VIII

The bewildered soliders, following the directions of the man on the box, walked down the small corrider and took the first left. Through this door was another room. Padded seats were built into the walls. An automated female voice blared from a speakers in the ceiling.

"Please Take a Seat. Sit straight with your back firmly against the back of the chair."

Not knowing anything else to do, the men made their way to a seat. Wilks and Starks took seats on either side of Landers.

The seating was uncomfortable, despite the padding.

Wilks squirmed in his seat. "They could have made these more comfortab-"

Before he could finish, panels opened above all the chairs. Metal braces descend through the panels and, after pausing briefly in front of the occupants, locked themselves into the chairs; firmly securing the men into the chairs.

"What the hell!" Starks shouted as he struggled against the restraints.

"Relax, their just to keep you from bouncing around. I've seen these before on some of the new transports. " Landers said.

Starks stopped struggling. "Why do they have them in an underground base then?"

Before Landers could respond, the intercom in the ceiling blared once again. The automated voice replaced with that of man, his voice tense and nervous. In the back ground, a womans voice could be heard.

"Uh, all hands prepare for launch. The last of the passengers are aboard. Begin detaching sequence. ETA for launch in... um... 10 minutes."

The soldiers looked at one another, one word was on all their minds.

"Did he just say launch?"