Chapter 19: Life-Form Deluge

Chapter 19:
Life-Form Deluge

 

THE MULTI-NATION EXPEDITION was thrown into disorder upon discovery of the Ark. Dispersed soldiers turned into pillars of salt one after another. The N2 powered field seemed to act as an umbrella against this, and the surviving troops retreated, huddling under their N2 reactor-powered vessels for protection. N2 explosives were activated, cutting off escape even for soldiers who’d managed to avoid saltification. Reports came in slowly about how they were being attacked by an unknown force, but their formation had descended into chaos.

“Is that the one?” Endo asked from the Akashima’s command seat. The JSSDF’s mechanical giant currently hovered high over the troubled ground, turbines whirring and artificial musculature creaking as it surveyed the situation. Its spotter, Shrike One, had reported a large number of moving objects over the ridgeline.

“Are the troops…retreating?” It was a reasonable conclusion, given the direction the mass was headed.

<<It’s not human,>> Shrike One replied. <<Although, we’ve had reports of horses and deer being sighted in the area.>>

“I don’t think we’re dealing with any of those.”

Maxing out his zoom, Endo saw animals of every conceivable species flowing out of the ridge. At first, it appeared to spout only terrestrial beasts, but unknown life-forms soon followed.

I have a bad feeling about this.