Ghost Soldiers Read Online Free PDF

though it tried to avoid the attack, the missile altered course and struck the machine head on. Chunks of broken metal were all that remained.
    “The towers!” Spartan said.
    Both Khan and Spartan turned to face the nearest tower and opened fire with everything they had. At the same time a dozen drones did the same, shredding the building with high-velocity coilgun rounds and the occasional blast from Spartan’s plasma based weaponry. As one of the floors started to collapse, he looked back to the prisoners, and nodded with satisfaction as the Grunts surrounded the structure.
    “Major, we’ve run into trouble North of your position. Fifty plus targets leaving the tower, and they’re coming your way. At least half are heading for the prisoners,” said Lieutenant Armstrong.
    “Affirmative, keep hitting the heavy weapons. We’ll deal with the new targets.”
    Khan was about to kick his way inside the structure holding the prisoners.
    “Me first,” he said.
    He lifted his leg, but Spartan called out, “No, Grunts first.”
    Khan grumbled but moved back. Two of the machines stomped ahead, both with their firearms in front and expecting trouble. It wasn’t easy to tell, but Spartan could see the subtle tells that gave away the issues caused by the communication lag from orbit to the ground. It wasn’t massive but enough to give their movement something of a dreamlike quality. The first went in, looking left and then right, before disappearing inside. A massive explosion immediately blasted it out. The robotic soldier hit the ground ten metres away and as a burning wreck. Khan looked to Spartan and laughed.
    “Okay, you were right that time.”
    From the flames came a pair of enemy soldiers. They were dressed in a bizarre collection of looted clothes, wearing Alliance helmets, and carrying looted firearms. A burst hit Khan in the chest, and he roared with irritation as he grabbed one of them and threw him over his shoulder. CD1 Grunts moved in to take the prisoner, and Khan was then inside.
    “Grab them, the others are mine.”
    Spartan moved to the left of the building and quickly spotted the scattered group of soldiers. He sent mental commands that were instantly translated into waypoints and orders for the Grunts. All of this was based on the latest technology being developed by CTC, and though not complete, it was a vast improvement over anything he’d used before.
    The data was then sent directly to the Confederate class warship high up in orbit. The marines on board would receive the information and send new commands to their robotic avatars. It took just a few seconds, and then Spartan found he was surrounded by more than a dozen of the machines, each moving ahead, their coilguns held at waist height. Cables ran from the guns into the bodies of the machines, giving them full control data from the guns, as well as a direct view to the sight, all without ever having to raise the gun to the shoulder.
    “Wait for them.”
    The machines stopped in a ragged line while sporadic gunfire struck nearby. In the distance the shapes of Hammerhead gunships could just be made out as they circled overhead, firing at any heavy weapons they could find. Then came the enemy, and they moved with a speed and intensity that only drugs and rage could induce.
    “Fire!”
    The robotic warriors unleashed a volley, cutting down seven immediately. Then Spartan joined in, using his arm-mounted coilguns to add to the barrage. Part of the building to Spartan’s right collapsed, and out came Khan with a small group of filthy and bloodied marines. Bullets hit near them, but Khan and the other Grunts used their own bodies to protect them as they moved back to the designated landing ground. Spartan felt a moment of relief wash over him at seeing they had all of them, until one stopped and grabbed at his armour.
    “There’s one more, in the pit!”
    Spartan hadn’t been told that one of the Helion soldiers was actually a human officer, but