U-10
Chapter 2 - Trouble

The hillside where the UFO crashed exploded in a fountain of rocks, dirt and sand. The stars in the night sky were hidden by airborne debris.

Ty pulled his night-vision goggles over his eyes and tried to scan his surroundings. He couldn’t see anything. The drifting dust was too thick for even a glimmer of light.

“Everyone, condition report,” Ty said into his Molar comm.

“I’m okay, but I can’t see anything,” Sasquatch replied.

“Same here,” Wendigo said. “What the hell was that?′

“I’m blind, but the dust is beginning to clear. Should be able to see in a little while,” Fisheye responded.

“My heat-signature equipment won’t work at the moment. It’s overwhelmed by the burning wreck. This damned dust is thick,” Hashtag muttered.

“I’m A-OK,” Psycho said. “What a rush!”

“Just before the explosion, I made a mental picture of my surroundings. Moving now toward the crash site,” Wraith said.

“Hold, Wraith,” Ty ordered. “There’s no telling what you’re walking into. Do not approach. Stay where you are until visibility clears.”

“You’re no fun,” Wraith replied.

“The flames from the explosion are weird. Not a color I have ever seen. I agree you shouldn’t go near them until I can get a spectro-analysis,” Hashtag said.

“Everyone rendezvous in the center of the village,” Ty ordered. “I want a game plan, not half-cocked reactions.”

***

Wraith and Sasquatch were waiting on him when he arrived at the pile of rubble near the center of the settlement.

The other team members appeared in short order. Everyone was covered in fine dust. The air was beginning to clear, and stars began to glimmer through the haze.

Seeing their impatient faces, Ty said, “We’re going to work our way to the crash site.”

Then glaring at Wraith, he said, “Move slow and as a team.”

The disappointment in her eyes confirmed she would follow his orders.

Wiping the screen of his portable spectrometer, Hashtag said, “My readings indicate all-clear.”

“I don’t like the color of those flames,” Roadkill said. “They’re odd.”

At that moment, Ty’s jawbone vibrated as his Molar comm crackled and a faint, electronic voice said, “Squad Orion, report position.”

Gazing at his GPS, Ty responded, “Natureboy, our coordinates are 41 Romeo November Quebec 13241 32777.”

“Confirmed 41 Romeo November Quebec 13241 32777. Seismic activity indicates a significant explosion near your location.”

“Aye, Sir. Squad Orion preparing to investigate.”

“Hold for further instructions. Repeat. Hold for further instructions. A FAST Team just arrived our location and will take control of the crash site. Repeat. A FAST team will be in route to your coordinates ASAP. Estimated arrival time is one hour.”

Ty’s brow wrinkled. FAST stood for Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team and was manned by US Marines. Seeing the shocked reactions of his teammates, he said, “Sir, the probability of Insurgents infiltrating the area is high given the nature of the crash and explosion. Delay could jeopardize meaningful rescue of personnel and recovery of sensitive equipment. What do Marines have to do with the operation anyway?”

“Point taken; however, I have my orders, and you do as well. Hold your position and await arrival of the FAST Team.”

The comm went silent, and Lavender shook his head.

“I have detected movement near the crash site,” Hashtag said. “I’m too far away for an exact reading, but there is an indication of several possible hostiles.”

Ty saw the grins on his team’s faces, and said, “I wasn’t told not to set up a defensive perimeter to maintain the purity of the crash site. It would be a shame if something got contaminated.”

Holding their weapons at the ready, Ty and his team headed toward the wreckage.

***

Dark eyes surveyed the burning wreck, straining to see any movement indicating a crash survivor.

Abdul Akhund wiped at the sweat dripping off his forehead. His favored acolyte, Jangvi, waited by his side. The Provincial Commander, Jalauddin Razaq Nafez, would shower him with many accolades for a prize captive. If there was anyone still alive in that mess, Akhund was determined to catch them.

The cloud of dust and sand created by the tremendous impact was beginning to settle. Spotting movement in the southeast, Akhund swiveled his binoculars, focused and beheld American soldiers prowling toward the wreck. His eyes narrowed to slits as hatred bubbled in his gut.

“Jangvi, take two men and kill the Americans,” Akhund said.

Jangvi, a snake in human skin, whose reputation for wanton cruelty was well-earned, grinned. His teeth were stained in streaks of brown.

“There will be glory this night, Commander,” he said as he crawled away.

Akhund grinned and returned to searching for survivors. He was sure Jangvi would carry out his orders to the letter with no mercy.

***

“Keep your heads swiveling. The crash will attract every bad guy and dumpster diver for miles,” Ty said.

Bits of a grayish-white plastic material littered the ground the closer they came to the burning wreck. The fire was beginning to die, but it was still bright enough to create deep shadows on the opposite side of rock formations ringing the crash site. The dancing flames made the shadows gyrate.

Wendigo knelt by a pile of metal thrown from the crash and felt for heat. Sensing no burning heat emboldened her to grab a large piece of the structural debris to see if she could move it. Grasping the end of a twisted, fifteen centimeter thick beam with both hands, as if she was picking up a ninety kilogram barbell, Wendigo heaved with all her might. She almost toppled over; losing her balance when the metal beam she thought should weigh hundreds of kilograms had little weight at all. Fisheye and Roadkill gasped as they watched Wendigo lift the entire beam and its attached metal plates.

“Supergirl would be proud,” Sasquatch grinned.

Sneering at the reference, Wendigo dropped the beam and moved toward the smoldering hulk.

“Wraith and Big Papa, stay on the night side of the boulders. If anything tries to sneak into the site, I want your night vision as clear as possible,” Ty ordered. “Everyone be alert. Look for evidence of life or the remains of anything that died.”

Using standard search techniques, the rest of the squad fanned out and combed through the wreckage.

***

Jangvi, Osmani and Zahir crept into the shadow of a large boulder.

The flickering wreckage provided many shadows behind the boulders ringing the crash site, and Jangvi used them to sneak into a hidden position in the path of the Americans coming to investigate the crash.

There were several reasons he chose Osmani and Zahir for this assignment. They were experienced, patient killers. They would wait for an ideal opportunity to sink their blades into an enemy. The victim would never know he was being stalked until the moment of his death. In that regard, they were like cousins to Jangvi. Jangvi savored the look of surprise on his prey that turned into the blank stare of death as his blade cut deeper into vital organs.

Nodding in the direction of the shadows along the path the Americans were following as they neared the crash site, Jangvi watched with knowing certainty as Osmani and Zahir shuffled to their ambush positions.

Jangvi observed a soldier wearing a black uniform edge into the kill zone. The black uniform was not US Military standard garb, but it made no difference to the outcome. Osmani and Zahir would take the American out in silence and wait for the next soldier. Jangvi sneered with anticipation as the black-clad soldier disappeared into the shadows created by the boulders.

He heard a swish followed by a soft bang. Sliding from his concealed position, Jangvi wormed his way toward the shadows where the American had been knifed. A body slumped over in the twilight. It was dressed in a dirty, white wrap rather than a black outfit.

It took a moment for Jangvi to puzzle what had happened. It dawned on him at last that Zahir wore a dirty, white wrap. Moving with extreme caution, knife in hand, Jangvi inched toward the spot where the American soldier had been attacked. The interloper might have killed Zahir, but not both Zahir and Osmani.

Jangvi realized his vision was being affected by the fire from the crash site. Someone was moving near the wreckage, but he couldn’t tell who it was. He could see their shadow as they walked between the fire and the surrounding rocks. Crouching by a bush, he allowed his eyes to begin adjusting to the darkness. Without warning, the body of Osmani tumbled over the bush. In that instant, Jangvi felt a blade sink into the back of his neck and twist.

***

“Enemy combatant neutralized,” Wraith whispered over her Molar comm. “Local interest in the crash is . . .”

Her sudden silence brought everyone to a stop. Per their training and experience, the squad members searching the wreckage turned their weapons on the perimeter.

“Make that three combatants neutralized,” Wraith whispered. “Sneaky devils.”

Muttering relief, the team returned to searching the rubble.

“There is no visible evidence of a pilot or crew,” Psycho said.

“Let’s see if there is any recognizable equipment,” Ty responded.

***

Abdul Akhund stared into his binoculars with intense concentration.

Having the advantage of knowing where his men would ambush the American soldiers, he was able to pick out the faint movements as Jangvi, Osmani and Zahir crept into position.

Some soldiers moved into the wreckage, waving their weapons back and forth in anticipation of attack. Akhund smiled as his men positioned themselves to take out the perimeter guards. Once the guards were no longer a factor, the rest of the American soldiers would be easy prey.

A perimeter guard dressed in black slipped behind the boulder where Osmani and Zahir waited. Success was assured when Jangvi left his concealed position and converged on the kill zone. Jangvi disappeared behind a bush, and Akhund grinned as he imagined the look of surprise on the American as he died under the blade of an Insurgent.

Akhund’s smile faded and wrinkles formed across his brow as the black-clad figure emerged from behind the bush, unharmed. Sweeping his binoculars from side to side, Akhund tried in vain to see any indication Jangvi, Osmani or Zahir were still alive.

The sour taste of bile rose in his throat as Akhund realized the truth. Somehow, the perimeter guard had overcome his men. The ambush had failed, and Akhund had lost three of his best killers.

Shuffling away from his observation point, Akhund slipped behind a rock outcropping and jogged as fast as the terrain would allow toward the one man he feared - Provincial Commander, Jalauddin Razaq Nafez.

The Commander might behead him, but Akhund knew he had no choice but to report what had happened.

***

Avoiding hot spots where flames still burned, Ty began pushing aside debris. Everything he moved was light as a feather yet stiff as metal. Lifting a structural member as large as a kitchen table, Ty spotted a brownish lump. Seizing the thing, he slapped it to shake off dust.

The light from his headlamp revealed what looked like a purse or satchel. There was a carrying strap, and a flap covering the opening. Turning the item, Ty saw what appeared to be a nametag or identification slot.

Frowning at his replace, Ty peered around for more items. There was a box lying near where he found the bag. Inside the box were a few cards. Kneeling, Ty spotted other cards strewn about.

Fingering a card from the box, he examined it under the light of his headlamp. The card appeared to be made of a light blue or gray colored plastic about the size and stiffness of a credit card. One side of the card contained a series of symbols while the other side was blank.

“Everyone searching the craft converge on my location,” Ty said.

***

“Aw, you found a man-purse,” Roadkill said.

“I think the color matches your eyes,” Wendigo smirked. “I knew you had a feminine side.”

“Jealousy doesn’t become you,” Ty replied.

It wasn’t clear whether his remark was aimed at Roadkill or Wendigo.

“I found this box of cards,” Ty said and held up one of the cards.

“There are more cards scattered around here. Find as many as you can. I have a feeling they may be important.”

As everyone began looking, Big Papa said over his Molar comm, “There are vehicles approaching. Maybe three kilometers out. It looks like we are about to have visitors.”

“I see them,” Wraith said. “Three MRAP’s coming fast.”

A Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected truck or MRAP was a standard for US soldiers in Afghanistan, but three of them coming toward the crash site was unusual. It had to be the FAST Team.

“Keep me updated,” Ty ordered. “The rest of you replace as many cards as you can pronto, and let’s get to the perimeter. We’re supposed to be guarding the wreck, not searching it.”

His team grabbed as many cards as they could replace. Stuffing the cards into the box almost filled it. It was clear some cards were missing, but Ty guessed they had found most of them.

Leaving the wreckage, Ty stuffed the box of cards into his belt pouch and draped the bag over his shoulder like it was part of his regular equipment. His team had just enough time to establish positions around the perimeter of the crash site when the first of the MRAP’s slid to a stop.

A medium sized man wearing full coverage combat gear, with his night vision goggles pulled over his eyes, jumped out of the vehicle and took a stance near the perimeter. Turning his head to each member of the squad like he was somehow photographing them, he at last focused his attention on Ty.

“I want Lieutenant Lavender front and center,” the goggle-man said. There was something about the timbre of the vocalization that seemed odd.

Ty stepped to within a few paces of the goggle-man. As he did so, Marines leaped from the MRAP and moved past him toward the wreckage, weapons at the ready. The remaining MRAP’s slid to a stop beside the first. People wearing full-coverage hazmat suits leaped out and began assembling equipment they pulled from a trailer towed by the third MRAP. In moments, they started to move past Ty carrying odd devices and pushing carts laden with unknown devices.

They paused when Ty said, “STOP”, and lifted his M16A4.

Sasquatch, Big Papa, Wendigo and Psycho moved into a semi-circle behind Ty with weapons raised.

Without moving, goggle-man asked, “Has the site been disturbed, Lieutenant Lavender?”

“Three Insurgents got too curious and were dealt with. Who are you?” Ty asked.

Ignoring the question, goggle-man repeated, “Has the site been disturbed, Lieutenant Lavender?”

“No. Not until you arrived. And who are you?” Ty asked.

“None of your concern. I have control of this site now. Take your people and return to guarding the village like good little soldiers.”

“My orders are to establish a perimeter and guard the crash site,” Ty responded. “Without some kind of identification, no one from your group is getting near the thing.”

“You have no idea who I am, do you, Lieutenant?” goggle-man asked.

From behind them, Sasquatch, Big Papa, Wendigo, Psycho and Ty heard the sounds of multiple safeties being flipped. Turning slowly, the squad watched as armored Marines stepped from the darkness with their weapons aimed at them.

Shaking his head in mock sadness, goggle-man walked closer to Ty.

“I told you, Lieutenant, this is no longer your concern. I have control of this site now. Take your squad and return to guarding the village, or my people will make sure you don’t see another sunrise.”

Ty didn’t move, but he said, “Fisheye, how many of the Squids pointing weapons at me and my teammates can you, Wraith, Roadkill and Hashtag remove from the battlefield?”

An area-wide broadcast on the general combat frequency said, “All of them. The idiots are standing flatfooted out in the open with no cover. Do we shoot to wound or kill?”

The Marines began looking nervously at each other. Their weapons wavered.

Ty noticed, with no little satisfaction, one corner of goggle-man’s lips twitch. His lips became a stiff line when Ty placed the muzzle of his M16A4 in his crotch.

“I don’t think your body armor is going to do you much good in this area. Now, as I was saying, without some kind of identification, no one from your group is getting near the thing.”

Pulling his goggles away from his eyes, the man said, “You just made the list nobody wants to be on, Lieutenant Lavender.” It was not a man glaring at Ty.

She was trying to keep her voice calm, but anger tinged her words. Her eyes glinted. They were dark brown or black. Ty couldn’t be sure in the pre-dawn light. Her eyebrows were dark and almost touched above her nose. Her face was smooth with no remarkable characteristic.

“We all play a part of the grand scheme of world events. Your part is to follow orders. Call your Commander and ask him to identify Lincoln Frost.”

Ty spoke into his Molar comm, “Natureboy, this is Orion. Natureboy, this is Orion, over.”

“Natureboy, Orion. Did the FAST support units arrive your position?”

“Support is not the word, Natureboy. More like thorn under the saddle. Who is Lincoln Frost? Repeat - Lincoln Frost?”

“Frost is commanding the FAST Team and has full and independent authority on-site. She is assigned from the Special Extraction or Elimination Division. SEED is a Black Ops Unit with deep connections.”

“What does she look like?”

“Face is nondescript. Eyes are very dark. Oh yeah – almost sports a unibrow. She is to be given full and unrestricted access to the crash site. I want your team to return to Base by 0800. Any questions?”

Ty hated the smirk on Frost’s lips, but he had his confirmation.

“Yes, Sir. Orion will return to Base as ordered.”

To his team, Ty said, “Saddle up. We have been relieved. The site is under their control.”

He started to walk past Frost when the woman grabbed his arm.

“I’ll remember you, Lavender.” The menace in her voice was palpable.

Ty shook his arm loose and smiled.

“I’m counting on it.”

Frost scowled as Lavender and his squad walked away.

Every one of the unkempt bumpkins looked at her with distain instead of respect or fear. Frost hadn’t felt this frustrated in her entire career.

The normal reaction of military personnel to her position of governmental spook was fear. The perception Frost encouraged was ‘everyone better obey her or suffer the consequences’.

Lavender and his squad not only weren’t intimidated, they gave the impression of open defiance. The situation triggered a memory about her training.

“You must foster an overtone of mystery and power to create an aura of ultimate authority. Your mission will always be secret. The authentication documents you present to the locals will always be from the highest authorities. The decisions you make will be inviolable. Decisive action on a swift timetable will cement your total control in any situation. Remember you represent the unquestioned authority and power of the SEED Team. The agency you work for has only one superior - the President. Do not allow anyone to diminish your authority by action or inaction. Any questions?”

Frost had been encouraged during her training to develop a superiority complex. Since she had to deal with male egos most of the time, she wore no makeup and kept her hair short. She was a martial artist, handled a knife like it was part of her body and shot a pistol with more accuracy than an Olympic champion. Anyone who couldn’t or wouldn’t recognize her supreme authority, intellect, skills and patriotism had to be dealt with in the harshest manner. Her musing was interrupted by the leader of her Marine contingent.

“There is no evidence of a pilot or crew, Ma’am. Dead or alive.”

The creases in Frost’s brow disappeared, and she resumed her calm demeanor. Making a mental note to investigate the backgrounds of Lavender and his squad members, Frost focused on her immediate goal.

“Establish a perimeter 200 meters around the crash site. Assign four of your men to probe the site for any indication of something moving away from the wreckage. Have the rest of your team search the remnants for intact technology. Look for traces of an escape pod berth or other empty recess.”

As the Sergeant walked away, the group of hazmat-suited people climbed out of the wreck and headed in Frost’s general direction. The lead figure pulled off his protective hood and stopped.

“The craft is clear of any pathogens. There is no indication of radiation or energy spikes. You are clear to inspect as you see fit.”

***

The entrance to the cave Jalauddin Razaq Nafez had selected as his command post was well hidden.

The casual observer would have missed the outcropping of jagged rocks that hid the entrance to the warren of tunnels. Akhund exhaled as he edged through the opening. It was lucky he had not eaten in the past six hours. The one meter-wide pathway made his claustrophobia swell toward blinding fear. His anxiety of being trapped in a stifling stone coffin, unable to escape, almost forced a scream from his lips just before he slid through into a larger tunnel.

Guards grabbed his arms and searched for weapons. His knives, pistol and AK47 were taken before he was shoved deeper into the cave. A small fire burned in the center of the dark room. Akhund could see the shadowy outlines of other men seated around the fire, but their identities remained hidden in the darkness.

“Why are you here?” a voice growled.

“There was a crash. Some kind of airplane,” Akhund replied. “US Military swine began to arrive at the site. I thought it best to report to you. There could be things of value in the wreckage.”

“It is your responsibility to eliminate all US Military threats in your sector. Why didn’t you?”

Akhund began to sweat. It dripped into his eyes and ran down the middle of his back. He wiped a sleeve across his forehead in a vain attempt to protect his eyes.

“I sent all of my men to the wreckage to kill the Americans, but they were overcome by superior forces. They eliminated ten US soldiers, but there were so many of the infidels, my people were defeated,” Akhund lied.

“We cannot allow US infidels to control our homeland. Take forty of our most faithful warriors. Return to the American soldiers’ campsite and kill them all. This day will belong to the Insurgents of Afghanistan. My deputies will accompany you. Avenge the faithful.”

Three of the seated Insurgents stood and walked toward Akhund. He sneered as he turned to leave the cave. This day of loss was about to turn into a glorious victory.

***

Frost pulled a complicated sensor from her combat vest and climbed into the wreck. Going straight to the remnants of the control panel near the twisted pilot couch, she searched for anything that looked like an input/output terminal.

The large view screen in the bulkhead facing the bent pilot seat was destroyed. Based on the design of control panels Frost had inspected at other crash sites in the United States, Mexico and Canada, she attached wires from her sensor to the panel just in front of the shattered monitor.

Her sensor device pinged, and Frost studied the readouts with a frown. There was no indication of a viable computer system on the craft. It was either destroyed or wiped. Flipping the switch to convert her sensor to active rather than passive status, Frost sent an electronic pulse into the craft. The pulse was designed to trace the connection of the panel to its ultimate data source. Removing a module from the sensor, she walked around the ruined cabin waving the module at various cabinets. At last, a light blipped, and she heard a soft chime. Prying open the indicated cabinet revealed a blackened, melted sphere.

Frost was sure the sphere was the computer that ran the craft. Although she felt there would be no data or design secrets found in the ruined equipment, she pulled the lump from its connection and dropped it into her evidence bag. Staring around the cabin one last time, she spotted a blue-gray piece of plastic jutting from under a collapsed structural beam.

Bending closer and centering the plastic sliver in the beam of her headlamp, Frost slid the card-shape free and peered at it. Despite a deep cut in its face, she could see some kind of lettering embossed on the card. The other side was blank. Looking around for more cards, Frost observed what appeared to be places in the dusty deck where similar card-shapes had lain. Nodding slightly, she surmised other cards had been scattered around the cabin and removed.

It seemed Lieutenant Lavender and his squad did more than just establish a protective perimeter. Her initial impression that Lavender was a willful, disobedient and dangerous barbarian was confirmed, and she smiled with anticipation. Lavender was not going to appreciate her next move. Slipping the damaged card into her combat vest, she left the wreck.

“I used to be like him,” Frost thought as she pictured Ty’s face. “My training and experience cured me.”

Exiting the wreck, Frost ordered a squad of Marines to establish a no-go zone around the crash site. Rounding up the rest of her crew on two MRAP’s, she headed toward Lavender’s campsite.

***

Crouched behind a rock outcrop near where his escape pod had landed, Koritt observed the goings and comings of the animals with a mixture of despair and wonder.

Primitive as they might be, the animals called Humans showed no fear of his crashed transport. They scurried about the wreck like ants searching for their next meal.

Confident the onboard computer had destroyed the important tech and wiped itself, Koritt was sure the Humans would tire of their new toy and abandon it in due course. When he saw more vehicles approaching the wreck, his gut tightened.

“This is not good,” he mumbled.

When the first group of Humans noticed the vehicles, they hastened their searching. Koritt shuddered for the first time in his 200-year life the moment he saw one of the Humans drape the U-10 strap over his shoulder. U-10 operation would be like magic to the Humans, but it was devastating technology based upon a combination of advanced molecular and sub-atomic innovations. In the hands of savages, the U-10 represented a whirlwind of magical destruction. In the hands of intelligent beings, it represented the disclosure of well-guarded Galactic Coalition technology.

It took a moment for Koritt to recognize he had changed his perception of Humans being animals to Humans being savages. More brain power meant gaining the ability to be deceitful, an unpleasant trait if combined with advanced technology. Thinking back to the meeting where he was assigned the Earth mission, Koritt recalled the Bureaucrat’s words.

“The development of this particular strain required our most advanced research.”

Koritt gritted his oral pincers. There was no doubt the advanced research had focused on brain development. Enhancing mental acuity was prohibited by at least ten galactic laws. Development of new breeds of sentients was a monitored procedure because the purpose of new breeds was to provide simpleminded labor pools for high-risk projects. The last thing anyone with half a brain cell wanted to do was breed a potential competitor. Galactic Coalition laws were designed to prevent the evolution of possible rivals. To say the laws were enforced with strict punishment was an understatement.

Sweating for one of the few times in his long life, Koritt realized he was trapped by the cunning Bureaucrat. Innocent though he was, he would be blamed for crashing his transport on a World filled with a breed of mental-superior sentients and providing them with the means to challenge the Galactic Coalition.

There was no doubt in Koritt’s mind that his mission was altered. He had to retrieve the U-10 and either destroy it or replace a way to get it off this planet without the Humans discovering how it functioned.

Koritt waited while the second group of Humans arrived and entered the remains of his transport. Some of them wore white clothing that covered their bodies from head to foot. He watched the confrontation between the leaders of the first and second groups. Confrontation was the correct word because the second group pointed some sticks at the first group only to have some of the first group point their own sticks at the second group.

The sticks must have been dangerous. The Humans communicated with each other - another sign of high intelligence. After a series of growling and hissing, the second group lowered its sticks, and the first group left with the U-10.

Sliding away from his observation point, Koritt grabbed his survival kit and followed the group of Humans with the U-10.

***

As soon as Ty and his squad arrived at their base camp, Roadkill began checking for IED’s hidden by clandestine Insurgents while they were gone.

In the meantime, Ty assigned Wraith and Fisheye to first watch and settled down to inspect the bag he had appropriated from the crash site. The pouch looked like a run-of-the-mill heavy canvas World War II-era British gas mask bag with a shoulder strap and length adjusting metal buckle. The bag had a flap making it similar to the pouch Indiana Jones wore when he was exploring. Ty recalled the brown fedora Jones wore and smiled. Turning the pouch around, he rubbed a finger around a slot sewn into its upper side near the flap opening. The slot was similar in size to a protective sheath for an ID on luggage. It looked like a business card or other comparable sized ID would fit the opening.

With a thoughtful look, Ty fished the box of cards out of his belt pouch and pulled one for examination. With more time to study it, he turned the plastic back and forth in the light of his headlamp.

The thingamabob was about the size of a credit card, only thinner. One side was a pleasant blue-gray color with some unknown symbols embossed on the right side center. Ty guessed the symbols indicated a name or function. Thumbing through a couple of the other cards in the box, he noticed a different series of symbols on each. The other side of the card was solid white with no markings.

Expecting a reaction, Ty slid the card into the bag slot, embossed symbols first and white-side against the bag. Nothing happened. No beep - no alarm. Nothing. Frowning, Ty pulled the card from the slot and stared at it.

“This can’t be that hard.”

With a pensive expression, he turned the card so that he held the end of it with the embossed symbols. Holding his breath, he slipped the card into the slot.

A green light appeared below the slot, and a soft beep sounded. The bag expanded a little like it was filled all at once with a handful of gravel.

Ty was so startled by the sudden movement and increased weight, he dropped the pouch. When nothing jumped out at him after a few moments, he took hold of the strap and lifted. There was no doubt something was in the pouch.

Taking a deep breath, he lifted the flap. Expecting something to jump out at him, Ty peered into the opening. The something in the bag looked like a combat knife. When it didn’t move, Ty touched it like it might burn his finger. Nothing happened. With slow, deliberate movements, he reached into the opening and pulled out what looked like a combat knife. It had a standard grip and guard. The blade was about twenty centimeters long. One side of the blade was sharpened while the other side was serrated with grooves for sawing or wire cutting. The only odd thing about the knife was a red button near where a right-handed person’s thumb would grip the handle. As soon as he pulled the knife out of the pouch, the green light shut off.

Hefting the knife, Ty practiced swinging it in several combat maneuvers. The weight and balance felt normal. Deciding he would test the sharpness of the blade, Ty looked around for material he could use for his experiment.

***

Ty chose a nearby scrub poplar for his test. The poplar had a twisted, wind-blown trunk varying from thirteen to fourteen centimeters in thickness.

Big Papa and Sasquatch watched Ty walk toward the tree.

“What are you going to do?” Big Papa asked.

Showing the knife, Ty replied, “This just came out of the pouch I found in the wreck. Going to test it.”

“What? Let me see,” Big Papa said as he scrambled to Ty’s side.

Now the entire squad was interested. Even Fisheye and Wraith left their guard positions and stood by for the demonstration.

“Looks like an ordinary combat knife,” Psycho said.

“I don’t know, looks a little short,” Big Papa replied as he pulled his knife and held it near Ty’s.

Big Papa’s blade was about a centimeter longer and thicker near the guard.

Wraith drew her tanto knife and put it next to Ty’s blade. Her tanto was half a centimeter shorter, and the blade was thinner.

“If you two are finished comparing toys, I’d like to see how sharp this knife is,” Ty said as he stepped toward the tree.

Ty swung the knife. There was a solid thunk, but the blade only bit into the wood a quarter centimeter deep. Disappointed with the mediocre sharpness, Ty jerked the blade from the trunk and swung it again with a stronger whipping motion. Again, the blade sank into the dense wood about a quarter centimeter.

“Told you it’s just a combat knife. Give it to me. I’ll sharpen it,” Psycho said.

The other squad members began turning away and heading back to their sleeping areas.

“There’s one small difference,” Ty said as he remembered the button.

Wrenching the blade free of the trunk, he thumbed the red stud.

The sharpened edge of the blade began to glow with a white light. The glow was two-tenths of a centimeter wide and ran from the guard to the tip of the knife.

“Wow! What made that light?” Hashtag asked.

The others turned around and came back to see what was happening. Ty held the blade up for everyone to see the lighted edge. Turning to the tree, he swung the knife at the trunk once more.

The blade swept through the fourteen centimeter trunk with ease. Ty almost lost his balance and fell when there was no resistance. His thumb stopped pushing the button as he stumbled, and the blade light winked off. Cut from its base, the top of the tree hit the ground with a rattling of dry branches.

Everyone was excited. Wraith and Big Papa rushed to Ty’s side for another look at the knife. Sasquatch couldn’t believe his eyes and grabbed the tree’s branches, moving them back and forth to make sure they were real. Roadkill and Psycho were too astonished to speak. Fisheye rubbed his palm across the cut, first on what was left of the trunk and then on the fallen tree top. Wendigo and Hashtag stood by with frowns.

“The cut is smooth with no burn marks,” Fisheye said.

“Do it again,” Roadkill exclaimed.

“Yeah, cut off another section of the trunk,” Psycho said. “Closer to the ground where it’s thicker.”

Ty pushed the button again, but nothing happened. The light along the blade edge didn’t appear. Frowning with puzzlement, Ty swung the blade into the tree trunk. The blade only cut into the wood a half centimeter deep.

“Did you push the button?” Hashtag asked.

“Of course,” Ty responded and pushed the button again and again. No light appeared.

“You must have broken it. Can you get another one?” Wendigo asked.

***

Everyone crowded around Ty as he grabbed the alien pouch off his bedroll.

The card was still in the slot. Ty pulled it out and reinserted it. Instead of a green light, this time the light was yellow and a faint buzz sounded.

Ty pulled the card from the slot and looked at it for any damage or change in appearance. It seemed to be in the same condition as the first time he used it.

Inserting the card into the slot once more, the yellow light appeared followed by another buzz.

“What’s the matter?” Big Papa asked. “Why won’t it work?”

Exasperated, Ty tossed the card onto his bedroll and pulled the next one out of the box. Other than the different symbols on its face, the card was identical to the first.

Slipping the new card into the slot, Ty was pleased when the light turned green. The pouch expanded and became heavy.

“Did you see that?” Psycho exclaimed.

“Is it another knife?” Wendigo asked.

The squad crowded closer. Everyone was eager to see what was inside the pouch.

Pulling back the flap, Ty reached in and removed a can with a finger pull-tab similar to the tab on any run-of-the-mill soda can. The thing was dark black without any markings.

Shaking it close to his ear, Ty didn’t hear or feel any rattle or liquid movement.

“Anyone care for a drink?” he asked as he showed it to his squad.

Instead of something useful, it looked like the pouch had created a mediocre can of soup.

“What can it hurt? Fisheye said as he took it and pulled the tab.

A light-stripe appeared on the side of the can and began pulsing. An audible buzz sounded and vibrated the container every time the light blinked. The bottom of the stripe was green, but as the light pulsed and rose higher, it became yellow and then orange. Every time the light changed, the buzzing sound came faster and louder along with a stronger vibration.

“I’m betting that’s a bomb,” Roadkill said in a calm voice designed not to excite people. “Please get rid of the alien explosive, Fisheye.”

There were only a few seconds left until the light-stripe turned red. The vibrations were shaking Fisheye’s arm. Wide-eyed with panic, Fisheye turned and threw the can as far as he could. It flew out of sight over a sand dune.

Everyone ducked as a huge explosion rocked the area. An odd-colored, oscillating light appeared for a moment and then winked out. Wind whipped past them toward the dune as if rushing to fill a void. Then all was quiet.

Running to the top of the dune, everyone stopped short. A circle of devastation almost fifty meters wide filled the little valley behind the dune. Everything inside the blast zone was obliterated. There were no trees, bushes or other vegetation remaining. The little valley appeared to be melted and shiny under the moonlight.

Wraith slipped down the dune onto the surface of the blast area. The floor of the valley was as hard as a basketball court. Kneeling down, she ran her hand over the surface.

“Smooth as glass,” she said. “Let’s see how deep it is.”

Using the butt-end of her tanto knife, she beat the glass until it cracked. Levering up a broken piece, she said, “About five centimeters thick. Looks like it gets thicker towards the middle of the valley. Glass melts at 1400 degrees Centigrade. I don’t know of anything in our arsenal the size of that can with that much power.”

“We can’t keep that pouch,” Hashtag warned. “It’s alien and too dangerous. The thing needs to be turned over to DARPA.”

“Finders keepers,” Ty replied.

“Looks like we’re having company,” Sasquatch said and pointed.

The lights of two vehicles trailing clouds of dust bounced toward them from the northeast.

“Wraith, Fisheye, Wendigo, Psycho - take cover positions North and West. The rest of you back to the camp. They don’t have any idea what we found at the crash site. This will be a fishing expedition with a little intimidation thrown into the mix,” Ty said.