Ace stood on the battered platform of Base Alpha, his breath steady despite the exhaustion gnawing at his muscles. The five newcomers who had answered the mysterious signal loomed before him, their towering presence a mix of reassurance and unease.
They were Rigers—tiger-like beings with humanoid forms, sleek fur that shimmered in hues of gold and silver, and sharp, predatory eyes that glowed faintly in the dim light. Their imposing frames ranged from two to nearly four meters in height, with powerful physiques and feline grace. Each carried themselves with a confidence born of survival, their tails swaying rhythmically behind them.
Beside them stood their mechas—sleek, organic-looking machines that seemed to pulse with life. The Riger mechas were as tall as Ace's but more streamlined, with curved, armor-like plating that shimmered like their pilots' fur. Each bore unique weapons—long plasma lances that glowed faintly at the edges, designed for close combat but equally deadly at range.
The leader of the group, Korrak, stepped forward. His silver mane framed a face both regal and fierce, and his golden eyes locked onto Ace with a piercing intensity.
"We owe no allegiance to the Architects," Korrak said through the BIO translation. His deep, resonant voice carried a faint purr. "Our world was consumed. We fight for survival, as you do."
Ace scanned the five of them, his grip tightening on his mecha's controls. "We've been burned by trust before," he said warily. "Why should we believe you?"
Korrak's tail flicked, and he regarded Ace with something resembling amusement. "You have no choice. Actions will speak louder than words."
After a tense moment, Ace gave a curt nod. "Then let's see what you can do. We're heading to Base Beta—now."
The Rigers wasted no time. Their mechas moved with an almost predatory grace as they powered up, following Ace's lead.
At Base Beta, Captain and the others fought to shore up their defenses. The arrival of fifteen Rigers had turned heads, their towering forms cutting imposing figures as they deployed alongside their mechas.
"They look... intense," Wolfe muttered, watching as one Riger effortlessly hefted a massive plasma cannon onto their mecha.
"Intense doesn't mean trustworthy," Shadow replied, her daggers in hand as she warily observed the feline warriors.
Captain silenced them with a sharp look. "We don't have time for suspicion. They're here, and we need them."
Meanwhile, Techie worked furiously at his console. The BIO on his wrist pulsed faintly, relaying the swarm's movements across the landscape. His fingers flew over the controls as he adjusted turret placements and scanned for updates.
"We've got a thousand units approaching from the west," he announced, his voice tense. "ETA: ten minutes."
Captain's jaw tightened. "A thousand?"
Techie hesitated, his face pale. "And it's just the scout group. The main force will hit in an hour—five thousand units."
A heavy silence fell over the team.
"Five thousand?" Shadow repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.
Techie nodded grimly. "If we don't clean this scout swarm fast, we won't survive the main assault."
Ace and the five Rigers arrived at Base Beta just as the team absorbed the grim news. The sight of the feline warriors and their advanced mechas marching alongside Ace's battered machine drew mixed reactions.
"Well, look who brought backup," Wolfe said, lowering his rifle slightly as Ace's mecha powered down.
"More than backup," Ace replied as he climbed out of his cockpit. "These are the Rigers. They're here to help—for now."
Korrak stepped forward, his golden eyes surveying the humans. "Your survival depends on cooperation. We will fight, but you must hold your own."
"Glad to have you," Captain said, standing tall despite being nearly half Korrak's height. "But we need a plan, fast."
Techie pulled up a holographic grid of Base Beta. "We can bottleneck the western swarm here and here," he said, marking two narrow choke points. "If we hit them hard enough, we might break their formation before the main force arrives."
"And the main force?" Ace asked.
Techie hesitated. "We'll need every resource and every second. It's... not looking good."
As the scout swarm approached, the combined forces of humans and Rigers moved into position. The Riger mechas deployed with remarkable speed, their plasma lances shimmering as they prepared for the fight.
"Strike fast. Strike true," Korrak commanded his team. "Let them see why we survived."
The battle began with a thunderous roar. The scout swarm surged toward Base Beta like a living wave, but the defenders held their ground. Riger mechas leaped and slashed with fluid precision, their lances carving through the creatures with ease. The humans provided covering fire, their rifles and turrets picking off enemies from a distance.
Shadow darted between foes, her daggers flashing, while Wolfe's rifle barked in rapid succession. Captain coordinated their movements, her voice cutting through the chaos like a blade.
"Hold the line! No one falls back!"
Ace fought alongside Korrak, their mechas moving in tandem. Korrak's plasma lance skewered three swarm units in one fluid motion, while Ace's cannon blasted apart the larger creatures.
"They fight like they've done this a thousand times," Ace muttered through the comms.
Korrak's voice rumbled back. "We have. Focus on the fight, human."
The scout swarm was finally beaten back, but the victory felt hollow. The horizon still pulsed with the ominous shadows of the main force.
Techie's voice broke through the comms, trembling. "We've got an hour until the main assault. Five thousand units."
The team exchanged grim looks. The Rigers stood silently, their golden and silver eyes gleaming in the fading light.
"We've survived worse," Captain said, her voice firm. "We'll survive this too."
But even as she spoke, the weight of the odds was crushing. The main attack was coming, and they were running out of time.