The Cross of Mithras Vol. 1: EOD Operation Welcome to Hell Read Online Free Page B

Although their mission is quite simple; ferry the cargo to Roscadia, and then to Golden Hyperion, the cargo was too valuable to leave in the hands of amateurs. Neither Project 21, nor any of the governments that was secretly sponsoring the mission, wanted to take any chances. And when the crew of Galactic Prime thinks about the fact that they need to take the cargo to Golden Hyperion, it scares the hell out of them. For that cargo is Project 21 Task Force ZH-3C which is commanded by Captain Vaistll Adnrwal.
      Neither Mad Dawg nor anyone else on his crew will ever forget the first and only time, that they encountered the EOD. The EOD wanted a secret research facility that Mad Dawg had to protect. The EOD built four bases and choked off access in or out of Mad Dawg’s base. Although he was both surrounded and outnumbered, he told everybody on the base that, ‘I’ve already won. They just don’t know it yet.’ Sometime later, the EOD sent in their first wave of assault. That wave wiped out most of the base; it destroyed both the airfield and the Command Center. Mad Dawg for the first time in his career came within an ace of being wiped out of existence. After the assault was over some of the scientists went around saying, ‘Look like ol’ Mad Dawg Burton, is a hurtin’.’
      For Mad Dawg he had to hold out until reinforcements arrived, but that was easier said than done. The EOD forces just kept on coming from all directions. There where times in which they didn’t, but it was short. When reinforcements did arrive, it was not enough. He only got a few gunships and the ability to rebuild part of his base. But the only part that he could rebuild was his defenses. He builds his defenses up and the EOD promptly destroys them. He rebuilds them and they destroy them yet again. It created some type of a vicious cycle. He knew that the only way to survive is to go on the offense. But the only way that he could do that is to use his gunships, but he needed them to defend the base. Finally out of desperation he sent his gunships to attack one of the EOD bases. They destroyed half of the base including the Command Center, but they had to high tail it out of there when the EOD started to overrun Mad Dawg’s base. Mad Dawg came so close to being beaten that he’d broke down and cried when he saw those gunships returning. After that he used them both in an offensive and defensive manner, and eventually won the day. But it came at a high price. Over 400 Marines lost their lives as well as 1,360 EOD personnel. What saved Mad Dawg on that day were those gunships and the fact that the EOD did not have an airfield. The EOD proved a very painful point on that day to people like Mad Dawg. They are experts at putting you in your place.
      Could anyone blame them for feeling the way that they do? Not wishing to confront the EOD ever again. No of course not. But it did put the whole crew on edge in knowing that they are going to an EOD stronghold. It was what the EOD did to them on that day, plus the pain of losing so many of their friends that was causing them to feel that way. They were afraid of what the EOD might do to them all over again. They were afraid of losing more of their friends. But none of them would dare ruin their reputation by backing out of the mission. Besides, maybe they could get some payback, or at least watch somebody else do it for them.
      “Open a channel.” Mad Dawg said to the Communication Officer.
      “Channel open sir.”
      “This is the spaceship Galactic Prime and we are requesting docking clearance,” Mad Dawg said as one of his crewmen downloaded the spaceship clearance codes.
      “One moment please as we confirm your clearance to dock,” the female voice said which sounded like it was automated.
      “You have clearance to dock at Port 14.”
      “Understood. Take us in Johnson I’m going to see if our guests are awake yet,” Mad Dawg said as he got up to leave.
      “Copy that.”