This week with Times 7:
...Someone (something?) a few hundred meters down the hill fired a long burst toward a boulder Kathy was crouched behind, and then snapped a short burst toward Thad, almost catching him off guard. When he saw the weapon turn toward him, Thad fired a bolt and quickly moved fully behind the boulder, but the wound made his movement slow. His face tingled as the enemy’s bolt passed so close that its flare caught him. Must be a particle beam similar to ours, he thought as he moved to a new position behind the boulder. I can’t let this thing keep firing at Kathy. As he took a quick peek above the boulder, he got his first clear look at what was shooting at them. It’s not human. That much was clear enough, even as he snapped off another shot. The bolt plowed into the ground near the assailant and attracted its attention back to Thad...
Have a goodun;
Roust