He heard a crash in the distance. Beyond the buildings, the ship landed somewhere in the thick foliage of the swamp. The ground shuddered with the weight of it. He assumed it was a hard landing. Thorann glanced back and saw he was being followed closely by Doc, and behind him was the recruit.
Gunfire stopped him in his tracks. Instinctively he ducked. It wasn't the ship, it was far closer. It didn't sound right either. The ship's turret was more like a swarm of insects. While the shots that rang out were lazier, the bullets churned out at a slower rate.
"Thorann, Triskani in the base!" Doc shouted. "Dead ahead!"
In his haste, he didn't even notice the slow methodical movement of the enemy. They were scaled creatures that completely blended into their mud-soaked habitat.
"Get to cover!" Thorann shouted as he ran toward a large stack of crates and old canisters.
He jumped and slid through the slick mud, sliding into position behind cover and soon was joined by Doc and the recruit.
"We need to get past them," Doc complained.
As he did they fired upon them. The bullets pinged against their cover while more than a few shots landed against the mud. One shot cut through the noise of their weapons and stopped their barrage.
Hissing and complaints in their own tongue ensued. Then, as quick as the taunts started, they were cut short by another shot.
"Get yourselves ready," Lags said, his voice rolling through the wrist link cold. "There are more coming from the north."
"Okay," Thorann said as he gauged Doc and the recruit.
Both of them agreed without speaking, but Doc seemed like he had a few things to say.
The shot rang out, and with that, Thorann jumped to his feet and ran, followed closely by the others. He didn't have to look back, he knew more of the Triskani were making their way in. He was confident that Lags would be able to stop them for the moment.
In between two half-submerged buildings they ran, and as they got to the small alley he could hear one shot. Lags, wherever he was, was ready for them.
The wall that surrounded the base may have, at one point, been high enough to block intrusion. Now, however, it was little more than an inconvenience. Another shot rang out as Thorann pulled himself over it, and soon, he, Doc and the recruit had hit the ground on the other side.
Gunfire was now just background noise. It was no different than the chaotic buzzing, and squawking of the Trisk wildlife that surrounded them. One noise became louder as they walked further into the wilds of this world. It was the sounds of steel being beaten. The noise of splashes. The calls of some unknown creature, fighting for its meal.
Through an opening beyond the trees and bushes, there it was. The creature that singlehandedly downed a ship. Tera had been through a lot in her service, but it was the first time she had ever been bested by anything other than weaponry.
"I don't exactly have range on my side, Thorann," Doc said in a deflated tone. "I could distract it," he said after a moment of observation.
"Nobody is going to distract that thing," Thorann replied. "You saw what it did to Tera, would you really fancy your odds?"
Doc squared it up and shook his head back and forth lightly as his eyes flickered as if calculating his own chances. "You know, maybe not."
"Exactly," Thorann replied, as he looked back at the creature.
The ship was on its side, the door to the cargo hold was closed and it fought to get through it. With each sudden movement it made, the ship sank a little further into the mud.
"It won't be long before it's fully submerged," Doc said. "Then what do we do?"
Thorann raised his wrist link. "Triple?" He whispered. "Bird?" He continued. "You alive?"
"This thing is tearing into our hull, but I think it'll get bored eventually," Triple replied. The sound of mechanical churning filled the silence between each word. "Only problem is, Bird is going to have a hard time mending Tera."
"We don't have time for it to get bored, Triple. You're sinking." Thorann replied as he felt a nudge. He turned and noticed Doc pointing at the creature and mouthing something.
Thorann looked back, and on top of the creature was a Triskani, with scales almost as red as the creature's skin. He looked back at Doc and eagerly nodded.
Aiming his rifle, he ignored whatever Triple was saying in response to the news. While looking down the sights he flicked the firing rate, from burst, to single shot. He weighed the distance between them, trying to account for it. As he was prepared to fire only one thought crossed his mind. He wished that Lags was here to make the shot. Thorann squeezed the trigger and saw the rider's head jerk up as he looked back toward them. The shot missed him and hit the creature who barely flinched in response.
"Easy," Doc whispered trying to calm him.
Thorann looked through the sight once more and prepared himself with a slow exhale. Squeezed the trigger. Again, the rider's head jerked, but he stayed atop the creature. This time, however, he pulled the reins hard and directed it away from the ship and toward them. He missed, yet again. His hand trembled as he watched the thing come closer. Now, the rider was barely visible behind the thing. Its neck was large, almost entirely obscuring the Triskani. The creature's head hung low as if its neck could barely hold the weight of it. Its dark red scales were slick and seemed wet to the touch. Its eyes were narrow and small. Its mouth hung open, showing layers upon layers of teeth which seemed to go all the way down its throat.
It came closer, and only a small slit of the Triskani could be seen atop the thing. He took his chances and fired, missing the rider, and the creature completely. Then a shot cracked the air. It sounded like it came from behind them. He didn't look to see who fired it, he already knew. Watching the thing approach, he saw the rider slide from it and land with a splat. He had hoped that the creature would get startled and leave without its rider, but it didn't, instead, it continued to make its way to them.
