Free Xenonauts: Crimson Dagger by Lee Stephen Page B

progress beyond the turn we abandoned,” Mikhail said. “If you see a gray one, kill it first. Who knows what they could do if they get inside your head.”
    “Aye, aye.”
    “We may end up running parallel to each other. If so, we will see you on the other side.” No room for failure. “Make them hurt.”
    Raising his M3, Hemingway motioned to his men. “Let’s move, Berets.” Offering Mikhail a final nod, the Americans flitted around the corner, toward the downward slope to the ship’s rear, leaving their Soviet counterparts behind.
    Mikhail surveyed his team. Himself with an American M3, a GRU medic with a PPsh-41, a sniper legend with a Makarov pistol, and an executive officer who could barely fight at all. Even still, unconventional wasn’t the word that came to mind. The word that surfaced in Mikhail’s head was professional . “How is everyone on ammunition?”
    “Good,” answered Nina.
    Nikolai half-frowned. “Good enough.”
    Even without elaboration, Mikhail knew the difference between “good” and “good enough” was significant. But any degree of good was better than bad . Kneeling briefly, he said, “Nikolai, you move forward with me. Nina, watch our rear.” With the Americans storming the other direction, attacks from the rear shouldn’t have been huge threats. But even a small threat, if not kept in check, could take them all down.
    “I should take point, captain,” said Nina.
    “You have a pistol,” Mikhail answered. “What we need up front is firepower.”
    She stood her ground. “What you need in front is the conservation of ammunition. No one else can kill more hostiles with as few bullets as me.”
    Did it matter that Nina was carrying a pistol instead of a sniper rifle? Perhaps she had a point.
    Studying Mikhail’s expression, Nikolai tilted his head warningly. “Captain…”
    “Take point with me,” Mikhail said to Nina. He shifted to Nikolai. “Conserve your ammunition, watch the rear.” For a moment, it looked as if Nikolai would argue. But the Spetsnaz kept silent. Speaking to Nina again, Mikhail said, “I will give you first opportunity to fire, but only for a second. Hit your marks.”
    “Thank you, captain.” She dipped her head appreciatively.
    Lastly, Mikhail’s focus shifted to Sevastian. The morphine was kicking in, and Sevastian seemed to be moving in less obvious pain. It was a far cry from being wholly effective, but Mikhail would take what he could get. “Are you all right, Tyannikov?”
    Sevastian nodded. “I am still your senior lieutenant.” Readying his pistol with his left hand, he waited by the door. “I am ready to fight, captain.”
    Of all the personnel involved in this operation, Mikhail respected Sevastian the most. The man was determined, even in the midst of near-incapacitation. That was what they needed. “Cover the rear with Lukin.”
    “Yes, captain.”
    It was well past time to get going. They needed to move. He spared one last glance at the dead alien on the floor—the alien that had tried to tap into his mind at the wrong time. The alien that might have just given them an edge.
    Indicating for Nina to take to his side, Mikhail raised his weapon and exited the room.
    As the four-person Soviet team made their way back to the elongated chamber, Mikhail found himself leading the group through the haze of smoke created by the grenade he had thrown. He hadn’t waited around long enough to see if it’d done any damage, though the lack of an alien presence in the chamber itself told him that if nothing else, it had staved off an advance. Whether the aliens had fallen back or taken cover nearby was yet to be determined.
    The Soviets were nearing the turn where Mikhail’s grenade had gone off, their weapons raised and ready to fire. Through the light smoke, the green-bloodied body of one giant reptile could be seen slumped against the wall.
    Raising his hand to signal a slowdown, Mikhail pushed himself against the wall as he and Nina