Крип / Kryp: Отряд_3.15

Chapter 15

Camrad_RIP 21.11.21 в 19:40

Now...

Camrad_RIP 21.11.21 в 19:40

Everything happened quickly, and at the same time, Olga again saw what was happening as if perception accelerated many times. The blue glow of the fuse, the soft click of the flamethrower's trigger opening the valve. The sharp smell of acetone hits the nose, misting the head - no gas mask.

Camrad_RIP 21.11.21 в 19:48

The clap of the ignited oxygen-enriched promethium-based fire mixture slammed in the ears, sounding like a stretched 'v-v-v-voo-uuuuuuuuuuu!!!'. Even from the wagon briefing, Olga remembered that this was the most dangerous moment in flamethrowing - the first ejection from the 'cold' barrel. The propellant may not ignite immediately, and when it does ignite, due to evaporation it will be analogous to a small thermobaric charge. Not much, but enough for the operator and everyone who will be nearby. It is a design flaw, deliberately made to pay for the non-fixed ejection (i.e. it pours as long as you pull the lever) and the ability to keep the gun at ready for hours.

Camrad_RIP 21.11.21 в 19:50

This time it worked properly. A jet of a whitish liquid, hitting under the blue tongue of the igniter, instantly flashed orange-yellow. The fiery flash dazzled for a moment so that Olga squeezed her eyes shut and did not see how the exhaust covered the sentinel insectoid. When the girl opened her eyes, the creature had already rushed forward silently and with terrifying force. The still-transforming flesh caught fire, dropping hot droplets like plastic on fire or a candle over a fire. The remnants of her hair turned to ash, her skin dripping in sizzling streams, revealing gray muscles. The humanfly had turned into a veritable torch in a couple of moments, but it didn't seem to hurt it fighting ability.

Camrad_RIP 21.11.21 в 19:53

The chain broke at once. Or maybe that's what it was intended for - to hold the weak human form of the guardian, but in case of an emergency allow the fighting incarnation to break free. The six-legged blob of fire hovered in a mighty leap. And Olga caught a powerful flashback. Almost in the same way, the monster from the 'Ballistic' jumped on the three-meter 'astartes'. That one was stronger than the entire squad combined, but it lost the fight. So now it's all clever, too.

Camrad_RIP 21.11.21 в 19:56

Olga staggered backward and hit her back painfully - the gas cylinder hit Luct, hard and unmovable like a stone rolled in concrete. The flaming creature leaped in one leap - just like an insect - to cover most of the distance from the vent to the group. It crouched on its supporting paws, ready to burst into formation.

Camrad_RIP 21.11.21 в 20:05

The mighty servitor extended his arm forward as if pointing at the beast, and the ugly head with its faceted eyes exploded. At first, Olga saw a tear and a fountain of dark slime, which instantly caught fire. It was as if gasoline was flowing through the monster's veins instead of blood. And then the sound of a shotgun blast slammed into her ears and stunned her completely.

Camrad_RIP 21.11.21 в 20:06

The many-legged figure was still moving, even trying to move, but aimlessly, apparently on reflexes. Only now did the monster make some sort of sound, the first since the transformation. It was more like a loud whistling exhale, bursting through the flames. And, as if to answer the call, the water in the pool boomed. Dark splashes came over the high rims, splashing against the tiles.

Camrad_RIP 21.11.21 в 20:11

"Back off!" The Mentor tossed, and there was no need to explain. It was clear to everyone that holding the defense in the tunnel was much easier, with one flamethrower for each side and order. Olga did not hear the command but moved with the others.

Camrad_RIP 21.11.21 в 20:12

The Priest snorted as if to clear his throat, but perhaps in contempt of the enemy. Retreating, he quickly twisted the valve on the cannon, adjusted the pressure, and raised the barrel. Olga did not see the look of anguish on Savlarz's face and the pained anticipation of something extremely bad. What happened next was something that might have seemed amusing, if not for the circumstances. The Priest shot a thin stream of acid in a steep arc, just like a naughty boy pissing over a fence. And it hit, and on the first try, causing an immediate effect.

Camrad_RIP 21.11.21 в 20:16

The water hit a real fountain, with such force that it tore some parts from the crane structure above the pool. From beneath the black and bubbling surface came a terrible sound, low and lurid. It was as if an infrasound generator had been turned on somewhere in the depths. A growl broke through even Olga's temporary deafness, resonating with every bone in her skull. The Priest yelled something and kept pouring acid into the pool. Apparently, whoever (or whatever) was trying to get out of there didn't like it at all.

Camrad_RIP 21.11.21 в 20:18

"The Emperor," said Fidus quietly and clearly, who was the first to notice how the fat-smelling carcass of the insectoid was engulfed in a bluish-green flame, like the firing of a wire. Then strange symbols exploded in the smoky, foul-smelling air. They flashed for literally a split second, dancing like mischievous flames of acid colors. The next moment, it was as if the lights had been turned off for the entire squad.

Camrad_RIP 21.11.21 в 20:19

And then turned it back on.

Camrad_RIP 21.11.21 в 20:35

Olga fell to her knees, stunned and blinded. A cramp tied her esophagus in a knot, but there was nothing left for nausea, not even stomach acid. There was only a wheezing exhalation as if the soul was tearing itself out, no longer willing to endure the ordeal of the body.

Camrad_RIP 21.11.21 в 20:43

"The Emperor is with us, the Emperor is with us, the Emperor is with us," the monk muttered like a frenzied. Bertha simply yelled, restoring at least some semblance of discipline and order.

Camrad_RIP 21.11.21 в 20:44

"Get up..."

Camrad_RIP 21.11.21 в 20:44

Kryp's voice came very muffled, from a distance, but still it penetrated Olga's clouded consciousness. And it seemed to her that everything around had become too bright and radiant. Is everything on fire already?

Camrad_RIP 22.11.21 в 10:41

"Get up!!!"

Camrad_RIP 21.11.21 в 20:44

She was yanked to her feet like a feather. Maybe Luct, maybe Fidus, who was no weakling. He was two meters tall, the big guy should have been given a cylinder. Fucking bastards, they found a weak girl to load with heavy iron...

Camrad_RIP 22.11.21 в 10:42

A firm hand prevented Olga from falling, acting as a desirable and precious fulcrum.

Camrad_RIP 22.11.21 в 10:44

"Stand still, take a breath."

Camrad_RIP 22.11.21 в 10:45

No, it seems to be Fidus. Luct mechanically reloaded the barrel with precise movements.

Camrad_RIP 22.11.21 в 10:46

The girl breathed and blinked as commanded. Then she looked around, and gasped.

Camrad_RIP 22.11.21 в 10:46

"Kryptman!" yelled Bertha. "What demons?!"

Camrad_RIP 22.11.21 в 10:51

"Teleportation..." Cripe said clearly, military-style. "Part of the guard system, I think."

Camrad_RIP 22.11.21 в 10:52

"I don't get this shit!"

Camrad_RIP 22.11.21 в 10:53

In a few chopped phrases, Kryp explained that in the pool hall the uninvited guests were waited for by a combined guard system, powered by some 'well into warp. If the mutating beast failed, it triggered a teleport that tossed the intruders out to who knows where. Probably along with the rest of the inhabitants of the house. But something went wrong. Or right.

Camrad_RIP 23.11.21 в 08:04

In sum, so far everyone is alive, but it's not clear and probably not for long.

Camrad_RIP 23.11.21 в 08:06

While Fidus was spouting off a quick sentence, Olga looked around frantically, trying to understand why everything had changed so drastically. Someone's dramatic voice overrode Fidus' report with a shriek:

Camrad_RIP 23.11.21 в 08:07

"This is not the Ice Port!"

Camrad_RIP 23.11.21 в 08:07

And then Olga realized - yes, it's anything but a snowy planet of eternal winter.

Camrad_RIP 23.11.21 в 08:09

Most of all the new landscape reminded one of American movies from the eighties about the apocalypse and life in the ruins of civilization. Not total destruction, but a kind of natural decay like Escape from New York. That is, the city itself seems to be intact, but it has fallen into decay, depopulated and is rapidly being destroyed by its natural course.

Camrad_RIP 23.11.21 в 08:10

The squad was thrown into an alley between two brick houses, each ten stories high. The lower levels are boarded up with planks of real wood. Another indication that this is not Ice Harbor. The wood is musty, rotten, and moldy, which means it was nailed up a long time ago. Next to the squadron is a rusted box car with a streamlined shape, coming from the fifties, when everyone tried to show it as a rocket. All that was left of the car was metal and remnants of synthetics, and the rest had turned into a crumbly mass. Frames of what looked like advertising signs or screens hung from rusty brackets on the grimy walls. They were scratched with shards of murky brown glass, like the ones in the blind windows.

Camrad_RIP 23.11.21 в 08:30

The alley was very dirty, most of the garbage, from paper to torn bags, piled up in clumps like cowslips. And Olga didn't notice anything that looked like vegetation. No fallen leaves, no grass, not even moss. Only slimy mold that looked like snot. And if it's been abandoned for a long time, there should be a lot of flora around... But there isn't any, though the humidity is so damp that if you hang out wet laundry, it will rot before it dries.

Camrad_RIP 23.11.21 в 08:39

A flash of rage lit up Olga's brain - when will it all end!!! Again the witchcraft, again the incomprehension all around! It shouldn't be like this! It's all tiresome!

Camrad_RIP 23.11.21 в 08:41

"Fuck the evil!" The girl growled muffled into the high collar of her jumpsuit, just to express her attitude to everything that was going on. By 'evil' Olga meant the Squad too, thanks to which she was once again unknowingly and definitely in danger.

Camrad_RIP 23.11.21 в 08:46

"You are pious, sister," the Holy Man appeared to hear and approve. "Kepp this way!."

Camrad_RIP 23.11.21 в 08:48

Olga pressed her lips into a string, holding back the bursting out of a precise, exhaustive and very colorful definition of exactly where the girl saw Witchcraft, the Squad, the Imperium, the Emperor and piety at the same time.

Camrad_RIP 23.11.21 в 08:52

"We came into the house in the evening," thought aloud the Wretched Man. "So it must be night now. Maybe it's early morning. And here it looks like evening. But we haven't walked all that much..."

Camrad_RIP 23.11.21 в 08:53

Fidus looked at his watch and remained silent.

Camrad_RIP 23.11.21 в 08:53

"It's not our planet," Savlar squeaked out in a droopy voice, sniffing loudly with a nose hole.

Camrad_RIP 23.11.21 в 08:55

'Maybe just a different time zone," Kryp encouraged.

Camrad_RIP 23.11.21 в 08:57

"There's no landscape like that on the Pott!" Savlar cried out in despair.

Camrad_RIP 23.11.21 в 08:58

"So the 'pocket' is local, inconspicuous. I don't think it's another planet. The teleport worked too quickly and carefully."

Camrad_RIP 23.11.21 в 08:59

"If you wet your pants again, I'll shoot you, panic-stricken," Bertha promised as she shoved her mega-gun under the convict's absent nose. He shut up.

Camrad_RIP 23.11.21 в 08:59

It's not Warp, that's good," the monk said, spinning on the spot with the chemical cannon at the ready. Demetrius, showing 'his fiercest grin,' jerked the slide of the submachine gun, sending the unused round flying in a long flight. The brass cylinder jingled, rolling over the dirty asphalt until it stopped in a puddle of some kind of yellow-pink splotches. In time with the tinkling of the metal, soft laughter rang out high above our heads and farther away, like crystal bells.

Camrad_RIP 23.11.21 в 09:01

The group closed in, barrels bristling in every direction. The smell of toxic chemicals from the recent volleys of flamethrower and chemical cannon was literally suffocating, tearing at my nasopharynx. Luke panted as if he were preparing for a brisk run, oxygenating his tissues beforehand. Olga, as the shortest and most non-combatant, found herself in the middle of the formation. In addition, frightened crouched down, so that for a few moments could not see anything because of the wide backs and heads. And someone continued to chuckle merrily high up.

Camrad_RIP 23.11.21 в 09:04

"Sorcery," Demetrius whispered, and the Wretched Man cursed softly but floridly.

Camrad_RIP 23.11.21 в 09:04

"Definitely," Kryp said, as if someone was asking him.

Camrad_RIP 23.11.21 в 09:05