05/09/20
My work over here is actually opening up and I'll be on schedule soon. Yay? Regardless I've been writing a lot less, not really writer's block more I just spend free time gaming. So updates will probably slow down from this point but have no fear, I have no intention of dropping the story and never completing it. I am simply taking a bit more time.
(Noun) A piece of work to be done or undertaken.
Chapter Twenty Four
Task
Primordia is the name given to the sprawling fields and towering mountains that compose the region outside of NLA. This region is at the center of the human civilization here on Mira, with the forests and marshlands of Noctilum to the northwest, the desert of Oblivia to the east and a string of islands to the north connecting them to the white sands of Sylvalum and the burning lands of Cauldros.
Three primary roads have been established within the plains of Primordia.
The First Primordia Road serves in connecting Primordia and Noctilum. The road starts at NLA's West Gate, goes across the West Gate Plain and the Grieving Plains, taking the road offers a view of Biahno Lake and the Biahno Purification Plant off to the left when heading to Noctilum. From there it would continue through the cave and into Noctilum proper.
Buried within the road were FrontierNav Links, devices not unlike the probes that serve the function of maintaining the FrontierNav Network across all of Mira.
FrontierNav Link Towers in the region connect and process all information received from both the Links and the Probes, putting into place a system for faster and more reliable communication as well as the basis for the new internet.
Much like the data probes installed all over Mira, the Link Towers don't look much like Towers as the hardware is also buried to protect it from the many lifeforms of Mira. Unlike the data probes however, the Link Towers can be accessed by BLADEs with the required clearance. The mechanisms then eject from beneath the ground in the form of a tower with several access points to manage all information gathered from the surrounding area.
The Second Primordia Road starts from NLA's East Gate, going through the East Gate Plain as it begins heading for Oblivia. The road goes around Janpath Lake passing through the North Janpath Plains before connecting with the Oblivia Ingress and leading into the desert region.
Both roads are vital as they not only connect the regions, but the allies that live within. The Nopon who occupy the villages high within the trees of Noctilum as well as the Wrothians living in the caves in Oblivia.
The Third Primordia Road branches off from the second in the East Gate Plain and travels north with Sickle Rock Rise on the left and the Silent Mire on the right. The road comes to a stop at the Northpointe Beach with the former resting place of one of the Lifehold's Archive Units nearby.
Northpointe Beach is now home to a shoreside settlement inhabited largely by humans who have moved from NLA though the odd Xenoform here and there show up. Lots of fishing is done within the Northpointe Settlement and the trips to the various islands chaining together Primordia and Sylvalum are managed there.
Journeys to Sylvalum and Cauldros are also planned out at Northpointe however even after all the years spent on Mira, it has been determined that attempting to set up foundations and homes within Sylvalum or Cauldros was not ideal. Even now, those regions are only explored by BLADE teams and other affiliated forces, Xenoforms traverse the land with escorts as well given the no doubt valuable information and mysteries buried in the regions.
With the Ganglion's hold on Cauldros broken, countless teams have been sent to explore the structures that once housed the Ganglion, returning with all sorts of new information and technology now used to improve life on Mira.
The First Primordia Road continues its path through Noctilum, from the highest points of the Humdrum Peaks, one could look down on the wide lake that once housed a vile Xe-dom tyrant known as Go-rha, the Guardian Deity. Having long since been dealt with, the lake is now home to a Nopon port town called Wetboat Town. The Nopons named it.
The ships housed at Wetboat Town are the ones that make regular trips away from The Origin Continent, the name given to the lands of Primordia, Noctilum and Oblivia all together and head to the west towards the unknown.
Or at least, at one point it was unknown. To the west of Noctilum, a new continent was found. New life, new mysteries, new adventures and so much more.
A similar situation arose to the east where the Second Primordia road continued through Oblivia, following the edge of the great abyss and passing by the Cliffside Camp before running parallel to the King's Fall River. Continuing through the Barbarich Desert and ending at the South Coast where the Wrothian Port Town of Shore's Edge sits.
Another continent was discovered in that direction as well, bringing about more advancements in the lives of all those here on Mira.
The changes didn't stop with the Origin Continent, New Los Angeles itself saw some new improvements as well. The fourth quarter of the Habitat Unit that Constantine left open for the future was now filled by the R&D District.
Those in power had debates over whether to advance with Project Expansion, which involved constructing more Habitat Units or Project Civilization, which involved incorporating their peoples into the lands of Mira itself.
Expansion was chosen first and construction on the second and third units of NLA began, the pace at which the job was done was incredibly fast and efficient thanks to the assistance from the Ma'non and the Orphe.
After that was done, Civilization began which saw the construction of the port towns as well as the improvements to the Nopon's treetop home of Uphigh Village and the Wrothian's cavern dwelling, the First Fang.
NLA's defining symbol was no longer just BLADE Tower but also the Lifehold Core which has long since been moved from the waters of Cauldros to the vicinity of NLA. A proud structure signifying the progress humanity has made.
Mira is a far different land now, four years after Starfall. A wider world promising all sorts of new adventures, yet even with the Ganglion gone, the land was still full of hostile indegenous life.
Surviving and thriving was a test, but after four years, it had become something everyone has adapted to.
July 27th 2060 - 4 Years After Starfall
Everything was silent once more. Still. Lonely. Just as it had been that morning. That same lone room in the BLADE Barracks sat in deafening silence as its one occupant laid down on her bed looking up at the ceiling.
There were many thoughts and emotions stirring in her head as always when it came to this specific date. She felt like such a fool for thinking she could muscle through it. Everyone was right when they told her to take it easy, to not force it, to stop working. The monotony, the pattern, the way she's lived her life since the defeat of the Ganglion was the only thing that gave her purpose and peace of mind. But now, four years out, it did nothing for her.
The silence was broken by a few knocks on the door. Elma said nothing, instead waiting for the person to make themselves known.
"It's me."
Nagi. With a heavy sigh, she told him to enter. Once he did so, she could see the obvious emotion in his face.
"Elma."
"You don't have to say anything Nagi. I should've listened to you this morning...it doesn't matter anymore."
Nagi stood in place, crossing his arms and keeping his gaze steady.
"Will you not look for her? Have you given up?"
Elma sat up.
"Never. But…"
She sighed, frustrated. She hated having to face the reality of the situation.
"It's been four years...in all that time this planet has proven to be far too good at keeping secrets...Jaynix's potential location is one of them...I don't have any clues, hints...nothing to look to and work from. I make a promise to her every time I visit the memorial. I tell her that I will find her, I won't give up...I just need time…"
Elma closed her eyes.
"I still hate that I was forced to change her status…"
"Elma."
"I'm still angry at everyone for forcing my hand."
Nagi said nothing in his defense. Keeping Jaynix labeled as MIA for four years...at this point most people gave up hope, accepted the truth and moved on.
"I am sorry. Elma."
"Me too...regardless of my feelings I said terrible things to all of you…"
Nagi took a deep breath.
"What will you do next?"
Elma shrugged.
"I'm not sure...I think I'll take on some BLADE missions just like the old days...get away from NLA and give myself some more space to think."
"Anything in particular you want? I could secure the specific jobs for you."
Elma shook her head.
"It's fine. I'll look into the terminal tomorrow…"
With a nod, Nagi turned to leave.
"Thanks for checking in, Nagi."
"Think nothing of it."
With that, he left the room. Slowly, Elma laid back down onto her bed, staring up at the ceiling once more. Closing her eyes she imagined the bright red eyes of the woman she couldn't forget.
August 3rd, 2060
Out in Primordia, two teams made up of four BLADEs each walked through the open plains. It has been one week following Elysia and Shun's conjoined reports on the Ovis behavior in the region as well as the presence of a suspected Tyrant.
Following the reports, BLADE teams have been put together to force the new Tyrant from the home that it had taken in order to clear the disturbances along the First Primordia Road.
The mission was simple: take out the Indigens following the Tyrant's lead, force the Tyrant out into the open, subjugate it. Yet seven days after the operation had begun, the Tyrant was nowhere to be seen.
New plans and strategies have been formed leading to a dispatch order of three BLADE teams, two have deployed in advance while one more prepares.
Of the two teams now out in Primordia, there is the one up front, the primary team made up of Harriers Shun Kuroichi and Boze Lowes along with Curators Elysia and Mavis.
Following not too far behind them, the second team was made up of Reclaimer Elma, Interceptors Frye and Senti and Harrier Raymond Penn.
While Elma spent most of her days working within NLA and on general dispatch missions in her native Xenoform skin, this mission and the somewhat odd nature of the unknown Tyrant led to her returning once more to her Mimeosome.
The figure she cut today was the same as four years ago, her red armor was without a single scratch, maintained to perfection. Same dark skin, same bright blue eyes and white hair. The only change of note was a strand of her hair now colored a vibrant red. This strip served many purposes but above all, it made sure that Elma would never forget. Ever.
Taking a deep breath, Elma kept moving, calm and collected as the rest of her group began to turn to one another. The first to act was Senti, looking out over the group with a wide and easy smile on her face as always.
The BLADE was picked out of any crowd without issue due to her pink hair and endless pep.
"Alright you lovely lot, what's our gameplan?"
Not too far from her, the giant Shun sighed.
"Unfortunately it's the same as it always has been. We've got to track down this Tyrant's followers and wipe them out. The less of his allies that he has, the less food and territory he's getting. That should rouse him from his hiding spot."
"It would bug me, that's for sure."
Shun turned to Frye who wore a wide smirk.
"I mean if you assholes came into my home and started taking all the food from my fridge, yeah I'd come out and beat ya to death."
"Given how often you're hungover, I doubt that."
Raymond said, a proud smirk on his face as Frye turned to him and glared.
Raymond Penn was a well regarded Harrier, efficient at his job while being absolutely incapable of doing anything else. The man's dark hair was broken up by several long white stripes running through it. His blue eyes, full of joy over Frye's glare kept their focus on the Interceptor.
"I wouldn't be yappin' about all that Ray. Your barracks are worse than most of the young'uns."
Senti commented.
"It's not that bad!"
He called out, Senti laughing.
"No, no it's not. It's far worse, mate."
The group came to a halt upon hearing a loud meow. At the front of the group, Elysia and Mavis knelt down next to Nova whose tail was sticking straight up.
"Looks like we're here."
Elysia commented as Mavis pulled out her datapad and brought up the map information. Mavis wasn't much taller than Elysia, the young woman had short dark hair and wide bright eyes. As she looked through the information she brought a hand to her chin.
"The other day, we took out almost three dozen Grexes in the area we just walked through…"
Several BLADEs turned around, examining the barren fields they had passed through with not a single encounter.
"Safe to say the Tyrant didn't send any more of their followers out. That means his forces are dwindling or they're pulling together."
Elysia and Mavis stood up, Frye shaking his head.
"I sure hope it's the former, Mavis."
"Until we find the Tyrant, all we've got is hope."
Frye gave Mavis a quick nod as Shun walked past them and pulled out his binoculars, finding nothing in the immediate vicinity. It was so strange.
"What do you think about this Boze?"
The bald harrier crossed his arms.
"This Tyrant seems to be a cunning commander. Clearly the creature realized what our strategy was and is adapting."
Shun searched the horizon for a few more moments before sighing.
"So it won't be coming out to meet us?"
Boze shrugged.
"The Bird would know better."
Elysia smiled.
"Well I wouldn't say that. Regardless, we'll be careful as always. Right Elma?"
The entire group fell silent before turning to Elma. Snapping out of her thoughts she looked at the seven other BLADEs and nodded before drawing her blade and gun.
"Of course we will."
Elma did not miss that while most of the BLADEs turned away, Frye and Mavis kept their eyes on her for a few moments longer. Elma gave them her best smile, it didn't convince either of them but they looked away regardless.
Frye was an old friend, so she understood. Mavis had a big heart, she was incredibly empathetic and wanted nothing more than for those around her to be happy and safe. Elma knew her mood was bringing the younger woman down but she couldn't help it.
"It won't just be the eight of us, Gu Ladha is organizing a team of her own.
Shun commented.
"I'd rather we spare a fourth team for this job since it keeps getting bigger but we've got a lot on our plate as it is."
"We'll be right as rain Shun, no need to worry!"
Senti said, confidence in her voice as she held a thumb up towards Shun. The bigger man chuckled before waving to Boze, Elysia and Mavis, signaling them to form up.
Drawing his photon saber, he began moving.
"We'll go in first, if you see any Grexes show up-"
"-we take em out. I got the gist of it good sir."
Raymond stated as he, Senti and Frye drew their weapons and began moving. Taking a deep breath, Elma followed them, both BLADE teams splitting up.
"You can't just put random trash parts together and expect to create something that craps out gold."
Penta stated rather loudly, taking hold of one of Kruse's old projects and giving it a once over. Shaking his head he put it back down and sighed.
"Come on chap, these jolly little trinkets here aren't going to accomplish much I mean, this one looks like it's broken."
Kruse crossed his arms, smiling as Penta continued to look through his warehouse. The pair had hit a bit of a roadblock in their work and so Kruse suggested looking into his old devices. Any of them were open to be dismantled, the spare parts could help.
"At this point I'm better off heading to the Industrial District and putting in a request…"
"I get it, Penta. I do."
"You damn bloody well better."
Penta muttered, Kruse spotted a smile on the other man's face as they neared the back of the warehouse. Every project and box of supplies had a sensor attached to them that would produce a holographic list, detailing everything used in the specific project.
Reading one over, Penta shook his head before turning around. The man tilted his head and raised an eyebrow upon seeing some strange device that was clearly still operating.
"Kruse old chap...what's this?"
Approaching, the young wolf looked at the device and sighed. Penta waited, patient as ever as Kruse attempted to put it into words.
"This is a...deep space communicator. Kriss built it."
Penta took a deep breath.
"Kriss Fowler…"
Kruse moved closer, running a hand along the device, the dust coloring his finger. Shaking his head he found some cleaning supplies and got to work.
"What's it for?"
"Originally it was designed so Elma could talk to her brother, Aeon."
"Ah. This was the device that gave us the warning. About the Ganglion attack, yes?"
"The very same."
Penta looked at it, curious. It wasn't often these days you got to see something constructed by Kriss Fowler. The woman had all but abandoned interacting with anyone else after the Ganglion were wiped out. Just like she said she would.
"Why is something so important gathering dust at the back of your dingy little warehouse?"
"It's not dingy...and it wasn't originally here."
Kruse continued to clean the device which looked significantly more impressive without the layers of dust covering it.
"Elma had it in her room at the BLADE Barracks after Starfall. Hoping that...Aeon would reach out to her again."
"Ah hell…"
Crossing his arms, Penta looked down at the ground.
"...after that, she held onto it on the off chance that…"
Kruse hesitated, his motions stopping. Penta approached and placed a hand on his shoulder. The men regarded each other, Kruse sighing before stepping away from the device, his work done.
As he stared at it, he remembered that moment. Seeing the communicator day in and day out yet not receiving anything from it did nothing to improve Elma's mood.
In rage, she nearly destroyed it. She woke Kruse in the middle of the night in tears, begging him to repair it.
Shaking his head, Kruse did his best to force the memories away.
"I'm holding on to it…"
"Do you think it'll pick anything up?"
Kruse sighed.
"...no...but I hope I'm wrong."
At their silence, Penta spotted something else in the warehouse and approached it. Tapping on the side of the container a holographic list appeared, tilting his head he read through it before nodding.
"Hm. This has what we're looking for. What is it?"
Kruse turned around, recognizing the old piece.
"This is a reserve energy bank for Mimeosomes."
"It's pretty big for a Mimeosome."
Kruse nodded as he and Penta began to haul the object out of the warehouse.
"Yes, well. This model in particular goes inside of a Skell. It was something that was originally proposed by the Koos on Earth and then developed by a few teams at their facility including…"
Shaking his head, Kruse continued.
"Suffice it to say, we didn't know what waited for us during the Exodus and especially not afterwards. This was designed and installed as a precaution. We've since come up with a more advanced version so…"
"The rest went to waste eh?"
Kruse chuckled.
"We're putting it to use now though. Doesn't seem like much of a waste to me."
Penta shrugged.
"I suppose not, chap. Alrighty then, let's get back to work. Do something fun."
Kruse laughed.
"I'm glad you agree."
Outside of the warehouse, the pair put the reserve tank down. Penta began searching for a dolly or grav platform, complaining about how the place was not well kept in the slightest.
Kruse's smile faded as he looked into the warehouse once more, thinking about the device at the very back which continued to do what it was designed to. He really hoped that he was wrong, he wanted nothing more.
With that he closed the door and returned to work.
A series of loud howls cut through the fields of Primordia as a dozen Grexes emerged from caves and rocky outcroppings. Howling once more they charged towards the four BLADEs and the cat that stood not too far from them.
Boze pulled out his sniper rifle and fired on the leading Grex's leg. The beast fell over, tripping several of the ones behind it.
"Seems they found us. Clever commander indeed. Bird! Pebble! Boulder! Go!"
With determined nods, the other three BLADEs charged to meet the Grexes head on while Nova retreated to Boze's side as the old Harrier continued to fire on the Indigens from afar.
Reeling her arm back, Mavis let her javelin loose, the projectile flew through the air and buried itself in the skull of one of the Grexes. Shun moved in front of her, stunning speed for a man his size. His photon saber flashed as it carved through the flesh of a Grex, the beast doing its best to strike him only to find his armor refusing to give.
With one more decisive strike he threw it to the ground, dead. Standing atop of it, Mavis drew her dual guns and fired on the crowd of beasts. Spinning his blade, Shun charged past her.
Elsewhere, being provided cover fire by Boze, Elysia ducked under several Grexes. Her size made it easy for her to slip past and through the beasts, all of them unable to keep their eyes on her as her blades tore through their flesh.
Determined expression in her eyes, she watched the three before her as they began to stalk her. Two more ran off heading for Boze who drew his javelin to meet them.
Elysia tightened her grip on her blades, she spends almost every one of her days watching Indigens, making notes about every single facet of their behavior. Their diets, their hierarchy, everything.
Yet the Grexes did something strange in this moment. Usually when several attack at once, the one in the back maintains distance. That one is the commander. Instead all three of the Grexes moved in at once, the front two smashing into each other awkwardly while the third lunged over them and at her.
Acting quickly, she rolled to the side before rushing past the Grexes, her blades slashing through their legs and toppling them.
One of the Grexes turned and lunged at her, Elysia hopped away from it as it crashed into the ground. Seizing the opportunity, she buried her blades in its skull.
Tearing the weapons free and turning to the other two she looked past them to see Mavis retrieving her javelin and leaping away from another Grex.
Shun was right there with her as the beast reared up on its hind legs. Slamming his feet into the earth, Shun raised his arm, colliding it with the Grex's underbelly to keep it at bay. The strength of Overdrive flowed through him as his photon saber began to glow and extended far and wide, one mighty slash killed the beast.
Turning, he nodded to Mavis and the pair took off for another group.
Not far from the first team of BLADEs, the second found a similar group of Grexes descending on their location. Senti wore a wide smile as she stepped in front of the four.
"It's always a good feelin' when they make our job easy isn't it, loves?"
Frye chuckled, drawing his gatling gun, the barrel beginning to spin.
"We'll always be in agreement on that."
Opening fire, bullets riddled the cliffside as the Grexes descended like a stampede, everyone that was shot tumbled over to the bottom of the cliff and struggled to stand as the rest fell upon the group.
Waving her arms, Senti sent out her psycho launchers which took their positions above her and opened fire. Drawing her photon saber she advanced, a spring in her step as she neared the first Grex.
As it swung at her, she flicked her wrist. The launchers began spinning and shot forward, slamming against the Grex's claw and knocking it back. Wide open, Senti slashed open its body, the beast falling over in pain.
One approached her from behind only to be intercepted by Raymond, swinging his longsword, embers covered his body. Drawing the attention of the surrounding Grexes he charged forward, cutting through their hides as they chased him, eager to bring him down.
Senti watched him go, four Grexes all around and sighed.
"You are always like this Ray. You should try to take it nice and slow sometimes!"
She turned to another Grex as a line of missiles from Frye's gatling gun struck its side. Without missing a beat she buried her blade into its skull. Leaping over the dead body she continued her advance.
Drawing his longsword Frye looked to Elma.
"Hey."
Her eyes found his. The pair stared at one another for a moment longer before he turned to join the fight. Hands tightening on her sword and gun, Elma began walking, several Grexes noticed her and began to stalk.
The first charged causing Elma to activate her blade. At the notch along the center of her blade, the weapon came apart, powerful blue lights then encased the blade, a shell of ether extended the end of the weapon, holding the two pieces together.
Her gun did something similar, the pieces that made up the weapon separated from one another to reveal a ball of concentrated ether in the center.
Turning towards the Grex she fired, a powerful ether pulse covered the area, stunning the Grex. Holding her blade in a reverse grip she charged forward, slicing clean through its lower body. Another Grex charged in from behind, turning slightly she leapt and flipped over, throwing her legs wide to complete the rotation as the Grex's claw tore through its dead comrade.
Now over the second Grex, she fired at its back, the blow throwing it into the ground with immense force. Landing on it she ran her blade through its spine.
Some foreign memory forced itself into her mind. Dismissing it she turned to another pair of Grexes as they ran towards her, maws open wide. The pieces of her gun began to retract before she fired off a smaller ether beam into one of their gaping mouths, she watched the beast break off and struggle with the ether burns all over its mouth.
The second one reached her, teeth snapping shut on the space she was in moments ago. Sliding right out of range she ran her blade through the underside of its mouth and out the top. Aiming her gun at its feet she fired, the beast fell over, exposing its side.
Tearing her blade free, she spun away, the pieces of her gun tightening up around the concentrated ether. Several loud shots followed, concentrated bolts of ether slicing through the Grex's body.
The last one returned at that moment only for Senti, surrounded by a force field created by her Psycho Launchers, to shoot in and tackle the beast from the side.
Holding her arms forward, the shield dispersed and the launchers unloaded electric projectiles onto the Grex, frying it to death.
Turning, she looked on as Frye and Raymond, longswords in hand, dealt with the last few Grexes with the ease gained only after years of practice.
Senti's eyes moved to Elma as the glow of ether faded from her weapons, the blade and gun reassembling and returning to their places on her person.
"How ya been love?"
Elma turned to Senti.
"Good."
The other woman tilted her head.
"Are ya? You look a lil lost if you don't mind me saying."
Elma cast a glance at Frye and Raymond who were counting the corpses, no doubt for some sort of competition.
"Do I? Did Penta say something?"
Senti smiled.
"No, I doubt he'd pick up on it. No offense to him of course."
Elma chuckled.
"I doubt anything could offend Penta but I'm sure you'd know better…"
"Oh you know my husband well enough, what you see is what you get. He's wonderful."
The women shared a nod, Frye opened his datapad and made a call to Shun.
"I am bein' real honest though Elma. This whole last week, you've been looking sadder than a kicked puppy."
Elma kept her eyes on the ground.
"Have I?"
"Oh yes...I can see it. It's like there's somethin' you want but seem to believe you can't have."
Senti shook her head.
"That don't sound like the Elma I've come to know."
"Alright gang! Shun's team reported a similar attack. Elysia says it's possible this was the Tyrant simply testing us. She believes he's nearby so we're going to check out the caves up ahead. Who wants to be my cave buddy?"
Raymond struck Frye in the shoulder.
"Who else? I can't trust you to keep the score fair if you go off on your own."
Frye laughed.
"Say what you want, I don't buy it. Besides, you're just as likely to-"
"Alright boys, cut the chitter chatter."
Senti called out before putting an arm around Elma's waist.
"You two go on and get lost in the caves. Elma and I will find the Tyrant and complete the mission. Fair? Good on ya!"
Without another word, Senti walked off, with Elma firmly in her grasp.
At the Beta Wolf lab, Kruse and Penta sat at a table with several sheets of blueprints and assorted schematics before them. The pair was designing a new line of vehicles capable of traversing land and water.
While Skells were always the go to, not everyone had Skell Certification and this project was proposed by the settlers over at Northpointe for a new method of traversing the island chains and reaching Sylvalum.
"It'd have to be armored. We all know the hell that Sylvalum is."
Penta commented as his eyes searched the schematics. Reaching to his side Kruse pulled out old blueprints for the line of armored vehicles they currently had in service.
"This would be a good start."
"Yeah it sure would mate if our goal is to sink it."
"Obviously not."
Kruse rolled his eyes as Penta pulled out his datapad.
"What now?"
"What now? It's my wife. What? You think I shouldn't keep on top of her? Remember the time you didn't answer a call from Harriet?"
Kruse sighed.
"Not to mention you have a lil sprout. So maybe-"
"Just check the messages, I need to track down another blueprint."
Leaving the table, Kruse headed back to his workbench, leafing through the assorted files in his search for something, anything to distract him.
Seeing that communicator in his storehouse brought back memories he had no desire to revisit.
Looking at the various blueprints he noted that one was in an old format from before BLADE. The numbers and the security details were from the time of the Coalition.
Raising an eyebrow, he took a hold of it.
"Why would I have something this old?"
Pulling it out, he ignored Penta asking him if he said anything. Looking through it, he immediately realized what it was.
Coalition Government
Classified Skell Design Documentation
ID: 51775288-032120
Frame Class: Medium
Designation: Firebird
Pilot:
Folding the document Kruse turned to the nearest drawer and shoved it inside. Stepping away from it he returned to the table.
"Mate, you won't believe this Tyrant. Senti says that Elysia says-"
Penta trailed off.
"Mate? You alright? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Kruse shook his head.
"It's nothing. What were you saying?"
In the system of caves the BLADE teams found themselves in, Elysia and Nova proceeded along quietly and carefully. Boze's steps were significantly louder than both of them but the moment Elysia raised an arm, he froze in place.
"Bird. Tell me honestly. What do you think of this Tyrant?"
Elysia moved down the rocky corridor, leaning past the corners, checking for hostile Indigens.
"I'm not sure."
Boze raised an eyebrow.
"You're not sure? Recognizing Indigen patterns is...you're the best at it."
"Nothing about this Tyrant matches up. Given that it uses Grexes as its footsoldiers means that, simply put, it should be a Grex but it's not acting like a Grex. It's too smart. Not to say Grexes are dumb but..."
Boze continued to move forward as Elysia signaled him to do so, he noted the young woman tighten up as several Blattas scurried by.
"From what the report on them says, they are led by an alpha pair and operate in a dozen or so. Between us we've taken out two dozen, not counting the ones we've dealt with in our earlier searches."
Elysia came to another stop, the tunnel opening up in front of her to reveal a large cavern that was empty save for the carcasses of dead Indigens.
Boze watched Elysia's stance slump over, following the direction he was facing, he noticed several thoroughly eaten Ovis.
"Bird."
Shaking her head she walked into the cave, Nova pressing himself against her legs.
"Those waves that came at us today knew we'd be there and they came out to fight...Grexes are territorial yes but...they weren't on watch. Shun said so himself, we walked right past the perimeter they established yesterday and they didn't establish a new one today. They retreated."
Boze cleared his throat.
"I am concerned about where you might be going with your theory."
Elysia nodded.
"Me too."
The pair's attention was drawn to distant gunfire. Boze tightened his hold on his javelin before locking eyes with Elysia. The BLADEs and the cat continued forward, a strange sense filling them.
Raymond tore his blade out of a Grex, swinging it wide to force the blood off of it. Behind him Frye searched the cavern, hand tightened on the hilt of his longsword.
Three Grexes charged them the moment they entered the cave, it didn't take long to subdue them all but something about it did not feel right.
"What are you thinking, Frye?"
The man sighed.
"I think Phog was right."
"About what?"
Turning from the bodies, Frye walked towards Raymond.
"He has been looking into the reports of the Tyrant as well. Elysia hands them off to anyone willing to fill in the blanks. Indigen behavioral studies is a team effort after all. He told me something was off about the whole thing and asked me not to go."
Raymond shook his head.
"You never did listen to Phog, did you?"
Frye shrugged.
"Not just that...if he's right and there is something more to this then I have to be out here. I'm one of the best. I survived Starfall!"
Raymond watched pride form in Frye's face only for it to fade just as quickly.
"Frye."
"Let's not get into it Ray. Besides, Elma is here with us. We've got this."
Frye turned away and began heading for one of the corridors, Raymond observed their surroundings, narrowing his eyes before following Frye.
Mavis and Shun stood aside as a large group of Blattas ran past them and through another corridor.
"Strange."
Shun looked down at his companion as she continued.
"Blattas only scurry like that if they're threatened or if there is adverse weather outside...Ely told me that."
Shun looked up and into the corridor the Blattas disappeared into.
"You don't think they're just going over there because they want to?"
Mavis shook her head.
"I wish I could say…"
"Maybe we should call Elysia. If she can-"
Shun turned, hearing a growl, then another. Igniting his photon saber he slowly began to walk forward. There were four corridors that led into this cavern. Three of them were now blocked by emerging Grexes. The only one open was the one that the Blattas had disappeared into.
Mavis was at Shun's back in an instant, guns drawn.
"They're leading us."
Mavis whispered, Shun nodded. That much was abundantly clear. Narrowing his eyes, Shun charged just as one of the Grexes did. Mavis opened fire on the other two, keeping them at bay as Shun's blade seared across the hide of one of the savage beasts.
Sitting in a small cavern, Senti watched as Elma pulled her blade out of a solitary Grex. Nothing else appeared to assail them which was unexpected.
Elma looked over at Senti, the other woman smiled.
"You can talk to me, love. I'm all ears."
"I know Senti. Thank you...I just...have to focus on the mission. I joined it for a reason."
"Do you mind me asking what the reason is?"
Elma sighed. At her silence, Senti stood up.
"It's fine. If it's that important I doubt anything I say would convince you one way or the other. Your choices are yours, Elma."
The women turned to face the only corridor that would lead them out of the cave when a call came through on Senti's datapad.
"Oh Penta. I sent you those messages so you wouldn't call me. I'm busy dear."
Answering it, she laughed.
"Oh, Ely. Sorry, I thought you were someone else."
Elma watched as the smile on Senti's face faded, replaced by a serious expression. Sheathing her blade, Elma approached.
"...and so...I think we should all leave. Right now."
"What? Why?"
"Oh. Hey Elma."
Senti looked to her companion.
"Elysia says something about this operation no longer feels right. The Grex aren't acting like Grex. She noticed it on the battlefield outside but it's even more apparent to her here. The cave is too still, too quiet and Frye and Raymond just reported a sickening smell. Something neither of them recognize."
Elma raised an eyebrow.
"Elysia. What do you think? Be honest."
"...at first I thought it was possible the Grex were being forced to do what they're doing. Frightened by their new alpha or whoever it is that's in command...but they're fighting us to the death and attempting to lead us somewhere. They're doing this voluntarily and I don't think I need to remind you that Indigens, all animals really, have a specific nature. They live their lives in a specific way. Outliers exist but I just can't believe that every single Grex outlier formed a pack under a similar Tyrant. The proper conduct for a Grex when their home is invaded is an all out and savage rebuttal. We should be swarmed in Grexes, they should be throwing everything they have at us."
Elma and Senti turned upon hearing a strange roar. It seemed to echo all throughout the cavern. Senti flinched and brought a hand up to the side of her head.
The roar grew louder, the call was incredibly warbly and seemed to be coming from every direction.
Elma watched as Senti fell to her knees, then she felt it too, something in her head. Shaking her head fiercely she took hold of Senti and helped her up.
Two Grexes emerged from one of the corridors, standing in place and watching Elma and Senti.
"Ely. Get everyone together and get out of here."
Elma whispered.
"Y-yes ma'am."
With that, the call ended. The two Grexes entered the cavern, two more following their lead and then two more after that.
Tapping Senti's shoulder, Elma gestured at the only other path. Both women took off through it, the gathered Grexes stood in place, not a one showing any interest in chasing them down.
"Telling us to get out is one thing Ely. But these corridors all look the same, it's a damned cave."
Frye sighed as Raymond approached one of the walls and gave it a knock.
"You'd think during all these years we'd invest in some spelunking and accurate internal mapping."
Raymond commented before lowering himself to the ground and pressing his ear against the floor. Closing his eyes he listened as best he could. Frye continued to wave his arm in front of his face, that sickening smell was still following them.
Standing Raymond shook his head.
"We're going the wrong way."
"No shit."
Turning, Raymond began walking back the way they came when the pair heard something strange. Like countless creatures running along the rock walls towards them. From the darkness came hundreds of Blattas.
"What the-"
Frye grabbed Raymond's arm and pulled him along, the pair ran as quickly as they could down the corridor before seeing a fork in the path and turning, the horde of Blattas running down the other path.
Frye continued running, Raymond hot on his tail when they entered an open cavern but one unlike any of the others they'd been to. Cursing, Frye covered his face.
"What the hell is that smell!?"
Raymond looked up to see strange fungus growing all over the rocks along the ceiling, the entire cavern had a strange purple glow.
"Did we...are we in Noctilum?"
"Hell no, this cave system isn't that long."
Frye stated, shaking his head. Hearing steps the men drew their blades and waited. Eventually Elma and Senti appeared at the other side of the cavern. The pairs of BLADEs looked to each other in surprise and began walking towards one another. Elma commenting.
"I take it this is that strange smell."
"Strange? It's putrid. It's like everything died here. Just...all of it!"
Elma examined the room as another call came in.
"Elysia?"
"Yeah, Boze and I found Shun and Mavis, we're going to start looking for an exit, where are all of you?"
The four heard a deep groan and turned, weapons drawn. There was another entrance into the cavern, it was bigger and the walls were covered in some sort of viscous fluid. The groaning grew louder as did the steps.
Elma could barely make out the creature approaching but it was massive. She whispered something leading to all four BLADEs stepping back slowly and in unison.
What first came into the light was one of its legs, a pale flesh colored leg. At the leg's joint Elma could see several eyes open up and search the surroundings.
Then the rest of the beast came into view, Senti and Raymond looked upon it with fear while Elma and Frye recognized the beast though neither of them were able to hide the immense worry in their expressions.
Three tentacle-like tails whipped out behind it, striking the cavern while its long vile head opened up into four sections, revealing rows upon rows of teeth as it let loose another warbling cry.
All four BLADEs felt it this time, something foreign invaded their heads. Elysia was right. None of the Indigens were acting like themselves.
They were all under the influence of Control.
"Elma."
Senti whispered, fear in her voice.
"What...is it?"
Elma kept her eyes on the abomination that stood before them. Her grip on her weapons continued to tighten, some long forgotten anger burning within.
"It's a product of the Lifehold…"
She finally answered.
"...a Chimera."