"Moving into Tube C1," Enders whispered. The throat mic picked up his voice and sent it out over the short-range tactical net they were on. There was so much emitted RF radiation in the base they decided to just stay on regular coms instead of fucking around with hand signals strobe flashes. It wasn't like the enemy didn't know a full battalion of Marines was running around outside the secured C&C hab trying to figure out a way in.

"Move quick, 1^st Squad," Pritchett's voice came back. "I don't want to stay exposed in the tubes any longer than we have to."

"Copy." Enders raised his right hand and waved for his Marines to follow as he broke into a light run, eyes wide open and trying to detect anything that looked out of sorts that might be an improvised explosive or anti-personnel mine. Tube C1, which ran between Hab Complex C and the C&C hab, was a long one. Nearly a quarter mile jog where the Marines felt like they were in a kill zone, vulnerable and trapped from fire coming either direction.

As they neared the end of C1, Enders almost let himself relax. The memory of Hann getting his head blown off while peeking over a railing, however, brought him up short just before he would have emerged into the large chamber the tunnel dumped into. He brought his rifle up and looked through the thermal optics into the dimly lit room, sweeping left to right while hugging the left wall of the tube. The cold walls showed up in hues of blue and green. The two people trying to hide behind a low reception desk showed up in red and orange.

"Anyone camped inside the C1 vestibule?" he asked over the open net. Nobody answered so he switched back to the platoon channel. "LT?"

"No response. You're clear to engage," Pritchett said. "I'm bringing the rest of the platoon up fast behind you, but we need to secure this beachhead, Sergeant."

"Understood," Enders said. The targets in his optics had shifted a bit, but so far hadn't made any big movements. There was no way they didn't see his squad, so he assumed they were the lookouts for an ambush that would spring once they committed and walked all the way in. Sloppy to let themselves be spotted like that.

Ambush tactics were simple. First tactic? Avoid them at all costs. Second? If you stumble into one, respond with maximum speed and firepower until you break contact and maybe you'll survive—but probably not.

"I'm running straight for the desk. Fan out left and right after me and engage anyone you see," he said calmly, belying the icy hand that gripped his heart. "Ready, steady…EXECUTE!"

Enders, still shouldering his rifle, took off a dead sprint. He burst into the large receiving area and covered almost half the distance to the desk before his target realized he was coming right at them. Enders squeezed off four rounds at the first target, watched him drop, and then swung to try and acquire the second, but they had already ducked behind cover. He felt a sting on his left shoulder but ignored it as he continued around to try and get a better angle on the hider.