Daniel Klein

Dr. Kiel lingered by the front gate, her foot tapping restlessly at 4:50. She had told Hausteller to meet at 5:00, expecting they’d be through the door precisely on the hour. Their planned departure time remained intact, but tension creased her forehead. She wondered if he’d still show. Her sharp words to Colonel Urmann earlier, delivered in front of a fresh recruit, echoed in her mind. It hadn’t been a shrewd move, politically speaking, and she felt the weight of that misstep now.

The mission she’d outlined to Hausteller the day before carried no exaggeration in its gravity. She hadn’t revealed one crucial detail: how vital the research on Thez was to her career. Studying nano-machines had consumed her life since her early breakthrough in the field. Years ago, she had developed an enhanced energy projection system, one that absorbed many energy bolts. Unlike older Oblahomian designs tethered to bulky power generators, her innovation ran on a simple portable battery. This compact energy source formed a protective wall, portable enough to shift as needed. Generals had seized on its potential, redrawing battle lines with swift precision. Yet a decade after her initial discovery, pioneer divisions still used sandbags. They saw no need for her tech in their underfunded operations.

Hausteller emerged from the hallway, and slight relief washed over Dr. Kiel. She leaned toward him, her voice a hushed burst of gratitude for his arrival. He met her enthusiasm with a quiet adjustment to their plan. “I’ve been thinking about our mission,” he said. “We should slip out the side. Those beasts are likely watching the front gate for any sign of us.” His words carried a calm certainty, redirecting her focus to the task ahead.

Dr. Kiel used the improvisation as a means to feed the recruits ego slightly, “You have made a wise change indeed. I think you may have a future ahead of you.” Even though the man had shown up, she still was in fear of him abandoning the covert mission. Feigning admiration was a tool she believed could help her accomplish the objective.

Hausteller replied to the compliment, “I indeed have a future ahead of me. I do not know whether good or bad, but I can be certain that I plan to be alive.” When speaking these words, Hausteller once again deliberated whether going on this mission was the proper course of action. Proper to him was escaping the situation intact. He had not reluctantly joined the military, but still was not the kind of person willing to take unnecessary risk. Her flattery begged him to consider if he was doing the smart thing here, or just what was brave.

The two now made their way to the side exit. It was initially locked, but the doctor was able to override the security code. Hausteller was not aware of any override protocol. This prompted him to ask if a traitor might be able to do the same. Dr. Kiel was quite adamant that only her and the colonel would be able to alter the security system – that was at least when away from the colonel’s office. There the controls are available to all that can distract the colonel enough.

Now outside, it was raining lightly. Gray clouds appeared overhead. There was little light shining down upon the pair – only enough to know that it was indeed morning and not night. The system’s sun should have been visible by now, but it still was quite obfuscated. The darkness was forboding, but they had come this far and could not afford any delay. Dr. Kiel knew that their exit from the base would be discovered around 8 a.m., when the daily briefing was supposed to occur for the soldiers. She feared they would not have the freedom to attempt such a mission again if discovered by Colonel Urmann.

They set off at a steady jog toward the first tree in sight. The forests powerful silhouette rose just beyond the spaceport’s cleared perimeter. Th bare ground that stretched between them and the forest’s edge offered little cover as their boots tread the dirt. It took only two minutes to reach the tree’s base, where visible roots sprawled into the barren muddy soil. The dense canopy of the jungle loomed behind it. The wall of shadowed green swallowed what little daylight was being offered. Dr. Kiel stopped abruptly, her breath steadying as she turned to Hausteller. “I need to scan the tree,” she said. “It’ll confirm the sample’s viability. One minute, that’s all.” She pulled her electro-pad from her side-pack, its sleek surface catching the faint light filtering through the branches. With a tap, she launched the program. A glowing progress bar flickered to life, projecting outward in a soft blue arc. It hovered in the air, visible to both the scientist and the soldier, ticking upward as the device hummed softly. Hausteller shifted his weight, his rifle resting loosely in his grip, eyes scanning the forest’s fringe. The open ground they’d crossed left them exposed, and the rustling leaves ahead stirred his unease, hinting at the unseen presence of the Thezian beasts.

While Hausteller kept his eyes sharp, his other senses were being received more kindly. The forest pulsed with noise today, far livelier than the stillness he’d encountered the day before. Leaves rustled overhead, and distant hoots and screeches layered the air. The thick tangle of branches and vines hid the creatures responsible, but their presence was unmistakable. He couldn’t spot a single animal, a fact that worried him greatly. The clamor suggested more than a few lurked nearby. A sudden gust of wind tore through, strong enough to sway the trees slightly. Their trunks creaked as they moved, the blue vines released energy with each gentle push. Hausteller tightened his grip on his rifle, the uneven ground beneath his boots shifting slightly with the breeze. In the direction from which they came, the bare expanse near the spaceport lay silent. He wondered if the Thezian beasts stirred within.

The air felt cooler today, a sharp departure from yesterday’s stifling heat. Rain had fallen earlier, leaving the soil damp and the leaves glistening with stray droplets. The temperature drop brought relief, but the gusts that followed bordered on excessive. They whipped through the forest, rattling the undergrowth and sending a chill across his skin. Hausteller found the noise beautiful in a way Hausteller glanced at the sky, partially obscured by the towering trees, and noted the clouds drifting swiftly overhead. He pondered how often this weather struck Thez. The spaceport’s metal ramp, visible in the distance through a gap in the foliage, gleamed faintly under the overcast light, a reminder of their tether to safety. Interrupting the practical assessment of safety, the wind came again and he felt a sense of euphoric glee.

Hausteller refused to let his focus drift too far from his objective. He grounded himself by studying the fauna beneath his boots. The previous day, he had only caught glimpses of orange mingling with the green undergrowth. Now, with a closer view, he picked out faint traces of purple and blue woven into the ferns. These hues stood apart from the vines draped across the highest tree branches. The blue in the plants here was more faded, lacking the vivid energetic glow of the vines. He shifted his stance, the damp soil yielding slightly, and kept his rifle steady as the forest’s chorus hummed around him.

The analysis was finished with a positive result, instantly prompting Dr. Kiel to order the soldier to climb up the tree and cut the vine off. Hausteller made like a bandit up the tree. He did not even stop to question why they had no flying probe capable of fulfilling the task. Hausteller simply trusted the doctor to be thinking everything through. In truth, she had forgotten the probe. It was a mistake she was severely admonishing herself for. The only other viable option was to shoot a branch off. However, that idea only broached her mind by the time Hausteller had reached the halfway point. She was not willing to risk the noise of communication at this point.

Climbing the tree tugged Hausteller back to his childhood on Earth. For a brief second, he heard his friend Patrik yelling from below. “Lawrence, get down and play fair,” Patrik would say. “Climbing breaks the rules.” Patrik always chose the predator role in their games. He caught Hausteller only twice in twenty tries. Each failure he shrugged off, blaming a lack of effort. Eventually, Patrik stopped coming over. Hausteller’s hand tightened on the bark when remembering he was no longer growing up.

The armor he wore crushed the memory fast. No moment from his youth carried this burden. Back then almost everything felt so weightless. The heavy plates weighed on his arms and legs. Climbing became a slow, taxing chore. On level ground, the suit’s mechanics eased his steps and balance. Here, they did nothing for lifting his body. Metal scraped the tree with a faint clink. The vines above swayed in the breeze, their blue glow strong in the absence of strong light. His boyhood climbs had been light and quick, not like this.

Recalling those childhood days failed to ultimately lighten the strain. He considered a word with Dr. Kiel below. The idea faded fast. Noise traveled too well in this place. Even though the forest buzzed with life, Hausteller knew the Thezian beasts lurked out there. Their unseen eyes felt close, hidden in the ferns and shadows. He pulled himself up another branch. His muscles ached. The mission pressed harder than any urge to talk.

The recruit had climbed about 35 feet up the tree. With just a few more efforts, he could reach the lowest vine. Suddenly, the forest fell silent. No sounds crossed the air except for the wind. Hausteller felt a growing unease, a heavy certainty that the Thezian beasts were about to disrupt their time in the forest. Dr. Kiel sensed it too. She pulled out her pistol, her face revealing immense fear. 

Hausteller hesitated for but a moment. His hand hovered near the vine then grabbed it and tugged. A faint electric shock jolted him, but he shrugged it off. He plucked the blue growth and tucked it into the storage container on his back before starting his descent. Halfway down, he noticed a rustle in the foliage. His resolve to stay quiet broke. He shouted at Dr. Kiel to shoot at the hidden threat. She fired as ordered, though her shot veered far off target. Her hands trembled more violently now. Hausteller hit the ground with a heavy thud as the brakes on his descent was abandoned. The rough slide down the tree left bruises on his skin, injuries that would need attention later.

Two Thezian beasts emerged from the undergrowth – their fur was as black as death. Hausteller yanked his rifle from his shoulder in one swift motion. These creatures were smaller than the hulking monsters he’d faced on the front line the day before. Their size resembled the jaguars on Earth more than the practical lions he saw yesterday. They darted and weaved among the fauna, evading his shots with uncanny agility. He fired again, the blasts echoing through the trees. Yet, the beasts stayed far ahead of the bolts each time. He grabbed Dr. Kiel’s arm and pulled her along, determined to reach the spaceport’s side door with her still alive. The doctor stumbled behind him. Her balance had gone awry as the creatures shadowed their retreat. Hausteller could not afford to be afraid and kept on trying to keep distance between him and the creatures, even if he was unable to hit a single shot.

The darkness had cloaked the approach of a third beast, its padded feet silent against the bare, ground. Dr. Kiel was looking the opposite direction of Hausteller, who was firmly affixed to tracking their announced attackers. Her deep blue eyes caught the surprise in time. She spotted the creature as it crouched low to jump at Hausteller’s unprotected back. Her voice pierced the ether with a sharp yell, urging the recruit to turn around. Hausteller reacted instantly, swinging his rifle and squeezing the trigger before his brain fully registered the threat. The shot rang out with luck guiding his aim. The energy bolt tore through the beast’s chest, halting its leap mid-air. It crashed to the ground mere feet from them. The beast’s fierce look was forever locked into its face as death was instantaneous. Its frame now thrown across the barren dirt was just another object to step over. Hausteller was now exhaling heavily. His boots scuffing the soil as he steadied himself upon crossing the corpse. The spaceport’s ramp loomed just ahead. The side door was only a dozen yards away. Dr. Kiel gripped his arm, her shaking hands urging him toward safety.

Hausteller assessed their position. They had moved far enough from the forest’s edge that the beasts no longer had dense enough cover to mask their approach with evasive movements. The sparse bushes and bare ground left the creatures with one clear option: a coordinated assault. He doubted their odds of survival against such a move. The memory of the beasts’ charging speed from the previous day lingered in his mind. Without consulting Dr. Kiel, he settled on a risky plan. She would serve as a distraction to disrupt their timing. He shoved her forward, her stumble drawing the attention of one beast. It broke from its companion and lunged toward her exposed position, acting alone without any sign of coordination. The attack split as Hausteller had hoped. He aimed his rifle and fired, dropping the beast charging Dr. Kiel with a single shot through its side. It crumpled mid-stride, lifeless, two feet away from the terrified doctor. He pivoted swiftly, sighting the second beast now closing in on him, its pace slightly slower upon seeing his comrade dead. His next shot caught it in the shoulder. It hit the ground with a thud. Hausteller ran to Dr. Kiel and grabbed her arm, pulling her to her feet. Together, they sprinted across the open ground toward the spaceport’s ramp. Their footsteps were quite loud on the metal incline as they reached the side door, slipping inside. The mission had succeeded.

The two crossed through the now open door, all of their energy seemingly exerted. If there was not a crowd in wait, Dr. Kiel would have demanded explanation for Hausteller’s shove. They faced five soldiers standing alongside Colonel Urmann. The soldiers waited and stared in silence. Their expressions were mostly unreadable, but the Colonel’s face betrayed stark confusion. His brow furrowed deeply as he brushed past Hausteller and Dr. Kiel, moving to secure the door via the lock pad. The group stood in tense stillness, each man likely piecing together the chaotic scene that had just spilled into the spaceport. Only a few moments ago they were prepared to take on a rescue mission. Dr. Kiel broke the quiet first. She straightened her posture, catching her breath, and spoke with a calmness that was absent outside. “I can explain everything. I ordered him on this mission, and we’ve secured what we came for. I’ll deliver the research sample to the team. We can start work at once.” Her words hung in the air, as she grabbed the container holding the blue growth from Hausteller’s pack. She was in no mood to talk with the Colonel and simply just walked away. Hausteller was not so lucky and was ordered by Urmann to follow him to his office.

The office sat on the far side of the spaceport, just off the hangar housing the grounded V-23 transport. This room felt more personal than any other in the building. Trinkets lined the shelves. Paintings hung on the walls. Colonel Urmann’s metal desk bore a layer of green felt. A brass nameplate read “Rex Urmann” in bold letters. An interactive star map glowed faintly in the corner. Two chairs faced the desk’s guest side. Urmann gestured for Hausteller to sit.

“Hausteller, right?”

Hausteller nodded and affirmed vocally.

“Your comrades barely recalled your prescence in the unit when I asked who was missing. Sgt. Mallory pulled through though. You left a mark on your officers yesterday. Still, talk more with your peers. They’re more likely to save your life when things fall apart. That holds true even as an officer.”

“Understood.”

“Want a drink?”

Hausteller shook his head. “No, sir,” he said. He knew little of military regulation yet. Drinking on duty seemed unwise. His shift was to officially start at 8:00. Even so, this felt like a poor decision to him.

Colonel Urmann poured himself a glass anyway. “Dr. Kiel may hold the rank of  science commander here,” he said. “But she can’t just call a mission. That’s my responsibility. I’m not mad at you. I agreed with her yesterday it had to happen. She wouldn’t wait for reinforcements to arrive, though. She gambled your life, and hers, for her career. Remember that, soldier.” Urmann paused before changing the mood, “You said you killed three beasts alone on the walk over here?”

“Yes, sir,” Hausteller replied. A nervous laugh escaped him.

“You’re like me as a young soldier. I ignored rules when I saw a better path. Our backgrounds differ, though. I grew up in a respected military family.”

Urmann downed his shot. He poured another. 

“I loved my early days as a soldier. A renegade captain with a name people respected. They welcomed me whenever I appeared on the battlefield. Get too high, and no one’s glad you’re around. My mistake was saving a general on Lünenberg V. That whole fiasco got me promoted to colonel. Privateers hired by the A.S.E. were to target the staff. I had raided their base, discovered their plans, and raced to cut them off. Our forces drove them back somehow. I even defused their backup bomb in the command tent personally. Bravery landed me the 8th Infantry Division. My command there didn’t end well. The war was lost regardless. Some people blamed my lack of charisma for the loss of Lünenberg V. Those peope are the ones who sent me here. I went from 3,000 men to 15 under my command. A colonel just runs a division. Sometimes I’d rather they demote me.”

He finished his second drink. “Sorry your punishment for helping Dr. Kiel’s research is hearing me ramble. You hurt?”

Hausteller had only shed his helmet by this point. “I might be bruised,” he said.

Urmann nodded. “See a medical droid. Report to Lieutenant Vanders once you’re cleared.”

Hausteller stepped outside. Sgt. Mallory stood waiting, presumably to talk with the Colonel.

“Where’s the medical droid?” Hausteller asked. The sergeant replied, “usual spot, clinic. I’ll take you there myself.” He seemed eager to tag along. Whatever he’d meant to discuss with Urmann fell away from relevance.