Battle for Proxima Read Online Free Page B

making their way into the tunnels. He had already requested the Vanguards be outfitted with cameras and displays in the suits, so the commanders could monitor the movement and actions of other team members. It wasn’t going to happen any time soon, but right now he would have really appreciated it.
    “Spartan, we found prisoners!” came the Teresa’s excited voice over the intercom.
    Spartan smiled to himself, if anybody was going to find them, he knew she would be the first.
    “This area is massive, they must have carved it out with explosives. We are counting thirty people, mostly men and four, maybe five women. We’re leading them out to you now.”
    “Excellent, what’s their condition?”
    “Not good, their clothes are in rags and they look like they’ve been on rations for a long time...wait...there’s something else...”
    Spartan’s heart dropped, in his experience the unknown was rarely good.
    “There are bodies here at the end of the room, easily fifty of them. There’s a small amount of stores. They wouldn’t have lasted much longer.”
    “Okay, get the survivors back here and bring your team.”
    “Roger, we’re coming now.”
    Spartan looked at his sensors, tracking the Teresa and her marines as they made their way back. That still left a dozen marines out in the tunnels.
    “Sergeant Keller, are you getting this?”
    “Yes, Sir. I’ve been relaying your information to the surface. Command is sending in two evac birds for the wounded. Do you need assistance?”
    “Negative, we’re clear here.”
    “Wait, Sir, there’s something not right. I’m picking up movement from the tunnel parallel to your position.”
    “Which tunnel? I’m not showing anything in that area.”
    “Underneath you, Sir. I’m picking up massive seismic readings two hundred metres below you, and rising!”
    “Seismic? An earthquake?”
    “No, it’s alive and moving up, I suggest in tunnels or shafts towards your position. They are moving fast!”
    “Okay, Sergeant, stand your ground. Radio it in,” he said, before turning his intercom onto the open channel.
    “All units fall back to the central shaft immediately. We are expecting trouble! Move it!”
    On his scanner the IFF signals of his marines showed them moving slowly through the narrow shafts. From the side the civilians staggered out, covering their eyes with their hands. There was no light down there, the bright lamps of the Vanguards must have been blinding for them.
    “Sir, they are one hundred metres away, you need to hurry!” came an urgent transmission from Lovett.
    “Go! All units fall back to the Landing Platform! Take the civilians and move!”
    Most of the marines were out and moving fast alongside the confused and obviously terrified people. Only two marines remained, Sergeant Morato and Private Alsop.
    “Sergeant, where are you!” he roared across the intercom.
    “We’re coming, part of the tunnel collapsed, we’re taking a diversion. ETA, two minutes. What’s the problem?”
    Spartan felt the ground shake slightly and panned his searchlights throughout the tunnel. The last marines were now over two hundred metres away and moving fast. The ground was now shaking strongly. Then he saw them. Several mounds that looked like molehills appeared in the dusty ground, followed by heads and hands. As they lifted themselves out, he knew instantly that they were Biomechs, the artificial creatures used by the Zealots in their unholy crusade against the Confederacy.
    “Oh...shit!” he shouted. He quickly lowered both of his arms, aiming his weapons at the horde.
    “Teresa, get your ass here now!”

CHAPTER TWO
     
    Unmanned Autonomous Vehicles have a long history of service with the military, dating back to their use on Old Earth. Of their many advantages, are their smaller size and removal of components required for human survival. They can accelerate faster and can carry more fuel and weapons than a comparative manned craft. The main