"One foot on foreign soil for an Triknier. A small step for the individual, but a huge step for the collective!" Live feed sent out to all the colonies, victories over primitives made for good cohesion strengtheners. "With the might of the collective we shattered their fleets, crushed their defense and walked their Earth. Today is a historic day for- What's that?"
A rustling in the bushes was heard. Orbital bombardment had been harsh and thorough, viruses and other engineered diseases should have cleansed the rest. Could some small animal have survived? Guns were leveled at the bush. Prepared and thorough, no mistakes today.
"Should we continue with the broadcast?"
"Ah yes. Today is a historic- WHAT THE IN THE EVER LIVING HELL!" Not the bush but from the other side, a oversized wolf sprang forth. Lifted the first man within its reach and ripped him in two with massive claws. Weapons readied refocused on the creature. Blazing their fire straight into it, until the guns clicked empty, magazines having run out.
When the dust settled it was wounded, but not dead. It stapled forward a bit until it feel.
"Another great victor-" With a hush the reporter was silenced, throat cut open. A strange man, pale with dark hair, stood with his red eyes staring into the camera.
"Greetings my friends, who have come to play. Killing the humans, was only your first mistake." The view cut out into static, but screams could still be heard. Cohesion of the collective was reduced.
"What the hell happened to the live crew?"
"Some lone survivors managed to ambush them, sloppy. I will make sure the commander who trained them is punished."
"What was that? Humans?"
"Maybe, but the humans should be gone. And anyway they could not go through our armor without heavy weaponry. Maybe some experimental war unit? If so they should be few in numbers, some additional orbital bombardment have been authorized, then we invade with full force."
That should do it, the admiral thought, if it was like anything they had fought before.
Troop transports with the flag of unity and the collective surged down towards the planet below. With direct orbital support, any experimental units would be bombarded by steel roods from their elevated position. Nothing would survive.
As troops landed and spread out, emptiness was all they found. No sound of birds or creatures could be heard, only wind and waves when close to sea.
Ha, hiding are they? Well it was fine, they could easily take care of whatever was found. First cave was entered on the second day, a full troop walked in, no one walked out. Orbital strikes were made against the mountain. Slamming into it over and over, until it was rubble.
One down, maybe teen more to go? The humans had never given any hints about these capabilities. Probably a last ditch effort, not many could remain now.
The pattern continued. Each time a troop was sent into darkness, they never returned. Each time wherever they had walked into, was reduced to rubble.
"How many of those damn abominations have we destroyed?" "126 at the latest count sir."
Their ammunition was almost infinite. But they needed to restock in the asteroid belt if many more strikes were required.
"Recall all active searching parties. We will restock orbital ammunition."
"Can't we leave some ships and troops behind to continue?"
"Too dangerous, we take no chances here. They might have hidden something else from us. No we move as one, minimize our exposure."
A species that could create a bunch of super soldiers, stronger than anything he had ever seen before, from thin air. They were not to be underestimated. After all, something else might be hidden in that thin air of theirs.
"How's it going?"
"All scouting parties are accounted for and heading back to their transports."
"Tell them to get a move on, don't want to get the enemy more respite than necessary."
Something gnawed in the back of his mind. How had the pale one gotten so close to the reporter. Moved through an entire troop without getting seen? More orbital bombardments were definitely needed, troops they had. Even at current pace they could keep this up for months. If it came to that, he would just request more reinforcement.
"Well? That should be plenty of time."
"One left, the rest has left the planet and are headed for our ships."
"Punish the commander of the stragglers, if they are not of the planet soon we leave them behind." "Roger sir"
His mind was filled with calculations, maybe half a day to refill? Some ships would need to be left in the asteroids belt, once they had been thoroughly checked. Then they could get a continuous stream of ammunition. So they didn't have to do this whole song and dance again.
High ground was truly the ultimate advantage. As long as you were careful, no primitive could touch you.
"Is every transport secured?"
"Yes sir, all ships have received their transports."
"Excellent, then full speed for the asteroid belt. Run scanner at full power, I do not want any surprises. We can grab some fuel while we are there so don't skimp on it!"
"Roger sir."
Asteroid belt soon came into view. With this they had all the resources they could ever ask for. He almost felt sorry for the super soldiers. No matter how super, steel rods from the sky killed them just the same.
"Alright calling from all ships, what's their status?" Nothing had been detected by the full power scan. If the human had prepared something nasty it wasn't here.
"Im not getting any response."
"Is our commlink down?"
"No checking against their computers return positive. It's just, no ones picking up."
"Hello good sirs." The voice was cold and empty, coming from just behind. Turning around, pale skin and red eyes filled his mind.
"What? How? You-" His brain stuttered forward.
"Oh little captain, so clever and smart. Did you think we did not attack your troops in the open, cause we could not take them out?" A deep rhythmic sound emerged from the pale abomination. Every strand on his body stood at the ready, he reached for his gun.
"Oh little captain, I'm afraid that this is the end. It was fun to play while it lasted. Uniting werewolves and vampires are not an easy thing, my congratulation on your success!" He had to stop them now, no telling what theses madmen would do once they had control over his fleet.
Releasing the safety slowly, he pulled the gun out of the holster and fired straight at the head. Hit, it was dead! The corps falling backwards, blood spilling out from the neck.
"Open fire at all friendly ship, destroy them!" Looking over at his second in command, laying in a pool of red.
"Oh no little captain, we can't have that." His eyes expanded, it couldn't be true! He looked down at the no longer headless pale man. Slowly the man raised himself, deliberation and purpose at every step. "How else are we going to continue to play? After all, the humans are gone, what should we dine on now? But then again, to you we are all humans." He said, as he stood up straight. "The humans are dead, long live the humans!" From the pale man, a deep rumble filled the air.
Aiming at the red eyes, he pulled the trigger, again and again. His eyes widen open, breathing shallow and fast, heart beats threatening to rip him apart. When empty clicking was all that could be heard, deep rumbling again filled the air.
"Hahaha, oh you are funny little admiral there. You will be the last. After all, we do need a little travel snack to keep up the blood, don't we?"
With his mind as in a trance, he kept pulling the trigger 'click' 'click' 'click'. Jolted awake, as if from deep sleep, he looked down and reached for a new magazine.
"My apologies admiral, but playtime is over." A deep pain in his neck, his vision narrowed, body felt heavy. "Don't you worry, there will be plenty of time to play... later." Deep rumbling again filled his ears, as he drifted of into red eyed nightmares.