the Draco #3 by DF Capps

Author:DF Capps
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: DF Capps
Published: 2020-05-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 37

“All scout saucers have been eliminated, sir,” Sergeant Henderson reported.

“Any ground fire?” Colonel Novak asked.

Henderson shook his head. “We still have to clear the LZs, but everything looks surprisingly quiet.”

“Quiet is very dangerous. I’d rather go in against heavy fire than quiet any day.”

Henderson nodded. “It’s not like we have a choice, sir.”

“I know. It is what it is.”

“How do you want to proceed?”

“We double up everything. Bring in the fighter craft to help protect the destroyers. Assign two platoons to guard each LZ, and pray that’s enough.”

“Two platoons for each LZ?” Henderson asked.

Novak nodded. “We learn from Lieutenant Sullivan’s experience. I want one platoon on perimeter security with the A5 rifles and grenade launchers. The other platoon focuses on the interior of the LZ with flash guns only. Don’t mix the weapons.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And I want you in charge of the LZ. I need your experience in there to make sure we have a way home.”

“Understood, sir.”

* * *

“Here we go, people. Unmask and open fire!” Commander Noland ordered.

The four large particle beam cannons began taking down the Zeta Grey structures surrounding the central mine entrance. This entrance was five miles across with dozens of spiral access ways leading down the sloped sides. More tunnels were visible from the destroyer’s command center.

“Incoming weapon fire forward and on both sides,” an officer reported. “Outer hull breached in sectors eight, nineteen, and twenty-one.”

“Damage control, get in there. Seal those breaches! Helm, steady as she goes.”

“Middle hull breached, sir, we’re taking heavy particle beam fire from six locations on the surface.”

* * *

“Initiate jinking, unmask, and engage!” Diane said.

She swung her fighter around and targeted the closest surface particle beam cannon installation. The Zeta Grey particle beam cannons were manually aimed and fired. With the jinking of the fighter craft none of her fighters was being hit. In automatic firing mode, it took only three seconds, and there was nothing left of the installation. Buddha took out another particle beam weapon site off to the right. Within thirty seconds, the rest of the particle beam cannon sites were reduced to dust.

* * *

Sergeant Henderson led the two platoons down the ramp from the destroyer to the moon’s surface. “First platoon, perimeter security. Make sure we’re not overrun. Second platoon, flash guns only. You’re on internal security. Greys have been popping up from underground tunnels in other LZs. Your job is to find those tunnels and kill any Greys you find.”

Each platoon had a first lieutenant in charge. Both of them deferred to Sergeant Henderson.

“Greys rushing the LZ from forward and both sides, two hundred yards out.”

“Grenades!” Henderson shouted. “Keep them away!”

As Henderson turned to check the interior of the landing zone, dozens of small Greys poured out of a concealed hole. Four of his men were killed before they could react, having come face-to-face with the armed Greys.

Brilliant white flashes strobed in rapid succession as flash guns discharged from both sides. Most of his men were twenty feet or more from the flood of Greys coming up out of the lunar surface, so they survived the initial assault.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.