Chapter 33: Vipers' Nest: The Signal

Date: June 17. Time: 0828. Location: South America, somewhere along the Amazon River.

In the com room of the bunker, the spin cycle is on full blast as Kosa and Fintak retell the story exaggerating details with each retelling.

"Holy shit, man. Did you see that? I mean, shit, the Lt. fucked her up, man. She looked scared."

"I've never seen that much white in anyone's eyes."

"I'm pretty sure she pissed herself. At least that's what Akin said."

"Fuck, man. Remind me never to piss him off again."

As the two continue to relive the experience of watching their commanding officer teach the Mortal a lesson in humility, the officer in question walks in. "Anything to report?"

"No, Sir," replies Kosa.

"We haven't picked up anything in the last 72 hours. We're monitoring every channel, and we hid the BAT outside, running full 360-degree sweeps in infrared and thermal. We've noticed that animals seem to be returning to the area, but nothing human or formerly human."

"What about the Commander's signal?"

"It's still repeating. The signal strength is increasing, which could be evidence that whatever is sending it is, itself nearing our location."

"Is there a way to triangulate location based on signal strength?"

Kosa and Fintak look at each other, then at their Lieutenant, then back to one another. "Damn it Kosa, why didn't we think of that?"

"Cause it was too easy." The two men turn and begin to type furiously as screens pop to life with new windows full of charts and code.

"What the hell are you guys talking about?"

"Well, sir, it's what you said about triangulating location. If we can isolate the signal and pick it up from multiple satellite or ground sources, we should be able to do just what you suggested. We just need to…"

"Got it."

"Feed it."

"Fed."

"Verifying. We've got a lock. Sir, we've located the source of the Commander's signal. It's coming from the Pacific, -16.751247,-78.134766. Slightly South West of Puerto De Lomas, Peru."

"Peru? Shit, that's…"

"Over 1000 km away, sir."