A MH-60G Pave Hawk roaring its blades rushed past slicing through the air. Inside Cap. Brad and Jason were having a discussion.
“Where is Lucifer? If what you say is true, he is the only person able to help us, no one is as proficient as him in this field.” Jason said.
“After that incident, he decided to follow the Captain and thus we are unable to locate him.” The commodore said.
Jason turned his gaze towards Cap. Brad.
“Don’t look at me. I am just an old man following orders.” He shrugged his hands in the air.
“It was Vice-Admiral Nicole who insisted we contact you. You are the only known member of the team left who we can contact. Rest of them have cut-off or refused to further help us after that incident.” The commodore explained.
“I see.” Jason said, his tone laden with sadness and grief. He gently closed his eyes and turned his face towards the window of the transport. Opening them he gazed at the scene below.
He could see many huge constructs even at such a distance. Multitudes of pipes transporting resources that were procured from the mines and rigs towards the Resource Depots. Billows of smoke and black gas could be seen emanating from the sky-high chimneys, trying to color the world in darkness. Among this darkness flashes of purple would slither from time to time, indicating the material being transported contained a unique sort of matter in some form.
Flashes of memories hidden deep inside his mind ran past like a photobook.
Even if we have developed at such a great speed after the Reboot, but at what cost. Is this really the right way, or are we wrong yet again?
Jason thought.
****************
[I-CA Military Command transport PH1151 returning with the priority package. Permission to land.]
The voice of the pilot from the open ground radio channel woke Jason from his thought process.
[Acknowledged PH1151. Pad-01 has been cleared and prepared for landing. Welcome back.]
Another voice echoed from the ground radio channel.
The transport roared as it entered a mountainous range.
Far at a distance on a certain elevation, the mountain was carved and various artificial constructs could be seen. There was a huge white satellite dish covered in dirt reflecting sunlight from the small clean patches. Multiple structures consisting of barracks, ammunition depot, warehouse and landing pads could be seen, some with transport similar to the Pave Hawk.
This was the I-CA Military Command Base located in this region. Such bases were constructed at major strategic points throughout the planet in order to provide safety and security to the cities and guard posts.
The transport landed roughly on Pad-01. Jason alighted and was greeted with a hush-bush of military forces. Trucks and many other vehicles carrying troops moved everywhere spewing out dust behind. Soldiers could be seen marching at some distance. Transport aircrafts were being refueled, Combat aircrafts were being loaded with munitions. This was the general situation of any I-CA Military Command Base. Shortage of personnel which could never be imagined before the Reboot were a part of reality now.
“Cap. Brad, welcome back.” A woman wearing a military uniform with a two-star insignia greeted them.
Cap. Brad shook his hand with the woman and pointed at Jason.
“This is--”
Before he could finish, the Major General cut him.
“No need for introductions, Cap. Brad. After all, who does not know about the famous Vice-Captain Jason.” Turning her gaze towards Jason she put her hand forward.
“Nice to meet you, Vice-Captain Jason. I am Major General Lisa, forgive me but the Lieutenant General is out on an urgent rescue mission so he could not arrive to meet you.” She said, admiration could be seen flowing out from her eyes.
“Hmm, nice to meet your Major General.” Jason said as he shook her hand.
Soon they started moving towards the interior of the base.
“Cap. Brad the Escort ship is currently being refueled and will be ready soon for departure.” Maj. General Lisa informed, to which the Captain nodded in acknowledgment.
“Why is there so much commotion in the base?” Jason asked with his eyes locked towards the soldiers and the movement in the base.
“This, it’s a little troublesome. The resource team from the Central Command reported that there was an additional deposit of ores in the area of the base’s jurisdiction. We did deploy teams for further confirmation but it turned out to be calamity grade Terra-formed creature’s lair. The teams lost contact and were considered KIA. But the calamity grade Terra-formed creature lost its composure and attacked a nearby guard post. Thus we are preparing to sortie. Lieutenant General already left for a personal inspection.” The Major General explained. Her face grim and taut with tension.
“Are those at the Central Command turned stupid or what? How could they not confirm the situation prior?” Cap. Brad screamed in anger.
The Major General looked at Jason and continued.
“It has been this way since the disbandment of your team, Vice-Captain Jason. Those in the high castle do not care for the other’s life and just keep sucking us dry in order to live their luxurious life.” Maj. General Lisa’s cold tone depicted the current desperate situation.
Jason frowned in response as they made their way towards the hanger.
Inside the hanger lay a beautiful ship. Constructed on the framework of a conventional aerial transport from before the Reboot, the engines were modified and retrofitted with a prototype propulsion system. Coated in a heat resistant Navy blue insulated liquid metal nano-layer with an ‘I-CA’ logo on its engines, this was the conventional Escort ship used by the I-CA Naval Command. A marvel of innovation and technology. On the front of the ship was an extended modified Vulcan Cannon loaded with the high grade explosive rounds with electromagnetic firing mechanism.
A rectangular device was connected to the engine followed by tubes which glowed with a blue light.
“That’s the extractor terminal used to refuel this ship. Every Military Command base is built near such deposits and supplied with such a small scale extractor terminal for preserving any kind of leakage during transport.”
Maj. General Lisa caught Jason staring at the device in a puzzled manner so she explained.
Jason nodded in understanding.
Just then a soldier rushed towards the Major General and saluted. Maj. General Lisa's expression turned serious as she listened to the report.
She looked towards Jason and said.
“Forgive me Vice-Captain Jason but I must take my leave. The situation at the frontline seems to have deteriorated.”
“What happened!” Cap. Brad, who was talking with the commodore near the ship, traced a commotion and asked loudly.
After explaining, the Major General took her leave.
Very soon the ship was refueled. Cap. Brad, Jason and the commodore boarded the ship. The Naval Command ships required advanced knowledge and qualification in various fields to be piloted and thus in order to reduce the loss, not anyone was allowed to pilot the ship. The commodore took the pilot seat as Cap. Brad and Jason were seated behind the cockpit.
[I-CA Naval Command ES-25 ready for take-off.]
The commodore radioed to the ATC.
[Roger that ES-25. Opening hanger bay. Wish you a safe entry.]
Above the ship, the hanger door started opening with a mechanical rattle.
The engines started humming as the propulsion system came online. A small blue hue could be seen emanating from the rear end of the four mobile thrusters located at each end of the ship.
With a small pop the Escort ship lifted from the ground as it gained altitude.
“Take us out, commodore.” Cap. Brad said from behind.
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“Wait!” Just then Jason said.
“Vice-Captain James, what’s the matter?” The commodore asked.
“Are you able to connect to the Lieut. General’s communication signal?” Jason asked.
“This?” The commodore seemed confused and looked towards Cap. Brad who nodded in return.
“It’s not possible from here, but the ground station can establish a communication link and forward our message.” The commodore explained.
After a brief silence, Jason looked at the Captain and said.
“It seems we need to divert from our original track.”
“Can’t help it. I knew you would say something like that.” Cap. Brad said nonchalantly, totally not surprised as he gave a ‘go-ahead’ signal to the commodore.
[This is ES-25, requesting a communication line to the Lieutenant General under the authority of Cap. Brad.]
The commodore radioed in. After a few seconds, there was a reply.
[This is the Lieutenant General speaking.] A manly voice echoed from the radio, the tone indicated heavy fatigue and tiredness.
The commodore looked at Cap. Brad who in return looked at Jason.
“This is Vice-Captain Jason. I heard you boys have been facing some trouble down there. Send me your coordinates. I will lend a hand to you.” Jason said.
A set of coordinates arrived on the ship.
“We received the coordinates. Calculating distance. ETA is five minutes.” The commodore confirmed.
“Stay tight, you heard the man, help will soon arrive.” Jason said, nodding towards the commodore.
The thrusters roared to life as the Escort ship soared past at rapid speed.
Inside the Command Base, Maj. General listened to the conversation from before as she thought.
The seven man team which fought at the frontlines in order to protect and secure a future for Humankind. Are they really going to come back again?
At a distance from the Military Command Base existed GP-11097. As compared to the previous GP-1151 it was a lot better and had access to more resources.
But now the walls of this Guard Posts were destroyed, the structures inside the city were in tatters. Corpses of people lying drenched in blood on the streets. Some with their internal organs spilling out some with their heads decapitated. It was a horror inducing scene. Still not all was lost.
In the central part of the Guard Post sounds of gunfire and detonations could be heard from time to time.
A squad of soldiers equipped with electromagnetic rifles spewing bullets towards their target. Their target was a huge ten meter tall Terra-formed creature. The creature had a foundation of the lion but the body was heavily mutated as it was covered in brown scales which reflected light from the sun.
Bullets from the refiles despite their momentum could not even leave a scratch on its scales much less injure it. It only made it more irritating for the creature. Just like an itch which came back again no matter how many times one scratched.
In irritation the creature rushed towards the line of soldiers firing towards it. The creature swung its paw in order to trample them beneath it. The air pressure from the attack did not disturb the soldiers who kept on firing. Just when the paw was about to land. A man wearing a military uniform and a four-star insignia on the chest moved ahead. The man raised his meter black combat knife with both hands and parried the attack. The force behind the attack made the man kneel on the ground. He hurriedly swallowed the iron that threatened to ooze from his mouth. But alas the iron found its way from the nose and dripped down on the ground.
Just then a grenade landed on the body of the creature, resulting in an explosion which forced it to move back.
“Don’t fall back men. Reinforcements are about to arrive in five minutes. Hold on for five more minutes.”
The man ordered.
Behind this line of soldiers was the entrance to the bunker in which were many survivors from the city, who relied on the soldiers for protection.
When it seemed that they would be able to handle the creature for five minutes a change occurred. The creature opened his jaw wide and took a deep breath.
A deep sense of foreboding sensation took over everyone’s body.
A sphere made of orange light seemed to be gathering in the creature’s jaw. The surroundings started to vibrate.
It seems this is all I can do.
The man thought as he gazed at the bunker behind him.
-Boom-
Suddenly, there was an explosion on the body of the creature and it was flung backwards. The sphere of light scattered into mist.
At the horizon one could see a small dot moving rapidly towards them leaving behind a trail of blue light.
-Boom-
Another explosion sounded as the body of the beast was now flung sideways at a far distance.
“Reinforcements are here men. We did it.” The man said, his gaze locked on the small dot, which soon turned into a navy blue aircraft.
The ship hovered at a sufficient distance as a silhouette of a person could be seen jumping from the door.
-Bang-
A huge cloud of dust was created as the person landed on the ground. Dust settled and there was a huge crater on the ground. In the center was a man, who placed his hands on the ground and stood up. He rotated his hands as if confirming if everything was alright with his body.
The soldiers there were stunned looking at the scene. A person jumping from such a height would definitely lead to being injured no matter how much power he had. But the reality was different, there seemed to be no sign of injury on the person’s body.
-Roar-
A roar brought everyone back to reality. As the creature swayed its huge head and locked gaze with the man.
The man was Jason who had just landed on the ground.
Hmm, it seems I would have to train a bit. My muscles seem to be a bit stiff.
He thought as his eyes wandered around the surroundings and locked on the creature which just roared in retaliation.
There you are!
Jason thought as he calmly walked towards the creature. If one could observe him closely one would notice that the color of his pupils had turned red and his muscle density was beyond the roof.
The creature’s instinct warned it of the puny human that was approaching it. It growled in response.
“Now now. Don’t be afraid. I will kill you swiftly, don't worry. After all you had to destroy this city and kill the people, right?” Jason said, as a horrifying aura of bloodlust emanated from his body. Due to his powers this bloodlust emerged as a dark red mist around his body.
The soldiers in the distance took a step backwards, frightened by the mist. Some even fell down. Inside the ship, Cap. Brad looked at the situation.
“The seven of them each were a force to be reckoned with. It just seems like yesterday when the whole of the I-CA trembled in fright at the rage of even one of them just like chickens and dogs.” Cap. Brad said subconsciously.
“Captain it is said that Vice-Captain James comes fourth last in terms of raw power out of the seven. What about the rest?” The commodore asked. His eyes blazed with fire.
“Don’t underestimate any of them. Even I have no idea about their current power. It is said that Vice-Captain James, along with Mr. James and Kevin held off the Malak family alone and this was during the exploration age.” Cap. Brad said, but when he mentioned Kevin a hint of grief flashed past his eyes.
The commodore went silent with his gaze locked on the screen. After all, not everyone had the fortune of watching a living legend in action. Such people took action on matters which normal people like them could not even comprehend.
On the battlefield, Jason was now just a few hundred meters from the creature, which seemed like a mountain in front of his tiny body. But he was not bothered by it.
In fact the creature seemed to be taking its steps backwards as all the scales on its body stood erect in danger.
“Now, don’t run. Stay there.” Jason said as he tilted his head upwards, locking gaze with the creature. A red tattoo of an Ancient creature appeared on his thigh as that part burned. The dark red mist hovered around him creating a vortex. His pupils turned into a deeper red color surrounded by purple hue.
The creature, as if losing its balance, slammed down on the ground. In desperation it gathered its strength and leaped towards Jason with immense force.
Jason watched it calmly as he took out a combat knife. This combat knife seemed old with chips in between the edge and bloodstains. The red mist surrounding Jason as if finding a channel poured into the blade.
The soldiers watched in horror as the combat blade which was just a few inches long soon turned into a huge four meter blade. Jason, who wielded the blade, nodded towards it and bent his knees to gather energy.
Then releasing all the gathered energy he too leaped towards the creature, while swinging the blade made from red mist in a vertical manner.
He landed behind the creature who slammed down on the ground with a heavy thud. A river of red blood mixed with purple specks flowed rapidly from its body which was cleanly bisected into two parts.
The surrounding descended into silence, which after a few seconds turned into a huge roar of shouts and cheers from the soldiers.
Jason, on the other hand, took a deep breath and the red mist entered his body, the blade turned normal and his pupils turned black again.
By the time he returned towards the soldiers, the ship had landed in open space. Cap. Brad saw Jason moving towards them.
“Damn it, for a moment I forgot how you guys fought.” He said with a smile plastered on his face.
“Yeah, I lost that touch. It seems there is a need to practice to gain the fervor from the previous times.” Jason said, rubbing his eyes in irritation.
Cap. Brad’s face twitched in response.
“Vice-Captain Jason. Thank you for your help.” The Lieutenant General arrived panting heavily being carried by a fellow soldier.
Jason looked at him and said.
“It’s all because of you guys' efforts. All I did was finish the creature. You guys had a greater contribution in making it consume its stamina. Good work everyone.”
The soldier and the Lieutenant General were both surprised by the lack of arrogance in Jason’s words. According to them, people with huge power contained great arrogance and looked at people like them in disdain. But such an attitude was not expected from Jason.
They both smiled in response.
“Alright, I will leave the additional clean up to you guys. I have urgent matters to deal with.” Jason said.
Cap. Brad and Jason once again boarded the Escort ship as it roared its engines and moved towards the sky leaving a purple tail.
The Lieutenant General watched them leave as he mumbled moving towards the bunker.
“It seems the legendary team will be back soon. The situation is going to change now.”
Gazing at the soldiers, he noticed how many of them were astonished by such might and power. Only people at a specific level and status knew about the existence of such powers and these soldiers were not one of those.