The battlefield was still vibrating from the impact of the fallen Juggernaut when Dominic turned to face the new threat. His mind was already shifting into high gear, calculating the best course of action, while his body moved on pure instinct. The next Juggernaut was larger, sleeker, and it was armed to the teeth.
"Looks like we have a new problem," Kade muttered, his voice steady but betraying a hint of uncertainty. "That one's packing more firepower."
Dominic's eyes narrowed as he analyzed the new machine. The Juggernaut's form was streamlined, designed for speed and power. It had multiple rocket pods along its back and shoulders, capable of unleashing devastating barrages of missiles. Its massive arms bore high-energy pulse cannons, while its legs were reinforced with additional armor plating.
"We need to take out those rocket pods first," Dominic said, his voice low and calm. "They'll rain hell on us if we don't. Kade, you cover me. I'll get in close."
Kade nodded, giving a quick salute before taking cover behind a pile of rubble. His rifle was ready, and he was already taking shots at the Juggernaut's advancing form. The first rounds bounced harmlessly off the mech's thick armor, but Kade wasn't deterred. He knew he had to keep the pressure on.
Dominic didn't waste a moment. He ran forward, moving with speed and precision, dodging behind ruined structures, narrowly avoiding the pulse cannon fire that whizzed past him. The Juggernaut was targeting him now, its massive head swiveling to track his movements.
"Varra, I need eyes on its weak spots," Dominic said, his voice steady even though his heart was pounding. "Get me a scan of its right shoulder."
Varra's voice crackled through the comms. "Got it. I'm feeding you the data now."
In an instant, a detailed schematic of the Juggernaut's armored structure appeared in Dominic's vision, directly projected into his neural implant. He analyzed the weak spots, his mind calculating the precise shot locations. The shoulder was the key—if he could disable its missile pods, the battle would shift in their favor.
With a deep breath, Dominic moved forward, weaving through the wreckage like a shadow. The Juggernaut's pulse cannons fired again, the blinding energy blasts scorching the ground where Dominic had just been. He dodged and rolled, closing the distance, his boots kicking up dust and debris.
The Juggernaut's rocket pods fired a salvo of missiles in his direction, but Dominic was already ahead of the game. He launched a flashbang grenade into the air, blinding the Juggernaut's sensors for a split second. The missiles veered off course, crashing into the ground around him.
In that fleeting moment, Dominic dove under the Juggernaut's massive leg, the sheer size of the machine making it an easy target for his maneuver. He activated the grappling hook on his belt, firing it directly at the mech's underbelly and pulling himself upward with a surge of strength.
Now, inches from the Juggernaut's massive frame, Dominic switched to his plasma cutters. He activated them, the blades glowing bright orange as they began to slice through the reinforced plating.
The Juggernaut's pilot retaliated, the mech's massive hand coming down in an attempt to swat Dominic like a fly. But Dominic was already moving, using the mech's own momentum against it. He sidestepped the swipe and continued his assault on the missile pods, cutting through the armor with surgical precision.
"Almost there!" Dominic gritted through his teeth, sweat dripping down his face as the Juggernaut shook beneath him, trying to dislodge him with violent jerks.
Kade's voice came through the comms again. "Dominic, move! Its left side's coming up fast!"
Dominic glanced up just in time to see the Juggernaut's other hand swinging toward him. It was too late to retreat, but he had one last shot. He powered up the final charge in his plasma cutters and drove them deep into the missile pod housing.
With a final, explosive surge of energy, the cutters punctured the core of the pod, sending an explosive wave of plasma through the mech's side. The rocket pods exploded in a fiery burst, and the Juggernaut staggered back, its arm mangled and smoking.
"Direct hit!" Kade yelled over the comms, his voice filled with triumph.
The Juggernaut reeled from the explosion, its movements sluggish as smoke poured from its damaged shoulder. It turned in a slow arc, trying to lock onto Dominic once again.
But the tide had shifted.
Dominic moved in for the kill. He sprinted along the mech's side, dodging the debris that fell from the damaged shoulder. He fired off a few rounds from his rifle, hitting the weak points revealed in the schematic Varra had fed him.
The machine groaned, its internal systems starting to fail. The pulse cannon on its arm sputtered, sparking as it struggled to recharge.
Dominic ducked behind the mech's knee joint, pulling a powerful grenade from his utility belt. It was a high-energy EMP charge, designed to disable even the toughest of mechs. He planted it on the mech's exposed power core, just under the knee, and set the timer.
"Varra, Kade, move back!" he shouted.
The grenade detonated with a deafening crack, sending a surge of energy through the Juggernaut's systems. The mech's massive frame shook violently, and its left leg buckled under the strain. It fell to the ground with a thunderous crash, its systems overloaded and inoperable.
Dominic stood over the wreckage, panting, watching as the last traces of life drained from the titan before him.
"That's two down," Kade said, breathing heavily from his own position. "Nice work."
Dominic didn't respond immediately. His chest was still heaving, his mind reeling from the chaos. But there was no time for rest. The battle was far from over, and the CMC's reinforcements were already on their way.
"Varra, get us out of here," Dominic said, his voice cold. "We need to regroup before the next wave hits."