(??? Pov): I remember this place...
I stared at the familiar ceiling as I question my life choices.
"Jack! Slice that door!"
I heard someone at the door. As it opened, a familiar face appeared before me. A female carrying a duffle bag walked through the door and tossed the bag towards me.
"Marcus... Suit up, And follow me" She spoke.
I wore my familiar armor and weapon. I followed the woman before me. She stood before the door leading to my cell block.
"Anya what's going on?"
"Marcus, time is running out. Your father needs you." She spoke sadly.
"Wait didn't my father is dead already? I saw him die!"
"No, Marcus... He is still alive and he needs you." The door behind her open and a light engulfed me.
And I found myself standing in the East Barricade Academy, where I used to live. This was the moment that we had a chance to turn back the tide, the moment I was in the slammer for disobeying orders.
"Sarge, Hurry up! Locust inbound! Take cover!" A familiar looking fellow yelled as I run to the nearest sandbag. And locust flooding in.
I looked at the men beside me.
Benjamin and Anthony... These two weren't supposed to be here. But I noticed Dom and Carlos beside me.
The familiar sounds of the locust Hammerburst and their roars.
The sight of the dust and dirt spilled on my back as I fired at the unending tide.
A reaver landed at the front door.
We managed to defeat it.
I found my father walking outside the mansion.
"Marcus... Go, this my research is more important!!"
"I am here to save you!"
A helicopter attempted to land nearby.
A rocket landed near the tail rotors and crash towards my dad.
"Dad! Nooo!"
I watched helplessly as I saw the helicopter crash into the entrance of the mansion.
I found a man stood before me.
A man bearing a halo as he pointed towards me.
He mouth those words.
"Your time has come."
"Marcus! Marcus! Wake up!" A familiar voice shaken me from my stupor.
Carlos stood beside my bunk bed. I felt sweat building up behind my back.
"What just happened? Looked like you seen a ghost?"
"I just... Had that same dream again."
Carlos instinctively knew what I was talking about.
"Look, man, what's done been done, we couldn't save your dad. Besides, you are being called for cic, Go to check up on Dom and I will get Tai to follow me. Something going on. If you're lucky, maybe you will have Anya care about you." Carlos patted my shoulder.
I stood up and looked around. I still never realized that the fact that I been on the sea for so long.
I walked through the corridors. I looked outside the viewing port. And found plenty of inactive lmabent stalks.
And found the ship is heading to a lambent zone.
It's been almost three years...
The cog fell apart the moment that Damm Prescott left us to fend for ourselves.
The mainland is under siege and there were few bastions left fighting what fragment of civilization and soldiers we hold dear.
But ironic that those that cling to safety joined the imperium. But what can we complain about? At least they don't send us to suicide missions or herd us to into doom.
I found Dom in farmer overalls, talking at the communication screen. I am happy for him to meet his family again though it's pretty much in space.
I tried to check my chin and found a stubble that needed a bit of shaving.
"Bye, maria, just take care of the kids alright?" Dom eyes soften.
He noticed my presence.
"How was it?"
"More than I hoped to achieve, what's happening?"
"We are going to the cic, Carlos mentioned something up. Perhaps our "oh so" leader wants us to do something now." I sarcastically spoke.
I was talking about Alexander Tyrus.
He kept a lot of secrets behind him.
Hell, how long did he waited for Cog to fail, did he truly met my dad?
"Whoa, man why so serious, I do appreciate his efforts to evacuate my family... " Dom tried to defend Alexander.
"But he did keep a lot of secrets behind us. What make you so sure that he would not bail out like Prescott did?"
"Fair point, let's go see what's going on."
We found a soldier staring at the vending machine, fully restocked and he kept banging on it. Jace our newest recruit for the team. After Alexander took over the reins as leader of the imperium, we left with a couple of missing people. Though he always tagged along if he had time to begin with.
"Yo, that candy bar is already a decade old!"
"It doesn't hurt to try... I tired of eating meat and vegetables, I want to try something sweet for once!" He groaned.
"Come on, we heading to cic rookie!"
"Alright, alright."
I noticed another bang and something dropped.
"Sweet..."
I headed upstairs, I heard that there was a raven inbound...
"Damm, they are here early?" Dom pondered.
"Or maybe Baird forgot his wallet." I chuckle as we ascend the upper decks.
I found Anya waiting for me.
"Wanna take a guess who's coming?"
"Chairman Prescott."
"Wow, you sure keep your senses huh, Marcus."
"Shit that bastard? He abandoned us for 18 months?" Dom gritted his teeth
"Is he really got the right time to come back?" Jace beside me spoke silently.
We waited upon the helicopter pad and a king raven arrived.
And down came the ex-chairman of cog.
Richard Prescott.
Many of us nearby, looked at him with mixed emotions. Some even harbor hatred.
But he felt indifferent towards us.
But we saluted for a brief moment until he stood before us.
"Now then, take me to colonel Hoffman, I have something to speak to him.
Anya, ventured forth. Explaining the situation to him.
"Sir, Hoffman's gone as long as you have."
"You mean he's dead?" Prescott raised his eyebrows.
"No, he took the remaining survivors and left for Anvil gate. Alexander Tyrus is supposed to be the leader in charge, but he gone to Hanover to get supplies, Michelson is the Captain in charge."
"That's great, take me to see the captain. I have a important business with him."
As he passed by, he gave me a data chip.
This is more important than you ever think Marcus. I stared at the disk and kept it.
A tremor on the ship was felt.
"That ain't good."
"All hands, we are entering lambent zone, raising the risk level to 1, security teams 1 through 7, get ready for the incursion in our ship. Live Lambent stalks have been detected! And a unknown variant been detected!"
I noticed a man opened the bulkhead and he was being swarmed by the lambent polyps, these critter are a pain and they are more volatile than tickers. We all opened fire, but the mass of those polyps exploded and melted the man alive.
They flooding into the vents and pipes, the fast solution was to set them on fire.
We managed to get out we heard from Prescott.
"Soldiers, this is the chairman Prescott speaking, quickly come to my aid, Michelson is down and I am pinned here."
"Looks like he's giving orders huh?"
"Seemed like it's getting worse." Dom commented.
"I know..." I muttered.
We reached outside and found ourselves on the flight deck... Or was a flight deck. As the place is in flames.
This ship is a makeshift town, called the CNV Sovereign, a helicopter carrier. Now its probably the last floating ship that fly the cog banner.
Upon the deck, farming plots were raised by Dom, glad that guy got a green thumb as he raised crops with the help from above.
We reached towards the command deck.
Several stalks bursted out from sea and this time it was not friendly.
And they unloaded their sacs, filled with these lambent locust. Now armed with their weaponry, they caused casualties among the deck crew.
The citizens are forced to flee into the lifeboats as they evaded the firefight between the defenders and the lambent.
"Come on, we must not let them below deck!"
We opened fire and the blood of the lambent splattered on the tomato fields and rotten them instantly.
"Shit! My tomatoes! Fuck you, know how hard it takes growing them!" Dom yelled is anger as he fired at the lambent.
But the situation gotten worse, several beams of light erupted from the hallways.
I glance at the rear and several soldiers that belonged to the church assisted us.
I have misgivings about Alexander, but I am thankful that his men was able to assist us.
We managed to get one part of the ship secured.
But another became a nightmare.
Giant tentacles now erupted from the sea.
And we know what it is.
"Leviathan! Fuck! Adult sized!" One of the soldiers beside me yelled in horor.
We did met one during our escort to one of the port evacuation, but that was a juvenile.
This ugly looking fish is probably the second biggest I seen In a while. And stinks like hell.
Several of the soldiers now bearing heavy ordinances as they fought off the lambent.
"Whoo! That's some ugly ass sitting on deck! What's happening Marcus."
"Where are you Cole, where your bird!"
"We are at the Centennial bridge near the stadium and I am seeing how fuckin ugly from here!"
"Do you have anything over there that could help?"
"Scientifically speaking, we are going to need a more heavy firepower to blow its brains out!"
"This is Alexander, We managed to get the local Imperium garrison up and running, Marcus, keep that beast in a single location so that we go skull fuck that fish out of its existence.. Prod that thing to Starboard."
I had mixed feelings about the man but whatever he does is going to be good for us...
"Get to the silverbacks! It have enough firepower to prod that fucker!" I yelled.
Carlos, Jace and Dom, nodded as they followed after me.
As we reached to the mech bay that held the armored walker, the leviathan began hurling the cargo container after us.
We managed to sprint just in time before one such container managed to turned us into paste.
We arrived at the mech bay, a red robed man stood before us, with incense balls with its smoke wafted over us. Before us is the silverbacks that is kept in storage.
This are walkers armed with Gatling gun, it was slow and it sure as hell not good for offensive. But the situation now? We all got the fish to fry.
I hopped in and found that the control is more eased and their weapons is changed to a thing called Hotshot lasers.
Hopefully it more than enough to prod that thing.
This was probably the retrofitted ones.
As most of the original that survived, ended up in anvil gate defenses.
I did not care about the fact they retrofit the silverbacks.
"++Already checked combat effectiveness is 120%, happy hunting.++
The strange robed man, left the premises as he went somewhere deeper in the hull.
I tested the weapons at the now collapse gate that would had lead us out. And I was surprised of the volume of lasers lashed out as it shredded the door.
"Damm, if we got this tech before E-day, Dom muttered."
"Most probably we would be killing each other before we get to the locust, let's go!"
All four of us walked out and began opening fire at the beast.
It groaned in pain as we took its eyeballs out.
In the corner of my eye, I see the Carmine brothers, Ben and Anthony was manning the missile launcher.
They changed a lot for the past 3 years, no longer rookies and they can hold their ground if possible.
"Sarge, let us assist!" Anthony yelled as he held a missile launcher.
"Ben, watch for backblast!"
"On it brother!"
A missile was launched and it rammed straight to the tentacle nearby causing it to lose its grip.
"Anytime now, Alexander!" I yelled as I presed the trigger the beast rampage is almost about to sink the ship.
"Alright, Marcus take cover! Shadowsword! Aim at that abomination and Open fire!"
A giant beam of light, no devastating than the hammer of dawn, crashed into the beast. The force of the weapons, caused the beast carcass to be swept into the ocean.
I felt the ship crumbling faster than possible.
I noticed the ship is now heading towards the coast, and the last gasp ofthe leviathan crashed the ship in half, I grabbed onto a railing as the ship crash landed into a beach nearby. The shock force me barreling downwards.
(Alexander pov)
[Hours before the unfortunate crash of the sovereign.]
I watched as I see the two love birds bickered with each other while I was aboard the king raven. Baird and Sam is pretty much like a old couple, one that is snarky and the other is now a official asshole. Along with me is Cole and Clayton... Well I did visited Hanover last time to meet with the Carmines when they were kids, but I think that Cole would be the one as a local to show us around.
"Yeah, right, if I actually like someone, I would prefer a gruff man like Dom." Sam spoke back.
"Hell, I prefer a better blond than you." Baird shot back.
"Alright you two love birds, the chopper is landing soon and I going to ask the star player to show us around. There's so much I can do to help, if we just ate Dom Tomatos all day, perhaps there's a supply depot around somewhere... Hopefully imperial ones."
"You can count on me, I am pretty much the Celebrity in this parts." Cole laughed as we looked at the bickering couple fighting each other.
"Well, Clayton, why you dont do the talking?"
"Well, we already got Baird here. Someone should be the silent type."
Clayton sighed.
Clayton aesthetics is still the same, despite the fact his brothers were saved, he tattooed reminders to himself to remind that he is not immortal, but he could die at any moment.
The grub killer was not a joke, as he was the last to evacuate the island, killing lambent in our retreat. Hell, I bet he give the Luna Wolves without power armor a run for their money.
As the helicopter landed at the pier, we found ourselves facing a town that is undergoing restoration.
Several soldiers guarding the pier noticed our entrance and saluted me.
"Is the town secured? Anything I am aware of?"
"High Lord, yes, there are parts of town that is heavily contested with the Lambent.
And the Centennial Bridge that lead to the dead land is having a stranded group that didn't comply with the imperium. And the locals that stayed in the stadium, we held cordial ties with them. If you looking for supplies, there is a nearby warehouse nearby we haven't catalogue yet, and a shopping center that is filled with items, there was not much looting, but I heard that the stadium folks have supplies of old cog arenals, just be careful sir."
The soldier pointed to the biggest bridge in sera.
Centennial Bridge was supposed to be the victory against nature, hell I involved in its construction. Now seeing that it is degraded by time... I wonder if it was worth it?
The soldier added something else
"And the progress of killing lambent stalks from this town were slow, my Lord, but I found something worrying, the lambent is able to evolve so fast... It spooked the soldiers."
"Thanks for the input trooper, raise the alert level to highest, what is your heaviest vehicle you can muster now?"
"A Shadowblade, sir, most of the baneblades are out of town and the imperial knights are scouring the mainland, protecting the trade routes, this tank just finished it's maintenance."
"Ready that and tell the cog boys to awaken it and send it facing to the coast. I fear we need that might once more. And ready more men to aid the perimeter. I will join this group as a... "Tourist" by the local over here. " I pointed at Cole as he told us the rich history of his hometown.
"Understood sir. May the Emperor Protects!"
"Same goes to you trooper."
"Yeah, baby this is cougar territory!"
We walked around and Cole acted as a guide.
In this town, perhaps the three of us had a good memories, but I recalled, there was a imperial garrison report of a squad that went silent a week prior...
I just hope they didn't turned lambent.
As we passed by a furbished house. Sam quoted as she stare at the house.
"Wow, look at the house, I can imagine a dog, three kids and a car with you. What a perfect looking family photo."
"With a bottle of Suicide pills by my bedside."
"Where the fun in that? You looked easy to tease whatnot."
As we arrived at the playground, we met a group of soldiers just resting beside a wall constantly staring at the ground for the nearest rumbling."
"Sah, we-" they noticed our presence and a lambent stalk bursted from the ground revealing the progress of the lambent manipulation.
They were shocked as they attempted to fire back at the lambent and got pinned down.
This time they created a lambent/stalker variant. It was fast and thick armor and tentacles with gaping holes that drip imulsion to boot. And it spit imulsion from its orifices... Like a living flamethrower.
"Damm, this makes this a second unknown!"
Baird yelled as he fragged it. But the grenade didn't pierced its thick hide.
"Cover me! I going to smack the big one, with my bat!"
Electric sparkle from my weapon of choice as I rushed to the Lambent as it fling it's attacks at me. To the rest it was like I heading to a torrent of imulsion, but to me it was like time slowed down.
By the time the lambent realize I was close, it attempted to attack me and I swatted it into the sun.
"Home run! The Dodgers strike again!" I yelled as I felt some gratification of killing the locust.
"Well, that was quite a feat, come on Cole, lest see if we can find something for us to use. I heard from the soldiers, that they found a warehouse and the shopping center filled with goods, seemed like they didn't bother to loot the place."
We arrive at the warehouse and sure enough, there was supplies for Cole and the rest to use, because most of the goods were pretty much useless to the imperium, when we can just replicate anything we wanted, supplies, ammo and vehicles, in the mindset it damper those in my soldiers tendencies to loot.
I smiled warmly as they enjoyed their treasure hunt.
"Cole to KR Seven-Zero, we secured a package."
"Affirmative, package is confirmed and begin the latching process. Watched out for the bridge, there are some stranded that took potshots at us as we made a wide berth around. Be cautious."
"Wilco, Cole over and Out!"
The helicopter unloaded several hinges for the supply crate to be swept back to the sovereign.
"Alright, let's go to the shopping center. Let's see what they have on the menu."
We arrived at the shopping center, it was guarded by a patrol, they nodded to us as they went away.
We walked inside, it was partially looted. But see plenty of cans that got pierced.
I found Cole staring at his image.
"Did you ever get that feeling that you were dead?" Cole spoke as he stood before a old picture of himself. Still smiling as if the peace away from war was just a distant memory.
"Cole...you are loved and you had your parents evacuated, that's what matters, remember, you told me about your kid and your wife? Remember, you are the Cole train, the man that achieve the impossible, hell if this nightmare ends, perhaps there will be a military sports coming soon." I spoke perhaps a way to comfort the man that been in war for so long.
We all have our scars, I hope this would at least give him some comfort.
"Thanks, man I really don't see why you are the leader of those fancy troopers outside and still don't be a asshole."
"Yeah, my mister High Lord. Grace us with your mighty armies and we all stayed behind twiddle our thumbs."
"Actually, you know what Baird, you think I just like Prescott , sure I have secrets, sure it looked like I betrayed cog by unleashing the Imperium, but I didn't betrayed humanity, when at the finest moments I could have been more worse than Prescott if I chose to, but I didn't, he took that choice to left Cog dead and left us in the dark, but who was it that helped you to your feet? Huh, Baird?
Did you tally casualties on what happened if we didn't aid in the Lightmass offensive, the Operation Hollow Storm and the defense at Jacinto?
Tell me, what would the casualties rate would had been? If the imperial units weren't there beside cog in every step of the way, who died and left forgotten?
I lead this men in the front if I had to, because I know their stories, every men, woman and teenagers that joined the imperium. Their hopes and dreams of that brighter tomorrow.
How much blood was on my hands when I failed to evacuate the majority of sera from the hammer strikes? Cole, would you kindly lead us to your team stadium?"
"Damm, I fucked up huh?" Baird muttered behind me.
"Sure you did hon, you royally fucked up." Sam snickered.
We led to the stadium, and I noticed a man at the watch post aiming a longshot at us.
Clayton helmet had sparks as he fell to the ground.
"Gee Louis what the hell!"
"This is Cog and Imperial requesting a audience!" I yelled.
"Sorry! Almost mistaken you as a grub!" The shoot apologetic to our group.
The door opened and revealed a woman.
"So, what do the Cog and Imperial doin here?"
"I am on security duty and these boys next to me want to ask something from you."
Cole stood out.
"I wanna drop by and see if there's something for us to use for the good fight, things like that." Cole explained.
"Wait, you are that Cole train! The Hanover son!" The woman smiled as if she was a giddy teenager.
But as she welcomed us in.
Clayton approached the man that shot him and his figure almost towering over him.
"You should be glad that I wore a helmet." He growled.
It made the sharpshooter pissed his pants, literally leaking to the pavement.
The situation was a sorry sight, it was like I stepped into the slums of my old world.
Many of the people looked at us with mixed feelings, especially when they looked at Cog units waltzing in.
The people is somewhat healthy as the local medicae and doctors always enter this place to heal the people.
Many cheered at his presence as they reached out and gave him fist bumps.
"Seemed, to me Cole you are not forgotten..." I spoke.
"Of course, he is the favorite son of Hanover and we never forget you." Our pretty guide spoke with respect.
As we walked past the stadium, I noticed something.
"Uh, why are you putting us to the side entrance?"
"Well, boss had a bit of temper with the Cog, no offense to you imps, you helped us a lot. But she had a beef with what they done especially the hammer strikes. Come with me to the back to get what you need."
"If you folks need help, the nearby garrison of the church would help you. Tell them Alexander Solair sent you." I spoke as I gave a olive branch.
"Thanks, mister I keep to that, but we people of Hanover get our act together."
As they followed behind to the stadium warehouse, several people guarded the supply cache of ammunition.
Some had differing emotions towards the cog
I knelt down and checked the ammunition, most of them is still unused and fresh from the factories.
I don't have qualms if they allow us to have the surplus.
"Wow, you make the Cole train a happy man! KR Seven-zero come pick this cache out pronto!"
The helicopter had a bad news towards us.
"This is Seve-Zero, we got bad news, the ship is under sieged by a lambent leviathan and we barely just got back. Heading for a emergency landing at the garrison at Hanover."
Several lambent stalks bursted from the ground and unleashed their abomination.
The civilians were screaming and the militias took arm and fought the lambent.
And the door was bursted from the ground and several lambent stalks began to unload their monsters before them.
We were dragged by our guide and faced the boss of this place.
A gruff woman that stared daggers at us.
She accused us of bringing the lambent to their doorstep.
Well I can't blame her, after all she have been through. I understand her need to vent.
I noticed Cole was walking out of the locker rooms of the stadium...
I am surprise on how he pose for the non-existent press...
The war stress almost got to him...
He began to play trashball with a demo charge and rush towards the lambent stalk.
I surprised that he managed to dodge all the lambent Hammerburst and as he reached the goal the lambent stalk in the target point, he was cheering, until it exploded next to him.
I rushed to to Cole and tried to help him up, he laughed.
"Whoo! The Cole train still got the moves baby! This move is what I got to the championship!"
"Welcome back Cole." Baird spoke nicely.
But the leader of the this stranded was pretty not happy about our arrival.
"You can just go to the imperial garrison till this blows over, why get it so fussy?"
"And risk ourselves to be drafted!" She screamed.
"Look, your stubbornness is killing the people you sworn to protect! Did we intrude upon your base? Did we sent soldiers after you?
We even sent doctors and medicine for you.
Is that how you see us?"
Before she could answer, a explosion was heard.
I glance at the direction where the entrance of we all entered.
Several laser lights began to glow and cut down the lambent stalks, and Imperial guards now flooded the stadium. Shooting anything that is not human.
Valkyries now hover across the stadium. Providing cover fire.
The imperial garrison now acted in full force.
The civilians were scared but they were escorted to the Chimera to take them away from this place.
I turned towards her. As she stood stunned.
"Now, since you owe us one, would you kindly tell us which location in the dock that get the best view of the Centennial Bridge? And if the elevator leading to the bridge is still operational?"
We got the answer from her.
But seeing how cooperating she was being escorted, we have a brief moment till the sovereign arrives and I will be the point man.
As we ascended the elevator, lambent stalks began to grow with such frequency.
And we were blocked. But there was a Zipline to the bridge.
Cole took the first zip line.
"Scared of heights Baird?" Sam tease Baird.
As he about to opened his mouth.
Several more lambent stalks blocked our retreat.
"I love heights, I just love it." He grabbed another zip as we rode our way to the bridge.
We had the weirdest skyline we ever try, lambent bullets whizzed by and Cole, seemed somewhat his old self.
"Hell, yeah I practically invented a new sport!" He laughed as he shot a lambent down.
"Yeah, with a high casualties in the making!" Baird yelled
I glance at the docks.
The Shadowblade now active, rumble through the reformed streets and into the docks aimed its volcano cannon at the ocean, readying for the target they seek. People looked in awe of the tank, unaware if it used against them, it is a nightmare.
As Cole took point to the bridge, hoping for the stranded to agree with them.
He was shot by the gunners.
Sam aimed the scope and muttered.
"Feral lambent... Seemed like they cleaned house."
"Great, just great, lambent on our asses and locust in front of us.
"You could use the exercise on your trigger than being a loudmouth."
"Thanks for nothing Ma!"
"Ah, little baby, want to give mother a hug? My bed is always welcome."
"Alright, Sam, Baird, take out the gunners! Seemed like we got company behind us!" I yelled as the lambent now crawling towards us.
The lambent now begining to overrun the town.
Cole was distracted by the lambent as he heard the screams from the citizens...
"Cole, I do my best to direct my forces to protect your people, just kept your eyes on your goal!"
Sam took aimed and her shot aimed through, piercing the locust skulls that was manning a troika.
I fought the lambent, and I sense from them that they have directed their rage at me.
I gave them a middle finger as I rushed forward.
"Come on! Big man, hurry up!" Cole yelled. As he manned the troika, providing covering fire."
I rushed to the barricade and Sam and Baird closed the gate behind me.
"Thanks, Come on, we should clean this bridge. Hey Baird! Wanna be a point man?" I held out a designator.
"Is that a hammer of dawn targeting beacon!"
"No dumbass, it is a designator for that big tank at the dock to aim at that fucking fish that's trashing our boat, and cooked it alive, Sam, take care of your little teddy bear for me while Cole, do what you can to stave the locust, seemed like the Lambent can differentiate who's the target.."
We all went to held task and I defended against the lambent that is crawling through the foundation... They are more tenacious.
And the searing hatred towards me is disturbing.
And the locust got flying blimps that rained rocket upon our heads. Cole managed to get a mortar and took it down. I am surprise that he could done that. It takes measurements of wind current and under pressure.
"Are you done yet, Baird! That thing is easy that even a baby can even do it!" I yelled as Baird is checking the designator options
"What the fuck you gave me! 380mm barrage? 5000kg bomb? Orbital strike!?"
"Look for Shadowblade and input the nearest unit on the screen! If you choose anything else than that, you going to kill everyone in that ship!"
"Oh right... pointing at the target now!"
"Cole, inform ship now!"
"Where are you Cole, where your bird!" Marcus yelled through the comms.
"We are at the Centennial bridge near the stadium and I am seeing how fuckin ugly from here!" Cole yelled as I handed him a binoculars. The leviathan was Damm ugly up close.
"Do you have anything over there that could help?"
"Scientifically speaking, we are going to need a something heavy firepower to blow its brains out!"
I took over the radio.
"This is Alexander, We managed to get the local Imperium garrison up and running, Marcus, keep that beast in a single location so that we go skull fuck that fish out of its existence.. corner it to the starboard side!"
The situation around the bridge gotten worse.
Lambent and now locust beginning to swarm on both side of the bridge.
As the ship grow closer we can actually see the leviathan up close.
And Baird Finally got the coordinates right.
"Commander, Target set!"
I called out to Marcus.
"Alright, Marcus take cover! Shadowsword! Aim that abomination and Open fire!"
A beam of light erupted from the docks, it shot with such intensity that the surface of the water sizzle with heat boiling like the sun.
The beast screamed as the beam hit directly on the skull, and in its last grasp of being alive without a head, it crashed a tentacle on the bridge and we almost fell down to the sea. We barely clinging on to the destroyed part of the ship.
Sam was holding Baird.
"You know, at a time like this, I would say that I love you, but you know? I really, really hate you!" Baird spoke.
"Ah, you such a honey bun."
"Oh, that your way of teasing Baird! At this time?!" I yelled.
The bridge part we cling onto began to slid down to the ocean, with all of us screaming.
When we came to, we found ourselves at the wreck of the sovereign.
We saw Anya and the Carmine Brothers knocked out.
And we surrounded by locust.
The Locust got a new upgrades as well.
I felt a tremor from the ground and something popped out and exploded near us, a clever way to get us out of cover.
And they brought monster that acted as catapults to the ship vicinity. Are they going medieval on us?
"Everyone, in the ship, rally to me and keep them out!" I yelled.
The locust began to siege the ship. What remains of the ship is being blown to bits as we took cover.
It was only until I found Marcus and his squad arriving and managed to take out the Locust by hijacking their own siege weapons.
"Where's Prescott?" Marcus asked.
Anya led him to the former chairman.
"His lung is ruptured, broken ribs, and fluid is entering his cavity... there's little I can do to stop his death."
I checked his vitals, it was ebbing away. And if he was airlifted to Hanover, it would be possible, but the window time of saving him is passed. I would have resurrect him... But after having read that message Marcus is reading?
I am not planning a double resurrection.
And with locust activity beginning to show signs around here... The risk is too great.
I went away to gathered my men and order the closest garrison to converge to Hanover.
I noticed Marcus face grimaced as he stared at the screen. I already know the contents he gave to Marcus.
"Damm you Prescott!"
He walked towards me with fury in His eyes.
"Sir, I taking my squad to Anvil gate."
"Its a long way from here... I will go with you, my soldiers will arrive and escort the survivors to safety.... I get the feeling that someone will hinder us along the way..."
"What do you mean by that?"
"This locust was not supposed to be around Hanover and they are in full force. I guessing the locust queen is back. And I have a business with that wench."
Many felt paused as if I knew a lot.
"You are the son of the man that will cure lambent, which supposed to be held by Prescott, why did he came to us now? The Locust already got to him, forcing the ex-chairman to flee and seek our aid. Perhaps Azure is captured by the monsters. Remember Marcus...You need your father right?
I can hear the tremors as I found my helmet, was ringing...
A locust force, possible a Regiment sized is heading to our town.
"We should head to the badlands looking for the outpost that hold this blimps that attacked us. I can't risk aircraft heading to Anvil gate... So we just hijack one of their own. Makes it less chances to be blown apart. Anthony, Ben, wanna come?"
"Heck, yeah Boss!"
"Can I have a heavy flamer?"
"Sorry, I think that someone at your expertise should protect this place."
"Aww"
"When we managed to reach anvil gate, you get to be part of our ops to be free from the Lambent.
I smiled.
Benjamin is a pryomaniac through and through.
Our team is formed once more.
A ten man squad.
It was a gambit, a tasty bait, if I die, then the imperial will lose their holding, but it would be easy as I will mark all the locust tunnels.
A Valkyrie carried us across at the entrance of the badlands.
And left to defend Hanover.
We were equipped with dessert fatigues.
And walked for many miles, we avoided the locust patrols to not spooked that we infiltrated behind enemy lines.
I know that the blimps that attacked us before was pretty close.
After 17 kilometers we found the outpost that held a blimp fueling station.
"Smelled like rotten eggs."
I already marked the Outpost for a orbital bombardment, setting it 30 minutes after we hijacked one of them.
"Did you got their navigation?"
"Sure did, managed to get a intact one from one of these blimps that attack us and changed set it to Anvil Gate."
"Good, we have about 30 minutes before I raze this place from orbit."
"You're not serious?"
"They think that the Hammer of Dawn is broken... It will create confusion and chaos, so that nobody would look for us. Much less a missing blimp in their inventory. Let's go!"
We all sprinted to the nearest blimp that managed to finish unloading and set off quickly.
The locust realize something was wrong and they decided to send their reserve blimps after us. We all manned the Point defenses as we shot down the pursuers.
"Wow, a family outing for all for us. Why not we set a table and light some candles..."
"I never want a romantic date In a grub blimp!
Several beams of light rained down behind us, forcing the hijacked blimp to pushed forward as the shockwave send us way ahead.
"How's that possible?" Baird felt the amount of heat searing behind our rear.
"Science and faith, Baird. Once this planet is formalized under imperium rule after we kill the lambent, you can access our knowledge and you realize why we are more lenient than we should be."
As the night moon rose, Marcus was outside, thinking something.
"Thinking about your father, Marcus?"
He glanced at me and shrugged.
"Of course, its been years...Did you know about it?"
"No, when E-day emergence, I was invited to Azure, giving me a option of leaving the people I swore to protect that it burden me, so I stay behind."
"Did you heard about Prescott idea of kidnapping?"
I stare at the moon. Reminding me of Horus.
"Marcus... I may keep secrets, but I would never do something behind your back. We are soldiers, you and I, tell you this, I will try to save your father. I not looking at him as a scientist that make weapons of war. But I am assisting my man to look for his parent."
"Thanks for your honesty..."
"Being honest to men like you is more easy to understand."
The blimp trembled as in the darkness the locust already found us...
"Baird, send a lance strike at this position!"
"Your crazy right? That is within our area!"
"Do it so we can hide from the patrols!"
Several beams of light now erupted around us. Searing heat as it burnt our senses.
But in the silence, it was just a crater around us...
"Let's go... "
The night proved uneventful.
And by dawn we already reached halfway to Anvil gate.
We found a familiar friend.
"Anyone in this frequency! This is Convoy Seven-Seven and we are under attack!"
"Wait... Wasn't that supposed to be that guy that drove the rig?"
"Dizzy, helps on the way! It's the incoming locust blimp that's arriving!"
"Marcus... Is that you? Woo wee, thank mah lucky stars, ya ain't dead!"
Marcus aimed at the locust that surrounded the convoy.
While I looked for someone in the horizon...
Ah... There's that little wench. She was in the distance, just outside my weapons range...
And she was glaring at me...
I simply gave the universal gesture.
A fuckin middle finger. As I mouth my words towards her.
"You..Will...Be...Next.."
She took offense and now send her royal guards after me... I know this locust blimp is slow and it's weapons was more on supporting ground forces and defending themselves.
But it didn't added I planted a hellgun turret and aimed at the incoming reavers.
A single press, a volley of lasfire rained nonstop, she was just beyond my weapons range that the moment it reached her, a glaze of laser passed her cheeks.
She left before the battle ended.
"Was there something behind our backs?" Cole asked.
"Just killed some interlopers... Come on, lets regroup with the anvil forces below us.
We all set down the blimp and Dizzy walked out to greet us.
"Damm, sir haven't seen you in a while. I thought the grubs got ya in that firefight!"
"Well, I glad that you are safe... Well what have you been up too?"
"Well, me and me boys were out scavenging supplies for Anvil Gate. Despite the imperial telling us that we will be rescued, we don't want to disturb them...
Locust had been throwing bodies at the walls. And several outpost have been gone radio silent. Why, they been had it at us for almost three months now, why are you folks doin here?
"I came to look for Hoffman, seemed like he got the data disk that Prescott spoke, something that could end the war.
"Well, about Damm time, even the colonel was almost given up on the Damm thing. Cover us as we move on."
We boarded the blimp as Dizzy radio the Anvil Command as we arrive in a locust blimp.
I watch before me the now heavily fortified gate. Automated turrets and I think there was a minefield as patrols was zigzagging in patterns.
It was equipped with both cog and imperial tech. Hell I think they Requisition a baneblade to guard the front door. And several artillery nest behind the walls that is constantly firing in the distance.
Hoffman and a female walked out and greeted us.
"Who's this fine damsel, Hoffman?
"Ha, she's Bernie, and we both get together for the past few years. Tell me then, why a leader like you arrive at Anvil?"
"Marcus wants the disk you are keeping, seemed like old Prescott came to our ship before sending his last hurrah against the Lambent and to gave us the finger to the afterlife."
"That man huh..." Hoffman thoughtfully nodded.
A explosion erupted behind us and one of the artillery was blasted to pieces.
Bernie held a head set and spoke out
"All man to stations! Locust raid! Get your arses to your post!"
"Look we will see what's on that disk when we done with this raid." Hoffman left as he grabbed a lancer."
Light flares flew from the skies from the mortar.
It was daunting to see that amount of locust, flooding this place, despite we sank Jacinto.
Tracers and laser fired in the unending hordes. Craters are deepening due to the predetermined position.
"What the hell, why is there a convoy now!"
I saw a convoy headed towards this place.
I gave the garrison explicit orders to guard the civilians... But what make them wanting to move to this place?
"Marcus, Carlos, Dom! Follow me as we relief the convoy!"
Ironic we arrive in a jeep. As most assets is now focused on the main gate. Several element is rushing through.
Marcus drove like a madman as soon as he heard His little girlfriend is among the convoy.
"Turn left! Turn left! Locust ambush!"
I saw the locust at the nearby building holding a rocket launcher.
And Marcus saw it and swerved to the side as we crash towards the convoy.
A Valkyrie that was escorting with us was soon under heavy firepower. It dodge several missiles until one hit the tail. Causing it to crash land.
Marcus felt the ping on his head as he suffered a whip lash.
"Come on, Marcus... Get to safety!"
Anya held his shoulder as they rushed to the building across us.
"I hate urban combat!"
I called out to the fleet that is amassing the orbit of sera.
"Classified this ruins as demolition! Get the baneblades and the wings to steamrolled everything here!"
Several bluish sphere of light engulfed the area and 20 baneblades appeared.
It did what it was told.
Demolished everything.
Every building that was filled with locust screamed in horor as these monstrous tanks crash through everything and leaving piles of rubble in their wake.
From the skies came a storm of steel and burning jets as Avengers and Thunderbolts came crashing down and laid ground fire.
The once boisterous Gate that filled with gunpowder in the making found itself silent...
It was as if they saw hell itself that came before them.
In the raging inferno, a silhouette of trucks came into being.
The defenders stare in awe as the convoy reached to safety.
But I debrief Anya on what the hell just happen...
"Hanover felled. The locust was too many, they were being reinforce by something not human.. That the commander of the garrison force a evacuation order... Sorry sir."
I breathed a cold breath.
What kind of force can kill a baneblade?
I am aware of the locust weaponry, they couldn't scratch a paint of these beast of war...
I realized something...
"Sir? Is there anything wrong?"
"Seemed like there is a third force now raising hell. Anya, get the last satellite data and stream into my helmet.. not one word get to Marcus."
As she paused and she began to work...
I watched several images of the battle and it was fast... As I slowed it down...
"Fuck"
Before me was a image of a Black Legionaire... And by estimation they already linked up with the forces of the locust and now they are beginning to swarm the outpost that is solely focused on locust and lambent.
"Chaos is here huh?"
I better upped the schedule.
Marcus already decrypted the data that Prescott left behind and azure location was confirmed.
A island that is hidden by both sensor and a artificial hurricane covering it.
A funny tomb for the elites.
And the only way in is through underwater.
Dizzy vouch for being the captain as he was a former navy officer.
We went to our separate ways.
Marcus, Dom, Carlos, Jace, Clayton and Anya went to get the fuel and get to the sub.
Baird, Cole, Sam, Benjamin, Anthony and I was to reach to the imperial Dockyard that went radio silent and hope they could Requisition my forces there. I heard reports of UIR survivors went there ahead of them.
I hope to meet with Paduk.
"Whoo, you sure of letting us use this rig?" Cole spoke as he stood before my personal baneblade."
"We are heading to the docks, but it went radio silent, we going to need all the firepower we need, and Cole, take the Gunner role. Baird, you drive!"
"Why me!? I don't know how to drive this thing!"
"This thing is my baby girl and she is pretty upset right now. Just think of of a giant centaur it that can run 500 miles per hour, we get there before sunrise.."
"Fine... "
"I got a minibar somewhere in this tank, just go get a drink."
It took a few hours till Baird came out as he sweated.
"How on sera this thing is bigger on the inside!? There's a forest, a Workshop and a pool! Fuck, I saw those tin men doing their mystical mumbojumbo in a repair bay!"
"Don't question it. It's my RV from home away from home."
"Not with a literal fortress of guns!"
"Alright, Delta two heading out!"
I opened my commander hatch and glance at Marcus as they drove to Dom Hometown.
He nodded as we parted ways.
"Whoo, let's see what this can do!" Cole was happy as he got to manned the big guns.
Infront of him was screens that show which part of the turrets were active.
A locust barricade stood before us, with several Brumaks stood before us
"Fire away!"
A barrage of bullets and laser is fired upon the locust and the battle cannon, fired 7 shells per minute... Each shot paved a Brumak a missing skull.
One brumak decided to be a bumper as it attempted to lift up the tank.
It was a futile effort as the tank weigh heavier than it as it crushed the bones of the beast and left mush beneath the tracks, cleaning this is a pain.
We had a timer. Once we defeated the locust queen, it is officially recognize from the world and itself would kick out the interlopers. As it submit to imperial light. Denying the infestation of chaos.
And seemed like the black legion is here...
What is Abaddon up to?