Tanks for the memories

“The antigrav generators are ready to go; the next step is to blast us out of this rock.” Major Rocksun reiterated his plan to free the ship, then use its nuclear arsenal as a means to work our way towards the Cerebrate controlling the Zerg on this planet. “Once we get to the Cerebrate, we need to either subdue or destroy it. I’ll defer to Eve’s expertise when we actually get there.”

“Yeah but if we use those nukes, then we’re not going to last very long ourselves,” Hudson asserted. “Between the explosions and the radiation, it’ll be game over for us.”

“The suits we’ll be wearing will protect us from the radiation,” Rocksun replied. “Additionally, those of us inside vehicles will be protected by their systems. Unfortunately, Hudson, you’re on the Vulture. That cycle’s got no protection.”

“Oh man. Maybe I’ll just ride in the Goliath with Jon.”

“Can’t do it,” I said. “We need all the firepower we can get.”

“Oh man.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll be equipped to take care of any radiation on your suit,” Rocksun stated coldly. “Just don’t go straying into the blast area or anything.”

“Easy for you to say,” Hudson’s voice cracked just a bit. “You’ll be in that tank! The Zerg won’t get to you in there.”

“Hudson, we don’t have time for this.” Rocksun looked the private square in the eyes. “You will be operating that cycle and you will like it. That’s an order.”

“Yes sir.”

“Now if everyone else here is ready, I’m going to head out and start shooting that wall.” Rocksun started walking towards the cargo bay, I ran to catch up with him.

“Let me do it, Major.”

“Not going to happen, Jon.” Rocksun forced me to keep step with him. “This is my job.”

“Look, sir, your place is here to protect the queen.” I strode next to the commando. “I can operate the tank. Let me do it.”

Major Rocksun stopped and leaned closer to me. “I need you here. If there’s one person who I can depend on to protect the Queen, it’s you.”

“Really?”

“You think I’m going to trust the Queen’s life to any of these other yahoos?” He waved off in the general direction of the briefing. “You may just be some lucky idiot from a backwater planet, but you’ve got what it takes and that’s what matters.”

“Lucky idiot?” I grinned. “I resemble that remark.”

In a short span of time, Rocksun rolled the tank out of the bay, dropped the stabilizers and raised the shock cannon.

“Standby for firing,” he announced over the comm.

“We’re ready,” I answered.

“Be careful,” Eve added.

“Always,” Rocksun replied. “Here we go.”

The immense cannon fired. The entire cavern shook with the impact against the cave wall. The smoke cleared and a large hole stood where solid rock once was.

“I’m not all the way through yet,” Rocksun announced over the comm. “Recharging.”

Another blast from the powerful cannon left more pulverized rock scattered across the ground.

“Firing again.”

After a third blast, a ray of sunlight peered through the rock. Rocksun fired several more times around the hole to open it up even wider.

Suddenly, several small Zerg poured through the tunnel that the Queen, Hudson, and I traveled down to find the ship. They ran straight for the tank and physically attacked it, hitting the weapon with their quick strikes. Rocksun cursed over the comm. He didn’t have any way to fight them back from within the tank. If he popped the hatch, they would surely tear him apart before he could do anything.

“Zerglings!” the Queen said.

“I have to get out there.” I started to sprint from my viewpoint on the bridge to the docking bay. It’ll take several minutes to get the Goliath up and running. I hope Rocksun can last that long.

“Hold on, Jon,” Hudson called out while looking out the window. “Check this out.”

I looked through the window and saw the Zerlgings collapsing to the ground. Their flesh tore away and they fell, twitching and bleeding.

Out on the cave floor, Eve suddenly shifted from invisible to visible. Smoke wafted from the barrel of her rifle.

“Thanks,” Rocksun said. “You sure are handy to have around.”

“Don’t worry, I got your back,” Eve said coolly as she shifted her rifle to her hip.