The Inter Planetary Defense Force Ch. 13

The trio woke early. The darkness of the early morning surrounding the vessel. Jace checked the status of the tracker on Souside's vessel. Sommar gathered some food rations for a quick meal. Karg patrolled the exterior to verify that they still had not been detected.

Everything was looking to be on schedule. Souside's craft had yet to leave the launch bay. Karg found no evidence of anyone searching out their temporary landing area, and the threesome were ready to continue their mission.

Sommar climbed into the pilot's seat and began warming the engines so that the vessel would be ready to take off at a moment's notice. Jace took the seat behind Sommar and finished her morning meal ration while watching the display for Souside's tracker beacon to begin moving. Karg moved about the vessel securing equipment for takeoff.

"He's moving!" Jace exclaimed as the dot on the display began to move.

Karg quickly took a seat in the co-pilot's seat and began to buckle in as Sommar brought the engines up to take off power. The vessel began to shake and rock as it lifted off from the grassy patch they had used as a landing pad. Slowly it climbed upward plotting a course to trail Souside.

Sommar set a speed that allowed Souside to stay well in front of them and not realize he was being tracked, but to keep him within the range of the tracker. She manually piloted the vessel in order to adjust to maneuvers Souside may make that wouldn't get the team noticed as their vessel corrected course to match. All three members were trying to ascertain where Souside was heading.

"What inhabited planets are in this part of the quadrant," Karg asked.

"There are none. There are only two planets between Earth and the sun. The demarcation zone begins just after the planet Venus," Sommar responded.

"I have never heard of Venus," Karg stated.

"That's because the Alliance has no use for it due to its atmosphere. Typically it's referred to as 'one of the other Zolracian planets'," Jace replied.

"Jace. He's landing on the planet," Sommar noted.

"Follow but keep your distance," Jace replied.

"There is a craft approaching the planet from the demarcation zone," Karg suddenly stated.

All three looked at the display and watched as a new blip appeared on the navigation display. The direction it was coming from meant it was coming from Legorthian controlled space. Wherever that craft originated from, it came from Legorthina held territory, so it should be assumed it was dangerous.

"Sommar! That craft emerged from Lego controlled space. It will likely have a security escort in this area of the demarcation zone, pull up," Karg said almost forcefully.

"No! Move past Souside and keep going parallel to his path. The unstable atmosphere should mask our signal," Jace spoke up.

"That's risky, Jace. We have little in the way of defensive ability with this vessel if we are attacked," Karg replied.

"We have to see what Souside is doing with his cargo!" Jace's voice was rising in frustration.

"What do I do here guys? We have to decide now or we're going to get detected," Sommar asked.

Jace and Karg looked at each other. Karg knew his point was their best chance at not being detected. He also knew Jace made a very valid point that this was their only chance to get eyes on Souside. As risky as it was, this was their best opportunity to get answers on how deep this conspiracy went.

"Follow. But be very careful and be ready to abort at the first sign of an attack." Karg said, his eyes still locked on Jace.

Sommar guided the vessel into the planet's atmosphere. Full of dense clouds and pockets of gasses that hovered over the planet's surface, she was heavily reliant on the displays in front of her. Karg watched through the viewing portal anxiously, hoping to avoid any collisions with the unknown landscape of the planet.

The vessel shook and shimmied as it bounced from the stability issues of navigating the gasses forming the air of the planet. The hull creaked as the craft skipped from gas pocket to gas pocket. Multiple warning lights began to appear on the navigation panels in front of Sommar.

Soon the vessel stopped shaking and one by one the warning lights extinguished themselves. Through the viewing portal the team could see a heavy fog that hid the planet's surface from their view. Sommar slowed their descent as she tried to locate a place to land safely.

Sommar located a patch of dense rock that was large enough to set the vessel down. She guided the craft down slowly and felt the landing gear touch down. A loud thud rang through the vessel as the metal of the landing mechanisms came in contact with the rocky ground.

The team fitted themselves with breathing apparatuses from the emergency supply locker. They wouldn't have much air as these were meant as emergency use equipment in the case of a hull breach and weren't designed for long term use. They knew they had to quickly get to Souside, see what he was doing with his cargo, and then return before their air ran out.

Karg took the lead following the tracking beacon on his communicator. The terrain was treacherous, made up of jagged rock formations and deep chasms that would surely claim the life of anyone that fell into one. Carefully the team made their way towards Souside all the while monitoring their air supply.

Soon they were making their way down a rocky incline that overlooked a pair of vessels. One was Souside's. The other was of unknown origin. They watched as workers moved the crates of cobium parts from Souside's vessel to the other.

Jace pulled out a scope and got a closer look at the transaction below them. She captured some still shots to use as evidence. Sommar was looking down at the meter on her breathing apparatus.

"We need to get moving. We barely have enough air to make it back to the ship," she said to the other two.

Karg looked down at his meter and nodded in agreement. Jace looked at hers and a fearful look came over her face. The brightly colored display in front of her was already in the red.

"We may have an issue," Jace said, holding the meter up for Sommar and Karg to see.

Karg's face showed shock and Sommar's concern. Both very quickly understood that Jace did not have enough air to return to the vessel and escape. They quickly needed to come up with a plan.

"We must go now. As we get closer to the vessel I will share my air with you. It will be close but we can make it," Karg said.

"That's not going to work Karg, and it will put both you and I in danger," Jace said, her eyes serious and trying to make Karg understand that his chivalrous suggestion was appreciated.

"We're not leaving you here Jace. We need to figure something out now!" Sommar said, her voice panicked.

"I have an idea but neither of you are going to like it," Jace said.

Sommar began shaking her head assuming she knew what Jace was going to suggest. Karg looked at Jace awaiting her next words. Jace sighed and said what was on her mind.

"I need to get on Souside's vessel. Once he's cleared the demarcation zone, I'll overpower him and take control. We'll return to the capital and take him in front of the commander. It's not what we planned, but I do have enough air to sneak down there and get on that craft," Jace explained.

"I'm coming with you," both Karg and Sommar said in unison.

"Guys. Listen. Mar you need to pilot the vessel back to the Capital. Karg, you need to make sure Mar makes it back to the vessel safely. This is the only way this works," Jace responded.

Sommar and Karg looked on. Jace could see both of them were searching for another option. She steeled herself to make a rebuttal to anything they suggested. Jace saw the concern on their faces. She tried to calm that somewhat.

"I do need you two to watch from here and make sure I make it on the vessel undetected. If I can't do that this whole plan goes to hell," Jace said.

Sommar and Karg agreed and they took positions on the rocky slopes to watch over Jace as she made her way down and onto Souside's vessel.

Jace moved stealthily down the rock face, hiding behind outcrops as she got closer. Once on the ground and within a distance she could quickly sprint to the loading bay of the vessel, she paused. Jace looked up towards where Karg and Sommar were positioned and gave them a signal that she was ready to move forward when she saw her opportunity. She looked down at her air meter and saw it was dangerously low.

Jace kept her eyes on the two vessels in front of her. She could see three beings preparing to move the last crate from Souside's cargo hold to their own. Again she checked the meter for her air supply. Only two bars remained on the display.

Jace could not make out the origin of the beings moving the crates or of the vessel they were moving the load to. She figured it was one more question they would have to get out of Souside once she overpowered him and took control of his vessel. One last check of her air supply and she readied to move.

The moment the three beings moving the last crate were out of her sight, Jace began to move quickly towards the open cargo hold ramp. She stayed as low as possible. She tried to take short, quick breaths knowing she had a limited amount of air. Scanning side to side for movement she made her way to the open craft and moved up the ramp.

Jace quickly scanned the interior of the cargo hold. It was empty. She moved towards the sleeping quarters under the assumption that Souside would make his way to the cockpit once he was back on board. Once the vessel's life support systems regulated, she would make her way to the same cockpit and overpower him.

The meter on Jace's air supply was flashing. She only had a few minutes of air remaining. She planned to take one last deep breath and hold it for as long as she could if it came to that. She grew anxious waiting to hear the mechanical sounds of the cargo hold sealing up.

Jace did not have to wait long. She heard the distinct sound of the ramp closing and the fans in the vessel's air tanks begin whirring to life. Still breathing those short, quick breaths she waited until she heard the engines coming online. Quickly she removed her breathing apparatus and breathed in the fresh air deeply.

Jace could soon feel the craft lifting off from the planet's surface. She waited until she felt the vessel level off and it began to accelerate to travelling speed. Jace quietly made her way towards the cockpit. As she approached she quickly came up with a plan to draw Souside out.

Jace positioned herself against the wall between the cockpit and the cargo hold. She had her back against the wall to the side of the hatch. Grasping a fire suppression canister, she tossed it into the empty cargo hold. It banged and clattered as it tumbled through the empty space.

"What did those morons knock loose when they emptied the hold?" Souside yelled from the cockpit to what he assumed was an empty vessel.

Souside stepped through the hatch into the cargo hold. As he did Jace pointed her sidearm at his back. Her finger was on the trigger and ready to blast Souside if needed.

"Hands up Souside. Don't even think about reaching for your sidearm," Jace said sternly.

Souside immediately recognized the voice giving him instructions. A sneer formed on his face. He lightly shook his head from side to side.

"Well Jace, I knew you would figure it out, but I figured I had time for one last run," Souside said as he slowly raised his hands.

"Turn around, slowly," Jace's voice was still calm in her instructions.

Souside began to turn slowly but quickly whirled to one side and reached for his sidearm. Jace fired a shot that ripped through his shoulder. Souside fell to the floor of the cargo hold and continued to reach for his sidearm with his other hand as he howled in pain.

Jace fired another shot into his leg. Again Souside cried out and his hand retreated from his hip where his sidearm was sheathed.

"You shot me you fucking bitch!" Souside yelled as he reached for the scorched flesh of his leg.

"You're lucky I only wounded you. There are people that want to talk to you. If it was up to me I would have just walked into that cockpit and executed your treacherous ass," Jace responded as she disarmed Souside.

She placed Souside in restraints and moved him to a sitting position. Once he was secured she opened her communicator and signaled Karg. She waited for his response and told him she had the vessel under her control and she was going to change its course to the capital. Karg let her know that he and Sommar had cleared the planet's atmosphere and would soon catch up to her and they would travel as a pair to the capital.

Jace found a med pack and treated Souside's wounds. Once he was bandaged up she moved him to the cockpit and strapped him to one of the seats behind the copilot's seat. She confirmed he was restrained and moved to the pilot's seat. She keyed in the coordinates to the capital into the auto flight computer and notified Karg and Sommar that she would see them in the landing bay.

Jace stood and walked towards Souside. She stood over him and looked down. In front of her was a being she once trusted. She had in fact trusted him with her life on multiple occasions. To find out he was a traitor and went against everything she stood for caused anger to rise within Jace.

"What are you getting out of this? What made you go against everything the Alliance stands for that you've supported for so long?" Jace asked.

"Fuck you!" Souside snarled in response.

Jace reached back as far as she could and made a fist. She then drove that fist as fast and hard as she could into the wound in his shoulder. The pain was immediate and intense causing Souside to cry out.

"Wrong answer!" Jace yelled.

"You won't get anything from me. Ever!" Souside responded.

Jace struck him in the same spot with three rapid shots. He cried out in pain again. His head rolled forward as he did.

"It's a long flight back to the capital. I have nothing better to do so I can keep this up until the boredom sets in. Answer me."

"Never!"

Jace gripped Souside's shoulder. As she did she dug her thumb into the bandaged wound. The louder Souside screamed the harder she pushed her thumb into the wound. Souside looked to be on the brink of passing out from the pain and Jace released her grip.

"I can pretty much do anything I want to you aside from killing you. You've been in the interview rooms with criminals. You have beat confessions out of them. You know that gets overlooked as long as the case gets solved. I'll make it stop if you answer me. And don't lie to me. That will just piss me off," Jace said, wiping Souside's blood from her hand.

"Simmons. I'll only talk to her. I know you have some weird love fetish for each other so I know you can make that happen," Souside panted in a pained voice.

"So be it."

Jace pulled her sidearm and struck the back of Souside's head with it. His head slumped forward and she knew he was now unconscious. She moved back to the pilot's seat and contacted Karg.

"He's not saying anything. Says he'll only speak to the commander. He's resting until we get to the capital," Jace spoke into her communicator.

"Jace. You didn't kill him did you?" Karg asked.

Jace laughed, "No but I bet he wishes I had."

"Very well. I will contact the commander and have her assemble a team to meet us at the landing bay."

Jace settled deeper into the seat. She checked Souside to be sure he was still not stirring. Jace verified her course and double checked the display. Only Karg and Sommar's vessel appeared on the scope. She relaxed and looked out into the void of space as the vessel headed towards the capital.