Exosquad Saga 2

by Kyle Golson

Disclaimer
Episode 1: End of the Beginning
Episode 2: Guilt and Consequences
Episode 3: Deliverance
Episode 4: Rising Point, part 1
Episode 5: Rising Point: Part 2
Episode 6: Rising Pt, part 3
Episode 7: Rising Pt, part 4
Episode 8: Starting Gate
Episode 9: Starting Gate pt 2
Episode 10: Starting Gate pt 3
Episode 11: Battle Ready
Episode 12: Run and Gun
Episode 13: Inside Game
Episode 14: Stand Off
Episode 15: Fear Realized
Episode 16: Courage Over Fire
Episode 17: Courage Over Fire
Informational Interlude
Episode 18: First Contact part 1
Episode 19: First Contact part 2
Episode 20: Station Break

Disclaimer

I will be going out on a limb on this line of story telling of the Exosquad story.

These new stories of the Exosquad Saga ignore the events just right after the retaking of Earth from the Neosapiens and Phaeton's oppressive regime (As much as I hate to say it, but the alien ship looked kind of corny....looking like fish w/ no style at all).

This new version is fast-forwarded 35 years after the 'Terran-Neosapien War' (In the story it will be referred to as 'The War')which cost over a billion Terran and Neo lives. The Exofleet has disintegrated into a military force that has many disturbing secrets and involves itself in many 'black box' perations (Remind you of the CIA). Definitely not the knight in shining armor it was during The War.

Here are some events happening simultaneously in the setting. -Revolutionaries are fighting the oppressive Martian Confederacy. The Rebels are looked at as 'terrorists' by the other Homeworlds, but the Confederacy seems to have some secrets of their own.

-The terra forming of Mercury for a new Neosapien government not connected to the Empire of The War. It's pretty much the same as Venus, except with a stronger ozone layer to protect it from the sun.

-Newly 'Japanimation' like e-frame designed for space conflict are replacing the older ones that won The War.

Cast of Characters

Marko Jax-son of Nara Burns Jax, the war hero on Venus. Leader of Able Squad Born an invelid, he didn't start speaking until the age of 9. He's another born leader(like someone else we know) from his experiences in the Jump Troop department even though he's 27 years. At the beginning of the Saga he's on trial for disobeying orders in order to save children on Mars from certain death. In the process 2 others w/ him got killed in the attempt. More details are to be provided later.

Alice Norretti-taken from The War, her premature death was a year into The War while on a mission w/ Marsh, De Leon, and Marsala to earth to acquire data on the GRAF shield; her chute didn't open and her pod crash landed on the ground. 2 years later her DNA from the crash site was used to create a Neo female with a human shell. She was sent to Venus to assassinate Admiral Winfield. Her frame was supposedly destroyed with her in it. Instead she bailed and fearing for her life went deep into the Venetian forest lands. Due to her Neo organs, Norretti is 35 years old and still retains the same appearance as when she was first introduced in the first series. More detail to be provided later.

Bradley Erikson- from Mercury. A humorous guy, and often very sarcastic, for every situation, including the not-so-good ones. His expertise is the genius ability to fix and repair virtually anything, and in some cases make it even better. His humor shines through w/ the yellow happy face on the right shoulder of his frame.

Singh Mummad(name subject to change)-from India she is the first Middle Eastern woman to be assigned a sergeants position in Exofleet history, especially at the are of 25 years. She very defensive about her culture since she had to have her hair cut in order to avoid having it interfere in combat. She is very cool under fire.

Larcen Maddax-a fully blooded pirate by birth, as seen be the tattoo of a skull on his left bicep administered to him at birth. He has vicious mood swings and can barely be tolerated by is own Able Squad. As later it is learned that this behavior is not pertained to the pirate's stereotypical afflictions back on planet Chaos. More details to be provided later in the Saga.

Praxis-a Neo cloned just to be a soldier at the tail end of The War when earth was retaken. After The War the cloning of Neos ended (a crime now punishable by death) after the last brood was produced with the ability to bear children. He joined the Exofleet Reserves full time in order to have something to do. When thrown into this conflict down in the story he as some deep dark secrets that are uncovered.

Dimitri Maximoff-Russian, though with a heavy an accent, can speak English. Also he can speak Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, and ten other foreign languages fluently as the intelligence officer of Able Squad. He is very apprehensive about his opinions about how his comrades think of him since Russia, even centuries later, is still politically unstable.

Jenna Rengard-an orphan all her life, all she has is her name and a DNA scan that tells her she's approximately 22 years old. She's rough, tough, and ready to go in combat. She's very edgy, especially when talking about the 'terrorists' from Mars after losing her fellow cadets in a terrorist attack. More detail will be provided later.

One more is certain to join....But that's later in the story.

Be sure and give it a chance!

Email responses to magneto47@hotmail.com

Note: To understand Exosquad Saga 2, you must read the first disclaimer. Then enjoy.

Episode 1: End of the Beginning

"I'll raise you 3." Barrington said as he slapped his chips down on the metal deck.

"I heard you and I'll give five." Jenna said convincingly.

Mason looked too distressed to go, "Too rich for my blood. I fold." A lost of 4 chips, not a lot.

Yoshii looked at he cards again, "I'm not going to let you get away w/ this again! Seven!"

Barrington looked at Karra. The Neo was about about to make his selection. But then again, he was thinking about something. "Eight." The each chip danced on the deck.

"Read 'em and weep again boys and girls!" Barrington's cards were on the deck. A full house...again. Jenna cussed. Yoshii sighed. Karra remained silent and got up.

Yoshii, the Exofleet Academy cadet chosen as student commander of the Signa, went to the control room far less than 5 sec, then came right back out again.

"I'd like to thank you all for your very charitable donations", Barrington gloated. "These funds will go to a very worthy cause."

Mason grabbed another can of soda and cracked it open. "Like your ex-girlfriend Wendy that took you for everything you had? She was uglier than you jumpshot!"

"Don't remind me! I'm still traumatized."

Yoshii came out again, giving a deep yawn.

Barrington look up at the student commander of the ship. "*Commander* Yoshii, why check the controls, there's nothing on this ship."

The Signa was nothing more than a garbage truck. Packing the cargo bay was old old E-frames. Most of them didn't even work, worn from the wear and tear of The War.

"I don't know", Yoshii yawned again, "something to do besides losing money to you."

Barrington laughed, then turned to Karra, looking out the window, "What's going on outside Karra?"

"Nothing Barrington. Nothing." Karra's answers were always short and sweet.

Yoshii wiped the sweat off of her forehead. "Must be close to the sun."

Jenna looked up, "Do you those framed from the Exofleet R+D department can do what the higher ups say they're capable of?"

"What?" Mason took another gulp and can went into the trash bin. "Make these old frames from The War a memory?"

"With the presence of these new frames, these ones should become obsolete." Karra quoted.

Barrington got up to turn up the air conditioning, which unfortunately was at max performance, "Karra you're too technical. All we're doing is a garbage run, a mandatory Level 1 exercise required of all Exofleet Academy students at least once. The cargo bay will reach about 110*; we release the trash into the sun, then we turn back around and go back to Mercury."

"110*?!!!" Jenna screamed.

"Yes Jenna, 110*." Barrington answered. "Didn't you read the manual before taking off. It's supposed to be a light simulation of a heated combat terrain."

"On making a garbage dump? Why waste my time?"

"What about those terrorists of Mars?" Mason took a seat on the cargo bay steps.

"Way to go Mason. Just ruin a particularly horrid situation to make it worse!" Yoshii yelled. "I'm going back into the control room, it's cooler and less stupid comments."

"Not in this performance run." Barrington started up toward the 80* and rising control room. "Besides, these frames are about as worthless as....."

The Signa rocked and rolled suddenly. The deck jumped horridly, making everyone take a tumble. More shockwaves.

"WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!!!" Yoshii rushed out, running for the weapons storage.

"Attack?" Jenna stood up and composed herself.

"Cloaked ship, right on top of us." Yoshii jammed the weapons compartment open. "Radar was silent until they showed up. Everyone grab a gun and run to the airlock, let's welcome our's new visitors to the Signa!"

Everyone had a fusion rifle and a place to set up. This was the real thing.

"Jenna, turn this ship around and get a distress signal out!", Yoshii yelled out the orders quickly, "And then get back here!"

The Signa stopped rocking. The airlock was being knocked apart. These terrorists wanted the cargo.

"These yahoos want junk?" Mason yelled.

"Shut up and watch the door!"

The cargo bay door gave way. A figure came rushing in firing.

Very poor mistake. Karra easily mowed the figure down with one shot.

More came in, and the cadets started to really let the attackers have it. The charge stopped. The cadets had held their ground.

A small object was tossed in the bay from the airlock.

"Fusion GRENADE!!!!" Barrington rolled back.

The cadets dropped back as the grenade opened. The blast force them back. Unfortunately, the force caught Mason and threw him into the air and into the wall before falling onto the floor face first. The dent in the metal wall was evidence that Mason had played his last game of poker.

The attackers came in, the cadets unable to take the incoming forces. A fusion grenade came out of the control room and into the airlock. The second blast sent 3 of the enemy into the air. 1 hit the wall. 1 hit the ceiling. 1 caught the blast itself. 3 lives for Mason avenged.

The cadets hid among the frames. They were trained for this situation. One of the enemy was lurking among the frame. The soldier was a woman. Karra didn't care. He pulled her back from behind. Snap. Crackle. Pop! The female soldier hit the floor hard. Karra moved on.

Yoshii jumped behind 2 attackers. 1 shot for each. Fire from behind. Barrington had hopped on a frame to cover his fellow classmate. Another fusion grenade came out of the airlock. The shrapnel caught Yoshii in the shoulder. Jenna came out and threw her undercover. Barrington was mortally wounded from the blast, but kept on firing, catching another unfortunate soul in the torso.

Karra had caught 2 more from behind, both necks broken effortlessly. He ran to Yoshii and Jenna pulling them back. He also managed to reach back and grab Barrington. The poker expert had lost a ton of blood. Still he tried to get up. No such luck this time. He died in Karra's arms after saving Yoshii's life.

"The ship's turning around, the distress signal sent!" Jenna whispered. "The Argon's on its way. Be here in 1 hour."

"1 hour?" Yoshii wanted to shout. She turned to see Karra's rifle pointed right at her. "Karra?"

A shot came out.

The attacker sneaking from behind was blown back into the wall.

Karra turned around to see a soldier about to throw another fusion grenade. As much as he hated to do it, Karra lifted Barrington's corpse into the air. The soldier took the full it in the head with grenade in hand. The blast destroyed both bodies.

"Jenna, Karra, you've got to get to the escape pods, get out and warn the Argon." whispered Yoshii.

"The terrorists will blow us up if we make it to the pods if the sun doesn't get us first." Jenna stressed, "We're better off staying here, fighting."

"We're far enough from the sun that you won't get fried. I'm too wounded to make the trip. I have to set the self destruct system." Yoshii strained, the pain from the piece of shrapnel in her shoulder was making her irritable. "The E-frames must not fall into terrorist hands!"

Most of the soldier came in firing. Karra turned around to return the favors. "I'll cover you both, GO!!"

Yoshii and Jenna ran to the control room. "Take the camera records, tell Exofleet about the terrorists."

Both looked behind them. Karra was wounded but still firing. Yoshii had given her final command as she jumped into the control room. Jenna sobbed as she got into the pod. A push of a button sent her out in a cold space.

She looked behind her. A ship of equal size was attached to the Signa.

"Com'n Yoshii, get out!"

The next minute seemed like an eternity.

The a bright light came forth. The blast took both ships apart. The pod was rocked away from the explosion.

Sensors showed no pod with Yoshii in it.

Barrington Chase.

Mason King.

Yoshii Higamo.

Karra.

They died protecting junk.

The terrorists would pay, and pay they would.

Note: To understand Exosquad Saga2, you must read the 1st disclaimer. The enjoy.

Episode 2: Guilt and Consequences

"Grendiev, Harron, move your pretty little feet before you lose 'em!" Sgt. Marko Jax grilled to the both of them still alive.

The gunnery machine had been occupied as Grendiev, Harron, and Jax snuck up to the back door. There was nothing like taking out a terrorist weapons compound.

"Got 'em." Grendiev jumped behind the worried guard and turn his neck about 90* to the right. The crack sound was all in his head.

"Fire in the hole!" Grendiev dived back after slamming a mine on the back door. Kaboom!!! The door was totally destroyed.

Harron pointed into the complex. "Clear!"

Jax and Grendiev crashed in, with Harron following.

Being an Exofleet Jumptroop was totally exhilarating.

The complex had several soldiers firing out. Jax spun around to knock out the gunnery personnel.

"Fox....this is Jackrabbit! Request back up!" Jax yelled into his comlink.

There were very little weapons in the place. Grendiev turned around a corner and was shocked to see what the view was.

"Jax!"

Jax had to turn around.

"They're children in here!!!"

Jax rushed around. Children. Innocent children.

"Harron...radio Fox!! Tell them to hold their fire. Children in here."

Jax turned around. The terrorists has stopped firing outside. A woman with scars on her cheeks rushed around. Jax almost put her down with 1 shot to the head.

"Get the children out!!!" she yelled. "At least get the children out!!!"

"Jackrabbit this is Fox!! Orders are to eliminate all persons within the complex!" Harron's comlink reported.

Jax nearly went out of his mind.

"But the children!" Grendiev shouted. "We can't just butcher them like this!"

The firing outside stopped. The little children of all races huddled together, literally scarred to death. The 3 jumptroops stoop lifeless as they wondered what to do next.

Harron's face went white. "Another frequency! Orbital gunnery ship above! They're going to level the whole complex!"

Jax's mind caught fire. "Move the children out through the back door, NOW!!!"

"What about the soldiers outback?" Grendiev looked worried.

"We'll cover them." Harron's face went another shade of white. "Fire on our own comrades?"

Jax cocked his fusion rifle. "You want to have these children's lives on your conscience?"

"Okay Jax", Grendiev slammed another clip into her rifle. "I'm game."

Harron couldn't believe what in God's name was going on. "But our comrades!"

"We'll fire above their heads and try not to hit any of them." Jax headed to the open door and leaned against its side, "I'm not going to kill children just to get at rebels."

Harron finally came to a decision. "I can't believe I'm actually going to do this!"

The woman gathered the children together. They stuck together like glue. "Thank you."

"Just run for the manhole and don't stop for anything!" Jax peeked around the door to the outside.

Grendiev started raising cain outside. Other jumptroops went to the ground and rolled for cover. None of them took a shot.

Jax and Harron started to follow suit. The woman and her children rushed to the open manhole. The outside jumptroops wouldn't remain pinned down for long. The kids tumbled in. Finally made it.

"Forgot about the....."

The sky lit up. One side of the complex went up from the orbital guns above the Martian airspace. Jax was out side.

The air....the air.

It was like replaying the 9th inning of a baseball game. Jax, being held in a Venetian stockade, with daily visits from his mother and family. Sgt. Marko Jax was in limbo.

Anna Grendiev.

Jerad Harron.

Lost fighting their own comrades to save children.

____

Sgt. Marko Jax's case was lucky enough to have been moved to Venus, his home planet. The court martial would have him hanged...at best. He had fired on his own comrades. He had convinced 2 other under his command to do the same. Children or no children. Right or wrong. Among his peers....it was an unforgivable crime.

Sleep was out of the question.

Jax sweated most of the night. Something was wrong. Very wrong. Level a building on top of 11 children to get at 7 terrorists. Something wasn't right.

The detention cell door opened. Jax looked up from his bed to see a body roll in. It was Curdly, the guard of the stockade area. He was still breathing.

"Lucky for him", one of the men in Exofleet uniform said. "No need to kill too many people now would we."

Marko Jax strained through the light to see who came for him. The figure came closer and closer. Jax readied his fist to start fighting right away.

"No need to do that." An electrode shot right into Jax's chest.

It was a shocking experience. Literally.

____

The world produced light again, the pain in Jax's chest still strong as ever. A small craft screamed across the forest land of Venus.

"Awake, I see." A guy sitting across from Jax was cleaning his blaster. "I bet you were wishing you were dead."

Jax's eyes focused on the figure, a tall man looking for a brush to finish the job.

"Why am I here?" Jax sat up, finding out simply he had cuffs on his hands behind him.

"Simply," the man put the blaster back together again, "because you know too much."

"About what, who are you?

"Might as well get friendly since you're going to die soon." The man holstered his weapon. "Name's Agler." He held his hand out as if to shake Jax's cuffed hands.

Jax spit on Agler's hand of friendship.

Agler took it back, stared at the saliva wad for a couple of seconds, then wiped it off on his jacket.

"Okay Sgt. Marko Jax." Agler sat down to look at the prisoner in the eye. "You going to be taken out to Merid Clearing. Shot. Then laid to rest where nobody will ever find your corpse again."

"If I'm so worthless, "Jax adjusted himself, "then why come and collect me now?

"Like I said, you know too much."

"What?"

"Do you really care dead man?"

Jax got meaner, "No, I'm try to win prizes on Jeopardy."

Agler sat back and started to appease Jax's growing personality. "I'm part of Eagle's Eye. We just keep the peace among the Martian Government. Those terrorist are dangerous."

"You went in to secure the Greenmen complex as the gunnery was diverted toward the main force. We knew about the children in the complex"

Jax's face went blank.

Agler sat up and went further.

"It was imperative that we apprehend Estaban Martinez, the infamous mercenary. He's been a thorn in the government side for years. Basically, the saying was 'by any means necessary."

Jax remained shocked. "But were you even sure has was there? At satellite count there were only 4 to 5 soldiers in the complex."

"Couldn't take the chance of him escaping. Now how would it sound if the Exofleet found out that they were fed false info and killed a slew of children?"

"The Martian Government would look like animals."

"War takes no prisoners." Looking down then straight at Jax.

"Another thing about Martinez..." Agler started again. "was evidence about the attack on the Signa.

"The one w/ the death of 4 Exofleet Academy cadets?"

"Yes." Agler chuckled. "An Eagle's Eye elimination team was sent in to kill the cadets and have the rebels take the blame in trying to acquire used E-frames."

"But one escaped."

"All the better. That survivor made the situation even more convincing than the security tapes." Agler smiled. "What a shame though. The cadets turned out to more combat ready. Even managed to blow the Eagle's ship along with the Signa."

Jax's face boiled with anger. The Martian Confederacy were using the Homeworlds Council and the Exofleet to gain power. He burned with rage, and Agler could see it. The executive of Eagle's Eye stood up and walked to the cockpit.

"ETA gentlemen. It's almost time to drop of the package."

"About another hour Agler." The left man answered. "Trying to stay under radar."

Agler didn't answer, just turning around and going back to the cargo bay.

Jax waited until Agler went out. A man he didn't notice before was in a deep sleep. Jax had one talent from his Exofleet training that Eagle's Eye's staff didn't count on. His ability to pick locks.

The cuffs slipped off, and Jax started to sneak toward the heavy set sleeper. Jax quickly yanked the blaster out of its holster. The man woke up, with a blaster at his throat.

"Make a noise and I'll fry what brains you have left." Jax forcefully whispered. "To the cargo bay, now!"

Using him as a human shield, Jax and his newly found friend got into the deck. Another great talent. Hotwire a E-frame for manual control.

Agler came around slowly, not shocked to see a homicidal Jax with a human hostage He just started to walk over with a soda in his hand.

"Very resourceful Sgt. Jax," the slurp ended the soda. "Grunts, wake up!" 5 men came into the cargo bay. A lot more men then Jax anticipated.

"Drop the guns or you'll need a mop to sop up what's left of his head!" Jax remained serious. With all the things going on he knew that he could pull the trigger at a moment's notice.

The grunts looked questioned. The guns relaxed but still raised. Agler looked Jax in the eye and smiled.

"I know you would pull the trigger Jax."

"Agler?" the human hostage sobbed.

"I've got no love for you or anyone else at Eagle's Eye!" Jax backed further to the docking bay door.

Agler finally made his decision and pulled his newly cleaned blaster. "What did I tell you Jax?"

"Don't remember. But if I do I'll stuff it into your eulogy."

"War takes no prisoners."

Agler raised his blaster and fired right at Jax's head. It missed and slapped his hostage in the skull. The 5 men needed no orders to open fire. Jax stumbled back with the body on top of him.

*Move your feet Marko!!*

Jax dropped back and with one hand smacked the control switch to the cargo bay door. The wind came in, distracting the gunners. The drop was over a lot of foliage, so the tree could....

*Better than staying up here w/ a body on top of me!*

Jax threw himself out the door and into the trees.

Agler only smiled.

"Sir, we should use the ship's guns to light up the forest." One of the personnel yelled over the wind. "We can burn him up easily!"

"Fool, gunfire would light up the orbital satellites!" Agler yelled back. "We're going to have to take him on the ground!

____

"Umph!"

Jax breathed a sigh of relief while the rest of his brain was trying to catch up.

Jax fumbled around, the blaster. Another reason to live.

Clutching the blaster, Jax summoned all of his strength and started to run in one direction. It was unlikely the ship above would fire below and set off every Venetian satellite on this side of the hemisphere.

If there was any hope for those Eagle's Eye.....they'd have to take him on the ground.

His specialty.

Behind him lines were being dropped. The men aboard the ship were coming down. First Agler, then the other cast of Eagle's Eye. 5 souls later, the hunters cocked their blasters.

"You know the drill gentlemen!" Agler started to move. "The ship tracks him, we kill him."

Very encouraging Jax thought. "A lovely game of mousehunt."

____

"He's left of you moving fast." Claine yelled into the comlink. "Follow me."

The ship maneuvered to track Jax's movement, following slowly.

Some noise of a thump hit the open deck which Claine forgot to close. He thought trees were knocking the ship.

"He's moving! He's running adjacent to the large clearing. Force him out."

The ground lit up with blaster fire.

Claine felt a tap on the shoulder.

"What? I thought all of you went down." Caine yelled.

A hand covered his mouth quickly. He went for his blaster.

A sharp piercing incision to his upper back.

Claine had lost his job.

____

The advice had worked.

"Stupid."

Jax had been forced into the clearing. A maneuver he would soon regret. At least it was in high grass. The ship followed, settling lower and lower in front of him.

The men followed, closing in on the mouse. The ship was about ten feet off the ground, turning the deck around.

A figure came to the entrance of the deck., armed with a laser rifle.

This was it....Jax thought.

The blast came out. The man just right of Agler was knocked back by at least 15 feet. More blasts, mowing down across Jax's pursuers. Another one caught. None of Agler's men could get off a shot.

Enough! 2 fusion grenade were spit out. More light and fire. A line almost his Jax in the head. It was from the ship.

"Well, I've jumped out from ship." Jax said to himself. "Might as well get back in."

Note:To understand ES2, you must read the 1st disclaimer, then enjoy.

Episode 3: Deliverance

Marko Jax tumbled onto the ship's cargo bay after climbing up the steel line. The line was drawn up and then the ship's cargo bay was closed. It finally propelled itself in a chosen direction.

Stumbling his way to the control room, Jax drew his blaster. Turning into the door way he 1st saw the pilot lying on the metal floor. He had been stabbed in the back....literally. The blade was still in his back.

Jax pointed his blaster at the chair, "Who are you?"

"Nobody." The voice was feminine.

"Turn around slowly!" Jax kept his bead at the head of the new pilot.

"No."

"What do you mean no? I'm the one with the blaster at your head."

"So."

Her head turned. Jax could see half of her beautiful face. Still with blaster raise, Jax crept forward.

"Don't trip over that corpse. Would you be a man and throw him out?"

Suddenly the woman turned unto the nozzle of the blaster...smiling. "You would shoot the same soul that saved you life?"

She wasn't armed. All she had on was a tank top and camouflage heavy duty pants. No place for a weapon. What had also caught Jax's eye was she had very long red hair. Her face was petite.

By the time he came to his senses the was still standing in front of him. He let the blaster fall down to his waist. Before he noticed what he was doing, the blaster was holstered.

The woman turned around and sat at the control. Jax plopped on the cold hard metal floor. Surveying his dress uniform, is was totally ripped everywhere. Hair messed up from sweat alone. Basically a wreck. Finally another thought came to him.

"Thank you for bailing me out back there...."

"Alice."

Jax felt reassured to know his saviour's name. "My name is Marko Jax. Didn't catch your full name."

"Just Alice."

'Just' wasn't her first name.

"Why did you pick me up there?" Jax lifted his head against the wall. "For all you know I could be a homicidal maniac."

"Then I'd have to kill you."

Positive girl. Very positive.

Jax sat back and let his feet down on the metal wall. He had to break the ice without getting himself hurt.

"What's your story, Alice?" Marko looked up at her face.

"Have no story."

*Okay, at least you're not trying any pick up lines*

"Same question. Why save my behind back there?"

"Well, when you see several bodies dumped at Merid Clearing, you begin to wonder." Alice sounded off. "With one shot to the cranium execution style, I thought I should hang around see what would happen. At least you weren't boring. You jumping into a batch of tree in all. Very acrobatic.

"So after you took the fall and those men take after you, I climbed a tree and slipped onto the ship. Grabbing the top rope I got into see Mr. Pilot playing God in leading this chase. So I stabbed him as you can see, and came to prevent you from becoming another execution." Alice finally turned her head toward Jax's face. "Happy now?"

Jax tried to look back, "Do I have a choice?"

"No."

A new duty came to Jax's mind. "I have to get back to Vesta. Can you take me there?"

"I need to get back to Vesta like I need a hole in the head." Alice laughed. "Go tell someone who cares."

"Well I would but the pilot over here is dead. Not to mention he was one of the few people who wanted to kill me!"

Alice chuckled, "Well this boat ain't going to Vesta...anything else?"

What could Jax do? He slumped against the wall, then looked at the body. Dead men always have it easy.

Jax got up and gripped the lifeless body over his shoulder. Walking into the cargo bay area, he he opened the door. Ripping the knife out the spine, Jax tossed the unlucky pilot out. Closing the door, Jax felt even worse. Accused of a crime. Targeted by gov't agents. Couldn't get back home. Depressed as ever.

Jax turned around to head back into the control room and lay down. Troubled sleep would come to him.

To his surprise, he looked up to see the doorway occupied by Alice. She seemed concerned...for once.

"You need to get back to Vesta that bad?" Alice asked calmly.

All Jax could do was nod his head up and down.

"The ship doesn't have enough power to make it. But they're a couple of E-frames here. Know how to pilot one?"

"Sort of."

Jax expected a sarcastic reply. "Well Mr. Jax. Tomorrow morning I can put the finishing touches on your skills if you can fly one manually. You have combat experience in the Exofleet?"

Jax already felt better. This woman was starting to care. "Just a lously jump troop Lt."

"Learning to fly a frame only takes a couple of hours at most. You seem to be a quick learner."

"You have to be when you're under fire."

Alice chuckled again, then looked Jax in the eye. "You look really cute when you smile. I wish the circumstances were better, I could see you smile a lot longer.

Jax finally had a reason to smile even longer.

"Cute. Now get some sleep....we start in the morning."

Sleep would come to him. Peacefully.

_____

The cold night air stood still on Agler's face.

2 men dead. The target still alive. The ship was lost.

*The ship was lost. Now that was a new one.*

Agler stood quiet, her remaining 2 agents sat and rested, waiting for orders.

Agler could of flew into a rage. Shouting at his soldiers' incompetence, possibly killing any one of them. But it wasn't his style. Anger only took necessary energy and intelligence away from the objective. Failure in most instances where he was in control bred more than just inevitable success. It was internal gratification.

"Think he'll show up Agler?" one of the exhausted asked. "It's been 6 hours now."

Agler looked into the stars. "Oh he'll come Jensen", then smiling wide, "Or he'll wish he had come at all."

A minute later, just as if fate willed it all together, a ship came out of the sky. A light shined from the wind coming down. The grass rustled. All Agler could do....was smile.

The ship sat down. The door opened, and a figure walked out.

"This had better be good Agler!" the heavy est Exofleet officer yelled walking in the wind. "Do you know what this cost me?"

"Not as much as the media finding out that you provided Eagle's Eye with the location of the Signa." Agler replied.

The officer approached Agler stone cold. "Are you threatening me Agler?"

Agler grinned, "No Admiral Sanchez. Why should I threaten the Exofleet admiral that will lead the Exofleet forces against the Martian rebels?" Finally, Agler turned off the charm. "Did you bring me what I asked for?" He asked in a dark, evil voice.

"As far as Exofleet is concerned, Baker Squad is just running live fire exercises." Adm. Sanchez peered off into the distance. "Some frames are here for you and your men if necessary."

"Can you track my ship?"

"Yes Agler, we can."

About 6 frame pilots appeared on the deck, all faces emotionless. All ready for action.

The smile returned to Agler's face, and putting his arm around the worried admiral, "Now see, was that so hard?"

"No Agler...it wasn't."

After patting Sanchez on the back, "Get some sleep people. We're going to have a busy day tomorrow."

____

"You're getting the hang of it Jax!" Alice looked up as Jax, still fumbling but managed to get the controls down.

"Want to come down and rest before you truck off back to Vesta?" Alice yelled into the comlink.

"Sure...what's for breakfast?"

"Stuffed gofer."

The frame settled down and came to a stop. The frame had a rifle gun on both limbs and wings with missiles on the shoulders. On back was the boosters to get back to Vesta and clear himself of all the charges.

The cockpit opened up Jax hopped out, giving a large wide yawn. "So how did you sleep last night?"

"Didn't sleep a wink." Alice turned to survey the other frame of the same style, only red.

"Wait a minute." Jax felt stunned. "You watch a gun fight, climb a rope, kill a pilot, hijack a ship, fire on 5 men, and rescue me on a hunch! And you meant to tell me you're not the least bit tired?"

Alice looked into the booster of the other frame. "Sleep sometimes doesn't come to me that easily. Sometimes I feel the need to exercise. This forest isn't exactly user friendly."

Jax shrugged. 'Just' Alice tried to release the least amount of info about her as possible. Sometimes 'Alice' wasn't user friendly either.

"Found some rations on the ship. Saved me the effort of looking for gofers to have." Alice looked into the cockpit once more.

Jax didn't feel the need to advocate a change in breakfast. Going he found some R rations at the side next to the control room. He picked up a couple of bars and tore into them. An alarm went off. Going in, the radar has several dots of light on it.

Alice came rushing in, breathing heavily. "Heard the noise, we're about to have company."

How in God's name could she hear the bleeps. 'Just' Alice had more to her than she was letting on. But right now that happened to be the least of his worries.

Right now...it was survival.

"7 E-frames! Heavy jump ship." Jax came to life.

"Not good." Alice folded her arms. "Sometimes E-frame squads run live fire exercises in the most unpopulated parts of Venus, Earth, Mars, Mercury. As long was the regular probes are concerned, the fireworks are expected. What a coincidence, they're headed our way for practice.

"Yeah", Jax sighed, "with target practice as the key word."

____

7 E-frames swooshed above the trees. The probes could monitor the action and fireworks all they wanted. They were scheduled for the day.

Agler was at head, with 6 frames chasing him. He was appointed liaison as leader of the operation with Adm. Sanchez, the 2 Eagle's Eye agents, and a pilot on board the jump ship.

"Alright Baker Squad." Agler settled down and into business mode. "Our top secret objective is 1st and foremost terminate this man. 'Sgt. Marko Jax'." Jax's face came on all the view screens of Baker Squad frames for the pilots to get acquainted with.

"Be forewarned that there is another player in the game yet to be identified. He or she is also dangerous to the operation, and should be treated in the same manner as Sgt. Jax. Any questions.?"

5 seconds went by. "This is Lt. Diamond, leader of Baker Squad. Ready for action!"

10 minutes went by before another word was said. Finally. "Ship about 15 minutes due west. I think it's your Agler." Lt. Diamond came out. "Sensors indicate that Jax or the unidentified figure should be near the ship."

Next plan came out. "Spread out 15 miles apart and track them. If you spot them fire at will. The rest of us will home in on your signal."

"Got it!" Lt. Diamond and his expert team started to follow Agler's simplistic orders.

____

Underwater?

The 2 frames were about 20 feet deep in a pond.

"What are you doing in a pond?" Jax remained edgy.

"Trying to stay alive." Alice was calm, looking calm as ever. Look up!"

Jax screened above through the water. He saw a disfigured object on top of the sunlight. "A frame?"

"You got it."

"Can they see us?"

Alice rubbed her neck. She was itching for the acquaintance with the cyber link on the top of her spine. "Probably not if they're doing a primary sensor scan, not a visual one. As long we keep our frames underwater they can't see us."

"So let's make a run for it!"

"No can do. According to the squad protocol, they're going in a loop formation. If we gun it upward they'd close us in a net."

Jax scratched his head. "You sure know a lot about E-frames."

"Well I don't know much about jump troops. Wanna teach me?"

"Well, you already got the 1st part down. Go underwater and hold your breath, and hope the search party doesn't get you."

___

"Agler, no sign from any of the frames. We could form a spiral formation and look out. They couldn't get that far without us spotting them." Lt. Diamond suggested.

"Go for it." Agler was always willing to take suggestions.

"Hold up on the formation Lt. Diamond."

"What Sgt. Walsh?"

"I passed over a small body of water. I wanna give it a look see before we start spreading out. It'll only take a sec."

"Permission granted."

Agler thought to himself. Could frames go underwater? Walsh 'look see' would only take a few sec.

___

"Not good." Alice spurted out.

"What?"

"One of the search party is coming down right on top of us. They'll see us for sure."

Jax saw the frame coming right over the water.

"Raise you guns Jax. When the frame comes right over us we're going to blast it to pieces! On my mark." Alice yelled.

Jax took the frame and was ready to fire.

"Wait." The frame came closer.

"Wait."

Closer.

"FIRE!!!"

Blasts came from the pond. The frame above was pelted to death. Finally, it went down in flames.

"Let's run for it before they tear this pond apart."

Jax need no new info. The wreckage from the surface of the pond sunk. Both frames emerged out of the water and started to run.

___

Agler heard the explosion. All of Baker Squad heard the explosion.

"Walsh come in." Lt. Diamond yelled into the comlink.

"Forget him!" Agler went off.

"Lt. Diamond, I've got 2 frames headed out east of us. They think they can run for it."

"Rake, go down into the trees and cut the forest apart. Force them in the air. Will follow and finish the job!" Diamond blasted off ahead while Rake went into the forest, literally destroying the trees at will.

____

Alice and Jax noticed the blasts over their heads as they ran among the trees. The chase was on as the enemy was shredding the forest apart to get at them.

"Wanna turn around and charge that frame behind us?" Jax yelled on his comlink.

"I like your style Jax!" Alice smiled. "On three."

"1."

"2."

"3!!!"

The 2 frames whipped around and started to level the forest behind them. Their pursuer was too shocked to pull up as the plasma blasts ripped the frame to pieces.

"Fire upward, catch 'em off guard!" Jax thought being an E-frame pilot was about exhilarating as being a jump troop. Almost.

Jax and Alice fired upward at the frames above. One of the remaining 4 got hit and plunged to the earth. Though damaged it still had the power to get up and wreck havoc.

"Got 'em!" Alice's spine sent the message in a tenth of a second through the cyberlink. A missile went forth....and caught the enemy frame dead center. The explosion was all that remained to be said.

"I see the ship above....go for it!" Jax went skyward with Alice following. With relief, both of them got on board. The 2 agents came out firing with hand blasters. Jax and Alice answered back with more superior fire power, tossing their challengers back against the metal wall.

Jax jumped out of his frame and rush Adm. Sanchez, launching himself in the air and land a foot on the man's face. The admiral flew back into the controls.

The pilot got up with his blaster. Jax's lift leg went up, catching the pilot in the jaw. The pilot fell back while Jax landed a fatal blow with a right fist to the stomach. Jax's enemy doubled over on his face... and never got back up.

"Alice behind you!"

Alice already had gotten the message. One frame tried to come in, and was lit up by the blasts from her guns. It fell down into the forest and was never heard from again.

Another 2 came in, firing away, not caring about the welfare of the ship. Jax dodged the blasts and reached the controls.

"Blow the roof up and get ready to go through it!" Alice took a chance by following Jax's advice. Jax threw the ship into a nose dive straight into the earth. "Wait for me!!" Jax jumped on Alice's frame arm.

"Going up!" Alice yelled.

The other 2 frames didn't expect the sudden drop in altitude. Jax and Alice's frame were skyward, the ship with frames and all were impaled in the ground, exploding.

Jax and Alice had no time to celebrate. Agler came firing. The blasts destroyed the leg, causing Alice's frame to plummet. Agler came closer to finish them off. Alice still had the ability to return fire, also catching Agler's frame in the torso. He enjoyed a much softer landing, but unfortunately, the damage left him ground bound, walking slowly across the forest terrain.

Jax got up and shook his head vigorously. His left sides suddenly screamed in pain. Broken rib, maybe 2, wouldn't surprise him if the number was 3. Alice's frame was on it's side, Alice herself wasn't getting up.

"Jax!", it was Agler's voice through the woods. "Nice to know you weren't boring as some as the other targets I've had to deal with."

"Jax...Jax..." Alice whispered, obviously wounded.

"Wait here Alice." Jax picked up the blaster, "Be right back."

"Promise...?" Alice squirted out in a child like whisper.

Jax pulled the fusion pack out of her frame.

"Promise."

Alice found the energy to grin.

Wincing through the pain, Jax ran out at Agler with a death wish. This was the last thing Agler expected, a jumptroop rushing him, blasting away.

Jax had his target, and it wasn't Agler's frame. The base of the tree was split, and came crashing down on Agler. The frame made an attempt to dodge it, but it was futile.

Agler was stunned, and worse, he could get out of his frame.

Jax walked up and looked Agler in the eye. All the Eagle's Eye agent could do was return the look.

"You said it yourself Agler."

Agler looked up as he saw a live fusion pack in Jax's hand.

"War takes no prisoners." Jax grunted

The fusion pack was dropped. Agler just shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. Not even death couldn't make this homicidal agent panic.

An explosion took place.

Jax didn't need to turn around to see the blast, he could hear it. He rushed back to Alice's frame and jammed it open. Alice was a little more lively than expected, but Jax didn't care. She was alive.

"Did you get 'em?" Jax lifted her out. According to the smile Alice's face she was still alive. Fortunately the frame was easily opened and her body came out. Jax grunted Alice over his right shoulder and then sat her on the ground. Alice's right leg was completely mangled, and her left leg didn't look to good either.

"What do you think happened, *Just* Alice?"

Alice didn't return the remark. She was just happy to be alive, and to see a smile on Jax's face for least another time.

Episode 4: Rising Point, part 1

Mars:6 months later.

Getting through the town of Foran wasn't too easy...especially after curfew.

The military E-frames marched up and down the street, on loud horns yelling repeatedly, "Anyone outside of designated quarters will be shot on site! No exceptions!"

These precautions were just excuses to exert an even tighter leash over the farther cities on Mars. No innocent person could get out for their own safety against these 'terrorists'. Everyone knew who they were: rebels.

A man busted into a closed bar. The bartender, looking at sales slips, gasped up and went for a blaster.

"You have a case for me?"

The bartender eased off, relaxing that he wouldn't have to use his weapon, at least for tonite.

"It's in the back. Go get it yourself!"

The cloaked man took off his hood and went into the back. A small red door opened with an armed man behind it. He walked downstairs. A large room had several E-frames that had been repaired. A 62 years woman in good health was looking over the equipment.

"Mags....what did I tell you?"

Maggie Weston turned to see Estaban Martinez, gruff, hard, but caring. "I know. You said forget about work. It was done."

Martinez rubbed his brow. "Maggie. you keep forgetting that you're not the only one fighting this war. You already given more than your share. You need rest."

Weston wiped her eyes. How she worked while she was balling with tears was a mystery to him. The woman was thinking about events that had happened over 3 years ago. Martinez though wasn't much of a sentimental guy.

"I can't sleep." Weston looked up. "I see children getting slaughtered in a crossfire where your men weren't even firing back. Alec dying trying to rescue them. And the Exofleet did nothing but put a hush on the whole event as if it never happened." The tears came done in rivers again. Martinez wished he could console her. This rebellion required almost all of his emotion too.

Romance and therapy was never his style. When you've been the most ruthless mercenary for hire within the Homeworlds, emotion was fatal. Sometimes he wondered why he could never let it all out just like Weston. Unfortunately, he could never have the courage to do it. He had too much blood on his hands.

"Faber, take Weston to a room." Martinez called. "She's going to need all the strength when this job comes up."

Faber came over and courted Weston to a small room. Martinez knew Weston was going to be needed more than ever in the upcoming battle. Might as well let her cry it all out now.

"You're late Martinez." Maria Lando came out, swinging her jet black hair back. "Almost thought you got shot."

Martinez let out a grin. "My contact was late. I dropped Eberhard off at the south outpost. He's already dealing out the instructions I gave him."

"What instructions?"

Martinez got out a vid disc and placed it on the player. It started with a constellation of the planets.

"There." Martinez placed his index finger on the sphere marked Jupiter.

"What Martinez? Is 'this' the huge chance we've been looking for?" No sarcasm, all business.

"Glad you trust me!" Martinez started. "My contact...who is best left unknown, said his employer was ticked that I and the rebels were labelled for the destruction of the Signa. One of them joked that it was a sloppy job that I couldn't of pulled off."

Lando pulled back. "Nice to know you're reputation is covered."

"Exofleet..." Martinez started, "doesn't have a clue what that speck is. And unmanned probe just stumbled on to it before it was 'deactivated', an account from the Martian Government. Exofleet just shook it off and accepted the explanation....on the surface.

"Now here comes the kicker. In a secret meeting they were suspicious of the Martian Government planning something against the Homeworlds, but they never had any proof.

"My contact said through a friend a couple of Exofleet admirals approached him. The strongly suspect that Eagle's Eye had something to do with the Signa incident, but have been playing dumb for some time now. The suspected Adm. Tomas Sanchez of helping Eagle's Eye with the Signa, but before they could interrogate him, and a force of 6 frames crashed on Venus before they could begin live fire exercises.

"The admirals want us to go out to that object behind Jupiter."

Lando gave Martinez that 'you can't be serious' look. "And how are we going to get out there. Walk?"

"Better." Martinez smiled. "The Exofleet os providing the rebels w/ the Norgun. On record, it was dumped into the sun 5 years after the end of The War. It's been covered with dark matter."

Lando looked stunned, "But I thought dark matter was illegal to possess."

Martinez could only put his hand back through his head. "Well now they want us to have it."

"There's got to be a catch."

Martinez rubbed his hair again. "There is. In 3 days Exofleet announces that they intend to go all out to suppress, capture, or if it comes to it, eliminate the terrorists that were responsible for the slaughter of the cadets on the Signa with the full blessings of the Homeworlds Council. We have 140 E-frames and a 72 hour head start."

"Can we trust those 2 admirals?" Lando was concerned.

"I've bailed those 2 out before, plus I have info on them." Martinez implied. "Backstabbing me would not be a very healthy idea."

"Lando listen. Politics aside, it's going to be the cause's best chance at killing the Martian Government in 1 shot. Either that or the Exofleet comes to Mars and helps the Confederacy eliminate us 'terrorists'. The Signa is not our fault, and I'm not going to let the Martian Government force the Exofleet into destroying us for a crime we did not commit.

"You're in Lando? Please?"

Lando looked off to the side. She folded her arms. "We've got 15 frames here. Did the Fleet provide us with ships to the Norgun?"

"Yes and more....weapons and cargo on the Norgun."

Lando looked up and then yelled into the air, "Faber."

Faber came up. "Yes Lando."

"How long will it take to get these frames ready to move?"

Faber looked down, then up. "About a couple of hours."

"You've got 1 hour. Listen up peoples."

The whole room of about 20 people gathered around Lando and Martinez.

Lando faced the crowd. "I know you've staked your lives for the cause for different reasons. I know you've lost friends and loved ones in this fight. I know you've put in 110% in this fight. Now..." Lando paused... looking down. "This fight will need even more than 110%.. much more! It would take too long to explain it right away, so it will have to along way."

"The next 72 hours will be more than vital to the cause then ever. You're going to have to work harder than ever before. It's all or nothing. You'll know why the next 72 hours are so important when the time comes to act. So trust each other, AND LET'S GET GOING!"

A roar went up. This was the chance they've been working for. Martinez looked down....and thought about Marsha.

Episode 5: Rising Point: Part 2

Exofleet Stockade:Location Classified

"1...ah 1....1,2,3,4!"

It had to be Earth, Jax kept telling himself. Then again, it could be Venus, or Mercury. It certainly wasn't Mars. Mars didn't have a resort like this.

The Exofleet stockade was a calm, Pacific like island about 7-8 square miles wide. It had palm trees, streams, sunny beaches. A living paradise.

Too bad it wasn't treated like one.

Exofleet stockade was a military prison. No fun in the sun here. Training and exercises in the morning, working and lifting until 7 pm. Food, a little relaxation, then to bed. Then start the process all over again the next morning. No mail, no contact with the outside world. With the island radar shielded, the prisoners were knocked out coming and going.

"I...can't....go...any..."

Jax woke up from deep thought to see Randell desperately trying to keep up with the runners.

"Randell's going to get us all lit up!" Lathan whispered.

The collar around all the prisoners neck kept them in check. Electric volts were promised if they went beyond the red lines in the camp ....or got out of line...period.

"Hold on Randell, one more mile." Jax coached. He wasn't to keen on the idea of getting lit up either.

"Stupid Randell, never in shape." Lathan continued.

"He has asthma." Jax was trying to remain supportive.

"Tell it to somebody who cares!" Way exclaimed, "Like the doctor so he can operate on Randell and stop falling behind."

"No talking!!!!" Gen. Fossel yelled. "Or I'll light you all up like the children you are."

Word had it that Fossel need a psych evaluation. Everybody was more than ecstatic to find him leaving...today. Jax put up with it for 1 more 1/2 mile.

Randell couldn't take it. The med tech that was found guilty of stealing medicine and selling it on the black market collapsed to the ground. Jax wanted to help him up, but this time Randell was on his own.

"Company halt!" Everyone stopped on Fossel's command.

Fossel got out of the hover jeep and with 2 guards investigated the fallen prisoner. "Get up soldier.. .NOW!"

Jax didn't see Randell getting up anytime in the near future. Lathan put a "humph". Waye just shook her head. The whole company know what was coming.

"Get up soldier, get up or I'll light you up!"

It was time for Fossel to go...now.

"Well soldier....you made your choice!"

Randell was shocked alive by his collar. Jax hurt just thinking about it. Get up and just finish up.

"Get up soldier!"

Voltage went through Randell. About 3 more times. The body would jerk, then lay silent. Jax caught 1 tear drop in Waye's eye. At least she cared.

"Up soldier!"

"I think med Randell has had enough."

Fossel got up and looked through the whole company. "Who said that?"

The whole company remained silent, wishing that Fossel would just disappear.

"Speak or I'll light you all up!"

"I said I think Randell has had enough."

Jax felt like a 3rd person watching himself open his big mouth. He couldn't believe he was standing up to a madman who was leaving in a few hours.

"So Sgt. Jax!" Fossel drew it out. "You think that Randell's had enough. About face Sgt. Jax!

Lathan and Waye gave Jax that 'now you're gonna get it' look. Jax did a 180* turn.

"Look at Med. Randell!" Randell remained chained to the ground. The guards started to pick up the body so he could get medical attention. "Leave that med tech alone. I want Jax to see this."

Fossel lit Randell up again, "You see Jax", he kept lighting Randell up again and again, "nobody cares what you think!" Randell went up again.

Jax caught Fossel by the hair and unleashed a solid right fist to his face. The controller went into the stream nearby. Fossel and his broken nose went down, but came right back at Jax. The company roared to life, cheering Jax on.

Jax took a left to the cheek. It swelled immediately. Fossel received a fist to the throat, causing the general to fall back down...gasping for air.

Then Jax's collar roared to life. Searing and shocking pain hit him like a thunderbolt. The 2 guards stopped pushing the buttons. They let the fight go on a little longer than they really could of. They also were happy to Fossel's stay end prematurely.

Jax woke up. It was in the hot box. A lovely 4 by 10 foot compartment. A prisoner only got a toilet and unlimited water. Plus it was dark and hot. A long time seemed to go by. He knew he was going to be in there for at least 3 days; he had assaulted as superior officer.

A man could littery go crazy in here.

The door slid open. The light smacked Jax in the face, forcing him to retreat back into the shadows. A large figure appeared. It looked like Morsa, head of the guards at the stockade.

"Here." the Neo said in an emotionless voice. A pad of clothes landed in Jax's lap. "Get showered, dressed in full uniform, and into the commander's office in an hour."

Jax got up and looked at the clock. Barely an hour. The stay already seemed like years. He got up and fought the light all the way to the bunks.

_________________________________________________________

"So Sgt. Marko Jax." Com. Janet Washburn drew his name out, "You're a lucky man, Fossel's going to live despite that shot to the throat. As for you...", Washburn paced around her desk, "you seem to get ever more luckier."

Jax remained emotionless at attention.

"Exofleet wants to bury this incident of the Greenmen complex, Eagle's Eye, Baker Squad, and Adm. Sanchez without any more consequences. A trial for you couldn't go unnoticed by the press." Washburn looked Jax straight in the eye."

"You're charges of insubordination on Mars have been dropped, and charges of escape and desertion on Venus have been reduced to time served."

Jax wanted to do flip flops, but fought to contain a smile.

"So after leaving and getting a 3 day rest at your home on Venus, you'll report to the Resolute II to be trained as a leader of an Exoframe pilot and leader of an Exosquad."

Jax went from ecstatic to puzzled. "Permission to speak freely commmander."

"Permission granted."

"Commander....I'm a Jump Troop and..."

"And now they want you to be an E-frame pilot." Washburn cruelly interrupted. "And considering the past events in the last 6 months for you Sgt. Jax, you don't have much of a choice."

Jax shut up. The past 6 months had been anything but a joyride.

"A ship will be leaving in less than 20 minutes be on it." Washburn warned. "Because this ain't no country club, and with your complementary collar, we can use all help we can get. Anything else Sgt. Jax?"

"Permission to be dismissed Com. Washburn."

Washburn looked Jax over. "Permission granted."

Jax saluter and marched out. Except for visiting his family, the future promise only to get darker.

____

"Here." Jax whispered.

The frame dropped to the entrance of Burns Farm. He hadn't been here in over 3 years.

"Be back in 3 days."

Jax didn't really hear the pilot, he just got out of the cockpit. The frame lifted off.

Harvest time. It was nite time. He spent a minute just looking at the sign. 'Burns Farm'. His father accidentally received ownership after The War but gave it over when mother came along to retain it. She guessed that that Steven Jax had no place to go, so she offered him a place there if he offered to help rebuild the farm. The emotions turned into love, and then happily ever after.

The next 2 miles were eternal. He felt like the prodigal son. All he had was a dress uniform and an Exofleet overcoat to keep him warm. The wind felt cold on his face.

At least family would take him in.

The dome was still lit, and dad was outside sitting in a rocking chair (Over the centuries, some things never change).

Steven Jax heard the rustling when he turned his head. The expression one of seeing a ghost.

"Marko? Is it really you?" Marko's father was slightly shorter in height, but in same strength.

Marko Jax was home. "Marko!" Steven wrapped his arms around his eldest son he had not seen in almost 6 months. "You're back."

"Yes dad."

"We...we thought..." Steven backed off. "Your mother is going to go nuts when she sees you."

Marko was brought into the warm dome.

"Nara. Nara come here."

"What is it Steve?" Nara Burns Jax came out with a plate she was drying in her hands. She barely had any wrinkles on her face and was still very physically fit.

The plate was dropped and shattered into a million pieces, but Nara never heard the noise. Nara too ran up to wrap her arms around her lost 1st born son.

"We thought...I thought you were dead all this time." Mara started to cry in Marko's arms.

___

For the past 2 hours. Nara was trying to stuff her son with everything including the kitchen sink. Yancy and Rene', his 2 younger sisters, was equally glad to see Marko back from the dead. The family was practically resurrected from his appearance alone.

He was sitting on the roof of the dome, letting the wind blow on him again. In the middle of the night he couldn't sleep.

"You used to sit up here when you were 5 years old." Nara climbed up on top of the dome.

Jax's eyes went down into his lap. He had told his family the whole ordeal. He knew he couldn't hold it in too much longer.

"I might as well tell you now." Jax started, "I ship off to the Resolute II in 3 days."

Nara turned to the side. In a way, she was expecting this. Marko was never a farm boy. His childhood had proven that.

"So I take it's practically futile to convince you to stay here." Nara looked into the Venetian night sky.

Marko wasn't about to let a guilt trip get on track. "Mom I know you keep telling me about your parents and Uncle James, but like I said I'm not a farmer."

"I know all about that", Nara replied. "but I wasn't going to make you feel guilty by telling you about family history. But.." she pointed in the night sky and the stars, "...I want you to know that you can't be chained to this farm if you don't want to."

Marko looked up to the stars w/ his mother, he couldn't say anything.

"Marko...I know they're calling for you."

"What mom, the Exofleet?" Marko looked behind him.

Nara wrapped her arms around her son. "No. The stars. The stars are calling you. I didn't join the Exofleet because I got to work with heavy metal. I joined because of the stars."

Marko felt his mother's kiss on his left cheek. Nara hugged him even tighter. "You know these 3 days are going to seem like second for me Marko."

Marko looked down. Nara gently gripped the back of his neck and pointed it upward. "Don't be afraid to chase your dreams. Don't let your dreams outrun you. Just keep yourself safe."

Finally, Marko had a reason to smile. "I will."

Episode 6: Rising Pt, part 3

"And now a special report from MBC, now Gordon Forbes."

"The is Gordon Forbes, and what you just heard recently is that finally 6 mon. after the tragedy of the Signa, 'Exofleet' is mounting a bulk of its main battalion to once and for all deal with the Martian terrorists which have been found out to fleeing from Mars to Jupiter. Say Marion Weaver, what is the inside story about the offensive force being led to pursue and finally deal with the terrorist threat?"

"Well Gordon as the Exofleet stated in the press conference, after ruthless red tape they have finally firmly decided that the tragedy of the Signa and the death of 4 Exofleet Academy cadets can no longer go unpunished. What is almost so amazing about this event is that the Homeworlds Council after less than one hour of deliberation gave the Exofleet its approval, blessing, and support to go wipe out the terrorist threat on Mars and beyond. Political analysts say that the decision issued was too quickly to be made and that there's more going on behind the scenes."

"Military historians and those who opposed this action point back to when the Exofleet went off after the Pirate Clans 35 years and were back stabbed by Phaeton and his Neosapien Empire. Now in the past the Martian Confederacy hasn't been all that trustworthy either. What does the Exofleet plan to do w/ that?"

"The Exofleet had no comment about that particular subject, but sources say that the Fleet has taken into account less then glorious past of the Confederacy and it is being dealt with even though it isn't released how they are planning to deal with this x-factor. Let me just remind the public that when the word 'bulk' is mentioned, it means only 1/4 to a 3rd of the Fleet forces will be actually pursuing the terrorist forces and that the other 2 'bulks' will be here waiting safely to deal with any threat even it not be the Confederacy."

"Now say Marion other opponents of these actions are saying that this is just a chance to put the newly designed Series 4 Exoframes into real life combat situations with pilots' lives hanging in the balance. How does the Fleet answer that ques?"

"Well Gordon the higher ups at Exofleet say that opponents have already forgotten about the Esbonlon incident when these frames were put to the test with pilots'...."

Click!

So the Exofleet bought it. Despite everything he told them about the Greenmen complex, the Signa, the involvement of Eagle's Eye agents conspiring w/ Adm Sanchez, and rouge E-frames, the Exofleet bought it.

Now Lt. Marko Jax had heard enough, plus the ship was coming up. Jax looked at it though the window.

The ship that took Venus back from the Neo forces. The ship that beat Phaeton's counterattack. The flagship, the proud and joy of the Exofleet.

The Resolute II.

Jax had been there before, when he was 7 years. His mother took him with her as she met an old friend. He was a tall man, couldn't remember his though, started with a 'M' he was sure. Jax chuckled as he threw the man's desk frame across the room as if it was a toy E-frame. The man laughed. He wished his mother could of shown the same since of humor. Some painful methods of punishment never die. I wasn't apologizin' for nothin'. I wasn't saying a thing until the age of 9.

Docking had come and gone. Lt. Marko Jax stepped off onto the deck of the Exofleet Resolute II. Revile wasn't for another 6 hours, so he had some time to go around the place. Here he was, in full battle uniform, much more durable than the official uniform he went flying around in the Venetian forest 6 mon ago. But this time the fatigues were different.

Marko Jax was an Exosquad lueitennant.

Jax, though still uncomfortable, was very competent. His training for Exoframe piloting was flawless. He got a perfect sore on the flight test. But it could never replace...being a jump troop.

The loud music disrupted the last of his peace. Jax walked over and saw legs under the foot of an e-frame. The guy finally swept out with tools in his hands.

"Thought you were stepped on." Jax folded his arms.

"Thought I did." The guy stood up with a chuckle. "Bradley Erikson. The guy of Able Squad that can fix anything from fusion packs to toilets. Just leave out the toilet part out."

Both laughed crazily. Jax finally melded in, feeling 10 times better.

"So who are you?" Erikson wiped his forehead.

"Lt. Marko Jax", Jax slouched over on the wall, "leader of Able Squad."

"Welcome leader." Erikson joyfully saluted, then held out his hand. "Us repairmen and women were called out early to examine and learn about these new frames." Erikson stood back in awe at the new piece of machinery. "Just look at it lueitennant."

Jax looked at the frame. He had to admit, these new frames did look sleeker.

"An increased 1.5 fusion engine." Erikson began to raddle off.

"Interlocking shocks and straps for a smoother ride."

"Works on the same fusion pack as the old frames did."

"Goes almost twice as fast as the old frames w/ the new 1.3 hyper fusion breaks."

"New series 3.9 chips for faster response from the cyberjack."

"New rampart fireside guns on each arm. Holds 3 times the ammo than the old frames."

"New Harrig ammo and missiles. Faster and more destructive."

"Basically, a thing of beauty."

Jax took a strange look at Erikson. "You act like you want to marry the thing."

"Don't tempt me." Erikson back off. "A crowning achievement of exotechnology."

Erikson gathered his tools. "So Lt. Marko Jax...you're the one that everyone has been talking about. They call you some kind of conspiracy junkie."

"Well, I mean.." Jax start to fumble his words.

"Don't worry." Erikson stood up to carry his tools to his newly crafted repair and weapon frame. "Everybody knows about you and your stories and why you're being thrown to the wolves here on the Resolute II. They say you're crazy."

Jax sighed noticeably. "You think I'm crazy?"

Erikson stored the last of the tools and locked them up. "Yeah, but some say I'm insane also."

Both chuckled widely. Jax looked around to see somebody coming toward him with a vid disc.

"Lt. Marko Jax?" The orderly asked.

Jax pointed his finger into the air. "That's me."

"This is for you Lt. View and return it to the control room after revele." Without any emotion, the orderly walked off.

Jax examined the flat, circular object. Definitely a vid disc alright. No mistake about it. "Looks like I've got some work to do."

Erikson reached into his back pocket, and a small object came out. "Do it here, this should do the trick. Made it myself." Jax gave Erikson the disc and watched him place it the object. Erikson placed the machine on top of a bench, and a light came out. "Home made vid-disc player."

The picture came out fuzzy at first, but the auto tracking kicked in.

A voice started. "This is the personnel file of Exoframe team...", then the a computerized voice paused to finish off in a thunderous tone, "...Able Squad!"

A see through picture of Jax came into view.

"Lt. Marko Jax. Leader of Able Squad. Former experience: Sgt. of jump troop Charlie company. Graduate class of 2180 from Exofleet Academy with honors. 300/300 on Exoframe training score, 250/250 on battle test score. Age 27, ht. 6 ft 5 in, wt 225. Home: Bantara, Venus."

"Nice pic." Erikson smirked.

Another image came up. "Hey, they got me what I wasn't looking good." Erikson yelled. All Jax could do was smile.

"Agt. Bradley Erikson, repair specialist of Able Squad. Former exp: repair specialist at Exofleet Academy. Graduate class of 2184. 300/300 on Exoframe training score, 239/250 on battle test score. Age 24. ht. 6 ft. 1 in, wt. 205 lbs. Home:Theoky, Mercury."

Jax and Erikson smiled as the next image came up. She had light brown skin but still very petite thought rigid.

"Sgt. Singh Mummad, sgt. command of Able Squad. Former exp: received Exofleet Medallion of Bravery for performance in the Esbonlon situation. Graduate class of 2183 top of her class. 298/300 on Exoframe training score, 250/250 on battle test score. Age 25, ht 5 ft 9 in, wt 180 lbs., Home: India, Earth."

Another pic, not so beautiful.

"Agt. Praxis, turret gunner of Able Squad. Former exp: 30 years service in Exofleet Reserves. Grad class: none. 290/300 on Exoframe training score, 243/250 on battle test score. Age approx. 36 yrs. Ht. 7ft 3 in, wt. 355 lbs, Home: not established."

Ques marks appeared on both Jax and Erikson's faces.

"Dimitri Maximoff, intelligence officer of Able Squad. Former exp: duty in Esbonlon situation. Graduate class of 2182 from Exofleet Academy. 280/300 on Exoframe training score, 240/250 battle score. Age 25, 6 ft. 4 in., wt. 230. Home:Russia, Earth."

Now a gruff, rigid man came up.

"Larcen Maddux, main gunner of Able Squad. Former exp: none recorded during service. Graduate class of 2171 top of his class from Exofleet Academy. 300/300 on Exoframe training score, 250/250 on battle test score. Age 35 yrs. Ht. 6 ft 5 in, wt 230 lbs. Home:Red, Mars."

"Why would a man with his credentials want to work as a subordinate on a exosquad team?" Jax thought out loud.

"Jenna Rengard, hind gunner of Able Squad. Former exp: none. Grad class of 2186 from Exofleet Academy. 290/300 on Exoframe training score, 240/250 on battle test score. Age 21 yrs, Ht. 5 ft. 8 in., wt. 165 lbs. Home: US, Earth. File ended."

The vid-disc wound down, it job done.

"That last one", Erikson start up, "wasn't she the lone survivor of the Signa massacre?"

"Yup." Jax turned around and approached his own frame. Looking at it told him one thing.

He was in it, for good.

Episode 7: Rising Pt, part 4

"Let's start gunning!" Jacob Faber yelled.

The Norgun was in high speed with the word that the Exofleet was just hours from going full force after the rebels they claimed killed for Academy cadets in the process of obtaining stolen frames. Now they were being forced to lead a large predator to its prey without getting eaten themselves. Martinez and Lando stood side by side, hoping the underhanded deal they struck with the Exofleet wouldn't be the end of them.

"Nice to know the cloaking device works." Lando looked off. "190 frames. Exofleet went all out to give us the head start and no excuses."

"Yeah." Martinez said, turning to the comlink. "Weston, tell me about those frames in docking."

Weston's face appeared on the screen. "Well I can say they all work. All are fully armed, but I wouldn't count on them winning whole wars with them."

Lando popped into view. "How about the Exofleet's new frames? Can we take 'em?"

"That's one question I hope we never have to answer." Weston looked more serious. "Not only do they out number us 4 to 1, but they're a lot more than the press makes them out to be. Gotta a friend to smuggle me the level 4 specs. Not very comforting if we have to take the head on."

"Keep me posted." Martinez backed off.

Thoughts of Marsha came up. It was nice to know Weston had gathered herself together to make her contribution to the fight.

"Martinez, 1st objective coming up." Faber yelled back.

The 1st objective was a 'scientific' outpost orbiting Jupiter. It was really a defense outpost that could hold the Exofleet back under the Carres Treaty. If the outpost was heavily damaged and the frames taken, the Fleet would have to follow.

Martinez knew something sinister was going on inside that base.

"Going to lead the party?" Lando caught Martinez on the way out.

"Got nothing else to do."

"Is it for Marsha?"

Martinez looked down on the floor. Taking a deep breath, he knew Lando had gotten to him again.

"If so", Lando finished, "don't let it lead to losing more people."

Martinez rushed off without answering back. It was refreshing to know that somebody had put faith into him.

______

75 frames were ready to go. The Norgun cloaked, snuck closer right on top of the floating complex.

"Alright people", Martinez started. He knew the complex. He had been there before.

"On top of the complex is a fusion battery that is really supposed to be some kind of green house. Once we launch, gun directly for it! When it's destroyed the guns will be knocked out. Their defenses will rely entirely on E-frames.

"Draw the frames out. The Norgun will off load the other frames and take the base. When the enemy tries to go back the Norgun will uncloak and fire on them. Any questions?"

"None!", Faber spoke for everybody.

"Then let's go!!"

A roar went up. The bay door opened, the stars appeared, the target set. All 75 frames went off.

The rebels started blasting the sec right after lift off. The complex's guns never had a chance. The engine was smacked and quickly destroyed. The bay doors opened as the Martian Confederacy E-frames came out.

The rebel frames flowed like a stream. The enemy was drawn out from the complex. Martinez targeted the lead frame with a missile. The cyberjack lit up. The lead frame was smacked dead center.

"Spiral Hawk formation. NOW!"

Though seemingly clumsy at first, the rebels finally got the lessons down that Martinez had taught them. Firing in formation all the enemy found it hard to mix it up with the rebels.

"They're coming people...." Martinez exclaimed, "let's give the Norgun the time it needs!"

All the rebels started to scatter.

Martinez's cyberjack caught another frame in his sights. "For Marsha", he whispered. The Thunderhawk special would temporarily quench Martinez's growing thrust for vengeance. The frame ahead had no chance. A flame went up.

Faber rushed right at Martinez's frame, firing like a madman.

"FABER!"

A blast went up right behind Martinez's frame.

"Stay awake Estaban!" Faber critically yelled. The mercenary just realized that the 17 yrs old teenager just saved his life.

The Norgun uncloaked right on top of the complex.

"Like the plan says, let's do it!" Lando screamed as she and 59 other frames gunned for the open docking bays.

Martinez's plan couldn't of worked any better. Lando and her forces went in uncontested to the bays. Lando slammed in. Some anti frame fire was inside. 2 frames at each side were punished w/ shots dead center. Lando returned fire back at the grounded frames, lighting them up w/ expert markmenship.

The defensive frames started back, many of them getting shot in the back. The Norgun's guns roared to life. With the crossfire from each side, the enemy was quickly obliterated.

The action died down as the complex was taken. Martinez's forces came inside the base.

"Look out!!!" a voice came from a frame just ahead of Martinez.

Faber's frame came crashing in, lit ablaze. He slammed in as people inside pasted it with foam.

Martinez landed and bursted out toward the crashed frame. Faber was being pulled out, his body burned horribly. Martinez slid down and held the boy in his arms.

"For Marsha?" Faber grinned.

Martinez looked down and started to tear. "Yes, for Marsha."

Another grin went on Faber's face, just before his head rolled to his side. Martinez held him closer for over a min, crying uncontrollably. Finally he found the strength to get up.

"Who do I talk to?" Martinez's face turned to rage. "WHO DO I TALK TO?!!!!"

Martinez looked at one of the base soldiers. "WHO DO I TALK TO?!!!" Martinez slugged the unfortunately soul. The left jaw caved in, the soldier went down.

Martinez finally located the captain.

"I WANT TALK TO YOU!!!" Martinez targeted the man. "SEE WHAT YOUR FRIENDS AT THE CONFEDERACY ARE DOING?!!!!"

"Ice out Estaban!!" Lando intercepted him. The crazed mercenary was close to slugging her out too.

"Please Estaban, please." Weston pleaded.

Martinez turned around and started for a dark corner.

Lando turned around, with a blaster at the captain's throat. "Alright. You already ticked him off! Don't tick me off. TALK!"

Weston turned around into the corner to see Martinez huddled up like a little child. She kneeled down and cuddled him gently. He had found the emotions he had been looking for, just at the wrong time.

"Cry it out, just cry it out." Weston whispered. "Just remember, you're not the only one fighting this war."

Episode 8: Starting Gate

Revile had ended. Now the real party could begin.

Lt. Marko Jax had a fleet of butterflies laying a full scale assault on his stomach.

"SQUAD ATTENTION!!!"

All 6 souls lined up in perfect order. At least they would follow orders. For now.

Jax looked at Able Squad personnel.

Sargent. Singh Mummad was at full attention.

Officer Bradley Erikson looked like he was always on the edge of laughter.

Officer Dimitri Maximoff looked worried.

Officer Praxis seemed emotionless.

Officer Larcen Maddux looked homicidal.

Officer Jenna Rengard looked ticked off.

*What did I get myself into?*

"Permission to speak freely Lt. Jax!" It was Mummad.

"Permission granted!" Jax already was dangling from a hang man's noose, it couldn't get any worse.

"Lt. Jax, we have yet to be assigned a back gunner for Able Squad. It's kind of late in the game to have no back gunner." Mummad stood back.

It could get worse, because it just did.

Jax walked up and got in Mummad's face. "I've already addressed that matter with the Fleet personnel, and they're getting a back gunner really soon! Does that suffice Sargent?"

"Yes Lueitennant.!" Mummad stepped back. Jax took a wild guess that she didn't buy his answer.

A small smirk escaped Erikson's mouth.

"At ease!" Jax ordered. Everybody relaxed.

As you already know the Exofleet has started the pursuit of the Martian Revolutionary Army headed for Jupiter and....."

Something was mumbled under Rengard's breath, and Jax caught it. "You have something to you'd like to add to the briefing Agt. Rengard?"

Rengard looked into the air. "I said 'terrorists'. I said that the Martian rebels were 'terrorists'."

Time to be heartless.

"Well Rengard", Jax got into her face, "the Signa was a tragedy and your friends can never be replaced, BUT IT'S TIME TO GROW UP AND GET WITH THE PROGRAM! NOW IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE ON YOUR MIND BEFORE I CONTINUE?"

"No sir." Rengard looked back in Jax's face.

Another smirk got through Erikson's defenses.

"Something funny Officer Erikson?" Jax turned to the prankster.

"Not really...", more laughter came out, "...it's just..", more chuckles came out, "...it's just there's no such thing as a back gunner in an exosquad!!" Erikson started dancing around, holding his stomach due to the cramps he was beginning to suffer.

They were coming from everywhere.

"Very funny Erikson?" Jax looked around. "I want to say something funny too. 200 PUSH UPS, NOW!!"

Erikson came off his high. "I well...I thought it was..."

"300, NOW!!"

Erikson stopped chuckling, got down on the floor and started to pay his penance. Jax gave a hard view at Mummad, who acted as if the event had never happened.

An extended stay on Burns Farm didn't look so bad now.

"Now, before I was rudely interrupted!" Jax prayed that the other 3 would have nothing to say. "The Fleet has started pursuit of the rebels and we will be prepped and ready as we start drills right up till we meet the enemy! Any questions?"

Jax looked across the line. Nobody had anything to say.

"Able Squad dismissed!"

The members of Able Squad stood down and started to return to their frames, save for Erikson, who was calmly cruising up through no. 80.

Jax walked to his Red Sauron frame and leaned against it. He started to lightly head butt the machine.

A hand fell on his shoulder. "Lueitennant?"

"WHAT!!!" Jax spun around to see Praxis, the Neo. The one that hadn't said anything.

"May I say something?"

"Go ahead. Everyone else has, why stop at you?"

Praxis started slowly. "Authority and power are 2 different things. Power is usually final. Authority is....well....debatable. Your subordinates will test you, separately and collectively, until they can trust you with their lives."

Jax leaned back, encouraged. "And how am I in your book?"

"I don't know", Praxis shrugged, "it is your 1st day." He turned and walk off.

Jax peered at his frame again,and then another surprise.

"Officer Alice Noretti, side gunner for Able Squad, reporting for duty."

________

"..and that's why I'm here."

Marko was at the table, still pondering what just happened to his Good Samaritan. "Whoa. Graduating class of 2118! Grand ma!"

"Don't remind me." Alice looked down at her coffee. "A test tube baby. Being a Neo with human skin."

Marko finished his coffee and gently placed the cup down. "So they threw you back into the Fleet because if you had been tried for an attempted murder other stuff would of come out, like Merid Clearing for starters."

"Yes Marko." Alice looked down even deeper. "You know this can't continue, with us being in the same squad. Something...."

"...'may happen' or 'bad may happen'?" Marko interrupted.

Finally Alice looked up and faced Marko in the eye. "During The War I fell in love with a man in the same squad. Then I crashed on earth and he thought I was gone. When I finally arrived on Venus to complete my mission Phaeton had created me for, even though my memory was incomplete, I found the man in the arms of another woman. I mean how could I blame him, he thought I was dead."

A tear came from her left eye. "I didn't run from the Fleet because I feared my life. I ran because I couldn't face the man w/ him knowing I wasn't the same woman he knew or loved yrs ago. I still have no spite against him."

Alice dried the tears and looked around. "I can't take the chance of something remotely similar happening to either of us happening again."

Marko grinned in optimism, "But you saved my life and..."

"...and you saved mine. Now we're even." Alice stood up and slid out of her chair. "You have a lot of work to do. I'm keeping you from it."

Alice retreated as quickly as she could.

Marko was left gasping, sitting at the table alone. So many things he had faced in the last yr he managed to dance out of. Finally something got to him that had no solution to it.

*But I love you Alice...*

Episode 9: Starting Gate pt 2

Able Squad was getting a reputation. Unfortunately, it wasn't a very good one.

Singh Mummad was working on her frame when a couple of pilots from the Charlie Squad decided to provoke her anger.

"What is that on your forehead, a target?" Both of them laughed ruthlessly.

Mummad whipped around, "MOVE IT OR LOSE IT!!!"

The bigger pilot continued laughing while the smaller on stopped. "Ah Krammer. Look down." He said in a fearful voice.

A shot went off. Krammer looked down...to see a blaster pointed at his crouch.

"And I really do mean...'lose it'."

Erikson looked up. He swore the noise in Krammer's pants wasn't a very good one. Krammer grabbed his clothes and headed for the bathroom. His friend wasn't encouraged to follow, he thought it better to rejoin his squad.

Another person approached the scorned woman. "Sgt. Mummad!"

"WHAT?!!" Mummad whirled around with her blaster out. She found Jax, starring down the barrel of her weapon.

"You know sgt.", Jax started, "not everyone on this boat hates you. So stop pointing that thing at everyone that calls your name!"

Mummad, embarrassed, holstered her blaster. "Sorry lt., won't happen again."

Jax only got meaner. "That not the reason I came to see you. I don't appreciate being lied to during a briefing. Why did you decide at that grand time to embarrass me?"

Mummad looked into Jax's eyes. "They say you're a loose cannon. You were originally a jump troop. I don't trust you or your abilities.

A smile ran across Jax's face. "And if 'they' told you to walk out of an airlock in order to obtain eternal life would you do it?"

Mummad looked off to the side, obviously trying to shake off the attack.

"I asked you a question!"

"No sir." Mummad let out, trapped.

A deadly frown raced across Jax's face. "You're second in command of this squad. There are moments in battle that the lives under your command will depend on you and the other way around. So is trust going to be the deciding factor in every situation like that?"

Mummad remained silent, unable to answer.

"They say you're the top of your class. Is it true?"

"Yes lt."

"Well you're sure not acting like it!" Jax continued, trying to drive a stake through her heart.

Jax stopped his attack and looked away. "I'm not totally in control of this new exosquad position myself, so I'm going to have to trust you. If there's something out of place, you come discuss it with me in private, not in front of the squad. I need to trust you as sec in command of Able Squad."

For the 1st time he swore he saw a grin on Mummad's face. "Yes Lt. Jax. You can trust me. Thanks for the second chance."

Jax wouldn't get the opportunity to say "Your welcome." Maximoff came running in.

"Maddux is participating in a bar fight!" Maximoff yelled in a deep Russian accent.

*And the fun continues*

Jax and Maximoff ran full speed to the bar fight only to see Maddux being held up while another guy was wailing away in his stomach with his fists. Suddenly, Maddux whipped his head backwards, the back of cranium head butting the man holding his arms. Now free, Maddux blocked the next punch and and caught the guy with a massive back fist. The assaulter whirled around in the air before landing on his back.

Jax saw a man about to crown Maddux in the back of his head with a chair. He ran up and foot swept the would be ambusher, protecting the well being of his main gunner of Able Squad. The man fell on his side, the chair landing on him.

"MPs!" One of the bar subjects yelled. Everyone stood straight up just as a big accident just had occurred.

Leader came busting in. "We heard a fight was in progress! What happened?"

Everybody gave the expression of concern.

"No problem", Jax spoke up. "Me, Karris, Maddux, Douglas, and Maybux were just showing each other some new moves we all perfected in training. Maybux accidentally took a hit and here it is, one big mess here. We all get a little clumsy once in a while...right guys?"

Karris, Maybux, Maddux, and Douglas all nodded in agreement.

The leader of the MPs stepped up. He saw everyone had a bruise or more to account for. He also knew pursuing the case would be a waste of time.

"Next time you guys feel like showing off, put on some pads and take it to the rec room!" He and the other 3 walked off to the exit of the bar.

The mean looks returned as Jax pulled Maddux out with Maximoff following.

"I was fine Jax, I didn't need your help kid."

"THAT'S LT. JAX TO YOU MADDUX!!!" Jax got in Maddux's face.

Maddux stopped on his death wish. "Are you trying to push me around kid? Cause it ain't workin'."

Jax turned around a released a haymaker on Maddux's left jaw. The punch sent the aggressor down to the floor.

"Don't you ever call me a kid again! Or being sent to the brig will be the least of your worries!"

After a full workout, Lt. Marko Jax stormed to his barracks.

_______

Another shot off. The 16th plastic cup to the garbage can was on the floor. Only 3 had gone in.

The door signal went off. Jax turned his head to the wall. It couldn't be one of the 10 personnel in the room. They all had keys.

"Enter." Jax laid back and closed his eyes.

Footsteps walked in, turned a corner, and stopped. The bed ruffled as if somebody sat down on the mattress right next to Jax.

"How are you doing son?"

Jax didn't feel like answering, but he forced out one anyway. "Lousy wouldn't even begin to explain it."

"1st time as a squad leader?"

"Yes!" Jax turned over as he was starting to be annoyed. "Listen, what is it to...."

The admiral was sitting w/ his elbows on his knees. Jax's demeanor did a 180* turn.

"Admiral...."

"Don't worry about formalities for now Marko", the man quickly suggested, "it's just us alone."

Jax relaxed in his bed. "So why worry about one little exosquad leader who's squad members tend on killing him before the enemy does?

"Because your mother asked me to look on you." The admiral held out his hand of friendship. "Adm. J.T. Marsh of the Resolute II."

Jax finally remembered his mother's friend. "The Marsh that everyone talks about when referring to The War?" Jax shook his hand vigorously.

"Wish I could be remembered for better times."

Jax forced out another grin. "So mom told you to check on me?"

Marsh pursed his lips before answering. "Nara, your mother, called me before you checked in. She wanted me to know you were coming and she was concerned about you being tossed in from jump troop to exoframe pilot. She doesn't expect me to report on every little thing you do, she just thought it wouldn't be a bad idea if the boy that chucked my desk frame across my office was on board." It was Marsh who snickered this time.

Jax put his head against his pillow, "Ah...admiral?"

"Call me J.T., at least for right now." Marsh reminded Jax softly.

"J.T., was it this hard to lead a squad on the 1st time?" Jax searched the ceiling.

Marsh sat back and then relaxed again. "Honestly, no. At least at 1st. But the growing pains don't even begin to compare to the fire fight. Knowing that one miscue could cost you the lives of all those under your command."

How true. Grendiev and Harron, both under his command.

Now the subject had to be changed.

"J.T.", Jax sat up slowly, "what is this mission really about? I spoke to the council of Exofleet about the Martian Confederacy's real intentions were, and they ignore me and the claims. There's a conspiracy going on. Do I sound crazy?"

Marsh looked over to the window out to space The stars flowed fast. "I once was led into a mission on a need to know basis on Mars, my squad was stranded and we were all stabbed in the back."

"But you were declared a hero of The War."

"Still doesn't change a thing Marko." Marsh sighed. "Lives are lives, no matter if they're used as pawns, or bait, or especially, as heroes."

Both were silent for about 30 sec before Jax decided to ask again. "J.T., what is Exofleet up to?"

Marsh looked at Jax deeply. For him, the truth had to come out.

Episode 10: Starting Gate pt 3

The Norgun raced along, leaving the Martial orbital station behind. 300 frames, over half didn't even work. 120 frames thankfully did.

The first attack was stonily efficient. 135 frames. 16 deaths. 19 casualties.

Martinez couldn't of planned it any better.

Just...just...Faber.

Weston walked up to Martinez who was looking into the stars. "Tell me about Marsha and Faber.

"Marsha Bond was my lover." Martinez started off amazingly w/out any persuasion. "Marsha was like a co-worker. Very good at what she did, just like me.

"She also had a heart, something very fatal in the merc business. Marsha was trying to find a contact who happened to be a very close friend of hers on Mars. She met him just as people were being hauled in for questioning about the location of 'terrorists' that had stolen a supply of weapons and food from a storehouse in Red. Many of the people were families on their last legs. They didn't have what it 'took' to survive with the megacorps of the cities. Marsha told me how the army was threatening to level the town if they didn't produce any info on the terrorists. Most of the people there didn't even know there were rebels on the planet. The rebels was still small and disorganized. The people couldn't care less about them either. A factory was going up and job opportunities were scarce as it was. It was the first good news in a while for the area.

"The town was destroyed." Martinez sighed. "But the worst part of it was most of the people weren't warned to get out. Women and children buried alive. The army want to make an ex. so that the terrorists couldn't be sheltered. Marsha was appalled and started to help out the 'terrorists'.

"After a little coaxing, Marsha managed to drag me into it. With our knowledge we organized the rebels and weeded out the traitors and secret agents. Our second attack on a weapons complex didn't quite go as planned. An errand shell was tossed her way, and she died without any cry for help.

"I was wounded, but dragged to safety by Jacob Faber. He was a paper pusher in the army complex we targeted, the money was going to his sick brother when the town of Parris was destroyed too. It seemed like a secret agent sob story until he took me to his brother's grave. Faber told me he found a shovel and dug for several hours to find his brother's body just to give him a proper burial. Faber showed the rage I had and told me that he would rather die then let the corrupt rulers of the Confederacy get away with this murder. I knew he was sincere, so I took him in, leading me to put my full efforts and resources into the Revolution.

"And now...I'm here."

Weston turned to the window. "So why do you fight this battle? Out of anger?"

Martinez look down at the ground. "That's the sad part...I don't really know."

Lando came in. She also knew about Faber and Marsha. She just thought it better to let Martinez talk it out with Weston.

Now...time to get down to business.

"Ah, you 2 ready to move?" Lando tried to seem as less imposing as possible.

Weston started to hesitate. Martinez didn't. "Yes, we're ready."

Lando stood up straight. "Think it was wise to let half of the survivors back on the Complex?"

"When the Exofleet gets there, they'll give the info we leaked to them." Martinez frowned. "The Fleet will have no choice but to follow. The Carrey Treaty will be null in void since this is a Fleet matter now."

Weston also knew Exofleet protocol. "They're coming."

"I don't know about slowing down and letting them catch up with us." Lando worried as she looked up. "I also lost a child abandoning him with a babysitter so I could find work in the city. I couldn't even find is body. Sometimes I fight because of him and the others that lost loved ones."

"I'm ready to push on!" Weston speeded ahead of the group. Obviously she didn't want to talk about De Leon.

All 3 started walking toward the control room.

"Next plan is to go around the sec objective while cloaked with the Exofleet just an hr behind us."

Lando looked at him in shock. "Cutting it close? Think we can hold out until they arrive to save the day?"

"Once they see the fireworks the Fleet will put it into high gear." Weston got in. "15 minutes at top speed."

Lando still looked distressed. "15 min is a long time for rebels. I'm not scared but..."

"Don't worry Lando." Martinez came in firmly. "My skills, Weston's attributes, and your leadership, we can take the challenge."

The control room came up, all 3 rushed in.

"Sharpe, take the Norgun off cloak and full speed ahead!" Lando commanded.

"What?!!" Ensign Sharpe rose up.

"Just do it!" Lando enforced. She went to the comm link and made an announcement. "All pilots and personnel. Our next move will is risky. I'm going to ask all of you to stand by your positions. Eat by them, sleep by them. We won't have anytime to get ready, so we have to be ready. In hours the second objective will be coming up. We can't afford any delay."

Lando got off the comm link. This was it.

Episode 11: Battle Ready

Jax knew 2 things.

1.He knew the truth.

2.He knew there was not a thing he could do about it.

All of Able Squad was relaxing in his absence.

"I think he's a nice guy." Erikson laid back in his frame. "Maximoff, what do you think?"

The Russian looked down at the ground. "I wish I could have an opinion, I don't know."

"I don't care as long as we get a shot at those terrorists!" Rengard yelled, not caring who heard her.

"I think his judgement is valid." Mummad displayed her affirmation on their fair leader.

"OHHH!" Erikson eyes chased the Sgt to her frame. "And you were the one who didn't trust him. Why the sudden change of heart?"

"I allowed to change my mind!" Mummad shouted back.

"The man has a lot of potential." Praxis was saying as he walked by.

"Yeah. So does my dog." Erikson replied. "You don't say much do you Praxis?"

"No."

Maddux walked by, his cheek just red instead of swollen.

"Courtesy of the love tap Jax gave you?" Erikson laughed.

Maddux stopped and gave Erikson the 'eye of the tiger' look. Erikson just playfully frowned, obviously not intimidated. "Ah, did I hurt the big bad guy's feelings?"

Maddux walked up and grabbed Erikson by the collar of his battle fatigues. "Keep jokin' like that, and doin' 400 push ups will be the least of your worries."

"Break it off Maddux or you'll have to answer to me!" Mummad came in. Another soul not obviously intimidated by Maddux's deadly intentions.

All Maddux could do was back off and turn toward his frame.

"I hope your children grow up to be just like you Maddux." Erikson said under his breath. "So they can get smacked around too."

Noretti came in and passed by Erikson, going as fast as she could.

"You seem to know our fearless leader more than any of us put together. Is he a nice guy?" Erikson questioned.

The woman slowed to a crawl. "Yes, I hope so."

Erikson didn't need any psychic powers to tell him that there was a lot more to the Jax and Noretti relationship then she was letting on.

Jax marched in, tall and straight, and most of all, assured of his position.

"Attention!"

All of Able Squad fell into order. Even Maddux, who looked at Jax in disgust.

Finally, so respect.

"According to our last report the Martian scientific outpost at Barnek was attacked. Despite requests from the Confederation to break off the pursuit of the rebels, the Fleet has decided to speed up and run down the terrorists before they can reach the far side of Jupiter."

"Permission to speak freely sir." Mummad jumped in.

Going on what happened last time, Jax was tempted to shut the Middle Eastern woman up.

*Trust*

"Permission granted."

"Lt. Jax, we have yet to be fully briefed on where and why the rebels are running to the far side of the planet." Mummad's ques. would be straight for the heart. "Do you know why the Exofleet is chasing these rebels almost to the middle of nowhere?"

Experiment in trust was coming up. Jax had to do it right. "I have info on our full mission to wipe out the rebel threat. For the time being though I am not at liberty to discuss this info until all the squads have been alerted."

Jax turned into Mummad's face. "Does that suffice Sgt. Mummad?"

Mummad hesitated for a sec., then came her ans. "Yes Lt. Jax!"

"Now Able Squad", Jax was more than happy to continue on, "due to our sudden course of tactics, we will not have the time to practice like we should. So for now....", Jax paused to pull an object out of his back pocket, "...this." A vid disc came out.

"Permission to speak freely Lt." It was Maximoff's 1st time to speak. Finally all of Able Squad had said something.

"Permission granted."

"Lt. Jax. It is only 1 disc. Now how are we going to take turns watching it when we only have hrs before we make contact w/ the terrorists?

"Glad you asked Agt. Maximoff. Because we're going to watch it all at once." Jax said proudly.

All of Able Squad went into shock.

"But according to protocol we...." Maximoff started again.

"Screw protocol Maximoff!" Jax interrupted firmly. "We don't have time to do things by the book. So people, I hope you have nothing planned for this evening. We're all going to spend time watching together." Jax paused to run his eyes across his charges. "Like 1 big happy family."

_____

"Adm., the rebels' ship has suddenly decloaked!"

*Just as expected at this point.*

"Start tracking their energy trail now before they can cloak again!" Adm Marsh commanded. "Full speed ahead! I want to run 'em down! Ensign, time to contact the rebels?"

The ensign looked down at the screen, "At full speed approx 45 min."

Then the radar the Norgun cloaked again.

"Adm, the rebels' ship has cloaked again."

Adm Marsh leaned on the front console, "DO YOU HAVE THEIR ENERGY TRAIL!"

The ensign looked at the screen once more. "Yes adm., we have them from here on out."

"Seems the Norgun's had a little car trouble." Marsh chuckled.

Capt. Robert Zhang walked toward the front console. He saw the radar too. "I don't think so Adm."

"What do you mean?" Marsh ques.

"Martinez is the best of the best." Zhang applauded. "But there's a circular maneuver that if performed the energy trail gets screwed up. Usually it works to perfection, and Martinez knows about it, but for now he hasn't even attempted it yet. Seems like he's leading us to nowhere."

Marsh stood back and assessed the situation. He came to a strong decision. "Ensign, cloak the Resolute II. Order all ships to cut speed by 2/3 and continue to follow. We'll catch up with the rebels."

The Resolute II cloaked flawlessly.

"All ships slowing."

_____

"Their flagship is cloaking."

Lando was struggling to find faith in Martinez's plan. "They can see us but we can't see them because of the multiple energy trails they get lost in on radar. Martinez, I'm trying..."

"Don't worry." Martinez interrupted.

Lando looked at the merc in contempt. "It's my job to worry. You're not the only one that has the talent to the rebellion alive."

Weston stepped up, "Estaban, Maria. We don't need this now. Especially in front of the crew." She looked at Lando. "Your leadership.", then at Martinez, "Your tactics. And my knowledge of Exofleet protocol. Don't force us all to take sides. Not this late in the game."

Lando backed off softly, "You're right Maggie."

Martinez stood still and silent. It could be told that he was in agreement too.

Sharpe stood up, "Second objective has just come up on radar!"

The unknown and mysterious complex on the far side of Jupiter came up to view on the radar. At full speed they would be able to get around it quickly.

"At least they can't see us." Weston whispered. "At least, I hope."

_____

"Adm. Marsh! Something just came up on the long range scanner!" The monitor said. "Very big!"

*So this was what Exofleet was so concerned about.*

"Stay cloaked but increase speed." Marsh marches to the commlink. "Prep all E-frames, I want them to be on stand by to launch at a moment's notice!"

Episode 12: Run and Gun

The second objective was bigger than the first. Several cruisers around it were half way complete.

"A lot more defenses than we 1st thought." Martinez observed.

"There goes the might Exofleet." Lando stood back. "Always thinking of everything."

Weston leaned forward, with something getting her attention. "Those motherships and the cruiser have a totally different design I've never seen before."

"Same E-frames." Lando saw. "We're outnumbered. Think we should let the Fleet handle it?"

Martinez stood up straight. "Give me 16 people. See that hollow cruiser shell back there?" Both Weston and Lando caught it. "We'll go rt through there and sneak on board. There's too here just to be a weapons depot."

______

"All frames ready." The ensign said.

"Get me hailing frequencies of the complex!" Marsh ran up and clinching his fists.

"Hailing frequencies open."

Marsh started his ultimatum. "This is the Exofleet frigate Resolute II. Identify yourself and prepare to be boarded."

No response.

"Launch A and B deck frames and scout the area."

*Less than a hour after the vid disc. We're not ready.*

Able squad was the 1st out on the forefront ahead of the other squads. Over the past 2 hours all 8 of them had been attentive and attached than ever before.

*The Growing Pains...then the Firefight.*

"Maximoff, anybody trying to make radio contact?" Jax inquired through his intelligence officer.

Maximoff paused, then came through. "No radio contact."

"Scanners indicate a slew of frames coming right at us!" Rengard shouted. "Hard and fast!"

They were coming fast. Maddux knew it.

"Crawl Hawk formation, Lt. Jax!" Maddux started to maneuver, "They're going to attack!"

Jax wanted to ask Maddux why did he call him Lt. No time for that now.

2 missiles came out. 2 frames from Delta Squad were blown back, but fortunately they were heavily damaged instead of destroyed.

"Adm., the oncoming frames are firing on our forces!"

Adm Marsh wasn't about to take it. "Give the order, all frames fire at will!"

"Adm Marsh as ordered us to return fire!" Maximoff yelled.

"You heard it! Let's to is Able Squad!" Jax yelled back.

The question of skill and ordinance was decided early.

Able Squad had it.

An on rushing frame came at Erikson firing. "Wanna know what the mother said the spoiled brat?" Erikson's cyberjack ripped away a Clawhawk missile right after lock on. "She said 'shut up'." Both missile and target collided and were lit up.

Maximoff easily sailed behind 2 frames in skillful precision. He always looked unsure of himself, even when he was pelting the 2 targets with explosive fusion blasts.

Mummad couldn't be contained as 2 frames tried to catch her in a cross fire. She swooped up and down, then started to fire on the frame in front of her. Activating her plasma blade, Mummad whipped around and sliced the frame behind her in the waist. The boogey was cut cleanly into 2 pieces as it collided with the shot up victim behind her. Her skill was unquestioned by the 2 boogeys that blew up on contact with each other.

Rengard's exo-wing performed constant barrel rolls and bank shots, just playing with an ancient exo-wing before killing it with one shot to the cockpit.

Praxis and his wheeled frame was heavy but free. The Neo swooped above 2 frames and placed a missile for each of the them right on top.

Maddux was plastering oncoming frames with a vengeance. 4 tried to entrap him, firing a slew of missiles at him. The projectiles collided with a spectacular blast. Was Maddux dead? A figure came out blasting, blasting like a madman. All 4 frames couldn't get off another shot as it was realized that Maddux had shot all the missiles and came out alive and well. Now all 4 were paying for it with shots to the cockpit, systematically exploding one after another.

Watching Noretti was like watching a ballerina. A mixture of finesse and firepower as she dodge 3 incoming frames and their missiles. Noretti danced flawlessly and still had time and the capability to punish the frames behind her. Jax was compelled to help her, but she wouldn't need it.

Jax's frame flipped over and sent his pursuer packing with 2 blasts to the cockpit. Then he pointed his new rambolt guns up at 2 frames above him. The Harrig ammo impressively shredded the targets that Jax had locked on to. These new additions are superior. Jax thought. No wonder Erikson loved them so much.

Baker, Charlie , and Delta squads were experiencing the same success with Delta being especially brutal in avenging their squad members' near death.

Maximoff radioed Jax furiously, "The enemy is pleading for a surrender!"

The enemy was reforming, trying to back off in a sign that they had had enough.

"This is Adm Marsh! Delta Squad round up the frames, we're sending Echo Squad to assist. Able, Baker, Charlie Squads, give me ammo supplies status!"

"Baker Squad! Plenty more for a fight!"

"Charlie Squad! More than enough!

Jax looked on his view screen of all his squad. For once, they all seemed to be satisfied to be in each other's company. For the 1st time since the loss of Grendiev and Harron, Jax felt accomplishment.

"THIS IS ABLE SQUAD!!!" Jax yelled w/ pride. "WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO DO!!!"

Episode 13: Inside Game

All the action that went on outside was watched intensely. So intensely that Martinez and his small group of 16 foot soldiers were left dethroning the 6 sentries guarding the back bay.

"According to the last report of the Norgun the Exofleet just routed the Martian frames." Conway reported, "Now we're on radio silence."

"Yep." Was Martinez reply as the last of the unconscious guards were dragged into hiding.

Weston came up to Martinez, "Good news, we finally know what this complex is for."

"Great, another weapons complex we can trash!" Martinez grunted.

Weston tilted her head a little bit. "Well yes and no."

Martinez's forehead acquired a very large question mark on it. "Than what are were the unfinished cruisers outside for...decoration?"

"Look at what I found in this crate", Weston reached in the metal box and pulled out a stone,"this is what they have."

Martinez grabbed it and turned it around as he examined it. "It's a rock with chicken scratches on it. If the Confederation has any hopes of challenging the Homeworlds, they shouldn't rely on this."

"But the..."

The alarms went off. The lights were going crazy. "Outer defense perimeter breached. Raising shields now. This is not a drill!" The phrase was repeated over and over again.

"Don't worry people. It's not for us." Martinez calmed everybody down.

"Must be talking about the Fleet outside." Weston commented. "The commlinks are dead. The shield must be jamming our communications."

"And bet we can't get back to the Norgun." Martinez scratched his head.

Onstead stepped up. "We could capture the control room and hold it for ourselves."

Martinez shook his head horizontally. "This place is no good to us if we're sealed in. Not to mention the Norgun is vulnerable. Weston any hope of finding a map here?"

Weston pull a thin piece of plastic out of her back pocket. "Just after the second guard went down."

"Find me the shield generator." Martinez cocked his sidearm plasma shotgun.

"Why, you want me to repair it?"

"No....I want to wreck it."

______

Able, Baker, and Charlie Squads raced along, ready for the next round of battle. The complex seemed harmless.

"This is Lt. Miles from Charlie Squad. Some heavy energy field just went up. Don't know what it is!"

"Slow attack run all squadrons." Adm Marsh ordered.

Maximoff poked forward, "Looks like some kind of shield."

Fireworks came upon the 3 squads. Lt. Miles and 2 other frames were hit. No near misses this time, they were obliterated.

"Cannon fire!" Jax yelled. "Aim and take out the cannons!"

Maddux dumped 2 missiles on 1 of the 10 cannons. They exploded short of the target. "It's a shield!"

"All frames run for it!" Jax ordered.

2 more frames went up in fire. The rest danced around in full blown retreat. More cannon fire went forth.

"Appprox 10 cannons!" Maximoff picked up. "We can't get close to take them out without getting hit."

Jax was still breathing heavy. Maximoff was rt.

_____

All 16 souls crept down into the hold. 3 more guards were dealt with. Weston finally saw it. The shield generator.

"Maston Shield Tech." Weston noted. "An offshoot of Algenon's GRAF shield."

"Works for me." Martinez sarcastic to the end. "Got the explosives?"

"All right here."

"Listen up people", Martinez gathered the troops among him. "We're going to divide into 2 teams, Weston, take 6 and run for the control room in 2 min. My team will make a mess while we blow up the generator. Then after Weston shuts down the outer defenses, go back to the docking bay! Let's go."

Weston and company withdrew to the entrance, taking out another sentry in the process. Martinez went down, his company starting to set the explosives.

A min went by quickly. Martinez had a change of heart. "Change of plan. My team will rush to that secret room. I want to know what this place is really like."

I'm coming with you!" Weston shot in.

"No, they'll need your expertise if they try anything funny in the control room." Martinez rushed off before Weston could protest.

"30 seconds." Onstead whispered into Weston's ear.

________

"What could they be discussing on the bridge? The secret to life?" Rengard hissed.

"We somehow have to take that shield out or get punished again." Jax beat the back of his head against the cushion of the E-frame.

A bright lite appeared, with various colors and fire w/in it.

Maximoff caught his view screen. "An explosion! The shield is going down."

Jax's face lit up. Then a message ran across his screen. "All squads, begin attack run! Knock out the cannons."

All the frames rushed in at full speed, firing from long range. All 10 cannons were incinerated.

"Too the docking bays!" Jax roared.

Able Squad came in gunning. No such luck. All of the defensive retreated inside.

"We've got 'em trapped." Regard yelled. "All we have to do is stay here and keep them inside."

Maximoff walked up behind Jax. "Adm Marsh has ordered us to take the base, NOW!!"

"It's going to be a tough ride down." Erikson remarked.

"Perfect." Maddux whispered to Erikson. "Push ups are too good for you!"

____

The control room was a buzz, trying to coordinate the collapsing defensive forces. Exofleet was already beginning to make a brutal run down the main halls, and now certain guards were missing.

The door flew open, with 2 guards flying through it. 7 rebels with guns came in. The controllers didn't even try to go for their blasters.

"Hands up! I'm not askin' twice!" Onstead yelled.

Weston walked over to the control board. The self-destruct program was uploaded, but fortunately the password wasn't entered. Weston punched a button and the program went down.

"What's going on there Weston?" Onstead asked when the guards were tied up.

The view screens showed how the E-frames of the Exofleet were slowly but consistently beginning to plow down the main hallway, pushing the guards back.

"Our knockout of the shield worked." Weston calmly deactivated the self destruct system.

"Good then! The Fleet can take it from here!" Onstead roared.

Weston switched the screens over to see Martinez moving toward the storage center. "Wombat this is Dragonfly come in." Weston hailed the Norgun.

Lando replied on the screen. "Dragonfly, good to see you're alright. With the action out here I almost forgot about you."

"Good one! What's been going on out there?"

"The complex put up a shield after the scuffle with the Exofleet. A shield went up and blasted some the frames back. Then that explosion that must of taken out the shield. What was that?"

Weston looked around. "We knocked out the shield generator."

Lando smiled, "So Dragonfly, where's your leader?"

"We split up." Weston sighed. "We found some interesting rocks."

"You mean the alien ro...."

Onstead turned his head. The smaller man was trying to hush himself up.

"Get back to you Wombat." Weston wheeled around. "About what rocks?"

Onstead picked up the smaller tech. "The lady asked you a question, SO ANSWER IT!!" A hand blaster was placed on the techs throat.

____

Meanwhile, Able Squad started down the main hall.

"Maximoff, take point!" Jax ordered while walking his frame really fast.

"Me..?" The Russian shuttered.

"No, Santa Claus and his 8 reindeer! Get your butt in gear and get in front! Your equip will scan the hall better!"

Maximoff, as uncertain as ever, marched to the door of the main hallway.

"Erikson, Maddux! Back 'em up!" Jax walked behind them. "I want Maxie to play pointman not human shield!"

Erikson and Maddux walked up on each side. "Maxie. I kinda like that name." Erikson chuckled.

Maximoff started down the corridor 1st. "Please don't call me Maxie."

"OH CHILDREN!!! Stop the name callin' and start marchin' before the Martian defense can get set up!" Jax was roaring like a madman. "Me, Noretti, and Mummad will take rear! Try and keep us from getting stabbed in the back!"

Praxis and Rengard were out of their frames along with Nassar and Rynecki. Their frames made them useless in the close corners and complex.

"Go with them and take the control room!" Jax yelled furiously.

"This is Plague, status inside now." The order was from the Resolute.

"This is Virus", it was Lt. Liberman of Baker Squad, "docking bay secure. Baker Squad taking East hall, Charlie Squad taking the West, Able Squad main corridor!"

Marsh wanted to radio Jax and offer a personal 'good luck' to Nara's son himself. "Very well, continue the assault."

Able Squad slowly but constantly went down the main corridor which certainly wasn't boring.

"2 frames coming from the left hall!" Maximoff shouted.

Maddux quickly stepped up just a shade behind Maximoff. 2 sec later both started to fire as soon as the first frame peeked around the corner. The blast incinerated both on rushers.

"Frame from the right!"

Erikson stepped up and started tagging the other frame trying to ambush them. The explosion finally settled down.

*What precision!*

Jax thought this wouldn't be easy.

"2 frames at the rear!"

Maximoff's warning woke Jax up from his mental slumber. Jax, Mummad, and Noretti slapped the attacking frames w/ plasma bursts.

"Gotta stay awake kid." Maddux muttered to himself.

"Clear. Ready to proceed." Maximoff could finally take a deep breath.

_____

"Martinez, we should get out. The E-frames are inside the base taking it apart!" Weston was trying to be sensible.

Martinez didn't answer back quickly. Weston was worried.

"Let's get out of here before we won't be able to!" Onstead rushed the control board.

Martinez came alive again, "This is astounding what the Confederacy found. Weston you should come and see this!"

"Gladly, but the Exoframes are closing the noose on the place!" Weston persisted. "We have got to get outta here!"

"Meet up at the back bay and we'll hop on the Norgun together."

The door flew open again.

"This is Exofleet!" Rynecki yelled. "Everyone raise their hands now!!"

Weston and Onstead turned to see 4 exo-troopers with side arms. It was hopeless.

A rebel jumped out of a dark corner, tackling Rynecki and Rengard.

A rebel grabbed a sledgehammer and whirled it into Praxis' left shoulder. The Neo winced in pain, dropping his weapon, but he did not go down. The rebel went for a second shot to the ribs when Praxis caught the hammer and swung it around with user still holding it. The man hit the wall and slumped down. Another jumped on Praxis' back and wailed away at his ears, trying to disturb his sense of balance. Praxis lunged himself into the air and sandwiched the attacker between his back and the wall.

Nassar, after taking a couple of shots to the ribs, came back with a knock out punch to the face for one attacker.

A woman tackled Rengard with a banshee scream, trying to apply a sleeper hold. Rengard flipped the woman over her back with her strength. The woman landed out cold.

After putting another person down, Rynecki tackled Weston trying to subdue her. He was stronger but didn't count on her experience in fighting. One thing was important, balance.

Weston twirled her body around, shaking Rynecki off. With him stumbling back, Weston's left fist went the chest, a right to his chin, and then a right foot to the groin. Rynecki doubled over on his face.

Nasser tried next. His 1st and last punch landed in Weston's shoulder. She returned with a right foot in his stomach. With the wind knocked out of Nassar's lungs, Weston grabbed a metal swivel chair and with both arms swung it up under Nasser's face. The body was lifted into the air before landing on his back. The exo-trooper would almost die from choking on his own smashed teeth.

New problems arouse. A control room man got loose and went for a downed sidearm. Praxis, still recovering from his suicidal maneuver, clutched the fallen sledgehammer and hurled it at the man. The hammer gave a vicious body shot that slammed the technician into the wall.

"TERRORIST!!!"

Weston was clobbered by Rengard from behind. Weston got back up quickly but didn't have a chance to fight back. A knee to the stomach got her and she doubled over again.

Rengard grabbed Weston and stood her up. Reaching back as far as she could, Regard slammed a long waited vicious right fist into Weston's face.

"Barrington!!!"

Weston's head was jarred back by the force.

"Mason!!!"

A sec fist went into Weston's face.

"Yoshii!"

Rengard shot for the nose, what was easily broken.

"Karra!!!"

Rengard crossed the fist over as she left Weston go. Weston's body did a 360* but still stood.

*All the better*

"AAAAAAHHHH!!!" Rengard jumped into the air and released a brutal left roundhouse to the side of the head. Weston's head drove her body into the air and landing face first onto the hard metal floor.

The angered rookie pulled out a survival blade and grabbed the now unconscious Weston by the hair. The neck was exposed. It was about to be gutted like a pig.

"Rengard look out!!!" Another escapee of the rebels' original attack came firing at Rengard. Praxis' warning saved her.

Praxis, still lying down, got a hand blaster and swept the room w/ laser fire. The attacker couldn't quite hit Praxis, but the stray shots landed on the cabinets above him. Praxis' eyes gazed in shock as the cabinets toppled over him.

Regard rolled into a wall and was trapped by the gunman. The rookie looked up as the gunner pointed the sidearm down on her with an evil grin. Regard shut her eyes and prepared for the worst.

A shot rang out. Then a body tumbled onto the ground.

Rengard opened her eyes. The gunner was on his face on the ground, shot in the back. Then she looked ahead. Rengard saw Weston w/ a hand blaster dropping out of her left hand, still grounded.

Weston looked forward to see another scared kid of the very unnecessary war. Then her world went black.

_____

Able Squad was still working down the main corridor, meeting a ton of resistance. The scraps of fallen frames were everywhere.

"This place is bigger than we thought." Mummad suggested.

"We should let the Resolute and the Fleet rip this place to shreds." Maddux said trailing Maximoff.

Jax knew why they had to hold back. "I think the admiral wants us to hold back in order to find out what this place is being used for."

"MORE FRAMES IN FRONT!!!" Maximoff yelled. "5!!!"

Erikson and Maddux stepped up and supported Maximoff down the middle. 1 missile from each was sent down through the wall. A freak accident happened. The recoil of the blast came rt back down the center of the wall.

"AAAHHH!!!" Maximoff was rt in the center of the blast while all others were held to the walls. The blast carried his frame backwards into the smoke behind it.

The dust settled, all the frames managed to get their barrings back.

"Maximoff!!! Maximoff!!!" Jax yelled. "Somebody get Maximoff!!!"

"Can't find him in all this smoke!" Noretti tried to remain calm.

"Here Jax!!" Mummad hollered into the commlink.

A hole in the floor was located. "Maximoff could be down their." Erikson suggested. "No frame wreckage here."

"Probably dead." Maddux smirked.

Mummad pointed her guns at him. "How can you say that?!!!"

"Hold off Mummad!" Noretti tried to the sgt down before she could punish Maddux.

"Go ahead sarge." Maddux provoked. "Shoot me. Just tryin' to be realistic."

Mummad stood down and turned around. "You better thank Noretti, she just saved your life."

Jax had had enough. "Able Squad stop bickering and prepare to go down!"

"You mean....we're?"

"Yes Erikson, we're going after Maximoff!" Jax stepped aside. "Maddux! Since you have the most fire power, you take point!!!"

Maddux trotted to the hole. "Why am I not surprised." On screen, Maddux gave Jax a sarcastic salute, "Yes al commandant!" His frame walked into the hole, w/ Erikson following.

"Hey that's my line!"

Mummad was next. "I still think you should of let me blow him to hell Noretti."

"Mummad!" Jax got his sergeant's attention.

"Yes Lt. Yes." Mummad's frame dashed down the hole.

Jax marched to the top of the hole. "Noretti you take rear."

Noretti wondered if Jax was trying to protect her.

All of Able Squad descended down. The flight seemed to take forever. The complex was bigger than it looked.

Maddux landed and strolled around. He found Maximoff's frame, smashed to pieces. The other frames came down and landed. Jax found the frame and ran to it.

"No need to get out the handkerchiefs and start wipin' your tears." Maddux calmly but sarcastically mentioned. "Gunfire must have blown his frame back into the wall. Nobody mangled here."

Erikson went the opposite was, "Look like Maxie had fun during the ride. Broken frame blown to smithereens. Maxie must of hit it with a Clawhawk."

"Erikson!" Mummad struck the repairman.

"Yeah, yeah." Erikson sighed. "He asked me not to call him Maxie."

Noretti turned around. "Look Jax, footprints."

Able Squad turned to see Noretti's discovery. The footprints were bloody.

"Think Maxie....I mean, Maximoff got out?"

"Maddux take pt." Jax ordered. "We're going to find out."

Maddux marched to the point position. "Yeah, so I can get shot and satisfy everyone in the squad."

Erikson followed, with Mummad next. "Not a bad idea."

The whole 3 min the blood prints were followed. Soon they found hand prints on the wall too.

"If it's Maximoff's blood, it's amazing how he got this far." Jax guessed.

A huge dome was entered to next. They found several people standing with in the boxes.

"Get your hands up, NOW!!!" Jax commanded. Able Squad raised their guns.

All that happenedd was the people and 6 frames raised their guns.

It was a stand off.

Request. If you have been reading..then please sent your unbiased opinion to magneto47@hotmail.com I need some reviews, really..

Exosquad Saga 2 by Kyle Golson
Episode 14: Stand Off

For 45 seconds neither Able Squad nor the opposing forces said anything.

"We can take 'em!" Mummad radioed Jax.

"Good! I need the action!" Maddux grunted.

Noretti turned to Maddux's frame, "Is that all you can think of, killing them?"

"Well, what else are we going to do? Break bread together?"

"Quiet guys." Jax responded, "We can't attack until we know where Maximoff is."

Maddux spoke up. "With all that blood left behind, he's better off dead anyway."

Noretti turned to Maddux. "You're running out of friends really fast!"

Maddux snickered. "I didn't know I had any friends to begin with."

"Able Squad this is the Resolute. Status on taking the the Martian complex." Adm Marsh was on the comm link.

Jax radioed back. "We've seem to run into resistance. The people though don't seem to be associated with Martian Security."

"Able Squad, identify them."

Jax decoded that one small step would provoke a situation he was hoping to avoid. A turned on the intercom. "We are Able Squad of the Exofleet! Identify yourselves!"

"I'd like to call this meeting to order." Erikson couldn't resist the joke. Luckily nobody took the time to reprimand him for it.

The one in the middle shifted a little. "We're the rebels that stand 'accused' of blowing up the Signa."

A new ques came to Jax mind. "Are you Estaban Martinez?"

The middle man smiled. "Yup, that's me, just waiting for some friends."

2 pairs of footsteps were heard. Both groups pointed their guns at a different set of doors. They opened. Praxis and Rengard. Praxis ran down with something over his rt. shoulder. It was a body. He turned and gently laid it on a box.

The body belonged to Maggie Weston. Cuts and bruises on her face. Her nose broken.

Martinez went into shock. "Wha, wha, what in God's name did you do to her!!!"

Nobody replied.

"I don't get it." Rengard started. "On the Signa...I saw the attackers. They had on the same uniforms...the same equipment. I swore they were..." Rengard sunk to her knees in tears.

Martinez finally woke up. "No matter. Bring him out!"

A bloody Maximoff came out. He had been hurryingly bandaged, most of the heavy bleeding came from his sides.

"Only reason he's still alive is because he saved the life of one of my people from a Martian frame baring down on her." Martinez told Jax. "She supported him down here to the dome. Why did you bring Weston down here."

"Simple." Praxis stated. "To release her into your custody."

"Any report from Able Squad?" Adm Marsh tried to remain calm instead of desperate.

"No." The ensign reported. "One of the bio status meters of Able Squad has flat lined."

*No! Not Jax!* Marsh thought as he was wondering what he was going to tell Nara.

"The bio rhythms belonged to Officer Dimitri Maximoff."

Marsh wanted to breath a sigh of relief, but decided that would bring guilt for forgetting that another trooper had been killed. "Get me.."

"ADMIRAL MARSH, MASSIVE ENERGY SERGE AT 10 O'CLOCK!!!!"

The energy monitors in less then a second went off the scale. On the main viewer was a bright light. The Resolute II's monitoring and lights went out. The red emergency lights came up. Slowly, one by one, the computers systems came back online. 10 seconds later, the red lights were substituted for the white ones. The main viewer came back on. A bright sphere was showing.

Things were slowly coming out of it.

An earthquake ripped and roared through the complex. The gravity generator went out. Everything and everybody started floating.

Fortunately Martinez had had experience in zero gravity combat. "Everybody, get to the floor before the generators come back on!"

Everyone lacking a frame swam to the floor while the frames stablized themselves in flight.

Finally the generator kicked in again, and thanks to Martinez's quick thinking, nobody had far to fall.

"Ouch, I believe the expression is." Praxis stated with Weston in his arms. His left shoulder wasn't having a good day.

The boxes crashed open. Black rocks tumbled out of them.

Erikson landed and examined the rocks. "Stones. Cool. Now with leather slingshots they could really pummel the Fleet and have the Homeworlds on their knees in no time flat."

Noretti looked around. "You're right Erikson. Rocks won't win you world domination."

"All squadrons return to the Resolute!!!" Adm Marsh yelled into the commlink. "THAT IS AN ORDER!!!"

This was a message that could not be ignored. "Let's go Able Squad." Jax ordered. The squad started to run down the hall back to the hole up to the main corridor.

Jax looked behind him. Praxis raced toward Maximoff's body with Weston in his arms. He stopped and gently laid the beat woman down on the floor. Next Praxis picked up Maximoff's body and started to run the other way. He saw Rengard on her knees, an arm reaching out to Weston's body. She was crying relentlessly.

"Regard." The rookie looked up to see Praxis' hand on her shoulder. "She will live."

Rengard got up to her legs and followed Praxis to the door. She turned to see cradling Weston in his arms. He looked back to see Rengard silently begging forgiveness. He managed to tear himself away and rush to the Norgun.

Martinez first took Weston to the care of the med techs. Shorna, a female Neo who was a doctor, and McMuarry, already told the merc she would live. With that insurance, Martinez rushed to the Norgun control room.

"Did we take a hit on the complex?" The merc rushed in. He stopped in his tracks when he saw the main view screen. In the art of war Martinez had seen it all. This was something he was in no way prepared for.

"What is that?" Martinez stuttered.

Lando turned around, equally shocked. "I still trying to get away from the fact that I may be watching a sci-fi movie. A bright light temporarily knocked out the shop's generators, then about 20 seconds later they all came back on again. All those little thing came out of that white glowing ball. They look like...like...ships."

Martinez finally snapped out of his mental coma. "Get the Norgun away from the complex as fast as you can!!! I don't feel comfortable just looking at the thing!!!"

Lando wasn't in the mood to debate why they were doing this. As far as she was concerned, as long as the Norgun was going the opposite way was all the better.

_____

"All frames have evacuated the complex"

Marsh and Zhang were standing right next to each other, mouths gaping wide open. Looking stupid was the least of their concerns.

"Think the Fleet knew about this?" Zhang also knew about the discovery of the Martian complex.

"How could they?" Marsh looked clueless, "This can't be predicted."

"Adm." The ensign reported. "There...there...there ships coming out of it."

Marsh looked down, "What's the position of the Norgun?"

"In monitoring the energy trail they've abandoned the base."

Com. Zhang stepped up. "They don't seem to think the complex is holy ground either."

The bright light finally disappeared without the same repercussions as the 1st time. The objects finally stopped coming through.

Able Squad was near the A deck of the Resolute II floating to see these ships that had appeared.

"For 10,000 credits would somebody like to tell me what in the heck is going on." Erikson smirked.

Jax inside was fully scared to death. The mission was a set up from the start, but this wasn't in the equation. The video tape was unbelievable.

"I count about...12 ships in all, including that huge one in the front." Noretti said.

The huge started to jitter, a white light began to form.

"Adm. An energy serge is coming from the big ship in front."

Marsh and Zhang looked at the ship with undivided attention.

Able Squad saw it.

The crew of the Norgun saw it.

A long white beam came from the ship and hit the captured Martian complex. The beam drove the base on its side, just before it was totally blown to smithereens.

Episode 15: Fear Realized

Able Squad and the rest of the Fleet saw the Martian complex annihilated in one shot.

"Well the Exofleet won't have to waste its time investigating that base." Erikson chuckled.

Noretti shuddered. "Think they're friendly?"

Maddux looked at Noretti with contempt, "Yeah, sure, and then we can invite them for diner."

"Able Squad. Let's go and recharge and reload." Jax ordered.

A deck opened, and all the exosquadrons flew in.

"The rest of the fleet has arrived." Com Zhang stated. "And I still don't know what we're going to do."

Marsh put his fists on the front console. "If we attack, we show aggression. If we run, we show fear. And if we stand here doing nothing......"

"Not very good."

"Not very good for us." Marsh stood, "We have to show certainly and not show indecision Zhang." Marsh placed his arms behind his back. "Prep all E-frames. Fleet assume battle formation." Then he looked at Zhang. The commander saw it in his eyes.

"I won't feel bad if you send me as an ambassador." Zhang looked sincere. "I've done the same thing for over 30 years." Zhang looked at the view screen, with the slow moving objects. "Personally, I would consider it an honor to act as a representative of the human race."

"THEY'RE GOING TO DO WHAT?!!!" Maddux yelled.

"Apparently yes." Erikson said as he went to repair his E-frame. "They're going to send an ambassador. Capt. Zhang."

"Charlie squad will be the escort." Mummad looked toward the wall and saw and saw a very unforgiven face. "You have something to say Maddux?"

Maddux's face only frowned deeper. "Nobody blows up a non-threatening structure for the heck of it!" Maddux stood up and looked around. "You can all play naive if you want to! But our first encounter with these out of towners isn't going to be pretty, and it won't have a happy ending! So you can all go on with your lily white lives and think that things will be ok!!! I did at once, and look where I am!"

"Apparently not far." Erikson snickered.

Maddux looked Erikson, walking up and getting in his face. "1 day.." Maddux shook his index in the air. "One day..your uppity sense of humor won't save your little butt." The big man strolled out to the center of the flight deck, with Able Squad and all other pilots looking on. "So enjoy your first encounter", then looking back at Erikson, "because the 2nd on won't be so funny!"

Jax watched Maddux walked out of the deck after making his prophecy. He looked down on the floor. Noretti walked up to see him.

"Do you think any of his predictions will come true?" Noretti shuddered.

Jax looked off into the wall. "The scary thing is, I don't know."

Rengard sat by Dimitri Maximoff's bed side. Despite all of the blood he had lost he would make a full recovery. If it weren't for the quick thinking of Martinez and the makeshift bandages their Able Squad's intelligence officer would of surely died. Praxis came in and looked at Maximoff, laying peacefully with tubes linked into his side and a breathing mask over his nose.

"It is good to know he will live." Praxis said, jolting Rengard awake.

"Praxis...you scarred me." Rengard continued sweating.

Praxis looked even closer at Maximoff's body. "That was not my intention."

Rengard say up and got closer to the bed. "I know. Right now, when I look at Maximoff I see that woman I beat up and nearly killed on the complex." A tear went down her left. eye. "She saved my life. Why were they called terrorists?"

Praxis backed off, "In the past rebels have been called terrorists, and the other way around. It is not whether or not you tell the truth, but how you tell the truth. This is why the Martian rebels were looked upon so,...so horrible."

"Simply put." Rengard mentioned as she pulled a photo out of her pocket. Barrington, Yoshii, Mason, Karra, and her, crammed into a photo both. All smiling, well, Karra was trying to smile. "Praxis thanks for..." Rengard turned to barely catch the Neo's shadow outside the door. So big, yet so silent. Rengard placed the photo back in her pocket and relaxed in her chair. "Pull through Dimitri."

_____

The Norgun raced around the planet Jupiter, away from the forms that destroyed the alien complex. All the rebels were perplexed at what to do next. The risks they took were purely for the objective to overthrowing the Confederacy. Now, with the presence of a 3rd party with destructive capabilities, they were more than concerned.

They were terrified.

"How's she doing Shorna?" Martinez walked in the infirmary in heavy pants and a thin t-shirt.

The female Neo got up. "The damage was extensive, but her face will be pretty as it was before."

"Any scaring?" Martinez wiped the sweat off of his brow.

"None that can be seen."

Martinez stood over Weston's bedside, her face was heavily bandaged, with only her eyes showing.

"Can I..."

"Yes Estaban." Shorna turned around. "Don't force her to speak. It might ruin the bone work done with the fusion laser."

Martinez clutched Weston's hand. "If you...you can hear me, squeeze my hand."

Weston slowly gripped Martinez's hand tighter.

_____

Able Squad was pretty beat up. The frame pilots were very tired, nerves frayed. But this was a chance to contact life from another 'wherever'. Lost energy was going to be recovered from nowhere.

Jax was at his frame with a blanket. All frame squads were on standby, what was meant no leaving their frames. The leader of Able Squad was on the floor, with the nutrient strength soft drink not working. He almost lost a member of his squad the first time out, but thanks to his quick thinking he managed to snatch Maximoff from the jaws of death. All Jax could do was put his arm over his eyes. Suddenly he felt a lite kick at his side. He opened his eyes and saw Lueitennant. Enrinco Sanchez standing over him.

"So you're the leader of Able Squad." Lt. Sanchez of Charlie Squad whispered.

"Yes." Jax sighed.

Sanchez lifted his head and looked around as if he were worried that somebody would be watching him. "Good job Jax." Sanchez began to walk hurriedly to his frame.

*Could the squad finally start to accept me?"

"So it's true." Sgt. Mummad stood be Jax's fallen and exhausted body. "Capt. Zhang is going to act as ambassador with Charlie Squad as escort."

Jax sat up on his elbows. "Can a man get some sleep around here?"

Mummad looked down. "Lt., how can you sleep with aliens what evers coming through a what...'wormhole'? And for their opening act they blow up a structure just because it's there."

Jax laid back down, "Because I'm dead tired from throwing orders and nearly losing a squad member."

Now Mummad sported a worried face. "Do you think...?" she looked around. "Do you think Maddux's prediction could become true? Lieutenant, you said if anything bothered me about the squad I could talk to you privately. I'm scarred."

Jax closed his eyes tightly, "Mummad, I don't know what to think any more, but go back to your frame and rest. If something...anything happens, you'll be up to the challenge."

Mummad's worried face turned to one of certainty. Able Squad needed to see this. "Yes Lueitennant." She turned and walked back to her frame.

Jax closed his eyes and attempted to shut his eyes and get some sleep.

"Marko, can I..?"

*Not again*

Jax looked up to see Noretti peering down on him. She was concerned also.

"You worried about our hostile visitors, just like me?" Jax asked.

Noretti looked around and then back into Jax's eyes. "No, I'm worried about you."

Jax's tired eyes opened wide. "You mean, you care about me?"

Noretti looked hard and cruelly at Jax. "I don't know what you think of me, but I want you to know what I think about you." There as quickly as the 1st time she turned and rushed off.

Jax's eye chased her around the corner. After passing behind a frame his eyes scanned across the bay and hit Erikson. The clown's face smiled as it was covered by a comic book he was reading.

Jax lied on his back again. Officer Bradely Erikson. Sometimes he could be the funniest man in the solar system. Sometime he could be the annoying fly you couldn't slap.

*Now, some sleep*

"Attention, admiral and commander on the deck!!!"

Jax eyes popped open again. *When I'm not sleeping through a nightmare, I'm living a nightmare*

Every tired soul rose to their feet and started to stand up straight.

Out of the darkness came a jump troop platoon surrounding Adm. J.T. Marsh and Com. Robert Zhang, marching toward the scout ship Emerson. The historic flight was all go.

Lt. Jax of Able Squad saluted the higher commanders of the Exofleet battalion. Jax tried to look into Marsh's eyes, but among other things he got what he expected, a face w/ no emotion. The group reached the door of the scout ship and stopped.

"So this is the big mission." Com. Zhang smiled.

"Just do it right." Marsh smiled, then turned to Lt. Sanchez, "I'm expecting you to do your job."

Sanchez grinned back while at attention. "You can expect nothing less Adm Marsh."

Com. Zhang turned and shook Marsh's hand. "I hope to tell my baby granddaughter I was the first to see space aliens."

"I'm sure she'll love you anyway." Marsh smiled even more. "Just come back with good news."

Zhang said no more. He climbed and slid past the cockpit pilot while everyone cleared out of the docking bay in less than a minute.

"Clear docking bay immediately!" The operator announced. "Clear docking bay immediately!"

The Emerson and Charlie Squad lifted up and zipped off into space. Marsh fought in The War. He was hoping this wouldn't be another conflict. Now came the hard part.

"Order all E-frame pilots to stand ready." Marsh ordered as he headed back to the main control room.

____

"I can't believe they have the guts to do this." Martinez said, still in shock.

Lando was watching the view screen. "You still look like you've seen a ghost."

The merc looked side to side, the remembered something. Martinez reached into his pocket and pulled out the black rock he found in the complex.

This time the rock wasn't black, it was glowing, a bright yellow with the chicken scratches red.

Lando turned and saw Martinez holding the object. "What's that, a good luck charm?"

Martinez kept rotating the rock around and around again. The cold rock had only gotten slightly warmer. "I don't know. McMuarry, take this rock to be analyzed."

"Sure", McMuarry said, rubbing his neck. "You know, my neck feels better all of a sudden."

"Glad to hear that McMuarry." Lando smiled.

Martinez looked crossly at Lando. "I thought I told you no injured personnel should be working unless in a total emergency."

"And this is a total emergency." Lando whispered. "We're still short personnel, and if it weren't for the alien invasion we'd be home by now."

Shorna appeared in the door, looking concerned. "Estaban, you might want to come and see this."

"See what?"

Shorna looked at Martinez sharply. "You might want to see this...for yourself."

____

Jax walked past Noretti to see her handling something what was glowing.

"What's that?" Jax inquired.

Noretti turned it around. "One of the black rocks that were stored in the complex. It was black. Now, ever since the arrival of these aliens it's glowing."

"Protocol requires you to turn it in for analysis." Jax said w/out any push behind it. "What exactly is it?"

Noretti was still amazed by the glow. "I was going to turn it in, but where is first started glowing, I dropped it and rolled toward Praxis' feet. He picked it up and gave it back before mentioning his shoulder was broken."

"Did Praxis go to the infirmary. That's a very serious injury."

Noretti looked Jax in the eye. "I know, then he told me that the shoulder stopped hurting. Praxis then had it analyzed and came back less than a couple of minutes later, saying it was totally healed, the whole bone structure set, as if it never had been broken."

Jax looked up and down and pondered something, then he lit up. "Come with me."

Both ran to the infirmary, and found Rengard sitting by Dimitri Maximoff's bedside. He still had a ways to go in his recovery. It was most likely his career in the Exofleet was finished.

"Pull the tubes out." Jax said quickly and quietly.

Rengard turned around. "What the heck are you doing? He could die!"

By then Noretti had done everything. The monitors all flattened out.

"He's dying!" Rengard came close to screaming.

Jax looked at Maximoff seriously. The Russian was was dying. Jax then looked at Noretti. "Do it."

Noretti took the rock out. It was still glowing. Holding it above Maximoff's chest, their was no change in the glow of the light.

Rengard's face went into shock. "Look!"

Jax peered around to see the very amazing sight.

Maximoff's bloody wounds were closing.

The severe injuries Maximoff sustained were magically being healed. Finally, Maximoff awoke with a massive yawn. "What's going on?" Maximoff tried to sit up, but a gentle hand kept him from rising.

"Stay still Maximoff." Jax whispered. He looked around, the infirmary was loaded with at least 50 injured people. "Noretti?"

Noretti knew what to do.

_____

Martinez turned into the infirmary right after Shorna and was shocked the moment he walked in.

Maggie Weston was sitting up, no bandages, and with the natural beauty that her face contained before.

"But how..." Martinez stuttered.

"Thanks to that rock." Shorna said, holding the glowing rock in her hand. "The bone healing process wasn't supposed to be finished for another 4 hours. McMuarry sat the rock down by her head in order to pick something else up. A min later he came back and saw her sitting up, taking off the bandages off. The bone structure had been reset."

"Hi Estaban", Weston looked cheery. Despite being 62 years, there wasn't a wrinkle anywhere.

Martinez smiled. "You look better than plastic surgery."

"I wish I could of just paid for it. It's not worth the cost of having your face being hammered in."

"It's been applied to everyone else in here." Shorna mentioned. "They've all retained good health."

The rock was still glowing, and Martinez stared at it in awe, amazed at the capabilities it had. "But...how?

"Analyzing it when healing others, somehow it gives off anti-radiation waves. So instead of killing cells, it not only repairs and rejuvenates body cells, but also creates new cells to take the place of the damaged ones." Shorna continued, "Akers lost a finger, it was replaced in less then 5 minutes."

Martinez couldn't help taking his eyes off of the flourishing object. "Think of all the good it could do. It could cure diseases. Do away with disabilities and handicaps. It could even repair the ecosystems and wildlife on earth."

"If it could be synthesized", Weston stood up, "I was looking at McMuarry's analysis sheet. The material that makes up that rock is nowhere to be found on the periodic table anywhere. It also means no possible compounds can be found to reproduce it. That rock and thousands like it where on that complex."

Martinez looked up. "What?"

"I got the info from a scientist on the complex." Weston continued. "The place originally built to produce arms and ships to attempt to take over the Homeworlds. Then 3 weeks ago a meteorite hit the complex. Fortunately the shield they had been testing was up, and it held. The thing shattered and the debris got caught up in the structure's machinery. When they started to repair they found the rocks and started to study them too while building the weapons and ships. In rock form, toss it hard against a wall and it will crumble. Melt it down at 130*C and sheet it out, and the metal is practically indestructible."

Martinez took a look of concern. "Did they get it to work?"

Weston shrugged her shoulders. "That we will never know. Remember, the aliens walked in and blew the complex up."

______

"Status report." Marsh ordered.

"Admiral." Com. Zhang laughed. "That's the 4th time you've ordered a status in the last 15 minutes. You sound like my mother when I was in the 3rd grade. Calm down."

Marsh decided to let down and laugh. "Not here in front of the officers. Just go meet our visitors."

"Yes...mom."

The scout ship Emerson and Charlie Squad zipped toward the huge form that incinerated the Martian complex. It had been slowed to avoid any indication of hostility. The time had com to make contact.

"Open all civilian, military, and secret coded channels." Com Zhang ordered.

*Here goes everything*

"This is the scout ship Emerson of the Exofleet of the Homeworld's Council. We come in peace." The message was repeated over and over again, calmly.

"Commmander there's a light opening on the ship." The pilot counted.

The light got brighter and brighter, then a beam came out.

The Emerson and all of Charlie Squad were blown to pieces.

Adm. Marsh went into shock. Com Zhang, a jump troop platoon, a whole E-frame squadron, destroyed.

"Admiral energy surge from the ship!"

The beam came out toward the Fleet. The exocruiser Sizer and all her crew were blown away.

"Cloak the ship!!!" Marsh ordered. "Radio the ships. Tell them to turn and run!!!"

"But Admiral..."

"We're not prepared to face them!!!"

The Resolute II cloaked in sheer desperation, hoping against hope that the aliens wouldn't be able to track them. The Alco was the next to go up into flames.

The Fleet couldn't turn in time to dodge all the aliens' firepower. Time came to get desperate. "Order all ships to target the mothership and launch all Spiral warheads!"

The ensign questioned the strategy. "But admiral all..."

"DON'T QUESTION ME!!! GIVE THE ORDER!!!"

The order went out, but not before the Payne received the same fate as the Sizer and Alco. The ship had no chance and the explosion proved it.

All the warheads went out. All 210 Spiral warheads.

"Order the Fleet to run for it!!!" Marsh shouted into the comm link. "We'll rendezvous at the science complex!"

The light show started. One after another warhead smacked into the huge ship. Suddenly the whole ship was enveloped in a cloud of rain fire. The Exofleet managed to turn and run. The view screen showed the explosion cloud. Marsh stood to catch his breath. Unfortunately, the view screen showed the mothership came out of the clouds.

If this was what the hostile forces had, the Exofleet was beyond trouble.

____

"3 battle cruiser treated like clay pigeons." Lando sighed.

Martinez was still locked on the glowing rock. "So Weston, this is the metal the Confederacy was trying to develop."

Weston stepped up. And craft would of been severely damaged from 1 Spiral warhead. The alien ship was slammed with 210 warheads. "Apparently."

Experiences in warfare provided Martinez with no hope, much less answers. For the 1st time in his career he experienced the feel of helplessness.

Episode 16: Courage Over Fire

"Go to sleep, go to sleep, go to sleep my little baby. When you wake you'll get some cake, cornbread, honey, and gravy."

"What?"

"Mommy, sing it to me one more time."

"Erikson wake the hell up!"

"Mommy what's wrong?"

"Bradley...I'm not going to sing that song since your life no longer depends on it."

"Aww, get that light out of my eyes. You're blinding me." Erikson raised his hands to cover his eyes. The bright light gave way to the beautiful feminine face. "I have died and gone to Heaven." He started to smooch his lips for a kiss, and he got a foot in his chest, forcing him back on the floor.

"I should've left you in dream land." Noretti walked away.

Erikson sat up and turned to see Jax, who was standing right above him, "You never know when to quit."

"When you tell me what happened", Everything started to come back into focus for Erikson. "I'll consider it."

"Alright." Jax started. "During the sudden turn around a E-frame fell on top of you. Your neck was broken and your cranium was bent in."

Erikson smiled. "Then why am I not at best...dead?"

Jax pointed over to Noretti, holding a shining object over another broken body.

"Nice glow in the dark rock." Erikson snicked, "Did you get it out of a cereal box?"

Jax walked away. "Maddux was right about you, you'll never get it."

"What ever." Erikson got up and started to follow Jax, but the clown couldn't resist the opportunity to see what this rock was all about.

Noretti turned to see Erikson over her shoulder. "Don't you ever quit?"

"Not in the genes." Erikson bent over to see Ernie Chapel. He had a piece of shrapnel in his leg that was painfully removed. "Ouch."

"Shut up Brad!" Chapel yelled.

"Yes Brad", Noretti turned around, "shut up and watch this." She turned around and held the glowing rock over the leg. Suddenly the bone was brought back together. About 30 seconds later, the wound had completely closed.

For the first time, Erikson looked shocked, not humorous. "You mean to tell me...that rock, healed my broken neck and cranium?"

"Rest a few minutes before you try and stand up Chapel." Noretti suggested before she stood up. "Yes Erikson, but I don't think it did much for your brain."

Erikson looked puzzled, then smiled, finally he busted out laughing.

Noretti walked over to Maddux. He had a long gash on his left cheek. It wasn't bleeding heavily, but it was noticeably a dark red.

"Hold still while I..."

"No."

Noretti was shocked to see Maddux looking off into the distance.

"But this can..."

"No, I don't want that rock anywhere near." Maddux defiantly enforced.

Noretti walked 4 steps behind Maddux. Then, without warning, she tackled Maddux and brought him to the floor. Less than 3 seconds later, Maddux pushed Noretti up into the air before she landed on her back.

"Umph!!!" Noretti heard something crack. Maybe it was her back. She would never find out. With the glowing rock in her lap, the healing process was already in motion. About 15 seconds later she was able to stand up, even though she seemed very groggy. Others rushed to he assistance.

"Listen Noretti, I don't need your assistance, I don't need your help, I don't need your council, and I DON'T NEED YOUR PITY!!!!" Maddux yelled. "So leave me alone!" He finally started to turn and walk away.

Noretti was up, her senses and balance fully restored. "You can't take on the whole universe by yourself!!!"

Maddux stopped and turned his head back. "What do you think I've been doing for the past 10 years?" He walked off and turned the corner, out of sight.

"Why you..." Noretti felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Praxis.

"Let Maddux go." Praxis suggested calmly. "Even without his consent, you have done to Maddux what you wanted to do for him."

Noretti wanted to start a debate, but then she remembered Maddux's cheek. She had noticed that when he turned his head to the right the gash was completely gone. "I guess that's enough."

Praxis noticed something and frowned. "It is a shame that this mysterious gift cannot heal emotional wounds as it does physical ones."

Noretti, in her Neosapien mind, packed more reasoning power, but she still saw the validity in Praxis's statement. "I wish it could too."

The joy had gone out the Exofleet forces after surviving the sudden turn around and escape.

The Sizer.

The Alco.

The Payne.

All hands on deck never had a chance. Com. Jonna Brinkley was sec in command now. She had stayed back at the Martian 'science' complex. Marsh's decision to run was all and good. The Exofleet was in no way prepared for a full scale war. Now on the Resolute II the brass was deciding what to do next.

"I say we can take 'em." Capt Green suggested. "If we show any more weakness we may not have the opportunity to fight them."

"We still don't know what they are, or what they want." Capt. Sierra yelled out. "Maybe they misunderstood our olive branch of peace."

"Com'n Luis." Capt Lindon shouted in. "We know that's not their intention. It's a lesson that already cost us 3 ships and 1,500 lives!"

"The good news is the Homeworlds Council is beginning an overnight session and..."

"We don't have time to wait for the Homeworlds Council."

Everybody turned to the head of the table. The chair was turned around toward the wall. Adm J.T. Marsh finally wheeled around for everybody to see. His face was full of raw steel.

"The enemy forces, whatever they are, are to strong too wait!" Adm. J.T. Marsh stood up with a dark glare, very hard and unfeeling.

"But Adm, protocol and rules say we have to wait for an official ruling from the Council." Capt Sierra stated.

"As of right now, I, Admiral J.T. Marsh, am assuming sole command of Exofleet Alpha flight." The Admiral firmly stated. "Those who oppose me may say so at this time and leave the fleet without any repercussions."

All the commanders looked at each other. They were had been shocked by Marsh's blatant disregard for the rules and protocol that mad the Fleet subservient to the Homeworlds Council.

Com. Brinkley stood up and was the 1st to speak. "As 2nd in command of the Fleet, I, Com. Janet Brinkley, will stand fully behind Adm Marsh and follow his orders without question."

"I too, Capt Barret Green, will do the same."

Capt. Lindon spoken next. "You have my full cooperation."

One after another announced their allegiance to Marsh in defiance of the Council rules. Only Capt. Sierra remained silent.

"We Luis." Capt Lindon inquired quietly, "Are you with us?"

Capt Sierra looked down and let a tear get away. "Next week is my oldest son's 10th birthday. For the last 2 years I've promised to take him the Parrot Amusement Park in North America. For this time I promised to take him, I would MAKE the time." Capt. Sierra wiped his face and stood up with back out straight. "This is Capt Luis Sierra. Your orders ...Adm Marsh?"

Marsh found it little comfort that he had the unwilling and full backing of the 11 com. and capt, in front of him. "My orders...are to prepare for full scale war."

____

The Norgun stayed close to the alien forces than the vulnerable Exofleet did. It was reassuring to know that these aliens couldn't track a cloaked ship. But still...

"Clueless?" Weston whispered in Martinez ear who was still starring at the large view screen.

"Definitely." Martinez uttered back without releasing a stare from the site of the mothership.

"Onstead says we have a couple of fusion bombs." Weston mentioned. "Get close enough, plant 1?"

"If 210 Spiral Hawks didn't work, I seriously doubt that will work." Martinez answered.

"Martinez, something's happening." Tanner yelled back.

The alien ships started in a moderate speed to start forming into an unorthodox position. All 20 of them. Soon all of them remained and started to gain speed.

"Where are they headed?" Lando rushed in and yelled.

5 seconds passed, then the response came. "The Greenman Complex. The current location of the Exofleet forces. At cruising speed, they could be there in 3 hrs."

The game suddenly changed.

"Follow 'em." Martinez ordered.

Lando and Weston looked at Martinez. He HAD to be crazy.

"The Exofleet might need our help."

_____

All of the Fleet had finally gotten the word. The Sizer, Payne, and Alco gone. And worse, the aliens were coming. Right now.

None of Able Squad had any attachments to the 3 cruisers destroyed by the first contact. All were for the time being after getting ready were staring at Maddux. His prophecy had come true, and for the worse part, it wasn't over....yet.

"Enemy has arrived." Maximoff finally heard the message over his comm link. He was fully recovered, but still unsteady as ever.

All E-frame pilots were ready. No pep talk necessary. On the books, they had no idea what the hell they were up against.

"Able Squad." Lt. Marko Jax stepped up. "Ready for launch."

*Alice*

The coin flipped down Marsh's knuckles again as he leaned back in the desk chair within his personal room. He thought this would be the last time. The last time.

*The last time.*

Underneath, Marsh knew full well what Capt. Sierra felt, but he couldn't show it. At least the Homeworlds would be safe from the confirmed threat around Jupiter. Now, alien forces that the martian Confederacy most likely provoked threatened their very existence. Whatever the secrets that the Martian complex possessed died with one shot from the alien mothership.

The coin flipped up and down his left knuckles again.

*Alice...What happened?*

"Adm? Adm Marsh?"

Marsh didn't hear the alert till about the sixth time. "Yes...yes what is it?"

"The alien fleet is firing. The Berol has been destroyed."

Jax and Able Squad sat in their frames and awaited either death on the flight deck or death in the stars. Jax had never seemed so utterly alone. He thought of family back at the farm.

Mom/dad had fought one war.

Now he was about to fight another for the family.

The Resolute rocked again, smashing his train of thought.

Jax looked at Noretti. Alice seemed scared, even though she tried no to show it.

Jax turned to Erikson. There was Bradley, laughing hysterically at a comic book he was reading. He put the thing in the back of his frame, as if he were going to finish reading it later after he got off of work.

*You could laugh in front of a firing squad.*

Praxis looked emotionless has he always did. The Neo looked as if something in the past was on his mind.

Mummad looked like she were meditating with her eyes closed. Keeping her under wraps, it seemed to be working.

Maximoff looked around as if he knew somebody has a gun pointed at him. Brought back from the brink of death, he was going to be taken right back there.

Rengard sat in her exowing. Barrington. Mason. Yoshii. Karra. The snapshot. The Signa. The belief that the rebels held the responsibility for their deaths. The woman that saved her life despite being killed by her own hands. Now with the fate of the Homeworlds at stake, the thirst for true vengeance could never be quenched.

There sat Maddux. He had a deck of cards in his hands. He was flicking them out one by one. Maddux looked enraged.

"I hope you plan on cleaning up that mess when you're done." Erikson chuckled.

"ALL E-FRAMES ON LAUNCHING DECKS A, B, C, AND D, PREPARE FOR LAUNCH IN 1 MINUTE!"

Maddux flicked out thed final card. Under it was the Ace of Spades. "The story of my life." The heavy gunman flicked that last cards on the metal floor and closed the cockpit. The cards swirled around as the door opened into an explosive space.

"Here goes everything." Jax said to himself. The cyberjack went in, and the frame took off.

Episode 17: Courage Over Fire

Half of the exo-squadrons ran out of the decks from the Resolute II toward the alien fleet.

"Wheels of the bus go 'round 'n' 'round, 'round' 'n' 'round, 'round 'n' 'round. Wheels of the bus go 'round' 'n' 'round, on a school from the alien fleet.

"Erikson shut up!!!" Mummad yelled into the comm link, trying to concentrate.

"Lt. Jax, miniature crafts coming right at us!" Maximoff stumbled through his words.

"Adm Marsh, little ships from the alien fleet!" Com. Brinkley yelled. "Officer Maximoff's frame is sending the visual specks right now."

The main view screen started to bring up the pictures. Everyone was horrified to see the object of the enemy.

Adm. Marsh's mouth gapped wide open. "They look like...E-frames."

"E-frames?" Jax screamed. "E-frames?"

"THAT'S WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE!!!" Maximoff was more frantic than angry.

The figures were coming hard and fast. The looked more circular with limbs and weapons strapped to their sides.

"Arrgghh!!!" Jax felt a sudden blast of cold air rush through his head. Vivid memories, all out of order, came rushing to life. Experiences he thought he had long buried were rapidly being resurrected, as if someone were reaching through his mind and grasping randomly at things long forgotten. A whole hour seemed to pass.

The three seconds passed. Jax was shocked back into realty. The destruction of the Thast at the hands of the alien mothership rocked his frame.

Maddux raced ahead. The target was the lead enemy frame. Maddux's spine sent the order. The missile hit the figure dead center. An explosion ripped it apart.

"THESE ALIEN BASTARDS BLOW UP JUST LIKE WE DO!!!!!" Maddux yelled like a madman. "LET'S GET "EM!!!"

The embittered force of exosquads started to engage the enemy. Jax fried his first alien bogey less than 10 seconds later.

The Fleet had a fighting chance.

"The Shinra has been destroyed!"

"Adm, that second one!" Brinkley yelled over the commotion. "We can't keep taking this!"

Adm. Marsh knew she was right.

Able Squad and the E-frames were in a bloody battle with the unknowns.

*Another hit*

"They just keep coming!" Noretti slapped another enemy craft with several blasts. "We're taking heavy losses!"

Rengard ducked and dived as she gunned for what looked like a bridge on one of the alien ships. The fusion blasts bounced off the top of the cruiser.

"The bridge is too strongly shielded." Rengard frantically rolled away from the ship.

Praxis dodged more shots trying to lose a bogey on his tail. "What makes you think it is a bridge?" His frame took another hit. "I really could use some..."

An explosion shocked the space waves.

"Help?"

How Rengard managed to make the shot Praxis didn't have time to ponder. "I thank you."

The cruisers started fire in a criss cross formation, tearing several E-frames apart. Jax and Maximoff, side by side, barely avoided getting blown to pieces. Maximoff backed out, locked on to a alien cannon and wickedly fired his Harrig guns at it. The cannon was blasted apart.

"They're not indestructible!" Maximoff declared.

The Fleet frames were still getting killed in the middle of the alien forces.

"All frames withdraw and regroup!" Brinkley frantically yelled into the comm link. "Admiral, our E-frames, they're..."

"I know! And it's time for us to get involved!" Marsh leaned up on the console. "Resolute, head to the far ship on the alien's right. flank!! Sneak up and fire on the bow."

"But Admiral...!"

"DO IT COMMANDER!!!"

While cloaked, the Resolute moved across the battlefield, and was at the ship.

"Uncloak and fire!!!"

The Resolute II and ran across the ship in the opposite direction, firing like mad. The shots first bounced off the nose of the alien craft. Unfortunately for the ship, explosions started to take place in the middle of the ship. Finally the Resolute cloaked again.

"Looks like the ship's suffering a direct hit!" Brinkley proclaimed.

Marsh finally had hope. "Turn around and do it again!"

The Resolute II turned around and on the same side of the cruiser, uncloaked, and focused the blasts at the middle of the ship. Finally, after the Resolute cloaked again, the cruiser broke in half, and then detonated.

"Able squad!" Jax ordered. "The Resolute just gave us a way out! Let's take it!"

All frames exited via the rubble of the destroyed alien craft. Morale was increased as the frames regrouped with the alien enemy following.

Mummad was busy trying to fight off 2 aliens that seemed to be getting the best of her. Caught in a terrible tailspin she couldn't get out of, she prepared for the worst.

*This was it.*

2 explosions happened suddenly on each side of her. Another one wrapped its arms around her's.

"You alright?"

Mummad's head finally stopped spinning long enough to recognize her saviour. "Kramer?"

"Yeah Mummad." Kramer back off after steadying Mummad's frame. "It's me."

*Move it or lose it.*

No time to fester on the past during a hellish present.

"Where's your squad Kramer?" Mummad asked.

Kramer had a bucket of sweat going down his face. "All of Baker Squad are dead. I was the only one to hold out till now. Can I run with you?"

"Better than dying w/ me." Mummad replied as they reqrouped with the rest of the Fleet E-frames.

Erikson finally smashed the frame he had been chasing. As the wreckage crashed into a side of an alien cruiser, it left a huge hole. Slowing his frame down, Erikson wandered inside. He kept himself silent as his frame swept across the white glowing line running inside a see-through pipe. The power monitors on his frame was going beyond its limits. After thinking for several seconds, Erikson finally came to a decision.

"And the doctor said to the patient..." Erikson pointed his right. Harrig gun at the pipeline, "What happens when I do.....this?"

Erikson swept the pipe with gunfire. In sequence, the pipeline exploded. Erikson turned around and rushed out as the blasts got bigger and bigger. Finally, the ship broke in half, and went up in flames.

"Houston, we have a weak spot."

"Admiral Marsh!" Comm Brinkley turned to Marsh. "Officer Erikson of Able Squad just confirmed our suspicions. The middle of the craft is the weak point! Suggest we make another run again."

*So they wanna war! We'll give 'em one!*

"Make it so!" Marsh saw a different ship in mind.

The Resolute uncloaked and ran across the ship, all the cannon fire targeting and hitting the middle of the ship. There would be no need to run by it again. The cruiser separated like a broken stick and both parts lit up seconds after the Resolute cloaked again.

Able Squad and Kramer were fighting for their lives. Unfortunately, they were getting fried mentally in the process.

With Kramer at her wing, Mummad was plowing a a way through space. Shots tapped Kramer in the back. A small flame burst out. Mummad started back, firing at the frame taking Kramer apart piece by piece, as if it were just playing with him.

"Kramer, he's on your right!"

Kramer was gone mentally, not being able to maneuver. "I can't move to hit him!"

"Kramer he's on your left!"

"Com'n help me!!"

"Kramer he's behind you!"

"I CAN'T SEE HIM!!!"

Kramer went up in flames, and the alien disappeared.

"5 exocruisers have been destroyed." Brinkley lamented as the Kaire was the 5th one to be blown away. "This was of attrition isn't working! We're not hurting them fast enough!"

"We're not going to retreat..."

"ADMIRAL MARSH MASSIVE ENERGY SERGE AT 8 O'CLOCK OF THE MAIN FLEET!!!"

Marsh's nightmare suddenly got worse.

A bright light came forth, with several objects quickly racing out of it. 10 seconds later, the light disappeared.

"8 alien craft." The ensign stated. "One of them looks like the enemy mothership."

*And in the position we're in, the Exofleet will be shredded to pieces.*

____

They had finally arrived, in the heat of battle. Soldiers for both sides fighting valiantly. The new forces were stronger than anticipated.

"The hyperspace jump has been completed." One of the subordinated said. "Weapons systems powering up."

The leader has a cloak around its body with a helmet on, hiding the face. They could easily monitor the battle. "And the enemy?"

"The enemy will be in range within a few moments."

"Very well."

______

"Get the E-frames back to the Resolute." Marsh ordered. "They can buy us the time we need to scatter and get back to Earth!"

Lt. Banner's face of Gamma Squad appeared on the main view screen. "We can't run without most of us getting shot in the back!"

"Without the frames within the Fleet we'll lose a ton more if you don't move!" Marsh radioed again.

Banner wouldn't be around to debate it. His screen went static. His life meters had flatlined out.

___

Their forces moved closer, finally at the desired point of attack. At the rear of the fleet.

"All weapons are at full power. Targets have been acquired."

The leader decided it was time. "Fire at will."

____

A beam of light went out and struck the target.

Jax and Maximoff were caught in the shockwaves. For the next 10 seconds they struggled to get out of it.

"Another one!" Jax cried. "Our ships are dropping like flies!"

"No Lt. Jax." Maximoff replied.

"What do you mean no? Our people our getting killed with one shot!" Jax thought of the farm as if he would never get there again.

"No Lt. Jax." Maximoff started again. "As in not our cruiser."

"What do you mean?"

"That was an alien ship that blew up!"

The alien forces at the rear of the Exofleet started a full scale barrage on the forces ahead of them.

"Admiral, the aliens at the Fleet's rear are firing on there own ships!" The ensign proclaimed.

"Of all things." Marsh wondered out loud. "They're protecting us."

Com Brinkley was also astonished. "We're saved, or are we?"

Holes started to open within the ships. Figures started diving out of them.

"Admiral, alien frames have been deployed and are rushing toward the battle."

"What are they doing?" Brinkley asked. "Reinforcing the enemy?"

Marsh had a better idea. "No. Acting like a cavalry."

_____

The enemy was being reinforced by others. And now the tide of the battle had changed...for the worse.

"Sire, several of our cruisers have been either heavily damaged or destroyed from the sec attack! We must retreat!" One of the advisors beneath the stand of the high chair pleaded.

"Never, we can still win!" The leader proclaimed.

The mothership rocked violently. The enemy forces were starting to hurt.

"BUT OUR RIGHT FLANK IS TOTALLY DEFENSELESS!!!"

The advisor was right. To run would be dishonorable, but to stay would be suicide. And with a much higher objective at stake, saving face was going to be the least of their worries.

"Hail the rest of the fleet. Order a full scale retreat."

____

"Adm Marsh. The attacking fleet is running!" Com Brinkley screamed. "We're saved!"

The aliens at the front started to turn and run. Within less than a min they had gone. The Exofleet was in no way able to follow. They were happy just to survive.

But hell still refused to go out of business.

"ADMIRAL! SOMEBODY...OR SOMETHING...IS GOING THROUGH OUT FILES!!!" The ensign yelled.

The whole Resolute shuddered as all the view screens on the ships started fluttering with pictures of designs, personnel, technology, top secret plans. As if they were being scanned.

"Enact the computer security protocols!" Marsh ordered.

"It's not working!! They're being scanned too!!"

Finally, the commotion stopped. The view screen remained white.

"Now....they know all about us." Marsh feared out loud.

Lines and shapes started appearing on the screen, over and over again in the same sequence.

"Look at them." Brinkley said. "They look like...chicken scratches."

Strangely, the shapes started turning into capital letters. Again, the screen went blank.

"What else now?" Marsh though out loud again.

The eerie silence was broken as the computer alerted to an incoming message.

"PERMISSION TO BOARD THE RESOLUTE II."

The statement kept printing itself on the view screen, over and over again. Everybody seemed too shocked to move.

Finally, Marsh broke the silence. "Tell them we'll talk on the Pland."

5 small ships came out of the main alien fleet, heading straight for the Pland, as if they knew where it was. The fight deck opened as all the crafts landed safely inside. As soon as the flight deck closed, several frames appeared right behind them, with a force of jumptroops in position, ready to fire.

Able Squad was among the assigned guards inside the Pland. Guns ready to fire.

The cockpit of the bigger alien frame opened with a cold steam going all over the place. Shadows cold been seen moving around. A red cloak shuffled out, with limbs coming out to remove the helmet off the head. Finally, the face became visible.

The face was feminine, scarlet skin, with painted purple and blue lines. It was like a terrain with brood marks. The female alien with purple hair looked at Marsh, and then other Neos in the command staff, and smiled.

"So after so long, the legends were true."

____

The losses were heavy at the enemy that was stronger than first suggested. Now their brethren had joined the enemy.

"More of our forces shall be here in a short time." An advisor said. "We can rush them and then..."

"It's too late for that." The leader had learned a critical and costly lesson. "Call our forces in, and we will change our strategy on these people."

"But the enemy...without them gone...we won't be able to continue our search."

"No worry." The leader finally became optimistic as he removed his helmet. Long white hair came down with orange skin and organized red stripes on his cheeks.

"By the time we find the Genesis Machine, the Exofleet, the very force that protects these...'mutants'", holding his right hand out, he clinched it like a cold fist. "will be annihilated!"

End of the first part.

Exosquad Saga 2 by Kyle Golson
Informational Interlude

Now at a turning point in the story, here is more info.

Zen Ken-the alien brotherhood divided into 2 sects, the Zairen N'Koth and the Zedda Khan. These 2 have been at war ever since the search for Zahadoom. The anatomy is like a half terrain and half Neosapien, showing the relationship between humans and Neos. Skin colors varies with lines are sort of brood marks, even though they have natural reproduction. The only real advantage they have is the increased mental abilities to mind read, or called by the Exofleet, "Mind Blasting". Unfortunately, prolonged action in a short period of time causes a massive migraine within the Zen Ken cerebral cortex, saving this action for only times of desperation.

Zahadoom-loosely translated, is the Zen Ken word for "the Genesis Machine". This mysterious piece of technology both races claim can 'create' life out of nothing. The source of this 'Machine' is proclaimed to be raw energy, but since the law of physics says energy cannot be created nor destroyed, the question of what is raw energy is still unanswered.

Zairen N'Koth(Pronounced Booth with a K)-They fight their brethren race with the Exofleet. They believe that the Genesis Machine is a piece of technology that somehow destroyed their civilization in this area of the universe. Somehow, the existence of the terrain and Neosapien are connected to their legends.

Zedda Khan-The Zen Ken that fight their brotheren and the Exofleet. Not so much evil over good, they believe real power isn't destruction, but creation. They wish to take possession of the Genesis Machine.

Characters

Slath Kurkin-liaison from the Zairen N'Koth to Able Squad. Being around those who don't trust him at all, he seems apprehensive about his own identity.

Kran Dalen-female frame pilot for the Zedda Khan. Her husband was killed in battle, and hunts the Fleet pilot that is responsible for it with a passion.

Rekka Ken-She leads all the Zairen N'Koth forces. Calm but assertive in battle. Inside she is very war weary, but knows that the Genesis Machine in the wrong hands can lead to very dire consequences.

Lord Fendor-leader of the Zedda Khan. Underneath, he's not evil, just his intentions for the Genesis Machine are sinister. Though in a do or die quest for Zahadoom, he cares about losing soldiers, which makes him very honorable.

Rath Bilikis-chief intellect/scientist for the Zedda Khan. Very docile but has the personal favor of Fendor, who has faith that Bilikis will find the Genesis Machine.

Myra McDagget-blind from birth, she is a genius that is called upon to study the alien technology. She is the creator of the Series 4 E-frame.

Triad Inc-the company that 1st created the Neosapien 150 yrs ago. They were destroyed during The War, and most of the records of how the 1st Neo was created were lost.

Get ready for more action....

Episode 18: First Contact part 1

It was a strange object. Very strange.

A structure, red, white, and green, was contained in a see-through sphere, filled with a clear liquid. White objects or specks were loose. When turned upside-down or shaken, the specks would swirl around in the air.

Primitive, but yet so intriguing.

"What is it?"

The alien turned it over again. "I don't know.

"It doesn't seem that technological." The female alien sat next to the male, getting a closer look at the object.

The alien turned it over again for the 20th time. "For an object without any machinery, it seems to be very captivating."

A tall alien male was pacing a hole into the metal floor ever since arriving on the Pland.

"Worried?" The another alien female asked as she peered outside the window into space, filled with stars and floating battleships.

"How can you trust these beings?" The huge alien stepped up to the female leader. "For all we know they could have Zahadoom and not tell us. It would be in the favor."

"Primary scans of their files fail to support any suggestion that they even know Zahadoom exists." One of the aliens said. The huge alien looked at him in disgust. Obviously intimidated, the alien looked down at the floor. "Then again, the scans could be..."

"You could be right or wrong." The leader jumped in to offer a sort of support. "I have taken into account that people may or may not have Zahadoom, but I am certain of one thing."

"What is that?"

"Zahadoom...is here."

_____

Adm. Marsh still looked at the view screen with the aliens in Capt. Herod's main office. They were speaking, but it was all mumbo jumbo. They were obviously speaking another language.

"Think it was was wise to take their weapons?" Brinkley asked. "A few of them haven't been acting so...mellow."

Marsh folded his hands and leaned back into his chair. "They offered to surrender their weapons 1st. They want us to think of them as non-threatening at least."

"You could take into account that they could be a wolf in sheep's clothing." Brinkley suggested.

"That's why I put them here instead of the Resolute." Marsh replied. "It's the only ship that can cloak, and I'm not taking any chances with the only thing these aliens don't have an answer for."

The group continued as Marsh and Brinkley watched on. "Don you think they know we're watching them?" Brinkley asked.

"They have to know. They may be our saviours, but they're not yet our allies."

Praxis strolled down a corridor when he heard heavy breathing. It could be a injured soul over looked. The Neo raced down to see Mummad huddled in the corner with a cigarette between her index and middle finger in her right hand.

"Sgt. Mummad, you know in Exofleet regulations during time of alert, smoking is not allowed." Why humans would do such things to their bodies still amazed Praxis.

"I know...Praxis." Mummad stammered with great effort. "But, ba...ba." Mummad looked at the floor and then Praxis in the eye. "Praxis, did you feel anything strange, strange in the..."

"Battle?" Praxis injected.

"No." Mummad tried to light her cigarette, but was shaking too hard to bring the flame to the tip.

Praxis took the flame and tried to bring it to the cigarette in Mummad's mouth. Mummad shook, and the cigarette fell to the ground. Praxis picked up the tobacco stick and the carton it was in. The carton had 3 cigarettes in it. Calmly he put the object in the box and placed it in her belt. "You're unable to smoke right now. Now, what are you talking about?"

Mummad looked out into the darkness. "Before we engaged the enemy, I felt a cold wind go through my head. Memories in my head. Experiences. All came up one after another, all out of order. It was like somebody was...was reading my mind." Mummad peered back at Praxis. "Did you get that feeling? Or am I going mad?"

Praxis placed his hands on his hips. "Yes. It was not a good feeling when in a universe of technology that the cerebral cortex, the last place of sanctuary for our deepest secrets, can be easily penetrated."

"Could these...aliens...have the power of mind control?" Mummad asked. "The power to drive one insane? The 3 seconds I experienced seemed to be like hours."

Praxis turned his back and started to walk away. "It is chilling to find out these aliens most likely have this power. All we can do is hope that they are mature enough not to abuse this power." The Neo walked off to the flight back.

Mummad remained stationary, huddled in the darkness.

Erikson leaned out over the metal bar, trying to get the best look without...

"Erikson, the admiral gave us strict orders NOT TO TOUCH THOSE ALIENS' FRAMES!!!" Rengard stated.

"I'm not touching these machines." Erikson proclaimed his innocence while backing off the frame. "I'm just...looking at them."

Rengard walked to Erikson, who was standing in front of the large alien frame. The thing could easily hold them up as a regular Fleet frame.

"So, since you haven't touched the thing." Rengard said. "What is it?"

Erikson attempted to hold a straight face. "It's some sort of Exoframe. Has the same physical specs as ours."

Rengard looked closer. "But how do they know? I mean, they look like humans and Neosapiens smashed together."

"Ergo...they know something about Exotechnology. The E-frame." Erikson replied. "Maybe..." Erikson said with a hint. "...they created Exotechnology."

Regard stood back. "Wait a minute. We created the E-frame. Not them."

"And how do you know that?" Erikson chuckled.

"Because before the Neosapien Revolution the E-frame was created by Triad Inc." Rengard suggested.

Erikson looked closer into the alien frame. "True, but they also created something that was beneficial to society."

"What was that?"

Erikson turned and looked Regard in the eye. "The Neosapien."

____

4 figures stood in separate places in the throne room. The battle was a tie, but the cost of that tie was too high. The leader was not pleased.

"You said the enemy was weak." The leader on his chair said.

The one closet spoke up. "Out initial contact was misleading..."

"AND THAT WILL BE OF GREAT COMFORT TO THOSE WHO LOST COMRADES IN OUR LAST BATTLE!!!" The leader jumped off his chair. "NOW WE MUST REGROUP WITH FORCES LEFT AND OUR BRETHREN WITH THE ENEMY!!!"

"But Lord Fendor, we shouldn't even worry." Another woman said. "Zahadoom isn't even here."

"IT IS HERE!!!" Fendor yelled at her. "The people are here. The technology is here. These beings don't realize what kind of power they sit on in this solar system." Lord Fendor walked up to Koth Marlyn. "Zahadoom is here!"

A male came into the room. He suddenly stopped just after entering the door. He was out of breath, obviously showing his body wasn't built as as fit or strong as the others in the room. "Lord Fendor..."

"WHAT?!!" Lord Fendor turned to the man in full anger. Suddenly, Fendor's face of wrath turned to a grin. "Bilikis?" Fendor smiled. "Nice of you to join us."

"I apologize Lord Fendor." Still out of breath, Roth Bilikis struggled to continue. "I was still analyzing the data..."

"I'm sure your reasons for lateness are more than sufficient." Fendor interrupted his chief scientist. "So tell us...what have you discovered from the data we have acquired about this...Exofleet?"

Bilikis looked down, still obliviously intimidated. "Mostly military files. They obviously have no idea that Zahadoom even exists. But a surprisingly the medical files reveal a great deal about th being we have confronted. May I continue?"

Fendor nodded his head as an affirmative answer.

"They are 2 races. The first race is the terrain. They have existed the longest. They essentially have most of the physical interior organs/DNA specks. The 2nd race is the Neosapien. They are physically stronger that humans, but mentally they have difficulty showing any kind of emotion. But the most surprising notion that if properly combined, the DNA could be a match with those of the Zen Ken race."

All of the people in the room gasped at the discovery.

"YOU LIE!!!" Pentech Argis exploded. "WE CANNOT POSSIBLY BE CONNECTED WITH THESE MUTANTS!!!"

Bilikis seemed thrown back from Argis' outburst.

"Argis!" Fendor jumped in. "Let Bilikis continue with his report."

Bilikis continued. "Another thing. These people have harnessed the knowledge of Exotechnology. This is confirmed by their battleships. They are E-frames."

"I suggest we should increase our knowledge of our adversaries before we engage in combat again." Bilikis looked down at the floor. "My knowledge of combat is insufficient, but the data of our enemy is still incomplete."

Marlyn turned to Bilikis. "And just where are we going to find more extensive knowledge of these terrains and Neosapiens?"

Bilikis backed off again. "According to their files, the 2nd planet from their sun called Venus is close enough to send scouts and investigate a large population setting called 'Vesta'. The defenses are light so it will be quite easy to fly over Vesta and perform a mind probe of every electronic computer and learn more so our next chance we confront our enemy again, the outcome won't be so...less than satisfactory." Bilikis stepped back after the statement, seeing everybody starting to frown in disgust.

Fendor though, brightened his smile even more. "Argis, ready 2 scout ships and a force of E-frames. Bilikis, prepare the equipment. We will commence the mission at once."

_____

The recording device was set.

"Hi mom, dad. Hey Yancy and Rene. I know I haven't spoke to you ever since we shipped off.

"As you saw in the news, I've been in combat. There have been lives lost. My squad though, has survived despite a few close calls.

"Able Squad is kind of....interesting."

"I wish I could tell you more, and I wish I could tell you that I'm coming home soon, but I won't lie to you. I don't know.

"Bye family, I love you all, and I hope to see you soon."

Jax shut off the recorder and leaned back in the chair. He wasn't allowed to tell them about the aliens, but he had to tell them something.

But now, it wasn't battle stress that was killing Jax. He had been awake for the past 48 hours. He was dead tired, but sleep had not come to him.

Jax thought about the powers these aliens possessed. Not with their technology, but mentally. They could read his mind. The last refuge. Now it could be penetrated.

Those who had lost their lives were now the lucky ones. Marko Jax was going through his own private, mental hell.

Episode 19: First Contact part 2

Adm Marsh walked in with Com. Brinkley trailing. A crew of jump troops followed, guns drawn. Marsh finally approached the guards at the door of Capt. Herod's office.

"Open it." Marsh ordered.

The guards opened the door, and one of them stepped in. A giant alien male with blue lines crossing the red skin of his face stepped in from of him.

"Arrgh!!!" The guard yelled. He felt a cold wind going through his head. Memories went through his mind.

"STOP THAT THIS INSTANT!!!" The woman turned to say in her native tongue. Marsh nor anybody else understood the language.

The alien stopped the activity. The female stepped up to the door and looked at Marsh. "I apologize for my commander's lack of trust and what it has led him to do.

Marsh shuffled his feet. "Why yes, I'm sure you have to do what is necessary."

"I'm glad you understand." The leader stated.

Marsh started up again. "Well, we want to talk, and learn more about you, and the alien enemy we had to fight. This way."

The flock of aliens followed.

Everyone sitting in the Pland conference room was speechless.

"Well." Adm Marsh stood up.

*Please let this be not so embarrassing.*

Marsh managed to get up the strength to continue. "As you probably know already, let me introduce myself. I am Adm. J.T. Marsh, leader of the Exofleet. We are the military force of the Homeworlds. We terrains and Neosapiens live on 4 planets. Venus, Mars, Mercury, and Earth." Marsh hiccuped, took a deep breath, and asked a daring question. "Who are you?"

The female stood up, about 5'8' and med body size. Her hair was gold with braids around her neck. She finally started to speak. "I am Rekka Ken, leader of the Zaire N'Koth. We are from another galaxy and as a race we are the Zen Ken."

Marsh decided to press on. "Who attacked us?"

"You fight our brethren race, the Zedda Khan. We are from 2 different planets, separate. But when we were united, we would meet and celebrate our existence together. Then, the fighting began."

Marsh looked puzzled, "What are you fighting for?"

Ken looked down at the table. This would not be an easy question. Finally, she looked up. "I will ask you a very important ques. It will be extremely important that you be totally honest with us, for your very existence depends on it."

Marsh shrugged his shoulder. "We'll try to ans your questions."

Ken asked then. "Do you know where Zahadoom is, or what it is?"

All the faces of the Exofleet staff grew instant question marks on their faces. This signaled to the Zairen N'Koth that this was a negative answer.

"What is...Zahadoom?" Marsh asked, now plunged back into his unstable feelings.

"Zahadoom...loosely translated into you language", Ken started, "is 'the Genesis Machine'."

"The Genesis Machine is a piece of technology we created eons ago. It was supposed to create life out of nothing. We have been fighting the Zedda Khan so we can obtain possession of the Genesis Machine."

"Well Rekka Ken...", Com Brinkley spoke up. "We don't know about Zahadoom, or your Genesis Machine. I for one still don't trust..."

"Com. Brinkley!" Marsh spoke over her. "I'll ask the questions." Com Brinkley was silenced, but still frowning. "She is still speaking for all of us when we mean we still don't trust you. What makes you think that you deserve this 'Genesis Machine'?"

Ken looked to the side. "Despite us helping you in battle against the Zedda Khan, your lack of trust in us, the Zairen N'Koth, is understandable. It is natural not to believe what you do not know.

"A large population of both Zairen N'Koth and Zedda Khan possessing the most intellect came here to develop the Genesis Machine. Upon the first test, and we lost contact with them.

"We believe the Genesis Machine destroyed them. The Zedda Khan believe the Genesis Machine is a source of power. The debate soon turned into a war."

Marsh decided to become more bold. "Then where is the Genesis Machine?"

"We...do not know." Ken's tone was uncertain. "The files that contain the coordinates for the hyper space travel were lost."

"What makes you so sure the Genesis Machine is here?"

"Because..." Ken answered. "Of your existence."

_____

Martinez hadn't slept in 48 hours. He simply couldn't sleep, the matters and concerns weighed heavily on his mind.

Weston approached Martinez, who was watching the enemy fleet. "Why don't you get some rest Estaban?"

"So I can toss and turn? I can't sleep?" Martinez replied.

Weston peered at the alien fleet. The Norgun was cloaked. Whether or not the aliens could be alerted to a cloaked ship, the Norgun would stay cloaked and take no chances.

"I've never been so scared in my life." Martinez admitted. "We face an unknown enemy from who knows where, and they have the capability and the willingness to destroy us. I can fight other battles because I know what the worst outcome could be. This time...I don't know what to think."

Lando bursted into the room seconds later. "Not good. Radar picked up 2 small ships leaving the mothership."

"Where are they headed?" Martinez asked.

"Venus." Lando breathed in deeply. "They'll arrive in 2 hours."

____

Marsh walked into his office. Being related to aliens...was something not possible. The existence of terrains and Neos made the Zen Ken this Genesis Machine was somewhere in the solar system. He plopped down in his chair. A noise woke him up. He had someone on the comm link.

"Yes." Marsh grunted as he pushed the button to respond.

"Adm Marsh." The ensign began. "We have an incoming communication on a coded frequency. It's not Exofleet but very professional. We can't identify the source nor home in of it's location. They say they will only talk to you."

*Could be the rebels*

"Put them on." Marsh ordered.

The screen was static, and the voice cold and computer generated. "Adm. Marsh."

"Are you the rebels?" Marsh asked.

"What difference will it make?" The voice replied. "Right now 2 alien ships are headed for Venus from the alien fleet. If you hurry you can intercept them before they reach the planet." The comm then stopped.

Marsh contacted the ensign again. "Ensign, do a radar check of any ships going to or leaving Venus."

Seconds later, a response came. "2 ships, none of them are on our intelligence files, are headed for Venus. They're too fast for us to catch."

Marsh decided to do something anyway. The Zairen N'Koth had returned to their ship.

"Contact the Zairen N'Koth ship!" Marsh said. "Hurry!!!"

10 seconds later, Rekka Ken's face appeared. "You have called for an audience?"

"Yes." Marsh rushed on. "2 ships from the Zedda Khan fleet are headed for Venus. They're small. What are they and how much of a danger are they?"

"They are scout ships." Ken replied calmly.

"Are the going to attack Venus?"

Ken looked back decidedly. "Highly unlikely. They are not built for combat. The Zedda Khan will probably scan Venus from more files on your races."

"They too fast for us to intercept!" Marsh shouted.

Ken leaned into the screen. "I could give you a scout ship with a crew that will follow your orders. You might want to have E-frames too. Though typically aggressive, the Zedda Khan will not engage unless fired upon first."

Marsh had no choice but to trust them. "Alright then, stand by."

Ken leaned off the screen. "I will prepare a crew immediately."

Marsh turned and contacted the ensign. "Order all frames on A and B deck to prep and fly our...YESTERDAY!!!"

A horn woke Jax out of his troubled sleep.

The alarm horn.

"ALL E-FRAME PILOTS STATIONED ON A AND B FLIGHT DECKS. LOAD ON FRAMES AND PREPARE FOR LAUNCH! THIS IS NOT A DRILL! ALL E-FRAME PILOTS STATIONED ON A AND B DECKS. LOAD ON FRAMES AND PREPARE FOR LAUNCH! THIS IS NOT A DRILL!"

Barely an hour past. Sleep was at a premium. Jax was forced to summon energy that didn't exist and rund from his bed to the flight deck. He finally arrived.

"Nice of you to join us fearless leader." Erikson chanted while climbing into his frame.

Without a response Jax hopped into his frame and closed the cockpit. "Cyberjack on." The wire was attached and injected into his spine via the neck. The frame roared to life.

Erikson, Mummad, Maddux, Rengard, Praxis, and Maximoff were loaded up.

"WARNING! FLIGHT DECK OPENING!"

The doors into cold space opened. All the frames flew out.

"Your orders are to proceed and dock on the alien vessel up ahead." The ensign called out.

Jax's jaw dropped. Able Squad was equally shocked.

"They want us to land on that ship?" Mummad asked in a tone of disbelief.

Jax didn't know what to think. They all quickly proceeded to enter the open door and put down softly. The door closed behind them.

"The meters read oxygen levels similar to ours." Maximoff stated. "Should we open our cockpits?"

"Have you lost your mind you idiot?!" Maddux yelled. "You don't know what they have!"

Jax suddenly caught sight of Com Brinkley, standing in the atmosphere. Apparently the air was alright to breath. He could see her talking to the aliens. 2 were male, one was female. Jax could also see that Brinkley was talking to one of the males which led to the alien turning to talk w/ the others. He guessed that he was translating for Brinkley.

Finally Brinkley was directed to an object on the wall. She opened her mouth to release distressing news. "All E-frame pilots, 2 enemy ships are headed for Venus. Stay in your frames."

*Venus. Please. Not Venus.*

Jax's mind crashed as the enemy was headed for his home.

Vesta. It was a sunny day at 85*F with no humidity whatsoever. The perfect day.

Children played in Vesta Metropolitan Park. One boy fiddled with a ball when he decided to look up. He immediately ran to his mother.

"Mommy, what are those things in the sky?" The boy asked in a child like voice with normal curiosity.

Mother continued to read her book. "I don't know son. Do they look like birds?"

"No mommy, I don't know what they look like."

The mother decided to look up to provide her son with an answer. What she saw was unexplainable.

2 ships floated over the center of Vesta, the largest and most populated city in the Homeworlds.

"We are prepared to perform the mind scan procedure." 2 Zedda Khan males sat at a control board mentioned. Both proceeded to place a helmet on their head, covering their eyes and nose. The helmets had wires in the back of the neck.

Klade Manx was the leader of the mission for the Zedda Khan. "Implement the mind scan when ready."

One of the aliens pushed a button. The mind scan began as the wires came to life. In Vesta, every computer, database, and electronic file source went haywire. The 2 Zedda Khan controllers began soaking up all the info the city possessed.

A light came up on the control board. A Zairen N'Koth controller turned and whispered something to the translator. The translator turned to face Brinkley.

"Commander. A message to the Exofleet has been intercepted from the population center called Vesta. Would you like to respond?"

Brinkley walked to the control board. "Yes, this is Com. Brinkley of the Exofleet."

"Com. Brinkley." A male face appeared. "This is Capt. Watzlaurick, of the Vesta police task force. 2 ships have appeared over the middle of the city. They don't appear to be any Exofleet file. We're sending police frames to investigate."

Brinkley lit up, frightening the controller beside her. "Capt. Watzlaurick, call your frames off those ships!!! Repeat!!! Call your frames off those ships!!!"

"General Manx. Certain E-frames of different style are approaching us." The Zedda Khan controller turned to report. "They appear to be armed."

The mind scan was still in progress. Manx still remembered Fendor's orders. "Launch Kranz force to the front of the ship, but do not fire unless 'I' order them to."

The flight deck opened, and 12 frames came out. They all formed a group formation at the bow of the ship. The slowed down and proceeded at the speed of the scout ships.

"It appears they shouting something for us to acknowledge." An operator began to translate the message until it came through to their alien language.

"THIS IS THE POLICE! STAND DOWN AND LAND YOUR SHIPS! THIS IS YOUR LAST WARNING!" The message came over the sound of the Zedda Khan control board.

"Those appear to be E-frames." The leader of the Zedda Khan frames called in. "Permission to engage."

"Denied!" Manx replied firmly.

The police frames fired first. The alien frames scattered.

"We've gone ahead and engaged the enemy." Capt Watzlaurick reported.

"CAPT. WATZLAURICK!!! IF YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR OFFICERS CALL THEM OFF!!!" Brinkley pleaded.

The Zedda Khan danced around the primitive firepower of the Vest police force. True to their orders, the alien frames held their fire.

Unfortunately, the enemy gunned down one of their comrades. The frame fell into the streets of Vesta, crashing among the cars. The people on the ground scattered from the explosion. Another missile smacked into the an alien frame, sending the flaming hulk into the side of a skyscraper.

"Please, we're starting to get hit!" One Zedda Khan pilot radioed.

Manx, one of the more docile military commanders in the Zedda Khan fleet, sincerely hoped if wouldn't of come to this. "Kranz force...", Manx said meekly. "Defend yourselves. Fire at will." The Zedda Khan started to answer back with brutal efficiency. In the first blasts 3 police frames were obliterated. Another 2 went down before the police frames could take abasive action.

"Capt., they're starting..." Lt. Talin's scree went to static.

The Zairen N'Koth scout ship began setting over the Vesta city limits.

"Prepare to launch!" Com Brinkley's voice came over the alien loudspeaker. "Engage the enemy on contact!"

*Here goes everything*

"Let's go Able Squad!" Lt. Marko Jax ordered.

The force launched out the scout ship. They rushed to the action were the Zedda Khan frames were slaughtering the police forces.

"Let's get their attention!" Jax locked on to the closest Zedda Khan scout ship. A Clawhawk shot out of Jax's frame and punished the port side.

"Me...me...next!" Erikson sent another Clawhawk crashing into the same port side.

The enemy scout ship flamed and shuddered. The other frames followed suit, pelting the ship with Harrig gunfire. Now the craft started to flame up.

Larcen Maddux and Singh Mummad preferred to go after the frames.

"Welcome to the Homeworlds." Maddux calmly muttered as he focused and blasted an unsuspecting alien E-frame. "Enjoy your stay."

"Argh!!" Mummad charged the enemy frame with plasma blade drawn. The frame turned to face Mummad's wrath. The angry sargent brought the blade down and sawed the frame in half from head the torso. The wreckage exploded into 2 pieces. "That's for Kramer."

The surprise attack on the Zedda Khan was effective. Unfortunately, it was also temporary.

"The Bliz has been critically damaged!" The controller yelled back at Manx.

The mind scans were still incomplete. "Scramble all E-frames off the Bliz and engage the enemy!"

The flight deck of the Bliz opened, and angry frames came flying out.

"More bogeys out of that ship!" Maximoff cried out.

"SO WHAT?!" 2 Zedda Khan frames charged Maddux. Maddux pulled back firing, destroying both of the enemy w/ his guns. "More to kill."

Praxis started to fire too. "Our new problem is the innocent people below us."

Jax knew that the wreckages started to rain into the park. "First cover the police frames. They're getting chewed up. We'll defend the park next!"

All the E-frames fired, covering the last of the police frames.

20 police frames approached the aliens. Only 3 managed to survive.

Several Zairen N'Koth frames rushed the into the fray. They shredded the wounded Zedda Khan scout ship.

"The enemy ship is about to crash into the park!" Alice Noretti screamed.

Com. Brinkley knew there was nothing that could be done to stop the sinking ship. Then the translator took the initiative. Barking out orders in the Zen Ken dialect the scout ship raced over and shot several lines into the Zedda Khan vessel.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!!" Brinkley yelled.

The translator didn't hae time to answer. Despite the weight, the scout ship towed the vessel to the Vesta River. Finally, it was dropped into the river and exploded.

"I'm sorry if that was not your order, Com Brinkley." The translator apologized. He had not followed Rekka Ken's orders that Com. Brinkley was in command of the operation.

Com Brinkley finally looked relieved. "Thanks for your quick thinking."

Meanwhile, both enemies were busy destroying each other. Casualties started to even out, but also increase. "The Bliz has been destroyed!" The controller said.

"Is the mind transfer complete?" Manx asked desperately.

"In a few moments."

"WE DON'T HAVE MOMENTS!!!" The Zedda Khan commander yelled. "HURRY IT UP!!!"

Maddux flipped over and fired on an enemy frame. Despite the good shooting, the enemy frame maneuvered right and got tapped on the torso before crashing into the park.

Maddux smiled as he dove firing a missile down to the wounded frame. An explosion took place.

One of the controllers took off his mind helmet and turned to Manx. "The mind transfer is complete."

"Good." Manx was relieved as he searched the radar. "There! Order all Zedda Khan forces to retreat and rendezvous at that bridge structure. We will make our escape there!"

The Zedda Khan 2nd in command saw the situation differently. "But commander, honor requires of us that we fight on."

Manx in a full fury turned around and laid a haymaker on his inexperienced comrade. The officer was slammed to the metal floor. Manx drew his side arm and pointed it at his comrade's head.

"HONOR REQUIRES OF US TO FIGHT TO THE END IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE MISSION!!!" Manx cocked his weapon. "WE HAVE DONE THAT!!! WE WILL LEAVE THIS BATTLE!!!" Manx turned to his head and noticed all the controllers looking at him, shocked. "WELL, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? MAKE IT SO!!!"

The Zedda Khan frames started to duck out of the fight despite their good chances of winning the battle.

"THIS IS OUR CHANCE!!!" Maddux started to chase the frames.

Suddenly, a frame flew in, firing like a madman, intent on unloading all of his ordinance. Maddux ducked out of its way. The 2 frames, 1 Fleet and 1 Zairen N'Koth, behind him weren't so lucky. They were blown to bits by the Zedda Khan frame. The whole force gearing up for the chase attack was forced to scatter before Erikson slammed a missile dead center.

"The enemy is headed for the East Thompson Bridge!" Maximoff reported.

"After them!" Jax ordered. He had already realized that the charging frame's bravery had bought the enemy the time they needed to escape.

All of the Zedda Khan frames were gunning for the ship. One by one they landed in the flight deck. One frame couldn't fly, but was running among the hover cars in the traffic jam with people jumping out of their vehicles and scattering out of its way. Another Zedda Khan frame much larger than the one on the ground hovered above it.

"LEAVE ME!!! SAVE YOURSELF!!!" The female pilot screamed.

Though she was his superior officer, the frame ignored her order, swept down, and hugged the damaged frame. With all the reserve energy remaining, he hauled his comrade up into the scout ship. The door finally closed.

"All remaining frames have boarded the ship." The controller reported.

Manx leaned on the front console. "Get us out of here! Maximum speed!"

The scout ship started ascending into the sky. Within a minute's time, they had reached orbit. The next minute the scout ship increased speed back to the Zedda Khan fleet.

"Let's take 'em." Erikson yelled.

"That's a negative!" Com. Brinkley ordered. "All frames stay behind and begin to assist in relief efforts. Adm. Lavender will be coming from Fort Craven and take command. You are to talk to nobody about what this battle contained! That is an order!"

The translator faced Com Brinkley, puzzled. "But Com., we have the resources to aid in the city's recovery."

Com. Brinkley let out a slight sigh. "Thanks for your concern, but the city isn't ready for you. Let's return to the fleet. You've done more that your share for the day."

The translator wanted to stay, but his ordered were clear. He slowly translated Brinkley's command. The Zairen N'Koth ship started to ascend and return to the fleet.

"Looks like we're stuck here." Erikson mumbled. "All the way from the action."

Jax looked around the city's landscape. Several fires had broken out. The whole city was in ruins.

"Why?" Jax whispered to himself. "Why...this?"

"Jax...Jax." A feminine voice radioed him. "LT. JAX!!"

Jax turned to the screen. It was Noretti. "Yes?"

"You alright?" She asked.

Jax managed to grin. "Yes, I'll be alright."

"Good" Noretti smiled back. "Let's go out and save some lives for a change."

Jax found more energy to smile. "Yes. Let's do that."

Do I have any fans/critics? magneto47@hotmail.com

Exosquad Saga 2 by Kyle Golson
Episode 20: Station Break

"Just breaking now, we take you to Gordon Forbes, lives in Vesta just less than 2 hrs after this tragic event. Gordon, what's going on?"

"Well Andrew, like you said it's less than 2 hours after Vesta was viciously attacked by unidentified forces. The Exofleet arrived and managed to fight off the assault but not before the deaths of 17 police frame pilots defending the city. We've just gotten word that the death toll has risen to 57 people, with still at least 60 missing."

"Gordon, do we know who attacked Vesta, and why?

"Some say that the Martian Liberation Army was to blame. When approached the Exofleet declined to confirm or deny whether the terrorists were at fault. Though nobody has claimed credit for this attack yet, the reason why these terrorist would attempt an all out assault on a city not on Mars defies all logic."

"How is that?"

"The MLA even on Mars never laid waste to a city on the planet without reason. Only army instillations were hit. Now the people are looking for answers ever since the Exofleet has cut off comm from news links while pursuing the terrorist on the other side of Jupiter. They want to know if they can expect more attacks anywhere else on the Homeworlds from anyone even if not from the terrorists themselves."

"Well Gordon we'll get back to you in a moment. The Homeworlds have just gotten this press release that they spreading out their forces on Mercury, Venus, and Earth. The Martian Confederacy has declined on accepting any help from The Fleet. All personnel have been called into action. A spokeswoman from the Exofleet stated that they have vowed to work around the clock until they have found out who is responsible for this attack and then attempt to eliminate these forces before they endanger any more cities on the Homeworlds. But as now the Fleet has been put on full alert and are starting to spread their forces out now that every city in the Homeworlds is under threat from still unidentified forces."

____

"It was nice of them not to blame us for a change." Lando smirked. "Have they decided on the truth yet?"

Martinez looked on the enemy fleet as the Norgun was still cloaked. "Why? Do you want to tell the populations of the Homeworlds that they stand on the brink of annihilation from alien forces? Talk about a new definition of panic."

"Gotta understand, Lando." Weston jumped in. "The safety of all the people in the Homeworlds have been put into question. They're scared enough as it is."

Lando backed off, put was still very ticked. "I guess I've been lied to too many times I can't accept it." With a new vitality, Lando faced Martinez again. "Why would 2 alien ships head to Vesta any way?"

Martinez looked at the floor. "Recon. They would of sent more forces or that huge mothership if they wanted to flatten the city. The satellite portrayed how the police frames fired first. The aliens danced around those shots for a full 30 seconds before they returned fire. The last thing people need to hear is that the VPD provoked the enemy into firing back, costing the lives of more than 50 lives."

The alert bell came on. "BRACE FOR IMPACT!!!'

A large hit the door of the flight deck.

_____

"Here they are. 2 people. Hurry, get that statue off them!!!"

Erikson calmly pulled the broken monument off the 2 people with his frame. They were a woman and a young boy under her.

"Look mommy, look!" The boy pointed up. "E-frames! E-frames!"

"Yes...yes they're E-frames." the mother replied in a weak but certain voice.

"Get a medvan over here!" Jax yelled in the comm link. Are you alright?"

"Just get my son some help." The mother uttered with a smile.

Erikson jumped out of his frame w/ a medikit. The boy ran up to him. "Mister, are you really a certified E-frame pilot?"

Erikson chuckled at the boy's forwardness. "Well, they don't let me play with it like a toy."

"You'd be surprised." Jax whispered to himself.

"Cool!" The boy replied. "Can I ride in it? Can I?"

Erikson kind of shrugged his shoulders. "Ah, I'm kinda busy with it right now."

Jax jumped out of his frame and approached the mother laying down. Her right leg was totally mangled. He finally looked down on her. "Hey miss." Jax whispered. "Can you keep a secret?"

"What?" The woman asked in shock.

"Miss! It's important that you keep quiet about this!" Jax whispered more strictly. "Can you do this?"

The woman looked to the side. "I guess."

Without a word, Jax knelt down and pulled an object out of his ordinance belt. The rock was still glowing. The leg started to reset and the ribs moved back together. Painlessly, the wounds had all but disappeared. The woman was shocked as she sat up. "Terry, come here honey."

The boy rushed over and stood by his mother's side. "Yes mommy?"

"Stand still honey."

The rock started to heal the bumps and bruises he had. They were gone in within 15 seconds.

"That's cool!" The boy yelled again. "Can I have it? I want to show it for show and tell."

Jax placed the rock back in his bag. "I think I going to have to hold on to this for awhile."

"Then can I have a ride in the E-frame?"

"You don't ask for much do you?" Jax learned to lighten up to the boy's many innocent requests.

The medtech van appeared. The all terrain hover vehicle was late, with all the debris around, getting from pt. A to pt. B required anything but a straight line. The van's sirens stropped and 2 medtechs hopped out the back.

"Sorry we took long." The medtech rushed up. "The main entranced still is blocked up. Had to go halfway around the city to make it here. The patient?"

"I'm fine." The woman replied. "So's my son."

The medtechs looked at the woman body and then the son. Then they looked at each other.

"Who are we to argue?" Jax replied.

"You 2 must be extremely lucky." The taller medtech said. "But we's still like to take you in for tests just to be sure."

The mother started to stand up. "But I'm..."

"Miss, I highly suggest you go with the medtechs." Jax spoke up. "There's been a lot going on, a lot of people hospitalized. 2 more won't make a difference whether they get done any sooner. It's their job to be sure."

"Com'n Terry." The mother commanded gently.

"Bye Mr. E-frame pilot." The boy waved eagerly. "Goodbye!"

Erikson reached onto his shoulder and ruthlessly tore the Exofleet patch off it, then tossed it to the boy. "Here, give that for show and tell."

"The boy looked at the 'E' patch up and down. "Really?"

"They can always make another one." Erikson smiled.

"What do you say to the nice man?" The mother asked her son.

"Thank you." The boy said. going to his mother's side .

"Thank you." The mother looked at Jax.

Jax saluted her as the medtechs took off.

"More lives saved." Erikson whispered.

"Yep." Jax replied quietly. "To bad half of the other ones weren't so lucky when we found them."

"Hey." Erikson headed toward his frame. "We did our part, and with that glow in the light rock we saved more lives. The rock can only reheal. It can't resurrect."

"You said it." Jax agreed.

"Able Squad! Able Squad! This is home base come in!" The commlink went on.

Jax rushed back and started to respond. "This is Lt. Jax of Able Squad, come in."

"This is home base. Your orders are to rendezvous at Fort Band, recharge your fusion packs, board the Kersey, and return to the main battle fleet."

Jax looked down in sorrow. "But we can still do a lot of good down here."

"No need Lt. Capt. Granbuer and the medical frames have already arrived. Report to Fort Band. You have your orders."

Jax turned off the comm link in disgust. "What's the death toll? 70?"

"80." Erikson answered in a calm voice. "70 was an hour ago. We've done what we could, it's time to go back."

Jax climbed into his frame. "At least I hope we can learn who our allies are, and what the heck we're up against."

You can return to the fan-fiction page.

Or return to Patrick Danner's ExoSquad page.