I would like to apologize for the last chapter as it was more on the 'gory' side, let me assure you that it was not my intent to make any of you uncomfortable, thank you if you want to reply and tell me about the story and be sure to leave some reviews, it makes my day when you add your own opinion to this.
(~Back at Felheim Zero~)
Nor was sure that Wraith was enamored to have such a detail backing for the new Grineer 'magnum revolver' as they are called, but the Heretek took the time to talk on a different matter with Hur backing him up, it was about the disillusioned commander and his augmentations. "...So, what I am implying, Milord, is that the Commander might have been onto something with his illusions."
Wraith spoke up as he detailed the changes on the dead commander before they melted him down, a standard practice for Grineer. "Biological tissue seems to have been replaced, rather violently, in several areas of the main torso area, the appearance of such a weaponized arm makes the soldiers both useless and dangerous in a commanding role, this is not the real issue, parts of his cerebral cortex have suffered the same fate and I shudder to believe that his speech about the Queens... is actually true."
"I worry about the same thing, actually." Nor Medaz' commented as the operative was undergoing surgery to fix his body, the damages were a bit more extreme than first thought, physical and mental trauma was something that had to heal slowly and carefully, not rushed. "The Tenno operative made reference on the matter that the Commander had actually lost his own mind, the soldiers destroying the equipment were ordered to as several of their own were cut down without remorse or regret, that commander was in the process of terminating everyone on the base that was not Grineer." He leaned forward and breathed, the humid desert air filling his lungs, before he continued. "Whatever he was on about, he actually did believe that the Queens had ordered him to do it, but if that was the case, we would have noticed a lapse on the controlling module that was installed in the commander."
"Indeed, and no such signal was received... he was going out of his own way to make room for his 'Queens'." Wraith huffed as his arms crossed. "If I was in charge, I would have had that soldier terminated before it got too out of hand, we are going to be seen as tyrants when news of this goes out into the system."
"I know..." Nor hummed before he continued, leaning back in his seat as he commanded. "You are dismissed for now, return to your duties." Both bowed for some reason before they left, Nor waiting a few seconds before he activated the command code to seal the room, refined oxygen flowing in from above in the darkened room as he opened a channel to a location in Mercury. "Commander Nor to Mining Colony Grim, please respond..." Static filled the comm channel before it started to clear up as Natalia spoke.
"Reading you loud and clear, Commander, you wish to share with us?"
"Something like that..." Nor grimaced as he took a moment before speaking, suddenly his confidence fell like a rock in water, but why, he didn't quite understand. "You may have heard the recent... news from Mars." Silence filled the channel before the leader spoke.
"Yes... yes, I have heard the news, the Empire is in full uproar about it and the Tenno... they are pretty shaken from it..." Nor could hear the grief in her voice as she continued. "Tell me... was Kanan Ki among the dead members...?" Nor took a moment to think, no name popped up, but she sounded like he was sent...
He stopped as realization filled his eyes, on the ride back, the operative he took had said that his name was Kanan, as he turned back to the transmission. "Kanan lives, but it will be some time before he is fit for active duty again, he was the only one alive that could walk, the rest alive were too badly wounded, not including the fallen." A loud pant of relief filled the channel as Natalia spoke.
"I will try to obtain permission to head for Mars, that is my brother and I want to see him as soon as I can, also I require a full list of Tenno members killed in the base."
"Understood, Ki, may your people find peace beyond the veil." The channel closed and the room opened once more as Nor rested a hand to his head, he was suppose to have overcome his own doubts, but this was not doing it as he was left musing on the idea before he stood up, stopping at his armory from the small board room and geared up, the soldiers knew that he had to keep up appearance, but what appearance is kept when one witnessed such carnage and massacre on unarmed and innocent members, that can hurt someone deeply as Nor continued on, entering the engineering bay as the members saluted to him and he returned it before he was approached by Kil who stopped before doing the same as Nor returned it before the Private spoke.
"COMMANDER, ARE YOU WELL?"
"In truth, Private Kil, no, I am not okay..." Nor continued on with the Vanguard following, making quite the follow as he kept in pace with Nor. "We are the Grineer Empire, it is apparent that we must deal with traitors and prisoners many times, but we are not meant to be monsters to them, treat them roughly is true, but we don't kill without reason, that is a betrayal of ours and their trust, Kil, you know what it means that we must kill someone that is our prisoner, correct?" The mechanized soldier hummed in reply as Nor continued. "We are killing someone that has been left to our designs and we would only kill if we have nothing more to gain, to kill them without trial, without reason, is to become the monsters that often infest our bases, to have no remorse, to have no mercy, we are Imperial, but we are more compassionate than that, keep it in mind." The two continued on as they arrived to the hanger bay where hundreds of Dregs and Dargyns were being constructed and readied for active duty as Nor looked about, his amuse evident as the Hanger was the latest matter to address and yet, they managed to construct it within the span of a few hours at best and a day at worst. He turned to the center where a Bombard was directing the members about as he approached, Kil in tow as the Grineer paused and turned, his face agape as he dropped his pad and scrambled to collect it.
"S-Sir, I was not aware that y-you were paying us a visit!"
Nor motioned a hand as he relieved the officer who picked up the pad finally. "At ease, Dockmaster, tell me what you have been up to?" The officer bowed as he spoke once more, the stutter abandoning him for a time.
"Of course, Milord, this way." The Dockmaster showed off the vessels and transports that the Felguard had managed to construct or take. "As you can see, our reserves of void-craft has increased when we had been able to get the hanger up and running, we also use the empty space to maintain and create additional Firbolgs so we are able to respond to many incursions and revolts on a whim." Nor nodded as the Dockmaster paused and asked. "I-If I may ask, Milord, d-did the other base... r-really just kill... f-fellow Grineer just for this speech of Q-Queens?" The Bombard's meekness was different, but Nor didn't see reason to remove it as he answered the question.
"Not just Grineer, there were also bodies of Corpus and Tenno members among the carnage, whatever that commander was thinking, he was in the wrong as you have, no doubt, heard the same uproar." Nor didn't need to explain anymore, Vay Hek, upon learning about Nor on Mars, sent a full detachment for Marines to kill him, but Sargus Ruk made a physical appearance as his fleet of ships blockaded the planet and prevented Vey Hek from entering, Lech Kril also backed the Commander up as he investigated the incident and did find evidence of corruption, the commander was an imperial commander, but upon hearing Nor's escape, he sought to terminate him, but he had augmented his body too far and lead him to the massacre, all of those soldiers belonging to Hek when their loyalties switched to Nor, this nearly lead to a clash with both the military and the council as sides were being taken again, but Vey Hek was forced to withdraw, his 'precious' Earth nearly enduring another revolt so he left a warning that if Nor slips one foot out, the Councilman will be there to destroy him himself, not even aware that the whole event was broadcasted across the system, all Grineer, Corpus, and Tenno heard the maddened speech and knew what could come from such an action, Nor was affecting the system far more than he was willing to admit. "Now, we have a call that a prisoner must be escorted, where is the site?"
"I-It's in the southern quarantine of the Turme Badlands, M-Milord." Nor looked out to the Badlands, a massive spread of death and wastes that no Grineer was willing to stay out for more than three days as the native creatures were more hostile out there and whispers of a Tenno dwelling out there that could bury them far beneath the sands were also made out there. "The s-site had suffered an engineering malfunction and has need of transportation to the Hyperio Base." Lech Kril's own base of operations as Nor rubbed his jaw and nodded.
"I will be heading out with the first shuttle, have three additional shuttles come in with tow cables, we are going to get their craft repaired here before sending them on their way." The Dockmaster saluted as he readied the crafts, his authority removing the tone once more as Nor turned to Kil. "Kil, my ally, you are going to have to accompany me for this, in case of trouble."
"I LIVE TO SERVE." Nor nodded as he primed his gear, his Broadmeen, his Druk, and a Hind while Kil was armed up with a Grakaton and a single, quad-digit fist as they loaded on and took off, Kil's size rather cumbersome that Nor first thought the ship wouldn't take off, but it did and they were on their way...
The site assembled as Nor stepped off, most fearful as to the colossal device that followed him before he inquired. "Let's see this prisoner and investigate your damages."
"Right this way, sir." A Commander lead the pair through the makeshift camp as they arrived to the damaged Firbolg, clearly something had hit the engines and crippled it, but the real damage was the interior drives, they showed signs of overheat which was bad as the arid landscape must have blew a fuse or three in the ship, Nor taking a look about before the hatch was opened manually, revealing their prisoner, a struggling Tenno operative that looked like he had seen his fair share of situations. "We captured this one over the moon Phobos, he was trying to escape from the Corpus forces in pursuit, the cowards made a run for it when we came, most likely fearing our Galleon while their only forces were proxy fighters and foolish, flying crewmen."
"If that is so, how did your Firbolg get damaged like this?" The Commander swallowed and Nor didn't need anymore as he sighed. "You are lucky that I am willing to repair this craft and take the prisoner off your hands, Commander..."
"Vu'lar, sir, Commander Vu'lar of the Grineer Galleon 'Beast's Rage'." The Commander saluted as Nor returned it.
"Very Well, Commander Vu'lar, I will pass a good word to the Lieutenant that you have served your duties fully and that you are to be commended for your valor in defending this prisoner." They dropped their hands as Nor and Kil took the prisoner off the soldier's hands as the other shuttles arrived and helped load up the troops and lift the vehicle off the sands and started to tow it to the base as Nor narrowed his eyes at the prisoner, the Corpus wanted to capture him, but their luck dried out with the patrolling Galleon and now, their target was going straight to Kril. He didn't need to ask nor inquire to why this one was going to Kril, but that was beside the point as the pilot spoke.
"Sir, we are approaching Hyperio Base, they have us on their sensor grid."
"Inform them we have their prisoner, relieved off the hands of Commander Vu'lar." The pilot nodded as he sent the message and the defenses did not fire as the Firbolg came in for a landing and opened up to a full squad, led by Lech's own Sergeant, a Arid Hellion who saluted as the prisoner was given to the squad.
"Thank you, sir, this prisoner will be contained as soon as we can." Nor nodded before heading back into his shuttle as the Sergeant spoke again. "One more thing, Lieutenant Lech Kril wanted you to investigate a small outpost to the north that has been intercepting strange communications."
"Understood, Sergeant, I'll look into it." Nor boarded the shuttle and it took off before soaring toward the location, the pilot given the basic lead of the base as the dunes rolled on by, the threat of fellow Grineer turning against the Felguard or a Tenno making an attempt on his life briefly crossed Nor's mind, but he dismissed it as the pilot opened a channel to the base.
"Outpost Delta-India, come on, this is Firbolg shuttle Fel-Zero Twenty-one, requesting permission for landing." Static filled the channel as the pilot repeated. "Outpost Delta-India, this is Firbolg shuttle Fel-Zero Twenty-one, requesting permission to land, over." Still nothing as the pilot glanced to the back and Nor nodded as they came in and settled in the sheltered landing zone before the hatch open and both combatants stamped out before the hatch closed and the ship shut down as Nor guided Kil through the base. The base should have given some form of response to their intrusion, but nothing as no soldiers rushed out to fire on them, no workers currently operating at the various locations where their services were needed, and not a single spore of infestation to show any presence of infested foes, the base was completely and utterly abandoned as they pried doors open and continued. The sands blew and swished past as they continued their search before they soon arrived to the comm center and Nor accessed the mainframe.
"Vanguard Kil, keep a sight on our way for any intruders." The mechanized Grineer turned and leveled his weapon to the doorway and walked over to it, positioning him in a place to fire freely as Nor continued his hack into the system, accessing files and data streams before he found something out of place, opening it up to a transcript of someone, looking into a position that was familiar to him.
'This location has been on the mind of the Tenno forces, a Orokin scientist speaking about another weapon is just a chance for the forces across the system to make their own attempt to overpower us, but it is impossible as the site is too far infested and there... is something else there that the Lotus strictly said 'not to engage', we do not have the available resources to purge such a location and we would lose too many forces to the monsters that must dwell within, still...' Nor understood the message and meaning, they must have found the site on Earth and attempted to find out more as he continued in his data search, the data compile plenty, but none of it yielded an answer, just basic unit formations and plans, things that Nor transmitted to Hyperio Base for further reference before he found another strange file, opening it up to a faulty cluster about something... Tenno, from the same location, and a transcript that followed. 'What little we had managed to collected based on the records and files of this weapon have yielded so little that I fear that the Lotus too was despairing, but we have a basic understanding that it is not just an average gun or blade, it's a Warframe or what we think is a Warframe, but scaling is too massive for an average Tenno, even the Rhino Frame pales in size to such a frame, but without any additional aid and permission to search the remains infested, we can't go searching for it and obtain it for further studies...' Nor nodded, this was another part of the strange, he typed in his codes and transmitted the files into a disc, it ejecting out for him to lift and put in his pack before setting the machine for a shutdown, organizing things so that nothing was out of place as it turned dark and he headed out as he spoke.
"Let's move, Kil." The mechanical soldier motioned and Nor leaded the way as they headed back to the shuttle, but that was also their save as they barely were out before Nor stopped Kil and glanced around the corner, through a crack in the ancient stone wall, he spotted a sleek ship soaring in and it landing on the more apparent landing pad before it opened, what walked off were Tenno forces, a small squad being lead by a grizzled soldier who was armed with a Corinth, Nor grimacing as he had seen how painful that weapon can be, especially when it is able to fire a flak round, he didn't want to face that before he had an idea, spotting a whole rack of Blunt packs on the back wall. "Change of plans, Kil, let's start deploying Blunts on the far side of the room."
"UNDERSTOOD, ARE WE PLANNING TO TRICK THEM?"
"Something like that..." If they are hostile, then it moves to step two, but if they just attack in self-defense, then Nor has a chance to concede them into letting them pass, the only problem is time, will they deploy enough for the plan to move through... Nor felt alighted at the thought.
Corporal Mason was sure something was off, his squad had been deployed to secure the data for the research team on their received shuttle, in light of the recent Grineer actions, but the moment he stepped onto the sandy metal of the platform, he knew, one doesn't live as long as he has by pure luck, something was wrong in the base and it may be hostile to them as his squad moved forward. "Be careful, troops..." A cock of his weapon sent a empty shell flying as he continued. "...We have no idea as to what could be waiting for us." They moved in, looking about for any sign of threats, Bratons, Burstons, and Struns peering about before something skidded by, one quickly glancing to it and firing in panic as the Corporal rushed forth. "Hold your fire!" Mason looked to the object and was confused as he lifted up a decent Grineer Lancer Marine helmet, the side of it blasted by the Braton rounds. No Grineer would be foolish to not have a helmet on as it would be suicide, the Butchers are an exception to that rule in his mind as another thing skid on past, a Trooper Helmet this time, as he placed the helmet down and looked to find a wall of blunts, some stacked high, on the far side of the room as he spoke again. "Eyes wide, only fire if hostile." The men and women nodded as they pushed on through, the walls rather surprising as no one was firing on them, no one was trying to kill them, making Mason suspicious as to the set up. It was set up to be a last hold position, making it difficult to move through unless destroying the Blunts themselves before they entered the comm room and found nothing, Mason looking about as he whispered. "What even occurred here, the recon team said that there was not meant to be any forces here, but someone willingly..." His gut told him to head back to the transport, looking about for anything before he heard it, the rev of an engine, turning to the source as a Firbolg soared into the sky and he called out. "All troops, we have Grineer escaping, track that shuttle down and give chase!"
"Yes Sir!" They all grouped back into the transport and it took off in pursuit of the Grineer ship, the speed of the ship rather fast as it maneuvered through the canyons and valleys that it took them through, Mason didn't give it too much thought as the ship started to gain on the vessel and started to overtake it. "We are within range to capture the Firbolg, sir."
"Take out the engines, we need to keep it from returning to base!" However, they were in mid flight, the ship was not prepped with any type of weaponry, so they had to attack via a dangerous method. The hatch opened up as Tenno operatives, having restrained themselves to the ship through makeshift rope work, fired on the ship as it weaved and dodged the incoming fire, every jostle and drop affecting the members as well as Mason tried to keep himself still as well for a steady aim should the others run out of ammo when he saw it or him. A Grineer moved from the hatch in the back of the ship and keeping a low profile as his feet seemed to keep him from flying off before he leveled his gaze and pulled out a new Grineer pistol, its primary weapon stock coming from a eight cylinder canister as Mason knew something was wrong as the soldier leveled himself and aimed. "Brace for impact!" Several things happened at that exact moment; The Grineer fired and took out the port engine, the severe change in power jostled the members too much that some lost consciousness from impacting the hull, and Mason could only find himself focusing on the standing Grineer before the ship crashed in the sand dunes as the Firbolg continued in its flight path, Mason stumbling out onto the hot sands as he watched the ship leave out of sight before he got back in, the remaining members who were still conscious doing their best to keep them still active or outright awake as he headed into the cockpit, the pilot moved from the seating because he was knocked out in the crash landing, before he picked up a comm radio device, lucky that it was still functioning, and spoke into it. "This is Corporal Mason, requesting extraction to any nearby Tenno bases, I repeat, requesting extraction to nearby Tenno Bases, I have wounded operatives here." The small force took shelter in the ship as they waited for rescue, though it was more possible that a Grineer patrol would find them and their fates would be altered if the Tenno couldn't find them in time...
Nor couldn't really complain on the rant that Wraith gave for the understanding that they shouldn't have exposed them too much, but it was even worse when he had taken out the Tenno vessel's engine, he had no restraints that could have kept him from dropping to a short end, he was too reckless for that, but somehow, he had gotten it in his head that he had to be the one to shake off the pursuers, that showed the Grineer that Nor not only listened to his closest allies, but also endured their points and talks to better himself, not that it was possible as Nor sighed before he armored up again and headed to the landing pad up top, Ki was making her arrival with a fresh resource supply dig of valuable Ferrite, Polymer Bundles, and Morphic, the Detonite Ampule are common with Grineer tech lacking for that would be an open revolt as Grineer bases and ships are the only places to find such valued pieces of tech as Nor stood at attention with an escort as the Firbolg arrived with several industrial crates of materials as Natalia Ki stepped off, making herself quite impressive with her escort of Fel Troopers behind her, both primed for action should the need arise as they exchanged greetings. "Ah, Miss Ki, how nice of you to join us on Mars."
"No, the pleasure is all mine, Lord Medaz', sir." Nor frowned at the behavior as several of the soldiers chuckled as well as Ki at the title before she continued as Dredges soon approached to handle the materials. "Now then, shall we debate business somewhere safer for the time being?"
"Indeed, follow me to the boardroom." The small group headed to the standing structure and entered as the guards stood at attention before Nor dismissed them with a sweep of his hand and they nodded, heading out and the room sealed as Nor took his seat and spoke. "I am surprised, Miss Ki, it was quicker to be obtaining a pass than I had expected, you didn't cut any corners to get here, did you?"
"This would be such a violation, however, the Faith Breaker had aided me with this visit by providing me with a full pass visa and the two guards with me, to ensure that I am in full protection." Ki sighed as she continued. "Now, this is beside my initial visit, but the names of your ships, the Hellgate, the Daemon's Hope, and the Faith Breaker, they sound to be rejections of religion and faith, why is this, Sir Medaz'?" Nor nodded as he leaned some distance back as he explained.
"Because, I never put any stock into the Orokin legends, their myths, and the Queens." Ki gasped as Nor continued. "Don't be shocked, the Grineer Empire hears the Queens and their voices, but only through the high members, members that never even see, just hear messages and orders, we put our faith and belief in unseen powers and you expect me to listen to not even real rulers of the Empire?" He shook his head as he continued. "And the Orokin, ancient and powerful, but arrogance, a human emotion for what's left of humanity as they were blind, believing themselves to be superior, but when faced with a foe that could turn the tides in seconds, their inferiority is revealed, it is a wonder why the Corpus strive for such relics of fortune and power in a system dominated by clones and infection." She remained quiet as Nor sighed and pressed on. "So you see, I am not one of faith, leave my troops to believe and I will let them, but I am not that of religion, we have served once, now we are free, and I don't want to have anyone worship me, just see me as me, a soldier in the line of duty." Natalia nodded as she rubbed her jaw, it didn't answer the question nor did he answer it in any way, but it was a start to understand as she looked up.
"May I see my brother?"
"Certainly, follow me." He stood up and lead the way as Ki followed him through the massive, sprawling compound of Grineer and the Troopers joined them again as they headed into the prison and one of the cell door was opened up to the injured member, slowly walking with mechanical leg attachments as the Footman in charge saluted and Nor returned it as Natalia walked over and helped. "It will take some time, but with our attempts of healing and reintegrating movement into your brother, he is on his way, but we can not mend his bones fully."
"It's fine..." Natalia Ki said as she gave a small smile of joy. "I'm just glad to find him in good health, it won't have mattered if he was injured or missing a limb, I just am joyful to see him alive." She released and Kanan nodded before returning to his treatment as she turned back to Nor. "Now, we have extended out our mining operations within Mercury space, your troops seem to have a handle over the whole operation and our colonies, but with the recent aggression from the Corpus and Vay Hek's Fomorian fleet, we will require more forces to safeguard our colonists as the Tenno force are spread thin as well."
"Reasonable, I will get you four full batches of Grineer troops for your protection, they will be sent very soon." To offer four full batches of the clones would be offering a decent hundred for their cause, but Nor was taking that risk as well, Vay Hek already hates him and he needs to ensure that whatever the mad councilor is up to, he doesn't eliminate the Felguard too easily. "They will be stocked and ready for action, should anything arise."
"Thank you, it means so much to me, sir." Natalia bowed as she departed and Nor turned to the Head that had joined in the observing.
"I hope I am not making a bold claim."
"Nonsense, Milord, before we left Mercury space, we had supplied well over five hundred soldiers to make up the losses of our troops, seventy-five percent being among our standard soldiers, the Animo troops restricted to your command." Nor nodded as Hur Ben continued. "I will admit that it is only a small fraction compared to the rest of the Empire, but we are able to do it for them, our soldiers match with the standard members and none will be the wiser to the increased manpower."
"Just the same, have them prepped for the task, we are likely to get some burn from Steel Meridian, but it will make their task easily... for the moment." Hur Ben nodded as he left, Nor left to watch the treatment before he dimissed himself for more intel and data that was sure to turn up in his quarters...