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IAN REILLY

PATRICK JENCIK

Patrick Jencik

First Publishing on Issuu in 2024

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This is a work of fiction. Character names, and descriptions are the product of the author’s imagination.Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

New Year’s Day 2,699AD on Morana the capital city of the planet Marzanna. Marzanna was also the largest of two plantes of the Mokosh star. which in turn was the capital star system of the state of Kraginova. States where not the land masses as they had been on Earth, prior to humanity’s first travels beyond its home star. States had now come to be defined by celestial territory. Kraginova had the largest numbers of stars and celestial bodies as its territories. in the pact. Kraginova was one among three of the most powerful states in the pact of Chezanne, which also consisted of five minor states and a series of stars that had been claimed jointly by numerous states in the pact and were part of what was known as the dependency bloc. Like so many other worlds through the pact, the first day of every new year was cosmopolitan in the range of festivities on offer to citizenry. In recent years, the showcasing of military hardware, much of which had alien technology and materials within its construction, had taken on greater importance. This was due to ongoing and ever-increasing challenges to the pact itself, or so its new leader Illic Ulianov though, and on Marzanna itself

Three years earlier, then director of Kraginova, and ultimately the pact itself, Victor Karkhiv, was forcibly ousted from power. But not before Karkhiv’s remaining loyal military formations and paramilitary units had forewarned him of increasing numbers of plots to capture him. Karkiv finally fled Morana on October 17th 2, 697AD. It was siad that he fled to one of his estates throughout Marzanna. There has even rumor that he had fled Mokosh. To fill this power vacuum numerous political and ideological groups arose throughout the pact territories arose. The fighting that ensued saw military and police formations either form their own factions, join existing political movements spreading throughout the pact star systems The harsher repression of Karkiv and the resulting multitude of rebellions were a reaction to a series of ongoing, and failing incursions, into star systems that neighbored those of the independent powers. The latter are states that are not part of the pact nor part of the mandated stars. The mandated stars are called so as each power is joined in a union by collective treaties they are part of. The mandated star consist of worlds under tree separate celestial union treaties and protectorates that are under their own separate treaty. This, however, has not stopped the pact powers undertaking incursions into these territories for the purposes of acquiring (more accurately stealing) alien technology from isolated human settler communities that had made contact with aliens, often individual beings that have come to be known as envoys.

I, Ian Reilly, take the view that every century has its cold war. The 20th and 21st centuries had theirs. So did the23rd, 24tth and 25th centuries, territories and resources in the form of Earth’s neighboring stars. Now in the 27th century, a new cold war.Acold war of extraterrestrial, technology, materials and alien artifacts.Aconstant game of one upmanship. There is always a new alien technology or object somewhere or another to be discovered, and captured. Ulianov’s civilian demeanor was not a complete picture of the bald and bearded leader. He was also the head of alien technologies and advances bureau. He oversaw the acquisition of alien artifacts,

materials, the GVF. One of any subbranches within the Krag’s (short for Kraginova) secret police division the PVK. Under Ulinaov, “the bureau” or “Bravo’s” as it was otherwise, increased in size, resourcing and the amount of scope of missions to seize more and newer alien technologies and artifacts. I belong to the GVF‘s counterpart, known as the ministry.Adepartment so new and secretive that it does not have an official title. But on this New Year’s Day I would not be undertaking any mission to seize the extraterrestrial technology within the military hardware on display. Rather, Ulyanov himself was the mission.

The mission with which the ministry’s head had assigned me with was the capture of Ulyanov himself. His assassination was also authorized, but only in the event where his capture was not possible. It was a mission that my colleagues and me had been preparing for the more than a month now. Preparations that had begun when intelligence was received of confirming his attendance at New Year’s Day public festivities at Morana. Then began the task of drawing up plans and secondary contingencies plans of the most likely routes of Morana’s public square he would be visiting. The capital’s pubic square had one advantage in that in order to enter that space, one had to pass through the vast underground metro infrastructure. The entire center consisted of a small underground multi-plaza of shopping centers community centers. To access the underground complex, there were forty smaller above and below ground entry points with their own cars. These were used by the general populace.

There were also four larger entry exit points with their own cars albeit heavy duty ascentdescent transport units. They were only ever used for the transportation of government functionaries. Thereon planning focused on, those four entry-exit points. Ulyanov visit of Morana’s public square came from leaked intelligence in the form of draft itinerates from an undisclosed source. The latter revealed that it was planned for the larger to be used. However, exactly which metro zone Ulyianov and his entourage would enter through was not specified. Thought the mysterious nature of the intertie’s source raised questions and concerns, nevertheless it was felt by all within the ministry, myself included that such any to capture Ulyianov ought not to be passed on.

The technological and equipment procurement department of the ministry, affectionately known as Gimmick’s Group, had been working to determine which of the Ulyanov’s ministers and highlevel functionaries, or the latter’s subordinates. Were close enough to provide access to Ulyanov yet not be too high profile to be noticed. Two individuals were selected. These were the Colonel Andre Siecheslav and MajorAlger Walton. The former and latter being the military liaison and adjutant to Morana’s own civil defense ministerAmir Brezhinski.As the city’s own defense minister, Brezhinski, had direct access to Ulyanov whilst the military liaison and adjutant who were Brezhinski’s subordinate’s were another matter. Military liaisons and their adjutants were regularly rotated frequently. Sometimes every three months, six months or up to a year in emergencies within the capital itself.

The temporary nature of these positions afforded its own conspicuousness. As I was the mission leader I took on the role of impersonating Colonel Siecheslav. Major Walton would be impersonated by my second in command, David Hill. Who was also a colleague of five years. Our masquerade was more advanced that just putting on face mask, fake mustaches and eyebrows and the like in centuries past. Nor was any constructive surgery, that would normally be surgically reconstructed after a mission. For this mission, like most recent missions, the tools of disguise Hill and I use field disguisers. These were spore hives, the 27th century progression of nano-tech. Like nanonbots of the 22nd and 23rd centuries, they were absorbed into the skin. The spore hive itself, numbering 50, 000 spores per dose, using an accelerant substance of unknown alien origins. Unknown even to the ministry itself or its operatives like me. The alien substance itself was an accelerant. When introduced into a certain part of the body is what caused, bone mass or size, hair to grow or change colour, to manipulate facial features was controlled and manipulated through spore hives that were absorbed through skin. Spore hives were so advanced that one could use their personal computer- the very clothes the individual wore, to determine or even create facial features or other characteristics such as height. Then trough their personal computer they wore, relay these designs to the spore hive inside the individual’s body.

Prior to commencing our masquerade, the real Colonel Siecheslav and Major Walton themselves were kidnapped by two other agents that had been assigned to my mission, Reginald King, the ministry’s own second in command andAlex Gramatikov.An informer and liaison with many of rebel and political factions within the capital whom I had recruited myself. I had known before my defection from Megora (one of the five minor Pact states) to the Unified Centauri Dominions.Alex had been not only an excellent informer but had become a confidant and it would be stretching it to say, a friend. When I defected to the mandateAlex came with me. The information and sources within the pact systems he had access to, as well as my own experiences as a Megoran spy was out way out of the pact. It was King who oversaw our request for political asylum and it was King who met und in person to bring us to Prima Centauri in the Unified Centauri Dominions. Here we were again, old colleagues together in the field like so many other times before.

For three weeks, Hill and I had lived as Colonel Siecheslav and Major Walton. We each lived in their state accommodation, attended each governmental meetings and spent time at the drinking rooms and restraunts throughout the government precincts of Morana. Now on New Year’s Day, Hill and I waited for two of the most high-profile bigwigs in Morana, Brezhinski and Uliyanov. We awaited the arrival Brezhinski’s and Uliyanov’s but also that of various delegates. When all had arrived, we would proceed to the –government center. There Ulyianov was scheduled to give a speech on new funding initiative for new military equipment. But I knew that Ulyianov’s speech the metro was really an exercise meant to assure Marzanna’s populace that despite the ongoing rebellious factions still opposed to Ulyianov, he had the means to deal with such a threat.At 7:30 am the first of the delegates, including Brezhinski arrived. When I saw Brezhinski, I saluted as I was required and then I said good morning to me he acknowledged me

with a nod. “Uliyanov will be proceeding through the western entrance” Brezhinski said. “Indeed we will!” said a familiar voice.

I turned to my right and there was Ulyanov along with the three other delegates and an entourage of seven people, most of whom were “Good morning all” Ulyanov said with his enthusiasm. Even I was enthused by his voice and demeanor. I wondered if either Brezhinski or Ulyanov knew that I was not who I appeared to be. We all collectively headed to the western precint of the metro. Upon being transported to where Ulynaov would deliver his speech on the current state of power, we all exited it, then heading to the government center. For the next two and a half hours Ulynaov delivered his speech on the new military hardware on display today, and there would more of it.As the sort of politician who was not one to miss an opportunity to take advantage to any give situation, he spoke of how he unlike other political contenders where able to provide security against the multiple encroachments against his power. Then followed a question session of the people.All while Hill and I in our disguises watched on as would be expected on any adjutant. The conference ended at 10:30 am and with this Ulynaov and everyone else, including Hill and myself, would now make our way out of the metro government center, so Ulynaov could then undertake the rest his New Years’Day itinerary. The move from the metro’s government center was also my que for the coup to begin.

The plan, having been updated now that it was known which of the four metro entrances Ulyanov would be using, was to give the signal for some ministry agents protesters in disguise to create a ruckus with fisticuffs and all. they would be leade by Gramatikov who would be disguised as one of the crowd.At face value, a large surge of protesters was plausible. This was because despite Ulyanov’s popularity, there was still significant opposition to him. Mostly this came from supports of the long deposed political dynasty of Nicholas Palavha. Who was widely regarded the most democratically free leader. Then there were former staunch and very militant Karhiv supporters. The ministry’s leadership did not discriminate in enlisting the support of both factions, informing the two sides of Ulyianov’s appearance in New Year’s Day and highlighting the low level of security. Once the mass of protesters had surged forward, in the ensuing tussle Hill and I would look as though we were protecting Ulyianov.At this moment, he would be snatched by Hill and myself. the disguised protesters would then knock Ulyianov unconscious.

To make the event look all the more real, Hill and I would also be knocked out. This was intended to give the appearance and impression that Ulyianov had indeed been captured by the mob. Gramatikov, had informed me that he knew of a number of smaller businesses in the metro that were opposed to Uliyanov, for a large fee were willing to hide him in his unconscious state in their back storerooms. From thereon Uliyanov would be kept further unconscious by spore bot regulating drugs administered by specialist medics from the ministry. The unconscious Uliyanov would be smuggled out of metro through rear where it had lead to the larger depot bay.All the while the spore bots regulating drugs would be remotely operated by medics keeping in a coma. The postal trolley containing the unconscious Uliyanov would be sent to the depot at the rear of the metro complex. This was where they would receive its stock. The couriers being local

services. Here again, some were opposed to Uliyanov’s new regime and were too happy to lend a hand in his demise.

The next phase of the operation was for the courier, a land to air vehicle capable of travelling ground or atmosphere, to travel outside of Morana via the normal route for courier services. The choice of using a regular travel route was to create the air of normalcy. Once outside of Morana, the courier would travel to the Keterin regions. The last stop ourselves and Uliyanov, would be Chezanne. Just as I was about to check my personal visual comms to see if all Gramatikov was ready with his make believe protesters and King with the special forces detachment that had been assigned to the mission by Orion Treaty Territories. But there was no response nor link from King or his men.As per the protocol implemented for this mission, no communication via personal comms was permitted. There was the real risk that any usage of personal comms could be detected. Not only would our locations be given but the signature of our comms could be traced and identified. This meant compromising our location, disguises, mission details to say the least. There was also the real danger that hacking into personal datagrams such aa my own or anyone else’s, could be duplicated by a master hacker, then duplicated and used to access the ministry’s own dataframes. Then, the organistion’s own technological inventories and files.

With what happened next I need not bother worry. I received an emergency message through my personal comms. I accessed it despite the risk of breaching the mission’s comms discipline. The message contained a series of official Marzanna state documents. These were surveillance documents. I recognized its content and images immediately. These were surveillance reports , they had been surveying us the whole time. Just as I felt compelled to break protocol and warn Hill and Sasha via comms, but I saw an individual very familiar to me though I had never personally met him. It was Edmund Dzerzhinski, recognsable in with his goaite and glowing blue pupils and his PVK uniform coming towards me. I could tell by his eye contact that he knew exactly who I was disguised as Another induvial wearing a similar uniform to Dzerkhinski’s aloth of lesser rank told through his uniform details, confronted Hill.As Dzerzhinski closed in on me I looked to see where Sahsa was and felt and hoped that he could see what befell Hill and I. I did make eye onctact with Gramatikov. By the look of shock in his eyas and his gasp he what was about to happen if he did not act. Gramatikov did act. The agents disguised as protesters along with the protesters from factions opposed to Ulyianov surged forward. I only just caught the look of fear on Ulyianov’s face, he immediately hid behind is entourage, even pushing of them in front him as though using them as shields. Using his own entourage for his own just like he used the populations of the pact systems for his own needs just like Karkhiv before him.

It was the surge of the crowd that save us all, Hill and Sasha and other agents from the ministry. During the surge of the crowd, it would be Hill Gramatiko, myself who would be pulled out of the crowd. Thorugh the smuggled out of city’s courier services, not Ulyianov.Atotal of six courier craft. It was the most ignominious of ends to any significant coup ever attempted.Arare opportunity to capture Ulyianov when he was at his most vulnerable, an opportunity that was certainly not to arise again. but we were all alive and not in the custody of Dzerzhinsy himself

for which would be facing death sentences. Rather than finding ourselves in city’s notorious holding centers we would be transported to the forests of the Keterin regions by the forrest people.

2

We were now surrounded by the white and green trees of the Keterine forests. Hill, Sasha and I now sat among the Keterine’s vehicles of the anti-government rebels who had afforded us sanctuary. There were also horses of local who lived and acted as the community’s scouts to forewarn of potential government incursions. The night was spent in the outer parts of the forests.As neither most of the rebels nor local Keterine’s wanted any direct association with us. This was in the event that government forces discovered that we had been in the Keterine forests, reprisals were sure to follow. Our hosts had provided us with used, and heavily worn, military sleeping equipment and local cooking pots. The 20 year- old surplus equipment was now being used to make the morning’s tea and coffee with water coming from streams that were the result of snow melting en mass For the next few hours, my mind kept coming back to the ease of which all of our actions had been anticipated and foiled. The evening in the mountainous Urbral regions was night of snow winds and thunder.Aslow, loud, shattering, and unpredictable thunder. That thunder was both scary and distracting. It was personally distraction because the thunder brought back memories of a time when in my early twenties with Mum, we were walking in the evening in our local town StAlbans

It was a dark evening and there was a thunderstorm terrifying in its, made all the more terrifying by the night and we being out in the open and we could feel the thunder each time it struck. This was the same fear I was experiencing now. Unlike the evening’s walk and its thunder conditions where Grandmother’s house was only a street away, here there was no home to come to. Nonetheless, the memory of a past and more happier time took my mind off the grave circumstances that I and everyone else was in. My remising on the past was, and had been since my 30’s a coping mechanism and a personal, albeit psychological sanctuary. My remising of the past was distracted back to reality when Hill tapped me and informed me that extreme ranged sensors had picked up a large body of a activity, of an unidentified origin, 200 meters from where we were.

I told Gramatikov and Hill to stay within the forrest cover, it afforded cover. Hill was with me personally as would be expected of a second in command, Sasha stayed with the Keterine rebels. I overheard him saying that he would offer extra funds for their doing so.As we waited, Hill kept in contact with the rebels who were using their own improvised tech comms and activated spores to survey the area. Thus providing forward reconnaissance I was able to use my own personal computer to access the spore hive’s footage.As the first of the spore hive accelerated and fanned out, footage showed there was more recognizable. However, the severity of the evening’s meant

hampered image quality. Thus, identifying the origins of the vehicle was difficult. Was it possible King and those special forces with him were making their way to us?

“Everyone Down, DOWN!” a voice said in the broken English of the Keterine accent. Then an airburst over incendiary munitions exploded in mid-air The choice of using incendiary munitions I feel was deliberate as it would burn our cover and leave us exposed Or we would burn within the forests. I checked on Hill and Sasha. Both were safe. They saw the airburst and knew exactly what it was. As for the rebels, villagers, they helped themselves in their own way by rolling in the ground or whatever water there was, Gramatikov assisted them with this. Hill, despite the fires around manages to make it to where I was standing. “I have gotten a hold of Abercrombie, he says he can provide us with rescue” Hill said. “Ian, can you hear me?” asked Abercrombie “I can” I replied. “Arescue mission is on its way to you, I estimate 1minute and light speed travel’s time” he said. It not come sooner. I knew then that if we were to stand any chance of being alive by the time arrived promptly Just the Keterine villagers had settled into new hiding positions, the unit came at them.As it advanced, I noticed a feature on the unit, that I had seen others like it before. That being a personnel cabin. This was to be found in most unmanned units. This enabled a human operator to manually operate the unit in the event the unmanned unit(s) had lost control for various reasons.

When the unit passed, I used my -alien tech implants to hack into it security armour package It worked The hatch was overridden, opening up. I climbed on its turret opening and entered A configuration no different to the driver compartment of 20th, 21st century armored vehicles. I had also seen this compartmental configuration in various pact vehicles prior to my defection. This was easy for me to pilot. I then stared to turn the unit’s hacking on the rest of the special forces. Their own weapons mainframes crashed, thus rendering them unable to fire. From the unit’s vison monitors, I could see that the rescue force that the boss dispatched had arrived.

That force consisted of a three escort role and a single cargo carrier, all began to hover at the opening of the forrest where all had regrouped to escape the fire and being engulfed by it. when they halted, near simultaneously, they began pouring fire on Krag special forces. I could see Hill and Gramatikov boarding the cargo carrier’s ramp, and helping some of the wounded villagers, or any who opted to come aboard The cargo carrier did not leave immediately Hill and Sasha came out to see where I was. I was about to open the unit’s turret. But the auto-locking mechanism was activated. I had no way of existing.All I could do was look on helplessly as Hill and Gramatikov searched frantically for me.All the while saw the encroaching forces, advancing towards the cargo craft and its escort. They needed to get out of there fast.

Hill and Sasha took a last look, through Hill’s final look on the ground was longer, before they too ran to the ramp of cargo carrier, with its ramp open. The violent take-off left me surprised that no one was thrown off the ramp. Once the cargo carrier had reached altitude, the two escorts in mid-flight also joined in formation.As the entire air detachment, speedily left the site, the fire from the Krag was aimed upwards and anti- air munitions were now coming to the fore, but to no

effect. With the unmanned unit still smoking, everyone still assumed that the was out of action. I did not add to the fire. I didn’t want to fire on and keep up the facade that the unit was out of action, yet still functioning.

3

I was awoken on the 3rd of January by Savinkov who had let me in allotted cabin, a capacious room that seemed to be the equivalent of a presidential suite. “King has made contact with us. You may also wish to check your own comms bank” he said. “No breakfast?” I asked.

“Unfortunately, not. King says he’s on the clock” Savinkov said. It thought it was unusual as King was always one to take his time and where and where possible feast on gourmet meals. Such was a common site in training exercises between the various departments and subdepartments within the ministry. Just as I was getting out of the bed pushing away the single duvet and two mink blankets I had slept in, I thought about awaking the others using the alarm option in my personal comms; that alarms would also be emitted to Hill, Gramatikov and Athena. “I have already informed David, he waking up everyone else” Savinkov said.

There was cold air and wild winds frightful in their ferocity, though I still felt that it could be negotiated. in the port of Ural. Through my personal comms, captain O’Reilly gave a shipside announcement of the cold air having icy properties and the wild having a reading of 100km an hour force. It was for this reason that he was ordering a non- disembarkation period of two hours. In other words, everyone was stuck aboard. However, captain O’Reilly did make an exception for ferry vehicles to leave the ship. This was normal procedure. They were normally used for the collection of new supplies for the ship when it had arrived in port. Ferry vehicles had other roles too. Their most important secondary orle was the ferrying of passenger requiring the most urgent of medical attention. I had a feeling then and there this was how we would be our exit off the boat.

After O’Reilly’s announcement had ended, I went to the large window. I could see that the ship’s fleet of six ferry vehicles were already at work racing exiting the vessel’s sideway. With the odd one or two vehicles returning. “We will be travelling in three of those” Savinkov said. “They will take you through the dock where new supplies for the cruise are to be drawn from”. From there you will be transferred to different vehicles, yes, more couriers, waiting for you in ha added. “Where does King say he wants to meet you?” I accessed my comms bank. “ Hello Ian, I have made it safely! Neither Zakhimov nor Dzerzhinky knew I was ever in the base” He sounds awfully cheerful. Much more so than he ever would” I commented. “Where is the designated meeting point King want you to go? Savinkov asked “The Lumyorev Mixed Forrest Reserve.” I said. King’s message also gave the exact map coordinates. In the middle of the reserve. “There’s something I want to ask” Savinkov said. I murmured. “Just in case. It shouldn’t be an issue. But, I can arrange some, how should I put it hidden firepower to watch over you?” “Given that you don’t have your armed forces with you?” I said that I would b most interested and that it needed to be kept out of sight when I had met King again. But there was the feeling of caution.

“This is where I say goodbye, Ian” Savinkov said extending his right hand in friend, which I reciprocated. I thanked Savinkov for all that he had done and expressed my sentiments to him. that like him, it was my hope also that one day Ulyanov would be overthrown and Karkhiv brought to justice.

We changed from ferry vehicles to box cars for the journey to the Lumyorev Mixed Forrest Reserve. These pine trees looked like that on Earth but was taller and of a thicker, with stronger smell that is earth. Twenty minutes went by, nothing. Then a lone yellow vehicle, a forest clearer slowly approached. It was not uncommon to see such vehicles in yellow but I could not help but feel that King had chosen it to be conspicuous. I turned to Hill and who was looking at me and I nodded, communicating to him that this was indeed the King The vehicle stopped, a single person exited from the vehicle. The moment I saw the vehicle’s occupant, King himself, dressed in a red suit, with a fur collar. It was King’s habit to wear red suits in the winter and being in the summer. Where did he get that from, I wondered. But this was just among other questions I had for him.

As the mission leader, I decided to go forward signaling with my left hand for Hill, Gramatikov andAthena to remain where they stood. I approached King as he approached me.As I moved closer towards King, a rumbling noise behind him could be heard. Just as the words asking that question formed in my mind and mouth, I heard the noise of speeding vehicles, multiple vehicles. I turned to see what I counted to be ground adjustable vehicles in car and bike form coming through the woods. I then turned to King, to blame him for being followed. The sound was more loud and just as importantly more recognisable. I recognized the sound and the appearances of box-cars. My attention then turned back to King and those questions I had for as well as getting him to safety. But the face I saw was morphing to into the face of another person’s Zakhimov. “Surprised to see me Dr Reilly” Zakhimov said.

My next reaction was the urge to ask one question with a single word, how? But along with multiple vehicles, multiple projectiles projectiles were towards us all numerous in their type and the amount landing all around me. I stared to run for cover.As I did so, I could see in the corner of my left eye that Hill and Sasha were running for cover, behind a nearby tree.Athena on the other hand, was trying to run towards me. Working against her was concentrated fire, which seemed to be directed at her intentionally. It was as though pact forces had learned from their experiences at the crash site. Zakhimov could see thatAthena was attempting to come to my aid. As more and more concentrated on where she was, she was pinned down. I attempted to run to her position.

At around the same time that I decide to go to Athena’s aid, I noticed the arrival of other boxcars not of the pact forces. This was the “the hidden firepower” spoke of by Savinkov that was now coming to our aid. But did not have time to enjoy the relive of seeing the reinforcements. I was pushed to the ground, it was Zakhimov. himself who did the pushing and we began wrestling with one another. Soon he had me in a headlock and I was gasping for air. As I continued to gasp for air, I could still see all around other unfolding events. Hill and Gramatikov retreating to the safety of our ally’s box cats. All the while I was being choked, I saw Hill and Gramatikov, but notAthena.

I awoke to find myself looking at a vast roof that appeared to be a hanger of some sort. I knew that I was at the unnamed facility that was holding the artifact. I could also feel someone behind me. Somehow, I knew it was someone familiar to me, but who? I knew that Hill and Gramatikov escaped, what of contact? “Aah he’s awake” I heard a familiar voice. But not so familiar. “Feeling better Dr Reilly, I certainly hope not” the same voice said. That familiar voice, I realized was Ulyianov. I knew the reason why I had been captured was most likely due to my talking to the alien artifact and as someone who was overseeing the alien tech program, a rival to their own, he would know that my being dead was not in anyone’s best interests. “Here we have the man who tried, and failed, to overthrow me” Ulyianov said speaking to Dzerzhinksy and Zakhimov. “Were he any other man, I would have ordered your execution” “Your only value is that you have been able to talk to it and the aliens themselves? Currently, you talk to only one?!” “What does it say to you? “What does it say about me?” he continued to pile me with questions.

“It doesn’t it. It talks about its knowledge being for the good of all. Not just yours” I replied. “It chooses who it interacts with. That’s why you have not had any success in having it reveal its data to you” I added. I could feel someone behind me. When I turned there was a female nurser, distinguishable by her immediate medical kit. She gave me a half smile. A friendly smile, as though she was assuring me that despite my dire circumstances all would be well. But there was one feature of the nurse that caught my attention. The colors of her pupils They were the same as Athena’s. The right pupil was black with the left being green. For a moment I even indulged in the thought it could be Athena in disguise. I could not help but feel, ever stronger that something was amiss.

I didn’t realise that it was a head of state’s prerogative to interrogate?” I said. “I am the head of GVF and PKV, being the spy you are you already, so you shouldn’t have to ask” I was then moved around by someone, I didn’t see who. When I had been turned around, I saw King trussed in a similar manner as I. “ Both of you where brought here for a reason” Dzerzhinski said “You’re going to obtain the whatever secrets that artifacts has and get it to communicate them, whether it wants it or not” “Zakhimov” said Dzerzhinski. Zahimov, then turned to three nearby GVF agents. “I imagine you want to know how we caught you?” gloated Ulyianov. “Felix…”

Without explanation, the hangar’s roof begun to open at all sides, as though it was opened by a force other than the base’s semi-autonomous infrastructure had come to life, and was now doing its own thing rather than performing as per it limited artificial intelligence practices. As the hangar roof opened evermore and the night sky became more visible, another sight became evermore visible in the sky above. That of a carryall craft and what appeared to be escorting craft. The carryall craft was descending as the hangar roof opened wider and wider. Not long

afterwards there was shooting inside the hanger itself. I could see that the woman who was once the female nurse was now Athena again, firing at the GVF agents it the hangar. Troops were descending down to the hangar floor by means of personal gravity stunters. Two such soldiers approached King and myself, we were still tied up.

The two soldiers revealed themselves to be none other than Hill and Gramatikov. Hill united me; Gramatikov untied King. Athena now guarded us. The carryall craft was now aligned with the hangar’s roof. One of which was the loadsmaster and his support personnel immediately begun fitting process around the fore and aft of the casing in which the artifact was housed. As the loadsmaster was overseeing the fitting procedure, there was a burst of fire from some new GVF agents that had entered the hangar. The loadsmaster and two of his assistants were felled. Athena who was running to the crate that held the artifact along with King, Hilll, Gramatikov and myself. It now held the wounded loadsmaster among other injured personnel. I activated the haulage cable’s controls. The rigging holding the crate, artifact, and us ascended. As did the carryall. Very soon we were clear of the hangar’s roof. What the alien told me was that it had disabled not only the hangar’s roofing and security infrastructure. But also the outlying defense networks surrounding the base. We were on our way to the safety of Chezanne.

THE END

Patrick Jencik was born inAustralia and lives in Melbourne, Victoria. Patrick grew up watching and reading espionage and science fiction stories since childhood. Many of the interests that eponymous protagonist of Ian Reilly, come from Patrick’s own. He grew up watching and reading science fiction and espionage stories, a passion that he continues to harbor to this day. Ian Reilly is not only a product of Patrick’s ongoing passion for the two areas, in the Ian Reilly novella, the story is at its core a spy mission set in the distant future.Added to which is another staple of science fiction, extraterrestrial intervention.

Besides maintaining a reverence for the science fiction and espionage genres, Patrick’s other interests include antiquing, collecting rare books and history. Interests all exhibited by the novella’s own reluctant hero. Like his own literary creation, Patrick’s own the view of history is that each period is its own chapter in humanity’s evolution, However, Patrick has a particular interest in the colonialism of the 19th as well as the totalitarianism and Cold War in the 20th .

At the end of the 27th century, one of the foremost spies of the age, Ian Reilly, a specialist in alien technology, has been tasked with capturing a never seen before artifact showing signs of sentience. It will be his most dangerous mission yet. He is on a collision course with another master spy of equal ability and stature as he, the ingenious but unscrupulous counter-espionage agent Avakhom Zakhimov.

Reilly must also face the possibility that one of his superiors and a mentor may be a double agent.

Threatening to not only to undermine any chance of success Reilly’s mission may have, but to also deliver Reilly into Zakhimov’s hands. During the course of his mission, Reilly also comes to face a conflict of allegiances. He will be called upon to become the one person that could be the bridge between humankind and alienkind.

He must decide if he remains loyal to his mission, or embrace a higher ideal of human- alien unity …..