Worlds Without End: The Mission (Book 1)

CHAPTER 12: ANCIENT SCRIPTURE

  Adrian lay Kylee down gently on the floor of the hangar. The Gnols gathered them all to the center of the hangar. Celeste and Kylee were left near the computer terminals. All around, there were burning ships, as well as dead and wounded soldiers.

  The two black assault vehicles had finished their descent and landed next to the mass of prisoners. About fifty Gnol troops emerged from each vehicle. The last soldier off the second hovercraft seemed to Adrian to be the leader. He was dressed in all black fatigues with large gold stars on each arm. His eyes were hidden because of the black helmet and visor on his head. He had a long black braid of hair extending out from the back of his battle helmet and a thick black goatee. He briskly walked toward Adrian and stopped within a foot of Adrian's face.

  "General Palmer, I presume."

  Adrian didn't respond. He just nodded.

  "No response, very well. ? I'll do the talking. General Palmer, do you know who I am?"

  Adrian shrugged his shoulders and looked at his wife, who was crying, but trying to hold back the tears. He then turned his attention back to the Gnol leader. "I presume you are Dorange Gar, Koroan Chast's right hand man."

  Dorange threw his head back as he laughed. "That is a good guess. But, do you know who I really am?"

  Adrian gave Dorange a puzzled look. What kind of game is this Gnol trying to play? he thought. "How would I know who you really are?"

  Dorange laughed again. He then stepped closer to Adrian, reached up, and grabbed the bottom of the visor on his helmet. He was just about to take off the helmet when the communicator on his belt chirped. He stopped and grabbed the communicator. "This had better be important, Colonel."

  "It is, sir," the colonel replied. "We have a problem up here."

  "What is it?"

  "Another squadron of rebels has just arrived."

  Dorange seemed annoyed. "Well then, Colonel, you know what to do! Take care of it!"

  "That will be a problem, sir."

  "How so?" Dorange questioned.

  "The squadron contains approximately thirty assault vehicles-"

  "So! We can take those out!"

  "? and fifty hover tanks!"

  Adrian quickly looked at Sean and Doc. Both men returned his look with the same astonishment and shrugged. He wondered where Scott and Petey had gotten the tanks.

  "What?" Dorange bellowed as he snapped his finger and motioned for one of his officers to stand next to him.

  The colonel at the other end of the communicator continued. "The tanks have taken out almost all of our fighters and Chaties!"

  Dorange cursed, slammed his communicator shut, and looked at the officer who was now standing next to him. "Major ? take fifty troops and return to the surface for support."

  "Yes, sir," the major said as he whirled around and motioned for troops to follow him to the first assault vehicle.

  Dorange then turned his attention to another nearby officer. "Captain."

  "Yes, General."

  "I will accompany General Palmer back to the palace," Dorange said as he turned his attention back to Adrian and smiled. "Our lord, Koroan Chast, will take care of him personally."

  "And what about the rest of the prisoners, sir?" the captain questioned.

  Dorange paused for a moment and looked around the hangar at the two hundred plus prisoners. "We don't have time to bring the prisoner shuttle down ? so ? kill them all!"