Falling Angels
Copyright© 2020 by Charm Brights
Chapter 9: Contact
When the first action came, it was very mundane. A door opened inwards about a quarter of the way round to the left from the facet which faced the terminal building. The screens above the desk immediately switched to the camera facing that, and Bronwen groaned inwardly to hear the Brigadier warn his men that it might be a trap, and to remain alert for other activities on other facets. As far as they could tell the door was down to ground level, and sure enough a small wheeled vehicle came out of the door.
“Hold your fire until ordered,” snapped the Brigadier into his microphone.
“I wouldn’t order them to fire if I were you,” said Huw, “I know your rules of engagement say you are only to fire in self-defence, and I would define that as ‘if they fire first’. Simply bringing that little thing out into the open and driving it round, or even straight towards us, is not a threat.”
The little speaker chimed up, “I concur with that Brigadier.”
The Brigadier was crestfallen, obviously recognising the voice.
“Yes, Sir,” he said, and Bronwen could positively hear the capital S in the reply. That was clearly a firm order from well above the Brigadier in the chain of command and she hoped that it would keep him firmly in check. Huw obviously disliked and distrusted the man, and she did not blame him.
A small vehicle, just four wheels on a box appeared and paused before starting a journey round the space craft some six feet or so away from it. It was moving at no more than walking pace for a human and it paused occasionally apparently to check something.
To read the complete story you need to be logged in:
Log In or
Register for a Free account
(Why register?)
* Allows you 3 stories to read in 24 hours.