"No surprise there. They've figured out I have space-based weapons. It would be strange if they didn't try to stop me." Zack wasn't surprised in the least. He released his grip, activated his thrusters, and detached from the rocket. The rocket was still climbing slowly, so he could catch up at any time. "Where's the interceptor missile?" Zack asked.
"Coordinates uploaded, sir." Ego responded.
Every missile launched was immediately shown on the Apex's HUD. "Let's go. Time to intercept the interceptors!" Zack grinned. With that, he pushed his suit's thrusters to full power, rocketing off at Mach 8 toward the incoming missiles.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
The sharp sound of missile locks filled Zack's helmet. Anticipating trouble, he had Ego modify the Apex suit a few days earlier to carry a payload of supersonic micro-interceptor missiles. "Fire!" Zack commanded. Several tiny missiles shot out from the suit, accelerating to Mach 5 in seconds as they honed in on the targets. Moments later, explosions lit up the sky above the clouds.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The enemy interceptor missiles were obliterated. "That's all they've got?" Zack chuckled, shaking his head. With his thrusters still at full power, he turned back toward the rocket, which hadn't yet reached its full speed. Soon, he reattached himself to the vehicle.
"First stage rocket separating!" "Fairing separation complete!" "Second-stage engine shutting down—approaching designated orbit!"
The automated announcements marked each critical step as the multi-stage rocket pushed past the first cosmic velocity. Zack had officially reached a geostationary orbit, 35,000 kilometers above Earth. This orbit, perfectly synchronized with the planet's rotation, allowed satellites to hover over a fixed point. From here, one satellite could cover over 40% of the planet—a single hemisphere.
However, the apocalypse had left its scars even here. "Damn, this orbit's a mess," Zack muttered, his eyes scanning the field of space debris.
Old, abandoned communication satellites floated aimlessly, remnants of a time when humanity maintained its global networks. Without proper maintenance, the satellites had stopped working, leaving geostationary orbit clogged with junk. Normally, obsolete satellites would be moved to a higher "graveyard orbit" to avoid collisions. But post-apocalypse, no one had bothered.
"Starship separated!" "Satellite module unfolding!"
Zack watched as the final stage of the rocket detached, revealing the satellite module. Its solar panels unfolded like an enormous umbrella, resembling a jellyfish suspended in the dark void.
"Positioning complete!" "Orbit correction done!" "Satellite is now operational! Space-based modules detaching!" The space-based module separated from the rocket, and the satellite's built-in micro-propulsion system kicked in immediately. It adjusted its position, preparing for docking and installation, with the help of space-operating drones.
However, before the satellite's main module could be installed, two critical components had to be deployed: the laser transmitter and the electromagnetic railgun. These were vital to eliminate the looming threat of abandoned satellites and orbital debris that could crash into the system at any moment. "Sir, an abandoned satellite is on a collision course! Impact in five minutes—please be ready!" Ego's voice echoed in Zack's helmet.
Zack grimaced. The satellite wasn't equipped for self-defense yet. A single impact could obliterate the expensive space-based module that had taken so much effort and resources to build. "Mark its trajectory," Zack ordered.
In an instant, the abandoned satellite's flight path appeared on Zack's HUD. The projection confirmed it—collision was imminent. "I've got this," Zack said, activating his thrusters and flying toward the incoming satellite. This was exactly why he was here. Protecting the satellite was his top priority.
"Ego, I see it now," Zack said as the satellite came into view, hurtling through space at high speed.
"Sir, push it out of orbit, but do not destroy it!" Ego reminded him, a serious tone in its voice. "If it breaks apart, the debris will create more hazards for the satellite."
"Relax, I know what I'm doing," Zack replied, adjusting his thruster output. He aligned himself with the satellite's trajectory, carefully matching its speed to stabilize their relative positions. As the two objects flew in tandem, Zack reached out, bracing himself against the satellite's body.
"Activate the propulsion backpack," he commanded. The Apex suit's propulsion system roared to life, gently nudging the abandoned satellite out of its orbit. Gradually, Zack pushed it higher and higher, maneuvering it past the space-based satellite. Finally, he guided it into a designated "space cemetery," a region filled with decommissioned satellites and orbital debris.
"Done," Zack said, watching the satellite drift into its final resting place. He turned and returned to the operational satellite, only to repeat the process twice more over the next hour. Two additional satellites were removed from the area, ensuring no immediate threats to the system.
"Sir, the laser transmitter is installed. You can take a break now," Ego informed him. Zack hovered near the satellite, which resembled a mechanical jellyfish suspended in orbit. But now, the harmless-looking satellite began to display its true potential.
Buzz! Buzz!
A red laser beam shot out from the satellite, cutting through the darkness of space like a crimson thread. Every laser strike hit its target—a piece of orbital debris or an abandoned satellite—and vaporized it entirely. "Nice," Zack muttered, nodding in satisfaction. The system was fully operational. With his mission complete, he set his sights on the blue planet below and began his descent.
Flying back from 35,000 kilometers above Earth wasn't exactly a quick trip, but Zack underestimated just how much speed he could gain. Thanks to the Apex suit's aerodynamic design and the pull of Earth's gravity, he soon found himself accelerating beyond Mach 8. At this point, Zack wasn't just descending—he was plummeting like a tungsten rod. The intense friction of re-entry heated the suit's surface to extreme levels. "2,000 degrees Celsius… 2,500… still climbing!" Ego warned as temperatures soared.
Fortunately, the Apex suit was built for space operations and had advanced heat-resistant and radiation-proof coatings. Despite the blistering heat, Zack remained unharmed. "Prepare to slow down," Zack instructed as he hit the upper atmosphere.
Using precise maneuvers, he reversed his thrusters, gradually bleeding off speed. Slowing down was critical—without it, he'd hit the ground like a meteorite. After a grueling deceleration process, Zack finally reduced his speed to Mach 8. Several thousand meters above the ground, he redirected his trajectory and dove toward an artificial lake near Tribeca.
Splash!
The moment he hit the water, the surrounding area erupted in steam. The lake boiled furiously, and fish floated belly-up to the surface, cooked alive by the intense heat radiating from the Apex suit. After ten seconds, Zack activated his thrusters again, propelling himself out of the water. He soared through the air, drawing a graceful arc before landing near his Mansion. "Ego, is the particle accelerator ready?" Zack called out as he entered the basement, removing the Apex suit piece by piece.
"Yes, sir, the accelerator is finished," came the response. "But…" Ego's voice cut in, sounding mildly annoyed. "Sir, aren't you forgetting something?"
Zack paused, frowning. "What now?"
"The Vanguard organization base in Japan," Ego reminded him. "The same people who tried to blow up your rocket?"
"Eh, forget it," Zack said, shrugging as he walked toward the lab.
"Sir, this is… out of character for you," Ego remarked with a hint of sarcasm. "You're really letting them off the hook after trying to sabotage your launch?"
"They failed, didn't they?" Zack replied nonchalantly. "Why waste time?"