Meanwhile, on the surface of New Tau...
0600 hours
Sector 5B Swampland
"access road to Worker camp 67-A"
It was awfully quiet, the sun had not yet risen, and the road was pitch black.
Although, to even call it a road was an insult to even the most primitive city planners, the access road was a dirt track running through the swampland to the newly constructed Worker camp.
This specific convoy, was transporting SE citizens. After the collapse of the SE, some citizens came to TWE territories to seek a better life... they probably regret that choice now.
The convoy was rather long, totalling around 8 transport trucks, and over 6 escort cars.
A quadrotor even flew overhead, scanning the upcoming road for threats.
Lead vehicle:
Driver: "I swear, this is not right getting us to do this in the dark."
Guard: "Well, it pays well in food, so be grateful."
Driver: "I suppo--"
BANG
A IED under the car detonated in a flash of light, and the entirety of the front right of the vehicle was instantly incinerated by the blast. While the rest of the vehicle's now crumpled hull, with its driver's side gone entirely slid to a halt, hitting a nearby tree and what remains of the engine and fuel supply catching on fire, with the tree along with it.
The rest of the convoy screeches to a halt, some trucks and cars hitting each other in the chaos of it all.
One escort manages to spin off the road entirely, submerging itself in a nearby patch of muddy water.
The soldiers and guards assigned to protect the convoy exit their vehicles to secure the perimeter, flashlights and torches illuminating their surroundings.
The quadrotor circles above, pointing a high intensity spotlight into the swamp.
From the distance, the telltale roar of a jet engine fills the air, and within moments the quadrotor was deploying chaff, flares and other missile countermeasures.
It was too late,
The quadrotor is hit on its rear left rotor, and begins to roll uncontrollably to the left, and it crashes into the nearby swamp.
In the darkness, nothing was even seen if the jet sent to shoot it down.
"CONTAC-- AAAAAAAAAGGH"
A soldier notices a figure emerging from the swamp, and yells contact, shortly before a jet of superheated water hits him, setting his clothing aflame and melting through his body like a hot knife through butter.
Other soldiers fire at the area, only for their muzzle flashes to be targetted by their attackers.
Before long, the remaining guards lie surrendered on the ground.
A ship approaches from the distance, and from the way the Aquatic assailants relax, it must be friendly.
The only indicator it is even there in the darkess, is a large dorsal hull with huge cargo bay doors hovering above them.
Large wire ropes are dangled down to pull the transports into the cargo hold, and before long, all of the transports where secure, including the surrendered TWE troops.
The ship warps out via Echo-jump, while the aquatic soldiers plant explosive charges on the escorts.
They soon disappear into the night, leaving only a huge fire in their wake.
