The ground beneath Dominic's feet trembled as the first of the Juggernauts took its first steps onto the battlefield. Each footfall reverberated through the planet's surface, sending shockwaves that rattled the bones of every soldier in the vicinity. The massive mech, nearly fifteen meters tall, towered over everything, its thick armor gleaming in the harsh light of the distant stars. It was a machine of pure destruction, and it was coming for them.
Dominic's heart raced, but his mind stayed sharp, focused. He knew what had to be done. No one had ever faced something like this before. These were the pinnacle of the CMC's war machines, built for sheer power and overwhelming force. And yet, Dominic was here—standing between them and the future of the UOP's front lines.
"We need to hit them hard and fast," Dominic said, his voice low but resolute. His hand gripped the handle of his plasma rifle, ready for whatever was about to come. "Kade, take the left flank. I'll cover you. Varra, stay in the air. We need you to act as our eyes."
Without waiting for a response, he darted forward, his boots crunching the gravel of the battlefield. The Juggernauts had no interest in them yet—they were focused on the main UOP fleet. But Dominic knew better. They wouldn't leave him alone for long.
From behind him, Kade fired off a few shots from his rifle, the plasma bolts sizzling through the air, hitting one of the enemy's smaller mechs. It exploded in a burst of flame, sending debris scattering across the battlefield. But the Juggernauts paid it no mind.
The roar of enemy engines drowned out the sound of distant explosions as the Juggernauts powered their way forward. Dominic felt a strange, primal thrill rise in his chest. They were close now, close enough to see the red glow of the Juggernaut's weapon ports.
Boom! The first pulse cannon fired.
Dominic ducked instinctively, his body moving faster than his thoughts. A blast of energy shot past him, striking the ground where he had just been standing, sending a shockwave that sent him tumbling into a pile of debris.
"Dammit!" he cursed, rolling to his feet. Kade was already in position, taking aim at the leg joints of the Juggernaut that had fired. It was slow, cumbersome, but its sheer size made up for its lack of agility.
"I've got it!" Kade yelled, targeting the left leg. He squeezed the trigger, sending several plasma rounds into the joint.
The shots hit with a satisfying crack, the armor on the leg plating buckling slightly. But the Juggernaut barely flinched.
"Keep firing!" Dominic shouted. "We need to break that thing's stability!"
As the Juggernaut began to turn toward their position, its massive cannon aimed directly at them, Dominic sprinted forward. He could hear the hum of its power core charging up for another shot.
Just then, Varra's voice crackled through their comms. "I'm in position! I'm taking out its targeting systems."
The transport ship was now overhead, her weapons firing down on the Juggernaut's head. Plasma rounds slammed into the mech's faceplate, knocking loose several of the targeting sensors. The mech staggered back, smoke billowing from the damaged systems.
"It's working!" Dominic yelled, taking advantage of the distraction. He sprinted closer, using the cover of debris to close the distance. Kade was right behind him, keeping up the suppressing fire.
But the Juggernaut wasn't finished. It responded with a brutal swipe of its massive arm, knocking one of the smaller UOP mechs out of the way like a toy. The crew didn't even have time to react.
"Damn it!" Dominic spat, his hands tightening around his rifle. "This thing's a walking fortress!"
Kade grinned, his eyes glinting with determination. "Yeah, but it's got weak spots. We just have to find them."
Dominic didn't need to be told twice. He dashed forward, using his advanced neural implants to calculate the optimal route. His mind raced, processing the Juggernaut's movements, analyzing its patterns, and spotting the vulnerabilities in its design.
The machine's heavy leg moved to step forward again, its footfall causing the ground to shake, but Dominic dove under the mech's foot, rolling to the side just in time. He was right below the Juggernaut now, and the opening he needed was just above him.
"Now!" he shouted to Kade.
Kade didn't hesitate. His rifle fired several more shots directly into the exposed power core beneath the Juggernaut's leg. Sparks flew from the point of impact, and the mech staggered again, this time slightly off-balance.
Dominic seized the opportunity. He jumped up, firing his plasma rifle at the vulnerable joint above the knee, sending a burst of fire into the exposed underbelly of the mech. The armor plating cracked, and a series of explosions rang out as the internal systems began to overload.
The Juggernaut let out a shriek of mechanical agony as it collapsed to the ground with a deafening crash, its massive form crashing onto the surface of the planet with a shockwave.
Dominic landed in a roll, his body moving instinctively as he took cover behind the debris again. His chest heaved with exertion, but there was no time to rest.
"That's one down," Kade said, his voice full of adrenaline. "Let's get the next one."
But just as they were about to regroup, another Juggernaut entered the fray, its massive form silhouetted against the sky. This one had a different design, more advanced, with additional weapons systems and heavier armor.
"This is gonna be fun," Dominic muttered to himself, already anticipating the brutal fight ahead.