Chapter – 14: Archaic Endeavours

Prospera,

Aboard the Enterprise,

14:00 hours,

The vastness of space, once filled with the din of battle, now lay eerily silent as the once-mighty Virelian fleet had retreated to a distant corner of the system. 

In their wake, the USS Enterprise, accompanied by its armada of planetary assault carriers, settled into Prospera's geostationary orbit, poised for the operation's next phase.

Admiral Munsch stood at the helm, his gaze fixed on Prospera's surface blanketed in snow, its harsh conditions notorious throughout the United States, save for the more temperate equatorial region where the capital Nova Heights was situated.

Soon a transmission from the Rigel interrupted his contemplation as Ayame's voice crackled through, calmly stating "Admiral Munsch, this is Ayame. Phase 3 is now operational. Commence orbital insertions."

With a rough yet resolute voice, Admiral Munsch responded swiftly, "Acknowledged. We'll commence preparations immediately."

The transmission ended with a crisp click, and without missing a beat, he commanded, "All hands, ready for insertion. Let's demonstrate the mettle of American steel!"

Cheers echoed throughout the Enterprise as crew members hustled, ensuring the orbital shock pods were primed and ready. The rhythmic hum of machinery and the clatter of tools filled the air as the pods began charging.

As the final checks were being made on the pods, the unmistakable presence of the US Orbital drop shock troopers became evident. 

Marching into the launch bay, they were a sight to behold in their cutting-edge powered exosuits. These suits, designed for rapid deployment and high mobility, were perfect for swift assaults and securing enemy positions. The gleam of their armour reflected the overhead lights as their movements showcased their elite training.

Lieutenant Carter, the leader of the ODST unit, approached Admiral Munsch. Saluting perfectly, he reported, "Sir, ODSTs are prepped and ready for deployment. Awaiting your orders."

Admiral Munsch nodded, his gaze sweeping over the elite soldiers. "Very well, Lieutenant. Once we're in position, you and your team will spearhead the assault. We're counting on your expertise to secure the initial landing zones."

Carter's face remained stoic, but a hint of pride shone in his eyes. "Understood, Admiral. We won't let you down."

With a final salute, Lieutenant Carter turned on his heel, heading towards the launch pods. Meanwhile, Admiral Munsch made his way to the CIC, ready to initiate Operation Hammer & Anvil.

Upon entering the bay, Lieutenant Carter was greeted by his squad, Samuel Lensky, a tall, blonde-haired young man, and Bernadette Campbell, a petite yet robust woman with raven-black hair in her late 20s.

Both greeted Carter with a nod, as their faces lit up in anticipation and nervousness since the tight confines of the pod could either become their grave or their next step, having relied on the others in countless operations before.

"Ready for another drop, Lieutenant?" Samuel asked, adjusting the straps on his gear.

Bernadette, checking her weapon's chamber, smirked saying, "Hope you've got a good landing spot picked out, Carter. I'd hate to ruin these boots."

With a playful scowl, Carter inquired, "Where are the twin troublemakers? Did they decide to sleep through this one too?"

Samuel chuckled and nodded, replying, "Those two managed to sleep through the briefing. Last I heard, the Admiral was giving them a piece of his mind. They'll be here any minute."

Carter rolled his eyes, recalling the countless times the twins, Leo and Owen, had landed the team in hot water with their antics. As the youngest members of the squad, their mischief often resulted in Carter facing the brunt of their victims' anger, from stern reprimands to fist fights. He shivered slightly, those memories still fresh in his mind.

Not long after, the unmistakable duo sauntered in, their usual unapologetic demeanour on full display as one of the twins, his brown hair tousled, waved energetically, calling out, "Hey, boss man! What's the hold-up?"

Carter frowned, his irritation evident. "Get in, both of you. We're about to launch."

The twins exchanged a cheeky grin before hopping into their designated drop pods. Swiftly, they buckled themselves in and donned the necessary oxygen masks, preparing for the high-velocity descent.

The blare of alarms echoed throughout the bay, signalling the crew to clear out in preparation for depressurisation as the countdown initiated, the group held their breaths.

"5," the automated voice began as the light dimmed and Bernadette clasped her hands, whispering a silent prayer for their safe return.

"4." Carter tightened his grip, mentally preparing for the intense pressure that would soon envelop them.

"3." The twins, momentarily sobered from their usual antics, inhaled deeply, centring themselves for the mission ahead.

"2." Samuel, with a determined look, murmured, "Semper fi," as the clamps securing the pods began to disengage.

"1. Launch."

With the final command echoing in their ears, the pods catapulted into the vast void, making a beeline for Prospera's frosty terrain. Each was precision-targeted to touch down near the Virelian stronghold, adjacent to the haunting crater, where the ruins of the once-thriving capital lay after being ruthlessly glassed. The icy expanse beneath them, bearing the scars of battles gone by, braced for their descent.

…

At the same time, 

Rigel,

The Rider Squadron swiftly returned to the Rigel after a limited pursuit of the Virelian cruisers. As they disembarked, Mariya flung her visor helmet to the ground in frustration, her face flushed red. "Damn it! We let those bastards get away!"

Karl and Hui Ling approached her, their faces glistening with sweat from the intense battles as Karl clapped her on the back, trying to offer comfort "We gave it our best shot, Mariya. Those Virelians warships are too slippery."

Hui Ling, not one to often voice her feelings, added in her deadpan voice, "They won't be able to evade us forever. We'll have another shot at them."

Mariya exhaled deeply, attempting to regain her composure. "I know. It's just... we were so close."

Recognising Mariya's distress, Hui Ling approached and softly patted her head in an uncharacteristic gesture of tenderness. Mariya responded by drawing Hui Ling into a heartfelt hug.

As the group settled down, stretching out after being confined to their Rider cockpits for a gruelling six hours, Zephyr entered the bay flanked by Ayame and Aria as they walked towards Mariya, Karl, and Hui Ling.

The group swiftly rose to salute Zephyr, but he waved them off, saying, "At ease. We need you rested for what's coming next."

Mariya shot him a quizzical look. "What's next? I thought we were done for the time being."

Before Zephyr could answer, Aria stepped in with a calm expression stating. "The Virelian occupation forces remain on Prospera. Given our unexpected advantage, we've decided to advance the invasion."

Mariya's eyes sparkled with anticipation as she impulsively grasped Zephyr's shoulders, bringing her face close to his. "When do we leave?"

Struggling slightly under her grip, Zephyr responded, "We're sortieing in an hour, near the Horizon Crater. Now, can you let go?"

Karl and Ayame intervened, gently pulling Mariya away from Zephyr. With a triumphant grin replacing her earlier despondency, she declared, "Those alien bastards might have slipped away last time, but this round, there'll be no escape."

Straightening his uniform, Zephyr shot Mariya a wry smile. "That's the spirit," he remarked. "But keep in mind, you'll be collaborating with the army this time. Let's aim for coordination over aggression."

Mariya rolled her eyes playfully. "Understood, Captain. I'll play nice." She paused, smirked and said. "But those Virelians won't know what hit them."

Zephyr's gaze shifted to Karl, who stood confidently next to Mariya saying "Captain, I'll ensure she doesn't act impulsively again, like that time with the Courbet rescue."

Mariya shot Karl an outraged look. "Really? Calling me out like that?"

Karl, feigning fear, quickly stepped behind Zephyr, using him as a shield from Mariya's glare. Zephyr chuckled, "Alright, you two, save the antics for the Virelians. We have a mission to prep for."

"Sir, yes, sir!" the trio responded in unison, offering a playful salute before heading off to gear up and prepare for the upcoming mission.

Zephyr watched them go, shaking his head with a hint of amusement. "Those three," he murmured to Ayame, who stood beside him.

Ayame chuckled, "They might be a handful, but they're the best we've got."

Zephyr nodded in agreement. "Let's just hope their enthusiasm translates to success on the ground."

As the bay doors closed behind the departing trio, the ship's intercom buzzed to life, signalling the beginning of the next phase as the Rigel was about to dive into its final proving grounds.

…

Prospera,

Horizon Crater,

14:40 hours

The drop pods touched down at the boundary of the glassed terrain, their hatches hissing open to release their occupants into the lush forests of Prospera.

Lieutenant Carter emerged first, staggering slightly, still disoriented from the rough landing, as he quickly scanned his surroundings for any enemies as the other pods began to release their hatches.

To their relief, the immediate vicinity was eerily silent, bordered by a shimmering, glassed wasteland on one side and a thick boreal forest on the other.

Bernadette soon joined Carter, walking up to him as she peered into the distance. "Carter," she inquired, "where's the enemy base we're supposed to capture?"

With a nod, Carter activated his Augmented Battle Visor, bringing up a map highlighting their objectives and relative location. He pointed northwest, deep into the forest. "Our target lies there," he said, marking the spot on the display.

Navigating through the verdant forest, the team observed a peculiar adaptation among some plants, as near the edge of the glassed terrain, certain trees and shrubs had taken on a crystalline, glass-like texture instead of their typical wooden one.

Bernadette, running her fingers over a shimmering leaf, remarked, "Nature always finds a way, doesn't it? Even in the face of such devastation."

Carter nodded, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "It's a testament to resilience. But stay sharp; this forest might hold more surprises than just glassy plants."

The twins, adept in close-quarters combat and equipped with powered daggers, paved the way slicing through the dense underbrush and guiding the team towards the northern clearing where the terrain transitioned to a more arid landscape.

Emerging from the forest, Carter abruptly raised his hand, signalling, "Wait!" He motioned for the squad to take cover within the tree line.

The team swiftly positioned themselves behind trees, with Samuel taking point, flicking the safety off his assault rifle and scanning the plains for potential threats.

Peering through the enhanced zoom of his augmented visor, Carter spotted an incongruous sight, a genuine bastion fort, star-shaped, as if plucked straight from the 18th Century, but with what appeared to be plasma lances mounted at its corners.

"What the hell?" the squad visibly gasped as they looked at such an anachronistic construction, having anticipated modern fortifications like the ones used by Earth Countries for their conflicts.

Carter turned to Bernadette, urgency in his voice. "Are comms online?"

She shook her head, explaining, "No, there's too much interference from the space battle since the Virelians launched their Aegis orbs, which are essentially EMPs."

He exhaled in frustration, mentally chiding himself for the oversight. "Alright, since we can't assault a fort in broad daylight, let's review the plan once more."

The team swiftly gathered, setting up camp and projecting a holo map from their backpacks.

Bernadette marked a dot on the map, indicating the fort. "That's our target!" she declared.

Samuel, nodding in agreement, proposed with enthusiasm, "We'll have the twins scale the walls and open the small passage door to the gates."

The twins responded with a thumbs-up, arms crossed in pride, acknowledging the plan.

Carter then took the lead, pointing to a large antenna within the fort's confines. "Neutralizing their comms is our primary objective. If possible, we'll also utilise the plasma lances to target other encampments in the vicinity."

Bernadette's eyes scanned the holo map and chimed in, "Once inside, we need to secure the main control room. If they have any automated defences or security protocols, that's where we'll shut them down."

Samuel, adjusting his gear, added, "We should be prepared for close-quarters combat. The fort's design suggests tight corridors and limited visibility. We'll need to rely on our training and instincts."

Leo, one of the twins, smirked, "Sounds like our kind of party. Tight spaces, and lots of enemies. Just how we like it."

Owen, the other twin, grinned in agreement, "Yeah, and if things get too heated, we've got our powered daggers to cool things down."

Carter, while appreciating their enthusiasm, cautioned, "Stay sharp and stick to the plan. We don't know what surprises this fort might have in store, and we can't afford any mistakes."

Gazing at the setting sun, Carter declared, "Ready up. We move at dusk."

A unified "Yes, Sir" resonated from the team as they meticulously checked their weapons and began preparations to set up camp, intending to rest for the upcoming hours.

…

TBC