Forward marines and medics ducked down instinctively, the acrid aroma searing through cracked seams and almost overwhelming senses as several retched behind parked armoured vehicles, their countrymen grimly facing the main doors before them as smoke and dust poured downwards from grilled ducts above. Several crouched figures ran forward from the rear corridors to reinforce the forward guard units, heavy machine guns positioned behind sandbagged positions complimented by heavy calibre sniper riflemen on the upper walkways.
The ember filled billowing acrid smoke and burning dust gradually cleared across the assembly area, a muffled roar of the rocket bombers sweeping over the compound, the defending marines straining blinking blood shot eyes to look through the flaming shroud in dread towards the outer steel reinforced doors.
The US marines stared towards the obscured doors, their hearts pounding in rising horror as they considered the venomous and merciless enemy outside, several lowering in anguished anticipation. The dissipating black smoke slowly cleared, many soldiers gradually rising as the vision became more obvious, the inner doors remaining standing closed, if smouldering and slightly warped.
Hoarse cheers rose from the defenders as the shroud cleared, wisps hanging below the cracked cement, steel reinforced ceiling as the defenders slapped each other’s backs in immediate elation, a collective reasoning that the attackers would have to force their way into the facility.
An ominous silence slowly descended as the defenders grinned in relief, several lowering in grim exhaustion behind their defensive barriers as further dust drifted silently downwards from the steel lined grills above. Then several of the helmeted marines stiffened, glancing upwards with suspicious expressions, the reinforced steeled cement above grinding and screeching faintly as others began to raise their rifles in a renewed horrified dread.
The grinding and clanking continued, a seeming progression of muffled faint tiny accumulative metallic footsteps as the defenders stared up at dancing illuminations across the mesh ducts, the candles and oil lamps seeming to dim momentarily as the clattering became louder.
Then liquid seemed to cascade downwards from several locations across the wide area, the splashes below sweeping outwards as human minds struggled to understand the lack of a natural sound of water, the unnatural chinks and metallic bouncing of heated induced nano droids defying any instinctive belief of what should have been heard as the tiny flesh seeking robots swept outwards seeking their prey.
Little did the horrified defending marines realise, the explosive heat of the rockets had not been to pierce the outer doors, but instead activate the small dormant enemies already within the structure from a previous penetrative blast.
Morgon engineers and grenadiers were advancing unopposed through the swirling dust outside with high powered armoured piercing explosive satchels…shrieking in relish as they sensed the human terror behind the scorched doors nearby…only when the first defences were overwhelmed would the outer doors be breached.
Alone in Death Valley
The motorcycle engine burbled as Brad dropped a gear, heavy dust clouds from the devastation further west and the rocky and unforgiving terrain billowing around his slim muscular leather clad figure, a scarf tied tightly across his mouth beneath the red helmet and darkened visor.
Progress was slow and demoralising, the silhouettes of an occasional abandoned or burning vehicle emerging through the murk as his nervousness heightened, a realisation that someone or something could be hidden nearby chilling his frame, cold perspiration glistening across his chest beneath the riding leathers. The shadows of mountains rose up on either side, bushes and the occasional lone leafless tree adding to the despair of loneliness and the desolate surroundings, his proactive plan to provide forward reconnaissance now regretted as the danger attached to Brad’s mission became brutally apparent.
The rider weaved between abandoned and burning cars, flames flickering trough the swirling dirt, the wind seeming to drag at his tensed frame, his heart pounding in anticipation, the road deserted apart from a number of slumped or charred bodies as he attempted to avert his eyes. Considering the enemy had moved before them filled him with dread…sooner or later they would probably meet.
Occasionally, the muffled whirr or drone of craft would pass overhead and above the dust clouds, the young lifeguard considering all were probably alien vessels, the destroyed or obliterated cars and campers having been hit by devastatingly accurate laser fire from the dark vessels. He would occasionally stop for the pickup truck and green station wagon to catch up, longing for the faint sound of engines just before they approached, the helmet turning from side to side to study the billowing shrouds in apprehension as he kept the bike engine burbling, a hand resting nervously on the grip of a pistol tucked into his jacket, the assault rifle strung across his back.
The older Benjamin had regularly provided grim realistic encouragement to all on Brad’s numerous stops, advising the bewildered and stunned ladies, children and younger man that the devastation they had experienced was only natural in such a deteriorating situation and that the unfortunate victims and their smouldering or shattered vehicles were a distraction that allowed them to live…that the enemy was passing by above, considering the humans below were already dead…thus allowing their small group to survive and hide amongst the recently deceased.
All three women were tearful with the subdued children both sat in the rear foot well of the green station wagon, Katherine, Emily and Elizabeth having witnessed their progress along the ‘road of the dead’ without any sign of survivors, their resolve slowly eroded as they witnessed wolves and other scavengers feeding and tearing flesh from the still warm bodies. The more charred and burnt human remains were
