Turn 15: Fresh Air

[Corporal Hicks]

The Devil Dawgs were at the end of the tunnel, and they did not want to stay another minute in this underground hell. Paulson’s injury was the only real obstacle left. Fortunately his arms still worked, and he clung to the rope ladder as if his life depended on it as healthy troops above lifted him to safety. The last to go up were Soles and Skirata, covering the tail. They snatched ropes and climbed to safety.

They were standing amidst the ruins of the feedlot. The stink of cow shit replaced the close air of the tunnels, but it might as well have been lilacs to the noses of the Marines. The dead animals lay strewn about as well. The mercenaries had plainly received orders to kill them all in case they were infected.

“Let’s go, now!” shouted an NCO in a flight suit. “Everyone else is evacuated, you’re the last ones out!” The USS Heimlich was only 50 meters away, with heat trails puffing out from its engines, but the advanced stealth craft barely let out a hum of noise. The APC was already up inside, and the ramp was extended to the ground.

No more time was wasted. Carrying Paulson, they ran up the ramp and moved to secure themselves for lift off. The ramp closed and the Heimlich took off. After some minutes, they felt a faint shock wave as the warhead exploded. “Woohoo! Mission successful!”

(OOC: Thank you all for playing.)