Epsilon Squadron: Task Force MI-5 Chapter 6
- Point 205 -
I couldn't remember exactly how we got back to base. The last thing I recall doing was calling for help on the radio to any MI-5 patrols within the vicinity. I remember pulling Langley's body away from the humvee's mangled wreck. I remember collapsing on the dirt, wincing at the pain I was going through. Then everything became hazy, blurred.
Montauk, Brayburn and me were lucky enough to suffer only minor injuries: cuts, bruises and abrasions. I wished I could say the same for Langley. The man was in a coma, despite the medic's hasty administration on his wounds. He was battered, broken and bleeding, crushed by the humvee's wreck. Immediately he was sent off to surgery. All we could do was look on as the O.R.'s double doors slowly closed, blocking him from our view.
We barely had time to recuperate from the incident. Major Gerald Fulton, our CO, has ordered us and the rest of 1st Platoon to a mission: defend Point 205, a pass thirty clicks southwest of MI-5. Zerg activity in that sector became rampant twenty hours ago. They were massing forces, possibly for an imminent attack on the colony. SCVs and a group of militia men were dispatched earlier to secure the area with a defensive line of bunkers and trenches. Once our platoon reached the objective, we would take over in the defense of that pass. Failure wasn't an option; a gap in the ranks would spell doom to the colony and its defenders. Either we win or die.
That thought still lingered with me even as I stepped out of the APC to behold a blood red sky. The setting sun, a dull yellow sphere, met the jagged horizon. The light that struck us foretold the coming of imminent death as the shadows fell on the marines, on their bunkers and trenches. Dark clouds would pour in a bounty of rain that would try in vain to quench the thirst of the wasted earth. Soon it would drink blood. Our blood.
"Ain't it great to be alive!" I heard Thorpe yell out to us. "The fun will start soon so get ready." He turned his head to regard the rest of the platoon then marched forward, each marine to his post. The sound of boots on the ground and weapons being cocked filled my head as I lagged behind, taking in as much of the ghostly scenery as I could, knowing that it could be my very last.
"There." I heard someone say from behind. I looked back to see the Ghost, Walker, scarred on his reflective mask. He carried his C-10 rifle with one hand, the other pointing at something at the distant horizon.
"What is it?"
"Zerg..." he hissed. He cocked his rifle just as two siege tanks rolled past us, making their way to the frontline. I saw the massive Arclite cannons raised 45 degrees to the air, the metal glistening and foreboding mass destruction. They were marked MI-5. Only two but it would have to suffice considering colonial militia force weren't as formidable as a marine battalion. Then more armor revealed itself to us in the form of a group of vultures hastily making it back to our line. They were also marked MI-5. One of the drivers, the group leader I assumed, jumped off his bike then speedily marched up toward Walker. He removed his helmet, his face glistening with sweat.
"Specialist Charlie Four Seven?"
"What do you have to report?" the Ghost asked in response.
The driver tensed then gave his report. "Mines are planted and armed." He cast a look at the horizon then returned his gaze to Walker. "It should bleed them a little, though I doubt it would disperse them. We're up against a massive army of Zerg, sir. Too many to count."
"I know. I can see them." He shifted, facing the battlefield. Then he gave an order. "Have your vultures ready. We'll plant mines behind our asses if we're forced to fall back to the secondary position. Make them bleed while we escape. Otherwise we're fucked."
I took that as a cue and walked off, toward my trench, toward my squad. By then the Zero army was visible, a cloud of dust kicked up in the distance. The apprehension was thick enough to be seen. It was evident on their faces.
"This is a bad day to die," Montauk muttered as he looked up to the twilight sky.
Reefer followed his gaze then shook his head. "Heaven won't help us now," he said. "God isn't here."
"When was he ever?" Bray burn said, with a smirk. "If God was here, we wouldn't be sitting in a ditch waiting to get filleted!"
That drew sour faces expressions and responses from the other marines. Montauk was one of them.
"Why you atheistic son of a bitch! I oughtta-"
"That's enough!"
I knew better than to move upon hearing that tone of voice. We all snapped taut as Sergeant Thorpe marched up to us then stared squarely at Montauk's and Brayburn's faces, cig still between his teeth. His blood shot eyes was anything but friendly.
"THERE is your enemy," he said, pointing at the horizon, toward the dust cloud. "Since you two have a lot of fight in you, I suggest you use it against the zerg. There's plenty to go around." He cocked his rifle, drew in smoke. "No more talks about our Maker or I'll personally make you meet him one way or the other."
The two men backed way from each other, gritting their teeth. It was just the beginning though.
"They're getting close..." Walker said from behind. "Distance: 800 yards."
"Holy shit!"
"Marines! Weapons at the ready!" the Ghost cried out.
The sounds of guns being cocked filled the air, filled my head.
"600 yards!" Walker yelled out. "Siege tanks! Siege mode, now!"
I looked back to see our tanks slowly convert to stationary artillery, the cannons jutting, foreboding death. I turned to the battle field. By then the Zerg could be plainly made out, with scythes gleaming in the remaining light. I swallowed.
"400 yards" the Ghost yelled out again. He cocked his C-10 rifle then gazed out at us, mask hiding whatever expression he had. "Open fire on my signal! Make every shot count!"
By then the fear that I felt earlier was changed to numbness. I couldn't feel anything, everything blurred and distant. As the orb of the setting sun slowly vanished under the horizon, I cast a final look to the sky, the planet's twin moons casting a dull light over the battlefield as they occasionally peeked through the dark clouds. A bolt of lightning flashed followed by the roaring thunder. I knew that it was time