InfamousGuy101

No Turning Back - Surving the Abyss

@13org

Oof you can't even imagine

No Turning Back - Surving the Abyss

Matthew Lopez

---

The day was like any usual one, with all platoon lieutenants and master sergeants waking up their units, many already marching towards the training complex. The military head quarters of the Vitae were quite impressive, sizable and professional enough that Matthew eve felt at home at times, Martian tech offered nothing but the best after all. As the captain walked through the hallways of the military complex several rows of soldiers passed by him, chanting the usual morning song as they saluted their commander with respect. Matthew liked to keep discipline even with ranks, at the beginning years there had been some issues with Fed soldiers who were not very keen on saluting a Martian, but Matthew had made his command clear since then. Personally confronting anyone that questioned his command or Locke's for that matter, there would be no insubordination in this vessel, no matter what nation any soldier came from. Most soldiers already knew Lopez was of a take no bullshit mentality and though it was clear some resented him most kept the same level of respect expected in any regular military force.

For his part, Matthew respected each soldier according to their abilities. He personally had good ties with Harrison, sure he could come off a bit soft, but he was of a much more even mannerism and most soldiers would follow him under command of Lopez, and Locke by extension. Still, it was clear to Lopez that five years inside a ship floating through space ever so infinite could take a toll on anyone, including himself. He was not surprised that there was a clear lack of morale, he couldn't blame the men and women serving in the Vitae to feel frustrated after so long drifting aimlessly in the emptiness of space, even with away missions to planets it was hard to keep all soldiers on a day to day active basis other than training, marching, patrolling, sleeping, repeat. They all still had leave time, but still years with the same casino, hub, and overall the same monotone environment was bound to get tiresome on anybody despite the convictions they might posses. At least it was better than fighting... them. In some away missions the teams had encountered hostile creatures, but that compared nothing to what was out there, hunting them, wanting their complete destruction, even Matt shivered at the thought.

Matthew came back from his dozing off as he arrived to the training complex, a massive room with several dome like structures, each structure was a modular combat and environment simulation system. Once going into one of these domes, a very real simulation would commence, either planetary surface combat, away exploration, or even space operations such as raiding an enemy ship or rescue operations. The MCESS were formidable for training any military force, though a bit ironic given that Lopez would prefer training that was more hands on and less of a video game, but Harrison had been able to convince him that this was the next best thing rather than putting the men and women that were supposed to protect the Vitae in active danger. Matthew could see the sense in that, at least in these domes his soldiers could still have the exercise and preparedness for battle they needed.

Matthew entered the Training Complex, revealing himself up on the platform overlooking the domes, several units and teams were already on deck, either awaiting their turn in their domes or doing the obstacle course that surrounded the four massive domes.

The captain smirked a bit, it seemed like old times back on Mars. The blue somewhat greenish sky and the combination of green formatted earth with red rock were the only things absent. The captain made his ways down the stairs leading down on deck, lieutenant Harrison was already present, soldiers formed up near him.

"ATTENTION! CAPTAIN ON DECK!" Harrison said out loud as Lopez stood in front of the row of soldier who quickly straightened and the sound of their feet hitting the floor all together was indicative of their discipline as Marines of the Vitae.

"At ease people." Lopez said, subsequently the soldiers went into a more relaxed mannerism.

"Who's in command of this team lieutenant?" Lopez asked Harrison, who was standing right besides him, fully armored already, same for all the soldiers.

"That would be Master Sergeant Riley Cavill, sir." Harrison answered.

"They seem like a well kept unit. Best you could find, right?" Lopez added.

Harrison made a bit of a smile, "Yes sir. Cavill and her team have been scoring high on the latest simulations. I think her team would be adequate for any operation that is incoming sir."

"That is for me to judge lieutenant." Lopez said with a strong and firm voice, he then called for the master sergeant herself.

"Master Sergeant Cavill. Do you believe in your team's ability to perform in potentially hazardous or hostile environment at the best of their abilities?" The captain waited for an answer, looking directly at the sergeant.

No Turning Back - Surving the Abyss

@Rawk
Oi thank you :3

No Turning Back - Surving the Abyss

Another Day

---

It was dark, very dark, an empty void with nothing for the eye to see. The emptiness made his body shiver with a cold feeling in his back, Matthew didn't know where he was, he never did. He looked around for a few seconds, circling around like a maniac in a locked room trying to find his way out. Nothing still, just darkness that covered his vision to the point that he couldn't even see his own body. Then a figure down in the distance, a light shinning up above the figure making it some sort of silhouette.

Matthew approached the silhouette with caution, who was it, or what was it? He began to hustle up as he began to get closer to the silhouette he could make out a female figure. He finally got to it, with tiresome eyes and losing his breath he approached the figure.

As he got closer to it, he could see the familiar face of a women. It was hard to tell as the light was over the shadow, the figure was still much of a silhouette that he could barely make out.

"Matthew, my love." She said.

Matthew was taken aback by the voice of Crystal. The women he had loved for years, she was there in front of him and he didn't know what to do.

Raising his hand to touch her face, Matthew said "C-Crystal..."

Then as he touched her face, he could feel her skin wasn't the soft and smooth canopy he knew, in fact it felt rough. It had a harsh but also delicate feel, like sand. He pressed his hand on her cheek, taking out a massive chunk of ash. Crystal's figure began to fall apart into ash, down on the floor making a mound. Matthew was completely aghast by this, with tears in his eyes as he crumbled on the floor and tried to gather the ashes like if he could do anything with them, a strong wind then took them away from him and his hands.

"Why didn't you come back?" A voice said.

"Why did you leave?" Another one said.

"You promised to fight with us!" One angered voice yelled.

Matthew began to run away from the shinning light on the sky, as the voices grew in intensity and loudness that he couldn't make out what they were saying. He tried to cover his ears but it was as if they pierced right through them.

"YOU LEFT US TO DIE!"

"YOU'RE A COWARD!"

"COWARD"

"WE TRUSTED YOU!"

"TRUSTED YOU!"

"YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO FIGHT WITH US!"

"FIGHT WITH US!"

"WHY DID YOU RUN AWAY!"

"WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY,"

Matthew then screamed, he let out a scream of pain as he felt his head getting crushed by the noise, so many voices that he heard, all well too familiar.

"STOP!!!" He pleaded.

Then he opened his eyes, rising from bed with sweat covering his face and bloodshot eyes. His breath was uncontrollable as he looked around his bed and around the room, it was nothing but the same room he had been sleeping on for the past 5 years. He looked out the window into the multicolored vacuum of space, a sight to behold indeed, if it wasn't the same fucking sight for 5 years straight. Matthew rubbed his face as he went over to the bathroom. The nightmares were getting progressively worse, but this one was different, it felt real, maybe too real. He didn't know what to make of them at all.

The light turned on automatically and heading to the mirror, same face as always, he was still him like always and that reassured him on some level, he didn't know why. First thing he did was wash his face, undress and jump into the cold shower. Stepping out of the shower, Matthew noticed it was 4:30 AM lights on was about to begin in half an hour for the rest of the contingent. He was right on time as he dressed up in his uniform.

As he readied himself for the day, the Captain called out the AI of the ship. As much as he disliked the thing it had it's little perks.

"Noah." He said.

The hologram of the AI appeared at the middle of the room "Yes Captain Lopez?"

"Call Harrison." Matthew requested as he walked right through the hologram up to his drawers.

"Of course sir. Requesting Lieutenant Harrison. Anything else sir?" Noah said.

"Leave." Was the only thing the Martian said.

"Of course sir. I hope you have a fantastic day." The hologram disappeared and then the voice of Harrison was connected to the intercom of the room.

"Yes sir?" the lieutenant asked. He was always a quick to answer, dependent for whatever one asked him. A good assistant to have, and Martian like Matthew, he wouldn't trust anyone from any nation with being his right hand man. That's why he could relatively tolerate being in the Ark for so many years. The military was what he was used to and the men who were his commanders and fellow soldiers were of his planet. It was better that way, Feds would've killed them with bureaucracy and the Cons would most likely had tried to make the ship a moving company in space. The Fleeters were not so bad, but they were still a nuisance from time to time. Martians understood how this whole thing had to be, how to keep order while out here looking for a new home. It may seem harsh but it's a necessity and to fuck around is not an option at all. That's what many don't understand.

"Make sure the Companies are ready for a new exercise. Also make sure the patrols at the Hangar and the armories are properly relieved by 0600 hours. Locke wants me to ready an Operations team, probably an away mission coming up soon or just another joint exercise with Ark Sec. Either way I want a team ready for tomorrow." The Captain finished up getting ready.

"Yes Captain. I'll make sure its all ready sir." Harrison answered over the line.

"Hopefully today goes without a hitch, I'm getting really fucking tired of the recent protests calling for 'Elections'. Yeah, my ass, they want elections like we're some sort of nation state, inside a ship in the middle of space. Uhummm, I know that shit Drobov has something to do with it, always yapping about the little man and shit." Matthew was ready to head out the door.

"Yeah, I've seen that during leave. Protest and calls for elections, I don't really care about politics. I never did, but I feel like what we have is working. I don't get the the fuzz." Harrison answered.

"Me neither... well I'll get to you in a moment lieutenant. Gotta get off now." Matthew opened the door out of his quarters.

"Yes sir."

"Call Ended." The voice of Noah said as Matthew closed the door behind him into the large hall of the Officer's quarters, his room at the very end of the large hallway. He was ready for another day of routine.

No Turning Back - Surving the Abyss

@Fuzzybootz

discord.gg/FT4tJw

No Turning Back - Surving the Abyss

We've got a decent multi task assortment of characters. I like it.

No Turning Back - Surving the Abyss

@POOHEAD189

You are dully welcomed.

No Turning Back - Surving the Abyss

A Promise

---

---

It had come. This was it, the day he had dreaded for years. Not only did it made his stomach turn inside out but it made his entire body endure a pain he had never felt before. This was the day all ended for his home, billions of life sacrificed, up in the skies ships of all shapes and sizes going to stare at the eyes of death itself. What they wanted from us was not resources, or technology, no, they wanted us all dead. That had become clear the first time around and now they were back like a cancer that had always loomed in the dark matter of the brain. This was the day humanity died as it once was, billions giving their life for a chance, a speck of hope, something that could survive beyond the years of pain. He was one of those who would make that come true, he wanted to, for her and for him. For all of them. But he could only see as humanity stood against impossible odds in order to make their own survival possible. He wanted to be there, to fight alongside the men he had called friends, his brothers in arms, his fellow soldiers. But he could only watch, watch as death itself loomed upon them like a bed sheet, he had escape death but he could not escape the disgust at his own self as he simply watch across the glass at the embodiment of destruction tearing apart his home, his fellow men, her resting place.

He couldn't do it anymore, watching as it all fell apart. Yet he had to fight, not only as he was trained to, but fight the feeling of dread and despair as he now had not only his own blood that depended on him, but thousands more. He had made a promise, he would keep that promise no matter what. Set aside the emotions, don't allow them consume him, fight as he always had.

"Captain Lopez, Company A and B are ready for action, sir. Platoon 3 is already at the main garrison armory as you ordered." A voice spoke from behind him. Matthew kept quiet, looking down on the only thing he had left from her, the cross that once belonged to her now in his hands. The heart consumed him with a pain that couldn't be alleviated, a pain that he couldn't describe yet he knew what it was. He made a fist, covering the cross, pressing hard enough that he almost felt it piercing on his suit's armored glove. He stopped, turning around to face the 1st Lieutenant, the Captain's armor bulkier and much more rugged and equipped than his. His helmet on his right hand while keeping the cross on his other hand. He walked along the railing next to the massive glass window which began to seal shut.

The Captain walked without fear or doubt visible at all, his face one of a man that was ready for anything and capable of what he was set to do. Matt stopped right in front of the hundreds of men and women under his command, the Marine Contingent of the Vitae, as all Arks had one, he set his hands on his back and spoke loudly "We have our orders ladies and gentlemen. The admiral depends on us to fulfill them and we shall do so at the best of our abilities. I want platoons 4 and 5 to head to the Armories perimeter and make sure its well guarded, no one goes in or out without proper authorization. Platoon 3 is already guarding the main contingent armories, but I want you to provide double guard. Lieutenants Aguirre, report to me when you have the armory secured." This was most definitely an important assignment, with security busy with the civilians the military armories had to be secured in case of any attempts to be stormed by hysterical masses, the marines knew what had to be done. The heavy equipment was located in Complex 02 while most of the regular gear was at Complex 01 and 03, Platoon 3 would need more men to make sure all three were secured.

"Platoons 9, 10, 11 and 12 will go to the hangar, ready with all defensive systems. And make sure no deserters try their luck with a ship. Lieutenant Collins, report to me when you have the hangar secured." This was probably the biggest group to be assigned to any area of the Vitae as most of the ships were located here and it was the biggest section of the Ark. They had to make sure it was well secured in case of any attempts by anyone to leave the ship or in worse case scenario, an attack. It was improbable, but Matthew didn't like to make a bet on it with the current circumstances.

"Platoons 4, 6, and 7 to engineering. Give them a helping hand if need be, but priority one is securing the area and detaining anyone without proper authorization." The Captain took a pause as he set his helmet on, securing it and ready for action. "Lieutenant Foster, report to me on all matters."

"2nd and 8th platoon remains here on HQ. Keep it guarded and be ready for anything. Lieutenant Donovan, report to me on anything."

"1st platoons is with me on the Bridge with 1st Lieutenant Harrison." Before the contingent mobilized, Captain Lopez added a few words of comfort. Looking at the rows of men and women who would follow his orders for an indefinite amount of time. They were his soldiers, the people under his command who second to Admiral Locke needed his guidance.

"I'm not one for speeches people, but we stand at a moment that I myself know not where it will lead. We all made sacrifices, we have all lost something, or someone." He walked among them, all in their armor and their equipment strapped in their back looked at their captain with sorrow, yet their respect for the man was apparent despite him being newly assigned to them. Many were holding back tears, all kept a disciplined and straighten composure as their captain walked among them. He was one of them as well, a soldier, a father, a son, a husband, who had given up his home and the honor of battle in order to assure humanities future, a soldier who followed a soldier's duty despite all emotions.

"We are here because we are humanities future, we will assure a home for our next generations, we will continue on as a species. Because we live not only for every single human on this ship, WE LIVE FOR THE ONES OUT IN THAT HELLHOLE FIGHTING THOSE FUCKERS! We stand united today, humans no matter what nationality." His voice got louder and more passionate.

"Live for your families, for your fathers and mothers, for your sons and daughters, live for them. ORAAH!" Pumping his chest and raising his fist into the air, Lopez's gesture and cry was followed by everyone else.

"ORAAH!"

"Double time people. Let's get to it."

"Sir, yes sir!" Their voices echoed through the Headquarters Building as the different platoons began to march to their designated areas. The Arks were starting to take off, the images of Admiral Constantine on the screens of the Vitae. Captain Lopez had no time to hear him, as much as he wanted to he had to keep concentrated on the task at hand. He looked behind him, 1st and 2nd platoons marching right behind him. He made sure to single out Sergeant Locke among them.

"Lieutenant Harrison." Lopez said as he approached the elevator to the bridge.

"Yes sir." Harrison answered, keeping next to the Captain.

"Make sure Sergeant Locke is on level head at all times while at the bridge. She may be the Admiral's daughter, I respect that, but she's still a marine." Lopez continued walking, faster than most.

This was not a moment of glory for anyone, this was survival, making sure Humanities future was secured. This was humanities moment to fight for it's place in this universe as a species, they were all part of that now.

No Turning Back - Surving the Abyss

@Sep
Understood. Will keep those areas secured.

No Turning Back - Surving the Abyss

Dammit. I don't have my computer and I'm on mobile. When I get home later in the evening I'll post. Matt's gonna be making sure security procedures are in order and all civilians go to their assigned locations.