"FIRST CONTACT TWICE MADE"

// Jackson ’s Log // Location: Tunnel A // Time: 11:25 // Combat mode //

    The APC’s diesel engines roared a droning growl echoing of the concrete tunnel walls. Five tons of raw power on six heavy suspension tires and a thick steel chassis hide that could shrug of the punishment of rocket propelled grenades, shrapnel, and even toxic gases. It could carry five comrades and pull ten tons of dead weight.

“Paul isn’t Everstill your home town?” asked William.

“Yes, it’s where my little sister and I lived before I join the C.O.S.S.”

“How come she didn’t come to Harpka with you then?”

“Well, she”

Richards interrupted “We’re here comrades.” The sounds of small arms fire and death filled the streets of Everstill as the raiders fought back the C.O.S.S. defense forces. The APC took fire from groundside raiders who were dispatched quickly by the armored vehicle’s top mounted machine gun creating craters in concrete, buildings and raiders alike. “Area is secure captain opening the hatch.” The rear door folded out onto the ground the light poured into the passenger hold as the four inside exited the APC and impulsively spreading out into a defensive formation. Jackson held a flat palm over his head to signal the team to form up on him.

Richards gave the vehicle gas and drove off to patrol the other sectors of the small town. Jackson gave Paul the order to launch the LASC. Paul’s counterpart detached from his belt and silently hovered in front of him. No bigger than a thumbnail but a very reliable asset to every squad. It gained altitude and settled over the team.

“Ok team move out and take positions.” Jackson ordered. The team took turns covering the others as they crossed streets and large open areas. When the team came to the end of a ally that lead into a street filled with burned and still burning cars Jackson held up a fist and pump twice cautioning that unknown sound or activity was up ahead the team held up for three heart beats when the source of the sound ran past the alleyway, it was a raider but the hostile didn’t notice the four soldiers that were five feet away from him and continued to trek on down the street. When the sound of foot steps faded into the sound of gun fire Jackson made a chopping motion with his hand and the team entered the car ridden street and went up the street moving from car to car.

Paul’s counterpart sent a warning message to his goggles. “Captain, ten hostiles count them one-zero around the next corner. The warrior we saw earlier is freaked out about something…darn it he’s doubling back toward us and the other nine are following him.”

“William set up over by that fallen pillar, Jen find clear lines of fire on the target’s possible cover go, go, go! Paul, stay on my ass and keep the LASC over their heads and keep track of them.” A soon as they warriors rounded the corner William laid suppressing fire and felt the familiar kick of his heavy machine gun and let out a deep throated rear. The warriors didn’t suspect the on coming fire and ran for the nearest cover, one hesitated one second to long and Jen drove a round home into his neck, the warrior’s body tensed his finger tightened on the trigger and fired a three round burst into the air before falling to his knees and falling forward as his neck gushed blood from his severed artery.

Paul reported the kill and informed that the rest had found cover and moving to focus their fire power on William. This was planed to happen; Jen would wait and pick off the attackers when they popped up from their cover to fire at William. The first to gather the courage to stand up was to the far right brought is rifle to bear and fired controlled bursts in the direction of the large black solider with the heavy machine gun. Five rounds caught him in the chest and he fell backward with a loud yell then fell silent.

“Two down eight to go.” Paul reported as a bullet ricocheted of the pavement near him. William saw this and looked back to find the warrior who fired at Paul. “Leave my little buddy alone jerk off!” and fired fully automatic toward the warrior who in turn ducked down just as the bullets pinged off the car he was behind. Paul got up and drew his side are but was pulled down by Jackson who was yelling in Paul’s ear to be heard. “Paul stay put! You don’t need to put yourself in a position to get shot! Your job is to stay safe and keep us informed.” The same warrior fired on Jackson and Paul’s position.

“Jen take out the one behind the car on the corner!” As if to end Jackson ’s sentence a round caught the warrior in the temple and obliterated the warrior’s cranium and the body slumped on the wall and slid down to the sidewalk. “Target is pushing daisies captain!” Jen mocked.

“Good work, now focus on the rest.” The seven remaining warriors were dispatched with and the squad moved up to the fallen warriors when Paul notice the one that they saw before the fire fight had a combat cam near his body. “Hey Captain, I found something here…the recording is damaged it may have what was scaring the guy.” Paul played the recording on the team’s cams. It was two warriors talking the one the camera saw said he heard something and move to the edge of the building and looked down. The camera bear moved to the ledge also and looked down as well, there was a stir in the shadows as the figure leapt at the warrior next to him the camera shifted up to the sky and the visual blacked out but the sound was still functional, the sound of ripping flesh mixed with low growls were heard and seconds later the sound of a spine or neck being snapped. The rest was the battle with the squad.

The team stood in shock from what they just saw and heard. Jen was the first to speak. “What the frak was that?”

William was second “That was pretty messed up captain.”

Paul was shaking and stuttered. “W-what d-d-do we do now captain?”

Jackson was stone still for a moment then replied to his shocked team members. “We finish the mission and what ever the hell that…thing was, lets just hope we never come across it.” Jackson motioned them to follow him when Paul turned to William and tugged at his sleeve to get his attention. “What’s the matter Paul?”

Paul didn’t answer right away but then said. “I have this feeling… I fear the worst for my little sister.”

William placed a large palm on Paul’s shoulder and whispered. “I understand how you feel man I really do. You’re just going to have to think positive for now.”

At the far end of the town a figure was searching through houses when it came to a house with a blue steel door when the do was opened a voice came from the next room a child’s voice but paid no attention to it. The child entered the room the figure was in and stood in fear when the intruder wasn’t someone they knew, and asked who the intruder was. The figure turned and bared an evil grin at the child and moved slowly closer. The child wondered who was this stranger and why did the figure have that hungry look in its eye’s?