Heh, still no idea what i'm doing with this story, or even why i whipped up a second chapter between games. But, *Shrugs* hope it's enjoyable. I'll look into getting something more coherant up for the next chapters if anyones interested.


Antaria's last message: Black out

"Any word?" The storm had passed an hour ago, and now Jackson was getting nervous. Surely someone would have noticed the array's silence.

Luckily he'd managed to get his helmet off at this point, no easy task. And was able to run a hand through his raven black hair –a nervous habit- while watching the display over Alessa's shoulder.

"Nothing yet, though the Ikea has moved into close orbit above the command center." She replied, her fingers a blur as she pulled up, scanned and closed a dozen different windows and icons. "The short range comms might work at that range, though I can't say for sure. I don't have blueprints for the base yet."

Nodding slightly, the marine chose to let her work, and moved away for now. His gaze shifting instead to another marine posted by the control room, unlike his superior, his visor was still locked down and his face was masked behind it. "Keep an eye on her." He whispered quietly, before lightly clapping the soldier on the shoulder and leaving the room.

"You really should learn to trust people." Jackson swiftly whipped around to face the direction the voice had come from. Though it was a few seconds before the ghost faded into view, his face was obscured by the headgear he wore, but the marine knew he was smirking, he didn't need to see it.

"I trust people just fine. Its ghosts I have a problem with. Always sneaking around and messing with my head."

There were three ghosts in total. Alessa, there hacker and tech expert, the leader who Jackson was glaring at currently, only known as Shadow, a pathetic name in his opinion but he wouldn't say it to his face. And finally Martel, who was out there somewhere, but hadn't shown his face yet, the only reason Jackson knew he was planet side was thanks to the roster he'd been given listing his squad and the trio of ghosts.

More would be arriving soon enough. They just needed and opening, a distraction. And with the Ikea away from its post, the comsat station offline, now was the perfect time to act.

"Alessa says the cruisers in orbit, but distracted. Now's our chance to signal command I'd wager." Shadow nodded slightly in response to the marine's words, before simply walking away.

Shaking his head slightly, he put the, awkward conversation from his mind and kept walking.


"Drop ship's touching down now." Jackson turned his radio off a second later and focused on ship. Unlike most of their vessels, this one lacked the large KM logo that would have given away who it belonged to. This one was unmarked, making it easier to land without the dominion drawing conclusions. "Won't know till it's to late." The marine repeated the element of the briefing. Before moving forwards to meet the crew as they jogged down the ramp to join the strike team.

Another four marines, two others clad in flame proof gear, firebat's as most called them, their heavy armour and flame throwers would make short work of any bunkers or trenches they might have to deal with. And a medical officer, someone they'd need before long he was sure.

"Ma'am!" Jackson recognized the markings on the medic's armour, and swiftly snapped to attention, a sergeant.

He couldn't see much due to her armour and visor, why everyone had to have those shields down he didn't know. But it was frustrating trying to talk to someone when you couldn't even meet their gaze. Never the less, she was polite enough to return the salute at least, though spoke to him through his radio. "Corporal? Good to see you're not dead."

"Course not, like you said, I'm too stubborn to die." Jackson responded with a smile, this wasn't his first run in with the medic, Cole. She had patched him up more then once over the past couple of years of service.

While they were hardly friends, they knew each other well enough to not let rank slow them down. "What's the situation?" Cole asked, her helmet turning enough to indicate she was surveying the comm. tower.

"We've cleared out the crew and disabled the connection with the main base. It won't be long before they get suspicious and send a search party up here. But we should have enough time to scramble there communications and get the main strike force planet side."

"Good," Cole's gaze shifted to the marine standing next to her, his armour sported two yellow streaks down the chest. The sign of a demolition expert. "Set the charges." With a nod, he waved another soldier back into the drop ship, and a few moments later they returned with a large metal crate which was swiftly hauled into the comsat station.

"Charges? Were blowing the place up?" Jackson asked, his pale blue eyes following the crate and it's carriers until it was out of sight. That wasn't in his briefing.

"Once were done of course. We can't guarantee the dominion won't retake the array and get a message off world. Third fleet is only a few hours away. And we can't afford a fleet, or another regiment of soldiers dropping in halfway through the assault."

That made sense. Again he nodded. "How long until the Skykiller arrives?"

"It'll be here tomorrow morning. Until then were to download as much information as we can out of the computers."


Due to the tinkering done to the sensors ringing the station. And in turn the fact they weren't tuned in the first place to tag dominion signatures, Alessa and Martel hadn't spotted the squad approaching the array. Though their drop ship had been.

"Commander, we got a problem here…" The lead marine hissed into his comm., a few subtle movements inside his helmet plugged his visor feed directly into the screens back at base. Letting those in charge see what he saw. "Not one of ours by the

looks."

"No, no it's not." A distinctly female voice responded. A few moments later she spoke again, though it was obvious she was speaking to someone else so the marine kept silent. "Patch me through to the Ikea, looks like we have company…"

"Post a watch and keep an eye on them." The woman instructed, her tone hinting at concern, though there was also a flash of anger behind it most wouldn't have even noticed. "I'm sending reinforcements, hold position until they arrive."

"You heard the lady! Move out!" The sergeant ordered, his squad swiftly fanning out to find cover and vantage points so they could easily survey the station.