Brooks was starting up the tug boats and getting them out to meet the UIR ships when her radio started beeping. Who would be calling her now? She lent over and picked it up.
'This is Harbor control, Brooks speaking go ahead.'
'Brooks this is Lieutenant Davis. Can you see the UIR ships from your position?'
'One sec let me grab my eyes.'

Brooks picked up her binoculars and walked back to the window. 'Let me see. Ah got them, they're about three kilometers out. That's strange.'
'What's strange?'
'Their wake is really big. Like sprinting big. They need to start slowing down or they're going to have trouble stopping in time.'
As she spoke Brooks turned around to adjust the commands to send out the tugs. 'I'd say they'll be here in 10 minutes 15 if they slow down properly'
'Brooks listen closely, can you see any crew on those ships?'
'Crew?'
'Yes like people.'
'Oookay? Looking for the crew. Looking for the crew.' Brooks scanned the ship. The UIR ships both had those covered tops that meant only a few external walkways were visible. 'Oh yeah I see them. Well, one.'
'What's he look like?'
'Look like?'
'Can you see his face?'
'Nope. He's working on something and he's got a raincoat on with the hood up.'
'What is it he's working on?'
'Some part of the railing on one of those fold out sections. Not sure why they'd need something fixed that badly.
'Can you see the bridge?'
'One sec.' Tearing her view from the figure she looked over to the bridge. 'That's strange, they have their storm shutters down.'
'Any reason why they would have them down?'
'Not sure its not COG protocol. But its be pretty stupid to think the UIR let their ships sail with blinders on.' She moved back to the crewman.
'Hey our workman dropped something and turned around.' Brooks got the figure in focus again. 'Ok he's standing up…. Oh god…'
'Brooks? Brooks are you still receiving? Repeat that last?' Davis called over the radio.
'He's not… It's not human.'
'Are you sure.'
'Yes I'm fucking sure!' Brooks snapped as she looked at the face glaring back at the Harbor. It had red patches of what looked like a shell on its face with eyes that looked like they were literally glowing orange. Its mouth was all wrong with rows of sharp teeth but she could swear it was grinning.

'Sir the UIR cargo ships are confirmed hostile.' Davis' voice came over the radio in the Command center.
'Commence the evacuation now. Get everyone out of there.' O'Connor said, turning to face his UIR opposite. 'Kapitan Doležal what is on those ships?'
'Supplies for my current forces and a group of the 15th who were assigned as a security detail.'
'I'm sorry Kapitan.' O'Connor meant it. It was one thing to lose troops in battle. But to lose them without even knowing they were under attack could hurt a whole other way.
'We will grieve after.' Doležal said, exhaling slowly. 'Now we focus on who we can save.'

At the Harbor Lieutenant Davis was trying to organize a two sided defense. On one hand his platoon needed to hold the outer wall against any Swarm forces trying to enter before they could evacuate. On the other the ships were a few minutes away from reaching the edge of the dock and he had no intention of facing whatever they were carrying head on. He'd been trying to coordinate with the UIR officer who was commanding the ASP group based at the Harbor. When he noticed the strange movement from the Harbor Mechs. He'd thought them powered down but now they were out again re-stacking the containers? Davis switched his radio to the civilian net again.

'Brooks? Are you moving the containers?'
'Yeah… I… I thought we were trying to stop these things. I was going to ring in the pier' Brooks said, her voice was shaky.
At least she was trying to help. He could use this.
'Ok good idea but can you get those containers moved so we block the space between the warehouses?'
'Umm yeah I can do that. Ok. Change sent, why did we need to do that?'
'If we try to block the whole Harbor they'll be here before you're done. We'll use the warehouses as part of the wall, it should restrict anything too big. Now the other DeeBees. Can they use any tools? Something to give them a bit of a bite?'
'I can do one better. I think at least. One sec. Joey, are you listening?'
An affirmative chirp came back over the radio. The JACK was still here, it had been helping with some of the wiring for a crane. Davis had completely forgotten about it.
'Joey I need you to get to the Mech bay. I'm sending some back to their docks. I need you to set the Staplers to Unlocked mode, understand? '
Another chirp.
'Brooks, what did you just order him to do?'
'Violate several health and safety regulations and guarantee I'm losing my job.'
'I put you in for a commendation. They can punish you if you get a medal.'
'Man after my own heart. Just keep clear when those Mechs start shooting. And I hope you don't mind but the Workers are clearing out warehouse number 5.'
'The old ordnance stockpile?'
'Their aim will be crap but how's about a hundred extra shooters sound?'
It sounded pretty damn good to Davis.

The ship that had once been the RNV Tileya had squared itself up and was now clearly charging towards the Harbor. The small group of tug boats had met it and were now trying to slow the ship. Their on-board computers were sending link requests and avoidance courses to the larger cargo ship. Each was ignored or only a burst of junk data sent in return. The tugs assumed the vessel had lost control and began to maneuver to bring it about to avoid collision.

The tugs grouped up on both sides of the ship began to try and turn the craft around. Some were forward on its port side, the others to the rear on its starboard. With their powerful engines they succeeded in turning the ship slightly. To the frustration of the Tileya's new "crew" who decided now the time to reveal themselves was right.

Hatches burst open and a number of Swarm drones charged onto the walkways. Their blood was up, they could see the human's false nest by the water's edge and they hungered for the fight. Those who had become Snipers began firing at the dock trying to gain the honor of the first kill. Those with shorter range weapons set about fighting for positions at the armored railings.

Their Scions moved out to join them and to dispose of the irritating craft now harassing them. Those armed with Boomshots or Dropshots moved to the edge of the Tilea and began to attack the tugs. The small craft died in fireballs that scorched the hull of the ship.

It did not matter this ship had served its purpose first as camouflage, allowing them to close. Now it would be a sacrifice to gain them a landing against the humans. Even now they felt the ship running into the ground and the dock was running along their side. The last tug had been crushed against the wall. The ship would be thei- Was that a barrel?

Watching as the first fuel barrel plunged into the water next to the Tileya a cheer went up among the Harbor's defenders. The moment the first sniper round had impacted the dock. The assembled DeeBees including the un-piloted Mechs responded as per their programing.

It was not a senseless fight. DeeBees were not swimming out to meet the ship. But they were moving into the now enclosed area facing the vessel. The Mechs had built a wall out of those containers with heavy cargo inside to slow the attackers. They had built themselves in. But they were not trapped in with the Swarm. The Swarm was trapped in with them.

Their enemy had armored the walkways on top of the ship. But the improvised barrel artillery had begun to quite literally rain steel and fire on them. A welded sheet of scavenged metal would not stop a thrown barrel crushing whatever it landed on. The Mechs were not killing droves of the enemy. But it was a welcome sight to see abject terror as the Swarm scrambled to action.

Right up until the first Mech took a Boomshot to the chest. As it turned out. Using a civilian machine with no military armor left them something of glass cannons. In the Harbor office Brooks was ordering the other Mechs to restrain their attack. They had done well now they would need them to hold whilst the enemy came into the open again.

Aboard the ship orders in broken Tyran were given and the cargo doors were opened. The doors opening would both bring the troops on the walkways into position to fire into the human lines. But also allow the ships cargo to be unleashed.

The Humans watched as the cargo doors swung open. Not just the ones facing the dock but also the ones still over the water. The Swarm warriors on the opening doors fired from behind their scrap metal barricades.

Striding out from the darkness of the hold was a beast fused with weaponry. Its skin glistened with the crystals of its transformation. As it stepped off the ramp it roared loud enough that the Wild Riders could hear it. Even as they hunted the Snatchers prowling outside the Harbour.

At the Swarmak's roar the next attack began. Flocks erupted from the other cargo doors. Those that strayed too high met the fire of the ASP's auto cannons. Others darted close to the ground and began to hunt for anything they could strike. Dozens of Leeches were killed in the wild hail of Lancer fire from the now armed Worker DeeBees. The machines lack of proper combat programs meant they could not stop the rush. Until the Builder Mechs with their Staplers began to fire into the Flock's. A mess fell upon the DeeBees as the ravenous horde of creatures was reduced to a chunky mass.

Davis almost had everyone loaded. This had been a desperate defense before the Swarm unloaded a living tank into the middle of the Harbor. Now it was a given they were about to lose. Final stragglers had been brought to the assembled evacuation vehicles. They had Cars, trucks loaded to the brim. The UIR Riflemen had even opted to ride on top of their APC's to give the civilians a chance at shelter. Everything Davis had ever heard about the Indies was forgotten at that moment. This was their last chance to get clear. At that thought Davis switched his radio and tried to call Brooks down from the office.

'I can't leave yet the DeeBees commands are still loading. I need a few more seconds before I can leave or they'll be all over us.' Brooks said. The sound of her workstation pinging with task updates in the background.

'We have to go now! Those things will break out any moment.' Davis said, shouting over the sound of an ASP's auto cannons roaring. A Flock had rushed around the side of their line and the gun tore the flock apart.

'Just a second more. Just one more second.' Books said, She was almost done now the last task was uploading now.

One of the Scions leading the Swarm forces on the ship took note of the Harbor office. I was a small box on stilts overlooking the water an array of antenna and dishes sticking out of the roof. It assumed that was where the humans were controlling their metal puppets. Reaching out with its mind it commanded the Swarmak to focus on the new target. Its destruction would not be difficult and should bring the Swarm's victory in this battle all swiftly.

The Swarmack raised its head gazing at the small box with its glass face. Its mind was basic but it could rely on the others to guide it. Its riders, adjusted their aim and fired. A cluster of rockets tore across the Harbor and destroyed the office completely.

Davis watched as the structure flew apart. It had been built with surviving Windflares as its main hazard. Not high explosive rockets and not four at the same time. He felt sick running now. Some part of him wanted to fight to make these things pay for what they'd done. But there was no chance of that now, not if any of them wanted to make it out alive. He gave the order and the convoy raced out of the cover of the warehouse and made for the Harbour exit.

Even as they raced away they fired back at the Swarm forces. Some Pouncers had tried to rush after them but were left behind. Snatchers raced alongside them leaping from building to building firing spines. The Convoy's gunners responded with fire from their pintle mounts. The ASP's were busy killing any Flock that tried to escape the Harbour to help with the threats on the ground. But the Snatchers were getting hits in. They were going for the tires, drive wheels on the UIR vehicles and any other weak point. Anything that might slow the fleeing humans.

Nomura watched as the Harbour convoy made their break for it. The Snatchers had changed behavior immediately and were racing after this new prey. He and his remaining riders tried to keep the Snatchers back but they couldn't be everywhere. They were so focused on the Snatcher packs they failed to notice the first Swarmak pushing through the container wall and lining up a shot.

The first volley blew Green's Centaur apart. He and his crew were gone instantly. The remaining Riders turned to face the new threat. But in the narrow confines of the Harbor their speed was useless and they couldn't man oeuvre out of the War-beasts attacks.

They fired every round they could into the creature. Its body was tough even before the Imulsion crystals had formed on its skin, several rounds would have been needed to bring it down. They fired every round in their clip and still the creature did not go down. It fired again. The rockets tore across the space and slammed into Gear Smashers front. Nomura's world went black.

Nomura awoke to find his view of the world shaking. But not from an attack it was Vleftar shaking him shouting but… Nomura couldn't hear him. There was a ringing sound in his head and everything sounded muddled. His senses began to return as he pushed Vleftar off and shook his head.

'-get out. Nomura, can you hear me?!' Vleftar said, fighting with his seat harness.
'W… What?' Nomura said as his mind began to catch up.
'Wells is dead! And so are we if we don't get out.'
Wells he… he'd been in the drivers seat at the front. That thing had got a hit in and… Nomura could smell fuel.
'Vleftar the tanks have gone.'
'I know but my buckle's fucked.' Vleftar was smashing his fist into the release button but the mechanism didn't budge an inch. There was the sound of something climbing the hull. Both men reached for their sidearms.

A helmet appeared at the turret hatch. It was one of the Gears
'They're still alive.' The Gear stuck his hand in. 'Quick give me your hand.'
Nomura struck his release and reached out, taking the offered hand. With the Gears' strength he was lifted until he was sitting on the hatch ring.
'Quick we need a knife or something. He's stuck.' Nomura said, looking at the Gears that had climbed the side of their Centaur. Vleftar was still fighting his harness.
'Incoming!' One of the Gears cried out and Nomura's blood ran cold.

Things seemed to slow as the rockets approached. Nomura looked down the hatch. He could see Hill's blood on the floor. The loose rounds knocked from their racks. He watched as Vleftar closed his eyes, seeming to accept his fate.

Nomura watched the fire erupt as the Centaur he and his crew had dubbed, Gear Smasher, died. The fire licked up his legs, the pain was excruciating but it was short lived. He was flung from the hatch by the blast and as his body hit the ground his last view of Sera was of fire and death before his world went dark once more.

The line had been broken. With the Swarm troops inside the dock the order was given. They would not be able to face both forces. Waiting for the Hilum to unload would have meant more time for the Swarm to escape the area..

The next barrage from the Mortars was targeted at the Harbor. Aiming at the Khilum had been considered but any chance the craft might dodge was a risk. The survivors were fleeing towards camp. The shock of the action had left the Swarm disorganized as their landing was hammered by artillery. But there was no recovering from this.

The radio was near useless. O'Connor gave the order.
'Fire Break.'
His signalman nodded and ran outside. He loaded a round into his flare pistol and fired. Then loaded again and fired. Until there was a line of flares above the camp.
Orange. Red. Yellow.
They had planned for this. The positions nearest repeated the pattern. It was the signal for retreat. To the final line.

The troops still at the land bridge saw the signals. They fired their acknowledgement. Weapon teams unlimbered and sprinted out of their nests to waiting trucks. Sappers loaded the last ammo into the Auto guns and moved back. Gears began to break contact moving to a group of Armadillos that had been sent out to meet them. The Outsiders had called them crazy but they had come all the same. The casualties had already been removed thanks to the convoys that had been running non-stop. No one would be left behind.

The DeeBees that were left became the rearguard. From across the peninsula Guardians and Sentinels flew in to provide extra firepower and harass the Swarms pursuit. Automatic fire and volleys of rockets rained down on any Swarm that tried to push.
It was enough to delay them to slow them but not stop them. Even as the Rough Riders who had made it back to camp moved out to help screen the convoy against attack it would not be enough. The Swarm would break through soon.

As the first Swarm troops reached the trenches they set apon the remaning defenders. The Juvies that had soaked up the fire screaming as they ran over the top of the trenches. Diving in onto any DeeBees from above.
Drones and Grenadiers began firing up the line trying to dislodge the machines. Shooting, smashing, crushing the DeeBees as they took the humans' defenses. Here and there small clusters of DeeBees were able to stand for a few minutes. DR-1's would draw the Swarms fire whilst Deadeyes picked off priority targets. Guarding their flanks Peacemakers lay down bursts of fire from their Enforcers. Killing smaller Swarm and allowing the specialist units to do their role. Whenever the Swarm grouped for an attack a Tracker would charge in. The small rolling hexapods detonated inside any group. Forcing the Swarm to attack in smaller groups.

Each trench was a small battle. A small pyrrhic victory that brought critical time and cost the Swarm more of its numbers. But it was a lost battle from the start. The DeeBees had been able to hold whilst the humans had directed them and supported their formations. But little by little the line fell and the Swarm advanced into the earthworks.

The Warden leading the assault snarled. Smashing aside another Auto gun stepping over a section of pipe. Where were they? Why had the humans fled? Surly they had to know the Swarm would catch up with them. Their line was about to break. Why would they be so foolish?

The line was about to break. Exactly as planned. The line would not hold. It was no longer meant to.

To the rear of the fortifications a group of old COG tankers were waiting. Set into dugouts and linked to pumps they were full to the brim with a special mix. Hoses connected them to the pipes and nozzles that ran throughout the network of defenses. Once the last few groups of DeeBees were about to fall the pumps started.

The mix was Synth fuel and chemicals O'Connor had ordered. This was as cruel an act as could be. But O'Connor had wanted to be ready when things got desperate. He'd also reminded everyone that neither the new COG or the Swarm had ever signed the Bonbourg Convention.
When the mix reached the nozzles it doused the whole area. Not just inside the trenches and dugouts but across the surrounding earth. A few seconds after the pumps the igniters sparked.
The flames were everywhere. What Swarm were caught in the inferno died screaming. Those that were trapped by the flames either suffocated as the flames burned off the oxygen around them or collapsed as the heat roasted them.

The Warden charged out of the Inferno flames tailing it. It roared in a mix of fury and pain. Its tough crystal hide had protected it for a few seconds. But its helmet was blistering hot burning its face. It tore the helm off and panted. As it paused there was a sharp wine ahead of it. A Deadeye sat on the rise. A sharp crack echoed as the EMBAR round struck between the Wardens eyes. The COG had left a smaller rear guard to finish off any stragglers.

The human forces had withdrawn and left only still burning earth behind them. Any other groups of Gears and DBi techs that had sheltered in place ran for the protection of the camp. DeeBees were left to act as rear guards for what little they could do.

They were trapped now. Their remaining forces were dug in around the Camp. With scattered DeeBees left once the fires died down the Swarm could rush though and have free reign. The Khilum could drop off more reinforcements to complete the encirclement. That ruled out fighting them till the Swarm pushed them into the sea.

The option to flee in the remaining Condor or Ravens was pointless. Once they were outside the ASPs range they would be alone and completely exposed. Their Comms window was still over an hour away. The rest of the COG had no idea they were even under attack. Reinforcements would likely never arrive in time even if they were sent straight away.

Emmerich was considering what next measures should be taken. He'd not opted to start writing his will just yet. Despite a building urge to sit somewhere comfortable and wait for the end to come he had a duty to lead until the end. Even if this was his last day on Sera he wasn't going do it hiding in a shelter while others fought. He'd made that mistake in Settlement 2 and he had a chance to right it now.

Before he'd been allowed to leave the Admin center the Onyx had insisted he don his armor and sidearm. He'd moved to the Command post. Speaking with O'Connor about what steps could be taken to move some of the citizens to the Hollow. They had considered it but now it was one of the few options remaining.

'We could move key personnel, Governor, yourself included.' said O'Connor.
'I can't leave not unless we've moved the citizens first.' Emmerich said, shaking his head.
'Sir you have critical knowledge about our operations and are a key asset to the war effort. Citizens or no, if we attempt a move you have to be part of it.'
'Is there no other option any way to-' Emmerich said just before the lights went out and came back on.
'Power failure? Now of all time?' O'Connor said, looking at the exterior display. The camp had gone dark in areas. Anything not marked as critical had been cut out of the grid as the system switched to back up.

'Sirs, the troops at the Bunker are reporting a situation.' One of the Controllers shouted. Leaning back from his terminal.
O'Connor sprinted over with Emmerich jogging after.
'Report?' O'Connor said, leaning to look at the display.
'The team said they've suffered a loss of power. One of the techs has advised that it's being redirected.'
'Redirected where? If it's not here, where is it going?'
The Controller was silent for a moment listening to their headset.
'Apparently it's been diverted to the sub-levels. But...'
'But what? Has the there been a fire?'
'No sir. Apparently a separate grid has been connected. It is drawing power deeper beneath the base.'
'Deeper? That installation should only have ten levels.'
'I don- AAAAHHhh' The controller cried out as did everyone with a radio. Feedback on a massive level had surged through the system for a second.

Emmerich noted something out of the corner of his eye. The exterior monitor showed an expanding column of light approaching. It had to be from the bunker, some kind of fail-safe must have been tripped. No doubt left behind to prevent the base being captured. They were about to die thanks to some half century old trap.

So this was how it all ended one massive blast. In the second before it hit Emmerich was almost at peace. He'd done his best and held on till the end. He only wanted to know one thing.

Why was it... purple?