Proteau was fairing better than the two soldiers. Having seen the muzzle flash that had dropped Lt. Schrader, he had found cover in a shallow ravine and gone into the deep meditative
trance that preceded his transformations. For several seconds he lay still, breathing deeply as he chanted his mantra of change. His appearance began to waver, turning in upon itself, losing color,
and becoming transparent. He lost form, becoming a clear, gelatinous puddle on the dry, desert ground. Transformation complete, he flowed forward from his hiding place, toward the Wyzenhymer forces.
Stauch and Broski had stopped their argument, concentrating their energies on the fight before them. Four armored Wyzenhymer hover- craft had moved into view, and were ponderously making their way through
the gates of the colony. Broski pulled a *grenuke from his belt, preparing to hurl it toward the oncoming threat. Stauch reached up, grabbing his arm.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?", he demanded.
Broski shrugged off the Sergeant's hand, "I'm gonna nuke the bastards, Sarge."
"And us with them, Corporal.", Stauch reminded him.
Broski smiled, "Way I see it, Sarge", he began, "we're dead either way. It just depends on who you want to kill you. Me or them."
Proteau reached the colony's gate as the first of the hover-tanks drove through. He stretched his form upward, and flowed into the vehicle's main drive. Once inside, he hatched his plan.
Stauch was still considering his options when Broski spoke up. "What the..?!?"
Stauch followed his gaze toward New Boise's entrance where one of the oncoming assault vehicles had stopped and seemed to tip to one side. It began to turn in a slow circle, breaking off from the rest of the formation.
"Hot damn!", Stauch exclaimed.
Broski smirked, "Oh yeah Sarge, that evens up the odds.", he said dryly.
Stauch looked disapprovingly at his subordinate. "It's a start, Corporal", he said as he looked back toward the advancing force, "but I suppose it's not going to be enough."
Broski hefted the nuke, looking at the Sergeant for authorization. Stauch was about to nod when a strange sound caught his attention. Before he could determine the source of the noise, two fighters
blazed overhead. His saw them swoop low to intercept the oncoming Wyzenhymer attack vehicles, but was knocked to the ground as an immense sonic explosion shook the walls of the colony. When he unsteadily
regained his feet he saw only twisted metal and smoke where three of the hover-tanks had been. The fourth still wallowed outside the gates, brushing the ground as it made its slow turn, and finally fell the
three feet to the planet's surface.
In the distance, he could see the two ships returning, though at an extremely slower pace. The fighters flew past them, waggling their wings, then rocketed up and out of the atmosphere.
"...come in, Number Two."
Stauch looked down at his com-link, paused briefly surveying the area, then toggled the switch. "This is Stauch, over."
"Excellent, Sgt. Stauch", it was Mr. Schultz, "we we're quite worried about you."
Stauch looked at the destruction around him. "Understood, sir", he said impatiently, "but right now we need some medical personnel", he looked at this fallen companions, "and we need them
fast."
"Already on the way, Sergeant.", Schultz replied nonplussed, "they'll be there momentarily."
