Хроники Аскета: Вторжение / The Ascet Chronicles: Invasion: Глава 8

Chapter 8

Camrad_RIP 13.02.22 в 19:17

A short rest did not restore power, but there was no choice: I had to continue the assault. We must clear the second tier as quickly as possible to give it to the scientists to loot and rid the Student's group of the threat from the rear. We had about fifty percent of the area left to clear. We had already passed the most difficult places, so, with luck, we hoped to be done in two hours. In reality, it was a little longer than that: our group came across an alien of the third level, managed to hide their aura, and thus disguise themselves from our senses. One of the fighters ruptured his thigh and had to go back. A total of five men were wounded on the second tier, negligible by the standards of previous assaults, and all the psions suffered shell depletion. Late that night, we made our second pass through the whole tier, made sure it was clear of aliens, and staggered wearily back to camp.

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 05:42

In all the time I spent in the Nest, I never once had to fire a machine gun - all the time I worked either with magic or a sword. Already during the storming of the first tier, it became clear that the training program would change, and drastically. For example, there would be less time for physical training, and more attention would be paid to signs. I had to ask the Research Department to develop a technique for quickly memorizing signs, to learn magical healing methods from Daniel - a lot of things.

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 05:43

The next day the guys scattered to their acquaintances, I had nowhere else to go, so I sat down to learn a new sign. The Sword of Light, as the scientists called it, was different from the Death Claw in its simplicity, but it required more energy. To my surprise, the rest of the group soon began to gather - their faces were frowning as if something unpleasant had happened. Hawk and Wicked had a scuffle with former coworkers, Whip got into the tender embrace of the Research Department: he was forced to take part in some experiments - Beerbrewer was worried that yesterday's assault had gone without him. Executor and Student did not disseminate the reasons for their bad mood but were unusually silent.

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 05:45

"Perhaps I'm interfering in the wrong business..." My intuition told me that something wrong was going on, it wasn't a chain of coincidences. "But could you tell me exactly what it is you're unhappy about? Specifically everyone."

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 05:46

"I think I'll speak for all of us," Student suddenly spoke up. - "You, Ascet, haven't been around camp today, so you haven't seen the way people look at us. The atmosphere of the camp has changed. Most of the men here are experienced fighters. Some have already been through five Nests. The newcomers are also pros, they fought in more than one hot spot. They were told: there is an enemy to fight, a strong and dangerous enemy. Do you know how we used to go on assaults? In the first wave, there was at least a platoon, in all, at least a company took part in the operation. The casualties were enormous. There's still a four-tiered Nest in Oymyakon, the largest in the country; two thousand men began to storm it. We took three tiers, lost half the men, and now all we can do is keep the creatures from the depths to the surface. Such losses were not even in Chechnya."

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:00

"People went to the Nest, knowing there was no one else, and there was little chance of returning. In the best-case scenario, one out of five died - we had already come to terms with the losses. And then seven boys of some sort arrive, take a support group, and without any losses, clean out the two tiers. This is good, great, wonderful! Now they don't have to go down themselves, they don't have to risk their heads. And on the other hand, who are we? Familiar guys, from whom you don't know what to expect now. People don't know what they're up against. In the Nest, it's simple: here's the enemy, you have to kill him. And us? What can we do? If all three of us have almost cleared the Nest, what happens when there are more of us? They are grateful to us, but they are afraid."

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:04

Besides, it hurt them. They shed blood, they worked hard, they lost friends, and then a small group of people came along and did their job with ease. Yes, we know what this "ease" cost us, but you can't explain it to an outsider.

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:04

"There is also the other extreme. Imagine this: while you're talking to someone you know, people slowly appear around you, more and more of them, looking at you with glistening eyes, listening to the conversation. You try to figure out what they want, you ask them about it... In short, it's mostly scientists for whom you're something of a prize hog, but there are isolated instances of attitudes of a different kind. Some have looked at me as if I were an angel coming down from heaven to punish the unholy. Believe me, that kind of worship gets tiresome and scary very quickly." Student rubbed his face tiredly. There was an anxious silence in the tent after his story.

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:05

"I suppose this is temporary: the initial effect will soon wear off. Our supervisors must have already noticed the changes in the behavior of others and will do something about it. Most likely, they will tell people about our capabilities in detail - to educate them, so to speak. But now walking around the camp is... unpleasant. If you don't believe me, try it yourself."

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:08

I didn't need to search the camp to see if he was right. As soon as I stepped out of the tent, I sensed someone else's observation. They looked at me with different emotions, and during my short walk I was at the center of the attention of others. The opinion of an outside observer was required. Two people suited this role: Chizhov and Daniel. Chizhov was arguing about something with the staff, and Daniel had been disappearing in the Nest since morning - on the second tier he found some kind of weed with interesting abilities. The word "weed" did not describe this half-animal-half-plant well, but the effect was really addictive.

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:09

According to the instructions, entering the Nest without an escort of at least five people was strictly forbidden, but at the sight of a sword at my hip, the sentries did not attempt to detain me. In principle, they could always say that I entered with the scientists, they passed just before me... And yet. So I walked around, looking for Daniel, until I found him in the far corridor, doing strange manipulations over a lump of something slippery.

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:10

"Are you sure this stuff isn't poisonous?" His hands weren't gloved.

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:10

"Nah, it's tested. On the contrary, it stimulates your energy. You swallow a piece of it and you don't have to eat for three days. If you don't puke, I mean. Then, though, you'd have to eat a lot. You should try it."

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:11

He held out the "something" to me, but his hand froze in midair. As soon as I entered the Nest, I surrounded myself with Invisible Armor. I would have put on the Dust Helmet if I'd stormed, but it reduced my sensitivity, and the weak mental effects of the surviving intruders were no concern to me.

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:39

"Thank you, I'll refrain. Actually, I wanted to talk to you, but it's going to take some time. Will you be out soon?"

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:40

"I'm almost done. Did something happen?"

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:42

"Not yet. I just need an outside perspective."

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:42

The guy shrugged:

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:42

"Let's walk to the entrance of the chamber; we can talk on the way." He looked around at the others in his group. "Let's find out who's done here, get an escort, and go."

Camrad_RIP 16.02.22 в 09:08

"I'll talk to the guards, observe the conversation."

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:43

I approached the commander of the guard, Lieutenant:

Camrad_RIP 16.02.22 в 09:09

"Excuse me." My civilian life habits were still in me, and I couldn't speak by the rules. "Could you spare us a couple of men to walk to the post? The other scientists will be busy for a long time, and we're running out of time."

Camrad_RIP 16.02.22 в 09:09

"A couple of soldiers? And what will you do with this couple of soldiers if you run into some lurking creature?"

Camrad_RIP 16.02.22 в 09:13

"I'll ask them to help if I have to."

Camrad_RIP 16.02.22 в 09:13

The officer only now noticed the way I was dressed and the sword strapped to my belt. His jaws clenched

Camrad_RIP 16.02.22 в 09:13

"I can't assign people to you, and it is prohibited to travel unaccompanied. Wait until a few more people have gathered."

Camrad_RIP 16.02.22 в 09:14

I nodded and stepped aside: there was no point in continuing the conversation. I guess Daniel had seen enough. He's a psion, too, I must say - the lieutenant's aura was blazing quite eloquently.

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:43

"What do you say about the lieutenant's reaction?"

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:37

"That's a normal reaction, I'd say no to you, too. If he sends an escort to everyone who wants to leave, he won't have any subordinates left. He has to send at least five of them. After all, orders are orders."

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:38

"I'm not arguing with that. That's not what I'm interested in. Did you notice how he reacted when he found out I was a psion who had cleared this tier?"

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:44

"People call you witchers. All psions are called wizards or warlocks, but you're called witchers. I know what you mean." Daniel stood for a moment, pondering what he had seen. "Is that a typical reaction?"

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:45

"Not really. According to my friends, there is either covert aggression or some degree of exalted enthusiasm when we communicate. Members of your brethren tend to see us as instruments, or creations, but do not treat us as individuals. I have not experienced this attitude, but I suspect that it is unpleasant to be a living Terminator in the eyes of others."

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:45

"I don't know what to advise you." Daniel shrugged. "I'm not a psychologist. My attitude toward you hasn't changed - I knew before that this Nest wasn't your last, no matter what you say. So if you want to talk, come on in."

Camrad_RIP 16.02.22 в 09:22

"That's nice to hear. I have a favor to ask of you. Watch people - how they react to us. Maybe we're wrong and there's nothing wrong. I'll come to you when it's over: share your findings. One more thing. Your treatment methods have interested ours. Maybe we should ask the curators to put you on the faculty. What do you say?"

Camrad_RIP 16.02.22 в 09:23

"Come on," Daniel was embarrassed, "I'm not much of a teacher!"

Camrad_RIP 16.02.22 в 09:23

"The only one I know. There may be more experienced ones among your older colleagues, but we've seen your work and we trust you. Think it over. What are you going to do?"

Camrad_RIP 16.02.22 в 09:24

My suggestion threw the guy a little off-balance, but I really thought knowledge of field medicine might come in handy. If the rest of our group had any knowledge of it, I could only put a bandage on.

Camrad_RIP 16.02.22 в 09:26

"I want to examine that thing you killed last. You know, aliens can heal wounds of any severity, whether inflicted by knives or bullets."

Camrad_RIP 16.02.22 в 09:27

"This is the first time I've heard of it. Is that why we are recommended to use flamethrowers?"

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:46

Well, yeah. I want to see how the "officers" tolerate the effects of psionics, whether they regenerate damage from the signs or not. Tell me, how did it get killed?

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:47

I had to tell him about the epic story of obtaining the sign. Daniel nodded, but it was obvious that he didn't quite understand why we had gone to so much trouble. The Research Department divided into two camps, cruelly ridiculing each other - the "spellcasters" and the "thrushes". The "spell casters" argued that the signs were more promising, more powerful and that a well-trained mage could destroy any creature with just the signs alone. There were only a few problems to be solved - the small number of known signs, the lack of methods for "pumping" the shell, the inability of mages to use signs above the first level, and so on - and you could go for a stroll in the Nests. This camp was particularly beloved by the military.

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:19

"The Thrushes" originally described themselves as proponents of the naturalistic theory of psychic development. They believed that emphasis should be placed on the psychic - to develop those talents that all human beings possess, regardless of the level of filling the shell. Empathy, telekinesis, accelerated regeneration, accelerated metabolism, and other ways of controlling one's own body and consciousness were among the most promising areas of psionics development. Of course, it took a lot longer for a non-psion to master the basic skills, but in the long run, you could get a nation of weak mages. Not even capable of mastering the signs. The theory had more than enough merit, but the lack of instant results weakened the Thrushes' position in the eyes of the authorities. It was necessary to destroy the Nests now, and resources for long-term directions were allocated on the residual principle. However, after the declassification of the Invasion, everything could change.

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:16

Gradually the supporters of the naturalistic theory were renamed "naturalists," then they became "young naturalists," then they became "children of Drozdov" - remember the old "In the Animal World" and its permanent host - and finally they stopped at "thrushes".
T.N.

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:17

In my opinion, the truth is somewhere in the middle. We look for aliens using psychics, but we kill them using signs. Daniel treated Beerbrewer by stimulating regeneration, but he took energy from his shell. The signs are more effective and don't require years of study - I'm talking about the lowest level - but the "thrush" techniques are available to anyone with the weakest abilities.

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:21

While we talked, we reached the post at the entrance to the queen's chamber. The decomposing carcass of the creature had been moved away from the tunnel with the help of a winch, and a bunch of people was bustling around it. It was impossible to see exactly how the position of the Special Forces had been reinforced, though my senses registered a large accumulation of metal in front of the entrance to the chamber. I would have to ask Student later how the cells were usually stormed. They won't give the scientists much time, but our turn will come soon.

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:13

"First, a fighter is sent into the cell and throws a couple of grenades. From the cell begins to come all the little rascals, first and second level, usually thirty pieces, but sometimes more. They are shot with machine guns: there are four of them at the entrance. Then a squad comes down. The queen always has an entourage - in our case, two or three officers of the fifth, maybe sixth level. You know how many people they can put down." Student put his hands behind his head. "The first ten men are suicider. That's why we'll go down tomorrow: seven should be enough. That's all."

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:51

Beerbrewer was allowed to take part in the operation, and the group was back to full strength. We still had a few hours to rest, then one last spurt, and that would be it. The Nest would be destroyed; after the death of the queen, all tiers except the first would disappear. Scientists claimed that the Nest did not exist in our space - where exactly, they could not explain. In time, they would find out: humans are too stubborn a race to leave their questions unanswered.

Camrad_RIP 16.02.22 в 09:28

Once again the dark red abyss of the tunnel. I held three signs at once - the Dust Helmet for the whole group, the Armor on myself, and the Fireball. Invisible Armor hung from each of us, Beerbrewer and Student held two Air Walls. The rest of us held Death Claw at the ready. Against officers, it only made sense to use the Balls when the defense was off. The Special Forces were finishing clearing the rubble from the corpses of the aliens who had rushed out of the passageway five minutes ago. We'll go into the cell first, and the rest of the fighters will follow in five minutes.

Camrad_RIP 16.02.22 в 09:29

That's it, time.

Camrad_RIP 15.02.22 в 20:22