The Infinity Brigade #1 Stone Cold by Andrew Beery Page A

in the middle of this we are going to need everybody heading up to the rim as fast as you can. Also,” I nodded over towards the three Drill Sergeants that were chatting among themselves as talked. “I wouldn’t put it past them to try something sneaky. Whoever is in the lookout position don’t let the first sight of hostiles prevent you from continuing to look for a second or third group. If I can think of it they sure as hell can.”
    I looked around the group. “We good?”
    Almost everyone nodded. I noticed Sam McDullis was not among them. I didn’t think much of it at the time… that lack of attention would cost me my position as acting ensign although I didn’t know it at the time.
    ***
    “OK party time is over,” Senior Drill Sergeant Harris yelled. “I can’t believe you sorry excuses for soldier-wanna-bees are having a hard time changing a simple battery but there you have it… The Galactic Coalition is reduced to scraping the bottom of the cesspool barrel and you are the result…” He sighed and I was almost sorry for him… well maybe not . He continued after a moment… “We will just have to make do. Ensign Stone, begin the exercise.”
    “OK EVERYBODY. YOU HEARD THE SENIOR DRILL! MOVE!”
    I grabbed Sam McDullis and began to swap out his gear. “Sam I noticed you didn’t look happy about our plan. Am I going to have any issues with your participation?”
    “I’m not happy about where you are sending me. I don’t like heights.”
    “Trust me,” I said. “I understand you’re afraid. Deal with it. There is a gently sloping ridge line that gets you to where you are going. Just keep your eyes on the ground in front of you and follow Sergeant Hammond. You guys will be tethered together… nothing can happen. Sam, I need you up there. You are one of our best long distance shooters.”
    I finish snapping his rear power pack in place and handed him the two replacements he would be carrying up the slope. He didn’t look happy and didn’t say a word. I had a bad feeling in my gut but I ignored it. What can I say? I was young and foolish.
    Everything went according to plan and we completed the battery swap in under three minutes and thirty seconds. I was ecstatic… and then all hell broke loose.
    The Drill Sergeants had apparently been waiting for us to figure out the battery swap puzzle. No sooner had we started celebrating then the explosions started. I kid you not… real, live, knock your socks off explosions!
    My HUD showed incoming mortar rounds. I had seen the first several but my mind was still processing what was happening when the first several rounds struck. The explosions sent up large plumes of dust and rocks. Based on the dispersal pattern it looked like they were ranging shots that were working their way towards my lookouts.
    I hit my platoon-wide comm-channel. “JJ get your troops off that precipice. Engage your suit thrusters and get back down here. That hunk of real estate has gotten too popular with the locals. The rest of you get your butts up to the rim and assume defensive positions.”
    I started to watch JJ’s team. Our Starks had limited thrusters. They were only good for a few minutes of powered flight even on the moon with its greatly diminished gravity. We hadn’t spent a lot of time practicing with them but the suit’s AI did most of the hard work steering. Right now I just needed the six soldiers up on the top of that crag to gently fly down and out of harm’s way.
    It didn’t seem reasonable that the Drills would actually drop mortars on them… that type of thing has been known to get people hurt… but on the other hand, my idea of reasonable and theirs were often at odds with one another. 
    As I watched my guys slowly lift off the surface and begin a controlled descent I saw an incoming mortar track on my HUD followed by an explosion at the point of supposed impact. I was looking right at it and I saw no actual incoming shell. Suddenly I knew what was