Raptor One – Chapter 72
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Sighing while hearing the sounds of hiss and thumps I feel my own armor close itself on me then softly releasing a beep, waking me up from my numbness.
Opening my eyes and sharpening my senses I ask for a status report, my pack getting in formation, Zu at front.
“White, we got attacked by Hive zergs, we tried to stay our ground with the help of the Primal zergs, but the defense line soon broke and we where forced to retreat, the good thing is that we had time to reinstall the armor of the rail connector back before returning and finding you in a bad spot.”
I hear silently as Zu recounts her part of the situation.
“*Sigma successfully updated.*”
My ears twitch at the voiced announcement while my pack looks my way with confusion.
“*Regional scanning complete, cross reference from previous scans indicate a Hive zerg raid headed to your sector, Primal zergs managed to fend off the Hive zerg scout force before the train was found but suffered substantial losses... Air born hive zergs detected approaching from north west, advanced outpost from Hive zerg detected.*”
I hear in silence all of Sigma words before cursing at the end.
“Round up, we are marching out. Start following War protocol, I hope you guys did not forget it yet.” I growl out and start walking in fast pace out of the train.
“Sir yes sir!” I hear my pack say as they ready their guns and follow me in a closed formation.
“Sigma, how’s the situation on the third rail connector.” I growl out.
“*Zone 0,1,3 is currently a warzone between Hive and Primal zergs, expect heavy resistance from hive zergs... Primal zerg Alpha detected in the area.*”
Things are not that good if the Alpha had to step into battle.
“*Exiting safe zone, time until next EMP Wave: 5,6 medium cycles.*”
“You heard her, we have 56 minutes to solve this, expect all shit to go to hell much sooner, the mission is simple, get in, repair the last connector, get out, extra objectives will be send through the situations, NOW READY FOR DROP!” I growl out my orders.
“Sir yes sir!” Is what I hear as I jump inside the cockpit of my Viking, it’s engines starting up along with the camera feed, letting me see the drop module sealing shut.
“Hold tight, flight will be a little bumpy.” I chuckle out as the Viking leave the ground and start flying to the designated sector.
The flight is full of turbulence due to the moving winds creating strong pockets of turbulence, some so bad I thought one of my flight wing would fall off.
As soon as we get inside the new warzone I see the chaos unfolding close to the rails, the good point is that the Primal zergs are losing much less fighters due to their survival instincts, it’s interesting to see how the more healthy of the fighters engage in place of the more wounded letting it retreat so the more specialized units can treat it’s wounds.
“*Flying hive zerg incoming, west north.*”
I have time to look and see the small horde of flying zergs as they pass and spit spikes at the primal zergs, the primals not letting the harassment go without a counter attack starts shooting their own spikes, felling a third of the flying hive zergs before they can fly out of their range, some find my Viking a desirable meal and fly my way while I release the drop module besides the damaged rail connector.
“Stay inside, we got air raid incoming.” I growl out as the three flying hive zergs swoop down firing their spikes on me, as I got some space between me and the drop module but I got no time to react with efficiency.
Letting a shot of afterburner go I speed up and do a barrel roll, the first spike pass behind my engine as I use my afterburner while the other spike pass flying on top of my cockpit as I manage to do this dangerous and high stress maneuver, but the third spike hit the belly of my Viking as I right my myself.
I take a second to see the damage report, small damage to cockpit, I look at my pursuing enemies, two are flying just the way I like it, so I fly up while using my afterburner before opening my air brakes, changing my full on ascent into a very tight vertical roll that let me have a drop on the three flying hive zergs chasing me, a burst of laser machinegun hit square center on two of the three flying hive zergs, their vaporized purple blood and entrails flying back down to the ground.
After the cloud of purple blood disperse I see that only one of the flying hive zergs died, the other that was hit is barely flying.
I glare at the flying hive zerg that got the skills to move out of the barrage of machinegun fire.
While I managed to reverse the chase did not mean they can’t shoot back because I find myself doing barrel rolls to the left and right as their spikes fly over and under me as their appendages shoot at me like turrets from a bomber, but I finally get a good timing and open fire, a burst of my laser machinegun hit both of the flying hive zergs square center, both of the flying zergs bursting in purple blood and entrails, this time both are down.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
While I was dealing with these flying zergs the primals where dealing with the rest, and did a good job as the sky is now clear for now, so I transform and land close to the rail connector landing with a heavy thump while blasting away at any hive zerg I can get my aim on.
“How’s the repair going?” I growl out while opening fire at another approaching wave of zerglings.
“We got two third repaired!” Zu reply while helping the Li sisters, the Su brothers are close by shooting like no tomorrow at stray zerglings.
With my arrival and the clearance of the flying menace we manage to clear a good amount of space while the girls repair the rail connector, a interesting situation arose however, while we did manage to clear a good area around the rail connector, the primal zergs decided to reorganize around us, Primal Alpha included.
I don’t get time to take a look around as another wave of zerglings sprint in our direction, between their ranks Sigma spot bannelings.
“Fucking hell!” I roar out. “Prepare to engage! Bannelings incoming!” I roar out and start sniping the bannelings with my laser cannons while tinning the horde of zerglings with my laser machineguns.
While there where Hidralisks close behind shooting their pressurized spikes my way I just ignored their existence and focused in mowing down the charging enemy forces, the zerglings and banelings did not manage to pass the middle line of my kill zone, but it did come with the cost of damage to my Viking because of the hidralisk onslaught of spikes, something the group of primal zergs around us managed to deal with.
“Damage report.” I growl out.
“*Damage detected on cockpit, primary and secondary weapons, and left leg.*”
I frown at Sigma report, while I did manage to deflect 140% of the damage, the following 40% still managed to damage my Viking, what’s worse is that my Viking is working almost only on endurance because the oppressive price for titanium plating did not let me repair it’s armor, I'm basically running on fumes.
“*Warning: Mech fuel level low... 22.42 Units of Refined mech fuel left.*”
“Huh... How much is the tank capacity?” I ask Sigma with a lot of worry.
“*Fuel Tank supports 620 units of a variety of fuel sources.*”
“*I’ve deemed your question as lack of understanding of the mech system, Secretary system installed.*”
Sigma give me a barrage of news, all of which gives me mixed feelings, I thought I had passed this part of mistakes!
“The hell did that happen!? I never had a...” My growling stops on its track as a fuel alarm start blaring on my face, the fuel gauze finally popping into my vision box along with the status of my Viking.
“You must be fucking kidding me... Chert!” I growl out in frustrated anger before taking a deep breath.
“Guys? We got a problem, my Viking is about to run out of juice, it’s running on literal fumes right now...” I check the cost to fire my laser weapons... “I got eleven machinegun bursts or five cannon shots before needing to go fight raw.”
“Oh, that’s not a good thing... LAK! LUK! I thought you refueled his Viking!” Zu answer me before yelling at the Li sisters.
“How!?” Li’lak reply back.
“Yeah! I tried finding a fuel port everywhere to no avail! I thought it had a perpetual motion engine or something!” Li’luk also reply.
“Girls? I thought you said perpetual motion engines did not exist?” Su’ra ask the girls while opening fire at some zerglings.
“Did you guys at least manage to repair the rail connector?” I growl out while thinking of a way to evacuate back to ground zero.
“*White, you can reach ground zero by walking, my calculations show that walking cost half the energy of flying, try not to use your weapons or you won’t reach the evacuation zone.*”
Sigma give some good news for me, now I need to find a way to get the pack and the drop module back.
“I got some help from Sigma, I can retreat and reach the LZ, but we need to get the drop module and you guys moving, how’s the rail connector, you guys still did not answer.” I growl out again.
“And... Finished! Rail Connector is good to go!” Li’luk respond back.
“Guys, he got a point, how are we going to recover the drop module? It’s not made to be disposable.” Zu ask in the group communicator.
“Oh! I got a idea, we can jury rig makeshift wheels to it, we have the scrap metal from the repairs for it.” Li’lak say while looking at her sister.
I keep watch for more incoming zerg forces while thinking about the material needed to make the wheels but I'm forced out of my thoughts by the arrival of the Alpha.
*White the packless, I feel your trouble, you honor me by fighting my battle, what do you need, White the packless.*
I hear the psionic growl of the Alpha as it bypass the armor of my Viking, before responding to him I ask my pack about the idea.
“How’s the newly born idea going?” I growl out.
“Better than expected, we’ll be out of here in no time!” Li’luk reply with a smile while welding new parts on the deployed drop module along with her sister.
“We still need you to push the drop module.” Zu reply while overseeing the task.
“*Calculations say that there’s a 50-50% chance of success if your Viking push the drop module.*”
Sigma reply about the idea.
I focus on the Alpha that is waiting my reply.
“*My exoskeleton is out of energy, and I need it to move this small home back to safety.*”
I growl out while opening my cockpit and jumping out in front of the Alpha.
*Your symbiotic companion is out of energy, I have a pack of rebellious ones who wish to follow you, they will help and work as long as you accept then as part of you, White the packless.*
I hear the Alpha and nod, acknowledging his idea, I did not mention this, but I felt Lemi’s death, she consumed the last of her energy to give me a chance to live.
I sigh while looking at my empty shoulder, not even her core is left, life is like that, a life for a life, there is no eternity, no immortality...
I sigh while in thought, but I'm soon bought back by Sigma.
“*Warning. New zerg wave incoming. ETA: five small cycles.*”
I lock eyes with the Alpha, letting my thoughts go unprotected.
The alpha feels what I want to convey and nods my way, a gesture of gratefulness before howling into the sky, his entire pack moving out to meet the enemy.
I get surprised however at seeing six teenage primals, the same ones that tried to follow me back, seated before me, I can feel their psionic waves, I feel it’s pull, and the emotions it convey.
I find myself overwhelmed by their emotions, yet I don’t lose control of myself as their connection tightens deeper with mine...
The feeling akin to having six extra bodies, each with it’s own emotions yet at my beck and call...
“This feels like... I don’t have words for this...” I grunt, a feral growl leaving my mouth.
“We are finished!” My ears twitch at the voice of Li’luk.
“White, you ok?” Zu ask me as I straight myself.
I release a psionic roar, the six primals surrounding me also howl in sync.
I grunt and snarl before giving out a feral smirk. “Zu, we got our way back to ground zero.”
I hear Zu sigh, relieved to find I'm alright.
“Suit up! We are leaving!” I growl out before moving in the direction of the drop module.
“*Viking Auto Pilot engaged. Target: Ground zero.*”
I chuckle as I hear Sigma, my Viking walking back while I sit inside the drop module along with my pack, the door closing and sealing us from the outside...