The men shoveled the ice away from the back of the slowly moving borer and tossed it into the sea. When the borer went deeper, freeing up room on the small ice ledge, a mini excavator would be brought from the ship to remove the loosened ice. For the first time in a long while, Nikolay took a moment to relax. There was nothing he could do now until the hull was reached. He lit his pipe and blew a plume of strong-scented smoke into the air. Like the captain, he found it almost impossible to believe they would soon be aboard an alien spaceship. He smiled. You just never knew what surprises the future held in store.
CHAPTER 15
SEAL Team Five
THE ROAR OF the C-130’s powerful engines vibrated through the fuselage and the uncomfortable seats occupied by the six men of SEAL Team Five.
“Two minutes to drop,” called out the pilot over the radio headsets they all wore.
The men stood as the large rear exit ramp opened and after the routine safety check of examining each other’s gear and parachutes had been completed, they walked to the end of the ramp and waited for the red jump light to change.
As one unit the Navy SEALs rushed forward when the jump light turned green and dived out the back. They spread their arms and legs as they plummeted to stretch their wingsuits. Far below the tiny spec of the American salvage ship was dwarfed by their target, the large iceberg. The men spiraled as they swooped down and headed for the entrance at the end of the iceberg lit by bright halogen lights. At five hundred feet they deployed their rapid-release parachutes and glided towards the ice.
The men working around the entrance had been warned of SEAL Team Five’s approach and stood to the side as they stared at parachutists gliding expertly towards them.
The SEALs hit the ice running and detached their parachutes without stopping, letting the wind drag the expensive canopies away and toss them into the sea. The six men glanced disinterestedly at their spectators as they unslung the assault rifles from their backs and headed into the tunnel.
Lieutenant Miller turned towards the entrance when hurried footsteps entered the hangar and stepped forward to introduce himself when the SEALs grew near.
When the SEAL team had been brought up to speed on the latest developments, Richard was reluctantly brought forward.
Miller indicated Richard. “This is Richard Whorley, one of the scientists who discovered the spaceship and your guide to the map room.”
The six men did nothing to hide their skepticism.
Richard, never one not to defend a slight on his abilities, ran his eyes over the men and their weapons. “Yeah, well I’m not impressed by you either. If you think your weapons and training will protect you against all of the alien monstrosities aboard this spaceship, you are wrong―very, very, wrong.”
Commander Nickolas Colbert, the SEAL team officer in charge of the mission, moved forward abruptly, forcing Richard to step back from the invasion of his personal space. “Let’s get this straight, Mr. Whorley, it is not my choice and nor do I want you tagging along with us, but you have mission-critical information we need so come with us you will. You are also an unknown that could put our lives at risk and jeopardize the mission. And make no mistake, if I have to make a choice between my men’s safety, the completion of the mission, or you, you will always lose.”
Richard smiled nervously at the man in a lame attempt to show he wasn’t afraid. “I’ve heard more inspirational pep talks, but if you think I am here willingly, then you are mistaken. You have been forced upon me as much as I have you, so I suggest we hurry up and do what needs to be done so I can get out of this hellhole and back to civilization. And let’s get this straight, Commander Macho,” Richard stepped closer to Colbert. “I only look out for number one―me―so if a situation arises that threatens my life I will do anything to save it, even if that means putting you and your dick-waving diehards or the mission at risk.”
Colbert smiled at Richard’s surprising outburst. It was an indication the man wasn’t completely spineless.
“Looks like we got a live one here,” commented Stedman.
Ramirez slapped his assault rifle and smiled. “He won’t stay that way for long if he keeps talking like that.”
Richard leaned to the side to see around the Commander and looked at Ramirez.
“Maybe not, but I bet I survive longer than you.”
Miller thought it was advisable to intervene before Richard got himself killed. “Corporal Jenkins and Lance Corporal Talbot will tag along as far as the map room and then return with Richard so he won’t be with you for long.”
Commander Colbert nodded. “Probably just as well. Are they ready?”
“They are,” affirmed Miller.
“Then let’s go.” Colbert looked at Richard. “Lead on Pathfinder.”
Richard pointed at one of the SEALs weapons. “Hey wait a minute, don’t I get one of them? I can’t go back in there unarmed.”
“You’re an untrained civilian, Richard, you don’t get one,” Miller told him.
“And we don’t want you shooting us in the back,” said Cleveland.
“Don’t worry, hero, we’ll protect you,” said Ramirez.
Richard smirked at Ramirez as he walked past. “But who’s going to protect all of you?” He headed for the airlock.
A trail of molten metal that bubbled and dripped down the spaceship’s interior hull wall was left in the wake of the jet of intense white light cutting a hole in the alien vessel and lighting up the dark room. When the edges of the glowing door-size hole met, the cutout clanged loudly to the floor. As the clang echoed through the room, the man who had formed the opening raised the dark welding visor and peered through. His excited expression changed to surprised disappointment; it wasn’t the advanced technological vision he had pictured. He turned on hearing someone approach; it was Nikolay. He stepped aside to give room for his superior to catch his first glimpse of the spaceship interior.
Because of the threat of alien creatures roaming free inside the ship, the captain had advised no one to enter until armed backup arrived, but Nikolay couldn’t resist the temptation to be the first Russian to set foot aboard an alien spacecraft. He pulled out his pistol and stepped inside. His flashlight lit up the bulky metal shelves that lined the walls of what seemed to be a storeroom. Though a few disarrayed objects remained on the shelves, most were strewn across the floor. He cast his eyes over some of the strange pieces of equipment without being able to fathom their use, though he thought they might be spare parts for something in the ship or the ship itself. The top two shelves on one of the racks had all but completely collapsed and hung at an angle. He aimed the light at the open doorway that led into an adjoining room. A two-foot high metal beam had fallen and blocked the lower part. He climbed over, shot a glance at the sagging ceiling and roamed the light and the weapon around the room, highlighting workbenches and machinery. The height of the benches and the machinery’s work levels, high for a normal-height human, was the Russian’s first hint the crew was taller than humans. Objects, which he was certain were tools, hung from the walls and lay spilled on the floor. He jumped like a frightened girl in a horror movie when someone placed a hand on his shoulder and spoke.
“What do you reckon this place is, Chief?” Yelchin’s flashlight searched the objects in the room.
“I think it might be a workshop. The aliens must have had a maintenance crew.”
“Makes sense,” Yelchin agreed. “A ship this size must have millions of moving parts and if it’s anything like our vessels, something must have constantly been breaking down, needing attention or adjustment.”