516. Changing Gear

“Go, go, go!” green light flared in the bay of the Dropship as the floor fell away. George and twelve other figures were unceremoniously dumped on the ground nine feet below. They landed with heavy impacts.

George staggered, realizing the gravity on this world was at least twice what he was accumstomed to back home. For a moment, he regretted leaving his Frame back on the ship, but they were here to clear the bandits out from a city center, meaning tight spaces, narrow access points, and needing to take care to avoid civilian casualties.

Or at least, that was the plan. George and his squad had been deposited on the outskirts of the city, at the very border of a suburban district.

“Incoming!” someone yelled. George crouched as something exploded; the ground shook and chunks of dirt flew through the air.

“Get to cover! Return fire!” George called, even though he wasn’t entirely sure where the attackers were, exactly.

The guys diving behind nearby garages and a public toilet clued hi