The Infinity Brigade #1 Stone Cold by Andrew Beery

swing in temperature and not the temperature itself. Differential expansion in metals and plastics across a sudden two hundred and seventy five degree temperature swing could play havoc with minor incidentals like vacuum seal integrity and the like. For this reason we were encouraged to stay in the shadows until we had a better handle on how to cope with emergencies. Fortunately for us the dark side of the moon was truly dark right now.
    One of the misconceptions about the dark side of the moon was that it was always in the dark. In point of fact, each side of the moon received roughly two weeks of sunlight followed by two weeks of darkness. The phrase ‘Dark Side’ simple referred to the fact that one side always faces away from the Earth. Over the eons tidal dissipation had slowed the rotation of the moon until it was in a synchronous orbit. As fast as it turned towards us… we turned away from it. The dark side was ‘dark’ because prior to the twentieth century no living human had ever seen it.
    After several hours, and much chafing, we finally we got to our first stopping point. We had been warned that we could be ambushed by hostiles at any time. At this point the Drill Sergeants stepped back and watched us work.
    I ordered Ramirez’s squad to assume lookout positions. I grabbed JJ and we began swapping out battery packs just like we had been trained. As our squad completed both primary and secondary swaps we exchanged places with Jesus’ squad. In eight and a half minutes we had the exchange complete. I know because I watched the senior drill timing us.
    “AGAIN!” he yelled. “You took almost twice as long as you should have. If you were under fire those minutes could save your lives.”
    “First squad, double up,” I yelled. “Pull your primaries yourself, let your partner replace your secondaries. Turn immediately around and do the same for your partner… move like you have a purpose!”
    We shaved almost two minutes off our time but it was not good enough. The Drills had us practice the same maneuver again and again. I kept finding ways to shave a few more seconds off but it was never enough. Mercifully, the Drill Sergeants eventually gave us fifteen minutes to catch our breath.  I gathered everybody around me in a huddle.
    “Guys… I’m running out of thoughts here. What else can we do?”
    It was Private Highmark that had the breakthrough idea. “Sir, do we really need half the platoon on guard duty?”
    I looked around. The problem was, the area we were in was surrounded on three sides by impact crater rims… rims that went almost straight up. We needed lookouts spaced about those rims to see potential hostiles approaching… or did we?
    One of the peaks was considerably higher than the others. If we could get three guys up there we could cover the entire area.
    “OK, here is what we are going to do. First squad will assume their look out positions first. Highmark, Johnston and Ramirez, when the word is given, you will high-tail it for that tallest peak.” I flagged the desired point on my HUD display which was echoed for everybody else to see.
    “Once you get there signal us and first squad will immediately come down for battery swaps. Corporal Ramirez, your job will be to provide a 360 degree look out. If you see any hostiles call it in. If you can take any of them out without compromising your position go for it but remember… you are more valuable as lookouts than as snipers.”
    Next I tapped JJ, McDullis and Hansen. “You three will swap out your power packs and then carry up replacements for our look outs. As they are swapping out their power packs, you will take over their lookout duties.  JJ and Hansen pair up for battery swaps. I’ll partner with Sam.”
    I looked around the group. “It will take our lookouts a bit longer to get into position but being able to hot swap twenty seven of us almost at once should more than make up for it. The key is this, if we come under attack