WHAT REALLY HAPPENED AT VASLINS PROSPECT.
17 Jul 2021Horza Harklosp
THE MANOUVERING ALARM SOUNDED LOW AND STEADY. THE SHUTTLE COULD PRODUCE A WHOLE ORCHESTRA OF DIFFERENT ALARM NOISES, EACH ONE DENOTING DIFFERENT PROBLEMS. YOU SEE, WE DIDN'T HAVE C.O.V.A.S IN EVERYTHING BACK THEN. LEAST NOW DAYS ITS A FRIENDLY AI VOICE TELLS YOU YOU'RE FUCKED, IN A NICE CALM VOICE TOO. I RELAXED, TRIED TO PREPARED MYSELF FOR THE COMING VIOLENCE. A DRINKS CUP AND SOME BALLED UP RATION PACKETS SEEMED TO FLOAT FROM THE DECK FOR A MOMENT, AS IF WE WERE FREE OF THE PLANETS GRAVITY AGAIN. THE SHUTTLE LURCHED. I WAS THROWN HARD AGAINST MT HARNESS, AS THE FIFTEEN PEOPLE ON THE OPPOSITE TROOP RACK WERE SHOVED BACK INTO THEIR SEATS, NECKS STRECHED BACK HELMETS PRESSING INTO THE HEADRESTS. THEN WE'RE PUSHED INTO OUR SEATS AND THE TROOPS OPPOSITE LOOKED LIKE THET WERE REACHING OUT TRYING TO GRAB US, THEIR ARMS FLOATING UP. WE WERE TRAINED TO GO LIMP DURING VIOLENT MANOUVERS, TO REDUCE INJUIRY. I ALWAYS THOUGH WE LOOKED LIKE ROWS OF PUPPETS.. NOT FAR FROM THE TRUTH. THE SPINE JARRING RIDE CONTINUED AS THE AUTO PILOT PLOTTED A ROUTE THROUGH THE AUTOMATED ANTI AIR FIRE OF THE SMALL MINING COLONIES DEFENCES. THANKFULLY THE SHUTTLE DIDN'T HAVE ANY WINDOWS. WE WOULD HAVE SEEN THE SKY THICK WITH MISSILES AND BEAMFIRE. POURING UP FROM THE SMALL SETTLEMENT. SMALL CRAFT BUZZING AROUND THE THIN ATMOSPHERE. OUR PILOTS AND THEIRS WERE BOTH USING THE EAGLES. EVERY NOW AND THEN ONE WOULD EXPLODE OR GO DOWN CRASHING INTO THE ROCKY RED TERRAIN.
OUR TROOP SHUTTLES WERE VERY OLD EVEN BACK THEN, ABOUT THE SIZE OF A HAULER BUT A LITTLE LONGER AND THINNER, WITH A SHOVEL NOSE, SLOPED SIDES AND TWO OUTBOARD ENGINES. ALL THICK REACTIVE COMPOSITE PLATES, NO WINDOWS OTHER THAN SLITS AT THE NOSE FOR THE A PILOT TO SEE THROUGH AND A DOOR AT THE REAR THAT DROPPED DOWN TO FORM THE ACCES RAMP. OUR SHUTTLES WERE GOING IN WITH AUTO PILOT. IT WAS PLANNED FOR THE FIRST WAVE TO DRAW AS MUCH ENEMY FIRE AFTER US TROOPS HAD BEEN UNLOADED. SOAKING UP AA FIRE AND GIVING COVERING FIRE TO THE SECOND AND THIRD WAVES OF DROP CRAFT. THATS WHY THE SHUTTLE WE WERE IN WAS IN SUCH POOR CONDITION. IT WASN'T EXPECTED TO BE COMING HOME. THE FACT THAT THIS PLAN SEVERELY REDUCED ANY CHANCE OF A RETREAT FOR US IN THE LAST WAVES, WASN'T LOST ON US GRUNTS. I SUPPOSE THE OTHER WAVES COULD SWEEP IN AND SCOOP US UP IF IT CAME TO THAT.
A SERIES OF SHARP CRACKS SOUNDED AS THE AUTO PILOT BEGAN LAUNCHING ITS CLUSTER CHARGES RANDOMLY OVER THE GROUND BELOW, SOFTENING UP THE ENEMY, READY FOR OUR FINAL APPROACH. SUDDENLY I THUDDED UP AGAINST THE SEAT AGAIN. THE SHUTTLE VIBRATED AND SHOOK. THOUGH MY HELMET SPEAKERS HAD CUT OFF TO PROTECT MY HEARING, THE SOUND OF PROJECTILS SLAMMING INTO METAL STILL CAME THROUGH LOUD AND TERRIFIYING. DAYLIGHT APPEARED THROUGH A NUMBER OF NEAT ROUND HOLES IN THE HULL, TOWARDS THE FRONT HOLLOW DISPLAY. THE TACTICAL MAP OF THE SETTLEMENT IT DISPLAYED FLICKERED THEN WENT OUT. OPPOSITE ME TWO LARGE HOLES AND A LONG TEAR IN THE HULL APPEARED WITH A FLASH OF LIGHT AND A SPRAY OF MOLTEN METAL. WHERE SMITH HAD BEEN SAT WAS NOTHING, HE WAS COMPLETELY GONE, HIS SEAT AND THE SURROUNDING HULL HAD JUST BEEN VAPORISED. THE FIGURES TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT OF THE STILL GLOWING HOT HOLE SEEMED MORE FLOPPY THAN MOMENTS BEFORE, THEN I REALISED ONE ONLY HAD ONE ARM. THE OTHER HAD BLOOD SNAKING OUT FROM THEIR HELMET AND SUIT. THE SHUTTLE BANKED AND ROCKED, THE SOLDIER TO THE LEFT OF THE WOUNDED WAS TRYING TO HELP THE ONE SHE COULD REACH THE BEST SHE COULD. YELLOW BROWN SMOKE BEGAN TO FILL THE REAR OF THE SHUTTLE. AS FAR AS I COULD TELL ALL OF THE ALARMS WERE NOW RINGING OUT, THOUGH MY HELMET HAD STILL CUT THE VOLUME OF MY SPEAKERS SO THE NEAR CONSTANT EXPLOSIONS DIDN'T DEAFEN ME.
I OPENENED MY EYES. THE SHUTTLE HAD COME TO A BRUTAL HALT. THE DOOR WAS STARTING TO STRAIN OPEN, SHRIEKING IN PROTEST . RED EARTH AND RUBBLE HAD BEEN FORCED THROUGH THE HOLES TORN IN THE FRONT OF THE CRAFT, HALF BURYING THE BODY OF THE SOLDIER WITH ONLY ONE ARM. THE SMOKE WAS CLEARING, THANKS TO THE VENTILATION THAT WAS STILL WHIRRING AWAY OVER OUR HEADS. THROUGH MY HELMET SPEAKER CAME SWEARING AND MOANS, I COULD HEAR CRYING AND SCREAMING TOO. TEAM LEADER JADE HANNER SAID 'GET READY, GRAB YOUR WEAPONS.. FUCK.. WE LANDED SHORT OF OUR OBJECTIVE.. HEAD TO THE MINERS HAB BUILDING,AS THE SHUTTLE BANKED AND ROCKED IT'S THE LONG FLAT STRUCTURE TO OUR ELEVEN O'CLOK. RE GROUP THERE OK?' SOMEONE ASKED 'MAAM WHAT THEN?'. HANNAH WAS STARING AT ONE OF THE TROOPS PINNED IN THE WRECK. SHE TURNED BACK TO US 'IT'S JUST INFRONT OF US. WE BLOW OUR WAY IN. THEN WE MAKE OUR WAY THROUGH THE COMPLEX TOWARD THE COMS CENTRE. IF WE STAY HERE WE'LL JUST DRAW FIRE ONTO THE WOUNDED.' HANNAH LOOKED AROUND THE RUINED SHUTTLE, AT HER TERRIFIED TROOPS. 'RAMOS' SHE SPOKE TO ONE OF THE TEAM WHO'S LEG WAS OBVIOUSLY BROKEN, 'TEND TO THE MORE SEVERE CASUALTIES. WE'LL COME BACK FOR YOU WHEN WE'VE TAKEN THE OBJECTIVE.'
THE DOOR OPENED HALF A METER THEN JAMMED. A NEW ALARM BLARED, FOLLOWED BY MORE EXPLOSIONS AS THE AUTO PILOT BLEW THE DOOR OFF. MY CHEST HARNESS CLICKED OPEN AS DID THE CLASP SECURING MY LASER CARBINE. I MOVED FORWARD WITH THE PRESS OF PANICKED PEOPLE. SUDDENLY RED STREAKS OF LASER WERE BLASTING AROUND AND INTO THE OPEN SHUTTLE HATCH, LEAVING FADING GLOWING TRAILS IN THE ALLOY WHER THEY'D STRUCK. SOME TROOPS JUMPED FREE. I AND SOME OTHERS CROUCHED BESIDES BULKHEAD OF THE OPEN DOORS. A SEREIS OF EXTREMELY LOUD CRACKS AND WHITE FLASHES SOUNDED THE ARIVAL OF ANOTHER OF OUR SHUTTLES, AS THEY POURED OUT THEIR LOAD OF CLUSTER CHARGES SOMEWHERE INFRONT OF US. THIS SEEMED TO QUIET THE HEAVY BEAMFIRE WE WERE UNDER. I DOVE TO THE GROUND TRIPPING OVER THE JETTISONED DOOR AS I LANDED HARD, FEELING MY MOTH FILL WITH BLOOD.
THE RUSH FROM THE SHUTTLE WAS SHORT, ONLY A SHORT DISTANCE TO COVER. WE WERE NEARLY TO THE WALL WHEN DAVE KELY GOT CUT IN HALF BY BEAMFIRE AS WE WERE STRAFFED BY A FIGHTER. I TOOK A COUPLE OF HITS FROM SOME DEFENDERS FIRING FROM A DUGOUT TO OUR LEFT BUT MY ARMOUR SOAKED UP THE SMALL CALIBER OF THEIR WEAPONS. LUCKILY THE GROUND FORCES SEEMED TO ONLY HAVE CHEMICAL FIRED ANTIQUE ASSAULT WEAPONS. BY THE TIME I REACHED THE WALL OF THE BARRACKS, THE GUYS AHEAD OF ME HAD ALREADY BLOWN THE BREACHING CHARGES. THREE BREACHES WERE MADE. WE RUSHED IN, CLOSELY FOLLOWING THE CRACKLING EXPLOSIONS OF CLUSTER GRENADES . THE ROOM PROVED TO BE CLEAR. MOVING FORWARD THROUGH THE BUNKS, STEPPING OVER THE SHREDDED BURNING BEDDING. EQUIPMENT LOCKERS AND PLASTIC BOXES SMASHED AND SCATTERED ALL AROUND. THE SPRINKLERS WERE COVERING EVERYTHING IN PALE YELLOW FOAM. MORE BREACHES WERE PLACED ON THE WALLS, ON TOP OF OLD PLACTIC POSTERS OF GIRL BANDS AND SOME CAIN MASSEY SAFETY MESSAGES.
WE RUSHED THROUGH THE HOLES IN THE INTERIOR WALL JUST AFTER THE EXPLOSIONS. THE TERRORISTS [I COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE THE CAIN MASSEY UNIFORM THEY WERE ALL WEARING] HAD ARRANGED THEIR DEFENCES AROUND THE DOORS. AS WE APPEARED THEROUGH THE WALLS, THEY THREW DOWN THEIR WEAPONS. SOME PANICKED AND TRIED TO RUN. A FEW WENT DOWN 'GUNS BLAZING' I SHOT ONE GUY, THREE TIMES MY AGE BY THE LOOKS OF HIM, HE CAME OUT FROM BEHIND A BANK OF MONITORS AND HOLO DISPLAYS, BRINGING HIS OLD RIFLE TO BEAR AS HE LEAPT FROM THE COVER. FURY AND HATRED POURING FROM HIS PALE EYES .. MY WEAPON HUMMED. HIS FACE DISSAPEARD JUST ABOVE HIS TOP LIP LIKE A MELON CUT IN HALF. A SICKLY SMELL, BURNED MEAT AND MELTED PLASTIC. HE FELL.. . I TURNED AWAY ASHAMED OF MYSELF FEELING SICK.
I FELT THE BLAST BUT DIDN'T SEE THE EXPLOSION THAT KNOKED ME OFF MY FEET. I CAME TO FOR A MOMENT, FELT AN ENORMOUS WEIGHT PRESSING ACROSS MY CHEST, PINNING MY ARM. MY HELMET WAS CRACKED THE SMELL OF BURNING WAS MUCH STRONGER NOW, AS THE HELMETS FILTERS GAVE UP. I TRIED A KICK WITH MY FREE LEG, THE PAIN FELT LIKE FIRE AND ICE IN MY BONES. I HAD ENOUGH TIME TO THINK 'BROKEN' BEFORE I FAINTED FROM THE PAIN. I CAME TO AGAIN BREIFLY, CLEAR SKY ABOVE ME THEN A HELMETED FACE APPEARED. I WAS INJECTED ME WITH PAIN RELIEF AND COMBAT STABILISERS. I PUT MY HAND TO MY FACE.. IT WAS GONE .. MY HAND. GONE ARM TOO JUST BELOW THE ELBOW.. THEN THE MEDS KNOCKED ME OUT AGAIN.. LEAST WAYS I DON'T REMEMBER ANYTHING MORE.
MONTHS LATER I AWOKE IN A CAIN MASSEY R&R FACILITY ON A COMPANY MEGASHIP IN A NICE WHITE BED. MY ARM HAD BEEN RE-GROWN. AS HAD A LARGE PART OF MY LEF LEG, INCLUDING THE KNEE. THE SKIN WAS ALL PALE AND TRANSLECENT LOOKING. 'AUTO NURSES' ZIPPED AROUND THE BAY OF BEDS. IT TOOK A FEW DAYS IN BED TILL I COULD WALK AROUND THE HOSPITAL SHIP. I HEADED TO THE CANTEEN 'HEY HORZ YOU UGLY BASTARD! YOU' AWAKE AT BLOODY LAST.' IT WAS KIRWAL, A BIG FELLOW WITH BLUE HAIR AND A VERY INTERESTING BUT UNCOMPRAHENSABLE SCOTTISH/POLISH ACCENT, HE WASONE OF RED TEAM. OVER A TERRIBLE CUP OF COFFEE HE FILLED ME IN ON WHAT HAPPENED, AS FAR AS ANYONE COULD TELL.
THE OLD MAN I'D SHOT, HE'D DETONATED A LARGE MINING CHARGE. IF HE HAD SET IT TO GO OFF ON A TIMER OR IT WAS TRIGGERED WHEN I KILLED HIM, THE HELMET CAM FOOTAGE DIDN'T SHOW. ABOUT THE SIZE OF A LARGE FOOD FLASK, A SIMPLE STEEL OUTER CASING AND A CRUDE CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVE. MANUFACTURED ON SITE IN THE MINE WORKSHOPS. FIRED BY DET CAP. DESIGNED TO BLOW APART THE HARD STRATA OF THE SMALL BARREN PLANET. THE MINING CHARGE BROUGHT DOWN THE WHOLE STRUCTURE. KILLING ALL THE TERRORISTS STOOD OR CROUCHING AROUND THE ROOM. FIVE OF THE COMBAT SUITED SECURITY FORCES WERE KILLED. THE REST BURIED LIKE ME, UNDER THE TWISTED STEEL AND THE RUBBLE OF MOULDED AGGRGATE LUCKILY FOR ME I'D BEEN STANDING BY THE HOLE WE'D CAME THROUGH. I HAD FREE SPACE TO BE THROWN INTO. OR, DESPITE MY SUIT I'D HAVE BEEN DASHED AGAINST THE WALLS AND CEILING. A TEAM FROM ONE OF THE FOLLOWING DROP SHUTTLES PULLED THE SURVIVORS FROM THE RUINED MINE BARRACKS, PATCHED US UP BEST THEY COULD, THEN LOADED US INTO SHUTTLES FOR THE TRIP BACK TO THE MOTHERSHIP. THEN EVENTUALLYWE WERE PUT ONTO TRANSIT TO A MEDICAL FACILITY.
IN THE PRE-OP BRIEFING WE'D BEEN TOLD THAT TERRORISTS HAD TAKEN OVER THE FACILITY. THE CAIN MASSEY 'SECURITY LEASION CO-ORDINATOR' GIVING THE PEP TALK SAID 'THEY MAY HAVE HOSTAGES HELD FURTHER INTO THE WORKINGS. AS THEY ARE REFUSING TO COMMUNICATE CAIN MASSEY MANAGEMENT HAVE DECIDED, UNFORTUNATELY.. BUT IN THE BEST INTRESTS OF THE INNOCENT EMPLOYEES DOWN THERE.. AND TO SEND A GENERAL MESSAGE TO ANY OTHER TERRORISTS, OR PIRATES WHO MIGHT BE THINKING OF HARMING THE GOOD EFFORTS OF OUR FINE COMPANY. WE MUST RETURN THE MINE BACK TO ITS RIGHTFULL OWNERS, BY FORCE'
I FOUND OUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED AT VASLINS PROSPECT. FROM GOSSIP AND SOME DIGGING OF MY OWN. I GOT PUT INTO CONTACT WITH A GUY WHO'D WORKED AT THE MINE FOR A YEAR OR SO. THROUGH THIS OLD SENSOR TECHNICIAN I GOT TO HEAR THE SAD STORY. FOR DECADES THE MINE AUTORITIES HAD BEEN PETITIONING CAIN MASSEY, TO BRING THE FACILITY UP TO DATE WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY AND INTO LINE WITH THE CURRENT FEDERALLY MANDATED POPULATION LEVELS. CROWDED TEMPORARY LIVING QUARTERS WERE STILL IN USE, WAY PAST THEIR RECOMENDED LIFETIME, MAKESHIFT SHANTIES HAD BEEN SET UP IN UN-USED TUNNELS. AIR FILTRATION SYSTEMS HAD KEPT MAFUNCTIONING. SOMETIMES WHEN THE VINTAGE AUTO-GALLEY WAS OUT OF ACTION, THE FACILITY SPENT WEEKS EATING FREEZE DRIED FOOD. WORST OF ALL WAS THE INADIQUATE MEDICAL FACILITY. NEVER VERY GOOD TO BEGIN WITH, OBSOLETE EVEN WHEN THE SITE WAS ESTABLISHED OVER A HUNDRED YEARS PREVIOUS. THEIRCORE DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT WAS ALMOST NON FUNCTIONAL DUE TO A LACK OF SPARE PARTS. BUT STILL, UNBELIEVABLY EVERY FEW MONTH SHIPS WOULD LAND TO TAKE AWAY THE POROCESSED ORE, DROP OFF SPARES AND REPLACEMENTS FOR THE MINING EQUIPMENT. BUT NEVER VERY MUCH.. OR ENOUGH SPARES FOR THE EMPLOYEE FACILITIES.
WHEN A NEW VIROLENT VIRUS SWEPT THROUGH THE SETTLEMENT, EVENTUALLY KILLING OVER A SIXTH OF THE POPULATION. LAW AND ORDER BROKE DOWN. [ THOUGH APPARENTLY A MODERN MED CENTRE WOULD HAVE MOST LIKELY DONE LITTLE TO HELP AGAINST SUCH A DISEASE. ] THE POOR RACTION FROM MANAGEMENT TO THE VIRUS CAURED THE WHOLE FACILITY TO FLIP. SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND A HANDFULL OF THE SECURITY FORCES TRIED TO ASSERT ORDER, BUT WHEN THE MAJORITY OF THE SECURITY STAFF HAD REFUSED THEIR ORDERS, THE MANAGEMENT HAD TO AGREE TO THE DEMANDS OF THEIR PEOPLE. THEY CUT COMMUNICATIONS AND DECLARED THEMSELVES INDEPENDANT. HOWEVER THEIR BIG MISTAKE WAS TO IMPOUND THE ORE TRANSPORT SHIPS THAT HAD BEEN IN DOCK AT HE TIME OF THE UPRISING. THE CREWS OF THESE VESSELS WERE ABLE TO GET A MESSAGE OUT THAT THEY WERE BEING IMPOUNDED. IF THE MINERS HADN'T TAKEN THE SHIPS, IT WOULD PROBABLY HAVE RESULTED IN A DRAWN OUT LEGAL BATTLE IN THE FEDRAL COURTS, WHILE THE MINERS COULD HAVE GONE TO THE PRESS ABOUT THEIR CONDITIONS.. CAIN MASSEY MIGHT HAVE JUST DECIDED TO LET THE OLD FACILITY GO AND RID THEM SELVES OF THE NEGATIVE PRESS. HOWEVER, WHEN THE COLONISTS IMPOUNDED THE HEAVY TRANSPORTS AND HELD THEIR CREWS, CAIN MASSEY USED THE PRETEXT OF AN ANTI PIRACY ACTION TO SIMPLY CHARGE INTO THE SYSTEM AND TAKE BACK THE MINE BY FORCE OF ARMS.
THE COST OF THE ASSAULT AND SUBSIQUENT TAKE OVER AND REPAIRS CAME TO - 3900,000,000 CR
MINERS. LIVES LOST- 56 INJURED- 13
CAIN MASSEY SECURIY PERSONEL. LIVES LOST 9 INJURED- 32
THE COST OF UPDATING THE FACILITY TO THE STANDARD THE MINERS HAD ORIGINALLY REQUESTED - 423,000,000 CR