*Pov: David Wernham, head of the Hàoi Mercantile Hub*
...I ran the numbers on my personal computer again… Hoping to receive a different result.
Ever since Ìrota was taken, the traders from there suddenly stopped coming…
...We are a farm Arcology, we make do by selling our produce to the militant Arcologies in exchange of weaponry and power sources… Without the trade from Ìrota, we can't survive.
...The revolutionaries that took over Ìrota have not responded to any hails… We even sent some trade caravans to the local Arcologies, but no word came back…
I do not know why this is happening, but we won't survive much longer without aid. In fact, the numbers say that we barely have the fuel to keep the power on for another week.
That was what I thought, until I received a message of a trade convoy approaching the Arcology.
*Pov: Teresa Kelsey, Sergeant In Háoi security force*
...Right now, things are a mess.
...Things have been a mess ever since a convoy comprising of 4 combat Walkers and 3 Keelbacks arrived.
(Keelbacks are Walkers with no arms or guns, only a huge ass cargo space and a lot of armor)
They claim they are smugglers from across the pond that had eluded the embargo we have received by the fucking Beast-cult that has taken over Ìrota. They apparently have “affordable fuel and necessary materials for sale for… ‘reasonable’ prices” ...Fucking sky high I am sure.
And even then that is only if they really are just smugglers, It is just a little too… “convenient” that they just happened to make it through the embargo without harm.
Perhaps a trap, likely spies. The cargo holds of their Keelbacks are lined with lead too, apparently to help smuggle past “border securities”
Yet I cannot just turn them away, since the head of the Mercantile group is calling in a lot of favors upstairs to get that cargo.
The damn old fool. Probably just afraid that his luxuries will reduce, bah.
...I might have to let them in, but not without precautions.
*Pov: David Wernham*
I watch excitedly from my porch as the convoy is finally allowed into the hangar.
I had to bribe multiple high-ups in the security force but it was worth it.
I am not sure what they are worrying about, but without some backup fuel, Hàoi is doomed.
...Not that they would know of course. If they did, there would be mass panic.
Still, the 20 Walkers pointing their guns at the convoy as it enters sure is displeasing, the security force really is paranoid huh?
Lets just hope that won't increase the costs.
...If they do we might have to just take their cargo by force.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
*Pov: Teresa Kelsey*
The smuggler group looks genuinely shocked at the heavily armed welcome, I almost feel kinda bad for suspecting them so strongly now...
After making sure they have all dismounted their Walkers and are unarmed, I order my lieutenant to examine the cargo, as I greet the leader of the smuggler group.
She is a rather… strange fellow, with a cap and dark sunglasses, combined with military wear, it is a rather strange looking combination on a woman, but it fits her style I think.
“Sorry about the rough welcome, my name is Ter-”
*BANG*
Just as I am about to give them the closes thing to a cordial welcome I could under these circumstances, I feel a strange sensation at the center of my chest.
“-Eh?”
I look down to see a hole where my heart used to be.
As I am about to fall to the floor, I see my lieutenant get squashed under one of the keelback cargo doors just torn off from inside out.
...Old Beasts inside keelbacks?... what the fuck...…
...It's so cold…
I watch as the floor rises to meet me
*Pov: Faceless*
After taking out the one seemingly in charge, we begin the assault, an EMP rounds and chargers-type Old Beasts made short work of the Walkers thanks to their razor sharp claws combined with integrated Thermite-shotguns. Taken off-guard, they had no true chance.
...Nor did we to be honest, but we knew this was a suicide mission to begin with.
...But it is worth it.
...We must liberate the world.
With our blood, tears and steel. Thousands will be saved.
I die knowing this.
*Pov: Rasmus*
The captured Old Beasts I had been collecting through Irota markets wrought havoc very effectively indeed. The insides of Arcologies are soft, just a few cargo’s of chargers were enough to cause mass hysteria and panic, (it's almost like the old world government built them for this kind of job.) Allowing our forces to… ‘sweep in’ and save the day.
...The idea was originally to starve them to submission, but… we are in a hurry, and there is no telling how long they would still have held back.
...We did find an old fatso on a luxury porch opening up to the hangar, he was apparently the head of the local mercantile group branch, considering the bullet hole and the pistol in his hand, I guess he is the one who pushed for our…”delivery” to be allowed inside.
“…’Starve them and then offer poisoned food’ eh? I think I remember Boss teaching us that once ^-^ ”
Indeed. I took my lessons.
For the time being, due to the local panic and our timely ‘save’ it was easy to secure control of the Arcology, they let us in with open arms in fact. After that it was easy to doctor the truth to fit the narrative, the ones causing the mess: ‘smugglers, a corrupt greedy mercantile group head and an accident in smuggling, proving once again how the corporations are only out for themselves’
Heh, the propaganda division I have been constructing are sure to have a field day with this.
For now it is best to further boost my popularity by releasing their storages to the market.
...Self obviously the prices would climb sharply after the storages run out, but the populace doesn’t need that knowledge.
...I just need their loyalty a little longer.
“...22 days left…”
...I must work faster. Next target. Tempora.
“Are you sure? The current number of Faceless are already struggling to maintain security across the Arcologies you have… Wouldn’t it be better to wait for the new batch?”
...I dont have the time. But you are right of course, there are not enough Faceless…
For the time being I gave an order to finish the training of the new batch early. We need them.
“Are you sur-”
Yes.
“...”
Editorial note:
For the description of the charger type beasts, you can get away with it if you imagine it like Deadspace necromorphs.
Razor sharp bone claws coming out their hands whilst below that is what can be described as a fusion of a futuristic shotgun and your under-arm.
Then add in a more frail body build for speed plus dystopian body horror and voila, a charger is born.
Ready to rip and tear anything in close quarters.
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Guard in the hallway, Silencer. 1 shot, move onwards.
2 guards, left. 4 shots.
Reload.
Move.
...I pass through the defences in a half running fashion…
The priority target is behind the door in front of me.
...I open the door.
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