Johnson threw down the newspaper, his face red with anger. "Emperor…who the hell does this guy think he is?" Corrin looked at him and shrugged.
"You've got hand it to him, he's a military genius! Kalagann has already been defeated. Now that's something we've been working on for years." He could have gone on, but he knew Johnson. He wouldn't give up.
The Iho Stick twiddled in Johnsons mouth as he pondered. "No need to think about it Johno. If the generals throw us into combat with this guy, so be it. We fight and die. It's our job."
"I guess…" But Johnson was cut off by the buzz of the announcement horn.
6th Company, report for mission brief++
"This is it then Cor?" Johnson asked. Corrin nodded and stood. The smoking Iho fell lightly out of his mouth. This was it.
The door slammed shut behind Corrin. He was the last in. The briefing room was filled with company command: Sergeants, Captains, all the way to the Supreme Commander. "All right boys, I know how we usually do this. I give the briefing, you ask questions, and we roll. Well, today is different. There is no question. We fight against this lunatic until death." The general smiled. "I have a very special guest here who believes this mission of the utmost importance." He swung his arms towards a hidden, shadowed man. He stepped forward. There were a few gasps. "May I present the Commander and Chief of Merica, Mister President Gregory O'Connor." There was thunderous applause. The President bowed.
"Glad you could all be here today!" The men smiled. "I cannot stress enough victory in this mission. This…insane figure is encased in delusions of grandeur. He screws with basic Humanity and embraces…" There was a spiteful pause "…Psykers as normal beings."
He began to pace. "In this war, you will find yourself thrown up against many warriors of greater strength than you. But there are no soldiers on this great Earth braver than you!" There was a murmur of agreement and laughs throughout the crowd. "Damn it, you will not falter. Not in my name, in the name of your countrymen. Do this for Merica!" The room shot up in explosive cheers. "Ship out, pack up. You leave immediately!"
The massive A-36 Drop ship was an inspiring sight. A symbol of the resilience of Merica. Throughout its sixty years of existence, the country, one of the final civilized communities, had relied on the 36er to drop the Chief's fury onto his enemies. Corrin sighed. He wasn't sure how much it inspired him now. He would not falter in body, but his mind had already felt the bump.
They were flying off to combat the "invincibles;" fearless, genetically altered warriors without conscience. How could they be defeated? He had fought the adepts of Mars, the barbarians of the Panpacific, the horrific warriors of Nordyc, but he had never faced an enemy with no fear.
The drop ship shook slightly in the turbulence. There was a second lurch, this time larger. Next, a sudden resounding bang echoed across his ears. The ship rocked with the strength of an Earthquake.
We are entering forward camps of the enemy++
It was amazing how far this "Emperor" had already pushed into Merican territory. It was only a matter of time before the base was taken. A second explosion rang out. He felt the whoosh of air.
Air lock breach Alert++
"Shit!" He heard Johnson yell. He looked around. The faces of his squad were covered in terror. The latches receded from their seats.
Emergency Air Drop Procedure Ordered++
"Go! line up and check!" Corin roared at his men. They immediately formed a line. He heard the word repeated over and over. "Check." "Check." "Check." He felt a pat on his back.
"Check!" He bellowed. The exit door ahead of him sprung open. His flesh pulled against his skull, screaming for release. The wind blew his hair into a heap. He lightly pressed the release button and began to fall.
Anti Air fire exploded all around his descending form. He watched in horror as one of the Drop Ships plummeted to the ground in a ball of fire and steel. So called "Thunderbirds" soared across the sky, strafing A-36's and blasting down drop troopers.
A bullet whizzed past his head. There was a twang. One of the strings of his chute unwound and trailed into the air. He picked up speed. He spotted a small clearing in the trees below. The ground closed on him until there was no escape…