III. Hideous Green Men

The pilot's voice crackled over, "We're approaching the drop zone. Prepare for landing." But as they got closer, it became clear that landing the craft in the forest was impossible. The trees were too thick, and the uneven terrain would make it too risky to attempt a landing. As they approached the landing zone, the pilot's voice crackled through their helmets.

"We can't land here," the pilot spoke over their communication system on their helmets. "It's too dense. You'll have to jump."

The transport craft hovered effortlessly above the dense forest, its powerful engines emitting a deafening roar that reverberated across the treetops. The leaves below tremble and rustled in the gust of wind produced by the craft's propulsion system. The soldiers aboard the craft were poised, ready for their imminent leap. They checked and double-checked their equipment, ensuring everything was secured and functional.

The hatch began to hiss open with a metallic groan. The squad leader stood at the edge of the open bay door, his eyes fixed on the forest below. He took a deep breath and turned to face his team.

"Alright, listen up," he said, his voice firm and commanding. "We're jumping in five...four...three...two...one."

The soldiers gazed out of the open bay door, transfixed by the breathtaking landscape below. The lush green canopy stretched out as far as the eye could see, the leaves fluttering in a gentle breeze that carried a soft whispering sound to the craft. The lights above them turned green, signaling that it was time to leap.

"Jump!"

The soldiers sprang from the bay door, their bodies hurtling towards the forest floor below. The squad leader followed closely behind. As they plunged through the air, the soldiers felt a rush of adrenaline coursing through their veins, their hearts pounding in their chests. The wind whipped at their armored bodies, tugging at their limbs like an invisible force. The soldiers tightened their grips on their rifles, feeling the weight of the weapons in their hands. Their fingers tensed around the triggers, ready to fire at a moment's notice. 

As they drew closer to the treetops, the soldiers activated their thrusters, feeling the sudden jolt of acceleration as it slowed their descent. Their movements became more fluid as they maneuvered between the branches, deftly avoiding any obstacles that might have stood in their way. The soldiers landed in a crouch, their boots thudding against the soft earth, sending up a spray of dirt and leaves.

The soldiers straightened up, their muscles tensed and ready for action. They kept their rifles close, their fingers wrapped firmly around the grips. The heads-up display in their helmets flickered to life, casting a green glow across their faces as it scanned the area for any potential threats or targets.

Their heads swiveled back and forth, taking in the sights and sounds of the forest around them as they scanned the area. The forest around them was dense, the trees towering high above their heads and casting deep shadows across the forest floor. Sunlight streamed in through the leaves, creating dappled patterns of light and shadow on the ground.

The display highlighted various objects and potential threats, indicating their distance and size. With a series of hand signals, directed the soldiers to move in. The soldiers quickly fell into a single line, one behind the other, with the lead soldier at the front and the squad leader at the back.

The soldiers would move forward, keeping a set distance between each other, with the lead soldier checking for any obstacles or dangers that may be in their path. The rest of the squad would follow closely behind, maintaining their position in the column and keeping an eye out for any threats that may approach from the sides as they cautiously advanced deeper into the forest.

Their steps were slow and deliberate, the crunching of twigs and leaves underfoot echoing softly through the quiet forest. The only other sound was the rustling of the leaves in the gentle breeze.

As they moved deeper into the forest, the terrain became more uneven and the underbrush thicker. The soldiers adjusted their movements, staying low and using the trees and bushes for cover as they made their way through the dense foliage.

The soldiers moved cautiously through the depth of the forest, their boots crunching on the undergrowth as they advanced in a tight column formation. The leaves rustled underfoot, adding to the sounds of their clanking armor and the soft whisper of the breeze through the trees.

Each soldier had their weapon at the ready, scanning the area for any signs of danger with their heads-up displays. The thick canopy overhead made it difficult to get a clear read on their surroundings, and the shadows played tricks on their eyes.

Suddenly, a piercing cry echoed through the forest, followed by the unmistakable twang of bowstrings being released. Hail of arrows rained down upon them from the treetops, whistling through the air while he soldiers quickly scattered, seeking cover behind trees and rocks as they tried to locate the source of the attack.

As they searched for their enemy, the soldiers caught glimpses of dark figures darting between the trees.  The attackers were tall, muscular creatures with rough, leathery skin and snarling faces, they have mottled green skin that blended in with the foliage. They wore rough clothing made of animal hides, and their long hair was tied back in braids. They moved swiftly and silently through the trees, their bows and arrows at the ready.

The soldiers quickly took cover behind nearby trees and boulders as the enemy arrows rained down upon them. The twang of bowstrings filled the air, followed by the whistling of arrows as they flew through the trees.

In response, the soldiers aimed their rifles towards the source of the arrows and fired a series of plasma shots. The crackling sound of the plasma bolts echoed through the forest, punctuated by the sizzling noise as they struck the tree trunks and disintegrated chunks of bark.

The bright blue-green glow of the plasma shots illuminated the dim forest, casting eerie shadows on the trees and the ground. The soldiers fired in quick succession, the plasma shots hissing and crackling as they traveled towards the enemy positions.

Some of the shots hit their marks, causing loud explosions of blue-green plasma that sent debris flying in all directions. The rest of the shots slammed into the tree trunks, leaving behind deep scorch marks and splintered wood.

As the plasma bolts tore through the orcs' bodies, their flesh sizzled and bubbled, emitting a putrid stench. The bolts left gaping holes in their torsos, with blood and internal organs spilling out in a gruesome display. Some of the orcs' limbs were severed from their bodies, while others writhed on the ground in agony, their screams echoing through the forest.

Their armor offered little protection, as the bolts melted through the metal with ease, leaving behind charred and blackened remnants of what was once sturdy protection. The orcs' faces contorted in pain and fear as they met their brutal end, their eyes wide and bloodshot, their mouths agape in a silent scream.

As the last arrow whizzed by, the soldiers emerged from their cover, weapons blazing with plasma fire. The trees shook with the thunderous sound of their rifles as they advanced through the forest, their HUDs scanning for any remaining targets. The orcs, caught off guard by the sudden assault, scrambled to regroup, but it was too late. One by one, they dropped their bows and arrows, attempting to flee the battlefield.

But there were some orcs that refused to back down. With a fierce battle cry, they charged towards the soldiers, axes and swords raised high. The soldiers, unfazed by the display of bravery, continued to advance, unleashing a barrage of plasma bolts at the charging orcs. The impact of each shot was accompanied by a sickening squelch as the orcs' bodies were torn apart, spraying gore and viscera in all directions. The stench of burning flesh and ozone filled the air as the plasma fire continued to rain down upon the orcs, leaving no survivors in its wake.

The air crackled with electricity as the transport craft burst onto the scene, hovering menacingly above the soldiers. Its engines roared with a deafening intensity as it pursued the retreating orcs, its plasma cannons unleashing a barrage of deadly bolts that rained down like fiery death from above. With each explosion, the forest erupted into a blaze of light, illuminating the dark canopy like a pulsing beacon. The sheer force of the ship's relentless assault was enough to make even the hardiest of trees tremble and topple. The plasma shots struck the forest floor with brutal force, sending chunks of earth and foliage flying in all directions. The orcs, already in a panicked retreat, had no chance against the sheer firepower of the transport's plasma cannon. Their bodies were torn apart in gruesome fashion, limbs and torsos exploding in a shower of blood and gore. The carnage was overwhelming, the transport's relentless onslaught reducing the once-fierce orc army to a scattered, mangled mess. The air was thick with the stench of burning flesh and the sound of screams, as the transport's plasma bolts continued to rain down upon the hapless orcs.