Echo Volume 2: The Taste of Ashes

Untitled Part 1

Eight Enforcer platoons were standing by in dropships, waiting for the Crusaders' signal that the warehouse was prepped. Until the Enforcers were given the go-ahead, their ships would remain above cloud layer to avoid detection.

The one exception was the platoon chopped to Retrieval for react duty. Their ship quietly followed the assaulters' craft and landed on an adjacent rooftop.

Stepping out of the ship, react Enforcers started setting up, preparing to aid in the assault if ordered. Rolling in behind them were two hover platforms that came equipped with midgrade light matrices (switched off to stay unobtrusive), dual repeating grenade launchers, and a pair of heavy machine guns. Five troops were on each vehicle, keeping the weapons manned and one person in the driver's seat. The platforms drifted to the center of the perimeter and settled in; they looked like giant, floating discs bristling with weapons. The other thirty grunts took up positions on the roof's edge.

If the call came, the react guys could mount up and head to a requested location, providing mobility and an enhanced base of fire. Until then, they would stand by and strongpoint their building in case the strike team of specialists and operators (colloquially referred to as "assaulters") required a rally point.

One roof over, Retrieval commandos formed a circle and took a knee, providing 360 degree security as their ship lifted off. Their craft assumed a stationary hover in order to provide cover with side mounted cannons. This maneuver also offered the option of a quick extract, in case the team was ambushed.

The Crusaders walked the edge of the surface, inspecting their surroundings. Everything seemed good. Atriya waved his arm towards the ships and they departed. Per procedure, they would surreptitiously punch above cloud cover and maintain an anchored drift over target, ready to descend and provide assistance with supporting fire, or pick up the assaulters after the strike.

Prior to the Crusaders' breach, the mandate was stealth. To maximize surprise and avoid early contact, the men had dropped a good distance away from their destination. They had a little over two miles to cover before making the hit. The dropships had used the curvature of Echo (the horizon) and building skylines to make sure that Dissidents wouldn't spot them on the way in. To further assist in keeping a low profile, the team had inserted into a long defunct industrial zone.

The assaulters' route would take them through a decaying piece of city which lead right up to the warehouse. Forsaken areas such as these weren't uncommon on Echo, and were collectively referred to as the Wastes. Their defining property was that they were a magnetic draw for substance addicts and other less savory types-anybody that was falling apart.

Aside from the Wastes' primary population of junkies, additional residents included cannibals, rape gangs, and roving bands of marauders. Unless they were packing enough heat and mobility, Department personnel would routinely avoid the Wastes as a matter of common sense. Dissidents would steer clear as well.

On a typical approach, Crew teams would cross regular sections of cityscape until they arrived on target, blending in with Echo citizenry in order to do so. Two Crusaders in civilian clothing wouldn't look out of place in the cityscape proper. However, add on Retrieval and Linke, and the team would stick out. For the sake of keeping the operators and specialists together (as well as serving the underlying purpose: killing Atriya), the order was given to take the road less travelled: through the Wastes. For similar reasons, on-the-ground command was given to the Retrieval squad leader.

Getting attacked en route wasn't a major point of concern. Not only were they shadowed by orbital fire, but the unspoken threat implied by their gear (potential ambushers could see that each man was the equivalent of multiple Enforcer platoons from their exoskeletons and linkups) served as sufficient deterrent. The team's hardened presence was enough to discourage the majority of predators, making the perilous route an acceptable risk.