The Quickdrive hummed softly as it streaked across the Martian surface. Vast, barren plains of red dust and craggy rock stretched below, broken only by the occasional industrial tower or supply hub. Angie's holographic form flickered to life in the cockpit, her glowing blue projection standing at attention.
"Current velocity: 2,500 Martian units per second. Quickdrive function operating at 10% capacity," she reported.
Brady leaned forward in the captain's chair, his eyes scanning the display. The holographic map provided by the rogue's artifact hovered before him, glowing faintly in the dim cabin. Several mining sites were marked with bright red icons, but one stood out—a sprawling network labeled Mining Stronghold Zeta-19.
"That's our target," Brady said, pointing to the map. "Zeta-19. Caleb, how far out are we?"
Caleb, seated at the console beside him, quickly analyzed the data. "About 300 kilometers. At this speed, we'll be there in under five minutes."
Jason, lounging in the corner with his Sonic Steel Hive resting against his knee, smirked. "Plenty of time to get ready for whatever's waiting for us."
Viktor tightened the straps on his Cryogenic Steel Suit, his expression grim. "Mining strongholds are no joke. They're heavily fortified—workers, guards, and whoever's running the show. We're walking into enemy territory."
Brady nodded. "That's why we stay sharp. We're not here to pick fights unless we have to."
Jason snorted. "And if we have to?"
"Then we win," Brady replied, his tone firm.
---
The Quickdrive slowed as it approached the mining site. From above, Zeta-19 was a sprawling complex of tunnels and structures built into a massive canyon. Conveyor belts carried raw materials from the depths of the mines to processing stations, where towering machines refined the ore into usable forms. The whole area buzzed with activity, automated drones and workers moving in synchronized precision.
Angie's voice cut through the quiet hum of the ship. "No visible signs of hostility detected. Stronghold appears operational."
"Operational, but not unguarded," Viktor said, observing the automated turrets stationed around the perimeter.
Brady adjusted the ship's trajectory, guiding it toward a secluded landing zone outside the canyon. "We'll go in on foot from here. Angie, keep the Quickdrive cloaked and ready for extraction."
"Command acknowledged," Angie replied. "Cloaking systems engaged."
---
The team disembarked, cloaked in their Martian travel gear. They moved carefully, sticking to the shadows as they approached the entrance to the mines. The tunnels were massive, wide enough to fit industrial vehicles, and reinforced with steel supports that shimmered faintly under the dim lighting.
Inside, the air was thick with the hum of machinery and the distant echoes of workers. Conveyor belts carried massive loads of raw iron and other minerals deeper into the facility.
"This place is huge," Caleb muttered, his voice low.
Jason tapped his Hive against the wall, the metal ringing faintly. "You'd think they'd be mining for something more valuable than iron."
"They are," Viktor said. "Iron's just the cover. Places like this are usually fronts for extracting rare materials—stuff they don't want outsiders knowing about."
Brady glanced around, his brow furrowed. "Stay focused. We're here for information, not sightseeing."
The team moved deeper into the tunnels, their boots echoing softly against the steel floor. As they walked, they exchanged observations about the structure, its efficiency, and the possible uses of its resources.
Caleb ran his hand along the wall, noting the advanced alloy. "This isn't just for reinforcement. They're protecting something down here."
Viktor nodded. "If we're lucky, we'll find out what."
---
The team rounded a corner and entered a massive chamber. The ceiling stretched high above, crisscrossed with catwalks and conveyor systems. At the center of the chamber stood a figure that immediately caught their attention—a towering, broad-shouldered man clad in a suit of gleaming, blackened iron. The suit exuded a menacing aura, with glowing red lines etched across its surface, pulsating like veins. His helmet had a grill-like visor that obscured his face, but his deep, rumbling voice filled the room as he spoke.
"So," the figure began, his voice reverberating through the chamber, "the wanted fugitives from A-7 dare to step into my mines."
Brady stepped forward, his posture firm despite the imposing presence before them. "And you are?"
The figure chuckled darkly, his voice carrying a mechanical distortion. "I am the Iron Chief. I oversee every mine on this planet. And you…" He raised a massive, gauntleted hand to point at the group. "...are intruders who have sealed their fate."
Jason smirked, hefting his Sonic Steel Hive. "Big words for a guy who's all talk. Let's see if you can back it up."
"Caution advised," Angie's voice crackled in Brady's ear. "Iron Chief's suit is equipped with a rank-6 hyper-stage defensive artifact. Energy resistance estimated at 90%."
Brady clenched his jaw. "We're in for a fight. Everyone, spread out!"
---
The Iron Chief raised his arm, and the glowing veins on his suit flared to life. A protective energy barrier materialized around him as he lumbered forward, the ground shaking beneath his heavy steps. With a sudden motion, he slammed his fist into the ground, sending a shockwave of kinetic energy rippling through the chamber.
The team scattered to avoid the blast. Brady darted to the left, drawing his electric batons, while Viktor and Jason flanked from either side. Caleb stayed back, activating a drone from his pack to scan the Chief's suit for weaknesses.
"Direct strikes won't work," Caleb called out. "We need to overload his defenses!"
Jason nodded, charging forward and unleashing a barrage of energy projectiles from his Hive. The blasts hit the barrier, causing it to shimmer but not falter.
"Pathetic," the Iron Chief sneered, swatting at Jason with a massive hand. Jason barely dodged in time, the impact of the swing denting the steel floor.
Brady took advantage of the distraction, closing the gap and striking the barrier with his electric batons. Sparks flew as the energy clashed, but the barrier held firm. The Chief turned to him, swinging a massive punch. Brady dodged, but the sheer force of the swing sent a gust of air that nearly knocked him off balance.
"You think you can challenge me?" the Chief roared. "I've crushed armies with my bare hands!"
Brady gritted his teeth, striking again and again, but the batons proved ineffective. With a sudden, powerful motion, the Chief slammed his fist against Brady's weapons, shattering them instantly.
"Brady!" Caleb shouted.
Brady staggered back, his hands stinging from the impact. He looked down at the broken remains of his batons, then back at the Chief, who loomed over him like an iron colossus.
---
"Take this," Jason called, tossing something toward Brady. It was the pair of rank-5 advanced-stage Impact Iron Gauntlets—the upgraded version of the Blast Iron Gauntlets taken from the A-7 mayor.
Brady caught them mid-air, quickly strapping them onto his hands. The gauntlets pulsed with energy as they synced with his movements, feeling almost weightless despite their bulk.
"Let's see how you like this," Brady muttered, clenching his fists.
He charged forward, dodging another swing from the Chief and delivering a powerful punch to the barrier. The gauntlets emitted a burst of energy on impact, causing the barrier to flicker and weaken.
"Keep hitting him!" Caleb shouted. "The gauntlets are disrupting his defenses!"
Viktor and Jason joined in, coordinating their attacks. Viktor used his micro blades to slash at the barrier's edges, while Jason fired concentrated shots from his Hive. Caleb's drone targeted weak points, sending bursts of focused energy to destabilize the shield.
The Iron Chief growled in frustration, his barrier flickering with each hit. "Enough!" he bellowed, releasing another shockwave. The team was forced to scatter again, but the Chief's movements were slower now, his suit showing signs of strain.
---
Brady seized the opportunity, charging in with the gauntlets glowing brightly. He ducked under a sluggish swing from the Chief and landed a devastating punch directly on the barrier. The energy from the gauntlets surged, shattering the barrier with a thunderous crack.
The Chief stumbled back, exposed for the first time. His suit's glowing veins dimmed as he struggled to maintain his balance.
"Now's our chance!" Jason shouted, unleashing a volley of energy blasts that struck the Chief's suit, leaving dents and scorch marks.
Viktor moved in for the finishing blow, slashing at the joints of the suit with his blades. Sparks flew as he severed critical connections, further weakening the Chief's mobility.
Brady delivered the final punch, the gauntlets glowing with concentrated power. The impact sent the Iron Chief crashing to the ground, his suit sparking and hissing as it powered down.
The chamber fell silent except for the heavy breathing of the team and the faint crackle of damaged machinery.
---
Brady stood over the fallen Chief, catching his breath. "He won't be getting up anytime soon."
Caleb knelt beside the suit, examining its components. "This is incredible tech. Even damaged, these parts are worth a fortune."
"Take what we can use," Brady said. "Leave the rest."
As Caleb worked, he discovered a data chip embedded in the suit. "This might have information" he said, pocketing it.
Jason glanced around the chamber. "We've made enough noise here. Let's get out before reinforcements show up."
The team gathered what they could, including fragments of the Iron Chief's rank-6 defensive artifact, the Iron Lord Blast Suit. Caleb noted its design, hoping to reverse-engineer some of its features for their own use.
---
Back at the Quickdrive, Angie greeted them with her usual monotone. "Damage assessment: team operational. Mission success rate: 87%."
"Let's make it 100% by getting out of here," Brady said, taking the pilot's seat.
The ship lifted off, cloaked and silent as it departed the mining stronghold. As they ascended, Caleb examined the data chip, projecting its contents onto the ship's display.
"It's a blueprint," Caleb said, his eyes widening as he examined the data. "A detailed schematic for a rank-6 Hyperdrive starship. This thing could outrun and outgun almost anything we've seen so far."
Brady leaned closer, studying the projection with a determined gaze. "If we can build this, it'll give us the edge we need. This could change everything—our survival, our mission, all of it."
Jason let out a low whistle, leaning back in his seat with a grin. "Not bad for a day's work. A ship like that? We'd be untouchable."
Viktor, ever cautious, crossed his arms and stared at the map. "Let's hope it's worth the trouble. Blueprints like this won't be easy to replicate. And whoever created it probably won't be happy we have it."
As the Quickdrive vanished into the Martian horizon, the team's resolve solidified. Their path forward was clearer than ever—but building the Hyperdrive starship would require resources, skill, and a whole lot of luck.
---