0315 hrs (Planetary Standard Time)
December 28th, 2027
Planet, XC-478-DHG [Classified: UI]
Operation: CHECKMATE
SSgt. Regis F. Hermitage
|-Callsign: Scipio
NavSpecWar, 4th Special Warfare Development Group
Team: Onyx 0-7
"You're gonna make it..." the words echoed through Hermitage's ears. He looked around, and only saw trees in and out of the fading consciousness. He could feel the bumps of the forest floor beneath him as he was being dragged across it. He could feel his arms being dragged by 2 peopled, but couldnt find the strength to look up to see. He started at his boots. They were black, and muddied from the nature around them. He cringed for a brief moment at the sudden shock of the pain that hit him. Moving up his legs, which were covered in mud as well, staining the black and grey camo. Finally he saw...
"Fuck!" he groaned. he looked at the wound on his chest. It had been temporarily sealed with a bio-foam like treatment, but it was opening back up now that his heart was beating faster.
"Cap! He's up!" he could hear a teammate called out.
"Scars, Grisly, put him up. His wound is opening back up." another voice called to the men dragging Hermitage.
"But sir. They're right behind us!" another one called.
"I dont care. If we dont treat him, he'll die before we get to the LZ." the voice yelled back. The 2 operatives, Sgt. "Scars" and MSgt "Grisly" leaned Hermitage up against a tree, causing him to moan, and grab his chest where he had been hit. "I've got you, Scipio." he could hear a person say. He lifted his head up to see his team leader, Captain "Blazer" kneeling while Scars and Grisly provided security. They could hear the sounds of shouts, and tracking animals coming their way.
"I-I got it Capt.." Hermitage managed to say, and patted his front pocket of his combat uniform.
"I know you did. It was great work. Now, im going to seal up your wound, and give you a perk up... we desperately need to get to the LZ. Lt. General Anderton is coming personally to collect it from you. Alright?" Blazer said as he filled up the wound.
"Got it, Cap.." Hermitage said wearily. He then felt a small stab in his leg, then his heart started to race. Perk up indeed. He could feel his teammates helping him to his feet, and handing him a rifle.
"On your feet, Marine." Grisly said. "We arent leaving you here."
Hermitage got his balance down, and grabbed the rifle, checking the clip, and loaded chamber. "We're burning sunshine Marines!" Blazer informed them. "Lets go, ladies." The 4 operatives made their way through the thick forest, Hermitage managing to stay on his feet and moving.
"I... s..... al Zer.... oo." they could hear their comms going off.
"We got something!" Scars said.
"Callsign, this is Onyx Zero-Seven. We are less them half a klick to the Lima-Zulu. We need immediate CASEVAC. 1 Whiskey-Indigo-Alpha! How copy?" Blazer called into his radio.
"Onyx Zero-Seven, this is King. We are enroute to the LZ, and will be there in 1 mike, and will stay for 1 mike. You have that long to get here." the radio called back.
"Copy that, King. Onyx Zero-Seven Out." Blazer ended his transmission, and burst through a thicket of branches, with the other 3 behind him.
"I hear it! The evac!" Scars said excited. Behind them, they could hear their pursuers closing in. "Its here!"
Blazer pulled the pin off of a smoke grenade, and burst through another thicket to a clearing. "Thunder 6-1. this is Onyx 0-7. I've got green smoke in the treelines. Engage it, how copy?" Blazer called in as the 3 burst through as well. Hermitage stumbled and fell to the ground. "Scars! Pick him up!" Blazer ordered.
"Copy." Scars said, and started to drag Hermitage as the evac and CAS birds arrived. Hermitage could see the treeline getting lit up as numerous vehincals landed and deployed the soldiers to secure the LZ. They approached the bird to see the ramp drop, revealing their commander.
Lt. General Johnathan Anderton, the Director of the newly created, Zarethian Hand, stepped out. "Do you have it?" he asked over the sound of the machines.
"We got it sir!" Scars said, as he and Hermitage approached him. Anderton's 3 Silver stars gave off a slight glare from the rising sun.
"Good. Thats a few less lose ends..." he said. Unbeknownst to Scars and Hermitage, behind him was his dead Captain, and Grisly. Hermitage took a look behind him only to see their bodies surrounded by his own forces. This couldnt be happening... Then.
BOOM!
He felt his support drop dead as he turned to face Anderton pointing his sidearm at him. He looked to his left only to see Scars laying in a puddle of blood. "Why...." he asked.
"Its business." Anderton replied, and shot Hermitage in the stomach. Hermitage collapsed and started the fade in and out of consciousness. 2 soldiers picked him up and threw him into a small ditch where they had already move Blazer and Grisly to. Hermitage, still alive, could only look in horror as the blood spilled everywhere, and then.
THUMP.
The weight of Scars' dead body was felt on him. He was going to die here. He would feel a liquid being put on him and the bodies. He could smell it.... Fuel. He turned to look at the sky, only to see Anderton standing above him, and the bodies, smoking. "There are no rules in war, Staff Sergeant." Anderton commented before he flicked his cigarette butt into the pile. Wait.... It stood there floating above him. Anderton looked curiously at it, until.
BOOM!
Hermitage could see the left side of Anderton's head explode as a projectile made contact with it. After, he could only hear a moment of gun fire until he felt someone drag him out of the ditch and lay him down. "Is he still alive?" he could hear a voice say.
"Yes, Chief." Someone responded.
"Thank god. The others?" the voice said again.
"Gone sir." the second voice replied.
"Regis... Wake up." the voice urged. Hermitage opened his eyes only to be staring at what looked like a Hand Agent. The nameplate read "Mann" and the words below it read, "Chief of Tactics." His eyes were wide open now.
"Get back!" Regis shouted with what ever might he had left and drew his boot pistol, pointing it at Mann, and another agent.
"Sergeant... Its ok. We arent here to kill you. Im sorry it had to go this far, but we can explain this." Mann tried to reassure the panicking Hermitage. "Im Erik Mann. And im here to help you, Hermitage."
END.
