The Impossible Future: Complete set by Frank Kennedy (mini ebook reader .txt) π
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- Author: Frank Kennedy
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A Mongol fell on top of him, blasted from behind by Muldoon. His Tuvaan brothers continued to fire, sending laser after laser into the dead manβs back, hoping the shots might pass through. As Michael threw off the corpse, he rolled to avoid more direct hits and lifted his blast rifle to finish off the enemy. He wasnβt fast enough. A Mongol jumped down, landing on the rifle and aiming his laser at Michaelβs head, looking for the kill shot at the neck brace.
He never fired. He stood in awed silence as a Linβtaava sword drove into his intestines.
Michael pushed off and ran the sword through the enemy, who spewed blood as he collapsed. Michael swung around with his right arm as the final enemy lunged, sword in hand, only to be greeted by a chest-opening storm of flash pegs.
βCooper. Sit-rep.β
It was Nilsson.
Michael unleashed a barrage of mental curses.
βEnemy is down, Major.β
βMuldoon, assist Cooper.β
βFor it.β
Percy arrived in seconds. Michael realized the pale sky was brightening and the sounds of chaos dimming. The team was checking in, reporting the same everywhere: βEnemy is down.β
βCudfrucker,β Percy said when he saw Michael. βCooper, your armor is smoking. Never seen that before.β
βTell me about it. Think Iβm gonna need a backup.β
Percy laughed; he was a man known for finding humor in lifeβs tricky moments. Michael, however, found nothing funny here. Apparently, incursion fifteen ended the same as the others β a battlefield of Mongol bodies. But for Michael, this felt too close to defeat.
An hour later, as he was being treated for his considerable wounds in the stationβs medpod, he wanted to share his concerns with Nilsson, who visited to commend Michael for his courage.
βCooper, what if I said the doctor wants you to convalesce on Praxis?β
βIβd tell him to fuck off. Sir. Who needs him, anyway? I got holotools and synthetics. Iβll meet those assholes when they come back tomorrow.β
βI donβt know if they will, Cooper. They made a mess of themselves. Theyβll need time to devise another losing strategy.β
The aches arose everywhere, but Michael had been here before β far too often, for his liking.
βSir, theyβre getting smarter. I heard they tried the same snare tactic on Carver. Almost took him out, too.β
Maj. Aiden Nilsson, like most veteran peacekeepers, was a broad monolith with rock jaws and searing jade eyes, the product of lifelong infusions of brontinium extract. He terrified Michael on day one of training, but they spent enough hours sharing drinks for Michael to see a softer, more reasoned side. He was a hardliner among Chancellors, opposed elevating Solomons to full citizenship, yet respected and β Michael came to realize over time β loved each member of his team as if they were sons and daughters.
βYes, Cooper. They exposed our No. 1 vulnerability β our numbers. Unfortunately, weβre the entire security blanket for this facility. Iβll analyze our options.β
βSir, you misunderstand my point. And I apologize for interrupting. Iβm the newb.β
βNo, Cooper. Youβre a proven member of our team. Speak your mind, Michael.β
βThe Mongols arenβt the real threat. Never have been. We all know itβs just a matter of time before wormholes open up outside. Weβll have a goddamn army of immortals and hybrids storming the place. If the immortals donβt wipe the floor with us, one of those Berserkers will.β
βYes. If they come, theyβll kill us all. But time may be with us.β
βHow do you know?β
Nilsson smiled. βThere have been developments.β
βWith the Anchors?β
βYes, but also far beyond Tamarind. I donβt wish to raise your hopes prematurely. Capt. Forsythe and Col. Doltrice are assembling the intel reports. Weβll be meeting in two hours.β
βJust spec-ops?β
βSpec-ops, the civilian leadership, and the engineering team.β
The three had not met simultaneously in weeks. Michael sensed huge developments.
βGood to hear, sir. Weβve been inside this mountain too long.β
βYou know what they say about all good things. Yes?β
Nilsson turned to leave, but Michael wasnβt finished.
βSir, I joined spec-ops for selfish reasons, and I donβt apologize for them. But I would not give back a moment of these last four months. You tried to beat the holy fuck out of me until I quit, but I needed to feel that pain. Whatever my path might be, Iβm damn well ready. I owe that to you, to Broadman, to all the team. Even the ones who still donβt think I deserve it.β
Nilsson massaged his beard, a pencil-thin streak along his jawline.
βNo. None of us think you deserve it. You arenβt a Chancellor. But Cooper, you earned your place anyway. See you in two hours.β On his way out the door, Nilsson added: βAnd Cooper, heal quickly. Iβd hate to declare you unfit and ship you off to Praxis.β
Michael laid down in the medpod and ordered the holotools to resume therapy. While he assumed Nilssonβs parting comment was a joke, Michael was in no shape for another bout of combat today.
As the tools penetrated and sealed his wounds, and the synthetics entered his bloodstream, Michael found a brief and much-earned shuteye. As always, Sam dominated his thoughts. He had not touched her, had not told her how much he loved her, in five months.
Earth seemed a universe and a lifetime away.
5
T HE FIRST DAY MICHAEL ENTERED the research station, he was struck by a sense of dΓ©jΓ vu. He didnβt need long to understand why. The corridors of the base,
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