Imperium Army Battalion J-71 Garrison. Classified colony, Leelo System, Hemia Cluster, Tortsinan Empire territories

  August 3rd, 2505

  Classified. A word that’s been in Ranger Grim’s vocabulary since she started out as a Special Tactics Recon operative. Not that she minded, given she was also a First Strategic Recon agent and dealt with missions that were too sensitive to ever be known. But then again, she also dealt with local forces who were asking questions by answering them as “It’s Classified”, “Sorry, it’s Classified”.

  Of course, her presence in this classified planet is no secret. She’s been sent to help Imperium Army’s Battalion stationed here to help calm down the tension between the Army and the locals. That’s the cover story told to the masses. The “official” story is there’s possible intel that a Crimson Iron cell been supplying raiders in the colony with armament and logistics to cause chaos to the Imperium’s Army and the colony’s citizens. And if possible, ferment rebellion within the Empire’s territories. Ranger Grim is here to contain it.

  After Grim spent a while with the Army Battalion J-71, “Hell-Takers”, since July 3rd, she earned respect and admiration from them when she helped them out against the raiders who were causing problems for the community settlements on this planet. And on occasion, played card games with them. Were Grim was by herself, one month would feel an eternity, but her camaraderie with the Hell Takers made time’s passing much easier.

  And it’s safe to say, some of these battalion soldiers grew a crush on her when she saw the infatuation in their faces while wearing their sand-colored battle armor. Maybe it’s because Grim rarely showed her face to anyone, keeping it concealed via a balaclava when off-duty and her helmet when on-duty. Some of those Hell-Takers seem to have taken a shine at the Woman of Mystery.

  While Grim doesn’t mind to get to know some folks in the galaxy intimately, she’s more focused on her current assignment; Work with the Hell-Takers Scouts to locate an outpost held by a Crimson Iron cell, collect any intel they have in there, then terminate it.

  Standing outside the left defensive wall of the garrison, she looked up at the sky, seeing the red hue that loomed across. Given this colony is in a system where the star happens to be a Red Giant, she didn’t find it surprising. It’s why J-71 Battalion are called Hell-Takers for a reason. After all, they are fighting in Hell.

  “Pretty spooky, ain’t it?” a Hell-Taker’s Rifleman came beside Grim. She was still watching the sky, but could look in the periphery that he was wearing his helmet. Due to the conditions, the Hell-Takers were advised to keep their helmets on unless for off-duty or in their bunk. Regardless, Grim could tell from the Rifleman that he’s being cheeky and wanted to banter.

  “Like the deepest depths of hell, Jones.” Grim chimed, her eyes still kept watch. Jones shifted his head to Grim, who was still in her Ranger gear. He gave a light chuckle

  “Aye, ain’t that the truth.” Captain Jones spoke. “Makes you feel like you’re in a never ending cycle of combat and death.”

  “Well, aren’t you a ray of sunshine…” Grim wittily remarked.

  “Well, they don’t call us Hell-Takers for nothing, Ranger. Lot of us are here either cuz we get on the bad side of an officer with lot of clout. Defying orders. Anger issues, and so on. Top blokes thought putting us here was fitting punishment. Expected us to die.” Jones rambled.

  Grim lightly chuckled to Captain Roderick Jones’s statement. She had times where she dealt with Frontier Defense Alliance Officers who’s heads were too far up their asses and only used their position to make a name for themselves. Worse, some forces only joined up with the FDA for a taste of killing and seeing the revolution as a means to commit belligerent acts. Even so, her assignments with the organization were good for the most part. The way Grim sees it, the FDA was the best chance to liberate the Frontier Region from the UHD’s tyranny, even if some of the people there aren’t well in the head. But then again, Grim isn’t well in the head, either.

  “And yet, here you are.” Grim nodded. While she won’t say it plainly, she found Roderick Jones to be a good sport. His dark-skinned face met with the look of a battle-hardened soldier who have been through hell and back. Earned some scars while he was at it. If Grim guessed it, Jones would be in his late 30’s.

  “So… are you planning to leave once your mission’s over, Grim?” Jones asked. Grim shrugged “Afraid so, Captain..”

  Jones sighed slightly “Hell. Thought me and my Hell-Takers would invite you for our party once we clean up the Crimson Iron and their trash.”

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Grim shifted her face on her left, and saw a pair of Hell-Takers on patrol nearby in conversation. She shifted her face back “Can’t promise anything, Captain. But if I can, I’ll take you up.”

  Captain Jones smiled, “Our scouts are back.” He pointed at the two Hell-Takers scouts who made their way to the Captain and the Ranger. They wore light sand-colored gear and ponchos for protection from windstorms.

  “Corporal Victor Gallo, sir!” Scout Gallo saluted to Captain Jones. “At ease, Corporal.” The second scout came forward to Ranger Grim and bowed “Sergeant Erica Amsler, at your service.” Grim reciprocated the gesture.

  “Tell me you got something, Sergeant.” Grim inquired.

  Sergeant Amsler presented her tablet to the Ranger, the screen showing an overhead view of the Crimson Iron outpost. “Recon drone’s scan for the layout of their outpost.” Grim studied Amsler’s tablet screen as it showed the outpost’s layout in three separate lines connected to a tunnel network. The tunnel network’s connected to a small raider camp only half a klick from the outpost.

  “Any estimates of enemy resistance?” Captain Jones asked.

  “Around 10-15 raiders in the camp, sir. Exact number of hostiles in the outpost are unknown, but I expect it to be heavy.” Corporal Gallo answered

  “Do they have a communication system in the camp?” Grim asked.

  Amsler nodded. “They do, which is why I recommend we hit the camp and shut down their communication system. Put Crimson Iron in the blind.”

  “Eh, they’ll figure out something’s wrong, sooner or later. We need to maintain the element of surprise.” Grim mentioned. “Nothing’s ever simple with you STR blokes, are they?” Gallo left a light-hearted chuckle.

  Captain Jones rubbed his chin, “I know a technician from the settlements who can help us out with spoofing the communication system in the camp. A H’ikene named O’Ren G’Aat.”

  They all looked to the Captain. “All due, sir, but I thought we agreed with them to not have their people involved in our mess, like months ago.” Amsler protested.

  Captain Jones nodded “True, but the situation has changed since then. And with Crimson Iron butting their noses in, some of the civvies decided to volunteer. They knew the score when they settled in this colony decades ago, knowing they’ll not live an easy life with a Red Giant as their sun. And they’ll be damned before they let belligerents ruin their hard work.”

  Jones speaks hard words yet truthful, Grim mused. The people in this colony settled in around 7 decades ago when the planet was evaluated by Imperial Survey Corps as very rich in minerals required in building new generation of Imperial warships. Hence the classified nature of this colony as well as a number of discreet shipyards around its orbit. Not to mention, electronic countermeasures deployed in across the planet’s orbit system as well in other high-priority Imperial colonies against scanning probes and most kinds of electronic arsenal. And lastly, their locations scrubbed from the official Imperium Colonial database with only access given to those in the highest positions in the Imperium, including Empress Anna Vollan.

  The life that these settles are living in is hard, but they adapted. Even when they know the inevitable that the Leelo system will go supernova and be forced to settle elsewhere, they’ll gladly serve their Imperium until then.

  “Risk is part of the job, Corporal, Sergeant. If G’Aat is willing to sacrifice himself to kick Crimson Iron out of his home and keep this planet safe, then that’s what we’ll do.” Ranger Grim shared her input. Of course, the weakest link in any system is people, Grim knows that much. With a Crimson Iron cell is already here, it’s safe to say they have people in the higher echelon of the Imperium.

  Amsler and Gallo sighed. They’re Hell-Takers, and were transfered there due to disciplinary issues in their dossier, with no doubt their government were sending them to die. So, who are they to argue?

  “I see why they call you Grim, eh?” Amsler grunted. “Fine. O’ren can volunteer. But if he dies…” Amsler didn’t say more, she couldn’t. Poor sergeant’s got a heart. It might kill her someday, Grim thought.

  “Alright. In the meantime, we need to decide for our course of action. Grim, any suggestions?”

  Grim tapped her finger on her helmet, her thoughts racing with ideas. Crimson Iron is a Private Military Force, so heavy firefights are to be expected. “You guys ever used distractions against your enemies?” She inquired.

  They looked at each other, then looked back to Grim. “A few times against raider bands. Why?”

  Grim leaned on the wall of their garrison they were just at. “What if Crimson Iron got distracted?”

  Their eyes widened, then their lips twisted to wicked smiles.

  “If we survive this, you’re welcome to our victory party.” Amsler chuckled.

  “I’ll hold you to that, Sarge.” Grim snorted.