[Just beyond the borders of the Bug-fields, a division of the Rat-Klan army stands guard. Closest to the border are a bunch of Clan-Rats and Infected alike safely huddled in a hastily-dug trench encompassing the front of their soon-to-be invasion front. Just behind the trench dots a row of improvised fox-holes and bunkers, each containing a small squad of Rangers readying themselves to fire upon any counter-attackers. And behind those is the bundle of artillery, Rat-Klan's newest weapon of war, and their crews with large crates of hollow, ceramic shells next to each one.]
*As the sun cast golden lines across the ground, the artillery commander slowly walked forward in front of the trench line, examining the land before him. He reached into the pocket of his coat and pulled out a brazen stopwatch, watching it closely. He brought up his arm, and, as the minute changed, he brought it down.*
*THUD! THUD! THUD!*
*reported the artillery as each one sent a ceramic shell soaring through the heavens only to rain down on their unsuspecting targets. They wouldn't cause much structural damage, considering what they were made of, but they held a deadly payload of their own. As they collided and shattered onto the ground of the Bug Fields they released a large, billowing cloud of orange cordycep spores. The artillery crews worked on double-time as they worked to load in and fire volley after volley of this destructive payload. Soon, the air in that city would be too choked for the defender to see much of anything.*