Zero Ground 8

In the Precinct's briefing room, the leaders of the Strike Teams and the Solo Operators were present. The subordinate Protectorates were outside, still guarding the Precinct from any attackers.
   The briefing room was nothing but a large room that can house ten people at once. White walls with blue paint below it, long oval wooden table, an air conditioner which Jemwolf activated, and a white board behind them. Just like the other rooms, there are trails of blood in the floor as if somebody drags a corpse out to the hallway but the dead policemen were missing.
   "Listen up, Marines." Jemwolf says, humorously but he wore an expressionless face and everybody thinks he was serious. "Based on those footage we've seen, it seems like there are three Demonic Legions who invaded the city. A Yokai Clan, a Vampire Clan and a platoon from Black Poison Society Insurgents joined the invasion force. One combo of stupid asshats who wants to take over the world and make Humanity suffer.
   "In the footage, we've seen holes on the ground. It makes sense that the Hell Forces have dug their way out of the ground and attacked from below because there are no signs of Demons attacking the city from any directions. The footages were also witness to this."
   "Sir," Vengeance interrupted. "How did they appeared from below? I mean how did they dug their way out?"
   "A Swarm of Hellspawns aided them for that matter." He snapped his fingers and Blackshot handed him a manila folder full of pictures they have printed from the computer room. He spread the photographs in front of them, across the table. Vengeance reached out and picked one, examining a photograph of a gigantic fly covered in cyan flames.
    "The Swarm of the Seventh Sin." Jemwolf says as Jeth saw a picture of a floating scroll, burning bright in cyan flames. JJ reached for the photograph and saw a huge head of a baby. Its eyes glowed red and just like its brethren, it was surrounded by cyan flames.
   "It's that swarm consisting of a baby's head, a huge fly and a floating scroll." Blackshot laughed as he shook his head. "Reminds me of something."
    "What?" Jemwolf asked.
    "The Starships." Blackshot replied. "They are the worst thing combined just like the Seventh Sin, worst things combined too."
    "Anyway," Jemwolf ignored Blackshot's comment. "We have a mission." He says as he glanced at his subordinates, putting his hands on the edges of the table and leaning closer. "We need to capture a nearby Bus Terminal just east of here. We need transportation to get to the Church which was way too far from here. Once we do, we will extract an Exorcist Priest hiding inside that Church. The Demons just couldn't infiltrate the Church because of that Exorcist. What's funny is that Exorcist was afraid of the Demons too. If only he knew." For the first time, Jemwolf laughed heartily.
"Vengeance, you and your Strike Team regroup with Strike Team Oscar and head to the Bus Terminal. Razorblade, you and your team guard the Precinct. Solo Operators," He glanced at Jeth, JP, JJ and Blackshot. "We have to move to the Bus Terminal along with Strike Teams Juliet and Oscar and capture it." He nods. "Good luck."
   All of a sudden, Stonesharp's radio crackled to life. The Protectorate pressed the button on his earpiece to communicate to the caller.
   "Go ahead, brother."
   "Sir! There's too many of them! We need back up! We've lost two Soulbrothers and a Shieldbrother already!"
    "What?! How many of you still remains?"
    "There's only two of us left! Tigerhound is wounded!"
    "Stay right there, Bloodburst." Stonesharp looked up. His face was full of worry. His red armor reminds Jemwolf, Blackshot and Jeth their fellow Protectorate, Leon or most commonly known as Eric among the former members of the Windwalker Squad which was previously assigned to the Solomon's Blade Battleforce. Jemwolf decided to ask the Bladebearer.
   "What is it?"
   "My team is being decimated, sir." Stonesharp replied as he stood up. "We have to find them."
   "Vengeance, where is the rest of Strike Team Oscar?"
    "They were on a perimeter patrol not far from here. I believe it will only take a few klicks if we moved on by foot."
    "Well what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Blackshot yelled.
                         #

Bloodburst dragged a bleeding Tigerhound with his left hand while his right gripped the Blast Rifle tightly. He was aiming at a gigantic fly covered in cyan flames. He fired numerous times and the fly suddenly burns away. He glanced to the right and watched Spearfire raised his rifle and squeezed the trigger. A floating scroll burns away. He keeps on dragging and dragging until a huge baby's head flew towards Spearfire and devoured his head in a quick motion that his enhanced eyes failed to see it. He watched as his partner fell to the ground, headless.
   With a scream, he squeezed the trigger relentlessly, trying to push back the incoming tide with his ammunition and willpower alone. He prays silently for his brothers to come. Tigerhound's blood painted the dirty road red. He watched as the swarm in front of him approaches; cyan colored cloud emanating behind the Hellspawn Swarm.

The sun has set and the sky was devoured by the blackness of the night. Still, the lampposts lit up as if almost automatically, illuminating the darkest parts of the city and revealing the same gory scenery the Protectorates see on their way to the Precinct. It never changes, Dominic thought. He and his brothers were charging across the wartorn city, surrounded by building literally painted with blood. Shattered window panes reveal a violent scene inside and the storefronts tell the same story of abuse they endured from the invaders. The vehicles were bullet-riddled and some vehicles had flaming hoods, threatening to explode and burst.
    Far ahead, Dominic could see what looks like a cyan-colored cloud. Lightning seems to emanate from within it, streaking like a small stormy weather. He could also hear the buzzing noise; irritating and annoying. Ahead, they could see Bloodburst dragging the wounded body of Tigerhound away from all of the mess.
    "The idiots are striking to retake the Precinct." Jemwolf says as they ran. "Open fire once in range."
    "Yes sir!" They all chorused.
    "Gamma Firing Formation, brothers!" Jemwolf ordered. Dominic was familiar with the formation and they have practiced that maneuver a hundred times but he never get to execute that move in an actual battle.
     As they got close within firing range, Dominic immediately knelt a knee beside Jemwolf, who remained standing. Beside Jemwolf was Blackshot, Jeth and JP also kneeling a knee to the ground in a genuflecting position. To Dominic's left was JJ, Glassflow and Redbane. Vengeance was standing beside Redbane's left. And farther to Vengeance's left was Gasfire, Stonesharp and Rollshot, genuflecting a knee.
   "Bloodburst!" Jemwolf yelled. "Get to the Precinct with Tigerhound and stay there!"
    Bloodburst didn't reply. Jemwolf wasn't expecting him to. The Swarm of the Seventh Sin closes in on firing range and Jemwolf was eager to defeat all of them in one night.
     "Vengeance," Jemwolf called.
      Vengeance glanced at him and asked, "Confessor?"
      "You have recharged the Blast Rifles' energy cells, right?"
      "Yes sir, and we still have five more in case we've ran out of ammos. It lasts for five hours at lowest setting. Three hours on highest."
       "Good." Jemwolf says as he raised his Blast Rifle, sighting a baby's head in cyan flames. Its mouth was covered in blood. It was chewing. "Open fire."
      As soon as the order was issued, Dominic fired at a floating scroll. It disappeared in a blaze of red flames. He jumped his aim to the second one and fired at a baby's head. Three shots to the forehead was enough to put it down. He fired at a fly, hitting it four times and it burns away. His next aim was a floating scroll. He fired relentlessly and it burned away. His other shot also hit another floating scroll. He fired at his next target; a baby's head. But just like the others, it burns away.
    "Keep firing!" Jemwolf ordered.
     Blackshot smashed a baby's head that tried to bite his chest. Sticky blood soaked the butt of his rifle. He aimed again and fired relentlessly at a trio of flies that burns away from his wrath. His aim jumped to the next one; a duo of scrolls. Three more floating above it. He fired at the two, burning it, then the three above it. He aims again and fired at a trio of burning baby heads. His shot stayed true to their targets as it burns the enemies away. His aim jumped to the next one, a fly and he fired.
    Jemwolf let out a couple of bursts at a fly, burning it immediately. He fired a trio of shots each at three floating scrolls. They all burned quickly. His aim jumped to the next one and fired a stream of shots. It hosed down a group of flies, burning them. He fired at four baby heads relentlessly and they all burned away. He squeezed the trigger and fired in an arc, disintegrating flies, scrolls and baby heads in a pull of the trigger. He aimed his left hand and fired a streak of lightning. It hit a baby head; Jemwolf added more power and a nearby fly was caught by the electricity. A scroll was caught in the chain, then a baby head, another scroll and two more flies. Jemwolf exerted more power and at once, they all exploded in a powerful blast.
   "None of you transform to Angelic Forms!" Jemwolf warned. "We are saving it against the Hell Barons!"
    "What?!" They all asked.
    "I sense a powerful Baron somewhere, brothers. Do not use your trump cards just yet."
    "But I am pretty sure we can use Arcane magic!" Blackshot asked.
     "You can, but not too much. We are far from Heaven at this point and we do not have any charging gears."
     "Yes sir!" Blackshot replied. Then he remembered the Mess Hall. "But sir, Jeth knows where we can find food!"
     Jemwolf glanced at him. "Why not?" The Confessor said as he launched a flaming ball at a fly. He raised his rifle and opened fire at a baby head before sending a flaming eagle at a scroll, tearing three of its kind that have strayed too close at once.
    Vengeance kept her aim steady as she hosed a baby head to the ground. She aimed at the next target and fired. The scroll was torn from the center and burned away. She launched a ball of water at a floating head with her hand and in an instant, the Hellspawn disappeared as flames devours it. She raised her rifle again and fired, pinning down a trio of flies to the ground. She fired again, watching streams of plasma hose down a group of flies, baby heads and scrolls.
   Gasfire threw a disc of light to a group of baby heads, splitting their skulls open. He fired again, hosing down a trio of flies. He sucked in and blew a lungful of fire at a quartet of floating scrolls, burning them away. Redbane launched a stream of shadow from his left palm and watched a group of flies get impaled by the shadow. It passes through it and impaled a baby head and a trio of scrolls. He raised his weapon and continued his trigger happy rampage, watching Hellspawns fall to the ground. Glassflow and Rollshot  combined their firepower and concentrated to a group of baby heads. Glassflow launched the stock of his rifle at a fly, watching it explode. Rollshot drew his knife and sliced at a scroll that almost hit Glassflow. The latter nod a thanks to the former as he aimed at the oncoming group of baby heads and opened fire, planting plasma fire in each foreheads.
   Stonesharp, eager to avenge his fallen subordinates, fired relentlessly at large groups, watching the Demons fall to the ground, burning away into nothingness. He shoved a fist at a baby head that had flew too close to him. A fly flew straight at him, intending to carry out a suicidal attack but only to meet the stock of Stonesharp's rifle.
   "Do not break rank unless you wanted to be overwhelmed!" Jemwolf warned as they concentrated their fire at the larger groups flying straight at them.
   JJ launched a stream of flames at a swarm of scrolls, burning them away. JP sent a flaming phoenix at fly. It exploded as soon as both entities collided. Jeth drew his blade and twirled it, slicing off baby heads, flies and scrolls that flown too close then punctuated his action with a stab to the ground.
   In the heat of the battle, a sweat ran across Dominic's left cheek. His finger fired at the Hellspawns relentlessly, burning the enemies for his Lord. The battle, even if it was proved to be too easy under the Confessor's leadership, was wearing him off. It would only take matter of minutes before he broke. Being fresh out of the Brotherhood Monastery, he wasn't prepared for this. He earned his rank of Tier-2  Shieldbrother in the battles of Los Angeles, San Diego and Moscow. But most of it, his previous Strike Teams he had served, has mostly participated in support roles. They didn't saw violent combat nor blood conflicts but only rescuing people and battling in light skirmishes.
   There is a whispering voice in the recesses of his mind, telling him to give up the fight. He figured that this could be the very reason why Strike Team November had been obliterated. To combat it is to hold on to his faith and to love his God more.
   "The Lord is my shepherd!" Began Dominic with shakening voice. "There is nothing I lack!" Between words, he opened fire at floating baby heads and flies. "In green pastures you let me graze!"
   Jemwolf glanced at him as he sent the butt of his rifle flying at a scroll. He decided to join the Shieldbrother in the prayer of the Psalm. "To safe waters you lead me."
   "You guide me along the right path, for the sake of your Name. Even when I walk through a dark valley..."
   Glancing at them, Vengeance grinned at the Shieldbrother. He has high faith, she thought. And soon joined them.
   Not long after, the soldiers of God recited in choir as they prayed the Psalm.
    "I fear no harm for thou art with me. Your rod and your staff they comfort me!" They obliterated spawns after spawns of Hell, burning them away with concentrated plasma fire.
     "You set a table before me as my enemies watch; You anoint my head with oil." The ranks of the Hellspawn Swarm started to cut into half as they fell greatly. Rows after rows, the Protectorates mowed with weapons fire. "My cup overflows. Only goodness and love will pursue me.
   All the days of my life." They fired and fought harder, yelling each lines of the verse. "I WILL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOR YEARS TO COME!!!!" An explosion erupted, engulfing  the entire swarm into burning flames, punctuating their Psalm.