“What!? You got to be fuckin’ shitting me!?” One of Lenkov’s personnel yelled out.
“It’s the quickest way to get to the train terminal!” Staff Sergeant Overton yelled back.
“Fine! Everyone out the window and on the roof, NOW!” Mad Dawg yelled out.
Several of Dawson’s personnel, a few Marines and a couple of Lenkov’s personnel were the first out the window. They got up on the roof to secure it to allow the rest to get up there. They then started to scream for help as Demon Xs were closing in on their position. Jaguar 42R and the rest of the Dragon Clones (four of them including Jaguar 42R) left to provide assistance. Overton, with three personnel, left to provide assistance for the wounded to be evacuated. Mad Dawg could hear both gunfire and hand-to-hand combat between the Demon Xs and the Dragon Clones up there.
While Mad Dawg was reloading his rifle, he heard Overton scream bloody murder. Four-to-six inches in front of Mad Dawg’s feet several shot came through the roof and made a line in front of him. It told him that whoever shot at the roof did it at point blank range. Mad Dawg then felt something wet land on the right side of his cheek and right neck. With his left hand he reach and touch the wet stuff, then looked at his fingers and saw that it was blood. He then look at all the Demon Xs coming at them and realized the futility of the predicament that everyone was in.
“It’s every man for himself!” Mad Dawg yelled at the top of his lungs. He then turned around and went out the window as fast as he could.
As Mad Dawg looked over the top of the roof, he looked to his left and saw a Demon X holding a Dragon Clone in a bear hug. The Dragon Clone then wrapped his legs around the Demon X and both of them broke each other’s back. Another Demon X then rushed the fallen Dragon Clone’s position. As the Demon X got near enough to the fallen Dragon Clone, the Dragon Clone pulled out all the pins on his hand grenades and then let out a roar. The explosion ripped a large hole in the ceiling. Mad Dawg then looked to his right and saw that there was only one Dragon Clone left standing – Jaguar 42R. Mad Dawg saw Jaguar 42R use his sonic shock wave on a Demon X that was coming near him. The Demon X stop, let out a eerie howl/growl and then laugh. The Demon X than ran to Jaguar 42R who then spun around to kick him in the head but miss when the Demon X stop. The Demon X than grabbed Jaguar 42R by the throat. Mad Dawg, who was now on the roof, shot and killed the Demon X. Before Mad Dawg could react, a Demon X came near and knocked his gun away. Mad Dawg then threw a series of punches at the Demon X torso, but to no avail. The Demon X didn’t do anything at first. It was like it was letting Mad Dawg hit him. Using his left hand, the Demon X grabbed Mad Dawg’s right shoulder and picked him up. It then punched Mad Dawg in the right chest collapsing his lung. The Demon X then let go of Mad Dawg, howl, and started to eat him or drag him away. Just then, Jaguar 42R using the gun that Mad Dawg dropped, shot and killed the Demon X.
“You hit like a bitch.” Mad Dawg said to the Demon X.
“Are you alright sir?” Jaguar 42R asked Mad Dawg as he was helping him up.
“Goddamn that hurts!” Mad Dawg cried out in pain.
“Yeah, I know.”
“It’s every man for himself junior. We got to get out of here.” Mad Dawg said through the pain.
As both of them were running to the next roof they could hear screams coming from below. When they got to the edge, Jaguar 42R had to throw Mad Dawg across because it was too far for him to jump across, nor could Jaguar 42R jump across holding Mad Dawg. As Jaguar 42R jumped across, a Demon X jumped from below and grabbed him. Mad Dawg could hear both of them fighting and Jaguar 42R was crying out in distress. From the roof that they came from, Mad Dawg could see what was left of all of his and Dawson’s forces fighting the Demon Xs. Mad Dawg then realized that he was all alone. He stood there witnessing the slaughter, knowing that he will be next. He then dropped to his knees and, holding his head back, cried out. And then he saw Jaguar 42R come over the edge and fall to his knees. He was in a lot of pain and his right arm was shaking. He threw up blood when Mad Dawg came to help him up. As soon as Mad Dawg helped him up, a Demon X came over the edge. Jaguar 42R kicked the Demon X in the upper chest as Mad Dawg shot him with his pistol. The Demon X then fell back over the edge.
Only once did they encounter a Demon X who came over the edge of a roof. Mad Dawg shot him in the right eye killing him instantly. Twice Jaguar 42R had to throw Mad Dawg across. On the second throw Mad Dawg landed in a bad way injuring his right elbow. Mad Dawg didn’t say anything because he could tell that Jaguar 42R was getting tired and exhausted. As they got near the train terminal Mad Dawg tried to cried out, but couldn’t because of his collapse lung.
“Get that fucking train ready!” Jaguar 42R yelled out to the four Marines left to guard the terminal.
“Hey, where is everyone?” Private Esterline asked. As everyone boarded the train.
“What the fuck was that!?” Private Cochrane asked when he heard a Demon X roar.
“Sergeant, please get us out of here now.” Mad Dawg said.
“Yes sir.” Master Sergeant Perez responded as he took the train out.
“Sir, where is everyone? What happened back there?” Private First Class Entwistle asked. Mad Dawg didn’t say anything, he only shook his head.
When they got about thirteen to fourteen miles out they heard the alpha male say over the intercom that they couldn’t get away that easily. The alpha male, who was in the train terminal, pushed a button to stop the train. Mad Dawg could only cry out of frustration and the fear that he may still die down there. He then ordered everyone out and run as fast as they can to the exit. Before Private Esterline could leave, Mad Dawg handed him the PDA with the data that was collected.
“When you get out, I want you to immediately get in touch with The Hammer of Doom and tell them to use Emergence Order: Fire 2X – tunnel shot. Got it!” Jaguar 42R ordered Private Esterline as they were leaving the train in a hurry.
“Yeah I got it.” Private Esterline responded.
“Repeat the order.” Jaguar 42R ordered him.
“Emergence Order: Fire 2X – tunnel shot. But what does that mean?” Private Esterline asked.
“They won’t ask questions. They’ll shoot immediately.” Jaguar 42R responded. It turned Esterline’s face white when he heard that because he knew it was suicidal to do that.
When they got five miles near the exit they could hear the train coming. Both Mad Dawg and Jaguar 42R only could look at one another in despair. Jaguar 42R then called out to Master Sergeant Perez to stop that train at all cost. Perez then placed explosives on the tracks.
“Timer!” Perez called out.
“Thirty seconds!” Jaguar 42R responded.
“Do it!” Mad Dawg yelled to the best of his abilities.
“Done!” Perez yelled out after he finished setting the timer on the explosives. He then ran for his dear life. Both Mad Dawg and Jaguar 42R were already several yards away. When the explosion went off it threw Perez to the ground. He then quickly got up to run.
They then heard the deafen sound of the train derailing. A couple minutes later they heard the Demon Xs coming. Perez threw a hand grenade and had no other choice but to stand his ground. While Mad Dawg and Jaguar 42R was trying their best to run, Esterline, Cochrane and Entwistle came by to help Perez out. Mad Dawg almost cried when he heard what Esterline said as he ran by. It caused both Mad Dawg and Jaguar 42R to turn back around to help Perez despite all that they went through.
“Semper fi, do or die! I am a Marine!” Esterline yelled as he ran past Mad Dawg and Jaguar 42R.
They all stood there and let the Demon Xs have it as if though they are invincible. Not one of them moved from their position until the Demon Xs stopped coming. Only Entwistle had any ammo left (eight shots in his pistol). The six of them were still alive and it gave them a sense of euphoria. Mad Dawg tried to laugh, but he couldn’t because it hurt.
“Semper fi. Come on, let’s go home.” Mad Dawg finally said.
&n
bsp; They knew that it wasn’t over, there will be more of them. They managed to get out of the tunnel not knowing how close the Demon Xs are. Immediately after they got out of the tunnel, with Perez running to the closest drop-ship to prepare it for liftoff, Jaguar 42R gave the Emergency Order. As all of them was in the drop-ship, and it was fifty feet off the ground, the shot from The Hammer of Doom came, it went inside the tunnel, hit the train and detonated.
“It’s good to be alive.” Mad Dawg said. He now knows what his feeling meant from earlier. It’s not that he was going to die down there, it meant that his career is over. He then cried over the losses of all of his personnel. That loss is why his career is over. It broke him.
(2)
“Your opinion Ramirez?” Lenkov asked him. Both of them (along with Omori) was on the bridge of The Hammer of Doom. They were watching a video on Mad Dawg as he and his forces approached the entrance of the core tunnel. At one point they could see Mad Dawg looking up at them before he enter the tunnel. Ramirez was the only one of his team who was there.
“On what sir?” Ramirez asked.
“Stop acting stupid. You know what I mean.”
“No I don’t sir.”
“Okay, let me try it this way. What is it?”
“A core boring tunnel sir.”
“Are you being stupid, or are you being rude?”
“Neither sir.”
“Then you are hiding something. So what is it?”
“I’m not hiding anything sir.” Ramirez said. He was starting to get nervous at that point.
“I asked you a very simple question and you respond with a stupid answer. I then asked you another simple question and you respond with yet another stupid answer. Now, I know you are not stupid. So you are being stupid on purpose. The only reason why that could be is that you are hiding something. I think it would be in your best interest to tell me what it is.” Lenkov responded.
Ramirez should have known better. Lenkov is a former police detective with years of experience in dealing with people hiding things from him. He has all the confidence in knowing that sooner or later he will get the truth out. It’s just a matter of time. But for Ramirez he did know better, he was having trouble in finding the right words to hide what he, Vaistll and Taylor was talking about earlier. He now realize that he should have gave his opinion instead of a stupid response.
“Well sir, to answer your question - the warehouse is most likely a cloning facility.” Ramirez, after he took a deep breath, said.
“Now, that wasn’t so hard. Now was it? So what are you hiding?” Lenkov responded.
“I’ve told you before that I’m not hiding anything sir. Why don’t you believe me? I have nothing to hide sir.” Ramirez said, visibly nervous.
“You know. I’ve seen that look plenty of times from suspects who were guilty of committing some crime. And still they believe they can hide the truth from one who is a… police detective. A detective with… sources, who can confirm or deny what the suspect says. A police detective with access to… technology that makes it all the more difficult to hide the truth. Why do they do it? Do they really think that they can get away with it? I mean, what’s the point? Why not come out and admit the truth? Why all the deception? Doesn’t the fact that they are trying to hide the truth prove their guilt? I guess the real question is, not what you are hiding, but what are you guilty of.” Lenkov responded.
“Are you interrogating me sir?” Ramirez asked. He know that he trapped himself into a corner and Lenkov can see it.
“It’s okay, you don’t have to mention what you are guilty of. I can always get it out of Taylor. You know, he’s a little bit more cooperative than you are. When was the last time you saw him? How easy do you think it is to send a coded communiqué on a Heavy Battle Cruiser? Have you ever served on one before? No. So I guess you wouldn’t know. Like I said, it’s in your best interest to tell me the truth or face the consequences.” After Lenkov said that, Ramirez was visibly scared half to death.
“It’s nothing sir. I guess I was being stupid and rude.” Ramirez said slightly under his breath as he was admitting defeat.
“You may return back to your quarters. Stay there until further noted. And Ramirez…” Lenkov was saying.
“Yes sir.”
“Tell Taylor that I said thanks.” Lenkov added as Ramirez left.
When Ramirez was entering his quarters he saw two Information Specialists coming out. He also saw Taylor sitting inside. Ramirez couldn’t believe it, Taylor talked. Ramirez waited until both Information Specialists were out of earshot before he went inside to talk to Taylor.
“You talked sir.” Ramirez said, a bit angered and disappointed.
“I did not.” Taylor responded.
“Then what were those two doing in here with you? And why did Lenkov wanted me to thank you?”
“First of all, they made me come here. They told me to wait here until further noted. And second of all, how would I know why Lenkov wanted you to thank me. Maybe he’s just saying that in a vain effort to divide us. And as for those two, they were already in here when I came in.”
“So what were they doing in here then?” Ramirez asked.
“They were probably looking for something.” Taylor responded.
“Like what?”
“I don’t know. One was in here and the other one was in your bedroom. When I entered, the one in here told me to go into the bedroom and let the other one know that I was here. I think the one in the living room found whatever they were looking for. They then waited for you to come in.” Taylor said trying not to lose his temper.
Before Ramirez could respond Vaistll came in. Her assigned quarters was practically above Ramirez. Each one of their assigned quarters was very close to the elevators, but not on the same floor. The AI in the elevator would not let them travel to each other’s floor without permission. Clearly, someone wanted them to be in Ramirez assigned quarters at the same time. But why his?
“Ma’am, I think that they planted a bug in a rooms.” Taylor said after she came in.
“Either that or he talked.” Ramirez said which deeply angered and hurt Taylor’s feelings.
“You damn bloody yank!” Taylor angrily said.
“Ma’am, they knew what we were planning in here. Lenkov let on that he knew that I wanted to send a coded message to HQ.” Ramirez said quickly before Vaistll could say anything.
“So why do you think that Taylor talked?” Vaistll asked Ramirez.
“Because Lenkov wanted me to thank him.” Ramirez said. Vaistll smirked and shook her head when she heard that.
“So you automatically jumped to the conclusion that he’d talked?” Vaistll asked Ramirez.
“Ma’am…” Ramirez was saying.
“Don’t forget Alex that Lenkov is a former police detective. So he probably was using some trick to see which one of us would squeal. I use to watch detective shows a long time ago on Earth. They do, do that, you know.” Vaistll said.
Ramirez knows that she is right and it hurt him to have question Taylor’s loyalty like that. He truly is sorry, but ever since he boarded that ship his old feelings/fears about being part of the EOD started to haunt him. When he was part of the EOD he learned to be suspicious of everyone in effort to hide his true motives. And now he realize that because of those feelings/fears it is causing him to question his friends loyalties.
“I’m sorry sir. I’m sorry for suspecting that…” Ramirez sincerely was saying.
“Just drop it.” Taylor said with his feelings still hurt.
“But sir I…” Ramirez was saying.
“Look how long we’ve known each other. I’ve always trusted you. If you truly are sorry then don’t let them come in between us like that.” Taylor said.
“What did you tell Lenkov, Alex?” Vaistll asked.
“I didn’t tell him anything. I just let on that we’ve dropped whatever we were planning. He then told me to return back to my quarters until further noted. As I w
as leaving, he told me to thank Taylor.” Ramirez responded.
“Do you think that this type of a ship has some type of a AI Big Brother on board?” Vaistll asked Ramirez.
“I suppose so. If it is true then it would be something that the EOD would never admit for security reasons.” Ramirez responded.
Vaistll then looked up and said, “Alright. Tell Lenkov that we’ve quit trying to rebel against him. If he treats my team with respect, then we will be like the Marines and fully cooperate with him.”
“Come to the bridge.” Lenkov said through a unknown speaker in the room.
When they got to the bridge Lenkov motion for them to come to him. Everybody on the bridge was waiting for Mad Dawg to report in after he went inside the tunnel. They lost the video feed after Mad Dawg and his forces went inside the tunnel.
“Stop being blind to other people’s loyalties. If you continue on this current pathway it is conceivable that far too many people will die of a unnecessary and untimely death.” Lenkov said to Vaistll, Taylor and Ramirez.
“Sir…” Vaistll was saying.
“Save it. Captain Maxwell…” Lenkov was saying.
“Yes sir.” Captain Maxwell responded.
“Captain Adnrwal, Commander Taylor and Lieutenant Commander Ramirez cannot leave the bridge until we hear from Captain Burton.” Lenkov informed him.
“Yes sir.” Captain Maxwell responded.
Three minutes later, the bridge received a message from the stealth base that the computers there are no longer detecting that the core tunnel is partly in control of the LMPG. Although Captain Maxwell could have given the order to deactivate it, he said nothing so that both Lenkov and Omori could give the order instead.
“You know captain…” Lenkov was saying to Vaistll. “…I was thinking about sending your team on a very important mission, but I decided not to. I just can’t trust you or your team. So I decided to send Colonel McIntyre instead. Which means, that it might be the last time that any of us will ever see him again. I wonder what Mad Dawg would think about that?”
The Cross of Mithras Vol. 1: EOD Operation Welcome to Hell Page 73