The Abyss of Time

Chapter Fifty Six

     "We've identified six tunnel entrances within two kilometres of the target site," said George Beaumont, using a white stick to point to places on the map that was showing on the wall-screen. "I'm pretty sure they were once the exit points of underground rivers, which suggests there's an entire network of cave systems where water runoff from the mountains burrowed its way through the mesa."

     "Sounds like the ideal place for an underground base," said Pangiran. Around them, other members of the ruling council were also nodding their heads. "Assuming the water's dried up now, of course."

     "There's a trickle emerging from a couple of the caves, but no more than that," the geologist replied. "I think it's safe to say that the caverns are dry."

     He looked around at the other men and women sitting around the conference table, all hanging onto his every word. Being the focus of so much attention made him feel horribly self conscious, but when they just stared at him expectantly he made himself go on.

     "What's more,' he said after a nervous clearing of his throat, "we found stretches of compacted soil running from some of the caves. Although they could be caused by large animals going in and out, the pattern looks more as if they were made by wheeled vehicles. Quads and mules. And the drones detected traces of galamoid chemicals in the soil. There are possible biological explanations for the presence of these substances, and we still know almost nothing about the biochemistry of the local life forms. However, they are known to be produced by fusion generators and, again, they are found on paths running to and from the caves. There are other clues. Minute vibrations in the rocks that are hard to explain by any known geological process, that sort of thing. Overall, I'd say it's ninety nine percent certain we've found the cyborg base."

     He waited while the council members digested what he'd just said. "Then we must withdraw the drones immediately," said Miller. "Before they cyborgs detect them and realise we're on to them. At the moment we have the advantage. We know where they are and they don't know we know. We can't risk throwing that away."

     "Do it," said Kathleen Miranda.

     Miller nodded and took a phone from his pocket. He typed a text message onto it before tucking it back out of sight. "Kevin's bringing them back now," he said.

     "Good," said Kathleen. "So, what do you recommend we do next?"

     "Attack them, now, with everything we've got," Miller replied. "The sooner we attack, the fewer war machines they have."

     "Are we all agreed?" asked Kathleen, looking around the room. Everyone nodded back at her, some of them very vehemently. "Then we'll do it," she said. "Mister Miller, please make the arrangements for an all out attack at the very earliest opportunity."

     "Yes, Ma'am," Miller replied. He rose from his chair and strode from the room with a gleam of determination in his eyes.

☆☆☆

     Two hours later, there were a hundred men standing in ranks and files in an open area between the residential tents and the inner perimeter fence. They were all carrying plasma rifles and had two magnetic grenades with shaped, armour piercing charges hanging from their belts. Beside them were a dozen mules, each with two men aboard. One to drive it, the other to operate the fifteen kilo plasma cannon that had been mounted on its rear, its muzzle pointing over the driver's head. Four other mules at the back had been outfitted as mobile surgeries to treat the injured. Finally, at the front of the assembled army were a dozen quads with a pair of forward pointing machine guns strapped to the sides. They would be the scouts, checking the way ahead for the army following on behind.