“Did anyone see what it was?”
“No.”
“Angulo, report!”
“Captain, the magnetic field response is gone. The target seems to have optical camouflage but no thermal signature,” Angulo replied.
“Two of you, check it out!” Hasmu ordered, shaking off his own unease and pointing to two team mbers.
The soldiers nodded without hesitation and prepared to step out of the formation.
“Wait! Captain, I’m detecting multiple lifeforms approaching!”
“More bats?”
“No! They’re coming from the ground… wait, they’re on the walls too,” Angulo said, suddenly looking up. “And the ceiling! Watch out, they’re coming!”
“Check your equipnt! Defensive formation! Fire two more flares!” Hasmu bellowed. The team quickly checked their weapons, replaced energy sources, and aid from behind their makeshift cover.
Two flares arced into the air, reigniting the dim cavern with brilliant light. Wisps of smoke rose from the ground, accompanied by a burnt odor. Despite the helts’ integrated filters, the stench was nauseating.
As the rustling noises grew louder, the team finally saw their attackers.
They were bizarre insect-like creatures about 40 centiters in size, resembling oversized spiders with four pairs of robust legs. The front two pairs were mutated into blade-like appendages.
Encased in tallic exoskeletons that shimred under the light, the bugs exuded lethality. Just from their appearance, it was evident they were adept at stabbing attacks.
Hasmu eyed the blade-legs, which were 30-40 centiters long, and realized the danger. If these creatures got too close, the soldiers’ protective suits would offer little defense.
The bugs were small but agile, capable of moving effortlessly across the slick cavern walls and even leaping considerable distances. Their segnted legs were paired with mbranous wings, enabling short glides that made their movents even more erratic and unpredictable.
“Attack!” Hasmu ordered preemptively, opening fire from 300 ters away. Red beams lanced through the air.
Almost imdiately, the team realized a horrifying truth—these bugs could dodge bullets.
Their physiology allowed them to dart laterally in quick bursts, while their four dynamic eyes offered exceptional motion tracking. Though the narrow terrain and sheer numbers ant so were still hit, they were far more troubleso than the bats.
Within seconds, the bugs had closed the gap to just 50 ters.
“Conis, can you reach the ship yet?” Hasmu yelled. Since the bat attack, he had been urging the communications officer to call for backup, but the underground interference and unknown magnetic fields rendered their equipnt useless.
Conis shook his head, despair evident on his face.
“Damn it!” Hasmu cursed. “Bring out the flathrowers! Use up all the fuel! Maintain formation and retreat! Save whoever you can!”
Flas roared to life as twin columns of fire erupted once more. The elite squad fought a tactical retreat, but the diminishing oxygen made breathing increasingly difficult.
“Switch to oxygen tanks! Save yourselves!” Hasmu ordered.
Just as the soldiers adjusted their tanks, Angulo, trembling and pale, pointed at his instrunt. “Captain… they’re everywhere. We’re surrounded…”
Hasmu glanced at the screen. Red dots sward every side, eliminating any escape route.
“Damn it, this is a trap!” he growled.
“Sneva, take ten n and cut a path through the rear! Cover Conis!”
“Yes, Captain!” Sneva, a towering Riken, saluted and led his team toward the rear.
“Conis!”
“Captain?”
“We’ll cover you. Get this information back to the ship. Let the captain know what’s down here. If we die, avenge us!”
“Yes, sir!” Conis replied, his voice quivering but resolute. He saluted, hoisted his communication gear, and sprinted away.
A bloodcurdling scream cut through the air.
With Sneva and his group retreating, a section of their line faltered, allowing several bugs to breach their defenses. One leaped forward, its bladed leg piercing a soldier’s visor.
The soldier’s agonized scream was followed by a violent collapse. Blood trickled from the damaged visor as his body twitched, then stilled.
A nearby comrade rushed to his side, yanking the bug off and pinning it to the ground with a tactical knife.
“Emil! Emil!” he cried, shaking the fallen soldier. Frantically, he removed the visor to reveal a lifeless blue face, frozen in an expression of disbelief.
A gaping wound ran from the side of Emil’s nose to the back of his skull. Even with the Riken’s advanced dical technology, such an injury was beyond saving.
This was the squad’s first casualty, but it wouldn’t be the last. The grim reality weighed on them, though they were seasoned elites who had accepted the possibility of death long ago. Yet, facing it was another matter entirely.
“Damn it!” Hasmu roared, his frustration boiling over. “Throw grenades! Let these bugs taste our little presents!”
Previously, Hasmu had avoided using grenades, fearing the massive shockwaves would destabilize the cavern. But with the narrow passage offering little room to maneuver, he abandoned caution.
Explosions rocked the cave. Shards of rock flew in every direction, their unpredictable trajectories causing more damage to the bugs than the grenades themselves.
Yet, it was too late. The dense smoke and debris obscured vision, hindering both sides.
Screams echoed through the chaos.
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