Lupo stared at the black case. It was a large square box made of black painted Ethereal alloy. Several varieties of lock covered the hinges of the case. The method to open the case was complex and, sans Night Hawk, required the participation of the entire Wolfpack to open. Lupo had long since entered her code, and had to wait until the rest of the team arrived before they continued. With diligence that came from being a life long mercenary she set up the gear for her team, when they finally arrived they would be able to leave before nightfall.

The team had received the order, but as was their tradition, they were relaxing in their own way. Beltway was disabling and recollecting bomb packs to re-use for the operation humming various Earth songs under his breath. Bertha was snacking while preparing several sample and artefact packs for transport to XCOM HQ. Spectre was watching over the base, keeping a keen eye out for anything that could cause havoc at such a crucial time. The ancient sniper calmed his nerves by chatting with Night Hawk, whom was still in space and waiting for the order to start crippling satellites for comm silence.

Both Vector and Four-eyes had refused to say where they were going, but the team knew they were sneaking off to fuck. The two had been caught several times before, in various positions, but it never stopped them from sneaking away when they had no duties to fulfil. The other members of the Wolfpack had made a bet for who could catch them in the most compromising position. Beltway won the bet after week two, having spotted the amorous pair on a shady slum rooftop in Quarian suits with Vector having bent his Asian partner over the edge. Literally and metaphorically. Lupo verbally tore them to strips for endangering the mission for the sake of sexual thrill, then to the team's amusement she tore into them for 'piss poor bedroom tactics.'

Lupo looked over her reports, looking for any detail relevant for what was planned. The time spent slumming it on Invictus has given them plenty of data for the Alliance. Social details that were common place for many were hard to learn without attracting suspicion. On Invictus the Wolfpack had been able to steal and download the data from hundreds of Omni-tools, copy entire public codex libraries and interrogate dozens of aliens on social issues and political knowledge. Too many of the aliens were desperate to talk, believing that telling everything they knew would save their life.

There had been a few messy incidents. At one point the Wolfpack managed to capture an Asari 'matriarch'. The cerulean skinned alien had been spotted as a prostitute. The team had expected that she would have a decent knowledge of some of the capital's wealthier citizens. Tracking her had been child's play. Taking her down had posed no challenge, even with her natural skill using biotic fields deflecting attacks. It was while she was being transported to the base that a problem occurred.

The Asari had realized her captures were not Quarian and attempted to perform the Asari's mind meld technique with Beltway. The demolitions expert had been reading her mind at the time and decided to let the blue creature try it. the Asari believed her meld would kill the bomber and give her a chance to escape. Beltway felt a small tap on his mind, the equivalent to a Psi-rookie trying his first mind control. The Asari obviously felt a lot more as she screamed in sexual ecstasy before going comatose. Lupo had nearly lost control of the vehicle and upon arrival at the makeshift base had bitch slapped the bomb maker several times, chanting "You! Do! Not! Do! Stupid! Shit! For! No! Reason!" Highlighting each word with a skull cracking smack. Bertha was certain that if Beltway wasn't wearing a helmet he would have lost his head.

Four-eyes had examined both Beltway and the Asari. Beltway showed no signs of trauma, apart from the discipline from Lupo, and his mind was clear of mental contamination that you would expect to find from a victim of any method of mind control. The Asari's results were much more interesting, several scans had shown her to have a radically different neurology than other Asari specimen. Several changes to the brain and accompanying organs showed a massive amount of mental activity. While humanity lacked the knowledge of how Asari melding worked, there were several theories. The most popular theory was that it worked like a temporary and weak version of a two way mind control, the pair would be able to share senses and memories and vaguely make suggestions to each other but little beyond that. If the popular theory was true, this oddball Asari would overload any of her partners without a massive amount of control.

Bertha and Four-eyes continued with dozens of new scans and procedures. Before they could start on a dissection or vivisection the Asari woke up, and thus the complications began. "Hi girls." the Asari shamelessly greeted in perfect English, either ignoring or unconcerned with the fact she was strapped to a cold metal table. "Could you be nice and fetch Lupo for me?" she asked.

The doctors drew pistols and pointed at the alien, "How do you know about Lupo?" Bertha demanded, ignoring the shattered language barrier, "Speak quickly or die!"

The Asari sighed deeply, shrugging her shoulders as best she could, it was a gesture Beltway always did when he was annoyed at having to explain something. "I melded with Beltway." the naked alien explained calmly, "Asari share memories with mates when they link minds. I have a condition that should have killed him when our minds met."

Four-eyes lowered her gun a little, usually the aliens just screamed in terror, this one was a willing tap of information, "So why did you scream like you were having a violent orgasm then pass out?" the scientist asked.

"Or..gasm...?" the Asari questioned slowly, thinking heavily and shuddering, "Oh that... That's because I was having an orgasm. Asari melding is equivalent to sex for us." she explained.

"You kill with sex?" Bertha questioned with a incredulous expression, "What are you? A space succubus?"

The Asari took a moment to think again, "I guess that would be an apt comparison. My species call my kind Ardat-Yakshi. We are the end result of pure Asari breeding with each other and bad luck."

"Why are you telling us this so willingly?" Asked Four-eyes, eyes narrowing with suspicion, "No prisoner gives up so much knowledge without a reason."

The Asari rolled her eyes, another human gesture, "I know full well that your orders are to kill any alien species with knowledge of your mission and I have all of Beltway's memories in my head. If I make myself useful to you and offer to give you whatever you want I have a chance of living longer." The Asari paused before turning to Four-eyes. "By the way, do you really enjoy cross species cosplay sex or was that thing in the Quarian suits just a one time thing?"

Bertha couldn't control her mirth, laughing aloud. "I'll get the boss, you watch her. If she moves, glows, or blushes shoot her."

The prisoner nodded at Four-eyes, "If I make her blush can I go free?"

The introduction of a willing captive changed the mission objectives extensively. Operation Outbreak had to take on a delay as extracting a first hand source of knowledge was a priority above testing a new weapon. The Council had been concerned over the convenient appearance of an Asari turned traitor and thus a meeting of the Alliance military had to commence.

"We will deploy Beta, Delta and Gamma squadrons to Invictus to assist in spreading the prototypes." Harper explained, "The Wolfpack's priority will be the evacuation of the Asari prisoner and the dispersal inside the capital city. To conceal themselves in case of detection the Wolfpack has rebuilt several Quarian environmental suits to fit them and hide their equipment. By the time the other teams have arrived more disguise suits will have been remade and available for pick-up."

"What is the delivery system?" growled a highly decorated officer with genuine curiosity.

"Dr. Knives has created a modified version of the needle grenade we employed during the Ethereal war. Rather than fire alloy needles over an area, this version releases a large number of hypo darts. The darts will not pierce armor and are less effective against anything wearing barriers or shields however they will have no problem infecting civilians. The darts work by injecting a Chrysalids egg into the host body. Because the host isn't dead upon injection it takes longer for the egg to gestate and emerge. Testing on Turians shows that it causes debilitating illness in them and that they die within hours of infection."

"To cause maximum confusion," Harper continued, after a sip of water, "the Wolfpack has placed a large number of explosive packs all over the capital. The bombs have been placed in areas where it will cause the most cosmetic damage, while more focused C-12 plasma packs have been placed on power cables, communication arrays, and roadways. Three of the more powerful devices have been placed at a section of living quarters, the primary hospital and the star port. The hope is that while the government forces attempt to bring order and stop panic, the Chrysalids will have time to grow and spread."

General Williams kindly cut in, "What about reinforcements? Once word reaches that a contamination is spreading and that a species is attacking they will call for help."

"The Planet of Invictus is used by the Turians as a gateway to the black market of the 'Terminus systems'. The planet has a token military force that is established in the capital with eight much smaller outposts on opposite ends of the plant. The security has been noted as purposefully lax so that goods banned by the Citadel can be moved into Turian space." Harper displayed several photographs of important looking homes and well dressed Turians, "According to Intel provided by the Wolfpack, the Turian's leadership keep vacation homes in the tropical belt of Invictus as both a sign of status and to gain access to the less than legal things they desire without having to risk wandering from the safety of Turian territory."

Harper moved as if to grab his cigarette case, but stopped before he could complete the motion, "The Wolfpack pilot is in a stealth frigate above the planet. When the ground forces begin their assault he will begin shooting down any communications satellite in orbit. By the time the Turians establish communications the satellites will be removed. While we don't know enough about Turian communication methods we know that without the common methods available there will be a substantial delay before any aid can be called in. By that time we hope that the planet will have suffered significant losses."

Newly reenlisted Brigadier General Hummel cleared his throat loudly. "What kind of numbers to the Turians have on the ground? How well equipped are they, and do they have air support?"

The XCOM commander glared at Hummel, even during war the mutual dislike and disrespect the two showed each other was present, "Unfortunately the Wolfpack's Intel is limited to the forces in the capital. The Turians seem to operate in brigades, each numbering somewhere between thirty-five hundred to forty-five hundred. The Shastinasio base appears to be loaded with at least twenty brigades, with only two active at a time. There are ten frigate class ships docked at the shipyard, there are also a large number of shuttle class ships. We don't know their range or combat capabilities, but due to a lack of obvious weaponry we believe that they are just civilian transport off world. Their air force is a force to be reckoned with, having large numbers of gunships, attack drones and fighters. "

"Do we know who is in charge of the Colony?"

"Various Turian soldiers interrogated by the Wolfpack have identified the Turian leader as Governor Natal Vakarian." An image of an older Turian with sagging features and a cross shaped scar over his left eye replaced the other displayed pictures, "The Governor is known a General who was severely injured during a crash landing of his ship in the Terminus while on patrol. According to his reputation he not only survived the crash, but prevented the wreckage from being stolen by raiders for about three months before he was found and rescued. He was no longer in any condition to lead so he was given this job as thanks for preventing criminals from securing military technology."

"What do we know about the Turian's methods of quarantine? Do they have any plans when they have to deal with biological contamination?"

Harper took another drink of water, he had been talking for hours and his throat was beginning to feel parched. "The Turians method of dealing with infection, biological weapons, and outbreaks of any sort are short and simple. Contain and burn. They don't try to secure samples or study it. They just kill everything that is a risk. The Asari and Salarians are the thinkers it seems, the Turians are just muscle."

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The death of Invictus started with a simple innocent looking item, a small silver sphere. A bouncing little palm sized ball that could be mistaken for a child's toy or perhaps a over-sized ball bearing.

The metal orb rolled across the floor of an Asari run map store called Baria Frontiers. Inside the store dozens of shoppers merrily browsed star charts and celestial maps, planning vacations or thinking of gifts to send to others. It was just bad luck that a young Batarian lifted the silver coloured ball from the polished floor. Where it had originally rolled most of its cargo would have smashed against the sides of shelves instead of spraying the occupants of the room.

The ball was light, and very reflective. The child shook it in his hands and tossed it back and forth with the carefree ease that only a child could possess. It was to the Batarian boy's surprise when the ball suddenly clicked, opening a minuscule amount and revealing small hints of what was underneath the silver shell. The Batarian leaned in, his four eyes focusing, trying to peer inside the mystery ball. Just as he saw a glint of white, the ball tore open launching itself overhead. The shell torn away the ball was now revealed to be covered in spikes. As one the spikes tore off, flying in wide arcs and impaling themselves into the customers. In other stores across the market district the event played out in food supply stores, medical stores, even mechanical suppliers. Hundreds of people felt the surprising piercing prick of a needle and felt the illness spread from the tainted bite.

Each victim of the spike spheres instantly felt sick, wrong, as if their bodies were rejecting their very essence. Some vomited, some began bleeding from eyes or ears. Some fell unconscious within seconds. Those blessed with biotics tore themselves and those around them apart as they lost control of their power. A Krogan that got caught by a needle was the worst of all, instantly going into a blood rage and attacking everything around them. Those few trained in inter species medical procedures tried to help those who showed signs of illness. Trained biotics rushed to bring down their infected kin before they could do any more damage. The Krogan continued to rage, swinging a ragged sign pole like a war-hammer damaging people and displays alike.

The market dissolved into chaos as the various species either tried to help, or fled from the scene screaming for help. Several of the Turian police force rushed in to help, radioing in for aid. They were met by silence. The team leader looked skyward, noticing several growing pillars of smoke wafting in the air. He listened closely, the sounds of distant explosions reached his ears. Screams outside the markets were growing louder. Sirens rang out, signalling that the City was under attack. Twice more the unit leader tried to call to base in vein, failing to alert the base of a potential biological threat, his third attempt to call was met by an answer. Not from his radio, but from behind him. A primal scream unlike anything he had ever heard before.

The creature was insect-like, with multiple limbs and five digit claws, yellow bulbous eyes stating at him with an limitless hunger. The creature lunged at him, and the soldier barely had time to raise his rifle and fire. "Rachni!" he screamed, terror flooding his veins. The supposed foe of the Citadel races tore into its pray. Biting. Slashing. Tearing. Eating. The Turians watched as their team-mate and leader was slaughtered and eaten in front of them. Training took over. The squad aimed at the beast and released streams of projectiles that pierced and tore at the flesh of the monster, opening holes in its head and chest that nothing could endure and live. The monster fell to the ground, its green and black blood flowing out into a quickly steaming pool.

The relief the team felt from having killed the thing was cut short as the monster's scream was replicated time, after time, after time again. Dozens of the things screamed and shrieked and howled. The sounds of a stampede of movement echoed around the now terrified Turians. A rapid chattering and clatter of movement came from the insides of many buildings. Brief bursts of gunfire and people screaming for aid rang out. Not as a group, but individuals screaming their last in defiance of a force that just didn't care.

More of the monsters entered the streets, each one sniffing the air. Following the scents of those who fled in fear. It started slowly, one or two at a time leaving a building to be gun downed by the team. But more came, soon dozens at a time came closer and closer. Each wave gaining ground as they passed the old. Several men panicked, noticing that some corpses disappeared with each wave. A mist was flowing in, a rare event in the tropical belt. As it flowed in the men felt weaker, fatigued. Some felt the bile rise in them, either from the sent of the dead or the mist they weren't sure.

A not so subtle splat of wet cloth falling drew their attention behind them. The corpse of their commander stood upright, half his right arm gone, an un-bleeding wound where his jaw should be. The thing growled at them in a haunting parody of the creatures they had been killing. It lunged at them, as the 'dead Rachni' from before rose to join him.

The newest wave fed.

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Shastinasio was burning. In less than fifteen minutes hundreds of bombs had activated, sowing chaos and destruction upon the capital city. People were in the streets, fearful and panicked. Fires had broken out in multiple sectors, the flames causing the evacuation of multiple residential sections. The law abiding citizens fled to the base district of the capital, expecting safety amongst the Turian military. The criminal scum of the planet had other ideas, with communication and power cut in many areas it was the perfect moment to steal, raid, rape, and pillage.

Batarian slavers grabbed whom they could off the streets, thinking of a quick pay-day. Quarians who had become lost or indebted on their pilgrimage to adulthood grabbed at valuable machinery, computer, even stole cars or shuttles. Asari mercenaries peddled their talents to both the military and the civilians. Those who could find a way to take advantage of the crisis did, unaware that they were only making the disaster worse.

Governor-General Natal was not pleased, not pleased at all. His untamed anger radiating from his persona, struck into the hearts of even the most bravest men under his command as they covered away from the imposing veteran in balant fear. Purposefully, Natal strode into the CIC (Command-Intelligence-Center) controlling the entirety of Invictus defence force. Communication and Intelligence officers were scrambling around there posts desperately trying to make sense of the information maelstrom they were getting. The confusion was abondently clear and it sickened Natal beyond imagination. To see Turian soldiers; Turians, having thrown in such disarray was shameful. But there was nothing Natal could do but make the best off it.

"Report!" barked Natal and immediately the XO (executive officer); one Tarkan Vintus, dutifully responded over the nearly deafening cries and barks of orders coming from the confused officers " Sir! Numerous bombing attacks all over the planet, main targeted area seems to be the capital, Shastinasio, with seventy-eight separate bombings still counting. No accurate estimation on casualties at the moment sir, is simply not possible, the civilian services are stretched thin. We have also reports of similar attacks all across the planet. Criminal elements are on an all high it's an open buffet for these rats. Stealing. Rioting. Countless accidents. It's an outright mess, sir."

Natal gave out a low threatening growl from his throat and it took all of his self control not to dismiss and execute the officers who ran around the CIC like headless pyjaks. The actions of the criminal elements were worrisome, they could seriously hamper or worse entirely halt any attempt to restore order. Natal knew that they had to act quickly, thus he swiftly moved towards the large holotable in the middle of the room with remarkable elegance given his age and gazed with steely confidence at the Area of Operations.

The Battlefield.

His home.

Natal suppressed a shudder and spoke loudly "Verging by the fact that most of my Command Staff acts in NO WAY like proper Turian officers, the best in the galaxy, their shameful behaviour is most likely a possible result losing our entire communications array AND our satellite array. Planet and Orbital wise, correct?!"

The shameful look from his XO was all Natal needed and he felt how his fiery red hot temper demanded to burst through and discipline his subordinates properly. With a snarl Natal turned back to the strategic map of the Planet.

Their communication array both on the ground and in space had been eliminated through unknown means. They even took out the com satellites at the Relay which served as an emergency beacons which should have jumped straight to Palven High COM in time of need. Whoever was responsible for these attacks was thorough. With only short range transmissions as the only means of communication there was a severe lack of accurate information. They now had to put their faith into runners carrying important orders and information which took a whole lot time, as the unit and single soldier radiopack was very limited and these attacks or to be precise this eerie, alien green fog was causing a lot of interference. Officers in the streets were reporting slavers, muggings, murders, damage from bombs, fires, and even reports of a green gas that was making people sick.

"Status of our frigates." Natal demanded his eyes scanning the map of the capital city of Invictus, Shastinasio. It was as if the city had been ravaged by a Thresher Maw. Red dots were all over the blueish image of the once proud city, covering entire city blocks and were contentiously growing. What ever it was the chaos was spreading fast.

"Sir. The Space-port had also been hit specifically the Military Bay with the frigates at dry dock. Eight are out of combat. One has malfunctioning FTL drive, few KIA's and the last one is just an empty shell. It's entire crew fell victim to the bombings and this weird toxic gas. There were no survivors."

Natal let out a breath of sheer frustration before composing himself and return to the task a head.

"Activate all brigades and have them on standby. " Commanded the Governor-General. "Assign one brigade to assisting civilian services. We need to get those fires out and calm the civilians. But most importantly I want to know what in the Spirits name is going in this damned city. No unnecessary risks."

"What about the reports of a biological contamination...this green gas that has been found in scattered areas?" questioned an adviser.

Natal considered for a moment before responding confidently "Have the brigade be equipped with HAZMAT suits and that their rules of engagements are for biological warfare. They know what to do."

"This is a Terrorist attack." muttered Natal to himself as he analysed the situation, "Alright here is the game-plan: First we secure the city and re-establish the most strategically important points and block this enemies movement as much as possible. Here, here, here, here and here." Natal highlighted several key location around the vicinity of the city and it's state. Highways, bridges, small villages, mountain ranges giving the forces good vantage point and a well defend-able position to establish a Forward Operation Base. "Once we have gridlocked the entire planet and ensured that whoever is responsible for these attacks is boxed in we'll destroy them with extreme prejudice. Two brigades will sweep the city sector by sector, and search for any signs of anything the smallest bit suspicious that may be our attackers. Every other brigade not tasked with the blocking off the enemies movement is to set-up Forward Operation Bases to further ensure military logistics are running flawlessly and command structure in the area is secured. In the meantime, get Sky Marshall Arierius on the horn. I want that last frigate up in the air and to sweep the planet and check in with the other outposts. Have his complete division on standby and get his UAV's up. Have them check for any sign of attackers across the planet."

"Right away sir. Should we alert Palaven command?" inquired one of his aides.

The Governor shook his head in the negative, "Whomever did this not only crippled every array we have on the ground, but has been disabling our satellites in orbit. It will take time to restore a long range relay to the point it would be able to transmit off world."

"Who would do this? Batarians perhaps?"

"The Hegemony wouldn't risk their precious trade route into Turian territory." disagreed Natal, "Invictus is the only planet we let their illegal wares past inspection. If Invictus is ruined so is a large percent of their black market. But don't worry soldier, once we find out whoever bastards did this to our homes, we'll hang 'em on a tree."

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"Turians are such easy pray for wolves." Bertha thought as her cleaver tore into the neck of a guard as she twirled and spun, the rounds of her alloy pistol ripping into the skull of another unfortunate Turian with lethal force. They used predictable conventional military tactics. Foolish ideas against a team of killers. Several squads of the alien guards had gotten too close to the market district had had been quickly drawn into ambushes and disposed of. Spectre covered the area with his rifle, Beltway left laser trip-wire mines all around, and Vector had discovered a new joy in leading idiotic soldiers into batches of Chrysalids. Lupo patrolled the area, ensuring the newborn Chrysalids had time to reach maturity.

Squads of Turian soldiers were on patrol across the city, the lucky ones died a quick death from the traps and ambush tactics of the Wolfpack. The unlucky ones wandered into the areas overrun by the Chrysalids. While the purpose of Operation Outbreak was to see if the Chrysalids would make an usable bio-weapon, the XCOM operatives wanted to delay their discovery as long as possible.

The monsters were breeding faster than predicted. Unlike their ancestors the new breed could spawn multiple young from a single corpse. The Chrysalids had been designed as a perfect killing tool, and they lived up to the expectation. No matter what resistance was thrown at them, or how much firepower was used against them, the giant insects would swarm over all resistance. Every one cut down, two would take its place, followed shortly by the one you thought you killed. Every injury the Chrysalids suffered from poured more poison into the air, weakening those stupid enough to breathe in the gas.

After only an hour the market district had been overrun with the beasts. The constant stream of criminals seeking to profit off of the disasters by stealing from the stores were quickly reduced to incubators for the new species. What started in the dozens was quickly rushing into the tens of thousands. Unless slain from total destruction of the head and chest the insects would grow back, their abnormal biology made worse by the regenerative properties they held. Packs of the spider like horrors spread like wildfire, hunting down everything they could sense. Homes were ripped into, their terrified dwellers pulled screaming from hiding places and used to feed the nightmare that claimed their lives. The Wolfpack watched it all with excitement and joy.

"I think I would call this a successful test run, eh boss?" Beltway chuckled. "By the time the metal heads get their asses in gear they will be over run!"

"Don't get ahead of yourself Beltway." replied Spectre, staring down his scope at something, "The Turians are treating this as a terrorist attack. Not a biological outbreak or invasion. The moment they notice the bugs they will put up a defence."

"We will need to ensure the outbreak spreads." agreed Lupo, "The Commander wants us to ensure that not only does this place burn for Shanxi, but the Commander has also stated that we are to frame the Quarians for this as best we can."

"Whats the plan then?" Vector questioned, adjusting his disguise. The damned skin-tight suits never felt right to him. "Attack the Turians and speak in Quarian?"

"Exactly."

"You can't be serious..." Beltway dead-panned, "Why the hell would that even work?"

"We're not sure it will." Four-eyes answered, "Our initial projections were based off a more combat capable Chrysalids, not a strain that is super strong and breeds like rabbits. Our initial estimation was that the things would overwhelm the planet in days. At the rate they are going they will overrun everything but the remote populations within thirty-six hours. That's at their slowest and only counting our outbreak. If the other teams are progressing at the same speed, the planet will be covered in Chrysalids in less than twenty hours."

The team was silent, the absence filled by the crackle of fire and sound of screams, both killers and victims. Around them, the once great capital continued to fall apart as the dead rose in one form or another to kill the living.

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Patrol unit seven was in charge of investigating the market district. After the start of the attack, the Turian 22' Anvil Brigade moved into the Capital on QRF duty. Their job was to organize with the civil services still active in these hot zone or 'red zones' over a dozen different squads had been sent in and had yet to check in. With communications and power still cut the only option this brave brigade had was to rely on runners and their short range radio-packs. Upon entering the city the brigade split it's forces: One half; Anvil Actual, secured an large enough area that has not been ravaged by these vicious attacks and the following riots and set up an Base of Operations. A safe haven for any refugees they might find. The other half; Anvil Hammer, would follow commands instructions and recon the area search for survivors, escort them to the hastily build up safe haven and most importantly find targets; the ones responsible for these attacks. Thus the two hundred soldiers from Beta company were sent in to sweep the southern area of the market, a reported ground zero of the attacks and find out what was going on. What they found was a blood bath.

Bodies of the population lay upon the ground in puddles of multicoloured blood. Chunks of flesh were scattered about shredded and ripped, some still connected by threads of skin. Signs of struggle filled the shops: displays overturned, doors broken inward, puncture holes from gunfire littered the walls and floor. And the blood. So much blood. Entire rooms had been smeared with the violently shed life giving liquid. Far more than the number of bodies that lay forgotten on the cold unforgiving ground.

The Lieutenant frowned. There was just too much blood here. The blood almost reached the soldiers hips, however they had yet only accounted a dozen bodies. Where were the rest?

"Lieutenant, what the hell is this?" questioned a grunt, nervously scratching his uncomfortable, skin-tight HAZMAT suit. The Turian was unnerved, many of them were. Their eyes danced across this grotesque scenery and their guns twitched, continuously shifting from one place to another, expecting an attack from this unimaginable evil that lurked behind the shadows.

The Lieutenant kept a calm expression, hiding his disgust at the scattered gore, "Keep your weapons ready." He pointed at a small group of five, "You five head back to the garrison, report what we've found, warn command that this is not a simple terrorist attack! We need reinforcements now!"

The squad took off running as if the spirits of the dead were in pursuit. The Lieutenant faced the remaining troops. "Split into groups of twelve and search for survivors, if you find anything of use burst transmission to alert the unit. We meet back here in thirty."

The large group of soldiers split as ordered, each picking a store. The stores were almost all the same. Blood, gore, bodies and death. It was in the thrashed remains of the Baria Frontiers that the patrol caught a break. Swiftly alerting the unit they ran back to the group with their found treasure.

"Corporal, can you get anyone else of Anvil Hammer on the horn?" asked the Lieutenant their radioman, who was fumbling with the controls of his device.

"Nothing, just gibberish or static. Way too much interference. Possibly from that weird smoke shit covering half the city. Maybe if we get on higher ground I might get through to the others."

The Lieutenant shook his head in a negative and was getting impatient, clearly unsettled by the death still around him. Call it instinct but the Lieutenant just had this weird feeling. His skin was tickling , his blue blood ran cold in his veins. He felt like prey being watched and stalked by an dark unforgiving predator. "What did you find?" he demanded as he saw one group of twelve soldier jogging towards him. Immediately the Lieutenant noticed the wide pupils of his subordinates saw nothing but bone chilling terror in their eyes.

"Sir we have a copy of the security cameras from a store. You won't believe this." The grunt stammered out nervously . He activated his omni-tool and displayed a video, the orange tint not taking away from the scene replaying in front of their eyes.

A Quarian woman walked into the store, partially hidden from view by a shelf. The Quarian woman barely entered and bent low to roll a small silver object across the floor, then left with noticeable haste. The unit watched as the Batarian child lifted the device. There was no love between the Batarians and Turians, but across all Citadel species children were sacred. They watched the device sprang open in the child's hand and the darts spread like an unholy web. With a feeling of hopelessness they watched their people fall to disease in an instant. After minutes of suffering, spikes started erupting from inside the infected bodies. The spikes grew larger, and with terrible spurts of blood the infected ripped open, replacing an abomination from the desecrated remains.

"Spirits save us." Muttered one soldier, "It's a new breed of Rachni..." The video continued, displaying the slaughter that lay around them. They stood entranced as the new strain of Rachni killed and ate their people, only to watch the dead rise up to aid their murderers before becoming Rachni themselves.

Many of the troops turned to their commander with fear in their eyes and terror in their hearts. "What do we do, Sir?"

Before the Turian commander could answer, a terrible, bone chilling scream rattled the air around them, the start of a symphony that no mortal could stand with a sane mind. The sounds of insect like chittering echoed in the empty streets. "I've got movement!" a grunt yelled, opening fire. "They're behind us!" Another cried. "We're Surrounded!"

The Lieutenant spotted the horde, the new Rachni pouring from rooftops, doorways and windows. They emerged from allies and vents. As one they charged into the gunfire, shrugging off wounds and attacks. Grenade blasts scattered the horde, bullets slowed them, but they kept coming.

"Fire!" bellowed the Turian commander to his men only to witness sheer insanity. His comrade and friends were getting butchered left and right. Torn limp from limp. Eaten. Mutilated.

Everything moves in a blur mind boggling whirlwind of blood and guts.

"Retreat! Fall back to Anvil Actual! Alert command!" The Lieutenant cried, as fired into the swarm. The Turian tried to turn to run, only to be clipped by the still firing rifle of a slain grunt. The troops obeyed the command, rushing as fast as they could, leaving their Lieutenant behind. The soldier kept shooting, until one of the Rachni bit his arm, nearly severing the limb and forcing him to release the gun.

The Turian screamed in pain, as the Rachni flung him to the ground. Their claws had shredded his armor, his body felt inflamed, possibly from venom.

Then as one the yellow eyes of the Rachni flashed violet, before they backed away slowly. The Lieutenant lay helpless on the ground, hoping for a quick death. The calm steady thud of boot covered footsteps approaching encouraged him to move. With a godly strain he rolled onto his back, and stared at the uncaring visage of half a dozen black clad Quarians.

One approached, a female, It bent low with a knife in its hand. "Hello Turian," she hissed, "your lucky. Did you know that?"

"Whys that?" The Lieutenant coughed out, "need some loving?" he asked with false bravado.

"Cute." the Quarian woman replied, before shoving the knife handle deep into the Sargent's already injured arm. "Are you ready to be serious now?" She asked, twisting the blade slightly. The Lieutenant screamed in pain, thrashing about on the ground. The Chrysalids skittered about, the spray of blood exciting them.

"What do you suit rats want?!" The soldier barked out in pain.

"Not smart to insult the people whom hold your life in their hands." The knife was removed with another squirt of blue blood, inspiring the Rachni to shuffle about again. "Your going to deliver a message to the Governor."

"And what..." ground out the Lieutenant, staring at her legs, "pray tell, is that?"

The Quarian woman stood up, the knife still held threateningly in her hand. "Tell the governor to leave the planet to us, this is our world now."

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Lupo stood beside Spectre an hour later, both staring down at the Turian's field command post. "Did he make it back to their base?" she asked the sniper.

"He made it..." Spectre replied slowly, "I guess the bloody knife worked then."

"Indeed," Lupo remarked, "I guess this means we shouldn't bleed on them if we want the Chrysalids to eat them." The mercenary mother activated her comm. "Four-eyes is the missile ready yet?"

"Ready, Lupo." The scientist replied, "Ready for me to launch?"

"Team check in, who took the pills?" Lupo radioed to the team.

"Vector here, taken."

"Four-eyes, taken."

"Beltway here, I took the fucking pills."

"Specter here... Took them."

"Bertha, taken."

Lupo closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the soon to be poisoned air, "Four-eyes, Launch the missile."

From the smouldering blood soaked market district a lone missile launched. A white cylinder spear that rushed from the ruins into the skies above the city. The missile was instantly shot at by several Turian weapons as it ascended to the heavens. Eventually the Turian projectiles struck their target, and the missile exploded in mid-air. The missile released a red cloud as it erupted in fire and shrapnel.

The smoke drifted to the ground, saturating the city with its particles. Across the city the Chrysalids horde screamed in blood lust, rushing into the cloud with reckless, wild hunger. The horde swarmed the city, driven by the chemicals in the air. The massacres of the market were repeated in a hell spawned cycle. The monsters natural ferocity was only amplified by the cloud. Each victim added to the swarm, each drop of blood added to their ecstasy filled frenzy.

As the swarm grew, Invictus died.