Beyond Hades: The Prometheus Wars by Luke Romyn Read Free Book Online Page B

down the ramp, gazing around at their new location. This docking station - once again apparently deep underground -appeared almost identical to the one in Quantico... minus an enormous, rampaging, one-eyed monster from Greek legend. Several squads of troops marched into the immense landing-bay, hastily surrounding Captain Benedict and Talbot. It was only then that Talbot realized no one else was disembarking the thermo-carrier.
    "Why isn't anyone else getting off?" he asked the captain.
    Captain Benedict looked slightly uncomfortable at the question, but his stride didn't falter. "They're waiting to see if any creatures break through to try and kill you again," he stated mechanically.
    Talbot fearfully glanced around the bay, trepidation creeping into his joints, freezing them up, making the simplest of movements near impossible. Nothing moved, apart from the marines forming a protective knot around them.
    "Captain Benedict," called one of the marines with a brisk salute. "Sergeant Major William Harris. Welcome to Senegal."
    Captain Benedict returned the salute.
    Talbot's mind reeled. Senegal? They'd travelled from Virginia to Western Africa, a distance of almost four-thousand miles, in less than four hours! He'd known they were travelling fast, but that was damn fast .
    Another part of Talbot's brain wondered how the United States Government had managed to build a base like this, a structure so immense, virtually replicating the underground station at Quantico, beneath the surface of a foreign nation. Politics aside, something serious had to be going on for nations to cooperate on this level, either that, or both countries stood to gain financially from what was going on.
    The idea tasted bitter in Talbot's mind, probably because it had an element of truth to it. He'd heard somewhere that Senegal had one of the fastest growing economies in the world following a major change back in the late nineties. Perhaps an unexpected boost in monetary funds from the United States in order to allow the access to create Base Bravo? He would only ever be able to speculate, but such a thing gnawed at him, making Talbot uneasy.
    "How is the situation here, Sergeant Major?" asked the captain.
    "Better than what we heard you guys have been through, although there has been increased activity from beyond the rift. Things slowed down after Thomas...." He glanced at Talbot who returned the man's stare evenly until the Sergeant Major dropped his gaze. Something wasn't right here; these people seemed to be hiding more than just the nature of Thomas's death.
    Talbot and Captain Benedict were escorted through the doors at the end of the docking bay and into a control room. A very serious marine with three stars on his lapels approached them and Captain Benedict snapped to attention, saluting briskly.
    "Lieutenant General Walsh," he said as the man returned his salute. "Let me introduce you to Doctor Talbot Harrison." He indicated Talbot who stepped forward hesitantly and extended his hand.
    The Lieutenant General merely glanced at the proffered hand, not moving to shake it, and Talbot slowly lowered it.
    "I expect all hell will soon break loose in my base, now you're here." The Lieutenant General's eyes narrowed. "I hope you're worth it."
    Turning to Captain Benedict, he said, "Welcome to Base Bravo, Captain, we have been updated on what happened at Alpha."
    "Did they control the situation sir?"
    "No. The cyclops unintentionally released several other captive beasts during its rampage. We lost all communication about an hour ago."
    "Damn," muttered Captain Benedict.
    "General Sharpe and several key personnel were able to escape. He sent word he'll meet up with you later."
    "Yes sir. The general gave me orders to bring the doctor to meet with Professor Weinstein," said Captain Benedict.
    "Of course he did," grunted the lieutenant general. "That nut just keeps getting worse each day. Don't expect too much coherence from him, Captain. He's so far gone I