Dominic sat in the cockpit of his newly upgraded mech, a behemoth of white and gold armor, overlooking the wreckage of the battle he had just helped turn in the UOP's favor. The sun was setting on the horizon, casting long shadows across the battlefield, as debris from the destroyed CMC juggernauts floated in the low gravity. The silence after the storm of battle felt surreal.
His mech's HUD flickered slightly as it recalibrated from the chaos of the fight. The roar of the engines slowly died down, and the usual hum of the neural interface settled into a comforting rhythm. But in his mind, the victory felt hollow. The CMC general's words, though delivered through the crackling comms, had left an unsettling mark on his psyche.
Always another move. Always another game.
Dominic shook his head, trying to push the thoughts away. He needed to focus on the present—on what was in front of him. The battle was over, but the war wasn't. He could feel it in his bones. The CMC was not going to lie down and surrender. They would return. They always did.
The comm system chirped, pulling him out of his thoughts. The voice of General Rourke came through, strong and direct.
"Captain Dominic, report to the command deck immediately. We've got new orders."
Dominic sighed, leaning back in his seat. "Understood. I'll be there shortly."
He disengaged the cockpit and climbed down from his mech, the air outside cool and charged with the scent of burnt metal. His boots crunched on the ground as he made his way toward the command center of the UOP's flagship, the Resolute. The ship's metallic corridors were empty, save for the distant hum of the engines and the occasional footstep of a passing officer.
As Dominic approached the command deck, the door slid open with a hiss, revealing General Rourke standing by a holo-table, flanked by several high-ranking officers. Their expressions were grim, focused on the projected map of the galaxy displayed before them.
"Captain Dominic," Rourke greeted, nodding as he stepped forward. "Glad to see you're still standing."
"I don't stay down easy, General," Dominic replied, crossing his arms and eyeing the map. "What's the situation?"
Rourke gestured to the map. "This is where things get complicated. The CMC is reeling from their losses today, but they've mobilized reinforcements. Not just from their orbital stations, but they've called in backup from their secret manufacturing facilities in the StellarForge system. We've intercepted communications that indicate they're preparing to launch a full-scale retaliation."
Dominic's brow furrowed. StellarForge was a key asset for the CMC, a hub for their most powerful mech production. If they were bringing in their heavy hitters, it meant the next battle was going to be a nightmare.
"So, what's our plan?" Dominic asked, his voice steady despite the rising tension in the room.
Rourke tapped the table, and a new set of coordinates appeared on the holo-map. "We're going to hit them first. We've gathered intel that one of their key research stations in the StellarForge system is preparing to deploy an experimental weapon. It could tip the balance of the war in their favor if we don't stop it. We need to destroy it before it's operational."
Dominic nodded. "A strike mission?"
"Exactly," Rourke replied, leaning forward. "We're sending a team to sabotage the station. You'll be leading a strike force. You'll be accompanied by a mix of elite mercenaries and UOP soldiers. The station is well-defended, but we're counting on your expertise to guide us in."
Dominic glanced at the holo-map again. The station was located on a small, uninhabited moon just beyond the StellarForge system's primary fleet. It was a vulnerable target—if they could hit it fast enough. But the risks were high.
"And the CMC's reinforcements?" Dominic asked.
"We'll be sending a diversionary fleet to draw their attention away from the strike team," Rourke explained. "But you'll be in and out before they realize what's happening. Your job is to destroy the facility's core before they can launch whatever weapon they're working on."
Dominic didn't need to be told twice. "Understood. When do we leave?"
Rourke studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Immediately. We've already prepped the strike team. You'll be on a shuttle in an hour."
Dominic turned to leave, but Rourke stopped him.
"One more thing, Captain. There's a personal request," Rourke said, his voice lowering. "We've received intelligence that the CMC is planning to deploy an experimental mech—a new type of titan-class. It's unlike anything we've seen. If you encounter it, you'll need to neutralize it as quickly as possible. We can't risk that thing becoming operational."
Dominic paused at the door, the weight of the new information settling in. The CMC had been developing new mechs for years, but a new titan-class? That was more than just a threat. It was a weapon of war in its purest form.
"I'll make sure it's destroyed," Dominic said, his voice cold. He walked out of the command deck, his mind already working through the strategy for the mission ahead.
The shuttle ride to the strike zone was a blur of motion. Dominic sat in the back, staring at the holographic display of the StellarForge system, plotting the route in his mind. His squad was silent, each member preparing for what was to come. The upcoming mission was critical—if they failed, the CMC could gain an insurmountable advantage.
As the shuttle entered the moon's atmosphere, the darkness outside became a swirling mix of stars and distant planets. The facility's outline appeared on the horizon—a stark, metallic structure surrounded by heavy defenses.
Dominic's pulse quickened. This was it. The moment everything had led up to.
They landed with a jolt, the shuttle's thrusters kicking up dust as it settled into a hidden landing zone. Dominic unstrapped himself and stood, moving swiftly to the exit.
He glanced over his shoulder at the squad.
"Remember, we're in and out. No heroics. Just get the job done," he ordered.
The squad nodded, weapons raised, as they made their way toward the facility. The silence of space was broken only by the hum of their exo-armor suits. As they approached the facility's outer perimeter, the first explosions rocked the ground, a sign that the diversionary fleet had begun its assault.
Dominic grinned. It was time to finish this.