Chapter 3 – Mercenaries

Chapter 3

The explosion caused a panic in the centre. Humanoids and martians alike, stumbled on each other, as they ran in search of cover in every direction. The mercenaries opened fire on anyone who neared them.

The security guards posted at the space centre were ill-equipped to counter the onslaught of the mercenaries. Despite that, a team of the guards fought valiantly and tried to contain the intruders within the quarters. If they spread out throughout the center, countless lives will be killed. At first, Moonking thought of joining the guards to help them fight the intruders. But then, he decided against it. Moonking had a strong intuition, that the attack was directed at him. Someone did not want him to complete his mission. Someone did not want the Commander General to receive the Queen’s message. And it seemed that person would go to any lengths to stop him.

The sudden explosion would have triggered an emergency signal at the Republic of Earth Office in Mars. It would take only a few moments for them to come with reinforcements and subdue the mercenaries. Considering this and the importance of his mission, Moonking decided to escape from this place.

He turned around and ran towards the inventory, where his new Sonic Hover was kept. Since, he already had the suit on, he can leave this place in no time. Against a wave of bodies colliding against each other, he struggled to make his way.

As he neared the inventory, he saw two soldiers engaged in a gun fight with a few mercenaries. He realised that the mercenaries must have split up into two groups, with one attacking the front and the other one attacking from behind. Since this group had very few numbers, nobody else except the two soldiers had noticed them. This new Class 4 suit provided Moonking with ultra range vision, that enabled him to view distant objects in close proximity. Using this feature, he quickly surmised that the only way to reach the inventory was through them.

As one of the two soldiers saw him come towards them, the soldier took his stiff hand towards his forehead in a salute. Moonking was still not used to being saluted by other soldiers. After all, only Class 2 and Class 3 soldiers were used as security guards in humanoid research centres across the solar system. Until that morning, Moonking had just been a Class 2 soldier. But he quickly gathered his wits and said, ” At ease “.

All three were now crouched behind pillars and caskets, hiding from enemy’s bullets. The enemy seemed to have Neutron implanted metallic bullets, which were immensely fatal.

They are available only in black markets, since they were outlawed by the humanoid government 10 earth years back.
Unlike the mercenaries, the soldier had a Multi – load Thermal Pistol, that had a very short range.

The other soldier was a few feet in front of Moonking, hidden behind a pillar. He was waging a fierce battle against the mercenaries. At least, he possessed Cataclysm Laser Gun, which was effective in combats like these.

Against the three of them, there were 5 mercenaries out of which, the soldiers seemed to have already killed 2.   

Moonking, who had no gun, wondered what to do. At that time, the soldier at front decided to come back. As he left the cover of his pillar, a mercenary’s neutron implanted metallic bullet pierced his skull through his helmet. The walls were splattered with his brains. Blood flowed like a river on the floors. The soldier with Moonking, was petrified by the sight. In his fright, he stood up. Before Moonking could pull him down, two other bullets hit him in the chest and face. More brains. More blood.

Moonking realised he must have been a rookie, unexpectedly posted in Mars. He must have a normal family back on Earth, with an highschool sweetheart waiting for him to return and get married.

Most of the soldiers in the Royal Space Army of The Republic, like him, came from poor slum dwelling families. Their only reason for becoming a soldier was to beat poverty. But occasionally, some boys from well off families joined the army to serve the planet. Stupid patriotism.
The soldier must have been one of them. Moonking did not even get to know his name. This made Moonking sick with guilt and disgust.

He picked up the Cataclysm Laser gun from the hands of the dead soldier and began firing at the mercenaries. The mercenaries not knowing the presence of a third soldier left their cover. This proved lucky for Moonking as he shot dead two more mercenaries.

The last mercenary retreated. Moonking ran after him towards the inventory. Inside there, the mercenary was standing struggling to reload his gun. It seemed as though it was jammed. Moonking, without any hesitation, shot him dead.

As he boarded his hover, Moonking heard siren sounds coming from a distance. It was the Emergency Response team. It would only take them a few moments to bring things under control.

Without further ado, Moonking left for the Spaceport. He parked his hover at the parking spot, and reached for his spacecraft. On seeing the departures display board, he realised that he won’t be able to reach Jupiter immediately. Because the two planets were far away right now. It would take weeks for Mars and Jupiter to come closer. Moonking did not have weeks. Currently, the Planet Saturn was at the closest possible distance from Mars.

As Moonking launched his craft into the sky, he flew over the largest mountain range in the solar system.
Mount Olympus.