Issuu

A COLD DAY IN HELL

[OnroutetoFortressGarson,OsirisIV.] . [Localsystemtime:1300.]

“Fiveminutesuntildrop-oC,Saptain”everre.T

h’epilotgsvoicecamet’rouw’loudandclear,andkit’out t’inUinw,Inodded.“Nnderstood.T

Inside t’e Odin drops’ip, t’e liw’ts kere dim and t’e atmosp’ere kas tense. bot fecause oD t’e mission ke kere assiwned to, details on t’at kere Dek and Dar fetkeen, fut it sounded liUe a simple recon mission. bo, t’e reason Dor my teamgssilencekasfecauseoDk’erekekere’eadinw.

In Ave minutes, kegd fe touc’inw dokn on Osiris IV, t’e freedinw wrounds oD ”tar Sommandgs military. It kas ’ere t’at foys fecame men, and men fecame Uillinw mac’ines. h’etensenesst’ateveryoneDeltkassomet’inwt’at’adfeen instilledintousearlyoninourtraininw.

xveryonek’otrainedont’is’ell’olecouldrecitet’et’ree unspoUen rules fy ’eart. bo unnecessary c’atter, no Dallinw fe’ind, and under no circumstances kere you to let your wuarddokn.

h’et’ouw’toDt’oselessonsnearlymademesiw’.ODallt’e placestorevisit,t’iskasatt’efottomoDmylist.

MeDore ke reentered Fortress Garson, I tooU a moment to looU over my teammates. ho my leDt kere Loudmout’ and Fizer. Mot’ kere normally c’atterfozes, fut even people as careDreeast’emUnekfettert’antospeaUDreelyonOsirisIV.

”eated in t’e rok across Drom us kere Flyfy, Oracle and W.R.H.h’elatterUept’erfacUstraiw’t,tryinwandDailinwto put on a conAdent demeanor. Oracle, our resident tec’ kiP, kas wrippinw onto ’is saDety ’arness Dor dear liDe. NnliUe t’e ot’ers, Flyfy kas relazed as usual. xven nok, aDter korUinw alonwsideFlyfyDorallt’eseyears,Icouldngtunderstand’ok ’ealkaysremainedsolevel’eaded.

Hespite our impendinw return, I couldngt ’elp fut smile. h’e prospect oD callinw t’emmy team still Delt surreal. RDter ayearoDfeinwt’eirleader,notadaykentfyk’ereIkasngt proudoDmyqolD2acU.

It’elpedt’atalloDuskorUedtowet’erinsomekay,s’ape or Dorm over t’e past Dek years. Nnder t’e fanner oD halon ”Yuadkask’ereFizer,W.R.H.andIArstmet.Loudmout’

andFlyfyservedalonwsidemeinFoz’ound”Yuad,k’ereke kere later 4oined fy Oracle. q’en I wot t’e opportunity to ’eadupmyoknteamoD”tarMourn,t’erekasngtadouftin mymindonk’oIgdfec’oosinw.

It tooU some wettinw used to at Arst, as kas t’e case k’eneveranyoneArst4oinedanekteam.Eokever,aDteraDekops towet’er,keironedoutt’efuws,andt’eqolD2acUoperated atpeaUeQciency.

q’ilekekerestillakayDromt’epryinweyesoDoursuperiors,IdecidedtofreaUt’etension.“”ok’ataret’eoddske runinto”erweantBeynolds5T

“God’elpusalliDkedo,TFizersaid,tok’ic’t’erestoDus lauw’ed.Icould’aveskornIeven’eardac’ucUleDromFlyfy.

Beynolds’adareputationasoneoDt’etouw’estfastards t’issideoDt’esolarsystem.q’et’er’ekasyourdrillinstructorornotitdidngtmatter.boonekantedtoDace’iskrat’.

Our lauw’s kere cut s’ort k’en ke Delt t’e Odin touc’dokn,andt’eramplokered.h’erekeret’oseinstinctsawain.

bot lonw aDter ke stepped out, t’e ’eavy drops’ip ke arrived in liDted oC and set course Dor anot’er location. ”eeinw allt’ecadetsdoknfelokont’ewroundkorUinwt’eirasses oC,itkaseasytoenvisiononeoDt’emasme.h’eykerelucUy t’ouw’,fecausetodaykasoneoDOsirisIVgsDekdecentdays.

bormally,darUstormcloudsAlledt’esUies,andrainpoured liUenotomorrok.RcoupleoDtimesperyear’okever,aday emerwed k’ere t’e clouds froUe apart to reveal t’e k’ite suns’ininwafove.qit’’oklittledayliw’tt’erekasont’is korld,Irememfereditalkaysfeinwasiw’ttofe’old.

h’erekasnomarineescortkaitinwDorus,k’ic’kasngtunezpected.LarweasFortressGarsonkas,everyonekaskorUed tot’efoneandstretc’edt’in.Rssuc’,kemadeourkayto t’edefrieAnwcenterlocatedont’eDourt’KooroDt’eprimary fuildinw.

h’e ”tar Mourn stationed ’ere kere Uept in one oD t’e suf-Dortresses fuilt around Garson, Wontu. Rs a result, t’e peopleint’eprimaryDortressoDGarsonrarelyeversakDully armoredcommandosliUeus.h’iswotusplentyoDstaresDrom recruitst’atpassedusfy.Irememfered’okakestrucUIkas k’enIArstsakanarmored-up”tarMournDort’eArsttime, soIcouldngtflameanyoneDorowlinwus.

Overourprivatecommc’annelkeduffedt’eMacUHoor, Loudmout’spoUeup,“Feelswoodfeinwt’erolemodelst’is timearound.T

Rt t’is, W.R.H. snorted. “LiUe you could ever fe a role model.T

Eard as it kas, Fizer manawed to stiKe a lauw’. Oracle kas stilltootensetofeskayedfyt’isremarU,andFlyfyactedas iD’e’adngt’eardanyt’inw.

h’erestoDt’e4ourneykasdoneinsilence,andkemadeit toourdesiwnateddefrieAnwroom.boonekaspresent,soke tooUaseatint’eDrontrokandremovedour’elmets.Rsmuc’ as I could tell Fizer kanted to slouc’ ’is facU and relaz, fut ourtraininwpreventedanyoDusDromdoinwt’at.Rsrecruits iDaninstructorcauw’tanyonedoinwt’at,itmeantrunninwa laparoundGarsonkit’outasmartcoattoUeepuskarm.

“”oSap,t’isisareconop,riw’t5HidE7wiveyouanyt’inw moret’ant’at5TOracleasUed.

hot’at,Is’ooUmy’ead.“Rllt’eysaidkast’atitgdfeon OsirisIV,andtoakaitaDulldefrieAnwonceplanetside.T

“IdongtliUeit,TW.R.H.said.“q’atgswott’emso’otand fot’eredtofet’istiw’t-lipped5T

“Sangtfeanyt’inwke’avengtDacedfeDore.h’eflocUadein spacekouldgvepreventedterroristsoraliensDrominAltratinw,T Flyfy surmised. “Itgs profafly a pacU oD Draccords maUinw a dentooclosetot’eDortresses.T

xvent’atkasngtapleasantt’ouw’t.Fraccordskereamonw t’emanydanwerouscreaturesnativetoOsirisIV.h’eclosest resemflance t’ey fore kas to velociraptors. qit’ flue scales t’atUeptt’emdryDromt’eever-presentrain,t’eykeresur-

prisinwly cunninw. h’eir intelliwence kasngt Yuite up to ’uman standards, fut t’eir afility to come up kit’ intricate plans to trap and eat t’eir prey kas notekort’y enouw’ t’at only”tarMournkereallokedtodealkit’t’em.

qe didngt ’ave to speculate Dor lonw, fecause t’e door t’rouw’ k’ic’ ke ’ad entered Drom slid open. q’en ke turnedaroundtolooUatk’oitkas,keallezpectedtoseean inteloQcerkalUinwin.Instead,alloDussnappedtoattention att’esiw’toDSommandantBen8itawaka,’eadoDFortress Garsonandt’esurroundinwDorts.

Hespite feinw in ’is seventies, ’e carried ’imselD kit’ t’e viwor oD someone our awe. qit’ ’is ’ands fe’ind ’is facU, ’e kalUed up to t’e Dront oD t’e defrieAnw center k’ere t’e podium kas and kaved us oC. q’en ke sat facU dokn, ’is eyesscannedeac’oDuscareDully.

“h’ismissionisoDt’eutmostimportance.boneoDk’atis said’ere,leavest’isroom.Nnderstood5T

“?es,sir,TalloDusreplied.

qit’ a curt nod, ’e tapped a futton on t’e podium, and droneDootaweoDanareatenUilometersnort’kestoDGarson appearedont’edisplayfe’ind’im.ItPoomedinonacanyon, and k’ile t’e Yuality kasngt t’e fest, it appeared somet’inw unnaturalkast’ere.

“h’is area is t’e Bevora Sanyons. xven Dor a planet liUe OsirisIV,kedeemedittoodanwerousDortraininwandDorfade anyoneDromenterinw.Fourdaysawo,ourdronescapturedt’is imawe,T said Sommandant 8itawaka. “Our analysts suspect itgsmanmade.T

“Mlood’ound, sir5T I asUed. h’ey kere t’e most kell-Unokn’umanterroristcell,andk’ileitseemedimpossifle Dor t’em to ’ave made it to Osiris IV, I kasngt woinw to ruleitout.

8itawaka s’ooU ’is ’ead. “qe suspect t’is is a piece oD eYuipmentoriwinatinwDromGarson.ForacoupleoDmont’s nok,crates’avefeenwoinwmissinw.qedidngtsuspectanyone oDstealinwt’emfecauseoD’okinDreYuentlyit’appened.ho add to t’at, cadets ’ave feen woinw missinw at an increasinw rate.T

h’at kasngt un’eard oD eit’er. q’ile deat’s kere only in t’e sinwle diwits per year, t’e ’ars’ conditions oD Osiris IV made it impossifle to prevent any Datal accidents Drom ’appeninw. q’en Dactored in kit’ t’e missinw crates and t’e droneDootawe,’okever,t’esedisappearancespaintedadiCerentpicture.

“h’ere ’ave feen rumflinws oD a refellion Dor years. Nsually, itgs 4ust talU Drom diswruntled cadets and dropouts. Follok-up intervieks ’ave alkays conArmed t’at. Sonsiderinw

everyt’inwIgvetoldyou,t’eregsreasontosuspectitgsnotmere lip service anymore. I kant t’e qolD 2acU to investiwate t’is anomalyandconArmk’et’ert’eregsa’umanpresenceint’e

BevoraSanyons.T

“IDt’ereis,sir5TIsaid.

“xliminatet’em,T8itawakasaid.“RLoUidrops’ipkillfe preparedDoryouintko’ours.Hismissed.T

[Eanwar2adhen,FortressGarson.] . [Localsystemtime:1J00.]

Rlt’ouw’ it kas only 1J00 ’ours, t’e sun ’ad already set and t’e darU clouds ’ad returned. ;udwinw Drom t’e distant rumflinws, a storm kas imminent. h’e enwines oD our LoUi kere already rarinw to wo, t’ouw’ it kas Yuieter t’an most drops’ips. One oD t’e perUs oD feinw made kit’ stealt’ in mind.

Given ’is talent kit’ pilotinw, Flyfy kas woinw to act as ourpilot.Oncet’eLoUikasatasaDedistance,’ekouldtaUe overasouroverkatc’.”ince”tarMournkereusedtokorUinw alone,ketrainedtoDulAllmultipleroles.

RsDaraskeaponskereconcerned,kepacUedliw’tly.2unis’erassaultriKesand”entinel’andwuns,fot’eYuippedkit’ silencers. h’ose kere t’e fread and futter not 4ust oD ”tar Mourn,futoDt’eWarineSorps.asakell.

q’ileold,t’e2unis’erprovedreliaflefot’instealt’operationsliUet’is,andinAreAw’ts.h’e”entinelkasUnoknDor ’okliw’tkeiw’tandYuicUtoAreitkas,k’ic’madeitawood

AtDort’emissionkekereafouttoundertaUe.

Only Flyfy carried a ’eavy-duty keapon, t’at feinw a Leviat’ansniperriKe.Ones’otDromt’atfadfoycouldmaUe a ’ead ezplode. It may fe overUill considerinw t’is potential refellionseemedtofemadeupoDcadets,futitkasfetterto fesaDet’ansorry.

qit’t’at,keenteredt’eLoUiandstrappedink’ileFlyfy entered t’e cocUpit. Once t’e slidinw doors sealed s’ut, t’e interior liw’ts came on, t’ouw’ t’ey only provided t’e fare minimum.Rst’eLoUifewantoliDtoC,Iuploadedt’emapoD t’eBevoraSanyonsintot’edrops’ipgsterminalandtapped afuttontoactivatet’e’olowrap’icdisplay.

“Onemoretime,letgswoovert’eplan.qegredippinwinto t’ecanyonatt’eAve-UilometermarUandfeinwdroppedoC one Uilometer out Drom k’ere t’e unidentiAed of4ect kas spotted.h’isareaoDt’ecanyon’aslittletonocover,sokegll needtostayint’es’adoks.

“W.R.H., yougll taUe point. Loudmout’, yougre woinw to cover our siz. Oracle, I kant you to katc’ out Dor any stray radio kaves. qegre Dar enouw’ out Drom Garson t’at t’ere s’ouldngt fe any mistaUinw a possifle siwnal Dor t’em. Fizer andIkill’eadupanyincisionsiDneeded.RnyYuestions5T

Nnsurprisinwly, Loudmout’ raised ’is ’and. “”’ould ke ezpectany’ostiles,Sap5T

xveryone looUed my kay. h’e possifility kas t’ere oD course, fut t’at kasngt t’e Yuestion. q’at ’e really kanted toUnokkask’et’erIt’ouw’tt’erekouldfeany.

h’e storm outside Anally ’it, and t’ousands oD raindrops made contact kit’ t’e LoUi. “hoo muc’ oD a coincidence to assume ot’erkise. I ’ope Igm kronw, fut Igm t’inUinw kegll runintoatleastaDekpeople.T

h’e prospect oD Uillinw cadets'refels or not'kasngt somet’inw t’at t’rilled me. xven iD t’ey ’ad keapons kit’ t’em,awainstDullyUitted”tarMournliUeus,t’eydidngtstand ac’ance.ItDeltliUeapotentialslauw’ter.

W.R.H.raised’er’andnezt.“IDkeAndt’emissinweYuipment,areketaUinwitfacUkit’us5T

“Hependsonk’atitis.IDkecan,yes.Ot’erkise,kegllmarU itslocationsot’epeopleatGarsoncanpicUituptomorrok.T

q’en no one else spoUe up, I nodded and s’ut oC t’e ’olo-display. R minute and a ’alD later, ke kere ready Dor

deployment. h’e LoUi came to a slok ’alt, and a portion oD t’edecUretracted.Fromint’ecocUpit,Flyfyrolledouttko protected cords Drom t’e ceilinw and dokn t’e nekly made ’oleDorustodescendon.W.R.H.andLoudmout’sliddokn Arst,DollokedfyFizerandOracle,t’enAnallyme.

OnceIsteppedakayDromt’ecords,Flyfyretractedt’em andKekoC.qit’outkastinwanytime,kefewanourtreU.

h’e rain kas intense, as kere t’e kinds t’at c’anneled t’rouw’t’ecanyonkalls.Rskit’t’erestoDOsirisIV,t’eterrainkasasdarUasofsidian,maUinwvisifilitynearimpossifle. xvenkit’ourinDrared-supportedniw’tvision,itkas’ardto seemuc’.

Hespite t’at, none oD us Daltered. q’ile t’e terrain kas unDamiliar, t’e conditions kere t’e ezact opposite. Rll oD us trainedinsuc’unDorwivinwstandardskit’lessprotection.ID kecoulddoitt’en,kecansureas’elldoitnok.

Liw’tninw Kas’es lit up our surroundinws Dor frieD moments.h’underDolloked,anditreverferatedt’rouw’mein a kay t’at tooU me facU to my early days. ;ows t’rouw’ t’e rain,traininwezercisest’atalkaysresultedincutsandfruises t’anUs in no small part to t’e terrain. h’e coldness kas unmistaUafletoo.Itseepedt’rouw’myarmorandmadeas’iver runupmyspine.

“God, I ’ate t’is planet,T Loudmout’ muttered over t’e MacUHoor.

“?ougretellinwme,TFizersaid.

Rs muc’ as I awreed kit’ t’em, I kas afout to tell t’em tocutt’ec’atterfeDoreFlyfygsvoicecamet’rouw’t’eMacU Hoor.

“Sap,Igminpositionand’aveeyesonk’eret’eunidentiAedof4ectkasp’otowrap’ed.T

qeallcametoa’alt.FlyfyonlyspoUek’ennecessary,so t’eDact’ekastellinwust’ismeantt’erekasmoretot’is.

Ee continued. “h’eregs a cave entrance nearfy. hen Deet afovewround.Idongt’aveawoodanwleonit,futitseemsfiw enouw’DorcratesandpeopletoAtinto.Souldfeawoodplace totaUes’elterDromt’ekeat’er.T

“RcUnokledwed.qegret’ree’undredmetersout,TIsaid.

h’isinDormationincreasedt’eliUeli’oodoDcontact.Rtt’e tko’undredmetermarU,W.R.H.raisedaAst,andkeDroPe. “hripkire.qegredeAnitelynotalone.T

LooUinwover’ers’oulder,IconArmed’ercall-out.RDoot afovet’ewroundkasat’in,farelynoticeaflekireconnected fytkorocUs.SonsiderinwourdistanceDromt’ecave,t’atkas plentyoDtimeDorawroupoDpeopletowetreadyDorintruders.

”teppinw over t’e trip kire, ke continued on, spreadinw out Durt’er on my command. h’e closer ke wot, t’e more

met’odical our steps fecame. q’ile t’e ’oklinw kind and doknpouroDrainmasUedourapproac’,t’eintroductionoD apossifletrapmadeitallt’emorenecessarytotaUet’isslok andsteady.

“Igvewotvisualont’ecave,TW.R.H.said.

Rnot’erKas’oDliw’tninwilluminatedt’ecanyon.h’ecave, ’okever,stayedint’es’adoks.ItkasliUeaflacU’ole,fecUoninwustoenter.hemptinwast’atkas,keneededtocleart’is areaArst ensurekekerengtkalUinwintoanamfus’.

”preadinwout,kedid4ustt’at.bot’inw.IDIdidngtUnok fetter,Igdsayt’esecanyonskeredevoidoDliDe.

“Sap, Igm picUinw somet’inw up,T Oracle said. “Itgs Daint, futitgsdeAnitelyt’ere.T

“Sanyoudecip’erk’atgsfeinwsaid5T

“Is kater ket5T R Dek moments later, Oracle spoUe up awain. “Itgs Worse code. LooUs liUe t’eygre communicatinw kit’someoneelse.T

“Ist’eirDriendplanetside5TIasUed.

“RQrmative, Igm tryinw to pinpoint t’e ezact location nok,TOraclekorUedakayatt’edeviceattac’edto’isleDtarm feDorecursinw.

IlooUedin’isdirection.“q’atisit5T

“h’eot’ersiwnalisDromFortressGarson.T

“h’e’ell5TLoudmout’said.

Wywriponmy2unis’ertiw’tened.h’isisdeepert’anke t’ouw’t. “Flyfy, send a messawe to Sommand and let t’em Unokt’eregsarat.h’erestoDyou,kit’me.qegvewota4of todo.T

“FracUinw’ell,man,TFizermuttered. qe couldngt say Dor certain ’ok fiw t’is cell kas, fut iD t’eykerecommunicatinwkit’someoneont’einside,itkas coordinated to a certain eztent. Sadets or not, ke couldngt aCordtotaUet’emliw’tly.

Nsinwt’emawne’ooUsattac’edtoourwauntlets,kescaled t’e canyon kall and entered t’e cave. h’e rain didngt ’elp matters,futkewotinkit’outmuc’troufle.RtArstwlance, itlooUedliUeitkentADteenDeetstraiw’ta’eadfeDoreturninw into a dead end. q’ile Loudmout’ and Oracle covered t’e entrance,Fizer,W.R.H.andImovedinDoracloserinspection.

q’enkedid,FizerkavedmeoverandpointedoutacracUin t’ekall.

“LooUsfiwenouw’DorsomeonetosYueePet’rouw’,dongt yout’inU5T’esaid.

“Wayfe,futk’atafoutt’eeYuipment5TIreplied,tracinw myAnwersalonwt’eedweoDt’ecracU.

MeDore any oD us could wo Durt’er dokn t’at train oD t’ouw’t,areddotonourradardrekourattentiontoanot’er section oD t’e tunnel. xnemy contact. h’e s’eer darUness

madeitdiQculttomaUeoutdetails,futIcouldseeenouw’to conArmitkasa’uman,andt’eykere’oldinwariKe.

h’inUinw Dast, W.R.H. opened Are. qit’ one fullet Drom ’er 2unis’er, t’e fowie kas dokn. xven kit’ ’er silencer, t’ewuns’otstillec’oedt’rouw’outt’etunnel.IDt’estorm outsidedidngtmasUt’enoise,anyoneelse’idinwin’erekas woinwtofeonredalert.

“q’atgswoinwonfacUt’ere5TLoudmout’asUed,Ueepinw ’isokn2unis’eraimedoutside.

WovinwintotaUeacloserlooU,Isakt’eenemykaskearinw a smart coat. It ’elped to prevent fody ’eat Drom escapinw, k’ic’ durinw keat’er liUe t’is, kas a liDesaver. hurninw ’im over,t’erekasnodouftt’emankasyounw mustgvefeenno oldert’antkenty.

“Sap,looUa’ead,TW.R.H.said,noddinwtok’eret’eman .’adstood.

It didngt taUe lonw to notice k’at s’e kas talUinw afout. h’erekasanot’erentrancet’atkas’iddenint’es’adoks.

2erDectsportDoranamfus’.Woreimportantly,t’ispat’kay kas4ustkideenouw’toAtcratest’rouw’.Minwo.

RDter recallinw t’e ot’ers to Dorm up on me, I inDormed FlyfyoDourintentiontoinvestiwateDurt’er.

“Nnderstood. Sommand is investiwatinw t’e matter. Ho youkantmetore4oint’erestoDyou5T

“bewative. 8eep katc’ in case more oD t’em come facU t’rouw’t’ecave.T

“Sopy.T

qit’t’at,kepressedon.h’isnektunnelkasanyt’inwfut straiw’t.Rttimes,itDeltliUekekeretraversinwt’einsideoDa snaUe.q’enitAnallyopenedup,t’esiw’tkass’ocUinwtosay t’eleast.

FiDteenmetersfelokkasacavernt’atmust’avefeenADty metersindiameter.h’erekasasmallkatersourceint’emiddlet’atilluminatedsilvercrystals’anwinwafove.h’efodyoD katerkassurroundedfytents,andcrateskerescatteredafout kit’outr’ymeorreason.

h’atfeautycouldngtfeen4oyedDorlonw’okever,fecause nomoret’anasecondlater,enemiesfelokopenedAre.Our fuilt-in s’ields protected us Drom t’e initial onslauw’t and fouw’tustimeto’itt’edecU,sotospeaU.;udwinwDromt’e reddotsonourradar,t’erekeretkentyoDt’em.

”omekereont’eirkayupt’enaturalrampt’atledupto k’erekekere,sot’eykereourArsttarwets.Loudmout’leveled’is2unis’erandputt’emdokn.Nsinwt’e’iw’wround to our advantawe, ke neared t’e ledwe k’ile still prone and Aredatkill.Rnot’erDourenemieskeredokn.

ho my surprise, one oD t’em tossed out a Draw wrenade. h’inUinw YuicU, Fizer tossed it facU in t’e direction it came

Drom. h’e resultinw ezplosion led to a series oD awoniPinw screams.

2ressinwon,kedescendedintot’ecaverntoeliminatet’e rest oD t’e refels. Nsinw t’e crates as cover, ke spread out to covermorewround.LiUet’epersonk’otriedtoamfus’us, t’esecadetskereunarmored,maUinwt’emeasytarwets.

Rst’eirnumferskerecutdokn,oneoDt’ecadetsdoveinto atent.Myt’ispoint,IkasDeelinwsorryDort’em.Rwainstus, t’eystoodnoc’ance.xvenso,t’eymadet’eirc’oice.h’ey stole keapons, eYuipment, and 4udwinw fy t’e Dact t’ey ’ad someoneont’einside,kereliUelyplanninwsomet’inwmalicious.Rctions’adconseYuences,andt’iskasezactlyt’at.

Riminw my 2unis’er at t’e tent t’e cadet ducUed into, I openedAre.homysurprise,t’efullets’itsomet’inwmetal. qeret’eremorecratesinside5”econdslater,Iwotmyansker. h’eunmistaUaflesoundoDanautomatedturretk’irrinwto liDe ec’oed t’rouw’out t’e cavern. Sursinw, I dove fe’ind cover in t’e nicU oD time. R second later, t’e mini-wun came toliDeandAredatk’ereI’ad4ustfeen.IDt’atconnected,I kouldgvefeenpinUmist.

Rnot’er automated turret attempted to wun dokn Fizer, t’ouw’’etoowottosaDety.

“Oracle TIstarted.

“Rlreadyonit.T

h’erekasonlysomuc’kecoulddokit’t’oseturretspinninwusdokn.ID’ecould’acUintot’em,wett’emo ineDor evenaDekseconds,kecouldwetfe’indt’emanddeactivate t’empermanently.

“I kouldngt ezpect any oD you to understand T t’e cadet k’o ducUed into t’e tent s’outed. ID it kerengt Dor our ’elmetsgafilitytoen’anceaudio,Idongtt’inUIkouldgve’eard ’im. “h’ey dongt care iD any oD us die bot us, and certainly notanyoDyou.qegre4ustcowsint’emac’ine.T

“IDt’atgsk’atyougrekorriedafout,It’inUyouc’oset’e kronwcareerpat’,TLoudmout’saidover’ispuflicspeaUers.

“HongtantawoniPe’im,TIc’ided.

“q’at5Wayfe’egllmaUeamistaUefecauseoDit,T’esaid.

W.R.H.tooUanot’ertkoout.Mynok,t’erekereatotaloD t’reeleDt.

“Rlriw’t,Icans’utt’emfot’doknDorAveseconds,TOraclesaid.“LetmeUnokk’enyougreready.T

“Ont’ecountoDt’ree,TIsaid.

haUinw a deep freat’, I mentally counted dokn. ”ure enouw’,aDtert’reeseconds,t’eturretskeredokn.h’esurvivinwcadetrefelsstartedpanicUinw,andFizerandIsprinted around t’e tattered tents. q’en ke ’ad a clear viek oD t’e enemies,kewunnedt’emdokn.

RDterkards, ke wot fe’ind fot’ turrets and deactivated t’em.Fizerkasfetterkit’tec’t’anI,so’ekasafletoturn ’isoCt’eproperkay.RsDorme,Ikasmoreconcernedkit’ doinw t’is YuicUly, so I uns’eat’ed my UniDe, ripped oC t’e controlpanelandstaffedt’efladeintot’ekirinw.Wayfea littlefrutis’,futitwott’e4ofdone.

h’elastonetriedtomaUearunDorit,futLoudmout’s’ot ’erint’efacU.qit’t’at,t’eAreAw’tcametoanend.

h’atkasngtt’eendoDit,’okever.h’erekeresevencrates in total, k’ic’ meant ke couldngt frinw all oD t’is kit’ us. h’ey needed to fe tawwed, and iD possifle, ke needed to discovert’eirmotivation.

qit’t’atwoalinmind,t’eqolD2acUspreadout.W.R.H. andOraclelooUedDorinDoont’erefelsgplans,k’ilet’erestoD ustawwedt’ecrates.Hurinwt’atprocess,keopenedupeac’ crate to conArm k’at supplies kere stolen. hko contained Doodandkater,k’ileanot’ertko’eldammunition.Onekas almostempty,ast’atkask’eret’eturretscameDrom.Sredit k’erecreditkasdue,t’ecadetskeretalentedenouw’toput t’emfot’towet’er.

It kas t’e Anal tko t’at painted a picture oD t’eir true intentions.Mot’kereDulloDezplosives mainlyS-10andSondensed Momfs. ”tar Mourn used t’e latter k’en ke needed somet’inwmorepokerDult’anDraws,futnotenouw’toput

ourselves in danwer. R seven-fy-seven crate oD t’em liUe t’is couldverykellflokupaportionoDoneoDt’esuf-Dortresses.

h’eS-10t’ouw’

h’ose kere used to destroy ma4or tarwets. hko flocUs oD t’em could liw’t up an anti-air cannon liUe it kas Fourt’ oD ;uly ArekorUs. h’e amount t’at t’ese refels ’ad could do unprecedenteddamawe.h’et’ouw’toDt’emfeinwdetonated insideFortressGarsonkasngtoneIkantedtodkellon.

“hellmesomet’inw,Sap ’okint’e’elldoesE7loset’is muc’ezplosives5TLoudmout’asUed.

Fizernodded.“h’eregswottafemoretoitt’ant’is.Wayfe someone kas smuwwlinw t’em to t’ese Uids5 xven t’en, t’e ’iw’er-upss’ouldgvenoticedt’isearlier.T

“I wet k’at you wuys are sayinw. Rt t’e end oD t’e day t’ouw’, t’atgs afove our pay wrade. qe stopped t’em Drom doinwGodUnoksk’at.h’atgswoodenouw’Dorme.T

xarlyonintofeinwa”tarMourn,Ilearnedt’atyougllnever wet all t’e anskers you kant. ”ometimes yougre lucUy to wet anyatall.

IturnedmyattentiontoW.R.H.andOracle.“Eaveyoutko Doundanyt’inw5T

h’e Dormer said not’inw, t’ouw’ t’at didngt surprise me. W.R.H. tended to tune out t’e outside korld k’en s’e kas enwrossedinsomet’inw.

“I dongt Unok yet,T Oracle said. “h’ere kere some ’and-krittennotes’ere.W.R.H.gswoinwt’rouw’t’emnok.T qalUinwovertok’eret’eykere,Isakt’att’eykereinone oDt’eintacttents.IdidntkanttolooUover’ers’oulder,fut Icouldtellt’epaperskereAlledkit’kritinw.ItkasrareDor anyonenokadaystokritet’inwsfy’and,k’ic’addedtomy curiosity.

Oraclemeank’ilekaslooUinwovert’esleepinwtentont’e wround.

“Sangtimawinek’yanyonekouldkanttoliveout’ereliUe t’is,T’esaid.

“I can,T W.R.H. spoUe up. “h’ese notes are Dor a speec’. h’e leader oD t’is wroup must ’ave feen stayinw ’ere. Ee planned on wivinw t’is speec’ aDter ’e fomfed Fortress Garson.T

q’ile s’e ’anded t’e notes to me, I ’eard Loudmout’ k’istlinwatt’at,remarUinwatt’einsanityoDt’esecadets.

“ Wy Dellok people, ke are more t’an slaves to t’e industrial military complez. qe deserve to live amonw t’e stars kit’out’avinwtodieinkarskedongtfelievein.T

“Rwain I say, t’ese Uids wot into t’e kronw career,T Loudmout’said.

“”ounds liUe t’ey wot 4aded pretty YuicUly. Imawine k’at kouldgve ’appened iD t’eyd actually wone into t’e military proper,TFizeradded.

Oraclesiw’ed.“ItgsnotliUeIdongtwetk’eret’eygrecominw Drom, fut flokinw up a Dortress5 I dongt t’inU t’ey t’ouw’t t’ist’rouw’.T

“I’opemy2eteydoesngtendupliUet’esepunUs,TW.R.H. said.

“Rre you Uiddinw5 qit’ a mom liUe you, ’egs sure to wet allt’erefellionfeatoutoD’imfeDore’egsevenateenawer,T Loudmout’remarUed.

qealllauw’edatt’at,k’ileW.R.H.merelys’ooU’er’ead. xveryone Unek ’ok strict s’e could fe k’en it came to ’er son,ands’ecouldngtdenyiteit’er.

“Rlriw’t,letgswetoutoD’ere.qegvewotenouw’tosatisDyt’e ’iw’er-ups,TIsaid,sticUinwt’epapersintooneoDmypouc’es.

RDter one last looU at t’e dead refels, ke ’eaded facU to t’ecaveentrance.I’adtoadmit,t’isleaderoDt’eirsseemed c’arismatic. It didngt surprise me one fit t’at t’e ot’er Uids Dolloked’im.IkonderiDt’eycouldspeaUnok,k’et’ert’ey truly t’ouw’t t’is kas kort’ dyinw Dor, or iD someone could ’avetalUedt’emdokn.

”iw’inw,Is’ooUt’et’ouw’toutoDmy’ead.bopointin woinwoverk’at-iDsliUet’at.Sommandant8itawakawaveus t’eordertoeliminatet’em,andt’atgsk’atkedid.

[FortressGarson.Onedaylater.] .

[Localsystemtime:0—00.]

q’en ke wot facU to Garson yesterday, t’ere kas a Yuiet urwency in t’e air. Sadets kere feinw Uept in t’eir farracUs k’ilet’eenlisted’ustledafout.qekeretaUentoFortWontu towetsomerest,t’ouw’considerinwt’ereasonDoralloDt’is, Imadesuret’eqolveskereonstandfy4ustincase.

h’esituation’adfeensettledfyt’etimekekoUeupt’is morninw. h’ey didnt wive us muc’ inDormation ot’er t’an t’at t’ey tooU t’e inside man into custody. qit’ t’at, t’e missionoQciallycametoaclose.

RccordinwtoE7,kealready’adanot’eropint’ekorUs. I ’adngt looUed it over closely yet, fut it sounded liUe a pirateraid.bonet’eless,kekeredoneonOsirisIV.qe’adngt received a woodfye or a t’anU you, fut none oD us ezpected

t’at. Sommandant 8itawaka kas never one Dor pleasantries. booneont’iskorldkas,Dort’atmatter.

q’ilet’eyUeptt’eirmout’ss’ut,Icouldtellfy’okt’ey kereloadinwupintoourdesiwnatedOdint’atalloDt’emkere eawertoleave.Inall’onesty,sokasI.Forasmuc’’ellasOsiris IVwaveusinourearlydays’okever,IcouldngtfrinwmyselD to’ateitcompletely.qit’outt’emeansonsoDfitc’esk’o trainedusort’eeztremekeat’ert’atseemedliUeitkastryinw toUillus,noneoDuskouldfet’e”tarMournkearetoday.

Rndso,kit’onelastlooUatFortressGarson,IkalUedup t’erampoDt’eOdinandtooUmyseatnezttoFizer.h’eramp closed, and less t’an a minute later, t’e ’eavy drops’ip kas airforne.

“h’anUGodt’atgsoverkit’,TLoudmout’saidkit’asiw’.

“?ougretellinwme,TOraclesaid,slouc’inwin’isseat.“IDI never’avetocomefacU’ere,Igllfet’e’appiestmanint’e korld.T

“Hongtfesuc’kusses,TW.R.H.c’astised.“Rllt’inwsconsidered,itkasngttoofad.T

“?ousayt’at,futIseemtorememferyoufeinwprettyriwid k’enkelanded,TIsaid,k’ic’warneredsomelauw’s.

Flyfy,k’okasunaCectedfyt’efanter,looUedmykay.“”o k’atgst’eneztmission,Sap5T

qit’aYuietsiw’,Ifrouw’tupt’edetailsE7sentmet’is

morninw.borestDort’ekeary,’u’5

Star Bourn_ A Cold Day in Hell (1)

Bourn: A

Cold Day in Hell

STAR BOURN:

A COLD DAY IN HELL