Eden's Children (Earth Exiles Book 2) by Mark Harritt Read Free Book Online Page B

up.
    “The three small ones are probably the brooding females.  They are now targets six, seven and eight.”
    The four medium targets are the other males, they are now targets two, three, four, five.”
    “I’m not going to number the smaller targets.  Engage them when you can, targets of opportunity.  We don’t know what’s going on.  We’re on defense until we can figure out what the hell the Ancient is doing.  When we have an idea, we’ll react.  Hopefully, the wall will keep them from getting to us, and we’ll have a target rich environment.”
    Since Jen had the situation well in hand, Mike switched over to the Spec team channel.  He heard Rob talking.
    “I’m telling you, Stephanie Lane has an amazing ass.”
    Tom replied, “Dude, Michelle will beat your ass if you talk like that around her.”
    “No she won’t.  She loves me.  She does exactly what I want her to.”
    Mike decided to mess with Roberto, “You know you’re broadcasting on an open channel and Michelle can hear everything you’re saying, don’t you?”
    There was a sudden silence on the other end.  Mike started laughing.
    “Oh damn, Mike, that’s just not right,” the relief in Rob’s voice was palpable.
    Mickey’s voice rumbled into the conversation, “You have only yourself to blame.”
    “What do you mean?” Rob asked.
    “You’re the one with the roaming eye.  Besides, Stephanie’s hanging with Rich.”
    “He’s a boy.  Stephanie wants a man.”
    “If she wants a man, she’s not going to be looking at you, Roberto,” Tom replied.
    “That hurts, Tom.  Deeply.”
    “You are so full of crap Rob.”
    “Yes, that is why my eyes are br . . .”
    Jennifer’s voice cut into the conversation, the command channel overriding, “Mike, do you see that?”
    “What’s that, Jen?”
    “The dragons have stopped.”
    Mike checked his display.  The hostile overlay had painted the threat red, “Kind of hard to see that on my display, Jen, though they do look like they may be stationary.”
    In front of Mike, without the hostile overlay, nothing looked different.  The dragons were hidden in the forest.  It looked suspiciously liked they were acting tactically.  Mike didn’t have a good feeling about this.
    “Is there a wind out here?” Everett asked.
    Mike thought that was a strange question, “I don’t think so, why?”
    “Why are those trees moving then?”
    Mike looked up.  The tops of the trees were swaying like there was a strong wind.
    Mike started cursing, “They’re trying to push over the trees.”  He called to Jennifer, “Jen, how tall are those trees?”
    “I don’t know Mike, why?”
    “Because the clearing is about a hundred feet across.”
    Jennifer and Ken started cursing.  Jen took over, realizing the danger.  She started directing everybody back from the danger, “I want Spec and Sec to go down to the courtyard.  Mechs, move to the back of the wall.  I don’t want to find out the hard way how much damage a falling tree could do to a mech.”
    Mike turned to follow the rest of the infantry down to the courtyard.  Cursing, He switched to the team channel, “I can’t believe it.”
    “What Mike?” Everett asked.
    “I can’t believe we got played by that damn dragon.  It wasn’t trying to eat us, it was measuring the clearing.”
    Tom’s voice carried his disbelief, “There’s no way the dragon is that smart.”
    Mike continued, “Maybe, maybe not.”  He switched the subject, “Okay guys, I need input.  If they push down the trees, what are the odds that the dragons would be able to get onto the wall?  Rob, you’re the structural guy, what do you think?”
    There was a pause, “No, there’s no way that those trees would hold their weight.  Not leaning against the wall.”
    Mike was relieved, “Well, that’s good news.”
    “Still, I don’t think we want to have to fight 150 pit bull sized dragon spawn.  They’re going to swarm up those trees,” Everett