NationStates Jolt Archive

The planet of Reniton looked normal from a distance. It even looked normal close up, when one could walk through it’s deep, dense and dark forests, where one could see only yards ahead and terrible, fierce monsters lived and killed. It looked normal in the sand dunes, where the sun scorched all beneath it. Where the shadows were long and water a rarity amongst the mighty mountains of sand that controlled the horizon. Nature, not creature, was king of this environment. Devoid of cover, few had the strength or the will to live in the most unforgiving landscape of all. It looked most normal in the rolling green pastures were the locals lived and worked. They were a primitive people, happy to keep their simple weapons and simple lifestyle. They cared not for the affairs of the higher species, the one’s who fought in space with ships and tanks. It was not their business. They did not care of genocides or rebellions, only when the shining wheat crop, which shone bright as gold in the sun, would be ready for harvesting. They cared for sheep and cattle, not factories and vast armies. They lived a simple, peaceful life and it was what they had ever wanted or ever asked for.

But it had not always been like this.

The landscape looked the same as it had at the time before recorded time. An era the Alversians had dubbed ‘Black History’. It was a mystery, there were no clues and no records surviving for so long, tales in folklore were long gone, as dead as the people who had failed to keep them alive. It was a time before Alversians had stepped from the oceans of their planet and before Kitsune came into existence and began their great journey for a home.

It was a time of Empire.

A million races, each grander and more elegant than anything that has been seen before or since. The ‘dinosaurs’ of the galaxy. If one were to look into this past, one would not help but gawp helplessly at the sight which confronted them, the ancestors of a thousand races and many never seen again. Empires stretched the length of the universe, there was not one part of space not included in these vast domains, stretching millions of light-years and including so many species it would take a lifetime to name them all.

One of these was the Veelic Empire. Now a quiet race, living peacefully and quietly on Alversia, the Veela once commanded great warships, mighty armies and colossal resources. The Empire was neither cruel nor merciful, it did what was needed to ensure survival and if that meant crushing a man ‘s skull with the force to set an example or giving aide to a famine stricken people then that was what was done, no more than that. Reniton was just one of a million planets in the Empire, one so small that almost none knew it existed. However, one day, that all changed.

It began with the locals disappearing. A random collection of humans disappearing in a random way at random times, the simple locals put it down to carelessness with the great bears of the forest or the giant snakes of the desert. As a result, no one off planet really paid much attention. Until the gates of hell itself were opened, when the final sacrifice was paid, then hell itself was opened and the universe was at its mercy. Only the Veelic Empire stood in its way.

The Veela were pressed hard by the tsunami of demons who flooded from gate and crashed into their Armies. Warriors and resources were summoned from all over the Empire to combat the threat, the powerful force-users struggled from eighteen centuries before the last of three hellgates could be sealed. It was known as the ‘War of Angels’ for that was what the locals had witnessed. Stories were passed down through the millennia until people lost interest and the stories died out. The villagers lost interest in the Angels and Demons who had chosen their humble world on which to decide the fate of the universe, for their land was fertile from the millions of Veela and Demon dead who had rotted to aid the earth they had tried to destroy. So the people ploughed on, ignorant of just what was buried in their little world.

However, more and more of their people were disappearing. More people in more ways than ever before. No pattern and no signs of what was happening. All that could be done was to call for off-world help. To that end, the Alversians and Xiscapians arrived to help, unaware of what really lay within the planet’s surface.
It would soon be time for them to remember. For the Demons of hell had awoken from their slumber and were hungry for the universe. This time, no one would stand in their way…

--

It was as bright a morning as one could expect during spring time. The sun was warm but not too much so that it was warm. The mountain ranges to the north were just visible through a pale morning mist. The woods were quiet and all but a few farmers were to be asleep. It didn’t stay that way though.

The Deer and sheep scattered in panic as a series of drop ships landed into the smooth green grass. Soldiers flowed from each one and stood into formation, a thousand troops from the Alversian Republic and the Kitsune Empire. They were here to respond to calls from the Locals with regards to disappearances of their people.

Their Commander was a tall Alversian Captain, he stood and glanced over for his opposite number in the Xiscapian forces,
“Well, what do you think?” He asked, glancing over at the idealistic countryside.

Lieutenant Colonel Shakko of the One Hundred Eighty Second Xiscapian Grand Army Battalion surveyed the landscape as ranks of XGA Grunt soldiers (http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Image:Sithtroopermodel.jpg) arrayed behind him. Drop ships continued to land, unloading vehicles and equipment for the unit there. The kitsune's silky white tail flicked slightly as he stood, hands behind his back, yellow eyes slowly scanning the hills containing only trees and fleeing livestock. Clad in the black uniform and navy blue shoulder plates with the insignia marking him for his rank, he stood out, a figure of authority before his kitsune. He had no doubts about the abilities or mettle of those under his command, or indeed that of his allies, and his youthful face, despite it's military hardness, reflected an easy-going, laid-back nature.

"This will be like hunting a three-legged deer on a flat open plain with a sniper rifle," he said at last, ears twitching as he heard his counterpart's question. "That is, easy. Lieutenant Colonel Shakko," he bowed, running a finger along his steel-colored katana before straightening up. "We've got the XIW Theory and the APS Mauler for orbital support, and Command has given me plenty to work with." XGA High Command had authorized, in addition to the 182ed Battalion and the Destroyer in orbit, a squad of Light Assault Mecha, a single Heavy Assault Mech unit, half a dozen command and battle cars or hovercraft, a battery of six artillery guns, and a flight of fighters. Not that they were expecting a battle, of course, but they might need to search the entire planet and potentially serve as a peacekeeping force to reassure the natives they were being looked after.

"All we need to do is locate the missing, or at the very least maintain our presence to reassure the natives. The troops are looking forward to a bit of what they see as paid vacation. Personally, I don't mind it either, especially since I heard about what the Second Exploratory Fleet has run into out in deep space. Still, briefings were a bit sketchy about this world, seems it's only ever been observed from space and though telescopes. Can you tell me anything about this planet or it's populace?" With these last words Shakko spread one arm out to encompass the area in general.

Captain Martins smiled at his counterpart's assessment of the world and indeed, he agreed with it. This could be one of the easiest assessments he had ever undertaken. His Light Company of the 401st Infantry Battalion had been deployed along with it's supporting artillery, an armoured car unit and a small flight of APAAF Fighters for recon work. He expected this to be a simple mission,

He ran a finger through his short black hair and nodded to the introduction,
"Captain James Martins" He saluted, then bowed in the traditional kitsune way, "And all I know is that a group of copper-age people are missing and we need to find them" he looked over at where most of his men were still disembarking from the noisy transports and the rest were lounging around, waiting for orders,
"Shall we deploy then?" He asked casually.

"No," Shakko shook his head, a sharp twisting movement. "This area looks serviceable enough as a camp, and in any case we don't want to disturb the natives anymore than we already have. I say we take up lodgings here and send out scouts to find the nearest town or village. If we can contact the leaders, or at least pinpoint the areas the missing came from, we'll be a lot more knowledgeable about the state of affairs here than we are now."

The 182ed separated out into their individual companies, a hundred to each of the five, majors sitting in their command hovercraft shouting marching orders to their troops. The Mecha stood off a little way, the LAM squad forming into their own organized line, with the artillery being assembled for towing behind them. The lone HAM with it's duel pilots directed the last of the drop ships into the air as the final stack of crated supplies was offloaded. A slight breeze gently swung the grass, cutting though the perfectly formed ranks of XGA. The distant sun shone off the armor of the Grunts, brightly outlining their figures, making the scene seem to come right out of a war-time recruiting poster.

"Company!! Form ranks!" Came a call from amongst the Alversian troops and they marched to form their own lines, ten platoons of 50 men each. They too, stood in perfect formation while the armoured hovercars droned into a line of their own as they were not moving any where. Their crews were mostly laughing and chatting rather than conducting a serious operation. However, their jolliness was not shared by the gun crews who were loading their weapons and spreading them out to act as a sentry line and so to warn the camp of any attackers. It may be a friendly planet but one could never be too careful.

The Skirmisher Company of the 401st was formed to attention and now Captain Martins looked to where he thought he could see a smear of smoke that would betray a town. He sighed,
"I guess that would be a good place to say hello," He pointed over to the smoke stretched above a tree line

The Battalion was commanded into 'at ease' and the ranks stood much looser and closer at the soldiers began to talk with their friends and comrades. The Xiscapians began to pitch camp, tents and the signature green plastic 'scoops' forming on the grass. From one of the companies detached a squad of ten Grunts, rifles slung over their shoulders, trotting over to where Shakko stood. "Lieutenant Colonel sir," the lead saluted and bowed, "Corporal Rilic of the One Hundred Eighty Second Battalion, Fourth Company, Platoon One, Squad Three, awaiting orders."

Shakko gave a quick salute back and nodded. "Corporal, you are to lead your squad to the area of land where that smoke is rising from. Camp area is to be codenamed Hotel, village or town is to be codenamed Bravo, fallback point between Hotel and Bravo is to be codenamed Zeta. You are to approach the area openly and without hostility, do not under any circumstances open fire unless fired upon or civilian lives are in danger. You are to move out in Captain Martins order." Shakko glanced to Martins, indicating this would be the time to send his own men along with the squad if he wished.

Rilic nodded. "Sir, yes sir!" He turned to face the other nine kitsune that made up his squad. "Squad!" he roared though his helmet. "Form up! Let's get ready to lock and load!"

Martins watched as his own men deployed into their own camp sections, each squad carried five, two man tents for the entire Squad, soon these were erected into Companies and the men began to light fires for their dinner as well as to provide a bit of warmth once night fell. The artillery had been towed out into more advantagous positions so that every approach to the camp was covered by a pair of field guns which would wake the camp if nothing else. Heavy gunnery position were also being established in areas where they would could cut down any attackers. The Alversian Camp was secured.

Ten Alversian troops approached the group and the front man offered a salute to both Martins and Shakko. Martins returned it casually,
"Name, Corporal?"

"Corporal Damien Johnson sir," The Corporal replied from under his helmet. His face was not visible, neither were his men's although it was evident that all were small for Alversians and quick.

"Corporal Johnson!" Martins shouted as an Alversian M-33 Armoured car (http://www.orionsarm.com/eg/a/afv.jpg) droned to a halt close to them and halted, waiting for something, "You are approach the town with this Xiscapian Section. The M-33 is for support although this is purely a reconnissance mission. If you are engaged by hostile forces in or outside the town you will withdraw back to here and report, do you understand?"

"Sir, yes sir!" Johnson replied over the engines of the hovercar as his men leapt onto the small ledge around the side for men to hold on to as the car drove, small handles were also provided for the men to grip onto, as Johnson was about to jump on, he turned to the Xiscapian squad,
"Need a lift?" He called.

The Xiscapian camp was rows upon rows of black, brown or green tents or scoops, lights at each tent and intersections barely glowing to dispel the shadows. The entire area was essentially flat, so there was no natural cover or hills to be built around or on. Two LAM patrolled the perimeter of each of the four sides at all times while the artillery pieces were set in the middle of the camp, one facing to each corner and the final two facing in opposite directions, allowing them full coverage around the camp. Sandbags were piled both at the entrances facing where the town was thought to be and the other end, machine guns sitting on top to be manned by kitsune sentries. Shakko, a cautious creature though he was, expected that none of this would be necessary. After all, who was going to attack them?

"Sure," Rilic scythed his hand and the soldiers began to load up onto the M-33 Armoured car after the Alversians. If they got there and there wasn't enough room, the Grunts would walk. Shakko nodded as he watched the armored car fill, doubting any of it's weapons would be used. The only thing that would be firing today was the engines.

With all of the Alversians and half of the Xiscapians onboard, the M33 droned forward, slowly so that the remaining Grunts could keep up with the mechanised equivilent. They headed off towards what appeared to be a dirt road. The sun was shining bright now and the metal of the car was hot to the touch, but the armour of the Alversians protected them from that uncomfortableness.

They droned along happily, no sign of any danger and no sign of any life. The fields and forests were empty, scared away by the new mechanised monster no doubt. All it meant was that the troops could enjoy the countryside as they were brought along towards the smear of smoke.

When they arrived at the town though, they found that it was empty. There was no sign of life amongst the wooden houses and all were boarded up. It looked as though it could not have happened long, no more than a week, had the town been abandoned,
"Okay," Johnson said slowly as his men leapt from the car and dropped to one knee, scanning each house carefully, "What do you make of this?" he asked his counterpart.

Rilic had chosen to walk with the other four soldiers who could not find a place inside or hanging off the outer shell of the car. As they approached the town the Xiscapians jumped or climbed off, fanning out in a semi-circle around the M33, facing into the empty town. Rilic shook his head, looking around warily. "I have no idea," he murmured. "Why would they all up and leave?" He faced Johnson. "We need to keep going, maybe there's something in the interior of this place that will give us a clue."

The Xiscapian Grunts were sighting along their rifles, staring into the deserted dwellings. There could be several reasons: Drought (but this area looked healthy) famine (if the growing plants were any indication the soil was fertile and the surrounding forests were lush with life though) disease (no bodies, no charms carved into the wood to ward off evil spirits, no signs to warn away others) or perhaps a raiding party from a nearby town or a wandering tribe (again, no bodies, no signs of damage of any kind, the ground was undisturbed and without tracks). The little voice in the back of their heads, the hunter voice, dispelled all these theories one by one, and the kitsune grew uneasy. What had made the previous inhabitants of this town vanish?

Johnson did not reply but instead raised his hand with a signal then pointed in various directions. His men split into five pairs and fanned out towards the houses. One pair remained with the M33 but the others stalked slowly through the streets, one covering the other as they moved. It seemed like there was no sign of life, the town was eerily quiet, it was making Johndon nervous. He considered calling for reinforcements but decided it would be pointless to bring a platoon to an empty town for nothing. Nothing yet, anyway.

Rilic reported what they had found, or rather, hadn't found back to Shakko before informing the Lieutenant Colonel of his plan to penetrate the town further. "Do so, and report back if you find anything," Shakko's voice was hard. He didn't like this unexpected twist. It made him nervous. "Hotel, over and out." Rilic nodded, looking up and motioning to a pair of Grunts. "You two stay here and guard the M33. The rest of the squad's going into town, if you see or hear anything significant, report it to me."

The Corporal found a partner and they followed their Alversian counterparts into the streets, swiveling rifles into gaping doorways and yawning alleys. Rilic doubted they would find anything here but dust and neglect.

It was sometime before the Kitsune and Alversians returned back to the M33 with the same message, there was no sign of habitation in the town and no sign of any life. None at all. Not even a rat. It was making the Alversians decidedly nervous. There weren't even any animals in the town, no deer or sheep reclaiming their forage lands and no rats, dogs, cats or birds. No sign of life at all. Just a series of ominious dark houses. Johnstone's nerve finally snapped as his men began crossing themselves.
"Withdraw!" He called to the driver of the M33, "Withdraw! We'll set up a perimeter outside the Town and wait for reinforcements. I ain't staying in that place" He explained to Rilic, "No chance at all" He shivered and crossed himself as well. There was something wrong with the town and only with a full platoon would he be confident enough to march through it again.

Rilic looked back at the empty, brooding builds shadowing their interiors in gloom. He and his kitsune didn't like the place any more than the Alversians. It was the absolute, utter silence and lack of life. There should be pets, left behind, birds and insects and invading wildlife, but there was nothing. No living thing aside from themselves appeared to have set foot in there for some time.

"Don't know why we'd be going back," he said, voice forcibly casual. "There's no reason, nothing in there for us...we won't have to go back."

Unfortunately, Rilic was wrong.
"We are sending along a second squad, as is Captain Martins." Shakko's voice was clear and authoritative. "Your orders are, upon receiving reinforcements, to make a second sweep of the town, clearing all the houses, cellars and other structures, before calling it clear. I have yet to speak with the Captain on it, but I believe it would be a good idea to make use of this town as shelter and temporary quarters for the troops."
Rilic turned back to Johnson, face pale.

Base Camp...
Shakko explained his idea to his Alversian counterpart. "I think it will boost troop morale even more," he explained, "to have roofs over their heads and actual furniture. It seems the previous occupants just left some time ago, so there's little danger of them returning."

Johnson sighed and turned to see a dustcloud betraying the arrival of more M-33's. That meant another sweep of the town, something he was not looking forward to. He knew it was not just him that had found the place decidedly wrong but his counterparts in the Xiscapian unit had as well. No doubt this troop would find the same thing he had.

"Well," He got up a little too quickly and his voice was a little too calm, "Let's get to it" Johnson had always prided himself on being a Soldier and doing what others would not. However, he was very reluctant to reenter the Ghost town.

Camp

"Perhaps,"
Martins had just recieved his own report from Johnson and, if he knew the man like he thought he did, then the Corporal had been rather intimidated by the Ghost town. It was a puzzling reaction after all, it was only a ghost town. But then, what affected one Squad might affect the whole Company so he would be more cautious first then see what would happen,
"Perhaps we should wait for the reports of the sweep first?" Martins suggested casually before looking back at where the town was situated. It was very unusual.

As both forces pulled back and began to reinforce before going back in, they would half-notice that the air was starting to heat up. This was only be noticed as time went by, and in the sky, a couple miles away, a dark bunch of clouds was coming their way, and they could see lightning flashing constantly within them. Bad weather was coming, which was rare on this world, as it had a mostly calm environment. It had rains, yes, but nothing as vicious as this. Something was indeed up.

As they were setting up camp and making perimeters and sudden cry, sharp and loud, could be heard coming from the town. It sounded like a small child, and his sobs carried in the unearthly stillness.

"Let's get to it"
"Aye," said Rilic, butterflies in his stomach. The M33's gently came to a stop, bearing another ten soldiers from each deployment. The kitsune sweated inside their armor, which was strange because they had already set the internal systems to a comfortable level that should adjust as the temperatures moderately did, and they were forced to fix the problem. As they came in on approach again the piercing cry sounded and most of the soldiers who had already been there before started visibly. "What was that?" asked one of them, looking fearfully into the town. "Let's find out," said Relic grimly, walking forward. Now quite nervous, the rest of the two Xiscapian squads spread out behind him.
Camp...
"Of course," Shakko agreed. "I wouldn't be so rash as to move everything into there before I was sure that there wasn't any bodies or people still there." He glanced up at the sky at the distant thunderheads. "Hope they make it quick, I think we're about to get a big one."
Storms were a common thing on Xiscapia: Fierce monsoons in the tropics, hot, steaming, pouring rains in the jungles and barren wastelands of the eastern continent, and cold, windy snow, hail or freezing rain in the colder, middle continent. It rained and was overcast quite frequently, especially in the heat of the summer and the dead of winter. But something told Shakko this was no normal weather system...

Johnson was about to reply when he heard the scream and instead his reply evolved into a series of curses and prayers while his men instinctively formed a circle and dropped to one knee, covering every direction. Although he had been in battle before, Johnson, a Veteran, could never remember being this terrified of, frankly, nothing. He gave a deep sigh and signalled the advance, followed by nineteen unhappy troops and three unhappy M33's. Again, his men were crossing themselves and it took some effort to stop him doing the same thing.

Base Camp

"I hope so" Martins looked up then gave a quick and involuntary shudder,
"I don't know about you" He said at length, fearing he was making himself look like a fool, "But I suddenly have a very bad feeling about this place" He sighed and looked back to the town. Alversia was no sparse desert, but he lived had lived in Illesia City and so was used to light showers during Autumn and that was it. Now he knew he was about to get an unusual soaking.

The cry came again and more sobbing. On the edge of the town, they could see a child staggering our, tears staining its clothes, which were splashed with the all-too familiar color of blood. He had claw marks on his body and he was obviously in shock. He looked at the soldiers surrounding the town and staggered over to them and then fell, the shock finally hitting his system and overwhelming him.

Rilic took one look at the kid and screamed, "Medic!" One of the Grunts, clad in the a medical uniform (http://high-octane.deviantart.com/art/Fortress-Forever-Medic-18903927), hurried forward, rather reluctant to approach. He knelled beside the child, ears perking nervously at every noise, examining him. "These slash marks look like they were made by an animal," he muttered, loud enough for all to hear. "He's gone into shock, we need to get him back to base for proper treatment."
Camp...
Shakko glanced sidelong at the Captain. Was the man serious? Yes, he could see that the Alversian was. "I feel nothing," Shakko shrugged. "A ghost town and a bit of bad weather is nothing to worry about, Captain."

One of the Alversians had been ready to shoot the child on sight as soon as he had appeared, but checked his aim as he saw it was no threat. The town was making them all jumpy, an Alversian Medic went forward with the Grunt and he too, was able to make the same diagnosis, being covered by two Alversians as he examined the child.
"Into one of the M33's!" Johnson snapped, then watched as his men delicately lifted the boy into the back of the M33 then watched the thing drone slowly off with the two Medics in the rear as well.
"Well," Johnson sounded more nervous now, "Back to duty eh?"

Base Camp

"I know, I know" Martins stated hastily "but there's something...wrong with this place. I don't know what it is but it just feels...wrong"
As he spoke, he heard a report come in from Johnson,
"Sir," The radio stated, "We have an M33 coming back with a Medical Emergency, we found a child that we think may have been ravaged by an animal and has gone into shock. He'll need immediate treatment"

"Roger that" Martins replied as he called for a team and walked down to the M33 sector where the rest of the cars were parked, he turned to Shakko as he did so,
"Did I not tell you so? That town was empty just ten minutes ago" Martins seemed jumpy as he walked forward, and more than a little tense.

The child stirred when it was picked up, and coughed, blood coming out of his mouth. He was bleeding internally and a quick check by the medic soon confirmed this. The boy opened his eyes, breathing shallowly. His eyes fluttered and he reached out to grab the medic. On looking at him, he was obviously trying to say something.

"T...The....They...g-got them....Althia, S-S-S-Sthar....they got them....all." He swooned and fell back, the world spinning.

"Back to duty eh?"
Rilic barely nodded, too busy staring as the child as he was packed away into the M33. "What did he say?" he asked the Medic. The kitsune shook his head. "They got...someone. Alethia? Athena? A couple of names, and then," his eyes darted from left to right, "he said they got them all."
Rilic felt chilled, but he shook his head, looking around at the men. "Right! Be on the look-out for...wild animals! Shoot to kill, we're checking these houses! Beware of nests!"
"Sir?" one of the soldiers called over, drawing everyone's eyes. "You might want to come look at this." He pointed with his rifle at the ground. A trail of blood marked the passage of the boy, ending in a small pool where he had fallen and snaking away around a corner, into town. Rilic's eyes followed the trail, and he gulped. "Monster killing team," he said without conviction. "Who's up for it? Follow the blood, find the...thing."
Camp...
"It proves nothing!" Shakko snapped, eyes wide as he faced the Alversian. "So a child was left behind and got attacked by a wild animal. There is nothing there, it's just an unfortunate coincidence." One could tell, though, that he was worried, anxious even. This was proving to be bumpier than he expected.

"Right, troops will form into Sections!" Johnson called and watched as his twenty men formed into small circles of five men each, all back to back, all anxiously looking around for some sign of movement. Anything. It was only now that Johnson realised the woods around the town were silent as well. He had put it down to mere fright but maybe something else was amiss. He wished he was anywhere but here,
"Right, you, you, you and you" Johnson tapped four reluctant Alversians in the head and they formed a new circle, "We're going Monster killing" now he could not keep the nerves from his voice.

Camp

"Maybe," Martins observed as te child was brought into the camp, handled off the M33 and into the hands of a joint Medical Team. Martins could see the boy from his position between the medics,
"God help us all" he swore softly at the pitiful sight of the boy, "What happened to him?" He asked himself.

Rilic formed with four of his own kitsune, and while the other fifteen began to clear the houses, kicking in doors and ducking into cellars, he and the Alversian part began to follow the trail of blood. Where it would lead them, or more pointedly, to what, was anyones guess.
Camp...
"Some kind of beast," one of the Xiscapian medics on the team answered, her hearing naturally very good. The child was rolled away to the infirmary, and a she was left, walking up to the Captain and Lieutenant Colonel with a sault and bow to each. "He's got claw marks all over him, his clothing's ripped, and he's gone into shock. But whatever got to him wasn't a bear or big cat, the wounds are all wrong for that. They look more like they were made by something humanoid..." she trailed off, as if embarrassed by the words.

The Alversians moved forward, covering each other as they did so, always careful to make sure they were following the path of blood. It was going to be some trip and Johnson knew where he would rather be. Not here.
"Careful," He snapped at his men, "Anything could be an enemy"

Camp

"I see," Martins took a deep breath, "I see" he shook his head and looked around at Shakko,
"Something...humanoid" he smiled as if there was something funny about the words together. But it was a nervous laugh, not a humourous one. Martins was as nervous as his men.

The soldiers coming into town would notice that it indeed had been abandoned. But something had come through here much later than the evacuated town. Strange hoof marks were burned into the ground and many other strange footprints were in the ground. The blood trail led them to the center of town, where a moderate pool of it lay, starting to dry. This had obviously been recent, the one the boy had been attacked in. The paths then led off in two directions. One headed deeper into the town, the other began to head east, into the looming forest.....

The boy stirred a bit but said nothing, too exhausted and hurt to do anymore. The medics began to treat him and he began to go off into a blissful oblivion as the medications took effect. They would have to be fast, he was bleeding badly internally and he had lost a lot of blood on the desperate run here.

"Great Qonn," gasped Rilic as they saw the pool of blood. The medic cautiously approached the puddle, knelling and putting a gloved finger into it, holding the black and silver armor stained crimson to the light. "Fresh, recent," he muttered, looking from it along the trail that led back into town. "No way that kid could have bled this much," said one of the Grunts. "He would've passed out a while back." Rilic tapped into the frequency of the other soldiers who were busy clearing the buildings. "We've found something. More trails of blood and a large pool of it, this takes priority, I want all Xiscapian forces in town here now." The Alversians and their M33s were not his to command, but he hoped they would come.

"We're going to need to split our forces," he announced, gesturing to the two long splatters of blood as the sky grew dark and clouds started to blot out the sun. "If there is anyone left they might need medical assistance and if we can find a local they might be able to shed some light on the situation." He didn't comment on the pool, the men were freaked out enough as it were. "How should we divide and who goes where?"
Camp...
"Something...humanoid"
Shakko grimaced and tired to ignore the words. "I want to see the child as soon as he's stable and conscious," the Lieutenant Colonel snapped to the medic. "If he can tell us what happened there we'll be better informed as to the exact situation."

Johnson looked at the puddle and gave a heavy shiver. He did not know what to do in a situation like this except try to scout both trails out and see what he could find. His own four men were looking on nervously at the sight in front of them. He crossed himself again and looked up at Rilic,
"You first," he said grimly, pointing to one of the two trails.

Base Camp

Martins nodded in approval of the decision and sighed,
"What do you think of this planet then?" he asked.

"Right," Rilic glanced over his shoulder as the other squad came up behind them. "Squad B will stay behind and continue the clearing of the houses. My squad, with me," he gestured to them, and nodded to Martins. "Good luck." With that the ten Xiscapians went deeper into town, Rilic on point, following the blood trail. Those left behind watched them go before cautiously approaching the structures, bashing down doors and heads up and swiveling as they went from empty room to empty room.
Camp...
The medic bowed and practically ran to the operating room. There the child was heavily sedated and doped on painkillers as doctors and nurses began to attempt to repair the internal wounds, disinfecting and bandaging the external injuries where they could.
Shakko just watched the storm draw closer, knowing his men were out there in the town somewhere, seeking the source of the lines of blood. "I don't know. It's possible the incident is isolated, but I suspect not. Something terrible happened, or is going to happen, something bad enough to make a whole town pack up and leave. If nothing comes of this, we'll need to send out long-range patrols of fighters and vehicles to locate any natives we can find. I don't like it that the town we landed nearest to is abandoned, we need to know if anyone on this world knows why."

The Alversians moved into the town as well, pairs of Soldiers moving through one house at a time. Kicking or breaking down the door then sweeping into the house to check each room, top floor and basement included. Not all had top floors but all had basements. The jumpy Alversians peered into the dark with their helmet vision while their fingers twitched near their rifle triggers. They wanted to clear the houses as soon as possible.

Camp

"You don't like it? I've never liked it" Martins sniffed, "I know somethings not right here and I don't know what. Now all of this" He referred to the child in the Operating Room, "I think long range fighter patrols may be the safer option at the moment."

The remaining Xiscapians scynced their HUD I.D. tags with that of the Alversians to avoid friendly fire, and made their own way in. So far they found nothing but dust, darkness and cobwebs, though they could not even find spiders or insects. Nothing lived inside the town, not even bugs. Outside Rilic noticed there was more blood was they went, sometimes splattered onto walls or speckled around the main trail, as if whatever had been bleeding had struggled violently against some other force. Only now did he see the strange tracks and hoof marks burned into the ground. Burned into the ground? What the hell? He thought, knelling to examine them. They're not from any beast I've ever heard of. Why would they be scortched? To leave imprints like that, the damn horse would have to be on fire...
Camp...
"Our Mecha are more than capable of defending themselves against wild animals," said Shakko dismissively. "Anyway, Mechanized Infantry can see things aircraft can't, so as soon as our troops report back and withdraw I'm dispatching them out."
The Xiscapian fell silent for some time, then he frowned and his ears perked suddenly. "Say," he looked at Martins, "how exactly was your High Command contacted by these people? They don't have anywhere near the technology needed..."