Chapter 13 (cont)
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: Star Trek is trademarked and copyrighted by CBS Studios.
NO infringement is intended. All other material is copyright to Unusualsuspex 2010.
Chapter 13 (cont)
DASHT-E KAVIR (CENTRAL DESERT)
IRAN
EARTH
16th January 2026 – 0342 IRST (0012 UTC)
It was the strangest of feelings, Ashkenazi would recall later. The desert took on an unnatural stillness for the briefest of moments and then she noticed one of the stunted bushes nearby tremble slightly. Moments later, a basso rumble caused pebbles and small rocks to dance on the hard salt surface and that’s when all hell broke loose.
The ground beneath her heaved throwing her into the air. Scrambling for purchase, she was thrown twice more from her feet, gashing her forehead in the process. As quickly as it had begun, the earthquake faded, minor in its own way but strong enough to cause panic and distress in the camp below.
When Segel pointed to her head, she waved away his concern indicating he should focus his attention on the target instead. Crawling back up the dune to lay prone beside him, she watched as he quickly scanned the scene below through the night vision goggles.
“Well that got them upset,” he whispered. “One of the walls has collapsed across the radar array at the rear of the Gauntlet and there are at least two men pinned under there.” The glasses suddenly swivelled left to the dark side of the camp. “Wait here!”
Without another word Segel was on his feet and had disappeared into the darkness. She was sure she heard the hiss of the compressed air pistol being fired but wasn’t certain until her partner reappeared with a limp body slung over his shoulder. She could see the hypodermic dart still lodged in the man’s neck.
“We have to be quick,” hissed Segel. “I heard them calling for assistance on the radio.”
Dumping the body unceremoniously on the ground, he began rifling through the man’s pockets as Ashkenazi turned the stunned man’s face towards her.
“Can you hear me?”
He stared blankly at her for a moment before nodding.
“Tell me why you are here.” The words were spoken quietly and calmly yet there was a suggestion of command in her voice.
“It is the Prophet’s…Voice,” he replied haltingly.
She looked at Segel in confusion but he only shrugged as he continued turning out the soldier’s pockets.
“What is the Prophet’s Voice?”
He flapped his arm ineffectually. “They…will obey…the Prophet’s Voice. There is no…possible way to…ignore it…”
“Got it!” whispered Segel in triumph studying a wad of documents he’d pulled from the officer’s jacket. “Operation orders for ‘Prophet’s Voice’!”
When Ashkenazi saw the man’s eyes roll back in his head, she realised that he would be of no further use to them. Grabbing his cap, she pointed across to where Segel had first captured him.
“Down there, when the earth tremor hit, it looked like one of the marsh pits.”
Segel nodded his understanding and together they hurriedly dragged the soldier’s limp body down and around the dune. By the disturbed salt marsh, Segel quickly and efficiently broke the man’s neck before laying him halfway into the quicksand as Ashkenazi threw his cap to the side in full view of anybody who may come searching.
Moments later, as they ran silently from the scene, they heard the steady beat of approaching helicopter blades in the distance and their pace increased to put as much distance between themselves and the ruined town.
At one point they saw headlights moving rapidly north along the road out of Jandaq and hid as the small convoy of jeeps and trucks passed them in a cloud of dust speeding towards the stricken camp. When at last the taillights of the vehicles disappeared, their flight continued until they finally reached the outskirts of Jandaq breathless, tired and horrified at what they saw.
The earth tremor had obviously hit harder here than further north. Fires burnt towards the shattered centre of the town and there were no lights to be seen anywhere. In the streets, people were being laid on sheets to be treated for injuries sustained as walls had collapsed in the old houses.
Forced to ignore the misery that lay all around them, Ashkenazi and Segel hurried to the eastern side of the ancient town and the small lockup where their battered truck was stored. Mechanically sound enough to aid their escape, it was old and decrepit enough in appearance to avoid the attention of the military. However, when they saw the state of the lock-up, it appeared their hopes of using it to escape had, like the vehicle, probably been crushed.
Segel hurried over to begin removing rubble that had fallen across the doors until Ashkenazi grabbed his arm to stop his work. “Look!”
She pointed further down the row of small, garage sized units to where several stood open, their doors bent ajar by the shock of the tremor. Staying to the shadows they ran quickly along the row inspecting each open door. Several proved empty, one or two had goods stored in them for the small shops on the other side of the lockups but the last three contained vehicles.
It was patently obvious that the first vehicle was not going to start. A metal beam support had speared through the top of the hood and left a pool of oil and water spreading from beneath it like the lifeblood of those out on the streets.
The second looked more promising and Segel selected a lump of masonry which he used to break the side window. He didn’t even bother to open the door when he saw that the steering wheel was absent.
Finally they tried the last open door, Segel having to squeeze between its bent remains and the frame. Ashkenazi waited on the street realising that if anybody came there was ample cover but praying nonetheless that they would remain undisturbed.
With a rumble, it appeared that her prayers had been answered as Segel started the pickup and managed to push aside the battered door. Climbing quickly into the foul smelling cab, Ashkenazi smiled at her partner who hooked his thumb over his shoulder. “Check out the back.”
As Segel pulled away into the darkness, Ashkenazi just had time to see six jerry cans lashed to the rear of the cab.
“Each one full as well. Looks like somebody is on our side at last.”
“Unless perhaps somebody decides to take pot-shots at us?”
Segel shook his head in mock astonishment. “You’ll be telling me next you really expect to live long enough to claim your state pension.”
“With you as a partner?” She laughed, “I seriously doubt it.”
Now, a long and dangerous overland journey to Bushehr lay ahead of them and Ashkenazi sat back to read the captured documents with a shielded torch.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON DC, USA
EARTH
15th January 2026 – 2117 EST (16th January 2026 – 0217 UTC)
Why on earth am I doing this? Not only was it madness in a political sense but even more so in a personal sense. Yet Madeline Everett found herself doing it anyway.
There was a click as the line connected before she heard his voice. “Madam President? This isn’t a joke right?”
Madeline smiled, “Not a joke at all Captain, or should I say Rear Admiral. Congratulations on the promotion.”
“I have to say I’m getting some funny looks from the fly boys here when they hear that rank Ma’am.”
“Actually I’ve now heard from the Joint Chiefs that if this program works, it will become a separate command of its own. You might even end up with army ranks.”
“Ouch, that wasn’t necessary Ma’am.”
In her private quarters, Madeline smiled at Mitchell’s humorous response. In the three days she had spent in briefings and relaxed lunches with him before he left for Texas, she had seen a man she hadn’t been expecting at all.
She knew he was career navy, had never been married and was half expecting him to turn out to be a man who only had one topic of conversation, so had been pleasantly surprised when he held out on any number of topics, from history to music to politics and more.
Rebecca had spoken to her on the night that Mitchell left in the way only a teenage daughter could.
“You do realise you were monopolizing the poor guy don’t you?”
“What? I was not,” Madeline protested weakly.
“’S’ok, he didn’t seem to mind at all,” she’d replied with a crooked grin before going to bed.
It was those words that had at last forced Madeline to face the truth that she found the man both attractive and interesting, and not in a passing way. Yes, there were the similarities to Michael, but there were even more differences.
“Is that right Ma’am?”
Suddenly brought back to the present by Mitchell’s words she wondered what she’d missed. “I’m sorry Mitch; the line is awful could you repeat that?” Even using the name he’d said that everybody called him seemed like a little privilege.
“I was just saying that we all heard on the news about the senator who was drumming up support to suspend the 22nd amendment for the duration of the crisis.”
“Oh, right. Well it would’ve been nice if they asked me whether I wanted to serve a third term I guess.”
Mitchell’s laugh lifted her spirits and she finally remembered the reason for her call. Far from official business, it was purely personal. Hell, I’m the President but I’m still allowed a life she thought.
“Anyway I won’t keep you,” much as I’d like to, “but Jen wants to know what colour jump suit the astronauts wear, and don’t ask me why because I’ve been sworn to secrecy.”
“Tell her it’s the same blue as her mommy’s eyes…er Ma’am.”
For a moment, Madeline’s breath caught before she told herself to stop acting like a schoolgirl.
“I’ll do that. Goodnight Mitch, keep me up to date with the progress down there. Always better to hear it from the frontline rather than in the dry reports we end up with.”
“Ah ok, it’s just that I, erm...”
Oh well done Everett, you’ve embarrassed the man and made him feel stupid. Nice shot.
“I actually have no idea how to get in touch!”
“Oh right I see,” she said breathing a sigh of relief. “I’ll arrange for a contact number to be given to you ok?”
“I’d really appreciate that Ma’am.”
“In that case I’ll say goodnight and mean it this time. Good luck with the training Mitch.”
“Thanks Ma’am, sleep well.”
She had no idea where any of this had come from or indeed where it might end up but truthfully she didn’t really care. For now she was the happiest she had been in quite some time and there was no law to proscribe that, not even for a President.
It’s only when the phone began to beep insistently at her that she realised she was still cradling it.
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: Star Trek is trademarked and copyrighted by CBS Studios.
NO infringement is intended. All other material is copyright to Unusualsuspex 2010.
Chapter 13 (cont)
DASHT-E KAVIR (CENTRAL DESERT)
IRAN
EARTH
16th January 2026 – 0342 IRST (0012 UTC)
It was the strangest of feelings, Ashkenazi would recall later. The desert took on an unnatural stillness for the briefest of moments and then she noticed one of the stunted bushes nearby tremble slightly. Moments later, a basso rumble caused pebbles and small rocks to dance on the hard salt surface and that’s when all hell broke loose.
The ground beneath her heaved throwing her into the air. Scrambling for purchase, she was thrown twice more from her feet, gashing her forehead in the process. As quickly as it had begun, the earthquake faded, minor in its own way but strong enough to cause panic and distress in the camp below.
When Segel pointed to her head, she waved away his concern indicating he should focus his attention on the target instead. Crawling back up the dune to lay prone beside him, she watched as he quickly scanned the scene below through the night vision goggles.
“Well that got them upset,” he whispered. “One of the walls has collapsed across the radar array at the rear of the Gauntlet and there are at least two men pinned under there.” The glasses suddenly swivelled left to the dark side of the camp. “Wait here!”
Without another word Segel was on his feet and had disappeared into the darkness. She was sure she heard the hiss of the compressed air pistol being fired but wasn’t certain until her partner reappeared with a limp body slung over his shoulder. She could see the hypodermic dart still lodged in the man’s neck.
“We have to be quick,” hissed Segel. “I heard them calling for assistance on the radio.”
Dumping the body unceremoniously on the ground, he began rifling through the man’s pockets as Ashkenazi turned the stunned man’s face towards her.
“Can you hear me?”
He stared blankly at her for a moment before nodding.
“Tell me why you are here.” The words were spoken quietly and calmly yet there was a suggestion of command in her voice.
“It is the Prophet’s…Voice,” he replied haltingly.
She looked at Segel in confusion but he only shrugged as he continued turning out the soldier’s pockets.
“What is the Prophet’s Voice?”
He flapped his arm ineffectually. “They…will obey…the Prophet’s Voice. There is no…possible way to…ignore it…”
“Got it!” whispered Segel in triumph studying a wad of documents he’d pulled from the officer’s jacket. “Operation orders for ‘Prophet’s Voice’!”
When Ashkenazi saw the man’s eyes roll back in his head, she realised that he would be of no further use to them. Grabbing his cap, she pointed across to where Segel had first captured him.
“Down there, when the earth tremor hit, it looked like one of the marsh pits.”
Segel nodded his understanding and together they hurriedly dragged the soldier’s limp body down and around the dune. By the disturbed salt marsh, Segel quickly and efficiently broke the man’s neck before laying him halfway into the quicksand as Ashkenazi threw his cap to the side in full view of anybody who may come searching.
Moments later, as they ran silently from the scene, they heard the steady beat of approaching helicopter blades in the distance and their pace increased to put as much distance between themselves and the ruined town.
At one point they saw headlights moving rapidly north along the road out of Jandaq and hid as the small convoy of jeeps and trucks passed them in a cloud of dust speeding towards the stricken camp. When at last the taillights of the vehicles disappeared, their flight continued until they finally reached the outskirts of Jandaq breathless, tired and horrified at what they saw.
The earth tremor had obviously hit harder here than further north. Fires burnt towards the shattered centre of the town and there were no lights to be seen anywhere. In the streets, people were being laid on sheets to be treated for injuries sustained as walls had collapsed in the old houses.
Forced to ignore the misery that lay all around them, Ashkenazi and Segel hurried to the eastern side of the ancient town and the small lockup where their battered truck was stored. Mechanically sound enough to aid their escape, it was old and decrepit enough in appearance to avoid the attention of the military. However, when they saw the state of the lock-up, it appeared their hopes of using it to escape had, like the vehicle, probably been crushed.
Segel hurried over to begin removing rubble that had fallen across the doors until Ashkenazi grabbed his arm to stop his work. “Look!”
She pointed further down the row of small, garage sized units to where several stood open, their doors bent ajar by the shock of the tremor. Staying to the shadows they ran quickly along the row inspecting each open door. Several proved empty, one or two had goods stored in them for the small shops on the other side of the lockups but the last three contained vehicles.
It was patently obvious that the first vehicle was not going to start. A metal beam support had speared through the top of the hood and left a pool of oil and water spreading from beneath it like the lifeblood of those out on the streets.
The second looked more promising and Segel selected a lump of masonry which he used to break the side window. He didn’t even bother to open the door when he saw that the steering wheel was absent.
Finally they tried the last open door, Segel having to squeeze between its bent remains and the frame. Ashkenazi waited on the street realising that if anybody came there was ample cover but praying nonetheless that they would remain undisturbed.
With a rumble, it appeared that her prayers had been answered as Segel started the pickup and managed to push aside the battered door. Climbing quickly into the foul smelling cab, Ashkenazi smiled at her partner who hooked his thumb over his shoulder. “Check out the back.”
As Segel pulled away into the darkness, Ashkenazi just had time to see six jerry cans lashed to the rear of the cab.
“Each one full as well. Looks like somebody is on our side at last.”
“Unless perhaps somebody decides to take pot-shots at us?”
Segel shook his head in mock astonishment. “You’ll be telling me next you really expect to live long enough to claim your state pension.”
“With you as a partner?” She laughed, “I seriously doubt it.”
Now, a long and dangerous overland journey to Bushehr lay ahead of them and Ashkenazi sat back to read the captured documents with a shielded torch.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON DC, USA
EARTH
15th January 2026 – 2117 EST (16th January 2026 – 0217 UTC)
Why on earth am I doing this? Not only was it madness in a political sense but even more so in a personal sense. Yet Madeline Everett found herself doing it anyway.
There was a click as the line connected before she heard his voice. “Madam President? This isn’t a joke right?”
Madeline smiled, “Not a joke at all Captain, or should I say Rear Admiral. Congratulations on the promotion.”
“I have to say I’m getting some funny looks from the fly boys here when they hear that rank Ma’am.”
“Actually I’ve now heard from the Joint Chiefs that if this program works, it will become a separate command of its own. You might even end up with army ranks.”
“Ouch, that wasn’t necessary Ma’am.”
In her private quarters, Madeline smiled at Mitchell’s humorous response. In the three days she had spent in briefings and relaxed lunches with him before he left for Texas, she had seen a man she hadn’t been expecting at all.
She knew he was career navy, had never been married and was half expecting him to turn out to be a man who only had one topic of conversation, so had been pleasantly surprised when he held out on any number of topics, from history to music to politics and more.
Rebecca had spoken to her on the night that Mitchell left in the way only a teenage daughter could.
“You do realise you were monopolizing the poor guy don’t you?”
“What? I was not,” Madeline protested weakly.
“’S’ok, he didn’t seem to mind at all,” she’d replied with a crooked grin before going to bed.
It was those words that had at last forced Madeline to face the truth that she found the man both attractive and interesting, and not in a passing way. Yes, there were the similarities to Michael, but there were even more differences.
“Is that right Ma’am?”
Suddenly brought back to the present by Mitchell’s words she wondered what she’d missed. “I’m sorry Mitch; the line is awful could you repeat that?” Even using the name he’d said that everybody called him seemed like a little privilege.
“I was just saying that we all heard on the news about the senator who was drumming up support to suspend the 22nd amendment for the duration of the crisis.”
“Oh, right. Well it would’ve been nice if they asked me whether I wanted to serve a third term I guess.”
Mitchell’s laugh lifted her spirits and she finally remembered the reason for her call. Far from official business, it was purely personal. Hell, I’m the President but I’m still allowed a life she thought.
“Anyway I won’t keep you,” much as I’d like to, “but Jen wants to know what colour jump suit the astronauts wear, and don’t ask me why because I’ve been sworn to secrecy.”
“Tell her it’s the same blue as her mommy’s eyes…er Ma’am.”
For a moment, Madeline’s breath caught before she told herself to stop acting like a schoolgirl.
“I’ll do that. Goodnight Mitch, keep me up to date with the progress down there. Always better to hear it from the frontline rather than in the dry reports we end up with.”
“Ah ok, it’s just that I, erm...”
Oh well done Everett, you’ve embarrassed the man and made him feel stupid. Nice shot.
“I actually have no idea how to get in touch!”
“Oh right I see,” she said breathing a sigh of relief. “I’ll arrange for a contact number to be given to you ok?”
“I’d really appreciate that Ma’am.”
“In that case I’ll say goodnight and mean it this time. Good luck with the training Mitch.”
“Thanks Ma’am, sleep well.”
She had no idea where any of this had come from or indeed where it might end up but truthfully she didn’t really care. For now she was the happiest she had been in quite some time and there was no law to proscribe that, not even for a President.
It’s only when the phone began to beep insistently at her that she realised she was still cradling it.
