Chapter 7: Gilanian Neighbors
A group of zerg organisms had congregated at a collection of slain gilanian bodies. Two zerglings, a roach, and an old hydralisk that survived the void, was sent to assist an infestor that was slurping and ingesting corpses.
The zergling pair had opted to patrol a small perimeter around the feasting infestor, despite the fact that there were many more zerglings patrolling the summit of the mountain's caldera. After all, if there happened to be an attack, the zerglings would be the first to know. The roach and the hydralisk opted to stay near the infestor and watch it eat the cadavers.
And if that wasn't enough, an overlord and an overseer was languidly floating above the small zerg force on the ground. Kay and Virid did not know for certain if there were enemies that can hide or cloak themselves on this world. But even so, it wouldn't do the infestor well to be assailed by any invisible assassins that possibly existed on this world. In fact, Virid had came up with a tactic, just in case another gilanian soldier force decided to pay the zerg another visit. The infestor and roach would burrow into the ground while the hydralisk and the zerglings draw the enemy forces to themselves. Once they brought the intruders close, the roach would ambush with its acid spitting, and the infestor would unleash its fungal growth., as well as spawn the infested gilanians that it had ingested. A fresh imbibement of DNA would enable the infestor the ability to create infested clones of the gilanians soldiers within its own body, and use them as weapons that were far less cheaper than making zerglings.
And once that DNA was absorbed by the infestor, then every other infestor would also gain the ability to create clones of infested gilanians within themselves as well.
Kay decided to take the reigns, commanding the infestor to hatch the infested it now gestated within itself. After vomiting two 'eggs', the eggs soon hatched after a few seconds to birth the infestor's most well known weapon.
The infested gilanians were a mockery of what they once were, which sported several tumorous growths on their chest and abdomen, expanding and contracting as they breathed, while several tentacles frothed from their mouths. They also seemed to have developed an unusual growth on top of their forearms. Their arms had developed into overly large claws, overgrown to the point that they were unable to manipulate tools and weapons ever again. Perfect for melee combat. Their forearm growths also contained another unusual adaptation, appearing to be similar to a giant flesh club grafted onto the arm, each having a fanged hole on the tip and situated above the claws.
Kay looked at this unusual infested creature, noting how sickly they appeared. He wasn't even sure how these creatures would compare to the infested marines that the zerg often spawn from their infestors. With the lack of neo-steel armor and Gauss rifles, it would mean that the new infested the infestor would employ would be at a severe disadvantage. Even so, the infestor was forced to make due with what he's got. Kay commanded the infested to attack one another for a quick experiment.
The infested gilanians turned toward each other and launched something from their clubbed-shaped arm growths. The fanged orifice tips had sent out a fang-like projectile at the target the clubs were aimed at, which had embedded itself into the other's newly grown carapace hide. The infested gilanians' 'fang launchers' contained ammo in the shape of condensed bone and enamel, that was launched by hydraulic acceleration in a medium of venom. Once the fangs had pierced into their target, the condensed fang would then explode, the power of its stored kinetic force turning it into shrapnel on contact. The damage was not equivalent to the awesome power of the Gauss rifles the terran marines use, but it was close. In fact, if Kay calculated the damage-per-second potential between the infested marines and the infested gilanians, he would say that the Gauss rifles dealt slightly more damage than the infested gilanian fang launchers, which was at a 15-20% difference that Kay calculated. Though the gilanians appear to be a species that used poison to hunt, but they also have the ability to create venom!
Their armor was something that was very much lacking, however. The infested gilanian's carapace were only 70-65% as tough as infested marine armor. As one infested gilanian slew the other, the survivor's health began to slowly recover over time. However, before its regeneration could restore the health of the heavily wounded infested gilanian, it fell to the ground and ripped its own head off before dissolving into a twitching mass of muscles, and then into a red puddle of pulpy fluid afterwards. Kay noted that the lifetime of the infested gilanians was about the same compared to infested terrans. Overall, the infestor had received a downgrade with their ability to spawn infested creatures. However, it wasn't a significant drawback. The infested gilanians required much less energy to spawn. Kay was happy with that.
But then came the next task that Kay had in mind for the small zerg force to accomplish. Meeting the local fauna and flora that was outside the growing zerg territory.
'Alright, fellas. Lets see where these lizard-men are coming from. Search the area ahead for any clues.' Kay commanded.
The zerglings, roach, elder hydralisk, infestor, overlord and overseer went toward the direction that the soldier gilanians had traveled from. A sandy path was traveled by the zergling pair, which were happily running in front of the pack with their new wings, thanks to their metabolic boosted mutation. The roach and infestor had elected to travel side-by-side with each other, with the elder hydralisk right behind them. The overseer was flying circles around the overlord, but the overlord didn't mind the annoyance as it followed the small zerg party.
After meeting up with the steep red rock wall of the mountain's summit, the troupe met upon an impasse. The zerglings whined since they quickly learned there was nowhere to go. Nothing but bare rock prevented their progress. A zergling that developed the ability to leap great heights could scale such an obstacle, but there was none in Kay and Virid's brood that could could do so. The two zerglings that survived the trip to this place with Kay and Virid actually had a completely different set of varied mutations with them, and thus were unable to leap over such a barrier. But even then, those two zerglings in particular were ordered to harass Kay when he was goofing off anyway.
But there was another way past such an obstacle. The overlord's ventral sacs.
The overlord lowered itself closer to the ground and enabled the zerg ground forces to climb up its pincers to be carefully picked up and placed within the overlord itself. It was a tight fit, but the overlord managed to fit the roach, hydralisk, infestor, and two zerglings within its ventral sac. The overseer took the time to hover over the rock wall to see beyond it.
Sand.
An ocean of sand filled its vision.
It would explain the hot air Kay had tasted yesterday. The low glow of the hexagonal moon provided more than enough light for the overseer. Past the wall, the overseer could see that the wall dipped down into an incline that continued to sloped down, where the mountain eventually turned into the desert. Other than that, it saw no life signs. No campfires. Heat signatures from a body. Not even a tent in the immediate vicinity.
Kay decided that advanced reconnaissance would provide quick territory analysis. He had the overseer produce four changelings, secreting and producing them from underneath itself, and had them go forth in four separate directions. Two would travel along the caldera's mountainous summit wall and head away from each other, while the two remaining changelings would travel down the mountain in separate directions.
The changelings were HORRIFYING to look at. It was much akin to a puddle-shaped slug that had grown a giant, fleshy, pulsating 'foot' that it dragged itself on, and that a hunched torso would pull itself out of this 'foot' just to pull itself to wherever it needed to go. The torso itself carried a face that had multiple sets of tiny, beady eyes and giant pulsating growths that grew on their head and body, with four pointed mandibles that quivered and moved in a way that would make anyone unsettled. One could say that this creature had been beaten with every single stick from every ugly tree on the planet of ugly forests. They were THAT gross looking. Despite their image, they have the offensive ability to form a bone-blade from their body to defend themselves, or to assassinate important targets. However, a wet hug from just one changeling would make anyone have nightmares for months, their arms feeling like the toothless gums of elderly mole rats, capable of causing severe psychological damage. Sadly, their awesome ability to use mimicry during their reconnaissance missions didn't excuse them from being incredibly weak organisms. They had no carapace to protect their squishy protoplasmic bodies, since their flesh was weaker than even a terran civilian.
One of such changelings instantly transformed into the disguise of a gilanian soldier when it saw another patrol that it wandered upon.
The patrol of gilanian soldiers stopped when they spotted him, pausing before approaching it. "You there! Which patrol did you split off from?"
"The ah... One that found a way into the summit of this mountain's caldera." The disguised changeling said in the Gilaish language.
"Really? How did you survive? Raxa said that he only escaped with only one other. And where did your weapons go?" One among them stepped away from the patrol. It was very possible that this soldier was the leader of the patrol group.
"The truth would surprise you. I refrained from attacking them and kept my distance. I had to leave my weapons, since they growled at me every time I tried to reach for one." The disguised changeling said. He got down onto his knees afterwards. "But... I think I got poisoned with something when I entered their territory. I don't think I have long to live!" the changeling said, relaying exactly what Kay wanted it to say.
Another drawback changelings had was their temporary lifespans. Kay hoped that if the gilanian patrol witnessed the changeling 'expiring' right in front of them, they he could make the gilanians believe the zerg were dangerous and infectious, which would hopefully make them more cautious of the zerg.
"Hmm..." The patrol leader fetched something out of his armor and talked to it. "Phelioc, this is patrol number 14 reporting."
[Patrol 14, state your report.] A gruff voice hissed back.
"Someone from patrol 20 survived their incursion into the summit. One of Raxa's boys. He says that he has been poisoned."
[Poisoned? What is his condition?]
The patrol leader gave the disguised changeling a cursory look before replying. "... He seems healthy to me, but I don't know what kind of poison he's affected with."
[... We better have a medic look him over. The hidden water spring tribe will have to wait. Bring him to the base. Phelioc out.]
The patrol leader nodded, pocketing his communication device. "Can you walk with us?"
"... I might need a shoulder to lean on." The changeling said.
"Poqua. Aid this gilanian." The patrol leader said. Another gilanian came to the changeling's aid and gave him support in the form of a shoulder to lean on. He must have been the soldier named Poqua.
Moments later, the gilanian patrol embarked on a short journey back to their base of operations, carrying with them a changeling that they thought was a fellow gilanian. After a brief while, the patrol came upon the front of a makeshift forward base, situated on the edge of the mountain that barely touched the sands of the desert, located ten kilometers away southwest from the hive cluster center. The gilanian base consisted of squat, flat tents that bore the same color as the ground. In fact, it also had several rocks and dead shrubbery as part of its camouflage.
The patrol, unaware that they were carrying a hidden spy in their midst, brought the changeling to the widest tent that was in the center of the base. Upon entering the widest tent, the changeling could see a bustle of activity of several gilanian officers reviewing different view-screens that showed different first-person perspectives of several gilanian soldiers around the area. One gilanian in particular, sitting on a chair in the center of the action, was adorned in blue and silver armor that was decorated with several symbols. Once seeing the changeling disguised as a gilanian soldier before him, the decorated blue and silver soldier walked closer to the changeling, looking at him up and down before speaking. "... I don't recognize you."
"R-really?" The changeling said, trying its best to sound weaker than before.
The blue and silver individual turned away from the changeling. "Captain Raxa of patrol number 20? Recognize this gilanian?"
Another gilanian, sitting on an elevated military bed and having his hand carefully wrapped, looked up when his name was called. It was the same large gilanian that was the leader of that forty soldier force that attacked Kay and his zerglings. He perked his head up to look at the changeling, only for his face to sour into confusion. "Uh... I don't recognize him, colonel." Said the gilanian that must have been named Raxa.
The 'colonel' unsheathed an ornate sword and pointed it at the changeling in a fluid motion. "Then I bet my two drops that you found a set of spare armor, wore it, and decided to infiltrate our base. Is that it? I think that is it. Who are you really?"
Kay was stumped. He wasn't really sure how to proceed since the changeling's identity was about to be discovered anyway. It was also reaching the end of its life span, soon to be reduced to a puddle of blood and snot.
"Virid, any advice before I screw up?" Kay asked.
'The roach and infestor is making their way toward their forward base. Distract them.'
"Ooh. Kay. 'Operation: Distract-Them-For-Long-Enough' will start now." Kay said.
"Yeah. COUGH! I didn't think you would like someone from the hidden tribe hiding in one of your armors." The changeling said, trying to sound smooth. The cough was a nice touch, Kay thought.
The colonel scoffed. "You? A member of the hidden water spring tribe? Why risk getting into a set of bondman soldier armor then?"
Kay and the changeling had no idea what that is. The changeling tried coughing convincingly again. "COUGH COUGH... It felt like a good idea at the time. I don't got long to live anyway, so I might as well tell something to you all before I die."
The colonel lowered his ornate sword. "Tell us what?"
"The monsters in the summit has COUGH... has claimed it as their territory now." The disguised changeling explained. "I have seen hostile intruders cut down mercilessly in their wake, and I think those monsters will continue to expand if they are disturbed further. COUGH COUGH!"
The colonel chuckled. "Heh heh. Foolish misdirection. We already know there is an infestation of monsters that are being guided by a beast-master. What I want to know is where your tribe and its precious underground reservoir is located. A freshwater spring is a rare thing to keep secret in this modern world. Tell me where it is, and I'll give you a few sips of precious water before you die."
"Hahaha COUGH COUGH COUGH, uh, COUGH. ... Kinda tickles to laugh. Oh... I think my hea-" The changeling drooped on Poqua's shoulder, letting all of its strength become flaccid. The changeling then fell onto the ground.
"... Hmph. You actually seemed convincingly sick there. Medic? Please deal with the sick." The colonel lazily gestured to the changeling.
"COUGH... Ough COUGH gah hugh... I think the poison is ki-COUGH-kicking in. What... What is your name, blue and silver person? Why are you even here?" The disguised changeling asked, pointing at the colonel. A medic came to the changeling's side, unaware of the changeling's real origin.
The colonel sighed before speaking again. "Might as well give you some answers before you pass away. I am Phelioc. Colonel of the Crescent Arms Division. Sent by the holy Emperor Gollog, the leader of the Golden Star Empire. I am here take the lands that once belonged to the hidden water spring tribe and use its assets to fuel Golden Star's empire."
"COUGH... Then I hope you... can listen to my... warning. Don't poke at the... Nest... Of. ... COUGH... ... ... ... ... ... Monsters. Uuuhhhhhh..." After a long sigh, the changeling's body was destabilized, transforming into a red, chunky fluid in front of the many eyes of the gilanian soldiers as it reached the end of its life span.
There was a long pause. After that pause ended, nearly every gilanian in the area started freaking out.
"BY A SHRYIK'S BLADDER, HOW DID HE MELT?"
"OH GODS, HE WAS ON MY SHOULDER! WILL THAT HAPPEN TO ME NEXT?"
"WHAT KIND OF POISON DOES THAT TO A GILANIAN?"
"OH NO, IT'S GETTING ALL OVER THE GROUND!"
"DID THE POISON LIQUEFY HIS BONES?"
"WHAT KIND OF MONSTERS ARE WE FACING?"
Phelioc turned to everyone in the tent. "SHUT YOUR GODS-DAMNED MOUTHS BEFORE I CUT OUT AND SHOOT AT YOUR TONGUES!"
Every soldier under Phelioc's command became deathly silent. No one even breathed loudly in fear of bringing forth their colonel's rage.
After several seconds of silence, Phelioc turned back at the puddle on the ground. "Surveillance officers. Did you catch his armor registration?"
A nearby gilanian officer checked his computer equipment and looked at his viewing screen. "Uh... No sir. The surveillance system reports that the armor didn't even have a number tag on it. It's possible that it was crafted to look like our armor."
Phelioc nodded. "It would explain the craftiness of those hidden tribe bastards. But even so, it doesn't explain how his armor can melt like that." He said, pointing at the changeling puddle.
The medic had his hands drenched in protoplasmic red fluid, quivering as he saw someone melt before his eyes. "Uh... What... should we do with the body, sir?"
Phelioc grunted and turned away. "Bottle up that juiced-up corpse before it evaporates. Some scientist types will want to know what kind of poison these monsters use. They should pay a pretty drop for a sample."
"Uh... Yes sir." The medic said, taking out several empty vials and scooping up as much deceased changeling fluid as he can.
"Get me a communication link to Pallax. The general of the four armies is going to need to hear this." Phelioc stated.
His officers nodded and saluted, getting ready to send the call. Phelioc's top four officers stood behind him at attention when the call was sent out. Phelioc checked out his armor, making sure that it was well polished with nothing out of place. It was after Phelioc's self-check that the link was accepted, and the image of another gilanian showing up on the other end.
This gilanian was different in his scale pigmentation. What he had was a pattern of yellow speckled scales over pale white scales. It signified that he was born as an albino. This gilanian wore a red and gold set of intricate and fanciful ornate armor, with a scar that blinded his left eye. One could guess the injury occurred during a battle from some time ago. He had an annoyed expression on his face. [Colonel Phelioc. You found the reservoir yet? Or are you reporting failure, as usual?]
Phelioc saluted. "General Pallax, sir. It would appear that an infestation of monsters has made their home on Red Mountain. Our attempts to find the hidden water spring tribe is still ongoing, but we have been stalled completely due to... complications."
The general showed a face of what seemed like constipation and annoyance as he sneered at Colonel Phelioc. [Complications? What kind of complications would this entail? You had one job!]
"A gilanian melted in front of us, sir. He said that it was because of a poison that the monster infestation inflicted him with."
The general paused in confusion. [You don't say? Hmm... A poison that can melt gilanians? Sounds rather... icky.] Pallax said, rubbing his chin in contemplative thought. After several seconds of decisive musing, Pallax made his decision. [I suppose sending Commander Faddoh this information could prove useful? Collect whatever data and samples you can from the melted gilanian and the monsters, then send it to the Cube Research Division. The commander there might be nice enough to send a research team to your position to analyze these monsters of yours. Do you have your orders?]
"Orders, sir?" Phelioc replied.
Pallax sighed. [To take control of the underground reservoir that the hidden water spring tribe has possession of! Contact your commander for more resources if you need to! And tell him that I'm giving you my permission to request more men, in fact. Just complete your mission and DON'T. DISAPPOINT. YOUR. EMPEROR.]
"... Yes sir. Understood sir. I accept my orders, sir." Phelioc said, saluting.
[That's a good colonel. Run along now. General Pallax, out.]
And with that, the communication link came to an end.
Phelioc spat at the ground. "Damn prude bastard." He said to no one in particular. He returned to the center of the command area and pointed at Raxa. "Have this man be put under quarantine. Since we don't know what this poison does, it is likely that he might perish under similar effects."
Raxa, who had been quiet the whole time, felt his jaw drop. After looking down at his wounded hand, he sighed. "Dammit. ... well... At least I finally got out of patrolling duties."
And as this was taking place, none of the gilanians had suspected that an infestor and a roach was intently listening in on their conversations.
"Crescent Arms Division, Cube Research Division, general of the four armies... Man, that is a lot of information to take in." Kay said, carefully scratching the back of his head.
Virid also supplied her commentary. 'It will take us time to analyze and adapt to these gilanians.' she stated.
Kay sighed, reaching out and patting Virid's leg. "Virid, I'm going to give you the reigns on this and let you analyze them. Any important information that we collect would help us in the long run. Think you can do this?"
Virid turned to Kay. 'More roaches shall be spawned and placed at tactical locations in their camp. They shall focus their efforts on information gathering.' She replied, and also shooed away the hand that was on her leg.
Kay grumbled. "This is just going to get more complicated, I just know it."
A/N: World building!