Tides of Change

[qwertypp7]

Colonel Leigh drew his sidearm and ducked behind a console as the Hepshetsut's proximity sensors went crazy. Liberty Navy boarding craft were docked at every airlock, and despite the best efforts of the crew, they had overwhelmed the ships defences. Now they had reports that the last marine team holding the bridge access had been overwhelmed and that LSF and Navy marines would be on them in mere minutes.
"Hold steady and keep down!" he shouted to the bridge crew, who had all drawn their sidearms, "they'll lead with stun grenades and come in hard!"
Before they could reply, there was the sound of weapons impacts on the sealed bridge door. It opened and a single black armoured marine stumbled in. His chestplate bore several weapons scars and his helmet was blown open on one side, blood streaming down his face. He quickly sealed and locked the door before turning to the bridge crew.
"That won't hold them long," he rasped as he struggled to get behind cover and level his weapon, "they have breaching charges."
Sure enough, there was a clamping noise as what could only be a breaching charge was slammed onto the other side of the door.
"Get down!" shouted the Colonel as it exploded, scything shrapnel across the bridge.
There was a rattle as a bundle of stun grenades rolled across the deck followed by a deafening bang and a flash.
Hauling himself out of cover in time to see several heavily armoured LSF marines pouring through the doorway firing indiscriminately, he double tapped one in the chest with his pistol before turning on a second, sending them both sprawling from the impacts but doing little real damage through their armour. Suddenly he was spun round from a hit to his shoulder and jolting pain shot through his body. He fell to the floor, clutching the wound. From his prone postion, he watched as the last marine emtied his weapon at close range into one of their attackers, chewing through the mans armour until blood splattered to the floor. The colonel turned to the other side to see his first officer Mac'Callegh on the floor, bleeding from a leg wound. As one of the LSF men passed her, she pressed her sidearm into the back of his knee and pulled the trigger, dropping him to the floor. Extending his sidearm, Leigh shot the man in the head, pitching him over sideways as another of the LSF marines kicked Mac'Callegh viciously in the head. Turning back to the other side, Leigh watched helplessly as the black armoured Order marine was shot through the head by an LSF officer as he tried to reload his weapon. Leigh tried to turn his gun on the officer but when he pulled the trigger, the weapon failed to fire. Dropping it, he lay back as one of the LSF stepped over him.

"This is delta team," the man said into his comm bead, "the bridge is secure. Four prisoners, two friendly casualties."

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Dublin Miner: I am Gallic admiral earning money in Bretonia.

True story...