The New Locust Era

by Dreyfuss Kiroven

In an Alternative Reality, an alternative version of Sera, The Locust survive and win the Locust-Lambent War against the COG; As the Gears continue to battle the locust in order to survive, fortresses fall and strongholds are destroyed by the emboldened Locust Horde. As the War rages on, Queen Myrrah welcomes a new generation of Locusts, with the help of some unexpected "allies".

11. Pyrrhic

COG BLACKSITE CODENAME "RAPHAEL", SPEYER-

The air is thick with smoke and the acrid scent of burning metal, boomshots would obliterate a large set of shelfing full of tools and spare parts scattering about over the COG commandos' heads. Delta and Foxtrot was using an armored pick-up truck as mobile cover, Anya had unlocked the brakes so the squad could push it towards the Locusts who were trying to sabotage the other vehicles. Among them were two pristine King Ravens which the Commandos had immediately risked life and limb to protect it as if their lives depended on it, surely they were correct. The two helicopters were safely strapped onto large transport trucks, wrapped in tarps.

Havoc-1: All available forces to the hangar! -he broadcasted across all stations-

Shortly after the purge protocol was initiated, Prowler-Main's worst nightmare unfolded as the entire ventilation system collapsed due to locust sabotage. This catastrophic event forced the commander to hasten the evacuation, prompting the Chaos Commando forces, known as taskforce Chaos, to take charge. They fought their way through the Locust ranks on the last three floors, ultimately reaching the Hangar, where the Locust were caught off guard while attempting to sabotage the Ravens. Marcus rushed to their aid, but his progress was momentarily halted by a wave of elite Locust warriors. This brief delay allowed the Locust attackers to fortify their positions until reinforcements could arrive.

On the ground, the sound of gunfire echoed against the walls, interspersed with the sharp blasts of exploding shells, thanks to an Elite Theron who appeared to be leading the Locust assault. By this time, the commandos had transformed the unfinished vehicles into makeshift cover and utilized several gun turrets to suppress the Locust forces until Foxtrot arrived via the maintenance catwalks. From the control room, they provided crucial support to Chaos until Havoc could join the fray. Foxtrot skillfully eliminated multiple boomers just as the rest of Delta arrived, bolstering their firepower. In a desperate attempt to take out Foxtrot from their elevated position, one of the Therons grabbed a boomshot and fired, but Jack swiftly dispatched him with a well-aimed shot however the explosive round struck a support beam in the hangar, further compromising the already weakened structure.

Marcus: Don't let them push us back! -he orders the Commandos, most shout in affirmation while some grunted and a few yelled various forms sarcastic remarks-

Prowler-3: These buggers really are starting to be a pain on my ass! -he growled, reloading his LMG while ignoring the multiple bullets whistling past his head-... Can anyone give me a good read on how many are there? -he asked loudly, trying to speak over the gunfire-

Chaos-6: There's one too damn many, that's how many they are! -she responds with a manic chuckle before combat-rolling to the next form of cover, barely avoiding three explosion thanks to the various Boomers holding their ground, allowing the Grenadiers to move forward who were trying to destroy the Evacuation vehicles-

Rubble rains from above as the structure begins to give way, the deafening roar of collapsing metal and concrete adding to the cacophony of battle. After a few more casualties from the Gears side, Havoc finally arrived at the hangar, having successfully retrieved or destroyed all sensitive paperwork in the upper floors then prepping the final stages of the Sigma Protocol; Now sitting on a favorable numerical advantage against the Locusts, the gears start to quickly cut the locust numbers down till only six therons and ten grenadiers remain. The Locust Commander takes a direct sniper shot into his torso, prompting him to toss a smoke grenade in order to disappear from the Gears' views, fleeing into the chaos of rubble from the quickly deteriorating bunker.

Baird: Where the hell is this hangar connected to? -he asked as he saw the giant twenty foot tall hangar doors at the far side of the room-... Aren't we like half a mile underground?! -he looked at Chaos-1 who had forsaken his severely damaged helmet, his blood stained face seemed too focused on the fight to answer his question-

Chaos-4: The hangar links to the city's sewer system... -he says while gesturing to the large double doors directly behind the locusts-...It's a skinny tunnel for about a mile then it opens up to a large dry canal... -he continues explaining, using these pauses to return fire against the incoming locusts-... Follow that up and it should takes us straight out of the city, pretty neat huh? -he asked with a cheery voice, just before once again opening fire, this time skillfully dropping three drones in quick succession-

The earth trembles violently as another explosion detonates, sending clouds of dust and debris swirling throughout the hangar, another colossal blast sends one of the packhorses tumbling, while from the newly breached hangar doors, a fresh wave of locusts surges into the fray, led by a towering figure: a Ravager, a seasoned veteran of the locust war. His battle-scarred armor dwarfs that of the other locusts, standing nearly eight feet tall. In his hands rests a sawed-off shotgun, and slung across his back is a UIR Booshka, its once vibrant green hue faded from countless battles. Jack and the rest of Foxtrot began their descent from the catwalks as the locust reinforcements unleashed smoke grenades to shroud their approach. Marcus caught a glimpse of the Ravager casting a mocking glance in his direction before his imposing silhouette vanished into the smoke, reloading his shotgun with a menacing calm:

Marcus: Over there! -he points the Ravager out to the others just before was entirely hidden in the smoke, getting a quick nod from Havoc-1-

Havoc-1: There's a fucking Ravager!... PUSH before they fuck us! -he shouts through the commotion, quickly pushing the entire group forward till most of the evacuation vehicles are sitting behind them; Six commandos were shot, two were dead before the hit the ground by his last count-

Delta and Foxtrot take charge as Chaos and Havoc hop into the vehicles, swiftly using the turrets to eliminate seven locusts. As the battle is turning, One of the Commandos spots then pulls a nearby wounded teammate from underneath some rubble then into their ECMV, just few meters away from the closest teammates. Just as he secures the injured soldier inside, the Elite Theron Commander from earlier appears from behind the smoldering wreckage of a destroyed evac vehicle, brandishing a menacingly curved, serrated dagger. The young Commando turned to the sudden noise and is stabbed deep in the stomach, the hilt pressing firmly against his armor, but he clings to life. Despite the severe injury, he grapples with the Theron for dominance, pushing with all his strength against the ruined packhorse. Each movement of the Theron only drives the dagger deeper, causing him to cough violently from the agony. In a defiant act, he spits blood onto the Theron's face, which retaliates with rapid punches to the dagger's pommel, intent on finishing him off. He throws a knee into the Theron's gut then tries twist his fingers away from the dagger only for the Theron to yank the blade up, tearing up the Commando's innards even further.

The Commando, glancing for any form of back-up, emits a chilling scream of pain and fury, finally drawing the attention of his comrades; Even as the dagger wreaks havoc on his insides and his consciousness begins to fade behind the burning pain, he refuses to relinquish his grip on the Theron, ensnaring it in a bearhug and locking his fingers tightly behind the frantic enemy's back.

Chaos-1: DUNNY! -she shouts before charging towards the struggling duo-

"Dunny": K-Kill this f-fucker! -he spat through the pain, tightening his bearhug around the theron just as he spots her running up-

The Theron breaks free from the bearhug, but not before Dunny, barely able to stand, delivers a desperate headbutt. As the Commander shakes off the impact, Chaos-1 retaliates by firing her snub pistol, hitting the Elite Locust square in the face twice. She then lunges at the injured creature, drawing her knife and engaging the Theron in a fierce ground battle. Meanwhile, the other commandos manage to take down enough Locusts to force a regroup, allowing the Ravager to advance. As he moves, he clenches his fist, activating a mechanism in his armored arm that deploys a boomshield, effectively blocking incoming fire while he unleashes his booshka grenade launcher at the Gears, splattering three men in the barrage of explosions.

Anya, finally free to move, sprints across the battlefield to assist the now pinned Chaos-1. With a swift motion, she drives her own knife into the Theron's neck, giving Chaos-1 the opening she needs to drive her curved dagger into the creature's eye, twisting it violently and causing a gruesome spray of blood. With a chocked cough and a weak hiss, the Theron dies on top of Chaos-1, quickly getting pushed aside by Anya.

Havoc-1 and two other Commandos create enough of a distraction for Marcus to tear through the veteran Locust's armor, forcing the massive Ravager to retreat. In a frantic bid for survival, he tosses smoke grenades behind him, fleeing from certain death. The remaining Locusts follow suit, retreating up the tunnels that lead out of the hangar. With the Locust threat temporarily neutralized, the Commandos turn their attention to the wounded, preparing to escape through the large concrete tunnel from which the Locusts had just retreated through.

Chaos-1: Medic! -she calls out and in seconds a pair of medics ran to Dunny trying to treat him-... Fuck, Man!... -She tries to help the others but she couldn't, she ran back and joined the medics who are treating Dunny, who's just alive enough to take Chaos-1's hand-... Dunny... fuck, man... -she closes her eyes tightly trying to contain her grief, trying to not look at the massive wounds on his gut-... Come on, you can't die yet... -she says to him, he smiles in return before pulling out his COG-tags and hands them to her, as she looks at them he nods to her silently before going limp in her arms-...Dunny... goddammit...

Commando Medic: He's gone... -she says to Chaos-1 while placing her hand on the mourning squad-leader's shoulder-... He's in Valhalla now.

Chaos-1: Till Valhalla brother... -she mournfully says before one of her squaddies from Chaos team pulls her up and takes her to the nearest the evac vehicle-

As the smoke cleared from the far side of the Hangar, the evacuation vehicles stood ready for action. The Commando's EMCV was packed to the brim with the injured, while the transport trucks took the lead in the convoy. Anya guided Cole and Clayton toward a packhorse laden with a stash of ammunition. Meanwhile, Jinx and Jackson climbed aboard the third vehicle, which boasted a formidable dual troika turret. Jinx took his position at the gun, while Jackson settled in as the Co-pilot, with Havoc-2 at the wheel. After what felt like an eternity of ten excruciating minutes, the entire convoy was finally loaded—except for one last straggler. Just in the nick of time, Prowler-Main leaped onto Jinx's packhorse, joining the group just as the security team mounted their vehicles.

LTC Borysenko shouted, something like "Let's move!" in Gorasni before giving the driver a reassuring pat on the shoulder. Jinx quickly saw the Colonel was clutching a small device that resembled a detonator in his other hand, with a small retracted antenna and a bunch of wires and lights. After nodding at Jinx and getting a quick nod as a response, Prowler-Main extended his arm out the window, signaling for the convoy to roll out immediately. A pair of imposing trucks, each towing a trailer, is along with the convoy, transporting two sleek black King Ravens. The colossal helicopters rest with their blades securely tucked away beneath the truck beds. Inside these vehicles, the crew consists of pilots, gunners, and three skilled aviation engineers, all part of the dedicated Chopper team.

With a roar, the Gears Convoy surged forward at full throttle, disregarding the swarm of locusts waiting for them as they navigated the expansive sewer tunnels leading from the hangar. The commandos brushed off the gunfire as they barreled through, emerging into a vast opening more than six minutes away from the Bunker, just outside the main section of Speyer. They ascended a large ramp that connected the sewer tunnel to the bustling city street. As they began to leave the city behind, Jinx tapped the Colonel on the shoulder to speak with him directly:

Jinx: Sir, we're gonna break off to pick up the rest of our people then we'll rendezvous with Havoc and Chaos. -he informs the officer who nods, agreeing to this-

As soon as he's sure that the convoy has left Camp Raphael's perimeter, The colonel smirks to himself while checking the detonator:

LTC Borysenko: Here we go, you old bastard... -he says to himself then he taps the the tac-com on his ear, opening the channel-... All stations on this net, this is Prowler-Main, Foxtrot and Delta are breaking off, we'll join you on the designated location, how~copy? -he broadcasted clearly, this time Jinx didn't hear the broadcast or the responses through his own TAC-COM-... Now, Lead the way Captain McKenzie.

TWENTY MINUTES LATER-

The journey back to Foxtrot's convoy was calm and uneventful, the silence enveloping them as they approached the campsite. Nika was busy preparing the vehicles for departure, having been in the loop through the TAC-COM. The colonel, filled with anticipation, leaped off the packhorse and directed the gears to focus on the Speyer direction while he climbed aboard Foxtrot's EMCV. With a grin, he retrieved the radio from his belt, raising it triumphantly above his head.

LTC Borysenko: I have become death, the destroyer of worlds... -he murmured to himself before pressing a button on the side of detonator and bringing it close to his mouth- ... Computer, finalize the Sigma protocol... -the small intercom on the detonator/radio burst to life a simple set of beeps, Morse code of sorts-... password is... -he paused for a moment, a smirk playing on his lips before continuing-... Sigma~Papa~Alpha~Romeo~Romeo~Oscar~Whiskey~Hotel~Alpha~Whiskey~Kilo! -He enunciated each word with precision before tossing the radio/detonator aside, gesturing towards the horizon for everyone to see-... Farewell, Raphael.

Camp Raphael Computer: Confirmation code accepted... "Goodbye, Cruel World." -the emotionless voice of an artificial man spoke loud enough to be heard from the ground, confusing the Gears who were close enough to listen-

In an instant, chaos erupted, engulfing the horizon in a whirlwind of destruction. The ground fractured, and a towering mushroom cloud of dust and debris surged skyward, a stark testament to the unleashed power beneath Camp Raphael. The explosion obliterated Speyer, its brilliance rivaling the sun, a blinding flash racing across the landscape and sending tremors through the earth. The Gears hit the ground as the shockwave crashed over them, toppling some of the buildings that had provided their shelter. The mushroom cloud loomed over even the tallest structures in Speyer, soon followed by a wave of fire and ruin that completely erased the city from the face of Sera. The senior officer laughed loudky as the shockwave reached them, shaking the remnants of the city and stirring up a storm of dust and debris.

Baird: Holy shit... -he said with a trembly voice, awestruck by the sheer magnitude of the bunker's explosion-

Anya: Oh my god... -she lifted her eyes up enough to see a clean, flat wasteland where once downtown Speyer was located-

Marcus: That's insane... -he seemed to say after unable to find the words a few seconds ago-

The entire Foxtrot unit was left in stunned silence, even the injured who could still manage to stand rose from their resting spots to take in the catastrophic scene. Over sixty individuals stood in awe, their mouths agape at the overwhelming scale of the explosion. The Colonel descended from the EMCV and approached Jinx, giving him a reassuring pat on the back that snapped him out of his daze, soon joined by Marcus. Both men gazed at the Colonel, who wore a sly grin beneath his helmet, as if he had just accomplished something monumental. He deftly unlatched the combat locks on the sides of his helmet, holding it at his side before pressing it against his hip. His grayish-blonde mustache barely concealed a long scar that ran from his upper lip to the bridge of his nose, and a single golden tooth gleamed among his weathered smile. His pale turquoise blue eyes locked onto Jinx's, and with a sudden, foreboding chuckle, the seasoned veteran finally broke the heavy silence.

LTC Borysenko: Captain, allow me to lead you to my, or should I say YOUR new Taskforce. -he exclaims, dragging the younger officer by the arm into the EMCV in comical fashion, gesturing to everyone to mount up and to get ready to burn some rubber-... Oh this is going to be fun!~ -he muses while sitting down on the driver seat, staring at Jinx who's now sitting on the Co-driver seat, speechless and completely flabbergasted-

---

AT THE SAME TIME, THE SIEGE OF THE MAW-

High General RAAM, General Azrák, Theron Commander Táäl, Krav Korr, Hunter Elite Krex, Kantus-monk Zhalt, Grenadier Elite Gluk, and three seasoned drones had successfully eliminated a small band of Savage Therons that attempted to ambush them as they entered the underground tunnels of The Maw. The situation had nearly turned fatal for Gluk when three white-robed Therons armed with enormous cleavers charged at him. Fortunately, he was supported by Krav Korr and Krex, one of the last surviving Hunter Elites who fought alongside General Karn during Emergence day, who also had fought against humans during the infamous battle of Jannermont and later rose through the ranks during the conflict known to humans as the "Winter of Sorrows".

The trio of veteran Locusts operated with precision, leading the charge through the tunnels while the three drones provided cover from the flanks. These three were the strongest grunts Korr had selected from the attack force, battle-hardened soldiers who had never advanced beyond the lowly rank of maag. Despite being shuffled between units, they had forged a bond over the few years spent fighting together, now reuniting on this battlefield felt like destiny for the trio.

As they ventured deeper into the tunnels, the sound of their boots reverberated through the narrow corridors, drowning out any noise from dripping water or scurrying vermin. The air was heavy with dust and the scent of blood, and a few savage foes stood in their path. Korr swiftly dispatched one attempting to rig a grenade as a trap. The group meticulously searched every corner of the first set of tunnels until they arrived at the first of many vestibules, which led into a large circular chamber filled with additional hallways. In this expansive space awaited over sixteen of Skjall's most loyal soldiers, who unleashed a torrent of bullets at the first sight of the group, forcing the Elites to retreat or face annihilation.

Krex snarled in fury as two shots struck his left bicep. Korr gripped his shoulder to steady him, then handed over one of his enormous demo-charges. However, Táäl swiftly intervened, snatching it away with a growl and a disapproving glare, clearly aware that their plan to use the demo-charge would not only eliminate the savage but also risk a catastrophic cave-in in the tunnels. Azrák could sense RAAM's rising impatience and anger behind him, prompting him to push forward. He positioned himself right behind Korr and, without warning, hurled the last of the special ink grenades RAAM had provided. The grenade detonated with a ticking sound, releasing a cloud of poisonous gas that engulfed the room.

Coughing and panicked screams filled the air as some of the savages attempted to escape, while those who hesitated succumbed slowly, their lungs overwhelmed by the viscous black substance that clung to them like tar. Once the chaos subsided, Azrák threw an incendiary grenade, clearing the ink from the chamber and allowing them to advance. The room was filled with the contorted bodies of the savages, each one writhing in agony as they met their end. Among the fallen was a Savage Grenadier, clutching a Scorcher tightly, with a full set of fuel tanks strapped to his back—he had perished just as he arrived. One of the Drones approached the corpse, examining the Scorcher, which remained intact and miraculously undamaged by the incendiary blast moments earlier.

Commander Táäl: [Pick that weapon up, Maag, It might come useful.] -he ordered before joining Korr at the next vestibule's entrance, which led to long ladder going downwards to the main torture chambers, if the information was correct-

Maag Zaas climbed down the later first with mild difficulty as the Scorcher kept bouncing with each rung down, soon the others followed, Uzil RAAM leapt down as the last one, his size preventing him from climbing down the flail looking wooden ladder. As soon as the General made his way towards his team he saw the sheer butchery in display: Bodies of Humans and Locusts hanging by their feet from the celling, torture tables occupied by recently executed prisoners, blood, guts and viscera across every surface he could lay his eyes on. Room's celling was just high enough where RAAM could stand, even if he has to incline his head a little.

One of the Maags inspected one of the fresher corpses, a Human woman stripped nude and killed while kneeling, a single stab wound to the back of the head; Her back had been shredded by what the drone recognized as a serrated whip, the method of execution had been rather hasty by the looks of it, no less than ten minutes ago. However what Krex seemed to be drawn to was the young drone in the corner of the next pathway, slumped to his side with his head hanging to the side in a unnatural way:

Krav Krex: [Zamil] -he called out, then as Azrák approached he tilted the dead drone's head to the side, showing the neck to the general-... [Neck broken, took a lot of strength to break it like this...] -he points at the massive lump on the side of the neck, the spine was bulging grotesquely in that fashion-... [Skjall was here, I believe this was his doing, I'm sure of it.] -he stands up and points at the doorway-

Zamil Azrák: [I concur with your observation] -he responds before turning to RAAM-

Uzil RAAM: [Take point, Maag] -he orders the Drone with the Scorcher who nods and moves forwards-

As they stepped deeper into the next torture chamber, two Savage Hunters sprang from the shadows, ready to ambush the Scorcher wielding Maag. One of them lunged forward, wielding a large, sharpened piece of metal, while the other charged at Krex, the second one in formation. Reacting swiftly, Krex delivered a knee strike to the Hunter, creating just enough space for him to unleash a barrage from his gorgon pistol, hitting the crazed savage squarely in the chest, splitting open the chestplate's armor. This momentary distraction allowed Azrák to take aim, driving an arrow from his torque bow through the Hunter's forehead, decapitating him with a pull of the trigger. The explosive arrow shot upward, carrying the severed head with it before detonating against the ceiling, showering the area with dust and blood.

At the same time, Korr fired his shotgun at the first Hunter, the slug ripping through the maniac's arm in a single shot, causing a piercing scream that echoed through the narrow corridors. Before he could fire again, Maag Zaas pushed the injured Hunter off him, quickly dropping to his knees to unleash a six-second stream of napalm. The flames engulfed the berserk Hunter, blackening his body as he writhed in agony. It took several long seconds—almost a full minute—before the savage finally succumbed, his flesh, nerves, and muscles reduced to a charred, near-charcoal state. The group had witnessed such deaths before, but this time felt particularly haunting, perhaps due to the animalistic howls of the dying savage. Korr helped the Maag to his feet, guiding him away from the still-smoldering corpse as they scanned the room, noting the crevices where the Savage Hunters had lurked, waiting to strike. The crevices were tight and tucked away on the sides of the doorway, specially carved there for Ambushes.

Krav Korr: [Well isn't this interesting?] -he gestures to the crevices-... [It will be safe to assume that all of the next rooms will have these little traps for us...]

Commander Táäl: [Agreed] -he says before the group began to move forward-

The group swiftly advanced into the next Torture room, which was significantly larger than the last. As soon as Maag Zaas entered, he unleashed his flamethrower, targeting potential hiding spots. His instincts proved correct when the flames engulfed a Savage drone lurking in wait; its agonized screams drew the attention of a squad of grenadiers and other Savages rushing into the room. Zaas nimbly vaulted over a torture table, flipping it for cover, while Krex and Korr ducked back into the doorway. Azrák sprinted to join Zaas, boltok ready in hand. General RAAM was about to leap in as well, but Krex intervened, much to the General's annoyance.

Táäl cautiously peeked out and quickly counted over twenty Savage locusts. He loaded his torque bow, holding the trigger down before extending the bow at the last moment. The arrow shot out at full speed, striking one locust in the chest and triggering an explosive blast that took out the drone and two others nearby. The loss of three Savages in an instant reminded the rest to seek cover, giving Azrák the chance to raise his pistol and return fire. Zaas wasted no time, standing up to unleash a napalm blast from the Scorcher, incinerating a small group hiding behind an overturned torture table. One of the burning Savages staggered to his feet, screaming and thrashing until he finally succumbed to the flames. Korr bided his time, waiting for another drone to target Zaas, and when one did, he fired a slug that struck true, splattering blood across the wall. Frustrated with the slow pace, RAAM pushed past Krex, unleashing a barrage from his massive troika, his roar nearly matching the thunder of gunfire as hundreds of rounds ripped through both Savages and the walls behind them.

After a relentless barrage lasting fifteen seconds from Uzil RAAM, the cacophony of gunfire fell silent, his own weapon included. As the dust began to settle, a gruesome scene emerged: mangled bodies, pools of crimson, and debris littered the ground. The bullets from the troika had ripped through the wall, likely penetrating even further, but that revelation would come soon enough. With a disdainful snort, Uzil RAAM strode forward, his colossal boots squashing the remnants of flesh beneath him as he advanced into the next room. The rest of the group trailed closely behind, deliberately overlooking the utterly devastated entrance and the crumbling wall where the brutal figure loomed.

It was a scene of utter carnage.

Uzil RAAM: [You're too slow, I'll lead now.] -he says as he stopped Zaas from taking point by putting his hand on his chest without looking at the Maag-

No one was going to fight RAAM on this, they all knew better than to say anything to the Uzil after seeing the carnage he was capable of doing of this. Korr and Krex were right behind him while Táäl, Azrák and Zaas followed close behind, Maag Prinx and Maag Arak where in the rear; The Kantus Zhalt and the Grenadier Elite Gluk had been lagging two rooms behind the initial group mostly because Kantuses were starting to become a rarity so Gluk was assigned as his personal bodyguard, a position he appointed to himself after the Kantus saved his life multiple times in the past.

Zaas was too nervous, anticipating another ambush which was starting to get the other two Maags nervous too, the Zamil looked at them and quietly told them to calm themselves; The Trio of Maags where nervous for two reasons: Uzil RAAM's safety and the possibility of all of them dying down here, specially as the general stopped and leaned down where he was met with a booby trapped doorway, a small pressure-plate sat mostly obscured by sand and dirt. He picked up the pressure plate carefully, discovering a trio of Bolo grenades active and linked via wires and a few pressure sensitive springs, The General recognized this as Skjall's handywork. He hiised i annoyance as he searched for the electrical power cord, which Skjall always hid in strange places.

Uzil RAAM: [Halt, Skjall has left us some traps] -he pointed at it, letting Korr and Táäl see it too-... [This took time to set-up, he's trying to slow us down] -he adds as he carefully severs the cable he was identified as the power cord, disabling the mine-... [If you see more, carefully find the wire that feeds it energy, it's a very warm skinny wire and cut it without it touching any other component, understand?]

Krav Korr: [Why not shoot them from afar?] -he pulled back on the forend back, then loaded three new slugs into his shotgun to send his point home-

Uzil RAAM: [Don't be a fool Krav, a explosive this size would collapse the tunnels if not kill us outright] -he says while walking over the disabled mine, looking over the path ahead, spotting a few more landmines- [Fact that these tunnels aren't already collapsed means Skjall's nearby, be at the ready brothers, our quarry is close] -he says while pushing forward-

The General felt a familiar ache in his chest, a reminder of the pain from his past failures. His injuries had not healed well; the scarring was extensive, and the imulsion had caused irreversible nerve damage, if the human's claims were to be believed. Before embarking on this campaign with the Queen, he had made notable progress in his recovery, largely due to Adam's insistence—and the Queen's pressure to comply. Adam, along with the mechanical entity known as Niles, had administered several rounds of injections that were gradually "repairing" the harm inflicted during the battle of Tyran Pillar. The most severe procedures had been carried out while he was in a coma, executed under the Queen's orders and by the Kantuses, not by any human hands. His thoughts wandered back to that fateful day:

RAAM, the most dreaded General of the Locust Horde, was believed to have met his end during a fierce battle. His colossal form was ravaged by shrapnel and longshot fire, culminating in Marcus seizing control of a nearby Troika Turret to unleash a barrage upon the General's massive frame, tearing at his flesh as a hot knife through butter.

Despite his armor being shredded and his torso bleeding profusely, RAAM charged through a storm of gunfire, seizing Marcus by the neck and preparing to hurl him off the train cart. Just then, another human lunged at him with a chainsaw bayonet, striking RAAM in his vulnerable chest. The searing pain forced him to release Marcus, who quickly grabbed a Gnasher shotgun and fired at the exposed wound. The impact of the blast sent RAAM reeling, but instead of succumbing to the point-blank shot, he collapsed into the engine car, his body riddled with bullets and left on the brink of death. Yet, his extraordinary resilience and the grotesque strength of his physiology kept him alive, albeit in a comatose state, caught in a limbo between life and death, seemingly devoid of the power to fight back. By this point he felt his heart slow down, was this death?

His mind was clouded, filled with agony and rage, and his memories fragmented as he struggled to piece together the events that followed. He caught a glimpse of the two humans escaping in a helicopter at the edge of his blurred vision. Then, darkness enveloped him, followed by a searing sensation as if his blood was boiling and his flesh was being scorched, only to be replaced by an eerie calm. Fleeting images of the Queen's face and Skorge flickered in his mind, the passage of time lost on him. He could barely recall seeing his comrade again, surrounded by Kantus healers. The thumping on his chest returned for a mere moment, what was that?

Then another memory came to him like thunder, the gruesome sight of Skorge's hands stained in blood, clutching a large knife, then another of a brother in a robe extracting an organ from his own body clutching it and presenting it to RAAM, his lips moved but before he could hear the words he was plunged back into the darkness. It was only later that he awoke to find Adam Fenix and Queen Myrrah standing before him, his heart was thumping harder and harder, louder than anything he'd ever heard before; just as he's eyes drifted closed he saw a brother, shaking and convulsion as Kantuses rush towards the figure...

He was jolted back to reality when he felt his foot slip, prompting him to quickly step back and survey his surroundings. He found himself on a ledge overlooking a vast mine, cluttered with carts filled with tools and debris. Across the expansive chamber, he spotted at least thirty Savage locusts busily preparing explosive charges, setting them against the columns that supported the ceiling. Among them stood a heavily armored locust, unmistakably a Ravager. A surge of fury ignited within him, and he let out a primal roar, instinctively directed at the Traitor, Ex-Zamil Skjall, whose gaze met his.

The sound of his roar sent shockwaves through the Savage ranks, causing one of them to fumble an explosive charge, which detonated with a violent blast. This triggered a chaotic chain reaction of gunfire, explosions, and falling debris. RAAM sprang to the side just in time to avoid a massive chunk of the mineshaft crashing down, but a Savage grenadier wasn't as fortunate, vanishing beneath the collapsing rubble. Skjall shouted something as he dodged the falling debris, quickly drawing his custom boomshot and firing at RAAM. RAAM ducked behind a rapidly destabilizing stone support beam, which was beginning to buckle under the pressure. He retaliated with his Troika, while Korr and Krex provided cover from behind, as the others scrambled to navigate the chaos of the collapsing mine.

Zamil Azrák: [We have to escape, the tunnels are collapsing!] -he shouted while gesturing to the passage way the Ravager had taken to escape-

Krav Korr: [NO!, the Traitor is here!] -he responded while arriving to RAAM's side-... [HE DIES NOW!] -he shouted back, to the group-

The swarm of locusts pivoted to regroup with RAAM and Korr when another section of the ceiling gave way, crashing down and obstructing their path. The weight of the debris was fracturing the ground beneath them, leaving them no choice but to retreat or face certain death. Zamil Azrák commanded the others to abandon RAAM, assuring them that the Uzil would not perish without exacting his vengeance. This declaration brought a sense of satisfaction to RAAM, for Zamil was correct; nothing would deter him from his quest for revenge. With determination, he and Korr surged forward, hot on the heels of Skjall, who was sprinting along the minecart tracks. Savage hunters charged toward them, but RAAM's formidable size and strength barreled through, compelling Korr to confront the frenzied attackers.

Skjall: [You're a fool!] -he yelled as he looked back to RAAM-... [You'd doomed us all!] -he shouted as he kept running away from the collapsing tunnels-

RAAM pressed on, relentlessly pursuing Skjall until they burst into a chamber cluttered with crates and carts brimming with metals and minerals. He skidded to a stop, narrowly evading a boomshot that Skjall had hurled his way. In a fit of desperation, Skjall wrenched a minecart from the tracks and flung it at RAAM. The Uzil dodged once more, closing the gap between them as he let out a ferocious roar. His Troika began firing erratically, struggling to hit Skjall, who was desperately trying to wrest the massive weapon from RAAM's grip. In a sudden clash, Skjall headbutted RAAM, but the seasoned general countered by sweeping him off his feet. They grappled on the ground, fighting for control of the Troika. RAAM forced the barrel toward Skjall's face and fired, only managing to tear a gash in his cheek before being flipped onto his back. Skjall quickly pivoted, ready to finish RAAM with the very weapon he had just seized, but the Uzil, using his claws and brute strength, ripped the firing mechanism from the gun. Skjall retaliated by smashing RAAM in the face with the Troika, rising to his feet and delivering a kick that sent RAAM reeling. Discarding the disabled weapon, Skjall drew his boltok just as RAAM did, and both began firing their revolvers with relentless speed.

Skjall's round soared through the air, crashing into RAAM's clavicle and bursting out behind his right shoulder. In retaliation, RAAM's bullet found its mark on Skjall's jaw, resulting in a gruesome eruption of blood, flesh, and bone. Skjall was sent reeling backward, unable to regain his balance as he toppled over a minecart, his screams of agony echoing in the chaos. RAAM clutched his shoulder, blood gushing from the wound, hissing in pain as he struggled to rise, his Boltok poised for another shot. Just as he prepared to fire at Skjall again, the ex-Zamil unleashed a powerful kick at the minecart he had been using for cover, sending it crashing into RAAM's knees and bending them at an unnatural angle, forcing him down to the ground.

Skjall's right cheekbone had been obliterated, leaving a horrific gash that exposed his tongue and muscles, his blood soaking his armor. The sight was so grotesque that it was hard to look away as he growled and roared in fury, lashing out at RAAM with kicks to his ribs and face, these strikes made the Uzil double over, back to the ground.

Struggling to rise, Skjall seized RAAM by the head, slamming his face against the cart and knocking the Boltok from his grasp. He followed up with a brutal knee strike that shattered two of RAAM's massive fangs, then unleashed a flurry of blows with his armored fists, carving deep gashes into RAAM's face. The metal gloves he wore serving a heavy brass knuckles.

Skjall: [Still a-alive?!] -shouted, furious that RAAM tried to push him onto his hands and knees- [I wasted too much time being a sidekick to a worthless pile of meat!] -he lifted RAAM's head enough to knee him once more in the jaw, he stood tall and walked around the fallen General, retrieving a hammer from the floor and driving it hard against RAAM's back earning a loud shriek of pain from him- [I brought honor to our kind while you lay on a table like pile of worthless meat!] -With a ferocious backhand, he nearly twisted RAAM's head around, then relentlessly smashed his face against the minecart. Each impact dented the thick metal further, almost imprinting RAAM's bloodied visage into its surface- [I'll rip your head off and bury your remains here, where no one will ever find you!]

The ex-Zamil unleashed a powerful strike, but RAAM intercepted it, twisting Skjall's arm sharply upward. In a swift motion, RAAM's other hand slammed into Skjall's armored midsection, bending the metal with a resounding impact. Skjall doubled over in pain, giving RAAM the opportunity to tackle him through a towering stack of heavy mineral-laden boxes, sending rocks and tools crashing down upon the two titans. As RAAM began to rise, he caught a wild swing of a pickaxe against his injured shoulder. Skjall twisted the weapon maliciously, but RAAM retaliated, driving his clawed hand into Skjall's face, puncturing one of his eyes and eliciting a blood-curdling scream.

When they both regained their footing, RAAM furiously snapped the pickaxe over his knee, drawing his dagger, while Skjall hefted a massive one-sided pickaxe with ease. In that instant, they charged at each other. RAAM ducked under Skjall's wild swing and plunged his dagger into Skjall's abdomen, but the blow barely slowed him down. With a surge of unnatural strength, Skjall barreled RAAM through a minecart, teetering dangerously close to a steep drop into the mine's depths. They quickly regained their balance, battling at the precipice, as Skjall's weapon swung wildly, missing repeatedly while RAAM unleashed a flurry of furious punches, each one landing with enough force to send a lesser opponent reeling. With a sharp boot to the chest of the Ex-Zamil, RAAM got an opening to disarm Skjall, the pickaxe disappearing to the depths.

"DAMN YOU!" Skjall roared in a blind fury, throwing a punch that RAAM caught, yanking him forward into a series of brutal blows to the torso. Skjall retaliated with a headbutt, breaking free from RAAM's grasp, blinding him for a moment from his head getting rattled hard.

In a moment of chaos, as RAAM swung an overhead left punch, Skjall ducked beneath the strike and, with a primal roar, speared both himself and RAAM over the edge. They plummeted over fifty feet, crashing through scaffolding that supported the cart rails above, collapsing the entire structure in a cacophony of destruction. Explosions erupted from ammo containers buried in the rubble, shaking the cave as if the very gates of hell had been unleashed. As they fell RAAM struck and pummeled into the large support beam in the middle of the scaffolding like a wrecking ball, meanwhile Skjall's armor practically exploded from him body when he was tossed like ragdoll against a entirely full minecart at the bottom of the rails, rolling across the floor and being swallowed by the rubble alongside RAAM.

As the two generals fought, Korr had his hands busy against three Savage hunters; He swung his shotgun like a club, nailing one of the charging hunters in the face then he felt an axe plunge into his back and then a knife be plunged into his thigh, he roared in pain and with all the malice in his heart threw his leg back hard, hitting and breaking the axe wielding Hunters leg at the shin then shove, pinned and clubbed the one who stabbed his leg over and over, clubbing his across the head till the Hunter's skull nearly exploded from the devastating strikes. Before he had time to identify the third hunter's whereabouts he felt a set of Jaw's clamp down on his shoulder, followed by claws frantically trying to plunge itself deep into his chest. As he struggled to toss the biter off his back he saw as the crazed hunter with the broken leg ran at him, disregarding the shattered tibia, poised to cleave him with axe once more. He roared as he used all his strength to lift his shotgun high enough to shoot the axe wielder square in the groin in a way where it went up the pelvis, exploding the lower spine out from the Hunter's body, his innards exploding out as well.

Just then he finally aimed his shotgun over his shoulder enough to strike the Hunter in the shoulder, unfortunately it also explode a chunk of his own shoulder in the process; He fell on his knees in pain before his rage forced him to stand up like a demon possessed, he lunged at the still alive Hunter who bit him and in a merciless fashion he stuffed his gnasher's muzzle into the Hunter's mouth and pulled the trigger, killing him instantly. He was so angry that he emptied the shotgun on the beheaded corpse, then when his weapon clicked empty he bashed the mangled corpse with it twice.

Korr: RWAAAAA! -He screamed before kicking the body-... DIE DIE DIE! -he shouted over and over as he bloodied his shotgun, pulping what remained of the Hunter-

He took a shaky breath to calm himself before turning around to face the quickly bleeding out Hunter that he shot in the groin; These hunters were wild, barbaric and mindless beasts, far too wild to be soldiers yet Korr saw their blind devotion to butchery as a admirable feat, no moment highlighted this supernatural resiliency and lack of self preservation as this one. The slug had not only exploded his pelvis into smithereens but had virtually tossed his legs in different directions, a bony stump were his spine conected to his legs remain. even despite the fatal bifurcation, the Hunter weakly tried dragging itself towards Korr, who walked over and took hold of the Hunter's lower jaw and his head, twisting both his hands in opposite directions, finally killing the Savage hunter with disgusting crunch.

He lurched forward, chasing after the General, using the crumbling wall for support until he reached a nearly collapsed section. Blood was splattered everywhere, and as he took another step, he felt something squish beneath his boot. Lifting his foot, he was horrified to find a chunk of torn flesh, and upon closer inspection, a few teeth lay scattered nearby, remnants of a brutal struggle. He edged closer to the railings, peering down into a hellish blaze below. Flames leapt nearly ten feet high, devouring wooden debris while smoke and massive stones littered the ground. Among the charred wreckage, he spotted a locust banner, drenched in blood and slowly being consumed by the flames. The fire's flickering light revealed a gruesome trail of thick blood, suggesting someone had been dragged toward a large tunnel at the base of the inferno. Korr's heart sank at the thought, but he steeled himself, refusing to let fear deter him from his mission.

Surveying his surroundings, he found a hefty chain and quickly secured it to a sturdy rail before tossing it down. It fell short by about ten feet, but he had no time to be choosy. Ignoring the searing pain from the wound on his shoulder, he climbed down the chain and, upon reaching the end, leaped to the ground with a jarring thud. Wincing, he pushed through the encroaching flames, leaping over a burning pile just in time to avoid being engulfed. He pressed on, following the blood trail, checking his belt for ammunition. He pulled out the last two slugs and loaded them into his shotgun, bracing himself for the grim discovery of either a traitor's lifeless body or the remains of his General.

Deeper within the cave's shadows, RAAM slumped against the cold stone, a parched breeze brushing against his face, the warmth of dried blood crusted around his right eye. Just as he felt himself slipping away, a searing agony erupted from his bare chest—once, twice, thrice. Skjall loomed over him, an empty boltok dangling from his hand, smoke lifting away from the muzzle. Skjall gasped for air, a violent cough erupting from his throat, spewing blood as he discarded the weapon. His gaze fell upon the wounded Uzil, then shifted to his own midsection, where RAAM's shattered dagger remained embedded, the hilt and pommel lost in the chaos, leaving a jagged shard of metal buried deep within him.

With a bitter scoff, he turned his eyes toward the dim light beckoning from the tunnel's end and began to drag himself toward it, each step a battle against the pain. After a few agonizing strides, he collapsed to his knees, agony radiating through him as he pressed his hand against the gaping wound, watching blood pool and seep through his fingers onto the ground. He stifled a scream, forcing himself back to his feet, only to freeze at the sound of a boltok's hammer clicking on an empty chamber.

To his astonishment, he spotted RAAM kneeling, aiming a boltok in his direction. RAAM's grip wavered, and the empty revolver clattered to the ground as he too succumbed to gravity, struggling to rise despite his leg being crushed from the fall. His armor lay in tatters, exposing a bloodied chest, while the remnants on his back looked as if they had been ravaged by a Brumak, chunks torn away and jagged edges protruding. Skjall steadied himself, determination igniting within him as he limped closer to RAAM, using the walls for support.

Skjall: [You've lost RAAM; by my calculations, you have mere minutes before death claims you...] -he said, advancing steadily, scanning the area for any weapon but finding none-... [I suppose I'll have to finish you off with my bare hands... poetic, don't you think?] -he declared, shedding the last remnants of his armor, discarding his gauntlets; his knuckles were exposed, blood trickling from the exposed bone- [I could crush your skull, or maybe I should just rip your spine from your neck?] -he continued, watching as RAAM struggled to rise, only to collapse back to his knees with a painful hiss- [Go on, make an effort to stand...] -he chuckled softly to himself-... [Fight back, come on...] -he goaded, receiving a feeble glare from the Uzil-... [It's quite a sight, the mighty high general reduced to dying on his knees] -he taunted, now just a few feet away from RAAM-... [But then again, this is precisely where I wanted you—kneeling and looking up at your executioner] -RAAM attempted to swing at Skjall, who effortlessly dodged, slipping behind him to grip his neck and jaw-... [To hell with you, RAAM].

As he leaned in, poised to snap RAAM's neck, a thunderous crack echoed, followed by a scream from Skjall as he toppled over RAAM, crashing to the ground; Korr had fired a slug that blasted a gaping hole the size of a baseball through Skjall's lower torso, shattering a few ribs in the process. Skjall sprang to his feet, charging at Korr despite his limp, only for Korr to shoot him again, this time squarely in the chest, halting Skjall in his tracks. He attempted to move forward, but his legs buckled, sending him crashing against the wall, leaving a smear of blood in his wake. He glared at Korr, who was now helping RAAM to his feet; the Uzil inhaled weakly, moving forward with Korr's support.

RAAM: [Korr...] -he says to the Krav before pointing at the exit-... [Bring the others... I'll stay here and d-deal with his this scum] -he orders, using the wall to keep himself upright-... [Go... He's going nowhere now] -as Korr started to move away, RAAM grabbed his arm- [...You have... my gratitude Krav...] -he says to him, getting a nod from Korr before he heads off to find the others-

Skjall: [Gratitude?...] -he sneered, his gaze falling to the crimson pool beneath him, struggling to move but finding himself utterly immobilized-... [You bastard...] -he growled, fixing his glare on RAAM-... [Where was... my gratitude when I rescued your lifeless body?... when the humans submerged our home...] -he spat at RAAM, venom dripping from every word-... [Where... where was it then?!] -he slammed his fist against the wall in exasperation-... [I slaughtered... thousands in the Queen's... name... in y-your name, when I was just a Vurl...] -blood trickled from his lipless mouth, staining his face from the numerous cuts-... [When... I lost my b-brother... to the... Lambent...] -he murmured, the memory flooding back-... [He told... told me his w-wish was...] -he fumbled for a pouch on his belt, weakly pulling out a necklace, a symbol of the trinity of worms, but it slipped from his grasp, falling into the blood below-... [To fight by... your side... J-Jermad... was proud to fight... by your side...] -he declared, his expression twisting into a furious scowl-... [He became a K-krav then...] -he clenched his fists tightly-... [Died thanks... to... you...] -RAAM remained impassive, absorbing Skjall's words-... [He was there... at your greatest... failure...] -his voice grew slower, weaker-... [He pulled you from the... Imulsion... burned himself... because you... had to survive...] -he gasped, a fit of coughing interrupting him-... [They... could've saved him... b-but... they chose you instead... I watched him howl and writhe like a rabid beast!... he died screaming!... BECAUSE OF YOU!] -he shouted, fury igniting his voice-... [B-but for his w-wish... I forgave you... what a fool...] -he managed to utter as he slumped weakly to the side, then he became still as stone-

RAAM slumped against the wall, staring at the deceased Skjall, contemplating that one of his most decorated Kravs had died saving him from drowning in Imulsion, his wounds claimed his life while the Kantuses focused on the General. He stared at the lifeless body of the traitor, he then looked to his hands and thought about all his comrades, his friends, his brothers who have died during these long years: Karn, Jermad and Skorge. He weakly looked towards the tunnel, his vision turns blurry and a silhouette runs towards him as he slumps back, darkness and cold takes hold of him.

---

SIXTEEN DAYS AFTER THE DESTRUCTION OF CAMP RAPHAEL-

"Jack's Log #27", the captain murmurs as he begins to jot down his thoughts. "I've finally made the time to pen another entry, seizing a rare moment of solitude." He glances out the packhorse's window, watching the sun dip toward the horizon. "Where to begin? I've been appointed as the new Task Force commander for Havoc, a role thrust upon me by LTC Borysenko, who deemed himself 'unfit to lead a bunch of rowdy, hormonal misfits' and figured it took one to manage nearly a hundred of them." A chuckle escapes him as he continues to write. "The leap from Corporal, to Captain to Platoon leader and now to Task Force commander in under a year is quite the shock. But who's to say it wasn't a justified or legitimate promotion?" he muses, his pen gliding over the worn pages of his journal, capturing his quiet reflections. "I suppose I should summarize the past few days so that anyone who reads this can grasp the events of the last fifteen days." He rolls his eyes, lost in thought about the whirlwind of recent days.

Three hours after Borysenko unleashed devastation on Camp Raphael, Jinx found himself unraveling the depths of the bunker's secrets. He divulged every detail of their clandestine plans and operations, revealing the intricate blueprints they had received, crafted by none other than Adam Fenix. Yet, Jinx was convinced that someone—likely Chairman Prescott—had been orchestrating the flow of these files for nearly a decade. He also disclosed their grim studies of Locust anatomy and biochemistry, aimed at engineering bio-weapons and other armaments to combat the relentless Locust Horde. Utilizing a wrist-mounted computer designed for the bunker's Commander, he showed Jack the chilling live tests conducted on Locusts captured during patrols.

One of the many recordings from these experiments depicted the horrifying effects of the weapon. Jinx watched in horror as a Locust drone was engulfed in a noxious green gas. Almost immediately, the creature began to thrash about, scratching at its face in confusion. As the minutes ticked by, the Locust's screams filled the air, its frantic claws tearing at its throat, desperately trying to escape the invisible torment. Sixteen minutes into the footage, blood streamed from its eyes, and it vomited a gruesome mixture onto the floor, its body convulsing before it collapsed, choking on its own agony. Seven minutes later, it lay lifeless, surrounded by a pool of its own fluids.

While Jack was horrified by the footage, Borysenko's expression was one of disappointment; the poison had taken too long to act and failed to meet Chairman Prescott's brutal expectations. As he elaborated on the intended mechanics of the weapon, Jack recognized the glint in the Colonel's eyes—a chilling enthusiasm for the most grotesque methods of extermination. This was not mere disdain; it was a profound, visceral hatred for another living being, the kind of hatred that could twist men into monsters.

"In that moment, I realized that a man like the colonel, fiercely dedicated to eradicating the locusts, could channel his darker impulses against a foe as malevolent as the locusts and be hailed as a patriot. His commandos were adept at exterminating the grubs, not out of obligation, but for the sheer thrill of the hunt, relishing the act of taking lives..." He jotted these thoughts down in his notebook, striving to articulate his reflections clearly.

As he reminisced about the lengthy conversation with the Colonel, he recalled how the Officer described his soldiers as specialists in "Advanced Interrogation Tactics," which was a euphemism for torture, specifically honed for dealing with the Locusts. The Bunker files indicated that many, if not all, had spent countless hours inflicting slow torment on locust captives, detailing acts that Jack found utterly inhumane. Borysenko scoffed at the term inhumane, asserting that he had witnessed Grubs murder children, justifying his brutal treatment of these "creatures" with the same hostility they showed towards humans. Jack kept his thoughts to himself, but he could see how Borysenko and his commandos had developed such ruthless methods; grief and tragedy could twist a man's soul.

"It didn't take long for me to realize that the commandos excelled at their grim task because they viewed themselves as less than human. Borysenko himself remarked, 'humans kill to survive, but commandos exist to kill.' Most of these commandos were among the top 1% of the entire COG, with only a select few being the elite of the elite from all branches. Their recruitment methods ranged from the conventional to the black-ops, involving abductions and informing recruits that they were now part of Task Force Havoc, which left a bitter taste in my mouth," the commander noted, glancing at his wrist where Borysenko had affixed a sleek, specialized TAC-Link device, perfectly molded to his forearm. "However I continued the conversation for a few hours, learning rather quickly that the commandos weren't entirely focused in killing, by the Colonel's own words the tend to be very tidy and obsessive about accountability, punishment for losing track of their equipment, files or anything important that belong to them was fierce, if not a bit cruel but like I said, I'm new to this unit, so I'm quite aware that our units operate very differently..." he wrote with a fluidity, confident of his recollection. "After hearing more and more about Task Force Havoc's antics in the bunker, the Colonel urged me to meet the Platoon Sergeants and Leaders as well as a woman he nicknamed 'Hothead', then to meet 'Caretaker' and finally to meet the 'Clown Car boys', which was a strange set of guys to be fair..." he contained his laugh at those guys' antics when he met them.

He heard a noise outside the packhorse where he spotted Jackson walk-by, angrily smoking a cigarette, shaking his head in annoyance clearly deep in though. Jack took a deep breath while remembering that in their recent stent of calmness the team began to quickly inventory everything they had, aside from Jackson's custom "Samurai" like Gear trooper armor, much of the stuff they had was still accounted for. He chuckled to himself as he recalls "accidentally" dropping the crude armor off the back of the Packhorse a few days ago, Jackson was irate when he couldn't find it. Clearly the seasoned veteran was still very upset at the lost of his custom armor.

Jack really did hate that set of armor though.

He paused his journaling and swung open the door, tightening the straps of his boots before carefully dismounting from the packhorse. He made sure not to disturb Anya or Marcus, who were peacefully resting inside. As he moved toward the edge of their camp, he spotted Mika on guard duty, perched on a tree stump. A canopy shielded her from above, cleverly camouflaged like the vehicles around them, ensuring she remained hidden from any aerial threats. She had recently opted for a fresh pixie cut that framed her face beautifully, accentuating her curly hair. A small breathing mask dangled around her neck, resting just above a dark gray shemagh, while a simple black sweatband covered her brow, concealing her missing eye.

Her armor had a "new" feel to it; it was an old, lightweight chestplate that once belonged to a medic, now repainted black and reinforced with commando shoulder plates for added defense. Beneath it, she wore her familiar tanned sleeveless shirt, with bandages wrapped around her forearms and shoulders. A well-stocked combat belt hugged her slim waist, with a combat axe and an eight-inch knife sheathed on her right side. Her trousers were the standard Gear pants, equipped with ballistic knee pads, while long armored coverings protected her shins, connecting to her heavy-duty boots that had once belonged to an NCOG Marine. At her feet lay her helmet, a well-worn standard issue Gear MK1 variant, its visor slightly cracked, with one side blacked out to accommodate her missing eye.

Her hands were clad in standard-issue combat gloves. On her right forearm, a tactical shell carrier held three Gnasher shells, while her left arm remained bare, save for bandages shielding her skin from the sun's harsh rays. She had enhanced her lancer with several attachments, courtesy of the commandos: a compact scope, a muzzle brake, a cushioned stock, and quick-pull magazines that she cleverly taped together, this setup allowed her to effortlessly flip the empty magazine upside down and slide in a fresh one in a single, fluid motion. On the side of her lancer, she had etched a series of tallies, totaling thirty-six, and beneath them, the phrase "Embrace the Saw-cK" was inscribed, accompanied by an arrow directing forward toward the foe.

Jack: -knelt beside her, curiosity evident in his voice- What do you see? Anything interesting? -He caught her gaze for a moment, and her expression softened-

Mika: -She shrugged, her tone flat- Not a damn thing... -She gestured toward the cluster of buildings across the valley, a dusty little city caught in the grip of the relentless winds- No chatter on the radio, no signs of life. It's eerily quiet down there. -Jack nodded, raising his binoculars to scan the area-

The city lay in the far reaches of the badlands, a good distance from the locust stronghold, making it impossible for ground forces to call for help. Jack let out a snort as a large locust banner was whisked away by the wind. He was skeptical about the city being deserted; the Deadlands were firmly under locust control, and they had fled this area nearly a year ago. It seemed unlikely they would abandon such a strategically important location without a fight. The city was positioned at a crucial crossroads, with one narrow sand road leading directly to it and towering cliffs flanking the other side, ensuring that any movement would be easily spotted. It would take a miracle for anyone to slip past unnoticed, yet the entire convoy had found refuge on one of the cliffs. Opposite side of their position, just behind the city sat a small Gasbarge docking tower, it looked in severe disrepair, a plank fell of by a sharp wind as Jack was writing down the approximate coordinates of it.

Jack: Has Chaos made their move? -he asked her as he looked a bit to the right away from the city, where a large cluster of locust battle positions remained unmanned, even the troikas seemed to just be frozen in time-... Actually let's ask them... -he looked down at the Tac-link device on his wrist, he scrolled a bit before choosing the CH-1 frequency manually, then he pressed his finger on the communicator on his ear-... Chaos-Won, Chaos-Won this is Prowler-Main, radio check. -he simply said-

Silence, then after repeating the message once more the radio crackled with static followed by a response: "Prowler-Main this is Chaos-won, Lima~Charlie". He nodded and sighed in relief before clearing his throat, looking at Mika who shrugged then gestured him talk, silently mouthing "Ask them what's their status..."; He responded with a quick nod and after taking a quick breath he continued:

Jack: Chaos-won, this is Prowler-Main, status report, how copy? -he says to the before grabbing his pen and getting ready to write whatever was their response-

Chaos-1: [RADIO] Do you want the professional or the simple man's response Prowler? -the commando squad leader asked simply-

Jack: -He gestured to Mika to take the Binoculars and watch out-... Chaos, send it however it's best for you, how copy?

Chaos-1: [RADIO] Bet... -they said before continuing, Jack got ready for their transmission-... Outpost is dead as a doornail, there's dried grubs everywhere, someone fucked them up, how copy Prowler-Main? -they finished their message, which made Jinx write down "Chaos-1 reports that the Outpost is clear, no hostiles"-

Jack: Hear you loud and clear, stay on-site Havoc will rendezvous with you in a few mikes, Prowler-Main over and out. -he responds then stands up, he pats Mika on the shoulder quickly-... Pack up Mika, we moving. -he says to her before moving back to the packhorse where Anya had awoken and already passed the exchange up to the rest of the Gears, having heard the transmission-... Lieutenant, we rolling out in twenty minutes. -she nodded, then she went on to get everyone awake-

LITTLE OVER OF TWENTY MINUTES LATER-

The convoy took shelter inside the city, quickly dismounting and setting up a hasty security perimeter, then after putting the camouflaged canopies over all their vehicles the Gears began to search around the town carefully, the only ones not here were the Chopper crews who remained behind on the cliffside alongside the trucks where the King Ravens were being held; Jack and Jackson quickly met up with Chaos-1 who was waiting for them holding a few locust scrolls in her hands. In these last days Jack had the privilege in meeting the Squad leaders and high ranking members of Task Force Havoc, by Borysenko's encouragement. Chaos-1 had taken a quick liking to Jack and introduced herself as Nikolina "Nikki" Dimitrova but preferred to be called by her callsign. Chaos-1 had cleaned up her armor since the fall of Raphael: Nikolina rocked a practical, cropped hairstyle accentuates her defined jawline and delicate cheekbones. The scars etched across her lower face tell tales of past confrontations, while burn marks on her collarbone and forearms serve as reminders of a challenging extraction mission, that she hinted at during their conversation.

Her armor was tight to her body, a suit of shook-trooper commando armor without any protection on her arms aside her ballistic gloves, a small assault backpack linked to her armor and across her chest was a duo of bandoliers that held longshot rounds; Her combat belt was slim and mostly covered in tiny pouches full of tools, extra ammo and a few homemade throwing knives. Her trousers were heavily armored specially on her thighs, shins, boots and knees, a long revolver sat on her left thigh alongside with short push-dagger. Her boots were heavy duty combat boots with a metal plate around the front, b

Her eyes, a striking ember hue, while her light freckles adorn her sun-kissed complexion. There's an unmistakable intensity in her gaze as she looked over the scrolls. Years of rigorous training have sculpted her toned physique, and her arms are adorned with intricate tattoos that narrate her journey—some commemorate fallen comrades, while others symbolize her personal strength and resilience, her left arm was completely covered by the tattoo of a large dragon surrounded by chains, weapons and various passages and idioms. Chaos-1's hands, often gloved during operations, are rough and calloused yet remarkably skilled—ideal for both combat and precision tasks, which was perfect for her specialization as an expert Ordnance Engineer. By all accounts, even if her appearance was that of tough no-nonsense woman, she's completely the opposite as she explained to him that she tried to be the life of the party among her fellow commandos.

As a natural leader, Nikki thrives under pressure, exuding confidence in every situation. She tends to be succinct in her speech, yet her words carry significant weight. The experiences she has endured on the battlefield have instilled a stoic demeanor during missions, though she bears the emotional weight of those she has lost. Her resilience and sharp humor make her a formidable force in both combat and operations. Her team relies on her to tackle any challenge that arises, although she likes to engage in lighthearted banter, she possesses a unique ability to "flip her switch" in a moments notice, to go from a fun and caring leader to a powerful, dependable and efficient soldier.

Chaos-1: How's the badlands treating you today Sir? -she asked as Jack shook her hand before she handed him a scroll, he took a look over it which was entirely written in locust runes-... Locust's lines and squiggles on that one says something about some prisoners being moved around or at least that's what Whispers told me. -she gestures to a another commando who's kneeling next to a slumped over figure against a wall, about sixteen meters behind her-

Jack: What else did Whispers told you? -he took another scroll from her-

Chaos-1: The grubs were planning in attacking The Maw, trying to crush the savage and this last one... -she hands him the last scroll, this one had a strange mark on the bottom of the scroll-... This one is a doozy, apparently some Savage locusts were taken and interrogated, revealing different small outposts' locations. -she gestures to a nearby corpse of a locust, she kneels down and points at it-... This savage got executed, three of his buddies too, the rest got smoked in what I can measure up as an ambush. -Jack knelt down and began to inspect the body-

The Savage drone lay in a pitiful state, its armor shredded and strewn about like confetti. The face of the drone was nearly crushed, a testament to the merciless blows it had endured, while its fangs lay scattered across the ground, broken and lifeless. Both legs were shattered, and one hand was grotesquely twisted, a grim reminder of the violence it had faced. Jack's gaze fell upon two gaping, high-caliber wounds in the drone's lower abdomen, injuries that promised a slow, agonizing demise from blood loss. It was a stark indication of a horrific ordeal, a clear mark of relentless torture.

Jack: Seems that this attack was well coordinated, explains why this city was abandoned. -he stood up and looked at Chaos-1-... Anything else you guys found?

Chaos-1: Yeah, all these buildings had passages into underground tunnels however it seems the same group that tortured this ugly bastard blew the passages closed using explosives, I guess to stop reinforcements or to cover their escape. -she stands up and then gestures him to follow him-... Rabbit and Cables found one of those sun-bleached Theron guards hanged by a chain, he has "traitor" carved into his chest. -she points towards a small hut to the side-

The captain went into the hut where he immediately saw the Theron, his neck was very much broken in various places, three long chains were used to hang the savage theron and by what Jack could see the Theron had been tortured too. he spotted over seventeen wounds from stab wounds, to burns and even none lethal fractures around his body. The Theron's eyes were crushed inside his skull, nose area was destroyed and his face was annihilated by blunt damage like the drone from the outside. Clearly whomever did this knew how to torture without killing these savages, severe wounds but non-lethal except the same wounds on the lower abdomen.

Jack: I'd say some experienced torturer did this but fuck, this is some wicked shit. -he says to her, she shook her disapprovingly-

Chaos-1: Don't pity those fucking animals... -she says to him while looking at the body-... I'd shake the fucker's hand if he wasn't a grub, might've taught him some shit too. -she says quickly with a chuckle before walking up and pointing at the Theron's neck-... The torturer took longer with this one, slow and methodical, I assume it's because this fucker is the leader of this outpost.

Before Jack could respond a young commando, "Rabbit" came in (No idea why his nickname is this), he walks to the captain and hands him a large rolled up parchment; Jack unrolls it and quickly identifies it as a crude map of the deadlands with drawings and more importantly there's large red marks over small drawings that represented outposts around the Deadlands. He laid out the map on a nearby crate, looking it over and quickly identified the outpost they're in but curiously it seems this was the last outpost left from all the others which were marked off with blood. After a few more minutes of looking it over he realized that the locusts who left this map behind had hit these outpost until finally reaching this outpost, clearly destroying it.

Jack: Holy fuck! -he says while looking at Chaos-1-... These locusts fucked up these savage outposts in order but I don't know why these two were tortured, this was the last outpost that the savages had. -he points at the map, dragging his finger from the outpost that they're in now towards the Maw, northwest from them in between the two locations were three Gasbarge docking towers and drawings that look like smaller listening posts with circles over them-...I think the attack to the Maw is happening now! -he says to them before pressing his TAC-COM-... Anyone who's outside, look towards Northwest and let me know of anything off in that direction, like a plume of smoke or anything. -he cut the transmission before looking at Rabbit-... Thanks Rabbit, this map is a good find.

He exits the hut then quickly spots one of the commandos climbing up to roof of the furthest building of the small city, eventually reaching a small sniper point on the rooftop, he look at the northwest with a pair binoculars, he waits for the man to say something; The commando then waves at the others and points:

Greenhorn: SIR! -He yells out while pointing at the northwest-... you were right! -he shouts-...I think a see smoke out there!

After a few minutes Jack managed to quickly joined Greenhorn and immediately saw how a large collumn of smoke rose from behinds the mountains, almost merging with large storm clouds rapidly crossing across the sky over where the Maw is. He climbed down with Greenhorn then told Rabbit to hand Baird the scrolls so he could decipher it as quickly as he could, then called Papa Prowler aka Colonel Borysenko:

Jack: Sir! -he says while looking towards the cliffside where the Chopper crew remained-... Requesting emergency use of a King Raven for a Search and Rescue!

---

ABOUT THIRTY MINUTES LATER-

The Colonel wasted no time in giving the green-light for Captain McKenzie to use the Raven, as soon as he received the request it took exactly twenty four seconds for the crew to prep the King Raven, getting it's weapons ready and the blades spinning. Jinx, Mika and Jackson joined the crew of "Wraith-1", the Raven's callsign, a combined force of eight gears, absolutely hauling ass towards The Maw; Jinx had connected the dots from the scrolls, believing that there's a bunch of POWs from Anvil Gate in the Maw, specifically Lieutenant Witherswood and her men. If this hunch was correct he would finally be able to find those lost gears after so long without being able to track her.

The hunch was born from Baird's translation of the scrolls, where one said that the prisoners were "Three female humans and five male" which was the exact amount of people Witherswood had taken to that fateful patrol, when they got captured. This was all he needed to hear to order a emergency search and rescue mission. The gunners had quickly got the guns ready as the King Raven flew over the ridgeline, now having a clear view of The Maw. The entire locust stronghold was absolutely swarming with locusts, fighting each other, an absolutely biblical level of bloodshed. As the raven made his way closer the gunner shouted over the headset:

Zig-Zag: WEAPONS HOT! -he shouted before smacking his fist against the back of the Pilot's seat, giving him the signal so start combat movements-

Jack looks over the opened doorway and spots a Gasbarge peeling off the nearest docking tower as soon as they pass-by it, the Gunner mounts up the massive gun-chair then he spins towards the barge and after he yanks on the charging handle with a loud clank he pushes the turret's trigger; The large twin turret began to fire a massive torrent of massive caliber rounds, Jack was astonished as the sized of these empty casings, they were almost the size of a soda can. As every bullet fired out these twin barrels, massive tongues of fire, the recoil alone was massive enough to shake the gunner's seat, thankfully he was strapped tightly into the seat.

The rounds were so enormous that they tore through the Gasbarge like it was made of paper, sending it crashing down into the Maw below with a thunderous explosion. Once they crossed the wall's boundary, Jack instructed the Pilot to be on the lookout for any signs of an arena entrance or an underground passage. He recalled that during his last mission to rescue POWs, they had been trapped in a pit that descended underground. It didn't take long for the pilot to spot a significant depression at the rear of the fortress. He activated the local radio to address everyone on board:

Peacock: Listen up, Sir! -he flipped a couple of switches, illuminating the interior of the King Raven- It's way too hot for a landing; we need to fast rope down. Get ready in three minutes! -he signaled the gunner and co-pilot to prepare the ropes- As soon as we give the word, drop down, and we'll come back for you in exactly thirty minutes! -he stated firmly- We can't risk the Raven, understood?!

Jinx: "Thirty?!" -he exclaimed as the ropes were being prepped to be thrown out of the open doors- "Damn it, Wilco!" -he replied, glancing at Jackson and Mika, the latter silently mouthing something that resembled "We're screwed" as they all heard the faint sound of small arms fire striking the King Raven, barely more than a swarm of locusts-

Peacock: GREEN IN... -he secures the height of the raven-... NOW! GO GO GO! -the two crewmates fling the ropes, and the Captain swiftly grabs one, zipping down alongside Mika and Jackson-

Mika inhaled deeply, the metallic taste of anticipation filling her senses as her boots hit solid ground, right beside Jack, who quickly pivoted and unleashed a rapid burst from his Paladin AR, taking down a grenadier charging at them. The moment had arrived. She glanced up just as the King Raven veered sharply to the right, narrowly avoiding a hail of boomshots that whizzed past. The trio sprinted toward the stairs leading down to the suspected dungeon, with Jackson at the forefront, wielding the Sentinel-LMG and tearing through three drones guarding the entrance at the bottom.

As they plunged into the fortress's dungeon, the clamor of enemy fire faded, consumed by the dank, heavy air. The chamber they entered was slick with moisture, the atmosphere thick with the foul odor of decay and blood. The floor was a grim mosaic of lifeless bodies and vermin, an endless expanse of blood staining the walls. It was a scene of unimaginable horror. Jack coughed slightly from the stench but urged Mika to press on while he took up the rear, allowing Jackson to lead the way.

Jackson: Fuck... -he simply said as they walked past a bunch of dead, previously tortured people hanging up from the ceiling-... Sick fucking monsters...

Jack: Ignore it, we need to find them... I know they're alive, they have to be. -he said in response, urging them to continue-

They advanced swiftly yet cautiously, their boots making a wet squelching sound with each step as they navigated around the scattered bodies, some still warm from battle. The only illumination came from the faint beam of Jackson's flashlight mounted on his LMG and the flickering lights of their armor, casting ghostly shadows on the battered stone walls. Suddenly, an Elite grenadier sprang from one of the cells, alerted by their approach, but Jackson swiftly dispatched him with a rapid three-round burst, neutralizing the threat effortlessly. The seasoned marine sensed the distant echoes of shouting and gunfire resonating deeper within the tunnel, prompting him to quicken his stride.

As the trio pressed on, it became clear that their mission transcended mere rescue; it morphed into a perilous game of chance, where each room they entered could spell doom for one of them. They methodically searched room after room, replenishing their ammunition as they stumbled upon more fresh corpses. Just then, a locust drone lunged at Jackson, attempting to drag him into a room by seizing his LMG. Before Jack and Mika could intervene, the commotion drew the attention of six more locusts, who charged toward them, weapons drawn. Mika dove into the nearest cell to evade a wild barrage of bullets from the first drone, while Jack ducked for cover, firing blindly to keep the locusts at bay. The narrow corridor, flanked by cells, became a chaotic battleground. Jack muttered a curse under his breath, glancing at Mika, who was readying a smoke grenade.

Mika: Cover me, when this goes off, let's lit their asses up! -she says to Jack who nodded at her-

Jack: Go ahead and throw it when you're ready, Mika. -He said, glancing out cautiously and spotting a Grenadier Elite lumbering toward them-... Oh crap -he dropped to a knee and sprang out, immediately squeezing the trigger, blasting the Grenadier's knee apart. The locust howled in pain, firing his shotgun wildly as he crashed to the ground, pellets showering dirt over Jack's head-... Damn it! -he dove back into cover, bracing himself to strike again-... ELIAS! -He shouted for his best friend, who was left to fend off the locust alone-

Jackson: Ugh! -he grunted, forcing the locust against the cell's doorframe, grappling for control of the LMG-... J-Jinx, I'm a bit tied up here... Damn! -he took a knee to the ribs, realizing he was losing the fight. He quickly engaged the LMG's safety just as the locust aimed to pull the trigger, the barrel nearly brushing his face-... You cheeky little grub bastard! -he stomped down hard on the Drone's foot, causing it to stagger back. Seizing the moment, the sergeant yanked the gun away, but it slipped from his grasp, crashing to the ground a few feet away-... FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!

At that moment, Mika hurled the smoke grenade, which clattered to the floor and detonated after a few beeps, shrouding the Locusts' vision. This gave the two gears the perfect opportunity to leap from cover and unleash a barrage of fire into the swirling smoke until their weapons ran dry.

Before he could grab his weapon, the Locust drone lunged at him, intent on ripping Jackson apart with its bare hands. By sheer luck, the Sergeant evaded the onslaught and swiftly drew his knife, landing a slash across the drone's face—though it was far from lethal. His heart raced as the drone reached for his boltok, prompting Jackson to tackle it, sending the pistol skidding across the ground. The drone let out a piercing scream as the veteran plunged his knife into its thigh. In retaliation, the drone delivered a brutal punch, sending Jackson crashing to the floor. The drone staggered, falling to one knee, hindered by the blade embedded deep in its leg. It glanced at the dazed Jackson and then at the nearby LMG. Shaking off the effects of the blow, Jackson spotted the drone preparing to seize the Sentinel. He scrambled for his boltok, yanking it from the holster on his thigh, and unleashed a barrage of bullets into the drone as it lifted the machine gun. The creature collapsed backward, clutching the LMG, riddled with four shots to its upper chest and two to its face.

Jack and Mika burst into the room, fresh magazines loaded and ready to take down the Locust threatening Jackson. However, they halted in their tracks, witnessing Jackson standing triumphantly over the drone, retrieving the machine gun and spitting on its lifeless body while muttering to himself. He approached them, casting a long, stern glare that seemed to ask, "What took you so long?!" They then pressed on, following the sounds of battle deeper into the tunnels.

Jackson raised a hand, signaling for everyone to tread carefully as his gaze swept through the dimly lit shadows. His instincts were razor-sharp, heightened by the adrenaline coursing through his veins, his heart thundering in his ears. As they edged closer, the trio peered into a room that lay in ruins, ravaged by relentless gunfire. The remnants of savage locusts were strewn about, reduced to a gruesome pulp. Navigating carefully to avoid slipping in the pools of blood, they moved on to a long hallway. Ahead loomed a massive doorway that appeared to lead into a vast mine, its structure crumbling ominously. To the right, a flight of stairs spiraled downward, while a ladder beckoned upward to another level of this underground maze. He called for a stop, straining to pinpoint the source of the chaos, quickly identifying the cacophony of sounds erupting from the descending stairs. Without hesitation, he sprinted toward the noise, convinced he heard a voice shouting in clear, unmistakable Tyran.

The three rushed towards the sounds of humans fighting, as they bend the corner and reach the first vestibule there's about three Elite Locusts fighting four Savage locusts and in the back of the room, behind a bunch of metal boxes and two tipped over minecarts were five barely clothed humans, by the tattoos and physique the trio immediate recognized as the captured Gears; In unison, they leaped from their cover position, weapons blazing. Sergeant Jackson's sentinel began to roar, tearing into a Savage Locust that had been about to pounce on a desperate POW woman, PVT Zurich they believed. Mika's Lancer spat out a burst of fire, catching an elite in the throat and sending it sprawling, clutching his throat and trying to aim his gun towards the new trio of humans, only to collapse unable to bear the damage to his shredded throat. Jinx ran forward then bashed as Grenadier in the face before he could prepare his grenade, then he snatched the explosive off his hand, sticking it to the locust's chest then kicked him towards the remaining other locusts, both Savage and Elite.

Seconds later the grenade exploded, splattering blood and flesh all over the room; The last locust standing had been split into pieces by Mika's lancer.

Through and after the fog of war, they saw the POWs begin to rally, using the sudden interference to their advantage. The trio looked around realizing the all the locusts were killed, Jack quickly took this moment to check his watch, twenty-three minutes and fifty six seconds had past by this point:

Jack: Wraith-1~Wraith-1!... this is Prowler-Main, we're green on targets, requesting evac in five mikes, how copy? -he calls through the TAC-COM, while Mika and Jackson check on the POWs-

Mika: Veronica! -she hugged the Lieutenant, the woman hugged her back with fervor; She was exceptionally malnourished, beaten up and bloodied but she was surprisingly alert and awake, a testament to Witherswood's resiliency-... Holy shit, I'm so sorry... -she said while looking down at her, only wearing the remnants of her old trousers pants used to cover her chest and her groin area-... We're going to get you out of here!

LT Witherswood: F-fuck, for a second there... I though this was it... -she looks around to her fellow POWs, unfortunately there's only her and four more Gears still alive, behind them was three deceased POWs-... goddamn it, lost Perry, Rodriguez and Cook. -she try to kneel down but she's too weak to do so, Mika then stops her only for her to look down at the bodies, no Cog-Tags-... You guys... I owe ya a beer. -she says while urging the others to get ready to move-

Jackson: No, fuck no, WE owe you three kegs worth... -he says while helping Zurich up, he looked around and made sure the rest were standing up, all the POWs were standing and armed with various weapons-... everyone, but on these bastards' armor if you can, there's a shitshow up there, too many stray rounds to just run to the raven unarmored. -he tried carefully telling them, trying not to sound like he was insensitive about their weak bodies-... We need to take the bodies with us.

LT Witherswood: No, we can't... -she said mournfully-... We're too weak to carry them and we need you to be combat ready, they wouldn't want us to die because of them. -she choked out, trying to not only convince their saviors but herself about this-... please... -she looked at them with pleading eyes, forcing the Trio to nod begrudgingly-

"Prowler-Main, this is Wraith-1. We're six minutes out from the landing zone, and it's getting fucking balls to the wall out there. Move it, or we might get taken out before we even touch down. how~copy?" The voice crackled through the static, punctuated by distant explosions and gunfire. Just as Jinx was about to respond, a series of violent blasts shook the underground tunnels, sending debris tumbling around them. The POWs had managed to strap on the Locust armor as best they could, while the officer wore a frustrated scowl, urging everyone to pick up the pace.

Jack: Wraith-1, understood. We're en route. If you need to unload your weapons, do it! -He turned to the group, taking the lead-

The team consisted of Jack, Witherswood, Jackson, PVT Zurich, CPL Erikson, PFC Ukiyoe, SGT Barton, and Mika, who was positioned at the back, keeping an eye out for any Locusts that might be closing in. They pushed forward as quickly as the exhausted POWs could manage. In about six minutes, they broke through to the surface just as the King Raven touched down at the edge of the depression. Bullets pinged off the Raven's hull as the POWs scrambled aboard. Just as Jack and Mika were about to climb in, a barrage of rockets whizzed past the cockpit, forcing the pilot to pull up sharply. With a daring maneuver, the Raven tilted almost vertically, its front guns roaring to life with heavy fire, while a cluster of rockets launched toward a building where Locusts were entrenched and firing at them.

The rocket pods unleashed a colossal fireball that engulfed the building, while the wind battered the nearby structures. In the midst of the chaos, Mika and Jack opened fire on the dazed locusts, pushing back those who remained unaffected by the blasts. The Raven, after a brief retreat, executed a flawless 180-degree turn, leaning forward as it soared back toward the two stranded gears. With a swift strafe-run, it obliterated over sixty charging locusts, and after another bomb drop, it landed about ten meters away from the duo.

The gunner flung the side door open, and the massive turret emerged as he quickly mounted it, loading the gun with precision before unleashing a hail of bullets just above Mika and Jack's heads. As the gunfire ceased momentarily, he pulled back the lever to reload another ammo box and stood tall on the turret's seat.

Zig-Zag: Oh fucking shit! -he shouted thanks to another close barrage of bullets nearly hitting him- ARE YOU WAITING FOR A FORMAL INVITATION?! -He yelled at the duo, just as more rounds zipped past, striking the Raven like a storm of hail- RUN YOU FOOLS! -Mika and Jack dashed toward the Raven, leaping inside just as the gunner slapped the pilot's seat twice. In an instant, the Raven lurched forward, barely skimming the ground, and with a sudden surge, it shot up into the air, almost grazing the tail against a nearby tower- ...Holy shit! -he yelled, spotting a Gasbarge emerging from the cliffside to their left. The moment he saw it, the Barge unleashed a barrage of boomshots aimed directly at them- LEFT, LEFT! -he shouted while pointing at the barge, Mika scrambled to the other gun and gets it ready to fire-

Mika climbed onto the turret on the opposite side, while Elias flung the door wide open, giving her a clear shot at the barge. As she unleashed a barrage of fire, the rounds tore through several crew members, scattering them like ragdolls. Despite the fierce recoil, she leaned into the weapon, pulling it upward and unleashing over sixty rounds into the barge-beast's belly. The impact erupted in a fiery explosion, ripping it apart and ensuring it would never close the distance. The Pilot's voice crackled over the comms, but the noise drowned out his words, leaving only a jumble of sounds. Meanwhile, the Co-Pilot focused intently on the monitor on the King Raven's dashboard, assessing the helicopter's hull status.

In the distance, six barges began to pursue them, but the King Raven's speed was unmatched, allowing Peacock to expertly navigate through the mountains and ridges, effectively vanishing from the Locusts' view. By this time, Mika had regained her composure, glancing back at the rescued Gears before turning her attention to Elias and Jack, who were both trying to steady themselves. The veteran had lit a cigar, but Witherswood snatched it from his fingers, taking a few satisfying puffs and savoring the rich flavor—her first taste of freedom since her captivity.

Witherswood: Still smoking shitty cigars, huh Elias? -she says before handling it back to him-... G-guess that's all I'm getting for the time being... -he scoffed but Witherwood gave him a playful punch on the arm-... Can't wait to talk to the old man. -she said before leaning forward to look down to the Raven's floor-

Jackson: Ma'am, I... -he tried to find the right words to say to her-... We got to talk when we land... -he says carefully, Mika and Jack winced at were this conversation was going-... I'd prefer for you to rest up but this can't wait. -he said sternly to her which made her sit up straight-

---

THREE DAYS AFTER THE SIEGE OF THE MAW-

The agony that Witherswood endured during her imprisonment was nearly impossible to quantify. According to her own account, she had faced brutal beatings, searing burns, near-drowning, and the harsh removal of her hair, among other tortures designed to inflict suffering without silencing her voice. In a desperate bid to protect her fellow prisoners from the relentless locusts, she resorted to grand acts of defiance, spinning half-truths to buy them precious time—months that could mean the difference between life and death. Jackson was the one tasked with debriefing the officer, the one who had to deliver the grim news to Witherswood about the events of the past year. Though she felt frail, she maintained her composure in the face of mostly disheartening revelations. With a resolute expression, she recounted her harrowing experiences to Jackson:

Witherswood: They tried to break me for months... -she said suddenly after minutes of silence after hearing of Hoffman's death and the fall of Anvil Gate-... But I never let them see my fear, I never let them see me cry. Not once, even as the torture went from random beatings to waterboarding and getting hung still you were close to dying... -she looked up to the Sargent who was sitting by her, serving as a shoulder for her to speak-...They needed to see me weak to control me but I would never give them that satisfaction. I kept my men alive with hope. If they saw me hold on even when that fucking grub would strangle me till my face turned purple... -she told him-

Jackson had worked tirelessly to care for the rescued gears alongside the commando medics. Despite enduring the worst of the torture himself, Witherswood emerged as the only gear capable of speech. The others had suffered severe beatings, with three of them experiencing nerve damage in their limbs. Although Witherswood had lost sensation in her fingers and toes, she still retained control over them. SGT Barton bore the marks of his ordeal, with a shattered cheekbone and extensive bruising across his body. While the injuries were not life-threatening, they were inflicted in a manner designed to maximize his suffering, a tactic recognized by the commandos as the work of someone skilled in the art of torture and human anatomy. Witherswood recounted her tormentor as a massive locust clad in heavy armor, speaking flawless Tyran, leading her to believe he held a position of significance among his kind.

Witherswood: I couldn't let them see us fall apart, Not for one second. -she seemed to gesture to her men-... They needed to know we were still strong, still capable. -she quickly added before looking towards the resting wounded people next to them-...Even when the odds were against us, They needed to believe you'd be coming for them... so I kept them awake when they were fading from the pain. -she added before looking at her men once more-... Knowing what you told me, if this "race war" or whatever the hell the grubs were fighting each other for was not happening, that big motherfucker would've killed us in a heartbeat.

Soon after getting the Lieutenant up to speed he ordered her to get some rest, he left the EMCV and walked back to Jack who was already planning something with the Colonel and the squad leaders of the commandos, Marcus and Anya were there two but they were quiet just listening to the planning as Jackson arrived:

LTC Borysenko: Truly these Stranded's rumors have to be true to some degree, even if it's false the possibility of another big military group hiding out in Vasgar and one other hiding out in Fort Umson are by no means something we can overlook, either as extra hands to fight the locusts or perhaps a safe haven to recover before we go on the offensive. -he says to Captain McKenzie who is looking down at the big map on the hood of the packhorse-... you understand that we have to go out of the deadlands soon, Locusts will soon regroup.

Chaos-Main/ Captain Julianne "Gnome" Davidson: If the old reports are accurate, all records belonging to the personnel that killed Ukkon were wiped from existence after the confirmation of the kill by Major Sid Redburn and Sargent Gabriel Diaz, the reports state that both went AWOL shortly after the mission was completed. -she says to the group then points at Fort Umson-... coincidentally the group in this place began a few months afterwards. -she added-

Havoc-Main/ 1LT Robert "Tin-Tin" Tallahassee: I would like to also add that the group in Vasgar might be the remnants of the UIR that held out even after their surrender -he adds while pointing at Vasgar then looks at the rest of the group-... I believe they might still hold some strong hostility towards despite the UIR's assistance in the Battle of Azura. -he says to them-

Jack: We should try to contact them both, then follow the stranded's directions for this "safe-haven" up north. -he points at the area where Landown is located, mostly northwest to the mountain range-... It's what I think, anyone else got any ideas? -he looked towards Delta-... Got any suggestions Sargent?, Lieutenant? -he asked them which then allowed Marcus and Anya to move forward-

Marcus: As we are now, a direct fight with the locusts would mean suicide even if they're weak from fighting themselves. -he stated while looking down on the map-... To keep the locusts guessing and to stop them from pinning us and taking all of us down, we should hit these for reinforcements and gear before we can find a good place to settle before we start our counteroffensive. -he continues-... We must limit our time in these places so the locusts don't destroy them.

LTC Borysenko: I agree with Sargent Fenix, even though we're going to kick the locust in the teeth we can't risk the civvies' lives. -he says then points at the city of Landown-... I suggest we make Landown a location of interest, we'll head out from there to Fort Umson, we'll try to see if there's people there, if so we'll help them out if needed then whatever happens we'll head out to that stranded city we heard about. -he added before gesturing to different spots on the map, small towns and even crudely drawn locations on the map-... We'll travel through this areas, take refuge on these small towns till we can reach a formidable strength enough to take the fight back against the locusts.

Jack: I agree, until we reach an acceptable military force we'll set up shop somewhere defensible, then we'll take the fight to the locusts. -he said, now with a good plan in place, everyone here agreed on this plan-... Let's get to work people.

After the group finished with their planning Jackson urged Jack for them to walk for bit, as they walked Elias led his close friend to the Fox-Command center (The original EMCV), he moved behind the massive vehicle where a bunch of boxes sat as a table, upon it was a locust drone covered in yellow crystals and various wounds; Jack looked down to the corpse as Jackson pulled out a notebook and began to talk:

Jackson: Hey man, I wanted to let you know that Witherswood is recovering, alongside her men. -he says to Jack who now seems relieved-... Her men are hurt bad but will get better, Witherswood just needs a few days to fully recover, plenty of food and rest and she'll be good to go. -he says then gestures to the corpse-... Now this is what I wanted to show you, the epidemic the locusts are suffering seems to be getting worse, whatever this disease is, it's becoming more aggressive.

Jack: How so?

Jackson: The Commandos captured this Grub, he was infected and died last night of what Corporal Woods and I determined as a combination of polycythemia vera and a lethal form of hypertension. -he explains to Jack showing the dried blood the locusts eyes, ears and nose-... by his notes and mine we both believe the final stage of this disease leads to meningitis and organ failure, the blood is excreted from the scales and soon it crystalizes, sealing the locusts in block of this glass. -he hands his friend a crystal, the material is yellow, almost amber in color; The glass was sharp and inside of it was a few frozen droplets of blood-

Jack: This is concerning news, what else did you discovered? -he asked as he handed the crystal back to Jackson-... Is it contagious? -he asked while glancing the corpse-... Can it spread to us? -he asked quickly before Jackson patted him on the shoulder-

Jackson: Relax Jack, it's incompatible with our bodies, apparently this disease affects a specific locust DNA gene, one that we don't have however I would not hesitate to burn these bodies, to prevent any issues arising from any possible mutations. -he adds while looking at the body then to Jack-... Life finds a way, as the old idiom says.

Jack: Burn the infected, you got it. -he spoke-... hey, you think the locust civil war started because of this? -he asked Jackson-

Jackson: That or the Queen died, forcing the locust to fight for new leadership... at least that's what I think. -he responded-

Jack: If the Queen's dead, then our luck might be turning... -he said to Jackson before helping the veteran douse the body in lighter fluid, soon setting it ablaze-

---

MOUNT KADAR LABORATORY-

Adam Fenix was seated in his room, diligently penning another entry in his journal while glancing at his watch, which read 15:37. He meticulously documented the details of the new construction project outside, known as the New Nexus, encoding his observations with an old cipher from the Pendulum War to ensure that the Therons "guarding" him couldn't decipher his secrets. Just as he completed his notes, his two guards returned, ready to escort him to the infirmary and research center. There, Adam was compelled to collaborate with the insufferable AI, Niles, in the quest to find a cure for Blood-Rot.

Over the long months of his reluctant association with Niles, Adam developed a deep-seated animosity toward the man responsible for creating the locusts through cruel experimentation. He had uncovered the origins of the locusts and sifted through the countless files produced by Niles' research on what he referred to as his "children," a term he reserved for private moments away from the locusts' ears. This revelation transformed Niles in Adam's eyes into the architect of Sera's anguish, the murderer of his wife, and the cause of countless human tragedies. Despite his disdain, Adam took great care to maintain a facade of cooperation with Niles, recognizing that the AI, as the Creator of the Locust, held vital knowledge about the intricate genetic makeup of their DNA, which was essential for developing a cure.

Adam's animosity towards Niles had inadvertently sharpened his focus on a crucial mission: aiding humanity. His journal brimmed with details ranging from strategies for battling the Locusts to insights about Myrrah's most loyal commanders, inventory lists, and anything Niles deemed "Essential for the Advancement of the Children". The professor was aware of a secret that Niles had kept hidden from everyone, including Myrrah to a certain degree: his private laboratory, concealed somewhere within the facility. Adam first learned of it from Niles himself, who had discussed with Myrrah a concept he referred to as "The next step" in Locust evolution. Niles insisted he needed to refine the "Link" before the "Genetic Key" could be discovered, stating that his research would remain in Sector six, a location that Adam knew that it didn't showed up on any of the Laboratories' systems. This raised alarms for Adam, as it suggested Niles aimed to not only enhance the Locusts but to fundamentally "Evolve" them—a prospect Adam was willing to sacrifice everything to thwart.

In the meantime, he diligently studied the disease, not just to find a cure but also to thwart Niles' evolutionary ambitions. It soon became evident to both Adam and Niles that Myrrah's variant of Blood-rot was distinct. Since then, they had been closely monitoring her condition, and it was apparent that the disease had mutated further since their initial findings months earlier. Fortunately, it continued to impact only the genetic makeup of some of the older Locusts. This mutation allowed the two researchers to observe how the infected cells spread, eroding the chromosomes and effectively wiping out the Locust's genetic legacy. Ultimately, this led to the demise of the afflicted Locusts due to severe organ failure, or in rarer instances, the Locusts would enter a state of torpor—an extreme form of hibernation where the subjects were essentially frozen in time.

Adam and Niles appeared particularly engrossed in the rare instances where the lethal symptoms of the infection did not manifest upon the Locusts entering the stasis phase of this specific strain, which Niles referred to as "The Geist strain". It was noteworthy that Niles exhibited a distinct fascination with these particular cases, directing the majority of his focus towards them while largely disregarding those afflicted by what he termed the "Lich Strain".

Both strains of Blood-Rot exhibited aggressive characteristics, yet they operated through markedly different mechanisms. The Lich strain primarily targeted cardiovascular cells, whereas the Geist strain focused on neuroglial cells, which are integral to the nervous system and brain function. While both strains inflicted significant damage and could lead to potentially irreversible alterations in the physiology of the affected locusts, the Lich strain induced a gradual demise, in contrast to the Geist strain, which compelled the organism into a state of complete cryptobiosis.

As Adam diligently documented the latest findings related to this research and Niles' investigations, a massive armored locust entered the room, accompanied by three additional drones, all transporting a wounded locust on a makeshift stretcher. They swiftly removed one of the corpses from a nearby examination table and placed the injured locust upon it. Before Adam could fully comprehend the situation that was unfolding, the armored locust forcefully pushed him aside to attend to the wounded locust.

Armored Locust: [Save him Human!] -He simply ordered, aiming his Boltok at Adam's head-

Adam's escorts surged forward from their positions at the room's exits, swiftly placing themselves between the imposing locust and the Professor. Weapons were drawn, creating a tense standoff between the two Palace Guards and the four locusts, with Adam trapped behind the Therons. The voices of the group buzzed around him, too rapid for Adam to decipher, while the Therons remained impassive, their weapons raised to deter anyone from approaching the Professor. Suddenly, the Armored Locust raised a hand, signaling his three drones to withdraw. Despite their initial reluctance, the drones complied and exited the room, leaving their leader to engage with the two Therons:

Palace Guard #1: [Vold Ukóvn, by the Queen's decree, harming this him without authorization by the Majesty herself is crime punishable by fifty lashes and loss of your status back to that of a maag...] -the Guard says to the massive locust, not intimidated by the difference in height- [Now I command you to back away from the Hominid or suffer the consequences] -it warned without hesitation-

Vold Ukóvn: [Tell that Human to save the Krav then!] -he says to the Theron while gesturing to the wounded locust on the table- [Caatu, I'll never forgive you if Gul dies...] -he warns, gripping his boltok tightly- [This goes to you too Ronk!... He dies, so will you two...] -he shifts his gaze to the second Palace Guard who doesn't respond to the threat-

Palace Guard Caatu: [I won't repeat myself, BACK AWAY] -he says to Ukóvn who eventually complies and backs away, sitting directly across the wounded Krav-

Palace Guard Ronk: Proceed Human. -the palace guard says to Adam while pointing at the wounded Krav Gul on the table-

Adam inhaled deeply, steeling himself as he turned to assess Krav Gul. The injury threatening the locust's life was a gaping, jagged gash across his chest, reminiscent of a botched chainsaw bayonet charge. The left clavicle had been completely severed, exposing the trapezius muscle beneath, while the pectoral muscle remained surprisingly intact. Upon closer inspection, Adam concluded that the wound appeared far more severe than it truly was; it hadn't penetrated any vital organs. The real peril lay in the large blood vessel torn in his shoulder. A detailed look revealed that the thoracoacromial artery had been shredded but had been hastily cauterized with gunpowder, sealing the wound in a crude manner. The bleeding stemmed from smaller vessels and damaged muscle tissue, but it was not life-threatening.

He surmised that the agony from the failed bifurcation had knocked Krav Gul unconscious; the shock from such an attack could easily render anyone unresponsive, he thought. Resolute, he set about treating the injury, carefully stitching the wound after applying the salves and ointments crafted by Niles for the locusts. Once the stitching was complete, he instructed the Palace Guards to support Gul's body, allowing him to securely wrap the torso in bandages. With the treatment finished, Adam felt a sense of urgency to return to his research, his gaze shifting to Vold Ukóvn:

Adam: As long as he rests, he'll live. -he simply says, earning an understanding nod from Ukóvn who then went to sit next to the unconscious Gul-

Adam's day unfolded without much excitement, save for his routine visit to the triplets. He diligently checked on their health and development, marveling at how much they had transformed in just a few months. They were already starting to look like three-year-olds by human standards. Niles had informed Adam that locusts matured at a significantly quicker pace than humans, a fact Adam noted with keen interest as he continued to monitor their progress. Before long, he found himself being led back to his room, ready to begin the cycle all over again the next day.

TO BE CONTINUED...

---

AUTHOR NOTES: Next chapter will have a bit of a roll-call for you, the viewers, are tracking all the named characters specially the Gears as their numbers are reaching the 30+ thanks to the Commandos joining Foxtrot and Delta; Stay tune as the Locusts finally begin to reform the Horde, after Skjall's demise. Will the Gears survive as winter approaches, what will destiny have in store for Task Force Havoc. -D