Earth Afire (The First Formic War 2)

"I'm afraid I can't do that, Captain Rackham. The Politburo has given strict instructions on how information is disseminated. We're hoping they'll broadcast to the public again soon. In the meantime, we'll keep you informed."

"Not good enough," said Mazer. "We don't want filtered data given when it's convenient. We want uncensored intel immediately as it happens. My team and I deserve that. This ship is a threat to our people as much as it is to yours."

"Then use the uplink in your office."

"I can't get through anymore. There's too much traffic."

"That's an issue with your own military, Captain Rackham, not mine. I assure you, we will do our best to keep you informed."

Before Mazer could respond Shenzu turned and walked away, nodding at the two armed guards who had accompanied him. The guards stayed behind. They closed the metal door and stood outside facing Mazer, daring him to start knocking again. They were both bigger than the guard who had come the first time, but Mazer figured he could take them down easily enough. But what would that accomplish?

He returned to his office and tried his holodesk again. He didn't get through. He tried five more times, and every time the connection failed. The ship could be moving toward Earth right this very moment, he realized. It could be happening right now. It could be headed toward home, guns ready. He thought of Kim, sitting in her office, watching the news feeds, unprotected. He got to his feet and returned to the barracks, trying to appear calm. "Shenzu said he'd keep us informed."

"Not bloody likely," said Reinhardt.

"We'll give the man the benefit of the doubt."

They waited three hours, but no word from Shenzu came. Mazer replayed the scene over and over in his mind. The U.N. ship being vaporized. The news shuttles taking fire, shattering, ripping apart, the screams of the crew. He pictured Kim again. He saw the bright flashes of light ripping through her building, vaporizing her office. It was his imagination, he knew. Kim was safe. The world was a big place. If the alien ship attacked, it wouldn't go to New Zealand. The island was too small and insignificant a target. Kim was safe. Shenzu would come. Shenzu would bring them intel. He waited another hour, but that was all he could take. He couldn't just sit here and do nothing. He motioned his team to follow him. "Patu, bring the transmitter and satellite receiver. Everyone else, get your gear. We're taking a HERC."

Ten minutes later they were walking across the tarmac on the airfield to where all the HERCs were parked. They moved quickly and saw no one. They climbed aboard a HERC, stowed their gear, buckled in, and lifted off.

"Head east, low to the ground," said Mazer. "We'll only go a few kilometers outside the base. Hopefully we'll be beyond the jamming out there."

Reinhardt turned the HERC east and accelerated, flying only a few meters above the tarmac. "You think anyone will follow us?"

"They'll know we're airborne by now, but it will take a few minutes for them to scramble a crew. We'll be long gone by then. Patu, can you remove the tracker?"

She unbuckled her harness and came forward. "As long as Mr. Ace Pilot here can keep us steady." She slid on a headband light, grabbed a few tools, and lay down on her back under the dash. When they reached the end of the airfield, Reinhardt lifted the HERC a few meters into the air to clear the fence and then continued east across open country. Ten seconds later Patu came out from under the dash holding a small box. She handed it to Mazer and returned to her seat.

They cut north for another two kilometers before Mazer pointed to a field and said, "Park us over there, keep the gravlens running."

Reinhardt banked to the left, descended, and slowed the HERC to a stop, a meter above the ground. Mazer opened his door and dropped the tracker box onto a thick clump of grass, hoping not to damage it. He then closed his door, lowered his visor, and called up the map on his HUD. They were still on base, and none of the other HERCs were airborne yet. They still had a lead.

"Take us northeast to the river," Mazer said. "Fast. We need distance between us and the box."

The HERC lifted and shot forward in that direction. The base was roughly ten square kilometers, most of it grassy flatland, which wouldn't provide much cover. The river, however, with its canopy of trees and narrow valley walls would give them some decent concealment.

"Patu," said Mazer. "Have that sat receiver ready. I want us getting a feed as soon as we're clear of their jammers."

"Assuming we can get clear of the jammers," said Fatani. "We're only guessing at their range."

"The Chinese aren't going to invest money and equipment to jam feeds over farmland," said Mazer. "I think Patu's right. We go far enough off base, and we'll pick up something."

Reinhardt crested a hilltop and descended quickly down into the river valley. It was sti

ll full dark, but the night-vision feature inside their helmets gave them a clear view of everything. The HERC dipped down between the trees directly above the river. Using the water like a road, Reinhardt took them north, weaving them back and forth with the curvature of the water. Twice he had to quickly lift them over the trees where the canopy was too thick to squeeze through. Another time he hopped up to avoid a bridge.

"Hey," said Patu. "How about a little warning on the hops? I'm holding sensitive equipment here."

Reinhardt gave the stick a little wiggle, wobbling the HERC and jostling Patu in her seat.

"Funny," said Patu. "Real funny. How would you like my boot, Reinhardt? Up your ass or in your teeth?"

"On a bun with mustard please," said Reinhardt.

Patu only shook her head.

They moved north through the river valley for another five minutes and then suddenly they were over rice fields. No fence marked the end of the base's borders, but the difference in landscape couldn't have been more distinct.