We were in Shuttle Bay Z30. It was a large chamber where the white light from the lamps around us could not fully illuminate. After entering codes into one of the access ports, there was a cacophony of metallic clicks and vibrations where dozens of weapon and armor caches rose from the ground, followed by benches and worktables.

“Let’s get busy,” Grimes said.

For this op on Delta V, we were assigned the Combat Assault Rifle 72, otherwise known as the CAR-72. There were many variations of projectile weapons that the military used, from explosive plasma bursts to electromagnetic rifles. Each of the newer weapons utilized power sources that could be detected, and as usual with FORF gear, the CAR-72 had a non-existent power signature and was an old weapon. An oldie, but goodie.

The CAR-72 used case-less ammo, which meant we had to fill the weapon cartridges with conical-shaped bullets followed by an injection of ballistic foam. The foam was a high explosive that would launch our rounds at such high velocity as to penetrate the toughest armor. Click, click, click was the sound that could be heard as we sat around the worktable, loading 4-gram bullets into the magazines.

“Jesus! Can’t you fold that thing?” Jimmy asked as he bumped into my tail.

I hissed at him in response and injected ballistic foam into a filled cartridge. The other weapon we had was Rickard’s minigun, also known as the MG-452. This puppy could pour out hundreds of rounds a minute at such high velocities as to rip through several inches of steel. It required a small energy source and could also fire explosive rounds to take out armored units. A reasonable cost to our stealth capability and we only had this weapon because Rickard was a freak of nature large enough to use it.

“Let’s roll,” Grimes said when everyone was finished.

Us grunts called the Stealth Drop the Ghost Drop because we sat in a ship like ghosts with a high probability of dying and turning into a ghost. Basically, we were placed into an unpowered vessel and launched out like a missile. We fly through space and appear as space debris to sensors for what could be days until pulled in by the planet’s gravitational force.

We sat strapped to our seats in a circular chamber facing each other in zero gravity. There was no sound, weight, or feeling as we zipped through empty space toward Delta V. The only power output was from the life support systems attached to our suits and the night vision embedded inside our visors, which provided us with a green-shaded visual. It was an ethereal experience.

There was a shake and a rumble as our craft was pulled in by Delta V’s gravity. Once we entered the atmosphere, the material that the vessel was made up of began to disintegrate from our high velocity and intense heat friction. This slowed our descent and we lay suspended and strapped to the top of the vessel with our stomachs facing downwards. The vessel’s bottom melted away before us, and for a split second, we hung above the world at 60 kilometers.

Our straps were released, and the moment of peace ended. Our suits protected us from the elements and friction, and we descended at over 800 kilometers per hour. At that speed, you could literally feel your stomach fall to your feet, but the world below you appeared unchanged even though we fell toward at speeds that broke the sound barrier.

Eventually, we needed to open our chutes. Another gut-wrenching feeling, and then we glided down to a location that was pre-determined mathematically. After landing, we checked our weapons, ammo, and survival gear.

Diaz walked amongst us, monitoring our vitals with a medical scanner smaller than a fist. Once we completed our check-up, we all unrolled our Sheet Computers and calibrated them to connect with each other. We were linked up using a short-range radio wave with a distance of up to five kilometers. Any longer, and it could run the risk of being detected by the enemy.

Tool unfolded a miniature plane that was about fifteen centimeters in length. The drone was equipped with long ranged cameras and an array of sensors. It was solar-powered, and its motors could fly in the sky for days. With a sharp hiss, it launched hundreds of meters rapidly into the air. In moments, it streamed data to Tool’s Sheet Computer. The dim yellow light reflected off Tool’s helmet visor as he read the coordinates.

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“The air quality and radiation levels are safe,” Diaz said, and his visor parted from his face with a snap.

All our visors opened, and we sat around in a circle. Our entire mission hinged on whether or not Captain Thorm’s intelligence was correct. If it was, we would discover evidence of hidden technology, and our objective was to steal or destroy it.

“The coordinates lead us to those mountains,” Tool said, pointing to the rocky hills in the distance.

“You heard him! We got a lot of ground to cover and no time to do it. Grab your gear, and let’s roll!” Grimes barked.

I was designed for speed, so I sprinted far ahead of the others to do some recon. It was redundant since Tool had his drone, but there were things on the ground that it missed and that my Velocra senses could catch. Like the scent of a VeraTax Shock Trooper!

I was several clicks out from the mountain range when my snout caught the dusty metallic smell of the huge robotically enhanced reptile. I ducked to hide behind some thick desert fauna that dotted the flat rugged landscape. Using my rifle’s scope, I searched the area, and the giant VeraTax was not hard to find. It was crouched up in the rocky terrain. It had red metallic armor plates and several armaments adorned its large body, including a rocket launcher, plasma cannon, and a flame thrower. I immediately recognized it as a mercenary and knew our intel was correct because the Galactic Federation was known to hire cybernetic soldiers.

“Contact,” I said over the comms and pinged our enemy’s location.

“Good work Sam,” Grimes replied.

I stayed out of sight and watched the VeraTax as my squad moved into place. I saw on my helmet display my teammates spread out into different positions. We were highly trained, but so were our enemies. There was a loud crack from the mountain range.

“They shot my drone,” Tool said.

Flashes of light and the hum of plasma fire came from the mountainside as the energy rounds exploded in the vicinity of my squad.

“Sam, rush to the coordinates I just pinged you and take out those gunners! Johnson and Jimmy lay down some covering fire. Rickard, unleash the gates of hell and the rest of you on me!” Screamed Grimes.

Without hesitation, we acted. The dirt and debris were kicked up from the mountainside as my squadmates returned fire from their CAR-72s. My body was designed to run through the plains and jungles, and I was at the peak of physical conditioning. I ran fast! Grimes had me charge the left flank as she and the others charged the right with Rickard, Johnson, and Jimmy laying down heavy cover fire that kicked up massive clouds of dust from the mountainside.

I watched missiles spray outwards from the VeraTax’s location. They bombarded our area, causing a roaring cacophony of explosions and fire. Something struck my leg hard, causing me to stumble and fall. At my speed, I slid for nearly ten meters and kicked up a huge dust cloud before regaining my feet. My right leg felt numb, but my helmet reported no breech. The ceramic plates of my body armor had stopped the shrapnel. I continued onwards and launched myself as high as my hind legs could take me up the side of the mountain. My feet gained purchase as I scrambled up the rock face onto a ledge and behind a large boulder.

Through the inside of my visor, I could see the location of my squad as they tactically advanced forward. However, the enemy plasma rifles were giving them pause.

A hiss and a click from my radio, “This is not a fucking holiday Sam. How are we doing with the gunners?” Grimes asked.

I hugged the tan boulder and peeked around it while crouching. About twenty meters away, there were three enemy human soldiers in the advanced body armor of the Federation. They were firing heavy automatic plasma guns.

I aimed my rifle and steadied my breath. After a moment, I fired off a full automatic barrage of high-velocity armor-piercing rounds. The soldiers twitched, and there was a burst of a red mist exploding from their heads, and they collapsed face forward.

“Gunners down,” I said.

At that moment, I heard the buzz of a rocket launcher and looked up just in time to see the VeraTax shoot a missile toward me. OH SHIT! I thought and managed to duck behind the boulder before it exploded with a deafening roar. A tremendous force picked me off my feet and threw me like I was a wet sock. The heat was intense as it vaporized rock into ash, and I slammed against another rock wall several meters away. Shrapnel and broken rock had shredded into me, and I felt a sharp pain in my right thigh. The pressure in my head felt like someone had run over it with a tank track. The last thing I realized was that the ground beneath me gave away, and I was falling.