When I regained consciousness, I found myself at home with Nicholas sitting beside me.
"Oh, you're finally awake! Thank God!" Nicholas exclaimed.
I glanced around, taking in my surroundings, before asking, "How long was I unconscious?"
"Just a day," he replied while dialing Mr. Hastings.
“He’s probably busy,” I murmured.
“Oh, and I’m sorry, but I opened your drawer and checked out the Rubik's cube. I couldn’t resist. And yes, it's that one,” Nicholas said as he poured me a glass of water.
“But you couldn’t solve it?”
“No,” he admitted, handing it to me. “This is as far as I got.”
I examined the cube, solving a few more layers. “Yeah, this is the farthest I’ve ever been able to go as well, and likely ever will.”
Mr. Hastings entered a short while later.
“How are you feeling, Gust?” he asked.
“Better,” I replied.
“Any clues?” Hastings inquired.
“No, nothing,” Nicholas responded.
“Don’t worry, we’ll figure something out. By the way, Gust, because of your condition, tomorrow's flight has been postponed to the day after. Do you need more time to recover?” Hastings asked.
“No, that should be enough,” I answered.
“I came by to share some crucial information. The route and navigation will be handled by the Death Glider itself, but be cautious around Mars' moons. The MP has installed enormous laser cannons designed to prevent any kind of invasion. They will fire as soon as you're within range. While the Death Glider is fast enough to avoid getting hit, the bigger issue is the Emergency Protocol that activates if the cannons don’t stop firing after a minute."
Seeing my confusion, Hastings elaborated further.
“They have a regulation that mandates shooting down any suspicious object approaching Mars. If the cannons don’t destroy the target within a minute, an Emergency Protocol is triggered, and special forces are dispatched to eliminate the threat. These forces consist of cyborgs with enhanced robotic strength and speed, coupled with top-tier human strategic minds."
"So you're saying that while the Death Glider dodges the cannons, I might have to engage them in combat?" I asked.
"Yes, but that’s the last resort. Your primary objective is to get as close to Mars as possible within that minute. The Death Glider will activate a boost and make a controlled crash landing on Mars. If you succeed, the forces won’t be dispatched. However, if you're still within range after the time limit, you'll have to abandon the Glider and engage them. Expect approximately seven cyborgs and some robots. Your main focus should be on neutralizing the cyborgs," Mr. Hastings explained.
“Alright, so once I land, what’s the plan?” I asked, mentally preparing for the mission.
Mr. Hastings nodded, his tone serious. “After the crash landing, your first priority will be to assess the Death Glider's condition. Depending on the damage, you’ll either be able to repair it for a quick escape or leave it behind entirely. Don't worry, it has a special feature due to which it will sink deep down in the Martian sand within a minute. Mars is currently under strict surveillance, so you'll need to act fast to avoid being detected by ground patrols or drones. There’s a supply station not far from the crash site where we’ve stashed equipment for you. Repair tools, communication devices and medikits.
YOU ARE READING
My Glide On Death
Science FictionThe year was 2098. I was a spacecraft and jet pilot during an era of relative peace. No robotic apocalypses, no zombie outbreaks, no meteor showers-nothing of the sort. Humanity had even established a presence on Mars. Yet, beneath this calm, a sini...
