The Obsidian Squad: IV
Some Unexpected Changes
April 21st 2270, 22:07
Low orbit over Mars
"How is Vladmir doing?" Ray asked softly.
"I still don't know if he's going to make it." Geti responded in a sad voice. Ray could tell he was sad over the loss of a very close friend.
"Prepare for re-entry to Mars in five, four, three, two, one…" the calm female voice of Ray's AI said. There was a sudden jolt as the Suit's atmospheric shields popped open. They looked much like a parachute, but facing the opposite way in the front. As the Suit shook drastically, all Ray could do was think about what had happened. He looked on his HUD and saw a very depressed look on Geti's face.
"Look man, there was nothing you could do. François knew the dangers of joining the OS, and he knew that he was sacrificing his life for the better of Mars." Ray commented as he tried to comfort Geti. All it did was make Geti sink lower into his Suit's control chair.
Geti blames everything on himself. I swear, if I was to leave him alone for more than a week, he would probably start to think that his lack of effort is the reason there is no air in space.
Ray rolled his eyes and braced himself for the thrust backward as his Suit launched its parachute.
It gets me every time. I hate this part of the re-entry sequence.
The suit released its parachute, and as sure as the Sun rises, Ray jolted backwards. Geti, Ray, and the subconscious Vladmir slowly drifted to the ground. Geti and Ray set up base camp, as they knew Vladmir would not awake until morning, possibly later.
The camp was made up of a large, clear, plastic-like tent that covered a backup generator from one of the suits, a few sleeping bags, a heater/air conditioner with self-regulating heat, and of course, a large tote of food.
After Geti had fallen asleep, Ray got up and began running checks through all of the Suits, making sure everything was in order. To his surprise, nothing had been severely damaged in the explosion. He then set up some motion detectors on the ridge near them to make sure nothing surprised them while they were asleep.
God you're paranoid Ray. You can only sleep knowing that everything is in order, and if anything moves within a 10km radius, you will know about it. I guess that's what being in counter-intelligence and espionage does to you.
Ray crawled inside the sleeping bag and closed his heavy eyes. Before he dosed off, just to confirm his paranoia, slid a pistol under his pillow.
April 22nd 2270, 10:29
Temporary OS Camp,
Chryse Planitia
Ray awoke the next morning to find that Geti's sleeping bag was empty. He walked over to it and found a note on his pillow. It read:
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN-
I HAVE LEFT THE OS IN SEARCH OF A BETTER LIFE. I RECIEVED NEWS LAST NIGHT OF MY HOME TOWN BEING COMPLETELY ELIMINATED, WIPED OFF THE MAP BY SOME PIECE OF SPACE JUNK SENT IN BY A TERRAN CRUISER. THE TERRANS ARE BLACKMAILING US. IF WE DO NOT THROW DOWN OUR WEAPONS, THEY WILL CONTINUE KILLING OUR FAMILIES. I CAN NO LONGER STAND ALL OF THE KILLING. I APRECIATE YOUR HOSPITALITY AND SAFETY WHILE I WAS IN THE OS; IT MADE ME FEEL FOR ONCE AS IF I ACTUALLY BELONGED SOMEWHERE. I WISH YOU GUY'S THE BEST OF LUCK; I WILL BE CHEERING FOR YOU VICTORIES AND TRIUMPHS. IF IT IS AT ALL POSSIBLE, I WILL TRY AND HELP WITH YOUR WAR EFFORTS; I HAVE CONNECTIONS. AS FOR MY REPLACEMENT, LOOK IN TO THIS GIRL, HER NAME IS KARI MOSTAVICH. SHE IS AN EXCELLENT PILOT. AS FOR A REPLACEMENT FOR FRANÇOIS, THERE IS A MAN NAMED ERICH BENFORD, HE IS STILL YOUNG, BUT HE HAS GREAT POTENTIAL IN PILOTING AND HACKING, HONE HIS SKILLS IF YOU ARE ABLE TO RECRUIT HIM. KARI IS LOCATED IN NEW HAVEN, ON THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF ACIDALIA PLANITIA (0, 30). AND AS FOR ERICH, HE IS IN MARKHAM, ON ACIDALIA PLANITIA ALSO (3, 40). GOOD LUCK WITH THE NEW RECRUITS, AND I'M SURE WITH YOU GUYS FIGHTING, THE TERRAN FORCES ON MARS SHOULD BE GONE IN NO TIME.
GETI OUTOMA
Ray dropped his head and buried it in his arms on the table. He sat there for what seemed like a minute, but really ended up being a couple hours.
As Ray was eating some rice he had cooked up, something triggered his alarm system. He jumped inside his Suit and looked on the radar.
"Roxanne, what's heading towards us?" Ray asked the AI.
"TSF's (Terran Supporting Forces), about 10km away."
"AI or human, and how many?"
"20 infantry, 6 Dredges-HC (Human Controlled) and 4 Battle Tanks-AI," Roxanne informed him. "It is suggested that you destroy the camp and hide."
"And live like a coward? If I don't destroy these forces, who will? Roxanne, startup the engine, and ready the auto cannon and rockets." Ray ordered.
Ray picked up the motionless body of Vladmir. He carried him over to the Russian's suit. He placed him inside and set the suit for prone position. As Vladmir's suit began to lie down on its belly, Ray darted for his own and began powering it up and arming his weapons.
Ray began preparing for the incoming forces. He shot some EMP mines in the valley that the incoming forces would take, hoping to temporarily shut down all of their electronics. He then found a safe hiding spot and stayed there until they arrived.
Ray was sweating; his hands were shaking, nervous for his life.
Snap out of it Ray, nothing is going to happen. Just remember what the OS taught you, and you'll be fine. Just calm down.
He began to press buttons and type on the control pad in front of him. Lights began to flash and an image appeared on his HUD. It was the incoming force.
500 meters. Almost in range.
Then it happened. A bright blue shockwave lit up the valley. Everything stopped moving but the infantry. Ray fired his grenade launcher down at the troops. Explosions and screams filled the air as smoke and red dust clouded the gorge.
Good. Nothing is moving on the radar. The infantry are dead, and I should have a couple seconds before their electronics come back online.
Ray jumped off the cliff he was on and hovered over them. Ray could hear them over his Communications Link (CL).
"What was that? Radar check, any hostile forces? Keep your eyes peeled." An officer said.
Ray then flew down, landed about 30m in front of the force, and launched a salvo of 40 rockets in their direction. He took out the tanks and two of the suits. The other four suits then ganged up on Ray. He set his auto cannon to heavy slugs, and hurled five of them at one of the enemy suits. The dredge blew up instantly. Then Ray's HUD changed from a passive green to an alerting red as someone locked their bazooka on Ray. He turned around and rolled left to avoid getting locked on. He then switched his auto cannon to a smaller round, and fired in the bazooka man's direction. The small rounds were fired at incredibly fast speeds. They tore away at the Suit's epidermis, making it collapse to the ground, twitching.
One of the last suits was charging at him with a battle-axe, ready to strike. Ray did a back flip over the oncoming suit, and on his way back to the ground, he pulled out an EM dagger, and thrusted it into the back of the attacker.
Ray landed behind the paralyzed soldier and pulled the dagger out. He placed it back in its sheath. He turned around, and spotted the final Suit running away.
No one can run from Ray "Ghost" Monterro.
Ray set his auto cannon to sniper mode, and the view on his HUD changed. He aimed for the back, specifically the lower left, where the main power supply was. He squeezed the trigger and released a shell. He watched as the suit crumpled to the ground, allowing red dust fly into the air. Ray then sprinted towards the suit. As he approached, he looked down at it, and pulled out his long sword.
"…Who…are…you?" The pilot of the fallen Suit managed to ask as he was dieing.
"I am a ghost; I have no name." Ray responded.
Ray released the tension on the sword and let it swing downward. The power of the sword cut the suit clean in half.
Ray ran back to his campsite, finding Vladmir sitting in a chair, clapping.
"Good job Ray! I'm astounded by your skills. You have far surpassed me in piloting of suits. When I awoke, I found myself in my suit. I could see explosions and bright flashing lights on my HUD. I knew you had placed me here for my safety and went out to fight an on coming force. I used my Suit's sniping mode to see how you were coming along, and because of your resourcefulness, I have decided to let you take my position as leading officer of the Obsidian Squad." Vladmir said as Ray stepped out of his Suit.
"But Sir…" Ray tried to say but was quickly cut off by Vladmir.
"But nothing, you are now the commander of the Obsidian Squad."