"Kayla. Kayla! Let's use our words, Kayla!" pleaded Brodmar.
Kayla marched up to the Grandmaster and ignited her main hand lightsaber, holding the blade at the man's throat.
"You sent us to that planet to die," she said firmly, "why!?"
"Kayla! Away your weapon this in-"
But the Grandmaster held up a hand, silencing the Revanite Master.
"…How many men did you lose?" asked the powerful Revanite.
"What? Um… Uh… A hundred and ninety-eight," said Kayla.
"…Are any of you injured?" asked the Grandmaster.
"N-No Grandmaster," Kayla said as she lowered and deactivated main hand lightsaber.
"Good," said the Grandmaster, "then we now know what we are up against, and we know how many troops we must mobilize."
"Mobilize, Grandmaster?" asked Geza.
"Yes," said the Grandmaster, "as I said, now we know who we're up against. It appears that these invaders that have arrived in our galaxy are called… Zerg. And they have come from the farthest reaches of space for one reason and one reason alone… Force Users."
The four young Revanites looked at each other.
"Why would they be here for us?" asked Geza.
"I don't know. I was only able to gain the information I required by probing the minds of those quadrupeds called 'zerglings', through them I was able to connect with the minds of the creatures who were working together to shield themselves from my mental intrusion," said the Grandmaster, "these Zerg seem to be in the process of terraforming the planet Vilia and have gotten finished taking over at least five settlements on the planet; once they have completely conquered Vilia, I sense they will use that as the primary staging point to conquer the next planet… And the next… Until they reach their target."
Kayla and the other Hunters looked at each other, then they looked at the Grandmaster.
"Well, there has to be something we can do," said Nezarr.
"There is," said the Grandmaster, "we go to war."
"Go to war?" asked Brodmar.
"Yes," said the Grandmaster, "I am sending an invasion force to Vilia so we can halt the Zerg before they have a chance to completely secure a staging point for themselves. The Mandalorians will be sending their best warriors to provide support for the invasion, no doubt they will want a piece of the action."
"Sending an invasion force to take down an alien menace that likely has endless numbers?" asked Brodmar.
The young Hunter grinned.
"I'm in," said Brodmar.
"As am I," said Geza.
"Me too," said Nezarr.
"…Alright," said Kayla, "let's hit them back."
"Good. Now, return to your quarters… Except for you Lady Abaven," said the Grandmaster, "I wish to have a word with you."
"…Me?" asked Kayla.
The Grandmaster nodded. The other Hunters left. Kayla swallowed.
"…Um… Grandmaster… I want to apologize for what happened-"
The Grandmaster put his hand up.
"You are entitled to being cross with me… You are entitled to having an outburst if you feel that your life has been jeopardized like it was when I sent you to that planet. As you recall… Our tactics and methods are much more… Unorthodox, if not borderline… Suicidal… However, I want you to know that those soldiers knew the risk and still volunteered to go on the mission," said the Grandmaster.
Kayla didn't say anything. The Grandmaster continued.
"Having said that… There are limits to the kind of outbursts I will tolerate," he said, "raise your hand to me like that again… And I shall have you live out the rest of your days believing you are a six-year-old child."
Kayla blinked.
"R-Really?" she asked, "ehe, funny, I thought you'd kill me."
"…I'd have one of your fellow Hunters braid your hair as well," added the Grandmaster.
Kayla's smile faded.
"Uh… I-I understand Grandmaster," she said before scampering out.
"…You'd really do that to her Grandmaster?" asked Lonnic.
"…You know I never kill my Revanites unless I they've been captured," said the Grandmaster.
/\/\/\/\/\
Back on the planet Vilia, a sort of… Psionic Council was taking place between seven powerful individuals… Seven powerful beings who had been tasked with leading this campaign.
"Scores of my forces slaughtered by those Terrans. Scores!" screamed Aszivor, "they dare to intrude on us while we are busy preparing this planet to become the primary staging point for our invasion of this system!?"
"Calm yourself, Aszivor," said Kudril, "those were not ordinary Terrans, they had special warriors with them who radiated with power that's much greater than our own. I do believe that these may have been the ones I sensed when we reached the edge of this galaxy."
"And now since you scared them off, we were unable to capture them, you fool!" barked Airedul.
"They were chased off yes," said Kudril, "but I have a feeling this will not be the last that we see them."
"They may mobilize and launch an invasion of the planet," said Ygasel.
"We must prepare," said Krurk.
"And we shall," said Kudril, "Idokar, Naruk, Aszivor, continue as plan and prepare the planet for the arrival of Swarm reinforcements. Airedul, Ygasel, Krurk, and I shall deal with these Terrans and their psionic warriors personally."
/\/\/\/\/\
Two weeks had passed since the ambush at Vilia. During that time, the Grandmaster had mobilized a large invasion force consisting of Revanites and Mandalorian warriors. Led by High Master Kalecas Callove, Kovez Zanch from Clan Cold-Blood and Traick Shal from Clan Zaijen, the invasion force made their way to the colonial planet, which was slowly falling more and more under the control of the Zerg.
Moments before the fleet arrived, Kalecas briefed everyone on the invasion plan.
"First trick, will be getting our troops on the ground," he said, "our primary goal will be to take the settlement Calcheth and use it as a staging area for the rest of our forces. Quincol will lead the primary assault and get the attention of the Zerg while Kovez's forces provide support. Master Lonnic will have his Hunters deploy outside of the battlezone and intercept any nearby clusters of Zerg that can quickly provide reinforcements. Traick will have his warriors support the Hunters, so they don't risk getting overwhelmed."
"The biggest problem is going to be the colonists. One of my Hunters informed me that the locals seem to have been… Infected by the creatures and were twisted… Corrupted into some kind of slave-like abominations," said Lonnic, "do not hesitate to cut them down if you come across any of them when you hit the ground."
"Why do we always get the fun missions?" asked Kayla.
"Pfft, you guys getting the fun missions? I'm the one who's getting the fun mission," said Vaukel.
"Your brother's right," said Daralec, "we've got to jump right into the thick of those monsters and try and secure a landing zone. It's not like we're going to be battling your old imperial buddies."
"Hardy, har, har," said Kayla.
"Aw, is the big, bad Hunter afraid of running into a whole mess of those insects again?" teased Orthus.
Kayla blushed.
"W-W-What? D-D-Don't be stupid Orthus, I'm not scared," said Kayla, "I'm a big girl."
"Oh? Then I suppose you don't need my party to back up your team," said Orthus.
"Eh?" asked Kayla.
"Yeah," said Orthus, "my party will be supporting your team when you deploy… Big girl."
Kayla felt her cheeks get hot.
"…I didn't think you were so dirty, Kayla," said Vaukel.
Kayla squeaked.
"WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT PRYING INTO MY THOUGHTS!?" she snapped.
"I hate to interrupt," said Master Ersanan, "but it's time to head to your ships."
And with that, everyone broke off and headed to their designated gunships and transports. The Revanite and Mandalorian fleet began to move into low orbit, once they were at the appropriate distance from the surface of the planet, the gunships and transports were deployed to the ground. The gunships containing Revanite Troopers, Mandalorian Warriors and Revanite Vanguard, made their way to the Calcheth… But there was a problem.
"We've got surface fire!" yelled the pilot.
Vaukel looked out the window and saw a Revanite gunship get struck with some kind of corrosive projectile, causing it to explode and go down.
"What the hell!?" he exclaimed.
Soon, more and more of those projectiles came flying towards the gunships, taking down at least two of the aircraft at a time. Daralec heard his holo-communicator go off and he answered it.
"Commander Halbend," said Daralec.
"Sir, we can't risk landing the vehicles until you take out… Whatever it is that's shooting those spores," he said.
"Pull back, we'll handle this," said Daralec.
The Revanite transports carrying the walkers and tanks pulled back.
"Who's up for a challenge?" asked Daralec, "we're not getting any armor support until those spore shooters are out of commission."
"Eh, shit," said a Revanite trooper.
The gunships touched down just thirty feet away from the drop zone and the Revanite forces were deployed. The Cold-Blood Mandalorian warriors, being the battle-hardened Chads that they were, continued to their destination by leaving their gunships by jetpack. Vaukel, Daralec and a few other Revanite Vanguard led the troopers to the settlement from the front.
"Daralec, this is Zank Nuk, we've identified the source of where those spores are coming from," a Mandalorian warrior said on the comm, "they're coming from some kind of living structures that are positioned around the settlement. I'm also noticing other living structures that seem more… Firmly planted to the ground right next to them, be wary."
"Appreciate the warning Zank, how's opposition?" asked Daralec.
"My warriors and I have engaged those vicious aliens and infected colonists," said Zank, "we've got them focused on us for the moment."
"Understood, we're closing in on-"
"DARALEC!" Vaukel barked as he blew the Revanite back.
A tendril came out of the ground and attempted to impale the young man.
"What the hell!?" exclaimed Daralec.
"You're welcome," said Vaukel.
Vaukel ignited his lightsaber and began deflecting oncoming blaster fire from several infected colonists who were posted at the settlement.
"For the Swarm!" one of them roared.
"Troopers! Focus fire!" barked Vaukel, "watch for that structure located at the border of the settlement!"
Revanite Troopers fired on the colonists and watched themselves as the structure with the sharpened tendril was now on the attack. Every time the sharpened tendril bore into the ground and came up, it was a different spot every time. Vaukel wasn't having it, so he jumped at the tendril when it came up again and sliced off the tip with his lightsaber.
"Go, go, go!" he ordered.
An infected colonist, likely a captain, pointed at the invading Revanites and a swarm of zerglings unborrowed and rushed them.
"Zerglings!" barked a trooper.
"Cut them down! Don't let them get behind you!" ordered Daralec.
Daralec and Vaukel began cutting through the swarm of zerglings, reducing the monstrous aliens to chunks of meat with swift, powerful swings of their blades.
Vaukel stabbed a zergling in the face and sent it flying back with Force Push, then he jumped at another zergling and stabbed it right through the back, without losing momentum, he kicked another zerging in the face and sliced off its scythe-like appendages before slicing off half of its face. Vaukel took the two severed scythe blades and hurled them at two zerglings, impaling them and killing them.
"Show off!" Daralec called out as he gripped and snapped a zergling's neck.
As the Revanite warriors cut through the small Zerg creatures, Revanite Troopers slowly made their way closer and closer to the settlement, each soldier laid down quick bursts of blaster fire at the swarming zerglings, watching their backs and minding the blaster fire coming from the infected colonists. The colonists that were not cut down though, were met a gruesome fate at the hands of the Mandalorians, whether being blasted or blown to pieces from their rockets or even being impaled by their vibroblades and tossed off from their posts.
One Mandalorian on the other hand, took things a step further and torched five infected colonists with their flamethrower. Zank looked over at the Revanites and saw they had yet to take out the Zerg anti-air structures, or spore colonies, as his warriors were still struggling to hold command of the skies. Zank turned and motioned for four of his warriors to go and take out the structures before hurling a handful of concussion grenades at a group of infected colonists that were firing at them from below.
"This is getting us nowhere," Vaukel grunted as he grabbed a zergling with Force Grip and snapped its neck.
"Agreed," said, Revanite Vanguard, Kelvadan, "no matter how many we cut down, they seem to reinforce their troops."
Vaukel looked out in the distance.
"Kayla… I hope you found a nearby cluster," he thought.
He looked around and saw a Revanite Trooper get swarmed and torn to pieces by five zerglings.
"Otherwise, this fight is going to end on their terms," he thought.