Transmission Authorization Code:
D965ZB-05
Weyland-Yutani Protocol Sequence Initiated. Transmission Continues:
This primordial ooze is ripe with advanced nanoparticles.
Operating off an algorithm based on evolutionary computing.
It is essentially a form of radical AI, making the substance unbelievably chaotic.
It generates a unique reaction to every genome it encounters.
Reshaping life.
Virtually limitless in its potential and application.
Chapter 24
The walk into the city had been creepy, but not difficult. Quiet, empty city streets filled with the husks of the dead. Thousands more bodies. Many of whom lay twisted and contorted, while others, like those observed in the field, stood tall and defiant. Surprisingly, the Marines even passed some who'd sat down, legs crossed, hands in laps, heads bowed as they spent their last moments in personal peace and tranquility. All were in various stages of decay, slowly breaking down under the planet's unknown climates for however long they'd been petrified.
Despite the size of the buildings, necessary to accommodate the large hosts, the city was easy to navigate. The Marines were well versed in urban combat, and the platoon maintained their sectors of fire as they'd moved towards the beacon. Eyes, optics, lasers, and rifle barrels scanned doorways, alleyways, rooftops, and other avenues of approach that a threat might materialize from. But nothing did.
Mercifully, the rain had stopped just as they'd reached the walls of the structure that Knight's multiunit said held the rescue beacon. While the droplets stopped falling, the cloud cover remained. Lightning flashed within the dark-gray clouds, sending thunder rumbling through the dead city and over the surrounding hills, the skies threatening to open up once more.
The Marines crossed a vast plaza, careful to step around the corpses that littered the flat, level ground.
"Thirty meters." Knight reported. Brink lowered his weapon, eyes scanning the ground.
Sure enough, the beacon was there. Brink knelt down beside the device, which was so low on power that the bright white-light utilized as a visual aid for rescue crews had gone out completely. He could faintly hear the double-beep that sounded in time when the light was supposed to flash, the speakers having been almost burnt out as well. The Lieutenant picked up the cylindrical device by its wide base and held it up.
"I'd say we found our beacon." Brink said as he turned it over in his hands. He then held it so those nearest him could see it.
"Colonial-issue." Knight said.
"What the hell were the colonists doing all the way out here?" Wilks asked, looking around at the shriveled bodies that surrounded them. "Pretty far hike from that lander we found."
"Might be something in there." Janet said. Brink, Wilks, and Knight all turned to look at the woman. She was pointing towards the large structure that sat in the center of the courtyard.
"Our mission was to find the beacon." Brink said. "We found the beacon."
"Your mission is personnel recovery." Janet shot back. "For all we know, there could be survivors of the Covenant in there." Brink turned to face the woman.
"You people told us that the Covenant didn't even set down on this planet. Now you're saying that there could be survivors?" He held her gaze. "Sounds to me like you need to get your story straight. What the hell are we even here for? What the hell happened here?" He gestured around them.
"I…we…" Janet said, flustered that Brink had called her out. Instead, she shut her mouth and started towards the structure.
"Sir?" Wilks asked, looking towards Brink. He watched as the company rep continued towards the large ramp that led to what seemed like a vast opening in the side of the structure.
"For fuck's sake." Brink said through his teeth. "Let's move. Platoon file." He said, giving the requisite hand-signals along with his orders.