Raptor One – Chapter 68

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A tense moment, two sides.

Both sides sparse their formation, the tension increasing as pistols go up along with gattling lasers, on the other side spikes start twitching and trembling, there is no air to breath, but there is enough gases in this planet to emit audible sounds amidst the roar of snow storms.

“Captain? This is not looking good.” Li’luk say in her comms, i groan in agreement.

“Things are getting out of control, if the alpha send another psionic howl I’ll be down in no time.” I groan out. “Retreat, and don’t give your backs, I'll try to reason with him again...” i sigh and growl. “As it seen, I'm one of his kind, or at least it’s what he thinks of me.” i finish with a growl and move Raptor One forward.

My movement instantly riled the entire pack, but the Alpha calmed the group down because my weapons where down, i stopped in the middle of the two fronts, my pack slowly retreating.

*Why do you protect the enemy, packless one...*

I hear it’s primal voice again.

“*I can assure you that your litter won’t be harmed, i can force it to release the eggs*”

I reply, keeping calm as my growl reverberates inside Raptor One.

*Why should i honor a coward that hides inside a metal grave...*

Oh, boy, i may regret this.

I don’t reply, instead i open my Viking and jump out.

Landing in front of my Viking, it’s cockpit closes as it engage defense mode.

I sigh and growl as i walk to the seeming endless number of primal zergs, as i close in on the group, I'm met with some angry growls, of which i return before the Alpha force the misbehaving ones aside.

Now i find myself front to front with a very big and muscular beast, the alpha, it’s six eyes locked on my white ones.

“*Happy now?*”

I growl out, and I'm received with a movement that looks like honor.

*True to your instincts, yet fearless... Packless one, i now see that in you, i can honor... Retrieve the small ones and you’ll have my thanks...*

I got very surprised at the change of stance, but nodded.

“*Your small ones will return safe, all i want is your leave so the metal wirm can go.*”

I growl back my words, and receive a shake of his head.

*Your metal wirm intrudes my territory... I won’t leave unless it does...*

I growl at him in frustration, but soon calm down.

“*It will leave, just don’t attack anymore.*”

I try for the last time and get ready to leave.

*This i can honor, Packless one.*

His primal voice reply before howling another psionic wave, this time however I'm not affected as i walk back to my Viking.

“Captain, we got news that the attacks on the train ceased.” Zu reply on the comms.

“Da, the alpha is honoring his part of the deal, there won’t be anymore attacks.” i reply in both channels while jumping into my Viking.

My Viking starts up fast, and in no time it jump, taking it’s air denial form.

I’m flying in low speed back to the train when i receive a communication request from Alexei, of which i accept.

“Start talking, because the price for this peace will be steep.” i start by threatening Alexei.

“Wha- What does that mean?” Alexei ask me, the threat worked.

“I got a cease fire with the Alpha, but it wants its eggs back, the worse part is that there is a big number of beasts just outside your detection range, it will easily mow down your turrets and destroy the train, it is also very pissed because it can sense his hatched children.” i finish talking, information in this case can do wonders.

“It’s that serious..... What do i need to do?” Alexei sounds very unwilling, but accept.

“I’m landing back into my drop module, from there I'll board the train and retrieve the eggs, the hatched ones I'll escort back to the pack, get the turrets to passive or they will fire on me.” I give some basic orders.

“Okay, it’s better to lose the batch than to lose the train and our lives i guess.” I hear Alexei sigh before going away from the console.

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The flight back did not take long, at my current speed my pack should have returned before me.

I give a glance and see my pack resting close to the drop module, the drones moving around like curious cats, scanning things.

Getting the Viking to link with the drop module was easy, and in no time I'm jumping out of it while it await me on standby.

Zu and the rest move fast to me, looking for wounds and damage on me, i just smile back.

“I’m ok guys, thanks for the reinforcements, crazy thinking, but it worked at the end... *Sigh* Don’t mean you guys can do that again, am i clear?” i ask back with a smile

“Yes Captain!”

After receiving their answer i nod and leave for the train.

After finding the entrance and getting inside, i move around asking for Alexei, but I'm met with no answer, the crew are too scared to even talk, every time they don’t see me coming I'm almost shot at.

I sigh and decide to head deeper south, to the rear end of the train where the damage is more apparent.

Walking there was very easy, and by coincidence i manage to find a mostly human looking female shouting at the others.

I’m surprised by her looks because I'm pretty sure her hair is not normal, they resemble too much the hair of hive zergs and yautjas.

“Are you Alexei?” I ask with my growling voice, my voice has become rough and more feral due to the psionic howl.

She did not that my voice well because she jumped very high, shrieking like a banshee.

“Graaa!!! GODDAMNIT WOMAN! YOU WANT TO TEAR MY HEARING OFF!?” i Roar in pain before growling pissed at her.

“So- Sorry!” She get silent very fast while her body tense up as i stare, angry at her with my white eyes.

“Are you Alexei?” i growl out again, looking up at her eyes.

“Y- Yes.” She reply back

“SHow me the batch of eggs and the newborns.” i sigh and ask while taking a step back.

Alexei hurriedly nods and starts walking further down.

I start following her, a hand on my mouth due to my voice becoming rougher and more feral.

While walking behind Alexei i decide to call Sigma.

“Sigma, i need you to do a quick scan of my body and mind connection.” I whisper out.

Sigma show me that she heard by beeping two times before going silent.

Alexei scream brought me out of my thought, looking up while sharpening my hearing i find why she screamed.

Pushing Alexei to the side i see the door on the other side stained in blood and coolant, flashes of light illuminates the other side along with the distinct sounds of gunfire.

Roars of hive zergs can be heard along with the ripping of metal, soon a cry of pain is heard as more blood and coolant splash on the door, gurgling scream that started high and ended in complete silence.

The silence is broken by Lemi’s hiss, her emotions giving me data of the enemy, zerglings, thick bone armor on their backs, working wings, and thick skull paired with strong legs and four forward claws and a large mouth full of sharp teeth.

I take my stance and deploy my tower shield, gun in hand, as soon as my shield hit the ground, the sound of metal being ripped can be heard, i look up from my holster and into the door to see it very damaged and about to fail at stopping the zerglings.

“You said you got all the eggs!?” I growl out, pistol ready to shoot, i know it won’t pierce the thick bone armor, but i can get some time before retreating.

Alexei just froze, crouched, a sobbing mess, incapable of talking or reacting.

“Good, another problem to fix” I manage to growl out before the door finally fails and fall into pieces, three zerglings rush inside, full of blood and coolant.

They stop and roar after seeing me behind my black tower shield, we are far apart while Alexei is sobbing behind me, still frozen in fear.

I open fire at the three sprinting zerglings, the first in front manage to dodge the shot by leaping to the side, it’s momentum intact, the third zergling who was behind the first received the full blunt of the shot, it’s bone armor cracking in many places as it stumbles down by the power of the shot, the second zergling that was behind the third managed to leap over the second and avoid the shot while keeping it’s speed.

My mind is in overdrive, two zerglings managed to cover one third of the distance, the other was knocked down by the pistol, it’s bone armor breached.

I have 12 rounds on the magazine and 5 cartridges, the armor is combat capable, the syringe gauntlet have 6 neurotoxin shots.

What do i do, i have two speeding zerglings on my way, i feel another one coming here, but it’s way back into the train, and I'm sure if they get another third of the way cleared they will try to leap slash me...

I growl out as i force my pistol back into target before firing another volley of gunfire at the Zerglings, each shot getting a little off because of the powerful recoil that make my left hand lift into the air over my head again.

I watch in slow motion as both charging zerglings get hit by the powerful kinetic slug, the bigger zergling just lower it’s stance and continue charging like a champion, unaffected by the power of the blast.

The second one however don’t have the same luck as the blast stops it’s charge and breach it’s bone armor, shrapnel of bones flying out of it as the zergling is blasted flying down into it’s back, sleek belly exposed.

The third zergling that was downed by the last shot managed to get up in time before leaping out of way in a feat of willpower, managing to flee further into the train where other zerglings are.

I focus on the Zergling closer to me, i see in slow motion as it’s body tenses up and it’s wings starts moving, ready to leap at me.

I watch it in slow motion as it leaps, it’s back touching the roof of the train as the zergling leaps on me, i can’t move out of the position or Alexei will die for sure, so i buckle up and get ready to riposte it’s leap, of which i manage to succeed, sending it flying back first into the side wall of the train.

While it was downed, it’s belly semi exposed i was slow at bringing my pistol into aim, of which let the zergling get up, i hear the other one get up and charge into leap range, i decide to ignore it and shoot the closest one.

I watch in surprise the zergling lower it’s stance again, it’s bone armor breaching in slow motion as it stays alive by cheer willpower.

I find myself cornered, a zergling on my right side, another to the front, it’s muscles tensing, ready to leap on me, and Alexei on my right, shrieking in fear.

I decide to use my reaction speed to my limit and see that the zergling close to me is too wounded to act effectively, so i aim and fire at it, but even with heavy wounds it manage to leap to my back, making me exposed, but it seen exhausted by the stunt, letting me focus on the one flying my way.

I try to buckle up but don’t manage to prepare in time, it’s weight, combined with it’s momentum makes me fall, but i manage to get my tower shield between the zergling and me, my shield shrieking as four slash and a bite try to shred my shield off my hand, but i endure.

Instead of struggling to throw the zergling off me, i decide to aim and shoot at it, my shot going wide as the zergling jumps out of my shield before getting hit.

In my time of need i don’t manage to get up before both zerglings are ready for another round, i manage to hear the zergling close to my head get ready to attack, and with no choice i decide to shoot it.

With surprising reaction , the zergling stops and leaps back out of knife range, the zergling I'm keeping on the other side of my shield decide to attack too and i decide to shoot at it too.

It see me pointing my pistol it’s way and try to evade, but I'm faster and manage to shoot it through it’s chin, it’s brain matter painting the roof of the train with it’s blood.

“*Magazine’s dry!*”

I hear Sigma announce as i use the very small time to get up and ready for the last Zergling, now face to face with me.

I did manage to get time to holster my pistol back before it finished tensing up for it’s attack.

I decide to buckle up and wait for it’s attack, and I'm met with a vicious lunge, it’s power breach my defense and expose me, but i manage to stay standing because of the power armor.

I give a side glance at my tower shield, it’s on it’s last legs.

I see the zergling get ready for another lunge, so i decide to ignore defense and go full offense, it goes for my left arm, managing to rip off all the plates in it but i also manage to punch it with my needle gauntlet, a shot of neurotoxin going directly into it’s eyes.

I take distance while pulling the crying Alexei with me, the zergling twitching and roaring in pain as pustules appear on it’s skin and explodes in gore and blood, and in no time the last fighting zergling became a corroded corpse.

I groan at the damage, my left arm is completely exposed, my tower shield is about to fall into pieces.

I’m almost sure the only guards inside the train just got murdered there, and I'm sure there is at least another group further inside.

I growl in anger while reloading my pistol, i’ll have to travel further inside to get and release the primals....

And see if i can revive the dead guards if they are in one piece that is....