9,401, an SF thriller

[Icelander]

Ashbless

Front is clear.

Naiooka (while checking behind them)

So's our six.

The pair checks that every enemy is unconcious and kick weapons away from their hands, even when they look stone cold dead. Naiooka hails Lethe with his comm gear but receives no reply. Ashbless's comm gear flashes a red error message on her visor informing her that electronic noise makes it quite impossible to send or receive with it. The source of the jamming is revealed as they can both hear the faint strains of Old Earth music. Where have all the young men gone? asks the singer rhetorically and the answer seems painfully obvious to Ashbless and Naiooka as they survey the scene of death around them. Gone for soldiers everyone. When will they ever learn?

Ashbless

That means that we've accounted for the front group and most likely the west group as well. We should check on Thórrson and see if he needs any help on his end.

Naiooka (fiddling with ihs comm gear)

Not unless we can raise him on the 'tracee. If we come unannounced from behind him, we'll risk friendly fire.

Ashbless (angrily)

But what if the Inspector is wounded... or worse?

Naiooka (cooly)

Then he waits for a Marine medic. We didn't have time to draw up proper areas of responsibility, but he has the east wing and he'll expect enemies in his rear before he'll expect us.

Ashbless (with ill-concealed fury in her voice)

Are you saying that we may have a man down and all you can suggest is that we just wait here to be rescued? I outrank you, Corporal, and you'll do well to remember it.

Naiooka (professionally)

With respect, sir, the Inspector gave me command over our post. And I'm not just suggesting that we wait.

We can proceed from this foyer to the doors to whatever rooms ahead. It's midway between the position where Inspector Thórrson probably means to set up his post and the stairs down to the basement. From there we may see the Inspector or at least be able to protect his retreat. And it's near enough to the basement that the risk of friendly fire is less, as the Inspector has to expect anyone he sees could be us.

Ashbless (mollified)

Let's get going, then. An Imperial servant does not leave brothers-in-arms behind, not this servant, at least.

Naiooka and Ashbless start out into the house, both falling easily into the habits learned in their Marine training. Scan for threats, move fast, but keep the body stable enough to fire accurately at a moments notice. Naiooka takes the lead, staying slightly to the right and Ashbless takes the left side and stays far enough back so that a single grenade or burst can't take them both. Neither one speaks while they walk and the sound of their footsteps is as muted as they can make them.