by P. A. Piatt
“This is Ystremski! The GRC just murdered the patrol! I’m headed for the jungle to escape. Ystremski, out!”
* * *
Beck stared at the carnage in shock. The bodies of dead Space Marines and his engineered soldiers dotted the ground around him, testament to the sudden violence of the firefight. He looked at his own pistol and it surprised him to see the slide was locked back, indicating the weapon was empty. He didn’t remember firing a shot.
“Look!”
One of the engineered soldiers pointed across the compound, and Beck saw a Space Marine running toward the jungle.
“Don’t just stand there, shoot him!” he shouted. The engineered soldiers fired on him, but the Space Marine was only a few yards from the safety of the tree line. He dove to the left and disappeared.
The engineered soldiers stopped firing and turned to Beck.
“Go get him! Don’t let him escape!”
* * *
“Lieutenant Fortis, you’re needed at the command mech, ASAP!”
Fortis sprinted for the command mech, spurred on by the urgency in Strickland’s voice. Hawkins and Lily were right behind him when he crashed through the hatch.
“What is it?”
“Ystremski just reported that the GRC shot up his patrol, and he was running for the jungle.”
“He said what?”
“Here, listen for yourself.” Strickland hit Play on the comms recorder, and Ystremski’s voice boomed over the speakers.
“Command, this is Ystremski. The GRC just shot up the patrol. I’m running for the jungle.”
“What the fuck?”
“I asked him to say again, and he repeated the same thing.”
Hawkins turned to Fortis. “LT, we need to elevate the camp security posture to Level One and blow the GRC cameras in the trees east of the base.”
“Make it happen. Has there been any word from the patrols?”
“Nothing, sir.” Strickland keyed the general announcing circuit. “All stations, this is Command. Set Security Posture One. I say again, set Security Posture One. Make readiness reports to Command.”
Fortis watched the main display as Space Marines sprinted in all directions to their assigned defensive positions. Hawkins shifted some of them to new positions to make up for the missing squads, and then all posts reported manned and ready.
Gunny Hawkins looked at Fortis.
“Do you want to explain why we set Security Posture One, or do you want me to?”
“I’ll do it.” Fortis picked up the handset and pressed the transmit key. “This is Lieutenant Fortis. I’ve ordered Security Posture One because we received a report that the GRC attacked the patrol we sent to their base to ask for medical assistance. Stay alert for attack, the test tubes might be headed this way. We will remain at Security Posture One until further notice.”
Gunny Hawkins opened the outside hatch. “LT, I’m going to send Winaki out to blow those trees and then make a tour around the base to check on the men.”
“Hang on, Gunny, I’ll come with you.”
Hawkins held up a hand. “No. sir. Sorry, but the command mech is your battle station, sir.”
* * * * *
Chapter Thirty-Four
Just as Ystremski dove into the tree line, a giant fist punched him in the left shoulder. He somersaulted five meters through the undergrowth before slamming into a large tree. Hot liquid poured down his shoulder and across his back, but when he reached around with his right hand, his glove came away covered with bluish liquid instead of blood.
He realized the cooling loop on his battle armor had been severed by the bullet when it hit him. After he powered down the cooling system, he rotated his left arm to check for damage. It hurt, but the armor had deflected the round, and he was otherwise uninjured.
Ystremski climbed to his feet and plunged straight into the jungle. He had a fifty-meter head start on the test tubes, and he knew his best chance to stay alive was to lose them in the dense foliage and darkness. The shock of watching the GRC execute his comrades tried to creep around the edges of his consciousness, and he forced himself to forget about it. His primary thoughts had to stay on survival and evasion; revenge would have to wait.
* * *
Brinks checked the final explosive charges forty meters from the Space Marine base and grunted with satisfaction. The test tubes had proven their ability to perform simple tasks, and they had married up the detonators to the explosive charges and planted them as directed. Brinks himself had wired the cap on Mine Shaft Number Two. The task wasn’t especially intricate, but the success of the entire mission rested on opening the mine to allow the bugs to swarm.
He slipped back through the jungle to Mine Shaft Number Two and stepped into the small clearing to get a direct shot at the comms satellite.
“Headquarters, this is Brinks. All charges are set. We are standing by at the thumper.”
Beck responded, “This is Headquarters, roger that. When I receive word that the main force is in position, I will order the attack.”
* * *
In the command mech, Fortis heard four small explosions as Winaki set off the charges placed on the trees holding the GRC cameras.
“Trenas, this is Fortis. Are you able to control two drones simultaneously?”
“Yes, sir, I can control both, or Strickland can control one and I can control one. Whichever you prefer.”
“Okay, good. I want both drones launched as soon as possible, loaded with as much ordnance as they can carry. I’ll give you mission tasking when they are airborne.”
“Aye, aye, sir.”
* * *
Nesbitt found a small gap in the jungle canopy and called Beck.
“Headquarters, this is Nesbitt. We are in position two kilometers from the Space Marine base.”
“This is Headquarters. I’ve lost the cameras on the base, so you will need to send reconnaissance teams forward to time your attack. Be advised, we had a skirmish with a Space Marine patrol here at the base. We killed the entire patrol except for one Marine who made it into the jungle. I’ve sent my entire force after him, so stay alert for any movement to your rear.”
“Roger that. We’re going to hunker down and make our assault at first light.” He switched channels. “Brinks, this is Nesbitt. At first light, blow the mine and hit the thumper.”
* * *
As Ystremski ran, he got a burning sensation down his left side, and he knew the leaking coolant was burning his flesh. He stopped for a moment to unclip his battle armor top and shoved it deep under some thorny undergrowth. The body suit he was wearing underneath wouldn’t protect him from enemy fire, but it would wick moisture away from his torso and minimize the chemical burns. Or so he hoped.
The jungle around him was silent, but Ystremski knew there were pursuers somewhere behind him and an army of test tubes in front of him. After a short distance, he broke out of the jungle onto the broad path of trampled brush left by the test tubes marching west. Following the test tube trail was dangerous, but it was the fastest way back to the ISMC compound. If he was careful, he could outpace his pursuit and avoid being detected.
After another klick, Ystremski cut into the jungle for thirty meters and laid up in a thick patch of vegetation to wait for first light. He didn’t want to creep around in the dark jungle with that many test tubes out there.
* * *
The noise monitors along the northern perimeter picked up a large explosion, and moments later the ground around the ISMC compound shook. Fortis stepped outside the command mech just in time to hear a low rumble from the north.
Lily called down to him from the roof of the command mech.
“Hey, LT, you hear that?”
“Yeah. What was it?”
“If I had to guess, I’d say someone activated the thumper at Mine Shaft Number Two.”
Gunny Hawkins, who had been assisting Trenas with the drones, jogged over to the command mech.
“Did you feel that?
”
“Yeah, we did. Lily said he thinks someone activated the thumper at Mine Shaft Number Two.”
Fortis and Hawkins mounted the sandbag staircase as they heard a low buzzing sound in the jungle to the north.
“That’s a swarm,” Lily said. “A really big swarm.”
“LT, this is Trenas.” The mech sergeant waved from the drone launching rail. “Both drones are airborne, and we have positive control. Standing by for mission tasking.”
“Send one to the east and fly a zigzag search pattern between here and the GRC base. We’re looking for a large force of test tubes that might be headed this way. Send the other one north to reconnoiter for a bug swarm near Mine Shaft Number Two.”
* * *
The sky was a shade lighter when Fortis heard a ragged fusillade of gunfire from the east, followed by a large volume of individual shots that faded away to nothing.
“I think one of our patrols found the test tubes,” remarked Gunny Hawkins. He keyed his mic. “Command, this is Hawkins. Anything from the drones yet?”
“This is Command. That’s a negative. The eastern drone is about halfway to the GRC compound, but we haven’t seen anything yet.”
“Turn it around and bring it back this way. We just heard gunfire to the east. I think you might have flown past them.”
“Will do, Gunny.”
Fortis jumped in. “Are you getting anything from the north? Any sign of a bug swarm? The buzzing is pretty loud out here.”
“The jungle is crawling with bugs by Mine Shaft Number Two, but nothing within a half-klick of the perimeter, sir.”
Just as Trenas finished speaking, there was a series of explosions to the north.
“Sounds like someone is getting the range on us,” said Lily.
“Negative,” replied Hawkins. “Those weren’t ranging shots. Someone is walking the bugs our way.”
* * *
Nesbitt plunged through the dark jungle until he reached the forward elements of the test tubes’ right flank where he’d heard shooting.
“Who did the shooting?” he demanded.
“A Space Marine patrol walked in on us,” replied the mercenary in charge of the flank. “We killed three and the rest ran off toward their compound.”
“Okay, good. Stay patient, the swarm ought to be headed for the base soon.”
* * * * *
Chapter Thirty-Five
Brinks and his team had a few nervous minutes when the bugs erupted from Mine Shaft Number Two. The bugs made a variety of clicks, snaps, and popping noises that blended into a monotonous buzz that grew louder as the swarm grew.
Brinks had never seen so many bugs at one time, and his team shifted nervously as a few of the beetles turned their way. Then the explosive charges they’d planted between the mine shaft and the Space Marine camp went off and the swarm turned south. Their motion was slow and deliberate, and the buzz became a cacophony as the explosions triggered their primal urge to attack.
“Beck, this is Brinks. The swarm is headed for the Space Marine camp.”
* * *
“All stations, this is Command. There is movement on the northeast perimeter.”
Fortis watched a knot of Space Marines emerge from the jungle and wave their hands. There were three of them, with a wounded man supported by comrades on either side. Several of the Marines along that part of the perimeter picked their way through the minefield to help their comrades, while others provided close support.
Doc Weinberg ran out to meet them and helped transport the wounded Marine into the makeshift medical ward in the command mech. Lily entered the mech to assist with the injured man. Hawkins waved one of the unwounded Space Marines up to the roof.
“Corporal Lake, what’s your report?”
Lake removed his helmet and wiped his sweat-streaked face. “We patrolled two hundred meters from the compound looking for the test tubes, just like you told us.” Hawkins handed him a hydration pack, and he nodded his thanks. “Tommy—I mean, Corporal Jones, was on point. We didn’t see anything, so Jones decided to push out another fifty meters. That’s when the jungle opened up on us.” He shook his head and took a long drink from his hydration pack. “It seemed like there were a hundred guns firing at us. We returned fire, popped a smoke, and backed out of there. I dragged Chou out, and me and Camp carried him back here. I don’t know what happened to the other three guys.” Lake’s voice cracked. “We left them out there.” He dropped his head and sobbed.
“C’mon, Lake.” Hawkins put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “You did good. You got Chou out of there. What could you do against a hundred shooters?”
Fortis nodded in agreement. “It was a tough mission, Lake. At least we know where the test tubes are now.”
* * *
Ystremski started toward camp as soon as he could make out the trees in front of him. He moved slowly, alert for any sounds in the silent jungle. He’d heard the distant gunfire, but the jungle muffled and distorted it so he wasn’t sure what direction it was coming from.
Then he saw them.
A group of test tubes were standing with their backs to him, as if they were searching for the source of the sound. If they hadn’t broken cover when the firing started, Ystremski would have walked up on them. He ducked down and scrambled into the underbrush.
Too fuckin’ close.
He picked his way through the brush and set off in search of a path around the test tube force.
* * *
“All stations, Command. The sensors have detected a large amount of movement on the northern perimeter.”
Fortis watched as the entire jungle shivered, and trees and bushes were crushed by an unseen, inexorable force. The low buzzing noise that had started after the ground shook had become a dull roar, and Fortis caught a whiff of something primeval in the breeze being pushed ahead of the swarm.
Then he saw them.
The last of the undergrowth fell away and a large, brown mass poured into the clearing. Fortis’ breath caught in his chest at the sight of the bugs advancing on their defenses. He’d expected a lot of bugs, but not this many.
There were millions.
We can’t stop this many.
All along the northern perimeter, the Space Marines opened up on the swarm. Automatic weapons thundered and flamethrowers whooshed, and the swarm recoiled for a brief second. The pressure from behind was too great and the dead and burning bugs were trampled underfoot by the ones pushing forward. Thousands of rounds tore into the ranks of bugs, but to no avail. There was a malevolent inertia to the swarm, a powerful force that drove them forward, that the Space Marines couldn’t match.
Fortis stared, spellbound by the horror.
“LT, the forward holes need to fall back!” Hawkins shouted over the cacophony.
Fortis snapped out of his reverie and looked at the gunnery sergeant.
“We need to fall back!”
“Yes. Yes of course. Fall back to the inner ring.”
“All stations, this is Hawkins. Fall back to the inner ring!” he shouted into his communicator.
All along the northern perimeter, Space Marines scrambled from their fighting positions and ran for new positions away from the swarm. The bugs crawled through the mine belt and flowed toward the outermost holes. Fortis watched in horror as two Marines who apparently had not gotten the word to fall back tried to escape, but they were too late. A bright splash of red across the shiny brown of the swarm was all that remained as they were torn to pieces.
“Mechs One, Two, and Three, load a full salvo of grenades.”
Fortis stared at Hawkins. “Gunny, the grenades will just excite them more!”
“Watch and learn, sir.”
The front edge of the swarm had reached the next ring of fighting positions, and this time the Space Marines didn’t need an order to fall back. Despite the unstoppable flood of death approaching them, the Marines fell back in good order, and the rearward displacement did not become a rout.
“Mechs One, Two, and Three, train your launchers due east at maximum range. Fire when ready.”
Hawkins jumped down from the command mech and ran for the nearest ammo dump. He disappeared inside and emerged a second later carrying an automatic grenade launcher.
“All mechs, this is Hawkins. Fire!”
The three mechs fired a full salvo of grenades that arced high over the eastern tree line and exploded in the jungle beyond. Hawkins fired the grenade launcher at the ground around the swarm, walking the rounds to the east, away from the Space Marines. Slowly, imperceptibly at first, the swarm advance stalled and then turned east. Hawkins reloaded and fired another stream of grenades, and the swarm sped up as the explosions drew them toward the jungle away from the encampment.
“Mechs One, Two, and Three, reload. All other stations, cease fire and fall back.”
The Space Marine guns fell silent, and the remaining Marines clambered out of their positions and withdrew to the final set of positions surrounding the command mech. Hawkins picked his way through the compound and charged up the sandbag steps.
“That was fantastic, Gunny!” Fortis thumped Gunny Hawkins on the shoulder.
“Get out of the way!” Hawkins pushed past Fortis and climbed up on the sandbag wall. He raised the grenade launcher and fired a third salvo of grenades ahead of the swarm, and the bugs responded by speeding up.
“All mechs, fire!”
More grenades arced high into the sky and disappeared behind the trees.
Hawkins raised a fist to the sky. “All right! That should keep them—”
Automatic rifle fire exploded from the eastern perimeter. Gunny Hawkins dove atop Lieutenant Fortis, and they both tumbled to the roof of the command mech.
