Year 2718, April 26thcopyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡphAFP1f1zM
Neutral sector, twenty-six lightyears from Duross spacecopyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡHn3cffn3RK
Neutral system, Hellrain surface, Operation Mistwalkcopyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡINCSVdsXfW
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 protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8ZLePVaKJ
He chuckled to himself.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0o2BO4zvLd
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 protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡTY1xo5qdVR
“Congratulations by the way, Commander,” she suddenly said.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVlfVCti7J
Dwayne turned his head to her.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9afAaY7jdn
“Holt?”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdVCJtsBla
“The kid,” she replied. “You’re soon to be born child.”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7ppnaOCoV
“Oh, right. Thanks Rachel.”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCMqo24ywi
“I just realized I didn’t congratulate you earlier and this felt as good a time as any,” she finished with a shrug.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gDjgvZAFb
Dwayne smirked under his helmet.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJ8W3IEUsF
“Always appreciated, Rachel.”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQVXE8aPo5
“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 protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡk80Ch78a6l
“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 protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡeL1SxFD671
“Yeah,” she said in a cocky voice. “Doesn’t everybody?”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2XdFb7qGB
“Oh Christ,” a male voice mumbled from the back.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡfM4nfTBBNz
It came from Gunnery Sergeant Kaiden Hendricks. He shook his helmet covered head.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51mvrw7lrx
“Here we go again.”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2BBPFBd0n
1st Sergeant Pedro Milligan laughed. He was the teams marksman.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡujHwT9ywJU
“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 protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbx5Nnc4QO
“Use that tactic with your boyfriend?” Dwayne asked. “Heard he was, like a mountain or something.”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbtoeUqkXc
Pedro laughed.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbvtx3CZc7
“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 protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJs9p7wsRd
“Sorry man,” Kaiden said sympathetically. “What’s wrong with them? Old age kicking in?”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSTGA7Rk4N
Pedro nodded.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLiyXYgtUW
“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 protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCt0h6FfTz
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 protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡQb3BrYTJni
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 protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡX23KK0t84Z
“Hey, Keith. You had it good on leave?”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOZc4NxtXV
Pyke nodded.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEXTVwWczY
“Sure.”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡadFI3hWzzg
“What you do?” Kaiden continued, keeping the conversation going.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡby3JzBgsWH
“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 protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCc1Vy5oKJ
“What are the odds of your sisters having the same birthday anyway?” Kaiden asked amused.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡawmid64Gd9
Keith smirked.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5BgmltygH
“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 protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bLp9Xf4Cl
“Gotta make celebrations easier,” Dwayne theorized. “One less birthday to arrange, I mean.”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡoj0BeQBVQI
“Pretty much. Our parents still laugh it up. It’s a bit of a running joke back home, right.”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4eK0zsPYq3
As they started reaching the top of the hill, Dwayne waved Pedro forward.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡBW2OWWcZdZ
“You’re up next Pedro.”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcXrBX1ywu
Pedro jogged up to him and Rachel.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqUUlHTUES
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 protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFMRcbOo2D
“At least four buildings,” Pedro counted. “Probably more. Too much damn snow. Id’ say one-hundred meters straight ahead.”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqKNd5qafU
“Anyone home?” Rachel asked.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJgY6gKugh
Pedro shook his head.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WRBoLSjVM
“Too hard to tell.”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFa7mTlRE8
“Let’s move out. We’ll sneak closer in cover of the storm,” Dwayne said.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡXY6uXmcRJz
“No way they’ll see us,” Rachel said confidently. “I barely see us.”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6oW6qDZKq
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 protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fSTvy0Rvs
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 protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OY0HnFBRP
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 protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAzBzO68Jy
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 protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtL4Ba95F0
“One down,” Rachel said in her comm.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9n6zMPu8uP
“Copy,” Dwayne said. “Pedro. You’re up.”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡta27YDb5Kw
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 protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡAplfBPF0gC
“Two down,” he confirmed after five seconds in total.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCa8TbjXYC
“Kaiden with me,” Dwayne ordered.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEDKxwD313
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 protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cJoFEUl1J
“First clear,” he said in his comm.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGHMKndfU1
“Copy, continue search,” Dwayne replied. “Checking second. Move on to third.”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡpU8BYCAnBs
“Copy,” Keith affirmed.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQW0pEcUOw
Pedro moved in towards the camp to join the others.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRVXOiry5j
“Clear.” It was Rachel he heard, affirming that they checked the third building.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiwx389sx2
“Found a staircase in second building,” Dwayne said.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzXUuDA09M
“Guess we’re going underground next commander,” Rachel said.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvZVm4rmTR
“Indeed. Check the last house and join us. Pedro, moving out?”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCm1dmhQZj
“Entering camp, commander.”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLkm7wbYKG
As he made his way inside the building he breathed out and reached to remove his helmet.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgzmpxREzg
“Keep it on,” Dwayne ordered. “Not till missions complete. Until then, keep the gear on.”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjaj9ylF7H
Pedro nodded and added a sigh.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡAX2shImtyS
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 protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzGZV0FUHR
“Think this guy’s Marauder?” Pedro asked.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5j8zkGix98
“Who else would be on Hellrain?” Dwayne asked.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fHtfBIElA
“Good point.” Pedro shrugged and stood up.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡHevDlhxMXE
Rachel and Keith stepped inside.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjKmuFmxTt
“Area secured, commander,” Rachel said.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3Yu828veT
Dwayne nodded and gestured towards the door to the staircase. Kaiden was standing there, aiming downward in the lighted staircase.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡBT8k5ssqsn
“Rachel you’re up front with me. I’m on point,” Dwayne decided. “Keith, cover the rear.”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tF2tLFHet
Keith nodded in confirmation over the order. The team moved down the staircase in unison.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7AW3Mo5a5
“Hey Rachel,” Pedro said in a low voice. “How old’s Lisa now anyways?”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡHS7ucCtnZg
“Two.”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbQVHB6t20
He cracked a smile under his helmet.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZBFaXb7nn
“How’d the barbeque you talked so much about go?”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVL9g6dUk3
“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 protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvTymJXZPM
Kaiden snickered.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVzIT7o7P6
“Verner’s great and all but he’s a shitty cook.”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3KoEw1XLG
“Katie and he would get along great,” Dwayne joined the conversation.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6YaUM8XcY
“Least she’s not burning stuff, right?” Rachel asked.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMRdsbsEnF
“No. When she cooks, it’s mostly uneatable. Wouldn’t even let a Drakken try it.”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyb48r5fNW
The group chuckled lightly and very, very quietly.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOPTYAVxaq
“Hey, where’s Davis, he in yet?” A male voice asked in a room up ahead.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8J6FvCq0t
Dwayne stopped the others and listened.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQjwRTxH9P
“Up in the tower, I’d imagine, Rufus,” someone else replied. “Why? You wanna chance shifts?”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhY7KJUau2
God no, Spector,” the first replied with a mix between a snort and a laugh.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7EeL1Yq7L
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 protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7Mbr73rpQ
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 protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RKCrXOtJJ
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 protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvRColHD5J
“Screw you!” A female voice snapped.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIPezLxhmn
A couple of men laughed. It was suddenly cut short.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdDj5bhIFz
“Whoa, whoa! Hey!” The Spector cried out. “Put the meat axe down Jane, for fucksake!”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMqlbTFrvh
“Fuck off, Vaughn!” The female yelled.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5tgNn4v7f
“Put it down or, we’ll put you down!” The Spector exclaimed.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡOm0ZbHbT1W
Rachel looked back at Dwayne who just shrugged.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7QBxo148s
“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 protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoIXGTs5q2
“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 protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRR5QY7Uhe
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 protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9rNNKQphs
The woman standing wielding an axe stared at them.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuCSke7JOl
“Drop it,” Dwayne demanded. “Get one warning, Marauder.”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DmaTpfyPE
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 protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gXstWYS0c
Pedro looked at the dead woman.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DiGxSv5Ym
“Crazy bitch,” he murmured. “Why you gotta force our hand?” he shook his head disapprovingly.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9m1HQFFS9J
“She’s Marauder,” Keith reminded, nodding to the dead woman’s body. “They all crazy fucks.”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7TygZwNzA
Pedro couldn’t argue with that.copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ioKz5ysG8
“This is it?” Rachel asked. She turned to Dwayne. “Only five people here?”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYXYkIlDPr
“Looks like it. A supply or research outpost maybe. Could been looking for something,” Dwayne mused. “Keith, get me contact with HQ.”copyright protection353ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsPgKQCII9
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