Heya, happy Friday everyone. It’s ya boy Choujin.
Today’s friday and now we’re entering Chapter Four from our Slayer of Foultongues story. If you need a recap, you can read the last chapter here or start from the beginning if you want.
Last time on Slayer of Foultongues
After securing themselves in Smuggler’s Gorge, Bit and the townsfolk prepare a plan in taking over New Austin. The group decided in a stealthy approach in entering the place. The Acheronites see them and with a quick thinking, they managed to sneak past an Acheronite recon team. Though of course..they found themselves with an extra piece of cargo….
and now, the conclusion….
Slayer of Foultongues: Chapter 4
Written by TheChoujinVirus
Maria?! What in the ever-living hell are you doing here?!” Finley said in shock.
“I wanted to help out, but the old fart wouldn’t let me join,” argued Maria “I helped out when they attacked the town.”
“That’s was defense, not a sneak attack,” Bit said, “What you’re doing is stupid.”
“Hey, that’s Terran spirit right there. Bindi X is my home, and I’m not letting those Acheronites occupy it,” said Maria
The group looked at the situation before one of them asked: “So..as much as I’d like to chew the little lady for her stupid decision, might I remind us that we’re about to arrive in New Austin with an Acheronite convoy that will be inspecting us and will blow the lid of our operation.”
Finley cursed, “shit your right, son. We need a new plan. My guess is the Acheronites didn’t see our weapons; otherwise, we’d be dead.”
Maria said as she tapped one of the crates, “Well, these things are heavily lined, if the Acheronites were using scanners, they’d have a hell of a time finding out what’s in the crates.”
Bit heard those words Maria just said, and like a spark of influence, an idea just arrived in his head.
“Wait..did you say those things can’t be scanned?” He asked
“Well yeah,” Maria replied “They’re heavily lined if they couldn’t pick up weapons-” Maria then realized what Bit was hinting “…then they wouldn’t be able to pick up people! That’s it!”
Finley gave a chuckle as he turned to the group, “Well, what do you expect?! Let’s get into hiding.” He then got on the private convoy channel. “Hey! You’re not going to believe this, but I think we got an idea…”
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The two semi-convoys pulled up toward the city-ship of New Austin. Cityship-wise, it was more or less just a more advanced colony area that served as a major shipping hub between ports and other living areas on Bindi X. Though now, most of the city was occupied by Acheronite forces and their convoys that were more or less using the supplies in New Austin. Once the group was in the city, the remaining air group pulled away now that the convoys were in New Austin.
The two convoy drivers drove the large convoys toward a loading dock. One of the drivers got on the radar and told the group, “I hope you know what you’re doing….”
The convoys arrived onto a large platform designed for loading and unloading land-based convoys. The only thing there was two heavily armored Acheronite soldiers that looked like they were built for combat than security detail. The other was a two-person group of inspectors as they were carrying some scanners.
“we’ll start with this convoy vehicle,” One of the armored acheronites told the group, “If the scanners pick up anything, report us immediately.”
The two Acheronite civilians nodded as they entered the convoy first. Nothing out of the ordinary attracted save for something thudding noises of cargo falling and hitting the convoy trailer floor.
“Hey!” a female voice stated from inside the convoy’s trailer. One of the soldiers turned toward the noise.
“Something wrong?” One of the armored soldiers asked
“You might wanna take a look at this.” The voice said.
The armored Acheronite looked at her partner and beckoned her. The two entered the cargo trailer, a sound of a struggle, and some weapon fire is heard for a brief moment before everything grows silent. Once the ordeal was over, Bit radioed the convoy.
“I’m surprised that worked,” Bit said as the group began stuffing the bodies into the cargo boxes. Usually, they wouldn’t have this weak of security in New Austin, though not many would expect a trojan horse tactic either. Finley dusted his hands as he then asked: “So that we’re in the hornet’s nest, what’s next?”
Bit looked at the discarded armor and said: “We got these..so we can use them as disguises.”
Maria looked at the armor, giving a short whistle at the design and intricacy, “Damn…those Acheronites know how to design armor that’s functional. I wish I could have this.” She looked at Finley with a chuckle, “Sadly, I don’t think they have them in your size..not in this.”
“You wouldn’t catch me wearing that armor…I ain’t no crossdresser.” The large man said in disgust.
“Quit being a baby, Finley. I was just saying it wouldn’t fit your ass anyway. Though I think it would fit another..”
Maria then turned her attention toward Bit, the Kiralin was inspecting his magnum before he noticed he was getting some looks from both Finley and Maria.
Bit then looked at the two and asked, “what?”
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Meanwhile, in a law precinct building, the Acheronites were monitoring radio chatter. The building was a bit ramshackle but mostly converted to serve as an Ops area for the Acheronites in the area. Several radiomen and chatter can be heard as the sound of fingers tapping on terminal buttons, and diagnostic monitors show areas on the map.
Orda walked into the room, which was announced by an Acheronite soldier.
“Report,” she asked sternly.
“Shadow Wings are still on recon searching for the attackers from the last area. So far, no radio chatter from any resistance in the area” One of the Acheronites stated, “The only thing we got is a convoy from some defunct mining area requesting a deposit of supplies and cargo.”
Orda then headed toward one of the terminals and began to check all shipping logs of miners and routes, It did check out, but it was odd that a defunct mining zone would request supplies, which feels odd if not out of place.
“What’s the status of the convoys?” Orda asked
“They’re being inspected as we speak,” the Acheronite soldier said, “Its nothing our skeleton crew can handle.”
Orda nods at the news, “Very well, soldier. Report anything strange to me if it shows up.”
The Acheronite replies with a “yes ma’am” before getting back to work. Orda at least felt that at least it wasn’t bad news to report to the Priestess. Though she couldn’t wrap her head around how a human convoy could give a squad the slip, especially when it’s the 25th Shadow Squadron, one of the elite recon groups. However, she tempered her doubts and went back to filing her report to the Priestess.
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Back at the convoy loading pad, the two groups of ten soldiers were suited up and ready as Finley was ready to get the weapons locked and loaded. Meanwhile, Bit and Maria walked out, donning full Acheronite battle armor. Though Bit could pass himself off as an Acheronite in the armor (save for the tail part of the armor looking deflated (thus had to be removed to not give away that a Kiralin was in the armor. Maria didn’t have this problem with her armor; however, she did come off as a young Acheronte wearing armor that’s too big for her (though not that obvious.)
“This feels awkward..” Bit said through the helmet’s microphone. “having to pull the tail part of the armor inside in order to mask it. Hopefully, they won’t ask any questions.”
“You can always say you lost it in a battle?” Maria suggested, “Though it feels like it’s a little too big around me..”
“I don’t think the armor was tailored for kids,” Bit rebutted.
Finley interrupted the two’s banter before saying, “Alright ladies, the tea party’s over. Now, I need you two ladies to scout ahead and find a security checkpoint.”
“Security checkpoint?” Bit asked
“There should be some security hub nearby. Usually, all cargo stations like this have a hub somewhere.” Finley explained
“Okay, so what about you two?” Bit asked Finley, “Highly doubt, they’ll be welcoming once they start searching for the missing groups.”
One of the drivers reassured Bit and Maria, “We’re going to be hiding low and away until you give us a signal.”
Maria looked at the group before she asked, “Signal? How would you want us to know that?”
“hmm…that’s something you’ll have to find out yourself.” The driver said. Once that conversation was made, the two groups left theirs toward their own ways and destinations. Maria and Bit walk through a few streets of New Austin on their way to what their armor HUD reported was the destination of the closest security checkpoint. Bit was experiencing some discomfort as he was walking.
“Something wrong?” Maria asked
“The tail part of the armor is rubbing my inner leg,” Bit replied, his tone was hinted as he was trying to not let it bother him. “Just have to pretend it’s not going to be a problem.”
The female augment couldn’t help but chuckle as they walked toward the building. It looked like it was a moderately sized rectangular building with the words “New Austin Colonial Enforcement” on a metal sign near the entrance. Some pockmarks indicating some battle just happened not too long ago. The two walked in and saw the main room was had several Acheronites walking about and filing reports. One of the commanding officers walked up to Maria and Bit, her armor was similar to theirs, but it had some emblem adornments on the armor’s chest plate indicated she was some high-ranking officer.
“Londors 9 and 15, why are you here? I thought you were sent to loading station four?” The officer asked
Maria, knowing Bit’s masculine voice, would give away their cover, spoke to the officer with a quick lie.”uh…we finished up the scan, and the cargo’s being moved.” Maria said, “We’re just reporting back here.”
“Why didn’t you just communicate via the commlink?” The officer asked
“Londors 15 here has a bad transmitter, so I had to get it repaired.” Maria lied again.
The officer looked at the two with disappointment, “fine..take 15 with you to the armory and get her transmitter fixed. I don’t know what you two did..but I’m disappointed in this malfunction.”
Maria and Bit began walking past the group of Acheronites and down a few halls until they were out of earshot and eyesight. Maria looked at Bit, “what a hardass.”
“What do you expect? Acheronite military isn’t really lax when it comes to some orders. Anyway..now that we’re in the den, where do we go?”
Maria looked at Bit, “What do you expect me to do?”
“Maybe find a place..if this is a security hub, what would be a better spot to go for?” Bit said
Maria began to think for a moment, “hmm…usually, these places would have a surveillance room.”
“They have all of New Austin surveilled?” Bit said
“Not all of the place, security hubs have certain areas surveilled. This station should be near our starting area. We need to find the room and send a signal to our guys that we got in.”
Bit assessed Maria’s plan, and he nodded in agreement, “Mmm..yes, that should work. Just lead the way, and we’ll take care of stuff once we’re done.”
Maria nods, and the two depart their little hiding spot. They passed a few Acheronites as they looked for the surveillance center. Bit and Maria could hear some chatter from the soldiers either giving orders, chatting about current gossip and even complaining about the amenities in the annexed security center like the bathrooms. Eventually, the two made it toward the surveillance room. They saw four unarmored Acheronites in civilian clothing sitting at monitors and scanning the cameras. One of them turned away from the monitor to notice Bit and Maria in the room.
“Hey! Did Zeltla sent you to take over our shift?” she asked, “Our group was just finishing up our routine report.”
“Yeah..that’s what we were going to tell you. We’re taking over your shift,” Maria said, “Go get yourself some coffee or something.”
One of the Acheronites looked at Maria with confusion, “Coffee? What’s that?”
“it’s that bitter blackwater that tastes repugnant,” another Acheronite said
“oh..well, I might try that stuff while we’re on break.”
The group got up as the Acheronite said to the two, “Report any abnormalities to Zeltla.”
Bit and Maria quietly nodded at the Acheronite. Once she left the room, Maria turned to Bit as she clapped her hands, “That worked out in a way I wasn’t expecting!”
“For now, let’s hope our luck continues.” He looked at the terminals and monitors. “Hmm..so how do these work?”
Maria got to a terminal and began to look through the diagnostics, “Well, the Acheronites barely know how to work these things. A lot of security is set to default.”
Bit stared at the terminal as Maria did her magic, “So it’s that simple to work?”
“Unless it’s set to specific parameters, otherwise even someone like me who has no experience working this could crack the network like nothing,” Maria said. The augment continued her work until she had access to New Austin’s security network.
“And…bingo!” Maria smirked, “I’ve got access to the whole security network. Now we need to find Finley.”
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Finley and the group moved through the alleyways of New Austin while keeping an eye out on any patrols. It was odd how the Acheronites could have the entire city locked down.
“So..what now?” One of the volunteers asked Finley
“We need to hope they know how to signal.” The African American replied, “I don’t want to be stuck in an area being outgunned…”
As he looked around, they didn’t know that there was a hidden camera in the area that spied on them. They heard a “psst” noise, a noise that nearly made the group jump as they turned around to notice the said camera. It looked like a camera covered by a dome.
“Hey, dumbass,” the voice said
Finley looked around in surprise, not by the voice but by its sound. He knew who said that and he also knew there was only one person who would call him that.
“Maria? Is that your voice, you little brat?” Finley asked sarcastically
“Does a salt wolf crap in the desert?” Maria replied back
He chuckled quietly, “So you and the Kiralin managed to get into the security hub, huh?”
“That’s right. Stupid Acheronites simply just reset a lot of the security to factory default,” Maria said, “Anyway, we got the security hub..so now what’s next?”
“Here’s the next part of the plan, and how you do it…” Finley began discussing the plan with Maria and Bit.
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