Author's Note
I bet many of you have been waiting for a chapter of this sort of thing, and I'm happy I finally found a way to write it. I've been wanting to for a while, and I've finally got it down. I'll thank some of you reviewers for it, as your ideas have helped me flesh this story out really well.
Uploaded
03/17/2023
LEGEND BELOW
"Chief, that's not a good idea..." = Normal speech.
''You're you, don't let it control you...'' = Normal thoughts.
Chapter 14
Missing in action
Rated-M
M rating for blood, eventual mentioning of gore and other body parts, and language.
Music of the day
Metroid Fusion Sector 1-SRX
"Datecycle 10.014.0 of the Cosmos. This is Commander Exeter of the GFMC Task Force Herakles." The camera shook slightly, static fluctuating across the screen. "Today marks the official beginning of our as of yet to be determined, long standing mission. It is technically off the records, however, it has been requested of me that I keep logbook entries for later review. I see no reason to deny command what they wish." He sighed, the camera flickering as whatever it was mounted to moved.
The blue glow of an advanced Federation power-suit visor stared sharply into the camera, a slow drawn out sigh easily picked up by the microphone. Behind the one speaking was movement, more Federation Marines moving to secure weapons, ammunition, and supplies.
Each of the marines behind the commander seemed retrofitted with advanced armor-suits as well. Unless they were of special class, use of expensive and advanced armor would mean that those calling the shots presumed the mission to require use of such equipment.
Either way, it was not standard issue for any run of the mill scouting run.
However, these troopers had history.
"One week ago, the Federation Council was again made aware of the existence of the highly lethal and dangerous parasites known simply as the X. Command has some experience with the parasite from a previous incident, and if it weren't for the timely intervention of Bounty Hunter Samus Aran, it is very likely the universe would be in shambles right about now." The commander spoke, gaze trained on the camera.
"It was thought that Samus had eradicated the problem entirely, alongside the Planet SR-388 of all things... However, the existence of even more X parasites were discovered upon the previously unknown planet ZDR. As the only one capable of resisting the parasites, Samus was sent to investigate. Alongside her, command had sent forth seven of their advanced robots to assist."
The man took a moment, typing something down on the keyboard below the camera. His grey armored fingers seemed to glide across the board as he did whatever it was he was doing. Once finished, he resumed his thorough explanation.
"Not long after the droids, EMMI, as they were called, made planetfall, all contact with them had been lost. Samus had arrived not long after, but she too lost contact with her Federation issued A.I. The A.I. had issued a distress call at unknown hours after his charge vanished. However, it would be some time before the Federation received the message. It didn't matter whether he'd sent it sooner or not, as there had been some sort of communication disruption happening on the planet that made any outgoing message vanish entirely, or in Samus' case, only delay it."
"Commander, we're almost fully prepared. What are your orders, sir?" A softer feminine voice spoke up, pulling the commander's attention away from the camera.
"Ah, Private Angseth." Exeter muttered, turning his blue gaze to her. She, just like he, was outfitted with an advanced Federation battle suit, used extensively in long duration combat missions. However, one notable thing popped out that seemed to mark the armored woman as different. Upon her default grey armor suit, her left shoulder plate was painted over with a familiar looking orange. And, more than that, her visor was not blue, but green. Otherwise, her armor suit was the same as the rest of the crew.
"See to it that we are ready to leave the moment I am finished here." He ordered firmly. The woman saluted.
"Sir, yes sir." She said, before quickly departing. With all distractions gone, Exeter turned his attention back to the camera.
"As I was saying. Command is now aware that something has gone wrong, and we have been are being sent to investigate. Upon our arrival at planet ZDR, we are to offer Samus any needed support, as we are equipped with the needed equipment to repair the EMMI if it is required. Our current direct orders, and mission parameters are as follows. GFMC Task Force Herakles is ordered to backup the Bounty Hunter Samus Aran with her mission, and provide any and all support necessary. She is far too valuable, to both the Federation as a whole, and humanity." He said, focusing his gaze on the camera.
"Personally, i find myself filled with a sensation of deja vu, as we will again find ourselves working alongside the legendary Hunter. However, this time around we will be supporting her, not forced to leave the job in her hands. I only pray that this mission goes much better than our last joint mission…" He muttered, before shutting the recording software down.
The commander sighed, leaning back in his chair. He couldn't help the cold shiver that ran down his spine upon dwelling on the logistics of the mission.
Command had personally requested his team due to their past history with the Hunter, Samus having single-handedly saved both his entire platoon and a planet from total devastation a few years ago. Were it not for her intervention, Task Force Herakles would be KIA, without a shadow of a doubt. It must've been fate that placed them together on this mission, as it was now their job to go planet-side and render her aid just like she had done for them.
It was time to return the favor, and his crew had been surprisingly eager to get the mission started as soon as possible. Perhaps they all felt the same level of responsibility in returning the favor to the woman that they owed their lives.
To that end, one extra addition had been made to his platoon in the form of a big burly man by the name of Anthony Higgs. Apparently he was a special officer with a history with Aran, and upon learning of her mission gone sideways, he'd opted to tag along to see to it that she was okay.
He had to scoff at the idea that someone like Aran had ever needed outside help, especially in a battle. He'd personally seen her fight, and she was an utter menace on the battlefield. Seeing her turn a platoon of fleeing Space Pirates to smoldering ashes changes a person, which was why he was glad she sided with the Federation.
"Attention, all personnel. This is Commander Exeter. We are preparing to leave, so hunker down and get set." The man exclaimed sharply over local coms. "Control, are we clear?"
"You're approved for departure, Commander Exeter. Prepare to leave Docking Bay Five." Landing control radioed back, the image of another faceless federation trooper appearing on his HUD.
The man nodded.
Currently, his platoon was complimented with both the ship that would be acting as the base for the foreseeable future, a replacement of his previous G.F.S Tyr, an Anhur-class patrol ship. And, alongside that was four Stiletto-Class Fighters, all piloted by members of his crew. His crew had been supplied with enough food and supplies to last an entire month long mission without any need for a resupply of either food or fuel.
Hopefully, if things went well enough, they'd find Aran and offer their help if needed, then head home. He prayed that it was that simple, but something in his gut told him it wasn't going to be.
Orbiting around the planet Norion, the Federation Flagship GFS Olympus was the current base of operations within its section of Federation controlled space. It was at that ship that Commander Exeter and the GFMC Task Force Herakles were docked at the time.
Not too long after his mission log entry, the GFS Tyr and its accompanying gathering of four Stiletto-Class Fighters launched from Docking Bay Five, staying in formation Typhoon as they initiated a slip space jump.
It would be some time before they arrived at their destination, but when they did, they all hoped they were ready…
The lights flashed red across the board, the spacial mapping system blaring alarms the moment they came out of slip space.
"All hands, brace-" Exeter could barely manage to exclaim in shock, before the Tyr slammed into an asteroid. The entire ship shook violently, Exeter would've been thrown to the ground were it not for the magnetic mounts keeping him in place.
In a panic, he steered the ship out of harms way, lest he crash into even more debris. Asteroids and other planetary bodies obstructed his view from the cockpit, forcing him to rely on outside positioning data.
"All hands, report!" He barked out, finger pressed on a key on his console.
"Damn! This is Stiletto Four, Benet! C-Captain! What the hell happened?!"
"This is Smythe, Stiletto One! All signs green sir!"
"Monz, Stiletto Three! Reading minor hull damage, cockpit secure!"
"This is Vonda of Stiletto Two! I've got minor engine damage, but I'll stay in the air."
"Commander, Angseth reporting! The whole crew is accounted for back here! What happened out there?" The woman from before, Comms specialist Angseth responded, voice strained.
Exeter sighed in relief, pulling the Tyr to a stop away from any nearby asteroids. With the ship's automated navigation system now activated, he could safely address his crew while the ship avoided any more debris.
"I'm unsure. The navigation system lead us right to ZDR, but we've run into an asteroid field. This doesn't make any sense…" The commander muttered over coms.
"Did the navigation system not allocate for an asteroid field?" Angseth spoke up.
"ZDR does not have an asteroid field, nor does any nearby planet." Exeter pointed out, voice low.
The commander's eyes narrowed, turning his attention to his blast window. Spacial navigation had failed them, and his deep space map systems seemed to be faulty or simply inaccurate. So, he'd resorted to the basest sense available to him.
Sight.
"Stiletto fighters, pull around. Find out what's going on, do not go far, I don't want anyone separated." Exeter ordered sharply, manually pulling the Tyr around. Before him was a particularly large asteroid, the hulking chunk of rock slowly drifting towards them.
"Yes sir!" The fighter's responded all together.
"Let's get a better picture." He muttered to himself. The ship's thrusters burned as he moved out of the way of the asteroid, hoping the gain a better view of the planet.
It took a while to get clear of the debris, the chunk before them rather massive in size. It was far too large and discolored to be some ordinary rock, it almost looked like it had been…
Like it had been…
"C-Commander… You might want to take a look at this…" Squad leader Smythe spoke up, having flown ahead of the Tyr. He'd breached the clearing, gaining a better look at what lay behind the asteroid belt.
The man's eyes narrowed, hand shifting the thrust controls a little harder. The ship moved forwards, quickly sliding up to the much smaller one man fighter.
"W-What in the…" He breathed, stunned into silence.
"Commander! Please! Tell us what's happening out there." Angseth called out, voice echoing in his ears.
Exeter's eyes quivered in their sockets, staring straight ahead.
It was unbelievable, it just didn't seem right.
They hadn't been misled, directed to an incorrect location on their spacial mapping due to some failure from his ship's mapping system.
He'd double and triple checked all his data, and everything told him that they should be just outside of planetary orbit of ZDR.
And yet, it only now became clear that they were…
The only problem…
"It's ZDR…" Exeter breathed out, voice hitching. "It's gone."
Darkness surrounded the Tyr, the light blotted out by what remained of the planet blocking any incoming sunlight. Automatically, the Anhur-class patrol ship's forward facing industrial power headlights turned on, allowing some needed clarity to his surroundings. Hovering beside the ship was the for fighters, keeping close proximity to the mothership of the mission.
"G-Gone… What do you mean, sir?" Angseth had to ask, as if to sate that curiosity burning within her.
"This asteroid field… it's all that remains of the planet. It's been… it's been completely destroyed." Exeter explained, shaking his head as if still struggling to o believe what he was saying, what he was seeing.
Not for the first time, he wondered if this was what happened to Dark Aether after Samus took every last drop of light energy from it back then.
His eyes widened!
"Stiletto fighters! Scan the area, see if you can't find any trace of Samus!" Exeter suddenly ordered, tone shifting. He sat back in his chair, blankly looking at the control panel before him.
If Samus had been on this planet when it went, would she even still be alive? He knew she was this legendary being with hyper powerful ancient technology, but even then, her suit had its limitations. Could she have really survived it?
If not, then maybe she had managed to escape on her ship? With that thought, he'd begun a scanning sweep of the entire area within his ship's range. If her ship was still within the vicinity, he'd be able to pick it up on his sensors…
…
…
…
But, after minutes of total silence, there was nothing.
"Commander… We've got nothing…" Monz spoke up, voice tight.
"Same here sir." Benet grunted.
"I've got nothing, Commander." Vonda sighed.
"Commander, I've got something!" Smythe called out.
Without asking more, Exeter moved the Tyr towards the Stiletto fighter far ahead of him. In the darkness, he could see Smythe's fighter hovering just outside of…
Just outside of something.
Whatever it was, it was interfering with his systems, rendering any readout of it completely dark.
But, as he approached, it slowly became clearer just what he was looking at.
Lost in the darkness of space, surrounded by the rubble of the remains of the planet, was a dimensional tear. Sparks of faux lightning would sporadically appear from the tear, surges of energy flashing in tiny short bursts. It was radiating odd levels of radiation, but nothing the Tyr couldn't handle.
But, for the Commander of the GFMC Task Force Herakles, it was like a blast from the past, and not in a good way. The dimensional anomaly looked to be nearly identical to the ones he and others on his team had witnessed upon the surface of Aether years ago.
Just looking at it sent a shiver down the man's spine.
"Commander… It's just like back then." Smythe muttered, glancing from his cockpit to the front of the Tyr.
Exeter was quiet, eyes silently studying the anomaly. His mind was running a mile a minute, his thoughts heading somewhere he didn't want to be true.
As if to answer his question about the missing Bounty Hunter, he glanced to the special biological tracking system, a special tool that technically doesn't exist to the wider Federation. It was a specialized unit given to him and him alone, specialized for this mission, and had the ability to track Samus no matter where she would go. And, unfortunately, that bio tracker was pointing him right at that anomaly.
He sighed, stepping out of his command seat. Turning on his heel, the tall armored man made his way back to the crew. He stepped out of the cockpit, sliding past the storage unit, before addressing his antsy crew.
"All right people, listen up." Exeter started, a tired sigh escaping his lips.
"Sir!" The platoon all responded in unison, saluting.
"The planet is gone. ZDR has been obliterated by some unknown forces. More than that, Samus Aran is nowhere to be found. All that remains here is an asteroid field." The man started, leveling his blue gaze at his platoon.
"Sir? The planet's really gone?" Angseth spoke up, knowing it to be true, but unable to stop herself from asking all the same.
"Damn.. It's just like SR-388 all over again." Another trooper grunted sharply.
"Zebes too." Another muttered.
"Commander sir, what about Samus?" Anthony Higgs, having been quietly listening in to all conversations, decided to speak up. The tall man stood beside another trooper, holding onto a ceiling beam for support. "From your tone, I'm assuming you know what happened?" The burly man asked, tone firm.
Exeter sighed, nodding. "I've tracked her signature to a dimensional rift, just outside the ship." He explained.
Anthony looked surprised. At least, Exeter assumed it to be the case, as he was unable to see his face behind his federation power-suit visor.
"You say that so casually." Anthony said, as if expecting it to be some sort of joke.
"Because I've seen it before. We all have." Exeter motioned to the entire platoon, the troopers all nodding grimly to confirm his words. "To that end. I want to ask you all a question, and I expect you to choose your words carefully." Exeter started. The soldiers looked up, giving the man their full attention. "Command did not take into consideration such an event happening, and as such, this exceeds the original mission parameters. However, before I make a decision, I'd like to hear you all out."
It was no surprise the man was taking such a straightforward approach to discussing the continuation of the mission. It was obvious, at least to Anthony, that they should chase through the portal after Samus. However, for the Commander to ask his own platoon what they should do in this situation, it made him wonder what could have happened on a different mission, to make him request their own input while he yet stood as Commander.
As for the whole platoon, they couldn't help but feel their faith swell for their commander.
Thoughts were dragged back to the Aether mission, where it had been his decision to charge after the fleeing Space Pirates down to the planet Aether. It was his decision that got them all trapped planet-side, and it was his decisions that had almost got them all killed.
However, despite that, it was also his quick thinking, wit, determination, and skill to do whatever it took to keep his troopers safe that allowed them to survive long enough for Samus to swoop down and rescue them from certain doom.
And here they were again, once more posed with the situation where once they traveled through the portal, there was a very low chance that they could simply turn around and leave. He didn't want to make that decision for them, he wanted to know that they had decided to go through it themselves.
He asked them this, damn well knowing just what their answer would be.
He just had to make sure.
"Sir! If given the opportunity to save her, like she did us, then who am I to deny this?!" Tech trooper Grippe exclaimed, standing proudly.
"I agree sir! I'm with you!" Gunner trooper Triplette answered sharply, holding the same resolution in his voice.
"I wouldn't have it any other way, Commander!" Engineer trooper Senge nodded.
Announcements similar to those rang out from all his troopers, each one of them ready and willing to put their lives on the line to save the one that had saved them numerous times before.
Behind his visor, Exeter smiled. It was for this reason that the entire platoon had stayed together for so long. They were practically family, and family didn't leave each other behind. If one said they were going, then they were all going.
"That's what I wanted to hear." He said. "I want everyone to hunker down and prep, I have no idea what could be on the other side of that portal…"
Anthony knew that it must have been luck that had him on the GFS Olympus that day. He'd overheard the rumor that something had gone wrong on Samus' most recent mission, and that the Admiral had been preparing to send an emergency response team to her last known for assistance.
Typically, he tended to stay out of her way when she was busy with a job, knowing damn well he'd only slow her down. But, something was different this time around. Never before had the Admiral felt it necessary to send her of all people backup, especially a crew as large and well equipped as the Task Force Herakles.
So, he'd found himself poking around when he probably shouldn't have, and after a brief yet concerning discussion with fleet Admiral Dane, the man had been allowed to join the task force on their mission.
He knew he shouldn't worry, but his mind couldn't help but return to the last mission he'd participated with her on.
The Bottle Ship, what had happened then, he could only hope nothing similar happened again. Too many good people were lost that day, and he was one of the few that had escaped with their lives intact.
As for Samus…
Well, he'd seen her a scarce few times since. She'd become closed off after Adam's death, unsurprisingly. She didn't want to associate with him, perhaps out of some fear that she'd get him killed too.
The woman had always been a loner, since all the way back in her days as a soldier for the Federation. It had taken him a long time to get her to rely on others again, but that work was slowly undone when she lost the other bounty hunters to her dark clone. But, the nail in the coffin was assuredly Adam's death in the Bottle Ship, something she felt she could've stopped, alongside the rest of his platoon.
She'd closed herself off after that, and he'd barely managed to learn that she'd almost died some time after that due to some sort of parasite infection on a mission. When he saw her next, she looked different. Apparently she'd been changed from a vaccine she'd been given, and now her dna was more Metroid than human. Yet even then, that was months ago.
He'd not seen her since, and only hours ago learned of her solo mission on ZDR. The moment he learned that everything had gone sideways, he knew he needed to be there to back her up. Her mindset had been so closed off after Adam's death, he wasn't comfortable with the idea of her being alone. Her having the Metroid's dna inside of her painted a target on her back as it was.
His mind, racing down a spiraling path of continued darkening thoughts, he wasn't going to feel normal until he was sure she was okay. After all, she was the only one he had left after platoon seven's death.
It wasn't hard for him to convince Commander Exeter to let him tag along, and he'd easily found a seat on the man's newly forged Tyr Mark 2.
Then, hours later, when they finally arrived at their destination, the realization that the planet Samus was supposed to be on was obliterated, had left a cold sinking feeling inside his stomach. However, despite this, he'd kept his head held high, and his mind out of the gutter.
After all, it wasn't the first time Samus had been involved with planetary destruction of this scale.
He'd actually laughed a little at the realization that it was actually her fifth time to his knowledge. His lady had a knack for blowing planets sky high, whether on purpose, or not...
Chapter
14
End