“It’s like we’re in the eighteenth century,” said Fatani.
“The jamming is probably localized,” said Patu. “They can’t cover all of China. It’s probably only for military use. If I had to guess, I’d say it only covers the boundaries of the base and a few kilometers of spillover.”
“So if we go outside the base,” said Mazer, “and set up our dishes, we should get an uplink?”
Patu shrugged. “Maybe. No way to be sure until we try.”
“The Chinese have us on lockdown,” said Fatani. “We’re not supposed to leave the base.”
“Who cares about the rules?” said Reinhardt. “This is an international emergency. I say we load up a HERC and get airborne.”
“If we take a HERC, they’ll be all over us,” said Mazer. “Let me talk to Captain Shenzu. Maybe they’ll give us an uplink to their military feeds.”
“And maybe a pig will jump out of my armpit and sing the national anthem,” said Reinhardt. “They’ll have all kinds of classified intel pumping through those feeds. They won’t let us touch that with a ten-foot pole.”
“Doesn’t hurt to ask,” said Mazer. “Where are all the brass now?”
“Holed up in the comms building,” said Fatani. “We don’t have access.”
“Then I’ll knock,” said Mazer. He left them and crossed the courtyard to the comms building. The door was solid steel. Mazer found a rock among the bushes and pounded on the metal. It was loud. The banging echoed through the courtyard. He kept pounding for five minutes until a guard threw open the door and yelled at him to stop.
“Bring me Captain Shenzu, and I’ll stop,” Mazer said.
The guard objected. Mazer started pounding on the door again. The guard tried to rip the rock from Mazer’s hand. Mazer swept the guard’s legs out and dropped him on his ass. Then he started pounding on the door again.
“All right,” said the guard, getting to his feet. “I’ll get him. Just stop.”
Mazer tossed the rock back into the bushes and gave the man a friendly smile.
Shenzu arrived two minutes later.
“We’re in the dark,” said Mazer. “We need updates. Either stop jamming and let us access our own satellites or give us access to your military’s feeds. Please, as a courtesy from one soldier to another.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that, Captain Rackham. The Politburo has given strict instructions on how information is disseminated. We’re hoping they’ll broadcast to the public again soon. In the meantime, we’ll keep you informed.”
“Not good enough,” said Mazer. “We don’t want filtered data given when it’s convenient. We want uncensored intel immediately as it happens. My team and I deserve that. This ship is a threat to our people as much as it is to yours.”
“Then use the uplink in your office.”
“I can’t get through anymore. There’s too much traffic.”
“That’s an issue with your own military, Captain Rackham, not mine. I assure you, we will do our best to keep you informed.”
Before Mazer could respond Shenzu turned and walked away, nodding at the two armed guards who had accompanied him. The guards stayed behind. They closed the metal door and stood outside facing Mazer, daring him to start knocking again. They were both bigger than the guard who had come the first time, but Mazer figured he could take them down easily enough. But what would that accomplish?
He returned to his office and tried his holodesk again. He didn’t get through. He tried five more times, and every time the connection failed. The ship could be moving toward Earth right this very moment, he realized. It could be happening right now. It could be headed toward home, guns ready. He thought of Kim, sitting in her office, watching the news feeds, unprotected. He got to his feet and returned to the barracks, trying to appear calm. “Shenzu said he’d keep us informed.”
“Not bloody likely,” said Reinhardt.
“We’ll give the man the benefit of the doubt.”
They waited three hours, but no word from Shenzu came. Mazer replayed the scene over and over in his mind. The U.N. ship being vaporized. The news shuttles taking fire, shattering, ripping apart, the screams of the crew. He pictured Kim again. He saw the bright flashes of light ripping through her building, vaporizing her office. It was his imagination, he knew. Kim was safe. The world was a big place. If the alien ship attacked, it wouldn’t go to New Zealand. The island was too small and insignificant a target. Kim was safe. Shenzu would come. Shenzu would bring them intel. He waited another hour, but that was all he could take. He couldn’t just sit here and do nothing. He motioned his team to follow him. “Patu, bring the transmitter and satellite receiver. Everyone else, get your gear. We’re taking a HERC.”