Lieutenant (The United Federation Marine Corps Book 3) by Jonathan P. Brazee Page B

seemed to be a gathering of some sort, a picnic or fair.  People were eating, kids were darting back and forth.  It was a scene probably repeated hundreds if not thousands of times each day throughout the Federation—nothing remarkable.
    Then things changed. People started falling to the ground while others started screaming and running.  More fell, and the panic grew to encompass all the people.
    “What the hell?” someone said from the far side of the room as they watched. 
    “Who’s attacking them?” Capt Yu asked, voicing something each of them was probably thinking.
    The CO held up his hand, palm out, and the muttering ceased.  He focused on the screen.
    When the attackers appeared in view, even the CO couldn’t quiet the gasps.  Shockingly, the attackers were not human.  They looked like something out of a scifi flick.  Standing about five or six feet tall, the, well, creatures were bipedal, walking upright.  Covered in hair or fur, they looked like odd, vaguely familiar teddy bears.  There was no mistaking the weapons in their hands, though.   The short, squat guns had glowing balls at their fore, and the creatures launched the balls forward at the few people still left alive.
    Then it hit Ryck why the creatures seemed familiar.  They were walking upright, were larger, and had weapons, but it was unmistakable.  They were larger, deadlier versions of the capys, the smaller creatures that the farmers had been trying to exterminate. 
    Humanity had finally run into intelligent life, and the capys’ big brothers were back for revenge.   

G.K. Nutrition Six
     
    Chapter 9
     
    “The Shetlands just got destroyed.  No survivors,” Ryck passed to Joshua as they moved across the abandoned fields to the salt mine where a pocket of survivors were hopefully still hanging on.
    “How the hell did that happen?  The entire ship?” Joshua asked incredulously.
    “Looks like it.  I’m not getting everything, but an alien ship appeared and took out the Shetlands .  It’s been either driven off or destroyed, but I can’t get clear word on that.”
    “A capy ship?” Joshua asked.
    “Has to be,” Ryck responded.
    Ryck was monitoring the command circuit which was understandably on fire.  He glanced up as if he could see what was happening in space around G.K. Nutrition Six, but the heavens were quiet.  The day was sunny, the breeze light.  Genmodded bees were the only sign of animal life as the Marines moved through the knee-high wheat.
    Despite the situation, Ryck reached down and took a handful of soil. Before enlisting, he’d been a farmer on Prophesy.  This planet’s soil was excellent, which was  not surprising given GKN’s  experience and resources.  If the soil on his farm had been half this good, he might still be back on Prophesy, tilling the fields.
    “Grizzly Two, this is Grizzly Six.  You need to pick up the pace.  We’ve been ordered to be ready for evac in 90 mikes.  Get that salt mine checked out ASAP, then report back. I’ll try to get a flight of Storks in to pick you and any civilians up at your position, but don’t count on it.  If I can’t get one, you’ve got to be at LZ Diego at 1430.  You copy that? Over” Capt Portuno passed on the command circuit.
    Ryck checked his display.  They were still a good klick-and-a-half from the entrance to the mine, then another klick to the open field designated as LZ Diego.  He’d originally been given a pick-up time of 1800.
    “Roger, Grizzly-Six.  Understood.  Any reason given for the change?  Do we have signs of capys in my AO? [23] ”
    “Negative to the enemy here.  But up there and with 2/6, things are heating up, and the Navy has been ordered to withdraw,” the captain said.  “Keep me informed.  Grizzly-Six, out.”
    “Listen up,” Ryck passed on the platoon circuit.  “The situation has changed, and the Navy’s got to pull out sooner.  The Shetlands has been hit hard, and 2/6 is already being