From: Bryan Stone Kei and Yuri: The Dirty Pair An Alien Encounter Chapter One 13:38 CST, 15 March, 2143 Dorman Colony Complex Planet Locris, Rumic Star System Hideous cries echoed through the colony corridors, gunfire following not to far behind as a squad of Confederation Marines scrambled for safety. At one intersection, a young soldier stood fanning his weapon with wild abandon while what remained of his section retreated behind him carrying their wounded, praying that the bugs had not gotten ahead of them. "EEEYYYAAAHHHH! Go'ta hell you bahstads!" he cried switching his rifle to full auto. The barrels exterior rippled from the excessive heat it endured, then a voice called out to him from behind. "Squiggy, c'mon!" a female marine said. "The Colonel say's we're slowing up the time table!" Private Louis "Squiggy" Balboa glanced back at her then stopped firing, gazing down the tunnel. The motion detector built into his helmets visor detailed the myriad returns surging towards them. He could hear their bony hides scraping against the walls, and decided it was time to make a hasty withdrawal before he became dinner or worse. As fast as his legs could move, Balboa scampered down the length of the tunnel rejoining the rest of the rearguard. Suddenly from out of an air vent along the wall, a wiremesh grill shot off it's hinges. Thin talon like arms snatched out grabbing one of the marines pulling him inside. His cries were brief; a sound like a ripe melon being crushed quickly followed. The marines hardly missed a step, turning briefly to pour a barrage of gunfire into the opening. A satisfying screech rose up, but there was no time to stop to see if it was dead. In this war, stopping meant dying, and both sides were giving no quarter. Rounding another corner, Balboa spotted the rest of the company at the threshold of the main tunnel. "Colonel, Colonel!" he called out breaking into a dead run. From a group in the center of the corridor, a man stepped out looking towards them curiously. Lt. Colonel Todd Collins narrowed an eye as they approached, figuring that the news they brought was not going to be good. He steadied his tall rugged frame, motioning the marines around him to carry on with their task. Balboa came to a halt panting hard as he regained his breath. "Sir . . . the bugs . . . their coming . . . frigging hundreds of'em!" Collins gazed in the direction he was frantically point, then frowned. "Where's Sergeant Ina?" he asked. "He's dead . . . bugs swarmed him in the first rush. They just, they just--" "Get a hold of yourself, marine,"Collins said sternly. Balboa drew in a deep breath. "The damn things got past the booby-traps and the barricades. Only thing that saved the rest of the squad were the droids; and they all got ripped to shreds." Collins brows furrowed together. Things were totally out of hand now. That was the last of the defense droids, the only real deterrent he found against these creatures. Half a squad wiped out, a third of 46th Battalion eliminated, it was not looking good for the Corps today. If they could last in the central module until help arrived, it would be a miracle. Ordering Balboa to move the remainder of his squad into defensive positions just inside the security doors, he turned calling to a young, slim blonde a few feet away. "Yes sir," she said as she approached. First Lieutenant Vicky Meyers stood admiring Collins as he paused in thought for a moment. His calm, confident posture simply amazed her in light of the severity of their situation. There was nothing anyone in the battalion wouldn't do for the Colonel. Meyers found herself drawn irresistibly towards him for more than just friendly reasons. The hard stare he suddenly placed on her broke Meyers from her thoughts. "Are those charges set?" he asked. She swallowed nervously. "Y-yes sir. All the tunnels have been wired. When we blow them, they should all be demolished . . . sir." "Good. I'd say we have about three minutes. How many Companies are left?" Meyers made a quick mental caculation. "Three; A and B at half strength, E at full strength. Counting the Techs in Command Control, 715 Marines." The figure made Collins smirk. Damn, he muttered angrily. This was no time to show any weakness, Collins reigned in his frustrations. "Okay, have Sergeant Quinten pull B company back. Move--" A loud piercing squeel carried through the air, halting everyone dead in their tracks. Meyers face went white with fear. She brought her rifle up, glancing around searching for any sign of the creatures. "Looks like we'll be blowing the tunnels sooner than expected, Vicky," Collins said. The marines began to inch back towards the opening. Suddenly a form rose up out of the darkness. It moved forwards stepping into the light then stopped. Although there were no visible eyes, the `bugs' as the marines were calling the creatures, craned its long obtrusive head around as if watching them. Its protruding jaw and sardonic row of razor sharp teeth parted, exposing the retractable second pair of teeth inside, letting out a threatening hiss. Hunkering down, the deadly spine-like tale rose up curling forwards, spear tip quivering in anticipation of the kill. "Oh, Colonel," Balboa said jokingly. "they're here." "Very obvious, private," snarled Collins priming his weapon. Another bug appeared behind its cousin, then a third followed by several more. Soon the expanse of the tunnel was filled with them. "Lieutenant, get your people back," he said. Meyers waved A company back through the main tunnel entrance. She stopped turning to Collins. "Colonel?" "Go on, Lieutenant." he replied not looking back. "Oh and Meyers," "Yes sir?" "Stop being so scared. Things will turn out all right." Meyers frowned, rushing down the tunnel. Collins placed himself behind one of the barracades next to Balboa. "Made your peace with God yet, Balboa?" There was fear on the young private's face, but a gleam of boyish mischief cut his eyes. "Nah, sir. Ol' mans from da burrough, he still owes me one." Collins smiled, then one of the marines cried out, "Here they come!" The monsters surged forwards only to be met by a furious barrage of gunfire. Two heavy machine guns at either side of the opening played across the attacking mass, blasting the bugs apart in great burst of arms, torsos and legs. Their blood; if it could be called that, ate away at the ferrous concrete walls and floor potmarking it as the acid burned its way through. Clouds of gas filled the tunnel limiting the marines view. Collins had his M61on full auto, tripple kinetic caseless rounds withering bug after bug that entered his field of fire. They had to have killed over a hundred of the things, but the horde reached the barracades and began to climb over. Off to his left, Collins saw a marine get yanked over the edge kicking and screaming as she disapeared into the waiting arms and teeth. Another marine could be heard crying for mercy seconds before his skull was shattered by the rapid bite from a bug. "Fall back!" cried Collins. What remained of the company began a fighting withdrawal towards the mouth of the tunnel. A bug charged him, Collins emptying his remaining rounds into it, then drew his blaster. He shouted, "Blow it!" to the engineer standing ready, the detonator clutched tightly in his hands. A loud roar followed, vibrations shaking the ground. As the dust and fumes settled, Collins shook himself and looked up. Most of the lights were out, but from what he could see, a pile of rubble and debris filled the tunnel. The marines staggered out gazing about in wonder. "We did it," Balboa said. A slight twitch of rubble caught Collins eye. "No, not even close," he replied. He pointed to a shifting pile of debris. Groping its way up through the rubble a bug pulled itself to full height. More of them pulled their way out of the wreckage. "What's it take to kill these things!" exclaimed a marine backing away. Collins could not answer. For the first time in his career a feeling of hopelessness crept into his mind. By now there were more of the things arrayed before them. Some of them began clearing away the rubble, but oddly enough the rest stood their distance. Collins took advantage of the situation. "Private Balboa, get everyone back into the central module. I'm going to drop the blast door and seal the tunnel." Balboa smirked, glancing over to the control panel on the far wall. He realized anyone left to work the controls would be almost assured death at the hands of these creatures. He questioned the order. Collins shot him an angry look. "Just do it, Private.!" Balboa looked at him then at the bugs before backing away, waving his arms at the marines to fall back. Collins could not believe his own order, but knew this could be the only chance the surviving colonist would have of holding out until help arrived. If it did. He moved over to the control panel praying that there was still power to it. Opening the cover, a green light lit up as he set the code. The bugs still had not moved; watching him from their positions as if waiting for something to happen. Then came a cry that sent the hairs on end at the back of his neck. The sound of movement came from the darkness, heavy steps that grew louder with each second. The cry echoed again through the tunnel, a figure stepping out into the dim light that made his heat skip a beat. A bug twice the size of the others stood surveying the carnage. Possessing that hideous sardonic grin of death, an elaborately shaped mane of bone flared back like a crown about its head, two smaller arms set midway down its torso. The featureless gaze stopped upon the blasted remains of its kin, then looked at Collins. "Uhoh, somebody's looking for someone to blame," he said. The sardonic grin stretched into an angry snarl, slime dripping down its chin. "and it looks like it's going to be me." A loud cry rang out, the four arms groping angrily towards the sky. Hitting the button, Collins sprinted towards the opening. He wondered if he would be able to get past the heavy metal door before any of the bugs caught him. Something cut him across a cheek, throwing him up against the side of the wall. Blood from a deep cut flowed down the front of his face, and he turned looking up into the mouth of a bug perched above him on the wall. This is it, was all he could think. Suddenly a shot rang out blasting it away. A stream of gunfire tore into the closing ring, Balboa's section lying prone on the other side of the tunnel covering his withdrawal. Balboa grabbed him from behind by the shoulders. With a final lunge, the two men rolled across the threashold, but they weren't out of danger yet. Angered by their escape, the giant bug leaped, landing close behind. It stood snarling over them, but before it could act a creak from the descending door made it look up. Too late did it realize the mistake, the blast door neatly coming down behind the hood, forcing its head to the ground. The things desperate cries and frantic attempts by the other creatures were no match for one hundred tons of carbodide/technium steel. With a sickening splash of acid-blood, the door closed down in place. Collins and Balboa sat still for a moment, staring at the head. "I thought I told you to fall back, Balboa?" Collins said. Balboa shrugged. "Guess we's thought you was to valuable ta loose, Colonel." Collins glared at him then began to smile, flinching as the cut on his face made itself know again. "Okay, Corporal. Let get the inner doors closed and head back to the command center." "Yes s-- Corporal?" "Got to have somebody to take over Ina's spot. You're the man." Balboa paused, a grin forming on his lips. "Yes sir!" he said cheerfully. The rapid scrapping of claws on metal brought them back to the seriousness of their situation. They stood up. "Let's move out," ordered Collins. "Right, sir, but first . . ." Balboa drew his vibro-blade from it's holder, heading towards the door. "Corporal, what are you doing?" The boyish glint returned to Balboa's eyes as he gazed down at the head on the ground. "Gotta get my souvenir." Chapter Two 22 March, 2143 Aboard the WWWA Frigate, Lovely Angel Rhamnus Star Sector, 14:16 CST A brilliant white light projected down over the makeshift card table, stacks of chips piled high between the three players seated around it. Kei gave her cards a casual glance, smiling slightly then tossed out a fifty credit marker into the pot. "I see you," she said tossing out three more after it. "and I'll raise you 150C." Across from her, Yuri's expression dropped slightly. For a moment Kei thought she would fold, but she drew in a sigh, peeked at her cards and met Kei's gaze. "Okay, red. I'll match it," she said adding her ante to the pot. Kei arched a brow, looking over to Mughi. The panther-sized cat grumbled something, then tossed in his ante. Good, more credit to spend once we get back home, she thought. Now it was all in the cards, and with luck they would pan out her way. It had better, she was only holding a pair of queens, not much to be proud of. Yuri adjusted the visor on her head as Kei tossed out three cards. She dealt her three, then waited for Mughi. He grumbled, tossing out two, then dealt herself two. Barely able to suppress her nervousness, Kei slowly looked at the first card. It was the five of diamonds, damn. The second card was no better, the two of spades. She cast a suspicious eye at her two opponents, bitting her lower lip nervously then looked at her final card. Queen of Hearts. Holding back a cry of joy, Kei gazed up at Yuri. "What'll it be, partner?" Yuri's face was turned down in a frown. She scratched her head in apparent confusion. She's so easy to read, I'm going to milk her for everything she's got! "I'll raise you another hundred," Yuri said meekly. Kei pushed a good part of her winnings into the pot. "Let's be bold!" she said. Yuri looked back into her hand, glanced up at her. With some hesitation she pushed out part of her chips, paused then pushed the rest out as well. She can't have nothing better than me? Kei mused. She's bluffing, and I'm not going to fall for it. Kei pushed out the rest of her winnings. Mughi folded. A tense moment followed. "Well?" questioned Kei triumphantly. Yuri said nothing, hiding her face behind her cards. "Ha! I knew it. You were bluffing!" shouted Kei. She rose out of her seat, slamming her hand on the table. "Read'em and weep, looser. Three queens!" Kei leaned towards the pile of chips like a hungry lioness pouncing on her kill. She was just about to rake it in when Yuri placed her hand on the table. "Full house," she said calmly. Kei froze, jaw sagging. "Gaack!" she sounded in disbelief. The meek look on Yuri's face had turned into a broad grin so wide her eyes could hardly be seen. She rocked from side to side in her chair, chortling like a wild hyena. "Sucker!" she exclaimed with each move. "What a sucker. You thought I'd fall for your trap. Sucker . . . SUCKER!" Kei's eyes remained fixed on the cards. "Gaack!" she sounded again before sitting back down in her chair, Yuri and Mughi's laughter ringing in her ears. Yuri raked in her winnings. "Well, this looks like about four months pay. You'd better make out an allotment to me. Will make accounting much easier for the both of us." "Ha ha, very funny," snapped Kei fuming angrily in her chair. "Oh, come on you sore looser, I'm just--" [Incoming Transmission.] the Lovely Angel's computer interrupted them. "Who is it, girl?" asked Yuri. [Chief Inspector William Galet.] The Angels cast surprised looks between them; a call from Bill could only mean one thing. More work. Yuri leaned back telling the computer to pull up a holowindow. It appeared above them, the image of Bill Galet coming into view. Galet's emotionless expression only made them worry even more. Adjusting the wire-rim glasses on his face, he began. "Enjoying yourselves?" They glanced back at the table, flashing him an innocent grin. Bill shook his head. Nothing new when you had the Lovely Angels working for you. No matter what they did, it would never come as a surprise. "Okay. Anyway, girls I have an assignment for you. Really it's more of a rescue mission," Kei sat up. "Rescue mission. How'd we get volunteered for this?" "Yeah, Bill," added Yuri. "We're on our way home for some rest. How am I going to blow all of Kei's money on a rescue mission?" "Huh?" muttered Kei. "You know I wouldn't do this normally, but the situation is different. Let me fill you in." The Holoscreen split, a star chart appearing above Bill's head. "This is the Rumic star system, newly settled by The Company four months ago." Yuri sneered recognizing the name and the notorious reputation it carried with it. Ruthless, greedy, and at one time the largest conglomerate in the galaxy, The Company was known for its insensitive misdeeds to everyone its ever had contact with. In fact there was something that happened in pre-nanoclism days, something that evaded her memory for the moment. "It's an outpost colony, furthest in the Confederation." "Okay. So what's the problem." asked Kei. "About six days ago a distress signal from the colony on Locris was received," A scaled down projection appeared of Locris in orbit around its sun. "Naturally the government was going to send out a ship, but it turns out that the Company had already taken action on it." Yuri thought a moment. "Hm. How'd they get the signal so fast?" she asked. "Deep comms are available to everyone, Yuri," Bill replied. "So I assume that the Company ship has run into trouble, and they need the 3WA to bail'em out," said Kei. "Eh, not exactly girls. Five hours ago we received another distress signal, only this time the transmission was cut before it was finished." Kei looked over to Yuri a questioning look in her eyes. Yuri shrugged, nothing coming readily to mind. "I still don't see how we're involved in this, Bill," she said looking back up. The starchart disappeared. "By Confederation law, any ship can, or will no matter what mission they are on, be diverted to aid any distress signals received." said Bill. Yuri covered her face with her hands, leaning on the table with a sigh. "And I suppose we are the closest ship in the sector." Galet shrugged. "Sorry girls." "Damn!" snapped Kei getting up to pace angrily. Yuri asked the ships computer how long it would take them to get to Locris. One day came the reply. "Okay, Bill we're on it. Anymore instructions?" "Just keep in touch, okay. No bravado, no heroics, and please no disasters." "Sure thing, Chief. We'll talk to you in about a day." Good luck, girls," replied Bill cutting the connection. Kei stopped, whirling around to face Yuri. "Just our luck. Another break lost because of some losers misfortune. It's just not fair!" "Calm down, Kei," replied Yuri. "This should be a cake walk." "Oh. How so?" "We go in, get comms with the colony, find out what's wrong, tell Bill what needs to be done and when help arrives we go home." Kei stared at Yuri, then smiled. "Yuri, you make things so easy to accept." "Of course. Besides, you think I'm going to pass up a chance to renew my wardrobe at your expense?" Kei's smile disappeared, eyes narrowing at her friend. "Uh, I better go set up for the jump," Yuri said easing her way out of her chair. "Why don't you clean up down here, hmm?" "Sure," snapped Kei. After Yuri and Mughi had left, Kei kicked the side of the chair and began to collect the chips from the table. Oh well, what could happen to us, she thought while she worked. Yuri is right. A quick pop in, `hello, how are you?', and we're off. What more could-- She stopped letting out a gasp of surprise as she stared down at Yuri's winning hand. Normally not the one to be superstitious, Kei found herself trembling at what she saw. Aces and eights, the deadman's hand . . . * * * * * 23 March, 2143 Planet Locris, Rumic Star System 1738 CST The Lovely Angel streaked through Locris's atmosphere, leveling out with the planet's horizon and made it's way towards the colony. An earlier attempt to contact them was met with static. Kei didn't like the implications of that. She set the ship on full combat mode, gliding the ship into a low profile approach. They looked down across the wide semi arid plains searching for any signs of life. "Anything on the scanners?" Kei asked Yuri manning the console next to her. Yuri switched through the ships sensors. Nothing unusual so far. "Nope, I'm reading basic life form readings. Animals, non-sentient creatures, typical class-M planet." Arching a brow, Kei gazed back out over the terrain. A typical planet did not warrant a distress call by her reasoning. Guess the only answers were going to be found at the colony itself. She put the Lovely Angel into a climb leveling off to get a distant view of the place. Yuri pointed to a patch of white off in the distance. The sensors had already identified its location, still as they approached, the Angels did not expect the place to be so large. Six circular modules sat in the center of a large basin; the largest centering the other five in a pentagon array connected by a series of surface tunnels. To the northwest, three elevated landing platforms and another large building were positioned. As they closed, the expressions on their faces turned to shock. Clearly it looked like there had been some kind of battle amongst the colony. Large gapping holes potmarked the outer modules, every tube had either been breeched, or if their eyes did not deceive them, blown to seal them shut. Kei stopped the ship just short of the nearest module. "I'm going to scan for any matter residue," said Yuri. Kei nodded, studying the damaged colony. "Pirates?" she commented. Yuri swept the area, but the results turned up nothing. "I'm not picking up anything that would indicate starships. A lot of trace weapon fire. Whatever happen, they sure put up a hell of a fight." Sitting back, Kei ran her hands nervously through her hair, trying to decide their next move. Easy, yeah right. Yuri called to her, pointing at one of the landing pads. A ship of some sort sat there, its boarding hatch still open. Kei moved the ship closer, and they made out the markings on the side of the Company. "Abandoned, but why?" asked Kei. "This is getting really strange, Kei," Yuri said. "I'm picking up what appears to be the colonist all concentrated in the center module." "Convention?" joked Kei trying to raise their spirits. Yuri shrugged. "Who knows. Anyway, there are life readings in the other modules, but nothing matches analysis." Kei peered out the window, staring down at the closest module. "Maybe our `raiders' are still around." "Nah, closest thing I can come up with is animal life. Probably an indigenous life form taking advantage of the situation." Accepting her explanation, Kei was left without anymore ideas. She asked Yuri if she had any, the Angel thinking for a moment. "Why don't we touchdown and take a look around," she suggested. No argument there, Kei picked a spot close to the airfield and guided the ship over. As the drew closer, she suddenly let out a gasp eyes fixed on something out the window. Yuri rose up starting slightly at what greeted her. The northern most module had been completely caved in, a fissure several feet in depth exposed the interior levels. Experience told them both that from the way the inner layer meshing had been blown outwards, that this had been done from the inside, no doubt deliberately. "What is going on here?" said Yuri in disbelief. "I don't know, but we'd better find out," answered Kei. She panned the Lovely Angel slowly around the destroyed module. Kei shook her head. "I'm not going to touchdown," she said turning to Yuri. "We can't stay up here." Kei paused staring back down at the colony. "Try contacting them again." Yuri switched on her mic, tunning up to the standard colony channels. After several attempts she disconnected shaking her head. Damn, muttered Kei. Caution tugged at her mind. This was not something to go blindly into, but they couldn't make a proper report back to Bill without finding out what it was that caused all this carnage. "Mughi, stay with the ship," she said to their mascot seated behind them. "If anything happens to us, get word back to Bill immediately. Understand?" Mughi grumbled. "If we're not touching down, what are we doing?" asked Yuri. "You see where that three way section has been blown open?" Kei replied pointing below. Yuri stood up, peering out the front. "Mughi's going to hover down close enough for us to gravpack our way inside." Yuri stared at her, glanced out the window again, then slowly drew back glaring at her with a doubtful look. "Don't start chickening out on me now, partner," she said slapping Yuri hard on her rear as she headed for the hatch. A long sigh emitted from Yuri. She and Mughi traded looks, then Yuri leaned in close so Kei could not hear. "I knew I shouldn't have won that last hand," she whispered. Giggling, Yuri kissed the cat on the forehead and rushed off after Kei. * * * * * Inside the airlock, Kei and Yuri waited patiently as the Lovely Angel positioned itself over the gaping hole in the tunnel section below. They were unusually quite, a nervous feeling both women felt, nor could they shake off. Kei toyed with her rifle, a Browning 15mm Caseless Automatic, locking in a double feed clip. She hefted it to her shoulder, feeling the firm rubberized grip around the weapons short thick barrel. The feeling of power made her smile, but then again any weapon in her hands did that. Slinging her rifle, Kei looked over at Yuri. She was seated on the bench, staring listlessly out the porthole apparently in deep thought, a pair of wraparound goggles pushed back on her forehead. Yuri had opted to go with a more conventional approach; standard issue blaster, a mini pistol holstered on her right leg, pack of bloody cards on her left arm. Bloody Cards? Kei sat down next to her. She reached over opening the pack, staring at the ten deadly blades inside the holder. Yuri looked at her innocently and Kei smirked. "Really, Yuri," she said. "You'll never know," replied Yuri. Kei laughed, draping an arm around her shoulders. "You got the jitters too, huh?" "There's something about this that scares the living daylights out of me, Kei." "Yeah. I've had the same feeling. If it was avoidable I would, but guess this come with the job." Yuri grunted, laughing slightly. "The job," she said. "Sometimes I just want to boot this job, Kei." Kei drew back, stunned by her partners comment. Before she could say anything, the green light above the hatch flashed, their signal to get ready. The Angels pulled down their goggles, standing next to the hatch. When Mughi thought they were close enough, he opened it up. "You ready?" Kei shouted above the rush of air. Yuri smiled, plugging in the jack to her gravpack. Together they stepped off the edge hovering in the air. Flashing an okay up to the monitor, Kei started her decent down towards the gapping hole below. A few feet from touchdown, the Angels unslung their heavy weapons turning back to back as they landed, sweeping the area for any signs of trouble. Nothing happened, the only sounds coming from the Lovely Angel's engines. "I'm clean here," Kei said. Yuri gave her a thumbs up and they relaxed. She told Mughi to move off and the ship departed. The sun beamed in brightly, illuminating their surroundings. Despite it's warmth, a cold chill made Yuri shudder uncontrollably as she looked around. Obviously this blast was caused by heavy charges placed at the cross supports to bring it all down. Something must have gone wrong, maybe whoever was planting the charges didn't get them set right, or they weren't finished when they were attacked. Off to the other side of the opening, Kei knelt staring at some of the conduit on the wall. "Yuri, come take a look at this," she called out. Yuri looked at the spot she was pointing at. An electrical conduit lay splayed open on the ground. Nothing unusual, except for the way it had been parted in two. Melted, or something corrosive ate its way through continuing on well into the ceramic foundation. Kei pointed to similar damage around the tunnel. "Chemical weapons?" questioned Yuri. "I don't know. Looks that way, but I've never known any C-weps to be so corrosive. This stuff gnawed its way straight through hardened ceramic metals and kept right on going." "Well it was a sloppy job. Look the holes potmark the place, a splatter job. Something a rookie would do." "Is that experience talking?" teased Kei. Yuri cut her a nasty look. She stared down the semi-lit tunnel frowning. "Kei, I think we'd better get to those civies and find out what's going on, ASAP," she said. Kei agreed and they started down the tunnel. Making their way carefully through the debris, the Angels soon came upon a series of barricades blocking their path. Blast marks riddled the surroundings, denoting the fierce battle that had been fought here. They paused trading questioning looks, then began to pick their way through the mess. Yuri climbed up over a pile of shattered concrete sliding down the other side. As she hit the ground, her foot caught on something buried beneath part of the structure. She let out a yelp tumbling. "Yuri!" shouted Kei hurrying over the top. "I'm okay," she replied. Shining her light at the spot, a combat boot lay exposed on the ground. She pulled at it, and realized that it's owner was still inside. Yuri sneered drawing back. "What'd you find?" asked Kei as she came up behind her. "A stiff," she replied. Kei shined her light down on the boot, kneeling closer for a better look. "Hmm," she sounded moving away more of the debris. "a soldier, and from the looks of these combat boots, I'd say a Marine." Further digging uncovered the rest of his body and the weapon he was using. "Wow, Kei," said Yuri examining it under her light. "This guy must have had this thing on full auto. The barrels practically warped." Kei did not respond, staring down at the dead marine lying face down before her. There were no gunshot wounds, no burn marks that she could see. Strange, she thought turning him over. Her cry startled Yuri; she spun around weapon drawn up. "What!" she shouted, but Kei was off to one side on all fours, breathing heavily as she fought to keep her breakfast down. Without answering, she pointed back at the marine. Where his face should have been, a bloody jagged hole was situated between his eyes, claw marks shredded the rest of his face and throat. Yuri jerked away, pulling Kei along with her as she moved back. "Boy, you'd figure we'd be used to sights like that," she said panting hard. Kei had not been successful keeping her food down. She wiped her mouth clean with the back of her hand, then shot to her feet. "It's time to go, Yuri," she said. "What! We aren't going to try and get to those colonist?" Kei was visibly frightened, eyes wide glancing around nervously. "Whatever, whoever did that to that marine, I don't want to meet in this tunnel." "Kei, get a--" began Yuri when a scuffling sound caught her ears from behind. She slowly turned looking down the tunnel. The section was dark, and Yuri tilted her head to one side listening again. "Yuri, did you hear me? I said we're leaving." Kei shouted again. Yuri raised her hand silencing Kei. She leaned forwards, then started walking towards the opening. "Somebodies out there," she said. Kei looked up, trying to peer through the darkness. The sound came again, and she pointed her rifle down the tunnel. "Yuri, come back here!" she whispered. Yuri stopped halfway. "You can come out!" she shouted. "We know you're there." Silence. Kei inched back towards the barricade. "Yuri, damnit, get your idiot butt back here!" "It could be one of the colonist." The sound suddenly returned, getting sharper at a steady pace. It sounded like several sharpened nails tapping on a hard surface. "Yuri," Kei said with more urgency. Clack, clack, clack. Yuri squinted as a form began to appear at the edge of the light. A taloned foot suddenly moved in to view, followed by a creature that made her draw back in shock. "That is no colonist!" exclaimed Kei. The sharp row of teeth on the things long head parted. It hissed at Yuri, drooling as another set of jaws extended towards her. She let out a scream and leaped back, letting loose a burst of blaster fire. The creature squealed as it was blown away, thrashing about on the ground. Yuri did not have time to examine her victims plight as a horde of creatures surged out of the darkness towards her. She ran. Kei's rifle fired fast and continuously covering Yuri's retreat. A portion of them broke off and headed straight towards her forcing Kei to shift fire. "Yuri, use one of those damn cards of yours!" she shouted. Yuri leaped onto the debris, whirled shooting one of the things as it pounced at her. Reaching frantically into the holder on her arm, Yuri let fly three of the cards into the crowd before her. Satisfying cries carried through the air as heads, torsos and limbs fell to the ground. By the time the cards had passed through five of the creatures, they were nothing more than globs of melted metal splattering with a hiss on their next targets. Yuri, stunned by what just happened, started climbing up the barricade. Close to the top, Kei moved towards her, sweeping the area with gunfire. She'd already emptied two clips, working on a third, but the things kept on coming not caring about casualties or their own well being. She glanced towards Yuri, seeing her partner scant inches from being caught by the mob, and turned firing into the crowd behind her. The things tumbled back back down the side. A brief respite, Yuri reaching her as she straddled the top. "Take my hand, Yuri!" Kei said reaching down. Yuri grabbed it, then something placed a tight grip on Kei's left ankle. She looked around, finding one of the creatures on the other side latched firmly to her. She smirked, placing the barrel of her rifle into its face, blowing it back down the side. Another large group of the things moved up towards her cutting their escape. Kei yelped leaping aside dragging Yuri along with her. The Angels slid to a stop next to the dead marine, cornered by the creatures closing the trap around them. They opened fired, desperately trying to stop the inevitable, screaming and crying both at the same time as they backed up against the wall. "Get down!" a voice cried out. Kei and Yuri covered up as explosions wracked the area. Gunfire erupted from the tunnel, marines stepping out into the open with guns blazing. A heavy machine gun opened up playing across the top of the barricade to prevent those on the other side from joining their cousins below. The remaining creatures around the Angels attacked this new threat, and were neatly cut down in their tracks. "Hey, you two!" a marine sergeant shouted at them. They looked up. "You guys going to just lay there. Watch you step and get your butts moving!" The Angels scurried to their feet. Dodging the steaming holes in the floor, they raced past the marines down the tunnel. A mad foot race followed as the soldiers withdrew, thundering close behind them towards the narrowly opened gate at the far end. Threatening hisses and squeals spurred them on. Kei and Yuri leaped through the gap. "Close'em, close'em, close'em!" the marine sergeant ordered frantically. The two doors began rumbling together when one of the creatures tried to leap it's way past, getting caught up between them. "Don't let that thing get crushed in there, or we'll have a hell of a time keeping the bugs out for sure!" One of the marines flashed him a thumbs up, pointed his rifle at the bug and blasted it back out. The doors clanged shut. Kei and Yuri lay on the ground breathing hard after their near-death encounter. Above them, the sergeant came into view checking to see if they were alright. No injuries that he could see, he knelt down beside them catching his breath for a moment, looked up and smiled. "Sergeant Reginald Quinten, B Company, 46th Battalion. Welcome to the Dorman Colony Complex . . . ." Chapter Three A shocked and partially terrified Kei and Yuri marched with the marines towards the command center, thankful to the stars and their rescuers to be alive. Kei began to notice their surroundings, her curiosity rising. Obviously this center module was not built for any long term living by the colonist. There were granaries and production facilities, warehouses, open pens for automated machinery around the outlying areas. The more habitable buildings, mainly shops and commerce stores were located further in. Whatever normal routine had all but faded away as colonist milled around in tight groups, armed to the teeth and watching them very closely. They reached a checkpoint at a crossway, the civilian police manning the barricades drawing up to look at the new arrivals. Sergeant Quinten muttered something out of earshot to the watch captain. He smirked, giving the Angels a wry look then allowed them to continue. "My, aren't we the skittish kind," Kei said as they passed through. Quinten let out a grunt. "You would be too if you'd been through what we've been through," he said over his shoulder. Kei took in his words, not wishing to mar relations. She regarded the husky Sergeant with some interest. His face seemed perpetually drawn down in a sneer, eyes narrow as if he was ready to thrash the next person that got in his way. A grizzled beard speckled with patches of gray and in need of grooming made him look that much meaner. Each arm was as thick as one of her legs, straining against the rolled up sleeves of his uniform. Possible, just possible, thought Kei. The Sergeant glanced over at her, and for a moment she saw a look of confusion come across his face. That was the fourth time he's done that. Is there something wrong with us? {Kei.} It was Yuri, using the interlink installed in their brains. {What?} {Have you noticed how armed these people are?} {Yes. Looks like our buddies outside have these folks squirming in their seats.} {This is worse then fear, Kei. They even have children walking around with guns.} Kei took another look. As Yuri said, there were children standing at the corners toting rifles or some form of firearms. Rounding another corner, she spotted a large warehouse, children too young to handle weapons playing in the street. Several groups of women eyed them as they passed, fingering the triggers of their guns. Kei noticed the look of near panic in their eyes. {I sure as hell hope I don't have to go up against that pack,} said Kei. Dull sounds of gunfire echoed through the streets and everyone stopped glancing about. The Angels could hear safeties being released; the group of mothers behind them called for their children to come inside. A whine from a hovercraft's engine cut the air, whisking several blocks away down a side street . After another series of gunfire, it finally quieted down. "Damn bugs," muttered Quinten. He looked at them again, then moved on. "Uh, Sergeant Quinten," began Kei. "I know you want your C.O. to tell us what's been going on, but could you just give us a little background?" Quinten was quiet for a moment. "The bugs have been hitting us day and night. Whole damn battalions been up fighting'em. A snip here, a tap there. Almost two weeks straight. Ever since that friggin ship crashed here," "Ship. What ship?" asked Yuri. "Colonel will tell you all about it," He paused shaking his head. "But I'll tell you this, ladies. It was the damnedest thing I'd ever been through . . . damnedest thing." He would say no more, and Kei didn't press the issue. Finally the group reached the Command Center, a domed building surrounded by a high thick concrete wall. The guard let them pass, Quinten pausing just long enough to find out what the trouble was. As they rode an elevator to the top, Kei noticed the strange stare Quinten gave the Angels. "Sergeant Quinten," Kei said finally having enough. "Is there something wrong with us?" Quinten's eyes widened slightly. "No . . . well yes. I know you ladies from somewhere, but I just can't place the match." "Really? Well my partner and I have been around," replied Kei giving Yuri a sly wink. "And you can stop calling us ladies. My name is Kei, my partners name is Yuri. Our official designation is the Lovely Angels." It was the widest they'd ever seen Quinten's eyes open, a look of terror written on his face. He shook visibly, stammering for words. "N-n-n-oho . . . n-n-ot the `Dirty Pair'!" he said. A flash of silver and flesh had the hardened veteran slammed painfully up against the back of the elevator, Kei and Yuri pinning him each with a forearm across the throat. The marines around them were too stunned to react. "We don't take too kindly to that name, buster!" snarled Kei applying more pressure to the struggling Sergeant. "Yeah, it wasn't our fault," added Yuri fingering the butt of her pistol menacingly. The elevator stopped, its door opening and a tall figure stood at the threshold. Immediately the other marines snapped to attention. "Knock it off," ordered a commanding voice. Kei and Yuri stopped, slowly looking back towards the sound. Lt. Colonel Todd Collins put a dark look on his face. He took a step inside, planting his fist on his hips. "I said knock it off," he ordered them again. Quinten dropped to his knees coughing and gasping for breath. Not knowing what to do next, Kei and Yuri looked at each other, shrugged and mimicked the marines around them snapping to attention. Collins walked to the center of the elevator. "Are you alright, Sergeant?" Quinten cleared his throat and stood up. "Ah, yes sir. The ladies we're just informing me of their proper designation." Collins glanced at the Angels. "Hm, 3WA," he said. "You heard of us?" replied Kei. "Yes, I recognize you from your uniforms," He paused giving them a quick once over. "What little you wear." They tensed, but held themselves in check. From behind Collins, a female marine appeared. An officer apparently, she glanced around at the scene then with a jerk of her thumb directed the marines out of the elevator. Collins waited until they were gone before continuing. "Lt. Colonel Collins, commanding officer of 46th Battalion. You are?" Kei stuck out her hand. "I'm Kei," she said smiling with a seductive glint in her eyes. He shook her hand. "Mmm, and strong too," she finished. Collins frowned. {Kei, there is no time for that!} Yuri scolded her. "That's my partner, Yuri. The Funless One." Yuri gave Kei a sharp nudge to the ribs. "My friend, always joking," she said smiling. Collins laughed. Kei noticed the threatening glare the blonde gave her, but ignored it as he introduced her. "1st Lieutenant Vicky Meyers. My Operations Officer." Meyers gaze remained locked on Kei. "Ladies." she replied in a chilling tone. {Bitch call,} sent Kei. {Stop it, Kei,} replied Yuri. {We don't need to make any enemies in here.} Collins felt the tension in the air. "Uhm, Lieutenant Meyers would you please go and check on the status of Sergeant StPaul. I'm curious about that attack." Meyers looked up at him. She cut Kei one last, sharp glance, saluted and left. "Excuse her. She's been on edge lately. Stress." "I wouldn't call it that," muttered Kei. Collins paid her no mind. He told Quinten to go make his report and get some rest. Quinten walked by mindful to keep a safe distance from the Angels. Yuri apologized for their actions, but all he did was rub his neck, muttering something back to them under his breath. "Guess we were a bit rough on him," Yuri said. "Slightly," replied Collins. He told them to follow him and they walked down the hall into the command center. Computer consoles manned by marine techs flashed displays and other information across their screens, relaying inputs to the array of monitors on the walls around them. Every tech sat glued to each screen, speaking into their mics and listening intently to the reports coming in. Kei could see the dark rings around their eyes, haggard and disheveled appearances that indicated these techs had been at it for some time now. At a large tactical table, Yuri spotted Sergeant Quinten talking with another marine officer, pointing at something displayed below them. A Major she noticed from the gold oak leafs on his collar; something about the man seemed out of place. Not bad looking for a grunt, he was shorter than Collins, sporting a marine crew cut and light blue eyes that gave him a boyish look. Still, she questioned his appearance. Kei called to her pointing up at the main screen. On it a digitized overview of the colony was displayed. Moving in a tight orbit around the central module was an icon representing the Lovely Angel. "Mughi," she said. "I assume that's your ship in orbit out there?" asked Collins. "Yep," answered Kei. In all the excitement, Kei and Yuri had forgotten about their mammalian friend. They realized they better talk to him, that pattern he was flying was a search pattern. If he could not come up with a location, then . . . Kei tried to transmit via their link, but the ship's computer did not respond. Confused, she tried again. {Save it, Kei,} Yuri sent to her. {What gives? Why cant we--} {The place is hardened. Our links can't penetrate it.} {Wow, talk about home defense.} Yuri glanced at the chronometer on her wrist. "Colonel, we've got to talk to our ship. You have an antenna available?" "Whoa, whoa!" exclaimed another monster sergeant striding towards them. Bald and from his looks, strong enough to back up his objections, he stopped slamming his palms down on the table. "Sir, if we try using a tower, you know what'll happen!" "May I introduce First Sergeant Kelly, leading non-com," Collins said to them. All eyes had turned towards them. "What's he mean, Colonel?" asked Yuri. "The Bugs. They don't like it when we talk to the outside world." "Their intelligent?" Kei interrupted them, leaning across the table at Kelly. "Doesn't matter. Look baldy, if you don't want our friend up there to turn this tortoise shell you people are hiding under into a soup bowl, you'd better let us talk to him, and I mean fast!" Kelly drew back. His face turned beet red, his fist clenched tight ready to tear into Kei. "Control yourself, Kelly," Collins said. The First Sergeant shook with rage, but did as ordered turning away. Collins thought a moment. He came to a decision and moved to a console. The Major at the table came up behind him. "Risky decision, Colonel. You know we've only got four left," he reminded him. "I'm aware of that, Fran. Oh, ladies this Major Fran Welton, my acting second in command." Welton nodded in their direction with a smile. {That's it, Yuri. When I'm done with 3WA, I'm joining the Marines.} {Oh, Kei you're hopeless!} At the console, Collins ordered the tech to call up a display. Reluctantly he did, and the colony schematic was replaced by a scene of an open field not to far from the landing platforms. "Mmm, Kei, right? If you would please," he said motioning her over. On the screen, part of the field parted, and from the opening an uplink communications dish rose into view. Kei understood. She held out her hand. The tech disconnected his interface plug, handing it to her. Dialing up the Lovely Angels circuit, Kei initiated transmission. [Mughi this is Kei. Stop your sweep and standoff for further instructions.] A worried grumble replied to her call. Mughi wanted to know if they were alright, seconds away from firing a burst from the main gun. [We've a little situation down here, nothing major. Can you--] Kei froze in mid sentence. On the screen, the field surrounding the dish suddenly rippled with dark figures, figures that began to attack the dish with frenzy. The bugs swarmed it, and in seconds it was covered by hundreds of them ripping and tearing at the metal. Stunned, Kei unplugged the probe. "Well, there goes that dish," Kelly said sarcasm lacing his words. "And we just got it fixed too," grumbled the tech next to her. Collins reached down changing the display. "Nothing major?" he questioned Kei. She shrugged. "Guess I'm wrong." He frowned heading back towards the table. Kei followed. "Colonel, Colonel, how many of these things are there?" she asked. Welton answered. "We don't know." Kei stopped dead in her tracks. "You don't know?" "Wish I did." Collins replied flopping down into a chair. "I've seen a lot more than what you saw on that screen though." Yuri, leaning over the table in thought, could not believe what she was hearing. "Where did they come from, or are they the rightful citizens of Locris?" Yuri asked. Collins surprised her by laughing. "Citizens, no, Yuri. Your question is a good one, and deserves a good answer." He tapped a few buttons on the arm of the chair. On one of the large monitors, a layout of the surrounding countryside appeared. Collins continued. "About two weeks ago, we had a ship crash about 80 clicks east of the complex. I led a squad with a medical team to investigate and rescue any survivors. When we got there, the ship was pretty much beat up. Once inside our teams split up to search, and that's when we ran into the first bugs." "They hit third squad somewhere amidships," Quinten said. "Don't know how many, but we lost twenty marines before anyone realized what was going on." Kei scratched her head, wondering what they had gotten themselves into. "Colonel, in light of what you were up against, did you destroy the ship?" For the first time, Collin's calm demure faded. A solemn look covered his face, staring out into empty space. "No. We had indications that my people were still alive. Unlike others back in the civilian sector, I don't consider my people expendable." "So you tried to save them," Yuri said. "Never got a chance too," Collins replied. "While we were gearing up to tear into that ship, word came back of an attack at the airdrome." Staring up at the screen, Kei analyzed the scenario so far. These aliens from that ship were not to be taken lightly it seems. It looked to be a pretty smart move counterattacking like they did. A distraction? "Colonel, this ship. Was it outside of known space?" "No, it was a class five star-transport. `S.S. Glory Ann' if I remember correctly." He ordered one of the techs to call up the records from the computer. The scene shifted to the crash site. A ship several hundred meters in length lay in the open field. Her prow was partially buried into the ground, wide sweeping wings ripped back towards the rear of the ship. Yuri moved closer to the screen. "Hm. That's not a crash if I'm looking at this right," she said. Collins arched a brow. "Please explain yourself, Yuri." "See how the wings have been torn away from the fuselage," she explained pointing at the torn sections. "That tells me that this ship was in a glide path, human or computer controlled. All the carbon burn is on the underside flaring up, so there had to be somebody purposely bringing the ship through the atmosphere." "Were there any survivors, Colonel?" asked Kei. Collins stood up. He looked disturbed, passing quick glances at the Angels. Kei did not like the implications of this. "Colonel . . . what's wrong?" He said nothing for a few minutes. "Yes, there was a survivor. The ships captain." "Well let's get him up here and tell us what happened." "I can't. You see he's . . . dead." That blew any chance of a speedy solution. "Did he tell you anything that might help us?" continued Kei. "He kept asking us to kill him," Quinten said. "And did you?" Quinten looked at Collins, wondering if he should field this answer. "We didn't have too, but we should have." That startled the Angels. They felt the foreboding silence around them, noticing that Collins had moved over to a communications panel. He was about to activate the mic, paused and looked at them. "I know you're curious, ladies . . . guess I should show you this." Collins hit the button. "Doctor Pellorian." answered a well mannered voice. "Doctor, could you bring up the vid on the captain of the Glory Ann." Pellorian answered clearly with trepidation in his voice. "Yes, Doc. We have guest who need to see it." Returning to the table, Collins regained his steadfast composure. "You know when we found him, he was kind of--" "Glued to the wall," Quinten interrupted. "Just stuck there, jammering and crying like a baby. He kept--" "That's enough, Sergeant," Collins said. "As I was saying, the captain was a little delirious, so we thought." {Glued?} sent Yuri. {Kei we need to get to the Lovely Angel's data banks and research this one.} {If we can get through those things outside, Yuri. I don't see that happening anytime soon.} She was right. Unless they found a way to escape this potential death trap, there was no way to find out what they were up against, or getting word to Bill to send help. As the Angels conferred, through the main doors, two men and a woman walked in. The taller of the two men headed for Colonel Collins. "Doc thanks for coming," Collins said. Doctor Pellorian sat down at a console. From one of the deep pockets of his white lab coat, he pulled out a data cube plugging it in. His thin fingers tapped firmly on the keys as the information uploaded into the computer. He appeared agitated, a strained expression on his face. "Is there something wrong, Doc?" Collins asked. Pellorian pushed his wire rimmed glasses up and sat back, running his hands through his dark hair. "This is somewhat of a bad time, Colonel. I was in the middle of treating the wounded from the last attack." "What are the casualties?" Pellorian looked up. His silence told Collins more than what words could say. Cursing low, he leaned back against the tactical table. "Major, I need to see Sergeant St-Paul, ASAP." "He's on his way up now, sir." Pellorian said he was ready, and Collins called the Angels over. "This is Doctor Pellorian, head physician for the colony." The Doctor smiled, eyes roving across their bodies. He said something about sins of the flesh, shaking his head with a sigh. "Behind him, is Timbra Brown; the Company's civilian rep," continued Collins. "I'm the administrator for the Andimi Etruscan sector." she added. Kei sized the woman up. She was a head taller than her, well toned and sporting short fiery red hair. Timbra Brown gave her the impression of a no-nonsense person, typical for the stuff shirt executive types. A glint in her eyes, maybe something that Kei could relate to, found the Angel liking her despite the subtle frowns from the rest of the staff. "Good to see another red-head here," Timbra said smiling. "Thought we were becoming an extinct species." Kei laughed. "Yes, we truly are alone in this world." Collins cleared his throat. "Ladies, if you are finished have fun, we're ready," he said pointing to the screen. All eyes looked up, Pellorian running the file. "I've advanced it to cut time, Colonel," he said as the display shifted. "Thank you, Doc." Collins looked at the Angels. "Uh, this is not very pleasant. I would prepare yourselves," he said. The display on the screen was from the view of the medical cam on a gurney being moved rapidly down a corridor towards an examination room. On it a man lay struggling to break free from the restraints holding him in place. His screams and cry of anguish carried through the halls. "PLEASE! SOMEBODY KILL MEEEE!!!" he shouted to the marines around him. Colonel Collins stepped into to view, trying to calm the man. "Hold on, we're getting you to a doctor right now," he said. That wasn't good enough for their patient. "NO, its too late for that!" he screamed as they burst through the doors. Pellorian came into view. "Hold on, sir. We'll get a--" "You don't understand . . . you've got to kill me!" "Why?" asked Collins leaning closer. "What wrong with you?" The captains eyes were like saucers, rivulets of sweat running down his face. "There's no time for-- AAAggack!" He tensed, lying rigged for a second. Pellorian moved Collins back ordering his medical team into action. They barely made a few steps, when the captain let out a wail. "OH, GOD HELP ME!!!!" he managed to say, then began to convulse violently. Several medics and marines grabbed him trying to hold him still. Confusion reigned around the room. Suddenly a female nurse screamed backing away pointing at his chest. A dark spot appeared on the captains tan shirt; his cries increasing in intensity. The rest of the group moved away, shocked and uncertain what to do. One last cry emitted from the captain. His head sagged, a burst of bone and blood splattering the area. From his chest something appeared to be pushing its way up, tearing through the cloth. A prevailing silence followed, all eyes locked onto the snake-like creature pulling itself clear from the hole in the dead man's chest. With slow deliberation, the thing looked around at the horrified expressions. It hissed and leaped to the floor. "Kill it!" cried Collins. Several marines sprang into action, kicking aside anything in their path as they pursued the creature. Rifle fire echoed through the room followed by a loud squeal. "It's got that damn blood!" a marine cried out. Collins shut off the screen. Kei stood with a hand across her mouth unable to move. Yuri clutched at her chest staring wide-eyed at the screen. Both of them finally turned away staggering back to the table. "I said it was the damnedest thing I'd ever seen," Sergeant Quinten said to them. Yuri sat down in a nearby chair lost to the world. "I'm sorry that was such a shock to you ladies," Collins said. Kei turned around. "He . . . told you nothing else?" she managed to say. "No. We did however manage to retrieve the captains and the ships log. I would appreciate it if you and Yuri would go through them." "Us?" "You are detectives are you not?" "Are you looking for something in particular?" "Yes. I'd like to know why that ship came here." Kei arched a brow. "Okay, Colonel. 3WA will pick up the case." "Good. Mister Rhodes will help you." The man escorting Timbra walked up, a cheerful grin on his face. He appeared young, almost to young to be a tech of any kind. His curly brown hair made him look that much more out of place. Rhodes stood smiling at her for a minute, then extended a hand. "Martin Rhodes, Technical Assistant for the Company," he said in a thin voice. Kei hesitantly shook it, unintentionally drawing back. {Another geek to harass us,}she sent to Yuri. {Don't complain. I think we'll need all the help we can get.} "The Company just sent the two of you?" she asked him. "Oh, no. There was twenty-five of us, and Major Welton of course. Bugs kind'a killed off most of the crew." "Sorry to hear that." "Don't worry about it, sister," Timbra said slapping her hard on the back. "They took a lot of those bastards down with'em." "Not enough though to get us out of this mess," Collins said, annoyed by Brown's carefree attitude. "Why don't you ladies rest a bit. I'm sure you could use a break." "Thank you Colonel, but I'm fine. Yuri though might need it." {Funny.} Yuri stood up "I'd like to get at those logs," she said. "Okay. Mister Rhodes will take you down to the computer room." Martin smiled leading the way. Yuri followed him, stopping briefly at the doorway. {Kei, something tells me this is going to get worse. Much worse.} Their eyes met, and Kei could see the fear in them. {Don't think that, Yuri. We'll get out of this somehow.} Yuri held in her doubts and left the room. Chapter Four Leaning against a wall in Colonel Collins office, Kei tried not to look bored as he debriefed Sergeant St-Paul on the attack that afternoon. Still sweating after the action, his brown skin glistened beneath the lights, shirt mottled with dark patches along his arms and back. Despite his size and chiseled features, the long look on his face betrayed the weariness and mixed emotions St-Paul felt. Slamming down what was left of a glass of water he continued with his report. "They came up through a hole in one of the heat exchangers near power station three. Ripped apart the mesh and plating along the perimeter, and scattered through the streets." "How many got in?" asked Major Welton. "When we got there, twenty of the bugs had already gotten through. The final count was around fifty." Collins let out a sigh shaking his head. "And that was just fifty," he said. He sat in thought for a moment, then told St-Paul to continue with his report. "Took all of D company and part of the security force to root them out of the buildings. I think we got them all, sir." "Well we can't take any chances," Collins said getting up to stand before a map of the central module on the wall behind him. "Fran, what about damage to the outer module?" "We sealed up the hole and filled the tubes with liquid metal, but we had to shut down the power station. Everything between A114 and D100 is without power." "Perfect cover for the bugs if they find another way in there." Welton shrugged. "Either that or burn up the entire northwest side. I had extra motion sensors placed, and spotlights set up at the intersections." Collins nodded, pleased by the Major's foresight, staring at the map. Kei moved from her spot and walked up behind him, giving the map a closer look. He noticed, but continued looking over the layout. "Our Achilles heel," he said rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Bugs get smarter every day. First they try to dig up under the outer dome, now they're crawling through the pipes." "They must realize we've got to breath," she replied. "Air is no problem as long as they don't get to the recyclers. Water and heat exchangers, now that's a different story." A knock at the door sounded. Lieutenant Meyers walked in. She handed Welton a portable redout. Her gaze fell on Kei, eyes narrowing slightly. "This is not getting any better, Colonel," Welton said. "Casualty report." "Let's hear it." "Twelve marines killed, six wounded, two of those critical. Nineteen security force killed, eleven wounded, eight critical." A puzzled look briefly crossed his face. "Fifteen people taken by the bugs?" finished Welton turning to St-Paul. "Yes, sir. Personally I saw only four get dragged away, but some of the others said they saw more." "This was during their retreat?" asked Collins. The sergeant nodded. "Kidnaping people. I can imagine what for," Kei said. Timbra leaned back in her chair letting out a low snort. "Should be obvious, sis. They're playing host for their children." "We've got to go and rescue them then!" said Welton. "It's probably too late for any rescue, Fran. Besides, where would we start to look?" Welton was about to push the issue, but realized that Collins was right. He walked away from the desk dejected. "It's hard, Major, but we've got to think about those left inside." Welton whirled around. "You saw what happened to the captain of the Glory Ann. That's no way for anybody to die; I wouldn't wish it even to my worst enemy!" "I know, Fran," replied Collins. "If we could, we would go after them, but I just can't take that chance right now." Kei sympathized with the Major, wondering if she would suffer the same fate if the bugs captured her. One uplink, one message to Bill and there would be reinforcements swarming all over this planet. From the way this situation was deteriorating, waiting for 3WA to initiate a search would be too late. Somehow they had to get a link up to Mughi and the Lovely Angel. "Colonel, can we try another communications uplink?" she asked. "What, you didn't learn from the first mistake?" Meyers snapped at her. "Sitting here is not making things any better, and in light of the situation what have we got to loose!" retorted Kei. "Maybe our only means to communicate if your little attempt fails!" The steam rose up in Kei, her fist balling up. She started stalking menacingly towards the lieutenant, who was showing no signs of retreat. "Alright, back off you two!" roared Collins. Timbra was out of her chair placing a firm hand on Kei's shoulder. She relaxed, but cut Meyers an evil glance before turning away. "Lieutenant," Collins said breaking the hateful stare Meyers had on Kei. She drew up to attention. "I know we're all at the ends of our wits," he continued. "Let's not start fighting amongst ourselves. That only helps the bugs. Clear?" "Yes, sir." He glanced over at Kei, then back at her before turning back to the map. "Major, I want you and Lieutenant Meyers to start moving the non-combatants into the command center." "Todd, that's almost 1100 people. I don't think we have the room." "Its going to be cramped, but I don't want anyone else taken by the bugs. Clear out one of the hangers and put them in there. While that's being done, have Kelly prepare the dishes for transmission. We'll try to make contact at first light." Welton did not like that order but acknowledged it. Collins studied the map a bit more. "Sergeant St-Paul, double the guards at the power stations, and the reservoir. Have the engineers put motion detectors on the pipes." "We'll get right on it, sir." "We've got a big day ahead tomorrow," Collins said turning around. "The bugs have our backs against the wall, but we're not out of the fight yet. We're going to win this battle. Any questions?" There were none and Collins dismissed all of them but Kei. When they were alone, Collins sat down resting his face in his hands for a moment. "My lieutenant doesn't like you?" he said. "I don't know why, maybe she at that time of the month." He laughed leaning back. "Don't be funny," he said. A serious look came to his face, the colonel steepling his hands together. "That's not why you're here. I'm concerned about tomorrow's success." "You mean the transmission?" "It has got to work, Kei. Our supplies are starting to get low. If you can't get that signal out, then we're all dead." Kei swallowed lightly. "All I'll need is thirty seconds, Colonel." "With all three dishes online, you should have more than that. I'm taking a big risk with you on this." "It'll get out, Colonel." He regarded her for a second. "Okay. Six o'clock sharp in operations." "We'll be there. That signal is as good as gone." Collins leaned forwards, a serious look in his eyes. "I'm going to hold you to that. . ." * * * * * 0303LCT, 24 March, 2143 Jacked into a computer interface, Yuri leaned back in the plush chair she sat in, reviewing the logs from the Glory Ann. Everything she'd found so far was bad. Nothing helped them explain why the ship came there in the first place. Next to her Martin Rhodes sported a similar connection, scanning through the ships computer log. For such a geek, the man sure knew his computer systems. Together they had managed to salvage a small portion of the damaged records. It had been long tedious work, but now at least they knew something about what happened on the Glory Ann. Rhodes's uncanny skill reconstructing the missing trons was the main reason for their success. It was almost as if he could understand their language without any need for an interface. Yuri snuggled down into the chair a bit more, tapping the end of the computer stylus in her hands against her chin, watching Martin work. He sat ridged in his chair face close to the wide screen before him fingers clicking rapidly across the keys. Abruptly he stopped, looking up then turned around to her. "Something wrong, Miss Yuri?" he asked her. "No. Its just amazing how you work with all these computers. You're a natural." He smiled. "Why thank you, Miss Yuri. For a minute there I thought you were going to heckle me about being such a `geek'." "Nah! Why, Martin that's not fair. I wouldn't do such a thing. To tell you the truth, I'm kind of a `geek' myself." They laughed. Yuri leaned over staring at the his screen. "So how far have you gotten in this log?" she asked him. "Not very far I'm afraid," he replied tapping a few more commands into the computer. "The main sections are salvageable, basic daily routines, status checks, common stuff. However; it seems that the navigation and communications data has been scrambled quite severely." "Damaged from the crash?" Martin looked closer at the code. "No. It looks like encryption. Something I've not seen before." Yuri studied the screen. She knew pretty much all of the languages and encryption codes used through out the Confederation, but this defied standard practices. After a few attempts, Yuri sat back frowning while she thought. "Its using a new compression scheme," she said. "Private code?" "That's my guess. Only thing that bothers me is why now?" "What do you mean `why now'?" Changing displays, Martin called up the communications log. "All these transmissions occurred during the ships transit to wherever. Those are readable, but on the sixth, all records are converted to this encryption." "Which means somebody is purposely trying to hide something," Yuri concluded. Who was that someone though, and what was loaded into the computer that warranted such action? No matter what the reason, obviously somebody wanted this ship to land on Locris with its deadly cargo. "Let's review the captain's logs," she said. Yuri called up the files again. Voice readout for most of the files proved impossible to restore, so they would have to settle for monitor displays. "Okay, lets go past the initial transit to first contact." Martin advanced the files until he found the right one. The readout began: Captains Log: 03 March, 2143 Capt. Michael Fendrov Ser#0304.120 Have arrived at the source of the distress beacon. What a find! Glory Ann's scanners readout an early style, MkXV Military Hypership. The registry code ID's it to be the Sulaco. I'm having my First check the databanks on her. If there's no pending claims, we might just make big bucks off this trip after all. [] " Money. Causes a person to loose sight of common sense," remarked Yuri. " They didn't have any reason to be alarmed, Miss Yuri." " I suppose, and will you please stop calling me `Miss Yuri'." " Okay, M. . . Yuri. Shall I advance to the next record?" Yuri nodded and the replay continued. Update: 03.1624 Boarding team reports no life aboard the Sulaco. The ship is in total decay, severe damage to the engines and cargo spaces. Looks like whoever was aboard got jettisoned in their escape modules. Team continuing investigation. Yuri took note of the transport's name, making a mental note that if she made connection with the Lovely Angel again to have Bill check it out. The computer suddenly pointed out that the next few portions of the log are marred, and that all information might not be retrievable. It asked if they wanted to continue. Martin told it yes, and the computer resumed. -----------@@@##### @@@@@@----******* located something in---******@@@. I've ordered them to be sealed and brought ***!@@@ ----@@@@#### for further study. $$%%%&&&*** A reply from homebase about the Sulaco has me wondering. They tell us all information on the ship is classified. ***#$$$$**___-be***--- ordered to salvage as much of the s((****--***###@anks as possible, take---@@@@@@. . . The readout decayed, Yuri cursing as she tried to make out the words. "Homebase? Martin where did the Glory Ann launch from?" she asked. "Cobal Station just inside the Andimi Etruscan system." He brought up a star chart, highlighting the system. At least four days max from Locris, without the exact position of the Glory Ann's find, Yuri could not tell if this planet was in their path. "I can try to fix it, Yuri," Martin said noticing her frustration. "No, let's go to the next one." The log advanced to the next days entry; 04.0015 Salvage operations complete, I have deemed the Sulaco of no worth and had her destroyed. Glory Ann returning to base. At least-- [] Ship's computer issued an alarm one hour ago. We investigated and found one of the stasis containers open, Crewman Henson found lying on the deck something attached to his face. Report to follow. 04.0147 Crewman Henson is dead. The thing on his face planted a lifeform inside him then died. Henson came to shortly thereafter. Twenty minutes later he started convulsing, then the creature chewed its way out of his chest. Creature escaped into the vents, crew searching. I've made a report to homebase, anticipating reply within the hour. "So they lost it, and apparently lost the fight," Yuri said. "Not to sound cliche, but in the case of Crewman Henson, curiosity killed the cat?" "Is that a glimmer of humor there, Mister Rhodes?" Martin smiled. "Partly. I was kind'a referencing your comment about money. Our friend got greedy. I surmise that he went down to see what he could steal for himself." "And got a nasty surprise." She paused frowning as another thought came to mind. "Martin, how many crew members were there?" He gazed up at the ceiling in thought. Suddenly his expression dropped. "About. . . thirty-five," he answered gazing at her in shock. The Glory Ann had become a flying death-trap for Fendrov and his crew. What started as one, must have quickly spread over-powering them in a matter of days. They needed to find out what it was that carried the bugs, at least that would help avoid a similar fate. "Is there more to this?" she asked about the log. The computer indicated one last entry, damaged but partly readable. ------@@@@ngineer----@@@ damaged, by what I don't know. All -----@@@@ and I've lost too many people to risk another----@@@. The monsters have over----@@@'ve only the lower-----@@@@ forward and the bridge under our control. Contact with homebase is confusing. They-----@@@@ Good God, their trying to break in! [End of active input] "They what, they what!" exclaimed Yuri at the screen. She turned to Martin, but he shook his head indicating there was nothing he could do. In a huff, Yuri leaned back in her chair. "Martin, your illustrious Company is starting to get me very suspicious about it's intentions," she said. "You think the Company purposely sent that ship here?" "I don't know," she replied sitting up again. "They gave him orders to do something, but from the looks of things he never got to carry them out." "I wouldn't think the Company would do something like this? We might have a few blemishes on our record, but those were so long ago." "Remember what you said about greed," she reminded him. Martin turned away from her and Yuri sensed he was taking this very hard. "Martin, we can't rule out this possibility." Still the tech said nothing. Yuri placed a hand on his shoulder. "Let's drop it, okay. Why don't we look into the computer's logs." Rhodes glanced at her, then turned typing the command into the computer. [Irrecoverable data nodes] reported the computer. "Filter what you can," he ordered. The computer acknowledged sifting through the files. [Extensive repair time needed. One video link available, one communications entry available, Run?] "Play the video first," said Yuri. The monitor flickered, a view of the bridge on the Glory Ann appearing. What few crewmen left were rushing across the room, piling chairs and anything loose up against the main hatch. Yuri recognized Captain Fendrov locking back the safety on a pulse rifle. Next to him, a woman stood holding a similar weapon preparing for the fight. "Captain, I cannot protect all of you!" she said to him. "I don't expect you too, Janna. Just try to keep them off the bridge," Fendrov replied. The thumping against the heavy door increased, metal wrenching from its mounts as the aliens began to tear their way inside. A final sharp snap sounded and the barricade collapsed. In rushed the creatures, pouncing upon the hapless crew as they cried out in terror. The woman known as Janna shot down several, but a group piled on her. Muffled sounds of tearing flesh and cartilage popping apart sounded followed her own screams. It was over in a few short minutes. Yuri told the computer to terminate, stopped in mid-sentence and squinted close at the monitor. "Back up." The display went into reverse. "Hold it right there," she said stopping the replay. "What are you looking at?" asked Martin. "Her," she answered pointing to Janna. "Enhance her picture." A portion of the screen was sectioned off, enlarged and refined to display the woman's features. In particular, Yuri examined the wounds on her arms, claw marks that oozed an oddly thick whitish liquid. "Hey, she's a fake!" exclaimed Martin. Yuri recognized the term normally used for androids in the Confederation by regular humans. Kind of a joke really since most humans had some sort of enhancements done to them. This Android must have been some sort of combat model. It wasn't standard to allow fully independent one's to handle weapons, unless there was a need for it. Unless somebody knew what they were getting into. "Hmm," she contemplated the idea. "Martin, let's try the communications log." "Like I said, it's been scrambled, and--" "Please?" He sighed accessing it. [Access denied.] called out the computer. Yuri sneered at the console. She tried, getting the same results. "See what I mean?" said Martin. "Damn! Why would they cipher the communications log?" "I could break it, but it will take a few days." "We don't have a few days." He shrugged. "Then we need the computer module from the Glory Ann." "Looks that way." replied Yuri. She knew that the only way to get it was by going to the downed ship, and that meant fighting their way through an uncounted number of aliens along the way. "Colonel Collins is going to--" She was cut off by the wail of the warning alarm. {Yuri, get up to Operations, fast!} Kei sent to her. Yuri sprinted for the doors, Martin close behind. {What's going on, Kei?} {Trouble. Just get up here, okay.} For Kei too be so curt must mean something serious has gone down. Yuri could only imagine the worst as they ran down the corridor. * * * * * In the operations center, Kei, Collins, Welton and Kelly stood around the tac-table, Lt Meyers on headphones talking to several units behind them. Yuri rushed up next to Kei. "Okay, so what's up?" she asked them. Kei pointed down to the table. An expanded view of the south portion of the central complex was displayed. "There was indications of bug activity along the outer dome. A section of marines were sent out with an engineering team to check and seal any gaps. We've lost comms with them a few minutes ago." "So why don't we just seal off the area?" "Yeah, we can do that, little lady," sergeant Kelly answered. "But that area is the where our venting outlets to power station two are." "The bugs are trying to repeat their afternoon attack," added Welton. Colonel Collins studied the display, noting the icons representing his forces, then looked up at the main screen. "We have any visuals yet?" he asked his techs. One of them finished inputting commands. The screen shifted, displaying the dimly lit outer area. Several large pipes extended out from the side of the inner dome, angling down into the ground. A series of horizontal pipes ran parallel to that, running through a squat permacrete building back into the dome. That was all the camera could see from it's position. "You got a better camera?" he asked. "No, sir. I'm not getting any response from the other remotes," replied the tech. "Failure?" "No, sir. They're not there." Welton and Collins exchanged brief looks of concern. Collins ordered the remote to pan left. It started, but jerked to a stop. The view shook violently, then the face of an alien filed the screen. Several cries echoed through the room as it hissed. One more jerk, then the screen winked out. "The bastards learn every day," said Welton returning to the tac-table. "Then we'll have to root them out before they can succeed," Collins said. "Lieutenant, are our forces in position yet?" Meyers barked several orders into her mic before responding. "Units are just about set, Colonel." St-Paul and Quinten entered through the main door. Collins wasted no time issuing orders to them. "Sergeant Quinten get a squad together, you just got cleaning duty. St-Paul get a backup force ready incase they need help." Both men held back their curses. "On the double, gentlemen," added Collins. "First Sergeant, can I get Balboa's squad?" said Quinten. "Where do you want them?" "Have them meet me at the armory." Quinten turned to go when Yuri suddenly asked, "Can I come along, Sergeant?" He froze, along with several of the others in the room. "You want to go out there . . . with us?" he slowly replied. She clasped her hands behind her back giving him her best innocent gaze, head tilted slightly to one side. Quinten drew back questioning the woman's sanity. "Colonel?" he said. "Your call, Sergeant," he replied. Quinten stared at her again, then ran a hand through his hair. "Nah, hell. Guess a little mayhem wouldn't hurt us any," he finally said. Yuri flashed Kei a smile rushing after him. That wasn't enough for her partner. {Yuri, what the hell are you trying to do?} {Getting some field investigation in. Don't worry I'm going to be okay.} {You'd better, you crazy Amazon.} {Sure thing. While I'm gone, talk to Martin,} {You mean the geek?} {Not nice. He's got some info I think you'll find interesting. See'ya.} Yuri closed the link and Kei sighed, praying that her partner wasn't getting into something she could not handle . . . * * * * * The squad Quinten asked for was gearing up when they entered. All activity ceased as Yuri walked by. The leering gazes from the male side of the house made her feel a bit nervous. Quinten sneered at their response, quickly guiding Yuri into an adjoining room. "You Troubleconsultants could at least wear a more unprovocative outfit," he grumbled at her. Yuri giggled, Quinten's frown growing deeper. He thrust a combat vest at her. "I don't think I'll need--" "Put it on," Quinten said sternly. As Yuri shrugged into it, Quinten keyed locks on the lockers around them. "Get a rifle from the rack, ammo's in the cabinets. We move out in two minutes." "I'll be there, Sarge," she joked. Quinten rolled his eyes, grumbling asking himself why he allowed this in the first place. Yuri quickly chose her weapons, a standard marine assault rifle and a vibro-bayonet just in case it came to close combat. Synching up the loose ends of her vest, she rejoined the marines. The squad was enduring a quick harsh tongue lashing from Quinten. Their eyes drifted towards her and he stopped, turning around. Combat gear was not supposed to be sexy attire, but in Yuri's case it was a marines dream come true. She smiling at them, draping her rifle over one shoulder. "Uh, sarge. You knows what's youse were sayin's about distractions? I don't think its gonna happen." "Shut up, Balboa!" growled Quinten. He pulled at his face, letting out a long sigh. "Alright marines, let's move out!" he ordered. The squad picked up their gear moving for the door. Yuri snickered, pulling a green beret out of her top. "I found this in the armory," she said. "Mind if I wear it?" "I don't think it would matter," Quinten replied. He tossed her a lightweight headphone and a combat communicator. "It's been synced so don't mess, and for my sake please don't tease the guys, okay?" "Sure, sergeant, but don't blame me if their natural habits get the better of them." Quinten grumbled angrily as he headed for the door . . . * * * * * Standing at the open airlock leading to the outer perimeter, Quinten and St-Paul made final checks as the rest of the marines readied themselves. "First signs of major trouble you call us, you hear me, Reggie?" St-Paul said. "I'll be the first to scream, partner," he replied. Quinten pulled on his helmet, adjusted the mic then flashed him a thumb up. St-Paul chuckled slapping him lightly on the back. "You're crazy, man," he said. "Got to be in this job." The smile fade from St-Paul's face as he stepped away from the hatch, the door sliding down into place. "And I'm coming back to finish that poker hand, you pirate," Quinten shouted before it closed shut. Silence filled the space, Quinten making his way to the front. Yuri stood nervously at the middle of the group, trying to quell the slight tremor she'd suddenly developed in her legs. "Okay, marines. Get sharp. Safeties off." The light clicks sounded much louder than normal, tension building. Quinten took a quick head count. Twenty marines, counting himself and Yuri, twenty-two. Hopefully they would be enough to handle the situation he thought. Moving next to the controls, Quinten ordered his two machine-gunners up front. The took stance, weapons pointed at the ready, waiting for him to open the outer hatch. On the count of three, he hit the button and the outer door slid open. A warm gust of air greeted them. Quinten unslung his rifle and walked carefully out. repled Major Welton's voice. The marines walked out, Yuri maintaining her position in the center. "Okay people, a nice steady two column approach. Stay close, but don't bunch up. Let's do it. Balboa, if you can take your eyes off of our guest, think you can watch our rear?" Corporal Balboa's head snapped up. "Uh, yea sarge--" His gaze fell back to Yuri's behind. "Well . . . maybe." "GET MOVING!" shouted Quinten. The squad sprang into action, formed up and started down the perimeter. Chapter Five In two staggered columns, Quinten's squad of marines moved towards the sight of the last attack, watching for any signs of the deadly creatures. Marching along close to the rear, Yuri held the grip of her rifle tight feeling a fear she'd never felt before. It was hotter out here than inside, she thought tugging on her vest to let out the heat. This plus the gloomy light made everything that much more eerie. Unconsciously, she shuddered looking up at the side of the inner dome. If those things did decide to attack them there, it was very doubtful that they could hold them off before any help arrived. Yuri attempted to contact Mughi, trying to get her mind off the situation for a moment, but the domes composition prevented the connection. She sighed, then caught the voices of the marines behind her. They were talking low, but she could hear them clear enough to tell what they were talking about. Her brows furrowed together. "Lookit dat ass, Denny," Corporal Balboa said to the marine walking beside him. "Will ya look at dat meat, fir cry'n out loud." The thin marine smirked, cocking his head to one side as he gazed at Yuri's rear. "I would have to say that it is one of the finest formed derriere's I've had the pleasure of looking at. In my opinion of course." "Listen ta'you, ya walking bookworm. Why can't you just say that is a fine piece of ass fir christ'sake!" "I did, but my explanation went way above your form of intelligence and comprehension." Balboa snickered. "Ya kill me, Denny. Sometimes you just kill me. I'll bet you say that about the mainframes in Ops, ya geek." He paused leering at Yuri's frame again. "Then again, if they had legs and a box like that, I'd be ready ta'jack into them pronto," he said snapping his fingers. Yuri's mouth dropped open, the anger in her rising. She was about to drop back and teach this arrogant fool manners, when a thump sounded. Balboa muttered low curses as a tall black female rapped her fist against the side of his helmet. "Yeow, Hedona!" he said glaring at her. "Squiggy, you rat! Watch your mouth," PFC Hedona Milles growled at him. "That Troubleconsultant might hear you. If she decides to kick your butt, I don't think there's anything you could do to stop her." "Aw, Heddy. I'm a young male confronting my natural urges like I should. What's the harm?" "Well said," Denny added. "Don't encourage him, Denny," Milles snapped. "What do you think, man. That women are nothing but receptacles for your oversexed urges?" "Nah . . . well kind'a--" Another sharp blow to the shoulder cut him off. "Squiggy I aught'a go up there and tell her what you've been saying. A fine way for a Corporal to be acting." "Okay Heddy, I hear's you. But dammed if you can't agree's wit me that a combat vest ain't looked so good on any marine evah!" Hedona guffawed loudly, staring at him disbelieving his comment. "And what, so us girls in the corps don't do da same thing, Squiggy?" Balboa smiled. He clicked his tongue, giving his head a slight twitch looking at Yuri once more. "Not like that rack of meat," he replied. Yuri had enough of the corporal's snide description of her body. She slowed her pace until she was walking evenly between Balboa and Hedona. All three of them had gone silent staring straight ahead, fearing what she would do. Yuri let them stew for a few minutes then looked at Balboa. "I don't mind you ogling my butt, Corporal. In fact I find it a bit flattering, however; that part about `meat' has got to go." She extended a hand. "My name is Yuri." The expression of shock melted away, Balboa smiled shaking her hand. "I'm pleased to meet ya's, Yuri," he replied. "Let me inderduces you to my pal here, Private Dennis Fraiser." Denny gave her a nod. "Charmed, madame," he said. "Hooeee, listen to the silver tongued devil!" exclaimed Hedona. She pushed Balboa out of the way. "PFC Hedona Milles, and personally I think you should have trounced da daylights out of Squiggy, girl." Yuri could not help but laugh finding herself liking the trio. "Squiggy, eh?" she said. "You talk funny. Where are you from?" Balboa drew up, chest puffed up with self pride. "Yuri, youse are look'n at a true gosh'fer livin citizen of the New Brooklyn biosphere, the closest one to good'ol Mother Earth." The Brooklyn biosphere was one of four that survived Earth's devastating Nanoclysim, recalled Yuri. They considered themselves the last true remaining Earthlings, thus the point of pride in Squiggy's claim. "Squiggy, such an unusual name?" The puffed chest disappeared, Squiggy frowning slightly. "Name's not Squiggy really. Its Louis," he muttered. Behind him, Hedona and Denny tried to suppress their snickers. "What, is their something I should know?" asked Yuri confused by their reactions. Denny nudged Balboa playfully in the ribs. "Go ahead, show her, Squiggy," he said between his chuckles. Balboa's frown deepened, and he waved him off moving a few paces ahead. "He's very shy about it," Hedona explained to her. "C'mon, Squiggy. Show Yuri here the luck, okay?" "I don't wanna!" "Come on, man!" Balboa smirked. He gave Yuri a quick glance, then sighed slinging his rifle. Undoing the strap of his helmet, Balboa pulled it off reveling a mop of jet black hair. Nothing unusual about that thought Yuri, until a long strand flopped down his forehead, forming into a squiggly curl at his brow. Several marines close to him patted it affectionately despite his protest. Yuri gazed upon it in utter surprise. "Why Corporal," she said reaching up, springing the curls up and down with her fingers. "It's cute!" "It's not cute!" he replied. "It's a phenomena really," added Denny. "No matter how much he cuts off, the curl grows back in a matter of days." "Really now. Why do you call it lucky?" Some of the humor left them then. "Da bugs give it to him," Heddy said. "The bugs?" "Yep. During our fight in module two, a bug jumped part of Squiggy's section and was thrashe'm good. Squiggy here got slapped around and lost his helmet. Out flops the curl and de bug stops to stare at it." "Closest I ever want to see one of dem tings," said Balboa replacing his helmet. "I'd swear, girl. The damn thing laughed at him. Outright laughed at him." "Then Squiggy blew it away," finished Denny. "Now before we go into a scrap, we pat him on de head for luck." "Yeah, and dat gives me a friggin headache." Yuri laughed again. The squad filed down a ramp out into a wide open run. Here Yuri could see up ahead the pipes running from the inner dome down into the ground, and above that white smoke drifting up into the overhead. Quinten snapped his fingers rapidly, Balboa and Milles taking charge of their sections. The marines fanned out in a staggered line, one covering the other as they advanced across the open ground. Reaching the first series of pipes, Quinten crouched low waiting for the rest of the squad to get into position. "Balboa," he whispered low. "By two's, move up along the outside. Heddy, you're with me. Up and over, slow!" Yuri chose to stay with Balboa as Quinten lead the rest of the marines over the top of the pipes. She drew in a deep breath looking at Squiggy. He just smiled, flashing her a quick wink. "Makie, Boz, start us out," Balboa whispered. The two marines peeled off, carefully taking positions at the head of the section. They peered around the corner, then moved out. The rest of the marines paired off, Yuri teaming with Denny, following them in a series of leap frog maneuvers along the silent path. Soon it came their turn to lead, and Denny went first checking the stray corners as he inched along the base of the outer dome. Yuri maintained her pace across from him, watching for any sudden appearance by the bugs. Suddenly he stopped, dropping into a crouch and pointed ahead. The smoldering rear of a six-wheeled maintenance vehicle sat parked next to one of the power boxes. Yuri shifted positions, moving across to join Denny. The marine looked around the bend again, then back at Balboa a few yards behind. Balboa quickly understood. He waved up two more marines positioning them where Yuri had been. Denny steeled his nerves then began to inch his way forwards, the marine across from him mimicking the move. Yuri held her rifle at the ready, but nothing happened. Denny reached the rear of the vehicle and stopped waving them forwards. "Your turn," he whispered to her. Yuri took in a breath, then moved around the corner. As fast as she went around, she came back breathing hard. "What!" Denny said bringing his rifle up. She said nothing, pointing around the corner. Denny slowly looked around. Against the large tire, a marine sat slumped slightly to one side. Even from this angle, he could tell she was dead, a wash of blood hanging thick from her mouth and chin. Grimacing, he moved out into the open. Just a few steps away lay the headless body of a maintenance man he cold tell from the grey overalls. Beyond him several short white drums of the liquid metal compound sat stacked near an open crevasse at the base the pipes. Denny swallowed the lump in his throat, then called Balboa. Leading the rest of the section up, Squiggy stopped staring at the scene for a moment. He exchanged a fearful gaze at Yuri and Denny, then switched on his mic. Quinten replied. Balboa rogered, fanning out his people to cover the approaches. Meanwhile, Yuri had climbed up onto the edge of the vehicle, peering inside. There was blood and acid burns everywhere around the interior of the bed, a gapping hole burned straight through the bottom into the engine housing. Explained the fire, she thought climbing inside. Denny and another marine followed her. Yuri reaching the cabs rear door and carefully released the latch. The marine with them went into a crouch pointing his rife at the opening. On a silent count of three, she opened the door. A body slumped back through the opening, Denny taking in a sharp breath at the mangled opening in the chest. Terror covered the dead man's face, his eyes bulged almost to the point of popping out of their sockets. The rush of fear passed from Yuri, and she peered inside the cab. All of the glass in the windshield had been shattered, gouge marks from the bugs claws ripping through the dashboard. Another figure sat slumped to the side, part of his torso just as ripped as the seat behind it. "Yuri," Denny called to her. He was peering over the side, and she looked to see what he was staring at. On the ground lay parts of a bug wedged up under the charred hub of the center wheel. The ground around it still smoked from the acid-blood. Yuri shook her head. "They tried to run the things down," she said. "Guess that didn't work too well." "We better get back to the others," Denny replied. He gave it one last look, and hopped out of the carrier. Sergeant Quinten and the rest of the section had rejoined them by then. The burly sergeant was surveying the scene, sneering at the large hole in the ground next to the downlay of a pipe. Three containers of liquid metal lay on their sides, the contents puddling around the pipes and down into the hole. On further examination, it appeared that the hole was partially filled, explaining why they had not encountered more of the creatures. He flicked on his mic and checked in to the command center. came Major Welton's reply. Colonel Collins said. "Sergeant!" Hedona suddenly cried. She was standing atop the pipes, a look of desperation on her face. Quinten finished. Heddy pointed to something on the other side and the marines took up positions, moving beneath the pipes to see what it was. In the center of the open walkway lay the remainder of the missing section, pools of blood collecting around the bodies. The still remains of several bugs lay intermingled with them. Quinten motioned the sections forwards with caution. He knelt next to the closest marine. No pulse. The sergeant almost showed a sign of emotion, but quickly suppressed it and made his report. Collins replied. He paused for a moment. The ensuing silence conveyed Colonel Collins anger. Quinten stood watching as Yuri, Denny and several marines crouched with guns poised at a bug, Balboa bravely moving up trying to pull the things jaws from the chest of the marine clutched in its grasp. continued Collins. Quinten looked around. He spied a series of bloody tracks leading off towards the ducting station and exhaust vents just beyond that. Quinten studied the tracks again. Balboa nodded his head rapidly at Quinten, mouthing yes several times in rapid succession. Quinten frowned. he answered gaining startled looks from the section. Quinten sighed. he said. "Geesh, sarge? You expects us'ta clear out god knows how many bugs? By ourselves!" Quinten stared down at the dead around them before replying. "You want more marines to end up like this, Balboa?" he asked. Squiggy lost all his objections, realizing that Quinten was right. "Nah," he said kicking at the ground. "Okay then. Get a few people back to that hole and fill it up. The rest of you form a skirmish line. Boz, Leon you got the point. Let's do it!" As the marines formed up, Yuri stood behind them checking her rifle once more. Quinten walked over to her, an I-told-you-so look in his eyes. "So, still think it was wise to come along?" he said. She laughed, cradling her rifle in her arms. "No, but I've done stupider things. Tough decision there, Sergeant." "Welcome to the Marine Corps." With the return of Balboa's section, the marines moved out towards their new objective. * * * * * Twenty-three marines and one very terrified trouble consultant worked their way through the walkways around the pipes, praying that the bugs would not be lying in wait to slaughter them all. It was too quiet, Yuri inching along behind Quinten searching the tops of the supports they were passing under. Despite the layers of insulation, the heat from the gasses flowing through the pipes still was enough to raise the temperature to near tropical levels. Guess the 3WA still had a thing on everyone for practical uniforms she joked to herself, certain that she was cooler than the marines around her. Her ears caught a faint hiss carrying through the air, making her tense. No, it didn't sound like one of the bugs. Too steady for that ungodly sound they made. Apparently Quinten heard it too, raising his arms. The section stopped taking up defensive positions. Yuri listened to the sound, glanced up at Quinten shrugging. He paused then turned snapping his fingers lightly at Balboa. Quinten pointed at him, held up three fingers, then pointed in the direction of the sound. The corporal let out a silent curse not at all happy by the sergeants selection. Quickly picking three others, Balboa started making his way along the walkway towards the sound. Carefully he inched along, the hiss growing louder with each passing second. Suddenly the walkway opened up, Balboa coming to an abrupt stop. There just visible over the top of a pipe, he saw several bugs climbing and tearing at one of the main ducting pipes. Already they had tore open a small hole, the gasses and heat rippling up into the air around them. They seemed not to be bothered, carrying on at a fevered pace to widen the gap. He moved in for a closer look. He could see more of them now, peering slightly over the edge. At least six bugs was his estimate. Movement off to the left near the transfer station caught his eye. Three more bugs stalked into view heading over to another group near the base of the pipes digging into the ground. One of the marines tugged on his sleeve pointing towards the inner dome. Jeesssus, the bugs were crawling all over the place, he thought spotting the ridged curved tails and tubed backs moving around the pipes. The marines wisely withdrew before they were discovered. Balboa rushed over to make his report to Quinten. "There's frigg'n bugs everywhere!" he whispered low to him. "Sarge, we're gonna need more help than this." "Quit your whining, Balboa," snapped Quinten. "Now how many did you count?" "There's about half a dozen ripping a hole in one of dem big pipes, counted a few more ripping up the ground not far from that." Yuri frowned. "If they get a big enough hole in that pipe, we're sunk." she said. "Yeah, but their not going to get that far," replied Quinten. "Sarge, da bugs are all over the pipes. If we blast them, that blood of theirs will chew its way right through'em!" "Let me worry about that, Balboa." Quinten knew that might mean shutting down the power station, but he could not allow the bugs to swarm in and quite possibly break into the inner dome like yesterday. Carefully, he made his way through the pipes, peering at the bugs. They were still at it, the hole much wider than when Squiggy saw it. He took in the terrain then drew back. Quinten whispered to Hedona,motioning her over. "Alright, here's what we are going to do, people. Heddy, get Leon and three others up on that transfer station. Balboa, move Boz up here with his machine gun. The rest of us will fan out and move up to cover the area. No comms, silent approach, and no slip-ups or we've had it. Clear?" They nodded moving off to carry out the orders. "Where do you want me?" Yuri asked. "Choose your ground, little lady," he replied. Yuri smiled, deciding to stay with him. She moved down a few paces, making her way through the supports and leaned up against one of the pipes, letting out a slow sigh. From her position she had a clear view of the area, watching with some interest how the bugs were tearing up the pipe and concrete. She found it incredible how much strength they had. Reminded her in most ways of typical ants, although typical ants don't bleed acid, or think like these creatures do. She noticed the marines had made it to the top of the transfer station, Leon training his machine gun down at the bugs. Hedona moved up into view, giving her a thumbs up to signal that her section was in position. Yuri relayed the message, and Quinten checked to see if Balboa was ready. Squiggy nodded, Quinten looking forwards once more. He reached down switching on his communicator. "Colonel--" Quinten managed to get out, but to Yuri's surprise the bugs let out a shrill squeal and together rounded on him hissing angrily. "Blast'em!" he shouted and the section opened fire. The Bugs surged towards them loud cries of anger and pain filling the air as they were cut down beneath a hail of gunfire. Arms, limbs and puffs of acid-blood spattered the area, still they came on, reaching the line of marines bringing the fight to close quarters. Yuri leaped back downing a bug as it scrambled through the pipes at her, rolled aside and fired catching another across the chest. It blew apart spraying the area behind it, acid quickly eating away the insulation and metal. A loud roar sounded, Yuri scrambling away as streams of heated gas shot out of the holes. That complicated things she realized trying to see through the haze. Not only did it jeopardize the power station, but the white mist provided excellent cover for the creatures. "Sergeant Quinten!" she shouted moving through the pipes. Between the roar of gunfire and hiss of gas, Yuri's voice had no chance of being heard. Off to her left she spotted a form silhouetted in the haze. She spun as the bug's head craned around towards her, snapping off several burst. It crumpled to the ground, but immediately drew the attention of two more who rushed towards her. Yuri let out a scream firing furiously. One dropped from view, the second leaping through the air onto the pipe above her, then pounced. She dived to the ground barely dodging it's taloned swipes, but before Yuri could get to her feet, the spiked point of the bugs tail raked across her chest. She fell back over a support loosing her rifle. The creature hissed ready to finish her. Gunfire sounded, the side of its head shattering. "Get up, girl!" Yuri barely heard Hedona shout through the din. Yuri retrieved her rifle, leaping over the twitching body. Together they ran out into the open. The fighting had also moved out from the pipes, Quinten leading the marines forward, laying down heavy fire at the onrushing bugs. His estimate was not to far off the mark. Yuri counted at least twelve bugs lying dead on the ground at their feet. The battle was still in doubt, more bugs appearing from the surrounding structures. There was no time to assess the situation as another group attacked. Yuri and Hedona cut them down, then from above a loud cry made them look up. The bugs had jumped the marines atop the transfer station, Leon the machine gunner clutching the end of a tail that protruded through his chest. The bug dangled him in the air, letting him suffer before flinging him violently to the ground. Hedona cried out in anger, blasting it into pieces. As she lead the other marines around them in a counterattack, Yuri rejoined Quinten's group carrying the fight futher out into the open. A vicious round of close quarters combat ensued, neither side holding back. Yuri trap-shot a bug trying to leap on her, spun around blasting another into pieces. She backed against the side of a support searching for more targets. A figure appeared, an extremely large bug spoiling for a fight. Instantly her rifle came up, but instead of the roar of gunfire the trigger snapped home with a loud clack. Her clip was empty, Yuri grimacing as the thing hissed breaking into a run. There was no time to reload. She dropped to one knee activating the vibrobayonet just as the bug made a swipe at her. It squealed drawing back a nub, forearm flopping to the ground. Yuri dodged the spew of acid-blood, thrust the blade into its throat slashing down and through its body. The parts flailed madly at her feet, but Yuri stepped aside reloading her rifle. Just in time as two more bugs attacked. She blew them away with hardly a pause, moving further out into the open. Ahead she spotted Denny blasting apart several bugs near the edge of the maintenance walkway. Behind him, five more bugs appeared at the railing. Instinctively Yuri drew three bloody cards from her holder, flinging them with deadly accuracy. Several cries cut the air, body parts falling back over the side. Denny spun around, mouth agape at the scene. He mouthed a thanks to her. Yuri flashed him a quick smile, moving on. The fight was winding down she could see, most of the bugs dead or in the throes of death. Up ahead, Quinten and three marines were finishing off the remaining bugs trying to escape their fire. One leaped at him arms reaching towards his throat. Quinten ducked, then blocked a thrust from the creatures tail with the butt of his rifle. To Yuri's surprise, the burly sergeant threw a solid right catching it square in the jaw. The bug actually staggered, then Quinten fired a burst into the side of its head. He stood over the twitching body a dark sneer on his face. Several more shots ended the bugs agony. Suddenly from out of the pipes behind him, a bug appeared. Yuri took aim, then realized that if she fired she might hit Quinten as well. "Quinten, behind you!" she cried out over her mic. Quinten spun around staring face to face with the creature, but it did not attack. Instead, it made the same hiss they heard at the start of this fight; arms groping madly skyward as if in pain. The bug whirled around, let out a long hiss and charged at Yuri. "Huh?" she muttered in confusion. It made no more than a few steps before Denny and Balboa appeared, destroying it beneath a hail of gunfire. Quinten stared incredulously at the remains, gazing up at Yuri. She was just as lost as he was. He shook his head then switched on his comlink. Colonel Collins shouted across the net. Heddy appeared with the remained of the section, Quinten took a head count before answering. The link was cut, Quinten flinched at the sharp break. "Guess the skippers kin'a mad, eh Sarge," said Balboa. He did not answer, thinking silently to himself. Yuri could see his disappointment, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We did what we had to do, Quinten. What more can he ask?" she said. "We were supposed to prevent this from happening," he replied. From the edge of the far railing, Denny called out to them. "Come take a look at this," he said waving them over. Down below lay the dismembered part of the bugs Yuri had prevented from jumping Denny. One of them minus the lower half of its body managed to crawl away from the pile, heading towards the base of the outer dome. "Oh yeah, target practice!" Heddy said lining up the bug in her sights. "No!" shouted Yuri pushing the barrel away. They stared at her, wondering what was running through her mind. Yuri did not stay to explain, running down the adjacent ramp. She stood a few paces behind the injured creature, staring at it for a moment. "Yuri, you crazy woman!" shouted Quinten. "Get away from that thing before it comes after you!" She glanced back at them, then turned on her comlink. came Kei's reply. Yuri did not answer, watching the bug suddenly claw at the ground, that familiar hiss cutting the air. It reared back, snapped at her with its inner jaws, crawling towards her. She stepped out of reach. she said. The creature hissed louder, increasing its efforts. Yuri rejoined the marines her mind in deep thought. "Mind telling me what that was all about?" asked Quinten. "Not here, sergeant," she replied. He arched a brow, but accepted her answer. Quinten told the marines to finish off the creature. He looked at Yuri again, eyes fixed on her chest. "Still doubt me now for wearing that vest?" he asked her. Yuri looked down. A long deep slash cut across the vest, part of her bikini top folded down exposing her breast. She flushed red pulling the ends closed. If she had not worn the combat vest, Yuri would have resembled that bug she'd just seen below. "We've got to get back to Ops." she said heading for the nearest exit . . . Chapter Six 0634 LCT, 24 March, 2143 With close interest, Colonel Collins listened as Sergeant Quinten made his report; Yuri, wearing one of Squiggy's shirts, adding her observations to finish it off. He glanced silently between them, then turned facing the main screen. "So you say that one of the bugs actually turned and attacked you instead of killing Quinten?" he asked Yuri again. "It responded to the call I made over the net," she replied moving to one of the communications consoles. Yuri sat down and started punching in codes to the computer. "Something in the frequency is affecting them I'm sure of it." "That's impossible, Yuri," Timbra said. "The communications spectrum being used is way too complicated to do that." "These things are being influenced somehow," she replied. "That response could explain why they are attacking the communications dishes." On the monitor before her, a list of specs for Dorman's communications came up. Immediately Yuri smirked sitting back. "Then again, maybe not," she added. The people around her glanced close to the readout on the screen. All the frequencies were signal diversified, auto switching between the multi-channeled spectrum. "Could it be that the bugs are sensitive to the electromagnetic energy in general?" asked Kei. "That's a possibility," answered Martin. "But if it's just one certain level, then we'd have to test each freq to find out which one it is." "In either case, we should concentrate on finding out what freqs we can use safely and get a signal out." "That's now out of the question, Kei," Major Welton said. He placed a digital pad in front of Collins. Silently, Collins read the report, glancing at Fran several times before pushing it away. "Six hours?" he said. "That's not counting the cool down time needed to start work," Welton replied. Collins sat down rubbing the bridge of his nose, and closed his eyes. He let out a sigh. "Well, Kei. Your transmission is not going to happen anytime soon. Three of the four towers are now out of commission thanks to that skirmish." Kei reached over and read the readout on the digital pad. The damaged caused by both the bugs and the gunfire had vented to many pipes. Without proper discharge and cooling inlets, Power Station Two would have to be shutdown until repairs could be made. A process that by the engineers estimates would take six hours minimum. {Yuri, we have to try and get to the outside ourselves,} she sent. {I've fought these things twice now, Kei. We don't stand a chance out there.} {Bill has got to know what's going on. Look, you can stay here. I'll get out and get to the Lovely Angel and call for help.} {Suicide,}snapped Yuri. {I've got a better idea, but first we need to talk to Colonel Collins alone.} Yuri stood up. "Colonel," she said. He looked up. "Kei and I would like to talk to you in private if we could." "Will my office do?" he replied arching a brow. "For starters." Collins nodded. "Fran, get those crews hot on repairs. Quinten, you and your squad get some rest, you've deserved it. Ladies." * * * * * Yuri sat in front of Collins's desk nervously as the Colonel gazed at her. Kei stood next to the door more for security than anything else. For a moment nobody spoke, then Yuri cleared her throat. "Colonel, I don't believe that what is affecting the bugs is no coincidence." Collins leaned back, crossing his arms before him. "Are you saying that one of my people is a saboteur?" he asked her. "More likely a spy," she replied. Yuri recounted the findings from the Glory Anne's records, pointing out the mysterious scrambled portions. Still Collins looked upon her skeptically. "Is that all you can base your assumption on, Yuri?" he said. "I need hard facts too believe that someone would actually want to plant this horror on the people of Locris." "Colonel," Kei interrupted. "I've seen people do things to others for many purposes. Greed, power, whatever," "And your point?" "My point is that the founders of this colony do not have a very clean record. Everyone know this, so we can't put it past them to have not planted a spy here to keep an eye on things." "That's absurd!" Yuri shrugged. "They apparently knew enough to warn Captain Fendrov about the bugs, and gave him explicit orders to that effect." Collins could not argue with that fact. He leaned on the desk, thinking about the Angels theory for a moment. "So you have any suspects?" he asked. Kei nodded. "Three prime suspects," she answered. "Let me guess, Major Welton, Timbra Brown, and Martin Rhodes." "They did come from the company," Yuri said. Collins went silent again. "I can't believe Major Welton would be involved with this," he finally said. "Our thoughts too. He's nothing more than liaison for the military," said Kei. "That leaves Timbra and Martin. Why would the Company sacrifice an entire landing force just to place one spy in my command?" "We could asked them, but that would do us no good and we don't want to alert the spy," replied Kei. "No grounds for an arrest either without evidence," added Yuri. "This is not helping us, ladies," Collins said leaning back again. "You have a lot of theories. Valid, but theories nonetheless. I need facts, something to one; get some help for the 1200 some odd survivors I have left out of a 3500 people colony, two; tell me who's responsible for this fiasco so I can nail their butts, and three; eradicate these creatures before they infest this entire planet." The Angels could sense Collins's anger, an awkward pause passing between them. Yuri shifted nervously, then continued. "We do have a plan, Colonel," she said. "I'm listening." "Well, Kei and I need to talk with our ship," "I can't do that effectively with one dish, Yuri. Both of you saw the--" "We don't need a dish," said Kei. Collins frowned. "You see, Colonel, Yuri and I are . . . uh, enhanced Agents." "We have a mind link between us and our ship," explained Yuri. "Your domes are cutting us off right now." Collins's jaw sagged slightly in disbelief. "Well thank you for telling me this, ladies," he said skeptically. "I would've appreciate this kind of information well in advance." "We don't like to let anyone know about it unless we have to," replied Kei. He cast them a dark look, folding his arms across his chest. "Continue." "All we need is an antenna, something that can carry a signal. Our ship will do all the rest," finished Yuri. "An antenna eh?" "It's got to be secret, Colonel," added Kei. He understood, reaching over to the commpanel on the desk. Collins looked at the Angels. "I think we can trust Vicky," he said. "Now what about the spy, if there is one?" The Angels cast hesitant glances between them. They knew Collins wasn't going to like what they had to say next. {You tell him,} Yuri sent to Kei. {You're better at this stuff anyway.} {Thanks, chicken.} She placed a light smile on her face. "We can't really feel out the spy right now, Colonel, but we think we have a way to find out who's behind all of this." Kei paused to see if there was any reaction from him. He sat still as granite waiting for her to finish. "We need to go to the Glory Ann." That drew a response. Collins was out of his chair, leaning across the desk a look of shock on his face. "What!" he shouted. "It's the only way we're going to unscramble the last part of the logs in any reasonable time, Colonel," Yuri said. He looked back and forth at them perplexed by their proposal. "What!" he shouted again. Kei leaned on the desk looking him square in the eye. "Look, Colonel, you wanted us to help you find out why theses god-forsaken things are here. The only way we can do this is by unscrambling the last two signals in the Glory Ann's data logs. That means we either try this manually which, oh I don't know, will take at least a week maybe more, or we get the computer module that understood the code and plug it in here." They eyed each other for a few seconds, then Collins drew back. He shook his head, ran a hand through his hair, and began pacing slowly around behind his chair deep in thought. "I have high reservations about going back there." "It's the only way, Colonel," Yuri said. Collins stopped, then a knock at the door sounded. He opened it, Lieutenant Meyers stepping inside. "Vicky, is the beacon still up?" he asked her. "Yes, sir. Last time I checked it was still in one piece," she replied. Collins cut his eyes to Kei, arching a brow. "It will do," she said. "Good. Lieutenant, go find two interface plugs and meet us in the transmitter room. Don't tell anyone what or where you are going. Clear?" "Yes, sir," she replied and left the room. After the door had closed, Collins stood staring somberly at the floor, tracing the edge of his desk back and forth with his fingers. Looking up, he gave the Angels a hard gaze. "We'll talk about your proposal later." "It's your decision, Colonel," Yuri replied. "and too be honest, I don't envy you at all. . ." * * * * * Vicky had everything setup by the time Collins and the Angels arrived at the transmitter room. They went in. Collins locked the door ordering her to stand guard and let no one inside. It wasn't a very large room Kei and Yuri noticed as they sat behind the only console. The beacon itself was positioned in the center, a short square unit connected to a thick pole that ran up through the overhead. Tapping in a code, Collins shut off the transmitter. "How long will you need?" he asked. "We can't say," Yuri answered him. "Depends on how long we can keep up a signal." "You know this is not designed for your level of communications?" The girls stared at the console, gave each other a knowing nod, then picked up the connectors. "I'll go first," said Kei. She stared at the probe, reached up pulling back her hair and plugged in. "Now," she said. Collins switched on the transmitter. Immediately Kei tensed up as the connection began. She tried to relax and cleared her mind, letting her conscience flow with the currents. In her minds eye a myriad of lights flashed around her, nodes of electrons darting to and fro along the electronic horizon. Kei knew she had reached the nexus, transmitting to the Lovely Angel. Something buzzed in her head, faintly at first, growing louder and louder with each second. [Signal acknowledged,] came the voice of the ships computer. [Oh girl, thank god!] Kei replied. [Listen this is a code one priority. Connect me to 3WA headquarters, pronto!] The ship rogered her request. Mughi suddenly popped up, growling questionably at her. [Mughi, we are in some serious trouble here. Whatever you do, don't set down on this planet and try to rescue us, okay?] Mughi's reply came back fuzzy. Kei felt her connection start to fade, quickly forcing herself to maintain the link. [I can't talk right now, Mughi. Damnit, where's that connection!] [3WA headquarters online, Bill Galet standing by.] [Bill!] Galet's voice came faintly to her senses. [Kei? Kei is that you?] [Yes, Bill! We need help, ASAP!] [What's going on? Mughi contacts me with an urgent Priority One, then tells me you two are in some sort of trouble he can't explain.] [Bill, you've got to send the Marines fast. We've got a situation here that requires some heavy duty firepower.] [I already have. There's a battalion of Marines enrout to Locris, ETA is sometime in the evening there. Tell me what your up against.] Kei felt a wave of elation flow through her at the news. Good ol'Mughi, she thought. The feeling suddenly increased, and Kei started to loose her concentration. The strain was beginning to catch up with her. [Bill, Bill I'm getting tired . . . one battalion is not going to be enough, you'll have to send at least a division . . . did you hear me, Bill?] [I caught most of it, Kei. Your signals fading fast.] [Damn. Yuri!] [I'm here, Kei.] Yuri said. [Punch out, I'll take it from here.] Kei's connection faded out. [Hi, Billy.] [Yuri, good to see you are alive.] [That makes two of us. Look this connection is taxing, so I'm going to transmit all the data from my memory cells to you before it drops. Stand-by.] Yuri concentrated, commanding her neuralware to uplink what she had to Bill. After a few minutes, the transfer completed, Yuri sensed the dark fog of exhaustion creeping over her. [Bill, did you get it all?] she asked. [Got it. I'll scan through this stuff as soon as we're done.] [Great. Bill, check out the Company. We suspect they're up to something, not sure what it is though.] [Right. Sounds like you're about to loose me, so I'll get on this.] Yuri felt herself wavering in her chair. [Yeah, I better go. Hurry, Bill. We might not be here much longer.] [Don't say that. You girls be careful. Don't get killed on me, alright?] [Gotcha, Chief. Talk to you as soon as we can.] The net broke down and Yuri returned to conscience. Her eyes fluttered open and found Colonel Collins holding her in his arms. "You didn't tell me you were going to pass out," he said. She stirred, twisting slightly towards Kei. Meyers had her stretched out on the floor pressing a damp compress to her forehead. "Colonel," she managed to say gazing up at him. "their . . . their coming," "Who's coming, Yuri?" ". . . the relief force. Billy sent a battalion to rescues us . . . they should be here in . . . by dusk." A smile lit his face, Vicky grinning as well at the news. "That is good-- Yuri?" She did not answer, slipping into a deep sleep. * * * * * 0730LCT, Dorman Colony Water Treatment Plant: Silence prevailed across the wide expanse of Dorman's reservoir, momentary sparkles of light reflecting off the crest of ripples coasting casually across the dark water. Private Jim Miller stared at the reflection in the water, his reflection looking more haggard and aged than a man of twenty-two should. Fear is what caused it, fear of the bugs and violent death they represented. That he had survived so far was a miracle in itself. First the Aerodrome, then the fight in Complex Three, both near run-ins with death he vowed never to face again. The maintenance droid gliding across the surface of the water returned to its storage shed, and as the last ripples dissipated he continued on with his rounds. Yep, no more daring-do gung-ho marine crap for me, he thought. Once this whole thing was over, he'd put in for separation. Screw risking my neck for some civvy. Home was where he wanted to go, working a farm or anything better than this. Footsteps sounded from the metal steps behind him. He turned as a civilian tech stepped out, toolbag in hand. He spotted the Marine and flashed him a smile, pointing to one of the machinery rooms at the far end. Miller waved him on. Glancing at his watch, he counted only thirty minutes until he got relieved. Much good that did, everyone was doing round-the-clock shifts. A slight tremor passed through the reservoir. Miller passed it off as the techs doing. His mind wandered again. He stopped, leaning against the railing and looked out across the water. It was shifting again, gentle ripples traveling out form the center of the pool. Too bad this wasn't home, the lazy river behind his parents house beneath a midday sun. He smiled and found himself staring back down at the reflection wavering on the ripples below. As they faded, another face began to form beneath the dark water, a face set in an ever-present grin of razor sharp teeth, the eyeless forehead set squarely on him. Private Jim Miller's eyes bulged wide, his only reaction as an explosion of water shot into the air. A Bug leaped up to grab him in it's taloned claws, pulling him over the side. For a brief second he broke the surface flailing desperately for the edge, but several bug bodies rolled over him, dragging him under. A murky slick clouded the water marking his grave. Around the pool, sinister forms began to rise from the depths of the reservoir, climbing up the side into the complex beyond. * * * * * A row of jagged teeth snapped at her, Kei running pell-mell through the darkened expanse of a tunnel that seemed not to end. She heard the hiss behind her, felt the rush of air as their claws swiped at her back. Kei extended her stride opening the distance. She rounded a bend and spotted Yuri standing at the end. "YURI!" she cried pumping her arms and legs as fast as she could. A pane of permaglass sealed the opening. Yuri pressed up against it, tears streaming down her face. Kei reached the glass pounding her fist furiously against it. "YURI, their after me! Open this *#%@$ thing!" Yuri said something she could not hear, weeping openly now. Behind her, blurred figures suddenly took hold of each arm, pulling her away. "No, Yuri, help me!" shouted Kei, crying as well. Yuri reached out desperately to her as she and the unknown figures disappeared around the corner. "Yuri, Yuri, YURI!" cried Kei. Suddenly she stopped, sensing something close behind her. Kei looked back, straight into the open jaws of a bug. It hissed as the inner pair began to slide forward. Kei screamed . . . * * * * * Kei sat up panting heavily as she woke from her nightmare. She was lying in the lower part of a bunk bed in one of the marine barracks. "You okay, red?" a woman's voice said startling her. She looked around to the woman seated at the side of the bunk staring curiously. A hand touched her shoulder, Kei yelping as she spun around. "Relax, Kei. It's only me," said Yuri. Kei let out a sigh of relief, hugging her tight. "Don't you ever do that to me again, ever!" she said. Yuri looked at Hedona, shrugging. "So dis is your partner," said Squiggy seated on the bunk behind Yuri. Dennis sat next to him watching them silently. Kei frowned, drawing back. She looked up at Yuri. "How long was I out?" "About an hour. I just woke up myself." Stretching, Kei swung her legs over the side. She yawned then glanced at the marines. "Friends of yours?" she said. Yuri introduced them to her. "Squiggy? Odd name for a grunt." "Oh no, I'm not going through this again!" Squiggy declared. Yuri laughed, calming him down. "Stop bothering the man, Kei. It's just a nickname. Why the girls in our class used to call you--" "Don't go there," Kei said cutting her off. Yuri caught the profound look of death in her eyes and decided to change the subject. "Look, Kei. The guys in A Company made me an honorary Private First Class," she said flashing the stripes on her sleeves. She smirked and stood up. "This place is a ghost town," she said eyeing all the empty bunks. "This used to belong to C company, before they got axed," replied Denny. "What happened to them?" "They got slaughtered in Complex One," Heddy answered her. "You mean the one with its guts caved in?" asked Yuri. She nodded. "Mind telling us what happened?" Kei asked her. Hedona stood up leaning on the top bunk. A distant look passed across her, feelings Kei and Yuri knew were hard for her to bear. "The whole damn company," she began then paused taking in a sharp breath. "I had a lot of friends in C company. When the bugs started infesting Complex One, Major Christopher--" "Who?" questioned Kei. "He was the original X.O. here before Major Welton," Squiggy explained. "A decent officer too," continued Hedona. "He led them over to try and stop the bugs from slaughtering the civvies. Two hundred and fifty fully armed marines, girl. . . still wasn't enough," "Nobody could help them?" said Yuri. "Hell, Yuri. Everyone was engaged then!" exclaimed Heddy. "A and D company were falling back from the airfield, we were fight'n for our lives in Complex Two, and the bugs were swarming through Three and Four!" Kei could see the tears welling up in her eyes. She felt sorry for the woman, and everyone was silent for a moment. "It's not like we abandoned them, Kei," Squiggy said sadly. "We just couldn't break away." "No ones blaming you, Squiggy," Kei said. "Just hard to believe there were no survivors." "Major Christopher and C company gave those civilians time to reach safety," Dennis said. "Once they were clear, he set off a kilo charge of C-36." "Brought down the roof on the bugs," said Yuri. "Yeah, but it didn't kill'em all," added Squiggy. "The bugs?" "And some of C company." Squiggy shook his head, leaning back against the headrest of the bunk. "I can still hear them calling over the net, begging for help . . . shoot'n themselves before the bugs could tear into'em." "Two days we heard them. There was nothing we could do," finished Hedona. She gazed hard at Kei, eyes lit with a look of terror at her memories. "Do you know what it's like to loose a friend, Kei?" Kei cut a quick glance at Yuri before answering. "Yes. Yes I do, Heddy. I know how much it hurts." Hedona smiled reaching across to pat Kei's forearm tenderly. Her eyes caught the time on her watch. "We better go, guys. It's ten to eight, and you know how the First Sergeant hates late reliefs." Denny and Squiggy both shot to their feet. Before anyone could move, the general alarm sounded. Lieutenant Meyers cried out over the intercom. From the sound of her voice, something big was happening. The marines dashed out the room, Kei and Yuri in close trail. As they rushed down the corridors, they were joined by more marines, civilian police and any armed individual forming a mob that reached the lower level joining those already there. Squiggy led them to the nearest armory. A marine was frantically tossing out arms and ammunition to anyone who needed it. "Hey, Mackie. What the hells going on?" he shouted. The marine tossed him a belt of reloads without hardly a pause. "The frigg'n bugs are inside!" he replied tossing Heddy and Dennis ammunition. "Where, in the outer dome?" Mackie tossed Kei an assault rifle, Yuri receiving a power blaster and grenades. "No! They're inside, Squiggy. The damn bugs are inside with us!" Kei whirled facing Yuri, her mouth gapping in shock. A disaster was unfolding before them, and unless a miracle happened this looked like the end of Locris colony. Squiggy wasted no time, leading them through the milling rush of civilians not participating in the fight, out into the open street. Gunfire raged through the air around them, squads of armed troops running or mounting anything that could move to join the battle. "BALBOA!" First Sergeant Kelly's voice cried above the din. He walked over, Timbra and a section of marines in tow behind him. "Take this group over to twenty-three and E on the double," He looked Kei over briefly then added, "and take the K-gun with you." Kei bristled with anger. "Hey I'm not--" "Save it red. No time to argue with me. Now get moving!" Squiggy took charge of the detail. Kei fumed for a moment before turning away with a growl to follow them. "Hold on, Heddy," Kelly said stopping her and Yuri. "We've got to join the Major with whatever we can scrape together." Yuri grimaced. Things must be worse than she thought. "Sergeant Kelly, is it that bad?" she asked. Kelly's brows furrowed together answering her question. "We haven't got time to sit here and talk," he said moving on. Yuri felt a shudder pass through her. She powered up the blaster and followed . . . Chapter Seven The staccato of a heavy machine gun rattled off amongst the warehouses a few blocks away, Squiggy's detachment dismounting from the back of the maintenance car that carried them to the fight. In the street a makeshift working party hurried to form some sort of barricade between two buildings out of anything they could get. Kei saw that it was a moot point at best. Off to the left a wide lot exposed their flank, and she doubted that the bugs would be hardly hampered by the chainlink fence that surrounded it. A power mover lumbered up into position, blocking the remaining gap with its wide scoop. Around her the marines dug in, setting up weapons. Squiggy detailed some of the force to the roofs, ordering those that were left to move more of the equipment into line just behind the lot. The shooting grew louder. Kei found herself a spot on the street barricade and set up the assault rifle. Not a standard model the 3WA possessed in their arsenals, this one was much shorter and sported a wide muzzle to support the various types of 20mm rounds it could use. A stand flipped out from under the grip, Kei anchoring the sharp ends into the concrete slab she hid behind. Loading the rotating drum into the frame, she adjusted the electronic sights, braced the recoil assisted stock to her shoulder and got ready. Squiggy stopped behind her as he checked the line. "Gonna be able ta handle that baby, Kei? It's got a mean kick." "I'll manage, Squiggy. Just keep that ammo handy." "You're going to need help for that," he replied. "I'll be here," Timbra suddenly said moving beside her. She looked at Kei and smiled. "How's-it, sis." "Glad you could join the party," replied Kei. An explosion rocked them, Balboa dropping to one knee trying to hear what was coming over his helmet's speaker. "Sergeant Quinten's falling back, I got ta get moving. You guys take care and don't get messed up," he said rushing off to check the rest of the line. Kei locked in a round, flicking off her safety. "Well, Timbra, we're about to get into one hell of a scrap," she said. Timbra laughed, priming her rifle. "Let's give'em hell then, little sister. We don't want to ruin our reputation of redheads as being the fiercest bitches around, now do we?" Kei found humor in her words, grinning. Another explosion, much closer this time, went off littering the area with debris. Several soldiers bolted around the corner ahead, making a slow withdrawal as they fired back up the street. More of them appeared dashing towards them under the cover of their comrades, several carrying wounded between them. Kei spotted Sergeant Quinten, a marine slung over one shoulder. With his gun hand he fanned the area, shouting to the other marines around him to fall back. The gunners on the roof began to fire, Timbra nudged Kei and pointed up. Bugs were leaping across the rooftops, a dark mass oblivious to the furious gunfire being poured into them. More gunfire echoed down the line, no doubt Squiggy hotly engaged on his front. As the remainder of Quinten's force scampered over the barricade, the creatures swarmed into view down the street. Their squeals carried above the violence, sending a chill through the defenders. Immediately they poured a torrent of gunfire into the horde. The assault gun spoke with fury, Kei snapping off three round in quick succession. Balboa was right, this gun had a hell of a kick, she thought. There was no time to ponder the bruise that would result, increasing her fire. Any bug caught up in the sights field of fire was immediately splattered along with any behind it. In seconds their dead littered the street, rivulets of steaming corrosive acid-blood potting the concrete. Still they came on, clawing and hissing at the defenders, pressing the fight closer. The assault gun spoke nonstop, Kei ignored its relentless kick firing until the drum emptied. Beside her, Timbra laid out a murderous fire keeping the bugs from climbing over the top of the barricade. They could hear the cries of people scumming to death around them; atop the roofs the bugs managed to gain a foothold tearing into the police and marines. "Kei, hurry it up!" Timbra shouted blasting a bug leaping towards her. Kei locked in a new drum; 20mm rounds of compressed flechette rods. Her first shot cleared the area before them, bugs withering in agony as the spiked projectiles tore through their bodies. The next shots cleared the street, but it was to late to do anything about the buildings around them. Everyone knew it was time to pull back before they were flanked. One last volley, and the defenders broke down the street. The bugs were hot on their heels pouring over the barricades with a vengeance. Kei's legs pumped fast and hard, the memory of her nightmare vivid in her mind. Coming out into the main street, across the way Sergeant Quinten had reformed his force among the warehouses and streets. Both Timbra and Kei scampered over the bags of grain being used for cover, the marines covering their withdrawal. There was no time for pause as they joined the defenders on the line. The wide street acted as a moat, preventing the bugs from repeating their rooftop leaps, forcing them to charge across open ground. A horrendous toll of bodies quickly resulted, and the bugs halted to regroup out of sight. Kei slumped down behind the barricade to regain what little strength she could. "Well now, at least the bugs know when to call it quits," Timbra said sitting down next to her. "Yeah, right," said Kei. "They'll be back. I'm betting that they're just getting reinforcements." She rose up removing the drum on the assault rifle and slapped in a fresh one. Not many of them remained Kei noticed taking a quick inventory. If the bugs kept up their attacks, this fight will be over real quick. Sergeant Quinten walked the line, coming towards her. His left arm was wrapped at the forearm with sterile tape and he winced slightly as he knelt. "Don't get to relaxed, ladies," he said. "They'll be back very shortly." A sharp echo of gunfire from the northern section emphasized his words. "Hows the fight going over there?" asked Timbra. "Not good I'm afraid," he replied. "Bugs are pressing on the Colonel hard. We might have to pull back again if they get between him and us." One of the marines called to him pointing across the street. The monsters were creeping up slowly towards them in larger numbers than before. "Here," Quinten said to Kei handing her a comlink. "Figure you might need this. Sorry about the blood." Grimacing, Kei wiped it clean, putting it on then manned her gun. There was no lack of targets, bugs thick as a swarm of bees moved steadily closer to the edge of the street. "What do think, Kei?" Timbra said as she slapped another magazine into her rifle. "We better think of something fast, or I'm afraid this is the end of us all." With a soul chilling cry, the bugs attacked. . . * * * * * Yuri took cover around the corner of a building as Hedona and Denny let loose with several grenades down the open street, splattering the bugs pursuing them. She rounded, firing as she joined them in their withdrawal to new defensive positions. Things had gone from bad to worse when they arrived with First Sergeant Kelly. The bugs had swarmed over the water treatment plant, drove the marines out of power station one, and were leapfrogging towards the command center at a frightening pace. Trying to fight them toe to toe was pure suicide among the cluster of warehouses and buildings. Major Welton ordered them to demolish every building they could before rejoining them in the barricades along the main street. Fires raged through some of the structures. This was not good, Yuri thought knowing that the smoke would obscure visibility if it became thick enough. As long as the bugs didn't destroy the recirculators or cut power, there was no chance of suffocating. A trail of bullets danced precariously close to her head and she dived to the ground, rolling out of the line of fire. Looking back, she could see why they had risked hitting her. A group of Bugs had moved up a side street and would have caught her if the marines had not intervened. Yuri's blaster was hot in her hands, the barrel showing signs of overheating, but she continued to blast away at the oncoming swarm, scrambling to her feet. She never thought she'd be so happy to see Sergeant Kelly's hard scowling face appear from behind one of the barricades in the street. He barked out an order. Several marines and police rose up, firing a volley that gave the fleeing group time to scramble for cover. Yuri dropped to a knee to regain her breath. "You better stick wit me, girl," Heddy said helping her up. "Looks like the 3WA needs guardian angels for their troubleconsultants." "Sometimes I think that myself, Heddy." Yuri turned back to the barricade and the fierce fight going on. Kelly's team poured it on thick, but the bugs were quickly growing in numbers. One final surge and they were up on the crest of the barricade. Kelly ordered a retreat and everyone broke down the street. Cries and screams of terror carried through the air, those not quick enough disappearing into the wave of monsters surging after them. Yuri resisted the urge to toss her rifle away, praying that she would make the main street ahead and safety beyond. She could hear the clack of clawed feet, sharp snaps of jaws behind her, and willed more energy from her body. Somebody just to the edge of her vision made the mistake of turning, only to be buried under a pile of bug bodies. She could see the barricade between two building just a cross the main street. Major Welton stood a top an over turned car waiting to give the word to fire. For his size, Sergeant Kelly made climbing over the barricade look like childs play, Denny a few steps behind him. Hedona vaulted over the side of a crate, then reached back to grab Yuri by the scruff of her shirt yanking her up. She pulled herself over, then something hit Yuri hard from behind. She screamed rolling across the ground. With one foot Yuri kicked away the Bug groping at her face, but it managed to rake her across the side of her right hip. Yuri yelped in pain, clutching the wound to stop the bleeding. The Bug that attacked her never managed to recover, marines, police and civilians setting upon it with relentless fury. They didn't waist any ammunition, beating the creature to death with the butts of their rifles, stabbing it until it went still in a steaming puddle of it's blood. "You okay, Miss Yuri?" one of the marines asked. "I'm going to need a doctor," she replied through grit teeth. The marine called for a medic and rejoined the line. Again, the story was the same; the bugs could not swarm across the street without taking heavy losses. The crack from the assault rifles along the line, the gunfire from the defending force grew to deafening proportions. Yuri ignored her pain, placing her hands to her ears to protect them until the fire slacked off. She pulled herself up against the side of the building, Heddy kneeling next to her. "Oh, boy," she said looking at the wound. "Were you lucky de bugs didn't get through." "Tell me about it," Yuri replied. "Say you want to get me a medkit or someth'n?" Heddy called over a medic. He told her to turn and Yuri rolled over exposing her wound. The young medic paused staring at her body mouth agape. It took a sharp slap from Heddy to get him in motion again. "Geeesh, you'd think in our present situation these guys would be thinking about more than just flesh." she said. Yuri managed a giggle, wincing sharply as the medic applied medication to her injury. "That should kill the pain, ma'am," the medic said. "but Doc P's going to have to close that up." Covering the gash with a sterile wrap, the medic moved off to attend the rest of the wounded. Yuri sighed, looking up at Heddy. "Wow, I'm some example of a troubleconsultant," she joked. Hedona helped her up, Yuri leaning on her for support. It sounded like another attack was commencing somewhere down the line. "Okay, people," Major Welton said. "We're not out of this yet. Reload and get ready." He stopped abruptly upon seeing Yuri. "I'm getting you out of here," he said. "Hedona take her back to the Colonel. He'll see that you get to Doc." "Major!" Kelly shouted. The bugs were coming again. "Go," he ordered them leaving to resume his post in the line. Yuri could see the reluctance in Heddy's face, but she turned guiding her along down the street. . . * * * * * Hedona commandeered a working hover sled, placing Yuri in the side seat. They whisked away to Colonel Collins position at the center of the line. The progress of the battle came across the radio, and it did not look very good. a voice cried out over the circuit. another said. Collins's voice came across the net. "Oh, this is bad, Heddy," Yuri said. Hedona increased speed, and soon they found Colonel Collins. The Colonel's foresight had been the only thing that prevented the wide scale destruction of the colony. Early on when things started to look grim, he ordered barricades built, sectioning off the streets into layered defenses. The only weak link was a large open park the center, built to commemorate the colonies foundation. The bugs had not missed this flaw, but neither had Collins. Anticipating such an emergency, he ordered his engineers to construct entrenchments across the direct path they would have to take to reach the command center. The defenders were holding their own, but just barely as the bugs surged across the open ground towards them. Machine guns raked across them, assault rifles and even the added weight from two APC's decimated their ranks. When the fire became to much the bugs would withdraw, gather more reinforcements, then attack again. It was becoming a battle of attrition, one Collins knew that sooner or later they would loose. This attack was petering out. Collins turned away from the line, gazed over the schematic he displayed on his pad, then spoke into his comlink. He spotted Heddy helping Yuri out of her seat. Collins finished, pointing to Heddy. He waved them over while switching circuits. Lieutenant Meyers, Martin Rhodes, and four techs sat hunched close to their monitors, running scans from the various inner remotes around the complex. Collin's reigned in his impatience. He cut the link, turning to Heddy. "How's Major Welton doing?" "Looks bad, sir. De bugs keep pressuring us, moving on our flanks. They can hold for a few, but eventually something got to give." Collins rubbed his chin, smirking at her report. "Okay. Get Yuri to Doc." "If it's okay with you, Colonel, I'd like to stay here," Yuri said. "You're not feeling any pain from that?" he asked pointing to her wound. "Pain killer is starting to kick in. I'll be alright. Besides, you need every hand you can get." The colonel smiled. "Okay. Hedona you stay with her." Yuri tested her leg. The pain was dull, but she could manage a slow limp. "Colonel," she called out after Collins. He stopped. "I heard you say something about searching for a hole. What do you plan to do once you find it?" "I'm going to get about ten volunteers and go close it, that's what I'm going to do," he answered. Heddy grimaced. "A bit suicidal, if you'll pardon my saying so, sir." "I'm not totally crazy, Hedona. I'll use one of the APC's to get there. That will give us some kind of a chance." "What about coming back?" said Yuri. Collins did not reply, continuing on to the line. Yuri went after him. "We can't loose you now, Colonel. The colonist, and your troops are relying on you to pull them through all of this." "WE can't sit here and let them pour in on us, Yuri," he replied rounding on her. "If you have not noticed they outnumber us, and despite all of our fancy technology, we will loose in the long run. Supplies are running out fast. No, I will not sit idle." "I can agree with closing the breech, but not by committing suicide." Collins was about to answer, when Vicky called him on the not. she said dryly. From her tone Collins knew it was not good news. Vicky, Martin and the techs stared in shock at the swarming bodies surging out of the water on the main screen. She swallowed the lump in her throat. Major Welton dropped down from his position on the line, activating his comlink. Collins said. He looked over to Yuri, shaking his head. "There goes closing any breech." Welton asked. Kei's voice replied. Kei turned over her gun to Timbra, moving back so she could hear better. {Yuri,}she sent out. {What, Kei? Something wrong?} {No. Where did you put the Grav-packs?} {I left them in Ops, why?} {Feel like flying?} {I'm a little banged up, and where do you want to fly to anyway?} {Hmm, I'll have to do this alone then.} {Do what, do what, Kei?} {Tell you later, gotta go.} "Kei!" Yuri shouted, but she switched back up to the net. Yuri heard Collins, turning to Heddy asking her for her helmet. She doffed it, dark dreadlocks flopping down about her head. Yuri paused for a second, then put it on. <. . . once I'm over the reservoir, I'll try to blast the opening shut,> she heard Kei say. she said. Collins cut the link. "Kei's got nerve," he said. Yuri handed Heddy her helmet, gazing back towards the command center. Silly red, she thought sadly. A renewed attack by the bugs prevented anymore discussion, Yuri and Hedona manning the line. . . * * * * * Kei tapped Timbra on the shoulder. "I'm going back to the command center," she said. "We've found out where the bugs are getting in at, and I'm going to try to close it off." "What, by yourself?" exclaimed Timbra. "Yuri can't go, and there's no one else available to fly the other pack." Timbra stopped firing. She told the marine next to her to take over, grabbing Kei by the arm. "What, do you think I'm nothing but another helpless colonist?" she said to her. Before Kei could answer, Timbra reached up to the side of her neck, parting a fold of skin exposing an interface socket. "You need a plug right?" she finished. Kei smiled. Together they sprinted down the street. Kei told Meyers to send down the second pack and a spare rocket launcher. Half out of breath they reached the hanger; a marine standing by. "You know we stand a good chance of getting killed, Timbra," Kei said as she shrugged into the Grav-pack's harness. "So what's new, sis," Timbra replied. "It's either now or later, and I'm impatient." Kei synched the restraints tight, then took the rocket launcher from the marine. "Be careful where you shoot that, Miss Kei." the marine said as she examined the weapon. Thick muzzled at the front, the tube extended back ending just over the shooters shoulder, gas compensator vents around the end to stabilize firing. Kei slapping a three round magazine into the open chamber underneath, taking the grip tight in her hand. "Why?" "Those rounds are powerful enough to blast apart reinforced shielding." "You mean the dome?" "If you fire enough of them at one spot." "Explains why we're not using them on the line," said Timbra. The marine handed them two extra magazines each. Kei gave herself one last check, jacked into the pack checking its status. All systems were green. "You ready?" she asked Timbra. "Not yet. Hey, grunt. Gimme your commlink." The marine frowned, handing her his gear. "And the pistol." "But, but--" Timbra snapped her finger impatiently at him. "Come on, come on!" His frown grew deeper as he undid the holster. Timbra put it on, jacking into her pack. She flashed Kei a thumb up. "Let's move," Kei said, and they rose up into the air heading towards the reservoir. Kei dropped back until she was even with Timbra. "Two pistols?" she asked her. "Hey, I said I wasn't going to wait to die, but I'm not going like some feted calf on a platter. This girl is no easy pickings." Kei laughed. "Timbra you kill me!" she exclaimed. "Hope not. Say, I'll race you." Timbra shot away from before she could respond, Kei quickly following . . . * * * * * It was like a river below them, a river of bugs moving through the streets towards the defending colonist. Kei and Timbra maintained a careful altitude as they glided through the haze over the horde. The two were not missed, several bugs leaping from the tops of the buildings. A small group paced them, hissing and growling in frustration. Kei watched them, sticking her tongue out. "So, Timbra. What model are you?" she asked referring to her wetware. Timbra, staring down at some bugs scrambling up the side of a building, answered casually, "A Norita, and you?" "Lucien upgrade." "Ooh, fancy we 3WA agents are." "Helps on those cold, hard missions." She watched Timbra casually turn, flying with her backside to the ground. The woman was a natural, no wonder the Company gave her such a lucrative position. "Timbra, you'd make a great Troubleconsultant," she said. A brief frown crossed Timbra's face, Kei noting the slight twitch of her brows. She started chuckling. "And give up all I've worked for. Oh nay, Kei. If this an example of your life, I'm fine right where I'm at." This wasn't exactly a great example of 3WA life, Kei had to agree. Anymore conversation would have to wait, the reservoir coming into view. Just as Vicky said, the bugs were crawling out of the water at a rapid pace joining their cousins in the streets below. She tapped Timbra, pointing to a series of supports running around top of the water treatment plant. There was a crane suspended between them, perfect for their needs. "Timbra, I'm going to get up on that boom. Cover me, okay?" Timbra nodded, heading for the platforms running along the side of the inner dome. Taking a deep breath, Kei hovered down towards the crane. "Hello, guys," she said to the mass of bugs below. The eerie hiss and screeches from the creatures brought a chill through her veins. "Oh, don't mind me, I'm just going to shut down this little party of yours. Won't take long." She banked towards the boom and was just about there, when her pack suddenly sent an alarm. A red alert flashed in her minds eyes, Kei letting out a loud gasp of surprise. Desperately, she clawed her way though the air for the nearest thing she could reach, found the edge of an electrical cross connection and took hold just as the Grav-pack died. Timbra set down on the platform, turning to find Kei dangling precariously over the reservoir by one hand. "Kei, what the hell are you doing?" she shouted. "My pack's dead!" she cried out. "What! Hang on I'm coming to get you." "No, stay there!" said Kei. She slung her launcher, taking hold of the bar with both hands and began to pull herself up. A low menacing groan sounded. Kei looking up to see part of the support twisting out of place. "Cheap Company construction," she growled. The Bugs wasted no time trying to get at her, breaking off in several groups to climb up the sides of the supports. Timbra saw them and drew up her launcher. The explosion shook the area, and Kei slid back down to the end before stopping. She held on for dear life as the vibrations passed. "Are you trying to kill me!" she shouted. "Hey, it knocked the bugs down, didn't it!" "Yeah, and made you a target. Look!" Huh, muttered Timbra peering over the edge. The bugs were climbing up the ladders on both sides to get at her. Quickly she turned the launcher on the lower platform, demolishing it in one burst, doing the same to the next one. Meanwhile, Kei began pulling herself up again, trying to reach a better position. "Ugh . . . things I do for people . . . ugh . . . putting my ass on the line . . . ugh . . . coming close to death . . . ugh . . . and what for . . . ugh . . . to get some damn . . . ugh . . . accusation that I'm crazy!" Kei swung her legs up, hooking them around the beam. The metal creaked again and she paused. Letting out a slow breath, she uncurled looking down into the reservoir. "Well I tell you," she grumbled taking aim at the center of the dark pool, "its just not my fault!" Kei fired, the rocket streaking towards the water with a roar. Despite the compensation, the launcher still gave her quite a jolt, Kei wavering unsteadily in her perch. Damn, another one of these marine `kick-me' guns, she muttered steadying herself. A geyser of water erupted from the water, bugs and concrete bits rising high in the air. As the water calmed, she could see that the shot was well off the mark, the rocket deflected by the water. A hurried scrapping along one of the adjoining support brought Kei's attention to the rapid approach of bugs trying to reach her. "Get back!" she scowled firing into the support beam. It collapsed; the shock jarring the crossbeam loose from its mounts. It jerked to a stop, metal creaking against the strain. Kei grimaced then spotted another cluster of bugs approaching from the opposite side. "Timbra!" she called out. Timbra was having no better of a time, desperately defending her portion of the platform against the encroaching swarm. She had blown away portions of the platform to either side of her, switched to pistols to save her rocket ammunition, and sat trapshooting bugs as they attempted to leap across with deadly accuracy. Kei's cry for help drew her attention. Timbra unleashed a furious barrage of blaster fire at the bugs attacking her. That gave Kei a brief respite, and she returned her attention back to the reservoir. she shouted into the comlink. Vicky came on line. Vicky looked back at her techs. They punched up a series of commands, tapping into the reservoir's computer system. One of them gave her a nod. Kei heard the pumps kick on line. A low rush sounded from the pool, and the water began to bubble. Soon the level began to recede, the water being sucked out through several sluice gates in the sides of the reservoir along with a good number of the creatures. She wanted to laugh as they groped and fought against the pull, but held it in and took aim. "Let's see if I can do any better," she said firing again. The shot detonated closer to the center of the pool, but still not enough to destroy the opening. Ejecting the spent magazine, Kei reached up for a reload. In such an awkward position, it slipped from her grip as she removed it from her belt, dropping into the mass below. A stream of curses flew from Kei at her clumsiness. That left her with only three rounds, and only if she did not drop those as well. Carefully, she curled up, taking the last magazine from her belt and slapped it home. The metal creaked again. Kei pleaded with it to last just a bit longer, then leaned back once more. Meanwhile; Timbra had returned to defending herself and the bugs renewed their attack on Kei. Some of them reached the top of the remaining support beam making leaps at her. A bug sailed precariously close by her, Kei crying out as she pulled out of its reach. Another one prepared to jump, but she was not going to give it a chance. Drawing her pistol, Kei shot it in mid-form, shooting the rest before they could strike. For once their acid-blood worked against them, eating away the metal support. It sagged, widening the gap. Kei reholstered her pistol and checked on the situation below. The water was half drained, a thick layer of bugs obstructed her view of the bottom. From the way they were moving she backtracked, picking a spot that looked right and fired. More water and bugs sailed skyward, a large hole shattering the bottom of the reservoir. Kei steadied herself and checked the damage. Thanks to her shot, the water was leaking out of the cracked sides into the surrounding street, lowering the level considerably. Without the added advantage, the bugs were now forced to scurry up the smooth sloped sides slowing them down. With a loud screech, they parted trying to avoid her fire. A desperate attempt was being made by them to reach her once more; a living bridge of interconnecting creatures formed on what was left of the nearest stanchion. Kei estimated they would reach her in minutes, and prayed that she could finish the job of closing the reservoir before then. Only two rounds remained. From the looks of things, Timbra had used up all her rockets to stem the tide of bugs rushing her. Well it was all or nothing, she thought taking aim again. The bugs below noticed and scattered, exposing the wide opening at the bottom of the reservoir. It was the first time Kei got a good look down the shaft, and what she saw made her gasp eyes wide. A sharp snap from the encroaching bugs spurred her into action. The rocket exploded at the lip of the opening, shaking the area violently. The metal support creaked again, twisting her slightly around. Kei paused briefly, then took aim. Out of the corner of her eye she could see a very mean looking bug climbing up at a fevered pace, hell bent on killing her. Forcing back the urge to blast them into pieces, she steadied herself, took a long slow breath and squeezed the trigger. The rocket shot straight into the opening, through the bugs and detonated with a loud roar. Metal, concrete and bugs collapsed inwards, blocking the hole. Kei let out a cry of success. The sudden movement from the side brought her around in time to see the bug charging her leap across the void. Kei swung the rocket launcher like a bat, connecting with a hard smack. Both weapon and bug pummeled to the ground. "Ha. Suck on that, you ugly bastard!" she shouted down a the smoldering spot below. Kei pulled her pistol, firing at remaining creatures. "Timbra, Timbra come get me!" Timbra was too busy blasting bugs off the edge of her tiny platform to hear her. Desperately, Kei fired and dodged on her perch. Another creak from the metal support made her look up. Weakened by all the shock, and the added weight it had to support, metal continued to sag. A rip appeared, growing longer by the second. "Oh, no. Timbra!" exclaimed Kei. The bugs sensed her apprehension. A mass of inhuman sardonic grins arrayed below waiting for the inevitable to happen. A final sharp creak sounded. "Cheap Company ConstructionnnnnAAAAAYYYYHHH!" Kei cried as the support gaveway. She rocketed to the ground and the slavering jaws, when a pair of hands suddenly took hold of her by the ankles. Timbra pulled against the force of Kei's momentum, her muscles straining hard as she fought to gain altitude. Below the bugs screamed with fury, making desperate attempts to leap up and snare the two women, all to no avail as they climbed away. Kei, stunned by her close call, looked up at Timbra. Oddly she was still fighting to maintain flight. "What's wrong, Timbra?" she asked. "My-pack-is-about to-die!" she replied. They reached the platform, Kei clearing away the remaining bugs, and came down hard as the gravpack's power gave out. For a moment they remained still, then slowly sat up drawing away from the edge, leaning against each other drained. Kei rested her head against Timbra's shoulder and closed her eyes. "Thank's sis," she sighed. Timbra patted her on the head. "Don't mention it. You know we still have a fight here. The bugs aren't going to just ignore us." "Yeah, but I think we can hold until Major Welton arrives." Timbra let her rest. She called Ops reporting their success, telling them to hurry before the monsters managed to dig their way though. That made Kei open her eyes. "Timbra, you know what we were saying about the bugs breaking through the seals in the reservoir?" she said. "Yeah. Determined sonsof bitches, aren't they?" Kei looked up. "We were wrong." Timbra frowned. "The bugs didn't force their way through . . . those doors were open, I saw it myself." "That means--" "Somebody let them in." The theory of a spy had turned into fact. Kei knew now that they were up against more than just the Bugs. Figuring out who it was would have to wait, the hiss from the bugs below drawing her back to their current situation . . . * * * * * Several more hours of hard fighting remained before the bugs were finally eliminated. Without fresh resources, they stood no chance against the marines and their heavy firepower. Still it was a close run encounter, and the loss of life to the colony was more than they could absorb. When Major Welton finally relieved Kei and Timbra from their perch, they immediately went back to Collins with their information. A long dark scowl came to his face, and he ordered the techs that remained back into Ops. They all sat slightly afraid as Timbra and Kei glared at them brandishing rifles, a gleam of death in their eyes. Nor did the withering stare Colonel Collins gave them make them feel any better. "I'm told that the bugs were let in," began Collins. "Does anyone want to explain why that is?" Several confused looks were exchanged by the techs, finally stopping on Lieutenant Meyers. "Colonel, there was no indications from the computers that the doors were opened," she said. "I saw those damn doors open myself," scowled Kei. "Somebody here is lying through their teeth!" "Sir, we're not lying!" replied a female tech. "I can call up--" "Don't you touch that console," Sergeant St-Paul said, Squiggy backing him up with the release of his safety. Collins glared at them. "First Sergeant Kelly, call up the computer records," he said. Kelly made his way to the nearest console, retrieving the information. He and Major Welton read over the readouts. "Looks like they're telling the truth, Todd," Welton said. "No tampering?" "Not from what I can tell here." Collins frowned and turned away. He looked at Kei and she raised a brow. "They were open, Colonel," she said. "I don't doubt you, Kei," he replied rubbing his chin in thought. Collins came to a decision. "Sergeant StPaul, I want a detail placed in here round the clock." "That's going to stretch us thin, sir," St-Paul replied, but the brief glance Collins gave him ended anymore comments. Collins faced his techs again. "Okay, you're off the hook for now." The techs relaxed. "But," he continued, "anymore unexplained occurrences, and I'll have you all thrown into the brig. It would anger me greatly to find out that there was a marine trying to kill one of his own. If I catch you, I'll have no mercy." No one doubted his words, and they returned to their post. Vicky gave Collins a sad look, turning away as one of the techs called to her. Collins sighed moving to the tactable where the Angels and the rest of the staff gathered. "Okay, people. We're in bad shape now. No water, the colony is in shambles, and casualties are high. I'm going to ask you all to hold things together until this evening. By then everything should pan out in our favor." "What's happening this evening, sir?" asked Kelly. Collins gave the Angels a quick glance before answering. "Thanks to Kei and Yuri, we were able to get word out on our situation. The Confederation has sent a relief force due by dusk, with more to follow." A stunned silence passed through Ops at the news, quickly turning into cheers of joy. "Okay, okay!" shouted Collins settling them down. "Its good news but we have to be here when they arrive. I'm sure the bugs are not about to leave us alone anytime soon." Vicky called out to him. "Sir, I've got an image from one of the outside remotes. It looks like the bugs are massing again." "On the table." The display shifted to the overview of the colony. A large patch of white was moving down from the direction of the lake, several more moving in from the north and west. "Damn, damn!" shouted Kelly banging the side of the table with a fist. "These things just don't quit!" added Welton. "If we can only get a break, a few hours at least to repair the defenses." Collins was silent, studying the display. "Fran, have Fraiser prepare the command carrier." "Sir?" "Have it ready to go in half an hour. First Sergeant Kelly form a detail, thirty of your best people, full gear. Vicky, find a relief. Timbra you're coming with us so you better get outfitted as well." Collins headed for the door. "Colonel, where are you going?" asked Major Welton. He stopped at the opening. "Back to the Glory Ann," he replied. "Ladies, you wanted to do this . . . thirty minutes, in the hanger," he finished walking out. The Angels looked at each other, wishing they had never brought up the idea at all. Chapter Eight 1115LCT, 24 March, 2143 Yuri sat at table in the marine barracks running diagnostics on the two Gravpacks; Kei checked out the rifles she'd acquired from the armory on the table behind her. The readouts on the interface displayed its findings, ending the test. She turned disconnecting from them, pondering the results. Kei paused and looking up. "And the verdict is?" she asked. Yuri moved to the seat across from her. "The packs say they've been on highpower since we came here," she said in a low voice. Kei leaned close. "You know that's bullshit, Yuri. Those packs shutdown automatically when they break interface." "They could have been damaged in our first fight, Kei. We did roll down the side of that barricade pretty rough." "Both of them? No." "So are you saying sabotage?" "Yes!" Kei sat back and continued to load her rifle while Yuri contemplated her suggestion. "I guess that means we're back to the usual suspects," she said. Briefly, Kei cut a dark determined glance at her. "I have one person in mind who fills the top bill right now," she said letting the slide on the rifle spring forward with a sharp snap. "Your little computer buddy." "Martin?" said Yuri in disbelief. She shook her head. "No, not Martin." "He's a geek, Yuri. You said yourself he's one of the best you've ever seen," "But Martin wouldn't hurt anybody. I don't think he's capable of it." "It makes good cover doesn't it," Kei answered rising from her seat. She picked up a combat vest, pulling it on. "He's got the knowledge to trick those lower level chips into thinking they were on and discharge like they did." "So? One of those techs could have done the same thing, Kei." "Maybe, but I don't think any of the grunts in there would try that." "Not even Major Welton?" "No. The Corps have that code ingrained in their souls. You know, all that we're together, trust your buddy stuff." "That leaves Timbra Brown." Kei stopped doing up the clips on the vest for a moment. "I haven't ruled her out yet." "But you want too, because she saved your life." "I'll admit to that. I find it hard for someone to put their life in that situation just to keep a secret." Yuri leaned on the table, resting her chin in one hand and smiled lightly. "Make's good cover," she said. "Funny," Kei replied with a smirk. She tossed the second vest at her. "Come on get dressed. I told Squiggy and Heddy we'd meet them at the elevator in five minutes." Yuri giggled and got up. "You know, Kei, I just thought of something." "What's that?" "Now that our spy is alerted to the fact that we'll be reinforced in a few hours, whoever is going to try their best to short circuit us." "Uhuh," "So the best time to strike would be during this trip." "Yep." "If only Colonel Collins had not told anyone." Kei grabbed her rifle heading for the door. "Yuri, I would bank that's what the Colonel had in mind," she replied giving her a knowing look. Yuri's expression brightened. "Ah!" she said tapping a finger against her temple as she followed her out the door. . . * * * * * The Angels met Heddy and Squiggy at the elevator, and the four rode it down into the hanger bay talking about the first trip to the Glory Ann. Squiggy detailed some of the finer points of the skirmish missed by Collins's briefing, how the bugs had sealed off portions of the ship with some sort of secreted goo. The girls cringed at the thought of touching the unknown substance. By his description, this would not be a pleasant walk once they were inside. "Dis is great, another sled run," Squiggy said excitement in his eyes. "A sled?" questioned Kei. "That's Squiggy's description for the command carrier," explained Heddy. "You'll likes this machine, Kei. It's got speed, firepower, all the makings of a full blown tank with a hyper motor attached to it," added Squiggy. Heddy rolled her eyes shaking her head. The elevator lurched to a stop, and they got out heading towards the staging area. Suddenly Squiggy stopped turning around. "Say, Heddy. Think we's aught'a show them our souvenir?" "Ooh, yeah. They havn't seen it yet, have they?" she replied. "What, more surprises?" exclaimed Yuri. "Look, you people better come clean on this stuff." "Calm down, Yuri," Kei said. "So what's this souvenir you have? Some part of a bug." Squiggy and Hedona snickered. "Sort'a," replied Balboa. "This way. It's in the maintenance shop." "Colonel didn't want it out on display," added Heddy. "Might scare the civvies." Exchanging quizzical looks, the Angels followed them over to a set of double doors. Squiggy peered inside. "Come on," he said stepping in. Kei and Yuri stood gazing around the work stations searching for anything unusual. There was nothing. "Okay, what's the joke?" said Kei. The two marines snickered again, Squiggy pointing above their heads. They looked up. Immediately Yuri made a record dive over a nearby work bench, Kei rolling across the floor. As Heddy wrestled with Kei to prevent her from firing a round into the air, Squiggy rushed towards Yuri. "It's dead, it's dead, it's dead!" he cried out frantically waving his arms at her. "Whatisthatwhatisthat!" she cried pistol in hand. Squiggy grinned. "Dat is a bitch bug," he replied. Above the entrance was the head of a creature the Angels had never seen, now the proud trophy of the marines. A swift kick from Hedona made Squiggy cry out, holding his rear as he staggered away. "Doc P thinks that was a female bug," she said, giving Squiggy another withering glance before continuing. "He thinks these things have a society much like ants. Warriors, workers--" "A queen," Yuri finished walking around for a closer look. She stared up at the head, noting its features then turned. "Kei, this is what's putting those larva into people," she said. "Well I hope we don't run into anymore of these . . . `queens'. Look at the size of that head." "It was enormous," Squiggy said as his pain subsided. "Screaming and wailing like a-- well lets say it was very pissed off." "Where did you kill this one?" "It was com'in up the tube from Complex Two, but just quite didn't make it past the blast doors." "Fortunately for us," added Heddy. The PA system came to life, calling for all members of the expedition to muster on station. They headed out the door, Yuri stopped to give the Queen one last look. An uneasy feeling passed through her then Kei called, and she ran to join them. Outside, the crews were making final preps on the command carrier. Twice as large as the rest of the hovercars, it was just as Squiggy said, a combination carrier/main battle tank. Sloped at the front with an armored cab for the driver and forward gunner manning a smaller auto turret, the carrier extended back sides slanted out ending flush at the rear by a large loading ramp. On top, offset to the right side forward sat the main turret, housing a short barreled pulse cannon and 30mm chain gun. Four hatches ran in two rows behind it to allow easy disembarkation and fire support if needed. Kei whistle in admiration. "Wow. Why can't we get all these neat toys, Yuri?" "I don't think we'd look good appearing at an investigation in this, Kei." The marine detachment stood in three ranks at the side of the carrier, First Sergeant Kelly barking orders, giving the det a final once over. He spotted them and a frown covered his face. "About time you four showed up," he snarled at them. "Was our timetable too much for you to handle?" Squiggy and Hedona grimaced, knowing that the full wrath of the First Sergeant would be unleashed on them after this mission was over. Kei just smirked. "Nah, my alarm clock just went off late. Got to get my beauty sleep you know," she said walking scornfully past. Yuri put a hand to her face, waiting for the fireworks to start. Kelly, remembering Collin's words, let out a restrained grunt rounding on the two marines. "Get in ranks!" he said. Squiggy and Heddy scurried past. Kelly began pacing up and down the line. "Now listen up! I selected all of you because you are part of the best we have. We're about to go out into the middle of the bugs, that means you can expect some heavy action. I want you all to stay on your toes, be alert, and follow the orders given to you. Do I make myself clear?" "YES, FIRST SERGEANT!" the marines shouted. Kei leaned casually up against the side of the carrier, yawning as if bored. "Listen to this drabble, Yuri," she said. "Kei, will you behave!" Kelly continued. "Now I don't want any mistakes, and I certainly don't want any `K-guns' getting us all into trouble." Kei bristled at the insult. Yuri grabbed an arm preventing her from leaping out at the man. "Do you hear this crap, Yuri! This Seargent is bucking for an ass-kicking, and what is this K-gun garbage anyway?" Yuri held her back. "Will you stop. Squiggy told me what it means and you don't want to know." Kei paused glaring hard at her partner. "Promise you won't go off the deep end?" Yuri said. Kei just arched a brow. Yuri continued. "Well . . . that's a Marine term for a rifle going into automatic fire during a jam. It, ah. . . kicks uncontrolably. Kick, `K', see the--" Kei swiveld slowly around towards Kelly. "I'll polish his head with this hangerdeck," she growled. Yuri grinned, taking a tight grip on one arm, listening in to the rest of Kelly's instructions. "We all go out, we all come back. Any questions?" Squiggy raised his hand. "What is it, Balboa?" Squiggy turned to the rest of the detachment. "I'm ride'n shotgun," he said. "Shut up, Balboa!" roared Kelly amidst their snickers. Colonel Collins, Lieutenant Meyers and Timbra appeared, Kelly called them to attention. He reported to Vicky, and she looked over the det. "Colonel has a few words to say," she said to them. Collins stepped up. "I'm not going to lie to you, people. We're going back to the Glory Ann." Stunned faces gazed back at him. "We're not there to kill bugs. We're there to retrieve a computer module. Ms. Brown." "It's about half a meter long," said Timbra holding her hands apart. "Square, around seven centimeters wide. There should be two on board the ship, one in the computer bay near the bridge, and one in engineering at the auxiliary control panel." "I'd like both of them, but if we get one that will be enough," added Collins. "And if you find them, give them to--" "One of us," Kei cut in pointing to herself and Yuri. The marines looked at Collins awaiting his word. "You heard the lady. Nobody but them unless, god forbid, they're killed then give them to me." Timbra finished her brief, "Be careful pulling them out. They are sensitive. Treat'em like babies." "Newborn, or prebies?" joked Hedona. Kelly's withering gaze quickly silenced them. "Alright then," said Collins. "Let's do this right the first time. Mount up." "You heard the man. Let's move!" shouted Kelly. "Milles, Balboa, bring your happy ass's over here!" The rear hatch opened, Collins leading the det inside. They took up positions, some manning the turret controls, others taking the seats at the foot of the firing platforms along the side. Up forward Kei and Yuri moved into the heart of the carrier, two stations full of electronic equipment and monitors on each side. A tactical display sat flush with the wall, Collins sitting in the chair before it. Vicky manned the communications, powering up the displays. In the cabin, they could see Denny at the controls, and much to their surprise jacked into the computer interface. "Hey, Denny. I didn't know you were an augmentee?" Yuri said. "Yeah, I thought you grunts weren't allowed to have jacks?" added Kei. "I'm a specialist just like our techs in Ops, but only a level two operator. No valuable combat secrets to lose if I'm ever captured by the enemy." "Oh, a tin can model, eh?" said Kei. Denny smiled looking back. "Hey come on, Squiggy. We've got to get moving!" he called out to the rear. "I'm come'in, I'm come'in," grumbled Squiggy taking the seat next to him. He doffed his helmet, pulling on another one connected to a series of connectors in the overhead. Snapping down the smoke-colored visor, Balboa twitched his head. The forward turret shifting with the movement. "I'm good," he said. Kei leaned on the back of his chair. "I'm surprised you can sit down. Do you still have a rear to be comfortable with?" she teased him. "Yeah, right. Funny, funny, funny." "I take it the First Sergeant had no sense of humor again," Denny asked. "As usual," replied Squiggy. Denny flipped on his mic. A series of hoots and cat calls carried through the carrier, then the net crackled to life. shouted Kelly. "Hmm. He is a bit grouchy today," Denny said shaking his head to clear the ring from his ears. An alert sounded from the dash, Colonel Collins calling him over the net. "You ladies need to get seated," Denny said to the Angels. "Yeah, when the sled get's go'in, you want's to be in a chair." The girls left, Squiggy and Denny watching them go. "That babe still has a nice ass," Squiggy said clicking his tongue. "Probably more than you have right now," Denny replied taking hold of the controls. Squiggy smirked at him. "Let's go, ya'bookworm." The hanger chief signaled all clear to them, and Denny brought the repulsors up guiding the carrier towards the main doors. * * * * * The Command carrier glided down the main street, coming to a stop at the inner lock of the east gate. St-Paul was there with two squads of marines plus one of the last remaining hovercars incase the bugs had any surprises for them when the lock was pulled. Up in Ops, Major Welton watched their progress on the tactable. Welton turned to his techs. "What's the scan look like?" "Inner tube looks clean," replied a tech. She switched scanners. "Outer tube has some bugs in it. Most of them are still a few clicks off." Welton nodded. "Open the inner doors," he ordered. At the gate a shift of gears sounded, the two heavy doors parting with a loud groan. Fraiser moved the carrier inside as soon as there was enough room. The doors shifted locking back into place and the inner tube was lit up. Silence prevailed amongst the expedition, nervously awaiting the trip to begin. Collins ordered Denny. The blast door ahead creaked into life, rising up. At the threshold, a large group of bugs stood hissing at the carrier. "Oh look, a welcoming committee," Squiggy said flicking off the trigger guard on his controls. The forward turret spoke, raking the area quickly joined by the chain gun of the main turret. The bugs scattered, charging at them. Fraiser wasn't about to let them get on top. He pushed the throttle forwards and the carrier shot out of the tunnel like a missile. In back, Kei grit her teeth surprised by the force pressing her into her seat. The sound of the turret guns firing again made her peek over to Vicky's monitor. Bugs were appearing all along the side of the tunnel, springing from the overhead trying to get on the speeding vehicle. Most of them were missing, or bouncing off the sides onto the ground. A dull thud sounded directly above her head. Denny called out over the net. Three of the monsters clawed their way upright, talons scraping on the metal against the rush of air forcing them back. The main turret spun, catching the first one with the barrel tipping it over the side. A short burst from the pulse cannon made short work out of the other two. Denny began to weave, and more of them splattered on the ground behind them. A barricade loomed ahead. He gave the carrier more thrust and they rose up sailing over the top. "Yeah, that's it, D!" Squiggy shouted ecstatically, the rest of the marines howling along with him. Up ahead the light from outside lit the tunnel. said Vicky. Denny replied. Collins frowned, calling up his interface display. There on the left rear bumper, a bug hung on by one hand for dear life. It screeched loudly, flailing with its other hand trying to pull itself onboard to no avail. The carrier inched close to the side of the tunnel, Denny picking just the right moment then tipped them slightly to one side. The bug hit a support, smashing into pulp and dropped away. Collins laughed. Up in Ops, Major Welton waited for them to reach the opening. "Rhodes, are we ready to do this yet?" he asked. Martin sat next to a tech, plugging in the last bits of a preamble he made from their earlier transmissions. "Almost, Major," he replied. "Hurry it up, times running short." The red icon passed through the breech in the tunnel, heading south towards the second breech in the tube connecting modules two and three. The white swarm of dots moving up from the south shifted towards them. "Rhodes?" Welton said with more urgency. Martin finished, spinning around. "Do it now, Major." "Bring up dish two!" A spot near the open field next to the aerodrome parted, one of the colonies communications dishes rising up from the ground. Power was rerouted to it and it hummed into life. "Ten second burst, stand-by," Welton said. He paused allowing the carrier to get past the second gap. "Now!" On the carrier, all eyes were glued to the monitors, staring in horror at the dark mass of bugs charging across the open plain. They suddenly stopped, snapping their jaws, heads sweeping back and forth then surged away. Denny brought them around increasing speed. "Holy Cow," muttered one of the marines. "Did you see how many bugs there were out there?" Kei stared at the screen then sat back briefly. She thought, undid her harnesses, moving up behind Colonel Collins. "Colonel, you said that half of your colony had been either killed or captured by the bugs?" "Yes." She glanced up at his screen before continuing. "That looked like more than half." "I take it you are accounting for the several hundred we've killed during this entire encounter?" "Ahuh. They're spreading like the plague. These Queen bugs must not care what they inject their children into as long as its warm and breathing." Collins turned around to face her. "We had livestock with us, and there is indigenous animal life on Locris too." "Which means that there's more Queens." That was news Collins did not like in the least, rubbing his forehead to suppress the tension he suddenly felt. A loud roar streaked overhead, Collins looking up. "What was that!" he shouted. "Mughi!" exclaimed Yuri dashing for the comms. In the distraction, the Angels had all but forgotten their mammalian counterpart up in the Lovely Angel. The ship banked wide, coming around to pace protectively over them. "Alright, now we've got air cover," said Heddy. Meanwhile, Yuri rapidly called up the ships communications freq, Mughi appearing on one of the monitors. Vicky let out a yelp drawing back. "Don't worry, he doesn't bite," she said. "Mughi, am I glad to see you." Mughi growled, relieved that the Angels were safe. "Mughi, reconnect us to 3WA Headquarters." Minutes later, Bill Galet appeared. He held an expression of shock on his face, several stacks of records and data cubes scattered across his desk. "So, Billy. Looks like you've been working late I see," Yuri said. he replied. Aliens, hm? thought Yuri. "We didn't, they found us," Kei said standing next to her partner. "Excuse me for being so bold, Mister Galet, but one battalion is not going to be enough." "Well tell'em to bring plenty of ammo. These `Aliens' are expanding at an incredible rate," Kei said. Bill said. "You know something about them, Billy?" asked Yuri. Yuri snapped her fingers. "That's where I remember these things from!" she exclaimed. "Pre-Nano Earth History. Something about the Company and a radical group that let a specimen loose." "Guess the Nanoclysim took care of everything else," finished Yuri. Withering stares beamed on Timbra from the marines. Collins cast an accusing look at her then faced the monitor again. "Mister Galet, what about the Company?" he asked. Bill replied. He pulled a folder from the pile opening it up. Some of the marines were inching up on Timbra, cracking their knuckles. "No direct connection then that they caused the Glory Ann to land on Locris." He thought, then motioned Timbra to come over. "Well, Ms. Brown, any ideas on this?" "No, but when I get out of here, I might take up Kei's offer of employment," she answered him. Kei chuckled lightly behind them. Collins frowned. "Mister Galet, I'm on my way back to the Glory Ann to retrieve her computer modules. I should have an answer for you about that shortly." "Okay, Billy. We're going to sign off now. We'll check in on our way back." The screen shifted back to Mughi. Collins returned to his chair, calling up a layout of the route to the Glory Ann. "We have about twenty minutes before we get to the site," he said. Timbra stood behind him, gazing upon the display. "So, you think my soon to be ex-employers have something to do with all of this?" she asked him. "If there is any evidence that they are involved, Timbra, I'm going to find their board of directors and personally beat the living shit out of them." "You'll have to beat me to them then, Colonel. I'm not fond of being cannon fodder for somebodies personal greed." He gazed up, seeing the seriousness in her eyes. "You're on," replied Collins. * * * * * Five minutes from the crash site, Collins gathered the senior members of his party to plan their excursion into the Glory Ann. He pulled up the layout of a standard class five star-freighter. "Okay, this is what I want to happen. We'll break into two groups. Myself, Timbra and First Sergeant Kelly will take one group and sweep the upper levels forward. Vicky, Balboa, Kei and Yuri, you'll sweep the lower decks aft towards auxiliary control with the rest of the team." "What if we can't get down?" asked Kei mindful of Squiggy's description. "Do the best you can. If you get stuck, wait for us. I don't want any heroics here." He enlarged the view, zooming in amidships. "The first time we entered through the airlock here, so I'm going to assume that's still an option for us. If I remember correctly, the ships back is broken so be careful moving along the passageways." "If the bugs are still here, this is going to be really a challenge, sir," Kelly said. "I know Sergeant, but I'm betting that most of them moved over to one of the colony modules. I'm not saying that there aren't a few stragglers left behind. Don't take any unnecessary chances people." "We can have the Angel scan the ship before we go in, Colonel," Yuri said. Collins nodded then the marine manning the comms called to them. "Excuse me, sir, but I think this cat is trying to call us," he said. Kei went over and interfaced with the console. Mughi appeared on the screen and he began to grumble something to her. Kei's eyes widened slightly. "Put it up for us, Mughi," she said. The scene shifted to an overhead view of the carrier and the surrounding valley. Behind them several miles away they could see a mass of dark bodies moving steadily towards them. "I don't believe it," Kelly said. Mughi magnified the view, but it was obvious who was after them. Aliens ran in a dead heat across the open plain. The computer readout at the lower right clocked them well over 65 kph. "Looks like we've drawn more attention then we expected," said Timbra. "How far behind us are they?" Collins asked. "About 40 clicks, sir," answered Vicky. "That gives us about half an hour or so before they catch up to us," added Kei. Collins knew that would put a severe constraint on their search of the ship. He'd hoped to have more time, but now they'd have to rush through it if they wanted to get out of there alive. The carrier shuddered lightly and he looked up for a moment. Denny replied. He hurried up to the cab. Denny had them down to a slow speed as they approached the site of the Glory Ann. A lost look covered the young privates face, Collins looking out to see what was ahead. His jaw went slack unable to comprehend what it was they were looking at. The Glory Ann, or the spot where the ship should have been, was nearly covered by large dome-like structure sickly green-brown in color. Several ribbed extrusions sectioned it off, running up to the top opening back like a vent, a light mist billowing up towards the sky. The view was being displayed on the tactical monitor, all eyes locked on it. "Well it looks like the bugs have been redecorating," Timbra said gaining several wry looks from those around her. The carrier came to a stop, Collins eyeing the structure then ordered everyone back to their stations. "Kei, can the Lovely Angel slow down our unwanted tail?" "There's a lot of them, but I'm sure she can handle that." "Do it. We need about fifteen extra minutes to sweep the ship." "We're still going in?" asked Yuri. "Yes, but let's be clear about this, people. The ship and the ship only. Nothing else. I don't know what's inside that thing, and I don't want to find out." "Amen," Squiggy said. The Lovely Angel moved from its protective cover above them, taking up position a short distance away. It turned, canting down slightly then the main cannon flashed to life. A distinct, satisfying explosion echoed across the valley. Collins gave the word to move and the carrier continued on towards the Glory Ann . . . * * * * * The up close look at the side of the dome reviled that it was organic in nature. Yuri stared at it curiously while the marines formed a defensive cordon around the carrier. Behind her Collins, Vicky and Kei stood gazing up at the forward cargo bay, the only exposed part of the ship. It was partially buried into the ground, the mounds of dirt high enough for them to climb up to the top. The only way in would be through the upper lock they could see. Collins ordered Kelly to leave a two man crew with Denny, giving him strict orders to keep the carrier buttoned up at all times. Denny rogered, moving away from the site. Yuri peered close to the domes side. It was almost translucent, she noticed. A poke on the side with her rifle found it hard and solid. Yuri was about to retrieve a sample, when Kei placed a hand on her shoulder. She yelped, turning around. "You want to get away from that?" Kei said. "It's not alive, Kei," she replied. Kei smirked. "Let's not play, okay. We're getting ready to move in so let's go." Quickly, the Angels rejoined the column of marines climbing up the side to the top of the ship. At the airlock, Kelly had one of the techs running a bypass on the controls. While they waited, Collins stood near the front staring out at the horizon through his macronoculars at the advancing Aliens. The blast from the Lovely Angels main gun echoed off the surrounding hills, plumes of smoke rising up from the burning plain. The devastation was great, whole groups of bugs evaporating in burst of energy, but at best all Mughi's firing did was force them to spread out and take alternate routes towards the ship. Kei watched him curiously. She put a knowing smile on her face, standing next to the Colonel. "You knew they'd follow us," she said. Collins remained locked on the Aliens. "Yes," he replied. "Hmm, pulling them away from Dorman. Not a bad idea. Risky on our part, but understandable." "I'll take that as a complement, Kei." Kei regarded him for a moment. "You have good character, Colonel," she continued. "I like that." The Macros came down, Collins turning to her. Kei grinned up at him. A slight cough from behind broke the moment, Vicky Meyers standing behind them. Collins actually looked perplexed for a second, then asked her what she wanted. "The airlock door, sir. It seems to be jammed." "By what?" "We don't know, sir." Returning to the lock, First Sergeant Kelly and Yuri were lying prone on the hull, peering in through the small opening they had managed to make. "I can't tell even with this light," the heard Yuri say to Kelly. "Looks like something hard . . . I don't know," he replied. "Kelly, is this going to take long?" Collins asked. "Hard to tell sir," he replied standing up. Collins furrowed a brow, kneeling. He studied the edges then stood again. "Blow it," he ordered. Heddy pulled a concision grenade from her belt priming the pin. "Fire in the hole!" she announced, the rest of the party moving back to a safe distance. She tossed it through the gap and scurried away. The explosion blew the hatch up from its seals. Cautiously, Collins lead them back up. When the smoke cleared, He looked inside. "Eeew, what is that?" Yuri said frowning at what was below. The entire sides of the airlock were covered in a translucent green crystalline substance. Squiggy squinted hard at the stuff. "Hey I'll bet its that goo," he said pointing to the Alien dome. Kei shuddered. "M-maybe we should try another way in," she said. "Come on, K-gun. Don't loose your cool on us now," said Kelly. He pulled on a pair of gloves, stepped onto the first step and started down. "Ladies first," Squiggy said to Heddy. "Oh, thanks," she replied. Heddy slapped him on the forehead and followed. At the bottom, Sergeant Kelly stood at the open set of inner doors shining a light down the darkened passageway. The resin smeared the walls, draping down across conduits and supports in eerie, twisted shapes. Heddy took up position across from him. "Hey, sarge. I tink Squiggy's right," she whispered, feeling the coat of resin on the wall. "Don't touch that shit!" scowled Kelly and she jerked back. He rolled his eyes up, then called back up the hatch it was all clear. Meyers detailed the rest of them down by twos. Before Collins climbed down, he took one last look at the Aliens. They were so spread out that Mughi and the Angel were finding it hard to acquire targets, repositioning for a better shot. The Command Carrier sat off at a short distance, doing what it could with its main gun. Collins glanced at the horde once more, then climbed down. * * * * * The party moved along, taking directions from Timbra as they advanced further into the bowels of the Glory Ann. The Alien resin made it hard for them to make out their positions, but soon they came out into the main corridor of the ship. Collins called a stop. "Alright, Timbra, which way?" Timbra studied the pad in her hands for a moment. "We are going to have to go this way," she said pointing left. "Should be an access ladder five frames forward. Computer bays are three decks down." "And us?" asked Vicky. "Aft. About twelve frames back to another access ladder. Aux Control is six decks down." "Six frigg'n decks," Squiggy sighed. "If I remember's correctly, we only got two decks down before the bugs attacked." "Alright, can it, Corporal," ordered Collins. "Vicky, get moving. Time is running out, so be quick but careful. Check in every five minutes." "Yes, sir. Let's move out, Balboa." The party detailed into two squads, Vicky taking charge leading her group down the corridor. Collins waited until they were safely away before turning to lead the rest of them forwards, a determined glare in his eyes. * * * * * Timbra's directions proved accurate and soon Collins's team was climbing down the damaged levels into the Glory Ann's computer room. The place was in shambles, console ripped from the bulkheads, computer bays smashed or burnt from either the fighting, or the following crash. To make matters worse, the bugs had coated everything in the offensive goo making visual recognition harder. "Oh lovely," commented Timbra looking around. "Late Alien decor, the puke green-black goes quite well with the scorch marks, don't you think Colonel?" Collins was searching the far wall for the computer module. He pulled up a schematic of the ship. "The memory banks should be right over there," he said pointing to a section on the right. Kelly shinned his light on the spot. Through the thick layer of translucent resin, they could see what looked like part of a console, a control panel set in the bulkhead next to it. With a sneer, the First Sergeant broke away some of the resin. He yanked, more of the stuff pulling away with a sticky screeching sound. Several other helped and soon they had enough of the console cleared to work with. Timbra shined her light on the underside of the workstation. "Yeah, this looks promising," she said pulling out a tool kit. She undid the panels as the rest of the team waited, wondering if their trip was worth the effort. A snap sounded, then Timbra sat up holding the first computer module in her hands. A brief examination made her frown. "No joy, Colonel," she said holding it up for him to see. On either end, dark scoring marked the connectors. Collins didn't need a tech to know that the thing was shot. He cursed turning away. "Let's hope the one down in Aux is still salvageable," he said. His commlink beeped. Outside, Denny moved the Command Carrier to the foot hills north of the crash site. He stared down at the scanner display, a slight feeling of fear running through him. The marines in both parties tensed, gazing around. asked Collins. The sound of the main turrets gun in the background startled him. A new twist in this complicated affair, Collins looked back at his team. he continued. Denny glanced at the screen. Denny acknowledged and Collins called Meyers. Vicky's section was finding it hard going down into the bowels of the ship. The Glory Ann suffered more damage aft, parts of her hull broken open. That plus the added lining of Alien construction made their progress slow at best. Currently, they stopped on the fourth deck to listen in on the conversation. The news of bugs inside only made things worse. Collins looked at the layout on Timbra's display. She nodded, pointing out the alternate route into the engineering space below. Vicky signed off. Across from her, the Angels stood ready to move on. "Advance?" asked Yuri. She nodded and the squad moved out. With motion detectors on full sweep, they advanced down the length of a side passage, picking their way through until it opened up into a wide semi-circular cull-du-sac. Kei held up her pad. "Say, this isn't right," she said. "According to the schematics, there should be a series of access ladders leading down to engineering," added Yuri. They shinned their lights around the space, but there was no signs of the exits anywhere. "Looks like de bugs closed this end off," said Heddy. "Ma'am, no disrespect intended, but it's time to get the hell out of here," added Balboa. Vicky looked frightened, staring up at the overhead and the odd patterns in the resin. "You might be right, Squiggy." "Lieutenant," one of the marines called to her from across the room. Several of the marines were kneeling down, looking at a spot on the floor. Vicky told Hedona to watch their backs, walking over. "I think I can see a light through this stuff," he said. True enough, a dim white light shone up through the resin. Kei spotted another not to far away. Her eyes suddenly went wide. "Oh my God! This isn't the Glory Ann, this part of that dome. We'd--" A long cracking noise stopped her, then part of the false floor split behind them. Kei spun around intending to leap back, but before she could the floor gave way. Cries of fear carried through the air as they fell into the abyss below. . . Chapter Nine Hedona and the two marines with her crawled out to the edge of the hole and peered down. "Jesus, Heddy, what the hell do we do now!" exclaimed one of the marines, panic in her eyes. "I'm thinking, now shut up!" replied Heddy. They could see the lights on the floor below, fuzzy figures sprawled about the space. Heddy cupped her hands to her mouth. "Squiggy!" she shouted. There was no reply, and she activated her comlink. Collins called a stop to his squad. a voice interrupted them. Vicky slowly turned on her stomach, rising up on her elbows and paused to regain her senses. She shook her head. A relieved looked appeared on Collins's face. Somebody moaned off to her left. She rose up on her knees retrieving her light. Something slightly moist and sticky came back with it. Vicky frowned trying to wipe the offensive mess from her hands with no success. Her vision was starting to adjust and she made out a series of consoles at the far part of the room, a hatch leading into another space just beyond that. she replied spotting several of the marines pulling themselves from the debris. Collins knew she was right. Reluctantly he told Kelly to continue on towards the upper decks. he said. Something moved beside her. She whirled, training the light on a partially dazed Kei. "You wann'a point that somewhere's else," she said holding an arm up. "Damn, Kei. You scared the living daylights out of me." Kei sneered shaking her arms, light trails of the goo on the floor streaming from them. She felt like throwing up. Out of the darkness, Squiggy appeared helping one of the marines along under one arm. "Squiggy!" Heddy exclaimed, happy to see him. "Yeah we're alive, Heddy," he replied. The reminder of the marines joined them and he took a quick head count. Somebody was missing. "Hey, where's my Yuri?" Kei called out her name. Lights snapped up sweeping the darkness. There were odd shapes intermixed amongst the remains of the false floor, oblong shapes that seem to dot the floor near the center. Something stirred between several of them. "Yuri?" Kei said spotting her friends head rising up from the floor. Yuri pawed at the sticky mass of goo in her hair, trying to clear her eyes. Sensing the lights, she blindly made her way towards them. Her foot caught on one of the objects, falling face down to the floor. "Yuri! Crawl towards us!" shouted Kei. Yuri sputtered, wiping her face clean. "Kei, what the hell is this crap all over me!" she shouted. "Forget about your looks, Yuri. Just crawl straight towards us!" Yuri knew when not to question Kei in times of emergency. When she was safe, they peered around at the objects. "Hey, what da heck are those?" Squiggy asked. He shined his light on one of the things and moved in for a closer look. It was a pod of some sort, leathery brown in color; the top opened back like a peeled banana. He peered inside, finding the thing empty, a sticky membrane hanging loosely around the sides. Kei tapped Vicky on the shoulder, pointing to more of the things in the same condition off to the right. "We're leaving now," declared Vicky. She looked up to Heddy. "Milles, tie your repelling lines to something sturdy and throw'em down here." As Heddy rigged the lines, the rest of the squad began to explore their surroundings. Squiggy helped Yuri up, wiping away the mess from her face. "That's better," he said. She smiled at him. "Thank's, Squiggy. I knew you were a gentleman inside all of that macho exterior." Yuri saw a boyish blush color his cheeks. "Nah, only for the best look'n marine on Locris," he replied. "You mean that?" "Would I lie?" Yuri gave him a hug. "Hey, this is no time for new found loves," Kei scolded them. She handed Yuri her rifle. "If you still can remember, we are in enemy territory." Squiggy stepped back turning to the rest of the squad. "What da hell are you guys do'in?" he shouted at them. "We're looking around," one of them replied. "Get back here!" Another marine called to them. In the beam of her light an Alien construction hung down from part of the overhead. Between the drapings a long whitish tube lay collapsed on itself, the end limp on the floor in a puddle of ooze. One of the marines with her poked its surface with his rifle. "It's kind of like a rubber balloon. Smells horrible, probably been like this for at least a week," he said. "I want everyone back here now!" Vicky ordered. Somebody cried out, bringing them around with rifle drawn up. "What's going on!" asked Squiggy. "Nothing," answered a marine. He held his head. "I just hit my head on something, that's all." "That's all? Get over here!" "It's probably just a pipe." replied the marine shining his light up at the wall. "Nothing to get-- huh?" He leaped back letting out a cry of surprise. There on the wall, partially cocooned in resin was one of the colonist. His face was frozen in a permanent look of pain and terror, chest ripped open from the inside. They all gazed at the deadman in horror. Kei panned her light up, and another body came into view. She drew in a gasp as more and more victims of the Aliens were discovered along the upper portions of the room. Men, women, children, animals both wild and domesticated all cried out in silent agony to them. "Oh my god," muttered Vicky. Her light was on a figure high on the wall. A marine they could tell, several of them dropped to their knees, arms limp at their sides in shock. stammered Vicky into her mic. She hesitated, fighting to find the words. Collins could hear the rising hysteria in her voice. Squiggy managed to break from his shock. "Heddy, where's that friggin line at!" "I'm throwing it down now, Squiggy!" she replied. The combined lengths of tylacord line draped to the ground. Squiggy started the marines up without a second of hesitation. Meanwhile, Yuri gently shook Vicky from her shock, turning her away from the view. "Get a hold of yourself, Vicky," she said. Meyers took in several deep breaths easing the tension from her body. "This isn't a colony, this is Hell," she said turning away. Yuri felt Vickyi's sense of despair. This whole excursion carried a pallor of death that was strangely foreign to her. She looked around to find Kei, spotting her off to one side holding up her pad. "Kei, come on we're leaving," she said. Kei cast a curious gaze around the room. She checked the schematic on the display then stepped out a few paces looking up. "Yuri, I think we got lucky here," she said. "What's so lucky about this place?" answered Yuri. "This area here should be just around the forward part of engineering." "And?" "Yuri, don't you see?" Kei said. She gazed slowly around, eyes searching the darkened recesses. "We were on the fourth deck, we fell two decks down . . . that means that somewhere in this room is the back-up computer." Yuri took the pad from her looking at the schematic. Comparing what recognizable equipment she could see with what was there, Yuri frowned. "I'm not too fond of probing around looking for that damn data bank, Kei." "It was our idea in the first place to come here, partner," Kei reminded her. "We were stupid too. Kei, something is not right with this place!" Kei held back the urge to tear into Yuri. "Vicky, can you hold some of the squad back?" she said ignoring Yuri's protest. "Hell no!" exclaimed Vicky. "I agree with Yuri, let's get out of here now." "We need that module!" Vicky pursed her lips angrily. Kei pleaded. A short pause followed. Vicky started her chronometer. "Okay, red, three minutes and counting. Balboa, leave two people here, the rest of us are going to cover our hero." Kei took her pad, frantically searching for something that looked compatible to the schematic readout. Beneath a darkened section of the room she saw parts of a shattered bulkhead. Waving them to follow, she moved closer picking out consoles and monitors along the sides. Bodies and pods dotted the floor, but Kei could see a bank of computer controls heavily coated in the thick resin. "That's got to be it," she said. They kicked their way a path through the pods, Yuri and the marines taking up positions around them. "Two minutes, Kei," Vicky said. Kei shined her light at the bay, then began pulling away part of the resin. Some of it was still soft, peeling away in strands in her hands. Kei let out a light moan. "Oh, this is gross," she said. Yuri smiled watching a dark opening across from them. Her light played across the floor, and an odd form caught her eye. "Hey, Squiggy. Have you guys seen anything like that?" she asked. Squiggy peered at the thing lying on the floor. It looked dead, eight withered legs curled up into its chest area, a long spine-like tail draped beneath it. "Look's like a dead spider, but I ain't seen no spider da size o'dat." There were more lying close to that one, Yuri not liking the implications of this. She told Squiggy to cover the opening, moving back to Kei. "You gotta hurry, Kei," she said. Kei looked over the console once more, kneeling down to see the panel barely through the goo. She knew she could not use tools effectively, and pulling the last of the stuff away would take to much time. "I'm going to borrow this," she said reaching up to pull one of the last two Bloody Cards from Yuri's holder. One minute thirty seconds remained, and Kei grimaced. She closed her eyes tight, pressing her arm through the offensive stuff. "Eeew yuck, Kei!" exclaimed Yuri and even Vicky had to wince at the sight. "Don't you think--ooh gosh--I feel the same way, Yuri?" Kei said as she pressed deeper into the stuff. The Tegnoid alloy card cut through like a hot knife on butter, clearing a small path to the console's underside. Kei was shoulder deep into the cocoon, semi-dried goo sticking to her arm weighting it down. Yuri stood unable to bear anymore. "Are you almost through?" she asked. Kei held the card on one end, cutting away at the seals holding the panel closed. It was beginning to become too much for her to bear, but she made the final swipes pulling the panel open. "You want your card back?" she said. "Oh, I don't think so," Yuri replied. "This is going to take several hot showers, plus maybe a new arm before I can get over this." "One minute, Kei," Vicky told her. Kei felt the ends of the module, searching for the release buttons. Yuri watched, then a light sweeping sound caught her ears. She tensed panning her light around behind the console. Vicky noticed her reactions, bringing her rifle up. To the left, part of the bulkhead was cracked open, the space just beyond visible in the light. Three pods sat in the center of the room, all of them opened back. Another room full of victims thought Yuri, then paused noticing that out of the three one of them looked fresh, driblets of clear slime dripping from the peeled ends. "Kei," she said with some urgency. "I've almost got it!" she replied. Yuri drew back, eyes roving the overhead. The sweeping noise sounded again, this time Vicky heard it snapping her fingers to alert the rest of the marines. "Times up, let's go," she said. Two sharp snaps echoed through the room, and Kei drew back. "I've got it!" she exclaimed holding a resin covered arm and module high into the air. At the same instant, a scurry of legs shot across the top of the consoles straight towards Kei. Yuri cried out her name and leaped just as the thing shot through the air. The light fell from her hands, both Troubleconsultants rolling around on the floor in the dark. "Balboa!" cried Vicky rushing to help. Squiggy and the others were quickly at their side. Kei screamed loudly, Vicky pulling her back as Yuri let out muffled cries clutching at her face. Something warm and wet grasped tightly to her head, a thick appendage wrapped tight around her neck. She could taste the slime in her mouth, a tube from the thing forcing its way down her throat in steady thrusting motions, cutting off her breath. "GET IT OFF HER!" cried Kei. Squiggy was already trying to pry the things legs apart, but they were latched to tight . Yuri reached out desperately for anything and Kei grabbed her hand. Her grip tightened, then abruptly went slack along with the rest of her body. In desperation Squiggy drew his knife, but before he could cut, Vicky forced his hand away. "Acid for blood!" she reminded him. Collins angry calls caught her attention. she answered. Squiggy placed an ear to her chest, hearing her heart beat. "She's still alive!" he said. Gently, Squiggy hefted Yuri from the floor. He draped her over a shoulder and they started back, when a familiar hiss carried through the room. "Keep moving!" Vicky ordered. The hissing sounded again only much clearer now. It focused out of the adjoining tunnel, and they turned rifles at the ready. At the opening, a bug appeared, much bigger than any of the normal warriors they'd been fighting. It looked stronger, meaner than its cousins, the smooth forepart of its head a dark jet black. It was so large that it had to force its way through the opening, rising to full height before them. Shocked expressions covered the squads faces, too stunned to react to the new threat. Another made its way through to stand next to the other. Around the rest of the room, regular warriors were pulling themselves from crevasses in the dome walls, hissing in anticipation as they crept closer. "I hope that module was worth it, Kei," snarled Vicky as they backed away. Kei could not reply, stunned as the bugs moved towards them . . . * * * * * Step by step the small band retreated, the Aliens surrounding them but maintaining their distance. Up on the fourth deck, Heddy's eyes went wide as the bugs came into view. One of the marines took aim, but she told him to hold his fire fearing that they would hit the team. "Lieutenant, what do you want us to do?" she shouted down. Vicky and Kei stood side by side, rifles shifting from bug to bug keeping them at bay. The two larger Aliens let out a low grunt, more warriors moving from behind to form a protective wall between them. "Stay up there!" she answered. "Be ready to cover us when we start to climb up!" One of the bugs started to charge forwards, but skidded to a halt when Vicky trained her weapon at it. "What are they waiting for?" she said. Kei wasn't paying attention, staring at them. They seemed not to be interested so much in the marines, their heads locked on something behind her. Squiggy was the only thing at the center of the group, Yuri still unconscious over his shoulder. "They want Yuri," she said in sudden realization. "That's why they won't attack us." "Well then throw her out there and lets get out of here!" one of the marines exclaimed. "Shut yer yap!" Squiggy shouted. "We ain't leav'in nobody for da bugs, nobody!" "But that gives me an idea, Squiggy," Kei said. Kei told him to hold Yuri up. She slung her rifle and took her partner in her arms. Yuri hung limp like a rag doll, the gruesome thing on her face tightening its grip. "Don't worry you slug. I'm not about to mess with you right now," she muttered drawing her pistol. "Hey what are you do'in!" Squiggy said. "Trust me," she replied placing it to the side of Yuri's head. "I'm sorry, Yuri, but this might be our only way to escape this trap." Kei turned towards the two larger aliens. Immediately they let out a horrid shriek, heads sweeping across the encroaching bugs. They stopped and began to pull back. Vicky understood then what Kei was doing. She ordered the marines to start climbing up the rope. "You know those monster bugs won't let you get away, Kei," said Vicky. "You do have a plan for that, don't you?" "Squiggy, before you start up, tie the end of that line around us," said Kei. "On my signal, you guys haul us up as fast as you can." "No sweat," Squiggy replied. The last marine was just reaching the top; Vicky and Squiggy got ready to climb. Vicky slung her rifle and grabbed the rope, pausing for a second. "Are you sure you can pull this off?" she asked Kei. The Troubleconsultant gazed around at the slavering jaws in the gloom. "Just hurry." Vicky started climbing up. Taking the end, Balboa tied the rope securely around the Angels. He pulled his gloves on, leaped into the air grabbing the line and hauled himself up. The Aliens began inching forwards again, several swipes and inner jaws snapping in her direction. Kei pushed the muzzle of the pistol up beneath Yuri's chin. Her head lolled back turning to the side. Again, the larger aliens screeched out a halt. Kei noticed dark figures climbing along the sides of the walls. Bastards were going to try and swarm her she thought. Above, Squiggy reached the top and scrambled to his feet. He called down to Kei to let her know they were ready. "Okay," she replied, pulling Yuri closer to her. One of the bugs hissed at her. "So I see you guys aren't so tough after all," Kei said. A slight step from behind brought her around. "Get back!" she shouted at the bug. It quickly retreated. "Squiggy!" Kei shouted. Balboa stood at the edge of the hole gripping the line tight in his hands. "Okay, guys. On the count of three," he said to the four marines behind him. The rest of them stood ready on their weapons. "One . . . two . . . three, PULL!" A cry came from Kei as she and Yuri shot up into the air. Surprised by the move, the Aliens charged. Vicky gave the word to open fire and the roar of gunfire filled the air. On the line, Squiggy pulled with every ounce of strength he could muster, biceps bulging from the strain. They had already pulled the girls up one deck and were half-way past the second. Kei held Yuri tight to her, ignoring the thing pulsating on her chest where Yuri's head lay, watching the darkness for any unwanted visitors. One of the bugs suddenly leaped towards her, but a burst from Kei's pistol sent it spiraling to the ground. A hand grabbed her by the collar, Balboa hefting them up over the side of the hole. He dropped to his hands and knees panting hard as Heddy undid the line. "We gotta go, people!" Vicky said to them. Too emphasize her point, a taloned hand reached over the edge, an Alien clawing its way over the top. It was blasted back over the side, but several more appeared. Squiggy scooped Yuri up and ran down the passageway, the rest of the squad covering their retreat. Vicky reported to Collins. The Colonel had not been idle through all of this, his squad moving rapidly aft to help their comrades. They were just reaching the second deck when Meyer's call came over. he replied. A scream sounded, the marine running point squirming in the middle of the passageway. From out of the resin wall, a bug clutched him tightly by the throat. It twitched snapping his neck and dropped the man to the floor. They fired, more of the bugs appearing from a tunnel in the overhead. She brought up her pad, checking the layout. He switched up to the Command Carrier. Denny had the carrier in a slow glide backwards, both turrets firing continuously at the Aliens in the field. Collins wondered if the bugs had a form of telepathy. He'd discus that with Doctor Pellorian later. Now the main concern was to get out of the Glory Ann alive before it became their tomb. Denny replied banking the carrier around. The squeals from the Aliens grew louder as the marines slowly fell back. "Sir, how the hell are we going to get out of the bridge!" Kelly asked him. "That obstacle we'll cross after we get there," Collins replied. * * * * * Vicky's squad leapfrogged back through the Glory Ann's corridors, desperately trying to stay ahead of the Aliens. Mindful of the fact that there were bugs somewhere ahead, she decided to take an alternate route which took them through the crews mess. Here another portion of the ship had been cracked, alien construction blending in with the regular parts of the bulkheads and floor. Now wasn't the time to make another trip to the lower portions of the ship and they quickly came to a halt. Concentrating their firepower stopped the bugs at the hatch, driving them back. "Okay, so does anybody have any ideas?" Heddy said while reloading. "I'll check to see if this floor is strong enough to support us," one of the marines answered dashing for the far exit. "Get back here!" Squiggy called to him. He took a steady step out onto the mottled colored floor. It creaked, but held and he stomped down on it. Still nothing. "Hey, Lieutenant, it's solid--" An arm broke up through the floor grabbing hold of an ankle, pulling him down to the floor. Fearful cries called out as more arms reaching up to snare him. The marine let out one last cry before disappearing into the darkness. From the shattered floor, the Aliens began to crawl up cutting their escape. "Damnit, we're trapped!" snarled Kei. More bugs were punching their way through the resin walls, a move not missed by Squiggy. "I like dat idea," he said. Switching to his rifles grenade launcher, Balboa pointed it at the nearest side of the dome. "Fire in the hole!" he called out. The round blasted a large hole through the wall to the outside. "We're out'a here!" exclaimed Squiggy draping Yuri over his shoulder. Carefully stepping along the jagged edges, they peered out of the hole looking down the curved side of the dome. It was either sliding down or face the bugs pressing hard on their heels. The trip down was swift, several cries carried through the air as they fell into the grass below. Kei rolled, tumbling a short distance away. She cleared her head and looked back up. Obviously the Aliens were accustomed to this kind of travel, moving nimbly on all fours down the side after them. Gunfire sounded, Mughi directing the Lovely Angel through the air strafing the side. she said over the comlink. Collins and his squad had retreated into the bridge area, holding the Aliens back with some difficulty. Vicky and the marines raced past her as a score of bugs reached the ground. "Wait for me!" cried Kei following their lead. Around the front of the ship, Denny brought the command carrier to a hard stop, dropping the rear ramp. The main turret cut down their pursuers and they scrambled inside. "Lieutenant, where's the Colonel?" Denny asked. Vicky grimaced, fearing for the other team. she shouted across the net. Just then the bridge of the Glory Ann exploded with a powerful roar. Out of the smoke, Collins's squad crawled out onto the bow of the ship heading for the edge. Vicky ordered Denny to move them closer as the rest of the team opened the top hatches. "Jump!" Balboa called up to them. Most of them were already making the leap, Collins and Kelly covered them until the last of their people were safely aboard, then together leaped over the side. he said and they pulled away from the ship. As the carrier was buttoned up, Collins stopped to look down upon Yuri lying on the floor, Kei at her side. She gazed up at him, tears brimming her eyes. Denny called back to him. "What about this, Colonel?" he said. Ahead, the Aliens were moving to cut them off weathering Mughi's fire in an attempt to board the fleeing carrier. He knew that if enough of them got on, they would tear their way through the hatches and slaughter them all. "Get ready people, this is not over yet," he said. Kei stood up. "Hang on, everyone. We're getting out of here," she said. [Mughi, put a gravfield on this carrier and fly us out of this mess.] Mughi growled, banking the Lovely Angel down above them. The carrier lurched, startling the marines inside as it rose into the air. Mughi brought them to a safe height, and whisked them over the Aliens below. Collins dropping into his seat, letting out a long sigh. "Too close for my liking," he said. At the rear of the vehicle the det stared down at Yuri somberly. They felt helpless, watching the thing on her face do its deadly deed. One of them spread a blanket across her. "We can't let her die like that," said Heddy wiping the tears from her cheeks. "Doc P will save her," said another. "If anybody can do it, he can." Kei broke out in sobs, Timbra hugging her close. "I should have listened," she said. "Now look at her. That thing is planting one of those larva in her and all I can do is stand here and watch . . . IT"S ALL MY FAULT!" "It's not, Kei," Timbra replied firmly. "You did what you thought was right. Doctor Pellorian will figure a way to get that out of her before it wakes up." Kei drew back, sniffling. Timbra gave her a concerned look, and she quickly nodded. Her expression shifted, a hard gaze filling her eyes. She went forwards and punched up the Angel's net. she said to the cat on the screen. Collins did not object seeing that they were well clear of the Alien horde. The carrier sped off under it's own power; Kei staring at the screen for a moment. she finished. The Lovely Angel peeled away to carry out her order. Collins watched her for a moment. "I'm glad I'm not on the receiving end of your wrath," he said. She smirked. "Wrath? I'm just beginning to get pissed, Colonel. These bastards haven't seen nothing yet." Several large explosions wracked the sky as the command carrier headed back to the colony . . . . Chapter Ten 1323LCT, Dorman Colony Complex, A small crowd gathered outside Medical after the news of Yuri's condition reached the colony. Most of the people were worried about the Angel, hoping and praying that Doctor Pellorian could come up with a way to save her. Most of the senior members stood before a large observation window watching Doctor Pellorian run the computer scans across Yuri's inert figure. The multi-armed unit moved with intricate precession, various medical tips on the ends rotating and adjusting as a blue beam of light dancing across her body. Up on a wide screen behind it, a computer generated scan displayed what was happening inside Yuri. Something dark was moving down her throat in slow pulsing motions, fitting itself between her lungs and chest cavity. Kei pressed up against the glass, her eyes wide with fear and worry, watching the unholy sight. She clenched her fist trying to stifle the cry her body so longed to let out, guilt over causing her partner of many years to suffer so. Timbra placed a hnd on her shoulder sensing the Angels feelings. "It should be me on that table," Kei said pressing closer to the pane. "I shouldn't have been so stubborn." "We all knew the risk, Kei," Collins said. "Yuri knew too, yet she willingly sacrificed herself to protect you. She's a brave woman, and given any similar circumstances you would have done the same for her without a thought." "But there was--" "There are no but's in this, Kei. That module will expose who's responsible for all of this. What's happened to Yuri gives me more incentive to find out why that ship came here. Believe you me, retribution will be swift and brutal." Kei laid her head against the glass, closing her eyes to force back her tears. "That damn thing better not kill her," Sergeant St-Paul said angrily. "Or I'm gonna tear every bug on this planet to bits with my bare hands if need be." "Don't worry, sarge," Squiggy replied. "You'll have plenty of help I assure you." In the operating room Pellorian stood looking up at the main screen, rubbing his chin in deep thought. He turned, staring close at the alien on Yuri's face then stepped away. Giving the medtech manning the controls several instructions, Pellorian headed for the hatch. Kei was there to greet him. "Can you do it, doctor. Can you save Yuri?" she asked. Pellorian pulled the mask from his face, a troubled look in his eyes. "I knew it, I knew it, you can't do it!" screamed Kei bursting out into tears. She buried her face into Collins chest. He looked down upon Pellorian. "Well, doc?" "I did not say we couldn't do it," Pellorian answered. "But the larva must be allowed to finish gestation." "What!" shouted Kei rounding on him. "You've got to be kidding!" added Major Welton. "No. You see the larva is only halfway down Yuri's esophagus. If I go after it now, then the creature on her face might get in the way, or she might move and that would be a bad thing with a vibro-scalpel so close to arteries." "What about going in through her chest?" asked Denny. "That brings up problem number two. If I try that approach, then I'll have to cut and break open her sternum. By doing that, I most likely will injure the larva. We all know that if any of its blood gets out, Yuri will be dead before we knew it." "She's dead now if we don't do anything, doc!" said Squiggy. They stared at him not ready to admit that there was nothing Pellorian could do. He felt their concerns. "Colonel, I cannot provide the accuracy that kind of surgery would take," "Well you're just going to--" "But!" continued Pellorian rasing a finger to stop him. He pointed to the operation room. "The medical computer can." Above Yuri riding a gravity track, a scanner traveled slowly down her throat humming lightly as it worked. Six angled arms had also extended to project a grid of blue light across her entire body. "You see, Colonel, there is no natural way any being could do what you are asking," he explained. "So what's it doing?" "The computer is doing a Spectragram of Yuri, mapping every detail of her body storing it into memory. The smaller unit is tracking the larva as it moves. Once it has fixed a position, it will conduct a macroscan of the surrounding area. As soon as that thing on her face loosens its grip, the medical computer will start detailed surgery on Yuri, remove that thing and repair what damage that is done." "But what if that thing decides to stay, or that larva thing decides to wake up?" asked Timbra. Pellorian arched a brow. "I don't think the face-hugger will stay. As for the larva, reviewing the earlier records from our initial contact with the bugs, and based on Captain Fendrov's demise, I estimate Yuri has around thirty to forty minutes before she awakens, twenty minutes after that depending upon how agitated she gets." "I assume the medical computer can do what needs to be done before then?" Collins said. "Oh yes. Its very quick, and very efficient." Kei sadly went back to the window. There was nothing left to do but wait and pray that the medical computer could get to the alien larva in time. "Doc, you've got to save her," she said. Pellorian could see the sorrow in her eyes as she turned to him. "I've lost her once, I don't want to loose her again." "I'll do every thing I can." She smiled. That was the least she could expect, looking back to Yuri once more. "Kei, there's nothing more we can do here," said Collins. "Why don't you go get some sleep. Doctor Pellorian will contact us as soon as its time." She wanted to stay, but knew he was right. Kei remembered the computer module from the Glory Ann was waiting to be decoded. "I'll be down in the computer room," she said heading for the door. "Going to need some help?" asked Timbra. She stopped, thinking a moment. "No. I'd rather be alone while I do this." Timbra started to go after Kei, but Collins stopped her. "She needs to be alone right now," he said. "Besides, I want you and Martin to continue looking for that virus in our communications codes." She smirked slightly, but gave in to his order. "Doctor Pellorian, I want to know immediately when that thing comes off Yuri's face," continued Collins. "St-Paul, detail a guard here . . . just in case." Major Welton's commlink beeped. He answered it, a look of surprise covering his face. "Todd, Ops says that they're picking up a ship approaching the planet on the scanners!" "The relief force!" exclaimed Heddy hugging Balboa tight with joy. Excitement flowed through Collins. Only a few hours more and they'd lick the bugs. Just a few hours . . . * * * * * Kei locked herself into the Computer room, setting up the interface between the module from the Glory Ann and the mainframe. She hoped this thing was good. They hadn't had time to check to see if it had suffered any damage from the crash, or during their escape from the ship. The computer came up, Kei leaning back in the chair. "Computer, begin scan of interface module," she ordered. It acknowledged, running its checks in a matter of minutes. [Interface isolated,] it replied. "Isolated?" wondered Kei leaning forwards. "Run decode of Glory Ann records." A foreboding silence followed. "Computer, hello? Are you still there?" [Yes.] "So lets run a decode on the requested records." Again the silence. Kei started to get impatient. "What-is-the-problem?" [Requested interface is not allowed. Firewall has detected a hypervirus in the preamble. Direct contact will result in destruction of main computer memory and data banks. Access denied.] Kei shot to her feet, fist clenched tight at her sides. "Access denied! I'll give you some--" She stopped, taking a deep breath to relax herself. It's just a computer, she thought sitting back down. Calmly, Kei re-evaluated her position. Those bastards at the Company had thought of everything. This would seriously delay her. Oh, what would you do, Yuri? I'm not as good as you when it comes down to all this techno stuff, and I can't risk involving anybody else either. Damn! Her eyes roved across the consoles, several scenarios running through her mind. Holding a gun to the computers core would do no good, and cursing at it was just as useless. Kei looked at the three consoles again, then an idea came to mind. "Oh, Computer," she said in a sweet voice. [Yes?] "Is there a way to isolate just this one console from the rest of the network without triggering the virus?" [It can be done, but voice command interface would be lost. Any request will have to be entered via keyboard.] "Do it! I can work without that." [Once isolation is done, this console will not be allowed to re-enter the network.] "Understood. Now get on with it!" [Isolation complete.] Kei started, surprised by the speed of the computers response. She pulled out the keyboard and tapped in her request to interface with the module. The console came to life, and in a matter of seconds a list of files scrolled up onto the screen. "Yes!" cried Kei victoriously. She tapped in the command to run the encoded logs on the monitor. For a moment the screen remained frozen on the list. Kei thought her success would be short lived, then it winked out. A new display appeared. - Navigation logs - Communications logs - Terminal orders "Hm?" muttered Kei. Shrugging, she typed in the navigation log entry. Again the screen flashed, then a readout appeared. SS Glory Ann, position coordinates UC314-060235. "Uncharted space, okay. So what is this--" The readout continued: Confirmation of change verified, Code 200#12 in effect. Divert acknowledged. "Divert. Who diverted you?" said Kei. She realized it could not hear her, and quickly punched the query in. Code 200#12, transmission code log number 060200.02. Immediately Kei backed out of the navigation mode and called up communications. The Glory Ann's module displayed a short list of entries. She found it strange that the last one ended on the sixth around mid solar day. "Yuri said that the ship was overrun by the fifth. Everyone was either dead or awaiting to die. That means that the Glory Ann was given remote orders to divert to Locris. Let's call up the days activities for the sixth." The computer began its readout; 060000.01: Ships status report, Crew: unknown Engineering: Partial damage to main core. Estimated time till automatic shutdown: 4 days. Cargo Status: unknown Current status: En route back to Homebase at best safe speed. Request Company intercept to facilitate completion of mission. Request repair facility availability. Recommend Quarantine alert to Confederation authorities. [] The ship knew! Kei sat back stunned by the information. Obviously the Glory Ann's computer understood that a dangerous lifeform was onboard and tried to alert the Confederation. That meant that the Company reps knew the Glory Ann was contaminated well before she crashed on Locris. A beep from the console indicated that there was more, Kei leaning forwards again. 060015.01 Transmission override code 200#12. Disable Executive order nine, override navigation input, stand-by for further transmissions. [] 060025.02 Override code 200#12. Communications blackout initiate, Navigation coordinates follow: 3 Delta Omega 1 - Rumic H5X9 [] Executive Order Nine was a mandatory command all ships computers possessed to avert possible life threatening contaminations such as this. Overriding it was literally an act of god. The mere mention of Rumic verified that the ship was purposely diverted. She could not believe that they would risk the colony and all of its inhabitants. Now the question was why? Obviously there was an interest in the Aliens. What could anyone gain by keeping them around? The only answer to that would be gained after questioning the source of these transmissions. Now all that was left was to find out if this was a company directive, or individual generated. "To disable Executive order nine," she said typing in another query. "Why that alone is the death penalty. Somebody has pretty large balls to play with fire like this." Kei queried the computer, asking if it could tell her who authorized the overrides of the Glory Ann's systems. [Access restricted] came the reply. Kei started. Restricted? She typed in a new request, asking for the source of the restriction. Override code 200#12, it replied. "There's that number twelve again! This guy must wield some power in the Company. I can't wait to find out who it is so I can beat the shit out of'em!" Frustrated, Kei sat back thinking. A starting location would help she mused, then and idea came to mind. "Computer, can you extrapolate a source location based upon the Glory Ann's last position, and the date-time registers if I read them to you?" Kei called out to the main computer. [Yes.] Kei called out the last position of the Glory Ann, and the serial times of each transmission on the sixth. After a few minutes, the main computer brought up a star chart. From the position of the Glory Ann, a yellow line ran across the chart, ending on a star in the Andimi Etruscan system. Kei's mouth fell open. "Cobal Station," she said in disbelief. That meant that the orders came locally, the Company stooges carefully concealing the fact of contamination from the rest of the Confederation at the source. To have that much clout meant somebody in the upper chain gave the orders. An exec, or maybe-- Kei sat up sharply. A Company Administrator! The main screen suddenly winked out, a hand reaching down over her shoulder to shut off the interface. Startled, Kei leaped away landing behind the far chair and peered up over the edge. "T-T-Timbra?" she gasped. Timbra Brown smiled down at her. "Hello, sis," she replied . . . * * * * * The call beckoned them along, leading them, taunting them. A faint cry heard only by the senses of the four chitinous creatures scurrying through the brush outside the softone's hive. It could not be ignored, a lust so strong, so vital that it meant the difference between survival and extinction of their species. The softone's hive loomed ahead, claws racking against its shell in a desperate attempt to enter and retrieve what was theirs. It chipped and flaked, but remained impervious to their attempts. A faint hum sounded, an opening appearing before them. The call increased, drawing them to it, pulling them inside . . . * * * * * Kei stood up slowly. "Timbra?" she said again. Timbra glanced up at the main screen, then reached down to shut off the console that Kei was working on. "So ah, what did you find out?" she said. Disbelief ran through Kei's mind. She could not believe nor accept that this woman, the woman who'd saved her life hours ago, might be responsible for all of the deaths here on Locris. "I found out enough to verify that the Company caused all of this, that you might be responsible for the Glory Ann coming here." Timbra glanced up at the screen again, then crossed her arms thinking. "Damn, you accessed the module locally. I didn't think about that. You're very smart, Kei. That's unfortunate." "Why, Timbra? Why!" Timbra started moving towards Kei. "They're worth billions, you know. Lost technology we thought we'd never recover after the Nanoclysim. Now a chance to continue our regrowth, and Kei you can be a part of it." Kei inched back, her hand dropping to her pistol. "Money . . . all this for Money?" "Billions, Kei. Think about it!" Kei looked away, lost. Her breath became shallow as confusion overtook her thoughts. "How did you get in here?" she said looking back at Timbra. She laughed lightly. "There's no place in this complex that I can't get into." In a flash, Kei drew her pistol, halting Timbra in her tracks. "Don't make me have to kill you, Timbra!" "You'd kill me, little sister?" replied Timbra. A hurt look covered her face. "Oh please, Kei, don't make me have to do this. I like you, really I do." Kei's chest heaved with anger. "Shut up. I trusted you, Timbra. I really believed you to be innocent! How can you expect me to accept this while my partner is lying on a table hosting some thing that's going to kill her at any moment?" "Kei, listen to me--" began Timbra taking a step forward. The release of the safety stopped her. "No! You've hurt a lot of people, Timbra, and now you and your entire pack of leeches are going to pay dearly for this! Now move away from the door." "Kei--" "Move!" Timbra stood her ground. "I can't let you tell Colonel Collins." "I won't have too. The records will speak for themselves. Computer!" "It won't respond." Kei frowned. She called to the machine again, but there was nothing but silence. She took a step towards the door, but Timbra moved along with her, blocking her path. "Damnit, Timbra. Get out of my way!" "No." Kei gripped her pistol tighter. "I don't want to shoot you Timbra, but I will if I have too." Timbra glanced at the weapon pointed in her face. She started to turn away, Kei thinking that she'd cooperate, but in a blinding motion effortlessly snatched the pistol from her grip . Kei yelped, stumbling back. For a moment, Timbra stood calmly looking over the weapon "Nice," she said crushing it in her hand. Kei's eyes went wide. "I don't want to use that on you," continued Timbra tossing it aside. She started moving towards Kei again. "Really little sister, you should have taken up my offer while you had the chance. I'm sorry, now I must kill you." She reached down, yanking Kei from the floor . . . * * * * * Prey moved amongst the hard walls, deathsticks in hand. They were scared, their minds dancing with the sweet taste of fear. The four eyeless heads crouched low in the darkness, waiting until the time was right to pounce upon the unwary victims below. Blurred forms shot out of the darkness, grabbing the softones before they could utter the sounds of despair, ripping away the moist outer skins to drink the warm juices from their bodies. The deed done, the figures felt the tug from the call once more, guiding them down a side path towards the center of the hard walls around them . . . * * * * * In Ops, Collins and Welton gazed upon the main screen with interest, watching as the slight image of a ship began to make it's way into orbit around Locris. The techs manning the consoles were talking excitedly about the ship, its appearance a new hope for the colony and their survival. Collins, though relieved was still nervous, more impatient than anything else. With communications limited, there was still no way to contact them, and more importantly alert them to the dangers waiting around the colony. He turned away from the screen, leaning over the tactable in thought. "Something wrong, Colonel?" Welton asked noticing his expression. "There's got to be some way to talk to that ship, Fran," he replied. "We could try a squirt burst, Todd. Risky, but if all we need is to get the word out--" "And if they don't get it, what then?" He looked up at the screen again. "They're establishing orbit now. Soon, they will be trying to contact us. If we can't answer, the next step will be to land and feel out the situation." "I think we should risk the last dish." "Yes, and two to one the bugs are waiting for it to pop-up. They'd have it torn to shreds before a squirt message got out." Welton ran a hand through his hair, rubbed the back of his neck as he struggled to come up with some idea. Vicky came over. "Major, we've calculated that the decent time for the ship would be two hours minimum." she reported. "Thank you, Vicky. At least we know that we won't be annihilated in the next two hours." "I hope not." "Fran," called Collins. "Where's Timbra?" Welton shrugged looking to Martin at a near-by console. "She said she had to go get some air," he said. Welton arched a brow. "At least she could have told us she was leaving. Rhodes, what's the status on that frequency problem?" "We've located all but the main code, Major. For some reason it seems to elude all efforts to find it." "Keep trying." Collins looked upset about Timbra's disappearance, but put it aside for the moment to concentrate on the problem at hand. He milled about thoughts of taking the command carrier back out, relay the information via the Lovely Angel to the relief force, then play a game of tag with the bugs until they arrived. A call from one of the techs caught his attention. "Sir, Doctor Pellorian." Collins pulled on a headset. Collins dialed up the Computer room. he said. There was no answer. He tried again with the same results. "She could be asleep," Welton said. Collins pulled off the headset. "Have somebody go down and tell her the good news." "I'll send Balboa. He seems to be on good terms with her, and I'm sure he's been waiting for this news as well." "Have him find Miss Brown also. Bring her back up here." As Welton went to call Balboa, Collins sat down in his chair. A sigh of relief passed from him. "Things are looking up now, sir," said Vicky. He paused, smiling slightly. "Keep your fingers crossed, Vicky. Just keep them crossed." * * * * * The birthing was complete, the young one's cry adding to the call. Nothing else mattered, only the retrieval of their kindred could satisfy the needs of the tribe. The softones have grown blind to their sense of victory, not realizing how useless it was to resist any longer. Ahead the main hard wall dwelling lay, the call guiding the four dark figures to an opening in its side. None of the deathsticks lie in wait as they crawled inside . . . * * * * * Squiggy lead Denny and Hedona down the corridor towards the Computer Room, excitement in his eyes. Yuri would soon be free from that things clutch, the medical computer pulling that god-forsaken bug out of her chest. "Come on, guys!" he said picking up his pace. "We're coming, Squiggy, hold your horses," Heddy replied trying to keep up with the man. "Kei's gotta know `bout this, and I want to get to medical ASAP." "Well its not like she's going anywhere," Denny said. "I want ta be there when that thing gets pulled. Only then will I be satisfied that Yuri's gonna be alright." They rounded the corner the computer room a short distance ahead. Suddenly a sharp crash made them stop. Another loud thump followed, Squiggy moving towards the door. "What da hell is going on in there?" he said. He peered through the small window in the door, then started in surprise. "What is it, Squiggy?" asked Heddy. "A fight!" he replied. Denny moved him aside looking in. Kei appeared, staggering back beneath a flurry of blows to her head and body. She caught one up under the chin and was propelled across the room. "Hey, it's Kei!" he exclaimed. Timbra stalked across, a maddened look in her eyes. "And Timbra too!" "Lemme see, lemme see!" Heddy said pushing her way in. A sharp kick from Kei sent Timbra reeling, clutching her face. Kei leaped at her, and they tumbled over the top of the consoles. "Yes, Kei! Kick de bitch's ass!" she cried out. "Calm down, Heddy," Squiggy said. "We better get in there before Kei kills her." "I don't know, Squiggy," replied Heddy. The arms and legs flailing behind the console parted, Kei rising up from a sharp blow to land on top. Timbra leaped up grabbing her by the throat and hefted her in the air. Kei struggled, then grabbed what hair she could, pulling Timbra's head back. She lost her balance and they disappeared behind the console again. "Looks like Timbra's giving her a run for her money." That couldn't be right, thought Squiggy. Something was wrong even to him. He went over to the communicator on the wall. came Kelly's voice. Operations went silent, everyone turning towards Kelly. Collins was out of his chair in a flash. he said. Squiggy acknowledged. Heddy and Denny both were peering through the window, shadow boxing with each punch as the fight progressed. "Ooh that's it. Hit her, Kei!" cried Heddy. She grimaced sharply. "No, no, hit her!" "Heddy! Open the door," shouted Squiggy. "And stop this?" "Do it!" Heddy grumbled, casting him dark looks as she hit the open button on the wall. Nothing happened. She gazed at the panel, noting the green light. It should have worked, she thought hitting the button again. Same response, Heddy shaking her head at Squiggy. Collins replied. Denny was trying now, running a bypass through the emergency keyslot. Still no response. Welton, Vicky and Rhodes were already working on the problem on a console. The tech punched up a layout of the computer room, highlighted the door and sent it an override command. said Welton. It still was negative. "That can't be," said the tech running the command again. "That's the master override. It should be working, sir!" A scowl crossed Collins's face. he said rushing for the door. "Fran, Vicky, Rhodes you're with me! Kelly, get St-Paul and Quinten down there with a security team on the double!" "I don't get it, Todd?" Welton said as he ran to catch up with him. "I thought they were friends." "I don't know what's happening, Fran, but let's hope we're not too late." * * * * * Kei slammed into the far wall, dropping to the floor in a dazed stupor. From behind the computer consoles, Timbra pulled herself up breathing hard as she glared at her. She wiped away the stream of fluid running from her nose and stepped out into the open. "I'll say this, little sister," Timbra said as she approached. "You have quite a punch there." Kei shook her head, eyes clouded over. She could barely see Timbra's form coming towards her, but gathered what strength she had left coming up on all fours. Timbra smiled, thinking this would be the end, but Kei lunged hooking her around the waist. They tumbled into a heap on the floor fist flying. Timbra let out a cry as Kei held her down, delivering punch after punch to her face and head. "You-hurt-Yuri!" she scowled clutching her by the throat. Kei squeezed with all her might, fingers digging deep into her flesh. Unexpectedly, Timbra grabbed each of Kei's wrist, slowly pulling her arms aside. She continued to spread them apart, Kei fighting the overwhelming strength Timbra possessed until they lay eye to eye. A pause passed between them, Kei noticing a hint of compassion in her eyes. Timbra kissed her lightly on the lips. "Good by, little sister," she said. A sharp headbutt sent Kei rolling away, hands clutched to her face in pain. Timbra quickly got to her feet. She jerked Kei up, delivering a hard right to the stomach doubling her over, following up with a sharp hook lifting Kei from the floor. As Kei tumbled to a stop against the far consoles, Timbra smirked at her. She wanted this to be over quick sparing Kei any unnecessary pain, but the Troubleconsultant's stubbornness prevented that. Pausing to glance curiously up at the ceiling, Timbra stood over Kei's dazed form, a fist planted on each hip. She looked over the consoles, searching for something that would kill her nice and clean, spotting an interface cable. Doubling both ends, Timbra twirled it until a knot formed at the middle then wrapped it around Kei's neck. "Hold still, Kei. This won't hurt a bit," she said jerking tight. Kei gasped, eyes bulging from their sockets as the cable cut off her air. Desperately she tugged at it, trying to get some kind of grip at the ends, but Timbra pulled tighter preventing that. The pressure was becoming unbearable, Kei squirming madly on the floor. She reached back, punching Timbra hard in the arm. Timbra grimaced then a second blow made her cry out. Angrily she dragged the forlorn Angel over to the nearby chair, pulling her up against the backrest. "Please, Kei, stop this. I'm trying to make it as painless as possible, okay?" Timbra said. She placed a foot against the backrest and pushed away. Darkness was beginning to overtake Kei, her senses failing. She desperately groped back in a vain attempt to reach Timbra. BOOM! The explosion at the doors startled Timbra bringing her around. Out of the smoke, Balboa, Denny and Hedona appeared, rifles leveled at her. "Let her go, you bitch!" Heddy shouted. Collins and the rest of the security team rushed in. Timbra released the cable and raised her hands. They stood staring at the blood running from her wounds. It was white. "My god, she's a fake," Denny said over the ensuing silence. "Fake or real, lets kill this bitch," snarled Squiggy. Quinten stopped him, looking back at Collins. "Sir?" he asked. Collins glared at Timbra, death in his eyes and she trembled. "No, don't kill her," he said. Visible relief passed through Timbra. She relaxed head sagging to her chest. "Disable her," finished Collins. "What?" said Timbra looking sharply up. Several shots echoed down the corridor . . . . Chapter Eleven "There, how's that?" Doctor Pellorian said to Kei as he applied a salve to the dark marks on her neck. Kei cleared her throat the cool burn a welcome relief from the pain she felt, working her head from side to side then nodded. "Those wounds of yours are ugly, Kei," continued Pellorian. "You should let me try and do something for them." "Later, Doc. I have some unfinished business to attend too," replied Kei rising up from the chair. They were still in the Computer Room, Collins and the rest of the staff glaring down at Timbra seated in the center. Even though the marines had shot her several times in the arms and legs, they were taking no chances; binding her securely to the chair. Timbra returned the hateful stares with one of arrogance, acting as if things were normal. She laughed lightly, looking at Collins. "So, Colonel. What do you plan to do with me, hmm?" Collins shook his head. "You people . . . a mere hand full of lives meant nothing to you." he said ignoring her question. "This was something that we could never hope to recover again. A few lives lost for a whole gain of benefits, such a small price to pay." "A small price!" Martin exclaimed. He looked visibly shaken, all hopes and beliefs lost in the Company by Timbra's treachery. He moved close, fist held up shaking with rage. "People are dead, Timbra! The Company has committed murder in the name of science . . . our own landing party--" "Was sacrificed, Martin," she calmly replied. "I must give you credit. You were not supposed to survive. An error on my part." "So they sent a fucking robot to kill us all," Welton said. Timbra cut him a sharp glance. "I am not a robot, Welton. I helped make this choice. You see I too have a large stake in this." "Yes you told me," said Kei stalking menacingly over to her side. She leaned close, hate written on her face. "Now all the cards are on the table, Timbra. Everybody knows that the Company tried to off this colony, and when the relief force gets down here, heads are going to roll." Timbra looked away. "You fools . . . you really think you've won?" Taking a hand full of her hair, Collins angrily jerked her head back. "You and the Company are finished, Timbra. Why don't you make this easy for yourself and give us the names of those involved." She sneered at him contemptuously. "You have nothing, Colonel. Nothing! So you tell the Confederation about the plot. What proof do you have? I'll tell you what you have. A contaminated back-up log that's partially damaged, no names, and only a vague trace of evidence that really can't be linked back to anyone. So if you don't mind, I'd appreciate if you'd let go of my hair." Collins tensed, barely able to fight back his urge to kill her now. He pushed her head away, realizing that in all actuality Timbra was right. "What about yourself?" he asked her. "Are you willing to take the fall for your masters at the Company?" Timbra shrugged. "Like I said a small loss, or price if we look at the overall picture." An angry silence followed, Collins moving back to confer with the others. "Total dedication," Welton said low. "She's probably programed to do what ever it takes to ensure none of this, or us ever speak to anyone period. Bargaining is out of the question." "I'm not about to bargain with her, Fran," replied Collins. He glanced over his shoulder; Timbra staring out into empty space like a lifeless mannequin. "This does not feel right." "Colonel, let me blow this bitches head off now," Squiggy said. "We don't need her!" "She's definitely asking for it," added St-Paul. "Yeah, but why?" asked Kei. "She acts like all the cards are in her hands," said Quinten. Kei cast them a worried gaze. "Maybe they are," she replied turning back around. "Timbra, since we know now that you're the one who loaded the communications virus, mind telling us how?" "Oh not at all. I sent it down when we first established comms with the colony." "No," declared Vicky. "No . . . our system has a checker for things like that." "If the virus is complete. Mine wasn't. It came in two parts. The first imbedded in the preamble of my first transmission, the second in the body of the last one. Once they merged, it was easy to contaminate the computers controls." "I never would have thought of that," Martin said smacking himself on the forehead. "Can you fix it?" asked Welton. Rhodes shook his head, telling them it was too late. "Pretty smart," Kei said. "Now why are you being so cooperative?" Timbra gave them an evil grin. "Because all of you are dead, and you don't even know how it's going to happen," She started to laugh ignoring the hostile stares. "But I do!" she finished laughing louder. Kei drew back, fear in her eyes as Timbra's laugh filled the room . . . * * * * * A steady beep from the monitor tracked Yuri's pulse, the medical technician studying the readout with close interest. On the monitor behind her, an internal scan displayed the larva lodged in between Yuri's chest and lungs. Occasionally, it would twitch giving her a start, imagining what it would feel like to play hoist to the thing. She never wanted to find out ever, and turned away looking into the operation bay where their patient lay. The face hugger was limp now, its barbed tail once wrapped tightly around her throat, hung loosely to the floor. Any moment now that thing would move away its deed done, but what then? Would it search for a new hoist, or crawl away to die. No matter what, the marine standing guard just outside the door would take care of it right quick. She only hoped that he'd leave just enough to study. A dull thump sounded from outside, the medtech turning slightly around. Probably the guard, she thought. He'd been waiting impatiently for news on Yuri's condition, and when he'll get the chance to blast the bug to pieces. From the console, a readout appeared on the center screen. Great, the bug's arms had finally gone slack, just as she predicted. Reaching over to alert Doctor Pellorian, the sound of the door opening made her pause. "Well get set, my friend," she said spinning around in her chair. " It looks like--" Her voice dropped away, terror snatching away the last of her breath as she stared up into the jagged rows of teeth parting with a long hiss. She'd never get to study the face-hugger, never know another second of life as the inner jaws ripped through her skull . . . * * * * * Timbra's laughter finally tipped Collins over the edge. "Stop it!" he growled at her. She paid him no mind, giggling like a madman. Angrily he walked over, drew his pistol from its holster and placed it to the side of her head. That got her attention. "You kill me Colonel, and the bugs will be in here before the shot dies away!" she said. Collins tensed, knuckles white as he fought to control his temper. The pistol came up. "What do you mean by that?" he said. Timbra peeked around. "Just what I said, Colonel." He stepped back, but before he could demand an explanation, the alarm sounded. First Sergeant Kelly shouted across the net. Collins rushed over to the nearest communicator. That shocked them all; Collins speechless for a second. he finally managed to say. Pellorian had to race Kei for the door, both of them darting out the room before anyone else could react. "St-Paul, Balboa get after them!" As the two marines ran out, Collins glared at Timbra for a moment. "Quinten, you and Heddy stay here and watch our `guest'," he said leading the rest of them out. "Oh, don't worry, Colonel!" Timbra shouted over her shoulder. "I'm not planning to go anywhere just yet!" * * * * * Blood smeared the walls outside Medical, the sentry guarding the place lying in a heap on the floor. Kei hopped over the dead body, sliding to a stop just inside the threshold. All of the glass in the observation bay had been shattered, the door to the operating room pulled back from its seals. Despite being unarmed, Kei bravely entered the room. Pellorian arrived seconds later, gazing around mouth agape. He moved to the observation booth, opening the door to find his medtech still seated in her chair. Most of her face was gone, the splatter of blood, bone and brain covering the console behind her. It was more than even the good doctor could stand. He placed both arms up against the wall and rested his head against them. The stream of curses from outside announced St-Paul's arrival. As the sergeant knelt to examine the dead marine, Squiggy stepped inside. Pellorian looked up face ashen and pale, a long expression on his face. "Kei?" he said lightly. The Doctor gestured towards the operating room. He went in and found her standing immobile next to the operating table. The covers lay scattered about on the floor, Yuri nowhere to be seen. "Kei?" Squiggy said moving up beside her. She did not reply, staring down at the husk of the dying face-hugger. "We've got to go after her!" she suddenly cried grabbing onto his arm. He nodded, and they headed back for the door only to be cut off by Major Welton. Collins and Vicky surveyed the damage behind him in stunned silence. Welton said into his commlink. Kelly replied. he shouted incredulously. "I can," said Collins bitterly. Kelly replied cutting the link. "I'm going out there," Kei said heading for the door. Collins caught hold of an arm, stopping her. "It will do no good, Kei. They're probably long gone by now." His hard gaze made Kei think a moment. "Timbra!" she finally said. He let her go, nodding to her. Kei went silent, storming out the room . . . * * * * * "Bitch!" scowled Kei slapping Timbra several times hard across the face. She was virtually in her lap, gripping her furiously by the collar. "Why? Why did you let those damn things in. Why did you let them take Yuri!" "Really, little sister, you should--" "Stop calling me that!" Kei cried slapping her again. "Why, why, WHY!" Quinten and Heddy had to pull her away before she killed the android. Kei struggled in their grip, straining to reach Timbra once more. Collins walked up to Timbra. "So you let those bugs in through the reservoir. All this time its been you allowing them inside the outer dome. I should let Kei have her way, but I want you alive so we can probe your memory crystals and draw out what information we need." Timbra licked away the artificial blood from her lips, staring somberly at the floor. "You won't get the chance Colonel. The reason I let those bugs into medical was for proof that I control the master computer." She looked up. "Yeah, I let the bugs in through the reservoir. Kei and Yuri's ploy forced my hand." Kei stopped her struggles. "You can read our signals?" "I've been reading them since you came into the inner dome. Luck was on my side that you both could not contact your ship, otherwise I would have had to use more drastic measures." "You sabotaged the gravpacks, then turn around and save my life. If I was such a threat, why did you do that?" "Like I said, Kei. I really like you. Bad programming maybe." Collins drew his pistol. "That's not going to save your ass," he scowled pressing the muzzle to the side of her head. "Tell us how to clear out that virus in our system." "Puhleese, Colonel," replied Timbra. "You are in no position to make demands on me." Welton's commlink beeped. Kelly reported. Fran grit his teeth with a scowl. "I suppose there's no way to execute override?" he said to Timbra. "Precisely," she answered. Collins thumbed back the hammer on his pistol ready to blow her brains out. She cut him a contemptuous glance, almost daring him to pull the trigger. The colonel let his arm drop to his side in bitter defeat. "Timbra . . . you wouldn't," said Kei. "That's beyond murder." Timbra gave her a cold steady stare, then gazed around at the fearful expressions on the people around her. "Humph. Well, you look like intelligent people. What say we make a--" A shot startled them, Timbra's head lolling forwards. Collins stood clutching Martin Rhodes arm by the wrist, forcing it up. He snatched the pistol from his hand, turning to Welton. Welton said. A short pause followed, everyone fearing the worst. Kelly came back. A deep sigh of relief flowed through them. Collins let go of Martin's arm, knelling down next to Timbra. Rhodes had blown the backside of her skull open, a mixture of artificial nuralware and biocircuitry splattered down her back. Martin cupped his hands to his face, staggering away in shocked astonishment. "Rhodes," Collins said standing up. Martin turned awaiting the Colonel's wrath. "You, mister. . . might have just saved our lives." He tossed his pistol back to him. "Thanks." Martin holstered his weapon and sat down in the nearest chair, staring at his one time associate. "So what now, Colonel?" asked St-Paul. "What else. We wait for the relief force to get down here." "You can sit here, Colonel," Kei said. "But for me, I'm going after Yuri." "We don't have the forces to go toe to toe with the bugs, Kei," he replied. "I still have the rest of the colony to think about." Kei could not believe that Collins was going to allow Yuri to die. Angrily she headed towards the door. "With or without your permission, Colonel. I'm going to save my partner." "No, Kei. That's suicide, you won't last a second out there by yourself." "I'll go with her, Colonel!" Squiggy said, Hedona and Denny joining the call. "Four, six, twenty marines won't make a difference. You'll all be killed. Let's wait until we're reinforced, then go after her." Kei rounded on him. "That's at least an hour away. We don't know how long those bugs have had Yuri, or when that thing inside her is going to do it's jack-in-the-box routine. I'm not going to wait!" "Kei, we can't risk it!" "You might want to reconsider your decision, Colonel," Doctor Pellorian said standing at the doorway. "Why, doc?" Pellorian went over to the computer consoles, inserting a data cube. The screen winked into life, an image appeared that looked all to familiar to them. It was an Alien larva, but one with a very notable difference. "Hey . . . that bug. It's got a hood!" Heddy said pointing to the screen. "Another Queen," said Vicky. Collins closed his eyes, shaking his head disbelieving. "Todd, we don't want another one of those running around here," Fran said. "I know, I know," replied Collins. Kei tapped him lightly on the shoulder. He looked up. "We're running out of time. Orders?" she said. Collins smirked. There was only one thing to do he knew, and that meant more people would die before this was all over. "Damn . . . " * * * * * 1405LCT, Dorman Colony Complex, The hanger was full of activity once the word got out that Yuri had been kidnaped, and the Colonel was leading a force to rescue her. There was no shortage of volunteers. It seemed that everybody wanted to go along, but Kelly selected fifty of the best marines for this mission. Denny had the Command Carrier prepped and ready to go by the time they finished drawing weapons and equipment from the armory, running final checks as the force loaded up. Across the hanger bay walked Kei, Colonel Collins with Vicky and Sergeant Quinten in tow. Apparently Vicky was highly upset about something. "Why, Colonel. Why can't I go along?" she pleaded to him. "Because I want you to stay here with Quinten and wait for the relief force to arrive." That wasn't good enough for her. "Colonel, what good am I going to do here? I'd much rather--" Collins stopped, facing her. "Damnit, Meyers. I gave you an order, now follow it!" For a moment, Vicky hesitated, then a determined look came to her face. "No! Todd, I want to go with you!" Kei stepped back out of the way; Quintin scratching his head as the two stood angrily eye to eye. Without warning, Collins pulled Vicky close and kissed her. All activity stopped in the hanger as they embraced. "Hubba, hubba," Hedona said to Major Welton. From the cockpit of the carrier, Squiggy and Denny stared wide-eyed at the scene. "Well if dat ain't against regulations, I don't know what is," commented Squiggy. Denny chuckled, continuing his checks. "Squiggy, I don't believe the Colonel's worried about regulations right now." They parted, Collins gazing deep into Vicky's stunned eyes. "Now you stop worrying about me," he said to her. "I'll be back, I promise. Okay?" She gave him a slight nod still reluctant to be left behind, but knew it was for the best. Collins gently rubbed her cheek and continued on. Kei grinned broadly, nudging Meyers playfully in the side. "And you were worried about me," she said giving her a sly wink. Vicky blushed. She called out to Kei. "Be careful," she said. Kei flashed her a thumb up, rushing to rejoin the force. At the Carrier, Welton updated Collins on their status. Everything was ready, the only thing that remained was a destination. "Once we get outside, I can get Mughi to crossfix her position to us," Kei said. "Then let's get going," Collins replied. Before he could get inside, Doctor Pellorian called him. He was dressed out in combat fatigues, three silver colored yokes over his shoulder. "Doc, you planning to come along?" Collins asked. "Yep. Got something here that might extend Yuri's chances of survival," he replied. Pellorian handed Collins and Kei each one of the yokes. "What's this?" asked Welton. "Portable Stasis Fields," explained Pellorian. "It might not stop the larva, but I'm sure that it will slow it down." Kei looped the yoke through her belt, then kissed him lightly on the cheek. "You're so thoughtful," she said. Pellorian grinned. "She is my patient, and I don't like having anyone trashing my medical room." They boarded the Command Carrier. Inside the marines checked and rechecked their weapons, anything to get their mind off the fact that for some of them this would be their last ride ever alive. There were no second thoughts amongst them though; Yuri had become sort of a mascot, and they weren't about to give up on her now. Collins took his usual seat, Kei and Welton moving towards the comms station. Much to their surprise, Martin Rhodes was already there, also dressed out in combat gear. He looked up, noting their expressions. "Well . . . it's the least I can do for all of you seeing what the Company has done," he said with a shrug. Welton smiled. "You'd be more than welcome, Mister Rhodes in any case." Collins pulled on his headset. The carrier lurched, moving down the ramp . . . * * * * * As the Command Carrier moved into the inner lock, Colonel Collins gave Vicky last minute instructions. This time, the transmission from the dish would contain a message to the approaching relief force, informing them of their intentions and to stand-by for further comms once the force reached the outside. he finished. He cut the link, turning to Kei. "All up to you now." Kei nodded, praying that whereever the bugs took Yuri, it wasn't to far. The outer doors opened, but this time there was no welcoming party to greet them. Denny took no chances, throttling the carrier up to high speed and they shot down the tube. Nothing happened as they whisked down the tunnel. A bad omen to most of them, feeling that somehow the bugs had anticipated this and were up to something. Ahead the opening appeared, Locris's sun still at full zenith. The carrier turned out of the gap. Half-way across the open field towards the second breech, the sensors suddenly kicked off scale. "Bugs!" cried Denny. Hundreds of Aliens exploded from out of the ground, pouncing at the carrier. The turrets opened up, fanning away several, but some of them managed to get on top. Denny did his best to keep them off, weaving and applying more speed. There were too many, and it looked like they would swarm over the carrier when the Lovely Angel appeared overhead. Her chainguns and particle beams swept the area, decimating the horde around them. The Communications dish sent its transmission and the Aliens reacted, surging away to attack leaving the carrier free to dash out of the second gap. "The only good thing Timbra did for us," commented Welton watching the retreating forms on the monitor. "That won't last long," replied Rhodes. "We'd better locate Yuri before they come back." Kei quickly linked up with the Lovely Angel. Mughi growled, sweeping the area. It did not take him long to pick out the Angel's specs, downloading her position. An overlay of the colony appeared, a flashing red dot marking her. "Well this is not bad," said Collins. "She's in the aerodrome." "Yeah, her and about an umptyscrunch number of bugs just waiting for us to show up," added Welton. This was true, Kei realized. She knew that it was going to be an ugly fight. What they needed was something that would equalize their situation. "Colonel, can we slowdown long enough for the Angel to send us down something?" she asked. "Sure, the bugs are still tearing apart the dish. How long will you need?" "Just a few minutes." Collins told Fraiser to slow the carrier. "Graser rifle?" questioned Welton. She nodded heading to the back. The Lovely Angel hovered down as close as it could to the carrier. Out of the underside hatch, a rectangular box glided down. Kei opened one of the upper hatches and pulled it inside. Opening the lid, the Graser rifle was broken down into three parts with a pair of shaded goggles. The main frame was short, slight recoil ports running up along the top. Extending from the left side was a handgrip housing the trigger near the thumb rest. A long barrel with a wide muzzle into place; the stock/arm grip folding out from underneath. Kei pushed a magazine sized powerpack into place on the bottom of the frame, grabbed the goggles and stood. "This thing will shoot one half gigajoule of energy bright enough to blind you even with your eyes closed," she said. "The only draw back is that I've only got around ten shots max." St-Paul whistled sharply. "Are you sure we want that around?" "I'm not arguing," Kelly answered. "If the K-gun thinks we need it, more power to her." Letting the First Sergeant taste a burst inside the carrier would be stupid, Kei straining hard not to loose control. "When I say down, everyone duck and turn away," she continued. "What if we can't. What if we're in the way?" asked one of the marines. "Don't be." A hot Graser lobotomy was not an inviting picture to them, mental notes to stand well clear of Kei registering. She slung the rifle across her back moving to the front of the carrier. Collins called to her. "Interesting piece of hardware," he said. "I'm only supposed to use it in emergencies . . . I consider this one fits the bill." He laughed. "Think we can establish comms with the relief force?" Collins continued. She readily complied, and in seconds they picked up the transmissions from the ship in orbit. Collins answered the call. Santos replied. "Doc, is that--" he began to ask, but Pellorian shook his head. The added marines would've made rescuing Yuri easier. Collins smiled. Pulling off his headset, the Colonel turned to study the tactical display. Like the General said, the bugs had finished demolishing the dish and were surging back across the open plains towards them. He did not like the odds and neither did Kei. Fraiser rogered, but grimaced at the orders banking the carrier around towards the long permacrete run leading up to the Aerodrome's baydoors. "Kei, your ship can clear us a halfway decent path I hope?" Collins said. Kei instructed Mughi to fly shotgun over them. The Lovely Angel swooped down low and started firing at the Aliens ahead. "This is going to be tight, Todd," Welton remarked watching the distance decrease between them and the Alien horde. Both turrets were blazing away at a rapid pace. The marines opened up the gun ports on the side and joined in the fray. The roar was deafening, acrid fumes and vapor burst filling the inside, but their efforts were well rewarded, keeping the Aliens a good distance away. They were going too fast now for any of them to get a chance to climb on the command carrier, whisking up onto the tarmac to begin the final approach. At the comms console, Kei, Rhodes and Welton tried to get a better location on Yuri. A detailed layout on the screen displayed the large hanger, maintenance and cargo handling facilities, three split levels of storage bunkers and the service tunnels leading to the lifts for the landing pads. "I've got a general location, Major," Martin said. He displayed a red dot on the screen in the vicinity of the tri-level tiers. "That's the best I can get right now." "We don't have time to do much more, Martin," Welton replied. "Then that's where we'll start and find my partner before its--" {k-k-Kei?} Kei stepped back, cupping her hands to her mouth. "What is it?" asked Collins. She shuddered. "Yuri . . . she's awake." {Kei} Yuri's weak signal called again. Doctor Pellorian came up to her. "You must keep her calm," he said with some urgency. Kei nodded, reopening the mindlink. {I'm here, Yuri.} {Oh, thank god!} Yuri replied relieved. {Kei, its dark. What's going on, and why can't I move?} {Yuri, Yuri listen to me. Stay calm, whatever you do, just stay calm, okay?} {Oh I know why its dark. Silly me, my eyes are closed. Still must have some sleep in them.} {Yuri wait--} Yuri let out a yawn, thinking she'd just awoken from a terrible nightmare. Breaking the crust around her eyes, she slowly opened them up. There was light around her, dim but enough to make out the shapes gathered before her. {OOOOOHHH, KKKKKKKKEEEEEEEEIIIIII!!!!!} Kei clutched her head, staggering around in pain. "She's screaming like a banshee!" she said to the others. "Tell her to calm down!" said Pellorian. "It only speeds up the gestation process." Crumpling to her knees, Kei leaned across the workstation of the comms console in a daze. {Yuri, please you're killing me!} {Killing you? Kei I'm surrounded by bugs, why aren't you here getting me out of this mess!" {We're coming, Yuri, but you've got to stay calm.} Yuri squirmed against the resin holding her fast. She started to cry. {KEI! Please help me. Get me out of here!} "I'm not having much luck calming her down, Doc." "Can you patch us into your link?" She nodded, taking one of the connector cables and jacked in. Over the speakers, everyone could hear Yuri's cries. Collins checked their position. Only three miles remained until they reached the Aerodrome. "You've got about five to ten minutes before we get into action," he said to them. Pellorian pulled on a headset. she moaned. "That was brilliant, Doc!" Kelly said covering his ears. Yuri cried harder, moaning with despair. Hearing that made Kei shoot to her feet. {Alright, that's enough of that, missy!} she scolded her. Apparently it did the trick, Yuri's cries dying down. {Now you listen to the Doc, and stop all this kill me crap. We're on our way to save you.} {Talk to me. Keep your mind off of this. Tell me anything, anything that you want to say. Men, secrets, anything!} Yuri swallowed hard, fighting back the screams in her. She let out a long sigh, shutting her eyes for a moment. {Anything.} {How could I forget. He up and walked out on me while I was in the ladies room, bastard.} Kei stammered. {Yuri, y-y-you?} Around her, everyone had stopped to listen in with keen interest. "Alright, some dirt," Hedona said rubbing her hands mischievously together. Counting silently to ten, Kei maintained her composure. {Okay, I can forgive that.} {What about my favorite, once in a lifetime dessert I seamed to have missed this year?} {Let me guess, you ate it.} "Oh no!" exclaimed Kei in disbelief. {Yuri, I should leave your happy ass to rot in there!} It was a bad choice of word, Kei realizing her mistake to late. "Don't excite her!" Pellorian reminded Kei. {Yuri, don't worry. I wouldn't do that to you even if you took all my favorite issues of Guns'n Ammo.} Kei grit her teeth. Suddenly Martin was calling out excitedly to them. "I've got a good fix on her now!" he said. "Second tier, repair dock one." "That's it! Now all we have to do is get inside," St-Paul added. Yuri called out to them. Kei checked the distance remaining. Half a mile, about two minutes to go. Aliens began to appear on the concourse ahead in what looked like a last ditch effort to stop their approach. Yuri's call again brought her back. {I'm here, Yuri.} {What! What's happening, Yuri?} The Aliens around Yuri began to close in. She could sense a feeling of confusion amongst them, building into concern. One of them moved closer, staring at her face to eyeless face. It let out a hiss, then rubbed the smooth part of its head against her cheek. cried Yuri cringing as far back as the resin would allow. "They must be trying to get her agitated again," said Pellorian. "Damn, it's already starting!" he continued. Pellorian spun around to Collins. "We can't stop now Colonel! Yuri has not much time left!" "But we've got to in order to get those doors open!" answered Collins. "Wrong!" exclaimed Kei. {Yuri--} Kei paused for a second. They'd have to deal with it once they got inside. {Yuri, close your eyes. We're almost there!} Kei pulled the plug from her socket and looked out the cabin windows. "Colonel, shall I slow down!" Fraiser shouted back to them. "No! Drop you blast visors and give it everything you can muster!" replied Collins. He anticipated what Kei had in mind, giving her a nod. {Mughi, blast the doors!} she sent out. Above them the Lovely Angel slowed, her main gun locking on to the Aerodrome doors. In a wash of bright light, they disintegrated with a loud roar . . . . Chapter Twelve Flames licked the edges of the shattered Aerodrome doors, a dark plume of smoke curling up into the air. The Command Carrier shot through the opening, into what the marines would later describe as a nightmare gone wild. The massive open hanger, large enough to house three middle sized freighters, was dotted with hundreds of Alien pods. Thick layers of resin covered everything, victims of the Aliens arrayed in grotesque positions along the walls and resin covered supports. Several maintenance viehicles burned from the blast around the hanger, Dante's Inferno coming to several minds as the threatening forms of Alien warriors began to appear. Denny brought the carrier screaming to a halt. Both turrets blazed at the charging bugs adding to the destruction around them. The marines opened up the upper hatches and began to pour a murderous fire into their enemy, machine guns sweeping the area, Serec and grenade rounds tearing the hanger apart. "Fran, keep your section with the carrier, the rest of you out!" Collins ordered. Under the cover of the heavy guns, Collins lead his troops out the back, guns blazing. They formed a perimeter, moving towards the nearest stairs leading up. A large group of Aliens rose up to meet them determined to kill the intruders of the hive, but the marines were not to be stopped. Kei wielded her rifle with deadly accuracy, cutting down bug after bug as she followed St-Paul, Squiggy, Hedona and their section across the first tier. There would be no time to stop for any wounded, no time to think about anything other than moving on before the bugs managed to cut them off. Several cries and shouts of pain could be heard behind them; Collins and Sergeant Kelly's teams fighting a determined rearguard at the stairs to by time for the rescue party. Ahead more Aliens surged out of the darkness. "Down!" cried Kei shifting weapons. The marines covered up and Kei fired the Graser rifle. It's bright blue beam tore through the Aliens like paper. She called an all clear, and the force moved on past the burning bulkheads. Up the next set of stairs they went. "Which way!" shouted Squiggy. Martin panned the scanner in his hand around. The beeping sound it made increased,and he stopped. "That way!" he shouted pointing off to the right. The squad charged on fighting off more defenders scrambling out of the tunnels and holes in the walls around them. The tier suddenly opened up to a wide bay, several catwalks extending across the large pit below. Stopping to get their bearings, Heddy tapped Kei rapidly on the shoulder pointing across the space. On the upper level, an Alien Queen sat suspended by thick strands of resin to support her massive frame. A white sack pulsing eerily from the unfinished pods inside, draped below her falling out of sight into the pit. Smaller, less threatening Aliens carried newly laid pods out into the hanger bay, oblivious to the fighting around them. Kei's eyes trailed over to the stanchion next to it, Yuri thickly cocooned in resin at the base. Without hesitation, they charged for the steps. A loud screech emitted from the Queen, her head tracking their approach. New forms appeared, Bull Aliens rising up to defend their mistress and the unhatched queen. St-Paul fired a furious burst of gunfire over the Queens head. The resin holding her up shattered and she let out another hideous cry, collapsing in a heap on the deck. Yuri shouted out Kei's name, struggling to free herself. "Don't move, Yuri!" Kei called to her. "We'll be there in a minute!" "Hurry!" One of the Aliens leaped at her, Kei quickly training her rifle on it. It studdered in its steps, staggering back to topple over the side. Kei grabbed Rhodes by the collar pulling him along. Together they raced up the final steps, blasting away another bug as they reached Yuri. "Kei, Kei hurry! (Cough) (cough) Get me out of this stuff (cough), get me out, do you hear me (cough)!" Kei slammed the butt of her rifle against the hard resin, breaking small bits away. Martin covered her, firing at several warriors frantically scrambling across one of the catwalks to aid their stricken Queen. "Kei, we're running out of time!" he cried. Kei worked faster. The resin was hard as rock refusing to give easily, but Kei managed to free part of Yuri's left arm. Yuri suddenly grimaced clutching at her chest. "OH GOD, MY CHEST!" she exclaimed. Kei's eyes went wide. She increased her efforts, dropping her rifle and began to pull on the resin. "Squiggy!" Kei shouted. On the steps, Squiggy's detachment fought the Aliens at close quarters blowing them apart, shooting down those moving towards Kei's position. He heard Kei's cry, looking up. "Sarge, I'm going up!" he shouted back to St-Paul. St-Paul covered him, ordering the rest of the marines to follow. They moved up covering the area as Balboa, St-Paul and Heddy broke away the resin. Yuri shuddered in fits, holding back her screams. "Forget it Kei!" she said looking up. "Shoot me now, kill me, kill me!" "Stay calm, Yuri. You're almost free!" Yuri convulsed again, shaking uncontrollably. "It's too late for me, Kei. Do it, please. This pain is unbearable!" Kei drew back their eyes meeting. She made a fist, cocking back. "Kei?" Yuri said. "I'm sorry partner," she replied socking her hard across the jaw. Yuri went limp. Quickly, Kei drew the portable Stasis Field from her belt clipping it around her. It let out a light hum; Yuri's skin turned a bluish-pale from the field coursing across her body. The last bits of the resin were pulled away, Squiggy draping her over his shoulder. "Damn, Yuri. I wanted'ta see youse nekkid, but not like this," he joked giving her a playful pat on the butt. Smoke started to obscure their vision, St-Paul quickly ordering a withdrawal. One of the marines yelled as he was suddenly yanked from the deck by a pair of taloned hands that shot out of the gloom. As he struggled in the grasp of her lower arms, the Queen Alien stepped into view. Angered by the destruction of her children, she had broken away from the birthing tube, intending to hunt down and kill everyone associated with the invasion of her home. She sensed the aurora of the unborn queen, muted by one of the softones devilish devices angering her even further. Her head snapped down and bit off the marines head, flinging his body aside. Aliens charged out from behind her. "Lay down covering fire. Fighting withdrawal!" St-Paul shouted to the beleaguered squad. They poured it on thick, retracing their steps back down to the second tier. Kei could hear the furious screams from the Alien Queen berating her kind, sensing that they would escape her clutches. She paused for a moment, searching through the veils of smoke for the Queen, finally spotting her at the top of the steps. "No way, your Majesty!" muttered Kei taking aim. Too late did the Alien Queen spot Kei, too late was her cry for help as a kinetic round cut cleanly through her head. She collapsed in a heap, acid-blood eating away the metal around her body. A roar and twisting of metal followed. No one stayed around to see where she fell, darting across the second level back to the Carrier. Colonel Collins and what remained of the marines were in a stiff fight around the command carrier, trying to hold back the surge of Aliens entering from the blasted main entryway. Outside, the Lovely Angel did what it could to support them, but there were to many. Collins was just about to call a retreat when the rescue force scampered down the steps. "About damn time!" he shouted to them as they climbed aboard. More shrieks from the upper levels sounded , Collins looking around to see the Aliens pouring over the sides. Hatches clanged shut, Fraiser powering the engines. With the only route of escape cut off by the mass, he turned the carrier down one of the tunnels leading to the launch pads. As they streaked along, Collins took count of his force. More than half had been killed in the fighting, several marines showing scars or wounds that needed better medical attention. He looked down at Doctor Pellorian; who kneeled next to Yuri on the floor. "Status, Doc?" he asked. Pellorian said nothing, pointing to the slow mound rising up and down below the base of her sternum. "You can't do anything to stop it?" asked Welton. "Only the medical computer can stop this," Pellorian replied. "It still has Yuri's physical data inside its memory banks." Collins knew that it would be close, Yuri's life hanging in a thin balance. He placed a hand on Kei's shoulder, guiding the Angel out of earshot. "Look, I know she's your partner, but if things come for the worst . . . what I'm saying is, there's one shot that belongs to you. If you can't take it, then let me know." The seriousness in his eyes made her look back to Yuri. A sad feeling ran through her mind, then she shook her head slightly. "No, Colonel. If I must, I'll do it," Kei replied. Taking a glance forwards, Collins could see the end of the tunnel approaching. Kei followed him, and it looked like everything would turn out alright. A call to Mughi, and the Angel would grav them out of this mess, back to the central dome and Yuri's plight would end. It all seemed easy to her, until several hard thumps sounded from above. "Bugs on the hull!" cried the turret operator slew the main gun around. Several dozen Aliens clawed their way across and attacked it before it could snap off a shot. They tore away the barrels while others began to pull at the rear hatches. Fraiser juked the carrier around as best he could. Suddenly, the hideous face of an Alien appeared in front of the viewport. He shouted, ducking aside as the things inner jaw shattered through the hardened glass. They spun out of control, screams and cries filling the carrier as it slammed against the tunnel sides. It slammed nose first into the ground short of the opening. Several moans from the marines sounded, Collins lifting himself painfully from the floor. "Get up!" he shouted jerking several of them to their feet. St-Paul and Kelly quickly recovered, helping them along. The carrier was finished, consoles sparking wildly from the impact. Kei had been thrown to the floor just behind Denny. She pulled herself up to her knees rubbing the lump that had risen on her forehead. "Kei!" shouted Collins. "Get those two out of there, we're moving out ASAP!" She nodded, slowly moving around to the front. The marine manning the forwards turret station was dead she could see, his neck tilted sharply to one side. As for Denny, he was pushed up against the side of the cab, part of the control panel and siding lodged deep in his stomach. Blood trailed down to the floor, a slight trickle at the corner of his mouth. "Hang on, Denny. I'll get you out of there!" she said to him, tugging on the metal. He grimaced and reached out, taking her hands in his. "It's too late for me Kei," he said frowning in pain. "No . . . you go, but first tell me if that panel in between the consoles is still lit up." Kei looked down at the panel he was referring to, three yellow buttons lit at the center. She told him it was. "Good, hit those buttons." She did and the top snapped open. A small keyset with digital readouts lay underneath. "What now?" Kei asked. ". . . type in-- type in the word `bookworm'. . . hurry!" She started to type, then stopped halfway. "This is a self-destruct," she realized. Denny smiled. "Can't let . . . the bugs get to you now . . . can I?" "Denny--" "Arguing will do nothing but waist time." Kei knew he was right. She finished plugging in the code and stood up. "One more thing, Kei," Denny said. "What's that?" "Give me my pistol." Her lips trembled, tears building up in her eyes. Collins called to her again. "Denny, no!" she said. "Come on, Kei. If . . . the carrier doesn't go off, you want the bugs to rip me apart?" She cried freely now, reaching down to draw his pistol from his holster. "T-t-thanks Kei," he said. "Go on, you only have about three minutes left." Sadly, Kei gave him one last hug, then headed for the rear. Collins stood waiting as the Marines climbed out the upper hatches behind him. "Where's--" he started to say when a shot rang out. The dismayed look in Kei's eyes told him everything. "Let's go," he said and they both climbed outside. Down the tunnel, they could hear the Aliens shrill cry carrying up the tunnel. "Where to now, Todd?" Welton said. "Let's get away from the carrier, Colonel," Kei interrupted. "Denny left those bastards a surprise." "Where is Denny?" Hedona asked. "He's . . . he's gone, Heddy," she answered. Hedona sobbed, Squiggy gazing sadly back at the carrier. "No time for this, people!" Collins shouted. "We still have to get away from the bugs." "Let'em come," said Squiggy, hefting his rifle in his free hand. "Don't be a fool!" Kelly snarled jerking the angered Corporal towards the end of the tunnel. The others followed, and soon they reached the open tarmac. Aliens swarmed across the open fields as far as the eye could see. There was no way the force could reach an open spot to allow the Lovely Angel to grab them, Collins ordered them to head for the platforms. Several loud detonations roared from the tunnel and a jet of flame shot out incinerating those Aliens closest to them. The landing platforms loomed high above their heads, shading them from the suns heat. Kei looked up, seeing the Angel fly overhead. {Mughi, get ready to pull us out of here!} she sent. Mughi grumble back that there were too many bugs close by to make a safe pick-up. Collins glanced around, seeing a large swarm of Aliens surging from another tunnel to cut off that route. Welton called him, several marines firing at another onrushing horde through the platform stanchions. "Up!" he said. Three sets of ladders ran up the length of the support closest to them. A mad scramble followed, arms and legs pumping hard as the marines climbed up. Squiggy pulled himself steadily forwards despite Yuri's unconscious form draped over his broad shoulders. Kei climbed just behind him to make sure that her partner did not slip off. The Aliens reached the base of the ladders and nimbly started after them. This was their environment, climbing across and up crossbeams and wires with comparative ease. A marine at the rear shrieked as she was tackled from her perch by one of the aliens, disappearing into the seething bodies below. Another cried out, a bug latched tightly to his ankle. St-Paul drew his pistol and shot it away. "Use your pistols!" he said to the teams. "Cover each other before we get cut off!" Shots echoed through the air, aliens falling to the ground, but the horde continued to close the distance. Kei heard the Lovely Angels engines blaring behind her. She looked back, and saw Mughi trying to work the ship into a better position to help them. The ship may have been to big to fit between the overhang of the landing pads and the Aerodrome, but she could still see and move along the sides. Particle beams pumped out careful burst, cutting away parts of the ladders the Aliens clung to. An angry group made a desperate leap at the ship, barely missing the tip of a wing. {Back off, Mughi. We're almost at the top. Get ready to get us.} Mughi growled, banking the ship away. At the top Kelly and St-Paul helped the rest of the group up over the side. Heddy wired a Serec grenade to the edge and they sprinted away. The explosion blew off part of the edge giving them some breathing room. "Mughi, get down here!" shouted Kei. As the Angel dropped down, over the far edge boiled the threatening mass of Aliens. The ship sensed their approach, kicking in thrusters, propelling it away before they could swarm over her. The marines opened fire, pulling back to the side. A long open maintenance pit running the length of the pad offered some sort of a defendable position, everybody piling in. "Kei, get that ship of yours over here!" Collins shouted. Mughi was already trying to get into position. He brought the ship around into a low approach, coming to a hover just over the end of the platform. Kei thought they were about to be rescued when the bugs surprised them all, sprinting across the pad to make spectacular leaps through the air. Several of them landed on the canopy of the Angel, clawing and smashing at the glass to get at the cat. The Lovely Angel shot up into the air. "No!" muttered Kei watching her ship bank madly through the skies. Alien bodies could be seen fall towards the ground. Kei unlimbered the Graser rifle. She gave out the warning, waited briefly for everyone to duck down then fired. The onrushing Aliens were stopped dead in their tracks as the wash of the deadly beam ripped through them. A second burst drove them back. Kei knelt down to allow the pack to recharge. She found herself looking at Yuri. Doctor Pellorian was checking on her condition, monitoring the slight fits and starts Yuri made. It looked like the mound on her chest was starting to get bigger. "Doc, do something," she said. Pellorian pulled out the Stasis Field he carried, snapping it into place over the first one. Slowly the mound receded, but Yuri's skin had taken on a deathly pale shade. "That's the most I'm going to place on her," he said. "She's very weak now, If we don't get her to the lab . . . I'm sorry, Kei." Kei refused to believe that Yuri was about to die. She glanced up at the Lovely Angel, but it still hovered in mid-air away from the platforms. An alarm from Kelly alerted her to the renewed attack by the Alien swarm. Guns blazed once more, sizzling craters of acid-blood eating its way through the thick surface sent up steaming clouds of white vapor into the air. Kei repeated her actions again stopping the attack. "How many more shots you got left?" Collins asked her. She glanced at the power gauge, the indicator low. "Two, maybe three more." "Save them, then. We'll just have to fight it out. That relief force should be here very shortly." "Yuri doesn't have much longer, Colonel," she replied. Collins glanced down at the stricken Angel, then at her. "It's your decision," he answered. Desperately, Kei called up to Mughi and the Lovely Angel. Neither of them responded, then the Aliens attacked again. Instead of attacking directly across the pad, the Aliens sent two large groups to either side, attacking the flanks and preventing Kei from getting a clear shot without endangering the others. "These bastards learn fast!" Welton said firing into the crowd. In minutes the right flank was swarmed over, the marines falling back dealing out a murderous volume of fire. Kelly, covering their withdrawal, was suddenly set upon by two Aliens clamoring across the edge of the pad. He let lose with a flurry of burst, alien blood splashing across his leg. He cried out dropping to the deck. "First Sergeant!" Heddy called to him. "Get back!" he shouted at her. From his combat vest, he pulled a Serec grenade, popping the safety. An Alien pounced down on him, but the sergeant grabbed it by the throat, forcing it's head up. "You want me, you son-of-a-bitch. Well you can have me!" he raged forcing the grenade into it's mouth. Kelly, the Alien, and a good part of the pit around them disappeared in a flash of fire and smoke. St-Paul pulled away the stunned marines staring at the spot where Kelly had been. Welton told them to make a stand, turning around checking on Collins and the rest of the group. They managed to hold on to their precarious position, taking heavy casualties in the process. Kei leveling part of the surrounding walls with the Graser gun had a large part to do with their success, the marines finishing off the bugs dangling along the edges. He caught movement across the launch pad, grimacing as Aliens began to swarm over the top in greater numbers than before. "Todd!" he said urgently to Collins. The Colonel gave them a slight frown, directing the fire back to the front. {Mughi!} Kei sent anxiously again. This time there came a response. {[Mughi is injured.]} the ship answered. She started, drawing in a sharp breath. {Is it critical?} {[No, but he will need some attention.]} {Girl, get down here and help us before we're overrun!} The ship obeyed, banking down sharply to strafe the aliens. As the battle raged, Doctor Pellorian stayed close to Yuri's side, fending off any Aliens that managed to get to the edge of the pit. Yuri's features were fading fast he saw. Sadly, he pulled his machine pistol up priming the feed. Before he could do what he thought was the only merciful thing possible, a scraping noise sounded from behind him. Pellorian frowned drawing a mirror from his medical kit inching it over the side. It shattered in his grip, the extended jaws of an Alien snapping in the air. "I need some help!" he shouted blowing the Aliens head to shreds as it rose up. His cry brought several of the marines around, engaging this new threat. Collins could see that they were trapped now, with no apparent way to break out. More Aliens swarmed across the launch pad, pressing on them. He realized it was nothing but a matter of time now. At least there was one thing he could do to hurt these monsters. "Kei, it's time!" he said. Kei spun away from the fighting, staring in shock at the Colonel. One of the Aliens reached the edge then, leaping at her. "Look out, Kei!" Martin Rhodes exclaimed pushing her out of harms way. The bug hit the back wall, rebounding into the middle of the deck. It stood, standing over Kei ready to kill her. She screamed, then three burst form Squiggy's rifle tore into it. Blood splattered the area behind it, splashing Martin across the chest. He let out a horrid scream, falling to the deck writhing in pain. Kei scrambled to her feet. As Pellorian went to help Rhodes, she looked down at Yuri. For a moment Kei thought she could hear Yuri's voice in her head, pleading for her to end her suffering. Her vision clouded, Kei's hands trembling as she drew her pistol. "Oh, Yuri," said Kei wiping away the tears in her eyes. "I wish we didn't have to end like this!" Kei took aim at Yuri's head. The first shot would kill her, the second was for that thing inside her chest, and the third shot she'd take herself. "Good-bye, Yuri!" she said pulling the trigger. Her hand was forced up, the shot discharging harmlessly into the air. Collins gripped her wrist tight. "Look!" he said pointing up. Coming in low flew three attack ships, guns and missiles blazing at the Alien hordes. They streaked over, slaughtering bugs without remorse clearing part of the pad to allow a combat dropship to land, disgorging it's load of Confederation Marines. The force could hear gunfire below, three more dropships landing in the open plains unloading marines and armor, with more on the way. They let out a cheer as the Aliens fled before the new onslaught. Kei scooped Yuri up in her arms. "Come on Doc, we still have time!" she said. The Lovely Angel hovered in low, caught Kei and those around her in a tight grav field and drew them up to the ship. Making a sharp bank, it shot off towards the central dome . . . * * * * * 0900 CST, April 02, 2143 Aboard the WWWA Frigate Lovely Angel Transiting the Gillian Star System Rubbing her chin in deep though, Kei studied the cards in her hand, glancing up at Yuri several times attempting to read her mind. She smiled, reaching over to a heaping mound of chocolates at the side of Yuri's bed. Plucking two from the pile she tossed one into the pot, throwing the last one in her mouth. "You'd better slow down on those," Yuri said. "Eating all of the winnings is going to leave you in the hole." Kei laughed, grabbing two more. "Don't worry. We've got twelve boxes left in the fridge, thanks to the Marines," she replied tossing one to Mughi laying the corner. The cat caught it effortlessly in his mouth, growling lightly as he rubbed at the white cast on his right paw. "Stop it, Mughi," Kei scolded him. "Doc Pellorian said two weeks more before we can take that off." Mughi growled again, resting his head on the ground. "Such a thoughtful person," Yuri said about Pellorian. "I really think we couldn't have thanked him enough." "The man pulled you out of a near death experience, partner. You'd better send him something for Christmas." Yuri smiled, feeling the gauss and wrapping around her chest and torso. Doctor Pellorian and the medical computer had indeed saved Yuri's life, extracting the Alien Queen larva before it could chew through her chest bone and rip apart her heart. Several long hours followed as he meticulously repaired and stitched her back together. It would take weeks, maybe months before she could be ready for action again, but that suited her just fine. They were due a long vacation anyway and this provided them the perfect excuse. "Hey, play your hand," she said to Kei. With a smirk, Kei glanced at her cards again. "You gotta Queen?" she asked leaning towards her. "Fortunately, no. Go fish," Yuri replied. The paused, staring at each other then burst out into fits of laughter. Yuri started coughing placing her hands to her chest. Immediately Kei was at her side, helping her lean back against the pillows. "Are you all right, you need anything?" Kei asked frantically. Yuri waved her hand to calm Kei down. "I'm okay. We've got to stop doing things like that though." "No more cards for you then," Kei said shaking a playful finger at her. Yuri smiled, then the ships computer chimed. [Incoming transmission,] it announced. "Oh, who now?" asked Yuri. [Chief Inspector Galet.] Yuri's eyes went wide. "No, no, oh no. Kei!" "We're not doing anything, Yuri!" Kei angrily replied. "CC or no CC, Bill's just going to have to find somebody else for this one!" A holoscreen appeared overhead, Bill's image coming to view. "Hello girls. I just--" "No way, Mister Chief Inspector Galet!" exclaimed Kei cutting him off. "Yuri's in no shape for any missions, Mughi's down and the ship still needs repairs. No!" Bill looked at her for a moment, a bemused expression on his face. "Well I can see we're all in good spirits here," he continued. "I did not call to give you an assignment, ladies." "Gaack!" Kei sounded. "I merely called to see how you were doing, and relay a signal." "Ah ha ha ha ha," trailed Kei all of the fire out of her now. She lost her words and grinned. "Hello, Chief Inspector," Kei said timidly. "Hi, Billy," Yuri added. Kei retreated to the bed. "And how is the `Flower of Locris' doing?" Yuri's cheeks reddened. "I'm fine. Doc says this should all heal with minimal scars." "Great. I can see you two have been attack that chocolate the marines gave you. Better watch those hips, or I might have to reassign you two to desk jobs until you come down to size." Kei smirked, popping a square into her mouth. "So who's the signal from?" Bill split the screen. Vicky Meyers appeared now sporting Captains bars on her lapels. She waved. "Hi, girls." "Vicky, what a pleasant surprise." Yuri said. "Yeah. Todd and I wanted to talk to you before we set off to the southlands." "Oh? How's the clean up operation going?" "You were right about the bugs spreading, Kei. We're finding nest all over Locris." Meyers paused, turning back to somebody out of view. Todd Collins, a full Colonel now, leaned down over her shoulder. "Ladies, glad we caught you." "Colonel!" exclaimed Kei. "I was just thinking about you . . . both of you I mean." Yuri kicked her lightly in the back. "I hear you guys have your hands full with the Aliens," Yuri said. "Now that the Corps arrived, we've been running them to ground. That plus those Hunters working the planet gives us a very strong advantage." "Hunters eh?" said Kei. "I'd like'd to see them in action." "This place is a tourist attraction for them. Every day we get two or three more shiploads full of them." Vicky said. "Surprising in light of the quarantine the Confederation had placed around Rumic," remarked Bill. "Well it's a necessary evil that serves a good purpose." continued Collins. "But that's not why we called you. We, Vicky and I, would like to know if you two would do us the honors of attending our wedding." Both Angels perked up at the news. "Vicky!" Kei exclaimed. "You don't waste any time, do you?" Vicky blushed burying her face into Collin's arm. "It won't be until after we've cleared Locris, but we'd like you here if possible." "Bridesmaids!" Yuri said clasping her hands together. "Of course," answered Vicky. "We'll be there, Colonel. Can we bring guest?" "Sure. Colonel Welton is coming, Heddy and Balboa will be here--" "How is Squiggy?" asked Yuri. "Sergeant Balboa is fine. Right now he, Sergeant Milles, and First Sergeant St-Paul are clearing out the hills north of Locris." Collins told her. "How's Martin?" "Doctor Pellorian fixed him up fine. He's recovering nicely," Vicky answered. "Yes. He also joined the Marines too," added Collins. "I made him a Corporal." "Great. I'm glad Martin pulled through." From behind the image of First Sergeant Quinten appeared drawing Collins's attention away for a moment. "I'm sorry girls. Love to chat some more, but we're about to land." "Okay, Colonel. You guys take care of yourselves." Kei said. "Yeah, I've never been a bridesmaid before, so don't let me down," added Yuri. Collins laughed. "We'll try not to." Vicky was just about to cut the link, when she suddenly paused. "Oh, yes. Yuri, Squiggy wanted me to relay a message." "What is it?" "He says, `thanks'." "He did? Oh how sweet." "Bye," Vicky said cutting the connection. Kei stared at her partner slightly confused. "Thanks?" she said. Yuri leaned back, looking innocently up to the overhead. For a moment Kei thought, then her eyes narrowed, brows furrowing close together. "Slut," she muttered. "Cute couple," Bill said. "Anyway, don't worry about any more assignments for a while. I've placed you both on the injured list, so the CC can't complain." "That's good news to hear," Kei replied. "Now we can take that vacation you've owed us for so many months." "And you'll get it. The Confederation owes you a lot, girls. With the Aliens nicely contained, and Yuri's Queen larva eradicated, that threat to the universe is eliminated once and for all." Slowly, Kei rose up from the bed, her expression lost. Bill noticed the change in her, sitting back in his chair. "Something wrong, Kei?" he asked. Kei remained silent. "Uhm, ladies you did destroy that Queen Larva did you not?" Yuri said nothing at first, waiting for Kei to respond. When she didn't, Yuri hunkered down low amongst the sheets. "Kei . . . you did see that queen get killed, right?" she said. Kei spun around. "No." she said. "All I remember seeing was that thing getting pulled out of your chest and get placed into another stasis container." "So it was destroyed?" Bill said. "I don't know," she answered him. He hung his head letting out a long frustrated sigh. "I was worried about Yuri," Kei explained. "It did not occur to me to check." "Bill, it had to be destroyed," Yuri added in her defense. "It's been over a week now. If the Queen had developed into full maturity, they definitely would know it by now." Galet looked up. "And what if it got off-world, before they established the blockade, hm?" "Who'd do an insane thing like that?" snapped Kei. "The Company for starters," he replied. "We still haven't brought them down yet, and there are other interested parties out there." Kei could say nothing, looking over to Yuri for support. Her partner shook her head slightly, turning over on her side. "Bill, you don't think--" "I'm going to get in touch with Colonel Collins again. If he doesn't have an answer . . ." Galet paused tapping his chin in solemn thought. "You two better lay low for a while. If this gets out, I don't think even the Central Computer could avert the lynch mob that would come looking for you. I'll be in touch." The holoscreen winked out leaving the two troubleconsultants in a stunned silence. Kei felt nauseous, another disaster looming on the horizon to smear their name. "Yuri . . . you don't think that Queen got off Locris, do you?" Yuri remained silent, pulling the covers tighter around her. She shuddered, praying that it would not be; that somehow everything would turn out alright . . . * * * * * 0930 CST, April 02, 2143 Aboard the CMC LCPL Roger Williamson Bhernshards Spiral March, Tau Ceti Galaxy Heavy footsteps stomped along in unison down a lonely corridor, four guards escorting the high ranking officer between them. They rounded a corner stopping before a set of thick double doors. The officer reached out, sliding the only keycard through the lock and the doors parted. "Stay here," he said walking inside. The doors clanged shut behind him and he moved on, accessing several more doors coming out into a sophisticated science lab. Several military techs and scientist monitored displays around the room, checked over equipment and adjusted cameras on the dark form suspended in the blue light of a powerful stasis field. A slight grin came to his face. Those fools at the Company, he thought moving closer to the container. Thinking that they could pull the wool over our eyes. Idiots! Who did they think they were dealing with. Children? We'd known all along what they were up to. Money drives even a sane man to act stupidly, and those pompous slugs heading the Company let greed blind them to the true aspects this could bring them all. The figure turned slowly around drifting in complete weightlessness. The Alien Queen, fully developed into her proper state, remained in a fetal position, her tail tucked up and around her like a protective blanket. He was sure she was awake, unable to move in the fields binding force. Money, Ha! Ideological symbols that meant nothing in the face of power. Power in the form of perfect fighting machines which, unleashed at the right time would help create an empire never before experienced in any of the known civilizations. They would study them, develop more ways to harness and control the Aliens, and with time create an army that would finally bring some sense of order to the known universe. He laughed not caring if the people around him stared. Colonel Fran Welton placed his fist at his sides laughing at the Queen, then spun around triumphantly headed out the doors . . . . Fin