Sorry my writing has been kinda staggered and bad lately, just really depressed and uninspired.
Disclaimer: I don't own Vandread.
#4: The Day of Repent
The Jeep bounced on its heavy suspension as it roared out of the underground garage, which closed with a low thud. The tires spun over a patch of gravel, caught and accelerated over the plain. John was driving, heading toward the remote outpost "Juliet-Lewis" with a smattering of supplies to bolster the outpost's meager defenses. Vinn And Grim were in the back seat, with Jack crammed in between. Barnette eyed the surrounding through her SCAVENGER's scope. The escape pods had all landed right around the outpost, which was carved into the base of a mountain so it couldn't be surrounded. If each pod landed correctly, a small caliber computer controlled auto cannon would sprout from the top of the pod, so that it could clear the area if necessary. The jeep hit a small bump, caught some air, and hit the ground with a thud, then accelerated. An enormous shadow blanketed the ground, and looking up, the members of the jeep saw the brown-green hull of the Scourge ship as it entered the upper atmosphere. The jeep hit a patch of mud fishtailed through it. They covered the remaining space in no time at all, and reached the outpost. A large patch of ground lifted into the air on underground hydraulics, and John drove the vehicle into the looming darkness. The headlights barely seemed to dissipate the concentrated darkness as the road curved and lead them into a dimly lit hanger. Parking the vehicle near one of the rows of identical craft, they all hopped out and walked to a door with surface stenciled on it. Vinn looked around the massive space noting that it looked larger enough to launch a squadron of aircraft. His eyes fell onto a pair of metal doors with experimental written all over it in blue hazard letters.
"Hey, look over there." He said, indicating the doors. Jack started to give the orders.
"Looks like there was a reason this is a remote outpost. Judging from the size of this garage, and the writing on the wall, this is going to be interesting. Grimm, help Vinn with the doors, and find the weapon storage, we're going to need some heavy duty stuff." He consulted his data pad, which most of the men recognized from the original experiment that brought them all together. "The rest of us will go up and get ready to hold for as long as we can. The base roster says that there are around 12 military scientists, and 20 army reg… infantry units stationed here." He stopped himself from using the term regulars; it had a different meaning now. "Remember, we are the Arbiters, sent to pass judgement an all who dare come up against us. We are the elite few chosen for our special abilities to defend the Empire against any who challenge it. " Jack said, his version of a motivational speech. He threw open the door marked surface and started walking up the concrete ramp. The Arbiter program had been expanded during the time of the initial contact with the Scourge 12 years ago. It now contained the entire group of controllers, was one of the decorated units in the Royal Empire Army, and the most effective in ground engagements. Jack was the first, followed within two years by the rest. The Arbiter insignia consisted of three crossed bars inside a circle, a green skull engulfed in purple flames dominating the center. The words "Lest thee be judged" were stenciled around the outside of the patch, which was sewn onto whatever clothes they wanted to wear, as a normal uniform would be restricting to their special capabilities.
The base was crowded, all the people from the escape pods had pilled in and were mulling about in fear, now that the greenish brow hulls appeared in the sky. A few of the students had tried to rally the others, but their efforts were futile. So, instead of doing nothing, they went of themselves, years of military training and heredity working to guide their actions. Their plan was to bolster the encampment's defenses by removing the escape pods chain guns and mounting them atop the walls. There were already four heavy turrets with four bullet spouts mounted on each of four castle-like turrets spaced along the wall. They had managed to get a base solider in each, which were scanning the field in overlapping fields of fire. With the help of two of the base's scientists, a man named Luke, who was tall and soiled, and a shorter lady with vibrant green hair and a kind smile named missy, the kids set up a minefield to slow down whatever was coming. They had just finished mounting the last chain gun, and placing a gunner on it, when a fellow called in a contact.
"Something's launching from one of the Scourge ships!" Hundreds of things that looked like their cylindrical escape pods entered the atmosphere trailing brilliant blue tails. The men on the machine guns were tracking the ones closing on the ground fastest, racking a round it each of the four chambers, preparing for the battle. The four kids walked back down to the main floor, where only the six soldiers were left, making the empty fort seem spacious. They regarded the kids as just some lousy little kids from the intelligence unit at the Acadamy. They just assumed they were in there because they seemed to know allot about what they were doing, like any spook from intelligence.
"You little kids should go into the rear bunker with the rest." One said, speaking gruffly. "And let the grown ups do the rest." The red headed boy took offense at this, and reacted just as his father would have.
"What the hell did you just say? You want me to kick your ass?" He roared, but the soldier's reply never made it out, as the doors from the underground garage opened and three figures walked through. The girls with green and blue hair sighed as they saw who it was. The one in the lead spoke first, his gauntlets reflecting the falling objects in the sky.
"Were you just hassling these kids?" he said, his voice level, yet slightly dangerous.
"N-No sir." They all said, snapping to attention as they saw the man's insignia. The Arbiter's were not in the standard chain of command, but still outranked all but the senior officers in the military. "We were just advising them to get to the shelter with the rest of the people."
"Well, that will not be necessary. You four," He said, turning to the four teens. "Go down to the garage and help Vinn and Grimm, gather all of the weapons and ammo you can, and haul it up here." The kids filled of without question, and disappeared below. "The six of you," he returned his attention to the soldiers, go down to our jeep, and grab the rifles in the back, and post on the wall. They're loaded with special rounds that penetrate the shield around a Reg's head better." They saluted and left. Jack, Barnette and John walked up to the upper catwalk and surveyed the battlefield.
"Sir, what are those things? Weapons fire?" the man at who had just been replaced by John at the nearest turret asked.
"No, they don't have ship to ground weapons. Each one of those is a cylinder, that when hits the ground, opens up and teleports in troops in large numbers. It's their more efficient solution to the drop ship." Jack aswered, looking at the hundreds of blue streaks hurtling toward the planet. "Go and get anyone inside the shelter who can fire a gun, and have them go start carrying up weapons. Then have them post up here."
"Yes sir." He said, and left quickly.
Barnette walked upand stood next to him, close so that only he could hear her.
"Have you ever seen that one of those big one's before?" She asked, her voice sharp but calm, they way it always was when they were going to fight. He looked into her eyes, the kind; uncertainty of usual replaced with a hard-edged clarity.
"No, but if they have a surprise for us, we might just have to have a few surprises for them." He said, and treaded his arm around her waist, pulling her closer. This threw him off; she never let him touch her when they were in a combat situation. It disturbed him even more that she rested her head on his shoulder. "Everything will be just fine." He said, soft and lovingly, trying to comfort her. She said nothing, just staring as the first cylinder hit the ground, two miles away. Jack simply thought to himself, "Leave it to me to be romantic in the face of death." He gave a small smirk to the field.