Chapter VIII
1131 Words
The reunion.
Botska steppes, Mars, January 18, 2095, Doom's Day.
(Zack Johnson)
Zack: ugh, I'm filling with fog the visor, I can't see a shit.... *sigh* how much longer?
Red: the indicated path continues in this direction, about 150 meters to go. It appears to be an isolated abandoned grove of trees.
Zack: better have oxygen and water, I could drink the ocean.
Red: one more stimulant would make you nauseous, I guess that would be ideal.
Zack: how... do you think things are going on Earth?
Red: the invasion must be well underway by now, but let's be optimistic.
Zack: I see footprints.
Red: stealth model KT-65, it's Reaper.
Zack: Heh, great. I hope he found the others.
Red: Most probable. I'm impressed by that unbreakable spirit that characterizes humans, they don't give up so easily.
Zack: and that's our biggest defect sometimes, brrr. It's starting to get cold around here.
Red: I'll adjust the internal heating, that should do it. Wait.
Zack: yeah?
Red: there are more footprints besides Reaper, a JG-94, Kaiser-Juggernaut and an EN-19, Engineer.
Zack: he definitely done it, those are Jericho and Fox. There shouldn't be much left.
Red: About 70 meters, I can see the top of the dome.
Zack: Let's keep going.
Red: Sure, go ahead.
Zack: faster!
We continued along this desolate trail with great motivation and determination, we were determined to find a shelter.
About 10 or 15 minutes later we arrived at the grove intact, although very tired, at least I was.
The door opened and performed the routine decontamination, as we entered I decided to open the visor and breathe the fresh air that still emanated from those beautiful old oak trees.
Then, I heard those voices, those voices I thought I would never hear again.
Williams: Zack? Zack, you're here!
Jacobs: finally!
Rogers: we thought we'd never see you again!
Zack: yeah, I'm here.
Williams: wow, those guys really got you hard.
Rogers: there's water and supplies in the room, take whatever you want and we'll get out of this nasty place.
Zack: sounds good.
Jacobs: those are some battle scars, right kid?
Fox: I can repair them.
Zack: That would be great, Red eject me out.
Red: automaton mode online, ejecting pilot.
I descended and almost stumbled to the ground due to the tiredness of my exhausted legs, who
fought to keep up the pace during all this time.
Fox: it will take a while, but you will recover soon.
Red: okay.
Zack: so... how come the whole platoon is back together again, Captain?
Rogers: a master plan of Williams, he placed beacons in the areas closest to the 235, where we were first attacked. These possess a unique signal that the mechs are able to track with great accuracy in the form of an "invisible route".
Zack: fascinating.
Williams entered the conversation somewhat nervously, I didn't understand why.
Williams: h-hey Zack.
Zack: Is something wrong?
Williams: I-I, um... I-I wanted to apologize for how I've been treating you all this time, i-it wasn't right from me, and... I hope... this doesn't affect our loyalty.
Zack: heh, not at all, in the academy they even beat me for no reason. This was nothing, but, I accept your apologizes.
Williams: *smiles* thank you.
Jacobs: well, I always liked the simplicity of the BTs. Some of the conductors were broken but... spare parts aren't a big deal when it comes to replacing them and... he may need an Atonium transfusion.
Zack: thanks Jay, how are you feeling?
Red: all systems optimal Zack.
Zack: ha, that's what I wanted to hear.
Rogers: best thing to do would be to check this place for supplies.
Williams: yeah, maybe.
Reaper: I've finished inspecting the north and south wing. This was abandoned long ago, and most of the objects here are for analysis at microscopic levels.
Williams: maybe they were looking for... unlimited... oxygen?
Jacobs: does it matter?
Williams: no, of course not.
Rogers: anything else?
Reaper: yes, but you won't like it.
We looked at each other surprised at the automaton's statement, and we decided to follow him to the place he was talking about. Just to investigate.
We encountered a metal gate, which was located in one of the farthest corridors of the complex.
Zack: "Down Stairs", ah...
Jacobs: that looks familiar for me, but in what form?
Williams: that literally means going down on stairs, and... nope, that's as far as I got.
Rogers: stand back, I'll break down the door.
Zack: I'll help you.
We leaned against the door facing each other, nodded and waited for the signal.
Rogers: ready?
Zack: yes sir.
Rogers: One!
*Slam*
Rogers: Two!
*Slam*
The door latch came loose and some of the hinges did too, but we didn't notice this and prepared to ram the door again.
Rogers: three!
Zack: Yes!
*Door breaks down*
*proud laughter*
We bumped fists and headed down the stairs to the basement of the place, I wasn't informed that the groves had a basement. In fact, I helped my father design them, and this was not in the blueprints.
Fox: detected heat concentration.
Jacobs: what?
Red: these kind of readings can be interpreted as energy reactors or... exo-planetary missiles.
Zack: what do you mean?
Jacobs: why would a simple grove of trees be a front for an exo-planetary missile silo? It's not logical... is it?
Fox: there are no files related to "Down Stairs" in the Multinational Federation database.
Zack: here we are.
Williams: goddamn bullshit...
A huge subterranean hangar unfolded before our eyes, the corridors were security platforms and an almost invisible light blue smoke reigned in the holes they left.
Rogers: map the area.
Jericho: I'm afraid the damage to my logistics system will prevent me from doing so.
Rogers: right, shoot.
Fox: completed, the complex has a total height of 34 meters in this plant and 98 in the nuclear silos.
Williams: s**t.
Red: I knew it.
Jacobs: this smells bad to me.
Zack: you think so?
Rogers: shut up!
The three of us looked at him nervously, waiting for a lecture. But it wasn't like that. He simply raised his hand and said.
Rogers: there's something nearby, do you hear it?
We listened intently, even closing our eyes... but there was nothing. I was beginning to think the captain had become paranoid, until something reached my ears.
*Turbines blowing*
Rogers: do you hear it?
Zack: it's like... a fighter is inside the hangar right now.
Rogers: yeah, and being in a silo, that's a bad sign.
And in less than an instant, something similar to a bang followed by the sound of flares echoed through the place.
Jacobs: the missiles are taking off!
Zack: dammit!
To be continued...
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Next Chapter: Invasion. Final Countdown.
- Writer
