Mars base had been established in the early twenty first century as a forward defense and exploration base under the black budgeted secret space program. It’s very existence hidden from the congress that supplied the resources and finance to build and run the facility. Basically, it is privately run with congressional budget and corporate control.

All the high tech that people on Earth could only dream about was created and tested here. It was also the home of spaceforce a security force created to protect the interests of corporate exploration and mining and the legit authorised side of space exploration that acknowledged world leaders new about .

0300. Mars base Prometheus

The alarms started to sound in the early hours of the morning on Mars base Promethius as the Skynet defence shield detected the approach of cloaked ships dropping out of warp above the planet. Automated ai identity challenges were broadcast across all frequencies with a warning to acknowledge and identify before Surface to air laser defence batteries commenced firing. In the time it took for that first challenge to be broadcast hyperbolic missiles had already locked onto and were impacting all Surface facilities which included all communications and defence systems.

The base proper which is underground was in complete lockdown and whilst built to be impregnable at a km under the surface once the surface lifts were locked down this event was a first in the history of the base and the inhabitant’s which were woken from sleep by the alarm and the vibrations penetrating from Surface explosions gathered in the assembly room with degrees of shock and disbelief.

General Bravos always switched on, had been awake and active when the first instant alert had come in on his wrist terminal, with the recent goings on with exon facilities the base was already on alert, yet this sudden unprecedented attack was one that obviously had never been planned for. Peace and stability apart from some minor outer rim pirate activity had been the norm for a very long time.

The initial proximity scans had revealed two quite large craft appearing before the onslaught had commenced, what the situation was now he had no idea, the first volley had successfully taken out all Surface sensors. He was joined in the control room by Captain Jenna and lieutenant Chevez both already armoured up.

What the hell Sir piped up Jenna, looking at the blank screens. It seems we have unwanted visitors responded Bravos, to say it mildly. For the moment we are totally locked down and safe, but I want all personal armed and commed up, whatever is coming our way we will be ready for. The aerial bombardment seems to have finished, let’s get some surveillance drones up and see what we are dealing with.

Copy responded Chavez and headed for the terminal preferring to use input commands to the system rather than voice. The drones launched from a cammoflaged hardened launch bay hidden in the mountain overlooking the Martian valley in which the base entrance and support facilities lay. The two state of the art predator drones had full cloaking capability and full spectrum surveillance package as well as laser offensive capacity. what ever was up there would be fully visable to everyone safely hunkered down very soon.

Two holographic images one from each of the drones lit up above the projection table to reveal two ships each half a km in diameter in orbit over the planet and presently disgorging a small armada of landing vehicles. These guys weren’t, just on a hit and run mission, it looks like they intend to stay a while. Chavez had the drones hover at a safe vantage point, the only eyes they had now they needed to be kept safe. What are we going to do boss said Captain Jenna it won’t take them long to find the lift’s and the blast doors will keep them out for a while but something tells me these guys will want in. We got a distress call out just as the bombardment took out the comms antennae, where on our own though no support ships anywhere in this sector. We have a hundred personnel on base lets divide up into three teams. Chavez take twenty personnel and whatever heavy shoulder launched ordinance you can carry and use the back door up into the predator launch bay and start chipping away at some of our visitors. Jenna take a team up and weld those blast doors shut from the inside and set up some surprises for if they get in. Copy Boss both replied and headed off to plan their tasks.

Bravos continued to watch the drone feed, so far 10, what looked like scout ships now seemed to be on a search and destroy mission of anything still standing untouched on the surface. Which didn’t look to be much. He expected a landing force any time now. It will be interesting to see for himself what these invaders looked like.

Chavez gathered a twenty strong team all completely armoured and tooled up and via the underground maglift system exited the facility a km away from the main base high up in the mountains which had a great strategic view of the valley below. Sgt Leroy and two other team members pealed off from the maingroup and began the task of installing detonation charges to be triggered remotely in the event of a hostile incursion stopping any backdoor egress via the maglift they had just arrived on. Then act as a rear guard.

Chavez split the remaining team up into 4 units each member connected with encrypted comms armed with personal weapons , one of which was a extremely high powered sniper riffle carried by an expert marksman. Also each unit carried a shoulder launched missile system. From up here they could take out anything approaching the main access lifts.

Chavez watched the 5 craft as they skimmed the surface in all directions they seemed to be concentrating on the ground and so far had not ventured to their position. Of course this would change as soon as they engaged, which he had no intention of until they landed. So for the moment the teams sat, watched and waited.

Captain Jenna and a team of engineers were at that moment welding the main entrance doors shut. Which probably wouldn’t slow any one down too long with the right gear but once they did get through her demo crew were setting up some nasty surprises in the access tunnel between the outer doors and the inner ones. A kill zone any medieval fort would be proud of. Jenna was somewhat of a history nut when it came to ancient military tactics and stories, especially those pertaining to medieval battles and fortifications and the Japanese Shinobi Ninja techniques. Bravoz was quite aware of her interests in these areas, one of the reasons she was chosen as his security chief.

Jenna had worked incredibly hard to gain the position she now held . Not everyone was cut out to be a security officer for space force living 24/7 on planetary rotation .

Her parents had both been educators . Her mother a biology and science major and her father a history professor. She grew up with a diverse pathway to absorb information critically and loved history. Martial arts had been a part of her life from childhood , her father her sensi. A master of both sword and mixed arts had initiated her into the path of shadows. She was quite the assassin as many a jock had found out during her college and academy years. She had both a mental and physical flexibility which could be adapted to all situations, and that mind was now being utilised to set a siege defense strategy in place for mars base Prometheus.

On the ridge overlooking the base Chavez and his team were watching the first of the landers touching down.

Overwatch to base over

Base Receiving , what is your status.

We are in position watching the first lander touch down at the lift entry about to engage . Over.

Copy , Happy hunting. Out

Chavez gave the signal as the second lander touched down and two shoulder launched missiles streaked down into the valley from above just as the first landing party appeared from the landers completely destroying both craft and scattering the intruders. There was no movement. Well, that was a good start as he keyed his radio. Shift positions and reload we can expect a reply in short measure.