Alien Mine Ch. 20

Rhys took cover behind a rock and began firing at the new monsters the Om had designed. He spared a thought between shots wondering where they had gotten the humans they had transformed. His rifle was powerful, and the new rounds blew large holes into them.

Sargent Merek heard the command and his squad shifted into a more defensible position on the right flank; they had seen little action so far, but a considerable number of the new Trangrods were moving their way, flying low just above the hills. He fired a long burst as one broke through the fire from the shuttle, disregarding the return fire. Another long burst from his weapon brought it down but not before he was pummeled to the ground by fire from anotherTrangrod. Fuck, that hurt; several rounds had hit him, but only one penetrated through the armor covering his thigh. Pain meds and coagulants flooded his system, and the armor constricted around the wound to stop bleeding. Merek hauled himself back to his knees, looking for more targets but shouted and threw himself backward as a Trangrod slashed at him with its front-cutting legs. He scrambled to bring up his rifle, but the Trangrod disappeared in a roar of autocannon fire. Fuck! he mumbled, pulling himself back up and looking for the next one. "Those fucking things are still alive even if you shoot them down," he shouted; "watch where they fall because they keep coming," he warned the squad. "God damn it, that was close; thanks for killing that fucker for me," he told the corporal. "Don't shoot at the ones in the air; cover us for those that come back alive." He heard the major give the order to move; Alpha's job was to sweep in on the left flank; they would encircle the Om Base if possible. Merek watched as the new drones from the fighters swept through the sky, killing the Trangrods. He was preparing orders to advance when six violet beams lashed out from the Om base, and six drones exploded into a thousand pieces. Well, shit, he thought, this is about to go FUBAR