Hell Island - Matthew Reilly [22]
Among the scientists in the lab-coats, Schofield recognised Zak Pennebaker, the ‘desperate’ scientist he’d met earlier.
He also recognised the officer in uniform, which happened to be the khaki day uniform of the United States Marine Corps. He was Captain William ‘Buccaneer’ Broyles, aka the Buck.
The leader of the lab-coated crowd stepped forward. He was an older man, with a mane of flowing white hair, an aged crinkled face, and dazzling blue eyes. He oozed authority.
‘Captain Schofield,’ he said in a deep voice. ‘Thank you for your quick response to my plea. My name is Dr Malcolm Knox, scientific consultant to the President, head of the Special Warfare Division at DARPA and overall commander of Project Stormtrooper.’
Knox walked out among the apes—they continued to sit obediently, although they did rock from side to side, fidgeting impatiently. But they did not attack him. Schofield noticed a silver disc on Knox’s ID badge—it was exactly the same as the one Pennebaker had been wearing earlier and, Schofield saw, was still wearing now.
Standing with the apes at his back, Knox turned to Schofield and his dirty, blood-covered team.
‘Congratulations. You have won this mission, Captain Schofield,’ he said.
Schofield said nothing.
‘I said, you won,’ Knox said. ‘I commend you on an incredible effort. Indeed, yours was the only team to survive.’
Still Schofield remained silent.
Knox stammered. ‘You really, er, should all be proud—’
‘This was a goddamned test,’ Schofield said in a low voice, his tone deadly.
‘Yes . . . yes, it was,’ Knox said, slightly unnerved. ‘The final test of a new technology—’
Schofield said, ‘You pitted your new army against three companies of Marines, and you beat them. But then the higher-ups said you had to beat Special Forces, didn’t they?’
Knox nodded. ‘This is correct.’
‘So you had us parachuted in here, with the SEALs and the Airborne. You used us as live bait. You used us as human guinea pigs for a test—’
‘This gorilla force could save thousands of American lives in future conflicts,’ Knox said. ‘You, Captain Schofield, are sworn to defend the American people and your fellow soldiers. You were doing exactly that, only in an indirect way.’
‘In an indirect way . . .’ Schofield growled. ‘I’ve lost five good men here today, Dr Knox. Not to mention the other Marines, SEALs and Airbornes who also died here in your little experiment. These men had families. They were prepared to die for their country fighting its enemies, not its latest fucking weapon.’
‘Sometimes a few must be lost for the greater good, Captain,’ Knox said. ‘This is bigger than you. This is the future of warfare for our country.’
‘But your apes lost in the end. We had them in the cross-hairs and were about to fire the kill-shot.’
‘Yes, you did. You most certainly did,’ Knox said. ‘Your participation in this exercise was requested for precisely that reason: your adaptability and unpredictability. The apes needed such an adversary.
‘As it stands, however, the gorillas beat every-body but you, and your victory, it must be said, was based in large part on a few longshots, in particular a level of knowledge that 99 per cent of our enemies simply will not have: submarine docking doors in carriers and an unusually high level of knowledge of World War II Japanese tunnel systems. No, based on the results of this test, Project Stormtrooper will most certainly go live, and it will save many lives over the years to come.’
Knox started walking around the hall, checking the apes. ‘Now, if you don’t mind, we have a lot of follow-up to do and a whole lot of paperwork. An extraction plane has been called from Okinawa to come and take you home. It should be here in a few hours.’
‘Paperwork . . .’ Schofield said. ‘Men have died and you have paperwork. You guys are something else. Hey, hold it. I have another question.’
Knox stopped.
Schofield nodded at Flash Gordon and the Delta team arrayed