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Date: 25 FEB 3008
Time: 1648hrs
Location: Sanctuary Cove
Sundari made her way to Ky Fung’s office. The leader of Sanctuary Cove’s Security Force was reclining in her chair with her feet resting on the desk, rhythmically sharpening her sword. Sundari didn’t quite know what to make of Fung; she was a confident, brash woman who antagonised almost everyone she met. But her coarse personality masked a fierce intelligence that had seen her rise to command the Security Force. She was also deadly with both blades and firearms, as Sundari had seen on the beach the day Moshane died. The Oratan that had survived to reach the sandbar had fallen swiftly as Fung’s blade danced among them.
‘You wanted to see me?’ Sundari said as she entered the room.
‘There you are, Doc. You took your sweet time.’ Fung said without looking up. ‘I thought you’d like to know that we’re in contact with Celeste Harbour again. The teleporter network is back online, so something must be happening over there. You can go back to Celeste Harbour at your leisure.’
A broad smile instantly lit up Sundari’s face. She could return to the city!
‘I can see you’re keen to get your arse back there quickly,’ Fung said with a grin, before jumping to her feet and sheathing her sword with a flourish. ‘Well, don’t hang around like a bad smell; go find out what’s been going on. Oh, and let whoever’s in charge these days know that I’ll be along shortly. I need to have a little chat with them. ’
‘What should I say you want to talk about?
‘That’s none of your business, Doc,’ Fung said, ‘just let them know I want to discuss a mutually beneficially agreement.’
‘Alright Ky, I’ll pass it on. Thanks for your hospitality,’ Sundari said, before turning and racing off, impatient to get back and find out if Harvir, Lee and the archaeologists were safe. She was so excited she barely noticed Fung laughing at her eagerness, the sound following her down the hall.
Moments later Sundari was standing in Celeste Harbour, beaming a smile at the sentries. The Sergeant recognised her and waved.
‘Welcome back, Doctor Zhen. You’ll need to report to Headquarters, we’re trying to determine how many are still missing,’ the Sergeant said, a grim look on his face.
The excitement that had driven Sundari to rush back to Celeste Harbour disappeared as she looked around the city. Signs of recent battles were all around her. Most of the troops she could see were still carrying signs of recent injuries. Groups of civilians were cleaning the scorch marks and blood stains from the buildings around the teleporter. The constant sounds of construction that used to cover the city had temporarily ceased as the workers had been either evacuated to space or forced to support the troops defending the city. The physical features of the city had not changed since she left; the wondrous buildings remained. But the city’s inhabitants had now turned all their attention to war and survival.
Sundari entered the IFN Headquarters and made her way directly to Harvir’s office. The Commodore was inside, facing a transmission from Captain Chiharo. Sundari immediately noticed the deep bags under Harvir’s eyes and the new streaks of grey in his hair. A faint web of scarring crossed his face that she didn’t remember being there before. Yet he still stood straight and tall, and the confidence that fuelled his voice was inspiring to hear. If anyone can defeat the Oratan threat, it’s Toán, she thought to herself.
Harvir gave his last orders and cut the transmission. Sundari finally knocked and the Commodore looked towards the doorway where she stood.
‘Sundari!’ He yelled when he recognised her. ‘You’re alive!’ He crossed the room, a faint hitch in his stride, and enveloped her in a hug.
‘It was close for a while. I was trapped when the teleporter network went down,’ she said as they separated. ‘Lieutenant Moshane lost most of his squad, buying me time to run. Somehow he managed to escape with one of his troops and find me again. They—’ she was interrupted as a sob escaped from her throat. ‘They found me and led us to Sanctuary Cove, but the Oratan caught us on the beach.’ Sundari went quiet again. After a moment, she added, ‘I made it to safety but only thanks to the security forces from the island, but I had no way of returning until now.’
‘Not Moshane too.’ Harvir muttered, shoulders sagging at the news. ‘Sundari, I had to shut down the network. I couldn’t hold it open for even a minute longer.’ Harvir’s voice grew heavy with emotion. ‘The Oratan had worked out how to use the teleporters and were using them to attack us from within. I had no choice, but who knows how many others got trapped like you and didn’t make it back? I don’t know how many troops died of their wounds because they couldn’t return here for the kind of medical help they needed.’
‘When the network went down, we knew that things must have been bad. I wouldn’t have wanted to make such a horrible choice either, but your decision meant we still have a haven here at Celeste Harbour. If I could find safety, maybe others did as well. But is it safe to have the teleporters active again?’
‘Yes, thanks to Lee’s research and his forethought in sampling the genetic code of the Oratan. One of his research teams has been able to calibrate the network so it blocks the Oratan’s DNA. They cannot use the system any longer.’
‘I’m glad that Milton has been able to help. I knew he would. I hope the two of you have—’ Sundari drifted into silence as she noticed the grimace on Harvir’s face. ‘Toán, what is it?’
‘Lee’s dead, Sundari. He was killed in the initial assault. He sacrificed himself trying to warn us and to tell us his files held their genetic structure. It was his idea to reprogram the teleporters.’ Harvir closed his eyes against the memory of that fateful transmission.
‘Oh, Toán.’ Sundari said, tears forming in her eyes.
‘We didn’t always see eye to eye,’ Harvir continued. ‘In fact, I often thought he was a madman with no consideration of others, but there’s no denying he was a brilliant scientist.’
‘I never imagined when we left Earth it would be anything like this. We’ve lost so many,’ Sundari paused and wiped hot tears from her cheek. ‘Milton always seemed to be there, he was like an annoying little brother.’ Her face crumpled as her body shook with wracking sobs. ‘A brother I’ve now lost.’
Harvir let her cry, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. As strong as he knew her to be, she needed to grieve sometime. After a while she quietened and Harvir released her.
‘Thank you, Toán. I don’t know what I’d do without you; you’ve been like a father to me ever since we met.’ Sundari said. After a brief pause she raised her head, anger etched on her tear streaked face. ‘Damn the Oratan! They’re vicious, soulless creatures. First they destroy the Arkadians, now they’re trying to do the same to us! You have to stop them!’
‘We will. With the teleporters back online, we have the advantage now. I have given Captain Chiharo her orders. We’ve withstood the onslaught. Now we will break them.’
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