The hivemind is conquering for me?

”The Castellans will be acting as artillery should you require it. Their heavy weapons can deal with the Dinnac mech too no hassle if the fools show themselves. They are also vital in tomorrow’s siege of that fortress, so if you can take out that big boomstick, we would be very appreciative. As we cannot approach and risk losing our brothers inside while that weapon is up.”

Skaja smirked up at the Knight captain. ”Don’t you worry about that, captain. We look a bit ragtag, but I know our mission will be successful.”

The captain saluted with his sword. ”Then we shall await your return. Either victorious or on the ropes. We shall be ready for you.”

After that, the knight order dispersed back to their own duties, and we gathered around Skaja as she brought out a field map.

”Alright. It’s a couple miles to the slope pointed out by Arch- Sentinel Lambdason. With the reinforcements from the base, we are numbered close to thirty, that is too many for a covert sabotage, so fifteen of us are going to stay behind. here to support the knights while the rest of us move ahead. When I call your name, you are going to be one of the ones staying here. I want no if ands or buts about it. You know I know everyone one of your strengths and weaknesses. So if I order you to stay here, it is for the betterment of the mission.”

It didn’t take long for all the names staying behind to be called, which naturally left those not called as the ones going. Which were.

Myself, Nerissa, Willow, Rhea, Skaja, Kephissa, Tamara, Francesca, Iilr, Greg, Morrgan, Bubble, Vine, Lena and Ulf. Fifteen of us.

Eighteen if you included Sithrik as well as Onyx and Sapphire that would show up when at the fort.

Everyone else would be staying behind, ready to act when needed.

We then began to prepare for the underwater trek. All our equipment, such as the bombs for the walls alongside ammunition was placed in water proof bags. Everyone except Nerissa and I then began putting on grav-gear and auxiliary gear for underwater breathing.

Since my armour could survive weeks in space, theoretically, so I didn’t need to prep and I already had Gyrokinesis I looked around and the knights for a bit. They were quite frankly, awesome.

They all looked roughly humanoid in appearance. two legs, some digitigrade while others were plantigrade , and standard two arms. Some had guns mounted in such as miniguns and heavy auto cannons, while some had hands capable of using a multitude of weapons.

The chassis, the part the knight was inside of, was also where the view port or viewing software was so there was no need for a head, just a mounted dome for extra protection to the chassis.

”Men and knights, all of you get the same look on your faces, I swear. I mean, I get they are effective battle machines, but I don’t get why you get that look of ’fuck yeah, this is the best thing I have ever seen!’ You know what I mean?”

Looking at the woman to my right I sighed. ”Francesca, there is more to it than that. It’s the fantasy of being in the mech, not just because they look cool. It’s the fantasy of being strapped into one and proceeded to take ass and kick names... No, wait, that’s not right...”

My word jumblies prompted Francesca to giggle at me before asking. ”Are you serious? But I know your strength, you can take out a knight no problem and-”

”-So? It’s the fantasy of gearing up and piloting the suit of metal. Being encased from the outside world as you battle your enemies with specialised weapons... That’s the dream.”

Francesca then looked me up and down while I was wearing my armour and gave me a look I could not read. I then suddenly realised she had not changed into the auxiliary gear for the water.

”Are you not changing?” I asked and she shook her head.

”No, I am like a fish in water thanks to my Psionics. I can even breathe by creating a dome of water around my head that I can take in oxygen from it. It’s pretty neat.”

I nodded my head. ”That is pretty neat.” I admitted and watched the knights and the castellans for a few more moments before sighing. ”Alright, time for more war, let’s get this done.”

...

The sixteen of us, Sithrik included, made our way towards the next location. The walking was easy for a while until everyone around me began to make a whirring noise. Locating the source of the noise, Skaja moments later confirmed my thought.

”Dense Gravity pocket. Take it slow and steady. Our gear will mitigate some of the sudden spike, but not all of it. Stay alert for denser pockets and call them out.”

I then probed out with my Psionic sight and laced my Gyrokinesis into it. A moment later, I could begin to feel the denser packs of gravity around us and spoke to the group. ”Follow my steps and we can get through without problem.”

No one protested as I took vanguard. and we made the few miles to the rocky sloping no problem, however, now there was a problem.

”Down.” I whispered and got into a crouch, being military professionals behind me, then all began to get low. I then removed my helmet and looked over the ridge down the slope. Drakoshi. Twelve of them. Looked like scouts.

Skaja then came to my side, saw what I saw and proceeded to throw gang signs to everyone before speaking in a hushed tone. ”Clan Zolt judging by those massive flamethrowers. A scout patrol. We need to take them out as quickly as possible. Apollo, Nerissa, Lena, myself, Tamara and Ulf will get as close as possible before engaging. The rest. Have your weapons suppressors on and prepare to shoot at any that try to get away.

Hearing that I reached into a utility belt around my waist and pulled out a small piece of metal with four spikes on the corners. The metal wasn’t anything fancy, but as I stuck it onto my chest, armour, my armour allowing itself to be penetrated with ease, it would cover my power source for the time being. It would get devoured quickly though, so I had another ten ready for the mission.

Gyrokinesis was very handy for carrying miscellaneous weight like this.

I did remove my helmet however, so the purple visor would not give away my position. I glanced at Nerissa for the same reason, but all I saw was void black eye slits looking at me and I felt a chill go up my spine.

Skaja had also dimmed her armour to the point it was just gold and black with no shiny and her wings were not currently present.

Lena’s hands were twitching. She recovered quickly thanks to the Pyrokinesis healing. Though she was clearly ready to get even.

Tamara was holding a sword in her hand, she felt my gaze upon her and she turned to look at me, she then gave me a nod that allowed me to know her mind state. She was alert and aware. Dangerous.

Ulf was wearing very little armour and his skin was a very dark complexion, making him naturally a little more difficult to spot in darkness. He was wielding a massive Warhammer like he did during the hunt test, only this one had a massive spike on one side that could do some serious piercing damage.

He gave me a gruff nod and all of us got in position as we began to slowly make our way down the slope. We were coming down at a slight angle from the Drakoshi. They looked bored as they patrolled.

From the twelve of them, half were unarmoured, recently too from the size of them.

Still twelve of them, six of us. Two kills per person from an ambush?

Trivial.

As we got closer, the rock beneath our feet turned more brittle and in a cruel twist of fate. Ulf, one of the least armoured among us, took a step and a big chunk of rock came out from under his foot, making noise as it traversed down the slope as we were meters away from the enemy.

Noise enough for the Drakoshi to become alerted . Ulf looked as a flamethrower was pointed in his direction.

”Shit.”

The end of the barrel began to glow before it spit forth its flame. Ulf’s eyes went wide as death approached, but a skinny thing then jumped in front of him and took the stream of flames in his place. He roared in agony as his arms were still heavily singed. He then realised the battle noise had ended. Looking up, he ignored his own wounds and looked at the person who sacrificed themselves for him only for them to be laughing before turning towards him. Her red glowing eyes alongside her naked body caused him to gulp before she spoke cheerfully.

”Be careful, you big ox. You are lucky my hair grows back super fast or I’d punch you in the balls.”