“They always speak of duty but never of brotherhood. They always speak about how we have fear but never how we embrace it. They always speak of our deeds and victories but never of the bodies and rubble, we leave behind. They don’t truly know us and we like it that way.”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJYeARVfaS
-Major Winston Anderson, 1st Crow Brigade
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurzwaAblgP
140, 2432
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNvONsOXOo
HS “Carakon”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCV1MqyEQ0
Hubion system
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafsgynG6SP
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXDitXoo4P
“Damn those primates to all the hells!” the Ship Master hissed, his hands clutching the sides of his command throne, “How dare they desecrate our crown jewel?”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzrUkw491B
“Perhaps the information we got was false.” his first officer said, “I told you he wasn’t trustworthy.”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrN1ap6Dkm
The Ship Master gave him a deadly glare, “Watch your tone, Rarkan. He is the reason we still have a chance against these apes. Did you forget the truth he showed us?”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclxV4C9LzI
Rarkan mumbled something under his breath. Indeed he did remember. Just like everyone else. The stranger refused to give his name but he gave so much more than that. He showed them the truth about the galaxy and the truth about the humans. How they would exploit them, corrupt them, and eventually destroy them and their entire race and history. Their ambassadors did nothing but spew lies and fill their heads with false hopes and ideals. The monarch was right to order their execution.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFagMShOEeI
“Be that as it may, sir.” Rarkan said, “It doesn’t change the fact that we are losing this war. Our fleet has been decimated, our bastions and colonies taken, and our forces are in shambles. Even the jewel is burning. No single weapon can change this.”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZWEcd8vTe
“This is only the beginning.” the Ship Master hissed, “Soon, the tides will turn and they will be the ones who face annihilation.”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3C22grzmO
“This is still-”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0WEAt8Eyo
“I will not hear any more of this! Go make yourself useful and interrogate the female. Perhaps something can be gleaned from her.”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIhCmCmojV
Rarkan hissed and turned, whipping his reptilian tail as he walked off and called two guards to follow him. He contemplated the situation as he strode down the hall. On one hand, this was complete insanity. On the other hand, if what the stranger said was true, they could save their world and be free. But it was all so… sudden and strange. None of it felt right. But Rarkan wasn’t one to disobey the hierarchy.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVCRIrEUzS
“Wait here,” he told his two guards and they stood alongside the two others, who watched the door.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYD2QRp5BV
The room was dimly lit and empty. Except of course for the human that hung on chains wrapped around her wrists. Rarkan put on his dark visors and observed the female. Relatively fresh scars were visible on her legs and back. Her short dark hair was messy and dirty, and her eyes were closed as if asleep. Tattered clothing covered her more private parts and Rarkan mused at the notion that had he been human, he’d probably mate with her.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnjDqmuRjq
“Wake up.” he said as he grabbed her cheeks, “I know you can hear me. What did my men ask you? What did you tell them?’
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oTucQH7UE
She didn’t answer. She didn’t even open her eyes. This angered Rarkan, who slightly dug his claw into her cheek.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4XmgPT8mm
“What were you doing here? Who are your masters?”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GMfaBOZQq
Again, she said nothing and Rarkan cut the side of her face down to her jawline. This didn’t seem to bother her and she remained as motionless as ever.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt82IAW6IuT
“Do you think this makes you strong? That because you don’t talk, you are fierce? Anyone can take pain. But are you willing to die?”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXj8OLFFMQ
Rarkan pulled out his service knife and brought the edge below her ear. But just as he was about to make the cut, noises came from behind the door. A distinct sound of falling bodies could be heard and this made his heart race and his cold blood boil. Turning around, he called out to the guards, and when no one answered, the woman wrapped her legs around his throat. Rarkan thrashed around and cut her with his claws but both stopped moving as the door opened.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkiARaXw8t
"Praetorian." the woman said in awe and disbelief.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGV4rlDgPA
It was the last thing Rarkan heard before his heart was pierced. The Praetorian cut the woman down and helped her stabilize herself. She had to crane her head to look into his masked face. While she was certainly tall for a woman, she was nowhere near his size. His whole body was covered in thick, jet-black armor with a smooth and dense defense mesh on the joints. This confused her, however, as she realized he wasn't as big and armored as the Crimson Knights and Raiders that she was used to seeing.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMilOyqfkx
"They sent the Phantoms?" she asked.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7neHiIZiwf
"No, just him." a voice spoke from the doorframe nonchalantly, "And us. Name's Han."
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgZp2FObu4
Four more figures entered the room, each with a distinct ensemble of the Terran Crows.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIig7BSK8ZT
"Infiltration Specialist Natalia Pavlov. Lieutenant Gabriel Morrison, 9th Crow Brigade, we're here to extract you." the group leader said.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuMzeOdXea
Natalia smiled grimly, "Took you long enough. We have to go, now."
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdt5ZBASz0a
"Not until we find the bomb. I have Beta and Gamma searching-"
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVwbWBqRIH
"Call them back, the bomb is not here."
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6iTKpfIff
Jack frowned, “What d’ya mean?
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREZIuycw92
“It’s not on the ship, they-”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLMOLJsakh
A tremor cut her off and the team struggled to regain balance. The Phantom held Natalia upright as the others grabbed the pipes on the walls. Red light flared in the halls and loud alarms sounded all over the ship. Hubions ran frantically, some didn’t even notice the humans standing behind the corner. Those that did, we either killed or ran away. The ship’s security force struggled to hold its ground as hull ruptures kept spreading. Jack gave Natalia a mask to cover her face up and they all began running toward the hatch they entered the ship through. More and more Hubions appeared, but most didn’t pay the Crows any attention as they tried to save their own lives.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJYmYg8zfL
“Beta-1, Gamma 1, this is Alfa-1, situation report!” Morrison shouted into his comms but no response came, “Wingman Alfa, do you copy?”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrw5uKW0FRp
“This is Wingman Alfa, you need to hurry, the whole ship is coming apart!” the pilot said on the comms.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eDCMKtH9n
“Roger that, Wingman, we’ll be there soon!”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJrHUoXZBz
“For fock’s sake, this is messed up!” Jack shouted as he ran, “They blew their own ship!?”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrCyzUARYL
“Looks like it!” Han said.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9U862wdpI
When they got close to the hatch, the ship shook violently again, and Natalia and Jack lost their footing. The entire vessel tilted forward and the two Crows were about to fall into the newly-formed chasm. In a split second, the Praetorian grabbed them both and threw them at the hatch ladder. They climbed as fast as they could and narrowly managed to get on board the Raven before another part of the vessel burst open into the vacuum of space.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3Oa8QE8aU
Natalia sat down, exhausted and panting, “Thank you.”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3htZaOkgy
“Thanks, mucker,” Jack told the Praetorian, who didn’t seem to react.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNruVOBDqHr
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP34mP65rJF
As they flew away from the Hubion ship, Morrison kept trying to get into contact with Beta and Gamma. Time and time again, he received nothing but static. After calling the frigate to confirm his suspicions, he took his helmet off and lowered his head.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3EohdSTRA
“They’re dead. Beta was in the cargo bay, Gamma was heading to the command bridge. Both of them blew up along with the engines. It’s like the bastards planned for it. But why kill their own like this?”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylZskNYwEv
“Well, I’m pissed as fuck!” Han shouted, “Those pricks made me waste my BFB charges!”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHSGdODjuE
Everyone on board, including the Praetorian, turned to look at him. He looked back in confusion, anger, and annoyance.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfFiwWzLgh
“What? I had them shipped from Mars, they weren’t cheap.”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTICRcZ36M
Morrison shook his head, “I’ll get you more. For now, we have to get back to the Dark Bird and figure out what to do next.”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJWyTqu5YN
“Hubion Prime,” Natalia said.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUaj0NG2uK
“What about it?” Jack asked.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedy7GXjduw
“The bomb is there?”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPxWCVsP8F
“How do you know?” Morrison asked.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvpEkNC160
“There’s nowhere else they would put it. Calinola is under siege and Hubion Prime is the only planet still not under compliance in the system.”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wMkIxluNz
“And dozens of thousands of troops, including Praetorians, are concentrated around the capital.”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvq8pj08BKj
“They’d blow their own bleedin’ city?” Jack asked, “That don’t sound like ‘em.”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7clYv7RDby
“Whatever they’re planning, it’s on Hubion Prime,” Natalia said, “And we need to get there.”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Y2q1dpSED
“And if it’s another trap?” Bruiser asked.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCt2KaxAzKQ
Natalia paused for a moment and looked at the Praetorian, “Let’s hope he’s as good as we think he is.”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPN8LdBrZp0
— — — — — — — —
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMSxzKAEOG
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsb5aNmBLlD
142, 2432
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhuPIGUq37
TVV “Dark Bird”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6kwJFOXfS
Above orbit of Hubion Prime
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyGcXYPmUS
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6r6sV8VHW
“The plan is set.” Morrison said, turning on the holographic display, “Marshal Evans and General Parker aren’t willing to pull their forces back. They’re under the impression that the Hubions won’t commit to bombing their own capital. This means it’s up to us to find the bomb and whoever got it there. Luckily, we have a lead.”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZMXnJmxEa
The hologram flickered and an image of a Hubion appeared. He had dark yellow scales and wore orange cloth with jewelry and religious symbols. Han squinted his narrow eyes at the alien.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5dacI6mN6
“Who’s that?”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGTuw4KDuO
“Karafan Hon’Dal’Tar,” Morrison answered, “One of the monarchs of Calinola. He fled the capital several days before the assault began and is currently being held by the TGFA.”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNO2onBGRs
“They close?” Jack asked.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQncIMmMqy1
“Relatively. There’s a series of towns connecting to a large compound. There’s a surprisingly high amount of Hubion presence in the area, however. Most likely his followers.”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbIsHf5ez8
“What’s the plan?”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAe6El6aSU
“We’re going to go down there, link up with the TGFA, get Karafan, and get answers. So suit up, the bird leaves in ten minutes.”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooDNkHrklC
Each squad member went their own way to prepare. The only one who didn’t move much was the Praetorian, who simply sat in a corner and waited. Bruiser was much the same and the two men looked like they would get along, at least on paper.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOr3yg8qz90
“I know you’re not here to help us,” Bruiser said, “I personally don’t care what you do. But don’t mess with my brothers. I will kill you if you do.”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kNpRHOC9v
The Phantom slowly moved his head toward him and looked him in the eyes. It was hard to read his expression behind his mask but Bruiser knew exactly what he was thinking. No promises.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVolfDvZr3
Jack walked past the armory and glanced over at Natalia, who was redressing her wound. Her left side still looked bad despite the drugs she’s taken. He could see the scars covering her bare back and couldn’t help but admire the woman not just as his senior but also as a fighter.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVp8ox9R9fM
“Do you need something, rookie?” she asked without turning around.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQihyxJZV0B
“No.” he replied, “Just lookin’”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwPa6Eg5rS
Natalia smiled, “Rude to stare at a lady, don’t you think?”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyJbhdhch4
“It is. Lucky for me you ain’t one.”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpsWR8KLLh
This made her laugh and she turned around, tightening the bands around her chest and upper back.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXUCabLaeP
"First assignment?" she asked, to which Jack nodded, "Hell of a start, I'll give you that."
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSuw7szhuP
"What was your first?"
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAAPbiyjGL
"Assassination. It's where I got this," she said, pointing at a scar on her right shoulder.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQtO1gMGE5
"Damn. Gotta get me one."
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNE99DbDDc
"You don't. Trust me, they won't do you any good. All they are is a reminder of my incompetence. If you survive for twenty more years and get no scars, consider yourself a god."
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZj9uGXugl
Jack laughed at that, "Thanks for the advice."
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeWxeEKjQ5
He walked back down the hall and stopped when he saw Han's foot behind a corner.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElSwCxL3lF
"How much?" Jack asked.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhN7e6YrgOL
"Most of it," Han said and paused, dramatically looking at the ceiling, "Okay, all of it. Didn't know you were into older women."
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkl0H5K7RUB
"Shut up," Jack said and walked off.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgaEQqEh4k
"Hey, there's nothing wrong with that. I don't like used products myself, but whatever floats your boat."
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3wI8OP7CK
This kept up for the next ten minutes until they got on board the Raven and made their way down to Hubion Prime. Han kept making jokes to fix the mood, as he put it, even managing to make Bruiser crack a smile. Only two people on board weren't in high spirits. The Praetorian and Morrison. While the former was nigh impossible to read, the Lieutenant wasn't. The loss of two squads affected him more than he thought it would. But it wasn't just that, it was the way they died. Nothing pointed at the Hubions being this suicidal and self-destructive. It wasn't normal.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRknCXQxRMh
"Hey, LT," Han called over, "Wanna hear a joke?"
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJAOpV79In
"I'll pass."
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkjY90bbRA
"Come on, your depression is getting contagious. Two aliens walk into a bar-"
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgX9chVfDl
"Brace!" a loud voice boomed as the lights turned red and the craft shook.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtNDtPqfr2
Explosions filled the air as the pilot tried to dodge the missiles that came at him.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XiFROG40N
"What's happening?!" Morrison asked, his hands gripped tightly around the handles above him.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbnAHxWVwx
"Enemy anti-air! They just appeared below us! I'll try to-"
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4TNPtWxOl
Her voice cut off as a missile hit the bottom of the Raven, blowing off a piece of the hull as well as the cockpit. The craft plummeted into a dense treeline and most of its passengers were knocked out cold. When Morrison woke up, he found himself laying on his side with his waist uncomfortably tied to his seat. His vision was blurred and all he could hear were static and high-pitched sounds. The air bit his throat and lungs as he gasped for air and he fell on his back when he cut his seatbelt. As his sight slowly steadied, he saw the Praetorian lifting and carrying his squad members out. Bruiser was already outside when he came back for Neils and this gave him some relief. The next sight, however, did not.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMDIW3iHiE
"S-Sir?" Han grunted and Morrison turned his head to see him.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyO7vylJs3l
His eyes were fixed on the metal spike protruding out of the specialist's gut. The blood turned his jet-black suit into a dark crimson and the bottom of his unmasked face a glistening red. Morrison tried to crawl to Han, to help him however he could. Han merely smiled.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB60GA5OFdL
"Well, this sucks," he said as he laughed, "The bastards made me miss my punchline."
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjzwUdQvGL
"I’ll get you out,” Morrison wheezed and the Praetorian lifted him up and carried him away, “Stop.”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnB8iuFKpIe
Soon after they both got to relative safety, the Raven exploded. Pieces of burned metal flew in all directions and some lit a few of the surrounding lime-colored trees on fire. The squad barely got to its feet. Jack tried to help Natalia while Bruiser was balancing himself with a stick. Morrison walked up to the Praetorian and punched him in the jaw.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESi2FHJjIJ
“You could have carried both of us. You bleedi-”
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVk99189Rma
A gunshot cut him off. The super soldier pulled out his hand cannon and fired it at a Hubion, blowing his head off. He fired three more times before gesturing to the others to move. The three of them ran as quickly as they could through the woods. Bruiser didn’t see the Praetorian anywhere and assumed he had gone in a different direction. This changed when a Hubion’s chest burst open next to him. These aliens were everywhere, Jack thought. If they were to survive, they needed help. But luck was not appearing to be on their side. When they got out of the tree line, bright lights nearly blinded them as they stopped in their tracks. They steeled themselves for the worst when a woman shouted at them.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtWJ6YIU42
"Get down!"
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyy6gxeRvfo
The squad did so immediately. Bullets and lasers blitzed over their heads, killing the Hubions behind them. Grenades exploded and the screams of dying aliens filled the air. After several minutes, everything stopped. Soldiers ran to and past the injured Crows. The woman walked closer to them and Morrison could distinguish her features more clearly now. Her blond hair was tied into a bun on the back of her on top of which was a dark green helmet. A matching uniform adorned her body and a mark of two crossed bayonets with a black cross was plastered on her chest and shoulder.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4TyhBvQGm
"Are you the Crows?" she asked.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRe38FwghH9
"What gave us away, sunshine?" Jack asked as he was helped to his feet.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWC5O48e2Kv
The woman smiled slightly, "I'm Captain Helga Braun, 4th Greencoats of Kaiser Army."
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfNbNa7d5d
"Lieutenant Gabriel Morrison, 9th Crow Brigade," he said, "I won't waste time, Captain. Where is Karafan?"
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNL2AAouTa1
Helga nodded, "I thought you might ask that. I'll take you to him. Your men can get patched up at the med-block."
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeaB6t5Y5a
Morrison and his squad followed Helga to her MUV. The Greencoats took them to a small abandoned town two clicks away. Dozens of soldiers stood on watch all around and drones flew through the air and scanned the surroundings. Armored vehicles and roadblocks were placed on almost every street and at least two marksmen stood on every roof.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GB3ALPiQ5
"Quite a base you have here," Morrison commented.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfYIB1wxU0
"We've been attacked several times in the past three weeks. Two days ago they started firing blue rockets with white particles coming off of them. Ring a bell?"
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡke4Lz0L9lU
"Should it?" Jack asked.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkkPUVpAXx
"Those things blew your Raven. I thought you might know. What about you, Praetorian?"
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01yktuceuW
"He don' talk much."
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNlWxHfKds
"Funny. Those Raiders rarely shut up when you get them going."
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkGBTQe0uw
They stopped at a large gray structure with Kaiser emblems hung on its walls. When they got inside, Jack, Bruiser, and Natalia followed a medical officer toward another part of the facility. Morrison and the Praetorian went to the basement with Helga. At and around the entrance stood a dozen guards clad in denser armor than what they had seen outside. Helga issued them orders in German and the three of them walked into the dimly lit room. In the middle of it was a Hubion tied to a metal chair. His fancy clothes were torn, his jewelry was nowhere to be found, and his face looked like a Rhino ran over it.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDGA3IBb9F
"Can he still talk?" Morrison asked.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgG0rjBKCJT
"He can," Helga answered, "Though he doesn't say much. Recently he's been repeating the same thing."
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwX2XISj972
"What?"
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XswhkDks9
"The truth will call," Karafan wheezed out between coughs and grunts, "Answer it."
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvK81dRBlzI
Morrison walked closer and grabbed him by his throat, "Who will call? Where? When?"
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIHFcZh51X
Karafan didn't answer. All he did was give a crooked smile when a small device on the table glowed and rang.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljQdsTTSC7
"Answer it." he wheezed again.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoCzw72fyh
"What is that?" Morrison asked Helga.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMlR31ugTu
"I don't know. He had it on him, we thought it was some kind of communication device. But we never got it to work."
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rb6T2sBEs
The Lieutenant took the device and felt its almost nonexistent weight in his hand. His eyes widened and then frowned when he recognized what it was.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ENfWBOMiy
"This is Bae'Kloren technology," he said and turned to Karafan, "Where did you get this?"
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHrWi2jiKe
"Answer it," the Hubion monarch repeated.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2R34O4WTE
Morrison looked at the device again. Only a single white orb flashed in the middle of the bright purple circle. He pressed it and a small crisp holographic projection appeared in front of it. It displayed a sharp but deformed figure that glared at Morrison, who stared back in confusion, fear, and surprise.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryNChF8ve3
"What is that?" Helga asked as her face mimicked the Lieutenant's.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5k3RQzAO9
Even the Praetorian was unnerved as he took a step forward and tilted his head.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLMI3IGzsM
"Greetings once more, marksman," the creature said in a devilish and raspy voice.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU56gi3G8oj
Morrison threw the device onto the ground and stomped into scrap with his heel. His breathing was rapid and his heart raced like never before. Sweat poured down his forehead as he paced with his hand pulling his hair.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowx7klQpk6
"No," he said in a fit of rage, "No. No. This is not real. He is not real. He's not here! He-"
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrXYsVnAjC
His words were cut off by Karafan's dry and painful laughter. Blood oozed from his twisted mouth as his one good eye met Morrison's.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ei59YWpCW
"Now you see, fool," he taunted, "The truth is-"
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gIwfHa1Ep
He didn't finish as Morrison returned the favor and blew a hole in his head with his sidearm. Guards hurriedly opened the door, their guns raised and pointed in all directions. Helga halted them.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKkRHSJ1GE
"Lieutenant," she said, "What was that?"
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyledqrIEt
Morrison didn't answer. His eyes were still fixed on the alien he killed and his heartbeat didn't slow down. Eventually, however, he lowered his gun and turned to face Helga.
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xmORRlWBH
"A failure," he said as he sighed, "My failure."
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTtWj43JcW
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzXEMcJy1o
End of Part 3
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtl9nvLBHm
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlflSuzcTQp
Thank you very much for reading
If you'd like to support me and my work feel free to upvote, follow, and check out my Patreon where you can get access to early chapters, a private Discord server, a chance to commission, and even influence ongoing stories: patreon.com/SimpleWrites
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kcb9WZUAM
453Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8h67TXz5dk
