The team strategically moved through the rooms of the sleeping insurgents swiftly killing them all in their sleep. Moving to the next after a kill until they found a clue as to where the hostages were being kept.
They found a miniature map of the base and found out where the mine minerals were being kept, along with where the natives were placed.
…
“I think, they are kept outside. Let’s secure them first before it's time to wake up, once the guards find out we have infiltrated the base, they might take it out on the hostages” noted Mace.
“Lara, how are things out there?” asked Derek.
“Still quiet, no movements yet.”
“Angela?”
“We have taken care of things on our end, we can regroup outside.”
They opened the door and ahead was a pathway that led to a large shed-like structure, it was old and worn out but firm and secure.
In the disguise of the dark, they went towards it, in front were two guards standing watch. They were firm and dedicated making sure they paid attention to detail even though they had become sleepy, and they were waiting for the post to be relieved.
Derek was worried that getting in the shed would be dangerous if there were other enemies inside who might use the hostages as shields. He opted to wait for Angela’s group.
“Hurry guys, I see movement far ahead. Ships are heading your direction” spoke Lara on the comms.
She had observed five flying ships coming towards the settlement, possibly management who oversaw the running of the mining. The ships hovered above the air was not too fast, but they would arrive soon. They had weapons refitted all over them as if made to scare the natives forced to work.
“Kol, send your drones to scan the area thoroughly and provide a path to take the natives safely in. We are about to engage in full combat” ordered Derek.
“Yes sir”
Derek and his team pointed their guns at the door and let it rain, felling the guards in one fell swoop. They immediately ran to the door forcing themselves in and began searching for the hostages.
The guards inside did not stand a chance and were killed on sight, each two shots in the head to make sure. The team searched the whole shed and there they found the place with the hostages.
They were kept like animals in large fence-like cages, there were hundreds of little blue alien people who were huddled together.
Among them, some were far smaller, children and some were coughing possibly sick. They were all sitting with their knees rolled just waiting for their next task. The shed was massive but there were many sections with the groups separated.
The team moved over the corpses of the guards standing watch and reached the cages.
“Hello, we are here to help you” spoke Derek.
His voice woke nearly all of them, they made sounds of joy when they observed the dead bodies of their captures and reached out to their saviours.
“Shh… we quiet, we will help you escape.”
The Nol’vs responded in a language the team could not understand.
“Anyone speak Nol’vian?”
There was silence.
“Ah… Follow us…shh… Not safe talk” Derek spoke as he gestured. The Nol’vs did as instructed and followed Derek to lead them out of the shed while Wein, Harlan and Mace freed the rest from the cages.
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In the massive shed were about two hundred Nol’vs cramped up in that tight space barely living. Thanks to their short and small stature it was easy for four men to lead them.
They reached outside where Angela’s team was waiting with their weapons to provide cover.
“The ships will arrive in 10 minutes, hurry” reminded Lara.
“What’s the status Kol?”
“I have a perfect map that will lead the Nol’vs to the forest, which is safer in the shortest time. Also, no remaining enemies detected” replied Kol.
“Great. Kol, you, Harlan, and Mark take them to safety first. The rest of us will hold the line. Lara, estimate their numbers.”
“The ships are as big as the dropships. I estimate about thirty enemies.”
“The total in this base was about eighty and it was mostly because we had the element of surprise. No, we are in more danger than we thought…”
Derek scoured the area once more to look at the place where the enemy would most likely land. He remembered the map, on the way to the mine, there was a landing area.
“Let’s go, hurry.”
He and the team hurried.
The landing pad was not too far from the base, they were just a few feet away. The team readied themselves in an advantageous position, refilling their ammunition and ready to ambush the unsuspecting ships.
“Any other signs of movement?”
“Negative sir”
Derek was calmed, about five Troopers were remaining with a sniper as support. With the element of surprise, they had a chance.
His eyes went to the mine in the distance, there might have been someone there and if not, they needed to secure the area.
“Angela, secure the mine, we will protect the base. Kol once you have secured the civilians begin transmitting back to headquarters.”
After issuing out orders he crouched and aimed at the distance for the ships hovering ever closer. The team got into position, and Angela was the only one who took off for the mine.
The mine was not that far from the base, following the path the hostages took every day it was easier to find. Through the darkness of the night, she sped across the land, dashing on the ground.
The path was clear with small metallic fences for direction and to dissuade wandering off, it was impossible to miss. There was no lamp post, since the civilians mainly went to work when the sun was up.
The path went on until it became steep, but Angela kept her composure until she reached the base of the cliff, or rather the entrance of the mine. There were lights shone everywhere, and she could hear sounds and voices inside.
The whole mine was out of view from Lara so, Angela was by herself. She pulled out her MA-25 and aimed at the distance. There she saw two guards talking, unaware of their base being overrun.
“Found hostiles”
“Copy that, eliminate them as quickly and silently as possible before the ships arrive.”
Angela stared at the two and sighed inwards. Then she pulled the trigger…
Three shots were fired at the one whose back faced her, the shots were precise killing the man on impact. The other who faced her was shocked when he saw his friend fall, taken aback he searching for the source when Angela emerged from the shadows.
Two shots were enough to render him useless.
“Clear”
Angela ventured further and infiltrated the mine alone.
…
“No sign of suspicious activity sir. They must be expecting an easy landing.”
Lara’s voice crackled through the comms.
The ships descended like massive shadows, their engines screaming through the air as they lined up above the landing pad. Derek and his team were hunkered down in their hidden positions, rocks, crates, barrels and the remains of broken walls.
From the crevices of the spaces, their guns poked out, aiming at the direction of the ships.
“The ships are ground-bound, they have not suspected anything yet,” Lara said, her voice low but determined waiting to strike. “We can take them on now while they are not suspicious.”
“Hold your ground, not yet,” Derek replied, never taking his eyes off the ships. “Don’t attack until they have stopped their ships. Fighting an aerial force will be to our disadvantage.”
“Yes sir”
Lara turned her scope to look at the pilots of the ships, it would be better to get a clear shot, as quickly as possible if there was a skirmish to limit the chances of them fleeing.
She could see the unsuspecting pilots, chatting and laughing none the wiser. From one ship she saw a female human pilot. She was beautiful and to her side was a copilot or maybe a friend.
From watching their interactions, she could tell they had a relationship if not a history and based on the smiles the two were showing, they were having a great time.
As the ships descended, and Lara watched the smiles she was conflicted.
The first of the ships touched down, the ground shaking violently under the force of its landing. After some time, the door was opened and the team could make out faint outlines of the enemy combatants disembarking— tall, and armoured they were hauling large boxes.
“Why aren’t the rest descending?” asked Sienna.
“They know something” Mace added. “They must suspect a trap.”
Derek clenched his jaw, his fingers itching around the grip of his rifle, he did not want to put his team at risk, he had to attack now before they could recover.
“Kol what’s your status?”
“The natives are almost at the edge and will be safe in the forest.”
“Good,” Derek muttered. “Keep them safe even from wild animals, we’ll hold out here.”
Suddenly, the crackling sound of static interrupted their conversation.
“Sir this is Mark,” his voice was filled with urgency. “We have a problem. Ahead there is a second wave of ships, coming from the forest, numbering seven.”
Derek’s mind raced. A second wave? They were being flanked, the hostages would be greeted by shots if not bombs. And to add there were seven ships which was more than the current predicament.
“Damn it” he cursed.