RECCE II (The Union Series Book 5) Read Online Free Page B

other tunnels
still echoed with the sound of battle. Rather than clear each section of the
Guard headquarters individually, the FEA commander had split his forces, effectively
opening several frontlines either side of him. It was a risky strategy with
such limited manpower - he had virtually no reserves at all behind him - but if
the rogue Guardsmen really were on the back foot, then it might be enough to
finish them off.
    The commander was waiting just inside one of the
entrances, using the junction as cover whilst his lead section attempted to
clear another connecting tunnel ahead of him. Several more soldiers were taking
cover along the access tunnel at the same time, holding back any potential
Guard attack whilst they waited for their comrades to finish their clearance. I
knew by my map that there were several more chambers and tunnels ahead of us,
and sensed that the FEA no longer had the manpower to maintain their momentum
into the headquarters. We had arrived at just the right time.
    One of the commander’s aides saw us approaching and
alerted him with a quick tap to the shoulder. I took cover inside one of the
entrances just behind him. The entrance led into a small chamber containing
stacks of crates. A couple of FEA crouched inside the chamber, their torches
flashing like strobe lights at a nightclub as they busied themselves with some
frantic task, but I paid them little attention. My mind was focused fully onto
the task at hand, preparing my section to launch past the FEA and continue the
assault onto the rogue Guardsmen.
    ‘Get in here, Myers,’ I ordered, sweeping my arm
inward.
    The young trooper obeyed, followed by the rest of my
fire team. They packed themselves into the chamber, making use of whatever
space remained in order to keep out of the access tunnel. In tunnel warfare,
unlike in the trenches where the threat came from all directions, troopers that
weren’t in battle often had little to do other than keep out of the way until
they were needed.
    Puppy automatically ordered his own fire team into
another tunnel further back, keeping them away from my own. There was no sense
in us all staying in the same place where a single grenade or explosive device
could kill us all.
    As I watched my Delta fire team move into cover, I
heard gurgling sounds from within the chamber behind me. I realised that the
FEA were busying themselves around a wounded comrade. I couldn’t see his
injuries, but he bulked and convulsed as if he had been hit somewhere in the
gut. At such short ranges, no body armour could stop a direct hit from a
molecularly sharpened dart.
    Ignoring their plight, I turned my attention back to
the access tunnel - just as the commander looked back to me and the rest of my
platoon.
    ‘We are ready to assault,’ I said decisively.
    He nodded. ‘Very well, but you will fight under my
control.’
    ‘No we fucking well won’t,’ the sergeant major growled
from somewhere behind me, having heard the commander’s demand. He then spoke
over the net, sending his instructions to the platoon. ‘One-Two, move up! You
will take the left hand side of the tunnel alongside One-One!’
    ‘Roger!’ Corporal Kamara responded.
    Metal panels clanged as he brought Two Section up
toward mine, keeping to the opposite side of the tunnel.
    The sergeant major continued, using the net to avoid
making too much unnecessary noise. ‘Keep your men spread out,’ he said, ‘and
make use of the chambers cleared by the FEA. One-Three, you will remain a
tactical bound behind in reserve. Stay out of the access tunnel until called
for.’
    ‘One-Three,’ Corporal Stanton acknowledged. There
was no need for all of us to be in the access tunnel in direct line of fire to
the Guard.
    The FEA commander watched over his shoulder as the
platoon of troopers rapidly spread itself along the tunnel behind him, making
use of whatever cover they could find. If he was beginning to wonder how much
control we were actually allowing him,