Astral's Rise Part 47: Hidden

"Oh you sweet children." A man with a wolf tattoo would walk up to them. "Humans will find a way to survive, in fact. A lot of ex-military people are helping me, it would be an honor if you nine did too." The man seemed grizzled with experience, the crowd of fifty men behind him would all nod in agreement.

"Airsoft. The biggest criminal mercenary on all of earth." Hawaii spoke as Nevada and Minn would point their rifles up at the man as tenfold came pointed back. Carolina was busy helping with the injured of their squad.

Indy held Utah close. If their reports were anything to go off of. He was wanted everywhere for spreading warfare. A mass weapons dealer who trained people how to use his weapons. Ex-military people found him as great compared to their modern no weapon society. 

"Aren't you charged with terrorism and murder here in the US?" Wash stood on his one healthy leg as Carolina helped him stand.

"Law and order no longer exists. If you want to believe that. Well." Airsoft pointed around, the decay of war searing the buildings around the cluster of individuals. "If there was any. You nine would never see me." He rambled on.

"If you knew any better, you would realize these bugs just want to kill all of us. Hiding is the best thing we could do." Airsoft spoke as he felt a familiar gaze glance at him. "Besides, I'm guiding many civilian forces to safe houses." looking at the two still growling at him. 

"It also seems like your upper command Cali and Tex cut a deal with the aliens and a lot of the higher ups to save the state for human refuge. Said something about wanting this person named Astral and handed over all the info they had." The two watching this exchange would shiver just a bit. 

That name meant something to them. Airsoft recognized this. "Anyways, we move out now. If you join us, consider it a blessing to add you to our ranks. If not, I hope you survive, especially that sexy one back there." He looked past all the three standing ready to Carolina who was helping out everyone else. Airsoft and his men would walk away down the next street. 

Carolina would look back to Nevada, before turning back to her four wounded friends. "What's the plan? We can't keep them at bay forever, and even if we could we have to worry about these four. Their wounds are stable, they won't die soon, but it then becomes a problem of constant movement. We cannot move too many more times before we all give out." She would be passing out her rations to everyone as she takes a sip of water.

"We get intelligence, as much as we can. Then we strike at certain times. When we have the upper hand and use smoke and mirror tactics to deal damage before slipping away like smoke." Nevada spoke to them as he passed his rations to Washington, Oregon and Mississippi.

"We aren't alone in this fight. We will be reinforced soon. Who did Airsoft mention these Aliens were looking for?" Minn would scratch her head as the conversation was played back by Washington.

"Astral, but why would he help earth if he isn't here already." Hawaii would ask.

"I have that feeling too. Minn, Carolina and Hawaii, we are going to make a mini basecamp in the basement of this building. Wash, can you still set up a tech tree?" Washington would nod his head as he tapped his bag that was resting on his good leg. "Minn, you and I are on first watch. We will cycle every six hours. As for you three, rest up." Indy and Utah slowly made their way into the basement first.

Hawaii, Minn and Carolina would pick up Mississippi, Wash and Oregon and bring them into the building as Nevada would watch their backs. They descended down the stairs as the basement was pitch black. Indy set Utah down lightly against the wall as he turned on his flashlight.

The horrors being shined apon were gruesome, as the other six walked downwards a shrilling scream was heard. Charging past his team Nevada vaulted down the center stairwell and landed at the basement level, looking in to see the bodies that lie rotting.

"Hey! Hold your pace guys. Minn, set Mississippi down and come down here slowly. Indy, Utah, everything alright?" Nevada paused for a moment as Minn tapped him on his side to show she was ready. Hawaii and Carolina gently set down the other two to be ready from each direction of the stairwell.

"Yeah, one of those little grunt things was here, not anymore." Indy spoke as Utah looked at his shattered hand. Its dead body lay on the ground, such a force to shatter it's skull. It twitched on the ground as Nevada and Minn walked in and surveyed the room, seeing the mass amount of dead bodies.

"Oh my." Minn shined her light on the pile of corpses. Nevada reached his hand down and lowered her arms. The click of her flashlight turning off as Nevada went into the room across from them. Shining his light, nothing seemed weird.

"All clear, Minn get the others into this room then we'll set up the defenses." Nevada told her as the one light shined from Utah still. Minn slowly exited the room as Nevada walked over to Utah and Indy. Waving them to stand and follow. Indy grabbed one side of Utah and Nevada grabbed the other. The three of them entered the room and relaxed as the other six entered.

Carolina would start bandaging up any and all wounds across the four wounded as Indy treated his forearm. Minn set up lights from their store bags. Hawaii set up the door's barricade as Nevada, directed by Wash. Started up the tech tree.

There was two people watching them and they seemed to have a glow about them. They would watch drones fly out of the building's ventilation system as the two hid in the building next door.

"You think they can live?" The feminine voice spoke out as they watched the drones try to sweep the city.

"They do. We are going to help them after they get in trouble." The masculine voice spoke. "I do think they have potential. Their program was that of an elite method. I don't think they will be convinced easily."

"They still have their morals from before this event. How do we fix that?" The lady echoed back to her companion.

"Show them the power needed." He pointed to the sky. "They will be here too, just need time for it to function." The man smiled. They needed to wait and be patient.