The Mortal God by E.F. Skarda

Author:E.F. Skarda
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: space opera, science fiction, action adventure, action hero, sci fi action, strike force, galactic military, soldier revenge
Publisher: E.F. Skarda

Chapter 12

“Commander, we’re approaching the outpost,” Major Brady said.

Kyle stepped next to the major and peered out the old, hazy window of the Splinter transport. He could barely make out the tattered structure among the ribbons of smoke. The small installation was hidden within a heaving ridge of rocks, though at this point it looked more like a scrapyard that had been hit by a tornado.

“I don’t see any hostiles,” Kyle said. “What do we have on the instruments?”

“Nothing,” the pilot replied. “Motion sensors are silent. The heat signatures are all screwed up by the fire, but we’re not reading anything alive down there.”

“Is it possible that they’ve moved on already?” Brady asked.

“We’d still be picking up something,” Kyle said. “It doesn’t make any sense.”

“How’s that?” Brady prodded.

“They should be waiting here,” Kyle said. “It’s the perfect place for an ambush.”

“What’s the function of this place?” Jackson asked.

“It’s a hydrogenerator site,” Brady said. “There’s a shallowing of the underground river here.”

“How many people on site?” Kyle asked.

“Twenty-seven,” Brady said.

“Set down on top of the ridge,” Kyle said. “Let’s keep the high ground.”

The pilot looked back at the major.

“Set it down on the ridge,” Brady said.

The old ship trembled as the combustion thrusters pivoted to lower them to the ground. There was a loud clunk and thud as the landing gear touched down. Kyle looked down at the Splinter combat suit he was wearing. It was nearly two sizes too small, feeling tight against his hulking arms and chest, but mainly it just felt alien to him. It felt like it should be singeing his skin after all those years toiling under the insignia of the Dominion. But it didn’t burn, which almost made him feel like he could belong here. Like they might actually accept him. Wouldn’t that be something?

Kyle shook away the thought as the engines cut off. He turned back into the passenger bay and looked over the fifteen men waiting in front of him. Jackson and the rest of his team looked calm and comfortable in the face of their task, despite their unfamiliar uniforms. Even Dan seemed to have control of his nerves other than an anxiously bouncing right knee. The Splinter men, however, were racked with obvious concern, gripping their weapons and chewing on their cheeks.

Kyle pulled on a helmet and checked the charge on his rifle. They were able to find a handful of extra Dominion-issue weapons in the armory of the Gemini. If there were Garrison soldiers waiting for them here, they would need every advantage they could get.

“Major, this is your show,” Kyle said. “But if I were you, I’d send ten men to set up a perimeter, including Captain Hilton and Lieutenant Harrier, and have them pick off anything that isn’t familiar. The rest of us go in to look for survivors.”

“All right, gentlemen, you heard the man,” Brady said. “Captain, take those men and get the perimeter established, two hundred meters out. Safeties off. Drop anything that might be hostile.”

The rear hatch hissed open and the cold surface air rushed in.

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