A low pitched rumble approached. The noise was rising, a small dust cloud neared, and then, beautiful, sweet relief emerged from the cloud - two Ranger scout cars. The lead Ranger was crewed by Anders (driver) and Caldo (gunner). It was the transport for Vandro's squad of marines. The following Ranger, the true reinforcements held Mira Ashwood and her veteran squad of grunts. It was crewed by Vera Thorne and Jaye Wun, driver and gunner respectively.
Vandro's squad had been holding onto their position for two hours now and dusk was approaching. It was decided to set up a perimeter and try to find out what the hell was going on at this farm. What were these things, and what did they want? A more heavily protected science team were on the way, but wouldn't make for another few hours.
Ashwood and squad de-bussed. Raines and Brax took up positions on top of the farmhouse while Ashwood, Drayton and Quade took cover behind some logs and crates. They had good arcs of supporting fire. Raines and Brax would radio down anything they saw. Thorne drove the Ranger around and parked it further down the entrance track, covering the field where Christensen's squad had been massacred earlier in the day.
Vandro's squad took up the right flank, grouping up behind the crates with Simmons covering a blind spot behind the grey out buildings. Anders kept the Ranger close, also covering the open field.
Three creatures charged headlong into withering fire from the marines and the Ranger. The heavy machine gun did a lot of damage, killing one of them and knocking another one down. Hopefully the science team wouldn't take those few hours to arrive.
Three more creatures prowled through the field on the left flank. Seeing the rustling of crops the Ashwood's marines readied their weapons.
The Ranger and marines opened fire, killing two of the beasts and sending another one scurrying. They got too close. Ashwood warned the marines to not let this happen again.
Simmons came on the comms to announce the appearance of three more of the creatures at the rear of the farm. The marines were surrounded!
Some of the creatures charged at the marines. On the left flank one of them got caught in reactionary fire from Wun in the Ranger, it decintegrated in a hail of gauss fire. It wouldn't be troubling anyone every again. On the right flank an advancing creature came under fire from Kreel on the truck. It went scurrying away. Meanwhile Simmons engaged the beasts facing the rear and stopped one in its tracks. It took far too much ammo to achieve that though.
It was this point at which I remembered a thing called Reaction Fire. My understanding is that an enemy caught moving within 4 of a figure can be shot at with kill dice from that figure/another figure. Any movement over 4 can be reacted to with only shock dice - no killing but you can shock and send them to cover.
Recovering from the shock of the fire one of the creatures managed to jump up onto the truck and tussle with Kreel. Claws ripped, tail stabbed, Kreel went down in a pool of blood.
Another creature ran at Simmons and was shot at ineffectually.
On the left flank Raines and Brax rained some fire down on the creatures, sending a few of them looking to stay alive. It looked like the marines might be able to hold off this onslaught.
Caldo tore into the charging creature with the Ranger's HMG. The rest of Vandro's squad withdrew back into the farm complex. Quade turned to support the right flank and fired his auto cannon on the beast that killed Kreel.
Disaster! Another three figures started hulking up at the rear of the farm!
As the creatures prowled forward around the rear of the farm Brax and Raines opened up a storm of fire upon them, sending a few running the other way, instinctively trying to avoid the stinging fire.
On the left flank one of the creatures ran through Ashwood's fire to take Quade down. He managed to bring his auto cannon to bear and got of some rounds but it wasn't enough. The spearlike tail tore through flesh, muscles and organs. His frag armour did not protect him this time.
Simmons retreated to the roof of the farmhouse. Anders drove the Ranger into the courtyard. The marines on the roof poured enough fire at the charging creature to stop it in its tracks. It was getting close though. They all were, and there didn't seem to be an end to them.
The creature that killed Quade charged at the Ranger but was taken out by heavy reactive fire from Ashrood and Drayton.
More creatures were running at the marines, sensing weakness. More heavy reactive fire stopping them in their tracks. But not stopping them far away enough. Things were looking dicey. Vandro commed Ashwood - it was time to circle the wagons and get the hell out of there. There was no way they were going to hold out until the science team arrived.
Pulling the Rangers in close, it was time to embark and drive like crazy. All marines ran over, shooting wildly behind them, hoping to keep these beasts at bay.
They were everywhere! No matter how many you killed, they just kept coming. Bloodthirsty predators, hardened warriors, what were they? It was going to require more for the science team to get hold of some of these for study.
Pedal to the metal, it was time to get out. Flooring it both Thorne and Anders managed to evade hitting any of the creatures. It was time to head back to Fort Nelson and regroup. Warning the local population? Well that was a call for command to make. Vandro, Ashwood et al. could just report what they had seen and get ready for the next round. Command wouldn't want to cause a panic, the local sector govenor might agree, but ultimately the marines had bigger guns and better troops if it came down to it.
