His eyes shifted to the CM packs that floated along between the ranks, and Rame stared in shock as he realized that each of the packs was hauling what had to be one of the enemy foot soldiers along with it.

His assumption was confirmed when the two ranks were called to a halt by Major Brinks, and the packs unceremoniously dropped their cargo to the ground with a thud.

“Good Lord.”

“Doctor?” Major Brinks stepped up, his helm visor shifting to a clear mode as he looked at the doctor. “What are you doing here?”

“He’s checking out the local med-techs, sir,” Bermont offered. “How’d things go?”

“We got it cleaned up, Lieutenant,” Brinks said. “But the locals are going to have to get some seismic sensors scattered around here so they can make sure there’s nothing left digging under their feet.”

“I’ll have a report filed with the captain in twenty minutes,” one of the other soldiers spoke up, his black helm preventing Rame from identifying him.

“You do that, Savoy,” Brinks said. “And while you’re at it, recommend that the locals get some birds in the air with some real down-looking capabilities. The heat difference will let them spot any on the surface.”

“Got it, boss,” Savoy replied.

“This is the…enemy, is it?” Rame asked, staring at the corpse of an unnaturally large insect-looking thing.

“Damn right,” another of the soldiers said, with an obvious grin in his voice. “This is one of the trophies of our bug hunt.”

“Goddammit, Deac!” another growled. “I told you to can that sci-fi shit! I’m sick of you talking like we’re in some damned movie!”

“Come on, Sarge!” Deacon whined. “Think about it…We’re on another planet, fighting giant spider things, in powered armor…Christ, Sarge, that’s like every sci-fi cliché ever written!”

Low chuckles passed through the group, as well as a couple groans from soldiers who’d been listening to similar bickering for too long.

“He’s got you there, Sarge.”

“I don’t give a shit!”

“You know…Mr. Deacon, is it?” Rame spoke up idly as he walked around one of the bodies.

“Yeah?”

“One must wonder…”

Everyone shifted, looking at each other as the doctor kneeled down and examined the body closer.

“What’s that, Doc?” Deacon asked, curious.

“Well, if we are living a science-fiction scenario,” Rame said, standing up, “what will the science fiction writers write about now?”

“Uh…” Deacon just stared for a moment.

“Westerns?” someone else asked, his voice a little hopeful.

“Sacrilege!” Deacon yelled, his voice booming over the speakers of his armor.

Some of the men groaned, but Rame just ignored the comment as he continued examining the body.

“I can’t believe that I’m associated with these people,” Major Brinks muttered under his breath, but only after he made sure that his comments weren’t going out on any frequencies.

Eric Weston and Rael Tanner were still talking through some details when some of the soldiers Weston had brought with him stepped forward.