Read Online Star Crusades Nexus: Book 05 - Prophecy of Fire by Michael G. Thomas - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Michael G. Thomas
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took a few moments before he could open them.
“It’s bad because if it had been working, it could have shot down our Medevac Hammerheads.”
“Yeah,” Callahan agreed, “this place wasn’t just an ambush site. It was here to get us to abandon our vehicles and encircle the place. When support came in, they’d hit our air cover and then finish off our people on the ground.”
Lieutenant Elvidge stepped out onto the balcony and noted the smashed stone and metal from the impact of the drone Jack had sent directly into the building. There were also the bodies of the Helions that had died in the battle itself. He could see the rest of the marines in the open ground helping their own wounded and continue checking for signs of any more insurgents. Off in the distance, the shapes of the Bulldogs were slightly obscured by the recent arrival of the Hammerheads and their small units of marines and medical teams. He turned around to look at the three marines.
“Great work today. You stopped the loss of our air units and even better, by taking these guys without a major firefight, we avoided setting off of these weapons.”
He pointed at the rockets lying broken on the ground. It hadn’t even occurred to him that the rolling fight with the insurgents might have triggered the devices. The idea of them exploding with him and his comrades made him retch, and it took all of his self-control to not throw up in his helmet.
“Okay, bag them. The engineers are going to come in and sweep the area.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Ship boarding actions became commonplace in the Great Uprising, and though no particular action stands out, there were over two hundred recorded operations conducted in the first year of the War alone. Many of the advantages of the marines, such as their superlative mobility, were lost. These actions proved to be some of the deadliest during the War and were instrumental in creating better armor and rapid firing weapons. The Alpha variant of the PDS armor and the L52 carbine both came out of experiences learned in these bloody boarding actions.
Great Battles of the Confederate Marine Corps
Teresa was in trouble, and that had nothing to do with the fact she was low on ammunition. The crash landing had killed every member of her platoon, and now she was the last marine left atop the snow covered Atoll. The burned wreckage of a crashed Marine Corps landing craft lay broken in three large sections. Around the spacecraft were scores of Biomech creatures of every shape and size. They hacked at the dead marines as if they expected them to jump to their feet at any time. One group had spotted her, and no sooner had one moved, and the rest were hurling toward her. She took aim and fired, each projectile killing one of the things with incredible precision.
Come on, die!
A dozen fell, yet more clambered over the bodies of their comrades and moved in for the kill. Her carbine seemed weak and ineffectual as she stepped back toward the edge. At this distance, she could see those at the front were identical to the beasts she had faced in the Uprising. As large as a bear, but grotesquely formed, she knew they were constructed from the shattered remains of human prisoners.
“Get back!” she screamed, but no sound left her mouth.
More of the smaller Biomechs swarmed like bugs, and she was forced to fire from the hip in a long burst that emptied her magazine. The weapon was now dry, and she hurled it at the nearest monster. The weapon struck the thing just a meter away, and again she moved back only to feel the edge of the Atoll. She glanced back and saw nothing but the great drop to nothingness.
No, not yet! I’m taking you with me.
She ripped out her knife from her side. It should have been a Marine issue combat blade, but inside it was long and curved, like the tooth from some monstrous beast. She looked at the object with fascination. It was smooth, yet the tip and edge seemed coated in a sharp layer of silver.
“It’s bad because if it had been working, it could have shot down our Medevac Hammerheads.”
“Yeah,” Callahan agreed, “this place wasn’t just an ambush site. It was here to get us to abandon our vehicles and encircle the place. When support came in, they’d hit our air cover and then finish off our people on the ground.”
Lieutenant Elvidge stepped out onto the balcony and noted the smashed stone and metal from the impact of the drone Jack had sent directly into the building. There were also the bodies of the Helions that had died in the battle itself. He could see the rest of the marines in the open ground helping their own wounded and continue checking for signs of any more insurgents. Off in the distance, the shapes of the Bulldogs were slightly obscured by the recent arrival of the Hammerheads and their small units of marines and medical teams. He turned around to look at the three marines.
“Great work today. You stopped the loss of our air units and even better, by taking these guys without a major firefight, we avoided setting off of these weapons.”
He pointed at the rockets lying broken on the ground. It hadn’t even occurred to him that the rolling fight with the insurgents might have triggered the devices. The idea of them exploding with him and his comrades made him retch, and it took all of his self-control to not throw up in his helmet.
“Okay, bag them. The engineers are going to come in and sweep the area.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Ship boarding actions became commonplace in the Great Uprising, and though no particular action stands out, there were over two hundred recorded operations conducted in the first year of the War alone. Many of the advantages of the marines, such as their superlative mobility, were lost. These actions proved to be some of the deadliest during the War and were instrumental in creating better armor and rapid firing weapons. The Alpha variant of the PDS armor and the L52 carbine both came out of experiences learned in these bloody boarding actions.
Great Battles of the Confederate Marine Corps
Teresa was in trouble, and that had nothing to do with the fact she was low on ammunition. The crash landing had killed every member of her platoon, and now she was the last marine left atop the snow covered Atoll. The burned wreckage of a crashed Marine Corps landing craft lay broken in three large sections. Around the spacecraft were scores of Biomech creatures of every shape and size. They hacked at the dead marines as if they expected them to jump to their feet at any time. One group had spotted her, and no sooner had one moved, and the rest were hurling toward her. She took aim and fired, each projectile killing one of the things with incredible precision.
Come on, die!
A dozen fell, yet more clambered over the bodies of their comrades and moved in for the kill. Her carbine seemed weak and ineffectual as she stepped back toward the edge. At this distance, she could see those at the front were identical to the beasts she had faced in the Uprising. As large as a bear, but grotesquely formed, she knew they were constructed from the shattered remains of human prisoners.
“Get back!” she screamed, but no sound left her mouth.
More of the smaller Biomechs swarmed like bugs, and she was forced to fire from the hip in a long burst that emptied her magazine. The weapon was now dry, and she hurled it at the nearest monster. The weapon struck the thing just a meter away, and again she moved back only to feel the edge of the Atoll. She glanced back and saw nothing but the great drop to nothingness.
No, not yet! I’m taking you with me.
She ripped out her knife from her side. It should have been a Marine issue combat blade, but inside it was long and curved, like the tooth from some monstrous beast. She looked at the object with fascination. It was smooth, yet the tip and edge seemed coated in a sharp layer of silver.
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