Hello. Iverik here. Just a reminder: This story uses characters created by someone other than me.

Facing the Black

Mal and Zoe watched grimly. A hasty and obvious minefield had been set up, funneling any would-be attackers into a killing zone. The autodemarch soldiers were busy, setting up equipment. One piece of equipment that was half installed already was a heavy machine-gun. Zoe's sharp eyes noticed a seeker launcher. The two browncoats exchanged glances.

They slid back down. Aria boosted herself up for a look. She ducked down quickly.

"There's too many of them," Paul grumbled.

Killer checked his weapon.

"If'n we ignore these people," Mal said, "I guarantee they won't ignore us. Did you see that launcher on the left," he gambled, "drone launcher. They'll have a three hundred mile radius mapped out once they get that thing launched."

The marines exchanged glances. "We've got a closing window of opportunity," Mal said, "once they get their heavy weapons set up we won't have a chance. As far as we know, no one else in the Alliance knows about this."

"Could take twenty lives to take it down once operational," Zoe commented.

"Maybe," Paul cautioned.

Aria and Killer were convinced. Their safeties clicked off.

"Got a plan, sir?" Zoe asked.

"Kill the machine-gunners first," Mal determined, "then the other construction workers. Then we spread out and try to pick off the soldiers."

"Sooner the better," Paul groaned, "they're finishing with the gun."

Bullets stopped them. Battle cries, Alliance and Independent, filled the air. The autodemarch soldiers dropped what they were doing and raised their guns. In that brief moment, however, they lost their crucial advantages. The machine-gun toppled, one leg unsecured. The seeker-laucher was riddled with bullets from Zoe's gun and the guidance system was ruined. No one could get near it to repair it either. All the autodemarchy had now was numbers- and they were milking that advantage for all it was worth.

A storm of automatic gunfire screamed overhead. Aria popped up, let out a quick burst, and dived back under cover. A bullet whistled through her hair. An enemy grenade sailed in and fell short. The explosion showered the allies with mud.

In the distance, a vehicle roared. Mal took one look, and hope died. It was a troop carrier, charging across the plain way too goram fast. It didn't matter if it was Alliance or Autodemarch. His chances of gaining a fortune were shot if it got to them.

Zoe knew that crazy look. She hated it, but there was nothing she could do about it except join in.

Mal jumped up and charged. Zoe followed. Then Aria. Then Killer- and the whole squad was charging, guns blazing. A round struck Zoe's armor- another hit Killer's... a third killed Aria. But then they had reached the encampment.

There were walls now, fortified with mud-bags. Mal and Zoe knew how to fight in this terrain. They'd done it before. Zoe slipped silently deeper into the camp, exploiting whatever she found to ambush the enemy.

Some of the enemy, at least, also understood the art of ambush. Mal looked up to find himself looking down a gun barrel. Suddenly, Pual shoved him out of the way, gun blazing. The enemy fell. Mal looked at his would-be killer, and then at Paul. "Thanks," he said.

"Don't mention it," Paul said, "I suppose we should block that hole somehow."

"Check him for grenades." Mal fired at another "curious" enemy soldier. Paul found grenades. A mountain of rubble blocked the side enterance. The three of them took up defensive positions and fought for their lives.

Little by little, bullet by bullet, the enemy force was whittled down. The battle had been raging for hours now. Mal checked his ammunition, nursing a graze on his other hand. It was low. There were still far too many enemies- never mind the troop carrier! The latter would be dumping fresh troops into the battlefield in literally seconds. It felt ominously like the last war he'd fought. Defeat starts in the hearts and minds of the enemy- and the Autodemarchy could smell it. Their soldiers edged around the bend. With a roar, Mal opened fire.

At the edge of camp, the troop transport arrived.