Chapter 3: First Contact

A cold mist had descended over the quiet forest. Lieutenant Wilson looked back at the squad behind her. She raised her hand and made a curt signal.

They moved slowly through the undergrowth, weapons at the ready. She checked her omni-tool. They were approximately one kilometer from the crash site. The air was tinged with a scent of scorched wood and earth. A thick column of smoke and steam extended for miles, the vapors curling in the cool air. Wilson edged forward.

A figure stepped softly beside her.

"Thoughts Lieutenant?" She turned to the grey-armored figure. Her eyes narrowed instinctively. Sergeant Sidonus had been attached to the platoon here at Outpost 3. The turian had kept his distance from her and her men, and she was silently glad he had done so. The First Contact War was not the thing of the past the media made it out to be, especially for people who had lost family in the fighting. She shook the thought from her mind.

"Keep it down Sergeant", Wilson said coldly. The turian looked back for a moment then rose from his crouch and trudged forward. She rose up and followed him, her squad fanning out behind them.

Wilson suddenly felt a presence to her left. She glanced to the side and scanned the dense foliage. There was nothing in her line of sight. She paused and shook her head again. Their objective was just a short distance away, no need to get nervous now.

[Meanwhile]

Brother-Scout Ivan peered from behind his goggles. His squad had detected the intruders half an hour ago. The scouts had reported the sighting immediately. Since their crash-landing around twelve hours ago, the company had quickly established a defensive perimeter. This was a routine procedure; the scout had experienced dozens of such deployments in his short time in the field. His squad had moved into their guard positions almost instinctively. Captain Dragus had ordered them to maintain observation. Hidden by their cameleoline cloaks, the scouts blended seamlessly into the forest.

Ivan regarded their targets again. There were seven of them in total, and from their movements they were more than just feral barbarians. They wore some sort of body armor, segmented plates with reinforcements on the shoulders and chest area. It reminded him somewhat of Eldar armor, the thought making him grit his teeth in revulsion.

One of the group in particular caught his attention. A grey-armored figure, it kept its distance from the rest, moving ahead from the group in swift, short stops. Ivan regarded the figure, and his eyes narrowed. The creature had only three digits and an elongated ridge extended from the back of its head. Its gate had a strange, birdlike movement to it. Ivan knew exactly what to call such a creature.

He checked his bolter and flipped the safety off.

Xenos.

[Fifty meters away]

Lieutenant Wilson crouched behind a thick tree, its bark glistening with moisture. She checked her omni-tool, seven hundred meters to the edge of the target area. She thought she saw a dark mass extending above the canopy, but her view was obscured by the thick blanket of leaves.

She gestured to her squad to hold. The soldiers nodded took up a small perimeter. She went over to Sergeant Sidonus. The turian appeared uneasy.

"Something bothering you, Sergeant?" Wilson said quietly, crouching beside him. Sidonus turned to her, his blue eyes glinting.

He looked around slowly. "Something is watching us Lieutenant", he hissed. "In the trees, some sort of optical camo." Wilson glanced over her shoulder, the trees extended in all directions. She didn't doubt the turian's words however. He might make her uneasy, but turians were soldiers first and foremost.

Suddenly, she felt a soft rumble. Then another, like a heavy footfall. She gripped her weapon to her chest, peering through here helmet visor. The sound grew louder.

Then a voice echoed across the still air. "Intruders! You trespass on imperial ground! Lay down your weapons or prepare to be cut down!"

Cloaked figures appeared around the small squad, weapons at the ready. They wore combat fatigues and body armor and their faces were hidden behind large goggles. Their apparel was a distinctive yellow color. The figures emerged from the trees like specters and before Wilson could say anything, her squad had been surrounded.

"Who are you?" she called. "This is Lieutenant Tracy Wilson of the Alli-" She was cut short as she felt the barrel of a blocky rifle pressed into the small of her back.

"Silence yourself", a voice ordered. "or do you want to take your chances?" She felt the barrel press into her.

"Stand down men", she said emotionlessly. Her marines lowered their weapons slowly, eyes darting to the figures around them.

The footsteps drew closer still. Then Wilson's mouth dropped. From behind the trees, a new group was approaching.

"Greetings to you, intruders." A vast armored figure stomped towards them. He was easily seven or eight feet tall, his heavy footfalls leaving deep prints in the damp earth. He wore a thick suit of yellow armor, inlaid with gold embroidery and covered with sigils. At his side hung a sparkling sword and he carried a large, blocky pistol in his hand. Around his head extended a golden halo, sparking with power.

At the man's flank were more armored figures. They bore the same large weapons as those surrounding them, and they were also armored from head to toe. Wilson realized her mouth was agape and quickly shut it.

The second group came up to them, and the one she supposed must be their leader stared down at her. She glanced behind her at the figure pressing his weapon into her back. The huge man followed her gaze.

"Stand down Brothers", he intoned. "I do not believe they pose a threat." Wilson smirked, 'So we're not a threat?' Somehow she felt insulted, but at the moment she was at least relieved that she was not being held at gunpoint.

The armored figure reached back behind his head. With an audible hiss he removed his helmet. His face had a leathery texture to it and he had a long scar running down the left side of it. His piercing eyes seemed to go right through her.

"Tell me. What unit do you hail from", the armored giant ordered. Wilson looked up straight into his eyes as she rose from her crouch. She came up to the man's chest, embroidered as it was by the image of a two-headed eagle.

"Lieutenant Tracy Wilson of the Alliance 5th Marines", she said, trying not to stutter, "And who might you be?" The giant kept his expressionless face.

He stepped back and regarded her. "I am Brother-Captain Dragus of the Imperial Fists Chapter 2nd Company. By the Emperor's grace I command my brothers on the Battle-Barge Hammer of Terra."

Wilson gulped, 'Who were these guys? And who was the Emperor?' She was starting to get a bad feeling about this. Her thoughts were interrupted by the man's voice.

"You have been captured attempting to infiltrate imperial controlled territory," he said slowly, "This carries the penalty of death." Wilson stiffened up. She felt her men shuffle behind her. Then Sidonus stepped up from his crouch.

"By what right do you lay claim to this land, Captain?" he asked, his eyes narrowed. One of the armored figures stepped up, raising his weapon.

"You dare address a Space Marine? Foul Xen-", he was cut short by the Captains outstretched arm.

"Calm yourself brother, the xenos' ignorance is to be expected", the Captain said, his eyes fixed on Sidonus. He glanced over the rest of the group. "Bring them back to ship for interrogation", he ordered, turning his back to them. "And make sure they don't attempt to flee."

Wilson felt strong arms grab her and push her forward. This mission had officially gone off the deep end.