[Stellar Conquest 02] - Desolator: Conquest by David VanDyke

Author:David VanDyke [VanDyke, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, SciFi, Space Opera, Fantasy, Epic, Techno-Thriller, Thriller, Horror, Futuristic, First Contact, Alien Invasion, Space Fleet, Space Exploration, Galactic Empire, Survival, Military, War, Battles, Genetic Engineering, Technological Advancements, Conspiracy, Intrigue, Gripping, Fast-paced, Page-Turner, Action & Adventure, Adult, Fiction
Publisher: Reaper Press
Published: 2015-04-18T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Bull began barking orders through his suitcomm, consolidating his men and weapons, converging them midway between where he estimated the AI vault to be and its nearest reactor, even as he led his heavy weapons section there at a shuffling trot. Down metalsnake corridors, steely gray with age and use, Marines tramped on converging courses.

He watched as Corporal Bannon cleared corners, releasing tiny gnat drones from a slot on his back-rack. Special suits and training made Recon Marines the best at what they did, and he wondered what possessed him to have tried walking point himself. Probably stupid enthusiasm after nothing but training for the last three years, he thought. Well those autoguns almost got me, and the aliens’ maser weapons gave me some nasty burns. Maybe Jehovah is trying to tell me to quit sticking my dick out quite so far.

Splitting his attention between the here and now and the virtual HUD overlay, he watched carefully as his section approached the rear of the twoscore Marines of First Platoon, Alpha Company. “Captain Bryson,” he called to the company commander on the top channel, “keep a good three-sixty lookout, three dimensions. The enemy’s resistance has been scattered, but the Ryss aliens say the Desolator AI is crazy. We don’t know what it will do.”

Bull switched his net one level down in order to include the understrength battalion’s senior NCOs. “Coming up behind, Swede,” he called, watching as Bannon sent a drone around another corner. “You should see my point man’s gnat momentarily.”

“Got it, sir,” Master Sergeant Lars “Swede” Gunderson replied. “Come on in. First Platoon will keep you snug and safe as a baby in his mother’s arms.”

“Bad metaphor, Swede, since all the mothers are back on Afrana, but I appreciate the sentiment.” Bull waved his men forward rather than switch channels again, though the gunner in charge of the semi-portable should have heard the exchange anyway.

A moment later they jogged by First Platoon’s outer troops and into the large intersection that was their meeting place.

From the portside corridor, another Recon Marine showed himself, and then led others forward. Third platoon, Bull saw on his HUD. Fourth was off to the starboard side and Heavy Weapon Section Two moved up behind them. He now had most of Alpha Company here, minus only Second Platoon spread out guarding the sleds, almost half his command.

Sergeant Major Charlie McCoy waved a greeting as he joined Bull from Fourth.

“General channel, all hands. First, Alpha Company,” he said. “Objective One is this fusion reactor,” throwing it up on their HUDs. “It’s forward of us and on the port side. My intent is to move forward cautiously and in force to Objective One and use the semis to disable it. My goal is to deny power to the enemy. The enemy is an AI the aliens call Desolator, and the machines it controls. All of those are fair game.

“The aliens are big catlike people,” he went on, “and they don’t have sealed armor the way we do, but their weapons are high-tech and effective.

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