Star Crusades Nexus: Book 05 - Prophecy of Fire by Michael G. Thomas Page B
Authors: Michael G. Thomas
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have to clear this place. Suggestions?”
“Stun and run,” Jack said without even thinking.
Callahan looked at the Private, nodding in agreement.
“Yeah, it worked outside. They’re not prepared for a direct rush.”
“Okay, good. Two grenades, then we move in and fast, but I want prisoners. Shoot to wound, not kill.”
Callahan looked at Jack incredulously.
“Understood?” repeated the Lieutenant.
“Yes, Sir,” they answered in perfect unison.
Riku and Jack each pulled out a stun grenade and activated the timers. With a nod from Lieutenant Elvidge, they tossed them inside at opposite sides of the room. The countdown progress indicator showed up inside their helmets, so they could time it to the second. One second before the charges activated, they moved. Jack was through first, and then Callahan, and the rest close behind. As Jack passed through the doorframe, the grenades burst, and for a brief moment he lost his vision as the visor blackened. Then he was moving along the right-hand side of the machine room with his eyes wide open and his carbine at his shoulder and ready. Riku followed behind, and the others took the left-hand side of the room.
“Move it!” growled the Lieutenant.
An insurgent appeared ahead of them and opened fire. The stun grenades had done their work, and he sprayed gunfire in the rough direction of the doorway. Jack rushed to his side, slamming his carbine into the Helion’s chest. With a groan, he fell down. Riku knelt beside him to bind his hands. Two more insurgents remained, and both were waiting behind a long machine with dozens of static robotic arms extending upwards. Bronze colored rust covered the edges, and like the rest of the place, a thick layer of dust covered the rest. One pointed at Jack, and the second lifted up a heavy weapon onto the machine and opened fire.
“Watch out!” screamed Riku.
Both rolled to the ground and vanished from sight among the myriad of machines and pieces of heavy equipment. At this height, it looked more like a maze than a workshop or refinery, and they were able to crawl along the floor while the heavy weapon continued to tear chunks from machines and the thick walls. Jack and Riku stayed down low. Callahan and Lieutenant Elvidge tried to move around the left flank.
“Morato, can you flank them?” asked the Lieutenant.
Jack crawled a meter and looked around the base of the machine. Another identical unit, turning ninety degrees back in the direction of the insurgents obstructed his view.
“Maybe, see what we can do.”
He slipped around the corner and slid along the floor. The slow thump of an L52 carbine firing came from the other side of the room.
Good work, Callahan, keep them busy.
It seemed an age before he reached the end of the next machine. Jack pushed out his carbine, using it as a viewing device to see around the corner. He could see the two remaining fighters loading a box onto the mounted weapon.
I have to go for it!
He didn’t bother with a grenade this time and instead lifted himself and hurled forward. His foot caught on the base of the machine, and he stumbled at them. He was on them before Riku even knew what was happening.
“Jack!” she shouted and chased after him.
Jack crashed into the nearest insurgent; the second flipped out a sidearm and shot twice. All three fell to the ground in a heap. Private Riku was on them as the second lifted to his feet. The other continued to grapple with Jack, but this fight was between the masked insurgent and her. He fired a shot with his sidearm that struck her carbine and tore off the pistol grip. She looked down at it, swore, and then threw the shattered frame at the Helion. He beat it aside; firing another shot that glanced off her armored pauldron. Her fist struck him in the chest, and she grabbed his arm. It was a classic lock, and although the Helion was strong, he was betrayed by the slight physiology of his race. Riku was also no weakling and twisted his arm
“Stun and run,” Jack said without even thinking.
Callahan looked at the Private, nodding in agreement.
“Yeah, it worked outside. They’re not prepared for a direct rush.”
“Okay, good. Two grenades, then we move in and fast, but I want prisoners. Shoot to wound, not kill.”
Callahan looked at Jack incredulously.
“Understood?” repeated the Lieutenant.
“Yes, Sir,” they answered in perfect unison.
Riku and Jack each pulled out a stun grenade and activated the timers. With a nod from Lieutenant Elvidge, they tossed them inside at opposite sides of the room. The countdown progress indicator showed up inside their helmets, so they could time it to the second. One second before the charges activated, they moved. Jack was through first, and then Callahan, and the rest close behind. As Jack passed through the doorframe, the grenades burst, and for a brief moment he lost his vision as the visor blackened. Then he was moving along the right-hand side of the machine room with his eyes wide open and his carbine at his shoulder and ready. Riku followed behind, and the others took the left-hand side of the room.
“Move it!” growled the Lieutenant.
An insurgent appeared ahead of them and opened fire. The stun grenades had done their work, and he sprayed gunfire in the rough direction of the doorway. Jack rushed to his side, slamming his carbine into the Helion’s chest. With a groan, he fell down. Riku knelt beside him to bind his hands. Two more insurgents remained, and both were waiting behind a long machine with dozens of static robotic arms extending upwards. Bronze colored rust covered the edges, and like the rest of the place, a thick layer of dust covered the rest. One pointed at Jack, and the second lifted up a heavy weapon onto the machine and opened fire.
“Watch out!” screamed Riku.
Both rolled to the ground and vanished from sight among the myriad of machines and pieces of heavy equipment. At this height, it looked more like a maze than a workshop or refinery, and they were able to crawl along the floor while the heavy weapon continued to tear chunks from machines and the thick walls. Jack and Riku stayed down low. Callahan and Lieutenant Elvidge tried to move around the left flank.
“Morato, can you flank them?” asked the Lieutenant.
Jack crawled a meter and looked around the base of the machine. Another identical unit, turning ninety degrees back in the direction of the insurgents obstructed his view.
“Maybe, see what we can do.”
He slipped around the corner and slid along the floor. The slow thump of an L52 carbine firing came from the other side of the room.
Good work, Callahan, keep them busy.
It seemed an age before he reached the end of the next machine. Jack pushed out his carbine, using it as a viewing device to see around the corner. He could see the two remaining fighters loading a box onto the mounted weapon.
I have to go for it!
He didn’t bother with a grenade this time and instead lifted himself and hurled forward. His foot caught on the base of the machine, and he stumbled at them. He was on them before Riku even knew what was happening.
“Jack!” she shouted and chased after him.
Jack crashed into the nearest insurgent; the second flipped out a sidearm and shot twice. All three fell to the ground in a heap. Private Riku was on them as the second lifted to his feet. The other continued to grapple with Jack, but this fight was between the masked insurgent and her. He fired a shot with his sidearm that struck her carbine and tore off the pistol grip. She looked down at it, swore, and then threw the shattered frame at the Helion. He beat it aside; firing another shot that glanced off her armored pauldron. Her fist struck him in the chest, and she grabbed his arm. It was a classic lock, and although the Helion was strong, he was betrayed by the slight physiology of his race. Riku was also no weakling and twisted his arm
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