Battle for Proxima Read Online Free

back,” he said, switching channels to his own squad.
    “Listen up, this is a dead end, according to the maps the tunnel stops here. From what I can see, it’s right. We will join with the rest of the platoon and see if we can find an alternative way in.”
    “What about the mining shafts for the tram system?” asked Private Jenkins.
    “Yeah, on the map there was supposed to be a series of tracks that go down to the lower levels for ore extraction.” He thought for a moment.
    “Interesting. It won’t take us near the computing or communication gear but it could get us near to where the enemy were hiding. I like it. Okay, squad, double-time it back to the Landing Platform.”
    He’d pushed hard for his new unit to be given this mission and it wouldn’t look good if the Vanguards found nothing but bodies on their first operation. Plenty of good officers in the battalion were keen to see the Vanguard armour dispersed amongst the units to provide additional firepower and engineer capabilities to all platoons. Though Spartan could see some merit in this idea, his personal opinion was that a dedicated assault unit with maximum firepower and armour would be able to go places and conduct missions that no other units could do. The defence of New Carlos had already shown what they could do when dropped directly into a combat zone. That battle alone had secured him a chance to prove this unit was worth keeping permanently.
    Spartan joined the rearguard and made his way back through the corridor. The jumping movement of the lights bouncing from the walls gave him the similar sick feeling he’d experienced in zero-g training. As he emerged from the entrance, the two other squads were stood waiting. They all stood to attention.
    “The mine entrance is down there, Sir,” said Private Jenkins, pointing at a barely visible ramp that led down to the left.
    Spartan checked his mapping information, specifically the length and depth of the tunnels. According to the last reports on the mining operation, the tunnels were up to three kilometres long. Several had been closed down with seismic charges and had probably buried a large number of insurgents alive.
    “Okay, our plan is changing slightly. We will take two squads into the mineshafts and perform a full sweep of the immediate area. Sergeant Keller, it is imperative that your 3rd Squad stays here and maintains contact with headquarters. You are all that stands between us, and the surface. You have to ensure our rearguard is kept clear and ready for evacuation,” he said and then turned to Sergeants Morato and Lovett.
    “You two will come with me, two squads will give us enough to cover the ground. We’ll redeploy our strength when we see what the situation in there is. Understood?”
    Both sergeants nodded and turned to check on their men. Spartan was starting to feel the pressure of the mission and the need for results. A lot of resources had been expended getting his platoon here, and a body count of a couple of dozen Biomechs wouldn’t do it. The mining shafts were risky. They were long and contained a myriad of small rooms and passages cut into their walls. The upside was, that if there was anything to be learned about what had been going on here, he was likely to find it there.
    “Ready?” he called.
    With a nod from his two sergeants, he gave the signal to move. The twenty-four marines moved off two abreast in a snaking column. It was a mighty force. Spartan just hoped they would get to prove their worth as quickly as possible. He joined them, making careful progress past the metal and cables that lay strewn about. The Landing Platform soon disappeared to be replaced by a massively wide tunnel entrance with two sets of railways tracks leading off into the darkness.
    “They used to drag the ore out through here then,” said one of Teresa’s squad.
    Spartan said nothing, he just kept going forward and checking his scanner, sensors and thermal imaging for any signs of