Capítulo 17: Storm Team
The battle at the sea of stars escalates with each waking moment. Each side deployed more and more drones or attack crafts, only to be met at a stand still. A downed mothership is immediately filled by another– not a vacancy left open for even a mere second.
Even though it seems even, Dureaus is taking the most hits. By themselves, the xeno forces are twigs– but enmassed like this, they only have so many guns to aim and fire. A ball of fire as squadrons take salvos, a desperate ocean filled with wretched cannon fusillade. Like a swarm of sentinels chomping down on human resistance.
Below on the planet's surface is fairing no better. An all out war– human on human. The coin was flipped… and the dark side faces up. Those in the shadows have finally revealed themselves in a desperate attempt to help that which they revere as god.
No longer a war of unity, the righteous and confused side bears heavy losses as wounds from gunshots come from their backs.
"For the Angel!" the opposing forces would often cry out. They march underneath the banner of fictitious beings. The angel, obviously stating the Nameless one– the leader of the Primers. Just as EDF was formed out of fear and preparation, the religion behind the Nameless one dwindled. But those that remained connived beyond shrouded vails.
Their weapons and gear were the same as everyone else's, but the only difference would be numbers. The U.S., Canada, Mexico, all of the western countries were quick to fall from their tyranny. While forces solidified on the western continent, major reports of 'friendly fire' around Europe and the Middle-East ensued at an alarming rate. To make matters worse, some were seen colluding with the enemy– they've got their asses filled with xeno fingers.
Like a wave, bases of those that had no connection with the traitor forces of the Angel resisted and falled. Soon, the forces changed uniforms– red being their main color. Truly a dark time in this world's history.
These traitors… they've dubbed themselves "Ikons of the Faceless Angel." A new force has joined the fray.
══════⊹⊱≼≽⊰⊹══════
On the far eastern hemisphere, a group of islands. Beautiful mountains and cherry blossoms reduced to ashes. Condense cities, breathtaking countryside, renovated to look like any other place: in flames. Located on the eastern side of China, Japan holds. Untouched by the influence of the tainted cult, EDF forces still fight the good fight as aliens and monsters alike fall beneath their might. Due to Dureaus's involvement, the cult of the Faceless Angel hadn't had enough time to spread their influence towards the eastern side of the planet. Only touching the tip with countries like Uzbekistan in terms of population.
Bastions were close-knit; Just like their country, heavily warded off against outside influence. They kept in touch for the sake of information but have not buckled upon the lies of the cult. A large contrast between these sets of bastions compared to America. Not to say they didn't do their work, but most were lax. Bastion Tempest being an example, but maybe that's due to the nature of their boss Dezmond. The problem was the majority of them were already within the Angel's fold, believing in their imminent visit of their false god.
Multiple strike teams and nest exterminators were out in the field– often leaving Japan's EDF forces short staffed. One in particular outperformed the rest by a large margin. A team of five: a fencer, air-raider, wing diver, and two rangers. They work in unconditional trust as each action was with no hesitation. They moved as a unit, their objective: retake a fallen outpost.
══════⊹⊱≼≽⊰⊹══════
"On your left."
—BLAST!
*Thumbs up*
A red ant, known for being tougher and adept at close range combat, had its head explode. A long pointed metal quickly entered and exited its head. Its receiver wore a power suit meant to wield tank weaponry as a personal weapon. Black, its aesthetics a combined effort between medieval knights and modern technology. This was the squad's fencer. A blasthole spear on its right, the tip dripped with puke green blood.
"Nice going Steve!"
Steve, the operator of this fencer unit, waved his left hand in gesture– Dexter shotgun in tow. He quickly dashed away, turning everything in his path into soup.
"There he goes."
The fencer is a more free spirited individual, like a destructive deterrence left to their own devices. He was more or less left to deal with the masses as he saw fit.
"Focus Yuki."
Yuki, their resident Wing Diver. A female only special forces, Wing Divers have lesser armor in favor of mobility– that being flight. Their Plasma Generator is attached to her back along with it a jetpack. It powers both the jetpack and her energy-based weaponry. A striking pale blue, her legs covered by knee high socks with extra steps. When its stated low armor… they meant it. Truly her real only form of defense would be her vest and a helmet with a visor– her extremely short booty shorts ain't doing shit. Equipped with an Idunn series, she sat at high vantage points providing cover. Her Idunn shoots streams of electric beams that break on impact and ricochet around the point, making her weapon an ideal crowd control as it stuns all those hit.
"Yeah yeah, don't have to be so bossy Hana."
"If you have time to bicker then you have time to shoot."
Hana, one of the two rangers in this team. Her rank signified by a different colored helm– striped in red. She was the commander of this team. Wielding an MA10 Slade, an advanced rifle painted red and white, only a fair few were built. A veteran in the field, steadily taking out monsters left and right.
Ever since the start of the mission, they've been met with large resistance on their way towards the outpost. So much so that it has become baffling. They weren't alone, all over Japan these large waves of xenos and monsters were reported to be seen. Unbeknownst to them, the western countries were already or soon to be taken over, allowing the opposition to send more troops their way. Soon, they'll learn of it, the devastating truth of the matter.
In the middle of Hana's burst, Yuki yells out, "Commander, incoming bastards!"
It didn't take Hana long in her search to see three humanoid soldiers coming their way. They were armored– cosmonauts!
"Shit, Takashi, I want them gone!"
"Affirmative."
Off into the distance, a sudden glint on one of the windows just behind the group. Followed by a flash and a loud bang. A long vapor trail from the building–
—Splat!
–to the armored helmet. The bullet cleaved right into the skull of the alien freak, turning the entire head to soup just by force alone.
A closer inspection of the shooter, a ranger was the assailant of that shot. With him he had a scope up to his right eye, swiftly and cleanly pulled the bolt back and forward– chambering another round. His rifle planted on the window– bi-pod deployed. The rifle was long, larger than a 50. Cal sniper– that includes the rounds. The Lysander Z, almost as big as an adult human.
"32."
Takashi, the man posted up and behind the rifle, centers his next target.
—BANG!
The vicinity near him shook as he shot another round, with it another head popped. Calm and steady, he racks another round, taking the enormous recoil like a champ.
"33."
Takashi is the other ranger in this team. Specializing in long ranged combat, he was given the honor of wielding such a heavy weapon. His armor was standard ranger gear; never thought to personalize it, more or less thought it a waste of time so he's rocking the standard green.
—BANG!
"34, all bastards down commander."
"Copy, return to immediate primary targets."
He needn't answer verbally, another shot being his confirmation.
That shot led close to their designated air-raider, taking out half of a silver spider with one shot just before it could web up the raider. The raider flinched, using his left hand as cover for but a second.
"35," Takashi calmly counted.
The air-raider turned to Takashi– at least the building he was in and aggressively pointed.
"Watch it! You know the air alone from your gun's trail could suffocate friendlies to death right!"
—BANG!
"36– you would've been dead either way then, Kaito."
Kaito the air-raider didn't respond, deep down he knew he was right. Looking at the half-spider, it got awfully close.
Kaito was the more recent addition to the team, only joining a mission ago. He had the highest success rate out of any raider. More so due to his love of tower defense games– turrets, lots of them. From stationary to drones, he was the sole reason this team had more firepower than most. He was the only few to really lean in on automation, most raiders prefer good ol CAS or close air support. Them utilizing KM6F strafing and bombing runs. The nice smell of napalm in the morning with Vesta runs. The overwhelming firepower of Phobos bombing runs– not to mention the missiles air-raiders alone could call in like a continental missile dubbed Tempest or the smaller AH Cruise Missiles– let's not get started with satellite calls. They alone bring the Hammer of Dawn's distant cousin into reality.
A darker yellow and green, this air-raider was still rocking standard colors. With him were… well… firepower… that's the best description that best describes his set up.
"Fuck it, we ball!" he shouted.
With a push of a button, drones swarmed the area. Rifle drones, shotgun drones, sniper drones, mortar drones, not as many as the swarm outside of Earth's atmosphere, but enough to contend and dwindle the forces surrounding them. The insects were no longer a threat. Keep in mind, that was only one of many options he chose to use.
"Could've used that earlier," Hana commented as she met up with Kaito, Yuki nodding in tow as she shouldered her Idunn– dropping down to their level.
Kaito looked offended behind his visor, his voice betraying that fact, "hey! I was saving that for a later date. Now they have to restock on ammo so it'll be awhile before they come out."
Yuki shook her head in disbelief, "maybe use the minimal amount next time?"
Kaito crossed his arms and looked aside like a pouting child, "I'll keep that in mind."
Hana surveyed the imminent area, no signs of life aside from them. She gazed at Takashi's direction, "How's it looking?" she asked in comms.
~Crrck~ "All clear, rendezvousing to you." ~Crrck~
"Roger," Hana confirmed before addressing another individual, "Steve, we're done here. Regroup to our location at your nearest convenience."
The aforementioned Steve didn't respond.
"So, does Steve not respond to anyone's directives?" Kaito asked. Him being the youngest in terms of service within the group is still learning the ropes, "I tried calling him last time last mission, but didn't get a response back."
"That's normal," Hana filled the void of curiosity, "out of everyone, he is the oldest in service. Yuki being second, Takashi third, I being the fourth longest serving individual to EDF's cause– within our group of course."
Her tone shifts, "Steve has a… dire past. Something which I don't have the permission to share. You'll have to ask him."
"Wait," Yuki suddenly chimed in, "is that why you went all gung ho last time?"
Kaito had a sheepish expression, "I was… worried," he finally said.
—Tash!
The three turned to see Takashi joining them, his large sniper holstered on his back. In his hands was a shotgun– the Slaughter series, "I see your worry leads to the entire destruction of everything– Kilometers wide."
"Look– I thought–"
"You thought he died right?" Yuki interrupted.
Kaito nods, "no one has died under my watch, I won't let him be the first. That goes for the rest of you."
Hana smiles, patting his head like a kid.
"Hey!" Kaito opposed.
"Nice to have a dependent air-raider," she complimented, "you'll have to trust in Steve as he does with us. You'll have to trust he's coming back no matter the odds. He has time and time again before you join. As for why he doesn't respond, the most I'll say is his inability to talk. His vocal cords are all sorts of fucked up."
Hana looks at the direction of their mission, checking in on her motion detector for any monsters or aliens, "we've got a mission to uphold– cmon!"
══════⊹⊱≼≽⊰⊹══════
~Crrck~ "Steve, we're done here. Regroup to our location at your nearest convenience." ~Crrck~
Steve received the commander's orders, but it wasn't convenient. The loud gunfire that multiplied was probably by young Kaito, Steve likes Kaito. Kaito was worried about Steve, Steve thinks he's good friend. Steve thinks they're done. But Steve not done. Steve confused.
Steve high up, Steve on roof of tall building. Steve sees fencer, but it big fencer. Steve never saw another. It surrounded by five bugs. Steve help, but can't. Curious, Steve is. Near big fencer, big pod in pretty flames. Steve likes flames.
–Bang!
–Bang!
–Shing
Fencer buddy strong! Steve want sharp tail!
══════⊹⊱≼≽⊰⊹══════
I landed on Japanese soil just a second ago and already I'm swarmed, this place needs to be purged of insects.
I count five: two in front, one to my left, two behind me. Would've been six but the drop pod made short work of it. Looking at them, they seem hesitant– works for me. Bolter braced, I fired– two shots. Each round was well placed into their dome, piercing their armor and blowing their brains. Ever since serving father, our weapons and armor seemed to have improved. No complaints there, if it means better purging then by the dragon I welcome it.
The one to my left lunges, I whip around to face the two behind me instead. Stinger deployed, I impaled its skull before throwing it towards the two infront of me. Just as I did, I fired a round towards one of them, killing it instantly. The other was pushed back by the thrown xeno. Stunned, I put it out of its misery by way of bolter fire.
—Bang!
Clear, I don't sense any more threats– sensors aren't picking up anything either. Bolter pointed down, I was semi-relaxed. Seeing it clear, I took a few steps before stopping. There was one thing the sensors picked up.
Looking up– there, a black silhouette atop a building. As soon as I met its gaze, it dashed using its propulsion systems.
—Thud
The blacktop of the road cracked as it landed. Is it a threat? No– it would've fired during the feeble ambush the insects came up with. This fencer was a curious fellow. It walked towards me, stopping at lunging distance.
It tilted its head– calling it 'it' seems crude. By way of a faint smell, the user is male. I sense his gaze on my bolter, what is he trying to convey?
Suddenly, he looked at his own weaponry… and discarded them! The sound of air pressure releasing as he dropped his left and right armaments. Then he met my gaze– AND STANCED UP!
"What the fuck?"
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder