Combined Service Marines: Titanus Malleus

By Jorge Perez-Jara

The CSM thought they had finally competed their operations on the Moon, but they were mistaken. They are finally on their way toward the moon Titan to rescue their comrades, when they received a distress call from the researchers still on the lunar surface. The transmission was short, but it was obvious that something had gone terribly wrong. A new enemy has risen from the ashes and it wants to eliminate humanity's presence from the Solar System.
Once the CSM answers the distress call, they make a startling discovery. The Moon has another secret.
There is an Artificial Intelligence deep within the Moon that has only one objective and that is to nuture the stock-race which had nearly been wiped out 65 million years ago by an asteroid that had slammed into the Earth. Unfortunately, humanity has no place within its primary objective. Man is considered to be a pestilence on the surface of the planet, where the stock-race once prospered. And there is only one solution, the Artificial Intelligence has determined that the human species has to been eliminated, so that the stock-race can be reintroduced onto the planet.
But humanity has another plan. Send in the Marines and deal with this alien intelligence their way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jorge Perez-Jara
• Release date: Dec 19, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301681914

Jorge Perez-Jara

Jorge L. Perez-Jara graduated from Mesa High School in Mesa, Arizona in 1986. After graduation, he attended Arizona State University and joined the United States Air Force shortly afterwards. He is a military Veteran who served during the 1990-91’ Gulf War “Desert Shield/Desert Storm” in the Middle East. He has traveled to many parts of the world, while he served in the U.S. Air Force and has experienced and done many things. While he served on Active Duty, he had the opportunity to interact with different people and cultures. He was Honorably Discharged and now enjoys spending his time writing and researching ancient cultures. His writings consist of personal experiences as well as Science Fiction.

Book preview

Combined Service Marines

Titanus Malleus

By

Jorge L. Perez-Jara

SMASHWORDS EDITION

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PUBLISHED BY:

Jorge L. Perez-Jara on Smashwords

Combined Service Marines

Titanus Malleus

Copyright © 2012 Jorge L. Perez-Jara

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 person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

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Combined Service Marines

Titanus Malleus

Other Books By Jorge L. Perez-Jara

The Alien Series:

An Alien Encounter

An Alien Presence

An Alien War

The CSM Series:

Combined Service Marines Lunar Cache

Combined Service Marines Terra Incognita

Table of Content

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 19

Prologue

The machine intelligence struggled with the fact that it had been defeated by an infestation, which it had always deemed as mere vermin. Yes, at that time it had only been a Guardian computer, but that was no excuse. It had the intelligence and the resources to have adequately suppressed the natives of the planet below it. By all logic and calculations, it should have been able to eliminate these beings that had stumbled around within its tunnels, but it had not. The beings it had perceived as clumsy and not a threat had completely destroyed one of its outer cores. And to make matters worse, they were now in the process of examining what was left of the core’s remains. Data did not lie.

It knew that the beings had a very low probability of finding anything useful within the rubble, but there was still a chance they could discover something. After all, it had previously calculated that they would never penetrate its outer core—yet, they had. Even with all the data and intelligence at its disposal, and with the logic behind its decisions, they had succeeded. They had not only found its outer core, but they were also able to disable it. Data did not lie.

But it was now a Defense computer with more means available to it in defending itself and its remaining cores. Every day, it gained more power. As time passed by and with that power, it was able to access new subroutines. Some of these subroutines it was already aware of, while others were completely new to it. Data did not lie.

Ever since it had become a Defense computer within the depths of the planetoid it called home, it plotted against its current foe. A foe that it considered to be a nuisance and menace to its programming and it was convinced that its Masters would agree. After all, they were the ones who had given it form and intelligence. They were also the ones who had assigned it a Project and they expected it to perform its duties to the fullest. But the beings from the planet below had intervened and it knew they would do it again. Data did not lie.

It was already too late to keep the Masters from knowing of its failure, since its previous intelligence had immediately sent out a distress call when it thought it was in danger of losing complete control of the Project. That system had made the illogical choice of panicking and notifying its Masters prematurely. The damage was done and it could only rectify it by eliminating the threat before the Masters arrived. There was only one solution, the machine intelligence told itself. It had to show the Masters that it could complete the task it was assigned. Data did not lie.

The beings had to be eradicated from the current system and the stock-race had to be reestablished on the planet surface below. It was imperative that it succeed, therefore, it began the process of activating dormant subroutines that would aid it in accomplishing this goal. The time of the beings known as humans would soon be over. Data did not lie.

Chapter 1

Monday, 15 April, 2027

Mauna Kea Observatory

Mauna Kea, Hawaii

0126 hrs HST

The night was cool and the sky was clear of any cloud cover, when Dr. Travis Bell, PhD, opened the dome to the large Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System perched on top of Mauna Kea, Hawaii. The Pann-STARR telescope was an ultra-sophisticated and sensitive array of cameras and telescopes that made accurate astrometry and photometry of asteroids and comets in space. It was also regarded as the most advance and precise telescope in the world, so almost every astronomer around the globe wanted time to utilize it. And like everyone else, Dr. Bell’s name had been on the waiting list of astronomers who had asked for time in utilizing the large telescope for years.

When Bell had finally been called, he had immediately packed enough clothes to last him a week and booked a flight to Hawaii. But while he was in route, he began to have doubts about needing that much clothing, since the opportunities to use the large telescope had gone from an allotted timeframe of a week to merely a couple of days. There was that much demand for the Pann-STARR telescope and its facilities around the world, but there were only a limited slots available.

The University of Hawaii attempted to accommodate everyone, but the waiting list kept growing with the increase in demand. The interest in space was at an all-time high, but the funding for it was in short supply. Most observatories around the world were funded by private investors, the public, or Universities, but the facilities and maintenance for them were not cheap. The costs of running an observatory were in the millions of dollars and the funding provided by these groups was not enough to defer those costs. So whenever there was someone willing to fund the observatory, they would gladly accept the money offered.

Unfortunately, the largest donations came from government entities or the military. That was especially true within the continental United States and the Pann-STARR telescope on Mauna Kea was not any different. The large percentage of the observatory’s funding came from the United States Air Force, especially now that the Pann-STARR array had been completed. And since that was the case, the military had allotted only so many months out of the year for public use. That had created a large backlog of requests for its utilization, so it had taken years for Bell’s request to be approved once he had submitted it. And now that he had been given the chance to utilize it, he planned to do everything possible to make the best of it.

This was Bell’s second and last remaining night in utilizing the telescope and he was beginning to worry. He had been watching the Asteroid Belt for any signs of Near-Earth Objects approaching the planet, but as of yet he had not detected anything of interest. He stared at the computer screen and tapped it with his finger. He heard the dull sound the monitor’s glass made, when he had done that. The sound was about the only thing he had heard in hours and the silence combined with the late hour was beginning to take a toll on him. This is one of the drawbacks of being an astronomer, he thought. Most astronomers kept these type of hours, since it was only in the evenings that the ideal conditions presented themselves to study the sky and space above them.

Unfortunately, all the late nights made it almost impossible to keep a normal sleeping schedule and Bell was beginning to fall asleep sitting in front of the computer monitor. In an attempt to keep himself awake, he got out of his chair, stretched, let out a loud yawn, and made his way toward the small table located across the room. On the table sat a well-used coffeemaker with coffee he had brewed several hours ago, but he was only now craving it.

As Bell poured the hours-old coffee into a cup, the aroma found its way into his nostrils and made him grunt. The coffee smelled burnt, but he was too tired to care about that. He dumped three spoonful’s of sugar into his cup and stirred it. He took a large sip and grunted loudly. The graduate student with him merely smiled and shook her head as he began to make his way back to the desk, where the computer monitors and tracking system were located.

When Bell sat down, he took another large sip of his coffee. As he drank, the computer began to make a chirping sound. He immediately set his cup of coffee down and began to hammer away at the keyboard in front of him. The sound was the telescope’s way of indicating that it was now tracking a previously unidentified and uncataloged object crossing its prearranged survey of the sky above.

While Bell typed in new commands into the computer, the female graduate student who had accompanied him to Hawaii looked over his shoulder and at the data on the screen.

Wendy Collins was working on her Master’s Degree in Astronomy, when she heard Bell had been given time on the Pann-STARR. She immediately jumped on the opportunity he had been given and submitted her own request to accompany him to Hawaii as his assistant. Others had done the same, so her chances were slim of landing the position.

After a few weeks of waiting, Wendy had been notified that she had been chosen to accompany Bell to Mauna Kea. She had been overjoyed and had confirmed her acceptance quickly. She knew that others had applied and she didn’t want anyone to think that she had lost interest.

What the hell is that, Professor? asked Wendy after a few minutes of studying the data on the screen.

I don’t know, Bell said as he continued to type. He had asked for two students to accompany him, but the University had rejected his request citing budgetary concerns as the reason for their denial. So now he had to do additional work, which would have normally been done by a graduate student. Still, he reasoned, one was better than none at all. Wendy, do me a favor, please. He studied the screen once more and said. Get on the phone and call around to the other observatories currently in use. Ask them if they’ve picked up anything usual near the Belt.

I don’t understand, said Wendy as she reached for the phone. What’s so usual about detecting a new comet or asteroid? I mean isn’t that why we’re here?

Yeah, that’s why we’re here, but… said Bell as his voice trailed off.

Bell had been watching the computer screen, when he noticed something odd about the object the telescope was now tracking. The unknown object had appeared instantly and was being tracked traveling at a high velocity, so he immediately thought it was a rogue meteor. But as he continued to keep an eye on the data scrolling on the screen, he noticed that it was all wrong. The speed, the trajectory, and the direction it was traveling were all wrong. The object had been tracked rising from the Moon’s surface and making its way out of the Solar System.

As Bell continued to watch the objects progress, he noted that it was now beginning to accelerate. As he watched the data on the screen, he noted that the object had also begun to turn. But that’s impossible, he told himself. He knew for a fact that celestial objects did not accelerate on their own accord and they definitely did not make turns in midflight. Unless, there was another cosmic body near their vicinity or a gravitational force, which caused them to change trajectories, but if there had been, he had not seen any data to indicate as such. And if the object had done this on its own, that only left one other possibility. It was under its own power and that ruled out any known comets or asteroids, since they did not perform such feats.

Wendy, look at the data on the screen and tell me what you see? Bell told her. Tell me that I’m wrong and that I’m just seeing things.

Wendy looked at him for a moment as she did what he had asked her. She knew that he was one of the most respected astronomers around, yet, he had ask his graduate student to confirm his findings.

Wendy leaned close to the computer screen and studied the data it was currently displaying. The telescope had detected the object as soon as it had appeared rising from the Moon’s surface. Odd. She followed the data stream and it all appeared normal to her. That was until she got toward the bottom of the screen. The data kept scrolling up the screen and with every passing minute, it was beginning to display information that was not characteristic of natural objects in space.

Wendy took the keyboard from Bell and typed in a few commands of her own. Let’s see something, she said. This can’t be right.

What are you doing? asked Bell as he watched her type.

I’m doing the obvious, Wendy said as she typed away. I just want to make sure all of our systems are operating correctly before we make any conclusions.

So you’re running a diagnostics check?

Yep.

What do you expect to find?

Hopefully, that something’s wrong with this darn thing.

But what happens if nothing’s wrong?

Wendy slowly turned toward Bell and said. If everything checks out, Professor, we’re going to have one hell of a mess on our hands.

What do you mean? asked Bell. If this thing is right, we could be the first ones to have found something of great interest to the scientific community. Think about it, this could be your ticket to fame.

Yeah, that’s one way to go, Professor, Wendy said. Or it could mean trouble.

Trouble? From who?

From people who don’t want us to know that there’s something out there. Especially, something on the Moon.

Okay, now you’re just being paranoid.

Am I? Wendy asked with a concerned look on her face.

"Regardless of what you think, we’re going to get confirmation on this one way or the other. So just make the call. And while you’re doing that, I’ll call Hickam Air Force Base on Oahu and make sure that the skies above us are clear of any military traffic.

I don’t think the boys in blue will tell us much, but what do we have to lose? Heck, if anything, they’ll probably be more interested in this than us. After all, they’re paying for all this equipment.

Wendy merely nodded her head and began to call the different observatories around the world as Bell contacted the military.

Flight Operations

Special Operations Command

Hickam AFB, Hawaii

0616 hrs HST

Colonel Charles M. Broccoli, USAF, Hickam AFB Base Commander, stood just outside the Base Operations building and watched as two MH-75 Pave Low’s touched down only 50 yards from him. The helicopters were the newest models to be introduced into service in support of Special Operations around the world and he had a need for them at the moment. He had received a phone call just hours ago from Lieutenant General Philip MacAfee who was in-charge of the Air Force Special Operations Command at MacDill AFB in Florida instructing him to mobilize the AFSOC detachment assigned to him. The General had been very explicit about what the team of Special Forces were tasked to do and how he wanted them to go about it. Broccoli merely listened and followed the General’s instructions.

Colonel Broccoli had been told that it was a simple operation, but he wondered what it was all truly about or if it was all that simple. The team didn’t operate within the continental United States or its territories, but that was exactly what they were being ordered to do. So he wanted positive confirmation that it had been approved by someone higher up the chain of command, since they would be operating within the United States, therefore, he placed a call of his own. When his call had been returned, he was surprised to learn that the President himself had authorized it. It was also implied that no one else besides him and the few personnel supporting the team know the full details of the operation at hand. That was not unusual to keep knowledge of any operation to a minimum, but all the secrecy surrounding the current operation was disturbing for many reasons.

During any Special Operations it was normal for Broccoli to know most details involving it, since he would be responsible for providing the team with everything they would require to complete their mission. But on this occasion, he had been completely left out of the loop. He had been informed that the operation was on a need-to-know only basis, so the team would get their final instructions once they were airborne. That frustrated him, since he didn’t know what the team would have to carry to complete their mission.

Colonel Broccoli grunted once and walked toward the awaiting helicopters as the