The Tank Worm Onslaught
1.
When humanity first encountered the Mogs, they were shocked.
Combat wasn't easy either.
But humanity was confident.
"The Mogs might be terrifying, but there's no reason we can't win!"
Humanity's technology had advanced to the point where they could roam the stars freely. Besides, from humanity's perspective, there was no need for all-out war with the Mogs.
Their goal wasn't to abandon Earth and migrate to new planets.
"We just need to defend the mining sites. Easy enough. Build walls, arm up, and those Mog bastards are no problem."
Protecting the infrastructure for resource extraction was sufficient, or so they thought.
But that confidence crumbled entirely with the appearance of one particular Mog species.
"Th-that's a Tank Worm!"
Private Park Bo-seop's words drew no response from Kim Seo-jun or Major Lee Hye-na.
No questions.
They simply stared.
At the source of the rumbling vibrations shaking the ground.
Four kilometers from the mining site where Kim Seo-jun's group waited, three enormous worms barrean rushed forward.
They resembled grubs at first glance.
But unlike fragile grubs that might burst with a poke, their exteriors evoked armored tanks—thick, impenetrable plating.
Each measured about 40 meters long, 5 meters wide, and 9 meters tall on the ground.
Like oversized semi-trailers, doubled in scale. Terrifying behemoths of awe-inspiring size.
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
And these giants were moving at 70 kilometers per hour.
Frightening in every way.
But the real horror was this:
"Their bodies are fully swollen. They're packed with Bomb Worms, no doubt."
Tank Worms carried Bomb Worms inside— meter-long larvae that exploded on release, just like their name implied.
This was the nightmare.
Human defenses were powerless against those blasts.
Tanks and armored units fared no better.
That's why every Space Marine who spotted a Tank Worm uttered the same words:
'We're fucked.'
And Tank Worms didn't travel alone.
Three of them led, surrounded by 77 Thorn Snakes and over 2,000 Mogdogs.
A veritable army.
Of course, Tank Worms weren't Mog panaceas.
They had weaknesses.
They consumed massive energy per move, requiring long rests.
Without Bomb Worms, they were just big, tough grubs.
And they were rare—hatched one per thousand Mogdogs from nests.
So they only moved with clear purpose.
"They're heading straight for headquarters."
On Amotia Planet, that meant base destruction.
Reinforcements from orbit were impossible now.
No base short of a major stronghold could withstand that horde.
Kim Seo-jun pulled up a map, traced the Tank Worms' path, and confirmed.
"This leads to the Polish Base."
The name "Polish" hardened all three faces.
Korea shared strong ties with Poland—especially in defense, spanning a century.
Those bonds persisted into space, with mutual support.
They were called brother nations.
Amotia's Korean base logs showed ample Polish aid.
For Kim Seo-jun, even more so.
As an active soldier, he'd forged deep connections with Polish troops.
Deep enough that he swore better in Polish than they did.
Letting this slide felt wrong.
At minimum, warn the Polish Base.
That's when it happened.
Weeeeeng!
Three transport ships roared overhead, above the Tank Worms and their Mog horde.
From each, five hoverbikes emerged—round wheels replaced by drone-like wings.
All bore Polish flags.
Kim Seo-jun's face darkened.
"The Suicides are here."
2.
Space Marines faced grim situations daily.
But every ordeal had a worse extreme.
The worst: operations built on certain death for the objective.
"Suicides?"
That was the Polish Base's call on Amotia now.
"Wait, so those guys?"
"They're here to divert the Tank Worms or at least buy time."
"What?"
Private Park Bo-seop freaked out.
Three transports and fifteen hoverbikes against that colossal army?
Insanity.
The kind that snapped even Steam Pack junkies awake!
"No way. That's suicide."
Even Major Lee Hye-na recoiled.
But Kim Seo-jun understood. Empathized.
"When death's inevitable, nobody wants to go quietly."
He'd seen it—experienced it. In the worst moments, death became trivial.
But he questioned:
'Too few for a Suicide squad. If you're dying, go all-in. Fifteen hovers is too weak.'
Hoverbikes excelled in mobility but lacked heavy payload.
Weak firepower inevitable!
'Poland's base on Amotia is solid—ninth-ranked.'
Unlike Korea's, they had superior numbers and quality.
Yet only this force?
Two possibilities: rogue Poles defying orders, or the base so desperate this was their all.
"Sergeant Kim."
Whatever, Kim Seo-jun's group needed a decision.
"What do we do?"
Private Park Bo-seop's question and Major Lee Hye-na's watchful gaze both screamed the same: flee.
The Tank Worm horde was a bulldozer. Impossible to stop with their numbers.
They hadn't been detected yet.
Just hunker down till the storm passed.
"We support."
"Huh?"
"What?"
Both gaped.
Kim Seo-jun's expression said it: I don't wanna do this either. Not this crazy shit.
"Look at it coldly. Poland's the only place on Amotia that might take in Koreans right now. If their base falls, we're left with China, Japan, France, Germany, UK, US."
Half-convinced, they nodded.
Korea had many "allies" on paper.
Spacefaring nations preached "humanity united!"
But on-site? Different story.
"Amotia's cut off from outside aid. We can't demand mutual help, but we need as many holding the line against Mogs as possible."
Plus, a Queen might spawn soon.
Watch a fire from afar, sure—but not with a gasoline backpack nearby yelling "cozy!"
"If those Mogs headed for China, I wouldn't say shit."
Exceptions existed, but not now.
"And we need survivors here. Fewer survivors, less 'humanism' from orbit."
Decisive: drop in rescue value, and command shifts to extermination.
No opposition left.
Truth was, Kim Seo-jun held command anyway.
His call.
But how?
Major Lee Hye-na's face stiffened.
Whatever, she'd lead the charge against that horde.
Gulp!
Even the bulldozer-like major lacked guts for Tank Worms.
Private Park Bo-seop felt like dying.
First time seeing one.
And from 4km away—just passing—he nearly pissed himself for real.
Fight that?
"I-I-I..."
He nearly said, "I can't do it."
Command or not, he lacked confidence.
Sure to drag them down.
Kim Seo-jun cut in:
"Park Bo-seop."
"Y-yes? Yes, sir?"
"I need your help."
His eyes were earnest.
"Your help."
Park Bo-seop's trembling eased.
Still terrified.
But needed like this? Couldn't bail.
Especially after owing Kim Seo-jun his life multiple times.
"I-I'll... try."
Resolve spoken, Major Lee Hye-na geared up too.
Imagining charging a Tank Worm, axe swinging.
Both envisioned hellish battles, worst-case horrors.
Kim Seo-jun spoke:
"Polish hovers attack first, draw aggro. Mogdogs react primarily. Poles buy time, slowing the horde. That's our window. Target: Tank Worms."
"Tank Worms?" Faces crumpled further.
"Private Park Bo-seop, carry me in close for support fire."
Park Bo-seop just rolled his eyes, speechless.
"Distance..."
Kim Seo-jun calculated aloud before him.
"One, two, three... nah, three's too much."
Park Bo-seop auto-computed:
100m? 200m? 300m?
Hundreds of meters, driving their truck right up to Tank Worms.
"Two. Two for sure."
"T-two hundred meters, sir?"
Kim Seo-jun eyed him, brow raised.
"What're you talking about?"
What bullshit is this?
"S-sir? You mean approach within 200 meters against Tank Worms...?"
"No need for hardcore suicide. I mean 2 kilometers."
"2km?"
"Yeah. Get me to 2km, and I'll handle it."
Park Bo-seop visualized.
"B-but that's a Tank Worm right there?"
Even in his head, no standard rifle pierced that armor—thicker, tougher than Mogdogs.
Kim Seo-jun knew.
That's why this plan.
"Lucky—we've got a weapon that can hurt them now."
"Weapon? When did we...?"
Why not use it last time?
"Borrowed it briefly. Use a bit, return it."
Then—
Kaboom!
Distant explosions—hoverbike bombs dropping.
Woooong!
A Cyclops overhead screeched piercingly.
Kieeeek!
Mogdogs charging wildly shifted course.
Crack!
Thorn Snakes halted, slamming tails down.
"They're reacting! Move!"
Kim Seo-jun ordered. Park Bo-seop jumped in the truck.
Kim Seo-jun and Major Lee Hye-na loaded the bed.
Vrooom!
The military truck roared toward the Tank Worm horde.
Kim Seo-jun closed his eyes.
'Damn it.'
Obviously, he hated this too.
But what choice?
To survive, fight.
That was his life.
He'd never chosen hell willingly.
Well, for better pay—but not this hell.
'Do I drag hell with me, or does it form around me?'
The gripe faded as distance closed.
"3 kilometers!"
At 3km, Kim Seo-jun grabbed the Hawk Eye sniper rifle.
Battle-ready.
Then—
Battle begins.
One-Shot, One-Kill the Tank Worm
🎁 Reward: Platinum-grade skill Inventory