It was like someone turned on the waterworks, except the sounds of orcs screaming gave the impression that this was a shower they didn't need. All the same, by time the sarge gave him the order to stand down, there was a goodly amount of shells around him. Those were the ones his battlebuddy<em>didn't</em>clear away with his boot as he made sure the sweeper was fed. "Good shit, Rico. Keep your rifle handy...she's gonna need to cool." Rico nodded and quickly slung his rifle. As Dust took a look around, he heard the rifle check, cocked, and switched. The switched produced a small hum...looks like he was going for burst. He'd have to keep him around. It was hard ot find smart help these days.<br/><br/>He caught himself tensing as the Sarge went off with the demo crew. He wanted to watch her back, but high explosives needed a certain touch...unlike his usual 'shove it in with both hands' approach. All the same, he switched to his own rifle and kep watch as the SAW ticked the heat away. Minutes later, the sound of 'fall back' almost made him jump. Maybe it was the panic he heard in their voice, but his body didn't allow for him to think as he hunkered down behind the barricade. The Saw sat between his legs, and the rifle closer to his chest. He would have looked like an exeptionally large child holding a teddy bear. Rico would have laughed if he thought he could get away with it. Fortunately he knew better, after such a short period of time.<br/><br/>The explosions rocked them all, but the Sarge was up before all of them, shouting for a few other soldiers to hustle into the sealed compartment with the rest of them. Dust watched while others cheered them on. He didn't join in, though he couldn't quite understand why. Maybe because he'd seen the same shit too many times. Maybe because it was just a wash to him. They make it or they don't...they would be other places to die if they made it, and worse ways to die if they didn't. When he saw the last trooper , and their look of horror at the sealcoming down, he bent down to pick up his SAW and shouldered the rifle. He heard the call from the Sarge to move their asses, and looked to Rico "Stay close...you can die later, after I run out of ammo". Rico chuckled and replied "I ain't dying, but I'll make sure they bury you with that beast of yours. Least I can do"<br/><br/>They'd marched for a moment, and he saw in the men's eyes that funny dance that happens after a battle. Elation at being alive, fighting for guilt over that elation, topped with the realization that the fighting hadn't stopped. The survivor's sundae. Later, he watched the Sarge dress down a few useless space cadets before they made their way to the seal. He couldn't completely hear the conversation the sSarge had to get the door open, but he'd heard a few discrete chuckles. No doubt he'd hear the story if they lived through this shit storm.<br/><br/>By the time they'd arrived at the LT's location, everyone was all smiles again. If the old man was alive, they were in better shape than they would have guessed. Dust grabbed Rico before he could join in the short celebration "Listen...see those bodies? Get you some ammo. As much as you can pack. When you run out of room, fill this..." it was a piece of his harness. He had the sweeper, and rarely filled it at all. In all honesty, if he couldn't use the sweeper, and was still alive, it usually meant other people were dead...so he used their guns. "Get that shit in order, because this ain't over yet." Maybe it was the look in his eyes, but Rico nodded grimly and slipped away to the dead soldiers to see what he could scare up.<br/><br/>Dust had gave up his coms like everyone else. Hell, in this place, if you didn't see anyone, they were probably dead anyway. He heard a little grumbling and spoke up "Hey! The only help you need to worry about calling is the guy beside you, because they will be the only ones fast enough to do so. " He didn't give a shit if the guy listened, but he knew others were, and they needed to understand that they only had each other. Rico had returned a few moments before and minor shootout, and fitted Dust's harness back. "Good boy...here's a treat" he tossed the guy a nutripack and winked. "Holy shit! and the fruity kind!? How the hell...?" Dust shook his head "Just stick with me, kid. The longer you live, and more answers you'll get."<br/>