As I make my final resolutions, we start moving. My step light and my breath steady. These halls of horror no longer scare me. My blood like ice, yet rushing like a wild river. This stand off with death, it invigorates me.
We move into a giant room, it looks like a ware house, huge shelves and big boxes. I can feel it, this room will be our battleground. I feel it watching, its distain and arrogance. I look to my brothers and sisters in arms, they seem to have noticed it too. This unnatural silence, as if all sound has disappeared.
*Step* *Step* *Step*
We warily walk further in, keeping an eye out for the creature.
"Spread out, 3-4 feet." I hear the lieutenant say.
We file into the room completely, keeping the distance we've been ordered to hold. That is when we hear it, this bug like sound of clacking teeth. Almost like a laughter. All of our eyes trace the sound to a shelf in the left corner furthest away from us, where a being lowers it self down to the ground.
Standing at 7 feet, a giant man like creature. A head that looks like a ant, but where there usually are mandibles there is giant spider fangs. The head flowing into a thick neck and further down to a wide torso, ending in a ball like abdomen, where 6 legs sprout out. Its entire body being covered in innate chitinous armor.
'An Usiliac? But that shouldn't be possible. Their race is esperless just like ours, and even if they weren't, they are currently not a space faring race.' I think as my body tenses up, waiting for the order to shoot.
*SSssklakkklakklak*
Its bug eyes staring us down as it advances. A predator does not shy away from its prey.
It feels like an eternity before anyone reacts.
"MEN! FIRE!" Svenson screams at the top of his lungs, breaking the silence, as he unleashes the first bolt of plasma. His bolt being the first of many as we all unleash our bolts on our foe. Just for them to be blocked by 2 objects flying up in front of the Usiliac.
The 2 objects catch most of the bolts and explode into blood and guts. The rest misses.
"Scatter! Surround it, and make sure not to get hit!" Lt. Jones screams as she starts running to the left while Svenson runs right.
I shoot bolts towards my foe while sprinting left following the lieutenant. As I run I see boxes and metal bits start to move.
I watch as a floating box splinters from a bolter shot. The splinters stop mid air and turn towards an unfortunate soldier. The splinters pierce every place not covered by thicker pieces of armor. Blood splatters and he falls over as the last air exits his pierced throat.
The Usiliac making sure to keep its back against a wall not to get surrounded. Its moves still slow and arrogant.
Jones hits the alien on the left side of its torso, only for the plasma to disperse leaving minor damage on its thick chitinous armor. The beast turns and looks straight at her, clearly angered at the insignificant creature that dared to hit it.
It throws multiple metal crates towards her, its attacks unsuccessful as she moves and dodges quickly. Which only angers it further. More objects start rising into the air forming a floating shield blocking the sight of Svenson and his men.
The situation looking grim as it keeps finding new objects to stop the bolts. I change my plasma battery quickly, as I see it getting ready to throw more at the lieutenant.
Taking a deep breath as I stop and aim for its head. My vision tunneling in on the reticle in my gun, making sure I won't miss.
I fire, the bolt flies towards its head while its main focus point is Lt. Jones. As i feel the exhilaration of a great shot I see its hand quickly moving up and blocking the bolt. Its thin fingers mangled from the blast as it screeches.
*KYYAAAAA*
And turns to me.