Stauch activated his com-link, eyeing Broski with contempt. "Escort, we have a problem."
"What kind of problem, Sergeant?", Mr. Schultz's asked, his voice strained.
Stauch hesitated, "A uh ... nuclear type problem, Mr. Schultz.", Stauch muttered reluctantly. Stauch received only silence as a reply. "You copy, Escort?"
Schultz responded quickly, "Yes Sergeant, how can we fix this problem?"
Stauch had already decided his course of action. "We'll need a demolitions expert, a fast ship and someone to pilot it, and", he added, "we'll need to evacuate the planet."
"THE ENTIRE PLANET?!?" This time it was Reed's voice that bellowed incredulously form the communicator. "What'd some idiot activate a gre-nuke or something?!?"
Stauch looked at Broski with a fresh sense of distaste, "Uh, yes sir. That is exactly what happened."
Again silence met the Sergeant's explanation, but this time Stauch chose to leave it alone. Several seconds later, the calmly composed voice of Mr. Schultz came over the com-link. "We have your team
assembled", he remarked almost blandly, "they should arrive shortly."
The planet's evacuation was quick and thorough, and soon Stauch and Corporal Broski were the only living beings remaining on the planet's surface. Stauch stared coldly at the Corporal who sat in the dirt,
canteen cup in one hand, atomic death device on the other. Minutes later, they both became aware of a low buzzing noise and soon saw a small transport ship entering the atmosphere. Stauch shot off a
mini-nova flare to get the crews' attention.
The ship settled onto the planet's surface, kicking up great gusts of dust until the engines were cut. The hatch opened and two men exited and began walking toward the two soldiers. One was taller than
the other, and seemed a bit older. He wore glasses, though an outdated practice since the invention of cybernetics, and rubbed his hands together as he walked. The other had blonde hair that hadn't
been within regs for some time, judging by its length, and carried a flight helmet tucked neatly in the crook of one arm. He stuck a hand out as he reached the Sergeant.
"Lieutenant Krashaki, at your service, Sergeant.", he said smiling. Stauch, more at ease saluting an officer, shook his hand clumsily.
"Are you the pilot, Lieutenant?", Stauch asked.
Krashaki nodded enthusiastically. "Sure am", he replied, "and you can call me 'Crash', everybody else does."
He put his hand out to indicate his partner. "This here's Mr. Siddons, your demolitions man."
Siddons smiled nervously at the sergeant, patted himself down for a smoke, and lit it with shaking hands. "Nice to meet you."
Stauch cast a quick glance at Crash, who just winked and smiled.
"Where's the bomb?", Siddons asked quietly.
Broski stepped over, thrusting his hand forward to display the volatile explosive. "It ain't really a bomb. It's a grenuke."
Siddons eyes grew wide, his jaw dropping a few inches. "Oh, god ... oh, wow ... oh, man...", he began walking in circles, throwing up his hands expressively, and cursing as he went.
Broski looked over at Crash questioningly.
The lieutenant smiled reassuringly, "Does it all the time.", he said. "He's just psyching himself up."
Stauch was not convinced. "How long will that take?"
"Ya' never know.", Crash replied mysteriously.
Siddons rant stopped abruptly. "Come with me, Corporal.", he said, walking toward the nearest building.
Broski cast a helpless look at Stauch and Crash as he turned to follow the demolitions man.
