Chapter 2: Beginning of the storm
The overload drop ship containing Alec and Colonel Redac flew towards the military staging grounds where hundreds of ships loaded with troops and vehicles of all size. They were the Third Army specialized in shock combat and willing to be the first boots on the ground when they reclaim the galaxy for Helghan's sake.
Alec looked outside the view screen of the dropship with awe. The Pyhruss Army main base Fortress Prime was massive with a dozen shipyards, industrial facilities or factories, living habitations, head offices, training fields and domes , more military complex with tunnels, bridges and roads, Airfields with aircraft formation and there are large cannons from laser cannons, Arc cannon to Railgun cannons act as defences.
He glazed at his Uncle Colonel Mael Radec , his mentor and inspiration. Radec was a decorated officer, headmaster of the academy and warrior of the Helghast armed Forces. Radec was a infamous veteran of the Hutt insurgency , Black Sun War, the Outer Rim Skirmishes and involved with the Separatist incursion not to mention Radec's bloodline lays in his family generation of serving in the military in the past.
" Uncle Radec, I mean Colonel Radec." Said Alec. " I hear the Empire is growing bolder and stronger every year but more arrogant in their power. Can't wait to hit them where it hurts then we could send a message to the rest of the galaxy that Helghan will come out from the darkness into the light in the darkest time."
Alec smirked "Nothing will stand in our way Colonel Radec. We are going to finish what our ancestors had started.
"You may be right, we always talk about the galaxy, their endless democratic debates from these corrupted by cowardly greedy bastards to the blasted Empire itself. We remember the time that the galaxy is consumed by madness and insanity by disorder twice." Said Radec looking out at the viewport of the transport.
" We have seen evil in many ways, Alec. A monster doesn't die; it only shear it's skin and change form."
" Not all of our enemies are an ordinary foe." Reminded Radec seriously at Alec."Know come with extraordinary abilities by the will of the force."
" Then we are going to need every warrior for them and plus we shot them right in the head for that," replied Alec but then recognized his error at the advisement. " But maybe you are right we have enemies everywhere who want to take the pleasure of seeing us dead."
" Good thinking, to defeat the enemy you must know the enemy." Said Radec "I will be part of the 2nd Army in the siege of the Core Worlds and the Third Army along with the Navy Fifth fleet will take the Outer Rim as our stepping stone."
His eyes lowered down a little "But we will be expecting to meet the Rebel Alliance against the monstrous Empire made out of the corrupted who love to see every system across the damn galaxy and bow to their knees." Radec sighed " Corrupted basterds of the republic."
" Helghan will never fold, Uncle Race. Oh let us all bow down to the Empire and hail the Emperor king pig." Alec shook his head with a tone of sarcasm "Fock it."
Radec smiled and laughed shortly behind his mask "Now thats my boy." Alec chucked at his uncle, so many good times with his uncle training in both military and the force even going on missions to test his skills in the outer rim and the criminal underground along with hundreds of cadets.
"Then we are ready for war." Said Alec to his uncle. The overlord dropship landed in the hanger bay. Starfighters, dropships , transports and other spaceships big to small were manned or worked with or switched to other vehicles. Technicians, Engineers and mechanics neither Helghast or droids worked and fixed on vehicles. A dozen guards past by along with hoverbots for security or assistance to the other workers. Announcements echoed with updates and streams of troops from different classes hurried to their assigned shuttles.
Alec and Radec made their way across the hanger passing the busy crowd of droids, workers and technicians. They walked aimlessly across the hallway passing saluting guards.
They enter an opened landed pad to reveal a starship : Raider-class Destroyer. The Raider destroyer shares the traits of CR90 corvette from Alderaan but much different in width and more longer.
The Raider destroyer has two engine blocks each on both sides, three ion heavy engines plus a wrap jump generators even an emergency hyperdrive as secondary. With a thick long body of 165 meters with armoured plating length, with a general oval blocky shape ( Like the full body of Boeing C-17 Globe master and Boeing VC-25 ) however, the bridge's is at the front of the ship-wide like a plane nose. Both sides of the ship had a grey blade protrusion reinforced with hulls carefully positioned beside the engines. It has thick wings blend to guide through the atmosphere blend and decorated with a set of array solar panels. Underneath the wings were two single thruster turbines and a set of Four laser pulse defence cannon. The destroyer had Five missile silo pods, 2 charged Petrusite laser ball cannons with three linked cannons on both sides, Petrustie arc cannon on top and 20 point defence turrets ( 10 ballistic Miniguns and 10 plasma pulse cannons) however last was a railgun Marco cannon on the bottom.
This ship has energy generator design for energy shielding and also a specialized jammer emplacement. The raider destroyer was used for Mid-range engagements, served anti-ship hunter and escort. Constructed during the Black Sun Helghast War and had some success against pirates lurking in the borders of Helghan
Now this ship was specialized for Helghast Special Forces and Elite classes even the Shadow Creed too. Now, this new ship has a hanger and a shadow field generator for clocking purposes and other jammer emplacements. Alec named the ship "Hellblade."
"This where you will be leaving Helghan for the upcoming war." Said Radec as he believed a hug on Alec.
"I will miss you, Alec. Remember this Helghan will reclaim what we have lost. Make sure you and your people wouldn't attack recklessly and always remember your training and the experience. Your father wishes you best may the force be with you"
"Yes, Uncle." His red eyes flared with determination."I will not fail."
"I will see you on the battlefield, now I must leave to join the 2nd army. Goodbye Alec, may Helghan and the force be with you." Said Redec as he and Alec both smashed their fist against their chest.
After Radec left for his own ride, Alec turned to his ship the Hellblade took a deep breath to calm his nerves for future combat. An officer guarding the walkway to the ship noticed Alec walking toward the ship's ramp.
"Hail Helghan." Barked the officer as the Heir of Visari answered by with his fist pressed against his chest. His tactical backpack behind his back along with his rifle and darksaber in his belt.
He then entered the hanger filled with overlord dropships, a dozen AT ACs hanging on specialized shafts and an AWC-2405 Spartan Assault VTOL ships along with a few Aerospace Wing the middle of the hanger was starship frigate modified for Special Warfare Operations. A few more Helghast emerged from bowels of the entrance way was his team
(The Sniper)
first was a Helghast girl with crimson red hair tied into a ponytail , dressed in Helghast Sniper clock, Light armoured vest and fatigues, Optical goggles on her head and a mask hanged on her neck. The Sniper was Tekla Metze. Armed with a long rang Sniper Rifle STA61 and an energy hunter bow strapped behind her back. 14 mm caseless anti-personal round or plasma charges strapped to her arms and pouches. A combat knife strapped on her boots.
(The commando)
Another was a Helghast hulking Commando dressed in military fatigues and custom flak armour with Helghast Propaganda writes in Helghast language. A backpack combined with a small cylinder power pack behind his back, his shoulder strapped with a power battle machete and the other hand holding his LMG. Energy magazines or ballistic shells strapped in his torso. Two laser pistols. holstered in his hips. His dog tags hung from the neck named Sergeant Eli Gruder.
(The Assassin)
Next Helghast assassin dressed in capture trooper armour plating but the different is designed to be agiler and mobility. Her name was Ketra Salem, hailed from the Shadow Creed but one of Alec's friends. Her gear was coloured with grey and red. A wrist mount blade for CQC even claws like fingers as hands. Throwing Knives strapped on her arms even chest armour a darksaber holstered on her belt and a sidearm STA19 Reigner handgun. Behind her back was twin arbir blades short swords. Ketra was an expert in CQC and infiltration.
(The technician)
A Helghast geek with a yellow hair dressed in tactical uniform, hood over his cap, plus a tactical laminated fabric vest with orange equipment pack contains tools or ammo pouches. The geek call himself Rookie but his real name was Adrian Blisk who "accidentally" befriends with Alec back at the academy a long time ago. The rookie was a hacker and a mechanical expert on droids. A short backpack strapped behind his back with a StA-7 SMG and a short laser handgun. A drone was beside him.
(The Shadow Knight)
Another Helghast force user in black armour armed to the feet ( The uniform and armour of Assault trooper from Shadow fall) called Akeel Kotch ,Alec's best friend. He had a 10-inch combat survival knife strapped to his shoulder armour and Kukri blade strapped on his boot. He had a wrist blaster strapped to his right hand and an assault plasma rifle along with his darksaber in his back.
(The Mandalorian)
Out came a badass looking female in a shock trooper elite armour and uniform. Named Topaz Mertrac. Jetpack with guide fins strapped behind her back in blue and black strips and the rest of the outfit painted with light grey. Her armour and uniform was a combination of Helghast and Mandalorian. Her helmet with t visor with a golden lightning bolt insignia on the side of the helmet and a red shoulder armour pad with the red triad. Her equipment was Wrist mounted flamethrower named the punisher two red bags with medical emblem strapped to her chest armour. She wore a explosives bandolier belt. She was carrying an IQA-11 sniper laser rifle and a flamethrower hand pistol.
(The Medic)
Beside the Mandalorian was a young helghast in combat thick fatigues, flak armor with shoulder plates with Medical cross on the right Dirk Lenta, he has yellowish full hair on his head, fleckles on both checks and a small birthmark across his left eye. A small backpack with a carbine rifle strapped , medical supplies on his vest and webbing straps down on his hip and legs. Three Posion canisters on his vest plus a defector shield generator on his gas mask was strapped on his face plus a helmet held on his hip.
Fireteam Shadow was under command of Alec Visari entirely when the Helghast were ready for war. Alec was granted an army but Alec declines the idea of being a general due to the fact that he prefers to think creatively, tactical wise and versatile rather than using overwhelming force. He even wasn't comfortable about sending troops to fight in his name when he stuck in a command post. He prefers to fight alongside with his troops and he wants a more efficient strike force that would have the element of surprise, flanking maneuver and shock and awe tactics than brunt of a surgical strike on the core of the opponent.
He and his team were part of the Special Warfare 173th battle legion made up of 600 Helghans under the command of General Bradley Fillion even Alec act as second in command. The eight of them had duff bags around their shoulders.
" Alec." Called out his best friend as Alec and Akeel hugged each other in embrace then Ketra along with Adrian too.
"Alec." Exclaimed Ketra embracing Alec. " Man I can't wait to visit the galaxy and kick Imperial ass."
"Good to see you brother. We are on the move now Alec. The whole 2nd, Third and 50th battle fleets were on the move." Said Akeel.
" Yeah, more fleets were mobilizing to join the invasion soon." Added Ketra.
"I am aware of that?" Said Alec ."We are going to do this and we are going to win but victory will be a long journey."
"Yeah, yeah, can't wait to put my fist in these Imperial Pussies. The Empire wouldn't know what hit them." Smirked Ketra patting her knifes .
" You bet blade bitch , burning them would better than a blaster bolt. Blaster Bolt too good but the fire would be more pleasing mate." Sneered Topaz presenting the flamethrower punisher."You are buying me dinner and a drink if you kill a billion stormtroopers ."
"Really? I hope this war will be a slaughter feast then you will buy me a beer when I put a petrusite warhead inside the pig emperor's ass." Shot back Ketra.
"That's right." Called out Tekla the team's sniper " We hit them from the shadows right up their asses. Helghan will never fold."
" Girls. Don't fight there will be plenty of imperials to kill. It would be fun when Alec kicks your ass first." A taller armoured Helghast Eli said when got into girl's face. " So you are under the Autarch's boy command, screw us up and Alec will kick your ass."
"Hold on people, all of you are under my command." Snapped Alec at the team."We all share a common enemy. If we screw up even worse failure." Before giving Ketra a serious look." Our fathers and mothers will chop all of our heads off. I wouldn't be there to save your ass. I may be my father's child but I show an example the dam right way."
"Relax brother, this is blood and iron we are talking about." Smirked Ketra "I get the message loud and clear when we all beat a bunch of pricks to death."
"Fock the empire jedi girl and boy. These Imperial assholes wouldn't know what hit them," smirked Akeel.
"You will have plenty of pricks to bet to death beside the Empire is expandable." Reminded Akeel to Sobieski. " Enough of the chat mate, we are the first boots on you don't spoil up the excitement for the rest of us, I will reign you back to Alec's father for a beatdown."
" Fair enough triggerman, Piece of advice try not to snatch the glory this time.." Scoffed Alec. Before fist bumped with Sobieski as a sign of amending. "We got lots of imperials to kill."
Alec had the rest of the team gathered in near the transport as Naval Helghast officer in regal uniform approached Alec with a tablet in his hands.
"Before our deployment and departure from Helghan, the Autarch had prepared a message for your team and yourself." Said the officer.
The ground personnel in the hanger took steps back allow Alec and his team to see the message that the Helghast officer was about to deliver. The officer held the tablet-like device at a horizontal angle and a red light come out of it making up a rendering of 12-inch man and the whole team looked up to beside their own father
Scolar Visari
"Sons and Daughters of Helghan. You eight handpick from the ranks across the Elite classes of the Radec Academy, the Shadow Creed and the "Recognized" for actions of heroism, bravery in the Helghan's darkest ages. Each of your fathers and mothers play a role in the construction of our great Empire, if not for them our journey to greatness would be in vain. Eight of you and each represented the best of our nation, it is your duty to lead Helghan across the galaxy. The journey to victory is will be the challenge. But you shall not be the only one to tread lightly upon, many dangers exist across the galaxy away from Helghan. Deceit and corruption are rampant, disunity, cowardice and greed are the mainstays of the galaxy both body and mind. Guard yourselves, destroy your enemies and remember the pillars: Loyalty Duty and obedience that hold our nation and our souls together. Never forget them, but in battle; victory or death, there will be no victory is a long journey ahead. May the force guide you to victory, Hail Helghan to you. Ensure Helghan's rise to reclaim our rightful place in the galaxy. Show the enemies across the galaxy in Helghan's finest in the darkest age. It is time for the Helghast People to reclaim what is rightfully ours." The message ended.
The seven Helghast immediately slammed their fist against their chest chanted "Hail Helghan! Hail Visari."
Every officer and personal repeated the same action raising their arms straight in the air."Hail Helghan! Hail Visari."
" For Helghan." The hanger boomed.
The ship has begun launching sequence and rose from the pad up to the skies. Radec stood in the viewport of a hallway as the destroyer flew towards space at the same time commence wrap jump in a flash of blue. "May the force be with you, Alec." Said Radec.
Outer Rim
Migeto
A lambda shuttle flew overhead of the massive sea of green. A ten men fireteam made up of stormtroopers already finished a debrief from squad leader TK-201 Mags. A listening outpost in the heart of the jungle failed to respond to its routine check-up. A squad dispatched by a light cruiser was sent in to investigate. Standard procedure for all installations called for armed intervention according to protocol 16.
" Sergeant." Call the pilot. "We will be landing five minutes."
The fire team ready their weapons; blaster armed and charge up. "Listen up, after we finish the job, drinks are on me."
A cry of cheers echoed in the cockpit as confirmation. The pilot intercom barked on "thirty seconds till touch down.
The troopers were ready as they stood by at the exit meeting with rain and wet soil in the darkness. The ramp dropped as the rest of the trooper rush out of the shuttle with weapons at the ready. The shuttle then left them in the canopy of the rainforest as the fire team advanced towards the outpost. Hidden in the bush were three red eyes glowing in the darkness. Stormtroopers rose their E-11 blasters to scan for hostiles as they move through the jungle thick undergrowth towards the station. They at the range of the outpost.
Mag raised it's magnifiers and scanned the area only to saw the base was intact but discovered bodies of troopers scattered everywhere. On their way, they found a body of a stormtrooper with his head missing and another trooper with a burned stump on his leg and a tore chest.
Mag shook his head as one of his teammates removed the door tags. "Make a notice to command, we will need reinforcements.I have a bad feeling about this."
" Coms are jammer boss." Answered one of the troopers. Things are complicated now.
"Move it, people." Whispered TK-201 as they came across the building with an open door
Night-vision on, they enter through the hallway they found troopers and officers in ponds of blood scattered across the floor, body parts and gore stain the walls and floor, the lighting was out damaged by the fighting. Mags along with second in command Tuvo past a dead officer stumped against the wall with a clean gunshot to the head with his eyes open in complete terror. Who would do this? Some kind of insurgents must resolve to barbican tactics
"Someone must be using the outpost access information they shouldn't be looking." Said TK-103 Tuvo Mag's second in command corporal. The team must assure they were dealing with insurgent infiltrators but regardless they would find out who is responsible for all knew they had a bad feeling in this mission.
The fire team of troopers advance with cautious as they passed the carnage across the hallway and most of the rooms were filled with death even more gunshots puncture walls. They finally found the control centre with the door opened with a blast.
Mags singled two Gunners with T-21 heavy blasters moved before the rest of the team followed his lead. They found the dark centre littered with bodies of officers, broken consoles and blast in their attention was a figure over 9.5 feet stood at the main communication computer terminal interacted, however, the figure still typing on the console ignoring the shouts of Mags and his team to drop on the ground and surrender.
Mag saw what appeared to be black armor in some kind of design decorated with unknown letters, red lining and some short power pack even decorated with a triad like a symbol. Whoever he is must be dealt or maybe deliver him to High Command would likely promote him from sergeant to lieutenant. His team took positions in a semi-circle around the man.
"Last chance and this is your final warning. On your knees now or we will shot you." Barked Mags
The man paused before to push a button on the console and slowly turned around. Mag almost immediately regretted saying that when the figure turned about when he saw a hooded figure with the mask and red glowing eyes more of a cyborg. Much of the amor in strange design with a webbing of ammo pouches, knives and two pistols of unknown design. On the chest plate represent the triad. The mysterious cyborg glazed at the troopers with amusement if their threats were fruitless before chuckling.
Then the cyborg spook in a cold and gravelly voice like a radio. " A slave dictates not to it's whims to the grave ."
Mag had no idea what it meant, without hesitation he opened fired along with the rest of the team but the man was fast enough predicated the attack and dove fast into a console for cover. Blaster Bolts fired in semi-automatic from E-11 and T-21s. A few shots abolished into the armour and it's blue reflection but the man was fast. The cyborg drew a pistol and fired at the first trooper with a bang of blue. The first trooper went down with a gunshot to the head. The slug thrower round detonated in a mist and sparks of particles, head exploded in red gore and a pink mist. Blood landed on some of the troopers who froze in shock at the death of their teammate. It took them a few moments to recover from the carnage.
One the offensive, the man active his pad on his wrist as he went invisible while the troopers were still blasting his cover. Mags and his team continued to fire on the console as three troopers rushed to flank him but the cyborg appeared in thin air charged and quickly slashed the four troopers with rapid precision on their necks with a blade of 13 inches. Blood spilled in the air as the troopers dropped down and chocked on their own blood.
Grabbed and using the body of the dead troopers as a shield, the cyborg switched to his next pistol and sprayed at the room with slug thrower like projectiles. The team were too slow to take cover. A dozen Bullets made their marks pieced through the T-21 gunner 's chest spraying with blood and the other troopers in the neck. Violently, cyborg threw the corpse at the nearest trooper, the cyborg leaped from the console and with a machine pistol and a laser beam gun. The guns fired as the two troopers flung backwards as the rounds detonated in a burst of green with their guts slammed across the wall. and the other gun fired a blue thick beam vaporizing the gunner's arm, the stormtrooper heavy didn't have the chance to scream in pain before the slug thrower blew her head off.
The surviving troopers only Mags , Tuvo and trooper Juro were left. "Fall back! Run!" Screamed Mags with terror. Blaster rounds barely dented the cyborgs armour leaving only black marks. A blaster round slammed into a blue reflection of energy surrounding the cyborg's Amor in a mist of blue particles.
Personal shield generators ? Thought Tuvo in shock firing his blaster as they retreat but Juro screamed in rage as his teammates slaughtered in seconds. He charged with the E-11 in full auto ignoring his commanding officer's shouts to fall back.
"For Emperor Palpatine!" Juro screamed reckless at the cyborg but the cyborg active his sabre revealing it's dark energy and defect the bolts in defence as his armoured leg kicked the charging stormtrooper in the chest. Knocking him flat into the ground.
"Your emperor is false." spatted the cyborg raised it's foot and slammed down. The foot slammed into the head and helmet spraying blood and gore on the floor.
Mags and Turvo hurried out of the building into the rain, they ran like hell towards the rainforest. A shot rang out and Turvo knocked backwards with a shot to the hand. Mags tripped over a corpse and fell into the wet soil. He tried to raise his blaster rifle suddenly his rifle was kicked by a mysterious force. Mag froze as he glimpses at the most disturbing monster that forever haunt him for the rest of his day. Another humanoid with a helmet with a sleek brim with a hood masked face with five eyes in some kind of dark green trench coat, webbing and vest with some kind of assault rifle aimed right at his face.
"Please." Choked Mags with absolute terror in his tone. It was pointless to escape even if death found it's way to its prey. Then the hooded cyborg came next to the humanoid and his helmet deactivated and shift opened revealed his upper portion of his face around his eyes. The one that killed his team.
The darksaber was levelled to the trooper's face. "Who are you?" Chocked Mags raising his hands up.
"I am Helghast and you call me Cyprus." Instead of plunging his saber the man switch and fired his sidearm.
Helghast Shadow Creed Crusader Cyprus smirked at the last enemy soldier executed and the Helghast ranger stood there looking reloaded another clip of 10mm slugs filled pestrusite. A pair of Rangers belong to Cyprus's unit came out of the building with a data core.
" Data and information secured and retrieved." Reported the ranger.
"We are done here. We are going back home." Said Cyprus to the rest of his unit as he glazed up to the dark skies as the heavens themselves wept as a Helghast light cruiser hovered over them for retrieval. Cyprus and his unit heard from their ears were sounds of artillery fire and gunfire on the horizon. Cyprus singled his men as they disappeared into the treeline and the outpost erupted into a ball of flames.
This the beginning of a war that will change the galaxy forever.