Grendel Unit 1: Bad Day at Khor-wa Read Online Free PDF

chin, feeling the stubble there with his thumb.  "Screw it.  Take us in."
    Buehl shot a look over his shoulder, "And if they fire on us for breeching their airspace without clearance to land?"
    Vic shrugged, "Then I'm buying the first round when we get to hell.  Just get us down before they have a chance.  Let's go."
    Monster let out a sharp laugh and Frank braced himself against the cockpit's wall, intertwining his arms around the tethering straps.  The Samsara dropped into the planet's atmosphere, rocketing down through the upper limits of the skyline until they were zipping through clouds and could see the massive base beneath them. 
    The computer's alarm sounded and Buehl sighed, "They're locking missiles on us." 
    Vic picked up Monster's microphone and said, "This is Captain Cojo of Unification vessel Samsara , responding to an emergency distress call from your location.  Stand down your weapons, I repeat, stand down your weapons."
    They were left with nothing but the beeping alarm for several seconds, until someone finally said, "Stand by for verification."  The beeping stopped and the voice said, "Cinth-Combs Tower to Samsara , you are clear to approach."
    "What the hell's going on down the re?" Vic said.  "You people ask for help, then nearly blow us up?"
    "We apologize , Captain.  Things are tight at the moment."
    Vic took a deep breath, "All right, where do you need us?"
    The tower said, "Just look for the smoke."
    They all looked up through the ship's forward display, seeing holographic readouts of buildings and the wide grid of the outpost's streets.  Buehl moved the thermal sensor around the map until he finally said, "I'm reading a large heat signature ten miles southeast."  He squinted at the readout, "The acitine metal content of the air is indicative of Kerogel, Captain.  It was a bombing."
    "Step on it," Vic said.  "What's burning?"
    Monster's fingers flew over his computer terminal and his voice dropped to a barely audible whisper.  "That is the location of the Andoho-Sky Elementary School, Captain."
    No one spoke. 
    Vic finally tapped Buehl on the shoulder and said, "Get us on the ground and get us in the fight, Sergeant."  
    It was rare for him to refer to any of the men by their rank or formal names.  The Grendel Unit was above such things, too loose for such things, too outside of standard operations.  This was different and they all knew it.  Buehl threw the accelerator forward and said, "Yes, sir.  Everybody hang on."
    The Samsara cut sideways, cutting between buildings, racing after a long cavalcade of emergency vehicles that painted the sky flashing shades of blue and red.  The ship's thermal view showed a large structure just ahead, consumed by flames.  Bright, flaring blocks of white filled entire floors, leaving no space for anything that lived.  "Holy hell," Frank whispered. 
    Buehl flipped a switch to reveal the screen's forward camera feed in real time, showing the dozens of fire crews surrounding the building on land and in the air, all of them standing by.  "Why aren't they putting it out?" Monster roared. 
    "You can't," Buehl said.  "Kerogel reactivates when you hit it with any kind of flame suppressant.  It's like pouring water on a grease fire.  They just have to let it burn itself out and pray it doesn't spread."
    Monster smashed his fist on the chair's arm, "So they're just going to let the children and teachers burn alive?" 
    "They're already dead, Big Man.  There's no life signs in there," Vic said softly.  "Bob, set us down over there, by that parking lot."  He bent down to peer through the sideport window and said, "Looks like a large crowd is gathering around the school.  Probably parents."
    Frank leaned down beside him.  "Can you imagine what they're going through?  No way are they going to understand why the re isn't a rescue effort."
    "I wouldn't," Vic said.  He wiped his forehead, feeling it was drenched with sweat.  "Why the hell did we