Chasing Dragons Even Further

India was the first stop for our efforts to restore order in the panicking states. This was a standard abduction mission, which also started pretty standard, but soon after the initial skirmishes things escalated. A group of mutons entered the fray, but they had also brought a friend.

[TACTICAL COMMS TRANSCRIPT]

Harmony Lad: Whoa, what is THAT?

Sureshot: It doesn't seem to carry any weapons either, but it's certainly much bigger than those mutons.

Ironside: Maybe it uses harsh language as a weapon?

Harmony Lad: Perkele, bring it! Täältä pesee!

Ironside: I didn't get any of that, but I'm sure we're on the winning side if that's the case.

[TRANSCRIPT ENDS]

A much bigger and an unarmed version of a muton was not only hideously difficult to kill, but also bothered with anger management issues. It would charge anyone who fired a shot at it, and while steadily barging through the vicious crossfire, it was also terribly close to the squad. Visibly hurt and resembling more like a Halloween party guest from hell than anything normal. Unfortunately, it was also too close to Broden, who rushed in, stuck his scatter laser onto its face and pulled the trigger. The behemoth fell like an apartment block, earth trembling when it collapsed.

In an instant, a familiar whirring noise filled the cemetery. Another cyberdisk - that's what the researchers had decided to call this unholy marriage of metal and organic matter it carried inside - rose to the sky from behind  the mausoleum. It spew around a few drones, and the squad took advantage of the opportunity.

[TACTICAL COMMS TRANSCRIPT]

El Fenrir: Nailed a drone!

Harmony Lad: Missed perkele!

Sureshot: Missed!

Hipster: Nailed another drone!

Broden: Taking cover, moving to...um, where I think its flank is...

[TRANSCRIPT ENDS]

The cyberdisk did something unexpected. It transformed into a scorpion-like robot form and lobbed a plasma grenade at Broden, El Fenrir and Sureshot. Bright green explosion illuminated the cemetery and the silhouettes of the two soldiers could be made out against the glow. Armor was melting and fabric was burning, but their equipment held.

Harmony Lad finished the other drone and scored a solid hit on the robot. Ironside broke off from the squad, rushed to flank the heavy metal monster and blasted twice. The malignant green light of its "eyes" faded, it whirred down and exploded. Mission accomplished.

Later on, another abduction shopping trip was stopped in Tokyo in a vicious fight that almost tore down a complete pizza restaurant block. El Fenrir almost bought it on this mission, but managed in the end with an extended trip to the infirmary.