From what Paladin Hardin could tell it had been two days since the assault on the farming village. However, that might be wrong because his internal power armour clock said it had only been a day and a half.
It was then that it dawned on him that an alien planet probably wouldn't coincide with Earth's 24-hour clock.
The Paladin was knocked out of his idle thoughts by the cry of some alien bird-like creatures that reminded Hardin of one of his trips to one of the many museums in the DC area where he had read about the dinosaurs that used to roam the Earth.
Now aware of his surroundings again, the paladin watched over the slowly expanding camp that the Brotherhood had been setting up. It had been two planetside days since the long-range broadcast and already a large number of Brotherhood personnel had been accounted for.
With them came supplies and the location for more that had been left behind. Already Sentinel Lyons had sent out retrieval teams to much success.
Meanwhile, his other brothers and sisters of the Brotherhood got to work. Living in the Capital wasteland was, if nothing else, a great way to train a group of people to make something out of nothing preferably before any nasties could get to you.
The something they had set up was a well-fortified operations base attached to the side of the village. Among those who had arrived at their new base, were all but two of the Lyons pride, much to the worry of Sentinel Lyons. Alongside them were the majority of the Chapter Paladins and most of the Knights. On the other hand, there were not so many Initiates and even fewer Scribes although thankfully plenty of personnel to keep things moving smoothly.
Approaching the command tent of the base, Hardin could now hear talking from within. "I know your expertise is in hydroponics scribe Perrin but you're one of the few people we have here with any botanical knowledge".
Now standing at the tent entrance, Hardin could hear a long sigh from Sentinel Lyons. "I don't need a miracle scribe just get the ball rolling on our self-sufficiency, at least in terms of food, talk to the locals and get me a plan by tomorrow".
"I'll do my best Ma'am". With that Hardin heard some shuffling and out of the tent came a scribe chewing her lip and passed him by without even noticing him.
Stepping into the tent and seeing the Brotherhood's impromptu leader cradling her head in her hands he didn't need to see Sarah Lyons' face to know she was stressed.
"Ma'am". Sarah raised her head and Hardin noted the small bags under her eyes.
"Ah good, Paladin Hardin, I've been expecting you". She straightened herself out putting her game face back on and took out a small folder. "I tasked some of the knights with a scouting mission to find the location of these pirates and hopefully this starship of theirs".
She showed him a polaroid of what Hardin could only describe as a metal tube with a hammerhead with a landing ramp leading into it. "The scouts reported at least another 20 or so pirates, all armed. As well as the presence of hostages aboard. They also spotted two more emplacements with weapons similar to that mounted on the hover vehicle we captured".
"I want you to gather and arm another squad for this mission, no junior knights, I want this to be power armour only". She took out a roughly drawn map of the area surrounding the ship. "Your squad will attack from the south while I and the Lyons Pryde will assault from the northeast".
"The main objective is to capture as much of the ship undamaged as possible". A tired sigh escaped her lips. "Between us and the village we don't possess the adequate medical supplies to treat our wounded, the facilities aboard the ship are of utmost importance to us".
The fact that among the seriously wounded was her father and Brotherhood chapter Elder went unmentioned.
"The mission brief is in here". She handed over the file to Hardin. "Gather your team and brief them. We set off in three hours, understood".
"Yes, ma'am". Hardin turned to leave but before exiting stopped for a moment and hesitated.
"What is it, Hardin".
"Permission to speak freely ma'am". Hardin received a nod from Sarah. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop, ma'am, but I caught what you and scribe Perrin were talking about".
Sarah's face softened a bit. "Are we planning on sticking around for a while ma'am".
An awkward silence fell in the tent, Sarah's eyes moved away as if gazing out of a window that wasn't there before she refocused on Paladin Harding. "Truthfully Hardin I don't know".
She stood and approached the paladin. "I've had the senior scribes come up with theories about how we got here, but nothing related to getting us back. My training and responsibility dictate that I treat this as a worst-case scenario and try to prepare for any eventuality to protect my brothers and sisters". She passed him and opened the tent flap, Harding following close behind.
The two now stood outside watching the bustle of a few hundred brotherhood personnel. "But my head is still trying to wrap my head around this world- no this galaxy. I know what we need to do but I'm stuck on what we should do".
The silence returned as Hardin remained quiet, thinking about her words.
"Deal with one problem at a time". Sarah muttered to herself before turning and placing a hand on Hardin's shoulder. "Let's secure this ship and its medical facility and get my father healed… He'll know what to do".
"Yes, ma'am".
With that, Sarah returned to the command tent leaving Hardin to stew with his thoughts, it took him a few seconds to digest it before he shook his head.
'There'll be time for philosophy later right now I have a mission to complete'.
—-
Sarah Lyons was back in her element, Laser Rifle in hand and thick steel plate protecting her body. The sentinel led her Pryde through the underbrush of the forest towards their target.
"I tell ya, this is something special". The ever-jovial voice of Paladin Glade came through the squad radio. "Spaceships, space laser even space women, this is something directly from one of Vargas' comics".
"I'm sure your interest in these space women has nothing to do with the blue-skinned woman with her space-sized-". Knight Captain Dusk's retort was cut off by a smack on her power armour helmet.
"Enough you two". Was the curt command of Paladin Kodiak. "We're already two Lions down, we don't need any distractions".
Silence came over the squad at the mention of the two members they had yet to see since becoming lost on this planet. Eventually, however, Glade decided to speak again.
"Well, she's not wrong".
Silence reigned again until Sarah spoke. "Kodiak, smack him too please".
"With pleasure".
"Wait-". CLANG
Both Dusk and Knight Captain Colvin chuckled at Paladin Glade who rubbed his helmet. "You seemed to put a little more enthusiasm in that than Dusk's smack".
"Don't be such a baby Glade". Colvin said, moving past the paladin. "We all know you can take it".
Glade's retort was cut off by Sarah. "Quiet down, we're approaching the target area".
"This is Paladin Hardin to the Lyons Pryde, We've arrived at the staging location and the ship is in sight, Repeat this is Paladin Hardin to Lyons Pryde".
"We read you Hardin, we're moving into position now". Sarah increased her pace while crouching low and watched with a smile as the rest of the Lyons Pride followed behind like a well-oiled machine.
"Understood Sentinel Lyons, from our visual we can see 11 possibly 12 individuals outside the ship and at least another 3 have gone inside. The information on the gun emplacements was correct we should be able to move around them".
It was as Sarah crested a small hill did she stopped and took a knee followed in short order by the rest of her Pryde, she took out binoculars and observed the target.
The ship was sitting in the middle of a clearing in the forest; she could see the two gun emplacements the scouts had seen as well as their crews that were paying absolutely no attention to anything other than themselves.
Next was the group gathered around crates that had been stacked in a line with a makeshift canopy covering what appeared to be a group of 5 pirates playing a card game.
It only took the sentinel a moment to assess the situation before she decided on a plan. "Dusk, Colvin move 50 meters west and set up overwatch. Your first targets are the gun emplacements, after that, I want anyone coming down that ramp either called out or dead".
The two nodded and began to move. "The rest of us are going to move towards those crates quickly, get as close as possible before firing. Once it's clear we'll move towards those landing gears and give Hardin's squad fire support".
"Understood". Her two paladins responded.
"Paladin Hardin, get ready to assault on my command". She looked to her snipers in the distance who were both set up. "Engage".
—-
"Engage".
Six pairs of armoured feet began stomping towards the ship as Hardin led the charge towards the spaceship, followed closely by his newly formed squad.
Bang Bang
Two cracks rang out and two of the pirates around the first gun emplacement fell down dead. It was then the pirates at the second emplacement noticed Hardin and his group coming out of the wood and charging towards the ship.
This was all the time they had however as Knight Captain Berger and Walsh stopped and pulled off. Behind him, he could hear them lay into the emplacement with a Gatling laser.
In no time at all, Hardin and the rest of his squad had made their way to a line of crates. They had been able to see the top of some pirate's heads but nothing else so they had planned to take the other side in two groups.
Hardin watched as Paladin Lukas moved with Knight Commander Harper down the line of crates to the other end, before turning and watching Knight Captain Jules in front of him shoot down a pirate that had come into view.
"Move around now!" Hardin said in their squad channel and followed Jules as she rounded the crates.
The four of them now on both sides shot down the pirates that they had sandwiched, the few shots the pirates had gotten off simply being absorbed by their power armour plating.
Hardin turned to see that the other group of pirates had been taken out by the Lyon's Pryde and that they were moving towards the ship's landing ramp, weapons raised.
Hardin was about to order his squad to do the same until he heard a whirring noise come from the ship and looked to see a sphere on the side of the ship spin outwards revealing a protruding cannon.
"Get dow-". he was cut off by the turret firing and he turned to see the ground near the two paladins covering their rear explode.
"Shit… Spread out". Through the cloud of dirt, he couldn't make out their condition. "Harper get a Tesla cannon round on that turret!"
The knight commander looked at him and nodded as the rest fanned out while taking potshots at the turret which only seemed to be absorbed by the ship.
Again the turret fired, this time missing a Jules as she dived out of the way just in time. Hardin went to pick her up when he heard the turret whir again not needing to see that it had pointed itself at him.
Hefting the knight captain up onto her feet he was relieved when he heard the shot of a Tesla cannon and turned in time to see the turret go limp.
"Good work Harper, load another charge and be ready to put it into that cannon if it moves". He looked to the rest of the squad. "Jules stay here and cover Harper, Lukas you're with me we need to check on Berger and Walsh".
The two Paladins moved with purpose towards their fellow squad mates. They could see that one of the Knight captains was kneeling next to another and as they approached they saw the bleeding head of the squad's heavy weapons specialist Walsh.
'At least they're both alive'. Walsh's teeth were gritted in pain and it was easy to see why as his left leg was bent in no natural way.
"Sorry sir, tha' blast fucked up me leg somethin' awful". Walsh managed to say in between shaky breaths.
"It's ok Walsh, we'll get you patched up. Lukas, you grab his Gatling laser". Lukas nodded and Hardin turned towards the other knight. "You ok Berger".
The knight nodded. "Fine sir, ears are ringing a bit but Walsh took the worst of it".
"Good then let's move him".
—-
Sentinel Lyons watched as Hardin and another soldier lifted their comrade and began to move towards them. "Paladin Hardin, you and your squad will remain here and stand guard, we'll take the ship".
"Understood, good luck in there".
"Lyons Pride". she readied her rifle and noted the presence of her squad. "On me".
The squad of five were quick to file into the ship and didn't have to wait long to come under fire. The ramp led to a sizable cargo area with a walkway running around it.
The pirates had split themselves between the cargo floor and the walkway. The Lyons's pride, elites that they were, quick to return fire, and the pirates not in cover found themselves burning under laser fire.
With a shout a pirate that looked like a green pig appeared on the walkway with a large blaster in hand and began to unload on the group.
The squad's power armour soaked up the first few rounds until they all jumped into cover among the cargo crates. With a nod between Paladin Dusk and Colvin, both sprang from cover, Dusk finding herself in the pig's sights ducked back into cover while Colvin remained.
Bang
The pig now with a hole in its head dropped over the railing taking the blaster with it. The other pirates now out of cover soon met their demise.
The squad manoeuvred through the cargo floor finally reaching the main door. "Kodiak see if you can get this open".
"Yes, ma'am". Lowering his rifle he moved to the flashing panel next to it and began to fiddle with it.
With a click, the doors slid open sideways to reveal a group of three ill-prepared pirates. "Take them alive!". Sarah was quick to order as both she, Glade and Dusk rushed the pirates.
Power-armoured fists met fleshy skin and in no time the three were subdued. Placing her foot on the pirate she had taken revealed he was already unconscious, looking to Paladin Glade revealed a bumpy-skinned alien that was shouting at him in an alien dialect.
That left the human male knight Captain Dusk had secured on the floor. Moving towards them Dusk moved off of the pirate and as he tried to scramble up Sarah grabbed his shoulder and forced him back down.
"You will tell me what I want to know". Sarah ordered him.
"Kriff you". The pirate struggled only for the sentinel's grip to tighten.
"Good, you speak English". Sarah put more authority in her voice. "Where is your leader".
His only response was to spit on her power-armoured foot.
None too pleased, Sarah set down her rifle and with her other hand grabbed the pirate's arm and with a small amount of effort his arm popped out of its socket with a pop.
"AAAHHHH". he screamed in pain.
"Tell me". Sarah put more anger into her voice. "Where is your leader".
Between the pants of breath, the pirate managed to speak. "Down there in the captain's quarters, up the stairs, second door on the right".
Sarah looked to her squad. "Colvin, Kodiak, take him". She motioned towards the corridor. The two nodded and left, moments later she could hear both blaster and laser fire.
Sarah now looked back to the pirate. "Now where is your medical facility".
The pirate motioned again this time down the opposite corridor, she let him drop to the floor to clutch his arm.
"Dusk stay here and guard these three, Glade you're with me". The two nodded and she and Colvin made for the corridor.
"Paladin Hardin, Radio for backup and tell them to bring up Elder Lyons".
"Understood ma'am".
—-
Captain Glul Nak was supposed to be having a good week. He had found his crew a nice out of the way planet where the eyes of the republic were all too happy to miss.
He had made the right connections and greased the right wheels of the local government to have his presence overlooked while he and his crew could galavant around the outer farming villages and take as they pleased.
Then on what was supposed to be his last raid on the backwater planet, he'd lost half his crew.
'Giant men in metal suits… bah, probably a local militia, if the boys wanted to pad their ego at their loss they were free to do so'. Glul grabbed his communicator, he had a call to make.
The communicator rang a few times when finally a timid voice spoke up. "H-hello who is this".
"This is Glul Nak, Pomst you stupid bloody nerf herder". The captain practically shouted down the communicator. "I told you to keep your bloody militia away from the outer settlements''.
Like a switch had been flipped, the voice changed from timid to unabashed. "Oh it's just you, well I did as we agreed, the planetary militia is away on training".
"THEN WHY THE BLOODY HELL DID MY CREW MEET ORGANISED RESISTANCE".
"If you're calling a group of farmers with old pulse rifles 'organised resistance', then you must have oversold yourself to me, why it's a good thing I hired-".
"MY CREW ARE PERFECTLY CAPABLE". Glul snorted through his nostrils. "If you think you can pull a fast one on me I'll personally fly to your little palace and tear you-".
"BOSS". The door to his quarters opened and in the door frame stood one of his senior crew members. "We got-".
Two flashes of red and the man fell down. Glul was quick to bring out his blaster pistol and levelled it at the grey metal figure stepping through the door.
"Who the fuck are you". Glul wasted no time and shot at the metal man twice in the chest and once in the head which caused it to recoil.
"Ha ha AARRGGHH". Another flash of red and a beam of light sent his blaster flying as a second metal man shot its weapon.
The first had now recovered and the last thing Glul saw was the grey metal fist in his face.
"Target secure". Said the first man as the second stood guard at the door. Neither Glul nor the metal men saw the communicator's connection light go out.