Conflict at the Amazonian Homeworld

¹I

stand in the center of a large open bay with many open capsules scattered ontop of large cut out squares lined in yellow tape in the bay's metal floor. In the center of the bay, stand many hundreds of fellow Federation Space Marines spread out. The Commander stands in the center of a large round table projecting all kinds of data above it, a voice comes over the loud speakers.

"Set condition three throughout the ship!"

Everyone kneels and grabs handholds on the floor, as I instinctively follow orders and look at my Commander. He holds the bars on his console and grins. The giant vessel begins to vibrate and increases to a rattle - until the ride suddenly smooths out, before we stand ready.

The Commander speaks over the room's speakers, "Alright, Marines. Listen up! We're expecting a difficult fight down there, so we're deploying everything - we even gave you all tactical nuke ordnance! Slaughter everything, you have clearance to leave this place a wasteland - these aliens are extremely dangerous, strong, agile, and appear almost human. Do not be fooled, we must purge them from this galaxy - they have obtained our technology and declared war against the Federation itself. Good hunting, now get into the pods!"

The assorted men and women around me begin to rush to open pods and climb inside, as I dash to the desk. I push past a few marines and approach the desk with purpose, as he looks up at me. I speak in haste.

"Put me and mine down by the spaceport, I don't want her getting away this time, Sir."

"We will get you close! Now hop to it!"

I salute and stand at attention, belting, "Yes, Sir!"

I rush to an open pod and put my helmet on, before I remove my rifle from my life support and climb inside. The seat is somewhat more comfortable than I expect, as I set my gun in a slot by my seat and it clicks into place.

The capsule closes, as I grab the harness and strap myself in. I feel my ride being lowered into the floor then moved down a track. Moments later, the pod reorients to face out the side of the battleship, and fighters are shooting out into the air from launch tubes across the sides around me followed by short red bursts of light.

I see the edge of one of the giant towers on the side of our Battleship - it glows red, and black smoke blocks my view further out from the side. The bellowing clouds begin to fade for me to see the alien planet below. I see something large entering the atmosphere to the right of my vision in the distance at high speed.

My eyes strain and squint, as I watch the large cruiser burst into many colors and collide with our battleship further down. I grab my armrests, as the whole battleship shakes four more times in succession. I see the alien ship above me against our shields with engines full blast, thinking, '

they

rammed

us

.'

I start to panic, as I see the blue net of energy surrounding our vessel flicker and shatter. The enemy ships plow into the side of our battleship with the sound of twisting metal - I feel the sudden impact, a jerk, and the vessel begins to topple, as my pod shoots off the side with thrusters.² My pod soars at an arc and corrects itself with thrusters, using whatever target package command uploaded.

My stomach is left far behind and I feel my heart pound out of my chest. My mind echoes with the thought, '

This

is

it!

' My pod crashes into a large building by a spaceport. The pod around me fills with a flash of white foam, as I hold my breath and grab my rifle - even though my helmet protects me.

Moments later, I am suddenly released in a spray of foam into a large terminal in wreckage and my suit orients to land on my feet, stumbling I nearly fall. Grabbing my rifle in both hands, I turn around to look out the large windows. I hear a rumbling crash in the distance and see the cloud rushing behind the shockwave, dreading in my mind, '

Its

coming

towards

me

!

'

The glass from the windows shatters racing away from the blast, I hear the glass hit my suit like rain pelting a tin roof, throw up my arms in front of my visor, and feel my feet lift off the ground. I am helpless and ragdoll out the other end of the complex, before my boot snags on the window and I begin to spin with a swift jerk.

I am carried away from the spaceport and barely manage to hold onto my rifle. I feel the force of the gale begin to fade and start to plummet towards the ground miles from my objective, but I glance around to see many more marines likewise falling into the forested landscape below. A snap behind me, jerking, I spin, and land on my backside with a thud.

Groaning, I sit up and speak into my visor, "I'm here princess and I'm comin' for ya!"

Thoroughly pumped, I slowly stand and do a search for nearby Marines with my suit's holo-cole projected off my left arm. I connect with a Sergent, two private first class, and several privates in the immediate area. I overhear the chatter, as I join the pre-established channel.

"So I hear we got somethin' special this drop boys -"

"Shhh - she joined in. Welcome to the Walking Coffins L-T."

I laugh and ask, "Thanks - why Walking Coffins?"

I begin to walk towards their markers on my HUD and listen. The trees tower above me and I see strange pink moss growing everywhere with colorful ferns and bright flowers. '

Looks

like

something

out

of

a

fairytale

,' I ponder, as I spot a tree with small blue leaves.

"Walking Coffins have no hope, Sir. We are those the Federation deems skilled enough to send on the most dangerous assignments, as a result few of us live - we just lost half our platoon last drop, including our last L-T. So don't be surprised if the guys aren't interested in introducing themselves yet - nothing personal."

"That's fine with me - our target is the spaceport. We need to secure it and set a trap for a high priority target. I'm Aster, and when the princess arrives - let me handle it."

Many confirm, "Yes, mam."

My group begins to move back towards our previous landing, as our pods explode in the distance. I move at a brisk pace glancing in all directions for enemy movements. The thought occurs to me and I speak to the group carefully over my suits comms.

"So, I've fought these aliens and you guys should know they are no joke - they attacked a primary hub on my graduation day. I fought the enemy leader, she is tough... but I don't think I can express how fast and graceful these demons are - so stay on your guard and aim true."

The Sergent finally speaks up, "I think I've started to like you, Aster."

¹

Entree point from "Defeat at Han'Daischu Prime" Act II

²Entree point from "A Prologue Part One ~ Diary of a Drunken Space Pirate" ch. 20

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