Krieger Platoon

by Jay Ivanovich

Sempra snickered. “I’ve been listening in on your conversations this entire time, Lieutenant Horace. I see the Army still hasn’t joined the 22nd Century…you poor devils are still using that same outdated tech from the last few wars. Oh, but enough with the pleasantries. You have something I want, a certain data stub that one of your soldiers has in his pocket. I offer you this deal; give me the data stub and I will spare the rest of your team. We’ll… almost all of them anyways…”

  Sempra vanished from sight, and then a moment later a muffled gunshot to the back of Lee’s head sent him falling limp to the ground. One Alpha screamed in anger and began to fire indiscriminately down the hallway. James began yelling at the top of his lungs. “CEASE FIRE! CEASE FIRE! DAMNIT!” The soldiers stopped shooting very reluctantly and stared absorbedly down the hallway. Their eyes infuriated.

  Bag shouted in fury. “What the hell is this, Sempra?!”

  Sempra began to laugh from some unknown area of cover, and began to mock him. “I have three more team members here, Bag, and my patience is running out! Give me the data stub, or all of them will die. It’s a very fair offer, actually.”

  Bag glanced at both Jon and James. All of them shared very troubled expressions, Jon especially who shoved Bag hard on the shoulder and glared at him. “You aren’t seriously considering this?”

  Bag sighed and dropped his gaze, he didn’t have a choice… It was Sempra! He’d kill his own mother just to laugh about it later. Bag snapped back at him. “Of course I am! I’m not going to let my men die over some CIA bullshit! Joe, bring the data stick over please.”

  Joe reached into his pocket and held the stick tightly in his hand, but remained steadfast behind the overturned table. “…I can’t, Sir…”

  Jon growled and shoved Bag even harder. “No! Fuck that! We aren’t gonna give him shit!”

  Sempra laughed manically from down the hall. “Jon, you know this can only end one of two ways...”

  Jon snapped back with pure rage. “GO FUCK YOURSELF!”

  “Still as pleasant as ever, I see.”

  Bag grunted in frustration. They didn’t have time to debate this, not with the lives of the team in the balance! “Damnit, there IS no other way! Joe…you need to give me that data stick…”

  Joe glanced down at the stub, and then shook his head firmly no. “Sir…you haven’t seen what this thing can do.”

  James sighed and tried to be the voice of reason. Of course he didn’t want to see the team hurt, but there had to be a better way! That data stub was dangerous! How could he explain that? “Bag, the thing is like the master key to everything-”

  Bag began to rub his eyes and his voice became more frantic and angry. “Security systems can be rebuilt, human lives cant! Joe, give me the data stub. That is a direct order, soldier!”

  Joe hesitated, but then slowly crouch-walked over to Bag, and reluctantly handed over the stick. Joe slowly began to crawl back to his post, head held low; James patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t sweat it, man…”

  Cholius, Willits, and Ramirez all slowly shuffled around the far end of the corridor, hands held out to their sides, and similarly stripped of all equipment. Sempra reappeared behind the group, along with three of his similarly outfitted team members, and smirked wickedly. “Alright Bag, now I want YOU to physically walk it out to me.”

  Jon stared sternly at Bag. “No! Fuck that, you are NOT walking out there! It’s a trick and you know it!”

  Sempra tone changed to venomous and harsh as he pointed his weapon at the back of Cholius head. “THIS IS NOT A DISCUSSION! You will walk it out to me, ALONE, or I will kill all of them! Do NOT toy with me!”

  Sempra really wanted the data stub…that made giving it over that much more difficult. Why did he want it so badly? The entire platoon glanced at Bag, with expressions of dread as they anxiously awaited the outcome. Whatever it was going to be… Bag didn’t have choice, and Jon of all people should know that. He adjusted his helmet, checked his rifle, and jumped up and over the barricade without another thought. Sempra stopped him halfway down the hall, and began to walk out the rest of the way himself, his voice back to its usual calm overconfidence. “I heard your team formed back up, though I thought it was just a bad joke. I suppose even I can be wrong at times.”

  Bag glared at him through narrowed eyes. He was so disgustingly arrogant! “I have the item, now let my team go.” Bag demanded firmly.

  Sempra smirked. “Data stub first.”

  Bag crossed his arms defiantly. “If I hand you the stub first, I’ll have nothing of bargaining value. If you hand over the prisoners first, you’ll still have me standing RIGHT here.”

  Sempra rumbled a deep and sinister laugh. “Always so logical… Very well, I’m sold.” He turned and snapped his finger to his team, who pushed Cholius and the group forward. Bag waited until they had passed all the way into the lobby, and heard the rest of the team grab them and escort them out of danger, before holding the data stub out.

  Sempra ripped it suddenly from Bag’s grasp, then smiled and held it up to the light to inspect it. “Running into you is always a…rewarding experience. Thank the CIA for me, this is exactly what I needed.” Sempra began to walk away, but then stopped and spoke over his shoulder coldly. “Now, I will only give you this warning once; don’t follow me. If you do, I will kill you and all of your men.”

  Bag clenched his teeth in pure hate, eyes narrowed, and slowly began to back pedal all the way into the lobby, as Sempra and his team vanished down the right hallway. The platoon was busy offering the former hostages water and food, and everyone was now very silent and gloomy. Jon relocated from behind the overturned table, and moved over next to Bag as he walked in. “You’re a fucking idiot. You know that?”

  Bag began to rub his eyes again, and let out a long frustrated sigh. “Jon, I don’t want to hear this right now…”

  Jon threw his hands up in irritation, and moved over to an isolated corner of the room. Wallace had been watching the reactions of the veterans, and all of them seemed to know who that hostile was. This entire thing suddenly seemed personal…and well it was now for Wallace. Lee and Wallace had spent their after-boot-camp leave running amuck in DeGrasse City. Lee insisted they visit the science museums, and Wallace insisted they visit every night club in the city. The combination of both had been nothing short of hilarious, combined with a steady flow of alcohol. Lee had never wanted to join Krieger though, he wanted to be stationed close to his surviving relatives. Wallace twisted his arm about it though, and pulled out the bro card on him. Wallace felt responsible for this now… He didn’t consider too many people his friend…or brother. Wallace made his way carefully over to James. “Hey… Sir…”

  James nodded over to him, plainly seeing his troubled expression. “What’s up, Wallace?”

  Wallace hesitated to ask, wondering if he was being too direct, but he had to know. “Sir, can I ask… What was that about? It’s like all you guys knew him.”

  James took in a deep breath and sighed, lowering his voice as he spoke. “Yeah… His name’s Sempra…”

  Wallace picked up on the distasteful way James said the name. Now he really had to know. “Who is he?”

  James glanced over toward Jon, who had his arms crossed and was listening intently. Jon was staring at him with a scowl, that James had the impression meant ‘stop talking’, but he wasn’t going to let Jon dictate how spoke to his own soldiers. However, this particular issue was a deep wound for all of them... “He’s the reason we needed replacements.” James said bleakly at length.

  Several of the other veterans had heard him say that, and they glanced over equally as desolate. Wallace knew he was getting into a touchy subject, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask a little more, would it? “What happened, Sir?” He asked carefully.

  James face twisted into one of disgust and anger as he looked away in thought. “Not the time or place.” He stated harshly.

  Wallace took in a deep breath, and felt the vengeful eyes of
the veterans on him. He knew when to stop…

  Cholius suddenly became restless and pushed past Wallace and James, and right over to where Bag was standing by himself, glaring down the hallway. “Bag, I need to speak to you.”

  Bag nodded but continued to stare down the hallway at Lee, who was lying lifeless in the water soaked and now blood stained carpet. “Yeah…what’s up man…?” He replied somberly.

  Cholius glanced over to Lee, and nodded respectfully toward him. “Lee was a good soldier. Very quiet, but he was a team player all the way through… He actually taunted Sempra until he picked him to go out first… they actually were going to kill Willits initially...”

  Bag dropped his head in shame. “He hasn’t been with us for more than two days and I already got him killed… There had to have been something else I could’ve done.” Bag lifted his head up and stood unmoving, suddenly lost in thought.

  Cholius nodded at him sympathetically. He knew Bag blamed himself for what Sempra had done at New Prim, and this had just added fuel to that fire. It is always a dangerous thing to dwell on old mistakes, however there were more pressing issues now. “There’s nothing more you could have done, not here and not in Brush Fire. Sempra was going to kill someone regardless, and you know that. He’s always been psychotic… You did save Willits, Ramirez, and myself; don’t forget about that.”

  Bag remained silently staring down the hall. “Yeah…”

  “There’s something else, and I believe it has something to do with why Sempra was here.” Bag perked up at Cholius comment. “We saw a missile on one of the security monitors shortly before we were attacked. It appeared to be an interplanetary missile…probably nuclear type by the warhead it had.”

  Bag turned to Cholius curiously. “Appeared to be?”

  Cholius nodded. “I’m not an expert, but it seemed a reasonable conclusion. By Martian Assembly Law, we are not permitted to hold, nor create, those types of missiles. Also, the only type we ever had were nuclear. We likewise activated something called ‘Hydra’ which turns out was our whole reason for being here. Agent Pierce referred to it as an automated defense system that would defend the nation from attack. Just a theory, but I think the missiles are part of the Hydra…whatever it really is.”

  Bag crinkled his brow and carefully processed Cholius words. “Hydra? That sounds familiar…”

  James walked over from the sidelines. “Did you just say what I think you said?”

  “What? Hydra?” Cholius inquired.

  James shook his head dismissively. “No, that you found a nuke! Bag holy shit! We just gave that dude the keys to the whole castle! We need to go after him!”

  Cholius nodded to him. “I agree we should follow up on this, but the data stub doesn’t necessarily have access to launch codes.”

  Bag clenched his fists and glanced back at Lee once more. “No. If Sempra wanted the data stub, then it’s important enough to go after it. James, have your team escort Cholius and the rest of the team back upstairs and get them outfitted… And have someone take Lee back upstairs...” He ended bleakly.

  James smiled eagerly, pounded his fists together, and then rushed about the room tasking his team members. It was go time! They were going on the hunt and this was going to be awesome! James came back a moment later, excitement clearly in his voice. “Ok, everyone move out! Sorry Cholius, you got to go too.”

  Cholius smiled from the corner of his mouth. “I know James, I lost my weapon anyways.”

  Jon made his way over, careful to keep one eye down the hallway as he passed by the door. “Bag we only need four, any more than that and we’ll move too slow.” He then glanced quickly around the room at the departing teams, looking for that fourth team member. “Uh…You! Kabir or whatever! Get over here!”

  Kabir rushed over and saluted professionally. “Yes Sir.”

  The team began to check weapons and turn on thermal vision. James moved up to take point, but Bag stopped him halfway. “I’ll go first James, you’ve already put your neck out enough today.”

  James gave Bag an apprehensive look, but knew there was no arguing with him. He was more pissed than James was. James nodded to him and stacked up with Jon on either side of the door. Bag raised his weapon, walked through the door frame, and slowly hugged the wall as the team moved out behind him. He carefully scanned and listened for the sound of anything that could mean another ambush, but the only sound was that of the still running sprinkler system which was beginning to flood the entire floor and the sloshing of water from their boots. The team came upon the T intersection, and split up James and Kabir on one side, and Bag and Jon on the other. Both teams slowly inched up to the corners and cautiously scanned down opposite sides of the hallway for any movement.

  Either side appeared clear. Good.

  James began to slowly peak out around the right corner when automatic fire erupted out of the door leading to the security section hallway. The teams jumped backwards and took up defensive positions. Jon cursed. “Fuck! Did you see them?”

  James shrugged and picked himself up off the soggy floor. “No, but why don’t you look again just to make sure! Hah!”

  Jon grunted a laugh, as Bag carefully inched around the corner again, weapon at the ready. “He’s gone. On me, let’s move.” He commanded emotionlessly, then took off around the corner and recklessly made straight for the doorway. The team caught up a moment later as Bag was inching his way through to the other hall.

  “Hey, slow down!” Jon nudged Bag forcefully on the back. Was Bag trying to get himself killed? Shit, was he trying to get everyone else killed?

  Bag passed him the thumbs up sign dismissively, and then slowly continued on toward the large and still open security doors. “DOWN! DOWN!” He shouted at once.

  A single blurry, almost invisible silhouette leaned around from inside the security room and began to fire indiscriminately down the hallway. The team immediately dropped to the floor and began to fire back toward the silhouette, who again vanished without a trace.

  Jon sneered with anger. “Fucking invisible FUCKS!”

  Bag remained prone with his weapon aimed down range. No way had that guy had that poor of aim… Not one of Sempra’s goons. “I think they’re luring us in… Is everyone alright?”

  Kabir exhaled loudly, and grunted in pain. “Damnit, no... I think they got me!” James crawled over and began to check the obvious leg wound. He laughed and patted Kabir on the back. “Nah it’s not that bad, the bullet passed right through, you’ll be fine.”

  Kabir winced in pain, but forced a laugh. “Well, that doesn’t make it feel any better, Sir.”

  James snorted and reached for his can of bio-seal. “Hey Bag, I got to stay with him. I’m going to call Joe down to hand him over and then I’ll catch up with you.”

  Bag continued to keep his rifle trained downrange and passed James a thumbs up over his shoulder. “Sounds good. Get back ASAP, and bring someone else with you.” Bag slowly stood up and began to move forward again, Jon rushed up right behind. What the hell was Bag all of a sudden? Now it was just pissing Jon off. “You’re being kind of reckless, just saying...”

  Bag stopped for a moment and sighed. He knew Jon was right, but he didn’t want to slow down. “Can we talk after we find this asshole?”

  Jon snorted and nudged Bag forward. “After you, kid.”

  Bag carefully strode frontward, and began to slowly scan and clear the interior of the security room; which was now very much shot up from the brief exchange. The video monitor was intact however, and the elevator control panel showed the lift slowly lowering down to sub-level 12.

  Jon took one look at the elevator, and knew it was probably going to be an ambush. Every fiber of his being told him so. But he hated Sempra too, so... “Fuck. You know if we follow him down it’s going to be an ambush.”

  Bag sighed in frustration. “Well…do you have a better suggestion? We can’t exactly let them walk out of here with that data stub…” Bag narrowed his e
yes. “…or alive for that matter!”

  The elevator suddenly began to ascend back up, dinging as it passed by each floor. Bag and Jon quickly took cover behind several large server towers, just as the lift doors opened up and revealed…nothing. Bag cycled his thermal visor through several different setting in a hope of spotting someone or something trying to conceal itself, but there was no one.

  Jon moved straight to the elevator doors, rushed in, and checked not only around the lift, but also above and below through the grating as well. “I don’t see shit.” Jon stated casually.

  James radioed in. “Hey, I’m on my way back. Be there in less than two minutes.”

  Bag acknowledged him then shrugged to Jon. “What do you want to do?”

  Jon shrugged back and began to play with settings on his wrist coms. “We’re fucked if we do and fucked if we don’t…so fuck it. Let’s go.”

  Bag smirked and nodded at Jon’s characteristic response. Heavy footsteps began to sound down the hall. Bag turned and leaned out of the security booth, only to lower his rifle a moment later as James and Wallace came running into the room. “We’re here! Ok, it’s time to put the hurt on them!” James was once again smiling brightly in excitement.

  Together the team re-entered the elevator, and selected sub-level 12. The doors slid shut and the elevator began to rapidly descend. Not a word was spoken at this point; they all knew what was about to happen. It was time to mentally focus.

  The floors dinged by…8…9…10…11…12; the teams weapons flew up in readiness. The elevator doors slowly opened up into a vast, deep but narrow missile bay, with a central cat walk running the length of it and connecting to various control stations on either side of the room. The catwalk sported a large number of ladders and stairwells leading to the other floors above and below the main catwalks, and most shockingly rows upon rows of the massive Interplanetary Ballistic Missiles, neatly secured in their housing along either side of the room.

  The Team very cautiously stepped out onto the cat walk, moving two and two, and trying to limit the heavy sound of their footsteps across the metal deck plates. Jon and Bag came across the first ladder leading to the floor below them, Bag turned and motioned for James to move down. James silently nodded, made the same motion to Wallace, and then slowly began to climb down to the next floor.