Sergei wasted no time in entering the alien craft. It looked as he expected it to with its crescent-shaped, silvery blue ceiling and ahead of him was the cockpit area for the pilots. Lying close by coated in Deterrent fluid was an alien with its helmet removed. The first thing he noticed was their thin white hair and silver skin. It contrasted against their red, diamond-shaped irises. Lazarus and Archon stood close by while some ways ahead, the other pilot lay dead.
“We only need one of them,” Lazarus said. “They match the ancient records too. This one must belong to one of the Silver Houses.”
“What do you mean?” asked Sergei.
“This one here is a Kaskari. The records stored in the alien site beneath this moon made mention of them. The once Nirikiri called them their Ascenders at first and then betrayers.”
“Who were we to the Niri?”
“A countermeasure,” said Lazarus crouching before the pilot. He began speaking in a way that neither man could understand and it got the Kaskari’s attention. The alien soon responded and Lazarus helped them up. Though not enthusiastic the alien took his seat and the ramp raised.
“What did you say?”
“You are our harbinger. This is his destiny… and my righteous vengeance,” Lazarus said approaching the troop seating area. “You both might want to stay back here. The Kaskari mustn’t suspect we’re on board.”
Sergei took a seat opposite. “You trust him?’
“I planted him, he has no choice but to do as I say.”
“Must be nice,” said Archon folding his arms. “I’m a bit excited. Never thought I’d get to storm an alien ship.”
“First for everything,” said Sergei as a hologram appeared before them showing both the pilot and a view outside the ship. The pilot began speaking in a manner that sounded spiteful even though Sergei couldn’t begin to understand him. The Symbiote should surely clear up that issue in due time, right?
“For better or worse, we are not alone in aiming for the alien vessel,” said Lazarus leaning back and closing his eyes. He folded his palms together and seemed to be listening for something. “At least one of the other ships is Deterrent controlled.”
“I guess they underestimated us.”
“They had no way of knowing what nightmare was playing out in that city,” said Lazarus. “It’s not the first time, the Kaskari falls to their own hubris”
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Sergei leaned forward. “Who are you really Lazarus? You speak of this alien like you know him.”
“It’s complicated like many things. My ancestors had to hide just to survive the slaughter happening around them. I only know about this because I gained access to various observation sites. Due to Aether communication, the Nirikiri could interface across space if they wanted to. Towards the end, lots of messages hinted at an extermination of my people.”
“You translated all that yourself?” asked Archon.
“Yes.”
‘So you are not just a Terran. You simply wear their skin, you hid well.’
The three of them looked to where the pilot sat. That voice in their head now was the alien and they understood it. Lazarus rose to his feet and joined the pilot’s side. Though difficult to see from where he sat, the hangars of the alien vessel loomed.
‘I am permitted to land but it’s going to be chaos. Perhaps I go first?’ the pilot asked.
‘So you can rejoin your allies. Don’t be so eager, once landed we will let the other groups commit first. Then we aim for the bridge.’
The transport jolted and jostled as it narrowly avoided the incoming plasma shots. Looks like the others aren’t as fortunate. Despite the pilot’s best efforts, it was still a tight fit and they had a rough landing, sliding sideways across the hangar. From the front viewport, two other transports made land in far worse shape. A large group of Kaskari had gathered fully armed and ready to meet whatever would leave those ships. The first transport had human occupants and engaged the waiting force. Not wanting to be left out the second transport opened its door and hell spilled out.
“Look, alive comrades. It’s time to claim what is ours,” said Lazarus.
Bodies lay scattered everywhere, humans, Kaskarians and Mortes. They blurred together in a mix of blood and bile. The embattled defenders and surviving humans cut their losses and retreated from the hangar but Sergei sensed it. And if he did, so did Lazarus and the other Mortes. There was no other place for the uninfected to run. It would be a tug of war for the ship. Planters among them had fast begun converting the bodies. One of the Morte shamblers approached Lazarus, its host long since dead. The symbiote within puppeteered the corpse in a manner that no human ever would. Its body had also been almost completely taken over by the toughened sludge-like exoskeleton. From behind it, Sergei noticed even those untouched by the planters were twitching just like back on the Moon.
“Truce,” came the voice from the Shambler. “We serve the same master. We exist in the same grave, you just don’t know it yet.”
“Better the devil you know, should make things easier,” said Lazarus.
Archon looked over to the spilling mass of Mortes moving off in various directions. “Even without your agreement. I see Deterrent among them.”
“Like them, you will soon be with us, one mind. One body. One intent.”
“No, thanks, I like my freedom,” said Archon.
The shambler hacked a cough in mock laugh and moved away. It led a group to one of the doors out of the hangar. Leaving only a handful of them left. “They seem to know where they are going at least,” said Sergei.
Both men looked at him. “Then let’s not waste time,” Lazarus said. “I need to assimilate an officer to have the edge over the True Mortes. I fear they won’t make it easy though.”