Chapter 334: Against a Monster - VII

The first swarm reached the northern road.

Thousands of infected insects descended toward the advancing formations, their wings producing an increasingly loud buzzing sound as the black cloud spread across the streets and surrounding buildings.

The Golden Eagle Army soldiers were waiting.

Several Guardian GIs had deployed behind the concrete barriers, their MK19 automatic grenade launchers covering the structures where the insects were concentrating, while Machine Gunners and Army Soldiers maintained overlapping firing positions around the Guardian APCs.

“Swarm approaching! All units, open fire!”

The Missile Infantry fired first.

An airburst missile climbed toward the largest concentration and detonated in the middle of the approaching swarm, scattering fragments across the surrounding insects.

A large portion of the black cloud disappeared, with thousands of dead insects falling onto the streets and rooftops underneath.

“Good hit!”

Another airburst followed from farther down the formation, tearing through a second concentration that had been approaching from the eastern side.

The Machine Gunners joined in, their 7.62 mm GPMGs hammering the densest sections of the swarm as the insects descended toward the roadway, while Riflemen and Army Soldiers concentrated on the smaller groups breaking away from the main cloud.

Forty-millimeter grenades struck the upper walls and rooftops where large concentrations were passing, with each explosion tearing through the nearby insects and scattering the surviving groups.

One of the Guardian GIs adjusted his deployed launcher toward another warehouse.

“Concentration moving across the roof!”

He fired several rounds.

The grenades struck the upper section of the building, sending pieces of concrete and dead insects falling onto the pavement while the surviving swarm quickly dispersed.

“Hah! Eat that!”

A Guardian APC opened fire from farther behind the infantry, its thirty-millimeter autocannon tearing through another dense concentration approaching the northern intersection.

For a while, the incoming swarms were being destroyed faster than they could reach the Army’s positions.

But the Broodmother was not finished.

The enormous cloud suddenly separated into several smaller concentrations, with some moving toward the sides of the formation while others climbed higher above the buildings.

The squad leader checked the Radar picture.

“Swarm changing directions. Watch the flanks!”

The soldiers adjusted their firing sectors as the insects began approaching through the surrounding streets, but several groups suddenly descended behind the main defensive line.

Instead of attacking the heavily protected infantry positions, they converged on an MDC transport and the personnel gathered beside it.

“Behind us!”

The MDC soldiers raised their weapons and fired into the approaching cloud. Several insects fell, but the swarm was too numerous for the few soldiers covering that position.

“Fuck! Get inside!”

One soldier hurried toward the transport while another attempted to close its rear compartment, but the insects reached them before they could finish.

Dozens landed across their uniforms and exposed skin, biting through the thinner fabric while others crawled around their helmets and protective equipment.

“AAAAH! GET THEM OFF!”

The nearest MDC soldier collapsed beside the vehicle, desperately striking at the insects covering his arms and neck.

Several Army Soldiers moved toward them, firing controlled bursts into the swarm while a Guardian APC repositioned to protect the transport.

“Clear that vehicle!”

The Machine Gunner covering the rear section shifted his fire toward the thickest concentration, sweeping his GPMG across the approaching insects while the Army Soldiers pulled the affected MDC personnel away from the transport.

One of the Medics reached the first wounded soldier.

His face and arms were covered in bloody wounds, and several insects remained attached to his uniform.

“Get him inside the APC!”

The Medic removed the remaining insects before helping the soldier toward the armored vehicle, while another pair of Army Soldiers covered their withdrawal.

More insects approached from above.

The Guardian APC’s autocannon turned toward the concentration, but the swarm quickly separated before the weapon could establish a useful burst.

“These insects are getting smarter!”

The squad leader looked toward the distribution yard.

The Broodmother’s main marker remained inside the damaged building, surrounded by several thick layers of biological flesh while more insects continued emerging from its body.

“Southern Command, Broodmother is coordinating its swarms against our rear elements. MDC personnel have been attacked. We’re maintaining the northern approach.”

“Copy. Additional Guardian-supported elements are moving into your sector.”

The squad leader checked the wider picture.

Other Golden Eagle Army formations were fighting the same swarms along the surrounding roads, with Guardian GIs and Machine Gunners destroying the larger concentrations while armored vehicles covered the areas where infected insects attempted to reach the ground.

The Broodmother was losing an enormous number of insects, yet it kept producing more.

A new concentration emerged from the distribution yard and rose above the surrounding rooftops, but instead of joining the swarm attacking the infantry, it moved toward the damaged transport and the road leading to the rear medical positions.

The squad leader watched its direction change.

“Again?! Command, Broodmother is releasing another swarm! Threat level is increased. Where is our air and artillery support?!”

He raised his rifle and changed channels before he could receive Southern Command’s reply.

“All rear elements, incoming swarm! Protect the casualty evacuation routes!”

The soldiers opened fire as the next concentration descended.

Farther inside the distribution yard, the Broodmother’s enormous biological outline began contracting, while several smaller signatures gathered underneath the building.

The creature was preparing something else.

…

Southern Command’s reply finally reached the squad leader.

“Vanguard Twelve-Six, Raptor element is already engaging the swarm. Air-to-ground strike on the central contact is being cleared. Keep your personnel away from the distribution yard.”

“Roger that, Command!”

Above the northern industrial district, two Raptors were already operating along the edge of the enormous swarm.

Their 25 mm rotary cannons had been tearing through the thicker swarms approaching from farther north, leaving thousands of dead insects falling across the surrounding buildings, although the Broodmother kept sending additional groups toward the advancing formations.

“Three-One, central marker is still inside that structure.”

“Got it. Switching targets.”

The lead pilot checked the Radar picture and acquired the enormous biological mass underneath the distribution yard.

The Broodmother was well protected, with several thick layers of flesh surrounding its body and portions of the original industrial structure covering the upper section.

The first Raptor climbed toward its attack position while Three-Two approached from another direction.

“Three-One, target acquired. Firing.”

An air-to-ground precision missile left the aircraft and accelerated toward the distribution yard.

Several insect swarms surrounding the building converged toward its upper section as the incoming missile approached.

A violent explosion tore through the distribution yard.

The roof disappeared beneath the impact, sending large pieces of concrete and biological tissue across the surrounding streets while several of the smaller infected markers vanished from the Radar.

The enormous central marker contracted.

“Direct hit!”

“Target still active. Three-Two, you’re up.”

The second Raptor had already acquired the damaged section.

“Three-Two, firing!”

Another missile descended toward the distribution yard, striking the exposed layers of flesh surrounding the Broodmother’s upper body.

The explosion tore through the damaged structure and destroyed another large portion of its protection.