by Christi Smit
Chapter Seven.Two
Passing
“Death, the shadow that hunts us around every corner, the eventuality at the end of the road, we have seen its face. Do not ask when you will succumb to destruction’s embrace, for no-one can tell you your future. Instead, ask what you should do before you are taken by the Reaper’s skeletal grasp. What reason do you have to show fear now? Do you distrust your own abilities? Or do you lack the faith to see your journey to its end? Know this, if you falter before your name echoes in the realm beyond, then you will vanish from all existence, falling forever through the nothingness on the edges of forgotten realities. Make your mark soldier, make them remember your name, and make them all regret ever meeting you on the battlefield. Death must be your constant companion, accept its gift and harvest in its honour!”
- Lord Wilhelm Alyn, Lord and Commander of the first expedition into the dead zones, lost during a catastrophic jump drive failure, no trace of his ship was ever found, 2521 - 12 ASD
They were pinned down behind a bullet ridden wall, Christian still clutching Tristan in his arms, using his free hand to fire his pistol blindly over the wall at the enemy.
Nathan’s armoured form crouched with his back to his brother, reloading his rifle, pouring fire at the black armoured soldiers pinning them down.
Jessica, Nash and Sam had their backs to the wall they were all taking cover behind. Jessica helped Christian reload his pistol as the Titan fired to keep heads down. Sam held his hands over his ears, trying to drown out the sound of unending gunfire around him, humming a tune he knew well to help calm his nerves. The poor engineer was not used to this kind of violence, and never thought he would be in the middle of an actual fire fight. Sam was glad he had not pissed himself out of fear, and was even more proud that his bowels remained silent throughout the dire situation.
Nash on the other hand was relishing the fight, smiling to himself as he reloaded his rusty old shotgun with shells he kept in his dirty trousers. His shotgun roared four fearful shots at the enemy, missing everything Nash aimed at, but it kept the traitorous bastards from charging their rapidly deteriorating position.
The two Titans and four companions were forced to take cover in a raw metal wholesaler’s shop front on the south-western edge of the complex surrounding the extraction zone. Enemies wielding shiny new rifles had tried to flank Locke and everyone else in the courtyard from the west, but they had run directly into the Titan brothers who were trying to sneak past the advancing enemy lines.
Black armoured soldiers had spotted the Titans scrambling over rubble, crossing their line of sight as they advanced to encircle the Wolves and Lancers protecting the extraction site.
Close to fifty rifles had opened fire on the Titans and their companions, luckily hitting nothing but stone and concrete around them. The black armoured traitors were terrible shots, and Nathan was going to expose their weakness soon - he was just waiting for the right time.
One soldier fired a larger calibre rifle from a wall directly overlooking the building the Titans and their companions were pinned down in. It was a standard issue anti-infantry machine gun, its firing mechanism fed by a giant belt of torso pulping ammunition. Two other soldiers were helping the heavy machine gunner, one keeping debris from feeding into the weapon as it ate through its ammunition, the other carried boxes with more belts for the weapon, opening one as the weapons current belt was about to run out.
Nathan listened to the sound the weapon made, hearing it above the rest of the gunfire around it. Its distinctive whine and screech as the fired as all too familiar in a situation like this. Nathan had noticed that the soldiers had to be new recruits, their experience with their weapons and their terrible aim proof of their lack of training. It was only a matter of time before they would create opportunities for their enemy to expose, and one of those opportunities was about to present itself.
Christian saw Nathan unclip the launchers from his back and took that as the signal to get ready. He handed Tristan over to Jessica, safely setting the girl down in her sister’s arms. Christian brushed the back of his armoured hand against Jessica’s dirty cheek. “Whatever happens, stay down. That goes for you two as well,” Christian said, his helmet turning to look at Nash and Sam in turn.
Jessica, Nash and Sam nodded, Tristan half smiled at Christian’s words and held on tighter to her sister. The poor girl was probably hungry, tired and scared beyond anything Christian could imagine.
Christian placed a hand on Tristan’s shoulder, squeezing it softly. “Don’t you worry little one. It will be over before you know it,” he said, his voice sounding mechanical through his helmet speakers. But the warmth of his words could still be felt.
Tristan’s smile broadened slightly and pressed her head tightly against her sister’s chest.
“When it happens, Christian, you lead with your shield, I will be right behind you,” Nathan said.
“Understood,” Christian replied. He unclipped his shield with is free hand, firing a few more shots from his pistol at the enemy.
Nathan’s voice changed as he spoke again, a moment of sentiment shining through his diamond hard exterior. “Do you remember the stories mother told us about the Last Stand of Koralis?” he asked.
“I remember. A handful stood against insurmountable evil, giving their people the time to escape to safety,” Christian replied.
“Exactly, let’s make these bastards scream,” Nathan said, the anger in his voice already starting to bubble over.
Christian did not need to reply. He knew exactly what his brother meant. It was time to release the bonds and let the Wolf, the Titan spirit, free.
The high calibre machine gun clicked empty, its barrel and receiver glowed red hot from the non-stop firing. The other soldiers around the machine gun increased their weight of fire, blanketing the building with lead. The soldier with the boxes of ammunition helped the gunner to slide in a new belt, struggling to get the new belt into position. The inexperienced soldiers were unaware of the fact that they had warped the firing receiver and barrel of the heavy weapon from continues fire.
“Now!” Nathan yelled. He rose with both of his launchers aimed at the heavy weapon’s position, one launcher in each armoured hand. A thump thump announced the launcher’s part in the fight, hurtling two explosive rounds at high speed towards the weapon and its crew.
They never even got a chance to avoid what was about to happen; their deaths pre-determined when Nathan had fired his weapons. The two explosive rounds struck home, the weapon and all of its ammunition exploding into a ball of fire and shrapnel.
Christian vaulted over the crumbling wall just as the heavy weapon went up in flames. Soldiers in close proximity to its position died as they were mowed down by shrapnel and boxed ammunition ignited by the fireball engulfing the anti-infantry weapon.
Fire ricocheted from Christian’s shield, but it did not halt his advance. Behind him Nathan had jumped over the wall as well and was already reloading his launchers as both of them ran towards the traitors.
Christian fired his own Kicker one handed from behind his shield, peppering two soldiers who were crouching behind a make-shift barrier. Both of them died instantly. Another died as Christian battered him with his shield, crushing his ribcage and sending the poor soldier flying.
Nathan fired his launchers again and eight more traitors died. He dropped his launchers as he ran closer to a group of soldiers hiding behind a broken wall. These soldiers had taken cover when their own weapon had exploded and had taken their eyes off the enemy’s position. Nathan chose to fight with his fists in such close quarters, and he made every swing of his armoured fist count. Nathan jumped over the rubble and landed in the midst of five soldiers still reeling from the explosion. His first punch broke the neck of the closest soldier, his back swing cracking another soldier’s armour, his life ending almost instantly. One of the soldiers tried to raise his rifle to fire at Nathan but his body was torn up by bullets hitting him from b
ehind. The other two soldiers died where they stood, one by Christian’s Kicker the other by Nathan’s armoured elbow crushing his throat.
The Titans did not stop. Christian turned and fired the last of his rifle’s ammunition into a soldier who had charged the Titan with his own combat blade. Nathan moved fast and pounced on two more unsuspecting soldiers, who only saw a shadow move in the smoke and dust before they died.
Christian used his shield to bash a soldier to the ground, kicking another into the fire as the soldier tried turn and run away. He died like a coward.
The remaining soldiers sensed they had mere moments left to live if they stayed in their positions, choosing instead to flee from the killers in the smoke and dust.
Nathan grabbed a soldier trying to run away, twisting and smashing the limp body to the hard concrete. Another soldier’s last breath escaped his body as Christian threw his shield at the poor man. The shield hit with such force it liquefied organs and shattered bones.
Almost fifty soldiers had pinned them down, but when the wind blew the dust and smoke away five minutes after Nathan and Christian had charged out, forty-five were dead or dying and only three had escaped. More than twenty had died from the heavy weapon’s explosion and the rest at the hands of the Titans.
Christian and Nathan stood, the fire lighting their armour in the morning light. They breathed heavy, but their blood was alive with battle energy.
But there was no time to celebrate their small victory, they had to keep moving. By now the enemy would already be assaulting the extraction point and its defenders, and all of the Wolves would be needed before the battle could be won.
“Sounds like Bear is having fun without us,” Pyoter said,
“I wouldn’t get jealous just yet. Our traitorous friends are almost here,” Rivers replied. “And by the sound of it, it sounds like there are more than enough to keep us busy for a while.”
“Whatever you do, hold your ground. If we falter all is lost,” Locke interjected. Locke allowed the banter between his squad to a certain degree, it helped with morale. But it was time to get serious and his Wolves needed to focus. “Xander?”
“Sir?” Xander answered.
“Hit the heavies with everything you have. We can’t give them the opportunity to fire on the central courtyard. Take some Lancers with you and flank them from the rooftops,” Locke ordered.
Xander acknowledged with a nod and immediately set off with a few Lancers for the staircases on the outside of the western complex.
“Sergeant, take position with Sabian and provide support for him and his Lancer marksmen.” Locke did not wait for a reply. He started walking towards the front line of the defences. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Rivers collect Roger from the pavement where he had been tinkering on the robot, and then saw him move off to where Sabian and his snipers were crouched.
“I will stay here,” Pyoter said. The giant Titan was near the front line as well, standing dead still behind an abandoned freighter truck. The truck had been tipped over and the large metal container on its back was providing ample cover for Pyoter and some Lancers hiding behind it. Pyoter had borrowed the breaching cannon from one of the remaining troop carriers. A long-barrelled cannon capable of flattening walls, mounted on the front armour of all troop carriers. These cannons were not meant to be used against infantry, but they packed more than enough punch to pulp anything in its path. It fired rounds filled with molten lead through stone and metal, perforating its target to allow the troop carrier to drive through without any hindrance. One could only imagine what it would do if it was fired in the direction of human flesh.
Locke nodded as he passed Pyoter. “Corporal Jay?” he asked over the radio.
“Yes, captain?” Jay replied.
“Cover the civilians and take out anything trying to flank us. Call out as you see targets we are blind to.”
“Acknowledged, sir. Just don’t forget about me when the time comes to leave,” Jay said, his voice was slightly paranoid that he, and the Lancers with him, would be left behind if the extraction went to shit.
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Rivers interrupted, “I won’t ever leave Godwaker behind. That rifle is like a son to me.”
“I know,” Jay replied, “you keep reminding me about it.”
Locke let them finish and then spoke. “We will pick you up before we leave. Just keep your eyes open.”
“Thank you, sir. I will watch over you.” Jay did not say any more. The radio went silent and the scout Titan shifted into a better position to watch over the civilians the Wolves and Lancers were protecting. Jay spoke a few words with the Lancers that were still acting as his guard, encouraging them with words from speeches he had heard as a new recruit. He assured them that the time to leave was near, and they only had to survive a little longer. Whatever Jay said, it had worked, and the spirits of the Lancers with him on the rooftop lifted visibly, some even smiling as they watched the skies and empty stairwells leading down into the darkness of the tall building below them.
A few moments passed and all that could be heard was the footsteps and the growling engines of the enemy moving closer. Soon the traitors would be advancing through the buildings to the south.
Locke could do nothing more to inspire the soldiers around him. His words earlier had done enough to fill their hearts with courage, and he hoped it would be enough. He had reached the edge of the defensive line, and had decided that it would be the place where he would fight. It was a small level piece of ground directly in front of the south building, with only one door and a few windows overlooking the area he had chosen. Whatever decided to come through those windows or door would face Locke head on, something very few people ever lived through.
The cocktail of drugs pumping through Locke’s system made his muscles strain against the inside of his armour. The adrenaline and synthetic compounds the Nano machines were feeding him fuelled his rage even more. He was shifting position constantly, moving his weight from one armoured boot to the other, hands tightening on the grip of his rifle.
His choice to fight in full view of the soldiers behind him was not for fame or heroic tales. No, he was doing it to show them that the invincible Wolves were there beside them, shielding them and taking the brunt of the attack for them.
Locke just hoped he would survive long enough to see the civilians and the others get rescued. It was his only objective now, and he would see it through until the end.
An allied vessel named the Brother’s Bond was the first to perish in defence of New Horizon. It sacrificed itself to protect the rest of the vessels forming part of the blockade, dying an honourable death worthy of its name written in the legends of humankind.
Its captain had seen the danger heading for the blockade before anyone else, and had moved to intercept what would have surely been a devastating blow to the defenders.
Three Bowbreaker class ships had raced ahead of the traitor’s ever growing number, hurtling directly for the grand cruiser in the centre of the blockade’s lines. Bowbreakers were dangerous vessels used specifically to charge ahead and cripple the most dangerous vessels among the enemy’s number. Thick armour protected the Bowbreaker’s prow and sides, armour thick enough to deflect fusion lances and absorb ship to ship ordinance with ease. These ship breakers would chew through other vessels in its path, their large engines providing them with enough power to tear through hulls like a rock tearing through wet paper.
One Bowbreaker was already a deadly opponent, three, however, was a nightmare. But Captain Kohl never hesitated in the face of such horrible odds. His vessel was an underequipped science vessel, used primarily to scan and survey planetoids for the expedition fleet. The Brother’s Bond had almost no offensive weapons to speak of, armed with nothing but surveyor equipment and a few gun batteries that were more of an afterthought than anything else. Yet, knowing that his vessels was no match against the Bowbreakers, still Captain Kohl powered towards the three ships, burning his vessel’s engi
ne at dangerous levels.
The Bowbreakers saw the Brother’s Bond coming, and the arrogance of the captains on board the traitor vessels took the bait without hesitation. They would mangle the vessel as a show of power before wreaking havoc on the rest of the futile blockade. But such a delicious and enticing target was too good to be true, and as history has taught the survivors of warfare, nothing is ever what it seems.
Captain Kohl had bargained on the Bowbreakers relishing the idea of destroying his vessel, but little did the traitors know that Kohl had a big surprise in store for them. Unbeknownst to anyone outside of the commanders and officers of the expedition fleet, the Brother’s Bond held a secret in its cargo hold. A secret that was in its final test phase, a secret - as luck would have it - that was on-board Captain Kohl’s very vessel when the call for aid had been heard by the expedition fleet.
Deep within the cargo holds of the Brother’s Bond rested an experimental weapon, designed and created to use against the Beast. It was a strange creation, born from a mind thinking so far out of the box that most would think it insane just to dream of such things. There was no official name for it, only a designator used to hide its existence from the eyes of people without high enough security clearance. Scientists and engineers called it The Device, others referred to it as Project Black. Whatever its name was or would have been it must have been serendipity that had seen it placed in the cargo hold of the Brother’s Bond. The Device was capable of generating an anti-matter field, using technology most did not know existed. The anti-matter field would suck in all matter within its range, and then release all of that accumulated energy in one devastating blast.
Captain Kohl did not ask the commanders of the fleet for permission to use The Device before he had made up his mind to intercept the Bowbreakers. No, the vessel was his and everything on-board was his to do with as he saw fit in the defence of New Horizon. His crew had supported his decision the moment he had told the two-hundred and fifteen souls on-board the Brother’s Bond what his course of action would be. All of them had surrendered to their fates and proudly manned their stations one final time.