Hosein Kouros-Mehr - Extinction 6

“Launch the deterrent,” Lionel shouts.

The ship rolls as a rocket torpedoes from its belly, blasting through space and smashing into the incoming missile, sending debris flying in all directions. A fiery explosion rocks the ship and shards smash into the cockpit window. Cracks appear on the screen.

Abe opens his eyes. “What happened?”

The red light turns off. “Object neutralized.”

Lionel’s heart beats madly in his chest. “Shit, that was a close call.”

“We almost died!” Abe reaches out his arms. “You saved us, youngster. Great work!”

Lionel turns away. “No thanks to you.”

Abe’s face reddens. “I’m sorry, private.”

“I will appreciate if you stop bashing me all the time.”

“Yes, private.”

“I’m a captain , not a private. Please get it right.”

Abe’s voice lowers. “Will do, captain.”

A blue flash signals an incoming transmission. “ USS Hawkeye , this is Central Command.”

Lionel taps a monitor. “We read you, Houston.”

“There’s a Chinese hostile headed your way. Repeat, you are under attack.”

“Yes, we know. We neutralized a missile just now. How many are there?”

“One.”

“We’ve taken care of it.”

“Great work. Please remain on high alert.”

Abe’s hands shake. “Should we turn back home, Centcom?”

“No, Hawkeye . Continue towards Mars and be prepared for more hiccups. Repeat, do not return to Earth.”

Lionel nods. “You got it, Houston. We will proceed as planned. Any new directives?”

“Awaiting orders from CIA. Standby for now, over.”

The cockpit goes silent as debris from the blast drift through space. Lionel cracks his knuckles. “The Chinese attacked us.”

Abe looks out into the void. “That was no hiccup.”

“We have to continue the mission.”

“We’re sitting ducks out here. I don’t like this…”

Lionel chuckles. “I thought you were ready to fight the enemy, Colonel?”

“I just want to go home.”

“We have no choice. We should man up and fight back.”

They sit on edge for several minutes, glancing back and forth from the radar to the cockpit window. A blue light flashes and a deep male voice comes online. “ Hawkeye , do you read me?”

“Yes, sir, this is Captain Lionel Mercer. We read you loud and clear.”

A response arrives after a lag. “This is Gareth Allen. Please listen closely.”

“Yes, sir.”

“The President has just authorized an EMP strike on New China. Prepare your electromagnetic guns for launch.”

Lionel sits upright. “To confirm, we will attack Mars?”

“That’s correct. You must stay clear of the American colony and aim for New China. Do you copy?”

“Yes.” Lionel taps a monitor and enters a passkey. “Target locked and EMP warheads loading, sir. We will strike within ten minutes.”

Abe bites his nails. “Shall we return to Earth afterward, Director Allen?”

“No. Continue towards Mars.”

“You got it,” Lionel says. “We copy you, Mr. Allen.”

Abe covers his face with his hands. “This is a disaster.”

The line disconnects. Lionel loads a real-time map of Mars. Highways crisscross the red planet and human colonies are visible within the Martian plains.

Abe glances at the map. “Which one is New China?”

Lionel points to a 200-mile-long colony in the Northern Hemisphere near the polar ice cap. “Right there.”

“What about the American one?”

“You see that?” A small white island stands out near the equator. “There’s our home. It should be easy to spare our lands and blast New China.”

“EMP is that precise?”

“Yes. Weren’t you paying attention in military school?”

Abe’s face reddens in embarrassment.

The A.I. voice comes on. “Preparing EMP rays for launch. Time to strike—9 minutes.”

Abe grows pale. “I have a bad feeling about this. Don’t you see what’s happening?”

Lionel turns to his superior. “What?”

“It’s the end times.”

“You’re being dramatic.”

“I’m not. Don’t you see?” Abe shakes his head and frowns. “China will retaliate and send more missiles our way. The only outcome from here is nuclear war and total annihilation. We’re starting the show here on the Hawkeye .”

“Relax, the President knows what he’s doing. I have faith in my commander-in-chief.”

“It’s all come to this. As soon as we launch the EMP, the world as we know will be gone forever. It’s the end of the human race.”

Lionel stares into space. “Let’s hope you’re wrong.”

AT 5:20 A.M. in Livermore, Anil looks to the east and spots the faint glow of daybreak. He sits handcuffed on the dirt field next to his colleagues as military paratroopers encircle the group.

Ten minutes left.

He lowers his head and avoids eye contact with the soldiers on patrol. Careful not to attract attention, he subtly sends a message through his Vision smartglasses. “Dr. Sanders, I have to go back inside.”

Austin looks up and stares at his young programmer, then looks away and wags his head.

Anil receives a message. “Don’t do it, Anil. It’s too dangerous.”

A gunshot explodes in the air and the ground shakes. Wearing gold sneakers and a black armored suit, Manos stands above Beth holding a smoking rifle. “What’s taking so long? Get the data back online!”

Her mouth duct-taped, Beth and three colleagues sit staring at laptops.

Manos shouts in her ear. “I ordered you to restore the servers!”

Beth ignores him. Manos leans over and rips the tape off her face. She screams in agony. “You fucking asshole.”

“Do you want to go to jail?”

“Go to hell…”

He kicks her in the back. “Have it your way. The transport planes are en route.”

Beth pleads with him. “Manos, please listen to me. In ten minutes, a gravity wave will hit the Earth. We can harness that current and activate the world’s first fusion reactor…”

“You’re talking that nonsense again?”

“Please, I beg you to let us go for ten minutes.”

“No way!”

“Please… just let us turn on the machine and then we’ll restore the servers.”

Manos sneers. “I don’t trust you.”

“I beg you to listen. Clean energy will solve our problems. We can end our addiction to fossil fuels and stop global warming. Don’t you see the stakes here?”

He rolls his eyes. “What’s in it for me, hippie?”

“You can live in a world without war.”

He laughs. “War is good for the planet.”

“What?”

“It’s a purifying force. Overpopulation is the cause of our problems. War helps us return to balance.”

She clasps her hands. “Please, we’re on the cusp of a brilliant breakthrough. Take a step back and think about the possibilities.”

Anil lowers his face and sends a message in his smartglasses. “Where is the titanium?”

Austin silently sends a reply. “Are you sure you want to go inside?”

“Yes.”

“It’s on the counter next to the accelerator.”

Anil’s heart beats madly in his chest. “Can you distract the guards?”

Austin gently nods. Without warning, he stands and shouts at the top of his lungs and then races from the crowd.

Manos points. “He’s getting away!”

The paratroopers race towards Austin and tackle him to the ground. Seeing his opportunity, Anil quietly crouches and sprints towards the laboratory. He makes his way through the bay doors and hides in a corner. The timer comes into view.

7:12, 7:11, 7:10…