The teams met up at Serv's position where they took Henderson's ammunition and weapons and medical supplies, said a few words to remember him by, another fallen hero. Making their way back through the long winding corridors of the jagged stone structure underground, they finally made their way into the daylight finding no aggression from any beasts. Carrying Henderson's dripping body, they laid him on the soft grass just before the tree line they had first fired upon the nest entrance. "Red Sector Zero-One, This is Red Seven-Three, we have placed our gas, we are about to neutralise. Standby for pick up, over." Jones said into her radio and didn't wait for a response, nodded at Serv who smiled whilst he pressed a fat red button, within a minute the roar of the fire echoed through the green trees and the ground rumbled as if struck by heavy artillery. Jones was satisfied by the large fire balls that erupted from the many hidden openings of the cliff face as well as the entrance they had just left. "Job well done lads! Let's go home, first drink is on me, and the second!" said Jones cheerfully. "Red Sector Zero-One, this is Red Seven-Three, we are ready to come home, ETA on the bird? Over." Jones face fell anxious. "Red Sector Zero-One, are you receiving?" nothing. "Hmm... must be maintenance day... or something." said Jones trying to hide the anxious look that had fallen upon her leathery face. They had decided to make the journey back to base on foot, they were to follow to same route they came in with.
They walked the many miles back meeting few creatures, hostile or friendly. The quake caused by their gas purge on the nest had scared a lot of them away, as they emerged from the thick ocean of trees, was when Jones saw the multiple pillars of smoke rising into the sky in the direction of Red Sector Zero-One. she tried her radio once more, nothing. Swearing aloud, she urged the soldiers to pick up the pace, their strides quickened and covered more ground as their hearts fell at the sight of the sinister smoke rising over the horizon.
The walls came into sight, Jones viewed their ruined forms through binoculars. She could make out the soldiers posts, unmanned, the gates, unmanned. The east gate, that they had come to was closed there was no way of opening the gate from this side, Jones knew that the Southern gate had the only manual external override, so they made for the south entrance, always keeping a good distance in case of any enemy troops that may take a potshot. The sun had began to descend and the light was fading by the time they set their eyes upon the south gate, the grassy bank that they laid on was slightly damp. Jones looked once more through her binoculars at Red Sector Zero-One, The Southern Gate was also closed, but it did indeed have the manual override switch on the outside pillar, Jones could see no sentries posted on the walls, tried her radio again, nothing. They approached the closed metal gate, only the distant fires beyond the wall could be heard, the smell of burning rubber and wood and many unthinkable things filled their nostrils, the stink was bearable to the veterans of the group, the greener soldiers wretched and coughed at the scents. The manual override switch stood with the left pillar of the gate, dirty and dusty, it had not been used since it was installed, usually, the gate was operated on the other side by the sentries. The light was now almost gone, the group activated their shoulder lights to show their way, Jack pressed some of the buttons on the switch and was glad to find it had power to its system. The gate was soon sliding open, rattling with a metallic clink as it rolled over the dusty ground, Jones leading the group entered the complex and was greeted by a bodiless but bloody battle ground.
"Rules of engagement, fire if fired upon, search for friendlies." said Lieutenant Jones as she signalled the soldiers to move forward. Theo raised his weapon and moved towards the first building, Jack covering him as he moved, reaching the wall, Jack followed and Theo turned and covered him. "Split in to teams of two, Theo, Jack, you make for the Armoury." said Jones as she split everybody into small teams. The base had been attacked by an unknown enemy, but they would cover more ground in smaller groups and split up. Jack moved in the direction of the armoury, Theo followed not far behind, they were close, maybe six hundred meters. The floors and building walls of the local structures had scorch marks, stains of blood and bullet holes littering their faces. The Armoury was not in better shape, its walls littered with small holes from the projectiles, blood dried upon dark metal walls, as they came to the door, they saw a shape laying on the ground, surrounded by a pool of blood. The legs lay protruding from the open door, long, skeletal and pale blue. Theo, breathing heavily, slowly took a closer look, the body was just as skeletal as its legs, laying on its back, its ribs contoured, stretching the skin to almost splitting point three holes had been plunged into its chest, killing shots from a rifle, the head was long and oval. "Pale bastards!" spat Jack as he clicked on his radio, "Lieutenant. We have a body here, we've been attacked by Gryph." Jones did not reply. Theo was knelt by the legs of the corpse, the room it lay into was small, a secondary door was shut that entered the armoury area, he was inspecting the body. Jack impatiently checked his weapon again as he walked towards the sealed door. "Theo, Jack, we have multiple reports of contacts, no weapons, they're attacking in close quarters. Be advised, keep distance. Have you received any contacts?" came Jones' ever crackly voice. "No, none yet, just the body of the weird looking Gryph at the armoury." said Theo as Jack forced the secondary door open. "Bugger me..." he said softly, his voice failing him. Theo looked up to see the armoury room smothered in a shroud of darkness, with dozens of glistening eyes, leering at them both. The hissing cut fear deep into their hearts. "Fire!" screamed Theo as he jumped to Jacks side, squeezing the trigger.