To the Hells and back [hyperman247]

[LNG257]

"The ship is going into stealth mode. We'll try for as long as possible to remain undetected, but with the amount of defenses that place has, I doubt we can remain undetected for long." The loudspeaker blares. "Tighten up everyone. This is going to be a bumpy ride." And indeed it is. Over the next two hours, the ship approaches the planet. Stealth mode can cloak a ship from most sensors... but it can cook alive everyone inside. And in the armor, even with thermal conditioning, it can get hot.

Rumors percolated down from the top. They say the ship found a world laden with energy signatures almost exactly like the Gates, but on a massive, planetary scale. So much that Gates must cover the world from top to bottom. If this was a human world, anyway. No telling what the aliens have cooked up down there. The ship carries two companies: two hundred men, soldiers willing and ready to fight to take this world. Against who knows how many aliens with their own version of Z-Drives. Two Gates are on board, packed up and ready for deployment to the surface.

After another hour, the loudspeaker comes on again. "The enemy has spotted us. We're going in full charge." You know that the crew is safe, as they carry Z-Drives as well, turning them on before the ship was launched. Yours, as well as all the soldiers', is switched off so you can attune it to a Gate dropped onto the surface. The ship rocks, as though something hit it. Even if the engines fail, inertia will keep the ship charging straight at the planet's surface, so there is little the aliens can do to stop you.

Minutes later, your troop pod drops. Your squad of ten, including you, is number 6 of A-Company. As it hurtles toward the surface, there's always that little twinge of fear that you'll be shot down and die permanently. Exactly 41 heartbeats later, you land with a crash.

[hyperman247]

"Everyone alright? Anyone injured?" John shouted. John was just promoted to Sargent and had little knowledge of leadership. "If everyone is ready, grab your weapons, it's show time." John said. He grabbed his weaponry and awaited what was outside the pod.

[LNG257]

"Yes sir!" Eight other soldiers shout in unison. The troop pod opened, revealing the crater it was in. Eight soldiers rushed out, their weapons at the ready. Immediately they scanned the area, one calling out a warning, another pointing out other pods that were landing.

[hyperman247]

"Get into groups of two and stand on both sides of me. Keep your weapons at the ready." John shouted. Then John started to go to a nearby troop pod and ask the leader of the group, "Where do we go from here?"

[LNG257]

The troops quickly organize themselves. A square formation, with two troops at each corner, surrounds the command pod as you go inside. The Troop Commander, greets you and two other sergeants who thought it prudent to get orders. "The Gate hasn't landed yet, so be careful. The energy signatures here are interfering with communications, so tell your troops to set theirs on loop. I'll inform everyone when the Gate comes down." The other Sergeants nod and leave, heading off to address their troops.

[hyperman247]

John nods and leaves the command pod. Then he said in a lower voice, "Set your comms to loop. Energy signatures are interfering with it.

[LNG257]

The soldiers, who had gathered around you for their orders, nod and tap their helmets, setting the communications system to loop. The loop setting makes a message repeat until the soldier acknowledges it. "Sir, when do we turn on the Zee?" One soldier asks.

[hyperman247]

"Well, I'd suggest we do." John said. "After that we wait." He said again.

[LNG257]

Some of the soldiers nod. The battle is going on around you, aliens coming out of great fissures in the rock. This planet has little atmosphere and below-standard gravity. While breathing in the air here won't kill you, you won't be able to get enough oxygen either. The suits soldiers wear is enough to keep them pinned to the ground. A Lieutenant responsible for managing the second half of A-Company comes up. "Sergeant Terry, you and your troops are needed in quad two. Reinforce there and keep the advance up."

[hyperman247]

John nodded and turned to his men. "You heard the man, get over to quad two!" he shouted. John readied his weapon and did a quick jog over to the location he was told to go to. "Keep the pace, Don't die, the regular stuff." John said to his soldiers.

[LNG257]

Quad two, or the front-left of the formation, is under heavy fire. With the Gate not yet activated, soldiers are keeping their heads down and trying not to die. The aliens are out of sight, keeping suppression fire up with light weaponry. Your soldiers come in and find the Captain in charge of A-Company. "Sergeant, with the Gate off, I need your squad to advance and establish a defensible position so the rest can advance, or move around the battlefield somehow and eliminate enough of the enemy troops so we can advance."

Looking over your troops, the Captain then asks, "You're missing a soldier. I count nine in a squad of ten. What happened?"

[hyperman247]

"One died in the pod landing." John said. Then John turned to his men and said, "Alright men, we are going up to the front lines to ensure the rest can move around the battlefield more easily. Get into groups of two and follow me." John marched up to the front lines and looked for cover to crouch behind.

[LNG257]

The soldiers snap to attention, forming duos as ordered. With only nine soldiers, you are the odd one out, but hopefully it won't be a problem. Up front, the land is heavy in rocky grays, browns, and even some faded yellows. Jagged lines of rock stretch out to the horizon and further, with uneven lines forming walls that stretch upwards. The soldiers up here are crouched behind a particularly large wall, bordering a huge chasm that stretches down to untold depths, occasionally popping around or up a wall, firing off a short burst, and going back down, then waiting as the wall shudders from return fire.

"Gate is down! Everyone activate your Z-Drive!" The message comes over the communicator. Hurridly, all the soldiers activate their Z-Drives, attuning them to the Gate that just activated.