The troop continued along the tunnel, which broadened out as they advanced. Zhaojie called a halt a little further on and peered at the walls. There were several side corridors, which were little more than store rooms. Strange, glowing shields covered them, but the whole place looked like a hasty excavation, the door frames temporary installations. Cables ran from them to strange panels set into the earth walls, then back along the floor, to wherever the aliens had their power source.
The walls themselves weren't bare soil - patches of brickwork and the cement of foundations could be seen here and there. But there was also some sort of hard, resin like substance, reinforcing the earthworks.
"Check the side rooms, be cautious."
The troops fanned out. Some quick experimentation with the panels revealed themselves to be little more than switches. No keys required, it seemed. The first few rooms were empty but the fourth sent a man reeling back in shock.
Bodies, just piled like firewood. A few men clustered around the door and stared. One began to fidget, scanning up and down the corridor, "This… this is queer stuff, proper nasty. What the effin' hell you got us down here lookin' at, Chink-,"
Jiayi was suddenly there, delivering a ringing backhand to the startled soldier. The man staggered then raised his rifle at her. Zhaojie stepped between the pair and glared at the man. "That would not be wise, gwailo. Waste a bullet on me, on her, maybe these men will cut you down. Or maybe you pull all of them down on us."
The man wavered, reality dousing cold water on hot emotion. His rifle drooped and he grumbled, "Yeah, still wrong…"
Zhaojie shrugged, "Then we right it. Corporal, are they alive?"
One of the men was checking the bodies and shrugged, "Can't tell, not getting any heartbeats, but they're warm. Covered in some… weird bloody grey-green shite. Looks like… wait, I've seen this before."
Zhaojie peered at the bodies, frowning, "Where? What is it?"
"Black smoke stuff. Out west way… but what we saw just turns the bodies… wrong. Like they've been left out in the sun too long. Get covered in stuff like this. But this lot just look… asleep."
"Salvaged, perhaps?" One of the other soldiers stepped forwards, "Saw a few of those skinny bastards scrabbling over bodies after those first… rockets landed in Chinatown. Maybe they took the healthy lot, left the rest."
Zhaojie nodded, "Can we move them?"
The Corporal felt around the resin and sighed, "it's like cement, we'd have to cut 'em out one by one."
"Fine. No time. If we secure the site, problem solved. If not, then we spare them the indignity of these monsters."
The men exchanged glances, but advanced onward. As they moved deeper, the resin became more prominent, forming strange, regular patterns on the wall. The tunnel narrowed again and branched off, The rightmost tunnel assailed them with a foul smell. The remaining engineer swore, "It's the ruddy sewer."
"Strange. We are below the underground line, now I think on it." mused Zhaojie's companion. He nodded slowly as he processed this.
"They are not using the rail network tunnels. Or at least not from here."
"Sewers though…?"
"The grey ones are small, likely able to fit the narrow tunnels. They're too tight for a man, are they not?"
The engineer tromped over, "Another thing. We detonate anything down here… liable to bring the line down too - main track is, what, maybe twenty feet up. We dislodge too much we destabilise there. And with all this gas, likely get blastback."
"We push on, maybe use smaller charges to at least discourage them? Can you produce something less likely to… cause catastrophe?"
"Some of your phosphorus stuff, yeah. But we bets be careful. Even firearms, open spark, could cause a whole ruddy washing list of problems."
After a quick check with the troops, bayonets were fixed and the steam-gun was hauled to the front. They moved forwards and came into yet another chamber. This one was long, with strange, glowing fronds and planets covering most of the walls and ceiling. A column sat at the far end, glowing the same sickly green as the alien weapons. Cables ran from it. The power source? Mused Zhaojie.
On the western wall, there was evidence of shattered brickwork and a group of men were standing around, carefully carrying large, glistening orbs towards it, They were supervised by two of the Tall-men, whilst a gaggle of the Insectoid beasts ferried more orbs from another chamber to the east, out of sight. They could hear a faint chattering from within, like crickets on a warm day.
"What are they doing?" whispered the Corporal. Zhaojie watched and shook his head.
"Those orbs… explosives, perhaps? Placed into the sewer? They do run under most of London…."
"And wash into the Thames or the water processing plants. They could save time…"
"But they go under the city first. Blow several of them at once and you could cause severe issues," He beckoned the steam gun team over. Currently the squad was obscured in the tunnel entrance, as well as behind some shattered bricks and mortar. He pointed at the cluster of men, "Are you able to hit them?"
The gunner, a burly scotsman, one of the pair of Maxim gunners that Zhaojie and Shen had rescued at the start of all of this grinned at him, "Too bloody right I can."
Zhaojie gestured for men to arm their phosphorous grenades and had one of the engineers fall back with most of the Winchester wielders. The two large-bore riflemen he moved to stand with him - their rifles were heavy and would likely finish anything before it started - he needed this done fast.
He let the men picked their targets then counted down from three. Two. One.
The steam gun thudded with force that you felt in your lower gut. The iron rod hit home and a man was reduced to a fine spray of red gore. The man next to him was spun by the passage and fell, his arm twisted and the skin of his face ripped off by the air pressure.
The third and fourth humans tried to turn to move, but a phosphorous grenade popped between them sending them to the ground scrabbling at their eyes and throats.
The two Tall men had moved fast, just as the steam gun had fired. However, as they stood to take aim, the large-bore rifles boomed their opening arguments. One of the Tall men exploded backwards, the heavy calibre round doubling him over like a folded lawn chair.
The second was luckier, dodging the shot. It staggered, clutching a tear in its suit. A crossbow bolt landed in its gut and it, too, folded over, unconscious.
Silence fell. Zhaojie watched, then gestured forwards. He and Jiayi moved into the foul smelling room, feet crunching on the strange, red fronds that covered the cave floor. Wisps of phosphorous drifted, dissipating into the open hole into the low sewer tunnel. The large man crouched and peered at the strange orb one of the dead Irishmen had been carrying. It wasn't any kind of explosive he could recognise, even with the alien's strange engineering. It looked more like an… egg?
There was the sound of hissing from the far chamber. He realised he hadn't seen any Insectoids… with a fluid motion, the maxim gun was in his hands. The marksmen and steam gunner flanking him. The chamber adjacent to their current one was dark, lit only by strange, moving fronds, like the plants around them.
Except these fronds were moving towards them.
With a squeal, a grey-alien launched itself from cover, trying to move to flank. A blast from a hunting rifle redecorated the bleak cavern wall with its brain matter. Another screeched out, but didn't fire. A crossbow bolt hit this one.
"Their weapons are heat based! They dare not fire!" yelled Zhaojie in triumph. His men grinned and advanced.
That confidence faded as a centaur of a beast rushed from the dark and lifted one of the soldiers bodily from his feet. Claws jutted from the beast's midriff and slammed into the man's gut. The sound of his scream was awful. The creature tossed him to one side and turned multifaceted eyes towards Zhaojie.
He didn't pause, his gun jumping to life. A few rounds stitched the creature along its flank and it staggered away, howling. Jiayi pushed his weapon down as he released the trigger, "Gas! Boss, the gas!"
He swore - he'd been lucky - Maxim guns generated too much heat and likelihood of sparks… he backed away as the creature staggered, trying to get a good view. Then there was a thump as an iron rod caught its head and tore it off. The giant mantis thing collapsed.
The Delta gunner gestured for him to fall back as he reloaded, the second heavy-bore gunner next to him. Zhaojie gestured to Jiayi and she ran forwards and hefted the fallen marksman's rifle. As she stood, the man's arm shot up and gripped her. The dead man's head lolled and milky white eyes regarded her.
The corpse stood, dragging itself upright. Jiayi swore, then swung the heavy rifle. The barrel clipped the corpse's temple, sending it staggering backwards, but it then lurched forwards again. She scrambled back and grappled for Zhaojie's ammunition satchel.
A screech echoed across the room as three more centaur-insects charged in. One went down immediately to their still standing heavy-bore sniper. Zhaojie growled at his own sudden defencelessness.
"Move it you arseholes! We got problems back here too!"
The engineer behind them threw another phosphorous grenade which popped and sent the creatures skittering back. They didn't seem to be as bothered as their… colleagues? Handlers? Zhaojie honestly didn't know what to think. They were like demons. His mind reeled as he realised he could hear gunfire behind them.
"What is happening?"
"Bloody mutons… flanked us from that other corridor. Maybe they got a barracks down there?"
The creatures suddenly charged through the white wall of phosphorous. The heavy rifle boomed and one sprawled, dead. The steam gun thudded and another one went down. The third vaulted its comrades, uncaring, and swiped with a claw. The engineer cried out and staggered backwards, clutching a wound on his throat. A leg claw sank down and impaled his leg. Zhaojie roared and swung the maxim gun. It connected with a thud and the creature fell backwards, chitinous skull crushed.
The engineer hissed in pain and clutched his wounded next. Zhaojie squatted next to him as his comrades fired into the cloud at other indistinct shapes. Screeches and low gurgles could be heard. The engineer chuckled. Zhaojie realised he wasn't even sure of the man's name. Baxter? Barry?
"Well, didn't get me artery, still hurts a buggering load."
"I can carry…"
"Not me and your ruddy gun. You aren't that strong… and orders sir. We need to seal this bastard up. Maybe… maybe get more next time. Can't have those things… ruining Covent Garden, now, can we?"
Zhajoie gripped the man's hand and gave him a curt nod. He looked up as the zombie creature lurched through the smoke and burst. Three smaller monsters landed on the ground, where once a comrade had stood. He felt bile rise in his throat and stood.
"DOWN!"
His team dropped, and his maxim gun opened up. The three newborns skittered and tried to dodge, but went down. The room flashed as some gas caught. Zhaojie felt the hair on his face crisp, but he held the trigger down, firing blindly. He heard the gun click dry and lowered it. The engineer managed to strugged upright..
"Need to be… by the pipe. Seal it proper."
"Cover us! Jiayi, get the maxim reloaded."
Zhaojie helped the engineer over to the shattered sewer and the man sagged next to it. Meanwhile, jiayi had followed, threading a new belt into the gun. The engineer worked fast, shirt staining red as blood seeped through. He sagged next to the prepared charges and chuckled.
"No time for a fuse. Need to do this by hand…."
Zhajoie looked up as another inhuman shriek came from the far chamber. He nodded to himself then unfolded the maxim tripod and set it down next to the engineer, along with the ammunition bag, "It has been an honour, Lance Corporal Baxter."
The man swallowed painfully and grinned, "Likewise, Chinaman… Mr Zhang. Make these bastards pay."
Zhaojie nodded and turned. He saw another three creatures emerge from the darkness, their attention pulled by the sudden stattacco burst of the maxim gun. He gestured at his men as they jogged towards them. The steam gun fired and another monster went down, "We are leaving!"
They fell back up the tunnel. All paused as the maxim gun suddenly ceased firing. Then the world shook. Dirt cascade from the ceiling and a cloud of brick dust and soil erupted behind them, sealing the tunnel.
The group picked themselves off the floor and scrambled back to the junction.
Zhaojie cursed - the scene there wasn't much better. One man lay dead, his body smoking in the tunnel. Cover was sparse, only the bends in the main tunnel or the curve of the side tunnel they'd been down offering much in the way of defence. Zhaojie could see that the men had used the phosphorous grenades to mask themselves. But green blasts still flew up the corridor and past them.
The last engineer with them was crouched down, wiring up some more charges. He shot Zhaojie a questioning look, then returned to his work. He didn't give the man much more than a glance, then got Delta reposition.
Just in time too - a huge, green armoured figure burst through the smoke and delivered a sickening blow with the butt of its weapon to one of the soldiers unlucky enough to have stepped out of cover. The man fell, dead.
In response, the steam gun coughed again and the muton howled as an arm was torn away. It snarled, levelled its gun and fired, point blank, into the gunners chest. The man went down, but coughing as his armour took the brunt of the blast.
Jiayi hefted her salvaged rifle and fired. She was a scant ten feet away from the towering beast and somehow she missed, gouging out a clod of resin-coated soil instead.
A crack from further up the tunnel sounded and the muton's head exploded like a ripe melon. Further back, their marksman had returned.
"Fall back! We need to blow the charges."
Zhajoie urged his men backwards, hauling the wounded Delta gunner to his feet. Two more men hefted their fallen colleagues and retreated. Behind them, Zhaojie heard a bellow, echoed by another. Two more brutes lumbered up the tunnel, pushing through the phosphorous. With a growl he jammed the last of the steel rods home and nodded at the man carrying the power pack. He levelled the steam gun and fired.
One of the mutons vanished backwards into the cloud, howling in pain as it fell. The creature's comrade slammed a fist against its armour and charged. .45 rounds pinged off the green armour as it bore down on them. Zhaojie looked at the engineer next to him as they fell back. The man looked back at him and nodded, then pressed the wired detonator in his hand.
The earth around the muton exploded, sending the creature flying forwards. Soil cascaded down, sealing both tunnels. The dazed muton tried to stand but Jiayi stepped forward and fired her crossbow, point blank, into the exposed muscles of its collar. The creature howled, then gurgled, its head slumping into unconsciousness.
They were back in the "storage" room. Zhajoie handed the heavy weapon back to Delta, who seemed to be fit enough to walk and carry, albeit in some pain. Around them, dust began to fall from the ceiling, cracks spider-webbing across the rock and earth. With a grunt, Zhaojie Zhang hefted the bulk of the muton, putting one of its arms over his shoulders. Another soldier jogged over and helped him heft it.
The bedraggled survivors fell back, back through the first cavern, up towards the sweet, missed daylight.
Hackett watched with amazement as a cloud of dust fountained up over Baker street. There was the sound of screams and shouts, as well as a muffled crashing sound. A couple of buildings nearby shook and cascaded dust. One listed suddenly.
He turned his attention back to the excavation sight and frowned. Half an hour later, the survivors emerged. Caked in dust and grime, he counted eleven. Of them, most seemed pretty shook up - limped, carrying comrades. And.. .a muton?
He practically goggled, and yelled for his men to move in and support. Zhaojie staggered, relieved of his alien burden and nodded as Hackett approached.
"Guess it was bad down there?"
Zhaojie shook his head, "I think we only saw part of it. Things are… perhaps more devious than we expected."
They all tensed as the ground shook again. Another cloud of dust fountained up over the buildings. Hackett frowned, "More explosives?"
Zhaojie actually looked embarrassed, "I think… that was their generator."
"Well, hopefully it's not too bad then…"
The Chinaman sagged back against the wooden fence and drank in the fresh air, "We can only hope, Sergeant."
"And my men?"
"I am sorry. Four dead. Privates Jameson, Philson and Lance Corporal Rickards dead in combat. Corporal Baxter… well, I would like to recommend him for some recognition. Courage… he did your military proud, Sergeant."
"Well, that's what we all say we want to hear. Let's see what the big boss makes of it all."
"Yes. Let us hope this is… worth it."