Xenonauts: Crimson Dagger Read Online Free PDF Page A

course, you’ll deal with your government. I’m sure that’s not something you want to do.”
    In that, Palmerston was right. Mikhail glanced briefly to his comrades, who were taking in the translated information as best they could, glassy looks showing on their faces. His focus returned to the general.
    Casting a brief look to Hemingway before going on, Palmerston paced across the front of the sectioned area. “Now, you boys extended us a favor by not jumping the gun when we set off those nukes. It’s for that reason we’re extending our trust to you. Kirov, you will be serving as commanding officer for this entire operation, yours and ours alike.”
    Mikhail raised an eyebrow.
    “Captain Hemingway will assume the role of executive officer. Should something happen to you, he and his men will assume command of the entire operation. But you’re the crimson in this.”
    So the chain of command began with Mikhail but continued only with Americans. He was just a Soviet figurehead for a Yankee operation. This reeked of ill intent, just as Dorokhov had suspected. He had no doubt that one of the Green Berets’ bullets was meant for him—a friendly-fire “accident” waiting to happen. Once Mikhail went down, the Americans would be in charge. He had to survive at all costs. For Russia and the world.
    “At this very moment,” Palmerston said, “a special reconnaissance team is excavating the ground by the breach. One of your own snipers is providing cover fire.”
    Andrianova. That must have been where she went. “Is she providing cover by herself?”
    Palmerston nodded. “Yes, she is.”
    Nina was confirmed.
    “The bulk of our defense effort is facing the forward section of the alien vessel.” Walking toward Hemingway, the general went on. “The dig team consists of three. Your sniper makes four. With the six of you and six of our boys going in, we’ve got a nice, clean dozen. We send in any more and we risk getting overcrowded.”
    So Nina wasn’t even going in. It made sense from a tactical standpoint. The fight inside the ship would be close quarters. Not exactly ideal for a sniper.
    Palmerston’s expression shifted, his comfortable tone being replaced with something more uncertain. “Now let’s talk about the enemy.” Every Soviet sat upright. The Americans seemed less affected—they’d probably heard this before.
    “Our ground forces didn’t start testing the lines until Soviet reinforcements arrived. But here’s what we know so far. The aliens themselves appear to be reptilian. They’re also big. Six feet tall, some as high as seven feet, and bulky to boot. We haven’t gotten close enough to see how they communicate or coordinate, but beyond using basic cover fire around the ship’s entrance, they don’t seem to be operating with any advanced strategic maneuvers.” He pointed to one of the photographs depicting rock formations just in front of the spacecraft. “These stones right here are providing the bulk of their cover. We haven’t pressed forward much, but in the little we have, the aliens have used those stones to their advantage.”
    So the aliens hadn’t actually moved in on the Americans. There was no obvious offensive in progress. Crossing his arms, Mikhail leaned back as he listened. This should have been an easy operation. Air strike the ship’s perimeter. The aliens were already grounded—blow them away. Why wasn’t NATO doing that? Because if they destroy this ship, they can’t harness its technology. They need to take it from the ground.
    Palmerston frowned. “Now’s the part you need to focus on. Reuben, play that film reel.” As the general stepped aside, a nearby officer rolled out a projector. After a moment of setup, he directed it at a standing screen. The grainy film began.
    “This is an offensive we attempted shortly after the area was initially secured. Just intended to test their defenses and get a better idea of their capabilities.”
    Leaning forward,