It was 0300 hours when the first transports reached the shore about hundred and fifty kilometers from Mandelev College. The trainers were the first off the ship when the reached land, as they opened the loading gates as quietly as possible. The demon boils obediently crawled out from their holds and onto dry land, waiting silently before the trainers. The men and women checked and double-checked everything, then quickly re-boarded the ships.
The transports disembarked, leaving the mindworms calmly watching the retreating ships. The trainers aboard the transports took a last look at their creations…demon boils were an accomplishment, even for Deirdre herself. They all nodded to one another, and all at once slowly removed their mental link to the worms.
The creatures on shore quickly lost the control they'd been taught their whole lives. The giant masses slowly moved around, a few towards the direction of the base, but a few others in entirely different directions. The trainers mentally encouraged the worms to move towards their target.
Slowly but surely, however, the glow of the base attracted them as Planet took a hold of the beasts. The flock of worms increased their pace against the Remnant base. Seventy-five kilometers…fifty kilometers…the worms were almost on top of them.
The base was obviously aware of the worms by the time they'd reached the first sensor, but by then, it was far too late. The first defense of the base was already waiting for them, but they held no chance against demon boils. Their armor was penetrated, their weapons were jammed, and the creatures quickly subdued them…as they were slowly eaten inside out
The Mandelev College Defense Force soon arrived at the gates; they were better armed and better trained against mindworms. However, none of them had ever had experience against a demon boil before. Regardless, their weapons were certainly effective against the beasts…two of them fell. The remaining mindworms rushed at the defense, slowly but surely gaining ground.
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earthprokhor.
"Hello, Voice. This isn't really a good time…"
apologies.
"It's okay. Good job on the battle. You've certainly won the element of surprise."
controlled. attack planetbase. earthzakharov planetbase.
"Yes, mine soon, thanks to your help."
planetmeskha, fear! panic! planetmeskha soon under earthzakharov.
"I just need those codes. You'll be safe from Meskha then, Voice."
planet fear planetmeskha? ha. ha, ha ha. earthprokhor, joke!
"As compelling as this conversation is, Voice, I need to get back to my team. Release me."
as is wished, earthprokhor.
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Zakharov "woke up" in the small cabin of the helicopter. There were seven people on board, including Zakharov, Shila, and Salem. Shila had been staring at him, and she smiled as he woke up.
"How can you sleep on this noisy 'copter?"
Zakharov shrugged. "It was a field report from our little voice."
Shila nodded in comprehension. Zakharov looked out the window and saw the bright base in the distance, guns blaring at the creatures, but soon being halted as the masses overtook yet another troop. Zakharov smiled. Mindworms are good for something…
"Sir! Awaiting orders!"
Zakharov looked at the captain of the 'copter. "Let's begin, captain. Take us to the belly of the beast."
The man nodded. The 'copter rapidly accelerated from hover to cruise mode, and they all seemed to notice a change in volume as the engines went into stealth mode. Zakharov looked at Salem, who was watching the base through the window.
"Nervous?"
Salem looked at him with unreadable eyes. "Too nervous, you become weak. No nervousness, you die by being overcocky. I am ready. That is all."
Zakharov understood. Santiago trains her troops well. He spoke out over the roar of the engines. "Ladies and gentlemen of this team, I ask you to give your attention to Salem, as he'll be explaining the plan."
Salem nodded and began. "The teams will be divided into three squads. I shall go with you," he said, pointing at one of the members of the team, "You two shall go together, and Zakharov and Jane shall form a team. Group one will be the primary guard; group two will form secondary guard. Our groups mission is to infiltrate the base and make our way to the control center. Once inside, our goal is to supplement group three, which is our main team of sabotage and subterfuge. If we find Leader Meskha, we shall apprehend her and discover the codes. Jane will be able to explain the next step better then I can."
Shila nodded as she stood. "Mandelev College is a base deeply entwined with tunnels. Our group will go into the tunnels and use an explosive device to sabotage the central defense grid around the control center. When that goal is achieved, you can enter the control center, wipe out any resistance, and find Meskha. Is there any questions?"
No one raised his or her hands, but no one expected them to. Shila nodded to Zakharov. He stood and sighed. "Teams, you are all among various factions, various personalities, and various beliefs, but we are all here for one reason: to destroy the mind control that is keeping an otherwise peaceful woman as a slave. Until that link is broken, my faction will never be free…and your factions will always be at risk. Thus, we must prevail."
The teams smiled and clapped a little bit. Zakharov leaned back in his seat and shut his eyes, only seconds before the captain shouted that it was time to go. The teams all nodded in unison and attached stealth suits before jumping out the door of the 'copter. As Zakharov fell into the open-air expanse above Mandelev College, three words kept him ringing in his head.
We must prevail…
~
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Yes, I know this is going slowly. Bear with me. For some reason, I've been really lazy in writing lately…I want to get into this story, but it's hard to think right now. So I apologize for the "Get on with it" factor I'm running into. :/
