The battlefield was silent in the wake of the massive clash. Smoke lingered in the cold void of space, swirling around the wreckage of fallen mechs, their bodies suspended in the vacuum like forgotten monuments to the war that never seemed to end. Dominic's white titan hovered in the middle of the devastation, its systems still humming as it surveyed the carnage. The victory felt hollow, even as he looked at the broken CMC Titan that had once been his greatest adversary.
His cockpit was dark save for the faint glow of his control panels, the soft hum of his neural implant still pulsing in his mind. Dominic took a deep breath, his mind sharp despite the exhaustion weighing on him. The adrenaline was still rushing, but the aftermath was settling in—he had won, but at what cost?
"Dominic," came the voice through his comms, a familiar tone breaking through the silence. It was Commander Valerina from the UOP fleet. "We've secured the perimeter. We'll need to move out before more CMC reinforcements arrive."
Dominic didn't respond immediately. His eyes lingered on the wreckage of the Titan, the monstrous form now a pile of twisted metal and sparks. The pilot was likely dead. The fight was over—for now.
But the war was far from finished.
"Dominic?"
"I hear you," he replied, his voice steady but strained. "I'm coming in now."
He turned his mech toward the UOP command ship. As the white titan slowly moved forward, he reflected on everything that had happened. His journey had changed him—he wasn't just a scavenger anymore. The blood and fire of the battlefield had become his world, and he was no longer a lone wolf. He had purpose. He had power. And the UOP—whether he liked it or not—had begun to rely on him.
The white titan landed softly on the UOP flagship, the mechanical legs screeching slightly as they made contact with the platform. The bay doors hissed open, and Dominic powered down his mech's systems, the sound of his heart thumping in his ears as he unstrapped himself from the cockpit.
As soon as the cockpit opened, Dominic's booted feet hit the deck. His pulse was still quick from the battle, but he didn't allow himself the luxury of resting. There was too much to do. The war wasn't going to wait for him to catch his breath.
He made his way down the metal corridors of the ship, past various officers who nodded to him in recognition. The news of his victory would spread quickly—it always did. But it didn't matter. To Dominic, victories were just stepping stones toward something greater. It was all just noise until he could find something worth fighting for.
He entered the briefing room, where Commander Valerina stood beside a large holographic map of the frontlines. A dozen or so other officers were gathered around, looking tense, their faces reflecting the gravity of the situation.
"Good work, Dominic," Valerina said without looking up. Her tone was formal but with a hint of respect. "We've secured the area for now, but the CMC forces are regrouping. We need you out there again. You're becoming one of our best assets."
Dominic nodded but didn't speak. He'd heard this all before. He wasn't here to be their star soldier—he was here to win. The rest was irrelevant.
Valerina finally looked up at him, her gaze piercing. "I know you've been through a lot, but we've got another mission ready for you. It's a big one."
Dominic's interest piqued. A bigger mission? Something that would take him beyond the immediate frontlines?
"We've received intel on a CMC command ship," she continued, her fingers tapping on the holo-map. "It's heavily fortified, deep in CMC territory. We believe it's a key strategic asset, a supply hub that's been fueling the CMC's war efforts. If we can take it out, it will cripple their offensive for weeks—maybe longer."
The thought of taking down a CMC command ship was tempting. But Dominic knew that nothing was ever as easy as it sounded.
"How are we supposed to get there?" he asked, his voice low and skeptical. "The CMC has heavily guarded space routes. It's suicide to just waltz in there."
"That's where you come in," Valerina said with a glint in her eye. "You're the best when it comes to sneaking into hostile territory. We've arranged for a small task force to assist you. You'll have stealth tech, the best suits we can provide, and a support ship that will remain out of CMC sensor range."
Dominic let her words sink in. This was a mission unlike any other. It was high risk, high reward. If he pulled it off, it would change the course of the war—but if he failed, the consequences could be catastrophic.
He could already feel the weight of the decision bearing down on him. This wasn't just a fight for survival—it was a chance to make his mark on the galaxy.
"What's the plan?" Dominic asked.
Valerina brought up a series of holographic images, showing the path to the CMC command ship. The plan was intricate, full of variables, and fraught with danger. But it was also the kind of challenge Dominic thrived on.
"You'll infiltrate the ship under the cover of a nearby asteroid field," she explained. "Once you're inside, you'll disable the ship's main reactor, then plant explosives in their weapons and supply bays. Once it's crippled, we'll bring in the rest of the fleet to finish the job. But the most crucial part of this operation is getting in without being detected."
Dominic studied the plan closely. It wasn't easy, but it was possible. His eyes flicked over to Valerina, who was now waiting for him to speak.
"I'll do it," Dominic said finally, his voice hard as steel.
Valerina nodded in approval. "Good. We're counting on you."
As he walked out of the briefing room, Dominic's mind raced. This mission was unlike any he had faced before. It wasn't just about fighting—it was about strategy, precision, and timing. It was about crippling the CMC where it hurt most.
He hadn't felt this alive in years. The scavenger turned mercenary was finally going after something bigger. Something that could change everything.
And he would stop at nothing to see it through.