The Path We Choose Ch19: The Red Planet.

Mars slowly turned below the Maverick, endlessly sliding though space. Soren adjusted their course and entered the atmosphere. Flames began licking at hull, creating a fiery display over the windshield. Geren entered the cockpit, holding a cup of coffee. He sat down in the copilot seat and frowned. "We don't usually land, you know. We have transmat." He said. "If we're going after Uldren, then using the transmat will be too dangerous. He could detect it or he could have a jamming device, that would kill us all instantly. Best not to take chances." Soren replied. Geren nodded and smiled. "We'll make a warrior out of you yet!" he laughed. Soren guided the ship and set down on a small hill. "Where are we?" Geren asked. "Athabasca. The candor isles." Soren replied. "You would think that with a name like the candor isles there would be some water, but there isn't." Geren mused. "It's called the candor isles because of the unique rock formations. Hundreds of islands stick up, out of the sand, creating what looks like islands in an ocean." Soren answered. Geren leaned over to the PA system and spoke into it. "Alert, we are landing on Mars. Get your gear and meet up in the cargo bay." The crew met in the cargo bay, weapons loaded. Myra pushed a button and the cargo bay door lowered to the ground. "Alright team. Listen up! All of your HUDs have been given the location of the crash site. Spread out, and come at it from different angles. You see Uldren, do not kill him." Geren ordered. "Wait, what?" Moron asked. "I thought the whole mission was about killing him!" Sully shouted. "We do not kill pointlessly." Geren said firmly. "It's not pointless to us!" Sully yelled. "If you're having second thoughts, fine! You can leave!" He spat angrily. Geren drew himself up to his full height. He glared down at Sully with burning intensity. Sully lowered his eyes. "We will not kill him, until we know why someone wants him dead. If I deem it worthy, then you can kill him." Geren boomed. Sully grumbled something and stalked off. The other grabbed their guns and took off. Geren headed towards the crash site. For about ten minutes there was complete silence. Then Myra spoke up. "Did you guys say something?" she asked. "No." Sully responded. "Did you hear something?" "I heard a sqeak, then a low growl. I thought it might be Moron playing a trick on me." she said. "Nope." Moron responded. "I haven't played a trick on anybody since I put the portable speaker under Geren's bed." They all chuckled. "That was an awesome trick." Sully said. "He jumped so high, I thought he was going put a hole in the hull." Moron laughed. "Myra, try recalibrating your mic. It may be some kind of interference." Geren said, still chuckling. Silence. "Myra? You still there?" Geren asked. No response. "Myra!" Moron joined in. "It's not funny anymore." Static. "Something's wrong. Sully go check on her." Geren ordered. No response. "Sully!" Geren's voice rose in agitation. "Soren! Moron are you there?" "I'm here!" Moron said. "Soren?" Geren asked. No answer. "Something is definitely wrong. Moron, head back to the ship." Geren said. Silence. "Moron!" he screamed. Geren realized he was totally alone. His team was gone, and he was far away from his ship. He began to scan the edges of the canyon he was in, searching for any sign of movement. He heard a scratching noise from behind. He whirled and fired. The shotgun blast tore into the side of the canyon wall. A blur of movement from his left. Geren spun again, firing wildly. Something that blended in with the red rock dove and rolled. With a flash of pixels, it vanished. Geren growled. Cloaking tech. He spun in a circle, looking for any sign of it. Another flash of motion. Geren hurled a grenade at it. The blast sent rocks flying, and for a split second, he could see the outline of the specter. He fired, shredding the attackers left side. The thing collapsed, as its cloak deactivated. The cloak vanished, revealing a black frame. The frame's eyes blinked, then closed. A loud crack came from behind. Pure pain ripped through his right shoulder as he collapsed to the ground. The last thing he heard was, "Grab him." before the world faded away.