Zero Ground 10

Rajar, if he ever had a face, he would have worn an expression of anger. He faced the screen displaying the face of Kelaes. He was visibly annoyed and angry at the same time.
   "Calaxis finally learned his lesson." Rajar says. "In a harsh way of course. Dying in the hands of those vermin was an unexpected way to die...dishonourable even."
    "He was caught up in his own hubris," Kelaes replied. "Underestimating our enemies as if they were just rodents they were."
     "The Power of God is within them." Says Rajar. "They will certainly win, unless we pour more firepower to them."
     "How can I be of assistance?" Kelaes asked.
      "The idiots had commandeered a Bus Transportation from a Terminal. I am uncertain why they did that. I will be taking control of the Black Marionettes Legion due to Calaxis' death. I will post them across the city and you and your Legion shall lie in wait to ambush the bastards. Once death come in full circle, execute them all at once and you are doing all of us a favor." Rajar says with a laugh that sounded like a bark.
    "Yes, brother."
                          #

Jemwolf had drove back to the Precinct for a sitrep from the Protectorates posted for sentry duty. So far, nobody had lost a finger or two and Jemwolf gathered some supplies, food and drinks to refuel all the arcane magic lost from their bodies back in the fight. Protectorates never get hungry nor do they get thirsty but eating and drinking is the easiest way to replenish their arcane strength.
    Strike Team Juliet was decimated to only three men left, so is Strike Team November. Oscar has only lost one of its member but they are the only ones capable left to guard the Precinct along with the remnants of both Strike Teams.
    "Why did Heaven gave us green guys? If only this was Solomon's Blade, we would have won this fight by late afternoon!" Jeth grumbled. The sentence was true due to the fact that the Battleforce is made up of Mark-1 veterans. The Strike Teams sent with them had Mark-2s inducted to its ranks, which explains the high fatality rate.
    "Yeah," Blackshot agreed. "Would like to see Paul or Cedric take on these idiots with nothing but sticks."
    Jeth laughed.
     The bus accelerated across the road westward, moving past abandoned buildings and dead civilian corpses. The Solo Operators with them were standing across the bus, rifles at arms. Vengeance, Dominic and Gasfire was with them. Jemwolf accepted them when Vengeance asks if she could join her old Battleforce teammates in the priest's extraction. The battle would definitely be bloody.
   "Contact!" Jemwolf yelled from the driver's seat.
   Outside, numerous Black Marionette Demons firing their pistols at them. Windows cracked at the bullet's impact but none gave in. Blackshot glanced at his surroundings. The rows of red seats with white headrests were written with gibberish, such as a drawing of a penis, an obscene phrase written, cellphone numbers and such. The windows were obscured with yellow curtains. Sunflowers were embroidered on its surface.
   Blackshot rushed towards the nearest window and unlatched the handles. He slid it upwards, a pocket of wind hit his face. He slipped the muzzle of hid rifle out and aimed at the nearest white faced Demon. He fired thrice, the Demon spun in a counter-clockwise rotation as its face, scorched by the rifle. He aimed to the left and fired four times at its chest. He aimed at a charging Demon and fired relentlessly at its face. It flipped backwards as it hit the ground.
    Jeth's face was illuminated by the gun's muzzle flashes as he dispensed fiery hot balls from his weapon. A Demon was hit in the face. Its brethren was hit in the hip and neck while the other, chest and face. Jeth laughed as he fired at another Black Marionette, targeting its face by a concentration of shots. He fired more at an incoming Black Marionette, aiming at its chest and releasing a volley of plasmas.
   "Clear!!" Jemwolf yelled as he began accelerating the bus.
   Jemwolf stepped the pedal to the floor, running over a Black Marionette. Another Demon was crushed under the tires when it tried to ram the vehicle stupidly enough. Another one tried to run away from it but the vehicle was too fast for it to outrun.
   After a few bumps and scrapes, the bus stopped when Jemwolf yelled, "Contact!!"
    JJ, already had his rifle aimed outside, aimed at an approaching Black Marionette and fired. It crumpled under the heat of the blast. He aimed at the second one and fired. Plasma whines announces its inevitable death. The third one fired at him. He ducked below as a pistol shot pinged through the window, and towards the roof, creating a hole. JJ cursed under breath and fire back.
    JP rolled a grenade outside. He watched as a flash obliterated a group of Demons. He added more fire at the opposition, taking one Black Marionette at a time.
     "Where are the rest of the Demon Legion?" JJ asked as he downed a Black Marionette. Nobody answered his question.
     JP fired, his finger inside the trigger guard and never leaving. He glanced to the left, past Vengeance, Gasfire and Dominic, Jemwolf yelled all clear before accelerating again.
    "JJ!" Jemwolf says. "You are wondering where the rest of Hell's Legion are, right?" With a laugh, he turned a wide left, giving those in right side a clear view of the Church, infested with Shadowhelm Demons and Black Marionettes. A squad of ten Hellfire Marines were present as well and a plethora of enemies they have faced throughout the afternoon.
    "Darn it, open fire!" JP yelled.
    "Shooters on the left side, disembark and extract the Exorcist!" Jemwolf yelled which prompts Blackshot and Jeth to leave their places. They jogged across the long bus and jumped out of the doors that had opened with a hiss.
    "Oh shit, there's two of us while there's a hundred of them!" Blackshot couldn't hide his frustration. He gritted his teeth and said, "Let's move out!"
    The shooters in the bus provided them cover fire that keeps the Demons at bay. With a charge, Jeth and Blackshot prepared for the worst.
    Jeth opened fire at a Shadowhelm with a high setting. He switched back to the low setting as he fired at a trio of enemies in front of him: a Vampire, a Ningyo and a Bakeneko. He swung the butt of his rifle, stunning an Insurgent which he killed by firing at pointblank range. He glanced to the left and fired at a Vampire. Switching to his Ragefire Rifle, he fired at an advancing Hellfire Marine twice. He leaned to the left, avoiding a shot from another Hellfire Marine, then fired back twice at its visored face. He fired one more shot, clearing a congregated mix of Insurgents, Demons and Monsters.
    "Flamethrowers!!" Blackshot yelled as he rolled to the right and avoided an Insurgent's bullet. He returned fire and then yelled at Jeth. "I'll go around, you distract him!"
    "Copy that, brother!" Jeth yelled as he kicked the ground beneath him and charged, spraying a hail of plasma balls at a score of enemies in front of him.
    Blackshot's eyes jerked from left to right, alert at any advancing enemy. He fired at a Black Marionette Demon as soon as he arrived at a landing that leads to a flight of steps. He ascended and upon reaching the second landing, he fired at a Bakeneko, watching the Insurgent Flamethrower's left flank. Pulling a fist in front of him, his head was suddenly enveloped by his headgear module. Its eye lenses glowed a brightly gold when his glowing irises lit it up. He raised his left forearm and pressed an icon on the screen and shortly, his armor's reactive camouflage activated with a beep. The surface of his armor mimics his surroundings, rendering him invisible in the naked eye.
   Jogging behind the Flamethrower, Blackshot aimed at the gas tank strapped behind the Insurgent's back. He watched as the enemy tried to burn Jeth desperately. The Protectorate simply fired back but the plated chest of the Insurgent rendered the plasma shots ineffective. Blackshot held his breath and opened fire. A stream of plasma dispensed from the muzzle of his rifle and reached the gas tank of the Insurgent, setting him ablaze. Nearby Vampires, Monsters and Demons were burned in the process.
   Blackshot's armor suddenly returned to normal. He didn't bother removing his helmet as he continued the fight against the supernatural and the rebels. He raised his aim and opened fire at a leaping Vampire. Five shots hosed the target down. It barely hit the floor as he whirled to aim at another target. He opened fire at another Insurgent, who was targeting him. Three 5.56 NATO rounds hit him squarely in the chest. Blackshot fired back, putting five balls of flaming plasma at the chest and faceplate of the Insurgent, committing an overkill against the enemy Human.
	Up ahead, the Church covered in grey bricks and concrete walls stood tall with the huge statue of the Our Lady of Fatima peeking over the balcony. She was surrounded with bright lights as if she was glowing. Blackshot nodded at the figure to pay respect for the Mother of Jesus before charging once more at the Demons in front of him. The sight of the statue renewed both his faith and strength. He clenched his fist; mechanical plates in his armored gauntlets clacked in response as he launched his hand, smashing the face of a Shadowhelm Demon. The Demon took a step back, stunned. Blackshot aimed his Blast Rifle and opened fire thrice, melting the chest of the Demon. He detached a Magnetic Grenade and threw it at a contingent of Vampires guarding the wooden West Doors. It exploded, sending bits of flesh and blood and shrapnels in every direction.
	Charging ahead, he switched to his Ragefire Rifle and carefully took aim at the Hellfire Marines stationed nearby. The Demons let out a roar as they spotted the incoming Protectorate. They brought their Ragefire Rifles to bear and began moving to intercept Blackshot.
	Blackshot hefted his own Ragefire with his left hand and took aim. He gripped the Blast Rifle with his other free hand and sprinted, guns blazing. His visor screen flashed red as the Hellfire Marines in bulky red armor started screaming obscenities. They are ready to turn him into ashes. He has caused too much problem to them and they are happy to get rid of him.
	His Blast Rifle was switched to the highest setting, meaning it would lose energy if he wasted too many shots and reloading requires time--a luxury he doesn't have. He halted his advance, planting both feet firmly on the ground. He counted the enemies in front of him; there are five of them, weapons aimed, muzzles flashing hot. He could see the burning rounds inside their huge weapons.
	"Guide my aim, O Lord," He prayed. "Lead my bullets to their chests." He took three deep breaths. The Five Hellfire Marines seemed to do the same. His surroundings started to slow down as adrenaline flowed quickly through his veins. Then suddenly, everything started to move into motion in a fast manner.
	He fired his Blast Rifle at the first Hellfire Marine, visor melting in the process. His target took a step back as the plasma hits it like a blast of holy sunlight. Blackshot fired his Ragefire Rifle next at his exposed face. The Hellfire Marines began firing at him. The Protectorate immediately moved out of the way, rolling to the left, avoiding the first shot then diving to the right, evading the scorching round by mere inches. The other two rounds went wide, hitting nothing but empty ground. He raised his Blast Rifle and fired at the second Hellfire Marine, blasting its visor into hot liquid. He fired his Ragefire Rifle, destroying its skull. He fought to get to his feet while carrying his heavy weaponry and immediately moving out of the way as three shots started to reach him. Blackshot dashed out of the way while taking aim. His Blast Rifle flashed again, dispensing hot ray of light at another unfortunate visor of a Hellfire Marine, followed by a destructive round coming from his Ragefire Rifle. The third Hellfire Marine fell backwards while clutching his severed throat. Blackshot aimed at the second one and fired his Blast Rifle but the Marines fired back. He dove out of the way as two shots almost hit him. There is only one thing he realized--they are utterly pissed.
	"Brother!" The Marine with the melted visor yelled at his skeletal brethren. "Let's fuck him up in CQC instead!"
	"Affirmative, brother!" The other replied back as they started marching towards Blackshot in long heavy strides. The ground shook in every steps they made. Blackshot aimed at the other one and fired, melting his visor also, causing him to take a step back. Shaking his bony skull, he glared at Blackshot and continued, shrugging off the pain that had hit him.
	Sliding his Blast Rifle to his back, he aimed his Ragefire Rifle at the nearest Marine and put a knee on the ground. He had the Marine's bony skull. He fired without hesitation, disintegrating the Demon's skull in a huge flash of his weapon.
	"Die, vermin!" The other one yelled as he raised his sixty-four inches combat knife that looked like a machete in the hands of a normal Human being.
	Blackshot dove out of the way. He rolled to the left, slid his rifle back as he pressed two buttons on his left breastplate. The thrusters on the back of his armor and the legs whirred as they began protruding out of the plates. He tackled the Hellfire Marine, sending him backwards. He hit the ground as Blackshot landed on the top of him. The thrusters began detracting back inside his armor as Blackshot sent fists after fists at the Hellfire Marine's skeletal face. He raised his fist for one final attack, clenching it as before with plates groaning. He launched his hand and decapitated the Marine with a punch.

Jeth jumped over a dead Insurgent as he whirled behind him and fired at a Vampire, burning her down. A Bakeneko was advancing towards him from the left. He fired thrice at its face then once at the chest. He whirled to the right and spotted a Black Marionette Legionnaire. He fired twice before the Blast Rifle smoked empty. Grunting, his hand automatically reached for a dagger holstered in his belt. He felt the blade, cocked back and hurled it across. The tip of the blade struck the Demon in the left eye, killing him. Jeth pressed the release button as he sent the block of energy cell from the rifle to his left hand. He threw it at an Insurgent, shattering his visor. Beneath the helmet was a man with a fearful look on his face. Jeth could see he was fighting for his life not just because he was ordered to do so. Jeth slapped a new energy cell in place and the Rifle hummed to life. He fired at the man's exposed face, killing him. By doing so, he was giving him a favor.
	"Jeth, the doors!" Blackshot ordered. Jeth turned at him, sliding his Blast Rifle to his back to relieve him off the extra weight that slows him down. Both Protectorates charged towards the door. Blackshot blasted a Bakeneko with a streak of lightning that had wandered too close. Jeth launched a fireball at a Shadowhelm, sending him sprawling across the ground. A trio of Ningyo replaced the dead Marines in the doors. Both Protectorates leapt and sent a powerful flying kick at the trio, sending them crashing inside the Church.
	Blackshot and Jeth landed on the marble tiled floor with the Ningyo sliding across the ground. Up ahead was a group of people huddled together in fear. A priest in white vestments can be seen, hugging a child.
	"Protectorates Blackshot and Jeth reporting for the service of Humanity and of the Lord." Blackshot greeted as his helmet detracts to his Battle Armor. "I believe you are the Exorcist. We have orders to extract you, Father."
	"Who're you?" The Priest asked.
	"We are Angels of Death." Jeth replied.