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Mercenary - Prolog
Date: 22 June 2003, 1:05 AM
The initial assault on planet Earth has been repelled. Although celebrations and parades are being held, the fight is far from over. The Covenant have come back with a surge of new weaponry and tactics. The humans have followed suit by improving technology and their own style of weapons. Sometimes, even this new equipment fails to bring the needed results. This is when the Mercenaries are called.
Officially, the military does not know about Lance Marx and his partner, Jack Bakaan. Enlisting the help of a temporary soldier is against the law. Nevertheless, Lance and Jack are able to find work.
Jack piloted The Raptor's Claw toward Alpha Centauri 3's surface, "Lance, brace yourself, we will be entering the atmosphere in 5!"
"Got it, man," It was a smooth entry. The ship glided down as the ground outside the view screen enlarged.
"Alpha control, this is Raptor's Claw, request permission to land." Jack spoke into the com panel.
"Raptor's Claw, this is Alpha control, landing pad four-niner is open. You may proceed with landing protocol."
"Roger, landing at four-niner."
The Raptor's Claw touched down softly on its three wheels and quieted as her engines shut down. The front ramp dropped with the hiss of its hydraulics as Lance and Jack walked out of the ship.
"Lance, Jack, good to see you again!" The army officer greeted them. "I trust you aren't carrying any illegal weapons we might have to confiscate." he said in a sarcastic tone.
Lance grinned, "No, of course not John, what kind of guns would a guy like me be carrying?"
"Come on, I'll get you two a drink." The officer led them into the building and strolled into the bar. The bartender looked at the officer's captain's stripes and began pouring three mixes. "So what brings you two out here?"
"Ah... the usual, can't sleep knowing some those Covenant bastards are still alive. Guess that means I got to find more work, huh?" Lance answered, stuffing his cigarette into the ashtray.
"I know the feeling Lance." John Hughes, Captain of the U.S.S. Death from Above replied, stirring his drink. "You can sure as hell find it here."
An explosion rocked the windows of the bar.
"Shit," the captain tapped his comlink. "Hughes to The Death, what the hell is going on up there?"
"We don't know sir, they came out of nowhere on our scanners. Their bombers are heading away now, but we are getting dropships on the scope!"
Lance and Jack dropped their glasses on the table and sprinted out of the bar toward The Raptor's Claw. Inside the ship, Lance touched his finger to a sensor and the wall slid open to reveal the ship's weapon cache. Lance picked up a M-44/GL-52 and grabbed a few extra clips. "Jack, you fly cover for me, I'm going with the marines."
The Raptor's engines spun up as Lance hurried toward the group of marines that were loading up to take on the advancing Covenant forces. Alien dropships were hovering above the battle and laying down covering fire for the soldiers that were taking up positions in buildings. Several civilians were cut down as they ran from the advancing Covenant. The blue fire of plasma grenades highlighted the walls of the dimly lit city.
"Okay marines, lets move!" The sergeant waved his hand and the squad headed forward. One of the marines went down, and was dragged away screaming by an army medic.
A plasma bolt shot by Lance's head, and he dropped behind a wrecked car. The marines were still firing, and the loud noise droned out all thought. All seemed in slow motion, Lance hadn't seen this kind of action in years. There was noise below Lance's feet. Under the man-hole cover he could see the shadows of Covenant troops slipping behind the Marine's lines. Lance heaved the cover out of the way and dropped a grenade down the hole.
A grunt yelled out "Grena-" but it was too late. An explosion rocked the ground and water shot out of the hole. Lance dropped down and ducked into a corner. He pointed his rifle into the inky blackness. He saw the shadow as soon as it started shooting at him. Blue plasma bolts whizzed over his head as he began firing into the dark. He heard a thud and a moan as the Elite fell dead on the ground.
Lance climbed back out of the hole to find the marines retreating back toward the Landing pad. Running backward, he followed them, shooting at the same time. He could see a large group of Elites charging down the road toward him.
Lance whipped out his comlink, "Jack, get over here and give those Covenant a little present!"
"On my way, man." The Raptor's Claw flew over Lance's head and began firing. A bomb dropped out of the bottom of the ship, and the Elites were blown to the side.
The marine sergeant walked up to Lance. "Thanks a lot, the Covenant have been making raids like that every few days." The veteran's eyes followed a human fighter-bomber across the sky. "I had better attend to my men. Captain Hughes is on the battle-cruiser right now, he will be back down shortly."
Jack ran off the ramp of The Raptor's Claw, "Got a transmission from Captain Hughes, he says he has some work for us."
To be continued...
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