Asteroid Blues

::XARAX BATTERY, SEPTEMBER 22ND, 0232 HRS (NBST) / 1032 HRS (CST)::

The constant tension was beginning to wear on his nerves. He could feel it start to creep in after the 12th straight hour of watch. The infiltrators made everyone jumpy, starting at shadows, staring down friendly personnel. The Shasvaasti could be behind any corner, impersonating any civilian. But the orders had been very clear: the armory and supplies module could not fall. After clearing the last magazine complex, Kopis had been ordered out to clear out yet another magazine, further into the dome.

Knight slapped another magazine home into his Feuerbach and toggled the cycling switch. With a hum of servos, the next round was chambered and locked. He glanced around him at his task force. The promised reinforcements of an Alpha unit, some Varangians, and a Razor or Lynx unit had still not arrived. But at least command had been good about uploading the cubes and treating injuries. Miracles of modern medicine, he supposed.

The next complex was behind several warehouse buildings and administrative offices, lit much better than the previous one. Again, there was word that some smuggled weapons-- potentially violating the Councilium Convention-- had been stashed inside the magazine. The Nomads, most likely... or perhaps Ariadna?

Knight's thoughts were broken up by the staccato whine of enemy Combi Rifle fire. Rounds sung past his head, and he ducked behind a nearby building to consider his tactical options.

Knight motioned to Korso and the two dashed up the nearby staircase, taking up overwatch positions. In the semi-dark, they could see the outlines of several Nox troopers as they made their move on the armory complex. The wall provided sufficient cover, blocking any sort of clear shot and Knight spat an invective under his breath. They were going to pop the seals.

"Kopis, move up. Cover to cover. Watch for the doors, take any shots you get. And don't let them take any of the weapons!"

As the doors flew open, Daniel and Van Dien were the first there. With no hesitation they charged headlong into the building, blasting away at the Nox trooper directly across from them. Daniel's shots connected, taking the alien scum down in a spatter of gore. She button-hooked right, going like last time for the panoply in hopes of finding a good weapon.

Van Dien was less lucky, as a Caliban flung itself towards him, jaws opening. He fired wildly but as the creature closed distance was forced to switch to his combat knife as it landed upon him, snapping and howling.

The Delta unit and the Sirius handler ran forward to the nearest entrance. They could see the flashes of combi fire and the horrible sounds of close combat; screams and shots echoed throughout the dome. Voss nodded briefly at Gallo, and the two also moved in, weapons up and firing. For Van Dien, it was already too late. His body lay motionless on the ground as the Caliban crouched above him, getting ready to take its first bite.

Voss' face grimaced in righteous disgust and he threw himself forward into the freakshow.

Meanwhile, Knight, Korso, and Hexe were trying to fend off yet another Gwailo. Where the hell were all of these things coming from? Hexe dodged behind a nearby data console as HMG rounds ripped through the air where she had been standing. She caught her breath then leaned out and snapped off a few shots at the battle armor with her combi. They pinged off the armor, and she ducked back as it turned to face her.

Knight, with a clear view of the battlesuit, braced his Feuerbach and let loose, sending rounds downrange to slam into the Shasvaasti. It swiveled and returned fire, and he heard his audible alarm squeal as rounds cut into his armor. He grunted, feeling the medical injectors as they attempted to fill his new holes. Korso's rifle barked but failed to connect, kicking up dust from the asteroid rock floor. The Gwailo dodged behind a pile of depleted casings, out of sight.

Knight felt the impact with the ground even through his shock-absorbers and compensator servos. He moved up, firing at the Gwailo's last position and impacting off of the shell casings, punching holes through them. The Gwailo shrieked in a distorted howl, and he knew that he'd made a solid hit. Good. Blood for blood! Using that to his advantage, he pressed forward, dropping the battlesuit in a heap.

As the blood rushing in his ears receded, he came back to his senses, and heard the squadnet again. They were in trouble.

Inside the complex, Voss and the Caliban lay bleeding on the floor, the other up-armored Nox trooper in the building joining them with a blast of Gallo's boarding shotgun. Daniel had retrieved an improved visor from the panoply, which she slipped over her head. "More incoming! Mentor and another Nox!" she yelled to Gallo.

"Knight! Hexe! We need some assistance here...!"

Knight pushed through the pain and moved towards the nearest entrance at a dead sprint. His teammates needed him. He loomed in the doorway and saw the carnage inside. Spitting more curses, he leveled his weapon and blasted at a Nox trooper to Daniel's left, dropping it in a heavy burst.

He could feel the asteroid-chilled atmosphere rushing through the holes in his abdominal armor. His hands started to shake on his armor's waldoes. Not yet... Not yet.

In a blur of bullets and blood, the next minutes flew by. Knight couldn't really recall the exact sequence of events, but in the end, only the O-12 operators were left standing. Another objective secured, perhaps now a chance at rotation back to the ship for some much-needed rest.