Welcome to Gaia! ::

CHAPTER ONE
"Damn... you said they were only SEVEN AND A HALF feet tall!"
Sergeant Michel's Reaction When He Saw a Female Predator

After the engagements at the Sector Tango Romeo, a small desert planet teeming with large monstrous creatures and huge ominous canyons, the Twentieth Armored Division arrived and established a heavily armed garrison there. The Division had approximately 50 M3-A2 Heavy Tanks, 100 light armored reconnaissance patrol vehicles or LARPV, 30 self-propelled artillery pieces, 40 amphibious transports, and 15 heavily armed rocket carriers capable of SAM ability, and not to mention air/space support and barrage. If they needed re-enforcements, then several LAT-50 Airborne light tanks will be dropped from high altitude, while landing craft containing the M10 heavy land raider assault vehicles landed in a secure LZ (landing zone). The Division was renown for its ability to be both flexible for blitzkrieg, and stiff for just blowing the place to hell. The Division's Command Position was transferred to Maynard as he was promoted to Brigadier General for his ability to deal with hostile unknown forces in STR and to bring one back alive.


"Zero five hundred hours right about...now!" said Gunnery Sergeant Highway signaling when the first recon of an unexplored canyon area located twenty clicks north-northeast to the fortress would begin.
"Sergeants, move your vehicles out, follow my lead. Ten yard spread double columns. MOVE OUT!"
There are six M3-A2s in this patrol. Normally they would send in the LARPVs to recon the area, but limited satellites reveal that unknown alien vessels have landed in a clearing in the mountains. The team would have aerospace barrage support if needed, but further re-enforcements would be impossible and risky. So that's why they are sending a squad of "heavies" to patrol.
"Remember, commanders that were are to use deadly force as I see fit. The aliens that we may encounter have been known to kill humans for sport, but don't be afraid. Simply show the amount of firepower you posses and give them the lines y'all have been instructed to say, and they hopefully will cooperate; that is saying that you encounter anything. " Announced Maynard over the comm.
The squad moved out. They ran through a series of passes and valleys to the coordinates. The terrain was generally arid, sort of like the plains of Russia, with large grass steppes, and massive rock formations. It sort of brings back a sense of a peaceful summer afternoon in Texas. The squad stopped 20 miles from location to eat breakfast.
"So X MAN (the nickname given to Lance Corporal Xavier), did you hear about that one time my friend ran into these things that were about to encounter?" Asked Highway
"Nope, can't say I have!" replied Xavier
"Well, I'll tell you all about it, then. The things that were dealing against are what we call Predators. Even the Predators consider themselves that. They think they are, from people who have experienced their culture, the bad-asses of the universe. They stand on average about 2 or more meters tall. I've even heard the females are larger than the males. Their skin is yellow, green, brown, white, or a mixture of and molted with speckles. The faces are distinguishable by for large mandibles that have a tusk on the end, the two lower ones run vertical as the top two run horizontal. Below is their pink mouth with a few sharp teeth. Their hair is thick, kinda like dread locks that are twisted and have metal ringlets all over them. The hands and feet have sharp talons. And the two most distinguishing feature in my opinion that will save your life is that their blood is a glowing green that you can see in the dark. Second, I think they can see more than one type of light with their masks on. Other than all that, that's all I know."
"How do they reproduce, if they have eggs like the bugs do, well then we can get an edge that way." Stated PFC McClane
"They reproduce the same ways as us. s**t, I even heard that the females can even throw their mate during sex." Chuckled Highway
"Where did they come from?" questioned McClane
"For all I know they been out in this region for centuries. I hope we find their home worlds, and fast!"
"And fast? Why?" asked Xavier
"Because if we go to war with these guys, I want to be the first to hit their soil." Stated Highway


After they got done eating, the columns moved out. They had gone a total of six hours five minutes when the lead tank reported in
"Unknown at eleven o' clock sir!"
"Stay on course sergeant!" said Highway in a commanding tone
The Predator jumped off the ridge and landed on the lead tank. The crew in the turret heard the boom of him landing.
"All vehicles halt!" said Highway
The squad halted. The Predator that was on the tank had its invisibility on. It crouched down and looked at the massive armored vehicles the humans were driving. It just stood there, looking at the patrol
"What do we do sir?" asked the Lead Tank Commander
"Just a minute sergeant." Spoke Highway consulting his standing orders from the consol. It read:
1. Engage only when threatened.
2. Preferably Diplomacy to Hostility
3. Be hospitable, even if it is a pain in the a**.
"Try going up on top for a conversation. If he tries anything bad we'll clean him off for you with the ripper guns." Said Highway in a reassuring manner.
The hatch made a small creaking noise, and then the sergeant opened the hatch slightly and slowly, trying not to make any sudden moves that would provoke the creature. He opened it enough to see the Predators invisible outline. Then it turned the invisibility off, its massive brown feet in front of the sergeant's face. He slowly continued to open the hatch until he his head was completely uncovered. He slowly stood up, stopping when his upper torso was out. The creature just stood there. It looked at him with a mask on its face.
"Uh sir, it's just looking at me."
" I'll do something that will make you feel better. But you need to get out of the turret have a chit chat with him." Said Highway
The sergeant looked at the other tanks. They main turrets rotated until they pointed at the Predator. Then the commanders of each tank popped out of the turret and manned the .60 HMG. They aimed them at the Predator. It looked around to see the commotion. The sergeant placed his arms on the edge and pushed himself to where he was sitting on the top of the turret and on the edge of the hatch. The Predator slowly moved over to the hatch and looked inside. The crewmembers all looked behind their shoulders to the alien taking a peek.
"Sir I think it might want a ride." Said the Sergeant
"Let it sit inside the turret, to the left of the breach were there is extra room." Said Highway
The sergeant then pulled the rest of his body out of the tank, and held his hand out, pointing inside the tank. He motioned the Predator to get in. It looked at him, looked back at the others, and then slowly tried to get in.


He sat in an observation seat inside the turret to the left of the breach. His legs were too long, so the loader pulled the seat all the way down, as if someone was going to layback. It sat at the upper chest area of the seat with its legs moderately bent. The loader motioned it to use the periscope to look outside with. The sergeant sat directly behind him in an elevated chair.
"Alright, keep on toward the objective. Remember, we want to take them all with us like that one we just picked up, so no itchy trigger fingers." Said Highway over the comm.
The gunner leaned over and lightly tapped the Predator on the shoulder. It looked at him as he pointed to his eyes, and then at the periscope. It looked at the scope, then placed it's eyes where they were supposed to go. The gunner tapped his shoulder one more time. The Predator looked at him.
"Close your ears." Said the gunner, putting his hands over his ears.
The Predator seemingly understood, as he put his hands over his ears as he looked through the periscope. At platoon of 30 xenomorphs appeared on the ridge. Deciding then to practice their main armaments, the loaders loaded an HE shell into their 210mm main guns. The gunner rotated the turret toward the swarm, and awaited the order.
"FIRE AT WILL!" ordered Highway


The whole tank shook briefly but violently, as huge orange streaks flew at the swarm. First there was a group as bugs, and then there was a huge dust cloud and fireball. Two of the bugs actually managed to make it out alive, with enough aggression to still charge the tanks. The machine gunners all opened up, leaving giant acid splats in the ground. What was left of the group were several smoking craters, no acid left! The Predator looked over to the loader, who pulled the switch that opened the breach. A giant smoking shell casing flew out and into the auto-eject. The gunner slid over toward the Predator and signaled him if he wanted to try. The Predator took his hands off his ears, and then crawled over to the gunner position. He kept his thumb near the trigger button, and did the same motion as before with the eyes. It hunched forward and took a look as it aimed at the area where the previous shots were fired and pressed the button, but nothing happened! The gunner tapped his shoulder and signaled him to wait. The Predator looked at the loader. The loader grabbed another HE round and loaded it into the chamber, flipping the switch that closes the breach, then giving the thumbs up sign for all go. Responding with his own thumbs up, the gunner then patted the shoulder and took off is headset's earmuffs. He gave it to the Predator, which kind of knew by now what to expect. He slid them over his own ears and looked at the gunner. The gunner gave him thumbs up, which guessed that that meant OK. He peered threw the sights and pressed the button. BOOM! A giant concussion moved through the tank, making it rock back. The shell flew and hit the same spot where the rest of them hit. It made a large flame followed by a lot of dirt.
"Heh heh heh." Said the Predator through the mask. It mandibles clacked as he said that.
"Bugs sir," the gunner spoke to Highway through the radio, "What the hell are bugs doing here?"
"I can answer that, the Predator supposedly release bugs into the wild so that they may form a hive. The Preds then hunt the hive." Highway replied


The Squad moved stopped for lunch. They had been taking it slow and cautious the entire way. All the crews sat on top their tanks with their MREs in their hands. Happily eating and joking in the spare time they had. The sergeant sat by the Predator, who was looking down at his scars he had on hands. He looked up see the sergeant offering him a stick of beef jerky. The Predator took the stick, set it on his leg, and then pulled out an air hose that was connected to his mask. Highway walked over to see the guest as he was dissembling it. Highway sat in front of the Predator and watched as it took off its mask. Its face was brown and speckled, like the rest of its body. Its mandibles twitching slightly. Highway stared at its yellowish-tented eyes, which were shrouded by the bowl head. It looked down at the piece of jerky, picked it up, and took a large bite. Highway walked and scooted in front of the Predator, Predator wasn't paying attention.
"I believe we haven't been properly introduced, I'm Gunnery Sergeant Highway." Said Highway
The Predator looked at him and said nothing. It only continued to stare. The gunny remembers that what Maynard had instructed him to do, which was point at him and say his name slow. That was one way to start talking.
The gunny pointed at himself and said "Gunny", Gunn-eee"
The Predator finished the last bite of the jerky, swallowed, and then sat Indian style on the tank. Made a clicking noise in his throat, then tried to say the gunny's name "gunnee".
"That's right, I'm Highway. Now what's your name?" Highway pointed at him.
The Predator replied in a chirpish tone "Na'rik-de"
"Well now that we are introduced Nareekday, where are you from here on this planet?" Highway asked as he motioned at his comrades as a whole, and pointed toward the south where the Fort was. He then pointed to Na'rik-de, who pointed off to the north.
"Oh good then we are going that direction anyways." Said Highway


Ten minutes later the column was moving again, this time they were following a ridge that snaked along a large river. Na'rik-de was sitting in the commander's seat in Highway's tank this time. He was looking out and pointing the way to a place only he seemed to know at the time. The column drove on for about thirty minutes when they came to a large clearing in the ridge. There was a large and sparkling lake; one of those kinds that seem like a mirage seen by a parched man in the desert. There were several desert trees, all shaped like palm trees. Blossoming and blooming with brilliant red and blue fruits that hung at the top near the bright green leaves. However, through all these natural beauties lied something that the Marines did not expect to find; a village!

"Holy s**t!" said Highway
The village consisted of twelve medium sized structures of varying heights and sizes, all made of scrap metal, wood and rock. What was even more surprising and unexpected was the inhabitants. They are all Predator! As the column drove in to the village, Na'rik-de hopped out of the cockpit of the tank and stood on top of the turret.
" All vehicles halt!" ordered Highway
All the tanks halted fifty yards from the nearest structure. Highway's command tank continued to slowly drive in toward what appeared to be the town square. Several smaller Predator children suddenly ran to see the giant human vehicle driving through the town. The tank stopped dead when it was in the middle of the opening. Na'rik-de hopped of the tank and was greeted by all the Predator youth. The Predator youth were all mainly either yellow-green or light brown. They all varied in heights from four foot to six and were a mix of male and females. They all surrounded Na'rik-de and started to openly communicate in their own language. It sounded like a large mix of gurgling words and chirps that were unrecognizable to the tankers.
Highway got halfway out of the tank when he saw three taller figures walking toward him. Two were the same size, and the third a solid foot taller than the others. Highway watched them as they approached him. None of them had masks on, their crab faces showing. The tallest one had from what Highway could see; a blue cloth covering what were probably breasts. He guessed that one was female, as it was also larger than the males. The female was lighter in color, and had a "not so mean" looking face as compared to the males. Highway radioed in to the other tanks.
"Highway to squad, turn your engines off."
The tanks all turned their engines off one after another, until only the children and commotion of the crowd could be heard. Highway looked at the trio that stood before him. He got all the way out of the turret, and sat on the edge of the tank. His head was dead even with the females.


"Uh, hi!" said Highway in an unsure manner.
"Welcome ooman, we have been expecting your arrival!" she said......IN ENGLISH!!
Highway was deeply perplexed and bewildered as to how, or why, a Predator could speak in English like that, but with an accent that wasn't too far off from theirs.
As Highway tried to hop off the tank, Ke'sar'di extended her arm and gently helped him off. She stood a staggering three feet taller than him. He looked up at her pale brown face, her red and gold eyes staring down. Like a gigantic guardian. She placed a hand on his shoulder and motioned him to start walking toward the largest structure in the village. He looks back at the other tanks. The crews were stretching their cramped muscles and walking about. The ones in Highways tank walked over to the Predator youth, who were, by now, going about on their business of playing, practicing etc. The men were meeting these youth. The youth stood maybe only a foot shorter than the tankers. Highway almost started to zone out, (the sight of the village, the children, they all seemed very serene, peaceful, almost like back home on Earth) when he heard Ke'sar'di's deep voice raise.
"This way, ooman." She said.
She led him to from what Highway could figure, a meeting room. The interior was dark and overly warm with a large table in the center with several stools surrounding. Sitting on these stools were six older male Predators. Their faces looked much more aged, more natural body designs on their heads. They all had metal ringlets in their hair, and several bore scars. All of them made chirping noises and clicking noises as the gunny walked in. One Predator stood and spoke.
"Grreeatingss ooman!" said the elder Predator
"This one appears to be the leader." Said Ke'sar'di leaving her hand on Highway's shoulder. The standing one looked at the others, who spoke with a gurgling sound mixed with alien words. All six of them nodded.


"Yoouu are leader?" asked the elder. His English seemed very basic
"Uhh, yes. I am the err...leader of those men outside." Replied Highway somewhat nervously trying to speak as simple as he could.
The elder again looked at the others. They chattered amongst themselves and then again nodded their heads at the one that was standing.
"What your name?" the elder asked
"Gunnery Sergeant Michael S. Highway." He replied. The elder looked perplexed, his mandibles twitching and clattering together.
"Errr... Gunny." Said Highway
"Guneee!" barked the elder
"What's your name?" asked Highway
The elder paused for a moment, looked down, looked up and then gave an answer.
"Le'ken'di." Replied the elder
"Uhh, it's a pleasure to meet you...whatever your name is." Said Highway
"Our village requires your assistance, my elder can explain better!" said Ke'sar'di in an urgent manner
"Help?"
"Yess!" replied Le'ken'di
"Whoa, first things first, how the hell did the bunch of you end up making a town on this barren rock?" he raised
"Many years ago, our ship crashed." Explained Ke'sar'di "Very few survived."
"Okay, go on."
"Other packs would not come for help, so we adapted and lived here." She explained "We raised our families to live here."
"But according to our records, another pack DID arrive, we encountered a group of xenomorphs outside your village"
"Oh those..."Ke'sar'di started, "Those escaped the holding cells in our ship when it crashed. I'm quite surprised that they haven't started a hive yet."
"But what I'm so curious is why you didn't ask for our help? Our kind more often than not helps those who ask politely." Highway states
"It part of code!" barked one of the elders back at him
"And how did your group here learn our language so damn well?" he asked raising one eyebrow.
"The honor for that would go to Ke'sar'di. She lived with your kind for many years." Explained Le'ken'di
"Cool...anyways, now that I'm more enlightened about your village we can get down to some business." He said
"Your team would be needed to help." Stated Ke'sar'di
"What sort of help do you need?" He replied
"Another race similar to yours is systematically killing off all of our males, those worthless PAUKS even killed some of my children!" Le'ken'di growled
"Are they human?" Highway asked
"Not ooman." Said Le'ken'di
"And they are killing your kind?"
"That's right." Said Ke'sar'di
"Hmmmm..." Highway put took his helmet off and scratched his buzzed blonde hair as he look at the ground. "And they can't be bugs?"
"What?" asked Le'ken'di. He looked at him perplexed. Titling his head to the side.
"You know, the ones that bite and claw."
"Mo kainde amedha." Barked the elder next to Le'ken'di
Highway stood for a minute while considering.
"Ok, sure, what do you need of me?" he asked
"More of your warriorss to guard the younglingss." Said Le'ken'di
"Uhhh...Ok, I guess I could either take them back to the base." Suggested Highway
"No take them away from here. They need our blooded warrior protection!" said Le'ken'di getting impatient
Highway looked down at the ground again, and scratched his shaved head.
"Well, the way I see it, you've got two options."
"Go on."
"I could take your children back with me to the fortress, which is heavily defended on all sides by large guns, and crack internal security teams. It has the fleet backing it up for support. That's one option."


Le'ken'di growled. He started to walk over toward Highway. Highway started to feel some sweat roll down his cheek. The elder looked immensely strong, and pissed.
"Or we could establish a field post here. Setting up guard towers on all flanks of the village. Daily around the clock patrol followed by construction of large walls of the surrounding terrain."
Le'ken'di stopped right in front of the gunny. He stood two feet taller than the man. He looked at Ke'sar'di and spoke.
"I don't want more my sucklingss to thei-de." Said Le'ken'di
"That's what I was keeping in mind when I gave those options." Responded Highway in a more serious, laying-down-the-rules tone.
Le'ken'di looked at Ke'sar'di, growled and then walked back to his chair at the table. Ke'sar'di glanced at him, and then knelt in front of Highway, she placed her hand on shoulder.
"I have three younglings, I don't want any to die!" she spoke with urgency in voice and her eyes piercing into Highways own.
"I realize that, and I'm merely giving my suggestion. I would send them with us. They would be more than well cared for at the fortress heavily defended on all sides and guarded by crack security teams." Highway assured.
"They will be safe?" asked Ke'sar'di
"Trust me, they will be with the Marines." reassured Highway in a righteous tone.
She smiled, top mandibles flaring wide. She stood, faced the consul of six and spoke.
"Our youth shall travel with the oomans."


"Man, these little youngster Predators are alright!" spoke Xavier
X-Man sat down on the ground next to a younger Predator. Its skin a yellow greenish, a few lightly speckled section here and there on his body.
"Hey little fella, want look inside the tank?" asked X-Man
The little Predator just stared in amazement at the tall human. Even though he only stood one foot above him. The creature's bottom mandibles were flaring as the top was resting. X-Man pointed at the tank, and then motioned for the young Predator to follow. It eagerly and closely followed him, obviously fascinated by him and the equipment. X-Man climbed on the tank, and signaled for the youngling to follow. It sprang up and landed next to him without effort!
"Hey, that's a neat trick!" said Xavier
X-Man opened the hatch, and pointed in. The Predator peeked its bowl head in and looked around, making a clicking noise with its throat that was higher pitched than the parents.
"Go on in." Xavier said
He put his hand on the young Predator's green and mottled back and gently helped him inside.