We had just landed, our viper speeding back to base camp. No drones in sight or on the sensor screen. We had two hours to complete our task before the dropship would return for extraction. Our merc security detail, led by a Minmatar named Raz Sidoma quickly establish a defence perimeter as my team set up our equipment. Scans of the structure showed no heat signatures or movement. We started to think the intel was bogus when the ground started to shake, then crack. They were right below us. A 25 meter hole ripped into the ground. Then they came pouring out. Dozens of them, all armed with mining lasers. Those not affected by the sudden loss of footing ran for cover as the drones began tearing through our camp.
We lost three researcher during the collapse, and another two to the drones laser fire. I was crouched behind a supply crate trying to figure out what I was going to do. I saw the mercs fighting about 15 meters to the left of me, the others had reached them and looked to be fine for the moment. I turned back to the hole and was waiting for my chance to make a break for it when suddenly, a stray laser beam exploded my hiding spot and I was sent flying back. I don’t know how much time had past, it couldn’t have been long. Everything hurt as I tried to stand. I couldn’t hear, eyes blurred, I was amazed that my suit was still intact. I was shaking my head trying to clear it when, I was knocked down from behind. Rolling over, I got my first look at a rogue drone up close and personal.
I still remember how terrified I was staring up at it, the optic cluster zooming in on me. I remember I screamed as it raised its laser, heard the hum as it charged. I closed my eyes and waited for it. At that moment I knew I was going to die. But the blast never came. I opened my eyes and there stood Raz, nova knife in one hand, the drone’s “eye” in the other. While I was out, the mercs had rallied and drove most of them back underground. He had a detachment running a sweep and clear of the cave system. The rest of the surviving team was trying to salvage what they could of our equipment, and the remaining mercs were on lookout.
“Sorry I stole your dance partner, doc” Raz said as he helped me up. I thanked him and asked him for a casualty report. Of the twelve members of my team, four were dead, one missing, and three wounded. Raz’s team lost three clones during the exchange and were reconstituted back at our base camp. When the team underground reported that they were bringing back a present, I had hoped they meant our missing researcher, James Castor. Instead they returned to the surface dragging an unarmed drone. They had found James, or what was left of him in the tunnels. They brought him back as well.
The live drone proved to be useless. As they operate in a sort of hive mind, we had hoped to study its comm module to find the command signal. If we know the signals code, we could theoretically send a shutdown command to a hive. This would render them inert and could clear entire systems of infestations. Turns out though that upon capture, its comms to the hive are served, and then the module’s circuits fuse. After we returned to Josameto IX, I relayed to information back to Mannar, along with the injury reports and was ordered to return home.
On the trip back, I realized I didn’t know anything about the mercs sent to keep us safe. My own prejudice and I will admit, fear of them blinded me to the fact that they were still very much human. They ironically personified the very ideals and lessons taught to me by my Gallente bloodline. They came from every race, including my own. Amongst them, it didn’t matter where you came from. All that mattered to them was what Raz called “your warrior spirit”. The hatred of old did not exist with them. Minmatar sat with Amarr, Caldari with Gallente. All equals in each others eyes. As I got to know each one better, I came to what Kestral, the Amarrian called revelation.
They are our destiny.