[ IP ] Life of a Mercenary

The weight of the armor made his every step feel heavy. Marc and Avery were starting to get ahead of him. 
 
 `` Keep up Rookie!'' 
 
 Josh kicked his feet into a swifter movement, he could feel sweat beginning to form around his upper brow. The suit felt humid on this gas filled planet. The air was toxic, and therefore the perfect place for a wanted fugitive to hide out. For a moment, Josh looks at his heartbeat monitor on his helmet visor. A bright red message appears underneath the heart icon. *Stay Calm*. 
 
 `` Alright, this is it.'' Marc says as he wipes dirt and plant from a concrete slab. He uses the butt of his rifle to search for a hollow point in the exterior. Instead, he finds a door. 
 
 `` You think it's unlocked'' Asks Avery as he laughs into his headpiece, `` Josh, get the explosives ready.'' 
 
 Josh began to reach down toward his explosive pouch when he heard a click. 
 
 `` Yeah it's unlocked'' laughed Marc as he turned on a flashlight at the top of his helmet. Josh and Avery approached from his six o'clock, turning on their own flashlights as they scanned the dark corridor. 
 
 `` I think we should use night vision for this.. we do n't want to bring unwanted attention'' Avery remarked as he turned off his light and a whir began from his helmet as the night vision began to boot up. The other two followed their team leader's example. 
 
 The corridor led deep into the mountain side. Sonars picked up no movement, but Josh was sure that there was someone breathing down his neck. It must have been his own paranoia. 
 
 `` Rookie, you're vitals are showing excitement. Just relax.'' Avery's confident voice gave Josh hope, but he was still unsure of how this mission would play out. A gas planet, with an unlivable environment. Suits were constantly needed unless in a air-locked zone. It was not the type of planet that you want to have a gunfight on. A simple cut in a weak point in the armor could cause the skin to burn. Gas in the air would seep into the suit and suffocate the user. Josh had double checked his gear, then triple checked, just to make sure there were no leaks. The visor told him there were none, but he had to be sure. 
 
 They came out into the center of the circular mountain, a deep canyon with a large concrete facility. They had reached the hideout of the infamous traitor. Night vision began to turn off as the three stepped into the star's light. 
 
 `` Think the other team's are in position?'' Marc asked as he scanned the ridge line. Avery pulled up his rifle, looking through the scope and scanning the area where the other team should be located. 
 
 `` I think I see them.'' Avery patted Josh on the shoulder, he rose his own rifle to check where Avery was looking. Josh nodded, confirming to Marc. 
 
 `` Alright, we're gon na go in hot. Remember. We want him dead or alive, we get paid either way but it's more profitable if alive.'' Avery waved at the other two, bringing them into a straight line formation and moving up toward the concrete facility. No windows could be seen on the building, just solid concrete and loading dock symbols. No posted guards, just a maze on the inside that would be difficult to navigate. The team on the ridge line would pick off anyone who tried to run out alternate entrances. 
 
 `` Josh, you're gon na do fine.'' Marc patted Josh on the shoulder as they approached a curved wall, `` Set the charge.'' 
 
 Josh grabbed the small explosive device, placing it firmly onto the concrete wall. He pulled a lever down and pushed onto a red button. A LED light came on, confirming that the charge was armed. 
 
 `` We should stand back, you never know how the gas on this planet will react. Our suits can withstand a little fire, but I'd rather not sweat to death in here.'' 
 
 `` Ready?'' Josh asked. 
 
 `` Ready.'' 
 
 `` Do it.''
