acknowledgement and updated the objectives on the command net.
Squad two reached their designated position and the two slug throwe rs were assembled. Taking sight over the barrier, they readied the weapons with a smooth precision granted through plenty of practice. Once Chang was satisfied squad two slid the weapons into position and let fire. Slugs over twenty centimeters long erupted from the barrels at velocities exceeding ten kilometers per second. CFT shields could stand up to pulses and energy beams without suffering so much as a scratch, but faced with the kinetic energy the slugs carried, the carbon fiber nanotube shields were torn to shreds.
What was once cover became deadly shrapnel as the shield fragments tore through the men behind them like they were made of paper. In a few short seconds it was over, and the heavies powered down the slug throwers.
Peering over the barrier, Chang grinned and swore. “Now that’s some messy shit, Sarge.”
“Just be happy I don’t make you go clean it up for taking so long,” Williams growled as he cast an uneasy eye at the amount of concrete the enemy’s railguns had dug out of the barrier protecting the Marines. “Squads, advance!”
Their objective was a communications array on the next hilltop. The original plan was to support an airstrike and catch any stragglers, but command had received intel regarding sensitive data on servers within the communications bunker .
The brass wanted to review it, s o the Marines were heading in to do it the old-fashioned way.
“Man I hate Venus.” PFC Arsen vaulted over the concrete barrier and established cover for his squad from behind a truck. “It feels like it’s spinning too fast. I swear it’s making me dizzy.”
“That’s just your head reeling from how much your mouth moves,” Sergeant Green said caustically. “Now shut up and keep your eye on that tree line. Scan’s clear, but you never know when someone has left a surprise for you.”
The two squads moved up; their fireteams advancing in a standard pattern until they reached the remains of the enemy troops. They were definitely a fringe group of radicals, their motley armor being the first sign, but the railguns they had were the latest spec. Several of the Marines were eying them and Williams signaled Lance Corporal Dvorak to wipe the ID systems on the guns. When they were safe to handle he assigned one to each team’s assist.
“Swap that out with your heavy gunner as the need arises.”
Chang grinned. “I can definitely see the need to use this bad boy.” He checked the ammunition and the reload action. “Why doesn’t the corps give us weapons like this?”
“They’re too concerned your ham hands would put a hole in one of their pretty ships,” Dvorak said.
“They’re the TSF’s ships; don’t see why the corps would care.”
“Cause we’re all one happy military now,” Williams grunted.
“Yeah, I’d like to see those vacuum jockeys down here taking on enemy troops.” PFC Perez kicked the twitching body of a fallen foe to make sure he was dead.
“I’d like to see you doing it too.” Corporal Taylor gestured for Perez to move out.
Williams checked the command net to make sure that squads one and two were in position relative to squad three. The command net showed Lieutenant Grenwald making better time. Williams signaled his men over the combat net to pick up the pace.
He singled out the lance corporal heading up the first fireteam in squad one.
Jansen, one/one’s team leader, replied in her trademark calm voice. She never raised it, not even in a firefight. She was on the way to making her corporal rating and Williams expected to see her move to NCO or possibly even OCS after this tour.
She directed her team to pick up the pace and slipped into the
Squad two reached their designated position and the two slug throwe rs were assembled. Taking sight over the barrier, they readied the weapons with a smooth precision granted through plenty of practice. Once Chang was satisfied squad two slid the weapons into position and let fire. Slugs over twenty centimeters long erupted from the barrels at velocities exceeding ten kilometers per second. CFT shields could stand up to pulses and energy beams without suffering so much as a scratch, but faced with the kinetic energy the slugs carried, the carbon fiber nanotube shields were torn to shreds.
What was once cover became deadly shrapnel as the shield fragments tore through the men behind them like they were made of paper. In a few short seconds it was over, and the heavies powered down the slug throwers.
Peering over the barrier, Chang grinned and swore. “Now that’s some messy shit, Sarge.”
“Just be happy I don’t make you go clean it up for taking so long,” Williams growled as he cast an uneasy eye at the amount of concrete the enemy’s railguns had dug out of the barrier protecting the Marines. “Squads, advance!”
Their objective was a communications array on the next hilltop. The original plan was to support an airstrike and catch any stragglers, but command had received intel regarding sensitive data on servers within the communications bunker .
The brass wanted to review it, s o the Marines were heading in to do it the old-fashioned way.
“Man I hate Venus.” PFC Arsen vaulted over the concrete barrier and established cover for his squad from behind a truck. “It feels like it’s spinning too fast. I swear it’s making me dizzy.”
“That’s just your head reeling from how much your mouth moves,” Sergeant Green said caustically. “Now shut up and keep your eye on that tree line. Scan’s clear, but you never know when someone has left a surprise for you.”
The two squads moved up; their fireteams advancing in a standard pattern until they reached the remains of the enemy troops. They were definitely a fringe group of radicals, their motley armor being the first sign, but the railguns they had were the latest spec. Several of the Marines were eying them and Williams signaled Lance Corporal Dvorak to wipe the ID systems on the guns. When they were safe to handle he assigned one to each team’s assist.
“Swap that out with your heavy gunner as the need arises.”
Chang grinned. “I can definitely see the need to use this bad boy.” He checked the ammunition and the reload action. “Why doesn’t the corps give us weapons like this?”
“They’re too concerned your ham hands would put a hole in one of their pretty ships,” Dvorak said.
“They’re the TSF’s ships; don’t see why the corps would care.”
“Cause we’re all one happy military now,” Williams grunted.
“Yeah, I’d like to see those vacuum jockeys down here taking on enemy troops.” PFC Perez kicked the twitching body of a fallen foe to make sure he was dead.
“I’d like to see you doing it too.” Corporal Taylor gestured for Perez to move out.
Williams checked the command net to make sure that squads one and two were in position relative to squad three. The command net showed Lieutenant Grenwald making better time. Williams signaled his men over the combat net to pick up the pace.
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