The Albatross Chronicles: The Africa Job

By Shane Haley

In the year 2112 the Earth is crippled from war and survives in a state of anarchy. Captain Jonathan Price and his crew of the airship the Albatross make their way in the world as smugglers and hired guns. When they take a retrieval job in Africa they find themselves unraveling the mysteries of Captain Price’s dark past. Pursued by an unknown enemy, the crew ventures deep into an abandoned research complex in the jungles of Africa to retrieve a sealed package. They soon unveil the evil that has kept the complex abandoned for years, but must continue their descent into madness to flush out their pursuers. Slowly the crew begins to realize that the fate of their future may depend on the answers of the Captain's past.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shane Haley
• Release date: Jun 12, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476459912

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The Albatross Chronicles: The Africa Job

Shane Haley

Published by Shane Haley at Smashwords

Copyright 2012 Shane Haley

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Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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Chapter 1

He was sitting in a classroom. A large light above reflected off of the shiny steel walls and ceiling that made up the classroom. As he looked down he could see that he was wearing a white uniform. All around him were empty desks and there was a man in a white lab coat at the front erasing some writing off of the whiteboard. The man turned and walked hesitantly towards the boy. His eyes tried to make out the man’s face, but it gave off a white light making it impossible to make out. The man stopped just short of him and leaned back against a chair.

John, I have kept you after class because you are different than the others, the man said, The fate of many may very well rest solely on you one day. John tried to speak, but his words came out silent and the man began to fade into darkness.

Captain Price woke up. His eyelids were heavy, and he lifted his hands to rub them. As he opened his eyes he could see buttons, knobs, handles, and screens in front of him. He could feel the leather seat underneath him and against his back. Just past the controls and computer screens was a wide, thick window that peered out into a green, full forest of trees. He turned his head toward the co-pilot chair, but it was empty. The door at the back of the cockpit was closed and silence surrounded him. The computer screen showed 4:00PM April 4, 2112 in the lower right hand corner. His fingers ran through his hair, and then he leaned forward and pressed a button on the control console. A speaker crackled to life.

Did you fix the problem with the engine yet? he asked.

Yes captain, fixed her this morning matter o' fact, a voice replied back.

Good, we are heading for Angel Cove then.

Roger that captain, just try not to get us into any entanglements today, the engine is fixed enough for flying, but it'll go down again if it gets pushed too hard.

Alright Demitri, I'll keep that in mind, is everyone onboard?

Yes sir.

The Captain hit another button on the control panel.

Attention, we will be lifting off in about 30 seconds, that is all, his voice echoed throughout the ship. He began to press buttons and throw switches on the control console. After some grunting and words said under his breath, he smiled as the ship’s engine began to rumble and growl.

The Albatross hummed to life as the propellers on each side started to spin, blowing the leaves off of the nearby trees. Letting out a sharp whistle, two openings at the bottom let out a burst of hot air, and the albatross lifted into the air. The ship, although the size of a small house, was relatively small compared to other ships. With a few bumps and dips the Albatross rose to the sky. Once in the clouds the openings on the bottom closed, and the ship glided through the air with the help of the propellers. The sun reflected off of the metal siding of the ship starting with its wide nose and across both wings to the rear fin. Painted on the side were two swords crossing a large, white bird with its wings spread wide. Throughout the inside the sound of metal clanking and the faint hum of the engine echoed off the metal surfaces. The Captain always felt better in the air, and he thoroughly enjoyed the music generated by the ships moving parts. His hands rested comfortably on the fly wheel, and he was glad they had received a job offer. It had been nearly two weeks since their last job and he was beginning to think he would kill himself if he had to listen to one more war story from Demitri. Not that he didn't like Demitri, but the man could talk for hours about the great battles of his youth. Besides that, when he wasn't listening to Demitri he was getting a lecture from Johan about how they should try to do more respectable jobs because being a criminal was not befitting to his character. Sure it would be nice to be on the right side of the law, but the most readily available and best paying jobs more often fell in the gray area of being legal. The Captain was thankful for Marcus and Julianne because those two kept him sane, and they both loved the line of work they did even if they did have to break the law here and there.

They were only an hour away from New Lexington, and there was something making him a little uncomfortable. Sol Langly, the man offering the job, only called when he had an assignment that was extremely dangerous that he didn't trust anyone else to do, or maybe he just couldn't find anybody else who would do it. The Captain did not care either way. Anything was better than sitting around, and they could certainly use the money.

The door at the rear of the room opened and in walked Marcus. Marcus was the muscle on the ship, and pretty handy with most weapons. He stood at six feet four inches tall, and had a fair amount of muscle packed on his body. There was not a single hair on his head because he shaved it constantly with one of his blades. He had fought in the last civil war between the United States and the Unified Republic. One of the few patriots still left one could say. Unfortunately he was on the losing side of that war and it cost him everything. He was a man without a home to fight for, so he decided to fly with the Captain. At least it kept him busy and his mind off of what the world had come to.

So, we should arrive at our destination in about thirty minutes, the Captain said. Marcus took a seat in the chair next to the Captain and looked over the computer screens.

I thought you wanted to stay away from the jobs Sol had to offer.

I did…and now I don't. Anything beats sitting around that camp waiting for a job to come in that I like. Plus we need the money, but hey if you want to continue eating beans every meal and enjoy more of Demitri’s war stories then I can turn around and head back. Marcus looked up and smiled widely while he popped his knuckles.

You know me, I like the more dangerous jobs. Personally I think we should do them more often, and they pay a hell of a lot better than the not so dangerous ones. The Captain expected as much out of Marcus. He was always looking for a good thrill and a good fight if possible.

Well Marcus, I hope that this job will tide your appetite for excitement and adventure for a while.

Me too Captain... me too.

The Captain returned his concentration to the computer screens and blue sky outside. He could switch it to autopilot, but he much preferred to do the flying himself instead of letting the computer have all of the fun. When he was flying the ship he almost felt as though he were a part of it. He could feel the air rushing past the wings, the heat of the sun reflecting off of the hull, and the weightlessness of soaring through the air high above the ground. It was a wonderful feeling, and the reason why he had no other place he called home than his ship.

A blinking red light forced his eyes back to the console. It was the outside radio communicator. He checked the radar to see what ship was trying to contact them.

Damn it he said. It was the air patrol for the Republican Guard, and he didn't think they were calling for help.

This is the Albatross, how may we be of assistance to you?

This is air patrol, keep your current flight path while we do a complete scan of the ship and a readout of its file. Great the Captain thought as he clenched the controls tighter.

Roger that air patrol. He knew they had no illegal contraband onboard or anything else that would invite the law into his home, but there was the issue of the record. Although the Captain knew it should be clean, there was always a chance they had been put on record somewhere and didn't know it. Plus the government police liked to make a little money on the side sometimes by confiscating a ship, and killing everybody onboard. Hopefully these were at least half honest patrolmen.

Everything checks out, you are free to go Albatross. The captain loosened his grip on the controls a little bit.

Thank you, good day to you. There was no response of course, but they had been nice enough to not kill him, his crew, and toss their bodies into the ocean. They were only fifteen minutes away from New Lexington now, and the captain could not stop gritting his teeth. He had known Sol for a longtime, long enough to know not to trust him entirely…if at all. There probably was a job waiting for them, but there was always the small chance that Sol would be trying to get his ship, or even turn him over to various groups for money. In the business of smuggling one always makes a few enemies, and the captain had more than a few. This wasn't the time to be worrying though. He needed this job, and they were only eight minutes away from town. He flicked on the intercom.

Attention everybody, we are about five minutes away from our destination. I want Marcus and Johan to come with me to the meeting. Julianne you go and buy food and supplies…please. Demitri, you go and buy whatever it’s gonna take to keep this ship up in the air. Alright people, you have your tasks, let’s hit the ground running. I don't want to have to spend any more time in this garbage heap than needed. That will be all. Oh, and you might want to strap yourselves in for landing. The captain switched off the intercom and started keying in the landing procedures into the computer. The ship started its decent towards the ground. After a few seconds of lowering through the clouds the city was visible. Massive buildings reached towards the sky and the city went on for miles. It was a cesspool of crime and darkened souls, a prison with no walls and no reason for its inmates to escape. Someone had once called it a crooked man’s paradise and the Devil’s playground.

The landing pads were east of the city, separated from the main land mass by water with only two sets of train tracks connecting the two bodies of land. The computer brought the ship down with a few bumps and jolts before getting close to the landing pads. The hover jets underneath opened up and the propellers began to slow as the ship slowly lowered on to one of the landing pads. Not that the Captain couldn't land the ship, but it sure made life easier when the computer did it. The ship let out a low hum, groaning as it set its weight down on the landing gear. The Captain rose from his seat and headed for the door. The door opened into a hallway with doors on both sides and a door at the end. He walked down the hallway until he came to the second door on his right and opened it. Inside was his room containing a small bed and desk, with a small closet and bathroom. Opposite the door was a circular window that looked out the side of the ship. The Captain grabbed an old, brown leather jacket from his closet and then exited the room. He went through the door at the end of the hallway and entered into a large meeting room with a table in the middle and chairs all around it. On the walls of the room were lockers, some with name tags for the crew and others were unlabeled.

Marcus and Johan were waiting for him. Johan was packing electronic devices into his pack. Johan was about average height, but looked smaller because he slouched forward constantly. He was very thin with shoulder length hair and glasses that magnified his eyes. The man was a computer nerd one could say, but really he was much more than that. Johan could do anything with electronic equipment, and could also build anything of a mechanical or electrical nature given enough time and resources. Although not much of a combatant, he did have a multitude of devices on him that could be used to take down unsuspecting foes. He came along on every job to scan the payment for authenticity and scan the area for traps. As usual he was biting his nails and pacing around the room. Marcus was strapping two pistols on his belt and slipping a third into an ankle holster. After he was done holstering the pistols he picked up a giant knife and slid it into its sheath on his belt. The Captain always took comfort in the fact that Marcus was ready to take on a small battalion of soldiers if need be. The Captain walked over to his locker and pulled out his pistol, a gun capable of blowing a man’s head off. He slid his finger down the side of the silver barrel that ran the length of a ruler. He checked the extended clip and then eased the gun into its holster on his hip. Next he picked up his knife and checked it for sharpness. It was of average size, but the handle was made out of bone. Many times the crew had asked about the bone handle and its origins, but the Captain would never say where he got it. He slid the knife into its leather sheath which ran horizontal along the back of his belt.

Well boys, let’s go find out what we gotta do to earn a little money, the Captain said. Marcus gave a nod as he prepared himself mentally for whatever may come. Johan was not so agreeable.

Captain, are you sure you want to deal with this guy? I mean we can't trust him and he may give us a job that will be the end of all of us. Johan said still pacing around the room. The Captain walked over and grabbed him on the shoulder forcing him to stop pacing.

Look, you just focus on what you gotta do and everything will go fine. Besides, I haven't gotten you killed yet Johan. The Captain walked through the door in the back where the walkway to the outside was already down. Julianne and Demitri had already left for town. His feet fell heavy on the metal slab, and the other two men followed him out into the fresh air.

The Captain looked at the city and grimaced just a bit. Marcus noticed that the Captain did this every time they came to New Lexington and thought that maybe someday he would ask what bothered him so much about this place.

The landing pads were located about four miles away from the city due to ships getting stolen in the past when they would land in the city. There were hover trains that ran between the landing pads and the city, which were operated by security personnel. The Captain walked over to the boarding clerk and presented his ship identification.

What's your business in New Lexington today sir? the clerk asked.

We are here for supplies and fuel. The clerked looked the Captain up and down and then looked him in the eyes. Finally she handed back his ship identification after a long stare.

Good day to you then, you may board the transport. The Captain nodded and walked toward the transport followed by Marcus and Johan. The train was pretty comfortable, probably the only comfort they would see while in New Lexington. The train started to hum to life and then began to move. The water rushed by outside as the Captain sat and looked out the window. Johan was still biting his nails, but at least he wasn't pacing around the train. Marcus seemed to be in deep thought, but there was no telling for sure with him. Maybe he was just staring off into nowhere the Captain thought. The train started to slow down and the buildings of the city came into view at the sides of the train.

The train came to a stop and the doors opened. Marcus and Johan walked out, but the Captain was in no hurry. The moist smell of the city had already filled the train car. When he reached the door he slowly stepped out and looked down the sidewalk. What a dump he thought as they began walking down the sidewalk. Most of the buildings were bars and rundown apartments. Homeless vagrants sat in the side alleys staring at people passing by. They might as well have been the stone of the buildings or sidewalk, because nobody gave them so much as a glance. The smell of trash engulfed their nostrils and there was always thick smog overhead filtering the sunlight. After walking a few blocks, the Captain stopped just short of a building with the lettering Drinks and Dancers written on the front.

Everybody be alert for anything more suspicious than normal. You see anything with your scanner?

No Captain, but I still think this is a bad idea, Johan replied.

Noted, now let’s go in. The Captain walked up the steps of the building to a giant man that looked like he could crush the Captain effortlessly.

What is the password? the man asked while he crossed his arms.

There is no password, the Captain answered. The giant man stepped aside, and the Captain walked in followed by his companions.

So he got ride of the password system huh? Marcus whispered into the Captain’s ear. The Captain chuckled a little.

No, that was the new password. The bar was an all too familiar sight for the Captain. He could taste the aroma of spilled rum and cheap cigarettes. The lights were dim, and the walls were brown with cracks running across them. On the left side was a bar with several shady characters and lost souls sitting on stools. On the right side were tables with nude dancers moving their bodies around golden poles in tired motions. The dancers looked more than undesirable with bloodshot eyes, long faces, and hair in places where it should not be found on a woman. Because the bar was the last place most people would want to visit, it did a good job of throwing off any agent from figuring out that the place was really a conduit for the black market. In the back of the room was a door which the Captain made a straight line to. The door opened when he got to it, and he was motioned to a doorway down the hall by a man with a gun. He walked to the doorway and stepped inside an office which had much better décor than the rest of the building. Sitting at the end of the room behind a desk was a man smoking a cigar. He was bald with only one ear, and his teeth were yellow. The man wore a brown suit that at one time was probably quite nice, but now had faded and become stained from alcohol and smoke.

Well if it isn't the great Jonathan Price. It has been sometime since you have graced us with your presence. The man smiled very big as he gestured to a chair.

Yes it has, I’ve been busy, plus your last job almost got us killed, the Captain said as he sat in the chair crossing one leg over the other and gave his attention to the bald man.

So, what's the deal this time Sol? The Captain asked. Sol stared at the Captain for a moment and then reached into a drawer of his desk and pulled out a yellow envelope. His fingers slid it heavily across the table to the Captain. The Captain picked it up and opened it removing some documents. His eyebrows crept closer to his nose with each passing second while he read the papers.

Sol, you know we don't do Africa. Hell nobody does Africa anymore, especially not the Congo. Sol sat still smiling and knew he was going to get what he wanted. He snapped his fingers and a man brought over a suit case. Sol opened