Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Six: Searching Through the Dark
April 3rd, 3035
"Shall we enter?" Natasha asked me after we watched the doors slide open.
"We may as well," I shrugged in response. "We need to see if there are any computer stations close to the entrance, I want to see what happened for the SDS systems to get turned on after we broadcast the shutdown codes."
"It was odd," Natasha said as we moved slowly into the bunker complex. "The systems were shut down even when the pirates arrived, it was not until they opened fire on our small craft that the SDS started targeting them."
"I want to see how the SDS systems were programmed," I replied as lights began turning on as we made our way through the bunker. "If we can use some of the current microchip technology we might be able to create some SDS variants of the Sting and have them patrol important systems."
"That could be useful." Natasha agreed as we finally saw what looked like an underground railway station. "This looks like it will take us to where we wish to go."
"Indeed," I made sure that the power to the small train was on before we climbed in and activated it. "Make sure your Mithrilseals are good, the last thing we need is for there to have been some sort of NBC leak."
While the train moved silently through the underground tunnels, Natasha and I checked our seals and then we checked each other's seals just in case we had missed something. Mithril might be damned good, but it wasn't infallible.
"Looks like we're near the end," I observed as we slowed and gradually came to a stop The train opened the automatic doors and a bank of lights came on and illuminated a chamber that we couldn't see the ceiling of.
"It looks like we are underneath the mountains," Natasha said as we moved through the lit hallways.
"Yeah, but I'm more worried about what we're being led to.." I trailed off as we stopped before another set of doors. Then, the doors slid open, revealing what looked like a security station with lots of tri-vid monitors showing pictures of the entirety of the bunker complex.
"Please verify your identity," the voice of "bitchin' Betty" came through a set of speakers nearby and a series of small lights lit up a computer console.
"Please verify your identity," the voice repeated. "Enter your authorization codes and proper identification to proceed."
Grabbing the SLIC ID chit that I had been using for over thirty years, I slid it through the system and entered the password that I had long since memorized.
"Identity verified, welcome to Hy-Brasil Captain Phillip Williams." the voice said.
"This is from just after the Amaris Coup," I observed as the computer brought up a video file.
"This is Major Ian MacIntosh of the Black Watch. If you are watching this message, then the Terran Hegemony is no more. I and the members of my lance were tasked with bringing the children of First Lord Richard Cameron to a secure location. This facility was built as a research and development facility first but was also designed as a secure location for the First Lord to retreat to should Terra ever be in danger of being overrun." The man on the screen sighed. Natasha and I could see that he was visibly exhausted by the time he had recorded this. "Unfortunately, the scientists here were experimenting with something different and by the time we arrived at the secure bunkers, all but one of the SDS systems had been corrupted and had started killing the troops and scientists left here on Hy-Brasil. The lone uncorrupted AI was enhanced and given a new directive, to protect the Cameron Twins as was deemed necessary by myself and any other SLDF officer." The man paused to breathe, "This worked, and we managed to regain control of the rest of the SDS systems, but by that time all of our dropship and means off world had been destroyed, along with the HPG systems." MacIntosh sighed again. "We were left stranded here and without a means of communicating to any other SLDF or HAF forces. With that being said, and assuming that you are SLIC or TCID myself, my lancemates, and the Cameron twins have been in cryo pods, with us periodically coming out to ensure that all systems are functional. If we're still alive in there, please make sure that the children are treated well, even if the rest of us didn't make it, they don't deserve to be punished for any sins of their family tree." The video cut off as the man started to weep a little bit.
"We need to get the others," I said after Natasha and I had processed everything. "This is something that goes beyond us."
"No, not just yet," Natasha said as she sat down in a dusty chair by one of the computers. "Mark, I read Aleksander Kerensky's journal on my way back to the Inner Sphere, and if he had known that there were surviving members of House Cameron then he would have never pushed for the Exodus."
I sat down next to Natasha and held her hand for a minute before pulling her into my lap.
"To think, all of history was changed because of something as small as this," Natasha broke into laughter. "We need to make sure that the twins survive Mark, I do not care what we have to do to make sure of it."
"We'll do what is necessary Nat," I said as I brought her into my lap. "If you want me to make sure that they are well taken care of, then we can do that. But the Terran Hegemony and the Star League aren't coming back."
"I know that," She said as she pressed her forehead to mine. "But I want us to do all that we can to make sure that these children are not used as political pawns by us or anyone."
"I can't make any promises Nat," I smiled ruefully, "You know that. But I'll do what I can to make sure that they're not used as pawns until they reach adulthood if at all possible."
"I guess that will have to do," Natasha said as she leaned down and kissed me. "Shall we finish exploring?" She stood up and began to walk away with a sway in her hips.
Hy-Brasil, Former Terran Hegemony Black-site, April 5th, 3035
"Are you sure that waking up the Black Watch members first is the right idea?" Mathis asked as I and some of the engineers began the preparations to open the pods.
"Better them than some children that have no idea about who we are," I replied. "The last thing that I want to do is traumatize two children."
"Alright boss, but I'm trusting you on this." Mathis grabbed his rifle and set up in a ready stance along with the two fireteams that we had down in the complex.
"We ready to wake them up?" I asked the team of engineers.
"We're ready whenever you are, Duke Hull," The lead engineer responded.
"Alright then, unseal the hushed casket…