[Combine] 0005 – A Temporary F.O.B.

[1,230 Words]

Immediately after kicking in the door and sending in the Manhack, John stepped inside, rifle at the ready, followed by the Elite Combine Soldiers in their winter-white armor and their menacing, single red eye. John's armor and size were a stark contrast as he towered over the Elite Combine Soldiers, his ink-black armor and two shining silver optical cameras on his helmet illuminating the factory's dark interior.

His helmet illuminated the factory, revealing clear signs of disuse and abandonment, with half the ceiling collapsed onto an unknown piece of machinery. Skeletons littered the factory floor, showing that it was clearly occupied and in use when the bombs dropped on the city.

"Check your corners, there's no telling what critters have taken to calling this place home," John ordered calmly, eyes flickering between every visible crevice that could hide one of the many beasts that called the city home.

Hearing the garbled 'Affirmative' from the nearby Combine Soldiers, John pushed forward, the Manhack clearing the way and bouncing across every surface in its path before reorienting itself and floating forward, the red light from its camera illuminating the way.

That's when John heard it, something moving in the distance, skittering across the ground. 

"Potential contact, redirecting the Manhack," I spoke over the radio, before signaling towards the two nearest Combine Soldiers to form up behind me, as our prey revealed itself. 

A small creature no bigger than a cat with sharp claws and powerful legs leaped out from the shadows and towards the Manhack, not even recognizing the danger of such an action as the Manhack's rotating blades bisected it.

"Guards up! Lurker's inbound!" I ordered, warning the others as even more Lurkers revealed themselves.

One leaped from behind a nearby machine towards my face, but with a swing of my fist, I turned the creature into paste before shooting as more lunged out from their hiding spots.

Their strong legs and small statures gave them tremendous agility as they attacked us, but I was faster, my Spartan Physiology making it trivial to crush, shoot, and grab any that came close to me.

The two Combine Soldiers behind me are unloading their rifles on the assaulting Lurkers, their implants and enhanced reflexes giving them the necessary reaction speed to keep the beasts at bay.

When they stopped coming, I issued another order, "Send the Manhack down their tunnels, flush them out."

While that occurred, I activated my short-wave radio, "This is Omega, get a few of the City Scanners in the air and patrolling the skies, and send us two more Manhacks."

Satisfied, I continued onward, checking my corners with the two Combine Soldiers covering my back where I could not see. 

As we headed further in, we found more burrows, their tunnels covering every inch of the building, making it clear that it was either their hunting ground or one of their nests.

"Alpha-Three, checking in. Please be advised that we have located the stairs to what appears to be a basement or sub-level. Orders?" One of the Elites garbled over the radio.

"Hold position. Alpha-One, Alpha-Two, join Alpha-Four and clear out the sub-level. Once we have cleared the surface level, we will join you, Omega out," I barked out, while the two soldiers and I continued sweeping the floor for any more hostiles.

In the distance, I could hear the echoing bursts of gunfire, but I was not worried. The average Combine Soldier was already superhuman, with an Elite essentially being a super soldier, though I could likely fight a dozen of them before being killed. The Lurkers would be a piece of cake for the Elites and the Combine Soldiers following them.

...

It took around an hour to fully clear the building before we directed the convoy outside through two rusted bay doors.

At the moment, the Engineers, Vortigaunts, and the Civil Protection were working hard to set up the FOB. The engineers had begun setting up the Radiation Scrubbers before installing the Matter Reeconfigurer to seal and fill all the holes the Lurkers had made.

The Combine Soldiers were patrolling the building, both inside and out, while I stood before the three Elites.

"At all times, I want one of your squads guarding our FOB, while the other two will be out and fulfilling our Goals. If the Combine is to get a solid footing in this city, then we need information. Alpha-Two?" I called out to one of the Elites, "You and your squad will be searching for any local libraries and bookstores, gathering what you can from the ruins before returning. If you find the State Library, your goal is to acquire a document labeled 'D6.' This document is the top priority; it is to be obtained at all costs." I ordered, making my tone grave so the three understood just how vital the document was to our mission before focusing on Alpha-Three.

"Alpha-Three? You and your team have a set of objectives. First, you are to explore and map the city, noting any Metro entrances you find as well as any notable markers that we can use to navigate the city more effectively later. Second, you are to locate any surface bases of the Rangers and the Remanants, any questions?" I asked.

"Is the previous first-contact orders still in effect?" Alpha-Two asked.

"Yes. You are to keep your distance unless spotted, if noticed, capture and return. If you are unsure of being able to capture or eliminate those who spot you, return to base, shaking off any pursuers. You will be equipped with Manhacks and City Scanners to fulfill your objectives. However, if your equipment breaks, attempt to retrieve it for later repair. If it falls into enemy hands, your objective is to destroy the equipment to prevent reverse-engineering," I informed the three, before gesturing to our current base, "For now, assist the others, you will start tomorrow after I know the FOB is intact and in operation."

While the Elites would take the Combine Soldiers with them on their missions, the Civil Protection would remain here to provide security for the Civilians and the manual labor when needed. The Vortigaunts would act as guards if required, but otherwise would assist the Engineers in reinforcing our FOB. The Two Doctors, on the other hand, would provide medical care if needed, but otherwise would perform the Combine Augment surgery for any new 'recruits' the Elites captured. Until then, however, they'd run tests on the local Lurkers and any other local beasts we obtain.

As for myself? I'd be assisting where I'm needed or out with the two Elites searching for information, or I'd be patrolling by myself to familiarize myself with the area and my new body. 

There was much work to be done, and little time until the local powers discovered us, so we got to work immediately, the Matter Reconfigurer taking care of our material needs, the machine only needing the raw resources to make whatever we needed, and the Factory had quite a bit of metal and wood. Though the Matter Reconfigurer, or as we now referred to it, the MR, could assemble everything we needed, we'd eventually need another and a new source of metal, wood, and other resources, as it took time to produce the metal sheets and bars we were using to barricade the building.