The Atlantis Plague(62)
David rubbed his forehead. “How long ’til it gets here?”
“Five, ten minutes.”
There was no choice. Twenty thousand troops, pouring in from the harbor, reinforcing the citadel from the rear. “Hit it,” David said. “Whatever it takes. Sink her.” He grabbed his gun and raced out the door, and Kamau followed close behind him.
When the shots were fired from the rail guns along the harbor—at an Immari ship—the remaining Immari troops in the citadel would know they had been betrayed. The final battle for Ceuta would start in seconds.
As David and Kamau reached the bottom of the landing, they saw shots launch from the batteries along the harbor. The towering cruise ship exploded, then buckled and burned, floating listlessly like a funeral pyre.
Kosta burst into the room, but this time, he didn’t retreat at the sight of Dorian and the woman laying there naked. “Sir, Ceuta is under attack. They’ve requested air support.”
Dorian was up, dressed, and out of the room before the woman even woke up.
CHAPTER 52
Immari Advance Fleet Alpha
Near Tangier, Morocco
Dorian marched down the cramped corridor. The hatch stood open, revealing the darkened deck. Four helicopters purred on the launch pad. Soldiers stood beside them, waiting for him, ready to fly into battle.
For the first time since he had awoken in that tube in Antarctica, he felt normal. He felt like himself. A soldier going to war. He felt at home.
Sailors poked their heads out of the intersecting passageways, hoping to get a glimpse of him—the chairman of the last empire humanity would ever see, the man who had died and arisen, someone more than mortal—a God or the Devil.
The pitter-patter of bare feet on the iron floor caught his attention and he turned just in time to see Johanna, running full on for him. She jumped and he caught her.
She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. He stood there, still as stone at first, but slowly he wrapped one, then another arm around her, held her tight, and kissed her back.
Whistles and hollers erupted down the corridor.
Dorian felt himself smile as he set her down. He quickly let it fade as he turned and walked through the hatchway toward the waiting soldiers and helicopters.
Martin opened his eyes. His head was clear. He could think again. Kate was there. He was in a lab, or a hospital. A man leaned over him. Martin knew him. A memory came to him; he had spoken with the man over a videoconference. The doctor was the researcher in China, who had conducted the trials on the Bell. Dr… “Chang,” Martin said, his voice raspy.
“How are you feeling?”
“Awful.”
He heard Kate laughing, and she stepped closer to him. “At least you know how you’re feeling. That’s an improvement.”
He smiled at Kate. He wondered what she had done to save him. Had she risked her life? He hoped not. It would be a waste. He had so much to tell her, so much she needed to know. “Kate—”
The ship shuddered, and Martin was thrown across the room. He slammed into a steel refrigerator and dark spots crowded his vision.
CHAPTER 53
Outside Ceuta
Northern Morocco
Dorian watched the wooded expanse fly by below him. Ahead, through the helicopter’s windshield, he saw flashes in the distance, like fireflies in the night. Soon they would join the battle, and victory would follow soon after.
He pulled his helmet on. “Comm check, Strike Team Delta, this is General Sloane.”
The four helicopters answered his call.
Sloane relaxed against the seat cushion. He watched the flashes a while longer and wondered what Johanna was doing, what she was wearing, what she was reading.
What was happening to him? Attachment. Sloppiness. Weakness. He would have to get rid of her when he returned.
The first bullets sprayed the metal scaffolding as David and Kamau reached the bottom.
They formed up, standing back to back, pressing into each other just enough to know where the other was, and opened fire. The empty shells fell to the ground as they jerked left and right.
Immari infantry poured out of the barracks surrounding the command tower, and David and Kamau cut down wave after wave of soldiers. But they kept coming. If the Immari reclaimed the command center, they would likely repel David’s forces and hold Ceuta. A group of Immari soldiers took up position across the yard and began focusing their fire on David and Kamau.
David began sidestepping to the building opposite the control tower, hoping to get to cover. Kamau matched his movements.
David’s earpiece came to life. “Achilles, Ajax. I have the Myrmidons. We’re closing on your position.”
“Copy, Ajax,” David said. “The sooner the better.” He fired another blast until his automatic rifle clicked. He quickly reloaded and opened fire again.