Battle for Proxima by Michael G. Thomas Read Free Book Online

putting burst after burst in the horde.
    Spartan moved forward, taking one careful step at a time and continuing to shoot with both arms. According to his ammunition display he was already halfway through his ammunition. From experience, he knew he could do with at least double the ammunition he was carrying. Teresa stomped towards him, two of the Biomechs hanging from her armour as Private Alsop tried to keep up. The weight of the two creatures managed to pull Teresa off to the side where she crashed into the soil along the wall. Spartan managed to reach her and helped straighten her up, but more creatures jumped onto their armour.
    “You okay?” asked Spartan.
    “Yeah, come on, let’s get out of this dump!” she said laughing.
    They pushed back swinging their mechanical arms, quickly slicing or crushing the enemy before turning their guns on the closest. Alsop dropped down onto his face as several more creatures leapt onto him. They were ripping cables and fittings from his suit. He started to shout, panicking as his suit was being shredded.
    Spartan and Teresa jumped down next to him and struck the creatures. One was cut cleanly in half, Teresa continued shooting at the rest. Spartan reached forward and tugged at his damaged armoured suit.
    “Alsop, you okay?”
    “No, Sir, most of my systems are down and I’m losing power.”
    “Can you move?” Teresa shouted as she continued to fire.
    “Just my arms, they must have cut the links to my legs,” he said, the tone of panic in his voice starting to become more serious.
    “Teresa, cover us, I’ll get him back!”
    Spartan leaned in and grabbed the armoured suit in both arms. With a tug he freed the metal from the dirt and started to drag him back through the tunnel. They made slow progress. Teresa stayed a short distance behind them, trying to hold back the tide.
    “Spartan, I’m down to one fifty rounds,” she said, trying to keep calm.
    “Shit!”
    “Lieutenant, just go, if you stay we’ll all die!” cried Alsop.
    “Shut your mouth, marine, and start shooting!”
    He clearly had no interest in leaving any of his marines behind. With a quick twist, he was able to turn Alsop around so that he faced backwards. His legs were out of commission, but his arms and weapons were still functional. As Spartan dragged him back, the Private turned his guns on the horde who were trying desperately to overwhelm them. Spartan glanced back, noting they were now halfway to the bottom of the ramp leading to the Landing Platform.
    “Sergeant Lovett, what is your status?” he asked, panting from the exertions of dragging the man and fighting.
    “Lieutenant, we’ve repelled a significant assault on our position. We’re holding but our ammunition won’t last forever!”
    “Understood. Send one fire team here to assist. I have a Vanguard damaged. Call HQ and get a resupply bird and sentry units down here. We aren’t leaving until we’ve completed our mission.”
    “Already done, Sir, a rescue bird and evac team for the civvies is already en route. ETA sixteen minutes.”
    “Good work, Sergeant. Out.”
    Spartan continued pulling. Teresa managed to stagger back and placed one arm on the Private’s suit to help drag him.
    “Your guns?” asked Spartan.
    “They’re both dry.”
    “Typical, you’re almost wearing yourself out too fast!” he laughed as he fired several more bursts.
    “Funny, I was going to say the same!” He couldn’t quite see her face, but could feel the laughter in her tone.
    As they moved, Spartan noted on his tactical display that one of the fire teams was closing. They could be no further than twenty metres away. He started to turn to check, just as a group of five Biomechs dropped from the ceiling directly in front of him. The first he shredded with his rifles, but the other four leapt directly onto his suit and started stabbing and hacking with crude metal weapons.
    “Bloody hell!” shouted Spartan. He waved his arms and managed to hit