Sacremon (Harmony War Series Book 1) by Michael Chatfield Page B

to find enemy positions.
                Fredrickson knew there was a whole other platoon in those cities.
                “The Four to one rule,” she sighed, drinking more coffee.
                “If there’s three or less enemy dug in, use a section. A section’s dug in, use a platoon. A platoon’s dug in, use a company,” Balhauser recited from memory. “At least they’ll understand the reason behind the four to one rule.”
                An alert came up on Fredrickson’s HUD.
                “Looks like they requested air support,” she said looking to Balhauser.
                “Victor brothers?” Balhauser asked.
                “Yeah, Mark, Tyler’s scouting with his people.”
                “Those two are scary, pulled some files from goings on in Westerly Three Complex. Seems that they are two rather deadly criminals few hope to cross, diablo and SWAS. Diablo’s a bigger brute who loves to fight. SWAS is a sniper, uses a bolt action. They say he can kill people even in the middle of a category five sandstorm,” Balhauser looked to Fredrickson, the two of them sharing a knowing look.
                “SWAS?” Fredrickson asked.
                “Serviced With A Smile, cause he’s good looking, and can service any target anywhere,” Balhauser let out a snort. “I don’t think it’s about his prowess in bed, though recruit Alexis Xin would beat the crap out of him and anyone he was caught in bed with.”
                “When did you figure out they were an item?” Fredrickson laughed.
                “Clearing rooms, I told them to stack up behind one another with twats and twigs to ass. I swear they were in one another’s underwear,” Balhauser laughed, shaking his head and smoking.
                Fredrickson laughed as well, Balhauser had a way with words.
    ***
                The city was like every other colony city.
                In the center were the tallest and oldest towers, other towers spiraled around the central tower, each shorter with each new building project. Polished steel and the crystal matrix, which substituted glass, shone in the light.
                Mark heard the shuttle’s work rather than actually see anything. A simulation could only do so much.
                “Get into the city, spread out!” Mark said, the green dots of his platoon turning and heading for the city, the shuttle was five minutes early.
                The Weapons detail opened up with their mortars, mounted repulsors and screamers.
                Mark was out and running across the cleared ground towards the city, there was just five hundred meters, half of what it would actually be on a colonist planet.
                “Shift out, don’t group up!” Mark yelled, people pushed apart as they ran.
                “Contact!” Alexis yelled from Mark’s right, her section slowing as they fired.
                “Fire and keep moving. Repulsors, give those fuckers something to worry about!” Mark said, people’s markers disappearing on his HUD as the defenders picked them off.
                He gritted his teeth and kept running, scanning the windows for weapons fire.
                “Mark targets!” Tyler said, red halos started appearing, guiding fire onto their positions.
                Chai Tea apparently caught a round in the head, swearing he laid down on the ground.
                Mark couldn’t focus on that, instead he scanned the buildings.
                There’s going to be no one left by the time we get to the city. Mark thought, chewing his gum in anger.
                Mark saw a window shot apart as two more went down.
                “Pulser!” Mark said, haloing the target, he fired his under barrel grenade