Mark's Snippets, Potential works, and First Chapters

Metal Gear Solid:Snakebite
Prologue

Snake groaned as he woke up, the pounding in his brain signaling either a fantastic night out with the men, or a kidnapping, whichever one this was needed to be determined.

Shaking his head, he focus, forcing himself to his feet as he glanced around the warehouse he seemed to have waken up in.

The floor was littered with several bodies, many of them still breathing, and more than a few bore faces that he recognized.

Grunting, he knelt down next to one person in particular, shifting a piece of hair out of her face and smiling gently as she shifted.

But then, the sound of a weapon clearing a holster echoed, and Snake turned around, his pistol pointed at another person.

"I thought you were dead," A gruff voice said as Revolver Ocelot pointed revolvers at both of the men.

"See, I thought all of you were dead," the other man kept his pistol pointed at Snake as a portal opened up and another body was dropped off. "See, this is just bullshit," he muttered. "I already killed most of you. I really don't want to have to do it again."

Snake just looked at the other man as he protectively crouched over the half-naked woman at his feet.

"I don't know how we ended up here," Snake bit out. "But we should probably focus on that before we start shooting at each other."

The other two men nodded before another groan was heard, and a blond haired man in a trenchcoat stood up, a shot ringing out as his head snapped back.

"The hell was that for?" Snake asked.

"You can be reasoned with," the other man nudged Liquid's body with his booted feet. "He's a goddamned psychopath."

"Don't do that again," Ocelot stated, one hand on a revolver, with the other on the hammer, just waiting for Solid to make another move. "Now, you two sure you want to talk this out?" Revolver asked, the man's spurs making a distinct sound as he sat on a nearby crate and pulled out a cigarette.

"Yeah," Solid Snake nodded. "I figure he has some words he's going to want to say."

"Not really," Venom bit out. "I was dead, now I'm not. It's not the first time it's happened. At least this time I didn't wake up in a hospital about to be executed."

Solid Snake leaned against a crate of his own. "You and Big Boss did a lot of shady shit over the last few years," he pulled out a cigarette of his own and lit it, taking a long drag before blowing a long cloud of smoke out. "So why shouldn't I do the job again?"

Venom simply shrugged in response as he slowly pieced together who the blond was.

"Eli grew up to be that?" He raised an eyebrow at Ocelot.

"Yeah," Ocelot sighed. "Fat lot of good us taking him in did."

"Shit," Venom sighed and turned to Solid Snake, meeting his eyes and just waiting for the younger man to respond. "Well?"

A grunt took the trio's attention as Otacon, Quiet, Sniper Wolf, and a man who looked nigh identical to both Venom and Solid stood up.

Quiet blinked, glanced around, and then vanished before reappearing at Venom's side, a handgun in her hand as she shifted to watch all of the newcomers slowly awaken.

"Hold," Venom muttered just loud enough for Quiet to hear.

"Well, isn't this interesting," Big Boss said as he looked around. "I never thought I'd live to see the day where all of us were together."

Venom stood quietly, looking at the man who had held his loyalty for most of his military career, even at the cost of his own life and ambitions.

"I thought I was dead," Sniper Wolf muttered just loud enough for everyone to hear. "How am I alive."

"How are any of us alive?" Ocelot asked. "I mean, Miller's right there," he pointed out a man rubbing at limbs that had been missing for over a decade that had been returned. "So's Venom, and I know that the last thing I remember was the dead jackass over there doing something fishy to my head."

"It was the portals," Venom finally spoke up. "Some sort of portal appeared and dropped each of us off for some reason."

"And I'd like to find out why," Big Boss stated. "We also need to figure out where we are. So, how about a truce until we've figured that out."

Venom Snake exchanged glances with Quiet before nodding in assent, Solid and Otacon doing the same before the rest of the small group of elite soldiers and mercenaries agreed.

Then the ground began to shake, the warehouse door falling in as the group took cover and hid while the smoke fell, revealing a giant bipedal robot at the entrance.

The 'Mech paused at the entrance for a moment before firing a brace of missiles into the warehouse at random before vanishing again.

"Alright, that, at least. Is familiar," Solid muttered. "Looks like we get to fight a giant robot again."

"You're telling me," Venom muttered before giving Quiet a hand signal, causing her to vanish from sight. "Let's check these crates, we've got a Metal Gear to destroy."
 
Brown Coats and Derelicts
Brown Coats and Derelicts


"For I will overthrow your tyranny and establish a kingdom ruled by people other than you!" A Triceratops declared to the T-Rex threatening it. "You're outnumbered here, and unwanted."

"I will return, and drive you out of these lands!" The Rex replied dramatically.

A warning klaxon sounded and a hand swept away the plastic toys.

"Well I'll be damned," Wash whistled, pressing the button and turning on the intercom. "Captain, come on up to the bridge. There's something you're going to want to see."

"What is it?" Mal asked, stepping up and looking out the cockpit glass.

"That's not the salvage run we were supposed to be making," Wash hit a switch and the external flood lights illuminated the matte gray surface.

"That's a lot bigger than what we were supposed to find out here," Mal's hand rested on the chair as he leaned over and took a look at some of the sensor readings. "

They slowly made their way around before finding identifying markers on the side of the vessel.

There, in bright bold letters spelled out a name. (Insert ship name here)

Author's Note: An intro for something I'm thinking about working on. The muse struck and I thought it would be fun. Feel free to use as a base for anything you can think of. There's a lot you can do with a derelict and the different people from different universes could be fun.
 
Giant Robots and Big Honkin' Space Guns
Giant Robots and Big Honkin’ Space Guns


The mountains glistened in the morning light, the fresh dew beaded and collecting on the massive trees that dotted the landscape. Birds whistled and smaller mammals chattered as they went about their business until something happened.

The ground shook a bit, and vines began to fall off of a rotating circle. Seven red lights lit up as symbols were locked into place before a sound echoed through the mountainside. The vegetation that covered the ring instantly vaporized by the unstable energy vortex that rushed forth from the portal.

After a minute or so, a large metal robot wheeled through the portal, its camera winding back and forth, pausing on a vine-covered pedestal before continuing to run basic scans.

A few moments after the preliminary report was sent out, four figures arrived through the ring.

“Carter, what’s so special about P3X-797?” Jack asked, setting his sunglasses and folding his cap to better shield his eyes.

“Well, sir, this is the first Stargate we’ve seen that’s not in a geologically stable area. The MALP picked up some faint radio frequencies as well,” Carter smiled. “We should at least check it out and see if there’s anything in the local area. And if there’s not, this might make a good candidate for an Alpha or Bravo site, sir.”

“Besides Jack, there’s no telling what kind of cultures may live here on this planet,” Daniel Jackson looked around. “This looks enough like the mountains of South America that I wouldn’t be surprised if we run into some sort of Incan influence or structures here.”

“Right,” Jack sighed. “Looks like there’s a game trail this way,” he gestured towards a bit of brush. “We might as well follow it, see if there’s anything interesting. Teal’c, you take point.”

The large man picked up his staff weapon and led the way up the mountain.

The Game trail twisted and turned, the dirt path trod by countless animals leading to a brook that gently flowed down the mountain side. Further up, SG-1 could make out a clearing that directly connected to the stream, and what looked like a wooden fence lined the side.

“Well, there’s at least some sign of civilization here,” Daniel began walking beside the stream.

The four of them walked the few hundred yards and looked at the clearing.

“That’s a lot of venison,” Jack remarked as they saw what the fence contained. “Anyone up for some Elk? I know I’m just starving.”

“We may wish to investigate the dwelling first,” Teal’c spoke up. “There appears to be smoke coming out of the fireplace.”

“Good eye, Teal’c,” Jack said. “We’ll introduce ourselves to the locals.”

With that, the four of them hopped the fence and began walking towards the log cabin sitting in the middle of the clearing.

“Jack, this is remarkable!” Daniel began to scribble in his journal. “This cabin is built using more modern techniques and understanding of geometry. It’s as if someone from the mid nineteenth century built this with access to a level of technology similar to our own!”

Jack simply tuned Daniel out and rapped on the door, waiting for a response.

A savage bark answered them and Jack backed away from the door, his MP5 in hand as he thumbed the safety to full auto.

“Hello?” A man that looked to be about General Hammond’s age opened the door, a leash to an eight-legged dog held in his hands. His hair was decently cropped, but had long since turned gray along with his beard. He didn’t stoop though, his back was straight and his clothes looked decently made.

“Hi,” Daniel stepped forward, folding his journal up and smiling. “I’m Doctor Daniel Jackson, this is Colonel O’Neill, Captain Carter, and Teal’c.”

“Mark,” the man held out his hand to shake. “I’m afraid you’ve got me at a bit of a loss here. I haven’t seen another human face in nearly Fifty years.”

“I’m sorry,” Daniel paused. “Did you say fifty years?”

“Aye,” the man allowed the eight-legged dog to smell them, its tail wagging as O’Neill began to stroke her snout. “I’ve been stranded here for a long time.”

“Why didn’t you leave using the Stargate?” Daniel asked.

“What Stargate?” The man asked. “My dropship’s right over there.”

The man raised a hand and gestured towards what the team had mistaken for another part of the mountain.

Then Mark slapped his forehead and stepped backwards.

“I’m sorry, I forgot my manners, come in,” the door was pulled back, revealing the interior of the log cabin.

Some sort of white light was hung from the ceiling, a camp stove and fireplace were in one corner, and a small water fixture was next to the lone bed. Two or three strange looking firearms were mounted over the bed.

“I know it’s not much, but it’s home. Can I get you anything to drink or eat?”

“No, that’s not necessary,” Daniel replied. “What happened to leave you here all alone?”

“Woke up alone on the ship in orbit,” Mark shrugged. “Took care of the dead and then traded out most of the ‘mechs for colony supplies. Loaded everything up on the Last of Us and set down here. It took me a while to get everything set up down here. But it’s been home for a while.”


“Mechs?” Carter mouthed to Jack who simply shrugged.

“Carter, Teal’c, c’mere a second,” Jack stepped out of the cabin. “What do you make of the story? Why wouldn’t he try and get home? And what’s this about a mech? Did he have a tanks here or something?”

“Well, sir, not everyone knows how to do every job on a ship,” Carter replied. “He might have decided that his best option was here on the planet.”

“He does not seem to be a threat to us, O’Neill,” Teal’c replied. “He may even be willing to part with some of his technology.”

“Yeah, that’s what I figured too,” Jack sighed. “Alright, we’ll take him back to the gate, see if we can work something out.”

With their conversation finished, they reentered the cabin.

Mark was showing Daniel how he powered the cabin.

“How do you get power to your cabin, exactly? Is it run from the ship? Or is it something else entirely?” Daniel was asking as he read through a bit of the journals that Mark had stacked onto a small desk.

“Everything’s plugged into the fusion reactor,” the old man replied, standing and walking outside. “It was supposed to be a spare for one of the Stingers,” he patted the surface of what they had thought was a shed. “But these things are made rugged enough that as long as you’ve got fuel in ‘em you can get them to work.”

“Mark, is there any way we could take a look at the inside of the ship?” Carter asked. “Just out of professional curiosity.”

“Sure,” he shrugged. “I apologize for the mess in advance, I usually try to clean up after myself, but you guys caught me taking a break from replacing an actuator.”

They walked up a small ramp to a sealed pressure door that the old man casually opened and walked inside.

SG-1 exchanged glances and then walked in, their jaws falling over at the sight in front of them.
 
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But...Gouda should discover and destroy them long ago.Why they are still there?
Space bats/ancient ones/phantom mech applied to the gate.

huh that is an interesting idea though. Stargate vs the batchall of jade Falcon. you got a modern world that can pu resources to building up an outpost there with a small garrison. Mark can help with showing them some of the tech and how to reactivate some of the mechs backed up with some combined arms. falcons arrive and everything goes to shit. but the gate is too small for anything bigger than elementals to really work through without being disassembled. so falcons would be very distracted with that.
 
Space bats/ancient ones/phantom mech applied to the gate.

huh that is an interesting idea though. Stargate vs the batchall of jade Falcon. you got a modern world that can pu resources to building up an outpost there with a small garrison. Mark can help with showing them some of the tech and how to reactivate some of the mechs backed up with some combined arms. falcons arrive and everything goes to shit. but the gate is too small for anything bigger than elementals to really work through without being disassembled. so falcons would be very distracted with that.
So, I just meant that the first three chapters of Falcon’s Rising apply here. The divergence is that the Falcons never arrive, and the rest of the story doesn’t happen. This is just SG-1 with a bit extra.
 
huh how much battletech tech did he have there? I know he had the dropship. he had the warhammer. I think there were more mechs but he didn'd do as much with them because they weren't as cool... TBF I'd be the same in that I'd focus on keeping one active. though I'd probably aim for one with hands if possible.
 
huh how much battletech tech did he have there? I know he had the dropship. he had the warhammer. I think there were more mechs but he didn'd do as much with them because they weren't as cool... TBF I'd be the same in that I'd focus on keeping one active. though I'd probably aim for one with hands if possible.
The Manassas is still somewhere in the system. So, this is a broad overview of what was on the dropships on the Manassas.



---
List of Equipment on the Manassas
Four confederate Dropships, each with a lance of 'Mechs and two Aerospace Fighters on board

Found on Confederate Droship Last of Us were four Warhammers, two WHM-6Rb's, one WHM-7A, and one Gunslinger modified WHM-6Rk. The 6Rk has been upteched to ER on all weapons and still maintains both Armor and speed. Also on the Last of Us were literal tons of replacement arms and armor as well as a single 'Mech repair gantry. There were two Stingray Medium Aerospace fighters in the Aerospace bays.

Found on Confederate Dropship Dying Light were two Marauders, one MAD-2R and one MAD-2T, two Thunderbolts one TDR-5SD and one TDR-5Sb. Two Corsair CSR-V12b. Along with other assorted spare parts and two Manufactering data Cores.

Found on Confederate Dropship A Curse from Beyond were two Griffins, both GRF-1N variants,two Crabs; both CRB-27 variants. The two Aerospace fighters were Ironsides IRN-SD1s and there were a stockpile of DHS located in the cargo bay.

Found on the Confederate Dropship Takes Two to Tango were two Royal Stingers both STG-3Gb variants, there were also two Mongoose's/Mongeese? One was a MON-66b variant and one MON-66
Also found on the Takes Two to Tango was ground based Mobile 12 ton HPG and the spare parts to go with it. In the cargo bay were two mostly deconstructed Stuka STU-K5b's. Considering that was what was also in the aerospace bay they should be considered spare parts.
---

Now, the Last of Us currently has a bunch of the colony/farming equipment that was on the Manassas instead of the extra Warhammers. Currently he only has the 6Rk with him and an industrialmech.
 
huh that is quite a bit of salvage to barter to the US government for at least a nice steak dinner and citizenship. also being the only guy with any ability to work with this tech. were all the dropships landed or were some still attached to the Manassas?

based on that list and not expecting combat after a decade or so I'd probably prioritize one of those stingers. hands and jumps with solid speed to play with. it would be a useful tool. if I was going with my favorite from that list it would likely be the MAD-2T. big boomstick calls to me.
 
If it strikes your muse it looks good. if it don't then we got a fun premise for our imaginations to play with. either way good job.
 
---snip---
things Earth-of-Stargate will kill for...all of it.

Fusion reactors, material science, myomer, the instruction manuals, jump tech though not as useful as Stargate hyperdrives, FTL comms other than Stargates...that you can put on a ship if necessary, all that lovely weapons tech as well...I mean BATTLEMECHS!!! They gonna go nuts! O'Neill is gonna LUV the Aerospace Fighters.
 
So, I just meant that the first three chapters of Falcon’s Rising apply here. The divergence is that the Falcons never arrive, and the rest of the story doesn’t happen. This is just SG-1 with a bit extra.
It would work only for some time,unless Mark come from alternate Universe.
Becouse if Mechwarrior Earth and SG Earth are in the same Galaxy,they must eventually meet.And SG Earth need moar dakka to survive it.
And you need explanation,why Gouda do not doscovered them yet.Or other aliens before them.

So,better made Mark somebody from alternate reality,and Manassess only thing which come with him.Help for USA,sure,but not win war on its own.
 
Giant Robots and Big Honkin' Space Guns Chapter 2
Chapter 2

“And what exactly,” O’Neill was the first to gather his wits. “Is that?”

“It’s a ‘Mech,” Mark said with a look of confusion on his face. “I’m sorry about the mess, but like I said, I was repairing the actuator and taking a break when y’all showed up.”

The ‘mess’ that the older man was referring to was a handful of parts and tools that were scattered around the foot of the large robot.

“What does it take to power that?” Carter asked. “The output must be higher than anything we can produce on Earth currently.”

“This ‘ole girl?” Mark walked up and slapped the leg of the war machine. “She’s powered by a 350-rated extralight fusion engine. But honestly, I don’t use her for much nowadays aside from bringing home the occasional bear. Most of the time I take the Jabberwocky out when I need to do something. She’s powered by an Internal combustion engine. I don’t know why the engineers decided to remove the fuel cell engine and replace it, but she’s served me just fine over the years.”

The second machine was shorter, stockier, and obviously intended for more civilian tasks to the naked eye.

“Mark, what’d you say to us giving you a new place to call home, and you trading us some stuff in exchange for that,” Jack said.

“The Warhammer is mine,” Mark crossed his arms. “She’s not up for bargain or trade. As for the ship…” Mark trailed off. “I don’t really think I’m too keen on crowds anymore.”

“Yeah, I would assume that you wouldn’t like crowds,” Daniel spoke up. “But I think we can come to some sort of agreement here.”

“Colonel, if there’s any chance that we can have the opportunity to study this, then we need to take it,” Carter’s eyes were aglow as she circled the two bipedal machines.

“I agree, Captain,” Jack replied before turning to the old man again. “Teal’c you and I are heading back to the gate, we need to inform Hammond of what’s going on here. Carter, Daniel,” he turned to the two eggheads. “Behave. I don’t want to come back to the two of you having touched something you weren’t supposed to.”

“Ehh, this stuff’s pretty ruggedized,” the old man shrugged. “I doubt they could break it if they wanted to.”

“Do you happen to have a library of some kind?” Daniel asked. “I’d love to see some of your history.”







“It sounds like you have things well in hand on P3X-797,” Hammond looked at Teal’c and Jack sitting across the briefing room table.

“Sir, if we manage to work things out, the planet might also be a good location for a Beta-Site,” Jack tapped the initial reports. “A basic research outpost would probably be a good way to ease this guy back into society again.”

“And you’re certain he was willing to share his technology?” Hammond clarified.

“Honestly, sir,” Jack glanced at Teal’c. “I think he was just happy to see people again.”

“That was my understanding as well, General Hammond,” Teal’c nodded.

“Then you have a go,” Hammond nodded. “Within reason, we’ll trade whatever he needs for access to his technology.”

“I’ll go share the good news with Daniel and Carter then,” Jack stood. “Permission to return and make a deal, General?”

“Permission granted.”

Teal’c and Jack stood and headed for the armory, Jack collecting a vest, an MP5, and his hat while Teal’c simply grabbed his staff weapon, a Zat’nik’tel, and a vest.

“I’m not sure we need to be so heavily armed,” Jack shrugged. “But better safe than sorry.”

They entered the gate room as Walter dialed the address, the unstable vortex shooting forward and then collapsing back into the resolved and stable wormhole.

Stepping through, they materialized on the other side, the sun heading down towards the horizon barely shining through the massive trees.

“It’s gonna be dark soon,” Jack commented. “We better get moving.”

The duo moved back towards the game trail, Jack’s flashlight illuminating the path up the mountain through the twilight and shadows.

It took them longer to navigate to the creek through the creeping darkness, and by the time they reached the running water, the shadows had lengthened and the first stars were beginning to appear in the sky.

“O’Neill,” Teal’c was turned and facing the thick woods and underbrush. “I believe I heard something.”

Shining his flashlight in that direction, Jack paused in a few places where it appeared almost pitch black before moving on.

“I don’t see anything, Teal’c,” Jack continued peering into the thick underbrush.

“I do not hear it anymore, but there was indeed something present,” Teal’c spoke, his staff weapon now close to a ready position.

Then, they both heard a sharp ‘crack’ as a small tree fell over the heavy thud as it crashed through the brush.

“Teal’c we need to move,” Jack began to back up towards the creek and the path beside it. “Now!” His flashlight illuminated the figure of a large bear-like creature.

Teal’c fired a bolt from his staff weapon, but the creature simply roared in pain and anger, its coat dissipating the energy.

Turning, Teal’c quickly caught up to O’Neill as the creature crashed through the trees, it’s long legs sending it barreling towards them as it picked up speed and began to gain on them.

“Carter!” O’Neill barked into his radio. “Please make sure that the door to the ship is open! We’ve got some sort of bear chasing us!”

“Mark says to just head for the cabin,” Carter’s voice came back calmly. “He says he’s got something that’ll deal with it.”

“I’m not sure we can make it in time,” Jack glanced back. “It’s gaining on us!”

As they crested the top and reached the flat part next to the clearing. Teal’c and Jack jumped over the fence and sprinted faster as the cabin came into view.

The roar sounded behind them and the fence splintered underneath the paws of the massive creature.

Turning, Jack opened fire and his rounds simply bounced off of the bear as he backed up to the cabin. Teal’c fired with his staff weapon as well, but all they did was seem to make the creature angrier.

Then, from the dropship a beam of light seemed to strike its face, halting it before it crashed to the ground, the smell of flash-fried meat filling the air.

“You boys, alright?” Mark called out. “That’s the biggest one I’ve seen yet, normally they avoid this area since I cleared them out a few years back. Seems I’ll have to go on another hunt, she’s probably got a litter of cubs around here somewhere.”

“You got any lights around here?” O’Neill gasped out. “I want to get a good look at this thing.”

“Yeah, I need to get some lights out here anyway if I want to get the skin off. Even if it’s a bit damaged, this’ll make a nice rug,” Mark slung the rifle behind his shoulder and headed back for the dropship. “C’mon now, you helped kill it, you get to help me skin it and cook some of it.”
 
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Rotational Physics (working title) New
One breath; the point man stacks up on the door. Second breath; I move across from him and grab the door handle. Third Breath; I nod, gripping a flashbang in one hand and the handle in the other.

Fourth Breath; crack door and throw the grenade. Five; watch Point shove the door open.

Six; follow the leader. He goes left, so I rotate to the right, my weapon's recoil gently rocking my shoulder as I squeezed the trigger. One shot, two, the enemy goes down on the third and I move forward.

Time speeds up and slows down, I hear the call for a medic in the background as enemy fire strikes where my head once was. Sounds were muted and then came through clearly as my Comtacs filtered out the noise of the explosives.

"McDaniels, you're on point!" Sergeant Foley pointed to me. "Ramirez is down, he took a bolt to the face."

I looked at the man I'd followed into the building and winced as I took in what remained. My battle buddy was dead.

Ramirez hadn't been present in the platoon long, I'd only known the man for a month or two. But here in the desert sands, casualties were a way of life. Ramirez was my third battle buddy, and another name I'd have to remember for when I got back home. If I got back home.

Ramirez's head was a twisted mass of melted flesh and shattered bone fragments, the ballistic mask had done little to slow down the enemy projectiles and seemed to have only amplified the damage to his face.

I shook my head. Another casualty in this Godforsaken desert. I wish I were numb to it all by now. But every friend, every battle buddy and squad mate that died left another gaping hole inside of me. A feeling that I hadn't done enough. That I wasn't good enough.

I shoved that feeling down and gripped my rifle a bit tighter to my chest.

"Aye, Sergeant," I replied, checking the magazine on my rifle before slamming it back into the receiver. "Locklear, Taggert, on me!"

Time slowed down again as I moved to the next doorway.

This door was different, there were no hinges, just a hairline crack down the middle, and no obvious way to open it.

"Locklear, get a shaped charge on the door," I ordered, settling into the comfortable routine of combat.

"Yes, Lance Corporal!" The PFC replied, opening the rear panel on Taggert's kit and retrieving a brick of explosives.

"No clue if this works, Corporal," Locklear affixed the shaped charge onto the door. "But there's enough here to blow out the panel on an Abrams."

He pushed the blasting rods into the plastique and moved to the side of the door, detonator in hand.

"Fire in the hole!" Locklear held his Comtacs tighter around his head and squeezed the triggers.

A concussive blast shoved any sand from the desert back towards the open door and the rest of the platoon.

The molten copper of the shaped charge on the other hand, blew through the door, the superheated metal cooling but still maintaining momentum as it impacted the far door and splintered into shrapnel that scattered through the next room.

I shoved the barrel of my rifle into the breach and squeezed the trigger, hoping that I'd at least wound anyone on the other side before we moved in.

"Reloading!" I yelled, pulling back and tossing my empty magazine into my dump pouch, shoving another one into the breach and slapping the side of my rifle to chamber the next round.

"Locklear, grab the other side," I let my rifle dangle from its sling and grabbed part of the door.

"On it!" The demo expert's biceps bulged as we pulled on the door while Taggert slid a crowbar into the opening to hold them open.

A handful of flaming projectiles burst through the opening and hit the wall behind Taggert.


"Screw that," he shook his head and grabbed a frag off of his webbing, a lit cigarette held in between his lips. "Frag out!"

The grenade bounced into the opening and detonated a few seconds later, a misty smog filling the air.


"I've got point," I shoved my rifle into the pocket of my shoulder and pied the corner, clearing what little I could see before pushing into the corner on the right.

A lone figure crawled for a weapon on the ground and I squeezed the trigger. Once, twice, three rounds and the alien stopped moving. Pulling my head up, I swiveled and dove to the ground, my rifle bucking gently as rounds impacted another two figures, one crying out and falling behind while another one continued to fire at me.

Then Taggert stepped into the room. His machine gun carving away at their cover as he hip fired the heavy weapon.

Behind him, Locklear pushed through the entrance and cleared the left side, a handful of rounds finishing off the dead there before he turned and we filled the air with a wicked crossfire, shredding what was left of the enemy in this room.

"Rotate!" Foley ordered, the ELtee hot on his heels. "First squad, hydrate and cover the rear, second, you're on me!"

I nodded at my XO and sipped water from my camelback, the lukewarm water soothing my parched throat.

"You heard Sarge!" I called out, my voice hoarse. "Get some water into you, and police those corpses. "Taggert, I'll reload your gun, then you cover the door."

"Aye, Corporal!" What was left of First squad responded and began moving, their eyes showing the exhaustion of the day.

Four compounds we'd cleared out today, and most of us were wounded or dead. Leaving only us three to wonder why we were the ones still alive.

"Aliens man," Locklear shook his head as he kicked over one of the bodies. "Who'd have thought we'd go from terrorists to aliens. Not me."

"I just want to know why they chose here," Taggert frowned and scratched at the beginnings of a beard across his dark face. "Why choose the mountains of Afghanistan? There's nothing important here."

"I don't think it matters much," I replied, my southern accent bleeding through a bit. "Terrorists, aliens, s'all the same to me. That they suck at choosing where to live don't mean much to me. I ain't a spook after all."

"Doesn't your older brother work for the Agency?" Locklear shoved a body into the corner.

"Yeah, as an analyst," I shook my head. "I doubt he's even read into what we're doing, much less whatever these assholes are up to."

"Might be worth a phone call though," Taggert shrugged. "Just sayin'. Some of the lines back at the FOB connect back to the states, might be worth checking out."

"Even if I managed to sweet talk SOCOM into letting me borrow one, we don't know what things are like back in the States. How many landed there, or what they're after."

"Way I figure it," Locklear finished up and sat down beside Taggert. "They're just feeling us out, like the first round of a boxing match. Then, in the second round, they'll stop pulling their punches."

"Guess we'll find out then," I reached into the top pouch of my plate carrier and withdrew a battered lighter and pack of cigarettes. "Wanna light?"

"Yeah, gimme one of those," Locklear accepted a cigarette and lit it, puffing before exhaling smoke. "Damn but I should have bought more of those before deployment."

"I told you to stock up on tobacco," Taggert smirked. "McDaniels took my advice, and both of us are sitting high and dry. Whereas you've got to bum them off of us."

"I figure I'll just grab whatever's left of Ramirez's stash," Locklear sighed. "Not like he'll be needing it anymore."

With that, we settled into an uncomfortable silence, the nicotine calming our nerves, and the water soothing our throats. The combination granting us peace. What little we could find in this desert, anyway.




It wasn't like the movies or the books. There wasn't a warning sign, or meteorites crashing down to the earth to let us know that they were coming.

No, they weren't here, and then they were. The larger ships remained in orbit and smaller ships descended across the globe in strange locations. Mountains, they had chosen the mountains to start their invasion.

The aliens probably thought they had an advantage here. They controlled the orbitals, they'd cut satellite communications early on, and they had the technological advantage. Earth though, she doesn't take kindly to invaders, and Humanity. Well, we don't know how to quit. So, every US military base, FOB, and COB went on high alert.

The GWOT had swiftly changed, the FOBs and COBs in Iraq and Afghanistan were the closest thing to where the Aliens had first landed. The Taliban changed gears within the first week, of the advanced landing parties. And shortly afterward began assisting us with intel and technicals. Other terror groups folded into our intelligence apparatus as even Iran and Russia began to coordinate with our defenses.

Why they'd chosen the Graveyard of Empires to be among their first landing zones was anyone's guess. But to me, all that mattered was that I was still stuck in this damned desert, and still kicking in doors. My job hadn't changed. Just the targets, and aliens bled the same as terrorists. Or so we thought.
 

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