Chapter 6 : Foot hold
A large group of APCs and Archer tanks rumbling through the shores of an unknown area . The ISA forces weren't aware of the war going on in this planet for 15 years and they relieved reports that Helghast forces had landed there days ago . Along the convey were platoons of marines walking side by side by the tanks just in case they need infantry support .
The ISA forces could see the city of Hangover next the ocean but Hangover was the last city remaining since the locust horde didn't attack the city since E-day . It was now infested with Lambent Stalks miles away . On the leading Archer Tank turret was high ranking ISA officer Jason Narville .
His determination and his courage had inspired his troops during combat but he have a motive of " No Man Left Behind " but he only valued the lives of his soldiers . He also promise them they would get home safety.
" Okay troops listen up , keep your guard up and stay together ,we don't what hostiles are out there . Stay sharp people. Weapons free if you are engaged . " Narville reminded to his men
Captain Narville lowered his binoculars and stared at the city that was almost far away from them .
But then something catch his eye was a flood of debris in their path . The captain raised his fist stopping the convey . Something was wrong her and it was the smell of smoke and a combination of death and blood odor breezing in the air. The smell of war was near
In front of them was a mess of burned and blend metal everywhere and a few dead bodies . A aircraft carrier drifting with yellow goo and dripping in the water . The carrier was ripped apart by a brutal force , there were huge chunks of the carrier and half of the carrier was in flames and the rest in bits . The ship was broken in massive pieces It was some monster that did this but it was the lambent leviathan that wreaked the Sovereign.
" God ! " that's all he would say " All units head towards the wreckage
" Spread out and look for survivors " he ordered jumping out of the tank as marines rushed towards the crash site . Medics at the ready . Rifles locked and loaded as they spread across the shore lines looking for survivors or any contact . Bodies checked for life . A perimeter was setup for defense. Tanks and APCs with machine gunners at the ready to be engaged as they move through the thick yellow sand across the beach .
Hangover Coast was a holiday spot for Sereans to enjoy the sun and the warm water but today it was littered with metal chunks , debris and the water was inflected with stalks with a greenest color
" Hey we got contact " as a squad of marines on his left was about approached a ship containment box as three blue gears with their hands up along with a small group of crew men in dirty blue uniforms walked out in the open. Narville frowned and was about to say " Who the hell are these guys . " However , they weren't hostile or the helghast kind
But instead he said " ISA marines ! Identified yourselves ! " he demanded raising his rifle up as the marines surrounded them .One gear step forward protectively in front of the group . A gear was in full rusty blue body armor from it's head down to its feet .
The gear removed the helmet reveal a female face looking with raven hair " My name is private Amy Vass , Coalition of Order Governments . " she said calmly . " I am captain Narview Interplanetary Strategic Alliance . I here to help "
" ISA ! Shit we never heard of you guys . You guys are form space wow . But we could use big hands here , we got a lot of wounded here and medical supplies are getting low. "
" We need medics now " he called out . " Then Narville glanced at Amy's body armor up and down with confusion . " I never seen heavy armor like that before . " he said to himself . I got a bad feeling there are civics in the crossfire . Better get them out before someone get killed . "
. " Hooper . " he ordered a second in command soldier next to him . " Contact command , tell them we got multiple civilians and wounded requesting EVAC and medic dropships at our location . "
" Private , you and your friends come with us and assist with the evac . Then you can tells what happen okay . "
Amy nodded " Sure . We were stranded for two days . But thanks for the assist . We were sunk by the glowies . Thanks you we going to need lots of help out there. We got people dying . We set up a camp at the north. Only a few miles away ."
The captain nodded his head " I understand we get as many people off this planet as possible . What glowies ?"
" The lambent . Those things can blow up if you kill them .Be careful , You want to mess with them. " but Narrivle shake his head.
" What are you doing here ? " he asked strongly " We are on patrol and we found another lifeboat of survivors from the Eagle nest . Before you guys came. "
" Thats your ship . " Narville pointed to the wreckage " Jeez , sorry about your ship . You guys can come with us . We have supplies , doctors and ships to get everyone off the planet . "
It seen to be a good idea for the gears ; that the thing they wanted to hear. An moment of relief surround Amy mixed with hope, without thinking and she said " Okay , we with you. "
" No one's going anything until we clear out the civilians . " he ordered to his men. He then glanced at the destruction around him . " I never seen war that brutal before . I think command isn't going to like this if we know what really going in their history . " he thought to himself as he start observing the bridge across the river. But it was broken in half but the explosion of the lambent leviathan destroyed half the bridge . " The COG collapse a few months ago and we are standard . We are on that piece of shit for months with many people on it . A thousand people on board "
" We going to need bring in the big guns . " he said to himself making a mental note out of it . He passed numerous marines scattered in the beach and the wreckage of the helicopter carrier . He had no idea there were hundreds of civilians on boards .
" Contact ! " screamed a marine as the ground shocked and the impact from the earth quake knock the marines off balances and tanks shook rapidly . " Its an earthquake ! " yelled Narville . Out of the ground came the most terrifying creatures the locust horde . Sand exploded out of the ground , dusting the air as seven savage locust drones burst out of the ground .
Drones the foot soldiers of the locust horde now separated from their brothers and became savage. Their thirst for blood and fresh slaughter found themselves against a new enemy the ISA . They unleashed a combination of hammerburst and retro lancers at the marines . They found cover and start shooting .
All the marines snapped into defense mode swinging to cover while others threw themselves on the ground with their heads down to avoid the flying lead. The drones screamed their curses of ancient language as they miss .
" It's the locust ! " screamed Amy firing her lancer as Narville joined the fight . He noticed the lancer with disbelief.
A gun with a chainsaw ? What kind of weapon is this
" What the hell are those things . All units weapons free . " the captain roared unleashed his rifle forgetting the lancer ; igniting 7mm rounds at the drones . The marines did the same thing firing their guns and the other gears spirited to cover provide suppressed fire at the drones . Bullets fly back and forth .
" Hell yeah ." the rag tag group of gears firing their lancers killing a few of them saving the rest for their allies.
Two ISA archer tanks grinded forwards at the drones with bullets reflecting off the armor . " Open fire . " the captain commanded as the order instantly snapped into action
The tanks armed with a chain gun and a missile launder on both it's sides. Since the forces were under attack both tanks unleashed a deathly barrage of rockets at the drones .
Drones roared in pain flying through the mid air and scattered the beach with bloody parts and their bodies . The last drone was dead with a bullet in it's rocky skull by a rookie soldier . " Everyone okay ? Marines sound off . " the captain yelled . A great wave of curses and not dead echoed from the marines who are still lucky to be alive .
" That's the locust but we prefer the grubs . " said female gear placing his steel boot destroying the wounded locust drone into a mixture of color of red and brains .In view of the execution, Narville eyes wide up with shock and disgusted and he held his mouth preventing the acid inside his throat from throwing up.
" When we get though this . I want a nice chat with you kid when this is over . I am not judging you or giving you orders , me and high command want some answers . Just trust me , I can get you out this mess. " said Narville clutching his rifle added in a new clip.
Amy nodded and she offered to shake his hand . " Okay , I tell you my part of my story then we get the hell off this planet . We want a new planet with no grubs . " she said strongly
" Okay . Done lets go find your people. " he said clamly to Amy wiping the blood off her face . " I don't want you know what you been through but its going to be alright . "
But panic filled her voice . " Oh god , we got to get back to the camp , locust will be there any minute . "
" Marines on me . We going in move . " ordered Narville as he signal his troops to move forward along with the tanks . Guns lock and load and the marines were looking for something to shoot .
" We are almost there , we going to make it ! " said Amy with joy in her tone .
" DIG ! " boom a voice as the a massive fat looking creature fired a creature from its makeshift gun in the air and it dig under the ground then speed towards the marines as it kicks dirt and pathing tiles in it's path .
Marines scattered in direction trying to avoid the incoming projectile . The organic bomb pop out from the ground and exploded deadly metal shrapnel in the air .
" Whatever those things are ! shoot it ! " screamed Narville firing his rifles . The creatures moved forward slowly making them easy targets thought the beach . In fact , every rounds sink into their bodies with no effect on them , it was a shock that the savage boomers that absorb much damage . Angered Marines muttered curses in their breath as they fired their rifles rapidly like machine guns but one tank fired a Gatling cannon into the twin beasts reducing them to bits .
It was over , the ISA won but not for long . The troops keep going killing any hostile in their path all thanks to 6 months of heavy duty training back on Vekta . They managed to spilt in groups through the cavern since the tanks can't handle climbing high ground.
However , they ran into some locust resistance and destroying them using hit , duck and run tactics . One hour later, the coast was secured , the Interplanetary Strategic Alliance Marine corp able to reach the COG makeshift base camp outpost next to the full wreckage of the carrier. Across , the makeshift base ; metal supply containers served as camp grounds and bunkers with people coming out .
In respond ,The survivors of the Eagle's nest were shocked to see new allies coming for their aid with blue lights flashing they are not the enemy but joy filled them. Out in the opening ,Gears and civilians cheered as the ISA army were welcome like heroes . All weapons were strapped to their metal backs before greeting the new comers .
Finally , engineers were able to established communications on the beach to call down reinforcements and the fleet . " Double time marines . Move out . Help out the civics " he called out as he and the others marines continuously shook hands with survivors thanking them for their rescue .
" Thanks for the assist . Captain is there anything we do to thank you. We survive the grubs and the lambent . All of this we been….." As tears fall from her eyes . Narville smiled and hug her supportively as tears fall from Amy's eyes glancing at the skies with pride .
There was new hope after all for the survivors of Sera
Over the skies of Sera , a massive fleet of the finest battle cruisers arriving at their location over Hanger over Coast and the new allies from the ISA will help turn the tide of the war . The coast was taken by the ISA and the ISA forces will be ready to fight what really out there .
Author's note : There are two new characters from the Gears of War Judgement will make an apperance in the upcoming chapters : Sofia Hendrik and Garron Paduk