Хроники Аскета: Вторжение / The Ascet Chronicles: Invasion: Глава 14

Chapter 14

Camrad_RIP 07.06.22 в 09:51

The remaining five days flew by at a frantic pace. My subordinates were eager to consolidate their weak knowledge of the major topics, and somehow it turned out that they turned to me for advice.

Camrad_RIP 20.06.22 в 18:56

The time for my own lessons was necessarily reduced as a result of the teacher's busy schedule. I had to concentrate on a few basic topics, considering that there was more and more new material and no opportunity to master absolutely everything. I decided for myself that it was necessary to master "non-core" skills as far as possible. There was a lot of interesting and useful subjects that could bring benefit in the most unexpected situations - for example, the additional lessons with Daniel helped me to strengthen my body. Now I was counting on greater stability and a long period of time in "stretching time". Maybe I wouldn't have to heal ligaments anymore.

Camrad_RIP 20.06.22 в 18:57

Five days, of course, was not enough. It is foolish to expect that in such a short time you can fix all the faults. On the other hand, the time that passed could not be considered a waste of time: now we, the commanders, had a better idea of the capabilities of our soldiers. If everything went smoothly, later we would pull up the laggards but now - just rested. On the last day, Chizhov forbade us to train and personally supervised the execution of the order.

Camrad_RIP 20.06.22 в 18:58

Beerbrewer and Hawk were buried at the base. We were all lonely people - the first group took this quality into special consideration - so there was no problem with the funeral. I, too, would have preferred to lie at the base near my friends, instead of some St. Petersburg cemetery. Maybe because the word "home" gradually began to mean a small room in a three-story building rather than my city apartment.

Camrad_RIP 20.06.22 в 18:59

The night before we left, we sat over the graves. Student didn't show up - he hadn't finished his treatment yet. However, the Phantom kept him informed of our affairs. After the hospital Student would train at the Intelligence Training Center and begin working in the "alien" field - in other words, detecting Nests. So we'll see each other.

Camrad_RIP 20.06.22 в 19:00

"How many of yours did you take?" I asked Wicked.

Camrad_RIP 20.06.22 в 19:02

"Four. The others are early. What about you?"

Camrad_RIP 20.06.22 в 19:02

"All of them. The first tier is a test, the second tier I'll take the best."

Camrad_RIP 20.06.22 в 19:03

"That's a good idea. Wait, so you're going with three groups?"

Camrad_RIP 20.06.22 в 19:03

"Yes."

Camrad_RIP 20.06.22 в 19:04

"Can you handle it?" Wicked had reason to have doubts. It's hard to control the rookies while at the same time monitoring the situation in the Nest. If you work without rest and break your body's strength melts very quickly.

Camrad_RIP 20.06.22 в 19:18

"I think so. I've organized them in such a way that each compartment has one "listener" who can spot the beasts more easily. If he misses one, I will. There won't be a problem on the first level - I'm sure."

Camrad_RIP 20.06.22 в 19:19

"That would be good."

Camrad_RIP 21.06.22 в 05:51

The wound seemed to have had a stronger effect on Wicked than I'd thought. Before, there was no trace of indecision in him. He was eager to fight to argue about everything ready to take on any enemy alone. Now there was some kind of breakdown in him.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.22 в 05:52

"I don't like your mood."

Camrad_RIP 21.06.22 в 05:52

"What about it?"

Camrad_RIP 21.06.22 в 05:52

"There is fear in you."

Camrad_RIP 21.06.22 в 05:53

"There is no fear in me!"

Camrad_RIP 21.06.22 в 07:17

I looked into Wicked's face. The ugly mask made it hard to read his expression, but why should I? The aura was clear enough to express emotion. Anger, fury, confusion, and, at the very bottom, barely perceptible fear.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.22 в 07:18

"You can't hide your soul from me." I think I'm in danger of getting punched in the face.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.22 в 07:18

"I'm OK!"

Camrad_RIP 21.06.22 в 07:18

I just nodded. I'll keep an eye on him before an assault.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.22 в 07:19

"OK!"

Camrad_RIP 21.06.22 в 07:19

I divided my squad into three groups. There was no point in all three of us wandering around the dungeon. Too many fighters would get in each other's way. For me, and for the other commanders, it's not so much about destroying the Nest as it is about finding out which of our psionics have insufficient training. What is missed in the training process. Only the strongest of the "angels" will enter the Queen's Chamber.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.22 в 07:21

"The first pair - Mordva, Maltsev. The second - Simonov, Koltsov. Third: Vasya, Olga, Savchenko. You will work on your own, I'm just watching. I won't let you get killed, but no more than that... So rely on yourselves."

Camrad_RIP 21.06.22 в 07:22

My subordinates stood there with sour faces. Not only was the training program incomplete, but the instructor was declaring his impending non-interference. That's all right, danger mobilizes: let them worry.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.22 в 07:23

After yesterday's free day, when the fighters got acquainted with the Special Forces "escort", the mood of everyone was tense but elevated. In fact, for almost everyone the assault was not the first - the difference from the previous ones was in methods and perception of the world. The first group was attended by almost the entire camp: everyone knew that the new "angels" were taking a kind of exam today. Wicked and Executor went down their corridors first, and then it was our turn.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.22 в 07:24

Maltsev put on Dust Helmet, Air Wall, and Invisible Armor, while Mordva put on Armor and prepared Death Claw. So Maltsev's defense is on, and Mordva has to find and destroy the enemy. So far, they've acted correctly. I put up Holy Armor myself. A new sign, combining the qualities of Dust Helmet and Invisible Armor. It was a bit more difficult to create than any of the previous known signs and easier to penetrate. On the other hand, it took less effort to create and hold. In addition, unlike the Helmet, Holy Armor covered only one combatant. Which made it easier to scan your surroundings.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.22 в 07:26

We moved slowly down the corridor, destroying low-level creatures along the way. Mordva had already used the Death Claw twice, and I wondered with great interest what he would do when his shell was depleted. Would he use the stones? Of course, I'm tempted to do it myself, but I must let the escort shoot to save my strength. Something was interesting ahead: would my companions notice it or not?

Camrad_RIP 21.06.22 в 07:28

The more often you use your abilities, the stronger they become: you gain experience. It was very difficult and painful to enter the mental world at first, but now I learned how to "surface" from the real world for a short time, look around for the presence of someone else, and to return to the normal worldview again. It took me a long time to master this way of searching, though. The psionics didn't even notice the commander's temporary departure - just a short respite after another fight was enough. I tracked the alien, marked him with a piece of my aura, and returned quietly.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.22 в 07:36

The creature lurched further down the corridor, where the group stubbornly moved forward. I was faced with a choice - what to do next? I could simply warn Mordva but then the educational effect would disappear. I could take it out myself, but I had promised not to interfere, and I meant to keep my word. I had to compromise and limit myself to creating another Wall in front of the group. It would delay the alien enough for Mordva or Maltsev to react.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.22 в 07:37

Mordva was no fool: when he noticed my actions, he stopped. The guy looked around for a long time, carefully checking the tunnel, but didn't notice anything. If I hadn't known for sure that the Phantom's men were showing methods of unmasking, the lad would have had a clue. However, he had the information he needed. So he'd have to do it himself.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.22 в 07:38

Finally, the group slowly moved forward. After ten steps, I felt a flash of excitement coming from the alien, and then several things happened almost simultaneously. The creature rapidly pushed off the wall and slammed into the defenses I'd set up. The Special Forces soldiers who were walking nearby opened fire on the swiftly gliding shadow, and Mordva blindly threw a fireball and missed. I was satisfied with Maltsev's actions - he simply moved his Wall to the scene of the fight in cold blood, covering the fighters.

Camrad_RIP 21.06.22 в 07:40

According to my calculations, Mordva now had about twenty units of power left in his shell. Not enough to continue the cleanup. So, we should go back, although the control time is not over yet. Will the fighter notice his weakness or not?

Camrad_RIP 21.06.22 в 07:41

"My shell is exhausted." The voice from beneath the mask sounded muffled, though the aura took on the colors of discontent and shame. "Let's go back."

Camrad_RIP 21.06.22 в 07:42

The next group, the short, black-faced Simonov and the short, round-haired Koltsov, didn't cause me any problems. They worked like clockwork: one defended, the other hit and they switched after thirty minutes. However, there were no surprises on their way. We returned on time and even with a decent margin in the shell. High quality, professional work.

Camrad_RIP 22.07.22 в 14:57

Chizhov was waiting for me at the entrance:

Camrad_RIP 22.07.22 в 14:58

"Maybe you should take a break. The third group is your weakest."

Camrad_RIP 22.07.22 в 14:58