Now

“Hey guys, just had an idea,” Cal said.

The holographic projections of Tides, Loaming, Riverport, and Mechanica shared a look of alarm, though at varying degrees of discernibility.

Cal suppressed a grin. “Don’t worry, it’s nothing crazy. Just a tiny bit of clarification,” he held up his thumb and forefinger close together.

“We will attempt to fulfill our tasks as always,” Interrogator Ebbing Tides 2337 said, as the other three gave slight nods.

“Right, good to hear, but first I’d like to thank all of you on the great job putting together the supply line for the team. It really allowed them to maximize their time out in the field. They’re really clearing through the place at a good rate with only a few hiccups. I was wondering if you received Quests… I mean Tasks, in regard to that whole thing and if you got rewards?”

“I can only speak for myself, for it is not customary among the Threnosh to share details of the sacred Tasks.”

Cal tried not to chuckle at the hidden reproach in Tides’ voice. They were getting pretty good at that.

“I have indeed received Universal Points for partial completion. It is stated that more will be granted upon further advancement. Successful completion of the entire Task will yield the final amount. Designation: Honor, I must request your forbearance in the matter of the specific number of points.”

Cal wanted to laugh at the graveness in the interrogator’s voice. Then he reminded himself not to be a dick. “Don’t worry, your points and what you do with them is your business.” He regarded the other three. “Same for you guys?”

“Correct,” Interrogator Ethereal Loaming 5623 said.

“Yes, Designation: Honor,” Fabricator Riverport 11725 inclined their head.

“I have the same experience, Honor,” Engineer Verdant Mechanica 3581 said.

“Good to hear. So, to my question. Do you know where the Universal Points from kills made by the drones and automated turrets go?”

“We—” Interrogator Ebbing Tides 2337 began before Cal cut them off with a raised hand.

“I know, but I’m not a Threnosh, so technically it’s not a problem to tell me.”

“As I was about to state. We do not have access to that information.”

“And who would?”

“A Threnosh with command authority, perhaps,” Interrogator Ethereal Loaming 5623 said.

“You may inquire with Prime Custodian 3,” Engineer Verdant Mechanica 3581 suggested.

“I don’t want to bother PC3 with what might be a trivial matter.” Cal left out that he had already tried and Prime Custodian 3 hadn’t replied in a couple of days. Was he being ghosted?

“I may have an answer,” Fabricator Riverport 11725 said.

The two interrogators’ holographic projections turned to look at the fabricator. Cal stifled another laugh. If looks could kill, Riverport was going to be in trouble.

“I officially request that you continue Fabricator Riverport 11725,” Cal said. With it made official none could find fault with Riverport for answering, technically.

“I am acquainted with drone operators and they have stated that they received Universal Points for killing invasive organisms.”

“Does direct control matter? Or do they receive points if they merely set the patrol and engagement parameters and leave the execution to the drone’s virtual intelligence?”

“I do not know.”

“Thanks Riverport, that’s useful info,” Cal sighed. “So, as you know the mantisors tend to leave the supply caches alone for some reason. They only attack moving drones or if they’re fired on first. Even then it seems random whether they leave the crates alone or not. Projections indicate that the team will clear the staging area for the next phase of the plan within the week. We will assault the hive directly. There are currently no signs of mantisors in the already cleared areas. However, we can’t assume that will remain the case. We don’t want more monsters spawning and coming to the hive’s aid. That’d leave us surrounded.”

“You intend to implement a tactic to keep the cleared areas free of invasive organisms,” Interrogator Ethereal Loaming 5623 said.

Cal smiled. They were a sharp one. “Actually, I was planning on giving you four that task.”

“Explain… Designation: Honor,” Interrogator Ebbing Tides 2337 said with a little bit of an edge to their voice.

“Drones and automated turrets,” Cal said. “I want the cleared areas flooded with them. If mantisors spawn they’ll be kept busy enough so that they won’t be able to come directly to the hive’s aid.”

“Those parameters can be easily set,” Engineer Verdant Mechanica 3581 said. The look on their face suggested confusion. It was a little hard for Cal to tell. He didn’t know them that well.

“True, but then who gets the points? My idea maximizes the point gathering efficiency. The four of you will all take time out of your schedules to directly control the drones and turrets. This way you get more points. Everyone wins!”

“But we are not authorized to control drones and turrets,” Fabricator Riverport 11725 said.

“We lack the knowledge,” Interrogator Ethereal Loaming 5623 added.

Cal’s fingers danced across his PID.

The holographic projections of all four Threnosh looked down in unison.

“You have just granted us authorization to use the drone training simulation programs,” Interrogator Ebbing Tides 2337 said flatly.

“Don’t forget the automated weapons program,” Cal said. “I do have the authority. Anything that furthers the aims of this project… within reason.”

“How much of our drone and turret count will we be using?” The ever practical engineer spoke.

“All of them.”

“But—”

“Don’t worry. I expect we’ll lose a lot of them for this particular task,” Cal said. “We can always get more.”

“How? We have received our allotment for this cycle,” Engineer Verdant Mechanica 3581 said.

“You have all the equipment you need to make them, we can get the raw materials ourselves. I believe that there are untapped streams of all sorts of metal ores in the surrounding mountains.” Cal took in the looks of concern growing on the fabricator’s and engineer’s faces. So he took pity on them. “Or we can purchase drones and turrets from the spire. They’re of better quality, as spire-produced versions tend to be.”

“The cost,” Interrogator Ebbing Tides 2337 said.

“Is not a concern. At least after we clear the hive and defeat the boss monsters. There’ll be plenty of Universal Points.”

What Cal didn’t add was that he intended to cleanse the spawn point. Bring it under their control and turn it into the perfect place to farm points. Eventually, he’d figure out how to bring the rest of the Threnosh into the concept, while charging a nominal fee from the Collective for access. The latter goal was admittedly a long shot.

At worst he’d just set a small tax on all Universal Points earned in the zone. Since that was something overseen by the spire there was nothing anyone could do to stop it outside of somehow compelling him to rescind the tax. As far as he could tell there was no one and nothing on this world that was capable of making him do that.

“Don’t look so worried, guys. Think of this as just another opportunity to gain new knowledge,” Cal said. “In my world people love cross-training.”

After their first several days in the spawn zone they had enough data to create a plan they were confident with. Honor stayed out of it for the most part letting the team handle the specifics of the daily tactical plan, while keeping control over the larger strategic plan.

Drone surveillance indicated that whenever they started operations mantisors in a roughly ten mile radius would move to their position and attack. Thus they worked their way closer to the hive location in an ever tightening circle. They stuck to the forested areas as the southern open grassland was largely devoid of the invasive organisms due to the overwatch provided by the automated turrets on the wall.

By the same token the mountain range to the north was a harsh terrain that was also sparsely populated. Mostly with the mantisor flier variant.

With each day they grew closer to their ultimate goal.

The team was gathered at their furthest resupply cache site.

“The next battle will take place within the projected area of the hive’s influence. We must be ready for a more difficult defense. Honor’s projections indicate we may face stronger mantisors and the variants,” Caretaker said.

Primal made a noise.

“Do you disagree with that assessment?” Caretaker stared up at the hulking, eight foot tall power armor.

“You lend unearned credence to Honor’s words. Do you forget that he is an outworld invader?”

“Honor has guided us to greater strength,” Kynnro said.

“To his own ends,” Primal said. “We gain strength, but who truly benefits? Do not forget that we exist to serve the purposes of those above us. Honor is no different. He will use us as his plans require. What then when we are no longer part of those plans?”

“My strength grows and I desire more,” Shira said. “Your words are meaningless to my purpose.”

“Primal, you are no longer under the jurisdiction of your former leader. Have you not read the terms of Honor’s project?” Caretaker challenged.

“I have.”

“Then you know that upon successful completion of this initial phase, we will be granted unprecedented autonomy.”

“Caretaker is correct,” Frequency said. “We will be only answerable to a Prime and the Collective. Even Honor will only claim to advise us.”

“Yes,” Kynnro said. “He does not seek control like the others we have served under.”

“I hear your words,” Primal said. “However, I still state that it is a miscalculation to trust an outworld invader blindly.”

“Honor has not directed us improperly,” Caretaker said.

“It has only been a short time. The true test of his intent will be revealed upon the end of the initial phase.”

“Enough inefficient words,” Shira said. “Do we not have the next step to discuss?”

“Primal, do you wish to continue this line of discussion?”

“I do not, Caretaker… for now.”

“Very well. Once the drones establish our next supply cache we will travel to the location and begin engagement measures. However, in light of the possibility that we will be inside the hive’s influence added caution will be taken. We will reduce the initial aggro drawing radius,” Caretaker looked to Shira. “You will draw aggro this time. However, you will not traverse further than one hundred meters from the defense site. In addition, we will deploy multiple drones and automated turrets to bolster our defense.”

“That means there will be less Universal Points for us,” Primal said.

Caretaker nodded. “A necessary loss for the overall goal.”

“Will the drones and turrets be under direct control?”

“Yes, Kynnro.”

“Then they better stay out of my way or strike me in the back,” Primal said.

“According to Honor—”

Primal made a sound, but didn’t say a word.

Caretaker continued. “—They run through training simulations when not performing necessary duties. I have also reviewed the data from their initial missions in patrolling the areas we have already cleared. I calculate that their performance will be adequate to our purpose.”

“Patrolling empty areas and running training simulations is not comparable to live combat. In addition, our team has not worked with them. I have concerns,” Frequency said.

“The earliest areas we cleared have already begun respawning invasive organisms. They have live combat experience. As to your latter point. I concede. However, the drones and turrets will be necessary in the event that we are forced to withdraw. Without the added support the probability that we will be overwhelmed rises to an unacceptable level.”

“Honor will not let that happen,” Kynnro said.

“He will only intervene in the worst case scenario. There stands the probability that we suffer losses in that event.”

“I do not share your concerns, Caretaker,” Primal said. “These mantisors have yet to lay a scythe on my trueskin. We will continue to shred through them.”

Caretaker frowned, but said nothing. It was better to be confident before a battle. To be scared and uncertain meant you had already lost before it had even begun. However, all their studies and experiences had taught them that there was such a thing as too much confidence.

The forest was awash in a cacophony of violence.

Caretaker was grateful for the automatic noise dampening features in their helmet. Sounds that distracted, like the incessant chittering from the mantisors, were relegated to the background. They could focus on more important things. Like calls from the rest of their team and giving out orders.

“Primal, switch with Frequency.”

The majority of the attack came from the northern position. Through quadrants 270 to 360 and 0 to 90. Caretaker occupied the former, while Frequency held the latter. Frequency’s sound attack was effective, but took time to affect the mantisors. They were having difficulty keeping up with the numbers.

“Shira, hold the quadrant for the switch.”

The Threnosh made a strange sound that had Caretaker reflexively glancing in their direction before they snapped their focus back to their own quadrant. They swept their gimbal-mounted minigun with precise bursts across their quadrant. Impossibly accurate fire cut the mantisors into immobile pieces. The combat algorithm kept the monsters from reaching their position.

“Kynnro, fire cloud in Primal’s quadrant.”

The sleekly armored Threnosh complied without a word and set the space on fire.

By the time the flaming cloud dispersed, Frequency was in place to lay down their field of liquefying sound waves. The mantisors on fire now felt their insides vibrate until they were goo.

“Assistance required!” Kynnro’s high voice climb even higher as the mantisors in their quadrant took advantage of the momentary distraction to near their position. A burning bright laser cut one in half, but that left two others and the laser needed a few seconds to recharge.

“Shira!” Caretaker fought to keep their attention focused on the ones they faced. They would have to trust in their teammates.

Shira’s reply was very much like a hiss. The black-clad Threnosh blurred into the mantisors right before they reached Kynnro.

Shira tore into the mantisors faster than the rest of their teammates could follow. The mantisors struck back, but they were slower and the damage they inflicted on Shira’s armor repaired itself as it drank in the monsters’ blood.

The respite was momentary for the team. They were still in danger of being overwhelmed.

“Deploy drones and turrets,” Caretaker said.

“Acknowledged.” Interrogator Ebbing Tides 2337’s voice came in over the communications system.

In the supply area at the center of the Threnosh’s formation, automated turrets came to life. Roughly half the size of a baseline infantry power armored Threnosh, a single turret featured a minigun and thousands of rounds of ammunition. It rolled on a continuous track system made for a wide range of different terrain.

Two turrets for each quadrant rolled out into position.

Caretaker stepped back behind them. “Fall back to the center.”

“No, I do not require aid,” Primal said. Safely ensconced behind their massive power armor the Threnosh continued to rain projectiles and grenades on the attacking mantisors. Any that made it through the devastation was smashed with massive metal fists.

Caretaker frowned. “Support Primal, freely fire in the rest of the quadrants.”

“Acknowledged.” The voice came back through the comms.

The automated turrets spun to life and raked fire into the oncoming mantisors.

Drones strafed the monsters from above.

“There are many more than our previous battles,” Kynnro said.

“We must re-assess our tactical plan,” Caretaker said.

“Caretaker, I must re-engage. My strength must grow. Their blood must flow into me.” Shira ignored them.

Caretaker shook their head.

“But Primal still fights.” Shira’s voice was almost a growl.

“If we are overrun we risk losing all of our progress to date. If Honor is forced to intervene, he may not allow us to face this challenge again until we are stronger,” Caretaker said.

“Is that not the proper course? If we are currently too weak, then should we not grow stronger.” Frequency’s voice was calm and clear.

“Yessss.” Shira’s gaze bored into Caretaker.

“A week remains before others join the project. We must set the right path for those behind us to follow.” What Caretaker didn’t say was that they didn’t want to give the newcomers a chance to surpass them in Honor’s eyes. “We will fall back to our previous position. Take a moment to rest.”

The moment ended when several somethings dropped into the center of their position from high up in the trees.

Mantisors, except thinner, with sleek carapaces, almost fragile-looking. They descended with loud buzzing from thin, membranous wings.

One lashed at Caretaker’s head with a scythe-like forelimb. The predictive algorithm saved their life, showed them the path of the descending scythe and where to block.

Caretaker thrust his minigun out. The mantisor’s scythe cut through one of the barrels, but was stopped by the rest. They twisted their gun and forced the mantisor to the ground. The hard metal of their power armor cracked the carapace. It was significantly more fragile than the standard variant.

With one forelimb stuck in Caretaker’s gun and the other pinned to the ground, the mantisor was helpless as the Threnosh punched it in the face with a metal-clad fist until its head was pulp.

Nearby, Frequency fell to their back while reflexively throwing up a sound wave with an intensity driven by panic. This combined with the mantisor flier’s fragility meant that in a split second the monster’s fluids flowed freely from hundreds of fractures all over its carapace as it lay still on the forest floor.

Weakened by the exertion, Frequency struggled to their feet in desperation.

They needn’t have been concerned. For Shira had torn most of the remaining mantisor fliers to pieces before they could go on the attack. All except for one.

This one had latched on to Kynnro’s back and was in the process of slashing the hard pack containing the ashen cloud substance to shreds.

“Aid is required!” Kynnro’s voice was extremely high as they struggled helplessly beneath the mantisor. Their power armor lacked additional strength enhancements. Which meant that they weren’t any stronger than a human their size, which in this case meant a child in between the ages of eight and ten.

A slash or two more and the monster would reach Kynnro’s fragile body.

Caretaker didn’t let that happen. One precise shot from his recoilless rifle exploded the mantisor fliers head.

“Tactical withdrawal,” Caretaker said. They shed the ruined gimbal-mounted minigun and ammunition pack before hurrying over to help Kynnro do the same to their destroyed hard pack.”

“Wait, I must not leave it,” Kynnro said.

“You may purchase another or perhaps the engineer and fabricator can create a duplicate.” Caretaker frowned. “Primal, we are withdrawing.”

Primal still fought in his quadrant, heedless of what had transpired behind him.

“Primal, I shall contact Honor.” Caretaker didn’t like hearing those words coming out of their mouth, but there was no choice. They were on the verge of disaster. “I require you to provide transport for Frequency and Kynnro.”

Primal grumbled but they slowly backed away from the mantisors assaulting their position. Their minigun spat and their grenade launcher barked every step of the way until they reached Caretaker and the rest.

The Threnosh brought his massive metal hands low to the ground and held them open palm up. “Climb on.”

“Withdraw to our previous position,” Caretaker said.

“Acknowledged,” Primal said.

As soon as Frequency and Kynnro were in his palms, Primal took off. Their steps shook the ground as they melted out of sight into the forest.

“Shira, you and I will provide rearguard.”

“If you leave me, I will kill them all,” Shira said. Their eyes seemed to burn red through the lenses of their helmet.

Caretaker chalked it up to the small fires burning around them.

“No. Will you challenge my orders like Primal?”

For a moment it seemed as if Shira was going to do just that.

With one last lingering look at the carnage around them, Shira seemed to deflate just a little. “No.”

“Drones and turrets will delay the mantisors at all costs,” Caretaker said into his comms.

“Acknowledged, however we are down to thirty percent of our drones,” Interrogator Ebbing Tides 2337 said.

“The flying variant is adept at taking them out of the air,” Interrogator Ethereal Loaming 5623 said.

Caretaker turned to look at the battle and sure enough a drone was in the middle of a strafing run when a mantisor flier swooped down from a tree branch and sliced it apart with its scythe-like forelimbs.

“Understood, do what you can,” Caretaker said.

They and Shira turned and ran after the rest of their team.

It wasn’t a complete disaster, but it was close. Much too close.

Their first step into the hive influenced area was met with nearly overwhelming numbers and the deployment of the flying variant. They had yet to see the heavy variant. What else awaited them as they moved closer to their goal? Were they even capable of continuing further or was Honor’s aid required?

No. That would be a failure that Caretaker wasn’t going to allow.

“Drone complement in the spawn zone is depleted. Fixed turrets are available at supply cache sites. However, at current mantisor density they will prove insufficient,” Interrogator Ebbing Tides 2337 said.

Something about the interrogator’s flat voice made Caretaker want to reach through the comms and strangle them. They pushed the feeling down. They reminded themselves that it must not be. The nearly uncontrollable anger that was not supposed to be present in a proper Threnosh.

“Understood. We will require immediate extraction,” Caretaker said.

“Heavy transport is unavailable,” Interrogator Ebbing Tides 2337 said.

The anger bubbled and threatened to erupt out of Caretaker until a dreaded, yet welcomed voice came through the comms.

“What’s your closest supply site,” Honor said.

Caretaker consulted the readout projected in their face-plate’s display. “Site five. We are nine point two seven minutes out.”

“Alright, I’ll be there, take care of yourselves,” Honor said.

“Acknowle—”

“Contact!”

Shira’s voice cut through all the noise, physical and mental that Caretaker had been dealing with.

They turned to the location that Shira had transmitted. The coordinates were highlighted in their display.

Caretaker dropped to one knee and raised their recoilless rifle. Their predictive algorithm guided their shots. Three head shots in quick succession. The mantisors ran on for a few dozen yards before their bodies caught up to their dead brains and dropped to the ground.

“More!”

“Location?”

“Everywhere!”

Shira sounded excited.

“Do not engage!” Caretaker turned and ran after Primal’s thudding footsteps. “Shira, I repeat, do not engage. Form up on me.”

There was no answer. Caretaker thought for a moment that Shira had disobeyed. They were about to turn around when a dark blur quickly caught up to them and fell into stride next to them.

“Understood and acknowledged,” Shira said. “I calculate they will catch up to us well before we reach the extraction site.”

“I concur,” Caretaker said. They stopped and turned and fired a burst before continuing to run. Somewhere in the forest three more mantisors died.

“If you let me I can—” Shira began.

“No.”

“We must turn and fight,” Primal’s voice came in over the comms. “I do not run and running in this scenario is pointless. If we turn and fight. We may give Honor time to reach us.”

“No,” Caretaker said again. They looked back as they ran. Thought about what they wanted to accomplish and let the combat algorithm work. A few seconds later a ghostly overlay appeared in their vision. “Primal, I am sending you coordinates. On my mark launch a spread of grenades targeting them in sequence.”

“Yes,” Primal said.

Caretaker waited until the algorithm told them it was time. “Mark.”

Primal’s grenade launcher barked several times. The grenades flew in an arc over Caretaker and Shira as they ran.

The explosions came a few seconds later right in the midst of the front mass of pursuing mantisors.

“How many did I kill?”

“You can count your points in the spire,” Shira said. They looked back. “I can see them. Many are dead and incapacitated. The rest are confused. I calculate that we will arrive at the extraction site at the same time that they will catch up to us.”

Caretaker looked back and let the algorithm do its work. “I concur.”

A sudden chime sounded in Caretaker’s ear holes. Words filled their ears and text filled their vision. They almost stumbled.

Task Received.

Survive.

Success Parameters: Survival.

Failure Parameters: Death.

Reward: 1000 Universal Points.

You will accept.

“Impossible.”

“What is this?” Shira nearly stumbled alongside Caretaker.

Caretaker’s thoughts were jumbled. This was the first Task that they directly received from the god— spires. The scant number of Tasks that they had received in the past had always been initiated by someone else. The Prime and more frequently, Honor.

“Did everyone receive the same task?” Caretaker spoke into their comms.

“Yes,” Primal said.

Kynnro and Frequency echoed the same.

“Then we must survive,” Caretaker said.

Shira blurred around Caretaker, as the latter fired desperately into the mass of mantisors.

Torn monster parts dotted the space around the Threnosh, but they were trapped. In an effort to slow down their pursuers to give the other three the time to reach the extraction point, they were about to be overwhelmed.

“Flee, Caretaker, I will hold them!” Shira hissed.

Caretaker did not reply it was taking all of their concentration to follow the frantic instructions their predictive algorithm was blasting to all their senses in an attempt to keep them alive.

Two shots to the right.

Two mantisor heads burst.

Drop to one knee.

Avoided the scything forelimb by mere inches.

Spin and fi— dive to the left. Let Shira handle it.

Burst fire. There, there, there. Fall back three steps, quickly. Burst fire.

Their recoilless rifle spat out.

“Caretaker!” Shira’s voice was a hiss in the comms. “You will die if you do not flee now!”

“I—”

Do not move.

Caretaker obeyed.

A thousand projectiles raked either side of Caretaker and Shira. Grenades thumped beyond their position. Mantisors died by the dozens.

“Fall back.” Primal’s voice came in over the comms as their power armor thundered toward the pair.

“Primal—” Caretaker began.

“Frequency and Kynnro will reach the extraction point in two minutes. I will commence a fighting withdrawal,” Primal said.

Caretaker was about to protest, but Shira grabbed their arm and roughly pulled them up then pushed them toward the extraction point until they started running.

It wasn’t until they were already halfway to the extraction point did Caretaker realize that Shira wasn’t running with them.

Caretaker was chased by the sounds of battle. Several times they were tempted to turn around, but pragmatism kept them running forward. There was nothing they could have done at this point. Only add themselves to the losses.

Shira was likely to survive. Their speed, strength and ability to self-repair would keep them alive. There was no shortage of blood for their trueskin to feast on.

Primal was questionable. Their trueskin was covered in thick armor, but they were not invulnerable to being swarmed. With enough time and bodies the mantisors would be able to cut their way through.

As soon as Caretaker reached the extraction point they were greeted by Honor descending from somewhere above in the darkness of the fallen night.

“Where are the other two?”

Caretaker saw Honor’s serious expression through his helmet’s translucent face-plate. A rare sight that made them concerned for Shira and Primal.

“They are slowing the mantisors.”

Honor sighed. “Of course they did.” He looked out into the dark forest. In the direction of the missing two. “Good. They’re still fighting.” He nodded at Caretaker. “Resupply, quickly. Then we’ll pick Shira and Primal up and be on our way.”

Caretaker hurriedly grabbed more ammunition from the supply crates. They noticed that Kynnro and Frequency were now armed with the same type of recoilless rifle.

“All set,” Honor said. “Try to relax. Imagine you are riding in one of your flying transports.”

Without further explanation Caretaker suddenly felt themselves being lifted into the air. They looked around in a vain attempt to discern what was happening. The looks on both Kynnro and Frequency mirrored their own.

Caretaker looked to Honor. He was standing, except there was nothing but air beneath his feet. One gauntleted hand was pointed in their direction. It was held in a cupped position as if it was carrying something.

“Try not to move too much, makes it harder for me. I’ll point you in the right directions. All you have to do is pick your shots. No reason not to get more points,” Honor said. There was something off about his voice. It lacked the usual relaxed tone.

“We will comply,” Caretaker said as they gave Kynnro and Frequency a look. They hoped the other two would be able to comply. For they were having a difficult time accepting what was occurring. The scanners in their helmet indicated nothing that could explain Honor hauling them all through the air. However, the sensor package of the baseline infantry power armor was neither the most powerful nor precise.

Caretaker suddenly felt their body being turned to face a section of the forest floor, some two hundred feet below. A glance to either side of them revealed that Kynnro and Frequency were directed to different areas.

“Get ready,” Honor said.

They flew faster and in a matter of seconds they reached Shira and Primal.

The former was nowhere in sight, though Caretaker surmised that with the darkness of the environment it would be difficult to spot a black-colored blur rushing about. There were certainly enough scattered mantisor bodies and parts to mark Shira’s passage.

Primal, however, was easy to spot. Their power armor was mobbed by dozens of mantisors. Their mounted weaponry had since been destroyed and they were reduced to pulling and swatting at the invasive organisms with their metal hands.

Caretaker focused on Primal’s position and let their predictive algorithm guide their shots. They emptied their magazine to give Primal some space.

The surface armor on Primal’s stomach slid open to reveal twenty-one barrels. They turned to face the largest mass of attacking mantisors and fired repeatedly until the large swath of space in front of them was cleared. No more mantisors, trees, bushes, everything was gone.

“Nice job, Primal,” Honor said through the comms. “Play time is over. Time to go.”

“I am not finished,” Primal said hotly.

As they spoke more mantisors appeared out of the darkness. On the ground the standard variants numbered in the hundreds swarmed toward Primal. Through the air, flitting from branch to branch many dozens of the flier variant focused their attack on the four hovering in the air.

Honor swung his free hand through the air. The mantisor fliers tumbled to the ground, as if they were swatted by an invisible force.

Caretaker had his suspicions on what Honor was capable of from their sparring sessions and other random displays. To see him in action on the field of battle was something else. Now they truly realized why an outworld invader had the ear of Prime Custodian 3. It explained much of why the Collective had agreed to Honor’s project in the first place. Did they fear him?

Honor’s frown was visible through the translucent face-plate. He narrowed his eyes at Primal, who was once again about to be buried in mantisors. Slowly, the massive power armor began to lift up into the air. The mantisors that were able to cling to them were violently flung away.

“Shira, get up here, now.”

Honor’s words were strained. Perhaps, he was reaching the limits of his powerful ability.

A black blur sliced its way through the mantisors on the ground. Thin streams of blood trailed after it in its wake. Shira jumped and landed on Primal.

As Primal and Shira were pulled next to the other Threnosh, Honor swatted another mass of mantisors attempting to reach them.

“Okay, now we’re leaving. Weapons free. And Kynnro, feel free to use your laser. I no longer care if we set this forest on fire.”