The Cross of Mithras Vol. 1: EOD Operation Welcome to Hell (66 page)

  Ramirez then told Task Force ZH-3C over the helmet-com front and center. He then told them of their decision. But he didn’t mention anything about what was going on, on Galactic Prime. He didn’t want to do anything to effect their morale.

  Red Team (with Liebowitz in command), Green Team, Vaistll, Taylor and Ramirez left to collect the weapons that they needed. Along the way, at some point during the trip, Vaistll, Taylor, Ramirez, Ellis, Wexler and Moriarty started to fear that either Lenkov and/or Omori might make themselves known. But they never did. They arrived, collected the weapons and ammo, and then left without getting that dreadful video call.

  “What’s wrong with you guys? You’re acting like it’s the end of the world.” Sanchez asked White Team including Hayes.

  “Nothing is wrong with us ma’am. Don’t worry about it.” Bryce said.

  “Yeah ma’am. Why would you think something like that?” Lucarelli asked.

  “Because each one of you is acting like something very serious is bothering you.” Sanchez said.

  “Why should you care ma’am?” Cole asked.

  “That was very rude of you.” Sanchez responded. She was trying to be nice to them.

  “Shouldn’t you be getting your rest?” Hayes asked her.

  “Don’t worry about me. I’m just asking each of you a very simple question.” Sanchez asked. She was starting to get suspicious of their behavior. Why aren’t they happy that Ellis found some weapons and ammo? She was wondering.

  “Like we said, there is ‘nothing wrong with us’.” Hayes mentioned.

  “What are you guys doing… planning on rebelling against the Task Force?” Sanchez said in a teasing manner.

  Sanchez didn’t see the look upon their faces. It would have told her the horrible truth. Not that they were planning a rebellion, but they were thinking about that at the check point. She didn’t see them because she heard a truck honk it’s horn and she turned to look at it.

  “Ah, they’ve return.” Sanchez said as she left.

  “Sanchez, didn’t I tell you to get some rest?” Ramirez asked her.

  “Yes sir. But nobody in Blue Team could get any rest.”

  “And why not?”

  “It’s that Christmas thing.”

  “What Christmas thing?”

  “You know sir. On Christmas eve nobody can sleep because they’re too excited to sleep. They can’t wait to open their Christmas presents.” Sanchez said with a smile.

  “Oh. Well in that case… tell them that they can open their Christmas presents right now. But they still need to get their rest.” Ramirez said to her.

  “Yes sir.” Sanchez said with much eagerness.

  Everybody then came to open up their Christmas presents. In some cases they got their favorite EOD weapon. Everybody was very happy, they felt like celebrating. Everyone was happy accept for White Team. They felt too guilty for thinking about doing the unthinkable.

  “Alright everyone listen up! I want all of you to get some rest! Because as of tomorrow… I have only one thing to say…! Let’s rock!” Vaistll said. When she said, ‘Let’s rock,’ everyone started to cheer.

First Contact, First Blood

(1)

    The voice came over the com-system loud and clear. Because it was using the helmet-com, anyone including the bridge, could hear it speak. When it spoke it sounded like it was a slightly distorted deep electronic voice. It sent a chill down everyone’s spine who heard it. It was the Dragon Clone.

  “I am the one that you have been looking for. For I am your killer. Play time is over. For the real fun begins now.” The Dragon Clone said over the helmet-com that he was carrying. The helmet-com was too small for his head.

  “Why don’t you come to the bridge. Then I can have the pleasure in killing you myself.” Mad Dawg said. And he still meant it.

  “So be it… foolish captain. But know that I won’t kill you. For I want you to see the death of your crew. And then you get to live to see a new horror unleashed upon you.”

  “I haven’t seen how beautiful you are yet. So what horrors are you talking about? It wouldn’t be your looks would it?” Mad Dawg said.

  “Do not worry captain, you will see my face soon enough.”

  “I was just curious about something about you?”

  “And what is that?”

  “If you wanted to commit suicide, then why didn’t you asked us. I certain that my crew will be more than happy to comply with your wishes.”

  “Alright then captain. If your crew desire to commit suicide, I will be more than willing to comply with their wishes. I am in the main line of maintenance duct 232 on Deck 27 Area F-2. I’m looking forward to meeting that pussy ass crew of yours.” The Dragon Clone said.

  A few seconds after the Dragon Clone discontinued the call, there were a series of explosions on Galactic Prime. Some of them were small explosions and other were large ones. Each small explosions caused the lights the flicker. The larger explosions caused the lights to go out and then come back on after a few seconds. When it was all over the lights were permanently out. The only lights came from either a computer console and/or LED lights. In the maintenance ducts the only lights were the LED lights. The maintenance ducts were almost pitch black.

  “Was it good for you captain, like it was for me?” The Dragon Clone asked Mad Dawg.

  “You fucking coward! Get your fucking ugly ass to the bridge so that I can kill you!” Mad Dawg yelled. It caused the Dragon Clone to laugh in a guffaw way.

  “Bring it on tough boy.” The Dragon Clone said. It then laughed in a guffaw way.

  “Braddick… get us some damn flashlights on the double.” Mad Dawg said when the Dragon Clone discontinued the call.

  “Yes sir.”

  Charlie team, one of Debernardo’s teams, was within five minutes of where the Dragon Clone said that it was. But because it was so dark, and they had no night vision equipment, it took them twenty minutes to get there. The helmet-com told the bridge their fate.

  When Charlie team got to the location mentioned, they heard a deep sound. It sounded like some type of an engine. They then heard some sort of a release of energy. It sounded like a shockwave. They then heard one of Charlie team cried out, ‘Oh God… I can’t hear!’ They then could hear fighting, shooting and then they could hear Charlie team screaming. And then there was dead silence. The only sound that they could hear was coming from the helmet-com system. It mentioned the rank, then followed by the last name of each member of Charlie team, and then KIA.. Total number killed: 6.

  Several minutes later Debernardo and her two remaining teams, Alpha and Bravo, was in position in front of the entrance of the only way in or out of the maintenance duct. On either side of the entrance, about twenty feet from the entrance, is a hallway that runs diagonally. Bravo team was at the hallway on the right and Alpha team with Debernardo was at the hallway on the left of the entrance. In effect, they have the Dragon Clone trapped. A few of them were pointing their flashlights at the entrance and the rest were pointing their guns at the entrance. If the Dragon Clone comes out, or shows it’s head, it will be killed.

  “We have that sonofabitch. He ain’t going anywhere.” Debernardo said.

  “Holy shit he’s behind us!” A Marine in Bravo team yelled.

  “What!? How in the fuck did he do that!?” Debernardo yelled.

  “Ma’am… look!” One of the Marines with her said. He then pointed at the ceiling were there was an opening where the Dragon Clone must have come out without them noticing it.

  “Damn!” Debernardo yelled.

  Debernardo saw the Dragon Clone with Bravo team. She noticed that it stood at 6’7” and had lighting quick moves. From it’s face she could tell that it was not human. From what little light there was, it’s face look like it was a cross between a werewolf (with a short snout and no hair) and some type of a reptile. She also noticed that it was incredibly strong. This thing did not need any cybernetic implants to make it as fast and as strong as a cyborg.

  “I don’t have a shot!” One of the Marines with Debernardo said.

  Debernardo saw a Marine threw a punch and the Dragon Clone caught it with it’s left hand. It then hit the Marine so hard in his right shoulder that it dislocated it. Then using both his left and right arms, the Dragon Clone broke the Marine’s right elbow. The Dragon Clone then did a back kick to the Marine that was standing behind him causing him to drop his laser rifle. The Dragon Clone then turned to his left, did a right kick to the face of the Marine who he just broke his right elbow. The kick knocked the Marine to the ground hard. The Marine, who the Dragon Clone did a back kick on, reached for his gun on his left side. The Dragon Clone then quickly grabbed the Marine’s left wrist and broke it. He then took the Marine’s handgun and then shot and killed a Marine standing to his right. The Dragon Clone then shot and seriously wounded the Marine who he just broke his right elbow. The Dragon Clone then shot the Marine that he took the gun from under the chin killing him instantly. As the Marine lifeless body fell to the ground, the Dragon Clone caught him with his left arm in order to use him as a shield. He then shot a Marine, who was standing at his 2 o’clock position, in his right arm, then his stomach, and then in the head killing him. The Dragon Clone then quickly jumped to that Marine’s lifeless body, then jumped at a Marine in his 10 o’clock position and did a flying headbutt killing him instantly. He then turned and saw the Marine that he broke his elbow was trying to crawl away.

  The Dragon Clone then threw a flash-bang grenade to were Debernardo and Alpha team was. It then used it’s sonic shockwave to intensify the effects of the flash bang grenade. Before Alpha team could react, the Dragon Clone shot them all dead. For Debernardo she was shot in the chest three times. She then dropped to her knees watching as the Dragon Clone walked away. She then fell forward and died before she hit the ground. Only 30 seconds passed from the moment the Marines knew he was there until the moment Debernardo died. Total number of kills, including Debernardo: 11. Only the Marine with the broken elbow lived.

  Mad Dawg sat deep in his chair with his face in his hands thinking long and hard about what to do next. That tough macho guy exterior persona of his for the second time in his career took a beating. But this time it’s different. He now realize that he made a mistake. He should have been a lot more cautious instead of rushing into things head on.

  Mad Dawg was in a Catch-22 situation and he knew it. The communications are not secure but he needs to use them. He needs to give orders to Murphy but don’t know where Murphy is. He must send someone out to deliver messages but it’s too dark. Yes there is light, but it is not enough. Mad Dawg knows that the only hope is Murphy. Without Murphy, only, and only Mad Dawg is the best person to confront the Commando.

  “Braddick… I need you to round up the security team that is protecting the bridge and move them back into a defensive position outside the door to the bridge.” Mad Dawg ordered him. Mad Dawg is not stupid enough to get into a fist fight with a Commando.

  “Yes sir.”

  “And Braddick… I need you to seal off all air ducts and maintenance ducts near the bridge. I want one, and only one way in or out of the bridge.”

  “Sir, that may take awhile since the lights are out.”

  “I don’t care how long it takes, get it done.”

  “Yes sir.”

  Although Braddick did as he was told he couldn’t help but to think about how Debernardo and her team must have died. He knew that they would have taken up a defensive position at the opening of the maintenance duct. He knew that both teams would have been separated by several feet. But how could that Commando kill them as fast as he did? The Commando is not a cyborg so how could he move that fast? And most important of them all, how is that he managed to get behind them? And then it occurred to him, there was an opening somewhere that Debernardo and her team had missed.

  While Braddick was rounding up the security teams, he had them look for any additional openings (including the ceiling) near the bridge. He had them remove all the doors in any room near the bridge. He then used those doors as a barricade for the security teams. He wanted the Commando to enter into the jaws of death. But he knew, and dreaded, not having any search lights to put into the corridors that led to the bridge. If he had some, then the Commando would be blinded by the light. But the security teams that was there was staring into the darkness not knowing what was there.

  Although Braddick had only four security teams to work with, that was not a problem for him. One team was placed directly in front of the door to the bridge. One team was placed on the left, another on the right, and the third and final team was placed in front of the first team. Each of the security teams was placed several feet apart from one another.

  The total length of time that it took Braddick to complete the task was 45 minutes. Braddick went back to the bridge in case Mad Dawg needed to give him orders directly. Nothing occurred within that time period. When the Marines were finished they didn’t do much talking. To each one of them it was like being in the combat zone. Too quiet to do too much talking.

  Fifteen minutes after the lights went out, Elizabeth Mitchell had a thought that might explain how it was done. It was impossible for multiple, let alone one, explosion to knock out the lights like that. The Commando would have to know exactly were to place the explosives. Mitchell realize quite quickly that when Omori hacked the computer system, that is probably when they learned where to place the explosives. But one thing troubled her. With all the searching that was done by the security teams, how come none of them found those explosives? She then realize the shocking truth. The security teams did find them, but did not realize it.

  “Solomon… I need the exact locations of where all of those transmitters and hacking devices where placed.” Mitchell said.

  “Ma’am, are you joking?”

  “Do I look like I’m joking? Look Luis… I think that those transmitters and those hacking devices were the source of the explosions.”

  “Why not just say that they were?”

  “I’m not doing something like that! That’s not very professional!”

  “Well… it’s a waste of time.”

  “What?” Mitchell said. Although he didn’t say ma’am, that not why she said that.

  “It’s a waste of time ma’am.”

  “I don’t think that it is. You know that I don’t like ordering you guys around… so don’t make me. Okay?” Mitchell said trying to be nice.

  “Ma’am, I don’t think that the security team would have put in the locations of those devices.”

  “How do you know? Did you check?” Mitchell asked. She was starting to get annoyed by him. One of her pet peeves about him.

  “No ma’am.”

  “Then do it.”

  “But ma’am…”

  “I said ‘do it’!” Mitchell snapped back.

  “Yes ma’am.”

  Ten minutes later Solomon found what Mitchell was looking for. And she was right. Those devices were in part an explosive. She now had to make a critical life and death decision. And it didn’t take her that long to make it. She knew how important it was to let either Murphy and/or Mad Dawg to know what she discovered. The lives of the crew depend upon her and her engineers.

  “We need to get to the bridge to let Captain Burton know what we discovered.” Mitchell informed her engineers. All of them responded with acquiescence.

  Twelve minutes later they encountered the Dragon Clone.

  “No please don’t!” Mitchell screamed when she saw the Dragon Clone.

  The Dragon Clone threw a knife with his right hand and killed Mitchell instantly. The knife went into her forehead. With his left hand he threw a knife to his one o’clock position killing one of Mitchell’s engineers. With both hands reaching across his stomach, the Dragon Clone grabbed a knife and threw them at the same time killing two more engineers. In two seconds, Mitchell and three of her engineers were killed.

  The rest of Mitchell’s engineers turned and ran. Two ran down the corridor to the right of where they are. Three (including Solomon) ran to the left of their position. The Dragon Clone ran, quickly grabbed his knives, ran to where they where, took two knives one in each hand, raised his arms up and crossed them in front of him, looked both ways, took aim, and then threw the knives killing both Solomon and a engineer. He then repeated the move. One of the engineers on his right was still alive, but was trying his best to crawl away. From the moment that he was there till the moment he threw all four knives, no more than three seconds passed.