London, England
Invasion time plus twelve days
"Incoming transmission sir, the Paris team is on its way back. They took some losses, but got the sample. They should be arriving in about sixty-five minutes."
Robertson nodded to the tech, who turned back to his computer monitor, and walked slowly down the hallway which was bustling with activity, mulling over the situation. He came to a large windowed bay, and stood there starring out at what was left of the countryside. Fire and rock. That was all that remained of the lushlandscape that he used to stare out at, in the good days. With a sigh, Robertson turned and made for his quarters. He didn't have any assignments until the Paris team arrived, at which point he would take over possession of the "sample", and see it through to the labs. They had been hunting for these samples for almost a week now, and had laid hands on half a dozen of them, at the cost of many men. The samples in question were in fact fragments of one of the relics found in the Martian underground by UAC scientists, that went by the name of Soul cube, and had been stored in the highest security areas of the UAC complexes of Earth.
Although this technology seemed way beyond anything they currently possessed, when the demons came to Earth, Robertson's division had immediately begun searching for these samples. Their ultimate objective was to gather enough knowledge about the artefact to begin creating them, or at least one of them, which they would later be able to use against the demons. Of course, Robertson thought, this was a one-out-of-a-million attempt, and it was probably doomed from the beginning, but hell, it was worth trying. Robertson's division was not an all-scientist division as could have been expected, but more of a military one. Most of his personnel had been, in the days of the UAC, assigned to the defence of its ground-based facilities on Earth. When the invasion began, the division had reassembled as best it could to try and figure out a way of countering the assault. "Now though", he thought, "it would be too late anyway". "Even if we do repel the demons, there won't be anything left to save".
"I think you should check this out sir..." Said a tech as Robertson passed by.
Leaning down over the man's shoulder, he peered at the dark infrared screen in front of him. The area represented the base and its whereabouts, seen through an energy filter. A dozen areas were glowing brilliant red and little numbers beside them were climbing 87...88 . Power build ups.
"Damn" Muttered Robertson under his breath. "When did this start?"
"Only half an hour ago, and its been growing at an awesome rate."
"These portals must have already been opened earlier" He mumbled to himself. "All right, seal all exterior entrances. Activate point-defence turrets, and make ready all personnel. We're liable to have some uninvited guests arriving soon. Can you determine what's coming through?"
"Nothing accurate so far, but it looks big. Knights or Mancubus I would guess. Things are going to get very hot in about...1 minute and forty seven seconds, sir."
Robertson barked a few orders, and people began rushing around, a voice boomed over the general com, as hisses indicated that every window and exterior door was sealing itself hermetically. Techs rushed from their posts into the bunkers at the centre of the base, scientists gathered as much material as they could before joining in the rush, while a company of armed men rushed past Robertson, heading for the main entrance.
"Fifty seconds before contact" Boomed the voice over the intercom.
Robertson secured a weapon and made full speed to the entrance hall. He passed several barricades located around doors or windowed bays, until he finally reached the main hall's defensive positions. Men were rushing around everywhere, carrying ammo and weapons, barking orders to each other, and causing a general sort of panicked chaos. Robertson settled himself behind a rampart located on the hall's west side, and took point behind a fixed machine gun emplacement.
"Twenty seconds" Sounded the com.
A large roaring sound was coming from outside, as of a massive bonfire. Wind was blowing harder and harder, and suddenly they heard an explosion and a dull thud...above them. All eyes turned up to see a dent in the roof. With a smashing sound, a great fist came ploughing through the steel roof, even as others beganhammering against the doors. Some men snapped off a few shots at the grappling hand, making it withdraw for a few seconds. The sound of gunfire erupted further down in the hallways, along with cries of fear and pain. The demons had gotten in much faster than they had hoped for. Even as this thought crossed Robertson's mind, the main door smashed open and a pair of Mancubus stepped inside, guns blazing. A large ball of fire hit the bunker next to his, and engulfed its occupants in flame. Virtually everyone in the hall retaliated, sending a wall of lead to meat the approaching demons. The two creatures were torn down, only to leave place to a Hell Knight and at least a dozen imps. The spidery-like creatures climbed along the wall and roof, dropping on top of the men or making great leaping jumps from the other side of the hall. Fire now went steadily in both ways, as the demons sent back a real inferno of red death. An all-out battle had erupted between the armed humans and the agile demons. Blood was spraying in all directions, and Robertson levelled his rifle for a blast at an imp that was charging at him from the main door. His shotshit the creature in the stomach, making it trip and fall flat on its nose, guts pouring out of its abdomen.
A roar came from behind him, and Robertson turned to see an imp drop right behind him and raise his arm in a menacing gesture. He dodged the fireball by rolling to the side and opened fire. His bullets caught the creature in the side, sending it tumbling backwards with a death gargle. Explosions began sounding down the west corridor, as the heavy ballistics team engaged the enemy. The situation was slipping out of control…they wouldn't hold out very long.
"Goddamn it!" Muttered Robertson.
Half a dozen imps clambered over the wall of his bunker and forced him and another couple of men backwards. Those who stood their ground, fell. They backed away, still firing, into the further retrenchments of the base. Robertson could see that the other bunker was not in a much better situation. Flames were rising out of it, and he couldn't see any sign of survivors. Even as he turned to break into a full run, the voice over the intercom barked:
"Main hall has been taken. Teams one and two, fall back to defensive positions theta. Sections one through four invaded. All marines in the area, fall back to the core bunkers."
Any survivors in the hall fled at that moment, running back down the hallways that led into the base. Robertson ran for at least five minutes, until he reached a grisly scene that made hi stop dead in his tracks. In front of him, five men lay slaughtered on the ground, their innards strewn across the place. The wall had a gaping hole in it, which quite clearly indicated where the perpetrator had come from. Gazing up, Robertson saw a sign that caused a low "shit!" to escape his lips. The sign read "Sector two". He had landed in the middle of an invaded area. Theta defensive positions must be miles away ! A low growl came from behind him, and he spun around to see nothing. A fast thumping sound was approaching however, as of pounding feet. Not good. Robertson broke into a full run, taking a random direction, praying to come across some survivors, maybe even reach Theta position if he could find it. Over the intercom, the voice broke out again:
"Sections five through eight have been taken. All personnel must immediately retreat to the core bunkers. Nuke will be armed in fired in exactly three minutes. All personnel who are not in the bunkers at that time will be terminated."
The voice was cut off by a great roar coming from right behind him. Something crashed through the wall on his right, and Robertson stared in horror as a Hell Knight came charging at him. The beast's savage mouth was drooling in anticipation of its next meal. Robertson ran for his life, darted around a corner and leapt down several flights of stairs, the large demon still close behind him. He found himself in the dimly lit underground facilities. These were the lab areas, and further down the road…were the core bunkers. With a new ray of hope in him, Robertson began running along the deserted dark corridors. It seemed almost too deserted however. If all the personnel had been called back to the core bunkers, there should at least be someone here, he thought…low growls came through several doorways as he ran by, however, and his blood chilled. What the fuck…not here !
Even as horrible thoughts darted across his mind, a pair of imps leapt out from behind an upturned desk and barred the way, shrieking at him. Thumping sounds from behind him indicated the Hell Knight was still in hot pursuit. He was trapped. He levelled his rifle and tore away at the two creatures, but they dodged the bullets with amazing agility. What the hell were they playing at? He fired until his entire clip, before realising what they were trying to do. Oh my…
Giant fingers closed around his waist as the Hell Knight finally caught up with him. A huge hand gripped his rifle and wrenched the weapon out of his hand, dislocating his shoulder in the process. Robertson cried out in pain.
"A barrage…they were slowing me down…they were in league with the Knight…I'm fucked…"
Those were the last thoughts that crossed his mind, as the creature brought his head up to his jaws, Robertson could see gleaming fangs dripping with blood and drool, and then everything went black.
To be continued.