Only Human (Themis Files, #3)(65)

And just how do you suggest we do that? Ask nicely?

[We’re giving you some operational discretion on this one.]

How much discretion? Are we clear to engage?

[Affirmative.]

…Roger that…Central, do we have the right crew for this?

[Lapetus, you have your orders. Turn to 320 degrees, 7 minutes.]

Are you up for this, Eva?

—Do you think they’ll let me leave if I’m not?

—Probably not.

—Then let’s just get this over with.

—Central, heading three, two, zero point seven. And change. Awaiting distance. Are we doing this in one jump?

[Any part of North Korea you’d like to visit along the way?]

Negative, Central. One jump it is. It just seems a little long if we’re to land in a river.

[Your concerns are duly noted, Lapetus. Unit size sixty-four. Distance three-five-three. In base-8, that’s a round one hundred for units, five-four-one for distance.]

Roger, Central. One-zero-zero. Five-four-one. Ready for jump.

[Lapetus, you are go for jump.]

Punching it in now.

…

—Uh, Barbara? I don’t think we’re in the right spot.

—I see that, Eva. Central, this is Lapetus. We’re about a quarter mile short of the river on the Korean side. We’re standing on some tanks. I repeat. We’re standing on tanks. More tanks all around. Looks like a whole regiment. I see foot soldiers to the east. It’s dark outside but it looks like a lot, five, ten thousand maybe.

[Can you see Themis?]

Affirmative. She’s in the river right in front of us. We’re walking towards them.

—Hi, Dad!

—Did you just wave at them?

—Yep.

[Lapetus. You should beam into the river, get away from those tanks.]

Copy that, Central. Punchin—Hot damn! They’re firing at us!

[Beam out of there, Lapetus. Get to the river.]

Can’t do that with our shield working. They’re lighting us up like a Christmas tree!

—Barbara, give me a weapon!

—You got it, Eva.

—How does that thing work? Last time I was inside one of these things, we had a sword, not a…ball of light.

—Point and I’ll shoot.

—They’re everywhere! Just shoot!

—Incoming missile, port side! Brace for impact!

—I’d be happier with a shield in my hand. Yokits! That hurt!

—Shit. Two more SAM launchers to starboard. Are those tanks ever gonna stop?

—Forget the tanks, let’s get rid of those missiles first. Fire!

[Lapetus, we’re showing half a dozen MiGs heading your way. Repeat, six MiGs. ETA 1 minute.]

—Copy, Central. You can stop with the good news. We’re as happ—AAARGH! FUCK! Where did that one come from?

—Behind us, two more trucks with big rockets on top!

—Screw this! Switching to a wide beam. We’ll just swing around and wipe them all out.

—There are ten thousand men over there, Barbara. Do we have to kill them all?

—Sorry, Eva, but that’s what you get for standing next to the asshole firing missiles at us. What the—? Central, Themis just appeared in front of us. She’s attacking!

—No! She’s not! She’s firing at the tanks!

—Why is your dad helping us?

—He’s not helping us. Vincent’s trying to stop us from overloading and wiping out everyone. He’s trying to save the Koreans.

—…

—Trust me, Barbara! He’s not gonna hurt us.

—All right, I’ll play. Narrow beam. Point at the SAM launchers.

—Fire! Fire!

—Now to starboard.

—Got it! Fire!

—Behin—

—I know! There! How’s that feel?

—I think we got them all?

—Down there. There’s one tank left next to our right foot.

—Not anymore. Central, there are no more hostiles. Guys on foot are running away.

[Is Themis still there?]

Affirmative. It’s just the two of us— —Barbara!

—AND A BUNCH OF MiGS! Fuck, they’re firing. That one’s gonna hurt! Brace! Brace! Brace!

—Yokits!





FILE NO. 2195 (CONTINUED)


MISSION LOG—VINCENT COUTURE AND SERGEANT ALEXANDER VASILIEV

Location: Aboard Themis. Sinuiju, North Korea —Look! The Koreans are firing on Lapetus!

—Yes, Alex. I can see that.

—That’s a good thing, isn’t it?

—No, Alex, it’s not. My daughter is in there.

—At least you know she’s alive. Lapetus might get scared and leave.

—I don’t think they’ll leave. They’re in no real danger. They’ll just kill a bunch of Koreans for no reason.

—How many tanks do you think there are?

—Katherine talked about a regiment. Do you know how ma—Whoa! That wasn’t a tank. They’re firing missiles at them!

—Maybe they’ll leave now.

—…

—Vincent?

—No. They won’t. I’m not even sure they can while they’re being shot at. What will happen is they’ll overload and wipe out everything in sight. We’re going in.