Sergeant Grok's expression settled into grim mask of of avetran NCO acknowledging a distasteful , but definitive order .The protest died unspoken; years of service of Terran Imperium hammered home the primacy of commison rank in crisis , even the rank wad fresh M2 Lieutenant seemingly barely old enough to shave .Grok ,a solid Late kinetic Valerius 's peak kinetic energy -a own well own power - and gave a stiff nod ." Understood ,lieutenant .I'll muster who can reach ."
Who they could reach .Thaf was the operative phase .The initial assault had clearly been coordinated , hitting Garrison HQ and likely severing comms between many sectors on Aethelburg VI , From outpost 7' s surviving roster and fragmented signals from two nearby sensor posts before the network died, Grok assembled Valerius's immediate response team six soul total .A pitful fraction of planet actual Garrison , most of which was now likely destroyed , cutt off , or fighting for survival elsewhere six soilders to ensure a vital relay station under attack .Valerius registered the grim calculus but didn't comment .He operated with tool available .
The team firmed up Grok , his pulse rifle held with. Practiced ease ; Valerius radiating cold confidence ; corporal Rana , her face set grimly as she checked the charged on her repeating plasma rifle ; and private Jax, Lin, and Bo- youngsters whose fear was palpable but held in check by discipline and imposing presence of their officers .
Gear check .ammo count .we move out in two minutes ," valerius commanded his voice sharp .he swept his peak kinetic senses over them , gauging readiness .Grok's energy signature was stable, strong for his stage -
Experienced .the others flickered with nervous energy but were functional .he was the edge ; his higher cultivation stage honed by resources Grok could only dream of , was the force multiplier this squad desparetly needed .
They slipped of outpost 7 into chaos .The ochre dust swirled , carrying the mettalic tang of burnt ozone and promethium .Valerius set a punishing pace , using defunct mining trenches and the giant , rusting carcasses of ore haulers for covers .he moved with the fluid efficiency only high level kinetic enhancement allowed , forcing others into sutained trot .
The journey towards Relay sector 2 was fraught with tension , smoke pillars marked funeral pyres for imperial assets across the landscape .Distant sporadic gunfire underscord the planet - wide struggle .Valerius , relying on his superior senses , guided them , freezing them periodically while his extended his awareness feeling for tell - tale energy signatures or vibrations of enemy movement .They passes two potential ambushes thanks to his vigilance .
"Contact "! Rana hissed , dropping behind a mound of slag , weapon raised ." Three hostiles , two hundred metres ! Look like they are scavenging wrecked supply transport ." ..Valerius didn't need enhanced vison to see them - rough armoured figures confirmed the crude markings, picking over the soldering truck that blocked the fastest route to the relay
" To slow to detour ," Valerius declared, his eyes briefly meet Grok's " Sergeant Rana - suppresive fore on my mark. Private cover the flanks .I will break their position .Engage ! "
There was no hesitation .Before Grok could even begin shouting orders Valerius surged forward , alow , grey blur against red dust .His peak kinetic power proppeled him at speed that strained normal perception .pulse rifle bolts , aimed with chilli g precision , lanced out ahead him .
The pirates reacted a half - second too late .one swung a heavy blaster around only for Valerius targeted kinetic pulse - an invisible hammer blow - to slam into his chest , cartwheeling into wreckage .As two opened fire suppressing plasma bolts and pulse round erupted from Grok's and Rana position forcing pirates heads down. GROK Valerius noted with detached approval , formed a solid shimmering kinetic sheilds beside rana absorbing stray shots with practiced efficiency .
Valerius flowed through the incoming fire , his own reflexes allowing to jink and weave through the poorly aimed shots .he closed the distance relentlessly .one pirate turned , spraying slugs widly .Valerius didn't erect sheild ; instead , he twisted , letting shots pass centimetres by and rammed his rifle but into pirate helmet .the third seeing his comrades fall to this inhumanly fast attacker hesitated .Valerius, rifle snapped up two clean shot ending the threat . Silence descended again , broken by the wind and approaching footsteps of the squads Jax and Lin stared at the bodies , then their Lieutenant , who was already scamming the surroundings
Valerius gave Grok a curt nod ." Solid sheild worl , Sergeant status ?"
" Area clear , Lieutenant ," Grok reported , hos voice carefully neutral , through his eye held a spark of professional respect mixed with the caution one showed around barely - leashed power ." Enemy weaponry standard pirate junk .poorly maintained .
" As expected , Valerius said , kicking a dropped slug thrower ." they were merely scouts or opportunists .The threat lies ahead .Move out ." He didn't wait for acknowledgements, already advancing towards Relay sector -2 .This skrimish confirmed his superiority and command . That was it's only value .
They covered remaining distance quickly . Cresting the final dusty rise , they saw it: Relay Sector -2s main building , a fortified comms station , nestled in a depression below .Black smoke poured from a breach in a one wall .weapons fire flashed rethoredically from defensive emplacements near the entrance - a fight was definitely still ongoing .
And then they saw the ship parked near the relay, larger and sleeker than the pirate junkers , radiating a low , cold energy signature that felt to Valerius' s senses . It designed was unfamiliar angular , vagely predatory , Not pirate .Not imperial
GROK muttered his hand insictively tightening his rifle , " sir ... Slag me blind . what is that thing ?"
Valerius eye narrowed .His peak disciplined energy patterns of the station defenders - likely surviving Garrison troopers - and distinctly other signatures of those attacking seemingly linked to unknown vessel .They weren't random pirates stumbling into a target opportunity .this was something far more dangerous .