Chapter 29

The moment the first Cerullian breached the rift Cameron was on guard. Feeling the rumbles, and the unusual sounds they promptly left the cavern. After a brief observation from the mouth of the cave, Cameron could see the bright lights.

"What the hell is going on?" Megan appeared at his side.

"Sounds like a video game," Jordan replied.

"That light over the mountain is the same as the reservation," Cameron stated.

At a distance, one could see an orange blur circling in the sky. Only Cameron's eyesight was good enough to perceive them clearly. He watched one of the unusual creatures perch up on the mountain.

It was a digitigrade reptoid with orange scales running up its shins. Their chest was covered in a flight suit that was resistant to energy-based projectiles. The pterodactyl wings stretched out over two meters wide.

Their head was similar to a human except with pointy ears, and a slight slope at the back of the skull. Only the tip could be seen for the rest was obscured by the shaggy orange hair. At the end of the large wings, one could see tiny human-like hands.

When it glanced in both directions for another target Cameron noticed more scales along the cheeks. He was surprised to see it was a woman with bronzed skin, and emerald eyes. After this revelation, Cameron noticed the tightly fitted suit outlined the Cerullian's feminine form.

The Cerullian locked onto her next target as shoulder-mounted blasters laid cover. They witnessed several beams launch down the mountain as the rumbling intensified. Cameron glanced at his comrades with a serious look.

"Get your things," Cameron announced.

When they entered the cave Cameron froze the entrance, and the roof shut. By the time Megan noticed they were locked in. He retrieved his hand and turned towards the commotion.

"Break this right now!" Megan demanded.

"We can't get off the mountain right now, and we don't have time to argue." Cameron disappeared.

Staying out of troublesome matters was Cameron's usual behavior. He had a few exceptions he couldn't ignore. One was the harming of his friends, and the other was the destruction of nature.

Watching wildlife steadily losing their home never sat right with Cameron, but he felt powerless to change anything. He couldn't halt the corporations from functioning after all. Taking on the world was impossible, but this was within his power.

Back at the battlefield, a platoon of Cerullian troops was in the process of setting up camp. Leading them was a large male with scarlet scales named Vel'Tar. Protruding from his back was a thick tail covered in a metallic coating layered with thin blades.

Vel'Tar had a nearby soldier by the throat as his claws gradually dug in. Before they passed out the soldier was hurled next to the equipment like trash. He watched his commander crush the remnants of a Zeta beneath his feet.

"I don't want excuses just fix it!" Vel'Tar ordered.

Tales of a portal have been engraved into their culture and as civilization advanced a base was built around the legend. After a few centuries, the base began to wear, and the reports seemed like a myth. Now it was a desolate base along the border manned by neglected troops.

Witnessing an odd distortion in the center of the base they rapidly broke into the old armory. They found kits with detailed instructions on how to stabilize it. Reaching the other side was a golden opportunity for their platoon. They immediately sent someone through, but they weren't prepared for its effects on the transponders.

'We still have the numbers to conquer them, and it's more glory for us.' Vel'Tar directed his men.

A band of heavy gunners was holding the line forcing Enkara's team to defend. Their airforce was sweeping back for another strike when an orange orb launched from Enkara's blaster. The orb reached the center of their formation and erupted.

Those at the epicenter were disintegrated on impact. Everyone else was knocked down from the shockwave as their equipment was fried. Their allies approached to drag them to cover when a similar effect overtook their tech. Anyone struck with the pulse was permanently magnetized, and any foreign tech in their vicinity was disabled.

"Leave them!" Vel'Tar ordered.

"Now!" Enkara charged out from cover.

Another orb shot towards the rift, but Vel'Tar hurled a nearby soldier. Even with the blast detonated prematurely, it hindered more troops. Not taking any risk he annihilated the infected troops. The Cerullians were slowly being pushed back until the commander charged.

Vel'Tar's acceleration and course corrections were difficult to predict. By the time the pattern was detected his claws eviscerated several soldiers. Another blaster was raised behind him as the reinforced tail whipped his assailant's neck.

Watching the head go flying they began to fall back. One of the Zetas evaded the next swipe but was promptly stomped into the earth. The large raptor-like talon on the side of Vel'Tar's foot severed the spine.

"We don't need weapons to kill scum like you." Vel'Tar declared.

The Cerullians are a warrior race, and their athletic bodies presented many obstacles. Zeta blasters were top of the line, but their speed and numbers were overwhelming. Delta team was almost decimated when reinforcements arrived from the perimeter.

Only seconds before their ambush did they detect a slight odor surrounding them. This allowed them to avoid annihilation, but their forces took a hit. With orders to prevent an incursion on Earth at all costs, they could deploy better tech.

Their hesitation to do so was to prevent their presence on the planet to a minimum. A damaged mountain was more covert than a Cerullian invasion. Several discs were hurled in front of Enkara's remaining forces.

They opened up launching platinum marbles into the air. Delta team hunkered down as sonic pulses erupted outwards. The Cerullians at the point of impact were disoriented, and hemorrhaging as the mountain around them crumbled.

Once the pulses ended Enkara stood up as he eradicated the inebriated foes. While taking cover drones appeared above them in an instant marking their locations. Cerullians prepared to charge out from their foothold but were instantly atomized by sharpshooters.

Reinforcements were a relief, but the Cerullians wouldn't go down so easily. The tactical decision was to render their transporter equipment useless. Delta team's blasters could accomplish this, but not without serious repercussions at the point of impact.

Risk aside orders are orders, and they raised their blasters. The Cerrulians setting up the equipment halted and raised their weapons. Weapons on both sides were charging up as their wielders began to quiver.

Their weapons froze, and those who didn't instinctively drop them had their hands frostbitten. Security teams reached for their gadgets but saw Cameron approaching. Not wanting to disobey orders their focus returned to the Cerrulians.

"We need to adjust our altitude immediately." Enki relayed.