Chapter Two Hundred and Twenty: Tunnels of Alien Hate (Patreon)

The path beyond the mounds led to another network of tunnels.

The 121st continued onwards. Three-man teams probed each branch, relaying word back to the rest of us, occasionally stumbling across a holed-up squad of Raptors.

Whenever that happened, the improved capabilities of the Boar Armour made swift work of the foe.

I stayed a short distance behind the ‘tip of the spear’, healing any soldiers who caught a bit more plasma than strictly healthy, and occasionally assaying forward when we encountered harder knots of resistance.

Flame Spark turned out to be quite useful at breaking up enemy concentrations.

Behind us, soldiers of the 6th Brigade – accompanied by more mundanely-equipped Australian infantrymen – secured the tunnels, making way for heavier equipment and materials to follow us in.

Even as we secured one section, we would find even more tunnels.

“How did they dig this far?” Donna asked me as we entered yet another branch. “Were the folks at the base asleep?”

“I doubt that,” I replied. “Likely another alien power – something we haven’t encountered yet.”

“You think there’s a species which has tunnelling as their superpower?”

“We have Hifara right here on Earth, so it’s not out of the question.”

In the meantime, I kept an eye on the status of the quest DEFEAT THE ARMY OF THE GUTHNAR.

RAPTOR ARMY: 719,081.

The number kept ticking down, slowly.

<Belessar>: How’s the battle going on above ground?

<Nanocloud>: Brutal. Raptor units are fighting as they withdraw, everyone’s disappearing into tunnel complexes. We’re having to leave armoured vehicles behind and send men in.

<Nanocloud>: Tunnel fighting is bloodying every unit and so far the surviving Raptors have held together. Ultra casualties are also climbing.

<Nanocloud>: The Stratospheric Guard is deploying specialized tunnel probing drones but these keep getting slagged.

<Nanocloud>: It looks like the 121st is the most likely unit to force the enemy to a decisive point – you’re deepest in the tunnel network, heavily armoured and the enemy infantry aren’t able to push you back the way they’ve pushed back virtually everyone else.

<Belessar>: The fate of the world in the hands of a single regiment of troops.

<Nanocloud>: And in yours. Don’t forget that.

<Belessar>: How did Xavier and Bauer react when you explained it to them? And Windsor?

<Nanocloud>: Bauer wants more evidence. Windsor agrees with you. Xavier’s sitting on the fence but leaning in your direction.

<Nanocloud>: All three will share the theory with their relevant intel folks. Pemberley advises you to stay focused and brainstorm later.

On that note, a boom sounded up ahead.

“Raptor infantry with rocket launchers dug in.”

“On my way.” I moved forward, spotting the nest. Homing Sparks shot out ahead of me.

The tunnel rocked as the Sparks lit up the explosives.

SECONDARY EXPLOSIONS!

4X RAPTOR GUARDS DEFEATED! +1600 XP!

TEST OF PERCEPTION: PASSED.

THE ENEMY HAS JURY-RIGGED THE TUNNELS TO COLLAPSE.

A deep rumble started to run through the walls. Supports – unnoticed previously – began to crumble.

And stopped.

TEST OF LUCK: PASSED.

ALLY STABILIZES TUNNELS.

<Belessar>: Someone just stopped us from being buried in a cave-in.

<Nanocloud>: … yeah, it’s an ultra who arrived a bit ago. She’s making her way to you now.

<Belessar>: Well, I’d like to thank her for helping.

<Nanocloud>: … sure, but be cool, okay?

<Belessar>: Why wouldn’t I be cool?

“Belessar,” Maxwell called, “Hifara’s here to meet you.”

It took me a second to process the name. At which point…

The woman who stepped forward was dressed differently from the rest. Drab browns, with little patterns of stone and rock on them – a supersuit, not armour.

At least, not apparent armour.

As usual, Observe told me a much more detailed story.

HIFARA

LEVEL 28

CLASS: ELEMENTAL

A VETERAN OF SEVERAL ALIEN DEFENCES AND MULTIPLE BATTLES AGAINST HOSTILE ULTRAS, HIFARA IS A FORCE BY HERSELF. COMPLETE MASTERY OF SAND AND STONE BELOW THE EARTH MAKES HER DEADLY IN A TUNNEL FIGHT.

EQUIPMENT:

GRANITE EMBEDDED ARMOUR: 25 DAMAGE REDUCTION

SKILLS:

EARTH CONTROL LEVEL 25

RELATIONSHIP: NEUTRAL / CAUTIOUS (0)

Not an enemy. But – not exactly a friend.

Will Clegg’s aunt. Agni’s colleague.

I hadn’t paid much mind to her before, but now that she was here…

She stepped forward, her voice muffled by her mask. “Hifara. I control and shape earth.”

I nodded. “I’m Belessar.”

“I know of you.” A pause. “I’m here to help stop the aliens.”

“That’s fair. You stabilized the tunnel as we came in?”

“It was collapsing. You noticed, I see.”

“The aliens have rigged cave-ins at various points. Can you keep them off us?”

“That I can do. I can also open up alternate routes underground. As long as someone points me in the direction we need to be going.”

“We’re not sure ourselves. Do you have any ability to look ahead at the end of the tunnel?”

She shook her head. “I can bypass any strongpoints, though, and let you send drones ahead to scout.”

“We can definitely make use of that.”