uncoupled from the cables. It wasn't really a zero G fall. The rails afforded some resistance, but the concrete shaft was a blur in the open door before they hit.

END

© 2012 M. Chandler

The Last Part - Other Kindle Books and Links by Mackey Chandler

April (first in series)

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0077EOE2C

April is an exceptional young lady and something of a snoop. She finds herself involved with intrigues that stretch her abilities after a chance run in with a spy. There is a terrible danger she and her friends and family will lose the only home she has ever known in orbit and be forced to live on the slum ball below. It's more than a teen should have to deal with. Fortunately she has a lot of smart friends and allies. It's a good thing because things get very rough and dicey.

The Middle of Nowhere (third in series)

http://www.amazon.com/The-Middle-Nowhere-April-ebook/dp/B00B1JJ7RQ

April returns home from her trip down to Earth, unhappy with what she accomplished. Papa-san Santos is finishing her rescue of the Lieutenants, Her traitorous brother is dead and so many things are uncertain. The Chinese and North Americans both continue to give her and Home a hard time. But April, Jeff and Heather are gathering allies and power. China, trying to steal Singh technology, gets its hand slapped badly by Jeff and the Patriot Party in America is damaged, but not gone. Their project on the moon is not so easy for North America to shut down, especially with the Russians helping. Heather proves able to defend it forcefully. They really didn't know she owns a cannon. The three have their own bank now, Home is growing and April is quickly growing up into a formidable young woman, worthy of her partners.

Paper or Plastic?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004RCLW68

Roger was medically discharged after his service in the Pan Arabic Protectorate, cutting off his chosen career path early. He is living in rural Sitra Falls, Oregon trying to deal with hyper-vigilance and ease back into civilian life.

When an unusual looking young woman enters his favorite breakfast place he befriends her. Little does he know he'll kill for her before lunch and start an adventure that will take him around the world and off planet.

When you have every sort of alphabet agency human and alien hunting for you survival is the hard part. But you might as well get rich too.

Family Law

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006GQSZVS

You know people who love their dogs. They put them in their will. They forgo vacations to stay home and take care of them.

Can a dog love back or is it simple self interest? Affection or love? Unconditional or a meal-ticket? What if you dog could talk back? Would your dog be less lovable if he could tell you what he thinks like your spouse? If he complained his kibbles were dry and boring would your affection wear thin? I don't want to touch on what a cat might tell you...

Is the dog part of your family or property? Who should decide that for you? How much more complicated will it be if we meet really intelligent species not human?

Humans don't have a very good history of defending the interests of others. Even variations of their own species. How will they treat 'people' in feathers or fur? Perhaps a more difficult question is: How will they treat us? Usually the people who answer these sort of questions have no desire to be on the pointy end of things. They are just minding their own business and it is thrust upon them. This story explores those questions

Common Ground and Other Stories

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0050YYVHY

A book size collection of seven short stories by Mackey Chandler.

Link to full list of current releases on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B004RZUOS2

Mac's Writing Blog:
http://www.mackeychandler.com