Invaders: Dreadnought Ocelot (Invaders Series Book 4) Read online

  “What’s up?” I asked.

  “A fleet of submarines is heading for the underwater Polarion base in the Arctic Ocean.”

  “Oh-oh,” I said.

  “It’s worse than that, though,” she said.

  “How could it possibly be worse?”

  “Kazz is helping them.”

  “Kazz,” I said. I don’t know how, but we’d forgotten about him. In case you’re wondering, Sergei Gromyko was already down here helping us. He was one of the first new recruits.

  “I’m coming in, Jenna.”

  “What are we going to do?”

  “Yeah,” I said. “I’m thinking.”

  I had an idea of what to do by the time my flyer landed. I’d been mulling over the idea for some time, actually. I jumped out of the flyer and ran into the low steel building, meeting Jenna in the control room.

  “You know,” I told her, “this one is too big for us to handle.”

  “Meaning what?” she asked.

  “We’ve been unrealistic about all this. The Earth launched most of its ballistic missiles. There are video shots of the Soyuz-2 launch. There’s talk from many quarters about heading into space to search for clues to the alien vessel that blew up. I mean, I’ve read too many blog sites that have data from people who watched everything, using their own telescopes. We can’t shove all this knowledge back into the bottle. It’s far too late for that.”

  “So, we bring the world down here to the Great Machine? How’s that going to work?”

  “That’s not what I’m saying. We admit half the truth in order to keep the other half secret.”

  Jenna blinked several times. “What truths are we going to admit?”

  “We’re not, but the world leaders are going to do it for us,” I said.

  “That doesn’t answer the question.”

  I nodded. “They’re going to admit that the Earth fought an alien warship. They’re also going to admit that other aliens aided us.”

  “The Polarions?” she asked.

  “I’ll play the part of Argon,” I said. “I’ll tell the world leaders they can admit that much.”

  “So, what are we keeping hidden?”

  “This place,” I said.

  “What about the underwater Arctic Polarion base?”

  “We’re going to blow it up.”

  “When?” asked Jenna.

  “Now,” I said.

  “That is not wise,” Rax said from my belt. “There must be powerful weapons hidden on the base. They might explode if we blow up the underwater station.”

  “Maybe and maybe not,” I said. “It wouldn’t surprise me if Argon has already looted the place. Would he leave really dangerous stuff behind?”

  “If it’s not dangerous,” Jenna said, “then why blow it up?”

  “It will be part of our cover story,” I said. “We Polarions are leaving humanity to take care of themselves.”

  “Do you think the world leaders will believe that?” she asked.

  “Let’s find out,” I said.

  ***

  Jenna teleported nuclear explosives from U.S. control and planted them outside the underwater Polarion base. Then, she detonated them.

  That worked, destroying the base and probably everything inside it. Yes, it likely polluted some of the pristine Arctic Ocean, too, a grave drawback. But no plan was perfect.

  We watched the subs with Sand’s scanning devices. The subs heading there felt the shockwave. Our instruments told us that as we watched them shake and shift. Fortunately, the fleet was far enough away so every submarine survived. Soon, the sub fleet soon turned back.

  I already wore most of my disguise, a body suit making me more impressive and a silver Polarion one-piece. I would don an Argon mask to complete the image.

  Jenna ran the teleportor. Teams of CAU personnel waited. One by one, the teams stepped onto the dais. Each member wore black garments and black masks and carried alien weaponry. They disappeared.

  I left, but Rax gave me a running commentary. Each team reappeared on the dais, escorting a world leader through the chamber, taking them to a larger auditorium.

  Once we had everyone, a mob of complaining world leaders with black-masked and armed guards lining the walls, I entered on the main stage.

  It took time, some pleading, a guard smashing a big world leader trying to storm the stage, others hauling him off to reappear with a head bandage—let me put it like this. I finally persuaded the world leaders to sit in the chairs provided.

  Afterward, I addressed them as Argon. I wore the mask and altered body-imaging parts. I imagined some of them had secret cameras and would snap photos of me. Others would tell police sketch artists what the speaker looked like. After this, I still wanted to be able to roam the Earth without instantly having assassins try to kill me or regular people mob me.

  Anyway, addressing the leaders gravely, I told them to tell their people the truth about the alien attack. Let the world know that they had united to save the planet. It should drive up their poll numbers, too. It was wise to appeal to a person’s self-interest.

  The President of the United States stood up. He seemed angry but also willing to listen. “What should we tell them about you?”

  “Tell them whatever you want,” I said. “We’re leaving for good. You can take care of your own planet from now on.”

  “What if more aliens show up?” he demanded.

  I shrugged as if I didn’t care.

  The President looked around at the other leaders before staring at me. “I accept.”

  A murmur of approval rose from the crowd.

  “I don’t care if you accept or not,” I said, trying for Argon’s typical arrogance. “We Polarions are finished with you ungrateful Earthlings. We’ve helped you. Now, we’re finished. We blew up our second-to-last base. Once we send you all home, we’re destroying this place, too.”

  “Where are we?” the King of Saudi Arabia shouted. “Did you transport us to the moon?”

  “It doesn’t matter where this is, the moon or not,” I added. “We saved your pathetic, troublesome race. Do with your planet and people as you will.”

  “Are more aliens coming?” The King asked.

  I shrugged in a good imitation of Argon. “I have no idea, and I don’t care.”

  “Will you help us if more come?”

  “No,” I said. “That’s what leaving you to your own devices means.”

  Many of the world leaders nodded. I didn’t think they liked playing second fiddle to anyone. With us leaving, they would be back in charge of everything again, or so I wanted them to believe.

  “We thank you for your aid,” the Prime Minister of Britain said.

  The new President of China stood up and began to clap. One by one, the others stood, too, clapping for the Polarions.

  When they finished, I raised my arm imperiously, indicating the guards begin leading them away.

  I wondered if any of the world leaders would try to get in a word edgewise with me. One or two eyed me, but meekly obeyed the guards when they ordered them to start filing out.

  Soon enough, the last world leader teleported home.

  Jenna entered the large auditorium to tell me. I took off my Polarion lookalike mask.

  “Do you think this will work?” Jenna asked.

  “It should take off some of the pressure, at least.”

  Jenna smiled, and she stepped close, giving me a good French smooch.

  “What was that for?” I asked.

  “A small token of my appreciation for all your hard work,” she said.

  I grinned. Then, I yawned. I was beat. I needed a good long rest and vacation. Jenna Jones, the subterranean realm, the Earth…I’d helped save it again. What did the future hold for me? I’d have to wait and see like everyone else.

  THE END

  To the Reader: Thanks! I hope you’ve enjoyed Invaders: Dreadnought Ocelot. If you liked the book and would like to see the series continue, please put
up some stars and a review. Let new readers know what’s in store for them.

  —Vaughn Heppner