Ethan pushed the throttle of the hover truck forward, the engine humming with a renewed sense of purpose. The wind was less fierce today, but the route ahead was much more dangerous. This was no longer the relatively safer terrain of his previous supply missions; now, he was venturing into the most desolate and treacherous part of Kynara.
The outpost he was tasked with resupplying sat at the far edge of civilization, close to where Federation soldiers rarely patrolled. It was an area notorious for weak defenses, making it a prime target for the bandits allied with the Black Sun Syndicate. And given the escalating attacks, this mission carried more than just supplies, it carried the hopes of survival for those stationed there.
"ETA to outpost, four hours," Iris reported. "Weather conditions stable, but scanners detect high-energy signatures along the route."
Ethan frowned. "Bandits?"
"Possible, but unconfirmed," Iris replied, her tone neutral. "Recommend heightened caution."
"Noted."
The hover truck's upgraded shields and weapons system gave him some confidence, but there was still that lingering unease in the back of his mind. This sector, this remote and lawless part of Kynara, was like the wild frontier and Ethan knew better than to take anything for granted. Even the landscapes here seemed more unforgiving, with jagged rock formations, sharp ravines, and unstable cliff sides.
He glanced at his HUD, tracking the route ahead while also keeping a close eye on the various sensor readouts that Iris was processing. His gut told him that the Syndicate wouldn't leave such a high-value supply run alone, especially after the recent wave of coordinated outpost attacks.
"Keep scanning," he muttered, focusing on navigating through a particularly narrow section of the pass. "If they're out there, we'll find them."
For a while, the trip continued smoothly. Almost too smoothly. The sun began to dip behind the rocky horizon, casting long shadows that only made the rough terrain appear more dangerous. The trail twisted and turned, making it impossible to gain much speed. Even with the truck's reinforced chassis and hover system, Ethan felt every jolt and bump.
Suddenly, a warning beep echoed through the cabin.
"Multiple energy signatures closing in," Iris announced. "Three fast-moving objects approaching from the east. Estimated time to contact: thirty seconds."
Ethan's hands tensed on the controls. "Bandits?"
"Most likely," Iris confirmed.
Ethan activated the truck's defensive systems, readying the plasma turrets and rerouting additional power to the shields. His heart raced, but his mind remained focused.
"They never make it easy, do they?" he muttered to himself.
As he crested the next ridge, the source of the incoming signatures became clear. Three hoverbikes, sleek and fast, appeared from the dust clouds, speeding toward him with precision. They were not just regular bandits; their bikes were outfitted with better weaponry than the ones he'd encountered in the past. It was clear that the Black Sun Syndicate had stepped up their game, and these riders were likely part of the Syndicate's vanguard, better trained and better equipped.
"They're targeting the truck's power core," Iris warned, highlighting their approach patterns on the HUD. "If they disable it, we'll be sitting ducks."
"Not happening," Ethan gritted, gripping the controls tightly.
Without hesitation, he activated the plasma turrets. The rear one swiveled and fired a volley of blue-hot plasma toward the closest bike. The rider dodged expertly, swerving to the side as the plasma bolts narrowly missed. The other two riders took advantage of the distraction and closed in on Ethan's flanks.
They opened fire, their laser cannons peppering the truck's shields with rapid, concentrated blasts. Ethan winced as the shields flickered and strained under the onslaught. He had to act fast before they overwhelmed the truck's defenses.
"Iris, divert power to the forward shields!" he barked, yanking the controls hard to the right. The truck veered sharply, causing the leftmost rider to lose his line of fire for a brief moment.
In that split second, Ethan slammed his fist down on the manual override for the plasma turret. The turret fired again, this time catching the second rider off guard. A direct hit. The bike spun wildly out of control, slamming into a nearby rock outcropping and exploding in a bright flash.
"One down," Ethan muttered, but the victory was short-lived.
The two remaining riders adjusted their tactics. One pulled ahead, unleashing a barrage of lasers toward the truck's windshield, while the other hung back, likely planning to attack from behind. Ethan cursed under his breath. They were coordinating their assault, clearly more disciplined than the average gang of raiders.
"Forward shields at 60%," Iris reported, her calm tone contrasting with the chaos.
Ethan knew he had to act quickly. The truck wasn't built for speed or agility, especially compared to the nimble hoverbikes. He needed to level the playing field.
Without warning, Ethan slammed on the brakes. The truck lurched violently, and the rider in front overshot his mark, flying directly into the line of fire of the front plasma turret. Ethan pulled the trigger without hesitation. The plasma shot connected, tearing through the rider's bike in a fiery explosion.
"Two down," he growled.
The final rider, realizing that his comrades were gone, pulled back, clearly weighing his options. But Ethan wasn't about to give him the chance to retreat. He pushed the throttle forward, sending the truck speeding toward the last bike. The rider, startled by the sudden burst of speed, tried to bank to the side, but it was too late. Ethan swerved the truck at the last second, sideswiping the bike and sending it crashing into the rocks below.
"All hostiles neutralized," Iris confirmed. "Truck status: operational, though shields are depleted to 40%."
Ethan exhaled, his pulse pounding in his ears. He had survived the ambush, but he knew it wouldn't be the last. The Syndicate was getting bolder, and this attack had been far more coordinated than any he'd experienced before. The outpost he was headed for wasn't far now, but he had to move quickly.
"Let's get out of here before more of them show up," Ethan muttered, pressing down on the accelerator.
The truck surged forward, and Ethan pushed through the narrow pass, his eyes scanning the horizon. He had barely escaped this time. The Black Sun Syndicate's presence was growing, and the stakes were only getting higher.
As the outpost came into view in the distance, Ethan knew this mission was far from over.