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Very nice Smitters, very nice. Keep 'em coming.
Sad that enhanced Serco troopers are unable to detect the presence of Itani better than that.
serco suck. itani kick.
that said, i'd rather be kicked by an itani than sucked by a serco.
serco suck. itani kick.
that said, i'd rather be kicked by an itani than sucked by a serco.
Onia, Deneb H8
AD 4430
Twenty minutes later the four Itani surrounded a hastily dug and refilled grave, at the foot of the boulder that had not covered Marcus well enough. Jerry was kneeling next to the mound of dirt, shedding his generally masculine attitude with a stream of tears. The other Itani stood a few feet back, but still turned in the direction of the grave. The Captain stared as though he did not see the dirt or the rock, or anything for that matter. Smit's eyes were wide and he looked shaky. Lambin, who had the ability to separate emotions from what needed to be done, had a streak under his eye where the dust had been washed off, but apart from this there was no sign of Marcus' death upon his face. He was frowning slightly, his mind racing through plans, explanations, and orders.
"Captain..." he said finally, turning to his superior.
The Captain nodded, and after patting Jerry on the shoulder once they turned to leave.
***
The squad had given up attempts at stealth and now jogged to their destination.
"Ten minutes away..." muttered the Captain. The ground sloped downward slightly; on a clear day it would have been easy to see the capital of Onia, where they where heading. But a clear day on the planet was hard to come by, as the multitude of nearby moons wreaked frequent mayhem.
As they came closer, a familiar humming met their ears. A glow from the ship's thrust was just barely visible through the dust, but it was not moving. All four Itani gazed up at it, their pace slowed, when a much louder sound began to emanate from the ship. It was a deep rumbling powerful enough to stop the Itani in their tracks, but still loud and penetrating like an inferno. Suddenly a gigantic blue beam of light shot down from the ship. At least a mile wide, the brightness of the beam lit up the outline of Onia's Capital. The blast of the weapon hit the Itani like a truck, throwing them all to their backs. Smit was unconscious; Lambin was looking around wildly, blinking quickly, and Jerry lay on his side coughing. The Captain gritted his teeth, and though the force from the beam still pushed on him mightily, he pulled himself onto his knees to see and understand what was happening.
With the weapon's backlighting, the Captain could clearly see its effects. Buildings shattered and fell, fires erupted everywhere, and still the beam pounded the planet. A bowl of dust surrounding the entire city began to rose, and though it dimmed the light of the weapon, it did not shield the Captain's eyes from the destruction. The fires were enormous, and seemed to be fed directly by the beam's power. The largest building, where the Captain had tried to lead his squad, the one that was burned and blasted but had not yet been destroyed. It had been built long ago with the most durable materials the Itani could find; it was their last shelter on Onia, and would not break. But the weapon was too powerful. Though it could not breach the unbreachable walls of the building, its foundation was only so strong. To the Captain's horror, the building was tilting, twisting from the ground. Small dots fell from the top of the structure and instantly lit up; the Captain moaned as he realized it could only be Itani falling and incinerating upon contact with the air. Finally, terribly, the building was free from the ground and fell mightily with a crack loud enough that it could be heard over the noise of the weapon.
As the ground under it eroded from the blasting, the building began to slide down, closer and closer to the beam. Finally it made direct contact, and the walls shattered.
Most of the metal and rock and other supporting elements burned at once, but larger ones withstood the heat and flew out. A gigantic chunk of stone struck the ground just thirty feet away from the Itani, a smoke trail marking its path as a smaller fire burned on the rock. The force of its impact knocked the Captain to the ground again, but this time he did not, could not rise again. He sat, sprawled on the hard surface, weeping, when finally the noise stopped. Though his ears were ringing, and his eyes had the brightness of the beam burned into them, he heard and saw the faint thrust from the Serco ship come closer to the planet. As the magnificent cloud of disturbed dust began to fall, it quieted most of the flames, but smoke still rose and the triumphant sound of Serco could just be heard.
AD 4430
Twenty minutes later the four Itani surrounded a hastily dug and refilled grave, at the foot of the boulder that had not covered Marcus well enough. Jerry was kneeling next to the mound of dirt, shedding his generally masculine attitude with a stream of tears. The other Itani stood a few feet back, but still turned in the direction of the grave. The Captain stared as though he did not see the dirt or the rock, or anything for that matter. Smit's eyes were wide and he looked shaky. Lambin, who had the ability to separate emotions from what needed to be done, had a streak under his eye where the dust had been washed off, but apart from this there was no sign of Marcus' death upon his face. He was frowning slightly, his mind racing through plans, explanations, and orders.
"Captain..." he said finally, turning to his superior.
The Captain nodded, and after patting Jerry on the shoulder once they turned to leave.
***
The squad had given up attempts at stealth and now jogged to their destination.
"Ten minutes away..." muttered the Captain. The ground sloped downward slightly; on a clear day it would have been easy to see the capital of Onia, where they where heading. But a clear day on the planet was hard to come by, as the multitude of nearby moons wreaked frequent mayhem.
As they came closer, a familiar humming met their ears. A glow from the ship's thrust was just barely visible through the dust, but it was not moving. All four Itani gazed up at it, their pace slowed, when a much louder sound began to emanate from the ship. It was a deep rumbling powerful enough to stop the Itani in their tracks, but still loud and penetrating like an inferno. Suddenly a gigantic blue beam of light shot down from the ship. At least a mile wide, the brightness of the beam lit up the outline of Onia's Capital. The blast of the weapon hit the Itani like a truck, throwing them all to their backs. Smit was unconscious; Lambin was looking around wildly, blinking quickly, and Jerry lay on his side coughing. The Captain gritted his teeth, and though the force from the beam still pushed on him mightily, he pulled himself onto his knees to see and understand what was happening.
With the weapon's backlighting, the Captain could clearly see its effects. Buildings shattered and fell, fires erupted everywhere, and still the beam pounded the planet. A bowl of dust surrounding the entire city began to rose, and though it dimmed the light of the weapon, it did not shield the Captain's eyes from the destruction. The fires were enormous, and seemed to be fed directly by the beam's power. The largest building, where the Captain had tried to lead his squad, the one that was burned and blasted but had not yet been destroyed. It had been built long ago with the most durable materials the Itani could find; it was their last shelter on Onia, and would not break. But the weapon was too powerful. Though it could not breach the unbreachable walls of the building, its foundation was only so strong. To the Captain's horror, the building was tilting, twisting from the ground. Small dots fell from the top of the structure and instantly lit up; the Captain moaned as he realized it could only be Itani falling and incinerating upon contact with the air. Finally, terribly, the building was free from the ground and fell mightily with a crack loud enough that it could be heard over the noise of the weapon.
As the ground under it eroded from the blasting, the building began to slide down, closer and closer to the beam. Finally it made direct contact, and the walls shattered.
Most of the metal and rock and other supporting elements burned at once, but larger ones withstood the heat and flew out. A gigantic chunk of stone struck the ground just thirty feet away from the Itani, a smoke trail marking its path as a smaller fire burned on the rock. The force of its impact knocked the Captain to the ground again, but this time he did not, could not rise again. He sat, sprawled on the hard surface, weeping, when finally the noise stopped. Though his ears were ringing, and his eyes had the brightness of the beam burned into them, he heard and saw the faint thrust from the Serco ship come closer to the planet. As the magnificent cloud of disturbed dust began to fall, it quieted most of the flames, but smoke still rose and the triumphant sound of Serco could just be heard.
Is that enough serco-kicking-ass for you guys?
Things don't seem to be going all too well for these guys.
I need more.
I need more.
*poke
punch
Oh, and Shadoen, Punch to you too:)
Oh, and Shadoen, Punch to you too:)
I already added more to my story, if thats what you mean :3
Terra II
AD 2652
Near the back entrance of the building was one of the few exits to the deome. It was heavily guarded by Itani in standard military mech suits, although the head of a non-armored Itani was just visible in a security room just above the large sealed doors. Derek Tenz walked up to the nearest guard and held out his metal fist to be identified.
"No need, Sergeant Tenz!" said the guard boisterously with false importance, waving Tenz' hand down. "I'd feel like an idiot if I didn't have your face memorized by now. Jake!" he called up to the Itani in the security room. "Is Tenz cleared to be out?"
"Just a second..." replied Jake.
"Sorry sir," said the first guard, turning back to Tenz. "It's not that I don't trust you it's just that rules are rules."
"Not a problem," smiled Tenz. "We're lucky to have such fine rule-abiding soldiers watching the gates and doing their job no matter how bureaucratically slow and pointless it may be!"
The guard flushed as Gage laughed loudly.
"Clear," called down Jake, oblivious to the banter below him. The metal doors slid open, revealing a preparation chamber.
"Good luck, sir," said the guard on the ground awkwardly, saluting Tenz as he and his squad stepped into the chamber. Tenz smiled back at him, and saluted the lower-ranking guard as the doors closed again.
"Prepare for exit. On your word, sir," came Jake's voice through a speaker.
"Seal up, boys," said Tenz, switching a few knobs on the inside of his suit. A soft rubber-like material stretched itself over the cracks and holes of the suit. A quiet whirring noise told Tenz that the industrial strength fan had turned on. Apart from this, all sound was cut out as the sealing completed. He glanced around to see nods from his suqad members, a thumbs up from Pete, and finally Mason's voice, a little higher than usual, through the speaker in Tenz' suit giving an affirmative.
Derek flipped on his comm. "We're good, Jake. Thank you for your help."
"Good luck, Sergeant."
With a hiss unheard by any of the Itani, the door at the back of the chamber opened. Tenz lead his squad out onto the barren plains of Terra II, glowing orange under the nearby sun.
"Quite a sight, eh?" said Morgan sarcastically.
"There'll be plenty of time to enjoy it as we run away from Serco troops," grinned Tenz. "Right now we have to focus on the immediate task... that is, walking. Move it!"
The first week was a fun time for the squad. The assisted walking program built into the mechs when coupled with the muscle relaxing medicines automatically injected made the physical expense of their trek virtually nothing. The lack of other activities left the Itani nothing but talking to occupy themselves, though this was not a burden. Although most of the squad had been together for a long time, the jokes, the revelations, and the occasional tricks on Mason pulled them even closer together.
The second week was not quite as entertaining. With all good stories of childhood told and retold, conversation often drifted to more serious matters. Darrell would voice his same concerns regarding their mission, the repetition of which usually drove Gage to argue with him. James would bring up politics, and the entire squad would repeat their beliefs and opinions regarding Commander Akan's leadership. Occasionally the conversation would turn against their leader, and even Tenz would remark upon his worries before reminding the squad (and himself) that Akan was their leader and it was their duty to show him loyalty.
After the first few days outside the dome, the few Itani farms that dotted the surface were nowhere to be seen, and the only life besides a few dried weeds was in the seven Itani. That is, until the forth day of the third week as the group approached the entrance to Enviona.
AD 2652
Near the back entrance of the building was one of the few exits to the deome. It was heavily guarded by Itani in standard military mech suits, although the head of a non-armored Itani was just visible in a security room just above the large sealed doors. Derek Tenz walked up to the nearest guard and held out his metal fist to be identified.
"No need, Sergeant Tenz!" said the guard boisterously with false importance, waving Tenz' hand down. "I'd feel like an idiot if I didn't have your face memorized by now. Jake!" he called up to the Itani in the security room. "Is Tenz cleared to be out?"
"Just a second..." replied Jake.
"Sorry sir," said the first guard, turning back to Tenz. "It's not that I don't trust you it's just that rules are rules."
"Not a problem," smiled Tenz. "We're lucky to have such fine rule-abiding soldiers watching the gates and doing their job no matter how bureaucratically slow and pointless it may be!"
The guard flushed as Gage laughed loudly.
"Clear," called down Jake, oblivious to the banter below him. The metal doors slid open, revealing a preparation chamber.
"Good luck, sir," said the guard on the ground awkwardly, saluting Tenz as he and his squad stepped into the chamber. Tenz smiled back at him, and saluted the lower-ranking guard as the doors closed again.
"Prepare for exit. On your word, sir," came Jake's voice through a speaker.
"Seal up, boys," said Tenz, switching a few knobs on the inside of his suit. A soft rubber-like material stretched itself over the cracks and holes of the suit. A quiet whirring noise told Tenz that the industrial strength fan had turned on. Apart from this, all sound was cut out as the sealing completed. He glanced around to see nods from his suqad members, a thumbs up from Pete, and finally Mason's voice, a little higher than usual, through the speaker in Tenz' suit giving an affirmative.
Derek flipped on his comm. "We're good, Jake. Thank you for your help."
"Good luck, Sergeant."
With a hiss unheard by any of the Itani, the door at the back of the chamber opened. Tenz lead his squad out onto the barren plains of Terra II, glowing orange under the nearby sun.
"Quite a sight, eh?" said Morgan sarcastically.
"There'll be plenty of time to enjoy it as we run away from Serco troops," grinned Tenz. "Right now we have to focus on the immediate task... that is, walking. Move it!"
The first week was a fun time for the squad. The assisted walking program built into the mechs when coupled with the muscle relaxing medicines automatically injected made the physical expense of their trek virtually nothing. The lack of other activities left the Itani nothing but talking to occupy themselves, though this was not a burden. Although most of the squad had been together for a long time, the jokes, the revelations, and the occasional tricks on Mason pulled them even closer together.
The second week was not quite as entertaining. With all good stories of childhood told and retold, conversation often drifted to more serious matters. Darrell would voice his same concerns regarding their mission, the repetition of which usually drove Gage to argue with him. James would bring up politics, and the entire squad would repeat their beliefs and opinions regarding Commander Akan's leadership. Occasionally the conversation would turn against their leader, and even Tenz would remark upon his worries before reminding the squad (and himself) that Akan was their leader and it was their duty to show him loyalty.
After the first few days outside the dome, the few Itani farms that dotted the surface were nowhere to be seen, and the only life besides a few dried weeds was in the seven Itani. That is, until the forth day of the third week as the group approached the entrance to Enviona.
So finally an update. As I've told some of you, there will be MUCH more fairly soon. Like within a week. And this time I'm not just stalling for time, I've actually written the next part of the Smit/Captain line. I'd post it now but I'm afraid the universe would end if I updated too much too quickly.
Also I now have everything officially planned out. I've always known how the stories should end, and I've always known where the groups will go and such, but now I've filled in the details as to how they get their, and more importantly why.
Finally, even after the next (LONG) update, I should be adding new stuff relatively regularly, as this term we have mandatory "relaxation" time in English where we can either read (*shudder*) or write. By electing "write" I'll be working on this almost daily and hopefully the updates will reflect that.
Until next week, enjoy!
Also I now have everything officially planned out. I've always known how the stories should end, and I've always known where the groups will go and such, but now I've filled in the details as to how they get their, and more importantly why.
Finally, even after the next (LONG) update, I should be adding new stuff relatively regularly, as this term we have mandatory "relaxation" time in English where we can either read (*shudder*) or write. By electing "write" I'll be working on this almost daily and hopefully the updates will reflect that.
Until next week, enjoy!
Thanks for the update Smitters, maybe it will give me the motivation i need to get going again, maybe.
Yay. /me pokes smit in the eye for the lulz. :3
Btw, just noticed both of our stories take place on the same year.
Btw, just noticed both of our stories take place on the same year.
/me senses sniper action vs. Mechs:)
Good to hear Smittens, looking forward to more.
Good to hear Smittens, looking forward to more.
Good guess, but take a look at the relevant backstory years if you want to know :)
Onia, Deneb H8
AD 4430
The Captain remained on his back, weeping, long after the final blast. A whole city... a whole city! What had the artists, the monks, the mothers, the children, ever done to deserve this?. If he got up, he would have to know the destruction again.
Finally a hand touched the Captain's shoulder. He looked over to see Lambin crouched at his side, wet eyes fixed on the burning buildings. "Sir," he said gently, though he continued to look at the wreckage. "There may be survivors, we have to check."
The Captain, still on his back, nodded.
"I'm going to try and wake the others. But I think we should leave Smit up here. He wouldn't be much help, and I doubt he can handle what we're going to see."
"No," said the Captain firmly, with an echo of his usual command. "If... if there are survivors, we'll need his help too. He'll have to grow up some time, Lambin."
Lambin remained still for a moment. "Yes sir," he said finally, standing and turning back to the other squad members.
The Captain remained on the ground for a few more minutes as Lambin woke the other Itani.
"No!" cried Smit, darting forward. "What happened!?" he asked franticly.
The Captain kept silent, though he got to his feet. This was no time for weakness. "Jerry, Smit, you guys alright?"
"I think so..." said Jerry slowly. Smit did not answer.
"We have to get down there quickly," said the Captain. "But also keep in mind we will see the effects of such an attack. We need to keep our heads or people will die." The Captain glanced at Smit, expecting some loud remark but the young Itani was still frozen by the scene in front of him. "Let's go."
***
As they neared the edge of the city, the Itani could see a large number of shuttles undocking from the capital ship and descending down to the ruins.
"Sir?" asked Lambin, watching a shuttle land in rubble a bit too close to them.
"We're still going in. But we'll have to be more careful."
"You think they're looking for something?" asked Jerry.
"Maybe..." said the Captain, though he sounded unconvinced. "But if they were looking for something, glassing the city doesn't seem like a very good strategy."
The Captain lead the squad through the wreckage as they entered what had been the city. They moved slowly now, forced to avoid rubble and Serco alike.
"Captain!" hissed Jerry, pointing to a spot about fifty feet in front of them.
The squad stopped to see what Jerry had seen. A hand was stuck out from underneath the rubble, resting limply on a slab of stone.
"Go," whispered the Captain. The Itani hurried forward and began lifting away the burying chunks of metal and rock. Finally, an upper body was visible. It was a middle aged Itani man, a monk judging by his long hair and clothing. Deep cuts across his body leaked blood, staining his light blue robe.
The Captain down and placed two fingers against the man's neck. The faint bump of a pulse met the Captain's skin, and a grateful smile lit his face. "Alive. We need to move that piece of wall off his leg. Smit, bandage the cuts and when we've lifted it up you can pull him out. Work quickly, because if we can't get him out fast..." he trailed off as the youngest Itani paid close attention to his words. Jerry looked slightly confused, but Lambin nodded firmly.
Smit took out his medkit while the other Itani lined up, the Captain and Lambin on one side of the wall and Jerry on the other. The Captain counted down from three, and they began trying to lift. The wall rose just an inch as the Itani strained, and Smit readied to pull out the monk. But they could not get it high enough.
After their third attempt, still without success, the Captain pulled out his knife. He rolled up the monk's robes to get a clear view of the leg, and wrapped the man's leg tightly with a strip of cloth. The Captain took a breath, and plunged the knife in.
"Aauuuh!" The monk's eyes split open, and he let out a loud carrying scream before Lambin could clamp his hand over the man's mouth.
"We're Itani!" he hissed. "If we don't get you out now you will die!" The monk's eyes closed as he passed out from the pain.
Blood ran over the Captain's hands as he worked. Suddenly he stopped and looked up-- barely audible was the sound of heavy marching feet.
The Captain pulled back his knife and pointed to a crumbled building foundation nearby. He and the other Itani bent low and quietly and carefully made their way to it. Smit threw himself over what was left of the wall and ducked down just as a squad of Serco turned a corner and became visible.
There were eight of them, and though they stepped slowly, their weight was enough to crack the rocks along their path. The leader brought his troops over to where the monk lay.
"Alive?" asked one. The leader kicked the monk who let out a small breath. The Serco lifted his rifle and fired a shot point blank into the monk's head.
Watching with horror through a crack in the wall, the Captain noticed movement out of the corner of his eye. Lambin was slowly and carefully lifting the barrel of his rifle above the top of the wall, a look of pure hatred on his face.
The Captain thought for a moment. Four accurate shots would leave even numbers against disorganized Serco without cover. Even if Smit missed they could probably finish off the rest of the without even being seen. But then the image of Marcus rose to the Captain's mind. Bloodied, shaking, as the Captain was not fast enough to save him.
He met Lambin's eyes and shook his head. Lambin began to lower his rifle as the Serco started to leave.
"Wait!" The harsh voice cut the air with enough force to turn his squad members around. "There is a medkit by him."
Eyes wide, the Captain looked over at Smit. The young Itani had his hands over his mouth and looked terrified.
"Spread out!" called a Serco.
Nodding to his squad, the Captain lifted his rifle over the wall and lowered his head to see into the sights. He lined up with the Serco leader, knowing from all their training that his squad members would be marking a different target.
"Now," he breathed.
Four cracks, and four bullets implanted themselves in the skulls of four dead Serco. The remaining four dropped to the ground. Two had cover, two did not, and paid for it as the Itani shot again. They could hear the other two Serco yelling.
"Itani, many, in south west part of city, on my mark! Covered..." One of the Serco poked his head out, fired a few shots, and ducked back before the Itani could return fire.
"In dead building!"
The Captain ducked back to reload. As he cocked the new bullet he heard a clambering from behind them, where they were completely open to attack. "We need to move!" he called to his squad, no longer worried about remaining hidden. They pulled back their rifles and turned to him. "Over there!" he yelled, pointing to an ally to their side and beginning to sprint over.
One of the covered Serco stood and lobbed a grenade behind the wall. It exploded, and the Captain heard Smit yelp. He turned back, but the young Itani was still with them.
The squad did not stop their sprint through the darkest parts of the destroyed city for over ten minutes. Twice they came across other groups of Serco, but escaped again before bullets could catch them. Finally, the Captain saw a large hole in the bottom of a building. Basement he reasoned, and pointed to it briefly before diving in head first. He fell, for longer than would be expected in a basement, until he splashed into a deep slimy stream of what smelled like sewage. He grimaced as three more splashes followed his own.
"There's a ledge to one side!" called Lambin a little too loudly. The Captain groped in the dark until he felt the stone side and pulled himself out.
"Cap..." he heard Smit mutter. "Cap my fingers..."
The Captain sighed and cracked open an emergency light. Smit was pale, paler than usual. He was clutching his left hand in his right as blood ran down both arms.
"Smit?" asked the Captain weakly. Smit slowly lifted off his right hand to expose a very bloody thumb and index finger, and three stumps pouring blood.
AD 4430
The Captain remained on his back, weeping, long after the final blast. A whole city... a whole city! What had the artists, the monks, the mothers, the children, ever done to deserve this?. If he got up, he would have to know the destruction again.
Finally a hand touched the Captain's shoulder. He looked over to see Lambin crouched at his side, wet eyes fixed on the burning buildings. "Sir," he said gently, though he continued to look at the wreckage. "There may be survivors, we have to check."
The Captain, still on his back, nodded.
"I'm going to try and wake the others. But I think we should leave Smit up here. He wouldn't be much help, and I doubt he can handle what we're going to see."
"No," said the Captain firmly, with an echo of his usual command. "If... if there are survivors, we'll need his help too. He'll have to grow up some time, Lambin."
Lambin remained still for a moment. "Yes sir," he said finally, standing and turning back to the other squad members.
The Captain remained on the ground for a few more minutes as Lambin woke the other Itani.
"No!" cried Smit, darting forward. "What happened!?" he asked franticly.
The Captain kept silent, though he got to his feet. This was no time for weakness. "Jerry, Smit, you guys alright?"
"I think so..." said Jerry slowly. Smit did not answer.
"We have to get down there quickly," said the Captain. "But also keep in mind we will see the effects of such an attack. We need to keep our heads or people will die." The Captain glanced at Smit, expecting some loud remark but the young Itani was still frozen by the scene in front of him. "Let's go."
***
As they neared the edge of the city, the Itani could see a large number of shuttles undocking from the capital ship and descending down to the ruins.
"Sir?" asked Lambin, watching a shuttle land in rubble a bit too close to them.
"We're still going in. But we'll have to be more careful."
"You think they're looking for something?" asked Jerry.
"Maybe..." said the Captain, though he sounded unconvinced. "But if they were looking for something, glassing the city doesn't seem like a very good strategy."
The Captain lead the squad through the wreckage as they entered what had been the city. They moved slowly now, forced to avoid rubble and Serco alike.
"Captain!" hissed Jerry, pointing to a spot about fifty feet in front of them.
The squad stopped to see what Jerry had seen. A hand was stuck out from underneath the rubble, resting limply on a slab of stone.
"Go," whispered the Captain. The Itani hurried forward and began lifting away the burying chunks of metal and rock. Finally, an upper body was visible. It was a middle aged Itani man, a monk judging by his long hair and clothing. Deep cuts across his body leaked blood, staining his light blue robe.
The Captain down and placed two fingers against the man's neck. The faint bump of a pulse met the Captain's skin, and a grateful smile lit his face. "Alive. We need to move that piece of wall off his leg. Smit, bandage the cuts and when we've lifted it up you can pull him out. Work quickly, because if we can't get him out fast..." he trailed off as the youngest Itani paid close attention to his words. Jerry looked slightly confused, but Lambin nodded firmly.
Smit took out his medkit while the other Itani lined up, the Captain and Lambin on one side of the wall and Jerry on the other. The Captain counted down from three, and they began trying to lift. The wall rose just an inch as the Itani strained, and Smit readied to pull out the monk. But they could not get it high enough.
After their third attempt, still without success, the Captain pulled out his knife. He rolled up the monk's robes to get a clear view of the leg, and wrapped the man's leg tightly with a strip of cloth. The Captain took a breath, and plunged the knife in.
"Aauuuh!" The monk's eyes split open, and he let out a loud carrying scream before Lambin could clamp his hand over the man's mouth.
"We're Itani!" he hissed. "If we don't get you out now you will die!" The monk's eyes closed as he passed out from the pain.
Blood ran over the Captain's hands as he worked. Suddenly he stopped and looked up-- barely audible was the sound of heavy marching feet.
The Captain pulled back his knife and pointed to a crumbled building foundation nearby. He and the other Itani bent low and quietly and carefully made their way to it. Smit threw himself over what was left of the wall and ducked down just as a squad of Serco turned a corner and became visible.
There were eight of them, and though they stepped slowly, their weight was enough to crack the rocks along their path. The leader brought his troops over to where the monk lay.
"Alive?" asked one. The leader kicked the monk who let out a small breath. The Serco lifted his rifle and fired a shot point blank into the monk's head.
Watching with horror through a crack in the wall, the Captain noticed movement out of the corner of his eye. Lambin was slowly and carefully lifting the barrel of his rifle above the top of the wall, a look of pure hatred on his face.
The Captain thought for a moment. Four accurate shots would leave even numbers against disorganized Serco without cover. Even if Smit missed they could probably finish off the rest of the without even being seen. But then the image of Marcus rose to the Captain's mind. Bloodied, shaking, as the Captain was not fast enough to save him.
He met Lambin's eyes and shook his head. Lambin began to lower his rifle as the Serco started to leave.
"Wait!" The harsh voice cut the air with enough force to turn his squad members around. "There is a medkit by him."
Eyes wide, the Captain looked over at Smit. The young Itani had his hands over his mouth and looked terrified.
"Spread out!" called a Serco.
Nodding to his squad, the Captain lifted his rifle over the wall and lowered his head to see into the sights. He lined up with the Serco leader, knowing from all their training that his squad members would be marking a different target.
"Now," he breathed.
Four cracks, and four bullets implanted themselves in the skulls of four dead Serco. The remaining four dropped to the ground. Two had cover, two did not, and paid for it as the Itani shot again. They could hear the other two Serco yelling.
"Itani, many, in south west part of city, on my mark! Covered..." One of the Serco poked his head out, fired a few shots, and ducked back before the Itani could return fire.
"In dead building!"
The Captain ducked back to reload. As he cocked the new bullet he heard a clambering from behind them, where they were completely open to attack. "We need to move!" he called to his squad, no longer worried about remaining hidden. They pulled back their rifles and turned to him. "Over there!" he yelled, pointing to an ally to their side and beginning to sprint over.
One of the covered Serco stood and lobbed a grenade behind the wall. It exploded, and the Captain heard Smit yelp. He turned back, but the young Itani was still with them.
The squad did not stop their sprint through the darkest parts of the destroyed city for over ten minutes. Twice they came across other groups of Serco, but escaped again before bullets could catch them. Finally, the Captain saw a large hole in the bottom of a building. Basement he reasoned, and pointed to it briefly before diving in head first. He fell, for longer than would be expected in a basement, until he splashed into a deep slimy stream of what smelled like sewage. He grimaced as three more splashes followed his own.
"There's a ledge to one side!" called Lambin a little too loudly. The Captain groped in the dark until he felt the stone side and pulled himself out.
"Cap..." he heard Smit mutter. "Cap my fingers..."
The Captain sighed and cracked open an emergency light. Smit was pale, paler than usual. He was clutching his left hand in his right as blood ran down both arms.
"Smit?" asked the Captain weakly. Smit slowly lifted off his right hand to expose a very bloody thumb and index finger, and three stumps pouring blood.
Good idea: Writing an unusually long update.
Bad idea: Forgetting that such an update takes a proportionally longer time to type up. And this time is stretched even more when the typee is busy puking his guts out.
Well it got here in the end. And for the record, I didn't even think of Star Wars until my third proofreading.
Bad idea: Forgetting that such an update takes a proportionally longer time to type up. And this time is stretched even more when the typee is busy puking his guts out.
Well it got here in the end. And for the record, I didn't even think of Star Wars until my third proofreading.
I didn't think of Star Wars at all, but i did think about LNH :)