by Randy Dyess
“If you stay mostly below water,” Agent Black chimed in, “they’ll leave you alone. All we have to do is ride it out and then figure out how to get off the planet.”
“I think we have that covered,” Agent Brown said to the group. “They’ve scheduled a freighter to land at the marine base to take our captured spiders. It’s supposed to land in three days, even if we don’t make contact.”
“Plasma balls are starting to enter the atmosphere,” Agent Blue shouted. He had climbed back through the top hatch and was taking the gear the other agents passed him. They had found a small mattress that would float, and Agent Black was trying to secure their gear to it to make their swim easier.
They quickly stripped the ship of everything that worked and would help them survive the next few days. “Here we go,” Agent Brown shouted as they entered the water. He had forgotten to ask if everybody could swim before he made the decision to put the ship underwater, but it was too late for that. “Head to the shore,” he instructed as he grabbed the line they had tied to the mattress and started to paddle while pulling it behind him.
*****
It took the team ninety minutes to get to the lake’s shore. Five hundred meters was a long swim for those who didn’t swim very well. Along the way, the mattress flipped over and spilled their equipment into the lake. They had no food or water, and the lake was surrounded by a large desert. Agent Brown didn’t know of any town or city near the lake, other than the marine base, which was at least ten kilometers away. He had no idea how they would survive the next few days.
As they neared the shore, he saw what he was looking for. “Head toward that inlet—I think there’s a stream there. The lake is too salty to drink and a stream bed will give us a good place to camp and hopefully some water.”
The other agents adjusted their paths and headed to the small stream. Agent White was the first to reach the shore. “Climb up the stream bed and see if you can see anything!” Agent Brown told her. “Maybe there’s a fishing camp or hut nearby!”
She made it out of the water and scrambled up the bank. After climbing to the top and looking around, she said, “Nothing’s around! It’s all desert, but it looks like we’re clear of any spiders or plasma balls! There’s a lot of smoke coming from the east!”
“The marine base is to the east!” Brown shouted after struggling up the bank. “The spiders must have bombed it.” The lake would protect them on two sides, and the stunted trees by the stream would offer some protection from the other two directions. “Agent White, stay where you are and keep an eye out for any landing ships coming our way.”
“Understood,” Agent White replied. She dug herself into the bank to hide, but she was still able to maintain a good view of the marine base and the sky.
“Everyone else, get out of the water and we’ll make camp. Gather some wood and we’ll make a fire to dry us out.”
“What about the smoke?” Agent Blue asked.
“I don’t think it will be enough to matter. If we see landing ships heading our way, we’ll put the fire out and get back in the water. Agent Blue, as soon as you are dry, trade with Agent White. Agent Green, you’ll go with him—I want at least two people on watch at all times. If you see anything not human, shout out and come back and we’ll all go into the water.
“Remember, the spiders can shoot silk out of their backend and hit a target as small as a human head up to thirty meters away. You need to go far enough out to be up to your necks—don’t give them any more of a target than you have to. According to Agent Black, they’ll get tired of waiting for us to come out and leave after a few minutes.”
Agent Black looked at Agent Brown. “We only have the one experience to go off of. As far as we know, they’ll sit there for days, waiting for us.”
“That’s a chance we’ll have to take. I don’t see a better choice. Do you?”
“Not right now,” Agent Black replied. “The leadership didn’t give us many options when they took the Chaovis weapons away. We should have been able to set up a shelter and stock it with weapons, food, and water. Now, we’re just walking spider chow.”
Agent Brown wondered if Agent Black felt the same way he did about his future in the agency. He wondered the same about the others and whether they just stayed in the agency due to a lack of other options. He had picked these four agents because they were the last of those not hired directly by Senator Williams. The rest of the agents in Senate Intelligence were little more than thugs used for the senator’s illegal deals.
“Well, let’s hope they don’t come this way. I agree on the weapons—maybe I should have hidden away one or two of them. I could have claimed that they’d been damaged during the Chaovis attack,” Agent Brown said.
“That would have been a good idea,” Agent Black replied. “If we get the chance again, let’s do that. It doesn’t seem like the agency cares if we live or die.”
Sitting on the edge of the lake with nothing to do but worry, Agent Brown had a lot of time to think. It was time to retire if he made it through this attack alive. I’m tired of putting my life on the line for a group of people who care nothing about me or my team. If they'd just given us one or two of the kinetic weapons as a backup, we wouldn’t be in trouble. We have more experience in the field than any agent alive—we should be the ones planning the missions, not someone behind a desk. Enough is enough. It’s time to disappear.
“Whatcha thinking, Agent Brown?” Agent Black asked.
“Fidel, I think it’s time to start using our real names. I’m Rutger Burchard,” he said, “and I’ll tell you what I’m thinking.”
Chapter 11
Sergeant Major McCoons stood in the center of a square of seventy-five marines. They’d formed into defensive pattern five, which was a square of twenty-eight marines facing outward with nano-blades activated. The second line of twenty-eight marines was three steps back, with nano-blades drawn, but not activated. Sergeant Henry and Sergeant Yamikani walked behind the two lines, giving each marine words of encouragement.
Sergeant Major McCoons stood with the small group of sixteen reserves. They kept their swords holstered and would be responsible for helping the injured and filling in any gaps that would appear in the lines.
“Listen up! They’re coming for us. I don’t care what we thought we knew about these monsters in the past—today, they are going to attack us with strength. WE CAN DO THIS! You have trained for this. You have learned to handle your nano-blade like it was part of your own body. In fact, I think most of you sleep with them!” This caused many of the marines to laugh. Good, he thought. The more they laugh, the less they worry about the spiders. “Remember, watch your assigned area and trust that your fellow marine beside you will watch theirs. If you get tired, switch. Don’t tough it out—we will have enough spiders for you to kill later. We WILL make it out of here alive! That is an order!” the Sergeant Major shouted. “It’s time to earn our name of Spider Killers!”
“Here they come, Sergeant Major!” Sergeant Henry yelled.
McCoons jerked his head back to the group of spiders exiting the landing ships. About three dozen rushed to within ten meters of the formation before they stopped, raised their front legs over their heads, and peered at the marines. They spiders didn’t know what was going on and seemed confused—none of the prey they’d been ordered to capture before had acted like this.
The marines just stood and glared back, inviting the attack. The spider moved their legs up and down, trying to figure out what was in front of them and how they should attack it. The marines facing the spiders watched in horror and fascination as they moved closer to them. Saliva dripped from the spiders’ fangs and they looked agitated. Many were stomping all eight feet while they studied the marines.
Private Prakash was nervous. He had only been in the marines for six months before Sergeant Major McCoons recruited him for their training. He’d never completely understood what they’d kept telling him about monster spiders and the inva
sion, but now he knew he was facing the demons of his nightmares. He couldn’t help but readjust his weapon.
The small movement was enough for the spiders. Bred and programmed to attack movement, they rushed the marines. The closest spiders reached out with their legs, and pain immediately followed as nano-blades sliced through them. The injured spiders reared up and prepared to drop on their prey.
“Lunge!” McCoons commanded. The marines stepped forward and jabbed their nano-blades up, slicing into each spider’s cephalothorax and abdomen, spilling hot, green blood all over them.
“Back!” McCoons commanded, but it had been unnecessary, as the marines had already done so when the spiders trembled and collapsed.
“Port side!” Sergeant Yamikani yelled. McCoons whirled around and rushed to the opposite side of his defensive pattern. While the eight spiders attacked the starboard side, another group of eight had circled around the formation and were bunching up to attack the opposite side.
“Port side, ready your line!” he commanded. The spiders rushed forward and once again reared in pain and confusion after their legs were sliced off. “Lunge!” The port side marines mimicked the movement of the starboard side and all eight spiders fell to the ground, which was now covered in hot, green blood. “Starboard, port, rotate!” Sergeant Major McCoons commanded. The marines making up the second line activated their nano-blades and stepped forward while the marines in the front line, deactivated their nano-blades and stepped back.
“Health check!”
Two squads rushed forward from the reserve unit in the center and checked the marines who had just rotated out for injuries. They exchanged nano-blades, as the spider blood had made the handles slippery, and used their sleeves to wipe the spider blood from the eyes of their comrades.
“Negative injuries,” the port squad leader called out.
“One replacement,” the starboard squad leader called out. Sergeant Major McCoons and Sergeant Henry rushed to the marine in question.
“I can make it,” Private Prakash begged. “I’m just a little freaked out, that’s all.”
“We all are, Prakash, but why don’t you join the reserves for now? Calm down and rest a bit,” McCoons said. “There will be plenty of spiders for everyone.” Private Prakash nodded and stepped out of the line. The starboard squad leader immediately tapped one of her members, who took the private’s place.
“Movement!” a marine called out.
Sergeant Major McCoons looked up to see the remaining spiders rushing away from them and toward the pile of debris that had been the armory.
“Movement,” another marine shouted as he raised his arm.
“What did you see, Pentti?” McCoons asked.
“There was movement by the rubble, Sergeant Major. I couldn’t see exactly what was moving, because of the corpses,” Private Pentti responded.
Sergeant Major McCoons shouted, “Formation, prepare for forward defensive step. Let’s move away from the corpses and open our line of sight.”
“Yes, Sergeant Major!” the formation shouted.
“Prepare!” McCoons commanded as the second line placed their hands on the shoulders of the marines in front of them as guides to keep the lines intact. The sixteen reserve marines broke into four groups with one at each side of the formation to help the second line.
Once the formation was ready, Sergeant Major McCoons shouted, “Forward step!” The whole formation took one step in unison with the front side stepping forward, the port and starboard sides stepping sideways, and the rear side stepping backward.
“Forward step! Forward step! Forward step!”
*****
Rodney Preston was having the time of his life. He wouldn’t be able to tell anyone, though, as they would think he was insane. Maybe they’re right, he thought as he lunged again at the spider in front of him. Just ten minutes ago, he’d been pulled from a pile of rubble after a building collapsed on him, and now he was cutting spiders up left and right.
Sergeant Preston and his small group had just made it to the base’s armory when the sky turned green and the ground shook. When he’d come to, he had been buried under a foot of con-foam that had used to be the armory.
“Hang on, Sergeant, we’re digging you out.”
“Okay. I’ll take a little nap while I wait,” he’d called out. Besides, there’s nothing else I can do, he’d thought before closing his eyes.
“Did he really fall asleep?”
“Just keep digging, idiot.”
It had taken the group less than five minutes to uncover Sergeant Preston. Once he was recovered, he’d looked around at the marines assembled in front of him. Eleven! That’s all?
“Anyone else?” he’d asked hopefully.
“No, Sergeant, just us.”
Sergeant Preston had recognized five of his marines and Private Frans, but not the others. “Listen up! You understand that we are under attack, right?”
“Attack? What?”
“Attack, as in someone bombed the hell out of us and blew up the building I was buried under,” Sergeant Preston had said. “We know who is attacking us and why. The six of us,” he’d pointing to himself and his five marines, “have been training for this. You have not. You will do everything we tell you the second we tell you, or you will not make it out of here alive. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, Sergeant!” the marines and Private Frans had shouted back.
“This,” Sergeant Preston had activated his nano-blade, “is the only weapon we have left that will kill those monsters. It will cut through everything,” he’d said, dropping the nano-blade and cutting straight through a large chunk of con-foam. “That includes you and the marine next to you. I know you don’t have any skills with a nano-blade, but you’re going to have to learn fast.”
“Sergeant, I ain’t got no nano-blade sword,” one of the marines had said.
“Not yet,” he’d replied, “but you will soon.”
“Did you say monsters?” Private Frans had finally found his voice.
“Yes, he did,” one of Sergeant Preston’s marines had said, “and they are killing marines right now.”
They’d jerked their heads around, trying to see the monsters. “See those bodies?” Sergeant Preston had asked. “Those marines will have nano-blades on them. Go pick them over and bring back all of their weapons,” he’d commanded, holding up his nano-blade, so they would remember what they looked like.
“You want us to dig through those dead marines’ uniforms? Are you serious, Sergeant?”
“Dead serious. GO!” He’d looked at his men, “Go with those idiots. I wouldn’t want to do it either, but we need every weapon we can find. Make sure those knuckleheads are respectful—those are our brave marines.”
“Yes, Sergeant,” one had said before heading off with the others.
Preston had headed to the side of the machine shop to get a better look at what was happening on the tarmac. He’d known the spiders must have landed by now and were probably engaging any marine alive. He’d just hoped his small band wasn’t the only group to make it through the bombing.
He’d let out a large sigh of relief when he’d seen the spiders attacking a formation in the middle of the tarmac. A thought had formed and he’d turned around and motioned for his group to form up.
“What’s up, Sergeant?”
“We’re not the only ones who made it. A mass of spiders is fighting someone on the tarmac and we’re going to go help them.”
“Spiders?” one of the new marines had asked.
“Yes, spiders. Look for yourself.”
They’d all stepped forward to look—none of them had ever seen one of the monsters before.
Sergeant Preston had given them a minute before activating his nano-blade. “Luckily, these things cut right through spider flesh.” I hope, he’d thought. “I want each of you new guys to form up with one of my marines in fighting pairs.”
“Fighting pairs?”
“
Yes, just like dancing, but back to back. Always keep in contact with your partner. You take care of the spider in front of you and trust your partner to take care of your back. Understood?” The new marines hadn’t really understood. They’ll learn soon enough, he’d thought. “Private Frans, you’re with me.”
“Okay, Sergeant,” he’d replied nervously.
“We are going to move out on the double and attack the spiders from the rear. If they rush us, form your pairs and then form fighting fours. Keep moving toward the formation. Understood?” Not everyone had understood. “Fighting fours is exactly what it sounds like: two marine pairs join into a team of four. Watch in front and your open side and the marine next to you will watch your other side. The two in the back will watch your backs. Got it?”
There’d been no reply from the new marines. “They’ll understand once we start,” one of the sergeant’s marines had said. “It’s not as hard as it sounds.”
Sergeant Preston had continued, “Just keep with your group and move where your group moves. Don’t break from your groups to attack a spider—let it come to you or let your buddies handle it.”
He’d been able to tell the new marines still didn’t fully understand what he was asking them to do, but Sergeant Preston hadn’t had any more time for training. “Let’s move out and kick some spider butt!”
“Do they have butts?” one of the new marines had asked. Sergeant Preston had just grunted, smiled, and shook his head as they’d started jogging toward the spiders.
*****
“Sergeant Major, those are marines!” someone on the starboard side yelled out.
McCoons and the other sergeants rushed through the line of marines to get a better view. “Sergeant Yamikani, take first and second squads and go help them. Take the spiders from behind.”
“Yes, Sergeant Major!” Yamikani said with a large smile.
“You didn’t want to go, did you?” Sergeant Major McCoons asked Sergeant Henry.