Mission brief
“Listen up 402nd battalion, Last Sentries!”
Several men turn towards the speaker. They huddle around a campfire under the night sky. Each man shivers under the cold wind. One pulls out a map, and sets it in the campfire light. He continues. “Our target, Cerberus, is a major treasure trove of lost technology and resources. Several civilian attempts to colonize the city failed. Each attempt went as follows:
They arrived at the city and scanned it.
They established a trade outpost and began extracting resources and technology.
Within three months all communication ceases with the colonists.
Scans, and sweeps turn up nothing, with no evidence of where they went.”
He holds the map down as the wind picks up. Two other men move forward and hold the map for him. He mutters thanks under his breath, then continues. “That is where we come in. Other units will be on standby and await our signal before converging on Cerberus. We will be the scouts and front line if needs me. Thus our mission: Take control over Cerberus and establish a stronghold that won’t fall.
Now onto execution.”
Each man, aside from those holding the map, pulls out a notepad and pen. Each looks up at the speaker, and waits on him. The speaker verifies that they’re ready, then continues. “Each platoon will march to a designated point on the map. We will form a pentagram, where each point is watched by two other points, with the heavy weapons pointed towards the city. We will hold that position for a week, before continuing to the next stage.
First up, from our current position, odd platoons will go south, and even platoons will go north. In other words, from top point to the left, 4, 2, 1, 3, 5, is where everyone will be. I, the battalion commander will be with 4. First Sergeant Greg will be with 3. The special weapons teams will be in 5. We will complete the encirclement by tomorrow at 2200. Questions.”
“Colonel Richards, what are the contingencies?”
Colonel Richards looks at the captain. “Contingencies are danger close artillery barrages, or air strikes with a high likelihood of our deaths. There will be no rescue by our other brother units.”
“Sir.”
“Alright, it is now 2145. You have till 2300 to get your units ready to move, then we will move out at 2400. Dismissed.”
“Sir, yes, sir.”
402nd Last Sentries Report D+6
Colonel Richard
We successfully set up the cordon.
Sentries report no movement from within the city.
Several patrols sent through the outskirts report no activity.
Scans show no activity.
Several searches for remains from prior inhabitants revealed no traces left. Any belongings, stains, or general wear and tear disappeared. The buildings, and resources look pristine, as if they were just finished within the week by high skilled laborers.
Several squads spray painted the buildings that were checked with bright orange stars beside the entrance ways. The paint seems to work as normal, with no noticeable differences. Several long range cameras watched the paint, and caught nothing unusual.
Several food items were left within buildings by windows. Long range cameras were fixed on their location. Nothing of note happened to the food items, as they simply decayed at the normal rate.
So far, nothing indicates what happen to the colonists.
The plan continues forward, with occupation starting tomorrow at 0900.
God speed.
D+7 FRAGO
Colonel Richards stands in front of a camera. First Sergeant Greg stands behind and to the right of him at parade rest. A soldier operates the camera, and raises his hand. He starts a count down. When the last finger drops, he points to the Colonel.
First Sergeant Greg moves to attention, and commands. “Last Sentries, AT-TEN-TION!”
Colonel Richards begins. “Listen up! We successfully completed the encirclement of Cerberus. The initial scouting parties into the city turned up nothing unusual. Excellent work. Hoo-ah!”
“HOO-AH!”
“At-ease.”
“Now, we move into the next phase of the operation: Occupying the outskirts and scouting out the resource collection zone.
Occupation is simple enough. Each platoon will march into the city towards their designated building zones. The heavy weapons teams will hold position, till the new FOB are secured, then advance up. We will spend several days holding position and monitoring our surroundings. This will be completed by D-14.
Scouting will be a bit more complex. Military intelligence suggests a weird anomaly within the zone. Cerberus exported a wide variety of resources, specifically the ones most in demand.
The initial settlers sold crude oil.
The next settlers sold rare elements.
The last settlers sold nuclear material.
We cross checked the economic activity, and verified that this is indeed the case. We don’t know how a single area could produce such a wide variety of resources, but we are not scientists. This is to reinforce the standard military engagement rule. Do not fire till after verification. We don’t know what will set off an explosion, nor how big of an explosion. Don’t need to see Jesus right now, as we still have work to do.
We will send out scouting parties with sensors to understand the center of the city. We will conduct experiments under the supervision of scientists via satellite relays. Maybe the egg heads will figure out this new weird place. As it stands, it is a fairy tale, and we are living in it.
Questions?”
“Sir, no sir!”
“Move out in two hours. I will see you all inside the city.”
D-20 Report
Colonel Richards Last Sentries
We successfully established a FOB within the city.
Each position consists of automated sentries with soldier patrols. Heavy weapons teams point in towards the city, and are always manned. New coordinates for all secondary fires are in place and ready to go.
Moving into the experiment phase into the resource collection zone.
2nd Platoon 3rd Squad
Twelve soldiers move out in a wing v formation. The camera drone tracks the middle soldier, the squad leader, as he moves behind the point man, the squad sergeant. Each soldier moves silently, toe to toe steps, while slowly spinning to scan his entire surroundings. Each man’s weapon stays at a low ready.
The squad leader moves his left arm to the side, spins his forearm in a circle with his wrist exaggerating the circle. He continues to signal, as each soldier catches the signal, then repeats it. Once the last man repeats the signal, the soldiers move towards the squad leader. The squad sergeant sets each man up into a defensible position in a circle around the squad leader. The squad leader kneels down, and the drone draws close to him. Once the squad sergeant reaches him, the squad leader taps the drone three times. “Listen up! I am Doctor Marbro Shawn, lead expedition scientist for this operation. I will perform several experiments, via the drone, within the resource collection zone, while you hold the line. Once I complete the experiments, the drone will signal you, and we will leave this haunted place. Let’s begin.”
The squad stands, and looks to the squad leader. He moves his hand to his head, with it flat and perpendicular to his face. The rest of the squad repeats the signal, then lines up behind him, while the squad sergeant moves to the front. The squad sergeant moves forward, then after a short delay, the squad leader follows. Each man repeats the delay then follows forward. The drone flies above the squad’s heads then follows them.
A door stands in front of them. The surrounding looks like roads, and parks, but the door stands free. No visual distortions, no audio distortions, just a simple plain wooden door standing free.
The drone stops in front of the door. Each soldier fans out into buddy teams. Four pairs move to each corner, while a fifth watches the door. The squad leader moves to the left of the door, while the squad sergeant moves to the right. The squad sergeant puts his hand on the knob, and waits. The drone flies to his side. “3, 2, 1. Open the door.”
The squad sergeant opens the door, and the squad leader catches it. The drone flies through quickly. The squad leader slowly pushes the door close, while following behind it. Once completely shut, he walks back to the covering battle buddies. One hands him a phone. He holds the “3” on the keypad. The phone rings, the connects. “Experiments started. Holding parameter outside of the resource collection zone’s entrance.”
“Roger Lima Serra Two Three. Charlie Mike. Check in every thirty Mikes.”
“Roger Lima Serra Hotel Three.”
The line goes dead and he hands the phone back to the battle buddies. He begins drawing up additional plans, while the squad sergeant circles around each buddy team to reinforce their position.
BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ
TAP TAP TAP
“NO EYES ON CONTACTS!”
The squad leader runs with his remaining squad mates. The noise continues to grow louder. He orders. “PREPARE GRENADES!”
The squad retrieve their grenades. Each man holds it with two hands. “PULL AND RELEASE!”
Each man pulls the pin, then drops the grenade behind himself. They pick up speed. After eight seconds, several explosions go off.
BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ
TAP TAP TAP
“ALMOST THERE! KEEP GOING!”
The squad leader and his remaining two squad mates keep moving. Blood and sweat drip from their bodies. They feel something nearby.
BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ
TAP TAP TAP
The squad leader shoulder charges the door. He enters the building, and tumbles forward. He exits his roll facing the door, with his pistol in his hand. He fails to find any of his squad members behind him, or in the room with him. He fires through the door till his magazine runs empty. “WHERE THE HELL IS THE BACKUP!”
BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ
TAP TAP TAP
A blade slides along the squad leader’s back. He spins around, to only feel a prick in his neck. He jerks away from the pain, and holds his free hand to the wound. His knees buckle and he falls. His eyes widen.
BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ
TAP TAP TAP
BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ
CLICK CLICK CLICK
“This is Colonel Richards of the Last Sentries. Calling for all fires, and to continue fires till empty.”
“Roger. Sending fires danger close. God Speed.”
Hundreds of artillery pieces open up, sending high explosive rounds towards Cerberus. The shells rise high into the sky, then arc down. Unmanned drones flying high in the atmosphere, release their cargo down towards Cerberus.
BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ
CLICK CLICK CLICK
Trillions of insects rise from the ground. They fly around the Cerberus airspace, and continue to rise. Their numbers darken the sky around the city and block out the light.
As a round reaches the swarm, the bugs surround it, then bite into it. Acid melts through the metal, and causes a premature detonation safely away from the city. Each of piece of ordinance, no matter the speed, power, or size, is consumed by the swarm.
Their numbers remain unending.
BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ
CLICK CLICK CLICK
The second wave of support fires leave their launching systems. The swarm moves to intercept. Most rounds met the same fate as the prior wave.
Light flashes in the swarm, and a wave of bright orange and red spreads fast. The swarm withers and tries to escape, but each bug is too close, and the wave too fast. The thermite and napalm rounds consume the swarm.
BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ
CREAK CREAK CREAK
Another swarm rises from the ground, as the ashes of the first swarm fall. Some catch on fire, but are quickly destroyed by their brothers. Soon, the black cloud hovers around the city.
Underneath, a thin dome surrounds the city.
“Prepare special weapons. God Speed.”
Colonel Richards closes the phone. He stares out from his position. He sees nothing. He hears nothing. He closes his eyes.
He feels them. His mind senses them, though his body rejects them. He knows they are close.
He feels something against his skin. His finger pushes the trigger. “The Lord said that He would not destroy the world again with water, but fire.”
He feels the prick against his neck. Something catches him, and pulls him away. A bright piercing light that his eyelids cannot block erupts within the city. A wave of heat sweeps over him.