Engineer Corps 2nd div: Lambs to the slaughter

[ntsheep]

As usual she found him where he always was at lunch time. In the repair bay working on suits, sentries, weapons, armor. Anything to work on, he was there. Their Leviathans and gear were also stored here. Seems like they spent most of their time here when not getting sleep or doing drills. She walked over to the small table he was sitting at. His eyes were closed which meant he was either asleep or looking for something in his memory.

“So Setenph did you here about those others that survived the attack? The Soldier Dalan, Major Luthor, and Captain,, Captain,,, what's his name.” finished Cassie.

His eyes opened and fixed on her. The look on her face at her not being able to remember something told Setenph now was the perfect time to strike.

“Captain What's his Name, isn't he related to Princess What's her Name?” he said with a smile.

“God damn it stop that! Is that one your lame video game jokes. Why is it that your lineage seems to remember nothing but ancient cartoons and games. You could have been a Captain yourself by now, instead your just a Chief Engineer. Your battle scores every year for the annual test are always in the top five percent,,,” she paused.

Setenph was laughing, but he also remembered. Deep in the back of his mind. He would never forget. He shut those doors. He didn't know if they would survive or not but he did know that others wouldn't had he not shut the doors. He was glad he didn't have to live with their deaths and that those after him wouldn't either.

“Arggg, you make me so mad.” she yelled.

Setenph enjoyed teasing her, and he knew she enjoyed it even though she wouldn't admit it.

“So what do you want Flame Princess? Have a seat before you start shaking from anger and drop your lunch.” he said.

Cassie's cheeks got almost as red as the flames she fired from her incinerator.

“Stop calling me Flame Princess. God, I swear,,,”

“A lady shouldn't swear.” Setenph interrupted.

She grew red again,

“Your an asshole you know that.” she said, “Why won't they give me a transfer. If I have to deploy one more time with you,,,”

The alarms went off, the emergency lights flashed, the intercoms chimed,

“All hands to battle stations. Xeno pod located on Galantia Cross. All hands to battle stations.”

“Off I go to court my death,” Setenph started saying as he got up and grabbed his gun.

“Not poetry again!” Cassie moaned. She also started getting her gear on.

“To savor a kiss with one last breath, to look the Devil right in the eye, and flash a smile when I die.” Setenph continued.

Cassie shook her head. She would never understand this strange man she thought to herself. It seemed they had played this scene out hundreds of time. Would they make it back again or would this be the last time. With that thought she turned and looked at Setenph,

“If we make it back, before I beat the living crap out of you,”

“Yeeeesss?” said Setenph as they climbed into their Leviathans

“Could you tell me the rest of that poem.”

They powered up and ran to the dropship bay.

[ntsheep]

The 2nd Engineer Division was made up mostly of engineers, scouts, and a few hydras. They had no commanding officer. Their roll was to back up and supply the front line squads. When a Captain or other commander called for reinforcements, they responded. They held fairly high esteem among all the other Templars because of their ability to jump into the fray and come out swinging. Setenph was a legend with his ability to control six sentry turrets at once. He would set them up in an hexagon pattern around tactical points or whatever needed defending and nothing could get through. Cassie was his backup and together they made a devastating pair. They were known to be able to rush an enemy position and within minutes take it under control. Another frequent teammate was the scout Johnathan Jennings. Everyone just called him JJ for short. The man was a ghost. Most never saw him coming until it was too late. Major Luthor had called them for a special mission. While the main squads were at the capitol of Galantia Cross, several smaller squads had been dispatched to handle xeno pods that were falling from orbit near some mining outposts. One called Tundeer had already fallen. The Major wasn't about to let anymore fall also.

“So what's the plan boss?” said JJ looking at Setenph.

“Were going to meet up with some of the FDF and clean out a small refinery. Watch your targets Cassie. We might go boom if you hit the wrong thing.” replied Setenph.

“Since when have I ever missed a shot. Your just lucky I'm here to cover your ass.” she said.

“I have boxers for that thank you.” Setenph said with a smirk.

“Get ready, I'm doing a touch and go,” said the pilot from the front, “as soon as you're out the door I'm off.”

“Roger, roger.” replied Setenph in a strange robotic voice.

“Your voice system acting up?” asked JJ.

“No he's just being a smartass.” Cassie said.

“By the way I got my external speakers working again so we can listen to music during the fun. Check out this song.” said Setenph.

I've been working on the railroad
All the live-long day.

“You're such an oddball,” said Cassie as she shook her head.

[ntsheep]

The dropship was flying low to the ground. Once they came up over the hill ahead, they would be at the small mineral refinery. The pilot received a transmission from the FDF and yelled back to everyone,

“Just got word from the HQ. A six man tactical squad went in and their holding off as best they can. They got a few survivors out, one stayed behind to help though.”

“What good would that do?” asked JJ.

The ship crested the hill and they could see the facility. An armored transport was parked next to a TP. Five FDF soldiers were around it. The sixth must have been operating the turret gun on top. What caught everyone attention the most though was the huge hulk in the center of a group of xenos.

“Is that what I think it is?” said Cassie.

“Holy shit!” yelled JJ.

Setenph smiled,

“Ladies and gentlemen, I present a relic among relics. The Mk I mining leviathan.”

With a long pipe that they swung like a club a small group of scitters was sent flying through the air. The pilot then charged at a predator and impaled it. With a mighty swing it was sent flying into another group of xenos. The FDF soldiers were quick to focus their fire on the wounded xenos the leviathan had attacked. They were holding there own, but Setenph could see more coming out of the pod that was nearby. They would be overrun soon.

“Can you swing this thing around and use the jet wash to blow those xenos back?” he asked the pilot.

“Sure piece of cake, it'll take a little longer to land though.” the pilot replied.

“Just get low enough for us to jump out. We'll handle the rest.” Setenph said.

“I like your style.” said the pilot with a huge grin as he began to maneuver the ship to pull this crazy idea off.

Setenph turn to look at Cassie and JJ,

“Ok folks were doing a plop and drop. Set your stabilizers to max and get ready to hit the ground running.”

“What about your turrets?” said Cassie as she point a large crate.

“Don't worry the table broke the fall.” replied Setenph.

“Why do I even bother.” moaned Cassie.

“Because you love him?” offered JJ.

Cassie was never so happy that her face could not be seen at that moment. She knew she was red in the face. A loud thunk followed by a ringing was heard through the cabin as she used her free hand to slap JJ in the head.

“You keep your comments to yourself, it's bad enough I have to deal with his.” Cassie said.

“Now now, settle down children.” scolded Setenph playfully.

The dropship tilted suddenly to one side,

“Get ready, I'm opening the door now. You have about fifth-teen feet to drop. Happy hunting guys.” yelled the pilot.