The tree lines parted and the first group of Brumaks marched out. Every assault derricks began to disperse from the lead rig, hoping to steer away from the threat.
"All derrick pilots, do not separate," Kinsley shouted in his throat mic. "Stick together!"
Al peered through the side viewport, seeing that he wasn't the lead rig anymore. Several other derricks began to sped up, passing him.
He shielded his eyes as a nearby carrier exploded. He could see the crew aflame and jumping off the deck, disappearing in the forest below. The irg itself suddenly tipped over.
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Grong thrust the butt of his rifle in the face of a human; its fragile jaw bone popped out of place. The human crashed to the metal deck, groaning in pain. Grong looked down at it with disgust at the filthy creature.
Placing the thick sole of his combat boot on the human's head, he said, "What a plague you are!" And without any force, Grong crushed its head like a walnut. With a crunch the human's head popped, gore and brain matter stuck onto the bottom of his boot.
Grong's and a squad of companions had taken control of the human vessel; with markings he couldn't read-H-E-A-T-H-E-R.
An uproar of howls of triumph erupted behind Grong. He looked back to see his comrades waving their weapons in the air.
"Humans!" One of Grong's squad mates shouted, pointing at another nearby human vessel.
On the side of the vessel was a human female laying on several clouds, and under her were a series of more unreadable markings; T-R-I-S-H.
"Bring us about," he barked at the new pilot.
Grong slung his rifle and removed a bundle of rope from his shoulder. At the end of the rope was a three pronged hook. Six of his comrades followed his demonstration.
The Locust pilot of the "HEATHER" spun the wheel frantically, intending on ramming the newest human vessel.
Whirling the grappling hook, the Locusts gave a powerful throw. With succession, they had hooked on the railings.
Grong gripped the rope firmly, every muscle in his biceps tightened. And with a battle cry, he leapt off the conquered vessel and slammed hard against the hull of the next vessel.
Grinning, Grong began to pull himself up. Anxious to prove himself farther, the Locust soldier grabbed on to the railing and pulled himself up, with a grin still stretched on his face. But his bloodlust had disappeared as he saw the barrel of a Gnasher shotgun greeting him.
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Major Dixon displayed a grin as the first Locust Drone tried to board TRISH. He pulled the trigger of his shotgun and the Drone's head vanished in a mist of gore; blood and brain matter staining the Major's armor.
A squad of Drones began to board the rig. As soon as the thick soles of their boots landed on deck, they began to emptied the magazines of their rifles.
Gears of Alpha company started to drop like flies.
An Alpha next to Sheppard had received a bullet between his eyes. With only a quick hesitation, the Captain unleashed another jet of flame from his Scorcher. The invading Drones dropped their weapons and ran around the deck in screaming agony; four of them jumped into the ocean of green below, the remaining two had been fill with Lancer rounds.
Staff Sergeant White mounted the Mulcher gun on to the railing and aimed at the Locust driver. Then the Gatling gun's barrels began to rotated and a hail of projectiles spat out, shredded the enemy pilot into pieces. The derrick's speed reduced and it veered off to the left.
Kinsley ran to the back of the rig, witnessing the other derricks still being harassed by the Reaver Riders.
Al gave a sigh of relief. "Hey, Lieutenant Colonel! We made it! I think we're gonna make it to Landown safe an' sound."
A pair of trees twenty meters ahead parted and a Brumak stepped out into the open. It looked around until bearing sights on TRISH. Posturing itself in a charging stance it let out a massive roar.
"Oh, so ya wanna play, eh?" Al narrowed his eyes at the beast.
The rig began to pick up speed.
Kinsley turned his attention to the front of the derrick. His eyes widened, and he shouted into his throat mic, "Al, what the hell are you doing?!"
But their was no response.
The Brumak's targeting system locked onto the rig; missiles were armed and ready to fire.
"Everyone brace yourself!"
Corpsman Turner threw himself onto the wounded Alphas. Echo squad and the rest of the Alphas wrapped their arms around the railings.
"Ahhhhhhh!" Al gripped the wheel, intending on ramming the beast.
A series of hisses caused Kinsley to look up. A deafening roar of defeat escaped from the Brumak as three missiles impacted against its chest. And the beast stumbled backwards until finally crashing to the ground.
The thunderous rotors of a King Raven circled above TRISH.
"Hey, the names Brent," the pilot's voice responded from Kinsley's earpiece. "Warrent Officer Brent. You need firepower, you call me, alright? Now, what can I do for you today?"
Before the Lieutenant Colonel could answer, Corpsman Turner spoke, "Yeah, you could get these wounded off the deck."
"Copy that," Brent replied. "Anything else?"
"That would be all," Kinsley said. "Just get the wounded back to Jacinto."
"Roger that, sir."
The gunship slowly lowered until it hovered a meter from the rig's deck. Immediately, the remaining Alphas boarded their wounded comrades onto the chopper.
With a thumbs up from the Corpsman, Brent ascended the King Raven back to the sky.
"I'll be back, Lieutenant Colonel Kinsley," he said, and head south.
The distant explosions caused the Alphas and Echo squad to run to the rear of the rig. All could see the black mushroom smokes rising from different derricks, kilometer away. There were a few falling into the earth.
"What's happening to those rigs there?" PFC Alyssa pointed.
"Corpser holes," the Gunnery said. "Those poor bastards." he referred to the Gears on the other derricks, then saluted them.
"If there are any rigs with surviving Gears," Kinsley said through his throat mic, "proceed to Landown. I repeat, proceed to Landown."
But there was no response, Kinsley didn't except any, though.
So there is a traitor amongst us, he thought. But who, and on what rig?
The Lieutenant Colonel looked back up in the sky with distraught. Combing his hand through his stained hair, he began to wonder what he had done wrong; all those Gears under his command were now lost. Only a handful of Alphas were alive, along with Echo squad.
He sighed. The only thing giving him peace now were the untamed clouds above. They sat motionless in the morning rise. But suddenly his heart sank as he spotted another dot in the sky.
Squinting, he tried to make it out.
The speck was only motionless for a second, then shooting forward it left behind a recognizable column of smoke.
The object redirected itself; its heading was for TRISH!
"Nemacyst!"