A Web Serial by M.C.A. Hogarth
| 19. The First Mistake. | 21. Mobilizing. |
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20. Confrontation
Warren. Claws and Spots are manning a machine-gun behind a stack of sandbags while the two Fangs stand guard beside the naval construction crew putting down the grid.
Fang2. "So, where do you want your scar?"
Claws. "What the *** are you talkin' about?"
Fang2. "Your scar. You know, the one we're all going to have before this **** is over. I want mine on my chest. So the girls I'm about to **** can get all hot about it.""
Fang1. "No girl is going to want to **** you."
Fang2. "Of course not. That's what the scar's for."
Claws. "Great. Your very own ****ing peacock tail."
Fang1. "Un****ing believable."
Scythe, over com. "Scythe to Kitty, come in."
Claws. "Kitty here, go."
Scythe. "The LT's incoming."
Claws. "Say again?"
Scythe. "You heard me. She wants to look the new crabs in the eye."
Claws. "****!"
"Keep her alive, the gunny likes her. Scythe out."
Fang1. "Great. Just ****ing great."
Fang2. "That must be her up there."
Peaches jogs in. Her suit is identical to the team's, though with fewer hash marks under her power packs. She exchanges terse greetings with the naval personnel and Team Kitty before crouching behind the sandbags. The silence grows tense.
Fang2. "I'm getting vibration, south."
Fang1. "Finally."
Claws. "Through the grid?"
Fang2. "Think so."
The crabs erupt several hundred feet in front of the sandbags.
Spots. "Contact north!"
Another group breaks through the corridor walls behind them.
Fang2. "**** here we go!"
They are cutting the enemy down when a third group crashes through the wall in the center of the team. Fang2's shot flies over Claws's head.
Claws. "**** you! Clear your area!"
Spots: "Contact north again! We're pinned!"
Claws. "****! Use the fox-run." Grabbing Peaches. "Other fox-run!"
They scramble through the tunnel as the three groups of bugs rip through the sandbags.
Claws. "Team B, meet us at Spoke 7!"
Fang1. "Copy that!"
Claws, Spots and Peaches emerge from the fox-run. They run for the intersection when they are pinned by two new groups that erupt so quickly it's obvious they were waiting. One group includes the new King shell, with a guard composed entirely of the other two new shells.
There is a great pause.
Spots. "God Almighty."
And then they're rushed.
Claws. "Shields!" Spots dives to a halt and puts up her arm. He crouches on the other side; between them they form a bubble around Peaches. "Ma'am, shoot, ma'am!"
Peaches starts taking her shots as the crabs return fire.
Claws. "BACK-UP NOW."
Fangs: "On our way."
The new shells take several shots to put down, so Peaches cuts the weaker force down first, leaving the new shells and the King between them and the intersection.
Spots. "Power at 20%."
Peaches. "Is it—it's staring at us."
The King is standing behind its legion, looking directly at her.
Peaches. "..."
Claws. "Fifteen percent—ma'am, stay back..!"
Claws's shield fails. One of the needles punches Peaches's shoulder. Claws pulls her down as the Fangs appear around the corner.
Fang1, taking the shot. "STAY DOWN."
Spots's shield flickers and dies. The King goes down. Instead of pressing the attack, the crabs grab the King and retreat.
Fang1. "What the ****? They've never done that before!"
Spots. "Lieutenant!"
Peaches, trying not to hold her arm. "I'm fine, Private. The Seabees okay?"
Fang1. "Yes, ma'am."
Fang2. "A little shook up though."
Peaches, admirably upright. "Back to station, then." She glances at Claws. "One thing, though, Corporal."
Claws. "Ma'am?"
"Why the fox-run switch?"
Claws. "Ma'am, we're supposed to lead them away from the collider when we have the opportunity."
Peaches. "Ah, of course. Thank you."
Claws. "Ma'am, no problem. You should re-consider Sickbay, ma'am, you're listin'."
Peaches. "If I go back one of you will have to escort me. I don't want to leave the team undermanned. I can wait."
Claws. "Yes, ma'am. Back to station."
Spots, private channel to Claws. "Should you have been manhandling an officer like that?"
Claws, annoyed, on private channel. "We're alive, ain't we?"
| 19. The First Mistake. | 21. Mobilizing. |
|---|
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