A Free Online Science Fiction Novel- “Liberty”- Chapter 18

*Note- A short prologue is on chapter one. Each chapter has a link to the next to make reading it easier.

This is chapter eighteen of an online novel, Liberty, A Daughter Universe Novel.

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Chambers Industries

Industrial Zone

Business Office

Central City

ECA

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“SANDERSSS!”

Marcus Sanders wished he could tell old man Chambers to just leave him alone and let him do his job. Not much chance that’ll happen, he thought and turned back to where his boss’ face was floating in the hologram over his desk. Chambers’ face was flushed with anger. Again.

That man is always angry.

“Yes, Sir?”

“Where are they?”

Sanders glanced back at his monitor. “More than halfway there, sir.”

Chambers grunted. “I want a real-time satellite feed when they get closer,” he said. “I’d give anything to see the look on Daniel O’Connell’s face when he finds out what’s become of his father’s precious little town.”

“If you say so, Sir.”

“And I say so! Do you realize just how important this project is, Sanders?”

“Yes, sir.” Sanders knew how important it was--to Mr. Chambers, at least; he had the arrogance to name it “Project Jericho”. Sanders thought his boss was losing touch with reality—he was obsessed with his latest, and Sanders thought, craziest project yet. Chambers refused to even listen to Sanders’ concerns about activating such dangerous machines. The man had become blinded by a half-century old desire for revenge.

That man sure holds a grudge, Sanders’s thought. I’d hate to be in his cross hair.

It was common knowledge that the Board of Liberty Valley Preserve had refused to allow Chambers to invest in the project and William D. Chambers III was accustomed to getting what he wanted. Whatever it took. And was blind to his own shortcomings. He refused to believe anything he had done could be responsible for any dreadful thing that happened to him.

But investing members of the LVP did not want their new creation tainted by association with a man of questionable ethics.

“And make sure you have them collect the metals. The iron alone will pay for this project."

“Collecting leftover metals won’t be a problem, Mr. Chambers,” Sanders said then hesitated—he always dreaded giving Mr. Chambers unwelcome news… “But I’m afraid a live satellite feed won’t be possible. You wanted communications to the town cut so no one would know what you were having- what was happening there. When I took over Liberty’s satellite to cut power to the town, I made sure I disrupted communications. On your orders, sir. The whole town is an electronic dead zone.”

“Then put someone on location who can get me holo-vids of everything! If they must walk a couple of miles to upload it, then that’s what they’ll do. I want a full record of that town’s destruction!”

Chambers cut the connection without another word. Sanders was beginning to cherish seeing that man’s face just disintegrate into thin air; it was a small blessing in an otherwise stress-filled job.

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Next Chapter

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This was originally posted on Simily.co

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