Chapter 15: The Build Up

Mac-11: I'm back again.

The ship was flying towards the marine's base with all fifty-eight hunters crowded inside in no time. Since they had used everything in the storage room it was filled with the predators too. Of course the frozen alien was brought aboard also to measure the time it took the aliens to thaw out. It was almost finished and it's claws, which were raised high as if to slash, were out of the ice.

In the front of the ship Merc'rk was giving a briefing about how to handle the humans once they got there.

"Be on your guard. If any human shoots at you, you're only allowed to return fire with the net guns. We need them all alive," he said.

They grabbed their net guns and loaded them. Merc'rk turned around and started walking away, but then abruptly stopped as if he forgot to say something. "You may only set your nets strength to the first power," he quickly said. He was greeted with several disappointed groans from the crowd of Yautja. If the nets were set to a higher level they could dig into flesh and crush bone.

He then headed to the bridge where the rest of his clan and the human gang were. The leader looked at the base only a mile away. The ship was cloaked so they could see the base, but it couldn't see them. Merc'rk slowed down the ship as it came near the marine's base. He set it down a few meters away from the back of the base. The door opened and the first few predators walked out. Merc'rk loaded his net gun and readied it for capturing targets.

They all uncloaked to show that they were friendly, but he doubted that would work anyway. The clan leader jumped over the barbed wire fence that surrounded the base. His clan followed and pulled out their netguns. The first marine they'd seen was carrying box of ammo over to a futeristic version of a humvee.

He loaded it in and turned around to get another box, but suddenly he saw several creatures had jumped the fence and were now walking towards him. He froze from fear. To his surprise they were carrying weapons, but hadn't fired them at him. He had a pistol at his side, but decided against it seeing that they could have killing him a long time ago.

The largest one was in the front and he looked mean. He walked up to him and spoke in a half electronic, but perfect English. "Take me to your leader." The marine almost laughed, but wasn't able to. "Right this way," was all he managed to get out. He began to walk them over to the tower his commander was inside.

Another marine saw them walking through the base, but this one wasn't so friendly. He grabbed his pulse rifle and aimed it at them. The marine squeezed the trigger and lets the bullets fly. As for the clan all they did was watch the shots bounce off Merc'rk's armor. Deckn'ov launched a net at him from his net gun. The net wrapped around its target and attached to the wall of the tower which was nearby.

Three other marines came out and fired at the predators, but his clan netted them to the ground too.

"I'll go in alone," said Merc'rk.

He walked inside and found the lead human armed with a pistol. He had heard the firing sounds too and was alerted. Outside more firing was heard from pulse rifles and smart guns. The commander aimed his pistol at a spot on Merc'rk'ship where the aromor was thin. He squeezed the trigger and the gun fired. The bullet hit the his flesh and knocked him back a few feet; just enough to watch his neon green blood spill from his side. Not a moment later the commander was hit with a net made of an unknown material. It forced him back and strapped him to the wall.

The Predator walked up to him and put away his net gun. "I need your assistance," he said. This, of course, was a complete shock to the commander.

Meanwhile...

Outside the marines were all netted and attached to the ground or a nearby object. Merc'rk's clan was also there waiting. Jason was explaining something about human food to Shou'nk. Meagan was messing with her camera, which she just picked up. Steve was sleeping. Sean was walking around and trying to explain everything to the angry, captured soldiers.

"Calm down, guys! You'll all be okay! They have no intention of hurting you," yelled Sean over several angry cries from pissed off marines.

Their criesgrew louderand were getting everyone irritated, especially Meagan. She grabbed her CNN microphone and put the power to the max.

"SHUT UP YOU STUPID ARMY GRUNTS!!!"

All went silent. Satisfied, Meagan put her microphone down and continued to mess with her camera. This, of course, saved Sean a lot of trouble too.

"Damn, woman, can you scream any louder?" said Bebop carrying a massive gun case.

"Wanna find out?" answered the reporter reaching for the microphone again.

"What's in the case?" asked Sean.

A wide smirk appeared on Bebop's face. He set down the case and opened it up. Inside was a massive double barrel shot gun. This was no ordinary weapon.

The two silver barrels were almost twice the length of a pulse rifle. It had a black butt. On top, close to the back of the gun was a small scope. At the end of the under side of the barrels was a small flash light attached to a laser sight. One large grip went over both barrels and a slider, indicating it was pump action. In between the slide and flash light under the barrel was an add on grenade launcher.

Bebop pulled out two long transparent tubes. They looked inside and saw they were holding shot gun ammo. One was holding twelve shells while the other was holding twelve slugs. He loaded them into the shot gun and pumped it. He grabbed several other tubes and put them on his person.

"Where the hell did you get that?" exclaimed Richard as he was driving by ina cargo truck.

"I made it,"answered Bebop.

"What are you doing with that truck?" asked Sean.

"The next shipment of supplies just came and I loaded all the coffee onto four trucks and three humvees. I was just going to ask Merc if I could load it on the ship."

"That won't be needed," said a voice coming towards them. Everyone looked and saw Merc'rk walk out of the tower. "We are going to permanently stay here until more Yautja arrive. Then we will attack the ruins..." The clan leader never finished for an acid spitter jumped out of the ship and pounced on one of the Ancients. Apparently it was the frozen alien from inside the ship.

Merc'rk activated his plasma fletchette. As it charged up he remembered he hadn't really gotten a chance to use it since it was upgraded. He didn't realize how much of a shock he was going to get once heusedit.

The clan leader took aim and fired. Instead of a bolt of energy flying out of the barrel a clean stream of blue plasma energy blazed towards the alien. Half of the Xenomorph was vaporized and the other half was torn apart in a cut so clean that not even the acidic blood could reach anyone.

Everyone looked at Merc'rk with surprise at the power of his weapon. The leading predator said nothing, but deactivated his weapon.

"The Insect Xenos are free," quoted Sean as the realization hit him.

"They have lost many from fighting us many years ago. It is likely they will take time to strengthen their army," said Jentr'ck as he walked up to them accompanied by the commander.

"That will give us time to strengthen ours," answered Merc'rk.

"I have called rest of marines on this planet to get in formation to surround the ruins. I explained everything to the general and he got satillite photos to show Xeno activity building up inside the ruins. Every man and woman on this planet it ready to give their life in this battle," said the commander.

"Aren't you guys forgetting something?" asked one of the marines who was still netted to the ground.

Merc'rk ordered the Ancients to free the men and the task was done in no time.

At that same moment several dots in the sky lit up. They were ships entering the planet's atmosphere. Everyone saw they looked like spear heads from far away. They were five large Predator ships each holding several Yautja. At least 1,000 blooded warriors total of all ships.

The ships all headed for the clan's ship that was parked near the base. Four landed near the ship and the last one landed right in the middle of the base. A large door opened on its side and a walk way slide out. Out walked a certain royal Predator escorted by two blooded Yautja.

The clan fell on one knee and bowed. Seeing that Merc'rk's clan bowed the ancient Predators did too, except for Jentr'ck. He was the ancient king and no matter how high rank this preator had he had no right to bow.

The royal Predator was Sentr'ck, the same preator that had picked them up from the planet Lv-1201. He saw the Predator Jentr'ck not bowing, but he know who he was and he didn't care. He was too anxious to hunt the prey that Merc'rk said was so powerful they could bring as many hunters they want, armed with whatever they want.

He walked up to Merc'rk and let him rise up. "So where is this prey? Surely you do not mean the humans." he said.

"No, they will also be needed to fight with us or the fate of the Yautja race and every other being could be at stake," he answered.

Not only was his opponent powerful, but the stakes were high too, just the way he liked it. Sentr'ck was going to enjoy this hunt. Merc'rk began to explain everything to him, but he would need to do it fast. The Insect Xenomorphs strength was increasing by the moment.

Mac-11: This chapter was a thrill to write. Thank you those of you that reviewed my fic.Remember to review if you want me to update.