Year 2718, April 26thcopyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AY9UIn8K9
Neutral sector, twenty-six lightyears from Duross spacecopyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgafudCIz3
Neutral system, Hellrain surface, Operation Mistwalkcopyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡRD5WzcciVo
Dwayne marched through the snow filled valley in his white winter gear armor. The silver visor was protecting his face from the falling snow. He held a Holstein O3 Battle-rifle-assault rifle class-in his arms. His heavy breathing could be heard from outside his helmet. At least by himself. He currently thought of Katie. He wished he could go back soon and hold her again. It hadn’t been that long sense he left New England but it felt like an eternity. Good god, he missed her badly. Her beautiful voice, soft skin, cute and sweet laugher and even her horrible cooking.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4YzeThC21
He chuckled to himself.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoiWDN9fvJ
Behind him walked his four team members. A far shorter-then himself-feminine frame came up on his right. She was holding a Holstein O3 Battle-rifle as well. She looked up towards the sky and noted that the snow storm was getting worse. The snow was falling quicker and faster by the minute. Lieutenant Rachel Holt looked over at Dwayne.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡinnojWAwew
“Congratulations by the way, Commander,” she suddenly said.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPBTpQMHsO
Dwayne turned his head to her.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdd29QPj6l
“Holt?”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pIqN2nozC
“The kid,” she replied. “You’re soon to be born child.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡVusxnRnayP
“Oh, right. Thanks Rachel.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡZh2cjc29v8
“I just realized I didn’t congratulate you earlier and this felt as good a time as any,” she finished with a shrug.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyydZmfmLO
Dwayne smirked under his helmet.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGireGiBQR
“Always appreciated, Rachel.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡqP9t1sG4Cb
“Could always arrange a playdate with my kitties,” she said. “You know. In a few years when yours is actually born and old enough.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6KLjK7z7S
“Didn’t actually need to explain that part,” Dwayne said, letting out a snicker. “Sounds like a fair idea. Sure Katie’s gonna love meeting ya.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6zGxNmPpd
“Yeah,” she said in a cocky voice. “Doesn’t everybody?”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQ3Pk4i09V
“Oh Christ,” a male voice mumbled from the back.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡcn1W8lGgUN
It came from Gunnery Sergeant Kaiden Hendricks. He shook his helmet covered head.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iTJZrxmgW
“Here we go again.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXMCN6H67R
1st Sergeant Pedro Milligan laughed. He was the teams marksman.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1je3fnoWDj
“Nah. Leave it, Kaiden,” he suggested. “Don’t piss her off. Especially sense she’s a better fighter when you.” He looked over at Rachel and Dwayne. “That’s a policy I like. Always go by it and tend to get out without starting a fight I can’t win.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNBEwA53Wm
“Use that tactic with your boyfriend?” Dwayne asked. “Heard he was, like a mountain or something.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwjM97TQd0
Pedro laughed.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfjWizjHvW
“You kiddin’, Dwayne? Jonathan’s a computer geek. Work for the Intelligence agency back on Earth.” He shook his head. “Thinkin’ of settlin’ down at some point, ya know right? Back on Earth. Probably close to his parents. They’re not doin’ so hot so we figure’d we’d be close at hand until they go in the ground.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fJCUgdZk9
“Sorry man,” Kaiden said sympathetically. “What’s wrong with them? Old age kicking in?”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkGF6PN0G1
Pedro nodded.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ngkjzTChp
“Nah, Nebulosus fever. Jonathan’s handling it great, but he’s sister ain’t. Poor Tabitha. She’s just sixteen ya know. Shouldn’t lose ya parents when ya sixteen.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡziFjUzA7zU
Dwayne shook his head. Nebulosus fever. Something that had no cure yet. It would-as far as scientist’s thought-take years to manufacture one.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVeXBlMols
Trying to get the mood up, Kaiden turned to the fifth team member. Corporal Keith Pyke. He was their Vanguard and carried a heavy machinegun in his armored arms.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmQGGagANx
“Hey, Keith. You had it good on leave?”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnPEGKehRN
Pyke nodded.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8Ip6jLTI6
“Sure.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8scO9n5Ja
“What you do?” Kaiden continued, keeping the conversation going.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJysnfdBw4
“My sister’s birthdays. Celebrated with whole goddamn family. Uncles, aunts and cousins and all. Including grandparents and grandkids,” Keith explained in a Greek accent.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHd87jsSca
“What are the odds of your sisters having the same birthday anyway?” Kaiden asked amused.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyirL7A8ck
Keith smirked.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡjP3Sir7v3D
“Pretty damn small I think. I mean, first Annie is born on April the 10th. Two years later I’m born on December the 28th. Another two years after that Anita’s born on April the 10th. Odds are pretty fucking small of that happening within the same family.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡAskOBr83jl
“Gotta make celebrations easier,” Dwayne theorized. “One less birthday to arrange, I mean.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiTwKFDlOQ
“Pretty much. Our parents still laugh it up. It’s a bit of a running joke back home, right.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8FJ0Ya7td
As they started reaching the top of the hill, Dwayne waved Pedro forward.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4G5Shw0kQ
“You’re up next Pedro.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡly9f5TUIeJ
Pedro jogged up to him and Rachel.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUReDScNZG
Reaching the top Pedro used his sniper rifle to get a closer look into what was beyond the hill in the valley. It was hard with the snow storm close to max, but he could see structured covered in snow one-hundred meters away. It was almost impossible to see anything of them, and barely the buildings themselves.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KKHPCYmCj
“At least four buildings,” Pedro counted. “Probably more. Too much damn snow. Id’ say one-hundred meters straight ahead.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYRndWg8Fv
“Anyone home?” Rachel asked.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡRepJt2BFQB
Pedro shook his head.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRl6ybJwym
“Too hard to tell.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMkI9yEqGk
“Let’s move out. We’ll sneak closer in cover of the storm,” Dwayne said.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxzlh2oSIe
“No way they’ll see us,” Rachel said confidently. “I barely see us.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡt55PbE1VbA
They made their way down the hillside towards the buildings, through the storm. Slowly but surely they made way through the thirty centimeter deep and cold snow. Given it was nighttime, it did not make it any better. The wind was cold as ice and would have chilled them if they hadn’t their winter armor on. Their weapons were a color mix of grey and white, a part of their camouflage and winter gear.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1mBJv9oWQ
As they got closer they saw a guard tower with a light looking around. But with the storm it was pretty much impossible. Dwayne could see the frame of two figures at the top of the tower. Fifteen meters ahead walked a lone figure. He or she was holding a rifle in hand. Five white snow and ice covered buildings stood around the tower. Three of them were smaller whilst one was twenty meters.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSnidFlBx4
Dwayne gestured for Pedro to take up a sniping position and cover them. He nodded and readied himself. He made sure to have both figures in the tower in sight.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ19WRlATgM
Rachel sneaked towards the figure walking alone. She grabbed her knife and waited for the figure-turning out upon a closer look to be a male-to get out of view of the tower. When he finally did, she moved up and cut his throat quickly. He whimpered and flayed his arms for a moment. She gently laid his down. He wore a thick winter military issue coat. It was a standard issue winter coat used by the Terran Earth Protectorate, although it had been slightly modified. The man had a white helmet with wool inside and a pair of glasses covering his eyes. He wore a scarf around his neck. He was clearly human.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxNP9wljVh
“One down,” Rachel said in her comm.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9E9xXnciZK
“Copy,” Dwayne said. “Pedro. You’re up.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQMwMDSnx8
Pedro squeezed the trigger and put a bullet through the head of the first man. He turned and fired another slug through the skull and helmet of the second in the tower.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90FWQPtb8o
“Two down,” he confirmed after five seconds in total.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡth3DO001j0
“Kaiden with me,” Dwayne ordered.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGQxdCb50I
As the two moved into the camp, Rachel and Keith sneaked in from another direction. Rachel quickly opened the door and Keith rushed in with his heavy machinegun aimed to shoot. The building was empty. Only supply boxes were inside.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9JT6zIzKR
“First clear,” he said in his comm.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡYe82RX2SZl
“Copy, continue search,” Dwayne replied. “Checking second. Move on to third.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡSL2Jifmukm
“Copy,” Keith affirmed.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyvVrCvacg
Pedro moved in towards the camp to join the others.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1buadm8fe8
“Clear.” It was Rachel he heard, affirming that they checked the third building.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7TDQcSdGd
“Found a staircase in second building,” Dwayne said.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTL5PdHkoT
“Guess we’re going underground next commander,” Rachel said.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡAq45AhrJxG
“Indeed. Check the last house and join us. Pedro, moving out?”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8OLMFXFSE
“Entering camp, commander.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡSryEwnRdIf
As he made his way inside the building he breathed out and reached to remove his helmet.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iGcohtP01
“Keep it on,” Dwayne ordered. “Not till missions complete. Until then, keep the gear on.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTajEWYCBR
Pedro nodded and added a sigh.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuiP9Oc02U
He noted that Kaiden had dragged the body of the man Rachel killed inside. The bloody man lied on the floor. Pedro looked down and kneeled beside the body. He started removing the helmet and covering glasses. The man had tanned skin. His neck and coat around the neck was completely covered in blood.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡgadWmCdQre
“Think this guy’s Marauder?” Pedro asked.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡRX72hMYgpA
“Who else would be on Hellrain?” Dwayne asked.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7G5pveeHfh
“Good point.” Pedro shrugged and stood up.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwrQsOsGFU
Rachel and Keith stepped inside.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxR3z8Qypf
“Area secured, commander,” Rachel said.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wVeVrsa8I
Dwayne nodded and gestured towards the door to the staircase. Kaiden was standing there, aiming downward in the lighted staircase.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLeTCHI5on
“Rachel you’re up front with me. I’m on point,” Dwayne decided. “Keith, cover the rear.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jURnt0d2p
Keith nodded in confirmation over the order. The team moved down the staircase in unison.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaVopRPS2Y
“Hey Rachel,” Pedro said in a low voice. “How old’s Lisa now anyways?”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuKOonv6tT
“Two.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡutdolBSlOU
He cracked a smile under his helmet.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡLi5HHuzxmB
“How’d the barbeque you talked so much about go?”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡwX5gLtEhA7
“Great actually. Lisa tried bacon for the first time. She absolutely loved it. Verner got a chance to show his grilling skills, he always talks about. But after he burnt the first batch of burgers and sausages, I took over.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4BosW0liO
Kaiden snickered.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡg37lLOQkld
“Verner’s great and all but he’s a shitty cook.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRa18WvNd5
“Katie and he would get along great,” Dwayne joined the conversation.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡUo9wNCsNYK
“Least she’s not burning stuff, right?” Rachel asked.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeOJzzxqTT
“No. When she cooks, it’s mostly uneatable. Wouldn’t even let a Drakken try it.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPKNRTJmGX
The group chuckled lightly and very, very quietly.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBlC79fzWd
“Hey, where’s Davis, he in yet?” A male voice asked in a room up ahead.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzs8i2IQsB
Dwayne stopped the others and listened.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5ruTjnDG3
“Up in the tower, I’d imagine, Rufus,” someone else replied. “Why? You wanna chance shifts?”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8FWLM50m2
God no, Spector,” the first replied with a mix between a snort and a laugh.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGBGPUIxKa
Spector, Dwayne thought. A Marauder rank. A quite important officer actually. He gestured for Rachel and Pedro to move up with him. Pedro had switched to a submachinegun and hung the marksman rifle over his back.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ugBZaUmNA
With a nod, Rachel skipped around the corner, aiming her Holstein O3 Battle-rifle. Around the corner stood a man with no shirt and a pair of baggy jeans. He-Rufus-looked half awake. He was roughing up his sand colored hair when Rachel came into sight. His eyes widened and he gasped. With a slug and a silencer, his body collapsed into a pile of dead meat.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoJ5luSrve
Rachel quickly moved past him towards the open door a few meters away. Kaiden was right behind with the rest coming up after him.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKV5qL09iL
“Screw you!” A female voice snapped.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡksfA4fLYCz
A couple of men laughed. It was suddenly cut short.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2Xj8jN0Lj
“Whoa, whoa! Hey!” The Spector cried out. “Put the meat axe down Jane, for fucksake!”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡff3aluVlDe
“Fuck off, Vaughn!” The female yelled.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XHmyLBjKd
“Put it down or, we’ll put you down!” The Spector exclaimed.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjgQCo9qpU
Rachel looked back at Dwayne who just shrugged.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡKE9NOuhKQV
“Hey, you can’t kill me,” the woman replied cockily. “I’m too important, remember? Ultimate Spector Ivanovsky would skin you alive, you know that right?”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWSFiqrUJb
“Won’t kill ya. But if you don’t put that axe down the boys and I’ll use you as entertainment,” the Spector said threateningly.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Bvor8NByc
Dwayne turned the corner and pulled the trigger. Splashing the Spector’s brains on the floor as he collapsed. The second man, an Asian with black thick hair pulled a handgun in his pants but Rachel and Kaiden unloaded on him. He dropped down dead.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjQG6Faop1
The woman standing wielding an axe stared at them.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoXc3gDvbm
“Drop it,” Dwayne demanded. “Get one warning, Marauder.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjYbHqju1S
She narrowed her eyes on him, raised the axe and charged one step. Dwayne blew her brains out with a slug through her skull.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡGybxeidpHC
Pedro looked at the dead woman.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡq10nd4EQzP
“Crazy bitch,” he murmured. “Why you gotta force our hand?” he shook his head disapprovingly.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡdg8bsQCLkE
“She’s Marauder,” Keith reminded, nodding to the dead woman’s body. “They all crazy fucks.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1cPzq8MPP
Pedro couldn’t argue with that.copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfQpD4uhV4
“This is it?” Rachel asked. She turned to Dwayne. “Only five people here?”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78lfkN5Xzq
“Looks like it. A supply or research outpost maybe. Could been looking for something,” Dwayne mused. “Keith, get me contact with HQ.”copyright protection133ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdsN31dbN2
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