Shadow of Sol Chapter 8
Sargon Desert
Date 4 September 2562/ 4 September 1097 [6:24 AM]
Klara Bennet
We have been in the sky over the desert for about one hour and thirty minutes. I really like flying, but my ass is becoming sore from sitting in place like this. I guess it doesn't affect the other marines in the Falcon with me because they are either sleeping or chatting with each other. How the hell can they be sleeping when we are about to partake in a combat operation? Turning my head to Violet I see her shift uncomfortably. Heh guess she also isn't used to sitting in place like this.
It's so weird watching the landscape move fast underneath me. Is this the freedom birds experience? To be able to soar above everyone else without having to worry about the dangers on the ground. It feels empowering to be in the sky. I turn my head to look at the two pilots at the front. Maybe after my two years of forced infantry, I can switch to the Air Force to become a pilot. Just so that I can constantly experience being in the air like this and being free.
Looking across from me I spot another Falcon flying next to us and next to that one another. All twelve of the Falcons are flying in V-formation, just like most birds fly. The soldiers in the other Falcon also look bored out of their mind with one of them waving at me with a smile on his face? Huh, mankind is weird. We're going to kill people now and that soldier is waving at me happily…I'll never understand their mentality, but I return his wave with one of my own. Satisfied he turns to talk with the soldier next to him again.
I should also probably socialize with the other soldiers in the Falcon with me. After all since I am going to be stuck in the military for a while, I might as well make some friends. And what better place than in a helicopter filled to the brim with marines. Hell Violet is chatting up some soldiers already. I turn my head to the soldier sitting next to me. What should I ask him…it's been so long since I had socialized.
He seems to be asleep. I gently nudge him awake with my hand. "Hey, are you sleeping?" Said soldier simply looked bewildered. "Huh? The fuck does it look like? Of course I was sleeping." Okay, might not be my brightest moment.
"Oh umm sorry. I thought I could talk to you…" The soldier immediately drops the bewildered look and takes on a new one of understanding. "Hey, sorry if I was rude. You just shouldn't ask stupid questions like that. But you're the new local in our platoon correct?"
"Yes, I am. Sorry, it has been years since I last really socialized. I am just used to answering questions when asked." The soldier gently slapped me on my back. "Nah it's alright. I mean it must have been tough being a slave for more than a decade."
I simply look down and let out a sigh. "Yeah…I hated every second of it. The awful things me and the others were put through. The way they abused us was…terrible. And the things they did…"
"Did they…sorry if this brings up bad memories. But did they rape you?" Of course they did. Why should that be the first thing you ask… brings back bad memories.
"Yeah…" I respond before looking out of the Falcon again.
"Okay sorry, that wasn't the right thing to ask right away. Let's start this over. My name is Alex. You are Klara correct?" I can't help but smile at Alex's persistence. Mankind really is persistence.
"Yes Alex that is my name, and this is how it is going to go. I am going to ask you questions to get to know you better and you aren't going to ask me anything. Got it?" I ask him with a smug look on my face. We're going to play this my way. So you're not going to learn about my past.
Alex laughs and lifts up his yellow-tinted goggles revealing his green eyes. "Yeah, sure thing princess." Look at that. I already have a pet name. Although it is a bit basic. It better not spread around the base…
"Okay then Alex, how old are you?" Let's start with a basic question.
"Let's see I am 24 years old, and how old are you?" Huh, he is seven years younger than me. And did he just ask a woman her age!?
"Alex. Did you just ask how old I am? You shouldn't ask a woman her age." In response, Alex turns his face away sheepishly while muttering a sorry. "But I am seven years older than you."
Alex quickly sports a shit-eating grin. "Heh, 31 years old. You look good for 31 not gonna lie." What!? Is he seriously flirting with me already. We barely even know each other! Ugh, mankind is complicated. And why am I blushing!?
"Okay, I'm gonna ignore that you just tried to flirt with an older woman." He deflates at that. "Tell me Alex, where were you born? Right since mankind has colonized multiple planets, they are going to say the planet's name instead of a nation or city…well from what I learned, nations don't exist anymore for them, except in their home world.
"I was born on Mars. It is in the same solar system that Earth is in. Fun fact, Mars used to be a red barren planet but we terraformed it into a continental world centuries ago and it can now support life." Terraformed? They terraformed an entire planet. That is honestly amazing and terrifying.
"Wow, that is impressive. Tell me what is it like being in space?" I ask.
"Ehh, well I don't know how to explain. It is as if you are walking around in constant tight corridors, but when you look out of the window and down to a planet…it is beautiful and empowering. Beautiful because you can see the planet in its full glory and empowering because you know you are no longer stuck on a single planet and that you are now free to explore the universe. And it makes you feel small, makes all your issues and problems feel miniscule." Alex explains with a look of longing on his face.
"That honestly sounds pretty amazing. I wish I could experience that. Being in space and seeing Terra…"
"Hey who knows, maybe there is a chance that you and the other Sarkaz ladies will get to go to space. I mean the chances are not that low. Hell, maybe I can come with you and give you a tour of UNSC Sol." Heh, so you're trying to turn this into a date now huh?
"Hmmm, I'll think about it, Alex. But first I need to get permission to go to the flagship." I respond.
"By the way…these landships this planet uses and one that we are going to attack now, you use them to avoid Catastrophes right?" Alex asks. Oh right, most of mankind's cities aren't mobile. And from the pictures and videos I have seen their cities are a hundred times larger than ours…it was so foreign and shocking seeing satellite photos of their cities.
"Yes, most cities and villages and corporations use landships. Although there are a couple of cities that aren't mobile like your cities. And shouldn't you know this? All of this was in the handbook that was given to you." Me and the other Sarkaz girls were commissioned to design a handbook for all the soldiers. Inside the handbook is all the information regarding the different races, cultures and nations of Terra, as well as different common information. Such as ARTS, Originium, Oripathy and landships. The book is going to be updated regularly as more information is being added.
Why do they even call it a handbook when it is in reality a tablet…hell most of the soldiers chose to upload the information to their Neural Implants so that they won't forget it.
And how does he not know this?! Did he not read the bloody handbook? "Uhhh well you see, I didn't read it yet. Before you get mad" Alex raises his arms defensively "I am going to read it after this operation." Dear Theresa save me…
"Alex…should I tell the Lieutenant about this? This is serious after all." Upon hearing these words leave my mouth, Alex's face paled and his eyes widened. Heh seems like my bluff is working.
"No please don't tell him. I'll get into serious shit if you do." Alex begs. Hmmm, maybe I should shoot my shot now.
"Okay then Alex, I won't tell the Lieutenant one condition. And that condition is that you have to take me on a nice date back at base after this operation." Alex's mouth simply gapes open and he starts blushing. I need to relief some stress after all, doing it on my own simply doesn't cut it.
"Uhhh ye-yeah sure. A d-d-date with you sounds aw-awesome." Alex stammers out while turning red like a tomato. How cute.
I suddenly feel an elbow hit my side. Turning my head, I see Violet and the marine next to her smirk and give me a thumbs up…wait a minute. Did they hear me!? Looking around the Falcon I can see everyone give their approval by nodding their heads, giving a thumbs up, and smirking. FUCK! These bastards were eavesdropping! No wonder it was so quiet…I look at the cockpit…even the pilot is giving his own thumbs up!
This time I join Alex in blushing and I quickly pull my balaclava up and pull my combat goggles down to hide my embarrassment. Ugh, this is so embarrassing. Please someone kill me now.
"Damn Klara, you two barely knew each other for 40 minutes and now you already asked him out on a date. Impressive." Violet says next to me. In response, I lightly punched her in the side of her stomach but I missed and hit her combat armor instead. "Fuck" I silently curse.
"Hey Alex, you better make sure to wear protection, Hoorah!" Shouted another marine from across the Falcon. In response, everyone else including Violet shouted "Hoorah!" How much longer until we reach the landship…I am fucking burning up!
"Marines, this is your lovely pilot speaking. We will be arriving at the target Landship in approximately 5 minutes. So get your asses ready to jump out of my bird. Yall are stinking her up." Thank Theresa.
Our squad leader shouts throughout the Falcon. "Okay everyone. You all know the drill by now. Check weapons and ammo. 1st Platoon, 2nd platoon and 3rd platoon will be doing the fighting, that's us. The other platoons will gather the slaves and bring them to the top of the Landship where they will be separated. Those that will join us will board Pelicans that are hovering in the AO, those that refuse will be shot." Yup, simple orders to follow.
"2 minutes" The pilot says through coms. This means 2 minutes until we land.
"And please for the love of all that is mighty, please don't kill any slaves you see in the landship. So basically do not, I repeat, do not shoot at anyone wearing rags. Everyone else…you kill the fuckers. Hoorah!"
"Hoorah!" We all shout in unison, including me.
"Jesus, look at that thing!" One marine shouts. Looking out the side I can see its behemoth form. The Landship is roughly 200 meters wide, 50 meters tall and 400 meters long. A small Landship in reality, but for slavers…the perfect base of operations.
"Dude, come on. That thing is twice the size of a corvette. Plus it is smaller than a bloody frigate!" Someone shouts. Great…they are both amazed and disappointed at their first sighting of a landship.
"Yeah no shit. But I mean, I have never seen such a large vehicle move on its own. It's somewhat awe-inspiring looking at it." It is, seeing something so massive move, it is incomprehensible thinking that we managed to build Landships. I wonder what their reaction will be when they see a nomadic city.
"Dude, we definitely need to build our own landships. Show these natives how the UNSC and Mankind do it!" Another marine shouts. Hyped up by his own idea.
Hmmm, I wonder what their landships would look like if they went ahead and designed them. From what I saw at the FOB so far is that the UNSC loves utilitarian designs. Preferring functionality over aesthetics…but their utilitarian designs have some aesthetics of their own.
"1 minute!" I hear again through the coms. The rusty deck of the slaver landship grows larger and larger by the second as the Falcons approach. So far no one is on the deck of the Landship. Did we catch them by surprise?
The moment we touched the squad leader shouted. "Go! Go! Go!" While we all jump out and form a perimeter around the Falcon, the other two Falcons of 1st platoon touch down next to us with Lieutenant Blackburn jumping out with his rifle raised.
The first three Falcons finally take off to enter their holding pattern around the Landship. With them gone 1st platoon regroups and moves to the nearby staircase entrance. This must be an older landship design it there is a staircase entrance at the top of it.
We all pile up near the double doors, the technician already hacking the door to grant us entrance into the scum's lair. I search the crowd gathered around the door until I spot two horns. Our eyes meet and I give Violet a thumbs up, which she quickly returns. Girl must be stressed…same as me.
"Alright Marines! Remember your training. This is going to be CQB and room-to-room fighting. Be careful these fuckers have swords and from what I know, swords are deadly at close range." No shit, I thought. "Shoot to kill, we are not taking any prisoners. And I'll repeat what your squad leaders said, Do not shoot or kill the slaves. Identify before you pull the trigger. And one last thing, stick with your assigned squads!"
Okay, simple. Shoot the slavers and don't shoot the slaves. I can do this. "Just take deep breaths Klara." I hear Alex say while standing next to me. 'Yeah, yeah. I'll calm down." I say while watching the next trio of Falcons land and their soldiers disembarking. That must be 3rd platoon. Just one more platoon left to unload.
After a couple of minutes, the last platoon has been unloaded. It's quiet now that the Falcons are circling us from 10 kilometers away. The only sound left is that of the wind blowing, the soldiers breathing and the rumble of the giant tracks of the landship as it moves through the Sargon wasteland. Seriously what is taking so long to hack the security door?!
Judging by the muttering around me the other soldiers are also getting agitated. We are in the open now and bundled somewhat together, an AOE ARTS user and Crossbow soldier's wet dream. "Corporal! What is taking so long with that fucking door? We are in the open and vulnerable right now." Seems like the Lieutenant is also losing his patience.
"Sorry sir, I believe it will take a couple of more minutes to open this door. The main problem is that their coding is a fucking mess. It is a mix of 21st-century coding as well as some that I have never seen before. And half of the code is corrupted! Can't these fucking slavers even take care of their motherfucking electronics!" Judging by the amount of rust the landship is covered in…the slavers just didn't care. If they can't even take care of rust, why the hell would they care about code?
"Fuck! We didn't account for our coding and software to be different from one another. Alright Corporal, you got 5 more minutes to hack the door. If you don't succeed, Jessica will blow it open with explosives. The longer we take, the more time the enemy has to prepare."
After three minutes which felt like twenty minutes, the door finally made a beeping noise before opening with a slow and ominous hiss accompanying it. This is, in a couple of minutes I am going to possibly take my first life and with a gun non the least. We instantly move downstairs with our weapons pointed at every nook and cranny searching for hostiles while we move to the top floor.
Upon reaching it, the entirety of first platoon is stacked up at the door while 2nd and 3rd platoon move further down the stairs to their floors that they have to clear meanwhile 4th platoon is staying topside to act as our QRF.
Blackburn gives a nod and a marine with a shotgun kicks the main door open…here we go.
Time seems to slow down as we start pilling into the room with our weapons raised. Some guards dressed in a mixed assortment of armor didn't even have time to process what was happening before they were filled with bullet holes.
No dignity when two warriors or soldiers duel it out with their swords and certainly no honorable battle or death awaits them. They just slummed to the ground in an instant at the pool of a trigger without even registering what was going on.
Good thing they are slavers.
1st and 2nd Squad will advance through the corridors, killing any enemy they come across. The other two squads including the one I am in will clear room by room. Me and another marine stack up at a door leading to one of the slaver's rooms. After a quick 5-second countdown from his fingers, he throws a flashbang inside the room.
A Few seconds after we heard the bang, we entered the room with our weapons raised. He scanned the right side of the room and I scanned the left side. Movement! Seeing a figure rush to something in the room I quickly line up with it and pull the trigger.
Blood splashes against the darkened walls and the figure merely collapses onto the floor. I did it…I killed someone. A mixture of emotions ran through my body. Fear, sorrow, disgust and strangely happiness. Am I happy because I killed an evil person? Or am I happy because I merely killed?
I moved closer to the corpse to identify it. Kicking it over I feel myself snarl at the face. I recognize him. Carlos…the same fucker who liked to have his way with children…I am sorry that I couldn't kill you slower you fucker. I aimed at his face and pulled the trigger of the rifle three times. The bullets impacted his face sending chunks of meat and flesh flying around him. With some of it landing on my boots.
"Gross" I mutter.
After that me and the other marine quickly searched through the room for more potential hostiles and hiding spots for said hostiles. After finding nothing we both scream. "Clear!" Exiting the room he grabs a green spray paint can from his utility belt and sprays an "X" next to the door to indicate that the room has been cleared.
Moving through the corridor we see other rooms with a green X spray painted next to them. Others work fast. We quickly spring through the hallways that are covered in blood. Running past other pairs of marines clearing rooms. There are corpses littered everywhere.
Thankfully none are ours. We arrive at a room that hasn't been cleared yet. We both stack up, but this time it is my turn to countdown and throw a flashbang in. After the flash, we push in and- Shit!
A Crossbow bolt narrowly missed my head. The other marine quickly opens fire with me joining him seconds later. My bullet hits the crossbowman in the neck causing him to drop his crossbow and grab his neck in a vain effort to stop the bleeding. A couple more shots rang out in the room. Seems like that is all of them. They really have no way of fighting back when they only have swords and crossbows.
We move around the turned-over table that was used as a makeshift barricade towards the slaver holding his neck. I hate that noise he is making…the way he is gurgling as he chokes on his blood is making me cringe. His hands covering his neck do nothing as the blood continues pouring through his fingers and onto the brown carpet beneath his feet.
I raise my rifle and aim it at his head ready to pull the trigger. Not to put him out of his misery but to let that awful disgusting gurgling noise come to an end. But the marine I spent the last 30 minutes clearing rooms with pushed my rifle down and shook his head. "Don't shoot. No need to waste ammo on this filth. Let him choke to death." Wow, aren't you a sadistic little fuck huh? Can't say I blame you when it comes to slavers.
After the slaver collapses onto the ground, we exit the room and the marine repeats the process of spraying a green X next to the room. Okay, we cleared five rooms so far and killed around 7 enemies total. Looking around us all the other rooms have already been cleared. Still we haven't seen any slaves so far.
"Come on, seems like every room on this floor is cleared. We need to regroup with the rest of the platoon." I nod at the marine's words and we start walking down the corridor that is littered with bodies.
It feels strange being back in this place. I remember scrubbing these very floors that are now covered in blood. I remember being abused and beaten here while cleaning. Being dragged into someone's room and being…used. These fuckers got what they deserved.
Two other marines that were also clearing rooms joined us as we walked towards the rest of the platoon. "Yoh, this shit was a piece of cake." One of them says while lifting his balaclava down to smoke a cigarette. "Hell yeah, princess over here almost scored more kills than me." The marine that was with me in clearing rooms responded.
Princess…fucking great. Seems like that is my new nickname. "Noise. Hey, princess tell me, how did it feel killing these fuckers that abused you and the other girls?"
How did it feel? I felt a wave of different emotions when I killed them. But one emotion and feeling stuck out the most. "Empowering. It felt empowering to finally kill the scum that abused and used me throughout most of my life. I will never forget this feeling again." He simply laughed in response.
"Damn we got ourselves a true psycho killer here." He responds. Psycho…is that what I am? "And that means you are already one hell of a marine. After all us marines are fucking psychos. Hoorah!" The other two marines also shout. I can't help but smile…maybe they are my new family.
"So what's the status of the other platoons and their objectives?" I ask these two, hopefully they know something.
"Ahh yeah, we are basically finished with the operation. The rest of first platoon cleared the rest of the floor and we are to rendezvous back at the surface of the landship." Was it that fast?! Wow…these guys know what they're doing if we managed to clear 250 rooms in 30 minutes. "It would have taken longer, but almost everyone here used swords and crossbows. Made the job a hell of a lot easier."
He doesn't stop and continues explaining. "2nd platoon had it the hardest. They fought in the cafeteria I believe. Apparently, most of the slavers were there eating breakfast. To put it simply, they were caught with their pants down…but they did start rushing 2nd platoon causing 4th platoon to be sent down to reinforce their position. They killed around 200 slavers. Basically most of the fuckers stationed on the landship."
"And finally 3rd platoon encountered no resistance on their floor. They found the slave pens containing around 100 slaves. The slaves were a bit panicked and distressed so your friend Violet was called down there to help defuse the situation. Long story short we evacuated all of them to the top where they will shortly be given the choice." The choice…join us or die.
"The engineers are currently placing explosive charges around the landship getting it ready blow and the technicians are working their way through the systems downloading every piece of data they can find." They work fast. The UNSC clearly doesn't waste any time.
"Did we sustain any casualties?" The soldier next to me asks as we start walking up the emergency stairs towards the top exit. "Yeah, 2nd platoon encountered an ARTS user that can shoot fucking napalm. Four marines are critically injured and are suffering from 3rd degree burns. A Pelican came to pick them up to take them back to Sol for emergency treatment."
"We unfortunately have one KIA. And before you ask, no I do not know who it is." One KIA? Shit…who was killed?
We exit through the doors to see the 100 slaves huddled in a group together with marines surrounding them with their weapons pointed toward the ground. I look around some more to see other marines standing around Pelicans that have landed and the Falcons we came here with. And the landship isn't moving…must have been the engineers.
"Listen up here slaves!" Searching around for the source of the amplified voice I spot Blackburn standing in front of the slaves with a speaker in his hand. "We are the UNSC, we came here to free you." Upon hearing that the slaves started smiling, some of them getting on their knees and praying to their gods, while others cry out in joy.
"These slavers that have been tormenting you all are dead. I unfortunately have terrible news for you all." The joy from the slaves was instantly replaced with suspicion. "We cannot allow you to go free on your own. Thus, you are given two choices. One, you join the UNSC where you will be granted a variety of advantages. You will receive food, pay, housing, education and a brand-new start at life in exchange for military service." I can see some of them are already considering this option.
"The second choice is that you line up at the edge of the Landship" He points to an edge. "Where you will be executed." No response. They all simply stared at him wide-eyed and afraid. "One of your own has already joined our ranks a couple of months ago. Klara Bennet." And with that Blackburn points his finger at me, causing every slave to look at me.
I decide it is best to remove my helmet, balaclava, and goggles so that it is easier for some of them to recognize me. Some of them gasped, clearly recognizing me from my time here as a slave. "Look at her face…she seems so much healthier." One of them speaks out.
Thinking about it they have a point. When I was a slave here till a couple of months ago, I only ate once every two days. That caused me and many others to become malnourished. But when I joined the UNSC…I started eating three times a day. My body didn't ache anymore and I felt healthier overall.
"See look at that. She is so much happier here with us. So I am going to make this quick. Everyone who wants to join us please move to the giant green aircraft on your right in an orderly fashion. And every one that refuses. Line up at the edge."
Without missing a beat the slaves started moving to the Pelicans…well most of them. Seven moves to the edge. Three women and 3 men of different races. They said nothing and simply stared into the distance while at the ledge. In return, seven marines stepped behind them raising their rifles…
This isn't something I should see. I tried to look away, but my body prevented me. As if it was my destiny to watch this atrocity that was about to be committed.
They didn't fight or scream to be spared. They knew this was the end of the road for them…and it made me envious of them.
Seven gunshots rang out in quick succession and seven bodies dropped off the edge of the landship never to be seen again…the other slaves that were busy being pilled into the Pelicans looked at the scene with a solemn expression on their faces.
This is for the best….it is right?
"Alright marines! Our objectives here are completed. Bombs have been planted, intel gathered and slaves freed. We are RTB so get in your Falcons now!" Blackburn shouted.
Me and a couple of marines standing next to me who watched the execution unfold all turned around and started jogging towards our respected Falcons. Climbing in I see Violet sitting on the edge with a marine next to her. I take my seat next to her but notice something off…everyone is feeling solemn and sad here. What happened?
As we take off into the air with the Pelicans joining our formation now I look around and spot an empty spot next to me. "Where's Alex?" I ask, mainly to myself. I turn to look at Violet, our eyes meet and she shakes her head…wait…
The dots started connecting in my head. We have one KIA and Alex is…oh no…I place my hand around my mouth. It feels like I am going to throw up. Why! Why did it have to be Alex? Who killed him!? I thought angrily to myself. Why! Why! Why!
Just when I made a new friend and had a new date. Just when life started looking good for me! Just when I started feeling happy! And now…someone paid the price. Why does life have to be so fucked up?
I hear a massive explosion but I don't bother looking at it. Must have been the Landship detonating…only thing on my mind is Alex's smile that no one will ever see again. His cringy attempt at seducing me that I will never experience again…how was he even killed?
I am going to kill them. I am going to kill every piece of shit standing in the UNSC's way. I swore to myself while squeezing my knuckles.
Alex was devoted to the UNSC. So I will adopt his devotion and carry it out. That is the least I can do for him…
"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him." ― G.K. Chesterton
Author notes.
Yeah, this chapter took a fucking while. The amount of headaches I got while rereading and rewriting this chapter is astounding. Since this was my very first fight scene that I wrote I don't know if it is up to standard or not. So yeah any advice on fight scenes would be appreciated.
Gonna take a week's break from writing.
Until next time.