Chapter 9:
I apologise for the use of this cliché, but it really was a normal day when it happened. I was relaxing, on the roof of my cabin (We could build our own if we wanted to), watching the people below me milling about, doing business, laughing, drinking. Doing normal things.
Key words there are 'when it happened', implying that 'it' still happened. And it did happen. The Dominion attacked. It began when the sun was blocked out in the middle of the day.
People gazed up towards the large, ominous T shape that the Minotaur class BattleCruiser was infamous for. It rained down fire and brimstone upon us, in the form of drop-pods landing in the forest nearby.
When the red Dominion insignia was recognised, it was as if an ant's nest was poked disturbed by a stick. Absolute chaos. It was an organised chaos as were all preparations for battle, but chaos nonetheless.
Ramshackle fortifications were set up, with sandbags and sheets of metal. People brandished firearms and the more powerful psionic users took out their supply of rocks. The children and the elderly were escorted and hidden in what looked like underground bunkers, or basements of some kind.
I went to where Mordecai, one of the town leaders at this point, was rallying the able bodied people to defend the town.
Many faces bore expressions of fear, sadness and anger. I knew some were already struggling to hold back tears.
Though his speech wasn't anything impressive, or worth quoting, Mordecai would be remembered for them. While it wasn't very inspiring, nor was he very charismatic, he still spurred us on and gave us hope, for what little it would do.
"They drive us out of our homes! They slaughter those who resist! And those that survive die on the inside. We came here seeking refuge from them, and they plan on taking that away as well! I say no more! I've had enough of this! We shall show them that we are not to be messed with! We will fight back on this day!" he preached to the crowd that had gathered, and a chorus of agreement followed.
People then began filling out of the town square, following a previously discussed plan of action, securing strategic positions to drive out the invaders.
As for Mordecai, he was heading back into the centre building in our settlement, our town hall. Not wanting to be left out, I followed him inside. The building was extremely spacious, two stories tall and resembled a fortress for us.
Mordecai took no time to admire the building, instead, purposely heading towards the bed on the far side of the room and dragging out a suitcase from underneath it. It was only when he swung it onto the bed did he notice me.
"You shouldn't be here, Jackson. It's not safe. Head back to the bunkers," he scolded me.
"But I want to help you! I can fight too!" I pleaded to him. It was an effort in vain.
Mordecai studied my face for moment before turning back to the case, and popped it open. Inside were two pistols, and multiple clips of ammunition for them. One was the gauss pistol I found on the transport, the other belonged to the Ghost.
It was the latter firearm that interested me. It had a sleek form, as opposed to the bulky one of the gauss pistol. It was nearly twice as long too, and looked to be more like a sub-machine gun than a pistol. There were no markings or identifications on it, so I assumed it was some kind of Dominion prototype.
Then the unthinkable happened. Mordecai handed me the second sidearm, along with two clips of ammunition for it.
"Here, take it with you to the bunkers. If they find you, protect the survivors with it. It's already loaded, and here's the safety," he told me, showing me a protruding piece of metal and flicking it up and down.
"Reload by pulling back the top of it, like this," he demonstrated and I nodded my understanding. "Good, now go and don't get caught!" He yelled before running out of the building.
I followed him out of the building, and was about to continue had I not seen the red clad army marching for our establishment.
From marines and marauders, the infantry of the Dominion, to the large war striders named Goliaths, which with their twin mounted auto-cannons could tear anyone to shreds, not to mention their anti-air missiles.
We didn't stand a chance, and I wasn't about to risk my life just to be able to throw rocks at them. Mordecai's option seemed much more appealing and sensible now, and I turned to run towards to bunkers.
The bunker was covered by a meter of soil before the hatch could be accessed. Air would reach the inhabitants through pipes that exited at the bottoms of the cabins nearby. These pipes were numerous and small, taking on the appearance of water maintenance pipes, so that no intruder may find out their purpose.
Food was stored in the forms of dried fruit and nuts, canned food and whatever else could be stored without a fridge for more than a few days.
It wouldn't stop multiple tank shells, and would likely be seen if one ruptured the ground above it, but it was the best we've got.
There were actually more than one bunker built for this purpose in our town. I wasn't sure how many, maybe two or three, but this wasn't the only one.
As for our bunker, the fifty or so civilians, including me were huddled at the back of the establishment, fearfully watching the man-sized hatch in the wall.
Only two other colonists in here had firearms of some sort, one wielding a pistol, the other was wielding some sort of rifle with lots of duck-tape all over it.
And with my strange Dominion issue weaponry we were ready for any Dominion interloper that dares enter our stronghold. Yup, we were prepared for anyone, anything. Totally ready…
That's what we thought until we heard the gunshots and explosions, screams and the sound of collapsing rubble. At that point, we weren't feeling very confident.
We were all crouched, silent, with nobody daring to make a sound.
We could hear the deep thump of Goliaths striding above us, the marching of the marines and the rumble of siege tanks.
Sometime past after that, and our group was getting antsy. We weren't sure if hours had passed, or if it was mere minutes, but things had all gone silent. Deathly silent.
Surely the surviving defenders would have gotten us out already, right? People began mumbling to each other. They were worried, concerned and frightened. Was it safe to go out? Should we stay here?
Then the vault door began creaking open, and we were all silenced once again. People began raising their weapons, be it guns, axes, clubs, blades were all levelled at whoever was coming in.
What happened after that was what everyone knew that was coming, but were all dreading with all their being.
Codex entry details omitted.
End Chapter