"Sir, we're arriving at Endora Prime," the navigation officer announced.
The Colonel looked at the front display. It showed a large blue, green planet that reminded him of how Earth had once looked. He watched the floating planet fill more of the display as they approached.
"Put us into orbit around the research facility," he ordered.
"Affirmative, Sir."
A few minutes later the navigation office confirmed they were locked in orbit around the base.
"Give us a view."
In response, the display showed an overhead view of the area they were orbiting. The image began zooming in further and further until they could make out the base. As the image zoomed further details became clearer.
There were numerous Aliens moving about the abandoned looking base.
"They've been attacked," Phoenix observed.
"Open a comms channel," the Colonel ordered.
The comms officer did so.
"Endora Prime, this is Colonel Gordon Rayner of the Colonial transport ship currently in orbit over your research facility. What is your status?"
A brief pause followed by crackling on the radio.
"It's good to hear your voice, Colonel," a relieved voice stated.
"Identify yourself," the Colonel ordered.
"Oh sorry. I'm Tom, the lead scientist here," the voice replied.
"What is your status?" the Colonel asked.
"We've been at evac points since yesterday. My guess is about 12 hours now. Most of us survived but there've been a few casualties."
"We're commencing rescue operations," the Colonel stated.
"We look forward to meeting you Colonel Rayner," Tom replied.
"Sergeant Phoenix," the Colonel called.
"Sir?" Phoenix said from behind.
"Begin the operation."
"Yes sir!"
Phoenix went to his command console and began giving out orders.
Dozens of gunships and the remaining bombers began rapidly leaving the bays.
"Remember, bombers are to clear out everything outside the walls. Gunships, pick off everything that isn't human," Phoenix's voice boomed over each ships intercom.
They soon broke through the atmosphere of Endora Prime. Engines fired, slowing the descent until the ships broke off in formation to complete their tasks.
The Colonel activated the intercom. "Soldiers, stay frosty out there."
As the transport ship maintained distance, the bombers spread out over all four sides of the base and began bombing runs. Huge explosions ripped through the man made clearings and far into the tree line, blowing apart trees, rubble and Aliens.
Conclusion
The rescue was swift. A handful of soldiers killed, distracted by the horrific site of mutilated soldiers inside the base. One of those mangled bodies was Hursts.
Tom implored the rescuers to rescue Finley and the others from the medical bay but they were under strict orders to evacuate the gus points and nothing else.
Amy was able to use the bases power to activate Arthurs head. The only information her and Heather were able to gather from the android were that the Company wanted to keep its secrets to itself, even if it meant the lives of everyone at the base.
It was a solemn drive back for Heather, Amy, Hale, Gustav and Callum. They expected to be attacked by Aliens or something else.
Smith grew excited the closer they got, the idea of seeing his family again helping to distract from Adams serious state. Kra'tak still had the spear in his leg, having cut off the ends with one of his tools. Tol'din seemed ok despite the damage to his face.
After a bumpy ride through destroyed trees, the group were once again in shock as they drove in to what was once a clearing. It was a mess of acidic green blood, smoke, debris, destroyed trees and huge craters in the ground. Ahead of them, the once giant, solid wall that had protected them for two years was now just piles of debris. It was obvious to the group that the walls had breached inwards.
Heather tried radioing in to the base but there was no response. She drove around and found a cleared path right in to the base. The group realised the rescue had already happened.
As they drove through the base there were no signs of active life though the signs of battle were everywhere.
With the injured in the vehicle, Heather decided it best to head to the medical bay. There, they found it blocked by collapsed rubble with no way of getting through it: they didn't have the tools.
Frustrated, tired and angry, Heather tried her radio again. "This is Heather, can anyone hear me?"
A crackle, then response.
"This is Finley. Where are you?" his voice was frayed.
"We're outside the medical bay," a slightly relieved Heather responded. "Where are you?"
"Inside the medical bay. We had to block it." Finley replied.
"Why didn't you evac?" Heather asked.
"Couldn't. Is Smith with you?"
"Yeah,"
"Put him on."
Heather gestured to Smith, who was looking around the base whilst Gustav, Callum and Hale watched for danger.
"It's Finley," she said as she passed him the radio. "He wants to speak to you."
Heather watched as Smith broke down in tears.
On the transport ship, Tom was being escorted quickly on his away to meet with the Colonel in his quarters. As he stepped through the open door the Colonel stood from his desk and put out his hand. Tom shook it.
"It is good to finally meet you," the Colonel said, with a relieved smile. "Is it true, the communication we received from you?"
"Yes," Tom answered. "But before that, we've left a few people behind. It is vital that you find them and bring them onboard."
The Colonel didn't hesitate. "Understood," He nodded to Sergeant Phoenix who had been standing idly beside him.
The sergeant spoke a few orders in to the intercom and promptly left the room.
On Earth, Jade was continuing her shift as normal.
A transport vehicle pulled up beside her.
The driver inside spoke, "Ma'am, got work orders. They could do with some extra hands at Sector F. Your choice."
Those last two words caught Jades attention. She continued with what she was doing for a few moments. The man waited patiently.
After a few more moments, she got in to the vehicle.
Adams had just passed away and Heather had felt completely helpless. She was livid at the cruel irony. He'd survived the journey back here, only for them to be stuck just a few metres away from the equipment that could've kept him alive.
Amy and Smith both sat beside his body in the APC.
Heather had run out of ideas. It wasn't safe here anymore, but there was nowhere to go.
As she went through the same options over and over again her radio crackled to life.
"Adams, Amy, are you there?"
She grabbed her radio, "This is Heather. Tom, is that you?!"
"Yes! We were going to look for you at the other base but the Nav officer spotted you," Tom explained.
"Nav officer? Where are you?" Heather asked hurriedly.
"In a transport ship orbiting the planet. I'm speaking through the relay on a ship that's coming to rescue you," Tom replied.
Just as he said that, Heather heard the sounds of a fast approaching ship. She looked up along with the others standing outside as the rescue ship quickly arrived and landed nearby.
Sergeant Phoenix exited the ship along with a dozen fully armed and armoured soldiers.
The sergeant looked over the group. "Let's go people!" he ordered.
Heather approached him and explained the situation. The sergeant turned to watch as the injured Kra'tak, being supported by Tol'din, exited the APC. Despite all the experiences Sergeant Phoenix had been through, the sight of the two awed even him.
A couple of soldiers quickly set up demolitions around the medical bay as Heather and the group made their way in to the ship, Smith and Gustav carrying Adams body. Amy, Callum and Hale followed silently.
Amy was still clutching the small metal case that Tom had given her. The Sergeant approached, spoke a few words quietly to her, and she handed it over.
Amy jumped at the loud explosion as a hole was blown in to the side wall of the medibay building. She watched from the back of the dropship as Finley exited the newly made hole and made his way towards the ship.
A short while later, Caleys unconscious body lying on a stretcher was brought out by the medics that were part of the rescue group. Patia stayed by the stretchers side as Smith joined them and hugged her tightly. The medics ushered them to hurry to the dropship.
As Finley entered the ship, he paused at the sight of Adams body placed on a length of seating along the side of the dropship. His expression was grim, his jaw clenching and he took a heaving breath.
Smith and his family entered and he too paused next to Finley, staring at the sight of Adams' body. They jolted as the dropship took off, the rear hatch closing and making a quick ascent.
Gustav walked to the front of the ship and looked at the monitors, showing various views from cameras around the ship. He could see the devastated place they had called home for the last two years.
"Goodbye, old friend," he said more to himself than for anyone else to hear.
Finley moved and took a seat next to Kra'tak who was being tended to by one of the medics.
"He was honourable," Kra'tak spoke, his voice now only slightly resembling Toms.
Finley looked at the masked Kra'tak and nodded.
No-one spoke for the rest of the journey.
A short while later the dropship entered the transport ship and they all began departing.
Callum and his family along with the injured Kra'tak and Tol'din were guided towards medical.
Amy joined Finleys side as he and Gustav carried Adams' body out. Knight followed slowly behind. Medical staff spoke to Finley and he allowed them to take Adams body away.
Finley and Amy both went to the mess hall where the majority of Endora Primes remaining personnel were gathered. Heathers group had already found a place to sit.
Finley scanned the room and saw Raul, Baseer, Hartwell, Paolo, Shen and Keitaro amongst those who had survived.
No Hurst.
He only noticed Dena when she had already gotten up and was hurriedly making her way towards him.
Without a word she hugged him tightly. He hugged her back.
Tom was sat across from the Colonel in his office, a large desk between them. The Colonel was reading through the report that Tom had provided.
Finished, the Colonel closed the file and looked up at him.
"How effective will it be?"
"It worked on every subject we used it on. Though, admittedly, we had a limited number of test subjects," Tom replied.
"And the Company has no idea about this?" the Colonel followed up.
"No. We were very thorough in making sure of that," Tom answered.
"Good." A short pause, the Colonel leaned back in his seat. "What do you think Sergeant?"
Sergeant Phoenix didn't move from his standing position at the colonels side, hands crossed behind his back.
"If this weapon really does break the link between drones and their Queens, we could finally start winning this war."
The Colonel thought he could hear a little hope in the Sergeants voice. Something he never expected to hear from him.
The Colonel leaned forward, staring hard at Tom, arms on desk. "We have an idea about further testing."
Tom eyes showed his curiosity.
"What do you know about Kra'taks species?" the Colonel asked.
"Just the little we've learned from Kra'tak himself," Tom replied.
"Our research confirms that they've hunted Aliens for centuries. In fact, we believe they allow them to breed on specific planets just to hone their hunting skills."
Tom was catching on to what the Colonel meant. "You want to test our serum on one of those planets?"
"With permission," the Colonel activated the comm on his desk. "Come in."
The door opened and Tom turned to see a limping Kra'tak entering the room. He looked far cleaner and less battle damaged then Tom had ever seen him.
It had been a few hours since the rescue operations had completed. Those rescued were resting, healing up, and trying to unwind from recent events.
The transport ships intercom beeped loudly twice.
"Attention all personnel. This is a ship wide announcement."
It was the Colonel.
"Many of you are wondering what happens now. First, we are no longer working for the Company. Our objective has long been to end the system the Company has created. Thanks to the scientists at Endora Prime we may now have just the means to do so.
Unfortunately, this means none of you will be able to go back to your original homes. The Company was not going to let you leave Endora Prime alive.
Our first mission is to gain potential allies so that we can ensure a breakthrough in the fight against the Aliens is real.
There is much to do, but after many long decades," the Colonel's tone changed to one mixed with fear and excitement, "we now have real hope."
Fin~