Chapter 5 Retribution

Warped by the semi glossy armor plating of the TA cargo cruiser The Adamant, the different hues of red located on the surface of Mars play serenely on the hull of the large ship as it slowly continues towards the desolate planet.

Sitting in the worn out leather chair he had purchased years ago to replace the uncomfortable stock chair sits Captain William Bradshaw. With a dirty worn out cap covering up his receding hairline, he sit stoically in his seat twiddling his thumbs nervously.

“Mike…MIKE, anything on dat radar!?” he yells across the empty bridge in a heavily accented British voice.

“For the thousandth time, N-O, no. Why the hell would the “Red Fury” even bother with a single transport ship like ours anyway.?" The young man answers sarcastically.

“Because, those Red Furies are a ruthless bunch. It’s a good thing we’ve got some MFs to back us up isn’t it?”

“Yeah yeah, that is if they ever stop hitting on any and everything female onboard the ship. Ruddy laggards, that’s what they are.”

Turning around Captain Bradshaw catches Mike, his back to the radar. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? Stop blabbering and get back to watching that radar. I don’t want to end up like those poor fools.”

Motioning to outside of the ship, Mike catches a glimpse of the ghostly remains of destroyed ships, a ship graveyard. Slowly maneuvering between the countless fragments of bygone ships littering space, The Adamant steadily continues onward as small pieces of debris collide with the incoming ship.

“Captain Bradshaw, I’ve got a bad feeling about this place. It…it just seems…different.”

“Relax, you’re just getting spooked by all the debris. What fool would even think to hide…in the middle of a ship graveyard!” Captain Bradshaw manages to say, laughing heartily at his own joke as he clutches his sides. Slowly regaining control of himself he wipes a tear from the corner of his eye.

Woowoowoo

A sudden alarm sounds loudly as red, flashing lights fill the bridge. Scrambling back to his position in front of the ships radar quickly, Mark peers intently at the blue glow given off by the radar.

“What is it? Is it Red Fury?” the Captain asks, lowering the volume of his voice as he mentions Red Fury, as if saying the name was bad luck.

“No, it’s just some small civilian ship. It’s not even armed.” He answers with a sigh of relief. Wiping a small amount of perspiration from his forehead Captain Bradshaw stands up, stretching both arms far out as his knees lock into place. “Well, you can take care of this for me, I’m going to pay the restroom a much needed visit.” Making his way to the back of the bridge, Captain Bradshaw stops dead in his tracks as the intercom system of The Adamant mysteriously turns on.

“Huh, are you messing with th…”

“This is Jessica Mc Waters, turn your ship around immediately and leave immediately.” The voice of a young female commands.

Confused, he walks slowly up to the screen and peers outside, scanning the ship graveyard for any signs of unnatural movement. “And who might you be to order a military ship of the TA to turn around? What are you going to do if I refuse? Ram you’re ship into The Adamant?” Captain Bradshaw says in an insolent tone, upset at the fact that his break was put on hold by such a trivial matter.

“Fine, but be aware that I gave you fair warning.”

With a soft click the intercoms system turns off.

“Tell those MF pilots to get ready?”

“Yes sir, but is it really necessary that we launch them, it’s only a young woman and it’s not like she’s posing any threat.” Mike pleads.

“I don’t care, no one threatens a TA vessel and gets away wit it, launch the MFs now.”

Turning quickly around Mike reaches to grab the speaker for the hangar, but stops short after his attention is caught by events outside of the ship.

“What the hell are you doing!?” the aged captain asks, as his young crewman stares blankly out into space.

“Hehe, looks like our pilots beat us to the chase.” He says cheerfully, pointing a finger towards the far left of the ship.

Shuffling up to the ships bay window, Captain Bradshaw looks out into space in the direction of Mike’s finger. As he continues to watch the empty space four MFs appear below the ship as they travel ahead of the ship, on a direct course with the small civilian ship. “Good, they should be able to handle this. If I’m needed I’ll be in the can.”

“God, we can finally get out of that god forsaken ship.” the pilot located at the rear of the four-man squad of Shades blurts out.

“You’re telling me, if I have to listen to one more horrible British accent I’m gonna lose my mind.”

Annoyed at the pointless bickering, Lt. Shultz speaks up, “Quiet, both of you. We still don’t know what sort of tricks that ship might have hidden up its sleeves hold. Stay on guard and prepare for the worst.”

“Yes sir!” they all unanimously say.

Lt. Ronald Shultz prided himself as a man who could command the respect of anyone he had ever met, whether it was on a crowded street or during the middle of a battlefield. During his eight-year career as a pilot for the TA, he had seen even the most talented pilots fall in battle, their confidence in their own abilities betraying them. He felt it his personal mission in life to break in rookies and teach them the skills they would require to survive as a MF pilot for the TA. It was this very idea that had lead to his current predicament. Stuck with three greenhorns anxious to prove themselves, aboard a cargo transport ship headed towards Mars, and to top it off, the ship was crewed predominantly by males, British males. This had caused a great amount of animosity between the newly graduated pilots, their dreams of glory in combat and confidence in their own untried abilities fresh in their minds, this would all change soon.

“We’ve reached the desired range, spread out, keep your guard up, and hold your fire unless I give the order.” Lt. Shultz ordered in a commanding voice.

In unison, the three MFs quickly spread out in a triangle like pattern with Lt. Shultz aboard his own personal Shade unit located at the forefront. “This is Lt. Ronald Shultz of the Trinity Alliance, surrender your ship peacefully or you leave us no choice but to open fire on your vessel.” Expecting to hear the frightened response of a young kid he is taken back when the small engines of the ship fire up, quickly propelling the ship away from the four MFs. “Fire! Don’t let them escape.”

Taking full advantage for the opportunity to engage in their first official sortie, the three greenhorn pilots begin to unleash a heavy barrage of fire from their energy rifles. Adeptly spiraling out of the line of fire, the small ship quickly evades the torrential rain of energy beams aimed at its light yellow hull.

“Stay…still…gotcha.” The top greenhorn pilot says out loud as the missiles located on his shoulders achieve a full lock.Spraying from the shoulder mounted launcher, a wave of missiles jettison from the Shade, leaving behind thin trails of fuel emissions as they quickly home in on their intended target.

C’mon, c’mon, hit the damn thing.

As the barrage of deadly missiles begins to close in on the small ship, the large door located at the rear of the ships swings violently open, as a solitary MF emerges. Pushing away from the ship, two large, brilliant, white wings unfold from behind the blue and yellow MF as it unsheathes a large, thin, solid edged blade. Abruptly, the barrage of missiles explodes with a tremendous force as it reaches the solitary MF, shaking the very cockpit of the attacking Shade, as the shockwave hits the MF, and a dark cloud of particles obscures the true fate of the lone MF.

“Tch, what a fool.” The young pilot says, already basking in what he considered a victory.
Swiping his two hands together as if wiping dust off of them he turns his back on the ever-growing cloud of smoke behind him. A brief glint of metal glints brightly as it cuts through the porous cloud.

“Well done Raul, that was some fine piloting back there.” Lt. Schultz says happily, as the silver frame of his Shade approaches Raul’s.

A sudden, violent explosion tears through Raul’s MF, sending Lt. Shultz’s Shade flying backwards from the massive force of the explosion. Stabilizing his MF he points its high-powered laser rifle into the cloud of smoke.

“Raul!!” he screams, firing four highly concentrated shots of energy as they penetrate the cloud before him.
Staring into the cloud of smoke angrily the other two pilots join him.
“Lt., where is it?”

“Shh. Pay attention to any movement you see in that cloud. That pilot, he’s no amateur, I can assure you that.”

Staring into the cloud of slowly dissipating smoke, the dim outline of a light figure slowly becomes visible.

“There it is.!!” One of the new pilots yells, as he activates the powerful boosters on his Shade as it rapidly approaches the cloud firing energy beams wildly.

In a whirlwind of smoke and deep blue energy, two enormous white wings spread wide open, clearing the remaining smoke away form the MF revealing the figure of a deep blue and bright yellow MF. Holding in its left hand the long, thin blade, while the other abnormally larger arm rests at its side, the tip of each finger ending in a jagged, razor sharp claw. Pulling back on the controls to his MF the young pilot stops his blind rush towards the enemy unit, astonished at the strange appearance of the mysterious MF. Without warning, the two pure white wings beat down fiercely as the MF disappears into thin air.

“Wh….where did it go?” the confused pilot asks, exchanging worried glances at both the radar in front of him and the area outside of his MF. Without warning, the proximity alarm inside the cockpit of the Shade begins sound loudly.

Beeeebeeebeeebeebebebebe

Quickly activating his boosters, the young pilot frantically moves his MF up, hoping to avoid the seemingly invisible MFs attack.

Staring out into space, Lt. Schultz scans his surroundings in an attempt to sight the enemy MF, which only moments ago vanished into thin air. His proximity alarm sounds wildly as the pause between beeps continue to increase in frequency. His eyes open wide in terror as he catches sight of the winged MF. Flying directly above the untested pilot that had attempted to charge the MF earlier, he watches in horror as the wickedly clawed hand smashes the head of the Shade in on itself as large pieces of debris splinter off, floating out into space as the giant, pure white wings propel the MF past it the destroyed Shade. Quickly attaining a solid lock on the enemy MF, Lt. Shultz and the remaining Shade pilot open fire, as the crushed form of the destroyed Shade explodes in a violent display of light as the frame tears itself apart from the internal explosion.

“Get back!!” he yells at his remaining pilot as the winged MF changes direction, heading straight towards the reaming two Shades. Again the large wings of the blue and yellow MF emit a strange, deep blue glow as the unit seemingly disappears into space once again.

What’s going on here, why can’t I see this thing move?

“Huh? It’s above us, get back now!! He screams, pulling the energy saber out as he quickly boosts away from his current position.

Narrowly avoiding the winged MFs attack Lt. Shultz watches in stunned silence as the lighting fast attack leaves a barely noticeable, thin line down the middle of the Shade. As electricity begins to appear through the now visible line Lt. Shultz turns his attention on his winged adversary. Slowly turning around the MF stops in front of it’s most recent victim as the Shade explodes violently behind it. Activating the energy sword held in his MFs right hand Lt. Schultz stares deeply into the hollow, shadow filled eyes of the MF before him.

“I’ve had enough!!!.” He screams as he slams his foot down hard on the accelerators, the boosters attached to the Shade exploding in a torrent of violent energy as it rushes towards the seraph shaped MF. “Now you’re gonna pay!”

Slashing down at the blue core of the MF as it continues to stand motionlessly in place the MF suddenly disappears once again as the energy saber crashes down onto empty space. “What the fu…..”

Pulling the long blade out of the core of the remaining MF, Appolus slowly moves back, admiring his own work as the MF explodes violently, sending debris crashing onto the pristine blue and yellow armor plating of his MF, Stricken. Turning the MF around, Appolus looks forwards at the TA Cargo Transport ship. Slowly, the large wings protruding from Stricken’s core extend out as they slowly begin to flap with ease in the nothingness of space, the small boosters at the tips of the wings propelling the suit forward. Approaching the hulking form of the Cargo Transport vessel, Appolus folds the large white wings behind Stricken once again, a mere 50 meters away from the main bridge of the ship.

“Please, please don’t kill us.” A deeply accented British voice pleads, “I’ll give you whatever you want, just please, don’t kill us.”

“What I want…what I want will never come back…BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU!!” he screams as the large wings force Stricken forward in a tremendous show of blazing energy.

Plunging the long sword into the bridge of The Adamant, the large wings propel Stricken up, as the long blade continues to cut through the hull of the large ship, as fire engulfs the bridge in a massive, outward explosion, killing all aboard.

Staring out of the small two man cockpit of the MF transport ship Chariot, Jessica Mc Waters sits motionless in her seat as she watches the large cargo ship in it’s final death throws. Continuing to gaze out into space she spots the pure white wings of Stricken folded neatly behind the MFs back.

“Appolus…no name….how much longer will it be…before you can forget the rest of your past?”