The hangar was eerily quiet after the chaos of the last battle. The CMC forces had been relentless, but Dominic's team had made their escape, leaving the enemy scrambling in their wake. Yet, as he looked out from the viewport of their transport ship, the stars seemed to grow colder, the tension in the air palpable. He knew it wasn't over.
Kade sat across from him, cleaning his weapon, his expression unreadable. Varra was at the helm, her hands steady as she navigated their way through the fleet of UOP ships now mobilizing. The comms were quiet for the moment, but Dominic couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming.
"How long until we're back at the flagship?" Dominic asked, his voice low.
"Should be about an hour," Varra responded, her tone calm but with an edge of urgency. "But don't expect a warm welcome. We're already overdue. CMC won't let us slip away that easily."
Dominic nodded, eyes locked on the stars outside. He had a bad feeling about this mission—there was something brewing, something bigger than any of them had anticipated. And sure enough, the warning came through the comms.
"Attention all personnel, incoming transmission from the UOP Command," the voice crackled over the intercom. "High-priority alert."
Varra tapped a button, and the screen in front of them flickered to life. A stern-looking officer in uniform appeared, his expression grim.
"Dominic, Kade, Varra, listen up," the officer began. "The CMC has just received reinforcements—more than we ever anticipated. They've struck a deal with StellarForge."
Dominic's stomach dropped. StellarForge—one of the most powerful mech manufacturers in the galaxy. Their machines were legendary. The worst part? They had just sold the CMC 100 of their latest creations: Juggernaut/Titan Class mechs.
The officer continued, his voice tense. "These mechs are bigger, stronger, and more heavily armored than anything we've ever faced. They're a force to be reckoned with. The CMC will likely deploy them within the next 24 hours, and they're headed straight for our positions."
"Do we know where?" Kade asked, voice sharp.
"Right here," the officer replied, tapping a control panel, which brought up a tactical map. "This is the most heavily fortified area of the CMC's operations in the sector. We've intercepted their transmissions—they've got a full fleet of Juggernaut-class mechs heading towards the orbital defense station. If they take that out, it'll be a clear path for them to hit our front lines."
Varra cursed under her breath. "We're outgunned. They'll crush us before we even get a chance to respond."
Dominic's mind raced. He had faced down some of the best mechs the CMC had to offer, but these… these Juggernaut-class mechs were something else entirely. Massive, armored, and built for sheer destruction.
"We can't just sit here and wait for them to steamroll us," Dominic said, his voice steady, despite the sinking feeling in his gut. "We need to go after them before they reach the station. If we can hit them hard enough, we might be able to disrupt their coordination."
"We're gonna need more firepower," Kade muttered. "The usual tricks won't work on these things. Not unless we get our hands on something heavy."
Dominic turned to the officer on the screen. "What's the plan? We don't have time to waste."
The officer's face hardened. "We've already dispatched reinforcements, but we'll need you and your team to assist. We're sending you to intercept the convoy before they reach the orbital defense station. The CMC fleet is carrying heavy artillery and additional support, but the real danger is those Titan-class mechs."
"Understood," Dominic replied, his voice firm. "We'll need to take out their artillery first—then focus on the Juggernauts."
Varra gave a quick nod. "I'll set course. We'll be there in under an hour."
As the transport ship's engines roared to life, the adrenaline began to rise in Dominic's veins. The stakes had just escalated, and they were up against the most formidable enemy force they'd ever faced. The mission was now about survival—and they had no choice but to go headfirst into the storm.
The plan was set.
Dominic, Kade, and Varra were heading into the heart of enemy territory to engage the Juggernaut-class mechs head-on. This was no longer just a fight for the UOP—it was a fight for their survival.
But as they made their way through the vast expanse of space toward the incoming threat, Dominic couldn't shake the thought that something deeper was at play. The CMC had always been ruthless, but now, with StellarForge's involvement, the stakes had reached an entirely new level.