“Yeah, just got the call from the old man. He expects us back in an hour.” Sahib said.
“You know why?” Squad Leader Zhu ‘Pyro’ Zhang Wei asked.
Sahib shook his head, “No, but it looks like something happened.”
Zhu started to say something else when he tilted his head for a few seconds.
“We got to go back, Jacks is calling.” Zhu waved and him and the rest of his squad started jogging back towards the tree line. Orphans home base, Rook, was in the opposite direction of the one Platoon Wolf called home. Sahib gathered his Platoon and they started jogging back to base.
Less than an hour later they arrived, and were met by their Company Leader.
“Adin, you have half an hour to shower, change and grab something to eat, then go to the main briefing room. The rest of you do the same, then pack your stuff and get ready for deployment, you will be briefed by your Platoon Leader soon enough.” Company Leader Okoro said as soon as they entered hearing range.
Sahib removed his helmet, and approached CL Okoro.
“What’s going on CL?” Sahib asked.
“You’ll know soon enough, suffice to say we are moving out.” CL Okoro responded.
“Moving out? To where? We are all alone here.” SL Petrov asked.
“You’ll get briefed soon, now go do as I said.” CL Okoro ordered.
Lola looked like she wanted to stay and asked more questions, but Sahib stepped up to her, “Go NGD, make sure your squad is packed and ready.”
“Sure Alpha.” She responded. She turned to CL Okoro and executed a precise salute, fist to chest and then led the rest of the Platoon inside the base. When they moved out of sight, Sahib turned to his Company Leader. “This is something serious then?” He asked.
“Very.” Okoro nodded gravely.
Twenty eight minutes later Sahib entered the main briefing room, it was already filled with other Platoon Leaders, quickly he noticed that not all of Platoon’s were represented. Aeris base was home to 10 Companies, with each Company having 6 Platoons. That put their numbers at 1690 personnel with the 10 Company Leaders. The full number of people on the base, including staff and support personnel was more than 2500. Sahib sat down next to PL Mira ‘Night Owl’ Johannes. “You know anything about this?” Sahib asked.
Mira glanced at him and then returned to studying the room. “Nope.” She said.
“Surely there are rumors?” Sahib asked cheerfully. He used his “happy” voice on purpose, as he knew it irritated Mira. Sahib had always fancied her, though she wouldn’t give him the time of day. She was also older than Sahib, much older, around 100 years older. She turned back and looked at Sahib for a moment. It gave Sahib time to study her in turn, she had brown hair tied in a ponytail at her nape, brown eyes, too big nose, and crooked smile. In essence, she was the most beautiful woman Sahib ever met. Sahib took one look at her and had fallen for her, now all he had to do was make her fall for him. And Sahib could be very, very persistent.
“Of course there are rumors.” Mira said, exasperated. “Doesn’t mean we should join in with the rest of rumormongers. At least I won’t.”
Sahib just looked her in the eyes and smiled widely for a moment. Then when she shook her head and turned to look down at the podium Sahib let out a laugh. “I guess you are right” Sahib said just as Commander Gin entered, followed by Company Leader Okoro, Hughes and Mao “we will know soon anyway.” Sahib added. Mira ignored him, and kept her sight on the three men on the podium.
“I will make this short.” Commander Gin started, “There has been a development in the Nuva system, the system governed by the alien race called Nel. A force of Sowir Dominion has entered the system and is on its way towards the planet. Our leaders had decided that Olympus will provide aid. The Sowir are supposed to arrive at the planet in twenty two days. And we will be there to meet them.”
Immediately most of the Platoon Leaders started speaking amongst themselves, and then one stood and spoke. “Sir, the news concerning the alien system said that it is more than ten light years away.” He said.
“That is correct.” Commander Gin said.
“But how is that possible? It would take us more than twenty days just to reach the hyperspace barrier!” The PL said.
“I don’t know the details. The only thing I know is that the fleet plans on us arriving at Nuva nineteen days from now. Three Aeris base companies have been assigned to the First Fleet. Our orders are to land on Nuva, and help in its defense should enemy forces manage to land troops.” Commander Gin said. At that, everyone grew quiet, the prospect of actually going into battle was enough to make them speechless. Seeing that no one had any questions, or was capable of asking them at the moment, Commander Gin continued. “You will be briefed in detail about the enemy on the way. Their capabilities, know tactics and weapons. All the equipment you will need has already been sent up to the fleet. Transports will land on the base within the hour, they will transport you to the Olympia where you will be met with ships that will take you to the fleet. That is all.” Commander Gin said, and then turned and left the room, the Company Leaders following.
Sahib turned to Mira. “I guess this is it, huh.”
Mira turned and looked at him. “Yeah.” She said.
Chapter Twenty Four
Sanctuary system – Leviathan
The air pumps turned on and started pumping air back into the landing bay, in mere seconds the area was filled with the air and artificial gravity was again turned on. Then the great blast doors were raised and people started entering the landing area of the Hangar. The 4 shuttles that had just landed opened their doors and soldiers started getting out. They were the last group meant for the Leviathan, the last two platoons. Leviathan was assigned 1 company, 168 men and women. The entire fleet was assigned 3 companies in total, with the other two spread out over the fleet. There had been multiple shuttle trips, as the transport ships couldn’t dock with the Leviathan. Adrian looked down on the men and women now arriving on the Leviathan, their arrival meant that soon they would leave for the alien system. He was standing on a raised level, where chief’s offices were and looked through down through the window in the office. He didn’t have anything better to do, all the preparations were finished, and the research department was confident that they could send the entire fleet through something they called translane. The fleet had already arrived at the coordinates of the so called trans-station, the place from where they can enter the lane. Adrian didn’t understand the science behind the trans travel, save that something called trans field, along with a trans station was necessary. He knew that his ships wouldn’t be able to come back the same way, but would need to use hyperspace. The only ship fitted with the trans field generator was the Insight, a research vessel. As Adrian understood it, Insight would project the trans field inside the station where the fleet would be, opening the lane, and sending all ships inside the station through. Insight itself would remain behind, as it won’t be in the area affected.
Adrian saw that there was no more people getting off the shuttles, and that the shuttles started closing their doors getting ready to leave. The soldiers were met by Adrian’s chief of security, Marie Thorne then sent them to the area assigned to the soldiers. Seeing the last of them disappearing through the doorway, Adrian turned and went to the elevator taking it up to the command deck. He entered the Command Center and went to his place in the command chair. Paul and the rest of the Command crew were already there. He checked the fleet readiness on his board, then seeing that all ships reported ready, he turned to Paul.