Interstellar Survival: Invasion

When the chubby laborer saw Anxashe ’s dagger, they stepped back in fear.

”Anxashe, what are you trying to do? Don ’t threaten them with violence, ” I said.

However, Anxashe seemed to be completely ignoring me.
He took wide steps forward before raising the dagger and stabbing at the laborer ’s neck.
A clang sounded as the chains wrapped around the laborer dropped to the ground.
Anxashe had actually severed the chains around the chubby laborer.

”Anxashe, what are you doing? ” Zhang Bao ’er was completely confused by Anxashe ’s action.

”Dodo, tell the remaining laborers that if they can safely deliver the crates to the opposite building, we will give them freedom.
We ’ll even take them out of this place, ” said Anxashe solemnly.

We instantly understood what Anxashe was trying to do.
Dodo wasted no time in giving the laborers our offer.
After hearing the offer, the laborers started whispering to one another.
Before long, the one whose chains were severed stepped forth and gestured with their arms.
I could roughly understand that this fellow was leading by example, trying to persuade their companions to work with us.

Shortly after, the laborers started moving.
They took out four large crates from the pile and emptied them of the ores that were inside.
Then, they pointed at the empty crates and spoke to Anxashe in their alien language.

”Canyue, I think they ’re telling us to pick four of us to hide in the crates.
Since they need four of them to carry a single crate, they can only take four of us through at one time, ” said Dodo.

”Only four? Fine, we ’ll pick four first.
The others will wait here, including this laborer that already has their chains removed, ” I said as I pointed at the chainless laborer.

”Good idea.
One of them will stay as a hostage so the others will behave, ” said Zhang Bao ’er approvingly.

In truth, I had merely asked the chainless laborer to stay because the lack of chains would easily expose us.
But since Zhang Bao ’er had arrived at his own conclusion, I did not bother explaining.
The four people to go first were then decided; Zhang Bao ’er, Old Du, Anxashe, and I would be the suicide squad to go first.

”Sarje, wait here with the Wargod soldiers.
Protect Dodo and this laborer.
Wait for my order, ” I said.

Following my order, the others hid behind the pile of crates again while the four of us entered the four empty crates.
Next, the laborers nailed the lids onto the crates.

”Canyue, I ’m Dodo.
We ’ll keep the communication channel open.
I ’ll be in charge of observation, ” said Dodo.

I felt more assured with Dodo ’s help.
Nevertheless, the massive difficulty waiting ahead of us still caused me to feel quite nervous.
Vaguely, I heard the sound of a door opening.
I could feel the crate I was hiding in being lifted and carried forward.
After the crate left the warehouse, the door shut behind us.

I knew that I had arrived at the square filled with beasts.
Numerous noises could be heard outside the crate.
Apart from the unknown gurgling alien language and the howls of the spider beasts, there were also some unknown Eternal words being spoken in the square.
I knew that the words were being said by members of the Sacred Wing race.
The crate swayed around as it was carried forward, and I felt as though my nervous heart was swaying alongside the crate.

”Canyue, there are a lot of giant paw worms and spider beasts in the square.
Your group isn ’t supervised by a giant paw worm, so it might be dangerous.
Be sure to make no sound whatsoever and be ready for combat at all times, ” reminded Dodo.

To avoid exposing ourselves, I couldn ’t say anything.
The only thing I could do was listen.

”Shit! It is as I feared.
A giant paw worm seems to be paying attention to your group, ” said Dodo with the same mouth that had successfully jinxed this operation.

The sound of a giant paw worm crawling could be heard coming from outside the crate.
The laborers carrying us started speaking in their gurgling voices, seemingly in the process of explaining something.

”Canyue, this is bad.
A giant paw worm is heading toward your crate, ” Dodo reminded, the nervousness in their voice infecting me and causing me to be nervous as well.

The noise outside the crate grew louder and louder.
The laborers carrying my crate seemed to be nervously saying something to the giant paw worms.
Through a small gap, I saw a crawling figure approaching my crate.
With a thud, the crate I hid in dropped onto the ground.
Even in the crate, I could hear the movements of a giant paw worm circling my crate.

Suddenly, the figure stopped right in front of the gap.
I could hear its paw sliding across the crate ’s surface.
Its claws created ear-piercing sounds that caused my heartbeat to accelerate.
I tightened the grip on my laser gun and was prepared to give the worm a fatal attack the moment the lid was lifted.

”Canyue, it seems to be trying to open the crate.
Zhang Bao ’er ’s underestimation of their security is going to cost us our lives, ” said Dodo, who was both anxious and angry.

The gurgling voice of the laborers grew louder as they frantically explained themselves.
I could hear the worm trying to pry the nails off with its claws, but the nails were too tight for the worm to be successful.

Then, I heard claws rapping against the crate, as though the worm was trying to listen inside the crate.
At that moment, my gaze suddenly landed on the source ores under my feet.
An idea rose in my mind as I grabbed one of them and pushed it close to the place the worm was rapping.

Suddenly, a sharp screech sounded outside the crate.
With a pop, a claw punctured the crate and hit the ore I was raising.
I did my very best to prevent the ore from being pushed back by the single claw.

A painful groan came from the worm.
The hard ore seemed to have caused some pain to the worm ’s claw.
After all, this was an ore that could be used to forge ship-puncturing bullets.
While the groans continued, I felt my crate being lifted and carried forward once again.

”Canyue, did you give that fellow an electric shock? Why did it collapse suddenly? ” asked Dodo in astonishment.

”It ’s not safe to speak.
Continue observing.
I ’ll tell you later, ” I whispered and reminded them to stay alert.

”I won ’t be able to continue observing for long.
You ’ll enter the workshop soon, ” said Dodo.

Suddenly, my surroundings darkened.
I could feel that I had entered a massive room.
Intense grinding sounds of machinery could be heard all around me.
It was unknown what odd weapons they were manufacturing here.

Even after entering the workshop, I could still hear the noises made by the giant paw worms and the spider beasts.
After going through a long corridor, I once again heard someone speaking the Eternal language.

”Pile these crates at that corner with the other supplies.
Take the ores out and stack them up.
Why are you fools so slow? Where is Maka? He dares to skip the escorting job? How audacious! ” A Sacred Wing race official was cursing outside the crate.

The familiar gurgling sounds rang out as the laborers replied.

The official continued scolding, ”Huh? There are about a dozen crates waiting to be delivered and Maka is waiting there? That idiot! Why did he take so few of you to deliver so many crates? How many times would you need to go back and forth to finish the delivery? ” 

’Looks like Maka is the Sacred Wing official whom Anxashe had killed.
Also, it seems like the Sacred Wing officials can understand these laborers? ’ I thought.

A minute later, the crate I was hiding in was placed on the ground again.
Sounds of crates being opened rang out.
I gripped my gun tighter as a precaution against any surprises.
Soon, the lid of my crate was removed.
The chubby face of a laborer appeared before my eyes.
Only then did I heave out a breath of relief.
Two of the laborers helped me out of the crate, and Zhang Bao ’er was slumping weakly on the ground.

”I almost died from suffocation.
This shitty crate is too small, ” complained Zhang Bao ’er.

I ignored him and started observing my surroundings.
This was a corner with numerous piles of source ores.
Further to the front right of us was the registration counter manned by the Sacred Wing official.

A laborer suddenly walked up to me and gestured at the wall before walking away.
I followed the laborer.
In front of a wall beside a pile of ores, the laborer exerted some strength and took off a window that also looked like a ventilation cover.
On the other side of the cover was a pipe that could serve as a hiding spot.

”I didn ’t expect to see a pipe like this here.
These beast laborers are not to be underestimated, it seems, ” said Old Du in excitement.
He had come behind me without me realizing it.

The laborer who had removed the cover continued speaking in their gurgling voice, gesturing at us to hide inside.
They still needed to return to the warehouse to bring over the rest of our companions.

”Dodo, we have entered a tunnel within the workshop.
The laborers will be returning for you guys.
We ’ll meet in the tunnel, ” I said.

”Roger, Deputy Commander.
We ’re all ready, ” replied Dodo.

”Dodo, have everyone carry a few of the source ores in their crates.
You can use the ores to deal with the inspection, ” I said.

Then, the four of us climbed into the pipe.
The laborer snapped the cover back in place and left with their companions.
At that time, we started studying our surroundings.
We were inside a rather spacious ventilation duct.
There were several tunnels around us, seemingly leading to other parts of the building.

Find the original at bit.ly/3iBfjkV.

”Canyue, we don ’t have a clear line of sight here due to the piled ores.
I intend to move along the pipe and search around.
Maybe I can survey the building design and the personnel makeup here, ” said Anxashe.

With a nod from me, Anxashe immediately moved out.
I also suddenly realized that there was a lot of noise in the workshop, likely due to all the manufacturing work.
Even with both my ears covered by headpieces, they still buzzed from all the noise.

”Damn it.
Just what noise is this? I feel like my eardrums are bursting, ” grumbled Zhang Bao ’er.

”I wonder what manner of terrifying weapons they are manufacturing here.
It is really quite loud, ” I said.

”Anxashe is out scouting, right? We ’ll know when he ’s back, ” said Zhang Bao ’er.

”I don ’t think we need to wait for Anxashe.
I have a better idea to find out what they ’re manufacturing here, ” Old Du said.