Chapter 2

I walk as quickly as possible down the corridor to the conference room where the meeting is being held; when I reach the door I tug on my uniform making sure it's neat and unruffled. Military perfection was drilled into me as a cadet, and now it's just become a habit. I open the door and step in; everyone in the room turns to me. Some with recognition, others with curiosity as to who I am; it makes me a bit self conscious. That's when major Mandy Roberts stands up and I quickly snap a salute at her; she returns it with a smile on her face; she hasn't changed a bit as she walks towards me, and even with her uniform you can still see her shapely figure. Her amber colored eyes bore right into mine; her face is soft and round, but with confidence, an air of command is about her. She extends her hand and I take it feeling the warmth of it, which makes me remember much."Its been a while Captain Valdez. Please come and take a seat." I do as the major asks taking a seat at the table and as luck or fate whatever you believe I'm directly across from counselor Mindini, one of the senior reps for U.E.A.

"Gentleman, I would like to introduce Captain Valdez EXO of the Helios." It a voice that I recognize; I look down the table seeing Dr Theodore Wells standing using a wooden cane to help support himself. Dr Wells leads the development team that designed both the Hyperion and now the Helios. I study him more closely; he's aged quite a bit since the last time I saw him. There are more wrinkles around his eyes and worry lines on his forehead look deeper than I remember, but the eyes, grey blue are still sharp and they miss nothing.

"If you would please look at the folder in front of you." He says. I open it up and the names of all the crew members of the Hyperion are there along with some personal info, and a picture of each. I flip through the pages feeling a pang of loss for each of these people. I personally knew all of them. I was supposed to command the I.S.V. Hyperion; instead I was lying in bed with pneumonia. "Now, I am quite sure that everyone here knows that we lost contact with the Hyperion on March eighth two years ago; its last transmission was received at 15:24 hours." He activates the screen on the wall behind him. "What no one know is the exact content of the message." He shoots a glare at each person in the room. "what you are about to see is the most classified information; all of us in this room have the security clearance to now be able to see and hear the final message of the interstellar vessel the Hyperion." An image forms on the screen it's not very clear it's... grainy, but it does appear to be... kick me if I'm wrong, a ship or something... made; not of natural material.

"Now this the final transmission of the Hyperion." He taps a button on the remote in his hand and the image on the screen changes. The face of a woman appears in place of the UFO; it's Karen Marcus, the chief science officer of the Hyperion. I recognize her immediately. [This is the I.S.V. Hyperion! We have come under attack...] She holds on as the ship shakes and trembles, fires visible behind her. [We encountered an alien... vessel and we attempted to establish communication with them... they opened fire...] The terror in her eyes and in her voice is unmistakable, as the ships lights begin to flicker. [Oh God the ship is breaking apart! Oh God help us...]

The image freezes at that point with the utter look of terror on her face, with tears streaming down her cheeks. I look at the other people in the room and the uneasiness is palpable on their faces. All except those with combat experience, which includes myself, major Roberts and colonel Bill Haverstone. Then I notice that counselor Mindini is rather calm and seemingly unmoved by the transmission.

The screen goes dark and Dr Wells steps out from the corner. He eyes everyone of us. "I hope you can now appreciate the situation we face."

"Hmm." Everyone in the room turns to the source of the sound, as counselor Mindini stands with a look of what I can only see as arrogance on his face. He runs his fingers through his thin white hair looking at Dr Wells. "You believe that this thing." He waves a dismissive hand towards the screen, as he speaks with a heavy Russian accent. "Is truly the work of aliens!" He turns away from the table and looks at a picture on the wall. "You know what I think? It is terroist bomb!" He turns to face us. "That's what it really is!" The frustration was evident on his face.

"Counselor," the voice was low, but it carried the weight of a man used to authority and command. "We've already gone through this. There is no evidence to support your theory." I smile as colonel Haverstone speaks.

"It is easy to say such a thing, when you are no longer dealing with those scum!" Mindini retorts angrily. Mindini looks at me and points a crooked finger in my direction. "I fought along side your grandfather! He was a great man!" He pauses; I sit there without answering since I'm well aware of what he is talking about. But I won't drag my grandfather into this issue! "He saved my life!" He seemed to calm down retaking his seat he studies my face. "You resemble him in many ways, but not in others. Though I am glad to have a Valdez involved."

I glance towards the major she raises her eyebrows slightly. Yeah, I suppose I have to be polite. "Thank you sir. My grandfather was a strong individual and he is one of reasons that I joined up."

" Your father also was a great man, an outstanding pilot." He looks down at his hands. "His loss was most lamentable." I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my composure in front of all these Men. It was his order that got my father killed. I force a smile nodding in acknowledgment.

The major has an expectant, almost anxious look on her face, as I glance in her direction. I decide that it's better to just keep my mouth shut right now.

"Well," says Dr Wells. "Now that the small talk is over perhaps we may resume our strategy session, all agreed." A collective sigh in the room is confirmation of agreement.

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I stand outside the main entrance of the complex taking in some fresh air, as I unbutton the clasp to the high collar of my dress grays. I losen it up by running my finger all along the inside of it, in order to feel less tightness around my throat! God, I hate full dress uniforms! There nothing like utilities or a combat flight suit! At least the meeting is done for today; I don't think I could take another minute with Mindini in there. It's cool outside on this autumn evening. The air is still as I look down the road, taking in the scenery around the mountain. The road goes straight down for about a quarter mile, then it turns

I hear foot steps behind me. I turn my head slightly and out of the corner of my eye, I recognize Mandy's figure walking up to me. Mandy stops right next to me, unclasping the high collar of her dress grays as well. "Are you ok Ant?" She asks saying my name as she did before I pulled out of the garbage of the battle that I fought in Africa; we went in to squash a rebel uprising. Though it just turned into such disastrous affair, that I almost resigned right then and there. That's when this mission came up and my old CO desperate to keep in the military hits me with this job. 'Pick of the litter' he said!

"Hey, are you there?" I can hear the concern in her voice.

"Yeah. It's all good Mandy." I Speak low so that no one else can hear me call her by her name. She pulls out a cigarette, a bad habit she picked up while in Africa, and I just ignore it as usual.

She looks at me analyzing my reaction and puts the cigarette away. "I know, it's bad, but it's hard to quit. Just as hard as it is to forget you." Mandy!

"You had to go there didn't you." I say and I chuckle. "This whole thing is just one cluster!" I say it little to forcefully, so I take a deep breath to calm myself. "Not you or us at that time... it's just this and the Helios; the fact that I should have been on board the Hyperion and..."

Mandy puts a hand on my shoulder, looking at me with the same affection she always has. However, I'm not the same person, as much as I would like things to go back, I can't.

"You shouldn't blame yourself for the events that occurred, with the Hyperion." Mandy says to me, while putting her arms around me. "You weren't there not of your own choice. You got sick."

"I was supposed to be in command of that mission." I state flatly. "I was the captain. Now they're gone and I'm here." I should've been there is the only thought I have. "I let them down."

Mandy shakes her head. "No. It wasn't your fault. You know that, and no one here blames you for what happened."

"I'm not so sure."

"Listen, you did well while you were able to." She gently holds my face with her hand and we lock eyes. "You're a good officer and you're going to get the chance to prove that on this mission; do you understand?"

"Yeah." I look at her. "Yeah, I get it. A second chance."

Mandy smiles and backs up a bit. I hadn't realized how close she was to me; she buttons up the high collar of my uniform and smooths away a non existent wrinkle. "I know things are different now, but sometimes I wish we could go back to how we were."

I nod, knowing that it would be nice. "Unfortunately major, we can't."

Mandy smiles sadly looking me in the eyes. As if trying to see something that is not there anymore. I will alway have a place in my heart for her; just not the way she wants it. Mandy turns away. "We should head back. I'm sure the colonel wants to see us." She buttons up her collar and begins to walk back into the mountain. For a moment I want to run up take her in my arms. Hold her, kiss her tell her that it can be as it was! It was just a moment. Reality sinks in; the scope of the endeavor we have before us, wipes out any of that stupid notion from my head!

We have a job to do. I put my hands behind me and start to walk back into the mountain.