The Phoenix( beginning of part 2)

[the pagemaster]

2​

The cavern was like nothing that Matheson had ever seen. The idea of its size and depth was completely unimaginably. It seemed infinite. The slow line of army hummers seemed to go on for an eternity, never-ending in its constant spiral downward,
‘Downward to where?’. The question seemed to echo through Matheson’s mind, another un-answered question. His brain attempted to comprehend everything that was rolling around in it. Why hadn’t everyone known about this? What was so important about keeping it secret? And of course, the big million dollar question: Why was he being sent there?
Felix Matheson has always been a modest person, but he was also quite aware of his own military qualifications. Ten years of Army special ops, twelve more years of top secret operations and his own command. Just because his first name was Felix didn’t make him a pussy.
Now, descending down this makeshift swirling driveway, hugging the sides of a, gigantic, eternal hole, in the middle of the desert, Matheson thought it again. That same question, why did they send him? Looking out the darkened window he found no answers. This was scientific, otherworldly stuff, not military, world threatening situations stuff. His specialty.
A small cough from Bicks made Matheson aware of his presents again. “Did you know about this?” he asked him, a small stab of anger in his voice, just to get the message across.
He was silent for a moment, causing the Colonel to wonder if he was ever going to answer him or not. “Yes”, he said finally, “I’ve been running supplies in this caravan for weeks now. The first day I was here a truck went down right behind mine. I’ll tell you one thing, it wasn’t the first one.”
“What is this place?” Matheson asked, his anger almost gone from his voice.
“I don’t know sir. I’ve never gone any farther into the caves than the supply caverns, but its huge, those three caverns are as big as three cardinals’ stadiums.”
Matheson eye him crudely, “You like the cardinals?” he asked cautiously.
“Yes sir!” Bicks announced with pride.
The Colonel turned away from his annoying comrade and continued to look out his window at their progress. Even if he had no idea where he was, what he was doing there, or what he was supposed to do, he had at least one thing he was now sure of: he really didn’t like Bicks.

 

[The Pelagic Argosy]

Ditto my positive comments for Part 1. I also liked the bit about the Cardinals. It was funny.

 

[Paradox 99]

yes, good stuff. I'm continuing to like it and quite keen to know what's down there too!

A few things by way of critique for you...

Felix Matheson has always been a modest person, but he was also quite aware of his own military qualifications.

This is okay but it's one of those things where it would be far more effective if you "showed" us instead of "told" us. Instead of telling us that he's modest you could use a couple of extra lines maybe to demonstrate it. Some more inner thoughts would do that. Something along the lines of
"Sure, he had well respected qualifications, but so did a lot of others in his field."
I'm sure you could do better than my suggestion, but you get my drift - you did it in the next line perfectly.

Just because his first name was Felix didn’t make him a pussy.

I got from that one line that he's no push over and quite assertive. You could have told us that, but instead you demonstrated it, which, IMHO, is better.

A small cough from Bicks made Matheson aware of his presents again.

Is it his birthday?
Sorry - couldn't resist. I think you meant "presence"

to wonder if he was ever going to answer him or not.

purely personal preference but I don't think the "or not" is needed.

I’ve never gone any farther into the caves than the supply caverns, but its huge

Should be "it's"

Matheson eye him crudely

eyed

“Yes sir!”

"Yes, sir!"

More please.