Untitled
Chapter 2

Mother Confessor:

“Oh do please elaborate for me”, I say to the insect like creature babbling at light speed. Holding my long slender hand up,” do slow it a bit for me please?”

Agitated at being disturbed at such an hour.

The raspy voiced creature repeats,” sorry to disturb you highness. We have been hearing rumor of a phantom freighter at the edge of the outer rim. It has also been rumored to be of Terran in design, traveling at maximum velocity.”

Taking a deep breath weighing the news. “Is there anything else, other than rumors of this phantom Terran freighter”, I ask the creature trying to hide my annoyance.

“Only that it has not set down anywhere to set up a mining camp, though some have said it is not out here for mining,” the creature rasps grating a little on my ears.

“Why believe in such an elaborate tales? They may be heading outside the galaxy in search of something exotic to extract. I would doubt they would break the agreement of the outer rim being neutral territory. The Terrans are greedy and power hungry, but they would not violate the treaty”, I assure the creature. Though a part of me feels unease immediately afterward.

I watch as the simple creature scurries away from my compound.Sealing the main hatch I walk back and sit on the bed. They would not dare break the treaty would they? Pondering the implications if they did. My slender fingers meeting at the tips in front of my face. Unable to return to sleep I remain in deep thought about this rumor. The part of what the creature told me that is nagging my mind is they are calling it a phantom freighter. Raising more questions than answers my mind actively searches for. I know that I am no match for any military might, and have no army to defend me in such an event. Though neither does the rest of the outer rim. Best case scenario, I am right as I told the poor creature about the Terran freighter seeking out resources in deep space.

Lying back to rest on my bed mind a buzz. A sense of fear climbs up my spine like a thousand small icicles piercing my soft flesh to imbed into the vertebrae. So this is what real fear feels like and it is hell.

Marckus:

“Enough already”, the old admiral concedes. I cease imbedding my knuckles into his thick skull.

“Finally seeing things my way I see,” I say to him letting him off the wall. Wiping his dark red blood from my sore knuckles onto my fatigue pants.

“I apologize for being rough, but how else was I going to get through to you. Want to save your people, then we need to go on the hunt before we are the hunted.”, I explain to the admiral. I may have not got my audience with the council, but the admiral will relay my message for me. I leave him to getting that taken care of. The hatch closes quickly hissing like an agitated pit viper. I think I will go and rest for a while.

“Commander, what was the outcome of your little chat with the Admiral”, Captain Graxis catches me in the corridor.

“Well let’s just say I got my point across”, I chuckle back, “ I should like to get my team out of the fridge as soon as we are on our game of cat and mouse with that freighter.”

The captain looks at me quizzically for a moment,” Ah yes of course Commander.”

“Perhaps in the morning you can give me a tour of the toys you have in the lower bays, Captain”, I request of him. Better to see what kind of hell we can reap on any and all threats.

“ It would be a pleasure, Commander”, Captain Graxis graciously extends his invitation. We part with a salute. I have a lot to think of for the next few weeks in preparation for this encounter with this rogue freighter.

Graxis:

If I could sweat I would be about now. The Ober-Commander is a handful as it is. I can only hope his staff are going to be as tolerant of their situation as he is. Punching up the screen in my quarters console for the proper forms to fill out in order to have them revived. I still replace that unpredictable nature of Terrans is scary and yet fascinating. A knotting of my insides as I fill out the documents. I think the least intimidating of the lot is the one they call Benny. He is a tech with aircraft training and counter communications. As for the Red Wolf and the leviathan Rhino, are much more intimidating. Upon completing the forms I decide to look into their files to get a better idea on them. I lean back as the requested dossiers load up. Taking a deep breath wondering what to expect. In my wait I order a pot of coffee knowing I am going to be up later than usual. Coincidently my coffee arrives just as the console indicates that it has finished filling my request. Dismissing the ensign, I settle in for a long night.

Pouring the first of many cups of coffee I take a minute to silently thank the techs that downloaded and translated this information from the cryo-tubes. Taking a generous swallow from the cup I open up the dossiers of the Red Wolf.

Quite an interesting and decorated soldier, I note to myself. It is also interesting to replace that the Red Wolf is female. Typically we do not allow females into front line combat. Reading further into what history there is on her as I sip my coffee. Top of her class in sniper school as well as stealth. Out of combat she teaches both courses. Not surprising considering on further reading that she must be the rumored “Ghost” by some of my peers. Though that is back when there was an open conflict with the Confederation. What a fascinating creature this Red Wolf is. Not like anything I am familiar with at all. Scrolling through her stats and many achievements. I begin to see that the Ober-Commander has hand-picked each of his personnel, personally, I observe as I pour a fresh cup from the pot.

Moving on to the Rhino. He is a bit unusual in his color in relation to his peers. He is darker and much more physically imposing. He undoubtedly towers over myself by a third of a meter. Taking a sip of my fresh cup I read on. A side note catches my eye after going through his main roster. In his stats during combat the side note explains that even light armor is no match for his shear brute force. With a statement of facing light armor with nothing more than a combat knife. Most impressive considering no one typically faces light armor in melee combat, and lives to tell the tale. Though looking at the size of those large torn up hands, he could just as likely crush an enemy’s skull with hysterically great ease. I sit back sipping my coffee and thinking how fortunate I am to have never met this brute in combat.

I open the last dossier as I drain my cup. Refreshing it I take a few minutes to stretch my legs before continuing. Enjoying the relief of not sitting down for the brief time, I am most interested in reading about Benny. If memory serves me, this is the one who hacked my comm. and started laughing after putting three rounds in me from a heavy gunship. Still annoyed with that, and would like to get a piece of him for that. I was proven correct on earlier assumption of this clown for being a pilot and counter communications tech. Graduated with high marks in all combat air support. Also in counter communications with the ability to use ones comm. to his advantage. Even using psychological attacks on enemy units once he did hack their comm. channels. Clever as he is he seems to be a bit arrogant. I wonder how he has made it through so much riding on that heir he presents in battle. Taking a sip of coffee as I delve further in to his file. One of our techs put in a side note that Benny is in critical condition and my not revive from his cryo-tube. This may upset the Ober-Commander if he loses a member of his team.

Marckus:

Meeting up with the captain after I finished breakfast in the privacy of my quarters. He looks like he hadn’t gotten much sleep.

“You up for giving me the grand tour soldier”, I jab at the tired captain.

“Yes Commander,” Captain Graxis trying to hide his tired state.

“After you”, I gesture him to take lead on this little walkthrough. I was starting to feel at home on the battleship so alive with activity. With the exception of a few differences in technology and the personnel being Centurian and not Terran. Other than that I felt the old feelings of having purpose marching through the corridors.

While we walked down the long corridor the captain asks” Why do you call your staff by pseudonyms instead of their real names, Commander?”

I think for a moment. “Well to start with Benny is called that because we just can’t pronounce his real name correctly. So we just started calling him Benny. Rhino got his name from the fact that he uses brute strength like the now extinct species on Terra. As for the Red Wolf, she is one hell of a hunter. Just like the animal you do not want her tracking you no matter what. The Red stands for a time when the second world war on Terra took place in communist Russia. She exhibits the tenacity like that of the Red Army”, I explain.

“What are the animals with which you speak of Commander,” Captain Graxis inquires as we trek down the corridor to the stairwell at the end.

I try to give the best explanation to the captain. I finish as we reach the stair well. The captain then tells me we will begin deep in the belly of the ship and work our way back up to the barracks. We descend to the belly of the ship in silence, only our boots offer any comfort in the silence.

The hatch opens before us at our first stop on this field trip. Entering the massive depot from the stairwell is almost inviting. I steal a moment at the sight of such beauty. The expanse of the depot is most impressive running like a well oiled machine. Maintenance crews keeping the various armored war machines in peak performance. Ready to hit the battlefield at a moments notice. The experience renews the old warrior in me.

“Most impressive, Captain”, I remark to my host as we traverse the catwalk overlooking the depot.

“Thank you, Commander”, he responds,” I am sure that you have noticed we have modified our designs since our last encounter.”

“Indeed I have made a note in that regard,” I reply,” I see you have made your assault armor a bit larger than I remember it being.”

We stop in our walk and gaze at the opposite side of the depot at the massive intimidating hardware lining it.

“Do tell Captain, are you still using rail cannons or have you upgraded since then”, I ask Captain Graxis as we marvel at the war machines.

“We found that the rail cannon was inefficient with the constant need to replace the plasma melted rails. Our scientists found a much more powerful energy. It was adapted to fit in the power cells and our engineering team replaced the rail cannon for coil accelerators. Now a standard on all weaponry right down to infantry. We replace that the coil system does not have as many problems as the rails did. The firing is much quieter as well,” the captain explains to me.

I start to see why they upgraded to a newer projectile weaponry. As far as I can remember the Confederation still relies heavily on gas powered combustion. They do have some laser capability as well as some rail cannons. I can see also see why the Centurian haven’t really spent the time to making their own laser weapons. A mirrored surface would just reflect the photon beam back or deflect it in a different direction entirely. Instead they have developed a non explosive way of delivering multiple calibers of flechettes at devastating velocities.

“Captain I should like a closer look the munitions they use for the armor”, I request of him.

“Of course, Commander”, he replies in kind.

Captain Graxis motions me to follow him to a service lift to the main floor of the armor depot. Entering the lift I ask,” What else is mounted, or equipped on the armor?”

He answers,” A variety of different arms can be equipped. Your basic light, medium, and heavy field mortars. The range of rocket pods. Incendiary, high explosive, anti-personnel. A few mid range missiles. Surface to air, anti armor, and bunker busters. Light to heavy armor has the versatility to carry a variety melee weapons, and field tools since they have manipulate able arms and hands. They can also use the assault armor as a limited ammo depot if the armor is equipped with an accessory pack of magazines for the lighter classes of course.” I nod my approval at the explanation, as the lift sets us down on the main floor.

Captain Graxis then leads me to the ammo depot toward the middle of the ship. Weaving through the hustle and bustle of the younger soldiers performing the various tasks to keep the armor ready at all times. We reach our next destination on this tour.

“Ah, Captain Graxis.”, the posted guard to the ammo depot cheerfully greets the captain. “And who is this”, he continues in a little more aggressive tone as he looks at me.

“Easy Sergeant Batune” , Captain Graxis addresses his subordinate,” I am giving a guided tour for the councils guest, the Ober-Commander of Terra.”

The sergeant looks awkwardly at his superior for a few seconds,” I was unaware that we were allaying with the Confederation.”

Captain Graxis addresses back,” Not with the Confederation in the least, Batune, He and his personnel are allaying with us as Terran renegades. As support in ending the conflict with the Confederation.”

The Sergeant looks at me once more as if I was suppose to attack him or something. He opens the personnel hatch for us, I give the Sergeant the Centurian salute as we enter the ammo depot. He returns the salute with a puzzled look on his face. As soon as the hatch seals us inside I let out a good chuckle. Captain Graxis turns to look at me with an equally puzzled expression. I do not think the captain would understand my amusement.

Slowly the captain winds us through the many corridors of high stacked crates of munitions. Passing by a stack of the assault flechettes I note how big they really are up close.

“What kind of punch does one of these babies pack,” I ask the captain about the massive projectiles as we pass.

“Penetrates Confederation heavy tanks like a blade through flesh,” the captain replies.

Impressive that it can get through such a thick skinned leviathan as the heavy tank.

“Was it ever considered to make a more efficient anti-tank round,” I ask the captain.

He motions me further in the maze. We stop a hundred yards further in at some new crates of the projectiles.

“These Commander, are the tank killers. They have a core that becomes molten upon penetrating the heavy armor of a tank. It is similar to Terran thermite, but instead of being a grenade it is fired like a standard round,” Captain Graxis explains. I replace that to be something to experience before the end of this new campaign. “Captain is there anyway to get a demonstration of a standard infantry weapon?” “Of course, the firing range is at the port side of the depot,” the captain leads us in the indicated direction.

Upon our arrival I notice that it is at least half kilometer in depth from the shooter. I also notice the far end is not made of the same material as the ship. Instead it looks like an asteroid that was carved to fit in place inside the metal of the hull. The captain picks up a large caliber pistol for the demonstration.

“How effective is that against Confederation body armor”, I ask the captain as he slaps a magazine in front the pistol grip.

“See for yourself, Commander”, He says handing the weapon to me.

Next he sends a private to set a Confederation chest plate out about twenty meters down range. The private runs back just as quickly as he had down range. Clear for fire, I take aim as close to center of the chestplate. With my target sighted, I take a few deep breaths. Confidently I squeeze the trigger twice in succession at the armor. Bracing for the kick, but there was none at all. Handing the pistol back to the captain. I noticed the private had immediately run down range to retrieve the armor.

“I like that it has no recoil”, I say to the captain.

“It has been beneficial to our men to make more accurate shots with assault rifles and sub machine guns as well”, Captain Graxis explains to me.

The private returns placing the armor on the small table behind us. I turn to see the effects on the armor plating. I can hear the captain disarming the weapon, and replace it. To my surprise there are two clean holes bored straight through the ceramic composite metal. Feeling a smile cross my face at this. Such precision and ease the energy propelled flechettes penetrated the ceramic composite material. It is a lot better than the Confederations mounted rail guns. Though they too have been proven to pierce the armor, but not like this.

“How do you like the effect on the armor, Commander”, Captain Graxis asks.

“It is impressive”, I reply. With this raw display of power concluded for now. My host continues the tour.

Graxis:

With our hunt for the rogue Terran freighter underway, I figure it best to release the Ober-Commander’s remaining comrades from their cryo sleep. To our great displeasure Benny was not able to be saved despite our best efforts. Preparations have been made for the ceremony for his final departure from this life into the next. Red Wolf had stored a bottle of Vodka in her foot locker of the cryo-tube. The Ober-Commander thought it best to save it for after Benny’s funeral. I feel for their loss. Even with all that we could do to save the small Terran. It is a shame he did not have the honor of his final breath in glorious combat, as we all deserve. The way that Rhino and Red Wolf spoke of Benny, he was more than just an appendage of their unit. They spoke of him as if he were a sibling. I thought this most interesting, as none of them were relation other than species.

I watch the ceremony with great interest. I have never seen a Terran funeral before. Benny was placed in a burial tube for a space burial. One of ours, with a message of his courage and valor. I watch the Ober-Commander place an old faded and tattered flag in his comrades arms. He takes one of his dog tags before taking a step back from the fallen. Next Red Wolf collects a dog tag from each of her comrades. Then she turns to me. I comply with the action. Then she places them on the chain with his lone tag. She too steps back. I assume that she wanted him to pass knowing I was willing to fight at his side. Taking a small dagger from my belt I slit my hand. Placing it upon his shaven head I silently wish him a good passage to the other side. The others watch as I do this and withdraw. The Ober-Commander wanted him to be sent back to Terra. I do not know why, but I am sure he has his reasons. I would want to be sent back to Centuria if I were to die in space for my family. With heads bowed in remembrance of a loyal soldier and good friend. The burial tube proceeds to Benny’s final destination. The seal of the airlock announces his final journey.

In the canteen the Ober-Commander and his comrades were jovial. Making a toast to the memory of their fallen. I share in their celebration. The vodka is harsh on my pallet, but I did not want to offend those in mourning. I ask the Ober-Commander about the flag. He tells me that it was known as Old Glory. He explains the brief history. The stripes of red and white stood for the original colonies of free men in a new territory. The stars represented the union of the independent states governed in all, inside the blue field. Rhino comment that it stood a symbol of freedom and unity. I doubt that at any point in time Terrans could ever replace freedom and equality on even a basic level. At some point they had, otherwise the flag was meaningless. With that Red Wolf adds that the flag was considered illegal by the Confederation about a hundred and sixty years ago. In it’s stead was the Confederations banner announcing the new era. The Ober-Commander then gave a hint as to why he wanted to send the body back to Terra. Simply said he wishes to send a message. I accept the answer for now, as we were honoring the dead. With that they proceed to tell fantastic stories about Benny. His rise and his victories. His persona in even the most trying of times. He brought much joy, and I will never know him alive. Hard to imagine having a sense of humor in the worst possible circumstances. I had never heard such things as I did about Benny. With a final testament in memory of this soldier.

“We vow to you Benny that we will have you in our fight for our lost freedom.” We finish the bottle that Red Wolf supplied. With that we retire to our quarters.

Marckus:

Once back in my private quarters I let loose all the fury for the loss of Benny. My howls and roars surly disrupting my neighbors. I know I should be above this as a prominent military official, but I lose it completely. Coupling the loss with my contempt for the Confederation for being so blatantly asinine. They will pay for their cruelty to the civilians tyrannized by their long arm for conquest and riches. Even though they did not have anything to do with my recent loss, I held them personally accountable. They arre worth my contempt, even in my inebriated state. I want blood, their blood. The Confederation’s top officials blood. Their blood is worth more to me than all that is in their greedy coffers. I will make them an example of what my wrath is worth. My tortured mind deserves some solace for my enslavement of them. After I capture the freighter and crew, I will plan on how to address them personally on my vendetta. At the end of my campaign they will know my purpose. They will know my fury and my hell. I will make them suffer as I have suffered. They are my prize and prey. I slam my fists hard into the hard alloy walls as I silently mount my declaration of vengeance. Denting the hard alloy until I wear myself out. Falling upon the hard bunk with bloodied knuckles to dream of my final victory.

The next morning during coffee and breakfast the good captain informs me that we are closing in on the freighter. This pleases me greatly. The countdown has begun for my vengeance. My foes days are numbered.

Finishing my morning with rigorous exercise in the gym. My blood, and sweat only push me on. No more tears, I only have acid in my veins. Pushing myself to the limits as a soldier. I care not of the pain of the flesh. Only the pain of my mind and heart. I push myself for Benny, and for the poor civilians being tormented by the asses that I once called superiors. I am now the monster I was meant to be. The monster they created. I am the animal they will learn to fear. Muscles burning, I am indestructible. Forged in war and confrontation, I will bare my battle torn body the burdens ahead. I am the Devil and Hell is what I bring. The only mercy I have left is their demise. I intend them to suffer immensely before I show mercy. I will not bend, nor break. Fires burn my body, as I push even harder. I care not of myself, only that of the injustice that has befallen the defenseless. Before I expire I will bring honor to my forefathers of centuries past, and raise their banner once again. I will sort them out!