Chapter 163

　　The Psychic Assault lasted for minutes. The waves of strange energy the Hive was emitting battered ineffectually against the Dyson Sphere`s shields before ceasing.

　　The Vore Hive continued to drift forward through space, almost as if they were under the assumption that the attack had worked and they could collect the infected humans within at their leisure. The automated defences of the Sphere soon disrupted that idea.

　　If there had been an observer in the space surrounding the Sphere, they would have been treated with a sight that no living being had witnessed before, of the unleashed fury of the Dyson Sphere, the pinnacle of the A.I. Collectives technology and a creation capable of unimaginable destruction.

　　The shields around the sphere dimmed as the lines of power glowed even brighter. The Sphere`s technology had eschewed cannons or guns, turrets and missiles for a form of direct energy attack that humanity could not replicate with their current technology.

　　Bands of energy, like liquid fire that ran in rings across the sphere, reached a critical point and exploded. A line of plasma shot out from the surface and raced toward the Vore Hive in a long stream. Like a whip, it lashed out at the surface of the Hive, burning its way across the space between them before striking the Vore construct.

　　The line of energy burned deeply across the surface of the Hive, vaporizing a stripe along the entire length of the Orb in front of the Dyson Sphere. It tore its way deep beneath the ground for hundreds of miles before dissipating.

　　The Hive`s surface cracked and shook from the assault, and the energy ravaged the Vore for moments before it could be stopped. The rift formed from the energy whip was a gaping wound on the Vore Hive until it slowly began to fill with black liquid.

　　In moments, the long crack was completely sealed, the liquid hardening to replace what was lost. But the damage was done, and the attack had the unintended consequence of waking the Vore from their slumber.

　　A stream of grotesque and hideous creatures emerged from the tunnels of the Hive. Propelled forward by unknown means, millions of drones surged toward the Sphere. Crossing the distance between them, the shields of the Sphere held under a wave of flesh.

　　The Drones were the first to awaken, their stasis frequently interrupted by the need to work and repair the Hive. Like an unending tide, they slammed against the Dyson Sphere, their claws and tools scraping and knocking against the shields in their attempt to penetrate them.

　　But the Sphere`s shields held, even as more Drones attacked. Like a dark stain, they spread across the Sphere, and everywhere they went, the barrier dimmed under their assault.

　　In response, the Sphere unleashed another ring of energy, scorching hundreds of thousands of the drones before it continued onto the Hive, gouging out another line of fire on its surface. This time, the black liquid was visibly slower in repairing the damage, hinting at a limit to the regenerative capabilities of the hive.

　　But the energy of the Sphere wasn`t limitless either, and weak points gradually developed as more of the mindless drones assaulted the shield. After the third line of destructive energy burned more of the Vore, the barrier winked out of existence.

　　The Drones were free to land on the metallic surface of the sphere. Their claws and rudimentary tools dug into the slight gaps between the metal plates and began to pry them apart.

　　Tens of millions of Drones had landed on the Sphere, and it appeared the thick exterior wouldn`t hold for long when the lines of energy brightened once again.

　　The Sphere`s defences had been building its energy to a crescendo, a last attack before they failed. The lines of energy that ringed the Sphere began to bubble and boil. Superheated liquid swelled up from the long trenches of the Dyson Sphere, sweeping over the surface and destroying anything in its path.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

　　First, hundreds of thousands, then millions of the Vore Drones vanished in the newly formed sea of liquid fire. Gradually cooling, the liquid turned back into a gas, its haze surrounding the Dyson Sphere in a glowing mist that slowly dissipated, leaving the surface dark and barren.

　　But to the Vore, the tens of millions of Drones lost were expendable. Soon, more emerged from the tunnels of the Hive, and this time, hundreds of thousands of the Soldier caste were amongst them. Like an ocean wave, the creatures crashed onto the surface of the sphere.

　　Spreading out, they continued the work of their lost companions, guarded by monstrous warriors with razor-sharp teeth and claws, mammoth behemoths with biological energy weapons protruding from their flesh and flying Vore that could spit acid or metallic quills from their wings.

　　The Sphere was finally out of defensive and offensive options to repel the invaders. Its shields were gone, the rings of energy depleted, and finally, a few hours after the initial contact, the first layer of metallic armour plates that protected the interior of the Dyson Sphere was removed.

　　The Vore could freely enter the Sphere, seeking the life within.

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　　Sergeant Warner of the Imperial Guard watched the crack forming in the street in front of their defences warily from the cockpit of his Medium Class Oppressor.` Fresh off the manufacturing line, Argyle had only allowed the best of the Guard`s Mechs to accompany him to the unknown coordinates.

　　Warner`s Oppressor had its Heavy Lasrifle pointed at the warped ground as it began to bulge and protrude. Their sensors were going wild, indicating that many of the creatures were converging at their location, waiting to pounce after they had punched through the Sphere`s armour.

　　Luckily, Warner wasn`t alone. Over two thousand Light and Medium Class Mechs were arrayed around him, with another several hundred Heavy Class waiting to bombard the enemy with missiles and artillery as soon as they emerged.

　　The Vore may have the advantage of numbers, but the terrain belonged to the humans, and they intended to make use of it.

　　The Oppressor` was outfitted with a Heavy Lasrifle and a PPC that could be switched as the situation unfolded. For now, he needed to conserve Mech`s energy, meaning he would only use his PPC sparingly unless absolutely required.

　　The Guard had set up recharge stations at set intervals all the way back to the Pyramid, but Warner didn`t know how long he would be on the front line. Even a quick recharge took at least an hour, and until they knew the capabilities of the Vore, they had been ordered to ration their power.

　　Exosuited Guard soldiers lined the ground behind him, adding their tens of thousands of Lasrifles to their firepower. With the Vore only coming out of a single spot, it was about to turn into a turkey shoot.

　　"Here they come!" Their Captain shouted, drawing their attention to a black claw finally piercing the gap between the metal plates. The Vore had carved their way through a dozen layers of metal, along with the cables and other materials that had been run through it.

　　Warner`s Mech`s sensors sensed the flow of atmosphere around them as it was sucked into the gap the Vore had made.

　　The first lasgun shot pierced the strange creature`s body, burning a hole through it. The drone ignored the attack, evidently not feeling any pain as it leapt toward the line of defenders. Another dozen bluish-white streaks of energy pincushioned the hideous monster, slicing it to pieces that collapsed onto the ground.

　　They didn`t have time to celebrate as another replaced it, followed by hundreds more. Dozens of other ruptures emerged on the ground, and thousands of the Vore Drones were soon surging toward their lines.

　　Warner and the other Mechs ignored the drones, leaving them for the Exosuits to deal with. Their priority was to keep an eye out for Soldier variants or if it appeared that their lines were about to collapse under the assault.

　　He lost count of how many drones his forces killed, the lasgun fire was unending, and the city was filled with the thunderous crack of lasgun fire.

　　But even with all of their advantages, there were too many Vore and Warner watched as the first human perished beneath a pile of drones, their claws and fangs ripping through the poor soul`s Exosuit. The Mechs were forced to engage, adding their weapons to the fray and driving the mindless beasts back.

　　There was a lull in the Vore`s emergence from the ruptures, and Warner heard shouts of victory amongst the Imperial Guard before they were cut off by an enormous figure breeching the opening the drones had made.

　　A spiderlike creature emerged, its many legs digging easily into the concrete and metal ground as it heaved its bulk from beneath the surface. On its back was a massive cannon-like weapon. Even the Medium Class Mobile Suits only reached as high as the monster`s chest.

　　Warner screamed as he fired his heavy Lasgun, only to see the energy dissipate off the creature`s thick carapace. Tossing his lasgun aside, he pulled out his PPC to fire, but he was too late. A jet of plasma shot out of the monster`s weapon, burning a line across the ground and the soldiers and Mechs in its path.

　　He saw it murder dozens before Warner could return fire. His PPC obliterated the creature`s head, and it tumbled to the ground, only to be replaced a moment later with three more of the monsters.

　　The Warrior Caste of the Vore had arrived.