Year 2239
Deep beneath the crust of the near Earth asteroid, the dwarven city of Moltharum churned with activity. Stocky bearded figures in heavy mechanized suits prepared program queues of weaponry, armor, and transportation crafted from stone and metal to task the Earth-based manufactories with producing.
Data packets were beamed directly down to the labyrinthine tunnels under the Earth where the attack forces were gathered to initiate their assault on Triad forces.
At the heart of their stronghold stood King Jorgam Ironheart, conferring with his strategists on multiple viewscreens. "The situation is dire. The Triad's assimilation threatens all free people, above and below."
His advisor Gurak nodded grimly, activating a holographic map showing the enemy's spread. "Our constructs patrol the deepest tunnels, but surface migration may soon be necessary."
Jorgam stroked his braided beard. "Then we abandon the underrealm to these soul-less mechanoids? Nay, I shall not see our ancestral homes surrendered!"
The dwarf king turned to his master artificer, Rondal Flexhammer's Earth-based feed. "The topside technology remains vulnerable to your counter-devices, does it not?"
Rondal affirmed, "Aye, sire. Their biomech components have gaps our shielded protocols can exploit. We can disrupt their control."
"Excellent!" Jorgam declared. "Then we shall aid those still fighting the assimilation above. Drive out these usurpers from our rightful domains!"
He placed a hand on young dwarf Keldam's image, granting administrative war authorization to his system. "Rally our most saber-hungry warriors. You shall lead a mighty company to the aid of the surface dwellers."
---
On Earth, Keldam's chest swelled with pride. "I shall smash many brain-rusting robo-zombies in your honor!" He marched off enthusiastically to prepare.
Jorgam sighed and smiled. "Impulsive as lava-iron, that one. But a stalwart heart fuels him. Very well, old friend, the way is clear."
Deep within the Earth based staging tunnels, Rondal powered up a heavily customized borer machine. "We ride for the breach points! Now to see what tricks these Triad toads have against true dwarven engineering!"
The molten chambers rumbled with thunderous cheers. The ancient dwarven kingdoms would never yield to invaders. Now the enemy would face their fiery forges firsthand!
As the dwarven strike teams mobilized, their shielding frames powered up with a deep thrumming. Runic glyphs flickered across vision slits as diagnostic data streamed into helmet displays.
[All armor systems nominal] flashed the status messages.
[Weapons hot. Atmospheric seals holding.]
The information flowed both ways as the dwarf nervous systems synchronized inputs and outputs with their mechanical exosuits through neural lace conduits along the spine and skull.
With a thought, Keldam primed the micro-fusion reactor that powered his boulder-crushing metal gauntlets. Intake valves cycled as the compact core suffused his body with energizing radiation.
[Energy levels rising] his armor reported.
[Musculature augmented for combat maneuvers.]
Rondal's sensorium analyzed soil density and underlying faults as the borer machine burrowed through stone toward the surface breach point. The planet's heartbeat pulsed through his boots.
[Locking destination coordinates] his navigational computer stated.
[Establishing secure commlink with ordinance asteroid.]
Far above in high orbit, the orbital artillery weapons platform Thurmad received the incoming transmission. Its plasma cannons began gathering fiery charge as coolant systems pumped to ready for sustained barrage.
[Thurmad acknowledging delivery request.] came the reply.
[Primed for surface bombardment on designated targets.]
Their communication networks ran too deep and subtle for the Triad's assimilators to crack. Each dwarf was a living fortress, sealed off from outside control. Now they rode to war.
[Synchronization complete] flashed system messages as they emerged in battle formation.
[Dwarven strike contingent online. Let's crack some null-brains!]
With resounding war cries in their native tongues, the platoons activated turbo drills and seals before surging up through the planet's crust - an unstoppable wave to meet the enemy head on.
Keldam grinned fiercely as his drill tank erupted to the surface in a spray of dirt. Immediately his threat detectors flashed red as assimilated forces converged on the breach point.
"Hold fast, lads!" he bellowed over comms. "We'll give these chrome-domes a taste of dwarven steel!"
The assimilators rushed in, firing invasive protocol darts designed to overwhelm firewalls and hijack network integrity. But the dwarves' shielding held firm, runes flaring as the darts disintegrated against superior dwarven craftsmanship.
"Is that all ye got, spark-sniffers?" Keldam taunted. "Try getting through solid stone next time!"
His powersuit channeled the force of his blows as he smashed into the assimilator ranks, crumpling their fragile alloy bodies with contemptuous ease. They relied too much on technology, forgetting the primal joy of hand-to-hand combat.
Rondal analyzed the battlefield from his burrower vehicle, identifying optimal targets for Thurmad's orbital strikes. "Unleash fire on these points, brothers!" he commanded. "Send these tech-thieves back to the scrap pile!"
Molten plasma rained down from above, boiling through the assimilators' weak armor at the molecular level. Dwarven cheers rang out as the enemy advance faltered.
But the assimilated did not retreat. Triplets of walkers advanced as a fresh horde charged in. Clearly, the unity was willing to sacrifice resources to overwhelm them.
Dwarves that had fallen had been lain carefully to the sides by their brethren as they fell. Allowing their battle suit systems to stitch them up as it repaired itself as well.
"That's the best ye have?" Keldam said, though with less bravado. The enemy numbers were daunting. Still, he would never surrender while one spark of life remained in his veins.
"Hold the line, comrades!" he yelled. "We shall show them dwarves were carved from the bones of this world!" They tightened their shields and stood firm for the next onslaught.
The battle raged on. Though weary from endless combat, the dwarves refused to yield. But Keldam knew they could not fight alone forever. Power reserves and ammunition were running low. Exhaustion filled the ranks. The wounded would require time to repair their suits and their bodies. As well as extra resources to defend them from stray nano-machines from the Triad forces.
The downside to fighting this kind of enemy was that any injury among the dwarven forces risked a dwarf being assimilated and becoming a new threat.
They had been fighting for hours and even an augmented dwarf had limits. If only there were others still resisting the unity...
Then his scanners picked up biological signatures - natives emerging from hiding at the sight of someone holding ground. Disparate at first but slowly coming together, rallying to each other's aid.
"Look sharp, lads!" Keldam shouted with renewed vigor. "The topside dwellers still have some spark left! We fight on!"
With rekindled hearts, dwarves and natives joined their strength. Perhaps together they could tip the scales and show the Triad the spirit of freedom still blazed bright!
The assimilators advanced relentlessly, attempting to overwhelm the allied resistance through sheer numbers. But Keldam had battled tunnel worms bigger than these metal-wrapped wretches.
"Let's clear a path, lads!" he bellowed. The dwarves forged forward in a dense armored wedge formation, shields raised. Their heavy cannon pounded the enemy as the frontliners smashed through with their warhammers.
The natives followed in their wake, firing salvaged assimilator weapons at the forces trying to flank around. One youth fought using a broken assimilator arm like a club, putting its technology to righteous use. Though he gradually was overtaken by the tiny machines within and became one of the assimilators himself. Heat radiated from his body as molecular bonds were broken and reformed millions and then billions of times a second in the rapid conversion.
"NOOO!!" screamed the boy's father nearby, watching as the silvery black metal swarmed around the youth's body and muffled his cries. Nearby, similar scenes were occuring. The enemy bodies were proving nearly as dangerous as the enemy itself.
---
"We've broken their line - now split into attack columns!" Keldam commanded. "Flame units with me for the next push!"
The flamethrower dwarves bathed the assimilators in scorching blue plasma, melting their circuits and alloy frames. Keldam's suit channeled the heat into his own weapons, overcharging their damage potential.
"For Moltharum's glory!" he yelled, taking out a walker with a single fiery punch. Its core erupted in a shower of sparks and shrapnel.
But despite their efforts, fresh assimilators continuously emerged from the mechanized hive complexes looming in the poisoned skies above. It was a war of attrition they could not indefinitely withstand.
Their own forces were becoming assimilator forces far too frequently as well. Constant vigilance was required to slag every possible component to prevent feeding the enemy a new army.
Rondal analyzed the central tower projections from deep in his burrower. "Take down those spires disrupting comms and they lose coordination! Aim for the dark nodes near the top!"
Keldam rallied the artillery teams as the natives provided cover. "This blow may topple their hive! Ready... aim..."
A deafening synchronized volley struck the vital nexus points. With a groan of metal, the spires crashed down in flames. The Unity's signal dissolved into chaos across the battlefield.
"Now! While they're in disarray!" Keldam roared. "Bring that metal monster crumbling down!"
The allied forces pressed their reprieve relentlessly. They would give no quarter in this fight for their world and very souls. Though weary, freedom buoyed their every step.
The allied forces pressed on toward the central assimilation complex. With the communication spires down, the hive's defenses were in disarray. Keldam could smell victory on the wind.
As they fought through the outer layers, strange organic sacs pulsed along the walls. The dwarves' scanners detected humanoid shapes floating within the membranous cocoons.
"They're still alive in those pods!" Keldam bellowed. "Cut them loose and get them clear!" He would not leave potential allies captive to this nightmare.
They slashed open the nutrient tubes feeding into the pods, carefully extracting the unconscious figures. A few were revived with dwarf energy tonics, dazed but grateful for rescue.