Chapter 3 - Lantern's Light
A young warrior flew through the void of space. His mind only on responding to the call of his superiors. His sector was far behind him now, out of his jurisdiction. His hair danced about as he picked up his speed, racing through the stars and planets. His right fist was extended forward and on it sat an emerald ring, its power glowing a bright emerald green that covered his body from head to toe, allowing him to breathe through the vacuum of space and giving him the ability to fly. The white shield of his mask covered his eyes. His mask sat directly over his eyes and nose, partially resting on his forehead and stretched from temple to temple. His suit was sleek and form fitting. The collar of his suit was green that stretched along his neck muscle and down his chest and back in the shape of a triangle. His waist had two triangles that stretched out along the triangle coming down his chest which covered down to his feet in green as the space between was as black as the space he flew through. His booted were black and matched the sleeves of his suit. On his left shoulder were two green rectangles that lay parallel to each other and between them a green circle. On his chest laid a white circle with the same emblem in green. His eyes narrowed as he came within view of his destination. A massive plane glowing in emerald with a large emerald ring around the shape of it. He knew he was finally facing Mogo, one of the strongest in the Green Lantern Corps. A living planet and home to the Green Lanterns and The Guardians.
Landing on the planet's surface, he was greeted by a taller and more muscular man. His skin the color of copper and hair cut low at the top with the sides and back shaved. His suit bore the same color scheme but different in design. His jaw strong and covered in a full beard. His eyes were emerald green, as were all Lanterns once their mask faded, exposing their identity to one another. His mask faded and showed the remainder of his face to his ally. He stood, observing the taller man for a moment. His suit was green from the neck down to the end of the shoulders. His forearms were also green from just below the elbow to his wrists and from his calves to his ankles. The suit was filled in black. In the middle of his chest laid a green circle and within a green lantern shaped emblem unlike his own.
"If the Guardians pulled you all the way from Sector 1760 then there must be trouble," he said as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"And bringing the hero of the Sinestro Corps Wars from Earth? I can only imagine what troubles lay ahead Lantern Stewart."
"Still as formal as ever I see, Sodam Yat," John smiled as he extended his hand. The two clasped at each other's forearms. "But on Mogo it's just John," the Lantern joked. The two walked along Mogo's surface of thick and exotic plant life. The plants shifted out of their way as they continued deep within his lands. The leaves of the trees were a vibrant purple and bark as blue as the oceans on Earth. Vines of yellow and deep oranges while the grass was red. They made their way to a clearing where they found a small floating humanoid being. His hair was crystal whtie and pulled back into a ponytail. His skin was as blue as the trees of Mogo. He wore a long white robe with a red chest decoration. His hands were clasped behind his back as he faced the night's sky. A beautiful color of deep purple as Mogo stayed between two suns and four moons in the current space sector. As he turned to face the two Lanterns, his kind eyes seemed hardened and face twisted into a worried scowl. He raised his left eyebrow as he looked upon his two subordinates.
"Sodam Yat and John Stewart, I am glad you could answer my call," he stated. "We await the arrival of one more Lantern, the ever so eventful Hal Jordan." Before either could question the need for this strong a fighting force, Jordan swooped through the trees into a floating position just above their heads.
"Sorry I'm late, had to make my exit from a Justice League meeting. Batman wasn't too happy about me leaving early but then again he's never happy." His smirk grew as he landed on the soft grass of Mogo, his glow diminishing and mask fading. His hair was brown and combed over to the side. His suit fit to his skin like another layer. As tall as John but just a few pounds shy in bulk but his muscular definition far surpassed that of most Lanterns in the Corps. His suit was green from his neck to his shoulders and running down his chest. The green stopped at his pelvis and wrapped around his waist in the shape of an arrow. His suit was filled in black. His gloves reached from his hand up to his elbow in white and his boots covered up to his claves in green. His emblem sat on his chest resembling that of John Stewart's.
"Now that I have you all here, we can begin." Ganthet's voice was void of emotion which was uncharacteristic for him. "Sector 2317 has been decimated and Lanterns who go there to investigate have been killed or injured. The only survivor mumbled the words 'Manhunter' before slipping into a state of unconsciousness.
"Wait why would the Manhunters attack the Arachnid Quarantine Zone? The whole point to their name is to hunt man or humanoid beings not insects." John said.
"The Terran forces have launched an all out assault in hopes of putting an end to their ongoing war." Sodam Yat added. "I hear it's just as bad as the first."
"How did the Manhunters even turn up here? I thought we destroyed the last remnants of them." Hal interjected.
"I can not answer the question of why they are here, I can only send my strongest Lanterns to investigate and bring an end to this madness," Ganthet explained. "Charge your rings and investigate the sector immediately," ganthet turned his back to them, clasping his hands behind his back once more. "We can ill afford another Lantern death."
"Are the Manhunters as powerful as the legends say?" Sodam asked.
"If not stronger," Hal answered, "if they are trying to make a comeback, we have to put an end to it fast or more lives will be at risk." The three Lanterns nodded in agreement before flying into the sky and pulling their personal portable batteries from their ring's pocket dimensions.
"In brightest day, in blackest night," they chanted in unison as they extended their ringed fists into the opening of the lanterns. "No evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil's might, beware my power, Green Lantern's light!" With their chant came a burst of emerald energy. Willpower flowed into their rings, charging them to full capacity in preparation for the mission ahead. The three Lanterns took flight to the dark void of space.
Klendathu's surface is covered in the deceased bodies of its native creatures and the attacking Terran forces. Ace slide down the side of his rock perch before running to Rico's position. "We have a problem, Techy here said there are reports coming in of five platoons downed just seven cliques west of our position."
"D, get up here!" Rico called out. "Scan the western area and report back, we will be three cliques behind you." With a simple nod, D was on his way forward at top speed, bouncing when he could find the time to.
"Reports say robots," Ace added. "What the hell would mechs be doing on Klendathu?"
"Let's go find out." The Roughnecks, Vector Platoon, Bravo Platoon and marines formed together into a bigger force and pressed on west. The troopers pushed through open land and canyons at top speed.
"Sir, you're not gonna believe this shit," D radioed in. He sent his live feed to Rico, showing him the human shaped robots blasting through trooper.
"Our boys need help, pull em out of the grinder1" Rico called out. D took aim from his perch and zeroed in on the head of a standing Manhunter. His breathing shallow and heart rate steadied. Pulling the trigger, his body jerked slightly from the caliber of the bullet. The road raced through the sky until it crashed into the head of the Manhunter, throwing his body to the ground. Just as D turned to zero in on another target, he could feel something unsettling. He quickly panned back to the downed target and watched as it stood to its feet and turned to face him.
"Oh shit," D said before jumped from his position as a powerful blast of energy just missed him. Before help could arrive, D found himself facing down an Arachnid. "This just ain't my day."
"Contact left!" D12 yelled as he and Henderson opened fire along with five men from Vector. A bug hole opened in the side of a wall with multiple warriors rushing out. Rico and Ace turned their attention to the hole as well as multiple others. Ratzass took a knee in front of everyone else, pouring round after round into the warriors and anything moving from the hole.
"We have no time for this, Riggs nuke it!" Rico ordered. Riggs happily obliged with another round from his canister of the left over nukes. The nuke rushed down the hole until it found a solid area to slam against and explode, closing the hole and collapsing the built tunnel killing all Arachnids inside. "Move!" Rico ordered as they returned to their current objective. By the time they reached the battlefield all they found were bodies. The lifeless bodies littered the area sprawled and thrown in every direction. This armor singed and burned from the blasts of energy. D12 dropped to a knee next to a fallen trooper, examining the damage. His head hung as he continued to look at the remains.
"What the hell could've done this?" Vector asked.
"From what I saw a robot or android. They were built to look like a robotic human and used energy attacks. Judging by the damage, the energy is as strong as a plasma blast from a baby plasma bug." D explained. "To make matters worse, I shot one in the head clean and the fucker shrugged it off."
"We have to hunt these things down. Techy get a message out to Fleet and all M.I. forces on the ground." Ace ordered.
"Then we hunt these things," Rico said.
"I don't think we have to sir," D said with a shakiness to his voice. "Contact north!" He shouted just before the blast of energy smacked into one of the marines, throwing his body to the sands in a smoking heap of death.
"Shit, man down!" Vector called.
"Take cover and return fire!" Ace yelled. The troopers scattered to cover, hiding themselves behind rocks or in ditches. Few peaked up from behind their positions to take aim at their attackers. The Manhunters floated above them, bullets bouncing from their armored bodies. Their faces were silver and eyes lifeless. A terrifying glow of bright red that matched the cowl covering their heads. The body was covered in more red with silver running down the length of the torso in thick lines starting on the outside of the pectorals leading down to the waist line. Their upper thighs were rimmed with silver and their boots and gauntlets matched the color. They closed in, with long silver poles they used to fire upon the troopers.
"What the hell even are those things?!" Harpy yelled before she rolled out into the open, taking a few shots before diving for Rico and Ace's position. "Any plans here?"
"Keep dumping bullets into it," Ace said.
"Riggs, hit these things with everything you've got left, everyone else, covering fire!" Rico stood to his feet as the three beings pressed forward. The combined barrage from the troopers stopped the advancement of the Manhunters. "Now Riggs!" Rico yelled as he emptied his magazine.
"You got it boss!" Riggs activated his remained nukes and watched as they shot forward. It took them seconds to reach the Manhunters, exploding on impact in a chain of violent explosions and a blinding light. The troopers shielded their eyes and as the smoke and light faded, the bodies of the Manhunters littered the ground.
"Hurah!" The troopers cheered as they relished in the small victory. Rico examined the head of one of the Manhunters. He could hear the skrietch before anyone could react.
"Contact front!" Hudson called out but they were standing in what seemed to be a massive swarm. No exists and no way out. The bugs surrounded them, stopping to extend their mandibles and howl to the moons of Klendathu. Rico looked up, dropping the head and readying his weapon.
"What do we do Ace?" Rico asked but Ace was only muttering. His mind flashed back to the events of the first drop on Klendathu.
"I don't know," is all he could repeat as the fear overtook him. The howling cut as the bugs ran.
"Is it me or did the bugs just turn tail?" D12 asked in confusion. The troopers kept themselves ready. Their weapons trained on the vast empty sands of klendathu. Lights of explosions sounded just before the face of a Manhunter could appear in the sites of Deadeye.
"Shit they're back!" Deadeye yelled as she took the shot, throwing the Manhunter's body into the side of a cliff. She pulled her trigger twice more, double tapping the robotic being in the head, her third bullet finally piercing the metal and blowing a hole into it. "Aim for the head!" She yelled. Manhunters took to the sky, shooting beams of energy from their silver weapons. The troopers scattered once again, ducking and running for cover. Another member of Vector was downed by the energy beams. Her body slid against Ratzass. He glanced down and was instantly overtaken by his rage.
"Come on you sons of bitches!" Ratzass yelled as he stood out in the open, hoping to draw their fire.
"This fool is crazy," Riggs said as he and Hudson targeted the Manhunters who took notice of Ratzass. They dumped round after round into the machine's head, watching as it dropped out of the sky. "Hell yeah!" Riggs hollered as he celebrated.
"Ace we need an exit plan!" Rico called out but was met with silence. "Shit Ace!" Rico charged from his position just as a Manhunter landed on the ground. It's weapon was aimed at Ace who was looking to the sky. Rico charged it, throwing his shoulder into the machine's back, knocking it onto its torso. With a roar, Rico pressed the barrel of his rifle into the head of the Manhunter and squeezed the trigger until the Manhunter no longer moved.
"You wanna live forever?!" Rico roared into the communications. His men stood to their feet, pressing their offensive just as the Manhunters dropped to the ground. Rico ignored the pain from his shoulder as he continued his attack. D12 and Harpy pulled grenades from their belts, tossing them at the feet of the Manhunters. Their bodies were flung in the explosion but were not destroyed. The metal plating of their bodies were damaged as their internal wiring began to show, sparking every so often. The Manhunters closed the distance and ceased fire as they charged the ranks of the troopers. A Manhunter slammed his fist into the helmet of a marine, cracking it as his body slammed into the sand. The marine turned onto his back to watch as the Manhunter stomped on his chest, crushing both his suit and chest.
"This is Harpy of Roughneck 2-0 reuqesting immediate air support and evac, we have suffered heavy casualties!" Harpy barked into the communications system as Tech covered her. He fired frantically into the mass of Manhunters watching his bullets bounce from their metallic chassis.
"This is not what the hell I signed up for!" Tech said as he chucked a grenade into the ranks of the Manhunters. Its explosion knocked the surrounding Manhunters to the ground only for them to stand back on their feet and rejoin the battle.
"No go for pick up sir!" Harpy called in as she received static in the communications network.
"Let me take a look," Tech offered as Harpy spun on her knee to change positions. Rico watched as another marine's body flew past him with pieces of her power suit chipping away. Rico broke his engagement to check on her. She retracted her helmet, her left eye completely shut and blood leaked from her mouth.
"Hang in there trooper," he said in hopes of keeping her going.
"That's it for me sir, get our boys out of here. Get them home," she said as the life faded from her body. Rico closed her right eye and laid his rifle down and picked up hers. He noticed its heavier frame as it came with a mini gun attachment. Rico rushed his way to the front lines. Slamming the barrel of the mini gun into a Manhunter and as it turned its body from the force of the blow, pulling the trigger and riddling its body with high caliber bullets. Ratzass and Ace joined Rico to force a small line of fire.
"Eat lead!" Rico yelled as he fired at the Manhunters, the high caliber bullets both bouncing off some Manhunters are farther distances while piercing the bodies of the closer Manhunters. The remaining troopers regrouped just as the sky flashed an emerald green. Rico and his men held their fire as the Manhunters seemingly stopped their advancement.
"This isn't your battle soldiers. Leave here and finish your war." Sodam Yat said as he floated above them, his back turned to them. Rico, Ace and Ratzass looked puzzled until Hal Jordan and John Stewart both joined the side of Sodam Yat. The Manhunter's eyes began to glow a darker red.
"No man escapes the Manhunters!" They all chanted as they took to the skies, rushing towards the newcomers. The three Lanterns separated as they met the oncoming threat.
"Fall back!" Rico ordered but the battle was already too close for them to escape. As they turned heel to retreat, Manhunters landed to cut off their escape routes.
"These damn things are really starting to piss me off!" D12 said as he took aim.
"Hold with what you got!" Ace yelled as the troopers resumed their battle. SOdam Yat flew low, constructing a jagged edged sword with his ring as he cleaved through the middle of a Manhunter with one powerful swing. He gripped the legs of the robotic being and launched them at another one of its allies. John floated above the troopers constructing twin miniguns and squeezing back the triggers with his teeth grit. Hal blasted concentrated willpower into the chest of a Manhunter, sending it to the ground. He constructed a shield to block an oncoming blast before charging his attacker with both his fists forward. He slammed into the Manhunter, pressing its body into the sand before gripping his forearm as he blasted its head away with willpower.
The Manhunters surrounded both Lanterns and troopers. Rico continued his rate of fire until his leg burned from the blast of energy. He dropped to a knee wincing from the pain. As his eyes opened, he could see Hudson's body laying on the ground. A quick blink and he could instantly see all vital signs have gone flat. Rico's blood boiled as he looked to see his men and the men of three other platoons being chopped down by an unknown enemy. He stood to his feet, willing himself to continue the fight much like he has done in the past. He took hold of Hudson's rifle and aimed both to the sky, pulling the trigger and firing wildly into the floating Manhunters with a venomous battle cry escaping his bloody lips.
Sodam Yat held up a constructed shield to block a punch from a Manhunter but the force of the attack still sent him backwards. His back burned with the feeling of the jets in the boot of a Manhunter who stomped his heel into Sodam Yat"s back. His body was sent crashing to the ground. John Stewart took notice as Sodam Yat stood back to his feet and jumped into the air again. John constructed a tank and slammed it into a charging Manhunter but felt a blast first in his leg and the next in his shoulder before he was tackled. His body slammed into the side of a cliff but in a flash of willpower he was freed from the hold. Hal took another punch to his jaw but refused to take a step backwards as he lurched forward with a boxing glove constructed from his willpower, slamming it into multiple Manhunters and using it to smash their bodies into the ground. A Manhunter flew low from behind Hal and dragged his face through the sand as he caught it and continued his flight. Hal blasted it with willpower and stood to his feet before blocked a punch and rifling off a kick to his attacker's side.
"There's far too many of them!" John yelled as he constructed a rocket and slammed it into a Manhunter.
"We have to stop them here!" Sodam Yat yelled as he constructed a shield and mace. He rushed towards the troopers, smashing the back of a Manhunter in before slamming the ball of the mace into its head. Sodam Yat watched as a Manhunter grabbed Harpy and flew into the sky. He jumped after them as she pointed hier barrel to its stomach and pulled the trigger. Sodam Yat finished it by slamming his shield into its face. Harpy fell through the sky before activating her jump jet just a few meters from the ground to allow herself to land in a roll. She looked up at the man who saved her before giving him a thumbs up and returning to the battle. Sodam Yat was tackled to the ground, the Manhunter punching his face repeatedly as they descended. His body slammed into the sands hard, kicking up sand and rock. The Manhunter continued its onslaught of an attack. Sodam's face was covered in blood the more the metallic fists made contact. Struggling to raise his fist, Sodam Yat blasted the upper body of the Manhunter to ash with his willpower. He staggered to his feet as blood leaked from the corner of his mouth and the cut over his right brow trickled blood over his eye. His mask was cracked and stained in his blood. Sodam Yat gritted his teeth as the willpower began to seep from his ring. He took flight once against, rising into the air and slamming his fists through the torso of a Manhunter before ripping it in half. He could feel his strength fading and wondered if this sector had a red star. No matter, he could not waste his thoughts on such an ideal.
"Hold the line!" Rico called out as he dragged D12's body and set him against a rock. His chest smoked from the burn of an energy blast. He rolled to his right to escape a low flying Manhunter before popping back up onto his knees and opening fire. He noticed a man flying off into the distance, charging the oncoming Manhunter reinforcements. He could see the man draw in the attention of the Manhunters and from his position he could see them swarm him. His companions attempted to come to his aid but as they flew a massive wave of green energy exploded, throwing everyone to the ground. Rico groaned as he turned to check on D12 who's vitals showed he was still alive. The skies cleared and the battlefield once again fell to the unsettling silence.