Wither With Me

CHAPTER 54 - CONVERGENCE

"This is Hawk-01 talking to all units! We have visual on the main Convergence wave! Estimated contact with the evacuation point in fifteen minutes! Over!"

"This is HQ. Understood, Hawk. All aerial squadrons, take positions along the perimeter of the cell as agreed, and begin the suppression operation. Gentlemen, do everything you can to slow down that wave!"

"Yes, sir!"

Row after row of buildings passed like a blurry mirage under the helicopter, and the deafening noise of the propellers muffled the tumult coming from the streets. The other vehicles in the squadron got separated from the formation, extending in multiple directions.

He felt the sweat drops falling from his face and dirtying his uniform. No human being in their right mind would be able to witness such horrific spectacle and still keep their cool.

Attracted by the queen from neighboring cells, the stingers had congregated into a homogeneous, organic mass, in a frenzied sprint towards the signal's epicenter. More than two meters tall, legs with multiple joints, osseous exoskeletons covering their bodies, mandibles instead of mouths... Those creatures were abominations, which had abandoned all traces of humanity.

The wall of monsters, whose bodies emitted a bright blue light, advanced at terrifying speeds, passing through buildings and trampling all obstacles in their way. Anything not made of reinforced concrete or steel collapsed under the horde's power, leaving only devastation in its wake.

Wherever he looked, the horizon gleamed in azure tones. And a mere handful of those monsters would spell doom for his comrades at Kurtis Tower.

'This is madness.'

"Initiating suppression!" shouted the pilot on the radio. "Fire at will!"

The helicopter's weapons roared in unison, along with those of the other combat helicopters positioned across the perimeter. A barrage of missiles fell on the stinger wall, while the gunners neutralized the ones who managed to survive the explosions. The pilot was forced to constantly fly backwards, following the stinger front advancing through the offensive.

Something crossed the skies over the helicopter squadron in the blink of an eye, leaving a vapor trail behind. Barely some seconds later, the sound of a distant explosion reached the pilot's ears, and a long, dense cloud of black smoke manifested on the horizon.

"This is Silvergull, fire blockage deployed in sector 3, returning to base. Over." said a voice on the radio.

Afterwards, a second aircraft flew over the area. Then another one. And another one. Exactly as they'd been informed, the bomber fleet had jumped into action to cover the ground access to Kurtis Tower with a napalm ring.

A new volley of missiles fell on the stinger wall. Would all that effort achieve anything? Maybe they'd be able to buy one minute or two for their comrades. Maybe it'd be nothing but a couple of extra seconds.

"This is Hawk-01, the wave has covered almost the entirety of sector 5, retreating to 12! Over!"

Maybe it was a lost battle. Didn't matter, mankind's future was at stake. Facing that destiny was no madness. Surrendering to it was.

******

Isaac's arms were numb due to the rifle's constant vibration. With every passing second, the corpse mound at the bottom of the stairs multiplied in size, and more hysterical stingers climbed and crawled over the fallen ones, with their eyes fixated on the group of soldiers.

"How the fuck are they still coming up!? It's just fire and smoke down there!" shouted Erik.

"Stop talking!" replied Isaac. "Focus!"