In keeping with canon some characters and Aliens are able to communicate telepathically and empathically. I use text between / to indicate these communications.
It grows within me. Life. Getting stronger by the hour. They say that we Immortals cannot have children, that we cannot create life within ourselves. They are wrong. Even now I feel it pushing against my ribcage. Soon it will emerge in a shower of blood; the glorious miracle of creation. Once again, I will give birth.
Planetoid TXV5- SA2
The Colonial Marine troop and engineers advanced slowly through the valley. High grey crags towered above them, a dull smudge against the orange glow of the local star. The ravine pointed arrow straight towards the looming structure ahead. The flat bottom of the ravine showed evidence of vehicle movements, a natural highway between the building and the landing zone. Or at least it had been once upon a time. The road to hell could be more likely, thought the group commander.
A radio crackled. "That's the air-filtration plant dead-ahead of you."
"Received. Close up, engineers in the centre. We don't know what nasty surprises there may be here."
Nobody needed reminding what the dangers might be. They were all veterans of the bug wars, fighting them on planet after planet, clearing the way for resettlement by human colonists. They had seen colonies destroyed, and lost comrades to the black menace that spread like an uncontrollable plague. A momentary lapse of concentration could be a ticket for a one way journey to the living hell of the egg chambers.
"What is this place?" one asked.
"Planetoid TXV5-SA2."
"Well done smartass. I know that's the official name, but what do, or did the colonists call it?"
"Search me."
"Taire" said the big man on the edge of the group. "Named after some scientist who perfected the air filtration system. Minimum parts, minimum fuss. Allowed colonists to get on with the important tasks such as creating a sustainable colony" He paused, "And increasing the population."
Laughter rippled through the troop. The leader grinned too. The humour helped break the tension the group felt. Each time they conducted a mission like this they went in expecting the worst. Full infestation with no survivors. Map it, cleanse it and nuke it. Nest designs changed all the time and the boffins were always looking for patterns. Despite the poor rep that Intelligence had, sometimes they were on to things. The nest design work had proved useful in recent times.
He held up a hand. Combat readiness. Safeties off, motion detectors on. Judging by the state of that building something hit had hit the colony fast and hard. Take no chances. The team were professionals, even the engineers who had been brought along to fix the colony if it was a simple systems failure. As unlikely as that was, there remained the possibility of it, particularly given the reports of systems failures that had been transmitted before communications were lost entirely. The marines were good, but detailed schematics were not their strong point.
All seven looked to the doors of the filtration plant. The metal was twisted and warped.
"Possible explosion?" one asked.
"Unlikely." said the big man. "Those doors bow inwards. An explosion would have sent them outward or blown them clear."
"I hate bugs."
"Amen to that. Be prepared soldiers. This could be messy."
Weapons ready they advanced toward the building. The marine who asked the questions took his position ahead of the group and reached the doors first. "Oh hell."
"What you got Jardine?" the leader asked.
"That's a positive on the bugs, sir. Mandible slime on the floor here. Looks like one got cut too. Part of the door is bubbled like it was dissolved by acid. Traces on the floor as well. No immediate evidence of resistance either. Best guess they hit hard and fast, giving the defence no time to respond, or else they were distracted by a diversionary attack."
"Understood. Good work Jardine. Back up a ways until we reach you. Nothing on the sensors yet but that means squat. You heard him marines. Bugs have definitely been here. Keep one shell spare each unless you want to end up as baby food."
He thumbed the comm switch on his suit.
"Extraction team Delta to Valois."
"Valois to Delta. Go ahead."
"Valois, there is definite evidence of bug activity here. Want us to proceed?"
"Affirmative Delta. Forty minutes maximum. That gives you a half-hour to search and ten to return to the landing site. The mountains around you could interfere with the radio signals. There are high levels of background radiation disrupting comms. Valois out."
"Received. Delta out." He toggled the switch. "Form up. We have thirty minutes, and then we get the hell out of here. I'm with you. I don't want to be here any longer than I have to be."
They entered the building slowly and flicked on helmet lamps. The corridor glowed in the dim light. "Jardine, what's up that way?"
"Nothing sir. Corridor has collapsed. More slime but no growths. Must be too cold here. No corpses either, bug or colonist. South is the only way to go. Down, down, down."
"Fan out and be ready. Good work Jardine. Nobody touch the walls. We haven't seen any evidence of construction, but there could be some we haven't seen before. Shevar, you lead." He turned to the big man. "Elgan, you go behind him. You've seen more of these structures than the rest of us. You can tell us what's abnormal."
Slowly the troop moved down the passageway. The helmet lights cast flickering shadows over the walls, and highlighted various discharge. "Looks like they went down fighting here Captain." Shevar called. "Spent cartridge cases, and some acid corrosion. No human blood though. Could be survivors, but, hell I wouldn't bet on it."
"Go steady. Those nasties might still be around."
The big man, Elgan stood stock-still.
"What is it?"
"Movement. A life form of some kind."
"It's not showing on the motion sensor." Shevar called.
"Trust me. I know what I'm talking about."
Shevar pointed the detector in the direction Elgan was looking. "I apologise. Got it now, coming our way."
"You heard the man, weapons ready. Fire only on my signal. If there are still colonists around we want them out and quarantined." Quietly he whispered to Elgan, "One of yours?"
Elgan nodded. "Could be a decoy, could even be being chased."
"Decoy? Like those fanatics who released the bugs on earth?"
"The same. Even we aren't above being misinformed. We just get a chance to atone for it afterwards. If we escape the chambers."
"Fifteen metres Captain. Just around the corner."
"Back into the defensive line Shevar. No one needs a hero."
A ragged man stumbled around the corner and collapsed at their feet. "Help me, help me please." His eyes looked around wildly, darting from one marine to another, nervousness and relief conflicting on his face as he viewed the weapons. Searching for the other Immortal his eyes hardened momentarily before resuming their wildness.
"Straps see to him." Called the Captain.
Straps, the squad medic laid down his gun and turned the man over. Blood spotted his overalls amidst the grime. No suspect hardening in the upper abdomen immediately obvious to the touch. He shone a torch into his eyes. "They're clear. Open your mouth, and stick your tongue out."
The man did as he was asked, and Straps shone the light down his throat. "Clear. No sign of infection Sir."
"Good. What's your name colonist?"
The man coughed. "Frehley sir. Spencer Frehley. Engineer 1st Class and member of the Taire Senate.
"What happened?" Jardine asked.
"Bugs came in the night… don't know how long ago… hit the Senate first almost like they knew who headed up the colony. The raids were infrequent at first. Hunting parties went out but didn't come back. Then heat-heating shut down. Lost the thermal team."
Elgan spoke to the leader. "It's a geothermal installation. They must have nested by the main reactor, causing shut down. What happened to you?"
"Remainder of us went to air-filtration plant. Tried to asphyxiate them. Didn't work. They can breathe anaerobically. Ambushed our food parties. And we slowly dwindled in number. We were slowly weakened and picked off. Then main strike came. Took everybody. Grabbed me by leg." He pointed to blood soaked section of fabric above his ankle. "Dropped us at Apex Junction. I managed to escape into air duct. Hid for days. Then I heard rumble of ship engines. I came out and found you."
Shevar interrupted him. "More movement captain. Nine separate signals. No infra-red emissions. Bugs sir."
"Frehley get behind us. Everybody else get ready. Fire as soon as you see the first carapace."
A scream from behind them turned all their heads. They were met with the sight of Jardine's legs thrashing in the air before dropping to the floor.
"Fuck they've come through the ceiling. Pull back. Frehley get moving. Valois, this is Delta do you read?"
No answer.
"Valois, this is Delta. Do you read?"
"Delta, this is Valois. You're faint come in."
"We have contact, repeat we have enemy contact. Delta party six men, plus one colonist. One man gone."
"Received Delta. Engines being primed. Get the hell back here soon as. Valois out."
Another scream, this time from the medic Straps as clawed arms grabbed him and dragged him down to the ground. Talons penetrated his chest, and his last thought was one of amazement that they missed any vital organs before the merciful blackness took him. More talons wrapped around his ankles and he was dragged away to the hatchery.
The sound of automatic fire filled the air. "Damn it Shevar, switch to semi-auto. Save one for you."
"Nope that's why they invented grenades! My ex-wife threatened to castrate me once. I said I'd do that myself if I fought a suicide mission against the bugs. They ain't no way they're getting that baby out of my shorts. Underwear is the best place for a last ditch grenade! Die you mother-fuckers!"
He switched to fire at a bug that had poked its head around the corner. It ducked behind then came back. The assault rifle jammed. Shevar threw it to the floor. The last thing he saw before he died was the Alien's inner jaws opening, and flying towards his helmet.
"Fuck it, two more down. Everybody pull back. Elgan, get a fragger down there. Buy us some time."
Elgan removed a grenade from his belt and brought his arm back. Something held it in a vice-like grip. He turned and saw Frehley standing behind him, and grinning like a madman. "Don't think so."
"Are you mad?"
"No, just enlightened." He grinned maniacally.
Horror showed on Elgan's face as the realisation dawned on him. "You're a fanatic! You let them in!"
"Not entirely true. Drop the fanatic part."
He kneed Elgan in the groin, and kicked the fallen grenade away. The Captain turned his rifle coming up. "What in the hell are you doing?"
"Saving the human race!"
Another alien dropped from the ceiling taking the Captain down then moved onto the next soldier. Within seconds the marines were overpowered and the Aliens picked at the fallen. Not killing them, for far worse fate awaited them. Spittle and secretions immobilised the survivors. Frehley stepped over to a dead bug. Carbine fire had severed the tail completely, perfect for his purposes.
He strode over to Elgan, who stared up at him, contempt in his eyes.
"Why?" he spat.
"Because there can be only one, and I want it to be me". He swung the tail in an arc, the chitinous tip a lethal blade and removed Elgan's head.
The Aliens jumped back as the Quickening was unleashed. They hissed and nipped at each other, confused by the bolts of lightning discharging from Elgan's body. When it finished they settled down again. Waiting.
One looked at Frehley, and cocked its head to one side. Frehley looked back at it.
"What?"
It hissed and lunged at him, inner jaws extended. He swung the disembodied tail back at it. Backing up to the wall he called to the Queen. / Stop it. You need me. I can help you. /
/ Kill it. / She sent to the drones. / It is endangering me ./
Acting as one, the other drones leapt upon the rogue tearing it to pieces; oblivious to the acid blood it sprayed everywhere. Frehley sank to the ground some way away avoiding the discharge from the alien. The drones made short work of the rogue, their ferocity no less great than when facing the armed marines.
Frehley stood up and surveyed the carnage. The drones looked at him, tails swishing menacingly, waiting for the next message. / Those two are food. / He looked at the corpses of Elgan and Shevar. / The rest are yours. /
He kicked Elgan's head away. It bumped into a drone that hissed at it and nudged it away. Instinctively it chased the moving object, picked it up in its jaws then dropped it and chased again.
Frehley grabbed two unconscious engineers by their wrists and dragged them down the corridor towards the nest chamber. As he rounded the corner, he heard the crack of bone as the drone began feeding on Elgan's head.