September 31, 2111
James Stone
Inside my unit's designated dropship, I stared out the window, watching the space battle. I could see the Wersillian Legion's massive invasion force pummeling our starships. Our fleet was outnumbered, and fighters all around us exploded in a canvas of colors. The Tempest of Titans was one of the largest in the ARW's entire fleet. It stood its ground against the Wersillian fleet without much trouble. Other cruisers weren't so lucky.
Our unit was assigned the task of hunting down and eliminating a warlord. Supposedly, these individuals are the most feared beings in the galaxy. I for one didn't feel that fear; instead, excitement flowed through my blood.
"The 9707 Recons have spotted what they believe to be the warlord's ship headed into the Zanzaback Forest, near the Favur Village," Commander Sizar announced over our dropship's intercom. "You are clear to proceed with your mission. Give them hell."
"Copy, sir. On our way. Releasing dropship," the pilot reported back as she detached us from the Tempest of Titans.
"Does everyone have their cyberwatches encrypted channel linked to mine?" Captain Landis made sure to ask before we got started. Everyone gave her a nod.
As our dropship cruised away, Sizar's ship made every effort to cover our path to the planet Juster - a planet covered with around eighty percent forests and rivers.
I left the cockpit and joined a conversation. "It brings delight to my eyes to see other aces," I spoke to Geariic and Alabon, the Bruising Brothers.
Geariic directed his brother's attention at me before speaking, "I'll be damned. You're James Stone." Both were skyscrapers over me, standing just a tad taller than Valiic. And Valiic, in particular, was already above his species average height.
"In the flesh," I smiled.
Alabon added, "Kalvin told us so much about you."
"Kalvin?" I asked. "You two know him?"
"We were in Project Ace after you. Us and a few others."
"My heart feels a sharp prick of pain for you. Nobody should go through that."
Geariic and Alabon burst into laughter, as if I were the punch line of a joke. Geariic spoke. "He made us into what we are today - killing machines!"
Alabon added, "War is such a fun game."
Their voices carried an unnerving craziness to it. Both the twin brothers were the same height and had the same shiny metallic skin underneath their extensive armor set. Neither carried the traditional shield and arm-covering plasma cannon maelkii usually carry into battle; instead, Geariic had a gold, bulky warhammer strapped to his back. Black stripes outlined the hammer, and an orange glow emanated from its head. Alabon carried two war-glaives crossed over his back. Each war-glaive could be wielded by a center handle. Protruding from the center handle were two identical blades to balance the weapon.
"So, war gets you up in the morning? Is it what makes you all fuzzy inside?" I asked, unsure of what to expect from these two. Their body language was all over the place.
Geariic chortled, "Hell yeah! We walk out to the battlefield and practically play whack-a-mole with our enemies."
Alabon added, "And we never seem to get hurt!"
"What about your fellow soldiers dying on the field? The agony of watching someone you've connected with die in your arms?" Memories of Bremco's death raced back into my mind as I spoke from experience.
Alabon responded, "The only family I need is my twin brother, Geariic."
Geariic laughed. "If people die, they die. Life goes on."
Alabon joined in laughing. Again, I had that feeling. My gut twisted like a screw as their arrhythmic, deep laugh locked itself in my memory.
I tried to continue my chat with them, "Twins. Both with a God-given suits of armor a dragon would be jealous of. No wonder you both joined the military. Most weapons won't even dent that metal-plated skin," I marveled at their durability. "Curiosity has me: What's the story behind your weapons? Neither are tradition among maelkii society."
Geariic boasted, "Both our weapons were manufactured by the Order of Aegis. My warhammer explodes with every impact."
"My war-glaives run currents of electricity along the blades. Hell, we aren't called the Bruising Bothers for nothing." Alabon finished, and both laughed again.
"We have now entered Juster's atmosphere," the pilot reported over the intercom. That fact became clear when the ship started to rumble a bit.
"Oh, hell yeah! I love blood and violence! I've got a desire for destruction!" Geariic hoorayed. His orange glowing eyes had something I never saw before in a maelkii: Bloodlust. Looking at Alabon's eyes, I saw a mirror of Geariic's eyes. It further unnerved me.
"I've got half a mind to kill enemy bastards, and the other half agrees," Alabon added.
"I'll see you both again in combat." I decided to leave them alone. Instead, I wanted to join Ben and Shadow-Walker, who stood almost as tall as Ben. "Whoa, Ben! You found somebody standing at your level," I jested with Ben.
"Haha. I'm short, I know." Benjamin rolled his eyes.
Shadow-Walker laughed. "You're almost tall enough to be taken seriously."
"James, your friend here is a real jokester." Ben smiled.
"That's how he gets off," I teased Shadow-Walker.
"Just ask your girlfriend, James," Shadow-Walker said with a smirk.
"Don't have one. But for giggles, let's say I did. She'd probably laugh at the thought of the package you'd bring."
"Ooh! Low blow, James. Low blow." Shadow-Walker chuckled.
"Bro, you guys are something else. I love the closed community y'all got going on." Ben laughed with us.
"It's a daily routine. Aren't you just downright tickled to be along for the ride?" I asked Ben.
"Man, I'm nervous as hell… and I kind of feel cheated. I was hoping to avoid missions before the commander program."
"Look at it from this angle, Ben. You always say we have fun. Now you can rally in and experience the grind for yourself."
"As long as I make it through all the… fun." Benjamin didn't seem as enthusiastic anymore.
Shadow-Walker added, "If it makes you feel any better, Ben, I'll keep an eye on the tail between your legs." All three of us laughed for a short couple seconds before war interrupted.
"Incoming!" the pilot shouted over the intercom. "Deploying the rapid cycle turrets." Our conversation was cut short. On each side of the dropship, two doors slid open and the dor'o rapid cycle turrets extended from the sides of the ship.
"Hold that thought," I told the group. I announced over my cyberwatch's intercom, "The right has my name on it."
Reaching out for the turret, I grabbed the handle and pulled back the chamber. Hearing the satisfying click, I knew it was ready to fire. Three hundred meters out, I spotted enemy airships - Pursuers. With no mercy, I pulled the trigger to unleash devastating maroon-colored stasis beams. Each beam released a shock against one of the enemy Pursuers, damaging the electrical systems inside. As I shot at it, four or five enemies shot back at me from a platform on the top of the Pursuer. To make the shivf smell worse, the Pursuer's front plasma cannons unloaded at our dropship.
In the distance, I witnessed the Pursuer falling out of the sky and knew I'd taken it down. Seconds later, my gun overheated. I had to wait painstakingly as it cooled down. Looking behind me, I saw Geariic on the other gun, with his brother calling out enemy locations.
Without warning, our entire dropship whiplashed as a massive explosion took out both the back engines and left a hole in the side of our ship. I was thrown off the gun toward the gaping hole in the ship. Through the chaos, I managed to grab a hold of a handle attached to a seat near the hole. I hung on, thrashing around, half-inside the ship. In those milliseconds, I spotted Shadow-Walker flailing around uncontrollably toward the hole in the ship. I couldn't fail him. I threw my arm out and caught him just in time.
"Oh shi--!" he yelled over the wind gusts. "Bring me in! Bring me in!"
I pulled him toward me. He wrapped himself around my torso, and I pulled us both inside. After helping him strap himself to a seat, I forced myself into one of my own. Glancing around, I saw everyone else strapped down as our dropship dove toward the ground. The pilot had lost control!
"Dropship H-109 to Command, we're descending uncontrollably. Location… oh no… prepare for a crash landing!" the pilot yelled over her shoulder. She had no time to report our location.
Moments later, the ship smashed against the forest floor and scraped across at high speeds. Seconds after that, the front of the ship slammed against something head on, causing a sudden, jolting stop. The seat's lock-in straps kept me from flying forward.
A throbbing pain tingled up my arm. After a few moments to orient myself, I unlatched the lock-in straps. I was the first up. Stumbling for my first few steps, I made it to the pilot's cockpit. She was crushed in her seat from the impact against a mountainside. Feeling for a pulse, I detected nothing. She was dead.
I left the cockpit. Captain Landis was helping Alabon with his seat. "The pilot's gone," I told her.
"Everyone else on this ship is still alive. We need to set up a perimeter until rescue arrives. The bonies that shot us down will send troops here any minute. Help the rest of our unit out of their seats and meet me outside the ship." She hurried over to the end of the dropship and opened the back door.
As commanded, I helped a few members of our unit out, and we joined Landis outside. The crash had rendered our ship unusable. Its front was crushed against the side of a mountain. A hundred meter stretch of trees, left by our ship, was ripped apart in front of us. Our crash site was perched on a hill with two inclines leading up to it. One was in front of us. The other was off to the left against the mountain. Trees surrounded our crash site in every direction. The one exception was a field far past the left incline. On the hill of our crash site, some boulders rested in the ground, perfect for cover. I smiled, knowing our crash site was set in a strong defensive position.
After taking in our positioning, Captain Landis announced, "Listen up. I'm only going to go over the defensive strategy once. We have a few minutes before the enemy is upon us." Landis stopped and coughed drops of blood in her hand.
Uslar sprinted over to her. "Captain, are you okay?"
She held up her hand to stop him. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me. Worry about the fight."
"But ma'am--"
"That's an order!" With that, Uslar fell back in line. She continued. "We got lucky. This hill has only two ways to access this crash - the two inclines." She pointed to the areas described. "We need to buy as much time as we can until reinforcements arrive."
"If they arrive," Shadow-Walker cut her off. "In case you didn't notice, they have our cyberwatches' long range communications jammed."
"I noticed," Landis barked. "I'll activate the ship's beacon. Hopefully, the signal will be strong enough to overcome the jam. In the meantime, we have a job to do. Shadow-Walker, set yourself up on the ledge on the mountain. Benjamin, climb in the tree over by the left incline and use your suppressor. You both provide sniper support over the crash site. Valiic, go to the emergency locker in the dropship and retrieve one of the deployable covers. Then place it under Benjamin's tree and provide defense for the left incline. Uslar, you're the only medic on the mission. I'll set up another deployable cover near the dropship. You and I will hold back there, and if anyone is injured, I'll cover you as you provide help. Narrisa, use the last deployable cover to provide defense over the front incline. James, set up the deployable C-17 scout sentry turret in-between the two inclines. Also, hide the overshield in the rock area on the right. Then see if you can rip off one of those rapid cycle turrets from the dropship and provide defense on the left incline. Bruising Brothers, take the left incline down into the forest and cause as much chaos in the forest as you can. Give every enemy you see a reason to run. Now, everyone take your positions."
Geariic grinned. "Ma'am, you just said our favorite word: Chaos." He and his brother, Alabon, trembled with anticipation.
Without wasting time, everyone hauled off to their designated areas. I headed into the dropship with Narrisa, Valiic, and Captain Landis. Narrisa opened up the locker, revealing the standard emergency materials. Under ARW protocol, each emergency locker had a defense turret, supply bag, medical bag, an overshield, and a few deployable covers, along with other shivf.
Once my turn arrived, I picked up the sentry turret in one hand and the overshield in the other. As ordered, I placed the sentry turret in-between the rocks, giving it a full view of the area in-between the two inclines. Flipping the 'on' switch, the downed head of the turret rose and a laser flashed on. It rotated its head back and forth as it awaited enemy forces. Then I took the overshield to the rocks on the right of our crash site and hid it beside one of the rocks. Again I flipped on its switch, which erupted a stasis field up into the sky. Above us, the shield protected our crash site from any enemy aircraft. Finally, I went back into the dropship and ripped off the only working rapid cycle turret. I carried the heavy weapon over to the left incline. Valiic waited at my side. The Bruising Brothers had already secured the bottom of the incline.
In the far distance, enemy airships - this time they were Haulers - buzzed into our area. Platoons of dytircs and lycargans jumped down from the rear. One hell of a battle was on the way.
"Man, there's got to be at least sixty, probably more," Benjamin called out over the intercom on our cyberwatches.
"More target practice for us," Shadow-Walker added with confidence.
"Stay focused. Don't get cocky, Shadow," Captain Landis commanded.
Trees and bushes rustled in the distance as the enemies advanced on our crash site. My heart rate elevated. I grew excited with a hint of anxiety as we awaited the inevitable firefight.
"Time for some chaos," I overheard Geariic say to his brother before both charged into the forest.
"Incoming!" Benjamin called out as a horde of enemies appeared from the bushes. He started to unload bullets from his suppressed sniper rifle.
Bullets, lasers, plasma blasts, and stasis beams smoked up the area around us. Leaves, bushes, and tree trucks were shredded by our weapons. War broke out, and chaos ensued. Using the rapid cycle turret, I unloaded beam after beam into the forest. Dytircs and lycargans used what cover they could as they attempted to push up the incline. I could only assume the enemies were attempting the same objective at the front incline, where Narrisa, Landis and Uslar were. It didn't take long before the rapid cycle turret ran out of projectiles.
"Damn, I expected more from you," I cursed at the empty weapon.
"Valiic, we need backup! We have a dytirc Major over here! Come and help us for a bit," Captain Landis called for him. With a large force such as this, I wasn't surprised to hear there was an enemy Major leading this attack.
"On my way." Valiic rushed over to their side.
Dropping the turret, I headed down the incline to protect the crash site. At the bottom of the incline, I took cover behind a stance of trees. Activating the stasis shield on my arm, I pulled off my pistol and dashed farther into the forest. I fired from behind another stance of trees at a crowd of lycargans taking cover next to the mountain. Each bullet hit their natural armor, which covered their vital organs. Annoyed, I re-aimed my gun, trying to hit a spot not covered by armor. On average, lycargans are weaker and shorter than humans, but it takes a magazine full of bullets to pierce through their natural armor. Even my high impact pistol had trouble penetrating their pine-colored exterior.
"Over there! Kill the smelly human!" a lycargan yelled, and the group ganged up on me, unloading plasma at the tree I was behind. Their small plasma weapons waved back and forth in their stubby, spotted arms. Using my shield as cover, I fired at the closest one. He rolled into a ball and headed right for me.
"Go get him!" a lycargan cheered.
My bullets did little harm to him as he rolled closer to me! Out of nowhere, Geariic appeared and slammed his big ass warhammer down on the rolling lycargan. An explosion blasted from the end of the warhammer and cratered the lycargan a few centimeters into the ground. I had no doubt the lycargan was dead.
"Sixteen!" Geariic shouted as he counted how many enemies he'd already killed. Hollering in a wild craze, Geariic pursued the other two lycargans as they rolled hastily away. "Fourteen!" I heard Alabon's voice not too far off in the distance. At that moment, I knew those two twins were insane.
Over the intercom, Geariic taunted, "Don't let my brother and me outperform you, James. Or were the stories we heard about you over exaggerated?"
I ignored him. Under my breath, I grumbled, "Well damn, if I were bulletproof--"
Behind a tree a few yards out, I spotted dytircs targeting the defense turret. Sneaking through the brush, I kept low to the ground until I was a meter behind them.
"The Major wants us to take out the turret," a dytirc said.
"But it keeps trying to shoot me!" another said.
"That's why we need to take it out, dummy!"
Without warning, I leaped behind them and shot one in the back of the head. The other dytircs turned around to meet bullets of their own. In the commotion, I created enough noise to alert a few nearby enemies. Others turned their plasma weapons directly toward me.
"Damn!" I yelled, barrel rolling for a nearby tree.
"Damn you, human! Damn your entire crafty species!" I heard a dytirc yell at me.
"You got hostiles on your scent, James," Benjamin warned me.
"Cover my ass, I'm heading back toward the incline," I commanded.
"Sure thing, man. Shadow, can you help a bro out?"
Shadow-Walker responded in a joke, "Somehow, James, you always manage to attract the wrong crowds. Lucky for you, I'm here to keep your ass from making a mess of itself."
Joking back, I laughed. "Good, because I'm saving this bare ass for a woman I met on the ship some time ago."
Benjamin jested, "You would be thinking of women during a fight for our lives."
On the ledge leading to our crash site, Ben and Shadow-Walker assisted me as I shimmied my way from cover to cover. Our defensive scout turret locked onto a target with its targeting laser and unloaded a precise stasis beam at the target, saving me from an enemy. With each new cover, I seemed to attract new followers. I counted at least ten. Finally, I made my way back toward the incline and took cover behind another stance of trees. From that position, I engaged my new crowd. As I fired, I saw help coming from Shadow-Walker and Benjamin as their sniping eliminated a number of enemies on my ass. To my surprise, ungie beasts jumped from behind the crowd of enemies and galloped straight in my direction.
"Valiic, ungie beasts headed my way. Backup would be appreciated," I called over the intercom.
"Hang on, I'm reloading the defense turret," he responded.
"Damn," I cursed out loud.
I pulled out my assault rifle and aimed at the closest ungie beast. While shooting at it, I spotted in my peripheral vision a few lycargans with plasma mortar launchers over their shoulders. They were aiming at the defense turret where Valiic was positioned.
"Valiic, MOVE!" I screamed over the intercom, ignoring the oncoming ungies.
Multiple large plasma balls exploded the turret to bits. I saw Valiic jump to the side in the nick of time. My heart cheered as I watched him get back to his feet.
"Now that was close," Valiic sighed.
I turned my attention back to the ungies, which were now mere centimeters away. Using the butt of my gun, I cracked the leading one across its snout. It whimpered as it took its last breath. The next two pounced for my neck. With seconds left, I tossed my assault rifle and activated my shield. This interfered with the ungies' pounce, and my shield redirected their momentum backward. During my struggle, I noticed I'd become the main target for our enemies. My position became claustrophobic fast.
"Someone lend James a hand. This man has half the enemy force trying to kill him!" Benjamin pleaded.
"Valiic, go assist the left incline," Captain Landis commanded.
"Thank sweat merciful Christ." I slipped out the words as I continued my battle with the ungies beasts. Fortunately for me, I was in a strong spot with lots of cover. Otherwise, the plasma shots would have burned me into my grave.
Half-falling on the ground from the onslaught, I somehow got my pistol out to aid me. The ungies took another pounce at me. I capped one in the head but missed the other. Pain rushed to my arm as the beast sunk its teeth into my flesh. Crimson blood flowed down its jaws.
"You're looking a bit overwhelmed," Alabon's voice called from a few meters away. Sea blue blood spattered my face as a blade belted into the ungie that was on me. Alabon hollered in enjoyment as he sent that beast flying with electric sparks. "I love it when they do that." His glowing eyes sparkled at his work. "Nineteen!"
Meanwhile, at the base of the left side, Geariic's exploding warhammer redesigned the ground with every blast. For the next minute, both of these crazy juggernauts wrecked every enemy in their paths, creating a jug full of havoc. The Bruising Brothers' metal skin didn't even buckle from the countless blue plasma shots that impacted them. Finally, the last of the enemies was killed. For the time being, we had some peace to collect ourselves and regroup.
Before heading up the incline to my initial position, I asked the Bruising Brothers, "Where did you guys disappear to? We could have used you guys closer to the inclines."
"Chasing chaos," Alabon responded. Unsatisfied with his answer, I decided to drop it and head back up the incline. On the way up, Valiic maintained his sightline with his arm-sized plasma cannon.
"You look like shivf," he noticed as I settled behind the deployable cover beside him. I rested my back against the metal, my butt in the dirt and my arms over my knees.
"Thanks for the compliment. You missed the fun down there," I joked back with him, half-high on dust and gun smoke. "What happened to your leg?" Mango-colored blood dripped down his leg and around his armor.
"That explosion that took out our turret got me, too. It's nothing to worry about; Uslar already looked at it," he assured me.
"Ben, good as gold up there?" I yelled up to him in the tree.
"Bro, the enemies have been too focused on you guys to notice me… so there's that," he muttered from the tree.
"Don't be jealous, now," I joked. "Landis put you up there because you can snipe and hide your way to victory."
"Guys, the battle isn't over. A second group of Haulers are inbound. No rest for the weary today," Shadow-Walker informed us.
"In that case, everyone stay focused. A second assault is almost always more aggressive," said Captain Landis.
Trees bent backward as two enemy Pursuers zoomed above our crash site. Our overshield was the one thing between us and its guns.
"We got incoming troops and aircraft above us," Shadow-Walker called out.
"That can only mean one thing. They're going to make a push for our overshield generator," reported Landis.
Soon after, Haulers unloaded more troops. Less than a minute later, the enemy troops appeared from the brush.
"Valiic, behind those trees, see them?" I pointed in the distance. We both shot at the large group of lycargans and dytircs. This time around, a force twice as large as the previous attacked us.
"We're getting overrun," Valiic called over the intercom. "When are the reinforcements coming?"
"Keep holding out. We have to believe they're coming. Don't lose focus." The stress in Landis's voice was apparent.
Through the firefight, I heard distinctive stomping through the forest. Every passing moment, it grew closer.
"Bad news, guys. Two boulthas are stampeding toward us!" Shadow-Walker called.
"Benjamin and Shadow. Cover the area as best you can. Everyone else, protect the overshield," Landis demanded.
Instantly, I sprinted toward the front incline to aid. I took cover behind a rock, with my back against the rugged surface. Distracted by some troops flanking around a group of trees, I failed to notice a stampeding boultha headed in my direction.
"James, DIVE!" Landis shouted from across the crash site.
I peered around the other side of the boulder to see one boultha only meters away. As fast as I could, I dove to my right, but it was too late; the boultha plowed through the solid rock, jousting me with its arm. Its momentum sent me at least twenty meters in the direction of Landis and the overshield. The wind exploded from my lungs as I smacked the dirt and skimmed to a stop. Half-buried in the ground, my blood mixed in with the dirt, I tilted my head up. The same boultha was coming straight for me! If it runs over me, I'm done for! Struggling, I tried crawling, only to fall back down. The boultha was a few meters away!
This is it! I thought.
From above me, Geariic's warhammer swung past me and whacked the boultha in the gut, saving me. Next, the explosion, centimeters from my body, knocked the boultha backward off its feet. I was dazed, and a piercing ringing trembled my eardrums.
"Here comes another!" I shouted, probably louder than I meant to.
The second boultha was stampeding toward the overshield. From nowhere, Alabon body-checked the second boultha, knocking both it and him to the ground. With both boulthas on the ground, the rest of the squad opened fire on them. Even with all of the bullets, lasers, and plasma blasts targeted at their bodies, the boulthas didn't flinch. Back on its two feet, the first boultha turned its attention to Geariic. Furious, the boultha slammed its hard granite arm down from above its head straight toward Geariic. In response, he used his warhammer's long handle to block it.
"Shoot this stupid thing," he yelled.
Granting his wish, our team redirected their shots at the first boultha and smothered the beast. The boultha went into a wild frenzy. It swung its arms and body around in frustration. Raging and growling, it threw another punch under the warhammer's handle and sent Geariic flying back a few meters. He dropped his warhammer in the process. Like a bull, the boultha tried to run him over. Geariic wasn't having that. From the ground, he kicked its leg and tripped it. As it fell, he threw a jab into the boulthas side, launching it off to his left.
Uslar reached out his hand and helped me up. Dytircs and lycargans now poured into the crash site from both inclines. Shadow-Walker and Benjamin couldn't hold them at bay any longer. Getting back to his feet, Alabon jabbed down both his war-glaives at the gut of the second boultha. The blades didn't even pierce through the granite layer of skin the boultha had.
"Valiic and Narrisa. Try and distract the incoming enemies. Let us handle the boulthas," Captain Landis commanded.
In response, they both did their best to distract the oncoming horde of lycargans and dytircs with plasma blasts. From behind her cover, Landis put round after round into the boultha under Alabon's war-glaives. Uslar followed her example.
Meanwhile, I turned my attention to the boultha giving Geariic problems. Both were now back up on their feet. The boultha threw a furious jab Geariic's head. He ducked but was sent back to the ground with a second hook. Still bruised and bloody, I struggled to pick up heavy Geariic's warhammer. Dragging my feet, I swung the warhammer into the back of the boultha standing over Geariic. The explosion knocked me and it to the ground in opposite direction. Luckily, this gave Geariic enough time to recover. He pulled me back to my feet, grabbed his warhammer, and smashed it against the head of the downed boultha. Its granite-encrusted skull crumbed from the pressure. One down!
Geariic and I headed to the second boultha. Alabon was still struggling with it. He was now on the ground, trying to defend himself from the boulthas fury of ground pounds. Geariic, seeing his brother in distress, picked up his pace. He used his speed to give his swing extra momentum, and the warhammer exploded the boultha off his brother. Like the first boultha, Geariic smashed its head in.
The distraction caused by the boulthas gave the enemy the advantage. Hordes of lycargans and dytircs had us pinned at the generator within moments. Inside the crashed dropship was the closest cover to my position, so I took advantage. We were all now just trying to survive as we became more outnumbered with each passing minute. Shadow-Walker, using his agility, barrel rolled into the dropship with me.
"I was forced to retreat. The enemies are everywhere," Shadow-Walker spoke breathlessly.
I continued to fire into the crowd of enemies. "Where is everyone?" I asked him.
"The enemy hasn't spotted Ben, so he's still in the tree. Landis and Uslar are behind the rocks near the generator. Valiic is hurt at the front incline, and Narrisa's protecting him. The Bruising Brothers are the only reason we're still alive in this fight, but they're taking a beating. The bonies started shooting plasma mortars at them." He snipped a nearby dytirc.
"The generator is hit! Everyone retreat to the dropship!" Landis yelled.
Outside, I could hear the enemy Pursuers above our crash site begin to unload plasma shots at us. Uslar was the first in, followed by Landis.
"You guys take cover, I'll protect Valiic," Narrisa said over the intercom.
"Shivf, Valiic! I forgot he was injured. They're going to die out there!" I yelled as I dodged around my squad mates.
Geariic and Alabon joined me from the outside, covering me as I ran toward Valiic. I used my stasis shield to deflect plasma blasts from the Pursuers. "Maelkii don't leave others behind!" Geariic shouted over the enemy fire.
"We'll help," Alabon added as we pushed toward Valiic.
Halfway there, the sky blackened. I noticed a massive shadow cover our crash site and gazed over the horizon: An ally SHRDR Air Fortress was humming its way to us. It had the Order of Aegis logo on it.
"Reinforcements!" I howled with joy over the intercom.
The air fortress didn't disappoint. In seconds, it took out the two enemy Pursuers. Its four rotating blades churned up the leaves and moved the trees. I might have even seen the mountain flinch for a second. Doors slid open, and ropes dropped down to our crash site. Repelling down the ropes, troops in Prototype-2 power armor came to our rescue. In addition, Model-1 battle technoids dropped down to join the fight. The tide of the battle turned, and we had the enemies in retreat. Each plasma shot that hit the power armor was absorbed by an embedded shield. Its sleek onyx-colored design glistened in the sunlight.
When we arrived at Valiic's location, blood painted his armor and covered most of his left side. He was down on the ground, unmoving. Narrisa wasn't looking too well herself. She had blood flowing from her mouth and multiple wounds surrounded her gut.
"Uslar, haul your ass over here!" I yelled over the intercom.
He was already on the way. He brought the medical bag from the emergency locker in the dropship.
"He's alive!" he concluded after checking Valiic's vitals with his cyberwatch.
"Keep him that way," I told him.
"Just let me do my job," he retorted, opening the bag and pulling out some medical equipment.
Narrisa sat down next to Valiic, exhausted and hurt from the massive amounts of plasma shots that had hit her. Reinforcements were in complete control of the area now.
"You took a thrashing," Kalvin Keefe said as he walked up from behind me. He removed his helmet. "Our aircraft received your beacon's signal some time ago, and each of you will be thrilled to learn we demolished the device responsible for jamming your cyberwatches."
"We appreciate the effort." Landis walked up to join the group. "A few minutes later, and you might have been collecting bodies instead."
He smirked. "I am thankful we arrived in time. Additionally, I bring grand news. The 9707 Recons have spotted the warlord's ship landing only a kilometer or two northeast from this location."
"How do they know it was the warlord?" I jumped in.
"The airship was made with the legion's finest materials and was heavily escorted. Only warlords fly in such style," he pointed out.
"Speaking of style, what strings did the Order of Aegis pull to have battle technoids and troops with power armor?"
"Another benefit of being a privately subsidized organization. Toys such as power armor and battle technoids are too expensive for the ARW to purchase in bulk for its entire military. However, the Order of Aegis is able to afford to construct them," Kalvin bragged.
"Your two-faced organization never ceases to amaze me." I found myself a bit jealous.
"Thank you for the info." Captain Landis shook Kalvin's hand.
Uslar jumped in, "Valiic is going to need an evac. He won't die, but he's too injured to continue the mission."
"I will personally have him evacuated out," Kalvin offered.
"Thank you," Captain Landis gave him her approval. "Squad, rest up for the next few minutes. After that, we head for the warlord," she announced over the intercom.
"On generosity, I will lend your unit three battle technoids for your campaign," Kalvin smiled.
"We could use some cannon fodder."
I was a bit apprehensive of his motives; nonetheless, I decided to go lay on the ground for the rest period.