Explosion: Colliding Worlds Trilogy, #3

By Rachel Aukes

The final battle begins . . .

 

Twelve months ago, we reach a secret alliance with our world's newest residents. Draeken and Sephians are allowed to stay on Earth in exchange for sharing their knowledge and technology.

 

Eleven months ago, news footage revealed across the world that humans no longer stand alone in the galaxy. Panic ensued. The alliance is broken. All aliens are on Earth are rounded up and kept under constant surveillance at the Etzee, short for "Extra Terrestrial Restricted Zone." For the first time in history, all the world's countries have been united, and the U. N. has become the supreme authority.

 

One month ago, a deadly virus is released across the planet, all aliens are quickly blamed.

 

Today, the Draeken and Sephians no longer fight each other. They've found a new enemy: us.

 

When the Etzee's inhabitants are ordered to be executed, Captain Jax Jerrick becomes a traitor to the military in order to save the aliens. During the bloody battle, he escapes with a Draeken warrior, and together, they join the resistance committed to holding off the world's military forces while searching for an antivirus. With enemies coming at them from everywhere, can the resistance stop the war before humanity becomes extinct?

Read the earth-shattering conclusion of the Colliding Worlds trilogy now!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Waypoint Books
• Release date: Jan 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393342014

Rachel Aukes

Rachel Aukes (@RachelAukes on Wattpad) is the author of 100 Days in Deadland, which made Suspense Magazine’s Best of 2013 list. Rachel lives near Des Moines with her husband and an incredibly spoiled sixty-pound lap dog. When not writing, she can be found flying old airplanes and planning for the zombie apocalypse. For more information, visit RachelAukes.com or find her on Twitter as @RachelAukes.

Book preview

Explosion

Chapter One

U.S. Extra Terrestrial Restricted Zone, AKA the Etzee

1500 hours

I t’s just been confirmed, Colonel Jerrick announced to his officers at the emergency briefing he’d called just five minutes prior. Fourteen minutes ago we shot down a Boeing triple-seven a hundred miles shy of landing at LaGuardia. We are now at threat level Delta.

The briefing room broke out into murmurs, both questions and curses. Lieutenant Jax Jerrick muttered under his breath as he scrutinized his father for any sign of emotion. Of course, there was none. The ever-stoic officer wasn’t one to show weakness.

Their world was turning into a mess before his eyes. Jax glanced over the twenty-odd officers in the room whose tense features summed up the anxiety that Jax felt. Each of them knew what this meant: the U.S. had just made its stand, declaring to the rest of the world that everyone else was on their own.

I take it there were suspected cases of Omega on board, sir? Major Bruce ‘Six’ Sommers, the colonel’s second in command, asked.

Jerrick nodded. They refused orders to change course. Instead, they just kept repeating over and over that they were running low on fuel. He paused. It was an international flight from Hong Kong.

Ah.

No further explanation necessary. Hong Kong had been hit hard by Omega. All of Asia had turned into a mass exodus overnight. This wasn’t the first plane to be shot down, but it was the first to be shot down by the United States military.

China had bombed several of its own cities to prevent the spread of the virus. Tokyo had quarantined itself, only to be decimated within days. What was first believed to be a strange recurrence of the bubonic plague turned out to be a virus developed in a lab. Omega brought on plague-like symptoms but with a much higher death rate, putting even Ebola’s mortality rate to shame.

Omega began innocently enough, like a case of the flu, but as the body attempted to fight off the invaders, the lungs would fill with fluid. Lack of blood to the extremities brought on gangrene, the brain would swell, causing bleeding from all orifices above the neck, and intense fever brought on raving delusions. Within a day or two, victims drowned in their own blood.

So far, all they knew were two very important facts: first, the superior science that created Omega could not be human; second, Omega’s starting point was on the exact opposite side of the planet from the Etzee. It was as if someone had skewered the Earth at the center of the Etzee and shot the virus out the other side. No one doubted the clear message.

The Etzee had just become the safest place on Earth to be human and the worst place to be an alien. The Etzee was a desolate, one-square-mile quarantine for Draeken and Sephian immigrants. Tall prison-style fences lined the perimeter, and U.N. and American troops were posted every fifty yards. The Etzee sat in the middle of a U.S. military operations area, which meant enough heavy equipment and troops to start World War III could be called in at a moment’s notice.

Jax had understood the Etzee for what it was the day it had been established. The Etzee was not a temporary quarantine until immigration was processed. His people were afraid. The Etzee was a prison to maintain control over every alien on the planet. It seemed to be working, but the Etzee had one gargantuan Achilles’ heel. Thousands more aliens were in Earth’s orbit, and they were getting impatient with the U.N. delays.

We’ve been given a new directive, Colonel Jerrick said. The U.S. is officially closing its borders and shutting down the airways, effective immediately. So far, we have no cases of Omega here in the continental states, and we plan to keep it that way.

Murmurs and sidebar conversations erupted.

Colonel Jerrick held up a hand, and the sidebar conversations died down. Only one person speaks at a time.

What about the non-continental states like Hawaii and Alaska, and the territories? Sommers asked.

The colonel shook his head. They’re considered no longer viable. We have to focus our resources on what we can save. Troops are being moved to police the borders and they need all the help they can get. This means that we will evacuate all units from the Etzee by zero-eight-thirty tomorrow morning. Inform your troops to load only essentials. No communication is to be made with the Etzee’s residents regarding the evacuation.

Chills climbed Jax’s spine. They had less than a day to load up and pull out with no replacements? And, all this on the down-low?

The Etzee is no longer going to be policed by the U.N.? Sommers asked. Has the Triad been advised? Hell, has the U.N. been advised?

The U.N. has their hands full, so they’ve turned over full responsibility of the Etzee to us. This evacuation is purely a U.S. Army initiative and does not concern the Draeken or Sephian delegates to the U.N.’s Triad.

Sommers shook his head. There’s a significant risk involved if we leave the Etzee unpoliced. While the Sephian and Draeken delegates of the Triad will be pleased to have control, those two races will be at each other’s throats within a day.

The Etzee is no longer our responsibility, the colonel replied a bit too quickly.

Then whose it is, sir? the officer sitting a few seats down from Jax asked. The Etzee is on American soil. Are the residents to be given autonomy?

The General of the Army has been invoked and has assumed authority of the Etzee, as well as all military forces.

Everyone in the room took a collective inhalation of breath.

Sommers cocked his head. The General of the Army is invoked only in a time of war. The last time I checked, we’re not at war.

Our country is facing a terrorist threat the like we’ve never seen before. As you are all aware, it’s U.S. policy not to bow down to terrorists, Colonel Jerrick said sternly. We have reason to believe the terrorists are associated with those in the Etzee, and therefore it has been declared enemy territory as of twenty minutes ago. All Etzee residents are to be considered hostiles. We are now at war, gentlemen.

What’s going to happen to the Etzee’s residents? Most of these people are good folks. They came here in peace, Ace protested. Jax’s best friend was the best staff sergeant he’d seen, but Ace never knew when to keep his trap shut. Basically, they were a lot alike and Jax had been thinking the same as Ace, but was smart enough to keep his thoughts to himself. Besides, he already suspected the answer and didn’t want to hear it.

The colonel’s lips pursed. The loss of six hundred eighty-five illegal aliens in order to save billions has been deemed an acceptable loss.

Ace hit the table. They’ve shared their knowledge. We’ve advanced decades, if not centuries, thanks to the knowledge they’ve shared with us over the past twelve months.

And now some of them are using that same knowledge against us, a staff sergeant said from the back of the room.

Can you blame them? Ace snapped back.

Sir, Jax said, steering the rising hostility levels of the room away from Ace. Does the General of the Army realize that if the Etzee is destroyed, any chance for a cure will probably be destroyed along with it?

Colonel Jerrick narrowed his eyes on his son. All the risks were analyzed in the making of this decision. The General figured that if the terrorists were willing to offer a cure—if they even have one—they would’ve made their demands by now. We have to assume that Omega is germ warfare, plain and simple. We are in a crisis situation, gentlemen. Our best defense is to keep Omega outside our borders. Any infected—near or on our soil—are to be eliminated. Then, we wait out Omega. Aside from that, I have no further information. These decisions were made well above all of our pay grades.

Jax sensed the bitterness in his father’s voice at the last words.

What about the Leashes? another officer asked. Every Etzee resident had been assigned, or ‘leashed’, to a human soldier upon entry to the Etzee. These soldiers served essentially as probation officers, ensuring their Leashes stayed in line. A few had become more involved, helping their alien assignment acclimate to Earth by teaching them about local culture and norms.

All Leash orders are hereby cancelled, effective immediately. Every resident will still have a tracker, so should any escape after we leave, they will be tracked down and neutralized.

Thoughts poured through Jax’s mind as his father went over the details of their new directive. Of all the officers in the room, he was being put between a rock and a hard place. Jax had been assigned as a consultant to the U.N. Triad—the governing body of the Etzee—made up of Sephian, Draeken, and human delegates. Officially, his allegiance was fifty-one percent to his country and forty-nine percent to the Triad. He should be informing the Triad of the new directive. He should be doing everything he could to save alien lives. In this case, however, a couple of percent points made a world of difference.

Country trumped world. Humans trumped aliens.

The sound of chairs scraping on concrete pulled Jax’s attention back to the room as the colonel held up a finger. Make sure you have your troops pulled out by oh-eight-thirty and not a minute later. We will not and cannot come back for anyone left behind.

Yes, sir, chimed around the room as the officers departed, everyone looking nervous. Jax eyed Ace, who shot him a look every bit as strained as he felt.

Jerrick and Monson, a word.

Snapping upright, Jax and Ace spun on their heels to return to the room. Ace, being the lowest ranking officer, waited for the others to leave before closing the door and catching up to stand at Jax’s side to face the commanding officer.

As you were, Jerrick said as he rustled around some papers before leaning back on his desk and facing the pair. Staff Sergeant, you have more potential than just about any soldier I’ve met.

Thank you, sir, Ace replied.

Yet you manage to screw up every time your lieutenant isn’t around to bail you out. I’m giving you one last shot. Lieutenant Jerrick is taking a temporary assignment. You will ensure Echo-Three company reaches Whiteman with the other companies tomorrow morning. Are we clear?

Clear as a bell, Ace replied without hesitation.

That will be all.

Ace saluted the officer. Thank you, sir, he said and left the room, closing the door behind him.

Jax’s father looked around the room before leveling his gaze on his son. What I’m about to say could get misinterpreted as treason if it fell onto the wrong ears.

Jax didn’t respond, because how did one respond to that?

We’ve never been fair with the Etzee’s residents. The Sephians who are here could’ve gone home, but they chose to remain. I’m not worried about them, since they had a choice and could head back to Sephia. As for the Draeken, well, they have no home. We’ve been keeping several hundred of them restricted to the Etzee in the hopes that we could keep the several thousand orbiting our planet in those giant core ships of theirs in line. If we kill those residents now, I have no doubt their compatriots will retaliate, and that would make the Omega virus look like nothing more than a slap on the face. At oh-nine-hundred, we’re going to royally screw ourselves by bombing the Etzee, and I doubt that the persons responsible for the Omega virus are even in the Etzee.

While Jerrick had spoken to the same effect at the officer briefing, having him spell it out—Jesus H. Christ, we are going to bomb a camp where over six hundred people live—froze every muscle in his body.

Jerrick cracked his knuckles. I’m giving you a counter-directive for one hour in order to save our world. Save the alien delegates to the Triad—Roden and Nalea Zyll and their officers, Apolo’s trinity, Sienna Wolfe, and whatever families you can. We can only hope that the Zylls will be able to keep their core ships from bombing the U.S. into oblivion. Do you understand what I’m saying?

It took Jax a deep breath before he found the ability to speak. Yes, sir.

His father watched him for a long second. I’ve already put the paperwork through that you’ll be driving a large supply truck with medical records. It’s large enough for you to get the key personnel out. I’ll have drones watching the roads, so be sure any passengers are well hidden.

Understood, sir. Where do I drop off my passengers?

I’m counting on the Zylls to arrange pickups.

Jax nodded.

Don’t dally with dropping them off. You need to get your ass to Whiteman as soon as possible. You’ll need to have some records on board to not raise suspicion, so have some troops load enough onto the truck tonight. Troops evacuate at oh-eight-thirty. It doesn’t give you much of a window to sneak out the critical few.

Thirty minutes is more than enough time, Jax said. You can count on me, sir.

His father looked relieved, yet pale. It was the third time in Jax’s life that he’d seen his father emotional. The first was when his mother died. The second was when Jax had been taken by the Sephians. This is a high-risk situation, but you’re the only officer the aliens trust. If you’re caught with them, there’s nothing I can do. You need to get them out of Etzee then let them fend for themselves. Once they’re a few miles clear of the Etzee, they are no longer your concern. Do you understand?

Jax swallowed and then nodded. Yes, sir. Will that be all?

His father came forward suddenly and embraced him. It was fast and hard, and over before Jax could respond. The colonel walked around his desk, sat down, and began to shuffle papers. Those records are important. You’ve got a lot of work to do, Lieutenant. Better get to it.

Jax saluted before turning away. Feeling disjointed and edgy, he stumbled through the doorway to find Ace leaning against the wall. He pushed off and joined Jax’s side as they walked outside.

I’ll get your guys out all right, Ace said.

I know you will, Jax said.

Ace watched him for a moment. Ace was smart. He’d know something was up for Jerrick to pull the company leader at such an odd time. Ace suddenly pulled his buddy into a quick, hard embrace.

It was much like the one Jax’s father had just given him, and spoke of the same heartfelt emotions that words couldn’t relay. When they pulled away, neither said a word, instead going their separate ways. His father was right. They had a lot to do and not nearly enough time to get it done.

Chapter Two

2200 hours

E xcuse me. Talla Kohlm veered around the soldier blocking her path.

He mirrored her steps, blocking her way once again.

She heard the booted steps of his partner coming up from behind. Her only chance for escape was down the dark alley between the two empty trailers at her right.

Trap.

Refusing to appear kowtowed, she glared at the man before