The hivemind is conquering for me?

Two weeks of unchanging war. Being dropped into previously balanced conflicts and turning the tide. The Drakoshi to normal humans were a serious threat. But when we Psionic enhanced individuals pulled together amidst the millions of Phalanx, the tide of battle could be turned.

As a result here we were. Ahead of us was a series of weapons, massive. Bigger than even the boomstick I had destroyed all those months ago. They were also not Drakoshi made, but Spartari.

The guns were pointed upwards off the planet, deterring the navy from being able to provide support on this most key region of the world.

The mission was simple. Take those weapons. Issue. With us pushing back the Drakoshi day by day, they had less ground to cover now. Every clan, every individual Drakoshi present on the world was locked inside that massive fortress and we had to take it.

This time there was no lack of ammo, no sabotage could be done. It was going to be a bloodbath no matter what.

And it wasn’t like we could just go around them either. The continent thinned out here and on either side of the fort, our troops would be in direct artillery range.

”Apollo, you should brood with your helmet off more, Nerissa is transfixed, look at her.” I heard from behind me. Turning around, Nerissa snapped her attention to Rhapso and retorted,

”Transfixed? I am doing what I always do. I watch Apollo. Sate my intrigue.”

”What? So you aren’t going to say he looked so handsome just then? His face all serious. Because I am confident enough to say I wish we were in the glade again right now.”

”Rhapso! That’s...” Nerissa trailed off as she looked at me before meekly whispering, ”Yes, he looks attractive. But that is always the case.”

I chuckled at the sudden interaction. ”Ladies, come on. I don’t need two beautiful females flattering me before we engage in war. I need my game face on.”

Rhapso began to giggle at my comment while Nerissa looked down for a moment before resuming normal conversation. ”Apollo, you have a request to visit someone, a certain group of friends you have met recently where you required your newest version of your armour. They are a little out of camp and haven’t made their presence known yet. They-”

”-Where!” I asked, excited. It was time for some payback.

After getting their location by applying some pressure on Rhapso, meaning I just asked, I arrived at the edge of a translucent barrier, much like the one from the other month that hid the Praetorians from plain sight.

Fortunately I still had access thanks to Nerissa so I slowly and carefully began to extend my Psionic aura outwards and slowly through the barrier to not trip off any alarms.

It didn’t take long until I found the things I was looking for and smirked. I then called on Sapphire for support and turned to her, whispering, ”Full power in the legs. No holding back in any capacity. Understood?”

”Moo.” Sapphire replied with playful eyes before her hind legs began to expand.

I then proceeded to do the same before waiting for the distraction to occur.

...

”Are we sure that we should be asking this man to join us in private conversation? The other leaders don’t even know we are here yet.”

”It is fine, Polymede. We trust Apollo.” Phoebe spoke with certainty in her words.

”Plus he actively aided us in our mission, the human ain’t no slouch.” Marnes commented.

”And he hasn’t brought up Praedoxite to either Rhapso or Ness since and the word hasn’t spread according to our sources, so he is definitely trust worthy.” Aeteos followed up.

Polymede looked at her allies sceptically. It was already strange that Both Nessy-bear and her little Rhapsody had gone with the human Sentinel, but even her allies thought so highly of a little human that was barely an adult by human standards.

Suddenly though her armour blipped her indicating two individuals were entering the dome. The others also got the blip and turned to Nerissa and Rhapso. Polymede was happy to see them both, especially Nerissa, she was out on a mission when she was last back at the Palace.

Phoebe walked forward and the others followed. ”Nerissa, Rhapso. Glad to see you both still in good health. Did you give our message to Apollo?”

Nerissa and Rhapso then looked at each other before Rhapso began to speak. ”Yeah, he is a little busy right this second, but we gave him the coordinates to come when- Guys look, an alien!!!” Rhapso suddenly yelled, pointing behind the group.

Everyone suddenly turned in curiosity, their armours not picking up anything out of the ordinary. It was then however, the group got two more pings that entered the dome without resistance. And were flying at them fast enough.

An attack!

Marnes and Aeteos instantly attempted to turn around, being the fastest out of everyone.

Aeteos turned around as a massive maw was about to encase his body and two large claws were in the process of wrapping around him. The claws were sharp, but that maw looked deadly. Taking the least amount of damage possible, he positioned his hands in between the two maws and held off the bite force with all he had.

Meanwhile Marnes had caught a sword in his hand that was aimed at his helmet. A sword that had effortlessly pierced his gauntlet armour and his Ichor was now on display, dripping down his hand and onto the red fuller of the blade.

Polymede sprung into action instantly, retrieving the Deimos rifle off her back, she instantly got into a firing position and was about to shoot before Phoebe took the weapon off her. Stunned, she was about to engage in melee as her brothers continued to struggle before stopping as simultaneously the duo started laughing.

”Bahahaha! He almost had us brother!” Marnes yelled with pure delight.

”And I was almost chow for this lovely creature.” Aeteos followed up and the two started laughing once more.

Sapphire and I immediately let up our attack and pulled back. ”Told you I would get you back.” I replied with a laugh while Sapphire gave Aeteos a small ’Get pranked’ moo before walking over and lying behind me.

”That you did, Apollo and better than we got you at that. I mean I am actually bleeding, that sword of yours is something scary.”

I was about to retort something witty, but before I could I had a weapon aimed at my head. ”Don’t move. Phoebe. He has seen Marnes’ wound, he can’t be allowed to-”

Simultaneously, all the Nymphs present removed their helmets, stunning Polymede. ”I just told you, Poly, he is trusted.” Phoebe spoke meanwhile Rhapso warned,

”So get that weapon out of his face before I put mine in yours.”

Polymede looked like she had taken a physical blow from that word as she took a step back away from me.

Rhapso then moved forward and took a position between the New Nymph and I before I put a hand on her shoulder.

”It’s alright Rhapso. This is on me. I wouldn’t have done the attack if I remembered that Phoebe was calling in an ally. Polymede was it? Sorry, some context. When I joined up with these guys a few months ago, Marnes and Aeteos ambushed me to check my ability. I countered them and warned I’d get them back. This was me getting them back. No harm no foul?” I then proceeded to extend my hand forward for her to shake.

The Praetorian looked at it for a moment before accepting. ”Very well. I could see how this prank would be funny with the whole context, but please be mindful next time.” Polymede then changed the subject.

”Phoebe, should we get to business and state our reason for asking Apollo to come to us? Phoebe?”

Phoebe was transfixed, her purple lips were curled inwards, as if holding back a tide of words, her eyes were locked onto Sapphire. I noticed her look and relayed an order to Sapphire.

Sapphire immediately shrank down to her second form and rolled onto her back, her belly exposed upwards as she began making adorable little huffs and puffs all while staring directly at Phoebe who was literally vibrating on the spot at this point.

’I am a Praetorian. I have discipline. Restraint. I do not need to boop that animal on the snoot. Sure it’s adorable, so cute in both forms and no it’s eyes aren’t looking at me, it’s just looking around...’

’I am a Praetorian. Sure, the snoot is begging to be booped, but I can hold myself together. No one has noticed. No one has noticed... I am calm, I am collected. I am their leader. I need to boop that snoot. I am in control.

”Mow.”

”Oh! You are such a cutie aren’t you? Come here” *Boop*

Phoebe spoke after she had already flashed towards Sapphire. After booping the snoot, it was like a wave of relief washed over her and more was to come as she began giving this majestic big kitty some well deserved scritches for being so adorable!