"Assemble Scimitar" Marcos Lockheart called, taking a seat as far as possible from the pilot and his assistant.
"I'm expecting trouble" He began once the last man got close enough "You may think I'm paranoid, but this whole thing just has that vibe about it. Keep your guards up, and your weapons close to hand"
"We're professionals Marcos, you don't need to tell us what to do" Kea responded, removing his helmet briefly so as to readjust the pony tail underneath. "We've served under you for years, trouble is second nature to us"
"So is death, don't forget that"
Their leaders words cut through the squad like a knife, the ruthless nature in which he said them putting them all on edge. It had been a quiet month for the squad. Their mission two months ago ended in tragedy, two of their most senior members crushed in a vehicle pileup caused by a fumbled assination plan. All visibly shaken, they were put on leave for the next five weeks. They were then sent on a regular mission, support of a small group of regulars raiding a believed smuggling den. The whole thing was a set up, some of the gangs finest lying in wait. They escaped, but the new guy was killed in the retreats. They had gone five years without losing a man, then in two missions they'd lost three.
It hit them in different ways. Aresu simply became distant, focusing on his training more than any social interaction. He could be found on the range for anywhere between eight to ten hours a day, his already exceptional skills rising to pure perfection. Other's slacked, dodging training sessions or handing in fake doctor notes. They'd all pulled through, eventually, the fresh fear replaced slowly by drilling the practice and ruthlessness the squad were renowned for back into their heads. They stood before Marcus once again Scimitar Squad, one of the best squads any Army in the galaxy could muster. The words still hurt though.
"Be ready to get off, we should be arriving pretty soon" Marcus sighed, suddenly come over by a wave of guilt. The squad left back to their packs immediately, all except Aresu who instead decided to take a seat next to his commander.
"You're not right" He started, simply to be cut off.
"I'm fine, I'm just taken aback by all of this"
"You're not. You put so much work into bringing us back together as a squad, driving the fear from us and turning us into killing machines all over again. But you're still a mess, and you know it"
"Aresu..."
"Dont shrug me off this time, you know I'm right. You're in no shape to lead us, let me do it..."
"Aresu! Enough, get back to your pack before I throw you off this ship myself" Marcos spat, shoving Aresu along the bench with vicious force.
"You know I'm right" He repeated, before getting up and turning his back.
"You just want my job" Marcos muttered, throwing his own bag onto his lap. He had time to throw a few things uselessly around inside to make the squad believe he was doing something before the familiar whir of the landing gear emerged from below them. Followed by an unfamiliar explosion, and the whole craft lurching to the right. Several of the squad began to collapse as the right wall became the floor, those lucky enough to be on the right side attempting to grab those falling at them to avoid serious injury. The pilot hit buttons left right and centre in a vain attempt to correct the dive, before yelling back at the squad to hold onto anything they could.
The clouds broke mere seconds before the craft lost its landing gear to a nearby cliff, causing it to spin even more wildly out of control. Then, eventually, it struck the ground below, catapulting the squad forward into the wall seperating themselves and the pilot.
"Scimitar! Report!" Marcos yelled, jumping to his feet at the same time as trying to hide the surprise at being able to stand, let alone be unharmed. One by one they all called their names out and also stood up.
"Wow, guess we lucked out" Athin whistled."
"About time. What's the status of the ship?" Marcos asked.
"I don't think it's good" Syrena sighed, staring through the viewport into the pilots quarters.
"How so?"
"There's blood everywhere. Lot's of sparks too, he destroyed the windshield pretty good"
Marcos cursed under his breath before clawing his way back up to the bench to the rear doors and attempting to force them open. Aresu eventually arrived to give him a hand, and between them they managed to get the faintest gap open, barely enough for each of them to clamber through.
"Get outside and find cover, whatever shot us down will probably be arriving soon to finish the job"
