The Second Dark Age

[Monk]

part xvi
The Infected

“Shadow” station, Solician mountain cluster
19:01 hours, first encounter +6


The sun was falling into the west; the orange fire burning in the sky was fading fast as the night poured into place filling the void left behind. The purple mists of the darkness settled in as bright white stars peeked out from behind the veil. Not a cloud could be seen as a cold winter breeze drifted down from the peaks all surrounding the station, it was freezing cold. It always seemed to be here in the north where mountain peaks ran together; forming an almost impenetrable shield for Solicous to the south. Only the strongest ever survived in these conditions; fewer still would build their science stations in such a land. As the breeze turned into a howling wind; there was a strange noise on the air. A sound that echoed industry and mighty machines, yet as it was thrown from mountain peak to peak; it at the same time sounded almost ancient.

Matiel yawned as he drew in the cold dry air of the mountains. He stretched his tired arms before letting them fall and sighed frustrated. ‘Some job’ the words sounded loud inside his tired mind, yet if he had spoken them they might have only been a whisper. He looked around himself to see no one in sight; nothing but the biting wind that was freezing him in place. The mountain trail was already gathering a light frost and the lights on the side of the station gave the only illumination in the darkening landscape. The jagged outcrops that rose high above the station on all sides cast deep and dark shadows as the sun was setting in the west. Matiel was considering going back inside; after all why should he freeze out here when Solicous wasn’t at war with anyone. The wind blew harder suddenly and he heard it scream as it passed through the metal of the only mining mech they had.

“That’s it” he said finally; his eyes felt as if they were turning to ice in his very sockets. He turned quickly and extended his hand to the keypad near the metal door leading into the station; he punched in his access code. As he did so a series of beeps followed his finger movements. Words on the keypad flashed “Access Granted” and the door unlocked. Matiel smiled slightly as he grabbed hold of the handle and pulled quickly; yet as the door flew open he heard it for the first time. It was very faint but there all the same; two sounds were gliding on the wind and piercing the silence of the mountains. Matiel stopped immediately as he heard them; they were worlds apart and barely even audible as he turned and starred at the mountain trail in front of the station. One sounded like a mech column; but the sounds were louder and heavier than that like a thunder-sword might make. The other sound seemed to blend into the wind; and its screaming noise became apart of the howl of the wind making Matiel think it was just his imagination.

His mind focused on the machine sound; he couldn’t help but feel uneasy the more he listened. For the more he listened the more he thought, and the more he thought the more he realized something was amiss. There were no mechanized divisions in this area; at least there shouldn’t be. His confusion was cut through and disappeared in a flash of laughter as he shook his head and spoke to himself “Easy Matiel” he calmed himself; “no one would dare try to get through these mountains.” He looked to the trail, his eyes slowly roamed along the sides of a mountain that skirted the small road. “It’s probably just the 81st…yeah that’s it” his words were hollow holding no confidence; yet he nodded his head quickly trying to convince himself he was right.

Matiel turned and before he could think anymore he walked into the station; the warmth of the base quickly drove away the ice that had been settling into his blood and his worries quickly. He placed his rifle at ease and began to make his way through the concrete halls of the base. He sighed as he moved through the science station; this had to have been the dullest post he’d ever received. Why the 10th Kanak had to baby sit a bunch of scientists and their little “pets” was beyond him. Day in and out nothing but guard duty; he’d much rather have a post in Solace, or maybe even Tartarus. ‘I’d much sooner rebuild Abaddon then stay here’ Matiel thought to himself, he couldn’t help but crack a smile.

He reached the inner security door and punched in the access code; he looked around for the usual site of about a hundred scientists running about. Each spouting their own version of ‘techno nonsense’, holding clip boards and trying to do their job as he; yet he was all alone. The hall was deafly silent; his finger pressed down on the “enter” button on the keypad as his eyes scanned around. The pad quickly accepted his code clearance and the door slide open quickly. As he looked in the door he still saw no one around; not a single soul was in site where normally you could barely push your way through at this hour. The soldier could feel his uneasiness creeping back; and a slight sense of fear slowly churning its way into his chest. “Where is everyone?” his voice was but a whisper and meant for no one but him to hear; even so he half- expected someone to answer.

There was a chilling wind pushing through the base as he moved through the door; it almost felt like someone had left the hanger door open a few sections down the hall. Matiel kept moving; passed the security station where everything seemed in order, except no one was there. The gurgle of the coffee pot was the only thing making noise aside from his footsteps. He stopped immediately; suddenly he felt his fear come screaming into the forefront of his mind. Matiel felt his hands tremble around his rifle as he looked about in near panic. There was something close; he could feel the movement through the air. The soft currents of the wind were being disrupted. Maybe it was his imagination but he could swear something wasn’t right. He took a deep breath and felt the cool wind enter his lungs; he held his rifle close to him and kept moving.

Suddenly out from a side passage a figure bolted from cover and ran frantically toward him. Matiel nearly screamed in pure terror as he raised his rifle at the darkened shape of a man charging at him. It was making strange moaning noises; almost screaming but in a shredded and muffled voice. Matiel locked eyes with it, unsure of what to do for a moment. His finger tightened around the trigger and he was about to squeeze it fully when he a saw sharp object in the shape of an arm bust from the figure’s body in an explosion of blood. The figure let out of horrible shout and stumbled back; it fell to its knees letting out a wail as blood dripped from the new limb. A short and harsh breathing was coming from the man, if that was indeed what it was. Matiel could see he was a soldier; but his armor had been ripped in a number of places. The man’s skin was turned brown and his eyes were a mix between half black and half white; two voids of different colors. The limb that had burst from his left side was thin and elongated; much longer than his others. It dripped a dark blood that seemed a mix of scarlet and green; turning it to a fiery color that was strange in everyway.

Matiel held his rifle pointed directly whatever this thing was; its face was disfigured almost as if the bone structure was twisting about making the mouth larger. He could hear its heavy breathing through its teeth, causing a hissing sound. It looked almost human, yet it was changing into something else. Almost like… “No…” Matiel thought out loud, his voice taken by both fear and surprise. “Don’t tell me.” He looked at the figure sitting in front of him again and stepped back, yet as he did it let out a piercing scream unlike he had heard before. It caused him to drop his weapon and cover his ears and close his eyes tightly.

Slowly it rose to its feet and screamed again. Matiel could not stop from falling down on his knees as it did so. Two more arms ripped through its flesh with a sickening sound and dripped with its blood which was increasingly turning a dark green. He could hear bones cracking as his eyes wondered up; seeing the man’s eyes turn completely black and his face transform to complement ever growing jaws in his mouth. Gathering what sense he had Matiel grabbed his rifle and pointed it up toward the creature. It was preoccupied with its transformation as he took aim and fired; in an instant a bright wave of energy shot from the barrel of his gun and traveled through the creature’s chest. Developing bone and flesh were cut through in an instant as a cloud of its blood filled the air in a mist. It dropped to its knees, still breathing. Matiel stood up and let out a shout as he pointed his rifle at the creature’s head. As he pulled the trigger this time it did not get up. The energy beam passed through the head of the creature, slicing through its twisted brain and throwing the lifeless body onto the floor.

As life faded in the creature a hundred more screams rose up in an instant; Matiel readied himself as he stood. He could feel his heart in an iron grip; as if his fear had grown a hand and was holding onto it trying to make him fall before whatever awaited him. Yet as the blood was forming on the floor he stood firm, his mind reached a terrible realization. The rumors of test subjects were true, how could he have not seen it sooner? “how could I be that blind?” he thought to himself. As he stood rifle in hand the slight pain in his chest multiplied by one hundred fold; it felt like someone had stabbed him numerous times through his heart and he could not keep his strength. Once more he fell to the ground; he could feel something moving through his skin. His veins felt as if they would pop all at once any moment. “What…” he could barely manage the words as his breathing became shallow. “Is…ha...” his voice was warping; and before he could finish the last word he felt pain in every inch of his body. He shouted in pain as his eyes turned a black color; slowly his shout turned to a shrill scream.

ORDER bomber formation
Solician Mountain cluster; 2k from Shadow Station

A formation of lumbering bombers cut a way through the sky. Their black surface seemed to become lost in the approaching night. The air shifted about their wings as they thundered toward their destination.

The pilot flipped a few switches as he made the last course correction; he looked about him and spoke “flying over Solicous” he was reporting back to HQ as he was ordered to do. The co-pilot was scanning the sky; looking for any opposition but he saw none. “On target” the pilot sighed as he guided his plane through the airspace of another nation. He was piloting the lead bomber; another 5 were following his lead. He knew what he was about to do might spark open war, yet at the same time he had no choice. The co-pilot leaned forward and flipped a number of switches; they both heard the bomb bay doors open slowly.

“30 seconds.” he said quietly as he looked into the sunset before him.

A voice came over the com system quickly; it held no emotion which seemed typical for Order officers. “Do not let Infected humans escape” the voice said.

“I know sir.” the pilot responded as he looked at his co-pilot and then back at the sun. “But…I just don’t understand. Can we not leave this problem to the Solicians?” the co-pilot glanced at him but did not speak. The voice on the comms was silent for a moment, possibly wondering who this bomber pilot was to question him.

After a slight pause the voice spoke again. “Do not question the Emperor” it said as a hint of anger could be hear rising, though it was clear the voice tried to keep composed. “To question is to doubt… and to doubt your Emperor is treason.” The comm link was cut suddenly as the last words rang in the pilot’s mind. He shook his head and sighed, turning to the co-pilot he nodded slowly. He then flipped a switch and said “firing on target” and then pulled down a lever, the clamps on the bombs were released and they fell through the sky. The other bombers followed quickly releasing their payload. The bombs fell from the heavens and crashed into the station below causing a great explosion that rocked the mountains; a fireball rose up from the smoldering wreckage before being silenced by the cold wind.

Communications was re-established with their base of operations. “Target destroyed” rang over the open channel. A familiar voice responded; “Any sign of the berserkers?”

The pilot had no idea he was looking for them in this area, so he replied quickly “no sir.”

The voice laughed slightly; “I should have guessed…perhaps it’s impossible to get mechs through those mountains after all. Return to base”

“Yes sir” the pilot responded relieved; happy to be heading out of the Solician nation. Yet as the formation turned and flew back toward the Imperium; the earthshaking sound of heavy machinery could be heard in the mountains. Echoing through the mountaintops the sound moved south.

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ok...had to write this two times to get it to come out right. some parts still seem a bit off but i think it's ok. please tell me what you all think.

just to clear something up; when i say "mech" i do not mean "mechanized". think "mech" like "mechwarrior" or a similiar universe. in otherwords; a battlemech which became common place in the armies of the region toward the end of the rp.