Chapter 4: Fireteam Shadow
The space over the sparkled sea of black and countless stars was somewhat cold and unforgiving in the unbreathable atmosphere than the pollution from the Helghast factories clouded the skies of Helghan. The stars stood quietly as the grave in the galaxy, for decades there were histories of wars fought across planets , systems and around the galaxy. Now the gathering storms of war were brewing for conflict unforgiving and ruthless.
Alec glazed at the stars at the view port with awe , he and his family sail across the galaxy watching the stars and the wonders of space but that time has pass. Alec may love his family and his love for Helghan was greater than anyone else in the galaxy. His father trusted him to lend Helghast Empire to glory but Alec has no intention of leading a large number of troops into battle instead as a special force unit, targeting the main arteries of the Imperial War Machine and their core of the Empire hoping to make the Empire bleed in and out. He refuses to fight for glory but in the name of freedom for those suffered under the Empire. His role in the war was much bigger than ever
It was the new race that sacrifices their humanity for power and strength while Helghast people dream of their ultimate revenge against those who wronged them in the first place. Their hatred remains the same after countless decades of isolation and how far they would go to get justice and vengeance for the years they suffered.
Of course, the newly evolved race would shock the galaxy of their arrival however they were designed for chaos. The struggle to spread the ideals of the Helghast triad would take decades to spread across the galaxy for all people to know the Helghast Triad and it's people not to force them to learn or enslaved them by joining their cause.
He and his team settle themselves on the barracks designed for special forces. The barracks were 8 beds , a table with some chairs, couch with a flat screen on the wall and a row of lockers. Alec took his eyes away from the viewport as he observed his team in the room
Tekla Metze the team's sniper she laid on her bunk with her hand over her sniper rifle, sleeping soundly and her gear was her side. About her, she and her family lived the slums of Helghan struggling to make ends needs until her entire district was 'transfer' along with her family to another farming colony of another planet. Only to learn they along the thousands were giving farming jobs to grow food for Helghan. Tekla worked her way through the farms to pay for her tuition to the Radec Academy and trained as an elite sniper. Her gift in marksmanship and precision captured the attention of the special force division and Tekla was promoted to lieutenant for it
Ketra Salem or nickname the blade was one of Alec's childhood friends , he and Ketra trained under the eyes of the Shadow Creed. Ketra was once an orphan on Helghan living in the slums until she discovered she was gifted in the Colonial Guard was able to capture her for execution for attempting to steal from an armoury But saved by an officer who recognized her gift when she was taken custody into the Shadow Creed. She was trained in Jar'kai combat and an assassin knows for ruthless, aggressive and blood was sitting near a table looking at the blade coating of her knife slipping a cup of caff.
Aiden Blisk or Rookie was next to Ketra working on his drone with both hands on power tools buzzing and clipping. Aiden Blisk was a hacker and technician in Drones and vehicles. He was a cadet at the Race Academy training to be a soldier but Blisk didn't want to follow the footsteps like his father or mother, he wants to be an engineer. He found his passion in hacking and drone modification. During his time at the academy , he was saved from a beating from his fellow cadets then he meet Alec as he stopped them. They both became loyal friends until was able to get Aiden to gain access to hardware and technology as a field engineer now expert drone technician or hacker Now they both serving on Fireteam Shadow.
A big hulk of muscles stripping his LMG on another bunk fixing and adjusting the gun from the inside out. His gear was stashed in his locker next to his bunk bed. A dozen thermal to frag grenades on the table too. He was in Commando Gear and fatigues and a face rag on his neck. Eli Gruder was a natural born weapon expert and has an interest in foreign technology and history. Even natural born strength from enhanced genes combined with superiority and fanatic devotion to Helghan. Eli was the muscle of the team for his trigger-happy LMG and rocket launchers. His father served in the Marine Corps of Helghan served and fought in the Black Sun Wars and Hutt Insurgency.
His best friend Akeel Kotch a force sensitive shadow warrior from the shadow creed, Akeel and Alec were like brothers to each other, loyal to each other even their friends and trained together under both the shadow creed and the radec academy. Akeel was the son of Salen Kotch , a well known Navy admiral for developing new navy tactics and combat strategies. Akeel was skilled in form IV, tactical and always fast on his feet however he was Alec's second in command and even display sarcasm. Akeel displayed his calm tendencies when comes to anger. Akeel was on the couch watching the tv screen on the wall on the galactic news
The Mandalorian next to Akeel watching the news too; their demolition expert and the bitch of fire Topaz Meterac. Topaz was sitting on her bed fixing her armour and listening to music. Born under the foot of the most feared Helghast Generals was General Airam Meterac ; Her father was a vile sadist, cruel and bloodthirsty man feared by most of the Helghast military for his reputation in dealing with 'prisoners'. However, her father was married to a female Mandalorian when he found her in the outer rim during a military operation against pirates then fall in love with her. Sharing her father's traits of being ruthless, coldly calculating, cunning and a sadist when comes to fire. But Akeel hated her due to a rivalry during their time at the academy even kicking his ass hard. Topaz loved fire and it gives her the pleasure of seeing her enemies burn. Alec would have to keep an eye on her for being a loose cannon. Her mother came from a splinter Mandalorian clan who joined the Helghast Empire a long time ago.
Last of his team was the medic Dirk Lenta , his gas mask was resting on the bed side while Dirk was rerunning through his kit and his gear twice in one of the lockers. He pulled out a book from his bag before returning to his bed. Little about Dirk was he was the son of Joseph Lenta head of the Third Army or the Black Legion. He wants to study medicine not as a gear in the Helghast War Machine much to his father's dismay. Threaten by his father for disownment, Dirk's natural born talents in the medical field provide to be useful as a sign of his loyalty to Helghan dispute his father's views. Dirk was a biochemical expert, he had a short customized SMG into a needle blaster, darts like ammunition coated with nerve killing toxics and poisoned gas grenades.
"Oh boss." Called out Eli to Alec "Standing there all day , wondering the plans going to be when we are the first to be on the ground?"
"I have some ears on command. They said they had eyes on a backwater world Lothal." Answered Alec turning to Eli. " Command is planning to take Lothal according to the Empire Lothal was special for its immeasurable strategic value. That's all I know and the Empire had trouble dealing with a rebel cell."
" At least these rebels had the balls to kick ass." Chucked Eli patting his LMG. "But I got a twisty feeling that the Imperials got tricks up their selves. But they had no idea we are coming."
"To deliver the hammer on them." Said Akeel as he flips another channel on the screen. "We got the element of surprise at least and Lothal had hundreds of imperials there not to mention 3 dozen hundred bucket heads."
Akeel chuckled lightly "Helghan will never fold to the Empire. Alec you do really hate these Imp pricks for what they do to others right."
"Yeah, I know." Said Alec "We all know what they do to others and we don't really want to know what they do. Besides we be the first boots on the ground." Glancing at Tekla ,Topaz and Akeel. "We got lots of bucket heads to kill."
"Please spare me the hippy Imperial BS, you know every dumbass listen to Empire propaganda every day which makes them so stupid thinking the Empire is invisible." Called out Airden from his work only to greet with a wave of yeahs echoed around the room. "The Emperor out there is telling people to this shit or not. People just don't give a shit about their emperor king pig." Dirk grumbled with a sneer on his face as he sat there on his bunk reading. "Yeah !" He called out.
"Oh Topaz, let bet you can kill a hundred bucket heads by the end of the week." Call out Akeel. "Drinks are on you!"
"Really ?" Sneered Topaz " I doubt you can burn a hundred bucket heads in one minute. Remember the last time you kick my ass, let redo that shit again." Punching her fist into her palm " Or you can suck my dick."
"You are so on." Growled Akeel happily as Topaz and he traded the first punch. Until the intercom on the wall came speaking. The entire squad paused and listen
"Commander Alec and Fireteam Shadow report to command ops now."
"That is us!" Cheered Eli "We are the first boots on the ground."
"Surprising! Surprising!" Called out Dirk " First one to the command centre is a dead man. Jumping on their feet and Alec and the rest of the team hurried out of the barrack into the hallway passing numerous sailors , marines and droids to the bridge.
General Fillion in the Command Ops stood infant around holo table display images of holo files, maps and targets of both installations and ranking imperial Commanders.
A dozen personal working on terminals screens in the circle Dom room. Alec and his team filled into the centre ops where multiple Spec-op soldiers , commandos and Elite troops present in the room plus the infantrymen and women from the 233th mobile infantry from the Second Army.
General Fillion a man in his 30s , with an older wicked face with a tube in his nostril and dress in a military outfit and trench coat with a bald head. He had a sidearm in his belt plus thin chest armour and a tablet in his hands. The commander of the special warfare legion address the troops. Alec and his team along with the Helghast special forces saluted the general.
" Gentlemen and ladies of the special division, today Helghan comes to the galaxy to take their rightful place as the master race." He announced only to meet a roar of cheers across the room. "We will take the fight against the empire on this day."
A map of Lothal displayed infront of them. "Lothal will be the first for the taking as our staging grounds. Lothal has been oppressed by the imperials for years and now we take it on behalf of Helghan. Lothal may be a backwater world but rich in resource and this will be our first stronghold."
The general placed around the map.
"In three days , the fleet will liberate the Lothal system , before they can do objectives are to take out the head of the city. We will not be attacking Lothal head on but we will bleed the imperials in and out." A holomap labelling the outline and the holographic real-time map of Lothal's capital with a dome-like structure in the middle.
" Our operatives on the ground had provided intel on enemy AA positions, power generators, and Imperial troop installations along defences chock points." The general paused and continued. " Eliminate the enemy's defences fortifications and we cut the head off the capital the same time while the main force will take the capital."
Another holo screen of a woman in an imperial uniform with black hair and cruel blue eyes
"Governor Pynce , the imperial governor of this capital is our target but I issue a kill on site when you encounter this imperial." Said the general with venom in his tone.
Alec raised his hand up. "When all due respect sir, I suspected Governor Pynce has valuable information about the Empire."
"Get to the point son of visari." Asked General Fillion.
"You need her , Lothal and she has critical information on other high ranking moff or commanders in the Imperial High Command. It my intention of making the Empire bleed from the inside out." Said Alec seriously. "Eliminating her would be for nothing."
"Very well then, she's your target." said the General. "Operation First storm will be commenced." Turning to the map , "this is the centre of Imperial operations in the capital with strong Imperial presence."
"Stage 1, Fireteams and 173th spec warfare force company supported by the 233th infantry regiment will quietly deployed on Lothal." Said, Fillion, as the holoscreen shows troop movement dropping on the surface of Lothal.
"Stage 2, Kill teams and assault groups will be formed and take out communication relay to the city power generations. We take control of the power grid allowing Fireteam shadow to slip into the capital undetected. While the other teams and air support will weaken Imperial defences around the city perimeter leaving the imperials in a state of disarray. "
Targets highlighted airfields, turbo laser towers and power grids around lothal in red.
"Stage 3, The Main Force will arrive and take the capital by the next sunset. Same time Fireteam shadow cut the head off the Imperial stronghold."
Fillion glanced at the troops presented before smiling "You are first men and women of Helghan to step foot in the turf of the Empire. You will know no surrender, we are the first spark that will lit the fire that will burn the Empire to the ground."
Raising a fist in the air. "For Helghan."
The special warfare troopers and commandos raised their fists and shouted: "For Helghan."
"Prepare yourself, we are the first spark of Helghan."
Operation First Storm was a green light. The first major operation in the galactic history and the first spark of war that will shake the galaxy. The Helghast had finally returned from millions of years of isolation.
Alec and his team hurried back to the barracks to pick up their war gear. Alec checked his armour, lightsaber and assault rifle plus laser pistol before strapping on his wolf helmet last he pulls his hood on.
Teeka placed her leg armour on her legs before pulling the pin from her sniper rifle and ammo then she masked herself with hood and mask on. Akeel strapped his blade into his hostler before checking his lightsaber and placed his rifle on the back before putting on his face guard materializing his eyes with visors.
Ketra placed her throwing knives into her chest armour plus checking her ammunition magazines on her hips and packs. Her swords were behind her back and her gear with her armour at the ready.
Akeel pulls his hold on then his gas mask before strapping into his body armour, checking his dark saber for defects then placed his blade on his hostellers on his chest. His mask visor active with crimson red as he turned to his best friend. He tapped on the gadget on his wrist.
Eli had his fatigues on, wearing his vest armour with plating protections with ammo belts in a cross. His backpack of an ammo pack plus a power cylinder in the bottom. He grabbed the Heavy gun from the locker. His face mask interacted and ready for the fight.
Blisk, on the other hand, was at his bunk putting his tools in his unitary belt before strapping on his tactical vest , wore his backpack on his shoulders with the SMG hugging on the backpack. He then active his drone on the table as it hover in mid-air.
Topaz placed her helmet over the head, checking her blaster wrist power up the weapon, place frag grenades, explosive detonator and IEDs in her webbing, jetpack with a missile on her back plus the flame heavy pistol in her hand. Cracking her knuckles while she chanted a pray to herself.
Dirk grabbed his backpack with a medic kit underneath before active his wrist tablet. He has begun to place batca pads or canisters in his side poach then some corrosive ammunition last poison gas grenades, A battle grenade launcher pistol in his hosteller plus his needle-like short helghast SMG that fire specialized bullets filled with corrosive poison enough to kill a single person or eat through vehicle armour plating. That kind of acid is found in native Helghan only a few were allowed to use it.
Fireteam shadow hurried to the hanger with Alec leading the way with their crimson eyes burning with rage. Let the war begun.