Elder of Sera: Arrival (Pillar 1)

Act 1.3-Contradictory

"People only Live one life; but we die many times over"

-Overlord Null 

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Harper Ikosin, Settlement 2 Evacuation

"Last one! Everyone Alright?" I called out after the last few Swarm Drones were cleared at this checkpoint. Frai was grazed in the shoulder pad, but didn't take any injury. Halz though after running out of ammo just charged at a Drone that fired at least half a mag into him and he tore its lancer out from its hand, killing it with its own weapon. Greihound and Rose were also fine. There were a few C.O.G soldiers still left over at this checkpoint.

"Yeah, we're good. Thanks for the assistance" The Checkpoint Captain shook my hand, while Halz walked back to us with a few bullets stuck in his armor. "The hell are you wearing? Tank Armor plating?"

"Actually, its Brunak hide covered in molten metal," Halz joked even though it sure as hell seemed like it. The Captain just nodded and handed him three Lancer GL Mags. "Oh NOW Someone hands me ammo?"

"Hey, at least you got some ammo for later. Captain, you should get your guys outta here" I suggested seeing the next convoy coming in. "This the last convoy coming through this area?"

"Yes it is." The captain replied. Our sarge seemed to agree with my idea, ordering them to hop on with the Evac Trucks if possible as some civilians were escorted out of a restaurant building. I watched them get the Civies onto the trucks before they followed in, and the trucks took off out of sight.

"This place is just hell..." Rose said. She wasn't wrong, there was smoke and ash in the air, and most of the settlement was in ruins, while we had Evac Convoys going in, getting civilians, leaving and not returning. Even King Ravens were flying overhead in formation either gunning down the Swarm, or getting the hell out with what civilians they have.

"<This is KR-018, We are under heavy fire and unable to take off, I repeat, we are under heavy fire and unable to take off, can anyone read me?!>" A KR Pilot called out on a local channel, as I was quick to pick up.

"<This is Corporal Harper Ikosin of Theta Squad, we read you. What is your situation?>" I answered. The pilot gave me his coordinates, as well as his current situation being that he's one of the Evac Ravens, though a large group of Swarm are hammering his position, not willing to take off till he's clear. Bit of a risk either way with the civilians he has that are taking cover in a building next to him, at least they aren't in the Raven itself. "<Alright, just hold em off, we're on our way!>" I relayed the info to our Sarge.

"Let's get moving!" He ordered, as we pushed through a building, Most of it collapsed from a Raven being shot down as it crashed into it at some point, and Frai was sticking behind me like I expected. As we turned down a hallway, a few Juvies jumped out from the doors.

"Not these Weird Dog-Monkey things!" Frai exclaimed as he pulled out his gnasher shotgun, while we fired into the crowd of Juvies. One jumped on Hal'z back, though he just grabbed it and suplexed it as we cleared them up.

"What did you call them rookie?" I asked with a chuckle.

"Weird Dog-Monkey Things" He answered while we continued.

"Hey, if we meet Sargent Carmine, you can tell him that, and he'll mostly say that's what his little brother, Benjamin Carmine, said about the Locust Wretches" I told him. We got out of the building through a wall as we could see a Raven ahead in some field, very few Cog Soldiers left alive, but were still holding despite being hammered down by Swarm Forces.

"Open fire!" Sgt. Greihound ordered as we opened fire at the Swarm drones, catching them by surprise. Frai picked up a standard lancer from a fallen Cog Soldier, taking cover and firing. The Raven that was suppressed opened up its door with a Cog Soldier holding an old Mulcher firing and ripping through some of the Swarm, hitting them from two sides and clearing them quickly as we checked our ammo and approached.