Whatever the origin, and whatever the catalyst of their return, xenomorphs were now growing again in a region near the nuclear blast zone of the Draconis Major Campaign. The quarantine cordon was not just for xenomorphs, but extended to all civilians and military forces in the region. No doubt there would be some way to verify the health of them in time, but for now, the military was taking no risks in allowing people out.
The Devil Dawgs were given a prefabricated metal house to use as a barracks, with cots supplied by the local garrison. Having seen Private Quinn slip away with the waitress, few were surprised when he slipped back into the barracks shortly after 3 am. They slept in relative ease, however, knowing that the whole town was surrounded by automated sentry guns that were monitored by the garrisoned mercenary troops that they had met.
In the morning, the Marines awoke to find an APC delivered, and mission orders. They had been ordered to move northwest into the forested hills to look for the aliens’ nest. Nothing had been visible from the sky or satellite imagery, and so it was believed that these xenomorphs were probably tunneling and living underground, as their predecessors had done 14 years ago.
The mission was a dud. The Marines found nothing but trees and hills. They returned to Gnissau that evening with nothing to show for their efforts, but were grateful to receive more free food and beer. They also received news that a nest of xenomorphs had been discovered thirty miles to the north. As expected the creatures were digging a honeycomb of tunnels underground, but they had been caught early, before they could dig deep or increase their numbers. A combined team of Marines and mercenaries had delivered an explosive payload into the heart of the nest and it had been detonated. Everyone hoped that this was the only such nest, and that the threat had been neutralized, but the older members of the platoon were not optimistic.
The following day, the platoon went out on another patrol, searching another section of the woods to the northwest. Again, they found nothing to indicate xenomorphs. It was less surprising this time, and they returned to Gnissau that evening with less apprehension than before. Again, Private Quinn returned late to the barracks. But this night would not be so peaceful as the previous two…
The Marines awoke to the terrifying, blood-curdling scream of a woman somewhere outside in the darkness. It was ten minutes until 0400. They rose from their slumber with painful urgency, some sitting up in their cots, others diving to the ground, taking cover or grabbing for weapons and armor. For a moment, silence fell, and they wondered if it was a false alarm. Then, the unmistakable clatter of pulse rifle fire cut through the silence, and a piercing, inhuman scream.
<Tag Everyone>
The Marines of second squad were sleeping in the kitchen of the small house, while everyone else was quartered upstairs, including their squad leader. The four of them, incidentally, were isolated from everyone else when the window exploded inward, showering the floor with glass. In the almost absolute darkness, they saw something moving, as if pulling itself through the window. It was almost invisible except for the slightest reflection of light from the various kitchen appliances, and the clock on the stove. They heard a thumping, the crunch of broken glass, and a faint hissing sound.
<Tag Heinrich, Giosso, Torres, Skirata>
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LCpl. Robert Paulson
