Chapter 16
It was just after noon when they walked into the Portal on Terra, but it was early evening on Nibiru when they emerged.
“Home!” John whispered as they stepped away from the Portal.
“Yes.” Emma drew in a deep breath. “I swear I could get drunk on this air.”
“Terra has nothing to compare.” Abruptly John’s face darkened with anger. “What the f**k?”
Twenty heavily armed Marines surrounded the Portal, their XK-140s at the ready.
“Colonel Berger!” Lieutenant Fredericks gave a signal and the rifles were lowered. He came forward and snapped off a salute. “I’m very glad to see you back, Colonel!”
“What’s going on, Lieutenant?” John’s tone was deceptively mild.
Before Fredericks could answer, Layton came through the Portal, once again almost stepping on John’s heels. “Really, Colo
