Change of Plans

The squad is puzzled as they hear the call is still going but Lonara seemed busy screaming orders to the others around her.

"Lonara? What's going on?!" Kirin got the hint immediately by her voice. "Hey. let's slow down" Kirin instructed them to slow their Lancers. It took a minute before Lonara answered the call. "Kirin, there are..." She took a deep breath before continuing. "The activities under the sands are high, Kirin. There are Zakana all over you" She tried her best to conceal her worrying tone.

Hearing her last sentence shook the squad. Kirin's instinct was right. They all observed the sands below them as they slowly traverse. The call was still active, Lonara is left to right ordering people around her. A few seconds later, Lonara came back to the call.

"Kirin, we just saw on the screen that the outpost you're going to is under attack by the Zakana" Her words surprised the squad. "Say what now?! How are we going to do this mission then?!" Kirin shouted. "That's not all! The portal is active right now! Multiple infantries and armors are going through! They're reinforcing the outpost!" Lonara added. Kirin fell silent for a few seconds.

"So... what now? The idea of sneaking up there is gone, what do you want us to do now?" Kirin asked, the squad listens carefully. Lonara quickly replies. "Obviously you won't have to be silent about it now. Use the chaos to your advantage, fight your way through and reach that portal. They are increasing as we speak". Niela slightly jumped.

"We're going to fight both of them...?" She asked. "Obviously" Kirin glanced at her and shrugged. "C-can we really do it?" Terra's voice shivered. "It's mayhem out there!" Marve shouted. "We can't just be-!" "We don't know how many they are!" "-I don't want this!" "Niela!" Among the panicked shouts of the squad, Chirlin screamed her sister's name. "Don't worry, I'm here" Niela reached out for Chirlin behind her to calm her down.

"I don't want to die!" "We can't do this, this is outrag-!" "Calm down!" Kirin's voice has blended among their voices trying to take over their fear. "G-guys, let's calm down" Niela tried to help get ahold of the squad but her voice was just buried by others. "Just calm down people!" Kirin continued to shut down the shouts of her squad. Every word is about being overwhelmed, dying way too early, the plan being ridiculous and suicidal. They grow louder by the seconds and Kirin couldn't think of anything else.

"SHUT UP!!!" Kirin violently turned around, shaking her Lancer almost uncontrollably. Her face wrapped in anger. The squad quickly silenced down, afraid of her voice and look she had just given for the first time. "In times like this, you are supposed to be collected!" Her voice remained loud. "What help does it give with what behavior you have just shown ME?!" Kirin half turned to the squad. "Never... act like that around me, you understand?" Kirin asked but the squad was too afraid to say anything.

But Kirin turned to glare at them and they are forced to let out a reply. "Kirin, good heavens..." Lonara's voice snapped Kirin out of it. Kirin grunts. "That will teach them" She said in low voice before taking a deep breath. "Hey, have you heard of any surgeons panicking during surgeries?" She asked but no one replied. "Nothing right? Not only because they are taught to control themselves, they know that panicking will only make them fail their job and cost a life. Even in the movies, you see none of the surgeons performing surgeries are in any state of fear. They are CALM. That sure as hell applies to the military. Acting like that will only lead you to unnecessary outcomes" Lonara waited for her to finish before speaking up.

"Kirin?" She called. Kirin took a deep breath before responding. "Yes?" She got rid of her tensions and started listening. "We can see that you are nearing the outpost, you should be hearing them in the distance" Just like she said, they can hear the battles ahead. "Yeah. So, that's final? We are going there, taking advantage of the chaos, and making our way to the portal?" Kirin asked. "Yes, but if you can think of anything else, feel free to do it. I have sent the Gallant halfway there so don't forget about it" Lonara said.

After some thinking, Sterling spoke up. "Wait... If we get rid of the portal, how will we run away with all the Zakana around?" She asked. "With our Lancers obviously" Kirin replied. "You're not backing out of our original plan, are you?" She asked and Sterling shook her head. "How many are there?" She asked and Kirin let Lonara answer. "There are... countless" Her answer surprised the squad again. "It's like they have been plotting this for a while, it's not just any wandering Zakana's attack" She added. "Really?" Kirin thinks of something. "Yes. The numbers. It's an attack on the outpost. You know what I mean, right Kirin?" Lonara said. "Yeah, yeah, I know. We're not the only one who's planning an attack on the outpost" Kirin nodded.

"Squad, I know this is scary for you" Lonara talked to the squad. "But with Kirin leading you, you're our only option, especially that you are already in there. Now that it is verified about the Zakana's activities, every soldier in the base had to stay here than ever and defend. We need every resource we had to keep this base from being overrun" She said. "Put trust on Kirin's eyes. Those saved many lives of our soldiers during her times at the field" She added. "What'd I tell you?" Kirin turned to them, smirking.

Not long ago before the sands started to shake more aggressively. Kirin ordered the squad to disembark from their Lancers and walk up ahead. After a while, they got into a dune and peeked up ahead. The outpost is glowing with gunfire with the Zakana's frenzied growls all around. Numerous Zakana creatures are surrounding the outpost, with the Narukh'za fending them off. While the soldiers are preventing the rest of the creatures from getting in, there are some who got in and are being dealt with by some other soldiers inside. The armors are scattered around, broken away from their formations. The sight is a complete disaster. From the distance, they can see the Narukh'za are shaken by the Zakana's attack. With no help coming from the outside, the soldiers' only hope is the portal, which is continuously letting out numbers of troops and some armors.

"There are too many..." Chirlin said. "S-shouldn't we just use the Gallant to destroy that portal?" She asked. "The portal is in the middle of the outpost. We didn't find any angle for the Gallant to shoot it from afar" Lonara responded. "This is why we sent you to get in there instead of just escorting the Gallant on the way there" She added. "We can't also afford to cause the Zakana's attention while we are still out there. If we fire the Gallant right now, they will come to us. The tank doesn't have much defense" Kirin added in. The squad felt down.

"It's too risky for the Gallant now. You need to get inside the outpost without attracting the whole horde" Lonara said. "They're right, Chirlin. With the Zakana attacking, we can't risk being overwhelmed by them with the Gallant's cannon" Niela said to her sister. Chirlin felt disappointed but understood the situation. Kirin thinks for a second before speaking up. "Alright. That's the plan. We waltz in with our Lancers, shooting some Zakana and Narukh'za on the way there. Once we're in, we get out of our Lancers and proceed on foot towards the portal" Kirin finalized their strategy.

"Yes, that's the plan. Use your eyes to destroy that portal, Kirin" Lonara agreed. "Yeah, I will" Kirin nodded. She then watched ahead. The situation is the same. Both sides are being reinforced countlessly, but Kirin noticed that the Zakana are way faster at doing so. "Alright, only one shot. We get into trouble getting in, we retreat. If we succeed, we go along with our plan, got it?" Kirin told the squad and they reply with a yes. "Good luck, squad. We will await your return" Lonara gave her good lucks and the call is terminated.

"Alright, let's get back to our Lancers" Kirin and the squad walked back to their Lancers. Once they are ready, Kirin made sure of the squad. "This is it. No one can chicken out now. We're gonna go fast and straight. I will go as fast as this baby can be, so make sure not to stray. Stay behind me and Niela, and make sure you don't bump into each other, got it?" She said and they nodded. "No one panic. Just follow me, shoot anything that seems like blocking your way" She added. Kirin looked at them for a second.

"Niela?" She called. "Yes, I'm ready..." Despite her words, she seemed very nervous. "Alright, just do what I said and I will tell you what to do next after we're in" Kirin nodded and started driving ahead. The squad jumped in surprise at how fast she flew off. "Let's go!" Niela drove ahead and the squad followed quickly. Launching themselves at the top of the dune, they saw the wide numbers of Zakana surrounding the outpost. Terra almost lose control of her Lancer when they got into the sands.

They didn't waste any time and quickly drove ahead with Niela. They quickly closed their distance with the Zakana. While some are busy focusing on the Narukh'za, there are some who noticed their arrivals. The alarmed Zakana turned to them, some of them are close enough to engage them. Chirlin helped her sister get her Slayer from her back. "Chirlin, you can use your Resolver too! Guys! Get your guns out now!" Niela shouted through the chaos ahead. They heard her just enough and got their weapons out.

"I shoot the ones in the front, you shoot in our side" Niela said to Chirlin and she nodded. As Kirin has already gone through, the squad's path is a bit cleared, but some Zakana are able to block them. Using only her one hand, Niela aims at the Zakana ahead. "I can't let go of the Lancer!" She's afraid of losing control of the Lancer and falling at the sands with Zakana around.

With a Zakana closing in fast, Niela fires her Slayer. The shot was fortunate, it went through the creature's head. Niela almost loses her rifle. "Niela! You can set it to single fire if you can't handle the auto!" Despite Chirlin's help, Niela is too busy to bother looking at her rifle. She readies herself for the recoil of her rifle with a single hand. A Ranger turned to them and quickly charged its acid.

"Niela! Shoot that one with the green belly!" Chirlin saw the color while peeking ahead. Niela slowly aimed to the left and fires without hesitation. The shot lands on the creature's bloating intestine and explodes. Acids gathered inside the intestine now burst out, some splattered on Niela's arm. She screams in fear of the acid burning through the suit and through her skin and flesh. "I'm in! What's going on, Niela?!" Kirin's voice came through her suit.

"I-I got some of the acids on my arm!" She shouted as she fires ahead. "Don't worry, the suit will protect you from the acid! It would take three fully charged spit of a Ranger to melt our suits" Kirin reassured her. Right after Kirin's words, Niela saw a Scratcher readying itself to fire at her. Within the very small time, she figured that it would be best to duck than try to aim and shoot at it. As she did, she heard the whistle of the sharp projectile flying past above them just as she ducked.

Niela shoots the Scratcher as soon as she raised herself up, but the shot landed on its leg and is still alive. As their Lancer drove past, the Scratcher jumped towards them. Chirlin was able to see it above them before it was shot down from behind. Sterling shot the leaping Scratcher.

The squad forced itself through the hordes of Zakana, sticking close together in a formation and firing from all sides. Fortunately, there were fewer Zakana that chased them, they are able to reach the outpost past its defense unscathed.

Once they're in, Kirin called for them. She was hiding behind a building's fallen rubble blocking the path, serving as her cover. "Move to cover, come on!" There were bullets flying past through them, making them panic and jump out of their Lancers. They scurried to the rubble.

"Good, we're here. We can't stay here for too long. They are everywhere" Kirin then raised from cover and fires her Resolver, hitting a soldier's head. Even behind the rubble, she looked straight ahead as if she can see what's going on ahead, her eyes are wandering around. She quickly stood up and shot two times, taking down two soldiers. "Miss Kirin, behind us!" Niela shouted, aiming down sights.

Niela fired, and the squad fired along. There are enemy soldiers averting their focus to them. "Deal with them! I'm trying to make an opening for us!" Kirin said. The squad continues to gun down any soldier heading their way. While the soldiers are alerted of their presence, the Zakana outside kept them from dealing with them. Only a few soldiers are able to turn away to face them, which are shot dead by the squad.

The soldiers are easily dealt with as they are fazed by the situation and in the open. There were no more soldiers from behind. Kirin was able to focus ahead of them. Using her eyes, she was able to take down multiple soldiers within a small time. "When I say go, bring yourselves up and fire a few rounds to the enemies and quickly hide back" Kirin told the squad. With Kirin guiding the squad whenever they can fire, they are able to shoot down a good amount of soldiers ahead.

Kirin scanned ahead, counting the enemies. "And... Go, go! Let's go!" Kirin shouted and jumped over the rubble. The squad was quick to react and jumped above the rubble as quickly as they can. While following Kirin, they fired their weapon on the move. After sprinting ahead, Kirin stops briefly and looked above to their right. Her eyes lit up and quickly fired her laser to the building in their right.

The building collapsed, with some of its debris falling down to their path. "Duck to cover!" Kirin immediately threw herself down the ground and crawl towards the rubbles, the squad followed. "Tell me you saw the portal ahead!" Kirin shouted. Ahead of them was a round-shaped structure that is as tall as the other buildings around them. It was emitting a red and white light inside of its circle with Narukh'za coming out. "That's the portal, just two more push and I can get the distance for my laser to burn through that thing!" Kirin shouted.

As they have advanced ahead, the chaos is starting to set in. Narukh'za and the Zakana are fighting deeper in the outpost, but the Narukh'za is able to form a defensive line in the squad's direction. "Of all the Zakana around us, they are still able to afford to stay in there to shoot us?!" Sterling shouted. "That's the Narukh'za for you! They will do absolutely everything" Kirin shouted back.

The soldiers that were guarding their rear had started to retreat towards them, but they were too busy with the Zakana to deal with them. As soon as they are in position, they quickly faced the Zakana. "Those soldiers are going to shoot us if they get closer!" Niela saw them. "Keep firing ahead! We're gonna do the same thing as before!" Kirin said as she peeks to sneak a fire. "Should we fire at them?" Niela asked.

Kirin sat still and looked at her for a second. "Your call" Then focused back ahead. "We can't do that! We will be helping the Zakana get in and kill us" Sterling objected. "Return fire, then!" Chirlin shouted and they nodded. It took them a while to get a clearing, the soldiers behind them have started to retreat again, closing the distance between the squad. More time has passed, the soldiers had to retreat again.

Some of them opened fire at the squad, making the squad panic. They quickly shoot back, hitting the soldiers who have turned to them to shoot. Every kill brings the soldiers' attention near them and turning to shoot at them, some refused to face away from the Zakana. "Screw it, let's make a run for it!" Kirin told the squad before jumping over the rubbles. The squad desperately follows.

"Hide behind the buildings!" Kirin shouted and ran to a building to her right. The squad splits up to hide behind a building on either side. Terra and the sisters ran to the right with Kirin. "Stay put, you two in there. I will-" Kirin was interrupted by Sterling's shooting. There are Scratchers heading their way. "Need a hand here!" Sterling called as she watches their back.

"Niela, Terra, support them from here! I will find us a way ahead!" "How about me?!" Chirlin immediately questioned her order. "You stay with them and fire at any enemies" Kirin then disappeared to circle around the building. From their building, the three started firing towards Sterling and Marve's direction, helping them fend off any Zakana coming their way.

Meanwhile, Kirin had already taken five soldiers down ahead of them. All of a sudden, fast small acid drops started raining down the soldiers followed by fierce growls. "Ravens...!" Kirin saw multiple Ravens flying past the Narukh'za's defensive line.

Ravens are how every Kryok's people call the Zakana's small flying creatures. Its small body with two wings with coarse feathers has variants of colors between dark brown to black. It has a long and pointy poisonous beak as its main attack method, either by pecking or spitting acids to its target.

With the Ravens distracting the soldiers ahead, Kirin quickly calls the squad. They quickly scurried ahead. "One last time!" Kirin used her eyes again to bring down a building. She laughed as the same trick worked. The rubbles came down to their path and served as their cover. "We're nearly there, people!" Kirin shouted. The squad got slightly relieved. The portal was right there.

"Just give me-!" Kirin got interrupted by a loud engine coming from the portal. With her peeking up, she saw a Devastator driving out of the portal. "Shit...! Averthos!" She quickly called the Gallant. "Got it, Miss Kirin! We're on our way!" Averthos responded to her call. As the call finished, the Devastator slowly advanced towards them.

"It's coming this way, Miss Kirin!" Niela shouted out of fear. "Stay put! I will destroy it!" Kirin prepared her eyes to fire again. Once charged, she quickly stood up but didn't fire. The Devastator diverted to the left, heading outside the outpost. Kirin went back down in relief. "Damn... Alright, that's it. I'm taking my chances here!" She charged up her eyes once more and stood up.

On the corner of her eyes, she saw a red figure just in front of her to the right. But she gave no attention and pushed her eyes to strengthen her laser. As she does, she saw the figure slowly turn into someone. With anxiousness, she kept steady.