The Icarian Legacy Collected Edition: Brave Souls - First Strike (Volume 3) (32 page)

While he was thinking the paleontologist kneeled to the bodies and started discussing something with the other scientists that were there. And as he did Rivers saw their faces turn white for a moment.

“Dr. Fuentes? Miguel?”

The paleontologist stood up and scratched his white hair. His dark eyes were looking calm. The excitement could be seen on his body but he wasn’t scared. He looked at Rivers.

“Major those creatures, they are in close relation to the creatures that on Earth we named raptors. They are not the same species obviously because we are in a different star system but they are similar.”

“Raptors, like the ones with the claw?”

“Yes…”

Rivers looked at the two dead animals and recalled the attack. They attacked fast and indeed one of them cut the arm of Oz with its claws. And it was a nasty wound. He remembered one of the snipers reporting that two other creatures were hiding in the bushes and disappeared after the first two were killed. He was never much in to the paleontology stuff but same as everyone else he remembered watching some shows about the long lost world of the dinosaurs and of course the famous movie Jurassic Park. He knew about the theories about the raptors and the fact that a known paleontologist thought that they have living relatives on this moon alarmed him.

“We really need to leave Major Rivers.”

“I will need a good reason for that doc. I can’t give that order without it.”

“Will the lives of everyone be good enough? Will that be good enough?”

“What do you mean? They are just animals. They might be smart but they are just animals.”

Fuentes sighed. The old men turned once again towards the nesting grounds.

“Major they hunt in packs. Large packs. They protect their nests with ferocity unknown and unseen in any other creature. They, the raptors on Earth there is a theory that they could speak to each other similar to dolphins and whales. And behind those bushes, not a lot further are the nesting grounds. And from the size and the number of the nests I’d say that we have a big pack here. A really big pack and right now they are headed this way.”

“You are sure of that?”

“Yes. And trust me it would be best that we are not present when they arrive.”

Rivers thought for a second. He knew that there was a second site about a hundred miles away that they were planning to visit later. It was on a mountain slope and well placed for making a camp with natural barriers that allowed easy defense. Similar to this site but he hoped without the nests
.

He activated his ear radio and started issuing orders.

“Jackson.”

“Yes sir?”

“I want you and your team to establish a perimeter around the shuttles. Call in the vipers for close air support. We might need them soon.”

“Sir…?”

“Just do it Lt.”

“Yes sir gamma out.”

He turned to the scientist.

“We will retreat as soon everyone is on the shuttles. I would appreciate it if you and your colleagues move there. And inform all the scientists that you encounter on your way back.”

The paleontologist smiled. The smile showed his white and well cared teeth.

“Thank you Major you made the right call.”

After this the paleontologist and his colleagues headed towards the shuttles. As they did they picked up the other scientists that they found on the way.

“Anders you and your team secure the perimeter here till the scientists are back on the shuttles. Then start retreating.”

The marine saluted and with the rest of his team moved to take positions from which they could cover the retreating groups of scientists and soldiers.

Rivers and the men he had with him headed toward s the place where Alpha and Beta were protecting the rest of the scientists. He was most concerned about Beta considering that they had the largest group of scientists with them and they were in the forest so a shuttle couldn’t reach them.

“Beta what is your position over?”

“Home base we are one mile to the east of your position over.”

Rivers picked up the map they all had from the surveillance. He marked the position they were in. He noticed that alpha was close to their position. He calculated how much time they would need to retreat and he didn’t like the result. And the empty space between the two groups.  There was too much empty space.

“Beta we are abandoning camp. Start heading back.”

“We copy. What’s wrong Major?”

Rivers sighed and scratched his head.

“We stumbled on to a nest site of what appears to be creatures similar to the Dino raptors on Earth. From what the scientist think they might attack. In fact they already have. Oz was injured. To avoid trouble we are moving to our second target.”

“Copy home base. Beta retreating. See you in twenty.”

Rivers turned the frequency and contacted Alpha. He knew that they were already heading back.

“Edwards?”

“Yes major?”

“How are things looking?”

There was a short silence on the other side.

“We are heading back major. The scientists are moving a little bit slow but we will be there in six maybe seven minutes.”

“Is there anything unusual?”

“Now that you mentioned we noticed movements towards Beta, and in front of us. We both might need help.”

“Copy that Alpha. We almost have all the scientists gathered here. As soon as they are in the shuttles I will send Bravo to pick up your group. You will then reinforce Beta. Do you copy?”

“We copy home base.”

As he watched he noticed the positions of Bravo. They were covering the retreat and slowly coming towards him. Most of the scientists were already at the shuttles. Several strugglers were now being taken by soldiers from Gama.

“Pitters take your men and head toward Alpha. I want you to take the group of scientists and lead them this way. Alpha will connect with Beta and escort the large group of scientists. And be careful. There might be some of those predators already there. They are expert hunters.”

“Yes sir.”

Moments later he could see the men from Bravo silently slipping and disappearing in the jungle. As they did he called the shuttles to come closer so that the rest of the teams can board quickly in case there was danger.

His radio beeped.

“Sir all scientists are on board. The shuttles are carrying them to the second site. We are moving to your position.”

“Copy that Gamma. We’ll be here.”

That was the second biggest problem they had. The five shuttles could only carry eight people at one time. That meant that it would take four trips minimum to lift all the people from the ground. And each trip lasted about ten minutes to the target and ten minutes back. That meant that he had another hour before everyone was of the ground and out of danger, an hour and half including the delays.

He considered his position. He had forty two marines on the ground. Thirty were now in the jungle. Alpha, Beta and Bravo were out. That left him with Gamma. The position was a clearing in the middle of the jungle. He had almost two square miles of open ground. He needed that so that they could spot the predators when they show themselves. He knew that the attack will come he just wasn’t sure when.

“Jackson I want you to place snipers on the threes. The rest of the team will take position here. We need to be away from the nests and from the jungle as well. I don’t want them to take us by surprise.”

The soldiers moved fast and without sound. The snipers took covering positions that let them watch the entire clearing and the approaching teams. Now all that was left was to watch and wait.

Edwards raised his hand and the group stopped. The scientists were moving silently. It was obvious that they were scared. The marines killed two of the creatures while heading back. And they could sense that there were more, a lot more. Those two were testing the group. The marines were spread too thin. They had twenty eight civilians in their group. That slowed them down. And it stretched the platoon to the limit. Ten marines had to cover the entire group. The marines gave several weapons to the scientists that knew how to use them. But that didn’t give much hope to Edwards. He wondered what sort of problems Carter has. He had fifty two civilians in his group.

He looked up ahead and whistled two times.

Three same whistles came back. And then ten more marines stood up. He allowed himself a sigh. He stepped forward.

Lieutenant Pitters came to greet him

“Good to see you Lt.”

“The same goes here. How are you doing?”

“It’s ok. We need to reinforce alpha. They have a lot more civilians then me. And we noticed movement in their direction.”

As to answer their question they heard gunshots in the distance where they both knew that alpha was located. At first it was just in ones and twos like the way snipers fired but soon they could hear raffle fire. It was obvious that alpha was under attack.

Both marines reacted quickly.

Bravo took positions and took command of the civilians and Edwards and his team moved quickly in the direction of the fire.

“Alpha we are moving to your position. Be advised we are moving from the east. What is your situation?”

“We came under attack from several creatures. We have injured. We managed to avoid casualties but there are some cuts and bites. One is serious. The injured are civilians. We can’t move without support. We will wait for you. Be advised that you might encounter hostiles on your way here. We spotted movement in that direction. I believe we are surrounded.”

“Copy that Alpha. We are coming. We’ll be there in three minutes. Just hang in there Carter.”

“See you soon Edwards, Alpha out.”

The rest of the team increased their speed. They all knew that they have to move quickly. They spotted the raptors up ahead. Two of the creatures were facing them and they could see several others moving on the sides. Before the raptors could move two bullets pierced their heads. The two snipers were masters of their trade. They continued firing. In less than a minute all the creatures that they could see were dead. The rest scattered.

Less than a minute later they arrived at Alpha’s position. One of the marines the medic was taking care of one of the scientists that had two nasty bites on his leg and arm and a cut on his stomach. The man was alive but it was obvious that he needed medical attention and he needed it quick.

Several men were making a stretcher for the wounded. As they finished it they put it next to the wounded man and waited. Several of the scientists had weapons in their hands. They all looked scared and Edwards didn’t blame them.

He saw carter and signaled him. The other marine slowly left his post and came towards him.

“Good to see you Lt.”

“Good to see you too.”

They both smiled.

“We need to move quickly. There are more of them out there. Before you came we spotted several more. They are trying to divide us and pick up the stragglers.”

“They will have a harder time now. We have double the firepower and I believe once the civilians are safe Bravo will come for us too. Is everyone ready?”

Carter turned and looked at the man that was wounded. The medic that was standing by him nodded with his head.

“Yes we are.”

“Alright then let’s move.”

Without a second word the marines spread out covering the civilians on all sides. After this the group moved. The progress was slow.

Edwards noticed the group of creatures coming first. They leaped from the bushes up ahead. He raised his rifle and opened fire instantly. The armor piercing bullets easily penetrated the bodies of the creatures he was hitting. He could hear firing on all sides. It was obvious that they were under attack. The firing continued for several more minutes. When it was over two of the marines reported injuries. Two scientists were bitten as well. The group didn’t slow down. The medic rushed from one wounded to the next giving what help he could. It was obvious that one shuttle will have to carry the wounded to the Falcon.

Five minutes later they were greeted by Bravo. Pitters didn’t ask anything. He just positioned his men around with the rest of the marines and the group continued onward. It took them additional ten minutes to reach the clearing. They heard several shots from the place where the camp was set up. As the group came out the civilians rushed forward. The soldiers stayed back covering them. Several animals rushed from the places they were hiding as the group of civilians separated from the soldiers but they were easily dispatched by the snipers.

When the shuttles arrived the wounded went first. They were carried directly to the Intrepid. Two more attacks came the last one by a lot larger group of animals before the last group of soldiers left the ground.

In total seven marines suffered light injuries. Twelve scientists were injured as well. But there were no fatalities. And the scientists even got two bodies for examination.

The rest of the mission went without any incidents.