The light… it much to bright…The fucker know my eyes are shot, but they still Insist that light be set to full brightness. I simply just keep my eyes close and look for my sunglass. Thankful they aren’t far and are just where i had left them before crawling into the meat locker they call them tubes.
“Jed… you look like shit.” I flip open my shades and slip them on, then turn to look at the shit eating grin of the Quartermaster. The man was a ass just like about everyone else aboard this bucket of rust.
“Aye, The fucking CE didn’t fix the god damn lights.” Not even bothering with a shower, i just sloppily toss on my uniform. Not at all good form but fuck it not like anyone is really going to care. The Quartermaster does the same, frankly its not great for the officers to stop caring… but fuck it if the Chef is not even do very basic thing like just setting the lights to a lower brightness level why should i… or the Quartermaster give two shits about our uniforms.
“You know i am starting to think he is holding a grudge…what has been, like the third time?” The Quartermaster voice… he was suppressing a laugh i just fucking know it.
“This would be the second time actually, still you would think he would just do it by now… if nothing else to shut up my bitching about it. Anyhow you best be getting down to the Req QM less the apes start to riot.” I riffle through my pockets looking for my smokes… only to not find shit all… well fuck.
“Jed i got a name you know, you could use it.” I don’t say a word and simply take my leave, if i was a betting man i would say the Quartermaster was staring daggers into my back. Not that i care, man was little more than one more shit head i had to deal with. I make it a policy to only remember lads names if they deserve it.
The lads had alrighty made a fucking line, some even bitching about no req over comms…Most were not even dressed still wearing their cryo wear. Damn apes don’t need to such babies rushing up to line so early, chances are there is going to be shit all going on down ground side.
I take a stop at the slop venders and get myself a few bricks to chew on before making may way up the auxiliary security ladders to the upper deck… I can see my sweet sweet den just across the hall, but i also can see the Corporate Liaison’s quarters still got the shutters sealed tight…well if she isn’t awake yet… i would be remiss in my duties to not check if every thing is all right.
I swipe my ID… only for to have my access denied…She must have gotten the CE to change the access list on her card reader after last time… Well nothing for it, i pull out my screwdriver and take off the cover and with a hand full of snips of wires… I am in.
“Hello i see saw your shutters are closed, is every thing all right?” With those few token words, i quickly make my way to the desk and swipe her executive selects. I slip one out and light it up and taking a long drag, making sure to wave to the camera.
“Well guess she just not awake just yet, welp may have wasted a bit of time but now i have peace of mind and have fulfilled my civic duty.” I slip the smokes into my pocket and take my leave, only to run right into the waiting CL…
“First Lieutenant Liora care to explain what you are doing?” The venom in her voice thick and rather overflowing. She can’t hide her contempt under that inhuman mask that all Liaisons tend to wear.
“Your shutters where closed and you were not responding to comms, i was just doing my proper duty to make sure our illustrious guest was well.” I keep my tone flat and my face blank.
“I heard no such attempt at reaching me.” Clearly she is not buying my bullshit… shame it doesn’t matter if she buys it or not, all that matters if brass is going to care to dig in to the facts or just eat up my lie as its simpler to deal with.
“Well, best speak to the CE about it. Because clearly something must be wrong with your earpiece. Anyhow all that ends well and all that shit… i now know you are just fine, so i will be taking my leave.” Just as turn heel i can see her face palming.
“What the hell are you even after… the only thing ever missing is my cigarettes.” Of course that’s only what is missing… I may have sticky hands but i am not a idiot.
“What i am after is fulfilling my civic duty, you really should be thanking me for showing soo much care… i will have you know the apes if they could, would leave you for dead at the drop of the hat. You ought to get me a gift for being so kind and caring… perhaps a large carton of executive selects?” I try my best to keep my tone flat but i can’t help but crack a smile.
I turn to look at her face and i have to try my damn hardest to not break out laughing. Seems she took the hint and is rather aghast at the fact i am not some grand cat burglar or taking part in some kind of elaborate corporate espionage plot… and just want my fucking favorite brand of smokes.
“Still i really do need to get to work… I am late as it is.” I take my leave with that and head right for my oh so lovely intelligence office. Entering in i can smell the musk of old paper and slight acrid smell of plastic. Shitty ass disk readers are getting just a tad to hot now a days… not bad enough to cause a lost of data, just enough to bring out that ting of smell.
I sit my ass down at one of the rather old computers and start looking through what we got on LV-1413. Nothing really of great note about it, other then the fact that some miners got rather uppity as of late and the UA peacekeepers got called in to well… keep the peace. Through the corner of my eyes i could see my boys file in, Intelligence Officers Smith and Bobby.
“Boss can get one” With out a word i tap out a cig and hand it off to Second Lieutenant Smith, one of the few lads i give two shits about. Bobby puts his hand out as well but… well.
“Bobby you still own me, you an’t getting shit from me till cough up the dough.” Second Lieutenant Bobby just lowers his hand and gives me a right stink eye. The only reason he is not on my shit list is the fact he does good field work… Probably helps he is quiet as a mute.
“So boss know what the job is?” I stop skimming through the intelligence reports and turn to look at Smith.
“Nope, all i know as of now is that the company town we are hovering over top sent out a distress signal and is currently dark. Now if had to hazard a guess from what i am seeing about the reports on this dust bowl, ether the comms units or power got knocked out due to a riot.”
“CLF?” Bobby voice was as quiet as the squeak of a mouse. It damn good thing i am only hard of sight and not hard of hearing. He really needs to learn to speak a bit loader.
“Perhaps, but we can’t say for certain. We do got very recent reports of something called the BLT operating in the region. From what we know about this ‘BLT’ its some kind of smuggling ring…So there could be CLF hands in this dust pie… After all the fucks are known to all buddy buddy with smugglers. Still its not confirmed that the ‘BLT’ has any ties to the CLF.”
Smith seem to be deep in thought as he take a long drag off the cig before blowing a ring of smoke and taking a seat at the other computer. Bobby for his part just starts getting his ‘trap disarmer’ ready… which is just a glorified sling shot… I am still not convinced that shit does anything of worth, but bobby swears by it.
I just started to get back into the swing of things going over all the data, when my earpiece buzz’s to life… with the grading voice of the CE.
“Best get your ass to the CIC, the Captain is not going to be waking up anytime soon.” I tap on my earpiece.
“What happened?”
“Nothing too bad…It just that the Cryo pods are being a right pain in the ass, seems something has gone wrong with the programing. Basically the pods are refusing to be opened. I should be able to fix the issue but its going to take a bit.” Fucking damn it all…
…
I look out at the amassed marines from my perch in the cargo crane… i was never one for leading lad really, just don’t care for it. Yes my job is to make sure everything is in order shipside, but if i fuck up no one will die…and if they some how do its less my fault and more them being a dumbass.
"Settle down lads… OI YOU SHIT HEAD WITH THE SMOKE NADE PUT THAT SHIT BACK BEFORE I CAVE IN YOUR NOSE!.. GOOD MUCH BETTER!..Now you lot maybe wondering where the good captain is at! Simple put his cyro pod is on the frizz so i have to fill in until the CE fixes the issue.
NOW ONTO THE MEAT OF THE MATTER! We picked up a distress call from a shithole of a world known as LV-1413 or Solaris Ridge. The colony is dark and isn’t responding to any our hails. Now before you ask… No the distress call didn’t give any details as to why its being sent.
That being said Thanks to lovely Military Intelligence reports we do know a few things. First off the miners at the colony got into a scuffle with the marshals. Second off due to the first matter a group of UA peacekeepers where sent in to aide the marshals in keeping things from turning worst.
Now at first glance it may seem like open and shut case of riot knocking out the comms units. BUT THAT BRINGS ME TO THE THIRD MATTER! We have also gotten reports of a group known as the ‘BLT’ potentially operating in the region.
We don’t know much about this ‘BLT’ but they are believed to be a smuggling ring, dealing in heavy light arms. This means shit like LMGs and shoulder mounted rocket launchers. The ‘BLT’ have no known ties to the CLF… BUT that doesn’t mean they don’t work with CLF, all it means is that just know jack all about the ‘BLT’.
Taking in this all in account You are to act as if there is CLF operating on colony. Keep your eyes peeled for booby traps and don’t lower your guard around any civvies. Now before i get onto your orders do you have any questions?" I see the alpha squad lead rise his hand.
“What does BLT stand for?” I take a long sip of water before i answer the question.
"Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato… Yes i know that shit sound dumb, but that’s what the reports are saying it stands for. Frankly its thanks to that dumb ass name we know very little about the group, Seems a lot of old reports got thrown out thinking that the intel was not credible.
What this meant is that any leads Intelligence got ended up going cold by the time Intelligence figured out that BLT is in fact a real thing… despite the dumb name." Like really who the fuck names their organization Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato!?..Likely some fucks who think they are being all funny like.
“Boss you said that this ‘BLT’ has no known ties to the CLF…why exactly are we operating on the assumption that CLF are down on the colony?” Charlie squads spec piped up… not even bothering to undo his cloak…i never get why the scouts always seem to walk around the ship with their cloaks on.
"Use your brain for bit will you… We know that we got some jumped up civvies, so much that it got to the point the UA peace keepers got sent in. Mix weapon smuggler being in the AO and take look at the fact the colony is dark right now.
Fact is the CLF are always looking for ways to spread their roots or take at swing at us, It well with in the realm of possibility the civvies got riled up by the CLF or perhaps armed… The CLF if nothing else are rabid opportunists, that would snap at any pot of shit so they could stir it some more." That explanation seem to be to the scouts satisfaction… only for the Charlie’s lead to rise his hand.
“Yes?”
“Sir, please the cryo chow is bad as it is can you not talk about shit…” I simply glare at the marine…He had always been a baby about crass words. Which frankly is just part and parcel of being part of the USCM.
“Anyone else have a question?..No?..Well then onto your orders…”
…
A fucking nightmare… its been a god damn nightmare, The colony was filled with XX-121…god damn bugs…
It was clear the colonists did a right number on the bugs, smoldering corpses of quite a few short red bugs lay dead just out side the LZ… as well as few bodies of presumably the colonist scattered about the cargo garage… the poor fucks were torn limb from limb and half of their flesh was melted off…
We even found a few of the other hold outs that the colonists set up… at every one bodies of bugs and humans like…Frankly seemed like we just needed to finish off the last of the bugs the colonist didn’t take out. I mean fucking hell the crazy fucks had took out a right big red bug…THAT HAD FUCKING HUGE SCYTHE HANDS AND ARMOR PLATEING!
But of course things just had to go to shit in the end…
“How many got out?” The open channels were dead silent…i waited…and waited…still nothing…
I tap on the carton… empty… i resign myself to try calling up the Alamo again… only for nothing to come of it…i was still locked out of the controls. I switch to the Normandy’s control panel and bring up the security feed… only to see murky red… it must be blood covering the lens…
I try to call up the normandy only for it to be the same as the alamo…
I started to hovered my hands over the ships PA controls…little point…who is even left…I turn to look at the sealed bulkheads…A handful of bugs snuck aboard the Alamo when we were not looking and before we knew what was happening a quarter of the awake crewmen were dead.
The only reason i am likely even still alive is the fact the CIC is equipped with rather heavy duty protection and once i notice the deaths i sent the CIC into lockdown…
I stand up and stretch my legs pacing about the command bubble…There is a reason every thing had gone right into the gutter…it was the damn Gunpilots fault…all of it…For some god damn fucking reason the bastard missed his CAS strike by a fucking mile… pulping roughly eight out of ten of the ground forces…
“Is anyone out there?” A VOICE!..ITS COMING FROM THE NORMANDY!!! i rush to over to the control panel… i couldn’t make out who it was but there was a living person in the cockpit!.
“This First Lieutenant Liora speaking from the USS Almayer. We have little time i need you to remove the override on the controls, its not responding to my commands. Things are rather shit up here but its likely better then staying down in that hellhole.”
"I am on it… Ok i believe that should do it."Who ever this lad is they clearly know their way around a dropship, that was right fast…good its responding now, what ever happed to caused the lock out must have been a simple glitch…
“I am launching the ship, strap in.” i could see the silhouette shift, i didn’t wait to make sure they were ready before inputting the commands to sent the normandy back to its bay.
“What should i expect when i get up there?”
“Bugs… few of the fucks snuck aboard the ship and slaughtered the crew, as far as i know i am the only one still alive. I have tried to make contact with anyone still alive… but every channel i go on i only get static…” The only person who every responded was the fucking CL…The bitch was still kicking some how…Shame she’s lost it and welded herself into her little liquor closet and is drowning herself in what i can only presume is WY branded sake…
"I see, First lieutenant where are you?"The mans voice was odd… it was much too calm and monotoned…perhaps a Bot?
“I am hold up in the bridge of the ship, the Combat information control center. Who am i speaking to by the way.” The normandy is in the air and for how long it takes to get back…I have time to get all my ducks in a row, better to find out who this lad is. I would be remiss in my duty if i didn’t…not that matters really right now.
“Leo highland… A humble chef.” Well shit…
“Know how to use a firearm and are you armed?” No matter how slippery this Leo is… if he can’t shoot then he is just dead meat.
“I know my way around a Rifle or handgun, as for what i have on hand i had managed to find a machine gun of some sort. Very little ammo left… only about half a drum from the sounds of it.” Not really the best thing from for ship combat, but at least its something.
“Not the best… You should be able to find something of use off the bodies of my men… don’t worry their ghosts will happily lend you their Rifles if it means more dead bugs.” may they rest in peace…
“I checked… all ether melded or busted.” Well fuck guess he will just have to make due.
"I understand… Leo i going to have rather trouble something i am going to need you do for me after you get up here. The reason as why the bug were able to sneak aboard is the fact that our AI ARES is on the frizz. The blasted thing was not allowing much of the crew out of cryo… so our chef engineer tried to turn off ARES…
Only for him to blasted apart by the AI cores sentry system, before you ask am not asking you to go into the core to get turned into mulch. No what i need you to do is to open the cryo pods… bust them open if you have to.
Frankly i not sure if that will even work… but we can’t retake the ship with the two of us." It was quiet for some time… before Leo responded.
“I understand can you fill me in on the layout of your ship.” Thank god he is being cooperative… I turn to look at the bulkheads… i can see some warping now but i still have some time left before they get in…