The Demons of Kor-Lir_The Sleeping Legion

by J. R. Handley

  — Chapter 18 —

  Deck 10 Papa: 1st Section

  Lance Sergeant Acheron Nourse checked his deck plans again, noticing that there was a second habdisk compartment on this level. He had scoured the one on Deck 8 Papa and found nothing of use, but he had a feeling they could score some good contraband this time around. Anything so that our inferior equipment doesn’t leave our asses flapping in the void again. We all know human Marines are left with third-rate hand-me-down equipment. Maybe we can find something to give us an edge?

  “Alright, 1st Section, we are going to inspect this habdeck. Anything we don’t find that could prevent our inferior equipment from killing our brothers and sisters the next time doesn’t come with us, understood? Remember what your mammas told you, ‘Gear adrift is a gift’ and carry on smartly. Now let’s split this deck between the teams and clear it of anything that doesn’t belong here.”

  — Chapter 19 —

  Deck 10 Papa: Beta Team, 1st Section

  Danika Stone shook her head. Her section leader was ordering them to rob this habdeck of anything they could find. I understand why he wants us to loot any gear which we could use to improve our kits, but Horden’s Bones, this was risky. The officers watch our every move; I can’t shit in peace without them watching. How does Sarge think we’ll get away with this?

  She sighed, at this rate it seemed like 1st Section would have some major vacancies in its NCO corps. Maybe it was time to start looking for the perks of becoming a striper. It wasn’t that she was opposed to getting what they could, and she’d certainly done it herself a few times, but to blatantly order it was something else. He certainly seemed to have solid stone asteroids, that Acheron.

  As she followed behind her new team leader in the modified file they were using to clear these hab compartments, she noticed a room that was locked. Standard procedure was to empty the rooms and leave them ready for the next crew, so nothing should’ve been locked. In fact, the biometric locks should’ve been cleared so the new occupants could reset them. This anomaly had to mean something, so she signaled her team to stop.

  After trying to unsuccessfully hack her way in, Danika placed a small breaching charge on the door and stood off to the side so she could safely blast the door. Once the smoke had diminished, largely due to the AI filtering it out of her visor, she took point and thoroughly cleared the room. Once she was certain it was free of hostile personnel, she and Chloe Jackson searched under ever rack and in every personal locker while Lance Scipio provided security at the door. It quickly became clear that there was nothing in the sleeping area of this berthing compartment, but the shower facility was another matter altogether. It seemed like there was the entire contents of a TAC Regiment’s kit in this room, neatly stacked in boxes awaiting its return to use. The only thing missing were the ACE-2s, but there were even AIs in this large showering facility. This is odd, she thought, if weapons were left they should be in the armory.

  Danika quickly sent Chloe to guard the door and called Lance over to her, after all she wasn’t putting her neck on the line for this call. That was what team leaders and section leaders were for. Besides, these decisions needed to be made quickly so they could go relieve their friends in 2nd.

  Her hopes for some useful breakthrough, some moment of leadership excellence, were quickly deflated when Lance ordered her to report it to Acheron via the secure LBNet and move on. “Nothing in the room can be carried out without raising questions, and none of it is gear we can’t already get from our supply chain,” said an unusually quiet team leader. At that call, the team resumed their search and found nothing else of note.

  — Chapter 20 —

  Deck 11 Papa: Alpha Team, 1st Section

  “Alright, 1st Section,” said a visibly disappointed Lance Sergeant Nourse, “the search on the last deck was a bust, so for the remaining three decks, Alpha will again take point. Beta, you secure our egress point. If the fates are kind, we will be back on Grendel with 2nd Section in time for grok. We can toast the recently retired and regroup. Until then, Alpha Team on me, let’s go!”

  With that, the fire team got into formation behind their team leader and fell out. As they patrolled the deck, Nourse was struck by the eerie quiet of the station. It had clearly been hastily abandoned as the White Knights pulled troops to send to various fronts in their war with the Muryani. It felt odd, oppressively so. Almost as if the eyes of those who came before them were watching and waiting.

  It’s probably the effects of all the power used on this floor for the cryogenic pods, thought Nourse. I’m being paranoid, nothing to worry about. Head on a swivel, scan my sector. My section is depending on me to lead them. So stay strong. Stay alert, stay alive.

  As Nourse scanned around the deck, he noticed that the cryopods had been left with Marines still inside. Why weren’t they revived and sent out with the crew when they were pulled? At the very least they could’ve been transported in stasis?

  With it common knowledge that Nourse was in a rush to get back onboard the Grendel to have this mission done, and maybe spend time with Jillian, he knew that he would have to be very careful to maintain unit morale. If they knew he was starting to get spooked, things would fall apart. Because he was creeped out, this had to be done quickly while not sacrificing the mission objectives.

  While Nourse worried, Stryker, his AI, was still hard at work. Acheron, we have a good news, bad news situation. The bad news is that LBNet is still down but the good news is that it briefly updated. We have confirmed that Beta-2 has been permanently retired. Alpha-2 is still safe, so they can continue their mission.

  Shaken by the loss of an entire fire team, Nourse addressed 1st Section. “Okay, Marines, we have to step up the pace on this section and beat feet over to relieve 2nd quicker than I thought. LBNet updated, Beta-2 is gone, and those deaths must be avenged. For our brothers!”

  — Chapter 21 —

  Deck 6 Sierra: Alpha Team, 2nd Section

  While patrolling Deck 6 Sierra, Blythe Hauer received an update from Balan, her AI. We recently had brief contact with the LBNet, though it is down again. It is confirmed that Beta-2 has retired. We have marked the last known coordinates for each of them on the TacScreen. Once the station is cleared, we can retrieve their remains for a ceremonial organic disposal. 1st Section found the remains of the four missing Spacers, hacked into their component parts. It is confirmed that whatever is killing off our Marines is organic and sentient. Proceed with caution and remain in your fire team formation. I connected with the section leader from 1st, they are aware of our situation and will expedite clearing their section and reinforce us here as soon as possible. I recommend addressing your fire team, because they are all likely receiving this same update as we speak. Charlie Mike, Balan out.

  After pausing for a moment to consider her words, Blythe addressed her fire team. “Okay, Alpha-2, I will cut to the chase. As all of you are now aware, it is official that our brothers and sisters from Beta-2 are dead. The bodies of the missing Spacers are also dead, likely killed by whatever killed our Marines. 1st Section will be relieving us as quickly as possible, but until then we will continue the mission. Stow any of that emotional nonsense for grok call back onboard the Grendel. Hauer out.”

  — Chapter 22 —

  Wren Shuttle Outside QEP 16

  The moments of anticipation, waiting for those infrequent LBNet updates were difficult for a woman of action like Veteran Sergeant Lourdes Fontaine. Inaction wore hard on her, and watching others go into harm’s way set her teeth on edge. This was especially true now that her Marines, barely out of the crèche were making life and death decisions that affected the whole squad, heck the whole company. She was constantly fielding calls to the staff NCOs from the Navy, and the lack of information was wearing on everyone’s nerves.

  As Fontaine finished her call with the Grendel’s Comms Spacer Technician, she heard Captain Grimgerde sitting next to her, frantically assuring her superiors that the situation was wel
l in hand and a few dead Marines fresh out of Cadethood were inconsequential. Given what’s at stake, she’s brutally honest. The young Marines we sent are replaceable pawns who have little value. When did I get here, to understanding the aliens who consider the lives of my Marines as worthless and easily thrown away?

  The second that LBNet was briefly connected, Fontaine tried contacting the two section leaders, but the signal was lost before that could happen. Knowing the intermittent signal would continue, she began to study the information that was available, hoping to be able to provide tactical assistance to the Marines when communications were re-established. Beta-2 was down, and Scipio of all Marines was acting as a team leader. Scipio, the Good Time Charlie of Whiskey Company? I wonder what I’ll do about that. Guess time will tell, but frakk if that crècheling can’t work magic on that Mini.

  — Chapter 23 —

  Deck 13 Papa: Alpha Team, 1st Section

  As usual, we lead the way and take point, thought Nourse. When will I learn to follow the rules of soldiering and just blend in? Instead, I make sergeant and suddenly I am that drented Acheron lusting for sailor holes. Why can’t I just be the Marine that drank grok with them like before? Nourse mentally sighed. I guess I can’t wind back the clock on that one, might as well charge forward like a good Marine.

  As Nourse led the way, followed on the strong flank by his Mini gunner, Alicia, he made a concentrated effort to continue to search the station’s weapons deck for some indication of what sort of weapon it housed. He knew Alicia would be watching as well, weapons were the only thing that trumped her puppy love for him. If only she wasn’t so clingy and close to home, he might consider something with her. He noticed that everything seemed to be concealed, locked up tight and inaccessible with the sensors in his combat armor. Damn, but he would literally kill for the Scout AI model so he could be a bit nosy about the station he was patrolling. He knew there was some sort of planetary weapons system, but other than that vague tidbit he was out of the information cycle, which was frakking horrible.

  He was just about to give up on finding anything, when Stryker alerted him that there was movement up ahead. Nourse quickly checked with his Mini and ensured that she was locked and ready to dance with anything or anyone who came into her sight apparatus. He then forwarded the report to Veteran Sergeant Fontaine, knowing that she wouldn’t receive the update, but making the effort anyway while watching the direction the movement came from.

  After giving the go ahead to his fire team, Nourse began to slowly advance towards the target in question. He knew his combat suit was climate controlled but he suddenly found himself sweating and hot. With his nerves shot and his heart pounding, Nourse could literally feel his blood rushing through his veins. He wasn’t really aware of the passage of time, things just seemed to be moving in slow motion. Almost like that nightmare where you need to run, you try to run, but you can’t seem to move.

  Reasoning that the hostile wouldn’t be alone, he readied himself to silently dispatch what he was about to encounter with his assault cutters or combat blade, and had Stryker relay the same intention to the rest of his command. The Mobile Mini Cannon, for instance, was good at killing, but wasn’t exactly quiet about announcing its presence. And Marines operating the SA-71 carbines were known to throw more sabots downrange than was absolutely necessary.

  When Nourse finally got eyes on the target, he was stopped dead by a piece of technology he hadn’t encountered before. The creature he was expecting turned out to be some sort of eight-legged mechanical robot, probably activated when the station went into hibernation mode. Before he could query Stryker about the arachnid-like robot, he received an update on his TacScreen. Apparently this was an ART-316 Maintenance Drone, Octopedal. He wasn’t surprised to see it was nicknamed the ‘spiderbot’.

  After he reported this information to his veteran sergeant, though she wouldn’t see it until the signal was free again, Nourse had his unit take up a defensive posture, and waited to see if Stryker could get through the jamming. Stryker is great, but he needs time to do his thing he thought.

  After Stryker told him that the spiderbot was likely not the cause of the signal jamming, Nourse tagged it for his final report, and ordered the patrol to resume.

  Will this report raise too many red flags? Nourse wondered. Will this mission be sent for further review, making my attempts to loot the abandoned habdecks an issue? Will any of my Marines tell Veteran Sergeant Fontaine that I rushed my patrolling and violated the DMs SOP so I could attempt to save my friends? The Jotuns and the White Knights frown upon Marines who placed the wellbeing of their peers above the mission. I know some think I am rushing for Jillian. Will I ever prove myself to these guys?

  As they continued their patrol of the largest deck on the station, Nourse shook off his thoughts about Alicia, Jillian, and 2nd Section, and tried to take comfort in his fellow Marines who patrolled with him. Whatever was out there, hunting them, didn’t stand a chance now because they knew it was out there. He was glad that they were almost done, the station was giving him the creeps. In spite of it all, he strove to remember that things were okay, and he wasn’t alone.

  — Chapter 24 —

  Deck 7 Sierra: Alpha Team, 2nd Section

  Marine Eric Thalberg proudly remembered the day during his Cadethood when he was picked to man the Mini. Most people thought it was because he was so big, built like a grav-tank they’d said, but Eric knew it was because on the qualifying range he’d shot circles around everyone else. In fact, he’d come second in his regiment, only being outdone by Lance Scipio over in Beta-1. He trained hard, taking every chance he got on the range, hoping for the chance to again test his skills against his peers. When the next spot opened up for a Mini for the regimental command sections, he could compete for it now that he was a Marine and not a Cadet. He hoped to earn it, showing he really was better than Lance. It will be my chance at vindication, now that I’m a Marine without all those Cadet training competitions giving me chances to strut my stuff.

  Eric shook his head in disgust as he relived it all. Frakk head that he was, Lance never let Eric forgot that he beat him. Two frakking points, Eric thought, two frakking points in the last frakking round. We had been neck and neck, needing a tie breaker to determine the top shot in the battalion. I remember the Jotun officers strutting around, proud of how Lance and I represented them to their superiors and the honor we brought to our training battalion, having the top two shots in the regiment. Our squad leader even snuck in two cute Auxies for us to frakk because we made him look good to his superiors. After I looked around at everyone staring at us, like it was the big Scendence Tournament, I froze and missed the last pop up target.

  Eric often spent dead time in his head, thinking, planning and striving for perfection. His squad leader often told him that digging too deeply inside his head was the very reason he always seemed to choke. Just as he was about to recite the characteristics of his Mini Cannon to himself, his AI, Bruno, sprayed his face with a burst of cool air to get his attention, and reminded him that this was a hostile station and he needed to stay alert.

  An irritated Bruno, not one to let an educational opportunity pass, added his thoughts to the mix. One of these days this is going to get you killed, Eric.

  Once he was fully alert, and again vested in the mission, Eric began to notice things that seemed odd. There were scuff marks on the floor, clearly the work of someone clamping on and pulling something heavy. Was this old damage from a long-forgotten repair team? Would the enemy on this vessel even bother dragging their jamming cargo when there was a zero-g environment? It has to be the crew magnetically clamping onto the floor while working.

  These ramblings continued for several minutes as Eric analyzed every scratch and dent along the corridors, looking for whatever had killed his friends. They checked everywhere: inside cabinets, under furniture, in storage areas and in every crew space they could find.

  Given his status as the Mini, Eric was posit
ioned on the outside of his fire team’s wedge. This meant that he had to not only be aware of what was in front of him, but also his flank and rear, since he had nobody beside him to back him up. With the advances in sensors, this wasn’t as bad as it would be without his combat suit, but it was still an unnerving feeling. As his fire team advanced slowly through the corridors and rooms of the CIC level, Eric was constantly on the lookout for whatever was responsible for sending Beta-2 to join the Ancestors’ Militia.

  Just when his team turned out of the hallway from the elevator, they came to a ‘T’ intersection. Right when Eric was about to ask whether to go left or right, Corporal Hauer’s voice came over LBNet. “We are gonna continue in a fire team wedge, even though it’s a zero-g environment, to maximize our weakened section. Without Beta-2 our tactics would leave us high and dry, so let’s mix it up some and see if we can’t confuse whatever is out there. Activate your helmet worms, pointed straight up, and let your AI monitor the sector with us. Look for anything that doesn’t belong and have your AI emphasize its visual detectors since the hostile or hostiles aren’t showing up on any of the other sensors. If we have to go in blind, at least we will be blind and deadly. Now let’s kick this off. Eric break to the right and clear the hallway that’ll be to our rear and Mira, use your worms to Cholba Check the left corner. Come to think of it, you’re as annoying as those weasel-badger hybrids so it must be fate! Remember, that means pop out, take a quick look and drop back behind cover. It is a sneak-a-peak mission, not a bloody sightseeing tour. Once you send an all clear, we’ll resume the wedge and move out. Go!”