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Authors: Marshall S. Thomas
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fighting the O's. It would be twice as hard if we had to take on the Systies as well. The mission was looking worse and worse.
Chapter 5
Deadman's Cause
"That's where we're headed, gang—right into those mountains." Snow Leopard lowered the spotter. We looked down into a shallow valley, thick trees growing in swampy land at the bottom, then low rolling hills dotted with trees, the land rising gently, more hills, then the mountains, a great range of worn red stone, massive slabs of rock stretching to the horizon, fading to a dark blue, then a pale shadow. Uldo's sun rose blood red behind the mountains in a dark, smoky sky. A golden haze touched the horizon beyond the mountains, fading to pink and violet. A luminous sky, darkening to blue and purple. Black clouds streaked overhead and lightning flashed every few moments. I knew it was deceptors—half the planet's atmosphere was charged, and our tacmaps were close to useless. But at least we knew we were safe as well.
"Looks like quite a walk, Snow Leopard," Dragon said. "How long will it take?"
"That depends on how fast we move," Snow Leopard replied.
"It's all in the open," Valkyrie said.
"Let's do it," Snow Leopard said. We set off, recon formation, down into the valley. Snow Leopard hadn't said anything, but I could tell from the tacmap where we were going. The original plan had been to follow the river up the valley to the jumping off point just south of the target. But we were taking another route now—east into the mountains, then out the other side. Snow Leopard probably planned to follow the foothills north on the other side and approach the target from the east. It would take at least another day—probably more. But I was certain Snow Leopard knew what he was doing. Our One was always right.
Strange tall trees rose all around us, creaking gently in a light breeze, topped by masses of slender pale green leaves. In the half-light of that dark dawn, the trees glowed phospho white. A faint mist fell from the sky, and the grassy earth was springy and resilient under our boots. Two pale birds glided overhead, calling to each other mournfully. A clap of thunder reverberated above us. It began to rain, hard.
"With luck, that swamp is going to flood," Psycho remarked.
"You always see the bright side, Psycho," I replied. "That's why we like you so much."
A flash of lightning lit up the sky.
"That's good," Merlin said. "Natural electrical activity is good for us. Makes us harder to spot."
"I can hardly believe this," Speedy said. "I thought we were going to walk the river. We'd be safer there."
"Have you ever walked into a DefCorps ambush, Fourteen?" It was Scrapper, Valkyrie's girl. She was normally quiet, no matter what.
"No—have you?"
"Yes! And I have no intention of doing it again. That DefCorps squad was probably looking for us. The river is suicide."
"But why should they be looking for us? We're all fighting the O's!"
"Speedy, the world isn't that simple," Dragon said. It was clear from his tone that he was getting tired of listening to Speedy's bitching. "The reason you're here is that you're replacing a member of our squad who was killed by the Systies in the first joint operation against the O's. I'd suggest you think about that and stop fighting the program."
Speedy shut down. The rain was icy cold and a fine mist rose from the wet ground. A faint whistling noise, a whisper in the air.
"ALERT! GENETIC ENERGY STRAND!" Sweety shrieked in my ears.
"Snakes! Fire!" It snapped in the air, dropping at us right out of the trees, genetic death, a long filmy snake-like strand of cells, barely visible, peppered with raindrops, cracking like a whip, wrapping itself around Speedy in a microfrac. He had only instants to live.
Speedy erupted in flame, burning like a star. Dragon and I had him, our E's on flame, spearing him like a bug on a pin. Great bursts of flame rushed over him, exploding, his A-suit spitting fire, the snake burning like paper,
Chapter 5
Deadman's Cause
"That's where we're headed, gang—right into those mountains." Snow Leopard lowered the spotter. We looked down into a shallow valley, thick trees growing in swampy land at the bottom, then low rolling hills dotted with trees, the land rising gently, more hills, then the mountains, a great range of worn red stone, massive slabs of rock stretching to the horizon, fading to a dark blue, then a pale shadow. Uldo's sun rose blood red behind the mountains in a dark, smoky sky. A golden haze touched the horizon beyond the mountains, fading to pink and violet. A luminous sky, darkening to blue and purple. Black clouds streaked overhead and lightning flashed every few moments. I knew it was deceptors—half the planet's atmosphere was charged, and our tacmaps were close to useless. But at least we knew we were safe as well.
"Looks like quite a walk, Snow Leopard," Dragon said. "How long will it take?"
"That depends on how fast we move," Snow Leopard replied.
"It's all in the open," Valkyrie said.
"Let's do it," Snow Leopard said. We set off, recon formation, down into the valley. Snow Leopard hadn't said anything, but I could tell from the tacmap where we were going. The original plan had been to follow the river up the valley to the jumping off point just south of the target. But we were taking another route now—east into the mountains, then out the other side. Snow Leopard probably planned to follow the foothills north on the other side and approach the target from the east. It would take at least another day—probably more. But I was certain Snow Leopard knew what he was doing. Our One was always right.
Strange tall trees rose all around us, creaking gently in a light breeze, topped by masses of slender pale green leaves. In the half-light of that dark dawn, the trees glowed phospho white. A faint mist fell from the sky, and the grassy earth was springy and resilient under our boots. Two pale birds glided overhead, calling to each other mournfully. A clap of thunder reverberated above us. It began to rain, hard.
"With luck, that swamp is going to flood," Psycho remarked.
"You always see the bright side, Psycho," I replied. "That's why we like you so much."
A flash of lightning lit up the sky.
"That's good," Merlin said. "Natural electrical activity is good for us. Makes us harder to spot."
"I can hardly believe this," Speedy said. "I thought we were going to walk the river. We'd be safer there."
"Have you ever walked into a DefCorps ambush, Fourteen?" It was Scrapper, Valkyrie's girl. She was normally quiet, no matter what.
"No—have you?"
"Yes! And I have no intention of doing it again. That DefCorps squad was probably looking for us. The river is suicide."
"But why should they be looking for us? We're all fighting the O's!"
"Speedy, the world isn't that simple," Dragon said. It was clear from his tone that he was getting tired of listening to Speedy's bitching. "The reason you're here is that you're replacing a member of our squad who was killed by the Systies in the first joint operation against the O's. I'd suggest you think about that and stop fighting the program."
Speedy shut down. The rain was icy cold and a fine mist rose from the wet ground. A faint whistling noise, a whisper in the air.
"ALERT! GENETIC ENERGY STRAND!" Sweety shrieked in my ears.
"Snakes! Fire!" It snapped in the air, dropping at us right out of the trees, genetic death, a long filmy snake-like strand of cells, barely visible, peppered with raindrops, cracking like a whip, wrapping itself around Speedy in a microfrac. He had only instants to live.
Speedy erupted in flame, burning like a star. Dragon and I had him, our E's on flame, spearing him like a bug on a pin. Great bursts of flame rushed over him, exploding, his A-suit spitting fire, the snake burning like paper,
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