فصل 11

11

Hatch Arrives

The life pod that Hatch and twelve crewmen had taken when escaping from the sinking Faraday was no speedboat. On smooth seas she could only reach speeds of twelve knots. But with stormy seas and a fair headwind that blew them off course, they were slowed considerably and it took nearly twenty-six hours for the boat and its occupants to reach the island of Nike.

When they reached the island, everyone on board the pod was ill and the floor was wet and sticky with seawater and vomit. Hatch was apoplectic. All but Hatch and three of his guards had been blinded by the flash, and the helplessness and moaning of his men only added to his rage.

As the pod approached Nike, the men working the dock were surprised to see them. They had expected large boats returning, not a single escape pod. They pulled the vessel in tight, securing it to the dock’s cleats. They were even more surprised when they discovered that Admiral-General Hatch was one of the pod’s occupants.

Hatch practically burst from the pod, closely followed by the three guards who still had their eyesight. “Get me out of this puke,” he growled. He had ample reasons to be furious. In addition to losing his ship and armies and having to endure the long, uncomfortable journey to Nike, he was also afraid. He was afraid because he was vulnerable. If the Tuvaluan natives decided to reclaim their islands right then, he could be overrun before help arrived.

“Get us to the plant,” he shouted to the first dockworker he saw. “Now.” “What about the others on board?” the dockworker asked.

Hatch ignored the question.

“You’re going to have to come back for them,” one of the guards answered. “They’re blind.” The men looked back and forth at one another. “Where should we take them?” “Take them to the plant,” Hatch said. “We’ll find something to do with them.” “Rat food,” one of the dock men mumbled.

Within minutes an olive-green Hummer pulled up to the dock. Hatch and his three guards climbed in, then sped off to the Starxource plant. The gates opened as they approached, and the Hummer didn’t stop until it had pulled past a raised metal door of the plant, which shut immediately behind them. Hatch climbed out of the car. As he walked inside the plant, he was greeted by EGG Amon and EGG Grant.

“Welcome back, sir. It’s good to see you.”

“Come with me,” Hatch said.

As he followed Hatch down the corridor, Amon said, “We lost all radio contact. What is the status of the siege?” Hatch turned and scowled. “The status is that our forces were decimated.” The EGG looked at him blankly. “How did that come about?” “Somehow Vey went supernova and exploded himself like a nuclear bomb. He wiped out everything.” Then he said in a softer tone, as if to himself, “At least Vey is gone.” “How many men did we lose?”

“Everyone. As far as I know, we’re the only survivors. Which means we’re vulnerable. We need to rally our guards to the plant. Immediately. I want our forces brought in immediately from Fiji, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Taiwan. Leave only enough men to guard the plants. I want the Lung Li here. Contact the Philippine Navy. I want the Joule refueled and out to sea immediately.” The EGG swallowed. “I have news regarding the Joule, sir.” Hatch’s eyes narrowed, as if daring the EGG to give more bad news. “What?” “The Joule has been hijacked. We picked up the crew two hours ago.” Hatch erupted. “Hijacked?! By whom?”

“The traitor Welch and the Glows.”

Hatch’s face turned so red, the EGG feared his general might suffer an aneurism.

“How many guards do we have on this island?”

“Twenty-eight, sir. That includes the Joule’s crew and those in the center guarding the cages.” “We’ll deal with the Joule’s crew later. How many nonmilitary personnel do we have on the island?” “Including scientists?”

“Every last man and woman.”

“Thirty-six, sir.”

“That leaves us sixty-four plus the five of us. Secure the compound. Electrify all fences to lethal levels. I don’t care whether they’ve ever touched a gun or not, I want everyone armed and loaded in case the natives revolt. There will be complete radio silence. There is to be no mention on air of what has happened; we can’t afford to let this information slip out. Do you understand?” “Yes, sir.”

“The natives probably don’t know we’re exposed. Let’s keep it that way.” “Yes, sir.”

“Where are Bryan and Kylee?”

“In their quarters, sir.”

“Send them to me.”

“Yes, sir.”

Hatch turned to leave.

“Where are you going now, sir?”

“To get back my boat.”