Entry Points
Notes: I apologize about the update delay. Been incredibly busy. Hopefully I'll have the next chapter done by the end of next week. BTW Typewriter King, with regards to the intelligence of the Aliens, I actually hadn't given that issue much thought, but your comment got the ole creative juices flowing. Thanks.
"Law's Alpha Squad has just been ambushed and contact has been lost with it. Law's Charlie Squad is already on the way to rescue any survivors. I've ordered Bravo Squad to accompany them," Rasczak informed those present before him who nodded in acknowledgment. Those two squads had a lot of firepower, accompanied as they were with a duck marauder each.
"While we're waiting," the Lieutenant continued, "Higgins, did you found out what happened after that thing took that marine's body?"
"Yes, sir. It quickly made its way out of the base and disappeared into the canyon. The base was then put on lockdown. According to these roll calls, shortly after that, base personnel began to disappear too. As more people vanished, the rate of vanishing increased. Finally, the last six survivors decided to seal themselves off in one of the barracks rooms on level 1B. No records exist after that."
Rasczak then asked Coles, "Do you know what these adult xenomorphs look like?"
The executive answered, "All we have is one eyewitness account from the lost mining ship I mentioned. The only survivor described it as an eyeless tall dark leathery skinned creature with an elongated slick head. It stood on two legs and used its clawed hands as its primary weapon. It also had a long spiny tail and extended spikes on its back. She also described some kind of inner mouth that deployed from its main mouth. Unfortunately, we don't have any more details than that and don't ask whether SICON can call her up. She accompanied the marines investigating the terraforming colony and was lost with them."
Rasczak reflected on this information and turned to Greene, "Corporal, take Rico and Higgins to check out that barracks room. Coles, Flores and I will continue to search in order to find out how the xenomorphs managed to get in. As soon as we've finished, we'll rejoin the rest of the platoon and then check out that 'Pit' you mentioned."
The group split into two trios, one going up and the other going down. A minute later Greene, Rico and Higgins were on level 1B. They made their way down the hall. It wasn't long until they found something of interest: closed double doors that had a gaping hole in them. Greene asked Higgins, "Is this the room we're looking for?"
The Fednet correspondent looked at the room designation: 1B4. He replied, "Yes it is."
"Let's check it out then."
They took a closer look at the gap in the door. It appeared to have been caused by an acidic agent of some kind. What Coles had told the Roughnecks came to mind. He had mentioned that the xenomorphs had extremely acidic blood. Perhaps they used it not only as a defense mechanism but also as an offensive weapon? That would not only explain the hole in the door but also the hole in the floor. Looking through it Rico was able to see at least three floors down. The three continued their search of the room and behind a desk they found a corpse sprawled on the ground. They recognized it instantly. It was a xenomorph. It was even more hideous than Coles described. Several gaps in the floor where its corrosive blood had eaten through pockmarked the area around it. An autopsy would not be necessary to determine the cause of death. Riddled with bullet holes, it appeared that the ones who had made their stand here had gotten at least one kill. Greene called up the Lieutenant, "Sir, we've found a dead xenomorph and I'm transmitting a visual to you. By the way, it appears these things used their blood to create a hole in the door."
Rasczak watched the video feed and remarked, "Well, at least now we know for sure what they look like. Greene, have Doc take a look at it. Maybe he can give an estimate as to when it died."
After having said that, Rasczak continued his search of the base. The invisibility of the masked creature would explain how it snuck in, but to the best of his knowledge these xenomorphs lacked that ability and since it was obvious that they did not attempt a direct assault on the facility, they must have found an access point unknown to the base personnel. Rasczak pondered that. He needed to think like a xenomorph, but since that was next to impossible he instead chose an enemy he did know: the Bugs. If he was a brain bug, how would he have his warrior bugs to enter this base while avoiding the main defenses? The answer was simple: build or take advantage of existing tunnels and enter from below. After all, only three floors out this base's ten were above ground. To keep the element of surprise, build the tunnel in such a way that those in the base didn't know the warriors were inside until it was too late. But just how would he accomplish that? Then a couple possibilities occurred to him and he asked Coles about the first one, "How is the ventilation system set up here?"
"For all intents and purposes it's like being in a spaceship; it's completely internalized. No air is drawn in from outside. There's no way the xenomorphs could have used that system to enter."
"What about sanitation? What kind of water supply do you all have and how do you dispose of waste?"
Coles considered that and replied, "The base draws its water from an underground river that runs right under the facility. Further upstream the waste is disposed of."
"Is it possible to gain entry using that system?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"For starters in a lockdown situation the pipes that lead to that river are closed and even when they're open, in order to get through the security screens installed in them, one would have to have an awfully powerful plasma torch or..." Coles paused as it dawned on him and he then let loose a stream of unprintable words. Flores was impressed; for a business executive, Coles knew some fine swear words. She was half tempted to take notes because there was a couple she had never heard before.
When Coles was finished, Rasczak finished the sentence, "....or awfully powerful acid?"
Coles sighed, "Yeah. The main pipes are big enough for them too. They would also allow them to sneak into the base undetected. The pipes go into some reservoir tanks on the bottom level. They'd make their way into those and no one's the wiser," Coles swore again and then started pacing and muttering to himself, "You idiot! You had this bunker designed to withstand a Bug attack, but not a xeno outbreak. You knew it was possible! And now thanks to that little slip, hundreds of people are dead!"
At that point Rasczak interrupted, "What do you mean hundreds of people are dead?"
Coles stopped and answered, "Actually the number of base personnel was 150, but you get the point."
"So what you're saying is that there are 150 xenomorphs at large right now?"
Coles, horrified, answered, "Oh my God, that's right! Why didn't I realize that?"
Flores then said, "Actually, I think it is 142. Don't forget that invisible creature killed seven people and that at least one xenomorph is dead."
Rasczak then replied, "Make that 158. It looks like the K-9 platoon was attacked by the xenomorphs and there were sixteen in that unit not counting the neodogs who apparently don't make suitable hosts."
"Come to think of it, what about Law's Alpha Squad?"
"I wouldn't be so sure right now about them. It seems they may have been ambushed by those invisible creatures. Anyway, we'll soon find out when Bravo Squad makes its report."
Coles stared in disbelief at the two Roughnecks calmly discussing the number of casualties and enemies. The Lieutenant then turned to the exasperated executive, "Take us to those reservoir tanks.
