The Alpha Protocol: Alpha Protocol Book 1 Duncan Hamilton (affordable ebook reader .TXT) 📖

Bounty in the time he’d allowed for. The first Samson knew of being spotted was when there was a loud zipping sound and the ground to his right exploded in a cloud of dirt. It repeated, until it sounded like the air was sizzling, and plumes of dirt were exploding all around.

There had been no shout of challenge before they started using him for target practice—the aliens certainly seemed to favour a shoot-first approach. The only comfort Samson could draw on as he charged for cover was that their aim didn’t appear to be the sharpest. He threw a backward glance as he ran, and could see the aliens standing by their vehicle. He supposed it was too much to hope for that one of the grenades might fall from its perch at that moment.

The time between impacts lessened, and Samson could hear the engine of the alien vehicle power up—it seemed they planned to give chase. An instant later, the air was shocked by the concussive sound of a thermal grenade going off. The second explosion’s sound was likely swallowed up by the first. The firing stopped. Samson allowed himself a moment to survey his handiwork. There was almost nothing left of the vehicle—only a pile of burning debris. One of the aliens was in the midst of it, which was only partially satisfying, as the second was standing staring at the burning remains of its comrade.

It looked back at Samson, who could not help but smile and wave. Even with the impossibilities of communication between them, the message was clear: I killed your friend, and I’m happy about it. Never one to rest on his laurels, Samson broke back into a run toward the Bounty. The first blow for mankind had been struck.

Part III

26

‘Tell me, Lieutenant Commander,’ Captain Wright said, ‘have the unfortunate circumstances of your posting to the Frontier instilled in you a death wish?’

Wright was surveying the mission reports and details on his datapad, and didn’t look nearly as impressed as Samson had hoped he might be. The fact that they hadn’t found any survivors didn’t help matters, but Samson had thought the first successful encounter with the aliens—and final confirmation that they were indeed aliens—would have brought him some credit.

Samson looked across the briefing room table at Captain Gutierrez of the Nautilus, who had arrived in the Bounty’s absence. It was impossible to judge what he was thinking.

‘I assure you that’s not the case, sir,’ Samson said. ‘We approached the mission as planned, trying to make ourselves as invisible as possible before descending to the surface in the hope of finding survivors. It was obvious from an early stage that we weren’t going to, and then the aliens arrived. I’ll admit that I was angry with what they had done, but I did not intend at any point to risk my ship or crew any more than the situation we had all volunteered for already did—nor do I believe that I did so. The chance to destroy the vehicle, and one of the aliens with it was simply… happenstance.’

‘Happenstance,’ Wright said, with more than a hint of disbelief in his voice. ‘You’re either going to come out of this situation in a box, or with so many medals you’ll not be able to stand up under the weight. Or you’ll be the man remembered for starting a war with the first race of aliens humanity has encountered. It would have been better if you’d observed from a distance and retreated with the intelligence you gathered. As it is, I hope we don’t come to pay for your rush of blood to the head.’ He paused for a moment to let Samson digest the statement. ‘Captain Gutierrez has brought updated orders.’

Samson rankled under the criticism. These aliens had destroyed the Sidewinder, attacked the Bounty, and they had opened fire on Samson, all without warning or challenge. If anyone had started a war, it was them.

Gutierrez nodded, and Wright continued. ‘Admiral Khaimov doesn’t want to take any unnecessary chances. Until his squadron arrives, we are to avoid any direct engagement with the enemy, and are only to fight if there are no alternatives available to us. We will reconnoitre the Oculus system in force, and you will continue as commander of the Bounty. We will be sticking close together, and conducting detailed sensor scans of the area. One ship is an irritation, an ancient xeno ruin is a curiosity, but a species that is trigger-happy is a perilous threat. We’re to determine where they came from, if we can, and what their capabilities are, and if there are any more of them—all from as great a distance as we can keep.’

‘Aye, sir.’ Samson was beginning to wonder if Captain Gutierrez ever spoke.

‘Whether it’s heroics or foolhardiness that’s running through your veins, Lieutenant Commander, I don’t know and don’t care. Under my command, you’ll do what you’re told, when you’re told, and leave the thinking to your superiors. Understood?’

‘Perfectly, sir.’ Samson forced a smile. Something told him he was going to find serving under Captain Wright a trying experience.

‘Excellent,’ Wright said. ‘We ship out at zero seven hundred.’

Right from the start, Samson found being under direct command again a frustration. He could see the appeal in a Frontier command now—freedom from interference in how you ran your ship on a day-to-day basis. There was none of the stifling protocol and formality of fleet service, nor the feeling of constantly having someone looking over your shoulder. He had once thrived on all that, but now that he’d had a taste of what life on the Frontier offered and had it taken away, he could finally understand what attracted people out there—why someone like Arlen had chosen the life he had.

As the days progressed and they made way through space at a snail’s pace, it became clear to Samson that Captain Wright was undertaking this scouting cruise simply for the sake of it. There was going