Black-13 had been traveling for some time. Their path was by no means straight. They had darted across streets from building to building. They'd had no further contact with the Swarm, not even a lone Reject or Drone.
That had Myers worried the Swarm was many things, persistent amongst them. Why were they now free to move? Where was the enemy? He opted for caution rather than speed. Something the tired Governor was quite grateful for, whilst he wasn't out of shape Emmerich was struggling to keep up at points.
'Anyone else thinking we should be getting shot at right now?' Hudson muttered.
'Hudson,' Figueroa said, in a warning tone.
'We're all thinking about it,' Hudson responded, looking around the group.
'That doesn't mean you need to say it,' Durham said, moving past him.
'With respect. What harm could I do saying that out loud?' Hudson said.
On the heels of that statement, an explosion in the distance rocked them. Sections of buildings fell into the street. The Onyx moved to cover in case of any more debris, with squads three and four forming around Emmerich.
'That is why you don't say it out loud,' Durham said as she darted forward to organize her squad.
'No way I caused that by talking,' Hudson retorted.
'Less chatter, more focus. Direction and distance,' Myers ordered, striding past.
'About a click and a half along our current direction of travel,' Hickman reported as he lowered his Longshot.
They looked at each other as they checked their maps, both digital and mental. The same conclusion dawned on them all.
The Air-Field.
The Onyx had moved to a combat pace, moving by squad bounding from one point to the next. With their long range radio still jammed they didn't know what they were advancing towards. Several smaller blasts and sharp crack of gunfire echoed as they approached the plateau that the Air-Field had been built on.
Ahead, a guard post had been constructed with sandbags and prefabricated barricades set up to guard the approach from this side. It was occupied but not by Gears.
'Got DeeBees up ahead. Looks like Shepherds,' Hickman reported as he swept the way ahead with his Longshot.
'Good we can use the help,' Spencer responded as he checked their rear Lancer at the ready.
'You ever seen a red DeeBee before?' Hickman asked, keeping his eye on his sight.
'Red?' Spencer thought for a moment, 'No, I don't think so.'
'Something's off,' Hickman muttered. A sick feeling was building in his gut.
'You want to pass it up the chain?' Spencer asked, glancing over to Hickman.
'No, but someone's got to,' Hickman gave a hand signal, and Figueroa moved up alongside him.
Figueroa slid into the cover next to them 'What's the situation?'
'Fortified zone up ahead with DeeBee units in guard position. Do we have any red DeeBees that you know of?' Hickman asked, looking up the main road.
'Red. No, I can't say I know of any. Keep your scope lined up, I'll check it,' Figueroa opened a connection to the other squad leaders, 'This is 3-1 to all lead points. Do we know about any Red DeeBees in service?'
'Black Actual is not aware of any units matching that,' Myers responded.
'2-1, negative on that last 4-1 would know more,' Durham called back.
'This is 4-1, no red units I know of. Could they be Firefighters or Civil service?' Hudson suggested.
A flash of movement at the edge of Figueroa's vision made her snap round. But it was Emmerich trying to get her attention. With his Tac-Com synced he'd been listening in. She leaned over to him.
'Yes?' Figueroa asked, hoping he didn't want a report.
'There are no red DeeBees,' Emmerich whispered.
Figueroa was about to give a curt reply. Then remembered that Emmerich was likely their only other expert in DeeBee matters, 'What? You're sure there's none?'
'No DeeBee format in service has ever been red to my knowledge,' Emmerich said. shaking his head.
Figueroa reopened the connection to the others, 'Be advised Bauxite reports no Red DeeBee in service.'
Myers must have trusted his words, '3-1, Are they armed?' he asked.
'Wait one,' Figueroa turned back to Hickman, 'Are those things armed?'
'Looks like it, Enforcer's nothing bigger though that I can see,' He focused for a moment, rechecking what he was seeing, 'Even those are red looking at them.'
Figueroa nodded and reopened her connection, 'Units are armed.'
'They're Swarm DeeBees.' Emmerich muttered.
The surrounding Onyx froze at that statement.
'Repeat that?' Figueroa snapped.
'Those are not COG DeeBees, no unit is red and no Enforcer model would be.' Emmerich said, shaking his head.
'How do you know that?' Spencer asked, nearly turning round.
'Red is confrontational. The colors authorized for use are clear and concise. Whilst not becoming overbearing for citizens to approach should the need arise.'
'That sounds like a load of -' Hickman began.
'If it's that stupid, its probably true. No offense, sir.' Spencer nodded to Emmerich.
'I can agree that the Ministry of Settlements makes some strange choices with policy,' said Emmerich. He resisted the urge to peek over and look at the machines, 'The fact remains though there should be no reason for a red DeeBee to exist at least in-'
'Connection attempt detected. Certificate not Valid. Denied' The remaining Onyx DeeBee said suddenly.
'DeeBees just snapped to our position.' Hickman's reported.
Figueroa snapped around, pointing at Emmerich, 'Day get the Governor to cover.'
Before he could respond he once again was being half dragged half pushed by Day. Despite now carrying an Enforcer and its ammo in the light vest's harness she still showed no sign of her injuries. In seconds he was behind the solid cover of a rolled truck alongside Hudson and the platoon's remaining DeeBee before.
'What the fuck! Did those things just attempt a hack?' Hickman said, checking his weapon.
'I think so, ' Hudson said, bracing his Lancer.
True to his word, the Red DeeBees had been walking towards them. Their pace was the same as the ones that had been assigned to the platoon. Slow, purposeful, and terrifying when looking at a wall of them approaching.
The lead unit paused as it came into range. As it scanned the cover the Onyx were behind. It paused upon the truck which they were sheltering behind, 'Attention. Unit designation OG-PK-13-4-2 you are in need of maintenance/update. Please report for maintenance/update.'
The machines stepped forward again, 'Please report for maintenance/update.'
'What's the plan?' Hudson asked.
'We need t-' Myers began.
A scream cut him off. It had come from the Onyx next to him..
'Atkinson's hit!' Chen shouted.
Myers looked back, marching out of a ruined Sewer pipe were more of the red machines. Opening fire as they emerged.
The battle lit the street with tracers. The radio network became a mixture of sources as reports overlapped.
'Keep them back!'
'They just keep coming, make your shots count!'
'I'm hit. I'm h -ahhh it burns!'
Hudson punched his override and shouted over the din of the battle, 'Give ground if needed. Remember these things don't duck.'
It was a strange sight. The servants of humanity turned upon their creators. The machines had numbers the Onyx had training. The match up would have been uneven if it were a simple battle. Unfortunately for the humans, the turned machines had gifts from their new masters.
'What are they shooting us with?' Hudson said as he ducked into the cover of the truck to reload.
'What?' Day said lining up another DeeBee.
'Those aren't bullets.'
Day looked over at Hudson, 'What do you mean? Not bu…'
There on part of the truck's frame a small white shard of what seemed to be bone. A small patch of glowing red fluid spreading from the impact point. Some kind of thin tendrils squirmed from inside the projectile. Before Day could give the warning, another voice reported the same over the platoon channel.
'Any personnel struck by enemy fire trip your Stim immediately! The projectiles are hazardous.'
With the battle in full swing and boxed in the Onyx traded ground for time. The machines still using the older version of the Peacekeeper OS closed on the humans marching in the open. That allowed the Onyx to destroy the Swarm units.
But also allowed the machines to advance where an attacker interested in self preservation would have halted and taken cover. The machines simply continued forward, uncaring for their casualties.
They closed and met the Onyx lines.
Those closest to the front engaged with their Gnashers. Even then the machines advanced until they could reach the humans with their own hands. The fighting moved hand to hand. Metal met metal as Onyx and DeeBees ripped into each other with knives and fists.
Emmerich fired the Enforcer over the melee. Aiming for those machines still far enough away that he was confident he could hit them. With his HUD active he kept firing whenever the icon went red causing it to vanish against their attackers.
All he could see was a solid wall of red metal marching forward. Both ends of the street seemed to have filled with the DeeBees. Some of his rounds still went high and right from his target, but it scarcely mattered. The rounds would strike another.
The Enforcer clicked empty. Emmerich crouched back against the truck. He struck the eject, dogged the spent box and pulled another magazine from his belt. His angle was off on the return, the box half fit into the mag-well before it became stuck. He heard Day shouting something but it was drowned out in the sounds of the battle.
'I know.' he shouted. Fighting the box into place 'I-'
A hand landed on his shoulder plate. For a second he assumed it was Day signalling him to move back further. Until it squeezed hard enough he felt the shoulder plate shatter. Then pulled him from behind the truck towards the enemy. He was slammed into the ground head first.
Dazed, he tried to call out, but he couldn't breathe and his arm was... hanging by his side. A pair of red feet moved at the edge of his vision. Something pressed against his throat.
He tried to grab it and push it away with his working arm. For a moment he held it back but he was running on adrenaline and was trying to stop a machine from choking him. His back began to arch and he felt his throat being crushed. The attacker lifted him into the air with the Enforcer being held under his throat.
'Do not resist. Surrender.'
His vision was going black. All he could see was the Onyx fighting for their own lives. Some were on the ground not moving. He saw Day fighting a pair of DeeBees.
She must have been shouting but he couldn't make out the words as the sounds quieted the darkness closing in. Another voice Hudson, he thought, was bellowing too. Still it felt like he was underwater, the sounds becoming dulled.
The entire street was the same. None of them could run to his aid. And the machine was using him as a shield against the Onyx who had been behind them.
He had made it so far. He didn't want to die. Not here, not like this. He tried a kick to the machine, his loaned boots bouncing off its body, its stance was unshaken. He could only see a faint glimmer of light now as what was to be his last breath left his body.
His attacker jolted backwards, its arms falling open. As he fell, another pair of hands grabbed him and lowered him to the ground. He sucked in a breath. Gasping he rolled over to see a set of glowing blue optics looked down at him. The sounds began to return.
'-alfunctioning unit has been disabled. You are not looking very well, Governor. Please remain here whilst order is restored.' The Onyx DeeBee stated. The machine rose and moved to assist Day. Ripping the core's of its corrupted siblings before drawing its weapon. It began firing at the remaining enemy machines.
Day moved to Emmerich's side as Hudson appeared right on her heels.
'Sir, are you alright?' said Day.
'Of course he's not alright, that thing nearly took his head off.' Hudson said.
'You're not helping.'
'No ordering Number Two over to save him was helping. You're asking if he's fine after nearly losing his freaking head,' Hudson sapped.
'I… I Can't move my arm.' Emmerich winced between pained breaths.
'I'll cover you, look at him.' Day nodded to Emmerich and took up position on a low wall.
'You remember I out rank you right?' Hudson pointed out.
'I'll cover you. Sir. Now make sure he's not bleeding out internally,' Day said keeping her weapon up.
'Make sure I'm not what?' Emmerich said.
'Your shoulder may have been crushed. I need to check it. If any of your bones splintered it could be doing more damage.' Hudson said, looking over him.
Emmerich looked at the limp limb, 'That... sounds like it should hurt but I can't feel anything like that.'
'Sounds like your adrenaline kicked in. I'm not seeing any blood. Looks like your arm has been dislocated.'
'Can it be… um be... relocated?' Emmerich asked, trying to recall his first aid training but coming up blank in the rush of the moment.
'Sure,' Hudson said with a nod, 'But that will have to wait. I don't think you want us just shoving it back into the socket right now. One sec I have something that will help.'
Hudson reached into his belt. He pulled out a small metallic patch that he stuck to Emmerich's exposed skin. A faint tingle spread out from the patch.
'What is that?' Emmerich asked.
'Low Stim not a big kick, a longer trickle it'll help with the pain and any internal stuff that might be going on,' Hudson said pulling out a roll of gauze from his kit and getting Emmerich's arm wrapped in place.
'What do we do now?'
'Now we-'
A roar drowned him out. It sounded like a Wind-flare was coming up the street. Heavy rhythmic footsteps shook the stones on the floor. Tracers whipped over their cover.
'What is that?' Emmerich said, trying to looking up the street towards the air-field.
A Silverback was standing at the junction firing into the Swarm. A second moved to join it. Both exo-suits were tearing into the Swarm machines with their Mulchers.
The machines stomped their feet locking into place as panels of armor folded out. They each fired rockets into the mass of DeeBee's blowing gaps in their line. At the guard post Gears rose into view adding their own fire.
As he watched Emmerich saw two Gears with Gnashers moved into the cover provided by the suits. One unlocked and walked forward with its paired Gear before stopping and re-locking. Then the other repeated, any DeeBee that had survived was killed by their escort. They were cutting though the machines clearing the way to the Onyx.
The tempo changed immediately as the Swarm found their numbers dwindling rapidly. The Gears linked up with the Onyx. Who turned to join the reinforcements.
The Swarm DeeBees never stopped fighting. Even when the numbers were no longer in their favor. They continued to attack even when the last one was just a torso pulling itself forward. They were unrelenting. Until the final one was stomped by a Silverback.
For the second time that day Emmerich was lying on the ground looking around at the aftermath of a battle. As he watched one of the Onyx knelt next too one of their fallen. Suddenly the body jerked.
'They're still alive!' The Onyx declared.
As the unit set about tending to their wounded Myers moved to speak with the Gears.
'Second Lieutenant Myers, Onyx Guard 13th Platoon. Thanks for the assist.'
One of the Gears gave a salute, 'Staff Sergeant Silva, 3rd Division, 4th Company. Came looking for my perimeter team after a whole mess of these things.' Silva punctuated her statement by kicking the head of a fallen DeeBee, 'Turned up and started wrecking the place.
Silva cocked her head as she looked at the assembled Onyx.
'Always happy to help out the Onyx Guard. But I don't remember the city being this close?' The Sergeant looked at Myers. Everyone knew the Onyx Guard were the First Minister's personal troops. They were also meant to be assigned to garrison the capital.
'We're escorting Governor Emmerich to his assignment. Our convoy got hit and we had to make the trip on foot from there,' Myers said.
'You're the VIP convoy?' Silva exclaimed, You must be crazy to try and make a run out here.'
'Orders are orders.'
'True enough,' Silva said with a nod, 'We'll hold it here for now. I sent a runner back to get us some medics and transport for the wounded. If you can wait we'll move to the Airfield with you. No point spiting up now.'
'Fair enough.' Myers said.
Sliva looked past Myers spotting Emmerich leaning against a wall. He'd taken his helmet off to try and get some air. Day was binding his arm across his body to stop it moving around.
'That's the Governor? You sure you didn't grab the wrong guy?' Sliva said.
'He's had a long day.' Myers said, looking at the young man.
'Haven't we all. You lose any of yours getting him here?'
'Couple of DeeBees and our transports. Logistics will give us hell over the wheels but I never promised they'd get them back,' Myers said with a shrug. What about you?'
'Looks like they marched up and unloaded point blank. Guards didn't know what was coming.' She gestured to the position where the DeeBees had been waiting, 'Most of them are stable now but from the tracks some of them were dragged off. No bodies. No tags. I'm not sure Control will sign off on a search party.'
'If you hadn't come when you did-' Myers began.
Sliva waved him off, 'Don't worry about it. You want to be grateful. Next time you see some of us dog soldiers stuck in the wire lend an assist.'
'That I can do Sergeant. That I can do,' Myers said nodding.