Free The Red Leopards of Zaxon B (Galaxies Collide Book 2) by Andrew McGregor Page B

uncomfortably as the supervisor grinned beneath her visor, her head nodding, ‘Good work…he is alive at least…’ She turned, staring round the rest of the group, some twenty staff remaining in all as she raised a grim voice, ‘We have lost a few of our colleagues…you must forget and move on to remain safe.’ Hesitating, she stared at each individual in turn, ‘We are moving up with the Trevakians and South Korean regulars…keep alert and stay safe…’ She indicated to the escorting Trevakian marine stood next to her, ‘He is now second in command!’ Pointing into the distance, she grimaced, ‘Our soldiers and allies are cut off to the east…we will be assisting in relieving them!’
     
     
     

Chapter Five: The Red Leopards
     
    The tank tracks whined as the lumbering armoured vehicle smashed through the last remaining trees, its wheels grinding the squealing wood beneath them as the vehicle surged forward, slowing and turning on its metal tracks to block the opening through the rocks.
    Several armoured figures ran to either side of the metal monster, the heavy guns firing, the blast almost deafening as the tank shuddered, the recoil on the high calibre barrels spilling smoke through the barren trees. The infantry dropped to either side of the camouflaged vehicle, firing their heavy assault rifles onto the snow covered airfield beyond.
    The shrieks of Morgon infantry filled the gap, bullets slamming against the tank hull as the armoured vehicle’s lower forward laser guns crackled with static, then launched red high energy bolts towards the advancing enemy. The fire escalated, the sparks on the forward armour plate intensifying as the tank fired again, targeting the walker at the top of the slope.
    The explosions swept across the track, the mechanical legs buckling and collapsing downwards as red hot shrapnel flew outwards from the blast. Several Silakians were blown to the sides or collapsed, their combat uniforms shredded from the shock wave and flying metal. The upper armoured cabin of the walker smashed against the iced snow, sliding across the surface as laser blasts swept past, the two crew members slumped dead in their bloodied seats.
    The Red Leopard commander stood aloft behind his men shouting orders in a language the humans could not understand, Debra nudging Tregan for guidance. The Trevakian marine turning to smile at her beneath his visor, ‘He is ordering his men to keep sustained fire on the enemy…prevent them from advancing!’ Riaz stared at the mottled camouflaged tanks, their light colours of brick red, green and sand overlaid with a white paste seeming to add to their awesome power and presence.
    They looked up at drones whining overhead, the second wave of air reconnaissance and support for the Red Leopard mobilized unit being deployed. Laser blasts swept the snow covered landscape, enemy rockets rising in response as the drone wave swept down over the airstrip.
    Some of the Morgon infantry dropped back to their knees, their weapons raised as they engaged the lasers firing from above. Tracer bullets swept into the air, the drones computers reacting and initiating evasive action as laser blasts lit up the murky air.
    The tank forward muzzles recoiled again, flames shooting from the barrels as the shells swept forward, exploding on the airstrip, three Morgons blown to the side with the blasts, their bodies shattered. Bullets slammed against the tank hull again as two pilotless silver objects crashed burning to the snow, the intensifying fire from beyond the ridge sparking off the small reinforced hulls as the remaining drones fired once more onto the infantry on the ground.
    The black armoured infantry desperately sought refuge behind anything on the airfield as red hot laser blasts swept over the snow, cutting two more down, their bodies disintegrating as the powerful energy sliced through them. The shrieks of anger echoed across the snow, muzzle flashes lighting up the snow as the