Malik got up to the usual voice of Arowson and walked out side to do his basic exercises. After he was done he start to follow the crowd into the barracks to get his combat suit on. As he walked in the crowded barracks he saw all the recruits gathered around some man in the middle. As he got closer he could make out that it was the sergeant that he had talked to about recruiting.
"We were right before, the Zerg are heading this way. It has been confirmed by one of our satilites. They will be here in approximately two hours. You have until that time to get prepared and meet up back here. The Confederate forces have been increased as to try and protect this planet and the local militia is gathering together as well we will join them in an attempt to halt the Zerg advance. So be back in an hour an a half and we'll kick some alien ass."
"I didn't think they would be here so soon," Jason said with a bit of excitement, sorrow and fear all mixed in.
"Tch, don't worry we got us and some militia and even confederate back up, we'll be fine." Assured Malik
"First off that's not what I meant, and secondly you obviously haven't done your homework. The Zerg are ruthless they will send millions of them on us they will consume this planet just like they did Mar Sara." Replied Jason in a shaky voice.
"Well then if they are wanting to take this planet, how about we give them one hell of a fight for it." Malik yelled in a confident voice, rousing many soldiers near him. The barracks was then filled with cheering and battle cries as the marines and firebats prepared to for the upcoming battle.
Malik had stuck the knife in a sheath and it fit beautifully on the leg of his combat armor. He kept checking and rechecking his rifle to make sure it would function properly. Then in the time that remained he waited. Every second gnawing at him. He sat on " The Field" and waited, gazing at all of the equipment being pulled out. He watched as men ran around gathering items loading weapons and checking vehicles. Some men were already waiting in their bunkers with their weapons at wait for some inhuman organism to be destroyed. But every were in the camp one thing was the same. Every one had that look, that feeling, knowing that in a matter of hours they might not be here any more. The look showed fear, and anticipation. The only thing worse then actual combat is waiting fearfully for combat.
Malik knew this, his mentor had taught him a lot of very wise things and worrying about the inevitable was one of those things. If you can't change something you might as well live with it, thought Malik as he calmly sat in the middle of The Field," He had matured a lot in the past week. He could now successfully do almost anything with his combat armor. His marksmanship was also greatly improved. He also was a lot more masculine, now and even faster and smarter then before. Yea, what ever those Zerg basterds throw at me I can take.
Suddenly a siren blared and men started to gather in the center of the field. Malik stood up and backed away a couple of feet as to blend in with the crowd.
"Well it looks like it's our day to shine boys. The Zerg are coming and there pulling out all the stops, can't imagine why they would want this world, but judging by the size of there fleet, they do. We have some back up and there are reports that the confederates are sending more. Also the local militia is going to be joining in on our fight. So lets go out and give 'em hell.
Men started heading off in all directions. Some Heading into bunkers, while others boarded vehicles. As for Malik he headed into a bunker with Jason, another marine and a firebat. SCV (large mechanicals suits worn by engineers) Were busy loading and repairing missile turrets for the use of killing flying targets. Malik never thought that this base would, or better you could be used to fight, but he most certainly never thought it could be prepared so fast.
It was the other marine that saw it first. Like a dark cloud descending down on the earth they came hundreds upon thousands of Zerg. They were landing out side of attack range and were preparing. Huge bulbous creatures with six tentacles dangling down were unloading some of the smaller ground units. It was amazing how many each could hold and how many there were, amazing yet terrifying. Before very much longer at all the ground in front of them was black and maroon colored. It was filled with Zerg in all directions that Malik could see.
The smallest were in front; with four arms and small scythes they were the zerglings. They were the basic infantry of the Zerg, they were the cannon fodder. Next up were the hydralisks, large snake like creatures with large scythes instead of arms. They also had large jaws with razor sharp teeth. But possibly there most deadly weapons were the acidic spines that they had stored in there body closed to the shoulders. With these they could hit both air and ground and kill more effectively. And finally there were the flying cannons. Mutalisks was what they were called; they were flying worms but a little more deadly. They ended in an opening in there body were they could shoot an acidic ball to try and kill of their enemies. Although their wings were usually torn and tattered then flew very well and very fast. There were other Zerg units that Malik didn't' recognize, he only knew of these three because they were the Zerg most commonly shown on the news.
And then they charged. Malik was sure he felt the earth tremble. He looked out and was reminded of waves breaking on rocks, the tide had just come in. When they reached a certain distance in front of the bunkers they were blown to bits by hidden spider mines that were carefully placed. Suddenly an image came up on the vid-screen of the combat suits HUD. Arowson's face appeared as he spoke. "OK marines aim for the zerglings to take them out so as the spider mines can get the bigger pray. After they get closer just take out any thing that gets to close. Each bunker has an scv waiting to patch it up so try and keep them covered. Over"
Malik decided the enemies were close enough and let fly a couple rounds, all of which hit their marks. Jason and the other marine took this as a signal and also opened fire; the firebat sat patiently waiting for his chance to toast some Zerg. Malik was focusing on each zergling in turn taking them down before they could even reach the mine field but even if one did get past they mines had already figured out one small creature was nothing to waste a blast on they wanted a bigger opponent or a large crowd. After the first wave of zerglings was dispatched the Zerg just stood glaring at there human opponents. Everyone in his or her bunkers was reloading and waiting for their weapons to cool, many saying rude and obscene things about the Zerg. Malik was starting to think that they were just going to sit and stare at the bunkers all day. But then finally they made a move. Zerglings and Hydralisks together all started to charge forward in a mass attack. The first and second lines were shattered by the detonations of the hidden mines, but les and less explosions could be heard and seen. Oh well all the more I get to kill, Malik thought to himself. Suddenly he heard a high-pitched screeching sound, and heard smacks on the roof of his own bunker.
His eyes shot up to find that that hydralisks and zerglings weren't their only enemy. Mutalisks were bombarding the bunkers trying to give the others a clear path. Missile turrets shot many down but on they would pound the bunkers. Malik nudged the other two marines and they took down the two mutalisks trying to break their lines with relative ease. But wave after wave of both air and ground attacks came. And slowly the Zerg was gaining ground. As magazine dropped to the ground a new one was inserted into the gauss rifle and it chattered away ripping through flesh of a hydralisk and then aiming upward to ground a mutalisks. He tore through a couple zerglings and their blood and ichors flew on their comrades. Just as Malik was slamming a new clip in his weapon he heard the hiss of a flamethrower, and glanced to see that finally the firebat was seeing some action. Zerglings were running forward and becoming barbeque.
Malik focused more on taking out hydralisks and mutalisks farther out before they could get a good attack on the bunker, he would leave the zerglings to the firebat. Just as he was shredding a mutalisks under his volley of automatic fire, when he saw some new abomination. Some flying crab, it moved slower then the mutalisks and looked almost strange in there notion of moving there four arms back and forth. Malik stared transfixed when it struck some form of green acid shot from it and smashed an area of the bunker right above him. Malik tried to fire back but the creature was out of range and he couldn't hit it.
"We need air support some crablike things are pounding the shit out of us and there out of range for us." Flicked on Malik's vid-screen in his HUD, it was Jenson from a couple bunkers away.
"Yea and can you do something about those zerglings to, move the siege tanks up and get some wraiths out here." Eriksons face showed up to.
"Right away," spoke some nameless corporal.
Malik saw some wraiths pass overhead and watched as they went to engage the new unknown Zerg species. Malik was doing his best to keep them covered by taking down hydralisks but before long the number of wraiths had been dwindled down to about ten. The Zerg ground forces were in despair though since the siege tanks had moved up and blasted anything that had a heartbeat and moved. The Zerg casualties were lying all over the open field in puddles of blood and ripped flesh. The humans looked like they might actually have one the battle, having only lost a couple bunkers and most of there wraith fleet and some siege tanks. Just as the marine forces were cleaning up the last of the Zerg, a bellowing roar was heard.
Malik strained his eyes to make out what looked like an heard of
giant elephants. But these elephants had large razor sharp tusk and missing patches of skin. Their giant feet with hooves and razor like claws spread in different direction. They charged Malik started to unload on one but after two clips it was still standing. Finally two were killed. Two out of twenty. Constant fire was aimed at these giant beasts. By the time they got to the bunkers there were only about four left. But their problems began again. Instead of confederate reinforcements there were waves of more zerglings, hydralisks, mutalisks, and flying crabs. Malik's own bunker was falling apart under the constant fire of mutalisks and on of the big elephants after a large patch of the ceiling was removed Jason yelled the word "retreat". No one argued. Malik Scrambled out of the bunker just as the elephant burst through the side.
