(STORY EXTRACT)
 
We sped alongside the lake, keeping to the shoreline of the town as we made our way towards the forest, the Vanhoover Hydroelectric Dam just barely visible in the distance. Aerith leaned up from the back seat, looking through the scope on her rifle and out the front window, myself letting loose a small huff. She better have that thing unloaded… The trees grew steadily larger as we turned off from the shore and approached the wooded area, the buildings of Hopeville reflecting the sun behind us. Heading down muddy cart paths, we passed by several large partially-cleared fields, tools having been thrown haphazardly to the ground by the farmers and plows abandoned mid-way in snowdrifts. I slowed a little, the engine quieting down as the treads ran over the overturned soil. Night Strike pulled out Thumper, scanning the countryside.
 
A low buzzing met my ears, and by the edge of the forest I spotted three large creatures skittering about on the ground. One of the festering Bloodsprites hovered in the air for a moment, spinning to spot us heading towards it. It immediately lowered itself to the ground, zig-zagging its way along as the others noticed us as well. Aerith lowered her rifle and pushed towards the side of the seats. She steadied herself on the back of the forward bench and leaned out of the side of the half-truck, levitating up her Tommy gun. The spray of bullets kicked up dirt as she attempted to spray the insect down. It deftly avoided the stream of lead, rising into the air, its stinger rising menacingly. With a loud discharge of air, however, it fell to the ground, its innards splashing onto the side of the Clydesdale as Crash Dive fired off a shot from her rebar cannon. The beam had pierced clean through the bug’s abdomen, pinning it to the muddy ground. Its limbs flailed helplessly in the air for a few seconds, before curling up as the beast died.