Part 10 – Siege of Parous II
It took four hours for the team to set up their base camp, when they did, Carter passed out the duty assignments.
When it came time for Damien's team to get their assignment, they walked into the tent, and saw Carter in a conference call with Commander Cruger, "They've begun to ask questions about Damien's team," the Commander said, "They, of course, know who there are. They have agreed that the identities of the Rangers will remain a secret from Colonial Defense."
"Good," Carter said, "That's a step in the right direction."
"I have a feeling that they're going to ask about the Astrolabe tomorrow," Cruger said, "I need to tell them something."
"We should have something for you tomorrow, Commander," Carter said, "You have to give us time."
"Time is the one thing that's not on our side," Commander Cruger said, "We need answers soon Major or we might all be on the chopping block."
"We'll do our best, Commander," Carter said.
"I expect nothing more, Major," Cruger said.
"Major," Damien said as he and his team stood at attention, "Reporting for duty."
"At ease Sergeant," Carter said as he held out a small tablet, "I wanted to tell you that the combat drills start tonight."
"Tonight," Damien asked.
"That a problem Sergeant," Carter asked.
"No sir," Damien said, "Just asking."
"I need to test how well you operate at night," Carter said, "You begin tonight working combat drills. While team one patrols, they will place holographic Es'ka which you will engage. Get some rest, you set out at 2100 Hours."
"Yes sir," Damien said, "We'll be ready."
"Good," Carter said, "You're dismissed."
As the team walked out and into their tent, Steven prepared his gear for the nightly exercises, as Damien was preparing his P-Carbine, Steven spoke up, "I haven't lost sight of what we're doing."
"I don't doubt that," Damien said as he adjusted the tightness of two screws on his Prehenderat blaster's grip.
"Then why didn't you talk to Carter on my behalf about the disciplinary actions?" Steven asked.
"I did," Damien said.
"That's all you have to say?" Steven asked.
"Yep," Damien said.
"You know I'm dedicated," Steven said.
"Yes, I do," Damien said.
"Then why can't you help me with…" Steven began.
"Because I'm just a Sergeant," Damien said.
"Hey," Matt said as he pulled the flap open, "It's time to go."
"We'll talk about this later," Damien said, "Let's get going."
Leaving the tent, the team proceeded into the mountains.
The trail left by the previous patrol was clear as day, especially underneath the glow of the three moons that floated in space above Parous II.
"Can I just say this," Steven asked.
"We don't have anything else to do while we march," Damien said.
"The fact that I oversleep doesn't mean I'm not dedicated," Steven said.
"I know that," Damien said.
"Then why the hell didn't you speak to Major Grayson on my behalf," Steven asked.
"I did," Damien said as he turned around to look at Steven, "If you think I want this, then you're wrong! You've been my friend since Middle School, and we all have you to thank for winning that drill team competition on Evacuation Day. If it were up to me, nothing would happen, and you sure as hell wouldn't be required to take part in any disciplinary activities of any kind."
The look on Steven's face as almost as humbled when Damien finished and all he mustered was, "I had no idea."
"It's no secret I hold you in good regard," Damien said as he put his hand on Steven's shoulder, "If it weren't for this whole situation, I'd put you up for a promotion."
Steven grabbed Damien's arm, "You're a good friend."
"We cool now," Damien asked as he removed his hand from Steven's shoulder, and held it out in front of him.
"Yea," Steven said as he grabbed Damien's hand, "We're cool."
Above…
"There it isss," Gaeko said as he pointed at Parous II, "That'sss where the Assstrolabe isss," he then turned around to face Ilustria, "Take a sssmall attachment of sssoldiers down to the sssurface and get it back."
"Gaeko," the Sergeant Es'ka said, "With your permisssion, I would like to accompany her down to the sssurface."
"Give usss a moment," Gaeko said as he ushered the Sergeant Es'ka over to his ready room, as soon as they entered, and the door closed, Gaeko spoke up, "What are you doing? Ssshe'sss a rival, we can ussse thisss."
"You're right, we can," the Sergeant Es'ka said, "But ssshe told me ssshe was given her powersss by the Emperor himssself. If we don't return with her, do you know what the Emperor will do to usss?"
Gaeko thought about it for a second and spoke, "I might have lossst a few yearsss off my life jussst thinking about it," he leaned in close to the Sergeant, and whispered, "Make sssure ssshe comesss back alive. If you can, sssave her at the lassst minute."
"Keep her in our debt," the Sergeant asked, "An ally clossse to the Emperor would do a lot toward our caussse."
Gaeko and the Sergeant walked outside, "Upon further consssideration," Gaeko said, "I will be sssending the Sssergeant down to the sssurface with you."
"An extttra pairrr of arrrms would be a trrremendous help," Ilustria said.
"Let'sss go then," the Sergeant said.
Base Camp…
Carter was signing a few papers when Ryan's voice came through his communicator, "Mitchel to Grayson," Ryan said.
"This is Grayson," Carter said as he tapped on the communicator's talk button, "Go ahead."
"Major we've got company," Ryan said, "It's the Jörmungandr, and they're sending several shuttles down to the surface."
"Prepare the United for combat," Carter said as he grabbed his beret, and slid it on, "I'll start preparing the defenses for the camp."
Carter walked out of the tent, and exclaimed, "We got incoming! Prepare the camp for siege," the soldiers in the camp scrambled to get the camp ready as Carter contacted Damien, "Major Grayson to Sergeant Winters."
"Winters here," Damien said, "Go ahead."
"Damien, we have incoming," Carter said, "Get back to the camp as soon as you can!"
Right before Damien could speak, a series of high-power explosions sent the team flying backwards, "No can do Major," Damien said as he picked himself up, "We've been engaged!"
"We'll try to hold off as long as we can," Carter said, "You take care."
"Will do Major," Damien said as the team readied themselves while the shuttle landed in front of them.
As the door opened, the Sergeant Es'ka that injured the team stepped out behind a snake-scorpion hybrid who carried a very sharp umbrella with two other Sergeant Es'ka.
"Helllo Rrrangers," Ilustria said, "I'm Ilustria."
"Charmed to meet you," Damien said as he tightened his grip on his P-Carbine.
"Wwwhy don't you tell us wherrre the Astrrrolabe is," Ilustria asked, "And wwwe'll be on ourrr wwway?"
"Thanks for the offer," Steven said, "But why don't you tell us what your interest in it is?"
"That will never happen," the Sergeant Es'ka said.
"Now, now," Ilustria said, "No need to be rrrude," Ilustria turned back toward the Rangers, "That astrrrolabe is the key to ourrr powerrr. With it's powerrr, the Serpent Empirrre will rrrule the univerrrse."
"We won't let that happen," Steven said, "Let's Morph!"
The team crossed their hands over their chests, and shouted, "COSMIC POWER!"
As the team morphed, Ilustria ushered the soldiers forward, "Why don't you let us take Ilustria," Lara asked.
"You got it," Damien said.
The Rangers holstered their P-Carbines and charged.
Basecamp…
Several other shuttles deployed from the Jörmungandr landed not two hundred feet from the camp to drop off several Es'ka Platoons.
"Hold your fire till you see the darks of their eyes," Carter exclaimed.
The Es'ka approached carrying their Serpent-Stings and opened fire.
The soldiers returned fire, and line after line of Es'ka began falling.
Back with the Rangers…
Damien dodged the shot from the main Sergeant Es'ka who came back in with a sweeping kick which Damien jumped over.
Matt blocked the blow from his Es'ka, and planted his open palm into the Es'ka's chest, sending him flying backwards, he recovered and came back at Matt.
Steven jumped off the final Es'ka's swing, and came in low, elbowed the Es'ka on top of his head. The Es'ka stumbled backwards only to land against a small dirt mound, Steven charged and threw a punch only for the Es'ka to move out of the way.
Lara jumped over Ilustria's swing and tried a leg-sweep which Ilustria jumped over. Jackie came in next and tried to kick her, only for Ilustria to grab her leg and throw her backwards.
Jackie back flipped onto the ground, and both she and Lara ran toward her, and threw simultaneous kicks only for Ilustria to block both of them, and swipe both of them across the chest, sending them flying backwards.
Damien, Matt, and Steven ran to their female colleagues and helped them up.
"She's strong," Matt said.
"We're going to need a new plan," Damien said.
"What about the holograms," Steven asked.
"The holograms," Damien asked.
"Follow my lead," Steven said as he pulled out his Prehenderat, and fired several shots at the ground, causing a small smoke screen to cover the team's retreat.
As the team ran toward the holographic field, Steven contacted Carter, "Private Malone to Major Grayson," Steven said into his communicator.
"This is Grayson," Carter said, "Go ahead Private."
"Major, we need the location of those holographic targets, and we need someone to do a few modifications to the holographic matrix," Steven said.
Carter ran back to the tent where the technicians set up the holographic index, when he arrived, Eric Rawlings was modifying one of the soldier's P-Carbines.
"Doc," Carter said, "The team needs your help."
"What do I have to do," Eric asked as he finished with the soldiers' modifications, and he sent him on his way.
"Where's the holographic index for the holographic Es'ka," Carter asked.
"Over here," Eric said as he pointed at a single console.
Carter handed Eric his communicator, and spoke, "Private, you're on with Dr. Malone."
Carter ran back to the front line, Eric spoke, "I'm here," he said.
"Am I glad to hear you, Eric," Steven said as he and the team kept running, "Where are those holographic generators?"
Eric pulled up the map of the area, "You're about twenty feet from the beginning of it," he said.
"I need you to make a few modifications," Steven said, "Reset their parameters to the following specifications…"
Ten minutes later, Ilustria and the four Sergeant Es'ka came walking into the area that the team entered.
"Wwwhere did thhhey go," Ilustria asked.
"Right here," Damien said from behind them.
The Es'ka and Ilustria turned around to see Damien and his team standing there with their P-Carbines.
The four of them turned around and fired their Serpent-Stings only to have the team disappear like holograms right before the shots landed.
"What the…" the main Sergeant asked.
"Hello," Matt said from the right.
As the turned to fire, he disappeared right before the shot landed as well.
"What'sss going on," one of the Sergeants asked.
"Hi," Lara said from the side of them.
The Es'ka turned to fire, and right before the shot landed, she disappeared.
Then Jackie, then Damien, the Damien again, then Steven, then Matt, then Jackie, and so on and so forth.
What they didn't realize was that thirty yards away, the team was observing the Es'ka and Ilustria from a cliff with Steven controlling the holographic generators with the spare communicator he had stored in his pocket.
"This is too easy," Steven said as he made Matt and Damien appear simultaneously, and make them give the Es'ka the 'you can't catch me' gesture a kid would give to someone who was chasing them.
"Genius Steven," Damien said as he clapped Steven on the shoulder.
Right then the communicator in Steven's hand started glowing gold and caused the team to shield their eyes.
Meanwhile, in the tent where Eric was located, Eric noticed a star on the astrolabe started to glow, and as he quickly made some calculations, he realized that the star on the astrolabe was not a star at all, but a planet, and it was the very planet they're on.
He quickly rushed over to the scanner that detected the Rangers' diamonds in the first place and saw that the energy was coming from the exact spot the Rangers were in.
"Holy cow," Steven said as he put his hands on the edges of the astrolabe, "So that's what you're for."
"Therrre they arrre," Ilustria exclaimed as she pointed at the Rangers.
"Steven," Damien exclaimed, "Switch holograms to combat mode!"
Steven quickly input a few commands into his communicator, and the holograms all activated, throwing up at least three different teams of Rangers.
"What do you say we get down there and help them, sir," Steven asked.
"You got that right," Damien said as he jumped down with his team, "Let's get out the hardware."
The Rangers called on their weapons and charged.
The first Es'ka was almost no match for Damien and the holograms as a fury of punches and kicks came raining down on his chest before sending him flying backwards against the rock wall and disintegrating upon landing against the ground.
The second was basically pinned against the wall as Matt came in with his sickles, the slices that rained down on his chest coupled with the fact that the holograms were holding him down was too much as the number of cuts soon caused the Es'ka to explode.
Ilustria was almost no match as Lara and Jackie came at her with their weapons, it would have been no doubt that if she were human, she would have been torn to pieces.
Mysteriously, the final Es'ka was nowhere to be seen as Ilustria fell to her knees, "Not so tough now eh Ilustria," Steven asked as he walked up to her, "Permission to end this Sergeant?"
"Granted," Damien said.
Steven raised his ax above his head, but before he could bring it down, a series of explosive shots sent the team flying backward.
The final Sergeant Es'ka jumped in front of Ilustria, and spoke, "You will not harm her while I am ssstanding," he said as he turned around, and in one swoop scooped the injured Lieutenant into his arms, "Goodbye Rangersss."
The Sergeant jumped as one of the dropships came in low, and carried him and Ilustria with them.
"Damn," Steven cursed as he punched the ground, "We lost them."
"It's alright Steven," Damien said, "We'll get them next time."
"Major Grayson to Sergeant Winters," Carter said over the communicator.
"Winters here," Damien said.
"I don't know what you did Sergeant, but the Es'ka are in full retreat," Carter said, "Good work."
"Thank you, sir," Damien said, "But it wasn't me," he looked over at Steven, and playfully punched him in the shoulder, "It was Private Malone."
"Send my congratulations," Carter said, "And get back here on the double, we're going home."
"Yes sir," Damien said as him and the team stood up.
The team powered down, and walked off, "Some night eh Sergeant," Steven asked.
"Damn straight," Damien said.
The United…
"So these are the terms of my 'punishment'," Steven asked as he looked over the conditions of his disciplinary actions while the team sat in their quarters.
"Yep," Damien said, "Not very extreme, but after that, the brass thought you deserved a little leeway. You show up at 0800 Hours instead of 0700 Hours, and you make up that time by training overtime."
"That's everything," Steven asked.
"You were expecting more," Damien asked.
"No," Steven said, "Just thought there would be."
"Just be thankful that's all you're getting," Damien said, "But it's good that we finally have the team back in good graces."
"You said it, pal," Steven said as he laid back on his bunk, "You said it."
Returning to the colony was something interesting as Supreme Commander Cruger was the first one to greet them.
"Hello Rangers," he said as he approached them.
"Commander," Damien said as they stood at attention.
"At ease Rangers," Cruger said, "I have good news, I have come out of the hearing unscathed. And with the added victory you just had over the Serpent Empire's newest Lieutenant, we can no go straight back to business as usual."
"Thank you, sir," Damien said, "I'm glad to see everything worked out."
"All thanks to you, my boy," Cruger said as he put his hand on Damien's shoulder.
"With all due respect sir," Damien said as he reached over to loop his arms around Steven's shoulder, "Right now, the hero of the day award belongs to this guy."
Tram...
Steven was riding the Tram car back to his house when the tram came to a complete stop, Steven was surprised when Mandy stood over him, "Hello, she said as she walked up to him.
"Mandy," Steven said, "Good to see you."
"Is anyone sitting here," she asked.
"No," Steven said as he gestured to the seat in front of him.
"I heard you were deployed," she said, "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine," Steven said, "The Rangers handled everything expertly."
"I'm glad," Mandy said.
"So, where's Scott," Steven asked.
"I dumped him," Mandy said, "He's really controlling."
"No one should have to suffer like that," Steven said, "Especially not a girl like you."
"Thank you," Mandy said, "You know, you seem like the kind of guy that really knows how to treat a woman."
"Then will you let me show you," Steven asked.
"Steven," Mandy said, "Are you asking me out?"
"You're damn right I am," Steven said, "What do you say?"
What do you think…