�The stabilizers�� began the pilot. His voice seemed shaky, like that of a man taking an up close look at a meat grinder without protection while someone else places pressure on the back of his head. �When I activated them an orbiter tracked us and acquired a missile lock� the only way for us to break it was for me to disembody the wings to give us enough speed� only now we�re going approximately Mach 2� We�re slowing down to about 600 KPH, but� there�s nothing else I can do. I�m sorry, sir. I failed.� The transmission cut out. The only other sound to be heard from the cockpit was a single pistol shot.
�Sir�, began Hisheena again. �I take it we�ll be making a hard landing?� David nodded slightly, as if ignoring her speaking, as he began preparing the cabin for HSI (High Speed Impact). To do so, he ensured all cargo was secure, and then set the IRF (Impact Reduction Foam) to release. The foam allowed one to breathe, though it completely restricted and comforted all movement. The cabin soon was full of the stuff. David closed his eyes, and awaited the inevitable.
�Sir, we obtained a missile lock on the U.F.O., it may have been the alliance launching some sort of guerilla warfare operation�, reported Chief of Vessel Arsenal Operations, Ferghan McFlamnel.
�Then why do I not see the verification data? Have you shot them down or not?� The admiral was nervous. If he failed his job, termination by death was the military�s solution. Some kind of craft had entered the atmosphere only minutes ago, and he had received orders to blast the SOB�s out of existence. Exactly what news the Arsenal Operator chief had for him would determine both of their fates.
�Well sir, I have good news and better news. See, after obtaining a lock on the craft, my team let loose a Tyrant 7 onto their tail. They broke lock shortly after launch� but to do so they had to shed their stabilizers. The craft hit the ground thirty seconds ago traveling at about 600 KPH.
�While we are sure of there being no survivors, I wanted to request your permission to send a small search-and-destroy squad to their location. Wait a minute� From incoming data reads, the techs tell us there are a few survivors, but only just.�
�Excellent work, McFlamnel�, responded the Admiral. He was both relieved and proud of his men. Exactly what the Alliance was trying to do with both that small craft and a limited crew was still a mystery to be solved to the admiral. �The one thing that this great clan of ours could use is more outstanding crewmen like yourself�, said the admiral said to his chief. For once vital incoming news wasn�t a threat to his life. At that, both the men grinned with delight and hatred for their fallen enemies.
David slowly began to awake. The sudden jarring impact, even with the foam, had knocked him unconscious. The foam had dissolved by now, as it was designed to dissolve in 15 minutes to allow release. He began wading through its remnants toward the cabin radar display. According to it, the bleeps told David that no enemy personnel were within a kilometer. Satisfied that his immediate location was reasonably secure, he headed toward the escape hatch at the rear of the craft. But as he opened the door, only a canyon whose bottom was not visible greeted him. Quickly, he doubled back and closed the hatch securely. One by one, he attempted to wake the rest of his crew. Only four AGF�s and a single negotiator, Samuel Rightsfeld, awoke. The others would not wake� nor did they have a pulse.
The only way for them to get out was through the cockpit window, but it needed a slight cleaning first. David entered it alone and was nauseated by what he saw; the poor pilot had fired the pistol into his right temple, placing a good portion of his brain onto the navigation panels on the port side of the cockpit. David shot out the honeycombed glass with his pistol. The hole was small, but it would do. The remaining crew salvaged all they could, including rations, camp supplies, bikes, ammo� and Dog Tags.
* * *
As the survivors stood outside their broken and bruised ship, David began to speak. �These men; were brothers to me. Their attitudes may not have been ideal in a soldier, but their ability and character surpassed anything a leader could expect or demand. I will� miss this outstanding team�.
The remainders saluted minus the negotiator, whom was expressionless. The AGF�s immediately began pushing the ship over the cliff, thereby destroying any evidence of them surviving the horrid crash. The patrollers from Clan Sapphire Wolf would at least be thrown off their trail that much further.
David Jackson, Jean Carter, William Roxtren, Hisheena Johnson, N�tn�see Hoj�nbek and Samuel Rightsfeld mounted their bikes and rode as fast as they could to the looming dark forest indicated on David�s wrist implant. They had water to find, shelter to set up, and plans to make, with only two hours �till nightfall.
