“Anyone want to share some knowledge with the newbies?” Jack asked as the company’s strike squads readied themselves for combat, “I’m willing to take anything at all, even a description of what these Raak’Shee are and how to kill them would be more than the briefing gave.”

“If you want the textbook answer to those, you’re going to have to talk to your LT. But, if you just want to know them from the field point of view, then you’ve got the right folks.” One of the soldiers from another squad said as he stepped in to the his multi-layered armor, “Basically, they got real thick skin and stand very tall. At least as tall as Johnson over there.” The veteran soldier described, pointing at easily the tallest man in the room. “But for all the things that make them tough, they cant see worth a shit. They fight up close and personal. I’ve never ran into one that fought with a gun, but then again, they don’t really need too.”

“Why’s that?” Dave asked, curious about anything that would give he or his men more protection.

“Because if you are within two-hundred feet of one, they can close that gap before you can even think about filling it with enough Light to kill it.”

“Sounds… fun?” Alec said, sounding more than a little worried.

“It is. Between you and the Aegis, you should be able combine enough defense and offense to kill it before it can kill you.”

“Right.” Alec replied, turning back to the weapon depot and selecting several more attachments for his armor. “I guess I need as much ammo as I can carry.”

“You always need as much ammo as you can carry.” The captain said as she walked into the room. “I need you all down in the gate room, we jump in five.”

Without another word, various soldiers from various squads grabbed their helmets and exited the room. Standing there in the now empty armory, Captain Griffin worried about her men. True, this was a feeling that often came before they were deployed, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something much worse was on the horizon.

“Spier squad,” Lieutenant Hawkins yelled, “Prepare to move!”

The four platoons were assembled in the company Gate room going over final preparations before battle. Each group had their own rituals stemming from years of battle experience, but Jack’s was far too green to have established those kinds of traditions. Instead, they simply stood in stoic silence as the support crew put the finishing touches on each soldier’s kit.

“Alright Monroe, I’ve watched your training enough to know that you prefer up close and personal to distance.” Staff Sergeant Smith said as he clipped another pair of hilts to Jack’s waist, “Knowing that, I’m loading you down with four sabers, two daggers, and a polearm. If you decide you don’t like the feel of one or the other, let me know and next time we will change it up. As far as distance goes, I’m giving you the standard LT-27 and a sidearm in your hip compartment. Hopefully you wont need all of this, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.”

“Thanks,” Jack replied, “but the mission is just to reclaim a factory, do you really think I’ll need all of this?”

“The fact that you’re asking just proves that you need it. The other guys are loading down the rest of your squad in a similar fashion.”

“Company, attention!” Summers yelled, calling the room to silence. “Support, fall out!”

Lieutenant Hawkins broke away from the battle squad and moved to the back of the room.

“Ready, Gates!”

At the front of the chamber, four separate Gates came to life. The area inside each ring seeming to crack as each destination was accessed.

“Ready, arms!”

Jack pulled his helmet over his head, locking it in place with a quick mental command to his AI, Bob. Once the armor had become fully integrated, his Vis-HUD deactivated and his faceplate took over the job.

Unlike his time in basic training, no soldier had to worry about being handed a partially charged weapon. Each item in their kit was fitted with a Light battery capable of preforming at maximum capacity for hours. While not a perfect solution, not needing to constantly charge each piece of equipment was a major advantage.

With a minor exertion of will, Jack forged a connection with his entire squad, beginning and ending the circuit of power with himself. He had the option of using built in comms, but he found that communication was much more efficient if he handled it himself.

Spier squad ready First Sergeant. Jack reported through the command channel.

Understood. All units are go. Summers said through the chat before replying vocally, “Good luck, and god speed. You may proceed through the Gate.”

Breaking into a run, Speir squad charged through. The unnatural feeling of being broken into millions of light particles not phasing them as their bodies reformed on a snow-covered mountaintop.

“Bob, give me a readout of each soldiers armor. Leave it on the upper left-hand corner of my faceplate.” Jack said, running to the nearest rock to get a good look at their situation.

As you wish, master. I must say, it is like we don’t talk unless you are on an assignment anymore. The AI complained.

“Well, if you wouldn’t be so snippy all the time then perhaps I would talk to you more.”

How rude. It’s not like I flood your vision with distracting images while you’re trying to work.

Across the ridgeline, there was a small door guarded by a pair of hulking gray figures. To get there, they would need to cross two mountaintops and climb the final three-hundred feet. All the while avoiding the view of these guards.

Hopefully, that veteran soldier wasn’t wrong about the enemy’s poor eyesight.

“That’s exactly what you do, and you know it. What is the status of the other squads?”

All squads have landed successfully at their drop point. Once you are in place, you are to wait for confirmation.

“Understood.” Jack replied before switching to the comms, Spier Squad, I need Neilson and Alexander to find a good place to establish a nest. The rest of you, find cover and avoid being seen until we have the ok to move forward.

Roger that. Cecile said, breaking her own cover as she and Warren left to find a better sniper’s nest.

The squad waited for several minutes, the light mountain snow slowly covering them in a blanket as they became part of the landscape. Above, Cecile and Warren had gone a step further and buried themselves under a few inches of snow. The only part of either one that remained visible was a pair of rifle barrels.

Monroe, I’m going to send a Crawler with both you and West. Warren announced as a pair of drones picked their way across the landscape, I already have a Vixen and one swarm of Wasps in the air and on the lookout.

Copy that Alexander. Keep that Vixen high up just in case we need it for a quick exit. Jack acknowledged.

What do you expect, the drone to drag you out of the shit? Nessa asked mockingly.

No, but at the very least it can be a distraction.

Great, now the things with my consciousness inside are nothing but distractions. I see how it is. Warren joked.

Spier Squad, this is Command. A new voice said over the radio, All squads are in place and ready for action. Begin moving toward your target. Once you are within two hundred feet, hold for orders.

Understood Command. Jack said, rising from the ground and beginning their hike. Ahead, the snow covered landscape promised uneasy footing that could easily spell disaster for the entire mission. “Bob, please plot the safest path and share it with the squad. There is no trail to follow and I fear that without help, we will die.”

No doubt you would’ve died several times already without my guidance. The AI remarked as a winding path was overlayed with his vision.

Picking his path carefully, walked across the packed snow, careful to only step where the AI predicted was the firmest footing. While not an easy hike by any means, having a trail plotted out for them made it significantly easier.

If we weren’t here to kill a bunch of people, this view would be breathtaking. Thea said as they crested the first mountaintop. Ahead, the two mountains were split down the middle by a gorge that the AI’s measured at seven-hundred feet in depth and three-hundred feet in width.

As each soldier caught up to the ledge, they found that they agreed with Thea’s statement. Unfortunately, however, they weren’t there to make friends or enjoy the scenery. They were there to complete the mission at all costs.

Any idea how we get across without having to climb all the way to the bottom and back? Jenkins said, staring at the gap with more than a little trepidation. I mean, I can fly a vixen over, but it cant carry any of us.

Give me a second. Jack said as a pulse of violet Light rippled out from his body. There are no hostiles in the gorge or on the other mountaintop. However, I tend to agree that climbing all the way down and back up will be a waste of time. Any suggestions?

I can send a few lines across the gap and angle it so that it can act as a zip line. Candice offered, I bet that if you clamp your gauntlets on and ask the AI to take over, that can easily act as a sheave. Unless of course someone has one?

I have a small climbing anchor in my rappelling kit, Jack said, We all should. Can we use that?

It will be rough, but it may work. I can make sure you don’t move too fast and melt the eye. Take them out so I can loop through it.

As they followed her instructions, Candice brought a group of wires to life. She knew that a single thread would be enough to hold them, but she also knew that people would be significantly more comfortable suspended by five monofilament wires instead of one. Looping her newly formed cable through the eye of each anchor, she extended the cable across the gorge and around a tree.

Who’s up first? She asked, stepping away from the ledge and allowing the first person to take their place, she was unsurprised to see Jack take her place. Ok, I need you to hold on to that anchor and command your AI not to release the gauntlet until you are safely on the ground.

Got it. Jack replied, his stomach turning in fear at the sheer insanity of what he was about to do. “Bob, can you take over control of my left hand? I need you to clamp down on this rod and do not let go under any circumstances.”

Understood. But just to let you know, I just informed the squad that you commanded me to grab your rod and not let go. Bob said with a touch of smugness.

“You asshole.” Jack replied quietly. I’m ready.

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Candice raised the cable high into the air and Jack began to slide. It wasn’t so bad, at first, but as soon as the trees gave way to open air, he was terrified.

A primal part of him wanted to scramble for the cable and hold on with all his might. If only he could swing his legs up and onto the line, he would be safe. He knew, he KNEW, that any moment this makeshift sheave would snap and send him tumbling to the ground.

Calm down Jack. Thea said over the comms, The more you move and thrash around the worse it will be.

Bite me! Jack yelled, Crazy ass Binder is going to get me killed!

Don’t threaten me with a good time. Oh, and by the way honey, you volunteered to go first. Thea shot back. If you fall, I’ll put you back together. That’s the promise I made to you so long ago, remember?

Below him, open air once again gave way to trees and eventually stone. He’d been so worried about his survival that he missed the experience all together. It was terrifying, but at the same time it was exhilarating.

Can the rest of us have a pretty speech like that? I really liked the part about you having a good time. Alec said as he stepped up to begin his slide.

Too bad, the only people that get to bite me are Jack and the alien that is currently eating me. Thea replied, giving a nod to Candice who lifted him up and sent him on a significantly faster ride to the opposite end of the gorge.