“You fucking coward! Get your fucking ugly ass to the bridge so that I can kill you!” Mad Dawg yelled. It caused the Dragon Clone to laugh in a guffaw way.
“Bring it on tough boy.” The Dragon Clone said. It then laughed in a guffaw way.
“Braddick… get us some damn flashlights on the double.” Mad Dawg said when the Dragon Clone discontinued the call.
“Yes sir.”
Charlie team, one of Debernardo’s teams, was within five minutes of where the Dragon Clone said that it was. But because it was so dark, and they had no night vision equipment, it took them twenty minutes to get there. The helmet-com told the bridge their fate.
When Charlie team got to the location mentioned, they heard a deep sound. It sounded like some type of an engine. They then heard some sort of a release of energy. It sounded like a shockwave. They then heard one of Charlie team cried out, ‘Oh God… I can’t hear!’ They then could hear fighting, shooting and then they could hear Charlie team screaming. And then there was dead silence. The only sound that they could hear was coming from the helmet-com system. It mentioned the rank, then followed by the last name of each member of Charlie team, and then KIA.. Total number killed: 6.
Several minutes later Debernardo and her two remaining teams, Alpha and Bravo, was in position in front of the entrance of the only way in or out of the maintenance duct. On either side of the entrance, about twenty feet from the entrance, is a hallway that runs diagonally. Bravo team was at the hallway on the right and Alpha team with Debernardo was at the hallway on the left of the entrance. In effect, they have the Dragon Clone trapped. A few of them were pointing their flashlights at the entrance and the rest were pointing their guns at the entrance. If the Dragon Clone comes out, or shows it’s head, it will be killed.
“We have that sonofabitch. He ain’t going anywhere.” Debernardo said.
“Holy shit he’s behind us!” A Marine in Bravo team yelled.
“What!? How in the fuck did he do that!?” Debernardo yelled.
“Ma’am… look!” One of the Marines with her said. He then pointed at the ceiling were there was an opening where the Dragon Clone must have come out without them noticing it.
“Damn!” Debernardo yelled.
Debernardo saw the Dragon Clone with Bravo team. She noticed that it stood at 6’7” and had lighting quick moves. From it’s face she could tell that it was not human. From what little light there was, it’s face look like it was a cross between a werewolf (with a short snout and no hair) and some type of a reptile. She also noticed that it was incredibly strong. This thing did not need any cybernetic implants to make it as fast and as strong as a cyborg.
“I don’t have a shot!” One of the Marines with Debernardo said.
Debernardo saw a Marine threw a punch and the Dragon Clone caught it with it’s left hand. It then hit the Marine so hard in his right shoulder that it dislocated it. Then using both his left and right arms, the Dragon Clone broke the Marine’s right elbow. The Dragon Clone then did a back kick to the Marine that was standing behind him causing him to drop his laser rifle. The Dragon Clone then turned to his left, did a right kick to the face of the Marine who he just broke his right elbow. The kick knocked the Marine to the ground hard. The Marine, who the Dragon Clone did a back kick on, reached for his gun on his left side. The Dragon Clone then quickly grabbed the Marine’s left wrist and broke it. He then took the Marine’s handgun and then shot and killed a Marine standing to his right. The Dragon Clone then shot and seriously wounded the Marine who he just broke his right elbow. The Dragon Clone then shot the Marine that he took the gun from under the chin killing him instantly. As the Marine lifeless body fell to the ground, the Dragon Clone caught him with his left arm in order to use him as a shield. He then shot a Marine, who was standing at his 2 o’clock position, in his right arm, then his stomach, and then in the head killing him. The Dragon Clone then quickly jumped to that Marine’s lifeless body, then jumped at a Marine in his 10 o’clock position and did a flying headbutt killing him instantly. He then turned and saw the Marine that he broke his elbow was trying to crawl away.
The Dragon Clone then threw a flash-bang grenade to were Debernardo and Alpha team was. It then used it’s sonic shockwave to intensify the effects of the flash bang grenade. Before Alpha team could react, the Dragon Clone shot them all dead. For Debernardo she was shot in the chest three times. She then dropped to her knees watching as the Dragon Clone walked away. She then fell forward and died before she hit the ground. Only 30 seconds passed from the moment the Marines knew he was there until the moment Debernardo died. Total number of kills, including Debernardo: 11. Only the Marine with the broken elbow lived.
Mad Dawg sat deep in his chair with his face in his hands thinking long and hard about what to do next. That tough macho guy exterior persona of his for the second time in his career took a beating. But this time it’s different. He now realize that he made a mistake. He should have been a lot more cautious instead of rushing into things head on.
Mad Dawg was in a Catch-22 situation and he knew it. The communications are not secure but he needs to use them. He needs to give orders to Murphy but don’t know where Murphy is. He must send someone out to deliver messages but it’s too dark. Yes there is light, but it is not enough. Mad Dawg knows that the only hope is Murphy. Without Murphy, only, and only Mad Dawg is the best person to confront the Commando.
“Braddick… I need you to round up the security team that is protecting the bridge and move them back into a defensive position outside the door to the bridge.” Mad Dawg ordered him. Mad Dawg is not stupid enough to get into a fist fight with a Commando.
“Yes sir.”
“And Braddick… I need you to seal off all air ducts and maintenance ducts near the bridge. I want one, and only one way in or out of the bridge.”
“Sir, that may take awhile since the lights are out.”
“I don’t care how long it takes, get it done.”
“Yes sir.”
Although Braddick did as he was told he couldn’t help but to think about how Debernardo and her team must have died. He knew that they would have taken up a defensive position at the opening of the maintenance duct. He knew that both teams would have been separated by several feet. But how could that Commando kill them as fast as he did? The Commando is not a cyborg so how could he move that fast? And most important of them all, how is that he managed to get behind them? And then it occurred to him, there was an opening somewhere that Debernardo and her team had missed.
While Braddick was rounding up the security teams, he had them look for any additional openings (including the ceiling) near the bridge. He had them remove all the doors in any room near the bridge. He then used those doors as a barricade for the security teams. He wanted the Commando to enter into the jaws of death. But he knew, and dreaded, not having any search lights to put into the corridors that led to the bridge. If he had some, then the Commando would be blinded by the light. But the security teams that was there was staring into the darkness not knowing what was there.
Although Braddick had only four security teams to work with, that was not a problem for him. One team was placed directly in front of the door to the bridge. One team was placed on the left, another on the right, and the third and final team was placed in front of the first team. Each of the security teams was placed several feet apart from one another.
The total length of time that it took Braddick to complete the task was 45 minutes. Braddick went back to the bridge in case Mad Dawg needed to give him orders directly. Nothing occurred within that time period. When the Marines were finished they didn’t do much talking. To each one of them it was like being in the combat zone. Too quiet to do too much talking.
Fifteen minutes after the lights went out, Elizabeth Mitchell had a thought that might explain how it was done. It was impossible for multiple, let alone one, explosion to knock out the lights like that. The Commando would have to know exactly were to place the
explosives. Mitchell realize quite quickly that when Omori hacked the computer system, that is probably when they learned where to place the explosives. But one thing troubled her. With all the searching that was done by the security teams, how come none of them found those explosives? She then realize the shocking truth. The security teams did find them, but did not realize it.
“Solomon… I need the exact locations of where all of those transmitters and hacking devices where placed.” Mitchell said.
“Ma’am, are you joking?”
“Do I look like I’m joking? Look Luis… I think that those transmitters and those hacking devices were the source of the explosions.”
“Why not just say that they were?”
“I’m not doing something like that! That’s not very professional!”
“Well… it’s a waste of time.”
“What?” Mitchell said. Although he didn’t say ma’am, that not why she said that.
“It’s a waste of time ma’am.”
“I don’t think that it is. You know that I don’t like ordering you guys around… so don’t make me. Okay?” Mitchell said trying to be nice.
“Ma’am, I don’t think that the security team would have put in the locations of those devices.”
“How do you know? Did you check?” Mitchell asked. She was starting to get annoyed by him. One of her pet peeves about him.
“No ma’am.”
“Then do it.”
“But ma’am…”
“I said ‘do it’!” Mitchell snapped back.
“Yes ma’am.”
Ten minutes later Solomon found what Mitchell was looking for. And she was right. Those devices were in part an explosive. She now had to make a critical life and death decision. And it didn’t take her that long to make it. She knew how important it was to let either Murphy and/or Mad Dawg to know what she discovered. The lives of the crew depend upon her and her engineers.
“We need to get to the bridge to let Captain Burton know what we discovered.” Mitchell informed her engineers. All of them responded with acquiescence.
Twelve minutes later they encountered the Dragon Clone.
“No please don’t!” Mitchell screamed when she saw the Dragon Clone.
The Dragon Clone threw a knife with his right hand and killed Mitchell instantly. The knife went into her forehead. With his left hand he threw a knife to his one o’clock position killing one of Mitchell’s engineers. With both hands reaching across his stomach, the Dragon Clone grabbed a knife and threw them at the same time killing two more engineers. In two seconds, Mitchell and three of her engineers were killed.
The rest of Mitchell’s engineers turned and ran. Two ran down the corridor to the right of where they are. Three (including Solomon) ran to the left of their position. The Dragon Clone ran, quickly grabbed his knives, ran to where they where, took two knives one in each hand, raised his arms up and crossed them in front of him, looked both ways, took aim, and then threw the knives killing both Solomon and a engineer. He then repeated the move. One of the engineers on his right was still alive, but was trying his best to crawl away. From the moment that he was there till the moment he threw all four knives, no more than three seconds passed.
The Dragon Clone noticed on his left side that Sulloway (one of Mitchell’s engineers) went down an air duct that was on the wall near the floor. He then ran to her and threw a grenade down the air duct. When Sulloway realize what he did she started to scream. When the grenade went off some of the shrapnel got her in both feet and lower legs. The grenade also caused the air duct to come apart. She fell head first into some darken room. Her right hand hit the edge of a desk causing her to break her right wrist and arm. Her left hand missed the table, but her elbow hit it causing her to dislocate her shoulder and injuring her elbow. Her head then hit the floor knocking her out cold. Luckily for her she lived. It was several minutes before she was found by Chester.
The lost of Mitchell and her engineering staff dealt another blow to Galactic Prime. Each member of her staff was the chief engineer in their department. Without them and their experience, repairs to the ship will be slow and laborious. At that point in time, even if Galactic Prime had all of it’s gun ports, it would not stand a chance in a fair fight. They must retreat in order to survive, but they can’t and they won’t. None of them will abandon Task Force ZH-3C.
“Captain we found Sulloway. She’s still alive but she needs immediate medical attention. She inform us that those transmitters and hacking devices were the source of the explosions.” Chester mentioned over the helmet-com..
“Understood.” Mad Dawg said.
“This is Murphy. I want all available security personnel to get to the engineering sector immediately. It’s time to trap and kill this fucker.” Murphy ordered them over the helmet-com.
“Murphy… I can smell your fear.” The Dragon Clone said over the helmet-com. Murphy neither said or did anything when he heard that.
Chester had two of his Marines take Sulloway to the sickbay. Knowing that one floor above them, there is another engineer who is wounded, Chester and the rest of his team left to find him. They got there without incidence, stabilize the engineer, and took him to sickbay without incidence.
“Captain… I’m coming for you.” The Dragon Clone said over the helmet-com.
Both Mad Dawg and Murphy had to hear as more of Murphy’s security team encountered the Dragon Clone and lost their lives. After it happened for a third time it told them that he was serious when he says that he is coming to the bridge. Murphy decided to retreat to the bridge to assist the Marines who was there. Murphy had only one other team who is left.
There was six security personnel in each of the three teams that engaged the Dragon Clone. One was found in critical condition, but died later. Of the remainder only two survived. Sixteen more KIA. The fear is rising for everyone.
Defense Team B (the security team on the right side of the entrance to the bridge) was the first to spot the Dragon Clone. They saw him jump, almost flew, passed them twenty feet in front of them. He went in a perpendicular direction in relation to them. A few of the Marines shot at him, but missed.
“This is Defense Team B… we saw him! He’s heading down the corridor to our left!”
“Bravo team… get over there and kill that fucker!” Murphy ordered his last remaining security team that he can send out. He had only one other security team left – Alpha, the one with him.
“Roger.” They all said together.
Before Bravo team got to where they thought the Dragon Clone was headed they heard an explosion. When the Dragon Clone went by Defense Team B he looked at them so that he could remember where they are at. He then jump back to where he was standing, but this time he shot the barricade with a six round grenade launcher. When the barricade was hit it sent shrapnel everywhere. He then quickly came down the corridor shooting at the Marines until none of them were left standing. Some of the Marines shot at him, but they missed. His aim was fast and true while their aim was slow and inaccurate. None of them survived.
The Dragon Clone then went to their position and carefully looked around the corner (only his left eye and the left corner of his mouth was shown) at Defense Team A. He then smiled, jumped at the wall with both of his feet landing on the wall. While his feet was still on the wall he fired the grenade launcher at them. He then jumped back to his original position. When the grenade hit them, it killed three of them and seriously wounded three more. Defense Team A was now out of the picture.
The Dragon Clone then quickly turned around and saw Bravo team. He fired his grenade launcher at them at the same time he shot at them. He quickly ran to their position and killed all of them. At that moment six more Marines were killed. The Dragon Clone then ran down the hallway until he came to the hallway that led to both Murphy and the bridge.
Murphy and his team saw the Dragon Clone on the corridor to their right. They noticed him because the Dragon Clone jump to the corridor on thei
r left side. Although they shot at him, they missed. The Dragon Clone then did a back flip to the corridor on the right. He kept on doing that several times over with the Marines shooting, and missing him. Because the Dragon Clone did that very quickly, and he did it in the dark, the Marines didn’t know what side he was on when he stopped.
“What side is he on!?” Murphy yelled looking back and forth very quickly.
“I don’t know sir!” One of the Marines yelled.
“Goddamn it!” Murphy yelled still looking back and forth.
Knowing that Defense Team A is down, and some of them are still alive, a couple of Marines from Defense Team D ran to them to move them from harm’s way. While they were doing that they heard an explosion and gunfire where Defense Team C was. As they were returning to their positions, they heard their helmet-com inform them that all six members of Defense Team C was killed.
The Dragon Clone then ran down that hallway which led to the bridge and where Defense Team A was. When he got close enough, he fired the grenade launcher at Defense Team D’s position. It didn’t kill any of them, but it did wound some of them. The Dragon Clone then quickly ran around the corner to where the team is and shot them. Only one Marine was left standing, but was injured. The Dragon Clone ran to that Marine, picked him up and threw him at Alpha team.
While that Marine was still in the air, the Dragon Clone rushed Alpha team shooting at them. When the Dragon Clone was at Alpha team’s location, they started to fight in hand-to-hand combat. When it was over five Marines from Alpha team were dead. Murphy was seriously injured. The Marine that the Dragon Clone threw was still alive, but seriously injured.
“Your death will heighten the fear and the demoralization of the crew.” The Dragon Clone said to Murphy before he killed him.
The Dragon Clone knew that two Marines from Defense Team D was still alive and three Marines from Defense Team A was still alive but he did not kill them. Realizing that he won’t kill them, the two Marines from Defense Team D crawled to the other three Marines from Defense Team A and the five of them tried their best to get to sickbay. They were later found and was taken to sickbay.
The Cross of Mithras Vol. 1: EOD Operation Welcome to Hell Page 54