Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty: The Trip Home (Patreon)

Our journey home was subdued.

Burnt-out and broken houses littered the landscape. The Raptor patrols that had escaped into the city had wreaked havoc before they were put down.

Rescue workers were still combing through the wreckage, desperately looking for survivors. Every now and then, a shout would go up, as a body was extracted from the remnants of what had once been a home.

Mostly bodies. After nearly a day, survivors were hard to find.

The full extent of the devastation was driven home by a mundane-looking quest notification.

QUEST COMPLETED: HOMEGROUND DEFENSE.

TANISPORT SURVIVES. BEATEN, BATTERED, AND BURNING, BUT YOUR CITY STILL STANDS.

SURVIVORS: 383,266.

+766,532 XP.

NEW QUEST UNLOCKED: RAPTOR CIVIL WAR.

Twenty-four hours ago, the population of Tanisport had shown as 450,000.

The Hierarchy attack had killed sixty-six thousand people.

And that was just from Tanisport. Casualties among the soldiers deployed were still being counted, but it was estimated to be upwards of eighty thousand dead.

Eighty thousand soldiers and ultras, across the Stratospheric Guard forces, the U.S. military, the Australian Army, and the various national units that had chipped in during the fight.

The official numbers weren’t out yet, but ‘devastating’ didn’t begin to describe it.

Tanisport had barely recovered from the first Hierarchy attack less than two years ago. We’d lost eight thousand people then, and the city had been in mourning for weeks.

Now?

The city might still stand, but the citizens might not want to stay.

Pendleton hadn’t remained untouched. We returned to a flooded street, driving the Gladiator through knee-deep water.

I had no idea where the water had come from. Maybe an ultra side effect?

In any case, 2508 still stood – relatively unharmed. The houses to each side had black smoking holes through the walls.

Holes that came from a very recognizable type of weapon.

“When did they manage to get a Stealth Rover here?” I wondered.

“A few were left behind in the Raptors’ mad scramble,” Paul replied. “They were chasing them across the streets yesterday evening. One got to Pendleton and shot up everything it could before it was taken out.”

“I don’t see the wreckage….”

“Army vehicles showed up and hauled it off. Although not before it took a shot at our walls, I fear.” Paul pointed to a scorch mark to the left of our door. “That’s the walls you reinforced with fullersteel.”

I winced. So much for anonymity… “Wait, how did it avoid activating the automated plasma cannon?”

“I believe it didn’t.” Paul pointed to the chimney, which showed signs of grey scorch marks. “If I remember the lecture you gave me, that happens when a plasma cannon overheats from continuous firing.”

So, anyone who was on the street at the time – and survived – would know about the secret plasma cannon.

How many inventors lived in Tanisport, used plasma weapons, and had younger sisters?

“We’re going to need to move,” murmured Paul. “Though not, I think, today. Andrew – would the defenses still be active?”

A quick glance was enough. “They are. Well enough to handle a stray Rover shot or two.”

“Good. I want the two of you to get some rest. Tomorrow, we’re going to pack.”