A/N: Hello! This is going to be the second chapter of a three part prologue to introduce the characters and help me get used to the whole doc manager/chapter thing. Also if you even look at this please leave a review! I really want some feedback on this fic, good, bad or questions etc. so please leave a review those of you who read this silently and say nothing (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!)

Anyhow on with the fic……….

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Prologue part 2: DRANSER!

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The crackling sound of las-rounds reverberated off the walls surrounding a large group of men, many with money clasped in their hands. They were all jostling around two men in particular. Another soldier stepped forward; he had the stocky build of a Pyhtos miner, and wore his corporal's jacket in the traditional off the shoulder style of the Cthonian nobility, and retained a charismatic smile as he drew the attention of the crowd, collecting money as he went.

'BETS ARE NOW CLOSED GENTLEMAN! The man shouted to the crowd 'DO NOT WORRY; ALL YOUR TRANSACTIONS CAN BE HANDLED BY OUR PRIVATE HELLER HERE!' He motioned towards a scrawny rat of a man who was skulking around the sidelines, smoking a dog end like it was a conspiracy.

'Just get on with it Dranser!' came a shout from he crowd.

His smile not fading, the man continued 'Okay, okay! Here, we have two of the finest marksmen fair Cthonia can provide.'

'Ahem!' came from the shadows around the back of the barrack block.

'You don't count Frenair, you don't give anyone half a chance to shoot back!' came a cry from the crowd followed by raucous laughter.

'AS I WAS SAYING! Here, we have Herstral Proick and Frejkn Sventer competing in a contest of skill, first to knock all the cans off the far wall using single shot is the winner!'

The crowd parted to let the two men at the centre take aim with their lasguns at the railing at the far end of the yard. 'One, Two, Three, FIRE!' The men began to crack shots off at the cans on the rail, dropping them one by one with extreme precision until only one, the furthest, remained. Both took aim, but a deafening bang resounded around the compound as the can exploded in a shower of metal. The crowd turned to find Vikes standing there, smoking bolt pistol in hand, bionic eye resetting from scope mode. A distressed Dieter standing behind, wringing his cap between his hands. At once the crowd stood to attention in various states of dress, even Dranser had his usually unmovable smile wiped off his face as Vikes moved towards him.

'Corporal Dranser, I was not notified that you had become a member of the nobility, nor that it was permissible to gamble on regimental ground, OR that live fire ammunition was allowed in the barrack compound! So tell me corporal Why In Feths Name AM I SEEING ALL OF THIS IN FRONT OF MY FETHING BARRACK!' Yelled Vikes at Dransers face, showering him in spit and causing the man to flinch visibly under the tirade of remarks.

'S-s-s-ssaarrgeentt V-v-vikes, I, I-I mean we were..'

'NOT GOOD ENOUGH CORPORAL! GET ON THE DIRT NOW AND DON'T YOU GET BACK UP UNTIL THE DUST IS COMING OUT OF YOUR FETHING EARS!' Vikes screamed and Dranser fell to the floor rapidly doing push-ups to appease the demon sergeants wrath but his efforts were cut short by the sound of approaching vehicles from outside the compound. 'Squad 2 Fooorrrm up! Snapped Vikes as the men an towards the sorry excuse for a parade ground. As Dranser ran past he was grabbed roughly by the arm to see Vikes glaring at him before throwing him away again 'This ain't over Dranser, not by a long way'………

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A/N: Hey there! Once again I would like to thank you for the few reviews I've had so far and I would really appreciate some feedback on this fic with your thoughts, comments, queries and suggestions etc. Constructive criticism is welcomed but pleases no unwarranted flames; this is my first fic after all…….

SITStandard Imperial Time

Till next time cya…..