Chapter 244 – Tanis – Cave Base
The feeling in your feet is firm and straight. It was not a simple rocky area, but the bottom of an artificially polished platform.
There are artificial structures such as benches, guard posts, and fall prevention fences nearby. Most of it was damaged due to infection and long-term neglect.
“Buy me some time! Just a moment is enough!”
Solaver took the lead and ran into the large cave in front. At the end, a sealed bulkhead can be seen.
“No matter what, hurry up.”
I and the 4th group of stalkers followed him backwards. As we got closer to the cave, the power of the storm that was strangling us weakened rapidly.
In other words, the people chasing us can run wild as soon as they pass this line.
Solaver opened the control panel next to the bulkhead and began manipulating the buttons. His escort is our responsibility.
“Keeeeek-!”
As the gun spews fire, the walkers chasing them fall. However, new shapes continued to appear beyond the sand curtain.
Things around 2 m, things less than 1 m, things running on two legs, things running on four legs, things crawling like snakes, things with countless wriggling things on their upper bodies.
Nightmarish figures were approaching from beyond the sand curtain. However, you cannot be swayed by fear and shoot.
“Do not fire on anything! “Some may be swept away by the storm, so fire only at those whose approach is likely to be clear.”
The sandstorm grew stronger every moment, and more and more people were disappearing into the storm before they even reached this place.
“Kyao-!”
Suddenly, an infectious agent fell from the sky.
It was a mammal-shaped creature that moved on four legs, and the shape of its legs and the way it ran were similar to those of a lizard.
Compared to the size of a gorilla, its posture is as low as that of a large dog and its speed is fast. It is one of the entities that attempted to escape after a spacecraft landed on Earth.
Tango right in front opened fire, but no one was there anymore. The stone floor explodes, scattering stone fragments in all directions.
Bang!
Immediately, Echo’s rifle aimed at the ceiling and spewed out shrapnel.
The guy had already hit the ceiling, but he couldn’t completely avoid the iron balls that covered a wide area.
Several iron balls went into his eyeballs.
“Kiyaaaaa-!
The once brave assault on the ceiling turned into an ugly tumble.
It appears that the iron balls not only destroyed the optic nerve but also wreaked havoc inside the head. The monster was bleeding from its nose and ears and could not control itself properly.
Pump!
An explosive fired by someone destroyed his cervical spine and heart, ending his life.
“One more guy is coming!”
Beyond the sand curtain, a figure was seen approaching rapidly in a low posture. The silhouette is the same as the guy we just defeated.
I pointed the gun at him, but I couldn’t pull the trigger.
“It moves in a straight line!”
It moved brilliantly in zigzags, but every time it did so, its body disappeared in the blurry sandstorm, so I couldn’t hit it.
“Kyao-!”
With the second scream I heard, it took off. But the sandstorm that had helped him so far hindered him this time.
Whoa!
A strong wind blew for a moment, preventing him from landing. As if caught in a spider’s web, he floated in the air, spun around and flew in the wrong direction.
“It’s okay! Come in!”
Without even having time to laugh, Solaver’s cry was heard. The heavy bulkhead was opening, revealing the inside of the cave.
As soon as I went inside, I took cover on the rock right in front and aimed at the inside of the cave. This is because you never know what kind of threat there may be inside. Robots came in one after another behind me.
“Keeeeek-!”
As the hunted prey takes refuge in a cave, the infected entities rush in. However, the bulkhead closed faster.
Deukdeukdeuk!
Thud! Boom!
Various impact sounds are heard from beyond the closed bulkhead.
The small and noisy sound is the sound of sand grains and pebbles colliding from the storm. What is loud and dull is the sound of infectious agents hitting the body.
This bulkhead, made of an unknown material, seemed very sturdy at first glance. In fact, countless blows are being inflicted, but there is not even the slightest shaking.
“It won’t break through, right?”
“As long as there is no large variant, it will be fine. A guy that big wouldn’t be able to survive that storm outside.”
The pounding sound gradually decreases. The faint sound that was heard is now faint.
I manipulated the camera screen next to the bulkhead activated by Solaver. This is not difficult because we have learned the alien technology on the spaceship.
Like fans after a soccer game, the infected organisms were trudging away one by one on the other side of the sandstorm.
“Has he gone back?”
“I guess so. “I won’t be able to survive this storm for long.”
“It’s hard to believe that no matter how infectious the organisms are, they have survived in this environment for several years.”
“They actually hibernate in large pieces of rubble or in burrows where they can hide from disasters. Our existence must have broken it.”
As a result, I think we should consider the storm as our ally. If the weather had been calm, it would have been a much more hellish battle.
Inside the cave, there are uneven surfaces, protruding rocks, moss, and weeds everywhere.
What looked like stalactites were hanging from the ceiling, and they gave off a bluish light.
If you look closely, you can see that the torch-like things hanging here and there on the cave walls are made of stalactites cut and glued together.
Perhaps to increase brightness in a small area, it was processed with geometric patterns reminiscent of mosquito coils.
“It’s useful, right? “It’s one of the specialties of this planet.”
Solaver noticed my gaze and tipped me off.
Mechanical devices and pumps are installed on iron plates laid in between, and a simple bridge made of iron plates is placed in the center like a road.
A more appropriate expression would be a field hideout rather than a secret base.
There is even a spring flowing in the lower part of the wide cave. The unique scattered light reflected by water reflects and shines here and there.
No matter where you look, you can see only healthy nature. There are no signs of infection.
But the body is there. A skeleton dressed like a researcher was lying in front. I reflexively looked at Solaver.
“I am a diplomat, not a biologist. It’s not enough to guess the species just by looking at the bones. Still, I can tell you that the moment of death was very painful.”
The skeleton shows signs of clutching its neck and twisting its body like a suffocated corpse.
As I approach while maintaining the hip shooting stance, the skull suddenly shakes.
The area around the upper body shook violently and then clicked! With a sound, the jaw joint of the skull opened, and a familiar monster came out from inside.
The main culprit that made me wear a gas mask every time I went out on an expedition, even though it was stuffy. It was an orally invasive infectious agent resembling a lamprey eel.
“Lamprey!”
Before I could finish shouting, the explosive bullet fired by Alpha had already gone off. Drops of blood and flesh are scattered among the shattered bone pieces.
“It’s not safe from infection here either.”
“If you look at the clean surroundings, there won’t be many intruders.”
We continued forward, and one more body came out. He is dressed in an outfit reminiscent of a prison guard.
[Foreign object not detected. It is safe.]
Charlie looked through the clothes with low-transmission equipment, but only bones remained inside. Since the decomposition was complete, the internal danger elements could be clearly seen by just penetrating the clothes.
Mobile structures consisting of large containers appeared in front of us.
It is a container, ranging in size from 30 pyeong to over 100 pyeong, and the inside is tightly covered with a lining made of synthetic fiber.
It is at a level that can be considered a hastily constructed research facility rather than a shabby container accommodation for a small or medium-sized factory.
There are computers, monitors, generators, and storage boxes that are turned off all over the place.
Solaver approached the generator and checked several parts. When the disconnected wire is connected and the lever-like device is operated, a green light comes on the generator’s liquid crystal display.
Afterward, we entered the largest container with an entrance and exit that could be completely sealed.
[Kiss-]
As soon as I entered, a walker who had fallen in the corner woke up shakily.
Before he could even scream, there was a sound of wind cracking and the Alpha rushed next to me.
Whoa!
Walker, who was kicked in the chin by a psychological kick, flies away.
He hit the container wall and fell over with a terrible sound, but surprisingly he got up right away.
However, the appearance of the guy revealed made me laugh rather than tense.
“Xueeh-“
This was because his neck bone broke and the back of his head hit his back. He flutters his hands in the air and lets out only a helpless sound of breathing.
Alpha quickly approached and knocked down the walker, then grabbed its wobbly head and spun it around three more times.
“Sh-kick! Eek…”
After a gasping sound and a crunching sound, the thing stopped moving.
Alpha picked up the body and threw it far outside the container.
“Did you subdue it so that the inside would not be contaminated? “Your soldiers are clear in their judgment and movements.”
Solaver was impressed.
This time, while trying to stroke my chin out of habit, I hit the visor and banged! I made a noise, but they pretended not to see me.
“I see him every day, but I can’t get used to it. That simple movement is refreshing every time.”
Thud! Boom!
I stood in front of the doorway opposite to where we came in. Part of the door is made of tempered glass, so I can see through it, and there is a Sornen walker screaming.
Looking at me, he swings both his fists and pounds my forehead. However, there was only blood on the glass and no cracks.
“If I wait like this, won’t my head break and die?”
It’s what I said, but it doesn’t make any sense.
“Alpha.”
[Moving.]
I moved to the side of the door to get out of Walker’s sight, and Alpha was located a little away from where I was.
“Open.”
[Ready.]
Push!
When the button was pressed, the door opened with the sound of air being released, and the infected entity rushed at Alpha with both hands out.
All I did was sneak a leg.
The walker who fell down magnificently lifted his head and tried to scream, just like all the walkers he had faced so far.
“Chi-“
Of course, it is a very good posture to break off a tree branch.
Ujijik.
Alpha threw the corpse of Walker, whose eyes had lost all light, outside and locked the door.
At the same time, Charlie approaches and bows.
[The atmosphere inside the cave is at a level very suitable for human breathing. No toxins or contaminants are found. We recommend that you receive nutrition and maintenance here.]
Charlie is in charge of not only detecting the surroundings but also managing my physical condition.
Cheeeeek!
Echo walked around the inside of the container, welding or blocking routes where lamprey could possibly invade.
Solaver began preparations to understand the surrounding situation by examining the switchboard and computers.
[Blockade completed.]
As soon as I heard Echo’s report, I took off my helmet.
“Haaa, is this the taste of alien air? There’s nothing special.”
“The law is similar wherever higher life forms live.”
I squeezed out a stick of concentrated food and ate it. I’m not thirsty because I drink recycled water from the suit. The heaviest thing in food supply is water, so this function is really convenient.
“What about you, Mr. Young?”
“I’m done.”
Solaver pointed to his mechanized abdomen, specifically the battery.
“Thanks to this, I only need to consume organic matter very occasionally.”
“I guess I should have asked Artemis to insert a battery.”
I said as I squeezed out the second stick.
“A body filled with flesh and blood is good. Don’t envy me. “God loves warm bodies.”
Solaver grimaced his face with sorrow. He always felt bad about his mechanized body.
“And there is another thing that God loves, and that is mace against his evil enemies.”
He headed to the cabinet in the corner.
“Could you please open this for me?”
The cabinet is locked with chains.
“Please leave it to me. Echo!”
[Roger!]
Since he was listening to our conversation, no further explanation was needed. Echo quickly cut off the lock with a small oxygen cutter.
“Wow.”
When Solaver opened the cabinet, there were gun racks lined up inside.
Most of them were small, about the size of a pistol, and the ones that seemed a bit larger had at best the appearance of a harpoon gun.
However, there is just one weapon that looks majestic at first glance.
Solaver picked it up without hesitation.
The weapon he was carrying had a fat structure reminiscent of a grenade launcher. The combination of dirty white and black gives it a threatening appearance reminiscent of a wasp.
The only muzzle was big enough to fit an apple. What on earth is it firing?
Weeing-!
When he operated the button, the muzzle and barrel changed, like a camera lens expanding and contracting. It became as small as an egg, then as big as an apple.
“Is this a weapon you have used? “You’re good at manipulating it.”
“I’ve used it several times. On the battlefield, it is best to use familiar weapons. Moreover, it will be able to deal with situations that cannot be solved with your weapons.”
“It’s reassuring. “I was very curious about what alien weapons were like.”
Sola Ber saw my eyes sparkling with anticipation and waved his hand.
“Don’t expect too much. “It’s basically a non-lethal weapon used to suppress prisoner riots.”
“Huh?”
“But there is nothing to be too disappointed about. In general, it is a weapon used to strike down serious criminals of all races, boasting a height of 3 meters, as a group. “It is said to be non-lethal, but it is one of the ceremonial weapons used in actual combat in the military.”
“What is the name of that weapon?”
“In Earth’s language, it’s called ‘Thunder Cannon.'”
“Oh.”
It is truly a sound that gives faith.
Solaver placed the thunder cannon on a nearby table and sat in front of the computer and monitor that had finished booting.
I secretly picked up the thunder cannon, and despite its heavy appearance, it was very light.
“Take a short break. “I have to get ready to go to my next destination.”
His eyes stared at the map of the vicinity displayed on the monitor.
He operated a few buttons, and a red line stretched out from this cave somewhere on the 3D map.
The vaccine research center is located at the end of the curved and curved line.
“Bingo.”
Solaver and I spoke at the same time.
