For The Goddess Imperatoress!

"Sergeant, mind tell me what the f*ck is going on,"

I asked.

Sergeant Wolf wiped some of the grime off his chest plate, his expression as stoic as one could be.

"Certainly sir, apparently mother E*rth has decided to cook up a new pathogen and It's making all the zombies and abominations go berserk, and apparently even the Flying Dragon City is having a hard time,"

He explained as we walked toward one of the field tents.

"A new pathogen?"

Hope echoed, her eyes narrowing.

"What does that mean for us?"

Wolf sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

"It means we're in deep sh*t, ma'am, the pathogen seems to be airborne, and it's affecting the monsters in ways we've never seen before, they're more aggressive, more coordinated."

"And the Flying Dragon City?"

I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"They're struggling to contain the outbreaks. Their defenses are holding, but only just. The city's leadership has issued a state of emergency and is rounding up everyone who can hold a gun"

Wolf reported.

"Well s*it"

I muttered under my breath.

"Anyways what's the sitrep on our battlebrothers and everything else?"

I asked already expecting bad news but It wasn't like I couldn't fix It easily.

Wolf nodded, gathering his thoughts before reporting.

"Sir, we have a total of 40 cosmic marines, effectively a fully staffed platoon with me as the platoon leader. There's also the platoon's NCO, paramedic, liaison officer, and three fully staffed squads. For auxiliary personnel, we have six pilots, three dropship master chiefs, and six gunners. Including three dropships. As for supplies, we're officially black on ammo, food rations, and pretty much everything else."

I took a moment to absorb the information, then placed a firm hand on Wolfe's armored shoulder.

"Well congratulations, 2nd Lieutenant Wolf, you've earned it,"

I said, promoting him on the spot as I did I clenched my fist and punched his chest as tradition dictated.

Naturally, a promotion ceremony should take place but with how things are a simple punch to the chest where the new rank would be added was more than enough.

After that, we shook hands.

"Thank you, sir,"

Wolf replied, his voice filled with determination.

"Now, another question. Have you recovered any beyond repair power armor and nanocomposite alloy from our dead battle brothers' bones?"

I asked.

Wolf nodded, his expression somber.

"Yes, sir. We've managed to salvage a few scrapped power armors along with enough harvested nanocomposite alloy, organs, implants, and everything else from our dead battlebrothers at least what was left of them needed to make another cosmic marine."

I nodded thoughtfully.

"What's your estimate on the number of battle brothers we can round up from orbit?"

Wolf took a deep breath before answering.

"I believe we can gather a fully staffed company. We could potentially form a second company by dissecting our dead battle brothers and using their parts to fix our critically injured ones. As for a third company, we'd have to convert fresh recruits, and we would have to search the entire space graveyard but it's possible."

His words hung in the air, the grim reality of our situation settling over us. Two companies out of a whole legion. The thought was sobering.

"Two companies,"

I murmured, more to myself than anyone else.

"Out of the g*ddamn entire legion."

This just proved how mutually destructive the last space battle was for every side.

"Yes sir and the worst part Is that we have no choice but to dissect our battle brothers as If they are some kind of animals"

Wolf added clearly not pleased at this point after all who would, but In the end, we were the baddest and meanest motherf*ckers there were so we would suck It up and do It because our circumstances demanded us to.

"2nd Lieutenant Wolf,"

I said, my voice steady but firm.

"Prep a dropship and a squad of our jarheads for a trip to Flying Dragon City. We are going to restock and buy some extra s*it"

"Understood, sir,"

Wolf replied with a salute.

"I'll get everything ready immediately."

As Wolf turned to leave, I sent a quick order through our AIs, including Hope's measurements.

Lieutenant, one more thing. I need you to make a power armor for Hope, pick the more techy ones of us to do It

Wolf nodded, his expression serious.

I'll make sure it's done right, sir.

With that, Hope and I made our way to the underground vault, the dimly lit reinforced by concrete and beams tunnel felt like a labyrinth, but we navigated It with ease.

The vault door loomed ahead, a massive steel barrier protecting our most valuable resources.

Inside, the vault was well how to put It nicely It was practically empty as f*ck apart from the containers containing my battle brother's organs and Implants, and scraps of power armor and weapons along with dropship cannibalized parts.

"So what exactly are we here for?"

Hope asked as she looked around.

"Remember how I told you that If you tried bench pressing 6 tones you're bones would snap?"

I asked as I grabbed a glass container filled with the constantly heated nanocomposite solution, its contents shimmering with a faint glow.

"Yeah?"

Hope asked.

"We're going to visit the good doc and coat your bones In this"

I explained as I caused the container to disappear Into Hope's dimension while stuffing the vault with tons of food that I acquired prior which was a real hassle to say the least.

"F*ck I'll have to strip again won't I?"

Hope asked while pouting.

"Hey, do you want to be able to flip an APC or not?"

I asked while smirking.

"I do..."

Hope finally answered while biting her lower lip.

"Then you'll have to strip and this time the panties too"

I added with a mischievous grin causing Hope's face to turn bright red.

"Hey, what the f*ck Drac do you have a fetish of some random old dude staring at your girl or what?"

Hope barked as we started making our way back, hearing this I couldn't help but facepalm.

G*ddamn woman... why the f*ck do I even put up with her s*it? Hmmm yeah, It's definitely because of her c*nt I hate to admit It but It's just that good.

"Look Hope we're basically gona cut you open and drill into you're bones all over you're body"

I explained not bothering to say anything more.

"Sigh*Fine I got It..."

As we exited the underground we headed to the dropship, which was already prepped and waiting for us.

A squad of cosmic marines still covered In blood and flesh, their power armor gleaming in the harsh red light were already seated In their crash seats.

As we boarded the dropship the dropships master chief decked out In full body combat armor called out.

"Everything's set, sir. The squad is ready, and the dropship is fueled and armed we can lift off the moment you give the order"

"Good,"

I said, giving him a firm nod.

"Let's move out."

The dropship's chemical thrusters roared to life, and we lifted off the ground as the back ramp closed Itself, the base quickly shrinking below us.

Hope and I settled into our crash seats, the hum of the engines a comforting reminder of our purpose.

"We're approaching the city,"

The pilot announced.

"ETA five minutes."

Only to curse out the next minute, his voice tense.

"F*ck! Prepare for combat!"

Hope and I exchanged a quick glance, both of us immediately on high alert. The dropship's monitors displayed the scene ahead Flying Dragon City was surrounded by a horde of monsters, both from the ground and the sky.

The city's anti-aircraft defenses blasted salvo after salvo into the sky, making the city look like a hedgehog bristling with spikes. Flamethrowers, machine guns, and cannons continued to pummel the almost endless ground units.

Seeing this the pilot began contacting the city.