***Looks like the real creeps are here, Boss. I guess virus-lickers can’t help it…what are they qualified for anyway…wiping cow’s asses? That’s all a virus is…a stupid cow…all bubble head of DNA and some lipids, grazing in a field of cells***
“I think we can manage it, Holt. Maybe your guys will learn some manners after a few missions with 1st Nano.”
They hustled along the pebbled path to Mission Prep, where expeditionary equipment for ANAD detachments was housed: hypersuits, HERF guns and coil-gun rounds by the thousands in the ordnance bunker, plus racks of Super-Fly entomopters for recon, MOB-net canisters for immobilizing the enemy, camou-fog and fully enabled interface controls ready to go.
Beyond the roof of the bunker lay the three liftjet hangars, A, B, and C, and beyond that, perfectly framed by the snow-covered mountain backdrop of the Snake Range, lay the north liftpad, where a sleek black hyperjet was veetoling in for a vertical touchdown.
“There’s our ride now, Holt. Hope your guys don’t mind riding rear seat to the elite.”
Holt snorted. “Elite, my ass. I’m just waiting for a chance to show you nano guys what a real combat outfit does for a living. Why don’t you stand down and let the adults take over? No sense assigning kids to do what real men do better.”
Winger tapped the soft skinpatch where the ANAD capsule had been implanted in his shoulder a year ago. “You want me to show you what my little brother here does to real men? It takes about two and half minutes…then we have to call Facility Services to come clean up the puddle of protoplasm that’s left.”
Dana Tallant turned and faced the 1st Bio puke nose to nose. “Look, Holtzie, lay off, will ya? This deal’s UNICON Purple…and you’re not invited.” She brusquely shoved the taller man back down the steps as they went inside.
“What a creep!” Winger said as they wound their way through corridors to the Battalion Ready Room.
***Let ‘em have it, Boss…me and my friends eat scum like that for breakfast***
Winger smiled at that. “Maybe so, ANAD, but right now, we’ve got some packing to do. You and me are taking a little trip across the Pond.”
Tallant veered off to sign herself into the ordnance bunker and check out enough ammo to cover the mission. Winger headed for the hypersuit lockers…they’d need twelve at least, and the programming still had to be updated.
***Hey, Boss, I’ve been thinking about those demonio creatures. I’ve got a theory--***
“Shoot, ANAD. I’m listening.” Winger pressed a few buttons on the wrist keypad of the first ‘suit and its servos whirred as it clamshelled open.
***The doctor said it was a colony of nanobots, kind of like me. I’ve got a theory why maybe BioShield didn’t detect any such bots until it was too late***
“And what might your theory be, ANAD?”
Nanotroopers Episode 9: Demonios of Via Verde Page 5
