"The Eden Campaign"
Episode 209 – Knee Deep
Day 7 SBW

"The retrieval of the forces and non-military forces on Eden was only supposed to take a few hours within the initial drop of the Roughnecks. But a plan never survives contact with the enemy. We knew that, but you can't blame anyone for hoping."

- Dr. Robert "Paperboy" Higgins, from: The Roughneck Chronicles

EDEN

Lieutenant Lindsey sat in the bunker fashioned out of three salvaged hulks that had once been someone's cars. Lieutenant Ryan was next to her, sipping on a hot cup of coffee. It was early morning, neither knew the exact time, and neither cared, they were both exhausted. Murphy had bought it the day the Roughnecks arrived, no one knew until later. Bugs had rushed his primary position and broken through the fence using the dead as a way over.

Both had lost the Majority of their squads, so with six fresh squads on the planet, their role was somewhat limited. Major Rico had told them to rest, but that was hard to do when your entire squad was dead you were alive. At least Murphy had the satisfaction of dying.

Weapons fire and arachnid screeching could be heard in the not far off distance. The front lines were shrinking by the hour. Every day, they lost close to a mile, Lindsey was losing hope.

Ryan offered her a drink but she refused. She hadn't eaten in days, her nerves couldn't take it. They had tried to evacuate two days before, but they watched as over half of the transports burned up due to plasma fire. They tried to get to the survivors, but they couldn't. Lindsey could hear their screams for help still, begging for someone to get to them. The Major had taken his entire squad out when it had happened. A dozen voices crying out in the night. When the silence had fallen upon the comm., the others were just forced to listen and wait. They waited for three hours before the Roughnecks returned, and then it was only with dog tags.

"It's still bugging you, isn't it?" Ryan asked quietly. He sat up trying to stretch his stiff muscles. They had been in the makeshift bunker for a day now, they were nothing more than a check point for troops moving out, and wounded coming back, a communications depot of sorts for runners.

"We could have saved them," she said pulling a blanket around her. The batteries had died for the power suits, so they were down to the minimal suits, basic armor, gloves, little else, and the Eden nights in New Buenos Ares had a habit of becoming rather cold.

"Can't keep worrying about it. What's happened has happened. We move on, and continue to fight." Ryan said. Several troopers ran by towards the front lines. Ryan pulled himself up to look out onto the streets to see two silhouettes darting between debris.

"Something's up," Lindsey said. There hadn't been any contact with people in hours, no movement. If it weren't for the constant tat-tat-tat of the automatic chain guns, things would almost seem peaceful.

"Think so?" Ryan asked with a grin as he sat back down. "There is a war going on out there, you know that right?"

"Of course I do you ass." Lindsey laughed. Things had been on edge, the silence broken only by the sounds of war was an uneasy setting. More stomping could be heard outside as two more ran towards the front lines, Ryan looked out at them.

"You know, I think you're right." Ryan said squinting in the darkness.

"Right about what?" Lindsey asked putting the blanket aside and kneeling next to Ryan.

"Something is up, the runners are unarmed." Ryan turned back to her. "Something is wrong."

Rico sent his had through a crumbling brick wall. His anger was reaching a fever pitch. He'd just received word from two runners that Williams had okayed a civilian transport to return to the outskirts to retrieve personal possessions for several citizens and civilians. And now, contact had been lost with the group and they needed a squad out there to check up on them and get them back within the perimeter.

"Now what did that wall to do you?" Zim asked as he entered the collapsing ruins off an office building. This was where Rico had decided to make his frontline headquarters.

The two runners stood back in an uneasy silence. An outburst like that had caught them totally unaware.

"I can't believe he allowed it!" Rico screamed. He turned to the runners. "You tell Williams I'll clean up his mess, but we're going to have a long talk when this is done."

"There's a problem with that." Zim said in a low voice.

"What?" Rico asked, his anger beginning to sear through.

"Two more just arrived. The group is being pushed out farther into the wastelands."

"How far?" Rico asked.

"Dunno, but Goss is monitoring them." Zim motioned outside.

Rico turned back to the two runners. "Tell Williams we'll get them back." Rico and Zim exited and walked down the debris filled street to where Goss had set up a mobile radar set. The screen cast a subtle blue glow on all their faces. Max along with Kepler and Murphy were catching up on some much needed sack time. Muniz and L'Ioo were standing behind Goss pointing out signal beeps on the screen. Rico stepped up behind them.

"Report," he said softly. Sparse gunfire echoed down the cement valley, reminding everyone constantly that there was a monster trying to kill them.

"Well, I used the transceiver to key into the transponder frequency on the truck and I'm tracking them." Goss sighed. "But they're moving out, and we don't know why."

"No sat up-link?" Zim asked.

"No, most have been damaged or taken out from plasma fire, and the Razak can't get close enough to allow for a good picture that far from the city."

"Which is how far?" Rico kneeled next to the equipment and look the picture over.

"Twenty kilometers and rising." L'Ioo said.

"Saddle up then boys and girls, looks like we've got a trip ahead of us." Rico quickly shifted into battle mode. "Zim, procure a truck, Muniz wake these three, Goss, locate Doc, see if he can leave the wounded, L'Ioo, locate ammo, we move in fifteen." Everyone quickly sprang into action. Muniz got the others aroused quickly and informed them of the situation and were all ready to move within minutes. Zim returned in the cab of a personnel carrier as L'Ioo arrived with a hand truck stacked with ammo boxes.

Gossard returned shortly after empty handed. "He says that they need him hear, there's only one other med around."

"Copy," He turned to the others. "Murphy, you stay behind to assist Doc and keep us posted on the activity."

"That leaves us two short Major," Max said after a moment.

"I know, I'll be back." Rico left the group and started down the street into the interior of the city.

"Where's he going?" Kepler asked.

"Seen him use the bathroom any?" Max replied sarcastically.

"All right, all right, enough chatter," Zim chimed in. "Everyone check your gear and prepare for departure."

Rico arrived at the makeshift bunker and found Lindsey and Ryan both in standard atmosphere Power Suits standing around keeping their watch. They recognized him quickly and saluted.

"At ease," he said walking up to them.

"To what do we owe the pleasure Major?" Ryan asked while Lindsey sat idly against the makeshift bunker.

"I'm short two bodies, you two game?" Rico knew that the answer was easy; he didn't really have to ask. Having lost the majority of their squads with the survivors wounded, they were bored and anxious, Rico knew the feeling all too well.

They both looked up and grinned.

JEAN RAZAK

Admiral Ibanez sat stiffly as the klaxons blared around her head. Her white uniform moved up and down with her quickened breath. The displays were showing an incoming unidentified jump silhouette that looked like it was going to emerge with weapons firing. The last thing Carmen wanted was more bugs on that planet; things were hard enough as they were. The Threshold and the Harry Lee were on the opposite side of the planet, trying to evacuate the civilians but their squads were bogged with heavy bug numbers. And it was looking like more were about to arrive.

Carmen turned to her sensors officer, "Do we have an I.D. yet?"

"Negative," the crewman replied; sweat was beginning to bead on his head. "Coordinates are being fed through now though, sir. We have its exact point of drop located."

"Relay coordinates to the gunnery officers; I want all available weapons positioned and ready to fire as soon as it's identified." Carmen turned to her communications officer. "Transmit coordinates to the Ticonderoga; tell them to take position-"

"Admiral!" Carmen turned about at the scream of the helmsman to see a vortex dancing across the forward view.

"All guns, prepare to open fire!" Carmen yelled. People began to scurry about the bridge, preparing for the imminent battle when the comm. officer spoke up.

"We're getting a transmission sir!" he yelled above the commotion. He held the ear piece tightly to his head, paying close attention and scratching down notes. "It's Tophetti!"

Carmen let out a sigh and sunk into her chair. The bridge crew cheered, both of elation for the reinforcements and relief for not having to go into battle. Carmen gave the orders for the stand down as the view screen began to blink. She punched it up and the friendly face of T'Phai greeted her.

"T'Phai, you gave us a start!" she said smiling and wiping the sweat from her beaded brow.

"My apologies Admiral," he said calmly. "Our drive systems are not as sophisticated as yours, so communications are somewhat... difficult. We are sorry for the alarm."

"Apology accepted..." Carmen took a breath for a moment, trying to recall T'Phai's formal title. "What should I refer to you as anyway?"

"With the reemergence of hostilities, I have resumed my rank as Colonel of the Tophetti Military Forces. We are here to assist you in any way necessary."

"That's great to hear Colonel. Would you perhaps like to come aboard the Jean Razak, as our guest? We have a few plans on the table for evacuation; perhaps you could provide some useful input."

"Perhaps Admiral," T'Phai said. "I will depart shortly."

"Thank you T'Phai." Carmen said.

"Anything for a Roughneck," T'Phai said, cutting the link. Carmen sat in silent thought for a moment before issuing orders for preparations for the Colonel's arrival.

"I want those people off that damned planet." She said leaving the bridge.

EDEN

"WHOOOOOO!" Max yelled as the truck went air born and landed on a group of warriors. Their green blood splashed forward and onto the windshield. He flipped the wipers on and the green ooze smeared across the glass. Rico was bouncing uneasily next to him.

"Having fun sergeant?" Rico asked grabbing the apparatus designated in the field manual as the OSH.

"Sure thing Major. Just enjoying some of my hard spent taxes." He yelled over the whining engine. The fields in front of them looked like a vid clip of the First World War on Earth. Broken lands, burning bodies, but the alien carcasses brought something else to it.

Behind him, Rico could see into the holding cabin and the others were all bouncing around uneasily. They were still about fifteen minutes from the last known position of the civilians. It was good to have his squad back together. It was almost like having the family back on some sort of twisted vacation.

Gossard spoke up from the back. "What's he trying to do to us?"

"What's wrong," Max yelled back. "To hard for you old geezers?"

"I'll show you a hard!" Gossard yelled stepping up. Max veered to the right, sending the Warrant Officer to the opposite side against L'Ioo.

"Ease up sergeant!" Zim ordered from the back. Gossard eased himself up and back into his seat.

"Ease it up your-" Max began.

"I wouldn't finish that!" Rico said looking out the window. The sun was up now. The bugs weren't too heavy in the area, but they were still there. Not seeing them only made Rico more nervous.

"Kepler," Rico shouted back. "Any contact with the transport?"

"Negative sir," Kepler said crawling up to Rico, hunched over in the back of the truck. "But from what I can tell from the info from Murph, they're in the middle of the city somewhere. It's not too big,"

"So we should be able to find them." Rico finished. "Back to your seat Private. Rough roads ahead."

Kepler returned to his seat next to Muniz who was gently rocking back and forth. "Major, I have to pee!" He yelled.

"Stow it private!" Rico yelled back.

"Should have thought of that before we left," Zim said with a smirk. "Or you could just go in your suit."

"Yeah, we used to do it all the time," Gossard said smiling. "Especially on cold planets. It'll warm you up right quick."

"You're lying!" he said biting his lip. He looked at Ryan and Lindsey who only shrugged with smiles across their faces.

"Never ask a lady such things," Lindsey said leaning back. Max suddenly hit another bump, or bug, and the truck swerved across the road.

"Slow it down or I'm going in the suit!"

"Humans are very peculiar about the way they treat their fellow comrades." L'Ioo mentioned. She had remained mostly quiet on the trip out into the Bad Lands.

"It's called hazing," Rico called back. "We all go through it, part of an initiation into the group."

"Is this how your politicians are treated as well?" She asked.

Gossard broke into laughter. "No, but maybe they should, huh?"

Max slammed on the breaks and the truck squealed to a halt. They were inside the village. It was mostly intact as most of the bugs had bypassed it for the larger city. It was bigger quarry.

"Last stop boys and girls," Max said pressing the button to open the back hatch. "We aboard Brutto Transportation hope you did not enjoy your ride and hope that we will not have the displeasure of seeing you again."

"That's it," Rico said. "Muniz, you drive back."

"Do I have to?" He asked stepping down from the truck and peering around the corner.

"Yes, now hurry up and go, we have to move." Rico said pulling himself on top of the hood as to get a good view of the surrounding area. It was still a viable location for life. But because of the lack of destruction, it provided adequate cover for the enemy. Zim hopped up to join Rico.

"What do you think?" Zim asked.

"To quiet." He replied flipping down his snoopers. The area looked clean. "It has to be crawling."

"Agreed." Zim said. He looked behind them, into the waste land they had just crossed. "Crossing hell for what?"

"Eden has fallen. Ironic isn't it?" Rico said.

"What's that?"

"That in our peace and benevolence towards ourselves, we have become impotent to the galaxy around us. And now, we face the wrath of God, and the garden has fallen."

Zim stood silent a moment. "Jean once told me, 'Out there, you only have one life and it's what you choose to do with that one life that makes the heroes. I choose to lead men and women into battle, knowing they're going to die, but I do it for my home, so that it may never fall.'"

"Brutto and Kepler stay behind with the truck Charlie." Rico said to his LT. He flipped his snoopers back up.

"Copy, sir." Zim said. He jumped down and quickly had the squad ready to move. Jonnie stepped down shortly after and grabbed his Morita. He found Kepler sitting in the door to the back of the truck. His eyes were filled with anxious boredom.

"Something wrong Private?" Rico asked.

"I've been afraid of fighting Major," Kepler said looking up. "I've been terrified since I joined the Roughnecks, but I tried. And now, that I want to fight, I can't." He rubbed his leg that had been broken. "I feel like I am only slowing the squad down."

Rico looked at him a moment. He felt sorry for him; he knew what it was like to question your place in the scheme of it all, and how it takes very little to get you motivated to actually take care of what needs to be taken care of. His sympathy was how the young man was still trying to try. His physical condition was prime with the exception of his leg, and it was frustrating to him.

"Just bite your tongue Private." Rico said patting him on the shoulder. "All things come in their time."

Rico turned to the others who were still ready to move out. "All right apes. Two teams; Zim, you take Muniz, L'Ioo, and Lindsey. Gossard and Ryan, you're with me. If you find anything, radio back. Kepler, you radio us coordinates every fifteen minutes. We're moving in a pincer formation. Fan out and rendezvous in the center, get me?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Move out." Each trooper followed their respective leader and they marched into the city. Rico and his group broke and went north. The city was deserted, the images before him reminded him of Buenos Ares ten years before. More irony for thought. He took his troopers up a side street that led to an alley way. The way was dark and long, perfect place for an ambush. But the bugs weren't that smart. He moved in cautiously, his weapon at the read. Ryan and Gossard scanned the building tops intently as they moved forward. The sun was shinning in a blue sky with a few wisps of gray smoke snaking into the above.

Kepler's voice suddenly broke in. "Major Rico!"

"Go ahead Kepler." Rico responded.

"Sir, Murphy has them pinpointed, and they're surrounded. Four blocks west, two blocks north sir, and its crawling big time."

"Copy Kepler, relay to the Lieutenant. Have Brutto ready the truck." Rico cut the link. "Let's move apes."

JEAN RAZAK

Carmen stood before the airlock, waiting for the hiss of pressurized air. It had been a tense few hours since the arrival of the Tophetti ships. Both governments were in a frenzy. SICON ordered the Razak to Tesca Nemerosa, where he would meet up with the seventh task force, and from there, they would receive further orders. But she had no clue as to what was going on with the Tophetti, or why exactly they had even been ordered here. But any help was good help.

The hiss came and the doors slid apart. T'Phai emerged, ducking under the low opening and offered a salute. Carmen returned it with a smile. He was in full Tophetti military powered suit, his rank shown with several small blocks about his left breast. His suit appeared to be more ornate as well in comparison to the additional members of his entourage.

"It's nice to see you Colonel." Carmen said.

"As you Admiral." T'Phai stepped aside to allow the other two to step forward. "This is my son, Lieutenant T'Phal; he is in command of the fighter wing aboard the M'Tre."

"Lieutenant," Carmen said with a nod.

"Admiral," T'Phal offered up a salute. "I have heard much of your exploits." His voice was slightly deeper than T'Phai's, but the accent was the same.

"And this is Major H'Scrii; he is in command of the Tophetti ground troops." The Major stepped forward and gave a short bow.

"A pleasure to meet one with your prestige Admiral." He said politely.

"I am thankful for your gracious introductions," Carmen said. "Now if you'll follow me gentlemen, I'll lead you to the briefing room where we've already begun some plans for retrieval of the forces."

They walked down the corridors quickly, Carmen giving a brief tour of the ship on their way.

"Quite different from the Valley Forge, is it not?" T'Phai asked as they turned another corner.

"Yes and no." Carmen replied. "Many systems are the same at a basic level with just more sophisticated and up-to-date technology. Additionally there are several decks designed to house of Tophetti crews in conditions more like their home."

"What is your Tophetti crew compliment?" T'Phal asked.

"Right now it's about a hundred." Carmen said after a moment of thinking.

"And your human compliment?" He asked a few seconds later.

"I think 346." She replied.

"So you know your exact human compliment and not the Tophetti one?" Everyone paused and T'Phai turned to his son.

"T'Phal!" he hissed. You will watch your tongue!

Carmen stood in place for a moment. She turned to face T'Phal and smiled. "Our Tophetti crew has gone through some changes since I was assigned. Additionally, I was only assigned less than three weeks ago, my time to familiarize myself with the entire crew, especially one that has changed twice since my arrival is most difficult."

She stepped up to T'Phal and looked him straight in the eye. "Acat'phala iduio!" she whispered. He bowed his head after being properly reprimanded by a superior.

"My apologies Admiral," he whispered. "No disrespect was meant."

"Apology accepted." Carmen smiled. "Now, if you gentlemen will follow me, we'll begin our briefing." Carmen spun back around and continued to the briefing room with no additional incident.

The room was spacious with a three dimensional display in the center to display planetary situations and a flat screen map with longitude and latitude on the far wall. A small table was provided on the inner wall with three large windows opposite allowing for an external view. The four sat themselves and two more aides entered with folders and sat themselves on either side of Carmen.

She let her Tophetti guests look over the information provided. One by one they looked up to signal their attentiveness.

"SICON has been caught unawares. We were sent here to evacuate personnel if we found the situation too hot. We have found it too hot. Unfortunately, we have been able to do little but continue to feed the fire." She pulled up a display in the center with current troop deployments. "This is our current situation. On the opposite side of the planet, the Threshold and Harry Lee trying to get some of the civilians to safety, with little success. After four days here, we've yet to come up with an effective retrieval plan."

"What is the status of the troops and civilians on the ground?" H'Scrii asked sitting up. He looked over the map and looked back at Carmen.

"Supplies are quickly becoming exhausted." Carmen looked down for a moment then returned her eyes to the Tophetti. "We're in full retreat all over the planet, and its hard to get close enough to the planet without sustaining heavy damage to the ships."

"Things have changed since the war." T'Phai observed quietly. He passed his gaze to the projection. "What of Major Rico and the Roughnecks?"

"Right in the thick of it." Carmen responded.

"Earlier this evening," One of the aides stated. "We traced the Roughnecks setting out for a town little over twenty kilometers west of the main city."

"We've been considering the use of nukes in several areas to hopefully halt the bug armies long enough to get some ships in there to get people out."

The three Tophetti quickly began talking among themselves and T'Phal exited. H'Scrii finished his conversation with T'Phai then stood.

"Thank you for having us aboard your ship Admiral," He bowed slightly. "May we meet again on the other side of war." He left quickly.

"T'Phai?" Carmen asked a bit shocked at the sudden action.

"The Tophetti government too has been caught unawares. But before we left we were out fitted with what you humans call 'crusher bombs'." T'Phai stood and walked to the hologram projector. "They were designed to accompany Terran nukes. The crusher bombs hold the enemy in place while the nukes destroy them."

"The bugs to often scatter at the first sign of incoming fighters." Carmen added in. she motioned for the two aides to exit.

"Exactly, so we hold them down and the nukes can effectively destroy the army and accomplish the desired effect without prolonged nuclear bombardment." T'Phai turned back to her. "You handled T'Phal well."

"I learned a little bit in Officer's School." She said. She stepped to the window and looked down on to the planet. Small yellow balls blossomed and rippled across random sections of the land denoting battles. "Where did they go?"

"To prepare our ship for an operation, should you order it."

Carmen crossed her arms and leaned against the bulkhead, still gazing onto the planet. "I'll give the orders shortly."

T'Phai stood silently for a moment then said: "Wishing to awaken?"

"If it were that easy." She closed her eyes. "I still have nightmares. I can see the battles, watching the people die. I heard screams from the back of the retrieval ships... I still hear those screams."

"As do I." T'Phai joined her at the window with his hands behind his back. "War is a detrimental thing to the psyche of any sentient being. We all deal with it our own ways." He trailed off. The comm. on the wall chimed and Carmen answered it.

"Admiral," the voice returned. "The Threshold is going down."

"I'm on my way." She said releasing the button. She turned to T'Phai, "You can accompany me if you wish. Or you can return to your ship."

"It would be most dangerous to try and return right now. I will follow you."

THRESHOLD

Captain O'Hare was sitting in the command chair as the ship fell apart around him. His helmsman was dead, fires were burning all over the place, he knew he was about to die. He pulled up the ship wide microphone.

"All hands abandon ship!" He dropped it and made his way through the debris to the helm. The dead body was easy to move in the failing artificial gravity. He sat down in the seat and began to plot the course for the planet below. If he had to go, he was taking some of them with him.

Blue plumes continued to lance across his plain of view. Another struck the front of the ship and caused it to pitch upwards. Michael could feel the controls straining in his hands as the internal gyro's tried to get the ship steady. Another blast hit the ship and he felt his arm break from the strength of it against the controls. He slumped over the column and breathed heavily. He looked up to see the front of his ship begin glow red from the intense friction of the planet's atmosphere.

Pieces of the ship could be heard peeling away from the chassis of the ship. Michael pushed himself into the seat and closed his eyes. He was praying that the crew would get away. This was his fault. They would not die because of him, but the damned arachnids were going to pay for his folly.

JEAN RAZAK

Carmen watched as the Threshold burned in the atmosphere and detonated across the planet's surface. She whinced then turned.

"Have the Ticonderoga retrieve the survivors." T'Phai stepped up.

"We shall have our forces in a day." He said putting his hand on her shoulder. She took it and nodded. He left and she fell into her seat. She looked up as the explosion rippled across the lands. They would pay for this.

EDEN

Rico peered out from the alley way into the center of the town. There was one building in the middle, its walls crumbling and smoke rising from around it. The arachnids were all mulling about it, their bone chilling screeches piercing the otherwise serine location. The sun was setting in the west and the orange sky gave the illusion of a burning horizon, though he was sure it was. There was an over turned transportation truck sticking out of the side of the building.

He motioned for Gossard to move across the street to the opposite alley. He moved quickly and was in place with his rifle ready to fire. Murphy quickly followed and Rico went last, sprinting the whole way. He kneeled behind Gossard and held down the comm. button on his ear.

"Kepler," Rico said and waited. The private's voice came back.

"Go ahead sir."

"Where are the others?" Rico asked.

"From what I can tell sir, they're on the other side of the building." The line cut with a brief blast of static.

Rico looked around then out into the street where the bugs were still circling the building. "Copy private." Rico turned back to Gossard and Ryan. Both were ready and willing to move, he could see it in their eyes. He opened a link to Zim.

"Lieutenant?" He asked.

"Copy sir." Zim replied.

"Location?"

"Opposite side of you sir, near as we can tell."

"Copy, ready to move into the building on my mark." Rico said. He pulled out a small flare pistol and aimed it into the sky. Suddenly weapons fire began to echo down the streets. "Lieutenant!"

"Not us sir," Zim replied. Rico looked out and saw the bugs advancing on the building. Tracer fire could be seen arching from the building. Rico swore under his breath and pulled the trigger on the flare gun. The darkening sky lit up and Rico led his two squad mates into the thick of it. They quickly were able to cut a hole into the bugs and make their way to the building. Gossard ran past him and used his shoulder as a battering ram to get through the weakening wall. Ryan and Rico jumped in and quickly turned to lay down cover fire.

A loud explosion ripped through the opposite side of the building and Zim could be heard shouting orders. Gossard kneeled next to Rico and let the rounds fly. He waited a moment before standing and Rico went to the other side of the building. He grabbed L'Ioo's shoulder and motioned her to the other side. She quickly obeyed and tromped through the ruined building. The bugs could be seen coming in from outside of the city from this angle. Rico glared at them, had his eyes been grenades, he would have gladly thrown them into the melee.

"Lieutenant, you're with me, HOLD THIS BUILDING APES!" Rico shouted. Zim led the way up the stairs at first but Rico jumped past him and into the hallway at the end of the first flight of stairs. "CLEAR!" he shouted.

Zim grabbed him by the arm pit and the two quickly began searching the rooms. They found nothing. Rico quickly turned around and was beginning up the next flight. This time, Zim went past him and the two searched the rooms, nothing but empty office space. The process was repeated for three more floors before they heard something promising. On the sixth floor, they could hear screaming and when Rico peered around the corner, he found twelve civilians sitting together. Most were just shaking in the fetal position. Rico motioned to Zim and the stepped out.

"I'm Major Rico of the Roughnecks; we're here to get you people out." They looked up with elation. A few with Moritas stepped out from the rooms at the sound of new voices. One walked up to them.

"My name's Larry Minovich, thanks for coming to get us." He said offering out his hand.

"No thanks needed, get your people ready to move." Rico pushed past him and started pulling people onto their feet. He pressed his comm.

"Kepler,"

"Copy sir." Came the reply.

"You and Brutto get here ASAP, there's more from the mountains coming in." Rico released his comm. and looked at Zim. "We need down quickly."

"Then go straight down," Zim smiled. "A few grenades should get us a way."

"Get these people away." Rico pulled out two grenades and tossed one into a room. The people cowered close to the opposite wall as the explosion tore through the first three floors. Rico stepped in with the other grenade and threw it as hard as he could straight down. It went through the floor then a yellow fireball shot upwards. Jonnie shielded himself for a moment then looked down after the heat cleared. Gossard was looking up into the gaping hole. Rico waved. He attached a lizard line to a more secure wall and jumped down. He fired his jets just before hitting the ground.

"Status?" He asked turning to Muniz.

"We've got them for the moment sir." Muniz said. "But I don't know how long that's going to last, they keep coming."

"Don't worry, we're out of here." Rico turned back to the hole and shouted upwards. "Start them down Lieutenant."

It only took a few minutes before everyone was on the ground and they were ready to leave. The squad moved to where Rico's team had come through. The bugs were continuing to push forward, but their steady fire kept them at bay.

"Where is that dirty son-of-a-" Gossard began but was cut off by headlights slamming through the warriors. It fishtailed to where the rear of the truck was facing them. The hatch dropped and Kepler jumped out and began firing into the mass of bugs. L'Ioo and Muniz moved quickly to begin loading the people in while Goss and Zim took forward defense and Ryan and Lindsey took rear. Rico joined them to continue keeping the bugs at bay in the back of the building.

"Nothing like being out numbered, eh Major?" Lindsey asked spraying out a throng of rounds.

"Indeed." Rico said. A bug quickly rushed the group, absorbing the brunt of the fire, allowing for others to quickly fill in and began to push forward. One grabbed Ryan by the arm and pulled him in.

His screams pierced the air above the rest of the chaos. Rico and Lindsey began to push harder against them. One was able to grab Rico and begin to pull him back until a grenade from Lindsey blew the bug's upper jaw off, dropping him to the ground. She stepped up along with Zim to pull him back away from danger, his arm was bleeding heavily.

"Up-and-at-em Major!" Zim said hefting him up. Rico looked up to see Lindsey firing rapidly into the mass. Ryan somehow managed to fall out, his armor cracked and torn and cuts and bruises all over his body.

"You two pull back!" Rico shouted firing past them. The bugs kept coming.

"Major!" Max shouted through the comm., "We have got to leave!"

Ryan turned back and smiled. "We'll cover you Major!"

Zim was pulling Rico back now towards the truck. "That's a negative Lieutenant!"

"We're going to go like troopers sir!" Lindsey shouted. "That's how it should be!" She and Ryan continued to push forward.

"Dammit troopers!" He shouted. Zim tossed him into the back of the truck and ordered the others in. As soon as they were in, he banged the side of the truck and the tires squealed. They parted the bugs like a hot knife through butter. Rico sat up and could see Lindsey and Ryan before the sea came back together.

Zim made his way between the civilians to Rico. Gossard had removed his gauntlet and was wrapping his arm. Rico just held an intent gaze into nothing.

"It was their choice Major." Zim said quietly.

"I would've made the same choice." He said. He looked up at Zim. "What choice do you have when you watch your entire squad die in a matter of hours? Jean wasn't the same after it happened to him, we all knew it, you could see it in his eyes when he looked at each of us." He leaned his head against the back of the truck.

"We're going to get off of this planet." Rico said quietly. Zim sat on the bench. The rest of the trip back to the city was silent.

11 returned and saw under the
sun that—

The race is not to the swift,
Nor the battle to the strong,
Nor bread to the wise,
Nor riches to men of
understanding,
Nor favor to men of skill;
But time and chance
happen to them all.
12 For man also does not know
his time:
Like fish taken in a cruel net,
Like birds caught in a snare,
So the sons of men are snared
in an evil time,
When it falls suddenly upon
them.

Ecclesiastes 9:11-12