“We’ll take control of Banshee III’s central computer,” Rei said. “Yukikaze would probably be happy to do it. By faking an overload in the nuclear reactor, we’ll get every crewman aboard to abandon ship, no questions asked. It’ll be no trouble at all.”
“Easy to say,” said Captain Pivot. “I don’t think we can do it.”
“It’s technically possible,” said Lieutenant Eco. “This isn’t like hijacking an enemy aircraft. The JAM actually pulled it off with Banshee IV. In theory, it should be possible to access Banshee’s central computer with our tactical or strategic computer.”
“Yukikaze’s already accessing it through the tactical computer,” said Captain Foss. “She told us that she’s counting every human on this planet. Well, it might have been her bragging, but still…”
“Anyway, we’ll know for sure once we look up Banshee’s tech specs,” said Lieutenant Eco. “Once you successfully connect, you can make anything there do what you want. Even the nuclear reactor. Well, without someone on the other end to give me guidance, it might take some time, but if you order me to do it, I’ll run a feasibility study.”
“As long as we have a secure footing, we can fly anytime,” Rei said. “All that’s left is to get ready to deal with the threat that’s right in front of us. Jack, you should too.”
“You’re right,” said Major Booker. “All we can do is prepare ourselves for the worst. Use the tactical computer to take control of the FAF’s central functions. Troops move on orders, and it doesn’t matter if they come through a machine. We’ll exploit the natural tendencies of military personnel.”
“I think the JAM are doing the same thing right now,” Captain Foss said. “They’re sure to be using the same methods to sabotage the FAF. This isn’t just a simple shooting war. In order to fight the JAM, the SAF can’t be the first ones to cross the mountain.”
Major Booker nodded to Captain Foss.
“A cyberwar,” he said, “waged in this planetbound fortress. One we can’t lose if our ground personnel are to survive. Captain Pivot, call General Cooley.”
“Roger, sir.”
Rei didn’t feel like participating in these discussions anymore. Asking to be awakened when Yukikaze’s repairs were complete, he left the command center.
He and Yukikaze would be flying together. They’d flown recon missions before, but this time would be different. If the JAM were coming for them, then he’d meet their fighters head on and shoot them down.
Because that, Rei knew, was what Yukikaze wanted as well.
5
“I’M NOT SURPRISED you didn’t know,” Lieutenant Mayle thought he heard Lieutenant Burgadish say. “The FAF is working with the JAM.”
“Am I really dead?” asked Lieutenant Mayle, rubbing his face. He felt nothing.
“While we were risking our lives fighting, the FAF brass successfully entered into an agreement with the JAM.”
Was that feeling of dying while help never arrived real? This body a duplicate?
“The FAF isn’t telling Earth about any of this. The reason, of course, is that they want to monopolize the economic value of planet Faery for themselves.”
“For themselves…?”
Were they saying that this body of his was theirs as well?
“Yes. The FAF’s aircraft fuel is sent from Earth. The food as well,” Burgadish said. “But they predicted early on that there were petroleum reserves here on Faery, and mineral resources. If not for the war with the JAM, they could search for and exploit them in earnest. Earth wanted to send in a survey team, but the FAF rejected the idea, saying they couldn’t spare the manpower to protect them. Then they did it themselves, a long time ago. They’ve also been doing exploratory drilling. That’s what the front-line bases are for. They aren’t just being used simply as forward bases in the fight against the JAM. In reality, they’re drilling for oil.”
“I never knew that…” Mayle said.
“Of course you didn’t. It’s top secret. The Intelligence Forces keep the news under control. Very few people know. Colonel Rombert is in charge of it. Eventually, the plan is for the FAF to declare independence and then sell the resources back to Earth. If Earth tries to intervene, they’ll be up against the JAM. Even now, Earth is being drained by this war. They’re not getting anything out of it, thanks to the FAF. They’ve nearly done it. Just a little more, and they can declare independence.”
“We’re not going to let them get away with it, are we?”
To this, Lieutenant Burgadish smiled and nodded to Lieutenant Mayle.
“Of course we won’t let them.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because we’re not going to sit by quietly. We’re going to teach them a lesson for trying to keep all the shares for themselves.”
“We should join forces too.”
“As fellow corpses,” Burgadish said.
“I’m alive. But you… What are you?”
“A dead man. A dead man resurrected to take revenge upon the living. And so are you, Lieutenant Mayle.”
“I just can’t believe that. I don’t believe it.” Lieutenant Mayle looked around. He was in a vacant warehouse. The men of the retraining unit silently surrounded him. “You guys really believe this bullshit? Lieutenant Lancome, you… You’re…”
The man Mayle knew should be dead nodded sadly to him.
“No, this is wrong,” Lieutenant Mayle muttered. “Something somewhere just doesn’t add up. But that doesn’t matter.”
Lieutenant Mayle took a deep breath and continued.
“I don’t know about you guys, but I’m alive. I’m outta here. Back to my old unit. Now step aside!”
Lieutenant Mayle pushed past Lieutenant Burgadish and headed for the exit. “How unfortunate,” he heard Burgadish say behind him. He was turning to look back when he felt the shock of something slamming into his back. Then he heard the gunshot.
“You son of a bitch, you…!”
He couldn’t say another word. Lieutenant Burgadish spoke, the pistol in his hand still leveled at Mayle.
“It’s also unfortunate that you really aren’t a duplicate. I don’t think I’ll ever understand you living humans. Goodbye, Lieutenant Mayle. May you rest in peace.” And with that, he fired the killing shot, extinguishing Lieutenant Mayle’s consciousness once and for all.
“It was a mistake to have brought you here,” Lieutenant Burgadish said to the dead body. “Colonel Rombert’s mistake. Colonel…”
From a corner of the warehouse, Colonel Rombert stepped casually forward.
“What were you thinking in selecting this man? That wasn’t part of our plan.”
“Unlike you,” the colonel said, “I am not a JAM. I have motivations of my own. I’ve now seen what you’re capable of. Your methods are savage. Well, that’s war, I suppose. It’s inevitable that someone will have to die. Lieutenant Mayle, I’ll arrange for you to receive a medal and a two-rank advancement. I obtained valuable information thanks to your actions.”
“Colonel Rombert—”
“The FAF is drilling for oil, huh? You should have fished a little deeper for something Lieutenant Mayle actually cared about. JAM really don’t understand humans at all, do they?”
Lieutenant Lancome, clenching his fists and trembling, leapt at Lieutenant Burgadish. “You didn’t have to shoot Lieutenant Mayle, did you?” he shouted. “He was a good man! A good man!”
He knocked Lieutenant Burgadish to the floor. Everyone moved to grab Lieutenant Lancome. Another shot rang out. Everyone stopped.
“Colonel Rombert…”