Jungle Release
Chapter 8
After several days looking at formulas on theory and researching other attempts at regeneration the walls were starting to look dull and confined. Josh had a working formula but he needed to understand it to adapt it to practical use. It was like looking at the sun saying. It’s warm and gives off light giving life to the planet I was born on. And I know why it works. But how to make and start one is the problem.
An urgent message was coming in for Josh. “I need to see you ASAP on Argon One.” Signed Ban Danna.
Josh was rushed to the office of Ban Danna as soon as he docked. “Please come in Josh. I’ll get right to it. I have a niece in the Argon Navy. Her ship just went down in Split space on a restricted planet. Sensors won't work because of the magnetically charged minerals on the surface and constant electrical storms in the atmosphere. The planet is mostly jungle and her ship went down in the thick of it.
I suspect fowl play so be prepared. There is a small team of Argon researchers studying the planet they have a three-man security team at your disposal. They know the terrain and environment. The Split Government approved you and you alone after reviewing a list of agents. The Split Government has been looking for the crash sight but the small ship was swallowed up in the deep jungle.”
Josh looked over the data. “Not much to go on here Sir. A hundred-mile radius is not much of a lead.”
[Ban Danna] “Her ship has a security beacon onboard. You get within 50 miles of the ship and this scanner will lead you to her. The Split do not know about the signal and I don’t want them too. Her ship has classified information onboard. Find the ship get the data or destroy it! Then find my niece. The job pays 500,000 credits. You get the data it’s 1.5 million. I’ll give you 300,000 credits of my own to bring my niece back dead or alive. If she’s hurt she won't last long the Jungle is full of wild animals so watch out. Will you do this for me?”
“It would be my pleasure Sir.” Josh replied as he saluted Ban Danna.
Josh jumped to Split Space and docked at the Trading Station as ordered. Had the Exaireo take up orbit to scan and look for the ship in the dense jungle. He was taken to the surface in a light fighter where the soldiers were waiting.
“Welcome to the jungle we’re loaded and ready to head out when you are Sir.” A young Lieutenant replied with a salute. Josh loaded his gear on the small ground transport.
“We can use this to travel through the waterways and lowlands till we find a signal. Most of the terrain is to rough for the transport so we’ll have to walk in when you locate the ship. You point the way and we’ll get you their Sir.” A Sergeant explained as a Private climbed in back with the gear.
Josh checked his PDA there was a link to the ship. “Sarah you got anything?”
The Sergeant stated. “Communications won’t carry down here very far Sir.”
[Sarah] “I have the crash site. Sending position and new mapped course for the transport now.”
Josh ordered. “Follow this path Sergeant.” As loaded the directions into the navigation system.
The Sergeant smiled taking off as Josh loaded the data. The other two were just puzzled and looking around wondering whom he was talking to.
“Sarah can you fly in this if I need you to?” Josh asked.
[Sarah] “Yes but I have to get clearance first and only if someone is seriously injured and sends up a rescue flare. The Split have already sent their regulations for this area.”
[Sarah] “Josh I just identified a M4 class size ship covered with camouflage in a small clearing 10Ks from the crash site. According to earlier pictures of the area the ship landed right after the crash and was covered up between sweeps. Showing they have inside information. Looks like Pros took the Disco down and are waiting for the traffic to ease up so they can make their escape.”
Josh typed understood on his pad for Sarah. The transport had went as far as it could as the team set out through the dense jungle rushing to make the crash site before nightfall.
As the last glimmer of sunlight was fading they made the crash site. As Josh checked the ship the team was cutting an overhanging limp back and placing sensors armed with stunners to keep the wildlife out of the camp.
The Sergeant explained. “The animals that came out at night are afraid of fire and I have a great respect for the wildlife. Mainly the ones that can eat you!” As he started a fire near the ship. The ship was safe and was fairly level making it a good shelter. The power core was contained but the ship had severe damage. No blood was in or on the ship, which was a good sign. But the girl and the data storage compartment they were gone.
Josh eased back against some padding on the cargo wall of the ship in a protected area and tried to rest as darkness fell.
After a few hours Josh woke to sounds of a small animal getting stung by the sentry and running away. As the men listen to it run away they heard the growl of a large predator as it captured the fleeing animal.
The men listened to the crying animal as the predator ran of into the distance and then silence.
“That was what I was talking about.” The Sergeant stated.
Josh woke to the sound of his alarm before daylight and replied. “Wakeup men, time to eat and do your business. At first daylight we’ll be on the trail of the pilot.”
“Sarah any new developments?” Josh asked.
[Sarah] “The enemy ship hasn’t moved. Ban Danna requested an update on the mission, which I sent. The Split added an extra ship to the search during the darkness to search for firelight. You teams campfire was the only one spotted. The extra ship help keep the enemy fighter grounded through the night. The Split stated they would only search one more day.”
“What are the readings from the enemy ship?” Josh asked.
“All ship systems are shut down and no readings. No lights or fires in there camp to reveal their presence. I was able to spot one guard as he stepped into the open for a second checking the perimeter.” Good job Sarah Josh stated.
A glimmer of daylight was starting to show as Josh walked around the ship looking for their trail.
The trail was covered well except for a small broken down branch in the distance that Josh noticed.
He walked over to check the trail as the Sergeant followed saying. “I got your back just don’t go far.”
Josh questioned the Sergeant about him being on the planet as they checked the trail. He enjoyed the tropical forest and wanted to try and start a tour guide service on the planet after his time in the service was over. He went on to explain that the jungle was full of animals and plant life unknown to anyone just waiting to be discovered.
The two returned to camp gathered the team and hit the trail at a hard pace trying to cover as much ground as they could before the rain made the trail harder to trace.
The team had traveled a lot of ground before the rains set in. Josh let the Sergeant take the lead and slow the pace down a little because of the rain.
The rain was coming down hard only letting up before the sun came out baking the weary men. They were nearing the camp the Sergeant let the Lieutenant take the lead. The trail was well marked now making it easy to follow and the team knew why as they were weary from the trip.
[Sarah] “You’re nearing the camp Josh make ready.”
Josh stopped the team and had them lighten their loads leaving the camping gear by a tree they could easily recover on the trip back.
The Lieutenant took the lead ready for combat as the team slowly followed the trail looking for wires and traps.
Josh was behind the Lieutenant as they turned a corner in an animal trail to an opening. There they were!
They had just noticed the Lieutenant turning and running back down the trail away from the guards.
Josh fired his pistols’ shooting both the guards taking them down. Firing and wounding a man trying to get to the fighter turned pulling the stunner and shot the Lieutenant bringing him down.
Josh ordered. “Sergeant secure that man trying to board the ship. Turn the girl loose now! Private handcuff the Lieutenant.”
As he was moving to deal with a man holding the woman out in front as a shield.
The man shouted. “I’ll shot her if you don’t back off!” As he tried to back down a trail using the woman as a shield.
Josh raised the stunner. “Turn her loose and surrender!” He pulled the woman back a little more as Josh shot the woman stunning both of them.
Josh rushed over and pulled the woman away from the man and handcuffed him.
Josh ordered. “Sergeant check and disarm the combatants and keep an eye on the woman till she wakes. Private disarm the Lieutenant then when he wakes up bring him and set him against the ship.” As he went into the ship to check it out.
“Hay Sergeant he shot the Lieutenant! What do we do?” The Private asked with hesitation.
[Sergeant] “Boy you do what he says. He’s the officer in charge remember. Besides he shot everyone before I knew what was going on and could draw my weapon. The Lieutenant ran he could have shot and killed him if he wanted to so get to it boy just follow orders and you’ll be fine.” He stated while collected the weapons.
Josh checked the ship making sure it was clear and retrieving the data unit he was sent to get.
The men had been unable to open or read any of the data in shutdown mode for fear of being found out.
Josh stepped back out as the woman was walking up. The Sergeant was helping her to her feet while watching the enemy soldier roll in the grass trying to come around.
The weapons were in a pile out of reach of the enemy. The Lieutenant was escorted and set down with his head held low not wanting to look at anyone.
Josh was covering up the two dead guards as he ordered. “Private tend that enemy solders wound.”
The woman was setting on a log still a little dazed.
Josh asked the woman. “Did they harm you?”
She motioned for Josh to come closer so she could whisper something to him.
“At least they didn’t shoot ME!” Was the reply as she slapped Josh in the face.
The team was watching in astonishment wondering what was next! Josh turned and walked away.
[Josh] “Sergeant I need you and the Private to go and get our gear how long will it take?”
“No longer than ten minutes Sir. Will you be all right alone Sir?” The Sergeant asked saluting Josh.
“I’m not alone the female Officer is with us Sergeant head out.” Josh replied as he gave the woman a weapon.
[Josh] “Sarah the area is secure. We have one wounded enemy soldier along with two prisoners and two dead. The girl and data are fine along with the team. Inform Ban Danna his niece is fine and all is well. Please inform the Split about the enemy ship and our wounded. Request permission to land and pick us up.”
Josh noticed the men coming back up the trail when Sarah hailed. “Josh the Split want you to hack the ship and fly it off the surface then claim ownership when you reach space. Takedown everything and put it back into the ship with everyone. If you have to leave the dead you can.”
Josh informed the team the orders turned and went into the ship and started work on hacking the ship.
The team loaded the gear and supplies stored the weapons and was ready to load the prisoners. Josh had the ships systems working and it had a life support system in the cargo area.
Everything was loaded the dead were wrapped up and in the cargo hole. The wounded mans leg had been patched up and his condition was stable. He and his friend were placed in restraints in the passenger area of the cargo hole. The Lieutenant was restrained in the main passenger area with the Sergeant and Private. The Lieutenant never looked up or said a word after Josh shot him with the stunner.
As Josh made open space he claimed the ship and hailed Split Security asking what they wanted him to do with the prisoners? “The Split Government has disinclined to prosecute these men. But we are seeking 500’000 credits for the recovery of your downed ship and the search efforts before you leave Split Space.”
[Josh] “I’m transferring the credits now.”
“You’re cleared to leave pilot.” Was all the Split said.
There were enough energy cells onboard as they jumped to Aladna Hill and the safety of Argon Space.
Josh had Security waiting as they docked at the Trading Station to deliver the prisoners and switch ships.
[Sergeant] “What about us? What do we do now and how do we get back?”
Josh sent a message asking for instructions. A crewman hand delivered the reply.
“A TL will jump into the sector to pick your ship and the enemy ship and soldiers along with the dead ones.
Your ship with the downed pilot and rescue team.” Signed Ban Danna.
Everyone was loaded back onto the ship and they docked with the TL and jumped to Argon Prime.
Ban Danna docked with the TL and gave his niece a hug looked at Josh and took him into a room for a debriefing. Josh left the room with full payment for a job well done boarded the Exaireo and left for HQ and some rest and a meal.
Alpha Security Chapter 8
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