The Golden Titan was finally silenced. The roar of battle had faded, and the battlefield lay in ruins, the remnants of CMC mechs scattered like discarded toys. The UOP forces were victorious, but the cost of that victory was etched on every pilot's face. Dominic's mech was battered and bruised, its systems barely functioning. The glow of the core flickered weakly, and the neural implants in his head were a constant reminder of the price he was paying.
As the battle ended and the smoke began to clear, Dominic stood tall in the cockpit of the Titan, surveying the destruction. His heart was still pounding, adrenaline coursing through his veins, but there was no time to bask in the victory. He had unfinished business—business that, if handled improperly, could change everything.
The UOP command was waiting for him.
Lox's voice crackled over the comms again, though this time it was softer, filled with something like respect. "Nice work out there, Dominic. You've earned yourself a drink tonight."
But Dominic wasn't in the mood for celebration. His mind was elsewhere—on the project that he had worked on while with CMC. The project that had changed the course of his life and led him to this very moment. The project that could very well destroy everything he had fought for.
His thoughts wandered back to the CMC's Stealth Mech Program, the work that had once been his life. It had started as a brilliant project, one that would have revolutionized the future of warfare. But as he delved deeper into the research, Dominic had realized the true cost: they weren't just making better mechs. They were creating the perfect weapon—one that could infiltrate any military force undetected, wreaking havoc from within. But at what price? Lives would be lost, entire populations erased without a trace. And Dominic was the engineer who had designed the damn things.
He had to tell someone.
He had to get it off his chest.
As the Golden Titan was escorted back to the UOP's flagship, Dominic's mind raced. The general staff needed to hear this. They needed to know what the CMC was capable of. He had no illusions about how they would react, but this was bigger than him now. He couldn't stand idly by any longer, not while the enemy had weapons that could change the course of the war.
The massive ship hummed with activity as the ramp descended, and Dominic stepped out of the cockpit. His boots hit the metal floor with a soft thud, and he made his way to the central briefing room. The corridors were quiet, save for the occasional murmur of soldiers passing by, cleaning up after the battle. Dominic didn't spare them a glance. His focus was locked on the mission ahead.
Inside the briefing room, the senior officers of the UOP were gathered around a holographic display, reviewing the battle's aftermath. The room fell silent as Dominic entered. Commander Trask, a no-nonsense woman with a sharp gaze, looked up from the table, her eyes narrowing as she saw him approach.
"Dominic," she said, her voice cold but authoritative. "I assume you're here to report on your mission success."
Dominic nodded, but he wasn't here to talk about the battle. "There's something I need to tell you. Something that could change everything."
The officers exchanged curious glances, and Trask gestured for him to continue.
"I worked for the CMC," Dominic began, his voice low. "Before all of this. I was a head engineer on their Stealth Mech Program—the one they're using against us now. And I know how they work."
A tense silence followed his words. The officers looked at each other, unsure of what to make of his admission.
"Go on," Trask said, her tone more measured now. "What exactly are you saying, Dominic?"
Dominic took a breath. "I was responsible for developing stealth technology for their mechs. I helped design the weapons, the camouflage systems, and the core reactors that make their mechs nearly undetectable. But there's more. The CMC has begun experimenting with a new class of stealth mechs—mechs that can infiltrate and destroy entire military bases from the inside, without ever being detected. These mechs—these ghosts—can take down entire defenses with no warning. And they've been testing them on UOP colonies."
Trask didn't react immediately, but her eyes darkened. She understood the implications. "You're telling me that they have technology capable of undermining our entire defense network?"
"Exactly," Dominic said, his voice grim. "If they deploy these mechs in full force, it could be the end of the war. The end of the UOP as we know it."
The room was quiet, the weight of Dominic's words sinking in. One of the officers, a young lieutenant, spoke up hesitantly. "If you knew all of this, why didn't you warn us sooner?"
Dominic's jaw tightened. "I was trying to survive. I couldn't risk being labeled a traitor. I didn't know where my loyalties truly lay, not until I saw what they were willing to do. Now, I'm telling you because you need to understand the threat. You need to prepare for what's coming."
Trask stood up, pacing slowly as she processed the information. "This is bigger than we thought." She turned to face the group, her expression hardening. "I want this information disseminated immediately. We can't afford to waste time."
She turned back to Dominic. "And as for you, you're not done yet. You've just made your life a lot more complicated, Dominic. But you've also just proven that you're on the side of the UOP. For now, that's all that matters."
Dominic nodded, feeling the weight of his decision settle on him. There was no turning back now. He had just walked the line between hero and villain—and for once, he didn't care. He had to stop the CMC, no matter the cost.
"You've earned your place here," Trask continued. "But know this, Dominic. The war is only going to get worse from here. And if what you say is true, you've just put a target on your back."
Dominic nodded again, his eyes cold. "I'm ready."