Once Upon The Stars (Updated 08-22-04)

[Atrocities]

XVII Revelations

Over the next thirty minutes Captain O’Connor’s team worked feverously to clear the ice from the corridor. Only a small section, about six meters or so had collapsed and his team was making good time. The fear was not another collapse, but rather how much oxygen was left in the main chamber. Their first order of business was to drill a hole through the ice in order to allow fresh air into the chamber. That was accomplished within the first fifteen minutes of the rescue operation.

In the mean time Doctors Mentor and Ramzies, using the Gravimetric Core Sampler, scanned the ice around the main chamber. What they discovered was startling. The ice had not only begun to warm in and around the chamber, but around the entire object.

“General Christopher, I estimate that the object will melt the surface ice over it within twenty six hours.” Said Doctor Mentor in what could only be described as a tone of utter despair.
“Why is it melting Doctor?” Tom asked more than a little annoyed.
“Our best guess Tom is that the ship itself is generating the heat.” Replied Doctor Ramzies.
“Bill we already know this. The General wants to know why.” Snapped Nina Smith over her COM. Tom was standing about ten feet from her and hadn’t considered that she had anything to offer to the conversation. He was wrong.
“Nina, we don’t know why it is generating the heat. We can only speculate.” Replied Doctor Mentor.
“Lets here your best guess then Doctor.” Tom said.
“I believe that something, perhaps our proximity to the vessel itself has triggered an automated response. This response has in turn activated some kind of system that is now attempting to free the ship from the ice.”
‘Oh that is just great,’ thought Tom to himself. “Captain how much more time is your rescue operation going to take?”
It took several seconds before O’Connor could respond. “About two hours give or take an hour.”
“General Ron Lindley here, the ice is a lot softer and our team is going through it rather rapidly. We have to be careful though as this ice is not like the ice we first excavated. That ice was compact and hard as steel, this ice is less dense and could give way to more collapse.”
“Thank you Mr. Lindley.” Replied Tom as he lowered the COM. Tom was not prone to fear attacks, but the prospect of being buried alive under a hundred tons of ice did not appeal to him, and he could feel the chambers walls beginning to close in on him. Nina Smith was trying to organize the Monitoring equipment; a useless task as most of it was damaged beyond repair and the equipment that was functional had no power to operate with.

Harris was just sitting on one of the durra pLastic chairs holding his rifle and staring at the entrance. Tom could tell that Harris was feeling the pressure the same as he was. They both wanted the hell out of this tomb before it became a permanent resting place.
Without warning Harris jumped to his feet and looked around the chamber then directly at Tom.
“Sir did you hear that?”
“Hear what Harris?”
“That popping sound?”
“I hear it too,” Replied Nina. Being trapped in an ice chamber with Harris had not caused her any undo stress, or at least none that Tom could see, but he knew she was uncomfortable in Harris’s presence.
“There it is again.” Commented Harris, as he moved toward what appeared to be a hatch on the alien ship. “It’s getting louder.” Tom could hear it now too, and was growing concerned.
“Harris your side arm.”
Harris looked over at Tom and without comment tossed him his pistol. Tom cleared the safety of the gun and raised it. He also lifted the COM to his mouth and spoke into it rather softly. “O’Connor we may have a new problem.” There was no response. The COM was dead. Nina checked hers and it too was dead.
The rapping sound grew louder and started to change pitch, it was now more like a whine the kind that a flash would make as it was building a charge.
“Harris get back away from that thing!” Harris did not have to be told twice, he moved away from the hatch, as did Nina Smith. Both moved over to where Tom was standing.
“The whine grew louder and louder and then the bulk head began to change. At first Tom could not believe his eyes, it was as if the metal had come alive, had some how began to alter its structure into a human form. Both he and Harris raised their weapons.
“Hold your fire Mr. Harris.”
“Sir with all due respect, if that thin moves so much as an inch toward me I will shoot.”
“And if he doesn’t I throw snow balls at it!” Replied Nina who was now hold snowballs in her left and right hand.
“Lets see what it does before we kill it people.”
The form began to change color it took on a more humanoid appearance before collapsing to its knees. Tom knew instantly what it was he was looking at. The form solidified into a humanoid body, covered in a deep black armored uniform. The uniform was like nothing he had ever seen before, but somehow it looked familiar.
“Who are you?” Tom asked out loud.
The humanoid form did not respond, instead it collapsed to the ground. In the distance the rapping sound began again. This time it was far more intense than before.

Tom moved over toward the humanoid and knelt down beside it. Harris was covering him and Nina was covering Harris. Tom rolled the form over and he could see what looked like release fasteners on the part of the armor that covered the humanoids face.
“Sir are you sure that’s safe?” Asked Harris in a concerned voice.
“Well soon see.” Replied Tom as he clicked the fasteners and removed the humanoids helmet reveling the face of a man, a human man.

Nina gasp and Harris’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head.
“Oh my god, he is human!”
“And he is still alive.”
“Sir, what in the hell kind of man is he?”
Tom took several seconds before he answered Harris’s question. Tom had never seen this man before, but he knew him and he knew what he was.
“This is a member of the assassins guild.”
Harris’s face instantly went from one of shock to one of utter hatred. He took several aggressive steps toward Tom and the unconscious body of the assassin.
“Step aside sir.” Harris barked.
Tom looked up at Harris and understood what it was he was planning on doing.
“Stand down Sergeant.” Tom ordered but Harris did not respond. “I said stand down Sergeant!” This time Tom rose to his feet and Harris leveled his pulse rifle at the man on the ground.
“He killed my trainee and four other good men sir, he deserves to die.”
“I said stand down Sergeant!”
“I can’t sir, I hav-” In the middle of a word there was a rather loud thonk and Harris’s eyes rolled upward and he collapsed to the ground. Standing behind him was Nina Smith holding one of those useless monitoring device wearing a wicked grin. “Oh that felt really good.”

[Ruatha]

You are productive today!
And keeping good quality aswell as quantity!
What happened aboard that ship? Is it a human ship?
I want MOOOOOOOREEEEEEE!!!!!

[Atrocities]

Thanks Ruatha, I had to get it to paper as it was eating my mind to death.

I promise you the next two installments are going to really be interesting.

I just wish I could learn how to use my comas right.

When I sat down to write Part XV, I did not know that I would be up all night writing. I have completed two more installments past the ones posted here. I am tired and am going to crash now. I will polish them up later and post them tomorrow.

[Atrocities]

Part XV Compassion

“God damn him!” Cried out Sergeant Paul Harris as he slammed his helmet to the deck after being told the news about PFC Kord Anuran having been killed by the sky chariot explosion. Lead Pilot Major Jellico Mantel, a long time friend of Harris’ understood him enough to know that he was not really angry with the kid, but more or less angry with himself for not having kept him alive.
“It wasn’t your fault Paul.”
“Like hell it wasn’t.” Replied Harris as he tried to fight back a tear. Sergeant Paul Harris had recently lost his wife and two children and was having a tough go of it. Jellico knew and understood this. After all, who wouldn’t be having a hard time keeping it together after loosing those precious soles closest to you?
“It wasn’t a his fault either Paul, he was just standing in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“Oh for crying out loud Jel, you of all people know that is utter Pathor fodder!”
“No I don’t know that Paul.” Replied Jellico as sternly as he could without sounding combative.
“That kid was my responsibility, and it should have been me that bought it not him.”
“Now that is utter Pathor fodder if I have ever heard it,” responded Jellico coldly. “You can not blame yourself for what happened to him, or to your wife and kids.”
Paul slumped down the bulkhead, and came to a sitting position on the deck with his knees up. He crossed his arms over his knees and leaned forward until his forehead touched his forearms. “I should have been with her and the kids Jel. I should have been there.”
Jellico kneeled down next to his friend. He put his hand on his shoulder and spoke in the softest voice he could. “Paul, when I lost Lori, it hurt so deep that I almost couldn’t cope with it. I thought about flying this crate right into the side of a mountain on more than one occasion, but you know what, I got through it. It still hurts like a knife through the heart, but I am dealing with it. I know what your going through, and I know how much pain your in. And I know that nothing that any one can say will ever elevate it, but for the Gods sake, just give it some more time. The pain will lesson, the guilt will subside, and you will move on.”
Paul looked up into the face of his friend and shook his head slightly. “You’re a good man Jel, a true friend, but don’t tell me that you know how I feel because you don’t. You couldn’t possibly know how much it hurts to loose your entire family.”
Jellico knew his friend to well to take his comment as an insult. Instead he smiled at him and squeezed his shoulder firmly.
“All I am saying old friend is that you were there for me when Lori died, and I will be here for you if you ever want to talk.”
The two men looked at one another for a moment, both giving the other a deep compassionate look of understanding that only two truly good friend could offer one another. Nothing needed to be said, both understand. Paul slowly reached over and took Jellico’s hand and Jellico helped him to stand.
“You had better get those wounded people settled in.” Said Paul somberly.
“You be careful.” Replied Jellico.
With that Paul smiled at his friend, grabbed his Pulse Rifle and headed down the loading ramp.

The excavating had already resumed by the time Captain O’Connor, General Christopher, Doctor Mentor, and Doctor Ramzies entered the ice tunnel. Chief Engineer Ron Lindley and his Assistant Engineer Calvin Kurd, both from the Global Engineering Corp, or the GEC for short, had already begun the process of clearing the Last few meters of ice away from what they hoped was an entrance hatch into the alien ship.
Colonel Erin Rogers was already examining high definition images of the writing they had discovered on the hull of the ship next to the hatch that they were now trying to gain access to.
“Colonel Rogers,” Said Captain O’Connor as he stepped up, “any luck translating the writing?”
Colonel Rogers looked up at the Captain and smiled. She was not an overly attractive woman, but one that could easily hold her own in a beauty contest. “Not yet Captain, but give me time.”
“From the looks of things, time is running out.” Commented Carl Wilhelm in his usually characteristic tone of voice. It was neither sarcastic nor rude but it did have a slight and subtle hint of both.
“Shouldn’t you be back in the mess tent drinking hot lacto berry juice?” Replied Sergeant Ruddy Arnold in response to Carl’s comment.
“I would think that you would be better suited to guarding the entrance than standing around here bothering those of us who actually have an education and know why we are here.” Commended Carl with notable sarcasm in his voice.
“Knock it off, both of you.” Snapped Tom harshly. “Sergeant Arnold, grab a pulse rifle and go guard the entrance. Carl see if you can assist the Colonel in deciphering that writing.”
Tom was not going to put up with these two tossing insults back and forth at one another. Enough time was wasted dealing with the sky chariot explosion already, and he did not want any more time wasted on useless arguing.
Arnold left without saying a word. He had long sense given up on his mission to spy on Tom for General Green, as Tom was wise to it, and kept him out of the loop. Arnold knew that he was considered by most to be a brown nosing little Pathor, but what could he do, he is what he is, and he considers himself smart enough to know what it was that he was; a major brown nosing little Pathor.

Carl was no fool, and knew that he had to make himself useful or he would be ordered out of the narrow chamber back to the surface to most likely guard something. So he did what he could to assist those around him. Tom took note of this and considered sending him topside to guard the remaining Prowler while the crew repaired the damage caused by the exploding sky chariot. But Tom opted to keep him where he could keep an eye on him. Tom still did not trust the butcher of Pennington, and despite his obvious attempts to prove to Tom that he was a new man, Tom still did not like or trust him any further than he could toss a Tempest Class Sky Carrier.

The excavating went on for nearly two hours before Tom decided to go to the surface and get something to eat at the mess tent. As a precaution Captain O’Connor had him escorted to the mess tent by a Sergeant named Paul Harris. Harris did not say much, mostly yes sir, and understood sir, and for this Tom liked the man. He was old school, he had a strong command presence, and he knew when to talk and when not to. This man had seen action, and agony on a scale similar to Toms own. Without ever talking to him, Tom knew him. It was as if he could almost read the mans mind. He was dedicated to his duty, but housed a tremendous amount of person pain. A soldier and warrior first, an ordinary man second. It took a special kind of man to become a man like Mr. Harris, and that fact was not wasted on Tom.

“General,” Said Nina Smith in a warm welcoming voice as he and Sergeant Harris entered the Tent. “Come to have me check those-” She stopped in mid sentence and glared past Tom at the Sergeant.

‘This is kind of odd,’ thought Tom, Doctor Ramzies had also wanted to get something to eat, but when he was informed that Sergeant Harris would be escorting them he declined and returned to his work of monitoring the ice for seismic readings. Doctor Ramzies expression was very similar to the one now being displayed upon Nina Smiths face as she stood there in front of Tom starring at the Sergeant. It was not a nice expression that she wore; it was more or less a combination of hatred, anger, and fear all rolled up into one spiteful expression.

Tom looked at Nina for a second then over to the Sergeant. His expression was more or less the same as it had been before they had entered the mess tent. He neither seemed bothered by nor otherwise interested in her or how she looked at him.

“You keep bad company General.” She finally said. Her voice was not at all friendly; when she spoke it was as if she was spitting the words out.
“Excuse me?” He asked honestly confused by the whole thing.
“This Vol* nearly took my head off a week or so ago.” (*Vol – A very dirty disgusting creature that lives in its own waste and eats the bugs that its decaying waste draws.)

Tom looked confused as he tried to understand what she had just told him. ‘Nearly took her head off?’ He repeated to himself.
“I am sorry, I don’t follow you.”
“Just keep that bastard away from me.”
It was clear to Tom that Ms. Smith sincerely disliked the Sergeant, and that that dislike displeased Tom considerably. Without looking at the Sergeant he dismissed him and ordered him back to the excavation site. The Sergeant left without saying a word.
Tom could tell that Nina appreciated what he had just done. He walked over toward her and took a seat at the table that she was standing next to. She was standing very rigidly, and Tom could see that she was trembling slightly.
“Care to talk about it?” He asked compassionately.
Nina looked down at him and tried to smile, but could not. She had folded her arms in front of her body, the universal gesture that signals one discomfort in a social setting.
“It will be alright, I will order him to stay away from you,” Tom paused for a second, “and from Doctor Ramzies.”
“Bill told you?”
“He didn’t have to, I could see it on his face the moment he saw the Sergeant.”
“That bastard tried to kill us!”
“What happened?” Asked Tom with as much concern and compassion as he could.
Nina took a seat acrossed from him and he gently took her hands into his. Her hands were both very soft and very warm, and Tom could not help himself, he felt compelled to look into her eyes, those beautiful green eyes. Tom’s heart melted as he gazed into depths of Nina’s eyes. They were so powerful, so inviting, so very much like those of his wifes, oh how he missed her. Whatever it was that was bothering Nina, what ever Sergeant Harris had done, Tom would take care of it.

“Doctor. Ramzies and I tried to reach Davenport after some General ordered us to stand down. Our communications were cut off, and Doctor Mentor was concerned that we were all in peril. He ordered Doctor Ramzies and I to take one of the Snow Marshals and head for Davenport.” She paused and looking away from Tom in the direction of Davenport for second before looking back at him. He listened intently to her story as she continued.
“The Snow Marshal got stuck, and we had to use a Scrambler to continue our journey. We were almost to outer limits of Davenport when one of those frightful Prowler things dropped out of sky right on top of us.” She had a cup of hot lacto berry juice sitting on the table next to her and she reached over and picked it up. She turned back toward Tom and took a small sip before continuing.
“They were going to shoot us if we did not surrender so we did. They landed, a ramp lowered, and two men came out carrying guns.” She paused again and looked away.
“It is alright, please continue.” Tom said softly.
“That bastard hit Doctor Ramzies in the face with the butt of his gun for no reason, then he hit me.” She looked back at Tom; the tears were gone, replaced by anger. “It was not a gentle tap either, it was hard; the kind of way someone like him would hit an enemy he was trying to kill.” She tried, but could not stop from tearing up once again.
“That bastard tried to kill us, for no reason what so ever, and he got away with it.”

Tom sat back in his chair, never taking his eyes off of her, reflect back upon what Nina had just told him. Tom did like the Sergeant, but he could not condone an unwarranted violent act such as the one she had just described and undoubtedly suffered. If it was true, and Tom knew it was, then he had no choice but to act. He would have the sergeant, the flight crew, and Captain O’Connor relieved of duty and sent back to Andover base and held pending a court marshal investigation. Tom leaned forward and spoke in a soft tone.
“I believe you, and I will see to it that he stands in front of the Judge Advocate for his actions.”
Nina smiled and took his hand in hers. She squeezed hard as she bit her lower lip.
“I am sorry for what has happened to you and to Doctor Ramzies.”
“Thank you. Thank for believing me.” She said.

[ May 25, 2003, 12:34: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Atrocities]

Part XVIII Demons

Several minutes passed before the assassin regained consciousness. Tom had searched the man for weapons, having found many, he removed them all, but was still keeping his pistol leveled on him as a precaution. The man moved his hand to his head and blinked several times before sitting straight up. The speed at which he did this amazed Tom, he had never seen a man move so quickly, well almost never.
“Who are you?”
The man looked up at Tom and started to stand. Tom kept the pistol leveled on him the entire time.
“Your fast friend, I’ll give you that, but I sincerely doubt that you’re fast enough to evade simultaneous fire from two direction. The man looked at Tom then over at Nina who was holding the pulse rifle like a hardened pro.
“Go ahead vol rectum, try something.” She said coldly.
The man looked back at Tom and nodded ever so slightly.
“We have to leave and leave now. You must order the destruction of this ship before it frees itself from the ice.”
“What is your name and who in the hell do you work for?” Asked Tom firmly.
“We have met before, do you not recall?”
“Listen friend, I don’t know you, and right now I am searching for a reason not to blow your ugly *** away.” Replied Tom.
The man was obviously smart enough to know that Tom was not bluffing. His demeanor changed considerably at this realization.
“In about twenty or so minutes what is in that ship is going to open that hatch and come out after me. Trust me when I say this, they will not be friendly, and they do not take prisoners.”
“Why should I believe you, you still haven’t answered by question.”
“You already know what I am and who I am therefore I can see no reason to waste time discussing it while all of our lives depend upon you doing as I say and destroying that ship before it can free itself.”
“Answer my god damned question or so help me I will kill you.” Tom was serious, more serious than he could ever recall being. Tom knew, as did the assassin that he would kill him if he did not answer his question and soon.
“I am a scientist.”
“Vol ****!” Tom stated flatly as he took a step toward the man bringing his pistol muzzle right up into his face. “Scientist to employ morphing nets and walk around hiding under a cloak. They neither carry explosives nor pulse weapons.”
The man turned his head away, obviously not affected by the threat the pistol possessed.
“Regardless of what you believe, believe one thing, if that ship breaks free of the ice that currently is keeping it captive, every Last man women and child on this planet will die. Of this I assure you.”
“He’s full of vol fodder sir.” Said Harris as he stood up rubbing his head and flashing Nina a quick dirty look and getting a smirk in return.
“Glad to see that you have rejoined us Mr. Harris.” Commented Tom.
“Do you hear that sound, have you not noticed that it has become louder in the Last few moments?” Asked the man honestly.
Tom had to think, he was correct the sound had become louder.
“What about it?” He asked.
“That is the sound of several hundred bad things restoring power to a ship full of many thousands of bad things. And Within the next few minutes, many of those bad things will figure out where I have gone, and will come through that hatch looking for me. And when they do, nothing will hold them back, they will descend upon us in feeding frenzy and leave nothing but bone.”
“What?” Asked Nina in a vicious tone of voice.
“That ship, my dear, is full of a race known as the Huron. A race that came to this planet a long time ago in search of food, in search of us.”
“That’s vol fodder! There is no life outside of Pandora, and we all know that.” Replied Nina coldly.
“If you wish to test that theory, then stay here and await your death. In the few moments that you do live will prove to be the most enlightening of your life.
“Enough with this fodder! How do you know the things in there are hostile?” Snapped Tom rudely.
“Because I accidentally awoke them up while attempting to download there ships computer files. I can only conclude that the ship had a defensive system that detected my presence and brought those thing out of their hibernation. Regardless of how they were awoken, I have spent that Last few hours fighting for my in an attempt to escape.”
“What in the hell were you doing in there in the first place?” Asked Harris.
“Gathering information.”
”For who?”
“I told you that I am a scientist.”
“Say that one more time and I will put a round through your knee and leave you here for whatever those things are in they’re to find. Do you understand me?” The man smiled and nodded in agreement.
“Now tell me who you are an who you work for.”
“As you wish. My name is Orata, and I am a member of the underground science guild an organization filled with enlightened minds dedicated to the discovery of technology by other races.”
“That is Pathor fodder, you’re an assassin! Sir with all do respect, I recommend that you just shoot him.” Commented Harris.
“Quiet Harris.” Ordered Tom sharply.
“Ah guys I don’t think we can waste any more time on talk, whatever those things are that are in there, look like there about ready to come out here.” Nina was referring to the hatch. It had been opened about quarter meter and several claw like hands were visible at the base of the door attempting to lift it.
“Whatever they are, they aren’t human!” Nina commented as she backed away toward the collapsed entrance to the Chamber.
“And they look hungry.” Harris added as he reached for his pulse rifle and Nina handed it to him.
“As I have already stated. Now I would suggest in the strongest terms possible that we retreat and seal off this chamber before they manage to get that hatch all the way open.” Commented Trax flatly.
“In case you haven’t noticed Farta, the way out is blocked.” Commented Harris in less than a friendly tone.
Orata looked over at him, somewhat offended by his insult, but not showing it, then glanced over toward the entrance. He quickly looked back at Tom, and Tom didn’t not see what he expected to see, as the man did not appear in the least bit concerned about what he saw. In fact, he smiled at Tom and Tom knew instantly that it was this man who had caused the collapse.
“You’re the one who sealed us in here.” Tom said angrily as he lowered his pistol slightly and took the man by the arm. “Harris cover that door, if anything comes through it,” Tom looked back briefly, “kill it.”
“Our COMs are still down.” Commented Nina.
Tom flashed Orata a dirty look. “Are you responsible for that as well?”
Orata looked over at Nina and said. “Try them now.”
Tom then directed Orata’s attention toward the equipment that was set out on the floor of the chamber. “This is your stuff, is there anything there that we can use to our advantage?”
In the background Nina began using her COM.
“No response,” she said, “just static.”
“Keep trying.” Replied Tom.
“Nina Smith to any one who can read me.” This time a respond was almost instantaneous.
“By God we thought we had lost you. We are almost through the ice, give us another ten minutes.” Replied Ron Lindley excitedly. Tom lowered the pistol and raised his COM.
“Ron, step on it, we have a bad situation brewing in here and may not be around in ten minutes.”
“What’s the problem General?” Asked Captain O’Connor.
“Captain, I am ordering you to start pulling your people out.”
“Pull my people out General?”
“Affirmative. I am giving you a direct order to pull your people out and advise Global Command that this site is to be destroyed. This ship can not be allowed to free itself from the ice.”
“General are you issuing a Trident Alert?”
“Affirmative Captain, full scale Trident Alert. We have less than twenty four hours to obliterate this thing before it frees itself.”
“Understood.” Replied O’Connor. He knew that when a Trident Alert was issued it meant business. Without question he issued the order to clear the site, and relayed the command to Andover Base. Within the hour this site would be completely evacuated. Within twenty hours a Tsunami class Destroyer would launch a fusion missile and wipe this ship and all evidence of its existence from the face of Pandora forever.

Tom, who had never taken his eyes off of Orata, had noticed that he was looking at several small black semi flat objects sitting in a pile to one side of a empty Depleted Uranium Pulse Pistol.
“What are those?” He asked.
“Explosives.” Replied Orata simply.
“Show us how to use them”
“As you wish.”
“Nina take Harris’s rifle and watch that door. Harris get over here.”
Nina and Harris did as they were told as the hatch on the ship slide open another inch.
Orata explained the how to operate the explosives in short order. Tom handed Harris his pistol and picked up a few of the explosive devices and planted them near the hatch. One of the arms kept reaching out at him as he deployed the charges. Tom was close enough to see into the crack as the door continued to inch open centimeter by centimeter. What Tom saw was enough to cause any sane man to challenge the sanity of his own mind. They were alien; of that there was no doubt. From what Tom could see, they were short light bluish purple creatures with deep red eyes. Tom did not need to be a mind reader to know that these things were not friendly at all. He finished planting the Last charge and stepped back. He kept a couple in his pocket to be on the safe side. Tom walked backwards keeping the hatch in view.
“Why did you collapse the entrance?” Asked Harris as he stood there guarding Orata.
“In case I failed to escape, they would have been contained.”
“Contained only until their ship was free.” Commented Tom as he stepped up next to Orata holding a small device in his hand.
“This activates the explosives, and the detonates them?” He asked holding the device up for Orata to see.
“Yes, only the ones that have been assigned to the controls will detonate as you activate them. You do realize that if you do detonate them, we will all be crushed by the ice”
Tom had programmed the device according to Orata’s instructions, assigning each explosive to a remote trip switch that he alone held. He could blow them all, or one at a time. Tom even programmed the two devices in his pocket to the controller.
“And yes that does include you.” Tom said with a smirk. “That little trick you did where you came through that hatch, well I found the power source and well,” he pauses slightly, “see for your self.”
Orata seemed to look away for a second, at some point just past where Tom was standing. He did not smile at what he saw, only ever so slightly frowned.
“Very clever of you General.” Orata Commented. “My environmental suite has just enough reserve energy to keep me warm for a few more hours.”
“Hopefully long enough to get you back to Andover Base.”
“Tom!” Yelled Nina as she opened fire with the Pulse Rifle. Here target was the first of the creatures to squeeze past the hatch. It did not survive the experience as the depleted uranium pellets “Shells” pummeled its body into paste. Many of the shells penetrated the darkness behind the hatch and vicious screams let out, loud enough to shatter glass and evil enough to convert even the staunchest atheist to the religion.
“General? General what is going on?” Asked Ron almost yelling over the COM in concern. “We hear weapons fire?”
“Ron just get us the hell out of hear.” Replied Tom.
Just then the hatch on the alien ship seemed to melt into the wall as literally dozens of barbaric looking little alien creatures, humanoid in form, but as un-human as insidiously possible aggressively fought their way past one another through the hatch. Nina opened fire once again reducing many of them, if not all of the first ones, to dead heaps who were promptly pulled back in through the hatch as more attempted to get.
“Keep firing!” Yelled Harris as he kept the pistol aimed at Orata who seem not to care at all.
Nina continued to fire at the little demons, yes, that is what they looked like, those little demons she had seen in old religious books. They were depicted as the evil servants of those who angered God into cleansing the universe of all life say for that which lived on Pandora. How then could these things be alive? How could God have missed them? Nina maintained her fire but the little monsters were gaining ground as more and more of them tried to come through the hatch.
“Ron tell me you almost through?” Yelled Tom into his COM to be heard over Nina’s firing. There was an uncomfortable long pause before Ron replied.
“General we have just been ordered to evacuate.” Replied Ron in what was a sincere ton of regret. Tom looked at the COM as his anger began to mount.
“Come again?”
“General Christopher I have been ordered by Global Command to evacuate all of my men immediately.” Captain O’Connor said over the COM. “I am sorry sir, but you and the people with your are on your own.”
“O’Connor!” Yelled Tom into the COM with all of his anger. “You will disregard that order and continue to dig us the hell out of here!”
“I am sorry sir, I have been relieved of my command and ordered back to Andover. This site is now considered Omega.” Tom looked up at the ceiling as Nina continued to fire. He slowly turned toward the hatchway and looked around. Nina had decimated what appeared to be nearly fifty of those things, one could not be sure as they were being pulled back inside as they fell.
“I am sorry sir. God be with you.” Said O’Connor right before the COM went dead.
“What’s wrong sir?” Asked Harris.
Tom did not respond, he dropped the COM and just stood there. In all of his life, he had never felt as hopeless as he was feeling now. The realization that they were all doomed somehow didn’t seem real to him.
“An Omega site is the military’s way of saying those left behind are left in the hands of God.” He said just loud enough for Harris to hear. Harris looked lost; his expression was one of a man who seemed not yet ready to die, but one who would welcome death as an escape. Tom could not imagine why a man would ever welcome death say for one thing. Tom could not help but think of his wife and daughter as he looked back on his life.
Tom knew there fiats had been sealed; someone had made the call to condemn them all to death. Tom stepped forward away from Orata and Harris, and pressed the triggering button on the explosive control device for the first set of explosive planted near the hatch. Everything went white as the little explosive exploded simultaneously releasing their combined horrific power. The force of the bLast knocking everyone to the ground and caused tons of ice to come crashing down in front and around them.

[ May 26, 2003, 14:03: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[The FryeR K]

Too much all at once my just finished
my brain hurts

NEED MORE

[Raging Deadstar]

Very good! So this is what the huron shipset is for, looking at the racial portrait they look nasty! A very good chapter, seems like the actions hotting up!

[Atrocities]

Thanks guys. I have sumitted the first two segments to the Scifi and Fantasy forum
and have gotten some great constructive feed back.

[ May 27, 2003, 13:50: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Ruatha]

What, Tom dead? and Nina too. Surely not!

[Atrocities]

Yup, dead and so ends the story. Depressing isn't it? Abandond and buried alive deep within a man made ice cave.

What a way to go.

[ June 03, 2003, 07:43: Message edited by: Atrocities ]