Fringe Ambush by Matt Edsand

Author:Matt Edsand [Edsand, Matt]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-02-20T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-THREE

Base Station,

Richter One

At first, no one emerged from the Vartok shuttle. Thomas narrowed his eyes. What were the Vartok troops up to now?

“Why don’t they just destroy the comms tower?” Anderson asked. “If I was in the shuttle, that is what I would do.”

Thomas had wondered about it too. The only answer that seemed to make sense was that the Vartok species had other plans for the comms tower, but he didn’t know what it was.

“Someone is coming out,” Charlene announced.

Then, several packs of five Vartok troops raced out of the shuttle. The packs came out in unison and took up positions in front of the shuttle.

“What are they doing?” Wheeler asked.

“They are getting ready to kill us,” Anderson scowled. “What do you think?”

Thomas shrugged. “Be ready to launch the projectiles.”

This round they only had a limited number of projectiles and had to use them wisely and efficiently. The Vartok packs would move quickly.

“They are spreading out,” Charlene said.

The Vartok troop packs had begun to space themselves out as the Vartok shuttle lifted off the ground. By now there were two rows of Vartok packs. The first row would be the sacrifice for the second row. This was it. The Vartok packs were going to advance on them. Thomas had seen it one too many times in his life. Each time it never got any easier. The Vartok packs were like animals. There was no other way to describe them. Thomas gestured to Wheeler. The junior combat specialist crawled over to him.

“Anderson and Charlene are going to handle the launchers,” Thomas said. “I need you to be ready to throw grenades at them.”

“Yes, sir,” Wheeler replied.

“I assume this is your first experience with the Vartok species?” Thomas asked.

“I only experienced them in the simulators,” Wheeler said.

“Well, this isn’t a simulator,” Thomas frowned. “You have to be ready and follow my instructions. There is no question that those packs are going to want to kill every one of us. The Vartok packs show no mercy, and neither will we.”

Wheeler nodded. His facial expression didn’t reveal the slightest fear, but Thomas suspected the junior combat specialist’s heart was shaking. It reminded Thomas of the first time he had faced the Vartok packs. At that time, he had also been a junior combat specialist and his commanding officer had been brutally honest in telling him the consequences of losing to the Vartok species. In those days, Thomas had been part of a much larger unit, unlike today.

“Here they come,” Anderson shouted, as the horrible screams pierced the air.

Wheeler didn’t flinch at the screams. Thomas guessed the simulators in the academy had been successful in preparing him. He glanced back at the Vartok packs. The packs began to march towards them slowly. The march was always a prelude, before they broke into a run.

“Fire!” Thomas ordered.

The first projectiles shot out of the launchers heading towards the Vartok packs. Thomas motioned to Wheeler, who began throwing smoke grenades at them. This time around, the Vartok packs were faster as they dodged the projectiles.

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