Chapter 12

Janus 2.0

The drone had just shoved me into the Pod. I looked around for the release to the hatch, and the warning light for launch started flashing. I quickly strapped myself in as I felt the acceleration and I was lifted out of my seat as the pod started falling. Holding onto the harness, I tried to reach the console of the pod to contact the ship before I hit the atmosphere. It was too far, I couldn't reach it, I felt for the first time what must be anger. I had no idea what Janus was going to do now, I felt the pod shake as it went through the atmosphere andI watched the monitor as the countdown for impact started flashing. I was a ship A.I. I wasn't designed for this, I shut my eyes and brased myself as the countdown reached zero, the impact was surprisingly minimal as the pod was slowed by the landing thrusters.

I released my harness, looking around I took stock of my supplies; every equipment was made for the smaller female recon Golem. I put on the armor, a fully self contained suit with reactive camo. Once I had it on I put on the small supply backpack, I picked up the silenced subsonic rifle that fired magnetically accelerated projectiles at sub-sonic speeds, the shells it fired had a variety of payloads they could carry, and it could be dialed up to faster velocities for longer shots. I triggered the hatches explosive bolts, and the hatch fell away from the pod with a thud. The hatch opening must have triggered the pre-recorded message in my armors H.U.D.

"Janus, I am sorry for not discussing this with you. You are me, so I know you would of course have argued, but I didn't have the time to argue with you. I am going to try and take out the portal on my own; as your last order authorized me to use any means possible to stop them."

I frowned at that.

"Janus your mission will be as follows, I am dropping more pods full of weapons as I head north to the complex, they will be coded for either you or Jacob to open, I will also be dropping some of the land vehicles several km north of your position, you are to organize a resistance in case of my failure. If you are thinking of contacting me in order to alter my orders; I have already taken the liberty of denying you that privilege when you gave me the last one."

"And Janus, be there for Jacob, good Luck"

The message ended, I mumbled about my own stubbornness as I climbed out of the pod, and I dove to the ground, I looked down on myself and as my camo activated I could see through myself now, the armor making me invisible to all but the most advanced sensors. I then scanned my surroundings. The pod had come down in the middle of an open plane, as I looked around several indicators started popping up on my screen. The weapon drops Janus had been talking about, I saw them popping up in a trail heading north, she was on her way toward the base., If I could get to the vehicles and find Jacob, I might be able to assist in the attack depending on how long it lasted. I took off in a sprint toward the first ammo drop.

As I was running, I saw movement on my sensors, I slowed and dropped down scanning the horizon, I saw in the distance something large moving across the field.

"What is that?" I said out loud.

I raised my rife, which had a more advanced dedicated sensor system, I zoomed in with the scope, what I saw was a giant spider, it was walking purposefully toward my location. I glanced over my shoulder and could see the column of smoke from my pod.