The heavy rain gradually stopped, and the wind direction began to change. But then it started to snow, followed by fist-sized hail, and the road began to freeze and became extremely slippery. The clouds completely obscured the starlight, and every house lit up with lights, which was Freeport Central.
The only light source.
Bekaa Luo is definitely a bad place. The climate is harsh, the soil is barren, and most of the land consists of mountain ridges that have been repeatedly washed away by rain. The terrain is winding and winding, and it is so bare that it cannot accommodate any vegetation.
Although frequent lightning strikes on the planet can generate a large amount of nitrogen dioxide and nitric acid, providing sufficient nitrogen fertilizer for the growth of crops, Becca Luo's lightning strikes are too frequent. She is just a gray stone planet, in the Milky Way.
There may be ten million planets like this in the world, but this is where Bren's ancestors decided to take root here by some strange combination of circumstances.
Not all worlds are uniquely endowed with Tarsonis, Korhal, and Terrador, but humans are a tenacious race, able to adapt to almost every treacherous environment in the galaxy.
Bren climbed onto the family's robo-harvester and felt that his physical condition was deteriorating. When he started the engine, he was almost coughing up blood, and every cell in his body seemed to be wailing.
The pain roared from my heart and lungs like a mountain.
He knew that he might not be able to hold on much longer, and that before long he would turn into one of those alienated monsters in the weather station, with faces covered with tumors and tentacles. Regret, pain and fear left Bren breathless.
For a long time, he sat almost motionless in the driving seat of the harvester.
Fortunately, this zerg virus has not invaded the controlled Brun's brain yet. All infected humans will eventually become slaves of the main hive mind, a fate worse than death.
Fortunately, Bren doesn't know yet.
Bren's love and sense of responsibility for his family and Freeport as a whole inspired him to regroup, and if the town was eventually engulfed by this terrible infection, so would the people he loved.
Bren was only the second-generation immigrant who was born and raised by Becca Rowe naturally. His understanding of the world was limited to Freeport, and his vision was only the canyon behind the pass and the cultivated land after that.
In the past, Bren had dreamed of becoming a starship soldier because he liked travel and adventure, and starships often traveled through various galaxies, quadrants and galaxies. But Becca Rowe did not have this condition at all. Let alone starships, even
Spacecraft that can fly out of the atmosphere are either left to rust in warehouses, or they are dismantled and used as valuable building materials.
He was once the most adventurous and curious person in Freeport. His keen intuition for machinery also allowed him to repair damaged agricultural watering equipment and harvesting facilities. Brenben had the opportunity to go further, but there was no chance here.
No one can teach him.
Later, he had to accept the reality he had to face. Like everyone else in the free port, he got married early and had children, and tried his best to fill his belly. Dreams, such unrealistic things, could only be left aside and let them slow down.
Slow weathering.
A gust of wind blew by, and the snow was blown up like white fog, and the rolled hail made a clanging sound on the windshield and roof of the harvester. Outside the car window, which was pockmarked by hail, the Freeport with the lights on at first appeared in this storm. It was crumbling, groaning, and trembling.
Originally, at this time, the four members of the Bren family should be sitting happily on the dining table covered with blue plaid cloth, eating the simplest dinner. Most of the dinners were simple bread, bacon, and some warm barley tea. Thunder At that time, it was stormy outside, but the home was warm and cozy, and his daughter Octavia Bren would sit on his lap and giggle.
People in poor places throughout the galaxy probably live like this. Bren heard that the central world of the Tyranid Federation was extremely prosperous, but he didn't have much idea in his mind.
Thinking of the smiles of his wife and children, Bren still endured the pain and inner fear and started the harvester to drive onto the cement road in Freeport, passing through the howling wind and hail.
Beka Luo taught the people here how to fight against nature, taught them what it means to be patient and endure the suffering and pain in life. On the edge of the Koprulu Sector, only the most tenacious people can survive.
Not a single car could be seen on the main street of Freeport in the storm. Every household was sitting in their own homes and facing the storm calmly. Where there are lights and flames, there is the budding place of human civilization.
This harvester has been in Bren's family for some years. It is older than the two children. It has been passed down from generation to generation and is just like any other family member.
This highly automated and integrated harvester can be seen in almost any world in the Tyranid Federation, with functions such as plowing, gravel and seeding, and can be equipped with a solid gasoline flamethrower if necessary. Press The Camorians do this by welding a few steel plates onto a harvester to turn it into a tank. They can even convert a super-giant planetary digger into an electromagnetic-accelerated road-based fighter launch port.
The combine harvester is the most loyal and reliable partner of the settlers, and Brun just hopes that it will not fall off the chain today.
Bren's destination was the home of Jacob Nikolai, who may have also been infected, and near his home was the location of Freeport's largest and only radio broadcaster. Although the old equipment was three or four years old After ten years, the parts have become rusty, and there is no question whether it can still be used.
Suddenly, a beam of light came from the fork in the street, dazzling his eyes. Bren immediately recognized it. It was the car of Freeport teacher Kirsten Warner, an old-fashioned four-wheeled car. When Wolston's father bought the car from a used car dealer, the Terra family of Tarsonis had not yet entered the maglev car industry.
This car is a treasure in a rural place like Freeport. After all, in a circle of harvesters, a car always stands out.
And this is also a good car that Kirsten is proud of, just like his unique greasy middle parting that goes with it, but this does not prevent him from being a good, serious and responsible teacher and a warm-hearted person.
"You've been tricked too? Kirsten." The harvester's communicator broke two years ago, and no one has been able to repair it since then. Bren can only use the walkie-talkie to talk to Kirsten.
Kirsten also followed Nicholas and Bren to check the missing weather station, along with old Rustin and the only biologist in the town, Gradley. If nothing else, they could all have been
Being infected, the carpet is one of the most basic infection routes for spreading zerg viruses.
Thinking about it now, the Terran Empire's army should have been notified at that time, but the people in Freeport only believed in their own people. People are like this, and they will never believe what they are facing until a disaster comes.
"For the sake of God, I used up my last bit of strength to climb into the car. The only people who can save this town now are the people of the Terran Empire. If there is no cure for this disease, old Bren, then you
You and I will each give each other a shot, and don't save it to harm other people." Kirsten's tone was still very calm, he has always been like this. In other words, crying now has no effect.
Most of the people living in this town are raising their families. They have gone through all kinds of hardships, including natural and man-made disasters, but they have not defeated the people of Becca Luo.
"Go to Nikolai's house. This sneaky guy took advantage of this crisis and approved the appointment of the first mayor at the citizens' assembly. Since this is the case, he should take responsibility." Brun said.
There is no time to discuss their condition now. If they transform into such monsters now, everyone in the town will suffer.
"The devil is here! These imperial people brought devils, and I knew they would not bring good news. I saw through the true colors of these people forty years ago! This strange disease may be caused by them, no,
Bet on my four gas extraction facilities, they must have done it!" Soon, the old miner Rustin's harvester jumped on Bren's rearview mirror, and his unique loud voice roared and chattered:
"This is not the end. As long as I am alive, even if I can still breathe, I will definitely beat these imperial bastards!"
Rustin's home is a few miles away from Freeport, but after seeing the tragic situation at the weather station, even an old tough guy like Rustin who had been working in Koprulu for many years did not dare to stay outside anymore.
Finally, biologist Gradley also managed to get in touch with Brun, who had also been infected by the virus. After briefly understanding the situation, this creature who had made many contributions to the genetic improvement of livestock in Freeport with a noble and selfless spirit
The scientist decided to shut himself up at home and conduct experiments on his own body to find an antidote.
Even though Beka Luo is not a livable paradise, the people here are no longer those who are full of resentment towards the Federation. They also love the land under their feet.
"Say a few words, Rustin, while we are still alive." Bren opened the door and drove the harvester out of a sports car, while the teacher and the miner's car followed closely behind: "The town must be warned.
people!"
"You want to be a hero?" Rustin growled.
"I have burned down all my refineries and kept the last barrel of gas for myself. Is that enough?"
"Rustin, if you had a little more romantic energy, you wouldn't have been a bachelor for so long." Kirsten laughed despite the unbearable pain in his body. "I hate living with other people." Rustin said: "You should have known that I was a lone wolf."
Freeport is not big, and even driving from the edge of the town to the center of the town only takes ten minutes. Soon, the residence of the current mayor Nicholas arrived.
As soon as he became the mayor of Freeport, this young man who was smooth but good at public speaking chose the best house in the town as his mansion, which was originally a large warehouse where electronic equipment and other equipment were stored.
It was a tall, double-story steel and red-brick house. There were even two marble gargoyles at the door. I don’t know where Nicholas got these old antiques. They were supposed to be in the church.
decoration.
In places like Becca Luo, there are still workshops and hired workers, but there is no concept of money and the class gap is very small.
Bren and Kirsten soon knocked on Nicholas's door, and at this time, the blond young man living alone had disheveled hair and tears streaming down his face. This seemed to be the most normal state. He had known that he had already
Suffering from a terminal illness, the severe pain and fear can drive a person crazy.
"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu"" Nicholas cried bitterly:
"It hurts me so much."
"It's been so long and you're just here crying? Where is the broadcast console?" Brun grabbed Nikolai's torn suit, while the old miner jumped up and slapped the young mayor:
"Cry, cry, slug, can crying kill the zerg and virus?"
"I'm going to die..." Nicholas cried like a beaten puppy.
"We haven't said there is no rule of law yet, why are you anxious?" Rustin slapped Nicholas again. This ancient old man was always the object of fear among the children in the town. To this day, many people see this eccentric person.
The old man was even scared to death.
"I'll take you there right now." Nicholas was afraid of death, Rustin said.
After a few seconds, Bren, who was standing outside, suddenly heard the sound of heavy objects falling from high in the sky - the sound of wind and snow was still heard, but the dull sound of the collision was very clear.
First, a black shadow fell on the house opposite Nicholas's house, making a deep hole on the top of the house. With the help of the light in the house, Brun could see a person's shadow rolling down from the roof.
On the ground, he threw himself down several hundred yards away.
It was a person, a person whose body was shattered. His limbs and head were twisted at angles that were impossible for normal people. One leg was twisted into a twist by the huge impact.
For a moment, neither Brun nor Kirsten, who was next to him, could react. Then, the "man" from the flesh mold lake stood up tremblingly and staggered towards the wide-eyed people.
The twisted and deformed humanoid creature was still wearing electroplated silver-white power armor fragments. Its helmet had been thrown away somewhere, revealing an extremely pale face. Half of the face still retained the skin texture of the past, and the other half was
Like rosacea, it is red and swollen many times in size.
Two vicious eyes glowing dimly yellow were looking out from under the helmet, and tendrils and huge fleshy tumors overflowed from the gaps in the armor.
It is conceivable that he must have been a brave human soldier, and he should be very proud of his armor and role.
But now, it's just a twisted and terrifying monster.
Bren tried hard to identify the golden eagle emblem on the opponent's armor, as if he wanted to figure out its original identity, but he soon lost his focus.
Immediately afterwards, more monsters like this fell from the sky like rain, hitting various houses with irregular impact sounds and a huge muffled sound. Thousands of twisted shadows squirmed.
He stood up, his eyes glowing yellow or red.
They uttered incomprehensible murmurs and staggered towards those who were still alive and trembling.
"There's a battleship up there!" Kirsten pointed to the sky. There was a huge interstellar battleship in that direction. It was hovering over the Freeport, but there was no light visible or the roar of the engine.
This is why no one in the town discovered it.
He didn't know that it was an infected UED Va'kyri frigate.
"That's not an Imperial ship!"
The big bell of Freeport rang, and the parents in the town took their children out of the gate, and the boys and men in felt hats picked up their guns.