The Grey Chronicles Part One: New Declaration of An Old War

Chapter 26: Finally, Some Damned Backstory.

Stonehaaryn Labyrinth near Calx Urbs complex, Satus Pyrotus Six, June of 7434 AL.

"Briarios, wake up, we've reached the outer wall of the complex. The marines were able to set up camp while you were sleeping."

The voice came from a blurry figure standing beside the bed. Briarios shook his head and smiled as his vision cleared and he made out the face of Orion, his husband. His raven black hair was combed back, the single ring in his lip gleamed gently in the low light of the APC. Briarios' smile widened at the sight of his eyes, a shining blue glow that seemed to brighten every room. That was his favorite thing about his lover; the only way one could describe them was like the ocean just after the sun has set, their depth was seemingly limitless, an endless expanse of blue slowly fading to darkness reflecting specks of starlight from the sky. His smile was equally as bright, and his deep voice boomed throughout the small confines of the APC.

"Wipe that shit eating grin off your face," Orion said with a smile, "Otherwise I'll have to smack it off you."

"And what will you smack me with, handsome?" Briarios replied, chuckling, "With your hand? Or with your lips?"

Orion stifled a laugh and bit his lip gently, "Why not both, gorgeous?"

Briarios sat up in their bed, and Orion stuck his hand out to help him up. Briarios took it and hauled himself to his feet, barely surprised when Orion turned around and dipped him as if they'd been dancing the tango. Orion kissed him deeply and passionately, making his heart leap inside his rib cage. When his husband pulled away he was grinning, then when Briarios stood up straight he was immediately slapped across the cheek. He put a hand to his cheek and smiled.

"There, I did say both." Orion smirked and turned towards a small locker beside the bed, opening it and pulling out a fresh fatigue jacket. He handed it to Briarios and smiled, "Change, for Hircine's sake. I'm not going anywhere near you if you aren't in a clean shirt. You've been wearing that one for days now."

The APC had been their home for the past three days as they closed in on the outer limits of the complex. There was a small bed that barely fit the two of them and two small lockers to hold their belongings.

Briarios stripped his shirt off, pulling on a clean one from the locker and the jacket Orion handed him. He picked up a pair of holsters, sliding them into the space under his armpits. He buckled on a belt with a larger holster and slid a Samaritan into the hip holster. The holsters at his sides were filled by Kapa pistols, and a large knife was slipped into a sheath on the other side of his hip. He slid a smaller knife into his boot and reached into the locker for his breastplate and other armor.

He pulled the thick and deceptively light vest out of the locker; a Kevlar vest with shoulder pads and titanium scales layered on top of one another. Over the scales was another layer of Kevlar and an enamel finish giving the armor a sleek, smooth texture. The enamel protected against heat, the scales from blades, and the Kevlar would slow down or stop bullets. He lifted the vest over his head and slid it down so it rested on his shoulders. Orion buckled straps at the sides of the vest, pulling it tight around his body. Briarios took a pair of titanium-enamel greaves and knee pads from the locker and strapped them onto his shins and knees. He grinned at Orion, who clapped a helmet onto him and strapped it under his chin, as Briarios pulled on Kevlar gloves with a hard plastic knuckle brace. They began the same process with Orion, and after they had finished they took up their primary weapons; Briarios a sword, Orion an axe, then an Infinity for each of them. They stepped out of the APC and onto the solid stone floor of the tunnel around them.

Massive flood lights stood on pedestals around the encampment, illuminating the area around them and up the walls. The camp stretched the width of the tunnel, half of a kilometer square, with lights and barricades set up on the open sides facing the length of the tunnel. Mounted machineguns were stationed every twenty meters along the barricades, and a large watchtower sat in the center of the camp. The building served as a command post for forward operating base Victor (FOB-V). On one side of the camp was the open tunnel leading back the way they'd come, and on the other was a hundred yards of rubble leading up to the outer wall of the Stonehaaryn complex. FOB-V was a compact, fortified encampment with a small vehicle depot, a full armory, and barracks filled to the brim with a full battalion of SHOK marines, all heavily armed with Infinities and armor every bit as intricate and strong as that worn by Demon squadron.