Tenzin signaled his pentad to take up positions around the entryway before continuing the last couple of metres. Reaching out his gauntleted fist, Tenzin knocked on the massive door. The resounding booms filled the air, echoing in his ears for a moment before fading to utter silence. As the seconds ticked by, Tenzin looked impatiently at the video camera observing them.
Where are they? he thought. He knocked again, harder and longer, but no one spoke to them through the bunkers’ intercom.
“Maybe no one’s home?” Harry joked. Bill and William both chuckled nervously, but Tenzin just grimaced. His ‘sixth sense’ as Jane loved to call it, was itching at the back of his mind like a swarm of ants.
Viktor’s voice crackled over his com system. “Droogan, perhaps they think we are the enemy.”
Tenzin doubted it, but it sure beat the alternative he was imagining. “I pray you’re right.”
Addressing the watching video camera, Tenzin raised the volume on his suit’s external speaker to max. “Citizens of Arkjut! This is Captain Tenzin Dorje of Aegis’ Keleres. Please respond!”
When the silence continued, Tenzin was sure that something was wrong. He had personally met many of the townspeople when they’d visited before. At least someone would recognize the name of the soldiers who’d saved them. The burning swarm at the back of his mind intensified. He needed to get inside the bunker immediately.
“Richard, get over here!” he called thru the com system. The stocky sniper and detonation specialist hurried over from his post by Jorge. “What are the odds you can blast this door open?”
Richard pulled out a portable scanner from his pack and placed it over the door. He whistled softly and gently caressed the door with his fingers. “Not a chance, boss. Not unless you don’t mind if I fry any civilians who might be inside. Glaucus engineers really know how to build a bunker.”
Tenzin nodded at the man and waved him back to his post. Eyeing the door, Tenzin tried to brainstorm ideas. His thoughts were interrupted after a moment by a quiet whisper from behind him.
“Maybe it’s unlocked?” said Marcus.
Harry and Bill laughed, but Tenzin turned to Marcus and eyed him thoughtfully. “It’s worth a shot.”
With eyes closed, praying that the doors wouldn’t open, Tenzin grabbed the steel handle and pulled. The giant metal doors swung open silently on well-greased hinges. The men in his pentad all inhaled in surprise, causing them to get a full mouthful of hot, rank air. The room was full of corpses.
Marcus had to take off their helmets to retch, but the more experienced Keleres looked on, their anger clearly showing on their faces. They had all killed their fair share of men before, but never like this. Never civilians.
Ordering his men to stay outside, Tenzin entered the bunker, searching for survivors. “Jorge, get over here. We need a medic.”
As he looked down at the familiar sight of death, the women with babes in arms, the grey-haired citizens lying next to the children, Tenzin felt a sense of recognition. Tenzin quickly let his anger fill him, blocking out the sadness and the memories with his burning rage.
“Those raider bastards!” he burst out, not caring how it sounded to his men. He needed the fire. “They corralled all the townsfolk in and slaughtered them like animals.”
“O Dios mío,” murmured Jorge from the entryway. “Capitán, you need to see this.”
Sorry I hadn’t updated this for a while. I’m getting back on track.