implode.
The three marines continued to rush forward. They were aware that stopping could result in death. Taylor got to the rubble of the door and leapt into a roll, tumbling into the room over smashed debris. He rolled to his feet to see half a dozen creatures with pistols already firing at them. Two of the shots hit his torso armour and were absorbed by the thick plating.
They lifted their weapons to the shoulder, and the three men quickly returned fire. Wright was struck by a pulse to his face. He was killed instantly, and his body tumbled to the ground as his burnt flesh smouldered. Taylor and Ortiz dropped to one knee and fired rapidly. Their ammunition blew apart the consoles and the creatures using them for cover. Their launchers quickly overcame the unarmoured and lightly equipped foes. Taylor could only imagine that they were technical staff.
Smoke rose from the burnt units and the room became silent. They could still hear the battle raging through the doorway behind them. Taylor looked around to see Wright’s body, but at least he had died a quick and painless death. Out of the corner of his eye the Major caught just a single glimmer of movement and turned quickly as he lifted his weapon.
He turned just in time to see a tall dark figure appear from between the burning consoles and shadowy corner of the room. Before he could pull the trigger, a pulse lashed out and struck Ortiz in the neck, cutting his head from his shoulders. Taylor pulled the trigger of his weapon but it dry fired. The magazine was empty.
He looked up in horror as the figure stepped out of the shadows. The creature wore a finely tailored armour that was something between the skin tight body suits he had seen and their soldiers’ armour. It was intricately detailed and gave off a bluish finish as was still liked by many old gun collectors. The armour glimmered as the red flashing beacon lights bounced rays from it. The creature’s head was unprotected, and it was obvious that he was of major importance to their forces.
The creature looked down at his weapon, studying it intently. It was clear that it understood the launcher no longer presented any threat. Taylor threw it down before him and stood up straight and proud. He would not be intimidated by the creatures. Out of the corner of his eye, and behind the creature, he could make out the shape of Suarez’s team advancing into position. He looked back into the eyes of the beast.
The two studied each other for what felt like an age before finally the monster stepped over to a console and placed its weapon down.
“Who are you?” shouted Taylor.
He knew that his death was almost certain. He cared only about buying his people enough time to place the weapon that would blow the complex to hell. The creature turned and glared at him, and then to his utter surprise, it spoke.
“You are Major Mitch Taylor, are you not?”
The beast spoke in a rough and deep voice. Taylor was taken aback by the question. His mind went from the mission and to his curiosity over the monster’s knowledge.
“How would you know that?”
“You have proved most troublesome for our armies, Major. Captain Jones speaks very highly of you. Credit which I see is due.”
“Captain Jones? You have spoken to him?”
The creature smiled, but it was clearly not in any mood to answer. The name of his friend being used left Taylor desperately trying to imagine what could have become of him. He had heard enough from the beast. He wanted nothing more than to cave in its skull if it had nothing more to say. He reached for the head of his recently acquired hammer, pulled it from his belt and took a wide grip in both hands.
“Why did you come here, Major? Did you believe you could save your Captain?”
Taylor stood ready with his weapon and glared at the monster.
“Because you came in vain. You chose your location poorly.”
Taylor smiled, knowing there was a chance that his friend was still safe.
“Who are you?”
“You may call me Karadag for the time you have left on this world.”
The beast put its weapon down on the burning console and lifted a device from its armour which quickly expanded to the height of a man. A heavy ball end extended from one end and a double-edged recurved blade the other. Taylor’s eyes widened at the sight of the savage looking implement. The creature was certainly no stranger to combat.
Taking the initiative, Taylor rushed at it with his hammer held high for a powerful strike. Before he could bring the weight of it down, the beast had leapt nimbly aside and swung its vast weapon around, smashing the heavy ball end into his back. The power of the strike sent him hurling into a tall console that smashed on impact. His torso armour was all that had saved his spine from snapping under the force of the impact.
As he sighed in pain, Taylor turned to see that Karadag had already recovered his posture and stood ready for a second pass. Taylor stretched in pain. His face had smashed into the sidewall, his helmet only cushioning the impact a little.
“What do you even want with this planet?” he shouted.
The creature circled around him as it eyed up his intentions.
“What are you doing here?” he yelled.
“This land should not belong to lesser beings.”
“Then there is no end to this war?”
“Yes, when you are defeated.”
Taylor lifted the hammer to his side and rushed forward. He swung with a wide strike that was easily avoided, but kept the momentum into a second swing. Karadag narrowly avoided it and cut up with the blades of his weapon. One of the recurved edges caught Taylor’s left arm, cleanly cutting the flesh open.
The Major yelped in agony as he staggered back. The creature had both strength and speed that he could not hope to match. He looked over the creature’s shoulder to see the faint silhouette of Suarez’s team discreetly leaving the weapon site. He could make out the bodies of several of the creatures that had surrounded it. Their deaths had gone unnoticed to the arrogant Karadag.
Taylor rushed forward and hit the boosters of his suit to strike at such a speed that the alien would not be able to dodge it. The beast parried the weapon dead with a horizontal parry. Getting the engagement that he had wanted, Taylor yanked back with the hammer, the head latching firmly onto the shaft of the villain’s weapon. The huge weapon ripped from the creature’s grasp and was launched across the room.
Mitch grinned at his efforts, but they were short lived. Karadag rushed forward and quickly grabbed hold of the hammer shaft. He smashed his elbow into the Major’s face, and blood gushed from his broken nose. The beast ripped the hammer off him and threw it across the room.
“How did you ever think you could win?”
Taylor staggered to his feet. He could see a ramp that led up and out of the bunker. He made a dash for it with his body hunched, still aching from the pain. All he wanted to do was keep the monster’s attention away for long enough for their plan to succeed. Karadag strode after him with a slow pace. He was confident in the knowledge that he’d already won. The building shook as loud mechanical grinding noises rang out all around.
As Taylor followed the ramp up as far as he could go, he reached a window looking down at the vibrant tower. It was the weapon that could end them all. He looked up at the roof to see that a huge section of the dome was drawing back in preparation of firing.
“You will be witness the end of your civilisation,” said Karadag.
Taylor turned to see the imposing leader coming up the ramp towards him. He drew his sidearm and quickly lifted it to fire, but before he could do so the creature threw a dart into the weapon, knocking it right out of his hand.
“Standing before your destruction and you are still defiant. I have known far weaker adversaries.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” snarled Taylor.
Taylor spat blood onto the floor but it mostly passed through the grilled surface. He turned to see an opening from the dome leading to an observation platform that was barely over a metre wide. He got up on his feet and staggered out into the moonlight. The low ambient lighting gave a dulled red tint to the moons rays.
As the creature’s footsteps grew ever nearer, Taylor knew he had nowhere to go, but he thought at least he’d have a front row seat when the bastard went up in flames. He turned to see Karadag taking a brisk few steps
