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Mother Confessor:

Having sorted myself by the time I had made it to the medical bay for my lessons. Peeling myself off a wall, when my armor instructor leading a platoon down to the armor bay rather hastily. The Major looked like he was in no mood to even warn me, or anyone else to get out of the way. Something serious was happening, but what? Were we under attack? Were we attacking the Confederation? I am not sure. All I know is that it cannot be good.

Crossing the threshold into my makeshift class room in the med bay. I put these thoughts in the back of my mind.

“Good morning”, I greet my mature mentor Arinassi.

“Good morning, dear”, she returns warmly.

This was odd as she was usually all business, and the like.

“Please have a seat”, she offers,” cup of tea?”

“Yes ma’am, thank you”, I return, this is quite odd.

Taking a seat, she hands me the hot cup of tea. Taking it in my slender fingers, I look at her quizzically.

“I have taught many over the years”, Arinassi begins in a friendly tone”, but never in my life had I felt like I was unprepared. You perform so well, almost as if you have done all of this before.”

“I cannot explain why, ma’am”, finding it hard to believe myself, as I never had learned any of this until a week ago.

“I am not looking for an explanation, dear”, she continues,” I have been wondering why, and how is it possible. Every time I come up empty handed. It is very impressive the way you have managed to learn what takes years, in only a few days. I have honestly all but exhausted my expertise on you. There is one thing I have yet to test you with. And I should think you will pass this test. Not going to give you any clue as to what it is, for I fear you will be ready for it. So think of this as your final exam. I am sure you will exceed my expectations as you have with all that I have already taught you.”

A surprise test.

“I shall do my best ma’am”, I confidently reply to her, taking a sip of tea from the steaming cup. I wonder what will be this test? How hard will it be? Pressing my mind hard to figure out what it could be, as I take another sip on my cup.

Letting my eyes wander about the facility. I spy a small stack of my old clothes. They appeared to have been sterilized and sealed from outside contamination. This struck me as odd. Taking another sip off the cup in my slender grip, I try to figure out what the evidence is suggesting. Though off the cuff the conclusion drawn is that there is possibly more articles from my old life here as well. Not that I think any of my old tools, but other things like disposables. At least that is what I can draw upon with the little evidence that I have to work with. My best guess is that whatever Arinassi has in mind for my final test will be messy, and possibly one that I cannot study for beforehand. I start to feel a little anxious as there is no way I can prepare for whatever the mature surgical tech is going to task me with. Putting the warm cup to my lips for another draw on it, I silently try to figure out what my teacher is thinking as I stare into her eyes. Looking for a shred, a hint, anything that will give me a clue of what is her trial for me. Though her aged eyes give me nothing. Except for a look of confidence and pride.

* * *

Marckus:

Setting across from what has to be the biggest Centurian I had ever laid eyes on. I look him up and down as I listen to the rumble of the breach ships engine burning on full throttle. The force of the initial burst had shaken the entire crew within. If we were not strapped in, I am fairly certain we all would have been piled up against the rear of the ship. Staying true to my word, the pilot was right behind the armor drop ship.

Still eyeing the large reptilian soldier setting adjacent me. Damn this guy has got to be easily two thirds of a meter taller than Rhino. Even though I still had venom in my veins, my body was starting to recover from all the running I had done just to be here now.

Looking into his large hard features, all the way to his massive hands. His knuckles covered with armor plating, that extended the length of his huge forearms. That is how I felt, like a monstrosity filled with raw power and aggression. Raising my gaze up to his, having to tilt my head to meet his.

All I saw was prey in my red vision. The large soldier seemed to pick up on this averting his gaze. It had nothing to do with rank, this was purely primal supremacy. Taking every ounce of discipline in every fiber to stay focused on my task at hand. Feeling selfish towards the others suffering in the fortress of immolation. My enemy has wounded me. It felt like being whipped with razor wire with every moment that passes. Tearing sanity chunk by mangled, bloody chunk. All I heard was the devil’s silver tongue goading me on in my rage.

(’Marckus, my son, ’the devil within whispers, ‘Are you going to let them off the hook for this?’

‘You know better than that’, I hiss at the devil, ‘Take notes, cause when I die, I am going to dethrone your ass!’

‘Good my son, let it out. Fucking make me a believer. Take that pain you hold deep, and release it’, the Devil replies,’ You and I both know child, that winning is all that matters now. Neither of us compromises, it is not in our nature.’

’Name your price”, I demand of the Devil, hoping to find a bargain.

‘That my child is a steep price’, he taunts,’ It is steeper than your soul, as you have a very special place in my black heart.’

‘Then what do you want since you already have lain claim to me’, I ask the Devil.

‘I want something much more precious to you. Something you hold close, that with which you hold dear, my son..’

‘No way’, I spit back,’ not even in death can you have her. Never will you take her! If I am to pay, then that is that. Anything more or less, than me. You need me more than I need you, and you know it!’

The emperor of all that is abomination chuckles coldly,’ Then I shall read my notes to you as I laugh at your pitiful torture, my child.’)

To hell with that, I want to win. Though the stakes are high. Regaining my sense of reality, the breach ship connects with the Confederation science facility. The impact knocks me unconscious, and my body rag dolls in the harness.

Graxis:

The air in the bridge is getting thick. The armor had cleared a path for the breach ship. Though the war frames sustained a loss of half. Confederation had an assault class catching them off balance. According to the helmsman Gentax, the breach ship had successfully hit the enemy compound. Having him open comms with the pilot.

“Looks like you made it through alright”, I address the pilot. “Well not completely, sir”, he reports.

“What do you mean ’not completely” , I bark into the comms.

“Ober-Commander doesn’t look to good, sir”, he replies back sounding a little distressed he had to tell me.

“What is his condition”, putting some bite in my bark as I ask.

“He is alive, sir, but his pulse is low. Not sure of his physical condition. He looks like he is out, sir”, he replies with a bit less stress in his tone.

“Well wake him up, he is a very…”

“He’s a what?”, a low growl cuts me off, with the sound of a harness decoupling.

Well that was a close one.

“Next time you drive, Captain”, the Ober-Commander says, groaning in pain.

“Gave us a scare for a moment is all”, I say to him with restrained relief, “ Janxica and Hinara are starting to bear down on the traitor. “

“Well Captain, I better get a move on. Gotta go play my new favorite game: Pin the bullet on the Confed”, he replies back with a harsh laugh. With that the comms goes silent. Good luck my friend. Clenching my fists so tightly that my claws draw blood, as they bite into my palms. My jaw tight. I will find you. When I do there will be hell to pay for your trespass.

Marckus:

With my pistol drawn, and whip lashed back to reality. The harness had left a burning reminder into my chest. I set off into the compound, hating the fact that I was just minutes behind the others. Running to the lift across the room, wondering where my team was at. I felt oddly better and more focused after kissing a comet. A half dozen Confederation soldiers litter the floor in front of the lift. Brass and blood washed the metal floor around them.

Nearing the fallen combatants, I slow my pace. Where are you Red? In mid stride just two meters to the lift, my left leg is met with resistance. Coming to a halt, I look down with a hard scowl. Looking up at me a dying Confederation soldier gripping my boot at the ankle. Fear and anger in his eyes, as he fights a losing battle with his rapidly failing body. Pain twisting his face, blood flowing down his right cheek, as he gurgles blood out the crease in his thin lips. Kneeling down, I remove his hand from my boot. Placing it firmly on his belly over a knife wound. The crimson river bubbles steadily between his fingers, like water over fallen trees. Emitting a groan at the pressure on the laceration. His expression twists in agony. He was so young, barely a man.

Showing him mercy. I align the muzzle of my pistol between his agony filled eyes. The instant drawn out, his eyes pleading with my hard gaze. Finger on the trigger. Feeling sorry for the boy, I end his suffering. The next moment his head explodes, from the bullet as it tears through his skull and brain. It sprays the floor with blood and gray matter. His eyes roll in their sockets. Rest child, you are the victim not the villain.

Recovering the rifle from the red lake that lay next to him. I holster my pistol. Moving low I gather the remains of ammunition for the rifle from the other rifles and off the corpses. My cargo pockets heavy with the magazines, I begin my descent into the nightmare. I had a General to find, and a General to kill.

Reloading the partially spent magazines from the other used magazines. The rifle slung around my chest. Just like the good old days. Slamming a replenished magazine into the catch, and priming the weapon. My mind becoming a hunter, in the dull glow of the lift. Gripping the rifle as I ready to enter the maze deep in the crust of the moon. Everything seemed to be priming me for this. The backup generator being overworked to just keep the base habitable. The darkness my ally now. Nowhere to hide Mitsaku, I am coming. The fire re-igniting as the lift slowly carries me deeper.

Graxis:

No update from the Ober-Commander or that small soldier on the status of what is going on with the mission. At least they would find it easier to get off the moon, as they still had the Major and fourteen armor keeping watch over the outside. I had helmsman Gentax maneuver us over the planet instead of around. That way if by some unlucky circumstance there was going to be a Confederation cruiser coming to bear down on them. I wanted to catch them off guard.

As we crept above the planet, Janxica broke the silence.

“Hello”, her little voice squealed with excitement.

“What have you got”, I ask with a dry mouth. Peering down at the odd little female, my eyes focused on her.

A wry smile on her small face,” Well Captain, we found this.”

Leaning in as she displayed the tiny screen for me to see. I had to squint to bring the small illuminated device into focus. What was I looking at?

“Hinara, can you tell me what I am seeing”, I ask the mentally taxed helmsman. Not a communications specialist, I was not really sure what to make of the image still.

“That sir, is a highly sophisticated signal that has been scrambled,” Hinara explains, pulling up an image on his side of the HUD,” See this signal on the left is a standard comm signal. Note how the frequency is consistent.” He points out the pattern with his hand as he explains this”, And when I change the frequency, there is still a pattern.” He continues on with this lesson.

“But this on the right”, he enlarges the other signal in the HUD, “There is a pattern and looks fairly similar to a standard signal.” I gaze at the image floating in the air, focusing on the pattern Hinara points out with his hand. Then flipping it ninety degrees, the image looks like an odd circular cluster.

“This is where things get tricky”, Hinara says in a concerned fashion, as he peers at the image hard looking for the puzzle pieces he needs to continue. Taking a deep breath, I try to remain calm, despite anger barking at me.

“Here it is”, his finger finding a very small strand in the digital code,” This is the artificial additive if you will that disperses the message amongst all the other strands. Like an atomic level sorting machine of sorts. So all we have to do now is sift through all the strands, and find out how to recreate the data within it. Problem is that is going to take a while.”

Looking at the holographic nerve cluster as he tells me this. Feeling my anger ebb as we have found a damning piece of evidence, but it was useless if we cannot dissect it.

Well just great now what do we do?

“What do you propose we do?”, I glare at the image of the millions of tiny strands of information, as they laugh at me with their highly guarded secrets.

“Well, I don’t think I can do this one alone”, Janxica concedes with a look of remorse. If it had not been for her we would have never found this small part to our very big problem.

“I am going to have to ask you something, Captain”, her voice low and her eyes apologetic . I try to keep my expression even as I have a feeling of what is about to be asked of me.

“Have you ever disobeyed an order,” she begins her voice still low, her small frame slumped like a child that had done something wrong.

“No, I have always carried the weight of an order”, I assert at the little female as she sits on the edge of the helm console looking at the tiny console in her lap. Feeling split in my mind as I gazed at the defeated and tired little female. Looking over at Hinara, trying to find another way to keep from tarnishing my spotless record. I held great pride in never straying into insubordination.

Turing away and unbuttoning the top four buttons of my uniform, starting at the collar. I start pacing the length of the bridge. My gaze locked on the metal beneath my boots, and hands clasped behind my back. What can I do now? I swallow hard, as my boots click on the cold surface under them. This was perplexing. I narrow my eyes in frustration.

Not like I am disobeying an order that I find unreasonable right? Click, click. Is it possible that I must break one rule to uphold another? Click, click. Why is it so hard to commit a minor offense? Click, click. Will this be worth the infraction? Click, click. Perhaps just this once, though I hate to have to do it, let alone ponder it. Click, click. I think the Ober-Commander might show leniency, if I were to break this one simple rule. Click, click. After all I am not the one on trial. Click. I freeze, raising my gaze to peer out at the large gas giant. This is more important than some petty rule! Though it will wound my pride, I cannot see any other solution. Gritting my teeth, as it pains me for what I am about to do.

“What do you need”, I ask harshly, probably more coldly than I intend. The words sour on my tongue. This is more important than my pride.

Marckus:

Rifle at the ready, I wait for the door of the lift to completely open before daring to peek out into the wide corridor. Glancing down either side of the corridor, still remaining inside the lift. All I find is a mess of bodies, bullet scars, and general chaos laid to rest. Both sides fought hell, tooth, and nail. It was no man’s land down here. This was just the beginning.

Keeping hidden inside the lift and the dull glow. “Rynis, where in the hell are you”, I hiss into the comms unit,” and have you seen the rest of the team?” In the moments waiting for a reply, I wonder if any of my troops were still alive just outside. I hoped to hell at least one or two was. Even if I had to patch them up to the best of my piss poor medical abilities, then so be it.

“I have not seen anybody, but Confeds sir”, the small marine hisses back,” however I am currently holding up in a vent a few meters outside where General Volkov and Captain Flurren were taken. Really wish I had a gun sir, they would have had a handful to deal with! Currently about a klick or so down in this rat maze, sorry that I could not be of more use, sir.”

“You did fine, just sit tight buddy. I will be heading your way”, I tell the Master Sergeant before cutting off communications.

Creeping low and slow from my notch in the wall. I start searching my fallen comrades. Come on, one of you has to still be alive. A dull thud sounds off the wall behind my position. Whirling with my rifle trained into the darkness. Switching to night vision, I try to spot the one banging the wall. Visually searching everybody the length of the corridor. A minute into my search, I see who was trying to get my attention. Stepping carefully through the viscera as I traverse the mutilated bodies. The stench of death is really thick in the confined area. The floor slick with bodily fluids and organ tissues. It was a balancing act wading in the slickness beneath my boots. Halfway through my travels a hand gropes wildly at my waist. Twisting my torso to see who was trying to challenge my movement. A Confed Grey in a less than favorable condition. For an instant I pondered how he was still alive. Who gives a shit how or why! Ramming the barrel of my stolen rifle right into his large eye socket. His thin lips rasp out a silent scream of agony. I finish him, his soft bulbous head muffles my shot. The 10mm bullet sprays his putrid purple blood and greenish brain on the dead and wall behind him. Just adding more to the meat grinder. Returning back to my original task now unhindered.

Eight meters later wading through contorted faces, limbs, and blood. I reach him. It is the great big son of a bitch that was sitting across from me on the breach ship. Though now he was pinned to the wall by a couple of heavy metal spikes. Ah damn it! The Confederation now had man portable rail guns. Trying to assess how to remove the giant lizard. His right arm was pinned at the bicep facing down to the floor. But the other spike was embedded in his chest. My best guess is that it pierced his right lung. It was hard to tell since his chest plate armor was covering his body. Though it did look like it had slowed the bolt down a little. Looking up into his narrowed eyes, his face twisted into a mix of pain and rage.

“Where is a medic”, I say in a low voice so as to not alert anybody that might be lurking nearby.

“Over there”, he growls in anger at being stuck to the wall. His large left hand pointing the way some five or six meters further up the hallway of immolation. Picking up a coil pistol laying in the fresh muck. I place it in his large hand, and he nods to me knowingly. I turn from him and set off in the direction he indicated.

Graxis:

I did it. Am not looking forward to the reprimand for my defiance of the order. Though I have to admit meeting this Steve, at least that is what the small Janxica had called him, was rather unusual. He was a very skittish being. None the less, I want justice more than worrying about the consequences of my violation. It still stung despite the nature of the situation. I watched with curiosity of the multi limbed creature manipulating several small consoles on a table. He was very adept once he got over being nervous of being brought here. Between the two small beings they had managed to start breaking down the signal in question. I understood it would take time as I had seen the many strands that needed to be worked through. No idea what this Steve specialized in, but his willingness to help is all that mattered to me. With furrowed brows I try to follow the many three fingered hands dancing about the screens. It was mind bending trying to figure out the way he was multitasking all the devices in tandem. Janxica was working her own smaller device breaking each strand down that the other stripped away from the whole. Each layer was an increase in challenge it seemed, as she seems more stressed at having to fight with the data. The whole process was convoluted, but it was working. Each thin layer processed a little victory. My only fear is that whoever was using it will catch onto our digital hunt for them.

Marckus:

Having waded through the swamp of dead and recovered the supplies from the medics lifeless corpse. I set about freeing the brute from the wall. Quickly searching the field kit for a pain killer, as this was going to be extremely painful otherwise to the large lizard. Finding the syringe filled with the pale bluish substance clearly marked as a heavy anesthetic. Uncapping the needle, I plunge it into his thigh between the plates in his body armor. Waiting for the drug to dull his pain receptors as it works into his blood stream. I start assessing how to remove him from the wall. My face creased in concentration, as I try to figure the best way to go about freeing him. Sweat beading on my brow. I could slide his arm free of the bolt nailing it in place and bandage it. As for the more critical point of the bolt in his chest. I will need to find a way of getting it out of the wall, otherwise he will bleed out, or drown on his own fluid. Firmly grasping the underside of his arm, sliding it free from the spike. Quickly groping through the kit, I grasp a surgical pad and a bandage wrap. With his arm resting on my knee, I tear open the pad. Tightly rolling the absorbent pad, I fill in the gaping hole with it. Locking it in by wrapping the bandaging tightly around it. Though it was still bleeding, I had ebbed the flow substantially. Keeping an eye on him, as he flexed the injured limb. His breathing was labored at the metal rod piercing him. Despite this he had a grisly smile on his face. This guy was tough, and pissed. Placing a hand on his shoulder, sharing in the small victory.

Out of nowhere the sound of cautious footing interrupts the crude patch job only half finished. He heard it too. It came roughly fifteen to eighteen meters down the hall opposite of where we are.

“Cover me”, I whisper to him. He nods with a stern look on his face. His eyes fixed on the darkness in the direction of the sound. Pistol leveled in his large hand at the ready.

What in the hell are they waiting for? They could have easily started laying into us. Peering through the night vision, I see a figure in the distance. Raising the rifle from my chest. I start making my approach to the on comer. Keeping a bead on them as I creep low and slowly closer to the figure. Still unable to identify whether friend or foe. I watch as they slide tight against the wall. Their movement tentative and delicate. Using their boot to feel for bodies or strewn weapons as to avoid them. Moving further towards them. Staying in the darkness stopping just outside the glow of the lifts low light. Whoever it was they were definitely not comfortable traversing the dead.

Feeling around in the sticky puddles of blood with my left hand, keeping the rifle locked on the figure with my right. Grasping the cool metal of a spent casing. Lobbing the shell hard as it tries to stick to my hand. Sailing in the air some five meters toward the other. Bouncing off a corpse before contacting with the drenched metal floor. Making a slight splashing as it rings from the impact. They figure freezes and takes in a sharp breath. Their head whips around to see who or what had made the noise shattering the silence. Their arms outstretched holding a pistol sweeping wildly.

“Wh-Whos th-there”, a quivering familiar voice slices through the dark. Lowering my rifle. What are you doing here? More importantly why are you here?

“Dlynvacko, lower the pistol, and get over here”, I say to the timid figure sweeping frantically with the weapon. Standing up and moving into the dull glow. I wait for her. Watching as she reluctantly moves through the hall of death. A small relief that it was not a Confed washes over me. Now I had a new set of problems as she was clearly out of her element. As she got closer, I realize that if she had not said a word I would not have recognized her. She was wearing body armor clearly too big for her and a full battle helmet. I could read the fear in her movement. Her hands shaking as she joined me in the dull glow. Shallow breaths resonating from the vent holes in the helmet. Letting the pistol fall from her quaking grip, it clatters on the floor. I was somewhat happy to see her as she may be able to help me free the other soldier from the wall. She has a working knowledge and the skills set to do so. At least I hope she does. Taking her about the waist. Her body still trembling with the horrors she had witnessed. Trying to offer what comfort I can. Leading her to the injured brute. Starting to calm down a bit as we made our way to him. Taking a glow-stick from a pouch about her belt. She brings the dull luminescent object to life. I keep look out as she begins examining the brute.

“What in the hell are you doing in this mess”, I ask her quietly, keeping an eye out for an enemy presence.

“I thought I could help”, she begins in a low tone,” Turns out in a small way I was right.”

I note her reference to the task she is being helpful, although she is not a killer.

“So get your first”, I ask her.

“My first”, she replies, following it up quickly,” Yes, I did. How do you do it so often?”

It is simple, the guy shooting at you is no friend.

“To be honest, it haunts you”, I explain it in a simplistic way while keeping my eye out, “Though it never gets easier, you learn to live with it. It is what we do. Do you understand?”

She hesitates before answering. I continue to goad the bodies laying lifeless to try and get back up. Rifle darting between them, waiting for a shot that will not come.

“So basically it is a part of you whether you like it or not”, she says, I hear her delicate clawed hands inspecting the brutes armor around the metal spike.

“Well it is not like war is simply an exchange of hollow threats. Though typically those threats are uttered by cowards who send others to do their dirty work”, I tell her, my gaze now searching for one of the prototype rail guns the Confeds were using.

“What is your goal in this whole mess? What do you hope to gain in your tirade of death and nightmares”, she asks in an assertive tone, still keeping her voice low.

“Think of it like treating cancer”, I do my best to explain my actions, “Using one deadly thing against another to save the host.” I think I may have spotted one of the deadly high velocity nail guns. Not quite ready to compete with the Centurian coil weapons, but still effective.

“That the best you have to offer, an outdated metaphor of curing a condition that is now taken care of with a ninety nine percent survival rate”, her tone now aggressive,” to think I could like you. You’re a bastard.”

True, but you do not know the half of it.

Graxis:

They are getting close now. Holding a nervous excitement, watching the two small creatures unraveling the encoded signal. Something felt wrong though. Not here on the bridge, but out on the moon where the Ober-Commander was. Frowning hard, not able to shake the feeling in my gut. It felt like a knife twisting inside me. It had been awhile since we had heard anything from the ship or the team.

“Gentax, send another team down there. They may need the backup”, I order the helmsman,” Send Rhino with them. Get Shadow Company out there on the double.”

“Aye, Captain”, he puts out the call for the warriors.

“While you’re at it Captain, could you send a torch and a field surgery kit with them”, the Ober-Commander cuts in, “Possibly a few more medics, got a brute pinned to a wall, and I don’t want to have him left behind. Also not sure what condition the captives will be in either.”

“What about the others”, I ask him, though I have a feeling I already know the answer.

“I have one soldier fit for duty. Sorry Captain, the others were slaughtered,” he bites into the comms speaker, “I will need to get on with finding the others. Going to make the brute as comfortable as I can, and tag him so they can get him off the wall. The soldier and I will see to getting a head start on things down here. Hurry Captain, the clock is ticking.”

I felt the weight coming down. Whoever was responsible for selling us out was really starting to piss me off. How could they do this, while I lose good men to enemy bullets. The frown becoming a scowl.

“Sir”, Hinara chimes in,” Radar just picked up a ship at a hundred thousand klicks out and closing in on us. They appear to have just come out of a sub-space jump.”

As if I did not have enough on my plate to worry about, between finding a traitor on my own ship, and sending more troops out.

“Identify the vessel, target them. Do not fire until we conclude their intent,” I bark at the helmsman. He silently complies with my order. Gazing harshly out across the broad deck. The heavy auto turrets come to life, swiveling and aligning up with the oncoming ship. Heavy armor taking up positions, as they abandon their patrols.

Who would be jumping through sub-space? Why so close to us? The Council of Elders had not sent anyone after us, as they have left us to our own devices.

“It is an Uldivarion Galaxy Class Warship”, Hinara reports curtly, and confused,” They have not locked onto us with their weapons, sir. Perhaps they are not looking for a fight.”

This is odd. A Galaxy Class Warship. What in the three moons were the Uldivarions doing, sending out such a ship? I know that they are not to be shrugged off in a fire fight, at least not in space combat. The odd thing is they typically do not venture this far from their armada. Though nothing since collecting the Ober-Commander, has been typical. Still strange to see the ship without an escort. Keeping an eye on the war vessel a third the size of ours as it starts to slow and cross in front of us to our port side.

“They are sending an open comms, Captain,” Gentax tells me as they lazily pass by.

“Stand down the weapons, and put the comms on the HUD. I want to see the commander of the vessel,” I order him stiffly, trying to put aside the many things plaguing my mind. The many heavy turrets on the deck return to their original position and the heavy armor goes back to their patrol detail.

The center of the HUD between the Helmsmen glows green with the head and shoulders of the Uldivarion vessels commander, dressed in the Empyreal uniform.

“This is Commander T’rn-Blinzk, Kionxxia, of the Empress’s Royal Armada,” the sharply dressed commander greets me, her face taught with an eerie smile on her tight thin lips,” And to whom am I addressing?”

A broadening smile on her taught features. Looking at my new allies face, it sent shivers up my spine just seeing her smile. It was unnerving to see her thin lips split her pointed features. Her mouth looked like a knife slit as she showed her warm readiness to be of service.

“Having troubles, Captain,” she asks politely in her sinister grin,” Perhaps I could move things along for you? I will be sending a squad of soldiers to aid your own, as my helmsman has informed me of the drop ship that has departed from your ship.” Clearing my throat and swallowing to moisten it as it had gone dry, I return,” Captain Graxis, of the Cenutria Armed Force. Commander forgive my inquiry, but what are you doing out here in the Sol system?” I add to the question by raising my brow ridges, and return with a wry smile.

“I could ask the same of you, Captain”, the Uldivarion Commander jabs back, “fair enough though. The Empress caught wind of a rather interesting tale. About a Centurian Battle Ship under the command of a Terran mad man. That this Terran happens to be bent on going after the Confederation. The details are a bit hazy, but from what I am to understand, this mad man used to be a Confederation lap pet. Rumor has it this Terran is not one to be tussled with. The Empress pulled my ship off patrol to come and be of assistance to this man and those he commands. Be it in space or on ground, I and my crew are with you and yours, Captain.”

Finally some good news. Glancing back at the two smaller creatures still breaking up the signal, they looked weary in their toils to unravel it.

“How may I be of service, Captain”, Commander Kionxxia asks with a s just left your hangar.”

“I am sure they could use the extra help. I will inform my men to not fire upon you,” I accept her invitation. Hinara got on comms to inform the troops on Callisto to not fire upon the Uldivarions as they are on our side.

“Judging by the look of things, Captain”, Commander Kionxxia continues, “ you have more than a little ground fire burning. I shall send over a pair of my best electronics specialists. As it looks like the two working at the table behind you are starting to wear out.”

Oh this Uldivarion is very observant.

“That would be a big help, Commander Kionxxia. They have been worked hard and could use the extra hand,” I address her observation.

“Consider it done, Captain”, Commander Kionxxia states in her creepy demeanor. With that the HUD goes blank of the others features. Looking back at the tiring little Janxica and Steve. This new alliance will definitely better our odds. It challenges my pride to break orders once more.

Marckus:

Having left the brute with an extra syringe of painkiller and a glow stick so the others can find him and get him out. Scavenging the hall of bodies, the floor getting sticky with coagulating blood and drying body fluids. I had found one of the prototype rail guns from the mangled mess. Giving it to Dlynvacko, along with a pistol and a bandolier of four frag grenades from a heavily armored, dead Confed. As well as extra munitions for the rail gun and pistol.

As we head deeper into the depths of the facility, keeping to the shadows looking for anyone that may need help.

“Going to be a full house”, I tell Dlynvacko as the comms informs me that reinforcements were coming. Bit strange that the helmsman had made it a point that the Uldivarions were coming in addition to the second team. The more the merrier.

Sweating in the stale air, keeping my eyes peeled for friend and foe alike. A chill crawls up my spine like an icy snake when I spot a dead scientist carved up with precision. The dismemberment is not what bothers me, but more the point that there is no blood. Dlynvacko gasps at the body as it lay in pieces. The faint odor of burnt flesh still hung about the vicinity. Picking up one of the arms, and examining the wound. It is smooth, far to smooth to have been an ordinary blade. The acrid smell is not the flesh, but the blood that was vaporized by whatever had inflicted the wound. A metallic smell in my nostrils. Letting the severed limb fall from my grip, it lands on the hard floor with a dull thud.

“W-w-what did that to him”, Dlynvacko asks nervously through the ventilation slits in her helmet, the grenades rattling against her chest plate. I hear her breathing sharp and shallow, as she sweeps the area anxiously.

“I don’t know”, I concede to her, “but who, or what is still here. They are watching us, waiting to see what we are about.”

Raising my mask a moment to wipe the sweat from my brow, my blood running cold. Sliding it back down, I feel something eyeballing me.

“What are we going to do”, Dlynvacko asks with a quiver in her voice,” I don’t like the fact that there is something running around down here chopping up people into pieces.”

Taking a breath, and looking around the area with my rifle at the ready.

“We keep going, eyes and ears open,” I tell her in an even tone, hiding my own fear,” Not sure if it will follow us, or is hunting us. What I do know is that it likes to get close, other than that, no idea. You wanted to come play in hell, time to soldier up, Dlynvacko. Watch our rear, we need to move quickly and quietly. Bound to be some action on the next floor.”

After seeing what happened to that scientist, I might as well have been naked. No amount of armor was going to stop whatever had cleanly sliced the other to pieces. We hug the walls tighter, each step silent as to not draw the attention of what is lurking in the shadows with us. Sweeping each room thoroughly for any signs of life. The few we had cleared were devoid. With the exception of a random dismembered Terran or Grey in the same fashion as the first we had found. It seems whatever was playing hide and seek with us had a fairly notable signature to the way it liked killing. Every body was precisely cut up. The head lopped clean off just where the neck met the top of the shoulders. Each arm disembodied at the socket joint. The torso divided at the waist. From there the thing seemed to sever the pelvic region in half to part the legs. In our search it did not deviate between species or gender.

That is until we came to the last area to search, before moving down to the next level. We found a creature still alive, but clinging on to it by a thread. Dlynvacko seemed to be mortified at what we had come across. Not that I blamed her as my stomach threatened to spill its contents. The poor creature was splayed out on a surgical table. Even after witnessing the horrors of war and millions upon millions of dead and dying. Despite all of that hell and atrocity I was witness to and had a hand in, did not prepare me for what was before my eyes. From what I could gather at this heinous mutilation being displayed on the surgical slab, is that it was one of the refugees stripped from Pluto. The dull glow of the emergency lights on the female creatures body torn wide to show what was once covered with skin. Her breathing shallow, her mouth silently moving to speak. Dlynvacko had gone to a corner and threw up. I hear her sobbing between the waves of expulsion of bile and partially digested contents of her breakfast.

“You going to be alright kid”, I ask her moving closer to the female alien strapped to the table. Come on Dlynvacko get in the game, this is what you do.

“I think so”, she says with a thick sadness in her voice, listening to her suck in air and wiper her chin off with her armored forearm. Her boots let me know that she is coming closer to the poor female alien and I.

Gingerly with my left hand, I place it on the aliens head. Trying to let her know we are here to help. At least that is what I try to convey, as I do not think we would understand each other verbally. Her large eyes wide as she looks into mine. Apparently the team of butchers left in a hurry, leaving her in a state of live dissection. That would explain the surgical garbed group and the spent small arms casings a few meters from the stairwell. Cut down by whatever was stalking around just outside.

Still staring into the others face, slick with tears and what appeared to be sweat.

“Well this is your time to shine, or at least give it your best shot”, I say to the surgical tech while keeping my gaze on the tormented female.

“I can try”, she says anxiously,” What are you going to do?’

I need to keep moving, help should be here any minute.

“I want you to barricade the door, and get to saving her life,” taking charge of the situation, “ give me your glow sticks so I can leave a sign that you are here and will need help. Keep your weapons close, just in case. I will see if the thing will follow me. I need find the other refugees and Red Wolf.“

Setting my gaze to her fearful tearstained face, Dlynvacko nods her understanding. She retrieves the last of the glow sticks in the pouch on her belt. Her hand shaking as she hands them to me.

“I am scared, Marckus,” she says shakily. Leaving the head of the table and stepping in close to her, patting her on her armor plated shoulder.

Looking into her deep yellow eyes,” Me too, kid, me too.”

Back out in the hallway, and alone. Feeling heavy with guilt at leaving the terrified surgical tech alone in this mad house of pain and death. Leaning against the door, breathing heavy, as if gravity had increased twofold. Get it together man, you are far from done! Slamming my hand hard into the side of my head, and growling through gritted teeth.

Pulling out one of the half a dozen glow sticks from my pocket, and snapping it to life. Unsheathing the large knife from my left hip. First time I had seen the blade. In the glow of the emergency light device, I see that it is two blades forking straight out of the handle past the small guard. Piercing the glow stick with the tip, like a pair of fangs penetrating a small animals limb. The luminescent liquid is cool on my hand, as it flows out of the pliable tubing. Placing the large blade back on my hip, it felt heavy as it set on my belt. Placing my glowing hand on the door, it looked like I had just killed a phosphorescent creature and had being playing in its blood. Feeling a bit more at ease at having marked the door for the scared Dlynvacko, I got on the comms.

“Graxis, can you let the group of men coming that Dlynvacko could use a hand with an emergency medical situation. I have marked the door with glow stick fluid so they can find it easier”, I tell the Captain the mission update in a hushed tone.

“Anything else, sir”, the Captain asks, his tone agitated with not having solved our little betrayal mystery yet.

“Yeah, if either team has a motion tracker with them. Tell them to use it. There is something on the loose carving up people in the darkness. I will let you know if I find out what it is, so tell them to be alert for something on the prowl,” relaying the warning of the hunter down here.

“Understood, out.”

My hands gripping the rifle tightly, wanting to keep whatever it was out here at a distance. Checking both sides of the hallway. My eyes felt dry as I feared if I were to blink, I would end up a pile of body parts. Opening the door to the stairwell leading downward. I sweep it for threats. Turning around I sweep my rear to make sure I am alone. Well as alone as one can be with a nightmare creature running around. Closing the door behind me softly, I make my descent deeper. Rifle at the ready, fifty nine rounds left in the magazine, and pockets loaded down with six more magazines each just above my knees. Unable to shake the feeling that something is watching me. I descend uneasily to the next floor. My whole body covered in a cold sweat. Pushing myself on for the refugees, for Dlynvacko, for the fallen men, for my sniper.