Tellus 2374

TKPU - Tellus-Karphion-Peace-Union

TKPUF - Tellus-Karphion-Peace-Union-Forces

T.H.O.R. - Termal High-power Orbital Ray

R.A.G.E.  - Radioactive Annihilation of Geniteic Energy

The report to the TKPU headquarters on the planet Seterra was supposed to be given in three minutes. Lieutenant Colonel Müller was not at all prepared, the current situation was, to say the least, chaotic. Heavy Qeestera cavalry was flanking Müller's eastern Berlin barrier meanwhile the enemy's aerial forces were bombarding the TKPUF trenches. Recon units had spotted a R.A.G.E. cannon in central Berlin which posed a great threat to the whole planet if it was not disabled

     Müller activated the holographic-communicator, took a deep breath and contacted headquarters:

"I am to leave a report to the Council" Müller said with his German accent to a receptionist via the holo-com.

"Lieutenant Colonel Müller, what is the latest situation at the Berlin Barricade?" one of the ruling council members asked.

"Our troops are under heavy fire from the Qeesteras that occupy Berlin, they have controll of the air space and it's only a question of time before their cavalry break the east blockade. We have also spotted a R.A.G.E. cannon that will be ready to fire in four hours."

All of the council members wore a disastrous look and one said in despair "R.A.G.E. you say, that is a great threat to not only the Berlin barricade but to the rest of Tellus."

"T.H.O.R. is the best, if not the only, chance we have at destroying that canon!" The human military councilor said with confidence.

Müller sighed and proposed another solution "We could use Teleport Able Saboteurs in order to destroy the cannon without the usage of T.H.O.R. This will minimize the damage of the city and T.H.O.R. is a one-shot-only weapon, we may need it later."

The council agreed that this was the best thing to do and authorized the use of saboteurs to disable the R.A.G.E. cannon.

"But if they do not complete this mission in time we order you to use the Thermal High-power Orbital Ray to finish the job."

Müller turned off the holo-com and felt a new energy flowing through him. He could disable the cannon without using T.H.O.R. and he knew just the man for the job.

     Captain Heathrow entered the colonel's bunker and saw Müller sitting at his desk with his wrinkles rolled up into a wide smile. The general laughed when he saw his old friend and Heathrow joined in. They exchanged formalities with delight, and then they started to discuss the task ahead of them. There were nothing complicated about the plan, just teleport in, set the charge and then teleport out. It seemed simple enough.

     The teleportation would take place at 0300 hours and Captain Heathrow and his crew of saboteurs would end up just by Brandenburg Gate. From there it was only half a click southwest to the R.A.G.E.’s location which probably was heavily guarded. A perfect occasion to try out the new stealth suit, Müller thought.

     Heathrow saluted the colonel a final time before the teleportation and Müller did the same and wished them all good luck.

“Luck is over rated, sir” Heathrow answered with a wink.

“Cocky English” he said while shaking his head ironically “just keep the holo-com open at all times”

A sudden flash blinded Müller and when he regained his vision the saboteurs were gone. He almost ran back to the command bunker to follow the operation and make sure that everything was done properly. When he got there the crew had already done the arrival report and were moving southwest in the direction of the cannon. Müller looked at his clock, only thirty-five minutes left before the ray had to be fired. Müller started to feel a bit anxious about this whole operation and a drop of sweat ran down his wrinkled forehead. What if they run into resistance, or they get trapped in the ray’s radius, were Müller’s stressed thoughts, and then I really need to fire T.H.O.R.

     His fears came true when he saw the crew in combat on the holo-com, but they still made progress towards the cannon. The Qeesteras that guarded the super weapon were putting up a great deal of resistance and it took about twenty minutes for them to get through.

“How much time will it take to set the charges” Müller asked in his broad German accent.

“Uuh… Probably… five minutes. At least” Heathrow said vaguely.

Müller thought about the situation for a moment and then made a decision.

“Heathrow, get out of there, NOW! I will fire the ray as soon as you are out of there.”

“But sir, we could...”

“It is an order captain!” He said leaving no room for discussion.

     He saw the captain and the saboteurs trying to fight their way out of the hostile area but without success. They were trapped and both they and Müller knew it. He looked at his clock again and he could hear a voice in his head say, T minus two minutes. Now he was sweating a lot and his pulse was sky high, these brave men and one of his oldest friends would soon die of friendly fire.

“Good bye Heathrow”

“Are you going fire the ray!?” Heathrow said in despair.

“I’m sorry” was all he could say.

     He gave the order to fire T.H.O.R. and then he sat back in a chair with a heavy heart, he could not believe that his best friend just died. He felt a lonely tear drop run down his cheek.