The battle raged, perhaps the last to be seen on this wretched hive. Sirens blared, shots rang and people screamed. Shrapnel flew like stars, blazing white before impact, then leaving a red trail. Kor -1/5 was situated near the front cargo car, among it's brethren. Dozens fell, Kor -1/5 was aware of all of this and none of it. Kor -1/5 was one with it's squad, the Omnissiah's will made manifest. Metal digits of metal hands moved like liquid across firing mechanisms. Glowing blue lenses shielded eyes forever peeled back to take in every detail and store it away for future research and reference. Even in the tumult of battle and facing down innumerable foes The Alpha unit of the squad maintained a constant mechanical processing of the whole scene. Algorithms processing kill counts, percentage chance of actions and target priority were received, processed and put into action all in the microseconds long space between each individual galvanic shot so that every single bullet was used optimally, as expected. It was beautiful to Kor -1/5, as battle was the only time endorphins were permitted to be released into a Skitarii's system.
Kor -1/5 and it's team's mission was to evacuate with as much data as possible and to evacuate imperial assets as a secondary objective, though the minutia of this was being revised and checked every second. Every shot was a choice between providing covering fire for a panicked family or to cut off cultist heavy weapons or to take down an enemy leader or to fall back themselves. To comprehend the carnage that was ensuing was a nigh maddening task that could only be achieved through years of experience and mental augmentation. Percentage, revision, execution, review, revision, percentage, revision, execution, review, revision, percentage, revision - Every microsecond scraped and crawled at a snails pace as more and more lives were lost. It was noticeable how every second spent in this effort was futile, each and every new incoming percentage and revision was lower and lower. Time was running out, and had Kor -1/5 not ascended past human emotion it might be experiencing a sense of dread with each passing moment.
The general retreat code was sent; Mission fulfilment was at hand. Kor was the first to the base of the ramp and did not look back, it was instead focused on trying to find an optimal path through the mob in front of it. Mission success odds were rising : Revision : - New data: Enemy Lascanon detected, threat level elevated - Mission success chance dropping to critical levels - Partial mission success chance still plausible -
The order had already been given to all but Kor -1/5 and Lho -188 to stay behind and try to disrupt the enemy fire, the first target being the lascanon team and any other follow-ups. Kor was aware of many successful discharges of Skitarii weapons through clipped but satisfied machine cant transmitted over communications. The crack of precise galvanic fire was not unanswered, however.
- Unit lost - Unit lost - Critical Unit lost -
The last in that string and been Lho -188, taken out by a stray blast weapon of some kind. Kor committed no processing power to the identification of the weapon since it had no room to evade through the crowd and no way to return fire. Kor focused on an optimal route, knocking aside a few more menial citizens in an attempt to complete the mission.
- Unit Lost - Critical Unit secured - Partial Mission success completed -
Kor had made it to the top of the ramp, Omnissiah be praised. Kor -1/5 knew it's life had no meaning, and was indifferent in that regard, but was moved to relative joy upon the fulfilment of it's objective. The unit moved further into the locomotive, as per protocol. Processing power of the Alpha of the squad was being absorbed by the external combat - Protection protocols switched from squad to vehicle - Secondary mission objective maintained: Ensure successful evacuation of Locomotive 'The Indomitable Spirit': Revising : Head to front of train -
Kor started to make it's way to the front of the locomotive designated 'The Indomitable Spirit' to revise orders once again upon arrival, keeping it's communications open to detect the developing situation