[Skyean Space Raider Troopship, Wolverine [Grey] en route to the Geolan Surface]

The Wolverine [Grey] was one of the three Skyean attack transports serving the Duilleag's  elite unit of Space Raiders, the sleek arrowhead shaped vessel sailed through Geolan's dense cloudy atmosphere flanked closely by its groundwing escorts. Inside the slight figure of Colonel Gulo stood with their team over the wide tactical table that displayed a holographic plan view of the old St Valentines church and surrounding landscape including the nearby city (which was more of a town given the small population of the colony). The holographic model of the Church stood on a flat section of ground on an outcrop of rock linked to a nearby town with a pathway lined and covered by large vine-like trees. 

Two of Death Squad 8's transport discs could be seen landed at a clearing outside a town square surrounded by a grid of buildings spanning out behind and to the sides of the square. Each building was constructed with a uniform style and all with domed roofing, much like the modules found on any standard orbital platform. They clearly beheld a combat zone with red sections marked the holographic display showing places on fire. Small groups of six to twelve little green holographic people moved cautiously down the streets, seemingly in tactical formation.

"Now, this is what it really looks like." The androgyne pII enhanced unit commander clicked their fingers, and the table scene disappeared under a cloud of thick fog. The handsome colonel's thin features and straight dark hair hinted at an distant asiatic ancestry; they spoke with a strong Skyean-Celtic accent and moved as if under the influence of some localised fast-forward button--an outsider would have found it difficult to understand them, but the Colonel's team had long since become fondly familiar with their leader's unique qualities, "We have one hundred percent humidity with a standard visibility of approximately ten meters. The only way we're going to see anything is with an infrared overlay."

Gulo once again hid the mist layer from the table display and continued, "Normally the planet's processor would provide the models, but since the processor's been fried we're going to rely on objective modelling to be relayed from the mechs that will set up in triangulation here..."

They pointed to the roof of the church before moving quickly to the other side of the table, several troops, used to their commander's super speed, moved nimbly out of Gulo's path,"...here and, here."

Gulo tapped at the roof of a building on the far left of their designated combat zone and another at the far right. "We're going to assume that the death dealers are going to spot the mechs and understand their purpose. This is good as the mechs will draw their attention. We're also assuming that the enemy has their own solution to seeing through the mist as we can see them moving about apparently unhampered. While we'll still have heat detection, without an infrared model, they're going to think we're screwed and they'd be right. That's why groups Blue and Green are going to split up to provide cover to the mechs. Got that Sergeants Papavera and Thomi?"

"Yes, Colonel." Replied Sergeant Papavera from the cabin of the Wolverine's sister transport [Blue], She and her troops were watching the same display from her ship. "Our mech will take the nor-eastern corner of the town and share cover of the Church. I'm thinking an ATV parameter for the town position might be useful?"

"Good idea.  Thomi mirror that deployment for the southern position. My Wolverine's going to make landfall just outside of the town square--here below the death squad transport discs."

Sergeant Thomi agreed from his ship, "Colonel, understood."

"When on the ground my team will split into three detachments each of us heading to a mech until we engage the enemy. Anyone of these doors could be hiding an ambush so we'll assume breach-and-clear formations. Zero collateral and that's imperative.

"Mech commanders especially, we have takeout orders on uglies only so you'll park those railguns and focus on the support role." Gulo waited for affirmative responses from his mech marines all delivered professionally except for a reluctant growl "Okay" from over the Colonel's shoulder. "What was that? Alastar?"

"No guns, I get it, Colonel." The tall and heavy mech pilot threw a lazy salute to his officer while crossing his fingers with his other hand behind his back and winking at the marine beside him amid a few playful chuckles. Also pII enhanced, but instead of improvements for speed and dexterity like Gulo, the heavily muscled mech warrior's genetic enhancements were also tailored towards heavy lifting. While not a prerequisite for class I armoured mech operation, the additional physical strength was handy if ever needing to detach the machine's rail gun for manual operation.

"One more thing. Good news is that I'm making a command override on the media routines which would be totally rooted in the mist; they'll stay with the transports." There was a few claps and muted woots from the team as the general consensus that the automata did nothing besides getting in the way at best and give up their troop movements at worst.

"That's it marines. Gear up and remember Vulpini's promise: genetic enhancement for the one who takes out the most death dealers and no ties, you win outright, or you kiss the jackpot goodbye. 

"And no collateral damage!" 

Gulo turned from the table and moved up to brief the pilots. Looking out through the cockpit window at the mists of Geolan the commander stopped in the thought that something had been missed. Gulo knew the Death Squad 8 well enough and especially the cunning tactician that was Father Race who had saved their butt in a fierce battle over forty years earlier. Just seven death dealers against nearly seventy of my elite raiders. Why do I have such a bad feeling about this?

* * *

Sergeant Alastar had climbed up into his mech and posted READY_FOR_DROP opcode to Gulo who had ordered their Wolverine [grey] to fly-over the church. The Colonel replied with the code, DROP_AUTHORISED and watched the model of the ship fly over the tactical display. 

When near the church the mech detached with a clank followed by a hiss from their ship. The  troop carrier moved off while the vaguely human-shaped tank hovered in its place before jetting down to the roof of the church. 

The Colonel watch the visualisation of the setup activity intently over the table-display.

Moments later the Wolverine [blue] landed offloading ten marines displayed on the table as small blue figures that ran towards the church. Two ATVs also disengaged from their external mounts on the ship and drove off towards the path leading to the church. 

The other unit transport, Wolverine [Green] dropped their mech over their designated targets and landed nearby. Gulo watched the little holographic troops disembark noticing the groups of figures in the town settle into stationary positions obviously now aware of the raider's landing parties.

"Our turn!" Gulo flipped their visor down and joined their team at the gang hatch at the stern. The hatch folded up and the mist flooded into the ship. The Colonel and their troops jumped out and hovered the short distance down to the ground. For this deployment, Gulo had chosen the medium variant of their light-grey armour with a condensed ray energy rifle which was more accurate than the heavier rapid-fire version. Most of the team had copied this selection with only three raiders opting for the heavier machines to provide cover support if required.

Gulo enabled their interface display, and green wireframe models of the surrounds appeared over their natural vision. It took a moment to adjust as their team members appeareding in place with wireframe skeletons rather than the high resolution that the normal, non-improvised systems would provide. The effect would have been disorientating for a normal civi, but not for Gulo or their team; they had trained in this scenario, and the information input was soon workable. 

Their leader was the first to run out followed by the six other members of the detachment that were to join them in clearing a path to the church where they would rescue the Kingdom's subjects and set up a field HQ.

A continual stream of opcodes flowed over their interface too, this tactical language indicating ground enemy positions and other environmental factors. The stream currently showed that opposing units had not yet advanced on their locations. Gulo thought this strange as having been established in the town should have given them advantage. The only other thing that they could think of was that traps had been laid about the town and that the enemy had planned for their raiders to advance. Gulo sent a HALT_FOR_REVIEW opcode to their detachments on the ground. "We're going to have to stay out of the streets, I'm concerned about IDEs or any other ground traps we might trigger. All raiders, let's gutter-walk around the tops of the buildings. Make your way carefully to your nearest confirmed hostile position. Any questions?"

Gulo received a string of ALL_GOOD opcodes from the detachment leaders except for Papavera who asked, "So how do we confirm hostile? We wait for them to shoot at us?"

"Affirmative Sergeant, only engage in response to hostile intent; remember, they could be using locals for shielding so shoot only when certain of target objective."

Each raider's armour included hydro/mechanical jump capability and so mounting the roofs and spanning buildings was not a problem. The Colonel trotted to the nearest building around the square and sprang to the domed roof catching balance on the edge gutter. Signalling to the team to follow. They quickly proved the town square clear.

Leaving five marines and their two ATVs to fortify their position, secure the square and protect their backs, Gulo and the six remaining members of their detachment including a heavy gunner began their cautious trek to the church, an uphill covered climb that was impossible for the mech's infrared to penetrate and the most likely location for an ambush. The plan was to secure the positions of the Death Squad's transport discs, then storm the church itself.

An explosion for the town below raised the stakes. Gulo threw an instant HOLD_LOCATION opcode to the teams.

"That was near us. Could feel the shock." One of the soliders in the town described the explosion. "It didn't sound like any explosion I've heard before--no secondary debris--must be the mist playing with my ears. Shall I check it out?"

"Yes, thank you, Corporal."

A minute passed, and the Corporal reported back, "I've found the source. No sign of hostiles and  there is what looks to be an industrial bin with zero explosive damage. Repeat this was not a destructive blast. Preliminary spectral compound analysis pending." She paused for a moment before continuing. "The analysis shows significant levels of caesium hydroxide in and around the blast location."

Gulo considered the description for a moment. "Fuck. Caesium is the primary export from this shit hole. They must have dropped a bucket of the stuff into a bin full of water. It's a diversion I bet."

After several more identically executed explosions, Gulo saw through the ruse, "The locals are in on it.  There are no hostiles at this location! My team: return to the town square, everyone else maintain your locations and Wolverines prepare for evacuation."

With that, the Colonel gave the order for their small detachment to remain with them and sprinted up the hill towards the St Valentines Church. The marines found it challenging to keep up with their fast leader. But managed to keep a loose formation up to the church marked out in green in their overlays. At the door, Gulo harnessed their rifle and knocked on the large steel door. After a moment without reply, the Colonel pressed to open their visor and beat the door, "This is Colonel Gulo Gulo of the Royal Space Raiders Corps. Open this door, or I swear I'll blast it down."

After a few further seconds, the door opened slowly. Gulo and his troops moved in briskly to find Churchman Avan alone in an empty church.

"Fuck it all to hell!" Exclaimed Gulo and threw a priority thread request to the admiral. "This is all going to sheit, I know it!"