[b][i]Apologies for taking so long, I guess I was just lazy thanks to summer break. I’ll try to pump things out faster now! Also, Eliksni language has been put in English for now. I’ll explain what I’m doing in a later chapter.[/i][/b] “Retreat! Zariks, get to the back and make sure they don’t follow us!” I ordered. “We can’t leave! There’s a block of that stone from earlier, and I'm pretty sure we don't have any mining equipment!” replied Vrelos. “Anyone with Wire Rifles, stay here and pick off any enemy snipers! Everyone else, get in there!” Karsok commanded. I jumped down, shrapnel gun in hand. We dispatched most of the units, but they kept coming through the portals. I thought we would be easily overwhelmed - there was no stop to the troops. But then one of my shots hit the large portal, and it fizzed slightly, as if it had actually damaged it. Then I got an idea. “Everyone focus fire on the portals! I think we can destroy them if we can damage it enough!” I ordered, knowing that this may win us the fight. With overwhelming firepower, we dispatched all of the portals - the large one taking longer - and most of the enemies. All that was left was the large one. I threw a grenade and it put its attention on me. I dodged it’s shots and it also attempted to stomp me, but it missed. Even then, it’s force knocked me back a bit, injuring me slightly. Then I saw it turn to Karsok, who was reloading his weapon, oblivious that the being was going for him. “KARSOK! WATCH OUT!” I yelled, running and trying to save him. But it was too late. As Karsok raised his head, the being slammed it’s foot down, and sent Karsok across the room where he hit the wall, falling down dead in a crumpled heap. Anger welled up in me. I had just seen a man of great stature, who was well-respected and praised as a great leader, who had been one of my closest friends, die in front of me. I had a crazy idea that could kill me, but I went with it anyways. Being a military commander - which I was before this event - would give you some skills. I jumped on a rock and yelled, “Over here, you big hunk of junk!” It turned to me, and walked towards me. When it was close enough, I jumped onto the being and onto it’s head. It tried to slap me off, but I got to it’s head-torso connection and severed it with my arc sword. Guess it was good I decided to keep that close to me all the time. Most of us do, though. The large being fell down, and me with it. I used it as a shield so the fall wouldn’t injure me, holding onto the spikes on it's back. If I got injured I would be fine since falling accidents have happened to me before. Again, military experience. We had defeated the creatures, but we realized we should leave fast before the conversion machine tried to reactivate the portals if it could. I took the head of the large being with me as a sort of trophy. I noticed a bit of our group was missing. I asked, “Where did the others go?” They looked around, realizing a few of us were missing. Eventually, one of the snipers said, “What if they got converted by that machine?” I said, “Even the converter had the ability to fight… These machines are dangerous. We have to get off this planet immediately. But how do we get out of-” I was interrupted when I heard stone breaking. A minute later, the stone blocking our escape was destroyed and we saw ourselves facing another group. "Uh, good timing?" I said. "We were sent to find you. Let's get out of here." We headed back to the Ketch to regroup and rest, and we broke the news of Karsok’s death and the others getting converted to the ones who stayed behind. They, too, were devastated, and chose Draksis, a young Archon who had much potential in him, to be the newest Kell of House Winter. We also explained that this planet was not suitable due to the fact that it would eventually be entirely machine. “Did you send any other groups out? If so, recall them. We should get off this planet as soon as possible,” I asked/commanded. They had sent some groups out to continue exploration and collect samples of the plant life and any animal life they could find, along with the machines we had encountered. He called them back and after about an hour we were ready to take off, full of samples that would be researched. We left the planet and ventured to find a new one. [b]END[/b] If you haven't read the previous chapters, here's the full ToC: https://www.bungie.net/en/Groups/Post?groupId=1371758&postId=229013597&sort=0&page=0&path=0&showBanned=0