Posted April 8, 2019, 1:45 a.m. by Lieutenant River Styxx (Marine) (Nathan Derricutt)
Acheron was a jewel of the federation. It’s sweeping cities of towering sky scrappers and rows of homes, businesses and parks. The planet was a paradise it’s sprawling cities giving way to lush fields and rolling hills. Beyond that lay untouched wood land, were many different creatures all living in peace. The capital city of Necara was situated on lush plains it’s white and light grey towering buildings looking like figure reaching from the ground to shake hands with a god. Just outside this was the headquarters of star fleet and the barracks for the marines. Shuttles buzzed above gliding like birds on soft winds, before disappearing into the white clouds and into space, ready to dock with waiting star ships or heading for the ship yard.
The world was a hub of activity dignitary’s from every federation world and others lived and worked just on the fringes of space. Many felt it was the best place to be station in the galaxy, plenty of bars, clubs restaurants, hollo suites and so many other things to do. It felt like the city never slept and it would stand for centuries.
However that was long gone now, the once proud buildings where nothing but burning shells, where life had flourished there was only death and The sky scrapers collapsed or on the verge of doing so. The lush fields now covered with debris, craters from explosives and bodies of the many hundreds that had died. It’s parks river now ran red and the once pristine star-fleet base was in ruins. The forest where no more burned away by war. Two months of fighting had left the planet devastated. It’s surviving inhabitants hiding in make shift bunkers, where crime, starvation and murder where common place.
The space above was nothing but a grave yard of ships only illuminated buy the glow of the worm hole that had started it all. The light bounced form one wreck to the next while small ships scanned for survivors to wipe out. You couldn’t tell what part of what ship belonged to which. It was just a mass of twisted metal, floating husks and bodies of the crews who had fought and died bravely. The only thing flying in the sky where the fighters participating in a delay dance to decide the fate of the planet.
On the ground a squad of 12 marines moved silently through the wreckage and ruins. They were trying to reach their destination a school, where survivors and local militia were held up.
River moved slowly up checking her surroundings watching for sniper. In the ruins of Necara sniper were the biggest threat and they could be anywhere. Far too many marines had been lost to snipers. River’s armour was scratched and dirty on her Left shoulder three chevrons had been quickly and messily painted on. Anywhere else a promotion would have been great. However here promotion happened every day as more and more soldiers died. A Sargent would be promoted and the next day they would be dead. River would have laughed if the situation wasn’t so bad. She found it hard to believe that not two months ago the planet had a full complement of 1500 marines and a fleet of five star ships protecting it. A full command structure in place and enough supplies for everyone. Now the supplies where running low, the officers where dead and the marines where at less than half strength.
She had learnt to be cold she had no choice. She couldn’t get attached t anyone because they would more than likely be dead the next day. However she pushed those thoughts out of her mind and back at the task at hand.
They picked through the wreckage for over an hour before River com bleeped. She pressed it =^= Report=^= she whispered
=^= Sargent the way ahead is blocked. WE can’t shift what is there=^= the Voice came also in a whisper.
=^= What’s blocking the way. Harkin=^= River asked.
=^= The Cyclops. We might be able to get through but it will be a difficult climb=^= Harkin replied. Harkin was one of the best scouts left. She had bene personally picked by River. She knew Harkin could find a way through anything.
=^= Acknowledged we’re coming to you=^= River responded. She then gestured to the rest of the marines to move up. In a few minutes they met up with Harkin. River looked at the Cyclops the mythology class star ship was wedged between two sky scrapers her whole punctured and burning. One of the ship nacelles had snapped off and imbedded itself half way up one of the sky scrapers. The other creaked under the weight of the ship. the Cyclops had bene the longest surviving ship of the original fleet. She had taken a lot of damage but was still in the fight. That was until one of the enemy’s bomber fully loaded suicided into her saucer section. The damaged caused her to fall into the planet gravitational pull and came crashing down. None of the crew had survived the crash. The scar of the fatal blow could still be seen. It was through this fatal gap that River and her squad begin climbing through.
The interior of the ship was a mess of twisted metal and bodies. Support colums where scattered about barley holding up the roof. As they walked one of the marines slipped. She looked down and saw a stain of red then the dead eyes of a crew member. She nearly screamed but river clamped her hand around her mouth.
“Shut it” she spat “You have seen worse before. We can’t do anything for them now and screaming will not help at all. The only thing it will do is draw attention and I’ll be dammed if we all get killed because you can’t keep it together.” She added her voice low and dangerous “Am I clear” she asked. The marine nodded. “Good now move out” she ordered.
The climb through the Cyclops took nearly half an hour and along the way she had lost one of her marines. One of the support beams had snapped and he was crushed under the hull plating of the deck above. River pulled his tags grabbed his weapon and moved on. Only commenting that the weapon could be given to someone else.
Once they left the wreck they could see the school. It’s roof was partially collapsed and the once painted wall where faded and charred, the windows where all broken and they area was deafly silent.
“Right let’s get those civilians” River ordered as her squad moved in.
Lieut Styxx (Marine)
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