Turmoil

By Eduard Meinema

Special Space Agent Djay Laro finds himself in a chaotic, dire situation.
Laro has been exposed as an undercover cop and is being pursued by the criminal organization in which he was infiltrated; his FBSI superiors, on the other hand, doubt his loyalty and his role in the undercover operation on Viridis, while his immediate colleagues are afraid to trust him completely.

But all this is not Laro's biggest problem ...

The presence of the Sepulchrians, a until recently unknown people, pushes all parties to their limits.
The situation is already explosive, but when the enemy of the Sepulchrians makes an appearance, the situation threatens to become untenable ...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Eduard Meinema
• Release date: Oct 5, 2021

Eduard Meinema

"I love writing into the dark; like to be surprised by the characters scavenging through my own stories. Just before things are getting familiar; when I think, or at least believe, to know where a new story is going to, I give it a twist and make my readers (and myself) wonder... how the hell is this going to end?"WORDS and VISIONEduard Meinema is writer and visual artist. He writes in an exciting and humorous style. Creates intense, passionate and mysterious stories filled with unexpected twists which will seduce anyone to finish reading at full speed. Beside his full length novels, Eduard is fond of writing Flash Fiction and Short Stories. All of these 'Twisted Tales' are published as stand alone eBooks in the series 'Flash & Shorts'.Meinema's works of art include so called 'lyric abstract' paintings. Expressionistic works made of Acrylics and Sand. But also Pop-art, including characters known as 'Skredches' (Yes! There is a blog:check out the official site to find blog feeds!!) and...fish paintings. As Meinema says: "Ah! I love fish. Love to see them. Love to keep them. Breed them, paint them, eat them... (ouch, sorry for that...). Oh yeah, I love fish in each and every way."Meinema, born 1963 (Delft, The Netherlands) is former CEO of a temp office, specialized in contracting technicians. Together with his wife he has managed a gallery for contemporary art and jewelry for more than ten years. Nowadays Meinema is fulltime writer and visual artist.

Book preview

1

Are you okay? Djay Laro asked. He was standing next to her in the hastily built shed. The residents of Affix had with worked with might and main, with materials from the disaster site, to create an emergency facility where the victims were now brought in. Gently he put his hand on her shoulder.

Leeanne Monterrey pushed his hand away. Just let me…, she said with a sniff.

Even Laro was having a hard time watching the hundreds of body bags with all the dead bodies. Endless rows. A mass burial of countless human casualties who had not survived the impact on Unit Four of the small settlement on Affix, caused by the giant Sepulchrian robot.

He had not personally known any of the dead. Luckily.

Monterrey did.

She had lost her family here; her husband and her son.

With a few pats on her shoulder, Laro indicated that he would leave her alone. It had to be done; the bodies were recovered and buried. To prevent the spread of illness and to give the survivors the time they needed to mourn.

But time was a luxury that the residents of the remote settlement, on the edge of the area of the universe inhabited by people, were not able to afford. Two days ago, they had managed to repulse the ground attack of the Sepulchrians. But above them, in an orbit around Affix, there still circled an unknown number of enemy spaceships from an alien people, where up to recently no one had ever heard of.

It was not even a question of whether these ships would come into action, the question was: when?

For the Sepulchrians were here for a reason. They had a target: VM2540. An age-old tomb with an uncrackable sarcophagus hidden inside. And if that was not enough, the Sepulchrians apparently also had an eye on a metallic plain. VM2631, colloquially known as the Iron Fields, the iron plain. An object which supposedly was to be found under the central housing unit of Affix, Unit One…

* * *

We’ve been sitting here for two damn days, FBSI Special Space Agent Wheelock snapped. The big, coarse built SSA looked angry at Don Faenza; the former mafia boss who had persuaded him and two of his colleagues, Paisley and Vinguerro, to flee to this underground shelter.

Hey, Giorgio Faenza snapped back. All I’ve told you was that I knew a safe place. How could I now know we would be bombarded for days? I don’t have a fucking clue what is going on out there either.

"A fucking attack from a fucking alien people, Vinguerro growled. That was what we knew when we went out to come here."

Mai Lin Tsui, the only woman in the group, tried to calm things down. Keep it calm guys. We have more than enough to eat and drink in here and…

Keep your mouth shut, cunt ! Vinguerro snapped. You’re still our prisoner, ey! You don’t have a fuck to tell!

Vinguerro! Wheelock said. His lethal gaze was enough for Vinguerro to keep his silence. That bitch is right. We need to stay calm. This is a situation which none of us could even imagine when we started this. An attack by extraterrestrial beings. Jesus, how long has it been since we made contact with an unknown civilization?

Well, civilization …, SSA Paisley said. A nation which attacks you without any warning? You cannot really call that civilized, can you?

Who says we’ve not been warned ? the fat man said, sitting huddled in the corner of the shelter behind computer screens.

Giorgio Faenza walked over to him. Did you find anything Salva? he asked him hopeful.

Salvatore Maltese, his faithful, lazy assistant looked at him with a sweaty forehead. Maybe…

Now he also had the attention of the others in the shelter.

We still don’t have communication, Salvatore said. However, this equipment has done its job to the very last moment, he chuckled.

What do you mean ? Wheelock asked. What’s so special about this old shit?

Don’t you call this old shit, Salvatore said irritated. Unprecedented advanced equipment. This provides us access… provided us access… to the databases of all government agencies.

Like the FBSI database? Here on Viridis?

No, Salvatore chuckled. "All government agencies. Here, on earth and all that is between those planets."

Holy shit! Paisley whistled.

I managed to unravel the news of the past few days. The storage capacity of this thing is so ridiculously big, Salvatore said eagerly. Simply insane. An Ipsibyte!

What the hell is an ipsibitsie ? Mai Lin asked.

Salvatore’s belly shook with laughter. An Ipsibyte. From the Latin Ipsius. Meaning uncountable. You simply cannot determine the storage capacity of this thing. Man, there’s so immeasurably much information here… Also reports on this situation which is going on right now.

Okay Professor Ipsius, Vinguerro said impatiently. Are you going to tell us what you have found or should I kick out of you?

Vin! Wheelock said menacingly. If you cannot behave, I’ll throw you out of this basement. Understood?

Vinguerro might nearly be two heads shorter than his colleague Wheelock but he was not afraid. Come on man, don’t we all want to know what’s going on? And how fucking much longer this shit will linger on?

Vin! Wheelock repeated even louder and more threatening. He held his big, clenched fist right in front of Vinguerro’s face. I believe it you already got to know these, didn’t you?

Vinguerro remembered all too well how hard Wheelock had pounded him in his stomach when he had made a bad comment to Mai Lin. This time he cut his losses. Apologetic he moved his hands in the air. Okay. Have it your way… My time will come bastard, he thought. As soon as I know where that bastard Faenza is hiding his money and all of the shit here outside is past… Just wait. I’m gonna get you…

Giorgio Faenza looked gently at what happened. After several days of forced confinement, the situation was not getting any better. The underlying relationship of the Special Space Agents was not exactly good. He had to ensure that no escalation would take place and he would become the victim of their mutual bickering after all. He would have to do more than his best to stay friends with everyone. Especially the big guy. Wheelock. Fuck, he thought. If only Trullo was here… It was clear to Faenza that Salvatore Maltese wasn’t feeling very comfortable either. Despite the chill in the basement the sweat stains on the clothing of his corpulent employee were getting bigger and bigger. He had been fooling with him quite often, but, as now became clear, Salvatore was one of his most loyal followers. Just like Mai Lin. Well, Salva? What did you find? Giorgio asked.

Salvatore had to swallow for a moment. He didn’t like the increasingly aggressive attitude of Vinguerro at all. An unpredictable, explosive man. At first I thought the attack on Viridis was a total surprise. At least, so it seems it if you quickly look into the reports of the news media.

But? Faenza asked, now also getting impatient.

But the communication within the army and the secret services indicate something else. The arrival of unknown spaceships had been known for several days.

What? SSA Paisley shouted. Then why didn’t they do anything?

Salvatore shrugged his shoulders. The policy with regard to a first contact…

"Fuck! Vinguerro cried. So, a few dirty politicians follow outdated rules and ancient protocols which are convenient to them? Yes, sure, why not? They are safe on earth. While we…"

While we what? Vinguerro? Wheelock said. We’re safe here, aren’t we? In this shelter?

Is that so? Paisley said. We don’t even know by whom we are attacked. How can you be so certain that we are not at risk in here?

Honestly, Wheelock said, I’m more worried about what commander Horwitz is doing right now then being concerned about some little green men.

2

I believe him, the tired SSA said to commander Horwitz. I think it he really does not know where the shelter of Faenza is.

Out of sheer frustration and anger Horwitz gave the exhausted, bloodied Paolo a tough blow to his face.

Paolo Mazzanti’s head snapped sideways and remained in position, hanging motionless. Blood dripped from his mouth. His body was covered with bruises and wounds. Souvenirs from an hour-long interrogation. Or, just call it torture. Horwitz and his men had put out all the stops to pick up the escaped prisoners and their own renegade colleagues. The air raid of an unknown people, had forced them to stop their pursuit. Now the rest on planet Viridis temporarily had returned, they tried to figure out where Giorgio Faenza had fled. But apart from the fact that there was a bomb shelter, Paolo Mazzanti knew nothing at all. He had no idea where the damn shelter of his former boss could be. After the attrition of the last hour, during which he was continuously beaten, racked, humiliated and tortured, he could barely remember where he was. Or who he was. He longed for rest.

Clean him up! Horwitz growled.

Um… You mean …? the SSA asked cautiously.

No. Don’t kill him. Not yet … Just throw him in the basement. Who knows, he may come in handy later. Commander Horwitz stared out the window of the luxurious villa. It was quiet outside. After the unexpected attack, the shelling from the area, it seemed everything was calm again. Emergency services were doing all they could do to repair the damage and to recover victims. Horwitz and his men were not planning to leave the villa of mafia boss Faenza and join to help with the cleanup and rescue teams. As there was no communication, they kept their distance. They didn’t even bother to contact the FBSI agency on Viridis. Where are you motherfucker? Horwitz said aloud to himself. And where the hell did you fucking hide your money?

* * *

Where can he be? FBSI commander Xiu Xiaobo stared at the holographic map. He can’t be that far. If he left the residential accommodation and fled to the moon surface, he should refill his oxygen somewhere and somehow.

Officer Radhikropunanga nodded. The space suits which they wore when you brought them here are gone. So, it sounds plausible that they have escaped and walking around the moon somewhere.

Drive, Xiaobo said curtly. They have stolen a number of moon scooters Rad!

That’s right, Radhikropunanga said. Do you know. That may increase their range, but doesn’t give them much more advantages.

Huh? Xiaobo said surprised. They fucking escaped! Right under our noses Rad! We stood there and looked at it…

Well, Commander… They had help from the outside and…

From the outside? Do you call the assistance of Sullender help from outside? It is one fucking big and corrupt gang in here. This entire police station!

Agent Radhikropunanga decided to remain silent.

Sorry. I meant… Well. Not you. And… hopefully a few more officers. But Roz, Sullender… Arrggh. They are all rancid guys. Criminals. Arms dealers! Xiaobo said fiercely.

You can count on me, Commander. And on Elliott, Chung and Vauxhall. And not to forget Sergeant Vancouver.

No, Xiaobo thought. Let’s not forget Vancouver…

And now? Radhikropunanga asked. We don’t have enough manpower to start a quest.

No. But letting that gang of criminals just walk away is also asking for trouble.

With all due respect sir. But we already have problems.

Hmm, Xiaobo growled. I know. Fine. You stay here, at the station. Try to get in contact with Interstellar Traffic Control again. Major Suhrau, or Officer Arquette. Anyone.

I will, Commander, Radhikropunanga said. I will also inquire whether everyone is back on his post now… now the funeral is over.

Xiaobo firmly tapped Radhikropunanga’s shoulder. Who would have thought Rad? You sign up for the police force, and before you know it you’re in the army!

I don’t live here that long yet. A few weeks only. But I do know some of the people who were killed, Radhikropunanga replied sad.

Sorry Rad. That’s not how I meant it. And I regret it I needed you in here; leaving you no time to go to the service. He thought of his colleague, SSA Monterrey, who had lost her family. How would she be holding up?

Thank you. But I understand it, sir. We have to move on. The battle is still not done, is it?

Xiaobo nodded in agreement. I’m afraid not Rad. As long as the Seps, those filthy vultures, are still circling above us, we still are sitting ducks. He thought for a moment. He had to acquiesce in the situation. With reluctance. But he had to. Hmm, like you said. We do not have the manpower to track down Roz and his gang of thieves. We need everyone to defend ourselves. Fine. I ‘m going to Vancouver. You’ll try to reach ITC. And keep me posted. Xiaobo put on his helmet. Got out of the police station and walked to his moon scooter. On his way to Sergeant Vancouver.

3

Special Space Agent Djay Laro looked up. The open doors of VM2540 were more than impressive. And horrifying. Laro felt a cold chill running down his back. The gate to hell the object was called. Well, that was not too little said. Hardly two days ago this place was the hell. No, he shouldn’t allow himself to think that way. The explosion which totally destroyed Unit Four and all its inhabitants in one fell swoop; that was hell.

What are you doing, Laro?

Djay looked up startled. Trullo! You been out here waiting for me? I have to be much more careful, Laro thought. This is not the first time I got surprised by Reggie Trullo. One of these days he will do exactly what he is here for. Whack me…

How was it? Trullo asked.

Sorry?

The memorial? How was it?

Laro was surprised. Why this interest in your fellow man?

Trullo grinned. I’m only human, Laro.

Hmm. There are those of us who would disagree Reg. But er… Laro let out a deep sigh. If you really want to know… I feel like shit. All those body bags. Grieving people … Very impressive but above all overwhelmingly emotional.

Trullo nodded. Keep that in mind Laro, he remarked. Remember that picture with every Sep standing you in the way. Never forget why you are doing this!

Laro wasn’t really sure what that meant. Is that how it works for you?

In this case, yes. The bigger my hatred against my er… opponent, the fiercer I am.

"What did you want to say, Reg? The greater the hatred of your target? Your victim?"

Let go of it Laro. I am not at work here, Trullo grinned.

That’s a relief, Laro said sincerely.

Well, will you come and see what we have done in here? Or will you just stand there enjoying the sun? Top up your tan?

In that case, they should have installed a pair of solar cells in my suit. Hmm. A spacesuit with a built-in solarium. Nice gadget. But for now, it will not be of any help… Anyway, surprise me Reg, Laro said. Would you like a ride?

Yes please, Trullo said. He got on the back of the moon scooter. You know the way …

Together they drove into the tunnel. Two days ago, this was no more than a dark, obscured corridor. Now the corridor was well lit so the people could work safely, quickly and sheltered, without the Sepulchrians being able to see what was going on.

Looks good, Laro noted satisfied.

Wait till you see the masterpiece, Trullo said.

At the end of the tunnel was a central room containing the still unopened sarcophagus. From the room were there several corridors leading deeper into the mountains. In front of the sarcophagus was a converted excavator.

Is that it? Laro asked.

Ready and waiting chief! Trullo said.

The men got off the moon scooter. Took a tour around the former excavator.

And? Reggie Trullo asked. Does it meet the quality requirements of the FBSI?

I wouldn’t know, Laro said. And honestly… I don’t give a shit. He looked at the converted machine with admiration. But as far as I’m concerned, you’ve done a prime piece of work. Provided it works of course…

Reggie Trullo proudly patted the gun - converted excavator. I’m sorry we cannot take it out to test.

No Reg. There is no testing involved. This cutie must remain a surprise. He looked at Reggie laughing. Our own assassin!

4

Commander Xiaobo looked at the docking station with mixed feelings. Sergeant Vancouver had found a large group of people willing to work continuously on the strengthening of the docking station. A risky project of which the progress was clearly visible from space. The Sepulchrians could track every step they made on the project. And intervene whenever they felt doing so…

Any news from ITC? Vancouver asked.

No. The last contact we had was two days ago when Major Suhrau told us that ITC had received an SOS signal from the Nineteenth Fleet. No idea what happened after that. Whether they have set up a rescue operation; or if any other part of the fleet is on its way to us…

Who knows, we may be able to communicate in a few moments.

Xiaobo looked at him quizzically. Do you think so? Those fucking Seps have shot all our communication satellites out of the air. Even if we would have one or two spare satellites… Before we can launch them and get them in an orbit around Affix, those assholes will destroy them even before we’re able to get them operational. But rest assured. According Rad there are no spare satellites. So, forget about it.

I wasn’t talking about communications satellites.

What then?

Old-fashioned dish antennas.

You mean… do we have any?

Vancouver started to chuckle. "If you don’t see it the Seps will not see it either. That’s good because it