Chapter 9: The 13th, assault

"Fireteam alpha, what is your status?" Kizi called for an update. There wasn't any worry in his tone. The outcome of Fireteam alpha was never in question. Going by the book he had to check the status of his teams during certain benchmarks of an assault. The first status check was performed right after all breaching pods had penetrated the platform…Check. All pods and members were accounted for. The siege was going as expected, with light to heavy resistance as the crew of the platform realized they had been boarded. Usually, within the first thirty minutes of an assault of this type, the platformers are starting to understand what is happening to them and have armed themselves and followed whatever procedures are in place for defending their home. It all depended on how seriously the officers of the platform took jobs. From what Kizi noted as the assault unfolded the platformers officers took their jobs pretty seriously. The response to their arrival was quicker than most. Within the first couple of moments, Kizi had noticed the command deck was sending scramble frequencies to interrupt the communication of his teams. Kizi realized quickly that the old admiral was still sharp. He looked forward to having a face-to-face meeting with the admiral, when it's all said and done.

It's just a matter of time now he thought. Everything was going as planned.

"Fireteam alpha is ok" …. Check, all fourteen squads are accounted for. Shaking his head, Angelo liked to be, fashionable late with his check-ins. Kizi was convinced he did it on purpose to piss him off. If Asukari had asked, of course, he would have been the first to acknowledge the check-in. Taking a knee near a natural chokepoint, he knew the defenders would set up an ambush for them. Three quick hand gestures sent the message to the other four members. One of the members produced a small box no bigger than a cigarette box and released several small many drones. The box was designed to keep the drone systems safe from the EMP that the platformers used to shortcut any electrical devices that were not known to the system's computer.

Basic effective, but commonly overlooked platform defense strategy. Kizi thought, he was really gaining more and more respect for the commander of the platform. Many pirates used droids to do their wet work, not having the personnel to throw at a large platform. Using the EMP strategy they could cripple a boarding party's number, and hopefully most of their equipment and weapons. For a well-prepared drop team, EMP codes could be attained and synced. But of course, Griz didn't trust the codes always protected his drones in that emp-proof container until it was confirmed the codes were doing their job. Kizi admired Griz's obsession with redundancies. Information flooding Kizi's squad Heads up Display. Eight platformers were huddled around the corner with a high-powered sonic disruptor cannon. Without another word or gesture, Griz's drones attached themselves to the large piece of hardware and sprouted legs, scurrying into the seams of the machine. Once inside the drones used small crab-like pincers to cut crucial wiring, making the cannon unusable, and causing its core to overheat. Smoke billowed from the weapon smoke filled the wall way. Unholstering his scatter rifle Griz bolted towards the now smoking choke point taking the center of the corridor while the other members followed, leaving Kizi to secure the rear. The platformers were caught by surprise as the considerable bulk of Griz materialized through the smoked-up corridor, tendrils of smoke seemed to grasp him as he charged. At close range, the rifle deafening bark took down half of the platformer's ambush team. Two more members of the squad erupted from the turbulent smoke also firing their weapons. Kizi causally emerged through the now dissipating smoke and surveyed the situation. Asukari orders were clear, they were to take the platform with minimal life taken. His team did not deviate from her orders. All Eight members of the ambush team were peppered with non-lethal munitions. The projectiles used would not only hurt like hell sending most unarmored beings unconscious. The goo would expand many times its size and bind itself to its target sticking to the walls. The only problem was if the victim was shot in the face the goo could compromise their airways, even though it was designed to thin if carbon dioxide or a host of multitude of exhalants beings give out in the breathing process. The squad checked the eight platformers, then moved on down the corridor checking the doors and corners as they advanced. The command deck was just a couple of floors ahead.

Kizi looked over at his newest member, giving him the once over. B'nal checked his rifle with his two superior hands and was checking his other loadouts with his lower arms. Preaching the importance of always giving a quick check over one's gear during gaps in the action. This mindset not only insured maximum efficiency for the soldier but also for the whole of the fire team.

Check, Kizi said to himself pleased to see his new member carry out his methodology. the team seamlessly fell into formation as they continued down the corridor. The map of the platform winked into his HUD showing his team's location in relation to the other teams. All members of the 13th accounted for; all vials were looking good as expected. Kizi's thoughts floated back to the admiral, predicting his next move. As if on cue the platform's gravity went to zero. Cutting a platform's gravity strategy was used to create a small distraction to the breachers, the platformers would no doubt know when the gravity was about to be cut. This method was best used with a quick and coordinated attack, catching the breachers scrambling to find purchase in the changing environment. Platforms of this size have the capability to such off the gravity on different decks at any one given time. Since no troops spilled into the corridor to meet them, Kizi knew exactly what the admiral's intention was. He was exploring them, checking their capabilities. Two questions could be answered using such a technique, one how disciple the infiltrators are, and their equipment. He would find that the 13th was fully aware of this, once the gravity was cut the sensors on the bottom of each of their boots and the fingertips and palms of their gloves became magnetized. Allowing the team, a foothold, even if one were taken by the zero-gravity they were trained not to panic and use their gloves to attach themselves to a wall and or ceiling making that their new POV and quickly orientate themselves with the rest of the members making a new formation that would provide maximum defensive coverage for the squad. Another use of this method is to quickly turn back on the gravity in the hopes of causing injury to the team, nothing helps your cause like causing damage to an enemy before attacking them. Being tossed around a corridor like monkeys in a barrel would be another great way to gain the advantage. Even with the magnetic boots and gloves, this could cause problems.

Problems only for the incompetent and unrehearsed, Kizi thought, as his team adjusted to the increased gravity flawlessly. With a nod, they carried on, one member of the group walking on the 'ceiling' while the other members continued with the formation. The next step would be to increase the gravity, but that would be a last-ditch risk. Such a tactic could cause damage to a ship's infrastructure, and if the platformers do not have suits or other beings that could withstand the increased pressure it could backfire on the platformers.

Knowing the situation, and knowing the admiral, Kizi knew what would have to happen next.

"Get ready, they are going to increase the Grav, heavily."

The lights flickered in the corridor as the transfer of power engaged to increase the gravity. The Z defender as it was called, serenely descended from the ceiling before the increased gravity exceeded the boot's capabilities. All of the alpha team took a knee, prepared to endure the increased gravity.

Let's see, how far these platformers are willing to go. Kizi thought as the vise-like grip of gravity grabbed a hold of him like an angry giant. Integrity alerts flashed like broken traffic lights in his HUD. Frustration bubbled up from within, the want, no need to take the bridge and put a round through the ship's commander would be the only thing that would satisfy the monster within. He could fill it shift, a low growl reverberated within his skull, almost drowning out the alerts that had moved to audio alarms. Pulling himself out of his momentary rage, he looked back at the rookie, who had already had the breaching torch cradled in his inferior arms. With a nod, Kizi confirmed the action.

B'nal immediately sparked the plasma torch and opened a hole into the wall large enough for the team to crawl through.

15g the suit sensors flashed, indicating the gravity was nearing oner half of the suit's tolerance levels. 10 gravities would surlily crush most unprotected beings, ten times the amount of sol gravity would cause bones to splinter, and the blood would become this as engine sludge. Stroke and cardiac arrest would follow swiftly.

One by one his team followed the burrowing B'nal to safety. They would keep cutting until they would get to a safe floor. The platformers could only keep up this amount of energy for a limited amount of time

After breaching three decks Kizi previously asked question was answered, as he emerged from the smoldering tunnel. He saw the lifeless bodies of thirty platformers. The gravity had decreased on this level but not enough for these poor souls to escape the effects of unprotected high gravity. The gravity was a mere five g, but enough to seal the fate of these beings.

"Everybody good?", Kizi asked on the squad frequency.

"We good boss," Griz answered for them all.

"OK, you know the routine check your suit and gear, while we go. And stay sharp."

"And here I am really looking forward to being pretty dull for the rest of this event." Griz, said while going through a system check of his suit systems, and double-checking the others.

Ignoring the good-humored jab, Kizi found his thoughts had collapsed within. He would have to be better. Frustrated with himself, surprised by how easily he got distracted by the thoughts of extreme violence. How easily his thoughts went to striking down the admiral of the platform, even though he had specific orders not to do so. He had hesitated, too engulfed by rage. Even if for a moment, his rage could have, even if it wasn't likely could have led to the deaths of his squad. Comprise the mission. Comprise her vision, a vision he absolutely believed in. Not more than his religion nor his love for Allah. His faith is what kept him strong through the process of becoming a better man, a better father, husband, and soldier.

How long has it been since he spent time with his family? He thought to himself. It had to be at least three years he guessed.

I will talk to her after this assignment, I think need a break. He thought as he quickly filed that away until the end of the mission. His team needed him to be as sharp as he expected them to be.

Opening up communication to B'nal, as they continued down the darkening corridor. He waited until his icon indicated that he had his ear. Not finding it necessary to open the communication link to all the fire team, they had seen this before. As far as Kizi could tell this was B'nal first attack on a platform of this size. Kizi enjoyed picking the mind of his young members, to teach some tactics. He prided himself in the development of his team.

"Quick teaching moment B'nal."

"Did I do something, incorrect sir?" B'nal asked, a slight anxiety in his tone.

"Huh?"

"Oh no, you did very well, in fact, you already were going in the right direction by prepping the torch for wall breach. I just wanted to check to see if you understood what platformer's goal"

"To crush us, sir, to stop us from reaching our goal, which they failed," B'nal answered with confidence.

"Yes, but that was just their surface goals, I have no doubt if we were inferior borders as soon as our they would have pumped the atmosphere out of that corridor hoping to cause some of us to go surcome to the lack of breathable air, well to those of us that breath this type of atmosphere. I don't think they are totally sure who they are up against, so they have to throw tests at us, while hopefully at the same time slowing or stopping our progress.