Genesis - the Battle Within (Pillars of Creation Book 1) Read Free Page B

emitted from within the destroyed electronics as Genesis dropped the smouldering heap to the floor.
    Letting his breath out slowly, he watched the squad finally break cover and move towards him. The men checked all their corners as they demonstrated their much rehearsed skill in the face of combat, Genesis wincing as their metallic armour-plated boots clunked heavily towards him, sounding excessively loud through his enhanced senses.
    Genesis signalled that all was secure as the men looked at the smoking heap in front of them. In any normal combat situation, all knew a turret as powerful as the one just deactivated would have hampered their assault for precious minutes, leaving half the men, if lucky, to return to battle.
    Genesis stiffened yet again as a siren whined from deep within the ship, with the sound of many, far-off boots following soon after. With alacrity he was back into the situation with unshakable focus, the last encounter making his second personality stand up and take full control. It knew their mission was far from over and this ship seemed well defended, highly guarded and indeed worthy of his presence considering it was just a regular Skink frigate. His mind recalled that Intel had suggested there would be eighty to ninety lightly armoured Seekers of Truth troops, however he knew better than to rely entirely on Intel’s Seek-Find-Report droids. They were helpful, yes, but entirely accurate, not always . And the fact that turrets had been set up in places such as the showering quarters meant this was no random Skink ship or deployment.
     
    Rotas, the squad’s captain, leader of Delta’s 707 th Company and Lieutenant Colonel of the SED military, finally caught up, puffing as she spoke.
    “Sir!” exclaimed Rotas. Genesis cocked his head and blinked before dredging up his real self.
    “Rotas, no need for such formality, we are old friends not new recruits,” Genesis said, raising his hands in a goodwill gesture.
    “Sorry Genesis, just following protocol and after watching you do the things you just did it’s hard to not treat you as a superior, young fella; even after all our missions together. We don’t want the Elders getting pissed when reviewing your files now do we?”
    Genesis smirked at his friend, even though his armour hid his features, “Rotas, you have my permission to anger our tormentors, you worry about me too much. You don’t see them risking their precious little necks out here do you?” Genesis didn’t wait for a response, “What took you so long anyway? I swear you’re getting slow in your old age old fella,” he joked.
    As his visor opened, Rotas feigned offence, “Old, ha, that’s funny coming from the likes of you … trapped for all eternity looking like you just finished puberty.” Rotas laughed as Genesis frowned, “And I’m not slow it’s just this damn heavy-ass armour. It may take a pounding but in the names of the Sacred it’s heavy, well, heavy compared to your Apocalypse stuff anyway, which I suspect is why we wear our old buckets anyways; you know, to make you old geriatrics able to keep ahead of us an’ look good an’ all.”
    Genesis had to laugh, remembering the days, decades ago, when he too had lumbered around in the bulky SED’s, military-issued, environmental-grade, Terithian Power Armour, with even the name now sounding cumbersome. Genesis continued, “Well you never know Rotas, today just might be the day you’re able to click over three hundred and get your own finely tailored suit …” Genesis glanced up as the rest of the squad joined them. “So what say we not stand round wasting good oxygen and kill some Skink heretics’ young fella? Lead on Lieutenant Colonel!”
    Rotas snapped to attention, “Sir, yes sir.”
    “Rotas, what the hell did I just—” Genesis was cut short by a loud procession of orders.
    “Delta 1 fallout, this is our camping ground now. Gauze rifles charged, armour to combat power, visors down, standard two by