"Relax."

Kesler kept his vision fixed on the young guardsman in front of him. It was obvious that he was nervous. He was visibly shaking. Sweat beaded on the guardsman's forehead, and he kept peering over the top of the ramshackle barricade, then ducking back down, to fiddle with his shotgun and confirm for the hundredth time that it was, in fact, loaded.

The guardsman acknlowedged him with a barely noticeable nod. Poor respect, Kesler thought. Also not a good sign. He noticed the white stripe on the guardsmans' helmet. A conscript.

"You ever been in a battle before?" Kesler asked. The conscript was clearly uncomfortable. To be expected, Kesler thought. He was a stormtrooper, after all--the best of the best. Come to think of it, he had better things to do that comfort this skinny teenager. He glanced around. No, there was nothing to do. The other conscripts and the dozen or so remaining marines were spread out around the nearby buildings. Everything was secure.

The conscript finally answered. "No, sir."

"You picked a hell of one to get started with. And damnit, that's all the better. After your first one....the fear is still there, but you aren't numbed. You have more confidence."

The conscript finally met his eyes. "Yes sir."

"Yes sir? Damn, kid. I get so sick of hearing that. You have no idea what I mean, do you?"

The conscript shook his head, fidgeting to get more comfortable--impossible considering he was leaning against a barricade of tank traps and rubble.

"What I mean is...well. Stand up."

The conscript checked the city street behind him for the enemy before slowly rising to a crouch. "Up." Kesler said, a little more harshly. The conscript stood up.

"Now, stick your arms in front of your face. About an inch or so."

The conscript did.

"Fall."

"Fall, sir?"

"Yes. Don't try and catch yourself with your knees. Fall, and slap the ground. Straight as a tree."

The conscript eyed the stormtrooper. Squeezed his eyes shut. And did as he was told.

"Damn!" the conscript yelped. He picked himself up off the ground and rubbed his arm. "Why did you make me do that?"

"You didn't slap out, son. It breaks the shock, absorbs the fall a bit. Were you scared falling down? You didn't look like it, you were straight as a board. You gotta realize, if you don't have your arms in front of you you would bust your nose like a tomatoe. I made you do it because it's scary, son. The first time. After you do it once--right--it's not scary anymore. Same with a battle. My first battle I was scared as hell. Blew off two clips in about a minute. Nearly went insane. But I survived. Because I kept my cool--I thought. I didn't shoot unless there was something to shoot at. Right now, I doubt you could hit something at five yards you're shaking so bad. Relax, son."

The conscript made a visible effort. He simply couldn't stop himself.

"What's your name, son?"

"Orren, sir."

"Well, Orren, it's up to you if you want to die today. At this point an ork could beat you in a firefight. Stop shaking. You're not going to die unless you let yourself. Stop shaking."

Orren tried a little harder. Shut his eyes. He was shaking less now.

"You know who you're fixing to fight, Orren?"

"Yes sir."

"Who?"

"Damned hive mind, sir."

"The tyranids. Now, you don't know much about them. I do. They'll swarm you like ants on a carcass. That shotgun of yours will do a damned good job in these close quarters. Stick close by anyone with a flamethrower. They'll be half the reason we win this fight. Stick by one of them, you'll last a lot longer."

"Yes sir."

"You'd best get over there now. After the fight starts you won't have much chance."

"Yes sir."

Orren rose and walked over towards the rest of the conscripts.

"Good luck, kid." Kesler said quietly. He doubted any of them would survive this battle.

The minutes seemed to blur together. Kesler clambered up to one of the lower ledges of a destroyed library a few yards away. Fitted the laser sight to his hellgun. Cocked it, felt the cold steel.

Then he heard it.

A familiar sound. An insectoid chittering,vaguely similiar to a locust's buzz. It gradually rose in volume. It was closer.

They were here.

He felt a slight rush, seeing the first swarms appear down the pockmarked road, at the very edge of his vision. He lowered his gun, took aim. Squeezed the trigger. He heard earsplitting blasts all around him, recognized the disctinctive whine of a mortar, saw the blast tear apart a dozen gaunts.

Then they were upon them.

Kesler rolled, tearing his combat knife free of its scabbard. It was a weighty weapon, over a foot long with a serrated edge. A tyranid reached the barricade, leaped at him; he caught it, rolled, and ripped its throat out. Blood spattered his face; he threw the body away and switched the knife to a reverse position. He saw Orren for a split second, supporting one of the marines. Good boy, Kesler thought. Another nid reached him. Kesler blocked the slashing talon, rolled, put his body weight behind the blade, drove forward; he felt momentary resistance and then the monster shrieked as it was impaled. He braced himself, ripped the knife free. Something sharp took him in the ribs. He screamed, instinctively leaping away. Another gaunt was there.

Kesler coughed, staggered, then lunged and went low. He wounded the creature, got another talon in the back, whirled and dove into it, stabbing the creature repeatedly. Pain racked his body. He stumbled back felt something supporting him. Strong hands gripped him, pulling him to cover. Felt something stick him in the arm; felt like a needle. He recognized a conscript, glimpsed something bright. Someone was shouting. They sounded excited. Kesler tried to ponder that, but it was alarmingly hard to think. The pain seemed number, but then so did his mind. He felt...dizzy. And it was hot. So very hot.

Funny, he thought, how it was getting dark...and yet it was midday. He was thirsty. He tried to push himself up, felt his arms give out, fell. His vision was darker....he tried to push it off, but then it seemed so welcoming. A dark blanket, to cover him, to push everything else out.

The blackness closed in.



TO BE CONTINUED.....I HOPE.


One quick point. ON A CARPET OR PADDED FLOOR try the falling down thing. Start on your knees first, I don't want to be sued if one of you breaks an arm...it helps you understand a bit better, that it IS in fact scary. If it isn't scary, you're doing it wrong. I was forced to do it in Tae Kwon Do last week. Apparently I'm one of four people in the entire place who can actually do it. It has nothing to do with strength. It's all about mind attitude.

C&C welcome. Once again, I'm not going to win any contests but I find it a fun pastime to write and hope you all enjoy it, or at least find it wasn't a total waste of time.