Asteroid Blues

Imperials. They think they know what order, structure, and enlightenment is. I think they are just tyrants, who have yet to see true order or enlightenment. Today, they got a glimpse. I was hired to bring in a cargo of prisoners to serve their sentence laboring in the Quarry, little did they know my cargo was not what it seemed.

Samaritan Uziel combined his strength with a pair of Xeodron Batroids, and took comfort in the support of their Obsidon Mechanoid companion. Newly assigned Nexus Operative Bein had been give the honors of leadership for the mission, and command of a fireteam of his own Unidron Batroids. Lastly, baggage duty was left to a trusty Ikadron. The Onyx Contact force laid in wait inside their prisoner containers until I released them upon the unsuspecting Imperial Service patrol.

Command of the Imperials fell to Hsien Warrior Hitaro and his loyal Haris of Zhanying Agents. Their support unit was a watchful fireteam of Celestial Guard, and their Crane Rank Agent attache, and an Aleph Dakini paramedic assigned to support any who would sustain injuries. Lastly, holding the defensive position an ever watchful Husong Yakong readied its HMG for any resistance that may come from inside or outside the Quarry.

Something caught the eye of the waiting Zhanying, the slightest glint of gold and red on the left flank of his position. As he looked down the viewfinder of this Missile launcher he saw a brilliant flash of plasma fired from the Unidron Sniper. Aided by the programs uploaded by Operative Bein, the Zhanying practically evaporated in the blast of plasma. Alerted to the assault the Husong Yaokong readied its HMG, training it in the direction of the previous shot and unleashing a torrent of fire at the first sight of gold. The burst of sniper shots tore across the field turning the Yaokong into a melted and hulking mess. From the shadows a ninja brought her own sniper rifle to bear down on the Unidron, scoring a free shot on the Unidron before it could bathe her in plasma. The metal slug left a gaping hole in the Unidron’s head, however it was more machine than being, and the cold efficiency of its remaining circuits pushed it on even though its body was dying. The Unidron followed the trajectory of the bullet back into the darkness, and in a hail of fire it eliminated its ninja attacker. The successful Unidron Sniper rounded further around his barricade, bringing a Celestial guard counter sniper into his field of vision. With mechanical mercilessness the Unidron unleashed its plasma, and when the air cleared the Celestial Sniper was no more. Free from opponents for a brief moment the Nexus ordered his team out into the open, pushing for a pile of discarded oil drums to take a higher position. While Operative Bein and two of his Unidrons took cover behind the empty barrels the dogged Sniper climbed up behind the cover to see the Crane Agent on the far side of the field. With its organic body drawing its last breaths the Batroid pulled the trigger, showering the Crane with plasma that injured the warrior, but left him standing. The Crane dropped prone, keeping his sights on the Xeodron’s ahead while dropping out of the Sniper’s sights. Operative Bein ordered his Unidron armed with a missile launcher to take the Sniper’s position, and moving into the open with its last efforts the Unidron Sniper found an angle on the Hsien. The noble Hsien Warrior lifted his Multirifle and chambered a Double Action round. From his point of cover he drew the rifle up on the Unidron and looked down the barrel of its sniper rifle. That was the last Hsien Hitaro saw of anything until his cube was recovered the next day. On the other side of the field the Xeodron’s and Samaritan Uziel surged forward taking up a position just beyond their containers to prepare for the Imperial Service to retaliate. A pair of shots rang out from the remaining Zhanying on the far left of the field, and the injured Crane, with one of the Crane’s bullets finding a home between the Xeodron’s armor plates, and the second bullet bouncing off ineffectively.

Having witnesses the carnage the brave Zhanying crept forward and watched as the Unidron sniper finally collapsed into a heap of sparks and alien ichor. Lifting his Breaker Rifle he took aim at the Unidron wielding the Missile Launcher, now standing defensive watch over the field. Letting loose his shots caught the Unidron by surprise as several rounds struck it, but with its BioTech Shield enhancements the rounds ricochet off harmlessly. The Crane stood, attempting to move back into deeper cover, but this drew the Unidrons attention, and a missile was set loose upon the agent. His training was not forgotten though in spite of the danger and a shot from his multirifle clipped the Unidron, forcing it to sacrifice its life to remain standing a little while longer. The Crane was not so lucky, and a shot from the Xeodron took his life as he retreated. Without the leadership of the Hsien the remaining Imperials were forced to coordinate their efforts to attempt strike out against the Unidron standing overwatch, causing a flurry of fire from all corners of the Quarry. When the smoke cleared the Unidron laid broken and sparking, Samaritan Uziel was wounded and in need of evac, while another of the Celestial Guard had left this plane of existence.

Operative Bein saw an opportunity, and ordered the Unidron Forward Observer into cover to face off against the remaining Zhanying. As the Zhanying attempted to dodge, the Unidron lifted his Flash Pulse and blinded the Agent. Stepping forward the Unidron Forward Observer reached one of the heating consoles, and with a few keystrokes activated the heaters for their zone. Operative Bein approached the blinded agent, and using his Hacking Device he placed a Spotlight upon the Agent to complete an essential objective of the Combined Army. Lastly, the Xeodron’s shifted their position and placed a K1 shot that ripped through the hull of the Dakini, and opened the way for the Med-Tech Obsidon to slither and slide to control the center of the field.