Author's note: I intend to make this story rather long, so I'm open to any advice. Sorry if the first bit confuses you. I originaly wrote that in 1st person.

Chapter One

Galen regained consciousness in his sleeping quarters. Next to him he saw some broken shelves lying on the floor, with a small amount of dry blood on them. He staggered to his feet and looked at himself in the mirror. A trail of blood slid down the left hand side of Galen’s face. The shelves had hit him as they fell and knocked him out.

He quickly reached under his bunk for bandages and tied them round the top of his head. He looked around the room and realised it was a complete mess. Not a mess that would have been made deliberately, though.

The holorecorder began to bleep. Galen walked over to it and turned it on. It was a message from Administrator Michael Watson.

“Doctor Galen Yason, we need medics on floors nine to twelve. A fleet of Sakrill warships have entered the asteroid field and have launched an attack on just about all mining stations. We were among the first and the station is severely damaged. Get down here ASAP.”

‘That must be why the room is such a mess.’ Galen thought. ‘Torpedo shots must be shaking the station on impact.’

Galen grabbed his medical supplies, a B16 blaster pistol, and a gun holster. He then ran out the door in the direction of the turbo-lifts.

*****

The sound of metal bending and breaking echoed through the building. The Sakrill had entered the station.

Galen stood inside the turbo-lift as it went downward. All of a sudden the lift ground to a halt, then everything went silent.

Galen’s heartbeat sped up. The thought of the turbo-lifts being manually locked down sent a chill down his spine.

‘They can’t have,’ He thought. ‘The electrics are still on, but only the turbo-lifts aren’t working.’

He reached for the escape hatch in the ceiling. Turning the handle, he climbed out on top of the lift. It was dimly lit, but he could still see. What he didn’t see, though, was the brutal muscular Sakrill warrior stood behind him.

The warrior was certainly a terrifying sight. Two long blades up the backs of each forearm gave off the sent of human blood. The dark red eyes in its wrinkly grey face stared at him with a murderous intention. Facial tattoos and thick armour showed his rank as an elite infantry soldier. Scars littered its body, some recent and some old. The clawed feet gripped firmly on the roof of the turbo-lift. It clenched its fists, desperate for the flesh of this Human male.

Galen heard breathing. Not his own, but from the Sakrill warrior behind him. He slowly turned round to come face to face with the 7ft soldier.

The Sakrill grabbed him by the neck and pulled him close to its face. It growled fiercely as Galen began to choke. The warrior started to tighten its grip on Galen, yet he was smiling.

The warrior was curious by the expression on Galen’s face, however it quickly realised what was going on.

“I’m armed.” Galen choked.

He gently squeezed the trigger on his B16, and killed the Sakrill in one shot. Galen moved the hand away from his neck.

“Doctor Yason!”

Galen looked up. Three floors up stood a Human soldier, Pvt. Kris Miller.

“What happened to the turbo-lifts?” Galen asked.

A second soldier, Pvt. Nick Gardner, came into view.

“The Sakrill have infiltrated the station and are working their way up.” The second soldier said. “We have reason to believe they are on the same floor as you, which is why we locked down the turbo-lifts”

“You guys have anything I can use to get up there?” Galen asked.

The soldiers dropped a rope ladder. Galen climbed his way up to them.

Pvt. Miller threw a flash grenade down the shaft.

“That ought to hold them for a while.” He said.

“We need to make our way to the bridge.” Said Pvt. Gardner. “From there we can take a direct route to the hangars.”

The three of them walked away from the turbo lifts towards the stairs

As they approached the bridge they were met by deadlocked blast doors. The one place Administrator Watson was, and possibly the only safe route through to the hangars was behind these doors.

“How are we going to get in?” Asked Gardner. “Any ideas, you two?”

Galen pressed his ear up against the blast doors. Even though they were tough and effective against blaster shots, you could still hear sound coming through them if you listened carefully.

“What is it?” Asked Gardner.

“It’s silent.” Said Galen.

“What’s that got to do with anything?” Asked Miller.

Galen moved away from the doors and faced the soldiers.

“Don’t you find it odd that there is absolutely no sound coming through those doors? The faint sound of footsteps echoing across the bridge, or blasters?”

The soldiers realised what Galen was on about. It was strange to find that no sound was coming from the bridge.

“That security terminal,” Said Miller. “We need to know what’s happening in there.”

Galen entered the codes for the security cameras on the bridge. He got through, only to find the bridge empty. Terminals were undamaged, no bodies, no debris, nothing. Then he programmed the camera to turn left. As it turned he saw the windows and walls at the front of the bridge completely blown away. Everyone and everything that wasn’t attached to the floor had been sucked out into space.

“We can’t go through the bridge.” Said Galen. “The Sakrill have destroyed the front end from the outside.”

“What about space suits?” Asked Gardner. “If we put on some space suits we could easily walk across what’s left of the bridge.”

“Not likely.” Said Miller. “You see that ship?”

The other two looked closer and saw a predator class Sakrill warship close to the bridge.

“I get the feeling that if we go out there it’s going to fire at us.” Said Gardner.

“There’s only one thing for it, then.” Said Galen. “The Sakrill have probably got to this floor already, working their way up. What if we go down?”

“He’s right. It’s worth a try,” Said Miller. “But first we need some supplies.”

*****

Sgt. Louise Anderson ripped open a crate of ammunition and reloaded her gun.

The banging on the doors began to worry her. How much longer the crates she used to barricade the doors could hold back the Sakrill was uncertain. But what she did know, however, was that even if they broke through, she’d be ready for them. The banging stopped. A sigh of relief ensured her she wouldn’t have to fight these Sakrill soldiers.

All of a sudden, the door to her left burst open and five Sakrill marched in. These ones looked different to the one Galen had encountered. The blades on their arms were shorter, their armour was thinner, and fewer tattoos on their faces.

Two of the soldiers restrained her as the other three surrounded her.

“Is this the best you can do?” She asked audaciously.

Louise slammed her foot down on her B16 blaster rifle. The rifle fired at the leg of one of the Sakrill soldiers. Distracted by their screaming comrade, Louise freed herself from the first two Sakrill and ran out of the room with her guns and extra ammo clips.

She turned round and shot the remaining four. She then heard footsteps coming from the direction the Sakrill came from.

‘More of them!’ She thought. Without a doubt, she had to keep running.

Running as fast as she could, she came to the end of a corridor. She turned left and almost ran straight into Galen.

The three of them turned round in unison.

“Sarge?” Asked Miller.

“Follow your orders, next time!” Said Louise. “What are you doing down here anyway?”

Gardner stepped forward. “We’re after more ammunition for our guns.”

“Well I’ve got plenty on me, so why don’t we make our way to way to the hangars and not stand here for the Sakrill to get us?”

“Do you guys know each other?” Asked Galen.

“Yes, she’s our sergeant.” Said Gardner. “Now let’s get going. We haven’t got far to go now and the route to the hangars should still be clear of any Sakrill soldiers.”

“They’re following us! Let’s go!” Said Louise.

The four of them started to run again. This time, however, straight to the hangars. No detours.

Author's note: This first chapter was written to open up the story and introduce the first characters. Once I have the second chapter up, the story will get going.