The MXC Story
Author's note: This is a story to show my appreciation to those loyal and fun-loving members of MXC clan. This story is completely made up using particular species from the Alien vs. Predator Universe. The characters are people that exist in real life and a fair majority of them are in the clan MXC or CMA. Here's a story that involves them in their favourite species in a situation that makes fiction so very loved.
From MXC Clan Leader Rhilian.
p.s. For fictionpress stories please visit: .com/~rhilian
Chapter One: Our Military are sell-outs...
As usual Pioneer-Seven were late with their monthly report, you'd expect a ship of over one hundred and sixty-three to be dying to stay in contact with their home planet but this was the eighth time this particular vessel failed to get their current status back within the designated timeframe. Usually they were five or so days late however this time they were a whole two weeks and still no reply... This time command had to act and swiftly. The Weyland-Yutani Corporation were funding these military exploratory operations and if things didn't go smoother than a baby's butt the plug on the whole operation and the vast amount of funds coming in could be pulled. That wasn't something command could afford to let happen.
In a demonstration of their seriousness in this situation they sent six minor-sized shuttlecraft with variously skilled squads within. One such team was alpha squad of Second Company led by First Gunnery Sergeant and Sniper Expert Rhilian Cullin closely followed by a special ops recon sergeant that goes by the alias of Tim. The four grunts of alpha squad were 1st class Pvt. Webcke, Pvt. Adrian Dar, Lance Corporal Leary that often went by the nickname Meatloaf and finally Pvt. (self called) Crusty kickass. A popular thing within the Colonial Marines were to create alias so that particular rebel forces on random habitable planets could not discover their family ties and use them to get an advantage over them.
The shuttles were equipped with standard hibernation pods to prevent excessive aging processes affecting the marines while they sent them on the six month journey to 1) investigate the lack of communication between Pioneer seven and Earth and 2) Replace the captain of the vessel with VIP Yurtsin – A highly respected yet posh man who had obvious connections in high places. The mission was not expected to be difficult, the presence of marines was more to add intimidation value to any unruly crewmen of Pioneer Seven. Though as previous occasions have shown, anything could happen therefore the more marines sent the better and that explained the sending of five well respected squads of Second Company.
It was clear as the marine's boarded their designated vessels that they were annoyed especially the grunts of each squad.
"Seriously why do they send us? This is a fucking escort mission Rhil. If I wanted to escort rich pompous arse holes I'd sign up at a male brothel," Webcke grunted in dissatisfaction.
"Do those even exist?" Adrian piped up somewhat bemused. Webcke turned to him and scowled.
"And... we have to take on these greenthumbs! I beat you this one doesn't even know which way the bullets come out of a pulse." Webcke continued scratching his head. Tim laughed for a brief second.
"So you'd rather we'd head into a real fucked up situation than an escort mission with these... greenthumbs?" he stated before strapping himself in. Webcke took a seat on the opposite side of him.
"No I mean I'd rather get out there and do some good with some decent..." he started before Meatloaf collapsed in a seat next to him.
"Shut up Web. The younger they are the more likely they can't drink yet... more for us," he said eyeing the overhead stores. Rhilian whipped around in a flash to eye Meatloaf carefully.
"What? Oh come on... you really think I'm going to smuggle alcohol onboard a second time?" he said with a smirk.
"Last time I had to take the hit for that Leary. Don't bring that shit on the crafts especially with the newbies. I dunno... pretend they're your kids or something," Rhilian said with a resigned expression.
"Ha! Fuck that if I knocked some bitch up I'd tell her to drink from the beginning. That'd stop the cunts from ever being born in the first place," he said matter-of-factly. Tim and Webcke laughed out loud leaving Rhilian with a small smirk and the two younger members utterly confused.
The conversation abruptly stopped as the computer registered everyone in their designated seats.
"Please stay in your seats for the time indicated on the overhead timer while we leave orbit. The stasis pods will be available for use in two hours. Have a nice day and keep building better worlds," a feminine computer voice echoed through the hull of the shuttle. Webcke snorted.
"Building better worlds? Fuck our military are sell outs." Tim laughed and nodded his head.
"Yeah I'd agree with that. But meh... Money rules this universe, what can you do?" he said with a grin. Again before they had a chance to continue the feminine computerized voice came on.
"Incoming call from the emergency channel – please be ready for communications," it said before the sound of muffled noises suddenly filled the hull.
"Ah hello?" Rhilian said before a long dull pause. Suddenly the silence was interrupted.
"Oh yeah. Could I get a double quarter pounder with fries and coke for the drink?" A familiar voice sounded out.
"Oh and a Mcflurry!" Another voice cried out happily. Rhilian held back a smile.
"Does Smashington know you two are using the emergency communications channel?" he said cheerfully.
"Yes Rhilian I do..." The familiar voice of Staff Sergeant Smashington (again another alias) said sounding very resigned. "They gave me a squad full of hooligans I tell you!" he said again with the sound of partying in the background.
"Come on Smash buddy! Malice and Jackson aren't nearly as bad me and Meatloaf," Webcke cried out joyfully. There was a distant "challenge accepted" coming from what sounded like Malice. "Ah well buddy. You went and got yourself promoted. Now you have to deal with your own squad." Webcke added with a wider grin. "I'm sure you'll do fine mate."
There were continual noises coming from Bravo squad's call which all sounded like a party was going down.
"Oh Smash ol' buddy. How's the beers?" Meatloaf piped up with a devious grin. Rhilian shot him a look. "Hey, you told me I couldn't bring alcohol on this craft... Smash's craft doesn't count!" Meatloaf added defensively. Tim was holding his sides at this point at the risk he may explode outwards.
"Oh god! How... I... Oh... how did you get this many in here?" Smash stuttered upon opening several over head lockers. Again more noises filled the background in forms of "yoink" and the familiar sounds of cans being opened.
"Cheer's Meaty. We'll make sure we leave you some," the voice of Jackson rung out.
"You'd better!" Meatloaf said sternly.
"How are the young'ins?" Rhilian interrupted with interest.
"Oh that Martyrairé fella is feeling a little wee bit ill from the launch. Jaze and Silbern are sorting 'em out," Smash said proudly.
"There now you're getting it. Get the young'ins to do the work while you just chill out," Rhilian said with a laugh.
"I knew it!"cried out Tim with a grin
Time flew by while the two shuttlecrafts communicated with each other and with each passing minute both squads seemed more like partying college students rather than trained marines.
"Where is this Yurtsin fella?" Tim asked suddenly with the same expression one gets when they remember they locked their keys in their car.
"Charlie squad's shuttle was equipped with an extra stasis pod for transporting him," Rhilian answered slightly bemused at Tim's expression.
"Oh... oh man. He is not going to like that. He gets to deal with those three crazies," he said smiling at the thought of it.
"Who?" Webcke piped up with interested.
"That's freefall and punisher's squad. Them and Lokamatoka get on like a house on fire," Tim explained still grinning.
"Ha... once again. Fuck that," Webcke yelled with a loud laugh. "Wait, who's the rest of them?" There was a pause as Rhilian and Tim tried to remember the new recruits that joined Charlie squad.
"Oh right that Falcon guy, Whitewolf and Time2Win if I remember rightly," Tim said feeling the triumph of being quicker than Rhilian.
"They seemed pretty cool. They drink at least. May challenge them to see who can drink more," Meatloaf said smiling at the thought of it. Rhilian ignored it. Talking to Meatloaf about these matters was like talking to a drunk brick wall. Several years ago on the grenade training course Meatloaf appeared while completely intoxicated. Before the drill sergeant could do anything Meatloaf fired off a few grenades from the tube attached to the pulse rifle. One shot was a little to close and almost blew him up. He spent three days recuperating from it while nurses and doctors tried desperately to pry away any alcohol he managed to smuggle in. Nearly grenading yourself has since been called 'doing a Meatloaf.' Rhilian was hoping something like that would never happen on an actual mission – they were a long way from any hospitals.
The partying died down as everyone noticed the timer above the six stasis pod finally reach zero. As expected the female voice sounded once more.
"Please remove your straps and carefully make your way to the hibernation pods. Thank you for your cooperation." Webcke grumbled as he undid the seatbelt.
"This is bullcrap. They need to invent a warp drive or some shit. I'm sick of going in these freezing things," he grunted while stepping into one of them.
"Here here. Last time I got out of one my beer was completely frozen over. Made a great popsicle though," Meatloaf cooed as he also stepped inside one of them. Everyone had taken their positions within the stasis pods.
"Is this a bad time to say I'm hungry?" Adrian queried with a smirk. Crusty turned to Rhilian with hopeful eyes.
"Yeah I second that... can I bring in some chips or something from the stores," he said almost tasting the chips already. Rhilian smiled.
"Good night gentlemen," and with that the six stasis pod doors closed over top of each marine instantly freezing them for their long journey.