Alpha Squad continued forward over the orange dunes, heading southwest as Beta Squad went northwest. The two squads would converge on the battlefield from the south and north, catching the Reds in a pincer movement. At least that was the plan.
"Stay sharp," Perseid said over the comm. "We're almost there."
He didn't really have to say it, as the sounds of battle were roaring up ahead. Scott heard volleys of slugs chattering against Battlenaut armor, missiles exploding, sonics shrieking, lasers screaming. A cloud of black smoke erupted into the sky, and the torso of a Battlenaut--a Commonwealth model--skidded along the dune's crest, broken and burnt.
Scott switched off the comm with a flick of his eyes and spoke only to his A.I. "Move, Frank! Break ranks and run toward the action!
