The smell… Like that of rust… Carrying a acrid taste…it was almost pleasant… There was something wrong with my head, i had known ever since i was child… I look around at the still wet blood spattering the cockpit. Bodies torn limb from limb, its clear more then few marines tried to stuff themselves in here… to what end i have frankly no clue… All i do know is that the sight sets my heart aflame with life.
The humming of the Dropships engines sounded wrong… Clearly this boat is on its last legs i can but only hope that it will be able to make it up to the USCM Ship in orbit.
“Leo…they are gone…” The Nurse that i have still yet to get the name of, spoke up from the transport bay of the dropship. The only reason we were able to get into this ship was thanks to a USCM Intelligence Officer we had found bleeding out on the streets.
The Poor man had both of his legs blown off from the CAS strike that had wiped out the marine forces. The only reason he was still alive by the time we found him was thanks to the fact his legs also had gotten scorched slowing down the rate at which he was bleeding out.
“What about the others?” The officer was not the only one we had picked up, we also found a small gaggle of Grunts cling to life as well. All were missing a body part or two and likely lost quite a bit of blood.
“They are stable and most of them should be able to hold a gun…but they will not be able to move any amount of distance.” Quite good… even if they can’t help retake the Ship in orbit they could at the very least hold down the fort here.
I look out at the night sky through the blood splattered window, i could still not see the ship. Looking at the ETA on the auto pilot its clear it would still take some time… Frankly i would rather not land on that USCM battleship. We had only barely lived by the skin of teeth… and that was at the cost of so many fellows.
I really should have known better…I truly should have done something…but i didn’t…I had the chance to stop it…but i didn’t…looking down at the brutalized bodies…That…this…it was all my fault…I should not have been swayed by the fellows in gray.
I know that freedom would not be gained with out the price being payed with rivers of blood…But this…men turned into nothing more then rotting meat for nothing more then changeing of hands of state. I know how the gray fellows act… I know that are not that much better then the UA or TWE.
But no i had to leave the plot intact…It was ingenious in simplicity… We knew that there was likely going to be USCM response to the take over of the colony. So we set a rather simple trap, above my canteen on the roofs we installed a range finder and hooked it up to a gutted salvaged USCM Sentry turret.
We lacked the capabilities to hack into the sentry turrets data bank of IFF codes, but we could hijack its ability to recognize friend or foe to target anything with IFF codes with the range finder. Then it was simply a matter of using the the uplink on the Sentry to send the targeting data.
Anyone worth their salt could tell something was wrong with the targeting data… but the marines around these parts are rather lacking…And the plan had clearly worked out…The Dropship launched its payload right on topped of the main marine force…
They should have known better…but in some kind of cosmic joke the devils chose to hold up at the same spot as the grey fellows were planning to had things gone to plan…right in front of the locks to get into the company’s’ facility… which happens to be right next to my canteen…We knew that company’s facility would have been the best place to dig in…after all… the USCM are in the pockets of the company…unlikely for them to just drop a bomb from orbit on it.
I turn to look back down at the bodies…Why…why am i with the grey fellows?..perhaps… i simply want a cause to excuse my bloodlust…
"Your commander has filled me in on the issues aboard your fellows ship. Key among them is the Devils that are lurking about the halls and the many men still stuck in cryo. As such here is the plan, seeing how you lot are in no shape to be moving around you will be staying here.
You fellows job is to draw the Devils to the Dropship and try to keep them here. Simple put you are bait. This should allow me to rush to the rear end of the ship and attempt to force open the cyro pods and arm the fellows inside. Now any questions?"
A pale skinned red headed fellow with large mutton chops raised his stump were his hand used to be.
“Yes?” i point to the man
“Why does it have to be you alone, i maybe missing a hand but my legs just work fine and with the lovely painkillers your friend gave me i am able to think clearly. wouldn’t it be better to have at least two lads going for the cryo pods. Anyways i know this ship better then you ever could civvie.” many of the others grunts nodded their heads in agreement.
"No its not, The issue is that the Devils while shockingly smart are quite predictable at this point. They will go after the biggest threat at any given time, the Demons know that you lot are the most armed. So they will want to get rid of you first.
Also while in normal cases more manpower would be best…Right now its better that we have who ever is best at moving quietly go for the cryo pods. AND having a fully armed and armored marine stomping about with me is not quite what i would call quiet."
That had gotten the marines to back off… It likely helps that it also means they don’t have to lose one of the most well off fellows leave.
As soon as the dropships doors unlocked i rushed at full pace sprint north for the maintenance corridor the First Lieutenant Liora mentioned. It was simple matter really no contact yet of the devils. But no reason to overstay my welcome out in the open… The beasts will be swarming here soon enough.
Thankfully while many of the lights have been busted the low power red lights still seemed to be working just fine… Perhaps the lights were dim enough as to not draw the Ire of the devils. Holding the MARS-50 braced at my side i duck and weave through the junk strewn about the narrow hallway.
It odd really everything was covered with thick layer of dust and there was even a few cobwebs here and there… I don’t think the Fellows of this ship have been taking good care of her… Maybe that’s why the beasts left the lights intact, no one ever used these halls…Gun fire… lots of it… seem the Devils have gotten to the dropship.
Keep my eyes open waiting for the right door…not this one…or that…Ah here it is… Big lettering “Alpha cryo bay”…The good Lieutenant told me that it was best that i awaken those of Alpha squad first. It was the simplest to get to from the north Maintenance shaft…and what’s more according to the good Lieutenant Alpha was the second best at combat among the remaining crew.
I try to open the door only for the lights to blink red…i thought the good lieutenant had turn off the identification requirements on the Maintenance shaft…Still no matter i have the next best thing… holding the MARS-50 trained on the hallway with one hand bracing it to my side, i use my other to pull out the Late Intelligence Officer’s ID and give it a swipe.
As soon door started to open i shoved the MARS-50 into the crack even before it has time to fully open…i opened fire…First thing i heard was the Screeching of one of the devil…and then a thud and soft hissing… The Devils may be more cunning then would seem at first glance… but they are still little more then beast…They lack the same intuition that a human would have.
Keeping the MARS-50 at the ready, i use the flashlight hooked on it to illuminate the room… making sure to check every corner including the one on the ceiling… the Room seems to be clear… of course there could still be more laying in hiding but will just have to risk it… the beast would have heard me opening fire.
Making sure to avoid the acid blood spattered around the room i rush over to still closed cryo pods… There was five still occupied…forceful opening of cyro pods is ill advised…But thankfully this being a military ship meant that these Pod should be equip with with a emergency eject levers.
I Yank on the bright red Lever… only for nothing to happen at first…then i heard a hiss as the Pod opened… And a bright red autoinjector fell out of the Lever…Picking it up, it had written on it in large lettering ‘Inject Into Thigh, only for Emergency use.’… on the other side it had written a long list of chemicals in small lettering…I look down at the occupant of the pod…
A Blonde that seem to be gasping for air…eyes wide open…I jab her in the Thigh and with slight hum the Autoinjector did its thing… quickly her breathing normalized… Seem there is rather good reason for the thing…
Tossing aside the empty Injector and with out missing a beat i move to the four remaining pods and repeat the procedure… Soon enough i had five rather dazed but other wise fine marines on my hands…Before i even had time open my mouth The rather large blonde woman started to bark out orders.
“KIT UP LADS, DOUBLE TIME WE HAVE BEEN BOARDED!” The blonde pointed at me and jerked a thumb at next room over. “YOU GET ANY OTHER STILL HAVEING THEIR BEAUTY SLEEP!” With out a word more or a glance over at me she jogged over to the Prep room next to the cryo bays… with a M4A3 in hand…where the hell did she get that?..Oh… she still wearing a shoulder holster…Guess that’s what happens when i try to be a gentleman…
“Your ship has been taken over by massive killer bugs with acid blood, so mind the spatter.” I called out as i rush over to the room next door that had the large letters printed above ‘Bravo Cryo bay.’…only for the door to not open yet again forcing me to have use the Officer’s ID again.
“GOT IT!” The blonde shouted back…I could still hear the distant gun fire coming from the hanger bay echoing through the halls as move to the few still occupied pod less then the Alpha lot… only amounting to two pod…had done the procedure the same as i had done with for Alpha… only this time one of the Autoinjector seem to be missing…
The poor fellow with black hair could barely move and breath…looked ready to hurl at any moment too…the other fellow who still had his Injector seem to be the about the same as the Alpha marines.
“You have been boarded by killer bugs with acid blood. I have to move to open the other Pods. Ready up and follow the orders of the large blonde up in Alpha.” The marine seem to have to blink a few times before he understood what i was saying. once it seem to connect in his brain he rushed to the black haired fellow and started to drag him to the prep area.
“Jin we got to move.” The fellow whispered to the black haired man…guess they must be buddies or something… still good that he is handing the fellow i don’t have time deal with a cryo sick marine.
Glancing over at the prep room i could see the bright light of the marines shoulder lamps. That was rather fast of the fellows…Still i have to move onto…Fox..Foxtrot?.. yes Foxtrot…They should be in the middle of ship… Again the doors flashed red and had to swipe the Officer’s ID… just as the door opened i could feel a shift in the air… and thick smell of rust…
I sweep the MAR-50 across the hallway… and there was nothing… no bodies… no blood…nothing at all not single sound even…wait… I see the Devil thinks its so clever, shame for it i have seen this trick before. I take aim at the nearby air vent…Only for a bright red devil to pop out… right into firing line of the LMG.
It only took a short burst and quick sidestep for the little bugger to be sent flying into the open doorway. I tore off my jacket and tossed it aside before the acid had time to eat through it and meld my skin. with quick jerk of the MARS i took aim at the jittering body of the red devil and sent two more shots into its head.
The beasts would be much better off just rushing me in the first place instead of laying in wait… One doesn’t live long in my line of work unless they have good eyes, ears and noses…I give the MARs a good shake… not many rounds left from the feel of it… perhaps one more short burst.
Its quiet…the sound of gun fire has stopped. Clearly those who acted as bait have been wiped out…Poor fellows…I knew from the very being that they would die…After all the devils once on mass can’t be dealt with simply. The only reason i yet draw breath so far its been one on one…
I backpedal back to the cyro bay making sure to have the MARS trained on the doorway into the hall…and make my way to the prep area. One burst left is simply not enough…and what’s more with the bait dealt with… the beasts will be here on mass, so best i stick with this group for the time being.
“OI WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE GET THE OTHERS UP!” *I didn’t even need to look at the one speaking it clearly was the blonde… she must been the squad lead with the way she barks orders out like its nothing. I keep up my backpedaling until i can see her in the side of my eye.
“The beasts have dealt with others that were acting as bait. There was also one waiting at the door leading to the hallway. I killed it but my friend here is almost out.” I tried my best to keep my tone of voice even…i really did… but i could not keep the joy in my heart to myself…I can’t keep the smile away…
“I SEE THEN, TAKE THIS YOU NUTJOB. I AM GOING TO NEED A SITREP ON THE FUCKING IS GOING ON WHILE WE MOVE OUT!” She Shoved a M41A mk2 at me along side a full mag belt…i with out a moment of hesitation i dropped the MARS and took the Rifle… and with a click i put the belt on… making sure to never let my eyes leave the doorway.
"In simple terms we had outbreak of these devils down on our colony, your ship came by and tried to wipe the beasts out. Only for the ground forces to get taken out by a misfired CAS strike. All the while your ship AI is bugging out and not letting many of the crew out of cryo.
I am not quite sure how the demons got up here but they did and have wiped out most of the support personnel, I got up here thanks to your good Lieutenant Liora calling up one of the grounded dropships. He was the one to tell me to force you lot out of cryo."I shot a glance back and saw that marines were all kitted up now… well some are all kitted… a few are wearing armor and have weapons ready but are still wearing just the cryo wear.
They really should have all their skin covered but seem time is not quite willing… i can hear them… the devils… they are clawing around the vents…
“SHIT SOUNDS LIKE THEY ARE ON US KEEP YOUR HEADS ON A SWIVEL THEY ARE IN THE VENTS OR SOME SHIT!..god damn Liora that fuckup…” Clearly comment about the acting commander was meant to be said under her breath…seem that Liora is disliked…the poor bait didn’t seem to care about him ether.
I raise the M41A and take aim at nearby vent and open fire… screeching and hiss of melting metal… as soon as open fire the other vents got burst open by gaggle of red devils only for they too getting gun down… and flopping down onto the floor with a thud… Three down… just how many of the devils are there on this ship? because that has been five so far dead.
“Hay that wasn’t so bad…” The rather ill looking man named Jin seems to not understand…
“These red ones die quite readily but are fast… but don’t think its a cake walk yet most of the other devils are much smarter and tougher then this lot.” Its rather odd…something is wrong here…these beast are acting rather dumb… like really dumb…The demons would normally move quietly and would attack from more than one angle… staggered no less as well…They would sacrifice one so the rest could move in after…
“Hay you good in there?” A voice from outside of the prep room?
“JACK GOOD TO HEAR YOU! WE WASTED A FEW BUGS IN HERE YOU ARMED?” Clearly the blonde knew the voice…jack… i though that every one else died…perhaps this Liora was mistaken…
The door to the prep room opened up and a man wearing a full body white plastic bio suit walk in carrying a what looked to be some kind of flamer…
“I see you have met our guests! Neat little creatures, about as dumb as sack of bricks right now.” The mans voice was jovial and rather a bit off… A fellow of similar cloth as myself it seems… but i guess they really is something going on with the devils.
“JACK..” The blonde was about to speak but got cut off by the jack
“You are all going to need to put on gasmasks, like right now… that’s unless you want to keel over dead.” Before any of the marines could act i rush to the open equipment lockers and snatched a gasmask.. i quickly put it on and clear it with a smooth motion…The lot of marines were fast to follow suit… no wonder the demons were acting so off…
“How much of whatever is in air deadly?” I was out in the open for much longer then this lot here…i would rather not die a undignified death to poising
"No clue, Its rather a new compound. I could tell it would mess with the critters and that it would likely be lethal to humans… but other then that, we simply lack the data to say… But if you are not having hallucinations then i would say you are in the clear for now.
Poor Liora…He got a full dose of it… keep on forgetting things…hearing and seeing things…poor man put a bullet in his brain thinking the CIC was getting overran by the critters." Well that would explained why the good Lieutenant seemed so off… i thought it was perhaps just stress…
"Jack…YOU FUCKING FLOODED THE SHIP WITH GOD DAMN POISON!?"The blonde seemed ready to pop a vein… the gasmask doing little to muffle her harsh voice.
“I can explain…but first we best get moving… There are many more critters lurking about, The compound has acted rather oddly with the different castes of XX-121. It makes the larger castes quite cowardly while causing the small red caste to act… quite aggressively but in a drunken manner.” Jack lead us out into the dark halls taking us north… starboard… and up to set of stairs.
"Valerie you see by the time i… took onto myself to deal with the critters, there was no one else left other then First Lieutenant Liora, me and the our corporate overseer…Simple fact is am not a soldier.
I knew the cryo pods would likely keep you and the other safe from the toxin. This was the only shot i had at dealing with the large numbers of XX-121." why didn’t Liora tell me about this jack fellow?
“Good sir why had the good Lieutenant not informed me of this plan of yours or the fact that you were alive?” I made sure keep the Rifle trained behind us making sure to mind my steps as i backup the stairs… Its quite lucky i am used to rough ground, any lesser man would fall on their ass.
“Because Liora the poor man likely had forgotten, you see internal communication systems have not been working for a good while now. I had a hardline to the CIC from my workspace, but likely by the time you spoke to Liora the compound would have done a number on him… It seems to mess with short term memory formation in humans.”
That would explain why things gotten so bad up here… the communication systems likely were cut early on and with their AI acting out they would not had thought it was the demons.
“Jack let me guess… the Comms went down before you knew what was happening.” The blonde… no Valerie…seems to be on the same page as me.
“Yes, the critters had picked us off one by one. While we were all none the wiser… that was until it was too late to do much… Ah we need to go by the maintenance shaft from here.” After getting to the top of the stairwell he guided us to enter into a rather dark narrow corridor…from what i could tell it was used much more often.. it lacked the same covering of dust… Jack waited at the open door clearly wanting some one else go first.
It took a moment but Valerie took point and entered into maintenance shaft one of the other marines following then jack then the rest of us… me being in the rear… Push comes to shove i have clear line to run… better then being stuck in the middle…
“So…are we just leaving those other marines to die? you know the ones that where shooting?” The pal of Jin fellow spoke up, his voice had a level of coldness to it… contemn perhaps?
“No point, they are dead…I had been keeping a eye on things from the lab, most of the cameras around the ship are still working.” His voice had a odd tone… very odd, like there is something not being said or perhaps guilt?..it just sounded off…but perhaps its just a tick…he does seem to be of a off sort.
“Jack i don’t recall you having access to the security feeds…” Valerie words cut though with level suspicion…but that would explain the odd tone… it wouldn’t make great deal of sense for a…scientist?.. a scientist to have access to such things.
“You can thank Liora for that. The CE was kind enough to hook me into the cameras feed after few things had gone missing.” no…It was not just that…there was more… something is wrong…There is more to this…The air…there is something wrong with the flow of the air!
I tear off my the gasmask and it hits me… that odd musk…earthy with a hint of rot…ITS THE SAME AS THE DEVILS BLACKEN RESIN!
“ITS A TRAP BACK BACK BACK! NOW!” I open fire at the dark hall we had just walked though…only to hear the hiss and screech of the devils…I just keep opening fire while rushing forward to try to make it out of the hall.
“NO STOP THEY ARE NOT THE ENE…” Jacks voice got cut off as burst of gun fire opened up behind me…I could hear a wet thud and screeching and something very large stomping about…
“KEEP LAYING FIRE DOWN AND MOVE BACK DO NOT STOP” The harsh..
“cough what…?” Its a tail..? it hurts…i can’t feel my body…why…whos that headless body?..