12 Strange New World (1/2)
Cpl James had a good dream, with a pretty girl, living the good life while still schooling in university, when the Swarm invaded and turned the dream into a nightmare. The faces of Shawn, David and the rest keeps appearing and taunting him no matter where he ran or hide before catching up to him and turning into a Swarm warrior drone, it's limbs gripping him tightly and drawing him into a deadly embrace.
Screaming, he jolted awake suddenly and flailed around, bathed in cold sweat before remembering he was buckled up in a crash seat. He took several minutes calming his racing heart down before trying to get out of his restrains.
Where are the lights? He got out and stepped on the deck, thinking that he must still be under the effects of the drugs that he felt the ship was slanted. He looked at the rows of marines and crew members strapped to their seats and realized that it was the side effects of the cryo shot, the ship is slanted. Is the gravity generator broken down? He removes his helmet and a strong smell of ozone and burnt plastics instantly assail his nose. He coughs violently and turns on his flashlight on his harness.
The light beam lit up the compartment, showing people strapped to crash seats mounted in 2 rows against the wall. Spending some time. James checks his teammates' and the crew members' vitals and found them all alive but still sleeping.
Trying to open the hatch of the compartment, he found that there is no power and has to manually crank the door open. As he stepped out to the deck, he could see several beams of lights as other members of the crew are moving up and down, rescuing people and trying to organize things.
James waved at a crewmember with a medical patch on his sleeve and called out. ”Hey, medic? I got about 30 guys in here. Can you check them out?” The medic took a quick look into the compartment and took out a marker and starts to write something on the bulkhead next to the hatch.
”Power's out for now. No comms no network.” The medic explained as he sketches some medical lingo on the bulkhead. ”Got it, I'll be right back with more help. By the way, head to the forward flight deck, everyone is gathering there.” The medic said and rush off down the hallway.
As James approaches the flight deck, he notices it seem brighter and a chorus of voices could be heard and the air feel cleaner, less smokey. Stepping on to the flight deck, he was surprised at the sight he saw.
The launch bay doors lay open, displaying a view of the evening sun. Orange purple skies and clouds stretched as far as he could see. He stood there watching the view than he realized that they had landed on Blake's World. He notices the foliage looks bluish-green, instead of green but other than that everything looks suspiciously Earth-like. Even the smell of the sea from the breeze.
James walks to the edge of the open bay doors and peers off the side, he found that the ship or what is left of it is wedged directly into a cliff hill. The forward bow appears to be buried into the hill while a trail of destruction could be seen behind the aft section. Wait how did we land? I thought the plan was to drop supplies from orbit and not the whole ship? He rubbed his short crew cut hair and sat on the edge of the doors, feeling the sea breeze and watch the sun set into the horizon. Whatever. I am alive. He smiles at that thought.
”Hey corp?” Pvt Mills stumbled over and flopped himself down beside James. He took several deep breaths and said, ”Join the Marines, see new planets eh?” Behind him stood Pvt Bartley,
”Pretty.” He intoned before squatting down behind to James and Mills.
”You alright man?” James noticed Mills's complexion wasn't very well. ”How's the rest?”