Oddtober #7: Survivors

Led to a barricaded commissary, First Lieutenant Blyse and his subordinates were met by a cell of surviving facility workers. 

"What is this place," Blyse demanded, his enforcers menacingly circling the survivors. "What do you do here, and who is in charge?"

The lead researcher stepped forward. "I am," she answered firmly, "and this is a neutral outpost. The New Dominion has no jurisdiction here, and you're in no position to make demands."

Blyse smirked. "We answered your distress signal. You waived your right to neutrality when you activated the beacon. I'll be the one who decides whether we save you or leave you to your fate. You should reconsider the strength of your own position."

"We didn't send a signal," the director rebuffed, folding her arms.

"The signal was sent and received. We will be fully prepared to present our data to whatever paltry planetary tribunal it is you answer to in this nowhere sector." Blyse slowly moved his hand to his pistol, now holstered at his belt, the enforcers readying their own weapons. "We can expediate things for you, if that's what you truly want."

Another researcher inched toward his superior, his hands held up. "Director, if a signal was sent... maybe there are other survivors?" 

The director turned a sharp stare to the researcher. "Or maybe it was... them. We can't be certain."

"I'm growing impatient," warned Blyse, his face twisting into a scowl. "I suggest you brief us, and quickly. You won't be asked again."

The director sighed, turning to Blyse. Before she could speak, a scraping sound resonated from above. All present looked upward as the ventilation ducts began to buckle under the growing weight of an invasive host....

This is the seventh entry for our "Oddtober" event. Every odd day (up through Halloween), we'll be releasing some models following a sci-fi horror theme (all following a light narrative), adding them to the $5+ reward folder as we go. Today's models (two researchers in a neutral standing pose) will require supports when printing. (More poses of these to come as the story unfolds.)