"We're getting closer," Echo Four stated.
They must be able to see what's on the ground, Jade thought.
Near the middle of the large warehouse was a clear space, designed to allow easier manoeuvring of cargo. The ceiling above this area was retractable. Echo four made a hand signal which Jade and Makalo barely saw in the little natural light reaching them.
They all stopped.
The smell was almost unbearable now and Makalo was finding it hard not to gag. Echo Three was looking all around them. In the various green shades of his night vision he could see the tops of the shelves they had just passed.
Echo Four was looking towards the centre of the room, staring at a large pile of dead animals in various states, bones strewn all over.
"How did nobody notice this?" Echo One said over the radio.
"Quiet!" Echo Four responded. "It's here somewhere."
Echo Three continued scanning the tops of the shelves, seeing numerous large crates but nothing out of the ordinary.
They continued slowly into the clearing, with the other Echoes approaching from the opposite side.
Crack!
They all turned in unison towards the location the sound had just come from. Before they could respond, a large heavy piece of wooden crate fell on Makalo, knocking him unconscious.
Echoes Three and Four caught sight of a black blur moving over the top of the shelves, away from them.
"Shit! It's in the crates!" Echo Three shouted.
The other Echoes ran to join them from the opposite side.
"Echo One, stay with them," Echo Four shouted, pointing at Jade and Makalo.
Echo One did as he was told, the others moving together to cut off the creature. Jade turned on the light attached to the rifle. She hadn't been able to use as it would have blinded the Echoes using night vision. With effort, she pushed off the piece of crate and squatted beside Makalo, checking his vitals. He seemed fine, just unconscious and bleeding from a cut on the top of his head.
The others all slowed as they approached the area where the creature had run off to. It hadn't kept quiet, knocking over various objects including some crates while trying to get away. Now they all scanned the area, rifles pointing wherever they were looking.
Echo Four spotted something crouching high up, on the top shelf, between crates.
He motioned with his hands, signalling to the others who took up positions around it. Echo Four then started a countdown using hand signals, the safety off on his machine gun.
Four.
Three.
Two.
The creature launched itself at Echo Three from above. He fired a single shot before the force of the creature knocked him over. It landed square on his chest, crushing it. His scream was cut off as it slashed at his neck with its claws. Echo Three would be dead within seconds.
At the same time, Echoes Five and Six had closed the gap and started firing. The creature, without looking away from attacking Echo Three, swung its razor sharp tail towards them, decapitating Echo Five. Echo Six flinched instinctively away from Echo Five, the tail whistling past where his neck had just been. Echo Five's head fell to the floor with a dull thud, blood spraying out of the severed neck of the body as it followed a second later.
The others opened fire at the creature. It shrieked loudly in pain and rolled over, all the while trying to attack them. They continued firing, leaving little intact of its sleek black head. The body twitched a few times then stopped moving completely.
Echo Two moved towards the dying Echo Three, who still had enough strength to clutch at his throat, blood flowing profusely.
Echo Four put his arm in the way. "Stop! Look."
Echo Two stopped and looked again at Echo Three in the green of night vision. The blood from the creature had spilt all over him and they could see that it was eating away at his face, armour and clothing.
Echo Six moved away from the headless body of Five, trying hard not to wretch into his helmet.
They continued to watch as Echo Three ceased his struggle and let out a final gasp of breath. Acrid smoke rose from his limp body and there was no more movement from him.
"This is Echo Team reporting in," Echo Four radioed.
"This is Powell. Line is secure. Report."
"Creature neutralised. Two dead, one injured," Echo Four replied.
"Ok. Stay where you are. Clean up crew is on the way."
10 minutes later the doors opened and people in military garb entered the room, setting up portable lights inside. Jade didn't recognise any of them.
A sharply dressed man strode in as the door closed behind him. It was obvious to her that this was a man from the Company. A medic walked up to Makalo.
"How is he?"
"Unconscious. Got hit on the head by that," Jade pointed at the large piece of crate.
The medic checked over Makalo, bandaged the cut on his head and moved on to the others. As he surveyed the scene, now lit up by the portable lights, he realised there was little he could do.
The Echoes still had their masks on and were gathered a few metres away from the bodies. The man in the crisp suit went up to them.
"Gentleman, follow me." He looked at Jade with a slight smile. "Lady too."
The man took a quick glance at the bodies but didn't seem to react.
They all gathered at the edge of the clearing in the middle of the warehouse, where Makalo had been unconscious.
"Wake him up," the man ordered.
The medic responded by administering something to Makalos nose which woke him almost instantly. He looked around squinting, his eyes adjusting to the light, and got up groggily with the help of Jade.
"Those eggs you have been finding? This is what results if they are allowed to hatch. The one you killed today was not fully grown. You have been sworn to secrecy and we trust you will continue to uphold that."
No one really reacted.
"However, you may be called upon again in the future if another of these is sighted. We value your experience in this matter. Now we need you to sign these forms, so we can get this cleaned up and let you go on your way."
What he didn't mention was that they had been, and would still continue to be watched.
The group knew they had little choice but to sign. They did so and they were washed off before leaving the building.
Jade and Makalo stood outside, grateful to be finally breathing some fresh air and seeing the bright daylight.
"Next time, we'll make sure you're properly equipped," the still masked Echo Four said as he approached them from behind.
Makalo answered, "That'd be great."
Jade gave an approving nod. Echo Four walked off.
"I wonder who's underneath that helmet," Makalo said.
Jade simply looked up at the sky, seeing ships buzzing around, listening to the usual frenzy of noise in and around the docks, and looking forward to getting some rest.
"How many in total?" Colonel Rayner asked.
"Nine," the doctor reported.
He was in the Colonels main office, sitting opposite him. The Colonel leaned over his desk, poured a drink and offered it to the doctor.
"All in quarantine?"
Taking the drink, the doctor nodded.
"How long do they have?"
"My guess is two or three days more, going by Barr and what others on the two infected planets said."
"I thought the incubation period was much shorter than that?" The Colonel asked.
"It seems to depend on the planet: different atmospheres, different conditions. Just like the Aliens adapt to different hosts, the life cycle seems to work at different rates," the doctor answered.
"For as long as we've been fighting them, we don't really know much about them do we?"
"No..." the doctor let the answer trail off.
The Colonel said what they were both thinking. "They keep too much from us."
The doctor nodded almost imperceptibly and took another sip of his drink.
"What do you suggest we do with the infected?" the Colonel continued.
"One of them suggested we blast them into space," the doctor said without a hint of irony.
"Do you agree?"
"My professional opinion cannot agree with such an act. I would recommend trying to treat them, but we don't have the time nor the resources."
"I'll go and have a chat with them soon. For now, get some rest. You've earned it. We have 48 hours until we reach Endora Prime."
With that, the doctor finished his drink, got up and left the Colonel to his thoughts.
The expedition group were standing around the idling APC. It was fully electric, the vehicle making only a very quiet electronic whine when moving. It drove on six large powerful tires impervious to Alien blood. It was fairly long and narrow covered completely in thick armour, also resistant to acidic blood. It was painted in the greens and browns of the surrounding forest.
The APC had no windows; instead the driver relied on external cameras and internal monitors. There was a single turret mounted on the top controlled internally. An open turret was asking to be killed. The APC was designed to simply push through and run over any and all Aliens it encountered. Its main weakness was its inability to handle rough or debris filled terrain, which was where most battles took place.
Smith hugged his wife and child, tussling Caley's hair. "I'll be back before you know it."
Patia gave him a worried smile and Caley hugged his dad's legs tightly. Smith placed a hand on his sons head, looking straight into his wife's eyes. "I love you," he mouthed.
She mouthed the same, her lips quivering. Her eyes watered, so did Smiths, and a small tear ran down each cheek. He finally undid his sons clamp around his legs, crouched down and hugged him again.
There was a sizable group here. With the eight that were leaving, lovers, friends and family that had been living together for more than two years in this remote research base were being separated for the first time. As this whole base had become one big family in that time, only those stuck at their guard posts weren't here though some watched from above.
An undeniable sense of gloom permeated the atmosphere. The body language spoke for them, words of positivity and encouragement doing its best to penetrate the gloominess.
Smith walked up to Finley, Hurst, and Adams who were busily talking together.
Finley nodded over at Smith and spoke sincerely to Adams, "Look after him."
"I will," Adams spoke confidently. "You two look after yourselves and everyone here. We'll see you soon."
Finley looked straight at Smiths eyes. "We will. That's a promise."
"Yeah," Hurst spoke up, sounding less confident.
Words spoken, Adams and Smith hugged Finley and Hurst in turn. Finley laid a hand on Smiths shoulder, "Look after Amy, don't let her get too curious. You know what these science types are like pressing every button they see," he said, trying to sound light hearted but the emotion heavy in his voice.
Though Finley, Adams and Hurst were veterans the unique situation at Endora Prime had softened them considerably.
Tom, holding a small metal case, walked up to Amy, who was talking quietly to a few of the civilians gathered there.
"Take this," he said.
Amy gave him a puzzled look, to which he replied, "It is vitally important. In case things do not go as planned here, or our rescue doesn't turn up. Keep it with you at all times and don't let it out of your sight."
She nodded understandingly and then promptly hugged Tom tightly. He could feel her trembling nervously. He whispered into her ear.
She let go, and gave him a quick smile, "It's been a pleasure."
"We'll see each other again soon," Tom said confidently. "Look after our new friend."
Amy let out a small uneasy laugh.
Private Callum stood watching the goodbyes. "Last supper, last goodbyes..." he said quietly to himself.
Private Gustav, Hale and Heather, standing next to him, gave him a stern look to which he responded apologetically.
"We're loaded up ready to go," Arthur said, standing at the open side door of the APC.
The group's collective murmur of conversations quietened when Kra'tak and Tol'din approached, carrying their fallen clan mate wrapped in black sheets on a stretcher. They walked past the gathered group and entered the APC.
Finley and Hurst turned back towards Adams and Smith.
"We'll see you when you get back," Finley spoke determinedly.
All four again exchanged hugs and handshakes.
Smith turned to Hurst, "I won't forget our talks."
"We'll have plenty more. I'm sure of it," Hurst replied sternly.
Goodbyes said, they all piled in to the APC as the onlookers watched silently. Heather, standing inside the APC entrance, took one last look around the base and the people gathered to watch them go, gave a curt nod and closed the door.
The artificial lighting inside the crowded APC gave it a strong feeling of claustrophobia.
"Bit tight in here," Gustav remarked on the obvious.
Kra'tak and Tol'din sat on one side near the back, with their fallen clan mate laid out on the seats opposite them.
Heather was the driver and she, along with Adams and Hale sat up front, a bank of monitors and controls in front of them. Amy sat with her back to Heathers seat. Arthur sat at the other console, which controlled the gun turret and monitored various aspects of the vehicle including tire status.
Smith, Gustav and Callum sat near the door and the Predators. Neither Kra'tak nor Tol'din could fully stand up inside the vehicle.
Supplies were in storage areas both overhead and under the seating. There was enough food, water and general supplies to last the group a week.
Heather, Adams and Hale watched the monitors as the only gate into the facility was opened up, with a large team of soldiers covering the immediate area surrounding it. Some of those soldiers gave their thumbs up as the large vehicle drove past them almost silently.
"Here we go," Hale said.
First light had broken a short while ago. They passed the flat clearing quickly and entered the forest. Though the trees were spread quite far apart, making it easy for the APC to drive through, each one grew a broad canopy high above. This stopped a lot of light from getting through, making it darker at ground level.
"We'll take the same route as last time," Heather informed the others.
"Looks like we can still see the path you took," Adams added, watching the monitors.
"Yeah, that'll make it easy. Just watch the other monitors for signs of activity."
"Yes, sir," Hale responded.
Private Gustav started whistling a quiet tune to himself. Callum and Smith played a game of cards. Kra'tak and Tol'din sat silently in the back. Arthur busied himself at his console. They all rocked gently as the APC began driving over uneven terrain, the suspension doing its job of minimising the impact on its passengers.
They were on their way.