Rising Tomorrow (Roc de Chere Book 1) by Mariana Morgan (essential reading txt) 📕

Captain Palmeiro and Sergeant Atkins were waiting a few metres away, their backs to the fence, keeping an eye on the path through the undergrowth that was most likely used by regular security patrols. Despite the isolation up on the plateau and the difficult accessibility, it was clear that the security guards were expected to put their muscles and eyes to work, patrolling the perimeter on foot instead of relying on the omnipresent cams while sitting comfortably ensconced behind a desk. It also probably helped them stay awake.

On the whole it would have been much safer for Cassandra to have all the vegetation cut back from the approach, but getting permission for that type of damage to nature was tricky, even for the most spoilt and influential Elites. The lush woods were a dream working environment, and in years gone by had probably created inspiring surroundings for the scientists and workers at Olympus. Now the walls of the actual building were windowless, so all the vegetation did was provide the perfect cover for Gonzalez and his team.

‘We are in,’ Tilly confirmed. ‘I have full access to the outside security cam feed. Outside motion and heat sensors are off. Pressure plates have been found and disconnected. Laser trip wires were not activated at all in this quadrant of the complex and I have made sure they will stay that way. I need a direct link with the building to open the door and gain access to internal security. Courtyard secure, and I have rendered the emergency flood lights inoperative.’

‘Atkins, cut the fence,’ Ingram ordered.

Gonzalez had decided to keep an eye on Eloise Moretti and let Ingram call the shots, just as she would have if he had stayed at Roc de Chere. That not only freed his attention enough to see his surroundings from a different perspective but also allowed him to observe Ingram in action for real, not just in a simulated VR exercise. He had no doubt she would perform well, but the mentor in him couldn’t pass on an opportunity to evaluate.

At first glance, the fence was eerily similar to those used back in the 21st century. It was probably the same fence they had erected when the compound was first built. With the security functions disabled it was hardly anything more than a mesh of nano-wire. It must have been coated and re-coated with reinforcing nano-compounds throughout the decades, but even so, it was no match for proper laser cutters.

A couple of minutes later, six dark figures silently sneaked in and crossed the grounds. They kept to the deepest shadows as they moved quickly and efficiently towards the selected door. The fence behind them would require very close inspection before a routine security patrol found where it had been breached.

The surroundings looked eerie. The faint sliver of moon gave almost no light and the outside artificial lights, in low-power non-emergency mode, bathed the grounds in a silvery hue. The visors on the team’s armour were configured to make the best of the light they had, enhancing visibility to its fullest potential without the need to switch to full night mode.

***

‘Paradox Alpha, this is Phantom,’ Rivas said on an open frequency, addressing Gonzalez. ‘There is a shuttle-type aircraft taking off from the landing pad, northern quadrant. I’m too far away to make out any details but it looks stripped of any designations.’ Rivas was circling the compound in a leisurely fashion, staying out of detection range of the known surface-to-air defences.

‘This is Paradox Alpha. Heading?’ Gonzalez asked. Aircraft without registration numbers weren’t all that usual, but neither were they unheard of. Plenty of Elites could afford the hefty fines, or bribes, if need be.

‘North-east, towards Turin. They will not, I repeat, they will not overfly the Hippo’s landing location.’

‘Roger.’

Briefly, Gonzalez found himself pondering Rivas’ situation—where he was, whether he was flying in low-power mode—but he quickly pushed those thoughts aside. Rivas was a better pilot than Gonzalez would ever be. Gonzalez could learn and gain experience through tedious practice. Rivas could fly aircraft in simulators before he had learnt to walk without falling on his ass. Like Ingram, he had flying in his blood.

***

‘I have gained access to the internal cams. Scanning now,’ Tilly announced, and Eloise felt her face twist in a wince. Tilly still didn’t sound right. The damn speech algorithm was making her hushed voice display too much drama, reminding her of a bad spy movie she had seen as a child.

Oh, Tilly was perfectly capable of acting as their ops officer, for the information she gave was spot on; it was just the delivery that was off. It just wasn’t the same Tilly. Too many subroutines had been stripped and left at the Chandler N-Suit Research Base before the transfer, and now a few more had been crudely deactivated to ensure her smooth functioning despite the ‘grief bug’, as Eloise had dubbed it. She was a highly effective computer system, but the hand-crafted personality was almost gone, replaced by clunky subroutines.

The last few days have kicked her poor ass almost as badly as they kicked mine, Eloise mused, double-checking Tilly’s progress on the display of her helmet’s visor. I can rebuild her; she just won’t be the same. Neither will I.

All the testing and prodding Ingram had subjected Eloise to had run her ragged. There was a tremendous sense of satisfaction at having made it through to Ingram’s satisfaction, and possibly even slightly above it, but when the major had offered her nano-drugs to aid muscle recovery and mental fatigue while she grabbed the obligatory nap, she hadn’t had it in her to resist. She had scoffed a huge meal and been asleep within seconds of her head touching the pillow. But now, the comfort and safety of the bed seemed like a past life.

The flight on board the Hippogryph had passed in professional silence, and Eloise had followed suit, forcing herself to take long,