Read Online Universe of the Soul by Jennifer Mandelas - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jennifer Mandelas
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tenacious, unpredictable opponent.â
Hildana laughed. âYou're just sore that she woke up while you were in the room. Your stealth was sloppy.â
Giselle's delicate eyebrows furrowed into a frown. Her short hair swung at her chin. âI was not sloppy. She sleeps like an undarian.â
âAnd you're sore about that officer who threw your grenade back at you,â her sister teased.
âThat was truly some amazing reflexes,â Giselle replied, almost approvingly.
Hildana's communicator crackled to life. [Control to Kobane. The Advance Force has passed the fourth checkpoint. Waiting on your orders.]
[This is Kobane. Prepare for the pincer movement. Standby for my arrival with Sergeant Kobane. Out.]
***
[We have a visual of the barricade,] Gray reported from the head of the squad. They had ceased to run, as the enemy had fallen a good distance behind them. He peered around the corner fast enough to ascertain how heavily the barricade was being guarded. [I've spotted five to ten troops behind the barricade. A handful of sensor bombs have been planted on the floor.]
[Affirmative, Grayson. Clear the hallway to prepare for an assault. The Belligerents have fallen behind for a reason; I think they're expecting a big explosion.] There was a pause as Adri directed the soldiers beside her to keep up the cover fire as blaster beams shot out around them from snipers around the corners. [I'm expecting good results. Rael out.]
Gray flexed his fingers to keep them limber as he took a moment to assess the situation. When a solution presented itself, he smiled grimly. [All troops, increase your personal shielding! On guard for shrapnel!]
With that warning, Gray pressed the release on one of his rationed grenades, set the timer, and with a silent prayer to any deity that was listening, raced around the corridor into the main hall and hurled the grenade for all he was worth. Falling with the momentum, he rolled through the corridor intersection and into the hallway across from the one his squad huddled in. The grenade flew over the sensor bombs, setting them off. A tearing explosion rent the corridors, expelling waves of superheated gas and shrapnel in all directions. Gray's grenade, propelled by the explosion, hurled farther than Gray could have thrown it, landing right behind the barricade. There was a brief, barely heard shout before a smaller detonation rent a large hole in the middle of the barricade.
[That was effective, Lieutenant,] Adri said dryly over the officer's link.
Gray's ears were still ringing from the sound, despite his helmet which protected him from most overbearing audio. [Thank you, ma'am.]
[Any injuries?]
[No, but I would be happy to refrain from any more tumbling for the rest of the evening, if at all possible.]
Adri laughed softly. [We'll see what we can do. How does the hall look now?]
Gray peered around what was left of the corner and into the corridor. [The bombs took out most of the hall, its black and smoking now. There's too much smoke to scan the barricade adequately.]
[Roger that.] Adri switched to the open communication channel. [Black squad, advance with caution. Visual is low, and heat sensing is unadvisable. We don't want any more surprises, so keep alert. Rael out.]
Gray moved back out into the hall to take the lead once again, picking his way carefully over the scorched walkway as steam and smoke swirled around him. He listened carefully as he moved, wary of another trap. Behind him, one of the soldiers commented that the enemy that had been chasing them was once again advancing within firing range. Despite the rising need to rush, Gray took his time. It was a relief to arrive at the barricade and find that those who had survived had already fled the structure. [Grayson to Rael. It looks like nobody's home.]
[Then get out, we need to evacuate as quickly as possible before our pursuers catch up.] Adri replied. Gray could hear the muffled sound of her ATF going off as
Hildana laughed. âYou're just sore that she woke up while you were in the room. Your stealth was sloppy.â
Giselle's delicate eyebrows furrowed into a frown. Her short hair swung at her chin. âI was not sloppy. She sleeps like an undarian.â
âAnd you're sore about that officer who threw your grenade back at you,â her sister teased.
âThat was truly some amazing reflexes,â Giselle replied, almost approvingly.
Hildana's communicator crackled to life. [Control to Kobane. The Advance Force has passed the fourth checkpoint. Waiting on your orders.]
[This is Kobane. Prepare for the pincer movement. Standby for my arrival with Sergeant Kobane. Out.]
***
[We have a visual of the barricade,] Gray reported from the head of the squad. They had ceased to run, as the enemy had fallen a good distance behind them. He peered around the corner fast enough to ascertain how heavily the barricade was being guarded. [I've spotted five to ten troops behind the barricade. A handful of sensor bombs have been planted on the floor.]
[Affirmative, Grayson. Clear the hallway to prepare for an assault. The Belligerents have fallen behind for a reason; I think they're expecting a big explosion.] There was a pause as Adri directed the soldiers beside her to keep up the cover fire as blaster beams shot out around them from snipers around the corners. [I'm expecting good results. Rael out.]
Gray flexed his fingers to keep them limber as he took a moment to assess the situation. When a solution presented itself, he smiled grimly. [All troops, increase your personal shielding! On guard for shrapnel!]
With that warning, Gray pressed the release on one of his rationed grenades, set the timer, and with a silent prayer to any deity that was listening, raced around the corridor into the main hall and hurled the grenade for all he was worth. Falling with the momentum, he rolled through the corridor intersection and into the hallway across from the one his squad huddled in. The grenade flew over the sensor bombs, setting them off. A tearing explosion rent the corridors, expelling waves of superheated gas and shrapnel in all directions. Gray's grenade, propelled by the explosion, hurled farther than Gray could have thrown it, landing right behind the barricade. There was a brief, barely heard shout before a smaller detonation rent a large hole in the middle of the barricade.
[That was effective, Lieutenant,] Adri said dryly over the officer's link.
Gray's ears were still ringing from the sound, despite his helmet which protected him from most overbearing audio. [Thank you, ma'am.]
[Any injuries?]
[No, but I would be happy to refrain from any more tumbling for the rest of the evening, if at all possible.]
Adri laughed softly. [We'll see what we can do. How does the hall look now?]
Gray peered around what was left of the corner and into the corridor. [The bombs took out most of the hall, its black and smoking now. There's too much smoke to scan the barricade adequately.]
[Roger that.] Adri switched to the open communication channel. [Black squad, advance with caution. Visual is low, and heat sensing is unadvisable. We don't want any more surprises, so keep alert. Rael out.]
Gray moved back out into the hall to take the lead once again, picking his way carefully over the scorched walkway as steam and smoke swirled around him. He listened carefully as he moved, wary of another trap. Behind him, one of the soldiers commented that the enemy that had been chasing them was once again advancing within firing range. Despite the rising need to rush, Gray took his time. It was a relief to arrive at the barricade and find that those who had survived had already fled the structure. [Grayson to Rael. It looks like nobody's home.]
[Then get out, we need to evacuate as quickly as possible before our pursuers catch up.] Adri replied. Gray could hear the muffled sound of her ATF going off as
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