Flynn left the cockpit, pausing to
change into more practical clothing before joining Eltie near the weapons
locker. She was running final checks on her combat armor, which would make her
just over two meters tall and strong enough to punch through five centimeter
armor plate. As Flynn walked up, she turned and began handing him gear:
tactical vest, grav harness, rail gun, and conventional slug thrower. Flynn
would have preferred his pulsar pistol, but Eltie knew the mission
requirements.
Flynn checked over his gear. He knew
Eltie would have already done it, but marines liked to re-check, so he would
act like a marine. Reese ran up as Flynn strapped on his grav harness and tac
vest.
“Good,” Eltie said, “I’ve got an
insertion plan ready for us.”
She pulled a data slate over and
showed an area of the city marked as the source of the transmission. She tapped
three spots on the building, indicating a side entrance for Reese, a third
story balcony for Eltie, and Flynn would take the front door.
“Looking to get a promotion the easy
way, Lieutenant?”
“Hardly, sir. We need our best
shooters in the best tactical position. Reese has been outscoring you.”
Flynn flicked eyes to Reese, who
shrugged. “It’s really just luck.”
“Uh huh. Okay, so I’m the
sacrificial lamb, but you left out how we’re even going to approach. Where’s
our LZ?”
“We don’t have one, not going in.
Coming out Ann will set down here.” She indicated a flattened building about
two blocks from the transmission source.
Flynn was about to ask about not
having a landing zone going in when he remembered the grav harness.
“Eltie, please tell me we’re not
going to do a grav dive.”
“Sorry, sir, it’s the fastest way in
with minimal risk to the ship.”
“I haven’t done one of these since
basic.”
“If it’s any consolation—” Reese
began.
“It’s not.” Flynn cut him off. “Okay.
I can do this. Be right back.” Flynn retreated down the corridor.
“Where’s he going?” Reese asked
Eltie.
“To put on some fresh socks,” Flynn
yelled back down the corridor. “If I’m going to die today, my feet are going to
be comfortable.”