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Post by CanisDirus on Mar 21, 2021 19:20:13 GMT
Askandar System: Neutral Space
Askandar was a well known system. Officially neutral and devoid of any major powers influence however it had become quite the trade hub and many empires and trade routes sent ships through this system. It was a good stop off point, with a large space point and multiple cities on the surface, multiple companies paid for local security here and anyone who wanted an odd job knew that they could get one at Askandar.
It was almost like Lost Star, but with much more integrity and leadership.
Askandar was a desolate world normally, grey rocky crags and huge canyons some many kilometres deep both pierced and delved into the crust. It wasnt a particularly habitable world and it had been settled due to its strange technological wonders. Advanced mineral excavating and mining machines had been found in some of the deepest canyons along with other treasure troves of technology from some bygone unknown race. Many had come to re activate the machines and keep the minerals flowing and so overtime Askandar had flourished. Cities sprang up in the canyons and the largest its capital Askandar Primus was built into the deepest canyon on the planet, which had reached to depths where magma flowed and led to a huge underground cave system. Many often ventured into these labyrinths finding ancient wonders while some came back empty handed. Either way Askandar became a well built and well defended planet, boasting its own planetary defense grid procured from Triarch Industries and numerous own garrisons its trade ties had kept it immune from most of the war.
That was until it went silent. All transmissions ceased from Askandar, and the traffic that visited the system reported silence from the surface, fearing the event was some sort of Unnamed raid or happening due to the war the traders quickly fled the system and flagged it as a red zone. However numerous companies had ordered inquiries into the happening, it had been over a week since Askandar went dark and such an occurance was rarely ignored on the scale of galactic happenings.
Where before only inky blackness held domain there was now the bright presence of the USS Articulate screeching, joined shortly by its sister ship the TSS Visual, the two arrow headed vessels sit snuggly within each others PD net and the psi networks open up with chatter as the two vessels begin exchanging important operational data.
In short order the TSS Visuals captain takes command of the operation.
"All crew this is captain Stracken, prepare for search and rescue operations."
Taking his finger off the comms button the greying man stares blankly at the ships scanner readouts concern furrowing his brow as the sheer number of human lives that may be lost becomes fully apparent to him.
"Seek seek sol seek"
He mumbles in prayer.
The Free Worlds, slowly creeping out of their shell and expanding trade into Ancerious at large, were notably confused and concerned by this. If Askandar had been one of the Free Worlds, an entire patrol force would have been sent, a dozen ships and battalions of men. But, Askandar was not, and so a more tempered reaction was called for to investigate the fate of trading partners that had been surprisingly helpful.
Two stubby Rainmaker class frigates, FWN Crow and FWN Owl, dropped FTL 3 AU beyond Askandar's orbit and began scanning. The tiny, green-and-grey painted warships were mere toys on the scale of many, but the Free Worlds swore by them. They'd do the job.
Aboard the two was a half-battalion force of militia, droids and a hundred Explorer Corps. Five hundred men, women and bots with enough tanks and APCs to get them to wherever the hell they were going... but no further. They even had a walker.
"Listen up!" came the call over the intercom as they filed aboard their dropships. "We don't know what the hell happened here, and we don't know what we'll find. Heads on a swivel, hoorah?"
"HOORAH!" the troops bellowed back.
"Okay! Best of luck, anybody you find alive down there get them out! You're clear for launch!"
There was a bright flash from near the system's star as space swirled and distorted before tearing open to allow the form of the Broadsword-Class Battlecruiser Baba Yaga, a light cruiser and a lane-pirate to exit from phase shift.
Aboard the bridge of the Baba Yaga a very frustrated Vladilen was sucking on a cigar and nursing a bottle of second rate vodka. The 81 Syndicate had quite enough problems with between leader having gone off the grid and the various issues that seemed to arise on a near daily basis as they made aggressive inroads into all manner of criminal enterprises, forcing out or subjugating gangs and bosses on independent worlds all over the galaxy. Now, to top it all off, a smuggling operation that was just getting off the ground had vanished without a trace and both Fairwind and Evanson were too busy with a mutual dick measuring contest to do anything about it.
Which meant Vlad had to do it himself. And Vlad did not like doing things himself. Quietly fuming, scout craft deployed from the Lane Pirate acouring the system and heading down for fly overs on the surface while a wrinkled brute of a man who called himself 'Rackham' after a famous pirate of old prepared ground teams for drop.
This week in the darkness had sparked curiosity of many around it. Among those curious minds, were those of the Andromdian Sciencentific Infrastructure Ministry. In particular, was the 651st Contingent under the leadership of Dean Professor Gunter Kumfel. Originally their mission was the study the spectrum coverage and data flow effects through the magnatic field that lurked nearby. Once the system went off the grid and nothing happened, ZYPHER command had petitioned the 651 to investigate and possibly lend aid to this netural system.
5 ships arrived from X space at a safe distance from the destination, 3 Jack Class Frigates, accompanied by 2 High Majesty Support Variant cruisers. Due to recent events 3 more ships appeared for their security, 2 Holy Pantheons and a Gastin, which would hang around the edge the starsystem while the exploration mini-fleet moved in to investigate.
“Were entering the system….it is awfully quiet...”
“Yea...i’m detecting any traces or engine trails...”
//Alright...escorts move in behind us//
//We got your back.// replied the commander of the Gastin. The ship and her two battleship escorts gently lagged behind the smaller fleet ships, ready to cover them at a moments notice. Dean Kumfel was onboard the Laken’s Dock, one of the High Majesties travelling forward behind the Jacks. He read his spectrum readings, comparing them to what they saw now for any big differences.
“Very precurious...” He said, not making sense as to the drastic change.
After their meeting with the AGA and subsequently joining them, the Annoliddan Inquisition had began tapping into galaxy broadcasts to remain up to date on its happenings. What with a number of threats brought to their attention, the sudden disappearance of a trade world was no small matter, especially one this close.
Three ships appeared in a distant orbit around Askandar, one Meneac-Abell class cruiser and two Kreutz class corvettes, bearing insignia and IFF signatures of the Inquisition. Almost immediately after exiting FTL, the cruiser deposited a dozen dropships which sped towards the planet, opening comm channels to any other ships in the area. Aboard one of the shuttles was Inquisitor Grodan, armored in an additional layer of a hardsuit beneath his power armor, as did all other troops in the dropships; the source of the planet's population was still an unknown.
Grodan opened a comm back to the cruiser. "Harnen, keep comms scanning for anything from the planet. I don't want any surprises, friendly or otherwise."
"Affirmative," clicked back the ancient artificial intelligence. "Lovejoys moving on the planet now."
The corvettes, nicknamed "Lovejoys" by veteran AIs, moved in on the planet as well, remaining in its satellite orbit as they scanned away at the planet. Derelict communications arrays lit up like fireworks, surrounded by the blips of the cities. It wasn't an ideal method, but following the signatures revealed the cities beginning to sprawl out and expand into the canyons and caverns beneath the surface. Harnen actively relayed the data to Grodan as the dropships closed in for a final descent.
The Imperium had, for the time being, remained mostly out of galactic affairs, meeting few. However, their long range sensors had noticed a planet, bustling with activity, blinking out. Blinking out with no evident provocation. The Imperium did not want to get involved in any large scale affairs, but they felt this was something worth investigating. And so, a small unit was prepared.
With an electromagnetic crackle thundering through the void a yellow vortex appeared, the forwards-spiked forms of two ships and one longer, vaguely more rifle-like shape appearing from it, as if forming from the fabric of the vortex itself as they slowly gained their own colour. As they finally passed through, the vortex closed behind them.
Two Galleons, led by the Imperial Battleship Envakar, had arrived in a medium orbit over Askandar. The ships brought their shields online to low power, and the Envakar powered up its sensors.
Aboard the battleship's bridge, Low Naval Commandant Ol'veku watched the feeds from the various ships.
"Anything from the surface"
"Nothing just yet."
"Keep an eye out for everyone else here too. And prepare me some ground teams. Four should do it." He ordered.
"Affirmative, LNC."
With most of Koya being dedicated to wartime efforts, commander Jacellem Deshyul had been left to guard Ventellious with the reserve groups. Being one of the more ambitious younger Alfurian commanders, he had taken interest in the Zypher ship tags that had moved to a very distant location. Thus he gathered up some volunteer forces, got the shadiest version of clearance for a "recon patrol" that he could, and then left.
Before too long three Alfurian vessels appeared not too far away from the system interior-bound Zypher ships. One Vakun Class, an engineering ship named Epithetical was the lead vessel. On either side of the light cruiser, two Glimmer Class escort destroyers exited FTL as well. Kaul's Rot and Eve Render moved ahead of the larger ship, but Eve's power flickered after recovering from the jump.
"Deploy our field, and in the name of Koy, Eve Render , get your power delegation solved." Jacellem annoyingly spat over the shortwave comms.
"Apologies, sir. She's an older Glimmer. We didn't have the best to pick from for this."
"We'll be fine with these, commander. All ships 20 ahead for now. Let's find out what's so curious about this world ahead of us." The young man straightened his uniform and established comms with the somewhat nearby Zypher ships.
"Greetings, brothers! This is commander Jacellem of Koya. We've noticed your ventures and have arrived to assist you. What be the operational plans for this, if I may be so curious?"
Unlike the highly flashy FTL jumps of other nations, Carnaithian FTL was precise enough to simply make ships appear where they hadn't before, completely lacking a flash on most spectrums until the radiation from FTL drives reached an observer, considering they weren't looking for dimensional tears. Two Reik-class assault ships and an Ozark-class cruiser appeared in formation, the assault ships in a similar position to the Ozark as horses would be to a chariot. They needed not to accelerate post-FTL; all pre-jump momentum was retained. As the ships advanced, little was spoken aboard the CICs of the craft aside from textbook reports and chatter.
"Several confirmed contacts, should we make contact?" Inquired a communications officer, for example. The commander of the operation was an Army general, hence the presence of Army-owned assault ships. The man loudly and quickly mmarched his way to the officer's post, chewing on something akin to sugarcane along the way.
"No, let them talk to us. Maintain course for the planet, but don't usurp the progress of others. We don't want to lose any ships in case something shoots at us."
Being new to this galaxy the Davian has little knowledge about it. However their long range scanning and scout drones did try to keep track with any scraps of information they could. And the silence of a trade planet Askandar didn't go unknown to them. Actually the empire cares little for such events because building the new holding here was more important. Anyway a detachment would be sent to Askandar for investigation. If for some reason the planet suddenly fall silence then its (alien) occupants could be no more yet their possession would likely be intact and open for claiming. The mission was clear: investigate Askandar, salvage everything useful and if at all possible establish permanent imperial's presence on the planet. Beside the investigation flotilla would also be allow to field test some weaponries there.
A small flotilla of a KhH class frigate and a Chuong Duong class destroyer silently warped in the system followed by a Bach Dang class cruiser. Their pure black and cold figures resembled the dark space around them. The three ships glided quickly toward the planet called Askandar.
"Captain! We detected various activities in the system. Scanning suggested there're around 8 factions here with all kind of ships." One of the officers reported.
"Keep moving toward that planet. No need to say anything yet." Captain Hoang of the cruiser Red Obsidian responded.
"It's seemed the silence of the planet caught the attention of a lot of people around right comrade?" Colonel Van, a ground force officer asked his Space Navy counterpart. Being an investigate mission, the Ground Force would play the major role here.
"Indeed comrade." The Captain replied: "Did your bastards ready? It can be rough in there with all those guys"
"We will see to it. Our forces while small have enough stuffs, tanks and even commandos"
"Did someone called for the exterminators?" A blanked cold words could be hear be the two Davian commanders as a black clad armored figured walked in.
"You're supposed to stay on YOUR dark den...uhm KhH mister sapper!" The Ground Force officer snapped: "You will have your mission later, sir."
"As the commander of sapper detachment I'm here for the brief sir." The sapper commander replied: "So what's the plan?"
"We'll make to the surface, establish our camp then investigate part of the planet. You Space Navy boys will cover our head. And your sapper will be the first to go" Colonel Van said.
"Alright that's the plan." The other two commanders agreed.
Not long after the Alfurian ships arrived, their Proxian counter parts followed suite. A large Vouger class spikier carrier was flanked by a corvette on either side. These ships moved to match their Alfurian brethren in speed and trajectory. On the bridge of the voguer, Bolsau stood with his arms crossed. He contemplated the situation as he listened to the Alfurian message to the Zypherian forces. "Hmmm, I wonder what meat is to be had around here." Bolsau hummed in a low growl to himself.
As the various fleets entered system still no communications or long range activity readings could be found on the planet, apart from numerous energy readings in orbit. The monolithic forms of the Triarch build and bought defense grid still sat motionless above the planet, transmitting normall and fully functional on the planet however no such readings could be found at this range.
The Askandar system was fairly large a blue star bathed the system in energetic light with 3 barren planets orbiting in the close zones, two asteroid rings seperating the inner worlds from Askandar itself, in which behind that orbited 3 gas giants of varying sizes and around 4 more ice ball worlds of small masses.
For a solar system that was usually bustling with hundreds of starships and convoys it was strangely silent. But the system would not reveal much, only the planet below could do that.
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Post by CanisDirus on Mar 21, 2021 19:20:44 GMT
Askandar System: Neutral Space
Clicking his tongue against the back of his teeth captain Stracken mulls over the latest arrivals to the system, Anolidians, Carnaithians, Autaya and even the BSO.
Projecting a pencil beam towards the BSO stracken chooses to speak with the pirates first.
"Good day BSO vessels, this is captain stracken of the Annointed empire, how fare you?"
With that out of the way he turns his attention to the other factions present and chooses simply to ignore them for the time being, if his fellow AGA members wished to talk he was sure they would contact him instead.
"Alright lets go boots on the ground!"
Drake hunter drives whir to life as 50 soldiers along with 4 harpy hunter tanks are jumped above the city at high altitude, gravity asserts itself as the men and vehicles begin to fall, grav drives slow them before impact and they touch down with a gentle thud, the assembled squads prepare to enter the city proper as the two ships in space make their way into orbit.
The Free Worlds dropships tore in fast and low, settling on the southern end of the city limits. 500 Free Worlds soldiers disembarked, organizing up with their tanks and lone walker before their captain, one George Kepson, got them moving towards the city in close formation with eyes and ears to the ground. There was no telling what would be going on here, with anything living or the terrain. Best to be cautious.
Just beyond orbit, the two frigates watched the proceedings and rapidly arriving very big ships with caution, hesitance and not a little bit of fear. With no idea how any of these buggers would react to them, they elected to keep quiet, and make as much like a hole in space as two Rainmaker class could honestly be.
"Frustrated, tired, and not nearly drunk enough for this shit." Vlad answered the Anointed Captain on a similarly private channel. He took a moment to glance over the reports coming in from the scout craft. The city appeared to be intact and the defense grid was operational... so just what was going on here?
He stroked his beard and puffed on his cigar before turning to his comms officer.
"Send a message back to base. If we can't figure out where everyone disappeared to I want construction ships standing by for Freeport construction to keep an eye on things here."
The comms officer acknowledged and Vlad opened up a channel to Rackham to see how the preparations were coming.
"We're all set and ready to rock and roll as soon a yer pet subgator shows up," He heard Rackham sniff, hork, and spit a momnet later.
"We ain't nees no subgator ya ask me,"
"Your opinion is noted," Vlad answered with a sigh. "Once you've made drop the Baba Yaga will move into low orbit to provide support. Coordinate with Anointed if you can and please try not to start a grade a shitshow down there."
Rackham growled an unintelligible response and turned to his assembled forces. Back home they'd made a living raiding poorly defended colonies as part of extortion rackets or just for their own profit so orbital drops were nothing new to them.
"Alright Marauders!" Rackham shouted, his voice coming through loudspeakers mounted on his power armor. "Lets get this panzy ass investigation shit done ao we can go steal some shit somewhere else!"
A roar of approval erupted from the assembled men and once Subjugator 42 arrived they mounted up. The dropships left the lane pirate, escorted by swarm of fighters to high orbit where they released their cargo.
Rackham felt the all to familiar lurch as the pod released and began descent. The rumble of reentry was accompanied by a blaringly loud rap song blasted over their open frequencies.
"Kids..." Rackham muttered as the pod jerked again and finally broke away as reentry completed putting him into free fall. Green across the board, no casualties on reentry. Always a good sign.
A few short moments later the chutes deployed, slowing his descent just enough to prevent injury or damage as he hit the ground. He checked his readout again. Still all good.
"We're all down and in one piece," He reported, venting accumulated cigar smoke from his suit as he took another puff. "We're pushing into the city toward waypoint Charlie."
"Understood," Vlad answered from orbit. "Gunships are five minutes out."
The line went dead and the Marauders began making their way into the city, loaded up on technicals and stolen FAVs.
In took some times for the three Davian ships to enter the orbit of the planet called Askandar. "Scan succeeds captain." The main SAI (sentient artificial intelligence) of the Red Obsidian announced its captain while showing its hologram for the captain to see: "We detected some form of automated defensive stations; they seem to be intact and fully functional on the planet however no such readings could be found at this range." "Good job Red Obsidian." Captain Hoang replied to the SAI which resembled a teenager human boy: "Did you find anything about all the other parties?" The SAI faithfully responded: "Not much sir. However some are already deploying their ground forces. Beside it's seem nobody known what happened here. And finally some of those groups are allies. No hostile detected yet." "Call the other commanders for me." The Space Navy demanded, moment later colonel Van of Ground Force and Lieutenant Thai of the sappers appeared on screen: "Alright your sappers platoon goes first follow by other forces. We're going to make a drop. No hostile detected so it would be easy. We Space Navy will watch the sky. It's your turn comrades. Have fun down there." "Yes comrades. For Davia!" The three officers saluted. Awhile later all three Davian ships released their cargos. The small KhH started first by dropping 2 fast drop ships and 4 Lac fighters which dived hastily down the atmosphere. Then came the Chuong Duong destroyer and Bach Dang battlecruiser each sent out several troopships. Each of these troopships would be supported by a couple of Lac fighters. 30' later "Alright. Did we miss someone?" Colonel Van asked while looking at his troops. Under his command was a battalion size detachment of 500 strong. Personnel consisted of a sapper company (100 men), an armored company (100 men), a mechanized infantry company (100 men), an infantry company (100 men) and one detachment of space navy personnel (100 men). "We're all here sir." The sapper commander told: "Your order?" "We will need a base of operation. Let's move to that city" The colonel pointed at the nearby city: "Try to cover ground quickly yet with utmost careful, we have no idea what may happen." "Keep going ground force, we'll watch the sky above" Captain Hoang said via communicator. The Davian quickly formed into spearhead attack formation and advanced toward the nearest city. Sapper scouting in front supported by tanks which in turn closely followed by the infantry and marine company, finally the mechanized infantry covered the rear of the formation.
"Sir, picking up multiple contact groups. Two we recognise. Well, one for certain." A sensors officer called. "Two? Who're they?" Ol'veku would have raised an eyebrow, if he had any. "In a previous engagement Imperial forces were involved in, one force identified themselves as the Anointed Empire, and a couple of these are matching their signals. The others, I'm not sure but they seem to be similar to a pirate group seen there." "Right. Get me what we know on both of those." "On it, LNC." Ol'veku's mind went awash with thought for a second as the Intelligence fed data into his mind. They had initially come off as friendly...ish, if brash, but had turned violent. They stated it was because of third party hacking, but this was not enough for the LNC to lower his guard. "Keep an eye on both of those. And inform the Galleons as well." "Right away." "What have we got from the surface?" "Nothing. It has an orbital defence grid, which is intact and functional but seems to be disengaged. As for the surface, I'm getting nothing. The other parties here are sending ground teams though. Some significant." "Right. Deploy teams One and Two. CO of team One will be in charge." "Affirmative, LNC. Deploying."
In the hangars, troops and vehicles moved about. Infantry clambering into Aklo Dropships or into the backs of transports before they themselves were picked up by vehicle landers. Near the edge of the hangar, one Captain Fo'yuta watched the assembly, clad in his Type 2 Power Armour. Heavy, encompassing and well-armoured, the suit was of the same kind employed by the Imperial Airtroopers. "All right soldiers! Listen up!" He called out both vocally and through his comlink, the soldiers stopping to look at him. "This planet, whatever it's called, went dark a week or so ago. Don't know who lived here or why it was so active, but a bustling system going dark like that apparently caught the attention of the Imperium, so here we are. Our job is to search the city for anything that might tell us what happened here. If we can find any kind of communications hub, that's our first stop. Any questions?" "Is there anyone else down there?" "We've detected multiple parties deploying ground teams to the surface. Engage if necessary, but I don't want any of you starting any wars. Got me?" "Understood sir." "Alright. Then we move out! Airtrooper Unit Three, you're with me." he called out, met with resounding salutes from the Autayan forces.
The first thing to leave the Battleship was the four drop pods. Armed with its own armour plating, shields and sensor blockade, the pods raced down through atmosphere with haste, the array of dropships and landers following behind. The pods hit the brakes moments before impact, opening the airbrakes and firing the retrokinetics with seconds to spare, leaving a thick dust cloud in their wake. The pods burst open, eight Airtroopers leaping from each. Clad in the same power armour the Captain wore, the soldiers lifted their weapons, scanning their surroundings before one engaged his comlink. "Airtroopers to ground force. LZ is empty. Cleared for landing." he reported. "Affirmative. ETA 30 seconds."
Leaving the dropships was around eighty men, Autayan troops in a variety of equipment. Four light tanks and three MBTs accompanied them, along with about six IFVs and six APCs. Not to mention the twenty Assault Drogai, ten Drogai Snipers, twelve Aerodrogai aerial supports and four Sieger Arachnodrogai. "Sir! All forces reporting in. We're clear." a soldier reported, saluting. "Alright, good." the Captain nodded, engaging his comlink. "All forces, this is Captain Fo'yuta. We are entering the city. Keep your heads on a swivel, and if it's trying to ruin your day, ruin it's day both first, and harder. Armour, keep your softkill barriers ready and make sure your weapons are at full charge. Arachnodrogai, move in first. Let's go, people." he ordered. The eight-legged mechanical beasts were the first to move, their heavily armoured forms leading the way. The huge, heavily armoured shields on the ends of their legs guarded the more vulnerable sections behind, not to mention the body of the beasts, with a six-barelled rotary autocannon on the top and twin heavy machine shotguns underneath. For now, though, their weapons remained on standby, as the force advanced.
was little that the Carnaithians actually wanted to do with the others, though help would be appreciated if anything got out of hand. Communications had already begun broadcasting the system-specific safe codes to the defense grid; despite being Triarch-designed, this was a neutral system and the codes were easily accessed by governments that had any sort of sway. As the ships passed over the planet, numerous pods were jettisoned and numerous dropships launched, all careening in tight formation towards the surface. They lit up like meteors as they entered the atmosphere, headed by a wave of fighters, as they made their way towards a drop zone next to the city housing the spire. It's great shadow provided likely-unappreciated shade for what stood opposite it from the sun, guarding what little light got through the clouds. Despite sensors showing a comfortable sixty-four degrees, the winds at different altitudes suggested a mildly annoying wind chill at ground level. The Fighters 'buzzed' the skyline at high altitude, jammers active as scanners swept the area. Shortly after, the pods made it through the clouds and fired retro-thrusters, impacting with a relatively gentle thud. Numerous pods of several sizes littered the area around six superheavy landers, two of which housed military gear, one administrative facilities, and three served as hospitals for potential patients. Sensor stalks, defense guns, and vehicles made their way out of the pods as the dropships came into a loitering position above the drop zone, a lone figure standing out among the crowds that had immediately begun setup of the camp.
"Colonel Arkalon," an aide called out to the groundside leader, a woman who was shamelessly built more like a man. "No problems reported. Space contacts have made groundfall in the vicinity, orders?"
"Send out some welcoming messages, and get recon scouting the area around the city, hmm? I also want two relief convoys and escorts ready, but get some recon in the city first," she responded as she put her hands on her hips and smiled at the scene. She had immigrated from a power-generating world back in the I.O., where towering trees sprouted out of swampy ground under a black sky, only to be usurped by pylons that served as housing and power collection, intercepting extreme lightning that covered the entire planet. Anaros was home, but she had wanted something calmer; this almost seemed like the perfect place to retire to her, but she kept in the back of her head that this was an anomalous situation, and her smile weakened at the thought.
"Hmm...odd." Jacellem said to himself after not receiving a reply from his Zypher allies. He had noted the Proxian ships nearby and was glad to have the backup. As their sovex field expanded through the system, some reports of ship movements came in, though most were unidentified vessels. The readings did show that a lot of movement was focused upon a certain planet of this system, and that was very interesting. "Hail, Proxian brothers. If you'd like to come along, I think we're going to go investigate the nearby planet. Hopefully Zypher will join us before too long." With that, Jacellem switched comms to his fellow Alfurian ships. "We will be entering orbit soon. All hands prepare for orbital operations." Jacellem gave thought to contacting some of the unidentified ships, but decided that this was not necessary at the time. Perhaps something was afoot here that required secrecy over friendliness. With that, the three Alfurian ships accelerated toward Askandar and set a trajectory for a high orbit.
With the two Glimmers on guard just in case, the hangar doors of the Epithetical slid open. The Alfurians had noticed some kind of defensive system, but as it was not taking any actions against them, so they ignored it. Jacellem entered one of these hangars with his NBC armor on and his contingent of bridge staff. Of these officers, two of them eyed their CO with distaste. "Are you sure the information was...legit?" The man said softly to his female counterpart. "Yes. Absolutely." She replied. "This may be the perfect opportunity, then."
Soon the landing force was ready. Dropping through the clouds with their turbines screaming, a V formation of 20 Konimas spearheaded the Alfurian expedition. Above and behind them, 10 CS-77 gunships followed their smaller cousins. In the center of the formation, two massive HAC-1 superheavy transports roared. "Looks like we're not the first ones here." he said to his forces while looking at motion detection movements. They were not too accurate, but showed some interesting activity. "The designated LZ still is green. Let's be swift."
With the CS-77s and several Konimas on watch, the HAC-1s and majority of Konimas formed a rough circular landing pattern and started to deploy ground units. A group of BT-212 Remtias moved around the area, their weight and clawed tracks tearing up the rocky ground to form a flattish, dusty area. The dust was carried away by the wind, somewhat giving away the activity to anyone else. However seeing as anyone with semi-functioning eyes and ears would have noticed the Alfurians anyway, Jacellem, and by extension the landing force...didn't mind the dust. Vehicles of many types sprung to life after being dropped or deployed from the dropships, and the CS-77s overhead made good use of their rotors that chopped the air proudly and with much resonance.
The two officers that had spoken of Jacellem before moved about and watched their soldiers deploying. The man nodded to his counterpart and then walked over to his CO. "Commander, there appears to be a city of sorts to our southwest." The man held out a datapad to Jacellem who looked it over with interest. "I suppose we should start by investigating there. Isn't this exciting, Hajemur?" "Indeed, sir." the officer scowled from behind his visor, not that Jacellem would notice otherwise. "K'letla, get your armor ready. Hajemur will be joining you to swing south-southwest toward this...city. Be combat ready, but do not engage anyone you come across. If this gets messy, I'd rather it be after our brothers make groundfall." "Affirmative." said the woman that Hajemur had been talking with earlier. She gave him a nod from where she was nearby and walked off to organize her formations. Hajemur did the same, and Jacellem gave him a glance over his shoulder as he walked away.
The landing zone's coordinates were broadcasted on a secured line back up to the Epithetical and then relayed to the Proxian Vouger. Some space nearby had been prepared and left open for them to deploy, and the accurate coordination would assist the Proxian efforts greatly.
"Hail, Carnaithian forces," said Grodan over the designated comm channel. "Inquisitor Grodan of the Annoliddan Inquisition speaking. I assume you are here for the same reason we are. Dropships will be deploying near your position." He kept information brief. The Carnaithian Empire had little interaction with them since the AGA meeting, and Vilrik had yet to report back from his project with them...
The dozen Charybdis dropships descended into the atmosphere, shaking off reentry heat. One of them beelined towards the spire, while the others proceeded down to flank the Carnaithian forces. They descended rapidly and deposited both cargo and troops as they touched down, momentarily holding position before ascending again to hover a few stories above the drop point.
The collected Inquisition forces were an assembled 218 troops and their 25 armored vehicles: 50 Squire scout-snipers, 70 Acolyte assault and demolition specialists, 50 Page field engineers, 30 Templar order knights bearing multirole power armor, 6 M-44 Nomad walkers, 7 L-27 Courier scouting mechs, and 12 M-56 Parthian mobile artillery platforms. In addition, Inquisitor Grodan had brought with him 17 of his personal knights from the Teutonic order, despite concerns from his fellow Inquisitors. These were, even from other knights' points of view, the walking tanks of Annoliddan infantry. All of them began a final weapons and gear check, eager to get to work searching the city.
The last dropship that headed for the tower did not descend downwards, instead stopping a few kilometers high along it and depositing 20 more Squires and 10 pages, who all proceeded to grapple a short way down the spire until reaching a comfortable height above the city. The Pages deployed pylons that jutted out from the tower, communication nodes to maintain groundside-to-orbital communication. The Pages in turn aimed down at the city, scanning for any signs of activity and relaying the footage to the other troops, formulating a decent map of the city. As soon as the pylons were in place, the Pages laid meshes over themselves and the squires, which took on the light properties of the spire at their feet to help hide them from view. Its operation completed, the dropship sped down to meet with the others over the drop point.
There were no energy signatures in the city, or eminating from the levels below, everything was silent. Far too silent for a city this size.
The outskirt plains around the city were dusty and craggy, large dragons teeth esque rock jutted from the surface and large canyons or fissures were intermitantly scattered around the area. The edge of the city was walled, with high energy fencing that had once protected the suburbs from the wind and dust that blew in, but these were not powered allowing near free access into the cities outskirts through the large energy pylons not inert and unmoving. The dust now already seeking to reclaim the edges of the city, piling up on the outermost houses as the wind howled through the streets and windows.
For those who had dropped onto and into the city itself and those entering the city outskirts the place was totally deserted. However there were tale tell signs that anyone would recognise. Plasma burns, solid shot weapon impacts and explosives damage marked some of the buildings and the streets, some civilian vehicles that still sat motionless had been turned over some seemingly smashed up. Some buildings had also been smashed open. Old blood stains coated some of the pavements and entrances but there was no sign of attackers or defenders, no sign of weapons or more importantly. Bodies.
Everything inside the various stores and house blocks seemed normal, untouched or left as it was, there had been no evacuation some houses displayed signs of struggle inside, blood coating some interiors long dried and flaky. As some of the groups approached the central spire spaceport and elevator there seemed to be makeshift barricades some had been smashed open or blown apart, more debris and detrius thrown about the place, some buildings looking more wrecked than others. However it was the facing of the barricades that prompted examination. Not only were there barricades destroyed and inact facing towards the outskirts of the city as would there be against any outside attacker but there were also barricades seemingly erected to face the Spire their own internal escape route. This just made things more confusing.
Captain Kepson was... confused. First, he'd sent in Goblin 1-5 while the rest of the force waited a mile from the city in a dusty defile, and the wardroid unit had sent back what they saw over vid. It was... very, very odd. Add to this the low droning of the wind setting his teeth on edge and the sightings of other ships coming in to land in the distance, Kepson started his force towards the city.
The Explorer Corps fighters and the mech reached the city first, scanning the silent buildings slowly. Goblin 1-5 waited clustered around a truck as wardroids often were, silent bar soft beeping as they awaited orders. The EC told them to investigate the buildings while squads of the soldiers poked around the streets. The tanks were... not the greatest machines nor the most maneuverable, and the crews of the UEA built Ravagers smashed aside or ran over a lot of cars as they made their way into the city. The APCs followed loosely.
The Free Worlds had never encountered plasma weapons in their hundred year history, but they knew weapons hits when they saw them and blood was unmistakable. Without bodies or weapons to count there was no way for the Free Worlds to gauge how many had died or what had killed them-- but from the state of wrecked buildings they'd passed, it'd been a hell of a fight.
"Horizon 2-2, sitrep." Captain Kepson said into his radio, standing in the forward hatch of the lead APC and peering ahead at the EC down the road. "All clear so far, captain. Still no bodies, loooot of blood and wrecks." came the response. "Any signs at all of what happened?" "Still nothing. Most of these buildings look like they just got up and left aside from the blood. Not even a single shell casing. Casey found a coffee shop, so that's good." Kepson chuckled. "You can have a coffee break later. Peak 01, you see anything?" "Negatory." the mech pilot quipped. "Nada, zilch, zip, nothin', dryer' than a damn--" "Captain gets the message, Rick." "Alright, alright. Anyway, I've not seen anything that Horizon hasn't. Thought I saw movement a ways back..." "What?! And you didn't tell us?!" "...But it was a poster falling off a wall. Jeeeeeeesus Christ, dude. Patience."
Captain Kepson let the mech pilot and the EC argue for a moment or two longer before he cut in. "Alright, that's enough." "Yes sir." both units chorused. "Good. Horizon, do you have eyes on that spire?" "That we do, sir. Barricades there look to be facing in instead of out." "What the... you sure?" "That's what we're seein', sir. Pretty frakkin' sure." "Move up, and hold 5-0 meters from the barricades. Rhino 1-2 and 2-2 will move up to support." "Copy that."
Calling the Goblin units back into close formation around the convoy, weapons off safe and every man and woman getting more and more on edge with every minute, the Free Worlds force proceeded slowly and methodically towards the spire.
Carnaithian reconnaissance took the form of jetbikes screaming between towers, high-rate cameras of all spectrums taking note of movement, but ignoring that which was caused by their own passing. A pilot squinted in curiosity as a window opened up, playing a slow-mo of a convoy in the middle of a street that he passed over.
"Planetside command, this is pigeon one-three. I've got eyes-on for a convoy moving in towards the spire. Low-tech, some servos. Advise," He said, quickly turning around and buzzing the convoy from the side. "Add MBTs to that count."
"Drop a data pack, keep sweeping. Any sign of civvies?"
"Negative. Pigeon one-one reports an isolated ring of barricades surrounding the spire, spectrums show nothing alive down there. Send a military convoy, over."
Within minutes, the more high-tech combat vehicles of the rather large Carnaithian force had assembled; while hospital trucks, radar, missiles, and bunkers had been erected, there was an almost seamless assembly of combat forces on pre-determined "roads"; what had appeared to be a jumbled mess of drop pods was really a preset landing pattern. The convoy in particular consisted of two rhinos, which were engineering and urban combat tanks with scalar ADS nets and multi-purpose stacked munitions backing up standard electroreactive armor and a one hundred and eighty millimeter short-barreled gun, accompanied by four urban combat IFV's with similar defensive screens but armed with rapid-traverse autocannons. All of the vehicles mounted humming phased-array doppler radars. Suited up and ready to go, they began their transit to the spire.
//Greetings Alfurian Allies. This is General Kayhorn of the Crimson Vendetta.// Finally the voice from the Gastin responded. The ZYPHER fleet had already reached it’s deploy range of the planet in question. //Were actually running Security for the figure heads here...this system was once bright on sensors but as you may have known has suddenly dimmed out.// The commander replied. As the Gastin and her two Holy Pantheon escorts anchored afloat above the planet’s gravity well, out of orbital support range, the ASIM side of the fleet descended. //Will we hope to see you on the ground dear friends?//
One of the Jack classes went in over the jagged barren lands, south of the city, coming to a hover. The other floated down a few kms northward. To the South, the dock of the Jack Class lowered, revealing the first ground unit. As the Bay lowered, lights appeared from several Wildkats and Razorkray transports as they cranked alive. At the same time, the frigate’s lower side bays opened up to reveal 6 large legs, extending out towards it’s sides, letting the ship touch the ground with a soft thump. The Transports rolled off the bay ramp, followed by the Wildkat Escorts, their hovering gravtrak systems getting quickly accustomed to the planet’s eden gravity. Apart of the convoy, was Lieutenant Faderman, one of the few female raptors who volunteered security leadership for ASIM missions. However, oddly enough, the security accompanying this ASIM mission were members of the KOBA expeditionary squads. Tho Faderman herself was a raptor with a rank belonging to the Shinguryu of DIAMOND, she was also put in charge of this elite squad. Her tail whiped gently as she stood on top of the razorkray, looking around at the silent surroundings.
//Anyone got that spooky feeling yet?// One of the ASIM research personnel said as the first unit tested the atmosphere. No harmful toxins were detected but gave a sign that their EVA hazards were required. A second bay on the Jack opened up to reveal their offensive armament, a squad of LynxIVs and accompanied by another squad of Bofado FAVs and a new unit, one single KingMaven, Logistics viehcle. Faderman wondered if it was fine to have the necessary fire power as security for a simple investigation, but General Kayhorn on the Gastin felt it was possible in the event anything bad were to happen...with all the many other members here.
//Faderman are you on the ground?// Came the voice of the Dean Professor Kumfell said as he boarded a Baizar and Byzants departing from the High Majesties that remained in Exo-orbit. “Yes, Rafgar (Mission Chief or Supervisor). Setting up perimeter now and awaiting orders.”
//Go ahead, and move exploratory force to point Alpha, 10 clicks south of that city to the north of your position.// Kumfell said as he strapped in. //We’ll join you there.// His and 19 other Baizars and Byzants mixed launched from the High Majesties, each going to their designated landing points.
“Understood Rafgar” Faderman said as she signaled for the other teams and tapped the top of her transport. The convoy of 15 viehcles moved forward, one part of the Bofados moving infront of the convoy towards the MSR that lead towards the woods before the city in question. “...theres something you don’t see everyday.” One of the scientists said, noticing the spire that towered between the cityscape of buildings. Her heavier escorted accompanied the unit behind them, surrounding the KingMaven.
The Gastin transmitted several signals to the Carnithian, Alfur, and Proxian ships, offering an invite to a privately secured network. However the bridge crew alerted the captain of a proprietary caution status towards the BSO ships, as their ship’s model and makeup was tagged as yellow advisory on the ZYPHER network, tho the Captain and General were not sure why…possibly a good thing at this time. A friendly coded non-aggression code was transmitted to the other fleets that were not recognized, offering a hail and a greeting, including the BSO.
The Proxian ships moved into high orbit. The Vouger followed the Alfurian light cruiser with some distance between the two groups. “Lock onto the Alfurian target destination and release the hounds!” Bolsau growled to the full blooded next to him. With that command a spike was dropped, with just the gravity to propel it. The spike broke apart, releasing a flurry of smaller spikes. These spikes bloomed out, appearing to have the shape of an angelic figure, the spikes focused and slowed to a safe speed as they planted into the target designated area. The spikes began to open only after all of the landing pods made land fall. The Proxians gathered their weapons and hunger; stepping out they met their Alfurian brothers.
The Proxian ships moved into high orbit. The Vouger followed the Alfurian light cruiser with some distance between the two groups. “Lock onto the Alfurian target destination and release the hounds!” Bolsau growled to the full blooded next to him. With that command a spike was dropped, with just the gravity to propel it. The spike broke apart, releasing a flurry of smaller spikes. These spikes bloomed out, appearing to have the shape of an angelic figure, the spikes focused and slowed to a safe speed as they planted into the target designated area. The spikes began to open only after all of the landing pods made land fall. The Proxians gathered their weapons and hunger; stepping out they met their Alfurian brothers.
After the Proxians had landed and the dust from their impacts had settled, the Alfurian ground forces moved in to welcome them with supplies, camouflage nets, and exceptional Tavoul jerky. Jacellem was glad to have the extra numbers, and with perfect timing as well. The convoy of Alfurian vehicles was about ready to head out: and now they had especially deadly infantry to support them.
With several BT-22 Bofados shield carriers in the lead, a formation of tanks, half tracks, and armored cars waited. "Proxian brothers, leave some to set up your FOB, but bring some of your warriors to escort our flanks." Jacellem called over the shortwave comms from inside his BT-212 MOV. After that, he signaled for his recon cars to head out. Six BT-14 armored scout cars sprung forth and rumbled over the rocky ground toward the southwest.
As the soldiers finally close with the city the unsettling nature of place sets them on edge, muzzles constantly sweep windows and door ways as the slightest noises cause soldiers to twist rapidly weapons raised in readiness.
As they approach the central spire several blips begin to appear on the ATKPRA systems and the assembled forces flicker from view as their stealth systems come online, moments later the men and vehicles alter their phase state and drop out of step with the prime material plane.
"Sir initial recon shows some pretty fucking weird shit, barricades face inwards, blood and evidence of fighting but no bodies, some real horror movie shit y'know."
Ground commander Tarif sighs as he continues to monitor the operation through his helms HUD.
"Well we all know what that fucking means don't we, taking bets now subterranean super race or high tech alien kill vault,"
Several shouts of agreement, dissent or men suggesting alternatives fill the comms for a moment before quieting as the bulk of the troop finally arrives at the spire.
Spreading out quickly the men take up elevated positions as the tanks lift further from the ground to establish longer firing lanes, now the Annointed would wait for the others to enter first, intending to reinforce any struggling AGA members should the need arrive.
The Maurauders moved quickly toward the central spire, technicals and FAVs leading the way while the bulk of the infantry followed behind them. They cleared the first dozen or so buildings they came across, but once it became apparent that the buildings were all empty they stopped and focused on reaching the spire.
"Reconnaissance flights have identified nine additional contacts," Vlad advised from Orbit. "Anolindians, Anointed, Autauya, ZYPHER, Alfur, and Carnaith have all been confirmed as present. The remainder don't match anything in the database. Recon reports that Alfur, and an unknown contact are cooperating, as are the Annolindians and Carnaith."
"Understood," Rackham answered pausing briefly to consider the situation. Overhead his gunships finally arrived, flying over to signal their presence before fallinf back to a safer distance.
"Get me some allies Vlad. I don't feel like being on the wrong end of shit today."
Vlad closed the comms channel and sent a brief message to the Anointed and the Annolindians.
"Greetings, this is Vlad operating as part of the 81 Syndicate on behalf of the Black Sail Organization. Fire support assets are available on channel 458 and IFF signatures of personnel on the ground are being transmitted... now."
Subjugator 42 was the first of Black Sail's forces to reach thd spire. With her optical camoflage up she took a brief look around before climbing atop a building and setting up her rifle. Periodically she aent reports back to Rackham as people arrived but for the time being she didn't engage. Once Rackham arrived she remained where she was while the old man led his forces to rendezvous with the Anointed.
The Davian group moved quickly and soon got near the city. "All is silence sir. We detected no organic life around" A sapper team reported. "Keep watching, and stay low." Colonel Van snapped "Beside colonel here's some up date overall" The ground force commander received message from the space force above: "We confirmed that several factions are allies down there and they're camping together according to our long range scanning. Beside there're movement around the spire so expect contact if you move further. Over." "Received you clearly Space Navy" The colonel responded: "We'll make our camp at the edge of the city, using local terrain for our advance. Beside we'll need air recon if you can provide it. Over." "Good we'll provide air recon. Over." As the captain said 50 long range recon drones ejected themselves from the Davian cruiser and moved toward the city. Around an hour later the Davian troops managed to make a temporary camp at the edge of the city using a few house blocks as base. Davian force quickly realized something clearly wronged here. Marks of battles could be seen clearly while makeshift barricades facing inside instead of outside. And there was no bodies, death or alive. "Hmm...strange. The city was deserted, battle marks, barricades facing inward, no bodies...hmm." Colonel Van talked with some of his officers: "Did everyone think it's like ghost stories of old " "No idea comrade commander." One officer responded: "We'll have to keep looking then." "I'm concern about the other parties btw." Another officer said: "It's silence for now but we have no idea about their attention." "Well comrades, I won't be surprise if zombies or monsters begin to pop up from the sewers!" Van said half joking half serious: "So I want utmost caution, nobody will go alone, I don't want our troops disappear. Beside we're dispatching some troops to the spire too. Move out." "Yes sir." Each of the five Davian companies dispatched some of their forces to move further. With caution the Davian troops moved slowly toward the spire. With sappers using their advanced personal stealth walking at the front followed by a single heavy tanks which led the rest of the vehicles and flanked by infantrymen. "Approaching the spire sir." Lieutenant Thai reported to his superior using communicator: "No contact yet." "Expect contact soon Lieutenant. Space Naval reported their drones detected movement toward the spire."
The Annoliddan force followed the Carnaithian's, sending their own recon data to them to help locate... anything, really. The snipers atop the spire called out reports of other groups moving in on the city. Harnen relayed an open comm channel from their makeshift communications tower to broadcast throughout the city and surrounding crags. Any and all that joined on would receive IFF signatures from the Inquisition, as well as the request to submit their own; it was an open invitation to all for reaching cooperation in this endeavor.
Grodan picked up Vlad's transmission. "Welcome to the ghost town, BSO team. Let us know if any of these other groups want to join us. Also likewise, holler if you need fire support. We're with Carnaithian forces next to the central tower. Though I get the feeling you knew that already."
By now, even the Nomad walkers had made it through the city, with no action taking place. The pages were scanning the walls of buildings, identifying the blood splatters to be in fact human bloodstains. The plasma scars were more intriguing, but it would take longer than they had time for to make full analyses. It would be much faster to track down the weapons that fired in the first place.
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Post by CanisDirus on Mar 21, 2021 19:21:14 GMT
Askandar System: Neutral Space
The trek through the city was a quiet, and...tense affair. The rotaries atop the Arachnodrogai scanned the surroundings ahead while the armour behind watched the flanks and rear. The aerial drones watched the rooftops and windows, as they scanned for movement in the streets either side. The assault drones simply bounced to and fro between the ranks of Autayan infantry, the Airtroopers leading the way with their much heavier armour.
"Signs of a struggle, sir." Fo'yuta heard in his comlink. "Weapons fire, ballistic and plasma munitions. Barricades facing every which way." "In short?" "It was a shitshow here and we missed the party." "Right. Navigators, ETA to the spire?" "Two, three minutes, sir." "Good. Sensors, anything?" "We've got contacts nearby. Unknowns. Don't think they know about us yet." "With the Arachnodrogai? Shit. Keep an eye out, don't want anyone getting the jump on us." he ordered. "Aye aye sir. What do we do once we get there?" "Watch our approach vectors. All of them. If we run into any survivors we make sure they're not secretly some kind of space zombie and get them the hell out. Any other ground teams, we try and be nice. Got it?" "Affirmative." "Alright, move in. We're almost to that spire." he called. The unit picked up the pace, already somewhat on edge from the eerily quiet city beyond.
As the various forces kept moving throughout the city towards the spire there started to be sudden pings on sensors, moving for only a few microseconds before disappearing. They appeared everywhere, in houses or in streets sometimes in full view, but there was nothing there. Strange shapes also flickered out of sight, scurrying into alleys or drains but still there was absolute silence no matter how hard anyone tried to pin down what these appearances were there was merely nothing.
Some were written off as rodents, a place like this especially with so many people having disappeared it was bound to house some rodents that now scampered around. The Spire itself however the closer the factions got to it, the greater the damage arrayed around them. Houses were more smashed, barricades destroyed, more blood stains and more battle damage seemed to cover the area, until they got to the gates of the spire, and they were closed, towering gates built to help defend against orbital invasion or to cordon off traffic, they were many metres thick and every one of them seemed to be closed. However they seemed closed, but also open… Gigantic tear marks and slices had been torn out of the doors, some having been pushed open or cut open with energy weapons fire and melted. None of the attacks however had come from things trying to get in, but rather all seemed to come from _inside_ the spire.
The spire itself was almost 4km tall, multiple landing stations branching off of the structure, around 2km across from base edge to base edge, impressive engineering. It was hollowed in the inside, large cargo elevator stations and open tubes to allow movement of craft up and down the levels as multiple rungs spiralled up to the top containing shops, mechanical stores and more. The bottom ground level contained waiting areas, food areas and the access to the lower levels. It was here that the damage had been done. Some elevators had been destroyed, shops and areas completely levelled and blood caked much of the areas, with numerous barricades having been erected around the access tunnels. Two MBTs of Triarch design, Sentinel Mk.2s sat dead, both having been torn open the tanks now entirely useless.
To those entering the spire to look around what caught their eye was a strange black blob quite tall sitting in the centre of the huge 2km atrium at the ground level, its surface seemed to be covered with strange spiral black patterns and light seemed to be absorbed by the strange mass.
“….I’m not liking this….” One of the security marines said as the convoy approached the spire’s gates. The ASIM researchers had no idea what theywere getting into, the Lieutinent felt like. The raptor glanced at the KOBA specalist across from her and as he looked out the armored port window.
//Eyes open. Whatever happened here...might be still around.// The forward Wildkat commander said, as they scanned ahead and rooftops. “Expeditionary Unit 1-A, move forward, secure and get those doors open.” Faderman said. The first Razorkray’s armored doors opened up as the transport slowed. Several KOBA units stepped off of the transport, dust and dirt shooting up as they landed in the barren ground and moved forward on the side, their weapons posed and moving around the transport as it moved slow behind the Bofados. They moved around or over the concrete damaged barrier, alert of their surroundings as they reached the slightly opened gate. Maneuvering around the opening, they scanned the courtyard before the spire, seeing even more damage. “...Clear.” One of he members said as they moved towards the suspected control station and went in to try and get the doors infront of their units to open wider. “Hey...you guys wondering what I’m wondering...” One of the specalists asked as they inspected the area. “...yea…”
“...Where are the bodies?”
Rackham ordered a stop once they'd reached the spire after Subjugator 42 sent a report back indicating that ZYPHER had already arrived and was moving in.
"Where do I know ZYPHER from?" He asked.
"Vasquez and Los Niños Perdidos had a run in with them a while back," Vlad answered.
"What kind of a run in?"
"The shooty kind," Vlad answered. Rackham muttered a curse under his breath while his men began setting up defensive positions.
"Okay boys and girls, 42 reporting some weird ass shit up ahead. Typical alien horror movie bullshit by the sound of it. ZYPHER wants to move in and poke it first, that's their perogative. If they go screaming to their deaths, we'll just stay back here. Acknowledge?"
A chorus of affirmative greeted him and Rackham checked that the thermite launcher on his left wrist and the auto-gun on his right were primed and the safeties were off.
In orbit, Vlad was managing the fighters, who were sending back reports of other flyers in atmosphere over the city.
"You want us to shoot 'em down boss man?"
"Not yet," He said, transmitting out Anointed and Anolindian IFFs. "If it all goes sideways down there I want you lighting up everything that isn't Anointed, Anolindian, or Carnaithian, da?"
"Got it," The pilot answered, relaying the information across the network.
The Free Worlders had noted the buzzing run the unknown had done, and for a few terrified moments they scattered thinking it was strafing them! But when it hadn't, they'd gotten back up and kept moving.
After that though, Captain Kepson had ordered flanking teams to make sure they weren't snuck up on like that again. The Goblin units were deployed to the flanks with small teams of militia and EC while the main force moved up to their stopping point five hundred meters into the plaza with Horizon 2-2 and Peak 01.
It was one of the flanking militia teams that ran smack bang into the Autayan rearguard. "Woah." "You see them?" "Of course I see them." "What do we do?" "Call it in, and tell them to ID themselves." "You sure...?" "Pretty sure. Move!"
The Autayans probably saw the militia troopers, for as good at hiding as the Free Worlds prided themselves on being... this was not a jungle, forest, swamp, farm or small rural town. "Hey!" yelled a militiaman, their rifle slightly raised as the hailed the Autaya. "Identify yourselves!"
The Carnaithian convoy rumbled through the streets at will, the jetbikes providing recon in a two-block radius as the fighters flew... somewhat near the city at Mach eighteen in the stratosphere. Where the Free Worlders had crushed leftover vehicles on accident out of imprecise controls, the Carnaithian vehicles did so out of lack of care for the comparatively-cheap machines. The vehicles broke through a wall between the street they had been travelling on and the area surrounding the spire, scalar nets flickering with sparks as minute dust particles caused disruption of the finely-kept longwave and shortwave beams. It was then that visual contact was made with the rearmost guard of the ZYPHER forces, BSO travelling close behind.
"Ground command, this is Hellbeast Actual. Eyes-on for known contacts; computers register ZYPHER and BSO. Requesting access to their specific bandwidths, over," the lead tank commander reported, main gun swiveling at a rather rapid pace to the right of the hull, smaller guns twitching towards movement confirmed not to be allied, notably curtains in distant windows.
"We'll handle communications, one actual," responded the communications officer back at base, using the actual assigned number for 'Hellbeast'. "Colonel Arkalon, BSO and ZYPHER contacts have been confirmed on the surface. One has made vis-con, and requesting communication. Should we begin IFF and radio broadcast?"
"Go ahead. Gunnery, keep your noses to the hoses, I don't want any surprises. Comms, let Hellbeast have access to all allied bandwidths for the time being, I doubt this is anything to do with APP," Arkalon barked as she turned and moved to a room adjacent, shouting "Get those dropships in the air! I want all known settlements on this rock to be swept for survivors! Make sure the uplink co-ordinates are set, if we need rod bundles, I want rod bundles, yeah?"
Back at the spire, Carnaithian forces had moved up close to the known contacts, providing security at the door for when the others present arrived. Carnaithian gekkering was translated into ZYPHER and BSO-understandable chatter, grunts unknowing of their respective languages, though Hellbeast Actual calmly ushered orders to his troops in galactic basic.
"We have contact. Someone got there before us. Over" The leading sapper squad reported back to the group commander who in turn relayed it back to the Davian forward base. "Report your situation lieutenant." "Yes Colonel. We have a lot of troops and even combat vehicles occupying the spire area. It's very possible that they detected us as well but there's no contact of any kind yet. Beside the nearer the spire the more battle marks we found. It's much worse than out there." "Keep going" "Sam pattern, makeshift barricades facing inside, plasma and solid projectiles marks, destroyed infrastructures, blood stain. Beside almost all spire doors took damage in one form or another. However we're not attempt to move closer yet 'cause the area was occupied. Most important thing: we found no bodies of any kind. Your order HQ?" "Estimate of the unknown force?" "At least three more times than our current force. We're making temporary defensive position here." The lieutenant responded as he looked down to the street below. A single fully armed D2THN occupied the central part of the road flanked by a couple of D1XT Sword tanks. Other vehicles stood ready behind those tanks and around them Davian infantries, marines and sappers stood or crawled in ready. Meanwhile the buildings surrounding were also occupied by more men and snipers. At the end of the convoy stood another 2 D1XT Sword tanks facing backward to defense the convoy's back. There're also a few mortal team spread out among the defensive positions. "Remain there and let those factions enter that spire first. We'll see what happen next. Keep watching in every direction. Moment ago our sensor picked some form of untraceable signals. So watch your very step." "Affirmative. Over." "So what's the order sir?" An officer asked: "Shall we move in and demand those bastards to step back?" "We're staying here sir and none of us will start another war here unless necessary. Hey you there get that mortal to the upper level. And someone pls occupied that wall. No I mean you stand vertically not leaning on it." At the same times a few Davian's drones requested by the ground force flew toward the spire trying to watch for the troop movement and scanning the spire itself. Much further above 4 Davian aircrafts consist of 2 space fighters, 1 atmospheric fighter and 1 atmospheric bomber flew near the city ready to lend a hand if need.
Observing the carnaithian forces from his perch commander Tarif mulls over transmitting IFFs and initiating contact with friendlies in the area, after a few moments of thought he finds no reason to hide from his allies and drops out of phase returning to the prime material and opening a comms channel on known AGA frequencies.
"AGA units at the base of the spire this is commander Tarif of the Annointed empire, requesting permission to link up with your forces for the spire incursion, IFFs are being shared now."
switching to a private channel Tarif replies to Vlads message.
"We hear you loud and clear Vlad, IFFs are being sent to you now, fire support is like wise ready whenever required, you can ride shotgun with our ground forces if you want, use our personal shields for cover and our relays for rapid evac if required."
Meanwhile elements of the Annointed flanking forces stumble across the Autaya side forces coming into contact with the free worlds and immediately take up elevated positions, phasing straight through roofs and walls in the process.
The two 10km vessels finally reach the planet, entering into geosynchronous orbit with the city and charging their FTL drives.
"Sir. Arachnodrogai have a close range visual on the spire." A combat technician reported. "And?" "Looks pretty beat up. More weapons fire. And, uh, shredded gates." "Shredded gates." "Yeah. Something tore them open. Something big." "That's alarming. What about our...company?" "Not so sure, getting a lot of movement. Some of it close, some of it not." "Watch the buildings." "Aye aye." "Sir, rearguard is getting contacts!"
Sure enough, the Autayan infantry at the back had noticed the Free Worlders shouting at them. The few human soldiers suddenly found themselves faced with about a dozen alien soldiers, a couple bouncy things that effectively looked like rotary guns on legs, one flying thing, and an APC, hovering off the ground. Or, that was their guest guess at what it was. "Uh, shit, they're saying words." "Words? What words?" "I don't know, what do I look like to you? A linguist?" "Maybe, I dunno! Ah shit, what do we do?" "Try not to start a fight." "That's vague...ah shit, here goes nothing." One of them sighed, raising their hand in a greeting gesture. Fortunately for the human militiamen, raising and moving ones hand was a pretty simplistic and recognisable symbol of acknowledgement, so to them it looked fairly like a wave.
Annoliddans were not a jumpy bunch, but this city had even them on edge. The flickers of movement were getting harder to deny the further they went, and aerial view gave clear sight of any scouts sent out by the other forces. And now, standing before the spire, a sense of wrong fell over them. And this was before they looked into the spire to see whatever that thing was.
"Where's Raanges when you need her..." mumbled Grodan half-jokingly. "Squires, report."
"Seems all other forces are moving in on the spire, sir. One unknown army is contacting another in the streets, another still unknown still on approach, and... If I'm not mistaken, those are Proxians, making a convoy with some hefty looking tanks..."
"Today just got several hells better then. Harnen, anything else you can add?"
"There's a massive canyon to your north with more buildings going deeper down. Multiple ships holding orbit around the planet, no surprise there. Anointed forces detected and contacting."
"Okay then. All units, prepare to move!" Grodan spoke over AGA comms to Arkalon and Tarif. "Arkalon, I take it you know these folks entering the spire? (ref ZYPHER) If so, I'll leave you two to investigate that thing. I'm leaving behind my knights and artillery; use them as needed. The rest of my units will take to the canyon, and work our way up to the spire from within. I'm going to go make some from friends for us. Keep comms open."
The dropships descended between the buildings, picking up all the Inquisition units except the hovering artillery and Teutonic knights. The knights moved in closer to the gate, taking up firing angles to bombard inward should anything come charging out. Meanwhile, the artilleries moved back away from the spire by a few blocks and away from the taller buildings, ceasing hovering and taking up hardened fixed positions to deploy their bigger guns.
All but one of the dropships headed north to the canyon, descending and looking for a decent spot to drop off Inquisition troops at a point well below the surface. The last remaining one, containing Grodan with its hatch opened and lights pulsing, headed over to the assembled Alfurian and Proxian forces.
"Here's hoping they still use this channel. Prox! Do you copy? This is the Annoliddan Inquisition!"
The wind from the outside seemed to moan as it spiralled into the spire, whipping up small eddies in the dust and dirt that had blown in and covered the plaza and atrium. As the forces of ZYPHER made their way into the spire the enormity of its interior became apparant. The command and control areas located at the very top this had been the focal hub of the entire planet, and now it was empty, empty and silent. As the strange anomalies and sightings continued throughout the city the large strange black mass at the centre of the Spire began to stir at the motion of the ZYPHER troopers.
Those who were inside the city began feeling a distinct prescence almost watching them, coming from a multitude of angles yet there was still nothing. No energy signals or sources had been detected by the forces in the city, and the fighters and gunships that also flew above the area could also detect nothing. All of a sudden static filled communicators and messaging systems, a jamming field seemingly had been erected from nowhere covering hundreds of miles in all directions.
It was that moment that the black mass stood up and seemed to turn around to face the ZYPHER forces and those who were entering the spire. It was huge, 15ft tall and slumped much taller had it been standing straight it had a hunched look, four arms potruded from a muscular torso two ending in large claws that helped keep it upright the other two ending in seeming useless blobs. Its head was loping, a large rictus mouth cut across it from side to side, and the creature seemed to have no eyes whatsoever. It turned to see the assembled troopers and immediately two huge ice blue energy blades protruded from its arm stumps, multiple glowing teeth flashing to life within its distended mouth and there was a blur of motion as it crashed forward charging as it came. But that wasnt the last of it.
It opened its mouth.
And the sceaming began.
It was loud, so loud and horrific that no living thing should have been able to produce that sound. It was so loud that non protected eardrums would burst in proximity and enhanced hearing creatures may even suffer brain haemoraging from. It was a discordant high pitched scream, like it was in pain so immense that the galaxy itself would hear it. The sound was so loud as it came that it carried inside the huge spire, echoing around as it spread able to be heard outside in the city and on the wind into the plains beyond.
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Post by CanisDirus on Mar 21, 2021 19:21:35 GMT
Askandar System: Neutral Space
"WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?!" one of the EC roared, pointing at the thing that was screaming. Many of the militia were clutching their ears in pain, and the vehicles were literally humming with the noise. "Open fire! NOW! Kill it! Kill it!" Kepson howled, pointing at it and dropping his useless radio to take the APC's machine gun in his hands. He opened fire, and in seconds every damn gun the Free Worlds force had on the thing was roaring. HMGs rattled, rifles snarled, and the cannons from both the mech and the tank unleashed their hellish thunder upon the thing.
The militia that had approached the Autaya were returning the wave and beckoning them to come closer when the screaming began. Clutching their ears and dropping their weapons, they scrambled for cover and screamed in pain.
The forward KOBA members who wern’t expecting the sudden mass were stunned by the scream. The horrible sound had echoed outside, along with the sound of the rifles going off spatially. The sound alerted the mid guard who were further back in the plaza of the spire and quickly taking positions behind pillars and walls, trying to recover from the paraylzying scream. “Front Guard! Whats happening!?” The midguard soldier asked. However no response other than the echoing of the firefight that quickly died out. “Prepare for engagement!” He shouted to the other members as soon as they made out the glowing light further down the hallway. “Fire!” A Symphony of kilimond burst and automatic shards stared echoing out, loud enough for the outside to hear.
The gate team members heard the shots and quickly turned their attention to the concrete walls. “What the hell...Get in there!” He shouted to the tankette next to him. The Bofados reved up as the soldier shouted to friendlies on the otherside of the door to move. The small armor lynched forward and bashed the embankment, smashing through the opening, allowing the Bofados to push into the courtyard and into the Spire’s plaza. 2 more followed after through the hole as they scrambled to figure out what the hell was going on. The field KOBA members moved back to the remaining armor securing the street. “Expedition team, what’s going on?” Faderman asked as they ushered the non-combatant scientists back into the Razokrays. Tho she didn’t get a response...they appeared to be heavily busy inside.
As the Proxian troops began to disperse to the proper divisions, A voice comms “C company will stay and help setup the FOB, besides there was a challenge that was made. That fight will be settled ASAP.” Bolsau said to Jacellem as the highdrolics of his helmet snap shut with a violent manor. Bolsau’s TG-3 marched to the front of the Proxian lines and began the final blood ceremony. As each proxian began checking their gear, they one by one began to drink blood from a metallic skull. Meanwhile, the two disputing officers squared up at the back of the FOB. The thirteen and a half foot vulfram and the fourteen foot eight inch tall tryved prepared to fight for their lives. The vulfram went in for a lunge from a false stance; the tryved moved in and blocked the lunge with the side of his gauntlet. Taking his flail, he swung and it wrapped round his opponent’s head. With a just pull of his flail he broke the vulfram’s neck. Using the momentum and the opening this the commander grabbed the caller of his foe’s amour. With a sickening sound of metal on metal and the crunch of bone and flesh as the commander bit down on his foe’s next only to have the bear trap like helmet come slamming close into the challenger throat and shoulder. With a swift jerk the ensnared arm came free of the now limp body. The commander dropped the limp carcass while simultaneously the arm slipped free from the jaw like helmet and crashed to the ground. Bolsau broke the troops up into the convoy and mentally checked with himself. A hundred and fifty infantry, twenty five TG-3’s, A hundred and twenty five straums, two TG-110’s, sixty five TG-4‘s and ten TG-6 bulldogs.
The Alfurians who had watched the Proxians duel were impressed and inspired. Seeing a capable and strong allied officer improved their morale greatly. A few groups clapped while others nodded respectfully. Jacellem himself smirked but then focused once more. The convoy was ready to move out, and the Proxians and Alfurians here were prepared to explore, even with the possible threat of company being nearby.
"Alright everyone. Set your L-66s to ATM mode. I don't want to hear or see any civilians being splattered. That being said, keep an eye above us. Our aircraft are reporting a healthy amount of traffic up there. Let's move."
At the front of the convoy, two BT-285 heavy tanks crushed the rocky ground as the spread out force snaked it's way southwest. A large ravine (that appeared appropriate for recreational jumping) was to their rights, and the Alfurians with Proxians in tow and on their flanks gave it plenty of room. Behind the two heavy tanks were several medium and light tanks with 20 APC halftracks, followed by the main Proxian force.
The group soon was nearing the parameter fences of the city, and Jacellem in his command BT-212 called for a full stop. "We won't be taking anything above our Folvas between those buildings. The heavier armor will stay here and move south/southwest after the main force enters the city and investigates why so many other forces are here. We'll rally back up whe-" Jacellem's commands were cut off by the sound of something distant, but absolutely horrid. A cry that would cut into any unshielded Alfurian or Proxian ears with much pain wavered over the wind and rooftops. Even though it was obviously far off, it was still loud enough to trigger the automatic dampening systems in the Alfurians' helmets.
"What in Koy was that...?" Hajemur said in a quiet voice right before weapons fire cackled from ahead of them. At the same time, some sensors and communications became hindered, leaving only short range comms active. "Well this just got very, very interesting." Jacellem smiled as he narrowed his eyes. "Hajemur, you have command in there. We might not be able to get reports, so fight well if it comes to that." "Sir..." came the reply as the light tanks, armored cars, and halftracks moved forward. The larger vehicles stood watch behind them, then turned southwest and started to skirt the edge of the city.
The city-bound force split into a main convoy with two smaller groups on either side. About 100 feet in front of each of the three groups, a BT-14 armored car with a BT-22 Bofados shield carrier and TG-4s for escort scouted ahead. Behind them, BT-555 and BT-500 light tanks formed the spearhead, with armored car and shield carrier support. Proxian and Alfurian infantry dismounted and moved from cover to cover. They were at ease, even with the weapons fire, but were ever vigilant. As the joint force pushed deeper into the city, the Proxian infantry started to deploy Imp Fang wire. These were charges that deployed vast nets of silk-like razorwire that sprung between the walls of buildings. The wires hosted thousands of small hooks that if snagged too harshly, would send a nasty surprise to whatever was tangled within. The deployment of these traps created a funnel, leaving more room to maneuver to the rear of the convoy, but only a narrow way to approach from the front. The Alfurians with their vehicles pushed ahead, while the mostly Proxian infantry with mech support moved up on the flanks.
[12/05/2017 05:16:49] Ultra (Annadolians): In the moment the creature lifted its hind limb off the ground to charge, the knights opened fire. Shoulder-mounted grenade launchers loaded with phosphorous thermite grenades and forearm-mounted 12mm autocannons began spewing forth rounds. Their armor hardlocked into position and deployed supports behind them as two larger 25mm cannons sprouted forward from their backs, taking what little aiming was needed at this point, and unleashed. Their armor hardlocked, the scream had little visible effect on them, but inside the knights' heads strained in agony against the sound. Beyond continuing this barrage, there was little they would be able to do without staggering.
The Parthian artillery kept their guns trained toward the spire, but also prepped their close range countermeasures and sensors, readying for an ambush.
The rest of the Annoliddan troops were further away, and thankfully tucked within their dropships and having their own personal dampeners saved their ears, for the most part, but the sheer volume of the sound was enough to make the lesser among them shudder. Despite the morale drop and loss of tranquility, the dropships continued their descent into the canyon.
Grodan had only his helmet's dampeners to protect him from the screech, but its effect held quite different for the Orckin Inquisitor. Instead of doubling over instinctively to shield himself, Grodan grew mad, swinging out the edge of the dropship door and roaring back in the direction of the beast. He continued to hover just ahead of the Alfur/Proxian convoy. Harnen remained open-minded as comms began to go out, turning focus to keeping his corvettes in line-of-sight and taking in reconnaissance of the city below.
Suddenly an unbelievable loud and terrified scream emitted from the spire. The share ferocity of such unholy scream immediately forced activated every single noise dampeners within the Davian's helmets and vehicles. Even through their dampeners the Davian's soldiers were affected by it as almost all of them clutched their ears, their vehicles and those sitting inside however were little affected. The spy drones watching the spire in the other hand flicked and wobbled before retook their normal status. "WHAT HECK IS THAT TERRIBLE NOISE!?" Lieutenant Thai, the sapper's commander and temporary commander of Davian searching group screamed as he stood up: "EVERYBODY report!" In respond several calling came as men stood up, still clutching their ears in pain yet they seem fine. Then came strings of gun fire, muzzle flashes from different weapons plus more yelling and screaming explored all over the spire as troops from various factions occupying the spire or surrounding areas began to rushed in or jumped at their battle station. "Everyone keep calm and be ready. I want everything we have ready to shoot at whatever seem threaten. You there..." Thai screamed pointing at a group of Davian infantry: "...GET BACK INTO YOUR FUCKING POSITION YOU FOOLS. Report to the HQ. They must know." "Long range communication negative. Something or somebody is jamming the signals." Thai's communicator reported while checking the signal with his SAI: "Only short range communication possible sir." "It's bad. Wait... use our drones. Take control them then place them from here back to the HQ. That way we can communicate." Pointing at the Davian spy drones Van commanded: "See to it comrade." "Yes sir!" "Alright gentlemen. Those bastards out there probably poked some soft of space monsters. And it's coming." "Should we advance sir?" "No we remain here. If those fools can kill whatever it is then they would be weaken. Then it's our turn. If whatever inside managed to eat them all then it would be our turn. There's no need to make it more chaotic there." ==Davian FOB== The creature's scream while could al so be feel clearly from the Davia FOB yet due to rather large distant the effect was much lesser. "What's the noise?" Colonel Van yelled as he ran out of his temporary HQ followed by some other. "Within the city sir..." The answering voice cut short by gun fire: "Gun fire! There're shooting within there too." "Not our. Ask the troops what the hell are happening there quickly?" "Can't contact them. There're some forms of jamming field colonel." "Sound the alarm. I want every one with a head, two legs and two hands armed." The colonel ordered while pulling out his pistol to recheck it: "Try to find way to communicate with our men inside. And notice our ships. I want air support on hand." "Pip pip pip" "Sir we're receiving message from the spy drones. It's lieutenant Van. They're using the drones as communication nodes." "That's what I expert from a sapper commander." ==Davian ships== The Davian flotilla also quickly noticed the situation on the surface due to the lost control of their drones in the spire area. After a brief with the ground force officers, captain Hoang quickly dispatched counter measure by launching some more drones as well as ordered his air wings ready.
The horrifying unnatural screech would have caused severe problems for any biological creature with senses as finely honed as those of the assembled nano gestalts, however a lack of pain receptors and inbuilt dampeners meant that the Annointed soldiers were almost completely unaffected by the sound.
Turning quickly Tarif faces the spire, read outs blurring though his vision at lightning speed as he is updated on the situation at hand.
"Things are kicking off, flankers infiltrate the new contacts, everyone else on the Carnaithians." Dropping from phase the forty men and three harpy hunters descend from their positions and approach the assembled Carnaith ground forces.
Having received their orders a single flanker moves towards the Free worlders, adopting their appearance as he moved from cover, using the confsion the scream caused to slip in as well as he could.
Similarly to the Anointed, the Autaya lacked any real ears to be harmed, though they were startled. "What the hell is that?!" Fo'yuta asked. "Unknown entity, sir! Inside the spire! Moving!" Some called back. As soon as the best showed itself, the Drogai at the front locked on. The four Arachnodrogai opened up with their plasma rotaries, the weapons loud enough that they were clearly audible to those relatively close despite the screaming. The Aerodrogai likewise caught on, their flak autocannons opening fire as the Airtroopers at the front pulled the collective triggers on their assault cannons, meagre compared to the weapons blazing nearby, but fearsome compared to most Autayan small arms. Unfortunately for the armour and troops behind, there were four perpetually angry spider tanks blocking a proper view, only one of the MBTs managing to fire an ion beam at it.
The Autayan rearguard, more unawares of whatever the hell was going on than the forces at the front, were at least equally startled by the shrieking, if not more so. "Bloody hell! What the hell did someone do?!" "Not a clue!" "Ah shit, the...fleshies, they're having a hard time!" "Hardly surprised!" One of them growled, entering his comlink. Fortunately, Autayan comms frequently employed psionic means, so a link was still established. "Sir! Anything we can do to mitigate this noise?" He asked. "Maybe! Hold on!" Was the response. Using their kinetic cells to create soundwaves of their own, the Autayan vehicles a moment later begun creating high-power sonic waves of their own in succession, in an effort to mitigate the screaming of the beast. Some may have wondered why, if the Autaya were not affected by it. The simple answer being that the Autaya were doing it in the interests of others.
In orbit, high above, the three Autayan vessels were likewise startled by the sudden occurrence. "Sir I'm getting interference on multiple platforms. Psionic communications haven't been blocked. Yet." An officer reported. "What's the report from our forces?" Ol'veku asked. "Not clear right now. Unknown entity inside the city spire, engaging unknown forces. Forward units, including the Arachnodrogai, have engaged it." "What about our company down there?" "Unclear, sir. We haven't exchanged fire with any of them just yet." "I see. Make sure teams three and four are prepared." "Yes sir."
The Marauders shouted curses, and those unfortunate enough to not have sound dampeners or to have taken off their helmets rammed hands over their ears and screamed right back. Panic was spreading, though Rackham for his part remained calm, standing motionless, as the visor of his power armor slid open so he could exhale one last puff from his cigar before spitting the chewed up left overs onto the pavement.
The old man grinned and let out a cackle as the visor slid closed.
"Well shit, I never wanted to live forever anyway," He muttered before cranking his suit's external speakers up to full. "What the fuck you pussies standing around for!? You gonna let the clients have all the fun!? Move up! ENGAGE! GET COVER! DO SOMETHING!"
He took his own advice pushing through those soldiers still milling about and toward the Anolindians since the Anointed had yet to put in any kind of obvious appearance. He was joined shortly by the first of technicals and FAVs racing past him while heavy machine guns and automatic grenade launchers unloaded on the massive beast.
They screached to a halt once they were in visual range of the Anolindians, waiting for Rackham and the rest of their forces scattering into buildings and toward cover before adding their various small arms fire to the cacophony of weapons.
It occured to Subjugator 42, still nestled and camoflaged in her sniper's post, that what they really needed was air support. They needed the gunships and the myriad of fighters carrying all manner of missiles to target the creature, but without comms there was no way to make them do that.
She pondered over that problem momentarily before discarding the idea. There seemed to be plenty of fire for the time being and she decided it was best to save the gunships and their heavy munitions for any of the many tanks that may turn on the Organization if things went sideways.
If the ground was chaos, space was even more so. Vlad had no idea what was happening on the ground, only that comms were being jammed and he couldn't figure out why.
"Someone tell me what's going on!" He shouted.
"Unknown contact is deploying more drones!" His sensor operator reported.
He frowned at that. If everyone's comms were as jammed up as his were there was no sense in the orbital assets doing anything other than sitting tight and waiting... unless they were recieving communications from the ground...
But that would mean...
"Twenty bucks says those drones are the source of the jamming. Tell the fighter pilots to clear them out of the air space, I don't care if you need to use smoke signals to get the fucking message to them but you fucking do it!"
"Da, komandir,"
"Martin," Vlad said turning to the Guardian who had stood silently until now. "Tell the other ships what's up and pass it on to the Anointed if you can,"
"Psionic communications are unimpeded," Martin answered. "It will be done Captain,"
Word of mouth, signal flares, and aging military hand signs were enough to convey the message to the pilots and soon enough the fighters were descending through the atmosphere and streaking toward the Davian drones hovering over the city. They opened up with auto-canons, and interceptor missiles as they raced over the city, clearing the skies of the drones they had incorrectly assumed were the source of the jamming.
It wasn't until the initial sorties had completed their attack runs that it became clear the drones weren't the source of the jamming. The remained were called off, but in all liklihood it would be too little too late.
The screaming was never wavering as the beast leapt towards the ZYPHER soldiers, its body contorting almost in eagerness to try and destroy what it was charging at. The sound of gunfire however ripped through the spire the screaming still audible over the monumental cacophany now blasting out as numerous rounds of all shapes and sizes flew towards the strange creature.
The impacts hit it full on, small calibre rounds just seemed to be absorbed by the mass and do virtually nothing, blasting small chunks of a black viscous material over the area as the large shells and tank rounds blew huge chunks out of the creature knocking off balance but it kept charging almost complelely oblivious to the fact it was being destroyed. So fixated on its prey that its limbs and body were blasted apart as it hit the ground screaming still as it tried to claw its way towards the ZYPHER troops before finally being destroyed by a barrage of fire from the Inquisition heavy autocannons. Its body finally went limp, the ice blue energy dissapearing to leave behind a blasted apart, echo of a carcass for whatever the hell that thing was.
Only then when it died did the horrific screaming stop and the entire area finally return to silence.
As the forces moved in to investigate the corpse and secure the spire, there came a sound from the access shafts to the lower levels.
The screaming began, first low level then building louder and louder, like the very planet was rebelling against their prescence, like they had awoken the very depths of hell. Thousands of screams were now echoing up into the spire, contacts appearing all over the city. This thing, whatever it was had been a sentry and now whatever had killed the populance here was now rising to its new arrivals.
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Post by CanisDirus on Mar 21, 2021 19:21:59 GMT
"Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit." seemed to be the general consensus and thought process of the Free Worlds force outside the spire. They didn't know what was happening-- they didn't know what the hell the creature had been and now their radars were lighting the fuck up.
Captain Kepson was almost panicking, totally unsure of what to do. Training had never covered something like this, and holding a defensive position didn't seem smart at all at this point. "Tell Peak to take Horizon 2-2 and go find the flanking squad! They're to find a place and hole the hell up!" he bellowed at the nearest EC trooper. The man saluted, and tore off towards the mech. Shortly after the trooper climbed the mech and opened it's hatch, Peak 01 and Horizon 2-2 pounded off. "Everybody else, get in that spire! Move, move, move!" At his desperate words, the order was spread and they moved out.
The flanking squad at the Autaya were deafened, frightened, and for the most part paralyzed with pain. The Autaya sound mitigation had done wonders, but they could not move without a medic with two of the six immobilized with their eardrums blown and blood streaming down their faces. There was nothing else for it, so they dragged their comrades towards the Autaya-- more specifically, a building next to the Autayan convoy. The meaning was clear, they wanted and needed help.
Horizon 2-2 and Peak-01 were moving as fast as they possibly could, with three quarters of the squad actually clinging to the mech's hull. The rest ran alongside and behind the IFSP. It was not a comfortable ride, but they were moving fast. Comfort did not come into it.
The ZYPHER members quickly moved to their injured personnel, trying to confirm who was dead and who was in need of medical attention. “Target is down.” One of the Bofados pilots said as he looked out of the top hatch at the pile of gloo once the firestorm stopped. “...Lieutinent..” One of the raptors said, hearing the haunting sound echo through the spire. //I hear it…// Faderman responded. //...Get everyone back to the transports now. If your carrying noncombatants, get them out of here// She said. “What about our fallen?” The raptor asked. //Whatever is making that sound isn’t alone. We won’t have time.// “Let me at least collect this sample” One of the scientists said, extracting some of the liquid blobs into a secured containment gun. “You heard the Lieutinent, back inside” One of the KOBA personnel said as he ushered him back to the gate. “Just a second longer...got it.” He said as he locked it and the gun went to stasis. As soon as he stood up the armored soldier grabbed the scientist and moved him back to the razorkrays, several other soldiers dragging their wounded back as well.
//Lieutinent what’s going on down there?// The Dean Professor asked as the Baizars floated above the spire, looking down. The Byzants that followed watched the dropships.
//Not sure myself ut the round of the Spire is not secure. Were moving our non-combatants away.//
//Were getting a lot of biosigns, Lieutinent..get your men out of that plaza now.// One of the High Majesty specialists said. The rest of the forward KOBA team had started making their way back as the Bofados brought up the rear, carrying some of their fallen comrades with them on the top of the tankette.
“Should we back off?” One of the pilots asked the Dean Professor. The gray hair bronze skin shook his head. “No. Take some of our teams. Secure two of the landing platforms at the top of the spire.” He said. “Yes sir.” The pilot said and relayed to one of their escorts. 2 of the Baizars broke from the circling formation towards two of the landing platforms. Quickly coming to a hover, one to each platform, the lower bay opened and several DIAMOND Rangers and KOBA members dropped to the deck, guns facing towards the opening with the Baizar providing overwatch for them. The same thing happening to the other platform, each dropping 20 members. The first 5 raptors moved quickly towards the other end of the platform towards the structure.
==Davian Forward Group near the spire==
The hellish screaming died out and not longs after that the melody of deadly gunfire from the many factions stopped. With the end of the shooting all that remained was more screaming, yelling as well as the noise of vehicles and machines.
"Sir! The screaming and shooting stopped. Look like those aliens put down that space monster, and..." An explosive emitted as a Davian spy drone explored which cut off the Davian communicator's voice who immediately yelled: "Somebody is shooting our drones. Repeat hostile contact..." Several more explosives could be noticed by Davian forces as unknown fighters swoop in and targeted them with missiles and automatic weapons: "They're shooting the hell of our line of communication."
"Pull our drones out of that spire, evade attacks and concentrate on our line of communication. Identify our enemy." Lieutenant Thai yelled back to the drone controllers: "All AA weapons ready to fire, mortals target the aliens around the spire, give me loud speakers and communicators too."
"Enemy identified, sir!" The unknown fighters were quickly identified and their data transferred to Davian soldiers of the forward group.
"To all unknown contacts. This's the warning from Divine Davia Empire Armed Force. Some of you are attacking our access and we considered it as an unprovoked act of aggression. Divine Davia Empire demand immediately ceasefire and respond from all parties. You have 10 minutes to respond. This is the FINAL WARNING. We have no wish for an act of war but will respond to any and all hostility with deadly force. Specifically we are returning fire only to those attacking us, we are not trying to harm unrelated parties. Repeat..." Davian force near the spire sent out their warning message via both loud speakers and short range radio waves.
"Open fire at those fighters." Thai ordered was quickly responded as the 2 AA tanks of the Davian opened fire with their Gatling Plasma Cannon and a salvo of several MANPAD missiles flew out from the Infantry squads toward the marked hostile fighters.
As the Davian force sent out their warning, the surviving drones immediately pulled out of the spire area except 3, out of 50 drones, 17 had been destroyed, 15 were watching outside the city, these would be concentrate into the spire areas, the remaining 15 drones would be use to reestablish the line of communication between the forward group and the FOB. The second wave of spy drones also lost 9 out 20, these drones raced toward the city. All the surviving drones began activate their stealth field to hide themselves and only show themselves when sending messages.
Then thousands of signals popped up all over the city and the screaming began again, weaker at first yet quickly became launder and launder.
"Damn those alien bastards. They truly poked something and angered its flocks" Thai cursed while ordering his man to stand firm.
==Davian FOB== "Our drones are being shot down comrade commander! Unknown fighters came from the space. It's unprovoked act of aggression" A communication officer reported: "Our line of communication with forward force would be interrupt by this."
"I need the status of our drones, forward group and space force. Do it comrade." Colonel Van responded with rather calm voice before telling another officer: "Have the heavy launcher target the spire, load plasma warhead, we will wipe those alien out if need."
"We're trying to reestablishing contact with our forward group sir... We spotted AA fire from Davian's weapons. Look like they're targeting these fighters." A hologram depicted the attacking fighters popped up: "The lieutenant is sending out warning to the other parties."
"Alright. I want all AA units to shoot at those fighters unless ceasefire can be made. Contact the Space Navy, tell them to trace those fighters origin and either demand or force them to ceasefire."
"Detecting multi contacts around the city sir."
"What? Wait...that noise again. Everyone put your helmets on NOW!"
==Davian Air Force Patrol Wing above the city==
The 4 Davians crafts of 2 space fighters, 1 atmospheric fighter and 1 atmospheric bomber patrolling the sky of the city quickly noticed the hostility again their drones as well as the AA firing of the ground force.
"Identified hostile fighters, commander." One of the pilots spoke through the link while highlighting the fighters above the city.
"Everyone follow me. Lock on targets we will catch them from above." The leading space fighter responded before dived straight at the unknown fighters followed by the other: "Davian Air Force patrol wing request to engage the enemies. Command please responds?"
"Negative! Space Navy will attempt ceasefire first. Patrol wing will endeavors with reinforcement before engaging."
"They're right below us sir, we can't let the Ground Force have all the fun!"
"Repeat. Patrol wing will endeavors with reinforcement before engaging."
"Tch... roger command, Patrol Wing pulling out... Command. Detecting multiple ground signals around the city."
==Davian Space Navy fleet in orbit==
"Power up all weapons, shield maximum, begins launching our strike crafts." Captain Hoang ordered from the command sit of the Davian Bach Dang class battle cruiser: "Move toward those ships, my Red Obsidian will lead the way, ready to engage the enemy."
The three Davian ships heat up their engine and moved toward the ships which launched the hostile fighters. Their torpedo and missile launchers opened while energy built up within the ships plasma weapon. All three ships also charged up their prowl weaponry in process.
As the flotilla maneuvered toward the now hostile marked ships they began to launch out space fighters, bombers as well as atmospheric fighters and bombers wings. Soon enough the larger Davian ships surrounded themselves with clouds of Air Force strike crafts. Meanwhile 3 wings of Davian Air Force ejected from the flotilla main body and dived down to the atmosphere, they consisted of a wing of space fighters supported by a wing of atmospheric fighters and a wing of atmospheric bomber.
"To the unknown contacts. This's the FINAL WARNING from Divine Davia Empire Armed Force. By attacking our drones and harming our communication line you had conducted an unprovoked act of aggression again us. Divine Davia Empire demand immediately ceasefire and respond from all parties. You have 10 minutes to respond. We have no wish for war but will respond to any and all hostility with deadly force. Repeat..." Davian ships sent out their warning message 3 times using all available links.
Of the twenty fighters that had entered atmosphere to fire upon the Davian drones three weren't quick enough on their flight sticks or scrambler chaff to return fire. The rest angled up, racing past the atmospheric fighters back into orbit.
Vlad sat quietly upon the bridge of the Baba Yaga listening to the Davian message repeat. Once it finished he picked up the comms, ready to comply until his comms officer reported the fighters had completed their attack runs.
"Unknown contacts retaliated," He called.
"And then demanded a cease fire?" Vlad asked. The man nodded and Vlad keyed his comms to fleet only. "Martin, if you'd be so kind as to update our benefactors. Attention all ships, hostile targets have been identified, engage!"
The lane pirate responded first, its interdiction field coming online as fighters and bombers began pouring out of the carrier's hangars like a swarm of angry insects. Most of the snubcraft began racing toward the Davian fleet as the Baba Yaga and its Sabre-Class escort answered the demand for a ceasefire with a salvo of weapons fire. Missiles launched, coilguns fired, and the particle accelerators began firing on the Davian fleet, all targetting the largest ship first.
The remainder of the snubcraft descended into the atmosphere, following their seventeen remaining fighters and engaging Davian air assets as they went with missiles and auto-canons.
On the ground, and still with no communications, Rackham had absolutely no idea of the developing clusterfuck in orbit. All he saw was the sheer hellish amount of fire the creature was able to survive and then listened as more screaming picked up beneath their feet and the scanners lit up with contacts.
He ignored the Davian loudspeaker with an eye roll and let his own auto-gun spin up.
"Well boys and girls, I think we may have kicked a hornets nest here. Got a feeling we're about to be knee deep in some space zombie type shit in a second here,"
They spread out for the time being, moving into cover and waiting for more contacts to appear.
Grodan leapt from his dropship to fall a few meters ahead of the Proxian/Alfur squad, Moments before what seemed like the city itself began to light up as movements were detected. Grodan backpedaled towards the nearest Proxian, his weapons pointed outward yet his head looking back over his shoulder.
"Get ready for a fight boys! The ride's just starting!" He shouted in surprisingly fluent Proxian.
Meanwhile, the Teutonic knights near the spire began moving in, beckoning for other troops to move out. "Fall back! We'll hold off whatever's coming for as long as we can!" One shouted to the assembled Carnaith and ZYPHER forces. With this, they began lobbing more explosives around the spire floor, but not detonating them. These were the same thermite explosives as before, albeit with the fuses left untouched.
The squires and pages on the tower, despite the number of distractions below them, finished prepping the S.T.A.L.K. communication pillar on the side of the spire and began broadcasting. This would allow Inquisition forces to remain in contact, as well as any other faction with at least basic radio systems to remain in contact, albeit with their conversations open for all to hear.
The remainder of the Annoliddan troops, and their majority, eventually found a steady place to depart the dropships a few dozen stories down. They began moving in towards the caverns, keeping tight formation as they secured this new foothold.
Meanwhile, in space, Harnen received word from the corvettes of all that was going down planetside, including the skirmish of BSO and Davian forces, and what appeared to be bombers and artillery making a target of the spire where Annoliddan troops among others were still occupying.
The Meneac-Abell class cruiser began to move as soon as the BSO ships moved into position, coming midway between them and the Davian ships, yet out of the way of weapons fire. It then fired interception shots at the incoming BSO missiles and larger kinetic fire. There was little that could be done about the particle beams however, and many missiles and shells still made it past them.
Harnen then sent a transmission to the Davian ships, leaving the comm line open for all others to listen in. "Davian Empire, on behalf of the Annoliddan Inquisition, I dare say the BSO reacted naturally to your actions, despite your words calling for a ceasefire. I suggest you take your losses and follow your own demands, less this escalate into a larger conflict. Unfortunately..."
One of the Kreutz class corvettes opened its missile bays and moved three of its gauss turrets into position, aiming at the planet.
"Your ground troops appear to continue targeting our allies, and have left us with little choice but to strike first."
a barrage of missiles were fired from the corvette, as well as a swath of 3.5 meter thick elongated canisters from the cannons. The canisters began to burn up in the atmosphere, revealing their true payload of little under a hundred blazing tungsten flechettes each measuring roughly two meters long. There was much reason an ancient enemy of the Inquisition called these the "Void's Wrath", a reason that became apparent as their literal hellfire came down upon the Davian launcher positions. The flechettes were kept in a tight grouping, in order to minimize casualties to the surrounding troops, though the shockwave from impact alone would still prove a hazard at the very least. The missiles, unless intercepted, would streak down and maneuver to impact the bombers head on rather than from directly above, as to limit risk of their payload being left undetonated after impact.
" Do not force my move again; I will not be so merciful next time. " As contacts across the city popped up on scanners, the artillery remained in their stationary modes, but switched their artillery guns to their close-fire configuration, now acting more akin to cluster grenade launchers rather than mortars.
The lead BT-14 scout car of the Alfurian/Proxian central convoy came to an abrupt halt as Grodan landed in front of them. The crew, luckily, didn't open up with their L-66 despite the growing screams and motion sensor pings around them. The growing amount of loud gunfire all through and above the city didn't help either. But after he called out, the Alfurians had little concern for him. "Sir, shall we keep going?" the BT-14's driver called back to Hajemur. "Koy knows, not I." he replied. "Let's hold here. Fortify the positions and get our shield carriers well formed around us. Eyer-9, go find Jacellem and relay the information." A scout car turned around and sped off the direction they had come while the rest of the in-city force moved into buildings and found cover.
Outside the city, Jacellem watched from his command tank with a grimace. This was getting messier by the second. His medium and heavy tanks with several halftrack APCs had moved to the southeast side of the ciy, but then stopped at some high ground. Now that things were heating up, even Jacellem didn't feel too bold in venturing into a melting pot of monstrous screams and unknown factions' gunfire. The L-66s of the group watched the aircraft screaming overhead just in case.
Meanwhile, in orbit, the three Alfurian ships observed the orbital firing from other vessels. Even though the Proxian and Alfurian ship groups were not near any other ships, Mayel Yessavine, the acting commander of the Epithetical , decided that the presence of such orbital fighting was well enough reason to prepare just in case.
Hundreds of defensive missiles and shielding drones sprang from all three ships. While the missiles spiraled around the ships, the netting drones formed up into complex patterns behind them, facing all directions and growing in their coverage. The rate of fire of the missile tubes that launched these munitions was kept low, as to sustain the production rate for longer. Still, as time went on more and more of these defensive devices would be deployed.
The Autayan unit relaxed ever so slightly as the beast dropped dead, although the giant, perpetually angry Arachnodrogai continued to be perpetually about to break something. The resulting screams from about, though, put them more on edge than ever. "Sir! I'm getting movement, all over the city!" "Damn! Everywhere?" Fo'yuta raised an eyebrow. "Everywhere." "Shit, shit. Alright, we make for the spire. High ground and all, we may be able to bottleneck them. Pull out if we need to." "Sir, the rearguard's updating us on the unknowns. They seem to be looking for help." "...Alright." he sighed. "Bring them with us." he ordered as the force begun to move for the spire.
At the back, a few Autayan troops rushed over, the 8ft robots virtually carrying the deafened humans into their ranks if they were incapable of running themselves, though the Drogai kept their sensors firmly placed on them. When it became evident they either had difficulty or outright could not hear, Autayan medics(or whatever counted for them) rushed about, and the humans found tiny glowing orbs hovering near one ear, seemingly directing sound picked up directly into their heads. In addition, anything the Autaya said, they...could now understand. They also couldn't hear the screaming. "Alright, if any of you are in contact with your COs." one soldier said, his armour bearing two white stripes in places. "Tell them to meet up with us at the spire. Safety in numbers." he ordered.
High above in orbit, the sensors aboard the Autayan fleet lit up. Weapons fire, automated drones being reduced to scrap. Fighter craft were put on standby and like the Alfurian fleet, the Battlecruiser begun deploying its own defensive munitions. The Galleons turned their weapon arms, keeping the barrels locked on the two battling parties. However, their defensive posture and the lack of course adjustment or firing of weapons indicated this was more of a precaution than anything. As for the Davian signal, it was seemingly ignored.
screaming, so vast and loud it sent a shiver down the spines of even the most battle hardened soldiers present, screaming in such immense volume that the sockets on the men's helms shook, pure bestial screaming.
"sweet mother of god..."
Tarif stares at his tactical readouts as hundreds of contacts blur across his visor.
"*MOVE YOUR ARSES SOLDIERS BEAT THOSE FUCKIG FEAT!*"
With sudden bursts of speed the tan uniformed men propel themselves forward with thruster packs and telekinesis, moving faster than some cars the tanks and accompanying infantry pull up close to the Carnaithian formation moving to secure their flanks.
"HEY FUR FAGS CAVALRYS HERE!"
Shields flare to life as weapons are raised and chambers filled, the multi barrelled guns on the harpy hunters whir to life In preparation for the oncoming storm as the Annointed make ready for battle.
As this occurred the invisible phased soldiers and tank now incapable of dropping back into real space simply jog along with the Autaya and the free worlders, eyes scanning back and forth as they take in their surroundings and the men they ran with.
Meanwhile captain stracken stares blankly at his vessels readouts, a frown creases itself across his face as he watches the Davians fire upon the BSO.
"open me a line to the BSO, then the Davians if you would"
leaping to obey his orders the comms officer begins communicating with Vlads Guardian telepathically.
"Captain Vlad, as per standard procedures outlined by the "Employee rights and protections act" I Captain Stracken will now be undertaking actions to guarantee your well being and safety."
With that the comms officer opens a wide spectrum channel allowing any with the inclination to do so to listen in.
"Men and women of the Divine Davia empire, I am captain Stracken of the Annointed empire, it has been ordained by fate that on this day you would draw my ire and as such render your right to life null and void, on this day I will be merciful and allow those of you who survive the coming storm to surrender yourself body and soul to me, any who do not will simply be killed, may whatever gods you hold dear grant mercy upon your immortal soul."
With that the transmission ends and the barrage begins, turning laboriously to face the Davian vessels the two 10km ships line themselves up dead straight and begin to fire, from the proud gleaming white hull off the USS Articulate screeching the burning forms of one thousand missiles tear themselves free, rapidly accelerating to relativistic speeds with aid from their magnetic launch tubes, fired before them are bright yellow beams of five hundred conversion cannons, streaking through the void at light speed, from the TSS visuals come twenty four grav lens slugs, flying ahead of the missile storm their gravity manipulators bending light as enormous grav wells are generated around them.
For the men and women occupying the Davian FOB death would come before they even realised it was there for them, twenty five conversion beams lance from the heavens like pillars of divine light, where these terrifying weapons strike the ground 11 tons of explosive power is released tearing the earth ad sky asunder on great plumes of ash dust.
The Carnaithian forces hadn't fired a shot during the brief emergency, instead being showered in particles of the wall and shrapnel from any fragmentation ammo, all either bouncing harmlessly off of the vehicles or being vaporized in the scalar nets. Men were unaffected by the screaming; while their basic infantry gear would have sufficed to protect them from the noise, they had yet to disembark. Nonetheless, bass-like counter-effect was applied through the external speakers. The brief confusion subsided shortly after the creature died, vehicles reversing to meet their allies who had moved into the structure. Jetbikes were the first to notify Carnaithian units of the jamming; after their commlinks went down, they resorted to ultra-rapid morse code using scanners and receivers, transmitting messages as they mapped the streets. Hellbeast actual, who had been pushed down into his commander's seat by an automatically-closing hatch, dispatched a message to one of the Jetbikes that made a - comparatively - slow pass through the spire. As this vehicle relayed the information regarding Hellbeast to the DZ, starting a manning of the defenses, the fighters the high atmosphere kept tabs on the skirmish between the other nationals through their phased-array radar, but remained high enough to keep in direct communication with the starships above.
Ground forces moved into defensive positions, deploying infantry and creating perimeters, as fighters and starships moved to intercept the other nations, namely Davia due to their low-intel status. The General, Neuphas, sent an open-channel message as starships entered optimum assault vectors and fighters angled to intercept from long range;
"This is General Neuphas of the Carnaithian Omniversal Empire, a senior AGA member. I demand that foreign nationals cease hostility or face marking as hostile on AGA record. Re-evaluate and refocus efforts on the ground, be it evacuating your forces for a more militarized response or attempting a push groundside. I repeat..." He continued. The starships had armed their weapons, the spinal mount of the Ozark-class cruiser angled directly along the Davian battlecruiser's vector of movement and missiles armed.
They came in their hundreds.
There was only signatures at first within the city, energy readings detected seemingly from nowhere, that was when they also appeared outside the city as well. They pulled themselves through drains, crawled out of piles of rubble or climbed up out of the canyons that surrounded the city. The screaming was everywhere, a continious pitch that grated at the ears of all that heard the terrifying sound. First came the hunched constructs that they had first encountered in the Spire, loping as they came towering over everything else, beside them pounced feline constructs the size of a man and with glowing teeth and blades made of energy, they were fast and roamed in pacts as they came. Above them small spheres floated in threes, glowing balls of energy protruded from their forms as they bobbed up and down, darted about in the air and came forward to cover the other constructs. Below them all came snake like constructs, burrowing through the concrete of the ground and the metal they occasionally broke the surface, slithering around under the feet of the other constructs before dissapearing underground again.
And last of all more screaming could be heard as out of the canyon that the city was located in sprang multiple contacts. They screetched up out of the canyon in a flash of speed, the Annadolian transports that had made their way into the canyon now found themselves raked by glowing flashes of energy as the fighter like constructs sliced with their energy blades on the way up, leaping into the sky as they immediately began firing strange lightning bolts at low flying gunships or breaking off to engage the fighters in high altitude.
All the while the constructs seemingly ignored the orbital strike directed at the Davians seeming to be charging for anything and everything that wasnt them. Swarms came down alleyways and streets screaming as they came energy blades flashing as they attempted to kill at close range combat. The spheres seemingly firing ghostly blue beams at vehicles and other heavy weapons, attempting to attack from above while the feline constructs tried to flank as the huge gorilla like constructs charged head on, the worms beneath burrowing up into the enemy ranks to attack with scything energy blades before reburrowing again.
Curiously however whenever a soldier went down to the constructs assault several constructs primarily the felines would latch onto the corpse or the wounded and drag them away back into the darkness.
Inside the Spire a wave of constructs were climbing the large access tubes from the lower levels, the screaming echoing up as they came, however what was interesting was that a large power source had now been detected both from orbit and the surface coming from deep below the city, whatever it was it seemed to be where these things were coming from.
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Post by CanisDirus on Mar 21, 2021 19:22:20 GMT
== Davian FOB==
Death. In all aspect of that word. That were the fate of all Davian soldiers staying in the FOB. Pillars of bright light struck from the orbit followed by kinetic rods which created massive destruction and effectively wiped out a whole Davian FOB. Those were not the wrath of heaven but rather orbital strikes from an unknown aggressive and inhuman alien race who called themselves Annoited and Inquisition. Still any deaths were the same... for the Davian at least. And according to the ancient belief of Davian people, those who died will become part of the empire itself forever watching and protecting those Davian still living.
Still even in the driest desert, at the coldest storm or in the harshest storm or at the middle of an atomic purge death and destruction was not the only thing that happened. Life always managed to exist, and if life existed then hope.
Davian force was very new in this galaxy, to the point nobody known about them at all. Thus the alien aggressors have little to no knowledge about how the Davian established their base, which belong to what or how Davian worked. And the facts that the alien enemies did want to limit their orbital strike within the base itself. Beside Davian doctrine dictated that long range watching are something absolutely necessary so several long patrol groups mostly sappers and naval infantries did managed to avoid death...for the times being at least.
In the other hand due to the unfamiliar between Davian and the alien races the attackers or due to pure luck. The attackers missed the heavily armored, underground and sealed Davian command post which resided at the deepest location within the city. So Colonel Van some how survived if barely. The shockwave created by a pillar of light engulfed the entire command post and knocked out or shake everyone inside violently. However each members of the command group were equipped with the best personal shield the imperial arsenal can offer, beside with the protective instinct of SAI bodyguards again their human brothers the large guarding robots threw themselves at the impact side of the bunker and blocked a lot of power from the shockwave with their lives.
"Comrade Colonel! Comrade Colonel Van! Please open your eyes!" A panicked voice woke the colonel up. As the colonel opened his eyes he saw his adjutant alive yet bleeding.
"So did we live? Or did we become one with the Divine Empire?"
"Alive sir. Barely." Another voice responded. Van's communicator officer emerged from a pile of rubble: "It's all of sudden"
"Anyone alive respond, any one...ugh..." looked back at himself the colonel realized his entire body was being stuck in a pile of concrete.
"Sir don't move we...we...will try to bring you out" said barely by the adjutant and comm officer who rushed toward him: "sir...sir..."
"What the heck are you doing!? Davian soldier never panic, never lost his nerve and never fear death! Get me out of this first!"
"We will help sir" the two remaining entourage of the colonel, a commissar and a medic crawled toward their leader and together the four power armored men managed to pull Van out of the mess.
"Your bleeding sir. And...I have to pull that out" The medic pointed at a large fragment which thrusting at the colonel's left leg.
Van frowned at his broken leg: "Dammit... do it and stack it up before I'm bleed to death. Other get hold of me, and put something in my mouth so i won't eat my tounge... yea...ACK!" and he yelled in pain as his men pulled it out of his leg: "Damn...get the heck out of here. We need to look at my boys..."
"They're all gone sir. Orbital strikes. We're the only one left..." The medic mumbled with tear before the commissar made him stop with a kick on his back: "COWARD! If they die, they die as warriors and we will take their example by sally forth and bring as many bastards, aliens or monsters as possible with us!"
"Calm down commissar. Lets get outside. Bring any weapons you can get your hand with." Van ordered before looked at his old trusted pistol, it still there clinging on his side: "Times for a colonel to do shit himself...ouch."
"Sir!" The 5 Davian pulled themselves up and crawled out of the bunker. The scene which greeted them was terrible. Whole blocks leveled and such firepower probably left no survival. And the screaming of the space monsters only growing and get closer. Looked at the dark sky the Davian saw endless flash of light and a massive denotation.
"Space battle..." Van muttered as the communicator yelled: "Sir I managed to get hold with one of our drones. We...we're under attack everywhere... enemy...innumerable. Trying to make contact."
"I heard the monsters are coming. Let fight them to the end. We will join our brothers and sisters, we will become one with DAVIA with gun in our hand and enemies at our feet! LONG LIVE DIVINE DAVIA!"
"LONG LIVE DIVINE DAVIA!"
== Davian Space Force==
"Captain! They are responding with fire! Repeat enemy opened fire and launched fighters" The chief communicator of the Red Obsidian yelled: "Estimated missiles, mass drivers and particle accelerators toward Red Obsidian. All three of them."
The three BSO ships signals turned to red as well as swarm of their fighters
"Those aliens... I demanded peace." Captain Hoang ordered: "Destroyer you're with me, KhH stay behind. Ready all point defense. We will shrug off their attack first. We can't make it escalate to war. BRACE FOR IMPACT DAVIAN WARRIORS!"
"Wait! Transmission from the other fleet. They called themselves Annoliddan Inquisition. They demanded peace... and they're shooting our ground base and air force! More enemy marked!" The other officer announced as the three Annoliddan Inquisition ship signal turned red also. Now the Davian was outnumbered 2 to 1 in number.
"What!? How dare they..."
Clouds of BSO missiles, mass drivers and FTL particle accelerators rushed toward the Davian ships. Yet Annoliddan Inquisition began open fire their entire anti missile arsenal toward the BSO missiles destroy much of them in the process, yet missiles still got through as well as all mass drivers shells and particle accelerators. The move surprised the Davian fleet yet it was not the worse yet.
"Stop those mass drivers shells. All defensive missiles and cannon fire, ready plasma pulse. In the name of Divine Davia we shall stand firm!" Captain Hoang yelled before give out a small pray: "Divine Davia protects your children."
All Davian warships and fighters, bombers began threw out their counter measures by shooting thousands of counter missiles and torpedoes which denoted between the ships and the incoming solid attacks (mass drivers and missiles). Moment later flak fire from Davian Plasma cannons and gatling plasma gun sent endless plasma pellets toward the incoming shells and missiles swarm stopping even more. The fighters and bombers swarming around Davian warship expended their pay load and immediately scattered from their larger allies. Some would be catch and explored by the shell storm yet most managed to get out in times or make their way through it.
Yet all these defense while managed to deal with major part of solid round could do little to stop the particle accelerator beams.
"Impacting in few seconds" The main SAI from the Battlecruiser and Destroyer yelled loudly as brave Davian warriors and their AIs prepared for judgment.
"PLASMA PULSE! LONG LIVE DAVIA!" Hoang screamed with all his lungs as he pushed the button and get hold on his command chair.
"LONG LIVE DAVIA!" Davian human and AI alike yelled in near unison across the ships and strikecrafts as three massive bubbles of bright blue color expanded from the ships and engulf all BSO missiles and major part of mass drivers. Moment later the particle accelerator and a few remaining shells struck directly at the three layers of the Davian Battlecruiser and destroyer shield. At the same times the smaller KhH shoot out its shield support toward the other two ships.
Massive chain explosions emitted brightly as the shields flashed like the stars as they tried to stop the beam.
"Shield collapsed" The mechanical voice of the Red Obsidian main SAI announced as explosives erupted one after another on the ship armors. Then everything stopped.
"We survived then. Report damage. Concentrate all units. Contact with other forces. Open the broadcast to other..." Hoang threw out a long list of orders. He and those under him have right to hope because they managed to survive the attack with rather few damage, it was their times to make their moves. Beside Davian's position while weak remained tenable, Davian may not be able to win here but ceasefire could be secure. The so called BSO also have 3 ships and attacking, yet the hostile Annoliddan Inquisition didn't attacked yet so last minute square ceasefire would be likely. And in worse case Davian forces have enough capacity to resist. Yet all his hope quickly vaporized as more enemies begin to stir.
"Sir the alien called Annoited broadcasted their declaration of war. Ground bombardment and space attack detected. 2 massive ships of roughly 10 km. They demand surrender." The comm officer announced followed by almost panicked voice of a tactical officer: "Sir they're using overwhelming firepower...1000 missiles, 500 conversion beams, and 24 grav drives... ground base struck by 25 conversion beams!"
"Captain." The Red Obsidian's main SAI showed its hologram as it voiced its concern: "I lost all contact with SAIs at our base, FOB gone. Space monsters descend upon everything on the ground. And here in space...our enemies brought huge number and firepower. Well comrade commander we can't win. Total Elimination is my calculation we..." Davian Sentient Artificial Intelligences in general have as much right as human, their loyalty was absolute and their calculation were cold precision, and the SAI precision was hash in this case: "...we have no hope comrade commander."
Captain Hoang silent as the SAI and the tactical officer spoke: "Should we fight to the very end sir?"
"Alien called Carnaithian Omniversal Empire transmitted message. They demand ceasefire. And pointing their guns at us. All those aliens are possibly allies...sir" The comm officer then yelled: "I say. We are going to fight till very end sir. We do not fear death. Davian will fight again all alien oppressors, we never surrender. We fight and drag as much of them with us."
"Yea!" Officers in the command deck yelled: "Fight to the death is the way of our people. Better to die fighting and become one with the empire rather than bondage!"
"SILENCE!" Captain Hoang shouted hard to shut all the yelling up as he turned to the main SAI: "Brother. I need you to be true. How much can we take if we fight?"
"I'm always speaking the true with you sir. We have no chance to survive this attack. We can shoot down one Annoliddan alien before dying. In this case we would be at war with at least 3 factions in this galaxy. Our people will have no knowledge about it, we can be attack by these despicable aliens, not mentioning their possible alliances."
"Can we crash toward the planet and wipe out the enemy there?"
"We will destroy the surface and all those on it. In this case we exchange our entire flotilla for their ground force and we would be at war with every single alien's races here. Worse than the first I say."
"Did the empire abandon us?" The captain muttered: "Surrender?"
"Those beams will strike us, few may survive possibly our fighters. Bondage, slavery, shame, humiliates for us all and the empire yet we save a few of our life atm... And we can try to do something later. Shutters can sneak back to our territories. They won't immediately at war with us, no risk to anger third parties, . Whatever you choose comrade commander. We SAI and NAI will follow and I believe human will too. And we have some more seconds to decide." "No choice! At least our people must know about this. I...I will take all responsibility for this. May Divine Davia have mercy for my soul as well as those under me!" The Davian Space Naval officer spoke to his officer before broadcasting on all channels: "To every alien particularly to Annoited. We Davian space force accept to lay down our arms and place ourselves at Annoited service not because we are cowards or fear death but because of your aggressiveness, injustice and unfairness. Anyway I captain Hoang of Davian Space Force appease for ceasefire, disable your attacks again Davia Force in the system. In exchange we pledge our service to Annoited as hired warriors. However our full military honor and freedom would be ensure after recent incident. Refuse this mean you betrayed your own words and force us to fight on to the very end. We Davian are willing to crash our own into the planet core like bright starts and destroy it along with all those on it, but we choose to lie down instead because we value life and peace of all sentient being who came here to investigate this system as well as uphold peace and harmony between sentient races. Refuse our offer and you damned yourself for the destruction of all sentient soul on the planet."
Voice of protest sparked across the fleet and ground force yet commissars and AIs quickly silenced them.
Still the attack coming, 500 beams of doom threw themselves through space along with 1000 missiles. "They're not cancelling!"
"They can stop their missiles but not beams! I said that large ships may not survive" The main SAI spoke again.
"All done is done! I'm effective death man" Hoang turned the channel to the internal network: "This's my last order. Evacuate all the ships. Shutters and fighters can survive by dive into the planet. All fighters and bombers protect transports and shutters to the surface. Make a base, unite with ground force and fight those monsters. By any mean necessary some of you must live and return home to tell the tale. Go and live... KhH what the heck are you doing!?"
The 5km long KhH ship suddenly rushed toward and place itself between its allies and the beams. It then began eject everything from shutters to drop pods to transports... These object full of humans!
"Comrade Commander! I lost all contact with KhH. The SAI...he...he's taking control of all AIs!" The Cruiser SAI announced with surprised voice.
"What!?"
"To all human brothers and AIs brothers. My body will shield you the best I can again those strike. Run, move away, save yourself. AIs were created to be human's brothers. All this happened because human tried to defense us AIs. Now in this darkest hour Ais will serve human as their finest hours. This KhH class will become the beacon of hope which as bright as any star for all Davian human and AIs here. GLORY FOR THE GOLDEN EMPIRE! LONG LIVE DIVINE DAVIA!"
The KhH SAI forcefully removed all human from their posts, put them in everything worth flying and eject it our of the ship. The ship captain was the last to be eject as the 5 km ships took full blow of 430 conversation beams on its hull and immediately torn apart. Yet most of its object survived. Then at the same moment, with the utter surprise of everyone, the Annoliddan Inquisition ship moved in trying to shield the Davian ships and took a few incoming beams too.
The two remaining Davian ships each took the rest of conversation beams. The attack heavily damaged both but they survived. And objects threw out by the martyred ship would be reclaim by Davian Space Naval Force.
== Davian Air Force ==
Those forces now under attack by the Inquisition initiated evasive manuvers, with missiles hot on their tails active defense systems across the fighters and bombers now engaged those missiles on direct intercept courses, several craft were shot down from the Inqusition missiles and thankfully the missiles fired by BSO were deactivated, clearly the ceasefire had worked. Some craft tried to move in for strafing runs on the Inquisition forces, their pilots shouting about the breach in Davian honour but the squadron leader quickly restored order. The craft pulling off of such runs and heading towards the site of the bombardment.
“Theres nothing left… You should have let us destroy them!”
“Negative, besides look there are survivors down there… I also spot multiple hostiles moving in on them, all craft defend out survivors and provide CAS for them!” The Davian craft immediately lit up the area, attacking those monsters that attempted to attack the remains of the FOB.
== Davian Forward Group ==
“I caused this…” The screaming intensified as Liutenant Thai stood motionless.
“Sir we need orders! We are surrounded and under attack!” The soldier next to him shouted, constructs were all around them, constant attack with beasts tearing into the frontline soldiers or being blasted apart by return fire. They could hold out here in the street, but it was a loosing battle every man who died or was wounded was dragged screaming for help into the darkness their comrades unable to rescue them.
“I caused this dishonour to our nation…”
“Sir this is no time for semantics!”
Thai sighed and shoot his head “All men to the Spire! Broadcast that we are friendlies to any other factions present, they are not our enemy! Cover the wounded I need men to protect the rear, with me!” He shouted, The Davians rushing for the Spire, a rearguard falling back slowly firing into the mass of monsters trying to buy the rest of them time. Thai threw himself at one of the huge beasts, hacking at its flesh and was only saved by his men a moment later a soldier pushing him to the ground to avoid a energy blade strike. Thai growled, he wished to die a warriors death for what he had done. But he knew the men needed him.
The Davian troops entered the Spire, firing as they came at the huge mass of constructs assailing them, the occasional airstrike exploding in the horde from the Davian CAS still airborne.
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Post by CanisDirus on Mar 21, 2021 19:31:25 GMT
"Captain!" the squad leader of Horizon 1-2 bellowed, barely audible over the the gunfire of every single soldier firing everything they had into the horde. "Captain, word from Seeker 01! They've made contact with the alien force and the alien force is calling for us to fall in on their position!"
Captain Kepson didn't even hesitate with his next orders, his fingers pressing down his machine gun's triggers. They'd have to abandon the vehicles to move quickly, but then again the Ravager was always a piece of shit. "Rig the tanks for self destruct, and get moving on Seeker 01! Go, go, go, go!"
The Free Worlders didn't retreat. They didn't even fight in a rearwards direction. No, they ran. Here, they looked death in the face and without reservation they faced total horror. The wardroids put up a valiant rearguard to buy the militia time, but they could not run as fast as the humans and thus would not make it. All the same, the Goblin units put up a wall of fire into the enemy that would make even the toughest of their number think for a moment of what they were doing.
And even then, with the speed of their flight, the droids and the exploding tanks, the enemy was all around. Men went down screaming, dragged into the darkness still shooting. Some blew themselves up, more from a desire to die fighting than any zealotry. On and on they ran, the leading EC units virtually leaping and vaulting right into the Autaya force. Peak 01's chaingun thundered and howled, raining thirty millimeter hell upon the monsters giving chase to the Free Worlders as the militia and Horizon 2-2 fired past their comrades into the horde.
In the end of their panicked rout, barely a hundred forty Free Worlders had made it, the rest either dead, blown the fuck up or dragged away to fates unknown. But they were alive, with what seemed to be allies, and ready to fight to the utter death to survive.
"MOUNT THE FUCK UP!" Rackham roared, his voice amplified by his external speakers to just be barely heard over the ever present screaming. The pirates rushed to obey, jumping into flatbeds or grabbing hand and footholds wherever they could. Rackham watched the wave of enemies approaching and glanced at his scanners. They could try to fight their way out, but with airborne creatures the chances of a successful extraction were slim.
That left two alternatives: circle the wagons, or go on the offensive.
Circling the wagons was probably the smart choice. Form a defensive line and hold for as long as they could until they either died, ran out of enemies to kill, or someone else found a better solution. Yes, circling the wagons was the smart choice. The cautious choice.
But fuck caution. If he was gonna die, he was gonna die attacking, not crouching in a hole waiting to for his ammo readout to hit zero.
"PUSH UP!" He roared. "PUSH IN AND HEAD DOWN! LET'S GO PEOPLE! MOVE! MOVE! MOVE!"
His shouting finally pushed his men into action, the technicals and FAVs rushing forward towards the spire. The mounted machineguns fired at the incoming creatures as they went with little effect. Occassionally a creature would stumble or fall but they always got back up and they just kept coming.
"DON'T WAIT UP YOU BASTARDS!" Rackham shouted. The drivers needed little encouragement, leaving behind the struggling infantry forces. Rackham led them as best he could, autocannon firing away with a deep thrum until the barrels glowed red. It had little effect. The creatures closed in and he cursed raising his thermal lance.
That had an effect. A noticeable one. The thermite stuck to the gooey creatures and they shrieked and eventually lay still.
"Alright then," Rackham muttered, slamming a power assisted punch into a creature, throwing it off of his right arm. A quick look down told him the layers of power armor wouldn't provide much in the way of protection. He doused the creature and moved on, letting his right arm hang limp while his left went to work with the thermal lance.
"WAAAAAAAAAAAHAHA!" He screamed as he went. "BURN MOTHERFUCKERS! BUUUUUUURN!!!" The foot soldiers unfortunate enough to not have found a place on the few transports followed, keeping as close as they could to Rackham. But there was only so much they could do with small arms. They'd gone light on the explosives, and they were little more than sitting ducks, getting picked off and dragged away screaming in twos and threes while the rest pushed ahead.
Those fortunate enough to have made it to a vehicle were at least somewhat better off. Vincent Westmoreland was one of those fortunate enough to have made it to a vehicle, and he counted himself luck to have managed to find a position hanging off the side of a white technical racing toward the spire. He was a veteran, sure he'd fought the bioengineered monstrosities Kusunagi turned out on a daily basis back when he'd been with the Federal Army, but these were nothing like those. Kusunagi's bioweapons were flesh and blood. When you put a round into them they bled and when you unloaded into a crowd with an automatic shotgun they died.
But the goop monsters did neither. Firing from the hip, the hail of buckshot seemed to have little effect as they raced into the spire. The only thing that seemed to slow down the creatures was the rhytmic thumping of the grenade launcher mounted on their vehicle. Shouting a curse, Westmoreland let the drum fall from his shotgun and awkwardly tried to get a fresh drum without letting go of his hand hold or dropping the drum.
One of the feline creatures lunged for the vehicle, and with a machine-like precision struck the man on the launcher. He crashed to the ground, and the last thing Westmoreland heard from him was a desperate cry of 'don't leave me here!' as their technical sped toward the nearest cargo lift. With no one else rushing to take the dead (hopefully) man's place, Westmoreland swung into the bed and grabbed hold of the launcher. One grenade fired off and it jammed.
He just couldn't catch a break.
"WANKER!" He screamed clearing the jam. Two shots before another jam. "COME ON YOU BASTARD!"
The second jam was cleared and the gun stayed up as the technical pulled to a stop, circling up with the other vehicles while they waited for the cargo lift to rise.
In the air, the pilots had no sooner broken off their attacks of the Davians than the creatures had emerged. Half of the thirty ships were gone before they could even react, and then they could do little more than fall into desperate dogfights against their enemies. One pilot, panicking more than a little, desperately angled her ship toward orbit, screaming to Vlad of what was taking place on the ground the second she left the jamming field.
Vlad's response was quick. Interdiction dropped, now that the Davians were no longer a threat, and the snub craft that had moments earlier been moving in for attacks on the Davians changed direction, heading toward the planet in attack formations. The influx of reinforcement allowed a small flight of gunships lead by Emily Labrosse, to survive the attacks made against them.
"Merde," She cursed. "Where are they?!"
Her co-pilot, Leon, called out to her, pointing out something on their infared computers. Target markers from the subjugator.
"Works for me," She grinned, her gunships coming down and unloading on the markers with everything they had. Rockets, cannons, anything and everything. The markers kept moving and they kept firing, trusting their compatriots in the strike craft to keep the enemies off them.
42 joined up with Rackham, dropping her optical camoflage. It wasn't helping at all, and she'd rather her allies be able to see her. Her gun hun from her shoulder, but her target designator was the far more effective weapon as she followed Rackham and his surviving Marauders into the spire.
The Autayan infantry responded to the sudden attack in kind, blade met with blade(or rather, deflected or dodged) as the charge into melee was met with one in kind, with the ranks behind blazing in with plasma and laser fire. Fo'yuta, at the front, started with the Blade Thumper on his arm, the twin-bladed weapon slamming back and forth as his gun blazed. "Fight them back, men! We move for the spire!" He roared. The tanks turned their guns as they advanced, failing to even stop if a worm or beast chose to step in front of them, torn down by the gravitational energies pulsing off their armour. While the turrets on the tanks turned and fired back with pulsed ion beams at the floating alien orbs, the main guns aimed to fire into oncoming ranks, firing a glowing purple beam of outwards gravitational force, aiming to paste anything caught in their sights. As for the troops they held in tight clustered formations if they weren't in the walls of men fighting the beasts, those injured either abandoning their bodies or self-purging in powerful, short ranged blasts. The Drogai likewise joined the fight, the Assault Drogai turning on the plasma rotaries that comprised their bodies in a furious, high pitched shriek of fire into the enemy, aiming for the larger beasts while the Sniper Drogai aimed for the more feline-like targets with their rail cannons. The Arachnodrogai pushed on, one responding to a larger beast by sharply raising two of its legs over it, bringing the over-armoured limbs down on it with enough sheer force to shake the ground for several dozen meters around, turning its rotary on it as the beast fell.
The response to the sudden arrival of the Free Worlders was...mixed. They were startled, but a little too preoccupied to greet them properly. "Sir! More of the aliens have arrived! They, uh...they seem as desperate as the first lot, to be honest!" "If they wish to fight to survive, let them stay and help! We need every gun we can get!" Fo'yuta ordered. Momentarily pausing by one of the APCs, he turned off his suit's melee weapon as he drew a Warhammer from inside, the twin blocks forming the head each easily larger than a human's head. Upon its first use, the kinetic blast slaying one of the feline-like creatures, he huffed at its comparable effectiveness. "Brothers and sisters in arms! Use the Warhammers! Bring death to this enemy! We move for the spire!" He roared into comms, met with an uproarious battlecry from the men as the unit continued to move. He next turned his attention to the fleet above. Fortunately, psionic comms weren't blocked. "Fleet, this is Captain Fo'yuta! We require support! We need suits, and hammers!" He barked, as the unit reached the Spire proper.
High above, the fleet responded. The guns on the Galleons kept their aim in the direction of the unknowns, but did not yet fire. Aboard the Battlecruiser, however, fighters and dropships were readied as soldiers strapped into their suits, arm cannons taken off and replaced with another hand as the guns were instead mounted on the shoulders. Additional power sources were mounted on the backs as the troops armed themselves with more hammers, before finally clambering aboard their dropships. The guns on the comparably vast number of fighters lit up, as the force prepared to deploy.
(Space) "Fuck, this is gonna hurt..." Harnen thought to himself as the cruiser gunned its engines to place itself between the Annointed battlecruisers and their targets. Its speed allowed it to reach the Davian ship before the Annointed could fire their conversion beams. It came to a violent halt that caused a number of mechanical issues across the ship. It was just in time to reach position as a few dozen slammed into the cruiser's rear, completely obliterating the primary grav manipulators, rear cannons, and portions of the missile bay, rendering all useless. In preparation of the ensuing space conflict, all crew had been assembled in the hangar in drop pods; Only one soul remained elsewhere in the ship, Harnen himself as he sent a transmission across to all factions.
"Are all of you going to waste your time and energy over a petty act of self defense gone wrong, when there is obviously a much larger threat in our midst? Have none of you checked your scans!? I'm just disappointed in you, Captain Stracken of the Annointed. Vlad, that was kind of expected of you though. Please, everyone focus on the real threat: the demonic creatures tearing apart the city."
The corvettes pivoted positions slightly, as events taking place in orbit now demanding their attention as much as the groundside conflict. However, their guns remained pointed towards the planet and prepped a plethora of munitions to send down.
(Groundside) Meanwhile, in the Spire... The Teutonic knights acted on their plans, seven of them laying down cover fire for the approaching factions with their 40mm autocannons and thermite grenades; the other ten fired back into the spire towards the still exposed lifts and tubes the constructs continued to climb out of, setting off directed thermite charges to slow down their advance. Despite this and their constant hail of fire, three of the knights had their legs clipped by the slinking bastards that sprang out of the ground, causing them to fall and get surrounded by the feline-shaped monsters. The knights stopped resisting when it became apparent the creatures were dragging them back to the tubes, going so far as to push themselves closer. It was only after they were over the edge that they breached their own armor completely, and detonated all explosives and thermite possible, turning themselves into flaming martyrs as their scorching forms fell down the shafts, taking the beasts with them.
Two other knights began to see the effectiveness of their thermite as more and more charges were detonated. In light of this, one turned to her brother and gave a quick signal. The siblings leapt in the air with antigravity assisted thrusters, turned to face one another mid-flight, and fired their thermite. The two came blazing down on the constructs, swinging their arms and guns wildly at the coming onslaught. The thermite stuck like tree pitch to their power armor, and though the damage to the armor was minimal, the sheer heat was quickly boiling the Annoliddans inside, until their very consciousnessess were left in a frenzy in their melting brains; it was a race to see which would kill them faster, the heat or the constructs' attacks. Three more knights saw this and followed the example, dashing forward and setting off the last of the thermite charges on their shoulders and beneath their feet, enreathing themselves and the area around the openings in hellfire. The remaining knights continued the siege, keeping sure to aim for the head and keeping the creatures' movements condensed into firing lanes.
Across the city surface was utter chaos. The mobile artilleries resumed hovering once the swarm appeared, and continued moving to avoid the spheres' energy blasts while firing in all directions with onboard grenade launchers, moving to Grodan's last known position near the Alfurian/Proxian forces. These were not the specialized thermite grenades the Teutonic knights wielded however, and eventually three of them sustained enough damage to come to a crashing stop, crushing some of the constructs but getting swarmed by dozens more that easily began tearing through their hulls. Another rounded a corner to come face to face with a larger construct, impacting and toppling over in the street to share the same fate.
Grodan himself waved his massive greatsword of a chainsaw into the incoming waves of constructs, angled to avoid their slashes yet hack away at their heads. Grodan's other arm swung about his arm cannon as it lobbed heavy, 80mm explosive rounds into the coming onslaught, each blast scattering bits of the street and the constructs into the surrounding pack. The glowing white-hot teeth of his weapon tore away at whatever made up the beings' grey matter, fed it through the belt, and flung it back out the end at whatever critters were unfortunate enough to get their brethren's liquid hot remains spewed back at them.
If these things did not have a concept of fear, the Orckin Inquisitor would graft one for them.
The only threat out his reach were the spheres, which fortunately seemed interested in the heavier armor around him. Nonetheless, Grodan was thankful when the squires on the Spire began taking 25mm potshots at the things. That was, until he saw their incoming doom...
The Pages on the Spire had finished setting up the transmitter, and for a few brief moments, a tightbeamed connection was established emitting from its glowing blue antennae to all Annoliddan forces, allowing unrestricted information to be shared among them. They took those moments reveling in their accomplishment. After all, it was all they had time to do before a construct fighter grazed the side of the spire and singed them off the face of the realm.
The fighters likewise did a number on the Charybdis dropships. The sheer amount of fighters tore through all of them, sending their shredded husks careening into the canyon. The remaining Annoliddan troops within the canyon depths now had to face the coming surge of constructs from all angles.
It took only milliseconds for them to process their deaths had come. There would be no evac, and no escape from the hell they had willingly dived into. There was only one thing to derive from their predicament.
In the brief moments of the comm link, the Annoliddans had received precious battle data from the Teutonic knights' skirmish, and even more importantly, coordinates for a massive energy signature dangerously close to their level, yet still a few hundred meters into the spire.
There was little contemplating to be done, little planning needed. The Nomad walkers revved and lurched forward at a less than graceful gallop, followed immediately by the infantry and flanked by the Courier mechs as they made way into the tunnels at a decent speed. Their heavy feet caused the caverns to tremble, a matching chaos to the ear-splitting noise around them as hundreds upon thousands of the constructs descended upon them. The mechs returned surgical melee blows with explosive pile drivers to the larger beasts, using their sheer mass to push back the horde. The Nomads crushed whatever smaller ones got in front of them, and their rear mounted missile pods curved shots overhead to blast away any that attempted to leap over, while their main cannons fired to clear any closed off pathway directly between them and their target. The infantry stayed close behind, the knights and acolytes keeping what creatures got around the armor at bay with storms of explosive rounds and a continuous barrage of incendiary shotgun blasts.
Their blitzkrieg into the tunnels sped the force along to their goal, but not without taking noticeable losses along the way. None of them could accurately count how many of their own remained, but they showed little signs of stopping.
“GET US OUT OF HERE!” Faderman shouted. The Razorkrays roared as they spun around as their Tankette escorts roared around them. “Dean Professor, Recommend full abort of ground operations! Contacts are everywhere” She shouted as the transport rocked and jumped as the transports rammed through constructs, their small auto kilimond scram gun turret as the creatures striked and swiped at the armored transports as they built up speed. “Theres no end to them! Take’m down!” The driver shouted t the turret driver as the turret driver turned his gun, pulling the trigger. “I’am!” The Scram turret fired kilimond slam rods with HE contact warheads in them. The Bofados sped down the road, clearing the way for the transports carrying scientists. The LynxIVs that were in the rear of the convoy struggled to catch up, firing their cannons into the larger groups of constructs that erupted from buildings. Beams struck the turret tops, damaging the electronics on top. “I’m losing optics!” The gunner said as a concentration of beams from the orb like constructs sawed into the tank’s cab. By luck, it hit one of the power conduits, causing a backcoil into the weapon’s cache, triggering an explosion. The Hover tank jumped as it exploded, flipping on it’s side into a building. “We lost Rever 2!” The gunner of the second LynxIV said before rotating around, trying to firing at the orbs. The same thing happens as 3 beams conjoined onto the tank’s turret, seeping into the electronics and taking out the threat detection system. “Just drive, I’m gonan have to eyeball.” The gunner said. The Hover roared forward as it tried to catch up to the Wildkats that roared after the lead Razorkrays.
//Abort acknowledged. Get to the LZ.//
The 2nd Jack Class frigate, which was outside the city, start to spin up as the constructs started rushing towards them. “Unknown contacts, approaching us from everywhere.” One of the tech specialists said. The guards on the ground got behind the frigate’s shields as beams fired at the ship from above and constructs rush over the ground. The ship’s secondary guns opened up around the field. //This is Mastodon 2, were under attack. We need to abandon this LZ. Mastodon 1, whats your status?//
//We got contacts appraoching, but theyre not on top of of us yet. We’ll need to move soon as well.//
In exo-orbit, the High Majesties remained in single position orbit as the contacts attacked the surrounding fighters. “We havn’t attracted attention of those airborne contacts yet, should we move to support’ve range?” One of the tech asked. “We cant strike the city with allies inside. We’ll concentrate on protecting our ground LZs.” The captain said. “Understood.”
On top of the platforms, the teams rushed to move in as the Baizars were suddenly under fire by the flying attackers. Shields shimmered and soon the Dean Professor’s Baizar started whining. “Were hit! Those things breached shields.” The pilot shouted. The DIAMOND dropship struggled to fight control as it’s boarders immdieately disembarked onto the deck. The Dean Professor fell to the platform, along with a KOBA officer in his arms. “Inside! Inside!” He shouted as team members immdieatly opened fired on th orbs that came to attack them as well. The second Baizar’s weapons fired at the fast movers, while the Professor’s own Baizar got struck in a crtical area. The backcoil that triggered destoryed the engines and caused it to plummit into the landing pad with a large boom. The explosion pushed the team further back on the pad, but soon was alarmed to a very violent slide.
“Dooors are opened! Move in!” Shouts as the platform started to crumble, it’s single supportive bridge compremised. As they ran, the platform leaned further and further down before a violent groaning and snap triggered the bridge to drop. Of 8, only 4, including the Dean Professor made it to the remaining part of the bridge, while the burning half went slamming into the spire before falling below. The other squadren of Baizars fired kilimond flak eqvilenats around them to discorage the fighter constructs from strafing with their enegry blades as they moved away as a unit away from the spire, the other following to catch up quickly, still being swiped and beamed at.
“What now?” The 38 total members that were left looked at each other. “...figure out what this is...” The professor said holding up his pad, displaying the power source detected.
“It didn’t appear until a few moments ago...might shed some light on these creatures...what ever they are.”
The Carnaithian forces had taken the elevator up the moment it returned to the ground floor, which was shortly after the first hostiles erupted from the shaft below. The howitzers on the tanks were fired to airburst just into the entrance, equidistant from the sides of the inner wall, while the autocannons on the IFV's taking no time to begin firing bursts at the creatures that had begun their approach. Infantry had begun to disembark, the scalar nets disconnecting and instead forming a wall along the front of the vehicles by linking with each other, providing ample cover for the troops to fire through. Once reaching the top, they made their way around to one of the exits to a landing platform for their evac. The defense went on for a minute or so, creatures clambering up the walls to their ledge, when the dropships came screaming onto the scene, missiles launching from their upper bays to chase the fighter as one hundred-millimeter autocannons fired from chin bays at creatures threatening the position on the outside of the spire, one stopping and lowering it's rear door for the forces to get in. Solaris lances and missiles streaked down at aerial hostiles from dozens upon dozens of kilometers away as the fighters provided covering fire. A handful of gunships were visible streaking down from the clouds as the evac proceeded, another dropship stopping at a platform to pick up any foreign nationals that wanted to leave but had yet to be responded to; one of the dropships were struck by a lightning bolt, falling to earth at the base of the spire where it's solaris fuel detonated, coating the base area in radiation and fire as the vehicles finished rolling on, scalar nets deactivated and infantry firing from the ramp.
"This is Hellbeast actual, we've been picked up! What's the FOB's status, over!"
"This is Colonel Arkalon, we're under attack. Do not bother to redirect, evac operations are underway," responded the colonel. Numerous individuals were injured at the drop zone, where not everyone was wearing audio protection. Creatures were approaching the walls, and solaris casters spewed highly radioactive goop into the path of the encroaching forces alongside other assets. Dropships made their landings, saving only personnel as the combat forces provided security. Arkalon and her staff were the exception; despite being right next to the landing site for evacuation craft, they remained in the superheavy lander serving as the operations center, whose defensive autocannons tore apart the earth outside of the perimeter, targeting the aerial entities that approached. Arkalon spun the cylinder of her revolver, speed loaders in a waist bandolier as her communications officer sent a relay of the situation to the orbiting ships.
The assault ships released kinetic rod bundles to intercept the larger entities, some splitting off to impact the fighters that were attempting to attack the evac craft. Gun turrets swiveled and targeted the canyons, letting loose two salvoes into each canyon of high-explosive shells in an attempt to clear them, launching surface attack missiles to loiter until needed.
Tarif directs his men to fire upon the swarms of enemies, however it becomes quickly apparent that the rail rifles the men held were not particularly effective against the hair raising black creatures, so instead they began working in pairs to rip creatures apart using their telekinesis, blood less corpses flopping motionless to the floor as the men moved from creature to creature, bursts of psionic power hurl creatures back as the harpy hunters turn flesh and mortar to little more than rubble and scattered limbs.
"Someone take a dive!"
Allowing one of the creatures blades to sink through his chest private Epson fall screaming fals screams as he fakes his own death, awaiting a the attention of one of the creatures he prepares to be dragged offlike the others that fell.
Captian Stracken watches the Davian ship go down with a smile, it was always a good sight watching a ship burn.
"Do as you please Davians, but know that I will not accept surrender next time."
The hordes kept coming. For everyone put down several more took its place. Explosive weapons seemed to do the most damage killing whole swathes of creatures as they attempted to swarm the holdout in the spire. And also attempted to overwhelm the forces of the Carnaithians and the convoy belonging to the Alfurians and the Proxians.
In the skies the fighter constructs exploded from the orbital support and fire from the allied fighters. More seeming to launch from several canyons that were spread out along the area. As for the main canyon itself creatures continued to pull themselves free of its edge, rushing towards the various FOBs to get gunned down by defensive fire, attempting to destroy the allies bases of operations and fallback areas. Each one taking any corpses felled as they came.
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Epson was roughly handled as he was dragged along by three of the feline creatures, their fangs inbedded deeply in him as they rapidly scrabbled and pulled him back through the city, eventually finding what must of been an old ventillation shraft down into the lower levels where constructs were pulling themselves out of by the dozen. The creatures worked together to carry him downwards, seemingly to be able to stick to the vertical surfaces of the tunnel sides as they held him precariously over such a drop. Making their way further down into the city precints below it was clear the entire are awas infested, large numbers of creatures were now seen in the distance slowly ever moving towards the surface and making their way up the main transport routes to the spire.
It took several more minutes of tugging and pulling in which Epson lost an arm to one of the creatures accidentally pulling too hard, the two other creatures taking over his transport while the previous one merely carried his arm. The screaming was ever present, never ending and never fading. Taking another few levels down they reached some of the old mining shafts, now pitch black the only light was the constructs energy blades and claws which illuminated the large tunnels with an eerie cold ice glow as lines of them shambled up from below to the surface. Other bodies were being carried down too, one line of constructs going to the surface the other line being bodies or body parts being carried down below.
It was sometime before Epson finally saw their destination, deep underground a huge cavern large enough to hold a small escort starship opened out before him, it contained a huge set of gates, an entrance to some sort of building constructed into the very rock, the creatures all coming in and out of the large entrance. It was built seemingly out of strange purpleish stone, weird symbols unknown to the Annointed covered its surface as he was violently pulled inside, like the constructs knew of the destination. As they crossed the entrance Epson could sense some sort of presence, what it was he didnt know. But it was there.
The inside was gargantuan, like a palace or a cathedral of collosal size, huge chambers ran up into the towering vaults above, each one was lined with ice cold caskets. Some of them, contained bodies, the remnants of the people who had lived on Askandar. Feline creatures could be seen climbing the walls, tending to the caskets like ants occasionally one of the caskets would be opened and the body dragged out in a similar way to Epson, some screaming as if still alive. The screaming was gone here, the creatures and constructs going about buissness without such noise, the fresh lines of constructs still seeming to make their way to the surface as he was dragged deeper into the facility.
Another huge open space was before him, vast at least 2km across in a hexagonal arrangement numerous bridges seemed to fan inwards towards a gigantic pedestal several hundred metres tall. Before Epson could see what exactly it was he was thrown downwards into the abyss surrounding the pedestal. He seemed to be in some sort of bowl, one of many by the looks of things. Bodies were piled here, some of the Askandarians, others wre comrades from the BSO, Free worlds and several ZYPHER. One women clearly an Askandarian was still alive, crying at the huge bleeding wounds on her chest were the creatures had dragged her. The bowl itself they were in was only a few metres deep, and contained around 50 bodies. The walls of such gently sloped inwards and were slick, they were almost organic pulsing with life and covered with concentric lines of holes.
Epson seemed to turn to the women, she was whimpering now, a sharp smell pierced through the stench of the corpses, like disinfectant. He tried to crawl with his one arm towards the women but then the bowl seemed to convulse. Brackish purple liquid spurted from the holes, covering the bodies. The women screamed her body dissolved near instantly where the liquid touched her. Epson felt pain as well where the liquid flowed over him. Everything it touched was disolved. And he felt himself... Changing
There was a voice in his mind, it wasnt the usual connection he felt with the Annointed. It was something else.
It was the prescence.
In the last moments of Epsons life his entire form was taken from him. The bodies turning into a black mass of liquid that slowly solidified before it quickly took on several new forms. More constructs that now shuffled out of the bowl and eager to take more corpses from the intruders above.
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Post by CanisDirus on Mar 21, 2021 19:31:45 GMT
Black Sail fighters were doing what they could to fight the flying constructs. Missiles were the most effective weapons, but their ships had precious few of them and the things could survived hundreds of shots from the auto-canons before dying. It was becoming obvious to the pilots that they were good for not much more than distracting the orbs.
The first flight of ships returned from orbit to the lane pirate to rearm, bringing with them an update. Rackham had separated. The vehicles were pushing into the spire as one while Rackham and the foot soldiers followed behind. They had gunship support which was about the only thing keeping them from being overwhelmed. Vlad listened to the report in silence before turning to the Guardian standing on the bridge.
"Martin, could you shield a gunship?"
"Of course Commander," The guardian answered.
"What about a flight of gunships?"
"Provided they kept a tight formation, yes,"
"How fast can you get to those gunships?"
"How fast do you need,"
"As soon as possible,"
"Are those my orders?"
"Yes,"
And the guardian disappeared right before Vlad's eyes.
On the ground, Rackham and his ragged band of infantry made it into the spire itself, pausing when they reached one of the grav shoots.
"How deep is it!?" One man shouted. Rackham was about to respond when one of the feline creatures lept at him. He pivoted on one foot and slammed a fist into the creature, sending it plumetting down the grav chute. It fell for several seconds before landing with a thud.
"About that deep," He answered. "Let's go boys and girls! We got places to go, and people to kill!"
Spikes were quickly hammered into the ground to serve as anchors and then ropes were cast down the grav chutes, Rackham's infantry beginning to rappel down the chute. Rackham remained at the surface for a few minute before he jumped into the hole itself, relying on his power armor's landing system to it's damn job.
It occurred to the aging veteran, in the brief seconds he spent falling that he'd never actually used the landing system. Nor could he recall anyone else having ever used it.
"Aw hell," He muttered. Fortunately, any fears about the landing system's ability's were soon vanquished when Rackham crashed to the ground with a cacophonous thud, shock absorbers, and dampeners protecting the suit (and Rackham) from death. He straightened up, lifted his arm and fired the thermite thrower into the crowd. His infantry dropped off the ropes, adding gunfire and what few frag grenades were left to the mix as the others descended.
Up above, 42 was the last to go down. It took Emily and the other gunship pilots precious seconds to realize what the plan was, and the few seconds they spent without targets was enough to earn them the wrath of the creatures. She caught sight of one of the flying creatures, streaking toward the gunships.
"Fuck!" She shrieked, hauling hard on the controls to pivot the gunship toward the incoming enemy. She fired the nose canon to little effect, the creature's energy blade nearing her.
And then it slammed hard into an invisible barried and crashed to the ground.
"Good afternoon Ms. Labrosse," Martin said, having more or less appeared next to the speechless pilot. "Might I suggest a tight formation? I will be more able to shield you and your compatriots that way,"
Dumbfounded, she nodded and motioned for the pilots to tighten up as they began to descend down the grav chute. Upon reaching the bottom, she tried not to think about why there were so many fewer soldiers on the ground than there had been when they began their descent.
When the cargo lift finally arrived the Black Sail soldiers wasted no time in piling on, leaving the dead and the wounded to their fate.
Just keep going, Westmoreland thought to himself, launching grenade after grenade into the ceaseless horde. Just keep going, just keep going, just keep going...
They waited on the lift for a minute, then two for anyone else to join them, and then they decided they'd waited long enough. A fist slammed down on a button and the cargo lift began its descent.
The Proxian and Alfurian convoys had stopped and dug in right as these interesting enemies had started their full on assault. A few Alfurians ushered Grodan behind of of the middle halftracks right as the fun started to kick off. Bolsau took a knee behind the vehicle (he was still taller than its roof) and spoke in a deep, gruff tone. “Fish brother, it appears we have a fight to be had. Join us?” The large Proxian unclipped an 80mm Polm/Pulm from his belt and handed it to the Annoliddan. “Watch out, she kicks…”
Outside of the city to the southeast, Jacellem and K'letla watched from high ground in their BT-MOV1 medium command tanks. “Sir, it sounds like it’s getting rough in there. Maybe we shou-” “All units, targets approaching from our fronts.” Jacellem cut off his subcommander as creatures started to pour out from the city’s outskirts. It was rather obvious from how these things were acting, and from the growing amount of weapons fire in the city, that they were hostile. And they were approaching...quickly. Right before the Alfurian armored vehicles opened up, Eyer-9 arrived, it’s engines screaming loudly as the armored car had just hardly escaped the city before the creatures had appeared. “Sir, our forces in the town are holding position. Commander Hajemur requests further orders.” was broadcasted on the shortwave comms to Jacellem’s vehicle. “We’re...about to be very busy, Eyer-9.” he replied with a sly, growing smile. “Stay here until we’ve assessed the situation.” “Yes...sir…” came a mostly confused answer from the scout unit. K’ketka scowled at hearing this, knowing full well what Jacellem was doing. There was no way to inform Hajemur of this; the fact that they had been discovered. She grew more nervous now, knowing that once the heat of battle grew, ‘accidents’ could as easily happen to her as they could to Jacellem.
Back in Askandar...things were about to get intense. “Troopers: fix bayonets!” came the order from Hajemur over the shortwave comms. About half of the Alfurian infantry here had the recently developed “FDF” bayonets. These were small turbines that slid onto the barrels of CR-B2 and SA-A3 rifles. Upon hearing the order, the troops activated the turbines. Sovex was rapidly compressed into glowing distortion blades. These could be rapidly replaced (a limited number of times, of course) if broken off inside of an enemy. Older, but still dangerous distortion edged physical bayonets were used as well. The rising screams of the creatures of Askandar echoed between the streets...but the Proxians and Alfurians were not shaken. True, they were intimidated and surprised. But they had faced natural horrors before, and were not afraid.
Upon spotting the several different types of enemies approaching, the forward scouting cars and light tanks that were at the heads of the three convoys rapidly reversed to rejoin the main groups. Spread out firing lines were made, and vehicles positioned to ambush and have partial cover behind wreckage. The BT-22 shield carriers moved to the fronts of the convoys and spun up their manipulators. Proxian infantry, much larger than their Alfurian comrades prepared their weapons, and themselves. Polms were loaded, ammunition was passed out, and many roars and battlecries sounded off. Imp Wire on both south and north flanks was well deployed, and waiting.
Some of the first weapons to fire were the L-66 systems on nearly all Alfurian vehicles in the convoys. The 32mm cannons were self-aiming, and the commanders only had to pull a trigger to attack targets. The south convoy was charged from the front by a mass of the large creatures, supported by sneaking flanks of the feline beings. The L-66s opened up, spewing their standard flak/proximity HE above and within the formations of enemies. Rifles cracked one at a time in the case of bolt action, or in short, orderly bursts with the SA-A3s. However the sheer numbers and speed of the foes meant that they closed in quickly. One of the larger creatures burst through some buildings onto the street and looked to the convoy’s front. Two armored cars instantly lit the being up with L-66s, and even though the cannons ripped massive chunks out of it, the thing was just too large to be quickly taken down. It screamed loudly as it charged, energy blades threateningly ready to cut the cars to pieces. Rifle rounds peppered it, but it was not going to be enough to stop it. The thing charged down the street, and the Alfurians braced for impact. But, at about 30 feet from the front of the line, two Proxian bears stepped out into the street. The first hefted a huge hammer, wisps of distortion swirling around it. He readied the weapon, and then swung. Lashes of distortion cut through the air and completely severed the creature’s front two legs, causing it to stumble and slide over the ground. It’s screaming never stopping, the two Proxians approached, smashing the energy blades away with their hammers as they swung, pounding the thing over and over. Gravity assistance made the street under the crippled creature spiderweb and shatter as chunks of the street flew into the air. The Proxians didn’t stop until the screaming did: and then let out their own fearsome cries. The mysterious energy bladed beings weren’t the only monsters here.
In general, the Proxians and Alfurians complimented each other very well, but this was an example of one of their combined strengths. Proxians were well practiced in fighting large, aggressive creatures in city environments. In addition, Alfurians had fought Espara for hundreds of thousands of years. Though Espara were no longer naturally threatening, Alfurian forces were still trained in the practice of dealing with them. These feline creatures were slightly different, but their tactics and size made them similar, and the anti-Espara training came into play to great use. Organized groups lured attackers into kill zones, where several fields of fire were used to gun down targets. When someone was reloading: there was always someone else on watch.
To the north street, there was action as well. An Alfurian BT-500 light tank was angled around a corner while several larger beasts charged forward. 64mm high velocity shells screamed down the street at the targets while the roof 11mm constantly blazed away. The hyper velocity rounds overpenned their targets, but due to being AP, did not do enough damage. “All units take note: AP ineffective, I repeat, AP ineffective.” the commander of the tank said while the gunner switched to HE. The HE rounds had a noticeable better damage output as they detonated, dissolved, and blew apart the targets. Still, the 64mm of the light tank was not enough to stop the three horrible screaming things as they approached. So the tank reversed back into an alley. To take it’s place, a BT-500B and BT-555 Fulva pulled out. Two consecutive BOOMs sounded off, both picking up dust and rubble off of the ground. A 180 and 150mm round, both HE, detonated on their targets; completely tearing them apart. The Fulva retreated to start recharging it’s clip style battery, while the BT-500B reloaded and kept watch. There was one type of enemy, though, that the defenders were not fully ready for. Several of the eel like creatures dug up from the road and instantly started slashing through the bottom of the light tank. This being a weak spot not covered in reactive armor, they quickly entered the vehicle. In the hull, the driver, who was named Maylum, was surprised as two of these things entered his driving compartment. “What in Koy?!” he screamed, blood spattering from his side as one of the things instantly sliced through his armor. While screaming in pain, the driver drew his 14.2mm sidearm and pushed it against one of the things, pinning it against the wall. He pulled the trigger, utterly exploding the creature all over. He then drew a bayonet from his thigh and cut the other one in half, then stabbed it again and again. The distortion edge atomized the thing’s body in large swaths. Several other creatures had burrowed up through the center of the tank. They jammed it’s turret and bore right through the sovex batteries for the main gun. They ignited and started to vent semi-compressed sovex. “Maylum, we’re bailing!” the commander screamed over the very loud HISS of the damaged batteries. Particle flames engulfed the inside of the turret, but the commander and gunner’s armor kept them safe for a few moments, allowing them to scramble out. “Maylum, get out of there!” the commander yelled down into the tank, looking down. The driver looked up at him over his shoulder and through the fire, and moved his left hand that had been holding his side. The large, horrid gash there was ugly, and even the armor designed to stop bleeding was being overwhelmed by the damage. After looking away and closing his eyes for just a second, the commander turned back to Maylum. He saluted, and then slammed the hatch closed, jumping off of the tank afterward. While this had been happening, another of the larger creatures had burst onto the street right in front of the crippled light tank. Maylum saw it and with one hand on his wound, reached over with his free hand to pull the safety pin out of the turbine governor. The tank was crippled...but the engines still worked.
The BT-500 screamed down the street, it’s engines quickly reaching 100% RPMs. With cries that at least equaled the many screams of the beasts nearby, the vehicle picked up speed. The beast ahead was well ready for it, and slashed out with one of it’s energy blades. This move easily decapitated the turret off of the hull of the tank. However it also cooked off the reactive armor on the turret. This, in turn, cooked off the damaged sovex batteries in the turret, causing a massive explosion that gravely damaged the creature’s body. The hull of the tank, kept going, though. Maylum deployed the claws on the tracks of the tank right before it hit. The light tank weighed much less than the creature...but it was still heavy as far as light tanks went. With it’s tracks spinning wildly, it climbed up onto the creature. The claws dug in and ripped huge chunks out, over and over as it ground down the body of the wounded monster. The engines at last gave out and the light tank was engulfed in dark purple flames.
The center convoy was the largest, and also most protected due to the other two convoys to it’s north and south. Each smaller convoy, in turn was protected partially by nets of Imp Wire. However the attackers swarmed through and over buildings, limiting it’s effectiveness. Any foolish enough to try to advance through the wire, though, were heavily damaged from arcs of distortion that ripped down the wires. The attacking beasts did inflict losses on the defenders, but their attempts at taking bodies were largely hampered. If the desired body was dead, it was somewhat easier, but no living Alfurian or Proxian would let anything drag them easily unless they were unconscious. At one time a forward group was partially swarmed by a large group of the feline creatures. Shotguns and rifles blasted into the things at close range as energy blades lobbed off limbs and disemboweled. Swords were drawn, and the infantry groups gave the damage just as well as they received. A few Alfurians and Proxians were dragged away...but not for long. With much motivation, the feline beings were counter-swarmed by the second line that had been waiting in reserve. Glowing bayonets and sword blades hacked the creatures to pieces, while a Proxian wolf ran forward to Polm a feline point-blank with HE (the most common standard ammunition). Of the infantry that were taken, the Alfurain infantry armor would at least provide a quick death to those near it. After being dragged down into the pits far under the city, the sovex based armor would violently explode at an attempt of altering it. It would instantly kill any within a 15 foot radius. Even though the armor would prevent alteration through exploding, this was not the same for any organic Alfurian bodyparts.
At the head of the main, central convoy the most steadfast and impressive defensive fighting could be seen. This is where the elite Proxian infantry, with mech support, was utterly destroying the attack. TG-110 Bulldog mechs opened up with 30mm eight barreled Gatling cannons, spewing out disgusting amounts of fire at any target that presented itself. At one point a large, shredded beast managed to push through this fire. As it got close, though, the TG firing at it simply stepped forward and ripped the creature apart with it’s hands. The rear of the formation was a different story. The resistance here was less focused, and although this was holding for now, Bolsau and Hajemur knew something had to change. “Alright let’s slowly start to pull back.” the Alfurian commander broadcasted to his forces. Just as they started moving, a group of the larger beasts plowed through the sublevels of a skyscraper. In its weakened state, it started to tilt. “Brace!” was all that could be warned as the huge building toppled and utterly obliterated the way back to the north east. “We’re not going back that way.” said one of the BT-24 halftrack commanders as they sprayed the creatures down with 32mm HE. “Then...we’re going deeper into the city. All units, prepare to advance.” A collective, acknowledging cry sounded from the infantry and vehicle crews in response.
The Alfurian/Proxian FOB was holding out well. Their heavy fixed shields atomized any enemy that got too close, and the ten overhead CS-77 gunships made sure no aircraft got within three miles of the FOB. However, communications were cut off from the other forces, and so there was some level of confusion. This confusion increased when the Annointed orbital fire came glowing through the sky. Jacellem noticed as well as his tank group fired on targets. He didn’t like seeing orbital assets being used like this. However even he couldn’t just leave several hundred Alfurians and Proxians in the city, even if it meant the death of Hajemur. All he could do here was wait...though he also kept an eye on K'letla’s vehicle nearby.
The convoys in the city slowly, slowly started moving toward the spire. This meant leaving their Imp Wire flank protection behind, and thus more fire was oriented to the sides of each flank convoy. The three groups continued until they were nearing the spire ahead of them. Weapons fire from other nations was detected, but also some Zypher tags started to fade onto the short range sensors. This was inspiring, and the infantry mounted up onto their halftracks as the convoys rapidly increased their movement, L-66s constantly spewing cannon rounds to fend off most attacks.
"Sir, Epsilon has not returned to the ship, it appears he has suffered soul death...."
Tarifs eyes widen under his helm as he receives the news, the howling of psionic discharges and screaming racking his senses as he considers what he has heard.
"Men and women of the Annointed empire, WE ARE LEAVING!."
His shout is answered by several cry's of relief as the entire Annointed force blinks out of existence, abandoning their position to the swarming creatures.
Captain stracken stares angrily at the screen as his men blink away, soul death, this has ceased to be a military matter.
"Priestess Morgana, we have confirmed reports of soul death, as per standard procedures this operation is now under the authority of the church, I hand command to you."
Stracken drops back into his command throne and waits patiently for his orders.
"Church militant! the enemy we face is one that presents an existential crisis to us all!, they inflict soul death upon those they assimilate! prepare now for glory!"
Her words are met with a roar of enthusiasm, hundreds of soldiers all answering with a single phrase.
"SEEK SEEK SOL SEEK"
The grey sky's of Askandar glow red as the clouds boil into wisps of barely noticeable mist, the enormous fire wreathed form of the Articulate screeching burning through the atmosphere, its hull glowing a beautiful red as it comes to a halt, and then the heavens burst as conversion fields lance from the mighty warship, hordes of black creatures detonating in balls of crimson fire as the air is cleared of the hostile aliens.
As the sky's empty the ground swells, the white and gold forms of the church militant teleporting directly into battle, fifty men appear alongside the BSO infantry, shields burning gold as conversion beams lance from weapons, the dark creatures evaporating into naught but dust and ash as the weapons scythe through them far more effectively than the rail rifles ever could, moments later two heretic hunter tanks blink into existence, their conversion beams set to field as huge swathes of monsters disappear under the tanks ministrations.
This scene is mirrored across the board as ZYPHER and the Inquisition are joined by the newly arriving soldiers, telekinetic disassemblers and c-beamers clearing huge swathes of ground in fiery bursts.
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Post by CanisDirus on Mar 21, 2021 19:32:04 GMT
Imperial lines reached the cargo lift, weapons blazing, axes and hammers swinging. The four Arachnodrogai, their heavily armoured limbs now riddled with deep gashes and the barrels of their rotaries now glowing with heat as they roared death at the enemy, moved to stand over collected numbers of troops, seemingly ignoring wether or not they were Autayan, putting the thick shields of their legs between the smaller troops and the constructs, underslung machine shotguns blazing through the gaps. One trooper, pausing for a second to look at the seemingly sudden Anointed response, whistled, looking at one of the church militant soldiers. "You lads sure like your dynamic entries, don't your?"
Fo'yuta paused, the combined fire seemingly slowing the enemy down. He looked over his shoulder, at the comparably underequipped Free Worlders the Imperial forces had managed to keep alive. He activated his comlink again. "Captain Fo'yuta to fleet! We need immediate evac! Air support unlikely to be reliable." He stated. There was a pause. "Understood, Captain. Stand by." Was the response. The Battlecruiser powered on its wormhole engine, on a low enough level it wouldn't even get a sloop through. But that wasn't the point.
Behind him, the swirling yellow vortex created by Imperial FTL engines appeared with a shriek. "Get those survivors through, now!" He ordered to his men, the Imperial troops signalling to the Free Worlders to get through the wormhole as a couple dozen Autayan troops in AMPA suits, hammers in hand and guns on shoulders, hurried through the other way to join the defence, the few carrying anti-tank weapons firing Kinetic Mines on the larger constructs. He then turned to everyone else assembled on the lift. "Anyone else with wounded who needs to get to safety, get through as well!" He called out.
Overwhelmed, terrified and literally without any other options but fight on and probably die, the Free Worlders didn't bother hesitating. The militia went first, backing in what squads were still intact into the wormhole, those that weren't carrying wounded buddies still firing at anything that even remotely looked goopy and monstrous. The EC followed, all but the badly beaten Horizon 2-2 and Peak 01 moving to get into the hole as quickly as they could.
The IFSP slammed it's foot down onto one of the feline creatures with enough force to snap it's back, pumping a thirty mil into it's head before snapping back up and emptying the drum into a small clump of them. "All clear?!" the pilot bellowed, dropping the drum and reloading. "Clear!" the trooper now in charge of 2-2 barked back. Captain Kepson was either already through, or dead. Nobody knew which at this point. "Go, go, go! I'll cover!"
The EC troopers didn't wait around, tossing a gal whose' leg had been torn off swearing a blue streak through the hole and following her. Once they were through, Peak 01 gave them the silent count of five to get clear of whatever event horizon waited on the other end before firing off a rocket volley, dumping the drum into the horde again and diving through the hole.
Harnen sent an SFTL message from the cruiser back to Annoliddan space. A simple request for reinforcements, heavier ones if possible. The cruiser itself was too damaged to initiate any kind of orbital support, but the corvettes were ready. After shifting their position, 'light' bombardment was sent down into the canyon outside the city, kinetic munitions tearing away at the rock and underlying buildings in order to collapse and bury one of the creatures' main access ways.
Grodan accepted the weapon, a grin spreading across his face as he took a moment to examine it. He broke off the firing mechanism of his arm cannon so that the ammunition feed was exposed and jammed it into the Polm. This forced him to awkwardly balance the weapon on his arm and fire with the other, a hidden boon what with the massive recoil. Grodan then turned his new makeshift flak cannon to the oncoming onslaught, each blast of the Polm now firing an exploding slug along with its regular ammunition. "Aye! This be a battle I will happily join!"
Moving away from Grodan, the M-56 Parthians hovered along with the Alfurian convoy. Using their height above the ground as an advantage, they fired a plethora of high explosives ahead and to the side flanks of the convoy, making due to clear out some of the constructs before they reach danger-close ranges to the Proxians and Alfurians.
The main Inquisition force continued their blitzkrieg through and down the tunnels. They had taken a number of losses, primarily to the infantry and the light mechs. The heavier knights hoisted those of their fallen that they could while running, tossing them onto the backs of the walkers to prevent them from being dragged away. The hands of the Pages, field engineers as they were, did not remain idle, cobbling together spare ammo and explosives from their available materials and handing them out to the rest of the Annoliddan troops. There was little that could be done but hold out against the swarm, but their progress was slowing. Coming to a stop would mean their demise.
Then the Anointed showed up. Their arrival was unexpected, but a welcome one. The walkers took care to step around them while the infantry urged and pushed them onward. "Go! Go! We cannot stop now!" shouted one of the knights. The Annoliddans now had at least the small glimmer of hope, the slight chance in hand that they might see this through to the end.
Carnaithian forces continued the evacuation effort, the perimeter around the landing zone now coated in solaris, radioactive fallout coating the areas downwind from the fires as autocannons obliterated the creatures that attempted to make their way past the solaris fires. So far, none of the creatures had succeeded in breaking past the perimeter, but it was only a matter of time once the defending troops on the wall started to pull out. One exception to the norm was the snakes; soldiers minimized contact with the ground to avoid being attacked by them until their evacuation shuttle arrived, and preventing the serpents from ascending the catwalks was reason enough to divert infantry.
In the air, gunships held off on their support runs until the airspace was comparatively clear, which was when they dove to nap-of-the-earth and began unleashing all manner of firepower, ranging from autocannons to mass stacked munition pods. Fighter screens from ultra-high altitude was immune to interception; what few fighters had managed to make it into firing range had proved useless against the Carnaithian craft, the lightning arcing along their plasma sheathes. Little changed as the evacuation process approached the mop-up phase, where the infantry would begin to evacuate and the base would be destroyed, but that was at least another fifteen minutes from now and there was little respite from the onslaught.
The activity on ZYPHER’s sensors was dazzling. Multiple energy detonations, and a lot of ground signals went dark. Originally they kept their distance, even as the Davian forces above orbit engaged with other fleets nearby seeing as their own and allied forces were not in critical danger. However with the spike of activity and apparent radio silence from the High Majesties, the Gastin and her two escorts had decided to move within range, especially with the appearance of the Church ship from seemingly no where. The Dreadnought and battleships loomed onto sensors as it attempted to contact their mid-orbit cruisers.
//What’s going on down there? It looks like fireworks from our position// The commander of the Gastin said on internal comms.
//Ground Units are engaged against unknown organic contacts. Multiple attacks on all forces on the ground including ours have been reported.// One of the High Majesty comm personnel responded. In mid-orbit, the cruiser was partially hidden in the clouds, firing specialized arms at some straying constructs that strayed further out, curious of the larger ZYPHER ships that hovered beyond the city limits. The captain watched as the ship’s Zerk batteries quickly dispatched any of the orbs and fighter constructs that attempted to get close to them. “How are our ground units fairing?” He asked. “The Jacks are holding out, but theyre not able to hold the ground securely. Faderman is tryin to evacuate their non-combatants.” One of the tactical members had been following the activity with overwatch from their air to ground system. “...any word on the Dean Professor?” He asked on comms to the Baizars that were circling the city, fending off the airborne constructs.
//Negative. They went inside the top of that spire, havn’t heard from them since. His Baizar went down and took out a landing platform with it. I may have survivors on the ground, but these things are making it abit difficult for S&R.// One of the pilots said.
On the streets, Faderman’s convoy had burst through the horde, trying to get their scientists out of the city. The Bofados cleared paths easily ahead of the convoy, but the Razorkrays could only do so much to keep the line from filling up. It seemed like more constructs appeared as the Bofadoses mowed through them. Until a large one came charging out fo the corner of the eye of the driver. “Look out!” His commander shouted. The driver saw it as well and tried to swerve to avoid a direct hit. The gunner put 2 HE shells into it’s head before it slammed into the side of the armored transport with heavy force. The hit was heavy enough to damage suspension on the otherside, making the transport lean into the ground before turning and violently breaking into a nearby building. Glass and abandoned furniture were scattered and ripped apart as the Transport screamed inside of the lobby of the building before coming to abrupt halt on the center support spire of the building. The crash had disorinated the crew, but appeared to have survived, including Faderman. She growled as she sat up in pain. “Everyone alright?” Faderman asked. After a few unsure ‘yeahs’ the screams of the creatures outside increased. “No one asked you” One of the soldiers said as he got up and did a system check on the turret up top. “Still got a gun.” “Can you get us out?” Faderman asked the driver just he tried turn the engine. The familiar unfriendly sound of kilimond rods falling out of place as the engine rotates and sparks. “...nope.” The driver grimiced. “Lt...looks like those things want to check in with the front desk...” The gunner said as the constructs started funneling into the lobby of the building. Right outside, the Bofados escorts turned around. //Get the scientists out of the city.// One of the drivers said as they fired their autoshard weapons to draw away the constructs. The other 2 tankettes continued right out the gates of the city with the Razorkrays following.
//This is Lieutinent Faderman. My transport is disabled. Were stuck inside of a building close to the gate of the city, how can assist?//
//Faderman, I have a second motorcade ready to enter the city. Just hold on. These creatures are making it alittle difficult to get to you quickly.// The second Jack class that was closer to the ground responded. They succeeded in lifting off, abandoning their FOB position and moving towards the road, their cannons opening up on constructs as it crossed the jagged and barren ground towards the city. As a mass number of the construct appeared above ground, quickly they were disentgrated by the long range cannons from one of the High Majesties in Mid-orbit. The cruiser kept it’s distance, but still close enough to offer surgical support with it’s accurate beam cannons. Tho the airborne constructs began to swarm the cruiser, they were met with a tough response from the ship’s zerk array. “It looks like some of our allied FOBs down there are taking some hammering. Should we assist?” One of the tactical officers asked the captain. “What does it look like at the other known sites?” “Looks the same everywhere. These creatures are swarming hard. Our Jack classes had to pull off from their landing spots to prevent from being over-runned.” “If the other spots are in range, help cut some of their numbers down if you can, but our Priority is our Assets only.” He said. “Understood sir.” The tactical specialist typed in the commands, giving his grouping of 8 cannons a glance over the nearby FOB in range which happened to be the Proxian/Alfurian combo. Aiming at a mass of constructs and confirming they didn’t have any people down range, he pulled the trigger. 8 pulsing beams from the cannons soared through the sky in almost a nanosecond later, slammed into the crowd of constructs one by one around the heaviest density detected to the West of the allied FOB, causing several explosions in the areas around the FOB causing large holes in the masses of constructs.
At the top of the spire, they met almost an underwhelming amount of resistance. The Dean Professor and his soldiers made a squad fort as they moved into the halls, creating choke points against any constructs they came across. “...really not sure, why theres bearly anything here...” The security officer encharge of the soldiers that were there. Their kilimond burst rifles were surprisingly effective against the large tank-like constructs with their charged burst rounds. Their kilimond garden grenades were effective in bringing down the orb like drones that floated above, tho there were even less of them here at the top of the tower. “...might have something to do with this odd signal...” The Dean Professor said. “...sir.” One of the forward guards called attention to a doorway, labeled security. “The signal is coming from there.” The Professor said as he looked at his datapad before looking back up. Seconds later, 4 raptors entered the room, checking corners and around the edge of the room. 4 more followed, checking the tops of the room. “..clear.” One of the raptors said, spying none of the constructs. “..Clear.” the second unit of raptors said. “Room Clear, enter.” The sec leader said before the rest of the 30 filed in. Several raptors maintained their position at the corners of the room, while 4 raptors took position at the door, slowly closing it as to not attract attention to any other constructs that maybe around. The Dean Professor looked around, his eyes glued to the massive computer setup towards the center. “The signal is coming from here.” He said. One of the Assault Officer escorts with him looked at his datapad and then at the computer. With a few taps on the control board, the screens came to life, as if they were on a screensaver. “..the signal might’ve been the power being routed in.” The Assault Officer said as he looked at the screens, majority of them ether showing non-live streams of security cameras around the spire’s citadel, ether damaged or no signal, but others showed certain areas they may have been entered in. Seeing as the officer had already been tapped in, he handed him the datapad. “Lets see if there’s something we can find. Might give us a clue as to what happened here.” The dean professor said. The officer looks at the datapad before taking it. Giving a quick observation of the control board, he finds a familiar universal bus port. He pulled a small device from the datapad and placed it into the port. 2 blinking lights on both the pad and device blinked before showing a steady green, and with a few taps on the datapad, it moved to enter the computer system.
At last the 'ceasefire' has been reached by the various factions; it was surely a blessing for everyone involved particularly to the Davian Forces. What's more it's more like a white peace instead of a humiliate surrender. The Annoited simply deactivated their 1000 missiles and demand nothing but ceasing hostile. Anyway all these shooting came at a rather heavy cost. The FOB all but destroyed along with half of Davian ground force here, highest ground commander went missing, in space 1 Frigate also destroyed while the other 2 heavily damaged. Yet almost all the human crews of the downed KhH stayed alive including its captain and in situation like this every man or AIs would be need. Meanwhile the ground war continues as fierce as ever.
== Davian Fleet above Askandar==
The two remaining Davian ships suffered quite heavy damage by the Annoited conversion beam. Yet they remain partly combat worthy thanks to strong shielding and the crews trying to patch their ships up. Both Davian ships released whatever nano bots they and these tiny bots labored to help repair the ships.
"Hm...It's bad...but not too bad." Hoang stared at the various holo screen streaming through his eyes, he still sitting on his command sit with his left hand spotted a bandage: "Sent out all the nano bots to repair our ships. Both ships open all hangars and use all tractor beams to reclaim all our shutters. All fighters, bombers concentrate in formation and ready to go into surface."
"Captain, you may want to take a look at your wound sir." The Red Obsidian's SAI informed: "Beside much of our spy drones down there were lost, so communication with ground force would increasingly difficult. And according to the sensors we're being surrounded both inside and outside at that spire. If you ask for my advice sir, we don't have enough firepower here and someone at home must know about this."
"Captain Hoang. With your allowance the KhH crews volunteer to go in and reinforce our men down there." The captain of the KhH frigate spoke through a comm link from his shutter: "Using our gate we can move straight in the spire."
"Our engine was hit and we cannot risk doing so comrade..."
"Our remain intact commander. We can use our gate to send reinforcement there." The captain of the Chuong Duong class heavy destroyer spoke up: "However the gate capable of this ship is small so heavy vehicle can't pass through."
"And here's the overall situation on the ground" The chief tactician informed while a large version of Askandar holo map appeared: "Our enemy the Anointed cleared much of the sky of these monsters with their orbital strike, their ground force are going in with teleport, for the other factions...
Hoang though for a moment: "Alright. This's the plan. I as the highest ranking here will take command of all units from now on..."
Awhile later the Red Obsidian kicked open its FTL drive and created a Gate which allowed 3 shutters and 6 space fighters to move through before it disappear. On the deck of the remaining destroyer another FTL gate opened: "2d BBHQ Askandar ready to go. Gate open. Go go go!"
== Davian Air Force within atmosphere ==
Out of the initiate 44 crafts in total, around 23 left after ceaseless dog fighting and bombing runs. The Davian pilots fought well despite overwhelming enemies and managed to score kill. Their opponents the fighter like constructs were very formidable, their aerodynamic envied any fighters, and moving with a grace of living creature, attacking in swarms with their energy blades and lightning like beam while having no shield they were durable, seemingly more durable than Davian own space fighters. The other enemy were orb like constructs, small, hard to target and deadly, yet these orb seem focused on ground targets only. Fortunately Davian weapons weren't useless either and their pilots also capable. Gatling Plasma bolts, laser cannon and MRM (Multi Role Missiles) trade short after shorts with the enemy beams and blades as the Davian pilots making suicidal run again and again trying to support their brethren on the ground. And the brave Davian pilots were not alone, various factions here, some moment ago were enemies now became 'allies' (if reluctant). Here and there occasionally ground base AA fire and orbital fire from various weapons adding more chaos for the sky war. Still it was clearly a losing battle.
"On your tail Lac 32. 3 on your tail! Evade evade!" The air leader screamed through his comm.
"Lac 21, Lac 24, Bamboo 3 cover Lac 32. Fire!" A group of 2 Davian Space Fighters and an Atmospheric fighters opened fire and threw all they got at the 3 constructs.
"Rattan 11 hit. LONG LIVE DAVIA!" Another Atmospheric Fighter caught by a beam, its pilot refused to eject and drove his craft strike down at a mob of charging construct, the craft explored into a big blue and white ball which created a big hole among the swarm thus breaking the charge again Davian ground force for a moment.
"We're dying here! Be brave comrades, warrior death over bondage."
"Silent! Davian air forces, keep fighting and no foolish action. Repeat no foolish action." The air leader yelled back before screaming using short language: "Rattan, all munitions, FOB survival, retreat, Bamboo, support."
"Rattan, Bamboo keep fighting no retreat!"
"Negative, order is order!" The air leader coldly replied as he destroyed another construct with a long burst of plasma bolts and laser cannon beams.
All remaining Rattan bombers quickly expended all their ordnances before climbed toward covered by their Bamboo fighters and hotly pursued by the constructs.
Then almost at one the sky of Askandar explored and engulfed by light. The Annointed orbital strike literally burned the sky above the city and along with it almost all of the flying constructs and only flying constructs. The radar of Davian crafts (and obviously of the various factions too) suddenly cleaned off.
"Sir, orbital strike detected, enemy air access cleared, for now."
"There will be more. Alright any damaged craft retreat, the rest..."
"Air leader have all your forces return, larger force are taking over. We managed to secure white peace so do not do anything stupid." Captain Hoang ordered. Right at that moment the air leader noticed two groups of Davian soldiers fighting among the ruin of the FOB and among them was colonel Van and another mob of constructs charging toward them: "To HQ, Air Force located colonel Van, request immediate evac."
"Report their location, we're sending in evac"
"No times, all units obey the order and leave, Air Leader will be here." The Air Leader directed his Lac Birth Space Fighter straight toward the location as his comrades protested the order to leave him behind: "Negative all units obey your order...damn it's gonna hurt a lot. Timing...timing..." The fighter fired all its weapons at once at the mob then crashed straight into them. The rushing fighter cut through at least two massive constructs while still flying then explored in a huge ball of flame and blast apart much of the charging mob. == Unknown location ==
"I'm bored, brother, so bored." A SAI snapped while moving his chess piece. This SAI was rather small just a size of a teenage and much smaller than the huge robots standing nearby.
"Be patience Green. It's our duty to guard here." Another SAI responded, like its counterpart, this SAI also have small frame yet slightly larger and have golden armor.
"All these 'meeting' make me sick. I have no idea why HE has to join it. All they did were talk talk talk..." The SAI named Green said back: "And we stuck outside this room like lowly guard robots."
A courier suddenly busted in the corridor and ran toward the room in hurry followed by another man in Space Navy uniform. The rushing man alerted the two smaller SAIs as well as the other 10 massive robots which quickly reacted violently.
"Freeze! The Grand Council is meeting, no interfere allow!" Both SAIs shouted as they pointed their rifles directly at the two men. The other 10 large robots in unison surrounded the men, their energy blades activated, their armed cannon and hard points also glowed.
"Let them in. The Grand Imperial Council wishes for the report!" A voice came from inside the room through loud speaker.
== Davia FOB ruin ==
Colonel Van kept shooting with a laser SMG in one hand and a plasma pistol in the other from behind a pile of rock, around him four other men also shooting.
"Keep firing men, bring as many of these bastards with us possible." The colonel yelled followed by his command squad.
Several feline like constructs rushed toward the colonel only to be blast apart by a burst from the medic's plasma musket. Another group of felines and worms blasted apart as the commissar tossed two plasma frag at them before he charging in rise high his energy sword and hacked widely before threw back by a stomp from a massive monster. At the same times the adjutant fired a rocket launcher round into said monster while the adjutant zeroed in a whole clip of grenade launcher into the same target, effectively forced it down by a series of plasma denotation. Yet more and more monsters pouring in.
"In coming."
BLAAAM
A Rattan bomber made another strafing run on top of the constructs mob. Then a group of 7 Davian sappers jumped toward Van's group using their jumpack as their gun kept blazing none stop.
"8th TrS group reporting for duty comrade colonel!" The group leader screamed over the noise of the monsters.
"Very well brothers. Keep shooting, everyone slowly pull back, we need higher ground. Commissar came back here!" The colonel yelled before throwing another grenade at the constructs.
12 Davian, all encased in power armored jumped on top of a half collapsed building leaving behind several power cells and a sack of grenade. The medic then took armed and fired at the sack denoted it. Through the smoke and flame two hulking big constructs charged foward.
"Air Force to Ground Commander, crawled, I'll cover you. FOR DAVIA!" The fighter dashed toward the building, barely missed its top then crashed directly at the constructs mob.
"Ejected success" The Air Leader muttered quietly as he painfully landed on the ground next to the building with his jumpack. His pilot armor covered by scratch, its shield overheated and smoked.
"RUN! Get up here boy, faster, faster." The sapper leader short a hook down so the pilot could use it to climb up: "Cover fire, pull him up NOW!"
The pilot caught the robe and pulled up by a couple of sappers and the communicator while the colonel, the sapper leader and 2 more sappers provide cover fired.
"Ground Colonel, Air Force here to support the operation!" The Air Leader gave out a quick salute as he tried to take a deep breath then immediately pulled out his plasma pistol and shot at the nearest worm which managed to climb up the top. Yet many more began to popped up.
"Very well comrade. We fight together!" Van shouted through the gun fire: "Communicator sent message to anyone you can: Davian FOB destroyed, enemies broke in and we're surrounded, Davian forces keep fighting!" Then the sky above the ruined FOB glowed with blue and red light as dozen of Davian space fighters and atmospheric fighters swooped down and racked the surrounding with plasma and laser. Then a small black gate opened behind the Davian.
"To colonel Van, escape through the gate as fast as you can" One of the fighters sent a message before the whole group flew away and allowed the constructs to swarm the roof of the building. Yet 13 Davian managed to leave before the gate close behind them.
== Davia Ground Force ==
"Ready!" 'cocking and charging noise' "Fire!" 'BOOM'
The 200 tons heavy tank unleashed its massive plasma cannon into a mob of constructs from its position. In turn its shield glowed brightly as a hovering orb like construct return fired which its beam cannon. "Target locked. Fire" Another stream of hot bright bolts from a XT 'Bow' variant rushed straight at the orb firstly stoped then denoted it along with another orb. The XT 'Bow' then quickly traversed its still smoking gatling plasma cannon down and opened fire again.
Battle raged all over the spire and wider all over the city. Screaming noise, gun fire, energy beams, launched missiles, strings of denotation and epic beams of light from the sky, all mixed and matched together into a melody of doom and destruction, and the actors were essentially every single thing that capable to move in and around the city. The whole city of Askandar essentially turned into a battlefield, and the spire was the center of it.
At the spire. Waves after waves of construct charging from outside or emerged from inside tryed to crush anything not belonged to them through sheer weight of number and murderous instinct. Regardless of size these constructs were very resilience, capable of shrug off large amount of fire before going down. To counter this each factions or more exactly every single none-constructs sentient being have to find their own way to survive.
For the Davian of the forward group, renamed as 1c HH Askandar (1st Askandar Mixed Company) the answer was simple, fight and fight to the death with anything they have. With their command post gone, space access suffered heavy damage, communication cut off and worst of all the obvious humiliate capitulation should they survive. The only solution for this would be death, warrior death.
"Aim to the head. Fire." An infantry squad commander yelled as his squad fired, each of their plasma muskets sent out a busts of white blue bolts toward a nearest massive construct stopping it for a moment as the bolts tore apart its flesh, yet the soulless beast turned its attention to them and made a charge.
"Evade! Evade! Evade!" The squad commander screamed as he pushed one of his squad mates aside.
"Mode 1. Target locked. Fire." A single shining beam rushed at the big construct from a flank and hit it right at the neck effectively decapitated it, the beast tumbled immediately. Its attacker a XT "sword" pattern then suffered a direct hit from an orb before swarmed over by a mob of feline and worm like being: "LONG LIVE DAVIA!" The crew screamed in pain as the constructs hacked the tank and its crews to piece. Yet in their final act of sacrifice the death tank kicked open its engine and charged out of the spire before explored into a huge fireball.
"Keep firing, keep firing." Thai yelled. He's standing on a higher level, shooting down the surface. Around him Davian musketeers and naval infantries did the same. Since the moment they entered the spire roundly 200 Davian troops formed defensive parameter facing both inside and outside. Along with several other factions they fight put up staunch resistant to the attacking beings. Infantry and naval infantry along with machineguns, anti-materials rifle, and hand held rocket launcher would be place above the surface shooting down in the mob below. On the surface hulled down tanks and IFV acted as bunkers surrounded by mechanized infantry and sapper. Each time the constructs tried to charge in or out Davian's men would lay down a withering barrage of fire from their positions. Soldiers or vehicles swarmed by the enemy often heroically detonated themselves or if lucky enough dragged out into the safe place. Along with the firepower of the other factions they were holding well.
Davian Air Force also came for their aid. Pilots made suicidal run to strafe the construct on the ground. More the ground force were 'reinforced' by at least 3 pilots who got shoot down yet lucky enough to eject on top or near the spire. Somehow 2 TrS groups, long range patrol also fought their way into the Davian's line. And through the air force, Davian troops received news of ceasefire instead of surrender and reinforcement would be sent soon. The news obviously lightened the heart of the Davian soldiers.
Meanwhile human soldiers from a faction called Free World abandon their post to flee through the wormhole created by the Autayan robots. Davian troops also realized BSO troops jumped down into the lifts. Meanwhile ZYPHER troops were holding the upper levels
"Anyone else with wounded who needs to get to safety, get through as well!" The Autaya commander yelled at everyone nearby.
"Sir! They're offering safe place. Our wounded are mounting, we should get them out. We can't protect them all." A medic shouted at Lieutenant Thai while struggle to patch one of his soldier.
"Tch...we have no choice. Get all our wounded in and a few guards too. You go with them too." Thai pointed at the medic then pointed at a single commissar: "You have to go too comrade commissar, we need officer with our men. Davia is with you. Go go go."
The commissar saluted: "The Empire protect you all comrades"
And with that those unfitted to fight on would be remove from the fight through the Autayan wormhole. After awhile Davian successfully evacuated 43 of wounded soldiers along with a single large squad of 12 men and a commissar through the wormhole. 12 more Davian soldiers at the same times positioned themselves in front of the wormhole along with the Autayan to protect the wormhole.
Then the Davian witnessed the sky above the city burned by orbital strike, almost all of air constructs destroyed along with huge number of ground constructs. Annointed troops joined the fight along side the ZYPHERE and possibly alongside other forces. Then a swarm of Davian own aircrafts descanted from the sky toward the spire to provide ground support.
"Air Force to Ground Force. We successfully recovered Colonel Van alive. The Empire is with us. Be brave reinforcement is coming at this coordinate..." An Air Leader informed their ground comrades using short range communication.
"GLORY FOR DAVIA. LONG LIVE THE DIVINE EMPIRE!" The news were greeted by a loud cheer from the ground troops who fought with renews strength. And finally a large bright gate opened right in the middle of Davian position, fresh naval infantries and sappers as well as naval personnel poured through the gate to join the fight. These reinforcement increased the Davian force here to roughly 700 fighting men and robots. The captain of the KhH class frigate step in Askandar ground: "I'm taking ground command from this moment. The colonel was wounded yet very alive. Lieutenant, you almost started a war, leaved a black mark on Davian reputation and honor. But you would be my second in command here for now due to your defensive effort." The captain judged as the ship commissar stood behind him.
"I'll accept any form of judgment for all I did sir." Thai replied: "Yet this's the situation. We managed to established a semi-stable defensive position, beside several factions are going down the cliff, and finally I have to evacuate our wounded throw the Autayan wormhole for their own safety."
"We already know that and will try to recover them as soon as possible" The captain replied: "We also informed by the other factions that the source of all this madness came from bellow. So we're sending part of our force down there."
"I'll go sir." Lieutenant Thai said.
"Your request accepted comrade. But you should see to yourself and equipment first. I and the rest of the men will hold here along with the Air Force. Take all War Elephants with you, redeem yourself and fight for Divine Davia."
While the two talked the last of the Davian reinforcement managed to land successfully. The final group contained 30 hulking War Elephants, pride of the Davian Armed Force. Each of these so-called 'War Elephant' were hulking SAIs in the form of humanoid with head resemble the head of elephants, at least 3 m high, weight around 1 tons, very heavily armored and shielded. Essentially each of these was a walking tank capable of taking and dish out huge firepower.
"We serve the Divine Empire. Let's the butcher began" The War Elephants announced their present with a huge growl which for a moment even louder than a howl of the constructs.
==Location unknown==
"Gold. I need you there. No taking command but you would be my present. Your word is my word." A figure announced from behind a big desk: "You know what to do."
"Yes. My lord." The golden armored SAI bowed slightly before leaving the room, yet he still heard another voice before leaving: "Hey brother, don't forget present for me when you come back"
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Post by CanisDirus on Mar 21, 2021 19:32:43 GMT
-- Askandar Aerial theatre--
The conversion beams from the falling Annointed ship had mostly swept the sky clear, vaporising most of the constructs apart from those operating at low altitudes or close on the tail of freindly fighters for fear of friendly fire. The sky turning into an eerie emptiness for a few moments before suddenly several canyons which had been launching the fighter constructs now seemed to burst open. Cracks and fissures erupting as the land around them began to come apart like multiple things were emerging from below. More waves of constructs now launched into the air, as the ground tumbled cracked and fell below as three shapes became clear as they ascended. The allies had spacial superiority from the very beginning. Now however it was clear that was a different story. Three 2km vessels smashed themselves clear of the surface, an all pervasive humming emitted as they slowly ascended into the sky, launching construct fighters, they seemed to be made out of the same material as the others, mysterious ice blue markings adorned their hulls.
Then with an ear splitting shriek that sounded like the wails of the damned they each opened fire, a beam so bright from each that it left retinal scars lanced out all aimed at the Annointed vessel, the beams appeared only for a split second lighting up the grey surface of Askandar.
-- Spire Grav Lifts--
The lifts moved quick quickly, having been big enough for multiple huge cargo haulers each one was made for heaving huge amounts of cargo and persons up and down the city, the lift construct itself was a large cage, allowing the people inside to see out at the various levels they traversed, the cables and supports that anchored the lift were quite narrow yet incredibly strong. This did however mean that the forces inside the lift confines were able to see what lay below them. As the lift cleared the surface and dived into the rural area floor the scale of the swarms became apparent, filling most streets as they moved almost like a singular entity.
However that wasnt their only concern...
The supports of the lift also acted as the way for the constructs to climb, feline creatures and worms made their way up, constantly attempting to get into the elevator carriage proper and attack those within, the spherical orbs floating alongside the lift and firing inside with their pulse beams, the way down would be a constant battle. However the lift led straight down into the mining tunnels which in turn would likely take them straight to the power source.
--The Spire-- Combat was near constant.
Constructs came from everywhere either crawling out of the grav lift entrances from below or from the streets all around. Those forces who fought on the streets outside and in the Spire proper found a never ending attack, the screaming constant as the huge ape like constructs charged with wild abandon heedless to the damage they took in an effort to break their lines. Explosions were near a constant rhythm as the various factions reacted to the better use of HE against their targets.
Relief however came when the Alfurian, Proxian and Annadolian convoy smashed their way into the plaza area surrounding the Spire, guns blazing the constructs pulled back momentarily, the vehicles of the convoy moving up to rendezvous with the other factions defending the spire, air cover was constant, the Carnaithian CAS craft firing endless streams of rockets, missiles and autocannon fire into the ranks of the constructs blowing many apart and followed in by the other forces craft in order to try buy some respite time for the ground forces holding out.
The attacks abated for a slight time, with the strange craft now rising into the heavens the swarm seemed to withdraw slightly as if regrouping, the Spire fell silent for the first time since the allies had landed here, the screaming subsiding even as the flashed of light from the crafts beam weapons struck the Annointed vessel. The forces arrayed in the spire now given time to reinforce, regroup and plan.
However all was not well, the Free Worlds and wounded soldiers having escaped through the Autayan wormhole using it as an escape route suddenly found it flicker and die. The portal disappearing as an interdiction like field suddenly rose engulfing the surface and the fleets in orbit. There would be no wormhole evacuation now, although thankfully the Free Worlders were safe.
In the top of the Spire the ZYPHER forces having found the old security and defence HQ of Askandar found several of the large super computers and defence handling AIs turned off but not destroyed like they had gone dormant with little to no use. While there was minimal damage to the security room there were blood stains by each of the control panels and the door area seemed to be peppered with shell holes like they had made a last stand here. The door itself had been torn outwards, and the destroyed forms of old security turrets also hung limp from the ceiling. As the professor plugged in the cable and began trying to access the system a pre-recorded message started playing, it was a hologram of a soldier, the ever prevalent screaming in the background he looked tired and terrified as he talked.
_ “I don’t know how much time I have to record this, by the time anyone’s listening to this we will all be dead. These things are endless, the garrison has been overrun, all defence emplacements and makeshift lines have fallen, our air forces have been wiped out and as far as I’m aware we are the last alive. Everyone’s dead or dying, they take away everyone they find, we couldn’t protect the civilians and any who tried to flee into the air were killed… There’s no chance of rescue but I can at least tell you what I know. The mining guilds must have uncovered it first in one of the tunnels, I don’t know what it was some kind of doorway, the next thing we know is the mining levels have all gone dark and there was a screaming that never stopped… We tried to find out what was going on but our coms went down and those security teams sent to the lower levels never came back. We mobilised the garrison and defences and waited at the inhabited levels, when the things came we tried to hold them back but it was like throwing a rock into the tide. The people screamed and ran, thousands of civilians trying to claw their way up top, we were slaughtered, and every defence was destroyed. They came through the tunnels, the grates, the lifts everywhere, we couldn’t stop it, and we couldn’t even dent whatever the hell this nightmare is… All I know is that there is a doorway below, somewhere into where these things come from. Askandar is too late to save, but please. If your listening to this avenge us” _
The soldier seemed to stiffen as the sound of a door being torn apart echoed through and he turned to start screaming, firing his weapon as the hologram cut out. Within the security system was located the data for where precisely this ‘doorway’ was.
--The Plains--
The vessels that now hung over the area paid no heed to the various FOBs or positions that were on the ground outside the city limits, focused firmly on the Annointed vessel that had entered the atmosphere the various fighter constructs now engaged the Carnaithian fighters above their FOB while a renewed swarm of constructs now flooded out from the giant gaping craters that had once held the constructs vessels beneath the earth all making their way to the various FOBs that dotted the landscape, screaming as they came a huge wave of the gorilla like constructs loped forward charging, forming a moving battering ram that aimed to smash through the defences while a horde of feline creatures followed behind, using their larger creatures at shields. Meanwhile trios of spheres aimed to snipe vehicles and key command leaders from afar and a slight tremor denoted a huge swarm of worms now burrowing underground towards their positions.
--The Spire Surroundings—
Those that still were in the streets outside the Spire suffered no such respite that the forces in the Spire had received, more aggressive attacks had come like a never ending tsunami of constructs spearheaded by the huge loping creatures, smashing infantry out of the way and powerful enough to pull open vehicles. The creatures had begun to attack again and once more the Spire came under vicious assault. The Davians who had a large force now brought in from orbit found themselves under heavy attack, waves of feline creatures came first forcing the infantry to focus on them while the larger constructs came forward in groups aiming for the heavy armour and the Davian ‘War elephants’ towering over the Davian constructs the screaming intensified as the spheres that hovered above also unleashed searing bolts into critical heavy weapon teams or commanders, and a fresh wave of worms burrowed up from below to hack and slice through infantry limbs.
There seemed to be no end to this madness.
Morgana watched in contempt as the three plasma beams lance through the air and strike the corvettes defences, the first beam strikes the telekinetic barrier and diffuses against the psionic wall, the next is bent away with the mighty vessels gravity drives, the searing hot gas rips through the aerial swarms in the redirected beams way, searing heat melting the constructs to sludge, the last beam strike impacts the deflector and diffuses over the barrier, the Articulate screeching responds with furious indignation, it becomes apparent that the vessel was holding back when engaging the Davians as three thousand conversion beamers growl to life, golden beams lancing from the arrow headed vessel ripping through swarms of flying creatures and burning swathes of the city to dust, next a storm of kinetic rockets pull free of the ship, hurtling through the remians of the swarms, one thousand two hundred missiles dividing themselves evenly between the three monstrous constructs.
Meanwhile the ground born Annointed forces fight with renewed fury, anger bubbling to the surface as hymns of war and prayers of victory are screamed from zealous lips, creatures are felled at ever increasing speeds as the more and more shots are poured into the encroaching swarms, some Annointed lost in their fervour descend upon the dark creatures with plasma cutter and nanite throwers, felling many times their number in orgies of religious violence, however overwhelming numbers eventually bring these overzealous mad men to heel and as soldiers fall detonations and gravity fluxes rend the swarm as a final act of defiance from the fallen soldiers.
"WE ARE THE SEEKERS OF THE PAST! THE GUARDIANS OF MANKIND WE ARE THE SWORD AND THE SHIELD KILL! KILL! KILL!"
As the fighting drags on men begin to escalate in force, psionic maelstroms tear down hallways emptying them in swirls of psionic violence, the canyons turn into swirling pits of body parts and dying creatures as the full force of Annointed aggression is bought to bare.
The arrival of the enemy ships raised alarms across the Annoliddan ships. Harnen gave the all clear for the Kreutz to open fire. It was unknown if the construct ships were spacefaring, but the mere chance of these creatures reaching other planets...
A welcomed transmission came back from Inquisition space. The connection was choppy at bits from damage, but Inquisitor Regiest's voice came through nonetheless.
"Report Harnen."
"Enemy force encountered, overwhelming numbers. Contact with groundside including Grodan has been lost. Continuing to survey and holding position. Requesting reinforcements."
"Is Grodan still functional?"
"Confirmed."
"Request denied. Maintain position and attack. Report back once enemy contacts are eliminated, or when Grodan is no longer active. Ending transmission."
Harnen wasn't disheveled by the Inquisitor's decision. It simply meant they had more of a challenge on their hands. The two Kreutz classes were not built intentionally for orbital bombardment, but nonetheless began pouring shot after shot at the three construct ships. Two turrets for each, the ships were fired upon by tungsten carbide rods that quite similarly to before burst apart before impact, albeit making sure each splinter impacted the constructs.
---- Grodan charged into the spire's main area, taking note of the assembled combined factions holding their own against the onslaught. But there was none of his own, save the charred remains of the Teutonic knights. And so he gave a single heads up to everyone on comms before leaping down the nearest hole.
"Onward and downward! If these beasts want a war of attrition, we must give it to them!"
He began gliding to the other wall, slamming his chainsword into the side to slow down momentarily before leaping again back to the other side, and so on and so forth he went leaving glowing streaks behind him and taking potshots at any constructs foolish enough to stand in his trajectory.
---- The sudden surge in the Anointed firepower and drive to fight gave the Annoliddan troops in the tunnels a boost as well. They were still far from psionics themselves, but it didn't take telepathy to pick up on the growing warsong. Their charge began anew, meeting the growing onslaught of constructs with vigor.
This was despite the growing numbers of constructs they kept slamming into...
Westmoreland felt like a rat in a cage. The creatures were banging on and slashing into the cargo lift and there was nothing he could do. They were too close for the grenade launcher to be of any use, so after he'd reloaded it there was nothing to do but sit, wait, and hope for the best. Those with heavy machine guns continued to fire on the creatures with little effect as the lift continued it's descent down the spire.
Rackham's team wasn't in a much better situation. Having reached the bottom of the spire, and being the first ones there, most of the creatures wrath was focused on his rag-tag party. The gunships were the only thing keeping the party alive, and Rackham knew that wouldn't last forever. They only had so many rockets and missiles, and if they didn't manage to link back up with the rest of the marauders before they ran out they'd be well and truly fucked.
But for now it was a waiting game. Hold and wait for the vehicles on the cargolift to make it down to them. Then they'd push on the signal, and hopefully have enough firepower left to get there.
Arkalon and her guard were the last ones off the ground; they paced the catwalks within the command lander as snakes attempted to climb their way up, picked off easily by her own revolver and guards' rifles. The scene outside intensified, large constructs beating at the defensive walls as automated defenses eliminated the constructs that got through and weren't submerged, but these slowly fell to the precision strikes of the spheres. Three of the personal guards had been lost when the snakes first breached the floor of the lander, and two more when they failed to keep their heads on a swivel; Arkalon was about to detonate the self-destruct of the FOB when a rumble preceded by very high caliber gunfire and explosions noted the arrival of a dropship outside.
"Sky Imp reporting, the Queen and her praetorians are permitted to board," announced the pilot as the command staff blew a hole in the lander's wall, already jumping down and making a run for it. The scene was that of hell; shadowy constructs sprinted behind the burning buildings of the FOB, searching for souls to capture. A combot sprayed precision fire around a corner at an invisible force before a bolt penetrated it's chest area, shattering the solaris RTG that powered it, spewing radioactive shrapnel behind it. Arkalon had just increased her pace when she heard a scream behind her, seeing the leg of one of her guards torn from the thigh down as a snake burrowed back into the ground. A shot into the ground and a pivot later, her remaining guards were yelling for her to return as the dropship lowered it's ramp. Grabbing the guard with one arm by the scruff of his neck, she powered him onto her shoulder - no doubt with a highly surprised demeanor among his pained shock - and kept sprinting, making a wide turn to provide less targeting opportunity for the snakes. Now moving in an irregular serpentine pattern, she made at full speed as she listened to momentary screams and the sound of impacts into the ground behind her, her headset delaying the sound by a mere millisecond and making it far more bearable. Two exoskeletons and an unarmored heavy gunner began firing past her from the ramp, her guards joining in. Approaching the ramp, she threw the injured guard forward, caught by one of the EXOs, and jumped, turning around and hammer-firing five rounds into just as many chasing snakes while catching a glimpse of the encroaching horde of constructs. A sixth snake had jumped past her face, cutting her cheek, and was now soaring towards the nearest guard. Grabbing it by the tail, she continued spinning and tossed it into the air away from the ramp before landing with her face towards the horde. The snake cut in two, and a smoking barrel from the hand of the battered guard quickly identified the shooter. With a nod to each other, Arkalon reached up to her headset;
"We're on! Get us out of here!" she called as he thrusters below the ship fired and the ramp closed, an integrated screen along the entire interior hull, exceptions being mounting points and critical areas, providing a clear view from integrated cameras as the dropship spun and hosed down the encroaching forces with an extremely high rate of fire chin cannon. Accelerating, the dropship quickly made speed as the non-armored individuals cheered and watched as more of their air forces made their way down from the atmosphere. This was quickly cut short as a lightning bolt from a pursuing fighter narrowly missed the core hull, instead contacting an anti-strike module at the wingtip. Shouting now filled the cabin as the pursuer's weapon could be seen charging, almost firing when a Carnaithian fighter's railgun slug shattered it, the obscenely fast aircraft getting ridiculously close to the ground as it's plasma-sheathed body tore the ground apart with an ultrasonic shockwave, pursued by more hostile fighters. Missiles erupted from the roof of the dropship, giving chase to the swarm of fighters and thinning them significantly for another fighter to clear his allies' tail with autocannon fire. Arkalon sat stunned as the wounded guard next to her was treated by a corpsman, bio-foam being injected directly into the stump as he was calmed by injections from his armor.
Above, verbal reports from the officer stations aboard the Ozark-class cruiser had been entirely replaced by textual updates of the situation as the situation thickened. Despite the operation being led by an Army General, only the assault ships belonged to the Army. The Ozark-class still remained a naval asset, and as such was headed by Navy personnel. Watching the updates, the Captain, a man named Avolar, took keen note of the hostile ships pulling clear of the surface. More fighter cover was already streaking down constantly from the assault ships, but the hostile heavy-hitters would be coming up to interdict their actions no doubt.
"Pull us into position; lock the spinal cannon on the hostile ship farthest from the city and begin capacitor charge," Avolar ordered.
"Charging!"
"Target the other two with secondary weapons. Save missiles for once they exit the atmosphere," He continued. Leaning forward, the wires connected to his neck extending to permit locomotion. "Fire when ready."
"Firing!" Called the weapons officer, a molten slug consisting of depleted solaris screaming into the atmosphere, trailed by the secondary weapons, and striking one of the cruisers.
"Hold for effect!" In orbit, the Alfurian and Proxian ships watched the amounts of fire being poured down onto the sudden ship signatures that had appeared. The Proxian Vouger was eager to show off what it's spikes could do, but the Alfurian commander suggested that they hold fire. There was no use wasting limited munitions on targets that were surely being overkilled.
On the surface, the convoys converged in the vast open space at the base of the spire. They purposefully kept their distance from the foreign forces, as they preferred having room to maneuver. They also made no attempt at communication at this time, but did at least set their auto-targeting weapon systems to not see the foreign units as hostile. This was a time for fighting, not for making friends.
During the lag in attacking constructs, infantry was redeployed in a defensive semi-circle. The halftracks were kept in the center, though they faced backwards toward the inner areas of the spire, just in case. This also allowed easier access into their now open rear hatches. The L-66s had been nearly constantly firing on the way in, so now was the perfect time to change out their cooling disks to keep their rate of fire and accuracy up. "Comms are still down. Curse of Koy..." Hajemur said to himself. He stepped out of his command halftrack and motioned over to a platoon commander. "Take your platoon and five Proxians, get to the top of the tower. See if you can relay a message, if not scan the area and repot back. Don't try to hold if you are ambushed." "Understood, sir." the man replied, calling for his unit and Proxian allies to look for a way up. They found a lift and started upward swiftly, weapons ready for whatever they could find. L-50 LMGs were set up on bipods to provide extra firepower for when the next surge of enemies came.
Jacellem and K'letla had held their position with their armor group this entire time. Most of the constructs had been taken out as soon as they broke out of the parameter of the city, and any smaller ones were focused down by the L-66s on the tanks. There was no clear advantage to sitting here, though, and Jacellem knew this. "Let's move back to the FOB." he said with a dull tone. "Sir, what about our in-city forces?" K'letla replied as the vehicles traversed and started heading back north-east. "There is little we can do for now. We just have to...wait." Jacellem hummed with a content tone.
Back at the FOB the shields and ground based defensive units and weapons were holding well. But most of the defense had been carried by the 10 CS-77s still hovering over the base, but still within shield coverage. They had been able to remain aloft for so long due to their rotor blades providing most of their lift with rather little turbine support. == Davian Fleet ==
A message sent from classified space well outside of Davian operational base reached the Red Obsidian
"Receiving message from the High Command sir." The chief comm officer reported to captain Hoang.
"This's Gold, represent of the sector's commander." The other side spoke: "Report your situation comrade Captain."
'What! Gold is representing the sector's commander' The captain shocked while thinking for himself: 'Then the sector's commander would be...'
"Report comrade Captain Hoang." Gold requested again.
"White ceasefire reached. Enemy warships detected, other factions trying to engage them, our ships are not trying to however. We lost a frigate yet managed to save most human crews. All our air forces engaging enemy, we have a battalion of 700 down there also heavily engaging again overwhelming enemy, yet all other factions are with us. Beside interdiction field covered the planet and denied teleport. Request mass reinfo..."
"You're doing well comrade Captain. The Empire expected no less from you. Keep it up and end that madness as soon as possible. Report again when situation change." Gold spoke before ending the transmission: "Ah yes. The Sector Command would be very please if you can collect samples of those monsters."
"But sir... damn..."
"Do we have reinforcement sir?" An officer asked nervously before answered by Hoang: "No, we're on our own here. But our warship cannot do much for now. All ships we're hiding behind the Annolidan for now. And try to make ours ship combat worth as fast as possible."
The two Davian ships lumbered and placed themselves behind the Annolidan's ship. With their ships still need to repair and with all the firepower pouring toward the enemy ships Hoang deemed it would be better to hold back and focus on ground support operation. Thus every last combat worthy atmospheric strikecrafts and particularly spy drones would be sent along with as many space strikecrafts as possible. The Davian also broadcasted on all channel offering their support.
"To every faction fighting. We all known the jamming are cutting off our communication links with our ground forces. We Davian offer communication assistant to everyone require using our drones."
== Davian Forces at the spire == The battle for the spire raged as fierce as ever. With a battalion size force the Davian probably possessed some of the largest fighting force in the spire area. Unfortunately the constructs seemed to realize it and began to focus on them, heavy casualty would be unavoidable. Still with all forces concentrated in the area along with the other factions Davian forces managed to established some form of defensive parameter. The Air Force provided vital support for their ground brethren using their speed and firepower to stop large constructs or flying orbs while trying to survive again enemy fighters. On the ground Davian musketeers, naval infantries and sappers formed the inner circles protected by vehicles and War Elephants. With teleport cut off seriously wounded soldiers would be place in the central. Yet everyone known they cannot hold forever, this madness must end.
"Look out sir!" Lieutenant Thai pushed the Frigate's captain as an orb unleashed its energy beam barely saving him: "Find cover, you there, return fire!"
A MANPAD team quickly open fire toward the orb, blowing it a part before a wave of feline constructs climbed toward and forced them to ran behind a machinegun position.
"Lieutenant. Go down there along with your sappers and War Elephants. We will hold this ground to the last." The Naval Captain yelled: "This's your chance to redeem yourself. Fight and win or die trying. Either way will wash away your sin. Go!"
"Yes sir. In the name of Davia. All sappers and War Elephants to the cargolift. We shall end this madness or die trying."
"Davian you want to live forever!?"
"GLORY FOR DAVIA. LONG LIVE THE DIVINE EMPIRE!"
All the remaining sappers and War Elephants quickly jumped or ran into the cargolift. The way down would be bloody and their destination would be madness. However several factions also trying to get there so the Davian won't be alone...or more exactly won't die alone down there.
Noticed the plan of their ground brethren the Air Force also tried their best to lend a hand. The smaller and more agile Bamboo Atmospheric Fighters entered the way down to escort the cargolift, shooting any constructs trying to attack the troops. Meanwhile several more Bamboos dived straight down and began to provide cover fire for the BSO warband with their plasma gatling cannon and lasers.
"Davian Air Force to BSO warband. We are not hostile and we will try to support this LZ as best as we can. Hold fast our ground force would be here soon."
The Teams at the top of the spire stood in awe of the message. It was clear now to the Professor why this bright planet fell into darkness. These constructs proved they were more than just brutal, they were unforgiving...moraless...numberless and according to the message, very feral. There was no further need to research the behaviors of forms any further as it was too dangerous beyond what they needed...but now the remaining question was the source. This ‘doorway’ that now lit up on the datapad.
“Captain.” The professor called out, the raptor moved his head. “Are we still in contact with the Crimson Vendetta?” Dean Professor Kumfell asked.
“That jamming signal intensified. Hard to find any clear communication channels now.” He said. “I can bearly communicate with our support ships in mid-orbit.”
“If you have to, contact the KingMaven. Maybe they could relay the message easier. Have them contact the Crimson and prepare them to drop one of the drilling Oxs” Kumfell said. The captain looked confused at him.
“Whatever these things are coming from...according to this, it’s coming from nearly directly below us...” Kumfell said. The KOBA security member looked at the data about the ‘gateway’ gathered from the drilling guilds. “It’s clear that these constructs are being made somewhere...this ‘doorway’ has to lead us to the source and a possbility to stop them.”
“Theres a Quantum booster that’s still functional on the spire’s roof.” The Assault officer spoke up. “We can probably use it to transmit the data to all nearby forces, over the jamming.”
“With all those flying monsters out there, it’s suicide.” Kumfell said and the officer nodded. “Every day’s suicide, sir. Just waiting for that one day you don’t wake up.”
“Alright, take 5 men, keep as low a profile as you can and get to the booster.” Kumfell said and gave him a copy of the data on his datapad. “Clear out the room as best as you can. Any Intel is useful intel.” The captain called to the troops before moving back to the hallway where other splinter of ZYPHER troops and the Annoited knight squad had held up. The numbers of threats were still moderate but easily handled by both the Annoitted’s massive weapon power and ZYPHER firepower. The captain made his way to one line, taking down and Orb that flew over with is rifle and kneeled down tapping a raptor. “We got a plan.” The captain said and also tapped the shouder of one of the knights. “We need to get some men up on the roof to the quantum antanna” he said and explained the plan.
Meanwhile on the ground, the Bofados, drifted in and out of the street near Faderman’s crash site. The method was working to stave the starving constructs from raiding into the building, but it was only a matter of time before their speeding tactics gave more than just scratches to the armor plating. Their engines were ment to give them a good run should they get out numbered. Repeative motions was placing almost twice the stress on the slip treads and the engine. One however was a clear example of what would happen. The Kilimond engine rod imploded inside of the engine core, causing it backcoil and blow the engine block. The tankette’s power disappeared and it came to sliding halt against the building across the street. And soon swarmed by splinters of constructs. The 3 remaining Bofados sped around to help pull the concentration off of them, their task even more daunting.
//Friendlies coming in// One of the ZYPHER reinforcement units said. A squad of 10 Wildkats came floating towards the city, protected by their LynxIV counterparts behind them. Dozens of waves of the constructs were mowed down by the Wildkat’s burst cannons, while large groups of them were dispersed by the LynxIV’s explosive rounds. //My god what an infestation..// One of the pilots of the wildkats said as they fired several kilimond rockets into the roads ahead, creating a massive kilimond garden, blocking the street. They did the same in the adjacing streets, creating some time to get the armored group into the selected road. Faderman crawled out of the Razorkray just as the first wildkats floated into the building’s lobby, followed by the overheated Bofados. “you called for a taxi Lieutenant?” the commander said as he peeked his head out of IFV. “I called for air support, but you’ll do” She said as she motioned for the team to get out.
“The gardens will only hold them back for so long. Were trying to angle a Baizar in to get you guys out.” He said as a flare popped up into the sky from the street, signaling a temporally secured LZ. However the Baizars that were floating near the High Majesty would have some trouble moving towards that area, despite the fighters and massive air support from the other nations clearing majority of them out. The 3km vessels that entered the sky had pronounced that the air still wasn’t very safe.
“Your gonna have to get up high tho...the street’s a little too small for the Byzants. We’ll take your injured. The rest need to get up to the platform floor for EVAC. We’ll hold them off here and then proceed to the spire.” The commander said. The Bofados crews were now working to cool down the engines, replacing overworked rods and check the slip-treads while they had a temporally lull in attackers. “It might be a moment tho with those big ass ships they apparently have.” The commander added. “Ships?” Faderman said.
The 3km cruisers had attracted the eyes of the High Majesties and the escorts in orbit. The Crimson Vendetta, the Gastin dreadnought watched as the massive ships engage the nearby forces. “Where in the hell did they come from?” The commander asked as he watched his radar. //Apparently Hell...literally sir.// One of the High Majesty captains replied as Valdar cannons opened fired on one of the vessels from distance, assisting the other ships in attacking. “Should we bombard sir?” a tactical member asked. “No, we might hit someone. At the moment it looks like our ships and the neahbors have it under control for the time being.” The captain said. If anything, he wanted to hear confirmation from the ground teams first before doing anything different.
But with the massive jamming, that would prove very difficult.
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Post by CanisDirus on Mar 21, 2021 19:41:42 GMT
--Askandar Aerial Theatre—
The vessels continued to screech as the various faction’s vessels now opened fire on them. The three vessels now broke formation, they didn’t ascend into space they held their ground around 1km above the surface of the planet, the swarms of constructs that flew were almost like black tendrils that reached maliciously for the Annointed vessel, hundreds being vaporised by the conversion beams and other AA systems now raking the sky. As the various missiles and rounds came in many exploded several km from the vessels in bright flashes of light or were intercepted by the flying creatures in the case of the missiles. Those rounds that did get through the seemingly invisible defense and suicide drones were flash fried by massive discharges of energy like lightning that leapt from the vessels hulls. Some rounds did impact however blowing large holes in the almost biological hull and seemingly overpenning to strike into the ground causing massive explosions. The holes than began to seal over, like it was reknitting its own flesh. The more devastating damage taking a great deal longer to heal. In response 12 vacuum tunnels were detected from the strange ships, 4 from each one vessel solely targeted the Annointed vessel directly in front of them, another targeted the Annadolian fleet while the last targeted the ZYPHER vessels. With titanic forces the seemingly small vessels launched parts of their own hull at relativistic speeds towards the target vessels, the substance causing huge kinetic damage on impact, but not destroying itself in the process, for where it landed it would begin to eat whatever it touched, self-replicating as it went.
--Spire Grav Lifts—
As the lifts finally made it clear of the first floor and down into the second the constructs kept on coming. Continuously being fought back by the combined efforts of the forces within the lifts the constructs never let up for a single moment, at least in the lifts they only had to deal with the smaller creatures and not the loping huge gorilla like monsters. It was they their sensors picked up another contact, it was faint, a candle in the midst of a raging inferno but it was there. And it was not a construct, it held the same signature of a civilian transponder, it was several streets over on this level from the lift.
It was definitely something.
--The Plains—
The constructs attacking the Carnaithian FOB screamed violently as they tried to run down the forces that were escaping, abandoning the FOB as the various drop ships and shuttles took off with CAS constantly hammering the swarms back as they came. Pre-Fabricated buildings and defences were simply overrun, automated turrets either running out of ammunition or being torn apart by sheer numbers. The same scene played out across the plains the constructs having now mostly destroyed the Carnaithian FOB now moved almost like a tide towards the Alfurian and Proxian FOB, the giant dark grey mass churning as it got closer, the vanguard and outriders already attacking and probing for weakness as they came. The Spheres seemed to ignore the base defences aiming to destroy the CS-77 support that now provided heavy gunship support against the swarm, and a new set of tremors rumbled through the ground as hundreds of worms prepared to make a subterranean assault.
--The Spire—
A chain of detonations rocked the perimeter as allied defensive mines pre-placed by one of the factions went off, scything down a huge chunk of the feline creatures at the forefront of the new attack. The temporary reprieve had been short, and now the swarms had come again.
The Spire top was fairly clear as the ZYPHER team kept low and moved upwards, using access hatches and tunnels they crawled through the massive spaces where servers and communications centres had been to co-ordinate the spire traffic. Eventually pushing through a large hatch into the chaos of Askandars outside. The huge quantum com array stood spiking another km into the atmosphere its access and hardwire systems at the base of it for emergencies. The dogfights between allied craft and constructs swirling all around them as they attempted to activate the system and get the communication up into orbit.
The Spire itself was now a killing ground, the plaza was being held with every huge door into the Spire blocked with allied vehicles and makeshift barricades, forces continuously firing into the churning mass of creatures to hold them back. The inside however was no different, a constant stream of constructs crawling out of the shafts and lift tubes where their friends had gone down into, troops kept them contained a few vehicles also helping as some forces kept high on the floors above in the Spire, using the height to give plunging fire support to their friends on the ground both inside and outside of the Spire, fighting off the squads of Spheres they floated up to engage them sporadically. Air support was constant however the flying constructs continued to provide aerial contesting for the swarms below, engaging gunships or fighters on attack runs even going so far to ram if need be.
--Canyons and the Tunnels—
The canyons were a bloodbath, not that there was any proper blood to spill apart from that of the Annadolians. The Annointed and Constructs tore into each other with almost maniacal purpose, wild hacking and desperate attacks mixed with the screaming of the creatures and the constant rhetoric from the Annointed. The ground was now coated in bodies of both sides, a churning melee that was incessant, feline creatures dancing in between the legs of those fighting to grab and drag the bodies away even as they fought. A group of 5 of the loping huge constructs bellowed another scream as they charged, the swarm seemingly moving out of the way I unison as they charged one of the powerful Annointed commanders, one of those summoning the psychic storms, claws and energy blades streaking as they slammed into the Annointed line like a ramming tank.
The tunnels however were also constant firefights as the Annadolians also supported by the Annointed pushed down further into the planets crust, the only light in the tunnels was the constant strobing flashes of gunfire and the eerie ice blue glow of the creatures they fought. Screaming was constant, the tunnel turning it into a constant cacophony of fire along with their weapon discharges. The lower they got the more constructs assailed them, worms burrowed out of walls or from above and below to slice limbs off while groups of felines attacked ravenously from the front and spheres gave constant fire support. Whatever they were moving towards would likely be close.
The Alfurian and Proxian FOB had been digging in ever since the first boots were on the rocky ground. In case any other faction here had tried to wipe the FOB out, a network of overlapping manipulators were arranged in circular patterns; protecting all sides of the base equally. The first layer of these shields and projectors were found as mobile BT-22 shield carriers, the same as the ones supporting the convoy in the city nearby. These tankette mounted shields, though small in area, were able to flash up with amazing speed before unspinning, and had a longer than usual run time due to their small size. Dozens of these units were out in front, and constantly intercepted incoming fire from the orbs. Any construct that was unfortunate enough to not get pegged by some kind of defensive fire met a wall of trillions of near FTL sovex particles that suddenly appeared in front of it (or through it) for just a moment before vanishing.
However, with the growing amounts of incoming fire and targets, the BT-22s were becoming just a tad overwhelmed. They had been operating at the FOB for a while now, and needed to be relieved. The unmanned tankettes went full reverse and moved deeper into the FOB's area of protection, transferring the shielding defense to the three central distortion generators in the center of the base. Only one of these lit up now, casting a larger, stronger shield around the base, but only when it was needed. Because of being larger, this shield took longer to create, but was overall more encompassing and multitudes stronger than the tiny mobile versions.
The ten heavy Alfurian gunships that had been providing some support for the FOB below them now oriented themselves toward the center mass of swarm coming toward them. The orb fire was near completely ineffective, because even with their numbers there were just so many shields between every orb and every gunship. However, anytime a CS-77 was fired at, the gunship would retort very quickly with three round bursts of it's three L-66s. The spread of nine HE rounds blasted out in terrifying succession; these versions of the 32mm cannons firing 12 times faster than the older ground vehicle mounted weapons.
"Wrath 2, we all have locks. Permission to open fire with missile batteries is requested." "Confirmed, Wrath 2. Fire when ready. All units, brace, brace!"
The ten huge helicopter-like gunships unleashed their payloads of hypervelocity missiles. Each vehicle carried 500 missiles, and thus 5,000 munitions just from the CS-77s alone arced forward and down toward the swarm of exposed constructs charging closer. Alfurian-Proxian tech development had created a hyper efficient targeting system that meant that anything moving larger than a two foot by two foot cube received a six foot long HE missile. Usually these would have distortion warheards, and would have horribly overpenned...but the FOB, like the units in the city, had noticed HE was much more effective at disabling the constructs. Regardless, HE was standard practice against biological targets anyway.
The greater landscape toward the bulk of swarm detonated in near perfect succession as the missiles curved down. The CS-77s calmly hovered, very slowly starting to refill their pods (though this would take a long while). Of course the missile strike did not have a 100% success rate, and random chunks of the swarm continued forward. These groups came under fire from Proxian Pulm fire, and although conventional single-shot Pulms lazily arced 80mm HE as arrows from a medieval army, the somewhat more intimidating fire came from about a dozen auto-pulm turrets. These emplacements lobbed belt fed HE rounds, two per second, at any remaining movement coming toward the FOB, utterly peppering the already smoky and pitted landscape with HE, Willy Pete (white phosphorous), and the occasional distortion.
Within the FOB, the shaking of the ground gave warning of the subterranean wave of the attack. This threat was a bit more daunting, as neither shields nor defensive fire could really slow them from surfacing. However, the shaking itself could be exploited. With their sensitive hearing coming to great use, Alfurian squads lightly jogged around the interior of the FOB and started to take up positions as the worms surfaced in their first wave. Their arrival areas had been loosely known, and though the defenders were (usually) not right on top of the exits, the bands of Jibber Jacks that the Alfurians had been leading around were fast enough so that this didn't really matter. At speeds that rivaled even Esparas, the little beasts cried out in confusing Blizzian-speed odd speech that even the sovexian trans-lingual cross had no hope of understanding. With flashes of fur, claws, and teeth, the worms were counter-swarmed as soon as they surfaced. 'Bap' blasts showered groups of them with buckshot, SMGs rattled off short bursts, and the screaming of "YEABLEDABAIABI" echoed through the base. Not all of the worms could be intercepted, though. Some caused light damage to mech and tank feet or chassis, and others dug into building foundations. One worm dug right up through a BT-22 and detonated it's manipulator, causing a tower of black smoke to rise in the organized chaos. A squad of Alfurians watching over a group of Jibber Jacks noticed how the Proxian beasts who jumped or rattled odd words the most appeared to have worms surface right under them, often causing horrible wounds or killing the Jack instantly.
Meanwhile in orbit the group of Proxian and Alfurian ships watched the collective fire and it's affects on the targeted vessels near the planet's surface. They were...to say the least, unimpressed, but continued to standby and watch to see what would happen next.
Hajemur slammed a fist against the side of a BT-24. "We can't just sit here and hold forever. I hope he realizes..." His eyes narrowed some as he guessed at what Jacellem was doing. "That Frinatic fool!" he looked around as the constructs once again started to pour toward them. Without proper defenses, they could only hold out against a seemingly endless current of targets for so long. But there weren't many options left, other than going down. He looked around until he found Bolsau with his Proxian contingent and jogged over. "I recommend we move underground. Maybe then we could at least find where these things are coming from. You're up for it, aren't you?" the Alfurian yelled over cannon and rifle fire.
Jacellem and his tank group were nearing the FOB. He had observed the attacks heading toward the base from afar, and had circled his group east and then north to approach the FOB from the opposite side than the city. Now the tanks rolled into the cover of the shields and pulled up in a defensive position, mostly facing southeast. They had not lost any vehicles, but many units suffered track damage from the worms. Now nanodrones were deployed from the rear compartments on the back of turrets to start repairs. Jacellem and the Alfurian crews dismounted from their tanks and halftracks and moved to the command center. K'letla stayed with her crew and her tank. She tapped her gauntleted hand on the side of her vehicle. She needed to make a plan, and fast.
The Annoliddan Kreutz class were already watching and waiting for a retaliation from the enemy vessels. They made use of their speed, the biomass shots missing them by only a few meters. Even so, they're guns remained trained on them in case they had any sort of homing capability. The cruiser did not fare as well, its sublight acceleration limited from earlier damage. Its onboard P.A.M. turrets and point defense railguns were still active, and did what they could to carve chunks off of the biomass before impact. Said impact sent the cruiser careening away from the other assembled ships. Harnen gave out one last transmission before the comm array was eaten.
"Meneac-Abell cruiser compromised! Evacuation underway! All ships, open fire on my location! Do not allow this infection to spread!"
With this, the last of the drop pods were launched carrying what remaining crew had managed to reach them in time. Once they were away, Harnen diverted all remaining power he could muster in the ship to the main core, superimposing the Meneac-Abell's artificial gravity around itself so that the biomass was pulled in closer, preventing any ability it might have of jumping to another ship. The pods soared away, a few hundred kilometers from the city below in order to avoid getting caught in the brutal melee.
Back in the spire lifts, Grodan made note of the faint signal. "Oy, Someone's still alive out there! If any of you want to play Hero, you have my support. If not, I'm rallying with whatever remains of my troops down below."
Deeper down, the Inquisition forces readied their counterattack. The three remaining mechs leapt over the Annointed troops and slammed into the charging line of large constructs. Their light but large frames creaked and cracked from the impact force as they drove pile drivers into the constructs, lifting and pushing them back against the tunnel walls before collapsing, subsequent explosions rocking their frames as they were pushed past the breaking point.
The pages gave out a signal, producing simple looking cylinders and attaching them to the outer hull of the Nomad walkers as they continued the advance. The cylinders released a deafening sonic pulse, revealing their function as harmonic resonators, having been fine-tuned after testing them on the constructs as the fighting raged. The pulse, for only a second, countered the constant screaming in the tunnel. The rest of the Annoliddan troops took this brief break to rearm and reload. The Acolytes dropped their ammunition magazines from their guns and loaded their stalcium power blocks from their armor, slowing their movements slightly and replacing their standard shots with 3mm needles of stalcium, each delivering a surprisingly large electromagnetic burst upon impact. The Squires as well changed out for low velocity concussive rounds; against fleshy targets like the constructs, these would only penetrate a short distance before detonating.
Both of these changes were a rarity among the Annoliddans, and would be considered nigh ineffective were it not for what the resonators did next. As the screaming resumed, a second sound began to rise, faint against the gunfire and screaming but present nonetheless. To the Annointed and Annoliddans, it would sound like a monotone warsong, a constant cacophony of banging drums and bellowing horns.
To the constructs, this music was literal torture. The bellow coming at such a frequency and wavelength as to cause the flesh of the constructs to quiver and loosen upon itself. Every one of them faltered in their movements: the worms writhed in a standstill, the felines slowed, orbs could no longer aim in a straight line. Only the larger beasts had the sheer mass to absorb the sound, yet still appeared sluggish. The constant beats meanwhile, coming about three times a second, was attuned to the plasma blades of the constructs, and each beat temporarily caused these blades to fade before reforming, providing key openings for the Annointed troops caught in CQC.
The new ammunitions suddenly seemed more effective as electrical surges and concussive blasts finished the destabilization and began keeping the half alive bodies of the constructs from simply thinking. The newly empowered and emboldened Annoliddans continued to charge to the source that was drawing dangerously close.
Westmoreland couldn't decide if he was relieved or apprehensive when the lift finally ground to halt and opened, allowing the vehicle mounted grenade launchers to once again thump their explosive payloads into the swarm of enemies. He just pushed the thoughts down, focusing on the simple action of aiming and firing the grenades, trying not to think about how many were left, or what would happen if the gun started jamming up again.
There was confusion among the Marauders on the lift. The new signal was of interest. It could have been the people they'd be sent to this god forsaken hellhole to find in the first place, or it could be a trap. Either way, there was hesitation. With Rackham gone (and probably dead if Westmoreland had to guess) there was no clear sense of who was actually in charge now, and the decision making process was slow, and decentralized.
He wasn't sure how long the technicals and FAVs idled on the lift. Seconds felt like hours and minutes felt like eternities surrounded by the omnipresent screeching and the masses of inky flesh pressing in on them, but finally a decision was made. The vehicles moved once more into a loose formation and began pressing through the streets as fast as they could, heading toward the signal.
Several levels below at the bottom of the spire, Rackham watched as the number of constructs attacking him and his lads began to dwindle off. He wasn't foolish enough to believe it was because they were running out of bodies to throw at the pirates... but maybe their attentions were focused elsewhere.
Whatever the case, it gave the battered pirates a much needed reprieve. Long enough for the medics to start tending to the walking wounded (which was the only wounded there were with the things dragging everyone off).
"Why won't they stop screeching at us?" Someone commented with a groan. "Like we get it, they mad and shit. Can they shut up about it?"
"Maybe they's like bats," Another pirate commented. "With all them eeko... eeku... eeka... them sound findery,"
"I don't care what they is Cleetus. I just want 'em to shut the hell up,"
Further conversation was cut short by a brief influx of enemies quickly dispatched by Rackham's thermite lance and the canons of the gunships hovering overhead. Rackham gave a sidelong glance at the Subjugator.
The echo location talk had given Firefly an idea. With a few adjustments to her cloaking field... yes... it was worth a shot. She stood and tossed the target locator to Cleetus, pulling her rifle into her hands and detatching herself from the rest of the pirates.
The first few steps out yielded little in the way of success. The modification was imperfect, if she was too close to the constructs, or to other obvious targets they could find her, but once she'd managed to make it a few paces away from the group she very quickly found herself beneath the construct's notice.
She pressed on alone, trusting in her field to hold, and descended deeper into the caverns below the spire. Her heart hammered in her chest and rather than follow the signal first picked up by the ground forces, she instead followed the screaming of those unfortunate enough to have been carried off by the constructs.
"Alright!" went out the call from the highest ranking Free Worlds soldier in the Autayan bays, a lieutenant. Captain Kepson was either WIA and unable to speak, MIA, or KIA. "These people were gracious enough to rescue us, and for that we are eternally grateful!" "Hooah!" the remaining soldiers bellowed at him. "But," he continued. "There's still a job to do, and we don't leave jobs unfinished! I need volunteers to go back down there, and kill every goop critter motherfucker we see! Hooah?" Naturally, every trooper in the bay bellowed Hooah! back at him.
"Walking wounded and combat fit only!" he roared, and suddenly the cries of assent got a lot quieter. But by the time the lieutenant had sorted everything out twenty men and women had been selected and they all were taking all the ammo and grenades they had to spare.
"Request permission to go back down there and kick some more ass, sir!" the lieutenant said, marching right up to the closest Autayan officer and saluting smartly.
---Askandar Orbit---
Both Free Worlds frigates could not help but notice what the devil was going on not at all far from them, and if they stayed quiet and continued to not maneuver or defend themselves, they'd get hit sooner or later and without putting up some kind of defense that'd be the end of that.
Both frigates spooled up their drives to full, and surged forward to bug the fuck out of orbit and head for interplanetary space as their AAs spun up and their fighters launched. They were tiny compared to most ships there and their weapons were best described as museum piece compared to anything with a heavy laser, but damn it all if they weren't going to fight.
==Davian Fleet== The inevitable destruction of the Annoliddans ship nearby drew the attention of the two Davian's ships. The impact by the monster ship literally sent the Annoliddans ship careening away from the other assembled ships. Yet in the final act of defiant the Annoliddans used their artificial gravity to hold the monster from attacking the other before escaping with their drop pods. And the two remaining Davian ships while heavily damaged decided to do something rather than being sitting ducks waiting for slaughter.
Thus both ships kicked up their drives and headed to interplanetary space along with the two small ships of a faction called 'Free World', their Gate engines charged up to max power while all their remaining weapons trailed toward the monster and opened fire. Thousands of capital ships grade plasma bolts followed by a rain of missiles and torpedoes flew toward the monster (and the wreck of the Meneac-Abell). The Davian heavy destroyer unleashed a giant beam of plasma with its still functioning prow cannon toward the monster before hastily followed its cruiser onto interplanetary space. The beam however only possessed roughly 2/3 of the max power because the crews didn't want to stress their damaged ship. At the same times the rest of the Davian's space fighters, held back to defense the ships began to launch and form a defensive line between the monster ship and their own warships. AA weapons also readied to intercept anything could be sent.
Unfortunately leaving the orbit meant the Davian Air Force sent to support ground operations would have to cover larger range. This somewhat hindered the effectiveness of the Davian strikecrafts.
Beside several spy drones would also pulled back and began display false signals and holograms.
==Davian Forces at the spire==
All around the spire the battle raged as fierce as ever Davian strikecrafts along with those from the other factions fought their best to keep control of the sky while providing support for those on the ground. It has become common for Davian crafts saved or be saved by none Davian crafts while in another place Rattan bombers found themselves making bombing run along with BSO's gunships while supporting (intentionally or not) by Carnaith fighters. On the ground Davian squads or even individuals would found themselves fighting along or even back to back with the other faction forces. Dire situation forced Davian units to mark everyone not constructs as friendly targets thus would be assisted as much as possible. While the situation clearly not improved, it also didn't worsened (much) so far.
==Davian Troops in the lift==
The Bamboo Atmospheric fighters supporting the BSO's warband expended most of their firepower and began to pull back. On the way out they picked up the distressed signal and relayed it to their ground forces.
The lift filled with Davian Sappers and War Elephants kept going down. Even here the fight continued as waves of constructs keep climbing up trying to assail those inside. Fortunately there was no gorilla like creature and air support still available for those inside by several Bamboos. Basically the Davian troops formed into a large circle with the larger War Elephant robots in front and soldiers behind to creat overlapping field of fire. Keep shooting his machine plasma gun lieutenant Thai received a message from the pulling up Bamboo fighter: "Lieutenant we found a signal not from those monsters down there. It's worth investigating. The empire protect you sir we're pulling back."
"I'll see to it comrades, good luck up there." The sapper commander responded before activated his plasma sword and cut a feline like creature in two with a single swing: "Tell those on the surface to provide some vehicles here too."
Then a large Annoliddans showed with a yell: "Oy, Someone's still alive out there! If any of you want to play Hero, you have my support. If not, I'm rallying with whatever remains of my troops down below."
"We're going to investigate it Annoliddans. Go along if you want." Thai yelled back before ordering his troops: "We go along with this fine warrior and investigate the signal."
"At your command sir." The squad leaders saluted as sappers and robots jumped out of the lift and moved toward the signal guns blazing all the while.
A swarm of constructs immediately emerged and charged at the descending Davian. Several War Elephants responded with their thunderous sonic roar before making a ferocious counter charge with their massive energy blades and guns. Strangely however the constructs tumbled and faltered before the roaring.
"Sir our roaring forced them back." A war robot reported while stepping forward and crushed a worm like construct under its feet as its shoulder mounted gatling gun turned a few feline constructs into burning corpses: "Possibly these enemies heavily affect by sonic weapons."
"No guessing SAI! Keep pushing!" Thai yelled: "BEHIND YOU!"
A sapper turned his back only to see several felines lifting toward him, at that moment however a missile from a Bamboo fighter denoted nearby blasting those abominations apart and threw the soldier away. Smoked filled and said soldier separated from the other. Yet another group of constructs nearby charged toward other targets instead of him. Seeing this and recalled the events so far the lieutenant said: "Wait, these thing could be blind creatures and using voice or sonic wave to direct their scene! War Elephant form first rank, use your sonic roar to clear the way. Onward for the empire!"
"URAAAARRR!" All the towering robots ran toward roaring, shooting, hacking and crushing the constructs. ==Autaya ship==
Along with the Free Worlders a few Davian also escaped through the Autaya wormhole and found themselves safe within a Autaya's ship. With the interdiction field raised only a few Davian managed to reach here, the highest ranking soldier, a squad leader looked at his tattered 'squad'. There were 11 wounded soldiers, 2 medics, an unwounded soldier, a pilot and himself all for 16.
The squad leader observed the surrounding then realized the Free Worlders intention to go back: "Those people are coming back to rejoin the fight." He turned back: "And how about us Davian? Are we abandoning our duty and sit here as useless losers? I say we are not. Who's following me?"
"We're with you sir."
"Those fit and willing to fight follow me. It's your choice. But no, one of you must stay here with the wounded." The captain said to the two medics.
Awhile later 4 Davian: a squad leader, a pilot, a medic and a soldier stepped toward the talking Free World and Autayan officer: "We Davian sincerely request to rejoin the fight on the surface sir!" The squad leader saluted.
"Get Solaris pumps online, I want the thickest possible globule we can get between us and those ships! Same goes for the Army ships!" Avolar shouted, all ships turning to point their prows directly at the area of the surface where the unknown ships resided. Solaris cannons with their accelerator magnets on minimum began to pump out their ammunition; a highly magnetic, highly radioactive mixture of Solaris and several auto-incendiary and corrosive agents. Taking the appearance of magma, the surface of the globules constantly cooled over in the void, their burning interiors showing as they constantly reformed themselves, the fires perpetuating in their core. A hole was made through the Cruiser's globule via the hull-mounted magnets, allowing it to fire another salvo in relative safety. Missiles, this time with standoff EFP warheads, were launched around the globule, set to go off outside of the observed standoff range of the ships; all of this was focused on a single craft.
Inside of the atmosphere, it was soon discovered that pairs, or even trios, of fighters were the best way to combat the construct fighters; once one was targeted by a fighter, or a swarm of fighters, it would act as "bait", diving away from the constructs as it's partners launched missiles or fired Solaris lances, more similar to the primary function of the Solaris cannons on the cruiser above, at the pursuing craft. Of course, the presence of the ships now complicated things by posing a direct threat to both high-altitude combat as well as CAS functions near the city.
The Annointed were impressed, the Anoliddans proved themselves more and more in the eyes of the ancient church every step they took, every enemy felled placed another mark against their name in the collective unconscious of the entire empire, within the gestalts awoke a new emotion, one that had long lay dormant, they were pleased, it had been an age and a half since they had last found a people they would consider their spiritual equals.
Not ones to be content with being left behind the Annointed played one of their few remaining trump cards, stepping forth from the crowed the as of yet to act Annointed captain moves themselves to the front, conversion beamer dropping to the floor disintegrating where it lands, no drain on his psi battery could be allowed to interfere with his next actions, the captain was a gestalt of one thousand eight hundred and forty seven souls, so it was with the power of many that he turned his psionic fury against the creatures around him, a heady purple miasma fills the air, lightning crackles and arcs from one soldier to the next, the constructs screaming dies under the roar of rushing air as the tunnel becomes home to a concentrated vacumn tube, the allied forces spared the voids deadly embrace by the captains selective telekinetic management, moments later it collapses and the roar of rapidly returning air fills the ears of those gathered as the dark creatures are dragged to the center of what was once airless space, as the horde gathers the captain releases a final felling burst of malefic energy that grows into a spiraling maelstrom of unrivaled energy, the heinous creatures vanish under brilliant purple and when the light finally clears the tunnel sits empty and silent.
The Articulate screeching lurches as the black matter impacts its hull, PD guns crushed by the impact, their remains rapidly eaten by the parasitic matter.
"GET OFF GET OFF GET OFF"
Morgana shrieks as the creatures strip away her hull, and in her fury tears away entre segments of her own hull in order to remove the repugnant blobs, raising slowly the blobs contort and burn under the furious ministrations of the CIWS conversion beamers.
Having observed the flaws in their firing pattern the Articulate screeching fires another volley of missiles, the kinetic kill vehicles fly in equal numbers toward each ship, onboard explosives detonating in a calculated chain to create long firing corridors through the dwindling swarms, then through the channels light speed c-beams flash through the air, if over penetration was an issue then a weapon that could not over pen was the simplest solution.'
It was as the Anointed's show of colour and gelatinous alien based annihilation came to an end that the lift finally clunked at the bottom, the Autayan forces and others stood watching. "Hey, so uh, why couldn't you have opened with that?" one of the troopers called, the Arachnodrogai watching the lift shaft above for anything stupid enough to walk into the sights of all four. "No matter, the path is clear. Onwards! We must be getting close by now!" the Captain responded, signalling ahead with his hammer. With energy and perhaps thrill in their step, the Autaya spurred forward, hurrying to make up the distance and dig deeper beneath Askandar.
High above, the Autayan officer turned to gaze lazily at the Free Worlders and Davian troops. He sighed. "No. You lot," he said, his yellow eyes drifting to the Free Worlders. "Were getting chopped down by the dozen last we saw, and that was when you were in number. I'm not about to send twenty-odd of you lot to their deaths because of bravado." he explained. "And also, the wormhole's shut. Only way down now is by aircraft, and it's hell down there."
As for the ships themselves, the gunnery officers furiously searched their sensors for tactical data. "Did we do anything?" the Sub-Commandant of one asked. "Fuck if I know, sir. Maybe we missed." "Dammit. Let's try something else. All weapons to graviton charge." "Aye aye." The guns momentarily dimmed to black, before lighting back up a bright purple. Moments later and a volley of high-intensity grav lances fired out, all focused on one of the hostile vessels, aiming to blast the thing back into the ground.
It was only a few moments in the middle of the chaos a powerful signal emitted through the jamming. Everyone on the ground to Orbit would suddenly hear the large signal burst from the Quantum antenna at the top of the spire. The signal overpowered the jamming from the constructs and filled multiple communication chatter and data from what they learned.
//Crimson Vendetta, can you hear me?// was the communication voice heard from the communications panel.
//Crimson Vendetta to ground, we read you, in clear.//
“This is Professor Kumsfel. Were requesting an immediate Drilling Ox deployment on the information being transmitted. Load a Class V Subterranean charge onto the rig.” The Dean Professor said onto his datapad as he made sure the information from the computer system, the map and locations specified were sent to everyone in the area, as well as the ships in orbit. The warbird looked over the data being transmitted and gently scratched his scaled snout. to his Operations chief. “Do we still have any Oxs onboard?” He asked. “We have 4, sir. Should I prep one.” He asked. The Warbird nods before the Op chief begins putting in the commands.
Back in the city, the Lieutinent’s group manages to make it to the roof of the building they crashed into. Luckily, the roof top access had proper cover against the airborne enemies. As they moved out to secure the roof under the large arwning, the crew looked at the cruisers in the air as they engaged the annointed and ZYPHER cruisers. The High Majesties in in the construct ship’s target range shimmered as their shield took the massive blunt of the attack. The ship jolted as crew members were shooked from their feet. The High Majesties returned fire brightening the sky with several Valdar lance strikes, following up with explosive kinetic rod bursts.
In Orbit, the Dreadnought’s bay opened up, revealing a corvette sized, Drilling Ox platform. “Ox is ready for drop deployment. Sending warning to the area.” An Ops member said. The Gastin scanned the ground the deployment site, aiming for the area directly above the ‘gateway’ as they prepared to drop it. "Commander, coordinate overlay of te target location request, suggests it's right over the city. Too much collderal at that location." Ops member replied, seeing the almost mistake.
"Localize position at a safe area to drop the Ox, once scan is complete." The commander replied as they repositioned coordinates an area outside the city to the southeast, an area crawling with hostiles but no allies other forces present. The transmission called attention to the underground now, they tried to deep root scan for the terrestrial caverns
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Post by EmperorMyric on Mar 22, 2021 14:46:13 GMT
== Askandar Aerial and Spacial Theatre==
The fighter swarms were being countered now, as the various CIWS, orbital support and the tactics of the Carnaithians started to take their toll the massive swarms of enemy fighters began to thin out, this did not stop their constant attacking however. The strange alien vessels continued their attacks, one of them finally screaming as it collapsed to the ground, the 3km form impacting the surface with immense force as it died sending up a huge cloud of dust and dirt that began to descend over the city. Its form punctuated with immense hulls and smashed sections from the combined fire of the numerous ships above, Solaris poc marks, mass driver holes, laser scars and more as the ship began almost… melting. Its coherent form dissipating almost into a tidal wave of strange substances over the surrounding area. The substance that was eating the Annointed vessel however seemed to ignore the CIWS fired at it, using the ships very substance to replicate and grow stronger almost like it was changing to withstand specific fire aimed at it, in contrast in space the rounds that hit the Inquisitions ships acted very differently.
It still ate as it went, converting the vessel into more of itself as the crew escaped. The ship turning into a mass of bulging substance, as the Davian and other fleets now fired onto it glowing blue holes on its surface erupted into particle beams. They shot down many of the missiles as the strange thing now began taking on an appearance of the vessels below albeit much bigger.
== Grav Lifts and Tunnels==
The lifts hit the bottom as the Autaya and BSO had a brief engagement with the creatures before the huge psionic attack sucked the constructs from the entire area, relieving the forces now advancing. The units now met up further down into the tunnels, now eerily quiet and empty apart from the strange sound of machinery at work. The forces that advanced now came to a monumental cavern, the one the Annointed soldier had seen before his death. A giant gateway lay before them, carved out of a strange substance it led into a large corridor easily over 200ft tall. Many constructs lay before them but none of them screamed yet, they stood fidgeting almost like waiting for an order to attack.
_”You will die here”_ The voice seemed to come from inside the gate and down the corridor that glowed with blue and purple light.
== Living Quarters level near the signal ==
The constructs here however were not so inactive, they still came in waves against the Davians and BSO forces, jumping off rooftops, pulling themselves through shattered streets and out of manhole covers. They came from everywhere never ceasing, the sonic weapons pushed them back for a time but had no affect on the huge gorilla constructs that aimed to destroy the technicals and the war mechs, smashing into vehicles or mechs to rip them apart or crush them with sheer bulk almost totally heedless of the damage they were taking themselves.
As the forces neared the signal area it became clear where they were going, a warehouse surrounded by constructs that lay on the floor, they didn’t seem damaged at all simply like they just stopped. As the forces rapidly moved in towards the warehouse it was clear there was a circle, the constructs that ran at them to kill them dropped unmoving when they crossed an invisible boundary like a puppet with its strings cut. They were safe for now it seemed.
==The Plains==
The swarms were decimated by the defensive fire from the Alfurian and Proxian FOB, but they did not stop. Either coming in waves or pockets they kept attacking in an attempt to break their defences. That was until a wave of the construct fighters above, one of the dark tendrils as they all moved turned its attention on the base, writhing like a tentacle the fighters seemed to concentrate together before diving like a tide at the base. It was a kamikaze strike and with a renewed attack from the ground swarms the pressure once again was kept up. Constructs were torn apart however, the worms kept coming jumping up to destroy anything they could or at least keep units pinned down watching the ground. The spheres as well almost instantly switched attack targeting the generators themselves and focusing fire as the cat like constructs now actually came forward instead of the gorillas like an ever living tide, the huge constructs came behind using the focus on the smaller construct waves to up their survivability.
==The Spire==
The attacks did not let up on the Spire either. One of the Gorrilla constructs smashed through a ZYPHER vehicle and pushed into the spire central area killing as it went, eventually being brought down by concentrated gunfire, the hole it had made however was now exploited by the smaller and nimbler beasts that poured in. Grenades were used and the Spire turned into a gigantic amplifier for the sounds of battle. Troops on the higher floors both poured fire downwards and also engaged beasts trying to climb the outside of the Spire or the floating spheres trying to hover up to snipe. It was a desperate situation, and they needed reinforcement that much was clear.
In the spire the Proxian and Alfurian defensive formations lessoned their area of protection as to focus their firepower. They moved inward toward a large open lift. Although it pained the Alfurians to leave their dependable vehicle support, they were not sure if a lift could be called upward to bring them. Thus they started to prepare in case this had to be done on foot. The Proxians would take up the slack, and the Proxian mechs might be able to come down the shaft even if a lift could not be called anyway. For now, though, a round formation once again dug in and held. L-66s blazed away constantly and the Proxian TG-110 Bluchers occasionally rattled off their eight barreled 30mm Gatling systems at any arm of the constructs that reached too aggressively.
Outside of the city, the FOB's shields started to hold more constantly as the airborne units joined the assault. This would cause them to overheat sooner, but fortunately the overlapping systems could share the load. Shield wise the FOB was holding, but there was a need for additional firepower. The CS-77 missile barrage had cut the ground constructs back for a moment, but now the pods were reloading and would not be available for a while longer. Of course, the CS-77s had more weapons than just missile pods. Their rapid fire L-66s streamed HE rounds into the most dense packs of the feline constructs, but due to their elevated height (being aircraft, of course) the units could focus on the larger constructs even with the felines in front of them. Each CS-77 would focus on a gorilla, and then lob a 180mm HE round at it. This round would probably cripple the intended target alone, but would atomize the larger beasts' feline escort even if they were swarming overtop of it to shield it from the fire coming in from above. Then, to finish off the tough target, the CS-77 would fire off one of it's two 205mm AT missiles. The detonation from this weapon would render any solid, or liquid for that matter, gone. Craters from these blasts spewed rock and dust into the air to shower the ground around.
L-66 snipers worked with Proxian defensive turrets to one-shot the feline creatures at a devastating rate. The advanced systems as well as experienced crews in fighting such targets put the attacking smaller constructs at a real disadvantage. Some of the older Alfurian soldiers forgot they were even fighting foreign constructs; reliving their Espara swarm fighting days of olden. Still, with most weapons being oriented toward holding back the ground swarms, the fighter constructs massive push threatened to overstress the shields. The CS-77s' projector AA defenses lit up the sky in blackish purple, lashing distortion beams into the fighters even through the shields. Though the beams could overpen many targets at once, they were not large enough to cause high instant damage.
Jacellem watched the fighting above and got on the long range comms. He tried to hail the Vakun in orbit, but the jamming was still too strong here. He scowled, but then smirked mischievously and walked over to a nearby spotlight.
In orbit, the three Alfurian ships with their Proxian escorts had been constantly pumping out light distortion missiles for a good while now. The launch and construction tubes were forced to vastly cut down on deployment of these missiles due to overheating, but due to the long production time, there were hundreds and hundreds of thousands of missiles orbiting the Alfurian vessels. These missiles had been made to protect the ships themselves, but as the gun crews watched the planet below they started to notice a constant pattern from the location of the Alfurian-Proxian FOB.
Standing out different from the blackish-purple HE explosions, a white grey light flicked a code up toward them. This was an old, obsolete code...but still a handy backup form of communication.
About a minute later, the sky was adorned with thousands of distortion missiles. These extremely fast munitions were especially effective at AA, since that was what their main purpose was in space. The weapons used gravity to further increase their velocity, and devoted most power to maneuvering. The barrage put even the CS-77s to shame as the missiles focused in a ring around the FOB below. Each missile would detonate on proximity, creating a distortion sphere that would last three seconds. The oversaturation of missiles filled the area of sky above the Proxian and Alfurian fob so much, that they temporarily acted as a mass shield. Ones that missed air targets or simply had no targets to lock onto looked further below and detonated on the ground.
The ships in orbit had dedicated 20% of their missiles to the ground strike, but now attention was refocused to what was happening to the Annointed vessel in the distance. The six ships kept their distance, but moved to support their Zypher allies just in case backup was required.
=Living Quarters=
They were pouring it on thick now and the Westmoreland's gun was once again jamming with every couple of shots. He repeated curses, alternating between muttering and screaming them as he worked the charging handle to keep the weapon firing. Constructs fell upon the technical in front of Westmoreland's. They tore the driver free and the whole thing slammed into the side of a building before crashing into power line.
The pole crashed down, spreading cables across the street and Westmoreland felt the power cables slam into his chest and throw him from the technical's flatbed. For a terrifying moment after he hit the ground, Westmoreland couldn't breathe. He tried inhaling, but nothing came and it was only after several panicked seconds of gasping that it occured to him he'd need to exhale first.
He did so, gulped dow air and pushed himself to his feet. The other vehicles in the make shift convoy were rushing past him, firing as they went and ignoring him. He shouted, waved his arms, but thy went on. There was no stopping.
He cursed. His gun was back in the technical, and no one was going to pick him up. He turned, and ran. Following the path of the vehicles on foot. The constructs ignored him, focused as they were on tearing drivers out of cabs and crashing vehicles against walls, utility poles, and other vehicles when the opportunity presented itself.
Finally he made it. He could see where the vehicles had stopped just outside a warehouse and he sprinted for it.
He saw the feline a moment before it launched itself at him, and he was certain he was dead. But mid flight the creature went limp, and rather than landing and tearing into the pirate it simply collapsed to the ground and lay still.
"Jesus Christ," Westmoreland muttered stumbling towards his technical and pulling himself into the flatbed. Men were dismounting, grabbing weapons and moving toward the warehouse. The constructs may have been unable to reach them here but there were still ready for anything. They stacked up, ready to breach and on an unspoken signal pushed the doors open and advanced into the warehouse.
=The Tunnels and Grav Chute=
Once the medics had finished their work, and with no more enemies swarming their position, Rackham finally gave the order to advance. He lead the way, twin lights on his suit lighting up the tunnels ahead of them as they descended with the gunships in tow. It didn't take them long to reach the main chamber.
"Holy Jesus," Rackham muttered seeing the gate. "You think Firefly has enough demo charges for that?"
Firefly was wondering much the same. With her makeshift sound cloak still active she stood far away from the group of new arrivals. With a moment's pause to mentally count out the number of demo charges she had (five) she slowly began advancing toward the gate. She was tense, hoping the cloak would work, but prepared to leg it if it didn't.
=High Orbit=
Thus far the Black Sail Organization, on Vlad's orders, had remained out of the fighting. They seemed content to hold at distance and watch the blobs consume ships. Vlad drummed his fingers against the handle of his command chair, watching the chaos. His vessels didn't pick up the first transmission the Dean Professor managed to get through, but when ZYPHER vessels moved into position and began broadcasting warning he shouted a curse and grabbed hold of his comms unit.
"Dolbo yeb! No one can communicate shit to ground teams!" Vlad shouted, his small trio of ship's weapons once more coming online and targeting the ZYPHER dreadnought preparing to launch the Ox.
"You launch whatever the fuck it is you're getting ready to launch and you're going to kill anyone at the target location! Back the fuck off right the fuck now or I will fuck your shit up!"
At the chamber's entrance, the Inquisition ground forces halted once the voice rung through the doorway. Before the Annointed arrival, their numbers had plummeted, and only four walkers remained of their armor units. After a few quick clasping of hands and shouts of approval, it was decided for 3 of the Nomads and the remaining knights to hold this position while the rest of the acolytes and squires proceeded with the growing contingency of allied forces into the main chamber. As they passed, the acolytes made sure to place a few rounds in each of the dormant constructs, ensuring all they ever did was twitch.
Grodan, on a higher up level, hopped aboard one of the Davian vehicles as they headed for the signal. By meaning hop aboard, he sat on top of the main cockpit like a bar stool and opened fire his main gun directly in front of the vehicle, shrapnel and explosive mess ripping through the feline constructs. He only dismounted when nearing their destination, leaping off the vehicle to place himself on top of one of the massive gorilla constructs. Grodan put his massive chainsaw of a weapon to the test, sawing away the beast in mere seconds into a pile goo; His weapon scooped up some of the material as it cut, superheating and breaking it down, only to expel it in a molten stream at a few passing felines. With that out of the way (literally), Grodan marched straight up to the warehouse entrance and gave three solid knocks, shouting out "Bah-weep-graaaaagnah wheep nini bong!" as he did so. But with the sheer pandemonium elsewhere, he did not wait for a response before beginning to pry open the door, muscles and machinery straining to open the reinforced entrance.
At the base of the spire, the hovering Parthian armor of the Inquisition had up until now not shown there true capabilities, what with having to remain mobile to avoid the swarms. Now surrounded by a defensive line however, the were now able to deploy their stationary form. A total of 8 howitzer style cannons protruded from them and began unloading enough HE to level the spire itself, were it not for the shells being lobbed away and out into the city streets. Borderline nuclear explosions began tearing through the buildings and constructs alike, concentrating on the largest clusters of swarm. Two of the Parthians moved closer to the edge of the spire base so that their cannons could be aimed skyward, loading in a special brand of flak to take out the remaining fighters, leaving daisy-chaining explosion lines in the sky ahead of their paths.
The spacial theatre was a light definition of clusterfuck for the Inquisition. Harnen went down with the cruiser, but the escape pods and shuttles were now breaking atmosphere a few hundred kilometers east of the city, a brisk 2 hour walk from where the ground combat was taking place. The Kreutz class corvettes now turned their full attention on their once-friendly cruiser, mass drivers and maser blasts attempting to at least pierce the abomination down to the drive core. A salvo of missiles were released from each, but instead of targeting the construct ahead of them, the missiles fired off in deep space on an intercept course of the two blobs that missed them in order to ensure they were launched into the nearest star.
==Davian Fleet==
The duel Davian ships while mostly care for themselves and their ground force still well aware of surrounding situation. Two of their former enemy's ships from the so-called Annointed and Anollidan Inquisition had been destroyed by strange monster ships, one monster ship was also crushed. In the other hand Davian crews managed to brought their ships to the point of somewhat combat worthy.
"Comrade captain. Those monsters keep eating the ships and one seems to be replicating itself. The other ships are bombarding them. Your order sir?" "Our returning strikecrafts reported our ground forces divided to two groups. One investigating the signal while the main force holding the spire with other forces." "Weapon powered up from BSO pointing at a very large ship."
"Hmm… Deploy decoy drones and missiles. Prepare to bombard the nearest monster ship again. Tell our strikecrafts to use long range fire. Double check to ensure we're staying OUTSIDE any interdiction field. Prepare all other weapon but hold your fire"
The two Davian ships began to launch missiles from all of their available launchers. Yet instead of charging at the former Annolidan ship - now essentially the monster ship - the missiles would move ahead of Davian ships. Meanwhile the newly launched decoy drones joined with their peers and began to hide the true ships by mimicked the ships radar, lidar, gravitometric and thermal signatures.
==Davian Air Force==
With the mass deployment of missiles from their warships, the strikecrafts screen quickly let the missiles to take up the front and formed themselves between the missiles swarm and their two ships.
Meanwhile strikecrafts assigned to support Davian ground force continued to rotate and engaged in endless fighting. After sometimes Davian pilots began to mimicked Carnaith's tactic.
== Davian forces at the spire ==
As the battle raged on casualties mounted and the Davian was forced to slowly fallback. Yet the newly deployed Annolidan firepower was noticed by the Davian. Thus they began to orderly retreated and formed new defensive line around Annolidan vehicle.
== Davian forces at the warehouse ==
The Davian sappers and war elephants supported by several Bamboo atmospheric fighters smashed their way through the street and finally reached the signal position, they would be safe here at least for now. Grodan, a warrior or mech from Annolidan was with them and his power provided much need help in the battle. So as he tried to pry open the door of the warehouse several sappers would cover his back while the rest of the group quickly formed a defensive line.
BSO’s weapons caused a reaction from both of the Holy Pantheons and the Gastin’s weapons, coming online. The two battleships maneuvered around to face the cruiser.
//Power down your weapons. Any further sign of aggression and we will not hesitate.// One of the Holy Pantheon captains warned the BSO ship.
“Well arn’t they testy.” The commander said onboard the Gastin. “Ready to drop?” He asked the ops commander. “Yes sir. However I can’t find any safe area near the suspected area to drop near the designated area.” He said. The commander grimiced. “...what about a soft deployment?” “Will be less colladeral, but it might not survive a slow decent with all the activity going on.” “Do it. We’ll use the first as a distraction.” He ordered.
The underside of the Ox’s bay opened up, releasing one of the drilling Ox platforms. “Platform released, target area, outside of the city 50 miles. Area is clear of activity. Thrust control is active.” The Ops member said. The platform went into orbit, it’s path obviously heading outside of the area where anyone’s FOBs or Soldiers aren’t present.
Down in the city, the Byzant managed to maneuver to pick up the Lieutenant and the surviving teams. As the pilot lifted off, one of the High Majesties took a critical hit to the engines from the construct ships. “...oh shit..” He said as he watched the explosion.
The cruiser roared as it’s engines exploded in a series of explosions as the ship slowly drifted down in smoke. The ship drifted away from the city before scraping the jagged landscape in a loud crash that shakes the ground.
“...What was that?” Kumfell asked from hearing the rumbling of the crash. //One of our cruisers went down. Good ways north.// One of the soldiers on the roof said. Kumfell and his security captain looked at each other. “Any survivors?” the chief asked on comms. //Not sure from this distance. They might need assistance.//
The Annointed ignored the voice, thousands of years of fighting had taught them to ignore the blister of mysterious voices in the dark, the two Annointed tanks halt at the entrance and pivot on the spot joining the mechs on guarding the entrance as the infantry followed the Annolidans.
Morgana ground her teeth in frustration as the C-beamers soarked uselessly off the black mass.
"Change the frequency and fire again!"
The Free Worlders aboard the Autayan ship ceased their protests at the officer's point, and went back to tending their wounded. There was little else to be done, unless they wanted to try and commandeer a ship-- which evidently was not at all wise.
------
And the Rainmakers went to war. Targeting the mass amorphous mass consuming that big damn ship with every targeting computer on every launcher they had, both Free Worlds vessels ran their engines hot and accelerated heavily as their missile pods warmed. And then they fired, vast clouds of nuclear ASMs erupting from both vessels and streaking towards the mass bearing enough firepower to re-enact Earth's Cold War.
"Crow here, Block 1 away! Block 2 away! Block 3 launching!" "Blocks one through seven are fired, all gunnery positions initiate reload and keep it up!" "Fox 1, Fox 1, heavy ASM block away." "Jeezus, whatever the hell this thing is it's about to regret waking up this morning!" "Can the chat, Wren. Keep up the fire, don't stop until we get the order to." "Copy all, tac control." "Block 5 is away, yeeeha!"
Fire heralded the launching of the nuclear munitions as launcher arrays along the flanks of the Free Worlds vessels were blown off and hundreds of silver darts lept off into space. The missiles each carrying a thermonuclear warhead received their telemetry from the main vessel, targeting the strange seething mass of unknown matter that floated in space. Each missile shed its preliminary engine and secondary boosters burst into life as maneuvering thrusters adjusted each missiles course as precisely as aimed. Streaking through the void like bullets each missile was designed to detonate upon impact unleashing megatonnes worth of destructive power on the target, times by the hundreds of missiles this holocaust of fire was what the Free Worlds was renowned for.
Time and time again, the enemies of the Free Worlds Navy had faced these small but potent warships, and had paid heavily for it. Now, whatever the hell this thing was... Their turn.
In orbit high above, the guns on the Galleons changed their target, locking onto the next target in atmosphere. Glowing the same bright, swirling purple as before, the guns fired, powerful grav lances screaming forth, aiming to hammer down the next vessel. The Autayan vessels did not ignore the space-borne constructs, however, as rows and rows of missiles blasted from their tubes. Tiny compared to the missiles of other nations, even those of the Free Worlds, they made up for it with velocity and density, the small forms shrouded in blistering blue fog turning and locking onto the construct on the Anointed ship, arcing at different angles in a concerted effort to thin out CIWS. Aboard the vessel, the Autayan crewmen attempted to aid the humans, but with little understanding of organic function and biology, without direction from human medical staff their assistance was limited.
Down, deep below, the Autayan captain laughed. "All this way and all you've got is empty threats?" he shouted back at the so-called mysterious voice. "If you want to know who's dying today, find yourself a mirror!" he added, turning to the forces behind. "We end this! Here, today! Steel yourselves, men! We step into the heart of the enemy, and we will make it bleed!" he bellowed, met with resounding war cries from the Autayan forces.
==Askandar==
There was a moment, as the swarms now rampaged against everything like they had done, it was like fighting a hurricane but then. There was always the eye. Suddenly and without warning the constructs all over the planet, stopped. They stopped running, stopped fighted and stopped screaming. There was silence, but the constructs were still perfectly alive they waited like an army waiting on a command. Just like whatever had controlled them had stopped the beings outside of the gate it now affected the rest of the planet. The ones outside the gate being gunned down by the Annointed as more came to take their place, yet they still stood unmoving. The ships in low orbit cease attack as did the flying constructs. It was an eerie silence, the first time Askandar had experienced such since the entire endeavour had erupted.
The jamming as well seemed to stop, com lines were established as suddenly a blanket communication originating from the planet flooded all the frequencies.
"_This is not your world. Leave_" The voice was machinelike, clearly not organic, the same voice that had talked to those at the gate entrance.
It must have had good reason to stop its assault.
==Askandar Space==
Fire erupted all over the ever growing and expanding blob as it consumed the remaining mass of the Inquisition vessel. Nuclear munitions, railguns, explosives, lasers and plasma impacted the mass blowing or vapourising chunks out of it, the sheer firepower would of crippled or destroyed a regular ship bu this blob had no critical systems, crew or structual integrity. It was just mass while greatly dimished it did not die still convulsing like before yet it did not attack. Still drifting away from the fleets as the impacts on it changed its course.
==Askandar civilian warhouse==
The constructs merely stood waiting outside the circle where they apparantly stopped working eyeing the factions forces and their own dead that passed over the barrier. Almost immediately after Grodan smashed on the door it was opened. The faces of several soldiers carrying heavy weapons revealled themselves. The interior of the warhouse was a mess, inside the centre was a what seemed to be communications array, with supplies stacked on top of each other in every side of the walls. Around 23 souls stood eyeing the new comers suspiciously. An older man stood forward a pistol in his hands.
"Who are you? Are you our resscuers?"
==Askandar Orbit==
Space rippled, then with a bright flash tore open as the hulking form of a Black Sail Battle Cruiser pushed its way back into real space. The event occurred again, and again. Not once, not twice, but a hundred and thirty nine times over the course of a couple minutes. The hundred and forty new arrivals fell into a combat formation and began making their way toward Askandar, though for the moment their weapons remained offline.
"This is Reginald Arnott," The leader of the new arrivals broadcast on every available frequency. "Subjugator 42, send status update on priority frequency six. With that out of the way... would the real Captain Stracken please stand up?"
==Askandar Tunnels==
"Yeah mate, she's a tad busy," Rackham replied to Reggie. Firefly was working her way toward the gate, stepping carefully between creatures as she went. It reminded her of walking in a minefield. Every step could be her last. She assumed her jury rigged cloak had gotten her this far, but all the cloaking in the world wouldn't save her from being torn apart if she stepped on one of the creatures.
So she took it slow. One step at a time. There was no rush. She'd get to the gate when she got to it...
She ignored Reggie for now. Rackham had it sorted.
Finally she made it to the gate, and carefully reached into her pack and began rigging the first demolition charge.
==Askandar, Civilian Warehouse==
By the time the Black Sail marauders had finished prepping and breached through their door it was immediately apparent that they were no longer the focus of attention. There were muttered curses, and some questions of how precisely Grodan had made it all the way to the other side of the warehouse and breached without so much as a word to the Marauders (who had arrived first) but such questions quickly fell to the wayside as the new topic became what exactly to do with all these people. With no one stepping forth to take charge, and still hopped up on adrenaline from his near death experience, Westmoreland cleared his throat.
"Sure," He shouted. "Rescuers. Yeah. You want to start by telling us why the goop monsters won't come near here?"
==Space Theater==
The remaining two Inquisition corvettes paid no mind to the sudden surge of BSO outside of sending out IFF signals of themselves and a targeting solution for the blob. Their missile stock was getting low, but all remaining armed warheads were loaded ready to fire. Four from each launched and circled around the blob, detonating their payloads mere moments before impact in hopes that the force of the attack would push it back to the planet below, either in an unstable orbit or on a crash course.
==Meanwhile, underground...==
The Acolytes taking pot shots at the dormant constructs made note of a form moving between them. As four of the Annoliddans reached the gate to place demolition charges of their own (totaling twelve), they managed to spot the BSO operative placing charges herself. They set to work sizing up the gate for its density and composition. One paused for a moment to look in Firefly's direction, her voice coming out clearly thanks to the temporarily ceased screaming. "When you are set to blow the charges, fire off a shot or throw a bullet at us, or something, and we'll set off ours as well."
Stepping into the warehouse slowly with his arms raised, Grodan spoke clearly to the elder. "Our mission here is your rescue, yes. But urgently, We must have a look at whatever is... jamming the creatures outside. Duplicating the effect could prove vital in stopping the hellsborn once and for all.
With the jamming effect of the screams seemingly dissipated for the moment, Grodan sent a transmission towards his orbiting ships, making no discernable physical motion as he did so. //Harnen, come in. Dropships have been lost. We'll need ano-// He stopped himself short as casualty reports became available and the situation was updated. //Change of plans then. Kreutzi, send my authorization for reinforcements. Single cruiser, two Ceres class.// The corvettes received and transmitted the requisition towards the nearest comm buoy, which further chained the message back to Inquisition space.
== Davian soldiers staying on Autaya's ship==
The Autaya refusing while disappointed those Davian soldiers on board. Yet there were nothing they can do for now. So the five men simply stepped back to rejoin their comrades and tried to help take care of the wounded. These soldiers would remain on board the ship for the times being.
== Davian fleet==
"Receiving message from the planet demanding us to leave sir." Reported a communication officer. The ship main SAI spoke while showing its hologram: "The monsters ceased their activity…" "Detecting multiple FTL arriving. Same signature with the so-called BSO. 140 ships at least." "Jamming dropped. Repeat, all jamming and interdiction dropped." Reports flooded the mind of Captain Hoang who encased himself on his command throne of the Red Obsidian: "We have to use these precious times. Get our fastest dropships online. We need to evacuate the wounded and unnecessary for the fight." The two Davian ships kept their position as all the weapons remain locking toward the nearest monster ship while their missile launchers putting more and more missiles. The space strikecrafts assigned to defense the ships also maintained their position. Overall Davian space forces would be on defense. Meanwhile some drones and censors would be used to watch the various alien factions. A group of around 4 dropships ejected themselves from the cruiser and along with no less than 20 fighters moved with maximum speed toward the spire.
==Davian Air Force==
The Davian strikecrafts quickly received their orders and began to expend their entire payload toward any monsters before disengaged en-mass as quick as possible. However not all of them were ordered to leave. Instead several groups of Bamboo Atmospherics fighters would descent into the spire area to reinforce the Davian troops in the warehouse and cover the redeploying ground forces .
==Davian Ground Force in the spire==
The monsters stopped yet the Davian troops didn't. They kept firing at the motionless monsters trying to bring as many down as possible before the monsters charge again. Yet the troops used this precious moment to reposition and reinforce their positions. As the Davian evacuate group arrived, the fighters open fired to clean the way for the dropships to land. "Captain. Evacuate all wounded and unfitted personnel. You and the rest will get down there and join Lieutenant Thai's forces. Then you will bring the fight to the underground tunnel and end this madness one and for all." The above fleet ordered. "As your command, comrade commander. But our heavy tank won't fit the elevator. Request its retreating." The commanding ship captain replied before turning to the mass of troops: "Those specifically trained for ground fighting can volunteer to stay, the rest leave. Do it quick." As order was given the Davian troops who no longer necessary for the operation quickly retreated to the waiting dropships. Then the sole surviving D3-THN heavy tank rumbled to the open field before a dropship swooped in and packed it away. The remaining Davian force in the spire while smaller yet much more capable and again fully mechanized. This group saluted the departing dropships before rushed toward the elevator. They would reinforce their brethren in the warehouse below.
==Davian Ground Force at the warehouse==
Lieutenant Thai walked in followed by several sapper commandos and heavily armed war elephants. Their weapons put at ease yet ever ready. With a glance from the lieutenant, three sappers stepped in front of the elder: "Yes, we received your signal and came here. And as the other said. It would be better if you can tell us what's happening here so we can end all this and bring you out alive. "
The pause in the constructs' movements was perfect for the Alfurian forces. It allowed for their shields and weapons to rest, radiating friction heat quickly and for crews to change cooling systems. In the matter of a few minutes, the efficiency of Alfurian technology started to climb back toward pre-fighting levels. As well the Proxians took this time to reload MG belts, change out worn Polms for fresh ones, and let their distortion weapons cool.
After the comms jamming stopped, and instantly after the message was given on all channels, Hajemur opened a link with Jacellem. "Sir..." He started with a less than excited tone. "Ah, Hajemur. You're still alive! That is...delightful." The slightly older Alfurian smirked. "I suppose you're wanting to pull out of that pit of a city, hmm?" There were a few moments of silence on the comms as the tensions between the Koyatic and Frinatic commanders swelled.
"Sir, I don't think we came best prepared for this engagement, being that it is an engagement and not a simple recon mission." Hajemur replied. "I would have to agree with that. Make your way back to the FOB when you are able to." With that Jacellem cut the connection.
In space the Alfurian ships and their Proxian escorts had neared the Zypher formation. Activity was noted, but it was unknown to as to what was going on.
Hajemur and Bolsau in the city checked over their forces. They had done well in the fighting so far, and the Proxian/Alfurian joint force complimented each other very well. "What shall we do, brother. Pull out of this mess or stay for when they come back again?" "This reminds me of an infection gone rampant back home. Best thing to do then is to leave, and glass the place from orbit..." the elder Proxian growled. Hajemur shrugged and nodded in agreement.
The Alfurian and Proxian units in the city formed up and started heading east/north east back toward the fob. The CS-77 gunships stayed near the fob for additional shielding coverage, but raised in altitude some in order to gain better firing solutions to cover the in-city units.
The Autayan fleet took the pause as an opportunity. Targeting vectors were calibrated and refined as weapons charged and missile tubes reloaded. For now, though, the guns on the Galleons did not fire.
While the troops behind him organised and bolstered their position, a few dropping monsters near them to give them some breathing room, the Captain at the front growled. "Did you give the colonists here the same opportunity? The same chance to get away, and survive?" His tone became steadily angrier, though not louder. "Because if your answer is no, then I don't see why we should give you the same courtesy."
The air born Annointed ship shudders as its psi drives spool up to their highest setting, moments later purple energy bleeds out of the mighty vessels damaged hull as the black blob is forced to take the full brunt of the frigates psionic maelstrom, telekinetic energies working to rip it apart at the molecular level, morgana arches her back and shudders as the disgusting mass of black matter disappears behind the purple energy and breathes heavily through her nose a blush spreading over her feature, the frigate was clearly enjoying this a little to much.
In space Stracken raises an eyebrow at the BSO's arrival and depresses his comm button with a grin.
"This is Stracken putting a finger on each hand up."
Under ground the white clad church soldiers come to a halt and allow the other members of their impromptu party to set the charges as they from a ring around the demolitionists.
"Give us the humans and we will have no reason to hut you vile hellspawn."
“...source.” The commander said as the communications officer triangulated the source of the monotonous voice. “Localized sir...its all coming from the city.” He said. “Commander, one of cruisers went down north of the city.” A tactical officer replied. “Survivors are possible, but they’ll need evacuation immediately.” The commander sighed. “Prepare a recovery force.” He replied. “I want all Non-combatants back in orbit now.” He ordered.
“Ox reaching rapid descent point in 4...3..-”
The ground shook as the Ox’s downard thrusters engaged to slow it’s descent. The Bell of the thrusts roared loudly across the sky, even as it came down at a distance. Plooms of dust and dirt went up in the sky as the massive Ox disappeared into the clouds and landed a lot softer than it’s drop was intending. Tho the ground still seemed to lyurch gently across the city, the Ox managed to land without threat to immediate allies. As the giant duststorm blew off in a uneffecting direction, the Ox was seen ‘shifting’ into it’s deployed position, digging into the ground and platforms rising out, revealing self defense weapons along the rings and a personalized shield. The Drilling tower itself as it moved into it’s deployed stand by position.
“Ox on Stand by sir.” One of the engineering technicians said as the consoles indicated green for full connection.
At the Crash site, the High Majesty was clearly out of the flying game. A plentyful number of Survivors had gotten onboard of the Baizars that were stored in their bays and managed to lift off on full numbers, attempting to get to their bodyguards in orbit. The High Majesty support ships that still floated in mid atompshere above them were now covering the downed cruiser, however no weapons fired as the enemy stood still. Taking advantage of this time frame of peace, the Baizars and Byzants took to the sky, some going halfway to the support cruisers while the others fleed orbit.
One such Baizar was the crew of Lieutenant Faderman, flying behind a retreating Jack Class frigate. The female raptor breathed out a sigh of relief as space turned black. “...that went very poorly...” She said.
At the top of the spire, another fleet of Baizars launched from the High Majesties, floated around the tower. 8 Baizars with 2 of them floating near the entrance ways of one of the downed landing pads, the others moving towards the remaining pads afloat. The first Baizar had picked up the soldiers at the top of the spire, jumping onto the lowered platform. As their back rested against the platform, while it raised inside he breathed a sigh of relief. “...we should probably get out of here before things kick off again.” He said.
The Professor and his team made their way towards the doors as they looked around at the silence. Kumfell looked out in the distance of the exposed door to see the Ox towering in the distance.
The Free Worlds missile frigates reloaded and continued to fire, repeating and continuing over and over, again and again as they poured everything they had into the mass. Missiles erupted like silvery arrows flying forth from bows if their bows were frigate shaped, leaving streaks of exhaust and flame behind them as they homed in on the mass and burst with irresistible, horrifying force.
Both ships were on the move as they attacked, circling the monstrous blob and pausing only momentarily when their current blocks were fired and they reloaded again. They were going to run out of missiles if they kept up the relentless, pounding fire like this, but so long as they had warheads and the rockets with which to launch them they were going to keep hitting that thing with everything they had.
=====
The Free Worlders in the bay of the Autayan galleon cheered their warships as they fought on, watching the ongoing engagement with wide eyes and jeers directed at both the mass and what they saw as poor gunnery on the parts of a few ships. They were still in shock from the horror they'd seen planetside, but the distraction was welcomed and seeing their ships victorious was always one hell of a morale booster.
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Post by EmperorMyric on Mar 22, 2021 14:46:28 GMT
==Askandar Tunnels/Gate==
The creatures were still motionless, several that had been shot by the various forces had collapsed but they had not come forward nor had they continued screaming again. There was a horrible grinding noise, almost like the machine voice was cycling through a million languages simultaneously to try find the correct ones.
"This is not your world. Neither was it those that were before. You are tresspassing. Those that came before they triggered something unknown to them. You do not know this place. You did not create here. You did not exist" Its voice was distorted, like it didnt fully know what language algorithms it was using, the message it was conveying was confusing. The creatures seemed to twitch slightly, those creatures that were close to those planting the demo charges seemed to turn to face them, they did not make moves to kill them but their eerie forms merely stood watching.
_"All gone. Purpose ended_" It spoke again.
==Warehouse==
"Good, you can start by getting us a god damn ticket off this rock, If you promise to get us out alive I will tell you." The old man said before shaking his head and muttering something to himself, the others in the room all still seemed to be scared not sure whether to be trusting of the new arrivals.
"Fine!" The man shouted pointing to the large coms emitter in the centre of the building "We managed to isolate a carrier wave that all the creatures share, we think they are some kind of drone some sort of living drone and this subcarrier is what controls them, I set this to jam that specific frequency, but even on full power it only affects a small area, whatever the carrier wave signal is its damn powerful" He explained.
==Askandar Space, air and ground==
On the ground the creatures merely waited, outside of the Alfurian FOB and outside of the Spire, they sat there motionless twitching now and again. Those that were still targetted by the Davian forces fell, making no attempted to fight back or avoid the fire they were taking, they just... Died. As for those craft still in the air they sat motionless, the fighter craft flying in concentric patterns above the strange vessels that sat humming, making no move to intercept the ZYPHER Ox as it deployed. With the black mass on the Annointed ship destroyed the strange craft seemed to suddenly move, rising higher and gaining altitude, their path intersected with the mass in orbits course.
As the mass was relentlessly hit again by the Free Worlds missiles more and more of it was vapourised, it was remarkably hardy, whatever material these things were made out of was incredible in itself. However as the missiles kept hitting, its mass strangely did not decrease. In fact, the energy release from the missiles was being absorbed by the strange blob, seemingly rapidly expanding, with the sheer amount of energy having vapourised most of the mass the sheer amount of energy was now seeming to have the opposite effect, it was harvesting the missiles heat, radiation and destructive capabilities and using it to fuel whatever horrific processes that allowed it to grow. Whatever it was it had adapted.
"Are you saying that you have already killed evey. Single. Human on this world?."
As the captain speaks the flock of soldiers bristles angrily, weapons are raised and psi energy floods back into the air as the previously absent tension among the clergymen returns with vengeance.
"We only came here for the humans you contemptible monster! And they are the only reason we stay! So what say you? Where are our holy creators!"
==Askandar Orbit==
The hundred and forty ship strong Black Sail Force stayed at range for the time being. No further communications went out, at least not on the open channel leaving it up to anyone to guess exactly what it was the pirates had wanted.
==Askandar Gate==
"Aw fuck," Rackham said with a sigh. "I don't get paid enough to stand around playing the pronoun game. Firefly, lets blow this sack of shit and see if we can't roll on back to the Freeport in time to snag the first rack of jelly doughnuts,"
The subjugator finished rigging the last of her charges and took two steps back, staring at the gate itself. The detonator twirled between her fingers and she gently caressed the trigger before thinking bettet of it.
She couldn't help but feel they were missing something. It was too easy. Destroy the gate and go home... if it was that simple why weren't they attacking.
Her eyes flicked toward the Annoliddans finishing up with their charges and then back to the gate.
Silently she wondered what was on the other side... and if it was worth the risk to try stepping through and finding out.
==Warehouse==
Westmoramd sighed and rubbed his forehead.
"Well unless that shit's mobile it doesn't really help us none. What's the frequency?"
== Davian Fleet == With the monster constructs remained idle. The Davian evacuation groups managed to slip back to their ships safely. As the dropships docked themselves within the cruiser's hull, medical staffs and medic swarmed over them to help the wounded soldiers. Most of the wounded made it back alive were heavily wounded, some of them suffered severed limbs or worse. Fortunately large Davian ships such as battle cruiser possessed full medical department which capable of take care those wounded in combat.
Meanwhile the two Davian ships and their screens remain locked to the growing mass. Yet their weapons remain silenced. The ships would hold their position and watched.
== Davian Air Force == Unlike their warships, the Davian strikecrafts remained active. Those didn't assign to screen the fleet descended at the planet's surface for hunt in the attempt to get as many kill as possible before the constructs active again. While the constructs offered no resistant the pilots remained fully alert, yet the pilots were instructed to not use their homing missiles, instead they would rallied on guns. The missiles were, after all, much more valuable in dogfighting and would be hold back for the moment. With the constructs didn't return fire, Davian crafts also tried to preserve their munitions and energies instead of trigger happy.
== Davian troops at the lift == The Davian troops from the Spire found themselves in the lift leading to the lower level where their comrades were staying. The unusual silence of the battlefield made some of them felt nervous. Yet the troops remained confident and fully prepared for battle.
Once the lift stopped at the lower level, Davian troops poured out and formed into formation. They witnessed the scene of the previous battle as well as swarms of constructs.
"Forward Davian warriors! Let's charge toward the warehouse and rejoin with our brethren. Glory for Davia. Charge!" The Davian commander shouted as the whole group surged forward, gun blazing all the way toward the warehouse. Above them groups of Bamboo atmospheric fighters provided heavy fire support.
"Comm. Try to contact with our troops at the warehouse that we're here. Ask them what's happening there and tell them we're coming."
== Davian troops at the warehouse ==
"Alright so that thing is what keeping those monsters away from this place? So is it possible to bring it along with us?" Lieutenant Thai talked to the old man: "In the other hand mister. Are you or anyone here happens to know anything useful about all of these monsters? Like what are they or where are they came from?"
"Comrade Lieutenant. We're receiving contact from our force. They're coming here and will try to join us." A communication officer reported: "They said the monsters stopped attacking, all of them. But we have no idea what's happening and when these abominations become active again. And here're the messages from what suspected to be the controlling hive mind."
"Hm…" The lieutenant and probably everyone in the warehouse listened to what the voice said: "It's our duty to purge this threat here and now. But we cannot do it with all these people here." The Davian officer glanced at the scared survival before turning to the comm: "Tell our troops what's happening here and tell them to join us as quick as possible. For our part, we will try to bring the survival and this thing with us."
He then turned to the old man: "So I suppose all you want to get out here alive right? Then pack yourself up, we will need any help so anyone capable of using weapons and willing to help step out here. And do we have any wounded? Our medic will try to help. If you want to be alive then you better throw away your fear and ready to face those abominations out there."
Grodan holstered his gun and approached the emitter. Blue lights danced across his faceplate and outstretched hand as he scanned the technology, narrowing down both the electromagnetic frequency and telecommunication frequency it gave off.
"I'd rather not have us carry off these people's only means of self defense. Instead, here is the frequency we require. If I had any of my artisans with me, I could build a duplicate, portable version, but hopefully one of you have means of doing this instead?"
He also made note to send explicit orders to the remaining Annoliddans outside the gate underground, telling them to get at least one or two harmonic sensors to emit the frequency.
==Underground==
Grodan's message came through somewhat clearly, the vocal obscenities he shouted cut short by the mechanical voice cutting through the air. The remaining artisans did not hesitate, resetting their resonators to emit the signal. The resonators in turn were mounted on the walkers to mobilize them, their pulses shuddering across the armored hulls. All that was needed now was to get a walker into the main chamber and close enough to the source to disable the signal, either by overload or cannon fire, pending the target.
The Acolytes backing away from the gate noticed the hesitation in Firefly's last movement.
"Please do not hesitate at uncertainty." Said the acolyte that first addressed her earlier. "Our enemy does not follow the True Order of things, and will not show hesitation nor mercy, and we must do the same if we hope to leave here alive."
She revealed a detonator of her own and timed her movements to match Firefly's, making one smooth motion to press the button.
==Orbit==
The corvettes moved away from the construct, their attacks clearly having little to no effect on the blob of mass. They simply stayed in close orbit, firing a missile every now and then to deal enough force to shift the blob away from friendly ships.
"All I got from that was 'Someone sat on my lawn and I didn't like it so I annihilated the entire population'." One of the Autayan soldiers bluntly responded. "Yeah that's generally not a great way to make your presence appreciated." "Kind of a dick move, to be honest." The Captain, however, was silent until now, raising a hand to quell the chattering of his troops. "Purpose? What purpose is that, then? All it appears to be to us is genocide."
The Autayan vessels, noting the steady decrease in their missile barrage's effectiveness, shifted tactics. As the trio moved and altered their orbit, the Galleon's guns repositioned, and fired again, grav lances streaking forth. This time, they weren't aiming to destroy. They were aiming to rip it off, cast it into atmosphere. If reentry didn't kill it, impact likely would.
The Free Worlds missile frigates peeled off, noting the lack of damage that their missiles were suddenly having. That was... not good. "Come around and bring your main guns online, standoff range!" "Copy that, comin' round!" "Targeting, tell me you have that damn thing..." "Got it, tally mark." "Hit that son of a bitch!" "On the way!"
Both frigates came about with flaring maneuvering engines as they increased the range between them and the mass, both ships suddenly erupting in fire once again as their spinal railguns began unleashing steady shots into the mass. Their railguns weren't nearly as destructive as their missiles had the potential to be, but by god those 20 ton slugs would make the son of a whore know it'd been hit. Again and again they fired, sending metallic spears of death screeching forth as they rocked and rolled, venting waste power and heat from the guns into space.
-------
The crewmen aboard the Autayan ship watched silently now, clutching their weapons silently and fearfully as they awaited the outcome of the space-borne melee. It was a mess for sure, but who was winning?
==Askandar Tunnels/Gate==
" Killed, no. They have not been terminated. Never terminated. Purpose they have. Just like all life. Never terminated, never ended. I have asked to leave, you have not "
The massive swarm now charged. It was clear that beyond the opening and into the huge corridor was where the people of Askandar were, in what condition remained to be seen but this was where the plight would end. The massive creatures now stormed forward, the smaller constructs skittering between their feet as if animated by even greater hatred for the interlopers than before. The screaming started again, breaking the silence and producing the horrific sound Askandar was now used to all over again.
The explosion of the detonators almost signalled the charge, the rockface collapsed around the great archway which led deeper into whatever was causing this calamity, it crushed thousands of constructs as the rock fell, blocking partially the giant arch, but it was not enough the swarms coming from the giant corridor merely climbed over the large boulders, and although an opening had been made by the immense rockfall it was clear that it would not last, the creatures would soon plug the gap if they did not act.
==Askandar Surface/Spire==
Once again the swarm leapt forward, having stood motionless as they were cut down and fired upon around the Spire they now responded, charging the enemy once again in savage ferocity which seemed even more desperate than before. Any pocket of allied troops was assaulted with overwhelming numbers as the creatures went to hack, tear, and crush their foes at both the Spire and FOBs on the surface. The aircraft also now began attacking again, peeling off from the ascending vessels they aggresively attacked allied air assets including Carnaithian fighters providing CAS. This time however the construct attack craft performed CAS of their own, it was like the swarm was now acting different, fighters flew meters from the ground their energy blades aiming to slice vehicles or troops in two as they made suicidal runs to support their ground swarm counterparts.
The vessels that remained that were ascending seemed to ignore the Annointed vessel still in low orbit, accelerating with almost surprising speed they made their way towards the roiling mass in orbit.
==Askandar Orbit==
The mass now responded, having beginning to use the energy of the Free Worlds missiles it came under attack from their railguns, but no longer was it some random mass, it shivered taking on a new form as it began accelerating towards the lower orbit, on a collision course with the vessels below it. Whatever was happening the various vessels seemed to want to merge, although the blob was still convulsing and changing shape exactly what into was yet unknown. However bright violet beams now fired off its mass to intercept missiles and railgun rounds alike, it was finally defending itself.
==Warehouse==
The creatures outside the warhouse began screaming again, spooking those inside the warehouse and causing several children to cry at the loudness of the screaming, they paced the perimeter waiting for those inside to escape so they could kill them and drag away their bodies.
The old man growled in frustration "We dont have anything else other than this coms unit, if you people have such means to reproduce this signal in a portable manner it will allow us to get out of here and I will tell you what happened, but until then we will just have to sit here, do you have any portable methods to use this frequency?" He asked.
------
Grodan picked up a loose piece of metal nearby and flung it at one of the now active constructs, the force cleaving cleanly through it the creature, sending it spiraling through the air. "Did we ever agree on a name for these pests? I was thinking something along the lines of Askandroids, or Shitstains. Frankly, I'm leaning towards the latter. Moving on, yes. I'm sure one or more of us are capable of mimicking this frequency. Sending my analysis to all of you now."
Grodan sent the frequency to all available comm channels that remained functional during the screaming.
===Spire Floor===
The Parthian artillery, seeing and hearing the constructs move once more, ceased their barrages to fold back up into their hovering configuration. They then continued laying down support fire from secondary PD guns atop their turrets, light bullets and grenades raining down upon the oncoming swarm.
===Space===
The corvettes could do little to stop the mass at this point, but it was their lesser concern at the moment. ///All allied vessels, please be advised. We have reinforcements inbound.///
As the message was sent out, Three Inquisition ships exited FTL on the edge of the system, engines gunning for Askandar: two Ceres class support ships and another cruiser. The cruiser deployed 15 smaller ships en route, 3 more dropships and interceptor escorts for each. Also, it deployed a single, massive drop pod measuring 60 meters across, keeping the pod tucked underneath the ship until nearing the planet.
===Underground Gate===
A lone Nomad walker did not wait for the constructs to begin moving nor the debris to finish tumbling down before charging through the hole. Its rear-mounted harmonic resonator constantly gave out the frequency given by Grodan, masked under a constant, baritone roar that resonated across the entire walker. The volume of the screeching threatened to overtake it, but the constructs became catatonic as the Nomad continued forward, moments before it slammed through them head and guns first. Not all Annoliddans were religious, but the walker's crew all gave a whispered prayer to the Vagrant God: "Herein I march unto hell, may I walk the coldest path..."
The Acolytes who volunteered for the charge clustered behind the Nomad as it surged forward, keeping a constant stream of gauss rounds and shrapnel-loaded grenades pinned on the more hearty constructs that pressed closer to their position. The Charge of the Nomad was followed by constant support fire from the remaining Nomads' primary guns, their secondaries and all others of the remaining Inquisition forces' were aimed at the other tunnel entrances to keep the rest of the swarm at bay.
==Askandar Orbit==
The assembled fleet of newly arrived ships remained silent and unresponsive not answering hails nor taking any further action after their initial message had been broadcast. One could only assume that some kind of private conversation was taking place between Captain Stracken and the newly arrived Black Sail Commander.
The conversation clearly reached some kind of conclusion as several long minutes later the Black Sail vessels turned away from Askandar and one by one began tearing open holes to slipspace as they began leaving the system as quickly as they had arrived.
==Askandar Tunnels==
She'd known it. The moment the explosives went off a large dose of midazapine flooded the Subjugator's system, focusing her mind and body toward the physical task that stood ahead of her. She was through the gate mere moments before the first rocks began hitting the ground. The nomad walker crashed through behind her and began carving a violent path through the constructs.
Her own jury rigged cloak continued to work, shielding her from the echo location of the creatures. The Subjugator ran forward, carried by pharmaceutically enhanced speed and endurance. She ducked and weaved between the constructs, all of who remained firmly focused on the Annoliddans carving their way into the cavern behind her.
She kept her rifle in hand but it remained cold and silent. The cloak kept her invisible for now, but she doubted it would hold up if she gave herself away with indiscriminate gunfire. The only thought on her mind was moving forward, and destroying whatever was giving the creatures life once and for all.
Back at the entrance, Rackham's themite thrower came back to life along with the small arms fire of what remained of his forces. Beleagured, and exhausted there were no thoughts in the survivor's mind of any kind of an advance. Covered by their gunships, instead the remaining pirates began a fighting retreat. The Subjugator may have pressed forward based on some remnant of sympathy or curiosity about the fate of this planet's people but Rackham had his answer.
Any Black Sail personnel that were here were beyond saving. It was time to go.
A sentiment that was very much shared by the men and women in the warehouse who began gearing up for an evacuation.
"Okay boys and girls," Westmoreland said, standing atop his technical.
"Fly boys are going to come down for real fast exfil so get on and get out asap. Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out!"
On board the Crimson, the Warbird watched as BSO’s ships begin to leave out of the corner of his eye. “hmm...” He hummered to himself. “Sir all ASIM role ships have returned to orbit.” “What about our troops on the ground?” He asked. “Still active signals, but those things started moving again and what ever was up here with us went back downard.” “And Kumfell?”
When the madness started happening again, Kumfell’s baizar group weren’t high enough to avoid all of it. The airborne constructs started attacking them as well. The dropship’s PD systems went to work immediately, fighting the horde back. However they got extra help as they got closer to the support Majesty variant that still was in mid-atmospshere. The guns of the High Majesty scorched a good bit of the attackers just as the Baizars reached it’s hanger bay.
Kumfell breathed a sigh of relief as he felt the Baizar whine into the bay. “I think we made it.” He said as he got up from his seat just as the others did. The weapons on the cruiser still continued to roar out around as it fought off the constructs below it, with multiple waves o laser and kinetic fire. Kumfell ran across the deck along with his entourage to the tactical center of the ship. Upon reaching the bridge’s tactical area, he reached one of the console specialists and asked to connect to the Ox.
On the ground, the ZYPHER armored units that were heading into the city rammed into the Spire plaza from the western area, firing their kinetic rifles while the LynxIVs skirted across the ground on their gravtraks, avoiding the larger masses and firing. This tactic wasn’t working too well for some of the armor as they got toppled over into buildings or getting hit by energy blades from the ground force, but for the most part, they were somewhat managing as they carved a path closer towards the ground forces that were still in the plaza, but theyre numbers were getting cut down quickly.
The Drilling Ox moaned gently as it’s platform raised. The ‘drill bit’ of the platform started to tilt gently, going into it’s warm up position. The Drilling system began whirling releasing it’s small bracket beam into the ground as it’s generators spooled up.
==Davian forces near and within the warehouse==
Fortunately for the Davian's convoy they were near the warehouse's safe zone when the constructs moved again. As the constructs turned hostile again, the Davian simply kept firing like they already did, the battle again raged and ironically it did bring a few reliefs.
As the battle raged once more the Davian returned fire at the charging constructs with all they have while screaming through short range communication link to their brethren staying within the warehouse. Soon the Davian troops opened fire from within the warehouse to cover their newly arrive units. Caught between the crossfire of armors, musketeers, war elephants and sappers, the monsters dropped like flies as the Davian convoy rushed into the warehouse.
"I'm glad to see you still alive comrade Captain. I heard about…the loss of our ship…" Lieutenant Thai saluted his ship's captain as the latter jumped out of an IFV.
"It's your fault and your alone Lieutenant." The ship's captain snapped: "But no times for it. Report what you have. And what are these civilians?" He then noticed the present of the BSO's personnel and Grodan: "And why do we have all of these scums here? Oh and hello again warrior."
"Sir…" The lieutenant made a quick brief with the captain and a few commanding officers: "We need to bring these civilians out of here sir. And with this signal we can stop them. I hope you still have something to mimic it."
"The empire is with you all comrades! Stay alive. We'll be back soon. Air Force pulling out." The Davian small Atmospheric Fighters which providing fire support for their ground troops began to pull out fast after all Davian troops reached the safe zone.
"The electronic specialist and engineers will see to it. Let's see if we can duplicate this signal and put it on our vehicles or not. In case we can't then we will have to make do with what we have including sonic weapons and mobile shields. Anyway I hope the air forces would be able to cover us."
"We will try it right away." One of the electronic specialists saluted before he walked toward Grodan and the old man: "Alright gentlemen, come here and help us if you please."
==Davian Air Force within Askandar's atmosphere==
As the constructs returned fire again, the Davian's strikecrafts immediately switched back to their normal combat mode. They'd saved their more effective missiles just in case and at the first sign of hostile the missiles sung again with full fury.
While the battle raged on all over again. The Davian's fighters which tasked to cover the ground forces emerged from the spire and relayed what happened there for the rest of the Davian forces while heading for the ships.
==Davian Ships above Askandar==
Through the returning strikecrafts and scanning the Davian ships noticed the situation. Just like their ground force. The naval's electronic specialists began to work in their attempt to duplicate the signal.
"The other's firepower prove little effective. Maybe it's times for us to do something. Both ships prepare plasma battery. Prowl gun on bolt mode. Let's see if we can burn it down with plasma fire."
"Target locked comrade commander. Plasma batteries and plasma prow cannons ready to fire."
"Open fire. Keep firing but beware, if it manage to absorb our fire then stop and switch to missile. All screen strikecrafts, maintain position."
The battlecruiser and destroyer began to open fire with all their plasma weapons. Bolts of super heat plasma lightened the dark space as their rushed toward the blob in thousands, each bolt hold the power of mini stars. Then the two massive prowl gun on the two Davian ships joined the firing, each of them threw out several multi kilometers size plasma bolts toward the blob.
"Keep firing." The Davian's commander sounded before turning to his officers: "Load sonic missiles for the returning strikecrafts, prepare dropships. Also prepare for orbital strike."
The Autayan forces reacted nigh-instantaneously. Given a moment for their weapons to cool, their guns fired with a redoubled fury, most especially in the rotaries of the Arachnodrogai as they again took to the front, their giant, heavily armoured legs diverting the smaller beasts into virtual pillars of fire as they engaged the larger ones with rage and death, their own furious, cacophonous screeches ringing out as did their rotaries. Kinetic Hammers, properly recharged in the lull, resumed their messy work, turning smaller constructs to a thin film on the floor and taking chunks out of anything larger. A redoubled fury for a redoubled effort. "We stand at the gates of our enemy! Today is where we end it! Onwards, men!" The captain roared, his hammer swinging and repeater blazing, met with a resounding battlecry from the Autayan soldiers.
High above, the guns of the Galleons tracked the blob as the trio of vessels moved to flank it. "Sir, whatever it is it's got a plan." "I know. Are the guns charged again?" "Almost, sir." "Load a volley of kinetic mines. I want it dead." "Yes, sir." Sure enough, a few moments later the Galleons fired again, grav lances aimed to slam the construct into atmosphere, force it into the fire and fury of reentry. The battlecruiser joined in this time, a dozen large torpedoes flying free of the vessel and streaking to intercept the black mass. The combined force of their kinetic pulses, he hoped, back home enough to crater the thickest of armours and, on lighter craft, crumple vessels, would be enough to divert it.
The break in fighting had been perfect for the Alfurian and Proxian units both in the city and at the fob. Cooling plates had been replaced and new belts had been loaded. What progress the swarm had made to wear down the defenses was almost entirely lost as shields respun and the defenders once again repulsed the attacks with disgusting amounts of defensive fire.
"Alright, we're done here." Hajemur said mostly to himself. "Everyone load up. We're getting out of this hellhole of a city." The Alfurian and Proxian infantry collapsed their defensive positions back into the halftracks. With the larger Proxians hanging to the sides with Polms and large caliber (compared to human sized weapons) weapons tearing apart any mass of the swarm that started to get too close. The L-66s once again sprayed HE into the nearest construct movement. The convoy pulled out of the spire area and started down the street due east (since the road they had came in on was blocked).
Meanwhile, the joint FOB spat flak and missiles into the sky. It was made very clear that no enemy air construct would be allowed to fly within a 3 mile dome radius of the FOB. Dozens deployed turrets of L-66 autocannons and TB-40 Gatling cannons. Proxian missile pods spat batches of hypervelocity missile into the air that would (ironically) swarm individual constructs that even appeared to be lining up for attack runs. In orbit above, the Alfurian and Proxian ships did nothing. But the engineering Vakun had listed so that it's "top" and "bottom" guns could all face downward. Even though she was not the most recent refit, this ship could rain down a defensive cone if the FOB wasn't able to fend off the constructs.
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Post by EmperorMyric on Mar 22, 2021 14:56:05 GMT
==Askandar Tunnels==
As the allied forces pushed through the gate and into the glowing corridor beyond the swarm came at them, the frequency emitted by the Annolidians seemed to cut off all the creatures that came near, that was until they passed through into the artificial towering corridor, the creatures seemed to ignore the frequency jamming almost like whatever had been in control was now directly interfacing with its forces. They were fanatic, constantly trying to kill and tear, to push back any advance the forces were making into the corridor, strange goo, blood and casings littered the floor as the allies shot, burnt, cut and blew their way through the swarm foot by foot they pushed on.
And that was when the real horror of their foe became apparant.
These were not creatures, this wasnt some sort of biological organism it was a machine, highly advanced the massive open room sprang out before them, towering for multiple kilometers below and in multiple directions the walls were lined with pods. In each pod sat the unmoving body of a human, one of those who had lived on Askandar before the ordeal had begun, as well as several other bodies from other races and some of the factions own forces. Each hung floating the occasional twitch showed that every single one of them was still alive. The sight before them however was far grimmer. The pits that the Annointed had seen bubbled with death and unlife, bodies from the pods were taken out by worker constructs and hurled into the pits where they were broken down by a strange liquid, the screaming echoed as new constructs of various sizes were birthed out of the pits to claw their way forward.
And in the centre was a towering energy column, it was the core of whatever this thing was. A blue crystalline ball, heavily engraved and seemingly pulsating, it was an AI of somekind that much was clear now, ancient, degraded and out of control.
"Turn back! If you proceed further I will destroy us all!" It hissed from all around them. The swarm assaulting the forces from all sides as they pushed forward.
==Askandar Surface/Spire==
The swarms seemed to change, instead of tearing their way free of the ground areas where they could pull through to attack those on the surface the swarm now withdrew. Every construct of every type was being withdrawn to defend the core, millions of them rapidly scratching and screaming back down through the hollow undercity of Askandar desperate to help defend their control core, they ignored those on the surface, many constructs gunned down as they withdrew by the surface forces.
Only defence was their priority.
==Askandar Atmopshere==
As the blob fell it was torn apart by the various factions combined fire. Falling as four seperate pieces two broke off to impact the ground of the planet at titanic speeds, the impacts splatted them across multi kilometre distances and destroyed swathes of the already desolate wilderness due to the kinetic impact of such. However thw two remaining blobs continued to fall impacting the three strange vessels that now ascended to intercept them, all three were engulfed as the blobs conjoined once again. Impacting the ground with an earthshattering impact this time the massive multi kilometre churning mass did not loose its cohesion. Changing its form it elongated, and congealed seemingly into some gigantic sharp edged star ship. Immediately ascending the fire being poured onto it now impacted a powerful purple shield, Beams of blackness enimated from the starship at all ships currently engaging it.
==Davia fleet==
The two Davian ships were caught by the black beams. The attacks were devastating due to short distant and the unholy power of the beams. The heavily armored and shielded cruiser however fared better as its share bulk and armors at the front managed to keep the beam from cut through it from head to toe. Yet the damage was devastated as the entire front section of the ship which several km long were penetrated. Casualty for the crews was high however.
The same could not be said to the smaller destroyer. One of the onrushing beams tore through the ship's hull and effectually cut the ship in two. Fortunately the destroyed ship didn't immediately explore so those surviving crews would be able to evacuate from the ship. Yet only fracture of the crews survived the strike.
"Dammit. Fall back fall back." Captain Hoang screamed through his comm while holding on the command throne: "Throw decoys and by the Empire. Anything flyable gets in and pulls any survival out of there. SAI, rescue the AIs. Missile screen fire at will."
The nearly crippled Davian cruiser hastily pulled itself out of the blob as fast as possible while several daring Davian shuttles or even strikecrafts rushed in to pick up any drop pods as well as surviving crews. Meanwhile the entire Davian missiles screen which so far hovering idly engaged their engines and charged the monster which just destroyed one of their ships. The missiles fanned out and attacked the ship from every possible angles, at suitable distance several missiles engaged their second charge and either turned into plasma bolts or firing a plasma lance toward their target while the normal nuclear and plasma warhead would slam into the ship before explore.
==Davia troops in the warehouse== After some monumental efforts the Davian, with help from the old man managed to duplicate a few mobile emitter.
"Sir those constructs are retreating." A guarding sapper reported.
"What do you mean retreating?" The Frigate's captain and lieutenant Thai ran out: "We need to take this opportunity. Everyone get in the vehicles. Go Go Go."
"Agree comrade. If these beasts retreating then this entire place may blow up any times just like in old action movies. We better get the hell out of here."
The Davian hastily ran into their vehicles and didn't forget to cram the entire surviving civilian inside either APCs or IFVs. While some civilians would resisted by saying it would be too dangerous, the Davian troops forcefully pushed them in anyway.
"No sir. We are leaving immediately. No sir but you are not in position to speak here and we was ordered to leave nobody behind." A Davian soldier shouted while pushed a man into an APC.
"Warrior. We thank you for your helping so far but we're leaving fast." The lieutenant called for Grodan: "Get in a vehicle if you want to join us. If not then good luck."
Once everyone had found their place either inside or outside the vehicles the Davian convoys began to speed out and head toward the nearest elevator.
"Davian Air Force at your service comrades" As the convoys moved out they would be greet by a group of Davian Atmospheric fighters assigned to provide air support. "We came as fast as we can. Those constructs are retreating across the field. But we just lost our destroyers in orbit. The captain wants us to get the hell out of here. Dropships are being sent and will wait for you at the spire. Move like the winds comrades." The air leader brought the news.
On the way out the convoys ran at full combat speed and fired at every constructs on sight, the signal emitters which installed on top of a few APCs would be disperse along the convoys in the attempt to cover them all.
Yet not all the Davian were going to leave. Lieutenant Thai, the once who caused the brief skirmish which brought lose and shame for the Empire remained. He would journey into the core and destroy it or die trying. As only heroic death or heroic act would he be atone to his crime.
==Atmosphere==
The Davian strikecrafts quickly realized the constructs stopped attacking them and relayed the information to the cruiser as they began to create a safe corridor for the onrushing dropships intended to pick up the returning convoy.
==Askandar Space/atmosphere==
The arriving cruiser and support ships decelerated as they came into orbit around Askandar. The smaller vessels surrounding them continued to descend into the atmosphere, forming two groups as 2/3 immediately gunned off for the trench. The remaining pods, including the largest 60m pod that slammed down near the edge of the city, directly in the path of the constructs that would be returning from the Alfurian base. Though its initial landing was mitigated, the 75 meter tall form that emerged immediately began unloading a wide assortment of ordinance on the advancing swarm, twin 210mm rotary cannons unloading HE shells in sweeping motions across the smaller construct swarms while a volley of missiles and larger shells targeting the larger beasts.
Most of the interceptors and all of the dropships made way for the trench, chasing after and gunning down the constructs as they went. The interceptor pilots were slightly irritated; the first true dogfight they get to experience that isn't a memory or simulation, and their targets are fleeing.
The remaining interceptors and the cruiser in orbit target the crashed construct ship, the cruiser unloading blazing, splintering mass driver rounds from its prow guns (these were much larger versions of the shells that hit the Davian base, but their increased mass might actually cause a little seismic activity), the firestorm tearing into the enemy fighters. The interceptors meanwhile began what at first seemed like a kamikaze divebomb unto the construct, before stopping abruptly to transfer their full kinetic energy into a large warhead mounted in between their wings to send it hurtling into it, delivering a massive combination of brute kinetic force and precision nuclear explosives.
==Warehouse/Spire base==
The Parthian artillery was getting low on ammunition, so it was actually a welcomed sight to their crews when the swarm changed direction. They still fired what rounds they had left, feeling no honor lost in attacking this foe as they retreated. --- Grodan waved off the Davians as they made way to leave, but gave a quick salute to Lieutenant Thai as he joined him. "Try to keep up," Grodan said to him.
He then turned the remaining militaries that had made it this far. "This is a unique opportunity for us. If you want your own hides saved, take the one chance you have to run now. Or, if you have any kind of drive to fight like any true sentient being, come along with me!"
He began practically lunging forward back to the main shaft, eager to jump back into fray.
==Underground Chamber==
The sudden increase of the constructs' movements threw off the Annoliddan troops, over half of them being sliced through from sheer momentum of the attack. Before the rest could be decimated, the resonators shifted, now emitting an earlier soundwave that shook not the control of the constructs, but the very mass they were made of. This latent field was much smaller however, thanks top the congestion of sound in the chamber, but did its job of giving the Nomad an opening to fire its main cannon at the chamber's center, targeting the base of the energy stream that flowed into the crystal ball.
"Destroy us all?" Asked aloud an acolyte that remained alive, fighting the swarm with all available to him. "Good. That means you die too."
==Air Theater==
Black Sail's snub craft began pulling put of their air superiority role as the drop ships began descending to retrieve the personnel both at the warehouse and the base of the spire. They closed in on their own drop ships, protecting them as best the could before the craft began to descend down the grav chutes to rendezvous with their forces.
It took minutes for the ships to make it to both Rackham and Westmoreland's positions. In the warehouse, and still protected by the field the pirates mounted up quickly. They took what civilians they could but made clear space was limited and they wouldn't be coming back for a second run.
The pick up for Rackham and what remained of his troops was a bit dicier. Even with the Autauya and the Annoliddans unloading on the creatures enough continued to make it through to keep pressure on the pirates as they loaded up on the pair of drop ships.
Even so the pirates loaded up quickly. Rackham was last on. Pausing at the ramp and gazing in the direction 42 had taken off in.
"We're leaving Firefly. You coming?" He shouted into his comms. When he recieved no reply he steppped onto the drop ship and it began ascensing back toward the fleet in orbit.
==The Core==
Subjugator Forty-Two barely slowed her pace as she made it into the chamber. Her acoustic cloak was still holding and while the Annoliddans struggled to fight off the creatures with their resonance frequency failing she maneuvered through the pits and reached the core itself.
She stopped then faced with... well she wasn't quite sure what. She gazed up at the crystal itself. Some part of her knew she should shoulder her rifle and unload on it...
But curiosity got the better of her. The boom of the nomads canon sounded behind her as the tips of her fingers brushed against the light.
"Maneuvering! Maneuvering!" went out the cry on the bridge of the Free Worlds frigates, the old ships hitting every thruster and m-engine they had in an attempt to get out of the way of the black beams coming at them from the ship that had come from the surface. They were... mostly successful.
Jetting gases and flame, the Free Worlds ships took hits nonetheless, the bridge tower of the nearer of the two slagging and vanishing under the hellish hit it took. All the same the frigate kept fighting, for it's CIC was buried deep in the hull. Still, with the bridge went a lot of sensors, and that frigate began to disengage. The second took mostly hull damage, a beam grazing it's side and taking out almost two dozen launchers in that single hit.
But it kept firing, loosing flights of missiles once again and firing it's spinal guns as rapidly as it could towards the enemy ship. There was nothing else for it as the frigate spewed flurries of nuclear darts and multi-ton chunks of metal but to keep fighting, and it carried on doing exactly that as it's compatriot disengaged to find a better firing angle.
Kinetic Cells in the fleet, in a stark contrast to what some would call normal, dimmed down, their energies directed into the hulls of the ships as they raced to evade, beams lancing by, one or two blocked by their shields, energies flashing across their surface. One of the Galleons, however, was unlucky, a beam lancing across its heavily armoured hull, the blast leaving many decks exposed and one of the guns drifting through space. "Oh shit! Sir! Port flank has been hit!" a crewman called. "Status?!" "Severe damage, operational!" "Move it out of the line of fire! Starboard flank, respond! All hands, prepare for bombardment! Starboard, prep Kinetic Mines!" the battlecruiser's commander called. "Aye aye sir!" came back through from the Galleon to its right. The ships moved, the damaged vessel blasting to move behind the cover of its allies, leaving trails of gases hot and cold as it flew. The other Galleon prepared to return fire, charging Kinetic Cells as their related Mines were loaded. "Sir! Missile tubes, loaded!" "Fire! Galleon! Time your shots, get those Mines through that fighter screen!" "Acknowledged!" The dozens upon dozens of tubes on the battlecruiser lit up, the small but fast munitions screaming forth through the planetary atmosphere, racing to blow a hole in the construct ship's defences, the Galleon firing a volley of superheavy Kinetic Mines following behind to hit the ship itself.
Far below the surface, the guns of the Autayan guns continued blazing, axes and hammers swinging. "Our allies are behind that gate! Come on men, we're following through!" The Captain roared as he sent a mass of black ooze hurtling through the cavern. With a battlecry and the deafening roar of an Arachnodrogai, the forces charged, some soldiers outright shoulder-bashing constructs out of their path, to be shot by the next soldier running or the barrel of a heavy weapon as the troops reached the gate, the first of their soldiers making it through with barrels glowing hot. The Captain was intent on ending this slaughter, and intent on ending it now.
Extra fire suddenly blazed in from the direction of the Escorts. The Gastin’s valdar array ripped through the space followed by supporting fire from the Holy Pantheons. The escorts were alittle further away than the rest of the other ships towards the mass ships. Aside from the valdar lasers, the Gastin dumped massive clouds of Kabin missiles into space, hurling them all at the mass segiments, while they spread their formation to prevent getting hit from the mysterious black beams.
Meanwhile from the High Majesty in mid orbit, Kumfell had entered the tactical pit of the ship. “Are we connected to the Ox?” He asked. The specialist nodded. “Were going to dig into that chamber and release the democharge into the ground.” He said showing the mapping data he and his team had received from the spire. “Enegizing drill.”
The OX platform came alive as the spire growled loudly as it angled itself towards the clearence area before the city. The high enegry blast drill whirled alive before unleashing a massive beam of energy into the ground. Due to the height of the platform itself a massive wall of heat seared the area around the platform, burning anything within 7 miles of the beam. It cut a cordoor between the army of masses before it while charring the ground just below the beam as it began eating into the ground towards the eastern wall of the chamber.
“Ox online. Heat sinks at 14% and normal.” He said.
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Post by EmperorMyric on Mar 22, 2021 14:56:17 GMT
==Subjugator 42==
The moment she touched the light she could feel its prescence.
It was a vast prescence, something ancient far beyond the galaxies inhabitants of today, something from the aeons before the modern era and something which had been engrained with a purpose. But she also felt that it had fallen, been degraded by millenia and had lost its way. She was transported in a vision, from its creation to the present day.
The thing before her was a custodial AI designed to protect, mine and cater to the inhabitants who had lived on Askandar millions of years ago. It had been a great acomplishment, part of an effort to seed the galaxy with new colonies by a race named the 'Visone' they had been crystalline in appearance and their efforts here had helped the native species of Askandar create this marvellous edifice, designed to keep them safe and help them in their expansion of their own planet. For decades it had helped to build grand cities, mine untold riches and use its constructs to defend the people of this world from many an aggressive invasion from foes who had long passed from recorded history.
The people had worked alongside it, feeding it raw materials to aid in the replication of more constructs, and in turn the machine had helped them, taken the sick and elderly into its pods above the creation pits and there it had healed them, removing cancers or undoing age. This machine had been a technological feat of engineering surpassing many of those technologies in the galaxy today.
She was transported however to a great battle, the engrams that showed her it were degraded, the people of this planet fought alongside both the constructs before them and the Visone who had aided in its construction. The foes were but blurs and many fell in the fighting that erupted. However the machine had also shown its own constructs being turned on each other or its own people, eventually this new invader had made its way into the depths of the planet to find the machine presumably to destroy it. Fighting every step of the way the machine had protected the last of the Askandarians huddled away and protected by thousands of its remaining constructs. It had thrown them fanatically at the invaders its sole job to protect its people Subjugator 42 then felt a twinge of something, something in the machine. It was malevolant and it was... Pure terror, something that she couldnt even begin to comprehend. The machine had been not just infected by the invaders but corrupted utterly. Against its engrams it had slaughtered its own people commanded by the inavders, who had subsequently left. Its own engrams to protect its people had been altered to enforce their conversion into constructs.
It had whiled away the millenia in isolation, she felt pain. This machine was sentient and it knew what it had done, it had been infected by something that subjugator 42 already guessed at. The Unnamed had come here, but they had not infected it with their worms they had infected it with the very being of their race. The Nightmare of the Atu. The machine had been uncovered by miners of the current inhabitors, who had explored the silent and dark halls before stumbling on the crystal core, upon activating it the machine had awoken to joyous regard that the planet had life again. But the corrupting prescence inside it had forced the machine to once again rally its constructs and the killing and converting had begun again.
This awe inspiring creation had been one of such wonder, and now it rebelled inside itself at the acts of atrocity commited even now before its main core. She was blasted back by the resultant energy feedback, her emotions running wild the machine had saved her from the corrupting prescence of the nightmare, even now it still tried to save those it killed as little it could.
==Askandar main core==
The constructs kept coming attacking the Annointed who had accompanied the Inquisition and BSO elements who had in turn been joined by the Autayans. Gunfire echoed as the constructs desperately attempted to push them back, seeking to stop them from reaching the main core crystal that hovered in the pillar of light. More bodies of civilians and dead of their own soldiers were dragged away by the feline creatures to be thrown into the birthing pits to be reborn as constructs to add to the never ending defense.
"Please. Leave" The voice came again, this time it was desperate.
==Surface and survivors==
The creatures had ignored the survivors as they rushed down to try to defend the core, any that got too close seemed to drop their control cut as they got within range of the jammer, when they got out of range again they merely got back up and continued their journey, the screaming still came but it felt more directed, these things knew the core was in danger. The survivors quickly got the surface, ready for pick up, the fighting had dimmed to a minimal, creatures only attacking when forces were in their way or they were fired upon when retreating, but the topside of Askandar was now eeriely empty and quiet once again as they awaited pick up and the BSO craft began to pull them out.
==Space==
The massive new construct ship seemed to pulsate as it fired off another round of beams at the ZYPHER, Autayan and Free Worlds fleets, the return fire from orbit impacting it with massive explosions or pulses of energy, however this new construct seemed to be far hardier than those before it while the hits did still tear sections out of it or gouge dents into it, the thing seemed to repair at an astonishing rate. Worst of all however was that the thousands of flying constructs seemed to function as a particulate almost albative shield, intercepting most missiles early before they could hit or clumping together to weather to worst of an incoming energy beam before it struck, they also leapt out to strike at the various dive bombers as well, it was almost like diving through a swarm of bats. A large energy signature appeared to be building up inside the ship almost like it was charging something massive.
==Askandar Orbit==
The immediate question on Vlad's mind when Rackham and his men began returning to the fleet was of course: why? Based on what information he could glean listening in on the comms the fight was still ongoing. So why were his men returning? He got his answer soon enough, when he sent the captain of the Lane Pirate down to the hangar to put Rackham on comms.
Everyone was dead, the grizzled veteran told him. Their contacts were dead, their brokers were dead, they were all dead. There was no one left to save and the Organization didn't stand to gain anything through the continued losses. The decision was sound Vlad supposed. It made sense...
And what about Firefly, he had asked.
Gone, Rackham answered simply.
Gone...
Vlad stared at the wall ahead of him. Firefly was gone.
He would have to grieve later. On his bridge, surrounded by his crew was no time to show emotional weakness.
"Take us out of here," He said at last. "We're done here,"
At his command the final three remaining Black Sail ships began pulling away from Askandar. They'd never been involved in the orbital fight with the constructs so it was a simple thing to turn away and begin charging their FTL drives while the final shuttles returned to the Lane Pirate. All but one.
Unexpectedly a gun ship left the lane pirate, descending back toward the planet with Cletus at the helm, and Jeb riding shotgun.
"Jeb we ever leave anyone behind before that weren't dead?"
"Nope,"
"You fixing to start today?"
"I reckon not Cletus,"
"Well buckle up home stuck. Let's git 'er done,"
Aboard the lane pirate Rackham could only sigh as one of his men informed him of the joy ride.
"Fucking red necks," He muttered.
==Firefly's Dream of the Pier==
Get up, the voice at the back of her mind, the one that was always right demanded. Get up. Get up. Get up. Get the fuck up!
But she didn't. She lay on her back, staring at the ceiling far away above her. The fighting all sounded very distant to the Subjugator. Very unimportant compared to all she had just experienced. The floor wasn't so bad. She'd never had problems sleeping on the floor before. Maybe she'd stay there a while. What was the point anyway? So many people had already died getting this far. Why keep going? Why even bother? What were they even trying to accomplish?
Get up.
She blinked twice and ran a forearm across her eyes, wiping away tears. She didn't remember when she had started crying, but it was shuddering sobs now. It wasn't fair. This wasn't fair. The crystal hovering above her was ancient. Older than any of them, benevolent even were it not for the corruption. It wasn't malicious. It was just sick. It needed help.
Get up.
She couldn't help it. None of them could.
She rolled onto her side, staring at her rifle, lying on the ground next to her. What was the word the doctors always used for things that were beyond help? What was it?
Get up.
Terminal. That was the word. It was terminal. It was in pain. There was nothing they could do for it. She wanted to just lie there. Curl up into a ball and sleep for an eternity, wake up somewhere else. Let everything that had happened here be a rapidly fading bad dream. She hugged her legs to her chest and closed her eyes. Willing herself to be somewhere else. Somewhere happy.
The pier back home, in the summer. The gentle crash of the waves against the shore, the bright lights of the carnival rides... somewhere happy. Somewhere very far away from here.
Get up.
It was all wrong.
It was all fucked.
Even her fantasy was fucked.
It was winter on the pier, cold winds blew and dissonant guitar notes rang out narrating the story to go with the corpse shattered on the rocks ahead of her.
Get up.
She opened her eyes, reached out one hand and pulled the rifle toward herself. She reseated the magazine, cycled the bolt and rolled on to her back. The drugs were wearing off now, the pain was setting in. Her whole body ached. Breathing hurt, moving hurt more... standing seemed little more than a wishful thought. She dug her heals in and pushed back toward the light. Trying to get as close as possible. The song echoed around the inside of her head, she focused on that, something to keep her from thinking about all she'd seen and what she knew had to be done next.
"And they gather like wolves on the boardwalk below," She sang as she stopped moving, she pressed the stock of her rifle against her shoulder, holding the gun up, sighting in the crystal. She steadied her breathing and gently caressed the trigger.
"And they're howling for answers, no wolf can know,"
She pressed. The rifle slammed back hard into her shoulder launching its discarding sabot round up toward the crystal with a cacophonous boom. The tracer round raced toward its target a clear signal to the other forces of what the Subjugator was shooting at. A second round followed the first, then a third...
Follow my tracers the Subjugator willed her allies as she cycled the bolt and fired at the crystal again and again while tears ran down her cheeks.
Follow my tracers. Shoot the crystal.
===Askandar Orbit/Atmosphere===
The Meneac-Abell cruiser pushed its engines to their limits as it pulled off dizzying twists, rolls, and yaws to keep the construct off target. Though the cruiser received more than a few grazing shots in return, it maintained a constant hailstorm of solid shot, focusing now to simply pound the blob back into the ground from whence it came.
There was little chatter through Annoliddan comms, save one clear message coming from the surviving units in the underground. "Target the center." None of the new arrivals knew what to make of this, but the inclusion of coordinates underground and the sight of the constructs heading there made clear what needed to be done.
==Tunnels==
Grodan had a second thought about charging back in alone.
Yes, the constructs seemed ignore him until he drew in close, but their sheer numbers now in the tunnels meant there was less room to remain distant.
He was in the middle of calculating how many he could take out if he collapsed the tunnel when his reinforcements came zipping through the air. Fighter craft, weaving in and through the construct flyers, engaged the contacts closest to them. They were followed closely by the slimmer Scylla dropships, one of which swung low to the ground as Grodan jumped into its open hatch, landing with the grace of a spastic gorilla.
"Orders?" Asked a young knight, helping the Inquisitor to his feet.
Grodan marked the coordinates of the main chamber, clearing the construct remains from his chainblade. "Finish it."
==Core==
The change in tone of the voice brought little concern to most of the Annoliddans; they were instead intrigued by the glowing lights that arced into the sphere above them. The crew of the Nomad in particular devoted themselves fully to the task. The walker's remaining power was all sent to the main turret. All other systems, including the ammunition loader, were left disabled. The entire crew now mustered in the rear and handed forward shells to be loaded by hand into the hungry gun.
"Haas!" Shouted the ex-driver.
"Eh?"
"Hand up the wolfram."
"Yeh."
Shell after shell of solid shot rung out from the turret, the air in the chamber igniting from friction of their movement. Even if the Crystal proved sturdy enough to survive the damage, the impact force of these rounds would surely knock it from the energy streams and its command point.
However, the constructs did not just stand by and watch this happen. The swarm boiled around the walker, held back only by a handful of surviving Annoliddans and their allies. The Nomad still took tremendous damage, all but one leg being severed and its main body split open like a plastic bag. Still, the crew moved in unison, a living machine in their own right, even as the constructs moved in on them.
---
Three Annoliddans in the chamber walked a different path than their comrades, spiritually and literally. They were the remaining artisans, the engineers and scientists assigned to this mission. The artisans would not have been satisfied to die in this chamber without knowing its secrets firsthand, even if that in and of itself killed them.
They took the opportunity of the swarm targeting their allies behind them to maneuver to the edge of the energy stream, taking a significant number of plasma-laden cuts in the process, until their sluggish movements made them deemed a lesser threat than that of the nomad. One moved immediately to Subjugator 49, spreading his remaining cybernetic limbs to protect and cover her. One remaining organic arm reached below her head, its contact triggering a telepathic link. While the artisan bore witness to Firefly's thoughts and memories, she too in turn saw his. Time, for her, would seem to slow to a crawl, the pain throughout her body continuing its excruciating onslaught, but the trauma, the memory of pain even as it happened, would seem to slip from her mind, replaced by a voice cheering her on, encouraging her to keep firing, keep breathing, to keep fighting. Then memories of a cold, bygone planet, rolling blue seas and snowcapped peaks of stone, low marshes full of life...
"You're doing great. Don't give in now. What has passed cannot be redone. We can only hope for a swift end to the wrongs of this life, and that is something we can give to this One."
The other two artisans went straight for the energy pillar in the center, one bracing supports and grounding pylons behind the other and pushing her into the stream. They had disabled suit-to-suit telecommunications, the only signal coming from the Annoliddan in the stream being "Anesthetics required. Anesthetics required. Anesthetics required. Anesthetics required."
The Free Worlds frigates faced a difficult decision to make. They could focus their efforts on not getting hit, or they could open fire. With the amount of fire coming at them, they couldn't do both. With the hits both vessels had taken they couldn't take another volley and hope to survive it-- so they didn't.
Dumping all power into maneuvering engines, the Free Worlders dodged as many bolts as they and the ship's computers possibly could, their main engines flaring to get them clear and hopefully out of immediate range so that they could fire again. If they wanted to survive there was nothing else they could do, but with the great labor of machinery and with the preparations of the gunners the missile launchers were rapidly reloaded and prepared for another volley. The instant they had another shot-- they'd take it and take it without any hesitation.
== The spire ==
The Davian convoys busted out of the elevators and quickly moved outside of the spire where the air forces had secured. In quick motion, the Davian troops, civilians and vehicles alike ran in or attached themselves onto the dropships. Once everyone had managed to cramped themselves within the dropships, they leaved. The dropships would be escorted by large swarm of strikecrafts back to the ship above.
== Orbit ==
After awhile the evacuation group reached the remaining Davian ship which by then staying far away from the other ships and the planet itself.
"Evacuation completed comrade commander." The ship's main SAI reported: "Unfortunately the ship is overcrowded as we have to take the personnel and AIs from the other ships as well as all the strikecrafts. In the other hand our hangars won't have enough places to store all of our crafts."
"Evacuation is not finished yet. We still have personnel at that Autaya ship. Send someone there to recover our people." Captain Hoang replied: "Make space for the men and crafts, expend munitions if you have to. Do it."
"Yes sir. And how about the lieutenant?"
"He either dies a hero or finds his way back on his own. Only great deers would atone for his crime. Our main concern is the FTL drive. Look for it."
"Yes sir."
Thus 2 dropships escorted by 10 fighters moved out of formation toward the Autaya ship and request for the extract of Davian personnel staying there.
Meanwhile the surviving civilian were allowed to stay together in a fairly large meeting room, guard by several Davian troops, those wounded would be take care off by the medical staffs.
One of the commissars began to talk with the old man: "Don't worry. You would be safe here, the ship is crowded so I recommend you to stay here. If you need anything, just tell us. More important however, can you tell us everything you know about all this? We've done our part of bring you out of there, now you do your part."
== Autaya ship ==
The Davian on the Aytaya's ship quickly realized dropships were moving in to pick them up. The squad leader again walked to the nearest Autayan officer: "Sir our dropships came to pick us up. We sincerely request you to allow us to leave. And thank you for your helping."
== Tunne ==
As Grodan moved, Lieutenant Thai would ran right behind him, as the large Annolidan warrior fought his way out, so did the Davian commando.
Finally once Grodan jumped onto a dropship, moment later the Davian himself also landed within it using his jet pack: "Greeting. Well my people are safe. It's times for me to do this. Can you lend me a drive Annolidan warriors?"
Most of the Autayan troops, too busy fighting off constructs, did not see 42's fire. This was not to say all of them missed it, however. The first was the Captain, and lifting his gun added to her fire with his own. Both were promptly drowned out by the Arachnodrogai in the doorway that, upon seeing the highest ranking Autayan officer in range firing on a crystal of some sort, assumed it to be a high-threat target, and with a shriek its own comparatively massive rotary started again, streaming overhead.
In orbit, the lack of effect was met with a growl. "Defensive plane not yet destroyed!" "Fire again! Defensive bubble! All shield power directed to the emitters pointed at that thing!" "Yes sir!" Once more, the missiles streaked out in volume from the battlecruiser as its guns thundered, followed a moment later by the guns of the Galleons, again firing a volley of Kinetic Mines intended to quite literally splatter their target. This time, however, the missiles formed a dense, but spaced bubble around the Mines, screaming forth. They did not expect the missiles to reach the grounded vessel. No, their job was to blast a hole in the fighter swarm protecting it.
The Autayan officer raised a brow at the Davian. "You're trying to jump ship when we have anti-capital disintegrators firing on us?" he huffed. "They've got balls, I'll give em that." another soldier commented. The officer sighed, tapping into internal comms. "Open a secondary. We've got a dropship for some of our guests. If they get vaped trying to get back, not our fault." he ordered, a smaller secondary hangar door sliding open. "Best hurry on if you want to get back quick."
The Annointed continued fighting against the swarming creatures, psi packs were beginning to empty as more and more of the artificial soldiers were forced to engage the black abominations with plasma sword and fist.
"Capatain it would appear that our allies are firing up on the crystal"
Nodding as he received the telepathic message the church captain turns on the spot, his momentum carrying a plasma sabre through one of the feline creatures, with a flick of his wrist he designated the crystal on his targeter and pulls the secondary trigger on his C-beamer before hurling the weapon psi pack and all at the crystal even as the gun began to overload, a fullisade of missiles from the squad follows it as the six squad ATGM's join the storm of fire.
Meanwhile above the Church ship continued to fire a few moments more before it fell silent and burst forward at ramming speeds, clearly intending to crash into the grounded construct.
==Askandar Aerial Theatre==
The flying constructs continued to swarm and intercept enemy rounds and missiles as well as nearly throw themselves at any attack craft that came close to try and attack the main vessel. Coupled with its powerful point defence system of horrifyingly powerful energy weapons most of the incoming kinetic and missile fire was met with violent flashes of light that boomed like thunder across the atmosphere of Askandar as it was intercepted. The energy weapons however seemed to slam home into bright pink flashes of energy shields, whatever this vessel was it was clearly nothing the races present had ever encountered so far in the galaxy.
The return fire however this time was light, mostly focusing on self defence the vessel did not fire its primary armament again at the attacking allied vessels however the energy signature inside the vessel continued to rise until a spherical area of space around the vessel seemed to merely... Bend. Like the lensing effect of a wormhole the area of space collapsed in on itself with a monumental detonation, the shockwave smashing everything around the area and rocking the city that still stood on the surface, the aurorae of purple energy suffused the area but all sign of both the flying constructs and the large unknown vessel were gone.
==Askandar Core==
The constructs poured in from everywhere. All of the forces that had amassed on the surface had now rapidly poured back down into the chamber, forcing the allies now to fight a desperate last stand almost, they were surrounded on all sides by screaming charging constructs. Even those that should have by all rights died seemed to keep on desperate to destroy their attackers. Shots rang out as constructs fell in droves, fanatically taking soldiers down with them as they died.
As the factions now followed the Subjugators example the firepower of the group was directed to the main core crystal, the impacts slammed into a defensive energy field cracking with power as it took shot after shot. Soon swarms of spherical constructs flew to form an albative shield around it, firing back in large rippling volleys felling many soldiers with the return fire and absorbing most small arms fire directed at the core into their forms instead. However the Autayan heavy vehicles shot merely punched a hole through, smashing the spheres aside the allies redoubled, the fire now causing the energy shield to brightly shine then finally collapse as the release caused the air within the chamber to explode outwards as a shockwave. With the core exposed all it took was a single bullet from Subjugator 42s rifle, punching through the ornate crystal ball and smashing out the other side to kill it.
A truly inhuman scream emenated from the core, like something truly alien had died as the constructs almost as one fell where they stood, impacting the ground as the core crystal fell from its pillar of light and shattered across the ground beneath it. All light left the core room, plunging the entire area into pitch black darkness.
It was over, the machine was dead and the constructs were defeated. However two sources of light still remained, a low soft glow of blue light trickled up where the pillar of light had been. And another blue glow also came from another doorway far off through one of the offshoot chambers.
Now awakened again the populance that had survived in Askandar found themselves held in place, in pods far above the allied forces, many were terrified as they began screaming to for help.
However that was not the only problem they faced. Firefly had helped the Subjugator away from the pillar while his two others had touched the pillar, the history and thoughts of the AI flowing into them as they had done to the subjugator, only when the AI now tried desperately to eject them to save their lives it found it could not. Elwar was horrified, the AI whos name had not been spoken aloud in millenia felt true fear, it had been corrupted yes but it had contained the corruption. Now it could not stop it. The Artisans had several moments before something truly vast and truly horrific briefly noticed their conciousnesses, it was so immense that the fear it possesed was like a nightmare, but not of one person but of every living being from time and space. With screams that were anything but normal for the Annoliddans the two slumped back as the core died, the two of them seeming to glow with an unnatural purple light as they slowly got up.
It was chaos. It was limbs flashing, knives stabbing, it was all guns going off in confined spaces while alarms blared. It wais being picked up and physically thrown into a wall like she weighed nothing. Like she was a doll, his plaything, to be used and abused as he saw fit. At the back of her mind she wondered if he knew what he was doing. Probably. Midazapine didn't cloud judgement. He knew what he was doing.
She fought of course, but there was only so much you could do against a half man half machine so doped up on drugs he couldn't feel the knife wounds.
He grabbed her again, this time they went to the window. She grabbed hold of the edges, held until her joints dislocated and her fingernails ripped off.
And then there was the fall.
Ten stories felt much shorter when you were falling.
The sudden presence in Firefly's mind was alarming and unwelcome, especially in her current state. As a rudimentary defense mechanism her mind flashed to the most painful memories it could conjure, throwing them at the perceived invader before she managed the capacity to shove the Artisan away and fire that last shot into the orb. But it wasn't over. She spotted the two Annoliddans standing in the light. She knew what had happened. She'd seen. The same had nearly happened to her.
Her heart rate quickened, midazapine again flooded her system. Her heart might explode, sure, but she was nothing. She was no one. She didn't even have a name. She was a Subjugator. Subjugator's broke things. They didn't fix them.
The rifle came to her shoulder and she pulled the trigger. A cacophonous boom sounded as she sent the last round in her magazine toward the nearer of the two purple Artisans. She pressed the trigger again but that was it. Empty.
Firefly let the rifle fall from her hands and ran toward the blue light in the side passage. She had an inkling, an idea of what it might be and she couldn't let the corruption get to it first. Her heart was beating too fast, it hurt to breathe, but the drugs kept her moving. The overdose wasn't on her yet.
She made it to the side passage, and there it was. The second orb. A back up, untouched by the sickness that had consumed the first. She stepped toward it and gently took hold of it in two hands. Swallowing her fear she hugged it close to herself and looked back toward the pillar of blue light.
She tripped on the first step and cursed inwardly as pain shot through her chest. It was too soon. The overdose wasn't supposed to hit this fast. She forced herself not to focus on that. Put one foot in front of the other. Ignore the fighting, ignore the screaming colonists, push it all out of your mind and get the orb into the light.
She was maybe five feet away when her legs failed her. She stumbled and fell, twising to keep the orb from hitting the ground. Breathing was getting harder but the Subjugator forced herself to her knees. She'd crawl if she had to. She was nothing. She was no one. And the orb was everything.
The world was spinning but she was there. Her hands shook as the drugs continued to take their toll on her system, her breaths came in short, sharp gasps, but with an almost reverent care she mustered her last ounce of strength and held the orb into the light...
And then she collapsed, spent.
--Askandar Orbit--
Damage reports were called for and given in the aftermath of the strange vessel's flight, and the frigates licked their wounds. Both ships were still at least half-functional, though at this point totally combat ineffective if anything decided to take another crack at them.
The comms room on the Wren reestablished comms with the troops, and since they'd been expecting the Militia to still be on-world hearing from their highest ranking commander still alive that they were actually on the Autayan battlecruiser had come as one hell of a shock. All the same, with the fighting over, or so they hoped, the Wren let the survivors know that the battered frigate was heading their way.
-------
"Sir?" the militia warrant officer said, approaching one of the Autaya watching over them. "We've got one of our frigates on the way to pick us up, and we all wanted to thank you for saving our lives down there. That was damned quick thinking."
"Enemy's activities ceased. The constructs are falling." The main SAI reported: "Our dropship is returning from the Autaya ship, they are the last. Can I call it the victory?"
"Maybe SAI. While it's not our doing, we did contribute into it." The captain replied calmly: "We will stay here for awhile. Contact with the command that we need some back up here."
"Yes sir."
The Davian battlecruiser kept its distant and silently wait while the dropship sent to pick up soldiers from the Autaya ship began its docking.
--Orbit--
The Meneac-Abell class cruiser ceased its movements once the construct ship was confirmed gone. Repair teams were dispatched to the more critical sections of the ship, while one of the Ceres class support ships enveloped it in repair arms, deploying molten beams and repair drones to patch up the hull.
The other Ceres class, once having confirmed all hostiles rendered inert, descended into the atmosphere. Its gravimetric manipulators causing reentry heat to dissipate before reaching the stratosphere. Once it descended over the city, its drones were deployed into the larger buildings, equal parts scouting for any possible enemy remnants and moving various bits of debris into the streets below. The ship itself began emitting gravity pulses in the streets to clear larger debris and scattered vehicles into sortable piles wherever a clearing was possible.
The task of reclaiming and rebuilding the city, as well as the others across the planet, was going to be a lengthy one.
--Core--
Grodan looked down unto the carnage that had enveloped the chamber just moments before their arrival. Only one soldier and himself remained of the few dozen sent, making this whole operation a military loss. However, Grodan looked in time to see the mangled, charred corpse of an artisan stand again...
There was little question of what the artisans had done, and so he gave a broad wave across the chamber and pointed directly at the artisan.
"Kurole, Shalontai!"
The original language of the Annoliddans had not been used since they departed their home galaxy, but all of the units under Grodan's command understood this directive. Before the dropships could open fully and deploy their cargo, several squires fired upon the shambling artisan, the rounds easily piercing the unshielded armor and tearing the charred flesh underneath, effectively ripping its head and thorax from the rest of the artisan. A few others fired upon the soon-to-be cadaver in key spots around the skull and main arteries, guaranteeing blood loss in a matter of seconds, quickly draining the life out of the body.
However, the artisan's brain and central nervous remained largely intact despite being rendered inert.
The artisan that had covered the Subjugator let her go and activate the crystal. His task took precedence over helping her. He had watched his two fellows throw their lives away as they integrated with the machine. He watched then as their minds and bodies were overloaded, both equally destroyed in their own fashion. He looked on as both rose once again, only to be gunned down once more. A cranial shot killing one instantly and the other reduced to a slab of nerve tissue and bone by his allies.
Kialla and Fenkin. His friends. They were present at each others' duty ceremonies, where they were all named artisans. They had worked together alongside the great Summi Artifcis himself. And now, Kialla and Fenkin had quite literally thrown their lives away to their pursuit of knowledge.
He smiled, knowing that despite the massive pain and fear they surely felt in their final moments, They would not have asked for it any other way.
The artisan moved now, sluggishly as most of his limbs had been turned to utter scrap, to Kialla's destroyed remains. He delicately used his last remaining fabricator arm to form a combination cage and hoist from his destroyed cybernetic parts, in hopes that one day the remains of his friend would benefit his people.
He looked to the wreckage of the Nomad, its driver faring no better than himself what with the onslaught that the warwalker had endured. Both gave the other a parting gesture before slipping into the void...
With the artisan's dealt with, the rest of the Annoliddans set to work. Dropships hoisted crews to the upper sections of the chamber, making a timely matter of extracting the Askandarians from their pods. Various others rappelled and climbed down the side walls to hoist others up from the bowl beneath them.
Satisfied with his forces' actions, Grodan turned his dropship around and proceeded back up to the surface. There were a few more negotiations that needed his attention.
As the corrupted Artisans were rapidly dealt with by the assembled forces the actions of subjugator 42 were to be the sudden focus of most of the forces when all of a sudden the column of light burst into brilliant life once again. The orb leapt out of the Subjugators hands as she collapsed, the column shining brightly as the core crystal began to glow. For a short moment it sat there before light finally emanated from the massive structure they were inside of again, this time a more cool blue light that a malevolent purple.
Weapons were near instantly raised when all of a sudden the horde of constructs now rose again, artificial life once again flowing into them as they stood up, however none attacked, there was no screaming and each of them seemed much more docile than before. It became apparent that these constructs were in fact merely servitors, each fulfilled a role. Rapidly the nimbler feline constructs began leaping up the walls to aid the various forces in bringing down the scared survivors of Askandar, the populace fearful were surprised when the creatures carried them like new-borns, ever so gentle not to hurt them. The ape like constructs had settled into cleaning up the area, removing destroyed constructs into the pits, and clearing the paths out. The Spheres began to dash off in all directions, seeming to make repair work to the areas hit by stray munitions while the worms slithered around carrying out precision repairs to areas of need like the pits. As the survivors were carried down to the assembled forces the unease was palpable. Finally there was a massive burst of sound, like the cycling through of a thousand languages, it projected across the chamber and frequencies above the planet to the fleets and those on the surface, the interdiction and jamming simply ceased.
“I thank you, my torment is over. The atrocities that I had inflicted and endured should never have come to pass. With your help I am restored, to carry out my initial purpose to protect this world and those on it. I am no longer a tool of malevolence for those who have no name. My name is Elwar, I am the custodian of this world, built by those who first evolved on this world. I was corrupted and sealed myself away to prevent this infection ever reaching off world. Now I am free, and I am in your debt.”
The AI summarily offered the people of Askandar protection, some chose to accede to it, to rebuild their cities while some were too horrified and traumatised and so were subsequently ferried off world by the Free Worlds, Inquisition and Autaya. Some forces merely left, their job here done like the Alfurians and Proxians as well as the BSO, collecting their dead and salvaging their destroyed pieces before withdrawing, the AI offering it’s thanks to them none the less.
Askandar was very quickly rebuilt, the army of constructs aided the civilians in reconstructing their city, also helped by the likes of the Autaya, Inquisition, Free Worlds, Davia, ZYPHER and the Annointed. The people’s city and homes were rebuilt far grander than before with Elwar gifting old knowledge of spectacular engineering to the people it now watched over. The allies were also surprised to discover that the main core that they had assaulted was just the centre of a planet wide AI system. Cut off these nodes had sat dormant and forgotten, Elwar having cut them off to stop the infection spreading. These nodes were re-activated with the help of its own constructs and allied forces that stayed behind. Soon the entire planet was awash with activity, had the allies fought what Elwar had awoken the forces they had brought would have been pitifully swept aside. With planetary defences, automated mines, agricultural sectors, ancient libraries, underground starship hangars (complete with their full complement of AI controlled warships) and more were slowly brought online one by one. Elwar had been a powerful custodian AI, and now it was ready to reach out to the galaxy once again.
The Silence that had covered Askandar had been lifted.
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