Anthony DeCosmo - Parallels

Now tents, water buffalos, a latrine, and the Chinook's cargo-a mobile bio-weapons lab salvaged and modified from the old world-filled the field and created a command post for the Science and Technology task force named "Prodigal Son".

If not for Hoth's costly-but-successful offensive, such resources could not have been brought to bear in the search for Trevor Stone.

As the General watched the vehicle lower to the frozen ground, he reflected on events of recent weeks, starting with the foolhardy decision for Trevor to lead the rescue mission.

Hoth's knowledge of history taught him to distrust the title 'Emperor,' but he respected Trevor Stone and recognized the man's focus on the mission and his understanding of the new world order. Yet he could not fathom why a man who seemed guided by the cold logic of this changed reality would act in such a rash manner.

This put those left behind in a difficult situation. They dare not announce Trevor's disappearance. Given the economic and political state of things back east, only chaos could come from such revelations; the type of discord that could derail the war effort that, despite Army Group North's recent troubles, went surprisingly well.

Casey Fink approached Hoth and reported, "Sir, my casualty reports are piling up. Unless we get some armored support I don't want any part of Dayton. It's not the Plats that are the trouble; they're almost easy compared to all these damn hostiles infesting everything."

Hoth replied, "Not possible. We suffered a damaged-or-destroyed rate over fifty percent this week, the natural outcome when an operation is rushed without proper reconnaissance and with poor weather restricting air cover. What first-line armor I have available has been organized into a mobile screening force on our southern flank to guard against any additional Roachbot incursions. It seems there is more than one slaughterhouse in that sector."

"We captured the ground we needed sir, perhaps it's time to slow things up?"

"I don't think we have much choice. We will focus on eliminating Plat stragglers and consolidating our position. At this point, it is not prudent to continue a general offensive. We need to conserve our forces for any eventuality."

Fink cocked his eye and asked, "You expecting something, General?"

Hoth zipped his parka zipper to his chin and pulled the fur-lined hood over his ears.

"If you were planning to attack our Empire, you might first want to decapitate leadership. From what I can see, General Fink, we have been decapitated."

Hoth swung his legs over a hoverbike; another piece of invader technology usurped by humanity, and said, "I am going to inspect progress at the site."

Two bodyguards flanked Hoth on crafts of their own as he sped into the forest along a recently-cut path of toppled trees and trampled undergrowth. Squads of soldiers and K9s patrolled the area around the access road, turning what had been a dark, foreboding forest into pacified ground as evidenced by the body of a massive StumpHide lying just off the trail.

After several minutes, they reached a clearing in the forest where trees and thick brush once stood, but something had changed that.

Never had Hoth seen a tree crushed and flattened like a flapjack. Yet that is exactly how dozens of trees appeared in the middle of the otherwise thick forest at exactly the spot where the complex Shepherd described once stood, the one that disappeared with Trevor Stone inside.

He dismounted the hoverbike and walked among the science team. The ground was a pulpous mangle of those flattened trees and vegetation. Gory masses of worms and slimy insects had frozen after being fooled to the surface by the warmth of the complex; a warmth described by Nina and the Dark Wolves and one that suggested power.

Professor Nehru-Director of Science and Technology on the Imperial Council-led the investigation. He wore a white parka two sizes too large, a knit hat, big gloves, and a ridiculous orange scarf. He paced the edge of the artificial clearing while consulting notes on a PDA.

Other researchers spread around the clearing with a variety of measuring devices and scanners. That variety of equipment reflected the puzzle they faced in the sense that no one knew from exactly what angle to approach the mystery.

A large number of K9 Grenadiers researched the area in their own way; they sniffed and scratched apparently under the guidance of Trevor's personal dog, Tyr.

Hoth approached Director Nehru, overhearing the man talk to himself, his voice muffled by the big scarf. "Oh, yes, yes, certainly, yes. Yes, that is of course, yes."

"Dr. Nehru. What is the status of your investigation?"

"Yes, yes, I am thinking is-"

"Doctor."

Nehru faced Hoth revealing the stubble of two days without shaving as well as driblets of frost around his hood and scarf.

"Oh! Yes! General, Sir! Yes!"

"What is the status of your investigation?"

"I am sorry to say that our status is very preliminary at this time, yes."

General Hoth did not dislike Dr. Nehru. He did, however, have little use for sarcasm and levity and coyness.

"Dr. Nehru. What have you learned so far?"

Omar waved a hand toward the empty clearing. "Ah! We can certainly say with no doubt that the building described as to have being here is, most certainly, no longer here."

The General’s ears filtered through Nehru’s forced accent to try and understand. When he put the words together, his eyes narrowed.

"Doctor, I did not come out here to listen to jokes."

"No joke, Mister General Hoth. I am quite aware that your sense of humor is not as much as would appreciate humorous interludes. It was of the first objective to understand that the building had first been here and that its absence now was a matter of fact and not speculation."

"What are you saying?"

"The building was, in point of fact, here at one time. The disturbance to the ground and surrounding area is consistent with the presence of a structure similar in the size and nature of which General Shepherd reported."

"So…it wasn’t an illusion? Is that what you're getting at?"

"Yes! Or, I should be saying, no, it was not an illusion. We have since ascertained that its disappearance is no illusion either. It is, as a matter of fact and I can say most assuredly, gone. Disappeared. Vanished."

"Dr. Nehru. Are you telling me that your investigation has managed so far only to prove what my eyes can see? Time is critical."

"Well," Nehru's heavy clothing sagged as he sighed. "I will be telling you that we know that a large amount of energy was expended at this place. A significant amount of heat was dispersed through the surrounding area. Your eyes will be seeing that, I would be imagining."

"Heat? Okay. That implies an engine or machinery or some kind of chemical reaction."

"Oh my! Yes! Very good."

A hawk squawked as it dipped into the clearing from the sky, swooped over head, then disappeared off again.

Nehru offered one more revelation, "Then, of course, there is the radiation which I am much doubting your eyes are seeing."

"Radiation?"

Omar nodded and turned his attention to the PDA he held.

Hoth waited. As a few seconds approached a minute, he considered throwing the Professor against a tree to grab his complete attention. Instead, Hoth's deep voice instructed, "Doctor, I require further explanation."

"Oh, yes, you must excuse. I am quite busy I am sure you are understanding."

"Of course."

"There is a residual radiation that has permeated the area. It is not harmful radiation, not at the levels currently measured, at least. While that is quite a revelation of interest, there is something of much more importance. I have accessed records from the Department of Defense that remarked on radiation similar to this. It is the only match to which I have been making in regards to this energy signature."