v.1

How long until the Earth embarks to save us from this dark bastion?

A dark and cold place that snows upon the corpses of those who wanted to be the tip of the spear.

A wrong belief that was.

But a right feeling to say the least.


Sol System, Earth

2104

Lunar Outpost Bravo-1

Ares One Mission, Operation: CATAPHRACT Minus 7

General Crew Quarters

Within the confines of one of the many Lunar Outposts and colonies that dotted its surface, one substantial crew were readying themselves for a mission that many had called a "fruitless endeavor".

When the announcement of the Mission to Mars had reached the general population, the reaction was varied at best.

There were groups that were on the same plane of skepticism as the militant members of the Pan-Pacific Coalition. Some gave the benefit of the doubt about the entire situation. And there were others that supported the mission to the red planet. The third party turned out to be the majority of the Human population as many families and friends had turned to Mars in the opportunity to support those back on Earth.

Mars was the gateway to Human Colonization of the Sol System. The success of the Martian Colonies was the push Humanity needed to see that spending the rest of their lives on their homeworld was not for the betterment of Mankind. But for the worse.

Operation: CATAPHRACT was the name that was given to mission. The hope of finding what remains of the Martian Colonists and investigate the cause of the sudden blackout of the Martian colonies.

Now all they had to do was wait for the all clear.

A series of loud knocks on a metal door rang throughout the room that Major Alice was currently sleeping in. As she woke up, she let off a loud groaning noise that was clearly a sign of agitation.

"Yo, Major! The Colonel wants you in his office." The voice outside her door stated. The aged Captain rubbed her eyes as her sight adjusted to the setting of the dimly-lit room.

"Major?" the voice said again along with a series of knocks. "You alive?

"I'm as much alive as you Sex life, Anderson. Tell the Commander that I'll be there in ten minutes." On that note, Alice stepped out of her bed and walked towards the bathroom. Turning on the light in the bathroom, her eyes adjusted the newly lit atmosphere.

She looked at herself in the glass mirror that was installed along with the infrastructure of Bravo-One. The once brightly color gold hair was now grown into a dull blonde. Her bright blue eyes that held an ecstatic vigor of youth was now replaced by a bland blue. The scars that covered her face were evident but not to a point where It would become a distraction. Her sturdy physique was none the less, as the muscles that formed her body was toned to the best of her ability. While she wasn't like the over jacked fitness models that would literally pump themselves with steroids like its candy. But it was peak performance, to say the least. The only obvious difference between her entire body was the development of her breasts.

The veteran marine cupped her breasts and sighed. She remembered the time when her "lack" of development hadn't been a problem when she joined the Marine Corp. everything was fine until she hit her mid-twenties, after the Hue city incident.

Whatever the Insurgents cooked up in that bomb that use to turn Hue city into glass had kicked her growth spurt back into gear. Being an E-cup wasn't all that bad. It had its perks every now and then. But she wishes that they could've been a tad bit smaller.

After taking a quick shower and other amenities that were available within her room. Alice then dressed in her BDU's and then promptly stepped outside and made her way towards the office of her commanding officer.


The walk to the Colonel's office was a short one. The sounds sturdy leather boots echoed against the sterile white corridors of Bravo-One.

Mainly a military installation, Bravo-One was the official staging Area for the Mars rescue mission. In these walls, where dozens of scientists, engineers, and military personnel of various backgrounds. The majority of the personnel that resided in Bravo-One would remain on base. Tending to important systems and protocols. A select group, however, will be chosen with the task of accompanying the main expeditionary group.

Major Alice stood at attention when facing the Colonel. Her eyes remained forward as the two remained quiet as the superior officer quietly read his book in his personal leather chair.

The room remained quiet until the evident noise of Ackerson closing his book regained the attention of Alice, who was quite frankly zoning out at this point.

"Apologies, Major. As you know I can be quite immersed in my literature from time to time. I assume you want to know why I called you here for?"

"That's correct, sir" Alice replied. "Is it's important?"

Ackerson laid back in his chair, fingers interlocked with a smile forming on his face. "Why yes, it is. That's why I like you, Major. You always have had an astute sense of direction."

"Uh…Thank you, sir?" she replied with a raised eyebrow. "I can kind of understand why you would think that way."

"Indeed. That's why your team is going to be Head of Security for the Operation." Ackerson announced. Alice gained a look of confusion. She was about to speak up before Ackerson had cut her off.

"Listen to what I have to say, Major. I know what I said wasn't really a legitimate reason to give you this position. I've looked at your history, Sergeant. In '84, Operation Stonebreaker, in Vietnam, you pulled out several Marines from a crashed VTOL that was set to explode along with a fuel depot. That bounced you from a Private to Lance Corporal, earning your first of many commendations."

"In '88, in the Middle Eastern Dead zone, Alpha-One, Seven, and your squad, Alpha-Nine, was successful in infiltrating and neutralizing a base of a Bosnian Terror Group who had access to the Materials to create a working Class-3 Fenris Nuclear Warhead. After the forced retirement of Gunnery Sergeant Monroy, you took the position of leading Alpha-Nine from there on out."

"in 2092, You were placed in the GAR's Special Operations Command along with the rest of Alpha-Nine. From there on out, You and your team has conducted 24 successful Operations against the enemies of the Republic and its allies. I could go on, but it's safe to assume that you can piece together what I'm going for here."

"You think I'm qualified for this mission, Sir?"

"More than qualified, if I'm going to be quite honest."

"Is that your own opinion, Sir?" Alice questioned.

"We both know opinions are not credible in within the stature of bureaucracy. This comes from within the Department of Defense, mind you. Every action within the Federal Government has its reasons. That also goes for the United Nations as well. God only knows why they decided to step up their game a century after they were formed."

Alice nodded in what can interpret as a partial agreement.

"All respective opinions aside, this is an official order. In a week, you and Alpha-Nine are to be leading security among the Operation. Five other handpicked teams shall accompany you on this mission. You know your objectives, Marine. I expect you to follow suit."

"Yes, sir!" Alice replied.

"Good. You're dismissed now." With that, Ackerson went back to reading his book. Alice did a crisp salute before doing about face and exiting the room.

Returning the sterile white corridors of Bravo-One, Alice made her way back to her room. Flicking the lights on, illuminating her personal space, Alice sat down in the chair of her work desk, going over the work dossier she was previously working on the night before.


Lunar Outpost Bravo-1

Docking bay

A Week has passed since she talked to Ackerson.

A week has passed since she had begun to go over the mission plan for the Operation.

A Week has passed since she realized that she will one of many that will step on Mars for the first time in a decade.

And now all she has to do Is not fuck it up.

Alice currently resided within the docking bay Along with the rest of Alpha-Nine: First Lieutenant Alex McKinnon, Chief Warrant Officer Kevin Anderson, First Sergeant Leon Jameson, and their most recent addition, Corporal Jessica O'Brien. The four other members of Alpha-Nine were busy conversing amongst themselves, checking their gear and equipment. Alice paid no mind towards them as she was busy looking over the mission dossier.

Six squads of Special Operations Marines were providing the protection of a large group of scientists, engineers, doctors, pilots and archeologists that were going to be onboard the Orbital Vessel callsign: Ares One.

Alice recalled the description for the design of Ares One. Built specifically for the Cataphract Operation. Ares One will currently be the Hub point for the Operation for the next solar year acting as an Orbital Station for the Operation.

The Main objectives of the mission Include the investigation behind the blackout of the Martian Colonies, find any surviving colonists and return them back the Ares One Orbital Vessel stationed above Mars via Martian Ascent Vehicle, and re-establish the long-dead connection between Earth and Mars.

"Nothing too hard." Alice thought to herself. After a brief summarization of the Mission plan, the personnel of Operation: CATAPHRACT boarded the Shuttle that brought them aboard the Ares One. Once the signal turned green, the Ares One Vessel, ignited its engines, setting itself a path towards the long dark. Returning the inhabitants of Earth to a world that they once claimed as their own.

AN: Another Chapter. Another step towards the main plot point.