by T S Weaver
Couldn’t have everything.
A soft scraping noise drew his attention back to the hole as a small pebble skittered down the pile of rubble. One hand, then another, glove-covered, appeared before Lawbook crawled into view. She edged her way down from the opening and brushed herself off as she walked down to the Gunny. “We have a problem.” Her voice calm and clear.
“Another?” The older man replied.
“The invasion, they’ve got boots on the ground, and they’re not what we expected.” Stone waited, his gaze flicking back and forth to the gap, the hole the Sergeant had wriggled through. Was she safe? Where there other survivors? Information, he needed the same information the Gunny now waited for. Only then would he have a chance to make his way to his ship and get out before it was too late.
Unless it already was.
Invasion. He frowned, taking in her words. She wasn’t talking about a hit from pirates or mercs out of control, but a military presence.
He shifted his weight, gaze drawn back to the gap, eyes narrowed. Hands first, then a face as she appeared and carefully made her way down. No one spoke, no one moved, but he didn’t have to check in order to know she was the center of everyone’s attention.
“We have a problem, Gunny.” Bloodlaw dusted herself off. “Yes, it’s a full attack, but it’s not the real issue.” She took a deep breath, pausing to put her words in order.
The Gunny didn’t press, giving the woman time to continue.
“The attackers aren’t human.”
Indrawn breaths, low exclamations, and a shuffle of feet followed her announcement.
“Describe what you saw,” said Gunny. “Don’t leave anything out.”
“Only counted three, but there have to be more. Two walked on all four limbs, one of them pulling a large box-like cell, containing captives. Living ones from the movement inside. I couldn’t see clearly enough to know the status of the people in the cell. Luckily the power was still on in places, enough to provide light. The third had six limbs, walked on the back two, had a weapon. This one I got a closer look at. Head was weird, and it appeared as if it was wearing a type of environmental suit. Its head,” she paused and ran the tip of her tongue over her bottom lip, “appeared to be like something I’ve seen in old books. A crocodile. By the shape. But with prominent fangs.”
“You’re joking, Sarg, right? Come on, you’re kidding with us.”
“Wish I was, Walker. Damn, I wish I was. Always wanted to be involved in first contact, but not like this.” Her face grim, despite the clear mask providing her with much-needed oxygen. “Dome is compromised, very little oxygen, far less than we have here. Lot of destruction. Buildings hit, if there were fires, they’ve gone out through lack of fuel. I didn’t venture into the colony, only took in what I could see from the entrance, but it was more than enough to understand how bad the situation is.”
Stone tried to focus on the rest of the words, knowing he needed as much intelligence as the woman could provide, but his mind raced. Aliens. God damn freaking aliens. Humans he could deal with, buy them off, a bribe to the right person, but this? How did you deal with aliens? Did they speak a language he’d be able to understand? What did they want with the captives they’d taken?
“Always believed aliens would be like us.” One of the Marines murmured.
“Think we all did. Arrogant assumption, but no one ever said humans were smart,” the Gunny replied.
“So, now what?” Walker asked.
“Recon, help the survivors, and get word back home,” said Gunny.
“They need to know what happened out here,” Lawbook added, her pale grey gaze swept over the group. “Doesn’t matter what happens to us, if Earth is alerted they might have a chance. We’ve no idea about the weapons these creatures are using, what they want, only that they’ve hit the base and have taken prisoners.”
“Well, shit,” Stone muttered.
“No arguments from me,” Lawbook agreed.
“Check your gear, everyone. I need exact numbers of weapons, what equipment we have, food, water, oxygen, everything. Lawbook, with me. Corporal, you’re in charge of getting our equipment list.” The Gunny gestured for the woman to follow him down the passageway, away from the rest of the group.
Stone’s eyes narrowed as he watched the two talk in low tones. He didn’t wait for the Corporal, jaw set he followed the couple, stopping only when the Gunny turned a cold gaze on him.
“Yes?”
“You’ll need my assistance.”
“What makes you believe we need you?” The older man arched an eyebrow.
“Because I know more about the ins and outs of the colony, ways around checkpoints. Passageways which were built after the mapping was completed, and bolt holes we might be able to use.” How much could he risk telling them? “And supply dumps built up by those who prefer to keep such things hidden away from the prying eyes of the military. I don’t know all of them, no one does, but enough to perhaps tip the odds in our favor.” Some of the equipment he’d need if he was going to get out of here. “If the shuttles and navy craft are gone, damaged, destroyed, whatever, then you’ll need another way off world.”
“And you know of one?” Lawblood’s lips curled into a cynical smile.
“I do.”
“Might be useful for the civilians.” The Gunny inclined his head.
“Only the civies?” A cold hand wrapped around Stone’s heart.
“We get them out, odds are most of us won’t make it off world. Not if the navy ship is gone. But you and the civies are another matter.”
“If they aren’t already all rounded up in those cages.” Stone met and held the older man’s gaze.
“We’ll get as many of them out as we can.”
How big did they think his ship was? A fricking cruiser? He couldn’t fit everyone in his ship, and if it was the only one they could get to, people would be left behind. Not his problem. He wasn’t in the business of rescuing people. Not unless there was money in it for him. “And then?”
“We do what Marines are supposed to do. We provide cover for the escape and take out as many of the bastards as we can.”
7
Cora paused and waited at the closed door, allowing the others in the team to ready themselves. Despite the usual eagerness, she had come to expect from the men she worked with, this time they were silent. Fear and doubt clung to Walker, any desire to make a name for himself now squashed with the knowledge of what waited for them on the other side of the door.
She didn’t blame him.
As for the others, they cast the occasional glance in the direction of the door but said nothing. She didn’t have to be a mind reader to know the doubts they dealt with, nor could she blame them. Facing aliens, with unknown tech and weaponry wasn’t her idea of fun, but it had to be done. They owed their service and loyalty to those who called the colony home.
If she took the time to think about it, she’d acknowledge the fear whispering in the back of her mind, but there were other things to focus on. The route to the barracks. The equipment they needed. The people she’d seen in the cage. No, she wasn’t going to think about the aliens. Or what they wanted with the captive humans. Cora closed her eyes, focused on her breathing, and counted to twenty before she risked opening them again.
She glanced back at the rest of the group. Down by one as Jackson, one of the men who’d been in the bar, but hadn’t joined the rest of the Marines at their table, had been sent to the bolt hole to let Jones and his group know what was going on. With aliens in the mix, neither Cora or Gunny could be confident if the comms, including the secured channels, were safe to use. Jackson’s equipment had been shared among the others, the oxygen packs refilled from the larger tank. A tank which they would leave behind. They couldn’t allow themselves to be burdened once they were beyond the door.
Aliens. Blasted aliens. Not remotely human. She swallowed down a lump from her throat. Fear had its place, as long as she didn’t allow
herself to become paralyzed by it. She’d been through training, had clawed her way to her stripes over the last fifteen years, and had no intention of freezing, putting her people at risk.
“Ready?” Cora asked.
“Yes, check for targets,” Gunny replied.
She inclined her head and turned her attention to the door. As she had the first time, she pressed one ear against the metal, straining to hear. Distant, muffled sounds. The rumble of a small explosion in the distance. Not big enough to cause more damage to the tunnel, but she had no desire to wait around and be crushed if the enemy decided to blow up the rest of the colony. Cora held up a hand to indicate they needed to stop and continued to listen.
The noise faded, and she waited until she heard nothing, only then did she pull the door open and peer through the crack. Her muscles tensed, adrenaline rushing through her body as she took the time to search the area for any sign of the aliens.
Nothing.
She tugged the door open and slipped out, leaving it open wide enough for the others to follow as she crouched low, sidearm in her right hand, and ran to the nearest set of rubble. Cora dropped down on one knee scanning the area, weapon ready. One by one the others joined her, Gunny the last to make the crossing, Stone in the middle of the group, along with Walker.
Her gaze flickered to Stone, then away.
Dangerous man, one they would typically be watching as a potential problem, a suspected smuggler and merc. No, more than suspected. He’d admitted it. Spoken of the caches and contacts. Her fingers tightened around the grip of her sidearm, then relaxed. They’d use him, but it didn’t mean they’d trust him. She certainly didn’t. He’d turn on them the first chance he had. Not to be trusted no matter what he said.
A detail she wouldn’t forget.
“Move. Don’t slow down. We have to keep moving no matter what we hear. Or what happens behind us. We need to make it to the tunnels.”
Jakob didn’t turn, didn’t look back at the one calling out. Ground floor, the escape hatches were here. He knew where at least two of them lay.
Walls trembled, dust and debris filled the atmosphere, or what remained. He brushed his face mask clear, needing to see where they were going, what dangers lay ahead of them. And Gail. He wasn’t going to let go of Gail. His hand tightened on her arm, but she didn’t complain.
“They’re coming in!”
Who?
It didn’t matter. Once he was safe, he could find out, ask the questions he didn’t have the time to ask now.
Gail pulled back out of his grasp. “Wait, I see someone. It’s Pippa.”
Pippa? He frowned, allowing himself to turn and see what was happening. A girl, four, maybe five, wailed as she sat on the floor, knees hugged to her chest as she wept. Her suit in place, protecting her for now. He wanted to yell at Gail to come back, but the woman wouldn’t listen. He knew without trying, she would continue to try and help Pippa. Gail reached the child first. In one smooth move, she scooped her up, and hugged Pippa to her chest, one hand cupping the back of the girl’s head.
He knew the girl, had seen her before, but the where evaded him.
“Gail, come on, we’re running out of time.”
“What are they?” A strangers voice across the comm. One of the men with the survivors. A man without a name or face as they hurried toward the escape hatches.
“Aliens.” Another voice, a woman’s.
Aliens? What were they talking about? The dome had cracked. Had there been a gas leak or contamination from the broken dome which triggered hallucinations?
“Move, we can’t stay here.” Gail hurried to join them, Pippa clenched to her body.
Invaders. He couldn’t believe real invaders now caused havoc in the colony, but what else could have caused the dome to shatter? If they destroyed all of it. Maybe it was cracked? But by what? An explosion? Mining? Terrorists? He moved, feet taking him away from the source of the danger. Hard and fast a hand slammed against the small of his back. He half stumbled, left leg giving out beneath him before he was grabbed by the upper arms and tugged him back to his feet.
Not one, but two. A man and a woman he knew but couldn’t put a name to them.
“Don’t stop. No matter what you hear, what happens, you don’t stop.” The man instructed. “Keep moving, keep going.”
He nodded, mouth dry, heart racing. He swallowed and didn’t pause. Feet slapping against the ground.
In front of him, a woman opened the hatch, waving for people to go down the ladder. They were going to make it. They’d get out of here, then they’d be able to find out what was going on.
A scream.
Gail.
He turned, eyes wide as he searched for her. She’d been with him only a moment before.
“Don’t stop. You can’t save her.”
He darted toward the last place he’d seen Gail, but the grips on his arms returned as he was turned and forced back toward the trapdoor. He screamed and struggled, fighting against the hold. “I can’t leave her. I have to help. Let me go. Please. Let me go.” Jakob kicked and fought, desperate to escape, to find her, to grab Gail and Pippa. This wasn’t right. He could help. He had to find her.
“It’s too late.”
A movement. Tall, winged. Monstrous. Not human. Not alone. A scream caught in the back of his throat. Panic seized his limbs, locking him in place as the two grips lifted and hauled him toward the ladder. Aliens. Not real. Couldn’t be real.
“Get to safety, if she’s still alive, she’ll find you in the shelters.” The woman holding him explained as she released her grasp. The man didn’t let him go until he had one foot on the ladder. “You have to survive.”
Gail. Pippa. He tried to climb back up, but the man stood in his way. “Don’t put yourself at risk. It’ll only add more captives or dead to the numbers. Go, before I send you down the hard way.”
Heart torn in two Jakob began his climb down into the darkness, away from the cries, screams, and pleas for help. Only when he was halfway down did he realize his face was wet.
Stone followed the group, scanning the area as he ran, half crouched to the protected area Lawbook had chosen. Light fell in small pools, but the full illumination he’d become used no longer existed. Power sources, a few appeared to still be online, others no longer worked. He frowned, it was to be expected with the devastation which greeted them. Few buildings, in this area, remained untouched. In the distance movement, the suggestion of an attack still in progress toward the center of the colony. But around their current location, scorch marks decorated the half-destroyed walls, blast marks, the distinctive rubble which came from explosions. But on first glance, something was missing.
He closed his eyes and replayed the last time he’d been in the dome. Realization struck as he opened his eyes and double checked what lay in front of him. “Where are the bodies?” He kept his voice low. “There should be bodies with this level of damage to the buildings. But I don’t see any.”
The Gunny joined them and frowned. “I see your point. There should be bodies everywhere. Wounded, dead, survivor signs. Nothing. Doesn’t make sense.”
“I didn’t have the chance to take it in when I checked the area out. Damn. Maybe they were engaged in a running firefight? Or the bodies could have been removed, pulled elsewhere.”
“Why would they move them?” Stone pressed.
“No damn idea. They’re aliens. We don’t know why they’re here, what they’re doing or if we can communicate with them.” Lawbook shifted her weight and edged back from the wall, stepping into the extra cover created by the shadows. “We could be anything from a food source, to fuel, to fertilizer. We don’t have enough information to work it out yet.”
Information, the one currency you never had enough of, no matter what was going on, or who you were dealing with.
“We need to find out as much as we can. Earth will need the data in case these creatures decide to hit home,” said Gunny, his voice steady despite his word
s. “And my gut tells me they’re going to head for earth. We can’t allow them to be hit without warning, or assume Comms got the word out before they were destroyed.”
“Destroyed?”
“Only thing that makes sense. It had to have been hit, or the entire base would have been warned. Full details of the situation. No, however this happened, it was fast. Too fast to get things into place. Not so much as an alert sent to the military.” Gunny turned his attention to their surroundings. “We’re screwed, but only as long as we lack information. Our first order of business, other than reaching a supply dump or safe area, has to be gathering information to send to Earth.”
“If we survive long enough to transmit the data.” The Corporal muttered as he turned to brush one hand over the marks in the rubble. “Energy weapons. Couldn’t tell you what type.”
“We can’t stay here, need to get moving.” Gunny gestured to the back of the crumpled building. “Lawbook, check we’re in the clear.”
“Yes, Gunny.” She turned and edged her way through the building, sidearm in her right hand.
He didn’t envy the woman or the rest of the Marines. Not with the Gunny in charge. Better than Lawbook, she’d have something to prove being the only woman in the group. Still, they were walking dead men. Not his problem. He tried to shut out the idea, but the worry continued to niggle away in the back of his mind. Did choosing to go with Gunny mean he’d end up yet another name in the list of the dead? Hell no, not if he had anything to do about it. At least one man had to escape this mess, live to tell the tale. Maybe come out a hero.
No, heroes were too well known for his tastes.
“We’re clear, Gunny.”
Cora leaned against the wall before taking the chance to peer out. She didn’t linger, risking only a quick glance, then pulled back, her eyes closing as she went over the information. No sign of the creatures, or anything else. Nothing living or dead. Where the hell were the bodies? Now Stone had brought up the issue, she couldn’t help but see the lack everywhere. She risked a second glance, following the same pattern.