“Yep, they’re dinosaurs,” Aster said. He and Haze were perched atop a thick enough tree, using their helmets for recon. While Haze looked at the overall details, Aster looked at the specifics, doing his best to detail the weaponry Haze pointed out. It was all old technology that the Ka’Thran were using as they encircled a herd of what Haze had mentioned to be ceratopsians.
”The animals, or the equipment?”
”Yes.”
”Are you going to intervene?”
”Not sure. This just looks like they are getting food. Nothing devious. But starving their forces… I don’t know. Seems wrong.”
”It’s strategic. You expend as little resources and energy, and your enemy will have reduced energy and resources.”
Aster didn’t like it. There were enough Hive down there to present a problem even for him. That and the number of animals they were rounding up made Aster unsure they could survive a fast encounter up close.
”Our ranged options aren’t going to work as well here.”
”We only need to take out the armed targets, and then we can release those animals.”
Aster smirked inside his helmet, and his tone carried his amusement when he spoke. “Are you wanting to do this because you want to take them out, or do you want to help those dinosaurs?”
“Yes.” Haze mimicked his earlier response with an equal tone before hesitating. “… I had toys of them. When I was young.”
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”Oh.” Aster consulted Zeta through their telepathic bond. “I can divert their attention. Do you think you can pick them off from here?” Haze hefted the rifle Aster had designed, capable of eleven powerful shots, and nodded.
Aster leaped up to other branches. With Zeta’s help, he was able to plan a single maneuver that he hoped would cause the most damage most quickly. With his Arcus charged, he aimed and fired a single shot.
In his time fighting the Hive, he found that their weapons would detonate when hit with a sufficiently charged shot from his gun arm. And every Hive patrol had at least one plasma weapon.
With Zeta’s assistance, Aster's shot landed, and the following eruption melted away five, and subsequent shots from Haze took care of another four as chaos erupted. The last three were trampled over or run through by the herd.
As Haze climbed back down, Aster noticed her cast was beginning to unmake itself. Aster’s Lux, or hard light, weren’t permanent creations unless he concentrated on them or maintained physical contact. He noticed that Haze’s limp, though not pronounced, was noticeable again. A quick scan from Zeta revealed that her vitals were spiking, but being monitored by what Zeta assumed to be the armor Haze wore. Zeta remarked that she must have been in quite some pain.
”We have to get you to a med bay. Maybe we can use one of the Hive’s ships?” Aster thought about it for a second. “Not a fan of that plan.”
”There’s a human shipwreck not far from here.”
”What? How, how can you tell?”
”I just got a ping. It's not far.”
”And can you make it even in your condition? Fast enough to avoid Hive patrols?”
There was a pause. ”No.”
“I think I have a plan. Maybe we can hitch a ride on some tanks?” Aster looked to where the herd had gone.
”That doesn’t sound optimal.”
”It’s our best option.”
You can’t be serious. Zeta chimed in.
Do you mean me having a plan, or it being our best option?
Yes.