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The first order of business was checking the Captain's mind for any memories of using the tower to call for backup. He didn't apparent Sorg was busy contemplating whether or not to bother their Colonel with more requests for reinforcements. They were seriously undermanned and we're expected to cover this second of canyons leading to the capital. Which felt off because this place, no this subsector, was currently under attack by a lot of different aliens just a year after the first big war. Plus the Black Legion we here wrecking the place.
That these guys were so undermanned while at a communication center and just a frontier outpost was seriously off-
"Wait. Kyras is trying to have this subsector descend into a hellhole so he can destroy it and ascend into Daemonhood. Considering this is the Blood Raven's recruiting world it stands to reason that he'd keep outside forces away so they wouldn't muck up his plans." Plus it's a Feudal world its importance is mainly geared towards the Space Marines. Their stay here was mostly to just guard the place as reinforces built the Regiment back up. That and the most resistance they've had to deal with was idiot cultists screaming 'For Khorne' and then running at a heavy bolter nest.
That had been squared and could no longer ward off the new problem present. I finally had to maneuver over to the Tech-Priests still pinned to the floor, the binary ceased and their attention focused on me. No doubt wondering just what fate I had in store for them. I didn't even know that myself.
Why the hell did lady luck have to lull me into such a false sense of success and then snatch it all away with the worst bull-
"Actually what am I saying of course there'd be a tech priest here! This is a communication tower of course there would've been at least one here.!"
I just never asked, although even if I did it wouldn't have changed the issue here. They were metallic, having the Lictors hoist them up and rip off the robes. Then ask a few more Lictors to come over and hold the mechadendrites as one of them just wouldn't stop trying to snap at me as if they were snakes. They were metal, it covered their entire bodies and I even tapped it all in some vain attempt to see if it was just some well-made paint job. One of them had a skull free of metal, except the jaw which was covered by a mask or perhaps a speaker. As there was one plated on the from where binary came out of just a moment ago. Plus the back of the head where a bunch of cords sticking out of the back where the spinal cord met the skull.
His companion on the other hand had his entire head engulfed or replaced with metal. A speaker in the place of a mouth and lenses for eyes, there was nowhere I could see for the Genestealer to inject its taint. I had the one still with fleshy bits dragged off away to be infested, and sincerely hoped it did so I'd only have one man to kill.
I didn't understand the mechanics of how the Genestealer infection worked, as I never had reason to question it. All I knew was injecting it into the body and having it spread was how the substance did its thing. If someone was mostly metal would it work to the extent I needed it to? The last thing I wanted was for someone to only be partially infected and not figure out later if that was even a thing.
I crouched to meet him at eye level. The last Priest was obviously expressionless and that was the only thing I was thankful for. Putting a face on a man I was going to bury in a minute would help, I wondered if I should even speak. Try and communicate about the systems of this facility and any other such structures around it. But I was gonna have someone like that and loyal through infestation. So no I didn't need this one for information and keeping him around could pose a risk if he ever got away or was bold enough to send a message out.
Then we would all be screwed.
The more and more a thought about it the quicker I realized that killing him was the only option I really had.
"I suppose I do need an explanation for what happened to the doors of this place. A renegade Tech Preist trying to cause a diversion and open the way for cultists could work." It was not the most well-constructed story but it was better than having nothing and leaving everyone to improvise what they could from the start.
Cause if somebody ends up coming here and we can't say that nothing happened. Better file a report and control the narrative, it's not like Cultists haven't been attacking this place from time to time. Having the metal man hauled to his feet I held out my hand to receive a lasguns from one of the Guardsmen. Flicking to the highest setting to ensure this was quick then pressed the gun to his forehead.
It felt... wrong not to be as nervous about this anymore. I should feel sick like I did with those Guardsmen at the Oasis.
My thoughts were broken by a swift kick to the shin by the Preist's bionic foot. Being caught off guard and the sheet strength the augmented leg could deliver I staggered back. Hopping up one leg then jump up and down to maintain my balance on the unlucky one. It would have been a comical scene had the situation allowed for humor. The carapace plate was able to prevent the bone from snapping but it certainly felt like it was broken. Before I could check there was a tearing of metal and a screech in binary as the Lictors didn't take the threat to their master lightly.
Four towering figures of muscle with thick claws and the strength to rip open armor plating easily tore out mechadendrites and the arms they were holding. One free hand even dug into his (hers?) side and tore out a chunk. Sparks flew as their wiring was exposed, oil and perhaps some other fluid poured out like blood.
"No stop!" I scream reflectively dropping my leg down to finally stabilize and prove nothing was broken. The Lictors all backed off and the tech priest fell to the floor, possibly swearing as the binary spewing out sounded rude and forceful.
This was far from the clean fate I had in store and while I wasn't sure if the guy could even feel any pain I didn't leave him there to find out. Raising the lasgun then pulling the trigger and letting the red beam of photons fly out to connect with the back of his head. It didn't burn a hole clean through as it was set to maximum charge and instead the metal blew the smooth surface open. Burning metal and the smell of roasted meat wafted out from the flash-burned brain. I stared at it and wondered just what he would have done if I only turned him around instead of letting the man stare his fate in the eye...
"Would that really have been better though?"
Although what was even the point of dwelling it on now, I couldn't say... I was committed to this course and second-guessing myself now would invalidate the need for sixty men now under my thrall. Not to mention the many more I would infect later. I checked my shin and found no visible marks on the carapace plate. The shock of the attack did hurt through it, mostly because I wasn't expecting it. Still, it was good to know the bruise on the side of my head from the Lictor blasting wouldn't have a cousin on my leg.
The other Tech Preist began to connect with the brood mind and I marched over to him. More for the distraction than anything else. The Genestealer had already retracted its tongue from the side of the man's head but now that I was wondering about how Genestealer infections work...
Holding my hand out the creature loosened its tongue once more and a brownish fluid leaked out into my palm. It had quite large reserves of the stuff within its glands and could release pretty much whenever I asked.
"Does this need to be injected from a Genestealer to work? Or is there another delivery method I could use...?" A plan began to form as I had the Captain get up to file his report to the 85th Vendoland's Colonel. It was a long road and one that needed to be paved by implanted Guardsmen and there could be another way to get some.
Sorg moved to the large central scene and waited as the Lictor horde filtered out and I took up residence away. Just in case the Colonel wanted to connect via video call, it was better safe than sorry. Then I had to get the tech priest to come over because they were the only ones who knew how to work the darn thing. They'd need to keep out of sight if it became a video call, as the odd wound on the side of their head. That could attract real unwanted attention if someone looking at it knew anything about Genestealer infections.
"This is Captain Sorg, third company first platoon."
It took a hot minute before a rough voice answered.
"This is company command, we read you Captain, what's your situation?"
It was audio only and I sighed with relief, although it probably wouldn't have been that big of a problem. Purple ichor might be painting a few of the counsels and floor but it was probably hard to spot. "There has been an... incident here. Get Colonel Fenvan on the box I must speak to him directly."
"One moment Captain." The silence that followed was only punctuated by the tiniest hint of static, not enough to register as interference. Though enough to hear when no one was speaking or any other noise was kept quiet. After that brief pause, a far gruffer voice answered, one that sounded like the speaker was gurgling gravel.
"What is it Captain Sorg? Has something happened out there?"
"As a matter of fact, something has sir," Sorg took on a grave tone. "One of our Tech-priests has gone traitor." He let that information sink in for a moment before adding the rest. "Cervathrain Mex stole explosives from our stockpile and blew open the main doors to the communications array. During the confusion, cultists attacked the outpost and almost broke through our defenses. We were able to repel the surprise attack though, with casualties, sir."
"How many loses Captain can you hold the outpost oil?" The man asked bluntly, he was taking this dead seriously. Although such a thing shouldn't be coming as too much of a surprise coming from a military commander in 40K.
"Just a squad sir, but we've got many more wounded and need temporary reinforcements to fill in the gaps. If they attack us in force once more they might overrun our position. The array itself is completely compromised, we cannot repair the hole in the door."
"And the cog boy? Are they still alive and can say anything about the cult?" Fenvan asked, a degree of frustration in his voice.
"Negative, they resisted detainment and one of my men shot 'em, sir."
"I see, I'm going to see what forces second and ninth company platoons can spare to hold your junction. For now, keep your eyes open for more threats, we're stretched thin as it is. Hold the position while I see what can be scrapped together." Colonel Fenvan assured his subordinate. "Until then compile then file a full report on exactly what happen."
I knew now that this battered and bloodied regiment was supposed to guard this whole approach. So it made sense for them to rush back up from wherever they could. Although it wasn't where I was hoping they'd come from if the memories on where the second and ninth were located at was any indication.
"Thank you, sir. Will do."
"Okay," I nodded, mostly to myself. The second phase of my plan formulating within my mind. "Now it's time to test just how long the Genestealer build could last outside the body."
It was another day before reinforcements blitzed their way down her to find an intentionally trashed base. Sandbags had lasrounds fired into them, some grenades detonated here and there, and a tower was even blown. All made to look as if a sizable battle took place here, although to the observant. It would only be a matter of time before some pointed questions would be asked, like where were the wounded Guardsmen? Or the ashes where the mass of dead cultists was burned at? But that wasn't too concerning to me as I only needed the backup here long enough to have them fan out. Allowing my Guard-hybrids to do what was needed.
The others were hidden away within the air-conditioned array. They had all been outside in the beating sun for far too long and deserved some nice rest and fresh water from the well here. The cover for why no one but the Tech priest, Captain, and Lieutenant were the only ones allowed inside was just tightened security. No one was allowed in to spot the horde of Hybrids, while any Genestealers were dotted about, hidden, and waiting to pounce.
Morning came with a wave of two Chimeras with full squads arrived from the outpost from the north. While the one Chimera with a single squad and no meds had arrived from the southeast base a few hours later. They all had the same result, so long as nobody knew it was quite easy to keep pulling this trick.
"In as many variations of the plan as I wanted." It really put a planetwide Genestealer infestation into perspective. Nobody could tell a thing as their infected comrades chatted with them. Asking to come to check this thing out behind this ruined building or come on we've got some beer hidden over here. Zero indication of anything being off and as the ranks swelled it still looked like nothing had changed. How planets fell into chaos and rebellion against these creatures became so apparent now that I was in control. Thirty more lives were seized by the taint just because Sorg had asked for backup.
Having men lure them away to some side area where a Genestealer or two hid or the Guardsmen had a needle filled with that brownish fluid. The syringes, provided by the medics, had been filled almost immediately after the transmission. Over twenty-four hours later it all still worked when used. But six out of six Guardsmen I had syringes used instead of the usual delivery method showed a pattern. The Guardsmen frailed about shouting muffle sounds while they were held in place Likely wondering what the big idea was, yelling about treason when the 'nids showed up, then shouting concerningly about what the stuff injected into them was.
Then kept doing that for around five minutes at a time. The five milliliters of taint did spread down from the shoulder but they didn't have the hallmarks of disorientation like all do the normal way. Whatever chemical or toxin that causes people to go dim while the substance takes over. Doesn't seem to remain potent after leaving the glands for a time. Even if the fluid itself could, seemingly, last over twenty-four hours.
"Likely for longer but I'll have to fill some more syringes to wait and see how long the stuff could last."
Two I had drink canteens laced with five milliliters of the taint, even after the whole day they didn't seem the worse for wear or showing signs of turning. So tainting the water supply of a base was out of the question. It might be possible if I had enough Genestealers pumping it in but at that point, I might as well just have the syringes used.
"I proved that another delivery system is possible and infested more troopers from different outposts. Although they weren't from places further towards the Capitol." I wanted to infect them to gather more in-depth information about the outposts ahead of my journey. But it seems the Colonel had other ideas on where support should come from. A wrench was tossed into that particular plan, something new was needed.
"I know what outposts I need to take over. Though without more info about those places. It's going to take a lot longer if we just march over to take them over as this one." Days after days of slow methodical travel all the while a fleet prepares itself to invade and create a diversion.
"I still don't know if time is an ally here, and I for one am not going to wait to find out." This outpost was mine but three more needed to be removed before I could infiltrate the Capital. Such an action would be easier the more Guardsmen I had under my thrall. It was time to take a bit of a risk. I had plenty of Guardsmen here that could scout out bases and perhaps assist in implanting victims.
Methodical expansion west, I had taken the first step forwards and done so shakily but hadn't alerted half the planet to the fact the Tyranids are back. So with a few squads of troopers from here, we'd steadily do the same thing here to everywhere It needed to happen.
"Where's a data slate I could use a physical map." The last remaining Tech priest scurried out to collect just that while I maneuvered out from my climate-controlled section of the base. To step outside, the place under the whims and mercy if the sun.
It was time to take this infestation and expand it.
