The company pushes deeper into the jungle.

The Angels had been following the trails through the jungle all day, even with the benefit of power armour the company was exhausted. Joanna Green, the sergeant in command of the two platoons that had been charged with the rescue mission ordered a halt. With their infrared imaging almost useless in the thick, humid jungle she judged that it would be more sensible to set up a night defensive position and post a strong perimeter and then continue in the morning.

The site chosen was in the shelter of a small escarpment, where a waterfall ran over the lip and formed a shallow pool. Troopers stationed up on the escarpment would have a wide arc of fire to cover the position. A portable water purification unit was quickly set up, the troopers water supplies were being used up at an alarming rate in this planet's heat.

"Two sections will stand guard through the night." Joanna ordered. "Two hours on and four off. Everyone get some chow and sleep."

Those troopers off duty flopped down beside the pool and started digging out combat rations in self heating packs. Weapons were stripped down and cleaned and running repairs done on any malfunctioning battle armour. Joanna stared into the jungle for several minutes wondering how many of the hostile aliens were out there. A polite cough behind her broke her reverie and she turned to see Corporal Inez Lopez waiting to speak to her.

"Ok to strip off the suits and bathe Sergeant?" Inez asked. "Even with the heat exchangers full up we've been sweating like pigs in this fucking jungle."

"Bathe?" Joanna mused to herself, looking across at the invitingly clear water of the pool. Though she didn't like the idea of her troopers leaving themselves ****, the opportunity to clean themselves up would be good for morale. The thought of sluicing the dried sweat from her own body appealed to her.

"Ok, but only one section at a time and they're to keep it short." Joanna decided. She smiled at her Corporal, "No hogging the bathroom, understand?"

Inez flashed her sergeant a wide grin and gave her an informal salute before trotting back to the troopers with the news.

Moves like shadows and Swift climber had got as close as they dared to the females camp and observed the activity with interest. They listened to the high pitched chatter of the troopers wishing they understood the language of these strange females.

"They prepare to rest for the night." Swift climber said. "Their guards are well posted, attack would be channelled and vulnarable to fire from above."

"Yes, they act like good warriors these females." Moves like shadows agreed. "This is how I would set up a camp in an enemies territory."

On the edge of the clearing two of the females stood alone. From the body language Moves like shadows was certain that one was the leader of this warband and the other a subordinate. After a moment the subordinate moved off and returned to where the other females were eating and replenishing their water. Meaningless squeals and calls came from the armoured females in response to some message the subordinate carried from the leader.

"Look there!" Swift climber hissed with excitement. "The females remove their armour."

The alien scouts looked at one another and bared their teeth in pleasure then watched the female creatures intently.

Unaware they were being watched the first section stripped off their power armour. Small hatches set into the armour slid up to reveal locking nuts, a simple pull and twist disengaged the connection for each section of the suit. With happy shouts and laughter the naked troopers splashed into the pool.