The Cross of Mithras Vol. 1: EOD Operation Welcome to Hell

by Douglas Howell

  Lady’s Man was too shock for words when he saw who the mystery voice was. The last survivor of the beast army that once was Captain Dawson “gift” to the people of Golden Hyperion. The beast ran up to Lady’s Man, grab him and threw away from the opening to the tunnel. Yelled at him to “get the fuck outta here,” turned around and started to shoot with an assault rifle and use it’s grenade launcher. He stopped when he heard a beeping noise coming from his watch.

  “Run you fucking idiots!” The beast, who strangely enough held the rank of a colonel, yelled at them but they didn’t listen.

  The explosion ripped the door on the left side and threw it ten to fifteen feet. KGL wasn’t standing in it’s way since she walked to the far left side of the door where the concrete part of the structure would protect her. Lady’s Man was looking at her and was grateful that she was still alive. The colonel was long gone and was never seen or heard of again. There was a rumor that surface suggesting that this lone survivor was still alive after twenty years, living the life of a fisherman/wilderness individual, but nobody ever believed the person. Had they gone and look they may have learned that the rumor is true. This colonel still had the memories of Captain Dawson but his personality was too different to ever be like that of Dawson. As a matter of fact when this one single person who met this colonel (the colonel rescued him) learned that this colonel hated Captain Dawson and referred to that life as a nightmare in insanity, realized that as hard as it may seem that there really is goodness in humanity after all. You just have peer deeply enough to find it.

  Both KGL and Lady’s Man made the mistake of going into the tunnel for whatever reason. Perhaps it was because they thought that they were dealing with their so-call friends. But whatever the reason it quickly became apparent to them what their friends had become. They traveled far and deep into the tunnel, deeper into the nightmare, realizing that they are dealing with their former friends. The smell of burning flesh was too much for them, but still they had to find out why. Why did this nightmare had to happen to their so-call friends? They then heard a sound. There were survivors. And it sounded like a couple of people that they knew. Two people who went missing seventy-three days earlier. They had to go. They had to help their friends.

  KGL was the first who found them, dismembered but still alive. She was crying over the cruel fate of her friends. But it was about to get worse. Outside, far into the distance, the sounds of the Rave party was going on strong. Hundreds of people would be there. Only KGL and Lady’s Man could be the heroes that they never are. That life is more important than a drug addiction.

  “What did you say?” KGL asked the friend.

  “Yes!” The friend shouted as he’d bit her right hand. He then looked up at her with eyes that was black and some black goo coming from his mouth. And before Lady’s Man could say a word he too became infected. Both of them ran out feeling the infection spread. The thoughts of murder, to infect, to kill, was too much for them. But they had to run (from those thoughts perhaps). Pandora’s box was opened upon those who loved PLUR (Peace Love Unity & Respect).

  Nobody suspected a thing as both KGL and Lady’s Man moved through the crowd infecting others. Although neither one of them was a bisexual, nobody seemed to care about either one of them French kissing almost everyone. Nor did anybody cared that Lady’s Man was spiking the punch (with his own saliva that was put into a large cup), for it was just part of the fun. And when people started to suspect something was wrong it was too little too late. All will be infected for Medusa Pandora has her army. Who is more evil? Why no other than the Founder’s wife. He always wanted to create monsters and she always wanted to infect people. For she has the capability to modify a virus (only at a laboratory) so that it can control all those who become infected. By the time Captain Maxwell will learn the truth Medusa Pandora will have her army fully entrenched.

  (14)

  The Intel started to come in and Captain Maxwell at first thought it wa a joke. Hell far even Captain Iverson thought the same. But as the rumors started to mount, and as people started to go missing, it became obvious to both of them that it had to be true enough for Captain Iverson to send down any robotic drones that he had and then had them to go and take a look. It took awhile to narrow down as to where this newer threat called a “base of operation” (the threat never called it that it was only assumed that they would). But the Intel revealed that something wasn’t right. The new threat should have made the effort to begin their attack but didn’t. It didn’t take long for both Iverson and Maxwell to realized that it all had to do with the nearby “core tunnel.” The enemy retreated into the core tunnel for some unknown reason and it couldn’t be good. Captain Iverson gave an order that (caused Captain Maxwell to tell him “I’ll tell you what I think through my drunken stupor.” ) that sealed the fate of the people of Golden Hyperion – remove all constraint that is place upon their torpedoes.

  “You know Xavier, if it wasn’t for the fact that the EOD regulated the amount of alcohol that we all could consume, then our decision would turn out to be a lot more tolerable.” Maxwell informed his new drinking buddy who said nothing.

  As with so much concerning the EOD what they give, they also limit. Captain Vaughan could only get away with being a major pothead for two reasons: 1) he hoarded the supply on his ship for himself; and 2) his connections within the EOD High Command. The EOD preferred drug of acceptance is of course, none other than alcohol. Everyone knew the reason why. It was the stigma that was attached to all other drugs throughout the years. What’s more, humans have been consuming alcohol for thousands of years. Besides, it gives the EOD the chance to use it’s techniques on deprogramming people of their free will in doing something. Should the need arise that the individual need to give up alcohol and live a life of being sober. Guess why people would choose to remain an alcoholic even it they wanted to become sober? And thus it is so very hard for a junkie to, not only betray a generous drug dealer, but also to seek help. Ah, the effectiveness of the EOD in it’s ability to control others.

  Captain Maxwell hated one thing about serving under Lenkov (Sayaka didn’t help either), although Lenkov allowed hard liquor (the EOD allowed the captain or a senior officer to the captain to make the decision) upon his ship, it was only in the context of this amount per personnel. (Everybody else had to pay for it. It was an EOD rule that Lenkov didn’t mind enforcing.) But what about Lenkov and Omori? Did they obey their own rule? Of course they did. Maxwell was a Pisces and he’d drank like a fish. Iverson was just like Lenkov. Captain Maxwell thought that he had a new drinking buddy and that was only partly true. Iverson didn’t mind drinking with Maxwell, but not every single day. Now Maxwell is out of his stock, The Hammer of Doom with it’s stock is gone, he needs dropships to go and fletch more (the locals don’t want to deliver for fear of their lives), and he needs a reason to go to Iverson’s ship in order to have a drink. If he does want any more (The thought of being sober for the rest of the mission is causing him to become a lot more thirstier.) than he would have to buy it himself.

  “I said that maybe we need to commandeer all the drugs within the city limits since we are dealing with Ravers, sir.” The Petty Officer – Second Class informed Captain Maxwell.

  “So what would be the strong justifiable reason in making such a move?” Maxwell asked.

  “Ravers do drugs, so the infected may be looking for more.”

  “That doesn’t sound like a good enough reason.”

  “People who do drugs have always been considered society throw-aways. Some of the Ravers would know where to get the drugs and that would give them access to the city drug dealers and that in return would give them further access to the city undesirables. And with that, the infection spreads under our noses.” The Petty Officer mentioned. The statement caused Maxwell to smile.

  Captain Maxwell then called a press conference and informed the press about the infection. (Lenkov and Omori would have been deeply displeased by that.) He also warne
d all drug dealers that if they turned themselves in (never would happen as Lenkov and Omori would have known) then they would be given amnesty from prosecution. And of course, as should have been expected from one who drinks like a fish, all alcohol within the city limits must be turned over to his forces. (Most vendors got rid of it as quickly as possible which caused a huge spike in, not only their profits, but also alcohol related crimes, death, injuries, and et cetera.) His forces (who was allowed to go) went berserk within the city for as they saw it, free booze. They just needed to give a little (like three cases of his favorite liquor) to their captain. Maxwell’s forces became nothing more, nothing less, than a rampaging mob and it only got worse when they got drunk. As someone within the press put it, “The infection, as nightmarish as it is, has finally come to this peaceful city. Thousands have become infected. The destruction appear like something straight out of a war movie. But this is no movie. For this is just the infection of an army driven mad through that of a alcohol drunken stupor.”

  Captain Iverson realized something what Lenkov once told him (through that of an encoded message) it read as such, “Be well aware that a potential tsunami is looming on the horizon. This tsunami has the potential to undo all that have thus been done so far. For this tsunami goes by the name of Maxwell. Fear not, for it is not what you may fear. For Captain Maxwell is a Pisces and as such he drinks like a fish. You can no more give him alcohol than you can take it away from him. He may be a friend but I, like you, are the same when it comes to our alcohol consumption. ‘Do not let it get in the way of our mission,’ is our creed. Please do not blame Maxwell for his drunkenness for it’s just a negative trait of being a Pisces. He both does, and doesn’t, understand that. He really is a good man, but I fear that he will do something horrendously stupid. Neither me, nor Sayaka, could tell you what that may be. All we can say is that chances are it would be over alcohol. His birthday is February 21st and when we first met him, and had the chance to celebrate his birthday, Sayaka and I gave him a present that we thought that he would love. He liked it, but not as much as the present from his wife – a case of hard liquor. It was at that moment that we decided to never give him a present again. Can you blame us? He is still a damn fine officer rather he is drunk or not. My advice to you is this: be patient and don’t put him in too much stress if he does something stupid because of alcohol or lack thereof. He will acknowledge his mistake and correct it. We wish you the best of luck in dealing with him.” That was the last message that Iverson received from Lenkov before The Hammer of Doom disappeared. Iverson decided to send the message to the media with orders not to mention Maxwell’s “mistake” until after he tries to correct it. And if he doesn’t? Then go ahead and publish it.

  The media was no fool (especially the EOD media) they could read the writing on the wall. Two captains, one with a ship and the other with a ground force of 9,000, and worse still an infection that turns people into monsters. One captain did something that scream for media coverage, and the other telling them not yet but soon. Despite what Maxwell told them was the justification behind his actions, the media ran with that which allowed the rampaging mob of drunken personnel to continue their orgy of violence. Iverson did sent a message to Maxwell asking him to explain why he’s not controlling his people, but Iverson didn’t get a response. Xavier then decided to look up other negative traits of being a Pisces and found one that stood out: self-destructive behavior. Something had to be done and Xavier knew what it will be - the infection.

  When the infected Ravers came out of the tunnel they came out with a “friend.” This so-call friend appeared to be a mutated individual who could give orders to the rest. It was at this point in time that everyone finally understood the Medusa Pandora infection. That Medusa Pandora needs a laboratory (that was established when she never attempted to spread the infection and why Captain Dawson seem to be obsessed with retaking the lab complex) and with that laboratory she creates her “Generals” who in return control the infected people. Xavier had the media informed everyone of that and why every single laboratory on that world must be destroyed for the good of the people. It is the sole reason why the infection never spread to the whole world. It could have been stopped right there if Maxwell didn’t care so much about alcohol.

  The infected Ravers ran into the city spreading the infection through their bodily fluids. They also had both small arms and rifles. Maxwell’s personnel was caught off guard and with the weapons that they had the infection spread even further. Each and every single infected person becomes yet another enemy that must be taken down. As a reporter put it, “This is far worse than a zombie apocalypse. At least with them… they don’t have brains. But just like with zombies, these infected people feels no pain. And just like with zombies, their only desire is to spread the contagion. But this is a contagion with a purpose. A purpose to serve it’s evil master.” Although Maxwell realized his mistake at this point in time, he also realized there is very little that he can do to fix it. Iverson knew that his only course of action is to use his ship’s torpedoes, but he may have to overuse them.

  “Sir, what are we going to do about those planetary defense guns?” The bridge officer asked Iverson when Xavier bought up the only way to contain the infection.

  “Lake Russell it.” Iverson responded.

  “Sir?” The bridge officer asked being confused by what he’d meant. Iverson didn’t respond so the bridge officer had to figure it out for herself.

  Everyone had to admit that it was beautifully simple and deceptively ingenious but outrageously and unnecessarily destructive. But it worked like a charm. The legacy of Ensign Karl Russell still lives on despite who he truly was. But as unfortunate as it is, it took too long to get the job done. Too much radiation is being put into the atmosphere but everyone knew that it was far significantly less than what was ever put into Earth’s atmosphere. Even when taking into account the size difference between the two worlds. By the time when those guns was taken out it was no longer necessary to use the tactics. But it was never pointless to have used the tactic for it allowed Iverson to send a torpedo down each of the tunnels to implode them.

  “Sir, the mayor of Silverton wants to know why aren’t you doing more to protect his city from the Medusa contagion.” The Senior Crewman asked Captain Maxwell.

  “Tell the mayor that in order to control this particular type of contagion I would have to use napalm and that is something, that at current, we do not have in our arsenal. This world does have it, but it’s literally diametrically opposite to where we are. Iverson cannot use his ship to fletch the weapon because he is needed in case the infection tries to spread beyond the city limits. Tell him that I, and Iverson, is well aware of how far away a torpedo can be used. He must understand that I have already sent out an urgent message requesting, no demanding, that all the napalm upon this world is sent to us immediately. I do regret the lost of life. I am so terribly sorry for my poor judgment. I make no excuses for my addiction. You must understand that in order to save your city, and most importantly lives, you must wait. If I send anymore of my people in, with the vehicles that I have, being that they are not fully adequate for the job, more lives will be lost. Worst still, this world may be permanently lost. Iverson will be forced to use his entire stock of torpedoes in an attempt to contain the contagion. If that occurs than there will be a nuclear winter upon this world. My people, who is causing all this trouble for your city, has one or two choices. Either they do their damn job and defend your city, or they can become part of the infected. They should know that I, Iverson, even Lenkov himself, would agreed to that. We are not the Marines, the Navy, the Air Force, the Army, or the godforsaken Space Core. We are the EOD and we live by the mantra of ‘We drink in order to forget that we ever served in it.’ We drink hard because we fight hard. We live hard and die hard. Like the ancient Roman army… we are very aggressive on the battlefield. We take shit from no one. They will either stand, or they will fall in the defense of your ci
ty.” Maxwell informed the Senior Crewman. Maxwell was drunk but as luck (for the Senior Crewman) would have it, all interactions between military personnel, rather friend or foe, is of course recorded. The military personnel under Lenkov uses one of Sayaka’s invention what she calls a GI or Generic Intelligence. It is based primarily upon all of her theories about intelligence and all of the research that her and her team has conducted on biological genus of intelligence. It’s one out of many reason why companies with deep pockets felt threaten by her. Sayaka’s GI works with a person’s neural lace to create improved performance between a human and their cybernetic implants. The EOD saw it as a new revolution in cybernetic implant technology. And they are right.

  “Holy shit! That motherfucker startled me!” The Crewman First Class mentioned after he blew the head off of one the infected Ravers with his shotgun.

  “It’s a damn good thing that our nano suits cover us from head to toe.” Another Crewman First Class added after he’d gunned down three more.

  “I can’t believe this fucking shit! Stay the fuck down!” A Senior Crewwoman shouted at the three fallen Ravers who started to get back up. She then ran over with her flamethrower to finish them off. “Burn in hell bitches!” She then said to them.

  “Crewwoman! Hold up!” The Petty Officer – Second Class ordered her.

  “Yes ma’am.”

  The Petty Officer then came over to the three fallen infected Ravers and started to watch them. She then shot any one of them who stood up in the knees in an effort to cause them to fall again. She then put the muzzle of her gun to the cheek of one of them and pulled the trigger twice. She then stood up and watch the Raver who she just shot.

  “Shit! Samantha, finish them off!” Petty Officer ordered the Senior Crewwoman.

  “What’s going on ma’am?” One of the Crewman asked her.