Solar Warden

The drill Part 94

Newman worked now on one of this container they had captured. He unplugged the power for the gravity field generator which controlled the stuff at top. So they could use it without danger as transporter. This was useful now to store all the alien rifles they stacked together. For the upcoming mission Knight wanted only use two of them. It made some sense because the microwave rifle was not useful against the armored suit. Nevertheless, he used one and had his HK on the back. The two sniper used the Barret. Then one of his team members an alien rifle the others a HK with high-speed ammo like his on the back. Pearce used also a HK. Anderson, with his experience, the alien rifle. The other two had the APX with its grenade launcher.

It was no problem to signal the reptilian aliens to go. Also the Gray followed the order which was also spoken out as he surly understood it.

The laser drill was nearly at the end. It stopped and went to the side. They went through the entrance to the lift.

As they were close to it, surprisingly the lift door opened. There was no one in there and could not be as the areas were monitored with the scout drones.

"Seems they expect us," Knight said and signaled the prisoners to move in. "Move."

Everyone went into the lift. Then it closed automatically and went down.

"Still no one to see and the door is closed," Clark informed from the Icarus.

The door opened and they went out. Knight signaled the team to get in position. He and the two with the alien rifle walked with the prisoners to the big door. Then stopped a far enough away where they could still get in cover, but had the door in sight. There were two routes from the lift to that door. This made it much easier for all to find a suitable cover position. The spread out teams were now behind Knight and on the other side having the door in sight.

"I want a prisoner exchange," Knight called out. Nothing happened. "We can end this peacefully." Knight waited.

After a while he looked at the clock to check the time. Then he thought about the time he wanted to wait.

"I wait here further 10 minutes. Then we move back," Knight informed all over radio. Do they really not care? Maybe for the Gray or were Knight's forces a threat denying the door opening? Knight thought about many more reasons. Then checked the clock again. Seven minutes were past. He waited further and thought more about possibilities. Was his time limit too short? He checked the time again. Elven minutes had past.

"Well, it seems your friends do not want you," Knight said to the Gray. "Let's move to the lift."

He gave the signals to the reptilians. They all followed and moved back.

Then the door made a noise and opened slowly.

"Stop!" Knight gave the signals and repositioned the prisoners.

It was dark in there. Only the light in the cave did brighten up what was behind the door.

Out of the darkness a Gray stepped out and stopped a bit further out of the opening while the door still opened.

"So you finally decided to stop your killing," the Gray said.

"Sorry, but we only defended ourselves and needed time to adapt," Knight replied.

"Nevertheless you did some damage. Not that it matters much and I guess you already assumed it. Seems you are still unsure. Yet you try to make a deal with probably nothing."

"Sorry, but we were the first who got attacked. Defending itself does every living being. Also we have a history with your kind for what we would like an answer," Knight said.

"Having nothing and still trying to get something. But as a good will for your changed behavior you get your two soldiers back," the Gray replied. Then Lee and Chavez came into sight.

"You two can go to the lift. Don't worry you need no air filters on this planet," the Gray said.

Both had no helm and the top part of the suit was removed as it was with Ryan and Caine. They walked to Knight which also let the others go.

"So you did the same to them as to our men at the facility," Knight continued, as both passed him.

"Does it matter? You have your people back as you wanted. Unfortunately, we want also something of value for us," the Gray replied.

Chavez and Lee were close to the elevator.

The Captain and the others followed the trade over the drone video stream.

"I thought we had a deal," Knight said.

"We gave you your people back as a gesture and to answer your question. We take samples for analysis propose. So we will do it with you. Please drop your weapons. You might hurt yourself with that stuff," the Gray replied.

Chavez and Lee were in the lift. The door was closing.

Suddenly the connection to the drones was lost.