This is a story based on a game Enemy Territory: Quake Wars. I dunno if this should go under creative writing, so Ill just stick it in here. The nicknames here are a mix of existing and fictional characters.
The sky was bleeding. No other word to describe the downpour that happened as we drove towards the frontline. It rained water, thick droplets cracking on the windscreen of our Trojan APC. It rained fire and plasma from the fortified positions of the enemy. And it rained blood of those who fell.
The squad remained motionless, like statues, only rocking back and forth as we drove over debris and shellholes. The masks covered the faces, obscuring all but eyes. Dead, dull eyes. We were all dead before we even neared the firing line, and it was our only hope of making it back.
The driver cursed under the breath, and floored it. The men finally broke the prolonged silence, and began checking the safety on the guns, how easy the magasines slid into place and other such things designed to calm you down before adrenaline will superaccelerate the brains. The fire could be easily heard now- constant barrage of hot lead, which was responded with howling of plasma cannons, whirring of hyperblasters, and trickle of shrapnel from grenades.
Stopping abruptly with a screech of the wheels, our five man team poured out of the back hatch of vehicle and raced towards the wall. Moving one by one, we traversed the open space, and knelt by the column at the porch. On the count of three, Red and Phantomzz chucked grenades at the dark portal of the entrance. Four explosions, four milliseconds, and we were inside, aiming at the hallway. In the corner laid the ambush, caught off guard, and paid the price. Two bodies, a mash of metal, wires and flesh. One of them was still alive, trying in vain to raise his weapon-hand. Thick fluid dripped from the open wounds. Not blood, machines dont bleed. Their food, their weapon, their dead. Recycling, taken a step further.
Grinya stopped beside them, with a metallic stare from under a mask, and took out a knife. We turned around, shaking heads. Compassion is a mistake that is corrected quickly. Another couple of engagements, and he too will understand the full futility. The bullets in the heads of already downed enemies, that could be needed to cover an injured comrade, a knife that is corroded by the intestine juices that could save your own life, the time that gives enemy chance to prepare, spent on relieving pain that isnt felt. It all passes.
And yet, we all went through this. Its what makes us different from them.
The hallway was empty- we entered the back door- while roughly ten meters on the other side of the wall we could hear them. At least twenty, mostly heavy infantry, with characterical whirr of hyperblasters and hand- mounted rocket launchers. And further still, weak responses of our own machine guns.
I watched with finger on trigger as Red and Random stuck explosives to the wall. Hiding behind cover, Red handed me the detonator.
"Lets do this S...!!!" the words drowned in the wave of sound bringing down the wall. The enemy fire faltered, and stopped in confusion as we rushed in from behind. The time seemed to run chaotically, slowing and speeding up, the sounds were muffled and barely recogniseable. Only the recoil in the shoulder and flashes of the metal swarm stopped this from looking like a dream.
The psychic counter in my brain kept decreasing, as the gun became hotter and hotter from searing lead exiting the barrel. As it reached zero, Unearthly silence shrouded the building. Red was still on the floor, panting heavily. He will pull through. Random leaned against the wall, body armour ripped so badly, that you could see red flesh underneath. Rest in peace friend. Grinya comes forward, right arm limp. Baptism by fire sonny. Welcome to the family. Phantomzz walks forward, dizzy, and shaking. Nothing that time wont cure...
And myself? Unscathed. The fire ceased outside, and a team of medics entered the building. As they tended to my companions, I put the gun on the shoulder and walked out, to the next battle that fate will throw me into. Because there will always be someone who needs help, and those who would put aside fear to offer it.
Ive never held a gun, but I will be at the front of those. Even if its just on this forum. Peace
Isnt real, but depressing
