Debriefing: Or, how to adjust to life after everything that could possibly go wrong, did go wrong.

[RandomWriter]

"The Alamo's remote has been disabled."

That was the first thing Bobby heard, as he awoke in medbay, his headset suddenly ablaze with shouts, and screams, and orders, all because one of the Ensigns had decided to open her mouth.

Let's back up a bit.

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Staff Sargent Bobby 'Sharp' Dickens.

His unprofessional behavior allowed him to converse well with his troops, and translate even the most complex of processes into something a three year old could understand.

Though he claims, naturally, that his nickname's related to his love for knives, and not for his intellect or wit at all, he's not 'entirely' stupid.

When it comes to action, he'd gladly sit back and babysit whatever Froward Operating base they had, but he'd also rush into the fray.

This has led to numerous injuries, and the concern of a few of the medics.

He's confident, he's sarcastic, he's nerdier than he lets on, and he'll gladly do his best to be your friend. Not a very good officer when it comes to rules.

Naturally, Delta Squad doesn't mind that, though the CO'll give a grunt, the XO will scream louder than anything he's ever heard-

Well, almost anything.

The truth is somewhat different.

Dickens has always been a nerd, he's always been polite, and friendly, and chipper.

But outside of a cryogenically sealed pod, he can't sleep.

If told to leave his men behind, he'll try his hardest to wait, or delay his departure.

When interviewed by a psychologist, he found that, similar to most marines, Dickens would use humor as a coping mechanism, even chatting about the deaths of his comrades like it's nothing.

He panics at the sound of any loud noise.

He flirts, he cajoles, and then he runs for the quickest transport off planet.

He's a good friend, but officer?

Dickens doesn't know.

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"The research outpost's official designation is Solaris Ridge." The Commander droned on, as the Executive Officer nodded, arms at her sides. Dickens would have been tempted to make a joke about the two being a couple, but he'd never hear the end of it from her, and the Commander was one of the only officers who Dickens respected enough to call 'sir'.

"Question." Asked a single marine, cherry red helmet glistening in the lights of the briefing room.

"Where do babies come from?" asked a member of Alpha Squadron, braindead grin on his face.

This gained a few chuckles, and added two, fateful minutes to the briefing.

"Alright, you lot. Alpha, you'll be scouting the northern half of the colony. Bravo, you'll be setting up an FOB. Charlie, you'll spread out over the southern half."

"Delta will be scouting Lambda Lab." The commander finished, receiving a lazy two fingered salute from Dickens's chair.

So, cherries were scouting the north, golden rods were building, which a few ecstatic engineers grinned at, and the grapes were checking the southern half.

All Delta had to do was check a single building. Easy.

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Oh, how wrong he was.


The journey to the Lab was uneventful, mostly. Reports of dogs and cloaking figures and bugs came over the channels, but other than one or two hostile animals, it was fine.

"No access." An engineer said, in a slightly irritated voice, as she continued trying to tamper with the door.

"This area is currently restricted. Please insert your access card." An electronic voice stated, as another marine, his features covered by a gas mask, not that anyone needed it. Solaris Ridge's atmosphere was breathable, even if it didn't look hospitable, approached the door.

"Can we blow it?" He asked, getting a chuckle from yet another bonehead, only for the chuckling to stop, as the gas mask wearing marine tossed a grenade...

After a lot of screaming and running, with a few unkind words from the engineer working on the door, Delta Squadron returned to find...

"T-is area restrict please insert card." The damaged system stated, as the door continued to hold, but now there were other noises.

The clang of something hitting against the other side of the door.

Hisses.

And finally, the echo of a loud screech, from inside the lab.

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"Fascinating." The Liaison noted, as the Commander listened to a harried notice from Alpha's specialist. "I was unaware that Solaris Ridge had any wildlife, besides the animals that were transported to the colony. Monkeys, cows, that sorta thing. Certainly no red dogs, no purple bugs, and no golden chameleons."

"Chameleons?" Asked one of the Staff Officers, who had no hair on his head.

"The creatures can cloak, according to the reports." The Liaison responded, after a sigh. Oh, the burden of intelligence.

"Have there been any reports on the things before, Liaison?" Asked the Executive Officer, as she turned from one of the overwatch consoles to eye
him.

"Actually, no." He noted, as he recalled reading over countless reports, burning a few 'classified' ones, and finally, the last cryptic one.

"They mentioned a new project in development, but it mainly had to do with one of the lesser mining outposts on the planet governed by the research facility. All gone dark, of course." This gave him a single nod, as the Executive Officer turned back to the console.

All the Commander gave as a reply was "Keep us posted.", and then he was dismissed.

Good thing, too. By the time he had got back to his office, his fax machine was warming up.

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"Ted, relax. These things haven't spotted us yet. Yes, I know you're itching for a fight right now, but that's no reason to get me into trouble. Now, listen. Some of the mining outposts still have ships. If we can somehow make it across this hunk of rock, we should find one!"

"What? Marines? Well, we're saved, Ted!"

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"Membranes? Really, sister?" One of a purple brood, who deemed themselves princesses asked, as her older, more mature sister gave an irritated grunt.

"We need those to see past the walls. This way, we can figure out where the tall hosts are." She replied, as over the hive mind, one of their more combative sisters, a large, red being similar to a canine, screamed about a red dot, before she fell silent, along with a few other sisters of varieties.

"I still say it's a waste of plasm-"

"INTRUDER." boomed a larger beast, closer by. One of the guarding caste, one that was strong, similar to mother, but was not mother.

"Tall hosts, or a headhunter?" A more cordial, more polite, more tender, more caring and loving and glorious voice sang throughout the entire hive mind.

It was such a lovely and teeming voice, that even a few of the fighting caste turned, and disengaged from the tall hosts they were fighting.


"TALLHOST."

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The first member of Delta to go missing did so.

(Will continue later!)

[Whiteflicker]

This is very well edited and written! I love the layout, the way the scenes transition, the no-nonsense descriptions. Albeit being on the SHORT side ... And, well, its hard to create an atmosphere if you're constantly switching perspectives, and not giving the background much thought. I could follow the story and its easy to read, though!

Remember! Show, don't tell. Just my feedback.

I might take advice from it, if i ever stop being lazy and write something myself.

And stop keeping me on a cliffhanger, dammit.

[RandomWriter]

Thank ya!

I'll gladly add more focus to the background.

Also, NEVERRRRRRRR!

cliffhangers are fun