Today is it.   The Hunter Elites received information from one of the Focals in the area that are
 target is entering zone 375 by means of a trail on the edges of zone 375 and 378.  We're on our way to a
 hopefully, successful mission.   The drop ship is putting us down a few hours walks away from the trail to
 hopefully give us the element of surprise.  According to the briefing we're going to try to surround him.
  The middle flank is divided into two parts.  The Spikes are going to stay back.  The Grunts are going to
 approach the target then fall back when they get his attention.  Most likely he'll follow them in and that’s
 when the left flank will circle round to the side and behind him.  The right flank is going to hold its
 position unless they're called in for back up for one of the others.  Most of the Crushers will be out of view
 of the target but the Hunter Elites that are with the flanks will be giving them coordinates for artillery fire.
I really don’t see how one person could withstand all this.  It seems like overkill to me.




	We have thirty minutes before we head into action.  The flanks and lines are setting up.  If
 everything holds and everybody does their job we should be headed back to base camp in three hours or
 so.
 




	One of the Focals has just reported a sighting of the target.  The flanks are moving out.  Me and
 the rest of the Spikes in our line are dug in and ready.  When the grunt get him back here we're going to let 
him have it.  These Shard Cannons will make quick work of him.




	"The enemy has been engaged, the mid flank is drawing back and the left should be closing the 
arm in on him.  This will be a proud day for the Metian Empire, we will have defeated one of our greatest
 foes.  Every man who has taken part in this battle will be rewarded when we get back to the Cruiser."





The Hunter Elite Regna was giving is giving us this speech trying to get us hyped for the battle, just in case
 we're needed.  He went on for quite some time but he suddenly stopped.




"The Metian empire will crush all it's…

Please...repeat.  Coordinates confirmed.  Hunter No.E7412 to Hunter No.E8529.  Commence
 Bombardment of zone 375 grid 25 by 78.  Repeat, commence bombardment of zone 375 grid 25 by 78.
Well now, it looks like we might be in for a little action."





Just then I looked up to see the artillery going over our heads, hundreds of feet up in the air.  No matter 
how many times I've seen it…it's always beautiful, even more so in the night sky.  I could hear the gunfire
 in the distance and then there was silence.  I guessed that the artillery blast had hit their target.  Then there
 was an explosion.  None of our soldiers in the flanks had any explosive weaponry.  A second explosion
 followed only a few seconds after the first then two huge smoke plumes rose from the tree line.  Hunter
 Elite Regna received another contact from the line.  He ordered a second volley of artillery fire.





"Hunter No.E8529, commence heavy bombardment of zone 375 grid 25 by 65.  Repeat,
 commence heavy bombardment of zone 375 grid 25 by 65."
  




The second wave of artillery was a lot heavier then the first and a lot closer.  The gunfire was getting a lot
 closer too.





	"Prepare yourselves…the enemy is pushing our flanks back.  Those two explosions were caused
 by the enemy, we've lost the entire left flank and part of the mid flank.   We're hoping the artillery will
 weaken the enemy.  Prepare the shard cannons, you Spikes hold your ground and back up the Grunts if 
they get pushed back this far.  Most of them are dead so the remaining will need all the…"




Out of nowhere a heavy artillery shot hit and disintegrated Hunter Elite Regna.  Our line was without a Leader.






"Spike 16588 to Hunter E7412… Spike 16588 to Hunter E7412…
Come in Hunter Elite Regna!!!  Repeat, come in Hunter Elite
Regna!!!"

	"Get a hold on yourself.  Stop acting like a idiot.
We need to hold out positions to back up the retreating Grunts.  
The ones who aren't dead are probably badly injured.  What 
would Regna say if he saw you acting like this!?"

	"But he's dead…HE'S DEAD!!!"

	"Shut up or I'll kill you myself.  You're a disgrace 
to the Metian empire.  A first class Spike acting worse then 
a child.  I've seen soldiers in their first fire fight act 
braver than you.  Not get back to your position and hold it."

It was shameful the way he was acting.  Even the lower ranking 
Spikes and Grunts showed more composure.  It sickened me to 
see a soldier act that way.  But his shame was short lasting because 
the whole right portion of the line was hit by several heavy artillery 
blast.  None of the impacts were direct but the blast radius killed 
several of the men.  I looked up just in time enough to see 3 more 
coming towards me.  Josphus must have seen them too because both he 
and I scrambled out the way just in time.  Things weren't looking too 
good for us.  I crawled behind a small mound of dirt and tried to make 
contact with the Crusher line to find out why they were hitting us.  

	"Spike25800 to Hunter No.E8529, the artillery is falling short 
of the target area and has killed Hunter No. E7412.  Please reply… 
Spike25800 to Hunter No.E8529, the artillery is falling short of the 
target area and has killed Hunter No. E7412.  Please reply.  Spike 
25800 to…"

	"I gotcha Spike 25…whatever.  We're under attack.  We've lost 
six of the thirteen Crushers.  The artillery hitting you and your men 
were misfires.  It looks like this was an ambush.  Tell who ever is 
in charge there to order the men to fall back as soon as the middle 
flank reaches your line.  You got that…tell them to fall ba…"



What I had just heard was not re-assuring.  We had obviously lost 
the battle.  



	"All men... we've been ordered to fall back to the Crusher line 
when the mid flank gets here.  We are to give the remaining soldiers 
the support they need to make it to the Crusher line."



I had just finished talking when a Grunt cam running through our 
line.  His armor had been severely damaged and showed signs of being 
burnt.  I could hear gunfire and the sounds of a lot of movement through 
the plants.  I was prepared to give the remaining soldiers whatever help 
I could.  My Shard Cannon was charged and ready.  


	It was only a few seconds later that what I thought was left 
of the mid flank came into view.  There was only about nine or so 
left.  Five were injured and being helped by the ones who could 
still stand.  Our Hunter Elite was dead so I took it upon myself 
to take charge and see what was going on, even over the head of 
the higher ranked Spikes.  I was told that there were about twenty 
one more Grunts left and their Hunter Elite was still alive.  He 
had ordered them to fall back in sections taking the injured with 
the first group.  I told him that the Crusher line was under attack 
also, that our Hunter Elite was dead, and that we'd lost contact with 
the Crusher line.  He and his men continued to the Crusher line with 
the injured.


	As I turned around I saw the another group of Grunts headed our 
way.  They were still firing into the trees.  I was counting to see how 
many were left and I noticed their Hunter Elite was with them.  As the 
flanks moved into our line their Hunter Elite asked where Hunter E7412 
was.  


	"Hunter No.E7412 is dead.  He was hit by stray artillery fire.  
We've also lost contact with the Crusher line."
	"That's no good.  That things killed almost all the men.  Things 
were looking good at first, the left flank was in position and the mid 
flank had his attention.  The mid flank was drawing him back whiles the 
left circled behind him.  The trap was sprung, the mid flank opened fire 
and the first couple hits knocked him down but after that there was nothing 
we could do.  Our rounds went right through him.  Like shooting water, 
you could see the impact but there was no affect, he didn't get knocked 
back, he didn’t even stumble.  I ordered the left flank to open fire 
hoping that maybe they would have some affect.  I even called in for 
artillery. Those huge plasma blast seemed to have affected him a little.  
But then that thing just held up his hand and caused two explosions.  
That’s when I sent word to start the heavy artillery firing.  It looked 
like the artillery was weakening him, but then the artillery shots 
started landing randomly in the flanks.  By the time the artillery 
stopped falling I had lost half of the remaining men and the target 
had walked right up into our ranks.  That's when I ordered the complete 
fall back to the Spike line."
	
"Sir I think you should call in Evac for the few of us that are left.  
I'm sure these shard cannons won't do anymore damage than the artillery"	
	
"Target in view!  Target in view!!!"

I looked up and finally got a glimpse of the Walking Death who had killed 
so many Metians.  He was still a ways off slowly moving towards our line.   
The Hunter Elite and his remaining grunts headed for the Crusher line.  
There wasn't anything else they could do here anyway.  On their way out 
he called for emergency evac.   From the way things were looking not many 
of us would make it to the evac.  But I didn't have time to worry bout 
that.  My target was headed towards my line, and I as a Metian  Second 
Class Spike, had the responsibility to do all I could to protect myself 
and my fellow Metians.  




I crouched down with ready to fire my cannon as soon as I had a clear shot.  
I had my firing setting ready for a fully charged high impact blast.  
It would be slower rate of fire for a fully charges crystal round, 
but it would hopefully do a lot more damage.  I was going for a 
head shot.  I knew that nobody else's shots had did any damage but 
I was still hoping.  Maybe he had lost some energy or something.  
I didn't have time to think it over.  Right as my crosshairs 
turned red for the head shot the entire rest of my line opened 
fire.  He got knocked back several feet then he just started 
coming again.  The second  barrage seemed to have no affect 
at all.  I could see the shards and plasma going right through 
him.  I was so stunned by his quick recovery that I almost forgot 
about my own shot.  The red flashing crosshairs brought me back 
and I fired, if it hit correctly it would be a clean head shot.
	Though at all happened in less then a second I can remember 
it in slow motion.  I squeezed the trigger, the round left the shard 
cannon, the round hit on target.  I couldn't believe it, the high 
impact shot connected and went through his head.  Not only did it go 
through, it took the top of his head off with it.  What was 
left of his head jerked to the side and his body fell to the ground.  
I couldn't believe it.  After all that, all the Grunts who had been 
killed and the artillery barrages.  All we needed was a head shot.  
I wanted to believe that it was over, but I knew in my heart that 
it wasn't.  All the gunfire stopped.  Everyone was amazed, the 
whole area was quiet.  I was still in awe that I had taken down 
this so called Walking Death and rather easily.  My eyes stayed 
on his body ready for another shot.  My cannons meter read ready 
for another fully charged shot and I was ready for another one.  
Over the communicator I heard "We got him.  We got him!!!"  
Some of the others were standing up completely exposing themselves
then they started shouting and cheering.  But it was too soon 
for me to relax just yet.  I kept my eye on the target finger ready.

	I had started to relax when I noticed some movement.  
I used my visors zoom unit to try to get a closer look.  Before 
I could completely zoom in on the body it started to get up.  The 
cheers that had been coming from my line quickly ended and were 
replaced by complete silence.  The body stood straight up and 
what seemed like waves from the remaining portion of it heads 
flowed over the missing portion and seemingly reformed it.  The 
self-healing powers of the Veil was incredible, but I didn't have 
time to admire that.  I quickly let him have another fully charged 
head shot.  This one however had no affect at all.  The rest of my 
line opened up on him.  It was a barrage of rounds going through 
him completely.  After a few seconds he started walking 
towards us again.

           "This is crazy, there's...there's no way we can stop 
this thing.  This is suicide!!!"
           
           "S25800 to Spike 16588, if you don't shut up right now, 
I will come over there and kill you myself."  We didn't have time 
for that again.  His cowardice would only shake the other troops 
composure and we had to at least try to keep the Walking Death 
occupied until the evac arrived.  I looked down the lines and noticed
that Spike16588's outburst had affected some of the others.  Instead 
of concentrating on their target they were looking around as if to 
find an escape route.  Hands were not on weapons, they were leaning back 
on elbows trying to crawl backwards.  It was a disgrace.  
If Hunter E7412 had been alive, I'm sure he would have shot them all.  
I shouldn't say much myself , I had let their cowardice take my attention 
off my target.

          "This is Hunter E0954 to the all remaining soldiers.  Evac 
pick up in 350 at zone 375 grid 23 by 50.  Repeat evac pickup in 350 
at zone 375 grid 23 by 50."

The evac call made me remember what I was supposed to be doing and 
I turned to look back at my target. It only took me a few seconds 
to get him back in my sights.  I changed my firing setting from a 
high impact charged round to a three round plasma heavy shard setting.  
My cross hairs were flashing when I heard.
                 "I'm getting out of here!!!"
I knew it was Spike16588, it angered me but I had more important 
things to worry about then him leaving the line.  It wouldn't 
take him the full 350 to reach the evac and evacs are always slow.  
He would get what he deserved when we got back to base anyway.  
But he didn't make it back.  Just as I was about to discharge my 
cannon my visor was hit with a spray of blood.  My hud wasn't 
reading that I had taken any damage and my crosshairs were still 
blinking red.  I lost track of my objective again and turned to see 
Spike 16588's headless body laying on the ground a little ways 
from me.  I thought that one of the other Metians had got fed up with
his cowardice.  I went back to my firing position and realized 
the target was moving faster than I thought.  I had a chance 
for one more safe shot before I would have to fall back to get a safe 
distance away.  I squeezed my trigger but before I could see if 
the rounds impacted there was a scream over the communicator line.  
I looked up to see a soldier just a little ways from me being electrocuted 
by his suit.  A warning message came across my visor telling me 
to get away from him.  His generator had been ruptured.  Just 
like the Grunt on patrol the night before.  I quickly picked up 
my Shard Cannon and scrambled out of his way.  If his generator 
got too hot his crystal would most likely generate a enormous EM 
field and fry everyone in its radius.  He wasn't the only one in 
trouble though.  I saw two 1st Class Spikes slumped over on the 
ground dead.  Then when I looked up I saw a Grunt being dragged 
up a tree.  I used the zoom unit to get a closer view.  It was 
a shadow just like the Crusher had said from the night before.  
      
                   "The target has reached the line, I repeat 
the target has reached the line.  Full retreat...Full retreat!!!"  
I decided then, that it was time for me to head to the evac.

                     I grabbed my Cannon and retreated with the 
rest of the line.  My mind stayed on the Grunt that I saw 
get pulled up in the tree.  I couldn't help but glance back 
in his direction.  There was no sign of movement but I couldn't 
look away, then I saw something.  It was his body, falling.  
No head, just his body.  I didn't have time to worry about a 
dead soldier though, the Walking Death was my main concern.  
Some of us were a little slower at falling back.  I was trying 
to provide some cover for those who were falling behind.  
A Metian should never completely abandon a fellow Metian.  
Most of the others were trying to give them some kind of cover fire.  
It really wasn't doing any good, the Walking Deaths slow rate of 
advance was really the only thing we had going for us.   
Well some of us…he had managed to overtake a couple 2nd Class Spikes.
  
                  There was nothing we could do for them.  He rammed 
his arm clear through their chest plates and out through their backs.  
After seeing that some of the others lost their composure and started 
running away.  Panicking is something you should never do on the 
battlefield.  They dropped their weapons and left themselves fully 
exposed to any attack from behind.  I didn't have time to worry about 
the cowards though.  Josphus, Merit, and I continued to try to provide 
some cover for the remaining soldiers while falling back.
   
                  "Hunter E0954 to the all soldiers.  Evac pick up 
in 120 at zone 375 grid 23 by 50.  Repeat evac pickup in 120 at 
zone 375 grid 23 by 50."

                  "Were not gonna make it at this pace," said Josphus.  
We could forget providing the cover fire and head straight to the evac 
point.  Or we could try to help the remaining soldiers and risk 
missing the evac.  Like I said earlier the only thing really stopping 
the Walking Death from getting all of us was his own slow pace.  I told 
Josphus and Merit that I thought we should at least try to help the others.
Merit thought differently.

                   "We can't stop this thing.  This is one situation 
where it's your own decision making that will save you.  Our cannons 
aren't slowing it down.  We're wasting our ammo and time.  If we miss 
the evac we'll be stuck out here with that thing."

                     Merit was right. I hated to do it, but there 
was really nothing we could do to help the stragglers.  The three 
if us headed directly for the grid 23, 50.  We didn't turn our backs 
and run like those other cowards though.  As we went over what had 
been the Crusher line there were craters and dead soldiers every where.
Several of the Crushers were just laying there dead.  From the looks
of things the remaining Crushers that had headed for the Evac had left 
their artillery cannons.    

                       There was a lot of shouting over the 
long-range communicator.  Mostly from those of us left who'd been 
over taken by the Walking Death.  I was still wondering what that 
shadow thing was and why it was helping the Walking Death.  How 
could there be two of them when we had one Veil and that Boron had 
the other.  It couldn't have been 1st Class Hunter Chordin and there 
had been no report of seeing it from any Focals or Recon teams.  
As we got closer to the evac point the shouts of the stragglers stopped.  
All we could guess is that they were all dead.

                      Me, Josphus, Merit, and the others who 
had fallen back and not straggled, made it to grid 23, 50 and were greeted
 by Hunter E0954.  Hunter E0954 and the wounded Grunts and Crushers 
were on the evac waiting for any remaining soldiers.

  
              "How many more are left out there," Hunter E0954 asked.

              
               "We don't know.  Some of the men ran in the wrong direction.
There were also some stragglers but I think they got caught either by the
Walking Death or by that other thing."

               "Other thing, what other thing."

                "There was some kind of shadow attacking us.  I think 
it's what attacked the Crusher line and when it got through there it 
hit our line too.  It's probably what attacked the camp too."

               "We don't have time to fight two enemies with that much power. 
Hunter E0954 to any soldiers who have not made it to the evac.  
Reply or you will be left.  I repeat, any remaining soldier who is 
not near the evac point reply now or you will be left."

                  There were no replies to Hunter E0954's call so he 
ordered everyone onto the evac.  Every one was on the evac and we started 
to lift off when a 1st class Spike came stumbling out of the tree line.
               
                 "Wait!!!  Don't...don't leave me!!!"  
His helmet was gone, as well his armor was heavily damaged.  
Hunter E0954 ordered me Josphus to help him to the ship.  
We jumped to the ground from the hovering ship and ran over to him.  
The damage to his armor and his body was slowing him down.  He would 
have a hard enough time getting tot he ship not to mention boarding 
the hovering ship.  It didn't take too much time to get him to the ship.  
On the way to the ship we asked him if there were any others left.  
He said there wasn't but that a shadowy figure was right behind him. 
Hunter E0954's and Merit pulled him onto the ship while Josphus and I 
made sure nothing was closing in on the evac.  I was about to board the 
ship when my suits personnel safety system went off.  I turned around to 
see the shadow in the tree line.
	"Go!!!go!!!go!!!"
       The evac started lifting off with me holding on to a rail.  
We were several feet off the ground and gaining speed when I looked 
back and saw Josphus standing on the ground.  I couldn't abandon my friend.  
I knew it might cost me my life but it was better than leaving a friend.  
I reached for my shard cannon and let go of the rail.  I fell several 
yards to the ground.  My suit absorbed most of the impact but my leg 
was hurt.  As I rolled over I looked up at the drop ship leaving me 
and Josphus.  One second later the ship veered sharply to the right 
then completely exploded.  I looked in the direction on the shadow and 
saw it had shot the ship down with one of our own weapons.  

        I tried to stand up but my leg was injured worse then I had thought.  
	"Suit initialize injury assist to right leg.  Level 5"
Josphus ran over to help me up.  He must have seen me struggling to 
get to my feet.  
	"We have to get out of here Sinuva.  Both that shadow thing 
and the Walking Death could easily kill us both.  I don't know how were 
going to get out of here.  It would be foolish to call in another evac 
with the area this hot.  We need to find a safe place to hide."

         Josphus and I headed to zone 374.  We were both hoping the shadow and 
the Walking Death hadn't seen us.  Zone 372 was deeper into the forest 
with a few rock formations to provide cover.  My suits assist mechanism 
was very valuable, without it Josphus would have probably had to help me 
walk.  This would have substantially slowed us down.  We both were also carrying our shard cannons, 
which was more weight.  We were hoping to make 
it to zone 372 by nightfall.  There was no time to stop or take breaks, we 
had to try to get a safe distance away from Zone 375 as quickly as possible.


Day 10
	Me and Josphus made it to zone 374 safely.  We're attempting to 
make contact with the Metian base for some kind of pick up.  
We tried to make contact with any soldiers who were in the area.  
There was no one…No low ranking Hunters not even Focals.  The area was dead.  

	Josphus has made contact with the Metian base.  They have 
indefinite reports that the Walking Death has headed to zone 368.  
A Focal in zone 357 was being sent to confirm the reports.  Josphus 
and I both agreed to wait until the confirmation before we were picked up.
There's no need for anymore loss of life due to trying to rush.  

Day 11
	The confirmation of the Walking Deaths position is still unconfirmed.
Me and Josphus are sticking it out in a small alcove we found in some rocks.
The motion detectors we set up went off again last night.  It was just some
of native wildlife.  Hopefully that will be all it is.  Our rations are
running low.  We do have enough water for several more days but we will 
have to go hunting or find some edible vegetation.  Thankfully the 
generators in our suits don't run out of power easily.  I think 
if it was needed…these generators could go for over 10 Metian 
solas and still make power. 

	Confirmation of the Walking Deaths position have finally been
 confirmed.  How ever instead of zone 368 he is closer to zone 371 now.  
That's still a safe enough distance away for Josphus and I.  Some 
unknown movement has been picked up from zones 375, 376, 365, and 364.  
364 is a little closer than I like but the subject is unconfirmed and 
what ever it is, it's moving fast.  Hopefully it's just some more wildlife.
The Metian base doesn't consider it as a threat so they say they can 
get a pick up for us by the next morning.  That’s good new for me and 
Josphus.  I'm ready to get back to the base and relax.

	The night has set in.  A pickup is coming for us in the 
morning but that’s no reason t relax.  Josphus is on patrol right 
now.  Hopefully this time tomorrow I will be relaxing in my own chambers.  
This suit feels like its my skin.  Getting out of it will be a relief.   

         I fell asleep shortly after that and slept for quite some time.  
As dawn neared Josphus woke me up.  
	"Sinuva...Sinuva, wake up!  There's something in the perimeter.  
The Motects went off and I've been scanning the area but I can't find
anything.  There's also no wave signatures being produced by what ever it is."
I got up and grabbed my Shard Cannon.  Josphus and I headed to the 
opening of the alcove.  There was no need to expose ourselves to danger 
and we didn't know what we were up against.  My suits Motects weren't 
picking up anything.  So I switched to a multi-detector.  
	"Sinuva!!!  It's the Evac ship!!!"
	
         I looked up to see a bright light coming through the trees.  
I followed the light to its source and it was a Metian evac ship.  
I let out a sigh of relief.  I thought this long ordeal was finally over.  
The evac spotted Josphus and I.  It couldn't land in this area so 
we'd have to move to an open area.
	
        "Hunter F73144 so Spikes 25800 and 27798, we are preparing for 
evac lift by means of traction.  Repeat we are preparing for evac 
lift by means of traction.  Please stand by."

	With the traction beam me and Josphus wouldn't have to move 
into a completely open area.  But that didn’t matter we were just 
ready get out of there. 

         "Hunter F73144 to Spikes 25800 and 27798 we are now read for pick up".
Josphus told me to go first since I had a slight injury so I walked 
towards the traction spotlight.  I was almost there when my suits 
personnel safety system went off.  I looked to my right to see a quick 
flash in the nearby treetops.  I didn't know what it was but it hit 
the evac ship and caused it to veer down.  I saw two more flashes and 
the evac headed downwards into the trees.  I started running back 
towards where me and Josphus had been standing.  Over the communicator 
I heard the pilot say he had lost control of the evac ship.  He said 
he was going to try to set her down but the ship exploded before 
he could.  The shock wave from the explosion knocked me down and 
I landed a little ways from Josphus.  I don't know what it was that 
hit the evac it must have had some kind of delayed explosion in it.  
The tracers weren't of a weapon I had seen.  As I picked myself up off 
the ground I looked up to see Josphus firing into the trees.  
	
         "Sinuva it's that shadow thing.  It must have tracked us here.  
Doesn't look like where going to get out of here without another fight."
	
         I was going to have to charge my cannon before I could use it, 
but that would only take a few seconds.  I grabbed my cannon and turned 
around to see where Josphus was firing. 

	"It was in the treetops, but its moving around pretty fast.  
The fire from the evac crash is giving off enough light so you should 
be able to see it using your visors naked eye setting.  It's invisible 
to any other setting."

         It took me a while but I finally saw it…this shadow that had been 
following us since that first night it attacked out camp.  
It had followed us into battle and attacked us there and it had followed 
me and Josphus all the way here and it refused to let any of us escape.  
This was our last chance to survive it.  The evac was gone so it was 
me and Josphus against this thing.  

	My cannon had fully charged and I was ready to fight 
till the death.  I didn't have time to rely on my suits 
targeting system.  I needed to use my own skills as a Metian soldier.  
I caught a glimpse of the shadow after a couple of seconds, it was 
moving from tree to tree trying to avoid Josphus shots.  I could 
see it heading towards a smaller tree to my right. 
	
        "Josphus, try to send it to that small tree at our 45."
	"Alright you just be ready when it gets there."
I set my cannon for a fully charged double high impact shot.  It only 
took a few seconds for my cannon to be ready and I was ready too.
"Come on you bastard, just a little bit farther."
	"He's almost there Sinuva, just a few more seconds and 
he's yours buddy."

         I saw the shadow moving into position.  It was 4 trees away and 
had stayed on the exact path.  Just a few more trees and hopefully 
it would all be over.
	
       "Just a few more and you'll be mines.  Just a one more….I GOTCHU!!!"
	I squeezed my trigger and my cannon released two shard 
blast fully charged with plasma particles.  The particles hit 
the tree right where the shadow had landed and exploded snapping 
the tree in half and hopefully killing the shadow or what ever it was.  
Me and Josphus sat in silence for several minutes.  Standing, waiting 
for any movement.  We fired a couple more shots into the vicinity just 
in case.  After a few minutes we relaxed a little and we headed over 
to where the shadow had fallen.  

         We approached slowly guns held towards where the body should have been.
Josphus stopped suddenly.  Look out!!!  He dropped his cannon and 
pushed me behind a nearby tree.  I looked up to see him get hit in his 
left arm some type of energy.  It went clear through his armor and 
knocked him to the ground.  I scrambled to get to him.  
	"Josphus…"
	"Don't come any closer.  You don't have time to worry about 
me Sinuva!!!  That thing…kill it!!!"

        I was on my hands and knees when I looked up and I saw it…the shadow.  
Our shots had evidently done some damage to it.  It was no longer a shadow.  
It had the build of a Metian female only it was taller than any Metian 
I've ever seen by at least one head.  I raised my cannon for another 
shot but I wasn't quick enough.  It hit me with something that caused 
my electronics to go out.  My generator had evidently also been shorted.  
I heard Josphus shouting and I heard him fire 3 shots I couldn't see 
out my visor to see what was happening.  I shouted to him…but I got 
no reply.  It was then that I remembered how this all began. My Team 
and I had been stationed on this planet the so-called Boron homeworld.  
As a Second Class Spike in the Metian Army I was trained to use the 
Heavy Shard Cannon.  Heavy Shard cannons were a primary weapon to be 
used in to subduing of the Boron who had the fourth Veil in his possession.
But things hadn't turned out as planned.  I was the last surviving 
member of my team, and I didn't think I'd be around much longer.

         I shouted a second time and waited for a reply.  There was none.  Then 
I felt myself being lifted from the ground by my neck.  As I was being 
picked up I dropped my cannon.  My cannon should have been my 
main concern.  I guess it was my time to die.  My reserve power 
finally kicked in and my visor started working a little.  The screen 
was flickering in and out so I couldn’t get a good view of things.  
What ever this shadow being was, it was holding me in the air by my neck.  
It seemed to be looking me over.  I could see it what may have 
been blood on its head.  It was wearing some type of head armor.  
I couldn’t see much because my head was being pushed back at first.  
Then it lowered my slightly and I got a better veiw.  It wasn't wearing 
any other type of armor.  In fact it appeared to just have a thin 
cloth like covering on its body.  It's clothing seemed primitive, but 
it was definitely not.  Anything that killed this many Metians is 
anything but primitive.  After that quick view of it my back up power 
went out again.  I was once again helpless and blind.  After looking 
me over a few minutes what ever it was…put me down.  It must not have 
been interested in me.  A few seconds later my generator was fully 
operational again.  My suit came back online completely.  I could see 
the entire area. Unfortunately, there was nothing left to see.  Not 
even Josphus body.  
         
          Josphus had died in the time it took for my suit to become
operational and everyone else was dead.  I had already seen too many 
deaths.  The deaths of my entire team, several of the best Metian 
soldiers, and the death of my own friend Josphus.  I didn't want to 
drag anyone else anywhere near this area.  I decided that I would find 
my own way out of this forest.  The planets star was rising over the 
horizon and the sky was turning a bright reddish color.  It wold be 
daylight soon.  I returned to the alcove Josphus and I had been staying.  
I got together the things I might need and I left that forsaken place.  
My name is Sinuva a 2nd class Spike in the Metian military, No. 25800.  
If I die on my way out of this forrest…so be it.  

	








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