Barrack C
The first thing Robert noticed was the delicious smell of bacon, eggs, and pancakes, quickly reminding him on how hungry he was as he felt his belly grumble in protest.
He turned his head to see Xalah slither up next to him, her eyes wide with shock as she looked at the table.
"That looks delicious." Xalah rasped, almost sounding as if she was in a trance. "What manner of machinery created this?"
Robert chuckled as he smiled at her, "You can thank Madison for the food. He's just a really good cook."
"You mean a human created this?" Xalah asked before Madison came back, this time followed by Eliza and Dimitri. They looked as if they had just woken up as the two operatives held a cup of coffee in their hands.
Dimitri was the first to speak out, the Russian now fully healed and without a cast. "Ah, Robert! Come to join us in breakfast!" He said with a smile before he noticed Xalah as the Viper stayed closed to Robert. "Oh. I see you've bought your acquaintance."
"Greetingssss." Xalah rasped with a hiss.
Eliza smiled as she walked up to the Viper, "Hello. You must be Xalah. Robert told us about you beforehand." She held her hand out, "My name is Eliza."
Xalah paused as she looked at the gesture before Robert tilted his hood close to hers, whispering in her ear.
"You're meant to ssshake her hand with yours Xalah. It's a Human thing."
The Viper hissed in embarrassment as she gently shook Eliza's hand. "Oh of course. I apologize."
"No need to say sorry over such a minor thing." Eliza said as she chuckled.
Dimitri walked up next to the Ranger as the Russian held his hand out as well, "Privet Xalah, my name is Dimitri."
Xalah shook his hand as well, now getting used to the interaction. "So you are all apart of Roberts squad?"
"Eeyup. But not all of us are here. We're still waiting on Mo-" Madison asked.
"Sorry to have kept you all waiting."
Everyone turned their heads, Xalah's eyes widening as her serpentine mouth stood agape. Pratal Mox stood at the doorway, the former Trooper standing proudly as he was currently in his training clothes.
"Greetings Viper. My name is Mox... I am glad to know that I am not the only 'Alien' defector working with Xcom now that you are here."
Xalah attempted to form words as she sputtered and hissed, "Y-You are a Trooper... By the Elders, how is this possible?"
Mox chuckled, "Then I see the 'Elders' have also kept you in the dark about our existence. I am not the only defected Trooper. They are many more like me out there."
For the first time, Xalah didn't know what to say. It felt as if the truth was now toppling over in a metaphorical avalanche, just how much was she blinded from the true reality of this war? She began to slightly hyperventilate as Robert quickly took notice, slowly wrapping an arm around her shoulder as he looked her in the eyes.
"Xalah... Whats wrong?"
She looked down before slowly rasping, "It is just that I-" She simply hung her head down, "I still cannot believe how much things that had been hidden away from me... Or just how I have been lied to by the Elders up until this point. I feel... Naive."
Robert paused at her words before he hugged her close, she paused before nestling her head into his arms. A little chuckle being heard from both Dimitri and Madison as the two elbowed each other whilst Eliza rolled her eyes at the two operatives. Mox on the other hand merely shrugged before crossing his arms.
"Do not fault yourself Viper, the fact that you are here shows that you have gone above and beyond. I would advise to not look down on yourself after such courageous act." The Skirmisher summarized.
Madison nodded, "Man's right. Now ya can kick their lying asses with us!"
The Viper paused, "Kick their 'asses'? I am not very familiar with Human slang, but that would be hard to do in the midst of a battle would it not?"
Dimitri laughed as Robert quickly explained it to her, "I-It's a figure of sssspeech Xalah, we're not actually going to do that. Madison just means that we're going to defeat them."
"Oh... How are you able to understand such complex sayings?" The Viper asked.
Robert gave her a small smile, "You'll get used to it. C'mon, let's eat."
They all sat down now, with the exception of Robert and Xalah as they rested their bodies on their coils. The female Viper curiously picked up a knife and fork whilst Robert handed her a plate. A few pieces of bacon, eggs, and three pieces of toast. Robert gave himself the same amount in order to compensate for their large appetite.
"Here Xalah, I loaded up two plates for the both of us."
She gently squeezed his arm, "Thank you my King."
"I, uh, yeah." Robert sputtered in a awkward hiss, Madison giving him a grin as the male Viper shot him a angry look. Xalah on the other hand slowly cut a large piece of egg before gently picked it off with her snake like jaw. Her features immediately changed to that of utter bliss before she gulped down the food.
Robert held a piece of toast with an egg on top, "How is it?"
"I-It is delicious!" She rasped as she ate another piece, her eyes briefly drooping from the sensory overload. She briefly got a hold of herself, "How were you able to create this?"
Madison chuckled as he bit into a piece of bacon, "Just a few ingredients, and some organic produce from the local resistance settlements. Nothin' too fancy."
Xalah nodded as she took another bit, closing her eyes and enjoying the taste.
Robert watched her for a second, unknowingly biting into the yolk as he hissed in surprise, a thin line of eggy liquid encompassing his reptilian mouth. Madison immediately chuckled, "Looks like ya just got yolk bombed partner!"
Robert was about to say something before he felt Xalah turn his head. She gazed at him with a coy look before leaning forward, planting her mouth against his as he felt her tongue lick away the yolk. Robert felt his brain slowly short circuit as Madison and Dimitri hollered like children.
She separated from him, looking him in the eyes, Robert feeling a goofy and embarrassed smile growing on his serpentine face.
But it didn't matter to him, for the first time, everything felt right.
And then the Avenger rumbled, the room tilting as the vessel was listed. Alarms then began to blare as the room's lighting turned red. Robert could see Xalah's surprised expression as her grip tightened around him, her eyes scanning the change in atmosphere.
There was a pause as Madison spoke, "Aw shit..."
Eliza was the first to spring into action, "Get your gear on people!"
She then ran to the barracks, alongside Mox as the former Trooper grabbed his Bullpup. Xalah turned her head to Robert, her face full of worry. "What is happening Robert?"
Robert rose up from his coils, "I'm not sure-", he was cut off as the intercom sounded off.
"Attention all Operatives! This is not a drill! I repeat, this is not a drill!-"
And then Robert heard the dreaded words.
"-The Avenger is under attack! Report to the hanger bay!"
The black Viper's eyes widened, and to think this was going to be a calm day. He went to his armor, grabbing his new gauss rifle in the process as well as his ipod.
"Xalah, I need to go."
She slithered next to him, "Then I ssshall fight with you."
Robert paused, "Xalah... I-," He then shook his head, letting out a low rasp to signify a sigh, "No. It's too dangerous. You don't have any protection."
"I still have my beam rifle, and my armo-" Xalah attempted to counter only for Robert to cut her off.
"Don't. Sssomeone could easily mistake you for ADVENT Xalah."
"Yeah, I agree with Robert here miss." Madison said as he turned on his GREMLIN, "If the folks can't tell, then it's gonna cause a hell of a lot of problems. Especially if you get shot."
"But-"
"Xalah... Please." Robert rasped, "Promise me that you'll stay here."
She paused before hesitantly nodding. Robert looked at her for a second before grabbing her arm and pulling her towards him, meeting his lips against hers as Xalah's eyes widened before steadily closing, the two of them embracing each other. He then separated from her, no words needing to be spoken as he slithered to the Mox and Eliza who were in the elevator, the Viper putting on his armor in the process.
Xalah watched him, a feeling of dread growing in her heart despite there shared moment.
Robert gave her one last smile, Madison and Dimitri joining him on the elevator as the doors closed. Leaving the Viper to herself.
However Xalah quickly became a nervous wreck, her heart pounding in fear as her mind picked memories of when her sisters didn't return. She hissed as she scanned the room in order to distract herself.
ADVENT APC
The transport shook as Mirna held onto her weapon tightly, looking directly in front of her. Aadya was next to her, as well as five of her sisters, with the other two from a different compound. All of them sporting the same expression.
Vengeance.
For Mirna, it was the same story but with a twist.
She was possibly more nervous then she had ever been.
Most missions she had done were either patrols or guard duty on minor locations. None however, were as dangerous and daring as this, a direct attack on the insurgents mobile base.
Aadya spoke up, now the superior of the squad due to her experience on the field.
"Prepare your weapons sisters. We are here."
The Vipers nodded as the doors to the APC opened, light flooding in as they slithered out of the transport. A few Muton's lumbered into view, as well as the giant number of Troopers, Stun Lancers, and Shieldbearers. MECs were being set up around the perimeter with the machinery came to life.
Mirna paused, looking at the amount of troop presence. "I do not think I have seen this many soldiers in one place." Mirna admitted, her sisters merely hissed chuckles as Aadya spoke up, charging up her beam rifle in the process.
"The more the better. Today we crush the insurgent filth once and for all." Aadya hissed arrogantly.
They all nodded, with the exception of Mirna. The smaller Viper deep in thought as she watched the infamous insurgent base descend from the sky, for months the former ADVENT supply craft had been the bane of every ADVENT soldier. But today would be an end to that.
"For you Xalah..." Mirna whispered to herself as she charged her beam rifle before slithering forward.
Avenger Elevator
Robert sighed as he looked at the door for a second before looking back down at his gauss rifle. He already missing her.
His thoughts were interrupted as he felt Dimitri bump his shoulder, "Do not worry comrade, the sooner we beat ADVENT, the sooner you can come back to her. Da?"
Robert nodded, "Got i-"
The Avenger shook as the Operatives immediately grabbed hold of the railings of the elevator. "Ah shit! That must've been the Avenger landing!" Madison yelled as the elevator door opened.
Automatically Robert could see the Hanger was already preparing for the ensuing battle. Engineer's fixing turrets on the ramps as both squad Alpha and Bravo were already there. It was rare for all the squads to be together, as most mission's usually 5 or 6 people, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
Eliza went up to the leader of team Bravo, a specialist named Henry who hailed from Vietnam as he turned his head to squad Charlie.
"Ah, Eliza. Good to see you again."
"Likewise Henry. I see team Alpha is here too."
Team Alpha's leader, Saoirse, stood next to him, the Irish woman wearing an Exo as she held a Mag Cannon. Saoirse nodded as she showed off a grin, "You bet yer fuckin' ass we are. How have ye been Eliza?"
"Better then ever." Eliza said as she smiled.
Robert watched his leader exchange banter as he turned his head to look at squad Alpha and Bravo. The squads consisting of the normal roster of Operatives, however he quickly saw the two Reaper's from today, their menacing masks looking his direction. He couldn't tell if they were staring at him or not.
"Commander is on deck!" An operative yelled, causing everyone to turn and salute. Bradford walked through one of the doorways, followed by the Commander as the two of them walked in front of the squads.
"At ease operatives."
Everyone put their hands by their side as they watched the central officer closely.
"Commander, if you may." Bradford said as he gestured to the man next to him. The Commander nodded as he held a tablet, a detailed hologram opening up for everyone to see. "We've been hit with an EMP... And ADVENT is getting ready to strike, so I will have to keep this short." Bradford then gestured to the map, "Two APC's are opening fire on the Avenger as we speak." The picture then changed, showing a gigantic cannon of some sort, "ADVENT's even gotten themselves a truck mounted Mag cannon set up at the edge of the clearing."
Just as Bradford finished, the sound of something firing outside made the ship lights flicker. Robert looked up as he grimaced, as did a few others before they looked back at there officer.
"We'll have squad A and B go after the APC's. Squad C will be responsible for taking out the power generator, which will disable the cannon. Once that's done, eliminate all hostiles that are in the area." Bradford looked up, "We've also received troubling intel from our moles that one of the Chosen is both the mastermind and spearhead of this assault."
There were a few whispers before they quickly subsided, the operatives sporting a determined look.
"This is our home people, let's show ADVENT what happens when they kick a hornet's nest."
Everybody gave a cheer as they let out there own battle cry's. The Commander smiled as he gave a thumbs up for encouragement as everyone got in position behind the ramps. Squad A and B on one side to counter the APC's whilst squad C prepared to go after the cannon. Dimitri, Eliza and Mox stood at the front whilst Robert slowly put on his ear phones, picking a random song.
Snake Eater, a song he remembered fondly from playing Metal Gear Solid 3 back in his childhood.
Madison came up to Robert as he patted the Viper on the shoulder, "Ready to kick some ADVENT ass partner?"
Robert nodded, "Always."
"With darkness and silence through the night..."
The ramps slowly opened, the turrets set up by the engineer's quickly turning on as the orange light of morning flooded into the hanger. Every squad proceeded on their way as Bradford spoke through the radio.
"Good hunting operatives."
Robert steadied his breath as he looked forward. The song blaring in his earphones as a line made him pause.
"I give my life, not for honor, but for you...!"
The image of Xalah dead in his arms flashed in his head before he shook his hood.
Hopefully, he would make it back to her.
Proving Ground
Lily was busy setting up, gathering both projects and ammunition alike as Julian lugged the weapons, the SPARK grumbling to himself. She inspected her last gadget before she heard the elevator open as the occupant slithered out.
It was Xalah. Her calm demeanor from when they had first met was gone, instead she seemed agitated, scared even.
"Xalah?" Lily asked as she looked away from the table. "Uh... You okay?"
The Viper seemed despondent for a second as she seemed to be deep in thought before realizing that someone asked her a question. "O-Oh, yes. I am..."
Julian scoffed, "I thought snakes were supposed to be good at lying."
Xalah turned her hood to the MEC. Lily put a hand to her forehead, "... Julian, go maintain the ammunition."
"You think I would ever-" Julian paused before the SPARK nodded, "Of course Lily Shen."
Julian slowly stomped away as Xalah looked down, shaking her head as she hissed sadly. "That strange AI is right... I am a terrible liar." She turned her head to Lily, "I am worried... For Robert. I did not anyone else that I could talk to."
Lily walked up next to the Viper before placing a hand on her scaly shoulder. "It's alright Xalah, Robert's been on plenty of dangerous mission's before, he'll be fine."
"I would never doubt his ability. Yet..." The Viper peered down before sighing, closing her eyes as she reopened them. "I can't stand being away from him."
The engineer paused, before scratching the back of her head. "Well... If it makes you feel any better... I can help you be with him, just... Not in a the physical sense."
Xalah immediately perked up, her eyes full of intrigue as Lily went and grabbed a nearby tablet. "Now don't tell anyone about this, but I sometimes watch live feed through Madison's GREMLIN." Lily paused before handing the tablet to the Viper, "I usually watch whenever I'm bored, but I think you need it more."
"I..." Xalah paused, "Thank you Lily Shen."
She shrugged, smiling, "Hey, no problem. You're apart of the resistance now, it's only natural that I help out."
Xalah smiled in return before looking down at the tablet. Sure enough, a 360 camera was operated beneath the drone as it followed near Madison. The squad trekking through a forest, she quickly saw Robert as the black Viper slithered next to his team.
Seeing him at least bought relief to her heart.
APC Area
Mirna now coiled silently next to her sisters. The five of them awaiting for orders as they upper bodies stood upright. A singular officer came up to them, her face concealed behind red plating.
"You five shall remain together. Await inside the perimeter until you are needed."
They all nodded before saluting, slithering away. One of the Viper's, Ophidia, spoke up as she watched the dormant supply craft in the distance. "I find it hard to believe that this vessel caused us so much misery these few months."
"Believe it now Ophidia. Today it shall be a distant memory as the Elders command it's destruction. I cannot wait for the assault to start." Aadya rasped before turning her hood to the smaller Viper. "What about you Mirna?"
Mirna looked at the vessel, "I-I am unsure. Are you sure the insurgents will not carry out a counter attack upon us?"
There was a pause before her sisters chortled.
"Them? Attack us? Impossible." Ophidia said as she pointed at the supply craft, "They are besieged, surrounded, now they can only wait until we-"
A shot rang out, echoing across the woods. Mirna felt something warm splatter on her face, it took her a second to realize that it was Viper blood. Ophidia looked equally shocked, a hole the size of a nickle protruded through her armor before the Viper fell to the floor, uncoiling as she let out a dying hiss. Mirna stared, her eyes wide before she heard mag fire from the woods.
"Get to cover!" Aadya hissed as she grabbed hold of Mirna, guiding the shocked Viper. A battle cry rang out from the woods as the insurgents revealed themselves, pushing forward as they filled the air with orange mag fire. A few Troopers who were out of cover, as well as a singular Muton, were riddled with holes as they dropped to the ground.
Mirna put a hand to her serpentine face as she wiped the blood off of it, her breathing irregular.
This was hell.
Forest
Robert stared forward, feeling moss rustle against his scales as Madison walked next to him. The GREMLIN emitting a low humming noise. Eliza led the team as always, the ranger climbing over a log as she scanned the tactical map. Tracer's lit up the morning sky as Team A and B got in there own respective fights.
Mox walked up next to her, "Do you hear that?"
Everybody paused, before the sound of a giant boom was heard.
Bradford then spoke up on the radio for every squad to hear. "The cannon discharged, hull integrity down by 89%."
Eliza narrowed her eyes, "We need to get a move on. Team A and B have already engaged on the APC's. Let's make the most of it."
They all nodded as they went forward, now at a faster pace. It barely took 10 seconds before they reached the edge of the forest, a few ADVENT Troopers could already be seen patrolling the area as a truck mounted mag cannon seemed to be charging up. A giant cylinder the shape of a small building glowed with energy.
"That must be the power generator." Robert hissed as he pointed a scaly finger. "We can ssshoot at it. But it's gonna take quite a beating for it's disabled."
Eliza turned her head to Madison, "Think you can shut it down Madison?"
The Texan paused, looking at the screen next to his GREMLIN before shaking his head. "No can do Ma'am. Damn thing is completely separated from the ADVENT grid. Robert's right, only way we're shutting this thing down is by shooting the shit out of it... Or blowing it up."
She nodded, "Alright, on my mark. We engage the hostiles first before taking out the generator."
They all nodded as Eliza was about to initiate the count, only for a blinding pillar of purple light appeared next to the truck. Robert shielded his eyes as he squinted, as did everyone else.
A Chosen appeared from the light, holding a sword as she knelt on the ground before looking up. Her presence seemed to put the other Trooper's on alert as a few close ones rallied next to her. She rose up, looking directly at the hidden group before smirking.
"I see you..."
And then she disappeared.
Madison was the first to speak, "Oh shit! It's blue bitch!"
"Blue bitch?" Robert asked before the howl of something was heard. Robert immediately froze at the sound, instantly recognizing it.
Chryssalids.
"Move your asses people!" Eliza yelled as she rushed forward, Mox alongside her as they took cover behind a dead tree. Madison, Dimitri, and Robert took their respective places behind a rock, preparing themselves for the incoming assault.
"Who is this lady?" Robert asked as he checked the scope on his gauss rifle, he had already seen her striking resemblance to the Hunter. A memory who would rather not remember.
"She's one of the three chosen." Madison said as he peeked out of cover. "And she probably has a vendetta against Eliza."
"Why?"
Madison then explained, "'Cause she would've captured Mox if Eliza didn't step in and slice her head off." He then turned his head to Robert, "I gotta say, it was satisfying as hell to see that."
"Wait... Ssslice her head off!?" Robert rasped in shock, "How the hell is she still alive?!"
"'Cause Chosen don't die! They literally respawn like a fucking Call Of Duty gam-!" Madison paused as he saw something, "Shit! Here they come!"
Sure enough, like something out of a child's nightmare, the insectoid like creatures began to crawl out of the ground. There bright orange and purple carapaces reflected the morning sun off of them as they hissed out. Robert barely hesitated, lifting his rifle before taking a close range shot, nailing a Chryssalid in the torso as it was blasted back. Madison and Dimitri responded in king, opening fire on the nearby aliens as they riddled the other two Chryssalid's with holes.
The last Chryssalid seemed to rush towards Eliza and Mox's position, the creature savagely jumping forward as it raised a claw. The female Ranger immediately reacted, bringing her sword up and slicing the limb off. It screeched in pain as orange blood gushed out from the stump before Mox punched forward, the Skirmisher's Ripjack pierced the Chryssalid's skull.
Robert had to say, the two operatives worked extremely well together.
"More of those fuckers!" Madison yelled as he pointed, sure enough more Chryssalid seemed to burrow out. There seemed to be no end of them now, the insectoid creatures screeching out as they caught there scent, the foliage made it increasingly harder to see the creatures.
Eliza paused before she made the call. "Get to the clearing!"
They all heeded her orders, running up to the edge of the woods. Robert slithered forward alongside Madison as the Texan pushed through some branches. However, just as he did so, a burrowed Chryssalid immediately sprung out like a bear trap. Madison yelled in surprise as he fell on his back, attempting to bring his rifle to bare as the creature lunged forward.
Robert immediately saw the peril his friend was in, opening his serpentine mouth on instinct before a jet of nitrogen spat out, blasting the creature as it instantly froze. Icicles forming on it's carapace.
"Holy shit!" Madison exclaimed as he stared at the frozen insectoid in shock. Robert merely responded by taking out his mag pistol and shooting the Chryssalid in the chest, causing it to shatter into a million pieces.
"Come on!" Robert hissed as he helped the Texan easily to his feet. They all got to the clearing before banding together, all of them gathering next to cropping of rocks. The generator was now closer, yet the Troopers now seemed to be getting into a position to shoot them. Dimitri revved up his mag cannon as Mox ran up alongside him, opening fire on the ADVENT soldiers.
Eliza grabbed a plasma grenade from her belt before tossing it. "Grenade out!"
It bounced on the grass, next to three troopers before exploding. Green energy filling the area as the nearby Troopers were vaporized, the cover of a few destroyed. Robert found the opportunity to raise his gauss rifle as he fired, striking a Trooper in the head with Madison's GREMLIN whizzing by and delivering a killing shock to a Chryssalid that attempted to move forward.
However for every ADVENT soldier or Chryssalid they killed, two more took his or her place. Madison fired off a few shots before he was forced to duck behind cover due to the overwhelming amount of fire.
"Jesus Christ! This shit's starting to look like Little Bighorn!"
Robert turned his serpentine head to his friend, "We'll get through this Madison! Just-"
And then a stray mag bullet struck Robert's hip, making the Viper hiss in pain.
"Robert!" Madison yelled, turning his head to see a flanking Officer. The Texan merely lifted his mag rifle before firing, riddling the intruder with bullets. Robert clung onto his hip as his vision felt blurry, his thin scaly hand coming back to show greenish blood on it.
"Status report!" Eliza yelled as she reloaded her shotgun.
Madison turned to face her as he tended to Robert's wound, "Robert's been hit!" He then turned his head back to the Viper.
"H-How bad isss it?" Robert asked as he gritted his fangs, gunfire still whizzing above their heads. Madison lifted a bit of the Viper's armor to see the metal shard thoroughly lodged past Robert's scales, the hot magnetic material already cauterizing the blood around it.
The Texan then looked up, "What was that song that you were listening to before?"
"Wait, what does that have to do wi-"
And then Madison grabbed hold of the metal before yanking it out.
Robert's blue eyes widened, the thin snake like pupils thinning themselves further as his body registered the pain.
"AAAGH!"
Proving Ground
Lily was beginning to regret giving the tablet to Xalah as she and Julian watched the Viper. Each passing moment, it seemed as if Xalah grew more and more worried, up until the point that she gasped, putting her scaly hand on her serpentine mouth.
"Robert..." Xalah rasped before she turned her head away, the tablet now glitchy and static as the feed was cut off. "I-I need to go! He is danger!"
The engineer didn't know what to say, she didn't know what was happening to merit such a reaction from the Viper as Xalah grabbed hold of the beam rifle she had left behind.
"Xalah!" Lily said in surprise. "You can't-!"
"I know I cannot go out there! But I must! My King has been hurt!" Xalah rasped. Lily paused, thinking of what to possibly even say in this situation, she then realized there would be no way to stop the worried Viper. She would go, one way or the other.
Julian merely scoffed, "Well have fun with getting yourself killed."
So she made a compromise.
"Julian, go with her!"
The SPARK immediately acted as Lily expected him too, negatively. "Wha- Me!? Why do I have to babysit a snake!?"
Lily turned her head to Xalah, "Julian has seven protection protocols, he can ensure your safety." The engineer then turned her head back to the SPARK, "And I swear to god Julian, if she get's hurt. Then I'm permanently uninstalling you."
"What did I do to deserve this?!" Julian asked.
Lily then turned her head back to the MEC. "Are you seriously asking that?"
Julian thought for a second, putting a metal hand to his optic. "Touche."
Xalah looked at Lily for a second before leaning down to embrace her. "Thank you so much Lily Shen..."
The engineer patted her back as they separated. "No problem. Be careful out there, stay close to Julian so nobody mistakes you for ADVENT." Lily paused, "And please... Just please, don't throw your life away. Robert cares about you Xalah, it would kill him if you... Y'know..."
The Viper paused as she looked at the Human before nodding, "I-I understand." She then readied her beam rifle before getting onto the elevator, the SPARK begrudgingly getting on with her as he hefted a rail cannon. The doors then closed, leaving Lily by herself as she went to the nearest tablet, speaking through the device.
"Commander? Do you have a moment? Because I need to tell you that... Uh..." She then relented. "I just let Xalah and Julian go to help out squad C. Sorry."
Clearing
Madison applied the Nanosuture on Robert's wound as the Viper looked around cautiously. Dimitri and Mox kept an overwatch of the area with Eliza kneeling next to them. The clearing was now deathly silent, the Chryssalid's had pulled back, and the Trooper's seemed to stick to there cover now, not giving any opportunities for either side to fire.
"Why did they stop?" Robert asked.
Madison shrugged as he put back his medikit, "Beats the hell outta me."
Eliza swore as she tapped on her ear piece before shutting it off, turning her head upwards. "They're jamming us somehow, we're completely cut off."
"... Ssshit." Robert hissed, things were looking super bleak now. Surrounded by all sides and no way to contact for help or support, they might as well have been dead men walking. But worst of all, the cannon was still operational, as it let out another blast, striking the top side of the Avenger. Eliza narrowed her eyes at the cannon, before she turned her head to the Texan.
"Madison... How much can you're drone carry?"
"100 kilograms, give or take."
Eliza turned her head to the Russian, "Dimitri, how many grenades do you have?"
Immediately everybody understood what she was getting at. Madison immediately rose to his feet.
"Shit Eliza! Are ya seriously thinking of-"
There was a minor distortion of air behind Madison. Robert saw it, as did Eliza as the Ranger sprung into action first, bringing out her shotgun before firing.
"RAH!" A pained roar sounded, the Chosen decloaking as orange blood dripped from her shoulder. Yet it didn't seem to stop her as she leveled her blade at Madison's head, the Texan having barely any time to react. Robert's eyes widened as his heart stopped, his friend was in danger, so his jaw unhinged on instinct.
However instead of ice, a long tongue shot out as it wrapped around the Texan's leg like a rope before tripping him, making the blade miss his head by inches.
"Oof!" Madison grunted as his back hit the ground, The Assassin attempted to strike at him again only for Eliza to rush forward, letting out a fearsome cry as she bought her blade forward, forcing the Chosen to block her and allowing Madison to crawl away.
Eliza faced her bitter rival as the two kept their blades locked, the Chosen sneering at her from behind her blade.
"Ah, Ranger. In a hurry to die I see?"
Eliza merely responded with a sneer of her own, "The only one who's going to die here is you." Eliza paused as she thought for a second, "Again..."
The Assassin seemed to take offense to that, her blue face contorting into an angered frown as she shoved her blade hilt forward, giving the two combatants space. Immediately Dimitri tried to capitalize, bringing his mag cannon to bear. The Assassin seemed to spot the move in hindsight, throwing something through the air as it left behind a purple trail before exploding in a flash.
"Ah! Suka!" Dimitri yelled as he covered his eyes, temporarily blinded as the Assassin launched a kick into Dimtri's face, knocking the Russian back as he tumbled through the grass.
"Foolish..." The Assassin muttered. Mox attempted to fire his bullpup only for the Assassin to disappear, reappearing in front of him and slashing her blade upwards, slicing the barrel of his rifle clean off and rendering the weapon useless.
Mox attempted to fight back, using his wrist mounted skulljack as he punched forward. However the Assassin merely sidestepped before clasping onto his arm and bringing her elbow down, breaking it.
"Agh!"
"Mox!" Eliza yelled, Robert pointed his gauss rifle from his downed position as Madison got to his feet and did the same. The Assassin now held a blade to the Skirmishers throat as she faced him toward the squad like a bullet shield.
"Does this look familiar Ranger? Back at the abandoned city when you took my head clean off?" The Assassin grinned cruelly as she raised her blade, "I suppose this is revenge."
Everyone's heart stopped, their eyes widening as he saw her blade go down. Similar reactions on the faces of both Madison and Robert as they had no time to react, Eliza looking as if she was frozen in shock.
However just before the blade reached it's mark, orange shards struck the Chosen's hand from behind, making her roar out in pain as her swing missed. Her hold on the defector relinquishing allowing Mox to immediately jumped away. Another shot rang out, a hole in the Chosen's chest opening as the wound forced her into a kneel.
Eliza appeared behind the Chosen, her shard gun out.
"E-Eliza?!" Robert sputtered a hiss as he turned his head, sure enough there were two Eliza's, one next to Madison and the other next to the Chosen. "How did- What!?"
"Hmm? Oh sorry." The squad leader asked before she bought up a button, pressing it. The Eliza that held a shocked expression disappeared into thin air as a beacon could be seen below. "Lily gave a new prototype called a Mimic beacon, allows me to create a holographic copy of myself and trick ADVENT. But since you two weren't able to tell which one was actually me, it'll probably need more work."
Madison whistled, "Hot damn! Lily's a god damn genius! And so are you boss!"
Robert's jaw hung agape, he had only been gone for three days and it seemed as if the advancements they were making was huge. They were all broken from their banter as the Chosen spoke, still clutching her wound.
"... Cowardice, that's what your resistance is... Striking from the back." She murmured, her life's blood now dripping onto the ground. "You won't succeed... ADVENT shall crush you... It is only honorable."
"No." Eliza said as she walked up to the kneeling Chosen. "ADVENT doesn't even have the right to speak about honor or cowardice while you secretly kill off and enslave our people." She raised her shard gun to the Chosen's head. "Now. Fuck off and die please."
She then pulled the trigger, the Chosen's head splattering as the Assassin slowly dropped back, disappearing into shards of purple before dissipating. Eliza turned her attention to Mox who was slowly standing up, still clutching his arm.
"You alright soldier?"
The defector smiled behind his helmet, "No thanks to your timely intervention Eliza."
A boom sounded off, the mag cannon firing again as it tore everyone from their thoughts.
They still had a mission to do.
"Madison, get Dimitri over here! We need to get into a position to fire."
"Right!" The Texan said as looked to the right. "Dimitri! Come on!"
"Ehhh...? Oh... Cheeki Breeki..." The Russian said in a slur before chuckling quietly.
"Shit, Dimitri is still dazed from blue bitch..." Madison said, "I can get him out in a-"
Mag fire whizzed past them again, the Texan swore loudly, dragging the Russian behind a rock. Sure enough, it seemed as if ADVENT was pressing their assault again.
Robert grasped onto a rock, lifting his upper body as his wounded coils wobbly held him upright. His keen eyes picking up motion at the edge of the clearing as he grabbed hold of his gauss gun, firing a shot.
A Trooper fell from the bush before Chryssalids came running out, this time alongside a few Shieldbearers and Stunlancers as a faint orange hue covered their forms. Troopers and Officers used suppressing fire at the end of the clearing.
"They've got shieldsss!" Robert hissed as he fired another shot, attempting to whittle down the barriers but to no avail as he was forced back into cover. Mox and Eliza ran up to their own cover, the former Trooper holding a pistol seeing as his other arm was broken.
"How surprising. It seems as if ADVENT is using actual tactics for a change." Mox noted.
Eliza paused, analyzing the situation before turning her head to Madison who was currently next to Dimitri. "Madison! Can your drone carry Dimitri's grenades?!"
"It'll do just that..." The Texan then turned his head to the battlefield, "But there's no way in hell it'll get far with all these damn ADVENT. It need's an opening."
Robert then tightened his grip on his gauss rifle, "I can try and snipe one of the shield bearers, maybe even-"
His senses immediately picked up on something, almost like a taste as his tongue experimentally hissed. His eyes scanned to the side before he spotted two orange dots in a bush next to him.
"Chryss-!"
And then it lunged at him, it's mandibles open before it let out an awful shriek. The Viper threw his arms out, his coils going into a defensive stance as he held the insectoid at bay. Madison and Eliza immediately took notice, yet the struggling blocked any chance of a shot as the creature's claws trailed the air with it's deadly venom, forcing Robert suck his chest in to avoid it's flailing limbs.
It struggled further, before a high powered beam shot out, striking the Chryssalid's carapace as it screeched out before falling to the ground, a giant hole in the side of it. Robert stared down, his blue eyes wide from the near death experience as he heard someone yell his name.
"Robert!"
He immediately recognized the voice, turning his serpentine hood to the ridge line.
"X-Xalah?"
Sure enough, his lover was there, holding a beam rifle tightly as she looked at him, her serpentine features relieved. Robert looked at her in surprise, as did the rest of his squad.
"What are you doing out here?! You're supposed to be-" He didn't even have time to question her before she quickly slithered next to him in cover, embracing him as she dug her hood into his shoulder.
"I'm so sorry, but I couldn't stand being away from you! Not after seeing you get hurt from the live feed..."
"Xalah..." Robert paused, unable to add anything as he craned his hood to stare down. What could he say?
Madison coughed as he bought both Vipers back into reality. "Uh, I hate to be the asshole in this situation but we're kinda pinned down right now."
Eliza nodded in agreement, "Yeah. That was a good save Xalah, but you two need to discuss when we have the time. Right now we need to take that cannon down before it destroys the Avenger."
"I-I understand." Xalah said, "But I believe I can be of some help. Or at least..." The Viper paused, looking displeased. "-It can help..."
"It?" Robert asked.
A robotic voice spoke out, "That's right."
Julian revealed himself from the underbrush, hoisting a rail cannon with his hydraulic arms as the MEC let out a chuckle.
"It appears I have to save your worthless skins again. How do you even survive without me?"
Everybody groaned.
Xalah shook her head. "That... MEC... Was incredibly rude on my way here. Why is it programmed like that?"
Madison merely shook his hood, "Probably 'cause Julian's coding is completely faulty... That and he's a complete asshole miss."
"Alright, alright. Quit comparing me to posteriors." Julian huffed. "Let's just get this over with. Which poor idiot do you want me to slaughter?"
Eliza immediately pointed at the column of Chryssalids that were rapidly approaching. Julian seemed enthralled as he lifted his Railcannon up, "Ah, nothing I love more then stomping a bunch of ants."
He then stomped out of cover before opening fire. His Railcannon booming as it tore down the insectoids, Julian laughing gleefully. A few ADVENT looked up, their visible mouths agape with shock before they were blown apart from the sheer firepower of the MEC's weapon.
Their leader turned her head to the Texan. "Now Madison!"
He nodded, patting his GREMLIN as the drone held an entire bandoleer of ordinance. The Texan sighed, "It was a good run partner."
Madison then typed in the command as it immediately whizzed away, the drone hovering low against the grass before rapidly approaching the tree line that the generator was behind.
There was a long pause, Robert rasping out. "Did it-"
And then a gigantic explosion sounded, the force rattling Robert's scales as Xalah held onto him. Madison had to hold Dimitri as the dazed Russian was almost blown on his ass whilst Mox and Eliza held onto a rock. Julian on the other hand merely adjusted himself before standing still. The explosion moved between the trees, knocking down the bark as ADVENT Troopers were caught in the blast radius.
Robert's eyes adjusted before he saw something fall from the sky.
"Watch out!" He hissed, Eliza and Mox looking up before they jumped out of the way. Immediately an impact was heard, scattering dirt and grass everywhere. It was the mag cannon, or at least what was left of it, the gigantic weapon now a mess of smoking scrap.
"Ho-lee shit!" Madison yelled, "I'm pretty sure that's my biggest one yet! How much do ya wanna bet command felt that?!"
Eliza looked at the metal scrap from the ground up before her ear piece began fizzle to life, the central officer speaking through the frequency.
"Charlie, do you copy? We've managed to restore communications with your area."
The squad leader put a hand to her ear, "We're reading you loud and clear Bradford."
"What's the situation over?"
She got to her feet, as did Mox. "The cannon is down now. But Robert and Mox are wounded and Dimitri is..." She stared at the giggling Russian. "Dazed."
"Copy that. I'm not picking up any traces of hostiles in your area, so make your way back to base." There was a pause, "And great work Charlie, the Avenger dodged one hell of a bullet thanks to your efforts."
Eliza nodded before closing off the link, helping Mox to his feet. The situation seemingly calmed down now that ADVENT was reportedly on the run.
Robert sighed as he holstered his gauss rifle before placing it on his back. Xalah looked at him, biting her lip with a fang as her red eyes peered at the blue of his own.
"Will you punish me for this?"
The black Viper was taken aback by her question, his eyes widening before readjusting as he gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "That's... No Xalah. I would never, ever, do that." He paused, his tone stern. "Yet... You shouldn't have left the Avenger."
"But I was trying to protect you! Why do you not understand that?!" She hissed, shrugging of his hand. Robert paused before he narrowed his gaze.
"Because you're throwing yourself in danger!" Robert rasped. "Julian or not, you still were out in the open! Do you realize that someone could've easily-!" His bandage slightly came off, making him wince in pain as his wound became exposed.
Xalah stared at him, her features unreadable. Robert couldn't say whether or not it was because of the sight of his wound or the fact that they were arguing. However it didn't matter, seeing her look at him like that made his scales feel cold.
She immediately turned tail and went the other way, her hood facing away from him. Madison came up next to him, guiding Dimitri as he watched the Viper leave.
"Uh, we should get going partner."
Robert slowly nodded before sighing, carefully readjusting his bandage as he slithered onward.
He could really use some music right now, and a drink.
APC Area
The battle had been ongoing for what felt like hours now. All three of the APC's had been obliterated by the insurgents, now heaps of burning scrap. Mirna watched another APC arrive, only for another rocket to strike it square at the side. The metal was torn apart into a fiery haze, Trooper's running out of it as their armor caught fire, their screams blotted out from the firefight.
Aadya fired off her beam rifle again, only to be responded by a hail of mag fire, the Viper hissing out as the veteran ducked behind cover.
And then they heard the explosion.
The squad of Viper's turned their heads to see the mag cannon site go up in flames, their mouths agape.
"That was our-"
The Viper didn't finish as something clinked on the ground next to them. Mirna immediately recognized the device.
"Watch out!" She yelled, but it was already too late as the other two Viper's were engulfed by the green explosion. The first Viper simply ceased to exist, the explosion vaporizing her instantly. The other Viper was completely shredded by the energy, taking off her arm and scorching her scales. She hissed weakly as she remained flat, her remaining arm holding onto the ground as a puddle of or
Mirna watched it happen, she didn't even remember both of their name or number, just that they had came from a different compound. Aadya came up next to her, putting her beam rifle on her back.
"Cover me! I'm going to retrieve her!"
She then slithered forward, stooping lowly as Aadya reached the wounded Viper. Mirna still felt the ringing in her ears as her keen eyes looked around, she then spotted something.
A Human, garbed in a dark green trench coat as he slowly arised from a bush, rifle aimed towards Aadya.
Mirna's eyes widened before she shot her long tongue out. The Insurgent turned his head, an intimidating mask on his face as his body language showed surprise before the tongue wrapped around his coat, pulling him toward her and making him drop his rifle. Mirna didn't even mean to do so, it was all on instinct. However the Human didn't seem to allow her to consider that fact, instead producing a knife from his pouch as he bought it up to her tongue.
Her eyes widened before she tugged, knocking the Human down again as her coils quickly wrapped around the Insurgent. Yet due to her more nimble stature, it was incredibly difficult to even keep the Human still as he struggled fiercely now. Mirna could feel his knife graze her scales as she let out a pained hiss before she twisted, falling back as the Human's arm reached out between her coils, knife still in hand and poised to bring it down onto her stomach.
Mirna saw it, so she tightened.
And tightened.
Until she heard something crack.
The Insurgent no longer struggled.
She paused, before relinquishing her coils as she rasped from exhaustion. The Human laid lifeless on the ground, his neck twisted at an uneven angle as his mask slowly fell off, his brown dead eyes looking directly at her.
Mirna stared back, the sight chilling her to her core as Aadya came up to her, carrying the wounded Viper from before.
"What are you doing Mirna?! We need to-" She then saw the Human's corpse before turning her hood back to the smaller Viper, "We need to fall back to the new location."
She didn't respond, but she did give a small nod as she slowly looked away from the body, allowing Aadya to guide her. They slithered quickly, passing the burnt wreckage's of the APC's as the remaining ADVENT were either dead or dying.
However just before they had reached the end of the clearing. Mirna watched as a few Insurgents came up to the dead Human. One of them, another green trench coat, knelt down next to the body as he took off his mask, his bearded face full of sorrow as he yelled something.
"Abbot!"
That was the last sight Mirna had saw before Aadya dragged her into the woods. The lithe Viper's mind was in complete disarray.
She had seen her brethren die today, and the 'vengeance' she dispensed didn't fill her with pride or glory. Instead it left a feeling that made her scales feel cold, almost as if she herself was dead inside.
The will of the Elder's never looked so horrifying.
And finished! Finally! It took a bit to write this one. Can't have a romance without a bit of tension. Next Chapter will significantly less action, buuuuut...
There will be another Lemon.
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
And on the other news. We are on go for the Snek Harem, so that's gonna be fun to write.
As always, hoped you liked the chapter.