Marcus knew in his heart the Alliance rebels were a fierce opposition. They were tenacious and wouldn’t stop until they had freed Hallam, or everyone of them was dead. “Cate, we need an out and now. What are our options?”

  SG-4s CO called up a quick sound off. She needed to know where her team was. Will she had accounted for. In just a few seconds she found TJ and Flynn were still in the main control centre, they had six of Zulu Station’s Marine security with them. Master Sergeant McGuire and Sergeant Murphy were just west of the gate room, taking a team of marines. “We surround them.”

  Larkin laughed mercifully. “They outnumber us three to one.” He told her. “How the hell...” Then it dawned on him. Back all those years ago when they were both on SG-11, there was a very similar situation on PL9-6U4, what craphole that was. “The main hallways are circular…of course!” Another few rounds nearly took his ear off. Marcus fired back spitefully, sending an Alliance soldier flying.

  Cate merely nodded. “The secondary passageway are like the spokes on a wheel. This is an outer ring corridor and two inner. We hold the outer.” She grunted as a chip of hard plastic from a packing back nicked her cheek. She dismissed it, even as the warm blood trickled down her face. She knew exactly where her sergeants were. For now, she’d have to leave TJ and Flynn where they were. “Marcus can you have your XO, and the big man there scoot out east; they only need to find the passage that is 90 degrees to this one. When we give a coordinated signal, we will make them think the gate of hell have opened on them.”

  “Squadron Leader Fairbairn, Bjornson.” The mountain of muscle was ranked as Overserjant and there was no way Marcus was about to wrap his tongue around that, not now. “You heard the Commander?”

  “Aye sir.” Isolde grinned almost what could be said something a little evil. She took just one glance at the Viking (that was how she saw him), tilting her head sharply in the direction they had to go.

  The battle continued to rage around the gate room. The defenders with Cate and Marcus leading them, were holding their own, but they were being worn down. Every other round of a firefight brought one of their own down. Either wounded or dead.

  Along the east passageway, Isolde and Gunnar moved silently. Somewhere, they were sure where it was, they heard another firefight that didn’t come directly from the Gate Room. It felt as if it was below them. “You know Squadron Leader I should be taking point.” She could barely hear him.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  The Scot turned. “Of course you should be. But you’ll not deny me the pleasure of seeing my first Lucian Alliance scumbag go down would you.” Her first at least. Isolde always felt everyone else was ‘looking’ out for her. She simply wanted to even a few old scores.

  He shrugged. Squinting in the semi darkened passage they found themselves in. After another few moments, a few more cautious steps, Isolde held up her hand. They were behind an electric forklift. One of those smaller types found in warehouses. If front of them, down another straight passage she found they were on the left flank of their enemy. She nodded to Gunnar, indicating the radio with her finger to her ear. He got the message.

  “Bjornson to Colonel Larkin, we are in position.” He had hoped the boss had heard him. Gunnar had kept his voice to barely a whisper.

  “Copied.” He heard the reply.

  *************************************

  By nature, Master Sergeant Alison McGuire and Sergeant Erin Murphy were resourceful. Wing Commander Cate MacGregor had quickly recognized this quality in them during their first week on her team. Cate wasn't one of those hard-nosed officers who demanded everything be done her way. She believed in empowering her team to think for themselves, and SG-4 was a testament to that philosophy.

  As they moved through the circular passage of the space station, Murphy and McGuire kept their footfalls as soft as possible. The two members from SG-24, performing a similar maneuver on the east side of the station, had it slightly easier. The Lucian Alliance boarding party was spread thin, but still posed a significant threat.

  Their first engagement came quickly. Spotting two Lucian guards ahead, McGuire whispered, “Zats?”

  Murphy nodded, “Zats.”

  They drew their Zat'nik'tels, aiming carefully. Two quick shots, and the guards crumpled silently to the floor. McGuire and Murphy exchanged a brief nod of satisfaction before moving on.

  Several meters further, they encountered another pair of guards. This time, they were too close to the main force to risk using the Zats again. McGuire whispered, “We can't shoot. Too close.”

  Murphy glanced around, spotting a soda vending machine. “Cover there. We need to take them out quietly.”

  With a silent agreement, they approached the guards from behind. In a synchronized move, they struck with the butts of their weapons, knocking the guards unconscious. The path was clear.

  Murphy quickly sent a message to Cate. “Commander, McGuire. We’re in position.”

  Cate's voice crackled softly in their earpieces. “Good work. Hold your position and wait for my signal. SG-24 is almost ready.”

  The only cover they had was the soda vending machine, but it would have to do. They crouched behind it, weapons ready, hearts pounding with the anticipation of the coming battle.