Chapter 122 - 123: First Encounter
Still hovering in the cold, silent expanse of the stratosphere, the collision with the Solar Warden starship replayed in Richard’s mind. He took a deep, controlled breath inside the Prometheus Mark 8, letting out a measured sigh. The flicker of panic, though momentary, served as a sharp reminder of the vast, unknown dangers lurking even in the seemingly empty void. He refocused, his initial fear solidifying into a cold, hard resolve.
"Alright," Richard’s voice, amplified and subtly deepened by the suit’s internal speakers, resonated in the commlink. "Time to put this suit to its real use. First encounter. I’m scared, yeah, but after seeing that footage... there’s every damn reason to burn this lizard on a stake. And I intend to do just that."
"Sir, may I remind you that strategic discretion and data acquisition are paramount," David, interjected calmly, his voice a smooth, logical counterpoint to Richard’s raw emotion. "Unnecessary engagement or property damage should be minimized for optimal mission parameters."
"Duly noted, David," Richard retorted, a hint of steel in his tone. "But sometimes, optimal parameters involve a little justified vengeance. Destination: Mount Malindang. Full speed. Zoom in on Lake Duminagat. Thermal scan surroundings, prioritize organic signatures."
A faint hum vibrated through the armor as Prometheus surged forward, streaking through the upper atmosphere like a falling star. The majestic, sprawling mass of Mount Malindang rapidly grew beneath him. As he closed in on the coordinates, his visors activated, projecting a detailed overlay of the landscape. A small, crude camp became visible, nestled cunningly beneath a canopy of dense trees, a few hundred meters from the shimmering surface of Lake Duminagat.
He activated thermal vision. The camp’s crude heat signatures were immediately apparent, but one stood out. A large, unmistakable life sign: a humanoid form, but with a distinct, reptilian tail. The Krill. Richard’s jaw tightened.
Then, his gaze fell upon the surrounding area. Human corpses. Scattered like discarded dolls. Most appeared to have been exsanguinated, their forms withered, pale. The rage, which he had so carefully contained, ignited. "Corpses... he’s feeding," Richard growled, his voice laced with pure, unfiltered fury. "David, activate combat mode. Lock on target: primary that lizard in front of us. Deploy magnetic spikes. Engage stealth field, full power."
"Combat mode active. Target locked. Spikes deploying. Stealth engaged," David’s calm voice confirmed, the subtle hum of the suit shifting as energy coursed through its systems. A thin, almost imperceptible energy field shimmered around Prometheus, rendering it invisible to the naked eye. From his back, three small, blue spikes detached, streaking ahead like miniature guided missiles, embedding themselves in the earth in a precise triangle around the unaware reptilian.
The Krill, a low-ranking grunt assigned to this remote harvesting outpost, had been enjoying its meal, the fresh, warm human blood, a welcome deviation from the colder, more processed rations. Its meal was interrupted by a faint energy spike. An anomaly. It looked up, its slit pupils dilating slightly.