Chapter 10: Into the Fire
Morning arrived heavy with silence, the weight of anticipation pressing down on the base. In the briefing room, General Carson Brad stood tall, his back straight as holographic projections of a ravaged urban district flickered on the wall. His sharp gaze swept across the room, assessing the resolve on each face.
"This is your first real mission," the general began, his voice a deep rumble that seemed to add weight to the air. "Humanoids have taken control of this district, cutting off critical resources. Recovering those supplies is not an option. It is a necessity."
On the screen, images of the humanoids flashed in grim succession. Their biomechanical bodies were sleek and menacing, their limbs equipped with spinning circular saws, and a long, sharp metallic horn emerging from their foreheads. Designed to absorb conventional bullets, the horn was nearly indestructible, requiring high-caliber ammunition to penetrate. Retractable blades protruded from their forearms, completing their natural arsenal.
"Encounter one, and be quick. The lethal strike must come from heavy firepower. Nothing else will work," the general warned. "Your team will lead the assault. Neutralize the humanoids and secure the perimeter."
Ray listened with a clenched jaw. The images of the humanoids stirred painful memories, but the anger they sparked only sharpened his focus. Beside him, Mia adjusted her grenades on her belt, while Greg meticulously inspected the heavy machine gun—the only weapon capable of piercing the humanoid's protective horn.
The Transport and Landing
Inside the transport vehicle, silence reigned. The hum of the engine was the only sound, punctuated occasionally by the faint clinking of gear being checked. Through the ramp's small opening, the team could see the city's silhouette: collapsed buildings, streets choked with debris, and in the distance, humanoid silhouettes patrolling with mechanical precision.
"Thirty seconds to landing!" the pilot's voice crackled over the comms.
Ray double-checked his weapon, the weight of its inadequacy against the humanoids weighing heavily on him. Outside of Greg's 20mm machine gun and their explosive grenades, their lighter weapons would be nearly useless. They were merely a fragile barrier standing between humanity and these biomechanical monstrosities.
"Stick to formation, and don't scatter," Ray instructed, his voice calm but firm. "Our goal is to clear the path for the extraction team."
The transport descended quickly, kicking up clouds of dust and ash. The ramp dropped, and the team leaped out, forming a defensive semicircle. The air was thick with tension, the city seeming to breathe danger from every shadow.
The Ambush
The team moved cautiously through the narrow streets, each step measured. The ruined buildings loomed ominously, their broken facades a potential hiding place for humanoids. Mia suddenly froze, raising her hand.
"I heard something," she whispered, her sharp eyes locking onto a darkened alley ahead.
A metallic scraping sound echoed—a blade dragging against concrete. From the shadows, a humanoid emerged, nearly three meters tall, its spinning saws glowing faintly in the dim light. Its long, gleaming horn caught the faint sunlight, a chilling reminder of its imperviousness.
"Visual contact!" Ray shouted, raising his weapon.
The humanoid lunged before anyone could react, its speed breathtaking. Mia fired a few rounds, but the bullets ricocheted harmlessly off the creature's horn. Ray dove to the side, barely avoiding a spinning blade aimed for his chest.
"Greg!" Ray yelled. "Machine gun, now!"
Greg lifted the massive weapon and unleashed a barrage of 20mm rounds. The bullets tore through the air, striking the humanoid's horn. Sparks flew as the horn cracked, and the humanoid emitted a mechanical screech. Yet it pressed forward, its blades extending and slashing wildly.
"Fall back!" Ray ordered.
The team scattered, finding cover behind rubble. Mia lobbed a grenade, which detonated near the humanoid, blasting off its lower limbs. The creature collapsed but continued crawling, its spinning saws grinding against the concrete as it dragged itself forward.
Ray took a steadying breath and issued a final command. "Greg, finish it!"
The machine gun roared again, the high-caliber rounds tearing through the humanoid's torso until it fell silent.
A Horde Approaches
From the dark alley, the sound of more spinning blades and metallic footsteps echoed ominously. A new wave of humanoids was closing in, their numbers overwhelming.
"More incoming!" Ethan yelled, panic rising in his voice.
"Hold the line!" Ray barked. "Greg, cover the main street! Mia, take the right flank! Ethan, stay close to me!"
The humanoids charged in relentless waves. Mia fought with cold precision, dodging the slashing blades and throwing grenades that wreaked havoc among their ranks. Greg stood like an immovable wall, his machine gun shredding anything that approached.
Ethan moved clumsily, his wide eyes filled with terror. A humanoid lunged at him from the side, but Ray intercepted it, shoving Ethan to the ground just as the creature's blade passed overhead. In one swift motion, Ray tossed a grenade at the creature's horn, obliterating it.
"Focus, Ethan!" Ray shouted, pulling him to his feet. "You're doing fine. Keep shooting!"
The fight was chaos. The humanoids were many, their mechanical bodies seemingly tireless, while the team's endurance was quickly being drained. Finally, after what felt like hours, the last humanoid fell, its shattered body smoldering on the pavement.
The Depot
After catching their breath, the team pressed on toward their target: a massive depot. The building bore clear signs of conflict—broken doors, shattered windows, and debris scattered everywhere.
"Eyes open," Ray cautioned. "There could be more inside."
They entered cautiously, Greg taking the lead with his heavy weapon ready to fire. The depot was eerily quiet, though evidence of a recent battle was everywhere. The floor was littered with humanoid remains, but tracks in the dust indicated others were still lurking.
"Find the supplies and secure the area," Ray ordered.
The team worked quickly, but the silence was deceptively comforting. From the dark recesses of the depot, a metallic screech shattered the calm.
"They've found us!" Mia shouted, raising her weapon.
From the shadows, another wave of humanoids charged forward.
The Final Battle
The creatures emerged with terrifying speed, their saws spinning and their horns glinting like deadly spears. The first humanoid lunged directly at Greg, its spinning blade aiming for his head. Greg fired his machine gun, the high-caliber rounds shattering the horn and tearing into its body. The humanoid fell at his feet, lifeless.
"They're everywhere!" Ethan screamed, panic creeping into his voice.
"Hold your ground!" Ray shouted. "Mia, grenades at the entrance! Greg, protect Ethan!"
Mia lobbed two grenades toward the doorway, yelling, "Fire in the hole!" The explosions rocked the building, taking out several humanoids. But for every one destroyed, more seemed to appear, their biomechanical bodies vaulting over obstacles with predatory agility.
Ray Takes Charge
Realizing they couldn't simply hold their position, Ray devised a desperate plan. "We need to split them up!" he yelled. "Mia, with me! Greg, hold this position with Ethan!"
Without waiting for a response, Ray and Mia darted deeper into the depot, weaving between stacks of crates. Their goal was simple but risky: draw some of the humanoids away and pick them off one by one.
"Think this will work?" Mia asked, crouching behind a pile of metal containers.
"We don't have a choice," Ray replied, loading a fresh magazine. "Get ready."
A humanoid spotted them quickly, leaping toward them with a piercing screech. Mia fired, her bullets striking its leg and slowing it down. As the creature stumbled, Ray hurled a grenade at its horn, the explosion reducing it to shrapnel.
The Last Stand
Meanwhile, Greg and Ethan held their ground against the relentless assault. Greg's machine gun roared, but the barrel was beginning to overheat. "I'm running low on ammo!" he shouted.
Ethan, trembling, tried to focus. Spotting a humanoid charging at them, he aimed for a joint in its leg. The bullet struck true, and the creature collapsed. Encouraged, Ethan steadied himself, firing more accurately.
"Good work, kid!" Greg shouted, shoving another humanoid aside with his weapon like a battering ram.
A Bitter Victory
At last, the humanoid assault began to wane. Ray and Mia returned, having cleared the depot's interior. Greg and Ethan stood amidst a pile of broken humanoid bodies, bloodied but alive.
"Everyone in one piece?" Ray asked, scanning the team.
"More or less," Greg replied, wiping a cut on his arm. "We're still standing."
Ethan nodded shakily, a glimmer of resolve in his eyes. "We did it."
Mia sat on a crate, exhausted but managing a faint smile. "Mission complete. Supplies are here."
Ray nodded, pride flickering behind his grim expression. "It was just one battle. But we proved we can win."
As the team signaled their success, Ray gazed out past the depot toward the ruined cityscape. He knew this was only the beginning. The fight for survival had just begun.