Outpost 321: Part 1

-Outpost 321: Part 1-

6 months after the incident

               "Outpost 321 respond." Krieg's commanding voice only got the response of static. "I repeat, Outpost 321 respond. I have direct orders to pass on and I am getting really sick of hearing my own voice. Outpost 321 respond." He turned a dial and pushed against his earpiece, hoping to make out a voice amongst the static. "Outpost 321 respond, will someone answer?" There was slight worry in his tone. If no one responded soon it meant that Outpost 321 had fallen: the twelfth military base lost that month.

               "You get anything, soldier?" The lieutenant stood with Krieg in the cramped communications room. Wires and flashing lights lined the walls and dust always seemed to cling to the air.

               Krieg ripped out the earpiece and threw it against the monitor. "Just static, sir." Frustration lined his regularly calm voice. "If I can speak freely, I think they are gone."

               Lieutenant Clofter's mouth tightened and twisted. "Walk with me soldier." The larger man spun on his heel and hastily left the room. Doing as he was ordered, Krieg followed after his leader. He was glad to get out of the small space and back out into fresh air. As a fully trained soldier, Krieg had no place as a communications expert. After the last technician had gone AWOL, almost everyone at Outpost 182 had been expected to fill in. Krieg hated it. Most days there was barely any communication. Silence and static across all channels.

               Krieg was led through the military camp. They were positioned in a field surrounded by a forest. A few months ago the trees would have been lush and full of pine needles but the Onyx Tide had changed that. The woods were now bare and the trunks were a sick grey colour. Dead yellow grass circled the encampment. Krieg could see the black tendrils of the disease sitting on the edge of the tree line. It was hard to not see it, since the diseased veins clung to everything. The outpost would have been overrun if it had not been for the mutts. Early on during the fall of the planet, it had been noted that the Onyx Tide left animals alone. It seemed to be scared of them. The only way to stay alive was to be close to a large animal. Every outpost had at least three dozen mutts to sit on the edge of the camp to keep the Onyx Tide at bay.

               "What do you think happened to the outpost, soldier?" Lieutenant Clofter narrowed his eyes at Krieg. "How did the Onyx Tide get to them when they had the mutts?"

               "Perhaps they forgot to rotate?" Krieg suggested, rubbing his hand across his buzzed, sand coloured hair. As of late, the mutts needed to be swapped every couple of days. The Onyx Tide seemed to grow more confident when the animals were familiar.

               Clofter rubbed his chin, considering the proposal. "I thought that as well,  but twelve outposts in one month is no coincidence. There is no way they all forgot to rotate." The Lieutenant paused in front of one of the many military tents that lined the encampment. He turned and met Kreig's eyes. "We need intel. Outpost 321 was supposed to send us their research on the Onyx Tide. It could very well be enough to take the disease down. Also we need to know what happened to these outposts. Private Haywind I am sending you to the outpost."

               "Yes sir." Krieg saluted without hesitation, but that did not stop a pit from growing in his stomach. Up until this point he had yearned for action but not like this. The Onyx Tide not only terrified him but the idea of checking out a fallen post left nothing to be desired.

               "You won't be going alone," Lieutenant Clofter confirmed. "Privates Colins and Roleen will be joining you and briefed shortly. You will be taking the lead on this mission. Make sure you get anything of interest to us."

               Krieg continued the salute. "Yes sir, thank-you sir."

               "Don't thank me. You leave in two days, be ready." Lieutenant Clofter shook his head and strode away from the lower ranked soldier. Krieg stood in front of the tent for a few minutes staring at the forest. He could see the Onyx Tide swaying back and forth along the dead branches of the trees. In two days he would be walking into the middle of the black goo. It was then he realized why Clofter had told him to not thank him. Privates Haywind, Colins, and Roleen had been chosen specifically for the reason that they were a small group. The lieutenant did not want to risk losing more soldiers than necessary. They were a suicide squad.

Part 2 Coming Next Week