"The long Journey" (a Shadowrun crossover with everything)

[Khas]

*Cue "Jikai Yokoku".*

[Misato Katsuragi] Next time on "The Long Journey!"

The Musashi falls under attack from hostile aliens!

James kicks ass and takes names!

But all is not as it seems in this new Universe...

Will Captain Kirkinger be able to get the crew out of this mess?

Will Praeothmin sock Khas in the jaw for screwing with his fanfic?

Find out in the next exciting chapter of "The Long Journey". And don't worry, there'll be plenty of fanservice![/Misato Katsuragi]

[Admiral Breetai]

if you cameo Terror or Tides I have but one humble request

James vs Jackson

James vs Im'pec

or James and Jackson vs Im'pec and Rainbird in the middle of a huge ass siege dueling on the highest wall of the fortress while Dominion hordes and Stormtroopers look on in awe

'Ahh excellent should you two welps ever pick yourselves up off the floor perhaps I can tell you the tale of how I got this shiny new arm"

"over a smoke with my peace pipe..if you have a jaw left"

*Cue "Jikai Yokoku".*

[Misato Katsuragi] Next time on "The Long Journey!"

The Musashi falls under attack from hostile aliens!

James kicks ass and takes names!

But all is not as it seems in this new Universe...

Will Captain Kirkinger be able to get the crew out of this mess?

Will Praeothmin sock Khas in the jaw for screwing with his fanfic?

Find out in the next exciting chapter of "The Long Journey". And don't worry, there'll be plenty of fanservice![/Misato Katsuragi]

oh that is just...awesome khas

[Khas]

if you cameo Terror or Tides I have but one humble request

James vs Jackson

James vs Im'pec

or James and Jackson vs Im'pec and Rainbird in the middle of a huge ass siege dueling on the highest wall of the fortress while Dominion hordes and Stormtroopers look on in awe

'Ahh excellent should you two welps ever pick yourselves up off the floor perhaps I can tell you the tale of how I got this shiny new arm"

"over a smoke with my peace pipe..if you have a jaw left"

And Cameo "From One World To Another" as well?

[Admiral Breetai]

oh man..Q trolling the musashi

[Praeothmin]

Khas, I liked your intro...

Admiral Breetai, no plans for cameos of other people's characters yet, as I don't want James to humble them too much... ;)

I'm about to post my latest update, you'll know where I'm going then... :)

[Praeothmin]

Here's my latest chapter...
(Now I've got me some reading to do)

Chapter 35

James sighed, and went to a wall communicator.

“Bridge,” James said pressing on the communicator button, “This is Major Reynolds from Sickbay.”
He sighed again, as if he didn’t want to ask the question he needed to.
“Where are we now?”

“Major, this is the bridge.” Replied an unknown voice.
“We have no clue at the moment, but the Captain will most assuredly let you know as soon as it’s possible. Bridge out!”

That exchange raised the stress level of the colonials present in Sickbay.
They looked at each other, making sure they had all understood the same implied event.
It was Hicks, their new appointed leader since the Alien encounters it seemed, who asked James the question that was burning their lips.

“Major, what exactly do you mean by: Where are we now?” He asked with apprehension.

James looked at them, apologetic, feeling once more as if other’s lives had been ruined because of him, and he explained everything as quickly as he could.

“So all of this is your fault?” Hudson asked accusingly an hour later.

“Hudson, stow it!” Hicks said, not wanting to aggravate James.

“No, it’s ok, Corporal,” James started, “He’s right, all of it’s my fault.
If the Musashi’s crew hadn’t tried to help me and send me back, none of this would have happened.”

Hicks looked at James straight in his eyes.

“Major, permission to speak freely.” He asked.

“Corporal, I’m not your commanding officer, you can say whatever you want.” A surprised James replied.

“Great, then let me say this to you: For a guy who runs head first in danger to help out friends and colleagues, hell anyone who’s in danger, you sure like to feel sorry for yourself!” Hicks said, defiantly.
“Seems to me, if what you said is true –and the way you’ve conducted yourself since I met you, I sure as hell believe it is- then the Musashi’s Captain offered his help, you didn’t coerce from them, and you’re certainly not responsible for all these jumps, let alone the first one.
And from where I’m standing, Major, I’m sure as hell happy you were there when we went in the colony, or you might be dressed down by a corpse right now, and if you were to ask this Admiral Adama you mentioned, I’m pretty sure he praises the day you and the Musashi appeared in their lives.”
He had a full head of steam, and clearly wasn’t going to let go now.
“Now, I’m not a religious man, but have you ever stopped to think that maybe, just maybe, all your travels are for a reason?
That maybe this has been your destiny from day one?
That you were destined to travel through all these realities in order to help people and improve their lives, just like you’ve been doing?
That maybe your destiny and the Musashi’s crew’s are entertwined?
I’m not a religious man, but with all that has happened to you, I sure would start believing in some higher power.”

James didn’t know what to say, how to reply to Hicks.
He looked at everyone, trying to read their faces, to see if they shared Hicks’s feelings.
Doc was smiling, nodding, Ripley simply looked at him like he was an idiot for not realizing this, while Hudson, so vocal in blaming him, was suddenly looking at the floor, face flushed red, as if he realized how true Hicks’s explanation was.
James heard Boomer say, low enough so only he could hear with his enhanced hearing:
“I’m glad you appeared in my life, you big idiot. All your brains and you can’t even realize such a simple truth. You should ask the Doctor to examine you, your head must have been damaged in the fighting.”
He could hear the mirth in her voice as she said every word.
But the strongest argument in favour of James’s presence being a good thing was Newt jumping down from Boomer’s bed, running towards him and again, jumping in his arms.

“I don’t want to lose you, Mr. James.” She said, looking in his eyes with her innocent blue marbles.

“Well,” Said James, emotion tight in his throat, “I guess you won’t have to worry about that anymore, because it seems we’re all stuck together for a while, whether we like it or not.” He finished, looking at Hudson.

The moment was broken by a communicator chirping, and then James heard Captain Kirkinger’s voice over the comm.

“Captain Kirkinger to Major Reynolds.” The authoritative voice said.
“Please come and see me in my Ready Room at once, and bring our guests with you.
It seems the Musashi’s family has grown again, Major.”

“On my way, Sir!” Was James’s reply.

Before he could go, Valis came up to him and said:
“You may want to put some clothes on before you go, Major.
We wouldn’t want the Captain to put our MACO leader in the Brig for indecent exposure.” She said smiling.

James looked at Valis, slightly embarrassed.
He sent the others ahead with Doc leading the way, and then went to replicate some clothing.
After getting dressed, he went to the door, but as he passed by Valis, she stopped him with a hand on his chest.

“I’m very happy that you came into our lives, James Reynolds from Seattle, don’t you ever doubt that.” She said, putting emphasis on the word “very”.

James smiled, put his hand over hers and held it there for a second, and then he left.
He moved quickly, with purpose, wanting to know what was happening to the ship and where they were.
He arrived on the bridge as the group was entering the Captain’s Ready Room.
He saluted a few people on the bridge and he entered silently right as the doors were closing.
Captain Kirkinger looked up from a Padd at the group coming in, Teramak doing the same.

“Ah, I see you’re all here.” He said, eliciting surprised looks from everyone but James.

“Yes sir, we’re eager to learn what has happened.” James said with a smile, startling the group.
Doc looked at James, smiled while shaking his head, and then invited the group to the table.
They were all still looking at James, wondering how such a massive man could move so silently.
Newt was in simple admiration of her own monster eater, James could see.
He sat down and took the Padd Teramak handed him.
He scanned it quickly while the Captain started explaining what had happened.

“As James most likely guessed, our wonderful Orb of the Prophets has activated again, and threw us across time and space to God only knows where and when.
As with the last time, sensors were down and the Musashi was damaged by the shift, but since repairs to the main systems were already done, we are in a better shape then when we arrived at the Colony planet.”
He looked at the Colonials.
“Are you aware of what happened to us before?”

“We are,” Hicks replied, “Major Reynolds informed us of the main events in Sickbay.”

“So you know we unable, at this time at least, to recreate these events and take you back to your reality?” Kirkinger asked gently.

“We do, Captain.” Said Hicks, somewhat resigned.
“But we were also told that you were looking for a way to do so, and seeing the incredible technology you have at your disposal, I think it’s safe to say we will keep our hopes that you will succeed.”

“If I may,” Ripley began, “There’s nothing for me anymore in my reality, Captain.
I really don’t care if I go back one way or the other.” She finished soberly.

“And I don’t want to go back either.” Said a resolute Newt.
“Boomer and Mr. James protect me, and they promised they wouldn’t leave me, and they never break their promise.”
She looked at the Captain, daring him to contradict her.

“Well, I guess we can’t argue with that, now, can we Major Reynolds?” Kirkinger said, smiling.
“But you will all have to pull your weight on the Musashi, I’m afraid.
The ship has been hit hard, and we need help to keep it in shape.”

Ripley looked around, and all nodded, including Newt.

“We’ll be glad to help any way we can, Captain.” She said.
“I was a Warrant Officer on my first ship, and more recently, a loader driver.
I’m sure I’ll be able to find a way to help.”

“As for us,” Hicks said, “I believe we’d be very useful as part of Major Reynolds’s team.
The recent events unfortunately cost the Major a teammate, and another one is still in the infirmary.
I’d be happy to offer my services to the Major, if he’ll have me.”
He looked at Hudson.
“What about you, Hudson?”

“Hell yeah, I’m in.” Hudson said with enthusiasm.
“I apologize for my accusations earlier, Major, and if you’ll forgive me, I think I can be a good addition to your team.”

“Well?” Captain Kirkinger asked, looking at James.
“What do you say, Major?”

“I all can say is, I’d be very stupid not to take them in my team, Captain.” James said honestly.
“I’ve seen them fight, and while Hudson seemed skittish at first, and definitely is a loudmouth, he can pull his weight in a fight and would indeed be a good addition to my team.
As for the Corporal, every team needs someone with ice in their veins during a fight, and I’ve rarely seen cooler under fire.
Gentlemen,” James said, standing up and saluting, “Welcome to the MACOs.”

Both Hicks and Hudson imitated James, and less than a second later, Newt did too.
“I wanna be in your team too,” She said, “Just like Boomer.”

James smiled, unsure of how to gently refuse the child’s request without hurting her feelings.
The Captain was quicker than him.

“You already do, Newt.” He said.
“You are the one in charge of making sure the MACOs in Sickbay are properly cared for.
Right now, I’m pretty sure Boomer would love company down there to help her heal.”

Newt beamed at the Captain’s words.
She looked at him, and said:
“Yes, Sir!
I will go there right now to help her, Sir!”

She turned around, and bounded towards the Ready Room’s doors.
James nodded for Doc to follow her, and he did, taking the lead, and making sure the little girl would get to Sickbay and not get lost on the ship.

“Now, then, “Kirkinger began, “Sensor sweeps twenty minutes ago showed us in orbit of a planet.
Unlike the first two times, this planet is a Gas Giant, around Jupiter’s size.
What held our attention, however, is the immense Ring which is also in orbit around the planet.
This ring has a diameter of ten thousand kilometres, is eight kilometres deep, and forty-five kilometres wide.
The inside of the ring contains a class-M environment with different parts of the ring having different types of ecosystems, as well as different climates.”

“Captain,” James started hesitantly, “Are you saying we are in the presence of some sort of… Dyson ring?”

[Khas]

Is this the Universe they've gone to?

[Praeothmin]

I can't see the link, it's blocked by our IT department...

[Khas]

Oh. Well then, watch it when you get home to see if I was right.

[Praeothmin]

New update...

Chapter 36

“You are familiar with the concept, Major?” Asked the Captain, surprised.

“I read a lot.” Answered James.

“Well, I don’t.” Said Hicks.
“What’s a Dyson Ring?”

“An old Earth scientist, Freeman Dyson, once hypothesized about such structures existing.” Captain Kirkinger began.
“A Dyson sphere, the original concept, is a hypothetical Megastructure. Such a "sphere" would be a system of orbiting Space-based solar power meant to completely encompass a Star and capture most or all of its energy output. Dyson speculated that such structures would be the logical consequence of the long-term survival and escalating energy needs of a technological civilization, and proposed that searching for evidence of the existence of such structures might lead to the detection of advanced intelligent Extraterrestrial life.”

“It was long thought to be something that could exist only in someone’s imagination, at least up until the 2050s.” James added.
“And I would have thought it was the same for your society as well, Captain, but your lack of enthusiasm at the discovery of something potentially new to Starfleet, leads me to believe this isn’t the case.”

“And you are right, as usual.” Said the Captain.
“Starfleet encountered an honest to God Dyson Sphere at Stardate 46125.3, or April 2369.
A Federation ship had crashed on its outer shell, and the Enterprise, under Captain Picard, had to go to its rescue.
The situation is similar here, because we’ve also detected a crashed ship on its interior surface, and have received many distress signals close to the crash site.
Our sensors also detected strong energy pulses which are apparently shot from one end of the structure to the other.
The emitters for those pulses are close to some of those Lifepods, but their energy interferes with our sensors, so we can’t say if there are any more pods close to them. ”

“Let me guess: our mission, if we so choose to accept it, is to go down to that interior surface close to the crash site, and find the survivors, if there are any.
Correct?” James asked.

It was Teramak who answered.

“Correct about the mission, wrong about having a choice.” He said, smiling.
“We’ve scanned the area around the crash site, and detected many smaller crafts which we assumed were lifepods.
The interesting thing about those lifepods is that all life signs are human.
So approach should be easier.
We’ve selected the coordinates of a lifepod closest to the crashed ship.
Find the survivors, if there are any, and get some info about that ship.
Maybe some of their technology can help in the Musashi’s repairs.
The Transporters have been repaired, so you will be transported to the surface of the ring in order to save time.”

“Yes sir, I’ll assemble my team immediately.” James said, getting up.

He signalled Hudson and Hicks and left the Ready Room, where Captain Kirkinger was looking for Ripley’s new role aboard the ship.
He called his team to the planning room – his room – and had to order Boomer to stay in Sickbay and sit the mission out, as she wanted to come despite her injuries.
He introduced the newcomers to the MACOs, renewed their equipment stock, and showed Hicks and Hudson how Starfleet weapons worked.
Since they were less than familiar with energy weapons, he had the Replicator make them rifles from his time period, under his specifications list.
They were happier with the solid slug rifles, and learned all their capabilities quickly, including the aiming mechanism that synchronized the battle field sensors with the electronic aiming equipment of the guns.
This aiming mechanism, called a Smartlink by James, communicated the gun’s aiming spot by placing cross-hairs in their helmet’s visor, greatly improving the aim of any soldier.
James, using Smartlinks often in his missions, had also integrated this capability on the Phasers the MACOs used.
The former Colonial Marines marvelled at the equipment they had access to, far in advance of anything they had ever used.
Once the team was ready ten minutes later, they quickly made their way to the Transporter room, and stepped on the pad.
James could see Hicks’s and Hudson’s faces as their visor wasn’t down yet.
While they had been told what Transporters did, and how safe they were, they seemed apprehensive at the thought of using it.

“Don’t worry guys.” Said James.
“The worst that can happen is you get your face exchanged with your butt.”

“Oh, well,” Hicks replied, “No need to worry about it, Hudson, this happened to you at birth.”

The MACOs burst in laugh at that comment, except for Hudson who made a face at Hicks.

“MACOs, mount up!” James called, and they all got on the Transporter pad, lowering their visors in unison.

They were disassembled into their constituent particles, added to an energy stream, and then transmitted to the ring’s interior surface, where they were re-assembled, straight on target.
As their forms coalesced back into their natural solid states, their cognitive functions began to decipher their surroundings.
They were in a mountain range, they could see, as they were standing on what was clearly a plateau.
Green lawn was under their feet, and they saw trees dotting the landscape, the type of which marked them in a temperate type zone.
Rocks were seen here and there in all sizes.
To their left was a steep wall of rock, almost flat, with an even, unbroken surface.
It rose up easily to a hundred meters, and while it ran only a few dozen meters to its right, it was at least another hundred meters or se to its left, and ended in a mountain.
To their right, the terrain continued for a few meters before dropping straight down in an unknown depth, like a small canyon, and on the other side was a plateau similar to the one they were on.
A small two meters wide stone bridge, clearly artificial, brought both ridges together.
To their back was a tall mountain with no easy climbing path, and they couldn’t see the mountain’s peak.

Their target, however, was right in front of them.
Less than ten meters away, they saw the Lifepod, embedded in the plateau’s soil, its front end crumpled from the impact.
The pod was elongated, without any windows except up front, it seemed.
It was about two meters wide, by two and a half meters tall, and four times that length.
The rear hatch had been sheared off by the crash, and broken bodies lay strewn on the ground around the pod’s rear.
Equipment, such as rifles and First Aid kits were haphazardly lying around the victims of the crash.

“Sheeeeiiiit!” Hudson said over the Comm lines.
“These guys were Colonial Marines, Major.”

“They weren’t, Hudson.” Hicks replied.
“The equipment looks a lot like ours, but their guns have some differences.
Plus I’ve never heard of our Corp having found an extraterrestrial ring. Have you?”

“No, you’re right!” Hudson admitted.

“Well, what is certain is that there are no survivors at this location.” James commented.

But then his helmet’s audio sensors picked up a sound, coming from inside the pod, as if something was slowly moving.
Quietly signalling his team to stand guard and for Hicks to follow, he crept closer to the rear of the pod.
He peered inside, and for a second thought he saw his own reflection, for inside the pod laid an armoured giant, roughly James’s size and girth.
His armor’s Tricorder showed the occupant has human, but for then a force field came up and James could not get another reading on the man.
The giant’s head moved slightly, and settled on James’s armoured form.
He tried to grab a weapon, a heavy pistol reminiscent of the Ares Predator James knew so well, but his grip was too weak, and he dropped it to the pod’s floor grating.
James opened his suits external microphones so the man could hear him.

“Relax,” He said, “I’m not here to hurt you.
I’m Human, just like you.”
James opened his visor so the man could see him.
“You seem hurt, but my team and I cannot help you in such a confined area.
We will try to move you outside.
Will you allow it?”

The man nodded weakly, so James holstered his Phaser Rifle in the special integrated back holster on his armor, and moved to gently lift the man.
As he kneeled down, and took the man in his arms, the armored giant tried to push James’s hands away.
The strength of the man surprised James, for if the man had not been so injured, James firmly believed the man would have been able to push him away.
But as James started lifting him with great difficulty, surprised at the weight of the armor, the other man’s hands froze in mid-push, as if surprised anyone could lift him so.

It took James almost sixty seconds to get the man out of the pod, due to the great weight or the armor and the confined space inside the pod, but once he was out, he quickly set him down in a comfortable position on the ground.
He tried to take off the man’s helmet, but it was sealed, and James could not find a way to unseal it.
In fact, he saw his fingers would not even make actual contact with the armor, as they were apparently repelled by some blue shielding.
All of a sudden, the shield went off, and the helmet’s seals opened up.
James removed the helmet to peer in the bloody face of a man.
This man had short brown hair, brown eyes and a small gap between his two front teeth.
He had square features, the kind one got when they had skeletal enhancements, James had learned some time ago during his own procedure.
The man seemed to whisper something, so James took off his helmet, and leaned in closer.

“What… p-project are you a… p-part of?” The man asked weakly.

James caught on that the man was making the same mistake Hudson had made, and believed the MACOs were part of the same forces as he was, only from a different platoon.

“Can’t tell you.” James answered.

“It’s ok, it’s.. unim… p-portant.” The armoured man replied.
“P-please, s-save the oth… others.
Don’t… don’t let the cov.. ovenent get the… them.
On your… w-word as a sp… Spartan, swear t-to it.” He finished.

James knew he didn’t have time to explain things to the man, and that unless he received immediate medical attention, he would die.

“I swear I will!” He said.

He contacted the Musashi.

“This is Major Reynolds, we have one survivor to beam directly in Sickbay.
He is wearing heavy armor, so you may wish to beam both separately.”
He looked down at the injured Marine.
“Don’t worry, you’ll be in good hands.”

As the man began to dematerialize, cutting off whatever he was going to say, a message came over the MACOs’s Comm systems from the Musashi.

“MACOs, this is the Musashi.” A hurried voice said.
“We detected a ship arriving at the ring, weapons loaded and shields up.
We are in no shape to fight, or even defend ourselves.
We must leave.
I repeat, we must leave.
We will come back for you as soon as possible.
Be aware the ship has dispatched half a dozen smaller ships in your direction.
Good luck!”

“Copy that, Musashi.” James said.
“Good luck to you too!”

James looked up, and thought he saw some shapes coming in fast.
He signalled his men, and the quickly gathered up what could be useful, like grenades, extra rifles and clips.
To their surprise, when they picked up the rifles, the display on their visor lit up, and cross-hairs appeared to show where they were aiming.
Once they were done acquiring equipment, James looked up and noticed a large ship coming towards them, more than twenty meters long and at least ten meters wide.
It had a central bulb at the back, most likely the pilot’s cabin, and two long “arms” coming forward, starting at each side of the cabin.
The vessel also had four cannons on its underside, and it was coming straight at the MACOs, firing as it swooped in.

[sonofccn]

Well things seem to be going as they normally do for James, once more he's hurtling towards...mission impossible...but forgive my lack of knowledge of this universe but did James just rescue Master Chief?

Also Hudson is funny! I hope he stays alive for a while.

[Praeothmin]

did James just rescue Master Chief?.

Yup... :)

Also Hudson is funny! I hope he stays alive for a while

I have no plans to kill him, but I'll have to see where the story takes me...

[Admiral Breetai]

Covenant vs macos? hell yes

this is one BBQ I can get behind

[Khas]

They are in the Halo universe! Called it!

[Praeothmin]

Quick update...

Chapter 37

Energy pulses came at them, forcing them to scatter or be destroyed.
Each pulse hitting the ground impacted like a grenade, each explosion showering the MACOs with dirt and rock chips propelled at high speeds.
Their armors were tough, though, and so none were injured by these explosions, even though some MACOs were propelled in the air by the explosions, landing hard against the ground, Private Heyes hitting a jutting rock hard enough to stun him even through the armor.
James had dived in a tuck and roll when the first pulses had left the alien’s weapon, and had gotten out of his roll and up before the first pulse had hit the ground.
He was surprised at how slow these pulses were, but their danger to the team was fully demonstrated once they had impacted the ground.
As he saw his team members being thrown around like rag dolls by the explosions, he turned around, boosted the power of his Phaser Rifle to level sixteen, and fired as sustained beam at the weapon’s turret on the under belly of the ship.
The turret exploded in a ball of vaporized alloys and plasma, taking half the piloting cockpit with it, and the ship lurched to the right, while the front dove down.
It was going to crash to the ground, that much was certain.
As his team were finding cover, Hicks getting Heyes and helping him get to safety, James lowered the power level of his weapon, as his first shot had depleted half the charge in its power cell, and simply moved away from the crashing site of the ship.
Shortly before impact, the ship released two smaller vessels that were held between its prow “arms”.
It also opened side doors and some passengers jumped out of it, some landing hard, but most floating down as if borne on some invisible air current.
One big creature, at least a foot taller than James, wearing bright blue armor, with a four-mandible face and lower legs like those of birds, simply jumped out of the crashing ship while it was still five meters in the air.
It landed in a crouch, its powerful legs absorbing the impact of the jump as easily as James’s would have.
It looked around at the fallen, smaller aliens, his expression what James thought of as a sneer, and barked something in an unknown tongue.
The smaller aliens got up, and formed a semi-cohesive defensive circle around what was clearly their leader.
Their ship crashed, creating a huge explosion that James felt even through his armor since he was still in the open.
This caught the attention of the big alien and he looked at the crashed vessel, noticing James at the same time.
He pointed at him, and barked another order.

“Grunbkd… Him and … gkortou… sacred ground!”

The Universal Translator had started doing its work, James noticed, but he didn’t have time to ponder this I depth, as the smaller aliens fired their weapons at him.
Their small pistols spat small globes of greenish energy at him, seeming deadly, but moving slow, as the big ship’s weapons had.
James smiled as he quickly sidestepped the bolts, which splashed against a big rock behind him.
The rock exploded in razor sharp shards and hot blobs of melted material, but both were stopped by James’s armor, ensuring his safety.
He returned fire, his finger tapping rapidly three times in a row on the rapid-fire trigger of his Phaser Rifle, each hit producing a small blob of yellow energy that impacted with his targets.
Each of his shot had been a head shot, and so three headless corpses, heads transformed into bluish mist by the Starfleet weapon, fell down on the ground.
The big alien froze for only an instant, and then shouted frantic orders to his troops.

“It is one of the defiler Demons we were warned about. Kill it, destroy it with grenades now.”

It lifted its weapon and fired, the bigger pistol firing smaller pulses more rapidly than the smaller aliens’ weapons.
Still, James’s speed allowed him to plunge down to the ground and roll away before the alien’s gun had even fired one pulse.
They all sailed overhead, the last one passing close to him, and then he was up again, firing at the bigger alien before he could get another bead on him.
Three pulses left his rifle, all three head shots, but to James’s surprise, only one hit, and it was only a glancing hit, as the group’s leader had moved almost as quickly as he did.
And even worse, in James’s eyes, was that the shot had done no damage to the alien, as it had apparently hit a force field that was being projected around the alien’s body.
He wasn’t able to repeat the experience because his opponent had moved behind a boulder to protect himself from James.
He turned to the smaller aliens, and saw one cock his arm for a thrown, a scintillating blue globe of light in his hand.
James’s rifle came up and he fired, hitting the alien square in the stomach, a hit which spun the alien around so that when it weakly released the blue globe, it fell within its own ranks.
All the others spun around and made a run for it.

“Grenade!” Called one loudly.

One of the other aliens running for cover was also holding a scintillating blue globe, which he dropped almost as an afterthought while running.
The first globe quickly pulsated, and then exploded in a powerful blast less than a second later, the second blue globe being detonated in the process.
James was propelled backwards by the resulting explosion, even though he was at least eight meters away.
He felt the heat even through his armor, and noticed that the front of it was blackened by the heat created by the detonation.
He landed on his back hard, lost his rifle, and used the momentum to roll over backwards and jump back up on his feet.
Just in time to see the big blue armoured alien jump over the boulder he hid behind and try to land feet first in James’s face.
Using his enhanced reflexes, he bent back down and formed a bridge with his body, the big alien flying over him.
He got up, turned around and ran at the alien, intent on ramming him.
The alien wasn’t surprised, though, and so it was ready when James made contact with it.
What did surprise it was the strength behind the impact, and the alien had to take two steps back to properly absorb the brunt of James’s attack.
They both struggled for a few seconds, James trying to get a good grip on the alien, the big creature trying not to give him any advantage, but as James finally got his footing, as he started to push the alien back - to its great surprise- it stepped back with its right foot, swung its hip around and flipped him over on his back.
As soon as he hit the ground, James’s left leg came up and over his head in a kick which caught the big creature mid-thigh.
The kick impacted with less strength then he had expected, but he knew why instantly: when his feet had connected with the creature, he noticed a shimmering effect appear, as if some sort of shielding was protecting it.
It did take a step back due to the strength of the kick, though, and so with a quick tuck and release, James was on his feet, although his back was to the creature.
Heard movement, and so, using all the speed he could muster, he took a step forward, jumped and spun, delivering a sweeping mid-air kick that caught the creature by surprise, straight on its jaw.
The shield flickered again and must have been brought down, for James’s kick shattered the creature’s jaws.
James wasted no time in launching a side-kick at the alien as soon as he landed.
The alien partially blocked the kick, but it impact still propelled it back in the air to land on its back.
It recoiled from the kick, howling, anger and frustration clearly apparent in its eyes, and could not believe that a simply human could be that fast, and that strong.
As James was about to move towards his opponent again in the hopes of finishing the fight quickly, plasma rained down on him from above.
None of the shots hit him, but they exploded on the ground all around him, pelleting him with high velocity pebbles and rock shards.
His armor held, but he lost his opponent in the explosions.
He looked up to see what had attacked him, and saw two small violet colored vessels climbing in a sweeping arc, clearly intending to come back in an attack run.
The vessels were no more than four meters long, and from the front looked like a bird trying to acquire uplift, its wings pointing down.
The center of each wing was hollow, and the ships were leaving smoke trails as they moved forward.
He looked around for his weapon, and saw the big blue alien had picked it up and was examining it.
James drew his Manhunter from its leg holster and fired rapidly, the report deafening.
The first two shots were partially stopped by the alien’s shield, but the other four were not.
The creature sprayed blue blood when it spun to the ground in its last death dance.
He raced towards the body while re-holstering his pistol, and dove for his weapon just as the two small vessels started firing again.
They missed him, again, and then he was up on one knee, firing at one of the coming crafts.
His rifle’s pulses impacted directly on the nose of the obviously unshielded craft, which exploded in a rain of shrapnel and damaged parts.
He knew he didn’t have the time to fire at the other vessel, and so he plunged behind a boulder as the craft opened fire.
The boulder’s opposite side was pulverized by the energy blasts, but there remained enough of it intact to protect James from another pass.
But the vessel didn’t get that chance.
From among the trees and behind boulders, myriad pulses and dozens of bullets tore into the small craft, perforating its fuselage and the pilot inside.
It was hit by so many Phaser shots that most of it was vaporized, transforming it in a fiery display akin to firecrackers.

“Laying down on the job, Major?” Asked Doc, smiling, coming out from behind a tree.

“Yeah, I felt like rolling around in the grass.” James replied with a smile of his own.
“Let’s get moving, MACOs.
They might send another welcoming committee with more firepower.”

They all moved quickly, James always careful to pick a speed that the others could follow.

“Be weary of the big ones, by the way, their armor also has a shield.” He told the others while advancing.

“No problem, Major, we’ll leave ’em all for you since you kick so much ass.” Husdon replied.

They crossed the bridge made of rock, which made them realize they were on the edge of the Dyson Ring, and that they could fall off if they were not careful.
They made their way towards the center of the ring by following the other ridge.
A group of aliens were apparently patrolling the area, but the MACOs made quick work of them, James emptying his ManHunter clip in the big creature heading the patrol.
The MACOs were so efficient and intense that one of the smaller creatures had panicked at one point during the fight, yelling loudly “They’re everywhere!” while waving its arms around in fear.

As they were advancing, their Communicators beeped.
Surprised, James answered the call that could only be coming from the Musashi.

“Major Reynolds here!” He said.

“Major, this is the Musashi.” An unknown voice said.
“We don’t have much time before we need to go away again, so listen well.
We are beaming down the armor of the man who’s currently in sickbay, as it will help you on your mission.
Basic scans reveal he was augmented, like you, and he told us his armor was designed for augments he calls Spartans.
Once you get it, we will beam your old armor back to the Musashi.
Once you wear it, do not move until the onboard systems can calibrate themselves for you.
This armor has an integral Artificial Intelligence that will help you accustom yourself to it, and will help in your mission.
Prepare to receive in 3, 2, 1…”

And then a golden energy beam coalesced into the green metallic armor James had seen on the man earlier.
It stood by itself, its back to James, and was already opened.
James found the way it opened very interesting, as he could see that only the back of the armor, the back of the thighs, and the back of the arms opened.
One would presumably first insert his feet through the calves of the armor, which had been loosened, his arms as well, and once fully inside, the armor would close and tighten all its parts to fit the user.
The wearer could then, he noticed, put on the Helmet which magnetically hung on the armor’s right thigh.
He took off his old armor, and signalled the Musashi it was done.
His armor disappeared in a golden energy field where it would re-materialize on the Akira-class ship.
James was hesitant, but with a shake of his head, he stepped in the armor.
It closed with a hydraulic hiss, and adjusted perfectly to James’s size.
When he put on the helmet, it sealed, and James heard a little fan from somewhere at his back, and he felt refreshed, and breathed easily.
The helmet’s visor came to life, scanned his face and eyes, and all information adjusted automatically to his field of view, according to eye separation, facial depth and all other minute details that other, mass produced armors could not compensate for.
It then displayed “adjustment completion… 100%”, and then beeped in readiness.
The MACOs all appeared in his new Friend-or-Foe display, and his helmet’s Tranceiver tuned in on his team’s frequency.
James was impressed with the armor, but he was sure he hadn’t seen it all yet.