The SS Heracles was an immense vessel that measured easily over fifteen miles of length and at least six miles wide. Its shape resembled that of an enormous arrow fired from some giant celestial bow.
The ship had just started to slow down to operational speed and was now preparing to enter the orbit of the Jungle Planetoid Marcoma.
Marcoma; although twice the size of Earth; was still considered small. Especially when compared to Giger79, the planet that it was orbiting. Giger79 was the size of a small sun, had four other planetoids circling it and was, as yet, uncharted. In fact, Marcoma had been colonized as part of the first step in exploring this vast planet.
As the Heracles lazily made its way into the gravitational pull of Marcoma, parts of the ship started to come to life.
The darkness of the cryogenic compartment was disturbed only by the constant blinking of the vital sign monitors that were mounted onto each cryotube. Inside each of the ten cryotubes, the inhabitants were sleeping soundly.
A screen on one of the walls suddenly powered on and filled the room with an eerie white flicker, After displaying reams upon reams of ascii code, a box appeared in the centre of the screen containing three simple words:
CRYO SEQUENCE COMPLETE
Screens above each cryotube burst into life with images of each team member followed by their heart rate, blood pressure and their slowly rising temperature. The oxygen delivery system started with an angry hiss and thick white clouds of air pumped into the room and the artificial gravity systems hummed into life. As the body temperature of each team member climbed to 90⁰, the glass panels of the doors began to clear of frost and the doors began to rise. The ambient lighting, sensing that the cryotubes were opening, sparked into existence and began to flicker and brighten as the doors began to point skyward.
Collier was the first to wake. His job as technical specialist involved him travelling to countless different colonies and lengthy stints in cryosleep. His body was used to the disruption and could just shrug off the "hypersleep hangover". He glanced around at the cryotubes containing the rest of the team.
Before long the majority of the team had come to and were now busying themselves with their post cryo checks. Collier walked over to the only cryotube that remained occupied. Wren was still sound asleep, she was of small build, pretty but with a look of aloofness that intimidated those who engaged her in conversation. She stirred only to run her hand through her long black hair and then she resumed her slumber. Collier knew the feeling only too well. This was her first cryosleep. It takes the body quite a while to get used to the jolt of waking from such a deep sleep. Just waking up that first time can leave you exhausted and needing more sleep. He smiled to himself and turned to join the others.
The team had congregated around one of the loading bays. Major Kelly was now stood facing the others.
"Okay ladies, let's get this over and done with. Mission protocol briefing."
"Sir", Collier interrupted, "We're not all present. Wren is still sleeping."
Kelly smiled "Doesn't matter, she's not involved in this part anyway. If she's alert and prepared enough to drop us off and pick us up, I'm happy. Hell, she doesn't even have to fly straight. Right. What have we got? Communication failure with a terraforming colony, electronic surveillance shows contact with multiple extraterrestrial life forms. High death tolls likely."
"Sounds like what we do best!" Lee interrupted. This was met by encouraging whoops and cheers from the others
Astin rolled his eyes, "Grunts."
Lee turned to face Astin, "Grunts that are probably gonna save your sorry ass on more than one occasion"
"I doubt that"
Kelly stepped between the two, "okay, handbags away for the minute. We need to focus on the job in hand. Then you two lovebirds can book the honeymoon suite at the Mars Hilton, ok?"
There were stifled laughs from the others.
"Sorry I'm late sir", Wren stumbled into the loading bay looking rather worse for wear
"Good morning sleeping beauty, I trust you had a pleasant slumber?"
Wren looked flustered, "Sir, I-I"
Kelly waved her objections away "Its fine, Cryo really messes you up the first time."
He rounded on the others. "Ok people, we need a smooth insertion. Drop ship prep and DCS ranging within the hour with tactical database assimilation by 08:30. I also think its time we removed the packaging from Gemini and unleashed it on the unsuspecting world.", glances were exchanged, "And if its not too much to ask, can we do this and try to get along?"
The dropship hung suspended on the mobilization rail that ran across the top of the loading bay, its underside illuminated by the rotating amber light of the guidance beacons. It was an impressive sight to behold. Goodson and Bailie diligently loaded the dropship's wing mounted missile clusters with the default configuration of nukes and charge packs for the particle beam phalanx. They had customised their power loaders by adding their original squad insignias. They were making it clear to all that this wasn't one unit. It was two units forced to co-habit.
Lee steered a loading truck into the bay. The truck was pulling a trailer containing a large steel box with the Weyland-Yutani symbol emblazoned on the side. And written underneath the logo were the words, GEMINI UNIT. As Lee came to a halt, a crane effortlessly lifted the box off the trailer and onto the steel grating floor. Lee jumped off the truck, briskly walked to the container and pressed his hand against the glass of a concealed panel. The container spoke
"Lee, Gareth, Private, Serial, One, Nine, Seven, Three, Six, Six, Five. Access Granted"
Lee stepped back as the front of the box lifted and slid inside. Two mountings containing lifeless figures slid out of the box. Lee placed his hand on another panel.
"Wakey, wakey" he said to himself.
As he ran his palm over the device, the two previously lifeless forms suddenly burst into life. They stepped off the platform and slowly surveyed the room, their electric blue eyes merely rectangles of bright light. The designers of Gemini were based in the company's Neo Tokyo division and this was evident by the styling of their armour. They resembled some sort of futuristic ninja complete with metallic masks that covered all but their piercing blue eyes.
"Unit Identify" Lee asserted
Both units snapped their attention straight to Lee, their gaze so intense that he started to feel a little uneasy.
"Weyland-Yutani Robotics Institute Incorporated. Department of Defence. Hunter Killer Class. Model… Gemini"
Lee let out a laugh and activated his radio, "Lee to Major Kelly. The twins are awake."
"Excellent, all personnel report to loading bay five."
Everything had gone smooth and by the numbers, the dropship was prepped, the weapons and munition checked., the Armoured Personnel Carrier was ready to take them into the dropship. Everyone knew their roles in this insertion. It couldn't have been more skilfully planned.
So why was Plaskitt suddenly feeling uneasy? He took his place alongside the rest of the team for final equipment checks by Major Kelly. The Major wouldn't go into this without having everything planned, Plaskitt reasoned.
"Right, let's move out."
Major Kelly pulled the door to the APC open and beckoned them in.
In a well rehearsed manoeuvre, the soldiers filed into the APC, stowed their weapons and took their places, they were followed by Major Kelly, Collier and finally the Gemini robots.
Kelly tapped his mic, "Barker, we are secure and ready for drop"
"Affirmative. Wren, you have the comm."
Wren checked the gauges and readouts that spanned the entire width of the cockpit. This was her first non-simulated drop. She had been waiting for this moment since enrolling in flight school. All readings were clear, it was time.
The mobilization rail hauled the dropship over the airlock. As the airlock lazily opened, the mass of mountainous jungle terrain could be seen through the clouds.
Wren made her final checks and nodded to Barker, they both covered their release buttons with their thumbs. "Dropship secured. Primary couplers released. Set the internals. Release on my mark."
The team braced themselves for the impending drop
"Three"
"Two"
"One"
"Mark"
Both Wren and Barker depressed their joystick mounted release buttons and the mobilization platform released its grip on the dropship that now began to hurdle towards the surface of the planet with extreme velocity.
Goodson fought to ensure his stomach remained in its intended location as they plummeted through the sky.
Lee leant over to Plaskitt and Goodson, "Hey guys I know we're dropping to certain doom but I could really go for breakfast right now." The colour started to drain from Goodson's face as Lee continued. "A nice thick stack of bacon with some real runny greasy eggs on top of some thick fatty sausages and a ton of fried bread would just do the trick…."
Goodson doubled over and vomited violently into the nearest helmet. Lee, Plaskitt and Kelly burst into laughter. Goodson regained his composure, wiped his mouth with his sleeve and turned to the others. "I don't travel so well."
Kelly leaned over to Lee "Good stunt Lee. You know the best thing? That was your helmet"
Lee's smile dropped instantly.
Wren punched in the authorisation codes to activate the shipboard engines and the wings slowly unfolded. The engines exploded into life. "Switching to DCS ranging"
Barker checked the trajectory panel, "Nominal to profile"
"Its smooth from here", Wren congratulated herself for a textbook drop.
The dropship descended through the clouds revealing the rich tropical jungle terrain below, in the distance stood the sprawling terraforming complex, the colossal atmosphere processors stood either side like imposing metal bodyguards.
Kelly turned to the viewscreens that covered the back wall. "Wren, can you perform a perimeter flyover?"
"Affirmative"
The dropship circled the complex to allow Major Kelly to evaluate the integrity of the buildings. All seemed fine; the landing lights were still functioning as were the atmosphere processors.
"Ok, Wren, drop us near the front doors and prepare for immediate dust off."
Wren circled again, "Damn it, there's nowhere to land. The surface is too choppy. The landing pad doesn't look to pretty either."
Kelly mulled it over, "The pad's our only option. Do what you can"
The dropship gingerly started to descend over the landing pad, landing gear extended, it gently hovered into place.
Wren breathed a sigh of relief, "Down and Clea…"
Wren's confirmation was cut off as one of the supporting girders that holds the landing pad collapsed sending the pad crashing the remaining 40 feet to the ground and taking the dropship with it.
Sirens sounded, sparks flew from the wreckage of the dropship as the mangled heap now lay on the planet's surface. Klaxons sounded and the cabin was flooded by the crimson of the emergency escape lights. The team pulled their weapons from their stowpoints and made their way to the exit. Kelly kicked at the door and slid it aside. As the team piled out of the rear exit of the APC, Barker and Wren stumbled out of the cockpit hatch.
Kelly surveyed the carnage, "Looks like we'll be walking home. Might as well introduce ourselves to the locals first. Remember people, we only have weapons and motion sensors and there's a chance we'll run into civvies down there so check your targets. Plaskitt, Goodson, get the door. Remaining squad, to your positions"
Plaskitt ran to the door entry panel and hooked up his PDA. Goodson stood in front of the doorway, waist mounted smartgun pointed dead ahead. The PDA bleeped its approval and the door slid open.