It wasn’t long before we were in the heart of downtown, the quaint brick structures lining both sides of the road right up to the border wall. Mostly tourist stuff for the rich people when they came through; boutiques, ancient style diners, and places selling the produce that could still be grown. We didn’t make it that far before we stopped to look at the streets, or what covered them.
The black and green horde, mostly Model Threes and Ones, hundreds or maybe thousands of them clogging the streets in orderly chaos. They almost looked like they were obeying road laws as they roamed the area, staying on the right side of the street and barely bumping into each other. Some looked like they were carrying bits of food and plant matter. Some were carrying far bloodier prizes.
Occasionally one of the bigger models cuts through the plant traffic, standing heads taller than the others.
I’d seen vids of incursions before, though I wasn’t sure this really counted as one or not, and the aliens always spread out to search for as much food as they could. These guys here weren’t leaving the first few blocks of downtown, for the most part.
How peculiar. This is highly irregular behavior for most antithesis hives, they would generally spread out in search of biomass, this one in particular seems to be congregating in one area, taking a more thorough approach to biomass collection.
I suspect there may be a higher tier model in play, either as a commander or as a focus of the assault.
“They have commanders? Wait, some of those things are actually intelligent enough to command others?” Intelligent monsters always made for the most interesting villains, but I found that I wanted a really boring one when I was on the other side of the board.
Indeed, there are several models that can coordinate or command their dimmer counterparts. Including the one you made into roadkill.
“Huh.” Guess I was lucky I got that one first, something that big and tanky with half a brain in its skull? Scary.
Speaking of scary, there was currently a veritable dark tide out in front of us. Some seemed like they had noticed us and were starting to run over in a trickle.
“Hey uh, Ashlyn. I know I’m pretty much out of points at the moment, but I could really use something to help over here. Maybe the Cog things you were talking about? You said they were good, right?”
They indeed could help in clearing the tide, though they would still need weaponry to do so. They are soldiers under your banner, not the weapons you wield. Not that they are in your price range at the moment.
“Alright, but can you like, pre-buy them for me? Along with some guns and maybe some melee stuff for close range.” l ask, watching as the trickle starts to turn into a veritable stream further down.
We are currently on a bit of a hill looking down onto downtown. The buildings next to us, a grocery store and an aug place, seemed untouched with their security shutters still intact.
That is certainly within my capabilities. How many drones would you like, and do you have any more preferences for their equipment?
“Whatever will keep the area around me clear, and probably best not to use all my points again. So keep like, one or two hundred in the bank?” I didn’t want to be stuck with no way out, with points I had options, and without them I was stuck with what I had on me.
Very well, now look sharp.
The first trickles of the aliens were within range. Opening fire with the mounted gun first I unleashed into the front of the wave, tearing into the faster Model Threes effortlessly. After they were pushed back enough I picked up my pistol from under my seat and pulled the trigger again and again into a few flying foes that try to get at us. I can’t say my aim is good enough to hit them, but the tracking shots take care of the rest.
I rinsed and repeated that a few times, managing to keep them back for now, though they were starting to spread out more, and attracting more of them with the sound of gunfire. But before I can get overrun I hear a very welcome set of notifications.
Class I Cog Collective Technology Unlocked!
Points reduced to… 517
New Purchase: Standard Cog Drone (Human)
Points reduced to… 347
Class I Modular Armor Unlocked!
Points reduced to… 177
New Purchase: Steel Plate Armor
Points reduced to… 157
The points were spent but I didn’t see anything as I continued to fire from the turret, now on the last belt of its ammo. Didn’t see anything, that is, until a figure stepped out of the passenger seat of the truck with my other gun held in its grip.
He, the body shape made that pretty clear, was covered in shiny plate armor straight out of a fairy tale. The gun didn’t really fit the aesthetic, but as he opened fire and plant matter was scattered across the road I found I didn’t really care.
The explosive shots tore holes into the bigger models without much trouble, and sent the smaller ones flying from the shockwaves.
“Hell yeah, parry that you fucking casuals!” I shouted, barely audible over the rat-tat of the big gun trying to vibrate my arms to mush.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
The drone is currently using your Privateer, so you will need to purchase more ammo for them eventually.
“Can you just buy a bunch and stick it in the truck? Like three or four drums, and please buy more when they're out.” I yelled, barely even hearing my own voice.
Can do, Ness.
Counter to what I was expecting the more of them were slaughtered the more poured in from outside the wall. It seemed almost never ending, just a constant stream. More of the antithesis were making it closer, and I clicked empty on the mounted turret.
“Shit.” I whispered, pulling my pistol around when I saw one of the dogs sprinting for the drone.
New Purchase: Standard Cog Drone (Human)
Points reduced to… 683
Class I Esoteric Melee Weapons Unlocked!
Points reduced to… 533
New Purchase: Savage Flame Battle Axe
Points reduced to… 433
New Purchase: Steel Plate Armor
Points reduced to… 413
This time I got a front row view of a naked dude just spawning in, no t-pose though. He was completely smooth down there, so not much to cover up. He was covered with plate armor identical to the other drone less than a second later, at the same time he caught a big old double headed ax that looked like it was made out of molten steel.
The drone wasted no time going to town on the antithesis that were getting past the gunfire. When the axe struck plant matter it burst into flame, shooting jets of fire from where it impacted.
They were pretty jacked under the armor apparently, which wasn't very surprising but still. They looked like what bodybuilders wished they could be, or those pro-athletes that use super steroids. All the notifications were getting kinda distracting when I was watching the skies for more Ones and Twos to shoot down.
“Hey, those pop-ups are getting a bit annoying. Think you could pause that for a bit?” Especially with the regular announcements of the points pouring in. Couldn’t tell if the dings or the gunfire was louder.
Very well, if you insist. I can simply tally your point count after the battle if you prefer.
“Please and Thanks.”
More xenos poured in, and more lead poured out. Though maybe the bullets were using alien metal or something, I don’t know.
The battle continued like this, like a cycle. The aliens poured in, we pushed them back as best as we could and the fire axe guy took care of those that got too close. Every few minutes a new troop was dropped on the battlefield. All in that same armor, though the weapons varied quite a bit.
There were a total of five drones with ranged weapons, the smallest of which was a pair of pistols even smaller than my own, and the largest looked like he was carrying around a small cannon that shredded through models like tissue paper. Each using the explosive rounds, which on the big gun absolutely devastated the aliens, even if more were quick to take their place.
Three drones on melee duty, there was of course good ol’ Axey, making charcoal out of them with each swing. After him there was one wielding a spear with a set of spinning blender-like blades on the front. It wasn’t great at dealing with more than one alien at a time, but it could tear through even the bigger ones like a drill.
Lastly there was the one who was bashing in heads with what I can only assume is a shotgun hammer hybrid. When the warhammer smacks the aliens they just explode in goo, with a satisfying boom.
A few bigger models have started to come in, more of the bear looking ones covered in tentacles. Some of the quill adorned Model Fives. And a few of the chunky Model Sixes, usually with a large pack of Threes acting as guards near it.
I can’t say things were looking good with the west of the town still swarmed by antithesis, but we were starting to reach an equilibrium. Able to kill them before they made it to the melee squad as the drones seemed to find a rhythm and a layout that worked.
“Do we have enough to make a push you think?” I asked my brain's copilot.
You could attempt to go on the offensive now, though with your current forces you will likely face heavy resistance. You do have 1022 points to spend however, with that much you could buy several more drones or more powerful weapons to help with the attack.
It was as I was considering my options that I heard something. Something big moving over by where the west gate used to be. Sounded like a big gasoline engine starting to life, a constant thump, thump, thump. That sound was temporarily drowned out by the wall practically exploxing inwards as a new antithesis entered the town.
It was huge, larger than any antithesis I’d see by a factor of three minimum. It was as tall and wide as a semi truck, and just about as long. It was segmented like a centipede, though a centipede large enough to effortlessly walk through concrete as it proved with it enlarging the hole in the outer wall of the town.
“What the fuck is that?!” I screamed as it started to gain momentum, going much faster than I was comfortable with. The sound earlier was its many legs stomping into the ground to propel it to new violence.
That is a Model fourteen, it seems this is the hive's secret weapon. The model fourteen is a unit focused on transporting other antithesis and breaking through fortified positions, you can think of it as a battering ram and bus rolled into one heavily armored package. You need to run.
The drones all piled into the truck bed, with two of the melee squad taking the front seats.
I would recommend you hold on tight.
I clenched my ass and gripped the seat as the truck drove off to the south, into cornfields that were empty this late into the fall. The centipede was coming like one of those old-timey trains from the old old west, barreling straight for our truck.
It wasn’t as fast as the truck, but it has weight behind it. It wasn’t slowing down at all through the uneven terrain. Its body shape made it glide over the fields without losing any speed, as its dozens of legs worked it forward to its next meal. Us.
It was hard to tell when it was still surrounded by hundreds of the other models, but there were more antithesis clinging onto the sides of it, mostly Model Fours and Fives. Reminded me of some of the roving gangs that travel between the smaller towns, too many bodies on too few vehicles. In this case it was more of a living train, and there were still lots of models running normally, so the comparison kinda fell apart.
“How the hell are we supposed to fight that? Anything I could buy?” None of the guns the drones had were doing anything to the Model Fourteen, though they were still effective on the smaller models hanging on.
It seems the hive has reinforced this one with some heavy metals, standard firearms won’t be effective but there is a possibility. It may still be possible to kill it but you need to purchase a catalog to get that chance.
“I don’t like all those ‘maybes’ aren’t you a super advanced AI?” I said in a panic, I was focusing on shooting down all the Model Ones and Twos that launched off the back of the world's scariest public transport. They seemed determined to slow us down enough for the rest to catch up.
Nothing is written in stone, especially in such chaotic circumstances. I will always help try and give you the best chances, but I cannot guarantee victory for you.
“Fine, just, what's your plan?”
Standard weaponry cannot kill it, however if you can immobilize it there is a chance to poison it in a sense.
“Yeah, that sounds as good as anything right now. Let's give it a shot.” Not like I had a better plan, or any plan.
I’ve gone ahead and unlocked Class I Esoteric Ammunitions for you, with that you have access to expanding adhesive foam bullets. With enough time and precision you should be able to stop it in its tracks.
After that you can use flesheating nanite rounds from the same catalog to surely if slowly kill the Model Fourteen.
“Uh, as long as that flesh eating stuff doesn't kill me. Or anyone else right?” I didn’t want to be responsible for the next super plague, though I was really questioning that staring down the beady eyes of so many monsters.
It won’t.
“Then do it.”
Shortly after agreeing several boxes appeared in the back of the truck, and the drones wasted no time opening them up and loading in the new ammo. Though two of the drones kept using the regular ammo on the smaller models getting close to catching up.
Spots of yellow-white foam started appearing on the centipede tank in small patches each one growing to the size of a basketball. Mostly on its legs, but also all around its insectile face. It had some mandible things furiously tearing at the stuff around its mouth but it was quickly losing its vision.
Then we got a return volley from the Model Fives. Most of them flew wide with Ashlyn swerving out the way of the needle storm. I thought we were in the clear until I felt an impact on my face that flung me out of the gunner's seat, and nearly out of the truck entirely.
One of the drones managed to catch me and push me to the bed of the truck, knocking the wind from my lungs. I felt blood pour from my nose once again. It didn’t feel broken, just a bit banged up.
Barely able to wheeze out a question interspersed with a few coughs that sounded more like whimpering, I asked an important question.
“Hey, uh Ashlyn? Could I get some armor? Please?”
