He knew he should be scared, as they were likely landing in a very volatile and violent situation. All he felt was excitement. His hands grasped his Aquilla as he checked it over one last time. It felt great to be a Marine once more, and all he wanted to do was kick some ass. A red light flashed on the roof above them as the pilot’s voice rang out.
“We’re two minutes out. Prepare to disembark!”
Chapter 4
“Go, go, go!” Lee yelled as he stepped up to the edge of the ramp at the back of the shuttle.
He was ushering the squad out onto the rooftop of a two-storey building. It was made of stone, but seemed very old, so the pilot was hovering a metre above. They were looking out across a city that had to have a population of tens of thousands. The building looked to be in a suburb just outside the centre. They could see far larger and lavish structures than they’d seen elsewhere across Rhamprox. Much of the architecture was more lavish than they would have expected. Huge arches and domed towers. Lee thought of them as simple people. There was nothing simple about their construction methods. Much of it was decorated in lavish stones and painted with gleaming paints that glittered in the scorching sun, nothing like the primitive villages they’d passed over. Lee could see he had a lot to learn about his new posting, and he needed to do it fast.
Madan was the first to leap from the shuttle with his brother close behind. Nelson stayed put by the ramp. Lee couldn’t tell if he was staying to protect him or because he was wary of the Prians. Either way, he was glad of some support. As much as the two hated each other, they didn’t doubt that one would support the other in the line of duty.
A sweet smell wafted over them in a cloud mixed with the dust kicked up by the turbines of the shuttle. King could feel his head soften slightly. It was much like the relaxed feeling after too many drinks, but without the dazed feeling that came with it. It was a welcome experience, as it calmed his nerves, but was deeply worrying when they were going into a dangerous situation.
“Bhanza!” Nelson shouted.
“What?”
“Some drug the locals use. I heard about this a few years back. It’s supposed to get you flying up there in the clouds if you take it direct.”
“And it’s powerful enough to have an effect passively?”
“That’s what I heard. They can’t get enough of the stuff. The kind of strength we wouldn’t ever be allowed back home,” he said, smiling as if he wouldn’t mind getting some for himself.
“A drug-fuelled angry mob? Just what we need,” he sighed.
He looked over to two other rooftops nearby. The other squads were disembarking at a rapid pace. The Colonel was already on an external staircase heading down to the ground.
“Come on!” Lee leapt on after the rest of their squad.
As soon as he felt his feet touch the ground, he heard the shuttle engines roar as they soared away. Nelson looked concerned to see them go.
“They won’t go far. Orders are to wait for our extract,” said Lee.
“Yeah, and you trust them to hang around once the shots start flying? Those aren’t gunships. They’re unarmed transports.”
“They’ll do their jobs, like we will.” He led the squad onto a narrow stairway leading to the ground. They found themselves in what looked like a market area. At first it looked abandoned, but the locals had simply taken shelter inside nearby buildings until the shuttles had left and the dust settled. The three squads quickly came together, and he encountered the other two squad leaders for the first time. He was surprised to see they were both women.
“Corporal King, this is Corporal Griffin, Alpha Squad and Sergeant Bosque, Charlie Squad,” said Colonel Rossman to get them quickly acquainted.
“What’s wrong?” Griffin smirked, “Not seen women on the frontline before?”
“No, I haven’t,” he replied honestly.
“Rules work a little differently out here. We might be serving officers in the Corps, but we’re commanding irregular troops. Normal regs don’t all apply,” added Rossman.
“That the way the Brass sees it back home, Sir?”
“They don’t care what we do out here, so long as we keep things going,” replied Stone sternly.
“I’ll take the best Marines for the job, and out here, nobody really cares.”
“Best for the job, more like the only ones that’ll take the job, Sir?” Bosque asked.
“That’s your game, isn’t it, Corporal? Fade away in a cell, or come out here and fight?” Griffin jibbed.
“You telling me you wouldn’t take that call?”
“So, it’s true,” replied Bosque in shock.
“This really is the King who screwed up and wrecked a gunboat,” laughed Griffin.
“Yeah, and he’s got one chance to stay free by doing his job here. So how motivated do you think he is, Corporal?” Colonel Rossman replied.
“We can only hope, Sir.”
Lee smiled. He had a lot of respect to earn, but he liked their blunt sassiness.
“All right, this is recon only. We’re here to establish the threat level. If we can establish a foothold, then we will and hold here a few days, but if things look bad, we high tail it right out of here. We aren’t looking to die here, you hear me?”
“Yes, Sir,” they quickly replied.
“Comms?” Lee asked.
“Nothing PE level. Each squad has a single unit. The atmospherics cause absolute hell on Rhamprox. Need a hell lot of power to get anywhere with it.”
Lee gritted his teeth. He liked this less and less as time went by and more was revealed to them.
“What’s the matter, you never operated without comms?” Stone asked.
“In training exercises yes, but never in the field.”
“Well get used to it. Nobody ever said a Marine’s job was supposed to be easy,” snarled Stone.
“We’re heading for the palace at the centre if the city. We’re looking to make contact with the Mayor, who is an Empire appointed official. Spread out, but maintain visual contact at all times. Do not fire unless fired upon. Keep your eyes open. We have no idea what we’re going to find.”
“Are we expecting much hostility, Sir?” Bosque asked.
“We don’t know. Last we heard attacks and murders were isolated, picking off civilians at night, opportunistic attacks. With a show of force, we shouldn’t see much trouble, but no guarantees. Everyone ready?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“All right, follow me.” He went on to lead from the front with Sergeant Stone close by his side.
“A Colonel on point, you ever seen that before?” Nelson asked King.
“The Colonel ain’t like any CO you’ve met before,” Griffin said as she strode past.
“Yeah, I’m starting to get that feeling.” Lee looked impressed.
“First he busts us out, and now he runs right in at the front? This ain’t the Corps as I ever knew it, Nelson.”
“But is he running in to lead by example, or because he’s chasing glory and medals?”
Lee was surprised the big guy could even come up with such an analysis, and he had a point.
“You think there’s any glory to be had out here?”
“Sure. We’ve seen plenty of officers made by making a name for themselves in faraway lands. Victories won with Marine lives. He can go home at the end of all this a hero.”
“If we come out on top, and he doesn’t die trying.”
“Some officers would rather die famously than live an unexceptional career.”
Lee shook his head, seeing a completely different side of the angry giant he’d recently fought.
“What are you?”
“You think because I’m big I’m dumb?”
“No, I think you’re dumb because you act dumb. Or you did until recently.”
“Don’t ever let the enemy know your true strength until you’re ready, nor your weaknesses. Isn’t that what we were taught?”
“Yeah,” he replied, soun
ding surprised, “You’re smarter than you look, and still you came after me?”
“A thinking man is dangerous.”
Lee shrugged in agreement.
“Shut up, both of you,” insisted Stone, as they went on through the narrow streets, and the populace began to come out from their shelters.
Many looked like the Rhepoys. Though much thinner and far less healthy, as if they were living with far less than the Rhepoys.
“These people look like they live a hard life,” said Lee, as he closed with the Colonel.
“Life is always hard on Rhamprox. Those that serve the Empire get a good existence, better than most can expect.”
“And yet look at that.” He gestured up ahead to the lavish structures before them.
“There’s always someone with more. They’re tribal, feudal in many ways,” added Stone.
They came out of a narrow street where it widened into a market square, but they froze in horror at what lay before them. A huge wooden pylon rose out of the ground like a mast in the middle of the square. It reached fifteen metres up into the sky. Pinned to it were the bodies of dead Humans. Many of them bore horrific wounds. Cuts and torn clothing, bashed in skulls, it was a gruesome sight.
“What in the hell?” Nelson stepped closer as if needing to check his eyes were not deceiving him.
“Lance Corporal!” Rossman yelled.
But he didn’t stop, mesmerised by the barbaric display.
Lee didn’t dare take a pace closer, knowing what the Colonel was afraid of.
“The place could be rigged. It might be a trap,” he insisted.
He shook his head; surprised he was the one trying to protect Nelson’s life. The man who not so long ago given half the chance would have crushed his skull, probably still would if the consequences were not so severe. He drew near and reached out to touch the bodies to be certain they were real, and as morbid as it was, the rest of them waited for his assessment.
“This one is still warm.”
The man suddenly woke up and tried to flail out as he gasped for air. Nelson flew back in terror as he lifted his rifle to fire.
“Hold!” Rossman strode forward between them and addressed the bloodied man pinned to the post. He could barely breathe. He was near the end, desperately clinging on to life.
“Who did this to you?”
He looked confused, but then peered past the Colonel to the Rhepoys. His expression turned to dread as he pointed at them.
“They, they…they did!”
He breathing became more erratic as panic set in, and a moment later, he fell limp and silent once more. Rossman reached forward to check his pulse.
“He’s gone.”
“What happened here, Sir?” Griffin asked.
“Isn’t it fucking obvious?” Lee replied.
“We don’t make assumptions. We make educated guesses,” snapped Bosque.
“Sadly the educated is the obvious the Corporal speaks of. These people were murdered by Prians, perhaps even by Rhepoys.”
That was a chilling thought for all those in charge. They were but a handful of Humans at the mercy of their own Rhepoys, if they so chose.
Lee decided to tackle the problem head on as he looked to Madan.
“Your people, would they ever do this?”
“Only to an enemy who had done them a great insult.”
“That’s not exactly reassuring,” replied Griffin.
“This is bad, isn’t it?” Lee asked.
Everyone knew it was.
“We have to carry on and try to reach the Mayor. We need to know what has gone on here.” Rossman led the way out of the marketplace to a main road between buildings. It led towards the taller structures they’d seen from the air. There were several dead bodies along the way, both Prian and Human, but nobody checked for survivors now. Shutters knocked back and forth in the wind as dust blew down the street. It felt like they were being watched. The street was dead, and yet they knew there were locals nearby, but they couldn’t see them.
The buildings around them became more lavish and decadent, in stark contrast to the simple dwellings they’d landed at. The street opened up to a large stone stairway. A grand entrance leading to what was clearly an important building with tall columns and domed tops to the roof. Two Prians were at the base of the steps as if on guard duty. The moment they spotted the Marines they let out a loud cry and drew blades, their iconic Firanwars. Armed with nothing more than their tribal blades, the two aliens rushed at the Marines yelling their battle cries. Lee had no idea how they were supposed to handle the situation, but Rossman lifted his rifle and fired at the first, killing him instantly. A burst from Griffin and Madan knocked the other one down. The Colonel looked concerned, but not at all surprised.
“What happened to fire only when fired upon?” Nelson whispered.
“A blade can kill as easy as a bullet. It seems reasonable to me,” replied Lee.
Rossman was already studying the bodies. He turned one over, and Madan spat on the body. Nobody needed to ask why, and Lee was glad he’d pressed Naider for some insight before they’d arrived. There was silence as they all considered what was to come next. Every one of the Humans looked concerned, but the Rhepoys took it all in their stride as if it were any other normal day.
A moment later, a bell rang out violently, and they could hear a hive of activity. The doors at the top of the steps burst open, and Prians stormed out. Some were empty-handed, others with their blades. They rushed at the Marines with a fearless fury.
“Form up, two ranks!” Rossman ordered.
Lee wasn’t sure what he meant. He wasn’t used to such a command in a combat situation, but the Rhepoys understood, even those that didn’t speak their language. The platoon formed two lines, the front kneeling and second standing over them. Lee was supposed to be a squad leader, and yet control was taken from his hands as they responded to the Colonel directly. He was glad though, as this felt nothing like the Marine Corps he’d known.
“Fire!”
The Edgeland rifles of the Rhepoys were far louder than the more refined and advanced Aquillas the regulars used and drowned out his first shot. They also paused between shots as they recharged. He was able to get two more shots off before the Rhepoys fired another devastating salvo. More than a dozen of the Prians had already fallen. More poured through, scrambling over their dead as if with no concern. It gave Lee reason to pause for a moment. He was amazed at how fearless they really were. It was terrifying. Such a brutal volley would have caused any Empire unit to go for cover. The Prians seemed to have no care for their lives as they screamed maniacally and continued to charge.
Lee took aim again and fired, the brutal fire from the platoon cutting down all before them. Within a few moments, almost thirty lay dead or dying, and finally the stream of enemy stopped. Lee breathed a sigh of relief. It had seemed there was a never-ending horde. Nobody said a word as they looked at the pile of dead. But not Rossman. He was studying the ground all around them, looking for threats and getting familiar with the terrain.
A clatter of blades and stamping of feet from within the building ahead soon broke the silence. They weren’t advancing out of the structure, but their chants and beats echoed all about the square. A few of them could be just seen as dark figures in the open doorways.
“What are they doing?” Nelson asked.
“Bravo Squad, get in that building, second floor, now!” Rossman pointed to a structure behind them.
“On me!” Lee shouted as Madan relayed his command.
It was a four-storey structure and clearly of Empire manufacture, as it was in stark contrast to the local architecture. The doors were hanging off the frame, and the windows blown out. The entrance to the building was black from recent fire damage. They rushed inside to find it abandoned. Furniture was scattered around, and two Human bodies were just inside. Lee didn’t have time to concern himself with that as he rushed onward to a stairway and stormed up it. He reache
d the next floor and found himself facing off against a Prian. He swung his Firanwar at his head with enough power to take it off in one.
He ducked under the blow and drove his Aquilla into his stomach, and then struck him in the face with the stock. His attacker staggered back, giving him enough of an opening to bring his muzzle up and fire two shots. He went down dead, and for a moment he froze. He’d worked out of instinct, but the experience took him by surprise. Madan and the others rushed on past as he looked at the body. He didn’t feel any guilt, but it was something he’d never encountered, engaging an enemy in hand-to-hand and fight to the death. He was starting to understand why they carried Guardians. A gunshot rang out. He quickly cleared his mind and rushed to a blown-out window overlooking the square. More than a dozen Prians were rushing down a street at them. Several carried Rhepoy equipment, including rifles. They were Rhepoys who had shed their yellow jackets and turned on their employers.
Several shots from Stone’s squad were returned at them. Some continued to charge fearlessly to engage in hand-to-hand combat, and others sought refuge in doorways as they returned fire. These were Empire trained soldiers. Madan didn’t need an order to know what to do. He took aim and opened fire on the mob, moving towards them, and killing one with his first shot.
“Charlie Squad, fall back!” Rossman yelled as he stayed with Stone’s squad. They stood their ground and engaged the enemy, but a wail of cries rang out from the top of the stairs. A wave of sword wielding fanatics charged out towards them. A Marine beside Rossman was hit by a shot from the other group in the alley. The Colonel quickly spotted the source of his attacker, putting him down with a well-aimed shot. He then knelt down to help the Marine. As he checked on the wounded man, Lee spotted another taking aim at the Colonel. He took aim, but a shot rang out beside him before he could pull the trigger. It had come from Madan, who showed no emotion at all. He seemed to take it all in his stride.
The Last Empire Box Set Page 10