The sky above Virex-3 burned a dull copper. Static storms crawled across the upper atmosphere in slow spirals, flashing white veins of lighting through thick dark clouds. The ground below was fractured into jagged stone and deep ravines that glowed faintly of alien bioluminescent veins.
The dropship settled hard against the plateau, landing struts grinding into rock. The rear ramp lowered. Kael stepped down before it fully touched the ground.
The wind hit first, dry and prickly, like tiny needles. He wore a familiar maroon coat and armour underneath. He took the time to welcome the sight which was the scenic view.
Behind him, mercenaries began filing down the ramp. Twelve of them. Mixed armour, mixed behaviour, and different races. All weapons held tight but not steady enough.
Derek stepped down last, unlike the mercenaries, he didn't hesitate at the ramp. He walked past them towards Kael.
"These days, you are the first off ship sir" he commented.
Kael laughed it off. "Well, being first offers a sense of danger. You know me."
One of the mercenaries, tall scar across his face studied them both. Then he walked over to them.
"Are you two really Shock Trooper level?" he asked inquisitively.
Kael didn't answer, Derek glanced at the man.
"Yes"
The merc shifted his weight.
"Alright everyone let's get going" Called another merc.
Boots crunched over mineral crust as they advanced across the plateau. In the distance, the ravine system looked like a wound in the planet, black stone split open, glowing veins pulsing faintly within.
Avian creatures and insects chirped all throughout the journey, to add to that, the forest was boiling with heat. They traversed through the landscape along with the weapons they carried on their backs through that unbearable heat.
Then halfway there, a shot came towards them, it didn't echo just a high velocity slug that struck one of the mercenaries in the shoulder spinning him sideway.
"Contact!" someone shouted.
The team ducked for cover. Kael and Derek began immediately seeing for the direction and began moving. Sprinting through the forest they displayed their peak prowess and moved like animals towards the direction of the ambushers.
Three moving figures were spotted along the upper ridge. Derek pivoted and fired controlled bursts before the enemies could duck for cover. One hostile was stunned and fell, the others shifted positions.
Kael having noticed them too, leapt up. Before was a ravine, the drop revealed it to be nearly twelve meters. He hit the slope and slid halfway down loose, course mineral rocks and then using his strength launched upward toward the firing position using the incline as leverage.
The mercenaries who took cover watched this, as Kael soared through the air amazed at the capabilities of Shock Trooper level beings.
Kael reached the ridge, he grabbed onto a root of a tree poking out and pulled himself up. Rising up, he saw them turning their weapons at him but too late to fire.
He dashed right before their faces and slammed into the front one first. He remained standing as the insurgent was pushed back with great force. The others noticed this and pulled out their side arms.
In quick succession, Kael reached for their wrist mid motion and crushed it inward, bone snapped and with his palm ejected them back. The guns landed near his feet and the enemy were groaning with broken bones laying on the ground.
They forced themselves up and drew blades from their side, the two used their still-functioning hands, while the other insurgent, pushed further back, still had access to his sidearm.
Kael raised his hands, first folded like in a boxing match.
"Come now guys, lets fight."
To pump themselves up, the insurgents roared and lunged towards him. The first came striking with his blade from the right in an arc. Kael dodged to the left, letting him pass through but pulled him back by the neck while the second came with a drop kick that barely missed him.
Kael threw two consecutive punches at him and then leaned in front of him and then a mean hook at his stomach while the first attempted to charge him again. This time he was met with punches on his left and right shoulder blade just as he was trying to swing his blade.
These movements kept Kael always in between the insurgents and it gave the third with the handgun no chance to get a clear shot until both his accomplices were on their knees and he was staring down Kael, carrying his fists alone.
The insurgent was overcome with anger and raised his gun at him, only for his head to be blasted off. The body went on its knees and then down.
"You didn't have to do that" commented Kael.
Derek climbed up from behind him, carrying a rifle.
"Sir during these months, I have been letting you shine so you reached Shock level faster. We have reached that goal, lets end this now."
Kael chuckled and walked past the bodies.
The wind howled through the ravine edge, carrying dust and the host smell of discharged rounds. Below the mercenaries were still regrouping.
They both descended together, boots sliding down before landing at the ravine floor. The mercenaries straightened as they approached amazed at their feat.
"Let's go before it's too late," said Kael.
They continued their march through the forest. The terrain shifted gradually, glowing bioluminescent veins thickened along the rock walls. The air grew hotter, heavy, and oppressive and strange insect like creatures clung to the stone, skittering away as the squad passed.
They followed the carved path deeper into the forested ravine basin and they saw it. At first, it looked like part of the cliff face, natural, jagged, black. But they could see straight edges outlines with symmetry and hidden vents. There was camouflage plating embedded in the rocks, it was a secret base.
A narrow entrance recessed beneath overlapping stone formations, only a few guards were patrolling but it was too quiet.
Derek crouched slightly.
"There could possibly be about forty, maybe more."
The mercenary captain inhaled sharply.
"We have our mission, retrieve the client's children. Mr Derek, Mr Kael can we leave the rescue to you two while we pull attention to us."
Kael nodded and broke away from them. They choose to go around and find an entrance on the other side away from prying eyes. The further they circled, the fewer patrols they saw.
Kael pulled out his visor and began scanning the cliff and then he saw a faint seam in the rock almost invisible. There was no hidden camera, and it was an opening.
They approached and began trying to pry it open. It took some time but in the end they were able to pull it back and something like a compact ladder was pulled. From the looks, it was a chute that transported supplies or garbage out of the facility faster.
They had no choice but to enter. In no time while they were sifting through the ducts, they could hear gunfire erupting. The mercenaries had begun their diversion and alarm blared instantly through the facility.
They were finally able to find a path inside the facility and exited the ducts. Inside the facility the guards had begun to mobilise, they heard two guards about to come round the corner.
They both slammed them into the wall and snapped their necks and began searching through the facility. From then on, they did not meet a lot of guards, maybe it was thanks to the diversion and the guards were sent out but the two found themselves deep inside the facility.
Deep in the facility, they found the two kids. Small alien kids with tentacle hair with humanoid and human like features. Large dark eyes and pale green skin marked with faint patterns.
They were trembling, one of them shielded the other crouched at the corner. Kael approached and they flinched. He stretched out his hand.
"We are here to take you home."
They did not understand the words. But were slightly aware what to do. They were helped out.
"We have retrieved the kids, begin bombardment" said Derek through the comms.
"Affirmative"
They both grabbed the two children and began running out. The kids were afraid and alarmed but knew better to stay silent as they dashed through the hallways. Halfway through they slowed down and put the kids down. Kael remained with the kids while Derek went to clear the way.
Derek did not waste time, as soon as a full unit came rushing toward them, he let loose with his rifle. Afterward, he led the kids down another path, averting them from seeing dead bodies.
They advanced in formation, through the corridors being mindful to keep the kids shielded from the carnage just as the facility began shaking from bombardments. Many shelves and containers fell on the floor and lights flickered thanks to the increasing explosions and gunfire.
Fortunately, they were able to get the kids out of the facility and began their retreat while the mercenaries who were now under heavy fire covered them.