Spots: Sourcing the Push

A Web Serial by M.C.A. Hogarth

71. Kitty to the Rescue.	73. Hunting.

72. Sourcing the Push

The Warren. Spots and Claws are still doing clean-up.

Spots. "Claws? If the Enemy has their breeding chamber underground... how are they getting to us now that we've put a floor on the Warren?"

Claws. "Dunno. Could be penetratin' the outermost tunnels. Tunnel up, poke in from the walls. Why? Somethin' botherin' you?"

Spots. "I don't know. Just wondering why they're not overwhelming us. Is this their new big push? How come we can handle it with just three squads?"

Claws. "Crap, Spots, don't jinx it." Kicks a crab. "Think this is the last one—"

The outward wall bursts. New shells spill out, including a King. Claws doesn't have to say anything; they both turn tail and run for the corner.

[ Squad ] Claws : INCOMING! Thirty, forty, new shells plus King!

[ Squad ] Spots : They're not chasing us... Scythe! They're pushing through your wall!

[ Squad ] Claws : ****! They're flankin' you! Pings a location on the HUD. Here!

[ Squad ] Scythe : We see it.

Spots reverses, grabbing Claws's arm. "Back! Shoot them in the back!"

Claws. "Hang on." He checks the now tumbled wall and looks through it.

Spots, picking off the crabs as they recede. "Claws?"

Claws. "Now you got me wonderin'." Switches to squad channel. "Scythe? You handlin' things fine? Need us?"

[ Squad ] Scythe : Tense but calm. We're fine, why?

[ Squad ] Claws : Wanna check where these ****ers came from.

[ Squad ] Scythe : Got a ****ing deathwish, Walker?

Spots aims at the back of the King, careful.

[ Squad ] Claws : I'm serious, we won't go far. Consider it part of the clean-up you assigned.

[ Squad ] Scythe : Fine. Ten minute check-ins. Don't come back dead.

[ Squad ] Hairball : Bring us some pictures.

[ Squad ] Whiskers : How I spent my ****ing vacation.

Spots frowns. On squad channel: "Fang? I shot your King in the back but it's still going."

[ Squad ] Fang : I'll take care of it, Mama. Good hunting, you and your nursemaid.

Claws on buddy-to-buddy. "Come on, let's go check out that hunch of yours."

Spots. "I hope I'm wrong."

Claws. "Wrong how?"

Spots. "I don't know. Wrong about feeling bad about it."

Claws. "Mom instinct, huh? Crap, we're screwed. Might as well see how we're gonna buy the farm before we go."

Spots grimaces. "This isn't funny, Claws."

Claws. "Hell, Spots, I ain't laughin'. Let's go."

71. Kitty to the Rescue.	73. Hunting.