Epsilon Squadron: Task Force MI-5 Chapter 5

- Calm before the Storm –

"So how's that shoulder of yours?" Brayburn asked after a while, even as he steered the humvee through a maze of rock formations and huge boulders.

"Its better," I replied then gripped my rifle as the bumps sent shocks up my spine. For some reason he pulled security patrol and took me, Langley and Montauk along for the ride. Maybe he was just making a way to amuse himself. It'd been days since our last encounter with the Zerg and so far nothing has happened. Yet.

"You took a hit real hard. Ugly mother sent a spine through your shoulder. I thought you were gonna bite the dust for sure." Brayburn said.

Montauk, who sat beside the driver's seat, lit a cig. "Well, our boy Griffith almost had it. An inch and a half more and it could've been his heart." He looked back at me then graciously offered me a stick. "You want one, boy?"

I gave him a second look. His face was the face of a man who didn't take no for an answer, and he was rarely in a giving mood. "Yeah, don't mind if I do," I replied, taking the cig from him and inserting it between my lips. I took out my lighter from a pocket then lit it, drawing in smoke like a lover of smoking who smoked only after meals.

"As I was saying," Montauk went on, " Griffith here almost had it. Reefer too. Blasted 'Ling pounced on him then started to stab away. The poor guy was fifty-fifty by the time I kicked the thing over and killed it. A miracle that he made it to MI-5 alive. And McGee? He almost got it, too. He took a spine right through his right leg, almost got it blown off. He's okay now and still able to walk, though I doubt he'll be making twenty five click death marches through the wasteland anytime soon."

"Really?" I said, half believing everything he just said. I glanced to the yellow sun that was slowly setting down the uneven horizon. It has been a long time since I last watched a sunset for real. This was way better than the holovids I watched during off hours. The orange-blue sky was a sight to behold. The stars were coming out one by one, gleaming jewels that shone high above our heads. Intricate shadow art splayed itself on the unassuming earth. I had to admit the view here was way better than what I was accustomed to, staring out through a window as our science vessel streaked through the vacuum of space.

Langley, who sat across from me with his computer slate, opened up his mouth and said, "Speaking about luck, have you guys seen the nurse that had been shadowing Griffith these past few days? She's beyond solar flare status, more like a supernova."

"Hell yeah," Brayburn replied then let out a mischievous chuckle. "She can ignite my world anytime she wants. You at least got her name, right Max?"

"Elaine Campbell. Age nineteen. Graduated with top honors. Accelerated due to high I.Q., smart and very resourceful. Assigned to MI-5 less than a year ago."

"Wow…you certainly did your research, runt," was Montauk's cold comment, for the subject didn't interest him.

Brayburn, on the other hand, was very much interested. "Keep reading, Max. Tell me what her sign is, what she likes…you know, the works. I want to know everything."

"Why? You campaigning to be her next boyfriend?" I snapped.

"If she's available, then yes I'm campaigning." He gave me one of his trademark smiles, blue eyes locking on to mine. "Why? You jealous?"

"Keep your eyes on the damn road!" Montauk hollered, gritting his teeth.

"No, I'm not jealous. You speak as though there was something going on between Elaine and me."

"Is there?"

My brows arced high. "Hell no!"

I knew he was smiling even though he kept his eyes on the road. "So you won't mind if I take her from you?"

"You can try but I think you'll fail. Her standards are pretty high."

"Now you speak like there's something going on between you." Brayburn said.

"You have no idea, man." I wasn't going to tell him that Elaine and I shared a past, that we were once very intimate friends since we were kids. I sucked at my cig so I wouldn't have to say anything else.

"Well, I think she needs some excitement in her life. She could use someone who has a sense of adventure, who has style and class." Brayburn said with his most serious air. "She needs someone, you know, like me."

"Bullshit!" Langley and Montauk said in unison. I couldn't agree more.

Brayburn laughed that devil's laugh then gunned the humvee forward, increasing its speed. The cold air was now making my cheeks flap as he accelerated some more, toward the ridge where we first laid eyes on MI-5. We were moving away from the colony.

"Keith, where the hell do you think you're going?" Langley snapped. "Turn back, you moron!"

"What? It's not like the Zerg would still be here," Brayburn snapped back. "You're being too paranoid."

Langley shook his head at him, giving up. "Fine, do what you want but I'm telling you I have a bad feeling about this." He poked at the radio then established communication with MI-5. "Base, this is Patrol 13, Corporal Langley reporting in."

"We read you, Corporal. Anything to report?" was the comm officer's reply.

Langley sucked in air as he surveyed the scene. "We're near point 332. So far there's nothing, but I got a bad feeling about this."

"Report in anything out of the ordinary."

"I'm keeping my eyes peeled sharp already." Langley replied. "And right now all I see are a few birds flying high in the sky. Ain't nothin' strange 'bout that."

Brief pause…then, "Corporal, there are no birds on planet Mylon."

"Really? Then what the hell are those?" he muttered, pointing to a point on the sky where indeed some birds were flying.

Montauk reached in the humvee's glove compartment then took out a pair of binoculars. Gingerly he applied it to his eyes then scanned the horizon. He examined the place where Langley directed then paused for a moment. Then his expression changed. "Holy shit…"

The comm officer came in through again, this time agitated. "Corporal, get your guys out of there now!"

"Why? Is there something you're not telling us, comm.?" Langley asked.

The hovering spots in the sky drew closer to our position, growing more and more in detail. My eyes popped out of their sockets as I slowly realized what they were. It let out a shrill cry then dove straight at us. I liberated short random spurts from my rifle, Montauk and Langley doing the same. Brayburn swerved a full 180 then gunned the humvee back home, accelerating at break neck speeds. The swarm followed us.

"Damn, I knew something was going to go wrong!" I heard Langley say.

One of the Mutalisks shot out its glaive wurms at us. The earth around us ruptured as it tried to tag us. I shot out a volley once more, hitting nothing but air. It was difficult to aim at a moving target when you yourself are moving. I shot out again, the sounds stabbing loudly at my ears, U-238 rounds ripping through the orange-blue atmosphere. The Mutalisks kept coming, unfazed by our rampant gunning.

"Can't this thing go any faster?!" Montauk shouted.

Suddenly a loud explosion echoed out and the next thing I knew was I was airborne. A brief second more and I was on the ground, numb and dazed. My rifle lay a few feet away from my face. Desparately I tried to reach out and touch but the effort was too great. I was out of strength and breath. Burning fuel pervaded the twilight atmosphere and I stared up into a starry sky. I heard Montauk groan, boots scraping the ground as he tried to get up. He hobbled to where I was then grabbed my arm, hauling me up.

"C'mon, we gotta go..." he muttered breathlessly.

"What the hell happened?" I said as I grabbed hold of him then shakily got up to my feet.

"We got tagged." That was all Montauk called say.

My neck felt loose on my neck. I looked around then limped to where my weapon was. The Mutalisks that were after us were gone, insignificant spots on the distant horizon. I half wished they would come back so I could dish out a little payback. Ill-advised, of course.

Where's Brayburn and Langley?

"Help! I need some help over here!"