Cera gripped her rifle tighter as she slowly strode forward. Her batallion and the artillery column followed her forwards.
One could easily taste the unnerve in the air which always followed the divisions and battalions who were relocating to other positions. This nervousness while relocating was somewhat of a new development, as typically advancement to forward positions happened when the enemy was completely driven out by either aerial bombardment or artillery barrage. But could one be sure with these monsters?
There were numerous incidents when soldiers would advance into seemingly purged fortifications, which were bombarded by shells for cycles, only for it to turn out that the aliens somehow had survived, and we're able to break he assault.
Numerous times it seemed that you had killed the creature, only for it to turn out that it's gem was undamaged and the creature was able to reform behind terka lines and start sowing death.
Just as numerous were the times when it seemed that a strategy for either void or land warfare was devised, to break them on at least one world, to somehow push them back. And when the victory seemed near the enemy would adapt and push back, to the brutal status quo. To the grinding and stagnant war, which was continuing for the last three planet cycles.
Someone in the council of generals had equated the enemy to hidri, the many headed serpent of terka myth. The comparison was very fitting. Just like the great serpent, these "gems" struck at many targets at once. Just like the serpent they were incredibly ferocious and enduring. And when you though that you were at least one step closer to victory, when you were pushing the invader out of a world, you cut one of the serpents heads off, the invader, like the serpent which regrew it's head, would strike with double ferocity. And the brutal battle would rage anew...
Cera and her troops finally reached their destination. They secured the perimeter, with a few nasty surprises as even after bombardment several shards had survived and we're able to reform. After it they started to fortify by digging both hideouts and trenches, reinforcing them with ruble and plates of different metals that were left after bombardment. Artillery was also fortified and prepared for battle.
After the front part of the new fortifications was ready, the terka soldiers started fortifying the facility from all sides.
They were in the middle of this when the communication links came to life.
"To all units in zone 09, battle formation, battle formation." It was one of the scouts, other way they would know that coordinates of each unit present in zone 09." Several enemy fliers are aproaching, I repeat, several enemy flie..."
The transmission was broken by static. The scout was eliminated by the enemy.
After hearing the transmission soldiers started panicking. The enemy used only one type of flying unit. Creatures terka nicknamed "headhunters". They were lithe and agile beings, flying on two silver wings. Most of them used some sort of automatic ballistic weapons and a pair of black sabers. And while this didn't seem much, there was one problem.
There was no known way to kill them. They easily took out interceptors, they evaded even the most powerful anti air weaponry, and even took out entire divisions fully equipped with flak weaponry. There was no hope against such an enemy.
And now a group of those were arriving to sector 09.
Cera loaded her gun with explosive rounds and pointed it towards the sky as the sound of wings slashing through the air could be heard from the distance...