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Chapter Text

Kazakhstan: Soviet Union Controlled Zone

Area 13-B (Atbasar, Kazakhstan (300 Kilometers West of Nur-Sultan)

"Segodnya pervyy den', kogda Sovetskiy Soyuz nachinayet svoy otvetnyy marsh na Moskvu. Podgotov'te radiatsionnuyu pushku!"

The War with the B.E.T.A. continue to grind on, the Long War as it was known to those living today. For over thirty years, far exceeding any war before, did Humanity find itself pushed back constantly. Now, with the B.E.T.A. continuing to push the Soviet Lines across many of their zones and territories did they begin to grow desperate.

Years after their government had been pushed from Moscow and forced to seek refuge with the United States, did they agree to ally with them again along with other nations such as India and Japan. Their alliance had thankfully stalled the ever encroaching hordes of the BETA but even still, there was no love lost between the superpowers every time a city fell to the alien invaders.

So here they were, scrambling quickly to complete their latest project in a bid to hopefully stem the tide. Sadly for the scientists they had otherwise ran out of time. Already the echoing crack of T-80 Tanks high above ground echoed through the concrete structure of the underground complex.

The B.E.T.A had found this place. It had been half a year since the aliens had entered Kazakhstan and began their usual relentless massacring of both military and civilian population with gusto. Tankers and tanks traded "blows" between one another as the Soldier and Warrior Class attempted to close the distance with the soldiers of the Union.

Below ground, as scientists and engineers worked under the steel gaze of military personnel, they'd watch as the great ring of metal and wiring began to light and blurr with a light green coloration. Rapidly it would begin to spin as the shards of G-Element, embedded into sockets along the ring, channeled themselves towards a focusing iris in the center of the rotating ring.

«Vnimaniye. BETA preodoleli vneshniy perimetr i prorvalis' vnutr'. Vsem silam, dvigat'sya na zashchitu pyatogo sektora!»

Even as the gunfire began to echo inside of the base, those manning their stations rapidly left the room to join the combat that had sprung up inside of another section of the complex, the bright green sphere that had gathered in the center of the ring would erupt towards a thick chunk of stone wall. However upon connecting with the wall, some seconds after firing, the line of bright green energy expanded into a cone like shape.

One of the engineers, a native of Chechnya would rush to one of the phones even as the device would begin to literally melt, the G-Element burying itself into the rock walls of the room as he rapidly dialed.

«Uspekh! Prostranstvennyy kopatel' uspeshno pronik v…»

His words are cut off as a pale hand reaches through the door, blood seeping from multiple gunshot wounds, and wraps itself around his head. A muffled scream echoes in the room as panic grips both engineers and scientists who pull Makarovs from holsters about their waist and start shooting.

«Blyad', blyat', blyat'! Venatory! Gde soldaty ?!»

Given the small hallways, the only things able to get inside the complex itself would be that of the Warrior and Soldier Classes of the B.E.T.A. Given the bullet holes and seeping blood on the strange creature their guards had put up a fight at least.

The Soldiers as they were called or Venators, were two point three meter tall monsters. Their bodies a pale while, their heads bloated to the sides with beady eyes of a charcoal black that gazed back at those taking shots. Already it had squeezed the human's head and reduced it to so much brain, blood, and mush.

Thankfully one of the engineers wasn't as panicked as the others. Taking moments to aim and put a bullet between its eyes. Those exposed teeth, which forked a rictus smile, became coated with more blood than before. Seeping from the now Nickel sized hole in its forehead. The Beta would collapse forward. Spindly arms going slack as it's head collided with the floor. However there were more behind it.

More shots fire out into the hall as a veritable swarm of the creatures move into the control room. Their six legs, attached to robust thighs, carried the tide forward and into the chamber. The screams of men and women dying soon filled the air rather than gunshots. At least two men preferred suicide the moment they realized what was happening.

Blood pooled across the floor, body parts lay slumped over desks and consoles, while the sound of tearing flesh begins to echo in the room. Soldiers would begin eating the dead and nearly dead, vacant expressions looking up as blunt teeth tore into meat. However, one of them noticed the gateway.

The rhythmic thump of its feet brought it before the swirling green vortex, which it started to wander through. Its discovery attracted the horde above ground, causing Tanker (Equus pedis), Laser (Lux), and Grappler (Medium) to turn from their tasks of tearing apart the remaining Soviet vehicles and personnel and switching entirely towards the ground.

Grappler limbs, ending in stone like forearms, beat and cracked the concrete while Tanker Class used those long spindly red arms to grab, drag, and lift away the ever widening hole. Thousands worked rapidly, like ants excavating a cavern, a tunnel if you will, down into the depths of the earth.

All the while, as the remainder of the Soviets were exterminated, or in some cases, captured, more Warrior and Soldiers began to move into the central complex, nearly some two thousand of them at this point.

Unknown World

Superordinate

Finland: Helsinki (2,800 Kilometers from Origin Point)

Ural'sk Hive: Thirtieth Horde

Dust and ash is kicked up as, from the great swirling vortex of bright green energy, the first of the Warriors Emerged. What they found was confusing. For upon the other side of the vortex of G-Element Energy, was, based on preserved brains of the locals, a place called Helsinki. Yet where there should have been forces of the Rovaniemi Hive there were the remains of the structures of the materials.

Yet they were hollow shells, burnt and reduced to charred cinder.

Already some two hundred Soldiers had moved through the vortex and began to move into buildings, those that weren't beyond saving and started to tear them down. Lumber, even burnt, could be used to make more of themselves. A new hive could be established here, decided the Superordinate.

Warriors would begin to flood out into the city from the vortex. Standing at most 1.5 meters in height, their feet were akin to fingers, two of them jutting from the foot. Leading up to large thighs and a rather bulbous body. Three hand-like appendages gripped the sides of the creature, pale white, as from its crotch jutted a strange red organ.

Upon its face, a large crest jutted from the top while seventeen bright red eyes looked in all directions. Rather than a mouth, it would have a long trunk, ending in a three fingered hand.

Yet as they started to work, more Warriors and Soldiers would stream through and into this reality, rapidly breaking down the wrecks surrounding them. However, it was during this, the horde now starting to reach one thousand assorted of both, that they would first discover the skeletal remains of one of the locals.

Bones beached black from what seemed to be fire, most of it covered in ash and hiding it from view. The Soldier would waste no time in stuffing the skeleton into its mouth, starting to chew the ashen bones, staining bleached white gums, skin, and teeth a dark ebony.

It would take at least six hours for the tunnel to be dug from the surface down to the vortex below but by now the Superintendent had already communed with the other hives before diverting more resources from the Ural'sk Hive to establish a hive there.

With the thunder of literal legions, the next to arrive were those of the workers of the BETA, that of the Tanker Class. Unlike the last two, which were a stark white, like bleached bone, these were bright red in color.

Walking upon six legs, each ending in a hoof, the most prominent feature of the creature would be its massive maw below its chest. A pair of arms jutted from either side of its "head" ending in five fingers, rather muscular. However the head was quite strange, sporting a dozen bright black eyes.

Nearly fifty percent of any swarm was made up of the Tanker Class. Now, hundreds streamed through into this other reality. They would work with the Soldier Class to dismantle the city, nearly flattening half a kilometer before they found something that moved.

More of the same strange resources like they had been dealing with for nearly four decades. There were some six of them, though the Superintendent paid them little interest, even as they were harvested. They were barely even worth the effort to kill, however, something drew the attention of the horde.

From the sky, the beating of wings resounded through the air, before something landed upon one of the largest collections of buildings. Clad in ebony scales, nearly the size of one of the resources flying vessels. Great wings swept from shoulders and gripped the sides of the buildings while its tail swayed and laid over its side. Head lifted and with a growl, it watched the new arrivals.

So much raw material, with a simple thought, the horde of nearly two thousand would surge forward. It was unknown if Warriors would be ineffective, but there was no reason to not try. It watched, tail swaying from one side to the other, before a Tanker Class and six Warriors leaped towards it. With speed belying its size, the head would snap out, engulfing the seven BETA.

The Horde was stopped as the Superintendent watched, as the resource chewed the seven that had attempted to attack it. Blood and chunks of flesh scattered down to the ground below. Then it shifted, inhaling slowly, seeming to do something, then with a head turning to the sky, released a roar as its wings spread wide. The sound echoed across the dead city as the horde would be signaled to charge once again.

This time the resource either beat its wings and rose above the leaping Tankers and Warriors, pulling it out of range as they collided with buildings. This in turn causes them to start scaling the burnt out remains in a bid to get closer. Though the resource suddenly flies away and, with another intake of air, it opens its mouth. Viscous liquid mixes with oxygen, causing flames to wash over nearly thirty or more creatures at once. Tanker, Soldier, Warrior, all are engulfed and set aflame by the hundreds. The creature would shift its head though as the horde continues to try and lunge.

Success eventually comes as the next wave emerges from the portal. Emerging from the maelstrom of energy, alongside a new wave of Tanker, Warrior, and Soldier Classes, are Laser Class. Six. The small number being all that the hive could spare. Standing upon two legs to support a bulbous and slightly wrinkled looking body, the creature's back is covered in wire thin hairs, while it sports two large stocks from which bulging eyes rest. They turn their attention to the resource, shining brightly, before one fires.

With barely a sound, the bright thin beam of light slices through its center mass, nearly splitting it two. It collapses to the earth with a gurgling roar. Dead before it hit the ground. The BETA swarm over the corpse within seconds. However the horde had been reduced by nearly five percent from its two strikes. That was a lot of damage for something lacking machinery.

It would be some hours before any other activity is detected as the horde sets about its work. Ever so often, another resource would seemingly arrive at the site, being killed near instantly and crashing into buildings. To be harvested and taken back. Already, the slow foundation and establishment of a new hive was in production as another hundred thousand forms steamed through the portal. Sadly still too small for the Destroyer or Grappler Class. Nearly seventeen hours would pass before this changed.

As another resource attacks the edge of the hive, having flown below the effective detection range of the laser class, it manages to kill a few hundred before a weakened building collapses in its path and it flies head first into it. Though as the horde sets about tearing the corpse apart, the Laser Class suddenly swivel as they detect something. Bio electricity.

The six would turn in all directions as their eyes started to flare up, and then fire off into the distance. Striking something. Only now did the Superintendent realize that it could no longer see the distant mountains.

Earth

Europe's Bull

Tampere, Finland

Flames gathered within his jaws as the small lead throwers the apes had favored even into the waning days of their flocks plinked away against his chest scales before his flame swept over both them and their nest. A roar echoing from his jaws as the lead ceased being thrown. All dead. As was expected. The few females that had been present would chitter before starting to descend. Though with a roar they would back down. Stomping in, sniffing at the air, the alpha would take his choice in bodies, mainly a handful of the apes and one of the slain females.

With a huff, the bull would wander off, wings beginning to beat. The meat was still warm as he titled his head back, easily disposing of what remained of the apes. Filthy creatures. The world had been so loud, so noisy, when he had awoken. Having to flee the metal nests of the apes quickly after with the sole female. They had been buzzed by the ape's metal dragons before other metal dragons had appeared and distracted them.

With a growl, the bull landed upon one of the destroyed ruins, setting the slain female too young to breed, but the egg could still be saved, upon the top of the ruins. With a rumble, he reaches down to grip the meal between his jaws at the base of the neck. Claw sinking into the back to hold it down. Then with a rip, tearing off the neck.

The unknowns had been so preoccupied with their own squabbles that they had managed to fly until they were no longer followed by their metal birds. Allowing him to land and let the female hatch. Yet the area that he had landed in had not been an accident.

With another snarl, reaching up to grip the female's head with a spiked wing, he easily forced it into his jaws. Several shakes would tear chunks out of the neck before laying it down, just enough for him to begin tearing meaty bits from the sinuous neck muscles and throat. The flame had added a bit of a crunch as the skin beneath the scales produced a healthy amount of grease and the fat bubbles when exposed to the air.

They had found other pockets of dormant females. A small nest. Along with several lesser males. He tore into the earth as the female grew and aged. Nearly one hundred were discovered, scattered across the region. Though there were few and far between meals as a result of the harsh conditions. Yet the trees and the stone would pass. The passage of the sun would signal the arrival of the unknowns sooner than he would have liked. Only half the brooding nests had been uncovered before they arrived.

More of the neck is eaten, soon revealing not but the skeletal structure of the neck. Which is cracked open for the spinal fluid and the bone marrow. The iron taste runs slick over the dexterous tongue and across the fanged maw. Head turns and cracks open the skull, swallowing it whole. Yet, as he turned, he watched while the female's chest started to rise and fall, a signal for the hatchling. With a few steps, he would sink his claws into the bulky chest and roll her over onto her back.

They had come with their own metal weapons. They struck beyond their view, it was the first time in their many long years that they had ever been attacked. Yet their weapons merely washed over. They had fire, but it lacked something. So he took to the sky. The lesser males knew their place. They have already awakened and set about exhuming more of the eggs within their territory. The far distant whines of the unknown dragons drew his attention as he began to charge. Even as their meager fireballs collided with his scales. Some cracked, they would be removed later by his mate when. The metal dragons came into view now.

He placed his jaws around her broad chest, the female's meat giving way as he pushed down at the same time as he pulled up. Near the break at the neck. Teeth tearing through eviscerated muscle and fat from the apes weapons. The chest just needed to be cracked open enough. With a grunt, the ribs are shattered and the top half of the chest is peeled open, all to allow for the egg to bathe in the light. Normally a death would mean the hatchling would just eat through the mother's corpse and emerge. The wounds however had toughened her meat too much for the infant's jaws to tear through.

They had continued to fire, even as he chased them. For some hours they did this. By the end of the day, they had ceased harassment and buzzing, perhaps having accepted their place. He would return, landing. His body was sore from a full day of flying, and being peppered by the metal things. Yet the chill of the lesser males and the female was enough to ease him. So he lay there, as more of the ground was excavated. Soon, hordes of young pour out as the males breath across the egg mounds. They will grow large. They are but the first. Yet the metal things likely have realized there are now other egg mounds. They will hunt them. They might even awaken other Bulls.

He would look upon the clutch of eggs within the female as they begin to break and crack, exposing their soft bodies. With a huff, he would begin to walk away. Looking down over the flock. Hundreds of them. Shapes and sizes, some almost as large as him. Though rarely do males reach his size. Lest they are killed or driven out to form their own flock. Yet his head looks up. This world is dying. There is less food to partake of now. Soon, the Bulls will face one another, as it occurred once before. They will fight, and those bested will go into hibernation with their female eggs. The winner devours the females, then takes their last mate's egg and hibernates.

Then they freeze, looking towards the sky, sniffing the air. Head tilted. The scent of carrion now wafting into his nose. The scent of the dead. Yet there is another scent, that of a foreign one. Hunger gnaws at his belly. Even as the hatchlings gorge on their mother's fatty insides and flesh. Able to escape what would have been their tomb. There is fresh meat on the wind. The dead here had already been consumed. Swarms of young preparing to enter their molting cycles seemed to perk up at the scent of fresh blood and meat on the air ways. Wings began to spread, as his head drew back, and released a roar. This was but one flock. This was but one of many across his territory. The amount of flesh he smelt, the amount of meat that was being detected, was enough for the whole flock.

The air seemed to hum as the gargantuan bull started to beat its wings. Ruins within the area actually collapsed under the might of the leathery membranes that had collapsed the modern world of the apes. Soon, distant roars from other flocks answered as lesser males, leaders of their own Flocks, began to move towards him. Yet, rather than have them all group, he would draw them towards the source of the meat. Heaving his body off the earth, the Bull takes off, soon followed by others. The females and lesser males. While below, juveniles watch and begin to follow.

There were a great many. Not since the Apes had reduced most of the world to ash in a bid to curb them, an effort that had nearly succeeded but as well awakened the rest of the Bulls, did a Flock of this scale come together. The night sky was nearly blotted as they flew. Yet the new enemy was not without their means to harm. He watched as bright white light struck a nearby male in the head, sending the corpse crashing to the earth below. A warble of agony filled his ears as their prime mate watched. Yet three females would be struck down in a similar fashion.

Those eyes watched, studying, as another six were clipped and sent crashing into the ash strewn ground far below. With a roar, he acted upon what he was seeing. The flock drove down, low. Hugging the earth. The incoming fire stopped. Though he noticed where it was coming from. A large broken multi-nest. Likely some new fire that they had developed. With a roar which shook the earth and caused many of the ruins and broken nests to collapse, they pressed as one. The juveniles and the crawling males set upon the corpses in the wake of their advance. Though always leaving the chest and neck. They were for the young. Unless one was male. They were claimed by the crawling males.

Soon, the broken nest came into view, and they are greeted with things that very much were not Apes. Far more hideous. They stood before a large Thing. Or were gathered. They could smell the blood of their kin, one of their mates, was here. In fact, there was a torn apart corpse laying crashed against a broken ape nest. Twin roars signaled the arrival of over fifteen flocks from the neighboring broken multi-nests. Already flames belched from several locations across the broken multi-nest. The lesser flocks having struck, likely attracted by the scent of flesh and blood. The air above was filled with shrieks as strange ticks jumped and latched onto individuals in the dozens, dragging them to the ground. Though fire would wash over large groups.

The ground was covered in numerous hordes. It was almost comedic how they matched the flocks in scale. Yet the Bull lands upon one of the largest broken ape nests, looking down on the whole ground. A valley ran between multiple broken nests. Filled with thousands of strange things. With an inhale, their flame glands quickly swelled, then released. A jet of pressurized napalm would sweep down the whole of the valley. Blanketing the whole procession of prey.

Flesh began to bubble and pop as the heat quickly started to cause joints to lock up and flesh to sloth off as a result of the heat. What eyes they possessed popped within skulls as thousands died beneath the resulting breath. A fine testament to the hubris of challenging the flocks. Yet more of the strange things were there.

Yet at this short time frame, did the flocks of nearby broken multi-nests descend upon them. What should have been a multi-hour conflict was quickly ended as the creatures abruptly stopped coming through. They seemed to realize that bodies would not help them and only fed. The whole of the city was awash in flame as thousands of prey burned and cooked. The air soon smelt of cooked meat and the sound of burning gristle. For perhaps the first time in ever, he might well be able to eat his fill.

With a few wing beats, he would land upon the valley and stone path. Jaws already salivating at the scent of the flesh. With his head tilted, he chose one of the pink looking prey with eight limbs, four of which ending in hooves and two in hands. Though they were quite small. They were enough to earn his attention. With his jaws open, he would scoop up a mouthful of the meat, releasing a rumble. The meat was soft, somewhat earthy, but the taste was one that left him wanting more. Already, the rest of the flocks were descending on the corpses across the broken multi-nests. The air becomes a mixture of vapors and evaporated blood. Yet not enough had evaporated. His teeth had become slick with the viscera of cooked flesh and stringy tendons. There were so many that the largest males and females were able to devour whole mouthfuls of the meat and gristle. The air reeked of cooked meat and it drove many to feast more. For perhaps the first time in their lives, they were able to eat to be full.

Then the swarms of the juveniles and crawling males made it to the corpses. Already, full males and females had piled the corpses into piles for the swarms of the ground based creatures. Which set about tearing chunks out of the meat. The air filled with the sounds of tearing flesh, of snapping bone, and the barks as the ravenous young burrowed quite literally into the corpses to eat their fill. Yet was it enough?

He turned, looking upon the massive thing. This was a chance to escape the fights with the other Bulls. If more of the prey were on the other side, then his Flocks could forever find food. They would have to play smart lest they become overwhelmed. These well could have been juvenile themselves. Could they risk their flock on just a chance? With a swelling rumble, they began to push towards the rent. Then with a chuff, watched as it seemed to grow even larger. As though responding to their approach. Or perhaps like how the water widens a path. It was still nowhere near sizable to pass through. Only young could yet push through to the other side.

Now for information!

Information

Dragons of Reign of Fire: Now for anyone familiar with the dragons of this setting, you will know that one piece of plot is how there is only one male and the rest are female. Well that has been, if you read the chapter, done away with. Now it is more that, each continent will have their own Bulls, with lesser males having their own flocks of females that they govern. Mainly to ensure that there is no genetic dead ends later on. Think of it like a military. You have your head, then those they place to ensure that sections of a country are overseen. In addition, there are subspecies of dragons which will be included. In addition, Bulls and older females are much more durable, hence the Bull surviving being stuck by multiple missiles from Russian jets. And it being alluded to that one of the nations panicked and pulled the nuke button. Triggering a cascading event.

Muv Luv: For those of you whom are just reading this and it is your first time with the setting, Muv Luv (Barring the first iteration) is a mech based light novel game focused on an Mc in a military. We have had 3 major mcs on three different war fronts. I have explained and summarized the plot at the start of the story. The Beta are the primary antagonists of the setting, but here they will have an opponent as numerically identical to themselves. Though they will still suffer from the same weaknesses as their canon counterparts as a result of the way they operate.

Europe's Bull Dragon: The Bulls in the setting are more akin to male lions then anything. Being the absolute largest of the species. Which the European Bull is no exception. Male dragons can reach as large as a Bowing 737, but Bulls, with the Mc Bull, being as large as Balerion from Game of Thrones. With the oldest females being nearly as large as him. So you can expect to see him clashing with the largest of the Beta and the best mech pilots of other earth. Though it will be several chapters before he arrives over there due to the portal.

I hope you all enjoyed reading and look forward to answering any questions in regards to the setting or my plans.

Chapter Text

Reign of Fire: Earth

Europe's Bull

Finland: Helsinki

They had come again. Since the discovery of the large sphere of energy, there had been periodic raids into their territory. Though they were small, probing, like that of a new flock testing the dominance of the local flock. Potential nesting sites and food for their unborn.

Having gutted themselves upon the first invaders, many of the youngest females had left for their roosts to give them time to rest and digest. The largest and oldest of their flock had remained, still feasting or watching.

They had eyed the sphere, there was ever that still present danger to nests. As such, he had remained. Standing upon one of the human's small structures, overlooking the swirling maelstrom of energy.

Not yet large enough for him or any of his mates to push through, let alone the lesser males, they would have to pick off the packs of the invaders. Which, as he watched, another group began to emerge.

Tongue flicked out, before he would breath in, the noise drawing their attention, the red and white ones turning while the larger ones with the claws of stone and the frilled heads moved forward. Then, a blaze of flame washed over them, causing them to buckle beneath the flame. The scent of burning meat filling the nostrils of the Bull as the large ones with frills still push forward. The Red and white ones dying as their legs are melted out from beneath them.

Skin and hide bubbling from the intense heat. Even the large clawed ones buckle, exposed front body would collapse beneath the intense inferno that swept over the pack. Yet the frilled ones easily pushed forward, parting his flame as though they were mountains. Sadly, their progression is short lived.

The beating of wings, dozens of them, signaled the ambush to commence. Young males and females would erupt from gutted buildings where they had been waiting. Like raptorial monsters of yore, they slammed into the exposed flanks of the Frilled* and Clawed Ones*. The sound of flesh and hide tearing, having been already weakened by his flames echoed. Raptorial claws sunk and found purchase as several ton bodies slammed into the flanks or the tops of the largest creatures.

The strikes are well coordinated, after all, they had long been well practiced, even before the arrival of the invaders. The humans having been the test bed for these things.

Jaws clamped onto defensive limbs of Clawed Ones while others sunk teeth into the back of the necks of the Frilled Ones. Some of the lesser males and females chose to attack the Jumping Ones* or the Gnawing Ones*. Using their strength to land atop, crushing and pulverizing internal organs and bones usually killing instantly.

The scent of death had drawn more to the city in the weeks since the maelstrom first opened. Salamanders emerged from the buildings and underground nests*. They clamp down on passing or already dead invaders to drag them back to their nests to feed their newly established broods.

The small herd was quickly quelled, with large males and females tearing the Frilled Ones in half, usually by lifting their bodies off the ground. Some still struggling, and then dropping them. On average, Frilled and Clawed Ones out massed all but the Bull and eldest of his mates. The dropping method helping to split open bellies if not outright kill them from the height of the drop. Leaving them splattered on the ground and far easier to eat.

The fighting slowed and ended without much fan fair, with the bodies still steaming or twitching as the flock descended upon the corpses and wounded. Even those few of theirs that had been injured and crippled were eaten. Yet, the flow of bodies had ceased. There was always those still hungry, those wanting to feast. The maelstrom provided that feast, but, not in any great numbers. With a hiss, the Bull moved through the carnage. It still needed time to grow, for his bulk to be able to move through. Yet, another could well take his place.

A roar ripped from his still smoking maw. To breach into the other side, a pack of their own must be gathered. With the humans still surviving on this continent, they could not leave, but others could go in their place. The beating of multiple wings would echo above the sounds of hide being torn and flesh being ripped from bone. A flock, one which had been resting near to them, would descend. Nearly a full flock of males and females. While dozens of Salamanders crawled from their burrows.

His eyes roamed the assembled flock. Then twisted. Falling upon the Maelstrom.

They knew, but, one would still have to risk it.

A young male, mind filled with not but the drive to strike out, marched forward. Their body barely could fit through the maelstrom, but they would still march in without fear.

Muv Luv: Earth

Kazakhstan: Formerly Soviet Union Controlled Zone

Beta Super Intendent

Area 13-B (Atbasar, Kazakhstan (300 Kilometers West of Nur-Sultan)

The Beta had entrenched themselves. Several raids by the Soviets had been launched into the area in an attempt to reclaim it from the alien scourge. Yet they had failed. The smoking bodies of several squads of TFS'es and tanks lay on the outskirts where the had been intercepted by new Beta. A kind of ambush bioform which camouflages itself as local minerals and hide its heat signature from scanners.

Now, only silence. The last wave had failed. A meager force of six hundred. They had lost contact with the Super Intendent the moment they passed through the portal. Thus they had begun to reinforce the area. Another battalion strengthen force had been dispatched, mainly consisting of Grappler and Tanker class over Destroyer. They needed speed. Yet those local forces, still working to excavate the earth around the portal, noted its increasing size in the last few weeks.

Already some five thousand Beta had been sent at this area, only for them to pass through and go silent. At first, the Super Intendent's own presence was powerful enough to overcome the marginal interference that occurred around the portal, able to remain in control of the forces pushing through. Yet as it grew, it found its connection weakening ever so steadily. Until now, it could only blindly direct them in and leave their in built commands to run.

Then two items drew its attention as the fighting occurred across the continent with the resources. The first being another force of the resources moving in to try and unsuccessfully retake the area, and the second, the portal starting to make similar energy fluxuations that it did when the Super Intendent sent another force into the portal. Something was coming through.

Muv Luv: Earth

Kazakhstan: Formerly Soviet Union Controlled Zone

43rd Guards Tactical Armor Division: Lieutenant Tolan

Area 13-B (Atbasar, Kazakhstan) (300 Kilometers West of Nur-Sultan)

The Su-47 Berkuts along with several groups of MiG-21 Balalaika waited behind several buildings. The Soviets had been reeling with the loss of Vladivostok when their satellites had detected something within the region of the long held territory of Atbaskar, causing the Soviets to launch a risky infiltration mission by elements of the 43rd. Low flying TFS and delivery aircraft getting their tanks in. They at least helped with dealing with scouts, but why command had thought to send more traditional forces alongside this, left Lieutenant Tolan with many questions.

They had already lost several squads to this cursed and damned sortie already and, as he watched, another force of the Beta was moving in. They had spent weeks getting here, risking so much, but with the recent losses, it was starting to look as though this entire farce of a mission was to be their grave.

They had not even been able to get close to the city, which, while in enemy hands, had elements of surviving Russians prior to its collapse. The wrecks of the defensing TFS and other military elements still could be seen where, for whatever reason, the Tankers had ignored in favor of whatever lay inside the center of the city.

Why the Soviets had scarified bodies to hold this place, inside of enemy held territory, was just one more massive mystery. Their thoughts are interrupted by the sound of static, their commander was giving them an update.

"Forward elements, we have increasing spikes of energy, whatever the Aliens are doing, it just reached a pitch."

They were already hard pressed, dealing with constant raids, which they had been dealing with, though losses were starting to pile up. It was as though high command had sent them out here to die. As they say, heroes can't exist in a Communist Society. Even their aid in infiltration of the Hives was not exempting them from suicide missions.

Tolan had long become disillusioned with the insanity that had swept Russia and her former imperial colonies at the end of World War 1. He had half a mind to just cut and run at this rate. He doubt his squad would be able to handle anymore pressure being leveled on them by the mounting Beta presence, not to mention the metaphysical gun pointed at the back of the 43rd's head if they came back without their assigned task. Which they hadn't even informed them of to begin with.

His TSF was already starting to run low on spare magazines, but as he tilted his head out, he watched the edges of the city. He could see a steady stream of Beta moving in, mostly Grapplers and Tanker interestingly. Lacking the previous numbers of Destroyers and Warriors. Yet in the distance, there seemed to be another horde, this one more traditional in the sense. Thought the looming bodies of Fortress left him slightly paled as he sent a message quickly.

"Command, be advised, Fortress Class confirmed moving in. I repeat Fortress class moving in. Permission to abort? We lack the current manpower."

He could hear the mutters of fear from the rest of his squad in their closed channel. There was a lot going through his mind, through all their minds at that moment.

"Negative, proceed. With the Fortress incoming, we need to enter into the city and reach our destination. Drone footage suggests that the passage to our target has been widened enough for Destroyer Class. Move in."

Swears built within not only his cockpit but those of his squad, both women and men. Before he shifted, his TFS would start the process of refilling its half empty mag from internal stores of ammunition.

"You heard the Commander. We move in. Stick together, group up on Destroyers, use the buildings as-"

He was cut off, as, from within the center of the city, a blast of fire erupted and spilled out into the streets, melting through metal and flesh alike.

Muv Luv: Earth

Kazakhstan: Formerly Soviet Union Controlled Zone

Dragon Forces

Area 13-B (Atbasar, Kazakhstan) (300 Kilometers West of Nur-Sultan)

The portal pulsed before the medium sized male pushed himself through, eyes rapidly moving around the area. The Clawed Ones stopping what they had been doing, which appeared to be excavation of a nest surrounding the Maelstrom. They had but seconds to register before a wave of fire flowed over them and was rolled across the interior, ending many into twisting spasms.

His head lashed out, biting down on the arm of one of the Clawed ones, and with its strength, pulled it into the path of another. Hide and flesh sloughing off in piles of bubbling meat. The scent of burning flesh filling his nostrils as he slammed the Clawed One into another, sending them crashing into the wall of the cave.

Their twitching bodies are met with another bout of flame as he pushed himself inside of the cave. Yet they were soon joined with a second, a young female. The two bathing more of the cavern. Yet one of the Clawed Ones would barrel into the beast's chest and attempt to push them over. They reward this attack by grabbing a swinging claw in its talon, forcing it to the floor, and biting the head on the other side.

Though rapidly, the cavern was growing crowded, forcing him and the female out. There lay a tunnel ahead, which was starting to fill with the bodies of the invaders. Looking, the Male, and the first female, both inhaled. Twin jets of flesh searing flame erupted up through the tunnel, and spilled out onto the surface. Such was the heat that the tunnel had been turned into Shiny*.

The decadent scent of burning meat filled his nostrils as the young male surges forth and up the tunnel. His jaws snapping up a Leaping One, as it attempts to crest the entrance. Blood filling his jaws as he crushes it within a single bite, pulping meat and bone before the thing stops wiggling and he swallowed.

However upon pulling himself to the edge of the lip, he feels a blow to his head, sending it colliding with a still standing human nest. One of the Clawed Ones had survived the twin diluge and he felt his jaw dislocate. However, in this animalistic rage, he snapped back with a claw. The wing was caught upon the claw and pulled it forward. A leap pushed it off the ground, and its back legs landed upon the front of the Clawed One, crushing its forward legs with bulk, before it snapped out, dislocated jaw be damned.

Top jaw found its head again and, those needle like teeth sunk into the top of the head before it pulls back, raking the flesh from the scalp. Yet it continues to thrash, eventually throwing the young male off, crashing into another of the human nests. Yet the damage had been done, the impact of their head against the wall was enough to knock its jaw back into the socket. Though it had the muscles to relocate, it still hurt something awful, giving out a whimpering cry of pain.

The Clawed One attempts to capitalize, but the young female from earlier blasts its belly with flame, burning through hide, muscle, and then exposing its organs, causing them to come spilling out, directly into her mouth. She uses her leverage and its shattered frontal torso to pull down, tearing the remaining organs free. It would stumble and collapse.

Yet the press of bodies from behind and those coming from the surrounding nests is enough to pause any feasts.

With wings unfurling, the Male and Female duo would rise as they move to meet the invaders. More flames being released, then a detonation. A pair of Salamanders have broken through the ground above, causing the stone to fall and collapse atop a handful of young Drakes. Their deaths however meaning little as the roof caved in and, the air is exposed to those entering through the Maelstrom.

The air above it starting to rapidly fill with the beating of wings as nearly a hundred drakes and young adult dragons emerged into the air. Their flames already starting to spread into the surrounding area.

Muv Luv: Earth

Kazakhstan: Formerly Soviet Union Controlled Zone

43rd Guards Tactical Armor Division: Lieutenant Colonel Tolan

Area 13-B (Atbasar, Kazakhstan) (300 Kilometers West of Nur-Sultan)

Many thoughts passed through his mind as he stepped around the lake edge and brought himself into sight of the distant city, the flames rising from its center while his TSF's sensors started picking up the most peculiar sounds echoing from the distance. Blasts of pure fire, as though a large-scale Flame Thrower was being utilized in mass.

"Command we have visuals on what appear to be local combatants, potential survivors of the garrison that Command sent here."

They didn't have much other description, but otherwise, looking, he spotted nearly a dozen TSF and Tanks began moving out of cover and towards the city. His own squad included.

"We have no reports of survivors, proceed with caution. They could be Partisan Forces that moved in after our forces fell."

He very much doubted that.

Already, signatures from Beta were starting to be detected moving as well to intercept. Mainly Grappler and Tanker class. Some thousand or so. He would almost feel honored if not for the fact that they were gunning to devour him and his squad. Tanks would begin pulling to a stop as gunnery crews cycled munitions and locked onto incoming Beta. Their turrets shuddering as they fired, reducing Tanker Class to smears of flesh and pulped bone upon the ground. Though where one was hit, ten continued on.

The Squads of TSF would either strafe out of Tanker Jumping height or land behind the Tanks and lay down their own fire. They had been tasked with arriving at the city, but they would be no where without support. A general consensus for all the squad leaders, support the tanks.

So rather than a massed rush, they took their time. A staggered line, almost, a firing line. The tanks holding position, cycling rounds, and firing, while their machines would move forward to fill survivors with rounds. Rocket Pods would grow red a their ammunition fires off in bursts, dumb fire rockets being sent ahead of incoming bodies to be blasted apart.

Their push forward was slow, it was meticulous, and it ran counter to what the TSF was intended or, but they were making progress with no casualties yet. Then a blast of flame from the city caught his eye, and, as his TSF turned towards the sky, he felt his mouth drop. For, rising from the smoke and ash, came a beast of fabled legend. Beating black wings which displaced the same smoke that had obscured it entirely. With a roar, it landed.

The Battle of Atbasar was about to begin.

Information

Frilled Ones: Destroyer Class, which sport a large collection of stone like that of a dinosaur, used previously to defend against strikes. Easily sixteen meters in length and ten in height, with a width of seven, these hulking creatures act as bulwarks of the Beta Hordes.

Clawed Ones: Grappler Class, the strangest of the Beta besides Tanker. These bone white creatures sport grinning mouths atop their backs near the last section of legs while their front limbs sport large stone extensions, which they use to batter and strike objects or annoying organics with.

Jumping Ones: Warrior Class, these strange limbed creatures, sporting a trunk and a bipedal gait, are always apart of infiltration and anti-infantry efforts when the Beta move into areas. Their trunks powerful enough to pull the heads off bodies without much effort.

Gnawing Ones: Tanker Class, these rapid assault bioforms are the mainstay of any forward thrust by the Beta and the post conflict scavengers. Tearing down plant, animal, and even building material to be mulched. They make up 30% of all hordes and are the most numerous. Jaws able to bite through even tank and TSF Armor.

Underground Nests: Usually referring to things like underground car parks and such. Utilized by ground dwelling dragons as nests or ambush positions, like a trapdoor spider.

Chapter Text

The Year is 2005 and the age of the BETA has continued without contest for some time. The BETA were first spotted on Mars in 1958. They arrived on the Moon in 1967 and, after a brief conflict with humanity's space forces, invaded Earth in 1973. They quickly spread from their landing point, Kashgar, and proceeded to invade the Eurasian, Middle Eastern and Asian regions; when they finally reached Japan in 1998, 36 million people were killed within a week. By 2001, the world population was down to about 1 billion people.

However, things are about to take a heated turn when the Soviets attempt to harness the remains of the Radiation Cannon and indirectly tear open a portal to a brand new world. One filled with ash and fire. This brings two peoples together and with them, potentially salvation. The Earth ravaged by the B.E.T.A and the other by Fire. Yet this opening comes Beasts of its pasts. Upon leathery wings and fire, the Beasts of the Ancients join the battered but no less lethal man as they emerge into a world untouched by Flames and the Future that could have been.

These are the Tales of the World that Could be and the World that is.

Muv Luv: Earth

Kazakhstan: Formerly Soviet Union Controlled Zone

Dragon Forces: Young Male (Object 00)

Area 13-B (Atbasar, Kazakhstan) (300 Kilometers West of Nur-Sultan)

He would beat his wings, having landed upon one of the largest nests within the area, the few that still remained standing. Nostrils flared and eyes scanning the area, finding that the small mammals had built up their stronghold. Though, the sky was different here, seemingly empty of the ash of where they had come from. Of course it attracted his attention, breaching deeply as the foreign scents wafted into his senses and he worked to make sense of their surroundings.

Even the air itself tasted faintly different, none of the scents of the flock were mixed in, but the familiar smell of burning metal and blood wafted. His head turned from his perch to behold fires at the edges of the primate's nests. Smaller in comparison to the one that he had created upon emerging from the sphere. More of the Invaders however could be seen, in the distance, but also, within the nest directly. They needed to be dealt with, but, they were to many for just two of them.

Then the air reverberated as a dozen roars split it open. Dragging themselves out, as the Salamander* would be joined by packs of juveniles following their parents. As the invaders had been focused on himself and his mate, they weren't prepared for the arrival of the Salamander. Jaws clamp around the Clawed Ones and drag them down as they thrash, backs broken and limbs twisted by their parent slamming the body into the ground repeatedly before leaving it to be feasted on by their children.

This was a nice beginning distraction as their cousins drew the attention of those within the Mega Nest*. Though the Gnawing Ones would fall upon a juvenile. The strike with its claws able to pull the small and weak creatures apart. Though the retaliation from their mother or father is swift and brutal as they rage at the loss of one of their children. Lashing out and brutalizing it.

Yet more of their kin passed through. Flocks of juvenile males and females, some no larger then the primate's own small craft which can strike beyond the rising sun. They would be like vultures, though first, fire is applied. Small groups would form together, rising above their reach and coating entire paths between the Nests in their flame, killing many of the Invaders, even the Frilled Ones. Leaving their meat to cook for later consumption.

However, even as the Flock continued growing, the swarm moving towards the Mega Nest left him disquieted. He had seen how, when the Invaders had arrived, they used their bright flash from the Eyed Ones* before smaller kin had fallen, struck through and killed. It was no way for one of theirs to die. He looked out, watching the incoming horde, before something drew his attention, neck and head twisting to scan the horizon. Then he saw them.

At first he thought they were giant primates. Then, upon closer inspection, they bore the metal that they built their false-claws* and False-Fire*, and hovered like the kin, but lacked wings. They were situated in the distance. They seemed to have been in the process of advancing, but had stopped. Which is to be expected, they spotted his magnificence after all. He seemed to even preen at that, that they recognized a superior creature before them.

Yet that begged the question, what is their intention.

Already, the simple fighting had run its course as the flock now used the various buildings as their roosts. Many small kin carving out the primate nests to form their own. The young starting to drag the kills back towards the energy. The more prey, the more likely the Bull would be able to draw lesser once traveling Kin found and snatched prey from salamanders before fleeing.

It would likely not be long till most of those across the continent have started to migrate into their territory and vie for dominance. After all, there was bountiful amounts of food here.

He released a blast of ash from his snout before rearing back and beginning to beat his wings. Several would be enough for him to push off the single storied nest and begin to fly. The pack of the invaders were closing in, and, he needed to take into account their numbers. Yet even from here, miles away, their flocks were staggering large. Not since the First Bull flew through their territory with his mates, lesser males, and their mates, had he seen a flock even matching that great host.

Yet as he looked out, he found one that might well match his Bull's own.

A pair of young females broke from the hunt in the mega nest to follow after, releasing roars.

They had already seen that they had to fly low as to avoid being struck by the burning light. So they did. Yet he would suddenly land, claws outstretched as he spotted something of note. It was one of the burning pieces of metal that looked almost like a primate. It was far heavier then he expected, but it was as large as one of the females present. With claws wrapped around the chest, the large male began beating its wings, and eventually, taking off.

Muv Luv: Earth

Kazakhstan: Formerly Soviet Union Controlled Zone

43rd Guards Tactical Armor Division: Lieutenant Colonel Tolan

Area 13-B (Atbasar, Kazakhstan) (300 Kilometers West of Nur-Sultan)

Their advancement had otherwise ceased all together as the soldiers in both their TSF and tanks caught sight of the new arrivals. Of course Coms would be flooded with the reports as several unknowns could be seen emerging from the rural town, as though tunneling from out of the ground. It was enough to leave Tolan with fear at the fact they might be facing a new Beta threat.

"Бұйрық бер, бұл лейтенант Толан, тағы да айтамын, бұл лейтенант Толан, Атбасар Қазақстаннан 10-шы жерден хабар беріп тұр. Мені оқыдың ба?"

(Command this is Lieutenant Tolan, I repeat, this is Lieutenant Tolan, reporting from 10 klicks out of Atbasar Kazakhstan. Do you read me, over?)

Even as he waited, his sensor suits tracked the three flying bogies heading towards the Beta pack. Stopping only for the largest, three times larger, to land, grab a damaged TSF, and become airborne again. The three still seemed to be a on that direct path with the oncoming beta herd.

"Это командир роты Владимир, мы читаем вас, лейтенант, доложите о ходе выполнения задания, прием."

(This is Company Commander Vladimir, we read you Lieutenant, please report mission progression, over.)

The Lieutenant merely watched as the large flying reptiles split apart. The smaller two moving to flank and the large moving head on. They were already flowing below the Laser Class effective range, which told him they understood their enemies weakness. He also detected the agitation from the commander at the fact he was speaking Kazakh, while his commander responded in Russian. It was the small victories for those under the boot of the Soviets that caused him to smile.

"Біз командирдің қиындығына байланысты тоқтап қалдық, негізінен, қазір қала өртке орануда, мырза, бізде Екібастұз уезінен көшіп келе жатқан стандартты Бета батальондық күштерін тарту үшін жаңа жаулар бар. Ағымдағы өрт басталғанға дейін барлық қорғаушылардың өлімі расталды, бірақ... Команда."

(We have stalled due to a complication Commander, mainly, the city is currently on fire sir, and we have new hostiles moving to engage a standard Beta battalion sized force moving from the Ekibastuz Hive. Confirmed deaths of all defenders prior to current fire outbreak but...Command.)

How did he even say this without sounding like an absolute madman to begin with.

"Говорите, товарищ. В чем дело. Продвигайтесь, или будете отправлены под трибунал. Прием."

(Speak up comrade. What is the issue. Move in or be court marshalled. Over.)

Of course with the hard ass remarks. As he begins preparing himself mentally to speak of what he was seeing, he watches as the lead dragon twists in mid air, and hurtles the smoldering remains of the TSF into the Fortress Class'es own head, with enough force for it to stumble. A few of the tanker crews barked out laughter at the sight.

"Мырза, қазір бізде күшке шабуыл жасайтын үш белгісіз арба бар. Олар стандартты қару-жарақ ату ауқымында, бірақ мен ақылсыз болып көрінемін. Мен физикалық және құжатталған дәлелдерім болған кезде дұрыс брифинг беруді сұрар едім, сондықтан жұмысын жалғастыру үшін психикалық тұрақсыз деп аталмас үшін. Аяқталды. Тәрҗемә ителгән белән"

(Sir as of now we have three unidentified bogies assaulting the force. They are within range for standard weapons fire, but, and I am going to sound insane. I would request to give a proper briefing when I have physical and documented evidence so as not to be called mentally unstable to continue to function. Over.)

Next, as the two smaller dragons flew along the flanks, both would begin to unleash tidal waves of fire from their jaws, cascading over hundreds of Tanker and Warrior Classes.

"Необычная просьба, но если вы считаете, что все, что вы говорите, делает вас непригодным к службе, дайте нам надлежащий отчет о ситуации, чтобы мы могли обеспечить ваши следующие приказы. Прием."

(An unorthodox request but if you are deeming everything you would be saying casts you as unfit for service, give us a proper situation report so we can provide your next orders. Over.)

The two smaller ones would be joined by the larger one, doing strafing like it was world war 2 again. A lot of the nations had been calling for the return to low flying ground attack like the last world war using aircraft supporting TSFes. Slowly the inferno was starting to move inward, not helped by the tall grasses that had become overgrown with the loss of any human habitation in this nation. A wild fire had been sparked.

"Белгісіздер жау күштеріне жалынға негізделген шабуылдар жасады, сэр. Жабайы оттың ұшқыны. Біздің мақсатымыз қолжетімсіз. Тактикалық отрядтар белгісіздерді зерттеуге көшкен кезде танкер экипаждарына кері шегінуге рұқсат. Артық?"

(Unknowns have just unleashed flame based attacks on enemy forces sir. Sparking a wild fire. As it stands our objective is out of reach. Permission for the Tanker crews to pull back while the Tactical Squads move to investigate unknowns. Over?)

He could already hear the rest of the squads questions, but watching the situation unfold, a plan was starting to already form. While he waited for command to come back, he would send a quick communication to the pilots of their Su-27s, Pilot Takanov and Pilot Svetlana.

"Таканов, мен сенің және Светлананың мылтықтарыңды дайындағанын қалаймын. Біз қолдауға көшеміз. Біз көріп отырған нәрсені ескере отырып, кем дегенде, біз сол ордадан кез келген лазерлік классты жойып, белгісіздерге оны жоюға жақсырақ мүмкіндік бере аламыз."

(Takanov, I want you and Svetlana to get your rifles ready. We are moving to support. Given what we are seeing, at the very least, we can eliminate any Laser class from that horde and give the unknowns a better shot at wiping it out.)

Was it insane? Yes. Was he running on a lot of stimulants and have been dodging patrols for the better part of a month since the fall of the city? Yes. Was he also a native to this nation and this was the first time him or any other surviving Kazakhstans had been home since the 70s? Damn right.

"Сіз жолдас мұны дана деп ойлайсыз ба?"

(Comrade do you think this is wise?)

"Менің ойымша, біздің командиріміз есінен танып қалды".

(I think our commander has gone insane.)

Perhaps he had, but their squadron as a whole would receive a wide band message.

"Я, командир роты Владимир, разрешаю нашим солдатам вступить в бой. Однако экипажам танков не разрешается отступать. Двигайтесь вперед. Прием."

(I, Company Commander Vladimir, give our soldiers permission to move in to engage. Tank crews however will not be allowed to pull back. Push forward. Over.)

The vitriolic cursing from those crews, being non-native Russians, likely would not need to be returned to High Command. Not that he disagreed. The fact they had even sent tanks up the river was enough to tell him these they were either to reinforce their forces already on station or to act as a fodder screen.

"Біз сізге Жоғары қолбасшылық, Қанжар отрядын оқимыз. Артық және сыртқы."

(We read you High Command, Dagger Squad. Over and Out.)

He switched off long range and switched to short range coms. His TSF already detecting movement in the distance as their use of communication devices was enough to draw attention from the horde. Causing some to begin splitting off and moving towards them.

"Сіз командирді естідіңіз. Біз бұл бір жақты сапар болуы мүмкін екенін білдік. Танкерлер, қозғалыста оқ жаудырады. Эскадрилья, оларды жауып, Бетаны олардан аулақ ұстаңыз. Мақсаттар - жағымсыз нәрсе, сондықтан Николеттке атпауға тырысыңыз. Сізде тегін мақсаттар бар, қоңырау шалыңыз және атыңыз. Біз батпаққа батып кете алмаймыз."

(You all heard the commander. We knew this was likely to be a one way trip to begin with. Tankers, fire on the move. Squadron, cover them and keep Beta off them. Targets are anything ugly, so try not to shoot at Nickolette. You have free targets, call and shoot. We can't get bogged down.)

Affirmatives already started to echo out as the two Su's would unstrap their backup weapons, being high powered sniper rifles from their back plates. Starting to assemble them while the rest of the associated TSF rose off into the sky to shadow the tank battalion which starts to move forward. Local Battalion commanders shouting and designating targets before moving. They would use their range as best they can to keep the Beta from getting to close.

Muv Luv: Earth

Kazakhstan: Formerly Soviet Union Controlled Zone

Dragon Forces: Young Male (Object 00)

Area 13-B (Astrakhanka, Kazakhstan) (132 Kilometers West of Nur-Sultan)

The initial strafe had gone splendid. The Spined One* was their target, them and others that could be seen in the distance. The two females were doing what they can, but the flock beneath them stretched into the distance, enough so that it left him feeling somewhat anxious as a result. They had dealt with the primates before, but this was something else.

He released another roar before a blast of flame coated one of the Spined Ones legs. The scent of cooking meat wafted into his nostrils as he bathed in, before cutting off the ejection of fire to back away from its sweeping tail. A snarl slipped from his jaws at the fact that thing was so dangerous. It had enough weight that he would likely be struck out of the sky. But their body was rapidly accumulating burns. That was enough, at least for now.

Another pack of the Gnawing Ones attempted to leap upon him, forcing him to rise higher.

Then he looks up, and spots through the dense cloud of smoke, another pack of the Spined Ones. Their pack just continued to grow.

If this had been the proper flock, then this would not have been an issue. Yet it was, and as a result, they were forced to begin pulling back.

Looking over, he spots packs of the invaders splitting off from the primary flock, moving into the distance as the sound of distant booms resound. The Primates had made their move finally. The large metal primates seemed to hover in mid air while their small bugs on the ground pick at individuals of the pack. In the old world, they would have been targets for food. In the old world, they lacked creatures as large as adult females.

Suddenly a crack echoed and one of the Eyed Ones fell over, its top half blown off. Than another echoed out as another of the Eyed Ones fell over, its chest cavity caved in at an angle.

This began to repeat as, from a distance, he spots two of the metal primates, with their distant booms, releasing puffs of smoke. Before Eyed Ones fell dead.

They were targeting them, which was curious.

The horde had effectively split in half as he is allowed to focus all his attention on the Spined Ones. The first one in particular. They were already damaged and wounded from their flame. This one would be his to claim once the flock was dead. Thus a plan of action was needed.

Their tail* swayed like a dragon's neck, before lunging out and managing to impale itself through a female, splitting her in two and destroying her egg. This enraged him, enough that, the tail became his sole focus. With a roar, his body dropped and slammed into the tail. It thrashed, but his claws and wings bit through the hide of it. Blood trickling off it in rivers and splashing below. However its pain wasn't finished as its jaws close around the tail near the base of the barb before unleashing a direct blast of flame.

It stumbled, the Spined One tried to shake him off, but they would fail as the flame ate through much of the hide and flesh. The barb would hang limp and impotent as the flesh connecting it was burnt away. However, they were forced to remove themselves as another Spiney One had moved to flank them. Causing the male to release a snarl. They would have to back away from the fighting, leaving the herd to push on without much issue.

As it stood, the other female had retuned to the nest as a result of running through the flames she produced. They had only established a clawhold but given only three of them had been in a state to fight, even if he was still smarting from his dislocated jaw from earlier. They could not challenge a flock of this size. At least not yet and not without significant numbers.

Then roars, many roars, they echoed from Primate's nests behind him.

If they could smile, they would have.

No, it was not their bull. They turned, fleeing back with the other female. Even as the primates continued to draw their attention.

What they saw streaming out of the city were gaunt figures, hundreds of them. Coming to land on buildings, but more importantly, corpses. They tucked in without waiting, tearing thick meaty chunks off their bodies. A flock had been drawn. Perhaps it was one of the flocks from the near by regions on the other side. Those that had been initially drawn had eaten their fill, to an extent. Yet the scent of blood and cooking flesh had likely drawn those outside of the immediately converted primate mega nests. Or their Bull had gone and gathered more to bring back.

The sky over the city was now filled with nearly a hundred females. They would swoop down to snatch a meal from a Salamander or be resting upon the ground after a long flight. Yet many heads rose as he arrived with a roar. Catching their attention. He would roar again, head shifting and indicating. Many heads turning to regard the way he had come, and, finding a massive force moving towards them, even as the local primates attempt to fight them, the dragons would react.

Though these groups weren't accustomed to fighting the creatures that had invaded their Bull's lands.

One became ten which became twenty as the females, ranging from young adolescents to adults, would begin to move their way towards the hoard.

The Primates had pulled farther back, drawing a good sized chunk of the invaders with them, distracting them. He would land, allowing himself a moment to rest his body and look on.

However, even as he watches, the ground shakes, it shudders, as something truly massive pushes its fat bulk through the energy. It was a Salamander, though one he was unfamiliar with. Waddling forward on four legs, the massive reptile flicked their tongue into the air, before turning and spotting where the flock of females was moving towards. Tongue flicking out, it would begin wading after the flock, the chance at a meal enticing.

Muv Luv: Earth

Kazakhstan: Formerly Soviet Union Controlled Zone

43rd Guards Tactical Armor Division: Lieutenant Colonel Tolan

Area 13-B (Atbasar, Kazakhstan) (300 Kilometers West of Nur-Sultan)

He was not having a good time.

He could admit that, as he felt his Berkut jerk as he activated its thrusters to move out of the way of a rapidly approaching Tanker Class. Rewarding the leaping Beta with a single blast of its shotgun, tearing its limbs off and killing it.

So far they had been advancing backwards since the fighting began. Partially out of doctrine, partially due to the fact that there were many mode dragons now then there were their own forces. Several tanks having already been lost to the monsters that was the Beta advance. He grunted out, eyes narrowing as he blasted his Tactical Surface Fighter backwards before leveling his side arms at a pair of incoming Tanker Class. Barks of heated metal tore through their bodies, giving the tanks they were aiming for to put rounds through the chest of a approaching Grappler class.

"Бұл ақылсыз және егер біз аман қалсақ, мен Владимирмен байыпты сөздер айтқым келеді."

(This is insane and I am going to have serious words with that Vladimir if we survive this.)

His teeth grit as he banked left from another pair of Tankers, though even before he could fire, one of his support units sent an explosive round through its chest.

"Сол лазерге назар аударыңыз және оларды жарықтандырыңыз. Олар неғұрлым тезірек жойылса, соғұрлым тезірек артқа қарай тартамыз. Арбалар саны артып келеді және I-"

(Get eyes on those Laser and light them up. The sooner they are eliminated, the sooner we can pull back. The bogies are gaining in number and I-)

He started to say before the ground shudders. A massive blast of flame erupts from the distant city before a hulking creature erupted from the ground and then storming out. A board head and dense musculature that helped to heave itself up and rush towards the Horde of Beta with clear hunger.

"Ақымақ!"

(Fucking Shit!)

Thankfully the swarms of other dragons had begun to laying waste, flame building up as Fortress Class or Tanker Class knocked individuals out of the air and killed upon impact with the ground.

His momentary distraction nearly caused him as a Grappler clipped his right arm, tearing it off. In retaliation, he drove his shotgun into its chest and fired three shots, tearing it entirely in half. The fire from his own forces was starting to slacken as a result of continued harassment of the Beta pushing on their position. It left him feeling somewhat boxed in. Then a shadow passed overhead.

One of the creatures that had emerged earlier came upon the group, slamming into the top of a Grappler class. They were as large as a TSF, but slender at the neck, broad of chest, and wide of wings. They really did fit all the descriptions and stories of wyverns in a lot of European myths. The large creature had driven its claws into the head and the chest of a grappler that had been aiming for him from behind. It released a hiss as it began beating its wings, the Grappler thrashing in its claws. Then a second arrived, and a third. Much smaller, with less pronounced barrel chest. They all sunk their claws into the Grappler and lifted it off the ground.

"Полковник сен жақсысың ба?"

(Colonel are you ok?)

Nicolette would shout over the comms at the close encounter, the squad still fighting, forcing him to switch his attention back as screams echoed when the Grappler was dropped on the front of the tank. His machine turned its head up, trying to find the Beta horde once again. Yet try as he might, the amount of smoke that filled their view makes it hard to find. Even with sensors. The creatures continue to lay fire into the air, sending massive plumes of smoke which belched and billowed into the sky above them. Things were growing progressively more dysfunctional as the battlefield became choked with ash and soot along with the choking smoke that wafted into the air, carrying with it the scent of burning meat. A decision needed to be made.

"Бұл барлық күштерге 43-ші подполковник Толан, артқа шегіну. Бұл ұрыс даласындағы кедергі нысанаға зиянын тигізуде және алаңда белгісіз біреудің бар екенін ескере отырып, операцияларды жалғастыру енді мүмкін емес. Барлық күштер Теңгіз көліне қарай шегінеді. Осы уақытта біздің жұмыс тобының ең жоғары лауазымды мүшесі ретінде мен миссиядан бас тартамын. Тапсырыстарыңыз бар, танкерлерді алдымен артқа тартып жатқанда жабыңыз. Артық."

(This is Lieutenant Colonel Tolan of the 43rd to all forces, pull back. This battlefield obstruction is playing havoc with targeting and given the existence of an unknown on the field, it is no longer tenable to continue operations. All forces, retreat back towards Lake Tengiz. At this point in time as the highest ranking member of our task force, I am cancelling the mission. You have your orders, cover the tankers while they pull back first. Over.)

As one would expect, the news that they would be pulling back caused a lot of them to cheer even as they continued to back away from the growing smoke field. The stench of burning flesh was starting to overwhelm even their machine's air intakes. Causing the sickly sweet stench of cooking flesh to begin permeating their cockpits. The Crew Chiefs were going to give them so much flak for that. That's if the Commissars don't outright execute them. Though perhaps they will be lenient due to the knowledge they have. With a breath, even as his forces start to roll back quicker, stopping to pick up tanker crews from their destroyed tanks, he commed command.

"Бұл 43-ші гвардиялық тактикалық қару-жарақ дивизиясының подполковнигі Толан, мен жалпы шегіну туралы бұйрықты тиімді шығарамын. Барлық көріну тоқтатылды және біз соқыр оқ жаудырамыз. Айналадағы ауылдарды белгісіздер өртеп жіберді. Кері орын Тенгиз көлі болады."

(This is Lieutenant Colonel Tolan of the 43rd Guards Tactical Armor Division to Command, I am issuing a General Retreat Order effectively. All visibility has ceased and we are firing blind. Unknowns have set fire to the surrounding countryside. Fallback location will be Lake Tengiz.)

Even as his thrusters burnt back to dodge a leaping Tanker class, driving the barrel of his shotgun into its open mouth and pulling the trigger. Yet strangely, command wasn't responding, causing him to frown. He turned to watch the rest of his forces peel away. Smoking ruins of Tanks left behind while TFS held their crew in their hands. Something wasn't adding up and he was starting to get the distinct impression that Command was ignoring them.

"Біз экстракция нүктесіне жеткенде, біз ұстаймыз. Бета тіршілік иелеріне алаңдайды. Артық."

(When we get to the extraction point, we hold. The Beta will be distracted with the creatures. Over.)

Affirmatives echoed as his TSF slowed their pace to keep with the Tank Crews running along beside them. Though, some had started to report that tried and true situation with the tanks registering some mechanical issues along with starting to run low on fuel after fighting for an hour. Leave it to Command to give them gas guzzlers. Though thankfully they had enough fuel cans. He turned one last look back at the smoke screen, just in time to see the silloete of the Fortress Class be blasted with flame from the mega bogie. Then turned and burned towards the distant lake.

Salamanders: In terms of body type, these dragons are a mixture of Elden Ring Wyrms and Lord of the Rings Fire Drakes like Glaurung. Ground dwelling dragons are an aberration, but have evolved to hunt through caverns and through tight confines for prey that the more traditional dragons can't reach.

Mega Nest: Generally refers to the Cities that humanity build.

Eyed Ones: Referring to Laser class. The bane of any dragon below mature status.

False-Claws: Usually refer to Missiles as they can cause damage like claws.

False-Fire: Anything related to guns really.

Spined Ones: Fortress Class, first time encountering it, but given its size, it will likely be a preferred target by large males or flocks of hungry females.

Tail: In this case, they refer to the Fortress Class'es primary offensive weapon, the barb beneath the main body.

AN:

Dragon Durability: Simply put it is expected that the dragons, prior to their total dominance, would have had to deal with a lot from humanity even as the political situation left it hard to strike at the gathering populations in Siberia. Their scales will have grown strong enough to render most small arms and even some missiles as a non-option. If you want to think of what that would look like. The Bull would fill the role of Shin Godzilla when the Japanese SDF attempted their first attack after he had evolved. It was why, in the movie, they had to go for a shot into the bull's body rather then anywhere else.

Kazakhstan: As I have just learned after looking up, the city I chose is actually just equivalent to any small town in America so I will have to do some stuff. Their capital is likely one of the few still standing holdings of the Soviets that has let them deploy any forces. Though . I can say that the location was just where they did the testing that lead to the formation of this portal. Whelp, that is what happens when I don't do enough research. Oh well.

Time: Yes, there will be time discrepancies for the two worlds. One day in Reign of fire is a Month in Muv Luv. Part of me wants to do this to give dragon kids in one world the time needed to mature when they pass back through. In the event the Beta start opening up portals on their own into the other world. Even if that will bring other continent's Bulls down on them.

Bull Salamander: Dimensions are easily 80 Meters in length, though it being a ground dwelling creature, height is at most thirty meters. Its still a mass of muscle and hunger. My idea of an anti-fortress class dragon until a Bull can cross over and just be an absolute menace to just about anything.

Russian and Khazastan: Yes I am taking the time to have the humans speaking Russian and Kazakh given they are both apart of the soviets. With an emphasis of the Soviet Russians wanting the command structure to conform to Russian while those states that are apart of it want to stick to their native tongue. The are forced to speak Russian when on military bases or in Russian cities, but soldiers are known to flirt with court martials by speaking their native tongue.

Chapter Text

Reign of Fire is owned by Spyglass Media Group

Muv Luv is owned by aNCHOR Inc.

The Year is 2005 and the age of the BETA has continued without contest for some time. The BETA were first spotted on Mars in 1958. They arrived on the Moon in 1967 and, after a brief conflict with humanity's space forces, invaded Earth in 1973. They quickly spread from their landing point, Kashgar, and proceeded to invade the Eurasian, Middle Eastern and Asian regions; when they finally reached Japan in 1998, 36 million people were killed within a week. By 2001, the world population was down to about 1 billion people.

However, things are about to take a heated turn when the Soviets attempt to harness the remains of the Radiation Cannon and indirectly tear open a portal to a brand new world. One filled with ash and fire. This brings two peoples together and with them, potentially salvation. The Earth ravaged by the B.E.T.A and the other by Fire. Yet this opening comes Beasts of its pasts. Upon leathery wings and fire, the Beasts of the Ancients join the battered but no less lethal man as they emerge into a world untouched by Flames and the Future that could have been.

These are the Tales of the World that Could be and the World that is.

Muv Luv: Earth

Kazakhstan: Formerly Soviet Union Controlled Zone

Dragon Forces: Young Male (Object 00)

Area 13-B (Atbasar, Kazakhstan) (300 Kilometers West of Nur-Sultan)

The fighting was beginning to wind down as the Old Male tore through the forward ranks of the creatures. More males and females had joined at this point. Their bodies filling the skies as they dived and bathed the ground in molten torrents of flame.

None were spared from those that were struck by the torrents of flame as the swarm of their kin fell upon the last of the assaulting force. Flesh popped and sizzled as the Salamander waded through and impacted the large Legged One. Its blade having been dealt with earlier.

The air now filled with silence, or some silence, before the first sets of jaws close around one of the prey. Many of the young males and older females would grasp corpses and begin flying back towards the Ape's Nests. Which would become their new nests.

The massive Legged One would be dragged behind the Salamander, flames spitting from its maw as it slowly lumbered back.

His own eyes would find what he sought, one of the Clawed Ones which he had found he had a particular enjoyment of. Claws would sink into its cooked flesh, as his wings began to beat repeatedly. Pulling himself up and into the air to join with the rest of the flock.

One by one, even the slain were gathered and brought back. While the females burnt and slagged the ape's nests into proper nests, melting metal and stone before padding them down with their wings and tails, the males would begin their own work.

Like himself, others would pull corpses of slain females and males into a singular location. There they would tear open the chest cavities of females and extract eggs from them. Carefully extracting the very important items, they would place the eggs outside of the corpses before lifting them in their mouths. Smelling, they would begin to look through the various nests.

A hiss would follow if a female would reject the egg that he carried from one of their dead females, or a chitter if they will accept them.

Though normally eggs were left within their mothers to hatch and eat their way through, using their fallen mothers as nourishment, when they are singular and away from a pack. In packs however, when a female dies, before they can be eaten by the rest, the egg(s) are removed and taken out. They would be transported till they could find a female that would take the egg in to incubate and brood over before hatching.

Though only for unmated females. Males will generally protect their mates from males transporting unclaimed eggs. Their eggs are those they care about only.

He would come upon a young female, perhaps a few years younger then him, his throat rumbled as a pair of eggs filled his jaws to draw her attention. She would look up from her own meal having snatched a Jumping One from the kills earlier. Leaning over her snout brushed across his chin and then throat, before returning to the eggs and sniffing them. Tongue flicks out before she chittered and lifted herself up.

Moving forward, both are deposited before she lowers herself again, to brood and watch over.

Instinct would take over and the young male would, in a bid for breeding rights, return with a fresh kill to persuade her to allow him the chance to breed with her.

Shifting, he would climb back down, and land upon the long cleared area of the apes. They did seem to like covering the ground in this strange material that they created. It made little sense to him. Made little sense to any of them.

Head would however swivel as a new flock of young male and females emerged into reality. Roars followed as even the ground dwellers started arriving.

The lack of raised nests by the apes however left many having to set up on the ground. That was not defensible.

Though the smoke covered most of the area, that did not mean that they hadn't gotten a birds eye view above them. Several could see the nests of the apes in many different directions, though few still remained standing. The invaders seem to have a habit of tearing them down for whatever reason.

The Male however felt himself start to grow restless as the scent of meat and burning flesh filled his nostrils. With a hiss, he would stalk over towards one of the corpses, the Clawed One. Its legs having rolled up and pointed towards the sky when it had died. Flesh charred and seared with fires that had rolled over it. The scent left his jaws watering before he grabbed one of the legs and planted a claw upon its chest cavity. A tear is all that is needed to remove the leg from the body and pull it off. Steam being released as the warm and succulent flesh is exposed from the burned and charred hide.

The flesh was tender and fell free of the bone, though even that barely lasted before the male cracked through the femur. Given the size of the limb itself, he would hook a claw into the thigh and then pull down, separating the leg at the bone. Several crunches would follow as the bone itself was reduced to pulped meat. Gristle and grease rolled down their jaws as they swallowed.

At one point in the past, when flame had been shared across the globe, they had been forced to find alternative sources of food. Yet, the first taste of real flesh that wasn't their own always left them feeling euphoric. He would demolish the leg before rising and moving back to the corpse, only to find that its scent had attracted lesser drakes. Hissing and Snarling, the young male moved up, stomping on its chest before barking at the four legged dragons. All of which fled the area. He got first pickings.

Yet the male knew that there was still much to do.

The air stank of the sweet scent of cooking flesh, however the Invaders would not give up.

They would send another hunting pack* to swarm this small and minor nest.

The females would be protected here by the elderly Salamander as they nested and fed. Yet they needed a larger breeding room and feeding room.

Wings spread as he roars, drawing attention from young and older. Head shifted as he released more barks, which would draw several more barks as eager young males, to prove they had the biology to become an Alpha themselves, took to the sky. Though their size was still not enough, not to tackle forces larger then what they had now. Instead they would do as their Alpha of Alpha did, the first of them to revive. They would strike at the surrounding Ape settlements. Once they were large enough. They would be able to descend upon the Invaders.

They would thus begin to gather and return to gather the rest of the corpses they had created. The scent would attract vermin which would be able to help feed the young when they hatched while new arrivals would have meals from the other side.

One of the older females would grab a jumping one and wander back through the sphere. Likely to return to her mate and to draw more back through.

Merely some time turning of the sphere in the sky would see a small flock of thirty arrive one after another through the sphere. Descending on prepared cooked meat with ravenous gusto.

Though due to the lack of nesting space, this flock would take to the sky and move as a group towards the direct west of the ape's nest. He watched them go, before returning his attention back towards his meal, content to let the new flock handle themselves.

Muv Luv: Earth

Kazakhstan: Formerly Soviet Union Controlled Zone

Dragon Forces: Small Flock (30 Dragons) (Object 150)

Area 13-B (Between Zhaksy, Kazakhstan) (345 Kilometers West of Nur-Sultan)

The small ape claimed dwellings had become overrun by the invaders at some point in the past. With the front lines pushed far beyond this point, the number of bodies found within this area had diminished as excavations had been called for additional bodies. Thus it would come as no surprise that, upon the herd being annihilated, the Super Intendent put the occupation forces which had been in the process of breaking down the materials here on high alert.

Sadly that did so little to prepare them when the flock, using the rising smoke cover, to fall upon the small ape nest.

The Jumping Ones and Clawed Ones were the most numerous, but there was one of the previously unencountered Legged Ones. The oldest of the group prioritized that one while the youngest bathed the nest in fire, burning and overwhelming the numerous invaders. There might have been two to three hundred, but with their capability of keeping away from the invaders, they were able to wipe them from the face of the earth.

As young females would begin burning through nests of the apes, hollowing many out as the young and older males gathered the dead into the center of the small nests. This ape Super Nest was much larger then the one that they had just come. With plentiful food, there was more then enough to feed even the next generation. Young males using this chance to court fellow young females while a singular older female took command of the whole group.

Steel and stone melted as the females hollowed the surrounding buildings out to allow for them to settle and relax within. Tails would hang over the sides of the molten metal while they occasionally melted pieces of metal and stuck them to the walls to form a sort of roof over themselves. Courting males would showoff their kills, usually largest of the Invaders. Frilled or Clawed Ones.

The Oldest of the Females would resist any advances, content to fill her belly on the Tailed (Legged) One which she had personally slew along with her brood. Though five of her sired children had been killed in the assault. Most of the eggs were found to be smashed due to the sheer size difference between themselves and the Tailed Ones. Their own stinger large enough to reduce most sub-adult males to smattered remains across the ground.

Those that could be found would be brought to the eldest female.

This world was so plentiful with food, it would stand to reason that more would come once the Sphere was large enough to accommodate additional flocks through.

For now, the city grew quiet outside of the crackling of flame and the feasting of the Dragons.

Muv Luv: Earth

Kazakhstan: Formerly Soviet Union Controlled Zone

43rd Guards Tactical Armor Division: Lieutenant Colonel Tolan

Area 13-B (Lake Tengiz, Kazakhstan) (425.5 Kilometers South-west of Nur-Sultan)

His Su-47 Berkut finally came to a stop alongside the remaining TSFs and the few tanks that had survived the madness that had unfolded earlier. They would hold position while trying to figure out their entire next step. Command hadn't responded, they were behind enemy lines, and if they returned to their own lines they'd likely be shot for failing their objective.

Leaning back in his seat, he released a sigh, then keyed the comms.

«Маған отырықшы респ керек. Бәріміз қалай ұстаймыз?»

{I need a sit rep. How are we all holding up?}

A dozen voices spoke one after another. The tankers were no worse for ware, but without a proper means of transporting them they could only do so much. A more permeant method needed to be implemented. Their TSFs were still rearing to go, but at least they could still travel.

«Командадан жауап жоқ. Бізде тек екі нұсқа ғана бар. «Біз коллапсқа оңтүстік-шығыс Азия желілеріне оралып, атыламыз, немесе Африка үшін жасаймыз».

{No response from command. We have only two options. We return to the collapsing South East Asia Lines and be shot, or we make for Africa.}

Neither idea was ideal but only one had a proper survival rate to begin with. They were still weighed down by the fact they were carrying around weight. They needed something that could be used for the tanker crews.

«Маған ату ұнамайды, бірақ Африка ма? Бета-интерференцияға байланысты пәрменнің жай ғана кесілгеніне сенімдісіз бе?»

{I don't like getting shot, but Africa? Are you sure that command is just cut off due to Beta interference?}

He didn't bother checking the comms. They weren't wrong. It was a stretch. He just didn't have many options. They were so far inland that there was few ways they could realistically go. South Asia was to fall soon after all. They knew it. Command knew it. They just refused to accept it.

So he would call for them to pull up their maps and begin to inspect their options. They could stop at the Sary-Shagan Test Site to the direct south east of them.

«Сары-Шаған сынақ алаңы біздің оңтүстік-шығысымызда орналасқан. Біз қалғандарын материалдарды жинақтау үшін пайдалана аламыз және танкер экипаждары үшін оларды алып жүруден гөрі ұстаушыларды салу үшін кейбір материалдарды ала аламыз.»

{The Sary-Shagan Test Site lies directly south east of us. We can use what remains to stock up on materials and possibly snag some material to build holders for the tanker crews as opposed to carrying them around.}

That as well earned some grumbled but not as many as the other ideas. Long had the grip of the state been lost upon their soldiers outside of the most sheltered command units.

«Біз MRE-де жинақтау үшін тоқтаулар жасауымыз керек. Біз ештеңеге жүгіре алмаймыз.»

{We will have to make stops to stock up on MREs. We can't run on nothing after all.}

«Мен командир деп айтқым келді, біз тазалауға мүмкіндік аламыз деп ойлайсыз ба? Егер біз шынымен Африкаға баратын болсақ, шомылу мүмкіндігіміз болуы керек. Мен сен туралы білмеймін, бірақ мен өз тынысымды ұзақ ұстай аламын.»

{I was going to say commander, do you think we can take a chance to clean up? If we are really going all the way to Africa, we have got to have a chance to bath. I don't know about you but I can only hold my own breath for so long.}

That, despite the situation, earned a few chuckles. Even he could detect the aroma of sweat and stress from the last week of on and off battles.

With a chuckle he would give the green light. Rotation of five and five. Five cleaning up, five on station.

Of course, the women of the group, Ailin, Medina, Rayana, Safiya, and Svetlana would be green lit to go first. Though less due to complaints but more because they would prefer to have the best rifles on station in the event they run into any trouble.

The tanker crews were third to go after the rest of the group after all. They were working to search through the local town to find anything that could be of use within Bay. Though that wasn't as much as they'd have liked. The Beta had ransacked the place, not to mention the Taliban was known to emerge from their warrens in the south to pierce into the former state of Kazakhstan. They really did just refuse to properly die out. Even thirty years after the Soviets had been thrown out of the nation of Afgastian. The Americans had trained and equipped them well enough.

—

It was the thirty minute mark of the allotted time that girls had for their bathing and the third time that Tolan had been attempting to reach command when motion trackers were trigger and they would detect movement at the edges of their sensor arrays. His secondary sniper would report a Grappler class that had been wandering the area due east of their current location.

Of course if they were still connected to high command, they would have given the order to fire, situation be damned.

Rather then do so, he ordered Bulat to hold his fire and keep watch on the bogey. As they watched the distant form, the sniper would com him directly.

«Қолбасшы, біз ол жерден көргенімізді елемей қала алмаймыз. Бұл біз ұмыта алатын нәрсе емес еді.»

{Commander, we can't keep ignoring what we saw out there. That just wasn't something that we can forget about.}

Tolan had really hoped none of them had brought up the utter madness that they had seen. The fact that they had seen dragons, wyverns or whatever Safiya would claim them to be otherwise, wasn't as important as the simple fact that they had seen them to begin with emerging from the ground.

«Егер менде Булат болса, мен көргенімізді ұмытар едім. Соғыстың осы шоғырындағы кез келген тарап, егер біз бұл туралы алдымен айтсақ, бізге сенетініне күмәнім бар.»

{If I had it my way Bulat I would forget what we saw. I doubt any side in this cluster fuck of a war would believe us if we talked about it to begin with.}

He grumbled, knowing well that Bulat and the others were thinking the samr thing. They saw dragons. There was no getting around that fact. Command would have them show for insanity if they weren't going to shoot them for merely failing a task. Didn't help that they weren't ethnic russian.

They continue to watch the body out in the distance even as it remained unmoving. If he had to guess, it was preparing to call on a horde from some local effort. He hated fighting the Beta. They had this uncanny way of throwing their tactics out the window. Thats if they stick to the plans that they had origionally intended to utilize. It was however wonderful when they just bulldozed their way directly into a well prepared ambush spot and they got to mulch thousand of the bastards.

Eventually, time wore on and the timer ran its course, leading to the boys switching out after the girls had bathed, dried, and gotten back into their Fortified Suit.

If he had to say anything about Lake Tengiz at this time of year, was that it was cooler then he expected it to be considering where they were. Though he wasn't about to complain. The sweat washed away in the waters that had not seen humans in some decades. He was alloted an hour himself, and he made the most of it. Using the chance to clean up his beard and his own hair while getting the dried sweat off.

It was times like these that he did take for granted what they had back on the base. The running water was nice, but there was something about immersing himself in this clear water that left him feeling at peace. For the first time.

Yet as quickly as the sensation started, it left him. Leaving him as well feeling hollow and empty. Turning his head, Tolan noted the expression on the other men of the group. Pilots and Tanker crews as well. This was likely a luxuty they would not have going forward.

Once more, they returned to their TSFs after suiting up. Thankfully, one of the tankers had found a couple jeeps in Bay and a shipping container that had been on the back of a pick up truck.

A quick amount of discussion saw them pulling out their emergency welding equipment. The crews working to remove seats from both civilian and military vehicles. Using the Container as a makeshift APC, they would work to weld in the sats bottoms to the interior. With seatbelts in place of the usual fashioning apparatuses.

An additional hour later, their sensors detected that the Beta had amassed a small force. Perhaps a hundred strong.

With Rayana designted the primary handler of the tanker crew, her TSF would handle and hold on to the cargo storage container, taking up a position within the center of the formation.

«Жарайды. Көп апталық сапарға дейін бізде бір аялдама бар. Сары-Шаған полигонына жеткенше отынымызды сақтауымыз керек. Онда біз жағдайды түгендеп, келесі бағытты жоспарлаймыз. Бета аймақта элементтердің болуы сөзсіз, сондықтан саусақтарыңызды ұстаңыз. Төмен және жылдам сақтаңыз, лазерлік класс Атбасардағы жарық шоуынан кейін күшінде болуы мүмкін. Жарайды алтын отряд. Шығу!»

{Alright. We have one stop before a multi-week journey. We have to conserve our fuel until we reach the Sary-Shagan Test Site. There we will take stock of the situation then plot our next course. The Beta are sure to have elements in the area so keep on your toes. Keep low and fast, Laser class are likely going to be out in force after the light show in Atbasar. Alright Gold Squad. Move out!}

Dragon Terms

Hunting Pack: Groups of dragons, or in this case, anything in multiples of 5 or more.

AN:

The Flock of Dragons that have crossed over has reached one hundred and fifty. Though with the five losses in Zhaksy, that is brought down to 145. Now, outside of major engagements, the Beta will be encountered in small manageable bites until the Dragons have claimed enough territory which will facilitate the Super Intendent sending a herd against them and effectively triggering a proper conflict.

Locations Claimed by the Dragons:

Atbasar, Kazakhstan

Zhaksy, Kazakhstan

Soviet Forces

Female Pilots:  Ailin, Medina, Rayana, Safiya, and Svetlana

Male Pilots:  Takanov, Tolan, Nurislam, Omar, and Bulat