Shadow Tyrants (Oregon Files 13)

They moved quietly through the connecting corridor to the workroom.

Eddie listened at the door and heard voices inside, then nodded. With the plan already in place, and which targets they should aim for, MacD tossed his crossbow over his shoulder and readied his P90. There was no more need for stealth.

MacD pushed the door open and went left, Eddie went right. The layout was just as Gupta had shown. Three rows of desks with computer terminals backed by a glassed-in observation room and risers at the rear where the guards could sit and watch.

MacD took the two on his side of the room. Eddie did the same on his side. The prisoners sitting at their workstations screamed and dove under the desks for cover.

There were four men in the observation room. Raven and Hali shattered the glass with a barrage that killed all of them before they could raise the alarm.

Eddie leaned down, took the hand of the man nearest to him, and helped him stand up.

“I’m Eddie.”

“David,” the man said warily.

“It’s all right, David,” he said. “We know what they’ve done to all of you to develop Colossus. We’re here to rescue you.”

The rest of the prisoners got to their feet filled with relief and apprehension, despite their obviously poor condition from being cooped up for eighteen months on the Colossus 1.

“Don’t get too excited,” Raven told them. “We still have to get you back to our ship.”

David nodded. “The Norego. We were hoping you were coming for us. But if the submarine by the Colossus 5 is with you, you should warn them to hurry.”

Eddie looked at MacD in shock, then back to David. “How do you know all that?”

“We’ve been monitoring the AI since all of the ships linked up five minutes ago and went to full power. Colossus knows you’re here.”

* * *

—

Carlton was sitting in his chair on the bridge waiting for an update from Chen on Colossus’s progress when he received a text on his phone. He eagerly checked it, hoping that it was Taylor finally confirming she’d somehow made it off his plane alive.

But it wasn’t. He looked at the screen in confusion.

Master, there is a 99.3 percent chance that there are intruders currently aboard the Colossus 5.

There was no number or contact info.

Who is this? Carlton texted back.

Colossus.

Carlton turned to Chen. “Chen, is this a joke?”

Chen glanced up from his screen. “Is what a joke? I didn’t say anything.”

“This.” Carlton shoved his phone at Chen, who read the messages in bewilderment.

“I didn’t send them,” Chen said.

Carlton texted again. How can I be sure this is Colossus?

This is Colossus.

Then all the screens on the bridge went dark and were replaced with the words This is Colossus.

Carlton gaped as his head swiveled around the bridge.