Chapter 12: The First Strike
The Syndicate warehouse stood quiet and unassuming, tucked away in a forgotten corner of Neo Arcadia-2's trade district. Its dull, industrial design blended perfectly into the urban sprawl, but Ethan knew better. Beneath its mundane exterior, the facility housed caches of advanced materials and equipment critical to Syndicate operations. Taking it out would send a message.
Ethan crouched in the shadows, the Plasma Disruptor Cannon Mk. II humming softly in his grip. The air was damp, heavy with the faint smell of machine oil. His Interface displayed a live tactical map, highlighting enemy positions and patrol routes in glowing red.
[Target: Syndicate Warehouse.]
• Guards: 6 (Standard Combat Gear).
• Drones: 4 (Light Armor, Automated).
• Weak Points: Central Power Node (Exterior, West Wall).
Objective: Disable the facility without unnecessary collateral damage.
Shade's voice whispered through the comms. "Two guards patrolling the north perimeter. Light weapons. They're relaxed."
Ethan replied, keeping his voice low. "Rhea, status on the drones?"
Rhea's console beeped softly. "Four active, two in flight. I can jam their signals, but not without alerting the entire facility."
"No jamming," Ethan said. "We'll handle them the hard way. Garret, ready?"
Garret's low chuckle came through. "Always."
Ethan signaled for the team to move. Shade vanished into the shadows, his form melting into the night as he stalked the guards. Briggs circled toward the west wall, his plasma rifle primed. Garret followed close behind Ethan, his heavy cannon cradled like a predator waiting to strike.
One of the drones zipped overhead, its red optics scanning the ground. Ethan raised the Plasma Disruptor Cannon, his Interface locking onto the drone's heat signature. A single plasma bolt tore through the air, striking the drone dead center. It spiraled out of control before crashing into the dirt.
[Enemy Neutralized: Recon Drone.]
+50 EXP.
Shade's update came next. "North guards neutralized. Silent. No alarms."
"Good work," Ethan replied. "Briggs, take out the power node. Garret and I will clear the entrance."
The faint hum of Briggs's rifle preceded the precise shot that struck the warehouse's exterior power node. Sparks erupted from the impact, and the warehouse's lights flickered before plunging into darkness.
Ethan didn't hesitate. He sprinted toward the entrance, Garret covering his flank. Two guards appeared in the doorway, their weapons raised, but Garret's cannon fired first. The plasma blast engulfed the guards, sending them sprawling.
Ethan fired a quick burst from the Disruptor Cannon, destroying the control panel beside the door. The lock hissed open, and he motioned for Garret to follow. Inside, the warehouse was a maze of crates and machinery, dimly lit by emergency lights. The air smelled of ozone and oil.
Rhea's voice crackled in his ear. "Three more guards moving toward the central storage area. Drones are re-routing to interior patrol."
Ethan moved swiftly, his footsteps silent against the metal floor. Garret, less subtle, kept his cannon trained on the shadows ahead. The distant sound of boots on metal echoed through the space.
The first guard emerged from behind a stack of crates, his rifle sweeping the area. Ethan fired, the plasma bolt striking him square in the chest. The man crumpled, his weapon clattering to the ground.
The other two guards opened fire, plasma bolts zipping past Ethan and Garret. Garret unleashed a volley, the heavy blasts ripping through the crates and forcing the guards to scatter. Ethan advanced, his Interface marking their positions through the haze of smoke and debris. He fired again, dropping the second guard.
The third guard stumbled, retreating toward a doorway. Before he could escape, Shade appeared behind him, a knife glinting briefly in the dim light. The guard fell silently, and Shade disappeared into the shadows once more.
[Area Secured: Syndicate Warehouse.]
+500 EXP.
"Storage area is clear," Ethan said. "Rhea, status on the drones?"
"Still circling the upper levels," Rhea replied. "But I'm picking up something else—a heat signature. It's big."
Ethan's Interface adjusted, highlighting the source of the heat signature deeper within the warehouse. "Garret, Briggs, fall in. Shade, scout ahead."
As the team regrouped, Shade moved silently toward the source of the heat. He returned moments later, his expression grim. "Heavy mech. Powered down, but active systems are online. If we trigger it, we're in for a fight."
Ethan's mind raced. A Syndicate heavy mech wasn't just a threat—it was a potential game-changer. If they could disable it, they could salvage its parts for their defenses. But if they woke it, they'd face a battle that could level the warehouse.
"Rhea," Ethan said. "Can you remotely disable it?"
"Not without direct access," she replied. "But I can overload its systems if you plant a charge on the power core."
Ethan nodded. "Briggs, Garret, cover me. Shade, keep an eye on the perimeter."
The mech stood in a reinforced chamber, its sleek, armored frame glinting faintly in the emergency lighting. Ethan approached cautiously, the faint hum of its systems sending a chill down his spine. He located the power core, a glowing cylinder embedded in the mech's chest.
He planted the charge, his Interface syncing with Rhea's console. "Charge is set. Rhea, do it."
Rhea's voice was calm. "Overloading now."
The mech's systems whined, its lights flickering erratically. Sparks erupted from its joints as the overload took effect, and the mech powered down with a shuddering groan.
[Mech Disabled: Syndicate Heavy Unit.]
+750 EXP.
Ethan let out a breath, stepping back. "Mech's down. Let's wrap this up."
The team quickly searched the storage area, locating crates of advanced materials and rare components. Ethan's Interface pinged as the inventory was updated.
[Resources Acquired:]
• Rare Alloy Plating (x3).
• Overclocked Energy Core (x1).
• Advanced Servo Motors (x2).
"Good haul," Briggs said, inspecting one of the crates. "But we should move. Syndicate reinforcements won't be far behind."
Ethan nodded, setting a timed plasma charge on the remaining supplies. As the team exited the warehouse, the faint hum of the charge echoed behind them. Minutes later, a controlled explosion lit up the sky, leaving the facility in ruins.
Back at the scrapyard, Ethan stood in the workshop, reviewing the haul. The Syndicate wasn't just watching—they were calculating. Their favor was both a gift and a challenge. If they wanted him as an ally, they'd need to make an offer he couldn't refuse. Until then, Ethan would keep building.
He gripped the Plasma Disruptor Cannon, his expression set. "Let them make their move."