Alpha-1 was among the best the Foundation had; it was only beaten by some of the more anomalous MFTs. They might have been slightly enhanced, but they had all the training. These three had been spending a long time training for this mission.
Rather than just their normal training, they had spent the past few months out in the Garden and training nonstop to use these new suits. While they were smart, they didn't have an AI to assist, which meant they required a lot more from the user than Starks.
Their training did come in handy now that they finally saw some real combat. Even though they were heavily outnumbered and had to cover others they still weren't at a disadvantage.
Steve, however, found himself in a different situation. His role was to cover the team as they navigated through the chaotic battlefield, and he did so with his iconic shield. The shield, which had proven itself time and again in countless battles, seemed almost supernatural in its ability to block the laser weapons fired by the robots. No matter how many shots were directed at him or from which angle, the shield absorbed or deflected them effortlessly, protecting both Steve and his team.
The team moved in a tight formation, with Steve leading the way, his shield a beacon of defense in the midst of the chaos. The robots were relentless, pouring in from all sides, their laser weapons slicing through the air with deadly precision. But Steve held his ground, his shield raised to intercept every incoming attack. The sound of lasers striking vibranium filled the air, a constant reminder of the danger they faced.
For some reason, it seemed that the robots, who had nearly perfect aim and logic, failed them as they shot at Steve. Rather than hitting any of his exposed parts or aiming at those he was trying to protect, they all seemed to target his shield.
This wasn't something he was thinking about himself, even if the Foundation had been interested in it. They had studied the phenomenon in great detail.
People who knew about it seemed to be able to overcome it, but others, for some reason, always aimed at the shield, even if they had just been told that the most effective area was to shoot for exposed parts such as legs.
It was strange, and not even everyone could use that power while wielding the shield. They were still trying to figure out what made some people able to and not others, while they also worked out whether they should classify the shield as an SCP object.
As the battle raged on, the team, under Steve's leadership, continued to push forward. The robots were formidable, but they weren't invincible. And with Steve at the helm, with his shield guiding them through the chaos, they quickly made their way outside into the open streets.
This was both a blessing and a curse as while they had more space to maneuver with there was also more robots waiting for them outside who could use the space to attack them from all around.
Steve kept his shield raised, his eyes scanning the environment for threats. The robots, relentless and precise, adjusted their tactics to the open space, attempting to flank the team. Their laser weapons fired in synchronized bursts, creating a deadly web of energy that forced the team to stay on the move.
Alpha-1 responded with disciplined efficiency, their training evident in every movement. They used the environment to their advantage, taking cover behind debris and using the ruins of the city to funnel the robots into kill zones. Their advanced suits gave them enhanced speed and strength, allowing them to engage the enemy with precision and power.
But the sheer number of robots was overwhelming. For every machine they destroyed, it seemed like two more took its place. The Foundation had prepared them for a difficult mission, but the scale of the opposition was beyond what they had anticipated.
Steve's shield continued to deflect incoming fire, but he could feel the pressure mounting. The robots were adapting, becoming more aggressive and relentless in their attacks. He knew they couldn't hold out like this indefinitely.
"We need to change tactics," Steve called out, his voice cutting through the chaos. "We're getting bogged down here."
At his words, Bruce couldn't help but consider transforming. Surely, if he unleashed the Hulk, it would likely be able to deal with these robots without a problem. The only problem would be that they could fly.
His thoughts were likely on his face as no sooner had he thought about it before he heard the voice of the captain from inside his suit. "Please remain calm, Dr Banner; there is a chance that your transformation could increase our problems, so avoid it until absolutely necessary."
"Understood," Bruce replied, he knew the risks, but believed that he had a good enough handle on the Hulk to avoid him going wild. But if the captain thought it wasn't needed yet, then he wouldn't do it.
The three black suits of the Foundation were flying about in perfect synchronization. Their training and weapons were on full display as they took on dozens of shiny silver robots attacking them from all around. They could easily have retreated thanks to their speed, but they remained to cover the others down on the ground.
"Damn, there really are a lot of them." Steve cursed as he threw his shield out to block a shot taken at Lena before it hit a lamppost and ricocheted back to his hand.
"Yeah, and more are still coming." Peggy said as she fired off against one of the robots that were targeting them. Clearly they were smart enough to target them as well and not all get distracted by the more dangerous flying members of the team.
Bucky held his gun tightly in both hands as he rained down fire on the enemy. He had been used to guns having a lot more recoil than these. Laser weapons had none, and it was hard to get used to. "We are getting overrun before we get out if they keep coming like this."
Bruce grit his teeth as he ducked behind cover to avoid getting a few new holes in his body. He could feel the hulk ready to get out, just waiting for him to unleash it to protect Lena.
"Unlikely." The captain said. "There is a big one coming, likely their commander."
The team's movements grew more urgent as they noticed the shift in the robots' behavior. The once seemingly endless wave of identical attackers began to part, making way for a larger, more menacing figure that emerged from the shadows of the crumbling buildings. The massive robot was easily twice the size of the others, its polished silver surface reflecting the dim light as it advanced toward them.
"Humans detected!" a mechanical voice sounded as the large robot came over to them.
"No X-gene detected! Pure humans detected."
The fact that this robot communicated rather than open fire was new. All the others had also stopped shooting, likely waiting for orders, which gave them all a moment to breathe.
The massive robot's sudden communication caught the team off guard, and the brief pause in the battle allowed them to reassess the situation. The silence was almost eerie after the cacophony of combat, and every member of the team remained on high alert, ready to spring back into action at the slightest provocation.
Steve held his shield ready, his eyes locked on the imposing machine. "It's scanning us," he said, his voice low but steady. "Stay sharp. We don't know what it's going to do next."
The robot's sensors swept over the group, its mechanical voice continuing in a monotone. "Pure humans detected. No threat to the primary directive. Stand down, assess, and report."
Lena, ever the scientist, couldn't help but be curious despite the danger. "Primary directive? What is your primary directive?" she asked, her voice filled with both caution and intrigue.
The robot's glowing eyes flickered for a moment, as if processing her question. "Primary directive: protect against and eliminate all X-gene threats."
"Speak, robot." The captain suddenly ordered. "What are you?"
"Fear not, citizen, I am a Sentinal, A robot made by the United States to hunt down and destroy the mutant threat."
Steve narrowed his eyes at the Sentinel. "You're saying you're programmed to hunt mutants. But why are you attacking us? We're not mutants."
The Sentinel's mechanical voice responded with chilling clarity. "Mutants are humans with their X-gene activated, the only way to fully eliminate them is to eliminate their source."
Steve clenched his fists, his shield still held firmly in front of him. "So you see all humans as potential mutants and people who must be eliminated?"
Everyone was shocked at the sentinels words. They now understood what was going on here. Clearly, these robots had been made to hunt down these so-called mutants, likely a dangerous threat to humanity.
However, the robots had gone out of control, seeing that humans were the source of mutants, and then humans were the problem. As long as humans existed, then so would mutants, so their only way to complete their mission was to go and eliminate every living human in the entire world.
A/N
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