Chapter 7: approaching the Mindful Warrior
The next day we found a safe (ish) area to set up a make-shift camp for ourselves and after about 30 minutes of radioing the surviving marines found their way to it. We spent from about 10:00 until 12:00 making preparations, and the men were briefed on what we were going to attempt. “Listen up Marines!” Barked the Sergeant, “This is a volunteer op: If you don’t want to go, no one is making you.” At this point he lowered his voice to almost a whisper. “I can understand if you want to stay here, and I understand if you want to go. Either way, you are all fine marines, and I am glad to have served with you.” He saluted smartly, smiling as they returned the gesture. “Now,” he said after a few moments of silence, “anyone who wants to get up close and personal with these hell spawn, raise there hand.” I don’t recall seeing a single hand that wasn’t raised. The Sergeant almost shed a tear. “Very well, we leave tomorrow at 0600 hours. Marines dismissed!”
He looked at me. “I hope that you know what you are doing young man. Like I said before, I will not put them into any unnecessary danger.” I gave him an understanding nod, and went to find a place to sleep.
The next morning I woke up at about 5:30: Just enough time to check my gear, and eat something. When it was ten minutes until we left the sergeant assembled the men one last time. “Ok marines, this is your last chance to back out. There will be no turning around once this ship leaves the ground. Anyone want to take the last bus home?” He looked around, no one had left: they all still wanted to come. The sergeant smiled grimly at them. “Very well then, marines, lets give these monsters a wake up call they won’t ever forget! Into the drop-ship marines: go-go-go!” We all got in, and were off the ground in about 3 minutes.
I felt the ground shake as we lifted off in the strange craft. My stomach was queasy because this was the first time I had flown in this manner. But I fought it off by thinking of how I was going to make these monsters pay for what they had done to me. Although none of my companions seemed to have this problem, or perhaps they were just better at hiding it than I was.
We finally reached the huge ship after about half an hour of flying. (It took longer because the pilot was still learning the controls.) I waited for us to be blown out of the sky, but as we got closer to the seemingly sleeping giant we were still in one piece. Perhaps they really would be fooled after all! I thought, almost out loud. As I listened I could hear that we got hails on the ship’s radio, but didn’t dare answer for fear of being discovered not to be aliens like they were. After a while the hails stopped, but we didn’t get blown up, so perhaps they thought that our radio was disabled. (Not the most unlikely of situations. After all, things do get broken when you fight with them.) We reached the hanger door, which had a shield on it. We waited for them to open it, which they did almost immediately because another ship was leaving right as we got there! Again, I was grateful that we didn’t have to communicate with them to get in! For creatures that supposedly had a superior intellect they sure were stupid.
We set down inside the now open hanger, and when we saw that there weren’t any aliens in the hanger at the time, we all got out. Silently we all checked our gear, and made sure our radios were set to the same frequency, so that if we got in trouble we could let the others know immediately. When I had finished, I took a moment to actually look at my surroundings. The strange purplish hue was everywhere. It was as if the color had made the strange ship become something less harsh, more natural and kind. But I knew better, things with the semblance of kindness can be just as deadly as those without it, more so in some cases. Still, I stared in awe at the masterful craftsmanship that was this alien ship.
I still can’t remember what it was about that ship that I found so marvelous and wonderful, because I knew that it was a terrible thing that could destroy us all if given the chance. I was given a reality check by the sound of gunfire, and grenades going off near me, and I joined the lopsided battle. Fortunately we weren’t too badly out numbered, and we weren’t out gunned at all. On the contrary we had the distinct advantage in that area, because of the forerunner suits. (The sergeant later told me that they had encountered objects of a similar origin before, and had given the long forgotten race of beings that name.) It didn’t take long for us to kill them, but just long enough for them to get back up just as the last one died. So, we repeated the whole thing. But this time no reinforcements came. We snuck down corridors, and finally found what we were looking for. The control room!
(spaced out to make easier to read.
Just so you guys know, that is the last chapter that I have finished, so it might be a little while until I get the next one up here, sorry. But I will be working on it.
carefull... it^ will steal your soul...