Chapter sixteen
The winds of Dwaro tore through the mountain pass like a living thing. The sand caught up in it made visibility poor.
Kael lay flat against jagged stone, cloak pulled tight against the cold. He was wearing protective gear under, a mask for breathing and armour to protect against the harsh weather.
Behind were the rest of the team, also cloaked and wearing protective armour with binoculars looking down.
Below them, carved into the base of the cliffs, faint lights flickered through the sand mist. Cargo transports moving in unison, there were three of them.
"They are ahead of schedule," Derek's voice murmured through the comm.
Kael adjusted the scope of his visor. Heat signatures appeared, clustered around the transport. Numerous people exited, each carrying rifles and scouting the area for anomalies.
"I think we have found the targets."
A fourth transport emerged from the opposite side, engines humming low as it settled near the others. Two figures disembarked immediately, hauling reinforced crates with the convoy.
The crates were not supply grade but military. Which meant the contents were military. The crates were heavy but they got them there, then went back, four men followed them and they began to unload another larger crate.
Even through the storm distortion, Kael could tell it wasn't standard arms transport. Hydraulic braces extended from the underside of the crate.
"That is not for storage," Derek commented through the ear comms. "That is deployment hardware."
Kael adjusted his visor filters. The sandstorm interfered with optics but thermal still cut through. There were new vehicles that now appeared and even more personnel expanding their radius.
One of the guards looked directly at their ridge.
"Two are breaking from the perimeter" one member spoke. "Ascending"
Kael watched as two armed guards began climbing the cliff face with deliberate precision. The team felt like their cover had been exposed even though the guards were not in any urgency.
"Silent elimination," Kael ordered.
One of the members aimed his rifle at the two climbing guards. By way of the layout, they would have to passed by covers to reach the top and in turn be hidden from the others. That was the most perfect time to strike.
They watched them carefully as they disappeared from view and then a suppressed accelerator was discharged. The rear climber's suit punctured at the neck seal. In a breathable world or more habitable world, he would have a chance, maybe seconds. Here, it killed instantly.
The body was limp and tumbled downward not giving him even the chance to warn his comrade. The second climber was alerted by the tumble and turned back to see his comrade. Seeing him lay on the floor, he was alerted there were enemies.
He tried to turn back and shot at the top at the chance he could hit the enemies but before he could turn, he felt a blow strike the back of his head. He tumbled to his knees and died then.
For three seconds, nothing changed below. The convoy continue unloading, then one of the perimeter guards looked up and froze. His headset tilted slightly, not towards the ridge but toward the abandoned rifle that slid to the base of the cliff.
Then the whole atmosphere of the people changed, they were on high alert now, with the most important looking retreating to safer places.
"They know" warned Derek.'
Searchlights snapped on from the transports, beams slicing through the sandstorms in wide arcs. The storm refracted the light into ghostly spears that raked across the cliffs.
Kael rose from his position. "No more hiding lets attack" he said calmly.
The team launched off the ridge. The atmosphere and nature of Dwaro was an adversary, hindering them but they pushed through as they dropped through the sand veil like armoured phantoms.
The enemy was quick to notice them and raise their arms in preparation for retaliation. Rifles came up and plasma lasers erupted.
Kael moved instantly, sliding to the base of the cliff, as shots barely missed him, he punched one guards' chest plate so strong he was sent flying back.
Derek advanced low, rifle tight on shoulder firing in disciplined pairs. Two hostiles were dropped before long.
Then they could hear, the sound of one transporter starting, some were getting away.
"Stop them" ordered Kael.
From the top of the ridge, the ones that remained, released concurrent shots at all the vehicles aiming at their engines hoping to stop movement.
Four enemy guards advanced in tight formation, covering each other with professional efficiency, clearly trained. Kael vaulted over the transport and charged straight at them.
Just at the men were about to open fire, Kael dashed to the right, the shots missed. He rolled over to the side and drew out a shock grenade throwing it at them.
In thin atmosphere the blast was lighter, but the pulse rippled outward violently. Kael closed the distance and drove his shoulder into the nearest soldier, slamming him to the ground.
The second swung his rifle like a staff, Kael caught it, twisted and fired the weapon point blank into its owner and then to other two. Only then did the guard who fell rise and strike Kael's back of the head disorienting him.
Thankfully, it was not enough to damage his gear but now he had to wrestle with the guard who was quick and large for a human. They tugged together until Kael head butted him so hard as payback for the head bash. Then using that brief moment Kael picked him up and slammed him down with all his force on the ground.
Across the field, Derek was pinned behind a cargo crate as the remaining hostiles regrouped around the artillery core.
Laser bolts tore across the metal surface, each impact splashing molten sparks into the air. The crate glowed in streaks where shots struck too close together.
"Three on me" Derek said through the comm, steady despite the pressure.
Kael turned immediately. Through the sand veil he could see them, disciplined, advancing in staggered movement. One was firing, the other two covering as they approached Derek.
Kael sprinted towards them like a bolt, one of the advancing guards saw him and pivoted, his rifle turning up. Kael dropped low and slid across the sand to see the laser shot passing inches above his helmet.
He fired from the ground, catching the guard in the thigh. He stumbled but did not fall, good armour. The second guard adjusted instantly and fired downward but Kael using both his arms pushed himself to leap and tackle him.
With this distraction, Derek rose from behind the crate and fired two controlled bursts taking out the final guard.
Standing over the guard he'd tackled, Kael pointed his gun and while looking him in the eyes, fired about three shots.
After that entire battle Kael could not help but huff in exhaustion. He was moving at his best speed throughout the entire fight pushing himself but it was not the end yet.
A few shots came trading with him, he ducked and hid behind another vehicle nearby. The enemy's aim was precise, forcing Kael to pull back unable to fire back.
Derek moved wide, circling.
The advancing guards saw him too late when Derek tackled both of them mid stride and slammed them into the side of the transport. The impact dented the panel inward. They struggled, Derek tried to disarm the two men but it was difficult, they managed to push him back.
Derek was in a disadvantageous position with the guards ready to shoot back, until Kael stepped out into the open gun pointing at them. As he ran, he released shots, most missing and few hitting one of the guards until he fell. Then the gun jammed, no shots came but now Kael had reached him.
He tried to turn his rifle at Kael but it was knocked out of his hands. Kael then proceeded to hit him with the heel of the gun, knocking him forward. After using his left hand he grabbed the back of his armour and with his feet tripped him to tumble back.
The guard lay down on his back still disoriented and watched as Kael crouched and proceeded to beat him so hard he knocked him out and damaged his gear. Then after he rose and changed his gun's clip while Derek ran to him.
From near the huge crate, four remaining hostiles tightened formation, now opting to protect very important persons. Most of the transports were rendered inoperable, stray laser track left on their hoods and sides.
"Last group" Derek said.
"They must be protecting the targets," Kael replied.
The wind howled harder, sand speed picking up and reducing visibility even more. Still they pressed on, two of their team members moved on the other side through the storm, Derek went right while Kael moved centre.
The enemy fired first, forcing Kael to duck for cover. Derek and the two opened fire from their different sides forcing the guards to rotate outward.
Kael charged straight towards them. One hostile saw him emerging from the haze and fired which alleviated pressure on Derek who pressed on. Kael slammed into the hostile with full force and they crashed into the ground together.
The guard tried to bring his rifle up again but Kael pinned his forearm down on the weapon and with his other hand he opened fire, shooting the man's chest five times. He rolled immediately as the other three men focused on him but Derek and the others surged simultaneously.
Before long, the rest of the guards were on their knees, then out dead and silence fell on the area as the winds howled. Fallen bodies and burning laser scorch marks filled the area.
The team having won approached the transporter the guards were protecting and there they found the targets. They were all four huddled in the corner like cowards afraid of death.
"Please spare us" they asked. Fear and desperation clear in their voices.
"Confirm" Kael ordered.
One of the technicians walked up with a pad and began scanning them as they pleaded for their lives.
"Based on scanning, they are a match."
"What do we do?" asked Derek.
Kael remained quiet for a while, he studied them begging for their lives thinking and being all pitiful. He raised his gun and pointed at them while they gasped with the barrel of the gun pointed at them.
"Our mission was elimination," he began. "Elimination it is."
Then he opened fire inside the transporter until his gun ran out.
"Destroy everything and let's move on."
"Yes sir" the team replied.