[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0mC__bGcmM][b]Marcus Goldstein - Convoy Escort[/b][/url]

The camp was in ruins. No one was left inside. Bodies, burning ruins and broken tools littered the inner field. Far too many by Marcus' own hand. He counted those shot by Aurellius. Under his orders MODA smashed everything like an out of control Sitting Bull. He might as well have pulled Avalon's trigger himself.

“Better than an action movie right?” Aurellius said. “Too bad I didn't get to do much but hey that's how the dice land.”

Marcus said nothing in return. Personally he felt like Oswald looked, but he stowed it for later. There were still people to save. He could still do some good. He had to do some good here. He could drown himself in what ifs and unanswered questions later, now was the time for action. The convoy still had two trucks left that were making a run for it.

The autoloader rattled as another HE shell slid into the breech. To an outsider the cannon solution might have appeared like overkill. However it was the best option Marcus had. Close quarters was out, machine guns would be less effective, and finally the bugs were tiny. That made them highly susceptible to death by overpressure. Once more an artificial earthquake shook the ground as another shell thundered downrange. Compared to the other spectacles of destruction the explosion was almost mundane. The thickest part of the bug swarm simply ceased to exist, replaced in a flash of light by a small mushroom cloud.

Meanwhile another mental track analysed. Their behaviour indicated the bugs wanted the fire to spread. There was nothing that could be done about the source of the flames but wait for it to burn out, no available fire extinguisher would put out the white phosphorous. The acid the bugs used would do a number on everything MODA had to offer, let alone the camp. So why were they not swarming over the camp? Why bother with the fire? What was the cause of the jamming? Was it related to the bugs and if so how and why? Who were the humanoid attackers of the convoy then, if any? Far too may questions needed answers.

“So what now boss?” Aurellius asked.

“Now. Now we hold our ground. Defend the camp. I doubt this is over.” Marcus said tonelessly. “If however, it is over. We regroup, find some answers, then move on from there.”