Ramparts: Rasczak and Johnny join other stunned Roughnecks to see thousands OF Bugs on the march from every direction. Bug batteries open up in the distance.

Rasczak: Roughnecks, you may fire at will.

Outside the battle has begun. Pulse guns chatter. Hoppers sweep into the compound. The Roughnecks open fire. General Owen makes easy pickings for ones that get through.

Johnny: What's going on, Diz?

Dizzy: (O.S.) I got power! Gimme a minute!

Johnny: We don't have a minute!

Johnny runs for the communications room.

Rodger Young (O.S.): This is Rodger Young. Go ahead.

Johnny: Shut up, sir! We need pick up now!

Rodger Young (O.S.) What is your position?

Johnny: Landing zone is extremely hostile. Come down on this transmission!

Rodger Young (O.S.) Inside 4th brigade compound? That's crazy!

Johnny: Then I hope you have a crazy pilot! Out!

Johnny races out the door. He crosses the compound and reports to Rasczak on the wall.

Johnny: Boat coming down, sir!

Rasczak: Fall back... form a circle!

Dizzy arrives on the bounce as the Roughnecks fall back into the compound. Bugs pile in over the walls. The circle affords them 360 degrees of kill zone.

Rasczak: Rico, Flores, Watkins, Levy! We control the sky until retrieval!

Johnny: ET AL Yes, sir!

Rasczak, Sugar Watkins, Johnny and Dizzy stand back-to-back in the center of the circle.

Ace: Getting low here, sir!

Dizzy: 300 rounds and counting, sir!

Rasczak: Make every shot count!

Johnny looks up. A retrieval boat hurtles down, rights itself with retros and lands within the circle.

Rasczak: Sergeant, secure the boat!

Roughnecks move to protect the boat. The hatch blows open.

Dead Bugs ring the compound walls, forming ramps for living insect soldiers to enter the compound in greater numbers.

Rasczak: Move to retrieval on my command! First group, now...!

The circle shrinks as Roughnecks fall back and board the boat. More and more Bugs pile in over the compound walls. Suddenly, the ground collapses under Rasczak. He falls in to his waist, vomits blood as something chews on him from below.

Rasczak: AAAAAAAAAAAA!

Johnny: Cover us, Ace!

Johnny and Dizzy fire at the ground around Rasczak. They pull Rasczak free, revealing his legs are gone.

Rasczak: Rico, you know what to do!

Johnny: Yes, sir!

Johnny cocks his weapon and aims it at Rasczak.

Rasczak: Do it, Rico!

Johnny shoots Rasczak. Johnny and Dizzy run for the boat. Suddenly, a Tanker Bug erupts from the ground. The large bug opens it mouth ready to charge it's flame thrower. Dizzy arms a grenade and hurls it straight into Tanker Bug's mouth. A large explosion obliterates the bug.

As Dizzy celebrates the kill, Johnny runs up, horrified and tries to warn her.

Johnny: Dizzy!