The Red Planet
“… Quarter Tech, Mark: Dragonfire, Division M-6. You can call me Spike,” Spike recited as he welcomed his Division Officer to his workspace, commonly called the Plasma Pits. Working in the bowels of the SESCS Celestia to keep the mighty fusion reactors fueled with the plasma they depended on was a tough job, and Spike was one of the few crewmembers willing to do it.
“At ease,” His DO, Lieutenant Colonel Tariah Sparks, entered the engine space. She was short for her age, being around 4’6”, but what she lacked in size she made up for in her commanding voice. “Just came by to notify you of a General Debrief with all Division Officers and their assistants. The debrief is at 2200 hrs, and don’t be late.” With that, she turned on her heels and left.
Drake “Spike” Andronius, Engineer 4th Class, Dragonfire Rate, was the youngest member of the crew. And now, he was finally starting to feel like he was needed on board.
2200 Hrs, Ward Room
Spike had never been among the upper echelons of the crew before, but the amount of brass in the room would’ve made any metallurgist giddy with joy. This was Spike’s first high level meeting, and as such was very nervous for what was about to happen. A sharp ringing of a saber on wood silenced his thoughts.
“I’d like to thank you all for joining me tonight. Please, be seated.” Everyone took their seats, with some officers standing by their superior’s shoulders. Spike himself stood behind and to the right of Lt. Col. Spark, feeling very self-conscious of himself in his Solar Empire Ceremonial dress uniform.
“As you all know, the NLRSC has been advancing in terms of scientific development and exploration. They recently discovered a planet designated Estrosia, on which they will attempt a colony,” Capt. Celia S. Tia grinned mischievously, “And we shall be not far behind them. Earlier this week, Soulbrave Squadron came back with interesting reports.” She nodded to Communications Engineer 1st Class Sophia “Sweetie” Belle, who stood and delivered her report.
“Soulbrave Sqn reported intercepting faint radio transmissions on distress channels, typically used by maydays and other emergency signals. These transmissions traced back to a planet we knew of as Mars,” Sweetie grinned, “The planet is viable for life support, and there appears to be no major fauna on the planet’s surface. The other planets in its solar quadrant are being investigated as possible colony points.”
“How far is it too Mars?” Spike asked without even knowing he had spoken, “We need to conserve our plasma supply. We might be able to solar dredge this star for emergency thrust, but that’s it.”
“13 light-years to Mars, with another 3 to the most viable colony point, Terra. A New Lunar Republic Fleet Tender is en route to rendezvous with us once we have a colony running,” Cpt. Tia supplied, “Our current plasma supplies should hold until then.”
Spike grimaced. Not at current intake, he thought. But he nodded, knowing he’ll have to take extra care of the massive reactors just to keep them functioning.
Weapons Officer 2nd Class Calico “Cally” Jack raised a tentative hand before speaking, “What about potential hostiles? The Celestia was never a lander, we don’t have enough small arms to support the colony.” Murmurs of agreement echoed her sentiments.
“Then we’ll make do with what we have and what we cobble together on the surface,” Master At Arms Amanita Jack said gruffly before glaring at her sister. Cally shrunk back from her sister’s withering gaze.
Arguments broke out over allocation of resources for the colony, and who would lead the effort. Finally, someone had enough.
“SILENCE!” Capt. Tia roared from her command throne. Silence greeted her instantly. “You may squabble over resources when we get to Mars. Now, I’d like to hand out some promotions.” Names were called. People stepped up. Among the promotions were:
Communications Engineer 1st Class Sophia “Sweetie” Belle to Lieutenant 1st Class
Communications Engineer 2nd Class Sophie “Sour Note” Belle to Lieutenant Junior Grade
Weapons Officer 2nd Class Calico “CJ” Jack to Lieutenant Junior Grade
Weapons Officer 3rd Class Andria “Apple” Bloom to Lieutenant Junior Grade
Navigations Officer 1st Class Samantha “Creep-a-long” Dodgers to Lieutenant 1st Class
Engineer 2nd Class, Firebay Rate, Amelia “Scoot-a-Loo” Dodgers to Engineer 1st Class
Engineer 4th Class, Dragonfire Rate, Drake “Spike” Andronius to Engineer 1st Class and Lieutenant 1st Class
As the promotions finished, Spike took the lift back down to the massive housings for the fusion reactors. Upon reaching them, a klaxon began to sound. It began deep within the ship, slowly permeating every nook and cranny, signalling a jump into the warp. Spike fired up the reactors, spilling raw plasma into the housings as the Gellar field powered up and the warp drives came online. Finally, tearing a ragged hole in the fabric of reality, the Celestia slipped into the warp.
SOL SYSTEM, 0700 Hrs, NLRSCS Lunar Eclipse
Scar looked out the bridge windows for any sign of the ship he would be transferring to when it finally got there. He and his 19 siblings were part of a contingent of NLR Marines for protection of the colony once established. In exchange, the NLR got a contingent of scientists and engineers to help the NLR colonies expand.
Several light-minutes away, a ragged hole emerged in the fabric of the material realm, the Celestia and her flotilla of ships emerging into the light of the star at the heart of the system.
SESCS Celestia, 0700 Hrs, Sol System
“Another successful jump. Thank you, Miss Dodgers,” Cpt. Tia congratulated her navigator, surveying the system from the armour glass bubble of the bridge. From afar, Mars wasn’t much to look at. The red planet was unmarked, with the exception of what appeared to be a massive building on the planet’s surface.
“Hmm… interesting,” Tia spoke into one of the many vocal tubes surrounding her Command Throne, “Marshalls Roxy and Reginald Dodgers, to the Bridge please.” Her voice hadn’t even stopped echoing as two figures strode onto the bridge, one a tall man with close cropped, red hair with a streak of yellow and blue, and the other was a medium height woman with long, unkempt hair with streaks of colour running through her natural colour of brown.
“Marshalls Roxy and Reginald Dodgers reporting as ordered, Ma’am,” Roxy spoke up as they both saluted with the Aquila.
“At ease, Marshalls. I have need of one of your ARC units, to do ground surveying and reconnaissance on the Planet’s surface. It would be best if I had both of your support for this assignment.”
“Strident rejoined the flotilla last week, their ARC unit is beyond compare. I can have a message in their hands in less than a minute,” Reginald conservatively suggested.
“Aegis has returned to full strength following losses at Chi-Ceti IV, I recommend her unit,” Roxy offered hopefully.
“Fantastic. I want both of you on shuttles and briefing them by oh-nine hundred. Bring a Stormhawk for troop support on the ground. We don’t know who… or what… is living on the surface. I suggest bringing the Golwyn pattern bolters,” Tia suggested, “It’s about time we had a field test. Dismissed.”
Both Marshalls grinned predatorily and made their way to the hangar bays. Soon, two pinpricks of light sped away from the Celestia towards two smaller frigates, which lighted their engines and accelerated towards the red planet.
SESCS Aegis, 0900hrs
Marshall Dodgers stood before the 214th Aggressive Reconnaissance Sqn, nick-named the Ravens, as she prepared the mission brief. The dossier in her hands, labeled *CLASSIFIED* in big bold letters across the folder, seemed to weigh heavily in her hands. Across the 300 meters outside the armoured hull, Reginald was going through similar stress as he briefed the 501st, also known as the Hawk Lords, though he was much better at hiding it than she was.
“Thank you all for coming on such short notice. As you are aware, we may be founding a colony on the red planet known as Mars. However, Fleetmaster Tia has requested two squadrons- You and the Hawks- to perform Aggressive Reconnaissance on the planet’s surface. We don’t want another Chi-Ceti IV. After you report back to the fleet, three Stormhawks will secure an LZ for the main lander.” Roxy took a breath. “Also, two of you will need to pilot Thunderhawk Gunships carrying some ground forces.”
“Why do we need ground forces? I thought this was ARC, not footslogging,” Lt. Col. Samuel ‘Soarin’ Garro questioned, wondering just what was going on.
“There is an unknown construct on the surface of the planet. Fleetmaster Tia has requested we field some of our new Astartes, and that we finally test the Golwyn bolter. The Thunderhawk can carry 15 Astartes, and it can keep up with the Avengers we fly. Any more questions?” Shakes of heads met her challenge. “Prepare the hangar for visitors, the NLR sends it’s finest. Gear up, we leave in 2 hours.”
NLRSCS Lunar Eclipse, 1000 Hrs, Docking with SESCS Aegis
Scar stood in the disembarkation airlock as the Eclipse docked with the Aegis. He and nine of his brothers stood behind him, armoured in adamantium plate and armed with Tigrus bolters. Scar carried a hand-crafted Exitus rifle, with a matching pistol on his belt. As the airlock equalized, Scar and his brethren marched into the air-conditioned interior of the Aegis. For the love of Faustia, the SE gets all the good tech, Scar thought in his head as they made their way through the corridors to the Hangar, where their rides down to the surface awaited. Freshly decked in Solar Empire Livery, 5 Thunderhawks hung from the ceiling launch racks of the Aegis’ Shuttle bay. Looking around, Scar noticed his SE counterpart and marched over, slinging his rifle as he did so.
“Lt. William Sanderson, NLR V Legion, reporting as ordered.” Scar saluted with his right hand to his forehead.
“Ah, Lieutenant, good to see you. Cpt Alphonse Heidrich, Welcome aboard the Aegis. It’s good to see such skilled men under our command.”
“Glad to be aboard. We all need all the help we can get right now.”
“Amen to that, brother,” Alphonse whispered as the two Astartes watched their next deployment.
Next Stop: Mars.