Opening

//Help Mode

Physical Update Complete

Grunt Overlay Active

Personality Update Incomplete

All Skill Options available after prerequisites met

Tutorial Commencing

Hissing of cold air displacing dozens of dead cold tubes all uncorking at once.

“Wake up Gruntlings. Time for a new life as the Grunts you will become.”

The tube dumps him out onto a cold metal floor. Bright lights all over the place, dozens, maybe hundreds of other plain metal tubs also belching out identical faces and bodies.

“Get in line in front of your tube, fall in.”

Harsh commands from the only figure dressed. Identical face though to all the rest. Standing there a few feet away in some sort of pale grey uniform.

There is no sense of modesty in his mind, seems that way for the rest of them all standing there in two rows facing each other. The uniformed man started walking up and down the lines of men. No one seemed to look to either side as he used his peripheral vision to see what he could.

//Help Mode

Optic Enhancement activated

Select Mode:

Default

IR

Lowlight

What the heck is that supposed to me. Weird how the words just seem to pop up across his vision towards the top but still able to see everything. Pretty bright in here already, no idea what IR means though?

//Help Mode: IR, Infrared, the ability to see Heat Sources instead of using the visual light spectrum.

To himself, might as well stick with Default then. With that thought nothing changed and it all stayed the same as far as he could see.

“Well, you Gruntlings, because you all should squirm until you get spit out as what the battlefield needs you to be. Each one of you died, in whatever past life you had. Now your bodies belong to The Cascadiant. To be trained to fight, however that is decided, and to be repurposed if needed until the Million Wars are over with. Meaning forever.”

“I am the Sergeant. This is my task, and my title. Unless one of you somehow survives and advances far enough to be assigned to something more than a Grunt, you no longer have names. You are just a Grunt, identical to the one across or next to you.”

“The Dead Tubes remade your flesh, turned it into the form you have. Laid the basic skills needed to be dropped into battle this moment. However, that would be a waste of time and resources. There still exists the need for training, which is where I come in at.”

“All your choices are gone, no more need for them. Now, we get started with outfitting and off to the first lessons for the battlefield.”

“Just so you know, each one of you are replaceable. Same size, shape, face, capacities. Interchangeable. You are Grunts, I am a Grunt, We are Grunts. Our mission is to be dropped from orbit to take ground and hold it against the enemies. To last until support buildings and advanced troops arrive to actually win the battles ahead.”

The Sergeant, then turned to his left. “Turn and face that direction,” Arm stretched out, “to Basic Outfitting and then to the Mess Section for the best meal you will have in your Grunt life. After eating, I will get you all and then to basic weapons and armor familiarization.

Without a thought, he turned to his left when the Sergeant started walking in that direction and along with all the rest of the others, Grunts he now knows, down the cold metal hallway. Every few steps there was another Dead Tube and he wondered what had happened to get here. How did it all come around. The Sergeant said he had died, but how and what was this all really for. Nothing felt like it should feel, too cold and metallic to be really believable.

Down the cold hallways, in step with the others without having to think about it at all. Finally reaching a wide-open space with rows of identical uniforms and boots, all in a deep shade of black. Along the ceiling are strips that radiate light, casting harsh shadows as the others and he move around. Each uniform fits, more like a one-piece outfit that closed seamlessly up the front, and boots that cushion and support the feet immediately. He takes out a few moments, no one else questions or speaks or seems concerned. Each of them like they are duplicates of each other. Like they were all stamped from the same mold, he thinks to himself. Once dressed, another opening leads to several additional hallways and a large open area with tables and chairs in it and food available on one side.

Several Training Cycles later, each one the exact same as the last. While every Grunt seemed to possess the same basic skills of listening, acting in a coordinated fashion, not questioning commands, and marching in formation. Other skills like how to aim and fire their primary weapon, donning and working in their armor as well as working in their squads of sixteen, needs to be manually trained into them. However, they all seem to be picking it up swiftly.

There is no way to know how many days it is since he exited the Dead Tube. The body he had needed little rest and just the occasional meal for fuel. They spent endless hours in the gun simulator, practicing firing at the same target at the same moment with only simple commands from their helmet communicators. Always while wearing their heavy armored suits with only empty weapons. All of it interchangeable, from the suits to large rifles to each other. Working to be a single unit.

First Assault

Alarms are blaring in the training bay. We react as one, those in armor already racing to the drop bay locations with locations to grab live ammunition along the way. The others on their way to outfit and join us already on route for our first actual assault.

Each of us shuffles along into the assault ship bay. The squat bulbous ships sit there waiting to be loaded up. It does not take too long and I found myself in a numberless ship where we each get auto locked into position and wait until the bay doors open up and the assault ships drop away and we head towards out first combat.

Finally massive clangs and huge shudders and we feel out feet drop away from us and our stomachs lurch, mine does, as there is a roar of the engines behind and above us. I look around and all the others seem to be unconcerned about what is happening.

Wonder what is going on

//Help Mode

Currently in assault mode onto an unnamed planet. Newly discovered, Unit enroute with other Grunts to secure Foothold to allow for drop of Advanced Buildings to secure control of the planet. Unknown enemy forces are presumed to be entrenched on the planet surface.

Well, that helps to explain what is going on. Look down and the weapon is ready. No fear, I think that was not a part of our design.

Hey Help Mode

// Help Mode

Yes

Did they make it so we cannot be scared?

// Help Mode

Correct, emotions that would detract from the ability to fight were not implemented. They are available under the Advanced Menu is you wish them to be activated.

Not now, maybe once this is all over.

Not too much longer and the ship comes to a halt, and the sides pop open and all of us on this ship disembark and form up into squads of ten of us at a time. I just naturally take my place at the front. Odd how no others seem to want to chose a place, instead just falling into place at the closest opening when they arrive into a squad.

Looking around, there are huge rocks all around us, two to three times taller than himself and the other Grunts. The sky above was streaked with the trails of the assault ships and stained with strange greens and blues. There is a hint of sunrise off in one direction, where it is getting lighter with a reddish tint to it.

Over the general communications channel: “All Grunts fall into squads and navigate to the Assembly Beacon. This was covered in training and when the signal pulses in our helmets we all turn and move towards it. The direction happens to be away from the sunrise.

I look around, seems like almost all of us that were on the ship are down here. Has to be at least a hundred of us, ten squads of ten. A new figure, armor wise, is waiting there for us when we all arrive. Has to be the tallest Grunt I have seen yet, at least one and half times taller than we all are in a bright red armor suit, where all of ours are a dull reddish-brown color.

“Grunts,” over the local communications channel, “We are assigned to scout out in that direction to make first contact with any hostile forces. Other Grunts are incoming to hold the new Stronghold. There is no intelligence as to what forces we may be facing. Be alert and remember to fire as a squad. Arrange in rows of five Grunts and follow me.”

I move my squad to the very front of the column, so I can have a better observation point. Hey Help Mode, who is that one leading us?

//Help Mode

That is an Advanced Grunt. After surviving a planetary drop, selected Grunts are upgraded to an Improved Status. After one or more additional planetary drops, those Improved Grunts can be upgraded to Advanced. They are experienced and have further implanted combat and unit training skills as well as changes to their form making them stronger as well as being issued heavier armor to improve the odds of survival. The advanced Grunt is equal to at least a squad of Grunts in terms of survivability.

So that is what we Grunts can aspire to.

//Help Mode

Grunt Options

Grunts have several options for advancement.

They can remain on the Grunt Track.

They can be selected for the Specialized Track.

They can also be promoted to Hero, which requires downloads of additional options normally. With the incomplete Personality Upgrade you have, all Tracks and Options are available to you, once you meet any needed prerequisites.

Does this mean I can be anything I want to, basically.

//Help Mode

Correct, all Grunt, Armor, Troops, Hero options are available for you.

Nice to know, will figure that out more once this is done with.

Thanks Help Mode.

I look around some more, normal vision mode seems to work well. I do switch to I.R. and nothing to see there. Just makes it all a strange grey color, nothing stands out at all. Lowlight mode makes it seem a bit harsh and difficult to see, more so when I looked towards the sunrise behind us.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

I turn my attention towards the Advanced Grunt leading us. I can see his armor is thicker and his rifle has some sort of attachments on it. Cannot quite make them out from where I am at. Help Mode, what is on the rifle over there?

//Help Mode, The Advanced Rifle has an additional barrel doubling the rate of fire as well as integrated grenade launcher. This allows for suppressive fire when confronting large quantities of enemy forces.

You are not able to discern this since you have not advanced to Improved which opens up additional visual options as well as other benefits.

Again, thanks. I keep my pace with the rest of the squad and keep looking around for anything out of the ordinary.

After a short while we come up to a slight rise and the Advanced Grunt indicates for us to stop. I ready my rifle and the rest of my squad follows my lead. I hope the ones behind us notice it and do the same. The Advanced one moves forward on his own and goes up and over the slight rise. I decide to switch to I.R. Mode and look around. Like the other times the stones are flat and gray but it seems like there is a faint haze over the rise, like something is very hot over there. Suddenly the whole turns a bright white and my vision switches back and there are traces of energy beams still visible. Suddenly there is an explosion out of sight and a wave of some sort comes roiling over the rise. I cannot make out what they look like in the aftermath of the brightness so I just open fire at the closest ones and the rest of my squad follows suit. I can tell the squads behind me are fanning out to have clear fire lines as our training indicates to do. I can tell they are opening fire on the enemy just as I surmised and my squad is continuously shooting.

They look like small rocks or crystals with multiple slender legs. Each time one is hit they shatter into pieces spraying all around. We are taking a toll of the attackers when more appear over the rise to the sides in a wide wave of enemies. Now we are outnumbered and when some of them are close enough when they shatter they cause damage to the Grunts closest. I cue up the local display and see we have taken about a squad’s worth of casualties.

However, the mass of attackers is thinning out, giving me hope for success here. I certainly do not want to fall here in my very first battle. Reloading as I go along, I step forward and the rest of the Grunts follow my lead and we begin a slow advance on the enemy. I presume the sooner we can finish them off the better it will be for us. This tactic is not in our implanted training, still it seems to be working. Shortly enough the rest of them are dispatched, none try to flee or escape.

I raise my arm up and all stop the advance. I make the signal to form into squads and once that is complete I have us all move up to the edge of the rise where the Advanced Grunt had disappeared over.

I have the rest halt and I advance just enough to look over. A small open space and then another rise. In the bottom area of the rise is a quantity of enemy combatants. I pull back and signal to reload and to spread out. Then as one we all advance to the edge of the rise. Once we are all in position I signal to open fire and as one we all attack with the cover of the terrain.

This seems to take the enemy by surprise. In fact, so many of them shattering at once, they seem to damage and destroy each other in the process. Still there are more of them than we can dispatch immediately and they begin to run towards us. We all keep firing and it seems to be making a difference. Suddenly they all stop.

Improved

Seems our firepower is enough and now the enemy are falling back. I look towards the next rise and see that something else is advancing. Coming up over it, the enemy unit is huge, like the size of the mobile Battlefortifications The Cascadiant deploys. All of the squads with me are still firing at the other infantry in their retreat.

Looking at it, it seems to be some strange amalgam of local stone and some glistening crystal with spikes all over it that begin to glow in shades of blue as it appears. It is floating just a short ways off the ground, allowing it to go over any obstacle with ease.

Without even considering what I was about to do I key into all local units channel instead of using manual signals.

“All Grunts target incoming enemy flying fortress, concentrate fire in one location, follow my aim.” I enable my targeting display to be shared with the local battlefield and as one the other Grunts aim in tandem with me as I raise up my rifle. Their guns following mine and we all open fire on the target. There is enough firepower to wipe out a small army all blasting away at one spot in the crystalline armor that protected the internal elements of the floating object. There is no pause in our attack, all Grunts reloading without having to think about it.

It begins to spit out little bursts of energy from the spikes and then a glowing nimbus starts to form at the top. But our concentrated fire is starting to take effect, I can see cracks forming. Suddenly just as I suspect it was going to unleash some massive attack we crack it and break through the outer shell or hull, whatever it is. Allowing our weapons to pierce into the interior, setting off explosions inside it seems. All the energy signatures disappear and it crashes the short space to the ground. It did not shatter the same way as the ground forces did, however it was destroyed. Seems we Grunts can make a difference on a battlefield.

//New Mode Available

//Advancement Mode

Grunt is eligible for Advancement

Select Track to Take

Improved Grunt

Specialized Troop

Other Options

Help Mode, can I do this later? In a battle right now.

//Help Mode

Options will be available, simply activate Advancement Mode to review when you are ready.

Thanks, for the info.

Once more I cue the local unit channel and decide to take control of this battle.

“Half of the local units, the ones on the right side of my location, form into squads and take up overwatch. The remaining Grunts form into squads on my location,” I cued up my position in our displays, “Ready to fire on enemy units once they appear.”

My Grunts run to take up the formations I indicated. There are a good three squads in each location. This should be adequate to hold off the troops I had seen before the flying fortification had appeared. I motion for the squads with me to take kneeling positions to reduce how likely it would be to be seen once the forces come back over the slight rise ahead of us.

“Overwatch squads hold fire until I indicate to engage.”

I check the status displays and see all the Grunts in my area are at full health in the status indicators. I switch back over to the general communications channel and listen in to the other squads and units. It seems the enemy is advancing on several locations at once. It does seem that even with there being a great deal more of them, our rifles are more than a match in most cases.

I open up my displays to see if I can get an idea if there are other forces in my vicinity. While looking them over I ask a squad to search and see if there is any sign of the Advanced Grunt that had briefly led us. While they head off to do that, I tap into more feeds until I can see where we are located at, where we had been, and the blank areas which is unknown territory.

It takes a short while before the search squad returns with a few pieces of the armor as well as the Advanced Rifle he had been carrying. It appears to be functional. I take it and sling my own after making sure the ammunition is compatible. It has three grenades in it, hopefully I can put them to good use.

Back on the local channel, “Grunts we are going to advance to continue scouting and looking for the location of the enemy forces. The overwatch squads will follow the others as we advance, to cover any retreat and to keep watch.”

“Squads formed close to me, will take the lead. All weapons ready and wait for my signal to return or open fire. Form up.”

Help Mode, how do I make sure my map and view is seen by every unit

//Help Mode

Map view and sharing is automatically enabled. As you and the other Grunts with you move, all the local terrain and details is shared by the suits based on visual detection range. It also displays enemy units encountered and destroyed. These are also relayed to all other units. However, Grunts do not normally view much more than their immediate area. Would you like the other mapping options to display?

Yes please, thanks.

Okay let’s take a moment and look at the Advancement Mode

//Advancement Mode

This Unit has fulfilled qualifications for Advancement.

This allows for selection for additional training.

Select Track to Take

Improved Grunt

Specialized Troop

Other Options

What are the other options, like Specialized or Other?

//Advancement Mode

Specialized Troop will allow for training and outfitting in one of the more specialized units.

Other Options would allow for transfer to Armor or Esoteric units.

Not going to worry about those then right now. Can I change to one of those others after the fact if I select the Improved Grunt advancement?

//Advancement Mode

Yes. Many Grunts will change to other options later on during their Improved or Advanced options.

That decides it. Advancement Mode, I select the Improved Grunt option.

//Advancement Mode

Skills and Implanted Training are unlocked and available. Additional Suit Options enabled with vision, mapping, and communications now available. Physical Upgrades will wait until return to Base is made since a Dead Tube is needed to make those changes. New armor will be available at the Base as well. Advanced Rifle already obtained.

Suddenly my helmet showed me the entire battlefield. I could look at everything happening all at once. I could see the Grunts squads as little dots moving around and the enemy in different shades displayed as well. A running tally of losses and units in combat was there as well. I looked up and the vision zoomed in on a distant rise and I could see it clearly as if I was there. Then it zoomed back in when I looked at the display again.

“Grunts, time to move forward.”

My squads followed my lead and we kept moving farther into enemy territory. I could see the map updating as we went along, expanding a little as we went farther in. We were the farthest away from the landing area at this time.

“Overwatch Squads, move farther out to the right in parallel to the other Squads, to expand the ground we are covering.”

As they did that, the amount on the map also expanded slightly, giving me more of a view. The ground we were covering is flat at this time. Litered with ample large rocks and strange stone formations. I moved a little more to my left, and it looks like there might be a lower elevation to our left.

As I angle over that way it looks like there is a dry riverbed a short distance over. I get close enough to see it and it is wide enough for a whole squad to stand side by side, flat and smooth. Almost like a road rather than an actual riverbed.

“All Grunts hold position, assume overwatch mode.”

I make my way over to the edge and look it over. Would be easy to get down there, smooth and a slight slope. I look in the direction we are going and the vision zooms in to the distant place. No enemies in sight at all. Looking down the direction we have come from, none that way either. I check the map; it is updated with what I was able to see and it looks like this runs almost directly towards the Landing Base.

As I look at the map, I see more Grunt Units being sent towards it at the base side and I decide we shall do the same.

“All Grunts, form on my location. We are entering this to use it to advance with.”

The Thick of It

I have the squads form up in two rows behind me and we all take off at the greatest pace we can easily maintain. The distance is covered faster than on Overwatch Mode and the map display shows us spearheading deeper into the enemy territory. Blank spaces behind us are filling in as well as other Squads from the Landing Base advance as well. By far my squads are the furthest away and this early in the campaign there would be no support if we encountered something we could not manage.

I hope that the enemy forces are newly arrived as well and have yet to land or create more advanced units as of yet. It has not been nearly long enough for the other Base Sections to have been deployed form orbit yet and so I know we are limited to just Grunts at this point.

I pick up the pace and the rest of the Grunts follow suit. We are moving faster than the other units behind us and I am hoping this will allow us a quick strike into the rear of the enemy forces. With luck we may hit them hard enough to slow down their own deployment and make it easier for The Cascadiant to land additional forces and take this world easier.

Close to when the other forces behind us are approaching where we entered the road section we come out onto a wider, flat area. Just ahead of us appears to be a number of strange structures. All of them are slender crystal towers, growing upwards from fields of glittering stones that look like they are from somewhere else. None of the terrain so far has looked anything like them as yet.

Appears to be close to a dozen structures, all very similar except for the colorations. Some appear bluish, while one in the center is a pulsing pale white like crystal. I direction half of the squads with me to start engaging the nearest structures and the other half to follow my lead and we head towards the central one. I surmise it is a command structure or coordination center.

I hear the rifles behind me open fire and switching my feed to theirs can see pieces of the buildings flying off under the concentrated firepower. No enemy response yet, no local troops either it appears. Perhaps they had not kept forces in reserve or defense. Their error that we will exploit to the fullest.

As soon as we were within range the squads with me and I all open fire. Our target is perhaps twice the size of the other ones so it will take a lot more to damage it. As soon as I sighted in on the base of the thing, we all opened fire on it and the chips and cracks start to form.

I check the progress of the other squads I have taken control off and they have already demolished one of the other buildings and then split their fire between the next two. I redirect one of the squads to concentrate on the same building and the damage being dealt increases.

“How much damage do these things take?”

//Help Mode

Database of damage done by weapon type and average amount of damage that a structure or unit can take is available once a unit is upgraded to Advanced.

Improved Grunts can toggle into damage tracking mode with their Improved Armor and get a graphical representation of how much damage has been done in a percentage fashion. This unit will have that option once it returns to Base and finishes the upgrade process.

Well that is nice to know. No help at the moment, still gives me an idea for what I will have in the future. Will just have to have the squads continue to engage the enemy structures. I look around and it appears major cracks have appeared in the second building under attack. It should fall soon. I can see that the fire on the largest building is starting to take effect. Pieces of it have been eliminated and I can see obvious damage accruing.

No ground forces have shown up to oppose us. Either they were all eliminated or more likely are enroute from where they had been deployed to. Which means we may come under enemy fire. I direct a squad to assume overwatch mode along the direction towards our own base, to keep watch for enemy units. While this does reduce the firepower used on the outlying structures, I feel it is wise to keep us from all being ambushed.

I can hear the others finish off a second target. Down to nine some they are attacking and the main one the squads with myself are working on. I would guess, based on what I can observe, this must be a command post of some sort. It is easily as durable as five or so of the other buildings. Still no idea what any of the places do, not a concern at this moment.

I check in with the overwatch squad. Nothing to report there. Still no more hostiles, may consider the possibility all were eliminated prior to our arrival. That would be a very fortunate circumstance. The main forces are advancing rapidly on our position. Entirely possible we will prevail in our first foray. Entirely possible.

It does not take quite so long and a third one goes down from the others. The main forces are perhaps a third the total distance here and I can see obvious damage to the main structure. Much more and it may be rendered inoperative. I certainly hope so.

Time to take another chance and I signal all units, overwatch included, to concentrate fire on the main structure. I am going for a hard kill for this mission. The doubled firepower seems effective and it takes only a scant time and the main building collapses in a massive pile of crystals. Immediately the remaining outlying buildings all seem to lose power at the same time.

//Advancement Mode

Improved Grunt has successfully completed Difficult Task, Destruction of an Enemy Primary Structure.

This grunt is eligible for bonus gear once it is available.

Availability is limited to options available on the Battlefortifications assigned to.

Options can be switched out at the start of each battle operation.

I wonder what those options could be. Help Mode, can you list the options.

//Help Mode

Bonus Gear options includes the following choices.

Rocket Pack

Multiple Use Grenade Tossers

Rotary Barrel Support Rifle

Improved Sensor and Communications Package

Wheeled Movement Assistance

Thank You.

Shortly after the review of the options, the leading edge of the main forces arrive. It takes scant moments for the weight of firepower to level the remaining structures and over the force wide communications channel the announcement of the destruction of the enemy forces. Our troops are in control of the entire planet at this time.

Transports arrive and all of the initial deployed Grunts are loaded and we head back to the BattleCarrier, Cascadiance Triumphant, for refitting and in my case, upgrading.

We all file into the landing bay from the transports and head to our assigned Dead Tubes, for additional modifications. I am looking forward to what it will mean for me and my troops in the coming battles.

The last thing I see is the inside of the dull, thick, cold metal is an unfamiliar face looking in at me. A Grunt face, yet different in the intelligence displayed in the eyes. I drift off and while that happens, I hear machinery starting up all around my tube.

//Help Mode

All prior experiences are to be retained during upgrade for this Grunt unit. All options already unlocked.