Dark clouds of smoke waft across the battered ground and glow eerily from the light cast by the numerous fires ignited by previous attacks. The recent results of the clash between man and animal are evident as hundreds of Zerg litter the field for as far as he can see. Unfortunately, Man has not been so fortunate as well in the battles. He sees the burned-out hulks of numerous tanks and vehicles as well as the savaged bodies of his fellow comrades. To his left, the walls of a nearby bunker glow red-hot from the inferno within.
No doubt from the ruptured tanks of the Firebat trooper whose blackened and charred body hangs halfway out of the rear door he thinks grimly. The flames continue to consume the structure as well as the bodies of his troops. The sharp popping sound of ammo cooking off in the fire adds to the deadly still of the night and he is grateful that he is far enough away that the smell of burning bodies does not cause him to gag. Despite all the prior battles, he still wonders why he has not yet gotten used to the smell by now. Shaking his head in annoyance, he decides his energies are better spent on something useful other than brooding. With exhaustion threatening to overwhelm him, he slides down the wall and takes a brief moment to relax. He checks the time and sees that it’s roughly only two more hours till daybreak. Hopefully they can hold till then until their relief arrives. Despite his apparent exhaustion, he is unable to fall asleep.
A soft insistent knock at the door draws his attention and he forces himself to rise to answer. No need to awaken the others; they’ll need their sleep. Gathering up his rifle, he picks his path through the hundreds of shell casings and cans of rations that litter the floor, he reaches his goal and with a slight groaning of metal hinges, the door opens with a blast of cool air and a familiar face.
“Morning sir,” whispers his platoon sergeant, Hall Frost, as he extends a cup of coffee.
His spirits lift, as he is relieved to see his old friend alive and well. Both of them walk out of the bunker and take a seat on a pile of used crates.
“Damnmit Hal,” whispers back Manny. “I thought your group bought it when the right flank collapsed.”
“Nah,” he says with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Most of us managed to fall back to the secondary defensive line when the flank got overrun. We just got back into position again.” He pulls a cigarette out and lights it to bleed off tension.
“How come you guys never checked in?”
He pulls a battered radio receiver off his back and gestures towards it. “This is why sir.” The shattered com gear has several spikes imbedded into it while fluid from the power supply drips down one side. He drops the radio on the ground with a loud clatter. “Most of the radios were destroyed in the bunkers,” says Frost as he points towards several distant fires. “Anderson had this one on his back during the retreat and went down hard,” he adds as he shakes his head with sorrow.
“The kid make it?”
“Afraid not, it was really horrible. After I saw the kid went down, Henricks and I went back to him and tried to haul him the hell out of there but the Zerg were right on our tails,” he says as his eyes well up with tears. “The kid told us to take the radio, leave him and run. We tried to drag him out but he pushed us away and screamed at us to leave him. I watched as a bunch of zergies jumped him and ripped him apart. All I remember of him now is the look in his eyes as he stared at me and his cries as he screamed for his folks.” He hangs his head low and slowly shakes it from side-to-side. “I can’t get it out of my mind Manny.”
“It’s not your fault Hal. I’m sure you tried your best to save that boy.”
“But he was my responsibility Manny,” he says as his hands shake with frustration. “They all were and I can’t keep them alive no matter what I do these days.”
“Neither can anyone else Hal… neither can anyone else,” replies Manny as he thinks of the dozens of faces of his fallen men. Frost takes a long pull on his cigarette and blows it out into the chilled air as Manny sips his coffee. Both men share a quiet moment of peace in these times of chaos. In the dim lighting, Manny watches as medics run about clearing the dead and wounded while SCVs struggle to repair damaged vehicles and buildings.
The sudden humming of repulsion jets catches his attention. He watches with some interest as a couple of Vultures flash past his lines. As they run along the forward lines, hatches open on the rear decks as mines are ejected off the racks and spread along the ground. Upon contact, the mines immediately burrow and are quickly hidden from view.
“We expecting another attack,” asks Frost as he takes another deep pull.
“Probably,” answers Manny with a shrug. “You’d think the Zerg would learn after some time.”
“They’re just dumb animals sir.”
“Not all of them, sarge. I’ve seen enough intelligence to suggest that there is a cerebrate somewhere in this system.” Turning to look at Frost, he smiles slightly and says, “At least that’s what the brass is telling me.”
“Is this the same brass that said that taking this planet back would be a cakewalk,” replies Frost with a sour look on his face. “The same brass that said that this campaign would’ve been over two weeks after landing.”
“The very same sarge, not very good with timetables are they huh?”
“Nope. You know, it really does suck to be in the marine corps these days.”
“Tell me about it Hal,” comments Manny with a snort.
“There are times Manny that I wished I passed on my reenlistment with the corps and just stayed home instead.”
“You know why you stayed in just as well as I did Hal.” Gesturing out towards the vast stars, Manny continues. “We both know that there are dangers out there that wouldn’t hesitate to rip our hearts out. Better to kill them out here instead on our doorsteps.”
“You’re preaching to the choir boss,” replies Frost with a slight smile. “Save the recruiting speech for the cherries instead ok?”
“Sorry Hal,” says Manny sheepishly.
“I know all about that boss but I wouldn’t mind see my kids again ya know,” adds Frost as his eyes turn to distant memories. “You know it’s been like months since I saw them last.”
“You’ve got some leave coming up right? Why don’t you head on home, I’m sure us dumb ol’boys can get by without you for awhile,” adds Manny with a tight grin.
“Just use me and kick me to the curb huh?” Turning serious, he continues, “I just might do that… I just might.”
Looking at his coffee, Manny raises the cup in mock salute and says, “By the way Hal, this is damn good coffee… thanks.”
“It should be,” he replies with a slight smile, “I got it out of your rucksack.” Both men chuckle over the exchange. “I better get back to the boys and get them settled in. Were probably going to see some more action before daybreak huh?”
“Looks that way Hal. You watch your back… that’s an order.”
“You too Manny.”
He watches as Frost trots off to a cluster of men and wishes his old friend well. Taking a look at the darkened sky, he inhales the chilled air in deeply and blows it out slowly. Feeling his nagging tension slowly fading, he turns to return to his bunker. Just as he is about to reach for the handle, a shrill cry resounds through the once still air.
“HERE THEY COME AGAIN!”
All along the outer perimeter, cannon fire begins to fill the predawn air. To his left he hears the sharp crack of a tank gun as the crews fire on the advancing foes. Suddenly, the once quiet air is overflowing with the piercing cries of the Zerg as they surge forth to assault the base yet again. He grabs the handle and flings the door open to rush into the relative safety of the building; slamming the door shut behind him with a loud clang. As he enters, he already sees his men hastily moving into position.
“I can’t see a damn thing sir!” screams a private with fear in his tone.
“Wait for the flares and just fire in that direction private, you’re bound to hit something,” Manny screams back as he points downrange. From behind the line of bunkers, Manny hears the whoosh and then crack of flares being fired and suddenly the forward lines are bathed in the pale burning glow of the flares as they descend towards the ground. As he looks out towards the perimeter he is taken back by the sight of a literally wall of Zerg advancing.
“F*** ME!” cries a private to his left.
“They WILL if they get in here!” Looking up and down the line of his men in his bunker, he sees them steadying themselves against the approaching swarm. “Wait for them to get in range and then cut loose on them,” he orders on the platoon net. His men nod nervously as the range to the Zerg decreases rapidly. The comm radio near the wall comes to life.
“Alpha 2, this is Alpha 6 come in… over.”
Manny reaches for the handset and nearly drops it in his rush to pick it up. “Alpha 6, this is Alpha 2 here, send your traffic… over,” he practically screams back.
“Manny what’s the situation on your end… over,” asks Captain Briggs as the muffled sounds of explosions are heard in the background.
“The situation Cap’n is that we’re about to get our asses reamed! I’ve got a living wall of Zerg about to say hello in about a minute. We could use some extra help… over.”
“You and everyone else Manny. We’ve got the whole damn Zerg airforce pounding away on our side right now,” replies Briggs as a deep rumble is heard on the radio, “Bravo and Charlie company are pinned down on their ends so we can’t shift forces to reinforce without folding the perimeter like a bad hand. I’ve whistled up some air support but until they arrive we are on our own… over.”
“Great,” he replies with a sour tone. “Got an ETA on the fly boys sir… over.”
“They are about roughly thirty minutes out. Can you hold Manny… over.”
“If I can’t, you won’t have long to complain sir… over.”
“Good luck Manny.”
“You too Cap’n… over and out.” Manny hangs the receiver up and moves back towards the line.
“How far away are the Zerg now soldier?”
“They’re almost in range and getting closer sir,” replies a private nervously.
Manny checks the ammo meter on the side of his rifle and thumbs the safety on-and-off nervously. Ahead of him, the tank blasts begin to get closer and closer to his lines indicating that the Zerg are about to breach the outer edge. He grabs several clips and places them on the edge of the bunker. Following his lead, his troops do the same. The heavy weapons team clears the area around them of stray casings and the loader gathers the ammo containers within easier reach.
“You boys need to keep that weapon crankin’ understand?”
“Don’t worry L-Tee. Big Bertha here will do her part,” replies the gunner as he pats the barrel of his gun lovingly.
“Just be ready to grab that beast and fall back to the secondary line when I say so ok? We’re going to need that firepower.”
“Roger that sir.”
“They’re crossing the forward barriers,” screams a private as he points to a dark mass ahead.
“Get ready!” he bellows. “They should be reaching the minefield now.” As if on cue, the outer edge lights up with the brilliant flashes of mines exploding. He spots pieces of Zerg bodies being ripped apart in the blasts as they are highlighted in the flashes. Quickly gesturing towards a private, he orders him to hand him the radio, which he immediately straps on his back. He keys the platoon channel for the sergeant’s section.
“You ready Hal?”
“As ready as we are going to be Manny,” comes the distant reply.
“Get ready to hit them when they reach the forward ditches and be ready to fall back to the secondary when I call ok? These lines are going to fold like a deck of cards against that.”
“We’ll be right behind you. See ya soon.”
Manny tightens the comm radio on his back and steadies his rifle on the bunker edge. He sees the forward wave about to reach the ditches from the glow of the flares.
“Steady boys… steady,” he says tightly over the platoon channel. The leading Zerg are on the verge of reaching the ditches. Something General Ames came up with to bolster base defenses, the man-made ditches are roughly twelve meters wide and ten meters deep. By design it forces the attackers to drop down into the ditches to cross them and try to climb out, making them easy prey to concentrated fire. Judging by the hundreds of Zerg that litters them, they seem to be doing their job rather well.
“OPEN FIRE!” screams Manny as he targets a leading Zergling.
Suddenly, the air is filled with the rattle of rifle fire and the shrieks of the targeted Zerg. Big Bertha opens up and a massive foot-long muzzle flash threatens to blind Manny. The heavy weapon sounds like an enormous chainsaw as it spits out lead death at the advancing swarm. Hundreds of Zerg are literally ripped to shreds by the massive barrage from the defenders as they try to cross the obstacle. Those that fall are instantly trampled as others climb over their remains to continue the attack. Eventually the Zerg will soon be able to cross the obstacle as it fills with their dead.
Manny fires quick bursts into a hydra and watches with satisfaction as it spasms from the impacts of his bullets. Bertha’s fire is turned on the hapless creature and it literally disappears in an exploding cloud of red matter. The gunner crew traces the weapon along the leading Zerg and cuts through them like a large blade. The air is thick with the smell of cordite and the bloody gore. The tanks continue to rain deadly fire amongst the incoming swarm, hammering them viciously, but this time their numbers are too great. The leading Zerg are only fifty meters from the forward lines.
“Come and get some you muthas!” screams private Young to his right as he cuts loose a long burst on a group of zerglings. All along the lines, the curses of the men fill the air along with the death cries of the Zerg.
Manny ejects a used clip and slaps a fresh one in place. “Damn! There’s too many of them!” The Zerg are close enough now that they are able to engage the defenders now. The sound of hundreds of spikes tearing into the walls of the bunkers sounds like deadly rain on a tin roof as zerglings lead the way. The other heavy weapon team in a nearby bunker continues to spray the advancing swarm.
Pointing towards the gunner crew he screams, “Get that thing back to the secondary line NOW! Set it up fast while we cover you!” The weapon team responds instantly. Both men break the weapon and ammo down for transport and rush out the back door; almost slipping on the hundreds of casings littering the floor. “Pour it in men!” he bellows as he snaps off a series of shots; his casings clang off the walls wildly.
Several Zerglings make it through the firestorm and rush a nearby bunker and immediately begin to tear into it. The sides of the armored building spark intensely as claws scrape against metal. Manny is forced to shield his eyes as a hellish fire erupts forth from the bunker to engulf the small creatures. The shrill cries of the zerglings resound and are cut off just as quick by concentrated rifle fire. Manny grabs the radio and informs Briggs of the developments.
“Alpha 6 this is Alpha 2! We’re about to be overrun here! We are preparing to fallback to the secondary now!”
“Alpha 2 this is 6, the other companies are falling back as well! Friendly air is seventeen minutes out! Hang in there Manny!”
Switching back to the platoon channel Manny informs Frost of the fallback; gets an acknowledgement and musters his men for the retreat. The gunner crew is in place and begins to lay down a suppressing fire to cover the retreat. Dozens of SCVs fall back to the secondary line to prepare new structures and defenses.
“Displace! Displace!” screams Manny over the platoon channel. In pairs, the men of his platoon break off and run back to the secondary line. The two privates in his bunker rush out the rear door without bothering to close it. Private Kyle Young screams insanely as he fires into a cluster of approaching hydras. He racks a grenade round and with a deep sounding thunk, fires it into the cluster. The grenade explodes in a spidery shower of sparks and shreds the vile creatures.
“We’ve got to go private!” screams Manny.
“You go sir! I’ll cover!” Private Young continues to fire into the Zerg with wild abandon. Manny move to physically drag the soldier out with him when suddenly an intense barrage of hydra spikes strikes the walls of the bunker. Young defiantly volleys another grenade into the approaching hydras as Manny ducks down. He hears the sound of dozens of spikes impacting on the walls as he hears the grenade explode. Debris and smoke pours through the viewports.
“Come on Young! Let’s get the hell out of here!” Manny grabs for Young in an attempt to drag him out. He instead recoils away in horror at what he sees. The private’s body is still standing but where once his face was, is now replaced with a bloody mess from the impact of several spikes. Seeing that there is nothing more he can do for him now, Manny grabs the dead private’s gun and ammo and bolts out the door to rejoin his platoon. Dozens of muzzle flashes light the way for him through the thick rolling clouds of black smoke. Behind him he hears the piercing scream of a Zergling as it crests the top of his bunker and leaps at him. He drops immediately into a roll and sprays the belly of the beast as it leaps and misses by inches. The Zergling shudders in mid-air as the bullets impact on its flesh; blood spraying everywhere. He ejects the now empty clip as he scrambles to his feet and runs to friendlier territory. He fires his rifle behind him as he runs through the smoke to the next defensive line. The Zerg continue to pour through, as they are hot on the heels of the retreating Terrans.
“How the hell are we going to get out of this mess,” he thinks to himself as he races into the dark.
