The Last Praetorian by Mike Smith

Author:Mike Smith [Smith, Mike]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Science Fiction, Adventure, Romance, Fantasy
ISBN: 9781301986187
Google: 9HJqLABUIe8C
Amazon: B00A0M85KK
Goodreads: 16137916
Publisher: Mike Smith
Published: 2012-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Present Day

Terra Nova, Zeta Aquilae System

Several days after the senior staff meeting, Jon was overseeing the final loading of the nondescript freighter that they had decided to use for the assault on the Syndicate outpost. David & Gunny had submitted a comprehensive tactical plan for the assault of the station including schematics and detailed timings. Paul and Jon had spent many hours, late into the night reviewing the plan, discussing what could and might go wrong, refining it and preparing for various contingencies. Finally agreeing that any more planning would be pointless, they signed off on the plan, distributing it to the various department heads to update their respective teams.

Now, the final stages of the plan were coming together, with the ship being prepared and the assault teams boarding. A loud clanking distracted Jon from reviewing the final checklist and looking up, was stunned at the sight of the Marine boarding party approaching. All of the assault team had been fitted out in Marine assault armour. With the modern Space Marine being expected to fight in all possible environments, from the cold vacuum of space, to the varied environments of the different planets that consisted of the Confederation, hence Marine armour had been adapted, until the point it had become a completely self-encompassing environmental suit. Totally sealed, heavily armoured, with integrated sensors, communications and weapon attachments it had more in fashion with a modern starship than the armour worn by the Marines of old. The effect was to make the approaching marines look like a troupe of darkly armoured beetles with multiple appendages. All of this made the armour highly restricted, permitted only for active military personnel and totally illegal to be in the possession of anybody else… like themselves.

“Interesting equipment Gunny,” Jon commented dryly on recognising his bulky shape as he shuffled past. What Marine combat armour lost in terms of speed over the years, was more than compensated for by the sheer firepower and protection it provided. “You must let me know where you came across a dozen of those suits…” after a moment’s thought Jon added. “Come to think of it, I would prefer that I didn’t know.”

“You would be amazed at what you find working as a cargo hauler,” Gunny’s voice boomed out of the concealed speakers within the suit forcing Jon to take a step back from the blast of noise. Trying to get rid of the ringing from his ears, Jon wondered what it was about Marines that they had to do everything in the loudest way possible.

“Well carry on Gunny,” Jon replied stepping aside so the huge suits could squeeze through the airlock into the waiting freighter. Jon was glad he would be up on the bridge as the hold was going to be very tightly packed indeed.

Ensuring that all the Marines and supplies were loaded and secure, Jon closed the airlock and sealed it before making this way to the small bridge on the freighter. On arriving Jon slid into the co-pilot seat next to Miranda who was going to be piloting the outbound leg of this journey.

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