Epsilon Squadron: Task Force MI-5 Chapter 3

- Death March –

How long had we been marching? And how far? I didn't know. All I could think of was reaching our objective which was fifteen clicks away from us. Already the long trip was taking a toll on us. The yellow sun beating high above our heads was raising temperatures, internally and externally. I was reeking of sweat that constantly trickled down my brow. The sickening empty beauty of the wasteland was already a common sight for me. Sickly looking vegetation lingered about, struggling to survive under the extreme conditions. I wondered aloud how we were to survive until we get to our objective.

"We do what we must," Walker replied. He paused for a second, holding his ground, possibly scanning our surroundings. "There."

"What did you see?" Thorpe throatily asked. It was his decision to let the Ghost walk on point for our squad, put his ocular implants to good use he said. Obviously he, like the rest of us, didn't know what Walker was seeing. It was just too far for our normal vision to comprehend.

"A crash site," Walker answered, voice scrambler hissing. He lingered on for a few more brief seconds then resumed the march. We followed suit.

The minutes passed but it seemed like hours. Occasionally we took five minute breaks to relieve our fatigued bodies, under the shade of some boulder.

"Langley, are you sure its fifteen clicks northwest?" Montauk crowed out loud from behind.

Langley checked his comp slate again then said, "Yup, its fifteen clicks." He stupidly grinned at Montauk. "You can check out my comp if you want. You can read, doncha?"

"Just making sure, geek breath," Montauk replied sourly. "I ain't in the mood to walk twenty five clicks to some God forbidden colony."

"When are you ever in the mood, Montauk," Brayburn snapped. He grinned infectiously.

I wished they would shut up.

"We've traveled far. I'm sure the colony is a good click or two from our position." Langley went on, eyes still glued to the comp. "If I'm correct, and I think I am, MI-5 should be just over that ridge."

The ground rose sharply and we had to dig our boots in for support. Brayburn was helping the pilot up since she didn't have intense training like we Marines had. Walker led the way up, followed by Thorpe and me, the rest trailing behind with Peterson guarding our rear. You could never be too careful. The Zerg could pop out anywhere thanks to their ability to burrow underground. I kept my rifle up, butt jammed against the thickness of my shoulder armor, eyes to the rifle sights.

Then we reached the top.

"There it is!" I heard Langley cry out in glee. Indeed it was a sight for sore eyes. Relief at last. The rest of my loose squad whooped and cheered, their voices echoing out in the open. Even Walker breathed out a sigh of content as he scanned our surroundings once more. But then…

"Be quiet!" Walker suddenly said out loud, driving us to silence. He looked around, C-10 canister rifle up and ready, scoping out targets. We shouldered our weapons but didn't see any hostiles.

"What is it?" Thorpe asked.

The Ghost exhaled then inhaled deeply. "We're not alone."

I looked around. So did the others. We still didn't see anything.

"Don't tell me the Zerg can cloak now, mister specialist." Montauk joked out loud. He smiled crookedly as he slowly brought down his Gauss rifle, muzzle to the earth.

Walker didn't say anything. He kept his rifle up, finger to the trigger. I knew he sensed something but I was sure what. Then suddenly he turned toward me and fired.

"What the hell?!"

I didn't feel anything, not even in reflex. I wasn't shot. The ground behind me exploded, blood and guts gushing out like a fountain. Dead Zerg in the hole just a few meters from my position. Walker knew.

"We got more of them!!!"

Earth was thrown high up in the air as more Zerg popped out of their holes, their snarls filling the wide empty space of the wasteland. Quickly I shouldered my rifle and liberated depleted uranium shells from my weapon. U-238 rounds. The sudden sound of gunfire stabbed wildly in my mind as I took out one hydralisk to another.

"Fire!"

That was Thorpe, yelling out a command to kill. He didn't have to tell us twice. We were already firing. Zerglings and Hydralisks fell left and right from our unrelenting barrage. Walker cocked his rifle then took aim at a Zergling that was about to pounce at Brayburn. Guns blazed unceasingly as more Zerg entered the fray, getting closer and closer to our position.

I saw disaster in five seconds.

"Run!" Thorpe yelled out as he waved his rifle back and forth, keeping Zerg at bay while we made our way down the slope. Vaguely I heard Langley establishing contact with the colony, his voice frantic as he desperately dialed up the frequency.

"MI-5! MI-5! This is Corporal Langley of Epsilon 5th Battalion. We are under attack by the Zerg! Repeat: We are under attack by the Zerg! Requesting immediate assistance!"

I looked back and saw the multitudes coming down on us and knew that it would take a miracle for us to survive this.