The Imperators continued through the dense, shadowy forest, each of them moving with heightened awareness. They navigated carefully, stepping around patches of mutated vegetation and listening intently for any sign of Brood patrols. The forest was unnervingly silent, broken only by the occasional rustle of corrupted leaves and the distant, unnatural hum of Brood drones. Sahaad led them forward with his usual calculated vigilance, motioning with quick hand signals when he wanted the squad to pause or change direction.

"Remember, conserve your ammo," Sahaad whispered over the comms. "We need every shot for when we reach the Hive."

They made every effort to remain unseen. Zara took the lead in scouting out routes, weaving through the dense growth with incredible stealth and pointing out areas where the forest thinned to avoid detection from potential aerial scouts. Sia monitored the local scanner, keeping an eye on any larger concentrations of the black fluid or signs of drone gatherings, while Ji moved silently alongside her, ready to act if any unexpected threats arose.

Occasionally, they spotted small Brood drones skulking in the shadows, feeding on whatever biomass they could scavenge from the planet. Each time, the Imperators froze, hiding behind thick tree trunks or patches of foliage until the creatures moved out of sight. The drones, mutated and twisted in the shape of their consumed prey, emitted a faint, acidic odor as they drifted by, entirely unaware of the Imperators lying in wait.

Nate clutched his plasma-heater rifle, fingers hovering near the trigger, itching for action, but he respected Sahaad's orders. He kept his weapon ready yet restrained, knowing their true target awaited them deeper into the forest.

After nearly an hour of this stealthy march, they finally approached the edges of the forest, where the land opened up into rocky, scarred terrain—an eerie wasteland of scorched ground and twisted metallic formations. The faint, ominous glow of the pulsing tendrils could be seen in the distance, sprawling upward like corrupted vines into the sky. The entire area was bathed in a dull, orange light that flickered in time with the organic growth's pulse.

Sahaad signaled for the team to take cover just beyond the edge of the forest. "We're close," he murmured, scanning the terrain for any signs of Brood forces. "Stick to the rocks, stay low. If we're lucky, we can keep clear until we hit the main Hive."

A shrill, piercing call cut through the air, echoing across the desolate landscape and vibrating through their helmets. The Imperators froze, weapons at the ready, each of them instinctively seeking cover behind rocks and twisted tree stumps. The high-pitched sound was unmistakable: a Brood alert signal.

"Looks like we weren't as unseen as we thought," Nate muttered, his plasma-heater rifle aimed at the horizon.

From the treeline, Sahaad peered toward the direction of the sound, his pulse quickening. He motioned for the team to brace themselves. "Stay sharp. They know we're here, but let's keep moving to cover. Don't let them swarm us."

In seconds, the air was alive with the ominous hum of approaching drones. The alert call seemed to reverberate in waves, growing louder and louder until they spotted a swarm of Brood creatures emerging from the shadows, racing toward their location. In the front, leading the pack, was another one of the larger Brood commanders, its limbs mutated and twisted into sharpened weapons, while its eyes burned with a feral intelligence that seemed to lock onto the Imperators' positions.

Sahaad nodded to the others, his voice cool and measured despite the situation. "Ji, Zara, spread out and flank. Sia, get that scanner ready—we need to know if any more are on their way. Nate, prepare the heavy fire. Kato engage the leader. Let's keep this contained before it draws out reinforcements."

Nate grinned, leveling his plasma-heater rifle at the oncoming horde. "Gladly."

He fired, and the searing rounds from his plasma-heater shot forward, igniting the nearest drones and reducing them to smoldering husks in seconds. Zara moved quickly around the side, her railgun whirring to life as she aimed with pinpoint precision, taking down Brood drones as they broke through the treeline.

Meanwhile, Kato honed in on the Brood commander, its hulking form barreling toward him. The creature's mouth opened, releasing another shrill call, and Kato felt a shiver as he anticipated its next move. He fired a quick burst from his pulsar rifle, the unstable energy landing a direct hit and sizzling through parts of its exoskeleton, but the creature charged undeterred, swinging its mutated bone blades in a deadly arc.

Kato dodged, landing a solid counterstrike with his gravity hammer that threw the commander back a few paces, cracks spiderwebbing across its armored flesh. The commander snarled, rearing back to strike again, but Sahaad caught track and assisted Kato. In one powerful move, he activated his wrist rocket, blasting it point-blank and Kato followed up with a brutal strike from his hammer that shattered the creature's head.

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"Push forward!" Sahaad commanded, rallying his team as they decimated the remaining drones, their combined firepower quickly overwhelming the Brood forces.

The echo of the high-pitched call finally faded, leaving only the smoldering remains of the drones scattered across the ground.

However, before they could regroup a fiery wall erupted before Sahaad and Kato, sending waves of heat and smoke through the forest and forcing them back a few steps. As the flames ebbed, a Brood creature materialized—a gaunt, eerie figure with long, bony limbs and dark, sinewy skin stretched tightly over its skeletal frame. Thin tentacles writhed from its chin, adding an unsettling dimension to its visage. Sahaad's eyes narrowed as he studied it; it was reminiscent of a D&D mindflayer, though far more menacing and unnatural.

The creature's forearms tapered into sharp, bony claws, each one exuding a faint, pulsing purple aura that seemed to emanate from deep within its bones. Unlike the drones, this one didn't lumber or charge; it hovered midair, its eyes glowing an unnatural shade of violet as it focused intently on the Imperators. Sahaad knew immediately what they were dealing with.

"A Phage," he muttered, recognition setting in. "It can use Aera—watch out."

Phages were infamous for their Aera manipulation, capable of deploying spells and specialized countermeasures against the Awakened warriors of the Federation and other alien factions. Sahaad's grip tightened on his pulsar rifle, knowing that physical strength alone wouldn't win this fight.

The Phage raised its skeletal hands, and the purple aura around its claws intensified, warping the air around it as tendrils of energy extended outward. With a simple flick of its wrist, it sent a shockwave of air crashing toward the Imperators, scattering them and forcing them to dive for cover.

"Spread out! Don't give it an easy target," Sahaad barked, his voice sharp and controlled.

Nate, gritting his teeth, aimed his plasma-heater rifle, firing off searing rounds toward the Phage. But with a graceful twist of its bony arm, the Phage redirected the projectiles, deflecting them effortlessly with its telekinetic barrier. Zara and Ji circled to flank it, their movements swift and calculated, while Sia and Kato advanced from the other side.

With a predatory glint in its eye, the Phage locked onto Kato, recognizing him as the one to finish off the drone commander. It extended one clawed hand, and beams of flames lanced out, aiming to ensnare him. Kato leaped backward, narrowly avoiding the attack, he felt the searing heat brush against its chest as it exploded right behind him.

The creature was ready to launch another volley, as Kato was still in midair.

"Not so fast!" Sahaad growled, he fired his void rifle. The distorted bullet tore through the Phage's aura, tearing one of its limbs and dragging it away to an unknown dimension.

SKREEEE!

At that moment, Zara and Ji seized the opportunity. Ji fired a series of rounds that fizzled against the Phage's shield, weakening it. Zara followed up with a precise throw from her phase-blade, piercing the creature's aera shield just enough to break through its shoulder.

But the Phage wasn't finished. Its tentacles writhed, and with a guttural hiss, it used its remaining arm to raise the ground around them, and shot chunks of the broken earth at the Imperators .

The Imperators managed to dodge and punch through the magical earth. As they recovered, Kato saw his chance and charged forward, gravity hammer in hand.

Channeling every ounce of strength and timing, he swung the hammer in a wide arc, catching the Phage in the torso. The impact shattered its body and sent it hurtling into the nearby rock wall, its gaunt body cracking against the impact. The purple glow around it began to flicker, and the creature screeched in fury, but Kato didn't relent.

With a powerful swing, he brought his hammer down again, crushing the Phage's skull, silencing it with a final, sickening crunch. The rock wall collapsed under the massive force, burying the creature's body under a mountain of rubble.

Kato exhaled, checking to ensure the others were unharmed. He could see them regrouping, nodding to him in silent affirmation.

"That was... unexpected," Kato muttered, catching his breath.

Sahaad gave a slight nod. "Phages are rare. They wouldn't deploy one unless we're close to the tendrils."

"Thanks for the assist", Kato said, resting his hand on Sahaad's shoulder.

"No problem", Sahaad smiled. "You would have done the same for me".

Sia checked her scanner, which pinged with activity up ahead. "Sahaad's right. The energy readings are spiking. We're near the tendrils, but it's likely we'll face more resistance."

Sahaad activated his communicator, tuning into the frequency linked to General Harisburg back at the garrison. Static crackled before the old general's voice came through, firm yet tinged with urgency.

"General Harisburg, this is Sahaad," he began. "We've encountered a Phage out here—likely means we're nearing the tendrils' location. Recommend mobilizing the troops for the counter-strike."

A pause followed as the message sank in. Harisburg's voice came back, steady but with a hint of tension. "Understood, Sahaad. This confirms what we feared; if a Phage is in the field, the Hive is using its elite forces to shield their objective."

"Affirmative," Sahaad replied. "We'll hold position for now. But be advised, we may not have much time before they mobilize reinforcements."

"Noted," Harisburg replied. "I'll alert the other outposts—this will take some time. Hold steady for a few hours until all stations confirm readiness. Once our forces are in place, I'll signal the full launch."

"Copy that," Sahaad affirmed. "We'll prepare for any surprises."

Sahaad turned to the others, who were on high alert, scanning the forest for any movement. "We'll hold here for now, just a few hours until the garrison gives the signal. Expect resistance—the Hive may send more drones or even another Phage."

Nate readied his plasma-heater rifle, keeping an eye on the shadows. "If they want us to wait, we might as well make it an unwelcome stay for any Hive units that get too close."