A distorted scream echoed from underneath the ruins, loud enough to reach the soldiers along the northern road even through the gunfire and buzzing insects overhead.
"Target is hurt!" one of the Army Soldiers reported.
The squad leader enlarged the Radar picture.
"Shit, it's moving!"
The Broodmother's central marker suddenly shifted toward the underground section of the distribution yard.
Several smaller signatures were converging beneath it, moving through the old service passages while the larger biological mass began descending.
"Southern Command, Broodmother is pulling underground! Target is retreating!"
"Contact confirmed. Ground units, maintain containment. Apache section is approaching the engagement area."
Several thick extensions pulled its body through the damaged lower foundations, while swarms of infected insects poured into the surrounding passages.
