The tunnel shrank into a smaller version of itself as Don continued into the mountain. The gash seemed to be burned into the mountain, the rock surrounding don was scorched black. After about two minutes the gash open up into a small cave. At the center of the cave was a crashed transport ship. The reason that it was here was apparent, one engine was blown completely, it had spewed superheated plasma left and right on entry to Lars Minor and burned this hole in the rock face when it had hit the ground.
This explains the red trees, plasma is volatile and affects its surroundings. Although my reader did not register near the trees here must have been trace amounts of plasma radiation that turned the trees red. It doesn't look like there's anything to scavenge out of the crash, it looks like it's a hundred years old or more. "that's disappointing" said Don aloud. "anything of importance here has probably been lost… "that's where your wrong" A voice came from behind Don.
Whipped around to face the voice. "Who are you little guardsman?" "I might ask you the same thing marine.." replied Don. The scout walked into the light that Don carried. It suddenly struck Don how big space marines were. This one seemed angry. "why are you here?" it asked in a an accusatory voice. Shit what's my cover story? I'll say I was in the camp before the Tyranids came…What if he asks for identification? I don't have any…I'll have to change the subject.
"I want to thank you for before when you helped me against the Tyranids." "it was nothing" the space marine replied, "it was almost a waste of bullets, they'll be back in force, and coming for us"
What? Where the Tyranids are after the scouts? "The Tyranids are after you?" Asked Don. "Not after me specifically but after… It doesn't matter, you don't need to know."
"The commissar said something about a valuable object being here, what was he talking about?" Asked Don. The space marine looked up, but said nothing. " This matter has passed beyond my control he said, "I'll need to report you to my superiors" Shit Shit Shit! Do I run? I wouldn't even be able to get out of the mountains…
"Come with me" the marine said. Don had no choice but to follow. The marines lead Don out of the crash site and to a nearby encampment. The camp consisted of a small tent which was situated on the only piece of dry ground in the area. Don splashed through the mud as they approached the site. A larger marines appeared out of the tent. Due to the medals and insignias on his power armor, don assumed that this must be of higher rank than the scouts. He also wore full power armor unlike the scouts, who wore smaller less effective versions of the armor that regular marines wore. The officer was covered with dark red ceramite armor with black trim. He seemed to not care about the condition of his armor for it was scarred with many scorch marks and discolorations.
He noticed Don staring at his armor. "We had as much trouble as you trying to get here, its not like you can land a transport in the mountains…That is not important though, what is important now is you. We have watched you from the very start, you can see anything from these heights. I assume that you survived the plasma explosion as you are standing in front of me."
"Did your commanding officer say anything to you? Anything you should not know?" The marine leaned forward towards Don and Don stared at him defiantly. So they still think that I'm a regular guard, I guess that's for the better. If they knew, they'd probably kill me for treason. "Commissar said that there was Something Special in the mountains, and since the pass was the only distinct area of the mountains I traveled to here."
The marine still looked skeptical, "Are you are telling the truth or not?… Time will tell. For now you are under the protection of the blood ravens. You will travel with us and assist us until we are able to reassign you to a unit in this sector. And that's assuming that we all make it off this planet." "We have important business to attend to. You will help out by warning us of the progress of the approaching Tyranids. Take orders from the scouts." "what about the crashed ship over there, what is up with that?" asked Don. He immediately regretted it. "Once again" that marines eyes flashed "that is none of your concern, Knowledge Is Power, and you are not worthy enough to receive it."
Rather put off by the way the conversation had gone, Don reluctantly followed the scouts back the way he had come towards the opening of the pass.
When they got there they were treated with, yet again, another hideously awesome vista depicting wave upon wave of Tyranid. he scouts loaded their weapons and hid in the grass. One of them grabbed Don and pulled him to the ground. "Make no sound he hissed, and while you're here, make yourself useful." The scouts handed him a bolter with a silencer. "We cant afford to attract the Tyranids attention, aim for the larger organisms".
The kick on the bolter was such that if Don had been standing he might not have been able to fire the weapon at all. He glanced at the scouts,; they were wielding sniper rifles of gigantic proportions. Using two hands and the ground to brace his shots, don unleashed hell into the swarm from his lofty height. The scouts did the same.
Bullets flew from above causing a rain of deadly projectiles, if the Tyranids seemed caught of guard however, they did not show it. The silent flechettes battered at the oncoming mass. "This is useless" said the scout sergeant, "Aim only at the larger creatures. Our sniper rifles should be able to take them out." Bullets flew anew at the large creatures and hit home with ever volley. The aim of the marines was impeccable. The Tyranids kept their pace, seemingly unaware of both the marines and the destruction they were causing.
Don aimed at medium sized creatures, as he noticed the shells of a bolter were of little affect on the larger beasts. He squeezed of a clip, they silently sped through the air and resulted in a head shot of epic proportions. The creature's head exploded and covered the others with ichor. The marines were able to take out two of the monstrous beasts.
Unfortunately, although the hidden attacks were effective, the marines and Don soon ran out of clips and were forced to retreat. Before they left however the scouts took some readings. "They should be here in about a day, if they keep their pace". "That gives us little time" replied the sergeant. "The marines should be done by now, they have been working for almost a day.
As the group reached the camp, they noticed that all the equipment and tents that had been here earlier were all packed away. "What is going on?" asked the scout sergeant. "We have what we want, it is time to leave this place forever. The Tyranids will be on us in hours and we need to assure our survival, otherwise our efforts will have been for naught… Troops, move out" he commanded.