From the Shard...

Here are some stuff i wrote about while Kara fought up in the Shadow Shard, she was very much a presence up there prior to the return of the Rikti, working closely with US and UN military units of the Expeditionary Force. I hope you enjoy them!

February 14th, 2006 - Firebase Zulu

The howling alien wind of the shard whipped around the darkened cement and metal bunker with a gentle ferocity. Deep within the womb of its protective walls Kara lay curled up on the canvas and metal cot buried deep inside an old, but comfy-thick army issued sleeping bag. As if with long established practice she lay in a semi awake state and listened to the cold Shard wind fight to reach her as she snuggled deeper safe and warm. She knew instinctively it had to be close to wake up...or like whatever the army guys called it. As she lay there she thought idily about the awful events of the past few nights and then amused herself by actually reminding herself she was as her mother used to say 'as snug as a bug in a rug' right now.

She groaned a bit softly as she heard the soft beeps of PFC. Michele Peterson's alarm go off. She covered her head and vanished into the bag as her 'bunkmate', who was more of a roomate when she stayed up here reached up to her makeshift cot lamp and turned it on as she shut off her alarm.

Kara's groan of protest from beneath the faded olive drab mound drew a groggy grin from the young soldier who sat up to stretch adding with a half sleepy grin. "Come on Arty...its revely..'Oh-dark-thirty' " she shook her head as the mound on the bunk across the room groaned again at the familiar routine. "And you -so- know what the 'Oh' Stands for..." she said crossing over to the Heroine who had become her friend these last few months.

The still sleepy soldier reached down to snag the sleeping bag off of her friend's face as they said in a dry monotone only capable of being achieved this early in the morning " 'Oh' my gawd its early" Kara added "Darn it Petey i was sooo comf!" her attempt to lay back down was halted by 'Petey' as she was known said over her shoulder "This is the army girlfriend...comfort just doesnt..DON'T you lay back down "Arty'!" she playfully snapped in a sergant's tone then added "Besides I have formation and -you- have school!"

"And girl like where are those fields?" Petey grinned and shivered slightly as she rummaged for her P.T. uniform. Kara sat up still clad in her white one piece she had worn from the night before and glowed a brief flash of silver white warmig herself and the immediate area, as well as bringing the horried chill enhancing drafts that the wind somehow always managed to find a way to get by the doors and windows. Kara reached for her bracers and high boots joining Petey in a soft chuckle as the two girls dressed.

"So girl whats on for you tonight" Petey asked from her bunk as she tied her sneakers. Kara smiled but her voice level trailed off as she noticed a small package sitting alongside of her bunk. Lifting it up a familiar odor assailed her senses. No such smell exsisted on this base...ever! "Um..im so having dinner with a friend"

Petey smirked " a friend.....how cute?"

Kara smiled with a bit of a blush "Incred cute...happy??" she reurned to reading the package's attached note as Petey stuck her tongue out at her and whirled to answer the room's bulky old style comm unit.

'Happy V-day, Diamond. From: Maz' The card said and added whe she flipped it over be sure to go home before long Kara smiled and opened the box and found a New York-style cheesecake shaped into a heart, and about palm-sized. She smiled dipping a finger gently into the chocolate as she heard Petey disconnect with a sharp 'Rodger that!' She turned to Kara and smiled "Okay Arty have a great day, mine is beginning already...you know this is a government operation when a Major loses his desk this early in the morning"

Kara blinked and giggled "His desk? Like how can you lose.." her question was stopped by the young MP who was now clearly awake and on duty "Girl i so dont even know what to know yet...ive got to get over there on the double..so have a good one...room will be open if you stay again .." she stopped and finally looked at Kara's gift "Cheesecake....New York Cheesecake...from the incred cute friend?"

Kara giggled and shook her head "Nope! this is..... someone else" Petey just looked at her in mock exasperation "Ugh...i knew i shouldve gotten me some powers instead of enlisting! stupid recruiter...." she adopted what the troops now called 'Artyspeak' ." I totally -so- blame him!"

Kara gaped and swatted at her her, playfully shooing her out of their room and into the morning cold. Returning to her cheesecake she happily spoiled herself with a decadant cheesecake breakfast as she called Portal control to make sure she was able to get through and back to Earth in time for her school's first bell. She was pleased to learn that there were no supply delays or troops moving through the gate and was soon home at the apartment she shared with Luci in no time.

She smiled and thanked her elder neighbor Pamela, or Auntie Pam for staying the night on such short notice to watch Phil, following her crash to the previous nights events. Pam had even shown her yet another package had been delievered here last night while she had been in the shard. Kara smiled to herself already she had caught the aroma that wafted from the box. She chuckled softly as she read the label.

'For Kara, Happy V-Day' she read the smaller print with a grin 'Don't eat it before she can get home, Luci'

Kara giggled and thought that the only reason the cake had survived is that Luci either isnt up yet or hadnt come home yet. Either way she placed the cake int he fridge knowing between herself, Luci and Phil the new york cheesecake's fate was -doomed-...she laughed!

Phil...whoops! she thought and headed down to the little girls room to rouse the very sleepy Phil in order to get her ready for school. Kara giggled at the fact that today the girl had decided not to be a morning person. She herself even found she had the time for a much longer shower than she thought she wouldve.

By the time she had dressed and gotten the still groggy Phil out the door Kara's mood had easily been restored from the previous night. She was now looking forward to her dinner with Sean tonight and whatever the rest of the night then held. If Iz or anyone else wanted to do something they would call but she decided she was going to enjoy herself tonight.

She slipped her arm around her delibrately zombified ward's shoulders and hugged her as they headed off to meet with Katrina to walk with the other young girl to school. Kara looked down to Phil "Do you have Katrina's Vale..." she stopped with and amused smile as Phil's arm came up machine like, in her mitten she held a red envelope and a small bag of the generic candy hearts.

Kara smiled and double checked as they stood in the cool wind and admist the snowbanks now surounding the bus stop to make sure she had Katrina's litle heart shaped box of chocolate. She then looked to Phil "Ready?" she grinned as the Scarf wrapped hooded eyes nodded 'yes' . "Well lets go..." holding her hand she and Phil crossed the street and headed off into the morning. Kara looked down as they walked and smiled...

"Happy Valentine's Day!"

April 19th 2006 - Firebase Zulu, Shadow Shard


The dank cool yet humid air of the soft amber twilight of the alien shard hung around the barrack tents and bunkers like a wet blanket. Smothering yet off set by a cool breeze that back on earth would never be present. Kara stood upon a high wall of rocks looking out over the bizzare floating rocks and flieds of debris that hung in the orangish red horizon of the alien landscape. The breeze blew her hair up and off her shoulder and whipped around to sooth the backof her neck from the almost stiffling humanity tonight.

She sighed, yet another night of patrols...and yet more preferable to be here she mused than to be where she had been during the last week. She felt free up here working with her 'boys'. 1st of the 75th, US Army Rangers assigned to the Shard Expeditionary Force, a proud group of soldiers all mostly her age. Men and woman who stood on a wall and protected her world from the unfortunate mess that the initial contact with this world had yielded.

Her platoon, 'The Outlaws' recieved a bunch of new replacements tonight, even a New Leiutenant, a turnip named Lt. Harrison Cutler. She smirked as she remembered his first words to he with a sneer as he took in her costume.

"Not much for camoflauge Lady?" he turned and walked away when she giggled, with 'Top' the companies first Sergant to explain her worth to the new officer. He often flew out with her 'chalk' and patroled with them when he was able or when the company moved out as a whole. She shook her head as his voice and turned to look below. Top was crrently dressing down three of the five new recruits and peeling off issued equiptment they were packing for tonight's patrol, that she herself knew would NOT be needed out there.

She had learned early on herself a soldier must be mobile out here and such an economy of weight being carried had to be taught. The newbies or cherries as they were called had to learn. She watched with an amused grin as Donaldson and Carter, both specialsists who had been privates when she first joined the unit walk by as they left the mess tent. They had gone through this ritual themselves on her first night with the unit.

She waved to the older soldiers as they passed by her perch. She looked back as Top walked away in disgust ..which was more to drive his point home so the new guys didnt forget. She floated down to the group as she could hear their inevitable grumbles ....

"Crusty old [censored].." ...."Jeesh lighten up eh? " ....."What does he know" "I know what they said in training...what is he gonna do to us if we follow what we were taught" ..."Yeah he cant do much"

....and the like were still being muttered as she landed near them. As usual her presence always drew their immediate attention. Some oggled, some draw to her by her reutation...but mostly the reactions she had come to expect up her from those she hadnt fought beside yet.

"Whoa..." said one..the others mostly Gawked..

"Hey boys...got a sec for like some good advice?" She smiled sweetly as they all nodded and formed a semi circle in front of her as she began to speak. "So gonna tell ya something...its like this little story I so like to call 'Don't Mess with a First Sergeant' "

They nodded, leaning on their weapons or kneeling as if they were in school, which more than likely she had learned they had just left training schools where they were required to shut up and listen during a block of instruction. she had told this story now quite a few times over the last year. Grinning she began...

"Okay like there were these two privates, ok? " she said "Who were roommates, and were like always getting into trouble. Weeell One day, while being marched up and down the air field field up here by 'Top', as punishment for so again not listening to him..., the three came upon a like this crystal lantern." they soldiers smirked as they listened unsure of whether or not to believe her .."Oh it was so lovely..a reddish pink one..so smooth and lovely"

A small group of some of the more vetran Rangers and pilots had stopped byt he entrance to the mess tent to listen as well, smiling as they observed her continue with her long practiced ritual for the newbies.

"Well like one of the privates pick up the lantern and rubs it. And this shimmering Genie pops out. " her voice grows deeper as she recites ..

"I will give you each one wish; that's three wishes total," says the Genie.

"The first private says, "I want to be back in my warm dry barracks room, surrounded by beautiful women with all the pizza and beer I can handle. "

she crossed her arms across her chest and bpwed her head dramatically as if granting a wish and blinked like the genie from the old TV show

"*POOF* the first private disappears. " the newbies grinned wishing the could do this as well. Kara continued ignoring some of the snickers and chuckles from the mess tent.

"Now the second private says, "Good idea!" I want to be there also." Then with a sneer to Top, the private adds, "and surround our room with a large wall, so we can't be bothered by sergeants!" he laughed at Top..he really did"
She repeated her genie motions and continued

"*POOF* the second private disappears. " The newbies cheered and nodded agreeing with the no Top's allowed part of the wish. Kara grinned and went on..

"Now Top just looks to the genie and asks in a very even voice, "I'm very curious. Please tell me more about this wall."

The Genie explains, "Well, it's about 150 feet high, 50 feet thick and nothing can get in or out."

"including Top hisself!" crooned one of the newbies to a few high fives from his buddies. Kara waited then asked "Do you know what Top said to the genie then....his true wish?"

They all nodded..

Kara smiled dropped meeting each of there gazes as she spoke the Top's wish...

"Well then Top says..., "Fill it up with water."

The newbies smiles all dropped and stood there.

"Dont mess with Top boys...he knows what he is doing..." she added in a sing song voice as *** e turned to walk away "and he -will- get you!'

As she left the now silent pack of newbies to straighten out their gear as instructed she turned to the soft claps and laughter from the front of the mess tent. She bowed a graceful ballet reverence to her audience only to be halted by a large growl from behind them..

"ALL RIGHT GAWD DAMN IT KNOCK THAT [censored] OFF! " Top then roared to the gaggle by the mess tent "You mutts get your [censored] in gear, ops in 40 minutes!" As they scrambled to prepare , Top then turned on Kara "Gawd Damn it Arty quit [censored] around with the Cherries and get over to INTEL before I put my boot up that Spandex [censored] of yours....move it girl..OPS in 39 minutes now"

He grinned as she snapped too and flew off giggling towards the Intel center. Out of the corner of his eye he watched the new soldiers scramble to get strip away the gear he told them earlier to lose. He then turned to see Kara land across the camp.

He smirked , you have your ritual girl.....and I have mine.

Top turned and headed off to find the new lieutenant, boy had only been up here 3 hours. He mused, Cant have him getting lost in camp already.

May 13th, 2006 - POINT CHARLIE, Firebase Zulu


The copper night of the shard flicked and flashed over head as the far off echoes of popping gunfire and explosions could be heard. A cool humid wind ripped around the small alcove carved into the side of the massive rock that drifted insanely in the bizarre dimension. A small natterling chittered and hid as beyond its hiding place, across the face of it's home, dozens of fatigued and battle ready figures darted here and there engaged in a cat and mouse game of death. Soldiers and Heroes, villains and beasts traded bullets and energy as they struggled for control.

High above a sleek Army helicopter cut through the copper veil carrying an important cargo. A Nemesis intelligence officer sat with his arms in chains linked to a band around his neck. Flanked by two Army Rangers, Stevens and Flannery, of Diamond's 'chalk' who had drawn escort duty for this officer she had captured. The pair gazed in and around the helicopter as it flew as well as out to the swirling atmosphere as their ship flew across the night sky. Before the prisoner sat a man armored in tinted blue, Starrior a young hero of the Firebase Security Detail, who had also drawn the duty tonight, surprisingly.

His form seemingly quiet as his troubled mind fought through his issues to stay focused on guarding the prisoner. To his right and left the Door Gunners both relaxed sat quietly in their own thoughts as the pilot and copilot spoke with the ground controllers at Firebase November.

"Rodger Six-One this is Ultra-4-5 , ETA 2-5 minutes" the pilot said in an even voice as she banked her Blackhawk to make a necessary course correction to stay in the air lanes to avoid much of the debris that floated there.

"COPY ULTRA 4-5, ETA 2-5" droned the ground controller's response

Right, mused Starrior dryly as he listened to the escort Blackhawk, Ultra 4-6, in front of them radio as well over his comm. system... his body banked with the helicopter as it avoided the floating debris, as he thought , much like my own life at the moment. His armor preventing his mood from showing as they flew on into the night. His thoughts returned to Diamond once more, the young girl seemingly had all of the luck up here. A diamond indeed, he thought bitterly, she could do no wrong. He had been up here since the portal opened and yet all he ever heard about was this slip of a girl. Not that he didn’t respect her, he had too, but at a certain level he resented how easy things seem to come for her.

He sighed, she had seemed unhappy as of late. A part of him was thrilled to a degree by that. It meant she wasn’t perfect and she could feel pain too. He closed his eyes inside his visor, the thought also shamed him. A voice cut over the symphonic beat of the rotors as he looked up to it.

"Hey Star, relax, bro. me and Flan have babysat POW's since Iraq. It’s no sweat ... OooAhh?" Stevens flashed him that cocky smile of reassurance as the young Ranger completely misunderstood what was bothering the older man in the armor.

"OooAh!" Flan grinned back to Stevens as he absurdly chewed a huge wad of bubble gum that had long lost its flavor.

Hah. Easy for him to say, Starrior mused, except there are a few problems, Stevens: You don't have an outstanding debt to pay off, The Nemesis Army was said to be offering a great deal of money for the return of any captured line Intel officer during OPERATION SWARMER.
The very criminal organization, he fought most of his adult life on the streets of Paragon, and here in the Shard. The monsters who ambushed soldiers and scientists alike and sought to starve refugees using them as human shields against the forces her fought beside..

The money they offered can get one out of that debt, easy. No such offer could be matched by Mr. President nor any hero foundation. "I don’t expect everyone to be perfect Starrior..." Ms. Liberty had coolly told him once when he had gone for help for the last time "But I -do- expect them to take responsibility for their actions eventually"

[censored]...

Her words had sliced into his heart as he had volunteered for extended duty up here to avoid his ex wife and her battery of attorney's. He sighed as he thought of his boy. The hero sat there in the Blackhawk as it cut across the night sky, his gauntleted hands in his lap, eyes flickering between the two rangers and their smirking charge in his torn and bloody red and gold nightmare of a uniform. Ten million for him already, and they had just taken him into custody. The smarmy Latino seemed content to just sit there and run his pretty little mouth, knowing the lawful limits of the soldiers guarding him.

"Hey, my friends. I can double my army's offer personally. Twenty million, if you all accept that is over two mil apiece for each of you" he smirked "Lets see your Uncle Sam match that eh?"

Starrior swallowed despite the mute satisfaction knowing the [censored] was getting desperate should've brought.

"All you have to do is let me down right over there on that rock. And then do not concern yourselves further. I will find my own way, what do you say eh?"

"You got the cash on you?" Stevens monotoned looking out the side door. Flan grinned and blew a bored bland bubble which popped with a snap.

Damn kids. Starrior thought. The easy sarcasm in the young Ranger's voice just added to Starrior's growing irritation. Completely unphased, the two Rangers didn't even flinch at the offer while he on the other hand felt, internally, like he was sweating bullets beneath his armor...twenty million. My god...

"Come on Ranger, do not be stupid. What do you make? Thirty, thirty five thousand?" That stung Starrior, The mocking beginning and emphasizing the difference in the pay between the two philosophies.

Stevens chuckled, shaking his Kevlar amused. "Not even but I'm in it for the chicks...OooAh?" Flan grinned looking across the prisoner and replied with that ever present annoying 'OooAh"

"A puppet....a sheep for your president."

"MAKING THE TURN, AT POINT CHARLIE." The escort pilot's voice shattered his thoughts momentarily. This was it, he thought, God help me.

His eye flew across his visors screen and activated a few prearranged programs; the transmitter on the side of his helmet began to emit the preset program....

From behind him he heard the pilot gasp of surprised frustration as the control of her beloved Blackhawk failed to respond as her ship hovered to an almost stop. Her copilot's bulbous helmet turned left and right as he tried to verify and re-verify the readings across his consol. The door gunners grabbed their harnesses to steady themselves as the craft began to slow to a stop, behind a large floating rock.

Then came Ultra 4-6's pilot's voice "MY VIEW OF 4-5 HAS BEEN OBSTRCTED." Damn right, it better be.

"4-5? 4-5? STEPH, WHAT'S HAPPENIN'?"

Nice and smooth, Starrior smirked bitterly as the pilot gasped in shock as the whole cabin heard her voice reply over the radio…

"I got a slight flutter in my pedals and the collective is sluggish, wait one 4-6, I’ve hover to verify prob...I'll be back on your six in about ten seconds."

"ROGER THAT."

Here we go…he sighed darkly

This was just one of those times when he was glad they didn't wear armor as complete as his own. Otherwise, he wouldn't be fast enough, and someone might have to be killed. These were honorable and good kids, there had to be no casualties. Heart beating, he reared up a bit as the taser cable from his both his shoulders launched their cables into the back of each door gunner. The boys stiffened and slumped forward over their weapons. With lightening speed two more pairs of cables darted out of his shoulder blades into both the co-pilot and pilot, who to his amazement actually managed to draw her sidearm. They both lurged and slumped in their chairs, the pilot's sidearm thumping to the cabin floor.

His large armored forearms came up to bear on the two remaining guards, the young Rangers who were his friends.

"Drop your weapons and keep your hands where I can see 'em, guys. Let’s go." There was no stopping now, he sighed sadly, though his voice was deathly calm though his vocoder.

"Sweet [censored] Star, what the hell are you doin'?" Stevens, staring at him with disbelief in his wide eyes, yet his body visibly tensing up. Flan simply watched the hero and his friend in shocked and saddened disappointment. However he too began to tense, neither of the Rangers lowering their weapons nor showing their age. Both shifting into battle mode fluidly. God, Starrior thought, accept it boys, don’t do this.

Steven's finger strayed close to his trigger though almost imperciably, his mind swam as he began to take in his limited options around trying to accept what was happening. The milk run just become a fight for his life and Flan's. How could Star do this? He was a /hero/. Sure, he was a little selfish and often a bit on the arrogant side, had too much of a thing for money and gambling, but seriously…he thought the man was better than this…he was swiftly become nothing more now than a target to the young Ranger.

All right, so far so good, Starrior thought. His earlier edginess began to ease off a little, now that things were in motion.. And he was in control. A rare thing for him in his life lately.

"What the hell does it look like I'm doing?" Don't do anything stupid, Stevens he silently begged the boy. "I'm taking this [censored] up on his offer and I'm sorry I can’t afford to share it with you guys." …arrogant [censored]… He cast that swarthy Latino a resentful glance and could just see the smug look on his face. Yeah, you [censored], you hooked one who couldn't resist. Go ahead, smirk...laugh...I deserve it but I had -no- choice.

Starrior hated him. He hated this criminal...no he hated the whole terrorist organization for announcing to the world an incentive to turn him against what had been his life. The prospect of millions… oh its power, the control such money offered him again… Its power to rid himself of debt and grant him the rich life he deserved. A life he could share with his boy....just to see him smile once more.

"Now, you boys just be smart. Hands up, Flannery! Come on. Come on." he snapped “Hands up! Hands up, Stevens. Let's go, lemme see it. Hands up! Let's go!"

Starrior drew a tighter bead on them both, his optics targeting them with his crimson beam. Inwardly, behind his tinted visor, he prayed the two Rangers, his former friends, would comply. He knew he couldn't actually bring himself to shoot either of them... Just keep thinking about that money, Star, oh yeah.

Good. Relief swept over him a little when so far at least neither had made a move to engage him....yet

NO! What is /she/ doing!?, was the thought sweeping through Star's mind as he caught the flicker of movement at the Helicopter doorway. A figure, with a flowing reddish mane in a revealing yet stunningly functional black leotard floated there raising a gloved hand which crackled with her energy. The Expeditionary Force traitor flinched behind his visor and looked back at the two Rangers with alarm as the shattering sound of an energy blast echoed within the cabin. Taking the shot to the throat Stevens was thrown back against the wall of the helicopter. Steven slumped, his head rolling to the side as dark blood slipped from his lips, his eyes staring at Starrior with mock accusations.

Flannery moved in an instant, all out of instinct as he brought his SAW up to fire. The motion and instinct came alive inside of Starrior as his defensive systems went to work. Without thinking he fired his twin stun pulses into the chest of the young Ranger dropping him to the deck, lifeless but alive.

Why'd she shoot him!? He whirled to face his partner angrily "What the hell was that?! Are you crazy!?" Starrior yelled. Staring in near-horror at his friend in the back seat. "What the hell was that, Liz??!?"

Dark Rose had already moved to begin to free the highly amused prisoner. The Spaniard then kicking the unconscious Flan and spat on bleeding Stevens...

"Sheep!" The Nemesis Intel Officer snarled just before Starrior reached out and snatched the man by his hair roughly snapping his neck back "touch them again" he hissed through his vocoder. "and you are all through!"

He turned to Liz once more "WHY?"

"He was going for it Star" Bull [censored]! He thought staring at her wild grin, good god he thought she actually got off on that! What had the two of them become?

"No he wasn't! I had them under control! You didn't have to shoot him!" No no NO! This wasn't supposed to happen! Stevens, he had a boy too…

"4-5 STATUS?...4-5 STATUS?"

Starrior's mind raced, his chest felt like it weighed a hundred pounds, weight that pushed down on the empty air that was his stomach. He had to say something! He had this planned to the point where they would’ve been long gone before 4-6 checked in with them...[censored] delayed us by shooting Stevens.....Stevens..

…Oh man, Stevens… Fighting to calm himself down, he moved one hand to key the Helicopter's radio…. But he couldn't stop looking at the young Ranger slumped against the back wall, he couldn’t avoid his eyes.

"We're catching up to you, Major, Steph is um..Working on the collective now. Uh. W-we'll be there in about—"

"STARRIOR WHY ARE YOU RESPONDING? STAND BY WE ARE ENROUTE TO YOU NOW ETA IN 15 SECONDS"

"ANY AND ALL AIRCRAFT OR HEROES IN AND AROUND POINT CHARLIE, RESPOND, THIS IS ULTRA 4-6 , DOES ANY OF YOU HAVE A VISUAL ON ULTRA 4-5?"

"STAND BY 4-6 I'M SO IN THE AREA, LIKE WAIT ONE, ANGLING THERE NOW"

Of course, Starrior sighed as he recognized the chipper high pitched voice, she was heading back to the firebase, and she would have to be the nearest one.

She should have a clear view, by now. Dark Rose cursed softly as she readied her flight harness for their charge.

"ROGER. 4-6 I CAN SEE THEM JUST OFF POINT CHARLIE, 4-5 IS STOPPED BY THAT LARGE ROCK THAT SO LOOKS LIKE BULLWINKLE."

Dark Rose was hurrying but still enjoying herself. Starrior cursed as he moved to the other door to see the shimmering heroine approaching from the far distance.

His comm. crackled to life on the security detail frequency "Star? Star are you all right?" His eyes closed, she thinks I have to be a victim, she still believes in me....of course he thought bitterly, she naively sees the best in all of us.

…"Don't approach 4-5 Kara....it's um wired and they will blow it if you do" his voice shook slightly as he aimed for a long distance shot at her and fired hitting her dead on. The young heroine fluttered and dropped straight down a few dozen meters before catching herself, her fields absorbing most of his blast.

"Why did you warn her!?" Liz snapped at him as she floated out of the door with the smirking officer strapped to her back.

"Kara” he whispered knowing full well she would’ve known who shot her "Do me a favor and tell that [censored] Ms. Liberty it was me and Liz that did this"

"Did what...." she inhaled pausing in hover out of shock "Omigawd Star NO! So don’t do this!"

Dark Rose piped in mocking Kara's high pitch voice "So like save it sunshine" her voice heavy with the arrogant glee-ness of someone who has everything…or is soon going to get it and knows no one, nothing, can stop her, as she spoke to her one time comrade “or you so will join your little ranger boyfriends" cackling at Kara's gasp of shock


"4-6! DIAMOND, 4-5 COMPRIMISED, PRISONER FREED. SUSPECTS APPEAR TO BE FIREBASE ZULU SECURITY PERSONEL, HAVE RECIEVED WEAPONS FIRE FROM THEM. DO NOT APPROACH!"

Kara's voice barked out to the largely unarmed and under armed Blackhawk hovering nearby now.

"DIAMOND, 6-1 ACTUAL , COLONEL BAKER HERE, CAN YOU VERIFY THIS OVER?"

Starrior's heart sank as he heard her voice respond as he and Liz stepped off into the copper night.

"CONFIRMED 6-1 ACTUAL"

Starrior glided next to Dark Rose and their charge as they flew away from the hovering Blackhawk. He knew Kara would have to stop to awaken its pilot first....then see to the survivors at least until 4-5 could land. He hoped maybe..Just maybe the girl had one more miracle, he lied to himself, and maybe she could save Stevens.

His rear scanners showed her flying to ultra 4-5. His heart froze as she called out to him in desperation, so much concern in her voice for him still.

Well that will fade once she sees the boy....

"STAR!, So don't do this!...PLEASE!" She pleaded sincerely with her friend

Too late now, Ms. Valiant Dazzling Diamond…the feeling was almost enough to somber out the reeling in his stomach. He thought once more about Stevens, worried, his heart hammering as he breathed. He couldn't stop now even if he wanted to.

He couldn’t get the boy's eyes out of his head...

Just think, millions of dollars were waiting, had to keep going. For him, his life for his boy to have a chance...for them to be together. Forcing himself to fly faster, Starrior kept pace with his two smirking companions.


"OMIGAWD 6-1 WE HAVE CASUALTIES” Diamond's voice sliced over the comm., she was inside. "CREW DISABLED, ONE MAN DOWN! MEDICS NEEDED 4-5'S LOCATION!..OMIGAWD LIKE NOW!"

"COPY THAT DIAMOND," Baker's voice was calm, even toned "GIRL I WANT YOU TO TRANSFER 4-6'S COPILOT TO 4-5..COPY? MEDEVAC NOW ENROUTE TO YOUR POS....I NEED AN HONEST NO [censored] ASSESMENT GIRL CAN YOU DO THIS?"

"COPY 6-1 ACTUAL, LIKE TRANSFERING NOW!"

Her voice upset yet calm and functioning, she would be after them sooner than expected.

God, Liz had shot the boy in the throat!! Like in a surrealistic nightmare tunnel he was falling down, he felt himself compelled to fly back and surrender, just to be able to touch Stevens, to make him all right. Was he even alive? What about Steven's family?

His boy...so like his own...

However he could already see his friend's blood on his hands…visible as the copperish light washing over his gauntlets.

"6-1 , VULTURE 1-3, TARGETS ARE ENTERING POINT ECHO."

A new voice, clear and clipped reported on their activity...

"COPY VULTURE 1-3"

Ground Control's response snapped Starrior back to reality that was an Apache Attack helicopter, they often flew in pairs. It also brought his thoughts professionally back to the point of this whole nightmare, get this [censored] back to his people, and get his money. Then hopefully, he prayed a life with his boy...

Diamond would take care of Stevens, he knew that.

He could trust her to do that, ....everyone could...right?

After all, one casualty was never acceptable by her standards…

Christ....

He flew beside his too overly amused partner and their smirking charge as they bobbed and weaved closely to the floating debris to outrun and lose their pursuit.

June 22nd, 2006 - Firebase Zulu

A pair of Blackhawk Helicopters hummed off into the copperish twilight of the Shard adding strength to the soft wind as it fluttered softly across the skin of the drab olive tent. A lithe figure had just landed and bounded under its woodframes doorway to step inside.

"Hi Hi Petey!" Kara beamed to her roommate PFC. Michele Peterson whose athletic frame was lazily drapped across a small bunk, her head propped up by her field pack. Her friend was pulling CQ duty here in Captian Davis' command tent. This tent usually the Bravo Company commanders was the hub for all decisions for the company when it was out in the field. The company XO was now in charge and it seemed as if duty was light this morning as Petey lounged on her cot.

"Captian Davis is back" she said looking towards her friend seriously. Their usual playful banter falling to the side almost immediately.

“What do you mean, Captain Davis is back?” Kara paused and demanded.

“Just what I said, girl” replied Petey, mindful of the friendship the young heroine had developed with Davis. As a young Lieutenant with the Rangers he had been the girl's first platoon officer. Though they had quarreled in the beginning a tight bond and friendship had grown between the pair over the years as they had both matured. “He’s in his office. I just came from there.”

“He’s supposed to be in Seattle,” Kara argued and hint of worry slipping into her voice. “He just started a two-week leave, and he was looking forward to it.”

Petey shrugged. “Dunno what to tell you, girl. Captain Davis is definitely present and accounted for. Allison and Mooreton can testify to that, too. The Cap’n was sure tearin’ a strip off of him when I went in.”

“He did -like- what for?” Concern filled Kara's eyes. Michael Davis was a stern but approachable commanding officer. It was rare for other soldiers to wittness a true Davis butt chewing. Either All and Moore had royally screwed up or something was definitely wrong.

“Some album that was supposed to have Saddam Hussein’s personal snapshots in it.” Petey looked momentarily thoughtful. “Funny thing about that, Kara. Of course, we all know that ol’ Bloody—”

“That’s ‘Captain Davis,’ Private,” Kara corrected firmly a cool air danced around her tone, causing Petey to quirk a brow but she relented. She is worried now too, Petey thought to herself.

“Yes Ma'am. Captain Davis. We know that he’ll allow the occasional practical joke and all...esspecially if it teaches a troop a lesson." Petey frowned again slightly " But this was different. I kinda got the impression that he really didn’t care all that much about the photo album. That wasn’t what he was shoutin’ about.”

Kara didnt even try to hide her astonishment now “Davis was shouting?”
“Yes Ma'am. That’s a big part of why it was so strange. I mean, Cap’n Davis isn’t as calm and cool as Major Iverson, but he’s no Lt. Cutler, either." Kara shared a wince with Petey at the mention of her 'chalk's ' new platoon officer and his martinet view of military life. "What was that Stevens said about him once? ‘An iron hand in a velvet glove.’ " Kara nodded " Stevens was quoting somebody, I think."

Petey drew a breath sitting up on her elbows as she recounted for her friend " Anyway, that’s more Captain Davis’ style. But he was really yellin’ at More, saying; ‘I don’t believe you!’ I got the impression that was what was really botherin’ him: that he thought More was lying. Like he thought he was bein’ deceived, y’know? His last words to More as Alllison and he were leaving his tent ; ‘You better not be lying to me.’” Petey shrugged again. “Maybe I’m just imagining things you know?”
Kara sighed, she doubted that very much. Michele Peterson was far from stupid, she was one of the sharpest MP's up here, if she said she heard something, she had heard it.

“Anyway,” Petey was going on, “I just wanted to let you know, girl, that I’ll be taking on Delta shift duty....”

“Captain Davis demoted you?” Kara asked, amazed. Petey must've really gone to the C.O.’s tent at a bad time.

“Only because I asked him to,. I told him I wanted to be back watching over the troops.”

Kara nodded, familiar with that feeling herself.

“I just wanted to let you know, girl…” Petey uncharacteristically hesitated. “We... well some of your Rangers , some of the other noncoms an’ me—we know you had to turn down that position. Hell, nobody deserved it more. But you’ll always be an honorary Ranger to us.”

Kara could not help smiling. Petey's words, which sounded vaguely insulting, were actually meant to be a compliment. Michele Peterson was of the opinion—an opinion with which Kara was fast learning , that Rangers were the backbone elite of the Army. They were a cut above everyone else.

“Thank you, Petey.”

“You bet girl.” Petey had just laid back down when the tent flap parted and Captain Davis entered the room. His dark eyes narrowed when he saw Petey sprawled on her cot. Petey's eye's widened as she leapt up to come instantly to attention.

“What are you doing here, Peterson? I told you to report to Lt. Paulson.”
“On my way, sir.” Petey looked like she was about to argue but then just saluted Davis, who returned it disinterestedly, his mind clearly already on something else. Having been dismissed, the young MP swiftly retreated.
Kara saw that Daviss was carrying two bottles of wine. The captain crossed to the table at which the officers of the company played their poker games, placed the bottles on it, and spoke to Kara without looking at her. “Care to join me in a drink, Lieutenant?”

“Yes, thank you, sir,” She answered, mildly surprised. Kara frowned, He rarely addressed her by her Security detail rank. It was too formal between them. Bravo Company’s C.O. was not exactly antisocial, but he did not normally seek out the company of others, unless you counted the weekly poker game.

“There’s a corkscrew on the sideboard over there. Carter keeps it around to open his Vat 69.”

Kara retrieved it and brought it over to the table. “What is the occasion, sir?” she decided against calling him Michael after his use of her 'rank'.
Davis turned his head and regarded her, his dark eyes glittering. “The occasion, Lieutenant, is that I would like to become blind, stinking drunk. Unfortunately, since I’m the company C.O., that isn’t feasible, so I probably shouldn’t do my drinking alone.”

Kara went still. “I see, sir.....”

“I doubt it. Open these bottles.” his tone was clip and cool.

After only a momentary struggle with the corkscrew, she did so. They sat in the cheaply made government folding field chairs with a metalic creak. Kara passed the bottles over to Davis, who had produced two drinking glasses from somewhere. The captain filled the first one to the brim, then tried to slide it across to the young heroine who shook her head shook his head.

“Um...like about half a glass is more than enough for me,Mi.... sir.” her voice was soft yet its tone floated across a soft wind of worry as she watched him closely

“Suit yourself,” Davis replied shortly, taking back the filled glass for himself. He poured enough wine in the second to fill it halfway, and then gave that to her.

“Here. I’d hoped to be drinking whiskey, but there isn’t a drop of it anywhere on base. Carter's doing, I suppose, or maybe Edison’s.” Without hesitation, he tossed back almost half the contents of his glass.

Kara only sipped hers, as she watched in amazement ; it was not the poor quality stuff she had expected, but the finest wine she had ever tasted. Not that she had tasted much. It reminded her of an old family vintaged wine she had tasted as a little girl. Her family had always spent their summers in France, a nearby old couple, who were friends of her father's had a vineyard and rows upon endless rows of of grapes. “This wine is excellent, sir. Where did you find it?”

Davis, in the act of taking out a pack of cigarettes, eyed her. “At the liquor store in Peregrine. Where else?” Suddenly, he thrust the pack at Kara. “Care for a smoke?”

Kara met her superior officer and friend’s unblinking stare, wondering if the man was trying to intimidate her. Making a face she shook her head “Ugh No.. sir!,” she replied

Davis lit his cigarette making a disgusted face at her. The captain placed an ashtray between them, and then spoke abruptly. “You don’t have to call me ‘sir.’ There’s just the two of us here.”

Kara sat a little stunned but merely nodded.

His tone was somewhat less antagonistic, and she recognized it for what it was: an attempt to make it clear that her friend was aware of the thoughts that must have been going through her head, and that his offer of a cigarette had been nothing more than a willingness to share tobacco. Kara briefly wondered what the heck was going on here. Davis seemed to radiate anger, but not because of anything she or any of his men had done.

“All right.” They both drank some more, Davis considerably more than his friend. Through the haze of cigarette smoke, Kara studied the man across from her. “Is there something on your mind?” she asked quietly.

“Should there be?” he said drly, with a hint of pain in his voice.

“Yes Michael. I’d so say so. You like said you felt like getting totally blind, stinking drunk, and that’s so not like you.” Her eyes softened as she spoke to him.

“How do you know what I’m like, Kara?” He asked, draining his glass.

“You know how it is, sir. When you live through what we have togeth , and I’d say the Shard certainly qualifies and go through combat with a person, you like get closer to them than you ever have to anyone. You get to know him better than your own family, like Top says better than your own husband or wife—”

The empty glass was slammed down on the table so hard Kara was amazed it didn’t crack, she flinched horribly and when she opened her eyes, Davis was glaring at her. The captain’s eyes did not appear entirely sane as he said in a harsh, furious voice; “Is that your idea of a joke, Kara?”

Kara went very still; for the first time, her friend had all of her senses aware and she was frightened. She knew he really couldnt hurt her, it was a deep emotional scar though left over from an ancient attack. But never did she expect her friend to ever make her feel this way. “I don’t understand, sir,” she said carefully. Her voice quivered a bit as her eyes met his.

Their gazes remained locked for a moment, and Davis, through his haze apparently saw he was frightening his friend. When he relaxed fractionally and muttered, “I thought I told you not to call me ‘sir,’” Kara blinked but knew whatever had caused that the crisis had passed.

“What would you like me to call you?” she asked, her confusion compounded now "you've just been so formal...Michael.." she began once more but paused as he hefted the bottle to offer her more wine as if nothing had happened. When she shook her head at the offer, her friend refilled his own glass and spoke again, sounding merely irritated. “I’d prefer that you stick with Michael I’ve heard the nicknames the others have for me: ‘Sparky’ among the officers, ‘Bloody’ among the enlisted men. For different reasons, it’s difficult to say which is worse.” He drank, and Kara felt an unusual vibe coming from her friend. The anger was still there, but there seemed to be a strange element of sadness mingled with it.

“They just don’t know you, that’s all,” Kara protested gently. “Most of the men Bravo is comprised of now are replacements, so not combat veterans. They haven’t had the experience with you that the rest of us have. They didn’t see you run through Rularuu Watchers on during Operation Thunderstrike and destroy one of the Nemesis Rocket Batteries at the Bastion of Pain, and they didn’t see you come to Bravo's rescue when when that idiot Dutch Colonel wanted to strand them out there without helicopters because he so was trying to impress CNN with that flyby at Firebase November. They like just don’t know anything about you yet, other than that you’re our commanding officer.” She took a breath and repeated; “They just don’t know you Michael....that is all.”

“And you do, Lieutenant?” The dark eyes were unreadable.She sighed again at the use of her 'rank'.

“How can you like ask me that?” She asserted. “I’ve seen you in combat, not least of all on the day we took Point Echo back last September” Davis leaned forward slightly to refill his glass; Kara held up a hand and said quickly; “No thanks, I’ve had enough.”

Davis shrugged and drank. “I just did what I was ordered and trained to do, Kara. Any of us would have.”

“Michael, with like all due respect and whatever I so have to say to not get into trouble for like saying this, if anyone would have done, Major Jensen wouldn’t have had to order you out there in the first place. You took over because Lieutenant Dickerson so messed up big time.” She took another sip of her wine, feeling the liquid burn its way down her throat. It was a strange but not unpleasant sensation. “That wasn’t exactly what I was referring to, anyway. Any officer might have taken over on Major Jensen’ orders. But like only a real leader would have come back to us after making contact with that British Company, the way you did." she smiled at him, remembering the relieved look on her Ranger's faces when the British Unit arrived to reinforce their position that night. " If I don’t know anything else about you, I so know that you are an excellent combat officer.”

She took a deep breath and added; “Moreover, I know that regardless of what your reputation might be, you’re a good man. you so care about your men."

“Well.” Davis took a long sip of his drink. "What do you think of my command decision in choosing this wine then ?"

Kara wondered if he was mocking her or a moment. “The wine is very good,” she said, not sure what else to say, she was hardly an expert on the subject..

Davis shrugged. “The owner claimed it was the finest vintage left available in the shop. For what I paid for it, it should be.” He smiled sardonically

“Michael...what has happened....—” Kara began.

Davis picked up the last of the wine and gazed at it for a moment before turning his eyes to his friend. His tone a bit softer. “For this, I have to be a little drunker.” He took a long pull directly from the bottle. “You know I got my leave finally.." she nodded slowly "I went to see my wife,” he said at last. “I have a wife in Seattle, and an infant son. You knew that, didn’t you?....you know everything my friend...everything"

She was confused but nodded "Yes we've met a few time at Portal...you so intro'd us Michael"

Davis had not mentioned them often, so seldom that she doubted if many of the men in Bravo, officers or enlisted, were aware of their existence. It was not that he was secretive about it. It was more as if he regarded his wife and child as something precious, not for casual discussion.Coveted away from the stress and fighting up here in the Shard. He had spoken of them occasionally, the first time when a maudlin Harry Macklehatton was bemoaning his separation from Kathy Rodgers, his high school sweetheart. Lewis Carter also knew, and if Carter knew, it was a given that Major Jensen did; but Kara was not certain if anyone else in the company was even aware that Davis was married.

“I should say, I had a wife. Past tense.” This statement was followed by another, equally long pull from the bottle.

Kara's jaw dropped. Oh, no. Not this so not to him, she thought. “Michael, she isn’t…” she asked softly.

“What?” Davis stared at her. “Oh, no. No, no, no. She’s not dead. No. She was a widow." he smirkerd at her stunned look " Oh yeah...never told you that Kara...Im sorry... It was her husband who was dead, or supposed to be. He isn’t.”

Again, he drank. Seeing Kara's puzzled frown, he elaborated; “She wasn’t a widow. Her first husband’s still -alive-. I found that out when I went back to our....um..well -her- house ..you know..in Seattle?" Davis took another long pull from the bottle as he continued. "He walked out of the bedroom while I was there.” As Kara gazed at him, dumbfounded,hurt for him yet she flinched softly understanding his pain, Davis took yet another long swallow from the bottle.

“You see,” he explained, with a rather sad earnestness. “She was living hand-to-mouth on a widow’s pension when I met her. I didn’t want that to happen to her again, especially when there was a baby to think about....” He continued to drink, his words coming a little slower. “Soldiers don’t make much money, but its something..you know? I wanted her and the baby to be provided for, especially if I died.…”

Davis lifted the bottle to his lips one final time, realized there was no more wine left, and sighed. “It doesn’t matter,” he said, his voice barely audible, and Kara knew he was not referring to the wine.

“I’m so sorry Michael...” Kara said with deep meaning, feeling helpless in the face of such pain. “What are you going to do?”

“Do?” Davis looked bleary eyed at his friend as if she were the one who was drunk. “I’m going to stay with the Rangers, of course. Bravo needs someone to take care of them. My wife doesn’t. She’s chosen -him- over me." his voice dropped lower , almost to a rasp. "She probably never loved me. There’s nothing for me anywhere but here.”

Kara swallowed, her face betraying her pain and sympathy for him as she whispered “What about your son?”

“What about him?” Davis said, with a kind of bitter sadness. “I’m a Ranger. I can’t take care of an infant. A baby belongs with its mother. Besides, even if I could, I couldn’t take the baby away from her. Not after everything she’s been through…” Davis let his last words trail off as he lowered his head into his hands. “Oh, Christ,” he whispered, his voice ragged and so low as to be barely audible. “Getting shot didn’t hurt as much as this Kara.”

Kara went momentarily silent, deeply shaken and sympathetic. She rose from her chair and crossed to him. Davis had not moved, as she placed an arm around his shoulders. “Come on Michael, Let's get you to bed,” her voice soft and gentle.

Davis slowly raised his head, looked at her glassily for a long moment, as if wanting to say something but something in her eyes showed him she truly understood, there was nothing left to say. He then slowly got to his feet. He took Kara's offered supportive arm and made his way unsteadily to his cot near the radio.

Once there, he did not lie down on the metal cot so much as he collapsed on it. Kara, Knelt beside her hurt friend and waited a moment until she was certain he had fallen asleep, waiting softly by his side as she held his hand. Gently she then carefully unlaced and removed her sleeping friend's jump boots and covered him with his blanket. Sighing softly she sat back atop of her calfs and remained a moment longer, looking compassionately down at his exhausted form as he sought refuge from his pain in sleep, knowing he would find only temporary solace there..

“Tomorrow is another day, Michael,” she murmured. "Your pain will not be gone....it so never goes away. " she sighed softly before adding "but it will get a little easier each day to like deal..."

Standing quietly she walked outside to close the tent flap behind her.

July 24th, 2006 - POINT ECHO, Firebase Zulu

The white clouds of CS gas danced and swirled with the greyish smoke from the weapons fire as columns of black smoke slithered skyward from the various fires. Sudden silence had desended upon the foward listening post at Point Echo. The cool alien wind howled softly under the canaopy of the bizare flowing orange red sky. The young Ranger blinked as he fought to catch his breath and stood to survey the scene around him his thoughts coming rapidly ..

I am lost. Where do I belong in the aftermath? To fight the battle, to kill and watch others be killed is hard bear. It had happened so quickly, no warning no music like in the movies...just ...the speed of it. The bodies.. They litter the landscape. There doesnt seem to be a spot on the outpost deck that is not awash with blood or covered with the bodies of the deceased.

Somewhere he could hear the hiss of radios spark to life as the dullness of sounds he endures caused by the massive weapons fires lessens. He watches with empty eyes and a slack face as his fellow Rangers wander the field, bending here to check a Rularuu as it flails about in his last throes of death,the sound of the three round busrst that finishes the mortally wounded creature is so distant for him.

He watches as they begin to collect discarded weapons – no longer needed by their owner’s motionless hands. He watches as they kneel beside the broken men who weep for the lives lost and innocence shattered – they comfort them as the medics are waved in. He can hear the dance of the evac Blackhawks approaching from above and the Heroine who fought beside of them finally land exhausted to lean against the sandbags of 50 cal. nest. Her dance like their own finally over.
His thoughts float within him as his body quakes..

But I cannot understand battle; the makings of war. I am a soldier; a Ranger. I know how to shoot now to kill of my enemies. This takes only a well trained aim; it is a mindless action. Isnt it? I do not understand why it must be so. I have never understood the reason behind such masses of death and destruction. I only want to do my part, like my father and his father. Is this for hate? Why do they hate us? why do we hate them? Why cant i feel my legs?

He walked over to the edge of his fighting position and leaned against the sandbags tipping his kevlar back with a shaking hand. He could still taste the sulfur in his mouth from firing the weapon he still cradled.

If such reckless hate exists, why must we take heed to it? Does she feel it? does she hate like that all of a suden when she puts action to it? Why must so many die? Are these things people? People like us? For what is this great sacrifice justified? I was so angry as they came at us....why? A burning, blistering wrath that seizes the whole of me.I have never felt such rage....or was it fear..../why did they attack us!/ I was so /angry/. I am motionless, why cant I move? Shouldnt I be doing something more right now...do I need to kill more? Is it dinnertime?

The Ranger gazed off back at nothing as his thoughts swam..

I am angry at them. At the Rularuu – for being so hateful, THEY TRIED TO KILL ME...then why am i angry at me? why did they try to kill me? I am angry with myself, for caring that I have killed. I am a Ranger...I am a fighting machine, they 've said so since basic .. I am a stone. I cannot think, I cannot breathe. Yet I can watch the goings on before me.

A medic runs by, his arms full with his field pack, The Blackhawks seem closer. Something seems missing.

We have won the battle,I think? We did win? In the end that is all that matters? But then I look about myself. So, how can I look upon this graveyard and not wonder what the victory was for? Was it really worth all this? I am lost. Shouldnt I be doing something? is it over? Am I dead?

Then I see, I have indeed one comfort. I am alive...yes I am alive ...Im shaking but shaking is good I am alive right? she is coming over? Is she mad that im not doing anything? She does so much for us..am I in trouble? Her touch, so gentle as she places her hand on my shoulder. So soft I can think straight now? That simple touch seems to bring back all of the right noises and sounds. Like a bridge is she magical? I look up at her numbly. We have to be so close in age. She doesnt seem scared...is it wrong to be frightened now...are they coming back.

Diamond smiles softly as she sees his body tense, reading itself once more for a fight that is not coming...

“Easy, Johnson isnt it?” She said softly. "are you Okies?"

I want to answer her I do, I stare up into those beautiful green eyes of hers and want to escape run home and never do this again. Pretend nothing has changed. Yet it has. Im different, I can feel it, there is no place for me home right now. I tell her I am and she smiles knowingly. i see it in her eyes, she is different too. Everyone is after this I guess. I find my strength and return to my post.

Hours later the young Ranger lays across his bunk, snuggled deeply in the metal womb of the armored barracks. His thoughts fend off his much needed sleep.

No one talks about it, I seem closer to the others now, no longer the new guy. No longer a 'cherry' I guess. I used to get called that alot, not anymore.

I wonder why
"are you okies?" she asked me
No, I am different.

But im no longer lost...

I am alive.

December 5th, 2006 - Firebase Zulu

It was late, the warm but oddly chilled wind whipped about just outside. Its oddly shifting bursts carressing and rattling the metal walls of the bunker that served as the expeditionary force's officers club. The young heroine recrossed her legs as she shifted on her barstool, the last page of her rather long report sat before her as she listened to the howl of the wind.

Kara sighed she loathed the so called 'after action' reports that Lieutenant Cutler insisted she write up by hand. The arrogant turnip had never lost his over indulgent martinette style of leadership. The other 'Outlaws', the Ranger platoon he led that she patroled with could not stand the brash young man.

Kara chuckled softly at the many jokes she had heard the men say about him. She sighed he was a good officer in the field just a jerk of a human being out of it. She had been struggling for over and hour or so now to complete this report so that she could return home. It had been a long week, very busy she missed talking with Rhu, and her friends, spending time with Phil, everything. To make matters worse, though she had come to the 'O Club' to quietly work on her paperwork, it had been anything but quiet here.

Three loud officers had come in just before her and had been 'relaxing' and chatting up a storm. Older men all, a Colonel and two Majors she knew by name and reputation as loud and opinionanted at least politely greeted her as she entered. The one Major had made her skin crawl a little as she felt his eyes 'admire' her in her costume as they 'gracisously' allowed her to join them in the club. She had gone right to work on her paperwork and soon she was forgotten as the bragging and 'guy' discussions continued.

Try as she might she had a hard time tuning out most of their talk. She grinned amused at times and shocked as they lamented and shared tales and jokes on many subjects. Wives, Mother in laws, current politics, gays and women serving in the militaries. The last stunned her how openly prejudiced they were when they thought no one was around to challenge them.

She sighed and inwardly rolled her eyes as the one major who had been checking her out ammended their talk about women in the military by adding a wink in her direction saying 'Present very lovely company excluded ofcourse'

Kara had looked up from her paperwork and smiled her ever sweet smile and merely added "Why Thank you" which apparently became and endorsement for them to continue on as if she was not even there.
Eventually as they droned on, she completed her work and smiled as she watched 'Top' enter the bar.

Unusual for an Non Commisioned officer to be here unless he or she were looking for someone. Kara smirked Captian Davis had to have sent him, it meant Lt. Cutler was in a hurry to get his paperwork. Top spotted the young heroine and made his way over only to stop as the oldier officer's discussion switched to the subject of their own sons.

Uneen by the trio of officers Top merely crossed his arms and waited to be acknowledged before continuing on to her. Kara quirked a curious brow and sipped her Sprite as she waited.

“My son, Kenneth is working for Dell Computers. He’s developing all this software and helping them get so rich, they’re basically about to monopolizing the market! I haven’t heard from him in awhile but he must be doing well ‘cuz last time the wife told me, he just got a new computer with DSL for a friend of his,” said Major Iverson, her lecherous admirer as he took a sip of his drink. Kara shook her head and thought poor woman.

Colonel Jurgens the leader of the pack smirked and announced “That’s nothing! My son, Joe, is researching for Crey Pharmecuticels. He’s made all sorts of scientific breakthroughs and found cures for diseases and such." the barrel chested officer proudly thumped his own chest "Why He’s really bringing in the money. Of course I haven’t heard from him in awhile, but my wife said, he must be doing well because last time he said he got an expensive big-screen TV for a friend of his just the other night!” his grin was enormous as he slurped down some of his beer.

“Well my son," chuckled Major Shepard, " Conner, is this big time song writer now. Everyone loves his work and his songs are topping the charts! He’s got to be making tons of money off of the artist's CD's because last time I called him, why he told me he brought a brand new luxury car for a friend of his,”

Just as all of the proud poppas were laughing and began to order another round Top, apparently growing tired of waiting to be seen, stepped up to the bar beside of Kara, she was grateful to see the grisled top sergant. "Colonel, Majors" he nodded formerally then turned to her, his tone softer "Arty...the captian needs to see you".

“First Sergant” the Colonel bellowed still in proud spirits. "What brings you to the more 'civilized' neck of officer country this eve?"

"Come to take away our lovely heroine, Top" Major Iverson added his eyes once more traveling along the outlines of her white costume. Ugh!, Kara thought as she shifted uncomfortably. Yick!

Top smirked and Kara could swear he had swallowed his usual muttering about 'slumming it' whenever a jerk of an officer said something like that to the old veteran.

"Evening sir, and yes I am afraid so, " He smiled thinly "Having a good night sirs?"

The three nodded as the Colonel asked. “Why yes!, We were just talking about our successful sons. You have a boy about our sons ages dont you Top?" He motioned grandly to the young private tending bar. "Here Top join us in a drink to our sons"

" Oh? What’s your son been up to lately?” asked Major Iverson as Top ordered a whiskey.

“Well sir, my son, Tommy...is gay,” smirked Top as he accepted his drink. Kara paused as she cleaned up casting a glance to the older sergant.

“Oh, Sweet Jesus” said Major Iverson "Christ Top ...I'm sorry" The other two officers glanced uncomfortably into their drinks.

“No, no! There’s nothing wrong with it." Top said as he swirled his drink " It’s actually pretty good that he is gay.”

”Why would you say that?” asked Major Shepard. The other two officers mutely stared at the old sergant.

“Well sir...[censored] the boy sure knows how to [censored] pick the right boyfriends." Top took a small sip of his whiskey and chuckled a small chuckle " Yep the boy's last few boyfriends gave him a brand new computer with DSL, an [censored] huge expensive big-screen TV, and a brand new luxury car.”

The other dads jaws droped and they stood there in pale shock as still as a photograph. Kara could barely contain her growing giggles.

“Yep,” Top said slamming down his whiskey all at once and tossing the glass to the young private who was also now grinning like an idiot, “Everything seems to be outstanding sirs.”

Top then turned to Kara with an even face yet an amused predatory glint in his eye "Ready Arty?"

Kara bit her bottom lip tightly as her shoulders shook a bit, she found her could only nod and follow him out as he turned to go.

"Evening sirs" Top said over his shoulder as he walked out into the wind. Kara turned to secure the club's door and turned to face him speechless.

Top eyed her a moment and a small grin quirked across his grizzled features "Let's go Arty! Captian Davis is awatin' "

Top turned to walk down the metal grating towards the barracks, he allowed himself a small inward chuckle as the young girl followed him trying to cover her giggles....

....."Officers"

Originally posted by the Nemesis Council Villianess Dark Thorn, Kara's Praetorian mirror

April 19th, 2007 - Firebase Zulu, Point Foxtrot

I'm going to die...

He could see that now as they approached..

It had been more than a half an hour since the last shots had been heard, since the....screaming... had stopped. The few remaining who had reached the forgotten tiny bunker, thought it was over. After the chaos, and the vicious struggle was it possible the rest of the company had rallied? Had the base been re-secured? Were the surviving Longbow Agents outside able to overcome them and drive the dead away?

The assault had been unbelievably fast, horrifically savage. It had come from behind, through the portal connecting their newly established base network to Earth. Such an attack was never planned for, no contingencies has been prepared. Nothing in their training has prepared the gate guards for an assault of unstoppable ravenous undead. Patrols that had been fanned out securing the perimeter from the native threats, the Rularuu stopped collectively in shock as they heard the horrible screams and panic fire over the comms.

Officers, used to receiving orders and rallying commands were soon left to their own devices as the voices from the command and control bunker were cut off. The survivors now sat huddled together checking and rechecking half empty clips and power cells. Sweat and fear filled the small compartment as ears strained desperately for the eerie never ending hiss of static to yield that comforting all clear signal...

He remembers thinking about rescue as he looked into the wild stares crouched around him.

We thought maybe we had won.

............We were wrong.

The southern patrols fell first. The teams of agents that had just set out to sweep the area clear of Rularuu just stopped broadcasting. It was as if they had been erased after announcing they were falling back to the command bunker. After that ....silence. Then it spread northward across the floating jungle towards the rest of the company. It was like a virus tearing through the body of a healthy host. Manchester's squad fell next and then Livingston's, They listened in horror as the Warden screamed out just who they were facing as he struggled for his life.

The Dead had come to the shard...

Soon the whole of the Midsection of the rock was silent. Agents fought valiantly to rally and coordinate, firing hundreds and hundreds of blazing rounds into the rampaging creatures. All of the fire seemed unbelievably ineffective, barely harming the creatures, missing them or just bouncing off. Frightening report of their unearthly green glow were yelled as if a warning to the dwindling numbers of their fellow agents. Each engagement yielded more garbled screams and silence as death swept her hand across the surface of the isolated island.

I am the last....

Me, Special Operations Agent Hanrahan. I was one of those who dealt death to the dead and had managed to flee the horror until now, all I could think about was my wife and son.

The survivors around me fired questions to each other, we could not, it seemed even tell how many of them there were. Several panicked reports came across the net confirming kills, yet the force of more than half a dozen always seemed to return shredding and devouring anything in their path. Some reports were even more outlandish. They spoke of ghosts and even and image of death in black following the dead in their wake as they reigned their judgement down on the hapless Agents.

We thought it was over...

I had been sent out on patrol, to scout. The silence and hiss of the static had ground everyone in that bunker's nerve raw. We had expected an attack right away but it hadn't come. The silence could mean the dead had left, or were overcome but the net was not yet reestablished. I was the best choice to go, the only special ops agent left. It was natural for me to scout out for the enemy. The Comm tower was an ideal position, It was safe, being off the ground and secure with an expansive view of the island. I maneuvered around the mass carnage silently, each sound causing my heart to beat faster. Bodies of one time friends and comrades lay tore and rended around me...

It had been a massacre...

If necessary I could hold out for days. I looked out across the terrain, a perfectly clear view of the island of blood that now hung silently in the sea of Orange. Almost as soon as I arrived I heard the fearful scream over the radio.

They had attacked.

While I was gone. While I could do nothing. As sat their in my hidden perch while they pleaded for help...for mercy..

The far off echos from the bunker's last defence accented the terrified survivor's broadcasts as they became became fewer and fewer. The last one was a frantic plea for help by Maria Jenner, He cringed helplessly as he listened to her hideous screams of terror and pain followed by a merciful gunshot.

Then static.

There was no one left....

There was no one left anywhere up here, I was the last...

The last human alive.....

How had we been beaten so soundly, highly trained and well seasoned Agents, we had been overrun so easily. Torn to pieces and eaten as if gazelle for a pride of hungry lions. It would've been funny had it not been so real...

I watched as they came for me. I saw them exit the bunker and rally to her, Their dark mother. They say death is never what you expect, I always thought that to be an old folk saying. Her physique was almost statuesque in its beauty. She moved with the grace of a panther on the prowl, elegant almost gliding as she approached her loyal guard. She looked up as if she had sensed one had escaped her eternal grasp. Our gazes meet, her warm smile send a shiver down my spine as if a flow of ice water had just cascaded over my skin.

She smiled at me and pointed. Her dead turned without hesitation and attacked the Comm tower. Their sheer strength threatened to tip the tower over as they tore and clawed at it. I watched her stride calmly behind them waving her hand casting her eerie glow around them to prevent my final rounds for doing any harm to her beloved dead. Their stench rose to overwhelm me as my fate became clear.

I was to be eaten alive. I could not conceive of a worse fate..

I sat calmly as their terrifying hissing and moans filled the air around me from below as the metal of the tower groaned and complained. I watched in horror as they lept up at me snarling viciously. I blinked and marveled at each unrelenting attempt, saved only by the fact there was little room for me, much less one of them to land beside me. My hands close around the grenades on my tac-vest.

I do not tremble. I was to commit one last valiant act. So that these [censored] bastards would not forget the prey that they had hunted to extinction up here. I wanted her to see, if she was to come for me, she would have to work for it still...

I stood up, grasping an HE to my chest in both hands tightly as I stepped to walked to the ledge. I saw Death nod her approval to me, her look full of mute respect as I pulled the pins.

I jumped to meet their raised, decaying outstretched claws below.

Her wondrous almost lovely laugh was the last thing I heard before the roar...

...then blissful darkness...

The following are also news stories of adventures in the Shard for Kara and some of the other Templars!. I hope you enjoy them I had fun trying to write about them in a news/journalistic style

April 20th, 2006 - FOX NEWS


'Operation Swarmer' Air Assault Launched in the Shard
Thursday, April 20, 2006
FOX NEWS

Expeditionary launched the largest air assault in the Shard since U.S. forces reienforced the International Taskforce in 2005, the U.S. military confirmed Thursday.

The assault was launched from 'Firebase November' to clear a suspected Rularuu operating area southeast of the 'Path of Tears' , an area known as Bastion of Pain in the zone of the Shard designated as the Chantry.

The operation, which began Thursday morning, is expected to continue for several days. U.S. military commanders say the operation was largely carried out by joint forces based on tips from several native refugess recently rescued from the Area
.
Expeditionary forces have dubbed the assault "Operation Swarmer," which is an operation consisting of about 1,500 soldiers in all, including the British Army's 1st Brigade, 4th Division, the 75th Ranger 2nd Battalion Combat Team ,such Firebase Zulu Security Heroes as The Valiant Dazzling Diamond, The Starrior, The Crimson Scythe, The Healing Touch and the Startling Sabre, supported by the air assets of the 18th Airborne Combat Aviation Brigade.

The assault is a combination of air and ground operations involving more than 200 tactical vehicles and more than 50 aircraft also participated in the operation.

According to the Expeditionary Force Press Information Center, initial reports indicate that a number of enemy Monument and Kora fruit caches have been captured,as well as a large degree of Nemesis weapons bunkers containing artillery shells, explosives, IED-making materials, and military uniforms. Troops also captured several Nemesis operatives, according to EFPIC.

Maj. Tom Bryant of the 75th Rangers told FOX News on Thursday that the No. 1 priority of the mission is to deny safe haven for Rularuu forces.

"This is absolutely an opportunity to deny these creatures, and the insurgent forces of the Nemesis, an area in which to operate," Bryant said, noting that the area in question is south southwest of the wormhole slip that connects to Firebase November and is a very large, rural objective area.

"We'll continue to search until we've made absolutely certain there are no weapons out there that the bad guys can use against us," Bryant continued, adding, "we have not faced any kind of resistance that we've not been able to handle."


Pulling the Enemy 'Out by the Roots'

The Bastion of Pain, located in the Shard Zone known as the Chantry, was the scene of fierce fighting between Rularuu forces and U.N. forces in 2005. The area is a pilgrimage/ migration center for Rularuu Overseers. The Chantry Zone is a major part of the "Unsecured Shard" where the Rularuu have been most active.

The operation, refugees said, appeared to be concentrated near four major landing sites along the eastern edge of the Bastion of Pain.

UN Spokesperson for the Expeditionary forces Hoshi Hataki said the attack had been necessary to prevent the Rularuu from forming a new stronghold such as they had established in the Cascade Archipelago last November.

"After the archipelago and some of the operations carried out successfully in the Chantry and Storm Palace Zones many of the Rularuu moved to areas nearer to the Bastion of Pain" Hataki said in a cable television interview. "They have to be pulled out by the roots."

The Valiant Dazzling Diamond said The Bastion of Pain is a symbol for the insurgency in the Shard.

"This is a fight so not just for the control of a population but for the Rularuu to sort of reinstate themselves by owning geography and the shores so to speak of the Bastion are the one area where they think they can do that," Diamond said to reporters Yesterday morning at a MedEvac center set up on the airfield at Firebase November.

She said Expeditionary Forces forces are getting better intelligence each month because an increasing number of refugees are becoming more confident that their chances for survival will be greatly increased once the Rularuu can be controlled and the Nemesis elements within the Shard are wiped out.

"It's the type of thing that in an insurgency, is really so like the key to the crown," Diamond said of actionable intelligence that allows operations such as 'Operation Swarmer' to be carried out and minimize the threat to EF Forces and any refugees still located in the threatened areas.

Army Lt. Col David Hunt, agreed with the young heroine that this kind of military operation would not have been launched without some very specific intelligence regarding the location and plans of the Rularuu.

"We would not commit this kind of manpower … and the amount of equipment it takes planning to do an air assault … without very specific, very good intelligence," said Hunt.

The difference between Thursday's operation and the "shock and awe" campaign launched by U.S. forces when they first joined the Exeditionary Forces in the Shard is that the strikes launched then were primarily by air. Thursday's airborne assault, on the other hand, allowed the largest insertion of Expeditionary Forces into enemy strongholds on the ground.

"This is really an air-ground op but it allows you to insert a large number of troops with tactical surprise," explained Ret. U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Tom McInerney. "That's why this is effective, they know that there are Nemesis elements that are watching them very closely so what they're trying to do is get that tactical surprise."

McInerney, a FOX News military analyst, said Nemesis elements have been trying to stir up trouble by launching attacks that may lead some to believe that the Rularuu are still being used as a tool to gain control over the shattered world.

A U.S. defense official told FOX News that the recent decision the send some 700 U.S. soldiers back into the Shard from their standby position in neighboring Ft. Drum, NY freed up forces to launch this air assault and allowed U.S. and Expeditionary forces to take on a more offensive role.

Amid the ongoing operation, the Expeditionary Force commander, Gen. Hammond, ordered those forces back into the Shard over the past week because of the increased Rularuu strikes against food and medical convoys to refugee camps and several raids against scientific operations in the area.

The Rangers of the 2nd of the 75th ranger Battalion in and out of the Shard since the Rularuu invasion of Paragon Last February; this is the largest air assault operation because this division hasn't done anything on this scale thus far.

Operation Swarmer comes on the heels of an Expeditionary Force operation west of the Bastion of Regret in early March that resulted in the capture of substantial Nemesis weapons and equipment caches, according to Diamond, who has been working with the Rangers here in the Shard for more than a year now.

"They so keep putting them up there in like an attempt to use these poor people as 'shields' and we so have to keep digging them out"

She said with no small degree of frustration at the attempts of Nemesis using the displaced starving refugees as human shields. Heroes of the security detail at the Firebase are constantly involved with Expeditionary forces, doing what she called 'surgical strikes' in an attempt to take the fight past the refugees and straight to the Nemesis and Rularuu.

"They want to like 'bunker up'....then we so will burrow and dig em out!" she added with an exhausted grin.

The Valiant Dazzling Diamond, an almost three time winner of the Hero Corps badge 'Hero of the City' , and long standing member of the Freedom Phalanx's Reserves is a highly decorated heroine who was recently decorated once more last Thursday by General Hammond and granted an honorary comission with the Expeditionary Force's security detail according to a spokesperson at the EFPIC.

April 21st, 2006 -American Forces Press Service


Predator Crashes in the Shard; Operation Swarmer Continues
American Forces Press Service


WASHINGTON, April 21, 2006 – An unmanned aerial vehicle crashed this morning in the Shard, and combined operations continued this morning in the Bastion of Pain Zone as part of Operation Swarmer.

A pilot at FireBase November, was piloting an Air Force MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle, based with the 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron at Firebase Zulu, when the aircraft crashed. Army and Hero personnel were able to recover the wreckage and returned it to Firebase November.

The MQ-1 Predator is a medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV system. Its primary mission is interdiction and armed reconnaissance. Each Predator costs about $5 million.

An interim safety investigation board president has been appointed and will conduct an investigation, officials said. It is not known at this time what other than mechanical difficulty couldve brought down the aircraft as it was largely away from any known enemy activity.

In other news, Operation Swarmer continues in central area of the Bastion of Pain today, as Expeditionary Forces began their second day of combined operations today. Participating units include 1st Brigade, 4th British Army Division, Heroes from the Firebase Zulu Security Detail and 2nd Battalion , 75th U.S. Rangers.

Units continue to sweep across the area to deny Rularuu or Nemesis forces the freedom of movement and reduce their ability to operate in the province. These efforts also uncovered ten Nemesis weapons caches containing small arms, ammunition and materials used in making high-tech explosive devices yesterday.

(Compiled from U.S. Expeditionary Command Air Forces Forward and Expeditionary Force Press Information Center news releases.)

U.S. Presses Assault In The Shard
Reuters

April 23, 2006 -- U.S.-led Expeditionary forces today pressed on with yet another major offensive push against suspected insurgent targets in The Shadow Shard Zone known as the Chantry.

Today's operation was yet another in the Expeditionary Force's current offensive, called Operation Swarmer. This operation involves over 50 helicopters, making it the biggest air assault since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

A U.S. military spokesman said U.S.-led forces are searching a 256-square-kilometer area of floating rock and debris country for Nemesis Bunkers and large Rularuu infestations, and thus far casualties have been reported as minimal by American and Expeditionary forces. No fatalities have yet been confirmed on this the third night of the operation, possibly due to the policy of the Department of Defense and United Nations Peace Keepers of wanting to inform the families of the deceased prior to any formal press release.

When asked about the current success of the operation last evening the Heroine known as The Valiant Dazzling Diamond offered this :

"We so have hit no less that a dozen or more Nemesis bunkers previously unknown to us and more than a hundred or so people have been detained," she told reporters at Fire Base Zulu. " of which like 30 are def criminally important to this operation remain in custody."

When pressed to what would make them 'criminally important' The weary young Heroine explained that they were suspected officers with high ties to the Nemesis on going operations in the Shard Stolen, but would not elaborate further on their importance due to to the classified nature of their detainment.

She also further explained that high technology weapons and explosives have also been seized, as well no less than a dozen refugee camps have been secured and food convoy lines re-opened.

"Those People are like the key issue up here" she added to reporters "It is why we are here, to offer help and ensure they get it. "

When asked to comment on the topic of whether we had a right to open the portal to this world in the first place, a key issue being decided on the floor of Congress, the weary heroine merely waved her hand.

"Gawd we so -did- and its been like done...what do we do now then. See these refugees that so need our help and walk away?...Like just sit back and hope we can guess where the Rularuu are to follow us back again like they did before and like deal with them then?"

"We so opened Pandora's box...now we either deal with it or stick our heads in the sand...I for one think its so time to deal with it and stand our ground. People so need our help up here"

'Operation Swarmer' , First Phase Comes To A Close
Thursday, April 27, 2006
FOX NEWS

The first phase of the massive air assault campaign launched last week by the joint U.S. and Expeditionary Forces, came to a close today. It is being considered an operational success by Expeditionary Commanding officer General 'Hamidon' Hammond.

"All coordinating efforts and complied intelligence has thus far panned out. Our forces have reached each and every objective and are currently securing their current positions and preparing for the next phase of the operation."

When asked about the second phase Gen. Hammond merely added..

"Once our positions are secured and further intelligence secured and processed, we will then proceed to move on to phase two, which in effect is a deeper probing attack in to the Chantry in order to deny our opposition further terrain and materials to continue their attacks on our facility and personnel."

The second Phase of this operation, which includes the use of armor, infantry, Hero support and Helicopter assets is due to kick off sometime this coming weekend.

'Operation Swarmer' , Second Phase launched
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Associated Press

In the early morning hours U.S. and Expeditionary Forces found themselves under fire as the second phase of the Expeditionary Forces Operation Swarmer began. British forces soon found their operational launch zones under heavy Overseer and Watcher air attacks as what have been dubbed 'brutes' and swarms of Natterlings attempted to overrun British positions.

For a moment during the early hours of the operation it appeared the attack on one third of the force might stall the attack. Hero security forces operating with the British forces were able to fend away the attack long enough for reinforcements to arrive from the neighboring American units.

"This was a surprising move on the part of the Rularuu" said Maj. Gen. Alex Sheppard of the 4th British Army. "Our forces were caught on the ground, preparing to move out , when quite suddenly our forces found themselves on the defensive."

He also added , it seemed as if the Rularuu had been herded over the British forces.

Casualties have yet to have been disclosed but they were considered to be moderately heavy on the British side. French med Evac units were still assisting U.S. units with the rescue and recovery as the second phase of the operation continued.


U.S. ARMY RANGERS FIND TWO LARGE WEAPONS CACHES

Release Date: 4/28/2006

Release Number: 06-04-02PM

Description: BASTION OF PAIN, Shadow Shard – Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 75th US Army Rangers found two large weapons caches during a search in near a refugee community.

The first cache included several hundred tank mines, 100 80 mm mortars, two hundred 60 mm mortars, Hundreds of Gatling cannons and Flamethrowers,Two deactivated War Hulks and numerous varied small arms. It was identified as Nemesis steam technology and secured and destroyed by units of the US Army E.O.D. (explosives Ordnance Division)

The second cache consisted of 11 250-pound aerial bombs, two hundred 155 mm artillery rounds, eighty eight 120 mm artillery rounds, 1000 82 mm mortars, 1000 102 mm mortar rounds, several hundred rocket-propelled grenades, 1000 rocket propelled motors, 1000 60 mm mortar charges, 2000 82 mm mortar charges, dozens of crates of hand grenade, blasting caps,and fuses, Several rolls of detonation cord, Various high and low tech Small arms, three 120 artillery weapons.

Both sites were heavily defended by Nemesis and Rularuu forces.

A U.S. E.O.D. team was called into destroyed the weapons of the second cache as well.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS RELEASE, CONTACT THE MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION - SHADOW SHARD PUBLIC AFFAIRS PLANS AND OPERATIONS NCO, MASTER SGT ERIC LOSINGER AT: eric.losinger@mnd-b.army.mil


EXPEDITIONARY FORCES KILL 32 TERRORISTS

Release Date: 4/28/2006

Release Number: 06-04-02P

Description: FIREBASE NOVEMEBER, Shadow Shard – Expeditionary and Firebase Security forces engaged and killed 32 terrorists during a raid April 28 at the Firebase itself. During the early morning hours a large and well organized group of terrorists hit an underground bunker used by the Expeditionary force. Although initial bunker defense personal were taken hostage, Heroes and military personal stormed the bunker to reclaim it and engage the terrorists.

Upon arrival the troops took direct fire and immediately engaged the threat with small arms fire as well as respsonses from the Hero support on site. The troops initially killed five terrorists outside of the safe house, and then called for the nearby heroine, The Valiant Dazzling Diamond to penetrate the terrorists defenses and open the way for the Expeditionary forces to engage.

After Diamond was able to breech their defenses, the ground troops along with the heroine conducted a tactical assault of the besieged bunker and engaged the unknown terrorists. The terrorists were well equipted with full combat vests and black fatigues as well as several high tech weapons.

Two wanted terrorists, one potentially transnational, were believed to be involved with this strike against Expeditionary Forces. However, it is unknown at this time just who the terrorists represented. No word has been released from Expeditionary intelligence forces, other than they are currently determining the identity of those killed.

Diamond was unavailable for comment as she was returned to her unit soon after the bunker was secured.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE COMBINED PRESS INFORMATION CENTER at: cpicpressdesk@shard.centcom.mil.

British Military Says Five Killed in Helicopter Crash in Southern Cascades

Posted: 09 May 2006 1040 hrs
- AFP

FIREBASE ZULU : The British military in The Shard said that five of its troops had died in the helicopter crash a day before in the southern part of the Shard Zone known as the Cascades Archepelogo.

"Five of our troops perished in the helicopter crash," British military spokesman Major Sebastian Muntz told AFP Sunday, adding that the military had nearly completed the work to recover the wreckage.

"Most of the wreckage has been recovered," he said.

In London British Defense Secretary Des Browne had said that up to five troops died in the crash, but was not yet ready to confirm the number until the families of those involved had been notified..

"There were no more than five people on board the helicopter," he told BBC television. "We are currently informing the next of kin."

Browne said investigations were underway to determine what happened and reiterated his condolences to the families of the dead military personnel.

The crash, which occurred on Saturday, sparked bloody clashes with at least five refugees killed and dozens wounded, as well as scores of Rularuu killed that were in the area, when British troops sent to recover their dead from the crashed Lynx helicopter clashed with an angry mob of refugees and the local Rularuu guardians.

Browne said that about 200 to 300 people "involved in serious disorder were brought under control within a matter of hours and calm and order restored by (Saturday) evening". The refugees were believed from a camp disrupted by the current operation in the Chantry..
"Many of the refugees have been flooding into the wilderness of the Cascades to avoid the current fighting but the camps in the Cascade are unable to fully accommodate them as of yet" Said Maj. Ian Vellacora of the British forces operating with the Expeditionary Forces.

"We simply haven't been able to settle them all down yet and get proper organization."

The operation referred too is the Joint Expeditionary/American OPERATION SWARMER which has been attempting to open up convoy routes to the refugee camps in the shard Zone known as the Chantry since it launched on April 20th of this year. The operation has met with limited success and is nearing the end of its second phase.

British and American soldiers, along with Heroes from the Firebase Zulu Security Contingent had worked together "to restore stability to the area round about the incident" and refugees are being given what food and medicine that are available. The camps would soon be now going "about their normal business, soon.", Maj. Vellacora added.