Boom, boom, boom—
The Valkyrie's massive vector turbine engines roared with a deep, resonant thunder.
Thin wisps of clouds were whipped into chaos by the violent turbulence, their remnants streaking over the metal surface of the armed transport aircraft.
Inside the dimly lit cabin, Zaire adjusted the weapons secured to his combat-ready Hunter Duke armor. For this mission, he'd chosen a plasma pistol and a Gauss burst rifle. Along with the double-barrelled explosive rounds housed within the armor's gauntlets and a stockpile of ammunition, he felt ready to face any enemy.
With a shake of his gray hair, Zaire lifted his chin. In the faint light, his cyan lupine pupils shimmered faintly with an eerie green glow as he called out to the figure seated across the cabin in the Void Combat Armor:
"Jessica! Check the standby status of your weapons and activate the refractor field early! That armor still has weak spots!"
"Understood, boss!"
Jessica's muffled voice responded from beneath her heavy helmet. She set down her Hellgun with deliberate care and activated the refractor field generator slung across her chest.
Whirrr!
With a mechanical hum, an invisible refractive barrier enveloped her form.
"Heh, rookie..."
Zaire smirked, baring his sharp fangs. He casually clipped five Dawn of War flash grenades onto his armor's utility belt. Fully geared, he hoisted the heavy grav-parachute and shouted toward the cockpit:
"David! How far to the target zone?"
Seconds later, the mechanical voice of Iron David emerged from a helmeted communicator on the floor:
"My lord, we are 300 nautical miles away. You may rest briefly, though it is unlikely you'll need to deploy via parachute. I have full confidence in my missile strategy."
At this, Zaire raised an eyebrow but set the grav-parachute aside. He approached the cockpit, his smirk widening as he addressed David's metallic frame:
"David, the battlefield isn't predictable. Let's wait and see."
Iron David made no verbal response, merely raising a metal thumb in acknowledgment.
Still grinning, Zaire shook his head, turned, and returned to his seat on the cold cabin floor. Resting a massive red gauntlet on the helmet nearby, he closed his eyes, seeking a moment of calm before the storm.
The steady hum of the engines filled the cabin, punctuated only by Jessica's nervous tinkering with the Hellgun.
Roughly half an hour later, David's voice crackled to life once more:
"My lord, we are 30 nautical miles from the target. It is nighttime, but weather conditions over the nearby sea are clear. Continuing further risks early detection. Would you care to witness my missile display?"
"Why not," Zaire replied, snapping his eyes open, his cyan pupils glinting faintly in the cabin's dim light.
He strode to the cockpit, gazing through its wide viewport at the dark expanse of ocean below. In the distance, a luxurious cruise liner, the Minotaurus, glittered like a jewel against the black waves.
"There it is..." Zaire muttered. "David, light it up."
David maneuvered the Valkyrie into a hover, replying without turning:
"My lord, ten minutes ago, Stark Industries' Jericho missiles were pre-launched with extra fuel. Ah, here they come."
No sooner had he spoken than five streaks of dazzling light cut through the night sky. As their engines dimmed, the missile casings split apart mid-flight.
Whizz, whizz, whizz!
Hundreds of micro-warheads rained down like starlight toward the Minotaurus.
David's glowing blue optics gleamed as a metallic finger waved, as if orchestrating their descent.
But as the warheads neared their target, they began to slow unnaturally. An unseen force suspended them in midair before triggering a cascade of explosions, illuminating the cruise liner in a blinding display of fire and light.
Zaire's expression hardened as he placed a massive gauntlet on David's shoulder.
"Could be a magnetic or atmospheric manipulation ability..."
"This is illogical!"
David's voice quivered with frustration, his glowing optics flickering erratically.
"My lord! Rest assured, Hammer Industries' Widowmaker Mk-II cruise missiles launched five minutes ago—sheer numbers will suffice!"
"Uh-huh," Zaire muttered, suppressing a grin. He opted not to dampen David's optimism.
Moments later, ten brighter missiles streaked across the sky, aiming straight for the Minotaurus.
But a small figure erupted from the ship's interior, moving at a speed that shattered the sound barrier. Twin beams of searing energy shot from its eyes, intercepting the missiles with pinpoint accuracy.
Boom!
A fiery shockwave lit up the night once more, and Zaire muttered under his breath:
"Is that... a damn Superman?"
"David! Prep for airdrop!"
Zaire barked as he turned toward the cabin.
"My lord," David interjected, "the target appears to have detected the transport!"
Through the cockpit window, Zaire saw the figure streaking toward the hovering Valkyrie, its movements breaking the sound barrier.
Taking a deep breath, Zaire rushed back into the cabin, strapping on the grav-parachute and helmet.
"David, is the Valkyrie's weapons system functional?"
"My lord, say no more—I will rectify my failures!"
Satisfied, Zaire adjusted his equipment and approached Jessica. Gripping her Hellgun's power pack firmly, he activated the cabin door controls.
Hiss!
The doors opened, letting in the salty sea breeze.
"Jessica, if you're afraid of heights, close your eyes," Zaire said coolly.
Before she could respond, the Valkyrie surged forward. Laser cannons atop its wings fired relentlessly, the air reeking of scorched ozone.
"Jump!"
Following David's cue, Zaire launched himself into the void with Jessica in tow.
As they plummeted, Zaire glimpsed the Valkyrie above. Under David's deft control, the transport executed intricate aerial maneuvers, its lasers harrying the flying figure with relentless precision.
Below, the Minotaurus loomed large. Adjusting for their rapid descent, Zaire aimed for the ship's pool.
"Jessica! Ready yourself—anything that attacks you is the enemy!"
"Understood, boss!"
At the right moment, Zaire released Jessica, sending her hurtling toward the pool.
SPLASH!
Moments later, Jessica emerged, Hellgun blazing. The deck erupted in chaos as limbs and bodies flew, her weapon carving through enemies with ruthless efficiency.
Boom!
Zaire landed heavily on the deck, the Hunter Duke armor absorbing the impact. His refractor field deflected a barrage of bullets with sharp metallic pings.
Straightening, he raised his red gauntlets, their built-in explosive barrels glinting menacingly.
As spent bullets clattered to the ground, Zaire's voice rumbled through the comms:
"My turn."
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