Read Grendels for Free Online Page A

at his forearm at the collapsing lines, “You got about two.  That’s two before they blast their way right through my lines.  They’re holding!  They’re not running so make sure their deaths mean something and you get that shit out there!”
    Sanders turns his attention back to the battlefield firing off rounds acting as the only overwatch and reserve while simultaneously painting hot zones with his laser designator on the rifle. 
    After a mere forty seconds an entire flank of the formation falls apart cut down under air support.
    “Incoming!” Sanders yells selecting the region on the map and dragging the command units to cover.  Wave after wave of enemy soldiers boils over the dead bodies of his friends crushing their hardened armored bodies under foot before being cut down by the kinetic rounds. 
    Instantly the balance of power shifts as both seekers come online.  The sonic cannons pinpoint soldiers in the focus of their cannons.  The vibrations crescendo inside the body of the squids causing them to erupt violently.  The cannons sweep back and forth viciously eradicating everything moving without a friendly beacon. 
    With the firefight settled in a matter of seconds the seekers lurch forward and roll into the river firing up their long screws. 
    Diving under the shallow water the pair vanish off to wreak havoc on another world. 
    “Damn,” Davis says limping up weapon dangling still tucked into his shoulder and scanning the battlefield.  Sanders just glances at Davis before looking out at the carnage all around.  “We went from about one eighty-three at the outset of this firefight and we are down to sixty-one.”
    “I’m short-handed on O’s like always.  One platoon with an officer.  You take one and I’ll take the other.  Lt. Divans can take what’s left of eight and ten.  You take five, six and seven.  I’ll mop up the rest from one through four.”
    “Thirteen, twenty and twenty eight?
    “Yeah redesignate to Alpha Bravo and Charlie,” This was the fourth restructuring of battle teams.  The first round had included colors and numbers, then switched to letters and colors, numbers and lastly just letters.
    Sanders watches as the command screen catches up with the restructuring.  He sighs looking at the names still remaining on the status screen, “Hope those Seekers get their payloads off.  Hope they get them into some organic factory and they kill this planet off in a week.”
    Davis kneels down sitting back on his heels, “What are our orders now sir?”
    “Hitch a ride off this rock as soon as I ping Admiral Kaffey.”
    Sanders glances down at the timer on the bottom right of his display, twenty minutes until Enterprise reaches line of sight.
    “Admiral Kaffey this is Captain Sanders Grendel Company 243 requesting pickup.  Admiral Kaffey this is Captain Sanders Grendel Company 243 requesting pickup.”
    Sanders shrugs at Davis waiting on a reply.
    Crackling over all channels, “Roger 243, this is Kaffey.  We have transports onboard and being dispatched.  ETA twenty-six minutes.  Stay on site.  Congratulations on getting those seekers up and running.  My tech reps inform me that both got loose without taking any damage.  Kaffey out.”
    “Finally,” Davis rocks forward straightening his back and stretching.
    “Alright,” Sanders calls over the recall, “Walk it in.  We are being picked up in twenty.  Air support will be over head any minute.  Keep your eyes open anyway though. . .”

6
     Sanders jerks awake terrified the coffin surrounding him is one of the drop pods from years prior. 
    Sucking deep gasping breaths his mind races trying to calm itself down.  Focusing on his breathing he tries to deepen the breathing and slow its pace. 
    “Still having those?” A voice whispers inside the rack.
    Sanders blinks several times at the LED console trying to make out the letters.  His massive pupils swollen in the dark of night resolve the text quickly,