Bait
Planet Zeoter.
Millions of Mobile Battlestations, along with hundreds of Motherships and Warships, descended upon the planet Zeoter. General Rick stood in the infirmary of the Warship, observing Henry submerged within a tube filled with a mysterious liquid.
"Seventy percent... eighty percent," monotoned the computer voice. "Ninety percent... one hundred percent. Healing completed." The machine scanned once more, and the liquid began to drain, leaving Henry naked and floating inside the tube, his face covered by a pipe mask.
The machine emitted a sudden jolt, stirring Henry from his somber state. Opening his eyes, Henry removed his mask, retching as he expelled residual liquid from his stomach. As the tube slowly lifted, Henry stepped out, accepting the robe handed to him by the medical staff. Hastily donning it, he proceeded to offer a military salute to General Rick, who stood alongside a few high-ranking officers, awaiting his arrival.
"At ease, soldier! Let's have a conversation over a meal; I imagine you must be hungry," General Rick said warmly, gesturing for Henry to join him.
Rick patted Henry's shoulder reassuringly, and together they made their way into General Rick's private dining room. The table was already adorned with an array of food, prepared in advance for their arrival. Taking their seats, they began to enjoy the meal in each other's company.
"How's your body? Are you feeling alright?" General Rick inquired, his concern evident in his tone.
"I'm feeling great, Sir! I'll be ready for combat after a few minutes of rest," Henry replied confidently.
"We've repaired your 'Winter Wolf.' It's already in your personal armory," Rick mentioned casually between bites.
"Thank you, General!" Henry expressed his gratitude, relieved to hear that his Atom suit, the "Winter Wolf," had been repaired. Unlike Bio-suits, Atom suits lacked healing abilities due to their massive size, and the Winter Wolf served as his second body. The materials required to repair higher grades of Atom suits were incredibly expensive, making the restoration of Winter Wolf particularly significant.
"You did well out there," Rick complimented Henry.
"Thank you, General!" Henry replied with gratitude, still immersed in his meal.
Rick sighed, observing Henry gobbling down his food. "It must have been tough on you," he said, his expression reflecting concern and empathy.
"It was nothing, General! I simply did my duty, and I believe any other soldier would have done the same," Henry replied modestly.
After a discussion about the ongoing war and the enemies Henry had faced, they finished their meal.
"Go and take some rest. We'll soon be heading into another battle," Rick instructed Henry as they prepared to depart from the dining room.
"Yes, General! And thank you for the meal," Henry saluted before departing from the dining room. Making his way to the docking station, he boarded a spaceship bound for his Warship. Upon arrival, the first thing he did was check on his Atom suit. Seeing that it had been repaired to perfection, he sighed with relief. Running his hand over the smooth surface of the suit, memories of his battle against the Stag Queen flooded his mind.
"I will never let that happen again," Henry vowed silently to himself, determination shining in his eyes.
General Rick and his officers stood in the command center, gazing down upon the bustling activity of the soldiers below as they diligently prepared for war.
"Everyone, get ready! Bait them to the three planets and retreat back to the extraction point as we planned," Rick ordered, his voice resolute. The other two planets were Harlen and Kovas.
"Yes, Sir!" The officers saluted in unison before dispersing to their respective stations, ready to carry out General Rick's orders.
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Planet IC2-P4S37
The Stag Queen stood atop a Leviathan, surrounded by her swarm, her impatience palpable as she awaited the arrival of the Rhino King.
Suddenly, a wormhole materialized a few thousand miles away from the clusters of Entomons. Scores of Entomons began pouring out from the wormhole, accompanied by several gigantic Leviathans.
Among the new batch of Leviathans, the most eye-catching was a colossal specimen towering at 3.1 miles in height and stretching 5 miles in length. Its massive form eclipsed the rest, boasting darker skin colors and thicker skin. Atop the Leviathan's head stood the imposing figure of the Rhino King, radiating authority and power. Accompanying him were 38 billion Entomons, along with thousands of higher-class variants such as Bruiser, Berserker, and Champion Entomons.
The Rhino King, a formidable monarch under the Rhino Queen's reign, held a position of great prominence and power. His swarm was vast and his status elevated above that of the Stag Queen.
The Noble Entomons, despite their smaller population, each possessed extraordinary combat prowess. Furthermore, they held the unique ability to command lower Entomons. Their formidable defenses made them virtually immune to attacks from the lower classes of Entomons.
The Rhino King approached the Stag Queen and stood beside her, a move that clearly infuriated her. In traditional custom, he should have knelt down and awaited her signal to rise. However, she was powerless to enforce this protocol, as she was the one seeking his assistance.
The Rhino King's lecherous gaze lingered on the body of the Stag Queen, his long-standing obsession with her evident for all to see. Despite numerous attempts to court her in the past, he had always been rebuffed. Now, with her seeking his assistance, he saw an opportunity he would not let slip away. Knowing she couldn't refuse him since she had requested his help, he vowed to never leave the Stag Queen alone again.
The Stag Queen couldn't help but feel a sense of disgust as she noticed the Rhino King's eyes roving over her body. However, she understood that she had no choice in the matter. She had a task to perform, and the success of the mission was paramount. Failure was not an option; she knew that the consequences would be far worse than death.
She shuddered at the thought of the potential punishment awaiting failure. However, she also saw this mission as an opportunity to bolster her strength and assert her independence. She didn't want to remain bound to anyone, especially not to the Empress, who held the true power in the galaxy. With determination, she resolved to take on the mission, knowing it could be a stepping stone toward greater autonomy and strength.
"SCREECH!!!...."
With a piercing screech, the Stag Queen issued commands to her subordinates. The Leviathans began to mobilize, charging their energies for the impending attack. After a few moments, the space around them began to vibrate as the Leviathans unleashed powerful waves of negative repulsive energy toward the location where General Rick and his soldiers had vanished. The energy tore through space, creating a deep rift from which a menacing wormhole emerged.
"ROAR!!!.."
With thunderous roars, the Leviathans surged forward, leading swarms of Entomons straight into the gaping maw of the wormhole.
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Planet Zeoter...
From a distance, everyone could witness the ominous sight of the wormhole opening up in the vast expanse of space, far removed from the three planets. In a relentless torrent, hundreds of billions of screeching Entomons poured forth from the gaping maw of the wormhole, their overwhelming numbers foreboding the impending conflict.
They resembled demons emerging from the depths of hell itself, their horde darkening the skies as they surged forth from the ominous depths of the wormhole.
"This is what hell looks like," exclaimed one of the soldiers, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and awe as he beheld the relentless onslaught of the Entomons pouring out of the wormhole.
Everyone tightened their grip on their weapons, bracing themselves for the imminent onslaught of enemies. Battleships and Motherships formed a formidable line in space, prepared to meet the incoming assault head-on.
"Everyone, get ready for battle!!!" General Rick's voice boomed across the command center as he shouted the rallying cry. His gaze hardened as he observed the clusters of Entomons approaching at an incredible speed, their ominous presence heralding the commencement of a fierce and deadly confrontation.
As the clusters of Entomons closed in on the planets, tension thickened in the air, anticipation mounting as the impending clash drew nearer.
"FIRE!!!...."
Rick's voice thundered across the command center as space seemed to distort under the onslaught of firepower unleashed upon the approaching Entomons. Missiles streaked through the void, creating massive explosions that swept through the enemy ranks, decimating millions of Entomons in their path. The ferocious barrage of heavy firepower aimed to halt the enemy's advance dead in its tracks.
The Stag Queen and the Rhino King observed the battlefield from behind the cluster, confident in the overwhelming numbers of their forces. Despite the temporary halt in their advance, they remained convinced that the enemy's resistance would crumble under the weight of their relentless assault. As the Entomons began to spread out in all directions, closing in on the battlefield from every angle, it became clear that their sheer numbers posed a formidable challenge to the defenders.
The humans looked on in dread, their bodies shivering despite their familiarity with the Entomons. Despite facing them countless times before, the sight of the endless swarm still instilled fear in their hearts. It was like being trapped in an endless nightmare, where the numbers of the Entomons seemed inexhaustible, no matter how many they managed to kill.
Seeing the enemy closing in from all directions, General Rick swiftly issued multiple orders, his mind calculating the next strategic move.
"It's time to bait them to the planets," he thought, determination shining in his eyes.
"Prepare for a retreat!" he shouted to his forces. The battleships swiftly began to fall back, retreating toward the planets and organizing themselves into strategic formations in preparation for the impending engagement.
"Screeechhhh…."
As the Entomons descended upon the human-occupied areas of the planets, they were met with a devastating onslaught. Heavy artillery fire rained down upon them, obliterating them into pieces as soon as they touched the ground. Even a Leviathan attempting to crash into the human campsite was met with the same fate, torn apart by the relentless barrage of heavy weaponry.
Planet Zeoter boasted a significantly more advanced defense system compared to many other planets in the IC2 region. Its cities were fortified with powerful weaponry and state-of-the-art energy systems, providing formidable protection against any threat, including the relentless assault of the Entomons.
Recognizing the dire situation unfolding before her, the Stag Queen realized that charging headlong into the enemy's territories would only lead to further losses. She understood the need for a strategic solution to turn the tide in their favor.
"Screeechhh…."
With a piercing screech, the Stag Queen rallied her swarms and swiftly issued commands. The Entomons began to retreat from the human camps, withdrawing to safer locations away from the direct line of fire.
High atop the Leviathans, the Stag Queen and the Rhino King led their elite warriors, descending far from the cities to execute their plan. With a commanding gesture, the Leviathans began disgorging legged Entomons from their gaping mouths. Billions of these sharp and spiky creatures, each standing around 3 meters tall, poured forth and charged toward the cities, their piercing screeches echoing across the landscape. Additionally, several gigantic worm-like creatures slithered out from the mouths of the Leviathans, diving into the ground with alarming speed, disappearing beneath the surface as if it were mere sand.
"Ground troops, prepare yourselves!!!" General Rick's voice thundered across the battlefield as he observed the approaching horde of shrieking Entomons charging towards them.
Soldiers began to line up alongside billions of Meta-humans, Prugnator-Droids, and cyborgs, each donning their mini-Atom suits in preparation for the incoming onslaught. Due to the immense amount of material required to construct a colossal Atom suit, not everyone could wear one. However, the mini version of the Atom suit provided a viable alternative. Though smaller in size and power, these suits still boasted advanced features and materials, equipping their wearers with formidable capabilities to face the enemy.
The Atom suits were constructed from a combination of Titanan alloy and pure graphene, utilizing the innovative properties of both materials. Titanan alloy, a new metal synthesized from Titanium and Nanian metal N-E1, formed the foundation of these suits. Higher grades of Atom suits incorporated advanced variations of Titanan alloy, such as N-D1 or even N-A1, coupled with thicker layers of pure graphene or Carbyne for enhanced durability and resilience.
Additionally, some specialized Atom suits, such as the "Bald Eagle" and "The Achilles," utilized pure Nanian metals N-B1 and Nanian fibers, renowned for their superior strength compared to pure graphene. These cutting-edge materials provided unparalleled protection and performance for wearers in combat situations.
"Thump… Thump… Thump…"
The ground trembled with heavy footsteps as millions of mini-Atom suits and Atom suits lined up in the wide grasslands outside the main city. With determination etched on their faces, they brandished higher grades of Mega Guns and Giga Guns, their weapons trained on the incoming horde of Entomons.
Prugnator-Droid tanks rumbled into position behind the soldiers, their formidable frames bristling with weaponry. With a low hum, they charged their energy guns, preparing to unleash devastating firepower upon the approaching enemy.
"FIRE!!!...."
Rick shouted.
"Pew... pew... pew…"
The Prugnator-Droid tanks unleashed a barrage of bullets that rained down upon the swarms of Entomons charging toward them. With lethal precision, the bullets found their targets, tearing through the ranks of the enemy with devastating effect.
"BOOM… BOOM… BOOM…."
The onslaught of bullets and lasers from the soldiers tore through the front lines of the Entomons, reducing them to nothing more than scattered debris and decimating millions in the process. Despite the devastating carnage inflicted upon their ranks, the remaining Entomons continued their relentless charge toward the cities, seemingly unfazed by the overwhelming firepower directed against them.
Before the soldiers could fully comprehend what was happening, the ground beneath them began to tremble violently, sending shockwaves rippling through the earth.
"BOOM!!!..."
A monstrous worm erupted from the ground, its gaping maw engulfing a group of 20 to 30 soldiers clad in mini-Atom suits in one swift motion.
"AAAAAAAAA!!!...."
As panic gripped their ranks, the soldiers unleashed a barrage of firepower, firing everything they had in a desperate attempt to fend off the colossal worm. However, their efforts seemed futile against the creature's formidable defenses.
Just as all hope seemed lost, a spear-like metal projectile tore through the writhing mass of the colossus worm's body, leaving a gaping hole in its stomach. It was a shot from one of the heavy artillery 6A-Rail guns mounted on the Prugnator-Droid tanks.
"ROARRR…."
The Greedworm's roar echoed ominously as it plunged back into the ground, its massive size and formidable vitality rendering the gaping wound inflicted upon it by the Rail gun a mere inconvenience. The soldiers faced a daunting challenge in combatting these underground behemoths. Not only were they elusive and difficult to target, but their swift movements and ability to burrow underground made them incredibly elusive adversaries. The soldiers found themselves at a loss on how to effectively respond to the relentless attacks of the Greedworms, their annoyance compounded by the creatures' ability to swiftly retreat underground when injured or sensing danger.
"If only we had enough of those guns, these bastards would be nothing!" shouted one of the soldiers, his voice laced with frustration and anger. The enormous energy and materials required to effectively combat the colossus worms posed a significant challenge. Despite assurances from military leaders that they could overcome any enemy with sufficient resources, the reality of the situation was grim.
The battle raged on, both sides locked in a stalemate. As long as the human side had access to adequate resources, victory was within reach. However, the rapid depletion of their resources cast a shadow of uncertainty over their prospects for success.
"The absence of the Stag Queen and her elite warriors is troubling," remarked Rick, his gaze fixed upon the enemy's camp in the distance. "Perhaps they're planning an ambush."
As the battle raged on, it became increasingly clear that the Entomons were gaining the upper hand. Despite the valiant efforts of the human forces, the enemy remained numerous and seemingly inexhaustible, posing a formidable challenge that could not be easily overcome.
More and more Greedworms emerged on the frontline, wreaking havoc and destruction in their wake before swiftly retreating underground once their carnage was complete. Their relentless attacks added to the chaos of the battlefield, leaving destruction in their wake and further complicating the efforts of the human forces to maintain their defensive line.
"Retreat back to the second line of defense!" Rick's voice boomed over the chaos of the battlefield as he issued the orders, his eyes fixed on the unfolding battles. Recognizing the need to regroup and fortify their defenses, the soldiers on the frontline swiftly received the orders and began a strategic retreat toward the second line of defense. Despite the chaos and danger surrounding them, they maintained discipline and coordination, steadily withdrawing to the designated fallback position.