LATEST CHATTY HEADER

Its the way they run you know

Don't look at me like that, you know

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It was dusk, around 1600 and the right time of year to find yourself peering into the darkness. Thats not what I was doing. I was on patrol outside the hangers on the east side when the klaxon sounded. I stood stunned for a moment, if the enemy was this close then they HAD to have gotten past ... 'No' I thought, that couldn't happen.


My radio crackled to life: "Three this is one, do you copy?"
I fingered the mic "This is one, I copy."
My rifle was in both my hands now, I was already running towards the gates at the east entry
My radio bursted with static as I ran. I held the rifle in my left hand and slung the strap over my head. Using my right hand I threw the mic off my shoulder and unplugged it from my belt. I stopped running and turned off my radio. The static stopped.

I looked up. Thundering filled my ears

The gate is around 6 yards long, over 3 yards tall , and opens in the middle.

It was being dented. As I watched dozens of indents appeard on the wall. I realized they were being beaten down. I needed someone else to see this. An impact on my shoulder

"Kenne get your ass over here!" It was Mkoli, grinning grimly his rifle in hand and a gleam in his eye. Without waiting for an answer he turned and ran towards the wall, a Titan moving into position as I ran to catch up to him.

"Hey" I said as I caught my breath.
"Radio got static too didn't it" Mkoli said. It wasn't a question. We jogged towards other men from our unit.
"Yeah how'd you know that jerky?" I retorted. Slowly I realized the answer.

It was as clear as day. All of our communications were usually organised by satellite. Other times by radar trucks, but we didn't have any of the trucks.

Mkoli turned and looked at me, serious. Then grinned.

"I bet that satellite was made from the USA." He joked. I looked at him and smirked. Before I could answer the sarge was yelling over the bull horn.

I'll never remember what he said. Not like it mattered, but Mkoli and I took up positions with a MG nest to the right of the wall over that had to be maybe 20 yards from the gate. The thundering was quieter now. The indentations were sporatic now.

I was scared.

More and more men took up positions near the gate. The Titan remained in place, engine rumbling. Soldiers, engineers anyone that could carry a rifle took up position. All eyes fixed to the gate. The banging at the steel wall quieted and stopped.

The wall exploded, not the gate. The wall.

To the left of the left of where I was facing, the left of where everyone was facing- - the enemy charged into the light. We were taken off guard.

I watched as the enemy charged into a mass of friends and soldiers. Flying and leaping into the fray. They run just like us I think.

Instantly the fighting went from ranged to hand to hand. Riggs went down right away, screaming. He was missing most of his face. Fuller went down on my left, his leg below the knee was melted. Before I knew it I was reloading my rifle. I didn't even remember firing it.

The Titan fired, pieces of Strogg flying everywhere, I fired and reloaded. The MG nest was now behind me, motion and violence filled my vision. Again the titan fired, ahead of me. I turned as something touched my leg. I turned and fired in revulsion as a Strogg died. I'd never been this close before, everthing was a blur. No time for detail.

Then I saw him, it was Mkoli, he ran just like the rest of us except left hand wasn't human. He ran to the Sarge and impaled him on a silver blade. Numb, I pointed my gun and fired. Nothing happened. I looked at Mkoli. Sarge fell to the ground lifeless.

Mkoli looked up at me and grinned. I checked my rifle, a shell half in, half out of the breech. A jam.

I dropped the rifle and reached for my side arm, it was empty. I backed way, put a new clip in, and started to pull the slide back. Mkoli fell over dead. Then everything went black

I was pinned in rubble as near as I could figure. I heard voices and called back to them. Mkoli peered down at me.

"Hey man !"

"Hi" I managed. Realizing the pistol was still in my hand.

I pointed it at him and fired

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Its amazing how much they move like us. I really thought he was Strogg.

God, I'm so sorry Mkoli