The major stepped back, seeming to study the airport manager suspiciously, his lips pursing in near anger, ‘These are your people now Lieutenant…Yankee company only. There will be no transfer requests…’ The officer turned away abruptly, shouting across the bay, ‘All marines back to the assembly area…seated in platoons.’ He stared across the bewildered faces as several soldier began to shuffle away, ‘Get moving then!’
Chapter Twenty Three: Departure from Galactic Freedom
The rear doors of the drop ships had risen slowly, whirring mechanics preceding the shaft of light becoming narrower, the loading ramps closing with a dull loud metallic clung, further mechanical grinding as the seals were tightened, the small rear passenger compartment falling into complete darkness.
Further clanks on the outside of the hull, with a muffled conversation from the cockpit, several nervous whispers spreading across the transport as the soldiers sat in pitch darkness, the temperature beginning to rise slowly with over thirty bodies filling the transport to capacity. Several minutes passed, the clanking outside continuing as engineers checked the external hull with sensors, ensuring newly attached equipment was functioning correctly.
Shino was beginning to feel agitated in the gloom as she blinked furiously, becoming uncomfortably claustrophobic being enclosed with thirty other marines, a couple of chuckles to her left heightening her uneasiness as she considered the Trevakians may be talking about her. Turning slowly, she whispered to Debra sat next to her, beginning to feel the heat of other bodies around her, her pulse rate rising, ‘H-how long will we be in the dark?’
Debra patted her thigh comfortingly as a male voice opposite interjected with a reassuring tone, ‘Lower your visor…that will help you see.’ Shino swallowed nervously, scolding herself for not having considered the idea and reaching quickly for the side of her helmet as the Trevakian marine continued, ‘The lights will not come on…I overheard an officer say all spare power is being diverted to the cloaking devices…we are lucky to have oxygen…’
Riaz nudged his friend from the other side as Shino fiddled with the new helmet device, his voice low, ‘There you are…I bet you never thought you would be in the dark with so many men!’ He sighed as she groaned in annoyance, anguish beginning to rise through her frame in the blinding claustrophobia as he turned to face her, slapping her fingers away playfully, ‘Here…let me do it for you…I can see.’ He tutted mockingly, nudging her again as she sighed, tears of frustration filling her eyes, ‘Where would you be without me, eh?’
The visor suddenly slid down, making her jump as she gasped, Debra sensing Shino’s rising breathing and slipping a hand into hers, squeezing it, ‘Don’t be silly…you are perfectly safe…’
The darkened visor slowly swirled before Shino’s eyes, her gloved hand rising to it in frustration as she hissed, ‘Mine is not working…it’s taking too long…’
The Trevakian’s voice opposite came again in reassurance, ‘It’s the first time of deployment…the sensors take a while to adjust to your vision…once the checks are complete, it will enhance your view completely...and become quicker in future.’
Shino sighed, pushing her head back against the headrest and swallowing deeply, her stomach churning, Debra tightening her grip as Riaz whispered next to her, ‘Now, remember when we were in the car park after work once…you had done a long day and finished the same time as me. It was dark just like this and you couldn’t remember where you had parked your car?’
Shino nodded in confusion, still breathing heavily, ‘I-I remember…’
Riaz grinned, Debra nodding for him to continue, ‘Well…you asked me to help you find that little black Audi, didn’t you?’
Shino moved uncomfortably, her eyes darting from side to side as the inner visor membrane continued to swirl before her pupils, the asian soldier beginning to giggle as he nudged her once more playfully, ‘How long were we in the car park looking for that damn car?’
The Philippine began to smile, her body relaxing slightly as the visor image began to clear, an artificial light surging across her view as she swallowed once more, ‘Thirty minutes I think…’
Riaz nodded to Debra as he sensed Shino’s breathing was becoming more restrained, ‘Now tell our nice squad leader where that little Audi was?’
Shino suddenly giggled mischievously, recalling the event further as the compartment gradually became visible in different shades of dull grey. She sighed, shaking her head and nudging him back, ‘It was in a hotel car park three miles away…I had gone to the gym in the morning and they gave me free parking as I was nearly late for work…’
Debra chuckled as Shino lifted her head from the headrest, the older Trevakian marine opposite winking as Riaz slumped back in his seat, ‘Yes…you had a short drive in a luxurious BMW…back to your little Audi.’
Shino pursed her lips, glancing round the cabin and relaxing further, noticing all the visors were lowered, ‘My car is bigger than yours…Audis are better.’ She looked further, breathing easier upon seeing several Trevakians giggling at the rear, one gesturing to the other opposite and squealing, slapping his friend’s knee, a smile forming on her lips as she realised they were discussing a romantic encounter. The overhead racks were packed with boxes and equipment, several soldiers resting their boots on other boxes below, the laser rifles across or between their knees.
Debra drew breath, pushing her head back on the seat and closing her eyes, ‘Audis and BMWs…the cars of little people trying to prove something.’
Shino glimpsed several other soldiers seeming to be dozing, her head slowly turning as she realised what had been said, ‘What car do you have then?’
Debra’s head lolled to one side, smiling sleepily and yawning, ‘My second favourite car was always my Toyota…a sports with
