Prologue; Part 2-
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The planet loomed in front of The Gladius as it sped to its destination, flanked by several hundred other smaller Frigates and Hee’s own ship, The Hunter. The Hunter, was the largest ship in sight, one of only 10 deity class ships in commission. The only reason the pair could afford to have her built and maintained was by using the majority of the vast wealth gathered from 5 years of mining and conquering across the known galaxy. The Fallen empire would be just another jewel in the crowns of the two; although they’re empire was not the largest, it was by far the most economically and militarily developed; allowing access for the two to some of the finest weapons and ESP’s available.
“Ready for launch, Sir”, a marine sergeants voice echoed across the command as the fleet neared the waiting armada that had been cobbled together in a last ditch effort to stave off The Empires expansion.
“Engage”, Ajax’s commanding voice was heard and the marine nodded as he hit the button that would launch him and his squad of 10 across space and into the path of the waiting Destroyers.
“Give them some cover fire”, said Ajax, no trace of warmth seen on his face, only concentration and the determination to see this through to the end.
In the background, plasma fire could be heard as the ships main guns engaged the enemy, distracting them from the small boarding craft that would be speeding towards its destination. Many years before Ajax and his marines had proved that sometimes a small, well-armed infiltration group was worth ten ships in a battle.
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The Marine Sergeant’s POV
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“You heard the commander, it’s time to go”.
A clunk was heard as the locking mechanism disengaged his small craft from the Titan it had been attached too. The sergeant had infiltrated many ships over the years but he knew the importance that his Imperial Masters had placed on his team capturing the enemy command vessel. They were in for a rough ride.
“Men; check your gear, and comms silence from now on, we don’t want those Fallen bastards picking up on an errant signal before we crash their party, do we now”, said the sergeant with a grim smile”.
His only answer was the blinking lights that signalled their readiness to take the fight to the enemy.
At terminal velocity; the boarding craft approached the enemy commander’s vessel fast, with only minor course corrections having to be made. The marines pulled on their helmets as the vessel loomed on the radar.
The boarding craft shuddered and shrieked as it crashed into a landing port of the ship, venting any men inside out into space.
“GO, GO, GO”, the sergeant cried, bringing his rifle up to his shoulder as one of the privates threw a concussion grenade through the door to the hanger.
Screams of confusion could be heard as the guards and maintenance crew who were stationed at the landing dock were taken by surprise by the sudden and explosive appearance of the marines.
*Crack*, a surprised guards neck was broken as a marine used his rifle as a club, instantly snapping his neck like a twig. He limply tried to crawl to safety for a few moments more before the marine put him out of his misery with a bolt to the head.
“Move Up!”.
The marines moved to the bulkhead door encircling it as the front man lay thermite in a ring around the lock holding the door shut. A *Boom* was heard as the thermite finished and the sergeant kicked the door off its hinges into the corridor behind, crushing the guards that had been lying in wait.
“Clear!”.
“Well then boys, let’s go meet the commander, wouldn’t want him to feel we forgot about him now do we”, said the sergeant, a satisfied smirk on his face, checking his comms and linking it to the command channel.
“Sir, we’ve breached the ship”.
A moment went by until the comms crackled and he was answered, “Excellent, I’ll be right there”.
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Ajax’s POV
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“Sir, we’ve breached the ship”, a voice cracked as I commanded the fleet from The Gladius.
“Excellent, I’ll be right there”, I clicked off the radio and allowed myself a brief moment of boyish excitement before I rained it in and strode to my personal boarding craft, with my honour guard already waiting on board for me to arrive.
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“Hold the fort Hee, I’m going to take the fight to the enemy commander”.
“Alright, make sure to make sure he reaps every last seed he’s sown over the years”, said Hee, knowing my feelings on the man.
“Ajax, out”.
This’ll be a great chance to test out my new rifle, I’ve been waiting to find a suitable place to try it and if this ships as heavily guarded as they say, I’ll have plenty of time to practice, can’t let it show on my face how excited I am though. I remembered what my father had taught me when I was young, he had been a real army commander, he taught me that commanders must always seem calm, so their troops will mirror them, men will not follow a leader who runs around excitably like a little boy.
Ajax’s personal boarding craft softly hissed as it broke off from the main ship and sped towards the enemy command ship, which already had noticeable chunks missing from its frame, floating off into the nothingness that is space.
“Report, sergeant, how far are you from the command deck?”, I calmly said as I strode through the opening doors off my boarding craft in my dull grey armour, my rifle strapped to my back and my sword to my leg.
“Just outside the door Sir, he and his men have barricaded themselves inside the control room and we are facing heavy resistance”.
“That’s alright, I’m here now”, I confidently said as neared his position, noting the dead that I passed as I walked through the halls towards the man I had trusted and who had betrayed me.
“Make sure to take a photo for me”, I hear Hee say as I travel along the service corridor through which my marines breached so far past the ships defence station.
“Jared, make sure to record this”, I thought to the AI who resided in a chip in my brain, “I want to relive this for as long as I can”.
“Yes Sir, I will record your triumph and play it back to you as many times as you want”, Jared’s voice seemed almost human like, but that was just his programming responding to the situation, able to tell my excitement.
“All good Hee”.
“Good luck man, drinks on me tonight if everything goes well”, I smiled as I heard his response.
Oh well time to test the new armour I guess, as I rounded the corner and found a full blown firefight going on, with no conclusion in sight.
Jumping into the fray, I dodged and dived as I made my way towards the nearest shooter who was looking surprised that none of his shots had connected.
Sorry, bud but Fey don’t get hit, I thought as I took his head off his shoulders with my nanofiber sword that could cut through solid titanium.
His face still looked surprised even as it hit the floor.
I took the position that he had previously occupied and took a moment to unsling my rifle and snipe at the heads of a few unfortunates who happened to be looking round the corner at that moment, ripping off my helmet and throwing it to the ground.
Fuck Yes! This is why I play this game, the marines ran through the now open door to the control room with me and my honour guard following closely, to find the man I had come to see all ready and waiting for me, casually sitting on the captain’s seat and sipping gin out of a crystal glass.
Fuck that, there’s no way I’m letting him sit there and look all cool as he monologues about his plan, I walked across and grabbed the smug bastard out of his chair, hit him in the nose, then threw him on the floor, there, that’s better a better look on him.
“Well, well, if it isn’t Ajax, I can’t imagine you’ve only come to invite me to tea?”, he said, smoothly picking himself up and still somehow managing to look suave even with a blood covered suit and a broken nose.
“Well I just had to see you again”, I said sarcastically,” but enough talking”, I said as I shoved my Nanofiber sword through his heart.
“Well”, he whispered in my ear as I shoved the sword further into his chest, “what a fitting ending, just like a fairy tale”, as he said It I felt a small prick on my arm and suddenly I started losing control of my body. I slowly collapse as I piss my pants, losing control of my bladder, I guess that didn’t look very cool. NO, I won’t die like this, I won’t give him the satisfaction. I can hear people rushing around, trying to keep me awake as I slowly slip into darkness….
StatusNameAjaxRaceFeyTitlesLevel31Experience27/100Strength40Intelligence27