Thermal scans said the derelict colony was lifeless. But Hudson's platoon had barely adjusted to the weak moon gravity before their sensors began picking up strange readings. And minutes later the Advanced HSK was upon them. Drake and Frost had fallen right away, with Vasquez and Gorman dragged off screaming moments later. The few survivors had clambered back more by luck than anything else, beating a hasty retreat to the shuttle under a hail of automatic fire.

Not once in twenty years of combat experience had Hudson experienced anything like it: the Advanced HSK had decimated his entire squad in less than a minute. His hands were still trembling as he reached for the safety catch to initiate the countdown. Nuke it from orbit: it was the only way to be sure.