Before the tank is even in view, Dravion is already on the move to intercept. Three bullets caught him in the chest, but that did not stop him.
Seizing the first mortal he could, using him as a shield, he ran towards the rumbling sound. Then it came into view, a Sicaran pattern tank. A tank that was not even considered to be a tank used in this battle.
Crankkkkk!!
Its guns turned to face Dravion…the thunderous cycling of its barrells… and it fired its first volley of high velocity tracking shells. Dravion dives behind a wall that is then removed by the shells of the tank.
The force of the explosion pushes him back, sending him flying into one of the mortals' troop vehicles.
"Provide suppression. Mask my approach!" Dravion voxed. No answer came
It was then that he realized that short range vox communications have been cut off by this world's defenders. They killed the ability of ground units communication among themselves. The tank or someone in the tank was likely holding a node.
With a swift motion he drew his bolter and started clearing out the hostiles around him.
His mind started blurring, he expelled hot air through his mouth. He was getting faster, stronger, and he could react to more enemies than before. He looked at the tank coming in the distance. This time he charged at it with greater speed.
The tank once again turning its guns on him, he changed his direction quicker than its gunner could react. Then once close enough, he threw 3 krak grenades at it, one on its front and two at its sides.
The air around the Sicaran pattern tank looks like it froze for a second. Then the air drew in towards the points where the grenade stuck, then….
SHEEE-POP
The exterior metal of the tank folds and crumples, causing explosions in the internal system of the tank. Dravion, not one to let this opportunity go, sprints close to the holes firing bolt rounds into them, killing the tanks crew.
At this point he could no longer see and make judgements. Everything that is moving is now an enemy. He turns towards the defenders, firing his bolter, picking off the mortals one at a time. He is walking towards them, sometimes he is hit, he bleeds, but it does not last for long.
Meanwhile immediately after the destruction of the tank, a vox communication reached Clyde
"Objective Alpha-Prime secured, charges are live, commencing countdown." This was a vox message from Damon
"Divergence active,secure the stack and rally at point alpha." Marcus said over the vox channel
"The window is closed, proceed now."
"Acknowledged" Damon answered with that short reply.
Dravion though able to hear the communication, was not able to reply. His mind clouded by each kill, forcing him deeper into the hole. He has already abandoned the bolter, and now is wielding his chainsword and his combat knife.
Weaving through the mortals. His squad mates at this point had also finished their ammunition and joined in for melee combat. Tearing through the defenders like beasts seeing food for the first time.
When the last mortal was killed they thought the battle was over but a chainsword swung at Elmer. To which he dodged narrowly, looking at their squad leader in this state.
Marcus rushed in from the side using his massive body to collide with Dravion, throwing him off balance. Elmer followed up with a punch to his head. Arthur picked up Elmer's combat knife along with his own, driving both into Dravion's legs.
Clyde joined in tackling him to the ground and the rest of the squad piled onto him, restraining him.
Arghhhh
Like a beast Dravion screamed for a while, struggling against his squad. Until after some 10 minutes was he able to calm down. With his senses restored, Dravion felt the weight of those restraining him.
"Brothers, release me, I am... master of my humors again."
"Explication, Dravion, give me a reason not to log this as a genetic deviancy." Marcus voiced out.
"Hyper-metabolic surge overload during combat, reducing cognitive reasoning" Dravion stated.
"Origin point?" Marcus pressed on.
"Post-Phase II implantation. during the initial Luna trials." he said, with a neutral tone.
"This topic will not be further discussed. If this situation arises again, death will not come swiftly."
The rest of the squad looked at each other before they slowly stepped away from him. Maintaining some level of vigilance against a possible attack from him.
"Objective complete" Damon voxed over
"All units: Rally at Alpha. The fleet has begun the fire-cycle. Orbital bombardment imminent."
Before the quad could even speak they heard the second message and arranged their gear and began running out of there. They move with unquestioning speed and instead of using back roads, they move through the main exit path.
It took them 5 minutes to exit the hive city when the first lance battery dropped from the sky. Salvation has come to the planet and the Emperor's light will once again guide their lost souls.
The battle that followed was completed quickly. When the neophytes returned to the ship for their briefing, the ship commander was not impressed with their results.
Instead of dismissing them to other battle groups he decided to take them to his next battle. They would serve the same function as they did in this battle, but he decided to use them for the entirety of their service years.
The neophytes on the other hand have a reduction in number. They were 100 when they started, now only 87 neophytes have returned. Selenar cultists aboard the ships once again began to inspect them.
Checking for damage in need of repair, and other adjustments that need to be carried out.
Dravion on the other hand is in the cafeteria, wolfing down massive amounts of food supplies. Even for him, this was a lot. He has already consumed 800% what an average neophyte would need in calories to function for 2 days.
And he is not even half way through his meal. He keeps on eating and eating. For a total of 4 hours he had to continue eating just to bring himself back to normal.
He understood that his berserk state consumed more energy than normal, and this last time. He felt like he was drawing energy from Caspian just to function.
Now it was time to pay back the energy that he collected.