My first document

IAN

REILLY

Part I

PATRICK JENCIK

IAN REILLY

Ian Reilly

2699 AD, Northern Glacial Caps, Ruslan.

On the 23rd of September, the boss, Captain Grayden Abercrombie said “Doctor Ian Reilly you are to go to bright back to Ruslan.as a matter of the uttermost urgency!". Ian Reilly is not my name, not my real name. it is a pseudonym I chose with the boss‘s blessing. Ian, the first name is from the author of spy fiction. Rielly, from the man who would come be known as the Ace of Spies. My real name is for those closest to me and those who need to know it. 7:40 PM, the 1st of October, I lead a convoy of eight snow effect transports outfitted with alien enhanced weaponry.

Our vehicles had adopted the disguise of Stretliizi’s. A people who are one the oldest and numerous of nomadic peoples nearer to Ruslan’s Northern Glacial Caps. Given they being the largest denomination of nomadic travelers, making the disguise all the more easier to blend in. Thereby seeming more normal to various patrol forces that roamed the farthest regions of Ruslan’s artic wastelands.

We were heading into that freezer during the coldest of months. Rulsan’s glacial caps had the heaviest sleets of ice, many weighing six to ten tonnes. If a single large sheet of ice was forced to crack apart by the 400 km an hour blizzards that were all too common during the

latter months of the year, and fall upon the center of the convoy as it skimmed through the ice as a column, many of the mission’s vehicles could be lost instantly.

A rendezvous with Reginald (‘Reggie’) Aiden King, a spy was the mission that the boss had bestowed on me. It was not his real name, but one he chose as he too had defected as I had, fifteen years earlier. King and I went back along way. It was King himself who oversaw my defection from the Rulsan bloc to Aldynium. This was still a ‘field extraction of asset’. But the addition of an alien artifact, under circumstances that were far from anything I had faced before.

King’s circumstances were not unlike other agents I had retrieved in the field where a mission had failed or the operative was compromised. King’s communique stated that along with an unnamed dissident community he had taken refuge with, had discovered a recently crashed Aavalon, a standard cargo craft throughout its satellites, allies and client powers. Within the fuselage, all that remained of the downed craft was an extraterrestrial artifact unlike none he had ever seen.

The reason why the visual reconstructive (VRe-C) images King took of the artifact were intended for me was so that I could compare its speciation’s with all others on alien tech’s 300 databases. Alien tech was the name given to the spy unit that specialized in the collection and extraction of alien technologies. They varied from exotic liquids, metals, implements and rarely multi altitude transportation. Alien tech was a relatively new

unit. only formed 20 years ago and modelled on the interna’s and military’s own equivalent department.

Prior to receiving King’s communique on the 20th of September, a total of twenty attempts since February had been made to contact King. None were successful in establishing contact. More concerning of all, from 6th of March onwards, alien tech’s intel department begun receiving numerous sources of evidence that suggesting he was colluding with Franciszek Derzhinski. The latter was the head of secret police that had come to be known as the Interna. A name that came from its designation Internal Police.

Equally glaring, the sources of the evidence being provided could not be identified. It was as though alien tech’s main frames were being infiltrated with impunity, like a highly skilled 21st century computer hacker. Deliberately deleting their tracks, the evidence did not come from any of the established lines of information, be it individual informers, rebel groups or émigré communities. Of all the anonymous data that came mysteriously, it was the last, sent anonymously again on the 23rd of September, that opened up an internal investigation into King. It consisted of several images of King conferring directly with Derzhinski.

A very violent shudder hit the mission’s command craft the very vehicle I was in. It was exactly 1: 15 PM the calm yet foggy weather and the total absence of any foe that had characterized the first phase of the mission, the rendezvous to the crash site of, ended. “Action stations, action stations, action stations,” yelled Troop

commander Stirling, the increment’s commander over his comms. On my head-screen, part of the protective vehicle headwear I had on, I could see that the increment’s units were moving into their pre- agreed reaction plan in ever our convoy came under attack.

“There’s been a sighting dead ahead of us" David Hill my second in command said having come to tell me in person. “I also have a live and emerging damage report” Hill added. “What is it then David?” I asked. I looked at what Hill provided me via head-screen. There was no match on what that craft was other than files matching certain features of common alien technology. it was human- alien composition. Data showed that it was eighty percent alien tech. “I’ve never seen such a composition before” Hill said. ”Nor I” I replied.

“Brace to receive incoming a 6’o clock!” said a raised voice in the operations bay below me. a sense urgency. “What’s coming our way?” I asked “ At which specific vehicle of the convoy?” I asked again with a sense of urgency. Urgency as the soon I knew the path of the oncoming-fire, the sooner I could warn those that would be affected. Who in turn could anticipate what was coming. It wasn’t enough. Before I could say the words “all brace for impact!” we were all thrown to the floor of our -respective vehicles. Some personnel were thrown out of their respective units as a result of the incoming fire exploding on or around their units. Behind me I could hear Hill getting up asking anyone around him for a damage report. He got one from the vehicle’s codriver. I didn’t have to ask Hill anything. Whilst Hill was seeking further details of damage to the mission’s

vehicles, I went on to my unit’s conning tower. I c could see two vehicles, where on their sides, one of which was shattered in two. The second has its front blown off.

Hill had just come to join me in the conning tower. I asked him if he knew if any of the vessels, including the one I commanded could fire, and he said that they still ought to, manually though. As I spoke, I noticed live personnel among the two out of action vehicles. Then more fire from the mysterious vessel. This time, two more vehicles were hit. Both out of action instantly. The craft moved ever- closer towards us. It was now in rage of our own weaponry. “The vessel is now in range those of you who are able to commence firing” I said over vehicle comms.

As I did so, looking through the conning tower where I was still situated, I noticed that survivors from the destroyed vehicles, some of its surviving occupants were out in the open. “There are survivors” I said. “I can see them” Hill replied. All the while, fire from our vehicle, the rest of the mission’s vehicles, and the mysterious craft was being exchanged. “I’ll see to it, Ian. You just worry about dealing with that thing, whatever it is and wherever it came from” Hill said as be began the task of leaving the vehicle and see to the survivors. I turned my attention to the ensuing firefight between those vehicles from the convoy still in action. All of us still struggling to counter the mysterious attacker who kept rapidly approaching.

Looking through I could see fire be it prolonged beams or smart projectiles, hitting the craft. The effect that our

firepower had was very minimal. It was either absorbed by or bounced off the star shaped vehicle. I realized then that retreating was the only course of action if we were to survive. “Ian, there is another ....” Hill said “This is entirely of alien origin. Scans from the mission’s other vehicles and that of my own confirmed this “Have you finished? “I asked Hill somewhat frantically.

Nervousness told in my tone, but I was still trying to maintain composure. “Just two more.” Hill replied and seemed to have frozen. “It appears to be advancing towards the first as though it’s going to attack it” I said.” You can’t be serious” Hill said dryly. By accessing alien tech’s data banks on alien technology and materials it concluded that all of the second craft’s structure was purely of alien origin. There was doubt that the second craft was entirely an alien craft.

I observed how the alien craft advanced towards the hybrid vessel. The alien craft advanced towards the hybrid craft confidently and without fear of being destroyed, its advance was a steady one. The hybrid craft stopped firing and began to gradually retreat. It was during the hybrid craft’s retreat that I received what would be the first of many visitations throughout this mission from an alien being. This very first communication by the alien, which did not identify itself, was by thought and imagery. I felt it was using my own personal implants to contact me. The language the alien spoke was data. More specifically, what appeared to be stolen technical layouts of not alien at all. Despite the craft’s significant inventory of alien techware, it still used human propulsion system. the hybrid craft itself.

There was even more information on its propulsion, which was not so remarkable similar to our own vehicles. Thus, its own power collection, relayers and propulsion was vulnerable to indirect or direct fire – like we were. I couldn’t help but think that this was given to me so as to alert me of its weakness. I was also given images, what I would call visons, of the crash site and the artifact within.

Though King did reveal the artifact was scholarly in nature, in other words not a weapon nor could it be used as such, its true aim was to serve as a means of understanding alien communication. The latter did not rely on language, and how human beings could communicate and thereby use alien technology, be it objects or whole space vessels. But the alien also revealed the artifact was sentient and would only reveal its knowledge and gifts to those with good intentions and those it had ‘joined’ with.

This was why Derzhinski and the alien technologists he had pressed into service were having no success in operating it. As for the work of technologists and personnel under Derzhinsky’s command as well as Derzhinski himself, the alien reveal a key piece of information concerning its whereabouts. It was not at King’s crash site at all. It was now being held in the Vrozhav site. This was the premier base where the most valuable of alien artifacts were stored, studied and relipcated. ’It is a trap’ I felt like I was being told. The alien was warning me at King’s site a trap was waiting not only for the mission but myself in particular. Our rendezvous with King was not about salvaging the

artifact, but ensnaring me, Hill and everyone else in the mission.

As frightening as these revelations were, it was only because of my experience as a spy in espionage and military orientated missions that I had found the strength to put this out of my mind in the here and now. there was still the hybrid craft to defeat and to a location in the polar regions for the remaining vehicles of the mission to escape to using its land light speed travel capability. The remainder of the convoy, fighting alongside the alien. The combined firepower of the alien craft, our mission’s remaining vehicles and the new knowledge that of the vulnerability of the hybrid craft’s engines was now showing.

The hybrid craft was smoking profusely and was plummeting to the snow. Hill along with the crews from the two vehicles that had been thrown from their vehicles were now back on board. I then turned to the mission’s navigator, the ice master whom we all called Lenny. We both viewed maps of the are using our viewing lenses, Len showed me the northern glacial regions of the polar cap. The travelling distance was within the range of the mission’s vehicles.

When, or if, we arrived there, the glaciers with its frosty winds and deep traverses offered natural concealment even against the most advance weather filter visioning technology. Concealment that would permit vehicle’s could remain hidden until such a time repairs were completed, morale and faith in the crew to the mission had been restored. By the time ice master Lenny had

plotted out the new route we would travel to meet King, Hill had brough me back to focusing on the firefight between the hybrid craft, the mission’s remaining fleet of vehicles, and our newfound alien friend. The hybrid craft was a smoking ruin, not being able to move at all, near buried in snow. The alien, had also received severe damage also. this was due mostly to the alien tech weaponry. It appeared to struggle to remain in its state of hover above ground. Communicating with me by thought and flashes of imagery again, its said to me that the alien craft that saw was only a vassel, a remote unit and nothing more. The alien also emphasized to me that since I now had a new route plotted for King’s camp we ought to proceed with the vassal covering our escape. This we did. As the mission’s remaining vehicle fleet escape the morning’s we saw an explosion and a hale of smoke. The former was the hybrid craft. The latter the alien vassel.

Second in Command

October 5th. Four days later.

We arrived at King’s camp, two days after our battle with the hybrid craft. When we had taken refuge in the glaciers, I called a mission council in the command craft that had been my own transport during throughout the mission thus far. As it turned out, all the mission elements commander and myself were of the same mind. To press on with the mission despite the dangers. But may did admit that they somehow felt assured by the appearance and intervention of the alien craft. This I knew from my experience in past alien tech missions was due to the awareness of sightings of aliens (called envoys) aiding of travelers that were stranded, or being attacked by raider or in danger of being overpowered by the region’s snowstorms.

The day after the mission council was held on my command craft, we traversed the northern glacier field to get to King’s camp. We didn’t send what is called an advanced warning message in expeditionary spy missions. I wanted the convoy’s arrival to be a surprise. I did not want to anyone in that camp advance warning of our arrival and thereby use that warning to escape or escape with valuable alien tech or other material. Though we had lost the mission’s communication center, we could still undertake extreme ranged comms

by using that from the increment’s own vehicles. All the mission element’s commanders as the excuse for the mission’s unannounced arrival.

For added measure the SWOS, SLL, RSA, units of the increment were ordered to not accompany the mission’s convoy to King’s camp. Their new role would be to be on standby and await my order to be sent to King’s camp. If for whatever reason, after no message or in three days no from Hill or myself, they were to travel to King’s camp on their own initiative. Additionally, they would also be required to send a distress message to the Cezzene region. The town, and effective capital of the region. It had also become a haven for various émigré, resistance factions and military units which had defected. Most of these were allies.

When we did arrive at King’s camp on the morning of October the 5th, then I sent the promised message albeit late. King’s unofficial deputy, introducing himself as Boris Nerzhen, was the one who responded. When he asked why I did not send the message as was originally arranged, I explained that we had been attacked by the raiders of the kind that harass nomad communities and expeditions. As a result of the significant damaged sustained to two craft which housed our extreme ranges comms, we had lost long range communication ability.

On its own without the increment’s units, we did not have the capability to send an extended range communique. I also asked the deputy to check for himself by scanning (by whatever means the camp had at their disposal). There was truth in what I said. The

two craft that been destroyed had within them a most of the mission’s comms infrastructure which also include the mission’s comm center. The sensory material scans and programming scans confirmed that none of the mission’s remaining craft were equipped with extrema ranged comms. The convoy’s remaining vehicles were let through the camp’s snow barriers, and halted at the very front of the camp that was reserved for ingoing and outgoing vehicles.

When each mission’s element had shut down their vehicles, Hill acting as my deputy mission commander, and quite thoughtfully, wanted to leave me to my own devices so that I could get at least some rest, attended to the crew. As I lied down on my side atop the command craft, I saw Hill standing on a stool he had brought with him. It was something that he always brought with whenever he could.

I was too tired, too shocked and too far away to hear what Hill said when ‘speaking from the stool’ as he called it. When Hill had dismissed the crew, who looked and stood like a rabble, hey went about setting up tents to have their first open air meal in nearly a month. It was not long before the camp’s personnel, mostly independently hired researchers came out to meet and cook their breakfast with my crew. The mission’s personnel may have had the luxury of taking it easy, even for a brief moment, but I did not.

I still had to deal with King. Finding him was no difficulty at all. Rather he noticed me. He was standing in front of a medium sized squared tent that was at the very front

of complex of shelters that made up the camp. King was waving at me like a father waives to his son. It put a smile on my face. I would later in join in the morning’s get together and cook breakfast alongside King. Little did I know that within 48 hours many of them would be no more.

King and I had dinner alone, and separate from my own mission’s leadership and his own. This was after all a meeting, albeit informal one. It was taken inside King’s personal tentage which had become his home for the last three months. After having known me for several years, King knew full well by now that my favorite and semi-regular dinner was Steak Sauteners and Touraine cremet with strawberry coulis for dessert. It was a dinner we had cooked together- a habit that we had both developed during our past missions together. But on past missions the availability of procuring, or foraging for, fresh provisions as those missions took place in urban centers, cities, or when in any one of capital world’s ice regions, one could rely on local commerce to acquire supplies.

By contrast King’s camp was situated in a region that had absolutely nothing in the way of produce, let alone life, with the exception of the alien that came to our aid only days ago. The nearest that form of human habitation was to be found was over thirty miles away. Sending supplies and equipment not only at such distance as well as the treacherous weather, would make regular re-supply especially when considering the temperate nature of the weather cycles in glacial poles of the planet. King’s ability to have supplies, and in great

quantities sent to his camp and on a semi regular called into question exactly where he acquired all had for the camp. Two things that stood out for me, the regularity of supply, in an such and their quantity and type, where all the sudden snowstorms can last for three weeks or more without waring is a challenge in upholding any organizational supply routine.

The second thing that stood out for me was the volume and type of equipment. King’s camp which consisted of eight large sized tents all arranged around a larger central tent. This was where the fuselage was stored From what I could see of the equipment that was visible it was some of the most current comms, air blanketing systems. I certainly wanted to ask where King had got all this.

After we had finished eating, I sat as a passive observer, listening to the 2IC I knew. Or at least I though I had known since despite my own person biases, all the while thinking carefully upon the validity of his account. “So Ian, tell me, what happened to you on the way to me?”

King asked. “We were attacked by a craft that possessed alien technology that I have not seen before, but sill used the propulsion systems as we” I said. “Weaponry would not penetrate its fuselage, or any other part of the unit’s body, was absorbed”.

King didn’t seem shocked by what I said. That suggested to me that either he was aware that some attempt or another was made against the mission’s vehicle fleet, or King himself may have had a hand in it. After all, he and the boss were the only ones to know details of the

mission’s fleet of vehicles and by what route the mission would travel through, or contact protocols. But I had difficulties accepting or believing that it was King who would conceive such an attack given that I had known him for more than ten years and that he had been the father figure ever since my defection. “Would you believe it if I told you that an alien came to our aid?” I asked him, attempting to find out if he knew of this, or more specifically was being informed of these events.

“Do tell me more?” asked King and those words were spoken with genuine surprise. I could tell by his tone, then and there, that he had no knowledge of the alien craft coming to our aid. “It came without warning. We were all shocked and yet stunned that alien would defend us given that we were on our way to liberate for ourselves an artifact of their making” I said this without revealing that I had been forewarned that what was being stored in the fuselage was not the real alien artifact. “ I don’t suppose I would be able to see it for myself?” I asked him.

“Certainly, you are going to have to look at it sooner or later” King said. “Have you?” I asked.” Yes, but it means more to someone like you then me” King replied. What he meant was that due to my specialty being alien technology, I understood and appreciated its value more than he ever could. Especially when considering King’s background was in defections, and aiding defectors. King expressed to me that as far as he was concerned, he was more focused on getting the artifact to safety, in other words for king getting the artifact to Cezzenne was no different to smuggling a defector across some

border or another. Our attention then turned to events immediately after the failed New Year’s Day coup at the beginning of the year form out own perspectives.

I began our process of sharing experiences by asking King the one question I had longed to put to him since New Year’s Day. “What happened?“ I asked. “You’re asking about New Year’s Day?” King replied, to which I nodded. He didn’t need any clarification from me at all. That is how well he knew me. “I never even got to Katerine Berizina” King said. What he was saying to me was that that he and the airborne forces he lead didn’t get anywhere near the contact area of his mission. More specifically, The New Year’s Day coup, was undertaken in two phases, both occurring simultaneously.

One phase, codenamed Operation Overturn involved the capture of Illya Vladir, the leader of the planet Rulsan. Often referred to as capital world. If he was unable to be captured then his elimination was authorized. This was to take place in with the very heart of Rulsan‘s capital, Mosvgrad. This would be my own mission which was given to me personally by the boss. All because prior to my defection, I had attempted to assassinate Vladir and nearly succeeded. This, however, is another story for another time.

King’s operation, codenamed Operation Orbital Spectra was an entirely different mission altogether. He would be leading émigré forces he trained who would be flying in armed shuttles, remote-piloted orbital foils leading the way. Their objective was to fly at near orbital height and hit the Katerine Berizina’s pulse weapon defense at

orbital range with multiple ray burst missiles. Thus, taking out the most potent defenses in that area and ones that could eliminate the air transportation that would later be necessary for exfiltrating personnel of both King’s mission and my own. Quite surprised, I asked “Why? “.

“I believe that details of both our missions were leaked, I know it” King began. We begun to fired upon, heavily so, not even two-hundred kilometers withing the area of our target. What was being fired at us was not the pulse weaponry of Katerine Berizina. I felt, rather I knew, what was hitting us was from another ground orbital defense formation altogether” King spoke firmly that he normally would. Our, my mission- you of course had your own- depended entirely on surprise. That was all gone” I could feel King’s dilemma as he spoke evermore firmly.

“But the element of surprise was not the only thing gone, the forward unmanned were going too. They were the first aerial units to be eliminated.” “Our ability to nuetralise Katerine Berizina’s pulse weapons were no more. As an assault force, and one with the ability to fulfill the mission. That mission could no longer be fulfilled as that capability was obliterated”. “I gave the order to divert our orbital path and begin a full retreat” King’s tone was that of a man accepting the inevitable. In his mantra of defeat compounded by the fact that someone somewhere had gone behind his back to foil his mission.

“We were being obliterated from orbit one by one” King continued. The six shuttles were shot down one by one. The luckiest were the first two as they were shot down over- friendly territory”. “I heard they were rescued by the émigré forces, and safely so”. “One shuttle was completely obliterated in mid-sky; a hit to the engines generative processor must have caused the explosion” King continued. “There were fifteen on board many I had known and trained myself”. My craft was the last to be shot down the other was brought down in the Vlyetga river, and as far as I’m aware, where they or what has become of them, is still unknown”.

“My craft crash landed 30 miles from capita city’s eastbound entrance. So, I knew that as soon as we were on the ground we had to get out and find cover” “Who rescued you?” If you would let me finish, I will tell; I was coming to that!” King exclaimed. I smiled and nodded like a schoolboy being kindly admonished. “You’re aware of the Deardenian Forrests, the tree pass, a vast wooded area surrounding the east of capital city?” asked King. “I am” I said. King knew I was. “The 12 émigré soldiers that were with me and had survived and I, made our way to a part of the forrest and we found a clear area within the woods. We stayed there for three days living in survival shelters on survival food, tending to the four wounded we had.”

“Rescue came on the third day. it was by a combination of rebel and émigré forces. “The lieutenant in charge of the rescue party told me that it was possible to track us because of the demise of our mission was on all news mediums. Like me, he also deduced that being in the

forests was the safest place to hide, he searched there.”

“Our rescue was a clandestine incursion mission taking place from nearby mountain region of Ubrol and we were transported there”. As King mentioned Ubrol he spoke in a tone as though he were remising the Ubrol region’s wet and snowy rugged mountains. I had been there and I knew that it was a natural haven for all kinds of dissidents earning its reputation as sanctuary and a bandit country.

“How did you secure the fuselage and the alien artifact inside? Moreover, how did you get all this?” I asked. “A double- barreled question!” King said. “When I was in the Ubrol village I heard of it. Up there in the mountains anything falling from the sky attracts news”. King said. I knew this from my own experience, living first in a village then later a regional suburb. “It was then only a matter of reaching out to my rescuers and they joining forces with my own contacts”.

“How did you escape?” King asked. “Do you remember that embassy attache, Amile Hennerly?” “What of her?”

King asked. “I think she was an alien” I said. “What?”

King said stunned. “it was she who saved Sasha, Hill and myself form being caught in capital square” I began.”

Tell me more” King said, though he remained polite I could still feel that he found what I was saying to be absurd. “As we began to move forward to the pavilion where Vladir was sitting and in enjoying the parade of Lavisrov Guards.

As mounted officers of the guards we used the movements of the guards marching past to cover or

approach towards the stand. “He had little in the way of bodyguards around him” I added “Just then two soldiers in parade dress like us attempted to grab the reins of our horse. Another put a pistol in my back, taking away my sidearm. I could see out of the corner of my eye that Hill was in the same situation” King continued to listen. “Just then it sounded as two shots were fired from what sounded like two separate firearms. Both soldiers dressed in ceremonial uniforms like our own, were shot and killed instantly; Hill and I took our sidearms back from the tow dead men”. I paused, reflecting on what happened that day.

“Then an entire cacophony of shooting broke out between loyal guards units, and those guards units who had secretly been rebellious and had now come into the open” I continued “All the while Hill and I got the horses to safety. we both took cover by hiding behind the pillars of various building around capital square. As we hid ourselves and felt confident that we were hidden any doubt of the line of fire and shooting that still ensued, we felt someone behind us.” I paused to give King time to take what I was saying. “Hill and I turned drew our Mateya service pistol’s. As it turned out, it was Hennerly dressed as a staff officer. She was distinguishable by her red hair and her heterochromia eyes” “ The right eye was black and the left green?” King asked. I nodded my head in confirmation.

“She brought us to the Aldynium embassy. We resided in the complex as guests with immunity until contact could be made with (Antonijo) Savinkov”, He could get us out of capital city to neighbouring Cezzanne, where

he and other rebel leaders held residence. Three days later contact had been and preparations to smuggle Hill, Gramatin and myself were complete”. I added. “That didn’t materialize because on the day that contact had been made with Savinkov, internal police units numbering two hundred or more turned up at the embassy.” I later heard that they got their authorization from Vladir himself” “Where did you hear this?” King asked. “Savinkov” I said. “When they got to the visitor’s compound (the embassy itself) Hennerly told us to start our escape through the abandoned -basement quarters under the complex itself”.

The interna was aware of the abandoned basements, but not the abandoned sewer duct Therefore, they were unaware that it could still functional. Functional for us to walk through and open on of its ground hatched. The hatch that we opened led us to Brodinya”. Outer-West of Mosvgrad “But we had to hide in the damp Brodinyan grass for five hours before Savinkov personally collected us.” King had a smirk on his when I spoke of the grass. “But before all of this” I continued “I saw Hennerly for the last time.

“Dressed in her naval officer’s uniform sporting two pistols and firing at the encroaching interna’s”. “She took out three before being shot herself. Several times at point blank range. Even as she breather last”. As we made our way to the basement stairs, I looked at Hennerly’s for one last time. But I did see a still body on the bloodstained carpet. What I saw instead was a live body, Hennerly, still bloodied getting out of the window” “You and I know that only aliens have the

ability to self-generate” King was silent, even he could not offer any explanation.

King concluded the evening’s meeting by saying “As you are here, you are have now become my second in command” he added. “ I don’t think we should be here any longer than we need to. Do you agree?” King asked and I nodded. “I shall contact our friends in Cezzanne to to arrange a carry-craft for transporting the fuselage and I need you to have both your own crew and my own ready for its arrival and loading onto the vehicles outside, and all equipment and stores to be. Upon which, this camp will be abandoned". He then touched me on the top of my upper hand, a habit of his with those closest to him. King didn’t need to tell me my responsibilities as his new second in command. I had been his second in command on so many missions before. But unlike previous missions where I was his subordinate, King’s loyalty was never in doubt as it was now.

I had one final question for King. “Reginald” I began, to get his attention. “As grateful as I am for the confidence you place in me, yet again, there is one final question I have, If I may…” “What is it, Ian. Its late”. “During the time travelling to your camp, I was viewing certain data that had been given to alien tech Intel and then to me. The data also included field surveillance. One of which has you conversing with Derzhinski”. I saw the look of shock in King’s face. He knew I was referring to his most recent interactions with Derzhinsky. But the shock on his face indicated to me that he knew what I

was on about, but, unaware that the entire event was image-captured. No matter the source, he would have to answer for his dalliance with the enemy. A fact he was beginning to realise…

TO BE CONTINUED ….

October 8th 2699 AD, Dr Ian Reilly a spy who sepcialises in the capture of alien technology has been tasked with capturing a never seen before artifact. For Reilly it will be the most dangerous mission so far.

It is during this mission Reilly will be called upon to become the one person that could be the bridge between humankind and alienkind. Reilly a spy who never wanted to be a spy, must also decide if he remains loyal to and completes his mission, or embraces a higher ideal.

In this short story, the first of three in the Ian Reilly series, Reilly must face the possibility that his superior and mentor may be a double agent and one who could undermine any chance of success the mission has of succeeding ….