Prophecy
of the
Stars
Nickolas Finch
Copyright 2012,2014 Nickolas Finch
I
A green light filled the room and the nine troopers stood up silently. The sergeant touched his helmet and spoke on his internal link to the pilot, “We’ve received the green light. Rho Squad is waiting for the go.” The other troopers checked their equipment, not out of necessity but out of memory and confidence. The troopers made two lines along the sides of the craft. A sudden bump jolted New Blood and she held the side for balance. A voice spoke to each of them through their helmets, “Lancer Zero-One on target. All troopers, prepare to drop.” The rear door opened and the black night appeared before them, only the explosions of anti-aircraft fire decorated the Tilaros sky. “Never die with ammo, troopers,” the pilot told them. The troopers surged forward and dove into the sky.
As the sergeant plummeted to the ground, his mind went over the details of the mission. He recounted the three new troopers, to fill the void lost over the campaign. He thought about the objective and where he would rather be fighting. Above all, he thought about the newest addition to his outfit, and that made it his team one heavy and how much it scared him.
***
The troopers moved into the room, pushing and shoving one another. “I don’t care how bad you think the Ikor are. They are nothing compared to the Grigor, Rider.” A trooper told another while taking a seat.
Rider replied with a chuckle, “Sure the Grigor are bigger, but the Ikor have some pretty powerful shields. If you fought any other system you would know that, Hudson .”
Hudson waved him off and sat next to Watson, his rightful place as a corporal. “What do you think?” asked Hudson,” Who’s worse, Sergeant?”
The sergeant shrugged, “They all bleed.”
Watson wasn’t much for words. He’d fought in more battles than anyone in this room. He decided the best way to handle these arguments was to let them solve it themselves. “What are you looking at, New Blood?” Watson saw that she was staring at a sleek suit of armor that stood in the corner of the dark room.
“I’m not sure, Sergeant,” she answered, “You think this armor is the new stuff they want to give us?”
A few of them laughed, and Corporal Knight responded, “This may be a new unit to me, but I’ve done enough drops to know they aren’t going to give us nothing that clumsy looking. We work better with something light and no two-bit brain tank is going to tell me to wear that piece of ---” She cut herself off, their wait was over. The ship’s commander had walked in with company.
“Be seated, troopers,” the skipper responded to their attentive silence. He walked to the center of the room with two more, an admiral and a major. “Rho Squad, this is Admiral Kallen. He is in command of the battle group charged with this raid.” The admiral nodded as was custom. “And this is Major Leadly. Your mission has been reassigned as High-End Special and he is in charge.”
The major stepped next to the monitor and placed an image of a massive, sparkling sphere on the screen. “Thank you, skipper. I see you have already met your newest addition and lieutenant.” He nodded in the direction of the armor in the corner.
“Major, are you implying that thing in the corner?” Hudson asked, “No one is even in it.”
The major chuckled and replied, “He’s just not very talkative. The lieutenant is very capable. You can do your meet and greet later, this is a time sensitive drop.” He raised an eyebrow in preparation of any other questions. There were none.
“What you see on the screen is a star core. The Tilarin have one and we want a unique component of it.” The image on the screen changed to a layout of a large building. “Your drop point will be here in this court yard. It should be lightly guarded as they will be busy with the rest of our continuing assault.” A large ‘X’ appeared on the map. “You will then proceed through these tunnels and arrive at a large door. Blow it open and you will enter another room. This room will contain several scientists and priests. Kill those that get in your way and secure the package. Corporal Knight will be in charge of securing the core.”
Knight nodded in agreement and began studying the images on the screen. The major continued, “You will then leave the same way you came and a lancer will be on standby to lift you out of the courtyard. I don’t need to tell you the level of importance this raid is. Make sure the core gets out and is undamaged upon arrival. Now, are there any questions?”
Watson asked the key question, “Estimated mission time?”
The major looked at him with a calculating grin. “Twenty minutes,” he answered. “Twenty minutes and you’ll be back in space.”
Hudson whistled. “That’s impressive. What’s the tin can in the corner here for?”
A voice from the corner answered, “In case anything goes wrong.”
***
Watson hoped nothing went wrong. His Heads Up Display showed that he had another thirty seconds of free-fall before he needed to deploy his chute. He eyed the spots he wanted his team to land, carefully considering the intensity of the mission, and decided that the team would land in a circle around the garden in the center as a precaution. He wasn’t picking up thermal signals yet, but he was sure someone was down there. Relaying the coordinates to his team, he keyed for the lieutenant to land next to him. The squad penetrated the purple clouds, exposing the giant, sprawling complex.
“Troopers, deploy on my mark,” Watson commanded as he watched his timer carefully. He needed to time it perfectly. Too early and they float for a few precious seconds, leaving them vulnerable. Too late and they crush their ankles. It was time. “Mark!” Their chutes deployed and they touched the ground. The squad withdrew their chutes back into their pack, took up positions, and watched their sectors carefully. Suddenly his helmet lit up with thermal signatures on the wall surrounding them.
“Sergeant, we got targets up above,” Hudson let him know, although everyone already knew. They aimed their weapons carefully, waiting for targeting data and the signal.
Suddenly, they all received their target and the kill command was given simultaneously. Months of training and years of preparation let it happen in an instant. They reloaded and waited for orders.
“Let’s move,” commanded Watson, as he led the sprint for the tunnel entrance. He tried to be the lead, but the lieutenant sprinted ahead of him. For the first time, he got a good look at the stranger. He appeared to be wearing a solid piece of armor that bent with him, with larger plates on his forearms and calves, and a large piece on his chest. There wasn’t an unprotected spot on him. He carried two short blades on both thighs, in contradiction to a regular trooper's one . Instead of rifles, he carried two machine pistols on his chest. The sergeant should have paid attention to where he was going, because suddenly two sonic blasts rocked the tunnel and the lieutenant dove forward, firing both of his weapons. Watson rolled against the wall and raised his weapon to fire, but there were no opponents left standing.
“Troopers, give me a count. Who’s injured?” the Sergeant ordered. He listened carefully and pulled up his unit’s life readings on his H.U.D. An echo of green rallied through his helmet followed by Knight saying, “Good job shooting, Sergeant. I didn’t even hear you fire.”
Watson’s H.U.D agreed with their calls but he disagreed with Knight. “I didn’t shoot. He did.” He motioned toward the lieutenant who sat in a crouched position with both weapons aimed at the entrance. “It’s time to go to work, Rider. Let’s knock on the door.”
Rider moved forward and placed explosives on the door. Watson imagined a grin on his face through his visor. He ran back to the squad and hit the detonator. A large
boom echoed through the tunnels. “Move up, secure the room.” Watson didn’t need to say it; they had already begun to enter the dust and into the room. The room was bright, and littered with computers and bodies of Tilarin. “Knight, get to work. Hudson, I want you, King, Malloy, and Patterson guarding that tunnel. The rest of you, help Knight and make sure none of these guys get in his way. New Blood, you’re Knight’s personal helper.”
The squad split up as they followed their orders. The New Blood moved toward Knight, already busy working with the computer interface. She couldn’t help but study the fallen Tilarin. They were large, with powerful looking arms and long faces. A few had horns coming out near their ears and a gold ring piercing their nose. Their hands had four thick fingers that ended with large claws. Her mind was filling with disgust at their ugly bodies.
“I got a live one here,” called Rider as he watched a wounded body crawling to Knight. “Kill it,” Watson commanded simply. Rider responded quickly, firing a short burst into its skull.
“New Blood, I need you to pay attention,” Knight regained her attention, “Come to the console here and flip this switch.” She did so and saw the results. A section of the console lowered and a dazzling crystal emerged. Knight placed a container around it and began to speak, “Sergeant, we are ready when ---“
A massive explosion rocked through the tunnel, followed by gunfire. King and Malloy dragged Patterson into the room, followed shortly by Hudson who was firing into the tunnel. The lieutenant grabbed Hudson and threw him down as another round of gunfire came into the room. “Shit,” said Rider, clutching his stomach.
Watson leaned against the wall and fired his rifle blindly down the hall. The lieutenant stepped into the hallway with both weapons drawn.
“Sergeant, we are going to need another exit strategy soon,” said Hudson, crawling to safety as he reloaded his weapon. New Blood studied Patterson's wound; several bullets grazed his thigh armor and punctured his suit underneath it at the knee. A series of explosions rocked the entrance way and the sound of the tunnel collapsing reinforced the corporal's statement.
The lieutenant rushed into the room and began to examine the wounded. Watson knelt down alongside the wall and pulled up the diagram to the building.
“These walls are too thick to blast through, the only way out is in.” Watson said aloud. Suddenly, his map was taken control of and it zoomed into a section of the very ceiling above them.
“Blow this section away,” the lieutenant told him on a private channel, “and make our way here to this room at the top. We blow the ceiling there, climb on top, and get extracted.” Watson agreed.
“Listen up troops, here’s the plan,” Watson began broadcasting into the helmets of several of the troops. “We blow the ceiling, make our way into the room above, and then beat feet up four flights of stairs to another room and our extraction.” Everyone nodded in agreement and Rider began handing Malloy the explosives to put on the ceiling. “Hudson, New Blood, Malloy, and me will be the first up. Then Knight and King will lift up Patterson and Rider.”
The squad readied. It wouldn’t be a very hard jump for a healthy Guntherian, but they would be vulnerable for a few moments. Watson gave the signal and the explosive blew a small hole in the ceiling. The troopers jumped up and began helping up the rest. Watson scanned the room and discovered too late that the room was large and already occupied.
He began desperately to give targeting data to Hudson and New Blood. Almost twenty Tilarin stood surrounding him with their weapons drawn. A few had sonic blasters, the rest were armed with rifles and energy blasters. Just as one readied his weapon, a sudden burst of gunfire sounded from above him. The lieutenant jumped out of the lower room and was in the air, spiraling and shooting with impressive accuracy. Just as he landed, he holstered his weapons and charged at two more with his blades drawn. He dove forward and sliced both, one in the stomach and the other at the neck. They fell where they stood and the blood began to pool and flow in the direction of the hole.
Watson stood with awe before collecting himself, killing several of the large survivors before doing a check of his squad. Patterson could walk, but Rider would need to be carried. “Troopers, our path is lit up on your H.U.D. King, you help Rider. Everyone else, get moving. Hudson, you’re on point.”
They began moving as fast as they could. As they entered the second flight of stairs, more gunshots rang out and a sonic blast destroyed the wall ahead of them. Watson dove against the remainder of the wall, killing two rushing Tilarin as they attempted to close in on the squad. The lieutenant radioed to Watson, “I’ll stay here and hold them off. Get to the tower and I’ll meet you there.”
Watson nodded and helped carry Rider up the stairs. He was losing consciousness fast.
They followed the stairs to the top room and stopped at a small door. Watson nodded to Hudson as he retrieved a small charge from Rider's chest harness. They caught their breath as Hudson pressed the detonator and everyone rushed inside to wait for the lieutenant.
Hudson went to Watson, “Sergeant, we are out of explosives; I used Rider's last to blow that door.”
He thought for a moment and stared at the window. It would be risky but he realized it was the only way. He went to one knee and touched his helmet to radio for extraction. “Command, this is Raider Zero-One. We are waiting for pickup at my present location. Advise lancer that we are in the tower and pick up will be through a window. Over.”
He waited for a response and then his helmet echoed, “Roger, Raider Zero-One, this is Lancer One-Eight. We are already en-route for retrieval, but we received orders that the pickup was on top of your present location. Has situation changed? Over.” Watson looked at Knight, with a puzzled looked through his helmet.
Watson heard footsteps echoing up the stairs and turned with his weapon ready. He didn’t have much ammo left, but he was willing to fight. The lieutenant came up the stairs, carrying two sonic blasters. He pointed one up and fired at the ceiling. It blew a small hole, not enough for anyone to fit through but it was a start. He fired the second one, and the ceiling crumbled and the rain poured into the room. His helmet echoed, “Raider Zero-One, we are one mike out. Has retrieval changed? Over.”
The lieutenant nodded and Watson radioed, “Lancer One-Eight, retrieval has not changed. We will be on the roof. Over.” Watson signaled his squad to get on the roof.
Hudson and Knight climbed onto the roof and knelt down to reach for the wounded. The lieutenant jumped onto the roof with Rider and laid him down. The lancer flew in and redirected its jets to allow it to hold position. Watson directed Knight on, followed by the wounded.
His helmet suddenly echoed, “Raider One-Zero, be advised. Reaper Two-three and Two-Four are doing a danger close bombing run. Over.”
The tower rocked and King called out, “That’s a little late.”
Two reaper bombers flew by, dropping their payload on the surrounding complex. Watson watched the twin crescents begin to climb rapidly and folded their wings to become diamonds.
“Alright squad, get aboard.” Watson ordered and began moving toward the lancer. Another shock moved the tower, and he turned to see New Blood struggling to maintain her balance. He called out, “New Blood!” as another shock rocked the tower that knocked him down and he saw her fall over the edge.
The lieutenant dove over the edge, rushing to catch her before she landed at the bottom of a five story drop. He caught her, cradled her in both arms and twisted himself to land first. He hit the floor hard and the floor crumbled away. He twisted again, and landed on his feet into a hail of gunfire, laser-fire, and sonic blasts. He ran forward under a large statue and checked her suit's vitals. She was fine, but unconscious. He checked is H.U.D. to pinpoint his location, unholstered his weapons and began shooting at a trio of Tilarin that charged him.
The lancer pilot called to Watson, “Either get on board or join him.”
Watson jumped on as th
e jets reoriented for forward flight allowing the lancer to take off into the sky. He looked at Knight to insure she had the package. Knight nodded and held on as the acceleration to escape the planet pushed them down.
***
In orbit above the fight, a technical officer relayed a message to Leadly. “Major, the package is in the air on its way to us. They report that a trooper and your lieutenant are still on the ground receiving heavy fire.”
The major rushed to the screen to verify what was said. He looked up and faced the ship’s commander. “I need heavy fire directed at his location and a retrieval ship to get him out.” The skipper gave him a perplexed look, “We can’t send retrieval. Anti-aircraft fire is filling the sky. I shouldn't have risked that lancer to get them out. Besides, he is in a tiny courtyard; he will have to make it out for anything to pick him up.”
The major slammed his hand down on the console, “I don’t care, we are going to get him out.”
The radio chirped and the sound of gunfire rang out. “This is Lariot One-Seven-Two calling for priority pick up for one plus one wounded on my position. Over.”
Leadly pressed on the receiver. “Lariot, retrieval is impossible at your present position. You will need to exit your current location for a larger access. Over”
***
The lieutenant knelt behind the statue as another sonic blast blew away part of the wall. He checked her vital signs again, and saw her suit was keeping her unconscious until medical revived her. He touched his helmet and responded, “Negative on exit, Command. Requesting bounce pods on my present location. Over.”
He waited and counted his ammo again. He had no way of fighting out of here while carrying her. His helmet echoed, “Lariot, be advised. Present location only allows for a single bounce pod. Repeat, single bounce pod. Over.”
He reached around the corner to fire another burst, killing the two that had rushed him. “Roger that, Command. Send it. Out.” A volley of battleship fire rocked a wall near him.
The battleship fire drowned out the sound of Tilarin firing at him. A crack of lighting and a crack of thunder sounded out through the space-borne fire and an explosion near him rocked the courtyard. The lieutenant turned and saw the black egg, crowned with fins and held straight up by claws that were the engines. He picked up New Blood and rushed toward the pod, threw her in, and hit the emergency launch button. The rockets fired up and blazed as he grabbed onto the handle meant for space based retrieval and held on as the pod launched itself into the night.