A (short) story from a particularly memorable battle I recently had in Rimworld. Inspired by HeardnSeen's fantastic story (which some may remember) but ended up being written in a different style, unfortunately.
Of course, the game doesn't literally...
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At two in the morning, it was still dark when Delta landed in Maan City. Packing everything had taken slightly longer than expected, but it was always good to land with a bunch of survival meals in case things went FUBAR. A hundred would probably last them long enough.
"Ah, the Advent. It is good of you to come in our time of need...!"
As usual, Andrew assumed direct command and public representation as Delta's second in charge while Celestia and Eliza unloaded the luggage.
"No worries. Give me the update – you guys, sorry, girls carry on and check with Cy where he wants those emplacements deployed. Ah yes, Mr...?"
"Call me Pitts. I'm the deputy governor; Lorena is out in the city square coordinating our defenses and mustering whoever is capable of bearing arms. She asked me to greet you and fill you in while she took personal charge of the situation."
"Ever the delegating bureaucrat, I see...but that, I did not expect of her. So Pitts, my good man, what seems to be the problem?"
"Well, as you can probably tell, I think we're going to be attacked soon. Many things can happen on these worlds, as you know...and so it is not unusual that people sometimes go missing. But when a whole caravan goes missing...or two..."
"A whole caravan?"
"Yes-s....we sent out a team to trace their route that they were supposed to travel. And then another. And after a while...we didn't have anyone else left to send out. The volunteers...never returned."
"How long ago did this begin to happen?"
"About a month back...give or take. The first caravan disappearing, I mean. And the last team we sent out...just a week ago. And over the past few nights we've been hearing some strange...rumblings...or groanings, but it is gone in the day."
"And then you all tried to call for help?"
"Yes...but it seems like we were being jammed. We couldn't contact any nearby friendly towns and...well, we didn't really ask some of the nearby tribes or gun-slinging settlers because we're not on good terms with them. I think it was sheer dumb luck that Lorena managed to get you when she did back then..."
Andrew silently reflected that that was probably because Maan City hardly called them after getting pissy at Celes accidently shooing a power conduit in the last battle here. "And you've got no idea who has been doing this at all?"
"Well...there are rumors and whispers, you know...of some ungodly monsters that are turned humans. I mean, humans morphed into monsters, somehow. Just hearsay from travelers in bars, but..."
"Hm. If so, it seems like whoever is behind that would probably be capable of jamming your communications as well. Well, cheer up, my good man, you've got us here. Us four and...well, I'm sure that'll be enough."
