Location: Appalachian Mountain Range, Former State of Virginia
Jackson, Elijah, and a group of six regulars were moving away from Black Site 492. They had gotten what they wanted from it, and more. Invaluable research data in the field of psionics, and even a living psionically sensitive test subject. There was nothing for them there anymore, so they sealed it up again, it was unlikely the bugs would find it in its current hidden state. It was unlikely even if they did find it, that they could have any use for it, but Jackson didn't want to chance it.
Elijah's eyes were darting all over the place, probably looking for the enemy that Jackson had mentioned. Jackson thought it best to not tell him until he was back at the Bunker, there they could break it to him easier, and be prepared for any emotional backlash, which in terms of psykers, can be quite dangerous.
The sound of leaves crunching and twigs cracking were the only noise that was heard on the group's journey. No one spoke, there was no reason to speak, so they just kept going on in silence.
There would be occasional rustles, or noises that caused the regulars to react defensively, thinking that they might be a hostile force. They were so far all false alarms thankfully, but this didn't stop the regulars from remaining vigilant. An ambush had already happened once, there was nothing stopping it from happening again.
The fact that the bugs were cold blooded caused the regulars to be more itchy than usual. One of the ways they scanned for enemies was via thermal imaging. Since bugs didn't produce their own body heat, their thermal sights would be useless on them. They could be anywhere, behind any tree, hiding in any bush, just waiting for the regulars to let their guard down.
Location: Monarch Landing Site
The four regulars assigned to guard the monarch did so diligently. Always being on watch for anything that might try to get near it. So far there was nothing, at least not since that strange woman demanded they submit to some monarch known as the white queen. It… puzzled the regulars, looking back, perhaps they should have questioned her… but what's done is done.
White figures stood over the valley that overlooked the strange black construct. Four human nobles had been sent to capture their less civilized brethren, and bring them into the fold, it was Whitenest's burden to civilize the uncivil creatures that is man, and it is bore it with pride… and reward.
They had brought a retinue of royal garrisons and professional human catchers to assist in subduing these savages.
"So these are the barbarians? Look at that construct, you say it was erected in a day? Most intriguing! Especially if only done by a group of four." One of the shorter human nobles said, he was one of the younger ones, having been inducted into the services of the White Queen as a child. He was always curious and asking questions, he was considered eccentric by many, and unnoble like, to many of the bug nobles, and even some of the human ones. Though considering he was one of the head scholars of the kingdom, his colloquial mannerisms were tolerated.
"Yes… Oni… if I didn't know better I would say you were complimenting the brutes" The female human noble who had found the uncivilized humans said, amusement in her voice.
"Is it really so terrible I give credit where credit is due?" Oni said defensively
"I mean, look at it, it's quite large, and only being built in one day by four humans? That's a feat of engineering I didn't realize uncivilized humans were capable of. Not even the Entomologists were ever recorded pulling something like this off"
Anshey sighed, it was like Oni to gawk over the creations of savages, when much more impressive creations lie within Her Majesty's sovereign domain.
"Hang on, hang on… this has me wondering" A third human noble spoke up.
"What is it Wayi?" Anshey said, a hint of annoyance in her voice, Wayi was the oldest of the four nobles sent, in his older years, he appears to be spouting more borderline heretical statements each passing day.
"I have been wondering, with reports of Entomologists appearing with more and more finely crafted weapons and refined fighting styles… I am finding it hard to believe that they are mere nomads. Now with this little marval we bear witness to, is it possible that the uncivilized humans are… more civilized than we give them credit for?" Wayi said.
"What in the Queen's name is that supposed to mean?"
"Well… what if they… established their own kingdom somewhere?"
Anshey and Oni took time to process what Wayi just said. The fourth noble seemed totally disinterested in whatever the three were arguing about this time. It wasn't the first time they argued, nor would it be the last. It didn't mean he would have to lose precious brain cells over it. Besides, he had better things to do, like observing the uncivilized humans through his looking glass, trying to find a good way to attack.
"An… interesting theory Wayi… but.." Oni was cut off by Anshey yelling.
"OH REALLY WAYI?! What's next, are you going to challenge the Queen's divinity!?"
"Oh no no no, I would never, I just find it-"
"Savages can't build civilization, at best they can do what the Entomologists do, and leach off of it, that's all, nothing more!"
"Dafuq are they doing up there?" A regular thought aloud.
There were four individuals on the valley ledge, three of which appeared to be in a heated argument in a language none of the regulars understood.
"I have no idea…" Another regular chimed in.
A regular turned on his long ranged optics, they were a long ranged camera at the top of the helmet that was able to feed footage to their helmet's HUD.
"I think one of them is spying on us"
"Anshey you fool, shut up!" The fourth noble yelled, though quieter than what Anshey was doing.
"They noticed the ruckus you made!"
"What? Let me see!" Anshey said as she snatched the looking glass from the fourth noble's hands, and sure enough, the four black clad humans were staring right at them.
This was not good, they lost the element of surprise, they would need to attack now.
Anshey grabbed her war trumpet, took her mask off, and blew into it as hard as she could.
Bugs that had been hiding from view to anyone below in the valley, revealed themselves, raised their nails, let out a war cry, and began climbing down.
"Opening fire" A regular said, as he began unloading his clip into the bugs climbing down the valley side. The bugs that got hit were torn apart, but there were alway more. They fired, and fired, and fired. But they just kept coming. They had to go, now!
"GET IN THE MONARCH!" One of the regulars yelled
The regulars ran to the aircrafts ramp, the rotary blades began spinning up in preparation for take off.
Suddenly in a flash of white light, a figure clade in white robes appeared in front of the regulars.
"Now where do you think you youngsters are goi- oof " The man clad in white robes was forcefully shoved to the side, the speed of these humans catching him off guard.
The regulars ran up the monarchs ramp, the last one to get on was on the ramp as it was rising. Suddenly a white bolt hit the regular square on the head, knocking him out of the monarch just as the ramp closed.
"That thing can fly!" A voice shouted, the regular didn't know who from, and it didn't matter. The regular scrambled to his feet, only for another white bolt to hit him, causing him to fall to his back. The monarch was still hanging in the air, looking as if it was going to try and retrieve him.
Another white bolt erupted from somewhere, getting a direct his on the monarch, shoving it to the side by a few meters. The regular could only imagine the monarch pilot going 'fuck this' as the helicopter flew away out of the valley.
"Wow… I wonder what kingdom they took that from" The regular looked to see four figure in white robes approaching him.
"Looks like our big friend is still awake, shame we couldn't get his compatriotes" One of the figures said in a feminine voice, he recognized that voice, this was the woman they told to leave earlier. A white glow emanated from her hands, and then it all went black.
Jackson stopped, his communicator was buzzing.
"Yes?" The group stopped with him.
"Jackson be advised, we had to take off, there were too many of them to fight. We lost one of our regulars, and the monarch sustained damage, though is still flight worthy. We will be looking for a safe spot to land, and ping you our coordinates. For the time being do not go near the previous landing site."
"U-understood pilot" Jackson said, this made things significantly more complicated. This was supposed to be a quick in and out, but now they were stranded in hostile territory.
Elijah put a hand to his head, "Oy Gevalt"