"I've been doing the math, and after buying the Invicta, we're left with enough for... well, full body suits of combat armor made out of nanocomposite plates, basic low-tech weapons, and low-grade medical and combat stimulant supplies."
He sighed, wiping the grease from his mouth.
"It's not exactly the top-of-the-line gear we were hoping for."
Airid said as he placed his holographic phone on the table an with a swipe of his hand caused the armors, weapons, and medical and combat stimulants specks to appear In the air.
Paul grunted, taking a sip of his drink after studying the specs.
"So we're going in with just the basics, from these specs the full body nanocomposite armor can still take a beating, but if we run into high-end mercs or pirates with top-tier gear, we're screwed."
Darius nodded.
"Especially with these low-tech weapons. We'll be outgunned in no time, were still good as long as we are In UNOE space but against anyone from a higher level civilization were f*cked"
I leaned back in my chair, wiping my hands on a napkin as I considered the situation. The reality of starting fresh, after a 170-year nap, was hitting harder than I had expected.
We had the ship our TIS Invicta but without the right gear, we might not survive our first contract.
"We'll have to be smart,"
I said, my voice cutting through the banter.
"We can't afford to go toe-to-toe with well-equipped mercs. At least, not yet. We'll need to take contracts that suit our capabilities, smaller jobs. Hit-and-run tactics if we get into a fight."
Robert, always the voice of practicality, spoke up.
"We also need to network. Make connections with arms dealers, upgrade specialists, and other mercenary outfits. Build alliances. It's not just about what you have; it's about who you know. If we can find someone willing to cut us a deal, we might be able to get better gear sooner than expected."
Airid nodded in agreement.
"That's true. There's always someone willing to do business under the table, especially out here. Maybe we start with the basic gear, but we keep an eye out for opportunities to upgrade."
I grinned, leaning forward.
"That's the plan, boys. We start small, play it smart, and we'll work our way up. The Invicta is just the beginning."
Paul glanced at me, chewing thoughtfully before speaking.
"Any ideas on our first mission?"
I raised an eyebrow.
"I've been digging around the GC's intranet since we got here. There are a couple of low-risk escort jobs and patrol missions we can take to start but taking Into account the fuel expenditure, ammo, and other supplies we would be going into deficit"
I explained dejectedly, sadly this was the reality unless one was willing to put his life on the line there was no way to climb the stairs the only option was to remain at the bottom.
After finishing our greasy meal, the gang and I made our way through the bustling corridors of the citadel, heading toward one of the more reputable UNOE mega-corporation shops that specialized in armor and weapons.
The neon signs and holographic advertisements outside the store lit up the dim walkways, promising everything from combat exosuits to high-tech weaponry.
As we entered the store, the vast array of gear on display immediately grabbed our attention.
Rows upon rows of weapons and armor gleamed under the shop's bright lighting. The place smelled of polished metal and faint traces of lubricant, a familiar scent that brought back memories of military stores on E*rth.
"Alright,"
I said, clapping my hands together.
"Let's get geared up."
We split up, each of us gravitating toward the sections that interested us most. Airid, the gearhead of the group, took the lead, pulling out his holo-phone and projecting the specs for the nanocomposite full-body combat armor we were eyeing.
"These look pretty close to what we're used to except that for the back and chest part there are armor plates for the whole body,"
He said, motioning to the mannequins in the center of the shop. The armor had an utalitarian, intimidating design jet black with hardened nanocomposite plates that could take a serious beating.
The helmets, fully enclosed with a visor gave off a futuristic, military-spec vibe.
Julian, inspecting the helmets, nodded in approval.
"Smart helmets too, fully integrated HUD with targeting assistance and comms. It'll keep us in sync during missions."
"Not bad,"
Robert added, turning one of the helmets over in his hands.
"Looks like the gear we had back in the day, but... much more advanced. Feels lighter."
I ran my fingers across the armor's smooth surface.
"Lighter too but also tougher. Nanocomposite plating can take some heavy hits. But don't expect this to save us from a fifty call or something worse."
Darius grinned, slapping one of the armor sets on the chest.
"Yeah, but it'll sure as hell make us look cool while we're kicking ass."
We moved over to the weapons section next. Assault rifles, mass accelerators, smart weapons, and missile launchers lined the shelves, each more deadly than the last.
My eyes lingered on a 6.8 mm smart assault rifle, compact, reliable, and outfitted with an under-barrel grenade launcher.
The rifle was modular, meaning it could be customized with all kinds of attachments: scopes, suppressors, extended magazines, you name it.
"This,"
I said, picking it up.
"Is going to be our main."
The weight of it felt good, like an extension of my own arm. The rifle was equipped with a smart aiming system, syncing with the helmet HUD for precision targeting.
Airid followed suit, grabbing one for himself.
"These will do nicely for close and mid-range and engagements."
"Sure,"
Paul said, scanning the heavier section of the store.
"But when we need some real firepower..."
He trailed off as he picked up a low-tech RPG. The sleek, sci-fi version of an RPG had smart shells that could lock onto a target and adjust Its flight path mid-air thanks to Its mini chemical thruster.
"F*ck yeah,"
Robert grinned, grabbing an RPG rounds pack for himself.
"This will even the odds when we run into bigger threats."
Darius, being the heavy weapons specialist, selected a light laser machine gun.
"This baby should burn through anyone dumb enough with nanocomposite alloy plates to get in front of us. Perfect for suppressing fire."
He smiled, checking out the energy pack.
Julian, ever the sharpshooter, was drawn to a mass accelerator sniper rifle. The weapon was quite big, with a long barrel that promised deadly accuracy from long distances.
"This... this is all I need,"
He said, shouldering the rifle and peering through the scope.
"I can put a hole in a light armored vehicle easily with this thing."
I smirked, watching them all gear up.
"Alright, boys, looks like we're going in hot."
We moved on to the paint section, where we could customize the look of our gear.
"We need something that looks badass,"
I said.
"But not too flashy. Something that says we're serious, but not mercs that'll be spotted from a mile away, suggestions?"
"Black, red, and white camo,"
Paul suggested.
"Military style. It's sharp, blends well in a lot of environments, and looks professional."
"I like it,"
I nodded.
"Make it happen."
The shop's customizer allowed us to apply the paint scheme on the spot. Within minutes, the sets of armor and weapons were given a fresh coat, sleek black with streaks of red and white, creating a camo pattern that was equal parts menacing and practical.
"White skulls on the helmets,"
Robert added, holding up one of the smart helmets.
"Give us that dead-man-walking vibe."
The rest of the gang agreed, and we had the skulls painted on each helmet, adding to the intimidating presence we'd have on the battlefield.