“I’m here, I think,” Carol voice broke over the radio. “I’m starting to descend.”
“Stay focused. Remember, if it moves, blow it up. I don’t care if it’s a tank, a car, or a human, just do your job. Over.” Lambert barked into the radio, and Hartmann recognized the steely resolve on his face. The captain was going to do whatever it took to bully Carol through combat, and Hartmann hoped that it would work – for everyone’s sake.
“I’ve landed. Oh no, they’re all running out and they’ve got guns.” Her voice sounded petrified.
“Shoot them!” Lambert ordered forcefully.
Carol’s voice whimpered, “I can see their faces. They look so angry and scared. They’re shooting at me!”
“GODDAMN IT CAROL, TAKE THEM OUT NOW!” the captain bellowed.
“Help mode! Help mode!” her voice shrieked over the radio, followed by a computer voice replying, “Accessing help system.” Lambert turned to Hartmann with a puzzled look.
“What the fuck is that?” he asked.
“I don’t know, sir.” Hartmann stepped over to stare down at the radio, as if somehow he could see what was going on through it. “I’ve never heard of that before.”
“Carol, what’s going on? Over.” Lambert spoke urgently into the radio, but they didn’t receive a reply.
There was a full fifteen minutes of silence, and Hartmann realized that his brow was damp with sweat. It was unreal to be on this side of the mission, blind to what was happening miles and miles away. He was careful not to let his hands shake.
It was a relief when the radio finally crackled back to life. “Mission complete. Returning to Base. Over.”
It was Carol’s voice … but not. It was too confident, yet too robotic at the same time – not remotely like the timid squeak that they had grown accustomed to. Lambert and Hartmann stared at each other, lost for words, unsure of what had just happened.
“Get the satellite imaging, and send in the surveillance drones,” Lambert grunted. “Verify that the enemy base was destroyed.” He looked at Hartmann once again. “MSG Hartmann will be part of the debriefing.”
The room echoed with, “Yes, sir!” and the soldiers devoted themselves to their duties. The captain and master sergeant sat still and quiet, waiting for Carol and the Suit to return, mentally sorting through the questions they needed to ask.
By Autumn Rain 