Thursday, June 29, 2006

The howling wind only made the barren landscape seem even bleaker. Somebody dropped a rifle.

"Steady!" The fear in the massed ranks in front me was palpable to the point where one could almost taste it, a bitter gorge rising from the nameless depths of apprehension.

I had to reassure them. "You are Marines! You are elite! No matter what comes through that hole you WILL stand your ground!"

The rustling in the background grew louder even as the massive crevice began to rattle ominously, loose dirt spilling into the ground.

Then it happened.

Without warning, a cluster of gigantic worm-like appendages spilled out from the dark pit, their enormous size only matched by the utter lack of noise as they moved. As I watched, more continued to pour forth, seemingly unchecked.

There was only the briefest of pauses in the ever-growing torrent before the worms charged straight for our position, surging forward as one body.

"Draw weapons!" I yelled. The clatter of automatic rifles, heavy machine-guns and other military ordance being hauled into firing position was frighteningly loud. "Fire only on my command!"

Despite their brave demeanour, I could sense that they were close to breaking point, for they had never seen such a menacingly sinister enemy in ther relatively-youthful lives.

"Steadyyyyy!"

Abruptly, someone discharged a weapon, which was instantly followed by a few more loud reports before I could reinforce my order. "Hold your fire, goddamnit!"

Closer and closer the giant worms came. Now that I had a clearer view, I could see that they vaguely resembled giant earthworms, only a million times larger. I raised my own rifle, taking steady aim at the incoming flood.

They were almost upon us now...

"OPEN FIRE!!" I screamed, convulsively squeezing the trigger simultaneously.

All along the line, automatic weapons began a steady hammering, punctuated only by the rhythmic thumping of grenade launchers. The fusillade of bullets scored ichor-filled streaks on the worms, literally tearing them apart under the brunt of such of an onslaught. Here a worm twisted away in its death throes, spiralling spasmodically as gore spewed out over the dusty earth, there a worm simply disintegrated, flaps of what passed for its skin flung over obscene distances.

Against such a savage hail of death, the worms fell back like corn stalks before the reaper, my men cutting them down without mercy. The first wave faltered, but the second was quick to take their place, then another, and another. Then I glimpsed a new and even greater threat.

I turned around. "Jackson!"

"Sir!"

"Concentrate on those spawners. Take them out as they appear, got it?" The youth nodded. "Now get in there and show me some fire discipline!"

Armed with a .50 cal Barrett M82 equipped for taking out the likes of vehicles, Jackson had a heavy responsibility to prevent the spawners from boring more holes into the ground back into the underground caverns where the worms originated, or else we would inevitably be overrun.

"Hotel-6, this is Juliet 4-Niner at the Arkaidan Outpost, requesting immediate Close Air Support. Grid, H-0-5-N-18, over." Samuels was at the radio, unfazed in spite of the fact that backup was not forthcoming.

The billowing crack of the Barrett echoed repeatedly throughout the plain, the young sniper operating with an ice-cool confidence I could only secretly admire.

"Juliet 4-Niner, this is Hotel-6. Last message unclear. Say again, over."

Samuels repeated his request.

"Juliet 4-Niner, be advised, we cannot send Air Support so soon."

"Hotel-6, any fix on ETA of Air Support?"

"Juliet 4-Niner, they'll be on your location, thirty minutes."

"Hotel-6, is there any way they'll get here faster? We could really use some help right about now, over."

"Juliet 4-Niner, that's a negative, they'll be flying through some really bad weather. Sit tight. Over and out."

Shit.

The guns kept firing and the bodies kept piling up. But the press of worms from behind was too great, and as I watched, one especially swift worm reared up, about to pounce upon the barricade. Before anyone could react it crashed down upon the foremost defenders. A toothless gap appeared and five men were devoured at a stroke before an incendiary grenade could end its intrusion.

The worm leapt off the ground as if stung by a massive electrical shock, its body a mass of lurid flames. However, before it could reach terra firma again, a single shot rang out, a watermelon-sized wound appearing in its maw. The worm thrashed about in its death throes for a few more seconds before finally succumbing to its fate.

I glanced back at Jackson, seemingly as implacable as ever.

But stunned at the ferocity of such an assault, there was a momentary lull in the barrage of lead, and the worms swarmed ever nearer.

"Pull yourself together, Marines! Don't let them get through!!"

"Sir, we're gonna get fucking killed!" someone yelled.

"I'll fucking shoot you if you don't keep firing! Now FIRE, GODDAMNIT!"

Despite my candour, the young man was right. We were about to be overrun. But if we had to perish here, I'd rather my men die with their fingers still held on their triggers.

We needed a miracle.

Any miracle.