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Mother Confessor:

Deciding to go to the library to find something of entertainment. Though it will be a new endeavor for me since I have never been exposed to such a vast array of subjects, or entertainment. Walking down the aisles filled with books, something that I am unfamiliar with. None the less exciting to read the many titles on the simplistically designed artifacts. Archived by category and then further by author. Stopping in the history section looking for a cultural based book. Finding two and gathering them in my slender arms. Continuing on my journey of discovery of what I have been denied. Finding the fiction section unsure of what to choose. So many fantastic adventures to enjoy. Finding a fantasy novel taking an extravagant journey in a mythological universe in the far reaches of the past. Should be interesting to explore the imagination of creativity, something else that I have been kept from. Placing the third book atop the others and making my way back to the front. Setting the heavy literature on the desk before the librarian for check out. The elderly looking female seems to like my selection in fiction.

Flashing a smile, “ That is a very good one. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I had, dear.”

“I hope so, ma’am” , I beam back, piqued at her moment of nostalgia.

After having them stamped and sent on my way, I couldn’t help my inner thoughts to read the fantasy first. To fall into a world that is so alien from mine. The walk back to my chamber, a bounce in my step. Eager to get lost in the pages.

Marckus:

The weight of the scimitar on my belt, and the .50 pistol hanging off my left shoulder. All nicely cloaked by the heavily armored trench coat, head protected by armor plated skull fitting helmet. Sitting next me, Rhino wearing high impact body armor. His combat helmet strapped under his large squared chin. Across from me is Red Wolf. Her high caliber precision cannon held tightly between her feet and hands. Bandolier with the large shells slung across her chest, parting her ample bosom. The large suppressor adding almost another third of a meter to the tip of her weapon, making it almost two meters long. Captain Graxis next to Red Wolf, twin short swords in the small of his back. Pistol holstered low on his right thigh. Looking like a metallic dragon in his alloy armor plating. Then again so did the other Centurian troops in the small drop ship. They were pulled from a special unit because of their reputation in silent ops. These guys are considered ghosts. All coming from Shadow Company. They sure do travel light, short sword, combat knife, and small caliber machine coil pistol. Reviewing their statistics on file, they have fired less than four thousand rounds. That is since the war has wound down. They prefer to use hand to hand, and explosives. Adorning their left shoulder is a Centurian skull with a knife in its mouth. They are quiet and still as statues, as we wait for the drop on Pluto.

“Ten minutes till we drop. Enemy armor has been neutralized. Strap in” ,the pilot barks over the loud speaker. The door gunner magnetizes his boots to the platform of the belt fed, double barrel turret. The engines start to cycle through, and warm up. Emitting a low hum resonating throughout the hull.

Reaching into my breast pocket, and removing a pack of issue gum. I offer first to the captain and Red Wolf. Graxis declines, but Red Wolf slips a thin strip from the fresh pack. Then raising the pack to Rhino, who also takes a strip. Holding the pack at a diagonal as far as my arm would allow.

“Hey fellas, do you want a piece” , I address the four Shadow Company Soldiers.

Their heads all turn to look at me. Feeling a cold stare that tries to bore right through me. Withdrawing my hand to replace the gum into my pocket.

“ Captain, what is the story behind those guys”, turning and asking Graxis. He takes a moment letting out a long breath.

“ They are trained at a specific base by the most heavy handed SpecOps veterans. They only speak when given an order, or if there is a very damn good reason to speak up. They are the perfection of their training and combat experience” ,Graxis explains to me. Thanking every fiber of my being these guys are on my side. Looking back at the hardened assassins in their statuesque state.

Graxis:

The Ober-Commander will learn to accept the Shadow Company. Checking the pistol strapped to my thigh. It was odd, since I took one of the 15mm pistols from the armory. My issued coil sub machinegun was too bulky. Sliding the magazine back into the pistol, slapping it in and chambering a round. Replacing the 15mm pistol back in the holster. I watch the Red Wolf drop the massive magazine on her sniper rifle. Taking one by one, the large caliber armor piercing shells from the bandolier. Sliding each into the magazine, loading up seven shells. Satisfied with this small ritual, slaps the magazine back into the rifle. Completing the whole ceremony by sliding the long bolt back, and chambering a massive shell. Taking a moment to admire the precision weapon, as I know what it is capable of doing. The pilot on the loud speaker barks out sixty seconds till drop.

Marckus:

Feeling the G-force on my body as the drop ship rockets from the belly of the battleship. Looking through the cockpit between the pilot and co-pilot, seeing all the debris from the destroyed armor.

Noticing that there is an automated supply freighter closing in at the docking port. The massive doors sluggishly opening to receive it.

“ Land on the freighter” , I bark at the pilot. The pilot seems to see that we will be undetected on the monstrous vessel. I am counting on the radar guy not being interested in the freighter. Hitting the hull of the other vessel hard, rattling all of us on touchdown. After taking off my harness, I go to cockpit to see where we had landed. I am pleased with where we touched down. Twenty two meters from the edge closest to the inner bay. Waiting in silence as the others start to ready themselves. Rhino resting the heavy war hammer on his shoulder, hefting the twenty kilo sculpted metal as if it were nothing. Red Wolf finishing her preparations by mounting a Kitana across the small of her back. The freighter setting down just behind the bay doors. Taking up positions at the door. Red Wolf at the far side, and the rest of our squad behind me.

The loud clang of the heavy doors was our cue to disembark. Slapping the hatch pad, the hatch rips open at incredible speed. All eight of us erupt from the opening, Red Wolf in the lead. Taking up defensive positions near the edge, looking out in the massive expanse. Looking out into the wide open space before us.

“ Have any movement” , I quietly ask the sniper. A few heart beats pass before her report.

“Da, four Confed. Mix of human and Grey, sir”, quietly she responds. Glancing over the small barrier for cover near the edge of the craft. I see what she sees, on the far side of the massive compartment.

Keeping an eye on the small figures in the distance, I hear the whisper of the sniper rifle. The tallest of the group has his head ripped from his body. Then the three smaller targets explode into a mangled mess of gray flesh and purple blood. Slinging her rifle, Red Wolf sprints back to the drop ship to stow the weapon. The others were already moving out on their designated assignments. Shadow Company will take the middle, Graxis and Rhino the right outside. Red Wolf and I the left outside. Navigating my descent down the side of the freighter. The foot falls announcing the sniper returning to the edge.

Moments later she repels just beside me jabbing, “Getting old, sir?” Swinging myself to the rope she had just tied up. Sliding down the rest of the way down, my thick leather gloved palms burned from the friction.

“No, I am not getting old. This old man is going to show you how it’s done”, I retort back when my boots hit the metal floor.

A small laugh jabs back, “ Da, I bet. We won’t keep score, sir.”

I jab back,” Oh, we are keeping score. Those four don’t count, my dear.”

Giggling her reply, “Fair enough, sir.”

Running the distance to the entrance into the compound. Laughing about the joke the whole way. Felt good to be getting into the grinder. I figure seven and a half hours should be plenty of time to complete this mission. Plenty of time to enjoy spilling the blood of the Confederation, leaving a river of bio juices and broken spirit in our wake.

Graxis:

Heading down the corridor, Rhino in the lead. Our jog is interrupted by two soldiers patrolling the hall. Creeping up behind them, drawing my short swords. Within ten paces of the soldiers we attacked. I leap and sever my targets head, landing before him. The tissue separating, and releasing a steady flow of red blood. I watch as Rhino crushed the other with the war hammer. From the force of the blow from the large man, the other explodes from his armor. Bits of bone, flesh, and organs coming from the joints in the ceramic composite metal. A gaping hole through armor, spine, internals. Leaving small dents in the metal floor beneath the mutilated corpse.

This is getting off to a rather messy start. Continuing our jog down the long corridor, now leaving droplets of blood as we push on. The two soldiers seemed to be disenchanted with guard detail, that was a dangerous flaw.

Marckus:

Moving cautiously through the corridor, hugging the wall at the edge of a corner. Glancing around the wall, gesturing Red Wolf to wait. Spotting five Confederation soldiers coming to our position. Flashing the number with my hand, and signaling her to follow my lead. Waiting up against the wall. Waiting for the footsteps getting louder and louder. Lowering my jacket collar, revealing my rank. Stepping around the corner in front of the young men heading to their assigned detail. Red Wolf holding in her cover, waiting to pounce.

“Good morning gentlemen. Could you point me towards the commandant in charge of this facility”, I ask the men, who have taken a defensive stance blocking my passage.

The E-4 in front replies, “ Sir, what is your purpose for being out here?”

“Routine inspection, you know bureaucratic business. Nothing to exciting.” The young man stands there a moment considering my answer, feeling all five sets of eyes sizing me up. The E-4 moved from his position allowing me to pass. Striding past him, catching an uneasiness in his eyes in passing.

Not more than two and a half meters beyond them, the E-4 pesters me once more.

“Sir, inspection is not due for another six months. If you will please display your documentation and identify yourself”, he coldly cuts through my thinly veiled lie. My back to the men, reaching into my coat for my pistol.

“Sure, son. Then I will be on my way” ,I gruffly address the younger soldier challenging my authority. In a fluid motion turning on my heals, leveling the .50 pistol at the E-4.

“Are you satisfied now, son” ,I bite back at the young soldier, clicking the safety off with my thumb. No sooner had I done this, then I see a blur of black fatigues and forged carbon steel. Red Wolf fluidly cuts down all five of the young men with ease. A spray of blood on the walls and floors, a little bit on both of us. The men lay in a mutilated pile of dismembered limbs, two were bisected at the waist. Their organs seeping out of the severed cavities, in the growing red pool.

Graxis:

Making it another two hundred meters further rounding the corner into another corridor. We hit the barrack in our trek. Stopping at the door, Rhino knocks on it. It opens a few moments later filled by a drill instructor. His face hard and disdainful at our appearance.

“You two, looking for a fight are you” ,the instructor hollers at us.

“No sergeant, we are here for ballet class” ,Rhino bellows back at him. I snicker at his response, as the drill sergeants face turns deep red.

Turning around in the door the drill instructor barks, “ Clear off the floor, we have a couple that want to dance. Move your asses, maggots!” Listening to the loud footfalls of the privates as they move all of the bunks and footlockers against the walls.

The drill sergeant then gestures us into the opened space. I lock my swords into their scabbards. A loud metal bang echoes in the open room, Rhino puts the war hammer up high into the wall. Well above the reach of the young Terrans. Taking the 15mm pistol from my thigh, removing the magazine and chambered round. Putting the free bullet back into the magazine, putting it into my back pocket. Replacing the pistol back on my thigh, as we walk into the cleared area. Taking up a defensive back-to-back stance in the middle of the room, surrounded by thirty men. Making a slow circle observing all the young muscular men, cracking of knuckles and necks fills the air. A loud whistle blow followed by the order barked by the drill sergeant, “ Get ’em men!”

Rhino says to me, “Shall we dance, Captain.” I growl in response low and aggressive, as the Confederation cadets closed in.

They come in swiftly, trying to tackle me. Side stepping them, bringing my left elbow down hard into the attackers back. Impacting just beneath his ribs, knocking the air from his lungs. Taking a punch from my right, sending my face in the opposite direction. Giving me a glance at Rhino, being swarmed by the men. Some were crumpled across the room meters away. Growling in mounting aggression. I grapple the new attacker. Catching his fist just before it lands a blow to my head. Kicking his elbow, the joint crumples under the impact. Bone and muscle protruding from his arm. Howling in rage and pain, he tries again to land another strike. Deflecting it with my forearm, landing one of my own on the side of his face. Sending him reeling back, spitting out blood and a few teeth. A body comes out of nowhere, slamming into the stunned combatant in front of me.

More of the men come to replace their fallen comrades. Racing toward them, I hurl my hundred twenty three kilo frame at the oncoming combatants. Jumping into a somersault, pushing off hard with my hands, striking two of them in the chest with my boots. Off balance by their opposing inertia, sending me to the ground. Rolling away from a kick, grazing me with the glancing blow sending my farther into the arena. Another foot tries to come down on my head. Catching it with my hands, twisting the man to the ground. Scrambling on top of the fallen man, delivering the killing blow to his throat. The man gurgles as he chokes on his blood and crushed larynx.

Catching a spectacle of Rhino sending a man off the floor about a third of a meter from a kick to the groin. Batting him out of the air with a massive fist to the face, crushing the man’s nose, and zygomatic arch. Taking a double fisted blow to my back, sending stars before my eyes. Slumping sideways narrowly avoiding a boot, that came down on the dead mans face. Bouncing back into the fray. Landing a kick at the others shin, knocking him off balance. Getting on my feet, twisting the mans head around, snapping his neck with a satisfying crack.

Noticing how the majority focus on Rhino, I count roughly six men left not counting the drill instructor. A thrown soldier starting to recover, I rush the dazed man. Grabbing the mans shoulders and planting my feet into his gut, sending him off into the air from inertia and my powerful legs. Another reeling just off to my right, as I get back on my feet. Sending him to the floor with an aerial spin kick to the side of his head.

Two left standing on the floor. One of the soldiers rushing towards me, looking to strangle me. The other I see being folded backwards over Rhinos knee. Striking the perfect moment of the on comer. Grabbing his wrists and flipping over him, in a fluid motion dislocating the young mans shoulders. Then kicking him toward Rhino. The man stumbles to the massive soldier. Rhino grabs the mans arms, putting his large boot on the others chest. The power with which Rhino produces against the other, his arms detach from their sockets. Snapping of tendons and muscles as the useless limbs are torn off. Rhino grunts from his battered face, the triumph of the final man felled.

As he is rising to his feet, a shot rings out in the room. Watching as the impact of the bullet hits my comrades shoulder between the armor plating. Pulling my combat knife from my calf, and throwing it at the sergeant’s gun hand. He fires a second shot before the large knife connects with the gun. Hitting Rhino in his other shoulder, he grunts at the second high velocity penetration. My knife hits the barrel of the others pistol with enough force to knock it out of his hand. Unlocking and drawing my swords as I race towards the instructor. He backs up, as I approach him. Barreling into the drill sergeant with my shoulder, knocking him against the wall. Then pinning him to it. Driving my blades deeply into his shoulders and the metal behind. Blood seeping out around the blades firmly keeping him in place. Rhino marching towards the drill instructor, furious with being shot twice by him. Looking down at the Terran soldier, and placing his massive hands on either side of his head. I watch as Rhino crushes the sergeants head, emitting a bellowing roar as the others skull collapses under the immense pressure. The body twitching in death throes, shoulders and wall covered in gore. Blood, bone, and brain matter spackling the corpse and wall. Removing my swords and re-sheathing them, I check on my comrade. Bandaging his wounds with my field kit, and heading off. The sound of buckling metal grates in my ears, as the heavy war hammer is pulled free from it.

Marckus:

We continue further into the enemy base. Moving quickly and quietly checking every door we come to, but they are all vacant. This is highly peculiar, though the base is technically still under construction. That may be the reason the facility was fairly uninhabited. Still moving door to door checking. Coming to the far end of the corridor, and the final door. Moving close to the door on the right side of the hall, listening to a small amount of inaudible chatter inside the door marked as East Barrack. Setting my lenses to infrared, watching a mix of Terrans and Greys milling about the large dormitory. Pulling a pair of smoke grenades from my belt, signaling Red Wolf to put on her tactical goggles. She reaches into a pouch on her belt retrieving the indicated hardware. “On my mark, got it”, I whisper to Red Wolf. Nodding her silent agreement, sliding the kitana from its scabbard.

Holding the grenades in my right hand, my forefinger looped in the pins. Waiting and watching for the moment to spring my trap. Counting the beats of my heart starting to pound like a war drum driving the adrenaline, preparing my body to unleash the monster within.

Pulling the pins, and counting out the seconds with my fingers. Hitting the access pad and tossing the smokers as far I can into the barrack. Slamming the pad again quickly after the grenades leave my hand, and it whispered closed. Un-sheathing the scimitar from my belt, watching the madness on the other side of the door. “Now” , I quietly bark to the sniper, simultaneously slapping the pad for the third time. The smokers putting out an ever thickening fog in the dormitory. Leading the way in, taking the wall nearest my left watching the confused vets running around in the chaos. Red Wolf, I spy strafing against the wall parallel with the door. Continuing my direction, catching site of three Greys crawling low to the floor trying to evade the thick smoke. Leaving the wall, severing them apart with two swift slashes across them. Their mutilated bodies falling apart, arms, legs, and intestines spreading on the floor. Back to my hunting, watching a pair of men strafing the smoke with assault rifles in their blindness. Tossing the pins from the grenades to the right of them, listening to the dull thuds a crossed the room. Red Wolf must not have noticed the armed men. The pins hit the hard floor tinkling in the distance. In a panic the armed men fire a burst of ten rounds apiece in the direction of the pins. Hitting a pair of their own on that side of the room, killing them with head and chest shots. Heading diagonally through the bunks, catching another soldier en route to the armed men. The swift stroke up wards, severing the front of the soldier from groin to throat. Opening up his belly and breast plate, spilling out organs and collapsing his lungs. Barking of assault rifle fire in my direction, boring holes into bunks and footlockers. Panic fire, coming from all over the place. Pistol and assault rifle fire spraying bullets everywhere. One gunner close to me, trying to find his unknown target. Kicking the end of the rifle outward its grip, sending the butt slamming into his chin. Dazed by the surprise attack, I sever his head from his body. Crouching to retrieve the rifle from the dead soldier, a stray bullet grazes my left thigh. Gritting my teeth at the searing pain, I check the mag. Twenty rounds left, slapping it back in. Setting semi-auto, taking aim of the nearest combatant. Squeezing the trigger, he goes down with a hole through his skull. Taking my time, sighting each of the remaining in turn. One round left in the weapon after my onslaught, tossing aside the rifle to clatter on the blood drench floor.

“Red!” No answer as I scanned the room full of lifeless humans and Greys. My boots making wet slapping in the various bodily fluids in my search for the sniper.

“Zlada!”,I bark into the silence. Scanning the bodies for the sniper, a pit in my stomach starts to burn. No way they killed her, she is only down not out. Nearing the corner nearest her last possible location, dismembered bodies piled up. A groan of pain reaches my ears.

“Kid is that you?”

Then a quiet reply reaches me from my right, “Da”. Then I found her, switching my lenses back to normal vision. In the thinning smoke she lay beside a bunk a meter from the corner.

Sheathing the scimitar, I move her to a sitting position against the wall. She groans as I pick her up beneath her arms. Resting her against the wall, she groans again.

Unbuttoning her fatigue top she softly says, “What is the score, sir”.

“I lost count after the last three. Keep quiet while I check you out”, I respond to my officer. Wincing with quiet laughter, “Sir, I don’t believe this is the time or place for such things”.

Raising her under shirt, keeping her modesty intact. The left side of her rib cage is so dark a blue it was almost black. Tentatively I explore the injury, feeling for any broken ribs. She growls at me through gritted teeth, affirming my suspicions. “Take any hits in the wild fire?”

“Da, a bullet in my right calf and small knife in my knee.” Rolling up the indicated pant leg, there was a hole boring straight through the flesh.

“I need to stop the bleeding, and it is going to hurt like hell”, I tell her taking the lighter from her breast pocket. Taking the metal pen from inside my inner jacket pocket. Sparking the lighter to life and holding the pen in the flame. Placing my leather padded hand in her mouth, quickly passing the glowing pen through the hole. A muffled scream escapes her, and her biting into my hand begins to hurt.

Retracting my tooth marked hand, I go for my field kit. Handing her a roll of gauze and a surgical pad. Taking another rolled up bandage from the kit, stuffing it in her mouth since I would needing both hands in removing the knife. Firmly placing my left hand down just above her knee, my right on the handle. Looking up at her, she nods. Swiftly pulling the blade from between bone and tissue. Another vicious muffled howl comes from the sniper. Rolling up the pant leg further and taking the surgical pad from her. Tearing the sterile dressing open and firmly placing it over the wound. Putting her hand on it as I un-package the roll of gauze, and begin wrapping it around the pad. Finishing up with the dressing, I remove the other roll from her mouth.

“Did you take any hits, sir?”

“Just a scratch on my thigh, otherwise nothing serious”. The adrenaline wearing off, let the searing pain flow back into the gash.

“We have to meet up with the others now”, I say helping my battered officer to her feet. Putting my armored coat on her slender frame, helping her walk to our next objective.

Graxis:

“Where are they”, I finally show my impatience.

“Calm down there killer. They will be here soon”, Rhino jokingly replies. Shadow Company emits a small snicker at the remark, and we all start laughing. I never knew the overly stringent soldiers in Shadow Company were even capable of emotion, beyond being stone cold assassins. When we had arrived at the designated regroup point, the four of them were standing guard at the stairwell to the second floor. Bodies littering the floor everywhere, some missing miscellaneous body parts. Everything is covered in the mixed enemies blood, including the squad. It was an all out slaughter to be moderate of the scene.

Marckus:

Fifty meters in and we are moving far slower than I anticipate. Picking up the injured Red Wolf, and placing her as gently as I can on my shoulders. She groans at the pressure on her ribs. Taking the .50 pistol from the holster, and my left arm wrapped firmly around her right leg. Beginning to jog the rest of the way, ignoring the screaming in my thigh with each step through gritted teeth.

Graxis:

“Sir, they are closing on us”, the master sergeant exclaims. Looking down the long corridor, I see them steadily getting closer. The echo of the Ober-Commanders boots growing louder in the silence. A smile crosses my face, grateful to see him and Red Wolf.

Marckus:

A small amount of relief at seeing the others made it safely. Though the nightmare of a scene they waited in came into focus with each descending meter. It was as if a blender had gone mad. Everything coated in blood, bodies lay torn apart all over the place. Pushing my body, I run with my wounded comrade the last thirty meters.

Coming to a rough halt mere centimeters from the slick, coagulating soup. Placing Red Wolf down on her feet, she hits me hard on the shoulder. I knew why, but I did suffer the trip as well.

“Looks like you Shadow boys have been having fun”, I say to the four blood coated warriors.

“Yes, commander. We have been enjoying play time”, the master sergeant replies back with a cold smile.

“Rhino, take her back to the ship. The rest of you come with me.” The large man, gingerly scoops her up into his arms. Taking long strides back to the cargo bay. Leaving behind the war hammer.

Holstering my pistol, and taking possession of the destructive mallet. Resting it across my shoulders, I lead the ascent to the second level. The burning in my leg trumped by the burning in my head, my fury flowing back into my veins.