"Shut it Drew, the controls got shot up on approach I thought the [eXe] boys were suppose to have glassed that site earlier". Andromeda was annoyed, unbuckling herself from the pilot’s seat and grabbing her Rocket Launcher she ran towards the back of the landing craft.

Flicking open the motion monitor Nemesis took a reading before opening the landing craft’s rear hatch. "Motion monitor suggests we got multiples North, North East of us, opening the hatch in 3…2…1"

BoBoBski was ready for this, a battle hardened soldier from another company he knew what to expect on the other side. The explosive bolts fired and the hatch fell onto the red dusty Strogg landscape.

Immediately several Railgun slugs hammered into the landing craft. All of Zeal platoon dived behind the landing craft bulkheads pinned by the ferocity of the incoming fire.

Andromeda peered outside careful not to be caught by a Strogg sniper. "Ok guys we got cover available for about three of us 10 metres to the North, we’ve also got a crater a further 5 metres on. The ridge about 100 metres to the North is where the Stroggs are."

"Do you see any other landing craft Andromeda ?" queried Drew.
"None, although Apos platoon should be around here somewhere".

A massive explosion, lifting it several metres into the air suddenly rocked the landing craft.
"Strogg Artillery!, Keith protect us" cried Nemesis.

BoBoBski gathered himself, kissed his Rocket Launcher and looked at the others "We gotta move, and now! I’ll take the crater". This spurred the others grabbing their weapons Zeal platoon was on the move. The red dusty ground seemed softer than normal and it took soldiers a moment to compensate. They ran under a hail of bullets towards cover, their muscles screaming in pain as they ran as fast as they could. Nemesis was the first to get cover, even before he hit the ground he was loosing off rockets towards the ridge trying to provide BoBoBski with life saving covering fire.

Never has a crater been so welcome BoBoBski thought to himself as he jumped in. In all his months of being a solider he’d never been on the receiving end of so much flak. He was seriously pinned, Railgun slugs slamming into the far side of the crater in the hope of a headshot no doubt.

"Rail that goddamn sniper Andromeda, he’s be taking chucks out of us ever since we got here" ordered Drew.

"I’m on it".

Switching to her Railgun Andromeda took aim, zooming in with her telescopic sights. There he was grinning as he aimed at BoBoBski. "Come to mummy" Andromeda softly spoke. The distinctive blue spiral discharge emanated from Andromeda’s Railgun and the sniper was wondering where his head had gone.

Drew looked over to Andromeda "Nice shot".
"Ta, you want some bubblegum, honey".
"Maybe later" grinned Drew.

Nemesis was surveying the ridge through his binoculars.

"I can see 5 Stroggs on the ridge Drew, although the amount of heat we took probably suggests there are at least 10 of them."
"Ok, lets rail as many as possible before we advance".

Two minutes later 5 strogg soldiers a lay dead, railgun hits really do make a mess of whatever they hit.

"Ok Nemesis, BoBoBski take the ridge, Andromeda and I will cover you" barked Drew.

Nemesis and BoBoBski both nodded looked at each other and ran towards the ridge. The distinctive noise of rockets being launched could be heard behind them, a second or so later the ridgeline was engulfed in explosions, they were making steady progress.

50 yards from the ridge BoBoBski took a slug in the chest, lifting him off his feet and hurling him 15 yards down the ridge. Landing awkwardly was the least of BoBoBski's problems, the searing, burning sensation hurt like hell, but he was still alive. His combat armour most definitely saving his life.

Nemesis carried on running up the hill, fearing that he was likely to be next he quickly scanned the ridgeline for the sniper. They saw each other at the same time he was about 25 yards away, quickly Nemesis tried a snapshot with his Rocket Launcher. His worst fear was realised in that moment… weapon jam. I’m dead thought Nemesis as he tried to unjam his weapon whilst running towards his enemy.

The strogg soldier aimed and then died two rockets reducing him to a pile of gibs. Nemesis couldn’t believe it he looked down the ridge and he could make out Drew and Andromeda high fiving each other in celebration. Holy Keith I’m still alive he thought for a split second, then realising there could be more enemy soldiers around he quickly surveyed the area, nothing, not one was left alive. He displayed the all clear signal to the others. The ridge has been taken.

BoBoBski was helped to his feet, his lifesaving combat armour now a shattered piece of equipment was removed. Bruising was starting to appear but he was OK to continue.

Now where in hell are Apos and Disc platoons wondered Drew.