The noise of screeching metal was now deafening inside the armoury, Malikkas hearing a large cat jump onto the roof, dust falling onto his shoulders as he whimpered, the jaws snapping in anger just a couple of metres above his dishevelled body. Wood splintered, the shrieking and tearing becoming terrifying as the Herrakian realised time was now running out, his head shaking uncontrollably as tears ran down his tanned but dry dirt encrusted cheeks.
Further howls, the mentally defeated and defenceless officer pushing his back into the wall behind, closing his eyes tightly and awaiting the snapping jaws, the incisors that would slice through his body. His weakened mind roamed back to fallen comrades, their smiles and camaraderie warming him in the last seconds as the door cracked open, talons pulling further wood and metal behind, a powerful body attempting to surge forward, the cracked opening still restricting the animal’s frame.
The Herrakian felt the hot fetid breath swirl around him, his head shaking as his mind focussed on the final passing out parade of his men, immaculate camouflaged uniforms and raised assault rifles, the large unit of Blue Leopards stood stiffly to attention, a General inspecting the highly trained soldiers intently. Malikkas heard the loud whining before him, further wood and resin cracking as claws raked the ground before him, the beast shaking in rage and snapping further as it continually lunged into the narrow opening.
Then shrieks jolted his body, snapping outside and a piercing howl, scraping and further cracking, muscular bodies running as he drew breath, the dull hum of engines approaching from above, dust billowing through the opening as the downwards draft swept dust into the cold air. The tigers ran through openings in the outer defences, a couple leaping from gantries out into the dust swirled rocks around the settlement, the transport craft circling briefly as the pilots stared down in distain, glimpsing the torn and dismembered limbs and shattered bodies lying across the small compound. Ripped and dirt cased uniform fragments rose in the billowing mass, the rectangular and angled transport hovering over the stockade, electrical whirring as the side and rear loading doors rose, the uniforms of soldiers with raised assault rifles immediately transforming into light grey with white and blue splash in the dull light, their visors lowering in protection against the swirling murk as several raised scarves over their mouths.
Then the craft swept away over the outer wall, turning and surveying the barren terrain below in a wide arc before the engines whined, the transport vessel approaching the main gate and lowering further. Steel landing legs extended on either side as the vessel gradually and almost tentatively touching the dust and rocks beneath before rising slightly, then lowering once more, debris billowing around the disembarking crouched figures as they lunged forward, rifles raised to their shoulders as targeting sights swept and surged over visors.
The smaller officer jogged out behind his men as the transport craft rose upwards once more, two crewmen manning heavy machine guns one either side for additional support. The soldiers lowered nervously, most kneeling to provide a defensive semi-circle, the officer crouching next to his radio operator, his hand rising as he strained a shout, ‘Move inside…man the gantries and place auto sentry guns…I want the whole stockade closed down and secured before nightfall!’
Four marines rose, darting forward to the main entrance, ducking to quickly glance inside, their faces strained as one by one they disappeared through the torn opening, the second section sweeping forward after them, the vessel above hovering over the stockade as the pilots and covering machine gunners stared into the billowing dust below.
Lieutenant Malikkas sat shivering in the small armoury, his dirt covered figure shaking uncontrollably as he stared in shock towards the almost shattered door, ripped metal and resin bent outwards or scattered across the earth, his eyes bloodshot and cheeks stained. Unable to see the soldiers outside, their boots crunched past, the pulsing engine above the only sound that seemed to fill his senses, then he stiffened, hearing a muffled voice and recognising the language, the officer shouting hoarsely, ‘Repair the gaps in the walls…I want two heavy guns from the transport on the walls…three men as a patrol to plant trip wires and flares out in the terrain as protection.’
The boots crunched past as the Herrakian listened excitedly to the crackling short wave message, the operator abruptly summoning the next nearby transport, ‘Outpost under occupation…no sign of the enemy! Bring in the additional equipment and engineers with their mortars…’ The operator glanced up at the hovering transport, then at the highest rooftop, acknowledging one of the marines wave down to him, ‘Additional fire support requested until base fully secure…dual sniper position identified.’
Malikkas was coughing, his chest heaving in elation, his parched voice rising in the gloom, ‘In here! I am alive!’
Tears of relief flowed from his eyes as the radio operator shouted, the crunches of boots approaching as he wept openly, a shadow passing into the dusty illumination of the shattered lower door, the soldier grinning as he stared aghast at the tattered uniform, a flicker of recognition for the unit markings and features passing across his eyes, ‘Herrakian?’ The head promptly disappeared, the soldier snapping to attention as the officer approached, ‘Sir! We have a Blue Leopard officer…the only survivor!’
Alexion One, orbiting Zaxon B
Admiral Shadian spun round, his tone demanding, ‘What do you mean, connection to the earth portal is disabled?’
The young engineering officer stepped back in surprise at the outburst, his blue uniform creased with dust, dirt on the yellow shoulder epaulettes, the embroidery now deeply stained with oil smears on his sleeves, his body stiffening in determination as weary blue eyes stared at his commander, ‘As I said sir...the earth portal is disabled. I can only
